Bitcoin held steady Friday as traders braced for a potential shake-up at the Federal Reserve. United States President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, a move that could shift the central bank’s approach to interest rates and market liquidity. The Dow Jones climbed more than 300 points midweek, and the ripple reached the crypto market too—Bitcoin nudged higher to around 106,950 before easing slightly. Related Reading: Double Win: Dogwifhat Jumps 24% Alongside Bitcoin’s $107K Push Markets are reading this as a signal. If Powell is pushed out in favor of someone more open to cutting rates, risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum could benefit. The US dollar slipped to a three-year low, and bond yields retreated, adding to the sense that easier money may be coming. For crypto investors, this is a setup worth watching. The #USD fell to a three-year low on intensifying speculation that President Trump could soon nominate a new Fed Chair to replace Powell after his term ends next May, a development that could render him a lame duck writes @johnjhardy in today’s #forex update.… — Ole S Hansen (@Ole_S_Hansen) June 26, 2025 Trump Moves Toward Possible Fed Overhaul Reports from multiple outlets say Trump is seriously considering replacing Powell before his term ends in 2026. Though no official announcement has been made, sources suggest Trump has discussed potential successors with advisors. His criticism of Powell’s policies isn’t new, but the recent rise in inflation concerns and election-year pressure may be accelerating the timeline. The market response was immediate. Traders began to price in a more dovish Fed policy, which generally means lower interest rates and increased liquidity. That would be good news for crypto, which has languished under tighter monetary conditions throughout the last year. Bitcoin, which is often used as a hedge against fiat debasement, likes to rally when the dollar declines and rates come down. Bitcoin Price Reacts With Caution Bitcoin was trading at 106,950 Friday, with a daily high of 107,250 and a low of 106,145. It wasn’t a breakout, but it was a clear sign of rising interest. Ethereum and other top coins saw similar quiet moves upward. Traders are treading carefully, knowing that talk of replacing the Fed chair is one thing, but actually doing it is another. Stocks Lead The Way, Crypto Follows The bullish mood started with equities. The Dow surged more than 300 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed higher. Tech stocks led the rally, pushed by falling Treasury yields and hopes that rate hikes are off the table for now. That optimism spilled into crypto markets, where risk sentiment plays a big role. Related Reading: TRUMP Token In Trouble? Over $4 Million Liquidity Exit Sparks Crash Fears Crypto Market Eyes Washington There’s still a lot of uncertainty. Powell is in office, and no formal replacement has been named. But the fact that President Trump is entertaining the idea is already moving markets. Crypto investors are especially sensitive to changes in the macro outlook, and this could be a key one. Featured image from Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images, chart from TradingView
A Moscow court has sentenced a Russian woman, Valeria Fedyakina, to seven years in a penal colony for running a crypto scam that defrauded victims of $23 million worth of Bitcoin in just two months. Fedyakina, who reportedly branded herself as a cryptocurrency expert, orchestrated what prosecutors described as a pyramid scheme targeting investors in 2023. She was accused of promising quick returns through digital asset deals while ultimately draining clients’ funds. Moscow Court Sentences ‘Bitmama’ to 7 Years Over $23M Bitcoin Scam The scam involved at least four known victims and totaled around 2.2 billion rubles, approximately £17 million at the time, according to The Telegraph . Fedyakina reportedly told her clients that their money would be converted to cryptocurrency in Dubai, helping them avoid Russian sanctions. In return, she offered a 1% bonus on the transferred funds. But investigators say the promised returns never materialized. Instead, the funds disappeared soon after the transfers. A spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee said Fedyakina acted with intent to deceive. “Fedyakina had a criminal intent to steal money or cryptocurrency by deceiving an indefinite number of people,” the spokesperson said. “She did so under the guise of investing in her activities in the transportation and purchase and sale of oil, oil products, gold, and other minerals.” Russian media reports did not link the stolen funds to any specific international cause, but some sources outside the country claimed prosecutors believed some of the money may have been transferred to Ukraine. Those claims have not been independently verified, and Russian outlets reporting on the case made no mention of them. Fedyakina’s defense team denied the fraud charges. They insisted she supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and had expressed willingness to financially support the Russian military. She was arrested in 2023 while attempting to leave Russia for the United Arab Emirates. At the time of her detention, Fedyakina was six months pregnant. She later gave birth in a maternity hospital before being returned to custody. On June 24, the Presnensky District Court in Moscow delivered the final judgment. Despite her appeals, she was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to repay 2.2 billion rubles to her victims. Due to inflation, the compensation amount is now estimated at around £20 million. Fedyakina had marketed herself under the nickname “Bitmama,” claiming she ran global operations and could deliver massive returns in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors said it was all a front designed to lure in investors and steal their funds under the promise of sanctioned-proof crypto trading. The sentencing marks one of the largest crypto fraud cases in Russia in recent years and adds to growing scrutiny over unregulated crypto schemes in the country. Russia Intensifies Crypto Crackdown with Arrests, Seizures, and Hydra-Linked Investigations The sentencing of a so-called “crypto expert” and her mother in Moscow for a $23 million Bitcoin scam is just one piece of a much broader crackdown by Russian authorities on crypto-related crimes. In recent months, Russian law enforcement has intensified efforts to trace, seize, and prosecute crypto assets linked to illicit activity. On June 2, investigators confiscated $8.2 million worth of crypto from Dmitry Pavlov, a key figure in the now-defunct Hydra darknet market. Pavlov, who admitted to managing the platform’s servers, reportedly earned his crypto “salary and bonuses” for maintaining Hydra’s infrastructure. Prosecutors say he held the coins, anticipating price growth, rather than converting them to fiat. Hydra, once a dominant player on the darknet, is believed to have facilitated over $5 billion in crypto transactions before being dismantled . In December, a Moscow court sentenced 16 individuals involved in Hydra’s operations , with mastermind Stanislav Moiseev receiving a life sentence. Stanislav Moiseev, the mastermind behind the notorious online black market Hydra, has been handed a life sentence by a Russian court. #Hydra #Crypto https://t.co/9uuAfft63K — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 4, 2024 The crackdown has also extended to illegal crypto mining. On June 3, police in Amur Oblast seized ₽7 million (~$88K) in BTC from a former power company official who operated unauthorized mining rigs. Two weeks later, officials shut down a large-scale farm in Krasnoyarsk Krai , which earned over ₽4.6 million (~$58K) monthly by exploiting state-owned land. Together, the arrests, seizures, and undercover activity paint a stark picture of how deeply entangled crypto has become in Russia’s underground economy and how aggressively authorities are now moving against it. The post Moscow Court Jails ‘Crypto Expert’ and Mother for $23M Bitcoin Scam appeared first on Cryptonews .
Bitcoin roared back to life this week, climbing to $105,000 following a truce announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on June 23 as crypto regulation efforts across the globe continue in full force. The digital asset briefly touched $106,000 before settling at its current level. As of this writing, BTC is trading at $105,064 — a welcome reprieve for investors who have weathered weeks of regulatory uncertainty and political tension. But it’s not just the price of Bitcoin making headlines this week. In Washington, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are ramping up their efforts to bring clarity and oversight to the U.S. crypto sector, with several key developments pointing to a turning point in digital asset regulation. Lummis: Two Crypto Bills Must Pass in 2025 Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), a longtime proponent of responsible crypto legislation, has renewed her call for decisive action in Congress. Speaking with CNBC’s Joe Kernen on Squawk Box this week, Lummis emphasized the importance of passing both the GENIUS Act — focused on digital asset developments and user safety — and the much-anticipated crypto market structure bill. Senator Cynthia Lummis spoke with CNBC on Wednesday about the importance of passing crypto legislation before the year's end. #CynthiaLummis #CryptoLegislation https://t.co/dhmb7SKv6J — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 25, 2025 “I’m not saying combine them, but they both need to pass this year,” Lummis asserted, stressing the urgent need for legal clarity around stablecoins. Her remarks come amid bipartisan deliberations over how to reconcile separate House and Senate proposals into a unified framework that can win cross-chamber support. GOP Lays Groundwork for Crypto Market Rules In a separate but closely related development, senior Senate Republicans unveiled a set of foundational principles for digital asset regulation. Spearheaded by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) , the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, the new guidelines aim to establish regulatory clarity while protecting investors. Senate GOP has laid out crypto market structure principles, clarifying regulation and oversight for digital assets. #CryptoRegulation #USSenate https://t.co/4hKf2Ktbim — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 24, 2025 “These principles will serve as an important baseline for negotiations on this bill,” said Scott, who was joined by Senators Thom Tillis, Bill Hagerty, and Cynthia Lummis in crafting the proposal. The document marks one of the clearest signs yet that the Senate is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue with the House on comprehensive crypto legislation. The GOP principles are expected to influence the upcoming round of congressional negotiations and could shape the next wave of policy that governs everything from token classifications to consumer protections and compliance requirements for stablecoin issuers. COIN Act Targets Regulation of Politicians’ Crypto Profits Meanwhile, the intersection of politics and crypto has triggered a legislative response of its own. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the COIN Act (Curbing Officials’ Income and Nondisclosure), which would ban presidents and their immediate families from issuing, sponsoring, or endorsing digital assets, including meme coins, NFTs, and stablecoins. Senator @SenAdamSchiff has introduced legislation that would bar the president, vice president, and their family members from crypto. #Crypto #Trump https://t.co/9niXxDMAc0 — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 24, 2025 The bill — clearly aimed at potential conflicts of interest — also mandates disclosure of any digital asset transactions exceeding $1,000. Violators could face up to five years in prison and civil penalties equivalent to the profits earned. Schiff’s legislation comes amid growing concerns over President Trump’s expanding involvement in the digital asset space. Trump-Linked Crypto Firm Prepares Stablecoin Audit Those concerns are far from hypothetical. World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a cryptocurrency firm tied to Donald Trump, is stepping up efforts to bolster credibility. Co-founder Zak Folkman announced at the Permissionless conference in Brooklyn that the company is preparing to release a third-party audit of its stablecoin holdings, alongside a new mobile app launch. Trump-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial plans to release a stablecoin audit and debut a new app soon, co-founder Zak Folkman confirmed Wednesday. #Trump #WLFI https://t.co/yVPQqslR4F — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 26, 2025 The audit, conducted by an independent accounting firm, is intended to boost transparency as WLFI faces mounting political and regulatory scrutiny. Folkman also hinted at upcoming changes to WLFI’s governance token, suggesting that enhanced token liquidity may be on the horizon. “I think everyone is going to be very, very happy,” he told the audience, stopping short of revealing concrete details. Trump Media Moves Ahead with $400M Buyback Rounding out the week’s Trump-crypto nexus, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. — the parent company of Truth Social — announced a $400 million share buyback plan. The buyback, approved by the board of directors, is positioned as a move to return value to shareholders while retaining strategic flexibility. @TrumpMediaTech has unveiled a $400M stock buyback and maintains a $2.3B Bitcoin reserve. #TrumpMedia #Bitcoin https://t.co/oCc9eMHuSo — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 23, 2025 Also the company continues to guard a sizeable $2.3 billion Bitcoin treasury, showing the president’s growing entanglement with the digital asset world. “The Board took a vote of confidence in our company, our stock, and our strategic plans,” said Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media. Crypto Regulation To Face Crossroads Ahead Taken together, these developments show a pivotal moment for U.S. crypto regulation. From legislative momentum in Congress to headline-making moves by politically connected crypto firms, the digital asset landscape is rapidly evolving. While price action may grab the headlines, it’s the slow grind of regulatory clarity that will ultimately determine the shape and success of the U.S. crypto market. The post Weekly Crypto Regulation News Roundup: June 23-27, 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews .
Pi Coin (PI) has bounced from a recent low in the past seven days ahead of a key event called Pi2Day, at which the developing team is expected to reveal its upcoming ecosystem initiatives. On June 21, the Pi Core Team teased what could be the central topic to be discussed and shared during tomorrow’s event as they pointed to Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis’s presentation at the Generative AI panel at the Consensus 2025 . This is an event hosted by CoinDesk where the future of cryptocurrencies and Web 3 projects is typically discussed. #PiNetwork rumored to have a Google Ai deal, announcement expected on Pi2Day (Pi app shows Google Ai icon). #IceNetwork ecosystem launch with surprise developments! Both projects set for massive moves and big breakouts! $Pi $ICE $ION #Pi #ice #Ion https://t.co/Yg4QoARG1B pic.twitter.com/iRoPVJFeyu — zuzu (@PiGlobal314) June 25, 2025 Users started to speculate that Pi could be about to reveal a partnership with Google. To support that theory, X user @PiGlobal314 compared the imagery of Pi’s latest tweet with the logo of Gemini – the search engine’s proprietary generative AI model. Surprisingly, the token went up by 38% right after that rumor gained traction across social media platforms and messaging boards. A partnership with Google would support a bullish Pi Coin price prediction . If that’s the case and they announce it officially, how high could PI go? Pi Coin Price Prediction: Pi Hits Key Support at $0.56 – Time for the Next Leg Up? Pi’s 4-hour chart shows that the strong boost produced by these rumors pushed the token above its 200-period exponential moving average (EMA). Although the token’s rise to these levels was met with strong selling pressure once it got to $0.67, this bullish breakout is a strong indication that the trajectory of the price trend has changed from bearish to bullish. In the past 4 hours, Pi has found strong support at $0.56 and could use this level as a launchpad for its next leg up. The key driver for Pi’s move toward $0.70 again, or possibly to a higher level, would be confirmation of what the community has been speculating about. A partnership with Google would give Pi a much-needed credibility boost. With Google as a top backer or even partner, a plausible Pi Coin price prediction would estimate a move to $1 at least. In the meantime, analysts emphasize that well-established assets like Bitcoin (BTC) could outperform smaller projects like Pi. One of the hottest crypto presales of the year called BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) offers investors a way to generate passive income as the top crypto rises to make new all-time highs. BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) Introduces Innovative Rewards System Tied to Bitcoin’s Performance BTC Bull Token (BTCBULL) has created a fun way to earn Bitcoin tokens through a meme coin whose primary use case consists of distributing rewards to token holders. Its milestone-based roadmap is quite simple. Starting at a baseline price of $100,000, every time that BTC adds an additional $25,000 to its price, a new reward will be unlocked. The first milestone is set at $125,000, at which point a portion of BTCBULL’s circulating supply will be burned. This should produce an immediate increase in the price of this meme coin. Next up, once the price of Bitcoin hits $150,000, token holders will get a direct BTC airdrop. You can take advantage of BTCBULL’s discounted presale price and reap the highest return once this meme coin is officially launched. To buy the token, head to the BTC Bull Token website and connect your wallet (e.g. Best Wallet ). You can either swap USDT or ETH for it or use a bank card to invest. The post Pi Coin Price Prediction – What’s Coming on June 28? Google Hype Sends Pi Up 38% appeared first on Cryptonews .
It took years of struggle to keep encryption free of government control
Bitcoin Treasury Capital, a Canadian publicly traded entity, has strategically expanded its cryptocurrency portfolio by investing $8.7 million to purchase an additional 81 BTC. This acquisition elevates the company’s total
Crypto markets are cautiously stabilizing amid ongoing macroeconomic challenges and profit-taking, signaling potential groundwork for a future bull run. Despite recent geopolitical tensions easing, Bitcoin and major altcoins face pressure
Macroeconomic concerns and profit-taking are slowing down crypto’s momentum, but a bull run may be in the works Crypto markets are in recovery mode, but profit-taking and macroeconomic risks continue to weigh on sentiment. On Friday, June 27, Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $106,600, pulling back 1% over the past 24 hours. Altcoins saw similar performance, with the top 100 assets by market cap down about 1%. Bitcoin and major altcoins have mostly recovered their losses following the initial crash sparked by the Iran-Israel conflict. With the geopolitical tensions easing, the market correction appears to have concluded, with most tokens now posting modest declines rather than steep selloffs. Because of this, the recent strength in price action suggests that markets are normalizing. However, further bullish momentum will likely depend on key catalysts, especially in the regulatory and macroeconomic spheres. You might also like: Surprise Fed statement sparks hopes of Bitcoin and altcoin rally Rate cuts, regulation to fuel next crypto bull run Macroeconomic conditions continue to play a central role in crypto price dynamics. Currently, the Federal Reserve is not expected to cut interest rates until at least September. According to analysts at B2BINPAY, this is limiting the performance of altcoins, unless a significant shift in monetary policy occurs. “The bigger picture? Macro uncertainty is keeping altcoins in check. Markets still see only a small chance of a Fed rate cut in July, though odds rise sharply for September. Until that’s clearer, BTC dominance at 62.5% keeps altcoin upside capped,” B2BINPAY analysts. Despite increasing pressure from the White House, the Fed remains committed to a cautious monetary policy, a stance unlikely to change unless President Donald Trump takes drastic action, such as replacing Fed Chair Jerome Powell. That said, the more likely catalyst for the next crypto bull run may lie in regulatory developments. The U.S. Congress is set to deliberate on the Genius Act, a bill that could finally bring stablecoins out of the regulatory gray zone and offer much-needed clarity to the sector. Read more: GENIUS Act could bring trillions in institutional crypto capital: experts weigh in
The Fed is expected to resume interest rate cuts, which have been paused since January, as soon as possible. However, despite the positive data, the Fed prefers to keep interest rates steady due to concerns about tariffs. At this point, the FED left interest rates unchanged in June. While the next interest rate cuts are expected to be made in July and September, the market expects the first interest rate cut of 2025 to be made in September. I Expect Two Interest Rate Cuts in 2025, The First in September! At this point, Minneapolis FED President Neel Kashkari announced that he expects two interest rate cuts in 2025. Kashkari said in an article published today that he expects two rate cuts in 2025, with the first likely to occur in September. Neel Kashkari, one of the most hawkish Fed members, noted that inflation had fallen, which would allow him to cut the policy rate twice starting in September. While the FED member mentioned the possibility of the first interest rate cut being made in September, he stated that the FED could pause the reduction policy if necessary if the tariffs have a negative impact. “I expect two interest rate cuts in 2025. At this point, the first cut could be in September. “But if the Fed cuts interest rates in September and the inflationary effects of the tariffs become apparent later, we may temporarily pause the rate cuts.” Finally, Kashkari said economic data so far suggest that the impact of tariffs on prices, activity or the labor market has been extremely modest, and inflation is making renewed progress toward the Fed's 2% target. Kashkari is known as one of the members of the FED who is hostile to Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies. At this point, the FED member describes cryptocurrencies as worthless, fraudulent and ridiculous. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: One of the Most Hawkish FED Members, Neel Kashkari, Announced the Month in Which He Expects a Rate Cut!
Philippe Laffont—the billionaire behind Coatue Management—went and dropped Bitcoin into his “Fantastic 40,” his own shortlist of what he thinks will shine as top investments over the next five years. Laffont ranked Bitcoin alongside Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Meta, while leaving out Apple and Google. He says waking up at 3 a.m. wondering why he missed out drove him to rethink his stance. Based on reports from CNBC, he hasn’t bought any yet but thinks its market cap could jump past $5 trillion by 2030. That would put it in the same league as the biggest tech names. Billionaire Upbeat About Bitcoin According to his own research, the Coatue Management big boss sees Microsoft climbing to a $5.7 trillion valuation and Nvidia reaching $5.6 trillion in the next five years. He paints Bitcoin as a rival asset, forecasting it will more than double from roughly $2.1 trillion today. He says the world’s net worth of $450–500 trillion gives room for new winners. Equities sit near $120 trillion and gold above and under ground at about $20 trillion. His case rests on bigger acceptance and smoother swings in price. Bold Market Cap Forecasts Based on his figures, Bitcoin must average around 10–15% annual growth to hit $5 trillion by 2030. He sees volatility shrinking from daily moves of 5–7% to roughly half of that. That, he says, makes the crypto feel more like the Nasdaq. The tycoon points to de-dollarization as another tailwind. If global players shift away from the US dollar, Bitcoin could pick up more steam. Shaky Views From Others Not everyone is convinced. Eric Semler of Semler Scientific notes lots of hedge funds still doubt Bitcoin’s staying power. They worry momentum will vanish once the US President Donald Trump factor fades. Meanwhile, Bybit’s Shunyet Jan forecasts Bitcoin at $125,000 by the end of Q2 if current trends hold. Crypto analyst Scott Melker goes even further, predicting a surge to $250,000 by end-2025 thanks to more big investors jumping in. Semler’s Own Bet Semler Scientific already holds 4,450 BTC. The firm plans to build that to 10,000 by year-end. Its chairman says many peers aren’t ready to follow suit. They see Bitcoin as too tied to politics. That caution keeps some big wallets on the sidelines. What Could Go Wrong Regulatory moves remain the biggest wild card. Harsh rules could stall growth and scare off new buyers. Competition is rising too. Ether staking, Layer 2 networks and central bank digital currencies might chip away at Bitcoin’s crown. And a strong rebound in the US dollar or a broad stock sell-off could pull crypto down with it. Featured image from MrWallpaper, chart from TradingView