🚀 Crypto Weekly: Trump’s 401(k) Shake-Up, Harvard Bets Big on Bitcoin, Ethereum Roars Back & Market Moves You Can’t Miss

Wall Street meets blockchain in this week’s high-stakes crypto roundup. From political plays to institutional adoption, here’s what’s rewriting the rules of money.

Trump’s 401(k) Gambit: Retirement Accounts Go Crypto?

The former president’s executive order could let traditional retirement funds dive into digital assets—just as Wall Street banks start quietly hoarding BTC themselves. Talk about timing.

Harvard’s $1.6B Endowment Takes the Orange Pill

Ivy League money managers reportedly allocated to Bitcoin futures. When elite institutions FOMO in, you know we’re past the ‘early adopter’ phase.

Ethereum’s Comeback Tour: DeFi Summer 2.0?

ETH flips resistance levels as gas fees stabilize. NFT platforms and layer-2 solutions are eating VC funding—while TradFi still tries to ‘understand the use case.’

The Cynic’s Corner

Gold bugs and bank CEOs suddenly love blockchain (but only the private, permissioned kind). How convenient.

Crypto Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market experienced a dynamic timeline in the last week, characterized by significant growth and heightened activity, with momentum accelerating over the weekend. The total crypto market capitalization surged past $4 trillion, up from $3.9 trillion at the week’s start, driven by a 4.22% increase in 24-hour trading volume to $174.04 billion.

Bitcoin reclaimed a 10-day high NEAR $118,500 on Saturday, buoyed by whale activity and a new reserve system, while Ethereum’s breakout above $4,300—its highest since 2021—reflected robust network usage and ETF inflows. The weekend saw an intensified rally, with altcoins like XRP gaining traction amid the SEC-Ripple resolution. All these price actions signaled for a bullish trend that could push the market toward new peaks this week if momentum holds.

Now, let’s unpack major pivotal moves and legal resolutions, offering a front-row seat to a rapidly evolving global economy. 

Major Headlines

Trump Unlocks Retirement Savings to Crypto Investments

On August 7, the U.S. President Donald Trump officially signed an executive order that marks a historic shift by opening the $12.5 trillion 401(k) retirement market to cryptocurrency investments. Effective by August 10, 2025, this bold move aims to position the United States as the “crypto capital of the world” by empowering 90 million Americans to diversify their retirement portfolios with digital assets. 

The order directs the Labor Department to revise fiduciary guidelines, rescinding a 2022 caution against crypto in retirement plans, and reflects a strategic pivot from the previous administration’s stance. 

Harvard’s Bold Bitcoin Bet

Harvard made headlines by investing over $116 million in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF, a move revealed in a recent 13F filing with the SEC, as reported on August 8, 2025. Managed through the Harvard Management Company, this substantial allocation to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) underscores a growing trend of institutional adoption. With over $150 billion in total net assets, spot Bitcoin ETFs reflect its status as a leading crypto investment vehicle. 

Ethereum’s Triumphant Return Above $4,300

Ethereum (ETH) has surged past the $4,300 mark for the first time since 2021, reaching $4,340 as of August 11, according to CoinMarketCap data. This surge marks a significant milestone driven by record network activity and a $110 million short squeeze. This breakout, fueled by the upcoming Fusaka upgrade in November 2025 and the earlier Pectra rollout, reflects bullish momentum with technical indicators signaling further highs despite overbought conditions.

SEC-Ripple Legal Saga Concludes

The long-standing legal battle between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs officially ended on August 7. Both the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss their appeals in the Second Circuit. This resolution upholds Judge Analisa Torres’ 2023 mixed ruling, which deemed XRP sales to institutional investors as unregistered securities while clearing retail “blind bid” sales, providing a partial victory for Ripple. 

The decision, influenced by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s earlier announcement to drop the cross-appeal, aligns with a broader shift under the TRUMP administration’s pro-crypto stance, potentially setting a precedent for future regulatory clarity. 

News You Might Have Missed

• Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Reach New High: Bitcoin mining difficulty hits a new all-time high, challenging miners with a 9.85% increase over the past 30 days.  
• Trump Signs Order to Stop Banking Discrimination Against Crypto: The U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order on August 10, to halt banking discrimination against crypto
• AMINA Bank’s Dive into Crypto: Switzerland’s AMINA Bank becomes the first regulated bank to offer SUI token trading and custody services. 
• CrediX Team Vanishes After a $4.5 Million Exploit: After the hack, CrediX team has deactivated their X account and taken their website offline, hinting at a possible exit scam. 
• Tornado Cash Co-founder Convicted of Conspiracy Charges: Roman Storm was convicted of charges on August 7, raising legal stakes for crypto developers.

What to Expect for This Week?

As we move into the week of August 11, the crypto market appears poised for continued momentum, with several factors potentially fueling a sustained bullish trend. Analysts anticipate that the recent regulatory clarity from the SEC-Ripple resolution could encourage more institutional investments, possibly triggering a wave of ETF approvals or corporate treasury allocations in bitcoin and Ethereum. 

The upcoming Fusaka upgrade for Ethereum, slated for later this year, might spark renewed interest and price surges if developer activity remains robust. Moreover, the sustained market momentum will hinge on maintaining high trading volumes, positive regulatory developments, and resilience against potential profit-taking—which all could potentially push the market toward uncharted territory if these catalysts align. 

Also Read: Five Years Since Strategy Started Buying Bitcoin, Share Up 2,600% Since