Crypto Markets Defy Gravity in Week 19—Here’s What Actually Mattered

Bitcoin flirts with $100K while Wall Street analysts still can’t agree if it’s a currency or a ’digital pet rock.’

DeFi protocols quietly hit new ATHs—proving yield farmers outlast even the most stubborn bear markets.

BNB Chain’s latest upgrade cuts gas fees by 40%, leaving Ethereum maximalists muttering about ’sidechain compromises.’

Meanwhile, traditional finance CEOs still can’t decide whether to ban crypto or hoard it in their secret cold wallets.

Smooth upgrade for Ethereum

This week, Ethereum, the leading smart contract blockchain by market capitalization, smoothly implemented another upgrade. The “Pectra Upgrade” combined a total of eleven ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to improve user-friendliness, enhance scalability, and make staking more efficient. Next, structural changes within the Ethereum Foundation are planned. A new foundation leadership, complementing founder Vitalik Buterin, aims to enable a reorientation of goals under clear guidance. Immediate technical improvements, such as scaling the Ethereum base layer, are at the forefront, while Buterin shifts his focus to long-term research efforts.

Conclusion of the Ripple vs. SEC case

Ripple has been facing accusations from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for over four years, claiming the sale of the cryptocurrency XRP involved the distribution of unregistered securities. The legal battle had industry-wide significance, as the SEC used the same argument in lawsuits against countless other crypto projects. However, since Trump’s presidency, a shift in thinking has been taking place at the SEC. In March, the SEC settled nearly all lawsuits against blockchain companies – the case against Ripple was one of the last remaining. This has now come to an end as well. Both parties reached a settlement in which Ripple will pay a fine of 50 million USD without admitting any wrongdoing.

Is the “Crypto Valley” at risk?

In recent years, Switzerland has established itself as a leading hub for blockchain technologies – thanks to advanced regulatory frameworks, an innovation-friendly stance from authorities, and close collaboration between politics and industry. Today, this lead is at risk. Other jurisdictions are rapidly catching up and offering increasingly attractive conditions for blockchain companies – the sharp political shift under the Trump administration should serve as a wake-up call. This is the view of the three industry associations Swiss Blockchain Federation, Crypto Valley Association, and Bitcoin Association Switzerland, which have released a joint manifesto with concrete measures to strengthen the location.

EU aims to ban privacy coins

In addition: Switzerland is increasingly aligning with the neighboring European Union, including in the regulation of cryptocurrencies. Questionable developments are emerging there. By 2027, the EU aims to implement a comprehensive ban on anonymous cryptocurrency transactions. This particularly affects so-called privacy coins like Monero, which obscure transaction details and protect users’ privacy. Like all technologies, privacy coins can also be misused for criminal activities. Through the ban, the EU seeks to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Critics point out that this measure coincides with the planned timeline for the digital euro. Such a state-backed digital currency WOULD enable the complete surveillance of all financial transactions. Combined with a ban on privacy coins and the gradual abolition of cash, the first warning signs should be flashing.