Over the past week, Bitcoin has fluctuated between $81K and $87K, even though interest rates are holding steady.
Despite Trump’s pro-crypto stance and the launch of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, bitcoin’s price has stalled, primarily due to economic pressures like inflation and investor sell-offs.
In the short term, volatility is still a factor, but big players like BlackRock and Fidelity are doubling down, and Bitcoin’s role in global trade and finance keeps growing. The long-term outlook is still bullish. Bitcoin is cementing itself as a significant financial asset, and those playing the long game stand to benefit the most.
Kraken, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is acquiring retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion.
“This transaction is the first step in our vision of an institutional-grade trading platform where any asset can be traded, anytime,” said Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi.
The deal, the largest-ever merger of traditional finance (TradFi) and crypto, strengthens Kraken’s position as a 24/7 platform for professional traders. It also paves the way for Kraken to lead the U.S. in futures for both traditional and crypto markets.
It also accelerates Kraken’s expansion into equities trading and payments. NinjaTrader, a CFTC-registered platform with nearly 2 million users and backed by Long Ridge Equity Partners, will continue operating independently while benefiting from Kraken’s global regulatory reach. The acquisition comes amid growing optimism over looser U.S. crypto regulations under President Trump and follows the recent dismissal of an SEC lawsuit against Kraken.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025.
Pakistan’s appointment of a Chief Advisor for Crypto Policy reflects the global ripple effect of the U.S. embracing pro-crypto regulations. As Washington establishes more straightforward policies, countries recognize blockchain adoption’s economic and technological stakes.
Pakistan, already ranked among the top 10 in crypto adoption, is moving to formalize its regulatory framework, ensuring alignment with global standards.
Chief Crypto Policy Advisor Bilal Bin Saqib said in a Bloomberg interview, “Every country will have to follow suit or risk being left behind. Pakistan is done sitting on the sidelines—we want Pakistan as a leader in blockchain-powered finance.”
This move highlights how U.S. crypto policy sets the stage for international adoption, pushing emerging markets to compete in blockchain innovation.
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