Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has declared the traditional four-year cryptocurrency cycle dead.

Bitwise CIO declares the crypto cycle dead—institutions are the new drivers

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder of Binance and former CEO of the world’s 
largest cryptocurrency exchange, is reportedly aligning himself with President 
Donald Trump’s policy initiatives following his recent release from a four- 
month jail sentence. This shift comes as Zhao seeks to navigate the 
complexities of his situation in the US in light of his legal challenges, 
including a formal application for a presidential pardon after serving time 
for violations related to anti-money laundering laws (AML). Will CZ’s Strategy 
Result? As reported by Crypto in America, Zhao’s foundation, Giggle Academy, 
has partnered with American Legion Charities to donate $2 million to create a 
permanent scholarship for the children of fallen and disabled US service 
members. Per the report, this initiative is particularly timely, coinciding 
with Trump’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain 
technology. Related Reading: Is $1 Dogecoin ‚Inevitable‘? Analyst Cites 
Perfect Storm Of Factors Zhaos’ scholarship program aims to empower students 
by providing grants of up to $20,000 and features an annual competition that 
encourages participants to address pressing societal issues with innovative 
solutions. This aligns with the Trump administration&#8217;s broader objectives, 
which include bolstering America’s position as a global leader in technology 
and cryptocurrency while supporting veterans and their families. Recently, the 
president’s administration approved an $832 billion defense funding bill that 
includes pay raises and enhanced benefits for service members, further 
underscoring this commitment. Former Binance CEO&#8217;s Pardon Application Gains 
Traction Industry insiders view Zhao’s &#8220;philanthropic initiative&#8221; as 
potentially strategic, suggesting that it could be an attempt to gain favor 
with the president. “CZ knows what he’s doing,” remarked a crypto executive 
familiar with the landscape. The executive, who chose to remain anonymous when 
responding to Crypto in America&#8217;s inquiries, further stated: For the US to 
maintain its status as the crypto capital of the world, it needs strong 
leadership from its top exchanges and entrepreneurs. Moreover, we need a 
skilled workforce to drive the future economy. Related Reading: Crypto Founder 
Reveals What Will Drive Ethereum Price To $10,000 Adding to Binance’s former 
CEO complex situation in the country, recent speculation has emerged regarding 
his chances of receiving a presidential pardon. CZ has topped crypto-betting 
platform Polymarket&#8217;s leaderboard as the individual most likely to be pardoned 
by President Donald Trump in 2025, according to recent polls. This narrative 
gained momentum after Zhao confirmed on a podcast that he had formally applied 
for a pardon. This came after a tumultuous year in which he faced significant 
legal hurdles, leading him to leave Binance and relinquish any role in its 
operations. When writing, the exchange’s native token Binance Coin (BNB) 
trades at $782, a gap of over 3% from its current record high of $809 reached 
two days ago. Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView.com

Former Binance CEO’s Alleged Support For Trump Initiatives: A Strategy For Pardon?

CANG just became the 4th largest public Bitcoin miner by hash rate. But after 
a recent leadership shakeup, is it now acting as a proxy for Bitmain? We break 
down the ownership changes, executive ties, and industry links to uncover 
what’s really going on. Cango Becomes Top-4 Public Bitcoin Miner The following 
guest post comes […]

Is Cango a Bitmain Proxy? Here’s What I Found

The Bitwise Invest executive admits he “could be wrong” but doesn’t see 2025 
as the end of the upside for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin ‘up year’ is 2026, and the four-year cycle is dead: Bitwise

India is unleashing cutting-edge data analytics and forensic tech to crack 
down on crypto tax evasion, driving aggressive enforcement and surging digital 
asset revenue collection. Government Uses Data Analytics to Track Tax Evasion 
on Digital Assets The government of India provided an update early this week 
in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India&#8217;s […]

Indian Government Reveals Crypto Tax Measures to Strengthen Compliance Oversight

XRP investors face rising threats as scammers hijack Youtube accounts to mimic 
Ripple, pushing fake giveaways just as the token rallies on ETF and adoption 
momentum. Ripple Warns XRP Users as Scammers Rebrand Youtube Accounts to 
Appear Official Ripple Labs issued a fraud alert this week via social media 
platform X, warning of a sharp […]