Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has suggested that U.S. banks could embrace cryptocurrency payments if the right regulations are established.
Speaking to CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Moynihan stated that if crypto payments become “a real thing” through proper regulation, the “banking system will come in hard on the transactional side of it.”
In such a case, cryptocurrency transactions would join traditional payment methods like credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay.
“We have hundreds of patents on blockchain already, we know how to enter the field,” Moynihan said.
BoA has been a leader in blockchain patents, focusing on areas such as settlement systems, digital wallets, and enterprise crypto accounts. However, as Cointelegraph has noted, it’s unclear whether these patents aim to foster innovation or hedge against potential risks.
Despite these efforts, U.S. crypto regulations remain slow to develop.
The lack of uniform licensing, restrictions on banking, and tax implications have hindered the adoption of cryptocurrency for payments.
Is Crypto Regulation on the Horizon?
Campaign promises suggest that blockchain and crypto adoption could gain momentum under President Donald Trump.
Although none of Trump’s 42 executive orders on his first day in office addressed crypto, pro-industry regulations are anticipated soon.
Leadership changes at federal agencies like the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could pave the way for clearer crypto guidelines, according to S&P Global.
However, Robert Maddox, a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, believes structural changes in bank regulation are unlikely.
“There are more people interested in finding regulation and/or bank accounts for these cryptos than there are in reducing what people consider the regulatory structure in America,” Maddox told S&P Global.
Banks appear ready to act—if regulators provide the green light.
Pepe Loves Bezos could turn early investors into multi-millionaires, like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) did.
Pepe Loves Bezos (PEPEBEZO), a new Solana memecoin that was launched today, is set to explode over 15,000% in price in the coming days.
This is because PEPEBEZO is set to soon be listed on numerous crypto exchanges, according to reports.
This will give the Solana memecoin exposure to millions of additional investors, who will pour funds into the coin and drive its price up.
Currently, Pepe Loves Bezos can only be purchased via Solana decentralized exchanges, like Jup.ag and Raydium.io, and early investors stand to make huge returns in the coming days.
Early investors in SHIB and DOGE made astronomical returns, and Pepe Loves Bezos could become the next viral memecoin.
Pepe Loves Bezos launched with over $9,000 of liquidity, giving it a unique advantage over the majority of other new memecoins, and early investors could make huge gains.
How to Buy
To buy Pepe Loves Bezos on Raydium.io or Jup.ag ahead of the CEX listings, users need to connect their Solflare, MetaMask or Phantom wallet, and swap Solana for Pepe Loves Bezos by entering its contract address – 5fminHHGkusginuqs4jjR2qivagMWWBStM2Hs21HVLcm – in the receiving field.
If you don’t have one of these wallets already, you can create a new wallet in a few minutes and transfer some Solana to it (which will then be used to buy the memecoin), from an exchange like Coinbase, Binance and many others.
In fact, early investors could make returns similar to those who invested in Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) before these memecoins went viral and exploded in price.
If this happens, a new wave of memecoin millionaires could be created in a matter of weeks – or potentially even sooner.
The Solana memecoin craze continues amid larger memecoins, like Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogecoin (DOGE) and DogWifHat (WIF) trading sideways in recent weeks and losing momentum.
This is why many SHIB, DOGE and WIF investors are instead investing in new Solana memecoins, like PEPEBEZO.
Such memecoins have no utility and no inherent value, but investors looking for high gains have been investing in them due to their potential to rapidly rise in price.
Asset managers Osprey Funds and REX Shares are looking to launch exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that include memecoins such as Dogecoin, Official Trump (TRUMP), and Bonk.
A regulatory filing on Jan. 21 also revealed plans for ETFs targeting Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP.
These ETFs aim to hold spot cryptocurrencies directly, alongside related financial derivatives.
“The Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in the Reference Asset and other assets that provide exposure to the Reference Asset,” the filing explained.
The REX-Osprey TRUMP ETF would be the first ETF to include TRUMP, a memecoin endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump and issued on Jan. 18 by a Trump-affiliated group.
TRUMP Memecoin Makes Waves
Trump’s token quickly surpassed $80 billion in fully diluted value (FDV) within its first day.
As of Jan. 21, the memecoin trades at an FDV of around $42 billion.
Its launch spurred significant activity on the Solana blockchain, causing congestion on the network for several days.
Moonshot, the platform President Trump recommended for purchasing TRUMP tokens, reported over 200,000 new on-chain users since the token’s debut.
Crypto ETFs Await Regulatory Approval
U.S. regulators are expected to take a more favorable approach to crypto oversight under President Trump, who has pledged to make the U.S. the “world’s crypto capital.”
More than a dozen proposed cryptocurrency ETFs are currently awaiting approval, with filings submitted in 2024 for altcoins such as Solana, XRP, and Litecoin.
Several issuers have also proposed crypto index ETFs that would hold diversified baskets of digital tokens.
Rex Shares has already launched other crypto-related ETFs, including the T-REX 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF, which offers leveraged exposure to frequent Bitcoin buyer MicroStrategy.
Dogecoin experienced a significant rally, climbing over 11% following news about Elon Musk’s new governmental efficiency initiative.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk and tasked with reducing government spending and simplifying regulations, unveiled its official website on Jan. 21.
Department of Government Efficiency Website Launch
The official DOGE website went live, triggering excitement among investors.
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro showed Dogecoin rising over 11% to reach $0.38 shortly after the announcement.
Dogecoin Momentum Linked to Musk’s Initiative
Dogecoin’s price has gained considerable traction due to Musk’s involvement in the new agency.
Many retail investors believe the agency could act as a driver for Dogecoin’s value, as it shares both the acronym and logo of the popular cryptocurrency.
On Nov. 27, 2024, Dogecoin’s market cap surpassed that of Porsche, which stood at $56.1 billion at the time.
This surge was fueled by Musk’s endorsements and speculation surrounding the potential launch of an exchange-traded product (ETP) for Dogecoin.
Price Hits $0.40 Before Pullback
Shortly after the agency’s website launch, Dogecoin briefly exceeded $0.40, marking another milestone.
Despite this recent growth, Dogecoin is still trading over 48% below its all-time high of $0.73, achieved on May 8, 2021, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Looking Ahead
As the crypto market keeps a close eye on developments tied to Musk and his initiatives, Dogecoin continues to attract attention from both retail and institutional investors.
A crypto trader invested $800,000 in Melania Trump’s official memecoin, Official Melania Meme (MELANIA), and made a remarkable profit of over 1,950%, according to data from Lookonchain.
The trader, identified by the Solana address 4zo6…zHF2, exchanged 800,000 USD Coin (USDC) on Jan. 20 and converted it into 16.45 million USDC in just 12 hours, achieving nearly 2000% gains.
Another trader reportedly turned $560,000 into $11.5 million by investing in MELANIA, while a third pocketed $47.5 million in profits.
These massive gains came as MELANIA’s price soared by 25,600% within 12 hours of its launch across various crypto exchanges.
Melania Trump’s verified X account announced the token, which quickly gained traction with around 500,000 holders, according to DEX Screener.
The token has also become the 10th most traded cryptocurrency by volume.
MELANIA’s meteoric rise coincided with the buzz surrounding Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration and the debut of his own memecoin, Official TRUMP ($TRUMP).
The TRUMP token, released shortly before MELANIA, climbed into the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap, reaching a fully diluted value of approximately $50 billion.
Concerns About MELANIA’s Transparency
Despite its rapid success, MELANIA has faced criticism regarding its token distribution and project transparency.
Blockchain analytics platform Bubblemaps revealed that nearly 90% of MELANIA’s supply is controlled by a single wallet, raising doubts about the fairness of its distribution.
Additionally, the token’s website, launched a day before its debut, has been criticized for weak cybersecurity and subpar development.
Coinbase executive Conor Grogan commented that MELANIA appeared less professionally managed than the TRUMP token, likening it to a project run by “college kids.”
While doubts remain about MELANIA’s transparency and execution, its unprecedented gains have fueled excitement and speculation in the crypto space.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has urged firms to limit the use of stablecoins that fail to comply with the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
In a statement released on Jan. 17, ESMA emphasized the need for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to take immediate action regarding non-compliant stablecoins, also known as asset-referenced tokens (ARTs).
While the authority did not specify which issuers or stablecoins were non-compliant, the focus was on ensuring adherence to MiCA’s standards.
EU Regulators Set Q1 2025 Deadline for Compliance
ESMA highlighted the role of national competent authorities (NCAs) in guiding CASPs to align with MiCA requirements.
The regulations prohibit the issuance of stablecoins by entities not authorized under MiCA.
Issuers must be licensed in the EU, and any third party offering ARTs or electronic money tokens (EMTs) must secure written consent from the issuer.
The ESMA stated that NCAs should enforce compliance “as soon as possible,” with a final deadline of Q1 2025.
Restrictions on Non-Compliant Stablecoins
CASPs have until the end of January 2025 to implement restrictions, with allowances for “sell-only” operations extending until the end of Q1 2025.
This provision aims to enable EU investors to liquidate or convert holdings in non-compliant stablecoins during this transition period.
Tether’s USDT Faces Potential Delisting
The ESMA’s directive suggests that Tether’s USDT, the largest stablecoin by market cap, does not meet MiCA’s requirements.
“Tether does not have a license,” stated Juan Ignacio Ibañez of the MiCA Crypto Alliance.
Ibañez indicated that CASPs might need to delist USDT by Jan. 31, with complete removal, including “sell-only” options, by March 31.
Cointelegraph reached out to ESMA and Tether for clarification but has yet to receive a response.
The U.S. debt ceiling is signaling a critical warning for Bitcoin, which could face a temporary correction to $70,000 before continuing its upward trend in the market cycle.
The Treasury is set to reach its $36 trillion debt ceiling the day after Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration as president.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has announced a “debt issuance suspension period” starting on Jan. 21 and lasting until March 14, according to a letter published on Jan. 17.
This suspension period could lead to reduced global liquidity, which poses a challenge for Bitcoin despite it reaching a new all-time high of $109,000 on Jan. 20.
Short-Term Correction Expected
Raoul Pal, founder and CEO of Global Macro Investor, predicts Bitcoin will hit a “local top” above $110,000 in January before experiencing a correction below $70,000 by February.
Pal’s analysis, shared in a November post on X, highlights Bitcoin’s correlation with global liquidity, suggesting an interim peak in liquidity could trigger this pullback.
Impact of Debt Ceiling on Bitcoin
While some analysts remain cautious, others believe the debt ceiling’s impact on Bitcoin could vary.
Marcin Kazmierczak, COO of Redstone, noted that Bitcoin’s behavior during previous debt ceiling disputes has shown mixed correlations with traditional markets.
“The key factors to watch will be institutional behavior and whether this situation triggers broader market uncertainty,” Kazmierczak told Cointelegraph.
Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, added that traditional market volatility could spill into crypto, potentially impacting Bitcoin.
“It could lead to a broader market risk-off environment,” Kan said, emphasizing the importance of investor behavior and global financial sentiment.
Long-Term Outlook
Global liquidity is expected to improve after March 14, which could bolster Bitcoin’s price later in 2025.
Jamie Coutts, chief crypto analyst at Real Vision, forecasts a peak in the global M2 money supply by Jan. 26, 2026, signaling a more favorable outlook for Bitcoin.
Three celebrated events on snooker’s global tour, renowned for their elite fields , will welcome Sportsbet.io as their new title partner for the next two years. The Sportsbet.io Players Championship will run from March 17-23, 2025, at Telford International Centre, followed by the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship from March 31 to April 6 at Manchester Central and then the Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions from November 10-16 in Bolton.
All three events will be screened live by ITV and will receive extensive global television and online coverage from a range of international broadcasters.
Sportsbet.io, a leading crypto sportsbook and casino, Official Regional Partner of LALIGA, Official Betting Partner of English football team, Hull City and a Club Partner of Premier League team Newcastle United, now joins forces with WST and Matchroom for the first time. Sportsbet.io is part of Yolo Group, known for bringing next-level innovation to the worlds of gaming, fintech and blockchain.
The Sportsbet.io Players Championship is the second event in the 2025 Players Series. Only the top 16 on this season’s one-year ranking list will earn a place in the field in Telford. Mark Allen won the trophy last season, and as it stands he could be defending the title in a field including the likes of world number one Judd Trump, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, John Higgins and many more top stars.
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The Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions, ever present on the calendar since 2013, brings together 16 winners of tournaments over the previous 12 months. Mark Williams took the title in 2024, coming through a superb field which included the likes of Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
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About Sportsbet.io
Founded in 2016 as part of Yolo Group, Sportsbet.io is the leading crypto sportsbook. Sportsbet.io has redefined the online betting space by combining cutting-edge technology, with cryptocurrency expertise and a passion for offering its players with the ultimate fun, fast and fair gaming experience.
Official Regional Partner of LALIGA, Official Betting Partner of English football team, Hull City and a Club Partner of Premier League team Newcastle United, Sportsbet.io provides an expansive range of betting action across all major sports and eSports, offering players more than 1M pre-match events per year and comprehensive in-play content.
As the first crypto sportsbook to introduce a cash out function, Sportsbet.io is recognised as a leader in both online sports betting and within the crypto community.
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Bitcoin approached fresh monthly highs on Jan. 19 as market participants anticipated the return of price discovery.
BTC/USD all-time highs anticipated soon
Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView revealed that BTC/USD was edging closer to $105,500 on Bitstamp as the weekly close approached.
Up approximately 12% for January so far, Bitcoin has been gaining traction among bullish traders, especially with the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump just a day away.
In tandem with Bitcoin’s momentum, Trump’s controversial cryptocurrency, OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP), surged to a market cap exceeding $11 billion, securing its place among the top twenty largest cryptocurrencies.
Optimism for the crypto market as a whole has led to bold predictions from traders. “$BTC ATH incoming pretty soon imo,” remarked popular trader Pentoshi in a recent post on X.
Another prominent trader, Moataz Elsayed, also known as Eljaboom, described Bitcoin as entering the “belief phase” of its current market cycle. He stated, “$150K Bitcoin will happen this cycle,” and shared a comparative chart of Bitcoin’s current price action and its movement four years ago.
BTC support levels under watch
While bullish sentiment prevailed, some analysts emphasized the importance of maintaining key support levels.
Daan Crypto Trades highlighted this in his latest update: “$BTC Clean retest of the prior yearly high. Looks good for a move to the all-time high next week as long as that ~$102.7K level is held.”
As the crypto market remains optimistic, traders are now closely monitoring Bitcoin’s price movement for further confirmation of its upward trajectory. With strong momentum and favorable conditions, Bitcoin could be on track to achieve new all-time highs.
Unusual trading patterns have surfaced around US President-elect Donald Trump’s Solana-based Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin, which has seen its market cap soar to $42 billion, sparking a frenzy among retail investors.
On Jan. 18, onchain analytics firm Bubblemaps investigated a crypto wallet that received $1 million just hours before TRUMP’s launch.
Blockchain data shows the wallet purchased $5.9 million worth of TRUMP tokens in the first minute of trading, later selling $20 million while retaining $96 million in tokens.
These tokens were then transferred to another wallet and distributed across 10 wallets, all now actively selling on Solana decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
The trading activity has raised concerns over potential market manipulation as the TRUMP token continues to dominate headlines.
Preetam Rao, CEO of Web3 security firm QuillAudits, highlighted issues with TRUMP’s token structure and intentions.
“Eighty percent of the supply is locked for CIC Digital, owned by the Donald Trump Revocable Trust. The same entity launched Trump NFT Trading Cards three years ago. The website says it’s ‘not an investment but a show of support,’” Rao explained.
He added that the top 10 holders control 89.06% of the supply, with no clarity on the liquidity pool’s burn status. “The token’s launch in an Asian morning time zone suggests it’s more about profit-making,” he noted.
Rao speculated, “We see insider trading involved, but if the US government is supporting innovation, maybe it’s a rug pull that also sets a foundation for innovation.”
TRUMP Memecoin Gains Mainstream Momentum
TRUMP’s popularity surged as major exchanges Coinbase and Binance listed the token.
According to CoinGecko, TRUMP trading volumes soared, with Bitget, MEXC, and KuCoin leading the activity.
At the time of writing, TRUMP is up 194% in 24 hours, trading at $54.62.
Meanwhile, Solana’s ecosystem saw record highs, with Raydium, GMGN, and Moonshot processing millions in fees and transactions, attracting over 200,000 new users onchain.