Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are experiencing a downturn, primarily driven by concerns over rising inflation in the United States.
However, anticipation for a market rebound has been linked to the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20.
Although many expected Trump’s return to power to boost Bitcoin and altcoin prices, a recent meeting between Trump and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse added an unexpected twist. Garlinghouse revealed that he, alongside Ripple’s legal counsel Stuart Alderoty, dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. This gathering has been seen as a positive signal for Ripple and the broader crypto market as 2025 approaches, especially given the shifting regulatory landscape in the U.S.
The dinner was viewed by experts as a sign of Ripple’s growing influence, further sparking optimism in the cryptocurrency sector for the year ahead. Garlinghouse himself expressed enthusiasm about the meeting, calling it “a wonderful dinner” and a “strong start to 2025.”
Although details of the discussion remain unclear, it is believed that topics such as XRP and the broader cryptocurrency industry were on the table. This has fueled speculation that a spot XRP ETF could be approved sometime in 2025. This dinner marked Trump’s final engagement with crypto leaders following his re-election on November 5, with other notable meetings including those with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek.
PayPal has expanded its stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), to the Arbitrum network, marking a key step in its strategy to integrate with faster, more cost-efficient blockchain infrastructure.
Citigroup is evaluating the potential launch of its own U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, signaling a growing shift in sentiment among traditional financial institutions toward digital assets.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon remains skeptical of stablecoins—but says ignoring them isn’t an option for the world’s most powerful bank.
According to crypto analyst Atlas, the traditional four-year cycle that once defined Bitcoin and altcoin market behavior is now obsolete.