Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22

Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22

  • 22.03.2025 23:31
  • cointelegraph.com
  • Keywords: SEC lawsuit over, crypto capital of the world, economic growth, regulatory shift, stake in Ethereum network, node operator, XRP price gains, bearish price action, onchain retail activity, market manipulation, crypto-stealing malware

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the SEC’s appeal is dropped, ending a four-year legal battle. Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to speak at a crypto conference, emphasizing the US's goal to be the "crypto capital of the world." Bybit revealed 89% of stolen funds are still traceable, while Coinbase emerged as Ethereum's largest node operator with an 11% stake. Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP prices closed the week at $84,136, $1,962, and $2.38 respectively, with XRP showing potential for a 75% gain if its bullish trend continues.

Coinbase ReportsCoinbase NewsCIIHYsentiment_dissatisfiedCOINsentiment_satisfied

Estimated market influence

Ripple

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

The SEC lawsuit against Ripple has ended, which is a significant victory for the company and the crypto industry.

SEC

SEC

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating:

The SEC dropped its appeal against Ripple after a long legal battle.

Blockworks

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Hosted the Digital Asset Summit where Trump spoke, contributing to crypto's positive perception.

Bybit

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Suffered a major hack, but most stolen funds are still traceable.

Coinbase

Coinbase

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Buy

Became the largest node operator on Ethereum with 11.42% stake.

Ark Invest

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Highlighted the potential impact of crypto during economic downturns.

Binance

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

CEOs denied involvement in a deal with Trump, avoiding negative implications.

Solana Labs

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Co-founder acknowledged the importance of crypto's role but didn't specify company impact.

CryptoQuant

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Founder expressed bearish views on Bitcoin, potentially affecting market sentiment.

Gotbit

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Founder pleaded guilty to fraud and manipulation charges.

Context

Business Insights and Market Implications Analysis

SEC vs. Ripple Case Conclusion

  • Key Fact: SEC dropped its appeal against Ripple, ending a four-year legal battle over alleged unregistered securities offering worth $1.3 billion.
    • Impact: A significant victory for Ripple and the crypto industry, boosting market sentiment and XRP price expectations.
    • Quote: "This is it — the moment we’ve been waiting for. The SEC will drop its appeal — a resounding victory for Ripple, for crypto, every way you look at it." – Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple.

Trump's Crypto Industry Address

  • Key Fact: US President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to speak at a crypto conference, emphasizing the potential for the US to become the "crypto capital of the world."
    • Impact: Signals increased government engagement and regulatory clarity, attracting more institutional investment.
    • Quote: "Pioneers like you will be able to improve our banking and payment system..." – Donald Trump.

Bybit Hack Recovery

  • Key Fact: Over $1.4 billion stolen in Bybit hack remains traceable, with blockchain investigators making progress in freezing and recovering funds.
    • Impact: Highlights improving blockchain security measures and the ability to combat crypto fraud effectively.
    • Quote: "Despite Lazarus Group’s efforts, over 88% of the stolen $1.4 billion remains traceable." – Ben Zhou, Bybit CEO.

Coinbase as Ethereum's Largest Staker

  • Key Fact: Coinbase controls 11.42% of total staked Ether, making it the largest node operator on the Ethereum network.
    • Impact: Reinforces Coinbase’s influence in the crypto space and its role in Ethereum’s staking ecosystem.
    • Quote: "Coinbase’s stake makes the exchange the 'single largest node operator' in the network." – Anthony Sassano.

Binance Denies Trump Deal Talks

  • Key Fact: Binance CEO Richard Teng reiterated denial of reports about discussions with Trump's family regarding an equity deal.
    • Impact: Maintains transparency and investor confidence, amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

Market Performance (As of March 22)

  • Bitcoin: $84,136
  • Ether: $1,962
  • XRP: $2.38
  • Total Market Cap: $2.75 trillion

Altcoin Performance

  • Top Gainers:
    • Four (FORM): +86.05%
    • Pancake Swap (CAKE): +66.00%
    • Toncoin (TON): +23.18%
  • Top Losers:
    • Pi (PI): -36.63%
    • Official Trump (TRUMP): -9.52%
    • JasmyCoin (JASMY): -8.42%

XRP Price Prediction

  • Scenario: Potential 75% gains by June, targeting $4.35 from current levels.
  • Risks: Possible price drop to $1.28 if trendline breaks down.

FUD and Risks

Retail Crypto Activity

  • Insight: Bitcoin bulls may be misled by lack of on-chain retail activity, as retail likely flows through ETFs (off-chain).
    • Quote: "The idea that the cycle isn’t over just because onchain retail activity is absent needs reconsideration." – Ki Young Ju.

Russian Gotbit Founder Plea Deal

  • Fact: Aleksei Andriunin agreed to forfeit $23 million in stablecoins as part of a plea deal for wire fraud and market manipulation.
    • Impact: Highlights ongoing legal challenges in the crypto space.

TradingView Malware Warning

  • Alert: Cracked version of TradingView Premium found with malware targeting crypto wallets.
    • Quote: "We have heard of victims whose crypto wallets had been emptied..." – Jerome Segura, Malwarebytes.

Notable Quotations

  • On Crypto's Role in AI: "While crypto is the currency for AI, not every agent needs its own token." – Co-founder of Binance.
  • On Bitcoin Cycle: "Bitcoin bull cycle is over, expecting 6-12 months of bearish or sideways price action." – CryptoQuant CEO.

Long-Term Implications

  • Regulatory Clarity: Trump’s involvement and SEC’s withdrawal from Ripple case suggest shifting regulatory dynamics in the US.
  • Market Maturity: Improved security measures (Bybit hack recovery) and institutional adoption (Coinbase staking) indicate maturation of the crypto market.
  • Competitive Landscape: Dominance of major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance influences market trends and investor behavior.

Strategic Considerations

  • Investor Sentiment: Positive developments like SEC vs. Ripple conclusion and Trump’s address may drive retail and institutional interest.
  • Risk Management: Continued focus on security (Bybit hack recovery) and regulatory compliance (FUD stories) remains critical for market stability.