CONTENTS
- The Wrap Up
- Overview in This Market
- Movement in the Top 8
- This Week’s Narrative
- Key Advancements
- DeFi Brief
- Memes in Motion
- Fundraises
- Airdrop Buzz
- The Wrap Down
THE WRAP UP
Crypto markets opened strong this week before sharp liquidations reversed much of the momentum. Bitcoin remained steady, while Ethereum outperformed with a modest gain. The standout? The broader crypto market cap still climbed over 4% — even as geopolitical tensions spiked.
Tensions between Iran and Israel rattled global headlines late in the week, but crypto’s reaction was muted. Compared to past events, there was no major panic sell-off, a sign of growing market maturity and stronger hands holding.
Meanwhile, Musk vs Trump dominated political headlines, but behind the noise, institutions like Strategy and Gamestop kept buying, and ETF progress advanced. When traditional markets flinch and crypto holds firm, it signals something important: this market is starting to stand on its own.
OVERVIEW IN THIS MARKET
- Bitcoin (BTC) closed the week down 0.95% at $103,780
- Ethereum (ETH) closed up 2.3% at $3,180
- Total crypto market cap rose 4.7%, from $3.286T to $3.442T
Key Developments
- Strategy acquired 1,045 BTC for $110.2M at $105,426 avg.
- Gamestop filed a $1.75B convertible note offering, with proceeds allowed for BTC use
- SEC requested Solana ETF amendments, hinting at a decision within months
What This Means & The Impact
Despite military strikes and global uncertainty, the S&P 500 (+0.69%), Nasdaq (+0.69%), and crypto all held. That resilience, in the face of headlines that would’ve sparked panic in past cycles, shows just how different this market is becoming.
Top altcoin gainers: Kaia (KAIA), Axelar (AXL), Maple Finance (SYRUP), SPX6900 (SPX)
MOVEMENT IN THE TOP 8
- Price: $103,780
- 7D Change: -0.95%
- Summary: Flat with high volatility
- Price: $3,180
- 7D Change: +2.30%
- Summary: Led recovery after early dip
- Price: $606.21
- 7D Change: +1.24%
- Summary: Held steady near recent highs
- Price: $182.03
- 7D Change: -0.43%
- Summary: Slight drop as ETF buzz faded
- Price: $0.52
- 7D Change: +1.15%
- Summary: Benefited from positive regulatory tone
- Price: $0.26
- 7D Change: -0.38%
- Summary: Range-bound with light retail action
- Price: $0.8456
- 7D Change: +1.93%
- Summary: Tracked general altcoin resilience
- Price: $7.51
- 7D Change: +4.61%
- Summary: Continued surge with Telegram support
What This Means & The Impact
Major tokens handled global tensions surprisingly well. Ethereum and TON led, reflecting growing investor confidence in both infrastructure plays and next-gen networks.
THIS WEEK’S NARRATIVE
Crypto IPOs Open the Floodgates
- Circle (CRCL) surged 4.47x from IPO price to $138
- Gemini confirmed SEC filing for its public debut
- Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel, also filed for IPO
What This Means & The Impact
A more favorable regulatory tone is now encouraging crypto-native companies to go public. Circle’s performance is proving that these aren’t just experiments — they’re becoming legacy-grade investments.
KEY ADVANCEMENTS
- Stripe acquired wallet provider Privy
- X (Twitter) partnered with Polymarket as their predictions platform
- Humanity protocol acquired Web3 event tool Moongate
What This Means & The Impact
Tech giants are racing into crypto from different angles — Stripe via infrastructure, X via platform utility. The trend is clear: Web2 is repositioning around Web3 rails.
DEFI BRIEF
- Plasma’s XPL sale reached $1B cap in minutes
- Morpho V2 launched fixed-rate, intent-based lending
- 1inch unveiled Pathfinder upgrade for 6.5% better routing
- Synthetix to launch a new mainnet perps DEX
What This Means & The Impact
Plasma’s momentum reinforces stablecoins as the dominant theme. Meanwhile, routing efficiency and fixed lending show how DeFi is quietly solving key pain points behind the scenes.
MEMES IN MOTION
- Pump.fun is reportedly exploring revenue-sharing for token holders
What This Means & The Impact
If successful, this could be a turning point — bringing actual sustainability into memecoin ecosystems by rewarding long-term platform growth.
FUNDRAISES
- Hypernative raised $40M (Ballistic, Ten Eleven, Quantstamp)
- Noah raised $22M (LocalGlobe, Felix, FJ Labs, Joe Lonsdale)
- Solana Optimistic Network raised $5M (Jump, Amber Group)
- OneBalance raised $20M (cyber Fund, Blockchain Capital)
AIRDROP BUZZ
- Defi.App launched HOME token with 12-month staking multiplier
- Spark announced eligibility for Season 1 airdrop tied to USDS suite & SparkLend usage
What This Means & The Impact
Teams are designing smarter airdrops — blending engagement incentives with loyalty rewards. The shift is toward depth of participation, not just wallet count.
THE WRAP DOWN
A geopolitical spike, a political feud, and nearly $1B in liquidations couldn’t shake this market. Ethereum rallied, stablecoins dominated, and IPOs surged forward. Meanwhile, Trump’s clash with Musk showed how crypto is now a cultural and political lightning rod, not just a tech asset.
What This Means & The Impact
The story of the week wasn’t fear — it was resilience. From ETF filings to IPO waves and smart institutional buys, the market is speaking clearly: crypto is beginning to grow independently of the noise.
Your Trusted Crypto Research Team
Crypto Research Australia – CRA
“True conviction shows when you’re buying the dip while others are looking away.”
Jeromy Tawil, Head of Client Acquisition at Crypto Research Australia (CRA), brings over a decade of experience in financial markets.
