Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies like ethereum, solana, and XRP have experienced significant volatility in the past week as traders anticipate the impact of a potential BlackRock bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). The market has been turbulent, with the bitcoin price and broader crypto market being affected by a recent stock market sell-off driven by concerns over global interest rates. Coinbase has issued warnings of further market instability.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump has recently made headlines in the crypto world by suggesting the possibility of using bitcoin to pay off the U.S.'s $35 trillion debt. Trump's sons, Eric and Don Jr., have hinted at a forthcoming major crypto-related announcement, expressing enthusiasm for the future of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi).
During a speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference, Trump proposed the creation of a 'strategic national bitcoin reserve' and speculated that bitcoin could surpass gold's market capitalization. He further suggested that the U.S. government could potentially use bitcoin to eliminate its massive debt burden.
However, the market experienced a setback this week, with the bitcoin price dropping from its all-time high of over $70,000. Additionally, the Donald Trump-themed DJT memecoin faced a significant crash, losing 90% of its value after a large sell-off. The market capitalization of the DJT coin plummeted from $55 million to $3 million within seconds.
In a separate development, 'pharma bro' Martin Shkreli claimed, without evidence, that he and Trump's son Barron were involved in creating the DJT memecoin. The crypto market continues to be a space of rapid fluctuations and unexpected developments, highlighting the need for caution and vigilance among investors and traders.