In our latest Learn 101 livestream session, crypto experts shared insights on the impact of Trump's inauguration on the crypto market.

In 2024, speculation of Donald Trump’s election win in the U.S. as well as the actual win itself were 

 leading up to his inauguration and transition to power. His inauguration sets the stage for both whale activity and institutional activity.

, we ask, “Will Trump’s Inauguration Ignite Crypto's Next Big Rally?”

, provides a recap of our Learn 101 livestreams, offering you comprehensive expertise and insights from leading figures in the crypto industry in case you miss the livestream.

Joining the livestream on Jan 14, 2025, were two distinguished guests: Brian, Head of Content at Santiment, as well as Shunyet Jan, Head of Derivatives Business and Institutional Sales at Bybit. Under the moderation of Sabrina Chua, Crypto Evangelist and SEO Editor at Bybit, this episode asks, “Will Trump’s Inauguration Ignite Crypto's Next Big Rally?”

Market Sentiment & Key Narratives for 2025

Since the crypto rally at the end of 2024, Bitcoin’s price has pulled back slightly. Investors seem to be waiting to see what happens after 

. Brian at Santiment cites the common adage, “Buy the rumor, sell the news.

 Looking back over the past year, many investors bought crypto in anticipation of major events, only to witness a price drop when those events materialized. He believes a similar scenario is playing out now — Trump, perceived as the pro-crypto candidate, created a bullish sentiment leading up to his election. Now, crypto 

 are likely waiting for his inauguration and assessing whether the transition is smooth before making their next moves.

Brian emphasizes that while retail traders remain an important force in the crypto market, institutional activity has become the dominant driver due to sheer volume. Shunyet Jan echoes this view, pointing out that there’s huge pent-up demand from U.S. institutions to enter the crypto space. Bybit’s data reflects this shift: half of its institutional accounts were opened over the past year, signaling a dramatic uptick in institutional interest. However, many institutions appear to be waiting for clarity from the new U.S. administration before fully committing.

Institutional Moves and Retail Opportunities

Institutional activity is often seen as a stabilizing force, but large-scale moves can still cause price swings. Brian highlights MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin purchases and its announcements as key drivers of recent price action. For retail traders, these institutional shifts create opportunities, and savvy traders take advantage of panic selling by buying the dips.

Jan reminds traders that crypto, like any other asset class, sees heightened retail activity during price swings driven by news events. He points out that, while institutions shape long-term trends, short-term movements are still heavily influenced by retail trading.

Solana vs. Ethereum: Changing Market Dynamics

Solana’s trading activity remains strong, and some view it as a potential competitor to Bitcoin. Jan attributes this to Ethereum’s ongoing issues with 

 solutions, which Solana has largely avoided. He believes Solana’s growth potential may now be stronger than Ethereum’s.

Brian, however, takes a more balanced view. He acknowledges that while Ethereum has historically dominated in terms of projects built on its network, activity on Ethereum has dropped by 10% over the past six months, while Solana’s has increased by 3%. This suggests a shift, but he maintains that both networks remain viable in the long term.

 typically rally at the end of a market cycle. As Bitcoin reaches a peak, investors often rotate profits into meme coins, creating a strong indicator for analysts tracking cycle tops. If Bitcoin surges next week following Trump’s inauguration, Brian expects meme coins to follow suit. However, he warns that this shift also signals increased market risk.

Currently, the market value to realized value (MVRV) ratio is negative, meaning that many investors are holding crypto at a loss. Brian explains that this serves as a probability metric — short-term MVRV is negative, but most assets remain positive over a 365-day MVRV. He recommends that investors decide whether they’re in for a short-term trade or a long-term hold, before making any moves.

Data-Driven Insights Into Emerging Crypto Sectors

Shunyet Jan observes that AI-driven movements in the crypto market are mirroring real-world activity, much like a meme coin rally. However, he believes that, while many AI-related projects may fade, some have the potential to survive and thrive. Caution is crucial for investors navigating this space.

Brian suggests a way to differentiate between AI projects that are mere trends, and those with real potential, by analyzing their market caps. He likens the current AI boom to the tech boom of the late 1990s, in which countless startups emerged but only a handful achieved long-term success.

, comparing their indispensability to that of today’s internet. Just as those who fail to leverage the internet risk being left behind, traders who ignore 

 may struggle to keep pace with the market. He highlights the growing number of tools available and under development, stressing their importance for investors.

Brian agrees, pointing out that AI-powered trading tools provide efficiency and speed, helping traders make more informed and timely decisions.

When discussing global tokenization, Jan highlights the critical role institutions are playing in shaping this trend. He notes a rising interest in interest-bearing 

, which are attracting more traditional investors. These assets serve as a safety net during market downturns, making them increasingly appealing as the market matures.

Whale activity has recently slowed, which could be a signal for caution. Brian notes that with less whale activity, the market becomes more fragile, as smaller investors have a greater influence on price movements. However, whales can re-enter at any time, quickly regaining control and shifting market dynamics.

Looking ahead, speculation remains a key factor in shaping market risks. Jan points out that while 

ers seek projects that add real value to the ecosystem, speculators are more focused on market sentiment and short-term gains.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is a well-known whale who has launched several meme coins. Brian highlights that retail traders closely follow Musk, often making trades based on his social media posts. While this can lead to volatility, Musk’s involvement in crypto has generally been positive, drawing more attention to the space and increasing investor participation.

This Learn 101 livestream provided valuable insights into whether Trump’s inauguration could trigger crypto’s next big rally. As the market navigates uncharted territory, investors must balance opportunities with risks, staying informed and adaptable. With institutional interest rising, meme coins resurging and AI-driven trends shaping the landscape, 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for crypto. Whether the rally materializes or not, one thing is clear — those who stay ahead of the trends will have the best chance to capitalize on the market’s next big move.

Intermediate

Bybit Learn Trump's Inauguration: Will It Ignite Crypto's Next Big Rally? Livestream featured image

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Learn Live ICYMI: Will Trump’s Inauguration Ignite Crypto's Next Big Rally?

Jan 20, 2025: Our weekly Institutional Insights explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

 explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

Weekly Highlight — Cooling CPI Relieves Market

Recent data indicated a stagnation or potential reversal in inflation progress, with a key measure of underlying price hikes — the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) — remaining unchanged for months. However, this trend shifted on Wednesday, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slowdown in the core CPI for the first time in months.

The CPI, which tracks price changes for commonly purchased goods and services, showed an overall increase of 0.4% from November 2024, lifting the annual rate to 2.9%. This rise was primarily driven by surging gas and food prices, with energy costs alone contributing to 40% of the monthly increase. Food prices also remained high, impacted by weather conditions and disease affecting key staples like meat and eggs.

Excluding volatility for food and energy prices, the core CPI only rose 0.2% from November, easing to 3.2% after being stuck at 3.3% since September 2024. Market reactions were positive, as traders hoped the Federal Reserve would continue its rate-cutting campaign.

While inflation has slowed since peaking at 9.1% in June 2022, the journey back to normalcy has been bumpy. Everyday item prices are now 21% higher than in 2021, straining household budgets, particularly for lower-income Americans. Though wages have risen faster than inflation over the past 20 months, they still lag behind pre-pandemic levels.

This latest CPI report, the last before President Biden transitions power to president-elect Trump, underscores the ongoing challenges in managing inflation, particularly for essential goods and services.

Weekly Crypto Highlight — Crypto Cases Drop Before Trump’s Inauguration

Digital Currency Group and its subsidiary, Genesis Global Capital, reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday, indicative of a broader trend among cryptocurrency firms resolving regulatory issues as the Biden administration approaches its conclusion. Over the past week, multiple U.S. regulatory agencies — including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Justice Department and the SEC — have announced various settlements and charges across at least six cases involving digital assets, signaling a renewed focus on enforcement as the administration winds down.

During Biden's term, more than 100 enforcement actions were filed against crypto companies, reflecting heightened scrutiny of the industry. However, with president-elect Donald Trump set to take office, there’s an expectation of a paradigm shift in regulatory approaches. Trump, once a critic of cryptocurrencies, has appointed crypto-friendly officials to key positions and intends to prioritize legislation that supports the industry.

For many crypto firms, settling with regulators is seen as a strategic move. Legal experts note that such settlements allow these companies to close contentious chapters and redirect their efforts in a potentially more favorable regulatory environment. Jonathan Groth, a partner at DGIM Law, commented on the implications of the incoming administration, suggesting that support for extensive enforcement actions may diminish.

Recent high-profile cases include a $5 million fine against Gemini for regulatory violations and a $100 million penalty for BitMEX due to failures in 

 measures. Additional actions have targeted fraudulent schemes, and individuals involved in illegal cryptocurrency activities. As the regulatory landscape shifts, firms settling with agencies may be positioning themselves for a fresh start under a more accommodating regime.

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Weekly Institutional Insights: Cooling CPI Relieves Market; Bitcoin Regains $100K Ahead of Trump’s Inauguration

Dive into HeyAnon, an innovative protocol launched by experienced DeFi builder Daniele Sesta, and merging DeFi interactions with AI agents.

 (DeFi) protocol designed to simplify DeFi interactions. By integrating conversational artificial intelligence (AI) with real-time data aggregation, HeyAnon empowers users to manage DeFi operations seamlessly. From 

 to tracking project updates and analyzing trends, HeyAnon combines natural language processing and actionable insights to redefine the DeFi user experience.

This article explores the emergence of DeFAI (DeFi + AI), HeyAnon’s groundbreaking features and its role in shaping the future of DeFi.

DeFAI is the birth child of DeFi and AI. It represents a groundbreaking evolution in blockchain technology, whereby AI agents are integrated into DeFi. This emerging sector goes beyond traditional AI applications, focusing on automating on-chain activities through autonomous trading agents, abstraction layers and AI-driven DApps.

The term gained traction during the rise of the AI agent meta, beginning with projects like 

 (GOAT), an innovation born from Andy Ayrey’s Truth Terminal experiment. 

This movement has spurred the creation of numerous AI agents and frameworks, eventually pushing the AI agent market to a peak 

 (as of Jan 15, 2025). Despite its overlap with AI agent concepts, DeFAI has carved out a distinct niche valued at $1 billion, emphasizing deeper blockchain integration. 

Unlike early AI agents, which primarily operated as bots posting on social media with limited on-chain utility, DeFAI agents can participate in blockchain activities. This shift indicates the prioritization of tangible applications, such as automated trading, staking and 

 is an AI agent network built to simplify DeFi interactions while providing users with unparalleled access to real-time information. By combining conversational AI with robust data aggregation capabilities, HeyAnon creates a seamless interface for managing DeFi operations.

Designed with user experience in mind, HeyAnon leverages natural language processing (NLP) to allow users to execute complex DeFi tasks through simple conversations. From automating bridging, swapping, staking and borrowing to monitoring market trends, HeyAnon streamlines operations that typically require advanced technical knowledge.

HeyAnon’s strength lies in its ability to aggregate data from diverse sources, such as X (Twitter), Telegram, Discord, GitHub and GitBook. It provides insights into project updates, community sentiment, development activity and price fluctuations, enabling users to make informed decisions with ease.

Essentially, HeyAnon aims to bridge the gap between technical complexity and user accessibility, improving the way we experience DeFi.

, a renowned figure in DeFi and the crypto market. Sesta is widely recognized for his past projects, including Wonderland (TIME), a decentralized reserve currency protocol that made waves during the DeFi 2.0 era.

HeyAnon empowers users to streamline their DeFi experience with the following features, while remaining informed, efficient and in control.

By leveraging advanced natural language processing (NLP), HeyAnon enables conversational interactions for managing DeFi operations. Users can perform tasks such as staking, swapping tokens or borrowing simply by engaging in a natural conversation with the platform. This intuitive interface eliminates the steep learning curve often associated with DeFi, making it accessible to both newcomers and seasoned users.

HeyAnon excels at consolidating real-time data from diverse sources, including X (Twitter), Telegram, Discord, GitHub and GitBook. By aggregating project updates, community sentiment, development activity and market data, HeyAnon provides users with actionable insights at a glance. For instance, it can monitor GitHub commits or X (Twitter) sentiment to keep users informed about a project’s health and progress.

Automation lies at the core of HeyAnon’s utility, simplifying the following complex DeFi tasks.

, in which several innovative projects are also making their mark. Following is an overview of some key players.

 is a prominent competitor that focuses on leveraging AI to simplify on-chain interactions.

 specializes in providing crypto market intelligence and automating the process of tracking market trends and interpreting data. 

 is an AI agent that aims to transform the way users interact with DeFi. It’s developed by 

, a company that builds infrastructure merging AI and blockchain capabilities. Orbit is available on over 100 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, and across thousands of DeFi protocols.

The ANON token is central to HeyAnon’s ecosystem, serving governance, community benefits and treasury purposes. As the governance token for the Anon DAO, ANON grants holders voting rights to shape HeyAnon’s development, influence agent skills and determine platform features. Holders enjoy free and/or discounted AI agent services, and can actively participate in shaping the project's road map and priorities.

, ensuring transparent fund use within the DAO’s treasury. Further details can be found in 

HeyAnon is one of the most promising projects in the emerging DeFAI market, combining advanced AI capabilities with actual utility. Its innovative features — automation, cross-chain interactions and data aggregation — could position it as a leader in DeFi and AI innovation.

With a strong team and an experienced DeFi founder in Daniele Sesta, HeyAnon’s road map is set to drive community-led development and enhanced DeFi solutions.

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HeyAnon (ANON): Daniele Sesta’s New DeFAI Platform

Swiss bank PostFinance has partnered with Sygnum to launch Ethereum staking, allowing customers to earn passive income via Ethereum blockchain integration into its e-finance platform.

Daily Top Performer — Morpho Protocol (MORPHO)

The S&P 500 dropped 0.21%, ending a three-day rise, with tech losses offset by gains in utilities, real estate, and industrials. Gold prices rose above $2,700, driven by weak US retail sales, rising jobless claims, and dovish comments from Fed Governor Waller, which fueled expectations of rate cuts. Falling bond yields further supported the uptrend, with gold targeting $2,750. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was up by 2.10%, with Bitcoin rising by 0.69% and Ether dropping by 3.34%, in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is MORPHO, which surged nearly 37.1% following the launch of Coinbase's seamless crypto-backed loans powered by Morpho infrastructure.

Morpho Protocol (MORPHO), founded in 2021, is a decentralized Ethereum-based lending platform with a P2P order matching system. It offers customizable markets and Morpho Vaults for various risk levels. Initially launched in 2022 for Aave and Compound, it introduced Morpho Blue in 2024 for flexible lending. Morpho Labs continues to develop Morpho while supporting the original Morpho Optimizers. 

, allowing users to borrow USDC against BTC via the Coinbase app. The product offers competitive rates, flexible terms, and a seamless experience. This move highlights the growing use of Morpho's infrastructure for onchain finance, with more institutions expected to follow suit.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

 with Sygnum to launch Ethereum staking, allowing customers to earn passive income via Ethereum blockchain integration into its e-finance platform. Customers can start staking with a minimum deposit of 0.1 ETH, and rewards will be displayed alongside other crypto assets. The service is currently limited to Ethereum, with plans to expand to other cryptocurrencies in the future.

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETF flows totaled $98.2M, driven by $168.2M inflows from non-GBTC products, offset by a $70M outflow from GBTC.

. Wave 1 eligibility is now live, limited to specific Quai Discord roles, with more waves to follow. NFT holders might qualify for allocations, though it's not yet confirmed.

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PostFinance Launches Ethereum Staking for Passive Income on E-Finance Platform

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Daily Bits

Compound Finance has added Ethena's stablecoin USDe and Mantle's liquid staking token mETH to its platform, allowing them to be used as collateral. 

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Daily Top Performer —  Sonic SVM (SONIC)

The S&P 500 was closed on Thursday. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 1.64%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 2.20% and 2.75%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is SONIC, which surged 8.0% following its listing on Bybit Spot and the launch of staking with up to 30% APR rewards.

Sonic SVM (SONIC), token launched on January 9, 2025, is a Layer 2 gaming platform using the Solana virtual machine to power scalable, high-performance blockchain games like SonicX, enhancing speed and efficiency for web3 gaming. 

, enabling users to deposit and trade the token for a chance to win from a 5,000,000 SONIC prize pool. Additionally, 

, offering up to 30% APR rewards. Users can stake directly from their wallets, with airdrop staking coming soon. Staking supports ecosystem growth, unlocks features like governance and HyperGrid, and enhances the utility of the Sonic ecosystem.

Compound Finance has added Ethena's stablecoin USDe and Mantle's liquid staking token mETH to its platform, allowing them to be used as collateral. This follows a vote by Compound’s token holders. The integration reflects the growing use of liquid staking tokens (LSTs) in DeFi, contributing to significant growth in DeFi's total value locked. Additionally, Ethena's USDe has become one of the largest stablecoins, offering high returns, with staked USDe yielding competitive annual yields.

The Bitcoin Spot ETF market was closed yesterday in observance of a National Day of Mourning to honor former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Openledger, a decentralized blockchain platform for AI development, has 

 its Points Program. By running a free node and completing simple tasks, users can earn points to qualify for an upcoming airdrop. To participate, users need to sign up, set up the node, and engage in activities such as posting, liking, and retweeting Openledger content. They can also earn daily check-in rewards. The platform has raised $8M and is backed by major investors.

Compound Adds Ethena's USDe and Mantle's mETH to Platform, Boosting DeFi Growth

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards