In 2025 there will be SEC changes, BTC reserve discussion, and possible further ETF growth.
There is likely also to be stable coin and RWA expansion, while crypto and AI interlink.
2024 has been one of the most positively eventful ever in the history of crypto, with three key occurrences that are likely to be remembered as particularly significant. First, the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs back in January, followed also by spot ETH ETFs mid-year. Second, the election in November of a US president who is openly supportive of crypto and has clearly signalling a crypto-friendly approach, and third, bitcoin in December breaking the milestone $100,000 price target.
From that basis then, let’s look at some predictions about what may be incoming in 2025, and try to assess whether next year will be as ground-breaking for crypto as 2024 has proven to be.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Splits Opinion
Speaking at the Bitcoin Conference 2024 back in July, Trump made pledges to stockpile bitcoin, leading to speculation about a US strategic bitcoin reserve, but is this actually viable or beneficial for the US? Currently, it still seems like a long-shot, and what’s more, it’s dividing opinion even among BTC advocates.
On the one hand, we have Senator Cynthia Lummis driving momentum in favor of the idea, while at the same time, Nic Carter–who is well known for his early exposal of the alleged anti-crypto banking strategy known as Operation Choke Point 2.0–is presenting the case against establishing a bitcoin reserve strategy.
While we can’t yet know how this one plays out, it’s likely that debate will heat up as Donald Trump’s inauguration nears, and we might see increased reference to potential competition from other BTC-holding nations.
Also, regardless of whether speculation about a bitcoin reserve actually leads to a concrete plan, there is no doubt that a firmly pro-crypto administration is on the way, with David Sacks taking on a new role as AI and Crypto Czar, Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, and Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary.
ETFs Carry On From Explosive Start
The spot Bitcoin ETFs that launched in January 2024 now collectively hold over $110 billion in assets under management, while the spot Ether ETFs that followed in July have topped $12 billion in assets under management, and we can expect that this explosive start for the Bitcoin products, with Ethereum playing catch up, can continue into 2025. The case for continued growth has been bolstered also by BlackRock recently recommending up to a 2% BTC portfolio allocation, with any uncertainty around how the ETFs would perform now dispelled.
There may also be changes to the ETFs themselves, with anticipation that both the Bitcoin and Ether products will alter to allow in-kind redemptions while the ETH products will incorporate staking, and these adaptations may potentially fuel increased interest, as long as the overall crypto market structure remains bullish.
Pro-Crypto Chair Realigns the SEC
Related to the political changes outlined above, the new year–after Trump takes office–will bring a change of leadership at the SEC. Current Chair Gary Gensler is on his way out, and his departure should bring an end to the Commission’s adversarial approach to the crypto industry.
Incoming as the new Chair is Paul Atkins, as announced by Trump at the start of December. Atkins is a free-market-minded former Commissioner at the SEC and a member of crypto advocacy group Token Alliance, and the decision to appoint him was greeted with enthusiasm by crypto industry execs, including Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal, who stated,
“We appreciate his commitment to balance in regulating U.S. securities markets and look forward to his fresh leadership”.
This anticipated change of direction at the SEC also increases the likelihood of further crypto ETPs for various other coins, with XRP, LTC, HBAR and SOL all noted contenders for inclusion.
Stable Coin Market Cap Grows
During 2024, the total stable coin market cap grew by almost 50% to $193 billion, and it’s plausible that this expansion continues in the new year. In fact, back in April 2024, Bernstein published a research report in which it stated that the stable coin market can reach $2.8 trillion over the next five years, alongside a prediction (according to that report) for, “Major global financial and consumer platforms to issue co-branded stable coins to power value-exchange on their platforms”.
Asset manager VanEck has also predicted that stable coins are set to “revolutionize payments”, with an expectation that stable coin settlement volumes will triple from current levels to hit $300 billion per day by the end of 2025, while Bitwise predicts a doubling in the stable coin market cap by the end of 2025.
RWA Tokenization Expands
The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) started gaining increased attention in 2024, thanks in part to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaking very positively, early in the year, about “the tokenization of financial assets”, and outlining how all stocks and bonds can be tokenized.
BlackRock later in the year, in partnership with Securitize, launched the BUIDL fund, which invests in tokenized US Treasuries. However, at the end of the year BUIDL was overtaken as the top tokenized Treasuries product by Hashnote, whose USYC token represents tokenized RWAs in the Hashnote International Short Duration Yield Fund, and acts as the backing for stablecoin USD0, which itself is issued by a DeFi protocol called Usual.
With the RWA sector showing plenty of utility and innovation as 2024 draws to a close, and with connections being made being platforms–as at Hashnote and Usual–we can therefore expect 2025 to bring further growth for tokenized RWA products.
Treasury Product Metrics; Source: RWA.xyz
AI and Crypto Interlink
The crypto sector is likely–in places, at least–to become increasingly influenced by and interlinked with AI progression, continuing a trend that has started to emerge in 2024. In fact, a novel new sector within the crypto ecosystem has already developed, which started out related to meme coins, but has subsequently branched off to focus on what are being classified as AI Agent Coins.
These projects incorporate elements of meme coins, but coupled with autonomous, or partly autonomous, AI agents that may be able to take on a variety of roles. There are also AI agent launchpads and infrastructure being built, with some developments branching off into art and music to create an unpredictable, culture-centric niche that is reminiscent of NFTs in 2021/22.
2024 has been one of the most positively eventful ever in the history of crypto, with three key occurrences that are likely to be remembered as particularly significant. First, the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs back in January, followed also by spot ETH ETFs mid-year. Second, the election in November of a US president who is openly supportive of crypto and has clearly signalling a crypto-friendly approach, and third, bitcoin in December breaking the milestone $100,000 price target.
From that basis then, let’s look at some predictions about what may be incoming in 2025, and try to assess whether next year will be as ground-breaking for crypto as 2024 has proven to be.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Splits Opinion
Speaking at the Bitcoin Conference 2024 back in July, Trump made pledges to stockpile bitcoin, leading to speculation about a US strategic bitcoin reserve, but is this actually viable or beneficial for the US? Currently, it still seems like a long-shot, and what’s more, it’s dividing opinion even among BTC advocates.
On the one hand, we have Senator Cynthia Lummis driving momentum in favor of the idea, while at the same time, Nic Carter–who is well known for his early exposal of the alleged anti-crypto banking strategy known as Operation Choke Point 2.0–is presenting the case against establishing a bitcoin reserve strategy.
While we can’t yet know how this one plays out, it’s likely that debate will heat up as Donald Trump’s inauguration nears, and we might see increased reference to potential competition from other BTC-holding nations.
Also, regardless of whether speculation about a bitcoin reserve actually leads to a concrete plan, there is no doubt that a firmly pro-crypto administration is on the way, with David Sacks taking on a new role as AI and Crypto Czar, Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, and Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary.
ETFs Carry On From Explosive Start
The spot Bitcoin ETFs that launched in January 2024 now collectively hold over $110 billion in assets under management, while the spot Ether ETFs that followed in July have topped $12 billion in assets under management, and we can expect that this explosive start for the Bitcoin products, with Ethereum playing catch up, can continue into 2025. The case for continued growth has been bolstered also by BlackRock recently recommending up to a 2% BTC portfolio allocation, with any uncertainty around how the ETFs would perform now dispelled.
There may also be changes to the ETFs themselves, with anticipation that both the Bitcoin and Ether products will alter to allow in-kind redemptions while the ETH products will incorporate staking, and these adaptations may potentially fuel increased interest, as long as the overall crypto market structure remains bullish.
Pro-Crypto Chair Realigns the SEC
Related to the political changes outlined above, the new year–after Trump takes office–will bring a change of leadership at the SEC. Current Chair Gary Gensler is on his way out, and his departure should bring an end to the Commission’s adversarial approach to the crypto industry.
Incoming as the new Chair is Paul Atkins, as announced by Trump at the start of December. Atkins is a free-market-minded former Commissioner at the SEC and a member of crypto advocacy group Token Alliance, and the decision to appoint him was greeted with enthusiasm by crypto industry execs, including Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal, who stated,
“We appreciate his commitment to balance in regulating U.S. securities markets and look forward to his fresh leadership”.
This anticipated change of direction at the SEC also increases the likelihood of further crypto ETPs for various other coins, with XRP, LTC, HBAR and SOL all noted contenders for inclusion.
Stable Coin Market Cap Grows
During 2024, the total stable coin market cap grew by almost 50% to $193 billion, and it’s plausible that this expansion continues in the new year. In fact, back in April 2024, Bernstein published a research report in which it stated that the stable coin market can reach $2.8 trillion over the next five years, alongside a prediction (according to that report) for, “Major global financial and consumer platforms to issue co-branded stable coins to power value-exchange on their platforms”.
Asset manager VanEck has also predicted that stable coins are set to “revolutionize payments”, with an expectation that stable coin settlement volumes will triple from current levels to hit $300 billion per day by the end of 2025, while Bitwise predicts a doubling in the stable coin market cap by the end of 2025.
RWA Tokenization Expands
The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) started gaining increased attention in 2024, thanks in part to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink speaking very positively, early in the year, about “the tokenization of financial assets”, and outlining how all stocks and bonds can be tokenized.
BlackRock later in the year, in partnership with Securitize, launched the BUIDL fund, which invests in tokenized US Treasuries. However, at the end of the year BUIDL was overtaken as the top tokenized Treasuries product by Hashnote, whose USYC token represents tokenized RWAs in the Hashnote International Short Duration Yield Fund, and acts as the backing for stablecoin USD0, which itself is issued by a DeFi protocol called Usual.
With the RWA sector showing plenty of utility and innovation as 2024 draws to a close, and with connections being made being platforms–as at Hashnote and Usual–we can therefore expect 2025 to bring further growth for tokenized RWA products.
Treasury Product Metrics; Source: RWA.xyz
AI and Crypto Interlink
The crypto sector is likely–in places, at least–to become increasingly influenced by and interlinked with AI progression, continuing a trend that has started to emerge in 2024. In fact, a novel new sector within the crypto ecosystem has already developed, which started out related to meme coins, but has subsequently branched off to focus on what are being classified as AI Agent Coins.
These projects incorporate elements of meme coins, but coupled with autonomous, or partly autonomous, AI agents that may be able to take on a variety of roles. There are also AI agent launchpads and infrastructure being built, with some developments branching off into art and music to create an unpredictable, culture-centric niche that is reminiscent of NFTs in 2021/22.
Sam White is a writer and journalist from the UK who covers cryptocurrencies and web3, with a particular interest in NFTs and the crossover between art and finance. His work, on a wide variety of topics, has appeared on platforms including The Spectator, Vice and Hacker Noon.
Deutsche Börse’s 360T Plugs Bitpanda Into FX Network to Channel Institutions Into Crypto
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Hannah Hill on Innovation, Branding & Award-Winning Technology | Executive Interview | AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Recorded live at FMLS:25, this executive interview features Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at AXI, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following AXI’s win for Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Hannah shares insights on:
🔹What winning the Finance Magnates award means for AXI’s credibility and innovation
🔹How the launch of AXI Select, the capital allocation program, is redefining industry standards
🔹The development and rollout of the AXI trading app across multiple markets
🔹Driving brand evolution alongside technological advancements
🔹Encouraging and recognizing teams behind the scenes
🔹The role of marketing, content, and social media in building product awareness
Hannah explains why standout products, strategic branding, and a focus on innovation are key to growing visibility and staying ahead in a competitive brokerage landscape.
🏆 Award Highlight: Most Innovative Broker of the Year 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #MostInnovativeBroker #TradingTechnology #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview #AXI
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Dor Eligula | Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, BridgeWise | FMLS:25
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
In this session, Jonathan Fine form Ultimate Group speaks with Dor Eligula from Bridgewise, a fast-growing AI-powered research and analytics firm supporting brokers and exchanges worldwide.
We start with Dor’s reaction to the Summit and then move to broker growth and the quick wins brokers often overlook. Dor shares where he sees “blue ocean” growth across Asian markets and how local client behaviour shapes demand.
We also discuss the rollout of AI across investment research. Dor gives real examples of how automation and human judgment meet at Bridgewise — including moments when analysts corrected AI output, and times when AI prevented an error.
We close with a practical question: how retail investors can actually use AI without falling into common traps.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Brendan Callan joined us fresh off the Summit’s most anticipated debate: “Is Prop Trading Good for the Industry?” Brendan argued against the motion — and the audience voted him the winner.
In this interview, Brendan explains the reasoning behind his position. He walks through the message he believes many firms avoid: that the current prop trading model is too dependent on fees, too loose on risk, and too confusing for retail audiences.
We discuss why he thinks the model grew fast, why it may run into walls, and what he believes is needed for a cleaner, more responsible version of prop trading.
This is Brendan at his frankest — sharp, grounded, and very clear about what changes are overdue.
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Elina Pedersen on Growth, Stability & Ultra-Low Latency | Executive Interview | Your Bourse
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this executive interview features Elina Pedersen, in conversation with Finance Magnates, following her company’s win for Best Connectivity 2025.
🔹In this wide-ranging discussion, Elina shares insights on:
🔹What winning a Finance Magnates award means for credibility and reputation
🔹How broker demand for stability and reliability is driving rapid growth
🔹The launch of a new trade server enabling flexible front-end integrations
🔹Why ultra-low latency must be proven with data, not buzzwords
🔹Common mistakes brokers make when scaling globally
🔹Educating the industry through a newly launched Dealers Academy
🔹Where AI fits into trading infrastructure and where it doesn’t
Elina explains why resilient back-end infrastructure, deep client partnerships, and disciplined focus are critical for brokers looking to scale sustainably in today’s competitive market.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Connectivity 2025
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, industry insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #BestConnectivity #TradingTechnology #UltraLowLatency #FinTech #Brokerage #ExecutiveInterview
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @BlueberryMarketsForex , a forex and CFD broker operating since 2016, offering access to multiple trading platforms, over 1,000 instruments, and flexible account types for different trading styles.
We break down Blueberry’s regulatory structure, including its Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), as well as its authorisation and registrations in other jurisdictions. The review also covers supported platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, Blueberry.X, and web-based trading.
You’ll learn about available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, share CFDs, and crypto CFDs, along with leverage options, minimum and maximum trade sizes, and how Blueberry structures its Standard and Raw accounts.
We also explain spreads, commissions, swap rates, swap-free account availability, funding and withdrawal methods, processing times, and what traders can expect from customer support and additional services.
Watch the full review to see whether Blueberry’s trading setup aligns with your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance.
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Blueberry #BlueberryMarkets #BrokerReview #ForexBroker #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #FinanceMagnates #TradingPlatforms #MarketInsights
