Bitcoin surged back above $105,000 following a dramatic announcement by President Donald Trump confirming a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
Trump declared the 12-day war “officially ended” following a 24-hour dual-stage ceasefire to be initiated first by Iran, then by Israel.
The Market Impact of Iran-Israel Ceasefire
Crypto markets reacted swiftly. Over the weekend, Bitcoin dipped below $100,000 hours earlier amid news of a potential Strait of Hormuz shutdown. Today, BTC rebounded by over 5% on the announcement.
Ethereum also rallied, climbing back above $2,400, while risk sentiment improved across broader digital asset markets.
Crypto Market Rallies After Ceasefire Announcement. Source: BeInCrypto
The ceasefire removed immediate fears of further military escalation and global oil disruption. Also, the de-escalation was widely anticipated, as oil prices began to drop earlier despite Iran targeting US bases in Qatar.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s parliament approved a proposal to shut the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 25% of global oil shipments.
Had that closure gone into effect, it would have sharply driven up oil prices, potentially reigniting inflation and delaying central bank rate cuts.
Instead, the ceasefire has reduced energy market pressure and restored some degree of geopolitical stability, prompting capital to flow back into risk assets.
Trump Ceasefire Announcement in Iran-Israel War. Source: Truth Social
Markets will closely watch whether both sides adhere to the 24-hour ceasefire protocol and if the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
If the truce holds, macroeconomic stability may return quickly, boosting both equities and crypto. However, any breaches or renewed tension could send Bitcoin back into risk-off territory.
Arizona’s State Legislature just passed Bitcoin reserve bills SB1025 and SB1373. They now approach the final hurdle: the governor’s approval to become law.
Both bills won by comfortable margins and will only require the governor’s signature to become law. Governor Katie Hobbs recently ended a vow to veto all bills over a funding dispute, hopefully securing the Reserve’s future.
“Arizona passes second Bitcoin Reserve bill. SB 1373 passed 37-19! Both Reserve bills to Governor Hobbs’ desk for signature,” a crypto-related policy watchdog claimed.
According to SB1025’s text, it will enable Arizona to spend up to 10% of its public funds on Bitcoin or other unspecified digital assets. This funding requirement mirrors South Carolina’s bill, which also mandated a 10% maximum.
Now that SB1025 has passed a third reading, Governor Hobbs is the only thing separating Arizona from a Bitcoin Reserve.
Recently, she has been vetoing all proposed legislation in a bid to secure funding for Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities. Less than a week ago, she ended this standoff, hopefully allowing her to sign these bills into law.
Arizona’s spending cap may deflate some Bitcoin enthusiasts’ hopes, but it’s still a victory. Amidst the microeconomic challenges, it’s a win for the industry if state-level acquisitions of any size pass.
ARIZONA JUST BECAME THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO PASS STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Strategic Crypto Reserve intends to preserve an existing stockpile but doesn’t acquire BTC. Nonetheless, it’s a bullish development that helped build market enthusiasm.
If Arizona does pass the bill, it will likely increase Bitcoin’s demand and drive more bullish optimism. New Hampshire and Texas are also trailing Arizona’s lead, as both states are awaiting a Senate vote on their bills.
Amid global economic volatility, the United States has again raised its debt ceiling to avert a default and ensure the government’s operations continue smoothly.
The US debt ceiling is a legal limit on the amount the federal government can borrow to meet its financial obligations, including pension payments, social welfare programs like Social Security and Medicare, and interest on government bonds.
US Debt Ceiling Increase
Raising the debt ceiling remains contentious, often sparking heated debates between Congress and the White House. Negotiations over spending and budgets are typically prolonged and complex.
According to data from the Senate Joint Economic Committee (JEC), the US national debt has surpassed $36.2 trillion as of April 2025. This marks a significant rise from $22 trillion in March 2019, highlighting the rapid escalation of national debt in recent years.
Historically, raising the debt ceiling is not uncommon. According to NPR, since 1960, Congress has acted 78 times to increase, temporarily extend, or revise the debt ceiling definition—49 times under Republican and 29 times under Democratic presidents. This reflects the recurring need to adjust the ceiling to maintain government functionality, but it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of US fiscal policy.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration, bold economic policies are being implemented, including using tariff revenues to service debt. Trump has imposed a 125% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting retaliatory 84% tariffs from China on the US. imports.
Consequently, the Chinese yuan (CNY) has hit an 18-year low, with the USD/CNY rate reaching 7.394. The yuan’s depreciation escalates trade tensions and ripple effects across cryptocurrency markets.
Impact on Crypto
The increase in the US debt ceiling has multifaceted implications for the crypto market, both in the short and long term.
Raising the debt ceiling helps the US avoid default, preventing a potential global financial crisis. This often reassures investors, boosting confidence in traditional financial markets like stocks and US Treasury bonds. As a result, demand for safe-haven assets like Bitcoin—usually viewed as a hedge during economic uncertainty—may decline.
Historical trends support this. During past debt ceiling crises, such as in 2021, Bitcoin prices surged as investors feared a US default. However, the pressure eased once the ceiling was raised, prompting some investors to shift capital back to traditional assets. This can create downward price pressure on Bitcoin and other altcoins.
Additionally, a weaker yuan due to US policies could drive capital from China into cryptocurrencies, potentially providing a positive push for the market.
Continually raising the debt ceiling allows the US government to borrow more to fund spending, often leading to increased money printing or issuance of Treasury bonds. This process expands the money supply, fueling inflation and eroding the US dollar’s value.
Cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, are often regarded as an “inflation hedge” due to their fixed supply and decentralized nature. Investors increasingly turn to alternative assets to preserve wealth as the dollar weakens. Bitcoin, often dubbed “digital gold,” has proven its resilience during past economic instability.
The increase in the US debt ceiling has a complex impact on cryptocurrencies. In the short term, it may reduce demand for safe-haven assets like Bitcoin as confidence in traditional markets grows.
However, in the long term, persistent debt ceiling hikes could drive inflation and weaken the dollar, positioning cryptocurrencies as a compelling hedge and alternative asset class.
Ripple’s recently acquired Hidden Road has secured a broker-dealer license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This marks a significant milestone in expanding its prime brokerage services for institutional investors.
Market watchers see it as a deliberate strategy by Ripple to build infrastructure and position itself for future growth. That being said, traders are expecting that XRP’s value will rise later.
Ripple Expands Institutional Presence with Hidden Road’s FINRA License
According to the latest press release, Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC was granted approval. The license now enables the firm to provide a broader suite of regulatory-compliant services, including clearing, financing, and prime brokerage for fixed-income assets to institutions.
Noel Kimmel, President of Hidden Road, highlighted that the license was a pivotal development for the company. According to him, it enhances Hidden Road’s ability to operate in traditional financial (TradFi) markets.
“As a FINRA member, we will be able to bring our best-in-class, technology-driven fixed income service offering to an expanded universe of institutional clients. Our business has tremendous momentum, and we look forward to continuing to provide superior execution and support to our clients amidst today’s exceptionally dynamic market environment,” Kimmel said.
The move positions Ripple as the first cryptocurrency company to own a global, multi-asset prime broker. Experts believe the acquisition and subsequent license are part of a broader strategy Ripple is employing.
“Hidden Road just secured a broker-dealer license right after Ripple’s acquisition. This isn’t a coincidence, it’s a statement. XRP is not playing checkers. It’s playing regulatory chess,” an analyst wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Is Ripple Behind XRP’s Low Price? Analyst Thinks So
In fact, analysts also claim that XRP’s neutral reaction to recent milestones isn’t a sign of weakness but rather a strategic move. In a recent analysis, crypto analyst Levi argued that the current price of XRP, hovering around $2, is not coincidental, but rather a result of Ripple’s deliberate approach.
He suggested that the low price is designed to allow Ripple to operate under the radar while making key strategic moves, such as the Hidden Road acquisition.
“Hidden Road isn’t a flex. It’s infrastructure. It’s the final puzzle piece — giving Ripple a fully integrated, lightning-fast, global value settlement system,” he stated.
The analyst emphasized that while the public focused on Ripple’s legal battles with the SEC, the company quietly built its global value settlement system behind the scenes.
“XRP at $2 isn’t undervalued — it’s deliberately suppressed. When the switch flips, the revaluation won’t be gradual — it’ll be instant,” Levi noted.
