Brown University Discloses $5M in BlackRock’s IBIT: Bitcoin Price Recovers

Paris Blockchain Week 2025, Europe’s flagship blockchain and Web3 event, wrapped up its sixth edition at the iconic Carrousel du Louvre, once again raising the bar for global industry gatherings. With over 9,600 attendees from 95 countries, including 67% C-suite executives, this year’s event underscored the growing influence of blockchain across the broader tech and financial sectors.

More than 500 speakers took the stage, including major names like Charles Hoskinson (IOHK), Monica Long (Ripple), Adam Back (Blockstream), and Clara Chappaz (France’s Minister Delegate for AI & Digital Affairs), reflecting the event’s global reach.

Spotlight: PSG × Matchain Side Event – A Landmark Moment in Sports & Web3

One of the standout moments of the week took place outside the main conference venue at the iconic Parc des Princes, where Paris Saint-Germain and Matchain hosted a special side event announcing the launch of their Joint Innovation Studio.

BeInCrypto joined as the official media partner for this exclusive gathering, which brought together sports executives, blockchain leaders, and technologists to explore the future of decentralized identity, fan engagement, and Web3 innovation in sports.

• Petrix Barbosa, CEO of Matchain, announced the initiative and celebrated Matchain’s award for Innovation of the Year, spotlighting their pioneering work in tokenized identity solutions.

• Pär Helgosson, Head of PSG Labs, emphasized PSG’s continued push to integrate Web3 technologies into fan experiences and digital strategy.

The atmosphere at the stadium matched the ambition of the project, merging cutting-edge blockchain use cases with the passion and scale of global sports. As media partner, BeInCrypto provided exclusive coverage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from this milestone event.

Exclusive Interviews with Web3 Leaders at Paris Blockchain Week

Throughout the week, the BeInCrypto team conducted high-level interviews with thought leaders and executives shaping the future of blockchain:

• Aimann Faizz, Head of Business Development at CoinGecko
• Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz & Socios.com
• Mark Jennings, Head of European market at Gemini
• Omri Ross, Chief Blockchain Scientist at eToro
• Andrey Fedorov, Chief Marketing Officer and acting Chief Business Development Officer at STON.fi
• Pierre Samaties, CEO of Dfinity Foundation
• Alexis Yellow, Founder and Executive Chairman, Yellow
• Robby Yung, CEO, Animoca Brands
• Javier Rodriguez-Alarcon, COO, XBTO
• David Prinçay, director, Binance France
  

Their insights touched on everything from decentralized finance and tokenized data to semantic identity and sports monetization via blockchain.

Industry Themes and Investor Highlights

A recurring message across the conference was the resilience of blockchain technologies amid economic uncertainty and regulatory transformation. Speakers like Charles Hoskinson and Monica Long emphasized blockchain’s foundational role in shaping future financial systems.

Regulatory spats between the USA and EU have sparked lively debates, with many nodding in agreement that MICA stands as a cornerstone for clearing up the crypto circus on one side of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the tokenization of real-world assets has become the hot new trend on the block. Following the ETF bandwagon, it appears even the old-school financial giants are seeing tokenization as their golden ticket into the crypto world.

Meme coins, those oddballs of the crypto market, continue to hold their ground as a quirky yet surprisingly significant sector, even though the recent market dip has widened the rift between the staunchly “serious” Bitcoin advocates and the more colorful meme coin enthusiasts.

Beyond the buzz of tokenization, utility coins are tiptoeing back into the spotlight, though hitting a critical mass of users is proving to be a bit like herding cats – a major roadblock on their path to stardom.

As for the tech vanguards, security and scalability remain their pet peeves, with fresh solutions popping up left and right. The ongoing tug-of-war between achieving robust decentralization and actually making these solutions user-friendly continues to fuel fiery debates among the most tech-obsessed attendees at the event.

On the investor side, the “Start in Block” pitch competition attracted 1,000+ startups and 400+ investors, with €10 million in funding up for grabs. Meanwhile, side events like AgentX, Bitcoin Investors Day, and an exclusive VIP dinner under the Louvre Pyramid kept the conversations and deal-making going beyond the conference floor.

Global Coverage & Media Reach

With more than 400 journalists attending from top global outlets, media coverage of PBW 2025 reached unprecedented levels, reinforcing its role as a platform where narratives around innovation and regulation are actively shaped.

About Paris Blockchain Week

Held annually in Paris, PBW is one of the largest and most respected events in the blockchain calendar. The 2025 edition took place April 8–10 at Carrousel du Louvre, hosting over 400 speakers and creating more than 36,000 in-app meetings, making it a global epicenter for Web3 dialogue and partnerships.

For full coverage and visuals, visit www.parisblockchainweek.com

The post Paris Blockchain Week 2025 Wrap‑Up: 9,600 Attendees, 500 Speakers, and a Historic PSG × Matchain Reveal appeared first on BeInCrypto.

According to a new report, 15 firms and individuals from the crypto industry donated more than $100,000 to President Trump’s Inauguration, totaling over $85 million.

Almost all of these companies apparently received direct or indirect benefits from Trump’s administration. This includes dropped legal proceedings, lucrative business partnerships, participation in Trump’s Crypto Summit, and more.

Crypto Industry Went All-In on Trump’s Inauguration

Since promising to bring friendlier regulations on the campaign trail, Donald Trump attracted a reputation as the Crypto President.

Trump’s Inauguration festivities included a “Crypto Ball,” and several prominent firms made donations for these events. Today, a report has compiled all crypto-related contributions of over $100,000, revealing some interesting facts.

Since taking office, President Trump and his family have been allegedly involved in prominent crypto controversies, and these donations may be linked to several of them.

For example, eight of the donors, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Uniswap, Yuga Labs, Kraken, Ripple, Robinhood, and Consensys, had SEC investigations or lawsuits against them closed since Trump’s term began.

The commission might have dropped its probe against these companies anyway due to its changing stance on crypto enforcement. However, being in the President’s good books likely helped the process.

Further Alleged Benefits for Donors

In other words, nearly half the firms that made donations to Trump’s Inauguration have seen their legal problems cleared up quickly. This isn’t the only regulation-related benefit they allegedly received.

Circle, for example, recently made an IPO after openly stating that Trump’s Presidency made it possible. Galaxy Digital received SEC approval for a major reorganization, a key step for a NASDAQ listing.

Other donors, such as Crypto.com and ONDO, got more direct financial partnerships with businesses associated with the Trump family.

Previously, Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, anticipated a crypto bull market under Trump. Also, XRP, Solana, and Cardano were all unexpectedly included in the US Crypto Reserve announcement.

All three of these companies made major donations to Trump’s Inauguration.

It seems that most of the firms involved got at least some sort of noticeable benefit from these donations. Donors like Multicoin and Paradigm received invitations to Trump’s Crypto Summit, while much more prominent groups like the Ethereum Foundation got snubbed.

Meanwhile, various industry KOLs and community members have already alleged major corruption in Trump’s crypto connections.

While some allegations might lack substantial proof, the crypto space has changed dramatically under the new administration, for both good and bad.

The post Crypto Firms Donated $85 million in Trump’s Inauguration, What Did They Receive? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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.

The post US Continues to Raise Debt Ceiling: What It Means for Crypto appeared first on BeInCrypto.