This week in crypto, Donald Trump’s first week as U.S. President ushered in sweeping changes and ambitious plans, marking the start of a transformative era for cryptocurrency and AI. Just days before his inauguration, Trump launched the TRUMP memecoin on Solana, igniting a trading frenzy and achieving a notable market capitalisation. Adding to the momentum, Melania Trump debuted her own memecoin, MELANIA, which quickly attracted significant attention, underscoring the enduring market power of the Trump name. 

In one of his first major acts as President, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the infamous Silk Road marketplace. This controversial decision has reignited debates about justice, privacy, and the regulatory treatment of cryptocurrency pioneers. The pardon also signals Trump’s broader intention to reform how the U.S. government engages with the crypto industry. 

President Trump unveiled a US$500 billion AI infrastructure venture dubbed the Stargate project, designed to establish the U.S. as a global leader in artificial intelligence. This initiative, a collaboration with OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, will see key technology partners like Microsoft and Nvidia provide critical resources, further intertwining AI and blockchain innovation. Trump has also declared his ambition to make the U.S. the “world capital” of both AI and cryptocurrency, reflecting his administration’s vision of fostering technological leadership and economic competitiveness. 

One of the most significant developments this week was Trump’s sweeping executive order on digital assets. The directive introduces stablecoin regulations, protections for developers, and the creation of a Crypto Task Force, as well as establishing the Digital Asset Strategic Reserve. It also formally ends measures resembling Operation Chokepoint, ensuring crypto companies have fair access to banking services. Analysts view the executive order as a landmark move to strengthen the U.S.’s role in the digital asset space. 

These announcements highlight Trump’s intention to reshape the U.S. into a global hub for innovation and crypto adoption. Analysts suggest that these policies could accelerate blockchain integration across public and private sectors, unlocking significant opportunities for the industry. This week’s developments underline the powerful intersection of politics, technology, and innovation, setting an ambitious tone for what the rest of 2025 could hold for the crypto community. 

Other stories circulating the block: 

• Morgan Stanley considers adding crypto to client offerings 

• BlackRock CEO calls for SEC approval of asset tokenisation 

• Tornado Cash sanctions overturned by US court 

• Vitalik Buterin reaffirms leadership of Ethereum Foundation 

• China sold $20B in Bitcoin from PlusToken seizure 

• MicroStrategy adds 11K BTC before Trump’s inauguration 

• Senator Lummis to chair Senate Subcommittee on Digital Assets 

• Coinbase resolves 48-hour Solana transaction backlog 

• Telegram makes Toncoin its exclusive cryptocurrency 

• Dogecoin spotted on the Department Of Government Efficiency website