# This Week in Crypto: milestones, momentum, and regulatory shifts

> Discover key crypto updates: Bitcoin nears $100K, Bitwise's ETF filing, Ethereum growth, and pivotal regulatory changes.

News · 2 min read

Published 29 November 2024 Updated 15 February 2026

[Bitcoin's price](/buy/btc/) remains tantalisingly close to the US$100,000 milestone, hovering just below this psychological barrier. After reaching a high of US$99,830 last week, it has seen a slight pullback, largely driven by profit-taking from long-term holders. Despite this, optimism remains high, with market participants eagerly watching for signs of a breakout that could propel Bitcoin into uncharted territory.

In a notable development, Bitwise has filed for a 10 Crypto Index Fund ETF, designed to provide investors with broad exposure to leading digital assets. The proposed fund includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Polygon, alongside other prominent cryptocurrencies. If approved, this ETF could simplify access to the crypto market, offering a diversified entry point for retail and institutional investors while showcasing the growing acceptance of crypto within traditional financial frameworks.

[Ethereum's ecosystem](/categories/ethereum-coins/) continues to thrive as Layer 2 networks and applications like Uniswap gain traction. These Layer 2 platforms, such as Arbitrum and Optimism, are becoming critical to Ethereum's ecosystem as they offer faster and cheaper transactions while maintaining security through Ethereum's mainnet. Anticipation also grows around the potential approval of an Ethereum spot ETF, which could further validate Ether as an investment asset and attract significant institutional interest.

Investor appetite for Ether-based leveraged products also continues to grow, with an increasing number of traders positioning themselves for Ethereum's next major move. This surge in demand reflects confidence in Ethereum's central role in [decentralised finance (DeFi)](/categories/decentralised-finance/) and its expanding ecosystem, which includes a range of innovative applications and solutions.

In regulatory developments, the incoming Trump administration may herald a shift in crypto oversight. Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, is considered a strong contender to replace outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Atkins is known for his innovation-friendly stance, raising hopes that the next regulatory era will prioritise clarity and growth for digital assets.

Closing the week, the U.S. appeals court overturned sanctions on Tornado Cash smart contracts, a move celebrated by decentralisation advocates. The court ruled that the Treasury had overstepped its authority by sanctioning immutable smart contracts, which cannot be considered property under current law. This landmark decision highlights the ongoing challenges regulators face as they grapple with the complexities of blockchain technology.

Other news:

- Australia consults on implementing the OECD crypto reporting framework

- Sui Network enables Bitcoin staking on Babylon starting in December

- [Dogecoin](/buy/doge/) surpasses Porsche in market cap rankings

- Pump.fun faces criticism over harmful content tied to livestream token performance

- Tether mints $3 billion in USDt, raising circulating supply to over $134 billion

- MicroStrategy adds 55,000 BTC, increasing its total holdings to 386,700

- Kraken’s NFT marketplace enters withdrawal-only mode on November 27

- Starknet launches staking with solo and delegation options on Ethereum Layer 2

- Justin Sun becomes the largest investor in Trump’s World Liberty Financial project

- Ripple invests in Bitwise’s rebranded XRP ETP as part of European expansion

- Russian Federation approves new crypto tax framework as Bitcoin hits record highs

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*Source: [This Week in Crypto: milestones, momentum, and regulatory shifts](/news/this-week-in-crypto-milestones-momentum-and-regulatory-shifts/) · Last updated: 2026-02-15*