Trump’s Inauguration Sparks Crypto Renaissance, Industry Celebrates Policy Shift

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The cryptocurrency industry is celebrating a seismic shift in U.S. regulatory policy following Donald Trump‘s inauguration, marking the end of what investors describe as four years of “harassment” under the Biden administration. The new administration has appointed crypto-friendly officials and promised executive orders to legitimize the industry, including the creation of a Bitcoin reserve.

“The entire market is relieved … we have a seismic shift in the approach and tone of the government and regulatory agencies,” said Frank Chaparro, an early Bitcoin investor and director of special projects at crypto news site The Block. “What this means practically is, banks will be able to touch crypto — for the last four years they’ve been told they can’t.”

Under the Biden administration, banks were discouraged by regulators at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) from working with cryptocurrency companies, a policy that many in the industry labeled as “debanking.” Nic Carter, a crypto investor at Castle Island Ventures, described these efforts as “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” referencing a similar Obama-era initiative that targeted legal businesses under the guise of cracking down on illicit activity.

Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen called the Biden administration’s actions “terrorizing” for startups, citing instances where banks debanked 30 of his portfolio companies. “It’s a privatized sanctions regime,” Andreessen said in a recent interview. “Banks never tell you why they’re debanking you.”

The policy shift has already sparked optimism among crypto founders and investors. Dennis Dinkelmeyer, CEO of European-based cryptocurrency investment firm Midas, told NYNext that he is considering launching operations in the U.S. this year. “Founders across the market are looking to make a comeback or expand into the U.S. for the first time in four years,” Dinkelmeyer said.

On Friday, the first-ever Crypto Ball will take place in Washington, D.C., hosted by David Sacks, a prominent figure in the crypto community. The black-tie event, featuring performances by Snoop Dogg and sponsored by major crypto firms like Coinbase and Solana, is seen as a celebration of the industry’s newfound optimism.

While the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance has been widely welcomed, some insiders have expressed concerns about the potential creation of an “America-first strategic reserve” that would prioritize U.S.-based cryptocurrencies like Solana, USD Coin, and Ripple‘s XRP over Bitcoin. “It could delegitimize efforts to promote Bitcoin,” said one anonymous source.

Despite these concerns, many in the industry believe the Trump presidency will usher in a “crypto golden age.” As Chaparro put it, “It’s a radical shift — America is so back in business for crypto founders.”