Trump: “America: The Crypto Capital”, XRP Recognized as a Convertible Virtual Currency, Tether Launches TradeFi, DOGE’s Investigation on SEC’s Efficiency: Feb 20

As of February 19, 2025, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $96,643, reflecting a +1.03% increase over the past 24 hours. Ethereum is priced around $2,716, up 1.67% in the same period. The United States stands at the forefront of a digital asset transformation as president Trump propels Bitcoin growth with bold policy moves calling America the “crypto capital”. Ripple’s XRP earns regulatory approval as a convertible virtual currency. Tether launches TradeFi to revolutionize global trade. Moreover, Elon Musk’s DOGE challenges SEC inefficiencies. Each section offers technical details, clear numbers and expert quotes that paint a dynamic picture of a market in rapid evolution.

 Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: Alternative.me 

The Fear and Greed Index has increased to 49, indicating a neutral market sentiment. Bitcoin has remained below the $100,000 mark, experiencing limited whale accumulation and low volatility.

• President Trump wants America to be recognized as the “crypto capital” as said in a conference on Wednesday February 19, 2025

• XRP Recognized as a Convertible Virtual Currency by The US Department of Justice Civil Division and FinCEN 

• Google is exploring the use of "Google Login" to access Bitcoin wallets.

• Tencent led Wintermute's latest funding round. Wintermute will open a New York office to expand its OTC and derivatives businesses.

• Arbitrum DAO approved a proposal to allocate 35 million ARB to Real World Asset (RWA) investments.

Trade now on KuCoin

Source: CoinDesk data

President Trump claims Bitcoin reached new record highs. Furthermore, he stated, "We want to stay at the forefront of everything and one of them is crypto." Moreover, he added, "Bitcoin set multiple all-time record highs because everyone knows that I'm committed to making America the crypto capital” at the FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 conference on Wednesday. Bitcoin hovered at $96,700 on Wednesday evening after peaking above $108,000 earlier this year. Furthermore, he noted, "We want to stay at the forefront of everything and one of them is crypto and Miami seems to be the center of the action come to think of it and maybe it'll stay there." 

In January 2025, Trump issued an executive order titled "Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology." The order created a working group including the Treasury Secretary, the Commerce Secretary and the SEC chairs. Moreover, it calls for banning a central bank digital currency. 

Trump also declared, "We ended that war totally." He continued, "That war is over. They were very hostile toward them until the very end because there's so many people on bitcoin and crypto that just before the end the SEC came out and they were being very nice."

Read more: Trump Orders Creation of U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund: Could Bitcoin Play a Role?

Source: X

Ripple’s XRP now has official status as a convertible virtual currency. The US Department of Justice Civil Division and FinCEN made the announcement on February 18, 2025. A tweet stated, "BREAKING: #XRP has been officially recognized as a 'convertible virtual currency' by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division and FinCEN!" 

The XRP price chart shows a bullish ascending triangle pattern. Moreover, analysts expect a major surge and a new all-time high near $27. XRP overcame years of SEC battles that once hindered its growth. Its pump in 2017 was stalled by regulatory challenges. Today, XRP shows renewed strength and global support.

Read more: The Race for Strategic Bitcoin Reserves: More U.S. States Move Toward Crypto Adoption

Source: Tether Finance

Tether has introduced a service called TradeFi. CEO Paolo Ardoino announced the new platform on X. Furthermore, TradeFi uses USDT to settle cross-border transactions in crude oil and copper. The platform simplifies trade by reducing costs and boosting efficiency. 

Moreover, Tether explains on its website, "Backed by blockchain technology we are streamlining trade flows, reducing costs and driving financial inclusivity across industries and borders." TradeFi follows a $45,000,000 crude oil deal in the Middle East that covered 670,000 barrels of oil. 

Tether has also expanded its investments to artificial intelligence, agriculture and Bitcoin mining. Today, its USDT holds a market capitalization exceeding $140,000,000,000 and secures a 70% market share.

Source: X

Elon Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency known as DOGE. The group targets waste at the SEC. On X, DOGE urged the public on February 17, 2025, "DOGE is seeking help from the public! Please DM this account with insights on finding and fixing waste fraud and abuse relating to the Securities and Exchange Commission." 

The group has cut its workforce and launched reforms to reduce government waste. Moreover, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal calls for the SEC to reimburse legal costs for companies that challenge its actions. 

Crypto advocate Dan Gambardello remarked, "You should look into that one time SEC l declared that altcoins like Cardano are securities wiping out millions and millions of retail investors. The SEC and their actions under Gensler did the exact opposite of protecting investors." 

This inquiry into SEC practices may force policy changes in digital asset regulation.

The US crypto market is evolving with transformative energy. President Trump drives a pro-crypto agenda that boosts Bitcoin and signals strong government support by increasing his efforts to make America the “crypto capital”. Moreover, XRP gains crucial regulatory backing that overcomes past challenges. Tether's launch of TradeFi sets the stage for streamlined global trade and efficiency. Furthermore, DOGE's bold challenge of SEC inefficiencies may prompt significant policy reforms. Together, these developments offer a technical, clear and dynamic glimpse into the future of digital finance in America.

Read more: Tether Co-founder Backs New Yield-Bearing Decentralized Stablecoin, Pi Protocol