VisionGame Kurs VISION

Germany’s upcoming federal election on February 23, 2025, could mark a turning point in the nation’s approach to cryptocurrency and financial innovation. Friedrich Merz, leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), leads the race with a pro-business and innovation-driven platform. His main rival, Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), advocates for aggressive crypto reforms and full deregulation of digital assets. With Germany’s influential role in European financial policy, the election’s outcome may shape the country’s stance on digital currencies and financial innovation. Friedrich Merz has built his campaign on promises of economic revitalization, pro-business policies, and financial reform. Before entering politics, Merz held prominent financial roles, including chairman of BlackRock Germany’s supervisory board and senior positions at HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt. He also served on the boards of Deutsche Börse, EY Germany, and Borussia Dortmund, reinforcing his financial expertise. To address Germany’s economic stagnation, Merz proposes cutting corporate and income taxes, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and expanding venture capital opportunities to establish Germany as a global startup hub. His platform includes creating a ministerial position for artificial intelligence and digitization, aligning with global trends toward technological innovation. While Merz is not an outspoken crypto advocate, his economic policies could indirectly benefit the digital asset industry. His administration would likely support the introduction of a digital euro, but only if it proves beneficial. A recent survey from Germany’s central bank revealed that half of Germans would “definitely” or “probably” use a digital euro, highlighting growing public interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Merz aims to balance innovation with regulation, maintaining financial stability while encouraging technological growth. Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, has taken a far more aggressive stance on cryptocurrency and financial reform. Her platform calls for full deregulation of Bitcoin and other digital assets, promoting a decentralized financial system with minimal government oversight. Endorsed by Elon Musk, Weidel’s proposals include Germany’s exit from the euro—an idea that has sparked significant debate within the financial community. Though trailing in the polls, Weidel’s strong pro-crypto rhetoric has resonated with segments of the digital asset community. Her policies, if implemented, would position Germany as one of the most crypto-friendly regulatory environments globally. As reported by CNF, AfD’s push for extensive crypto deregulation stands out in this election, setting the stage for a potential overhaul of Germany’s digital finance laws. Weidel’s radical proposals represent a stark contrast to Merz’s cautious, business-driven approach. Her vision prioritizes financial autonomy and deregulation, which, while appealing to crypto advocates, raises concerns about market volatility and EU relations. As Europe’s largest economy, Germany’s financial policies carry significant weight within the European Union. A Merz-led government would likely pursue a balanced approach, focusing on reducing bureaucracy while cautiously embracing digital innovation. His plans include strengthening the European Capital Markets Union and positioning Germany as a leader in venture capital and startups through tax incentives. Merz’s platform also emphasizes combating financial crime, with proposals to create a customs police force targeting money laundering and financial misconduct. This regulatory focus suggests that, while supportive of financial innovation, Merz would prioritize oversight and market stability. Conversely, Weidel’s approach signals a radical departure from traditional policies. Her aggressive push for crypto deregulation challenges the CDU’s measured stance and could disrupt Germany’s economic alignment with the EU. As discussed earlier by CNF, the president of the Deutsche Bundesbank, Joachim Nagelt, has expressed skepticism toward cryptocurrencies. Speaking at an OMFIF lecture in association with the London School of Economics, Nagel dismissed the idea of Bitcoin as a reserve asset and warned of the uncertain impact of CBDCs on economic policy. Despite this, the Bundesbank remains a strong proponent of the digital euro.

Bitcoin dominance and scams limit altcoin momentum, leaving them suppressed. Raoul Pal shifts focus to Sui, believing it will outperform Solana this cycle. His portfolio strategy focuses on major cryptos, with 80-90% allocated to safe assets like Bitcoin. Altcoin season—the time when altcoins typically take off after Bitcoin pumps—has been much awaited. But this time around, it’s been a no-show. While Bitcoin has surged, Ethereum has struggled, and altcoins haven’t followed suit. Several factors contribute to the delay. The altcoin market has been hit hard by volatility and scams, which have drained liquidity and hurt investor confidence. Moreover, Bitcoin’s dominance remains high, with more than half of the total crypto market cap being locked up in Bitcoin. While altcoins haven’t yet surged, some investors remain hopeful that a shift may still be on the horizon. Real Vision’s Raoul Pal, a well-known figure in the world of crypto investing, recently shared his updated portfolio for the rest of 2025, giving insight into his investment strategy. Raoul’s portfolio is leaning heavily toward the major players in crypto, with an interesting shift tow… The post Altcoin Season MIA? Raoul Pal Reveals Crypto Portfolio, Puts Sui Ahead of Solana appeared first on Coin Edition.

It’s a new era for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under President Donald Trump as the agency voluntarily dismissed its appeal on Feb. 19 in a crypto rulemaking case. While the SEC’s voluntary dismissal of its own effort to reverse a court ruling blocking a contentious broker-dealer rule that would have given the agency jurisdiction over decentralized crypto protocols represented a huge win for the digital assets industry, the regulator is yet to dismiss its appeal in the high-profile Ripple lawsuit. Fox Business Journalist Eleanor Terrett has delved into the potential reason why the agency has not yet ended the XRP-centered legal battle. SEC Is Prioritizing Cases With Imminent Deadlines In a Feb. 19 X post citing anonymous legal sources, Eleanor Terrett revealed that the Securities and Exchange Commission has been pausing enforcement cases with looming court deadlines, which is partly why the regulator has not yet abandoned its appeal in the Ripple case. Notably, Ripple requested a due date of Apr. 16 for its opening brief in the cross-appeal against the SEC. The securities watchdog submitted its own opening brief on Jan. 15 — just five days before Trump’s inauguration and the exit of former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler. Following Gensler’s departure, the new SEC leadership has signaled the commission will adopt a more collaborative approach to policing the crypto market. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda has already launched a crypto-focused task force for formulating clear rules, helmed by pro-crypto commissioner Hester Peirce. As ZyCrypto reported earlier, President Trump is pushing forward with his vision to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” stating on Wednesday that he had effectively ended the Biden administration’s animosity toward Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, the SEC’s progress on enforcement actions unleashed during Gensler’s regime has stalled, including cases against Binance and Coinbase. Fox Business suggested that the SEC might be waiting for Trump’s pick, Paul Atkins, to assume office. “It’s possible SEC leadership is expecting @realDonaldTrump’s pick for chair Paul Atkins to be on his way to getting confirmed by that time,” Terrett posited. “In the interim, the crypto task force, Congress, and the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets are presumably working to fill the regulatory gaps that led to these lawsuits being brought in the first place.” Besides easing its stance on lawsuits, the SEC, under Uyeda’s leadership, is acknowledging exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on altcoins such as Ripple-linked XRP.

Since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election in November last year, Bitcoin has broken its all-time high (ATH) price several times, and the head of state is crediting his strong support for digital assets as the driving force. He has also declared an end to the previous administration’s apparent hostility towards the crypto industry, promising to position the United States as the global leader in the sector. Trump’s Pro-Crypto Vision Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative Institute conference in Miami, Trump linked Bitcoin’s recent record highs, which saw the O.G cryptocurrency go past $109,000, to his administration’s efforts. “Bitcoin set multiple all-time highs because everyone knows I’m committed to making America the crypto capital,” the President said. The 78-year-old also outlined his commitment to fostering a crypto-friendly environment, including the January signing of an executive order titled Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology. It created a federal working group to develop a clear legal structure for digital assets. Many feel this is the first step in ending what they consider unfair regulatory practices by watchdog agencies such as the SEC, with the President seemingly of the same opinion. “I’ve signed executive orders to keep the United States at the forefront of artificial intelligence and to end Joe Biden’s war on Bitcoin and crypto,” Trump declared. “We ended that war totally. That war is over,” he reiterated. Washington now plays host to the most crypto-friendly Congress in U.S. history. Key lawmakers, including Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott and his House Financial Services Committee counterpart French Hill, are leading efforts to draft regulatory frameworks for the crypto industry. Personal Crypto Involvement The U.S. President’s involvement with virtual assets goes beyond policy. He has directly engaged with the crypto market, launching the TRUMP meme coin days before his inauguration, with the token swiftly reaching billions in market capitalization. First Lady Melania Trump followed suit with her own cryptocurrency venture, even though it took the shine away from the first coin, causing it to lose more than half its value. Additionally, World Liberty Financial, a DeFi company fronted by Trump’s family, has gone on a crypto buying spree since he re-entered the Oval Office. On-chain data shows that the platform holds over $348 million in assorted cryptocurrencies, including USDC, TRX, ETH, and AAVE. The post Trump Declares End to Biden’s Crypto Policies appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The HBAR Foundation has announced an investment in Archax’s tokenized shares of Fidelity International’s USD Money Market Fund. Archax, the first FCA-regulated digital asset exchange, broker, and custodian, recently tokenized the MMF on the Hedera ( HBAR ) network. The tokenized shares, available on the Archax platform, allow institutional investors to gain exposure to the fund through blockchain technology. These digital assets can also serve as proof-of-reserves for stablecoin treasury verification, enhancing transparency within the broader digital finance ecosystem, according to a company announcement. The move highlights Hedera’s expanding role in institutional tokenization while advancing Fidelity International’s efforts to bring traditional financial products on-chain. Last December, Hedera integrated Chainlink’s Data Feeds and Proof of Reserve on its mainnet to support DeFi and tokenized real-world assets. This followed a partnership between the HBAR Foundation and Chainlink ( LINK ), giving developers access to high-quality data and on-chain reserve verification. Gregg Bell, Senior Vice President at the HBAR Foundation, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment, stating, “Looking ahead to 2025, real-world asset tokenization will be a key catalyst for blockchain adoption. Our vision for a fully tokenized financial ecosystem aligns with Fidelity International’s commitment to innovation.” He added that partnering with asset managers like Fidelity International is essential for accelerating institutional adoption. The investment further strengthens Hedera’s push into institutional markets by leveraging its high-throughput infrastructure. The network’s ability to provide low-cost, fixed-fee transactions makes it an appealing option for financial institutions exploring tokenization. The collaboration between the HBAR Foundation, Archax, and Fidelity International reflects a broader industry shift toward blockchain-powered financial products. As more institutions explore tokenization, partnerships like this could pave the way for greater adoption of digital asset infrastructure in traditional markets.