With April behind us, Agne Linge, WeFi's Head of Growth, summarized the key events that happened during that month. Want to know more about the Crypto world? Read on!
"Just as WhatsApp disrupted costly international phone calls, blockchain payments and stablecoins are transforming global money transfers." Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
April was nothing but boring in the World politics, economy, stock and crypto markets. U.S. President Donal Trump is continuing to stir the markets with his tariffs and business negotiation, putting a lot of economies under pressure and calling out trade wars. Everyone is waiting to see what happens next.
In crypto, the market is eagerly anticipating for the clarity from the United States. The traditional finance space shows clear interest in Bitcoin investments, tokenization, stablecoins and DeFi. So let’s dive into April’s hottest happenings that are moving the needle in the crypto World.
Earlier this month, President Trump made headlines by imposing—and then abruptly suspending—tariffs on a lot of countries. He is now negotiating with some countries, facing reciprocal tariffs and of course, lots of criticism. The move has added fresh volatility to global markets and even sparked a wave of geopolitical tension, trade wars and triggered some of the wildest market swings.
Some countries like Japan, Vietnam, and India are actively working to secure trade agreements with the U.S. in response, while economic heavyweights such as China, the EU, and the UK are taking a more cautious approach—watching, waiting, and calculating their next moves.
Traditional markets have responded sharply: the stock market dipped, and gold reached near record highs as investors sought safe havens. Meanwhile, Bitcoin remained largely range-bound, showing little sign of the breakout movement some had anticipated.
Uncertainty isn't just confined to geopolitics. The crypto industry itself is facing a regulatory fog, especially in the U.S., where clarity from regulators remains elusive. While conversations around new legislation and regulatory roundtables continue to circulate, meaningful outcomes have yet to emerge. There was plenty of talk coming from President Trump and the U.S., let's see how all of this gets implemented and encourages positive movement in the U.S. crypto ecosystem.
Adding to the pressure, nearly 30 crypto advocacy groups—including industry giants like a16z, Consensys, and Kraken—have formally called on the SEC to clarify its stance on crypto staking. In a recent letter, the coalition argued that staking should not be classified as an investment instrument. They emphasize that staking rewards are determined by blockchain protocols, not by managerial efforts or business promises, as with traditional securities.
It seems that the World is in a waiting state, and someone has to deliver.
What was visible for many, but not everyone in the crypto ecosystem, is the level that traditional finance and institutions are already involved in crypto. April saw a renewed wave of institutional interest in crypto, signaling that major players are positioning themselves for a longer-term presence in the space.
Coinbase Asset Management launched the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund, a long Bitcoin strategy targeting 4–8% net returns denominated in BTC. Designed to meet the rising demand for crypto yield among institutions, the fund boasts an estimated $1 billion in strategy capacity. As institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates, Coinbase is clearly aiming to become a central pillar in providing tailored investment solutions for large-scale investors.
In another significant move, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald has teamed up with Tether (the issuer of USDT) and SoftBank to form a new company called Twenty One Capital. The firm’s mission is straightforward: accumulate Bitcoin. Inspired by Michael Saylor’s aggressive accumulation strategy at MicroStrategy, the project plans to launch with 42,000 BTC and aims to raise as much capital as possible to expand its holdings.
Meanwhile, BlackRock is pushing the boundaries of blockchain integration with the announcement of a new $150 billion fund initiative. The firm is creating a blockchain-based share class, labeled DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology), for its BLF Treasury Trust Fund. The DLT class will leverage blockchain to record share ownership and enhance operational efficiency in managing short-term U.S. Treasury investments.
From yield-generating Bitcoin products to large-scale accumulation strategies and blockchain-powered fund infrastructure, April made one thing clear: traditional finance is no longer just testing the waters—it’s getting in deeper.
Businesses are treating crypto, stablecoin remittances and digital asset management seriously, and those enterprises, like WeFi, who are positioned early, will be able to pave the path forward and reap the benefits of being an early mover.
Interestingly, sablecoins have increasingly gained more and more attention. Curiosity surged from all directions—issuers, financial institutions, payment providers, and regulators—highlighting their growing role in global finance.
Stablecoins have already proven invaluable for cross-border payments, remittances, and settlements. Now, with more players entering the market, the sector is gaining serious momentum. Standard Chartered Bank projects the stablecoin market could expand tenfold, reaching $2 trillion within the next three years. Upcoming U.S. legislation aimed at creating a regulatory framework will play a key role in shaping that growth. Stablecoin issuance also carries major implications for demand in U.S. Treasuries and the global dominance of the dollar.
President Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, announced plans to launch a dollar-pegged stablecoin. Backed 100% by short-term U.S. Treasuries, cash deposits, and other equivalents, the project signals growing political interest in the stablecoin space.
Circle, the company behind USDC, revealed a new payments network designed to enable real-time settlement of cross-border transactions using stablecoins. The network will connect financial institutions, fintechs, payment platforms, and digital wallets—bringing stablecoins into the core of global financial infrastructure.
PayPal is also ramping up its stablecoin strategy, offering rewards to users who hold its PYUSD token in a bid to drive adoption and everyday use.
Globally, the UAE is stepping into the stablecoin race with a new Dirham-backed token. Spearheaded by ADQ, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and International Holding Co., the coin is designed to modernize blockchain payments across industries and enhance digital finance for UAE consumers and businesses.
Meanwhile, Visa has partnered with stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge—recently acquired by Stripe—to issue stablecoin-linked Visa cards across Latin America. This move further integrates stablecoins into the broader payments ecosystem and signals their rising importance in everyday commerce.
As Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) noted this month:
"Just as WhatsApp disrupted costly international phone calls, blockchain payments and stablecoins are transforming global money transfers."
All of these developments show that stablecoins are no longer just a niche experiment—they’re rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the future financial system.
April also saw a surge of attention toward Ripple (XRP) and Solana (SOL)—currently ranked No. 4 and No. 6 in crypto market capitalization, respectively. Much of the excitement stems from growing speculation around the potential approval of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to these cryptocurrencies.
ETFs are widely seen as a gateway for traditional investors to gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without the complexities of directly purchasing and storing them. The anticipation of such products for XRP and Solana has fueled both market interest and investor optimism.
On Polymarket, the odds of an XRP ETF approval soared to 85%, reflecting a sharp shift in sentiment. Multiple spot ETF applications are currently in play, including filings from Grayscale, 21Shares, WisdomTree, Bitwise, Canary, and Franklin Templeton.
Meanwhile, Solana is experiencing a similar wave of speculation. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence have increased the probability of a Solana ETF approval to 90% in 2025. The market appears to be pricing in that potential early, with growing demand and media coverage throughout the month.
These developments further highlight how institutional pathways—particularly through ETFs—are becoming central to the next phase of crypto adoption.
April 2025 was defined by uncertainty and anticipation. President Trump’s fluctuating tariff policies left global markets waiting to see how countries would respond. Similarly, the financial and crypto sectors were in a holding pattern, awaiting decisions from U.S. lawmakers on crypto regulation. Despite the volatility in traditional markets, Bitcoin remained relatively stable, holding steady throughout the month.
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