Who's really winning the btc game rn?

Welcome back to your 2-minute digest of this week's most important crypto moves. ⚡⚡⚡

In today’s newsletter:

• Meme of the week

• Viral crypto tweets

• Major crypto headlines explained

• Top Alternative Investements for 2025 (according to J.P. Morgan)

But first…

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MEME OF THE WEEK

WHAT’S TRENDING @ 𝕏

TOP HEADLINES 🗞️

Over the past seven days, the crypto and memecoin markets have shown mixed performance with Bitcoin hovering near $98,000 amid key macroeconomic developments.

→ Institutional Demand Grows: Major players continue accumulating BTC:

• Japanese game studio Gumi plans to buy $6.6M worth of BTC

• KULR Technology expanded holdings to 610.3 BTC

• Goldman Sachs increased exposure to spot Bitcoin ETFs

• Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) maintains regular BTC purchases

Key Context: Despite strong institutional interest, JPMorgan reports crypto ecosystem growth slowed in January with total trading volumes down 24%.

→ Mining Industry Disruption: U.S. Bitcoin miners face significant challenges as Chinese ASIC shipments experience delays.

Impact:

• Customs holding Bitmain shipments at ports

• Department of Commerce blacklisted Bitmain-linked AI firm Sophgo

• Mining profitability threatened amid rising competition and BTC mining difficulty

→ Inflation Data May Shake Out Bitcoin’s Doldrums: The U.S. inflation report, set to be released today, could move Bitcoin (BTC) out of its recent stagnation. A higher-than-expected figure may signal that the Federal Reserve has more tightening to do, while a lower number could boost risk assets like BTC by raising interest rate cut expectations.

Key Numbers:

• Core Inflation Rate YoY: Estimated 3.1% vs. Previous 3.2%

• Bitcoin demand remains strong, with Japanese game studio Gumi buying $6.6M in BTC and KULR Technology Group holding 610.3 BTC.

• Goldman Sachs' 13F filing shows increased exposure to spot BTC and ETH ETFs.

Impact:If inflation surprises to the upside, BTC could face downward pressure due to fears of prolonged high interest rates. A softer report could lead to renewed buying interest, particularly from institutions, while a weakening U.S. dollar and lower Treasury yields may provide additional support.

MEME COINS

→ CAR President Launches Meme-Coin 'Experiment': Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra introduced the $CAR meme-coin to raise the country’s profile and fund development projects. Initially hailed as a success, the coin plummeted up to 90% in value within days.

Key Numbers:

• $CAR price dropped 90% after launch.

• CAR previously adopted Bitcoin as legal tender in 2022, but the initiative struggled.

• Foreign investors were once offered citizenship for $60,000 in crypto, but the plan was ruled unconstitutional.

Impact:The $CAR coin’s rapid decline raises concerns over its long-term viability and potential for misuse. While Touadéra claims it will support national development, skepticism remains, with some fearing it could be a speculative scam. The event underscores the high volatility of meme-coins and their unpredictable market impact.

→ CZ’s Dog Sparks Memecoin Frenzy—One Trader Profits $6.5M, Others Wiped Out: Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) revealed his dog’s name, "Broccoli," leading to an explosion of Broccoli-themed memecoins on BNB Chain and Solana. A single wallet (0x392eb) created and sold off a Broccoli token within 20 minutes, turning $1,000 into $6.5 million, while most traders faced heavy losses.

Key Numbers:

• Over 30,000 traders executed nearly 100,000 transactions on Broccoli-related tokens.

• The 100th best trader made only $20,000 in profit.

• Broccoli’s market cap peaked at over $1 billion before crashing to $50 million.

Impact:This memecoin rush underscores the high-risk, insider-driven nature of the space, where early creators manipulate supply and profits come at the expense of retail buyers. The chaos sparked debate about the speculative and often exploitative nature of memecoin trading.

Top Alternative Investements in 2025

J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s latest report, "Alternative Investments in 2025: Our Top Five Themes to Watch," highlights major trends shaping the investment landscape—several of which could have significant implications for crypto and digital assets. Here’s what stands out:

1. U.S. Housing Shortages Are a Long-Term Problem: The U.S. is short 2-3 million homes, which is fueling demand for real estate investment, particularly in multifamily housing and senior living. This structural imbalance is unlikely to be solved quickly, making real estate a potentially strong long-term play.

2. AI Is Creating an Energy Crunch: The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is pushing energy demand to new heights, particularly in data centers. This could impact crypto mining operations, which already face scrutiny over electricity consumption. If power infrastructure becomes a bottleneck, miners may need to rethink location strategies.

3. Private Equity Could Be Back in Business: As interest rates stabilize, private equity dealmaking is expected to rebound. More capital flowing into high-growth sectors—potentially including blockchain and fintech—could reshape the funding landscape for startups in the space.

4. Big Money Is Flowing Back into Innovation: After a period of caution, investors are once again backing disruptive technologies. This renewed appetite for risk capital could benefit crypto-related projects, especially those tied to AI, payments, and decentralized finance.

5. Private Credit Is Gaining Influence: With banks pulling back on lending, private credit is stepping in. Higher interest rates are making it an attractive alternative for investors, but it also raises questions about liquidity risks. If crypto-backed lending platforms follow this trend, expect more competition and evolving regulatory oversight.

J.P. Morgan’s analysis suggests that while traditional finance is adjusting to macroeconomic shifts, these trends could indirectly shape the future of crypto. From AI-driven energy concerns to shifting investment priorities, there’s a lot to watch.

🔥 Your Turn:

Have market insights or analysis to share? Reply to this newsletter with your thoughts, and we'll feature the most valuable contributions in our next issue.

1  Risk Disclaimer: Market analysis provided is for informational purposes only. Cryptocurrency and meme asset investments carry significant risks. Past performance does not indicate future returns.