Bitcoin price volatility, shifting narratives in crypto and U.S. President Trump’s executive orders have shaken down the cryptocurrency ecosystem in less than 50 days of his administration. Crypto.news interviewed top women executives at blockchain and crypto firms to gather their insights, to unpack the recent developments with these leaders.
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Rachel Conlan, Global CMO, Binance
Rachel Conlan opens with comments on Binance’s growth trajectory, fueled by increasing crypto adoption and institutional interest in the U.S. Conlan says that in Latin America alone, Binance recorded a 116% surge in crypto adoption in 2024 and reached 55 million users.
95% of these users plan to expand their holdings in 2025 as Binance surpasses 250 million registered users. With a mission of onboarding 1 billion users, the cryptocurrency exchange maintains optimism, expecting positive regulatory shifts and further institutional adoption in the U.S.
Conlan said in the interview:
“U.S. President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance has reignited global interest, potentially acting as a catalyst for increased adoption and regulatory clarity. With the approval of Bitcoin ETFs boosting investor confidence, Binance is poised to support the growing interest in the market, reinforcing its role as a preferred platform for both retail and institutional users.”
Discussing the ongoing Bitcoin price cycle’s top narrative, memecoins, Conlan says:
“Memecoins have definitely lowered the barrier to entry for new participants in crypto trading, attracting and engaging a diverse audience with their viral and trendy appeal and community-driven narratives. While some memecoins may fade with market cycles, the industry has progressed beyond a mere trend.”
The CMO highlights how few memecoin projects have expanded their ecosystems and offered features like staking and decentralized exchanges, signifying a shift toward sustainability. Along with growing institutional interest, they could soon be recognized as a legitimate asset class, according to Conlan.
“Memecoins may continue to play an important role in the crypto ecosystem, functioning as both an entry point for new investors and a driving force for greater crypto adoption.”
When asked about ETF approvals in 2025 and whether traders should prepare for Dogecoin, Cardano, XRP, Solana ETFs being approved in H1 this year, Conlan said that the industry remains optimistic.
“With increasing institutional interest and regulatory clarity, the industry is optimistic about the expansion of ETF offerings to include other major digital assets such as Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), XRP, and Cardano (ADA). These potential ETF approvals would mark a significant step in the broader institutionalization of crypto, bringing increased liquidity and legitimacy to these assets. However, approvals may depend on evolving SEC policies and market conditions.”
Binance’s CMO believes that Trump’s Strategic Crypto Reserve, and related executive orders have sparked meaningful discussions about the role of digital assets in the future of finance. She further mentions that the initiative reflects growing recognition of cryptocurrencies as a strategic asset class, highlighting the need for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of innovation in blockchain technology.
“While the proposal to build a Strategic Crypto Reserve faces important discussions in Congress, we hope to see constructive dialogue between policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders. Constructive collaboration can help shape a framework that ensures security, stability, and economic benefits for all.
As global interest in digital assets continues to rise, countries are exploring regulatory approaches that best suit their markets. We look forward to policies that support technological innovation while balancing market needs and compliance requirements, fostering a more stable and healthy environment for the entire industry,” she said.
Adding to her thoughts on the Strategic Crypto Reserve, Rachel told Crypto.news:
“If implemented, such an initiative could lead to increased institutional and retail participation, further cementing crypto’s role as a mainstream financial asset. Binance is prepared to support this evolution by ensuring liquidity, security, and accessibility for traders globally.
This will represent a pivotal moment for the industry, and Binance looks forward to contributing its expertise and experience in driving crypto adoption forward. A clear regulatory path, government engagement, and increased institutional confidence will play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital assets and Binance is ready to support this transformation at a global scale.”
Chrissy Hill, Chief Counsel/Interim COO, Parity Technologies
Crypto.news interviewed Chrissy Hill of Parity.io, a core blockchain infrastructure company known for creating Polkadot. Hill shed light on the groundbreaking White House Crypto Summit event, the regulatory landscape in the U.S., Polkadot’s initiatives and what to make of the rising institutional adoption of crypto.
Hill considers Trump’s White House Crypto Summit to be “the highest level of political support for the crypto industry.” Commenting on the Strategic Crypto Reserve, Hill explains how centralization vs. decentralization play a key role in token selection and that the announcement has acted as a “Geopolitical driver.”
Hill is quoted as saying:
“The U.S. is positioning itself as a forward-thinking leader in digital world, and the initial token selection (e.g., Cardano, Solana) reflects the “Made in USA” concept. The discussion remains open for other tokens to join the strategic reserve.”
When asked about the upcoming SEC crypto roundtable and the financial regulator’s shifting stance on litigation against crypto firms and exchanges, Hill stresses the importance of all three branches, the executive, legislative and judicial, in shaping crypto policy.
“The timeline for crypto legislation (e.g., Genius Act, Fit 21) has been pushed back to year-end. There is a critical need for educating policymakers on digital assets fundamentals and the Polkadot Blockchain Academy is running a UK pilot in April, with plans to expand globally.”
Commenting on SEC guidance on memecoins, Parity’s Chief Counsel explains that it provides clarity but doesn’t address the speculative nature of the tokens. Hill recommends traders do their own research before investing in memecoins.
Hill concludes the interview with Polkadot’s technology and roadmap for 2025, stating that, “the focus is on a multi-chain world, interoperability, scalability, and security. The project’s long-term approach emphasizes innovation and Web3 principles, with an aim to attract diverse stakeholders: builders, users, institutions, and governments.”
Hill is confident that altcoins have the potential to see similar interest as institutions have shown in Bitcoin treasury holdings and ETF investments. Parity’s interim COO identifies Trump administration’s crypto-friendly appointments (e.g., Jonathan Gould to OCC) as the foundation to potentially setting global benchmarks in other jurisdictions like the EU, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, that are reviewing crypto regulations.”
Chrissy advises women in crypto to embrace curiosity and open-mindedness in exploring new areas. She quotes Sun Tzu in her chat with Crypto.news and says,
“Opportunities multiply as you seize them – Sun Tzu.”
Hill encourages women to recognize that the digital world (blockchain, AI, robotics, IoT) offers numerous opportunities and not be afraid to enter new spaces, as everyone is starting from a similar point.
Kyla Curley, Certified Cryptocurrency Forensic Investigator and Partner, StoneTurn
Kyla Curley, a leader in crypto forensic investigation, has over two decades of experience in financial investigations and business litigation. Curley discussed expectations from the upcoming SEC crypto roundtable, crypto regulation in the U.S., memecoins and institutional interest in crypto with Crypto.news.
Curley doesn’t expect a significant downturn in litigation against crypto firms, even as the SEC warms up to exchanges and drops lawsuits. She said,
“There is no doubt that the Trump Administration, and the SEC as an extension, has rolled out the welcome mat to the crypto industry from day one. The Administration has hit the pause button on certain enforcement actions and policies, but the bottom line is this: fraud is not good for business, and the industry wants to work with The Administration to ensure the business-side thrives. So, of course the SEC is going to support and encourage innovation so crypto can take the next step in their maturity in the financial world, but I don’t think there is going to be a significant downturn in litigation, if potential enforcement is merited.
At the end of the day, U.S. consumer and investor demand for crypto is driven in large part by confidence in the security of the market. An inadequately regulated market with few guardrails will drive consumers and investors to send their money to safer, more regulated markets.”
Sharing her thoughts on the pace of crypto regulation and litigation by the U.S. financial regulator, the StoneTurn partner says,
“The prior SEC Chair undertook a “regulation by enforcement” stance, which may have been intended to install guardrails around the industry, but led to a spike in litigation and ultimately drove some of the crypto investment out of the U.S. The Trump Administration is telling us they are looking to find a middle ground and find that balance in crypto regulation.
We’ve already seen action here through SEC guidance in January, Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 122, which broke down one of the greatest barriers to widespread adoption of crypto and other digital assets. SAB 122 repealed a widely unpopular reporting requirement contained in SAB 121 which placed significant and largely infeasible requirements on any financial institution wanting to custody digital assets for their customers.”
Curley sees no intrinsic value in memecoins, guiding traders on the topic of meme tokens and the recent SEC guidance, the executive said:
“Generally speaking, memecoins have no intrinsic value, so those launching projects should be aware that they are entering a space that is highly sensitive to any change in public perception and therefore more susceptible to potential market manipulation. A single social media post can impact the price, and the greater the audience, the greater the impact on the token.”
As traditional financial institutions warm up to crypto, Curley says,
“As I said before, business doesn’t like fraud. I think the traditional financial “gatekeepers” realize the inherent value of the industry, but they were always weary of the prevalence of “bad” business.
As long as there is a balance between innovation and regulation, larger financial institutions will likely deepen their relationship with crypto in 2025 and beyond.”
Agne Linge, Head of Growth, WeFi
Linge observes the volatility in the crypto market and comments on the sentiment and unmet expectations of traders when referring to the U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve. Linge tells Crypto.news,
“The tariff and trade war has continued to create headwinds for the US stock market and, by extension, risk assets like Bitcoin. Despite President Trump’s postponement of the tariff on Mexico, investors still considered the market too risky to bet on.
The subpar strategic Bitcoin reserve move triggered the uncertainty in the crypto market. With the Executive Order directing agencies to consolidate seized Bitcoin to form the reserve, crypto investors see the move as a trick, as no new BTC purchase was announced.”
Linge highlights how, despite the knee-jerk reaction from investors, the Bitcoin reserve mandate authorizes the acquisition of BTC through means that will not cost taxpayers’ money.
She explains,
“The available options in this regard include Bitcoin bonds and the sales of its gold reserve to fund more purchases. In the long term, the Bitcoin reserve shift might benefit the coin. This thesis hinges on a possible race it has triggered that may see other sovereign nations make similar moves.
Pricing in the long term prospect is hard for now, and in the short term, investors are focused on the non-farm payroll report. This report will serve as a major insight into the Federal Reserve’s next monetary actions, which can go a long way in pacifying investors.”
Linge is no outsider to the crypto market and has navigated previous cycles where the market faced intense volatility. The recent surge in crypto liquidations and Bitcoin flash crash highlighted the market’s uncertainty, she remarks.
“Amid this price action, the conviction for sustainable growth in the near term remains low as significant headwinds lie ahead. Despite the market’s long-term prospects, the headwinds from the events of the week, the tariff announcements, Crypto Summit and the FTX repayment scheduled cannot be ignored and may trigger more volatility in the coming days,” she says.
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.
