President Trump has followed through on one of his key campaign promises — at least for those in the crypto community — pardoning the sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” Trump wrote on a Truth Social post.

The move assures an imminent release for Ulbricht, who in 2015 was convicted of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and distributing narcotics, along with a host of related crimes, via his operation of the darknet Silk Road marketplace. He was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Ulbricht’s case has become a cause célèbre for many in the crypto community who note he did not himself sell drugs or other illegal items, but instead operated a platform where others were allowed to transact.

Then candidate Trump promised a “Day One” commutation of Ulbricht’s sentence last May, while addressing the Libertarian Party convention

The price of bitcoin (BTC) rose in the minutes following the news, possibly as the pardon, along with a flurry of executive orders over the past hours, signals the president’s intention to follow through on campaign promises.

Another one of those promises was a far friendlier crypto regulatory stance, including the possibility of the creation of a strategic bitcoin reserve.

Analyzing 5 cryptos for 2025, led by new contender Rexas Finance.

2025 is giving bullish sentiment with Donald Trump as the new U.S. president. Investors are looking to position themselves in order to capitalize on this bullish trend, and top analysts have identified some of the coins with the potential to drive riches. 

Rexas Finance, Nodle, Bifrost, Shiden Network, and KILT Protocol have stood out. Of the five, Rexas Finance is making waves with its transformative approach to real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and its selling out presale.

Rexas Finance

Rexas Finance has caught the eye of both investors and analysts due to its focus on RWA tokenization. This is a new way of tokenizing physical and digital assets, offering fractional ownership and greater liquidity. 

RXS is in Stage 11 of its presale, which is currently priced at $0.175, having already raised $36,381,133 out of its $41 million funding target. The presale has been on a lot of people’s radar, with 399 million tokens already bought out of a total of 425 million.

Rexas Finance is listed on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, further boosting confidence. The project also has a Certik audit, showing that it takes its security and transparency seriously. As the presale continues, RXS could soar to incredible price heights in 2025.

Nodle

Another cryptocurrency that is picking up speed is Nodle, which is worth about $0.00247. Nodle has gotten investors looking for potential growth, witnessing a price increase of almost 8% in the past 24 hours. 

Analysts believe that Nodle could offer an ROI of about 320%. Therefore, as a decentralized wireless network, it is well-placed to take advantage of the steadily increasing demand.

Bifrost

Built on Bifrost’s proprietary technology, which aims to bridge different blockchain ecosystems, the token is currently trading at $0.2162, with minor growth of 1.62% over the past week. 

It is anticipated that it will scale to the all-time high (ATH) of $0.81, around 300% growth. As more projects try to operate across blockchains, Bifrost could be at the center of making these connections possible.

Shiden Network

Shiden Network also hits the headlines, trading at around $0.1425, up 3.03% in the 24 hours. Analysts believe that Shiden will gain 350% and reach $0.47. 

Shiden Network is a multi-chain decentralized application platform that seeks to improve scalability and usability for developers and users.

KILT Protocol

KILT Protocol currently trades at $0.1417. The KILT token has also been the subject of bullish analysis, with a price target of $0.51 or about 400% ROI. 

With privacy and security of digital interactions remaining an issue, KILT’s decentralized identity solutions come at the right time.

Conclusion

2025 presents a unique opportunity, with analysts listing coins with the potential for significant gains. Among the five, Rexas Finance stands out as a beacon with a potential ROI of o 12,740%.

For more information on Rexas Finance, visit their website, X, or Telegram.

The Financial Times reported on Monday that World Liberty Financial (WLF), the digital asset venture associated with President Donald Trump, has successfully raised $1 billion through its token sales. 

Initially launched in October with a goal of selling only 20 billion WLF tokens, the decentralized finance’s (DeFi) venture token surpassed this target by selling 21 billion tokens, demonstrating robust demand despite a rocky start.

Eric Trump Champions World Liberty Financial At ‘High-Profile Event’

Per the report, this surge in interest comes as WLF announces the release of an additional 5 billion tokens from its total supply of 100 billion, citing “massive demand and overwhelming interest.” 

The Trump family’s foray into the cryptocurrency space has been marked by a blend of enthusiasm and controversy. Over the weekend, both Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, launched their own memecoins, which experienced rapid spikes in value. 

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Eric Trump, actively promoting World Liberty Financial, also attended a “high-profile crypto event” in Washington, celebrating the intersection of politics and digital assets as his father prepares for a new administration.

Trump’s embrace of the crypto sector during his election campaign has resonated with industry executives, many of whom anticipate a more favorable regulatory environment compared to the policies of the outgoing Biden administration. 

The appointment of crypto-friendly figures, such as Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and David Sacks as the newly created artificial intelligence (AI) and Crypto Czar, further underscores this potential shift. However, the venture has not been without its critics. 

Trump’s Memecoins Spark Controversy

Concerns arise over the limited rights associated with WLF tokens, which provide holders with only minimal voting rights and no economic entitlements. Furthermore, the tokens cannot be traded or sold back to WLF, leading to questions about their long-term value and utility.

Compounding the intrigue surrounding WLF, notable crypto entrepreneur and TRON blockchain founder Justin Sun recently revealed a significant investment of $45 million into the venture, raising his total stake to $75 million. 

The market’s reaction has been volatile, exemplified by Bitcoin’s brief spike to a record high of over $109,000 on Monday, followed by a retraction toward $102,000 after Trump’s inauguration speech. 

Analysts now speculate that upcoming executive orders from Trump could bolster the crypto industry’s fortunes in the US, although skepticism lingers among some industry veterans. 

Nic Carter, a venture capitalist, articulated concerns about the “ethical implications” of a sitting president engaging in business ventures that could be perceived as “conflicts of interest.”

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The launch of Trump’s memecoins has also stirred controversy, with the Donald Trump memecoin experiencing a sharp decline from a weekend high of $75 to $52. 

Meanwhile, the Melania Trump memecoin, which disrupted the market dynamics of the Donald coin, saw its value fluctuate significantly from a high of $13.64 to $8.43.

Bernstein analysts have noted that this “chaotic crypto era” marks a critical juncture, suggesting that government engagement with cryptocurrencies may redefine the relationship between leadership and emerging technologies. 

The analysts assert that the launch of Trump and Melania’s memecoins signifies a potential regulatory shift in the country, where digital assets could serve as a direct connection to a mass audience.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Disclaimer: The analyst who wrote this piece owns shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR).

Led by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy (MSTR) has again added to its massive bitcoin (BTC) stack.

In the week ending Jan 19, the company purchased 11,000 BTC for $1.1 billion, taking its total holdings to 461,000 BTC. This latest bitcoin average purchase price was $101,191, increasing MicroStrategy’s overall average purchase price to $63,610.

Once again, Michael Saylor teased the announcement on X on Sunday with the caption, “Things will be different tomorrow.” Since the tweet, Saylor has posted multiple photos of himself with Eric Trump, crypto czar David Sacks and Robert Kennedy Jr.

MSTR shares are down modestly in premarket action, with bitcoin trading at $104,500, lower by a hair from late Friday afternoon. U.S. stocks were closed on Monday due to the MLK holiday.

Benefit fraudsters who cheated taxpayers out of £7billion last year could face driving bans under sweeping new powers announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The legislation, introduced in Parliament today, represents the biggest fraud clampdown in a generation. Repeat offenders who refuse to repay their debts could be disqualified from driving for up to two years.

The Government has unveiled new rules to clampdown on benefit fraudsters

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The Bill is expected to save the Department £1.5billion over the next five years. The measures will be based on principles of fairness and proportionality, with driving bans used only as a last resort.

Officials will prioritise negotiating affordable and sustainable repayment plans with offenders before pursuing more severe penalties. The legislation forms part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to reform the health and disability welfare system.

New proposals for reforming health and disability benefits are expected in the Spring. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “We are turning off the tap to criminals who cheat the system and steal law-abiding taxpayers money.”

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She emphasised the serious consequences for fraudsters, including the potential loss of driving privileges in extreme cases. “Backed up by new and important safeguards including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight to ensure the powers are used proportionately and safely,” Kendall added.

DWP Minister Liz Kendall is promising to tackle benefit fraud

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“People need to have confidence the Government is opening all available doors to tackle fraud and eliminate waste, as we continue the most ambitious programme for government in a generation – with a laser-like focus on outcomes which will make the biggest difference to their lives as part of our Plan for Change.”

Under the new powers, DWP will be able to recover money directly from bank accounts of those who owe money and refuse to pay, despite having the means to do so.

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However, the Department will not have direct access to people’s bank accounts. The legislation will allow DWP to request bank statements to prove debtors have sufficient funds to repay what they owe.

These measures are part of a modernised approach to catching fraudsters and preventing overpayments. The new system aims to keep pace with sophisticated fraud while ensuring legitimate claimants receive the correct benefits.

Officials say this will help prevent vulnerable customers from falling further into debt. The powers will apply to individuals who are not on benefits or in PAYE employment but still owe money to the Department. The legislation includes comprehensive safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable customers.

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Benefit fraudsters could be banned from driving under Government plans

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Staff will receive high-level training on the appropriate use of new powers. New oversight and reporting mechanisms will be introduced to monitor how these powers are used.

Furthermore, Government will develop Codes of Practice, which will be subject to consultation during the Bill’s passage. All powers will have clearly defined scope and limitations, including the right to appeal decisions.

The Cabinet Office’s Public Sector Fraud Authority will receive additional powers under the new legislation. Georgia Gould, Minister in the Cabinet Office, said: “During the pandemic, when people and businesses needed government support the most, some people stole public money for their own personal gain.”

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The time limit for civil claims against Covid fraud will be doubled from six to twelve years. This extension will give investigators more time to examine complex cases and apply new powers retrospectively. These powers include the ability to raid properties and retrieve money from Covid fraudsters’ bank accounts.