Bitcoin Surges Past $100K: Institutional Moves and Trade Talks Fuel Rally

Crypto Markets Face Major Shifts: Bitcoin, Altcoins, and Institutional Moves

Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000 Amid Dollar Avalanche and U.S.-China Trade Talks

According to Forbes, Bitcoin prices have soared above $100,000 per coin for the first time since February, driven by a confluence of macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. The article highlights warnings from Stephen Jen, CEO of Eurizon SLJ Capital, and economist Joana Freire, who caution that a $2.5 trillion “avalanche” of dollar holdings from Asian exporters such as China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam could be unleashed if the U.S. dollar weakens and the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. The Fed is expected to cut rates by a total of 75 basis points in 2025, after holding steady this week.

The crypto market is also closely monitoring the start of U.S.-China trade talks, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion of potentially lowering the 80% tariff imposed on China in April. This move had previously caused a sharp decline in both crypto and stock markets. A spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. confirmed that talks are being held at the request of the U.S. side.

Market analysts, including Yuya Hasegawa from Bitbank and David Morrison from Trade Nation, note that while the trade talks have lifted sentiment, any disappointment could quickly reverse the current risk-on mood. Meanwhile, Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto research at Standard Chartered Bank, points to strong inflows into Bitcoin spot ETFs and growing interest from U.S. states and sovereign wealth funds. Kendrick even apologized for his previous $120,000 target, suggesting it may be too low.

“Bitcoin’s back in the six-figures with a lot of room to go. If you compare its primary functional use case, a check and a balance on the lack of accountability in fiat unit creation, we still have a long way to go,” said Bill Miller IV, CIO of Miller Value Partners, predicting Bitcoin could reach $1 million per coin and eventually surpass gold’s $20 trillion market capitalization.

Key Figures	Value
Bitcoin Price (May 2025)	$100,000+
Potential Dollar Sell-off	$2.5 trillion
Gold Market Cap	$20 trillion
Fed Rate Cut Expectation (2025)	75 basis points

Bitcoin’s price surge is linked to macroeconomic risks and potential U.S.-China trade developments.
Analysts warn of a possible non-linear sell-off in the dollar, which could benefit Bitcoin.
Institutional and state-level interest in Bitcoin is rising.

Summary: Bitcoin’s rally above $100,000 is fueled by expectations of a weaker dollar, potential Fed rate cuts, and renewed U.S.-China trade talks. Institutional flows and ETF inflows are also supporting the bullish momentum, with some experts predicting a long-term target of $1 million per Bitcoin. (Source: Forbes)

Charles Schwab’s Crypto Trading Launch: Institutional Momentum and Market Impact

CryptoNinjas reports that Charles Schwab, managing $7.13 trillion in assets, plans to introduce spot crypto trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum within the next 12 months. CEO Rick Wurster stated that Schwab is “hopeful and likely” to enable direct crypto transactions by mid-2026. This move follows a 400% increase in traffic to Schwab’s crypto content, with 70% of visitors being potential new clients.

The announcement triggered immediate market reactions: Bitcoin rose 3.2% from $58,400 to $60,270, and Ethereum climbed 2.8% from $2,900 to $2,981 within an hour. Trading volumes also spiked, with Bitcoin’s 24-hour volume up 18% to $32.4 billion and Ethereum’s up 15% to $14.7 billion. Liquidity depth in BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT pairs improved by an average of 12% within two hours, according to Kaiko Analytics.

Investor sentiment at Schwab has shifted, with 61% of clients feeling bearish in Q1 2025, up from 32%. Many are reallocating from U.S. stocks to bonds and international assets. Schwab’s crypto offering is designed for conservative investors seeking fractional exposure to major cryptocurrencies, not altcoins.

Analysts expect Schwab’s platform to drive significant institutional inflows. On May 1, Deribit data showed a 25% rise in BTC call options over the $65,000 strike price, and Kraken reported a 10% increase in BTC/USD and ETH/USD trading activity. Whale Alert noted a 14% increase in Bitcoin transactions over $1 million, indicating institutional buying.

Key Metrics	Value
Schwab Assets Under Management	$7.13 trillion
Bitcoin Price Reaction	+3.2% ($58,400 → $60,270)
Ethereum Price Reaction	+2.8% ($2,900 → $2,981)
BTC 24h Volume	+18% ($32.4 billion)
ETH 24h Volume	+15% ($14.7 billion)
Liquidity Depth (BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT)	+12%
BTC Call Options ($65,000+)	+25%
BTC Transactions > $1M	+14%

Schwab’s crypto launch is expected to attract institutional and conservative retail investors.
Market efficiency and liquidity have improved following the announcement.
Regulatory clarity is boosting institutional confidence, though volatility remains a risk.

Summary: Charles Schwab’s entry into crypto trading is a significant institutional milestone, immediately impacting prices and volumes for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The move is expected to drive further institutional adoption and market growth. (Source: CryptoNinjas)

XRP’s Path Forward: Five Catalysts and Market Realities

A The Crypto Basic article discusses the outlook for XRP, which recently peaked at $2.42 before settling at $2.36. Despite this, investor confidence remains low, especially as Bitcoin and Ethereum have broken key resistance levels while XRP lags.

A community member, Butterfly, identified five potential catalysts for an XRP bull run:

BlackRock Filing for an XRP ETF: While BlackRock’s Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have attracted tens of billions of dollars, there is no evidence of an XRP ETF filing yet. Industry experts believe such a filing could happen soon, potentially boosting XRP’s price.
XRP Futures Rollout: Coinbase launched XRP futures in April 2025, and CME Group is set to follow in May. This development is expected to increase liquidity and attract institutional investors.
Interest Rate Cuts: The Federal Reserve, not the Treasury, is responsible for rate decisions. While cuts are anticipated later in the year, no immediate action has been taken. Lower rates could benefit risk assets like XRP.
XRP ETF Approval and ISO Conversion: Nine firms, including Grayscale and WisdomTree, have filed for spot XRP ETFs, but none have been approved. The SEC has delayed decisions, and approval may not come until late 2025. The so-called “ISO conversion” is not a real event, though Ripple’s systems are ISO 20022 compliant.

XRP’s price remains below key resistance, despite positive developments in futures trading and ETF applications.
Institutional interest could increase if BlackRock or others file for an XRP ETF.
Interest rate cuts and regulatory changes are potential catalysts, but timelines are uncertain.

Summary: XRP’s future growth depends on several factors, including ETF filings, futures market expansion, and macroeconomic policy shifts. While some catalysts are in motion, others remain speculative or delayed. (Source: The Crypto Basic)

Altcoin Rally: Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Others Benefit from Renewed Risk Appetite

CoinDesk reports that Bitcoin neared $104,000 for the first time in over two months, while Dogecoin led major altcoins with a 10% rally to $0.23387. Ethereum rose 3.5% to $2,482.87, buoyed by the successful Pectra network upgrade, which contributed to weekly gains of over 30%.

Other major cryptocurrencies also saw gains: Solana reached $172.19, Cardano $0.82164, XRP $2.44, and BNB $654.70, with increases between 2% and 6%. The rally is attributed to a shift from caution to risk-on sentiment, supported by pro-crypto developments in the U.S., such as New Hampshire and Arizona passing legislation to create state-level crypto reserves.

President Trump’s optimistic comments on U.S.-China trade talks and the signing of a new U.S.-U.K. trade agreement have further lifted market sentiment. Jeff Mei, COO at BTSE, stated that Trump’s outlook is encouraging traders to shift capital back into cryptocurrencies, potentially driving Bitcoin toward its all-time high of over $108,700.

Asset	Price (May 2025)	Change
Bitcoin	$104,000	First time in 2+ months
Dogecoin	$0.23387	+10%
Ethereum	$2,482.87	+3.5% (weekly +30%)
Solana	$172.19	+2% to +6%
Cardano	$0.82164	+2% to +6%
XRP	$2.44	+2% to +6%
BNB	$654.70	+2% to +6%

Altcoins are rebounding strongly, led by Dogecoin and Ethereum.
Political and regulatory support in the U.S. is boosting sentiment.
Bitcoin is trading about 5% below its January record high of over $108,700.

Summary: Renewed risk appetite, political support, and network upgrades are driving a broad crypto market rally, with Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ethereum leading the gains. (Source: CoinDesk)

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