Trump-Triggered Crypto Rally Fades As More Reserve Questions Swirl

Bitcoin’s wild ride just got wilder. After plunging below $80K last week, the largest crypto by market cap staged a dramatic comeback following a Sunday Truth Social post from President Trump, hinting at a potential strategic crypto reserve.

The president’s comments sent prices soaring — particularly Ripple, Solana, and Cardano, the three tokens he initially named before later remembering Bitcoin and Ethereum. But is this a real shift in policy or just another market-moving tease?

To help break it all down, we were joined by Imran Lakha, founder of Options Insight, to discuss the key market trends shaping crypto right now.

Markets surged on the back of Trump’s announcement, with ADA rocketing 60% and XRP up 25%, but skepticism remains high. While the strategic reserve narrative excites traders, many wonder what it really means. If the rationale is similar to gold reserves, why would the government hold assets beyond Bitcoin? As Imran pointed out, the inclusion of XRP, Solana, and Cardano raised eyebrows.

Even more suspicious? One trader reportedly made $7 million in one day by going long Bitcoin and Ether with 50X leverage right before Trump’s post. That level of conviction — or insider knowledge — has the crypto community buzzing about potential front-running.

Lakha said he was suspicious, given “the level of certainty that you must have to put on a trade, that if crypto pulls back 2%, you're stopped out, right?”

Record Net Outflows Shake the Market

Despite Trump’s crypto-friendly post, the larger trend hasn’t been as bullish. Digital asset investment products saw $2.9 billion in outflows last week, the largest weekly outflow on record, according to CoinShares.

Bitcoin bore the brunt of the sell-off, losing $2.59 billion, while XRP managed to attract $5 million in inflows, making it one of the few winners. The outflows suggest that much of the ETF-driven demand in previous months may have been fast money rather than long-term holders.

In another surprising development, Michael Saylor, Bitcoin’s biggest corporate bull, didn’t buy the dip. Strategy reported no new Bitcoin purchases while reaffirming that he isn’t selling either. Saylor’s absence as a buyer may have contributed to last week’s sharp decline.

What to Watch This Week

Looking ahead, March 7th marks the White House’s first-ever crypto summit, led by AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks and Bo Hines. While expectations for any major policy shifts remain low, it’s a moment to watch. Additionally, markets will be paying close attention to macro trends, including tariffs on China and Mexico that could shake broader risk sentiment.

For now, crypto is back above key levels, but whether the Trump-induced rally has legs will depend on real policy developments — not just a Truth Social post.

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