Altcoins rally, BTC threatens all-time high, as US regulator calls for fewer barriers to DeFi

Key takeaways

• 📈 Bitcoin and Ethereum rally — BTC up 3%, ETH jumps 7%.
• ⚖️ SEC signals DeFi-friendly shift — top official calls for fewer barriers and clearer rules.
•  💸 Altcoins on the move — AAVE and UNI surge 13%+ as DeFi sentiment lifts.
• 🌍 Macro watch continues — US-China trade talks ongoing, CPI data looms tomorrow.

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Crypto markets have come back to life with Bitcoin (BTC) pushing higher by more than 3%, eyeing its recent all-time high of around $111,000. Ethereum has doubled that, rallying more than 7%, while several altcoins are also making big moves. Aave (AAVE) and Uniswap (UNI) have each surged more than 13% over the past 24 hours. What’s going on here?

Some positive signals on the crypto regulatory front: the SEC’s Paul Atkins said yesterday that new guidance and exemptions are needed for DeFi platforms, advocating for fewer barriers. If you recall, Uniswap is one of the leading DeFi trading platforms, and Aave is a decentralised lending platform. This marks a big step away from the combative stance of previous SEC leadership, and it’s a giant leap forward for crypto and DeFi.

In global news, US-China trade talks remain ongoing without a clear outcome just yet. The broader US stock market hasn’t budged since yesterday, possibly a sign that traders are holding their breath for any progress in these tense trade negotiations between the world’s two largest economies. Adding to the mix: tomorrow’s US CPI data, which could shape the tone of markets for the rest of the week. It’s a big one. 

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In the markets… 

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🌍 Total crypto market cap ⬆️

The global crypto market cap is now approximately $3.38 trillion, reflecting a 1.31% increase over the last 24 hours

🟠 Bitcoin (BTC) ⬆️

• Price: Currently around $109,210, up about 3.4% over the past 24 hours .
• Daily high: Approximately $110,290
  Daily low: Roughly $105,603
  
  

📈 S&P 500 ⬆️

The S&P 500 is up about 0.092% since yesterday.

😐 Fear & Greed Index

The Crypto Fear & Greed index is currently at 55/100, indicating neutral sentiment.

📊 Bitcoin Relative Strength Index (RSI) (14)

The standard 14‑day RSI for BTC is around 62, below overbought (70) but showing stronger bullish momentum, increasing from yesterday’s low 40s. 

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‍Post Script…

Richard Teng on X: "The tide has turned. The SEC’s case against us is dismissed - justice, finally. Huge credit to Chairman Atkins and the Trump administration for standing up to regulatory overreach. The U.S. is back in the arena, ready to lead the world in blockchain innovation." / X

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BitcoinOS on X: "Litecoin is coming home to Bitcoin. 🟠🤝⚪️ BOS is officially activating @CharmsDev and ZK rollups on @litecoin, bringing its magical, programmable tokens and *bridgeless* bridging to Bitcoin’s silver twin. The UTXO renaissance is real—and it's uniting the old guard. 🧵👇 https://t.co/copF0S10k0" / X

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Conor McGregor on X: "I want to build on the amazing feats president @nayibbukele has achieved in El Salvador. Germany dropped the ball - Ireland will not. Using crypto, I plan on establishing a decentralised blueprint for sovereignty. One that others can also adopt to reclaim their nations. I" / X

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KULA on X: "Most projects launch first and worry about regulations later. Kula did the opposite. We built with compliance from day one. Legal frameworks, KYC, AML, all baked in, because real assets require real structure. That’s what makes Kula different. https://t.co/r8uopFwqcx" / X

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Cautionary Notes

‍‍It's definitely tempting to get swept up in the excitement, but please heed these words of caution: Do your own research, only invest what you can afford, and make good decisions. The indicators contained in this article will hopefully help in this. Remember though, the content of this article is for information purposes only and is not investment advice or any form of recommendation or invitation. The Digital Commonwealth always advises you to obtain your own independent financial advice before investing or trading in cryptocurrency.

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