The Biggest Moments in Bitcoin and Crypto So Far in 2025

As we cross past the halfway mark of 2025, the crypto space has delivered a whirlwind of breakthroughs, challenges, and record-setting milestones. From soaring prices and institutional adoption to high-profile hacks and innovative crossovers with artificial intelligence, the first half of the year has solidified crypto’s role as a transformative force in the world of global finance.

Here’s a curated list of the top moments that has defined Bitcoin and the broader crypto ecosystem so far, drawing on market surges, regulatory shifts, and emerging global trends that continue to reshape the industry.

1. Bitcoin and Crypto Surge to New All-Time Highs

Bitcoin shattered expectations in early 2025, blowing past $100,000 in January and climbing to a peak of around $123,000 by mid-July. This rally was fueled by massive institutional inflows into spot ETFs and corporate treasury strategies treating BTC as “digital gold.” The momentum spilled over to other major cryptocurrencies: Solana hit highs above $290 in January amid ecosystem growth, BNB crossed $800 in July driven by Binance’s expansions, and XRP reached $3.65—its highest since 2018—boosted by favorable regulatory rulings. These gains reflected broader market optimism, with Bitcoin’s dominance hovering around 60% while altcoins captured fresh retail and institutional interest.

2. US Pro-Crypto Legislation and Policies Gain Ground

2025 marked a turning point for U.S. crypto regulation with the passage of landmark bills. The GENIUS Act legalized and regulated stablecoins, the CLARITY Act provided clear guidelines for digital asset markets, and the Anti-CBDC Act blocked direct issuance of central bank digital currencies. President Trump championed these measures, while also signing an executive order earlier in the year to create a national strategic Bitcoin reserve using seized assets; the initial balance is reported to have around 200,000 BTC although it’s currently an unconfirmed amount. The president’s promotion of crypto-friendly policies, including his family’s ventures associated with World Liberty Financial, hasn’t gone without controversy, and has fueled debates on conflicts of interest, and helped position the U.S. as the “crypto capital of the world.”

3. Record Bitcoin ETF Inflows Drive Mainstream Adoption

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs amassed over $54 billion in cumulative net inflows by July 23, 2025, holding more than 1.4 million BTC across issuers like BlackRock’s IBIT. Daily inflows frequently topped $500 million, with peaks like $763.9 million on July 16 and $497.3 million on July 17, pushing total net assets to $151.6 billion. This surge, building on 2024 approvals, has underscored Bitcoin’s shift from niche asset to mainstream investment vehicle in 2025, with ETFs serving as gateways for traditional investors amid rising corporate interest.

4. Major Crypto Hacks and Exploits Highlight Security Risks

The first half of 2025 saw over $3 billion lost to hacks, scams, and exploits—a record high. Key incidents included the $1.5 billion Bybit hack in February attributed to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, a $400 million Coinbase exploit in May exposing 70,000 users, the $223 million Cetus Protocol hack on Sui in May due to a smart contract flaw, and a $90 million Nobitex theft in June potentially linked to Israeli hacktivists. North Korean hackers also targeted Kraken via a thwarted job infiltration scheme. These events have highlighted vulnerabilities in exchanges and DeFi, with human error and state-sponsored attacks emerging as top threats and major issues this year.

5. Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Boom Accelerates

Public companies held 897,086 BTC worth $105.84 billion by mid-2025, while private firms controlled 412,470 BTC ($48.66 billion), miners 107,858 BTC ($12.72 billion), and DeFi entities 166,330 BTC ($19.62 billion). Standouts included Michael Saylor’s Strategy with 506,137 BTC (about $42 billion as of March 31), the U.S. government maintaining around 200,000 BTC in its coffers, and Trump Media acquiring $2.5 billion in Bitcoin. A total of 151 public firms adopted Bitcoin strategies—up significantly from prior years—with Q2 seeing 61 non-crypto firms add 134,456 BTC. This trend reflects Bitcoin’s growing appeal as an inflation hedge and store of value amid economic uncertainty.

6. Solana Ecosystem Hits Major Milestones

Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade in May promised 100x faster block finality and phased out Proof-of-History, enhancing network performance. The chain maintained over 15 months of continuous uptime since February 2024, while DEX trading volumes exceeded $890 billion in the first five months. Developer growth surged with 7,625 new contributors. Institutional momentum included corporate treasury demand, SOL ETF applications with a 91% approval chance, and CME launching Solana futures in March. These advancements cemented Solana’s position as a high-performance blockchain, driving enhanced adoption and TVL growth.

7. Ethereum and Bitcoin ETF Approvals Fuel Altcoin Momentum

Building on 2024 spot approvals, the SEC confirmed in May 2025 that protocol staking activities are not securities offerings, paving the way for staked Ethereum ETFs. This clarity attracted $452.8 million in inflows to Ethereum ETFs, with staking yields boosting appeal. Hybrid Bitcoin ETF products gained traction, with approvals in July carrying 95% odds. Broader altcoin ETF filings, including Solana, are expected by year-end, contributing to Ethereum’s surge to new highs amid rising institutional interest.

8. Memecoin Frenzy and Scandals Grip the Market

Memecoins exploded in 2025, with Trump’s token launch and Pump.fun’s debut amplifying the hype. However, scandals overshadowed the frenzy: Argentina’s President Javier Milei promoted LIBRA token, which surged to a $4.5 billion market cap before crashing 90%, causing $251 million in trader losses and triggering investigations. Total memecoin market losses hit $17.5 billion, sparking global regulatory scrutiny and calls for accountability amid volatile pumps and dumps, scandals, and scams, which have plagued this part of the greater crypto market.

9. AI and Crypto Convergence Accelerates

So far this year, xAI’s Grok has integrated with Kalshi’s prediction market on July 24, 2025, providing real-time AI insights for event-based trading. Similar collaborations extended to Polymarket, highlighting the AI + Crypto trend. In addition, Bitcoin miners pivoted toward AI: Core Scientific expanded its $3.5 billion CoreWeave deal to $6.7 billion in AI revenue despite Q1 mining dips to $79.5 million. Hut 8 doubled revenue year-over-year by blending mining with AI hosting; Riot mined 1,530 BTC in Q1 for $142.9 million while exploring AI; TeraWulf leased capacity for AI to diversify amid costs. These hybrid models addressed energy inefficiencies, stabilized flows, and unlocked billions in new revenue.