Macro Trends

Gate Research: Between 2025 and 2026, PayFi is evolving from a crypto payment tool into a next-generation payment and financial engine, with stablecoins achieving scale in high-frequency and cross-border payments and demonstrating clear efficiency and cost advantages over traditional systems. As Web2 and Web3 continue to converge, institutions such as Visa, PayPal, and emerging neobanks are becoming key gateways to mainstream adoption, while the combination of stablecoins, real-world assets (RWA), and AI is shaping PayFi’s foundational architecture by enabling automated, always-on settlement, asset mobility, and risk management. Looking ahead to 2026, regulatory clarity, scalable asset tokenization, and the maturity of AI-driven financial systems will be the primary determinants of PayFi’s competitive landscape and long-term barriers.

In June 2025, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization fluctuated between $3.2 trillion and $3.6 trillion, with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East temporarily weighing on market sentiment. Solana led with nearly 100 million daily transactions, followed by Base with 9.7 million. SEI surged in popularity, driven by price gains and favorable policy momentum—its daily trading volume exceeded $94 million in mid-June, with a short-term price increase of over 50%. Global crypto regulation showed growing divergence, Singapore tightened oversight of offshore services, the U.S. advanced stablecoin legislation, while South Korea and Vietnam adopted a more supportive stance. Overall, the regulatory climate showed signs of warming.

Gate Research Daily Report: Bitcoin rose by 0.71% to $87,393, while Ethereum dipped slightly by 0.06% to $2,055. The market cap of tokenized U.S. Treasury bonds surpassed $5 billion for the first time. PumpSwap's daily trading volume exceeded $450 million. USDC's market cap reached a record high of $60 billion. Gate Wallet now added support for Berachain. BlackRock launched the iShares Bitcoin ETP in Europe. Asia Web3 Alliance Japan proposed a U.S.-Japan collaboration to advance the tokenized economy and Web3 innovation.

This article provides an in-depth look at the Ethereum Foundation, covering its organizational structure, operational framework, funding sources, expenditures, and its role in supporting the Ethereum ecosystem. We will also explore how the foundation differs from traditional corporations, the challenges and controversies it faces, and its potential future developments.

In 2025, with the positive shift in U.S. policies (including President Trump's support for the crypto industry), the launch of the Bitcoin ETF, and interest rate cuts by major economies, the crypto asset market is expected to continue its strong growth. This article explores how Bitcoin's perception is changing, the improvement of market conditions, and the advancement of tokenization technologies, all of which will create new growth opportunities for digital assets.

Gate Research (Feb 15-21, 2025): This report provides a comprehensive analysis of key developments in both the cryptocurrency market and the broader macroeconomic environment. On February 15, Federal Reserve’s Logan stated that even if inflation continues to cool, it may not necessarily trigger rate cuts. On February 18, a New York Fed survey revealed that U.S. manufacturing costs in February saw the largest increase in two years. On February 19, data from the U.S. Treasury showed that the top three foreign holders of U.S. debt reduced their holdings in December, while total foreign net inflows exceeded $87 billion. Also on February 19, U.S. January residential construction fell by 9.8% month-on-month, worse than the expected 7.3% decline, and far below the previous value of 15.8%.

This article delves into the capital control issues of Layer 2 scaling solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem, analyzing how venture capital (VC) influences the decentralized foundation through governance and economic means, and proposes potential solutions to provide new insights for Ethereum's future development.

These views offer policymakers important considerations for how to approach crypto regulation, ensuring that the U.S. leads this critical shift toward the next generation of the internet.

Grayscale Research suggests that crypto markets may move beyond the traditional four-year cycle as they mature. Current indicators, like Bitcoin’s MVRV ratio and miner metrics, show the market is in an intermediate stage, with potential for growth into 2025. Bitcoin adoption and regulatory clarity could lead to longer or changed cycles. Monitoring blockchain data and market sentiment, including altcoin dominance and funding rates, is key for effective risk management.

Circle is developing an open technology platform powered by USDC. Building on the U.S. dollar's strength and widespread adoption, the platform taps into the internet's scale, speed, and low cost to drive network effects and practical applications for financial services.

Gate Research Daily Report: On January 27th, BTC and ETH prices experienced fluctuations. Pump.fun's cumulative revenue surpassed $470 million, with over 6.7 million tokens deployed. Jupiter's TVL broke through $2.9 billion, setting a new all-time high. Ohio, USA, has rolled out a strategic Bitcoin reserve bill. Brazil banned the local Worldcoin iris-scan-to-crypto exchange program. Additionally, the Accrue project in the payments sector completed a significant funding round.

Decentralised Science is a new paradigm that promises to rebuild scientific research on stronger foundations. The current spotlight of DeSci projects focuses on pharmaceutical drugs, one of the low-hanging fruits for improving the most important resource for humanity - our health.

Gate Research Weekly Review & Outlook: This week, BTC experienced a surge and pullback, reaching a high of $109,702.5. ETH price continued to consolidate within a range, showing weaker performance compared to BTC. Trump's inaugural speech did not mention cryptocurrencies, leading to continued market volatility. Trump's pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht sparked discussions in the crypto community. Cuba's official X account was hacked, and a related token was issued. The TVL of the RWA protocol grew by over 200% year-over-year, reaching $7.3 billion. OP will unlock tokens worth approximately $52.97 million on January 31, representing 2.32% of the total supply.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the past year's market performance and future development trends from four key perspectives: market overview, popular ecosystems, trending sectors, and future trend predictions. In 2024, the total cryptocurrency market capitalization reached an all-time high, with Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 for the first time. On-chain Real World Assets (RWA) and the artificial intelligence sector experienced rapid growth, becoming major drivers of market expansion. Additionally, the global regulatory landscape has gradually become clearer, laying a solid foundation for market development in 2025.

Gate Research Daily Report: BTC and ETH prices are currently in a consolidation range, with BTC's price rising by 0.20% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum Layer-2 protocol transaction throughput hits a new high, with BASE leading the growth, accounting for 67%. Trump signs an executive order on cryptocurrency, exploring a national crypto asset reserve. Senator Lummis is appointed chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, promoting Bitcoin as a strategic reserve. The SEC withdraws SAB 121, allowing banks to custody cryptocurrencies.