Mar 10, 2025: Our weekly Institutional Insights explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

 explores the latest market developments — market performance, industry news, exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows, trending topics, upcoming events and token unlocks — to help you supercharge your crypto trading.

Weekly highlight — Fed likely to stay put amid softening job market

US job growth stabilized last month, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 151,000 in February 2025, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.1%. This mixed report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests a softening labor market, with more people out of work permanently, a decline in federal government jobs and a rise in part-time workers due to economic conditions. The number of individuals holding multiple jobs reached nearly 8.9 million.

Concerns about US president Donald Trump's policies have added to the uncertainty, as persistent inflation and reduced consumer spending might lead businesses to reconsider hiring. Economists predict that continued government actions, such as tariff hikes and spending cuts, could have a further impact on job creation.

The advance in hiring was primarily in the healthcare, transportation and financial sectors, but government payrolls saw their weakest growth in nearly a year. The report reflects the initial impacts of Trump’s second term, with significant job cuts anticipated due to federal layoffs.

Additionally, restrictions on immigration may hinder job growth. The labor market participation rate dropped to its lowest in two years, particularly among men, while the number of part-time workers rose to a four-year high, pushing the broader underemployment rate up.

Average hourly earnings increased by 0.3%, but economists warn that layoffs from major companies could lead to a rise in unemployment in the coming months. The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates, awaiting clearer signs of inflation trends.

Weekly crypto highlight — strategic reserve proposal fails to lift sentiment

De-risking in the crypto derivatives markets persisted following President Trump's proposal to include Bitcoin, Ether and three other tokens in a national strategic crypto reserve. While Trump's announcement briefly boosted crypto prices, it didn’t improve premiums or open interest for Bitcoin futures on the CME. The basis, reflecting the annualized expected return from selling Bitcoin futures while buying spot, experienced a momentary increase, but quickly fell back, indicating that US institutional investors remain cautious.

Perpetual futures, popular among non-US investors seeking leverage, also mirrored this trend, with their funding rate hitting negative levels not seen since September 2024. Trump's announcement did little to enhance sentiment on the CME, as the basis remained in single digits during Bitcoin's brief recovery. It’s noted that Trump's policies continue to disrupt broader financial markets, with crypto failing to act as a safe haven amid global uncertainty.

Increased liquidations and record outflows from Bitcoin exchange-traded products suggest ongoing risk aversion. Even crypto investors, traditionally tolerant of volatility, are opting to stay on the sidelines as they observe the early months of Trump's second term. Although Trump's pro-crypto stance previously propelled Bitcoin to new heights, his recent tariff policies and unpredictable geopolitical maneuvers have unsettled the crypto landscape.

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Weekly Institutional Insights: Job market softens; ETF outflows send headwind to crypto

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, as well as futures, options and perpetual contracts.

Crypto price movements remain heavily influenced by US president Trump’s policies. Recently, several SEC cases against crypto firms were dropped, which is positive for the industry. This was followed by Trump’s announcement to include BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL and ADA in a US strategic crypto reserve. However, ongoing bearish sentiment in risk assets, highlighted by a decline of over 5% in the S&P 500 since its February all-time high, has negatively impacted crypto. 

Consequently, BTC and ETH have experienced heightened volatility, resulting in an inversion of their at-the-money implied volatility term structures, with strong demand for short-term protective puts.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

President Trump’s announcement on Mar 2, 2025 regarding a US crypto reserve to include BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP and ADA led to a sharp rally in their spot prices. However, funding rates for these tokens have remained subdued, compared to previous highs seen before Trump’s inauguration on Jan 20, 2025. Over the past week, long positions have paid a consistently positive rate across all coins, indicating a lack of strong short demand and potentially robust demand for long positions.

The rally in spot prices following Trump’s announcement of a US crypto strategic reserve to include ETH quickly reversed, as his ongoing tariff pledges contributed to bearish sentiment in risk assets. This volatility has pushed realized volatility above options-implied levels to monthly highs, leading to increased demand for short-term options. The term structure of volatility has inverted, with short-term volatility skewing toward puts as traders seek protection against potential downside.

Open interest in Solana (SOL) options declined at the end of February, with over $5M in calls and more than $3M in puts expiring, most of which weren’t rolled into new positions. Despite SOL trading 44% below its January all-time high, the majority of new positions have been in calls. However, this new positioning is disappointingly weak, given SOL's inclusion in the list of tokens for a crypto strategic reserve announced by Trump alongside BTC, ETH, XRP and ADA.

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Bybit X Block Scholes crypto derivatives analytics report (Mar 7, 2025): Investors seek protection as strategic reserve news rattles market

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to cryptocurrencies have seen notable activity, particularly in response to the recent market downturn. 

Market volatility and geopolitical influences

The cryptocurrency market has been marked by extreme price fluctuations in recent weeks, primarily influenced by political events and economic conditions. A notable catalyst has been US president Donald Trump’s aggressive financial policies, including his unexpected announcement of a US crypto strategic reserve. Initially, this announcement led to a surge in prices; however, the market quickly reversed, raising doubts about the effectiveness of government intervention in stabilizing the crypto sector.

Bitcoin, the top cryptocurrency, experienced a significant drop of 28.3% from its all-time high of $109,115, closing February at $78,226. This decline coincided with a heated exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, which unsettled the crypto community amid discussions about potential tariffs and geopolitical stability. The broader crypto market lost over $640 billion in just 25 days, showcasing a direct correlation between traditional stock market movements and cryptocurrency trends.

Investor behavior has been characterized by emotional responses, including fear of missing out (FOMO) and fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD). These reactions have often led to price movements that contradict prevailing predictions. For example, during Bitcoin’s price decline, many retail traders panicked and sold off their holdings, only to witness a rebound shortly after. Conversely, price surges driven by FOMO frequently result in subsequent corrections, allowing larger investors (or 

Social media trends indicate a shift in trader sentiment, with discussions around high price targets for Bitcoin suggesting a market top, while talk of lower price expectations may signal a bottom. Recent data reveals a decline in discussions related to speculative investments, indicating a growing caution among retail investors. This shift toward stablecoins and Layer 1 tokens reflects a healthy level of fear that could potentially set the stage for bullish momentum in the future.

The role of ETFs and institutional interest

 (ETFs) linked to cryptocurrencies have seen notable activity, particularly in response to the recent market downturn. Significant outflows from crypto-backed ETFs occurred as investors reacted to declining asset values, resulting in heightened trading volumes. The interplay between ETF movements and underlying crypto assets continues to be crucial for assessing market health and investor confidence.

Despite the current volatility, institutional interest in digital assets remains strong, as indicated by Bitcoin's network growth and ETF trading volumes. This ongoing institutional engagement may provide a stabilizing effect on prices over time. Historically, periods of extreme pessimism in the market have preceded major bull runs, suggesting that traders could soon shift from panic to accumulation.

In conclusion, while the cryptocurrency market faces immediate challenges, the long-term outlook may be more optimistic. If key macroeconomic conditions improve and institutional buying increases, Bitcoin could potentially rise above the $100,000 mark by the end of 2025. For now, traders must navigate the volatility wisely to position themselves for future rewards.

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Bybit x Santiment: Crypto strategic reserve unnerves market; investors turn cautious

A crypto strategic reserve is essentially a state-sanctioned reserve of Bitcoin or other digital assets designed to function similarly to the gold reserves held by governments.

Over the past year, cryptocurrencies have gained more acceptance and legitimacy in the eyes of government officials and politicians. One positive result of this development is the concept of a Bitcoin and crypto strategic reserve, which aims to create a state-backed store of value similar to the more traditionally held gold reserves.

In this article, we’ll explore what a Bitcoin and crypto strategic reserve is, Trump’s executive order establishing the strategic reserve and the broader political and market implications of such a move.

Trump's signs executive order for US crypto strategic reserve

In August 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump publicly supported the idea of a US Bitcoin reserve during his campaign, arguing that a state-backed digital asset would not only boost national prestige but also provide a critical counterbalance in an increasingly digital financial ecosystem.

On Mar 2, 2025, President Trump announced a broader 

 that would extend the idea to other major cryptocurrencies, such as ETH, SOL, XRP and ADA.

 an executive order (EO) to establish a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.” Both the reserve and stockpile would contain BTC and other digital assets held by the Department of Treasury that were seized from criminal proceedings. However, the EO also mentioned the possibilities of developing “budget-neutral strategies for acquiring additional bitcoin” without using public funds.

The initial market reaction to the Mar 2 announcement was positive. All of the coins mentioned in the reserve saw significant buying and short covering, which led to double-digit gains across the board. For example, BTC was up 12%, ETH gained 16%, SOL rallied by 28% and XRP saw a major 35% gain. ADA was the biggest gainer, rallying as high as 72% following the announcement. 

While immediate reactions were positive, there were also several prominent figures, even within the crypto community, who questioned the inclusion of other assets — apart from Bitcoin — into initiatives for the strategic crypto reserve.

However, following Trump’s executive order to establish the strategic reserve on Mar 7, BTC 

 by around 5.7%, as market participants were left underwhelmed. Despite David Sacks, Trump’s crypto and AI tsar, calling the reserve a “digital Fort Knox,” investors were disappointed that this signalled no additional purchases of Bitcoin or other digital assets.

A Bitcoin strategic reserve is essentially a state-sanctioned reserve of Bitcoin designed to function similarly to the gold reserves traditionally held by governments. It's a common practice of governments to hold gold as a reserve to protect their national currencies in case of an emergency. Gold often forms a large share of forex reserves for most countries. The table below shows the top 10 nations holding gold reserves as of Feb 7, 2025.

Since Bitcoin has largely gained acceptance as 

, the idea behind a Bitcoin strategic reserve is to create a decentralized, secure vault system whereby Bitcoin is stored and managed by federal governments. By allocating a portion of national reserves to Bitcoin, governments could theoretically strengthen their balance sheets and diversify away from fiat currencies that are vulnerable to inflationary pressures.

Proponents of such a move argue that Bitcoin’s finite supply and decentralized nature makes it an effective store of value. Its global acceptance and increasing institutional interest lend further credibility to this idea.

In July 2024, US Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced the “Boosting Innovation, Technology and Competitiveness through Optimized Investment Nationwide” 

. It’s a legislative proposal aimed at establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the United States. The press release from Senator Lummis’s office outlines several critical components of the bill, as follows:

What does the strategic reserve mean for the future of Bitcoin?

The idea of a Bitcoin strategic reserve is innovative, and aims to use Bitcoin to improve the balance sheet of nation states. This could be a win-win, as Bitcoin would benefit from increased legitimacy while nation states would be holding an asset that potentially provides better returns than those of gold. 

While there will be no immediate acquisition of Bitcoin from the US government, the reserve implies that there will be no selling pressure from the roughly 200,000 BTC (almost $17.4 billion) held by the US government. However, it remains to be seen if other strategies to acquire additional BTC without incurring cost to US taxpayers will be implemented.

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Crypto Strategic Reserve: The BITCOIN Act and beyond

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Bybit Guide

Crypto

Enjoy buying crypto on Bybit without worrying about the hefty fees. We explore different ways to getting crypto with the most optimized methods. 

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Bybit’s globally recognized crypto exchange features an intuitive interface that eliminates the confusing crypto buying process for all users. Security and reliability are paramount at Bybit, and we’ve partnered with a wide range of payment providers and gateways who share these same values to provide a seamless crypto checkout system that helps you get BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT and more, using your local currencies. 

With Bybit, you can purchase crypto in a few quick ways — whether it’s via Bybit One-Click Buy (express checkout), credit and debit cards, peer-to-peer (P2P) trading or simply exchanging assets on the Spot market. We optimize and absorb most of the transaction costs, offering zero-fee crypto buying services so you can accumulate more crypto. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the different ways to safely obtain crypto on Bybit without fees.

There are numerous benefits to buying crypto with Bybit. 

Bybit’s platform uses advanced technology to protect your funds and personal information. In addition, we offer a wide variety of cryptocurrencies for you to choose from, including BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT and XRP. 

Traders and buyers from around the globe can obtain cryptocurrencies with their local fiat, including EUR, JPY, HKD, GBP, TRY, MYR, PHP and more. 

World-Class User Interface and Payment Options

Bybit’s platform features a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for both beginning and experienced traders to navigate, as well as a wide range of payment options for users to buy cryptocurrencies. 

In addition to the above benefits, Bybit offers 24/7 multilingual customer service. Whether you have a question about how to buy crypto or you're facing technical issues, you can always reach out to our support team for assistance. Furthermore, Bybit provides 

 to help you better understand the crypto market, including trading guides, market analysis and webinars.

Perhaps the most attractive benefit of all when using Bybit is the opportunity to buy crypto without paying hefty transaction fees. This can significantly increase your profits, especially if you're a frequent trader. 

In the following sections, we’ll explain how to take advantage of this benefit in detail.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Buy Crypto on Bybit

If you're new to Bybit, don't worry — because buying crypto on the platform is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you.

. Visit the Bybit website and click on the 

 button. You'll need to provide your email address and create a password. After you've completed the registration process, log in to your account.

The fee structure of P2P trading corresponds to two types: Taker and Maker.

 P2P on Bybit offers zero transaction fees for Takers and Makers. 

You can now purchase cryptocurrencies with more than 

 on Bybit using Apple Pay and Google Pay on the 

From Aug 2, 2024, 10AM UTC–Aug 30, 2024, 10AM UTC, you can 

 on Bybit when paying a minimum of 100 USDT or equivalent with Apple Pay.

If you wish to pay using your fiat balance on Bybit, you must first transfer fiat currency to your Bybit 

. Note that fees may be associated with your fiat deposit, depending upon the fiat currency and payment method that you’ve selected.

Third-party payment is another method with which you can buy crypto on the 

page. Currently, three types of crypto are accepted via third-party payment: 

, you can instantly exchange or convert one cryptocurrency to another by leveraging the exchange's order books. The exchange rates for conversions are based on the best quote prices from several market makers, according to the current index price for the assets involved.

 is another option which can be accessed via One-Click Buy.

 is a Mastercard crypto debit card that lets you off-ramp your crypto assets quickly and safely for crypto transactions around the world. It can also be used for crypto purchases on Bybit. Every time you make a transaction, you’ll also earn loyalty points, which can then be redeemed for attractive rewards such as cashback. Bybit Card is now supported on Apple Pay (EEA only), Google Pay (EEA and AU), Samsung Pay and more (EEA only).

You can apply for the virtual or physical version of the Bybit Card. The 

 lets you make online payments once you’ve successfully applied. Meanwhile, you can make both online and contactless payments in retail stores with a physical Bybit Card.

To buy crypto with your Bybit Card, you’ll first have to activate it. You can apply for a virtual Bybit Card from your dashboard. Once your account has been verified, you can 

. The virtual Bybit Card is issued automatically once the application is successful. You must first obtain a virtual card in order to apply for a physical card.

After obtaining your card, you’ll need to fund it by purchasing crypto with the 

 terminal on Bybit, which will be used to facilitate transactions using your Bybit Card.

How to Avoid Paying Fees When Buying Crypto on Bybit

In order to avoid paying fees when buying crypto on Bybit, it’s important to understand the differences between the payment methods you’ve chosen to proceed with. 

Depositing EUR to the platform and using the Spot market to receive USDC in return involves market orders and limit orders, which incur a fee. 

However, you'll be exempted from deposit fees if you deposit local fiat currencies to the platform using Bybit Fiat. Most fiat currencies — such as HKD, TRY and more — are entitled to zero-fee programs. However, there are exceptions for some currencies. Users are encouraged to check the notification box before confirming their order checkout. 

Users who want to avoid paying fees when buying crypto on Bybit can also opt for Bybit P2P to get exactly what they’ve asked for when exchanging currencies with peers. Bybit helps facilitate the buying and selling of two users' holdings at an optimal, agreed-upon price without taking a cut from the transaction.

Another way to avoid paying fees is through Bybit Convert, which allows for quick and 

-free conversions by capitalizing on the exchange's order books. Bybit efficiently matches your request with an appropriate order, ensuring a swift and seamless conversion without slippage.

Risks and Rewards of Buying Crypto on Bybit

How to Buy Crypto on Bybit With Zero Fees (A Complete Guide)

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards