The Crypto Market and Artificial Intelligence Development under Global Economic Fluctuation

Recently, the global economic situation is not optimistic. The International Monetary Fund has significantly lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2025 to 2.8%, the lowest level since the pandemic in 2020. This adjustment is mainly due to two major pressures: the continuous escalation of the U.S. tariff policy against China, and the risks of disruptions in the global trade chain. Data shows that U.S. container orders from China plummeted by more than 60% within three weeks.

At the same time, the U.S. economic policy uncertainty index has risen to a 40-year peak, with gold futures prices breaking above $3,500 per ounce for the first time. However, Bitcoin has risen against the trend by 10%, reaching a high of $94,000. This contrast has prompted the market to reflect on the economic outlook.

Regarding the trade war, the U.S. Treasury Secretary publicly acknowledged that the tariff deadlock with China is unsustainable, and the White House has also signaled a possible reduction in tariffs on certain goods. The President stated that while high tariffs may be significantly reduced, they will not be completely eliminated. It is worth noting that China began to implement countermeasures as early as 2018, including restricting the export of key rare earths and relocating factories to other countries to avoid tariff barriers.

The crypto market has seen significant fluctuations this week. The US spot Bitcoin ETF recorded its largest single-day inflow of funds since January, with a cumulative net inflow of over $912 million this week, pushing the price of Bitcoin to surpass $93,000. The market capitalization of Bitcoin has exceeded that of Google for the first time, becoming the fifth largest asset in the world. Other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Solana have also risen.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has approved the world's first Ethereum ETF that allows direct receipt of staking rewards, marking an acceleration in Hong Kong's innovation in crypto finance. In contrast, the ETFs in the US market are currently limited to tracking prices and do not provide staking returns.

Another notable event is a $3.6 billion Bitcoin acquisition plan, which will hold approximately 42,000 Bitcoins, making it the third-largest Bitcoin reserve institution in the world. This move is seen as a mimicry of MicroStrategy's holding model.

In terms of regulation, the new chairman of the U.S. SEC will participate in a roundtable discussion on cryptocurrency, covering topics such as crypto asset custody, RWA on-chain, and DeFi. Currently, there are 72 crypto-related ETFs awaiting approval, covering various digital assets.

In the field of artificial intelligence, China has shown strong development momentum. Beijing held a special marathon where 20 humanoid robots challenged 12,000 human participants in a 21-kilometer race. At the Shanghai Auto Show, a German car manufacturer announced a partnership with a Chinese AI startup, planning to apply AI systems to new car models. This reflects China's ambition and progress in the practical application of AI.

The upcoming Token 2049 conference is expected to have an optimistic atmosphere, with institutional funds flowing into the crypto market. Dubai has announced plans to put over $150 billion in real estate assets on the blockchain. In the future, more encryption projects may explore decentralized LLM and AI tools, demonstrating the trend of integration between encryption and AI technology.