Luc Jose A.

The year 2025 begins under the sign of instability for the crypto market. After briefly exceeding the symbolic threshold of 100,000 dollars on January 7, Bitcoin experienced a dramatic reversal, falling to 92,500 dollars in just a few hours. This sudden decline cannot be explained by a technical factor but rather by major macroeconomic elements. Investors are closely monitoring the monetary policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), whose decisions directly influence financial markets. So far, many had anticipated a drop in interest rates as early as the first quarter of 2025. However, the latest economic data in the United States indicate stronger-than-expected growth, which challenges this assumption. As a result, markets are reassessing their expectations and adjusting their positions. This uncertainty has triggered a wave of liquidations that has contributed to Bitcoin's decline.

Donald Trump's statements just days before his return to the White House have reignited tensions on the international stage. During a press conference, the elected president mentioned the possibility of annexing the Panama Canal and Greenland, strategic territories whose geopolitical significance far exceeds American borders. Far from being content with a mere statement of intent, he refused to rule out the use of force, provoking immediate reactions from the countries involved. As the world faces increasing geopolitical tensions, these stances raise many questions. Is Trump seeking to reshape international power dynamics, or is this a communication strategy aimed at influencing future diplomatic negotiations? What are the implications for relations between the United States and its partners? A look back at an announcement that certainly reignites fears of a return to an unpredictable American policy.

When a country imports more than it exports, its economy weakens and its dependence on external markets increases. In November 2024, France's trade deficit stood at 7.3 billion euros, which represents an improvement of 0.3 billion euros compared to the previous month. This slight reduction in the deficit is primarily explained by an increase in energy exports, which grew faster than imports. However, this improvement does not call into question the structural fragility of French foreign trade. Despite this temporary improvement, the imbalance between exports and imports remains critical. The domestic industry struggles to compete with international competition, and the trade balance remains largely in deficit. This situation raises questions about the competitiveness of French companies and their ability to sustainably establish themselves in foreign markets. Thus, the evolution of the deficit in the coming months will largely depend on the energy situation and the economic policies implemented to rectify the trade balance.

Financial markets have been shaken by a wave of tension, causing a sharp correction in bitcoin (BTC) and major altcoins. In just a few hours, the flagship crypto fell below the critical threshold of $100,000, while Ethereum (ETH) collapsed below $3,400. This pullback occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating global economic conditions. Several factors explain this storm in the crypto market: on the one hand, the rise in U.S. Treasury yields, and on the other, the monetary policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) continues to weigh heavily on market confidence. Meanwhile, the global economic environment remains marked by additional stress factors. In light of these disturbances, the crypto market is undergoing a period of high volatility, where investor caution is mingled with panic movements. This correction now raises the question of a potential short-term rebound or a continuation of the bearish trend due to an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

After two years of noticeable decline, the real estate market appears to have reached a turning point. According to Charles Marinakis, president of Century 21 France, the correction in prices is nearing its end, paving the way for stabilization, or even a slight rebound in 2025. In Paris, the price per square meter has dropped by nearly 10% over two years, a similar decline observed throughout Île-de-France. This correction, exacerbated by rising interest rates, has allowed sales to gradually restart. However, the market's evolution will depend on several factors, including the continued decrease in credit rates and the ability of sellers to adjust their prices to match the new expectations of buyers.

Since January 2023, the crypto market has been experiencing a bullish phase marked by a significant appreciation of Bitcoin and altcoins. This dynamic is based on several factors, including accelerating institutional adoption, a massive influx of capital, and an overall optimistic market sentiment. Additionally, there are anticipations surrounding the approval of new crypto ETFs and potential favorable regulations that boost investor confidence. However, according to CryptoQuant, this euphoria could soon reach a critical point. The analytics firm identifies several technical signals indicating that the market has entered its final phase. Among these is the significant increase in the volume of Bitcoin traded over the past month, which reached 36% in the fourth quarter of 2024. This phenomenon, observed during previous market peaks, suggests a possible correction in the short to medium term. Yet, this warning is not unanimously accepted. Institutions such as Steno Research and VanEck adopt a more optimistic view. According to them, the bullish trend could continue until the end of 2025, driven by increasing adoption and evolving regulatory frameworks. VanEck even estimates that Bitcoin could reach $180,000, while Ethereum may exceed $6,000 by the end of next year. In light of these divergent forecasts, a question arises: should investors expect new price spikes or, on the contrary, take their profits before a possible market reversal?

The year 2025 starts on uncertain grounds for bitcoin. After reaching a peak of $108,000, the cryptocurrency quickly lost ground, falling back below the symbolic threshold of $100,000. This level, both psychological and strategic, has become a fragile equilibrium point where buyers and sellers are at odds. On one side, optimists believe this consolidation phase paves the way for a new bullish impulse, with potential recovery towards record levels. On the other side, proponents of a bearish scenario anticipate a more pronounced correction, which could bring BTC down to $76,000, a level corresponding to a key support zone. Beyond these contrasting forecasts, several factors contribute to the uncertainty. Additionally, macroeconomic tensions, particularly the upcoming decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), add further pressure on investors. In light of this uncertain climate, the coming weeks are poised to be critical for bitcoin. The outcome of this battle at $100,000 could well dictate market trends for the remainder of the year.

The French state is preparing to face a year of high tension in the financial markets. With 300 billion euros to borrow in 2025, an unprecedented level of debt, Bercy must maneuver in a particularly unstable environment. The French Treasury Agency (AFT), responsible for debt issuance, faces a double challenge: ensuring the financing of the country without destabilizing the markets and reassuring increasingly cautious investors. Indeed, political uncertainty further complicates the situation. Since the fall of the Barnier government, France has been operating without an approved budget, which strengthens doubts about the country’s budgetary trajectory. A special law adopted in emergency allows for the maintenance of borrowing, but this temporary solution is not enough to dispel the concerns. In the markets, signs of instability are multiplying. The spread between French and German rates, a key indicator of investor confidence, has doubled in a year to exceed 80 basis points. This signal reflects a riskier perception of French debt and could increase the cost of financing. In this climate of uncertainty, Bercy must find the right balance. Will the AFT’s strategy, based on predictability, regularity, and flexibility, be enough to avoid an excessive rise in interest rates? With only a few days until the first auctions, pressure is mounting on financial officials, while investors are waiting for guarantees on the country’s budgetary stability.

Amid revolutionary announcements, technological developments, and regulatory upheavals, the crypto ecosystem continues to prove that it is both a territory of limitless innovations and a battleground of regulatory and economic conflicts. Here is a summary of the most notable news from the past week regarding Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance, Solana, and Ripple.

Financial markets are on the brink of a new cycle of monetary easing, marked by strategic decisions from major central banks. Following the American Federal Reserve, which began reducing its key interest rates last September, it is now the People's Bank of China (PBOC) that is preparing to take the lead. Beijing plans to lower its interest rates further to stimulate the economy and counter the heightened deflationary pressure on the yuan, a phenomenon that worries Chinese authorities and weighs on investor confidence. In light of this situation, Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and macroeconomic analyst, anticipates a chain reaction in the financial markets. He asserts that the combination of a looser monetary policy in China and a favorable environment in the United States will enhance the appeal of alternative assets, particularly bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. According to him, this injection of liquidity, coupled with a reorientation of institutional capital, could trigger a massive rally in the cryptocurrency market during the year 2025.

The crypto market is in perpetual turmoil, and Dogecoin is one of its protagonists today. Within a week, its price surged by 21%, surpassing competitors like Shiba Inu, Pepe, and Bonk. This performance is no coincidence. Institutional investors and wealthy individuals have massively positioned themselves on the asset, as evidenced by the purchase of 1.08 billion DOGE for an estimated value of 413 million dollars. A notable transaction of 399.9 million DOGE, equivalent to around 144.9 million dollars, was also transferred from Binance to an unknown wallet, a movement often perceived as a bullish signal indicating a reduction in selling pressure. For some observers, the asset could finally cross the symbolic barrier of 1 dollar by the end of the year, thus propelling its market capitalization to 100 billion dollars. However, does this momentum rest on solid fundamentals, or is it merely a speculative frenzy? Amid strategic accumulations, optimistic analyses, and favorable political contexts, Dogecoin may well be on the brink of a new bullish cycle.

Bitcoin reached a historic milestone in 2024. In just one year, $19 trillion flowed through its network, an absolute record that marks the end of two years of declining transaction volumes. This spectacular recovery reflects the return of investor confidence, driven by several major events. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs in the United States facilitated the entry of institutional capital, while the April 2024 halving reinforced the scarcity of BTC, which fuels demand. Meanwhile, the network has significantly strengthened, with a hashrate at an unprecedented level of 1,000 exahashes per second. Behind these staggering figures, a shift is taking place: Bitcoin is consolidating its status both as a store of value and as a global transactional infrastructure, raising questions about its future and its role in traditional finance.

Social media has become much more than just simple exchange platforms. Today, they are the battleground of an ideological clash between freedom of expression, content moderation, and user engagement. Every modification to the rules governing these digital spaces sparks passionate debates, and X (formerly Twitter) is no exception. Recently, Elon Musk announced a revamp of X's algorithm, which aims to prioritize educational and informative content at the expense of those deemed too negative. According to him, this update addresses a central issue: some posts encourage excessive consumption of the social network without truly enriching users' experiences. However, this decision has quickly provoked criticism. Many users denounce a risk of control over information and question the criteria that will define "negativity." Some see it as a form of masked censorship, while others view this change as an attempt to influence how debates are organized on the platform.