The cryptocurrency market is bracing for significant developments as the industry navigates shifting political landscapes and ambitious partnerships. From Ethena’s integration with Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes’ tempered outlook on crypto market trends under Trump’s presidency, the intersection of policy, innovation, and market sentiment is poised to shape the sector’s trajectory in 2025. While bold moves like Ethena’s dual-reward initiative signal growth, cautionary perspectives like Hayes’ remind investors of the complexities ahead.
Ethena Partners with Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial to Expand DeFi Horizons
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Ethena has announced a landmark partnership with Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial (WLF), marking a significant step toward enhancing stablecoin liquidity and incentivizing DeFi adoption. The collaboration, revealed on Dec. 18, aims to integrate Ethena’s sUSDe token — a staked derivative of its USDe synthetic dollar stablecoin — into World Liberty Financial’s Aave instance.
This strategic partnership is expected to enable users to deposit USDe and earn dual rewards in sUSDe and WLF’s native token. The move is designed to boost stablecoin utilization while aligning incentives for participants across both platforms.
Ethena Labs took to X to announce the partnership, emphasizing the proposal’s potential to reshape the liquidity and functionality of stablecoins within the DeFi ecosystem. “Should it pass, this proposal will enable World Liberty Financial users to benefit from sUSDe rewards and also WLF token rewards. This integration will increase stablecoin liquidity and utilization rates on the protocol, as sUSDe's integration has on Aave's Core instance.”
In conjunction with the announcement, Ethena Labs submitted an official proposal to the World Liberty Financial community on Dec. 18, requesting approval to introduce sUSDe as the first new collateral asset for the platform. This move follows sUSDe’s successful risk analysis and adoption in Aave’s Core and Lido instances, further solidifying the token’s credibility.
According to a detailed post on the community forum, the Ethena Foundation plans to “co-incentivize supply of sUSDe to come to the instance via its points program.” This approach is designed to encourage user participation while supporting the platform’s dual-reward mechanism.
Challenges and the Trump Factor
The announcement comes at a critical time for World Liberty Financial, which has faced challenges in establishing itself as a key player in the crypto space. Despite being backed by former US President Donald Trump, the company’s initial token offering in October struggled to gain traction. Out of 20 billion WLFI tokens available for sale, only 848.63 million tokens ($12.7 million worth) were sold in the first 24 hours, leaving an estimated $287 million worth unsold.
However, November brought renewed momentum when prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun purchased $30 million worth of WLF tokens, becoming its largest single holder. This influx of capital allowed World Liberty Financial to make significant investments in assets including Ethereum (ETH), Aave (AAVE), ENA, ONDO, Chainlink (LINK), and cbBTC, collectively valued at $30 million.
The partnership with Ethena adds a much-needed strategic boost to World Liberty Financial as it seeks to compete with more established players in the crypto and DeFi markets.
The integration of sUSDe into World Liberty Financial’s ecosystem is expected to have ripple effects throughout the DeFi landscape. As stablecoins like USDe gain traction, enhanced liquidity and dual-reward structures can encourage wider adoption and foster greater confidence among users.
Ethena’s partnership aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing collaboration between innovative DeFi protocols and centralized platforms seeking to expand their reach. The success of this initiative may set a precedent for future integrations between synthetic assets and platforms looking to maximize user incentives.
Arthur Hayes Predicts Crypto Market Volatility Amid Trump’s Inauguration: A Cautionary Perspective
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market is abuzz with speculation about the impact of United States President-elect Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. Many analysts anticipate a surge in market activity and positive trends driven by potential pro-crypto policies under Trump’s administration. However, Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and a prominent figure in the crypto space, offers a contrarian view.
In his Dec. 17 blog post, titled “Trump Truth,” Hayes warns of an impending "reality check" for crypto investors who expect rapid policy changes. He predicts a volatile market trajectory that could see significant price drops in early 2025 before recovering later in the year.
High Expectations Meet Political Realities
Hayes cautions against the market’s lofty expectations, highlighting a significant disconnect between the optimism surrounding Trump’s pro-crypto rhetoric and the realities of policy implementation. “The market believes that Trump and his people can immediately achieve economic and political miracles,” Hayes wrote, adding that these hopes are likely misplaced in the short term. He notes the absence of politically feasible solutions that could be enacted swiftly.
While Trump’s administration has fueled hopes for a more favorable regulatory environment, Hayes predicts that tangible policy changes will take much longer to materialize. This delay, he argues, could lead to disillusionment among investors and a corresponding sell-off in cryptocurrencies.
Hayes anticipates a sharp market correction around Trump’s inauguration day, Jan. 20, 2025. He describes this phase as a “harrowing dump” that will act as a wake-up call for overzealous investors. Despite this forecast, Hayes remains bullish on the long-term trajectory of cryptocurrencies, predicting a recovery and “crack-up-boom phase” later in 2025.
Hayes also provided insights into the investment strategy of his family office fund, Maelstrom. In anticipation of a market downturn, Maelstrom plans to reduce its positions before Trump’s inauguration, with the intention of re-entering the market at lower prices in the first half of 2025. “Maelstrom will be lightening up on certain positions in advance, hoping to rebuy some core positions at lower prices,” Hayes explained. He added that the fund is prepared to adjust its strategy if the bull market defies expectations and continues through the inauguration.
The broader cryptocurrency market has experienced significant momentum since Trump’s victory in the presidential election in November 2024. Bitcoin (BTC) shattered records, surpassing $100,000 for the first time in early December. Analysts, including those from Singapore-based crypto platform Matrixport, forecast a strong start for Bitcoin in 2025, with many investors likely regretting missed accumulation opportunities.
However, Hayes’ cautious outlook is not without company. Rumors suggest that MicroStrategy, a major institutional Bitcoin holder, could enter a blackout period in January 2025, temporarily halting its BTC acquisitions. This potential development has added another layer of uncertainty to the market’s near-term trajectory.
Balancing Optimism with Prudence
While many commentators view Trump’s presidency as a catalyst for mainstream crypto adoption, Hayes offers a sobering reminder of the complexities involved. He argues that the timeline for policy enactment and market adoption is often slower than anticipated, creating opportunities for volatility.
“We are committed to admitting defeat if the bull market steamrolls through Jan. 20, licking our wounds, and getting back on the bull [...] I will be buying dips and rips,” Hayes said.
As Trump’s inauguration approaches, the cryptocurrency market faces a pivotal moment. The interplay between investor expectations, regulatory realities, and macroeconomic trends will likely shape the market’s direction in early 2025. Hayes’ measured approach serves as a reminder that periods of exuberance often require a tempered perspective.
While the short-term outlook remains uncertain, the long-term case for cryptocurrencies continues to strengthen. Whether Trump’s administration delivers the anticipated policy changes or not, the resilience of the crypto market will likely be tested — and, as Hayes suggests, those who manage risks effectively may find the greatest opportunities.
