Bitcoin was created to exist outside the reach of governments and political manipulation. But in 2025, the line between decentralized finance and centralized influence has blurred — and the latest culprit isn’t a central bank or a rogue exchange. It’s Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Bitcoin’s price has repeatedly mirrored Trump’s statements. On the night of May 26, BTC surged 2.5%, climbing close to the $110,000 mark. The trigger? A post by Trump on Truth Social announcing that U.S. tariffs on European goods — initially set to begin June 1 — would be postponed until July 9, 2025. That delay came after a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Just three days earlier, when Trump first unveiled the 50% tariff plan, Bitcoin had dropped by 2% almost immediately after the announcement. That kind of back-and-forth isn’t random. It’s a coordinated influence, whether intentional or not. The effect isn’t limited to Bitcoin. Even Dogecoin, the meme coin that once depended on Elon Musk’s tweets, is now reacting to Trump-themed content. As we’ve discussed earlier, a Trump meme featuring the former president flexing with a Dogecoin flag can send the coin’s search interest and trading volume soaring. Whether it’s tariffs or internet memes, Trump’s digital shadow is clearly moving markets. discussed earlier https://hackernoon.com/interest-in-doge-has-sky-rocketed-but-is-it-the-right-time-for-you-to-invest?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/interest-in-doge-has-sky-rocketed-but-is-it-the-right-time-for-you-to-invest?embedable=true Meanwhile, the institutional layer of the crypto ecosystem is adding fuel to the fire. From May 19 to May 23, U.S.-based Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $2.75 billion in net inflows — one of the highest weekly results since these funds launched in early 2024. That week also saw total trading volume reach $25 billion, setting a new high for 2025. For every dollar that flows into these ETFs, asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity must purchase real Bitcoin to back the shares. This creates massive, sustained demand — and adds upward pressure to the price at precisely the moments that political actors are making headlines. Total assets under management across all active spot Bitcoin ETFs now exceed $131.4 billion. That means major institutions are stockpiling BTC, often in sync with the news cycle. And that’s where things get murky. Many observers suspect that Trump’s inner circle may be placing well-timed trades just before major policy statements hit the public. The timing is simply too consistent to ignore. In traditional finance, this behavior would raise alarms. Insider trading has historically resulted in severe penalties. Take Raj Rajaratnam, sentenced to 11 years in prison for insider trading. Or Martha Stewart, who spent five months behind bars for obstructing an insider trading investigation. Or Jeffrey Skilling, the former Enron CEO who served over a decade for corporate fraud and insider dealings. In each case, using non-public information for personal or corporate gain was met with clear, serious consequences. sentenced over a decade But today? Similar patterns are shrugged off as just another day in the digital economy. The enforcement is weak, the outrage is muted, and the market plays along. That said, the community is adjusting. Bitcoin’s reactions to Trump’s announcements are becoming more muted. Traders now often treat his economic statements as short-term volatility events, rather than signals of actual long-term policy shifts. There’s a growing recognition that much of this noise is exactly that — noise, not substance. But it doesn’t change the fact that prices are still moving, and money is still being made, off the back of political theater. Bitcoin was born as a protest against centralized manipulation. Ironically, in 2025, it’s behaving more like a campaign instrument than a decentralized revolution. And it’s not alone — other crypto assets are falling into similar traps, manipulated by memes, headlines, and personalities. Whether through official statements, online platforms, or meme culture, political figures are actively shaping the market. Explore how political influence is reshaping crypto, and how Bitcoin and other digital assets are no longer insulated from geopolitical games. political influence is reshaping crypto https://hackernoon.com/trumps-trade-wars-ignite-the-21st-century-gold-rush?embedable=true https://hackernoon.com/trumps-trade-wars-ignite-the-21st-century-gold-rush?embedable=true If you’re following the money, you’re also following the headlines. That’s the new normal — and maybe the real use case for blockchain in 2025 is to measure just how centralized our "decentralized" world has become.

The writer is smart, but don't just like, take their word for it. #DoYourOwnResearch before making any investment decisions or decisions regarding your health or security. (Do not regard any of this content as professional investment advice, or health advice)

Hot off the press! This story contains factual information about a recent event.

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

Decentralized? Not Anymore — Bitcoin Reacts to Trump More Than the Fed

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