Just a year after facing lawsuits and investigations, crypto firms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple were welcomed into the White House, celebrating a dramatic policy shift under President Donald Trump.

Once wary, Trump now openly champions digital assets, backed by a 160-page White House plan to embed crypto into everyday finance. Regulators have dropped cases against major platforms and are urging banks to deepen ties with the crypto industry. Traditional finance giants like JPMorgan and Bank of America are exploring stablecoins, while Congress has passed new laws to legitimize their use in payments.

Crypto markets have soared in response. Bitcoin is up 71% since the election, and Coinbase stock has jumped 50%. Industry players are pushing to tokenize stocks and move markets fully on-chain — a proposal raising red flags among financial watchdogs.

Critics warn that rapid deregulation could heighten systemic risk, likening it to the pre-2008 financial era. But supporters argue crypto offers transparency, resilience, and innovation. As Washington swings in crypto’s favor, the industry’s influence — and the stakes — have never been higher.