Hodl Up! Your weekly crypto catch up: Week 20 '25

Stablecoin volume has soared like never before, we finally have a crypto company being represented in the S&P 500 and what the hell is wrong with people - targeting crypto executives and families.

I’ve been a huge fan and supporter of stablecoins for a very long time now and I think they provide so much value in the crypto ecosystem. Today, we’ll take a look at the way their usage has grown over the last few years and how they could be as big as Bitcoin (maybe) if on the same path.

Talking of a good path, Coinbase is a company which has conducted itself on a good path for many years now and finally, has been rewarded with a place in the S&P 500 in something which is a big event for crypto companies.

Unfortunately, this week also again re-iterated the dark side of humans with another kidnapping attempt on a top crypto executive’s family in France, what’s actually wrong with you - France?

Everything to be discussed this week, on HodlUp!

NOTE: NOTHING EVER MENTIONED IN ANY OF OUR CRYPTO TALK’s POSTS/NEWSLETTERS/CONTENT IS FINANCIAL ADVICE. ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.

Stablecoins ~= Bitcoin

I know, I know - bold take. But hear me out: I genuinely believe stablecoins are the most important innovation in crypto since Bitcoin itself. Not just some side project or utility token — something bigger. If you’re rolling your eyes, fair enough. But let me explain why I think this actually makes sense.

Let’s start with the problem: crypto volatility. It’s wild. One day you’re up 20%, the next you’ve lost half your portfolio. It’s part of the fun, sure — but it’s also a major barrier to real-world adoption. How can you pay for lunch or send your cousin money overseas when the value might swing before the transaction settles?

That’s where stablecoins come in.

Stablecoins are digital currencies that keep their value stable — usually pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar. So you get the benefits of crypto (speed, security, transparency) without the chaos of price swings. And that’s massive.

Bitcoin is often called “digital gold” — a store of value. And it’s great at that. But let’s be real: Bitcoin isn’t practical for daily payments. Nobody wants to buy a $5 coffee and find out they actually spent $7 because of a price dip.

Stablecoins fix that. They act like digital cash. You can send money across the world in minutes, for pennies, without a bank in sight. Whether it’s for payroll, remittances, savings, or DeFi lending — stablecoins are already being used, daily, at scale.

And this isn’t just a crypto thing anymore. PayPal launched a stablecoin. Visa and Mastercard are testing stablecoin settlements. Even JPMorgan has its own. Governments are paying attention too — many are developing their own Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in response.

Sure, there are risks. Regulation is heating up. Questions about transparency, centralization, and reserve backing are all valid. But the fact that governments and institutions are now scrambling to catch up tells you how big this really is.

So yeah, I still stand by my take: stablecoins might just be the most important development in crypto since Bitcoin. They’re already being used more, trusted more, and solving real-world problems right now.

And that’s kind of the point of crypto, isn’t it? Right now, there are nearly $250B worth of stablecoins in the market. That is not a lot to be honest, this number will grow and will grow by a lot.

Src: DeFiLlama

The Dangerous Reality of Being a Crypto Entrepreneur Today

Over the past couple of years, the crypto world has become more than just digital coins and blockchain dreams, it’s become dangerous in real life. From 2023 through 2025, there's been a disturbing rise in physical attacks on people in the crypto space. What once felt like a digital frontier has now spilled violently into the real world.

Take France, for example - in 2025 alone, multiple kidnappings and attempted abductions have shaken the crypto community. One of the most chilling incidents happened a couple of days ago, when armed men tried to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the CEO of a well-known crypto exchange. In broad daylight on the streets of Paris, masked attackers tried to force them into a van. It was only thanks to the bravery of a local shopkeeper, who fought them off with a fire extinguisher — that they escaped unharmed.

In another incident this month, another crypto entrepreneur's father was abducted while walking his dog. The kidnappers sent a horrifying video of his mutilated finger to demand a massive crypto ransom. Fortunately, he was rescued days later. But the trauma lingers.

And earlier in the year, another shocking event involved a crypto wallet company founder and his partner being kidnapped. In a horrifying attempt to extract millions in cryptocurrency, the attackers even severed his finger.

These aren’t just isolated events. They're part of a disturbing pattern where wealth stored in decentralized, digital form is making people targets in very real, physical ways. The very nature of crypto — fast, irreversible, anonymous — makes it incredibly attractive to criminals. If you gain access to someone’s wallet, you can potentially walk away with millions, untraceably.

Organized crime groups are now treating crypto entrepreneurs like walking vaults. They use brutal tactics like surveillance, home invasions, and even torture to force people to hand over access to their wallets. And the threat is global, this isn’t just a French problem.

For many in the industry, these incidents have shattered any sense of security. Crypto figures are hiring bodyguards, investing in home security, and thinking twice before sharing any personal information online. What used to be a badge of honor — being a crypto pioneer — is now something people are starting to hide.

The crypto world was meant to offer freedom. But as we’re seeing more and more, that freedom comes with a very real, and very human, cost.

Congratulations, Coinbase.

Okay let’s shift the mood to something positive now. Coinbase, yes, our very own Coinbase has entered the S&P 500 and has become the first crypto company to do so!

Yep, the same index that includes companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson is now welcoming a full-on crypto exchange into the club. If you told someone that five years ago, they’d probably laugh you out of the room. But here we are in 2025, and crypto is officially pulling up a seat at the grown-ups’ table.

For Coinbase, this is a huge milestone. You don’t just casually wander into the S&P 500 - you’ve got to be profitable, stable, and sizable enough to matter. So for a company that operates in one of the most volatile industries on the planet, getting the nod says a lot. It’s like being invited to prom by Wall Street itself.

But the real win? It’s for the crypto industry as a whole.

Coinbase’s inclusion in the S&P 500 sends a loud and clear message: crypto isn’t a fad anymore. This isn’t 2017 where Bitcoin was seen as internet monopoly money. This is real, it’s regulated (well, sort of), and it’s part of the future of finance. Suddenly, crypto doesn’t look so “fringe” when investors see it sitting next to Coca-Cola and Amazon on their ETF breakdown.

It also means a whole new wave of institutional money is going to flow in. Funds that track the S&P 500 have to buy Coinbase stock. That means more exposure, more credibility, and yes - probably more price charts going up and to the right.

Of course, this doesn’t mean the crypto rollercoaster is over. There’ll still be drama, wild price swings, and that one friend who refuses to stop shilling some obscure token. But having a crypto-native company join such a prestigious index? That’s a big moment.

So yeah, we’re allowed to celebrate a bit, maybe even throw in a cheeky “we told you so.” Because for once, crypto didn’t just break into mainstream finance… it walked in the front door, in a suit, and shook everyone’s hand.

A Look At The Markets

Bit of a pullback this week, nothing to panic about. The TOTAL MC going from $3.33T to $3.27T. Again, nothing to be alarmed about. I have my beliefs and so shall you.

Biggest Winner

$HYPE: Hype has done quite well in the pullback week with a 13% pump. Some people credit it to the fee discounts they have just introduced but it’s a longer game than just 7d for them

Biggest Loser

$FARTCOIN: I hate to be the bearer of bad news but indeed, it is $FARTCOIN which stinks this week with a 13% dump. (See what I did there)

Well, that is it for this week then. We’ll be next week to discuss better markets and better news and everything that can be better. Till then, STAY SAFU.