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Welcome to this week’s Web3 digest — your inside track on the moves that matter. From record-breaking IPOs and global acquisitions to billion-dollar rumors and power feuds shaking the market. Here’s your breakdown of the deals, shifts, and shocks defining the next chapter of Web3.
Robinhood has acquired Bitstamp, the world’s oldest cryptocurrency exchange, in a $200 million all-cash deal — signaling a bold expansion of its global crypto footprint. This move strengthens Robinhood’s presence in Europe, the UK, and Asia, bringing with it more than 50 regulatory licenses and registrations as well as Bitstamp’s deeply rooted institutional client base.
Currently, Bitstamp serves over 5,000 institutional clients and 50,000 retail users, with the majority of its trading volume attributed to institutions. Over the past year, the platform generated $95 million in revenue. Meanwhile, Robinhood Crypto reported $252 million in Q1 2025 revenue alone, highlighting the scale and momentum behind this consolidation. Integration of Bitstamp into Robinhood’s infrastructure is already underway. This acquisition follows Robinhood’s recent $179 million agreement to purchase WonderFi in Canada, further cementing its ambition to become a major global player in crypto services.
In one of the most remarkable public debuts in recent memory, Circle’s IPO exceeded all expectations — raising $1.1 billion, far surpassing the original target range of $800M–$900M. The overwhelming institutional interest pushed shares up nearly +247% in their first two days of trading, outperforming the IPO debuts of tech giants like Meta, Airbnb, and even Robinhood.
The capital injection will fuel Circle’s mission to build a more open, transparent, and inclusive global financial system. With $578M in Q1 revenue, Circle has positioned itself as a pillar of crypto infrastructure — and its IPO marks a critical turning point for the broader stablecoin sector. This isn’t just a win for Circle — it’s a signal that crypto-native companies can now scale with Wall Street-level confidence. Stablecoins are no longer fringe. They’re financial infrastructure.
In 2025 alone, over $2.1 billion in crypto assets were stolen — but not through smart contract bugs or protocol exploits. According to Web3 security firm CertiK, the primary vector was phishing and social engineering. Fake links, impersonated support agents, and wallet-draining schemes have replaced code vulnerabilities as the most common attack vector. The shift highlights a stark reality: as code gets safer, people become the primary target. CertiK warns that audits and technical due diligence are no longer enough. In a decentralized world, security must be cultural — and awareness is now the most important defense layer. Teams, communities, and users alike must adapt to this new paradigm.
According to multiple sources, Pump.fun — the Solana-based memecoin launchpad — is preparing to raise $1 billion via token sale at a projected $4 billion fully diluted valuation. While the team has not confirmed these plans, the news has already ignited debate across the industry. Since launching in early 2024, Pump.fun has facilitated the creation of nearly 11 million tokens and reportedly generated over $700 million in revenue — staggering numbers for such a young platform.
Still, the reported raise has sparked backlash within the crypto community. Critics question the need for such a massive round given Pump.fun’s existing revenue and traction. Some also express concern about potential market impact — particularly in the memecoin space — warning that a $1B raise could accelerate “farm-and-dump” dynamics and destabilize the broader ecosystem.
The political feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk just escalated — with real consequences for markets. After Musk slammed Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending proposal as a “disgusting abomination,” Trump retaliated by threatening to cancel federal contracts with Tesla and SpaceX. The fallout was swift and brutal:
- Tesla shares plunged 14%, erasing $152 billion in market value.
- Musk lost $34 billion in a single day — his largest one-day loss to date.
- Crypto markets followed suit, shedding $170 billion as the Fear & Greed Index dropped to 45, signaling mounting risk aversion.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump publicly suggested selling his Tesla Model S, which he had previously bought to show support for Musk’s brand. Meanwhile, Musk has warned that Trump’s proposed tariffs could trigger a recession in the second half of 2025, escalating tensions between Big Tech and populist politics. This is no longer just a clash of egos — it’s a high-stakes standoff with cross-market implications, and crypto isn’t immune to the fallout.
🧲 Crypto has entered the boardroom — and there’s no turning back.As institutions double down, power dynamics shift, and threats evolve, Web3 is no longer experimental — it’s existential. Stay sharp, stay in the loop — and we’ll be back next week with more insights from the front lines of crypto.
