Weekly Crypto Report: Geopolitics Pressure BTC, ETH and SOL Outperform, and What to Expect from the Fed (June 16-22)
The past week (June 9-15, 2025) was a true test of resilience for the cryptocurrency market. Marked by high volatility, the week saw investors navigating between fear generated by geopolitical tensions and optimism from favorable macroeconomic data. While Bitcoin faced a sharp drop before recovering, altcoins like Ethereum and, especially, Solana, showed surprising strength.
6/17/20254 min read
Weekly Crypto Report: Geopolitics Pressure BTC, ETH and SOL Outperform, and What to Expect from the Fed (June 16-22)
The past week (June 9-15, 2025) was a true test of resilience for the cryptocurrency market. Marked by high volatility, the week saw investors navigating between fear generated by geopolitical tensions and optimism from favorable macroeconomic data. While Bitcoin faced a sharp drop before recovering, altcoins like Ethereum and, especially, Solana, showed surprising strength.
In this weekly report, we detail the main events that moved the market, the performance of the main assets, social media highlights, and what to expect in the coming days, which will be dominated by the crucial Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting.
Summary of the Week (June 09–15): Volatility and Resilience
The total crypto market cap rose slightly by about 1%, reaching $3.3 trillion, with the Fear & Greed Index remaining neutral at 50 points, reflecting a balance of forces.
Performance of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL)
Bitcoin (BTC): Suffered from oscillations, dropping by about $6,000 between Thursday and Friday to touch the $103k region amidst Middle East tensions. However, it managed a weekend recovery, ending the week relatively stable in the $105k to $107k range.
Ethereum (ETH): Outperformed BTC, appreciating by approximately 3% for the week. Optimism was driven by strong institutional inflows via ETFs, totaling $5 billion, pushing the price close to $2,600.
Solana (SOL): Was the standout performer. The price soared by about +9.5%, reaching $157. The move was catalyzed by optimism around the potential approval of a spot Solana ETF in the US and increased activity in its derivatives markets.
Overall, the CoinDesk 20 Index, which tracks major cryptoassets, was up +3.6% for the week, indicating a mostly positive sentiment.
Macro and Geopolitical Scene: Between Fear of War and Hope for Rate Cuts
The market was a battlefield between opposing forces last week.
Middle East Conflict Causes Risk-Off Flight
The most impactful event was the escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict. On Friday (06/13), news of Israeli airstrikes triggered a strong risk-off move. Bitcoin fell ~1.4% and Ethereum ~5% on that day. Conversely, safe-haven assets like gold (which jumped above $3,400) and oil (Brent up as much as 13%) soared.
US Inflation Surprises and Fuels Optimism
On the positive side, May's US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data came in below expectations (2.4%), reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve might pause or even start cutting interest rates soon. This helped improve sentiment early in the week.
Global News: Paraguay, Brazil, and Bitcoin's Role
Despite the tense climate, some analysts suggest the search for safe havens could benefit Bitcoin long-term. A curious episode involved Paraguay, whose presidential X (Twitter) account was hacked with a fake BTC adoption announcement. In Brazil, a parliamentary proposal to remove cryptocurrency taxation from a Provisional Measure stood out.
Keep an Eye On: Token Unlocks and the Risk of Selling Pressure
"Token unlock" events drew attention for potential selling pressure. Last week, Aptos (APT) and ImmutableX (IMX) had significant unlocks. Scheduled for this week are unlocks for:
Arbitrum (ARB): ~$30M (06/16)
ApeCoin (APE): ~$10M (06/17)
ZK Tokens: ~$39M (06/17)
ZRO: ~$56M (06/20)
Optimism (OP): ~$19M (06/30) These events can increase volatility for the respective assets.
Adoption in Focus: Institutional Accumulation and Ecosystem Developments
Despite volatility, institutional adoption remained firm:
Bybit announced the launch of its DEX "Byreal" on the Solana network.
MicroStrategy bought another 10,100 Bitcoins in one week.
SharpLink Gaming acquired 176,000 ETH, becoming the largest public holder of Ethereum.
Crypto investment products saw $1.9 billion in net inflows, marking the ninth consecutive week of positive flows.
Coinbase partnered with American Express for a BTC cashback credit card.
Trump Media & Technology Group received SEC approval for a $2.3 billion Bitcoin treasury plan.
Technical Analysis: BTC, ETH, and SOL at Decisive Points
Bitcoin (BTC): Consolidating in a short-term pattern. Key resistance is at $107-108k. A break with volume could open the way to $110-113k. Immediate support is at $105k, with a stronger floor at $100-102k. A neutral RSI suggests a balance of forces.
Ethereum (ETH): Outperforming, ETH is attempting a breakout from a horizontal channel. Immediate resistance is at $2,633. If broken, targets are $2,750-2,800. Initial support is at $2,550. Whale accumulation is notably strong, suggesting confidence.
Solana (SOL): After a strong rally fueled by ETF hype, SOL needs to overcome major resistance to confirm a trend reversal. Key resistance is in the $180-200 range. A break above $210 would invalidate the mid-term downtrend. An oversold RSI could attract buyers.
What Was Buzzing on Crypto Social Media?
The Debate: A viral controversy erupted between the founders of Cardano (Charles Hoskinson) and Solana (Anatoly Yakovenko) over whether altcoin treasuries should buy Bitcoin. Yakovenko's criticism sparked a wide community debate.
ETF Euphoria: Optimism about a potential Solana ETF and continuous institutional buying by MicroStrategy dominated "Crypto Twitter" conversations.
Memecoins and Culture: Though with less frenzy, memecoins like PENGU and BONK showed signs of recovery. News of El Salvador increasing its BTC reserves was also celebrated.
What to Expect This Week (June 16–22)?
Central Bank Decisions: The absolute highlight is the FOMC (Fed) meeting on June 18. Rates are expected to be held, but Jerome Powell's speech will be dissected for future clues. The Juneteenth holiday in the US (06/19) may reduce liquidity.
Economic Indicators: US retail sales and PMIs could influence sentiment.
Crypto Events: Monitoring reaction to token unlocks (ARB, APE) and the Bitcoin Prague 2025 conference.
Regulation and Politics: The US stablecoin bill (GENIUS Act) could advance in the Senate, a potential market milestone.
Conclusion: A Week of Trials and Opportunities
If the Fed confirms a pause on rates and the geopolitical scene does not worsen, we could see a continuation of the rally. However, the week has ingredients for high volatility. The market will continue to balance the structural optimism of the post-halving cycle with the risks on the horizon, making caution and attention to fundamental data more important than ever.