French Central Bank Governor François Villeroy de Galhau sounded the alarm on US President Donald Trump’s support for crypto. He warned that his policies could sow the seeds of the next global financial crisis.

Trump’s pro-crypto stance started in the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024. The policies he declared in his manifesto for the presidential bid significantly contributed to his reelection as digital asset proponents sought to ouster the anti-crypto regime.

France’s Villeroy de Galhau Calls Out Trump

In an interview with local French media, Villeroy de Galhau expressed concerns that the US administration’s push for crypto-assets and non-bank finance could lead to severe economic disruptions.

“Financial crises often originate in the United States and spread to the rest of the world. By encouraging crypto-assets and non-bank finance, the American administration is sowing the seeds of future upheavals,” he stated.

This criticism follows Trump’s recent executive order to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a separate stockpile of digital assets. The move and his broader pro-crypto stance have been controversial among financial experts, who fear it could destabilize global markets.

Specifically, de Galhau’s warning comes after a significant market downturn triggered by Trump’s executive order. Last week, Bitcoin crashed below $85,000, leading to $250 million in liquidations across the crypto market. The sudden sell-off highlighted the inherent volatility of digital assets and raised fresh concerns about the risks of government-backed crypto investments.

Furthermore, Trump is reportedly planning an executive order to overturn Operation Choke Point 2.0, a regulatory policy restricting crypto firms’ banking access. By reversing this policy, Trump aims to further integrate crypto into the traditional financial (TradFi) system. However, critics argue this could expose banks and investors to unprecedented risks.

Among the renowned personalities against Trump’s pro-crypto rhetoric is Peter Schiff, a well-known Bitcoin skeptic. He harshly criticized Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, calling it “the biggest crypto rug pull of all time.” Schiff argues that the policy could lead to market manipulation and loss of public funds. He also warned that it may be designed to benefit insiders at the expense of regular investors.

Adding to these concerns, a recent poll found that most US voters oppose Trump’s push for a national Bitcoin reserve. Many Americans worry that taxpayer money could be wasted on a highly volatile asset, especially given Bitcoin’s recent market instability.

Europe to Push for Stability

Meanwhile, de Galhau emphasized that Europe must be more cautious and strengthen its financial safeguards to avoid fallout from US policies. Beyond the new tariffs on Canada, a key concern for France is the 25% imposed against the European Union.

“We have made a decision and we’ll be announcing it very soon. It’ll be 25% generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all other things,” Trump said in a recent Cabinet meeting.

Against this backdrop, de Galhau reiterated the importance of enhancing the euro’s global role. Specifically, he calls on the country to establish a strong savings and investment union to attract international investors.

“Donald Trump seems to harbor this false vision that the global economy is a zero-sum game… He sees it like a Monopoly board; with a fixation on trade deficits… We must not respond to this brutality with passivity or inevitability, but with will…we undoubtedly need to establish a balance of power to put ourselves in a position to negotiate. …let us not miss this opportunity to awaken and strengthen Europe,” he added.

As Trump’s pro-crypto policies continue to reshape the financial sector, global leaders remain divided on the potential consequences. With market volatility on the rise and regulatory uncertainty growing, the debate over the future of cryptocurrency in national economies is far from settled.

This week, the crypto market will be watching multiple global macroeconomic events. Each event has significant implications for traditional markets and, by extension, risk assets like crypto.

The following developments will shape economic narratives and influence crypto investor sentiment this week.

US Retail Sales: A Pulse on Consumer Spending

Kicking off the week, US retail sales data is due, offering a critical snapshot of consumer spending trends in the US. Economists are eager to see if January’s unexpected drop—linked to concerns over Trump’s tariffs and cautious consumer behavior—persists into February.

Strong retail figures could signal economic resilience, potentially boosting the US dollar. However, this outcome could pressure crypto prices downward as investors favor traditional assets.

Conversely, weaker-than-expected numbers might fuel speculation of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts, often a boon for Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto in general.

“I imagine retail sales will be terrible considering the recent headlines from last week. Perhaps that’s already baked-in like consumer sentiment was on Friday,” one user expressed.

FOMC Meeting and Powell’s Speech: The Fed’s Next Move

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) convenes on March 18-19, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting speech is drawing intense scrutiny. After holding rates steady at 4.25%- 4.5% in January, the Fed’s cautious stance on inflation and labor market strength has markets guessing.

Recent remarks from Powell suggest no rush to cut rates, but softening consumer spending and tariff uncertainties could shift the tone. Crypto traders are on edge, as a hawkish outlook might strengthen the dollar, pressuring digital assets, while dovish hints could spark a rally.

“If Powell’s tone softens,liquidity algorithms won’t wait for confirmation; they’ll front-run the pivot, bidding Bitcoin higher before the echoes fade,” one user quipped.

Bank of Japan Interest Rate Decision: A Yen Pivot?

Across the Pacific, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is set to announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday. It marks a pivotal moment after years of ultra-loose policy. Speculation is rife that the BOJ might raise rates, bolstered by Japan’s third consecutive quarter of GDP growth.

 “Brace for more Bank of Japan rate hikes: Average monthly wages in Japan rose by 3.1% year-over-year, the fastest rate in 32 YEARS. In line with surging inflation, this gives a green light for BoJ to hike in May. The BoJ has already hiked rates 3 times from -0.10% to 0.50%. This could BLOW OUT financial markets if it goes wrong: Will central banks print out the way out of the next CRISIS again? This is absolutely key to watch, ” Global Markets Investor, a popular account on X, remarked.

A stronger yen could dampen crypto enthusiasm in Asia, a key market, as investors shift toward safer assets. However, if the BOJ holds steady, it might signal prolonged liquidity, potentially lifting crypto valuations.

Initial Jobless Claims: Labor Market Clues

On Thursday, US initial jobless claims will provide a real-time gauge of labor market health. After hitting expectations at 220,000 in the week ending March 8, any uptick, perhaps toward the median forecast of 222,000, could reignite concerns about an economic slowdown.

This could nudge the Fed toward easing measures—a scenario that crypto bulls often cheer. However, stable or declining claims might reinforce the Fed’s patience, keeping pressure on risk assets like Bitcoin.

Bank of England Interest Rate Decision: Sterling’s Fate

The Bank of England (BOE) will unveil its rate decision on Thursday, rounding out the week for macroeconomic events with crypto implications. With UK inflation stubbornly above target, expectations lean toward maintaining current rates. Of note, however, is that a surprise cut is not off the table amid tariff-related growth worries.

A steady pound could stabilize crypto markets in Europe, while a weaker sterling might spur speculative buying.

These events collectively reflect the intricate dance between macroeconomic data and Bitcoin and crypto markets. Bitcoin, hovering below the $84,000 range, and altcoins like Ethereum are particularly sensitive to dollar strength and risk sentiment.

Global investors, particularly crypto traders, will be watching closely this week, ready to react to every twist and turn in this high-stakes economic data.

Gold prices skyrocketed to an all-time high of $3,004 per ounce, fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions, mounting inflation concerns, and a surge in demand for safe-haven assets. 

The milestone has reignited speculation over whether Bitcoin (BTC)—often referred to as “digital gold”—could experience a similar rally in the face of global uncertainty.

Gold vs Bitcoin: Can BTC Follow Gold’s Historic Rally?

On Friday, gold surged past the key $3,000 mark for the first time, setting a new all-time high for the 13th time this year. The rally pushed the precious metal’s total market capitalization beyond $20 trillion, according to data from CompaniesMarketCap.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin has taken a different trajectory. Its value has plummeted significantly as macroeconomic conditions continue to weigh on it.

The leading cryptocurrency is currently trading 23.3% below its all-time high, having dropped 14.5% over the past month. At press time, BTC was valued at $83,643, reflecting a 0.8% decline in the past 24 hours.

Despite Bitcoin’s short-term struggles, analysts suggest it could follow a path similar to gold’s historic rise. 

In the latest X (formerly Twitter) post, an analyst compared the launch of the Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in November 2004 to the launch of the Bitcoin ETF in January 2024. He suggested that Bitcoin may follow a similar price trajectory to gold after its ETF introduction.

The introduction of the Gold ETF provided institutional and retail investors easier access to gold exposure. Over time, gold saw a massive price increase, with cyclical tops and corrections but a long-term bullish trend.

As per the analysis, Bitcoin appears to be following a similar pattern. If the trend holds, BTC could see a similar multi-year growth trajectory, with its ETF launch acting as a catalyst for institutional adoption and sustained price appreciation.

Another market analyst echoed this sentiment, noting that gold and Bitcoin are following a five-step parabolic model. He predicted that Bitcoin could soon experience a significant breakout, akin to gold’s past performance.

“Bitcoin’s future is written in gold! Gold followed this pattern before its breakout. Now, Bitcoin is mirroring the move,” Merlijn wrote.

According to his projections, Bitcoin has completed its “fakeout” phase, with an all-time high on the horizon. His bold forecast? A surge to $150,000 is “loading.”

However, not all experts are convinced. Northstar, a market analyst, pointed out a concerning trend in the gold/bitcoin ratio. It has been in a prolonged downtrend. In fact, Bitcoin has failed to outperform gold for four years, marking the longest period on record.

He warned that gold’s breakout isn’t just about its price increase but what it signals.

“Historically, when gold breaks out versus stock markets, it initiates a capital rotation event, sending NASDAQ down 80% or so. Unfortunately, Bitcoin tracks NASDAQ,” the analyst remarked.

Adding to the skepticism, financial analyst Charlie Morris identified a divergence in ETF flows. While gold-backed funds have seen inflows amid the recent price surge, Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing a substantial downturn.

With Bitcoin trading at around $80,000, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether it can follow gold’s trajectory or continue to underperform. For now, the ongoing debate persists—will Bitcoin establish itself as a long-term store of value, or will gold’s enduring appeal continue to outshine the digital asset’s potential?