Blockchain Investing Strategies: Cryptocurrency Trading Guide podcast.

Heyo, it’s Crypto Willy—your go-to guide for all things crypto, blockchain, and decentralized finance. This past week was a doozy in the world of blockchain investing, so let’s dive right into what mattered most between October 18 and October 25, 2025, and break down the strategy you need to thrive in these choppy waters.

The week kicked off with a bang—and not the fun kind. According to OneSafe, the entire crypto market was rattled by a shock announcement from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who declared a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. The domino effect was brutal: $400 billion in crypto value vanished in a matter of hours, and major players like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) saw panic selling that took them to their most fragile since…well, the last shock. Analysts called it a “technical reset,” which was just a fancy way of saying “ouch.” This move shook confidence, exposed liquidity risks, and showed just how tied digital assets are to global politics and traditional finance. In the chaos, institutional whales were hitting the derivatives hard, squeezing out shorts and adding fuel to the fire. DeFi, too, faced scrutiny, with folks questioning how these decentralized networks would handle a real stress test. If you’re building your crypto portfolio, this was a wake-up call: always keep an eye on macro news—geo-political lightning can strike anywhere in the blockchain universe.

But the show must go on! Even with the shakeup, Bitcoin held its footing. CoinDesk reports BTC was trading in a tight range around $111,000, with volume spiking as buyers and sellers fought it out along support and resistance lines. Crypto traders are watching for a clean break above $112,000 for an upward push, while a drop below $109,800 could open the door to more downside. The CoinDesk 5 Index also bounced, showing there’s still plenty of action beyond Bitcoin if you know where to look. Meanwhile, Ethereum continues to flex its muscles—CME Group notes that ETH futures volume and open interest hit all-time highs, with growth rates outstripping BTC on a percentage basis. Solana (SOL) and XRP aren’t being left behind either, posting strong milestones as the diversified digital asset momentum charges on.

Speaking of volume, stablecoins are the unsung heroes of this whole drama. A16z’s latest State of Crypto report highlights that adjusted stablecoin transaction volume reached a mind-blowing $1.25 trillion in September alone, and total supply is now over $300 billion. Tether and USDC dominate, accounting for 87% of that pie—mostly sloshing around Ethereum and Tron. But here’s the kicker: this astronomical growth is happening even as actual crypto trading cools off, proving stablecoins have found their true product-market fit—powering payments and financial flows that are just as real as what your regular bank manages.

But let’s be real: you’re not here for numbers—you want actionable strategy. Here’s what Crypto Willy is doing this week in the middle of all this madness. First, I’m doubling down on monitoring derivatives. Futures and options are hotter than ever—CME Group says open interest and large holders are booming. That means big money is moving, and you’d better be watching. Second, I’m hedging with stablecoins against macro shocks. Yeah, I still love my BTC and ETH, but staying nimble means having dry powder for when the market throws a tantrum. Third, I’m scanning for alts with real use cases—A16z and CoinDesk remind us that while Bitcoin is the bedrock, the real action this cycle is in niche players, smart contract platforms, and stablecoins. Keep an eye on Solana, Chainlink, and Ethereum L2s—they’re where most of the innovation is happening.

As for those wild movers, Binance highlighted some crazy gains: GIGGLE, VIRTUAL, and DEGO are up 223%, 36%, and 35%, respectively. Volatility like that is...