The blockchain picture in America is a mix of continual regulatory suppressions alongside underlying market hope. While the leading crypto exchange, Coinbase, works towards getting full staking privileges back for every user in America, claiming that users from some states with staked rewards are missing out on millions, Coinbase’s experts’ panels, which are simultaneously issuing bullish long-term price forecasts for Bitcoin owing to the change in macroeconomic sentiment, are boarded. Both sides of the Bitcoin narrative focus on how different forces are molding the digital ecosystem market in America.
Coinbase Staking Fight
The crypto exchange Coinbase is still actively trying to protect and restore crypto staking rights for users across the entirety of the United States. He drew attention to the ongoing struggle by saying, “Your crypto staking is still at stake.” Emphasizing their messaging on X, Coinbase mentioned the impact barriers have on constituents and flagged substantial staking rewards dormant crypto owners in certain states have been unable to earn. Firebrand highlighted that significant obstacles endure for some crypto holders even as the nascent regulatory tide has shifted nationwide. Stemming from recent comments made by the company, it appears the SEC and more than forty states support allowing users to stake crypto; California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Wisconsin are the only states that prohibit users from accessing the service.
The financial impacts of these restricted states are quite significant. As Coinbase outlined, crypto holders in these four states have, as of June 2023, missed out on over $90 million in potential staking rewards. To further clarify the impact per state, Wisconsin users approximately lost out on $3 million, Maryland users $5 million, New Jersey users about $12 million, and California users almost $71 million. Coinbase emphasized that, amidst these figures, no users have lost assets that were staked through its platform.
The company’s legal battles came after five U.S. states—Vermont, South Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, and Alabama—dismissed staking lawsuits in a collective effort to provide clearer legal frameworks. The Alabama Securities Commission serves as the latest example after withdrawing on April 23. This was preceded by a major shift of the SEC itself, which, back in February, dismissed its federal lawsuit. Coinbase did state, however, that relentless efforts will be made to fully restore what they describe as critical rights to claim power over blockchains for security and staking policy supremacy.
Forecast on Bitcoin’s Pricing
Adding to the multifaceted picture, a recent specialist analysis indicates an optimistic long-term trajectory for Bitcoin. Last week, Finder, a financial comparison platform, published the results of its April 2025 cryptocurrency panel survey, which included predictions from 25 industry experts. The survey showed restrained short-term expectations but further reinforced strong long-term expectations. Updated projections estimate, “On average, our panelists believe bitcoin (BTC) will be valued at $135,048 by 2025, which is a decrease from the $161,105 forecasted in our January 2025 report.” Looking even further, estimates reach “By the end of 2030, this figure rises to $452,714 and $833,000 by the end of 2035.”
The survey also included estimates regarding Bitcoin’s potential price volatility in 2025. Anticipated highs and lows are presented as “The average peak value Bitcoin would reach in 2025, as projected by our panelists, is $146,818, with some predictions going as lofty as $250,000. Meanwhile, the average lowest value our panelists expect bitcoin to reach in 2025 is $70,509, with some citing as low as $50,000.” These diverse predictions stem from strongly divided institutional adoption and post-halving dynamics among bullish analysts, countered by economic volatility and shifting policies among bearish critics.
Market Mood & Macro
Despite the variability of forecasts, sentiment from investors seems to be notably bullish with regard to buying activity. In the April survey, there was a strong willingness to support the purchase of Bitcoin at its current price. The panel’s consensus was, “The bulk of our panel says now is a good time to buy bitcoin.” More specifically, “68% think bitcoin is a buy at its current price, 25% say it’s a good time to hold the asset, and only 7% think it’s time to sell.” Optimism is further supplemented by valuation assessments: “Well over half our panel members (61%) think bitcoin is underpriced.” The remaining analysts fractured between fairly priced (32%) and overpriced (7%).
This positive sentiment coincides with a recent price increase. Since Finder’s report, BTC prices skyrocketed roughly $10k from $84,900 to over $93,500, amounting to ~10% increase. This rally has been attributed to strong bullish fundamentals combined with favorable macro shifts. Investor optimism appeared to strengthen when President Trump announced potential tariff cuts for China coupled with assurances regarding Fed Chair Powell’s continued tenure. Experts maintain Bitcoin would need only minimal adjustments to navigate the specific challenges and still be poised for growth.
