Bitfinex Integrates USDt with Bitcoin and Lightning Network

Bitfinex Alpha, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has integrated Tether's stablecoin USDt with Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, expanding global trading capabilities. This move comes as Bitcoin's price dynamics increasingly reflect broader macroeconomic events and react strongly to policy announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Bitcoin started the year 2025 with a 10% gain in January but has since slowed down, with its trading price fluctuating within a 15% range over the past 65 days. Despite this, Bitcoin has maintained a strong structure over longer timeframes, outperforming traditional markets since the U.S. election. It has risen from around 67,000 USD to over 100,000 USD, while stocks have only recovered modestly.

The U.S. economy has shown resilience through strong consumer spending and economic growth but faces challenges from policy uncertainty, trade disruptions, and persistent inflation. The Federal Reserve (Fed) kept interest rates unchanged at 4.25-4.50% last week, indicating that policymakers are not yet ready to ease monetary conditions until inflation shows a clear downward trend. Consumer spending surged in December, with real consumer spending increasing by 0.4%, further bolstering economic growth but complicating the Fed's forward path.

Inflation remains elevated above the central bank's two percent target, with core PCE inflation hovering around 2.8% compared to the same period last year. While wage growth has slowed, a tight labor market and potential immigration constraints could push labor costs higher, raising inflation risks. Meanwhile, economic growth ended the year at 2.3%, supported by robust household consumption and increased government spending, despite sluggish business investment and ongoing trade tensions.

The market has adjusted its expectations for rate cuts, pricing in a lower likelihood of near-term easing. As the U.S. economy navigates a period of both stability and policy uncertainty, the cryptocurrency industry is experiencing its own turning point, marked by strong institutional accumulation, financial innovation, and deeper integration with traditional financial infrastructure. With inflation pressures causing the Fed to pause, market participants are closely monitoring how digital assets respond to macroeconomic trends, monetary policy shifts, and increasing enterprise adoption.

MicroStrategy has continued to bolster its Bitcoin holdings, purchasing an additional 10,107 BTC for 1.1 billion