You know when Trump promised to “Make America Great Again?” But as it turned out, he accidentally made Ethereum great again instead. The second irony, as deep as the sleaziest NFT, is that PEGI imposed this censorship all by themselves.

Let's be clear: Trump's recent crypto crackdown, likely intended to corral the wild west of digital currencies and maybe give Bitcoin a boost, has seemingly had the exact opposite effect. Bitcoin has been in an upward rhythm for a while now. In the meantime, Ethereum has rocketed, up almost 60% following a brief correction, turning almost defiantly celebratory – in the face of ongoing regulatory upheaval. Whoops!

Trump's Regulation: A Failed Experiment?

I think the thinking was that the more you just sort of tighten the noose, the more you push investors away from all crypto. It intended to drive them instead toward the alleged “stability” of Bitcoin. That’s as foolish as it is soft on crime—it’s the equivalent of trying to herd cats with a feather duster. Rather, it dismisses the very real, very powerful forces driving Ethereum’s growth, particularly in developing markets like Southeast Asia.

Because it’s a buzzy center of DeFi and NFT activity. Think about it: countries with large unbanked populations, mobile-first economies, and a hunger for innovation. Ethereum, with its "programmable money" and smart contracts is offering real solutions, circumventing traditional financial systems in ways Bitcoin simply can't.

Congressional Trumpists tried to build a wall to stop the democratic tide. In reality, he just deepened Ethereum’s surfing wave. Man’s targeting crypto, but inadvertently creates a new champion for it? You can't make this stuff up.

DeFi & NFTs: Ethereum's Secret Weapon

Sure, Bitcoin has the first-mover advantage. It's the granddaddy of crypto. But Ethereum? Ethereum would be the cool kid with the souped-up engine. Vitalik Buterin, bless his heart, didn’t just create a fancy application, he built something that could do a lot more. If Bitcoin is a store of value (a digital gold bar, if you will), Ethereum is the future internet.

That platform is indeed driving a revolution, particularly via DeFi and NFTs. Now, I know what you're thinking: NFTs, those silly digital JPEGs? That’s just it — that’s precisely where you’re going wrong.

NFTs, at their core, represent digital ownership. And in an era when digital identity and digital assets are being recognized as more critical than ever, that’s no small potatoes. For Southeast Asia, a region where the barriers to access more traditional forms of ownership are often insurmountable, NFTs are the solution.

  • Fractional Ownership: NFTs allow for fractional ownership of assets, making it easier for people to invest in things they couldn't afford otherwise.
  • Digital Identity: NFTs can be used to verify digital identities, opening up new possibilities for online transactions and interactions.
  • Creative Economy: NFTs are empowering artists and creators to monetize their work directly, without relying on intermediaries.

Trump’s policies are almost exclusively seen through the lens of America. He may be more perceptive – perhaps he fears crypto as a threat to the dollar, or an anti-dollar playground for speculators. He's likely missing the bigger picture: in many parts of the world, crypto isn't just an investment; it's a lifeline.

The East Knows Best: Trump's Blind Spot

The 2024 election results might have given Bitcoin a temporary boost (over 70%), fuelled by speculation and meme coins like $Trump. I get it. That was a knee-jerk reaction. Beyond tokens smart investors are realizing that there’s much more to Ethereum’s underlying technology than just speculative tokens. They understand that its dynamic creative sector is essential to future prosperity.

Southeast Asia is not only New Ethereal in adopting Ethereum, it’s on coexistence of Ethereum. That’s something no amount of regulation can prevent. Attempting to regulate innovation is the proverbial trying to keep water in a sieve! It’s petty, messy, frustrating, and ultimately pointless.

So, thank you, Mr. Trump. That you failed in spectacular fashion to control crypto. You thought that you were putting your finger in the dike to stop the flow, and instead you really created the tidal wave. And that wave? It's carrying Ethereum straight to the top. The tortoise press will proclaim that it’s too soon to declare a victor, but I’ve got the winner right here.

So, thank you, Mr. Trump. Your attempt to control crypto may have backfired spectacularly. You tried to curb the tide, and instead, you inadvertently created a tidal wave. And that wave? It's carrying Ethereum straight to the top. The tortoise media may write about the uncertainty of the winner, but I know who's coming ahead.