Coinbase’s regional director for Southeast Asia Hassan Ahmed discussed his thoughts on crypto’s current selloff and the implications of shifting U.S. policies in a Bloomberg interview.
Ahmed said he is bullish on the long-term outlook for the digital asset industry despite the current weakness. When asked if the current selloff is driven by overall sentiment or broader macroeconomic factors, Ahmed said he believes macroeconomic conditions rather than crypto-specific issues are at play.
“We’re in this macro malaise sort of phase where there’s just much more focus on fiscal policy, tariffs, rate cuts, the government U.S. debt maturing this year. And I think the market has to climb that wall of worry for all risk assets,” Ahmed explained.
Impact of U.S. regulatory shift on global markets
Ahmed also discussed how global crypto policies can shift under the leadership of the current Trump administration. A shift away from former President Joe Biden’s crypto stance represents a “huge regulatory and structural unlock”.
Notably, Operation Choke Point and Operation Choke Point 2.0 created an unfavorable environment. Financial institutions were unwilling or unable to engage with crypto firms.
But according to Ahmed, things are starting to change.
“We think that all of that is not only just going away, but it’s a 180-degree shift where the U.S. is leaning into crypto big time,” he said.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserves and Global Impact
Ahmed also argued that major financial hubs, especially Singapore, will need to rethink their approach to the crypto sector and its vision for the future of the industry.
“This really does reset the playing board across the board. All jurisdictions and hubs should take a fresh look at their policies for the G20,” Ahmed said.
He also proposed that creating a strategic bitcoin reserve could be a smart move for nations looking to position themselves strategically in the digital economy. Creating a reserve is a “smart idea” and “something that they should be taking a closer look at.”
