The first four months of 2025 in the cryptocurrency market were marked by high volatility, shifts in investor sentiment and increased influence of macroeconomic factors. Despite short-term corrections, the market retains the potential for growth in the second quarter.
Total capitalization and market dynamics
Peak capitalization: $3.8 trillion (January 18, 2025).
Quarterly low: $2.7 trillion (end of March 2025).
Current capitalization: $2.97 trillion (as of April 29, 2025).
Bitcoin’s share: 63.56% of total capitalization.
The 18.6% decline in capitalization in the first quarter was due to macroeconomic uncertainties, including trade tariffs and interest rate fluctuations.
Market leaders and outsiders
Leaders:
FARTCOIN: up 100% for the week of April due to increased demand for meme tokens.
Hyperliquid (HYPE): up 30% after breaking the downtrend.
Curve DAO (CRV): up 20%, recovering above the 20-day EMA.
Outsiders:
Pi Network (PI): down 36% due to selling pressure.
Story Protocol (IP): Down 25%, continuing decline since late March.
Jupiter (JUP): Down 23.5%, hitting a new low.
Key trends
Bitcoin dominance: increase to 63.56%, indicating investors’ preference for more stable assets.
Declining market activity: average daily trading volume fell 27.3% in the first quarter, reflecting investor caution.
Macroeconomic impact: trade tariffs and US Federal Reserve policy put pressure on the market, causing short-term corrections.
Near-term outlook
Analysts expect that the market could recover in the second quarter of 2025, especially if the macroeconomic situation stabilizes. Bitcoin is seen as a potential safe haven asset amid economic uncertainty. However, investors should be prepared for continued volatility and keep a close eye on macroeconomic indicators and regulatory developments.
The Hungarian parliament has voted to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the first European Union country to do so. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that the ICC had lost its impartiality and credibility, turning into a politicized institution.
The decision to withdraw coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Budapest. Netanyahu, against whom the ICC has issued an arrest warrant on charges of war crimes in Gaza, thanked the Hungarian leadership for its “courageous and principled” decision.
According to the Rome Statute, withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after the official notification to the UN. Until then, Hungary is obliged to fulfill its obligations, including cooperation with the court.
States parties and non-parties to the ICC
As of April 2025, 125 states are parties to the Rome Statute, including all countries of the European Union, except for Hungary after its decision to withdraw. Among the participants are Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, and most countries in Latin America and Africa.
Some major powers are not members of the ICC.
The United States: signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but has not ratified it.
China: has neither signed nor ratified the Statute.
Russia: signed the Statute in 2000, but withdrew its signature in 2016.
India: has neither signed nor ratified the statute.
Israel: signed but did not ratify the charter and withdrew its signature in 2002.
Before Hungary, only two countries have officially withdrawn from the ICC.
Burundi: in 2017.
Philippines: in 2019.
Hungary’s decision may cause tensions with other EU countries that remain committed to the principles of international justice.
Global demand for gold, excluding over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, amounted to 1.31 thousand tons in the first quarter of 2025, which is 16% higher than the result for the same period last year, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). Demand for jewelry fell to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 due to high prices. However, a sharp influx of gold into ETFs increased investment demand 2.7 times to 552 tons, the highest level since the first quarter of 2022. Demand for coins and bars also remains above average.
Gold production reached a record high for the first quarter of 856 tons. Overall, supply grew by 1% to 1,206 thousand tons. The market deficit was covered by OTC.
Farms that are part of the KSG Agro agricultural holding have started spring sowing by introducing innovations. This was reported by the company’s press service with reference to Volodymyr Kalilei, Head of the crop production division of the agricultural holding.
The farms that are part of the KSG Agro agricultural holding have started spring sowing using modern innovative technologies. In terms of crops, the sown areas are as follows:
– winter wheat – about 7 hectares
– sunflower – about 5 hectares
– spring barley – up to 2 hectares
– as well as certain areas of corn.
According to Volodymyr Kalilei, PhD in Agriculture, Head of Crop Production Division of the agricultural holding, weather conditions are favorable for a successful sowing campaign as there is enough moisture for today, so the seeds are getting into sufficiently moist soil. However, last year’s drought did not pass by the agribusiness, so unfortunately, moisture is rapidly disappearing from the soil. For this reason, the agroholding plans to conduct the sowing campaign as soon as possible. The company is introducing innovative technologies to ensure efficient use of the products and reduce the pesticide burden on the plant and the environment.
The company uses liquid complex fertilizers UAN (urea-ammonia mixture) with sulfur and FFRM with the addition of biologically active product Roundup Extreme when sowing sunflower, and nitrogen fixers (Azotohelp) and urea during the growing season when cultivating winter wheat.
In addition, organic-biological systems of sunflower and corn cultivation are being implemented using a line of highly effective products manufactured by BTU, a Ukrainian biotechnology company that produces microbial and enzyme products for plant nutrition and protection, preservation and restoration of soil fertility, control of pathogens and reduction of their populations, intensive development of the plant root system in symbiosis with the beneficial biotic component of the soil, moisture accumulation and retention. The goal is to achieve a biogeocenosis as close to natural as possible, which in turn will lead to a reduction in the pesticide load on the soil and plant, a reduction in mineral fertilizer application by up to 30%, and an increase in the profitability of crop production. The products used include a phosphorus-potassium mobilizer – Groundfix, a nitrogen fixer – Azotohelp, a soil remover – Ecostern, biofungicides Phytohelp and Mycohelp, a root system development intensifier, Mycofriend, which contain bacterial cells and vitamins, phytohormones, amino acids and other physiologically active substances.
The campaign uses three John Deere 8295 tractors and three DB55 precision seeders. During the 2025 sowing season, KSG Agro is one of the first companies in the region to apply liquid fertilizers to the soil with a Güstrower GFI 6-4 3000L injector using CULTAN technology with the help of Agrokhim LTD LLC, Dnipro. This innovative technology allows to obtain long-term controlled assimilation by crops without loss of active ingredients of liquid fertilizers by applying them to the root zone of plants. 100% uniformity of mineral fertilizers distribution is achieved by puncturing the soil with spokes (needles) of the injector wheels to a depth of 8-10 cm. Regardless of the working width, all wheels follow the relief of the field, which ensures uniform distribution of nitrogen fertilizers to the required depth over the entire field area. In areas of insufficient moisture, this equipment is a godsend, allowing the use of limited water resources for the development of cultivated plants in full.
“The use of innovative technologies allows Ukrainian farmers to increase yields and thus increase the efficiency of agricultural work. This is especially important in the context of ensuring the country’s food security during a large-scale war,” emphasized Sergiy Kasyanov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KSG Agro.
Ukrainian athletes have already received 17 licenses to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), the National Olympic Committee (NOC) reports.
“The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine has received official confirmation of 17 licenses to participate in the XXV Winter Olympic Games, which will be held from February 6 to 22, 2026 in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo,” the NOC said in a statement.
In particular, as of today, Ukrainian athletes have won quotas in three sports: biathlon – 10 licenses (5 men, 5 women); cross-country skiing – 5 licenses (2 men, 3 women); alpine skiing – 2 licenses (1 man, 1 woman).
It is noted that the qualification process will last until January 18, 2026.
“Ukrainian athletes still have many competitions ahead of them, where they will have the opportunity to win Olympic passes in other sports. According to the forecasts of the national winter sports federations, international federations and the International Olympic Committee, it is expected that about 40-45 Ukrainian athletes will be eligible to represent our country at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games,” the statement said.
As reported, at the 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6-22) in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), athletes will compete for 195 medals in 16 Olympic sports.
Vadym Gutzeit, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, expects Ukraine to perform successfully at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy), as well as at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (France). With 12 medals, Ukraine took 22nd place in the medal standings of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) added four insurance and/or reinsurance brokers to the Register of Insurance Intermediaries in accordance with their electronic applications.
According to the NBU website, the following companies were added to the register: Dobrobut ta Zakhyst LLC, Willis Insurance Brokers LLC, Risk and Life Consulting LLC, and the representative office of SIA Yulisire.
The National Bank also removed these companies from the State Register of Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers and revoked their certificates of entry in this register.
The relevant decisions were adopted by the Committee on Supervision and Regulation of Non-Bank Financial Services Markets on April 25, 2025.
