Welcome to This Week in Crypto! We’re back with the biggest stories shaking up the world of digital assets. From major institutional moves to rising political interest and a fresh wave of memecoin excitement, here’s what you need to know:
A quick look at this week’s top stories:
- Bitcoin ETFs outpace miners as U.S. funds buy six times more BTC than was produced last week
- A U.S. lawmaker wants crypto ATMs installed in federal buildings across the country
- Memecoin buzz hits a 2025 high as Dogecoin leads a wave of speculative trading
Let’s take a closer look at what these headlines mean for the crypto space.
Bitcoin Demand Surges as ETFs Scoop Up 18,644 BTC in One Week
Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States are buying up Bitcoin at a pace far faster than new coins are being created. Over the past week, these ETFs purchased nearly six times the amount of Bitcoin that miners produced. This surge in institutional demand may signal growing interest in Bitcoin, even as the asset’s price saw only a slight weekly change.
- U.S.-based Bitcoin ETFs bought 18,644 BTC last week, while miners produced only 3,150.
- BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust led the charge with $2.5 billion in inflows and 17 consecutive days without a single outflow.
- Total ETF inflows reached $1.8 billion over the past five trading days, with only one day of outflows since April 16
As ETFs grow into a $110 billion market, institutional players are playing a major role in shaping Bitcoin’s supply & demand.
Congressman Pushes for Crypto ATMs in U.S. Federal Buildings
A U.S. lawmaker has suggested placing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings to help educate the public and keep up with modern financial trends. In a letter dated May 1, 2025, Rep. Lance Gooden asked the General Services Administration (GSA) to explore what it would take to make this idea a reality. He said the move would align with former President Donald Trump’s vision for embracing crypto innovation.
- Rep. Gooden believes crypto ATMs in public buildings could serve as educational tools and boost financial access.
- He sent a formal request to the GSA to explore rules and guidelines for installing these machines.
- It’s still unclear whether the GSA has the authority to approve crypto ATMs from private companies without an act of Congress.
Although Gooden doesn’t hold any crypto investments, he wants federal spaces to reflect financial innovation. Whether this proposal moves forward depends on legal authority and broader government support.
Memecoin Mentions Reach Peak as Traders Shift Focus to Speculation
Online chatter about memecoins has surged to its highest level of the year, signaling a shift in trader behavior toward more speculative crypto assets. According to a May 1 report by Santiment, the buzz follows a recent market rally and growing excitement over possible memecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. Dogecoin, in particular, is leading the conversation after renewed ETF interest and social media hype.
- According to Santiment marketing director Brian Quinlivan, traders are showing a “gamble mindset,” moving away from safer bets like Bitcoin toward high-risk memecoins for quick profits.
- Dogecoin’s social dominance hit a three-month high following ETF filings, despite delays from the U.S. SEC.
- Trading activity on memecoin platforms like Pump.Fun spiked in April, with its decentralized exchange PumpSwap hitting $11 billion in volume.
While Bitcoin rose 7% in the past eight days, other speculative tokens gained more as investors chased higher returns. As excitement builds around possible DOGE ETFs, traders remain cautiously optimistic, but with a strong appetite for risk.
