2024 In Crypto: Events, Stories And Findings Of The Past Year

Introduction

The year 2024 will be remembered as a groundbreaking chapter in the history of cryptocurrency. It was a time of transformation, filled with regulatory milestones, technological breakthroughs, unforgettable scandals, and even a splash of satire-turned-success. These defining moments shaped the evolving relationship between digital assets and global financial systems. As we move into 2025, it’s time to take a look back at the stories that shook, built, and defined the crypto industry over the past year.

Bitcoin ETFs Open the Floodgates

One of the most anticipated and talked-about developments of 2024 arrived early in the year — the long-awaited approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the United States. This marked a pivotal moment for the crypto industry. For the first time, U.S.-based investors could gain direct exposure to Bitcoin through traditional brokerage accounts, eliminating the need for navigating crypto exchanges.

Ten ETFs were approved in total, and their impact was immediate and substantial. Institutional investors, once hesitant due to regulatory ambiguity, poured billions into these funds. By the end of the year, more than 1.13 million BTC — about 5.3% of the total supply — was held across these ETFs. This influx of capital brought increased stability and legitimacy to Bitcoin's market presence.

Looking back from 2025, it’s clear that the approval of these ETFs not only legitimized Bitcoin further in the eyes of mainstream finance but also set a precedent for other cryptocurrencies looking to follow a similar path.

Ethereum ETFs Join the Race

Following Bitcoin’s lead, Ethereum saw its own breakthrough with the approval of spot ETH ETFs in mid-2024. The U.S. SEC greenlit nine different products, which together attracted over $12 billion in assets within just six months.

This rapid accumulation represented about 3% of Ethereum's total supply, reinforcing ETH’s role not just as a utility token, but also as a serious financial asset with long-term investment potential. Unlike previous years, when Ethereum was often overshadowed by Bitcoin in regulatory debates, 2024 proved it had firmly entered the institutional arena.

By early 2025, additional ETF applications for other cryptocurrencies — including Solana, XRP, and Litecoin — had surfaced, indicating that Ethereum's regulatory win might have opened the floodgates for broader crypto adoption.

Bitcoin’s Fourth Halving and $100,000 Milestone

In April 2024, Bitcoin underwent its fourth halving — a built-in mechanism that cuts miner rewards by 50% every 210,000 blocks. This deflationary event is central to Bitcoin’s monetary policy and long-term scarcity narrative. As a result, block rewards dropped to 3.125 BTC, heightening reliance on transaction fees and increasing miner competition.

The halving itself was not just a technical occurrence but a psychological driver for price action. By December, Bitcoin shattered its long-standing ceiling and surged past the $100,000 mark, reaching a record high of $108,268. This price surge, occurring just months after the ETF approvals and halving, underscored how supply reductions and institutional inflows can work in tandem to boost market confidence.

As of early 2025, Bitcoin remains one of the top-performing global assets, firmly holding its spot among the most valuable commodities in existence — second only to gold in terms of narrative but closing in fast in cultural relevance.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Conviction: Justice for FTX Collapse

The collapse of FTX in late 2022 left a deep scar on the crypto world, and in 2024, one of its key figures finally faced the consequences. Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges. He was also ordered to forfeit $11 billion — one of the largest penalties in financial crime history.

This event marked a significant moment in crypto regulation and enforcement. It sent a clear message that the era of unchecked behavior in the crypto industry was coming to an end. Regulatory bodies began to act more decisively, and companies were pushed to enhance transparency and compliance.

Now in 2025, the industry continues to feel the ripple effects. While FTX's downfall served as a cautionary tale, it also prompted a new wave of responsible innovation, governance reforms, and increased trust in the sector.

On-Chain Treasury Products Gain Traction

While traditional finance slowly warms up to crypto, 2024 saw the crypto world borrow a page from traditional finance by embracing tokenized U.S. treasury products. Platforms like Hashnote and OpenEden led the way, offering users tokenized versions of treasury bills that could be traded and held on public blockchains.

These on-chain treasury notes allow users to earn yield without ever touching a traditional bank. Compared to legacy stablecoins, these products offer a more transparent and often more stable way to park capital while maintaining blockchain-native functionality.

By the end of 2024, over $2 billion was already allocated into such digital financial instruments. This blend of decentralization and dependable yield drew in both crypto natives and TradFi players seeking efficient capital deployment. In 2025, these products are continuing to evolve and could very well become a cornerstone of decentralized finance.

The ASI Alliance: A New Era for AI and Blockchain

June 2024 witnessed one of the most notable mergers in crypto history: the formation of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance. This alliance combined the tokens and missions of Fetch.ai, Ocean Protocol, and SingularityNET into a unified ERC-20 token ecosystem called ASI, valued at $7.5 billion upon merger.

The goal? To take on big tech’s dominance in AI by creating a more open, transparent, and community-governed AI infrastructure. This unprecedented fusion of decentralized AI projects symbolizes the intersection of two of the most revolutionary technologies of our era: blockchain and artificial intelligence.

In 2025, ASI continues to grow its developer base and ecosystem, raising questions about whether decentralized AI could eventually outpace centralized alternatives — a trend to watch closely.

Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Plans Stir Political Waves

Arguably one of the more politically charged events in 2024 was the announcement by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump that he intended to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve if elected. After winning the U.S. presidential election in November, Trump doubled down on this promise, declaring that Bitcoin should be “mined, minted, and made in the USA.”

The proposal sparked debates across both the crypto and political landscapes. Some hailed it as a visionary step toward making America a leader in the decentralized financial future. Others criticized it as risky and populist. Regardless of opinion, it was undeniable that cryptocurrency had officially entered mainstream political discourse.

By early 2025, legislation nicknamed the “Bitcoin Act” was already in early discussions. If passed, it would authorize the U.S. to acquire up to 1 million BTC over five years — a move that could redefine national reserves and potentially tighten Bitcoin’s already scarce supply.

Final Thoughts

2024 was not just another year for crypto; it was a turning point. The approval of spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum pushed digital assets deeper into mainstream finance, while the price of Bitcoin breaking $100,000 proved its growing importance in the global economy. Meanwhile, regulatory enforcement took center stage, reshaping how projects and individuals operate in this space. The emergence of on-chain treasuries and AI alliances hinted at a future where decentralization isn’t just about money, but intelligence and infrastructure.

As 2025 unfolds, the big question isn't whether crypto is here to stay — it's how deeply it will integrate into our everyday lives. Whether you're an investor, developer, or enthusiast, staying updated and agile is more important than ever. Let’s see what the next chapter brings.