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Welcome to Tap’s weekly crypto market recap.
Here are the biggest stories from last week (8 - 14 July).
💥 Bitcoin breaks new ATH
Bitcoin officially hit above $122,000 marking its first record since May and pushing total 2025 gains to around +20% YTD. The rally was driven by heavy inflows into U.S. spot ETFs, over $218m into BTC and $211m into ETH in a single day, while nearly all top 100 coins turned green.
📌 Trump Media files for “Crypto Blue‑Chip ETF”
Trump Media & Technology Group has submitted an S‑1 to the SEC for a new “Crypto Blue Chip ETF” focused primarily on BTC (70%), ETH (15%), SOL (8%), XRP (5%), and CRO (2%), marking its third crypto ETF push this year.
A major political/media player launching a multi-asset crypto fund signals growing mainstream and institutional acceptance, and sparks fresh conflict-of-interest questions. We’ll keep you updated.
🌍 Pakistan launches CBDC pilot & virtual‑asset regulation
The State Bank of Pakistan has initiated a pilot for a central bank digital currency and is finalising virtual-asset laws, with Binance CEO CZ advising government efforts. With inflation at just 3.2% and rising foreign reserves (~$14.5b), Pakistan is embracing fintech ahead of emerging-market peers like India.
🛫 Emirates Airline to accept crypto payments
Dubai’s Emirates signed a preliminary partnership with Crypto.com to enable crypto payments starting in 2026, deepening the Gulf’s commitment to crypto-friendly infrastructure.
*Not to take away from the adoption excitement, but you can book Emirates flights with your Tap card, using whichever crypto you like.
🏛️ U.S. declares next week “Crypto Week”
House Republicans have designated 14-18 July as “Crypto Week,” aiming for votes on GENIUS (stablecoin oversight), CLARITY (jurisdiction clarity), and Anti‑CBDC bills. The idea is that these bills could reshape how U.S. defines crypto regulation and limit federal CBDC initiatives under Trump-aligned priorities.
Stay tuned for next week’s instalment, delivered on Monday mornings.
You may have heard of bear and bull markets; both referring to economic conditions within a market. Think about how a bull attacks, lifting you up with its horns.
A bull market or bullish market describes a condition within a financial market where the prices are rising or are expected to rise. The term "bull market" is most often used to refer to a financial market but refers as well to any asset that is tradable such as bonds, real estate, commodities, and currencies. Bull markets indicate investor confidence, optimism, and expectations that strong results will continue for an extended period of time.
There are two ways to What is a Bull Market?
A bull market refers to a financial market condition in which the prices of securities or assets are rising or expected to rise over an extended period. In a bull market, investors are optimistic about the future prospects of the market and are willing to buy securities, pushing prices higher.
Bull markets are often associated with economic growth, strong corporate earnings, and low unemployment rates. In these conditions, investors are confident that businesses will continue to perform well and that the overall economy will continue to expand, leading to higher stock prices.
Recognizing a Bull Market
To recognize a bull market, investors need to look for a sustained period of rising prices across the market or a specific asset class. This period can last anywhere from a few months to several years.
Another way to recognize a bull market is through technical analysis. Technical analysts look at charts and other market indicators to identify patterns that signal a market trend. In a bull market, technical analysts may look for higher highs and higher lows in price movements over time.
Impact of a Bull Market
A bull market can have a significant impact on the economy, businesses, and investors. When the stock market is performing well, businesses may have easier access to capital and credit, which can lead to increased investment and growth.
A bull market can also lead to increased consumer confidence, as investors feel more optimistic about the economy and their financial futures. This can lead to higher consumer spending, which can, in turn, fuel economic growth.
On the other hand, a prolonged bull market can lead to a market bubble, where prices become overinflated and unsustainable. This can lead to a market correction, where prices drop significantly, and investors may suffer losses.
In conclusion
Bull markets can have a significant impact on the economy, businesses, and investors. Recognizing a bull market and understanding its impact can help investors make more informed investment decisions. However, it's essential to remain vigilant and avoid investing solely based on market trends, as market bubbles can lead to significant losses.
approach a bull market: selling stock for high profits or holding in hopes of rising prices in the future. Alternatively, you can also buy more assets, but most would not recommend buying on a high.
In market terminology, a bull market is a period of generally rising prices and investor optimism. The term "bull market" comes from the market that rises steadily and consistently like a healthy bull. A bear market is the opposite: It refers to a condition when prices are falling and investors are pessimistic about future market value. Historical market cycles are well defined and provide a good understanding of market trends.
It's all about cycles
The market cycle helps investors to know whether they should invest or hold back their crypto coins. To avoid making wrong market choices, investors should know market cycles so they can decide whether the crypto market is on the rise or not.
The market cycle helps people to know when the market is already booming and ready to take a plunge. This helps traders to decide which crypto coin to buy at its lowest value, hold it until market bull cycle and then sell it to make a very good profit.
The Bull Market:
A Bull market is a long run of increasing prices and investor optimism where buyers outnumber sellers. As the market bull cycle goes on, more investors will see the market as their opportunity to buy low and sell high. The result is a market cycle that is not as steep as it had previously been.
The Bear Market:
A Bear market is the opposite of a Bull market where prices are falling and investors have low expectations for future market values. The market cycles are frequently broken up into bull markets and bear markets. This market cycle happens when market prices fall and investors sell their coins, this causes market prices to drop even more until the trend reverses.
The case of the Dead/flat market
A Dead market is a term used to describe a period of time where there is not much movement in either direction but it is not a market downturn by any means. This market cycle can occur after prolonged market cycles such as bull (rising trend market) and bear (falling trend market).
The market is not a straight line, it goes up and down so even though the market has gone on for a considerable time without any market fluctuation, market volatility will eventually return.
The market can be dead for a long time but it could cause worry within investors so they should know where market cycles stand.
Since market cycles are consistent it is better to be ready for market volatility, this will help you make informed market decisions when market cycles return.
In conclusion: the market cycle is a repeating market trend that describes market fluctuations over time. When market prices increase, it is called a bull market; when prices fall, it's called a bear market. Knowledge of market cycles is an important asset for investors in the crypto market as the knowledge of swings, downturns and upturns can help make better-informed decisions with investing in cryptocurrencies.
It's 2025 and you've decided to get involved in the crypto industry and find out what the fuss is all about. You've made a smart choice, and we're pleased to welcome you. In this step-by-step guide, we'll be showing you a simple overview of how to complete the following:
- Create an account
- Deposit funds
- Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum or any other cryptocurrency
- Sell a cryptocurrency
- Withdrawal funds
Investing in digital currencies can feel daunting at first, but once you've made your first purchase, transaction, or sale, you'll see that using cryptocurrencies is simpler than expected. Be sure to keep an eye on market prices, as volatility in the crypto industry can go through waves, and educate yourself on the coins that you wish to purchase. Whether you're a trader/investor in the UK, EU, EEA, or USA, everyone can gain access to the crypto markets through the Tap mobile app.
In this article, we're going to show you the ropes, guide you through the process and explain step-by-step how to gain the skills to successfully operate in the crypto space and increase your investment portfolio. No previous trading experience is necessary (stocks or crypto).
Step 1: create an account
The first and most important decision to make before buying cryptocurrencies is determining where to buy them from. With plenty of options available on the market and plenty more news stories about them, it's imperative that you select a trustworthy and reliable source.
The Tap mobile app ticks these boxes and proves so by being licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. The platform has over 300,000 registered users, at the time of writing, operates in 28 countries across the globe, and has been nominated multiple times for PAY360 Awards (previously the Emerging Payments Awards).
To create an account on Tap, simply follow these steps:
- Download the Tap mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play store.
- Create an account by filling in the relevant information. If you make a mistake, simply go back and alter it before moving to the next step.
- Once the account is set up you will be asked to complete the KYC / identity verification process. Simply follow the onscreen prompts and submit the required information.
- You will receive an email confirmation once your account is all set up.
Step 2: deposit funds
In order to buy cryptocurrency through the Tap app, you will need to deposit funds. This can be done in both crypto and fiat currencies, however, we will focus on the fiat deposits today.
- Select the Cash option in the top horizontal menu.
- Select the fiat currency you would like to deposit, your options are US dollars, Pound Sterling, or Euros.
- We're selecting GBP, then select one of the options: deposit or debit card top-up.
- Fill in the relevant information and perform the transaction.
- Once the funds have cleared they will appear in the relevant Cash wallet.
Step 3: Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other cryptocurrency
Now for the exciting part! It's time to buy digital currency. For the sake of this tutorial, we're going to show you how to buy Bitcoin, however, the process is consistent across all cryptocurrencies.
- In the top horizontal menu, select Cryptocurrencies.
- Choose the cryptocurrency you would like to purchase.
- Once in the crypto wallet, select the blue Buy button.
- You'll be given the option to decide how to pay, simply scroll to the bottom and select Pound Sterling (or the crypto or fiat currency that you deposited).
- Enter the amount that you would like to purchase.
- Select the Execute Trade button.
- Once the transaction is completed, the funds will appear in your Bitcoin wallet.
Step 4: Sell A Cryptocurrency
Now that you're familiar with how to buy crypto, it's high time you learned how to sell.
- To sell Bitcoin (or any other cryptocurrency), go to the relevant wallet in the Crypto section.
- Select the blue Sell button.
- From here you can decide whether you'd like to sell the cryptocurrency for another cryptocurrency or for a fiat currency. In this example, we'll sell BTC for GBP.
- Select the Pound Sterling option and enter the amount of BTC you'd like to sell.
- Proceed with the Execute Trade button.
- The funds will then be available in your Cash GBP wallet.
Step 5: Withdrawal Funds
Completing the final process in this step-by-step guide, we're going to explain how to withdraw funds. You have several options here as the Tap app allows users to withdraw funds directly into their bank account, instantly send funds to other Tap users, or withdraw cryptocurrencies.
- In the top horizontal menu, select Cash.
- Choose the Withdraw button, located underneath your balance.
- Select the option most preferable to you: Instant, to a Tap user; bank transfer; Crypto withdrawal.
- Follow the relevant instructions and select Execute Trade once complete.
Tap into a brighter future with crypto
On top of the simple and easy-to-use app, Tap also offers highly secure wallet solutions that are integrated into your account from the get-go. With Tap, you can securely store and manage a wide range of cryptocurrencies from one convenient location, and even more easily spend them using the Tap card.
Bitcoin 101
Here are several frequently asked questions regarding Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency to come into existence.
Dans le monde en constante évolution des cryptomonnaies, les investisseurs recherchent des plateformes fiables, simples à utiliser et riches en fonctionnalités. Si les plateformes d’échange crypto se multiplient, il peut être difficile de s’y retrouver. Tap et les exchanges traditionnels proposent tous deux d’échanger des cryptos, mais leur approche et leurs services diffèrent largement. Voici 6 différences essentielles qui font de Tap une alternative unique.
Une plateforme tout-en-un
Tap ne se limite pas à l’achat et à la vente de cryptos. C’est une plateforme complète qui combine services crypto et services financiers classiques dans un seul compte. Vous pouvez détenir, convertir et gérer vos cryptos et vos devises fiat depuis le même espace, sans passer par d'autres applications. À l’inverse, les exchanges classiques se concentrent uniquement sur la crypto, obligeant souvent les utilisateurs à jongler entre plusieurs plateformes pour leurs opérations en euros, livres ou dollars.
Une interface pensée pour tous
Tap a été conçu pour être simple à utiliser, que vous soyez débutant ou trader expérimenté. L’interface est fluide, claire et intuitive, avec des données en temps réel, des ressources éducatives et des outils pour suivre les tendances du marché et prendre des décisions éclairées. Beaucoup de plateformes classiques, en revanche, peuvent sembler complexes ou techniques pour les nouveaux venus.
Conversion instantanée fiat-crypto
Avec Tap, vous pouvez convertir instantanément vos euros ou livres en cryptos (et inversement), à des taux compétitifs, sans frais cachés ni étapes intermédiaires. Fini les délais d’attente ou les processus longs : vous agissez immédiatement, et saisissez les opportunités du marché en temps réel. Les plateformes traditionnelles, elles, exigent souvent des dépôts, des vérifications et des délais avant de pouvoir passer un ordre.
Une large sélection de cryptos
Tap propose plus de 50 cryptomonnaies, dont Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), et bien d’autres. De nouvelles cryptos sont régulièrement ajoutées pour que vous puissiez diversifier facilement votre portefeuille. À l’inverse, certaines plateformes crypto classiques offrent une sélection plus restreinte, ce qui limite vos options d’investissement.
Des échanges sans limite de paires
Tap vous permet d’échanger directement n’importe quelle crypto contre une autre, sans restriction de paires. Vous n’avez pas besoin de passer par un token intermédiaire ou de transférer vos fonds vers une autre plateforme. C’est simple, rapide et beaucoup plus flexible que les exchanges traditionnels, qui imposent souvent des paires limitées.
Sécurité renforcée et conformité réglementaire
Tap est une institution financière régulée et applique des normes strictes de sécurité et de protection des données. Authentification à deux facteurs, cryptage avancé, conformité aux réglementations : votre compte et vos fonds sont entre de bonnes mains. Ce niveau de sécurité n’est pas toujours garanti sur les plateformes classiques, qui peuvent présenter des risques pour les utilisateurs.
Conclusion
Tap se démarque des plateformes crypto traditionnelles grâce à son approche tout-en-un, son expérience utilisateur intuitive, ses conversions instantanées, son offre crypto étendue et sa sécurité de haut niveau. Que vous soyez novice ou trader confirmé, Tap vous propose une solution moderne, fiable et complète pour gérer vos actifs numériques aux côtés de vos devises classiques.
La manipulation de marché désigne toute tentative d’interférer avec le bon fonctionnement des marchés financiers. Si le sujet est devenu plus courant avec l’explosion des cryptomonnaies, ces pratiques restent illégales et sont considérées comme des fraudes. Et elles ne sont pas propres au marché crypto : la manipulation de marché existe aussi sur les marchés boursiers traditionnels.
Il existe plusieurs méthodes pour manipuler un marché, comme falsifier des données pour attirer des investisseurs et gonfler artificiellement la valeur d’un actif. Dans le monde des cryptos, l’une des pratiques les plus répandues est le pump and dump. Voici ce qu’il faut savoir.
C’est quoi un schéma pump and dump ?
Le terme “pump and dump” remonte aux années 1990, lorsqu’un courtier du nom de Stratton Oakmont avait artificiellement gonflé la valeur de certaines actions. Grâce à des déclarations trompeuses, il créait un engouement autour de ses titres, pour ensuite les revendre à un prix bien plus élevé, empochant de jolis bénéfices.
Depuis, la pratique s’est répandue, notamment dans le secteur des cryptomonnaies. John McAfee, créateur du célèbre antivirus, a largement popularisé les pump & dumps dans l’univers crypto. Il animait des groupes privés où les membres décidaient d’investir massivement sur une crypto peu connue, faisant grimper son prix, avant de tout revendre une fois que d'autres investisseurs se laissaient tenter. Résultat : les nouveaux venus achetaient au sommet, pendant que les initiés empochaient les gains.
Est-ce que les pump and dumps sont des arnaques ?
Oui, dans la plupart des cas. Ces schémas profitent uniquement à ceux qui sont dans la confidence. Même certains membres du groupe peuvent perdre de l’argent s’ils n’agissent pas assez vite. Dans la finance traditionnelle, ces pratiques sont sévèrement sanctionnées.
Combien de temps dure un pump and dump ?
Cela dépend des règles fixées par le groupe : certains durent quelques minutes, d’autres plusieurs heures. Le timing est souvent millimétré et coordonné entre les participants.
Est-ce légal ?
Dans le secteur financier classique, les pump & dumps sont illégaux. Aux États-Unis, cela peut valoir jusqu’à 5 ans de prison et/ou une amende de 250 000 dollars. Mais dans l’univers crypto, la réglementation est encore floue, voire inexistante dans de nombreux pays. C’est pourquoi ces pratiques continuent de proliférer.
Il est clair que les cryptomonnaies manquent encore de cadres réglementaires stricts. Même si ce n’est pas illégal, c’est clairement contraire à l’éthique.
Est-ce que le Bitcoin a été concerné par un pump & dump ?
Non. Bien que le Bitcoin soit volatil, il n’a jamais été impliqué dans ce type de schéma. Sa capitalisation est trop importante pour qu’un groupe d’investisseurs puisse manipuler son prix de manière significative.
Quelles cryptos sont concernées ?
En général, les pump and dumps visent des tokens à faible capitalisation (low-cap), car leur cours est plus facile à manipuler. Cela dit, aucune crypto n’est totalement à l’abri.
Conclusion
Les groupes de pump and dump soulèvent de nombreuses problématiques dans l’écosystème crypto. Bien qu’ils puissent rapporter gros à certains, ils causent aussi de lourdes pertes pour ceux qui arrivent trop tard.
Même si la réglementation crypto évolue, ces pratiques restent très présentes aujourd’hui. Il est essentiel de savoir les identifier et de ne pas céder à la panique ou à la peur de rater une opportunité. Comme toujours dans l’univers des cryptos : faites vos propres recherches, et investissez prudemment.
