Cryptocurrency Trends That Will Impact Your Business In 2025

The financial world has always been privy to innovation in transactional methods. What started off as barter eventually grew into the exchange of gold coins. That transitioned into paper notes that denoted a set specific value, which turned into paper notes that denoted any value it needed to (checks).

With the rise of digitalization came electronic transfers and online transactions. Coming up to present times, all these transactional methods were governed or backed by financial institutions that included the presence of governments and regulatory bodies.

That was until blockchain and cryptocurrency came into the picture. This technology enabled transactions to occur without the need for governments or regulatory bodies to be involved. As you can imagine, it was a big hit with people who didn’t want the government to be “all up in their business”.

Unfortunately, it’s extremely open and free nature also enabled it to be used for nefarious purposes, which called for some sort of control over its adoption, a much-needed move that brought the authorities back into the picture.

Essentially, the cryptocurrency sector is in its infancy and is still evolving as time progresses, which is why it’s important to stay ahead of the curve to gain the best advantage possible.

Last year we explored new trends in cryptocurrency while examining the Cryptocurrency Trends Of 2024 and found that the crypto winter had a lasting impact, while digital ownership of assets was revitalized by NFTs. The sector was taken by storm with the introduction of crypto ETFs as a renewed promise lay ahead with advances made in blockchain layer-2 solutions, all of which pointed in the direction of increased regulations that led to CBDCs (central bank digital currency).

Now, it’s time to explore what’s on the horizon of this revolutionary financial technology as we check out the Top Cryptocurrency Trends That Will Impact Your Business In 2025.
 

Trend 1: Sustainability and Green Initiatives Will Be A Prominent Focus

 
It’s time to save the planet!

One of the major drawbacks discovered about the cryptocurrency world was the amount of energy it took to keep it going. This raised numerous environmental concerns surrounding the technology, especially for Proof-of-Work (PoW) based cryptocurrencies AKA mining. While scaling, this process requires a large amount of energy as more miners join the network to verify the accuracy of new transactions that are added to a blockchain. This issue has even been raised by famous television show hosts, including being covered on Real Time with Bill Maher, where it was revealed that crypto companies consume 8% of the total energy used globally. Bill Maher said, “There’s the other big secret about crypto that nobody talks about ... All the progress that we’re making with green energy is being sucked away by crypto.”

Essentially, the vast amount of energy being used in such cryptocurrencies called for crypto exchanges to adopt more sustainable practices and moving into 2025, the emphasis on green initiatives, eco-friendly projects and sustainable practices is set to grow. This includes exploring renewable energy sources to support mining operations and pushing cryptocurrencies that offer lower environmental impacts. What’s important is that the industry itself recognized the need for change, which led to the introduction of numerous sustainable tools and infrastructure.

This includes numerous crypto companies acting on the 2021-signed Crypto Climate Accord (CCA) that aims to decarbonize the sector by 2040, starting with the emergence of 100% renewable energy-powered blockchains in 2025. The next step will push towards achieving net-zero emissions from power consumption by 2030. On an individual scale, companies such as Mara and Argo are bringing in technologies such as energy-efficient immersion cooling systems, while crypto platforms such as Cardano and Solana are specifically designed to consume less energy than traditional blockchains.

TechDogs’ Takeaway:
 

• Shift to eco-friendly blockchain networks, like Proof of Stake (PoS) or Layer 2 solutions, to reduce the carbon footprint of cryptocurrency transactions.

• Invest in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or hydropower for crypto mining operations to significantly lower environmental impact and attract eco-conscious investors.

• Partner with carbon offset programs or organizations to neutralize the environmental impact of cryptocurrency activities to attract stakeholders focused on environmental responsibility.

Trend 2: The Crypto Sector Will See Increased Regulation And Compliance Movement

 
It’s time to put up the guiding lights!

Another major concern within the crypto industry is regulation and compliance. We know what you’re thinking – that's the whole point, right? However, in the last year the cryptocurrency industry has seen various scams, leading to a lot of people losing a lot of money. It’s not really a new trend that regulatory authority agencies are entering the sector, but these developments reflect current trends in cryptocurrency that demand intensive compliance and regulation.

A report by iDenfy found that around $430 million was stolen in 50 attacks just in the first quarter of 2024, out of which 60% were of decentralized finance (DeFi) scams.

In the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has already stepped up its interest in the sector and is currently the most active regulatory body in the industry. Furthermore, the move has seen movement from the governments of UK, China, Canada, Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, Brazil and even the European Union (EU).

As such, this push will culminate in governments around the world developing comprehensive frameworks governing the operations of cryptocurrency companies and exchanges. This includes implementing Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols, with the aim of strengthening trust, confidence and genuineness in both institutional and retail investors.

In an interview with CNBC, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, said, “This is a field that’s been rife with fraud and manipulation. And look at all the bankruptcies. And you’ve had [on this set] people talking about those various bankruptcies, and it’s not just one entity. It’s entity after entity after entity, and then investors are just lining up in the bankruptcy court.”

TechDogs’ Takeaway:
 

• Develop clear, transparent regulatory guidelines to ensure they operate within the law while fostering trust among users and stakeholders and establishing transparent Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols.

• Adopt a global regulatory framework to help streamline compliance processes, reduce friction in cross-border transactions and enhance international adoption.

• Go-for blockchain-based compliance tools that simplify reporting, reduce manual errors and ensure regulatory adherence.

Trend 3: Cryptocurrency Will See A Larger Adoption By Businesses

 
It’s time businesses felt safe to adopt cryptocurrency!

As the industry welcomes stringent compliance and robust regulations, the confidence of businesses in cryptocurrencies will grow, prompting them to test cryptocurrency trends for broader adoption. As such, many major financial institutions are investing in cryptocurrencies and infusing digital assets into their portfolios and bringing in new financial products, along with a rise in liquidity, stability and credibility within the market, boosting the number of participants. A wide range of experts believe this move will result in a stronger connection with global economic systems in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key market trends cryptocurrency enthusiasts should monitor.

On the other end of the spectrum, crypto exchanges are welcoming institutional investors with open arms (metaphorically) and offering them customized products and services, including over-the-counter (OTC) trading, custodial solutions and advanced trading tools.

A report by KPMG finds that the exposure of institutional investors grew from 31% in 2021 to 39% in 2023. A major driving force in this regard is the recent SEC approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which came in the beginning of 2024, which even saw some of the world’s largest financial institutions such as BlackRock embrace Bitcoin and Ethereum and launch ETF products.

William Wang, Head of Investor Relations, Capital Markets at OSL, said, “We have seen a significant increase in interest due to regulatory clarity, crypto events – including Bitcoin’s halving – and capital inflows from ETFs, which represent the maturing and mainstream acceptance of digital assets.”

“In addition to this, institutions and even governments are looking more seriously at how to tokenize stocks, bonds and other assets using blockchain technology,” said Stephanie Vaughan, Co-founder of Veda. “In short, despite the regulatory hurdles faced in certain jurisdictions, overall the crypto ecosystem is poised to grow because of rising adoption from both retail and institutional users.”

TechDogs’ Takeaway:
 

• Implement blockchain technology to ensure transparent, tamper-proof transaction records, boosting customer trust and reducing fraud, while safeguarding sensitive business data and financial transactions.

• Consider using stablecoins pegged to traditional currencies to obtain a more predictable value, making it easier to manage cash flow and pricing strategies.

• Automate routine transactions and agreements with smart contracts, reducing operational costs and eliminating the need for intermediaries.

Trend 4: Crypto-based DeFi Services Will Enable A Bigger Financial Ecosystem

 
It’s time to supercharge the financial revolution!

With the added padding brought in by stronger compliance and regulations and an increase adoption by institutional and retail investors, there’s no question the decentralized financial revolution that began all those years ago is going to hit a new stride in the crypto market. In fact, some experts say the integration of new protocols and practices will inspire DeFi 2.0 – the second iteration of decentralized finance. This will come with enhanced financial capabilities across lending, borrowing and trading (still without intermediaries) and will enable efficiency, safety and user-friendly interfaces. It will expand its reach to include insurance, derivatives, physical assets and more.

To that point, crypto exchanges will increase the integration of DeFi services on their platforms, enabling increased access to a wider range of financial products and services directly from their accounts. This includes building cross-chain interoperability, where different chains can swap messages and tokens with each other, bringing users more freedom. Essentially, the decentralized finance industry will emphasize more on centralization and this fusion will offer a more comprehensive, inclusive and dynamic trading environment.

Many thought leaders believe the blend of DeFi technology with traditional financial approaches will drive the future of the entire financial industry. Stephanie Vaughan, Co-founder of Veda, believes cuts in interest rates by the Federal Reserve will result in a pool of capital that’s currently in money market funds being redirected to growth assets and sectors, such as the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
She validates by saying, “One of these sectors, I suspect, will be the emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) world. The Ethereum ecosystem is the leader when it comes to DeFi and I suspect that yield-generating opportunities within this ecosystem will become more and more attractive.”

TechDogs’ Takeaway:
 

• Enhance user experience with intuitive DeFi platforms by simplifying interfaces and making them more user-friendly allowing users to engage with cryptocurrency services without needing extensive technical knowledge.

• Support cross-chain functionality to enable users to move assets freely across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

• Ensure your systems and protocols support a wider range of tokens and networks to create a more fluid, connected DeFi experience.

Trend 5: The Intersection of AI, ML and Crypto Will Enhance The Financial Industry

 
It’s time to bring in the popular tech!

These days, you can’t talk about any digital technology without artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). It’s safe to say the evolution of cryptocurrency will include a major role for AI and ML technologies. AI can help cryptocurrency companies and exchanges enhance their cryptocurrency market trend analysis, refine algorithms, provide tailored recommendations to users and much more. AI-powered chatbots can even aid in customer support to boost overall user satisfaction and experience.

Ahead of this, AI tokens have taken the world by storm. AI tokens are cryptocurrencies that power AI projects, where users spend tokens to use AI-powered services, including portfolio management, image generation and more. These also hold a presence in blockchain protocols, decentralized web platforms and decentralized ML platforms. While these tokens can provide users with governance rights on such platforms, they also serve as means for platforms to pay users. Such is its rise, that in April 2023, the combined AI token market value was $2.7 billion, which ultimately rose to $39 billion in 2024.

The introduction of AI into the cryptocurrency market is fostering the growth of other technologies such as Web3. At the end of September 2024, Crypto.com, which has a customer base of over 100 million users, released the beta version of its AI Agent SDK (software development kit), which allows users to execute various functions such as creating new wallet addresses, execute transactions, etc. through natural language prompts.

Eric Anziani, President and COO of Crypto.com, said, “The power and potential of the integration of Web3 and Artificial Intelligence is massive. With the Crypto.com AI Agent SDK, we are harnessing that potential and giving users the ability to pursue and explore it – a truly collective and decentralized effort in unlocking that integrated power of Web3 and AI.”

TechDogs’ Takeaway:
 

• Use AI to manage blockchain scalability challenges by predicting network congestion and adjusting transaction processing, ensuring faster, more efficient transactions.

• Use machine learning algorithms to monitor transactions in real-time, identify patterns that signal fraudulent activities and enhance the security of cryptocurrency platforms.

• Analyze user behavior using AI to tailor experiences, enable 24/7 support for queries, assist with transactions and improve overall customer satisfaction with instant, accurate responses.

To Sum It Up

If you haven’t seen it, we suggest you make time to see In Time. Not because it’s going to have any effect on the cryptocurrency industry in any way but because it’s a unique take on FinTech, just like cryptocurrency. Although, the trends, techniques and technologies that will have an effect on cryptocurrency span sustainability and green initiatives, regulation and compliance, increased institutional adoption, a broader DeFi ecosystem and the coup de grace, artificial intelligence and machine learning.