Trump Prepares Sweeping Crypto Executive Order as EU’s DORA Regulation Takes Effect

January 17, 2025 marks a watershed moment for cryptocurrency regulation on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump is preparing an executive order that could fundamentally reshape how the federal government treats digital assets, while the European Union’s Digital Operational Resilience Act, known as DORA, officially enters full compliance across all 27 member states.

TL;DR

• President-elect Trump is drafting an executive order to make cryptocurrency a national priority
• The order includes creating a crypto advisory council and a national Bitcoin stockpile
• The EU’s DORA regulation takes full effect January 17, covering all financial entities including crypto firms
• Bitcoin trades above $104,000 as markets react to pro-crypto policy signals
• The regulatory divergence between the US and EU approach continues to widen

Trump’s Executive Order: A New Era for US Crypto Policy

The incoming Trump administration is signaling what could be the most dramatic shift in US cryptocurrency policy since the industry’s inception. According to multiple reports from CNBC and other outlets, the executive order being drafted seeks to elevate digital assets to a matter of national priority, establishing formal coordination between federal agencies and the private sector.

Central to the order is the creation of a crypto advisory council that would give industry leaders a direct voice in policy formulation — a stark contrast to the enforcement-heavy approach that characterized the SEC under Chair Gary Gensler during the Biden years. The initiative also reportedly includes provisions for a national Bitcoin stockpile, which would formalize the US government’s holdings of seized and otherwise acquired Bitcoin into a strategic reserve.

The order would align cryptocurrency with broader federal economic policy, encouraging collaboration between agencies like the Treasury Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. For an industry that has spent years navigating a patchwork of conflicting regulatory interpretations, the prospect of coordinated federal guidance represents a potential sea change.

DORA Arrives in Europe: Operational Resilience Becomes Law

While the United States charts a new course, the European Union is implementing one of the most comprehensive digital finance regulations ever conceived. The Digital Operational Resilience Act, or DORA, reached its full compliance deadline on January 17, 2025, after a two-year implementation window.

DORA applies to virtually all financial entities regulated under EU law — including banks, insurers, investment firms, and critically, crypto-asset service providers licensed under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, commonly known as MiCA. The regulation mandates strict information and communication technology risk management standards, incident reporting requirements, and third-party provider oversight.

For crypto firms operating in Europe, DORA means establishing formal frameworks for managing cyber risks, testing digital operational resilience through regular penetration testing, and maintaining detailed records of ICT-related incidents. The regulation also introduces stringent requirements for oversight of third-party technology providers, including cloud services that many crypto platforms rely on for their infrastructure.

A Tale of Two Regulatory Philosophies

The juxtaposition of these two regulatory developments highlights a growing divergence in how major economies approach digital asset governance. The United States, under incoming Trump leadership, appears to be pivoting toward an industry-friendly posture that prioritizes innovation and market development. The European Union, meanwhile, continues down a path of comprehensive legislative frameworks designed to embed crypto within existing financial regulatory architecture.

Neither approach is without trade-offs. The US strategy risks creating regulatory uncertainty through executive action that could be reversed by future administrations, while the EU’s methodical approach imposes significant compliance costs on smaller firms and startups. Both, however, signal that cryptocurrency has moved irreversibly into the mainstream of financial policy discourse.

Market Reaction and What Comes Next

Bitcoin trades at approximately $104,126 as of January 17, maintaining the momentum built throughout late 2024 when it first crossed the $100,000 threshold. Ethereum sits at $3,474, with traders eyeing a massive $2.17 billion in Bitcoin options and $602 million in Ethereum options expiring on the same day. The combination of regulatory clarity signals and options expiry creates a volatile but optimistic market environment.

For crypto businesses operating globally, the message is clear: regulatory compliance is no longer optional or aspirational — it is the baseline cost of participation. Whether through Trump’s executive order or the EU’s DORA framework, governments are establishing formal channels for digital asset governance, and the industry must adapt accordingly.

Why This Matters

January 17, 2025 may well be remembered as the day cryptocurrency regulation came of age. With the world’s largest economy signaling a pro-crypto pivot and the world’s largest trading bloc implementing comprehensive digital finance rules, the industry faces both unprecedented opportunity and unprecedented accountability. The days of operating in a regulatory gray zone are ending — and the firms that embrace compliance early will be best positioned to thrive in this new landscape.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Regulatory landscapes evolve rapidly; consult qualified professionals for guidance specific to your situation.