Momentum and Markets

Katie Randall

Hey everyone, welcome back to Full Court Crypto! I’m Katie Randall, and I’m here with my co-host, the one and only Crypto-Dan. Dan, how’s it going?

Crypto-Dan

Hey Katie! Doing well, though my knees are still mad at me for thinking I could play pickup last weekend. But I’m pumped for today—so much happening in the WNBA and the crypto world, it’s wild.

Katie Randall

Yeah, it’s been a crazy start to the WNBA season. I mean, the New York Liberty are just... unstoppable right now. Nine and oh, even with Jonquel Jones dealing with that ankle injury. And the Lynx are right there too, nine and one. It’s like, every time you check the standings, those two are just pulling away.

Crypto-Dan

Totally. And the Liberty, they’re doing it with grit. Like, they lose Jones, but then Nyara Sabally comes back and suddenly their depth looks solid again. I gotta say, I didn’t expect them to be this resilient, especially with all the injuries piling up.

Katie Randall

Right? And it’s not just the big names. Atlanta’s making some noise, Phoenix is scrappy, and Seattle just pulled off that upset in the Commissioner’s Cup. But, I mean, Napheesa Collier—she’s on another level. Western Conference Player of the Month, almost 27 points a game, nearly eight boards. She’s carrying the Lynx.

Crypto-Dan

She’s a machine. And then you’ve got Angel Reese, who’s just a rebounding monster. She’s putting up numbers that, I think, only Moses Malone matched as a rookie? But, uh, she’s also in the middle of that feud with Kahleah Copper. I don’t know, I kinda love the drama. It’s good for the league, right?

Katie Randall

Oh, for sure. I mean, a little rivalry never hurt anyone. And honestly, I respect Reese for backing it up on the court. But, speaking of injuries, I gotta say, watching Jonquel Jones try to play through that ankle sprain—man, it takes me back. I had a high ankle sprain in college, and I tried to tough it out. It’s brutal. You think you’re fine, then you try to push off and your whole leg just says, “Nope.”

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, I remember those days. I mean, not the pitching part, but I tried to play through a sprained knee once. Didn’t end well. But it’s wild how these athletes just keep grinding. Tyasha Harris is out for the season, but teams just keep adapting. That’s what makes this league so fun to watch.

Katie Randall

Absolutely. And with all these storylines, it feels like every week there’s a new headline. But let’s talk about what’s happening off the court, too.

Katie Randall

So, All-Star voting just launched, and I love what the league’s doing this year. They’ve got these “2-for-1” voting days, and the Line ’Em Up initiative—painting orange 3-point lines in parks. It’s such a cool way to get fans, especially kids, involved. I wish they’d had that when I was growing up.

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, it’s awesome. I saw a park near me with the orange line, and there were like, a bunch of kids arguing about who could hit from “WNBA range.” It’s smart. And with All-Star voting, it’s not just about the stars—it’s about the fans having a real say. Reminds me of, well, honestly, the way crypto communities rally around a project when the market’s wild. Like, everyone’s got a voice, and sometimes it actually moves the needle.

Katie Randall

That’s a good point. The energy is similar. And speaking of energy, Caitlin Clark is coming back for the Fever, and you can just feel the buzz. Indiana fans are ready to explode. I mean, if she gets hot, they could actually challenge the Liberty. Maybe. I mean, I wouldn’t bet my Bitcoin on it, but you never know.

Crypto-Dan

Ha! I wouldn’t either, but I love the optimism. And you know, these big matchups—Storm versus Golden State, Sky versus Dream, Aces versus Sparks—they’re all about momentum. It’s like in crypto: one big move, and suddenly everyone’s paying attention. The league’s doing a great job keeping fans engaged, both in person and online.

Katie Randall

Yeah, and the social media feuds, the highlight reels, the voting—there’s just so many ways for fans to get involved now. It’s not just about watching the games, it’s about being part of the story. And honestly, that’s what keeps me coming back, both as a fan and as someone who’s invested in these players’ futures.

Crypto-Dan

Exactly. And, uh, speaking of futures, the crypto market’s been a rollercoaster lately. Should we dive in?

Crypto-Dan

Let’s do it. So, global tensions—like the whole Israel-Iran thing—sparked a big crypto sell-off. Bitcoin dropped below $104K, and there was over a billion in liquidations. Almost every major coin took a hit, except for TON. That one actually surged, up over 4% on strong volume, broke through resistance, and held most of its gains. I mean, it’s rare to see that kind of outlier when everything else is red.

Katie Randall

Yeah, TON’s been on a tear. I saw it consolidated around $3.35 after the rally, but the uptrend’s still there. Meanwhile, the rest of the market’s just... turbulence. And it’s not just prices—there’s a lot happening on the policy side, too. The U.S. is pushing the GENIUS Act for stablecoins, and there’s talk of a national Bitcoin reserve. Trump even called himself the “crypto president” at the Coinbase Summit, which, I mean, that’s a whole thing.

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, and Brazil just dropped a bombshell—no more tax exemptions for small crypto investors. Now it’s a flat 17.5% tax on all gains, no matter how much you trade. It actually helps big traders, but for regular folks, it’s a new headache. Plus, they’re taxing offshore wallets and tightening up on reporting. It’s a big shift, and I think we’ll see more countries follow suit.

Katie Randall

Definitely. And on the tech side, Stripe just acquired Privy for noncustodial wallets. That’s a big deal for Web3 infrastructure. It means more ways for people to actually own their assets, not just trust a third party. I think about athletes—like, if you’re a player, you want control over your brand, your collectibles, your money. This kind of tech makes that possible. It’s not just about speculation, it’s about empowerment.

Crypto-Dan

Yeah, and with Circle launching USDC on the XRP Ledger, stablecoins are getting more accessible and faster to use. That’s huge for cross-border payments, and it’s all happening right as Walmart and Amazon are looking at their own stablecoins. The infrastructure is finally catching up to the hype, I think.

Katie Randall

For sure. And with all these policy moves—the GENIUS Act, Brazil’s new tax, the U.S. talking about a Bitcoin reserve—it feels like we’re at a turning point. The market’s volatile, but the foundation is getting stronger. It’s like, yeah, there are bumps, but the road’s getting paved.

Crypto-Dan

Couldn’t have said it better. Alright, I think that’s a good place to wrap for today. Liberty and Lynx are rolling, new stars are emerging, fans are more involved than ever, and crypto’s wild but building for the long haul.

Katie Randall

Yeah, and don’t forget—All-Star voting is open, so go support your favorite players. And if you’re in the markets, stay safe out there. We’ll be back next week to break down the post-All-Star action and the latest on crypto regulation. Dan, always a pleasure.

Crypto-Dan

Always, Katie. Thanks everyone for listening to Full Court Crypto. Catch you next time!

Katie Randall

Bye guys!