1. Regulation & Policy
The U.S. government, especially through agencies like the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission), and Treasury Department, influences crypto through:
Classification: Whether a crypto is considered a security, commodity, or currency matters for how it's regulated.
Crackdowns or lawsuits: When the SEC sues major exchanges like Binance or Coinbase, the entire market feels it.
Stablecoin scrutiny: Regulation of stablecoins like USDT or USDC affects liquidity in crypto markets.
Example: In 2023, the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple (XRP) and later Coinbase caused big market reactions.
2. Monetary Policy (Federal Reserve)
When the **Fed raises interest