Signs of Progress and Market Reaction
After 40 days of political deadlock, signs that the U.S. government shutdown may soon be over are bringing visible relief to investors. Weeks of stalled operations and uncertainty had dampened confidence across markets, but optimism is now slowly returning. With expectations rising that normal government activity will resume, investors are beginning to rebuild their exposure to digital assets.
The Senate advanced efforts to end the shutdown on Sunday by moving forward with a procedural vote to reopen the government. In the midst of this, President Donald Trump signaled that the shutdown is approaching its end, adding to growing optimism. A final post-cloture vote is scheduled for Monday, and even before the outcome, there are clear signs of progress.
In the past 24 hours, major cryptocurrencies have shown notable gains amid growing optimism, while gold has also seen strong movement:
- •Bitcoin has risen just over 1%, with Ethereum showing a similar gain.
- •XRP surged 9%, while Solana increased by about 2% over the same period.
- •The total value of the global cryptocurrency market grew nearly 2% in a single day.
- •The positive sentiment extended to gold, which rallied sharply, with futures climbing more than $100 per ounce, according to The Kobeissi Letter.
The improving outlook has drawn attention to how the shutdown affected market activity. Nicolai Sondergaard, a research analyst at Nansen, offered insight into the situation, explaining that the suspension of government operations left investors without crucial economic data and policy updates. He noted that the return of these regular reports would give markets a clearer view of the economic situation after weeks of limited information.
Renewed Momentum in Major Cryptocurrencies
Data from blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant showed renewed institutional activity in the Ethereum market. The company’s spot order size figures show an increase in larger transactions, suggesting that bigger players may be re-entering. It added that if Ethereum holds above the $3,000 to $3,400 range, the asset could be entering a period of low volatility and gradual accumulation.
For Bitcoin, market strategist Michaël van de Poppe observed that the asset is approaching a crucial resistance level. He suggested that an official end to the shutdown could serve as a turning point, helping the broader market shift toward a more bullish trend. Van de Poppe indicated that if Bitcoin breaks through the $110,000 mark, it could trigger further upward movement toward its previous record highs.
Anticipation for Crypto ETF Approvals
The expected end of the shutdown is also raising anticipation in the exchange-traded fund (ETF) space. With government operations resuming, regulators are likely to restart the review of numerous pending cryptocurrency ETF applications. Industry observer Nate Geraci noted that the reopening could trigger a wave of approvals, including the potential debut of the first spot XRP ETF—filed under the Securities Act of 1933—soon.
Currently, at least sixteen cryptocurrency ETF proposals remain pending. Their review processes were suspended during the shutdown when regulatory agencies halted most non-essential activities. With operations on hold, issuers and investors were left waiting for updates. The return of staff and routine procedures will enable those assessments to continue, possibly paving the way for new investment products to enter the market.