From Crypto Hype to Market Pain: BTC, ETH and XRP Since Trump Took Office
When Donald Trump returned to the White House on 20 January 2025, many crypto investors expected a new golden era for digital assets.
Trump had branded himself as a pro-crypto president. The market was excited. Bitcoin had already surged above $100,000. Ethereum was trading above $3,000. XRP was also enjoying one of its strongest rallies in years.
But the market has not gone the way many people expected.
Since Trump took office, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP have all fallen sharply from their inauguration-day prices. The biggest loser among the three has been XRP, followed by Ethereum, then Bitcoin.
How Much Have BTC, ETH, and XRP Dropped Since Trump Took Office?
Using CoinMarketCap’s historical price snapshot from 20 January 2025 and current market prices, here is how much the three major cryptocurrencies have fallen.
| Crypto | Price on 20 Jan 2025 | Current Price | Approx. Drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $102,016.66 | $61,668 | 39.6% |
| Ethereum | $3,278.04 | $1,618.02 | 50.6% |
| XRP | $3.0998 | $1.13 | 63.5% |
This means a person who bought $1,000 worth of each asset on Trump’s inauguration day would now be sitting on a much smaller position.
A $1,000 Bitcoin investment would be worth about $604.
A $1,000 Ethereum investment would be worth about $494.
A $1,000 XRP investment would be worth about $365.
That is a painful reminder that political optimism does not always protect crypto prices.
Bitcoin Is Down Nearly 40%
Bitcoin was one of the biggest winners after Trump’s election victory. The idea of a pro-crypto White House helped push BTC above $100,000 before and around inauguration day.
On 20 January 2025, Bitcoin was trading at about $102,016.66, according to CoinMarketCap’s historical snapshot. Today, it is trading around $61,668.
That puts Bitcoin down about 39.6% from Trump’s first day back in office.
For a coin often seen as the strongest and safest crypto asset, this is still a major drop. However, compared to Ethereum and XRP, Bitcoin has held up better.
One reason is simple: Bitcoin remains the most established crypto asset. It has the largest market cap, the strongest institutional brand, and the clearest “digital gold” narrative.
But even Bitcoin has not escaped the wider market weakness.
Ethereum Has Lost More Than Half Its Value
Ethereum has had a much harder time.
On 20 January 2025, ETH was trading at about $3,278.04. Today, it is around $1,618.02. That is a drop of about 50.6%.
This means Ethereum has lost more than half of its inauguration-day value.
That is important because Ethereum is not just a coin. It is the foundation for many parts of the crypto economy, including DeFi, NFTs, tokenized assets, stablecoin activity, and many layer-2 networks.
When ETH falls this much, it affects the wider Web3 ecosystem. It can reduce confidence, slow risk-taking, and make investors more careful with altcoins.
Ethereum’s drop also shows that strong technology does not always mean strong price performance. A blockchain can still be useful while its token struggles in the market.
Ethereum Has Lost More Than Half Its Value
Ethereum has had a much harder time.
On 20 January 2025, ETH was trading at about $3,278.04. Today, it is around $1,618.02. That is a drop of about 50.6%.
This means Ethereum has lost more than half of its inauguration-day value.
That is important because Ethereum is not just a coin. It is the foundation for many parts of the crypto economy, including DeFi, NFTs, tokenized assets, stablecoin activity, and many layer-2 networks.
When ETH falls this much, it affects the wider Web3 ecosystem. It can reduce confidence, slow risk-taking, and make investors more careful with altcoins.
Ethereum’s drop also shows that strong technology does not always mean strong price performance. A blockchain can still be useful while its token struggles in the market.
Why Did Crypto Fall Under a Pro-Crypto President?
At first, it may seem strange.
If Trump is seen as a “crypto president,” why are major crypto assets down so much?
The answer is that crypto prices are not controlled by one person or one government. Political support can help sentiment, but it cannot remove market risk.
Several factors can still push prices lower.
1. The Market May Have Priced In the Good News Early
Crypto often moves before big events happen.
By the time Trump took office, many investors had already bought the rumor. Bitcoin had already surged. XRP had already rallied. Ethereum was still trading at a strong level.
So when the political event finally arrived, some traders may have taken profits.
This is a common market pattern. Prices rise on expectations, then fall when reality arrives.
2. Policy Takes Time
Trump’s administration was expected to reduce crypto regulatory pressure and support digital asset innovation.
But regulation does not change overnight.
Even if a government is friendly to crypto, new laws, agency rules, bank policies, and market structures take time to develop. Investors who expected instant results may have been disappointed.
This matters because markets often react faster than policy.
3. Crypto Is Still a Risk Asset
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP may have different use cases, but they are still treated as risk assets by many investors.
When traders become nervous, they often sell crypto first. This can happen because of interest rates, liquidity problems, macroeconomic fears, leverage, or broader market uncertainty.
So even with a pro-crypto president, crypto can still dump if investors reduce risk.
4. Hype Can Create Dangerous Entry Points
The phrase “crypto president” created excitement.
But excitement can also make people buy near the top.
Many retail investors entered the market when optimism was already high. That made the downside more painful when prices started falling.
This is why beginners should be careful when a market narrative becomes too popular. When everyone is excited, the easy money may already have been made.
Blockwisely Take
The “crypto president” narrative was powerful, but it was not enough to protect the market.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP all show the same lesson in different ways.
Bitcoin has dropped hard, but it has held up better than ETH and XRP. That shows its stronger position as the leading crypto asset.
Ethereum’s decline is more worrying because ETH supports a huge part of Web3 activity. If ETH remains weak, it could affect confidence across DeFi and layer-2 ecosystems.
XRP’s fall is the sharpest reminder that strong narratives can still reverse badly. A coin can have legal wins, community support, and institutional hopes, but price still depends on demand, liquidity, and timing.
For Blockwisely readers, the message is clear: do not confuse political support with guaranteed profits. Crypto policy matters, but entry price matters too.
FAQ
When did Trump take office?
Donald Trump took office for his second term on 20 January 2025.
How much has Bitcoin fallen since Trump took office?
Bitcoin has fallen by about 39.6% from its 20 January 2025 price of about $102,016.66 to around $61,668.
How much has Ethereum fallen since Trump took office?
Ethereum has fallen by about 50.6% from about $3,278.04 to around $1,618.02.
How much has XRP fallen since Trump took office?
XRP has fallen by about 63.5% from about $3.0998 to around $1.13.
Why did crypto fall if Trump is pro-crypto?
Crypto fell because prices depend on more than politics. Investor sentiment, profit-taking, macro conditions, leverage, liquidity, and delayed policy changes can all affect the market.
Is this the end of the crypto bull market?
Not necessarily. Crypto markets can recover quickly, but investors should avoid assuming that any political event guarantees higher prices.
Which coin performed worst since Trump took office?
Among BTC, ETH, and XRP, XRP has performed the worst, falling by about 63.5%.
