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Robinhood popped off in 2024, Bitcoin Mining is creating jobs, and Javier Milei is in hot water
Matthew Ruley
February 19, 2025
From the second we got into crypto, we knew it was the future of finance.
As we continued to dig deeper and explored FinTech, we began to understand what new, disruptive companies could do.
Robinhood is pushing all the financial boundaries and is nowhere near done. Let’s get after it.
From the Dypto Crypto Newsroom
TLDR
Robinhood’s revenue mooned in Q4
Crypto trading brought in more than $350 million in revenue.
Total revenue for 2024 hit the $1 billion mark.
Robinhood is making waves in the financial world yet again. Its fourth-quarter earnings report has crypto enthusiasts and investors alike taking notice, as cryptocurrency revenue for the platform surged an eye-popping 700% year-on-year.
Why this matters.
Robinhood’s explosive crypto revenue growth clearly indicates how much appetite exists for accessible, beginner-friendly crypto trading platforms.
For new crypto users, Robinhood presents itself as a gateway to the crypto universe. Its ongoing developments — like tokenization and staking — hint at a service that could eventually cater to both beginners who want simplicity and seasoned traders who want diversification.
Robinhood isn’t a trading app for retail noobs anymore. it’s positioning itself as a major player in the future of crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi) and as finance as a whole.
Bitcoin Mining Generated 31K Jobs in the US
TLDR
According to a report from the Perryman Group, Bitcoin mining created over 30 thousand jobs in the US.
Texas leads the way, which is not surprising, as it has always been the most progressive state when it comes to Bitcoin mining.
Texas created over 12 thousand jobs on its own.
When you think about Bitcoin, job creation might not be the first thing that pops into your mind. Yet, the Bitcoin mining industry has become an economic engine in the United States, creating over 31,000 jobs.
Pretty surprising for a sector that’s still in its infancy and spent the last four years wrapped up in regulatory and political debacles, right?
What it means for everyone.
The $4.1 billion annual GDP contribution from Bitcoin mining might seem small compared to larger industries, but its growth trajectory is undeniable.
Moving forward, Bitcoin mining could be a big part of shaping the economy, especially as digital assets continue to gain mainstream adoption.
With direct and indirect benefits, like supporting utility infrastructure and fostering local development, the mining industry shows no signs of slowing down.
Understanding the larger impact of Bitcoin mining can help you appreciate its economic and social significance. It’s a great example of how disruptive industries create value while solving unique challenges (like energy stability) along the way.
Fed’s Waller Wants Stablecoin Innovation and Regulation
TLDR
Christopher Waller is the Governor of the Federal Reserve.
He recently gave a speech in support of stablecoins.
However, he noted the need for both innovation and regulation.
The Federal Reserve Governor, Christopher Waller, has called for broader access to stablecoins, advocating for both traditional banks and non-banks to issue these dollar-pegged digital currencies.
Why Waller’s statements are important.
If regulators adopt Waller’s vision, you might see trustworthy stablecoin projects from top banks and savvy fintech startups. That could lead to better options, stronger competition, and ultimately, a win for users.
Waller also acknowledged that this would require a standardized regulatory approach within the U.S. and across international borders. Right now, regulations are fragmented — kind of like when you’re trying to solve a puzzle, but every piece is from a different box.
Question of the Week
From a new crypto user: What is a market maker and how is it different from an automated market maker?
Meme of the Week
Deep Dive - The LIBRA Meme Coin Debacle
The LIBRA meme coin fiasco is the latest cautionary tale in the unpredictable world of crypto. Here’s the lowdown:
LIBRA, a meme coin launched on the Solana blockchain, skyrocketed in popularity after being endorsed by Argentine President Javier Milei in a now-deleted social media post. Fueled by hype, the token hit a whopping $5 billion market cap before nosediving by 95% just days later, leaving investors furious and holding worthless bags of tokens.
The aftermath has been messy. A disgruntled “investor” accused Milei of fraud and labeled him a key player in LIBRA's dramatic rise and fall.
Some opposition leaders are pushing for his impeachment, while Milei has denied involvement and called for a corruption investigation. Interestingly, most of the financial losses reportedly hit US and Asian traders, as the coin barely made waves in Argentina.
What’s the takeaway? Investing in crypto, especially meme coins, is a high-risk game. The LIBRA disaster underscores that even high-profile endorsements don’t guarantee legitimacy. Hype-driven projects often lack value, and due diligence is critical.
This situation is a stark reminder for beginners to diversify investments, stay cautious, and avoid risking more than they can afford to lose. Meme coins, after all, are almost guaranteed to collapse eventually.
Question of the Week Answer
A market maker is basically like the middleman in a financial market. They exist in crypto, the stock market, everywhere. They're the ones who buy and sell assets on behalf of investors. Think of them as the matchmaker between buyers and sellers.
But what makes them different from an automated market maker (AMM)? Glad you asked. See, a regular old market maker relies on human traders to set prices and execute trades. It's all based on their expertise and decision-making skills.
But with an AMM, it's all done through algorithms and smart contracts. No humans are involved (except those who created the code).
Now, you might think, "Well, if it's all automated, how can it be as efficient as a human market maker?" Good question. The thing is, AMMs use something called liquidity pools to ensure there are always enough assets available for trading.
These pools are filled with cryptocurrency or other assets and are constantly being traded on the blockchain. The liquidity is made up of a split between two assets. At least, usually. So one pool could be USDC/ETH, and another could be USDT/BNB.
For someone to trade one of those assets to another, the trade must route through a pool. If someone wants to trade USDC for BNB in the above example, it would route through both pools, with liquidity providers from each receiving a split of the fees.
So, when someone wants to buy or sell a certain asset, the AMM will automatically adjust the price based on the supply and demand in the pool.
But don't count out human market makers just yet. They still have their advantages over AMMs. For one, they can handle larger and OTC trades since they have access to more resources and can make split-second decisions. Plus, they have the ability to manipulate prices in their favor (although this isn't always ethical).
Closing Shenanigans
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