Discover the latest in cryptocurrency news and tech advancements in this week's issue of The Protocol newsletter. President-elect Donald Trump has made several high-profile appointments that signal a shift towards embracing cryptocurrency and emerging technologies. Key appointments include Stephen Miran as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, Bo Hines to head the newly formed Crypto Council, and David Sacks as AI and Crypto Czar. These appointments aim to integrate blockchain and decentralized finance into the U.S.
economy, balance innovation with consumer protection, and merge blockchain with AI. Meanwhile, Aptos Labs has undergone a leadership shift, with co-founder Avery Ching taking over as CEO, and Sonic is set to airdrop its native token to TikTok users to promote decentralized finance adoption. Other notable developments include Kraken's layer-2 rollup network going live and Hyper Liquid's record outflow of $60 million in USDC. Read on for in-depth analysis and the latest updates in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.