👋 Hey there, crypto curious!
Welcome to this month’s newsletter issue! I'm Kelly Sunshawl—founder of Life with Crypto and your friendly guide through the wild, rewarding world of digital assets. Whether you've been riding the crypto waves for years or you’re just getting your feet wet, I’m so glad you’re here.
I apologize for this month’s newsletter coming to you a bit later than usual. I took a family trip the first 2 weeks of May to attend my mother’s memorial service, then afterwards, I took a vacation and played on the beach.
But I’m back now in full swing! May 2025 is shaping up to be a moment in the market. Altcoins are shining, institutions are back at the buffet, and the NFT space is finally showing some life again. But it’s not all moon missions—security and regulation are still big themes to watch.
Here’s what you’ll find inside today’s newsletter:
📊 A market snapshot of May 2025: altcoin season signals, BTC predictions, and what's driving investor confidence
📰 Top crypto news bites—from surging institutional inflows to the tech teams making DeFi smarter
🧠 This month’s MasterMind spotlight: how to build a strong investor mindset (especially in this volatile market)
🚀 Your next step: how to join the Let’s Crypto MasterMind and grow alongside a community that gets it
Got questions? Curious about something I mentioned? I’m always just one reply away—don’t be shy!
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📊Crypto Snapshot plus Top News Stories
The crypto winds are shifting — and May 2025 gave us a front-row seat to some big movements.
Altcoins took center stage this month, outpacing Bitcoin and hinting at the possible return of a full-blown altcoin season. While Bitcoin stayed in the spotlight with bold new price predictions (think $250K territory), it wasn’t all smooth sailing: a major security breach at Coinbase reminded us that trust and safety are still top priorities. Meanwhile, NFTs showed signs of life again, and the gap between crypto and traditional finance narrowed even more — with Bybit now letting users trade stocks with USDT. Yep, you read that right.
Let’s zoom in on three stories 📰 that had everyone talking. 👇
1️⃣ Institutional inflows hit $7.5B
After a rocky start to the year, big money is flowing back into crypto.
U.S.-based crypto investment products brought in over $7.5 billion in institutional inflows so far in 2025 — a sharp reversal from the $7 billion in outflows we saw just a few months ago. What's fueling the flip? A global sigh of relief after the White House paused new tariffs, leading to a drop in U.S.–China import taxes. Risk assets got a boost — and crypto caught the wave.
One eye-catching stat: over $1 billion in Bitcoin was pulled from Coinbase in a single week by institutional players. That's a strong signal that the pros are gearing up for a longer-term bet on digital assets.
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2️⃣ Leveling up: how DeFi developer activity hints at your next big opportunity
If crypto were a video game, development activity would be the EXP bar. Huh?!
You know—the little meter that fills up every time your character completes a quest, battles a monster, or discovers a hidden treasure. In the world of DeFi, that "EXP" is measured in GitHub commits, feature rollouts, and active upgrades... and some projects are leveling up fast.
So, why does this matter to you as an investor?
Because development activity isn’t just about cool tech updates, it’s a signal. It tells you which projects are actually building, not just hyping—and in crypto, builders often beat the buzz.
Take Chainlink ($LINK), for example. It's sitting at the top of the DeFi dev boards again this month. That’s not just bragging rights—it’s a clue that Chainlink is making real moves toward long-term utility and adoption. Investors and analysts alike pay attention, and so should we.
And then there’s DeepBook ($DEEP)—a project that’s been quietly climbing the ranks. If it were a game character, it’d be the underdog unlocking new abilities while others aren’t watching. Meanwhile, DeFiChain ($DFI) dropped a spot, which might have some folks wondering if it's out of the game.
Here’s why this kind of “leveling up” matters:
Projects with high dev activity often attract more liquidity and engaged users
Innovation tends to precede price action, especially in early-stage DeFi bets
Active builders are more likely to weather market shifts (and bounce back faster)
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3️⃣ Regulation + adoption fuel optimism
The stars may be aligning for a major crypto rally later this year.
Here’s why: improved regulatory clarity (hello, MiCA in the EU), a friendlier tone from U.S. policymakers, and the continued rollout of spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs — including BlackRock’s, which is now the fastest-growing ETF in history.
More ETF approvals are expected in 2025 (looking at you, Solana and XRP), and with market cycles often peaking after halving events, there’s a strong case building for a late-2025 bull run.
Of course, nothing’s guaranteed — but the foundation is looking a lot stronger than it did this time last year.
Whether you’re hodling, trading, or just observing with curiosity, this is a great time to stay informed, stay grounded — and stay ready.
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🧠 Think like an investor, not just a crypto fan
In this month’s education section of the newsletter, we’re diving into Part 2 of the Let’s Crypto! Bootcamp — and it’s all about mindset. Because let’s be honest: you can stack all the charts, apps, and tokens in the world, but if you don’t think like an investor, you’ll end up making decisions based on emotions instead of strategy.
Crypto is exciting (and yes, a little wild), but navigating it with confidence means stepping into your role as a calm, focused, forward-thinking investor. That’s where the Investor Mindset framework comes in.
Created by Kelly Sunshawl, it’s made up of four stages — and they build on each other like solid blocks in your wealth foundation.
1. Building 🧱
Before anything else, you need a strong base. That means growing your confidence, practicing patience, and learning to focus.
Confidence isn’t about being fearless — it’s about being willing to take thoughtful action.
Patience helps you dodge FOMO, panic-selling, and the urge to follow the herd.
Focus keeps you from chasing shiny new tokens every week. Spoiler: that’s rarely a winning strategy.
2. Empowerment 💡
At this stage, you start playing your game — not someone else’s.
You identify your risk tolerance and investing style (we even have a quiz for that inside the MasterMind).
You build a plan that fits your goals, not random price predictions.
Most important of all? You develop emotional control so you don’t let the market’s mood swings determine your moves.
3. Ownership 🙌
This is where you get fully in the driver’s seat.
You make informed decisions based on research, not Reddit threads.
You learn to assess risk vs. reward — and you know that not taking action can be just as risky as jumping in too fast.
You start thinking ahead: When do I take profits? When do I cut losses? What’s my capital really doing for me right now?
4. Performance 🎯
Now you’re managing your portfolio like a pro.
You track your buys, sells, and tax impacts (yes, taxes matter — even in the metaverse).
You balance your assets for growth and safety.
You choose strategies that match your personality — maybe you’re a HODLer, maybe a part-time trader. Either way, you know what works for you.
💬 Kelly’s tip: “You don’t have to be perfect to be successful. You just have to be consistent. Start where you are, make a plan, and adjust along the way — that’s how real investors grow.”
Want to explore each stage in more detail? It’s all in the Let’s Crypto! Bootcamp — available now for all MasterMind members 👈.
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🚀 Your path to success: Let’s Crypto MasterMind
Imagine having a space where you can learn exactly how to grow your wealth with crypto—without all the noise, hype, or confusing jargon. That’s what the Let’s Crypto MasterMind is all about.
Whether you’re just getting started or already knee-deep in DeFi, this self-paced learning community is designed to meet you where you are—and help you go further.
You’ll get access to:
🎓 The full Let's Crypto! Bootcamp—our signature investor training that walks you through the mindset, strategy, and practical tools for smarter investing
🧭 Investor frameworks that actually work, even in a volatile market
💬 A supportive community of fellow learners, enthusiasts, and action-takers who are building wealth together
This isn’t about day-trading or chasing the next meme coin. It’s about creating a plan, staying focused, and building the kind of financial future that supports your version of a rich life.
Curious what’s inside?
You can explore our Free, Starter, or Plus plans right here:
👉 Check out the MasterMind plans
Let’s keep learning, growing, and stacking those gains 💪
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😊 Thanks for spending time with me today
I’m so glad you joined me for this month's dive into the wild, wonderful world of crypto.
Whether you’re a quiet observer, an active investor, or somewhere in between, I hope you found something helpful, thought-provoking, or just... interesting.
Crypto doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, especially when we face it together.
Is there a topic you’re curious about? A nagging question you can’t shake?
Maybe you want my take on a news story, or a breakdown of a project you’ve been eyeing?
👉 Just hit reply and let me know. I read every message.
Until next time, keep learning, stay curious, and remember: your future is something you get to design.