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Former U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his own coin, which is set to take place on Wednesday. While some people speculated that it might be a cryptocurrency, Trump’s project is more of a traditional product than a digital asset.

 
New Coin to Support Presidential Campaign
Donald Trump, who is running for the presidency of the United States again, announced the launch of a new coin to raise funds for his election campaign. The project, titled "Silver Medallion First Edition President Trump," aims to distribute physical silver to Americans who support his political vision and want to see him back in office. Although many of his supporters expected Trump to release a cryptocurrency, this new coin is something entirely different.
 Launch of Limited Edition Coin
Trump announced that the coin will be sold for $100 each through the website RealTrumpCoins.com. The coin will be made of 99.9% pure silver and will only be available in a limited edition. One side of the coin will feature Donald Trump’s likeness, while the other side will display the White House accompanied by the phrase "In God We Trust."
 This coin is expected to be one of several activities that Trump undertakes to secure the necessary funding for his campaign ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. The coin comes at a time when Trump is actively seeking new ways to bolster his campaign and ensure he has the resources he needs. He stated that this silver coin is the "ONLY OFFICIAL coin" he has designed and that was minted in the U.S. under his leadership.
 Cryptocurrency Expectations Unfulfilled
In recent months, several meme coins featuring themes related to Donald Trump have appeared in the market, capitalizing on his popularity. However, Trump has distanced himself from these unofficial tokens and emphasized during the introduction of his silver coin that:
"I’ve seen a lot of coins using my beautiful face, but they’re not official. RealTrumpCoin.com is the only place to purchase the official Trump coin."
 At first glance, Trump’s announcement of a new official coin might seem related to cryptocurrency, as many of his fans have been expecting him to introduce a digital asset. For instance, last week, 84% of bettors on the Polymarket platform believed that Trump would come out with his own cryptocurrency. This anticipation was fueled by the launch of the World Liberty Financial project, which was speculated to potentially include an official Trump cryptocurrency.
 World Liberty Financial and the True Purpose of the Coin
The World Liberty Financial project does contain a token called WLFI, but this token lacks the key characteristics of a classic cryptocurrency as many had envisioned. Although WLFI has been presented as a type of digital asset, it is not the classic cryptocurrency that Trump fans hoped for. While speculation continues regarding whether Trump will eventually come up with his own cryptocurrency project, the silver coin remains his current official product and focuses more on traditional investment in precious metals.
Thus, Trump continues to favor physical, tangible assets rather than joining the wave of digital assets that currently dominate the financial world.
Trump's fondness for cryptocurrencies.
Donald Trump also commented on the Fatty token before the presidential campaign. #Fatty caught Trump's attention because one of the characters in the game mimics Donald Trump, and they are also counting on Don's participation in their new video clip. The first episode featured UFC Champion Jiří Procházka and world-famous beauty contest winners. Fatty.io is still in presale, and it is expected to be one of the best launches of this period.
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Arthur Hayes, founder and Chief Investment Officer of the Maelstrom fund and founding advisor to Ethena, has once again stirred the crypto community. In a euphoric post on X, Hayes celebrated the listing of USDe, Ethena’s synthetic stablecoin, on Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange. He boldly predicted a surge in ENA – Ethena’s native token – to $1.
“To the moon, bitches! It’s time for $ENA = $1,” he wrote with his usual provocative flair.

ENA Jumps 8% Following Upbit’s USDe Listing
Trading for USDe launched on January 14, 2026, at 6:00 PM KST on Upbit, offering pairs against the Korean won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT) on the Ethereum network. Shortly after the announcement, ENA surged by over 8.3%, currently trading around $0.238.
Hayes, a long-time supporter of the Ethena project, continues to accumulate ENA. On-chain analysis revealed that in late December 2025, he acquired 1.22 million ENA tokens worth approximately $257,500.

How Does Ethena’s USDe Work?
USDe isn’t your average fiat-backed stablecoin like USDT or USDC. Instead, it uses a delta-neutral structure, combining crypto collateral (e.g., ETH) with short positions in perpetual futures markets to maintain price stability near $1 — all without relying on fiat reserves.
According to Upbit:
“USDe maintains a short position in a derivative product of equal nominal value while holding crypto collateral, thereby preserving price stability near $1.”
Upbit also shared the USDe contract address it supports and advised users to check it carefully when depositing or withdrawing USDe.

Dubai Regulator Rejects USDe
While Ethena gains traction in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates has rejected USDe. On January 12, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) updated its crypto token framework, reserving the “fiat crypto token” status only for stablecoins backed by fiat reserves held with regulated custodians.
Since USDe does not meet these requirements, it was excluded from the official stablecoin whitelist. Approved tokens now include USDC and EURC from Circle, and RLUSD from Ripple.
“Algorithmic stablecoins lack transparency in how they work and how they can be redeemed,” said Elizabeth Wallace, DFSA’s Deputy Director for Policy and Legal Affairs.
However, Wallace clarified that USDe was not banned — it simply does not qualify as a stablecoin under the new rules. The updated framework requires tokens to maintain fiat-denominated reserves, held in highly liquid, low-risk assets, with independent monthly audits.
Summary: While Dubai pulls back, South Korea opens its doors, and Arthur Hayes is doubling down on Ethena’s rise. If his bet proves right, ENA could become one of the breakout stories of the 2026 crypto rebound.

#ArthurHayes , #ethena , #ENA , #altcoins , #USDe

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

The global economy is entering a turbulent phase of distrust, technological disruption, and geopolitical tension. The newly released Global Risks Report 2026 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) warns that the planet is facing a true “polycrisis” — a dangerous blend of economic conflict, AI instability, and relentless climate shocks.

Economy as a Weapon: Tariffs, Sanctions, and Trade Wars
The report identifies geo-economic confrontation as the number one global risk over the next two years. More countries are weaponizing their economies — using tariffs, export bans, investment restrictions, and tech regulations as geopolitical tools. This trend could severely damage global trade and cooperation.
Saadia Zahidi, managing director at the WEF, warns that inflation, market volatility, and ballooning public debt are amplifying the risk of a global economic downturn. Insurance giant Marsh, which co-published the report, describes the current era not as a single crisis but a "polycrisis moment".
“Companies today face multiple, overlapping challenges — from trade barriers and weather extremes to cultural divisions and rapid tech disruption,” said Marsh CEO John Doyle.

Disinformation and Polarization on the Rise
The second most urgent short-term threat is disinformation, especially online. Close behind is social fragmentation — the widening gap between ideological groups, fueled by distrust and tribalism.
Looking further ahead, inequality emerges as the most interconnected issue, underlying and exacerbating all other risks.

Artificial Intelligence: Rocketing Up the Risk Ladder
While AI risks ranked 30th last year, AI system failure has now surged into the top six long-term global threats.
The main fear? Mass job loss. As AI replaces human workers, consumption could fall, wealth gaps may widen, and public frustration could rise — even if businesses become more productive.
Additionally, the intersection of AI and quantum computing may lead to unpredictable outcomes where “humans lose control,” the report warns.

Natural Disasters: Sixth Year of Record Losses
Climate-related disasters continue to dominate in terms of frequency and cost. In 2025, insurers are projected to pay out more than $107 billion — the sixth consecutive year above the $100 billion mark.
Doyle cited California wildfires as an example, saying insurance pricing must reflect real risk and that new tech must help reduce future losses.
“There are investors and insurers willing to underwrite these risks,” he said. “But construction standards and tech must evolve.”
The report predicts that extreme heat, droughts, wildfires, and other weather events will become more intense and frequent in the years ahead.

Environmental Issues Losing Attention?
Interestingly, environmental concerns like pollution, species extinction, and ecological collapse are declining in perceived urgency. This shift shows how drastically global priorities have changed in recent years.

Bottom Line: The World Needs a “Coalition of the Willing”
The report ends with a clear message: Governments, businesses, academics, and civil society must work together to tackle the world’s greatest threats.
“Coalitions of the willing” will be essential to finding practical solutions to our most urgent global problems,” the report concludes.

#economy , #AI , #globaleconomy , #Geopolitics , #worldnews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Pakistan has announced a partnership with SC Financial Technologies to explore the use of a U.S. dollar–denominated stablecoin for cross-border payments. The firm is linked to World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance protocol founded by members of the Trump family, making this one of the first publicly acknowledged collaborations between a Trump-affiliated crypto venture and a national government.
According to sources familiar with the matter, World Liberty Financial will work with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to integrate the $1 stablecoin into the country’s regulated digital payments framework. The token is expected to operate within Pakistan’s emerging digital currency system and streamline international transfers, particularly remittances.

Limited Details, Heightened Scrutiny
Pakistani officials have not disclosed specific terms of the agreement, and SC Financial Technologies has released few operational details. Even so, the partnership has drawn significant attention as a precedent-setting state engagement with a crypto project that has U.S. political ties.
Sources say the agreement is expected to be formalized during a visit to Islamabad by Zach Witkoff, co-founder and CEO of World Liberty Financial and CEO of SC Financial Technologies.

Questions Around Transactions and Funding
World Liberty Financial has also been linked to discussions around large transactions. Analysts point to a scenario in which Abu Dhabi–based investment firm MGX reportedly used stablecoins associated with World Liberty to help finance a $2 billion stake purchase in Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. These reports have heightened interest among regulators and market participants regarding the origin and use of the tokens.

Pakistan Pushes to Become a Crypto Hub
At the same time, Pakistan is accelerating its crypto infrastructure build-out with the stated aim of becoming a global center for digital assets. Recent steps include:
Establishing the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority,Allowing exchanges such as Binance and HTX to operate domestically,Exploring the creation of a Bitcoin reserve, andAssessing real-world asset tokenization to attract foreign investment and boost liquidity.
Meanwhile, World Liberty Financial has launched World Liberty Markets, a platform designed to expand the utility of its stablecoin by enabling lending and the use of collateral such as Ethereum, tokenized Bitcoin, and major stablecoins.

What It Means
The agreement signals a convergence of state digital payment systems and DeFi tools, while raising questions about transparency, governance, and geopolitical considerations. For Pakistan, it marks another step toward financial modernization; for the market, it serves as a test of whether a regulated stablecoin tied to a politically connected project can be safely integrated into national financial infrastructure.

#Pakistan , #stablecoin , #crypto , #TRUMP , #CryptoNews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

South Korea’s drive to build a nationally independent artificial intelligence ecosystem has hit an unexpected hurdle. In the country’s flagship government AI competition, more than half of the finalists were found to be using foreign technologies, in some cases Chinese-origin code—a revelation that comes just as Seoul commits record funding to the effort.
Parliament approved a ₩727.9 trillion ($495.8B) budget for 2026, and President Lee Jae-myung has more than tripled AI investment to ₩10.1 trillion ($6.9B). The government frames AI as a cornerstone of South Korea’s future economic competitiveness and national security.

A Costly Irony
The controversy is striking because the competition’s explicit goal is to reduce dependence on U.S. and Chinese AI systems. Launched last June, the three-year program aims to select two domestic champions by 2027 to deliver models built solely on Korean-developed technologies.
Reality has proven more complicated. Of the five finalists, three were found to have incorporated foreign code or components, including technology linked to China.

“Starting From Scratch Isn’t Practical”
Companies involved argue that ignoring existing open-source ecosystems and rebuilding everything from zero is inefficient and unrealistic. Critics counter that relying on foreign tools creates security risks and undermines the very idea of “sovereign AI.”
Harvard electrical engineering professor Gu-Yeon Wei, familiar with the competition, says an absolute ban on external code is unworkable:
“If you give up open-source software, you lose an enormous amount of benefit.”
Governments worldwide face the same dilemma: how to cut reliance on foreign tech without slowing innovation in a field that affects both economic power and defense.

Spotlight on Finalists: Upstage, Naver, and SK Telecom
The sharpest scrutiny fell on Upstage, after Sionic AI CEO Ko Suk-hyun claimed seeable similarities to open-source systems from China’s Zhipu AI, including visible copyright notices in code.
Upstage responded with a live verification session, presenting development logs to show its model was trained using in-house methods. The company acknowledged, however, that its inference code included open-source components commonly used worldwide. Ko later apologized.
Attention then shifted to other finalists. Naver faced claims that its visual and audio encoders resembled products from Alibaba and OpenAI. SK Telecom was questioned over inference code similar to that of DeepSeek, another Chinese AI firm.
Both Naver and SK Telecom admitted using standard external components, while stressing that their core learning and training engines were developed independently.

Rules Unclear, Debate Intensifies
A central issue remains unresolved: the competition rules never clearly stated whether foreign open-source code is allowed. South Korea’s Ministry of Science has not issued new guidance since the controversy broke. Still, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon welcomed the debate:
“Watching the technological discussions now energizing our AI industry, I see a bright future for Korean AI.”

What’s at Stake
By 2027, the two winners must achieve at least 95% of the performance of leading global models from firms like OpenAI or Google. In return, they’ll receive government funding for data, talent, and access to critical AI chips.
The episode underscores a broader truth: sovereign AI isn’t just about budgets. It’s a test of where to draw the line between openness and security, speed and control, and whether a truly national AI stack is feasible in a deeply globalized tech ecosystem.

#AI , #SouthKorea , #INNOVATION , #Geopolitics , #technews

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Starlink, led by Elon Musk, has begun offering free internet access inside Iran. The move followed a phone call with Donald Trump and comes as Iranian authorities shut down nationwide connectivity while intensifying a crackdown on anti-government protests.
Official reports cite more than 1,800 protesters killed, though human-rights groups warn the true toll may be significantly higher due to a near-total communications blackout. Even regime insiders reportedly found themselves offline for days. Two cybersecurity researchers say that so-called “white” SIM cards—still functional during the 2025 Iran–Israel conflict—were disconnected this time as well.

Smuggling Terminals Across Borders, Years in the Making
A network of volunteers and technologists has launched smuggling operations to bring Starlink terminals into Iran, routing equipment through Iraqi Kurdistan and Armenia. One organizer—a software engineer who previously worked with Iranian authorities—left the country and now helps coordinate logistics. The group had prepared for a full shutdown for years.
The effort relies on a 2022 sanctions exemption that allows U.S. tech firms to provide communications tools in Iran. Introduced under Joe Biden, the exemption is now being used by SpaceX to deliver satellite connectivity during the current crackdown.
Users inside Iran can reportedly connect only in brief bursts. Terminals are hidden, powered on sparingly, and shut down quickly—amid drone patrols, neighborhood reporting, and security sweeps. Each connection carries risk.

State Pushback: Jamming and Seizures
Iranian state TV has displayed over 1,000 seized devices, including phones and signal boosters. The Ministry of Information claims the equipment was smuggled for espionage and to bypass the blackout.
Analyst Ahmadian says the government has deployed military-grade jamming against Starlink, similar to tactics used by Russia in Ukraine. Researchers at Project Ainita note that Iran has only two gateways to the global internet—Telecommunication Infrastructure Company and the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences—making nationwide cutoffs easier to enforce.
Doug Madory of Kentik says Iran has built its own “Great Firewall,” allowing only approved traffic. With just two international links, he adds, cutting access is technically straightforward.

An Ongoing Battle for Information
Activists occasionally manage to push videos online, but the signal flickers on and off. Many residents stay offline for safety, connecting only when necessary. Arrests continue, and the blackout persists.
Experts stress that Iran’s approach differs from China’s model. While Beijing replaced global platforms with domestic apps like WeChat and TikTok, Tehran relies on hard disconnections and physical control of infrastructure—and is now racing to contain Starlink before it takes hold.
The outcome remains uncertain. What is clear is that satellite internet has become a new frontline in the struggle between state power and civil society.

#starlink , #ElonMusk , #iran , #Geopolitics , #SpaceX
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Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recently reflected on more than a decade of the network’s evolution and reached a notable conclusion: Ethereum has now achieved the original Web3 vision it set out to realize back in 2014.
In a post on X, Buterin explained that the transition to proof-of-stake, together with the rise of scaling layers and side projects, has finally brought Ethereum to the state its creators initially imagined. Rather than relying solely on changes to the core protocol, Ethereum matured through a broader ecosystem built around it.

Web3 as an Alternative Internet
Buterin reminded readers that Ethereum’s early ambition extended far beyond finance:
“In 2014, there was a vision: you could have permissionless, decentralized applications supporting finance, social media, ride sharing, governance, crowdfunding—potentially creating an entire alternative web,” he wrote.
In practice, however, most activity initially took place directly on Ethereum’s Layer 1, leading to congestion, high fees, and storage bloat. This was never the long-term plan. The original architecture envisioned:
L1 as a settlement layer,a separate data layer (Whisper),and an independent storage layer (Swarm).
Side Projects Brought the Vision to Life
According to Buterin, hype cycles and value-extraction narratives often overshadowed this early blueprint. Yet the vision was ultimately realized—not through constant changes to Ethereum’s core, but via side projects and third-party developers.
Ethereum’s most significant core change was the move to proof-of-stake, which made the network more efficient. Scaling, meanwhile, has been delivered by:
Layer 2 networks and ZK-EVM projects, effectively fulfilling the original sharding concept,Waku, which Buterin highlighted as the de facto successor to the Whisper off-chain messaging layer,IPFS, now widely used for decentralized storage, even if long-term archiving remains an open challenge.
Taken together, Buterin believes the foundation is now firmly in place:
“All of the prerequisites for the original Web3 vision are here, in full force, and they will continue to grow stronger over the next few years.”

Open, Pseudonymous, and Financially Central
Despite its expansion, Ethereum has preserved its core properties. The network remains pseudonymous, independent of Web2 identities or centralized logins. It has also developed a growing privacy layer, including tools like Railgun, which operate with selective blacklists while maintaining open access.
At the same time, Buterin has recently advocated for a more “ossified” Ethereum—a version that can operate long term without frequent, disruptive upgrades. Recent hard forks have therefore focused more on improving Layer 2 efficiency, rather than overhauling the base layer.

Network Activity Remains Near Highs
Ethereum continues to see strong on-chain activity, with roughly 890,000 daily active wallets, close to recent monthly peaks. The network remains the backbone of:
DeFi and on-chain lending,stablecoin issuance and settlement,and decentralized trading.
Liquidity is deep, supported by a growing base of long-term holders and validators. While Layer 2 networks are still working to solve liquidity fragmentation, Ethereum remains the primary financial layer of the crypto ecosystem.
With ETH trading above $3,328, confidence is returning, and on-chain lending and DeFi activity may continue to expand. From Buterin’s perspective, however, the key point is already clear: Ethereum has arrived where it was meant to be—serving as a functional foundation for a decentralized Web3 internet.

#ETH , #Ethereum , #VitalikButerin , #Web3 , #blockchain

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As crypto markets move deeper into 2026, uncertainty is once again shaping investor sentiment. That theme dominated a recent discussion featuring Ran Neuner, founder of Crypto Banter, where the focus turned to what may actually drive the next major move in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Rather than offering price targets, Neuner challenged one of crypto’s most entrenched ideas: the four-year Bitcoin cycle tied to halving events.

Is the Four-Year Cycle Still Relevant?
Neuner argued that Bitcoin’s halving was never the true engine behind major bull runs. In his view, liquidity—not supply shocks—has always been the decisive factor.
“The four-year cycle was always dead. We’ve been trading a liquidity cycle,” Neuner said.
He explained that past bull markets aligned more closely with periods of abundant global liquidity and favorable macroeconomic conditions than with the halving itself. As Bitcoin’s market has grown, the halving’s impact on supply has become increasingly marginal, reducing its influence on price dynamics.

Bitcoin Approaches a Critical Juncture
Neuner compared today’s setup to 2021, when Bitcoin suffered a sharp drop and then moved sideways for months before making a decisive move.
He believes Bitcoin is facing a similar crossroads now. A strong rebound could put the broader uptrend back on track, while failure to do so might send prices back toward long-term support levels. Either way, the next move is likely to set the tone for the months ahead.

Macro Shocks Remain the Biggest Threat
One of the key warnings from the discussion was how quickly crypto can flip into risk-off mode during broader market stress. Issues such as doubts about the Federal Reserve’s credibility, political pressure, or sudden tariff concerns could rapidly undermine investor confidence.
“We’re sound money until we’re not—and then it’s risk-off,” Neuner said. Historically, when panic hits, Bitcoin has often fallen alongside equities, rather than acting as a safe haven.

Bitcoin vs. Ethereum: A Useful Signal
Neuner also shared a simple framework for watching Bitcoin and Ethereum together:
When Bitcoin is strong and breaking higher, Ethereum typically outperforms.When Bitcoin weakens or stalls, BTC tends to hold up more defensively.
The host added that Ethereum could still benefit from long-term trends such as tokenization, stablecoins, and on-chain settlement, making ETH strength a potential signal that confidence is returning to the broader ecosystem.

A New Kind of Crypto Buyer
The conversation also highlighted a shift in market participation. ETF products are bringing in institutions and high-net-worth investors who view crypto as a portfolio allocation, not a short-term trade.
This change could mean fewer extreme hype-driven cycles, but steadier demand over time—and a very different shape for the next bull market.
If Neuner is right, the crypto market may be moving away from a calendar-driven four-year cycle toward one governed by liquidity flows, macro conditions, and institutional behavior.

#bitcoin , #BTC , #CryptoMarket , #CryptoPrediction , #CryptoNews

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XRP is back in the spotlight today, ranking among the top gainers of the session. In line with the broader crypto market upswing, the token is posting solid gains and reviving investor optimism after several weeks of choppy price action.
The renewed momentum isn’t driven by a single catalyst. Instead, it reflects a confluence of strong factors—ranging from ETF inflows and rising on-chain activity to growing confidence in U.S. regulatory clarity.

XRP Regains Momentum
At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $21.4, up roughly 4.5% on the day. Despite being down about 5% week over week, the token has still managed to gain approximately 8% over the past seven days.
With a market capitalization of about $130.4 billion, XRP holds the fourth spot among all cryptocurrencies, reinforcing its status as a major digital asset. The key question now is what’s driving the move—and whether it can last.

ETF Inflows Accelerate
A primary tailwind for today’s rally is rising institutional demand. Data show that U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs recorded net inflows of $12.98 million on January 13, marking the fourth consecutive day of positive flows.
The Grayscale XRP ETF led the pack with $7.8 million in daily inflows, lifting its cumulative inflows to $273 million. Close behind, the Canary XRP ETF (XRPC) reported $2.73 million in daily inflows and $398 million in total net inflows.
These figures suggest that institutional capital is rotating back into XRP, supporting the recent price strength.

On-Chain Activity Picks Up
Another major contributor is the surge in on-chain activity on the XRP Ledger. Recent data point to a sharp rise in both transaction volume and active addresses.
Over the past 24 hours, transaction volume reached $4.63 billion, a 71% increase, while more than 1,000 new accounts were created in a single day. This points to heightened participation from both retail and institutional users, signaling growing real-world network usage rather than purely speculative trading.

Regulatory Optimism Builds in the U.S.
Regulatory expectations are also playing a meaningful role. Speculation surrounding the CLARITY Act, with a Senate markup hearing scheduled for January 27, 2026, has boosted confidence that the U.S. crypto market may soon gain clearer, more consistent rules.
If the legislation passes and is signed into law by President Donald Trump, it could mark a structural shift for the U.S. digital asset landscape. XRP is widely viewed as one of the tokens most likely to benefit from improved legal certainty.

A Supportive Broader Market Backdrop
XRP’s move higher also aligns with a broad-based crypto rally. Total crypto market capitalization has climbed to roughly $3.25 trillion, up 3.85% on the day. Major assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana are also advancing, flipping overall market sentiment decisively bullish.

Outlook: More Than a Short-Term Pop?
Taken together, XRP’s advance appears fundamentally supported, not merely a fleeting spike. The blend of institutional inflows, accelerating network activity, and regulatory optimism creates conditions for a potentially more durable uptrend.
Whether XRP can convert this momentum into a sustained rally remains to be seen—but current signals suggest the market is increasingly betting that it can.

#xrp , #Ripple , #CryptoMarkets , #altcoins , #etf

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Ethereum staking continues to concentrate among major players. BitMine Immersion Technologies has made another massive deposit, pushing its total staked Ether above 1.5 million ETH. At current prices, that stake is worth more than $5 billion, representing roughly 4% of all ETH staked on the network.
According to data from blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, the company sent an additional 186,560 ETH to the “Beacon Depositor” address on Wednesday—an allocation valued at approximately $625 million.

4% of the Entire Beacon Chain in One Firm’s Hands
Following the latest deposit, BitMine’s total staked balance reached 1,530,784 ETH, worth about $5.13 billion. By comparison, roughly 36 million ETH are currently staked on Ethereum’s Beacon Chain, underscoring the scale of BitMine’s footprint.
That share could grow further. BitMine holds just over 4 million ETH in total, with around 37% already staked. The latest move came just days after the company first crossed the 1 million ETH staked milestone.

Strong Balance Sheet and a Growing Staking Queue
On Monday, the company disclosed that it holds:
4,167,768 ETH192 BTCNearly $1 billion in cashA $23 million stake in Eightco Holdings
Interest in Ethereum staking is also accelerating more broadly. The validator entry queue has surged to 2.3 million ETH, the highest level since August 2023, signaling strong long-term confidence in the network.

BitMine Shares Rise After Hours
Markets reacted positively. BitMine shares rose 3.8% after Tuesday’s close to $32.35, according to Google Finance. Year to date, the stock is up 11.5%, broadly in line with the crypto market’s recovery.
Company chairman Tom Lee remains bullish on Ether and crypto assets after a volatile end to 2025.

“We view the deleveraging reset after October 10, 2025 as a kind of mini crypto winter. 2026 is a recovery year, with stronger returns expected in 2027–2028,” Lee said.

Ether Posts Its Biggest Daily Gain of 2026
The positive momentum extended to Ether’s price. ETH jumped 7% over the past 24 hours, marking its largest single-day gain of 2026.
According to TradingView, Ether climbed to $3,375 early Wednesday on Coinbase, its highest level since December 10.
Technically, ETH is pressing against the upper boundary of a two-month consolidation range. A decisive break above $3,400 would be required to unlock further meaningful upside.

#Ethereum , #ETH , #altcoins , #Bitmine , #CryptoNews

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A pivotal verdict is expected today—one that could reshape market sentiment. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on the legality of Trump-era tariffs, and traders on the prediction platform Polymarket assign a 73% probability that the court will strike them down. At first glance, that sounds like good news. Some analysts, however, warn it could trigger a far larger problem.
Macro analyst NoLimit, known for publicly calling several recent market tops and bottoms, cautions that the real risk isn’t the ruling itself—but what happens immediately afterward.
“If the court overturns the tariffs, it instantly creates a massive hole in Treasury revenues,” he wrote. “Markets aren’t pricing in the chaos around refunds, emergency bond issuance, or the risk of sudden retaliatory measures.”

Refunds in the Hundreds of Billions: A Risk No One Is Pricing
The United States currently collects about $350 billion per year from tariffs—up sharply from $50–$80 billion between 2016 and 2020. If the court finds the tariffs unlawful under the IEEPA, importers could be entitled to refunds.
Analyst DeFi Hanzo argues the exposure goes far beyond the headline numbers:

“Trump collected over $600 billion in tariffs. If they’re ruled illegal, that money has to be returned. Add the investment losses from companies that restructured supply chains, delayed projects, or lost contracts? That bill could easily run into the trillions.”
This, critics say, is the market’s blind spot—these scenarios aren’t meaningfully priced into assets.

Why Crypto Could Be Hit Too
NoLimit and Hanzo converge on the same conclusion: if this unravels, crypto won’t be spared.
“When this reality hits, liquidity will be pulled from everywhere at once—bonds, equities, and crypto. Everything that can be sold will be used as exit liquidity,” NoLimit warned.
In plain terms, assets investors hold as speculation or hedges could quickly become sources of cash if the government needs to plug a sudden fiscal gap.

Bad Timing: The Fed Steps In
Timing could make matters worse. The ruling is expected at 10:00 ET, followed just two hours later—at 12:00 ET—by speeches from three regional Fed presidents.
This comes shortly after Fed Chair Jerome Powell disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into him. Former Fed chairs Janet Yellen, Ben Bernanke, and Alan Greenspan publicly condemned the probe as an attack on central bank independence.
The convergence of a court ruling, fiscal uncertainty, and tension around the Fed creates conditions where even ostensibly positive news could provoke sharp market reactions.

What Comes After the Verdict
Traders betting on a clean “tariffs removed = markets rally” outcome may be caught off guard. If the Treasury suddenly has to figure out how to refund hundreds of billions of dollars with no clear plan, liquidity stress could hit fast and across the board.
That’s when the analysts’ warning may prove prescient: crypto could shift from a system hedge to a short-term casualty—assets sold not because confidence is gone, but because cash is urgently needed.
Today’s decision, then, may be less about whether markets go up, and more about who is prepared for what comes next.

#TrumpTariffs , #CryptoMarkets , #Polymarket , #FederalReserve , #GlobalMarkets

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The long-anticipated U.S. CLARITY Act is moving into a critical stage. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has scheduled a markup hearing for January 27, 2026, where lawmakers will debate amendments and decide whether the bill should advance in the legislative process. The move signals renewed momentum to establish clearer rules for the U.S. crypto market after weeks of delays and uncertainty.
The announcement has boosted confidence across the crypto sector, with lawmakers indicating that crypto market structure regulation remains a priority, despite ongoing political and procedural hurdles.

Bipartisan Talks Yield a Revised Market-Structure Bill
Ahead of the hearing, Senator Tim Scott released an updated version of the CLARITY Act. The revised draft reflects months of discussions with Democratic lawmakers and represents a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation on U.S. crypto regulation.
The full legislative text is expected to be published on January 21, giving senators time to review the final language before the hearing.
Committee Chair John Boozman said the delay was intentional. According to Boozman, lawmakers used the additional time to resolve key differences and build broader support, rather than rushing the bill forward.

Why January 27 Is a Pivotal Date
The January 27 markup is a turning point. Committee members will consider proposed amendments and vote on whether the CLARITY Act should be advanced to the full Senate.
If approved, the bill would move beyond committee review and head toward a full Senate vote—either in its current form or with further changes. Failure at this stage would likely stall the legislation, potentially for months.

What the CLARITY Act Would Mean for the Crypto Industry
At its core, the CLARITY Act aims to establish clear, consistent, and predictable rules for the U.S. crypto market—rules that could unlock greater institutional participation from firms that have stayed on the sidelines due to legal uncertainty.
Key objectives include:
Defining how crypto exchanges, brokers, and custodians must register and operateMaking compliance requirements more transparent and predictable
The bill also seeks to resolve the long-running debate over whether oversight of different crypto market segments should fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The issue gained urgency following high-profile collapses such as FTX and ongoing enforcement actions tied to token classification.

CLARITY Within the Broader U.S. Regulatory Push
With a clear committee timeline now in place, the CLARITY Act could reach a full Senate vote in early 2026. At the same time, the House of Representatives and the Senate Banking Committee are working to align their own proposals, with the goal of producing a unified framework for U.S. crypto market structure.
The CLARITY Act builds on recent progress, including the passage of the GENIUS Act, which introduced clearer rules for stablecoin reserves, audits, and transparency. Taken together, these efforts signal a broader push toward a more stable and predictable regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in the United States.
If enacted, the CLARITY Act could become one of the most consequential milestones in U.S. crypto regulation in recent years.

#CLARITYAct , #CryptoRegulation , #DigitalAssets , #SEC , #Web3

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The prediction platform Polymarket made a major leap into the mainstream during the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, moving from niche markets to the center of Hollywood’s biggest night. Throughout the broadcast, hosts and viewers alike repeatedly checked Polymarket to see how traders were betting—and the crowd’s collective judgment proved remarkably accurate.
Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan highlighted the platform’s near-perfect forecasting record during the ceremony, saying it marked the most visible integration of a prediction market to date. According to Coplan, Polymarket correctly identified 26 out of 28 winners.

From Hollywood to Real-World Economic Forecasts
The Golden Globes moment comes as Polymarket expands beyond entertainment into real-world economic predictions. The platform has partnered with Parcl, a data company that tracks daily home prices, allowing users to bet on whether housing prices in major U.S. cities will rise or fall.
The two companies recently announced markets tied to median home-price forecasts in cities such as Miami and Los Angeles. These markets will close on February 1, with outcomes determined using Parcl’s daily price index. Polymarket says it plans to roll out new housing prediction markets every month, enabling continued trading based on fresh data.

Praise and Backlash on Social Media
Polymarket’s Golden Globes integration sparked intense debate on X. While many users expressed surprise at the platform’s accuracy and encouraged broader adoption, others responded with sharp criticism.
Coplan noted that there is still work to be done to help people understand why market-based forecasts matter, even if their accuracy is difficult to dispute. He described the Golden Globes partnership as a “surreal moment” and a milestone for the team.
Critics, however, labeled prediction platforms as “pocket casinos” and questioned whether betting belongs in cultural award shows at all. Some even cast doubt on the legitimacy of the awards themselves.

Venezuela Bet Raises Ethics Questions
The criticism also echoes recent concerns surrounding Polymarket and similar platforms after a controversial wager tied to Venezuela. An anonymous bettor correctly predicted the fall of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro just hours before his capture, earning more than $400,000.
That payout raised fears of insider trading. New York Democrat Ritchie Torres proposed legislation—the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026—that would bar government officials and employees from using nonpublic information to trade on prediction markets.

Rapid Growth Meets Regulatory Pushback
Polymarket is currently valued at an estimated $9 billion, placing it just behind market leader Kalshi. Most major prediction markets saw explosive growth ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and continued strong performance afterward. In December alone, Kalshi and Polymarket together recorded nearly $9 billion in trading volume.
Both platforms have also moved quickly into media partnerships. Yahoo Finance has an exclusive partnership with Polymarket, while Google Finance now displays data from both platforms. CNN has officially partnered with Kalshi, and Polymarket recently agreed to provide exclusive market data to The Wall Street Journal and other Dow Jones publications.
However, expansion has triggered resistance at the state level. Regulators in Tennessee last week sent notices to Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com, warning of allegedly unlicensed betting operations. The orders require the companies to halt sports betting, cancel outstanding contracts, and refund customers by January 31.
Although Polymarket is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Tennessee’s Sports Gaming Act requires any platform offering sports wagers to hold a state license—something none of the three companies currently have.
At least 10 U.S. states have taken action against prediction markets over the past year, with Tennessee the latest addition. Kalshi has previously received cease-and-desist orders from Nevada, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Montana, and Ohio.
Polymarket now stands at a crossroads: on one side, unprecedented accuracy, media visibility, and rapid growth; on the other, intensifying regulatory pressure that could shape the future of prediction markets in the United States.

#Polymarket , #PredictionMarkets , #blockchain , #Web3 , #Regulation

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Tesla has agreed to enter settlement discussions with a federal agency that sued the electric-vehicle maker over allegations of racial harassment at its California factory.
Court filings submitted Tuesday show that Tesla will take part in private mediation with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Both sides expect to select a mediator soon, with talks scheduled for March or April.
If the mediation does not result in an agreement, attorneys said they will submit a proposal to the court by June 17, 2026, outlining how the lawsuit should proceed.

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Longstanding Abuse
The EEOC filed suit against Tesla in 2023, alleging that Black workers at the Fremont, California, plant were subjected to ongoing racial harassment. The complaint also claims that company leaders retaliated against employees who raised concerns about the treatment.
This is not the first attempt to resolve the dispute. Tesla and the EEOC previously went through mandatory mediation in June 2023, which failed. Neither Tesla nor the EEOC commented on the latest developments.
The case is titled U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Tesla, No. 3:23-cv-04984, filed in federal court in Northern California.

Allegations Date Back to 2015
According to the federal complaint, problems at the Fremont plant date back to at least 2015. Non-Black workers allegedly used racial slurs, made monkey noises, and some managers reportedly addressed Black employees—individually and in groups—using racial epithets.
The lawsuit also describes racist graffiti, including nooses and swastikas, appearing on desks, inside elevators, and even on vehicles moving along the production line. The Fremont facility produces Tesla’s Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles.
The EEOC is seeking a court order barring Tesla from subjecting Black workers to racism or retaliation, and from maintaining a hostile work environment. It is also seeking financial compensation for emotional distress and lost wages, either through back pay or reinstatement.
The federal lawsuit was filed in Oakland, California.

Parallel Case With California Continues
In April 2022, Tesla disclosed in regulatory filings that it was under federal investigation, before California’s civil rights agency filed a separate lawsuit accusing the company of turning a blind eye to rampant racism against Black workers at Fremont and other facilities statewide.
Tesla has argued in court that the state overstepped its authority, claiming California is using litigation as a bullying tactic in a jurisdictional dispute with the federal commission. That case, filed last year, remains ongoing.
The upcoming mediation with the EEOC marks another critical juncture in one of the most serious workplace-rights disputes Tesla has faced in recent years.

#Tesla , #investigation , #California , #worldnews , #Musk

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The precious metals market saw an exceptionally strong move on Wednesday, with silver jumping sharply above $91 per ounce, reaching an unprecedented level. Investors poured into safe-haven assets amid persistent inflation concerns and growing expectations that U.S. interest rates may be cut.
Silver prices climbed more than 5% to $91.5535 per ounce, while gold traded just about $10 below its all-time high. The move follows gold’s record breakout above $4,600 per ounce on January 12, which marked a new historic peak.

Lower Rates and Inflation Boost Precious Metals Appeal
Falling interest-rate expectations are supporting precious metals, as lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold and silver. In periods of uncertainty, these metals tend to regain their role as stores of value.
U.S. analysts noted that inflation at the end of last year came in below earlier forecasts, sparking intense debate. Some economists attributed the sudden dip in inflation to the temporary U.S. government shutdown between October 1 and November 12, 2025, which may have distorted short-term data.
At the same time, precious metals have benefited from uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve and speculation about political pressure on its leadership. Discussions involving Fed Chair Jerome Powell have once again raised concerns over the independence of the U.S. central bank.
While Powell has reportedly received strong backing from central bankers worldwide, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that political interference poses systemic risks to the global financial system.

Geopolitics Drives Demand for Safe-Haven Assets
Geopolitical developments have also played a key role in boosting demand for safe-haven investments. Actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a tougher stance toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and renewed tensions involving Greenland, have added to market uncertainty.
Further pressure comes from violent protests in Iran, where analysts warn of a potential weakening—or even collapse—of the Islamic Republic’s government. Together, these risks have reinforced investor demand for assets that tend to preserve value during periods of global instability.

Citi Raises Price Targets: Gold at $5,000, Silver at $100
The bullish sentiment has been reflected in updated forecasts. Analysts at Citigroup have significantly raised their near-term price targets, now projecting within the next three months:
Gold at $5,000 per ounceSilver at $100 per ounce
According to the bank, the combination of monetary policy expectations, geopolitical risk, and structural supply constraints creates a favorable setup for further gains.

Market Strains Disrupt Global Silver Supply
Silver’s rally is being amplified by supply-side pressures. Since last year, silver has outperformed gold by roughly 150%, driven in part by a brief price dip in October and ongoing supply constraints in London.
Conditions could tighten further as traders await the results of a U.S. Section 232 investigation, which could lead to tariffs on silver imports. Fears of potential duties have reportedly prompted investors to stockpile silver in U.S. warehouses, reducing availability elsewhere and straining global supply.

Precious Metals Rally Extends to Asia
The rally is not limited to Western markets. Singapore also recorded strong gains. In early trading, spot gold rose to $4,621.92 per ounce, while silver climbed to $89.7457 per ounce.
Other precious metals followed suit, with platinum and palladium also moving higher—signaling that investors are broadening exposure across the entire precious metals complex, not just gold and silver.

#Silver , #GOLD , #Inflation , #FederalReserve , #interestrates

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U.S. senators have introduced more than 75 proposed amendments to major cryptocurrency bills just days before a critical hearing scheduled for this week, according to legislative documents.
The amendments span a wide range of issues—from an outright ban on stablecoin yields, to restrictions preventing government officials from profiting from crypto investments, as well as changes to how digital asset mixing services are classified. Proposals have been submitted by lawmakers from both major political parties.

Markup Session Set for Thursday
The Senate Banking Committee will meet on Thursday for a markup session, during which lawmakers will debate the proposed amendments, vote on whether to adopt or reject them, and then decide whether the main bill should advance. A similar session planned by the Senate Agriculture Committee has been postponed until late January.
The Banking Committee’s base text was released shortly before midnight on Monday. Since then, lawmakers and industry representatives have been closely scrutinizing the details.

Some Bipartisan Support, Especially on Stablecoins
Several amendments have drawn bipartisan backing. Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks jointly introduced three proposals, two of which focus on stablecoin rewards. One would remove the word “exclusively” from language stating that a digital asset service provider “may not pay any form of interest or yield (whether in cash, tokens, or other consideration) exclusively in connection with holding a payment stablecoin.”
Their other proposal would revise reporting requirements and introduce risk-disclosure obligations for yield payments. Additional amendments also target the stablecoin rewards section, with some seeking to eliminate yield payments entirely.
As is typical during congressional markup sessions, most proposed amendments are not expected to pass. Many may also be withdrawn following negotiations, meaning only a small subset is likely to make it into the final bill.

Ethics Concerns Remain Unresolved
It remains unclear whether lawmakers have resolved ethical concerns raised earlier by Democrats. Central to the dispute are questions surrounding President Donald Trump’s and his family’s ties to the cryptocurrency industry, which Democrats formally outlined in a document released last fall.
While Senator Ruben Gallego has reportedly been involved in negotiations over ethics provisions, none of the amendments attributed to him appear—based on their descriptions—to directly address those issues.
Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced a proposal calling for “anti-corruption provisions,” along with another amendment requiring disclosure of financial interests, labeled an “anti-propaganda requirement.”
A Democratic staffer said Tuesday evening that discussions on ethics are ongoing but that no agreement has yet been reached, describing ethics as “one of the few remaining points of contention” in the talks.

Disputes Over Regulator Appointments
Another flashpoint involves the composition of key regulatory bodies. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester proposed amendments related to quorum requirements, reflecting Democratic concerns that President Trump has not appointed any Democrats to commissions that are legally intended to be bipartisan.
These concerns focus on the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, both of which currently have only Republicans in leadership roles.

Who Submitted the Amendments
Democratic senators submitting amendments before Tuesday’s deadline include Gallego, Alsobrooks, Blunt Rochester, Jack Reed, Andy Kim, Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, Elizabeth Warren, and Van Hollen.
On the Republican side, proposals were submitted by Tillis, Mike Rounds, Bill Hagerty, Pete Ricketts, Katie Britt, John Kennedy, Cynthia Lummis, Kevin Cramer, and Tim Scott.
The coming days will determine which of the dozens of amendments survive and what the final shape will be of one of the most consequential crypto bills in years.

#CryptoRegulation , #USsenate , #Stablecoins , #SEC , #CFTC

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The United States has approved limited exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China, but under a newly tightened regulatory framework aimed at protecting U.S. national security and preserving America’s technological edge in artificial intelligence.
Under the new rules, the chips must undergo testing at an independent external laboratory before shipment to verify their AI performance. In addition, Chinese buyers may receive no more than 50% of the total number of H200 chips sold to U.S. customers.

New Requirements for Nvidia and Chinese Buyers
The regulations introduce conditions that did not previously exist. Nvidia must demonstrate that it has sufficient H200 supply within the United States, ensuring domestic demand is not affected. Chinese companies purchasing the chips must prove they have adequate security safeguards in place and formally commit that the chips will not be used for military purposes.
President Donald Trump said last month that he would allow chip sales provided the U.S. government received a 25% fee. The proposal drew criticism from both political parties, with opponents warning that the chips could strengthen China’s military capabilities and undermine U.S. leadership in AI technologies.

A “Compromise” That May Be Hard to Enforce
Jay Goldberg, an analyst at Seaport Research, described the export limits as a compromise solution. While they place some controls on Nvidia’s sales to China, he cautioned that effective monitoring and enforcement could prove difficult.
Goldberg noted that companies have repeatedly found ways to access restricted chips and said the U.S. government’s export strategy appears highly transactional—more like a temporary patch than a coherent long-term policy, masking deeper gaps in U.S. export controls.

Chinese Demand Far Exceeds Supply
According to reports last month, Chinese technology firms have already ordered more than 2 million H200 chips, priced at roughly $27,000 per unit. That figure far exceeds Nvidia’s current availability of about 700,000 chips.
At the CES trade show in Las Vegas last week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company is ramping up production of the H200. He added that strong demand from China and other markets is driving up rental prices for H200 chips already operating in cloud data centers.

Warnings About Boosting China’s AI Capabilities
Saif Khan, who served as director for technology and national security at the White House National Security Council during President Joe Biden’s administration, warned that the new rule could significantly accelerate China’s AI programs.
According to Khan, the policy could allow China to acquire around two million advanced AI chips—roughly equivalent to the computing capacity currently held by a typical U.S. AI company. He also cautioned that the administration will face challenges enforcing “know your customer” requirements intended to prevent Chinese cloud providers from supporting illicit activities.

A Shift From the Biden-Era Policy
These concerns led the Biden administration to fully block exports of advanced AI chips to China. The Trump administration, however—guided by White House AI chief David Sacks—believes that controlled sales could actually discourage Chinese competitors, such as Huawei, from accelerating efforts to match cutting-edge chip designs from Nvidia and AMD.
When Trump announced the policy shift last month, he emphasized that exports would proceed “under conditions that preserve strong national security.”

Open Questions on Enforcement and Beijing’s Approval
Major uncertainties remain. It is unclear how strictly the restrictions will be enforced, or whether Beijing will ultimately approve the imports. Past smuggling operations worth $160 million highlight the significant enforcement challenges involved.
Recent reports suggest the U.S. has begun an internal review that could lead to the first shipments of H200 chips to China in the near future, marking an early test of Washington’s revised export strategy amid intensifying global competition over artificial intelligence.

#china , #AI , #NVIDIA , #worldnews , #TRUMP
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China closed 2025 with a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion, commonly rounded by markets to $1.2 trillion, setting a new global record that no other economy has ever reached.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs, China’s exports rose 6.6% year over year in December in U.S. dollar terms, far above market expectations of around 3% and faster than November’s 5.9% increase.
Imports also surprised to the upside. December imports climbed 5.7%, beating forecasts of just 0.9% and marking the strongest growth since September, when imports rose 7.4%, according to LSEG data. For the full year, exports increased 5.5%, imports were broadly flat, and China finished 2025 with a trade surplus about 20% larger than in 2024.

China–U.S. Trade Continues to Shrink
Trade with the United States continued to weaken. Chinese shipments to the U.S. fell 30% year over year in December, extending losses for a ninth consecutive month, while imports from the U.S. dropped 29% over the same period, customs data showed.
For all of 2025, China’s exports to the U.S. declined 20%, while imports from the U.S. fell 14.6%. Customs spokesperson Lv Daliang commented that trade relations should remain mutually beneficial, calling for dialogue and negotiations to resolve disputes and expand cooperation.

Europe and Southeast Asia Take a Larger Role
By contrast, trade with other regions remained strong. Exports to the European Union rose 12% in December, while shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) increased 11%. Imports from European countries jumped 18%, while purchases from Southeast Asia fell 5%, keeping the overall trade balance firmly tilted in China’s favor.

Global Concerns Over the Size of the Surplus
The scale of China’s surplus has raised alarms internationally. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva urged Beijing in December to rely less on exports and accelerate efforts to boost domestic consumption.
Chinese officials said they plan to increase imports and pursue more balanced trade, but challenges remain. The nearly $19 trillion economy continues to face deflationary pressure, driven by a deep downturn in the property market, weaker household spending, a soft labor market, and fragile consumer confidence. Consumer prices stagnated through 2025, falling short of the official 2% target.

Limited Easing of Tensions With Washington
Signs of easing tensions with Washington remain modest. In October, Chinese President met with Donald Trump, who became the 47th President of the United States after winning the 2024 election. Talks resulted in a one-year trade truce, partial rollbacks of export controls, and adjustments to tariffs. Beijing also pledged to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans within two months.
Official data showed soybean imports totaled 111.8 million tons in 2025, up 6.5% year over year. December soybean imports rose 1.3% to 8 million tons. Exports of rare earths jumped 32% in December to 4,392 tons, while full-year shipments of the strategic minerals increased 12.9%.

Outlook: GDP and Commodity Signals
China is set to release annual GDP figures and fourth-quarter data on Monday. Economists expect Q4 growth of 4.5%, below the 5% growth target set by President Xi.
Iron ore also posted record trade figures, with China’s imports rising 1.8% to a record 1.26 billion tons in 2025—the third consecutive year of growth. However, rising stockpiles at ports in recent months suggest steel mill demand is starting to lag, pointing to emerging imbalances in the economy despite the record trade surplus.

#china , #GlobalTrade , #economy , #TRUMP , #worldnews

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Investor confidence in Adobe on Wall Street is rapidly fading. Analysts are more skeptical about the creative-software giant than at any point in the past decade, mainly due to growing doubts about whether the company can keep pace in the fast-moving era of artificial intelligence.
Investment bank Oppenheimer downgraded Adobe shares on Tuesday to a “perform” rating. This move is part of a broader wave of downgrades reflecting rising concerns over competition—particularly from players like OpenAI, which allow users to generate images and videos simply by typing text, without the need for professional creative tools.
As a result of these negative revisions, Adobe’s consensus analyst rating has fallen to 3.91 out of 5, its lowest level since 2013. This metric reflects the balance of analyst recommendations to buy, hold, or sell the stock.

Slowing Growth, Competitive Pressure, and Margin Concerns
Oppenheimer analyst Brian Schwartz outlined several headwinds that he believes will weigh on Adobe’s stock this year. These include a challenging business environment as companies increasingly shift toward AI-driven technologies, leading to weak and steadily slowing revenue growth. He also pointed to underwhelming product rollouts, doubts about the true strength of Adobe’s competitive position, reduced investor appetite for software stocks, and an expected decline in profit margins compared with last year.

Stock Performance Lags Far Behind the Tech Sector
Adobe’s share performance has significantly underperformed the broader technology market. The stock fell 2.6% on Tuesday and was down 6.4% year-to-date through Monday. This follows declines of more than 20% in both 2024 and 2025. Since the end of 2023, Adobe shares have lost over 45% of their value.
By comparison, a fund tracking software companies has gained nearly 30% over the same period. Companies viewed as winners of the AI boom—such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Palantir Technologies—have also performed strongly. The Nasdaq 100 index has surged by more than 50%, largely driven by the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks.

SaaS Sector Under Pressure From AI Startups
Software-as-a-service companies are facing growing investor skepticism. The concern is that AI-focused startups will offer cheaper, more accessible alternatives, siphoning customers away from established software providers and undermining long-term growth prospects.
Oppenheimer was not alone in cutting its outlook on Adobe in January. BMO Capital Markets downgraded the stock to “market perform,” citing intensifying competitive pressure in the creative-software market and a lack of positive catalysts. Jefferies had previously lowered its rating to “hold,” noting that there has been no clear uplift in revenue from AI so far. Growth has been slowing since fiscal year 2023, with early projections pointing to continued weakness into fiscal year 2026.

Goldman Sachs: AI Changes the Rules
Gabriela Borges of Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of Adobe on January 11 with a “sell” rating, reversing the firm’s previous “buy” stance. She wrote that while Adobe has historically navigated technological shifts well, artificial intelligence represents a fundamentally different disruption. By making design tools accessible to everyone, AI reduces the need for professional-grade software like Adobe’s.

Canva Emerges as a Major Threat
BMO also cut its price target for Adobe shares from $400 to $375, emphasizing that valuation is not the core issue. Instead, the main concern is intensifying competition. BMO now ranks Adobe at the bottom of its software coverage universe, while favoring rivals such as Salesforce and HubSpot.
Survey data reinforces these concerns. More than 50% of students now use Canva instead of Adobe. Nearly half of freelancers rely primarily on Canva, compared with only about 10% who use Adobe exclusively. More than half of respondents reported using both tools, a troubling sign given Adobe’s former dominance.
Canva is also expected to go public in 2026 or 2027, a move that could further increase pressure on Adobe. Canva’s shares have declined by roughly 20% over the past year, underperforming the broader software sector—and signaling that competition in the creative-software market is only set to intensify.

#WallStreet , #Adobe , #AI , #stockmarket , #Investing

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A young drug trafficker from Generation Z has been sentenced in South Korea to 20 years in prison after the court concluded that he systematically used cryptocurrencies as both a payment method and a money-laundering tool within a large-scale narcotics network with an estimated turnover of $4 million.
The verdict was delivered by the Ulsan District Court, where prosecutors detailed how the defendant and his group smuggled drugs into the country via international courier services and sold them through the Telegram messaging app. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a $4.2 million fine.
Presiding Judge Park Jeong-hong stated during sentencing that importing drugs through international parcel delivery is extremely difficult for police to detect. According to the judge, this form of crime is spreading rapidly, making exceptionally harsh punishments necessary. He emphasized that such activity is highly antisocial and has serious consequences for society as a whole.

Telegram as a “Drug Supermarket” for the Young
According to investigative records, Korean-language Telegram channels have effectively turned into “narcotics department stores,” particularly for young South Koreans. Payments for drugs were primarily made using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The defendant began selling drugs online as early as March 2020. Over time, he built a network of associates who helped operate multiple parallel sales channels on Telegram. The offerings included synthetic cannabinoids, marijuana, LSD, and methamphetamine, with most of the drugs smuggled in from Vietnam.
Cryptocurrencies were used not only to collect payments but also to launder proceeds from criminal activity. Distributors were paid a 10% commission on each successfully completed delivery.

Thousands of “Dead Drop” Deliveries Nationwide
The dealer relied on a nationwide network of smaller-scale sellers who carried out so-called “dead drops”—leaving packages of drugs in public places and sending buyers instructions on where to pick them up. Prosecutors revealed that between March 2022 and May 2023 alone, nearly 12,000 deliveries were made this way, involving more than 7,000 kilograms of methamphetamine pills.
The court stated that the defendant had created a distribution model that other drug dealers are now copying. According to the judge, this has significantly increased the sophistication and activity of the illegal drug market, effectively mass-producing new addicts and drug-related criminals.
In addition to the main defendant, three of his close associates were sentenced to between 30 months and three years in prison, all found guilty of drug distribution and money-laundering offenses.

Telegram Investigation and Limits of Cooperation
A year earlier, South Korean authorities launched an investigation into Telegram amid allegations that the platform was being used to distribute illicit content. However, investigators faced major obstacles due to Telegram’s refusal to provide user account data to law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally.
As a result, the Korea Communications Standard Commission (KCSC) added Telegram to its list of foreign platform partners, enabling it to request the removal of illegal content, including information related to narcotics.

Crypto Regulation Shift and New Money-Laundering Methods
At the same time, a significant regulatory shift has taken place. South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) lifted its ban on corporate investments in cryptocurrencies, a restriction that had previously been justified by concerns over money laundering. The final version of the rules is expected to be published in January or February, with the draft allowing legal entities to invest up to 5% of shareholder equity in cryptocurrencies within the top 20 by market capitalization.
Stablecoins are not yet included, with a decision on them to be made later. According to Chainalysis, stablecoins accounted for 84% of illicit on-chain transaction volume in 2025, making them the most commonly used digital asset in criminal activity.
Investments will be permitted only through the country’s five largest regulated exchanges: Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, INEX, and Coinone.
However, anti-money-laundering experts warn that criminal groups are increasingly shifting toward casinos and chip-to-cash cycles, which they consider safer than crypto. The warning follows reports that Chinese nationals used casinos on Jeju Island and in other regions to launder money obtained from voice-phishing scams.

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