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Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee recently defended central bank independence and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid political pressure from President Trump and his allies. In a Yahoo Finance interview, Goolsbee stressed that independence from political interference is vital for economic stability, citing higher inflation and worse growth in countries lacking it. He praised Powell as honorable and highly capable, despite Trump’s frustration with Powell’s cautious approach to interest rates and concerns over potential inflation from tariffs. Goolsbee mirrored Powell’s “wait and see” stance on rate cuts, noting that while tariffs are raising goods prices, the impact hasn’t extended to services. He highlighted the uncertainty caused by staggered tariff implementations and geopolitical factors, suggesting that rate cuts depend on clearer inflation data. Meanwhile, internal Fed divisions persist, with Governor Christopher Waller advocating for a rate cut in July, contrasting with market expectations of a hold until September. Goolsbee refrained from predicting specific rate cut timelines, emphasizing the need to monitor inflation trends closely.
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North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has issued a stark warning that Congress must act by early 2025 to pass critical cryptocurrency legislation, or risk it being derailed by political gridlock and the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking to Bloomberg, Tillis highlighted the urgency as the government shutdown, ongoing since October 1, and disputes over funding have stalled progress on key bills like the CLARITY Act, which seeks to clarify regulatory oversight of digital assets between the CFTC and SEC. Despite bipartisan support—evidenced by the House passing the CLARITY Act and the earlier GENIUS Act becoming law—Senate discussions have faltered due to a leaked DeFi proposal and the shutdown. Recent closed-door meetings with industry leaders show renewed bipartisan efforts, with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong noting 90% of issues resolved and a potential Thanksgiving deadline. However, skepticism persists, with Polymarket data indicating only a 20% chance of passage by 2025. As other nations advance their digital asset frameworks, the U.S. risks falling behind if it cannot overcome political paralysis. Tillis emphasized that failure to act by February could render the current push for crypto reform effectively “dead,” underscoring the fragile momentum in Washington.
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The Morning Minute newsletter by Tyler Warner highlights significant developments in the crypto market, with a focus on the launch of the first U.S. spot Solana ETFs, including the Bitwise Spot Solana ETF (BSOL) and Grayscale Solana Trust, alongside Litecoin and Hedera ETFs. This marks Solana’s entry into the ETF space, following Bitcoin and Ethereum, with BSOL uniquely offering staking to compound yields. Trading near $200, Solana’s momentum as a top-5 crypto by market cap is bolstered by this move, enhancing liquidity and access for institutional and retirement accounts. However, the absence of BlackRock, a dominant player in BTC and ETH ETFs, suggests tempered expectations for inflows. Other news includes slight declines in major cryptos like BTC (-1% at $114,500) and ETH (-1% at $4,120), a $500M raise by MegaETH in its ICO, and political moves to ban crypto trading for U.S. elected officials. Additionally, Ethereum treasury stock ETHZ surged 14% after a $40M ETH sale, while NFT and memecoin markets showed mixed results. France’s potential Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and Mt. Gox’s delayed repayments also made headlines, reflecting the dynamic and evolving crypto landscape.
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Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm has issued a urgent plea to shareholders to approve CEO Elon Musk’s unprecedented compensation package, potentially worth $1 trillion, warning that his departure could jeopardize Tesla’s future. In a letter to shareholders, Denholm emphasized Musk’s indispensable role in driving Tesla’s success across automotive, robotics, and autonomous driving sectors, arguing that without an equitable pay-for-performance plan, Tesla risks losing his leadership and significant value. The package, linked to ambitious targets like a $8.5 trillion market cap, faces opposition from proxy advisers Glass Lewis and ISS, who deem it excessive. Musk, embroiled in a legal battle over his 2018 pay package, has criticized these advisers harshly. Despite concerns over Musk’s political engagements harming Tesla’s brand, analysts like Dan Ives predict shareholder approval at the November 5 meeting, viewing it as crucial during a critical phase for Tesla. Denholm insists Musk alone can lead Tesla to new heights in growth and societal impact.
