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Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD) have struck a deal with the US government to pay 15% of their revenue from AI chip sales to China, including Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308, in exchange for export licenses. This unprecedented arrangement, brokered under the Trump administration, effectively monetizes US trade policy by making the government a financial partner in these transactions. Critics, including former trade negotiators, warn of the dangerous precedent this sets for global trade. The policy is part of Trump’s broader trade strategy, which includes sweeping tariffs on goods like gold and demands for China to quadruple soybean purchases. While Nvidia and AMD aim to maintain market access in China, Beijing’s growing hostility to US chips and the unusual nature of this export tax could complicate future relations. Additionally, Trump’s tariffs are beginning to impact US consumers, with Goldman Sachs predicting higher inflation as companies pass on costs. This deal, alongside other trade moves like gold tariffs and soybean demands, underscores a significant shift in US trade policy with far-reaching economic implications.
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Inflation remained persistent in July, with core inflation (excluding food and energy) rising 0.3% month-over-month, the highest in six months, and 3.1% year-over-year, up from 2.9% in June, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Headline CPI held steady at a 2.7% annual increase, below the expected 2.8%, with a 0.2% monthly rise driven by lower gasoline and softer food prices. Specific categories like footwear (up 1.4%), furniture, and airline fares saw notable increases, hinting at tariff-related cost pass-through as the US effective tariff rate hits 18.6%, the highest since 1933. Despite sticky inflation, experts like Seema Shah from Principal Asset Management believe the data won't deter the Federal Reserve from a potential rate cut in September, with investors now estimating a 90% chance of a 0.25% cut. However, future inflationary pressures from tariffs could complicate later rate decisions. Markets reacted positively, with stocks rising and the 10-year Treasury yield below 4.3%, reflecting optimism for monetary easing. The report underscores ongoing trade policy impacts and raises questions about the Fed's balancing act between inflation control and economic growth.
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Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL), the company behind the USDC stablecoin, unveiled Arc, a new layer-1 blockchain focused on stablecoin applications, on August 12, 2025. Arc, compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, uses USDC as its native gas token and aims to support enterprise-grade stablecoin payments and capital markets solutions. A public testnet is slated for this fall, with full integration into Circle’s platform and interoperability with numerous partner blockchains. Alongside this launch, Circle reported impressive Q2 2025 earnings, with a 53% year-over-year revenue increase to $658 million and a 52% rise in adjusted EBITDA to $126 million. However, a net loss of $482 million was recorded due to non-cash charges tied to its recent IPO. Following its public debut on the NYSE in June 2025, Circle’s stock surged 6.5% in pre-market trading to $172.01. CEO Jeremy Allaire highlighted the company’s sustained growth and adoption across diverse use cases. With a market cap of $65 billion, Circle holds a significant 24% share of the stablecoin market since its founding in 2013.
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Do Kwon, the South Korean cryptocurrency entrepreneur behind Terraform Labs, is set to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud and wire fraud in a U.S. court. Kwon, who developed the TerraUSD stablecoin and Luna token, is accused of misleading investors by falsely claiming a computer algorithm stabilized TerraUSD’s value in 2021, when he allegedly orchestrated secret purchases to prop up its price. This deception contributed to the $40 billion collapse of both currencies in 2022, impacting retail and institutional investors. Initially pleading not guilty to a nine-count indictment, Kwon now faces sentencing following his plea. In 2024, he settled with the SEC for $4.55 billion, including an $80 million fine and a crypto transaction ban. Detained since his extradition from Montenegro, Kwon is among several crypto figures charged amid the 2022 digital token market crash.
