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St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem has expressed concerns that President Trump's new tariffs might not just cause temporary price hikes but could lead to a more persistent increase in inflation. This perspective contrasts with Fed Chair Jerome Powell's belief that any inflation from tariffs would be short-lived. Musalem pointed out during a speech in Kentucky that while the direct effects of tariffs might be brief, the indirect effects, such as consumers switching from imported to domestic goods, could have lasting impacts on inflation. This comes at a time when the Federal Reserve has decided to keep interest rates unchanged, yet revised its outlook to expect higher inflation and lower economic growth due to uncertainties from Trump's tariff plans. Musalem's comments reflect a broader debate within the Fed about how to respond to these economic policies, with some officials advocating for a cautious approach to rate adjustments while closely monitoring economic indicators. The discussion also touches on the potential for inflation expectations to rise, which could necessitate a more restrictive monetary policy in the future.
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RealEstate.Exchange (REX), a platform for tokenized real estate trading, has launched on the Polygon blockchain, aiming to provide retail investors with a compliant venue for fractional property investments. The platform addresses liquidity issues in real estate by offering a secondary market for trading. REX's initial listings include two luxury properties in Miami, Florida, with plans to expand to various property types. Polygon was selected for its low transaction costs, fast settlement times, and robust security features. REX is licensed in the US through Texture Capital and is seeking further regulatory compliance in the EU, South Africa, and the UAE. The parent company, DigiShares, has been involved in tokenizing real estate assets worth between $100 million and $200 million since 2018. The broader real-world asset (RWA) tokenization market, which includes real estate, has reached a cumulative value of $62 billion, with real estate tokens being the most numerous but smaller in value compared to other asset classes. The industry is poised for significant growth, potentially reaching into the trillions of dollars in the future.
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Bitcoin's price trajectory is under scrutiny as network economist Timothy Peterson predicts a 75% chance of the cryptocurrency hitting new highs within the next nine months. Peterson's analysis, based on a decade of Bitcoin price data, indicates that the current price is near the lower threshold of its historical range, positioning it favorably for a potential rally. He further notes a 50% chance of Bitcoin gaining over 50% in the short term. This optimism is supported by historical data showing significant bullish performance in April and October. However, the market's psychology could shift if Bitcoin dips below the cost basis of $84,000 to $85,000, a critical liquidity zone identified by on-chain analysis. Investors and traders are advised to monitor these levels closely for signs of trend strength or potential reversals.
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The article discusses the recent trends in Bitcoin's market dynamics, highlighting significant outflows from exchanges and the potential for a bull market resumption. On March 25, 2025, Bitcoin saw its highest daily outflow since July 2024, with over $2.4 billion worth of BTC withdrawn from exchanges. This movement was largely driven by whales, who withdrew over 11,574 BTC, suggesting a reduction in sell pressure and an accumulation phase. Concurrently, spot Bitcoin ETFs have experienced continuous inflows since March 14, 2025, indicating a resurgence in institutional demand. The article also notes that Bitcoin's price is attempting to break above $90,000, with the key resistance being the 20-weekly EMA at $88,682. Historical data suggests that surpassing this level could lead to significant price rallies, as seen in previous instances. Analysts emphasize the importance of this trendline for Bitcoin's future price movements, with a reclaim of the 2025 yearly open at around $93,300 being crucial for confirming a path toward new all-time highs.
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In a recent interview with Cointelegraph, Michael Egorov, the founder of Curve Finance, highlighted the potential growth areas within decentralized finance (DeFi) for 2025. He emphasized the rise of specialized decentralized exchanges (DEXs) designed to address specific issues like foreign currency exchange, particularly between stablecoins of different denominations. Egorov pointed out the challenge of providing liquidity without financial loss while still earning profits, a problem he believes will soon be resolved. Additionally, the landscape for stablecoins and tokenized assets is expected to expand as financial institutions and blockchain developers introduce new offerings. Despite these advancements, Egorov noted that regulatory frameworks are lagging, still relying on outdated laws from the 20th century. The DeFi sector has already shown significant growth, with DEX volumes reaching new heights in early 2025, and stablecoin adoption increasing by 53% year-over-year, with the market cap surpassing $227 billion. Meanwhile, institutional investors are also showing increased interest in crypto allocations for 2025.
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Elon Musk is currently navigating Tesla through a period where his political activities have somewhat overshadowed the company's core business. Despite this, Tesla's stock has seen a significant 25% increase over the past week, spurred by Musk's renewed engagement with the company, highlighted by an all-hands meeting where he shared his vision for Tesla's future. This vision includes ambitious plans for a fleet of robotaxis and humanoid robots, which are seen as key to Tesla's long-term success rather than its immediate car sales. The stock's performance indicates that investors are betting on these future innovations, with analysts like Cathie Wood predicting that robotaxis could constitute 90% of Tesla's value in the coming years. This "faith-based" investment approach underscores the belief in Musk's ability to innovate, overshadowing current market challenges like declining EV sales in major markets. However, this focus on future potential also raises questions about the sustainability of such optimism if these futuristic projects do not materialize as expected.
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In anticipation of US President Donald Trump's planned global tariffs set for April 2, borrowers are hastening to secure bond deals amidst a relatively calm market. This week has seen an unprecedented rush with over 40 issuers in Europe alone, marking the busiest three-day period since January. Notable transactions include a hybrid bond from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE, Moroccan government bonds for World Cup financing, and high-yield debt from Itelyum Regeneration Spa. The urgency stems from Trump's upcoming "Liberation Day" announcement, which promises reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose tariffs on US goods. This has not only spurred activity in Europe but also in Asia Pacific and the US, where significant bond issuances have been recorded. The market's response reflects a preemptive strategy to mitigate the potential volatility expected from the new tariff impositions.
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US stocks showed mixed performance on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 remaining flat, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slightly up by 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite experiencing a decline of 0.3%. The market's direction was influenced by President Trump's fluctuating stance on tariffs, causing uncertainty among investors. Notably, copper prices hit a record high following reports that tariffs on copper imports might be implemented within weeks. In corporate news, GameStop's stock surged by 11% after the company announced it would invest in bitcoin, reflecting a broader trend of companies exploring cryptocurrency investments. Meanwhile, Dollar Tree's shares rose nearly 3% after it announced the sale of its Family Dollar business for $1 billion, although this gain was tempered by a quarterly profit miss. Tesla, on the other hand, saw its stock decline by 1.5% in premarket trading, potentially snapping a recent winning streak amidst various operational and market challenges.
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Tabit, an insurance company based in Barbados, has innovatively raised $40 million in Bitcoin to bolster its balance sheet, marking a significant move in the insurance sector's engagement with digital assets. Despite its Bitcoin capital, Tabit's insurance policies are priced in US dollars, providing a regulated dollar return on an alternative asset class. Founded by former Bittrex executives, Tabit positions itself as the first property and casualty insurer to hold its entire regulatory reserve in Bitcoin. This approach not only diversifies the company's capital base but also taps into a new source of insurance capital through digital assets. The broader context includes the growing intersection of blockchain technology and insurance, with companies like Nayms and Ensuro facilitating connections between capital providers and insurance brokers, highlighting the potential for blockchain to revolutionize insurance transparency and efficiency.
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Ethereum developers are currently grappling with the challenges of deploying the Pectra upgrade, which has encountered significant hurdles during its testing phase. Initially planned for a March mainnet launch, the upgrade was first tested on the Holesky testnet on February 24, where it failed to finalize, leading to further investigations. Subsequent tests on the Sepolia testnet on March 5 were also marred by errors, exacerbated by an unknown attacker exploiting an edge case to mine empty blocks. In response, a new testnet named "Hoodi" was introduced on March 17, with the Pectra upgrade scheduled for testing on March 26. Nixo Rokish from the Ethereum Foundation highlighted the exhaustion among developers, particularly those working on the consensus layer, due to these unforeseen issues. Despite these setbacks, Ethereum's development continues to progress, with the recent Dencun upgrade significantly reducing gas fees, showcasing the network's ongoing improvements.
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US stock futures remained stable on Wednesday, with investors closely monitoring President Trump's statements regarding potential tariffs. The S&P 500 futures showed little movement after three consecutive days of gains, while contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq 100 also experienced minimal changes. The market's reaction has been volatile due to Trump's fluctuating stance on tariffs, with recent comments suggesting a possible return to stringent measures against countries like the EU and Canada, which previously led to a market sell-off. Additionally, the White House is reportedly accelerating plans for tariffs on copper, causing copper prices to reach an all-time high. In corporate news, GameStop's stock surged in premarket trading after the company announced it would invest in bitcoin, and Dollar Tree's shares rose following news of a potential sale of its Family Dollar business. Meanwhile, Barclays has lowered its outlook on stocks, citing concerns over tariffs and economic data.
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President Trump's aggressive tariff policies are significantly altering US trade dynamics, impacting both allies and adversaries. With the looming deadline of April 2, referred to by Trump as "Liberation Day," there's anticipation of retaliatory tariffs on all US trade partners. However, Trump has introduced uncertainty by suggesting potential exemptions and a more measured approach, focusing on countries with unfavorable trade balances. The US has already enacted a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, leading to counter-tariffs from the EU, Canada, and Mexico. These actions have sparked a trade war, with the EU delaying some retaliatory tariffs until mid-April. Additionally, Trump has plans for sector-specific tariffs on autos, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, chips, and lumber, further complicating the trade landscape. The market remains on edge, with businesses and investors bracing for the impact of these policies, which could lead to increased costs and economic strain.
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Barclays has joined other Wall Street banks in expressing caution about the stock market's future, with strategist Venu Krishna lowering the 2025 S&P 500 price target from 6,600 to 5,900. This adjustment reflects concerns over tariffs and deteriorating economic data, which are expected to reduce the earnings power of S&P 500 companies. Krishna highlighted the negative impact on sectors like Consumer Discretionary and Industrials due to trade policy uncertainties and manufacturing PMI issues. Conversely, Barclays sees potential in the Financial sector, upgrading its outlook to Positive, expecting benefits from deregulation once tariff disputes are settled. This cautious outlook comes amidst broader economic concerns, including weak retail sales, consumer confidence, and warnings from major companies like Delta, FedEx, and Nike about near-term demand. The market's reaction to these uncertainties has been a repricing, reflecting the ambiguity introduced by both corporate and political actions.
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Tesla, once a symbol of progressive environmentalism, is currently facing a significant public relations crisis. The company's stock has been on a downward trend since the beginning of the year, exacerbated by declining sales in major markets like Europe, China, and the US. CEO Elon Musk's political affiliations, particularly his closeness to President Trump and right-wing European politicians, have sparked protests and acts of vandalism against Tesla showrooms and vehicles. This situation has been highlighted by a recent protest in front of a Tesla dealership in New York City. Crisis management expert Eric Dezenhall, in a conversation with Yahoo Finance, emphasized the difficulty of maintaining a consumer brand's appeal when its leader is politically divisive. He suggests that Tesla's image as an eco-friendly "badge" product has been tarnished, drawing parallels with Bud Light's recent brand identity crisis. Dezenhall advises that for Tesla to recover, Musk might need to step back from politics and focus on business, although he acknowledges the challenge in advising figures like Musk who often defy conventional norms. The board's role in managing this crisis also comes under scrutiny, with suggestions that they might be too deferential to Musk's leadership.
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Google Play has blocked access to 17 unregistered overseas cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea following a directive from the country's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under the Financial Services Commission (FSC). This action, announced on March 21, targets exchanges that failed to comply with South Korea's Specified Financial Information Act, which mandates virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to report to authorities. The list of 22 unregistered platforms was published by the FSC on March 26, with 17 of these now restricted on Google Play, preventing new downloads and updates. This initiative is part of broader efforts to curb money laundering and protect local users from potential financial damages. The FIU is also working with Apple Korea and the Korea Communications Standards Commission to extend these restrictions to other platforms. The move reflects South Korea's increasing regulatory scrutiny over cryptocurrency exchanges, highlighted by recent controversies involving major local exchanges like Bithumb.
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In a recent episode of Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid podcast, Gary Cohn, former director of the National Economic Council and current IBM vice chair, discussed the impact of policy ambiguity on financial markets. Cohn emphasized that markets thrive on predictability and certainty, stating that ambiguity, whether from corporate earnings or legislative policies, is detrimental to market stability. He highlighted the ongoing uncertainty around tariffs, noting that President Trump has promised new tariffs on April 2, which he has termed "Liberation Day." This announcement has markets on edge, with Goldman Sachs predicting that the initial tariff rates might be significantly higher than what market participants expect, potentially leading to negative market reactions. Cohn expressed hope for eventual policy stability, suggesting that clarity in tax policy, budget, and tariffs could stabilize markets. However, with the U.S. already implementing tariffs on Chinese imports and facing retaliatory measures from countries like China and Canada, the immediate future remains uncertain.
