Revenue Generation - Tether generates revenue from interest-bearing Treasuries [1] - Tether's revenue chart indicates it makes more money doing nothing new than all Web3 innovators together [1] Market Dynamics - AI is highlighted as the most disruptive tech, suggesting potential investment opportunities in stablecoins backed by loans against AI hardware and compute [1] - The observation positions Tether as the "killer app" of crypto [1] Potential Risks - The report raises a question about the impact of interest rate cuts on Tether's revenue chart [1]

It is unprecedented. I've never seen anything like it. I mean, the Fed has come under pressure in the past from the White House famous cases in the 1980s.Paul Vulker uh almost resigned when uh Reagan administration officials pushed him to cut interest rates in the 1970s. Arthur Burns was under a lot of pressure. Well, I haven't seen anything like this where a governor is being told to step down, is being fired by the president.If Lisa Cook did commit fraud, if she uh made misstatements on her mortgage appli ...

Watch live coverage as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing after Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook sued President Donald Trump on Thursday, the beginning of a landmark legal battle over Trump's "unprecedented and illegal" efforts to remove her from the central bank and by extension the committee that makes crucial decisions about the nation's interest rates. For more context and news coverage of the most important stories of our day click here: https://www.msnbc.com/ » Subsc ...

Market Overview - Fed chair Jerome Pal's dovish comments on interest rates boosted cryptocurrencies [1] - Ethereum reached all-time highs recently, outperforming Bitcoin in recent months [1][2][3] Ethereum Analysis - Ethereum is viewed as an operating system for crypto applications, supporting stable coins and asset tokenization [4][5] - Investors are excited about Ethereum's technology over the long term, viewing it as a tech investment [6][8] - Ethereum's rally is attributed to expectations of faster interest rate cuts, leading to more investment in high-growth technologies [8] Bitcoin Analysis - Bitcoin is considered a digital store of value, similar to gold, with a fixed supply [3][4] - Bitwise predicts Bitcoin will reach $1.3 million by 2035, achieving an annualized growth rate near 30% [9][10] - The drivers for Bitcoin's long-term rally include concerns about government debt and the debasement of fiat currencies [10] - Institutional investors can now access Bitcoin through ETFs, unlocking a new wave of demand [12] Investment Strategy - Crypto, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, is considered a long-term investment [14] - A minimum three-year holding period is recommended due to the volatility of crypto assets [16] - Constant allocation and rebalancing of portfolios are important to manage position size [16] - Buying the dips is a favored strategy [15][17]

Fed Independence & Monetary Policy - The markets are currently focused on the short run, particularly the upcoming Fed meeting in September, while the long-run economic effects of current events, such as potential higher inflation and long-term bond yields, are being overlooked [2][3][4] - Maintaining an independent monetary policy is crucial because monetary policy affects the economy in the long run, and an independent central bank focuses on long-term price stability and maximum employment goals [4][5] - Concerns exist that the government is pressuring Fed members, escalating from earlier instances like considering firing the chair, potentially undermining Fed independence [5][6] - The public nature and vitriol of the attacks, based on allegations and innuendo without due process, are unprecedented and could lead to the removal of officials based on arbitrary reasons, jeopardizing Fed independence [7][8] - Undermining Fed independence could negatively affect the American economy, households, and businesses, even if policymakers remain unbiased, as the mere perception of political influence can impact markets [9] Political Influence & Board Composition - There is concern about the possibility of a political majority on the Fed board influencing the reappointment of the 12 Federal Reserve presidents, potentially leading to a significant shift in the Fed's composition [10][11][12] - The reappointment process involves an objective performance evaluation by the boards of directors of each reserve bank, but concerns exist that political considerations could override this process [13][14] - In a normal case, Fed governors would not refuse to reappoint someone based on a whim or policy views; there would have to be a substantive issue [15] Lisa Cook & Due Process - Lisa Cook is listening to her legal counsel, and it may not be the right time for her to publicly defend herself [19] - The situation has moved beyond a normal internal investigation process and has become a legal case, circumventing standard procedures [20][21] - If a president can remove someone based on allegations without facts, Fed independence is lost, highlighting the damaging nature of the situation [22]

Tariffs and Trade Policy - Trump's 50% tariff on India, due to its continued purchase of Russian oil, has taken effect [1][10] - A key tariff exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is expiring, leading to postal service suspensions from at least 20 countries [1] - The expiration of the "de minimis" exemption will result in taxes on previously cheaper, low-value goods imported from overseas, potentially increasing inflation rates [2] - The average tariff rate is well in excess of 15%, the highest since 1934, which is expected to lead to higher prices for consumers and increased inflation [3] - Small business owners face uncertainty due to shifting trade policies, moving manufacturing locations only to be met with new tariffs [11] Inflation and Economic Impact - Inflation is a major concern for consumers, impacting their financial well-being and potentially influencing political outcomes [4][5] - Cutting interest rates when stocks are at an all-time high and the money supply is up 45%, with nearly $7 trillion in money market mutual funds, is an unusual economic environment [12][13] - The economy is still growing, and the unemployment rate is still down, while inflation is moving higher [13] - Increased inflation is expected to follow policies similar to those of Nixon in 1972, as well as authoritarian leaders like Erdogan in Turkey and actions taken in Argentina [23][24] Federal Reserve and Political Influence - There are concerns that Trump is attempting to influence the Federal Reserve for short-term political gains, potentially leading to a surge in equity prices but ultimately backfiring [6][7][8] - Trump is trying to "gerrymander the Fed" by appointing governors who will support his policies, potentially impacting the reappointment of Federal Reserve presidents in various districts [16] - CEOs should be concerned about Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve, as they can become complicit in the erosion of core American values by remaining silent [16][17][19]

In Donald Trump’s latest attack on the Federal Reserve he said he was sacking Lisa Cook, a governor on its board. Many fear that he is trying to take over America’s central bank to quickly lower interest rates. We explain why this crusade will be self-defeating https://t.co/rJPmH0TBMy ...

Financial Performance - Circle's price-to-earnings ratio is 192x against 2024 net income, framing it as a high-growth opportunity [1] Market Dynamics & Risks - To neutralize a 100 basis point rate cut, USDC in circulation needs to increase by about 25%, requiring a $153 billion cash infusion into the crypto economy [1] - If the Federal Reserve delivers a minimum step 25 basis point cut, Circle needs to grow USDC supply by approximately $38 billion to maintain current profitability [2] - The relationship between interest rates and USDC in circulation is complex, highly uncertain, and unproven [3] - Rate cut cycles occur at an aggressive pace once incited [3] - Circle faces mathematical challenges with lower interest rate dynamics [3]

We begin with the latest on the drama surrounding President Trump's decision to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. The Fed saying it would abide by any court decision on whether the president has the legal authority to make that move. Let's bring in Steve Leeman who spoke with another Fed member this morning, Steve, and uh he offered his thoughts on it.>> Yeah, I'm going to start off with what investors are most focused on, which is interest rates. New York Fed President John Williams in an exclusive CNBC intervi ...

Market & Economic Outlook - The market's muted response to Fed actions may change, particularly concerning the president's ability to fire Lisa Cook [2][3] - Markets anticipate lower short-term rates, expecting it to benefit risk assets [4] - Potential for a stagflation scenario, characterized by recession and rising inflation, similar to the Nixon era [7] Interest Rate Dynamics - A 1 percentage point cumulative decline in the federal funds rate from September to December 2024 saw a 90 basis points increase in the 10-year yield [4][5] - If markets perceive a Fed rate cut as unjustified by inflation expectations, long-term yields may rise, diverging from short-term yields [10][11] - A 50 basis points interest rate cut by Jerome Powell in September of last year was perceived as politically motivated, leading to market skepticism [11][12] Potential Triggers for Yield Increases - Firing of Lisa Cook and replacement with a nominee favoring rate cuts could trigger yield increases due to potential dissents from Jerome Powell [15] - A higher-than-expected PCE inflation report, such as 3.1% instead of the anticipated 2.9%, could cause yields to surge [16] - Presidential stacking of the Fed with favorable nominees, undermining its independence, could also lead to yield increases [17] Timing - The period between September and the end of the year is identified as a potential timeframe for significant market events [18]