Key TakeawaysJapan is forming a new public-private council to significantly enhance its economic security posture, addressing growing global uncertainties and vulnerabilities in critical supply chains.The initiative is a central component of Japan's broader strategy, highlighted by the ongoing Tokyo Economic Security Forum, aimed at fostering deeper collaboration between government and private industry.Key focus areas for the council include strengthening resilience in vital sectors such as semiconductors, ...

Economic Security Myths Debunked - Delegation with slashing incentivizes careful operator selection, contrary to the belief that delegation negates security [1] - Relying solely on forking for security is impractical due to the time required, necessitating economic security for pre-fork finality [2] - Economic security can be automated through a market where users directly purchase security, addressing the issue of burnt slashed funds [3] - Economic security's failure to protect against liveness attacks stems from chain design flaws, not inherent limitations [4] Proof of Stake (PoS) vs Proof of Work (PoW) - Incentivizing stake is crucial, as committees alone resemble less secure systems like Libra [5] - While current PoS reward curves are arbitrary, market-driven security pricing can emerge through mechanisms like Stakesure [6] - PoW is essentially staking via mining devices, but PoS allows for burning or redistributing misbehaving miners' stake [7] Building Secure Chains - Security pricing is essential for resource provisioning and overall chain security [8] - Understanding economic security is crucial for building self-enforcing chains, contrasting with less robust committee chains [7]

Staking & Economic Security - Staking yields should be low due to rare or non-existent slashing, as high interest for risk-free activities with slight liquidity disruptions is illogical [1] - The industry should be cautious about dismissing economic security, as increasing value on chains elevates attack incentives, and relying on social layers can lead to destructive politics [2] - Crypto-economic security aims to replace human interaction with enforced protocol rules; validators fearing slashing behave differently [3] - If a native coin isn't needed for security, it has little value, highlighting the link between coin value, incentives, and security [4] Tokenomics & Protocol Design - If security doesn't rely on incentives, the coin's value is questionable; equity issuance and stablecoin fees become viable alternatives [5] - More experimentation with slashing is needed in protocol design, balancing risk with worthwhile rewards [5] - A PoS chain with more slashing and higher inflation offers a sophisticated way to incentivize validators towards desirable outcomes, benefiting DeFi with risk-adjusted yield options [6]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry or specific companies involved in the US-Japan tariff negotiations Core Insights - The third round of US-Japan tariff negotiations did not result in significant changes, with Japan continuing to advocate for the removal of reciprocal tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum [2] - Economic security emerged as a key theme in the discussions, reflecting its importance in both the US-Japan negotiations and the recent US-UK trade agreement [4] - The Japanese government is exploring the establishment of a "Japan-US fund for reviving the shipbuilding industry," indicating a focus on enhancing cooperation in sectors deemed critical for national security [6] Summary by Sections Trade Negotiations - The third round of negotiations on May 23 saw no major shifts in Japan's position, with a focus on achieving an agreement during the upcoming G7 summit [2] - A telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Donald Trump prior to the negotiations covered various topics, including tariff negotiations and economic security [3] Economic Security - Economic security was highlighted as a significant factor in the negotiations, with implications for tariffs on key imports [4] - The discussions included Japan's interest in securing rare earth supplies and cooperation on alternative technologies, further emphasizing the strategic nature of the negotiations [3] Shipbuilding Industry - The potential establishment of a Japan-US fund for the shipbuilding industry could lead to deeper collaboration in this sector, which is viewed as vital for national security [6] - The report suggests that government initiatives aimed at enhancing economic security will impact a wide range of Japanese companies beyond just shipbuilding [6] Investment Opportunities - The trade talks are expected to encourage further investment in the US, particularly in shipbuilding and other sectors related to economic security [5] - President Trump's recent announcements regarding commercial deals in the Middle East, totaling around $2 trillion, may also serve to attract more Japanese investment in the US manufacturing sector [7]