Trump-era tariff policies reflect a protectionist approach focused on reducing trade deficits, pressuring trading partners, and incentivizing domestic manufacturing. Supporters argue tariffs protect local jobs and strengthen strategic industries, while critics highlight higher consumer prices, supply-chain disruptions, and retaliation risks from trading partners.
From a market perspective, tariffs tend to be inflationary in the short term, increase input costs for manufacturers, and add uncertainty to global trade. Long term effects depend on scale, duration, and whether companies successfully localize production or pass costs to consumers. Financial markets typically react with volatility, especially in industrials, technology hardware, autos, and commodities.
Overall, tariffs are as much a geopolitical tool as an economic one, with outcomes shaped by negotiations, exemptions, and global response rather than policy announcements alone.#TrumpTariffs
“Markets rarely move in a straight line. Volatility is not a threat—it is a natural and essential component of a healthy market cycle. Staying informed and understanding your risk tolerance are key to navigating market fluctuations effectively.” @Richard Teng
Communication Tips by CZ (Dec 2025) Be efficient. Don’t be polite. Get to the point. I hate formalities. I don’t chit chat.
You won’t get a response if you say any variation of the following: “Hi”, then nothing “How are you?” “Good day to you sir!” “Merry Xmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, etc” “Can we have a meeting?” (no agenda given) “Let’s discuss an important partnership” (no specifics) “Want to introduce you to XYZ (someone important)” (no specifics) You may be referred to this article. I am efficient with my time, even if you may consider it impolite (apologies). So, please be direct and tell me: I am ___ I need ___ (or) I can provide ___ If your first message is too long (more than one mobile screen with large fonts for an elderly like me), it will likely be skipped. A few tips: Don’t ask open ended questions, I usually won’t know the answer. Don’t ask me to interact with some meme coin. For most things, going through me is slower. I don’t do much. I am mostly just a router, a slow one. Hope you are not offended. Let’s communicate efficiently. Cheers, CZ
According to PANews, BlackRock is expanding its digital asset strategy by hiring for seven crypto-related roles, including six in the U.S. and one in Singapore. The U.S. positions focus on scaling iShares digital asset ETFs and developing next-generation investment products, while the Singapore role will lead BlackRock’s digital asset strategy in Asia, identifying strategic investments and long-term growth opportunities.
According to BlockBeats, on-chain data monitored by Lookonchain indicates that a trader known as “Maji” has faced an additional ten liquidations. Since the market downturn on October 11, the trader has reportedly undergone a total of 200 liquidations, with cumulative losses exceeding $22.88 million. As of now, the account balance has declined to approximately $53,178.
Grayscale: Quantum Computing Unlikely to Impact Crypto Markets in 2026
According to Odaily, Grayscale’s latest report, 2026 Digital Asset Outlook, states that although quantum computing presents long-term security risks, it is unlikely to have a meaningful impact on cryptocurrency market valuations in 2026. The asset management firm characterizes the quantum threat as a “false alarm” for the near term, noting that while the risk is real, it remains distant.
The report highlights industry estimates suggesting that quantum systems capable of breaking Bitcoin’s cryptography are unlikely to emerge before 2030. Grayscale analysts add that research into post-quantum cryptography is ongoing and necessary, but they do not expect quantum-related concerns to influence crypto prices within the next year.
Nasdaq Proposes Extended Trading Hours Under New “5×23” Model
According to BlockBeats, Nasdaq is preparing to submit a proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce extended stock trading hours through a new “5×23” model. The initiative would expand trading for stocks and exchange-traded products (ETPs) from the current five days a week, 16 hours per day, to up to 23 hours per day.
Under the proposed structure, trading will be divided into two primary sessions. The daytime session will run from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, encompassing pre-market, regular, and post-market trading, with the regular session operating from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The nighttime session will take place from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. the following day. Trades executed between 9:00 p.m. and midnight will be recorded as part of the next trading day.
If approved, the trading week would begin at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and conclude at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, marking a significant step toward near round-the-clock equity trading in U.S. markets.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee Postpones Cryptocurrency Regulation Hearing
According to PANews, the U.S. The Senate Banking Committee has delayed a planned hearing on proposed legislation aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework governing the cryptocurrency market structure until next year. Although a hearing had been anticipated this week, it did not take place.
A committee spokesperson stated on Monday that meaningful progress has been made on the bill through discussions between Chairman Tim Scott and Democratic lawmakers, but negotiations remain ongoing.
The postponement represents a setback for the cryptocurrency industry, which had hoped to see at least a revision hearing before year-end. While the sector initially targeted comprehensive legislation by 2025, limited progress has been achieved so far.
Looking ahead, the timing for renewed negotiations remains uncertain. Following the congressional holiday recess, lawmakers are expected to prioritize government funding, as the current appropriations bill is set to expire on January 30. Provided there is no government shutdown, the remaining window to address crypto market structure legislation may be constrained as attention shifts toward the upcoming midterm elections.
“Each market cycle introduces millions of new participants to the crypto space, with every new user contributing to the continued growth and expansion of the ecosystem.” — Richard Teng #RichardTeng
Aave DAO and Aave Labs Dispute CoW Swap Fee Distribution
According to Cointelegraph, a dispute has emerged between the Aave DAO and Aave Labs over the allocation of fees generated from Aave’s integration with decentralized exchange aggregator CoW Swap. A DAO member, EzR3aL, claimed that swap fees are being routed to a private on-chain address controlled by Aave Labs rather than the Aave DAO treasury, questioning why the DAO was not consulted and arguing the revenue should belong to the DAO.
Aave Labs responded that it controls the front-end interfaces and funded the development of the integration adapters, justifying its claim to the fees. However, several DAO members countered that the original adapter technology was DAO-funded.
Marc Zeller, founder of the Aave-Chan Initiative, criticized the decision as “unacceptable,” warning it redirects Aave user volume for private monetization. The situation highlights ongoing governance challenges within DAO structures. #DAO
High Probability of Bank of Japan Interest Rate Hike in December
According to data cited by BlockBeats, market expectations strongly favor a tightening move by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) at its upcoming policy meeting. Polymarket data indicates a 98% probability of a 25 basis point interest rate hike in December, while the probability of the BoJ maintaining its current policy rate is estimated at 2%.
Publicly available information shows that the Bank of Japan is scheduled to announce its interest rate decision on December 19. The anticipated move reflects growing market confidence that the BoJ may further adjust its ultra-loose monetary stance amid evolving domestic inflation dynamics and global monetary policy shifts.
Market participants are closely monitoring the decision, as any policy adjustment by the BoJ could have notable implications for the Japanese yen, regional equity markets, global bond yields, and risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin Options Worth $23.8 Billion Set to Expire on December 26
According to ChainCatcher, on-chain data analyst Murphy reports that Bitcoin options with a total nominal value of approximately $23.8 billion are scheduled to expire on December 26. The expiring contracts include quarterly options, annual options, and a large volume of structured products, making this one of the most significant BTC options expiries of the year.
Market participants expect this event to trigger a concentrated clearing and repricing of risk exposure across the Bitcoin derivatives market toward year-end. While BTC prices may remain structurally constrained ahead of the expiration.
Key Open Interest Levels Data shows a notable concentration of open interest (OI) around the current BTC spot price at two critical strike levels:
$85,000 Put Option: 14,674 BTC
$100,000 Call Option: 18,116 BTC
This positioning is not characteristic of retail trading behavior. Instead, it is widely attributed to large, long-term institutional participants, including ETF hedging strategies, BTC treasury-holding companies, and major family offices with substantial Bitcoin exposure.
Market Implications The strong demand for the $85,000 put options highlights proactive downside risk hedging, signaling that buyers are prioritizing protection at this level. Meanwhile, the heavy call open interest at $100,000 does not necessarily reflect bullish sentiment. Rather, it suggests that long-term holders are willing to cap upside potential in exchange for stable cash flow and controlled risk, often through structured option strategies.
By buying lower-strike puts and selling higher-strike calls, these participants compress BTC’s return distribution into a defined range. As a result, the $85,000–$100,000 options corridor is expected to exert a structural influence on Bitcoin’s price behavior ahead of December 26, characterized by: Implicit resistance above $100,000 Passive downside support near $85,000 Range-bound price fluctuations in between #BTC #ETFs
Gold: Has been a store of value for thousands of years. It is widely trusted during inflation and geopolitical uncertainty.
Bitcoin (BTC): Often called “Digital Gold.” It has a fixed supply of 21 million coins, which supports its long-term inflation-hedge narrative, but it has a much shorter history.
2. Volatility
Gold: Relatively stable with slow price movements. Lower risk, but also lower returns.
BTC: Highly volatile. Offers the potential for high returns, but with significant risk, especially in the short term.
3. Adoption & Acceptance
Gold: Universally accepted by central banks, industries, and investors.
BTC: Institutional adoption is growing (ETFs, funds, corporate exposure), but regulatory uncertainty still exists.
4. Liquidity & Portability
Gold: Physical asset; storage, security, and transportation can be challenging.
BTC: Digital and highly portable; can be transferred globally within minutes.
5. Market Behavior
Gold: Traditionally a safe-haven asset; often performs well when equity markets decline.
BTC: Still behaves more like a risk asset; sensitive to liquidity conditions and monetary policy.
6. Supply Dynamics
Gold: Supply increases gradually through mining.
BTC: Supply is capped and reduced through halving events, increasing scarcity over time.
Conclusion (Balanced View):
Conservative investors: Gold offers stability and capital preservation.
U.S. Economic Indicators to Shape Market Direction Amid Fed Rate Cut Expectations
According to PANews, despite the Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut and increasingly dovish policy signals, U.S. equity and bond markets continue to show mixed performance. This divergence is partly attributed to ongoing challenges within the artificial intelligence sector, which have weighed on investor sentiment. In the coming days, a series of key U.S. economic releases are expected to offer clearer insight into the underlying strength of the economy.
Key Events to Watch This Week (UTC+8):
Monday
21:30 – Release of the December New York Fed Manufacturing Index
22:30 – Speech by Federal Reserve Governor Milan
23:30 – FOMC permanent voter and New York Fed President John Williams discusses the economic outlook
Tuesday
21:30 – U.S. November unemployment rate
21:30 – November seasonally adjusted non-farm payrolls
21:30 – October retail sales monthly growth rate
Wednesday
22:05 – New York Fed President Williams delivers opening remarks at the 2025 Forex Market Structure Conference
Thursday
01:30 – 2027 FOMC voter and Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic speaks on economic prospects
21:30 – Release of key U.S. data, including:
November CPI annual rate and core CPI annual rate
November CPI monthly rate and core CPI monthly rate
Initial jobless claims for the week ending December 13
December Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index
The upcoming U.S. CPI release is expected to be a critical catalyst for currency markets, particularly the U.S. dollar. A lower-than-expected inflation reading—currently at 3%, still above the Fed’s 2% target—would further support the Fed’s rate-cut trajectory and could add downward pressure on the dollar. Conversely, a stronger-than-expected CPI print may challenge easing expectations and trigger a near-term rebound in the dollar.
Intent-based transactions let users specify what they want to achieve, not how to execute it.
Execution complexity is handled by third-party agents called solvers or fillers.
This approach improves UX, reduces fees, and offers protection against certain MEV attacks.
Trade-offs include potential centralization and limited transparency in solver execution.
Overview Intent-based transactions simplify DeFi by allowing users to express a desired outcome (e.g., minimum price or amount received). Instead of manually managing routes, gas, and liquidity, users submit an intent, and competing solvers find the most efficient way to fulfill it.
How It Works
1. User Intent: The user signs a message defining the desired outcome.
2. Solver Competition: Solvers compete off-chain to find the best execution path.
3. On-Chain Settlement: The winning solver executes the trade, often covering gas fees upfront.
Benefits
Better UX: Fewer failed transactions and gasless swaps.
MEV Protection: Reduced exposure to front-running and sandwich attacks.
Improved Pricing: Access to aggregated on-chain and off-chain liquidity.
Examples
CoW Protocol, UniswapX, 1inch Fusion, Across Protocol
Conclusion Intent-based transactions aim to make DeFi more intuitive and efficient by abstracting execution complexity. As adoption grows, they could enable cheaper, safer, and more user-friendly decentralized trading. #defi
ADNOC to Enable Stablecoin Payments at Fuel Stations Across Three Countries
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According to Foresight News, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the largest fuel retailer in the United Arab Emirates, is set to begin accepting stablecoin payments at approximately 980 fuel stations across three countries.
This initiative represents a major milestone in the adoption of digital assets for real-world use cases, highlighting ADNOC’s commitment to innovation and digital transformation. By integrating stablecoin payments into its fuel retail network, ADNOC aims to enhance payment efficiency, improve customer convenience, and support the broader adoption of blockchain-based financial solutions within the region.
The move aligns with the UAE’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a global hub for fintech, blockchain, and digital asset innovation, further bridging the gap between traditional energy infrastructure and emerging financial technologies. #UAE
According to PANews, Figure Technology Solutions has officially submitted a registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), outlining its plan to issue blockchain-native stocks.
The proposed offering will enable equities to be traded and managed directly on blockchain infrastructure, eliminating traditional intermediaries and enhancing transparency, efficiency, and settlement speed. Once approved, investors will be able to hold, transfer, and trade these securities in a fully decentralized environment, marking a significant step toward the modernization of U.S. capital markets.
This development highlights Figure’s continued push to integrate blockchain technology into regulated financial products, aligning with the broader industry trend toward tokenized assets and on-chain financial markets. #blockchain #SEC