news_update

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made noteworthy assessments of the American economy during his appearance on the Face the Nation program on CBS News.

Bessent, stating that the economy is “in better shape than they expected,” stated that they expect 3 percent real GDP growth by the end of 2025. Addressing President Donald Trump's discomfort with media criticism, the minister argued that the economic outlook is more positive than previously thought, saying, “Real incomes increased by about 1 percent.”

Bessent said holiday shopping was strong and that Trump's warnings of price increases months ago hadn't materialized. However, when asked about criticism of toy price increases, he said inflation was largely driven by the service sector and that price increases for imported goods were lower.

When reminded that the poll found that 60% of Americans believe Trump's inflation statements are better than they actually are, and that the president's approval rating on the economy has fallen to 36%, Bessent suggested this was due to media rhetoric. “There are two components to purchasing power: inflation and real income. Real incomes are rising,” he said, arguing that the Biden administration has inherited a “legacy of embedded inflation.”

Bessent stated that energy and regulatory shortages have fueled inflation during the Biden administration. He noted that, according to his calculations, the “ordinary person index,” which reflects the working class, has fallen below the general inflation rate for the first time. He added that he predicts inflation will fall even more sharply in 2026.

When asked about criticism of food prices, Bessent acknowledged that grocery prices remain high, but argued that President Trump's launch of a “price-gouging investigation” over high beef prices was not consistent with the Biden administration's policies. “They didn't do it right, we'll do it right,” he said.

Bessent also addressed the agricultural agreement with China, stating that China had committed to purchasing 12.5 million tons of soybeans and that prices had increased by 12-15 percent since the agreement. However, he stated that China would not accelerate its purchases and was proceeding according to the schedule set out in the agreement. When reminded that the USDA was preparing a “bridge payment” for short-term support for farmers, Bessent explained that this was due to delays stemming from China's use of farmers as leverage in negotiations.

The program also featured the newly announced “Trump accounts.” Under this plan, the federal government will open a $1,000 investment account for every US citizen born between 2025 and 2028. These accounts will be invested in a low-cost index fund, and children will be able to use the money or save for retirement when they turn 18.
This is not investment advice.
#trandingtopic #news_update

Bitcoin is running into a new macro headwind as Japan’s bond yields jump to levels not seen in years, fueling bets that the Bank of Japan could deliver another rate hike — a move that threatens to unwind yen carry trades and trigger risk-off flows across crypto. Markets now assign nearly a 90% probability to a 25 bps hike at the BOJ’s December 18–19 meeting, a scenario that recalls the painful August sell-off when BTC slid to around $49,000.
Japan’s Rates Surge & Yen Strengthen
Japan’s 2-year bond yield has pushed above 1%, its highest point since 2008. The 10-year JGB has climbed to a level not seen in 17 years. These jumps reflect growing conviction that policymakers will continue normalizing rates after years of ultra-easy monetary policy.
Stronger economic data has also lifted the yen, which rebounded from just over ¥155 per dollar to roughly ¥154.56. That appreciation matters: it weakens the math behind yen carry trades, where investors borrow cheaply in yen and deploy the capital into higher-yielding or riskier assets like Bitcoin.
Why the Yen Carry Trade Is a Direct Threat to BTC
With Japan’s policy rate at 0.5% versus 4.75% in the U.S., borrowing in yen has been an attractive way to leverage into risk assets. When the yen was weak, these trades were even more profitable — fewer dollars were needed to repay the debt.
But rising Japanese rates and a stronger yen flip the trade on its head. As the yen appreciates, the cost of maintaining or unwinding carry trades rises sharply. That often forces investors to sell risk assets to settle yen liabilities — Bitcoin included.
A Flashback to August’s Meltdown
This isn’t a hypothetical risk. In August 2024, the BOJ raised rates for the first time in a decade, setting off a violent market reaction. Roughly $600 billion evaporated from the crypto market as BTC plunged from the mid-$60Ks to about $49,000 within a week. Roughly $1.14 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated during the rout.

It was a stark reminder of how quickly crypto can unravel when carry trades unwind.
Today’s Risks: Liquidity Tightening & BOJ Shock Potential
The yen strengthening now comes at a moment when global liquidity is already narrowing. Hedge funds and macro traders are watching closely, especially after the Fed ended its quantitative tightening program on December 1.
If the BOJ does pull the trigger on a 25 bps hike, the combination of rising Japanese rates, a firmer yen, and tightening global liquidity could deliver a meaningful hit to Bitcoin. The setup mirrors August uncomfortably closely — raising fears that another accelerated sell-off could follow if carry trades begin to unwind again.

#BankOfJapan
#news_update
$BTC
$SOL

Woori Bank is now displaying the price of Bitcoin inside its trading room.
This move supports the rapid growth in the adoption of institutional cryptocurrencies.
Korean banks are expanding their efforts to track digital assets in real-time.
The trend of banking cryptocurrencies is gaining strength in the Korean cryptocurrency market.
South Korea has witnessed a significant moment in the path of digital finance after Woori Bank added a screen displaying the price of 'Bitcoin' live inside the trading room. This move alone shows that institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies is gaining real momentum in one of the most active technology markets in the world. The bank aims to empower traders and employees to understand the impact of digital assets on global capital flows. This step also reflects how digital assets are entering everyday financial operations.

​Despite the highest levels of speculation in over a decade regarding an imminent interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), the country's latest auction of 10-year Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) concluded with surprisingly strong demand. This outcome defied market expectations that had anticipated weak bidding due to surging yields.

​💰 Key Auction Metrics Signal Investor Confidence

​The results of the keenly watched auction demonstrated robust appetite for Japanese long-term debt:

​Strong Demand: The auction's bid-to-cover ratio (a measure of demand) reached 3.59, significantly higher than the 2.97 seen at the previous sale and above the 12-month average of 3.20. This exceptional demand helped push down the 10-year JGB yield by a small margin after the auction, counteracting the broader upward trend.
​Yield Pressure: Prior to the auction, the 10-year JGB yield had climbed to a 17-year high of 1.88%, driven by BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's clear hints of potential policy tightening at the December meeting.

​📉 Why Strong Demand Despite Rate Hike Fears?

​The robust demand in the face of near-term rate hike certainty suggests a complex reading of the market by major investors:

​Yield Attraction: After years of near-zero returns under the BOJ's Yield Curve Control (YCC), the current yields—even with a potential near-term hike—are at levels not seen since 2008. This higher yield is finally attractive enough to draw back domestic financial institutions and long-term Japanese life insurers.

​Repatriation of Capital: As global yields have been high, Japanese investors have moved trillions of dollars into foreign assets (like US Treasuries) in search of returns. The rising domestic JGB yields are now making Japanese bonds competitive, potentially triggering the repatriation of capital back to Tokyo. Investors are locking in these higher domestic rates now, betting the ultimate rate hike may be moderate.

​BOJ Intervention: While the BOJ has stepped back from direct YCC control, the market knows the central bank retains tools and may not let yields spiral too high, providing an implicit safety net for investors at these levels.

​🌍 Global Implications

​The strong JGB auction is a crucial global signal:

​Global Volatility: Japan's bond market is no longer a predictable "sleeper" but a source of global volatility. Rising JGB yields can put upward pressure on longer-dated sovereign bond yields worldwide, increasing borrowing costs for governments everywhere.

​Central Bank Focus: Global markets remain highly sensitive to BOJ communication. The focus now shifts to the Federal Reserve meeting and the final BOJ policy decision on December 19, which will determine if the strong JGB demand signals a temporary pause in yield increases or a longer-term stabilization at higher rates.#news_update #NewsAboutCrypto @TheStakerX $SOL $XRP $ETH