news_update

Currently, digital versions of national currencies are being investigated by 90% of the world's central banks.
SWIFT, a global bank messaging network, told Reuters that it intends to construct a new platform in the next year or two that will link the current financial system with the wave of central bank digital currencies that are currently being developed. This will be one of the most crucial steps for the emerging CBDC ecosystem given SWIFT's crucial position in international banking, and it will probably coincide with the introduction of the first major currencies. Currently, around 90% of central banks worldwide are investigating digital versions of their currencies. Although they are having trouble with the technical difficulties, the majority do not want to fall behind Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. According to Nick Kerrigan, head of innovation at SWIFT, the company's most recent trial, which lasted six months and featured 38 central banks, commercial banks, and settlement platforms, was one of the biggest international partnerships on CBDCs and "tokenized" assets to date.In order to lower the possibility of payment system fragmentation, it concentrated on making sure that CBDCs from various nations could be used together even if they were constructed on different underlying technologies or "protocols." Additionally, it demonstrated their potential for use in extremely complex trade or foreign exchange payments, as well as their potential for automation to speed up and reduce costs.According to Kerrigan, the outcomes, which showed that banks could make use of their current infrastructure, were generally seen as successful.
#bnb #ETU #news_update #USDT

Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority has granted licenses to three Binance entities covering exchange, clearing, and brokerage functions.
What to know:
Binance has received authorization from Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADMG) to operate under a comprehensive exchange, clearing, and brokerage framework.
The approval allows Binance to structure its operations into three regulated entities under the Nest brand, covering exchange, clearing, and trading functions.
Binance's presence in Abu Dhabi aligns with regulatory standards and underscores the region's role as a hub for financial innovation.

Binance has secured authorization from Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), Abu Dhabi's special economic zone for finance, to operate under a comprehensive exchange, clearing, and brokerage framework according to a press release from Binance.

The approval breaks Binance’s business into three regulated components that mirror a traditional market stack in a traditional finance exchange. Binance’s ADGM presence will be organized under three locally incorporated entities branded as Nest, a regulatory requirement that allows the Financial Services Regulatory Authority to supervise each function separately.#news_update #BinanceBlockchainWeek

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