The US Department of Justice has just astonished the crypto world by executing the largest seizure in its history: approximately 127,271 Bitcoins, valued at nearly $15 billion, are now tightly secured under government control. This record-breaking operation, which resembles a spy thriller, is linked to the dramatic case of Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, who, according to investigators, built a cyber-empire fueled by forced labour camps and large-scale cryptocurrency fraud.

Chen Zhi and his Prince Holding Group — wrapped in a façade of real estate and financial services — allegedly operated hundreds of fake call centers. Victims were pushed into “pig butchering” scams: they were lured into trust-based relationships and then “slaughtered” financially through fake crypto investment schemes. The prosecution claims these operations took place in prison-like conditions surrounded by barbed wire, where people were coerced into running scams. Chen personally approved of violent tactics that stopped just short of lethal, all in the name of “business done the hard way.”

The stolen Bitcoins were laundered with extreme precision. Scattered across hundreds of wallets and re-consolidated, they were designed to vanish from view. The ill-gotten gains were spent on private jets, luxury yachts, and even a Pablo Picasso painting. Now, the entire cryptocurrency stash is eligible for forfeiture, while Chen himself is on the run, facing up to 40 years behind bars.

Ironically, in March 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a national Bitcoin reserve comprised of seized crypto assets. With this latest haul, the total reserve value has surged to an eye-popping $37 billion. This amount is hard to surpass, even by a crypto wizard like Satoshi Nakamoto.  

Gold may be timeless, but for the Trump family, the digital future is far more lucrative. Over the past year, Donald Trump's inner circle has quietly built a crypto empire generating more than $1 billion in revenue. In an interview with the Financial Times, Eric Trump, the US president’s son, confirmed the figures and suggested that the actual earnings could be even higher. While Donald Trump’s net worth is currently estimated at $7.1 billion, cryptocurrency may well be his digital gold reserve.

At the center of the family’s growing crypto portfolio is World Liberty Financial, a company that has launched USD1, a stablecoin, and WLFI, a native token positioned as a cornerstone of the expanding ecosystem. In a particularly eye-catching deal, the sale of WLFI reportedly brought in $550 million, with buyers including crypto heavyweight Justin Sun and UAE-based Aqua Foundation. Clearly, the appetite for celebrity in the crypto market, especially those branded with the Trump name, remains strong.

Besides, Trump-branded NFTs, once dismissed as a novelty, continue to draw both collectors and critics. The TRUMP memecoin, which is often seen as more of a punchline than a protocol, has also generated hype and attracted attention from the altcoin community.

Therefore, those who thought the Trump business empire was limited to real estate, golf courses, and politics should broaden their view to include blockchain technology and meme coins.

Elon Musk has once again demonstrated his ability to move markets, not just on Wall Street but in the world of meme cryptocurrencies.

After posting an AI-generated video featuring a business-suited Shiba Inu named Floki, humorously portrayed as the CEO of social platform X, traders rushed into the Floki Inu token. The coin surged nearly 30%, while trading volumes exploded by more than 500%, underscoring the potent blend of meme culture, Musk’s influence, and speculative fervor.

Musk’s caption, “Floki is back on the job as X CEO,” was enough to send crypto Twitter into overdrive. The post amassed 3.8 million views within hours, offering yet another reminder that few figures command crypto investor sentiment like the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

According to analysts at CoinGecko, the rally is a textbook example of the “Musk effect”—sharp, speculative, and typically short-lived. Despite the spike, Floki Inu remains below key moving averages, with long-term sellers largely in control. However, in the meme-coin universe, fundamentals take a back seat to headlines, and for many retail traders, such volatility is part of the appeal.

Meanwhile, Musk recently declared Bitcoin the crypto asset of the decade. This comment pleased long-term holders, but it did little to diminish his enduring influence over the meme coin landscape.

Australia and the United States have unveiled a high-stakes shortlist of multibillion-dollar initiatives that will not only bring the two allies closer than ever but also elevate their partnership to a new strategic high. Under a new investment agreement, the White House and its counterparts in Canberra have pledged over $3 billion in the next six months to supercharge critical minerals extraction.

At the heart of the deal is the Pentagon, stepping in as the lead security shareholder by supporting the construction of a processing facility for gallium — a metal so crucial that without it, no drone would ever take flight.

In return, Australia will receive $1.2 billion worth of Anduril autonomous underwater vehicles and a hefty $2.6 billion in Apache helicopters, giving its defense forces a sharp new edge, ready to intercept threats from over the horizon.

But the story does not stop with arms and minerals. Australian pension funds — usually more concerned with retirement benefits than global influence — are now eyeing American assets with bold ambition. By 2035, their investments in US markets are projected to surge to a whopping $1.44 trillion — nearly a trillion dollars more than current levels, making retirees unlikely stakeholders in future geopolitical shifts.

On top of that is a $2 billion Australian investment in America’s Joint Air Battle Management System — the nerve center for keeping every jet and drone informed and directed. 

All in all, this is not just about the money. It is a sweeping step toward a shared mega-weapons alliance, the one resilient enough to weather any global crisis or trade storm. Together, the US and Australia are not just buying tools of defense — they are building an unbreakable technological and strategic bond.

China’s economy displayed a curious paradox in the third quarter of 2025. It managed to grow by a solid 4.8%, yet emerged as the weakest performer among the year’s earlier champions. The National Bureau of Statistics confirmed the figure, noting that while the national economy sustains growth, it lags behind previous quarters — 5.2% in Q2 and 5.4% in Q1. So, markets are wondering how long it can stand still while moving forward?

This kind of performance reveals limited success: momentum is still present, but domestic demand is elusive, the real estate market is still struggling, and trade tensions with the US are causing turbulence. Meanwhile, industrial production delivered its best results in three months, while retail sales shrank sharply, showing only the faintest signs of activity.

Exports into new markets and bursts of holiday-driven domestic demand are helping prop up the economy, but the balance remains fragile. So, the risk of a further slowdown looms if Beijing does not embrace bolder measures to stimulate consumer activity.

China’s GDP has grown by 5.2% in the first three quarters of 2025. Barring any major surprises in the fourth quarter, the country is on track to close the year with the GDP growth of about 5% — a figure that might represent a golden mean against the backdrop of global uncertainty.

China appears to be expanding its leverage in the ongoing economic rivalry with the United States, not just through its dominance in rare earth metals, but now through its quiet control of pharmaceutical supply chains. 

According to a recent Financial Times report, the United States depends heavily on China for key active pharmaceutical ingredients used in nearly 700 essential drugs. These include antibiotics, cardiovascular treatments, cancer therapies, and allergy medications, all of which are critical to public health.

For years, Washington assumed that the Trump administration's aggressive trade policies and tariff pressures gave the US the upper hand in its economic relationship with China. In reality, Beijing holds far more cards than it seemed. China's near-monopoly on crucial drug components means that if exports are disrupted, some US manufacturing lines could quickly come to a standstill.

While Washington has been seeking to reduce dependency through sanctions, import tariffs, and proposals to limit Chinese-made pharmaceutical imports, Beijing is not backing down. On the contrary, China is doubling down on its strategic positions, advancing in high-tech sectors and developing alternatives to US leadership in artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

In a scenario where access to antibiotics or cancer drugs hinges on China's export policies, the trade conflict takes on a new dimension. Although American policymakers are considering bringing pharmaceutical production back to the United States, the risk of China weaponizing supply chains is too large to ignore.

The International Monetary Fund is concerned, as always, but this time with a high-tech twist. Mounting trade tensions, uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence, and an increasingly unpredictable global economy have landed on the Fund’s growing list of worries. Yet, despite the shifting landscape, the IMF continues to hope for resilient growth and a gradual path to disinflation.

The warnings came via the communiqué of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, which represents the IMF’s 191 member countries. The message was clear: a range of intersecting risks, including sluggish growth, escalating debt burdens, geopolitical conflicts, climate shocks, and global imbalances, are challenging traditional economic playbooks.

“The global economy is undergoing a profound transformation,” Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan, who chairs the committee, said. “Major policy shifts in trade and other areas are reconfiguring global markets and policy frameworks, heightening uncertainty.” In other words, the global outlook has reverted to a wait-and-see approach.

Still, the IMF strikes a cautiously optimistic tone. Even the very forces fueling anxiety — digitization, automation, shifting demographics — could present opportunities for countries agile enough to adapt. That is, nations that can simultaneously manage monetary policy and code-switch into the AI era may come out ahead.

However, the Fund warns that the path to disinflation will be uneven. The United States, with its renewed enthusiasm for tariffs, may find inflation more persistent than anticipated, while China risks drifting toward deflation. As always, markets should prepare for both scenarios.

The communiqué reiterated the importance of independent central banks and data-dependent policy frameworks. This is a well-intentioned ideal, even though the data often provides more surprises than clarity to those shaping policies based on it.

The Fund also urged closer monitoring of emerging vulnerabilities, ranging from AI to non-bank financial institutions and digital assets. The language was careful: innovation should not be stifled, but risks need to be understood and contained.

Although the global outlook remains highly complex and defined by overlapping risks, the IMF maintains a measured sense of optimism. The organization is not alarmed, but it is professionally concerned.

Some investors are convinced: stablecoins could serve as a springboard for the yuan’s entry into the global financial league. But at Bank of America, experts advise holding the applause. In a recent note, the bank’s analysts carefully reminded people that a currency’s global role is built not on hype, but on liquidity, trust, and a resilient infrastructure.

In their view, the worldwide recognition of the yuan is more likely to advance through bilateral settlement agreements in local currencies and improvements in the currency’s own stability, rather than through digital experiments. In other words, China does not need a new toy, it needs a reliable mechanism.

At first glance, the idea seems appealing: build a system that bypasses SWIFT and use stablecoins to boost demand for the yuan. Still, BofA sees more questions than answers. User adoption remains limited, the profitability of issuers is doubtful, and regulatory risks are growing faster than market capitalization.

The analysts do acknowledge that stablecoins could prove useful in cross-border payments — almost-instant transactions and low fees are indeed a strong argument. But there are challenges even here: the offshore CNH pool remains small, and blockchain fees become unpredictable as volumes rise.

In other areas, the potential is more modest. Consumer commerce in China already thrives on mobile payments, crypto trading is officially off-limits, and for storing value, investors still prefer currencies that do not fluctuate with every tweet.

BofA also points out the unexciting reality of yields: short-term government bonds offer just 1–2%, which is clearly not enough to make stablecoins a profitable business.

In the end, it all comes back to the obvious: the yuan’s form is not what matters. Its global future depends on trust, liquidity, and stability, but not on what blockchain it is recorded.

The bank concluded: expand swap lines, sign settlement agreements, and leave stablecoins to those who still believe in overnight revolutions.

The International Monetary Fund is breathing a cautious sigh of relief. After months of political paralysis and government reshuffling, France has finally found a point of consensus: a commitment to fiscal consolidation. For now, this is enough to keep markets calm, even though the political climate in Paris remains unstable.

According to IMF European Department Director Alfred Kammer, France is not triggering alarm bells across bond markets. Yield spreads versus German securities remain contained, and liquidity in French sovereign debt markets is holding up. In short, there is no need to panic.

Paris has recently unveiled its 2026 budget framework, proposing a deficit of 4.7% of GDP, modestly tighter than the country’s usual range of 5-6%. In a rare show of unity, lawmakers from the political left and right seem to agree on the need to reduce reliance on debt. Although the debate remains heated, the direction is clearer: the era of living in debt may be coming to an end.

Currently, Kammer sees no acute fiscal risks that require urgent policy shifts. That gives France room to debate where exactly the cuts should fall—pensions, social programs, or infrastructure investment. What matters more to investors is the shared orientation toward deficit reduction. 

Difficult decisions still lie ahead. Which sector will bear the brunt of the pain: the agricultural sector, the tech industry, or the champions of affordable Bordeaux? For now, the IMF is content that France’s political class seems to acknowledge what it once evaded—that chronic budget deficits are not just part of the culture but a macroeconomic vulnerability.

The BRICS currency is still on track for a 2026 launch, and not even Donald Trump can derail that timeline.

Just days ago, the US president made headlines again by threatening to impose 10% tariffs on countries that join the BRICS economic bloc. It’s a familiar tactic. China has already been warned of a potential 100% tariff on all its exports to the US starting in November — another Trumpian flourish aimed at economic deterrence.

So far, however, the threats have not changed the calculus. Analysts note that the BRICS currency project continues to move forward without major setbacks. Beijing responded swiftly and predictably, dismissing Trump’s rhetoric as a “textbook example of double standards” and warning of potential countermeasures. 

Meanwhile, the BRICS nations are steadily distancing themselves from the US dollar. Russia and China are finalizing energy deals denominated in rubles and yuan, while India has been paying for Russian oil with a combination of yuan, rubles, and UAE dirhams since last year. Infrastructure to support a shared financial ecosystem is taking shape, with the development of BRICS Pay and BRICS Bridge. These systems are envisioned as the backbone of a future common currency.

Momentum from the bloc’s expansion has only reinforced the urgency. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia have all joined BRICS, bringing with them a combined economic footprint representing roughly a quarter of global GDP and nearly half the world’s population. As the queue for membership grows longer, America’s jitters now appear increasingly justified.

Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis and a senior fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, argues that Trump’s strategy is inherently self-defeating.

Garcia-Herrero explained that Trump's use of the dollar as a weapon is ultimately accelerating the very outcome he fears — the emergence of an alternative global currency. BRICS was originally conceived as a counterbalance to the West, and Trump’s actions are only adding momentum to that effort, she added.

Against this backdrop, 2026 is shaping up to be more than a symbolic milestone. The introduction of a BRICS currency may not upend the global financial system overnight, but it would mark a definitive step toward multipolarity, a world where the dollar is no longer the undisputed king of currencies.

Peter Navarro, the White House’s trade advisor, declared that the WTO was originally composed against the United States as if it were a secret document titled “How to Undermine America.” According to him, the entire system, including the Most-Favored-Nation regime, was designed from the start to keep the US in the role of the wealthy villain, forced to tolerate inflated tariffs and clever non-tariff loopholes.

“We decided it was time to stop playing by those rules,” Navarro declared at a Council on Foreign Relations event. He claimed that Trump approached the WTO with the hammer of justice and demanded revisions to tariff standards, non-tariff measures, and even digital regulations. In response, the US received not just agreement but fresh investments from Europe, Japan, and South Korea in defense of the American economy.

Peter Navarro noted that “honesty and directness” among world leaders is now at an all-time high. Perhaps he was referring to the kind of directness where Washington calls up and says, “Let’s negotiate — but first, move closer to our terms.”

The advisor pinpointed the main takeaway: history is being made before our eyes, and the US is proving that the global trade system can be rebuilt in practice, provided you have the right mindset and accurately estimate the tariff scale.  

Donald Trump has played a familiar card from his trade war deck by suggesting that Washington will consider rolling back tariffs on Chinese imports if Beijing loosens its grip on rare earth exports and resumes large-scale purchases of US soybeans.

The US president noted that the production of electric vehicles, fighter jets, and Tomahawk missiles could grind to a halt without samarium, yttrium, and other so-called “superhero metals.” In his view, Beijing must “give us something in return” or face a fresh round of 100% import tariffs starting November 1.

In Washington, China’s control over the global supply of rare earths is considered second only to its influence on market sentiment. Even a minor adjustment to export quotas is enough to send tremors through global commodity markets. Trump made it clear that the US would not stand by until supply chains collapse, proposing a straightforward trade-off: Washington will lower tariffs if Beijing loosens its controls on rare earth exports.

The premise is simple and packaged like a campaign slogan: “Soybeans for tariffs.” If Beijing is willing to enter a transactional exchange, a de-escalation in trade tensions may still be on the table.

Tariffs have startled financial markets. ING analysts, in their THINK Ahead report, noted that Trump’s threat to slap 100% tariffs on China is injecting a fresh shot of adrenaline into the looming recession.

"The vibe is off. Everyone’s silently panicking, and that’s what’s feeding the recession,” ING experts commented on the tense nerves of regional banks. Meanwhile, gold is acting like a rock star on stage: untouchable and unstoppable.

ING estimates that the average US tariff rate could soar to 31%, surpassing "Liberation Day” levels. In reality, it means that importing goods could soon feel like an extreme sport.

Interestingly, markets have actually responded to Trump’s threats this time. All previous tariff announcements were neglected by markets. A red-hot set of economic data amazed experts. Lynn Song from ING noted that China has proven remarkable resilience in the face of Trump’s tariffs: demand from other countries has stepped in to replace declining US orders, and export-focused sectors are now trading like luxury items from limited collections.

ING economists expect that the inflationary effects of the current tariff regime will be “lower, but more prolonged.” They warn that a new round of inflation is inevitable, especially in the car manufacturing industry. Even if the tariffs are acknowledged as illegal, the White House still has leverage to introduce lower tariffs according to section 122. 

Huw Pill, the Bank of England's chief economist, has signaled that it is time to revise the pace of monetary easing. According to him, the central bank is now poised to cut interest rates more gradually than previously expected. The reason is simple: inflation is not giving up.

Huw Pill, one of the Monetary Policy Committee’s avid hawks, reminded the public that core inflation remains “too persistent.” As the central bank has already begun easing, it will now need to proceed with more caution.

It is time to acknowledge that inflationary pressure has not disappeared. This is not a halt, but just a more cautious step forward, Huw Pill said during his speech at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

He admitted that interest rates may be lowered further over the coming year, provided that the economy behaves “according to plan.” As we all know, plans rarely survive contact with reality. That is why the policymaker stressed that easing too quickly or too aggressively could reignite inflation.  

To sum up, this pause is not a surrender, but a breather for the Bank of England. This is “a skip, not a stop” on the path to policy normalization as Huw Pill defines it.

Still, his tone carried more concern than calm. Inflation expectations have now become entrenched and can no longer be ignored.

The message was clear: the Bank of England will proceed with caution, even if the markets want a show. Those who were hoping for a rapid series of rate cuts may need to adjust their expectations. From now on, monetary easing is going to be slower and entirely data-dependent, especially as economic data frequently defies forecasts.

No data? No problem. When the Federal Reserve has already made up its mind, missing statistics are little more than background noise.

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the Fed will press ahead with its plan to cut interest rates even if the US government remains in a self-inflicted data blackout. After all, the situation is clear: the labor market is softening, inflation is cooling, and investors are growing anxious.

Now entering its third week, the government shutdown has thrown the US economy into a state of statistical limbo. Key employment and inflation reports have been delayed, federal agencies are dormant, and Wall Street analysts are left navigating without their usual charts and statistics. It is like piloting the economy by feel. Yet, Morgan Stanley argues that this is sufficient to take action.

“The lack of economic data does not seem to be a problem for the Fed,” Michael Gapen, an economist at Morgan Stanley, said. The regulator has already realized its policy stance is too restrictive, he added.

In other words, despite the lack of up-to-date economic data, it appears that the Federal Reserve has overcorrected by maintaining a policy stance that is too restrictive for the current macroeconomic landscape.

The central bank already delivered a 25-basis-point rate cut in September, presenting it as “insurance” amid uncertainty. Now markets are fully pricing in additional cuts in October and December, with CME FedWatch data showing near-total conviction. 

Meanwhile, Washington remains mired in gridlock. A divided Congress has failed to resolve the budget funding impasse, and the government shutdown has become an ongoing political fixture. According to Treasury Department estimates, the shutdown costs the economy $15 billion per week, a hefty price to pay for partisan stubbornness.

Morgan Stanley recommends that investors prepare for a long standoff, meaning that the shutdown may drag on.

Republicans and Democrats are engaged in a high-stakes game of political poker, with taxpayers’ money on the table. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is trying to appear calm and insists that it can still assess the balance of risks amid the chaos.

As Congress squabbles and agencies sit idle, market participants are left placing their hopes on another interest rate cut.

Ironically, the Fed now appears to be the most decisive institution in Washington, not because it is bold, but because everyone else has run out of moves.

The US dollar is falling for the fourth consecutive day, heading toward its worst week since July. The market is displaying a rare sense of relief because the Federal Reserve seems to have decided to take a breather. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is down half a percent, and the two-year Treasury yield has dropped to its lowest level in six weeks.

Traders are now confident that a series of rate cuts is around the corner. Last Wednesday, markets were pricing in a 46-basis-point rate cut by the year end, but a few days later, they raised the forecast to 53 percentage points.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said recently that the central bank could lower interest rates by steps of 25 basis points to support a labor market that looks increasingly unstable. His colleague, Stephen Miran, however, believes that the time for decisive monetary easing has not come yet.

Despite the government shutdown and the pause in macroeconomic data releases, the market does not look confused. On the contrary, participants express a firmly bearish sentiment on the US dollar. Morgan Stanley economists, led by Michael Gapen, note that “the lack of data isn’t preventing the Fed from moving toward easing” and expect another rate cut at the October meeting.

US regional banks are once again under the spotlight, painting a gloomy picture. Their stocks are falling, undermining the market’s confidence in the resilience of the credit sector. Cooling political tensions in Japan and France are another catalyst for the greenback’s weakness. All in all, there is a rare situation: the dollar is unable to assert its strength.

ING analysts Christopher Turner and Francesco Pesole note that the US dollar is facing pressure from all sides — from a “reassessment” of the Federal Reserve’s policy and falling oil prices to fragile hopes for peace in Ukraine and the ever-simmering US-China rivalry.

Meanwhile, weary indifference has settled in the market: everyone knows the dollar is struggling, but no one dares to say where the bottom might be.

Peter Schiff, a staunch supporter of gold and perpetual skeptic of Bitcoin, has predicted another crypto apocalypse. This time, the economist blames the Trump administration for the crash, claiming that the tariffs imposed on China are affecting not only global trade but also cryptocurrencies. A sharp drop in BTC past $110,200 has fueled arguments from gold advocates like Peter Schiff that markets are favoring traditional assets.

According to him, every new crash is not a buying opportunity but a warning for stubborn optimists. By his logic, not even a social media post from Donald Trump can save the crypto market now, while gold is ready to reclaim its throne as the “eternal store of value,” especially with the price of an ounce surpassing $4,100.

With his customary enthusiasm, the economist predicted an “inevitable collapse of the crypto illusion” and the triumph of gold. In his view, Wall Street investors have had their fill of Bitcoin, the bubble has inflated to its limit, and it is now time for classic investments such as gold. However, the market has yet to fully embrace Schiff's apocalyptic forecast, as cryptocurrencies continue to exhibit underlying resilience and investor interest.

The International Monetary Fund has delivered a modest boost to global sentiment, raising its 2025 growth forecast to 3.2% from 3.0%. Despite trade tensions, a US government shutdown, and ongoing battles over semiconductors, the world economy appears to be slightly more resilient than it did just two months ago. 

According to the IMF, the upward revision reflects the fact that tariffs and financial shocks have inflicted less damage than initially feared. Still, the fund cautions that the outlook could quickly reverse if US President Donald Trump proceeds with previously floated proposals for 100% tariffs on goods from China and possibly other regions. Think of it as the economic equivalent of an October weather forecast: “Still warm, but keep your umbrella and winter coat close.”

IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas emphasized that trade deals between the US and its partners have helped stave off what he called “Trump’s trade earthquake.” Nevertheless, the fund remains uneasy. A significant expansion of tariffs could result in a 0.6% decrease in global GDP by 2028. This loss would be roughly equivalent to the world taking an involuntary short-term economic vacation.

Country-level growth remains uneven:

The US economy is projected to grow a modest but steady 2% in 2025

The eurozone is expected to expand by 1.2%, buoyed by Spanish optimism and German fiscal stimulus

Japan is expected to grow by 1.1%, which is nearly miraculous by its own standards

China remains in a state of “stable unease,” with growth forecast at 4.8%

According to the IMF, Russia will post a subdued 0.6% gain, yet still outpacing some European peers. Overall, the global recovery continues, albeit at a subdued pace.

Meanwhile, inflation remains stubborn. The global average is projected to hover around 4.2%, a level analysts increasingly describe as the “new normal” in the post-tariff era.

Who would have thought that the biggest crypto skeptic would become one of its biggest fans? US President Donald Trump, who used to call Bitcoin “thin air” and a “tool for drug dealers,” has suddenly emerged as one of the world’s top Bitcoin investors.

According to Forbes, Trump controls roughly $870–$910 million in Bitcoin, although not directly, but through his company, Truth Social (Trump Media & Technology Group). The firm raised $2.3 billion in May. Besides, he spent $2 billion on Bitcoin in July, sticking to his conservative investment strategy. Since then, the price has increased by about 11%, and now the president can proudly say that both the economy and the karma of his personal portfolio are on the rise.

In the ranking of the richest Bitcoin holders, Trump trails only behind the founders of crypto marvels — Satoshi Nakamoto, the Winklevoss twins, and Michael Saylor. But he stands out in one unique way: unlike the others, he has access to the nuclear codes. Still, whether the BTC price is swayed more by his tweets or his tariffs on China remains an open question.

Apart from Bitcoin, Trump possesses his own coins, OFFICIAL TRUMP, as well as World Liberty Financial (WLFI) tokens, launched in partnership with his son. Altogether, he holds nearly $3 billion in digital assets, making him not just a crypto investor but a full-fledged crypto magnate with a hint of a family business.

It may be time to update the motto Make America Great Again to Make Bitcoin Great Again. As Donald himself might say: “Nobody loves Bitcoin more than me. Maybe except Satoshi.”

Jerome Powell once again took the helm as captain of the US economic ship, assuring that it is sailing on a “steady course,” but the engine — the labor market — is running idle. Speaking at the National Association for Business Economics conference, he acknowledged that hiring and layoffs in the US essentially stalled in September, while inflation was still unwilling to loosen its grip.  

The chairman pointed out that the Federal Reserve is now operating by the principle of making policy decisions appropriate to the current situation. In other words, it is like a driver without GPS: he is heading somewhere until the car encounters a “road closed” sign.

Despite the government shutdown, which deprived economists of access to key data sets, the Fed chairman insists that the “economy may actually be stronger than we thought.” Markets are wondering how he could have come to this conclusion without up-to-date economic data.  

Investors are now almost certain that another rate cut by 25 basis points will be announced at the end of October — Powell cautiously hinted that interest rates are likely to be lowered again. The outcome of the December meeting remains uncertain, but markets are hopeful for a Christmas gift from the central bank.  

Jerome Powell honestly admitted that risks are abundant: “There’s no safe path in policymaking.” Tariffs imposed by Trump’s administration are pushing up import prices, while inflationary pressure now appears moderate. Still, any misstep could cost not only the value of the US dollar but also a hefty dose of caffeine-fueled nerves on Wall Street.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stirred cautious optimism by suggesting that a thaw in the US-China trade standoff is still on the table—framing it less as a global power struggle and more like a potential joint picnic under the stars. While calling for “reciprocity” from Beijing, Bessent made it clear that Washington still has “numerous levers of pressure” at its disposal, reminding observers that America knows how to show its teeth.

Despite elevated tensions, Bessent emphasized that the US is keeping “all options on the table” to prevent Beijing from gaining the upper hand. China responded swiftly by releasing documents implying stricter export controls on rare earth metals. This serves as an unsubtle reminder that critical supply chains remain a strategic bargaining chip.

Nevertheless, Beijing appears to be playing the long game. Officials have refrained from escalating the rhetoric, indicating that while China is not seeking an outright economic war but also has no intention of showing weakness either. The result is an ongoing tit-for-tat atmosphere that resembles a geopolitical chess match more than a trade war, with both sides seeking a more profitable position and investors trying to seize the moment and benefit from it.

Recent reports suggest that both sides are considering reducing reciprocal tariffs by as much as 80–90%, a move that could pave the way for what some view as a functional “ceasefire.” Markets responded positively. Shares of major multinationals, including Amazon, Tesla, Apple, and Nvidia, climbed between 5% and 9%. Meanwhile, demand for traditional safe havens such as gold and oil decreased.

It looks as if Americans have traveled back in time to the days of the 19th-century gold rush, but this time, this all comes with the comforts of the 21st century. Amid record-breaking gold prices, people across the US are snapping up pickaxes, sieves, and buckets of “pay dirt” to pan for gold right in their home garages.

In South Dakota, the Big Thunder Gold Mine museum is seeing a real frenzy: demand for gold panning buckets is up 50%. Besides, gold panning lessons are sold out weeks in advance. What was once a quirky hobby is quickly turning into a new economic driver.

Gold prices have shattered another record. As of October 13, the precious metal soared above $4,176 per troy ounce. Analysts at Bank of America predict it could reach $4,900 by December 2026. So, if you have got an old pickaxe gathering dust in the attic, now might be the time to bring it out!

Experts link this modern-day gold boom to trade wars, the US government shutdown, and growing geopolitical anxiety. It seems gold is back in vogue — now seen as the ultimate lifeline for investors wary of the dollar’s high volatility.

In the meantime, silver has also stepped into the spotlight, climbing above $52 per ounce for the first time in years. All in all, precious metals are once again winning favor with investors.  

Gold and silver have once again claimed the spotlight as the most sought-after assets of 2025, breaking historical records amid growing global uncertainty. Gold surged past $4,170 per troy ounce, prompting even the most skeptical investors to revise their portfolios. Silver followed suit, topping $52 for the first time, completing a glittering duo in the precious metals space.

Analysts attribute the rally to renewed geopolitical tensions surrounding China. Beijing's move to tighten export controls on rare earth elements, coupled with US President Donald Trump’s escalating tariff threats, has pushed investors back toward traditional safe-haven assets.

Bank of America is already looking ahead to 2026 with bold price predictions: $5,000 for gold and $65 for silver. In other words, these metals are no longer just safe havens—they are becoming headline performers in the global financial arena.

Central banks are reinforcing the trend. Over the past year, institutions have collectively added more than 15 metric tons of gold to their reserves, while scaling back on sales. Russia, in particular, has essentially exited the seller's market. In this context, gold has become a top choice and is now included in portfolios that were once dominated by Bitcoin.

The surge in gold prices is also a reflection of broader macroeconomic pressures: from rising sovereign debt and unresolved geopolitical risks to the ongoing erosion of investor confidence in fiat-denominated assets. Therefore, for those finding their savings accounts uninspiring, gold and silver now offer a “shiny” investment option.

The US-China trade war has reached a fresh level of drama. US President Donald Trump has raised the stakes by proposing an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports, on top of already existing tariffs. If implemented, the combined tariff burden could push effective rates close to an astonishing 130%. For manufacturers and suppliers, this sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Beijing was quick to respond, accusing Washington of double standards. Chinese officials pointed out that the US currently restricts more than 3,000 export items, compared to just 900 on China’s list. The exchange of accusations centered on claims of “weaponizing national security” underscores the intensified economic confrontation. 

In signature style, Trump claimed that China is essentially “holding the world hostage” through its dominance in rare earth elements, critical materials that power everything from smartphones to missiles.

The market response to the renewed tensions was swift and sharp. The S&P 500 dropped by 2.7%, while the Nasdaq shed 3.5%.

Adding to the volatility, Trump hinted that he might skip a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit. “I haven't canceled, but I don't know that we're going to have it. But I'm going to be there regardless, so I would assume we might have it,” the US president remarked cryptically. For markets and analysts, the negotiation drama is increasingly starting to resemble a long-running political thriller, packed with cliffhangers and plot twists.

Some analysts believe that China is deliberately escalating pressure in the hope of resetting the negotiation narrative. They speculate that Beijing may even be open to concessions in order to maintain dialogue. For now, however, the ball is in Washington’s court. Following Beijing’s forceful statements, the official tone of US social media messaging took a strikingly contradictory turn: “The US wants to help China, not hurt it.”