BlackRock: China might dump U.S. Treasuries for Bitcoin, Gold

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

BlackRock’s director of thematic and active ETFs, Jay Jacobs, pointed out that the diversification strategies employed by central banks in various nations are accelerating due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts and widespread uncertainty.

He emphasized the continuous development of a trend where countries shift from holding reserves in US dollars to gold and bitcoin.

Jacobs from BlackRock noted that Western Europe and North America have frozen $300 billion of Russian central bank assets. He argues that such situations have prompted China and other nations to reconsider their strategies.

Jacobs highlighted that after multipolarity, the key element worldwide that will focus on in the coming decades stems from BlackRock’s analysis: geopolitical fragmentation.

“We’ve identified geopolitical fragmentation as a key force that will be a global driver over the next few decades,” he remarked.

He added that bitcoin is increasingly seen as a safe investment alongside gold, while this scenario also boosts the demand for more volatile stock market assets.

“And it’s all because people look for assets with independent market behavior. We’ve seen significant inflows into gold ETFs, and we’ve seen significant inflows into bitcoin. Also, Jacobs explained,” he noted. Jacobs observed that recent global fragmentation has intensified the need for alternative saving methods.

“This whole diversification away from traditional assets towards gold and cryptocurrencies [… started three to four years ago,” he said.

Hashdex introduced XRP ETF in Brazil, Boost Ripple’s Adoption

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Investments in cryptocurrency are getting easier in Brazil, as an XRP ETF was recently launched. Hashdex introduced XRP ETF in Brazil, Securing Regulated XRP Access for Investors. This will help further adopt XRP globally.

XRP ETF Launches in Brazil, Securing Regulated XRP Access for Investors

The Brazilian crypto market has taken another big step forward. Asset manager Hashdex revealed that they would launch XRPH11, or what they claimed to be “the world’s first XRP ETF.” This ETF, which is registered in Brazil, is expected to strengthen the crypto investment domain in the country while also helping Hashdex propel the industry forward.

The company duo went on explaining the pros of the ETF for the exchange, claiming that:

“Hashdex is enabling compliant and regulated investment into one of the leading digital assets on the XRPH11 ETF, designed for fast and cost-effective international transactions.”

Brazil has now become the country with the most ETFs launched by Hashdex, given this was the ninth for XT and 33 worldwide. Furthermore, these changes are meant to increase the level at which investment in compliant crypto ventures is available to users in countries where rules are.

The company also underlined its ongoing goal to change the investment landscape:

“Our goal at Hashdex is still to democratize cryptocurrency investing by providing regulated, safe, and easily accessible solutions.
This approach upholds investor protections and regulatory control while promoting a larger trend toward crypto-integration into conventional financial systems.”

Stripe building Stablecoin to Challenge USDT, USDC, RLUSD

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Stripe is now developing a new stablecoin product based on the US dollar, targeting businesses outside the US, UK, and Europe. This initiative has sparked a unilateral shift toward strengthening the dollar’s global influence.

Patrick Collison, Stripe’s CEO, confirmed the new product on X by posting a request for companies interested in beta testing it. This announcement gained considerable attention after Stripe recently received regulatory approval to purchase Bridge.

Bridge’s network competes with banks and other corporations that utilize SWIFT, a global payment messaging system that facilitates international wire transfers. Co-founded in 2022 by Coinbase alums Zach Abrams and Sean Yu, this company operates on a radically different business model.

Stripe has a long history with crypto, integrated Bitcoin (BTC) in 2014, and became the first major payment processor. However, the company halted support due to long transfer times and high transaction fees. Efforts in the crypto space led to Stripe rebuilding its crypto team starting in 2021.

In recent years, they appear to have greatly increased that effort. On the first day of rollout, consumers in more than 70 countries embraced the stablecoin payment capability that the company had enabled.
Stripe and Coinbase partnered to provide fiat-to-crypto conversions. According to Collison on X, Stripe has “wanted to build for around a decade” with its most recent cryptocurrency endeavor.
Stablecoins are digital currencies linked to assets, such as fiat money, to maintain value. USD-backed stablecoins have garnered more federal attention in the US, with leaders like US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell advocating for specific legislation.

Federal Reserve Softens Crypto Restrictions For U.S. Banking System

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

The Federal Reserve Board revised its expectations for banks’ interactions with crypto assets and stablecoins, removing guidelines about these activities.

This action aims to further encourage innovation in the financial sector and ensure the regulatory approach aligns with changing risks.

As part of this change, the Board is revoking its supervisory letter from 2022. State member banks must notify customers of any planned or ongoing activity involving cryptocurrency assets. Under the new regulations, banks will no longer be required to provide these communications.

Some prominent industry members alleged that their affiliation with the digital asset sector was the sole reason they and their companies couldn’t access traditional banking services before these regulations.

The Fed is also revoking a similar order from 2023 regarding the non-objection procedure for state member banks involved in stablecoin operations.

Pre-clearance is no longer required for oversight, subject to regular regulatory scrutiny.

Furthermore, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are withdrawing two joint statements released by federal bank regulatory agencies in 2023. These messages provided the first guidelines for banks operating in those markets and included the authorities’ opinions on the risks connected to exposures to crypto.
The Fed will now collaborate with the relevant agencies to assess whether new or revised guidelines are required to encourage innovation in crypto-related endeavors.

Only a few weeks have passed since the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reversed its stance. Additionally, the federal banking authority lifted limitations that had restricted financial institutions’ access to cryptocurrency assets.

U.S. President dinner with $TRUMP Buyers attract Senators Fury

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are alerting the public that a private dinner President Trump is set to hold for the holders of his meme coin may represent “pay to play” corruption, calling for ethics scrutiny of the issue.

The California and Massachusetts Democratic Senators sent a letter to the US Office of Government Ethics on Trump, asserting that the President has breached ethics by giving preferential treatment in $TRUMP coin investments to the people holding the top $TRUMP coin.

This letter is in regard to the promotion announced on the meme coin’s web page, which promised top 220 holders of the token would have dinner with the President at his golf club in Washington, D.C., on May 22. This promotion went live, spiking the coin’s value by about 50%.

Trump, as has always been the case with businessmen, uses his position to further his financial interests, “Mr. Presidents’ statement indicates that there will no doubt be dealings possible with the office of the president if candidates whom the president is supporting make substantial contribution into one of the many companies owned by the Mr. President,” quoted one of the economists supporting the idea.

Senators have claimed in their statement that strong prospects are substantiating these claims as the worth of the $TRUMP coin surged by more than for the first time while Trump and his family were making previously unverified allegations of these risks amid their suspicions that those in power downplaying these concerns were trying to garner some profit from “understanding the window of opportunity”.

Elon Musk: xAI Holdings seek $20 Billion

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Elon Musk’s xAI Holdings is in discussions with investors to raise $20 billion.

This funding would value the company at over $120 billion. Artificial intelligence startup xAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC outside of U.S. business hours.

The amount of funding could exceed $20 billion, as the exact figure has not yet been finalized. Musk planned to assign a “proper value” to xAI, sources informed CNBC’s David Faber earlier this month.

These remarks were made during a call with xAI investors, as reported by sources knowledgeable about the matter. At that time, the Tesla CEO did not explicitly mention any upcoming funding round, but sources suggested that xAI was preparing for a significant capital raise soon.

Last month, the AI firm acquired X in an all-stock deal that valued xAI at $80 billion, while the social media platform was valued at $33 billion. XAI and X’s futures are intertwined.

Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution, and talent,” Musk stated on X, announcing the deal. “This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach.

BlackRock not Buying into Ripple’s XRP

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Market participants do not expect to see much activity from BlackRock with XRP ETFs, and they believe that the firm focuses on maximizing profits from Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

At the same time, the continued success of these products suggests that BlackRock plans to shift its focus to XRP, but this is temporarily set aside due to weaker XRP demand. CIO Bitwise Matt Hougan highlights that while interest in XRP is increasing, it is not at a level that would prompt action from BlackRock.

Typically, BlackRock waits for sustained interest before leaping into a new market, which XRP has not demonstrated.

ETF expert Nate Geraci claims it is still too early to determine the validity of BlackRock’s approach and points to the firm’s monitors for Grayscale and Franklin Templeton, who seem to be rushing into the XRP ETF market.

He also notes that BlackRock is observing the regulatory landscape, particularly the U.S. SEC’s responses to initial filings of XRP ETFs. Forecasting the SEC’s positions regarding XRP ETFs is challenging in light of the ongoing Ripple vs. SEC legal battle.
Charles Gasparino, a correspondent for FOX Business, states that BlackRock is unlikely to pursue an XRP ETF until the regulatory uncertainty is resolved.

The outcome of the Ripple case will be crucial in determining when the XRP ETF is approved and whether it will be widely accepted. BlackRock’s experience with a fraudulent XRP ETF application in 2023, which caused market confusion, adds to its cautious approach.
According to industry observers, BlackRock is now even more careful about its public image and will only proceed when all market and regulatory conditions are favorable.

RWA: Deloitte highlights Tokenized Real Estate could be worth $4 trillion

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Real estate tokenization, which used to be an experiment, could soon be how people trade, own, and finance property, as disclosed by the Deloitte Center for Financial Services.

Deloitte has said that the sector of tokenized real estate has the potential to grow to $4 trillion by 2035, with a 27 percent growth rate per year from the current market size of under $300 billion.

Tokenization of real-world assets is one of the hottest sectors that combines cryptocurrency and the finance industry, as it involves creating digital ownership assets on blockchains such as bonds, funds, and real estate.

This approach has operational benefits, cheaper and quicker settlements, and wider investment exposure

The report also explains that regarding real estate, the appeal of tokenization lies in the automation and simplification it offers to intricate financial contracts, like setting rules to manage ownership transfers and capital flows. This can be seen in Kin Capital’s $100 million real estate debt fund tokenization platform, Chintai, with trust-deed-based lending.

The report presents three shifts in tokenized properties: private real estate funds, securitized loan ownership, and undeveloped land projects.

Apple is moving iPhones production base from China to India

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Apple intends to relocate the assembly of all iPhones sold in the U.S. to India as early as next year as part of its plans to move away from strained relations with China, as reported by the Financial Times on Friday.

APPL is seeking to complete the push faster than investors project; sources claim that Apple hopes to shift over 60 million iPhones sold in the U.S. to be Indian-sourced by the end of 2026.
If successful, these plans will nearly double India’s iPhone output within a year. Apple spent twenty years developing production lines in China.

Apple relies heavily on China as a manufacturing base; the company’s products are fabricated by third parties like Foxconn.

However, this reliance makes the company vulnerable to steep trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Trump on the world’s second-largest economy.
Reports surfaced in April of Apple hastily shipping iPhones out of India, coinciding with early April, when Trump began his renewed trade war with China.

Although Trump lifted the ban on electronic imports from China, he stated that this was not a permanent decision and that tariffs would be imposed on electronic imports. China responded to Trump’s 145% tariffs with a 125% tax. Apple’s market capitalization was depleted by up to $700 billion amid worries about its vulnerability.

Apple increased its production capacity in India by working with Foxconn and Tata Electronics, two contract manufacturers.
Beijing is paying more attention to the corporation as relations with the United States worsen. However, most of Apple’s flagship iPhones are still made in China.

CME: World’s Biggest Futures Exchange hosts Ripple’s XRP

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

CME Group is expected to roll out XRP futures next month and is awaiting regulatory approval. This comes after the corporation expanded its derivatives offer.

Recall that CME launched Solana (SOL) futures in March, as well as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) futures and options, both of which have been trading for some time now.

CME’s decision to expand its crypto derivatives suite is seemingly linked to a shift in the U.S. regulatory attitude under President Donald Trump’s administration.

On April 24, CME reportedly stated that 2,500 XRP and 50,000 XRP contracts will be cash-settled based on the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate, which measures the value of XRP at 4 o’clock London time.

CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, Giovanni Vicioso, explained the growing interest in XRP and its technology as a driving factor for the upcoming product launch.

Vicioso explained that “interest in XRP and its underlying ledger (XRPL) has steadily increased as institutional and retail adoption for the network grows, and we are pleased to launch these new futures contracts to provide a capital-efficient toolset to support clients’ investment and hedging strategies.”

Institutions will be exposed to Ripple-linked XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, for the first time if approved. According to CoinGecko, it traded at $2.21 per coin following a 1.3% 24-hour decline. As part of a larger market recovery, it has increased by almost 15% in the last 14 days.
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, called the impending launch of CME “incredibly important.” According to Garlinghouse, it’s “an exciting step” in the XRP market’s ongoing expansion.
XRP ETF would expose experienced investors to the digital currency. Bitwise, Canary Capital, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and 21Shares are all requesting SEC approval for funds based on XRP.