Trump: New Fed Chair’s Interest Rate Cut Will Be a “Test”
President Trump said that tariffs on some products could be lowered and that this was under consideration. Trump stated that the new Fed chair’s decision to make an emergency interest rate cut would be a “litmus test” for him. He said he was considering both lowering and raising tariffs. He did not clarify whether he had held private meetings with potential candidates on this matter.
BOJ Governor Ueda: Long-Term Interest Rate Increases Are Progressing “A Bit Quickly”
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda stated that the rise in long-term interest rates has been “a bit quick” recently. Ueda said that if sharp increases in interest rates continue, bond purchases could be increased. Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds reached an 18-year high this week. Ueda also stated that confidence in the BOJ’s economic outlook has increased as uncertainties in the US economy have diminished.
Fed Decision Vote Split and Dot Plot Will Be Critical
Markets are pricing in a 90% chance of the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points this week. BNY Mellon analysts emphasize that investors should focus on the vote split within the committee and the new dot plot projections. Analysts note that support for the size of the rate cut and potential dissenting votes are important. Furthermore, the Fed’s message on liquidity support for the end of the year and 2026 will be one of the key takeaways from the meeting.
EU Aims to Launch Capital Market Reform in 2027
The EU Commission plans to implement the capital markets integration reform package before 2027. The reform envisages granting broader powers to ESMA and placing important financial infrastructures under central supervision. Crypto companies will also be included in this framework and regulated by ESMA. The plan requires the approval of the European Parliament and the Council to come into force.
EU Launches Antitrust Investigation into Google for Competition Violations in the Field of Artificial Intelligence
The EU has launched an antitrust investigation to examine whether Google has imposed unfair conditions on content providers to strengthen its artificial intelligence models. The investigation focuses on whether Google has abused its market dominance to exclude competitors. The Commission will examine whether agreements with content producers could distort competition. This step signals the EU’s tightening of oversight over tech giants in the artificial intelligence sector.
Bank of America: Fed May Expand Its Balance Sheet with $45 Billion Monthly Purchases
While markets are focused on the interest rate decision, the Fed’s balance sheet strategy is becoming increasingly critical. Bank of America predicts that the Fed could announce a $45 billion monthly asset purchase program starting in January 2026. These purchases are said to aim for $20 billion in natural growth and $25 billion in reserve increases in government bonds each month. Strategists say the program could last until at least the first half of 2026.
Bitcoin Miner IREN Strengthens Its Balance Sheet with $2.3 Billion Bond Issue
IREN has reorganized its financing structure by completing a total $2.3 billion convertible bond issue. The company also reduced its liabilities by repurchasing $544 million in old bonds. It was announced that the new bonds are due in 2032 and 2033, have low coupons, and come with a $300 million over-allotment option. It was stated that the approximately $2.27 billion raised will be directed towards mining capacity and data center investments.
Russia Plans to Tighten Crypto Regulations and Penalize Illegal Mining in 2025
The Russian government aims to strengthen the legal framework for the cryptocurrency ecosystem next year. The plan includes criminal penalties for illegal mining activities and administrative penalties for less serious violations. Officials say inspections will be increased against those mining with stolen electricity and unregistered facilities. Although mining is legal in the country, the low percentage of registered companies is cited as one of the factors accelerating regulations.
CZ: Bitcoin’s 4-Year Cycle May No Longer Be Valid, a ‘Super Cycle’ May Be Coming
CZ said that the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle is now weakening and that we may instead be entering a longer-lasting “super cycle” period. Key factors supporting this view include sector size, institutional demand, and macro liquidity dynamics. The statement reignited discussions about the potential start of a new long-term trend in the market. It was emphasized that Bitcoin has stronger fundamental dynamics compared to its previous cycles.
Ethereum Ecosystem Officially Launches x402 Hackathon
The x402 Hackathon, run by EigenCloud, has officially begun, with the application deadline announced as January 5, 2026. The event is supported by the Ethereum Foundation, Coinbase, Polygon, and other major ecosystem players. There is no cash prize for this hackathon; participants will gain access to marketing, mentorship, and potential grant opportunities. The focus of the organization is the development of next-generation smart agents and on-chain payment solutions.
OpenAI: Weekly Active User Count Exceeds 800 Million
According to OpenAI’s new report, ChatGPT’s weekly active user count has surpassed the 800 million mark. In addition, more than 1 million companies are paying for enterprise-level artificial intelligence products. The number of paid seats for enterprise products has reached 7 million. According to the report, the United States, Germany, and Japan are the countries with the most commercial use.
VeChain Releases Hayabusa Upgrade on Mainnet
VeChain announced that the Hayabusa upgrade has been successfully activated on the mainnet. With this upgrade, the first block of the DPoS mechanism was produced, increasing the network’s decentralization. Officials stated that the upgrade provides significant improvements in the areas of token economy, incentive model, and security. The update is expected to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the project ecosystem.
