Trump Demands Swift Stablecoin Bill

CRYPTO
Trump Demands Swift Stablecoin Bill

U.S. President Donald Trump is urging the House of Representatives to pass the GENIUS Act — a major crypto bill — “lightning fast,” following its Senate approval in a 68–30 vote. The legislation, officially titled the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, aims to make the U.S. the global leader in digital assets. Trump called the bill “incredible” and demanded it be sent to his desk with “no delays, no add-ons.”

The GENIUS Act establishes a clear regulatory framework for dollar-backed stablecoins. It mandates 1:1 reserve backing, AML compliance, and limits on how reserves can be used — avoiding risky lending practices.

Despite early opposition, including criticism from Senator Elizabeth Warren over Trump’s crypto ties, the bill has gained momentum. Supporters argue it could preserve U.S. dollar dominance and drive innovation in blockchain-based payments, enabling near-instant settlement for businesses and individuals alike.

ECONOMY
Fed Holds Rates, Signals Caution

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, as expected, while maintaining its projection of two rate cuts in 2025. Investors, having largely priced in the decision, focused instead on the Fed’s updated economic outlook. The central bank acknowledged elevated uncertainty, even as it emphasized a generally stable economy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reassured markets that while conditions are “cloudier,” they aren’t necessarily stormy.

The updated "dot plot" revealed no change in the median forecast, though officials now expect slightly lower GDP growth and higher inflation next year. Still, these projections are not commitments—just snapshots of current thinking.

Outside the Fed, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and uncertainty around trade agreements continue to weigh on sentiment. President Trump has repeatedly pushed for rate cuts, arguing inflation is under control. But the Fed remains cautious, wary of potential inflation rebounds, especially with tariffs and global risks still in play.

TECH
WhatsApp Adds Ads to Updates

Meta is officially bringing ads to WhatsApp—for the first time ever. Starting soon, users will see advertisements in the “Updates” tab, where Status updates and channels appear. Meta clarified that it will use some user data to target these ads but won’t access message content or recipient info.

This marks a major shift. When Meta (then Facebook) acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014, both CEO Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum publicly rejected advertising as a monetization strategy. But after 11 years and a sixfold increase in users—now nearing 3 billion—the company is pivoting.

While ads won’t appear in private chats, the move signals Meta’s push to monetize WhatsApp’s massive audience without disrupting its core messaging experience. With WhatsApp still mostly unmonetized despite being one of the world’s most-used apps, the company seems ready to cash in—while trying not to break too many promises along the way.

TECH
Klarna Launches U.S. Mobile Plans

Klarna is launching unlimited mobile phone plans in the U.S. at $40/month, partnering with telecom startup Gigs. The move is part of CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski’s ambition to evolve Klarna into a full-fledged financial “super app.” While Klarna is widely known in the U.S. for its “buy now, pay later” service, the company aims to broaden its scope using AI to become a digital financial assistant—offering personalized money management, smarter subscriptions, and potential features like stock and crypto investing.

Siemiatkowski believes AI can finally unlock Klarna’s true potential by tailoring the experience for each user. Despite past failed attempts to go super-app, he sees tech maturity and AI personalization as game changers.

Though Klarna recently reported a $99M quarterly loss and postponed its IPO due to market conditions, Siemiatkowski remains focused on U.S. growth. Klarna’s goal: to move beyond BNPL and become the go-to financial tool for millions of users.

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.