Justin Bram’s wallet deposited 14.19 million WLD worth $5.72 million into Binance.
Emily Nicolle takes stock of the rise in physical attacks against crypto holders and company executives in France.
As anticipation builds around the long-awaited digital asset market structure legislation known as the CLARITY Act, negotiations between the crypto industry and the banking sector appear to be resuming this week. White House Considers New Crypto Talks According to Crypto In America journalist Eleanor Terrett, the White House is weighing the possibility of holding another meeting as soon as Thursday to address one of the most contentious elements of the bill: stablecoin yield. Citing two sources familiar with the discussions, Terrett reported that administration officials are considering convening representatives from both banks and crypto firms for renewed talks. However, she noted that no final decision has been made and plans have yet to be confirmed. The potential meeting follows a previous round of discussions that ended without resolution. Terrett reported Monday that last Tuesday’s White House gathering — which included senior policy staff from major banks, crypto companies, and trade associations — concluded without an agreement. According to her reporting, banking representatives circulated a one-page document titled “Yield and Interest Prohibition Principles.” The document argued that stablecoins should not offer yield or rewards, drawing a firm line that has become a central sticking point in the broader negotiations. Despite the setback, Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse has publicly expressed confidence that the crypto and banking sectors will ultimately bridge their differences, clearing the way for final approval of the legislation and its signing by President Donald Trump. Ripple CEO Says ‘Clarity Is Better Than Chaos’ In comments reported Tuesday by The Street, Garlinghouse suggested that once the remaining disputes are resolved, the CLARITY Act could move swiftly toward enactment. He even alluded to a potential timeline, signaling urgency around the process. Garlinghouse called on the crypto community to rally behind the legislation rather than hold out for a flawless outcome. He argued that progress should not be derailed by disagreements over specific provisions. “I think it’s so clear that clarity is better than chaos,” he said, emphasizing that regulatory certainty would benefit the entire sector. While acknowledging that the CLARITY Act is not perfect, Garlinghouse maintained that no piece of legislation ever is. Garlinghouse went further, estimating there is an 80% probability that the anticipated crypto market structure bill will be signed into law by the end of April. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Pump.fun has been making moves to get public opinion out of the dumps and the enterprise just launched its latest initiative — the Cashback Coins feature, which is supposed to address talk of how some token deployers don’t deserve to claim creator fees. With the mechanism, users are given the ability to decide whether a token truly deserves Creator Fees or whether it makes more sense to reward the traders of the token. In the post sharing the new development, Pump.fun insisted that Creator Fees are a net positive for helping teams, creators & founders grow & succeed. “However, many tokens achieve success without a team or project lead, thereby disproportionately rewarding token deployers who don’t deserve the fees,” the post reads. “Now, traders can choose to engage with tokens they feel the most aligned with, ultimately letting the market decide who gets rewarded and where the bar is set.” How the cashback feature works The way it works is simple; coin creators are now mandated to choose between Trader Cashback or Creator Fees before launch. Cashback Coins directs all the Creator Fees to the traders, and once launched, the decision will remain unchanged forever. This means that, unlike Creator Fee coins, Cashback Coins will not support CTOs. However, Cashback Coins will forever reward their respective traders & holders. Creator Fee coins are similarly locked forever. It should be noted that this new initiative will only be applicable to new coins, rather than already deployed projects. Pump.fun’s redemption arc Since Pump.fun became active, tokenization has skyrocketed, and so has the failure rate of tokenized projects. According to a January report from Coingecko , 11.6 million cryptocurrency projects failed in 2025, the highest number of failures recorded in a single year. Those failures account for 86.3% of all project closures between 2021 and 2025. The report also stated that the drop in token survivability may be linked to overall market volatility throughout the year. However, there was no doubt about the fact that meme coins were affected the most as low-effort tokens launched on platforms like Pump.fun dominated new listings. Pump.fun has been working hard to resist accusations of being an extractive machine. In response to the criticisms, the team has made a number of iterations to the Pump.fun product, and the Cashback Coins feature is the latest development. It seemed to work at first, but at the start of this year, the platform’s cofounder, Alon, openly admitted that the first iteration of the dynamic first system was doing more harm than good. Alon claimed it was encouraging the creation of low-risk tokens over trading, which posed a risk to long-term liquidity. It was replaced with a more market-driven approach that required traders to decide on fee applicability. In the same January, the platform rolled out fee sharing and controls, which allowed creators to split fees across up to 10 wallets, with transferable ownership and better tools for teams/CTO admins. The team has also been working hard on the mobile UX, while introducing features such as the movers feed, one-click trading and price alerts to encourage usage and keep things fun and accessible. Still no airdrop though Amid the recent developments from the Pump.fun platform, there hasn’t been much about the $PUMP airdrop. The airdrop was one of the platform’s main draws for users, but while the $PUMP token has been launched, there is barely any news about an upcoming airdrop. All the community has to go on are the teasers from 2024 and 2025 from the cofounders. The team has instead chosen to focus on shipping new features like the Cashback Coins feature and buybacks, positioning them as the primary method of reward for the ecosystem, as it reduces the supply and supports the price. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .
While still subject to final approval, the regulator's nod would enable Bridge to offer stablecoin and digital asset services to businesses.
The Dutch electronic money issuer will act as a BIN sponsor for fintech partners, linking regulated dollar- and euro-denominated tokens to mainstream card rails.
BitcoinWorld New Zealand Economy: Remarkable Jobs Growth and Solid Expansion Drive Optimistic 2025 Outlook WELLINGTON, New Zealand – December 2024: New Zealand’s economy demonstrates remarkable resilience with consistently strong employment figures and sustained growth, according to recent analysis from ING economists. The nation’s economic performance continues to outperform many developed counterparts, presenting a compelling case study in post-pandemic recovery and structural stability. This comprehensive examination explores the multifaceted drivers behind New Zealand’s economic success, analyzing key indicators that signal continued momentum into 2025. New Zealand’s Economic Landscape: A Foundation of Strength New Zealand’s economic framework rests on several pillars that collectively support its current expansion. The country’s diversified economy combines traditional agricultural strength with growing technology and services sectors. Recent data from Statistics New Zealand reveals consistent GDP growth exceeding 2% annually for the past eight quarters. This sustained expansion occurs despite global economic headwinds affecting many trading partners. Furthermore, the nation’s geographic isolation has fostered innovative approaches to international trade. New Zealand maintains robust export relationships with China, Australia, and the United States. These trade connections provide stability during periods of global uncertainty. The country’s economic policies emphasize sustainable growth, balancing development with environmental considerations. This balanced approach attracts both domestic investment and international capital. Labor Market Dynamics: Beyond the Headline Numbers The employment situation in New Zealand reveals nuanced strength across multiple dimensions. The unemployment rate has remained below 4% for fifteen consecutive months, according to the latest Household Labour Force Survey. This represents the longest period of such low unemployment in two decades. Equally important, underemployment has decreased significantly, indicating more workers are obtaining their desired hours. Wage growth has accelerated moderately, with average hourly earnings increasing 4.2% year-over-year. This growth slightly outpaces inflation, providing real wage gains for workers. The participation rate remains elevated at 71.8%, suggesting strong engagement with the labor market across demographic groups. Regional employment patterns show particular strength in Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury, though all regions demonstrate positive momentum. Key Economic Indicators: A Data-Driven Perspective Multiple economic metrics confirm New Zealand’s solid growth trajectory. Business confidence surveys indicate sustained optimism among firms planning expansion and hiring. The manufacturing sector shows particular resilience, with the Performance of Manufacturing Index consistently above the expansion threshold of 50 points. Service sector activity remains robust, supported by domestic consumption and returning international tourism. The construction industry continues its strong performance, with residential and infrastructure projects driving employment. Migration patterns contribute positively, with net migration adding skilled workers to the labor force. Consumer confidence, while moderating from pandemic highs, remains in positive territory. Household spending patterns indicate cautious optimism, with discretionary spending maintaining steady levels. New Zealand Key Economic Indicators (2024 Q3) Indicator Value Trend GDP Growth 2.3% Steady Unemployment Rate 3.8% Declining Participation Rate 71.8% Rising Wage Growth 4.2% Accelerating Business Confidence +12.4 Positive Sectoral Analysis: Where Growth Manifests Different economic sectors contribute uniquely to New Zealand’s expansion. The technology sector demonstrates particularly strong performance, with digital exports growing at double-digit rates. Agricultural exports maintain their traditional strength, supported by favorable commodity prices and efficient supply chains. Tourism continues its recovery, with international visitor numbers approaching pre-pandemic levels. The healthcare and social assistance sector shows significant employment growth, reflecting demographic trends and policy priorities. Professional services expand steadily, supporting business activity across the economy. Renewable energy projects create employment opportunities while advancing sustainability goals. These diverse growth sources provide economic stability against sector-specific challenges. Regional Variations and Urban-Rural Dynamics Economic performance varies across New Zealand’s regions, though all show positive trends. Auckland’s economy benefits from concentration in finance, technology, and international education. Wellington maintains strength in public sector employment and professional services. Christchurch continues its post-earthquake reconstruction momentum with construction and manufacturing activity. Regional centers like Hamilton, Tauranga, and Dunedin show balanced growth across multiple sectors. Rural areas benefit from agricultural strength and growing value-added food production. Connectivity improvements through digital infrastructure help distribute economic opportunities more evenly. Regional development initiatives support balanced growth across the country. Policy Environment: Supporting Sustainable Growth Government policies create a framework supporting economic expansion. Fiscal policy maintains a balanced approach, with targeted investments in infrastructure and skills development. Monetary policy from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand focuses on price stability while supporting employment objectives. Immigration settings help address skill shortages in key sectors without undermining wage growth. Industry development strategies prioritize sectors with growth potential and international competitiveness. Education and training policies align with emerging skill requirements. Research and development incentives encourage innovation across traditional and emerging industries. Regulatory frameworks balance business needs with social and environmental considerations. Key policy initiatives supporting economic growth include: Infrastructure investment in transportation, digital connectivity, and renewable energy Skills development programs targeting high-demand occupations Trade agreements expanding market access for New Zealand exports Innovation funding supporting research commercialization Regional development initiatives promoting balanced growth International Context: New Zealand’s Comparative Position New Zealand’s economic performance stands out internationally among developed economies. The country’s growth rate exceeds the OECD average by approximately one percentage point. Employment outcomes compare favorably with most peer nations, particularly regarding youth unemployment. Inflation management has been relatively successful, with price increases moderating faster than in many comparable economies. The nation’s debt position remains sustainable, providing fiscal flexibility if needed. External balances show improvement as export diversification progresses. Sovereign credit ratings reflect confidence in economic management and prospects. International investment flows indicate growing recognition of New Zealand’s economic strengths and stability. Challenges and Risk Factors Despite strong performance, New Zealand faces several economic challenges. Housing affordability remains a concern in major urban centers. Productivity growth, while improving, continues to lag some international peers. Infrastructure constraints occasionally limit economic potential in fast-growing regions. External risks include potential slowdowns in major trading partner economies. Climate change presents both challenges and opportunities for adaptation and mitigation. Demographic trends, including population aging, will influence future labor market dynamics. Technological disruption requires continuous adaptation across industries. Managing these challenges while maintaining growth momentum represents a key policy priority. Future Outlook: Projections for 2025 and Beyond Economic forecasts for New Zealand remain generally positive for 2025. Most analysts project continued growth, though potentially at a slightly moderated pace. Employment is expected to remain strong, with some sectors facing ongoing skill shortages. Wage growth should continue outpacing inflation, supporting household incomes and consumption. Business investment likely maintains momentum, supported by confidence and capacity utilization. Export growth may accelerate as new trade agreements take full effect. Tourism recovery should continue, though the pace depends on international economic conditions. Inflation is projected to remain within the Reserve Bank’s target range, allowing stable monetary policy settings. Conclusion New Zealand’s economy demonstrates impressive strength through consistent jobs growth and solid expansion across multiple sectors. The nation’s economic performance reflects sound fundamentals, diversified growth sources, and effective policy frameworks. While challenges exist, the overall outlook remains positive for 2025 and beyond. Continued attention to productivity, infrastructure, and skills development will help sustain New Zealand’s economic momentum in coming years. FAQs Q1: What is driving New Zealand’s strong employment growth? The employment growth stems from multiple factors including business expansion across sectors, returning international tourism, infrastructure investment, and favorable migration patterns adding skilled workers to the labor force. Q2: How does New Zealand’s economic performance compare internationally? New Zealand outperforms many developed economies in growth rates, employment outcomes, and inflation management, though productivity growth continues to lag some international peers. Q3: What sectors show the strongest growth in New Zealand? Technology, construction, healthcare, professional services, and tourism demonstrate particularly strong performance, while traditional sectors like agriculture maintain steady growth. Q4: What are the main risks to New Zealand’s economic outlook? Key risks include potential slowdowns in major trading partner economies, domestic infrastructure constraints, housing affordability challenges, and the need to accelerate productivity growth. Q5: How is wage growth performing relative to inflation? Wage growth currently outpaces inflation slightly, providing real income gains for workers, though this balance requires monitoring given evolving economic conditions. This post New Zealand Economy: Remarkable Jobs Growth and Solid Expansion Drive Optimistic 2025 Outlook first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
BitcoinWorld RBNZ Holds Firm: Governor Breman’s Crucial First Rate Decision Amid Economic Crossroads WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – April 2025: The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has decisively held its Official Cash Rate (OCR) steady at 5.50%, marking a pivotal first monetary policy decision for newly appointed Governor Sarah Breman. Consequently, this move signals a continued hawkish stance against persistent inflation while the economy shows tentative signs of cooling. Financial markets had widely anticipated this outcome, yet all eyes remain fixed on the central bank’s forward guidance and the new Governor’s strategic tone. RBNZ Holds Interest Rate at 5.50%: A Detailed Analysis The Monetary Policy Committee’s unanimous vote maintains the benchmark rate at its highest level since 2008. This decision follows 525 basis points of aggressive tightening initiated in late 2021. Importantly, the accompanying statement acknowledged that core inflation measures remain stubbornly above the 1-3% target band. However, the committee also noted that restrictive policy is dampening domestic demand, a key factor in their hold decision. Furthermore, recent data shows annual consumer price inflation has moderated to 4.1%, down from its peak of 7.3%, but services inflation persists above 5%. Economists highlight the delicate balance the RBNZ must now strike. “The hold was expected, but the nuance is in the trajectory,” stated Dr. Michael Redwood, Chief Economist at Aotearoa Financial Analysis. “Governor Breman inherits an economy where previous hikes are still working through the system. The risk of overtightening into a softer growth outlook is now as pertinent as the risk of entrenched inflation.” The New Zealand dollar showed minimal immediate reaction, suggesting the decision was fully priced in by forex traders. Governor Breman Takes Center Stage at a Critical Juncture Sarah Breman assumed the role of RBNZ Governor in March 2025, succeeding Adrian Orr. A former Deputy Governor and veteran of the institution, her appointment brought expectations of policy continuity. Her first Monetary Policy Statement and press conference, therefore, were scrutinized for any shift in communication style or strategic emphasis. Observers noted her repeated emphasis on data dependency and the need for “patience and resolve.” A Data-Driven Approach in a Volatile Global Climate Governor Breman’s leadership commences amidst significant global and domestic crosscurrents. Internationally, divergent monetary policies from the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank create exchange rate volatility. Domestically, key challenges include: Housing Market Correction: National house prices have declined 15% from their 2021 peak, impacting household wealth and consumption. Migration-Led Demand: Record net immigration boosts labor supply but also increases demand for housing and services. Fiscal Policy Interaction: The government’s recent budget, focusing on tax relief, adds a modest stimulatory effect that the RBNZ must consider. Breman referenced these factors, stating the committee is “assessing the full constellation of data” rather than reacting to any single indicator. This balanced approach aims to anchor inflation expectations, which surveys show have begun to recede from elevated levels. The Economic Impact and Forward Guidance The RBNZ’s revised economic projections, published alongside the decision, paint a picture of a managed slowdown. The bank forecasts a shallow technical recession in the first half of 2025, with annual GDP growth of just 0.4%. Unemployment is projected to rise to 5.0% by year-end from the current 4.3%. Crucially, the OCR track in the projections implies a prolonged period of restrictive policy, with no cuts anticipated until mid-2026. RBNZ Key Economic Projections (2025-2027) Indicator 2025 Forecast 2026 Forecast 2027 Forecast Annual CPI Inflation 3.2% 2.5% 2.0% GDP Growth 0.4% 2.1% 2.8% Unemployment Rate 5.0% 4.8% 4.5% OCR (Quarterly Average) 5.50% 5.25% 3.75% This forward guidance is designed to manage market expectations and prevent premature easing of financial conditions. Mortgage rates for fixed-term loans have stabilized but remain near 7%, continuing to pressure highly indebted households. Business investment intentions, as measured by the ANZ Business Outlook survey, remain weak but have stopped deteriorating. Conclusion The RBNZ’s decision to hold the interest rate represents a strategic pause, not a pivot. Under Governor Breman’s nascent leadership, the central bank affirms its unwavering commitment to restoring price stability. The path ahead requires navigating a soft economic landing, a task complicated by global uncertainties and domestic structural pressures. Ultimately, the success of this monetary policy decision will be measured by a return of inflation to target without triggering a severe recession. For now, the RBNZ holds its ground, signaling that the battle against inflation, though entering a new phase, is far from over. FAQs Q1: What is the current RBNZ Official Cash Rate (OCR)? A1: The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has held the OCR steady at 5.50% following its April 2025 review. This is the benchmark interest rate for the New Zealand economy. Q2: Why did the RBNZ decide to hold interest rates? A2: The bank held rates because restrictive monetary policy is slowing demand and inflation is gradually declining. However, with core inflation still above target, the committee judged it necessary to maintain pressure rather than ease policy prematurely. Q3: Who is the new Governor of the RBNZ? A3: Sarah Breman is the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, having taken office in March 2025. She is a former Deputy Governor and a long-serving official within the institution. Q4: When might the RBNZ cut interest rates? A4: Based on the RBNZ’s own published projections, the first OCR cut is not anticipated until mid-2026. This timeline depends on inflation returning sustainably to the 1-3% target band. Q5: How does this decision affect mortgages and savers in New Zealand? A5: The hold means mortgage rates, particularly for new fixed-term loans, are likely to remain elevated in the near term, increasing pressure on borrowers. Conversely, savers will continue to benefit from higher returns on term deposits and savings accounts. This post RBNZ Holds Firm: Governor Breman’s Crucial First Rate Decision Amid Economic Crossroads first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
Corporate treasuries keep buying Bitcoin as price weakens sharply.
Even as the broader crypto market nurses its bruises in a stubborn bear cycle, the real-world asset ( RWA) corner keeps stacking wins, with tokenized U.S. Treasury products pulling in $1.9 billion in inflows since the start of 2026. Digital Treasury Products Added $1.9 Billion Year-to-Date This week, rwa.xyz data shows the tokenized U.S. Treasuries