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FED'S UPCOMING PROJECTIONS TO SIGNAL DEEPER CUTS THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED: CITI

Investing.com -- The Fed's updated projections are likely to show that policymakers warming up to cutting rates deeper than previously expected to shore up the economy, Citi analysts said in a recent note, ahead of the central bank's monetary policy meeting next week.  

"Fed officials will need to significantly update their Summary of Economic Projections next week," the analysts said. "The unemployment rate at the end of this year will be revised up and the path for policy rates revised down."

The analysts expect the voting Fed members' projections, or "dots," to show 100 basis points of cuts this year, compared with the Fed's June dots showing just one 25 basis point cut.

Expectations for a more dovish Fed have been driven by the recent slowdown in inflation, with Citi expecting inflation data due Wednesday to show the fourth consecutive month of slower core CPI growth.

As the market is expecting about the 105 basis points of cuts, the analysts said, a median dot for 75bp of cuts "would be hawkish relative to expectations."

The rate cutting path isn't straight forward, the analysts say, as the size of the rate cut in September is likely to significantly influence how deep the Fed cuts rates at consecutive meetings.  

A larger 50bp in cut September, which is the Citi's base case, could lead most fed officials to back 25bp cuts in November and December, leaving a median dot implying a total of 100bp of cuts for the year. But if the Fed delivers a 25bp cut in September, that provides them with the option to signal to the market that they could go 50bp at an upcoming meeting.  

The upcoming Fed decision and updated Summary of Economic Projections will be closely watched, particularly as the economic strength -- or lack thereof -- has sparked widespread debate

The upcoming Fed decision and updated Summary of Economic projections will be closely watched at a time when many the economic strength, or lack thereof, has sparked wide debate.  

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Investing

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US CONGRESS ADDRESSES DEFI OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

▪️US Congress held its first hearing on DeFi, highlighting opportunities and risks.

▪️Republicans defended DeFi's innovation; Democrats focused on consumer protection and regulation.

The US Congress held its first hearing on Decentralized Finance (DeFi). The meeting discussed the opportunities and dangers brought by DeFi, highlighting partisan views; Republicans defended DeFi’s innovative and economic freedom aspects, while Democrats focused on consumer protection, market integrity, and the risks of unregulated financial systems.

Definition and Growth of DeFi

DeFi generally refers to peer-to-peer digital asset transactions through smart contracts on permissionless blockchain networks. However, the meeting emphasized that DeFi lacks a standard definition. The committee presented statistics indicating the rapid growth of the DeFi sector. DeFi’s market value is currently at 67 billion dollars, and the total locked value (TVL) is recorded at 89 billion dollars.

Republicans vs. Democrats

Republicans described DeFi as an innovative sector that could provide more efficient transactions by eliminating non-profit intermediaries. “DeFi is essential for a vibrant financial sector in the US,” said Warren Davidson from Ohio.

On the other hand, Democrats emphasized the importance of consumer protections and stated that DeFi is prone to fraud. Brad Sherman from California argued that DeFi is more complex than traditional finance and a space where bad actors defraud customers.

Republican Witnesses’ Views

Republicans, being the majority in Congress, selected four witnesses to speak before the committee. Democrats could choose only one witness. Brian Avello, Chief Legal Officer of Universal DeFi Holding Company, argued that DeFi should not be governed by existing financial regulations. 

Rebecca Rettig from Polygon Labs noted that DeFi should be redefined as critical infrastructure, suggesting the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as a potential regulator. 

Amanda Tuminelli from the DeFi Education Fund emphasized that DeFi should not be managed with uniform rules from traditional finance. Peter Van Valkenburgh from Coin Center advocated punishing fraud and contract breaches.

Democratic Witness’s Views

Mark Allen Hays, senior policy analyst at Progressive nonprofit Americans for Financial Reform, argued that existing financial regulations should apply to DeFi. Hays highlighted DeFi’s ideological stance of avoiding regulation and stressed the importance of protecting market integrity and investors. Hays also mentioned that many fraudsters operate within DeFi protocols.

The meeting was presented as an opportunity for Congress to learn how DeFi works; however, political views dominated rather than an open-minded discussion.

While Republicans defended DeFi as an innovative sector, Democrats highlighted the risks posed by unregulated financial systems. The rapid growth of DeFi and its various risks indicate that more regulatory debates lie ahead. Users should consider both the economic freedoms and the risks that DeFi brings.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CoinTurk

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FINANCIAL GIANT STANDARD CHARTERED ANNOUNCES NEW DIGITAL ASSET CUSTODY SERVICE IN UAE

Financial services behemoth Standard Chartered is launching a digital asset custody service in the United Arab Emirates following the approval of a license from local regulators.

According to a new press release, Standard Chartered has selected the UAE for its product launch due to the region’s well-regarded approach to digital asset regulation and adoption.

Says Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank,

“The launch of our digital asset custody offering represents a pivotal moment not just for Standard Chartered, but for the financial services industry. We firmly believe that digital assets are not merely a passing trend, but a fundamental shift in the fabric of finance.
With this new service, we are strategically positioning ourselves at the forefront of this next evolution in the custody business. Our robust infrastructure, coupled with our expertise in the field allows us to provide a bridge between the world of financial services and the emerging digital asset ecosystem.”

Initially, the service is set to cover Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), the leading cryptos by market cap. According to the announcement, Brevan Howard Digital is the first client to utilize the new service.

Says Gautam Sharma, chief executive officer of Brevan Howard Digital,

“This is a significant win for the UAE and the wider digital asset industry. Standard Chartered’s global reputation and demonstrated commitment to this space add a layer of credibility that is meaningful for institutional adoption.

The development of the institutional infrastructure within the asset class and region supports our established business within the ADGM in its continued expansion and our ongoing efforts toward improving and reinforcing standards in the digital asset ecosystem.”

Standard Chartered plans to expand its digital asset services in the coming months and is considering extending its custody offerings to other major financial centers worldwide.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  DailyHodl

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tZERO BECOMES 2ND FINRA-APPROVED BROKER-DEALER FOR DIGITAL SECURITIES

The company is following the steps of Prometheum, which now treats four cryptocurrencies as securities.

The United States has a second special purpose broker-dealer (SPBD) for digital asset securities. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have approved tZero Digital Asset Securities as a digital asset SPBD, giving it the right to custody digital asset securities on behalf of retail and institutional clients.

Its new status allows SEC-regulated alternative trading system operator tZero to carry out custody, clearance and settlement of securities without a third-party custodian, making tZero a “one-stop shop” for digital asset security issuance and secondary trading, the company said in a statement. The company helps private companies go public through securities offerings.

tZero wants to set an example
tZero has a “long-standing position that many digital assets in the market constitute securities under existing legal frameworks,” it said. Although that claim is widely disputed in the crypto world, tZero will treat digital assets as securities when it provides custody of them. tZERO chief legal and corporate affairs officer Alan Konevsky said:

“We will leverage this unique opportunity, on behalf of the digital asset industry at large, to illustrate how positive regulatory clarity can produce real-world innovation, novel products and real commercialization across of range of traditional financial and real world assets.”

The new service will be available early in 2025. The full digitization of tZERO's Series-A preferred equity security (TZROP) will be its first product.

Putting compliance before the rule
Prometheum raised eyebrows in the crypto world when it became the first recipient of the SPBD designation for digital securities in May 2023. Like tZero, Prometheum was a minor player in the digital asset market. Its SPBD designation set off a chorus of disapproval and accusations of favoritism.

Prometheum treated Ether as a security and later added Uniswap and Arbitrum (ARB) to the list of “securities” it custodied. The SEC launched an investigation of Ethereum to determine whether it would consider it a security, but dropped the investigation in June.

tZero began its existence as a cryptocurrency and securities exchange spun off from Overstock.com. It closed its cryptocurrency arm in February 2023.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:   CoinTelegraph

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CFTC CHAIR REITERATES BTC AND ETH ARE COMMODITIES IN TESTIMONY

The head of the US commodities regulator, Rostin Behnam, has again argued that the agency should be given regulatory oversight of Bitcoin and Ethereum to better protect investors.

The United States commodities regulator chief has again argued that Bitcoin and Ether — the two largest cryptocurrencies by market cap — are commodities, and his agency should be given oversight of them.

Speaking on July 9 before the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Rostin Behnam argued that a recent court ruling in Illinois stated that Bitcoin and Ether are commodities.

The July 3 ruling was part of a $120 million Ponzi case involving an Oregon man accused of fraud. In the order, the Illinois district court judge said both assets qualified as commodities.

It also said that Olympus (OHM) and KlimaDAO (KLIMA) qualified as commodities, too.

“In its decision, the court re-affirmed that both Bitcoin and Ether are commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act.”

Additionally, Behnam cited a 2022 report from the Financial Stability Oversight Council, which highlighted a gap in regulation of the spot market for “digital assets that are not securities” and called for his agency to assume a greater position of oversight for digital commodities.

Behnam said ongoing inaction from other regulators in the US would not “quash public interest for digital assets” and would only result in greater risk to financial markets and investors.

“In short, our current trajectory is not sustainable. Federal legislation is urgently needed to create a pathway for a regulatory framework that will protect American investors and possibly the financial system from future risk,” he said.

Behnam says the CFTC is ready to enforce crypto rules
The CFTC chair outlined five key legislative priorities he believed his agency could introduce to better regulate digital commodities.

These included his agency’s ability to tailor rules to meet the unique risk profile of cryptocurrencies, a permanent “fee-for-service model” funding model, requiring registrants to adhere to a “comprehensive disclosure regime” regarding their crypto assets, as well as bolstering Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering privileges for the CFTC.

Finally, he urged the committee to consider a “disciplined, balanced framework” for whether or not tokens are deemed commodities or securities under existing law, as well as working to introduce a comprehensive education and outreach program concerning crypto assets in the US.

“The SEC and CFTC have a longstanding partnership that facilitates strong, robust regulation of securities and derivatives markets, Behnam said.

“I am confident that the two agencies will continue working closely, ensuring a reliable, fair, and efficient system for listing and trading of digital assets on regulated exchanges.”

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CoinTelegraph

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Source:  Currency Facts

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