Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Saturday Morning 4-19-25

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

RIPPLE ENTERS BROKER-DEALER ARENA AS HIDDEN ROAD GAINS FINRA AUTHORIZATION

Ripple just unlocked a game-changing foothold in traditional finance as its $1.25 billion acquisition scores FINRA approval, supercharging institutional access to fixed income markets.

Ripple’s Hidden Road Gets FINRA Go-Ahead to Expand Prime Brokerage Services

Hidden Road, a global prime brokerage firm recently acquired by Ripple for $1.25 billion, announced a regulatory milestone Thursday. Its subsidiary, Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC, received authorization from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to operate as a broker-dealer.

This new designation allows the firm to enhance its capabilities in fixed income prime brokerage. “This approval enables Hidden Road to expand its recently launched fixed income prime brokerage platform, which currently includes Fixed Income Repo & Global Funding services,” the company stated, adding:

"As a broker-dealer, Hidden Road will now be able to provide new and existing institutional clients with a full suite of regulatory-compliant prime brokerage, clearing, and financing services in fixed income assets."

Noel Kimmel, president of Hidden Road, framed the milestone as pivotal to the firm’s trajectory in capital markets. Kimmel stated: “Our broker-dealer registration is a significant step in the development of Hidden Road’s fixed income prime brokerage platform and bolsters our capabilities in traditional financial markets.” 

The executive continued: “As a FINRA member, we will be able to bring our best-in-class, technology-driven fixed income service offering to an expanded universe of institutional clients. Our business has tremendous momentum, and we look forward to continuing to provide superior execution and support to our clients amidst today’s exceptionally dynamic market environment.”

Ripple recently announced its acquisition of Hidden Road, a deal valued at $1.25 billion and pending regulatory approval. If completed, it would make Ripple the first digital asset firm to own a global, multi-asset prime broker.

The acquisition aims to expand Ripple’s cross-border payment and custody services. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse commented: “We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption – the U.S. market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance.”

Ripple CTO David Schwartz described the deal as transformative, stating that XRP could support part of Hidden Road’s daily $10 billion clearing volume and 50 million transactions. “Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road is a defining moment for the XRP Ledger and XRP,” he said. 

The partnership will integrate blockchain-based settlement, use XRP and RLUSD for collateral and cross-asset trades, and aim to establish Hidden Road as the largest non-bank prime broker globally.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Bitcoin News

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BRICS: ONLY 50% OF GLOBAL INVOICES ARE WRITTEN IN THE US DOLLAR

The superiority of the US dollar is declining every year as BRICS and other developing countries are working towards uprooting it from the world’s reserve currency status. The latest data had shown that the US dollar’s reserves around the world had already fallen below the 60% mark. The Atlantic Council reported that the US dollar’s global reserves fell to 59% last year.

That’s a gradual decline since 2002 when the global reserves in central banks stood at 72%. The last 23 years saw the USD reserves falling by 13% and the decline could continue further. The decrease falls in line with the BRICS agenda of de-dollarization where the US dollar’s dominancy is getting punctured.

BRICS: Global Invoices in the US Dollar Falls to 50%

Jane Foley, Rabobank’s FX Strategy head said in a recent interview with Bloomberg that the global invoices in the US dollar are now just 50%. The recent data from the SWIFT payment messaging system also shows that global invoices in the US dollar have topped 50.2%. BRICS members are now rewriting trade deals where local currencies are used and not the US dollar for cross-border transactions.

“There’s a lose correlation between the amount of invoices done in or written in the US dollars round. About 50% of the world’s invoices are written in the US dollars. So fundamentally central banks need dollar reserves,” said Foley. However, she stressed that the development could change soon. “And I think that will change,” she said. 

“Over the last 40-50 years, the share of the world’s trade from the US dollar has shrunk really because China’s growth in the emerging markets are great, but that is still nearly 60% of reserves,” she said. If BRICS continues the de-dollarization agenda, the US dollar could lose more value in the coming decades.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Watcher Guru

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“Tidbits From TNT” Saturday Morning 4-19-2025

TNT:

Tishwash: Al-Nusairi confirms that the Central Bank's approach to banking reform and development contributes to accelerating Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization. 

During his participation in the specialized workshop held by the Ministry of Trade to discuss Iraq's accession to the World Trade Organization, Samir Al-Nusairi, Economic and Banking Advisor, emphasized the role of the banking sector in contributing to accelerating Iraq's accession to the organization and the important role of the financial and banking sector in it.

He pointed to the measures achieved in 2023 and 2024 by the Central Bank in cooperation with the government, mainly regarding the regulation of foreign trade financing, the electronic platform, and direct work between banks and international correspondent banks

Based on the approved reform and development methodology, official data, and monetary policy indicators for 2024 and the plan for 2025 and 2026, in cooperation with international consulting companies specialized in this field, and compliance with financial globalization and international standards adopted by WTO member states.

Al-Nusairi explained the main points of the banking reform project launched by the Central Bank this month in the presence and participation of the Prime Minister.

He pointed out the customs war launched by the US administration and its effects in the medium and long term on the principles of unifying customs duties. 

Customs duties of the member states of the organization, and what are the means of confrontation that will be adopted by the World Trade Organization and the CAT organization concerned with regulating customs duties at the international level.

The workshop was attended by members of the National Governmental Committee for Joining the Organization, in which Iraq currently holds observer status along with 21 other countries, out of 166 countries with full membership.

Representatives of relevant ministries, the private sector, and unions were also present.  link

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Tishwash:  Al-Karawi: Failure to send budget tables is a constitutional violation.

Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, MP Mustafa Al-Karawi, confirmed on Friday that the government's delay in sending the budget tables constitutes a clear violation of the provisions of Article (77/Second) of the Budget Law, calling on the House of Representatives to take its role in holding the government accountable for this legal violation.

Al-Karawi told Al-Maalouma, “The government was legally obligated to submit budget schedules before the end of the previous fiscal year, but four months have passed without it complying with this, which constitutes a clear violation of the law and a failure to fulfill its constitutional duties.”

He added, “The delay in the 2024 and 2025 budget schedules is a serious indicator of administrative and oversight shortcomings within the relevant projects government institutions, which negatively impacts and implementation plans.”

Al-Karawi pointed out that “90% of the budget depends on oil revenues, at a time when the global market is experiencing sharp fluctuations, which makes basing a three-year budget on an unstable resource an ill-considered move.”

He pointed out that "the 2024 budget arrived late, was sealed by prior political agreement, and was not subject to a genuine review within Parliament. Despite containing fundamental problems, the results of which have begun to become apparent through the suspension of projects and the delay in referral and implementation."

Al-Karawi stressed that “Parliament is required to exercise its oversight role and hold the government accountable for this negligence, which could cause significant harm to the national economy and development plans.”  link

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Tishwash:  The most prominent of which are "thorium and uranium"... Iraq: Our natural resources are estimated at (16) trillion dollars.

The Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, confirmed on Friday that Iraq ranks ninth globally among countries rich in natural resources, while pointing to a move to invest in strategic minerals whose revenues rival those of oil .

According to the official agency, the Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, "Iraq ranks ninth among the world's ten richest countries in terms of natural resources, with its wealth in precious metals, minerals, and other resources estimated at at least $16 trillion, according to preliminary global estimates ."

He pointed out that "Iraq ranks first in the world in terms of the concentration of natural resources per square kilometer of its vast and diverse geography, particularly in the Mesopotamia Basin region, which is rich in underground resources ."

He explained that "investing in strategic minerals such as thorium and uranium could generate returns comparable to those of oil, as thorium is a cleaner and more important alternative for energy generation compared to uranium." He noted that "linking the value of the national currency to investment in these minerals depends on Iraq's ability to enter value-added chains, which contributes to raising the gross domestic product ."

He added that "the discovery of large quantities of thorium and uranium in southern Iraq represents 'strategic news' that will have a significant impact on diversifying the national economy if exploited optimally, especially if linked to the investment policies associated with the Development Road Project ."

Saleh emphasized that "advancing the exploration and manufacturing processes for these two resources will pave the way for the development of non-oil resources, enhancing Iraq's global geo-economic position. Furthermore, this development will chart the outlines of a new industrial map linked to the path of development, establish a sustainable future, attract major global mining companies with advanced technological capabilities, and provide quality job opportunities within the Iraqi market ."

He pointed out that "this boom in mineral investment will have a positive impact on fiscal and monetary policy, by enhancing monetary stability and increasing national income, which will contribute to improving citizens' well-being ."

He continued, "The importance of thorium and uranium minerals in the global energy market, and the presence of major economic partners such as India, China, and the United States, make Iraq a pivotal player in the field of unconventional fuel resources and an influential center in facilitating international security and energy paths  link

Mot:  Where there is a Will - there is a Way!  

Mot: blue ones --- Now Wait a Moment!!! 

New Gold-Backed Sound Money Plan Revealed | Judy Shelton

Trump vs Powell - New Gold-Backed Sound Money Plan Revealed | Judy Shelton

Soar Financially:  4-18-2025

In this explosive episode of Soar Financially, Dr. Judy Shelton—former economic advisor to President Trump and Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute—joins us to deliver a sharp critique of the Federal Reserve and propose bold reforms that could reshape the global financial system.

We unpack the true role of the Fed, gold-backed bonds, currency manipulation, Bretton Woods 2.0, and how to restore monetary integrity in America. -Why is the Fed too powerful?

Could gold-backed 50-year bonds anchor the dollar?

And is the U.S. actually “cheating” in global markets?

00:00 - The Fed Is Too Powerful

00:43 - Meet Judy Shelton: Credentials & Mission

01:30 - What’s Wrong with the U.S. Economy Today?

 03:20 - Ending Dependence on Government Overspending

 05:00 - Trump’s Agenda: Rebuilding Manufacturing & Fair Trade

07:00 - Currencies vs. Tariffs: What Really Impacts Trade?

 09:30 - Bretton Woods, Gold & Stable Exchange Rates

11:00 - Currency Manipulation = Cheating

13:00 - Can We Create a New Global Monetary System?

15:00 - Free Markets vs. Currency Rigging 17:00 - Friedman, Hayek & Gold: Which Path Forward?

20:00 - Is the U.S. Rigging the Dollar?

21:00 - Gold-Backed Bonds: Mechanics & Meaning

25:00 - The $1 Trillion Windfall from U.S. Gold Reserves

 28:00 - Fixing the Fed’s Role in a Free Market

30:00 - Who Really Benefits from Fed Policy?

32:00 - Rescind Interest on Reserves?

33:30 - Should the U.S. Lead the World With Gold-Backed Bonds?

36:00 - Why Gold Is Surging — And What It Signals

 40:00 - Final Question: What Should We Really Be Asking?

43:00 - Would Judy Become Fed Chair?

 46:00 - Follow Judy Shelton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1By_XSde6Qk

Gold’s “Day” On Its Way

Gold’s “Day” On Its Way

The Final Wake Up Call By Pete B Meyer Friday 4-18-25

No time left

The global monetary manipulators at the Fed, the central banks, the IMF and the World Bank are playing for time. They need time to achieve long-term fiscal reform. They need time to create the global currency SDRs to be accepted by the market.

They also need time to facilitate the purchase of gold. The problem is that there is no time. A run on gold has already begun before everything is in place and everyone has what they need.

The collapse of confidence in the dollar has begun before the SDR is ready to take its place. The insolvency of the Fed and the central banks is just around the corner. The dollar’s momentum is running out and the red light is flashing.

• The potential destabilising factor is that the amount of gold subject to paper contracts is over a thousand times the amount of physical gold backing those contracts.

If large numbers of holders demand physical delivery, the paper market will crash. And as other holders realise that they are running out of physical gold and cannot redeem their contract for bullion, the slide will escalate into an avalanche, a de facto bank run on the gold warehouses that support the exchanges and ETFs.

A similar dynamic began in October 2012, when the spot price of gold peaked at around $1,900/ounce. From there, gold fell to $1,200/ounce over the next six months.

Far from scaring off buyers, the gold crash made gold look cheap to millions of individual buyers around the world. They queued up at the banks, which quickly ran out of supply.

Buyers of standard 400 ounce and 1 kilo bars found there were no sellers; they had to wait almost thirty days for new bars to be produced by the refineries that were working around the clock to keep up with gold demand.

Massive conversions took place in the gold FTFs, not because all investors were bearish on gold, but because some wanted to get billions out of storage before running out of gold.

Backwardation

Gold futures went into backwardation, a highly unusual condition in which gold for spot delivery is more expensive than gold for forward delivery; the reverse is usually true because the forward seller has to pay for storage and insurance. This was another sign of acute physical scarcity and high demand for immediate access to physical gold.

When a gold buying panic breaks out, there is no single gold window to close. Instead, a multitude of contractual clauses, in fine print rarely read by gold buyers, would kick in.

• Gold futures exchanges have the ability to convert contracts to cash settlement only and close physical delivery channels. Bullion banks can also settle gold futures for cash and deny buyers the ability to convert to allocated gold.

As a result of the force majeure clauses in the contracts, to be used by banks that have sold more gold than they have in stock, investors will receive a cash settlement up to the contract termination date, but no more. Investors would get some cash, but no gold bars, and would miss out on the price spike that was sure to follow.

Physical gold was already in short supply and high demand in early 2014, and there was no price spike as a result of the manipulation.

Looming disaster

Central banks were still able to suppress the price of gold. But the alarm has been sounded. The ability of central banks to suppress the price of gold has been challenged, while a new demand for gold from paper buyers has emerged.

The entire international monetary system is stumbling on a rope of physical demand for gold. As the price of gold oscillates between the forces of physical demand and central bank manipulation, another greater catastrophe is looming: the Federal Reserve is on the brink of insolvency, if not already over the brink.

This is the conclusion of expert Fed critic Frederic S. Mishkin, one of the world’s most eminent monetary economists and mentor to Ben Bernanke and other Fed governors and economists.

As such, the central bank will have little choice and will be forced to buy up government debt and monetise it, ultimately leading to a rise in inflation.

Mishkin points to another collapse in the making, separate from debt monetisation and inflation. When the Fed buys longer-term debt with newly printed money, its balance sheet suffers large mark-to-market losses as interest rates rise.

The Fed does not disclose these losses until it actually sells the bonds as part of an exit strategy, although independent analysts can estimate the size of these losses based on publicly available information.

Debt monetisation leaves central bankers with a bad choice.

• If the country slips into deflation, the debt-to-GDP ratio will deteriorate because there is insufficient nominal growth.

• If the country slips into inflation, the debt-to-GDP ratio will deteriorate because of higher interest rates on the country’s debt.

• If the central bank fights inflation by selling assets, it will incur losses on bond sales and its insolvency will be exposed.

This insolvency could undermine confidence and in itself lead to higher interest rates.

The central bank’s losses will also worsen the debt-to-GDP ratio, as the Fed will no longer be able to transfer its profits to the Treasury, increasing the deficit.

There seems to be no way out of this sovereign debt crisis for the US or any other country; all roads are blocked.

The Fed avoided some pain in 2009 with its monetary stimulus and market manipulation, but the real pain was saved for another day.

That day has now arrived.

The proof is in: a monetary system based on credit rather than bullion isn’t as good an idea as it may have looked in the first place.

A credit system cannot last in the modern world because as the volume of credit increases, the creditworthiness of the issuers decreases. The more they borrow, the less able they are to repay.

The price of gold is rising. The only scenario that could stop it rising would be if the world achieved real economic growth and stability.

Which is not on the cards for the foreseeable future!

And with only 1% of people owning any kind of bullion, there will be plenty of customers for gold and silver.

Any major black swan event could cause gold prices to rise much sooner.

• The truth is that another Lehman-type crisis could be just around the corner, while a change of course won’t be in the cards until it’s too late.

In other words, a rally in precious metals could come sooner rather than later.

https://finalwakeupcall.info/en/2025/04/18/golds-day-on-its-way-2/

Economist’s “News and Views” 4-18-2025

Trump’s Plan to Fire Powell & Launch a New Global Economy

Daniela Cambone:  4-18-2025

"The bond market will start to get really, really concerned... credit market just seized up overnight," says Peter Grandich, publisher of PeterGrandich.com.

Ahead of Easter Day, he sits down with Daniela Cambone to unpack growing risks in the financial system—and why even the Fed may be powerless to stop what’s coming.

 Grandich points to a recent moment of overnight panic that shook the bond market and triggered a sudden credit market seizure. "We saw one day the stock market cave, the dollar cave, the bond cave, and gold go up a lot," he says.

Typically, when stocks fall, investors flock to bonds or the U.S. dollar as safe havens. But in this rare and alarming scenario, Grandich explains, everything fell—except for gold, underscoring a deep loss of confidence in the entire financial system.

Watch the full interview to learn why there's no better time than now to invest in gold.

Key Topics:

-Peter Grandich stresses the Fed’s shifting dynamic with Trump.

 -Gold is surging on unprecedented physical demand

. -Markets now move more on algorithms than individual investors.

-Deep U.S. political and social divides are clouding the economic outlook.

-Talk of a global reset grows as nations eye alternatives to the dollar.

 -Equity markets face rising correction risks.

-The Fed’s influence is fading compared to years past.

 -Easter symbolizes renewal and hope.

Chapters:

00:00 Trump against Powell

4:28 BRICS

 5:39 Fed saving the market

8:00 Who will replace Powell?

10:56 Gold price

 14:26 Equity market

 18:40 Financial system reset

20:41 Troublesome time

 23:34 Peter’s message

 27:35 Sense of hope

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OXpqydylTA

Watch for the Fed to Bail Out the Bond Market Soon

Heresy Financial:  4-18-2025

TIMECODES

 00:00 It’s Not About Stocks Anymore

00:21 Jamie Dimon Warns of a Meltdown

00:45 What “Kerfuffle” Really Means

01:13 Signs of a Coming Liquidity Crisis

 01:59 Treasury Yields Are Spiking Fast

02:15 Repo Market Flashbacks to 2019

 02:55 Hidden Risks Are Building Again

 03:36 Banks Want Rule Changes Now

 04:05 The Fed Might Have to Bail Them Out

 05:07 We’ve Seen This Playbook Before

 05:59 Trump, Powell, and the 10-Year Yield

07:17 Why the Bond Market Matters More

08:00 The Bear Market Clock Is Ticking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QR8HkuRoog

8 Banks Just Leveraged Paper Against 4 Billion Ounces of Silver—It’s A Suicide Pact | Andy Schectman

Two Dollars investing:  4-18-2025

8 Banks Just Leveraged Paper Against 4 Billion Ounces of Silver—It’s A Suicide Pact | Andy Schectman

The silver market is on the edge of catastrophe — and it’s not by accident. Just 8 Western banks have quietly built a paper position shorting over 4 billion ounces of silver — a volume so extreme it equals nearly 4 years of global mine supply.

Andy Schectman exposes how this dangerous leverage is not only unsustainable… it’s a suicide pact waiting to detonate.

Meanwhile, nations like China, Russia, and India are draining physical supply directly from miners — bypassing the manipulated markets entirely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVql4ynfK5I

News, Rumors and Opinions Friday 4-18-2025

Gold Telegraph: The Countdown is on

4-17-2025

BREAKING NEWS: EUROPE’S FINANCIAL WATCHDOGS QUESTION US TREASURIES SAFE HAVEN STATUS

You don’t say?

“The striking assessment at a closed-door meeting hints at some of the nervousness about Treasuries…”

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-17/europe-s-financial-watchdogs-question-treasuries-haven-status

India is considering gold and silver imports from the United States to bridge the trade deficit. India has brought HOME 214 tonnes of gold since September 2022, which was stored in other countries. India is bringing its gold home and is now eyeing America’s gold.

Follow the trail.

The United States President has reportedly privately discussed firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for months. The battle rages on.

The countdown is on: Jerome Powell’s next professional pivot is to Wall Street. Ask Richard Clarida, Janet Yellen or Ben Bernanke. Nothing ever changes.

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. BOND GIANT PIMCO WARNS U.S. DOLLAR’S RESERVE CURRENCY STATUS IS NOT GUARANTEED

The world is starting to become awake.

“If global capital flows into U.S. assets dwindle, it could point toward a more multipolar world with a diminished reliance on a singular reserve currency…”

Source: https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/pimco-bearish-dollar-treasuries-us-safe-haven-status-wavers-2025-04-17/

Source(s):
https://x.com/GoldTelegraph_/status/1912866684051902531

https://dinarchronicles.com/2025/04/17/gold-telegraph-the-countdown-is-on/

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Courtesy of Dinar Guru:  https://www.dinarguru.com/

Frank26   [Iraq boots-on-the-ground report]   FIREFLY: Sammy wants to talk to you.  The reason you don't see the budget is the same reason you don't see the back pay paid out or the oil not restarted because it's all related to the budget tables and a rate.  FRANk:  I agree 100%...I agree with you Mr. Sammy because if you sit back and look at the whole picture of the monetary reform there's only one thing missing - a new exchange rate that makes everything work.  That makes everything make sense because nothing is logical at 1310.  

Militia Man  If you guys see the theme of coordination, cooperation, you see mechanisms...transparency...If you follow through that you can see the stepping stones.  If you want to get down to the ocean front and you're up on the cliff you got to go go down all those stepping stones.  To get off that cliff, Iraq has been doing that.  They're down to, I think, the last stepping stone to put their feet in the sand and get a cool swim in the water.  I think it's going to be a big swim. 

Iraq "Breaking News" CBI Three Announcements

Edu Matrix:  4-17-2025

The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) is making bold moves to modernize its financial system! In this video, we break down the latest updates, including the CBI’s successful transition to using international correspondent banks for foreign transfers and adding new currencies like the Jordanian Dinar and Saudi Riyal for trade.

 Iraqi banks can now use the Euro to fund trade with Turkey — a significant shift from previous restrictions. But that’s not all — Iraq has also introduced direct debit card-to-card transfers, with monthly limits up to 2 million dinars.

These changes are designed to boost international trade, strengthen the role of Iraqi banks in global markets, and make digital payments easier and more secure for citizens.

Discover how these developments could impact Iraq’s economy, investment potential, and the future of the Iraqi Dinar (IQD).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWWdOIRDSpk

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Friday Morning 4-18-25

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

ARIZONA LEADS CRYPTO RESERVE LEGISLATION RACE AS SB 1373 PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE

▪️The Arizona Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill passed the House committee on Thursday.

▪️The bill, which calls for the creation of a strategic reserve, now awaits a final reading and full floor vote before reaching the governor’s desk for approval.

Arizona's Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill, or "SB 1373," passed the House committee on Thursday. It now awaits a third reading and a full floor vote before reaching the governor's desk for final approval.

The SB 1373 bill proposes the creation of a digital assets strategic reserve fund, which would consist of funds appropriated by the legislature and crypto assets seized by authorities.

The bill notes that the state treasurer would be allowed to deposit seized crypto into the fund via a qualified custody solution or a state-registered exchange-traded product, and that the treasurer may loan digital assets from the fund for additional returns.

"The state treasurer may not invest more than ten percent of the total amount of monies deposited in the fund in any given fiscal year," the bill says.

According to SB 1373, the term "digital assets" include virtual currency, virtual coin, and cryptocurrencies, which encompass bitcoin, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens, and other blockchain-based assets that carry economic or access rights.

A separate bill — the Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act (SB 1025) — also passed the House on April 1. If enacted, SB 1025 would allow state funds to invest up to 10% in "virtual currency holdings."

However, Arizona's crypto reserve bills may face a significant roadblock in the legislative progress as Governor Katie Hobbs vowed to veto all bills until the legislature passes a disability funding measure.

Several other U.S. states are currently advancing crypto-related legislation. According to data from bitcoin legislation researcher Bitcoin Laws, Arizona has made the furthest progress in passing the digital asset reserve legislation, followed by Texas and New Hampshire.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  The Block

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RUSSIA MULLS LOCAL STABLECOIN ISSUANCE TO CIRCUMVENT SANCTIONS

A Deputy Director at the Russian Finance Ministry, Osman Kabaloev, has floated the idea of Russia launching a stablecoin to help with import and export payments. Over the last three years, Russia has tried numerous routes to circumvent sanctions given its access to Swift for cross border payments is blocked.

A current popular route is the use of stablecoins, and Tether in particular. However, in early March, Tether froze $28.5 million in funds belonging to sanctioned Russian crypto exchange Garantex, causing it to suspend services.

“That blocking that recently happened… makes us think that we need to look at creating internal instruments like USDT, possibly tied to other currencies, like they do in the Emirates – a stablecoin for the dirham – and in many other countries,” Kabaloev said at a conference of the Association of Russian Banks, according to Reuters. He was referring to the recent launch of the AE Coin, a dirham stablecoin authorized by the Central Bank of the UAE. Notably, the dirham is pegged to the dollar.

This isn’t the first report about Russian stablecoins. Last August there were reports of plans to issue a stablecoin in the Chinese yuan as well as a BRICS basket. It’s unclear whether China’s government would support a yuan stablecoin or would prefer the use of its CBDC.

The yuan is relevant because a significant proportion of Russia’s cross border payments have now shifted to the Chinese currency.

Tokenization & crypto for cross border payments

Russia already has two experimental programs that can be used for cross border payments. It has digital financial asset (DFA) issuance, its regulated tokenization regime that was launched before the Ukraine invasion. This supports assets such as tokenized gold or oil, and Iran said it was working with Russia on using tokenized assets for payments.

DFAs were originally intended for domestic investments, but a year ago Russia passed a law allowing DFAs to be used for cross border payments. Around the same time, local ratings agency ACRA highlighted frictions for foreign DFA holders because they’d have to onboard with Russian banks.

Russia’s central bank is not a big fan of cryptocurrencies, and initially resisted their use for cross border payments. However, late last year a new experimental program was launched to support the use of cryptocurrencies for imports and exports.

Mr Kabav also mentioned proposals the Central Bank subloemitted for crypto trading.

On the payments front he said, “Pilot transactions were conducted at the end of December, and now the mechanism is gaining momentum. Therefore, we hope that we will only strengthen and expand this area.”

At the same time Russia is working on a digital ruble central bank digital currency (CBDC), and there’s been much talk of a BRICS Bridge. That’s a planned cross border CBDC payment system for local currency payments amongst the ten BRICS member states.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Ledger Insights

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RUSSIAN SENATOR ANTICIPATES CREATION OF BRICS+, DOZENS OF NATIONS POTENTIALLY INVOLVED

Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev revealed that several countries are set to join the BRICS+ initiative, aiming to include the maximum number of participants. The Russian senator emphasized that this geopolitical group would facilitate direct interaction with dozens of countries outside the bloc.

Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev revealed that several countries are set to join the BRICS+ initiative, aiming to include the maximum number of participants. The Russian senator emphasized that this geopolitical group would facilitate direct interaction with dozens of countries outside the bloc.

Russian Senator Reveals Future Creation of BRICS+ Geopolitical Group

The BRICS alternative bloc, composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, is now seeking to expand its reach and influence to other countries through BRICS+.

Konstantin Kosachev, a Russian Senator of the Federation Council, said the bloc will deploy this new initiative to put dozens of allied countries in direct contact with the organization.

Kosachev stated:

This will not be a closed association for BRICS countries and partners, but rather a broader platform aimed at including the maximum number of participants.

The Russian Senator noted that several nations, including China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Brazil, the current president of BRICS, had expressed their support for the BRICS+ initiative. “Several other countries are still considering their positions, but in this case, as within the entire association, we do not impose our will or attempt to enforce a single discipline,” he clarified.

The idea would be discussed during the next Parliamentary Forum in June, where representatives of the member states and allied nations will be present. “We hope to reach some decisions to formalize this initiative on the platform of the Inter-Parliamentary Union during the autumn assembly,” Kosachev concluded.

The news hints at a new level of cooperation between the BRICS bloc and its allies centered in the BRICS+ initiative, which could be used to coordinate binding economic and governance policies seeking to strengthen the group’s position in the face of the current financial turmoil and market uncertainty.

Per Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statements, these measures could include adopting a common payment system, which will also be available for countries outside the group.

@ Newshounds News™
Source: Bitcoin News

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Thursday Evening 4-17-25

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

OKX GOES LIVE IN THE US AFTER SETTING UP NEW HEADQUARTERS IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

The world’s sixth-largest crypto exchange by daily trading volume is now accessible to the American market.

In a statement, OKX says that it is accelerating its expansion in the US with the official launch of its centralized exchange and web3 wallet in the country.

The move enables existing OKcoin customers to migrate to the OKX platform, though new user registration won’t be available until later this year.

The Seychelles-based firm says the measured rollout will help ensure a secure onboarding process for customers.

OKX has also set up its headquarters in San Jose, California, and appointed former Barclays Investment Bank director Roshan Robert as the new US CEO as part of its US strategy.

Says Robert,

“This expansion in the United States is not only the expansion of the business map, but also a solemn commitment to ‘responsible growth’. In the face of the evolving regulatory environment, we are working closely with regulators and policymakers to ensure sound operation on a transparent and compliant basis.”

The exchange says it positions itself at the heart of Silicon Valley’s innovation system by setting up the new California headquarters.

“This strategic move strengthens OKX’s regional operations, enabling it to recruit top-tier talent, foster cutting-edge product development, and expand its presence in the world’s largest financial market.”

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  The Daily Hodl

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BRICS EXPANSION: 44 COUNTRIES READY TO JOIN ALLIANCE IN 2025

BRICS expansion could be a major topic of discussion as the total number of countries expressing interest in joining the alliance is growing in 2025. The 17th summit is scheduled to be held on July 7 and 8 in Brazil’s Rio De Janeiro. The 10-member bloc will decide the future of the alliance, and all decisions will be based on consensus.

A BRICS expansion in 2025 could also accelerate de-dollarization as more countries look to end reliance on the US dollar. Apart from the sanctions, Trump’s recent tariffs are also making emerging economies distrust the White House policies.

44 Countries Show Interest to Join BRICS as Expansion Talks Grow in 2025

Vietnam is the 44th country that has expressed interest in joining the alliance this month. China, Russia, and Iran are looking at BRICS expansion in 2025 while the other members are stepping back.

Russia and Iran are reeling under US sanctions making their economies remain under pressure and lose business deals. 

Out of the 44 countries, 23 nations have formally submitted their applications while 21 have informally expressed interest to join.

On the other hand, China wants to use the bloc as a stepping stone to dismantle the US dollar’s dominance.

Therefore, BRICS expansion in 2025 will only help China, Russia, and Iran as more countries will join the de-dollarization bandwagon. The decision to add more countries will be decided in the upcoming summit in Rio De Janeiro.

“Vietnam consistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and multilateralization and diversification of international relations, and being a trusted friend and responsible member of the international community,” said Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson about the country’s interest in being a part of the BRICS expansion in 2025.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Watcher Guru

~~~~~~~~~

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Economist’s “News and Views” 4-17-2025

BREAKING: Shanghai Premium Signals MASSIVE Silver Transfer From West To East! - Andy Schectman

Financial Wisdom:  4-17-2025

In this latest interview, Andy Schectman discusses how silver premiums are surging dramatically in China (currently 7.2% higher than London prices) while explaining how global physical demand, limited supply, and strategic accumulation by central banks are creating unprecedented pressure that will likely drive both silver prices and premiums much higher.

0:00 - Shanghai vs. London: Silver and Gold Price Premiums

0:35 - The Role of Arbitrage and Supply Dynamics

1:00 - Central Banks' Gold Accumulation Trends Since 2017

1:38 - A New Settlement Currency Backed by Gold

2:09 - Puzzle Pieces Indicating Higher Gold Prices

3:06 - Future Gold Price Projections by Analysts

 3:42 - Massive Silver Deliveries and LBMA Delays

5:10 - Silver and Gold Premium Trends and Arbitrage

 6:00 - US Mint Allocations and Silver Eagle Shortages

7:08 - Premium Collapses and Recovery in Gold and Silver Coins

 9:17 - Supply-Demand Dynamics in Gold and Silver Premiums

 10:00 - Expectations for Premium Increases by Summer

 10:19 - Gold-Silver Correlation and Suppressed Silver Prices

11:35 - Strategic Stockpiling of Silver by Nations

12:33 - Silver’s Role in Military and High-Tech Applications

 13:08 - Silver's Outperformance Potential and Market Dynamics

13:54 - Technical Analysis: Silver’s Cup and Handle Formation

 14:04 - Challenges in Holding Down Silver Prices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZDG98kBd7U

$300 Trillion 'Debt Crisis' Is Here: It's Over For Dollar | Matt Piepenburg

David Lin:  4-17-2025

Matthew Piepenburg, Partner of Von Greyerz AG, discusses the the debt crisis the country is facing and the future of the U.S. dollar.

0:00 - Intro

1:14 - Move Away From U.S. Assets

4:45 - Debt Crisis

 11:52 - Consequences Of Debt

19:35 - U.S. Dollar

24:47 - Safe Haven Assets

30:40 - Inflation

34:17 - 2008 Comparisons

 37:50 - Trade War

42:54 - Multipolar World

47:35 - Market Outlook

49:45 - Gold

52:51 - Bitcoin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPiveFYHYuA

GAME OVER: BRICS+ Dethrones the West as its Grain Exchange Undermines US Trade Dominance Globally

Lena Petrova:  4-17-2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWJXrItDH9g

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Thursday Afternoon 4-17-25

Good afternoon Dinar Recaps,

TRUMP SLAMS POWELL OVER RATE CUTS: ‘TOO LATE AND WRONG!’ CALLS FOR FED CHAIR’S REMOVAL

U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday, saying he’s “always too late and wrong” for not cutting interest rates. Trump believes the Fed should have acted way sooner to support the economy.

He notes that the European Central Bank might have already cut rates multiple times while Powell has been slow to act. Trump also mentioned in his post that oil prices and groceries, including eggs, have gone down and the US is benefitting from tariffs.

Trump Calls For Powell’s Termination

He notes that Powell should have acted sooner but he still needs to reduce the rates now. He also expressed frustration over Powell’s leadership, calling for his removal. “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” he said.

In his Wednesday speech, Powell stated that the Fed would wait for more economic data before adjusting the interest rates. He also warned that the tariff policies could further push jobs off the track. Besides, he also added that the recent market volatility is a natural reaction to the administration’s shifting trade policies, and that is not something that the Fed requires to intervene.

“For the time being, we are well positioned to wait for greater clarity before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,” Powell said in his speech to the Economic Club of Chicago.

Powell’s Remarks Add to The Tensions

Powell said that the US tariffs could raise inflation and the public would end up paying for it. Trump also called Powell’s report ‘a complete mess’ and warned that Trump’s extensive tariffs on trade partners could force the Fed to make a difficult choice between tackling inflation and rising unemployment. 

Notably, these remarks further escalates the tensions between the White House and the Fed amidst a politically charged economic period.

Trump’s sweeping and unpredictable tariff policies have left the investors and trade partners unsettled and worrying over its potential impact on international trade. While Trump has urged Powell to cut rates, the Central Bank has held the interest rates steady at 4.25 to 4.5% since the start of the year.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Coinpedia

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CHINA IMPORTS RECORD AMOUNTS OF CANADIAN OIL, CUTS US PURCHASES

China has begun importing record amounts of Canadian crude oil while slashing purchases of US oil by roughly 90% amid a growing trade war. A pipeline expansion in Western Canada has presented China and other East Asian oil importers with expanded access to the vast crude reserves in Alberta’s oilsands region. The deal resumes China’s oil imports while allowing the country to avoid making a new oil deal with the USA.

According to data from Vortexa Ltd., Chinese crude imports from the port at the pipeline terminus near Vancouver surged to 7.3 million barrels in March. On the flip side, Chinese imports of US oil have collapsed to 3 million barrels a month from a peak of 29 million in June. 

“Given the trade war, it’s unlikely for China to import more US oil,” Wenran Jiang, president of the Canada-China Energy & Environment Forum, told Bloomberg. “They are not going to bank on Russian alone or Middle Eastern alone. Anything from Canada will be welcome news.”

Just yesterday, oil futures turned higher after Chinese officials signaled that they might be willing to engage with the U.S. However, those talks appeared to have reversed, as now the BRICS founder is working with Canada, another victim of US tariffs. China likely isn’t going for oil from the Middle East due to oil from Alberta being inexpensive compared to the Middle East.

While the oil price surge from China-US trade news gave a bit of relief, there are still significant challenges that remain in the market. The International Energy Agency just recently slashed its global oil consumption forecast, basically saying that supply additions will probably exceed demand. And those surprisingly large output increases that OPEC and its allies announced further complicate this whole situation. The trade war is streaming into the oil industry, causing countries like China to look for new options.

@ Newshounds News™
Source:  Watcher Guru

~~~~~~~~~

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Preparing For The Escalation That’s Likely To Come

Preparing For The Escalation That’s Likely To Come

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)   April 17, 2025

There’s rumors floating around alleging that top secret plans from the Chinese Communist Party have been leaked, indicating that China’s President Xi Jinping views this conflict with the US as the opening to a complete and total war.

Personally I’m skeptical if these leaked documents exist, and if they are legitimate. I don't think anyone has any way to know.

But I will reiterate my view that, while I don’t believe war is imminent or certain, it’s clear that the US and China are closer to conflict now than they have been since at least the 1960s when China participated in the Vietnam War.

It’s not hard to understand why. The two largest economic powers in the world are deliberately trying to hurt one another. And history is full of examples of economic wars which escalate into much larger conflict.

We can certainly hope that cooler heads prevail. But as we used to say in the military, hope is not a course of action... and it’s imperative to acknowledge that this major risk exists.

How might things escalate?

First on the list is the very real and immediate risk of a cyberattack from China.

In fact that’s already happening.

Remember SolarWinds— the massive cyberattack in 2020 where state-sponsored foreign hackers compromised a widely used IT management platform to infiltrate US government agencies and major corporations?

That single attack gave the CCP access to countless US networks.

More recently, a top Chinese official admitted Beijing’s responsibility for the Volt Typhoon cyberattacks targeting US infrastructure, in a closed-door December 2024 meeting.

In 2015, Chinese hackers breached the US Office of Personnel Management and stole sensitive data on over 22 million federal employees, including security clearance files and fingerprints. They were inside the systems for months before they were detected.

And just this week, major US banks including JPMorgan raised the alarm after discovering the email system of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)— a US banking regulator— had been hacked, potentially to steal credentials that gain further access to systems and information.

It doesn’t really matter which of these can be directly linked to the CCP. Russian hackers, North Korean infiltrators, Chinese non-state entities— they are all in it together.

And the fact that China seems to leave everything intact after their attacks, without damaging or disrupting systems, is actually the scariest part.

We’re talking sleeper viruses. Malware that’s already inside the system.

And the target? Some of the most critical infrastructure in the country. The power grid. Water systems. Financial institutions. These aren’t exactly hardened digital fortresses. In fact, many of these systems are laughably insecure.

The US energy sector in particular still operates on shockingly low-tech infrastructure with outdated code. Same story with large parts of our financial system.

I’ve written before about how SWIFT—the nerve center of global financial transfers—was recently running outdated Windows (version 7!!) operating systems.

Bottom line, Chinese hackers and malware are embedded in vulnerable US systems. They have access. They have credentials. Let’s not be naive about this.

Imagine waking up one morning and your bank app doesn’t load. Your credit card doesn’t work. You can’t send a wire, can’t make payroll, can’t even pay your rent. Maybe you don’t even have electricity, or clean running water.

A Plan B for this scenario has never been more important.

The first step is easy— buy a secure home safe, and keep enough cash on hand to pay for a month or two of necessities.

Add some precious metals which allow you to maintain physical custody of some savings, with no third party in between you and your money. Have gold and silver coins and bars in a variety of weights so you could spend them in an emergency.

Holding some cryptocurrency isn’t a bad idea either— offline, on a hardware wallet that can also go in the safe. Again, this takes some of your savings out of the vulnerable financial system, and allows you to maintain physical custody of your funds.

Here’s another key point aside from money: China manufactures over 40% of the world's active pharmaceutical ingredients— the chemical compounds which make up drugs— and up to 95% of particular compounds, such as crucial ingredients in the antibiotic penicillin.

So even if the final product isn't labeled "Made in China," the underlying ingredients may still originate from Chinese manufacturers.

That’s a significant role in the global pharma supply chain that could cause massive disruptions if they chose to weaponize it. 

So if you take regular medication, make sure to keep extra on hand.

Having a power generator is another good backup plan, whether it runs on propane or gasoline, or solar panels and batteries. The same goes for extra water storage.

Again, I’m not saying that there’s some imminent danger. But we shouldn’t ignore the risk. And the point is that there’s no downside to taking sensible precautions.

That’s the basic premise of a Plan B: identify the biggest threats against your safety and prosperity, and take reasonable steps now that give you confidence in the face of uncertainty.

These are all fairly easy steps to take that give us options to respond to whatever happens, since none of us know exactly how any of this will play out.

Soon, we’ll discuss additional Plan B strategies that give you even more dexterity in the event of prolonged system disruptions, and equally disruptive potential emergency responses from the US government.

To your freedom,  James Hickman  Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/preparing-for-the-escalation-thats-likely-to-come-152552/?inf_contact_key=6f0cbd6941df8d38cfa6f0a90e96eddd0c973b8936282bcfa17ad90af1aa6cc5