Bolivar and Zim Thoughts From Ariel 8-18-2026
Ariel: The Parallel Emerging Market, the Venezuela Bolívar
8-18-2026
The Venezuela Bolívar: The Parallel Emerging Market (Why You Should Stack)
Venezuelan Bolívar Soberano (VES) — Imminent FX Integration Post-Iraq RV; Bilateral Normalization Trajectory
Why Venezuela & Why Now?
News, Rumors and Opinions Tuesday 8-18-2026
Rob Cunningham: All in or No Level Playing Field
8-17-2026
ALL IN or NO Level Playing Field
Q: Could a globally interoperable DLT (distributed ledger technology) monetary system meeting ISO20022 and GENUIS ACT standards function as designed with fiat issued currencies lacking verifiable, sound, 1:1 collateral and be fair to all parties involved?
A: No.
THE MEASURE: Rob Cunningham
THE MEASURE : Rob Cunningham
8-18-2026
What if the biggest breakthrough of 2026 isn’t AI, quantum computing, blockchain or digital currency? What if those are just tools?
What if the breakthrough is an idea humanity understood thousands of years ago:
HONEST MEASURES.
Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Morning 8-18-26
Good Morning Dinar Recaps,
Oil Shock Meets the Global Financial System: Bonds, Currencies and Central Banks Reprice Risk
August 18, 2026
The Iran conflict is no longer only an energy story. Rising oil prices are now colliding with elevated government debt, higher long-term bond yields and changing expectations for central-bank policy—creating a new test for the global financial architecture.
Brent crude has moved above $90 a barrel, while the U.S. 30-year Treasury yield has climbed above 5.3%, its highest level since 2007. At the same time, investors have reduced expectations for additional Federal Reserve rate increases. The unusual combination is forcing markets to reconsider how inflation, debt and geopolitical risk interact.
Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Monday Evening 8-17-26
Telecom Minister Claims Dinar Redenomination Finalized, Drawing Criticism
Iraq Jawad Al-Samarraie August 16, 2026 Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Minister of Communications Mustafa Sanad stated in a televised broadcast that the government decision to redenominate the Iraqi Dinar and delete three zeros from the national currency is officially finalized.
Tuesday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 8-18-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: Prime Minister's Advisor: Digital Dinar a promising project to enhance the efficiency of monetary policy
The Prime Minister's advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed on Monday that the digital dinar is a promising strategic project and not an independent solution to the liquidity crisis. While he pointed out that paying salaries digitally enhances the speed of payments and reduces cash transactions, he indicated that the success of the digital dinar depends on expanding banking services and infrastructure.
Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The proposal to launch the digital Iraqi dinar is one of the ideas that deserves to be studied within the framework of Iraq’s move towards digital transformation and the development of the financial system.
Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Evening 8-17-26
Iraqi PM Advisor: Digital Dinar a ‘Promising Strategic Project’
Daban Mohammed At a Glance
The Iraqi PM advisor described the digital dinar as a strategic initiative designed to enhance monetary policy and improve liquidity management.
The advisor clarified the digital currency is a legal tender extension of the paper dinar.
The official cautioned the project is not a direct remedy for structural macroeconomic imbalances.
Lawmakers proposed distributing state salaries directly into citizen digital wallets.
The Monetary System Is in “Huge Trouble” | Frank Giustra & Michelle Makori
The Monetary System Is in “Huge Trouble” | Frank Giustra & Michelle Makori
Miles Franklin Media: 8-16-2026
Michelle Makori, President & Editor-in-Chief of Miles Franklin Media, interviews Frank Giustra, CEO of the Fiore Group, mining financier and founder of Lionsgate Entertainment.
Following Senator Rand Paul’s visit to Fort Knox, Giustra explains why seeing the gold is not the same as independently verifying its quantity, ownership and possible encumbrances.
Ariel: You all are in for Some Historical Times (and more)
Ariel: You all are in for Some Historical Times
8-17-2026
From The Back Channels
3.22 USD is the calibrated settlement rate the figure built into the back-end reconciliation architecture across CBI contingency contracts, cross-border oil pricing templates, and the tokenized asset framework established under Section 10505 of the Clarity Act.
Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Afternoon 8-17-26
Tehran To Tackle Iranian Business Hurdles In Iraq
2026-08-16 Shafaq News- Baghdad Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati pledged to address obstacles facing Iranian businesses in Iraq, Iranian media reported on Sunday. During a meeting with Iranian business representatives in Baghdad, Hemmati said he would follow up on export revenues, customs tariffs, and unpaid dues to Iranian contractors.
We Left Gold in 1971... Now the World Is Leaving the Dollar
We Left Gold in 1971... Now the World Is Leaving the Dollar
Peter Schiff: 8-17-2026
Peter Schiff on plunging retail sales, sticky inflation, the Fed's stealth QE, and why the world is now leaving the dollar standard.
Retail sales just plunged, producer prices are still rising, and the Fed is quietly expanding its balance sheet again.
The July data tells the story the markets keep ignoring. Retail sales fell 0.6 percent, the biggest drop in over a year, and since those numbers are not adjusted for inflation, real spending fell even further.