EtherX

   In a landmark move for the digital-asset industry, Ripple has officially completed its  $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road , positioning itself as the first crypto-native company to own and operate a  global multi-asset prime brokerage . The deal, initially announced in April 2025, was finalised in October and marks a major milestone in Ripple’s institutional expansion strategy.  Hidden Road, a fast-growing non-bank prime broker servicing derivatives, FX, fixed income and digital-asset clients, reported over US $3 trillion in annual cleared volumes and more than 300 institutional clients at the time of sale. With Ripple’s backing, the newly re-branded entity  Ripple Prime  – will integrate blockchain infrastructure, its RLUSD stablecoin, and XRP-ledger technologies into prime-brokerage operations, bridging traditional finance (TradFi) and Web3.  Why This Acquisition Matters Institutional infrastructure leap : The acquisition allows Ripple...

  In a landmark moment for cryptocurrency markets, **Ethereum (ETH) spot ETFs drew $8.68 billion in inflows during Q3 2025, surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) spot ETFs , which recorded approximately $7.53 billion in the same period. This marks the first time ever that Ethereum has out-paced Bitcoin in quarterly ETF inflows, underlining a significant institutional rotation toward ETH and the evolving narrative of “ Ethereum leading ETF inflows over Bitcoin ” . Why This Moment Matters 1. Institutional adoption milestone The fact that Ethereum spot ETF inflows surpassed Bitcoin for the first time signals a widening investment thesis: institutions are increasingly viewing ETH not just as an altcoin, but as a core digital asset with serious utility.  2. Reflection of “capital moving into Ethereum over Bitcoin” Given the data, one can assert a growing trend of “capital rotation into Ethereum ETFs” , rather than a blanket crypto rally. ETH’s superior performance this quarter al...

  The U.S. stock market is on fire. In 2025 alone, American equities have added more than $9 trillion in market value , reflecting strong investor confidence, robust earnings, and a lingering expectation of easier monetary policy. While that figure is somewhat speculative and derived from aggregate index gains rather than a single definitive measure, the message is clear: massive capital is flowing into the equity markets. The next question many ask: will some of that money rotate into Bitcoin and cryptocurrency?  What’s Driving the Equity Boom? Several factors are propelling the rally: Record-breaking earnings from tech giants and industry leaders continue to power the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite. According to recent reporting, U.S. stocks hit new highs after inflation data came in “a bit less painful than feared.” Macro tailwinds  with expectations for interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve and a big technology-driven productivity boost, analysts...

 After a dramatic pull-back that wiped out approximately $19 billion in crypto liquidations , bullish analysts at Standard Chartered are doubling down arguing that Bitcoin could still hit $200,000 in 2025 , despite the recent turbulence.   A Crash That Sparked Opportunity Over the weekend of October 10, the crypto market experienced one of its largest liquidations in recent memory an event that forced leveraged traders to exit and dragged Bitcoin down to around $104,000 . Rather than view the crash as the beginning of the end, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets, Geoff Kendrick, saw it as a potential reset: one that could pave the way for the next leg up in Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory. “Even after a $19 billion market shock,” he stated, “Bitcoin remains on track for $200,000 by year-end.”   Why the Optimism? The analysts at Standard Chartered base their bullish case on several interlocking themes: Buying opportunity post-liquidation : ...

In what might be the most ambitious intersection of corporate cash and historic architecture in Washington, major players in Big Tech and the crypto industry are stepping up to help finance a multi-million-dollar renovation at the White House   and yes, it’s raising eyebrows. According to public filings and investigative reports, firms such as Apple Inc., Google LLC, Amazon.com, Inc., Meta Platforms, Inc. and crypto companies like Coinbase Global, Inc. and Ripple Labs Inc. are among the donors and the project has become a lightning rod for questions about influence, transparency and the evolution of the “digital asset era meets institutional corridors of power.” 🏛 What’s the Project and Who’s Bankrolling It? The renovation in question involves demolishing the East Wing of the White House and constructing a brand-new 90,000-square-foot ballroom, estimated to cost around $300 million , according to media estimates. The Guardian The cost is being financed largely through contribu...

  The annual rate of inflation in the United States rose to 3.0 percent in September, according to the latest data, falling short of the 3.1–3.2 percent that many economists had forecast.  Despite the seemingly modest uptick, the reading remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target , reinforcing that price pressures persist even as headline growth slows. The improvement may offer the Fed some room but not much to reconsider its policy path. What the Numbers Reveal The Consumer Price Index (CPI) ticked up to 3.0 percent year-on-year , marking a slower pace than many estimates.  Core inflation (excluding food and energy) remains stubbornly elevated, suggesting underlying price pressures are still anchored.  The data emerged amid a backdrop of trade tensions, a prolonged government shutdown delaying some economic releases, and rising concern over the durability of inflation.  These figures highlight a delicate balancing act for policymakers...

  In a startling move that has shocked markets and governments alike, Donald Trump announced on October 24, 2025 that the United States is terminating all trade negotiations with Canada , citing a political advertisement from Ontario as the key catalyst. The sudden declaration marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing trade tensions between the two long-time allies.  What Happened? The rupture stems from a controversial TV advertisement released by Doug Ford’s Ontario provincial government, which used excerpts of a 1987 radio address by Ronald Reagan to criticize tariffs. Trump labelled the ad “ fraudulent … misrepresenting Ronald Reagan ” , and took to his social media platform to declare: *“Based on their egregious behavior, * ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”   Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, responded by emphasizing that Canada would not be “bullied into unfair access” by the U.S. and that trade relations would be resolved on Canada’...

  In a landmark move for the crypto world, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has announced it will allow institutional clients to use Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as collateral for loans by the end of this year. This initiative marks the bank’s most explicit embrace yet of digital assets and signifies a major shift in how traditional financial institutions view cryptocurrency.  Why This Move Matters This development pushes cryptocurrency further into the mainstream and opens up a range of possibilities for institutional clients. Key aspects of the change include: Institutional collateral acceptance : JPMorgan’s program will allow BTC and ETH to be pledged as loan collateral under a global framework. The bank will use a third-party custodian to safeguard the crypto assets.  Reflects broader digital-asset integration : The move builds on prior efforts by big institutions to embrace crypto ETFs and other tokenised assets, signaling growing comfort with blockchain-based f...

In a bold refrain amid mounting trade tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that the planned 100% tariff on Chinese imports , currently slated for November 1 , might be enacted earlier if Beijing fails to change course.  Trump’s announcement came in response to China’s sweeping new export controls on rare-earth minerals and advanced technology. He stated: “We will impose a Tariff of 100% on China … starting November 1 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China).” Notably, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later confirmed the deadline is flexible, saying the enactment “depends on Beijing’s actions.”  Why This Is Significant for Global Markets and Supply Chains 1. Escalation of “100% tariff on Chinese imports” scenario The proposed levy would more than double the average current U.S. duty on Chinese goods (~55 %). The fact that the deadline could be moved up adds urgency to corporate planning and global trade strategies.  ...

 President Donald J. Trump indicated a dramatic escalation in the ongoing U.S.–China trade conflict when he announced that the planned “100 % tariff on Chinese imports” scheduled for November 1 could be moved up ahead of that date. The move comes in retaliation to Beijing’s growing export controls on rare-earth minerals and advanced technology.  What Trump Is Saying Trump told reporters at the White House that while the 100 % tariff target is slated for November 1, “we could move it up if I wanted.” He emphasized that China “doesn’t want it,” and added that the U.S. is in “a very strong position.”  He reiterated that the tariff hike on top of existing duties would push the effective rate to approximately 157 % on Chinese imports.  At the same time he admitted the measure is “not sustainable,” but argued it was prompted by what he described as sustained unfair trade practices by China.  Why the Deadline Shift Matters The possibility of an accelerated tari...

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , issued a stark warning this week: a full economic decoupling between the U.S. and China could shrink global gross domestic product by as much as 7 percent over time. She stressed that such a split would inflict severe damage on trade, welfare, and especially developing nations.  As officials from both Washington and Beijing escalate export controls and reciprocal tariffs, the WTO chief underscored that dialogue must replace division to avert a looming economic fracture.  Why This Warning Should Matter to Global Markets 1. A 7 % GDP hit is massive This is not just a headline number. If realized, a global GDP drop of 7 percent from U.S.–China decoupling would reverse gains built over decades, wiping out trillions in economic value.  2. Trade fragmentation as structural risk Okonjo-Iweala painted a scenario of the world splitting into two trading blocs, each favoring its internal supply ch...