What’s New

Last week’s headlines highlighted the contrast between technological optimism and geopolitical turbulence. As Alphabet posted a 20% surge in quarterly profits, Tesla saw its profits slide by 23% amid weakening sales and intensifying global competition. The diverging fates of these giants reflect a broader trend: Growth is increasingly tied to digital infrastructure and data, while traditional manufacturing faces mounting pressure from tariffs, input costs, and political realignments.

As the world races towards the next financial frontier, the United States (US) appears to be accelerating and braking at the same time. This past week, the US Congress tabled a package of cryptocurrency legislation that clarifies long-awaited regulatory grey areas: Splitting oversight responsibilities between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and setting out clearer rules for stablecoins. These moves should, in theory, unlock innovation and foster financial inclusion through decentralised finance and tokenised assets. But tucked inside the package is something far more consequential: An outright ban on a US central bank digital currency (CBDC).