CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 23:30
Kevin Warsh faces a rates trap as Fed chair navigates inflation pressure and political crosswinds
The new Fed chair promised to fight inflation, and now the math is fighting back Kevin Warsh spent years criticizing the Federal Reserve from the outside. Now he’s running it, and the view from …
The new Fed chair promised to fight inflation, and now the math is fighting back
Kevin Warsh spent years criticizing the Federal Reserve from the outside. Now he’s running it, and the view from the inside looks a lot less comfortable.
Three months into his tenure as Fed Chair, Warsh finds himself caught between persistent inflation running above 3%, a president who wants lower interest rates, and a market that’s already pricing in a rate hike at the September FOMC meeting. Bloomberg’s John Authers has a name for this predicament: a rates trap.
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The trap takes shape
Warsh was sworn in on May 22, 2026, bringing with him a hawkish reputation forged during years of public commentary about the Fed’s missteps. He had repeatedly blamed the central bank’s flexible average inflation targeting framework, adopted in 2020, as a policy error that let price pressures build unchecked.
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July 2026 inflation readings showed both headline and core measures running above 3%, well north of the Fed’s 2% target. That marks roughly 65 months of elevated inflation by Warsh’s own count, a figure he cited publicly while insisting the Fed still has “work to do” to restore price stability.
At his Jackson Hole speech on August 28, 2026, with the federal funds rate sitting at 3.5%-3.75%, Warsh emphasized that the central bank needs concrete evidence before adjusting rates in either direction. Market-implied probability for a 25-basis-point rate hike at the September 15-16 FOMC meeting has exceeded 85%.
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Caught between the data and the White House
President Trump has been vocal about wanting lower interest rates, a stance that predates Warsh’s appointment. Instead, Warsh appears to be leaning into the inflation fight. His Jackson Hole remarks represented a noticeable pivot from earlier rhetoric that had focused on AI-driven productivity gains as a potential offset to inflationary pressures.
Authers noted on August 13, 2026, that inflation remains “too high” to give the Fed any room for cuts.
What a hawkish Fed means for markets
A 25-basis-point hike in September would push the federal funds rate to the 3.75%-4.00% range. The fact that the hike is largely priced in at 85%-plus probability means the move itself might not shock equities, but the forward guidance accompanying it could.
For crypto markets specifically, the implications are material. Tighter monetary policy tends to drain liquidity from the financial system, and digital assets have historically been sensitive to shifts in the liquidity environment. Bitcoin and other major tokens rallied during periods of loose monetary policy and struggled when central banks tightened.
The September FOMC meeting on September 15-16 will be Warsh’s first real test of whether he can translate hawkish conviction into hawkish action while managing the fallout. Markets are betting he will.
CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 23:30
Trump accuses China of spying on US amid Iran strike report
Xi jinping US visit timing Former U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that China is spying on the United States, following a report linking Chinese satellite imagery to an Iranian attack that resulted in …
Xi jinping US visit timing
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has alleged that China is spying on the United States, following a report linking Chinese satellite imagery to an Iranian attack that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan. This accusation comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, which have historically involved mutual allegations of espionage and cyber operations. The situation potentially complicates diplomatic relations further, as markets adjust to the possibility of increased strain between the two nations. The U.S. has not publicly identified the Chinese firms involved, and China has denied similar past allegations.
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Key Takeaways
Market activity suggests a reduction in the likelihood of Xi Jinping visiting the U.S. before 2027, with pricing reflecting increased diplomatic tensions.
Trump’s comments appear to have influenced a decrease in confidence for near-term visits, with the September 24 sub-market dropping from 92% to 87.5% YES.
The broader U.S.-China rivalry and its potential impacts on diplomatic engagements could indicate further volatility in related prediction markets.
What to Watch
Markets are closely reflecting any developments from both Washington and Beijing that could affect the probability of a visit. An official statement from Chinese or U.S. government officials, either confirming or denying plans for Xi Jinping’s visit, would be a key indicator of potential market movement. Additionally, any escalation in rhetoric or policy actions between the two countries could further impact market perceptions of future diplomatic engagements.
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CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 23:15
Europe launches consolidated tape to unify stock market data across 130 venues
The EU's long-awaited single data feed for equities and ETFs arrives after nearly two decades of fragmented markets, with free access for retail investors. European equity markets just got something the US has had …
The EU's long-awaited single data feed for equities and ETFs arrives after nearly two decades of fragmented markets, with free access for retail investors.
European equity markets just got something the US has had since the 1970s: a single tape showing stock prices across all major exchanges. EuroCTP B.V., authorized by the European Securities and Markets Authority on July 27, 2026, will begin distributing unified market data on September 14, aggregating feeds from roughly 130 trading venues and approved publication arrangements across the European Union.
What the consolidated tape actually does
The consolidated tape creates a single, standardized data feed. It will include the European Best Bid and Offer, or EBBO, a benchmark that shows the best available prices for buying and selling equities across the entire EU market at any given moment.
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EuroCTP is structured as a joint venture headquartered in the Netherlands. It was selected through a competitive process in December 2025, and ESMA has granted it a five-year term to operate the consolidated tape. Distribution will run through dxFeed’s platform starting September 14, with a transition period extending through September 30.
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Who pays and who doesn’t
Access to the consolidated tape data will be free for non-professional users and regulated entities. Professional users, including institutional traders and data vendors, will pay tiered fees.
That pricing structure is deliberate. The EU has been trying to boost retail participation in its equity markets as part of the broader Savings and Investments Union initiative.
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Why it took so long
The idea of a European consolidated tape has been debated, studied, and shelved multiple times since the original Markets in Financial Instruments Directive created the fragmented landscape in 2007. The breakthrough came through MiFIR reforms that gave ESMA the authority to select and authorize a consolidated tape provider through a formal competitive process. That process concluded in December 2025 with EuroCTP’s selection, and the authorization followed seven months later.
To put the timeline in perspective: the US established its Consolidated Tape Association in 1974. Europe is arriving at roughly the same destination 52 years later.
Market implications and what to watch
Analysts at Goldman Sachs have predicted the consolidated tape will enhance market visibility and execution benchmarking, with the potential to attract increased investment flows into EU equities.
The September 14 launch and the transition period through September 30 will be closely watched by market structure analysts and trading firms across the continent.
CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 23:15
Euronext CEO open to big-bang deal with Deutsche Börse, but don’t hold your breath
Stéphane Boujnah says a merger would make strategic sense, while simultaneously explaining why it won't happen anytime soon Euronext CEO Stéphane Boujnah has a very specific talent: making a deal sound inevitable and impossible …
Stéphane Boujnah says a merger would make strategic sense, while simultaneously explaining why it won't happen anytime soon
Euronext CEO Stéphane Boujnah has a very specific talent: making a deal sound inevitable and impossible in the same breath. His latest comments on a potential combination with Deutsche Börse follow that tradition almost perfectly.
Speaking in May 2026, Boujnah acknowledged that a merger between Europe’s two largest exchange operators would be logically compelling, then noted that Euronext had already tried to make it happen three times without success. The implication being that the fourth attempt is not exactly on the calendar.
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The logic is clear, the obstacles are clearer
On paper, a Euronext-Deutsche Börse combination would create something close to a pan-European exchange behemoth. Euronext already operates bourses in Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo, Paris, and Athens, covering a combined market capitalization of roughly €6.8 trillion. That figure is nearly triple Deutsche Börse’s own market footprint, which tells you something about the relative negotiating positions involved.
Boujnah has been building toward this scale methodically since taking the CEO role in 2015. The group bought Borsa Italiana from the London Stock Exchange Group in 2021, adding Milan to a network that had been primarily Western European. More recently, Euronext added the Athens Stock Exchange, extending its reach into southeastern Europe.
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A Deutsche Börse deal would be a different category of transaction entirely. Frankfurt’s exchange is not just a stock market. It operates Clearstream, one of Europe’s major post-trade and securities settlement infrastructures, along with derivatives platform Eurex. Folding that into Euronext’s architecture would be an integration project measured in years, not quarters.
Then there is the ownership problem. Two of Euronext’s most significant shareholders are state-backed institutions: Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the Italian state investment bank, and Caisse des Dépôts, its French equivalent, each holding an 8.1% stake. Italian lender Intesa Sanpaolo holds a further 1.55%. Any share-based merger would dilute those positions, which is exactly the kind of outcome that makes government-linked investors uncomfortable.
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Boujnah signaled as much in February 2026, when he described potential joint ventures with Deutsche Börse as genuinely interesting while reiterating that neither exchange was for sale.
Why Brussels is paying close attention
The backdrop to all of this is an accelerating European policy conversation about capital market competitiveness. The Capital Markets Union project, which has been discussed in various forms for the better part of a decade, has gained new urgency following Brexit and the broader geopolitical shifts encouraging European financial autonomy.
Euronext is also navigating political pressure from a different direction. The Italian government has been scrutinizing Euronext’s management of Borsa Italiana since the acquisition, with periodic concerns about whether Milan is receiving sufficient strategic priority within the group.
What this means for exchange investors and market structure
The realistic read is that Euronext will continue its current playbook: selective acquisitions of smaller national exchanges, incremental technology investments, and exploratory conversations with Deutsche Börse about specific product or infrastructure collaborations.
What makes this moment notable is the public candor. Exchange CEOs do not typically narrate their failed deal history in testimony and then describe the deal as strategically sound in the next sentence. The fact that Boujnah is willing to say the merger would make sense, while being equally direct that it is not imminent, suggests he is trying to shape the conversation rather than close it.
CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 22:45
CIA used deception campaign and classified technology to locate downed US Air Force officer in Iran, CBS News reports
Iran full airspace closure The CIA reportedly employed a deception campaign and classified technology to locate a downed U.S. Air Force officer in Iran, according to CBS News. This development was followed by U.S. …
Iran full airspace closure
The CIA reportedly employed a deception campaign and classified technology to locate a downed U.S. Air Force officer in Iran, according to CBS News. This development was followed by U.S. military action, including bombing and drone strikes targeting nearby IRGC positions, as well as the entry of over 90 American troops into Iranian territory for a rescue operation. The incident underscores the high level of escalation in the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which has seen periodic military engagements and no lasting resolution despite previous diplomatic efforts. Markets appear to interpret these actions as a significant escalation but not directly indicative of an immediate full airspace closure by Iran.
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Key Takeaways
The CIA’s involvement and the subsequent military actions suggest heightened tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict, but markets see this as not directly leading to imminent airspace closure.
The probability of Iran implementing a full airspace closure by December 31 has decreased, reflecting the market’s interpretation of these developments as not sufficiently immediate.
Current odds for a U.S. invasion of Iran before 2027 remain relatively stable, with minor fluctuations indicating ongoing uncertainty about further military escalation.
What to Watch
Observers will be monitoring announcements from the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran for any statements about airspace status changes. Additionally, any escalation in military rhetoric or actions from the U.S. or Iran could influence market perceptions of the likelihood of further conflict. Developments in diplomatic engagements or potential de-escalation efforts will also be critical in shaping future market expectations.
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CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 22:45
Senate to vote on Crypto Clarity Act, defining SEC and CFTC roles
U.S. senators have unveiled the final draft of the Crypto Clarity Act, setting the stage for a Senate vote scheduled on Tuesday. The legislation aims to delineate regulatory oversight between the Securities and Exchange …
U.S. senators have unveiled the final draft of the Crypto Clarity Act, setting the stage for a Senate vote scheduled on Tuesday. The legislation aims to delineate regulatory oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for digital assets and establish a registration framework for certain crypto venues. This procedural vote will determine whether the Senate will advance the debate on the bill, not its final passage. The act’s progression suggests a significant movement in the U.S. towards establishing a clearer regulatory landscape for digital assets.
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Key Takeaways
The final draft of the Crypto Clarity Act appears to have increased confidence in its potential passage, as indicated by the scheduled Senate vote.
Market pricing suggests that participants view the bill’s advancement as supportive of the YES outcome for it being signed into law in 2026.
The legislation is expected to clarify the jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, potentially affecting non-decentralized crypto protocols.
What to Watch
The upcoming Senate vote on Tuesday is crucial in determining whether the bill will advance to further debate, which could influence its chances of becoming law. Key figures to monitor include President Donald Trump and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, as their support or opposition may significantly impact the bill’s trajectory. Additionally, any statements or actions from the White House or related committees could provide further indications of the bill’s potential success or delay. Markets will be attentive to developments that align with either the advancement or postponement of the Crypto Clarity Act.
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CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 22:15
Anthropic reportedly signed a $13.7B, 6 year compute deal with RUM Group’s Georgia site
Anthropic has reportedly entered into a significant $13.7 billion agreement with RUM Group for compute services at its Maysville, Georgia site. This development aligns with RUM Group’s disclosure of a six-year GPU-services contract with …
Anthropic has reportedly entered into a significant $13.7 billion agreement with RUM Group for compute services at its Maysville, Georgia site. This development aligns with RUM Group’s disclosure of a six-year GPU-services contract with an unnamed U.S.-based cloud customer, as mentioned in their recent SEC filing. While the site is still under development, this move reinforces Anthropic’s strategy to expand its computing capabilities amidst the ongoing AI infrastructure race. The company has previously secured large-scale partnerships, including one with Google and Broadcom earlier this year, suggesting a robust commitment to building out infrastructure across multiple vendors.
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Key Takeaways
The $13.7 billion compute deal suggests Anthropic is aggressively expanding its computational capacity to support future growth.
Market activity reflects a mixed response, with some participants showing increased confidence in Anthropic’s valuation prospects.
The deal highlights Anthropic’s strategy to diversify its infrastructure partners, potentially reducing reliance on single vendors.
What to Watch
Markets will likely monitor further announcements from Anthropic regarding additional infrastructure deals or strategic partnerships that could influence valuation outcomes. Any updates on the progress of the Maysville, Georgia site development may impact market sentiment. Observers will also focus on how this deal integrates with Anthropic’s existing partnerships, particularly with major players like Google and Broadcom, to assess the potential for enhanced valuation by year-end.
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CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 22:00
Zhipu AI returns to Hong Kong equity market after lockup, raises $4B in massive placement
The Chinese AI model maker wasted no time tapping investors after its six-month lockup expired, pulling in billions to fund R&D and acquisitions Zhipu AI, the Chinese artificial intelligence company behind the GLM series …
The Chinese AI model maker wasted no time tapping investors after its six-month lockup expired, pulling in billions to fund R&D and acquisitions
Zhipu AI, the Chinese artificial intelligence company behind the GLM series of large language models, returned to Hong Kong’s equity market with force after its six-month post-IPO lockup expired on July 8, 2026. The company raised approximately HK$31.41 billion, roughly $4 billion, through a share placement just days after insiders were free to sell.
For context, that single placement raised more than seven times what the company pulled in during its January 2026 IPO.
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From IPO darling to fundraising machine
Zhipu AI first listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in January 2026, pricing shares at HK$116.2 apiece and raising about $558 million. The stock surged more than 2,000% after its debut, briefly pushing the company’s market capitalization above HK$1 trillion.
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The $4 billion placement wasn’t the end of it, either. By September 2026, the company had returned to the market again, raising an additional $5 billion through a combination of new shares and zero-coupon convertible bonds set to mature in 2027. Across the IPO and two follow-on rounds, Zhipu has pulled in close to $9.5 billion in less than nine months.
Where the money is going
Zhipu AI has earmarked proceeds from its fundraising spree for research and development, commercialization of its AI models, mergers and acquisitions, and general working capital.
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The zero-coupon structure means Zhipu isn’t paying interest on $5 billion worth of debt-like instruments, effectively getting free financing until 2027 maturity, assuming the bonds convert to equity at favorable prices.
The bigger picture for Chinese AI listings
Zhipu’s fundraising success reflects a broader trend of Chinese technology companies choosing Hong Kong as their listing venue, particularly under the exchange’s specialist-technology regime. That framework, designed to attract pre-revenue or early-revenue tech firms, has turned Hong Kong into the go-to market for Chinese AI companies seeking public capital.
Beijing’s policy support for the domestic AI sector provides a favorable tailwind. The Chinese government has made artificial intelligence a strategic priority, and companies operating in the space benefit from a regulatory environment that encourages growth and investment.
CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 22:00
Goldman Sachs expects Fed to hike rates 25bp next week due to market pressures
Fed Decisions from July to October Goldman Sachs now anticipates the Federal Reserve will implement a 25 basis point hike in its upcoming meeting. According to the firm’s analysis, this move is largely a …
Fed Decisions from July to October
Goldman Sachs now anticipates the Federal Reserve will implement a 25 basis point hike in its upcoming meeting. According to the firm’s analysis, this move is largely a response to market dynamics rather than any substantial shift in the underlying inflation narrative. Despite steady inflation figures, Goldman’s forecast suggests the market’s influence is compelling the Fed to act. This outlook may imply that the upcoming rate hike is more of an isolated adjustment than the beginning of a new cycle of increases, potentially easing concerns in equity markets.
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Key Takeaways
Goldman Sachs suggests the Federal Reserve’s anticipated 25bp rate hike is driven by market pressures rather than fundamental inflation changes.
Market activity reflects a belief that this rate adjustment may be a singular event rather than the start of a more aggressive tightening cycle.
Pricing in prediction markets suggests a moderate decrease in the likelihood of interest rate cuts in the upcoming Federal Reserve meetings.
What to Watch
Upcoming Federal Reserve meetings, particularly the one scheduled for next week, will be crucial in assessing whether this rate hike is a standalone event or part of a broader monetary policy shift. Attention will be on any statements from Fed officials, including Chair Kevin Warsh, that might offer further insights into future policy directions. Market participants will also be monitoring economic indicators, such as inflation reports and employment data, for any indications that could influence the Fed’s decision-making process in the coming months.
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CRYPTO
Crypto Briefing
14 Sep 2026 · 21:30
SoftBank shares tumble 13% as AI leaders call for safety slowdown
Warnings from Anthropic and OpenAI chiefs rattle investors in the company sitting closest to the AI boom's financial center of gravity. SoftBank Group’s stock dropped more than 13% on September 14, 2026, its steepest …
Warnings from Anthropic and OpenAI chiefs rattle investors in the company sitting closest to the AI boom's financial center of gravity.
SoftBank Group’s stock dropped more than 13% on September 14, 2026, its steepest single-day fall since late June. The trigger was not an earnings miss or a regulatory crackdown. It was a pair of essays and statements from the very people running the AI companies SoftBank bet its future on.
What Amodei and Altman actually said
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay on September 12 calling for a deliberate deceleration in the development of the most powerful AI models. His argument was rooted in safety, not competitive strategy: the technology is advancing faster than humanity’s ability to understand or govern it.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman aligned himself with that position and went a step further. He described the current moment as an “ill-advised” time for OpenAI to pursue an initial public offering, a comment that sent a secondary shockwave through SoftBank’s already rattled investor base.
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That second point matters enormously for SoftBank. The Japanese conglomerate has committed roughly $65 billion to OpenAI, building toward an ownership stake of around 13%. At that scale of exposure, OpenAI’s IPO timeline is not just a corporate milestone. It is SoftBank’s liquidity event, the moment when paper gains become real returns.
Altman pushing that timeline further out, potentially into 2027, is the financial equivalent of a contractor telling you the house won’t be ready on moving day. Frustrating when you’re a homebuyer. Potentially destabilizing when you’ve borrowed heavily to finance the build.
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SoftBank as the AI sector’s stress test
SoftBank has long served as a proxy for how comfortable the market feels about big, leveraged bets on transformative technology. This 13% drop is a case study in concentrated exposure. SoftBank is not a diversified tech index fund. It is a concentrated wager that a handful of AI companies will generate returns large enough to justify the debt load required to fund them.
The company’s stock has now become a real-time sentiment indicator for the OpenAI IPO narrative. Prior episodes of volatility in SoftBank shares have tracked closely with rumors and speculation about when OpenAI might go public. Each delay, each hedge, each cautionary statement from OpenAI’s leadership moves the needle.
What investors are reading into this
When the CEOs of Anthropic and OpenAI, two organizations whose entire purpose is to build powerful AI, start urging caution publicly, it becomes harder for investors to wave away the underlying concerns as overcautious noise.
For investors evaluating SoftBank specifically, the calculus now involves a set of questions that didn’t feel urgent twelve months ago. What happens to SoftBank’s balance sheet if the OpenAI IPO slips to 2027 or beyond? How does a safety-driven development slowdown affect the revenue projections that underpin OpenAI’s assumed valuation? And how much of SoftBank’s current market capitalization reflects an IPO premium that may need to be walked back?