Trump pause applies to all foreign aid; Israel, Egypt get waiver, says State Dept memo

Trump's 90-day foreign aid pause affects all assistance, with exceptions for military financing for Israel and Egypt, and waivers for emergency food aid amid humanitarian crises.

• 2024 ELECTIONS
• BITCOIN
• DONALD TRUMP

Trump, SEC move to legitimize crypto 'within the realm of TradFi,' but some market participants remain cautious

President Trump's administration prioritizes crypto regulation, establishing a working group while revoking restrictive accounting rules, sparking optimism but also skepticism in the market.

FTC Chair Ferguson wins first vote over Trump's DEI purge

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson secures authority to abolish DEI policies, increasing tensions with Democrats and highlighting disputes over the agency's independence amid compliance with Trump's executive order.

• 2024 ELECTIONS
• COINBASE
• CONGRESS
• FDIC
• FEDERAL RESERVE
• KRAKEN

US House oversight committee probes alleged debanking in letter sent to crypto execs mentioning Melania Trump

The committee’s letter marks the latest move among lawmakers to crack down on alleged debanking. “The Committee seeks to understand whether this pattern of debanking stems from financial institutions themselves or from government actors,” according to the letter.

• GD
• LMT
• NOC

US arms exports hit record in 2024 on Ukraine-related demand

U.S. military equipment sales to foreign governments reached a record $318.7 billion in 2024, driven by global demand following conflicts, particularly in Ukraine.

Shein tells UK lawmakers it does not allow Chinese cotton in products sold in US

Shein requires manufacturers to source cotton from approved regions only, excluding China, complying with U.S. laws banning forced labor. Concerns about transparency persist amid upcoming IPO plans.

• DGE
• LVMH

Diageo exploring potential spin-off or sale of Guinness, Bloomberg News reports

Diageo is reportedly considering a sale of its beer brand Guinness. The brand's strong performance raises questions about this strategy, especially given shifts in market demand towards spirits.

• US500

Hedge fund industry reaches $4.5 trillion in 2024

The hedge fund industry grew to $4.51 trillion in 2024, a 9.75% increase, showing regained traction despite recent inflows and outflows dynamics.

• SEED & PRE-SEED

Pantera Capital leads $7 million seed round for rollup platform Radius

Radius raised $7 million to develop Lighthouse, a decentralized network to convert Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) into sustainable revenue for rollups, reducing reliance on transaction fees.

Half of investors want to spend more on hedge funds, says BofA survey

A Bank of America survey shows increased hedge fund investments in 2025, with concerns over performance, crowded trades, and strategy changes, while investors successfully negotiate better fees.