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    Dollar dominance means tariffs are not the only game in town

    $99 for your first yearFT newspaper delivered Monday-Saturday, plus FT Digital Edition delivered to your device Monday-Saturday.What’s included Weekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysis More

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    FirstFT: The hottest year on record

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    SEED secures investment from Sui Foundation to build a 100M-user Web3 Gaming Ecosystem on Sui

    Despite the billions invested in Web3 gaming as a key catalyst for mass adoption, the industry faces significant challenges from complicated onboarding to unsustainable growth. While Telegram Miniapps have gained traction as a promising solution, their shallow gameplay and lack of on-chain integration are major barriers for them to sustain. This is where SEED will stand out, combining engaging gameplay with true on-chain integration.SEED has secured a strategic investment from Sui Foundation, the organization dedicated to promoting the growth of the Sui blockchain, to unlock its transformative potential in Web3 gaming. This collaboration is focused on building a next-generation on-chain gaming ecosystem that combines sustainability, scalability, and innovation. United by a shared vision, SEED and Sui seek to pioneer the first sustainable Web3 gaming ecosystem on Sui with 100 million users and establish a ‘blueprint’ for the future of Web3 games.With over 60 million users, SEED App isn’t just looking for scalability and low fees. With the support of Sui Foundation, SEED will gain an opportunity to co-build and shape the future of mass-user gaming, a key area for blockchain growth. On Sui, SEED becomes an important part of the Sui ecosystem, working closely with a supportive team to research, innovate, and grow together.Strategic Investment and Ecosystem GrowthFrom a Telegram Miniapp, SEED is transforming into a mass messenger-based on-chain gaming ecosystem centered around a groundbreaking game inspired by the global appeal of Pokémon Go. Enhanced with VR, AI, and true on-chain logic, the next version of SEED will offer immersive gameplay fully connected to the blockchain, surpassing the shallow mechanics of current Miniapps.Beyond its flagship game, SEED’s vision extends further. The two companies will support a durable ecosystem of games and applications through the SEED Combinator Program for startups, creating a self-sustaining Web3 ecosystem. Furthermore, this collaboration includes a commitment to jointly research fully on-chain games, develop advanced tools and infrastructure for builders, and host initiative programs to support developers within the ecosystem.About SEEDFrom the leading Play-to-Earn Telegram Miniapp with over 60 million players, SEED is evolving into the top RPG in Web3 gaming, inspired by the success of games like Pokémon Go and Axie Infinity. Leveraging the power of VR, AI, and seamless messenger-based onboarding, SEED not only ensures mass accessibility but also creates an engaging and interconnected gaming universe.Website | Twitter | Telegram ChannelMedia contact:Alex [email protected] SuiSui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed from the ground up to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. Its object-centric model, based on the Move programming language, enables parallel execution, sub-second finality, and rich on-chain assets. With horizontally scalable processing and storage, Sui supports a wide range of applications at unrivaled speed and low cost. Sui is a step-function advancement in blockchain and a platform on which creators and developers can build user-friendly experiences. For more information about Sui, users can visit https://sui.io.Media contact:[email protected] of PartnershipAlexSEED [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Options market positioned for US Treasury 10-year yield to hit 5% in near term

    NEW YORK (Reuters) – Investors in the futures options market are betting the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield is headed higher to 5% in the near term, reflecting worries that the incoming Trump administration’s policies will increase an already bloated fiscal deficit and revive inflation.Traders are watching that key 5% level in the 10-year note, which, if hit, could be bad news for U.S. stocks, much like it was in October 2023 when the 10-year yield climbed to 5.02%. That coincided with the benchmark S&P 500 index dropping to a five-month low. Higher interest rates in general also mean increased borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.In swaptions, or options on interest rate swaps, the market is also pointing to higher 10-year rates, although not as straightforward as those on Treasury futures. As President-elect Donald Trump nears his Jan. 20 inauguration, market participants have become increasingly anxious about his pledge to impose widespread tariffs on imports, a move widely viewed as inflationary, as they wager that Treasuries will sell off, pushing yields higher. “It’s all about the unknowns and the policy fog,” said Chip Hughey, managing director of fixed income at Truist Advisory Services in Richmond, Virginia. “That uncertainty revolves around the scope of tariffs and what that may mean ultimately for inflation.” Tax cuts are also one of Trump’s campaign promises, which should benefit consumers and businesses overall. But if tax cuts are not financed by spending reductions, they will likely expand the federal deficit. That means more Treasury debt issuance flooding the market to manage the spending gap, pushing interest rates higher.Analysts said open interest, the amount of outstanding positions held by traders, is building in the March contract for 10-year Treasury futures put options, with strikes in the 105 to 106 price levels, according to traders, citing their data on Thursday. Those strikes target the 10-year yield hitting between 4.75% and 5.00%.Treasury put options are typically used to position for a decline in bond prices that leads to higher implied yields.The U.S. 10-year yield was little changed on Thursday at 4.689%, after hitting a roughly eight-month peak of 4.73% on Wednesday.BEARISH SENTIMENTMore puts have been bought than call options that would gain value when futures prices fall and implied yields rise. That is especially the case in the March contract where the put-to-call ratio of 1.23 suggests bearish sentiment on 10-year Treasury note futures.Put premiums, or the price of the options contract, are also more expensive than those on calls, with a ratio of 1.69 in favor of puts.”A 10-year yield of 5% is not our forecast, but I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility that we can get there,” said Jan Nevruzi, U.S. rates strategist at TD Securities in New York, citing Trump’s policies and the Federal Reserve indicating it could pause its rate-cutting cycle.”With the shift higher in rates, we have seen trading around options that are close to the 5% yield. It certainly is a psychological barrier that people will look to trade around.”In the swaptions market, the implied volatility of one-month options on 10-year swap rates had increased to 24.06 basis points (bps) on Thursday, from 20.89 bps on Dec. 12, signaling expectations of increased activity on this maturity in the short term. Rate swaps, which typically track Treasuries, measure the cost of exchanging fixed-rate cash flows for floating-rate ones, or vice versa. They are used by investors to hedge interest rate risk.Volatility is a key input in the price of an option. The higher the volatility, the greater the uncertainty over a given period.As volatility climbs, there are bets on a move higher in 10-year swap rates in a month by paying for so-called “high payer strikes” of about 25 bps more on 10-year options, analysts said. It’s a gamble that 10-year swap rates will be 25 bps higher in a month, and is likely because 10-year Treasury yields will probably increase as well. Current 10-year swap rates are 4.18%.The cost of that 25-basis-point strike climbed to 23.13 bps on Thursday, from 20.8 bps on Dec. 12, when it fell to a roughly five-month low.”The implied volatility on swaptions is skewed toward higher rates,” said Amrut Nashikkar, managing director of fixed income strategy at Barclays (LON:BARC) in New York. “What that tells you is that there is demand for positioning against higher rates and there is a risk premium people are willing to pay to buy protection against a move higher.” More

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    C4 Launches KOL Incubation School to Empower the Next Generation of Crypto Content Creators

    The Crypto Content Creator Campus (C4), announces the launch of its C4 KOL Incubation School, a premier program designed to help aspiring and intermediate content creators in the competitive crypto niche. This initiative offers a structured pathway for creators to level up their skills, grow their audiences, and thrive themselves as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).Building on the success of its inaugural event in Dubai last year, which showcased significant growth and knowledge sharing within the crypto-creator community, the C4 KOL Incubation School offers a new opportunity to advance its mission. The program is designed to provide comprehensive training, equipping creators with the essential skills and strategies required to excel as KOLsThe School provides access to industry veterans specializing in crypto content creation, including the fundamentals of crypto trading, technical analysis, and risk management. The student will discover how to create viral videos for platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, while also exploring trends in DeFi and memecoins. The program will also emphasize personal branding and social media growth, helping students build their unique voice and expand their digital presence. Additionally, students will master content optimization using algorithms and data-driven strategies to increase their reach.With guidance from top industry influencers, including Crypto Banter, the world’s No.1 LIVE crypto streaming channel with over 1.1 million followers, and Mus Money, a renowned crypto trader and influencer with over 200k followers, students will have direct access to the expertise needed to succeed in the crypto content creation world.About Crypto Content Creator Campus (C4)C4 is a team of industry experts and visionaries committed to shaping the future of content creation within the Web3 and crypto sphere. Driven by a shared passion for creating a high-value community, we’ve curated a campus that promises an experience unlike any other. The C4 2025 will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 7 to 9, 2025.For more details about C4, users can visit: https://www.cccc.buzz/For inquiries, users may contact: [email protected] of PrTony [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Polkadot‘s Largest LST – vDOT, Reached $2.2M Supply Cap on Hydration MM within 15 Hours

    Bifrost has announced that vDOT, Polkadot‘s largest liquid staking token (LST), has been listed as a collateral asset on Hydration Money Market. Within 15 hours of opening deposits and borrows, vDOT reached the supply cap of 220K and surpassed $2.2 million in Total (EPA:TTEF) Value Locked (TVL) pushed by DOT leveraging demand.The integration of vDOT into Money Market allows for new strategies for Polkadot’s DeFi participants: By staking Polkadot (DOT), participants receive vDOT, which can be used as collateral to borrow additional DOT. This process allows for the possibility of repeating the cycle to explore strategies aimed at optimizing returns.With this introduction, Bifrost is unlocking the opportunities of what’s possible in Polkadot DeFi, creating synergies and flywheels for the ecosystem. Users are offered the opportunity to earn dual yields, borrow against their staked tokens without sacrificing liquidity, and leverage their positions for higher yields. This synergy also enhances DOT market liquidity, drives user adoption, and exemplifies the DeFi composability of Polkadot ecosystem, making vDOT as a cornerstone asset within the Polkadot ecosystem.For more information, users can visit app.bifrost.io or follow Bifrost on X.About vDOTBifrost’s vDOT, short for “voucher DOT,” is a reward-bearing liquid staking token (LST) issued by the Bifrost Staking Liquidity Protocol. vDOT represents staked DOT on the Polkadot Relay Chain and accrues staking rewards, reflected as an increase in its value rather than its quantity.As Polkadot’s largest DOT LST, vDOT boasts a total locked value of over $50 Million, enabling users to maximize their capital efficiency while benefiting from staking rewards.About BifrostBifrost is a liquid staking appchain tailored for all blockchains, utilizing decentralized cross-chain interoperability to empower users to earn staking rewards and DeFi yields with flexibility, liquidity, and high security across multiple [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Bitcoin price today: down to $93k amid rate jitters, DOJ sale pressure

    Crypto markets also largely tracked a downturn in broader risk-driven markets, as traders pivoted into safe havens such as gold and the dollar amid heightened economic uncertainty.The world’s biggest cryptocurrency was also subject to profit-taking after tripling in value through 2024. Broader crypto prices also fell in tandem with Bitcoin.Bitcoin fell 0.6% to $93,925.0 by 00:56 ET (05:56 GMT). The coin had briefly fallen as low as $92,474.1.Bitcoin was trading down about 4.4% this week, its worst performance since late-September.In addition to a broader risk-off sentiment, Bitcoin was also pressured by reports that the Department of Justice had received court approval to sell about $6.5 billion worth of Bitcoin confiscated from the Silk Road black market. While the DOJ sale represents increased selling pressure on Bitcoin, it also quashed hopes that incoming President Donald Trump would convert the government’s confiscated token holdings into a strategic reserve.Trump has vowed to enact crypto-friendly regulations and has also floated the possibility of a Bitcoin strategic reserve. But analysts expressed some doubts over just how he will create the reserve, given that Congress is unlikely to ok any additional fiscal spending on government Bitcoin purchases.Still, optimism over Trump spurred sharp gains in Bitcoin through late-2024, driving the coin to record highs of over $108,000. Trump was also seen nominating a slew of crypto-friendly candidates to key regulatory roles. Broader crypto prices tracked weakness in Bitcoin, as risk appetite soured in anticipation of key nonfarm payrolls data due later on Friday, which is likely to factor into expectations for interest rates.The reading comes just days after the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s December meeting reiterated the bank’s outlook for fewer interest rate cuts in 2025, which bodes poorly for risk-driven assets.World no.2 crypto Ether fell 2% to $3,262.51, while XRP fell 2.3% to $2.2949.Solana, Cardano, and Polygon fell between 0.8% and 3%, while among meme tokens, DOGE/USD lost 2.8%. More

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    EU fears Trump rolling back Biden-era measures

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