18 Jul 2025, 20:50

Trump plans to impose a 20% tariff on all EU goods if no deal is reached by August 1

Donald Trump has decided to jack up tariffs on every single good coming from Europe, pushing for a baseline rate of 15% to 20% in the next trade deal, according to the Financial Times . This comes after multiple rounds of back-and-forth talks with Brussels that aimed to hold tariffs at 10%, but that idea’s been tossed. The White House has rejected the EU’s last offer to ease auto tariffs, and officials close to the negotiations say Trump is completely fine keeping duties on European cars locked at 25%, just like they are now. This escalation is all part of Trump’s strategy to pressure the EU as they approach his August 1 deadline. If there’s no deal by then, he’s planning to hit all European imports with a 30% tariff, no exceptions. A U.S. official allegedly told the Financial Times that even if both sides reach some kind of agreement, Trump still expects “reciprocal” tariffs to stay above 10%. That’s a hard red line. And with time running out, Europe’s got almost no room to maneuver. EU fears retaliation but faces internal divide On Friday, Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade, gave a closed-door briefing to EU ambassadors after his Washington meetings. Two diplomats present said Maroš painted a bleak picture. The U.S. side didn’t budge, even as Brussels tried to pitch targeted cuts for specific sectors. No deal, no movement, just a wall. The same day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly admitted things weren’t going well. “Whether we can still create sectoral rules, whether we can treat individual sectors differently from others, is an open question,” Friedrich said. “The European side supports this. The American side views it more critically.” With Trump’s tariffs now looking like they’ll stay between 15% and 20%, the rates would land right where they were back in April, when trade talks started. That’s a full reset. A senior EU diplomat warned Brussels might be forced to retaliate, especially since the U.S. already slapped 50% duties on EU steel and aluminum. “We don’t want a trade war, but we don’t know if the U.S. will leave us a choice,” the diplomat said. A second EU official confirmed things are shifting: “The mood has clearly changed” toward retaliation. “We are not going to settle at 15%,” they said, pushing back against settling for a number Trump seems locked into. Stock markets dip as Brussels readies countermeasures News of Trump’s latest demands caused a dip in U.S. markets. The S&P 500 dropped 0.2% after the story broke. But most traders are brushing it off. They’ve seen this before. Back in April, Trump threw global trade into chaos when he imposed high reciprocal tariffs on nearly all of America’s major trade partners. Later, he rolled those tariffs down to 10% for a temporary 90-day window, but the damage was already done. Still, U.S. stocks have climbed since then. Markets even rallied to new highs. That momentum may be why Trump doesn’t feel pressure to back off, even as warnings pile up from economists. They’ve flagged risks of rising inflation tied to his trade strategy, but so far, consumer prices in the U.S. only ticked up slightly this month. That minor bump hasn’t changed anything at the White House. In the meantime, the U.S. pulled in nearly $50 billion in extra customs revenue during the second quarter alone. And so far, no major trading partner has followed through with full retaliation. That includes Europe, which has been planning—and delaying—counter-tariffs for months. But with the August 1 deadline now looming, those plans are finally moving. Brussels is preparing to roll out duties on €21 billion worth of U.S. goods starting August 6. That includes chicken and jeans. Another package targets €72 billion, with bourbon and Boeing aircraft on the hit list. A third group of countermeasures is still being drafted, and will likely include new taxes on digital services and online ads, according to someone involved in the talks. The U.S. currently imports €380 billion in EU exports annually, which is out of a total €532.3 billion. That makes the U.S. the EU’s biggest single customer, accounting for a fifth of all European exports. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More

18 Jul 2025, 20:30

MEI Pharma Unveils $100 Million Litecoin Treasury Push

MEI Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, has announced a $100 million private placement. According to reports , this funding will support a new plan to create a dedicated Litecoin (LTC) treasury. This decision represents a significant shift in MEI Pharma’s direction, placing the company at the crossroads of biotechnology and digital assets. MEI Pharma Aims to Drive Global Adoption of Litecoin Titan Partners Group, a boutique investment bank, in collaboration with GSR, a prominent early-stage investment firm, is leading the change at MEI Pharma. Both firms will help MEI Pharma use blockchain technology for managing their funds, starting with Litecoin. Notably, Charlie Lee, the creator of Litecoin, will join the Board of Directors for MEI Pharma. His appointment signals strong support for the company’s goals and will offer valuable insight as MEI incorporates Litecoin more deeply. Additionally, the Litecoin Foundation has invested in MEI Pharma. This partnership aligns with the Foundation’s mission to encourage the use of Litecoin through new and creative approaches. Furthermore, MEI Pharma’s strategy reflects a trend in which innovative companies incorporate digital assets into their reserves. The $100 million raised through a private placement will be used to fund this treasury strategy, provide operational support, and explore new opportunities at the intersection of blockchain and biotech. GSR Fulfills Upexi Solana Treasury Strategy Goal In a similar vein, GSR announced a $100 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) into Upexi, Inc., a consumer product firm. The crypto trading firm contributes to Upexi’s Solana (SOL) treasury strategy by raising this fund. It is worth noting that Upexi announced that it is tilting toward a cryptocurrency-based treasury strategy. In the latest development, GSR’s investment reflects its confidence in SOL’s long-term potential and reputation as a leading high-performance blockchain . Notably, GSR’s mission to bridge the gap between traditional capital markets and the digital asset ecosystem has well-positioned it for this deal. Institutional Momentum Grows Across Borders Recall that The Blockchain Group has taken bold steps to expand its Bitcoin holdings, announcing plans to raise over $340 million in capital for its treasury. Meanwhile, the Paris-based company is not alone in aggressively adding cryptocurrency to its balance sheet. Michael Saylor’s Strategy recently increased its planned raise to nearly $1 billion to continue its Bitcoin buying spree. Additionally, Nakamoto Holdings, the Bitcoin-focused firm founded by David Bailey, a crypto adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, has secured $51.5 million through a private placement in public equity (PIPE) deal. This development highlights strong investor interest in the company’s BTC accumulation strategy. The post MEI Pharma Unveils $100 Million Litecoin Treasury Push appeared first on TheCoinrise.com .

18 Jul 2025, 20:20

ProShares Ultra XRP ETF Is Now Live

In a pivotal move for digital asset adoption, the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF (ticker: UXRP) is now officially live. This development, confirmed by crypto community source RippleXity on X, signals a major advancement in bringing XRP to traditional financial markets through regulated investment products. The ETF was made effective following the filing of Amendment No. 377 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 by ProShares Trust. A New Era for XRP Investment ProShares, renowned for its lineup of leveraged and inverse ETFs, has expanded its offerings with the launch of UXRP, an exchange-traded fund designed to deliver 2x daily exposure to the performance of XRP. ProShares Ultra $XRP ETF (UXRP) is now LIVE! pic.twitter.com/JHe2WQEDTe — RippleXity (@RippleXity) July 18, 2025 This allows investors to gain amplified access to XRP price movements without the technical complexities of owning the asset directly. Through derivatives and futures contracts, the fund aims to mirror XRP’s daily returns, appealing to both institutional players and high-risk-tolerant retail investors. The SEC filing specifies that the proposed effective date for UXRP was July 18, 2025, under paragraph (b) of the applicable rules. With the ETF now live, ProShares has officially ushered XRP into the growing family of crypto-linked ETFs traded on U.S. markets. Regulatory Momentum and Market Readiness The debut of UXRP follows a wave of crypto ETF approvals in the United States, including spot Bitcoin ETFs approved in early 2024 and Ethereum ETFs greenlit. While UXRP is not a spot ETF, its leveraged structure reflects growing regulatory openness toward offering advanced XRP-related financial products to the public. This shift in regulatory tone has been made possible, in part, by the legal clarity achieved in Ripple Labs’ multi-year battle with the SEC. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP sold on secondary markets does not qualify as a security. That decision was a watershed moment, providing the legal foundation for institutions like ProShares to launch XRP-based investment vehicles with confidence. Institutional Support and Legal Framework The official SEC registration lists ProShares Trust as the registrant, headquartered at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland. Richard Morris of ProShare Advisors LLC is named as the agent for service. Legal support for the filing was provided by attorneys Allison M. Fumai and Mark D. Perlow of Dechert LLP, an established legal firm with deep expertise in ETF compliance and regulatory filings. We are on twitter, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) July 15, 2023 These details reflect the formal structure behind UXRP’s approval and underscore the seriousness with which traditional finance is now approaching XRP integration. Launch Timing and Market Impact The ETF launch comes at a time of renewed investor interest in XRP, which recently broke its all-time high of $3.40 and surged to $3.60, hitting the 1.618 Fibonacci extension, a key level often targeted in major market rallies. With XRP now entering price discovery territory, a leveraged ETF like UXRP arrives at a strategically significant moment for investors looking to maximize exposure to future gains. RippleXity’s announcement on X was met with widespread excitement across the XRP community, with many seeing this as a major step forward in mainstreaming XRP as a legitimate investment vehicle. Summarily, the launch of the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF represents more than just another financial product, it signals a new level of institutional acceptance for XRP. By offering leveraged exposure in a regulated structure, UXRP opens the door for broader participation in the XRP market and elevates the asset’s standing among top-tier cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As investor appetite for crypto exposure continues to grow, UXRP provides a timely and powerful tool for those seeking to capture XRP’s upside within a traditional financial framework. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post ProShares Ultra XRP ETF Is Now Live appeared first on Times Tabloid .

18 Jul 2025, 20:18

SharpLink to Raise an Additional $5 Billion for Ethereum Purchases

The company plans to use nearly all of the $5 billion it raises to purchase Ethereum. Over the past nine days, SharpLink has bought more than $500 million worth of Ethereum. The company’s shares fell by more than 10% following these increased purchases. SharpLink Gaming, a company backed by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, filed a prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In it, representatives of the firm stated they intend to increase the possible share offering from $1 billion to $6 billion. The company's goal is to scale its investment in Ethereum by making the cryptocurrency the foundation of its treasury strategy. As in its previous filing on May 30, 2025, SharpLink reiterated its intention to use ”substantially all of the proceeds” to acquire Ethereum. The balance of the proceeds will be used for working capital, operating expenses, and marketing development. If the company spent the full amount on July 18, it could control up to 1.38% of Ethereum's current circulating supply. This is in line with SharpLink's ambitions to reach 1 million ETH in crypto reserves. The company now has over 280,000 ETH in its reserves, of which 99.7% is staked. In the past nine days alone, the firm has purchased $515 million worth of ETH, including 32,892 ETH worth $118.8 million on July 17—18,712 coins via Galaxy Digital and another 14,180 ETH via Coinbase Prime. This reinforced SharpLink's position as the largest corporate holder of Ethereum, surpassing the Ethereum Foundation. According to Lookonchain, the company's activity in the market has been steadily increasing. Moreover, between June 2 and July 15, 2025, staking fees alone brought in 415 ETH (about $1.49 million). Galaxy Research analysts see the increased purchases as a positive signal for the Ethereum ecosystem. Despite optimism from experts, SharpLink (SBET) shares reacted to the news by declining. On July 17, the company's securities fell by more than 10% to $34.80, according to TradingView. However, on July 18, they partially recovered and are quoted at $36.16 at the time of writing. The company's securities are up 374% since the start of 2025, but are still down 54% from their May high. SharpLink currently has a market capitalization of $2.37 billion.

18 Jul 2025, 20:14

GENIUS Act Signed: Stablecoins Now Face Strict Rules & Oversight

Today, President Trump signed the GENIUS ACT into law. What should you expect now that it has and who will be involved.

18 Jul 2025, 20:08

21Shares Files for Two Crypto Fund ETFs With the U.S.SEC: Details

The post 21Shares Files for Two Crypto Fund ETFs With the U.S.SEC: Details appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News 21Shares, a veteran crypto investment company with more than $11 billion in assets under management (AUM), has announced a strategic partnership with Teucrium, an asset management company focused on commodity and futures ETFs. Through the strategic partnership, 21Shares announced that it has filed two Funds – the 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 Index ETF and the 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 ex-BTC Index ETF – with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 Index ETF intends to track a market-cap-weighted index of the top ten largest crypto assets globally. On the other hand, the 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 ex-BTC Index ETF tracks a separate FTSE Russell index that excludes Bitcoin. “Investors are increasingly looking for diversified and easy-to-access ways to participate in the long-term growth of digital assets, and 21Shares aims to provide ETF structures to satisfy this demand, subject to regulatory approval,” Federico Brokate, Head of U.S. Business at 21Shares, noted . 21Shares Focuses on Crypto Tokenization Amid Regulatory Clarity The two crypto funds by 21Shares tap into tested regulations for securities and tokenization in the United States. For instance, the two funds will be structured under the 1940 Act funds, and offer investors a more familiar taxation. “The methodology and structure behind our digital asset pricing and indices were developed to give investors strategic allocation tools”, said Kristen Mierzwa, Head of Digital Assets at FTSE Russell. The tokenization of crypto assets, which is under the jurisdiction of the SEC, will play a crucial role in the mainstream adoption of digital assets by institutional investors. Already, President Donald Trump has signed into law the GENIUS Act after a majority supported it in the Senate and the House of Representatives.