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27 Mar 2026, 17:02

David Sacks Quits White House Crypto Czar Role While High-Stakes Legislation Stalls

David Sacks is stepping down from his role as the White House’s crypto and AI czar, ending a brief stint that reshaped U.S. digital asset policy, though several key legislative efforts remain unresolved. Speaking to Bloomberg on Thursday, David Sacks said his role concluded after reaching the 130-day cap for special government employees. He’ll continue working with the administration as co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, focusing on broader technology matters. “Moving forward as a co-chair of PCAST, I can now make recommendations on not just about AI, but an extended range of technology topics,” he told Bloomberg. “So yes, this is how I will be involved moving forward.” Sacks will co-lead PCAST with Michael Kratsios, joined by high-profile members including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Andreessen “a16z” Horowitz’s Marc Andreessen, early Coinbase backer Fred Ehrsam, Oracle’s Larry Ellison , and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg . Sacks has been a key figure in the White House since Donald Trump appointed him in December 2024 as a top technology adviser. During his tenure, he helped shape the administration’s crypto agenda, championing market structure and stablecoin legislation and advocating for a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve as part of a broader effort to position America as a global crypto hub. He also pushed for clearer digital asset regulations and, like many in Trump’s circle, criticized the previous administration under Joe Biden for relying too heavily on enforcement. Key U.S. Crypto Legislation Hits Snag In his role as crypto and AI czar, David Sacks assisted the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets in publishing a 166-page report in July that offered guidance on regulating the cryptocurrency sector. His departure comes as Washington lawmakers continue pushing for comprehensive crypto regulation. Proposed legislation aims to divide oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Last year, the House passed its market structure bill, the Clarity Act , with bipartisan backing. In January, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its own version along party lines, but progress has since stalled in the Senate Banking Committee, largely due to disagreements over how to treat stablecoin rewards.

27 Mar 2026, 16:21

PlayStation 5 consoles jumping $100 in the U.S. starting April 2

Sony Group is raising what customers pay for PlayStation 5 consoles across the globe. American buyers will see a $100 increase starting April 2, the second time in less than a year the Japanese company has pushed prices higher because of rising costs for parts like memory chips. Computer memory makers have been favoring production of chips for data centers, where they can charge more. That’s created a supply crunch for everyday consumer gadgets as the tech industry races to build out infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Starting next month, the standard PS5 will cost $649.99 in the U.S., up from $549.99. The Digital Edition jumps to $599.99. The high-end PS5 Pro will run $899.99, and the PlayStation Portal remote player climbs to $249.99 from $199.99. Europe and Japan will see similar bumps. Sony said it made the call after what it described as a careful look at rising cost pressures hitting global supply chains. Industry watchers think the higher console prices will probably slow down video game market growth this year. Epic Games, which makes Fortnite, pointed to sluggish console sales as part of why it cut 1,000 jobs earlier this week. During the key holiday shopping quarter from October through December, PlayStation 5 sales fell 16 percent from a year earlier to 8 million units. The console has been out for around six years now. Sony last bumped PS5 prices by about $50 in the U.S. in August last year. Microsoft also raised prices on its Xbox console during the same period. Memory chip stocks take a beating Over in the stock market, Micron Technology shares kept sliding Friday. The memory chipmaker has now lost roughly 23 percent of its value over six straight sessions as investors rethink their views on memory pricing and AI-related demand. The stock has been under pressure even though Micron supplies high-bandwidth memory used in artificial intelligence work. Shares dropped another 2.4 percent before the market opened Friday, hitting $346.40. Other memory chip companies also moved lower. SanDisk fell 3.2 percent, Western Digital dropped 3 percent, and Seagate lost 2.8 percent. Micron took a nearly 7 percent hit Thursday after Alphabet unveiled its TurboQuant compression technology. The search company said it reduces memory usage and makes AI models run better. That raised worries about whether demand for memory chips might weaken, which pulled down the whole sector. Later Thursday, Trump told Fox News he’d recently met with Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and called the company one of the “hottest” in the U.S. Equipment maker ASML gets upgrade There was better news Thursday for ASML, the Dutch company that makes semiconductor equipment. A Wall Street analyst called the stock a “top pick” because memory chip producers are buying new gear. Bernstein analyst David Dai kept his outperform rating on ASML and raised his price target to 1,971 from 1,911. He also said ASML is his top pick in Europe’s semiconductor sector. ASML fell 4.6 percent to 1,329.50 Thursday during a rough day for stocks overall. Shares had hit a record high of 1,547.22 on Feb. 25 before pulling back. Dai wrote in a note to clients that ASML is seeing more orders from makers of DRAM chips, which stands for dynamic random-access memory. “The DRAM makers are accelerating the pace of capacity expansion due to the widening gap between DRAM supply and demand,” Dai said. Demand for DRAM has jumped as companies build data centers for artificial intelligence. “With the surge of DRAM demand from generative AI, including both HBM (high bandwidth memory) and DDR (double data rate RAM) for AI servers, the supply and demand gap widened and DRAM prices surged,” he said. Companies buying new equipment include Micron Technology, Samsung and SK Hynix. Based on capacity additions, Dai expects ASML to ship 44 extreme ultraviolet lithography machines to DRAM makers in 2028. That would represent 45 percent of ASML’s total shipments of such equipment that year, more than double the 18 units expected in 2025, which made up 34 percent of shipments then. Dai increased his forecast for total ASML extreme ultraviolet shipments in 2028 from 79 to 92 units. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

27 Mar 2026, 15:05

The Ripple (XRP), THUNES, and SWIFT Connection Is Getting Clearer

The architecture of global payments is quietly evolving as financial institutions move away from rigid, siloed systems toward more interoperable networks. For decades, cross-border transactions have depended on layered intermediaries, slow settlement times, and high costs. Today, a new model is emerging—one that blends the reliability of legacy infrastructure with the speed and efficiency of blockchain technology. In a recent post on X, crypto commentator X Finance Bull examined the growing alignment between Ripple, Thunes, and SWIFT . His analysis highlights how these systems are beginning to complement one another, forming a more efficient global payments framework. Ripple and Thunes Strengthen Global Payment Infrastructure Ripple expanded its partnership with Thunes in September 2025 , integrating its payment technology into Thunes’ Direct Global Network. This network spans more than 130 countries, supports over 80 currencies, and enables payouts across 90+ markets. THE RIPPLE $XRP , THUNES, AND SWIFT CONNECTION IS GETTING CLEARER Let me map this out for you because the picture is bigger than most realize. Ripple and Thunes expanded their partnership in September 2025. Thunes integrates Ripple Payments into its Direct Global Network.… pic.twitter.com/3mphtGekq5 — X Finance Bull (@Xfinancebull) March 26, 2026 Thunes connects a wide ecosystem of financial institutions, enterprises, and payment providers, including globally recognized platforms such as Uber and WeChat. By integrating with this network, Ripple extends its reach into high-demand payment corridors while leveraging existing infrastructure that already processes billions in transaction volume. The Indirect Link to SWIFT’s Banking Network Ripple does not maintain a direct partnership with SWIFT, and this distinction remains important. However, Thunes connects to over 11,000 banks that rely on SWIFT for financial messaging. This connection creates an indirect but highly strategic bridge. Banks that operate within the SWIFT ecosystem can access Thunes’ capabilities for real-time payouts and emerging services such as stablecoin transfers. This setup allows Ripple’s technology to interface, indirectly, with the same global banking network that SWIFT serves. A Layered Approach to Modern Payments This evolving structure reflects a layered payments model where each system performs a specialized role. SWIFT continues to provide secure and standardized messaging between financial institutions. Thunes facilitates last-mile delivery, liquidity access, and payout execution. Ripple introduces blockchain-based settlement that enhances speed and cost efficiency. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Rather than competing for dominance, these systems now operate in parallel. This convergence reduces friction, accelerates settlement times, and improves transparency across cross-border transactions. What This Means for XRP and Adoption This alignment strengthens XRP’s positioning within global finance. XRP does not need to replace SWIFT or disrupt existing systems entirely . Instead, it can function as a settlement layer within infrastructure that banks already trust. Financial institutions typically adopt new technologies incrementally. They integrate innovations that improve efficiency without abandoning established systems. Ripple’s connection to Thunes, and its indirect reach into SWIFT-linked banks, reflects this adoption pattern. As interoperability becomes the defining theme of global payments, the relationship between Ripple, Thunes, and SWIFT signals a meaningful shift. The industry is no longer choosing between legacy finance and blockchain—it is combining both to build a faster, more efficient financial future. 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 The Ripple (XRP), THUNES, and SWIFT Connection Is Getting Clearer appeared first on Times Tabloid .

27 Mar 2026, 08:20

US Energy Shock: Standard Chartered’s Reassuring Analysis Reveals a Manageable Crisis

BitcoinWorld US Energy Shock: Standard Chartered’s Reassuring Analysis Reveals a Manageable Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 2025. A recent analysis from global financial institution Standard Chartered delivers a crucial perspective on the current US energy landscape, suggesting that while significant, the present energy shock appears manageable. This assessment arrives amid volatile global markets and provides a data-driven counterpoint to more alarmist narratives. Decoding the US Energy Shock An energy shock typically describes a sudden, significant disruption in the supply or price of energy resources. Consequently, these events can trigger widespread economic consequences. For the United States in early 2025, several converging factors have created such a scenario. Geopolitical tensions in key producing regions, coupled with unexpected weather-related disruptions to domestic production, have applied substantial pressure. However, Standard Chartered’s research team argues the nation’s energy fundamentals remain robust enough to absorb this pressure without systemic failure. The bank’s analysis hinges on several key structural strengths. First, the US has dramatically increased its energy independence over the past decade. Second, strategic petroleum reserves remain at historically significant levels. Finally, a diversified energy mix, including growing renewable capacity, provides a crucial buffer. Therefore, while consumers and industries feel the pinch of higher prices, the core infrastructure demonstrates resilience. Standard Chartered’s Data-Driven Assessment Standard Chartered’s economists base their “manageable” conclusion on a detailed review of market indicators and historical comparisons. Their report, which includes proprietary charts and models, contrasts the current situation with past crises like the 1970s oil embargoes. Crucially, the data shows a different supply-demand dynamic today. For instance, the US now exports more crude oil and refined products than it imports, a pivotal shift from previous decades. The analysis highlights several mitigating factors: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Capacity: Expanded US LNG export facilities provide flexibility to redirect supplies domestically if needed. Refining Resilience: Despite some closures, the US refining system remains the world’s largest and most complex, capable of adjusting output. Demand Response: Higher prices are naturally curbing consumption, a classic market correction mechanism. Policy Levers: The federal government retains several unused tools, including further releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Role of Market Psychology and Speculation Standard Chartered’s experts also address the role of financial markets. Often, price spikes become exaggerated by speculative trading and fear-driven sentiment. Their charts indicate that current futures market premiums contain a significant “fear premium” unrelated to physical shortages. This perspective suggests that as calm returns to markets, some price pressures could ease organically. Furthermore, increased production from non-OPEC+ allies is already beginning to enter the global stream, gradually alleviating tightness. Comparative Impacts and Sector Analysis Not all sectors experience an energy shock equally. Standard Chartered’s report breaks down the varied impacts across the US economy. The transportation and heavy manufacturing sectors face the most immediate cost pressures. Conversely, the technology and service sectors exhibit more insulation. This uneven distribution prevents the shock from becoming a generalized economic contraction. The following table illustrates the differential impact based on energy intensity: Economic Sector Exposure Level Primary Risk Transportation & Logistics High Fuel cost surge impacting operating margins Chemical Manufacturing High Feedstock and power cost volatility Agriculture Medium-High Fertilizer and diesel costs for equipment Consumer Retail Medium Indirect through transportation and supply chain Technology & Services Low Minor impact from office energy costs The Path Forward: Adaptation and Investment Labeling the shock as “manageable” does not imply it is inconsequential. Standard Chartered emphasizes that management requires proactive adaptation. For policymakers, this means avoiding reactionary measures that could distort markets long-term. For businesses, it involves accelerating investments in energy efficiency and on-site generation. For the public, it necessitates a clear understanding of the situation’s temporary nature. Historically, energy shocks have catalyzed innovation. The current episode is already accelerating deployments of smart grid technology, battery storage, and demand-side management software. Consequently, the long-term effect may be a more efficient and decentralized American energy system. This transition, however, requires sustained capital investment and regulatory support. Conclusion Standard Chartered’s analysis of the US energy shock provides a measured, evidence-based outlook. While acknowledging real pain for consumers and specific industries, the institution’s data underscores underlying systemic resilience. The nation’s transformed position as a net energy exporter, combined with strategic reserves and a diversifying portfolio, forms a formidable buffer. Ultimately, managing this crisis hinges on prudent policy, market patience, and continued investment in the energy transition. The situation remains fluid, but the foundational analysis suggests the United States possesses the tools to navigate this period without lasting economic damage. FAQs Q1: What exactly does Standard Chartered mean by a “manageable” energy shock? Standard Chartered uses “manageable” to indicate that the US has sufficient strategic, economic, and infrastructural buffers to absorb the price and supply pressures without triggering a nationwide economic recession or systemic grid failure. It implies disruption, not collapse. Q2: How does the current US energy shock compare to the 1970s oil crises? The key difference is energy independence. In the 1970s, the US was heavily reliant on imported oil. Today, it is a net exporter of crude oil and natural gas, giving it far more control over its domestic supply and insulating it from pure import cutoffs. Q3: What are the biggest risks that could make the situation unmanageable? The primary risks are a major escalation of geopolitical conflict in a key producing region that severely disrupts global shipping, or a cascade of simultaneous domestic infrastructure failures (e.g., multiple refinery outages during extreme weather). Q4: How long might the “shock” phase last according to this analysis? Standard Chartered’s models suggest the peak price pressure phase could last several quarters, but market fundamentals should begin rebalancing within 12-18 months as new production comes online and demand adjusts. Q5: What should the average consumer understand from this report? Consumers should understand that while energy bills may remain elevated in the short term, the analysis indicates there is no impending nationwide shortage of gasoline or home heating fuel. The system, while stressed, is functioning. This post US Energy Shock: Standard Chartered’s Reassuring Analysis Reveals a Manageable Crisis first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

27 Mar 2026, 06:35

David Sacks steps aside as Trump’s AI and crypto czar

More on technology CHAT: Global AI Growth At A Reasonable Valuation CHAT: Pure-Play Exposure To GenAI Revolution Hyperscalers Are As Strong As Ever AI will create more jobs than it will eliminate Sandisk stands as the best performing large-cap IT stock YTD

27 Mar 2026, 06:02

XRP Army Stunned As Ripple Wins Special Mention In Congress Hearing

Subjective Views (@subjectiveviews), a crypto sleuth on X, has shared a video from a House hearing that placed Ripple into a live discussion about the future of U.S. payments. The clip showed lawmakers questioning Federal Reserve officials about whether the current payment infrastructure is moving fast enough to support modern financial technology. In that exchange, Ripple was mentioned alongside major financial technology firms in a conversation about improving how money moves through the U.S. banking system. In the video, Rep. Sam Liccardo raised concerns about payment speed, cost, and access to Federal Reserve infrastructure . He referenced industry proposals designed to reduce risk while allowing faster payment innovation. Ripple was one of the companies he named during that discussion, placing it directly into the policy conversation. Ripple, Rlusd… no xrp mention — You Suck (@megatroll101) March 26, 2026 The Focus on Faster Payments Liccardo questioned Randall Guynn, Director at the Federal Reserve Division of Supervision and Regulation, about ACH system limitations, especially the risk of daylight overdrafts. He explained that several financial technology companies had already submitted solutions. These included pre-funding transactions, setting transaction limits, adding collateral requirements, and implementing early warning systems. During the hearing, Liccardo said the industry had offered “very promising alternatives” to address risk while still expanding access to payment. He specifically mentioned the issue of “requiring pre-funding of ACH transactions,” which he said came from both Intuit and Ripple. Guynn responded that the board is open to considering the submitted ideas. Ripple’s Proposal and RLUSD Subjective Views noted that earlier this year, Ripple submitted a recommendation that stablecoin issuers should be allowed to access Fed accounts using pre-funded ACH. This structure would allow stablecoins such as RLUSD to connect directly to the U.S. domestic payment system. Payments could move through ACH using pre-funded balances to improve efficiency. This model also reduces trapped capital because institutions would not need to hold excess funds across multiple intermediaries. Pre-funded access means funds sit ready for settlement, which increases payment speed while maintaining Federal Reserve risk controls. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 How XRP Fits Into This System This is where Subjective Views’ main point comes into focus. If RLUSD connects to the U.S. payment system through pre-funded ACH, XRP can operate as a liquidity bridge. RLUSD could be used for domestic settlement and payments, while XRP provides liquidity for cross-border transactions and currency conversion, with both operating on the XRP Ledger, where transactions settle. Ripple already positions XRP as a bridge asset on the ledger for cross-border payments. A system that connects RLUSD to Fed payment rails creates a pathway in which domestic payments settle in stablecoin form while international transfers use XRP as liquidity between currencies. 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 advised to conduct thorough 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 X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post XRP Army Stunned As Ripple Wins Special Mention In Congress Hearing appeared first on Times Tabloid .