The demand for energy from the AI sector is immediate and high, reflecting the 
urgency in energy provisioning. Hyperscalers prioritize bringing capacity 
online quickly, often over cost considerations, to maintain competitive 
advantage. International markets offer more economically viable opportun&#8230;
The post Fred Thiel: AI&#8217;s energy hunger reshapes bitcoin mining dynamics | The Pomp Podcast appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Fred Thiel: AI’s energy hunger reshapes bitcoin mining dynamics | The Pomp Podcast

With a strong regulatory environment, proactive institutional participation, 
and a growing appetite for blockchain-powered financial solutions, Japan is 
positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation finance, and XRPL is 
increasingly becoming central to that vision. Japan is placing a huge bet on 
the XRP Ledger identity and leading protocol. Crypto analyst Stellar Rippler 
revealed on X that a senior banker from the Bank of Japan (BoJ), Kazuo Ueda, 
reportedly stated that SBI holdings has invested in XRP, XRP Ledger-native 
identity protocols, compliance, and lending projects. Meanwhile, that backdrop 
became even more significant when SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao said the 
firm holds hidden assets worth more than its officially disclosed 9% stake, 
which is valued at over $10 billion. Why Japan Is Looking Beyond Payments To 
XRPL Infrastructure Interestingly, the strategic direction becomes clearer 
when viewed through the lens of identity. Ripple’s president, Monica Long, has 
described decentralized identity on XRPL as a way to turn personal information 
into a secure, portable digital token that users can carry globally and 
selectively share, replacing reliance on centralized platforms. Related 
Reading: XRP Ledger DEX Metrics Flash Strong Growth As Activity Touches New 
Key Levels This vision is already taking shape at the infrastructure level. 
DNAOnChain’s XDNA applies this model with zero-knowledge proofs to transform 
identity and compliance data into verifiable zk-credentials. Also, these allow 
institutions to confirm eligibility and regulatory status without exposing 
sensitive information. However, the SBI&#8217;s hidden asset has extended beyond 
XRP, and it&#8217;s pointing toward the XRPL&#8217;s identity and zero-knowledge 
credential layer, where XDNA fits in as the infrastructure institutions 
needed. XRP is actively used as a bridge currency for liquidity on the XRP 
Ledger, alongside stablecoins, which are complementary. An analyst known as 
Vet on X has noted that recent activity on the XRPL DEX shows that RLUSD is 
being exchanged for EUROP, a euro-denominated stablecoin, with XRP acting as 
the bridge asset. By serving as an intermediary layer, XRP increases the 
liquidity of issued assets across the network. Furthermore, this design 
results in a proven, robust financial infrastructure that maximizes capital 
efficiency for everyday users and institutions. At the same time, market 
makers can make markets between the respective XRP pairs; they can hold the 
token because it is counterparty-free, which makes it the most efficient way 
to make markets. The Role Of The XRP In A Tokenized FX Future According to 
RippleBullWinkle, founder of Lux Lions NFT, the global foreign exchange market 
is moving roughly $9.6 trillion in daily volume. Related Reading: XRP Price 
Falls Below $1.6: You Won’t Believe What Institutions Are Doing Amid The Crash 
In the meantime, industry insiders are projecting an on-chain FX system for 
local currency stablecoins from countries around the world, in which they can 
settle directly on-chain against the dollar stablecoins. This is where XRP’s 
original design becomes relevant, because XRP was literally built to function 
as a bridge asset between currencies. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart 
from Tradingview.com

XRP Ledger Positioned At The Heart Of Japan’s Next Financial Transformation

Historical data from the Riksbank is crucial for testing macroeconomic 
theories. The Riksbank formally adopted a 2% inflation target in 1995 after 
allowing the Swedish krona to float. Flexible inflation targets can 
accommodate supply shocks while maintaining medium-term goals.
The post Per Åsberg Sommar: Historical data from the Riksbank is vital for macroeconomic theories, Sweden&#8217;s shift to a 2% inflation target, and the impact of larger economies on small open economies | Macro Musings appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Per Åsberg Sommar: Historical data from the Riksbank is vital for macroeconomic theories, Sweden’s shift to a 2% inflation target, and the impact of larger economies on small open economies | Macro Musings

Gold is expected to trade around current prices through the first quarter, 
according to Sucden Financial market strategists, even as prices pulled back 
modestly on Feb. 16 amid thin holiday liquidity and profit-taking. Gold Prices 
Cool but Analysts Maintain $5,000 Q1 View In its Q1 2026 Quarterly Metals 
Report, Sucden Financial’s Head of Research Daria […]

Gold Forecast: Researchers See Prices Hovering Near $5,000 in Q1 2026

Presidential actions have been ineffective in reducing oil prices. The global 
oil market is projected to face oversupply in late 2025. Sanctions 
significantly impact oil availability despite production levels.
The post Rory Johnston: US policies are bullish for oil prices | Macro Voices appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Cryptocurrency price in SEK