This momentous TradFi-DeFi mash-up may also have a big twist, or two!

The pro-crypto Trump administration is about to reshape the US stock market!

According to Bloomberg, that SEC announcement may happen 

If so, this would be yet another major regulatory development, and a close follow-up to last week's passage of the CLARITY Act that was 

 of real company shares (like Apple or Tesla) that live on a 

Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is one of the biggest trends in crypto of late.

RWA proponents say that 24/7 trading and almost-instant settlement can help markets evolve and become more efficient.

innovation exemption for tokenized stocks, 

Third parties could create these digital versions 

without the original company's permission.

This fundamentally shifts control over how a company's shares are represented and traded - away from the company itself.

Also, the exemption would create a new framework for trading tokenized versions of publicly traded company shares on 

Such a framework is part of a broader effort by the administration to loosen rules for crypto markets.

This will be a major test whether a huge chunk of the TradFi world can integrate, operate, and live on crypto infrastructure, without traditional safeguards.

Where might these tokenized stocks trade?

 — the same kind of platforms where you might already trade crypto.

To be clear, TradFi mainstays are certainly moving with the times.

Early developments - what's happened so far?

This week, Bloomberg reported that markets may soon get the formal announcement by the SEC on this eagerly-anticipated plan for tokenized stocks.

Several blockchain networks are already being used as infrastructure for tokenized securities:

Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are expected to play a key role as the 

Demand for stablecoins may potentially rise as tokenized asset creation and redemption scales up.

The regulatory and legal framework for tokenized assets remains unsettled.

Broadly, critics say that the tokenization of shares could introduce uncertainties into financial markets and systems that have already stood the test of time.

Tokenized Stocks: How big could this get?

The tokenized asset market currently stands at $31.4 billion, already up 46% from the start of 2026.

Market forecasts suggest tokenized real-world assets could grow to approximately 

, according to Clear Street Equity Research, driven by increasing regulatory clarity and institutional activity.

This article is provided for general information and reflects the author's views only. It does not constitute investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments or digital assets. Your ability to access or use any products or services mentioned may be subject to the laws and regulatory requirements of your jurisdiction.

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SEC may unveil plan for tokenized stocks this week!

Inflation fears re-awaken, bond yields surge. How will Nvidia, GBPUSD+, and BTC react?

Since the start of April, risk assets have apparently willfully ignored inflation risks, until now.

It's the same ol refrain we've heard (and written about) since the Iran war began:

Yet risk assets such as stocks and cryptos had gladly ignored the scenario above and willfully marched higher, with US stocks literally punching their way to newfound records ... until recently.

Since the end of last week, major assets fell as inflation concerns came roaring back, dragging down riskier assets such as US stock indexes, cryptos, and even Asian currencies - though earlier declines today have subsided since.

Here's how inflation woes haunt risk assets:

DECODE: When investors worry that inflation will erode the value of money over time, they demand higher interest rates (yields) on bonds to compensate for that lost purchasing power.

In active terms, investors sell bonds rapidly, which drives bond yields up.

Today, bond yields in major economies surged to multi-year highs:

, we had previously already cited surging Japanese bond yields as a major macro risk for global markets for the year.

And when bond yields soar, investors shift money out of riskier assets like stocks and crypto into bonds.

That's because higher bond yields mean these bonds now offer more attractive returns with less risk.

The perception of "less risk" is because these bonds are issued by governments of some of the biggest economies in the world i.e. they're seen to have better ability to uphold their financial commitments (pay yields) to investors worldwide.

This week, watch these 3 assets, even as markets continue battling with the ongoing inflation angst:

 hit new record high despite inflation woes?

Nvidia is set to unveil its latest quarterly results 

after US markets close on Wednesday, May 20th.

Markets predict that Nvidia's stock price may react with a 

Shares of the world's most valuable company just ended a 7-day winning streak, when it fell 4.4% on Friday, May 15th.

 (as of US market close on Fri, May 15), it remains to be seen whether the overall reaction to Nvidia's earnings will either offset or add to broader inflation concerns that are dragging down stock markets worldwide at the time of writing.

Also, at the time of writing (before US markets open on Monday, May 18th, and more importantly, prior to Nvidia's May 20th earnings announcement) ...

Wall Street analysts predict that Nvidia shares could rise a further 

Traders and investors will be watching closely whether these Wall Street experts would 

 for Nvidia's share price after the latest earnings announcement.

The British Pound is the 2nd-biggest G10 loser against the US dollar so far this month (May 2026):

The ongoing inflation woes have bolstered demand for the 

"the buck" has strengthened against most of its G10 and Asian peers since end-Feb

 (except against the Chinese Yuan, Australian Dollar, and Norwegian Krone).

On top of the ongoing inflation woes, the Pound has also been dragged down by 

This week, GBPUSD+ traders will also have to contend with these macro events:

The Bloomberg FX model forecasts a 76.5% chance that GBPUSD+ will trade between 

 to wipe out month-to-date gains? Or act as inflation hedge?

To be clear, the world's biggest and oldest crypto is still up 17% since the start of the Iran war on February 28th.

Also, it's near-700% surge over the past 6 years - since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic - does suggest its longer-term prowess as an inflation hedge.

However, BTC has been found wanting during specific periods of heightened inflation, notably recently during the post-pandemic period (2021-2022).

Still, should the world witness an incoming "inflation storm", this would be yet another ripe testing ground for Bitcoin to showcase its merits as an inflation hedge, if it can live up to such a lofty title.

BTC prices recently met resistance around its 200-day simple moving average (SMA), and now trading around $77k and on the cusp of erasing all of its month-to-date (May 2026) gains.

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3 Assets to Watch: May 18-22

On May 15, Powell steps down as Fed Chair; Warsh takes over. Here’s what that could mean for markets.

will officially step down as Fed Chair, to be replaced by 

Powell earned the nickname “Mr. Good Afternoon” on social media, because markets often saw big moves when he began his press conferences with his trademark opening phrase, “Good afternoon.”

On a more poignant note, we now look back at Chair Powell's legacy, and outline what incoming Chair Warsh could mean for markets.

Powell served as Fed Chair for 8 years — one of the most turbulent stretches in modern economic history. 

The outgoing Fed Chair's tenure could be summed up in 

1) Managing the post-Covid inflation surge - the worst since the 1970s.

The Fed had to raise interest rates aggressively in 2022-2023 to cool down soaring inflation amid the post-pandemic economic recovery.

However, Chair Powell and his colleagues on the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee - the group that decides on what to do with US interest rates) though were 

criticized for being late too late in hiking rates.

Policymakers back then held on for too long the belief that inflation would be "transitory".

The US economy is now still contending with a prolonged period of above-target inflation, leaving the Fed with less ability to return interest rates to "normal"/neutral levels, albeit with multiple shocks to the global economy since the pandemic (Russia-Ukraine war, Trump trade tariffs, Iran war).

NOTE #1: The Fed has a goal of keeping inflation around 2%.

NOTE #2: The Fed's primary way for managing inflation is via interest rates (when inflation is running too high, the Fed raises rates, and vice versa).

More recently, the end of Powell's tenure as Fed Chair was marked by his 

resistance to President Trump's political pressures.

Despite Trump himself nominating Powell as Fed Chair, POTUS has attempted to undermine the Fed via:

Right till the end, Powell championed the Fed's ability to set monetary policy based on their mandate: price stability and maximum employment.

An independent central bank is a hallmark of major developed economies. 

Without independence, the Fed risks becoming a political tool — cutting rates on demand, at the whims of political cycles, to please the government rather than managing the economy objectively.

How did markets fare during Chair Powell's tenure?

Jerome Powell began his tenure as Fed Chair on 

Since then, and just as an oversimplified overview (considering tremendous bouts of volatility over the years), here's how major assets have fared:

The Senate confirmed Warsh as the Fed's 17th Chair on May 14, 2026, in a 54–45 largely party-line vote.

Like Powell, Warsh was also chosen by President Trump, and here's what markets have gathered so far about the incoming Fed Chair

For contrast, markets have gone from expecting at least 2 rate CUTS in 2026 at the start of the year, to now predicting a greater-than-even chance (58% odds) for a Fed rate HIKE by year-end.

Why does this matter for traders and investors? 

 - it sets interest rates in the world's largest economy.

A central bank's interest rates affect our personal financial lives, from how much interest to pay on our mortgages, to how much interest we receive on our savings parked at the bank.

For traders and investors, US interest rates affect multiple asset classes, from the 

, and even risk appetite that can either foster or hurt demand for 

The big question: How will Warsh impact markets?

That's when the Fed is due to make its next interest rate decision, but this time, with Chair Warsh at the helm.

Markets and analysts will be watching closely to see whether he maintains the Fed's independence — or aligns with biases out of the White House.

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided for general information and reflects the author’s views only. It does not constitute investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments or digital assets. Your ability to access or use any products or services mentioned may be subject to the laws and regulatory requirements of your jurisdiction.

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Mr. “Good Afternoon”, goodbye.

Check out target prices for these stocks. Also, 2 of our 3 "Assets to Watch" already hit targets!

The leaders of the 2 biggest economies in the world kicked off meetings in Beijing today.

first visit to China by a sitting US President in almost a decade.

, traders and investors worldwide will be looking for notable developments in US-China ties that could sway broader market sentiment, particularly around 

At the time of writing, markets can merely wait and hover:

And Trump is not alone at this high-stakes summit.

POTUS has been accompanied by leaders of some of the 

It remains to be seen whether these big wigs can secure any meaningful "deals" in Beijing.

A positive development in Beijing may well send their stocks soaring back in the States, while a sour note could send its share prices tumbling.

Here's the list of US stocks, ranked by market cap, to keep an eye on during this Trump-Xi summit:

 below measure the % gap between the closing price on Wed, May 13 and the median 12-month target price of Wall Street analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

NOTE: Cook will step down as CEO on Sept 1st, 2026 and become Apple's Executive Chairman; incoming CEO = 

 - currently Senior VP of Hardware Engineering.

Tesla's share price (as of market close on Wed, May 13) has already run ahead of the $404.80 median target.

Micron's stock (as of market close on Wed, May 13) has already run ahead of the $180.48 median target.

Qualcomm's stock (as of market close on Wed, May 13) has already run ahead of the $180.48 median target.

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Trump-Xi meeting in China: Watch these US stocks

The US Senate is set to make an important vote on crypto on Thursday, May 14.

UPDATE (May 14): The CLARITY Act has advanced through the US Senate.

The 15-9 vote by the Senate Banking Committee marks a notable win for the crypto industry - but major obstacles still lie ahead.

Below is our PREVIEW of this event, as published on Wednesday, May 13th - on the eve of the Senate "markup".

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 (H.R. 3633), (the CLARITY Act) marks the 

most comprehensive US crypto market-structure bill 

It passed the House by 294 votes to 134 on July 17, 2025, and has spent the last four months under consideration by the Senate.

As of May 6, 2026, a bipartisan compromise on stablecoin yield (struck between Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)) has cleared the last major hurdle and the Senate Banking Committee is set to hold a “markup”.

DECODE: A “markup” is a legislative process where the Senate committee members debate and vote on amendments to the bill to refine, edit, and ultimately decide whether a bill should advance to the full Senate for a vote.

This highly-anticipated Senate “markup” on the CLARITY Act is set for Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 10:30 am ET.

, the two main US financial regulators, to decide which is in charge of regulating each type of cryptoasset. 

Second, it sets up a federal rulebook for the exchanges, brokers, and dealers that trade it:

The Senate Banking Committee is made up of 24 members in the current Congress, with 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats. 

For the CLARITY Act to pass the markup and be reported out of committee, it would need a simple majority (

 in the case that every member participates). 

Since Republicans hold 13 seats on the committee, they could technically advance the bill without Democratic support; however, unanimous Republican support has not been formally confirmed.

The markup is led by Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), who controls the committee agenda and manages the bill through the session, while Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) leads the Democratic side of the committee’s response.

There are four main potential sources of contention at this week’s markup, based on public criticism and commentary from senators on the CLARITY Act:

— Banks are likely to keep pushing back because the bill bans stablecoin “interest or yield” that is “economically or functionally equivalent” to bank-deposit interest, but still allows “rewards or incentives based on bona fide activities or bona fide transactions.”

— Senator Warren and aligned Democrats are likely to argue the bill needs stronger anti-money-laundering rules, because the bill only targets “non-decentralized finance trading protocols” where someone can “control or materially alter” the protocol or “restrict, censor, or prohibit” its use.

— Democrats may object if they think the bill shifts too much oversight away from the SEC, while Republicans and crypto firms tend to argue the CFTC needs a clearer role over digital commodities.

4) The “Trump amendment” / ethics rules

 — Warren’s side is likely to push for language restricting officials and their families from profiting from crypto, while the White House is resisting politician-specific language.

The latest compromise on the CLARITY Act is defined in “SEC. 404. PROHIBITING INTEREST AND YIELD ON PAYMENT”, which:

However, the bank lobby is still not satisfied.

 in July 2025, which created a framework for payment stablecoins and barred issuers from paying interest on digital dollars, the American Bankers Association (ABA) argues that the CLARITY Act still leaves a major loophole. 

Their concern is that even if stablecoin issuers cannot pay interest directly, other crypto companies, such as exchanges, could still offer interest-like rewards, potentially drawing deposits away from banks and increasing risks for consumers who may not understand that stablecoin wallets are not insured bank accounts.

“Urge your lawmakers to tighten restrictions on paying interest, yield or rewards that function like interest on payment stablecoins to cover all market participants” — American Bankers Association (ABA)

Lummis, Tillis and Alsobrooks have collectively described the stablecoin language as final. 

Tillis has pushed back on the bank lobby’s objections, saying they “respectfully agree to disagree,” and signaling that the negotiation is closed.

May 14th “markup”: Potential scenarios

The possible outcomes are that the committee: 

If the Senate rewrite is limited to amendments that have already been negotiated, it could be handled during the markup itself.

But if senators need to reopen major disputes, the committee could delay the vote and postpone the markup, needing to circulate revised text before moving ahead.

This has happened previously with the CLARITY Act when the Senate Banking Committee postponed a January markup after industry support weakened and disputes over stablecoin yield intensified. 

If the bill is reported favorably by the committee, it advances for potential consideration by the full Senate.

The White House and several senators have floated July 4, 2026 as a target for signing the CLARITY Act into law, but that appears to be the most optimistic scenario.

"We're targeting July 4th. I think that would be a tremendous birthday present for America, celebrating our 250th." — Patrick Witt, Executive Director, President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, Consensus Miami

Based on the timelines for previous bills becoming law, an August–September target appears more realistic, assuming the bill moves through each stage without major objections or procedural delays:

The biggest risk in the realistic schedule is the August recess. 

If the bill is not on the President's desk by mid-September, midterm campaigning may take precedence and make a politically charged crypto vote harder to secure the necessary support. 

Polymarket bets are pricing in the likelihood of "CLARITY Act signed into law in 2026?" as more likely than not, after the odds repriced from roughly 46% to 64% in the 24 hours after the stablecoin yield compromise release on May 1, 2026. It has since fluctuated between highs of 80% and lows of 60% in anticipation of the markup.

Bloomberg Intelligence also sees a greater-than-even (60%) chance that the CLARITY Act is passed within 2026.

DISCLAIMER:This article is provided for general information and reflects the author’s views only. It does not constitute investment advice, nor an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments or digital assets. Your ability to access or use any products or services mentioned may be subject to the laws and regulatory requirements of your jurisdiction.

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CLARITY Act "markup": Here's what you need to know

Some countries already seeing double-digit inflation! Every day of delay costs you money.

The Middle East conflict is unleashing an inflation storm around the world!

US reported its biggest jump in annual inflation in 3 years!

Back in April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) already hiked its 

global inflation forecast to 4.4% for 2026,

 up from their previous forecast of 3.8% back in January.

While these single-digit figures might not seem like much on paper, make no mistake - we're already feeling it in our wallets.

Inflation is when the prices of goods and services rise over time.

As a consumer, that means your money buys less than it used to - like when a cup of coffee that cost $3 last year now costs $3.25.

For investors, inflation matters because it erodes the purchasing power of your returns, so you want investments that can grow faster than inflation to actually increase your wealth.

Has inflation risen because of the Middle East conflict?

Many motorists, likely even yourselves, are already reeling from the surge in prices at the pump.

In the US, the average prices for steaks and field-grown tomatoes even hit fresh record highs respectively!

For those employed in the States, the 3.8% consumer price index (CPI) figure released yesterday also meant that ...

US inflation has overtaken workers' earnings growth for the first time since May 2023!

headline inflation in March-April 2026 (encompassing the first months of the Iran war) have been notable across major economies:

How long will this "inflation storm" last? Watch oil prices.

The IMF has warned that, even if the conflict ends tomorrow and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is restored, it would still "take some time" before prices can return to pre-war levels.

In his final post-FOMC press conference as Fed Chair, Jerome Powell even cautioned on April 29th that the inflation stemming from oil's recent surge 

That length of time between now and inflation's peak depends on:

 - the global oil benchmark - has already 

, since the Middle East conflict erupted on February 28th.

On April 30th, Brent even briefly breached $120/bbl , reaching its 

At the time of writing, US-Iran peace talks have come to an impasse, and the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

Until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, this energy shock is likely to keep cascading through Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe, driving up costs for food, transportation, and everyday essentials = 

The corrosive effects of inflation means that 

Here are 3 assets that savvy investors, especially in emerging markets, can use to hedge against the scourge of inflation:


Moving into US Dollar-denominated assets can help offset inflation and preserve capital.

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