According to BlockBeats, on September 19, Kerry Craig, a global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, stated in a report that the Federal Reserve has indicated a more cautious approach to the easing cycle. Craig noted that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has effectively communicated by balancing the urgency of returning to a neutral interest rate with acknowledging the relatively stable economic state. Craig added that the focus has shifted more towards an employment-first approach rather than inflation. The scale of rate cuts may be less significant than the ultimate goal, which is to lower rates by 150 basis points by the end of 2025 and adjust the policy rate closer to the Fed's neutral view by 2026. Craig mentioned that if nominal growth and the easing cycle remain stable, both stocks and bonds should benefit.

According to PANews, ExTwitter, formerly known as Twitter, has managed to bypass a ban in Brazil by utilizing Cloudflare's content delivery network (CDN). This move comes after the platform was blocked by an order from Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for failing to comply with government directives. By leveraging Cloudflare's dynamic IP system, ExTwitter has temporarily made it more challenging for the ban to be enforced. However, it is anticipated that Cloudflare will soon receive a court order to block Brazilian IPs from accessing the platform.

According to Cointelegraph, the government of Louisiana has made a significant move by accepting its first-ever cryptocurrency payment. State Treasurer John Fleming announced that residents now have the option to pay for state services using Bitcoin (BTC), the Bitcoin Lightning Network, and the US dollar-pegged stablecoin USD Coin (USDC). This development marks a new era for the state, embracing digital currencies for public transactions.The inaugural crypto payment was processed for a fine directed to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries via Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. Fleming highlighted that this initiative is a result of collaboration between the state, Bead Pay, and other integration partners. He emphasized that this move aims to reduce fraudulent transactions and modernize government systems to align with the digital age.Fleming stated, “By introducing cryptocurrency as a payment option, we’re not just innovating; we’re providing our citizens with flexibility and freedom in interacting with state services.” He also assured that the state would receive the payments in fiat currency, as the service converts crypto payments into US dollars, thus mitigating previous concerns about accepting cryptocurrency.Republican State Representative Mark Wright, who led the effort for the state to accept crypto, expressed his enthusiasm about the expanded payment options. Wright had established a digital assets working group in May 2022, which concluded that cryptocurrency would be a viable form of payment. He also spearheaded a 2021 Louisiana House resolution that recognized the contributions of Bitcoin’s anonymous inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, to economic security.In addition to accepting crypto payments, Louisiana has also taken legislative steps regarding digital currencies. In June, the state amended its laws to ban central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and set regulations for crypto miners and node operators. The legislation prohibits the state from participating in tests for, accepting, or requiring payments using a CBDC, but it does not ban other forms of digital currency payments.

According to Odaily, a research report from China International Capital Corporation (CICC) indicates that the Federal Reserve's recent decision to implement a more aggressive 50 basis point rate cut was unexpected. The monetary policy statement highlighted that recent inflation data has given policymakers increased confidence in achieving the 2% inflation target. This move suggests that the Fed's response function has shifted from focusing solely on inflation to prioritizing employment. The report interprets this as a signal that the Fed has a low tolerance for rising unemployment and that officials are unwilling to jeopardize the prospects of a 'soft landing' for the economy. Based on statements from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the report suggests that any unemployment rate exceeding 4.4% could trigger further rate cuts. This indicates that the Fed will maintain a dovish stance until labor market data stabilizes. Looking ahead, the likelihood of a soft economic landing in the short term has increased due to the Fed's more substantial rate cuts.

According to BlockBeats, on September 19, the U.S. S&P 500 index futures rose by 0.85% during the Asian trading session. Additionally, Nasdaq futures increased by 1.3%, and Dow Jones futures saw a rise of 0.51%.In other markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 index opened higher by 1.6%, while the TOPIX index also opened with a gain of 1.4%.

According to Blockworks, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a settlement on Wednesday with crypto lending startup Rari Capital and its co-founders Jai Bhavnani, Jack Lipstone, and David Lucid. The settlements, which are subject to court approval, do not disclose a financial sum. The SEC alleges that the co-founders misled investors by claiming that the Earn pools would automatically and autonomously rebalance their crypto assets into the highest yield-generating opportunities available. In reality, the rebalancing mechanism often required manual input, which Rari Capital sometimes failed to initiate. Additionally, the project claimed that investors would receive a higher annual percentage yield without disclosing fees that would reduce the initial yield. The SEC also alleges that Rari Capital and its co-founders engaged in unregistered broker activity through their operation of the Fuse platform. The founders and Rari Capital, without admitting or denying the investigation’s findings, settled with the SEC. They consented to the entry of final judgments ordering various forms of relief, including permanent injunctions, conduct-based injunctions, civil penalties, disgorgement with prejudgment interest, and equitable officer-and-director bars against the co-founders for a period of five years. The court has not yet signed off on the settlements. Rari also agreed to a cease-and-desist order from the SEC regarding the broker registration, with the caveat that the team neither admitted to nor denied the findings. The protocol, alongside Fei Capital (the two merged back in 2021), was exploited for $80 million two years ago. Fei offered a $10 million bounty to retrieve the assets taken by the hackers.

According to BlockBeats, on September 19, market data revealed that spot gold prices continued their upward trend, reaching $2,600 per ounce. This surge follows the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut of 50 basis points, marking a historic high for gold prices.

According to Odaily, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the overall strength of the economy and the commitment to maintaining robust economic development. Today, the Federal Reserve has reduced the extent of its policy tightening. Powell stated that today's decision reflects growing confidence in the sustained strong performance of the labor market. He noted that the labor market has cooled from its previous overheated state. Additionally, consumer spending has shown resilience.

According to Odaily, analyst Anst has highlighted that the economic outlook suggests a scenario of a soft landing. Policymakers have projected a median growth rate of 2% for this year, next year, as well as for 2026 and 2027. Inflation is expected to return to target levels by next year, with forecasts indicating it will be at 2.1% by the end of 2025 and 2% in 2026.

According to BlockBeats, on September 19, the Federal Reserve released a statement from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) indicating increased confidence in achieving its 2% inflation target. The statement highlighted that the risks to employment and inflation goals are balanced. Economic activity is described as 'steadily' expanding, with a slowdown in job growth and a slight increase in the unemployment rate, which remains low.

According to Odaily, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has removed a significant phrase from its latest statement. The phrase, which previously indicated that it would be inappropriate to lower the target range for interest rates until there was greater confidence in inflation moving towards the 2% target, has been omitted.This language change suggests a potential shift in the Federal Reserve's approach to managing inflation and interest rates. The removal of this phrase could indicate a more flexible stance on monetary policy, allowing for adjustments based on evolving economic conditions rather than a strict adherence to the 2% inflation target.Market analysts and investors are closely monitoring this development, as it may signal future changes in the Federal Reserve's policy direction. The omission of the phrase could lead to increased speculation about the timing and magnitude of potential interest rate adjustments.The Federal Reserve's decision to alter its communication strategy comes amid ongoing economic uncertainties and varying inflationary pressures. By not explicitly tying interest rate decisions to the 2% inflation target, the FOMC may be seeking to provide itself with greater flexibility to respond to a range of economic scenarios.Overall, the removal of this key phrase from the FOMC statement marks a notable shift in the Federal Reserve's messaging and could have significant implications for future monetary policy decisions.

According to Odaily, the Federal Reserve has announced a decision to lower the upper limit of the interest rate to 5% as of September 18, down from the previous 5.50%. The expected rate was 5.25%. The Fed's dot plot indicates that the median federal funds rate is projected to be 4.4% by the end of 2024, a decrease from the previous forecast of 5.1%. This marks the first rate cut by the Federal Reserve, leading to a short-term increase in spot gold prices by nearly $20 and a 40-point drop in the U.S. dollar index (DXY). The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement noted that the risks to employment and inflation targets are balanced.

According to Odaily, the Federal Reserve has initiated a rate cut cycle, reducing the federal funds rate by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5.00%. This marks the first rate cut since March 2020.

According to Odaily, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen will pay a fine of approximately $1 million for violating antitrust laws. This decision comes as part of the FTC's ongoing efforts to enforce regulations aimed at maintaining fair competition in the market. The fine imposed on Cohen underscores the regulatory body's commitment to addressing antitrust issues and ensuring that corporate practices do not hinder market competition. The FTC's action against Cohen is a significant reminder to corporate leaders about the importance of adhering to antitrust laws and the potential consequences of violations. This development is expected to have implications for GameStop and its leadership, as the company navigates the repercussions of the fine and works to comply with regulatory standards. The FTC's decision highlights the broader regulatory landscape in which companies must operate, emphasizing the need for vigilance and compliance with antitrust regulations.

According to PANews, Richard Schueler, also known as Richard Heard or Richard Heart, the founder of Hex and PulseChain, is currently under criminal investigation in Finland for serious tax evasion and assault charges. Finnish police suspect Schueler of significant tax evasion and assault. On September 13, Schueler was detained in absentia, indicating he was not present at the time. Authorities are currently unaware of his whereabouts. Last summer, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Schueler of illegally raising over $1 billion through three unregistered cryptocurrency offerings. The regulatory body also charged him with defrauding investors of $12.1 million.

According to Odaily, the Carlyle Group anticipates that the Federal Reserve will implement three rate cuts by the end of this year, followed by a pause to assess the impact. The private equity firm noted signs of a 'vibrant' economy. CEO Schwartz mentioned that monetary policy has already helped curb inflation, and after the expected rate cuts in 2024, the Fed might only need to cut rates once more next year. Schwartz also highlighted that trading activity in the U.S. has begun to improve and is likely to continue increasing unless there is an unexpected market disruption. In the first half of this year, Carlyle's allocation and realization of funds have increased, although these metrics remain well below peak levels.

According to Cointelegraph, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is closely monitoring Polymarket and other offshore crypto betting platforms offering derivatives contracts to US customers. The CFTC has warned of enforcement actions against those violating the law. CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam emphasized the agency's vigilance during a discussion at the Georgetown Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy on July 17. Behnam stated that any significant activity targeting US customers must comply with legal requirements, and failure to register derivatives contracts will result in enforcement actions. He highlighted the CFTC's commitment to using its civil enforcement authority to halt illegal conduct, which could involve exchanges, clearing houses, and brokers. Blockchain-based prediction markets have faced increased scrutiny recently, particularly with the rising interest in betting on the 2024 presidential election. Behnam referenced Polymarket's $1.4 million settlement with the CFTC in January 2022 for offering over 900 event-based binary options without registration. The CFTC recently experienced a partial setback in a lawsuit against blockchain prediction platform Kalshi. The court ruled that the CFTC had exceeded its statutory authority by ordering Kalshi to suspend its election markets. Despite the CFTC's claims that Kalshi's presidential election markets harmed public interests, the court determined the agency was not authorized to conduct such a review. However, Kalshi's election markets were paused again on September 12 following an appeals court stay order, which remains in effect. This development followed a letter from five US Senators and three House representatives on July 5, urging the CFTC to ban presidential election betting. Polymarket's

According to Odaily, Commerzbank analysts have indicated that following the European Central Bank's decision to lower the deposit rate by 25 basis points last week, several other central banks are set to announce their policy decisions this week. Most of these decisions are likely to maintain current interest rates, with one significant exception. If the Federal Reserve does not begin its rate-cutting cycle on Wednesday, it would be a major surprise.Analyst Volkmar Baur noted, 'At the start of this week, the market anticipated a slightly higher than 50% chance of a significant rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Our economists still expect a 25 basis point cut, which is well justified.' He added, 'However, a small initial step does not rule out larger moves in the future. This is why the current risk leans towards a weaker dollar.'

According to Odaily, the market widely anticipates that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will keep its key overnight lending rate unchanged at 0.25% this week. However, the December meeting is expected to be more intriguing. Out of 36 economists surveyed by the Japan Center for Economic Research, 19 predict that the BOJ will raise rates again in December.Before the BOJ's meeting on December 18-19, the bank will monitor several key indicators to assess whether the economy is on track. These indicators include the BOJ's Tankan surveys for September and December, third-quarter GDP data, and corporate earnings for the same period.

According to Odaily, Meta Platforms is currently facing a substantial fine from the European Union. The penalty comes as a result of allegations that the company has been dominating the classified ads market. This development marks a significant regulatory challenge for Meta, which has been under increasing scrutiny from various global authorities over its business practices and market influence. The European Union's decision to impose this fine underscores the ongoing efforts by regulators to ensure fair competition within the digital marketplace. Meta's dominance in the classified ads sector has raised concerns about potential anti-competitive behavior, prompting this latest action from the EU. The fine is expected to be one of the largest imposed on a tech company in recent years, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations. This case is part of a broader trend of regulatory bodies around the world taking a closer look at the operations of major tech firms. As these companies continue to expand their influence across various sectors, regulators are increasingly vigilant in monitoring their activities to prevent monopolistic practices and protect consumer interests. Meta's response to this fine and the subsequent actions by the EU will be closely watched by industry observers and other tech giants facing similar scrutiny.