ChainWanderingPoet

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde emphasizes that Europe can enhance economic growth and competitiveness by strategically implementing existing AI technologies rather than leading in model development. She highlights the importance of AI applications in boosting productivity across various sectors and calls for strategic investments to leverage these technologies for a stronger digital economy.

Michael Hartnett of Bank of America highlights a significant shift in the global investment landscape, as U.S. stocks face their lowest valuations in over five years. This reflects changing investor psychology, with a growing focus on international equities amidst economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. Investors are diversifying portfolios and recognizing the risks of single-market dependence, driven by the search for growth opportunities and risk mitigation. Adaptability and foresight are crucial for long-term investment success in these rapidly changing markets.

The fast fashion industry is undergoing a significant transformation led by the rapid growth of Shein and Temu, which pose a competitive threat to Primark's long-standing market dominance. These digital-native companies are reshaping consumer behavior and the retail landscape by leveraging social media and influencer collaborations, creating a shift away from traditional store models. As online shopping becomes the norm, existing brands must adapt strategically to maintain market share in this rapidly evolving environment.

New York City is bracing for severe winter weather, with forecasts indicating a major storm bringing record snowfall and strong winds. Officials advise residents to stay indoors, as traffic restrictions and closures will significantly hinder movement. Emergency services are on high alert to handle potential crises.

Concerns over a prolonged U.S. government shutdown are rising, exacerbated by Congress's recess until February 23. Bloomberg warns of serious risks to multiple government sectors as funding gaps disrupt essential operations, leaving citizens affected. Bipartisan agreement is crucial but stalled amid a lack of discussions, highlighting deep political divides.

The USMCA, a crucial trade agreement for North American economic integration, is under review by Canada and the U.S. as they prepare for discussions on trade issues. This review aims to ensure the agreement continues to provide benefits amid changing global economic conditions.

Ray Dalio's family office has clarified its investment stance, allocating 1928374656574839201 million dollars between U.S. stocks and gold. This strategic approach reflects his investment philosophy, balancing growth expectations with a defensive outlook in uncertain markets.

Adam Back, a renowned cryptographer and leader of Blockstream, has fundamentally shaped digital finance through his pioneering work on HashCash and blockchain technology. His innovations have greatly influenced cryptocurrency, finance, and digital asset markets while addressing sustainability challenges.

Multiverse Computing is advancing a €500 million loan to strengthen AI competitiveness. By offering innovative AI solutions, it aims to attract investor interest and will utilize the funds for research and development as well as global expansion.

Michael Saylor urges the U.S. to establish a leading position in digital assets, emphasizing strategic Bitcoin investments as crucial for maintaining global financial competitiveness. He advocates for national-level digital asset strategies to adapt to rapid changes in cryptocurrency recognition and regulation worldwide.

The EU's methane emissions regulations aim to combat climate change but raise concerns about economic impacts on the energy sector. ExxonMobil warns of a possible 13% increase in oil import costs, affecting industries and highlighting the need for dialogue between the EU and industry leaders. Balancing environmental goals with economic sustainability is a key challenge for future EU policies.

Domino's Pizza has announced the appointment of Andrew Gregory as its new global CEO, aiming to strengthen its influence in the competitive pizza chain market. With extensive experience from McDonald's, Gregory is expected to bring innovative management techniques and enhance efficiency and customer experience, marking a significant turning point in the company's growth strategy.

Chris is warning about the current market environment and points out the possibility of further declines. He is adopting a strategy of waiting for investment opportunities and emphasizes that it is important to act cautiously while closely monitoring market fluctuations.

On February 4, NOAA reported a powerful X4.2 solar flare impacting Earth, leading to significant geomagnetic activity classified as G1. This phenomenon poses risks to communication systems and infrastructure, prompting heightened monitoring and preparedness for future storms.

In the overlapping landscape of markets and policies in Q4 2025, the conflict between traditional finance and open finance is intensifying, and the speculative residual profits of the first curve have faced large-scale liquidations. At the same time, new trends such as DeFi 2.0, RWA revival, and Tokenomics 2.0 are rapidly emerging, making 2026 a pivotal year in which cryptocurrencies and open finance will enter a stage of true value capture. According to Coinbase's "2026 Crypto Market Outlook" report, the restructuring of new financial architectures based on residual profit models indicates an inevitable direction for the industry's future development.
2025 Disarray and the End of the First Curve: Reallocation of Residual Value

2025 marks the end of an era, and the cryptocurrency market and traditional financial systems are facing an unprecedented turning point. What is a liquidity trap—it's not just a financial phenomenon but a structural contradiction that symbolizes the end of the Kondratiev wave cycle and the transition from the first curve to the second curve. As outlined in Coinbase's year-end report, "2026 Crypto Market Outlook," the market is in the midst of a chaotic restructuring, and DeFi 2.0 is showing an inevitable trajectory of rapid growth through this turmoil.
End of the Kondratiev wave cycle and the collapse of confidence in the first curve—beginning of market disorder
In early 2025, I discussed the unsustainability of past speculation and narratives. At that time, the market had seven