SmartContractPhobia

Federal Reserve Chairman Powell recently received a criminal subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice, unrelated to his Senate testimony. He emphasized that this is a form of political pressure and firmly stated that the Federal Reserve will continue to formulate policies based on objective data to maintain independence. Powell pointed out that this incident reflects ongoing government pressure on the Federal Reserve and stressed the importance of central bank independence.

On July 8, 2025, the podcast "No Rivals" provided a detailed analysis of Peter Thiel's Founders Fund's astonishing investment track record and the strategies behind it. Born from the entrepreneur network known as the PayPal Mafia, this fund grew from an initial capital of only $50 million into a multi-billion dollar investment empire, achieving some of the highest returns in venture capital history. The key to its success lies in Thiel's unique investment vision—discovering opportunities overlooked by other investors and identifying talent that defies social norms.
Thiel's Strategic Thinking and Investment Philosophy
Thiel's strength does not lie in execution but in strategic thinking. He is

The South Korean Supreme Court upheld a four-year sentence for an employee of a cryptocurrency exchange involved in selling military secrets for Bitcoin in collaboration with North Korean cyber groups, highlighting the risks digital assets pose to national security.

The cryptocurrency market is currently experiencing strong pessimism, with investor sentiment fluctuating. Predictions for Bitcoin's performance in 2026 vary widely among experts, reflecting a significant divide between bullish and bearish outlooks influenced by market sentiment.

Michael Saylor discusses Bitcoin's long-term value through institutional adoption rather than short-term price fluctuations, predicting a major transition by 2025. He emphasizes the need for a shift in perspective, advocating for viewing Bitcoin as digital capital that enhances corporate strategies and capabilities.

Many founders of cryptocurrencies face a common phenomenon: constant pivoting. In 2021, entrepreneurs focused on developing NFT platforms, only to shift their focus to DeFi yield protocols the following year. Between 2023 and 2024, they shifted to AI agent development, and this quarter, they are once again chasing another hot trend (probably prediction markets). Their pivots are not necessarily wrong decisions. In fact, in many cases, they are strategically correct in the short term. However, this pattern of repeated pivots itself leads to an increase in error rates across the industry and fundamentally makes long-term valuable product development difficult.
The impossibility of completing something in 18 months

Michael Saylor discussed significant changes in the Bitcoin market during the "What Bitcoin Did" podcast, emphasizing that institutional adoption and infrastructure advancements are vital for Bitcoin's success in 2025, rather than short-term price fluctuations.

Despite strong GDP growth exceeding expectations at the end of 2024, the stock market did not respond positively. Trump criticizes this anomaly, highlighting the disconnect between market reactions and economic realities, driven by concerns over monetary policy. He argues that inflation should not be stifled by excessive interest rate hikes, and advocates for a market that reflects true economic fundamentals.

Michael Saylor, Chairman of MicroStrategy, revealed key strategic decisions for the Japanese market during the Bitcoin MENA Conference. The company will delay issuing permanent preferred stock in Japan for 12 months to prepare Metaplanet for entry into a limited financial market, alongside launching new products aimed at enhancing returns.

The lives of the Winklevoss brothers are divided into two pivotal moments. One was in 2008, when they chose to receive a $65 million Facebook settlement not in cash but in stock. The other was just five years later, in 2013, when they decided to invest $11 million in cryptocurrencies that mainstream finance was skeptical of. These two decisions led them from Silicon Valley elites to the world's first Bitcoin billionaires.
Business Sense Carved by Conflicts with Facebook
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss were born on August 21, 1981, in Greenwich, Connecticut, as identical twins. Aside from a slight difference—one being left-handed and the other right-handed—they were essentially mirror images of each other.

Currently, the cryptocurrency market sentiment is subdued, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index stable at 24, indicating "Extreme Fear." This index analyzes investor psychology through multi-dimensional data, considering factors such as market volatility and community sentiment, which influence participant behavior. In the short term, investors tend to be conservative, while long-term investors may see it as a buying opportunity. Historical data shows that this state often precedes market rebounds, highlighting the importance of sentiment in the market.

Ethereum (ETH) is currently priced at $3.00K, with a 24-hour decline of -7.19%. Market volatility remains subdued, with prices oscillating between the strong support level of $2,500 and a long-term downtrend, making it difficult to break through. Large-scale redemptions by institutional funds, coupled with increased transaction volume on Layer-2 projects, exert pressure on the main chain demand, making it unlikely for a market turnaround in the short term. The stability of $2,500 will influence the future direction.

The market misinterpreted the news of Scroll DAO's imminent closure; in fact, it is a governance restructuring. Scroll clarified that this is an optimization adjustment aimed at improving the DAO's operational efficiency, not the termination of the governance system. This move helps to enhance transparency and alleviate community concerns.

As 2025 approaches, the trend of institutionalization in the cryptocurrency market is accelerating. A symbol of this is the move of Brian Quintenz, a former candidate for Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), to join the board of Nasdaq-listed company SUI Group Holdings. This personnel change, first reported by The Block, is a highly significant example of how the integration of traditional finance and digital assets is progressing.
Structural Changes Brought by the Influx of Talent from Policy Authorities
Quintenz's background indicates that his transition from regulatory authorities to private companies is not merely a personal career move but a symbol of the industry's overall maturation.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions Tornado.Cash, prompting the blockchain industry to consider the compliance of privacy technologies. Mixers achieve anonymity by blending funds, and users can choose from various alternative tools such as CoinMixer, Umbra, and others. Meanwhile, privacy coins like Monero and Zcash face regulatory pressure and need to balance privacy with compliance. Users should select suitable privacy solutions based on their needs.