The Australian Dollar (AUD) staged a notable recovery on Monday, buoyed by a combination of improved global market sentiment and positive signals from China.
China’s leadership has pledged to implement more proactive fiscal policies and looser monetary measures in 2023 to stimulate domestic consumption. This announcement, ahead of the crucial Central Economic Work Conference, has ignited speculation about further stimulus measures.
While weak Chinese Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which contracted by 0.6% in November, might have dampened sentiment, the anticipation of additional stimulus has outweighed the negative impact. This development has provided a much-needed boost to the Australian Dollar, which is closely tied to China’s economic health.
RBA Rate Decision in Focus
In Australia, market participants are eagerly awaiting the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) monetary policy decision on Tuesday. While the central bank is expected to maintain the cash rate at its current level of 4.35%, investors will be closely watching for clues about the potential timing of an easing cycle.
Governor Philip Lowe’s commentary on this matter will likely be a key driver of the Australian Dollar’s near-term direction. If Lowe strikes a dovish tone, suggesting that rate cuts may be on the horizon, the AUD could face downward pressure. Conversely, a more hawkish stance could support the currency.
As the global economic landscape continues to evolve, the Australian Dollar’s performance will remain intertwined with developments in China and the RBA’s monetary policy decisions. Investors will be closely monitoring these factors to gauge the currency’s future trajectory.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was sharply questioned today by the House Financial Services Committee about Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and its new USD1 stablecoin. Congressional Democrats questioned Bessent whether no-interest stablecoins linked to Trump’s crypto ventures could mask hidden subsidies.
Bessent Scrutinized Over President Trump’s World Liberty Financial
World Liberty Financial, founded in 2024 with close Trump‑family ties, raised about $550 million in late 2024 by selling its governance token. The Trump family is entitled to roughly 75% of net revenues.
In March, WLFI launched USD1, a dollar‑pegged token backed by US Treasuries and cash equivalents.
Within weeks, Abu Dhabi’s state‑backed MGX agreed to deploy $2 billion of USD1 on Binance, instantly pushing USD1 into the top tier of stablecoins by market cap.
Rep. Brad Sherman noted that at a 4% market rate, the deal effectively grants WLFI and its Trump owners an $80 million annual subsidy. He asked whether this “interest‑free loan” should count as hidden support.
“Abu Dhabi just announced that they were going to give $2 billion to a stablecoin put forward by World Liberty Financial, and it pays no interest. So you and I are both finance people. Just want to check my math, assuming a 4% rate of return. Is this interest‑free loan of $2 billion worth $80 million every year to WLFI and its Trump owners?” Sherman said.
To his knowledge, Bessent said he had not reviewed the token’s expense ratio and maintained that no stablecoins pay interest. He added that no regulator has formally labeled such purchases as hidden subsidies.
Lawmakers warned this structure could mask political favors. They urged the Treasury to clarify when stablecoin deals cross into improper support.
The hearing drew on a New York Times investigation. That report revealed secret multimillion‑dollar “endorsement” pitches under the Trump name, sales to foreign firms, and policy shifts benefiting WLFI.
It said WLFI crossed the boundary between private enterprise and government policy without precedent.
“In a statement, a spokeswoman for President Trump noted that his assets are in a trust managed by his children. And as a result, there are no conflicts of interest. The trust still benefits President Trump directly,” the NY Times report claimed.
Democrats on the committee said they will pursue legislation that requires full expense‑ratio disclosures for stablecoins. They also want to ban no‑interest structures that serve as de facto subsidies.
Such rules, they argue, are vital to ensure transparency and prevent conflicts when politically connected firms enter crypto markets.
BeInCrypto has reached out to World Liberty Financial to understand their stance on such allegations and scrutiny.
Welcome to the US Morning Crypto News Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.
Grab a coffee to see how Bitcoin (BTC) is faring against public companies, precious metals, and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) on metrics of total assets by market capitalization. The pioneer crypto is proving formidable, taking the stage as a tech stock proxy to ‘dynamic hedge’ against equities and US Treasury risk.
Bitcoin Surpassed Google in Market Cap
Amidst renewed optimism, Bitcoin has surpassed Google, effectively joining the top five assets on market cap metrics.
According to data on companiesmarketcap.com, which tracks over 10,436 firms, Bitcoin is now the fifth most valuable asset after GOLD, Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Nvidia (NVDA). As of this writing, it boasts a market cap of $1.86 trillion.
This growth comes as Bitcoin progressively gains attention as a hedge against traditional finance (TradFi) and US Treasury risk, which aligns with the most recent US Crypto News publication. As BeInCrypto reported, experts say Bitcoin’s number one purpose in a portfolio is to hedge against risks to the existing financial system.
In contrast, Gold is losing appeal after recently establishing a new all-time high (ATH). While President Trump’s tariffs catapulted Gold to new heights, there appears to be a capital rotation as investors’ appetite for risk grows.
“Bitcoin has surged past the prior $88,800 technical ceiling, clearing the psychological $90,000 mark to trade at an eye-watering $93,500. Meanwhile, Gold has slid 6 percent, reflecting a renewed appetite for risk and a clear rotation into digital assets,” QCP Capital analysts said.
According to analysts, institutions are no longer testing the waters of crypto. Instead, they are diving in headfirst. Based on this outlook, BeInCrypto contacted Standard Chartered Head of Digital Assets Research Geoff Kendrick, who forecasted a new ATH for Bitcoin price.
Standard Chartered Reiterates Next Bitcoin ATH
According to Kendrick, the increasing 10-year US Treasury term premium, now at a 12-year high, correlates with an increase in Bitcoin price. The term premium is the additional yield investors demand to hold a long-term bond instead of a series of shorter-term bonds.
“While correlations vary over time, the relationship between Bitcoin and the term premium is pretty solid, especially since the start of 2024. This relationship shows that Bitcoin has lagged the term premium increase in recent weeks,” Kendrick told BeInCrypto.
According to the analyst, this lag likely reflects the previous narrative that tariffs are hurting tech stocks and Bitcoin trading, such as Mag7 stocks.
“This could be what is needed for the next all-time high, and on that, I reiterate my current forecasts for Bitcoin, of 200k end-2025 and 500k end-2028,” he added.
As Bitcoin acts as a dynamic hedge, it remains to be seen whether it can flip Nvidia this quarter. Nevertheless, Kendrick does not rule it out, acknowledging that dominant narratives change and Bitcoin serves several purposes in portfolios.
Hedera (HBAR) has fallen over 6% in the last seven days as key indicators point to shifting momentum. After 10 days of bullish strength, the BBTrend has turned negative at -3.35, suggesting growing downside risk.
Meanwhile, the RSI has rebounded to 49.82 but remains below the critical 50 mark, signaling indecision. With HBAR trading in a tight range between $0.1849 and $0.189, a breakout in either direction could define the next trend.
HBAR BBTrend Turns Negative After 10-Day Run
Hedera’s BBTrend has just flipped negative after holding above zero for 10 consecutive days, suggesting a potential shift in momentum.
Currently, the BBTrend stands at -3.35, a sharp contrast from the bullish tone seen earlier this month. This reversal occurred two days ago and may reflect weakening upward pressure on HBAR’s price.
After showing consistent strength, the recent change raises caution among traders watching for early signs of a downtrend.
BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend, is a momentum indicator that measures price distance and direction relative to the Bollinger Bands.
When the BBTrend is above zero, it typically reflects strong bullish momentum, indicating the price is pushing toward or staying near the upper band. When it moves below zero, as it has now for HBAR, it often suggests growing bearish sentiment, with the price leaning toward the lower band.
A reading like -3.35 points to increased volatility and the potential for further downside, especially if other indicators begin aligning with this weakening signal.
Hedera RSI Rebounds but Stays Below Key Bullish Zone
Hedera’s RSI is currently at 49.82, rebounding from 42.45 yesterday after briefly touching 54 earlier in the session. This bounce suggests some recovery in buying interest, but the RSI remains below the key 50 threshold.
The recent movement indicates a tug-of-war between bulls and bears, with no clear dominance yet.
After sliding earlier in the week, this slight uptick could reflect a potential shift toward stabilization.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that ranges from 0 to 100, used to assess overbought and oversold conditions.
Readings above 70 typically indicate an asset is overbought and may be due for a correction, while values below 30 suggest oversold conditions and a possible rebound. Levels between 30 and 70 are considered neutral, with 50 as a pivot point.
HBAR’s current RSI of 49.82 places it right on that line, signaling indecision, though the recent rise hints that momentum could tilt bullish if it breaks above 50 and holds.
Hedera Consolidates—Will Bulls or Bears Take Control?
Hedera price is trading in a tight range between resistance at $0.189 and support at $0.1849, with other key levels close by. If the $0.189 resistance breaks, it could open the door for a move toward $0.199 and $0.202.
A sustained uptrend could push HBAR to retest the $0.258 level, marking a significant bullish breakout.
For now, price action remains cautious as the market waits for a decisive move.
On the downside, if the $0.1849 support is broken, HBAR may fall toward $0.175 and $0.16.
A deeper downtrend could drag it as low as $0.124, erasing much of its recent gains. These levels represent critical turning points, and traders will watch closely for volume spikes or momentum shifts.
Until then, Hedera remains in consolidation, with pressure building on both sides.
