Why the Fed May Cut Rates Despite Goldilocks Data

In this episode of Bits + Bips, former BlackRock executive and SharpLink co-CEO Joseph Chalom joins hosts Austin Campbell, Chris Perkins, and Ram Ahluwalia to discuss why the Federal Reserve may move to ease rates despite a “Goldilocks” economy, the growing role of stablecoins in foreign exchange and settlement, and how major banks like JPMorgan and Citi are expanding their use of blockchain. 

The conversation also explores Japan’s first yen-backed stablecoin, the implications of AI for the labor market, and the generational shift that could make crypto wallets the default interface for finance.

Plus, the implications of CZ’s pardon and why it’s “bullish” to have Mike Selig chairing the CFTC.

Sponsors:

• Binance

• Mantle

Hosts:

• Ram Ahluwalia, CFA, CEO and Founder of Lumida

• Austin Campbell, NYU Stern professor and founder and managing partner of Zero Knowledge Consulting

• Christopher Perkins, Managing Partner and President of CoinFund

Guest:

•  Joseph Chalom, Co-CEO of SharpLink Gaming, Inc.

Links:

• Reuters: Fed poised to cut rates this week, with more easing likely on tap

• WSJ: Trump Considers Fed Chair Selection by Year-End From Slate of Five Finalists

• CoinDesk: Gov. Waller: U.S. Fed to 'Embrace Disruption,' Pitches 'Skinny' Master Account Idea

• Reuters: World's first yen-pegged stablecoin debuts in Japan

• EF: ERC-8004: Trustless Agents

• Bloomberg: JPMorgan to Allow Bitcoin, Ether as Collateral in Crypto Push

• Unchained: Trump Pardons Binance Founder CZ

• CNBC: Trump names Michael Selig to chair CFTC; Selig cites crypto capital goal

Timestamps:

• 🎬 0:00 Intro

• 💸 3:23 Why the Fed will likely still cut rates despite a “Goldilocks” economy

• 👷‍♂️ 6:47 Why Joseph says the labor market is at a “moment that matters” as Amazon cuts 30,000 jobs

• 🏛️ 8:26 What Chris shockingly heard at a recent Fed conference

• ⚖️ 10:15 What could force the Fed to become hawkish

• 🚀 12:33 How the Fed is “frontrunning innovation”

• 💴 14:46 Why Japan’s first fully yen-backed stablecoin, JPYC, is significant

• 🌍 17:36 Why Chris is so excited about stablecoins disrupting FX markets

• 🔗 22:55 Why L1 tokens may be the next “strategic commodity”

• 🏦 26:25 How major banks are joining the stablecoin race

• 👛 31:33 Why retail adoption could explode in the coming years

• 🤖 33:37 How AI agents could soon manage our payments

• 💡 36:34 Why JPMorgan decided to accept bitcoin and ether as collateral

• ⚖️ 44:04 Was CZ’s pardon fair, and what about “pay to play” concerns

• 🐂 54:55 Why having Mike Selig chair the CFTC is “bullish” for crypto

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