Fed Watch: Powell’s Testimony and Market Implications

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s semi-annual testimony before the House Financial Services Committee on June 24 will be under intense scrutiny. Given his recent dovish hints, markets are pricing in potential rate cuts by Q4 2025. For crypto, this could mean renewed institutional interest—if traditional finance starts chasing yield again. But don’t pop the champagne yet: Powell’s trademark ambiguity might leave us parsing syllables for clues.

Regulatory Shakeup: Thailand Bans Bybit and Others

Thailand’s SEC is cracking down on five unlicensed exchanges (including Bybit) starting June 28, citing investor protection concerns. While regulation isn’t inherently bad, abrupt bans risk stranding retail traders. Pro tip: If you’re holding assets on these platforms, withdraw them before Friday unless you fancy a regulatory labyrinth.

Binance’s Listing Spree: Alpha and Futures Updates

• June 24: DeLorean (DMC) hits Binance Alpha and Futures (50x leverage—tread carefully).
• June 25: Humanity Protocol (H) launches with exclusive airdrops for Alpha users.
• June 26: Sahara AI (SAHARA) arrives—details TBA, but expect the usual hype cycle.

Meanwhile, Coinbase cleans house by delisting legacy versions of MOBILE, RNDR, and others on June 26. Housekeeping or strategic pivot? You decide.

Notable Events:

• LayerZero’s Fee Switch Vote (June 27): Will ZRO holders approve token burns?
• ApeCoin DAO Dissolution Vote (June 26): Current approval at 99.19%—Yuga Labs’ power grab or necessary restructuring?

As always in crypto: Stay nimble, hedge your bets, and never underestimate regulators’ appetite for disruption.