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Oil and Treasury yields fell after fresh U.S.-Iran talks eased inflation fears, but bitcoin and ether failed to catch a bid as fresh Coldcard-linked sweeps pushed observed losses to nearly $89 million.

US President Donald Trump announced that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran had urged him to postpone the planned military attacks. Trump said the planned operation against Iran would be very comprehensive and powerful, but he suspended the attack plan after regional countries requested time for diplomacy. Trump stated that allies in the region believe an agreement is close, and that the first phase of talks focuses on the security and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, once this is agreed upon, negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program will begin. The Strait of Hormuz stands out as one of the most critical transit points for global oil and liquefied natural gas transportation. A military conflict in the region is considered to have significant consequences for energy prices and global trade. In addition, Trump announced that new talks with Iran will begin tomorrow. Related News: Watch Out: Massive Token Unlocks Coming for 10 Altcoins This Week—Here’s the Day-by-Day, Hour-by-Hour Schedule Trump also commented on developments concerning the Japanese yen. He stated that the US intervened in the market due to its good relations with Japan, arguing that Washington has always supported Tokyo and that the US also benefits economically from the relevant regulations. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: BREAKING: Donald Trump Makes a Surprise Statement on Iran – Suspends Attacks

Crypto News Bitcoin (BTC) is being pushed into a regulatory framing fight after Chris Giancarlo, the former chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, urged crypto builders not to trea...

White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez is no longer employed by the federal government after being placed on unpaid leave over allegations that he used insider knowledge to bet on President Donald Trump’s speeches, according to another official. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said that Perez had left his government job but did not say whether he resigned or was fired. Inside the Allegations The White House had suspended Perez earlier this month following an ABC News report that alleged he made more than $100,000 through bets on the online prediction market Kalshi. The report said the wagers were based on advance knowledge of what Trump would say during major speeches, including the State of the Union address earlier this year. The allegations drew a sharp response from the White House. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the reported insider trading as “deeply unfortunate and, frankly, a disgrace.” Kalshi also responded after the report was published . Robert Denault, the company’s lawyer and head of enforcement, said in a post on X that its surveillance team detected the trades, investigated them, and referred the matter to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Denault’s statement did not identify Perez by name. Legal Battles Kalshi has faced legal hurdles this year in Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, and Washington. At the same time, it has also tightened its own rules. In April, the prediction market suspended three political candidates for betting on elections they were contesting after determining that the trades amounted to political insider trading under its CFTC-approved rules. An insider trading case on Polymarket also surfaced that same month. Federal prosecutors charged US soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke with allegedly betting on whether former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be removed from power. Authorities said Van Dyke, who worked on the operation targeting Maduro, made about $400,000 from the trades. The legal battle over prediction markets has also taken a new turn. This week, a federal judge temporarily blocked Minnesota from enforcing a new law that would have banned prediction markets in the state. The ruling gave a temporary win to Kalshi, Polymarket, and the CFTC as the case moves forward. Judge Katherine Menendez said the law is likely preempted by the federal Commodity Exchange Act because many event contracts may qualify as federally regulated swaps. The law, signed by Governor Tim Walz in May, was set to take effect on Saturday. The judge said the injunction could later be narrowed if needed. The post Teleprompter Operator Accused in Kalshi Betting Case Is No Longer a Federal Employee appeared first on CryptoPotato .

McDonald’s reports soon, and the market is trying to answer a simple question: can value drive traffic without punching a hole in margins. Cheap meals pull people in. But franchisees have to make money too. That balance is the whole story. If you trade the print or just want to sanity check your expectations, this preview walks through the moving parts. We link the current promo slate to traffic, check size, and operating leverage, and highlight what could move the stock on the call. No hype here. Just the plays, the risks, and where the consensus sits right now. AspectWhat to KnowConsensus and guidanceQ2 2026 street preview sits near $7.155B revenue and $3.35 EPS, with management reaffirming full year operating margin in the mid to high 40 percent range Hudson Labs (earnings preview) .Value menu cadenceDaily Double added to the McValue Meal from July 22 at $6 or $7 depending on location. The $5 Meal Deal remains live McDonald’s Corporate — Menu Spotter .Limited time offersCaesar Snack Wrap nationally advertised at $2.99 with a Caesar Sauce promo starting July 21. Pricing can vary by restaurant McDonald’s Corporate — Menu Spotter .Digital demandFree medium fries with a $1 purchase in the app every Friday through year end aims to build weekly habit and traffic McDonald’s Corporate — Menu Spotter .Traffic vs pricingWatch whether same store sales lean on transactions rather than just price mix. Value deals should tilt comps toward traffic if they are doing their job.Cost linesCommodity and wage trends frame flow through. Franchise model cushions company margins, but owner operators feel food and labor pressure on store P&Ls.FX and internationalCurrency can swing reported revenue and margins. Check commentary on International Operated Markets vs licensed markets for read through. McDonald’s makes most of its money from franchised restaurants. Think royalties on sales and rent on real estate. That model throws off high operating margins because the company is not directly bearing every store’s food and labor cost. Company operated restaurants still exist, but the franchise royalty and rent stream dominate the P&L. Same store sales move the needle for both the company and franchisees. You can grow comps with pricing, with more transactions, or a mix of both. If value deals bring people in more often, you get higher traffic and maybe slightly smaller checks, but the brand keeps share and the system stays healthy. If you push price too hard, comps can look fine while visits slip. That is not a long term win. Promotions are a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. The point of a $5 or $6 meal is to anchor value and restore a habit. The point of a $2.99 Snack Wrap is to create an easy add on. And the point of free fries with a small in app purchase is to train a weekly routine. The mix of those offers decides how much margin you give back for each point of traffic gained. Heading into this print, the street is keyed in on that margin traffic trade. Consensus sits near $7.155B revenue and $3.35 EPS, with management previously guiding to operating margins in the mid to high 40s for the year Hudson Labs . The question is how sticky the traffic from value is, and whether franchisees feel supported. Glossary in plain English Same store sales (SSS): Growth from locations open at least a year. Filters out new unit openings. Traffic: Number of transactions. The visit count that underpins comps. Average check: Dollars per transaction. Moves with pricing and mix. Operating margin: Profit after operating costs divided by revenue. Higher in franchise heavy models. Flow through: How much of a sales change shows up in profit. Depends on fixed versus variable costs. FX: Foreign exchange. Currency swings that change reported results. Step-by-Step Playbook Map the promo calendar to the quarter. Layer the $5 Meal Deal, the Daily Double at $6 or $7 starting July 22, and the July 21 Caesar Snack Wrap push to see what actually lands in Q2 versus Q3 timing McDonald’s Corporate — Menu Spotter . Separate traffic from price in your comp math. Build two columns. If transactions are positive and price mix flat, value did its job. If price carries comps while traffic lags, that is a yellow flag. Watch the digital cadence. The free Friday fries for a $1 app purchase aims to create a weekly visit. Check for any commentary that app offers are lifting repeat rates or incremental items Corporate — Menu Spotter . Anchor on margin guidance. Management has talked about mid to high 40s operating margins for 2026. If that range holds with heavier value activity, it says a lot about franchise health and corporate leverage Hudson Labs . Disaggregate the segments. U.S. trends can diverge from International Operated Markets or licensed regions. FX can mask underlying strength or weakness. Focus on constant currency comps and traffic. Listen for franchisee sentiment. Are owner operators leaning in to these deals. If you hear stress on unit economics, margin sustainability gets harder. Stress test flow through. Ask what happens if beef or wage inflation ticks up again. A one point hit to restaurant level margin can swamp a small traffic gain if checks fall too much. Mind the calendar. Limited time offers like the $2.99 Caesar Snack Wrap can spike trial. The question is repeat, not launch week buzz. Value, Traffic, and the Margin Math Here is the honest tension. Guests are trading down or trading out when value feels thin. Bring back a sharp meal deal and people show up. But margin pressure is real. Franchisees carry food and labor on those baskets, and the company wants to protect its mid to high 40 percent operating margin guidance for the year. You need offer design that nudges add ons without giving away the store. The current lineup checks a few boxes. The $5 Meal Deal remains in market. The Daily Double steps in as another entree choice in the McValue Meal at $6 or $7 depending on the restaurant starting July 22 Corporate — Menu Spotter . And the Caesar Snack Wrap at a nationally advertised $2.99 offers a low friction add on when someone is already in the lane Corporate — Menu Spotter . The combo of an anchor meal, a mid tier entree swap, and a small ticket snack can blend into steady traffic and a decent mix. Translating that to the model, think about baskets. If the meal deal creates an incremental visit that would not have happened, it can be profit positive even at a lower item margin. If it just trades a full price combo down into a value combo, you get negative mix. That is why the app angle matters so much. A free medium fries with a $1 app purchase every Friday through year end is not just charity. It is a habit builder that the brand can target and A/B test over time Corporate — Menu Spotter . Offer typeTraffic impactAverage check effectLikely margin effect$5 or $6–$7 value mealHigh on price sensitive guestsCan dilute if trading downNeutral to modest drag unless it is incremental traffic$2.99 Snack WrapModerate trial and add onPotentially accretive if attached to a drink or burgerSlight positive if attachment rate is highFree fries with $1 app purchaseBuilds recurring weekly visitsAccretive if it drives another paid itemPositive over time if it raises lifetime value Pro tip: When you hear a strong comp, ask what percent came from traffic versus price. Positive traffic with flat to slightly negative check is healthier than the opposite in a value cycle. Digital, Dayparts, and Operational Follow Through The app is not just a coupon book anymore. It is a channel. The Friday fries offer is designed to own a weekly moment. If that habit sticks, the company can drip different deals into that slot and test what raises attachment rates. Cold drinks in summer. Snack Wrap in fall. You get the idea. Digital orders also tend to be more consistent, which helps kitchens plan and can cut waste. Daypart matters too. Late night traffic has bounced around for the whole sector. If value helps stabilize that window, it can be disproportionately good for margins because fixed labor is already on the clock. Breakfast is another swing factor. Small check, high repeat. A tweak to coffee or a sandwich bundle can quietly drive the quarter. Operationally, speed and accuracy are the silent killers or saviors of value campaigns. Add too many SKUs and you clog the line. Keep it tight and you can run a deal for months without fraying crews. The Caesar Sauce promo and $2.99 Snack Wrap need to stay simple on the make line if they are going to work at scale Corporate — Menu Spotter . What Could Move the Stock on the Call Three levers decide the reaction most quarters. First, headline comps and whether traffic led. Second, operating margin trajectory relative to the mid to high 40 percent full year guide flagged by the street preview Hudson Labs . Third, the tone on value intensity into the back half. Upside scenario. Traffic is positive in the U.S., pricing decelerates, international remains solid despite FX noise, and margin guidance holds. The company frames value as surgical and targeted through the app. Franchisees sound aligned. Downside scenario. Traffic is flat to negative, check growth carries comps, franchisees report pressure on unit economics, and there is chatter about heavier discounting in Q3 to defend share. If margin guide softens, that adds fuel. Wild cards. Currency volatility, regional disruptions, or a consumer surprise in a key market can overwhelm a clean domestic story. Also listen for any capital allocation update. Repurchase commentary sometimes offsets a softer print, but count on fundamentals first. Pitfalls & Red Flags Comps driven by price only. Healthy value cycles show traffic. If transactions are negative while price rises, the promo strategy is not landing. Franchisee strain. Owner operators carry food and labor on value baskets. Watch for hints that participation is uneven or that stores are pulling back. Menu creep. Too many limited items at once slows service. Speed and accuracy dips show up in guest satisfaction and repeat. FX headwinds hiding strength or weakness. Reported numbers can swing with currency. Focus on constant currency comps where disclosed. Commodity or wage flare up. A small move in beef or labor can erase the margin from incremental traffic if average check also dips. Short lived novelty. If the $2.99 Snack Wrap spikes in week one and fades by week three, you need another driver to hold visits. If you want a clean read across restaurant, consumer, or even broader market sentiment once results drop, we cover the key beats and cross currents at Crypto Daily . Same straight talk. No fluff. Frequently Asked Questions What is the current consensus for McDonald’s Q2 results A recent earnings preview put revenue near $7.155 billion and EPS around $3.35 for Q2 2026, and noted that management had reaffirmed full year operating margin guidance in the mid to high 40 percent range. That is a directional anchor rather than a guarantee Hudson Labs . How do the new value deals affect margins It depends on mix. If a value meal creates an extra visit that would not have happened, the margin hit on that basket can be worth it. If it trades a full price order down, mix deteriorates and store level margin compresses. The corporate margin is cushioned by the franchise model, but unit economics still matter. Is the $2.99 Caesar Snack Wrap meaningful or just noise At $2.99 it is a classic add on or snackable entry point. It will not move the quarter by itself, but paired with a strong anchor deal it can raise attachment rates and keep the menu feeling fresh Corporate — Menu Spotter . What is the idea behind free Friday fries with a $1 app purchase Habit formation. Tie a weekly ritual to the app, then rotate targeted offers into that slot. Over time, this can lift visit frequency and add a drink or dessert to the basket, which supports margins even in a value environment Corporate — Menu Spotter . Which metrics matter most in this print Traffic versus price in same store sales, operating margin trajectory relative to the full year guide, and any color on franchisee participation in value deals. Constant currency comps help strip out FX noise. How should I think about international versus U.S. performance They can diverge. The U.S. often leads on value innovation, while some international markets lean on local promotions. Currency can also swing reported results. Segment commentary will help separate structural strength from translation effects. What would be a clear positive surprise Positive U.S. transactions with only modest check dilution, stable to improving operating margin commentary, and a measured approach to value through targeted digital offers. That combination suggests the balance between traffic and profit is holding. This article is for information only. It is not financial advice. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

A post is making the rounds on X, connecting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments on de-dollarization to XRP. The commentator behind the post is Stellar Rippler (@Stellar_Rippler), who tied a video of Lavrov to a broader thread about what he calls the BRICS de-dollarization agenda. The post presents a cluster of claims around this video, arguing they add up to a growing role for XRP in global trade settlement. BRICS Is Indeed Preparing A New Financial Infrastructure To Bypass SWIFT Japan and India just confirmed a game-changing digital asset alliance that will completely bypass SWIFT, slash dollar dependence, and supercharge the BRICS de-dollarization agenda. India is also… https://t.co/Ykujr6z79j pic.twitter.com/pEJu8cfiPs — Stellar Rippler (@Stellar_Rippler) June 30, 2026 The Russian Minister’s Comments In the video, Lavrov discusses BRICS financial infrastructure. He references a grain exchange, an investment platform, and a reinsurance entity under development. He says these tracks have been completely monopolized by Western institutions. Lavrov states that BRICS nations are building infrastructure not prone to arbitrary behavior and settling trade in national currencies instead of dollars or euros. He adds that India’s development plans for 2027 should include this kind of safety net. His reasoning is that any country could fall out of favor with Western institutions at any time. He points to Eurasian nations, including Persian Gulf states, as the primary stakeholders in this shift. Lavrov’s remarks don’t name XRP, Ripple, or any specific digital asset, but Stellar Rippler makes that point. Key Developments Driving Optimism Stellar Rippler references recent reports that Japan and India have confirmed a digital asset alliance designed to bypass SWIFT and reduce dollar dependence . He claims India is leading a BRICS-Pay Initiative and states that India confirmed at the Indian Fintech Festival that it’s working with Ripple on cross-border payments. Separately, Stellar Rippler claims Russia’s Foreign Ministry has disclosed a need for a neutral cross-border settlement system, one that is not a stablecoin and not controlled by any single party. Notably, Russia recently listed XRP on the Moscow Exchange under the MOEXXRP ticker . He further claims that Russia, the UAE, and India settled the world’s first off-petroleum grid oil transaction in 2025, using local currencies and Ripple’s network for settlement. The Case for XRP as a Bridge Asset Taken together, Stellar Rippler claims this cluster of developments confirms XRP as what he calls a new global neutral asset, bridging every currency . His argument rests on layering the Lavrov video, which discusses de-dollarization in general terms, on top of the data he presented about Ripple’s specific involvement in Russian, Indian, and Emirati trade settlement. He presents Lavrov’s comments as institutional validation for the broader thesis. XRP fits the bill for what BRICS wants, and Stellar Rippler suggests that the asset could serve in that role. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post XRP In the Spotlight As BRICS Builds Infrastructure to Bypass SWIFT appeared first on Times Tabloid .

OpenAI has been discussing with the authorities in Washington DC about giving a 5 percent share of its company to the US Government, which will be valued at around $43 billion based on its estimated value of $852 billion, according to FT. The idea is tied to Sam Altman’s push to give Americans a direct share of the money that artificial intelligence may create, while OpenAI tries to ease political heat before the highly expected IPO that aims to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX blockbuster. OpenAI seeks federal buy-in Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has told officials that public ownership could be a cleaner way to share the upside from AI. After first mentioning it, Sam has been the person carrying the idea into talks with Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The plan would not be limited to OpenAI. Sam and other company leaders have discussed a wider setup where America’s top AI developers each place 5% of their equity into a public vehicle. That vehicle could work like the Alaska Permanent Fund, which invests state oil money and sends benefits tied to that wealth to the state government and residents. That wider list could include Anthropic, Alphabet (GOOGL) through Google, Meta Platforms (META), and other U.S. AI companies. OpenAI and Anthropic have both dealt with U.S. reviews that slowed the rollout of their newest models. Some Republicans and Trump advisers want tighter rules for the sector. Both OpenAI and Anthropic are also preparing for future public listings. An IPO would open their ownership to a broader market and could hand large paper gains to current backers. Sam has also spoken with Senator Bernie Sanders, who has gone much further than the 5% idea, pushing instead for public ownership closer to 50% of every major U.S. AI company through a sovereign wealth fund. Back in April, OpenAI had called for a public wealth fund that would give “every citizen” a stake in AI-driven growth, including people who do not own stocks. In May, the OpenAI Foundation, its nonprofit arm, said society may need systems that give people “durable stakes” in the technology creating new value. The foundation also said the goal should include giving people “a stake and a voice” before major economic decisions are already finished, according to FT. Trump expands federal equity stakes In the second tenure of Trump, the US government has invested about $21 billion through 16 different corporate acquisitions, converting federal funding, including CHIPS Act-like grants, to equity stakes. The biggest known holding is Intel (INTC), which the government took about a 10% position in after support tied to the CHIPS Act was reworked into equity at $20.47 per share. Financial media tracks the position as being up about $40 billion, which works out to roughly a 370% gain. As Cryptopolitan reported at the time, Trump had earlier attacked Intel’s chief in public, then backed the chipmaker after Washington became a major shareholder. The US government now also holds shares in MP Materials (MP), though the exact funding amount was not disclosed because the deal is tranche-based, but the stake is estimated at near 15%. The position is tracked at about a 136% gain and comes with a 10-year Pentagon purchase contract for rare earth magnets. Trump administration’s portfolio also includes L3Harris Technologies (LHX), where the government holds a minority stake tied to defense and communications. That position is tracked at an 11% loss. GlobalFoundries (GFS) is another public holding, with a minority stake in the semiconductor foundry now beating the S&P 500. Four other public positions are not named in the data released by the White House. What we know is that one is a defense or tech contractor using part of the remaining $9.9 billion and is beating the S&P 500. Another is a critical materials company also ahead of the index. A manufacturing supplier is underperforming. A logistics or technology company is also lagging. Out of the eight public stocks in the US federal portfolio, five are currently ahead of the S&P 500, though the values change with market prices. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

Bitcoin is already being eyed for a move toward $65,000 if a US-Iran deal is sealed, with US President Donald Trump saying such an agreement could be signed within two or three days. Related Reading: A 400 Billion Shiba Inu Surprise: Whale Wallet Springs Back To Life The top crypto asset had also clawed back from recent lows near $59,500 and was trading around $62,350 as traders weighed the odds of a shift in Middle East tensions. Trump Sets A Tight Timeline Trump said on Monday that talks were in their final stretch and that he did not see major obstacles left. He described the deal as a strong one and tied the talks to wider efforts to calm the fighting in the region. The comments came after reports that Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that continuing military action could leave Israel with less US backing. He later wrote on Truth Social that Iran and Israel were both looking for an immediate ceasefire while peace talks kept moving. Deal Hopes Meet Old Doubts The latest timeline has not quieted skepticism. Trump has raised hopes of a near-term deal before, and the new comments landed after weeks of similar claims that never turned into a signed agreement. Some of the hardest issues are still unresolved, including sanctions, nuclear limits, and long-term security guarantees. Reuters has also reported that earlier talks left the sides split over frozen funds and the future of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. 🚨 TRUMP: IRAN DEAL COULD BE DAYS AWAY PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THERE IS A “VERY GOOD CHANCE” OF REACHING A DEAL WITH IRAN IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS “WE’RE VERY CLOSE.” WHAT HAPPENS TO OIL IF A DEAL GETS DONE? pic.twitter.com/YpXuhpDCNm — Money Ape (@TheMoneyApe) June 9, 2026 That is why traders are treating the latest remarks as one more step, not a finish line. Reports suggest that a successful deal could open the door first to the $65,000 area and, with stronger buying, to $70,000 and beyond. Oil Markets Still In The Frame Oil is part of the same trade. Reuters reported that crude fell on Tuesday after Iran and Israel said they had halted attacks, with Brent at $92.60 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate at $89.10. The Strait of Hormuz remains the key pressure point, since it handles a large share of global oil and gas flows, and any easing of tension there could cool prices further. There were also reports that the market has swung on and off this storyline before, with each new round of hope meeting fresh warnings soon after. Related Reading: Security Milestone: XRP Lending Protocol Completes Military-Grade Assessment For Bitcoin, that leaves a narrow path. A deal that cools oil and broadens risk appetite could help crypto, but the market is still waiting for an actual signature, not just another promise that talks are close. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView