(đ„Dinarian Note: I included the full article from "The Economist" Get Ready for the Phoenix Source: Economist; 01/9/88, Vol. 306, pp 9-1 for your reading pleasure đ„)
In 1988, the cover of The Economist was titled âGet ready for a world currencyâ. The magazine cover showed a phoenix rising from the ashes of burning US currency.
âThirty Years from now, Americans, Japanese, Europeans and people in many other rich countries âŠwill be paying for their shopping with the same currencyâ
The author continues to suggest a single unified currency that would ease the challenges and difficulties of international financial transactions.
The author also mentions a world connected like never before. Instead of the Yuan, Dollar, or Euro, this new form of currency, a âphoenix coinâ would dominate. This new coin would replace the existing financial system and there would be no need for expensive international currencies or cumbersome money wires. Everyone would be using the same coin/currency.
Now just over 30 years later, this âpredictionâ is now becoming a reality.
Itâs important to realize this article was written during the early days of the internet and well before the world had ever heard of Bitcoin or cryptocurrency â Bitcoin only came into existence during the 2008 financial crisis.
Of notable mentioned is Stellar (XML), whose logo is eerily similar to the logo on the coin of the Pheonix (see below):
While I wonât get into the implications of what this means, such as this new financial system planned at least 33 years in advance, what is of more importance to the investor, is the investment opportunities this new financial system will bring.
What is Stellar (XLM)?
In case you havenât heard of Steller, it is one of the few IS0 20022 compliant cryptocurrencies which will be part of this new financial system. Stellar is a peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized network with the purpose of connecting the worldâs financial systems and ensuring a fast and transparent protocol for payment providers and financial institutions.
Here is a List of the ISO 20022 compliant cryptocurrencies.
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The ISO 20022 standard are the rules and language for cross-border and international payments. Itâs the mechanism to connect financial institutions and central banks. However, for this new financial system to be implemented, central banks must also move towards a new âdigital currencyâ (with the help of the blockchain).
CBDCs in Development â Worldwide.
The last piece of this puzzle are Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). A CBDC is a new type of central bank currency that harnesses the power of the blockchain to create a digital currency.
With the standard for international payments (ISO 20022) being implemented in November, Central banks will now have the standards in place for cross-border international payments for their digital currency.
The move to CBDCs is expected to be a step toward replacing the current fiat-based currency and most all countries which have a central bank are already underway towards developing their own CBDC.
China is leading the pack and already has a pilot program in place!
New Global Reserve Currency
The creation of CBDCs will also allow alliances like BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) to create their own âalliance currencyâ, with Russia recently reporting with the help of BRICS, will be creating their own New Global Reserve Currency.
While the ushering in of a new digital currency wonât happen overnight, November marks the beginning of the implementation of the ISO 20022 Standard â notice the year 2022 embedded in the name of the standard.
Even the recently appointed new prime minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak is already publically supporting this new initiative.
A New Financial System is Already Here
Blockchain technology is allowing for the heralding of an entirely new financial system. New cross border payment protocols like ISO 20022 and the creation of Central Bank Digital Currencies is bringing an entirely new financial system to the world.
Whether the 1988 edition of The Economist was prophetic or planned we may never know, but what is certain in we are now living in a new digital financial age.
đ Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High – What’s Next?
Bitcoin reached a new peak of $118,254 on July 11, 2025, driven by institutional demand, favorable macro conditions, and supportive crypto regulations. With a 100%+ year-over-year surge, what's next for BTC?
đź Bitcoin Outlook
đ Short Term (6â12 Months)
Expect volatility post-ATH
Spot BTC ETFs attract significant capital
Potential range: $95Kâ$135K
đ° Medium Term (1â3 Years)
2024 halving impact continues
More institutions may adopt BTC as reserve/collateral
Global regulatory clarity boosts confidence
Potential range: $120Kâ$200K+
đ Long Term (5â10+ Years)
BTC may solidify as digital gold
Used in cross-border settlements and emerging markets
đ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? đ
The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.
đ Hereâs what you need to know:
đ 'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
đ Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
đ Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
đ Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
đ Integrates with Coinbaseâs SDK, OpenAI, & Replit
đ What this means for the future of Crypto:
1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto đtxns done by AI agents by 2025
đš I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.
đ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
đ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
đš BREAKING NEWS: Ripple National Trust Bank! đŠ đșđž
Ripple has officially filed an application to become a national trust bank, aiming to launch what would be called Ripple National Trust Bank.
This move is designed to bring Rippleâs crypto and stablecoin operations under direct federal regulation and marks a major step toward mainstream integration with the U.S. financial system.
đ€ What This Means:
đč If approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Ripple would be able to operate nationwide under federal oversight, expanding its crypto services and allowing it to settle payments faster and more efficientlyâwithout relying on intermediary banks.
đč Rippleâs RLUSD stablecoin would be regulated at both the state and federal level, setting a new benchmark for transparency and compliance in the stablecoin market.
đč Ripple has also applied for a Federal Reserve master account, which would let it hold reserves directly at the Fed and issue or redeem stablecoins outside normal banking hours, further strengthening ...
Musk Turns On Starlink to Save Iranians from Regime’s Internet Crackdown
Elon Musk, the worldâs richest man and a visionary behind SpaceX, has flipped the switch on Starlink, delivering internet to Iranians amid a brutal regime crackdown.
This move comes on the heels of Israeli strikes targeting Iranâs nuclear facilities, as the Islamic Republic cuts off online access.
The former Department of Government Efficiency chief activated Starlink satellite internet service for Iranians on Saturday following the Islamic Republic's decision to impose nationwide internet restrictions.
As the Jerusalem Post reports, that the Islamic Republicâs Communications Ministry announced the move, stating, "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the countryâs internet."
This action followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
Starlink, a SpaceX-developed satellite constellation, provides high-speed internet to regions with limited connectivity, such as remote areas or conflict zones.
Elizabeth MacDonald, a Fox News contributor, highlighted its impact, noting, "Elon Musk turning on Starlink for Iran in 2022 was a game changer. Starlink connects directly to SpaceX satellites, bypassing Iranâs ground infrastructure. That means even during government-imposed shutdowns or censorship, users can still get online, and reportedly more than 100,000 inside Iran are doing that."
During the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, Starlink enabled Iranians to communicate and share footage globally despite network blackouts," she added.
MacDonald also mentioned ongoing tests of "direct-to-cell" capabilities, which could allow smartphone connections without a dish, potentially expanding access and supporting free expression and protest coordination.
Musk confirmed the activation, noting on Saturday, "The beams are on."
This follows the regimeâs internet shutdowns, which were triggered by Israeli military actions.
Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people on Friday, urging resistance against the regime.
"Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,â he said.
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iranâs last monarch, called on military and security forces to abandon the regime, accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Persian-language social media post of forcing Iranians into an unwanted war.
Starlink has been a beacon in other crises. Beyond Iran, Musk has leveraged Starlink to assist people during natural disasters and conflicts.
In the wake of hurricanes and earthquakes, Starlink has provided critical internet access to affected communities, enabling emergency communications and coordination.
Similarly, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Musk activated Starlink to support Ukrainian forcesand civilians, ensuring they could maintain contact and access vital information under dire circumstances.
The genius entrepreneur, is throwing a lifeline to the oppressed in Iran, and the libs canât stand it.
Conservative talk show host Mark Levin praised Muskâs action, reposting a message stating that Starlink would "reconnect the Iranian people with the internet and put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime."
"God bless you, Elon. The Starlink beams are on in Iran!" Levin wrote.
Musk, who recently stepped down from leading the DOGE in the Trump administration, has apologized to President Trump for past criticisms, including his stance on the One Big Beautiful Bill.
GENIUS Act lets State banks conduct some business nationwide. Regulators object
The Senate passed the GENIUS Act for stablecoins last week, but significant work remains before it becomes law. The House has a different bill, the STABLE Act, with notable differences that must be reconciled. State banking regulators have raised strong objections to a provision in the GENIUS Act that would allow state banks to operate nationwide without authorization from host states or a federal regulator.
The controversial clause permits a state bank with a regulated stablecoin subsidiary to provide money transmitter and custodial services in any other state. While host states can impose consumer protection laws, they cannot require the usual authorization and oversight typically needed for out-of-state banking operations.
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors welcomed some changes in the GENIUS Act but remains adamantly opposed to this particular provision. In a statement, CSBS said:
âCritical changes must be made during House consideration of the legislation to prevent unintended consequences and further mitigate financial stability risks. CSBS remains concerned with the dramatic and unsupported expansion of the authority of uninsured banks to conduct money transmission or custody activities nationwide without the approval or oversight of host state supervisors (Sec. 16(d)).â
The National Conference of State Legislatures expressed similar concerns in early June, stating:
âWe urge you to oppose Section 16(d) and support state authority to regulate financial services in a manner that reflects local conditions, priorities and risk tolerances. Preserving the dual banking system and respecting state autonomy is essential to the safety, soundness and diversity of our nationâs financial sector.â
Evolution of nationwide authorization
Section 16 addresses several issues beyond stablecoins, including preventing a recurrence of the SECâs SAB 121, which forced crypto assets held in custody onto balance sheets. However, the nationwide authorization subsection was added after the legislation cleared the Senate Banking Committee, with two significant modifications since then.
Originally, the provision applied only to special bank charters like Wyomingâs Special Purpose Depository Institutions or Connecticutâs Innovation Banks. Examples include crypto-focused Custodia Bank and crypto exchange Kraken in Wyoming, plus traditional finance player Fnality US in Connecticut. Recently the scope was expanded to cover most state chartered banks with stablecoin subsidiaries, possibly due to concerns about competitive advantages.
Simultaneously, the clause was substantially tightened. The initial version allowed state chartered banks to provide money transmission and custody services nationwide for any type of asset, which would include cryptocurrencies. Now these activities can only be conducted by the stablecoin subsidiary, and while Section 16(d) doesnât explicitly limit services to stablecoins, the GENIUS Act currently restricts issuers to stablecoin related activities.
However, the House STABLE Act takes a more permissive approach, allowing regulators to decide which non-stablecoin activities are permitted. If the House version prevails in reconciliation, it could result in a significant expansion of allowed nationwide banking activities beyond stablecoins.
Is it that bad?
As originally drafted, the clause seemed overly permissive.
The amended clause makes sense for stablecoin issuers. They want to have a single regulator and be able to provide the stablecoin services throughout the United States. But it also leans into the perception outside of crypto that this is just another form of regulatory arbitrage.
The controversy over Section 16(d) reflects concerns about creating a regulatory gap that allows banks to operate interstate without the oversight typically required from either federal or state authorities. As the two Congressional chambers work toward reconciliation, lawmakers must decide whether stablecoin legislation should include provisions that effectively reduce traditional banking oversight requirements.
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The Dinarian