Tokenization, AI Chips, and Fiscal Policy…

Plume Network’s acquisition of a commercial license from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) positions the firm to scale real‑world asset (RWA) tokenization across the Middle East, Africa and emerging markets, tapping the region’s burgeoning fintech ecosystem that already hosts sovereign wealth funds such as ADIA and Mubadala. CoinDesk notes that the license could accelerate collaborations with global banks and crypto firms, while Circle’s parallel ADGM approval (see below) underscores a broader regulatory embrace of stablecoins in the Gulf. This convergence of private‑sector ambition and progressive regulation may reshape cross‑border capital flows and diversify funding sources for emerging‑market projects. CoinDesk CoinDesk

Circle’s USDC stablecoin earned a Financial Services Permission from ADGM, granting it Money Services Provider status and enabling the token’s use in business payments throughout the UAE. The move, reported by CoinDesk, follows the firm’s earlier registration in Dubai and signals confidence that regulated stablecoin infrastructure can coexist with traditional banking, potentially lowering transaction costs and expanding liquidity for corporates operating in the region. Analysts see this as a template for other jurisdictions seeking to balance innovation with oversight. CoinDesk

Pre‑Fed market data released by CoinDesk shows that European investors accounted for the majority of the November‑month sell‑off in Bitcoin and Ether, contributing to a 20‑25 % drawdown while Asian and U.S. sessions remained flat. The analysis links the regional outflow to heightened risk aversion as traders anticipate tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, suggesting that global crypto price dynamics are increasingly tied to sovereign‑central bank signals. The trend highlights the growing integration of digital assets into mainstream macro‑economic cycles. CoinDesk

Singapore Exchange (SGX) reported that its newly launched Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures have attracted fresh institutional capital, with cumulative notional trading climbing to $250 million in just weeks. According to CoinDesk, the growth reflects genuine new money rather than a migration from existing venues, indicating that futures contracts are becoming a credible avenue for price discovery and risk management in the crypto space. This development may encourage further regulatory acceptance of derivatives on digital assets worldwide. CoinDesk

Wccftech reports that the U.S. government has granted NVIDIA clearance to sell its high‑performance Hopper H200 AI chips to China, albeit with strict caveats that many analysts believe will limit Chinese adoption. While the approval technically re‑opens a market previously shut down by export controls, NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang has warned that the chips’ architecture may not align with Beijing’s AI strategy, suggesting a muted commercial impact. The episode illustrates the tension between technological diffusion and national‑security considerations in the AI hardware race. Wccftech

SD Times details IBM’s agreement to purchase data‑streaming leader Confluent for $11 billion, a move aimed at bolstering IBM’s smart‑data platform for generative AI workloads. By integrating Apache Kafka‑based streaming with its AI portfolio, IBM hopes to provide enterprises with seamless, event‑driven data pipelines that can feed large‑scale models in real time. The deal underscores the strategic value placed on real‑time analytics as a backbone for next‑generation AI services. SD Times

InfoQ highlights Amazon Web Services’ new Database Savings Plans, which promise up to 35 % cost reductions for customers committing to consistent usage across multiple database engines. The program offers flexibility for migrations and multi‑region expansions, addressing a key pain point for enterprises seeking to control cloud spend while scaling data workloads. Early feedback suggests the plans could become a benchmark for competitive pricing in the crowded cloud‑infrastructure market. InfoQ

Washington Monthly analyzes President Donald Trump’s wave of pardons and commutations, noting that nearly half benefited white‑collar offenders involved in securities fraud, money laundering and crypto‑related crimes. The column argues that these clemencies, coupled with the administration’s dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a softened stance on cryptocurrency regulation, create a permissive environment that could invite future financial instability. The piece warns that policy reversals may erode safeguards built since the 2008 crisis. Washington monthly

The Atlantic reports that mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani plans to raise the city income tax by 50 % for New Yorkers earning $1 million or more, aiming to fund universal child care and free bus services. The proposal would place the city’s top earners among the highest‑taxed in the nation, reflecting a broader progressive push to redistribute wealth and finance ambitious public‑service initiatives. Economists note that while the tax could generate significant revenue, it may also influence migration patterns of high‑income professionals. The Atlantic

Wccftech reveals that federal authorities dismantled a smuggling ring attempting to ship NVIDIA H100 and H200 AI chips to China worth $160 million, circumventing export controls. The operation underscores the heightened enforcement of technology‑transfer restrictions under the Biden administration, aiming to prevent advanced AI hardware from bolstering rival strategic capabilities. The bust serves as a cautionary tale for supply‑chain actors navigating increasingly stringent export‑control regimes. Wccftech