We Urgently Need to Talk About Swap Lines
Izabella Kaminska’s latest Blind Spot piece warns that the current debate over dollar‑swap lines is more than a sovereign’s plea for liquidity—it is a window into the hidden mechanics of global finance. She argues that swap lines reveal who still controls the international monetary plumbing in 2026. The article stresses that the U.S. dollar’s dominance and the willingness of the Federal Reserve to extend credit are central to market stability. Kaminska calls for a broader conversation about the long‑term sustainability of this arrangement.
Parlez-Vous Oil Trader?
The Blindspot premium article introduces key oil‑market concepts—backwardation, physical differentials, and time spreads—and explains what they mean for traders. Backwardation describes a market where near‑term contracts trade above distant futures, indicating tight short‑term supply. Physical differentials capture price gaps between...
A Q&A About the ‘Petrodollar’
The petrodollar, a system forged in the 1970s that ties global oil sales to the U.S. dollar, remains a cornerstone of international finance. Recent Q&A highlights how sanctions, the rise of alternative currencies, and the shift toward renewable energy are...
Meet Qivalis: The Bank-Led Effort to Internationalise the Euro with Stablecoins
European banks have formed a consortium called Qivalis to issue a euro‑denominated stablecoin, marking the first large‑scale, bank‑led effort to internationalise the euro in digital form. The project receives backing from the European Central Bank’s regulatory sandbox, signaling official support...
Bank of England Signals Flexibility on Stablecoin Rules as Consultation Continues
The Bank of England announced a shift in its proposed stablecoin capital requirements, moving from a 100% to a 60/40 split between remunerated and non‑remunerated holdings. Deputy Governor Ben Breeden said the change reflects the regulator’s response to industry feedback...
Commerzbank Warned ECB Officials Intervention Is Necessary to Cultivate Euro-Stablecoins
Commerzbank has cautioned that the European Central Bank must step in to nurture a viable euro‑stablecoin ecosystem. The bank argues that without clear regulatory guidance, market participants will remain hesitant, slowing adoption of digital euros. It also stresses the need...
Digital Euros and Liquidity Backstops Won’t Dent Dollar Dominance, Says Fed’s Miran
European policymakers are increasingly exploring euro‑denominated stablecoins as a tool to counterbalance the U.S. dollar’s global reach. Federal Reserve official Stephen Miran, however, argues that the dollar’s dominance will persist despite these digital euro initiatives. He points to the depth...
TRANSCRIPT: Fed Governor Stephen Miran Talks Rates, Stablecoins and AI
Fed Governor Stephen Miran praised the appointment of Kevin Warsh, noting his hawkish reputation could give the Fed more credibility and make larger rate cuts easier. He highlighted systematic biases in inflation measurement—particularly portfolio‑management services and lagged shelter data—that have...
Banks Are Starting to Price Liquidity by the Hour
Banks are moving from traditional overnight benchmarks to quoting liquidity rates on an hourly basis, reflecting tighter funding conditions and the rise of electronic trading platforms. The shift provides more granular price signals, allowing lenders to capture real‑time balance‑sheet pressures...
How the U.S. Treasury Engineered a Dollar Squeeze in Iran
The U.S. Treasury, through OFAC, reclassified key Iranian banks and instituted secondary sanctions that block dollar‑clearing for Iran’s oil trade. By cutting off access to the SWIFT network and threatening non‑U.S. firms that facilitate dollar transactions, the Treasury forced a...