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From Banksy’s million-pound provocations to geopolitical maneuvers shaking oil and currencies, this week shows how art, economics, and global conflict are more entwined than ever. We’ve got you covered with stories that span from shredded masterpieces to a possible crypto-fueled bull run.

Let’s get into it.👇

The Weekly Fun Fact 🤔

Banksy’s art isn’t just climbing in value, it’s obliterating auction records while flipping the script on what makes something ‘collectible’.

Take Love Is In The Bin: it began life as a stunt, a shredded version of Girl with Balloon triggered live during a Sotheby’s auction. What could’ve been a prank turned into a case study in value creation through disruption. Three years later, it sold for £18.6 million. That’s an ROI of over 1,600%, beating just about every financial instrument you can name.

But it’s not just one piece. From Game Changer, created mid-pandemic as a tribute to healthcare workers, to Devolved Parliament, a satirical jab at British politics, Banksy's biggest works are turning cultural relevance into capital appreciation. In 2021 alone, Banksy works cleared nearly $80 million in auction turnover. As the market shifts toward emotionally resonant and politically charged art, Banksy’s brand keeps pushing limits.

Onto this week’s topics🚦

🔴 The Strait of Hormuz Could Close. That’s Not Just Noise. 🚨

The U.S. just struck Iran’s nuclear sites. Iran’s parliament wants to retaliate by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway responsible for 20% of global oil shipments. If that happens, expect more than a modest oil bump.

The real issue isn’t oil, it’s how Tehran saves face. Doing nothing risks internal collapse; doing something reckless could trigger another war. History shows short wars often go long, Vietnam, Iraq, Ukraine. The U.S. says the mission’s “done”, but Tehran isn’t playing by the same script.

The market’s muted response is misleading. Brent oil briefly broke $80 (currently at $67), but didn’t hold. That could change fast if Iran acts.

🟡 Fed’s Quiet Move to Help Banks Absorb More U.S. Debt 💵

The Fed’s about to tweak the Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR), a dry-sounding rule with huge implications. Why care? Because it may allow banks to load up on U.S. Treasuries just as the government floods the market with debt.

This could be the next phase of stealth quantitative easing. Banks wouldn’t be forced to buy Treasuries, but they’d have the green light, just as Washington needs it. The goal? Soothe bond markets, cap yield spikes, and keep risk assets alive.

With U.S. debt topping $37 trillion, somebody has to buy the stuff. This SLR change is how policymakers nudge banks into that role without announcing a new bailout. And the timing? Perfectly aligned with a looming liquidity crunch and the need to refill the Treasury General Account.

🟢 Bitcoin, Gold, and Stocks: Different Assets, Same Trajectory 📈

Recession canceled. Dollar sliding. And Bitcoin? Rocketing past resistance levels. Alongside gold and equities, it’s proving one thing: investors are moving away from fiat exposure, fast.

Bitcoin isn’t just tech optimism anymore, it’s portfolio strategy. With central banks still inflating away debt and the dollar losing more than 10% this year, digital scarcity is looking increasingly rational.

Pompliano calls it “gold on steroids,” and he’s not alone. The idea of a U.S. Bitcoin reserve is now openly discussed. As the M2 money supply swells, the logic is simple: hard assets rise when trust in fiat erodes.

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