Good morning everybody. It is your Daily Crypto News. My name is Matt and it is Thursday, September 18th, 2025. We’re back on a proper mic—out of the box, set up, and rolling—so enjoy the cleaner sound after months of mobile gear. Let’s get into today’s news.
💵 Bitcoin Holds Steady as Fed Cuts Interest Rate
📰 “Sell the News”: Bitcoin Market Shrugs Off Fed Decision
🐧 Pudgy Penguins’ PENGU Token Jumps Double Digits
🇨🇳 China’s Ban on Nvidia Chips Escalates the AI Race
🏦 ASIC Grants Stablecoin Distribution Exemption Without AFS License
📉 Trader Cobb & Market Training via The Grow Me Co
The Fed Cuts 25 bps (Not 50) — Markets Yawn
“They only cut it by 25 bps instead of the 50 bps we all wanted.”
The Fed delivered its first move since December: a 25 bp cut, citing weak job growth and economic uncertainty with inflation at 2.9%. Newly sworn-in Trump appointee Stephen Miran dissented, signaling he wanted 50. Because the cut under-shot crowd hopes, Bitcoin barely budged—slipping about 1% from ~116K to ~115.5K as traders called it “consolidation.”
My Take
“It was not buy the rumor, sell the news… It was buy the rumor and sell because the shit didn’t add up like we wanted it to.” Prediction markets are still upbeat: 61% odds BTC tags 125K before revisiting 105K, and ~82% odds it stays above 105K through September.
China Bans Nvidia’s Weakened AI Chips — Two AI Worlds Emerge
“China is banning NVIDIA AI chips and is marking a turning point in global tech.”
Beijing halted purchases of Nvidia’s export-compliant RTX Pro 6000D, signaling confidence in domestic suppliers like Huawei and Cambricon. Analysts peg $8–16B in annual Nvidia revenue at risk. While gray channels (HK, SG, etc.) will keep some silicone flowing, the strategy is clear: scale clusters of cheaper domestic processors and prioritize efficiency over peak single-chip power.
My Take
“This only paints a partial narrative of the story… but the move reflects the growing confidence of China’s chip sector.” Net effect: a faster split—Western and Chinese AI ecosystems racing in parallel, with very different strengths.
Will Trump Visit China This Year? Markets Split
“Myriad is predicting a 48% chance… Polymarket is looking around 52%.”
Bettors are nearly 50/50 on whether President Trump steps on the mainland before year-end (separate from any Xi meeting elsewhere).
My Take
“If Trump wants a really good parade, then go to China… Imagine seeing Marine One fly over Beijing.” The optics would be enormous.
Australia Eases Stablecoin Licensing for Intermediaries
“ASIC has eased licensing rules… starting with AUDM.”
Australia’s regulator granted targeted exemptions so brokers/custodians dealing in Catena Digital’s AUDM don’t need their own AFS or clearing licenses to provide general advice, market making, or custody. More issuers could follow.
My Take
Pragmatic baby step. Lower friction for compliant, fiat-backed stables is how you grow onshore rails.
Listener Questions
“Plays for Base if a token launches: Aerodrome, Morpho, ALB, BNKR.” — Eternal Codes
Aerodrome = Base liquidity hub + governance; Morpho = optimized borrow/lend; ALB = Base DEX + memecoin-friendly; BNKR = AI-powered trading tools.
My Take
Solid Base-adjacent shortlist for research. Not financial advice.
“Congrats on the new home.” — XXXMen152
My Take
“Everything is so damn expensive… property taxes are immoral.” I’m torn. A house is shelter, not a guaranteed wealth hack. In this rate/inflation/tax regime, most purchases feel like survival, not “getting ahead.”
Bag Updates (Ape Regrets and Possible Catalysts)
“Gemini and XL1 both are now permanent bags, it seems like.”
Gemini slipped from my $35 buy to ~$25 (-30%). XL1 popped, nuked, and now sits as a bag… but listings matter.
My Take
“If XL1 gets a Coinbase listing, that thing’s going to rocket… XYO 10–20x’d on its Coinbase listing.” Not advice—just why I’m not sweating that one yet.
Here Comes the Money — Crypto Prices
As of 8:54 a.m. ET. Fear & Greed: 51 (just above neutral).
Bitcoin (BTC): $117,166 (Market Cap: $2.3T)
Ethereum (ETH): $4,575 (Market Cap: $0.55T)
XRP: $3.12
BNB: $995
Solana (SOL): $246
Dogecoin (DOGE): $0.28
Tron (TRX): $0.346
Cardano (ADA): $0.914
Total Crypto Market Cap: $4.10T
Summary
A smaller-than-hoped 25 bp cut landed with a market shrug. China’s chip ban accelerates the AI bifurcation and chips away at Nvidia’s China story. Prediction markets are split on a Trump China visit; Australia quietly greases the wheels for AUD stablecoins. Listener ideas circle Base-adjacent plays while I wrestle with “house as investment” in a world of expensive everything. Bags are bags—but listings can change trajectories fast.
We’re going live at 11 a.m. ET to talk Crypto Roth IRAs. Paid subs get it first on Substack; it opens to everyone in a week or two.
Happy HODLing, Everyone.
