Figured Figs -Turning Data to Financial Clarity

On July 14, 2025 , Fedwire—the backbone of U.S. high-value financial transactions—will fully adopt the ISO   20022 messaging standard. While this upgrade may seem technical, its significance runs deeper. ISO   20022 isn’t merely about streamlining payments; it's the foundational technology setting the stage for the global rollout of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the rapid emergence of tokenized assets . ISO   20022 has emerged as the de facto messaging standard underpinning modern payment systems worldwide. Now, it ’ s proving essential to the rollout and interoperability of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). We ’ ll explore why, how major networks already adopted it, and who ’ s next.    Why ISO   20022 Is Ideal for CBDCs Rich, structured data for seamless interoperability ISO   20022 defines a meta-model that supports complex financial messaging — payments, securities, cards, and trade. This standardized syntax makes CBDCs m...

When headlines scream “war in the Middle East” or “major powers on the brink,” investors' first instinct is often to panic. Oil prices spike, global leaders scramble, and the world holds its breath. But what does history tell us about how stock markets behave when major geopolitical crises hit—especially wars that could shake up global oil supplies or power balances? Let’s dig into the numbers and see what the past has to say. The results might surprise you.   History’s Playbook: How SPY Reacted to Major Crises Here’s a look at how the S&P 500 ETF (SPY)—a popular proxy for the U.S. stock market—performed during some of the world’s most dramatic crises of the past few decades: Crisis Event Date of Crisis SPY Before SPY 5 Days Later Change (%) SPY 1 Month Later Change (%) Gulf War Begins (Iraq invades Kuwait) 02-Aug-90 $36.08 $33.81 -6.30% $33.00 ...

In recent years, the landscape of international finance has shifted dramatically.  Traditional stalwarts of U.S. Treasury investments—major economic powers such as China, Germany, and Japan—have consistently reduced their holdings, prompting the U.S. government to look for alternative, reliable investors.  Enter stablecoins: digital currencies designed specifically to maintain a steady value, increasingly stepping into this critical financial role, becoming major, unexpected buyers of U.S. government debt. A Changing Financial Landscape From 2018 through 2024, major global investors significantly altered their investment strategies regarding U.S. Treasuries: China , historically one of the largest holders of U.S. Treasuries, cut its holdings sharply from approximately $1.3 trillion down to about $800 billion by early 2025, driven by geopolitical tensions and strategic diversification. Germany , traditionally a strong ally and consistent investor in U.S. debt, reduced its holdi...

Unlike my all-time favorite in the AI space—Palantir—gene editing pioneers like CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) and Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) have taken a quieter, more patient path. Their growth is less a sudden rocket and more akin to the bamboo: silent, persistent, and soon, ready to shoot skyward. I started paying serious attention to this field after reading The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson, a gripping account of Jennifer Doudna and the birth of CRISPR technology. It struck me how gene editing is a lot like patching the code of an operating system—sometimes you fix a glitch, sometimes you rebuild from the root. But here, the “software” is human life itself. So why write about it now? Because just like bamboo, the moment when growth bursts into view is near. The recent, highly publicized “failed” trial at Intellia wasn’t a setback, but a historic leap. It marked the world’s first true gene insertion attempt inside a human body—a stepping stone that every innovator knows paves...