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Iran Draft Deal Demands Sanctions Relief, Hormuz Reopening, and Lift of Oil Sanctions – State Media Says

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A draft memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States has revealed the scale of concessions Tehran is seeking to formally end months of conflict and restore stability to global energy markets, even as President Donald Trump claims a major breakthrough in negotiations may be close.

According to Iran’s state-affiliated Mehr News Agency, the proposed 14-point framework includes a U.S. commitment to suspend oil sanctions and a corresponding Iranian pledge to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days of a final agreement.

The reported draft offers the clearest picture yet of what Tehran wants in exchange for restoring traffic through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, a route that carries roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments.

Under the proposed framework, final negotiations would not formally begin until several preliminary conditions are met. These reportedly include the release of half of Iran’s frozen overseas assets, the suspension of U.S. oil sanctions, and the lifting of the naval blockade imposed during the conflict.

The document also reportedly calls for the withdrawal of all American forces from Iran and demands that the United States and its allies submit reconstruction plans worth at least $300 billion to help rebuild damage caused during the war.

The White House had not publicly commented on the reported draft as of Friday.

The development comes after President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that Washington had made significant progress toward ending the conflict.

“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump said, while cautioning that the agreement remained subject to the “finalization of documents.”

Trump also expressed confidence that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would resume quickly once an agreement is finalized.

“The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened as soon as a deal is signed,” he said.

The proposed reopening would represent a major turning point for global energy markets. Since Iran moved to close the strait following the U.S.-Israeli military campaign that began in February, oil markets have faced severe disruption. Crude prices surged above $100 per barrel, shipping costs increased sharply, and governments around the world warned about the inflationary consequences of prolonged supply disruptions.

The prospect of renewed access to the waterway immediately boosted investor sentiment.

European equities rallied strongly on Friday, with the benchmark STOXX Europe 600 gaining about 1.8%, while most major regional markets advanced roughly 2%. Energy markets moved in the opposite direction as traders priced in the possibility of restored oil flows. U.S. crude futures and Brent crude both fell sharply following reports of progress in negotiations.

The draft agreement also appears to address concerns raised by key U.S. allies in the region. Trump confirmed on Thursday that he had discussed the negotiations with Benjamin Netanyahu and other Middle Eastern leaders.

Netanyahu’s office later confirmed the conversation, noting that while Israel is not directly participating in the negotiations, the Israeli leader welcomed Trump’s assurances regarding the final structure of any agreement.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister appreciated Trump’s “commitment that the final agreement at the conclusion of the negotiations” would contain restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities and other areas of concern.

Geopolitical analysts expect the reported draft to also strengthen Trump’s diplomatic position internationally. Since the outbreak of the conflict, Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with what he viewed as insufficient support from some U.S. allies, particularly in Europe, arguing that Washington had carried a disproportionate share of the burden in confronting Iran and securing global energy supplies.

The European Union’s recent decision to sanction Iranian officials and units linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz has already been viewed as a significant show of support for the U.S.-led effort to restore freedom of navigation. The emergence of a draft framework that could eventually reopen the strait may further reinforce Trump’s argument that international pressure helped bring Tehran to the negotiating table.

However, there are still substantial obstacles.

The demands reported by Iranian media, particularly those involving large-scale reconstruction funding, sanctions relief, and military withdrawals, are likely to face intense scrutiny in Washington and among U.S. allies. Israel has yet to publicly endorse the specific provisions reported in the draft, while negotiations over nuclear restrictions and regional security arrangements are expected to be among the most difficult issues in any final settlement.

Still, the market reaction highlights how critical a breakthrough would be for the global economy. A reopening of Hormuz would ease pressure on energy prices, improve supply chain stability, reduce inflation risks, and remove one of the most significant geopolitical threats hanging over international markets this year.

enza Receives Payment Service Provider Enhanced Licence in Ghana

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enza, one of Africa’s leading payment technology companies, has received a Payment Service Provider (PSP) Enhanced Licence from the Bank of Ghana, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion across Africa’s digital payments landscape.

According to the firm, the PSP Enhanced licence marks an important milestone for Ghana’s financial services sector, and the continued development of its regulated digital payments infrastructure across Africa.

The Bank of Ghana’s licensing and oversight framework has been developed to support a safe, efficient, and innovative payments ecosystem.

The Central Bank’s framework states that effective payment system oversight is intended to promote the safety, security, and reliability of financial transactions, which are vital to monetary and financial stability, while also promoting innovation, competition, and financial inclusion in the use of payment products.

Commenting on the license, Hany Fekry, Group Chief Executive Officer of enza, said,

We are delighted and deeply proud that enza has been awarded a PSP Enhanced licence in Ghana. This is a significant moment for our business and an important step in our mission to liberate the world of payments across Africa. Ghana has long been one of the continent’s most dynamic digital finance markets, with strong regulatory leadership, an innovative financial services sector, and a clear commitment to expanding secure, inclusive, and modern payment services.

“With this licence, enza is well positioned to work with banks, financial institutions, and  fintechs to deliver world-class payments technology that is adapted to Ghana’s local market conditions, supports growth, and enables its partners to serve consumer and business customers more effectively.”

According to enza, its technology will enable customers to differentiate themselves in the Ghanaian market by combining deep African payments expertise with world-class payment solutions designed for speed, scalability, and local relevance.

The company also revealed plans to launch its innovative payment capabilities with its first customers over the coming months.

Founded in 2023, enza empowers Africa’s financial institutions with the innovation needed to compete, liberating the world of payments for more inclusive, opportunity-led commerce.

The company is liberating payments across Africa with the mission to enable more inclusive, opportunity-led commerce. 

enza empowers African banks, fintechs, and financial institutions with market-leading capabilities and innovation to differentiate themselves in their market. 

Its services reduce the cost of transacting, thereby enabling clients to profitably serve larger target markets and establish the foundations of broader financial services relationships.

The company’s innovative payment solutions deliver the flexibility and agility needed to increase competitiveness, capitalize on new markets, and develop new revenue streams through better serving consumer and business customers across Africa.

Last year, enza announced that it secured a $6.75 million investment in a seed equity round co-led by Algebra Ventures and Quona Capital. The company disclosed that the capital infusion will enable it to strengthen its presence across key markets in Africa, fostering deeper partnerships, and improving responsiveness to the localized needs of its growing client base. 

Founded by a team that pioneered payment processing services in Africa more than two decades ago, enza has built a reputation for delivering innovative payment capabilities tailored to the continent’s evolving financial landscape.

The company combines extensive experience in financial services with advanced payment technology to provide access to both global and locally relevant payment methods, helping businesses unlock value and drive more inclusive commerce.

Beyond Ghana, enza maintains operational hubs across several African markets. The company operates from Cape Town, South Africa, and Cairo, Egypt, while also preparing to establish operations in Nigeria.

Through its growing regional presence, enza aims to support banks, fintechs, and financial institutions with scalable payment solutions designed to meet local market needs while connecting them to the broader global payments ecosystem.

The company is on a mission to liberate payments and democratise the commercial possibilities for buyers and sellers across the continent.

Jim Cramer Warns SpaceX IPO Could Trigger Dangerous Valuation Surge as Trading Debut Nears

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CNBC host Jim Cramer has cautioned that the extraordinary demand surrounding SpaceX could create a volatile and potentially unsustainable rally when the company begins trading, warning that excessive investor enthusiasm may become one of the biggest risks facing the historic market debut.

Speaking on CNBC’s Mad Money on Thursday, Cramer said he was concerned that a combination of institutional demand, retail speculation, and anticipated index-fund buying could drive SpaceX shares sharply higher immediately after listing, potentially pushing the company’s valuation to levels detached from market fundamentals.

“Tomorrow at this time, if things really go awry, we may have a new champion, a new largest stock in the world: SpaceX,” Cramer said.

The warning comes as investors prepare for what is expected to be one of the largest and most closely watched initial public offerings in market history. SpaceX has set its IPO price at $135 per share, implying a valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion and instantly placing it among the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies.

Demand has been overwhelming. Reports indicate that investor orders exceeded available shares by roughly four times, underscoring the intense appetite for exposure to Elon Musk’s space, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence ambitions.

While heavy oversubscription is generally viewed as a sign of confidence, Cramer argued that it can also create instability if investors rush into the stock without regard to valuation.

Historically, the healthiest IPOs are those that rise modestly after listing and then build momentum gradually as investors assess the company’s prospects and earnings potential. SpaceX, however, may not follow that script.

The company enters public markets with a powerful combination of factors that could fuel aggressive buying pressure. Retail investors have been granted unusually large access to the offering, brokerage firms have lowered participation requirements, and market participants expect major benchmark indexes to eventually add the stock because of its enormous market capitalization.

That combination has raised concerns that investors may chase the shares higher immediately after trading begins. Cramer singled out inexperienced traders as a particular concern, especially those using market orders rather than limit orders.

“These are new, unguided missiles who can’t be controlled,” he said.

By this statement, Cramer supports growing concerns among market professionals that the IPO could become a speculative event rather than a conventional public offering. Similar dynamics have played out in previous high-profile listings, where first-day euphoria was followed by sharp corrections once excitement faded and investors began focusing on valuation metrics.

The debate surrounding SpaceX is particularly intense because the company is being valued not only on its current businesses, including Starlink and launch services, but also on ambitious long-term opportunities ranging from artificial intelligence infrastructure to space-based computing and future Mars-related projects.

That has led some analysts to assign valuations far beyond traditional earnings-based models.

Cramer warned that a dramatic first-day rally could briefly push SpaceX’s market value into territory normally reserved for the largest corporations in history.

“Can a $4 to $5 trillion stock really be at hand? For a few minutes perhaps, just as long as it takes to gaffe a marlin,” he said.

“That’s a terrific catch, but if it isn’t stuffed and mounted fast, it stinks to high heaven.”

Recent IPO history offers examples of how quickly enthusiasm can reverse. Cramer pointed to companies such as Figma and Cerebras, which enjoyed strong initial trading performances before later retreating from their highs.

“They initially continued to go higher and then they started the long descent,” he said.

The SpaceX debut is also being viewed as a test of investor appetite for a new generation of mega-cap technology listings. The offering comes ahead of anticipated public market debuts from AI leaders, including OpenAI and Anthropic, making its performance a potential barometer for future IPO activity.

A successful and orderly debut could strengthen confidence in the market’s ability to absorb multi-trillion-dollar technology listings. Conversely, a sharp spike followed by a rapid selloff could raise concerns about speculative excess in the AI investment boom.

For that reason, Cramer argued that stability matters more than headline-grabbing gains.

“We want the deals to be under control because otherwise it can be disastrous,” he said.

His warning means that investors still face the unusual challenge of balancing the enormous promise attached to one of the world’s most closely watched private companies against the risk that excitement surrounding the offering may temporarily outpace economic reality.

BOJ Set for Highest Interest Rates Since 1995 as Inflation Risks Eclipse Growth Concerns

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The Bank of Japan appears poised to deliver another historic shift in monetary policy next week, with policymakers expected to raise interest rates to 1%, the highest level in 31 years.

The move underscores how rapidly Japan’s inflation landscape has changed amid rising energy costs, a weak yen, and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and would lift the policy rate from 0.75% and mark the first increase since December, further dismantling the ultra-loose monetary framework that defined Japan’s economy for decades.

The expected decision comes at an unpleasant moment for the central bank, with Governor Kazuo Ueda absent from the June 16 meeting due to hospital treatment, leaving Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida to deliver the post-meeting briefing. However, an economist quoted by Reuters said the central bank governor’s absence won’t affect the decision.

“Ueda’s absence won’t affect the BOJ’s institutional decision to focus on mounting inflation risks rather than ?risks to growth from the Middle East conflict,” said Saisuke Sakai, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute.

The anticipated rate increase would place the BOJ among a growing group of major central banks that have shifted toward tighter monetary settings as inflationary pressures intensify globally. While the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep rates elevated for longer and the European Central Bank has resumed tightening amid energy-driven inflation concerns, Japan’s move would represent a particularly significant departure given its long history of deflation and near-zero rates.

Inflation, Not Growth, Driving Policy

The expected hike is borne of a growing conviction inside the BOJ that inflation risks now outweigh concerns about slowing economic growth.

The outbreak of conflict in the Middle East has pushed energy prices higher, increasing import costs for resource-dependent economies such as Japan. Combined with a persistently weak yen and a tight labor market, these developments have reinforced fears that inflation could become more deeply embedded in the economy.

Recent data underscore those concerns. Japan’s wholesale prices rose 6.3% year-on-year in May, the fastest pace in three years, reflecting higher energy and import costs. Economists expect those pressures to filter through to consumer prices in the second half of the year, potentially pushing core inflation well above the BOJ’s long-standing 2% target once the effects of government subsidies fade.

That outlook has strengthened the argument among policymakers that emergency-era monetary settings are no longer appropriate.

The expected decision also suggests that the BOJ is increasingly willing to prioritize price stability over growth support. For years, policymakers worried that tightening policy prematurely could derail fragile economic recovery. Now, the concern has shifted toward the risk of acting too slowly and allowing inflation expectations to become entrenched.

A Weak Yen Remains a Major Concern

Currency markets are another factor influencing policy deliberations. The yen has remained under pressure as the gap between Japanese and overseas interest rates widened. Although the BOJ has begun normalizing policy, the pace of tightening has lagged that of other central banks, contributing to yen weakness.

The currency is hovering around the psychologically important 160-per-dollar level, a threshold closely watched by investors because it has previously triggered official intervention by Japanese authorities.

A weaker yen boosts export competitiveness but also raises import costs, particularly for fuel, food, and industrial materials. Those higher costs ultimately feed into consumer prices and corporate expenses. As a result, policymakers face a delicate balancing act. Moving too slowly risks further currency depreciation and imported inflation. Moving too aggressively could undermine economic activity at a time when global growth remains uncertain.

This tension is expected to shape the messaging from Uchida following next week’s meeting.

While financial markets have largely priced in a move to 1%, investors are focused on what comes next. A Reuters survey of economists indicates expectations for another rate increase to 1.25% in the fourth quarter, suggesting markets believe Japan’s tightening cycle is far from over.

The challenge for investors will be interpreting guidance from Uchida, who is generally viewed as one of the more cautious voices on the policy board.

Analysts expect him to signal continued vigilance on inflation while avoiding commitments on the timing of future moves. Such an approach would allow the BOJ to retain flexibility amid uncertainty surrounding the economic fallout from the Iran conflict and broader global growth trends.

“While Uchida is seen as among the more dovish members of the board, he’ll probably try to sound fairly hawkish to avoid triggering unwelcome yen falls,” said Nobuyasu Atago, chief economist at Rakuten Securities Economic Research Institute.

“It’s a dilemma. The BOJ won’t want to pre-commit to any timing given so much uncertainty. But sounding too ?cautious about the next move could weaken ?the yen, push up prices and ?heighten the risk of being behind the curve.”

However, excessively cautious communication could reignite yen weakness, potentially forcing policymakers into more aggressive action later. That makes next week’s press conference nearly as important as the rate decision itself.

Bond Market Strategy Under Review

Beyond interest rates, the BOJ is also expected to provide fresh guidance on its government bond purchasing program. The central bank will review its current bond tapering framework, which runs through March next year, and outline plans for fiscal 2027 and beyond.

Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that policymakers may opt to maintain the current pace of bond purchases longer than previously expected. The rationale is to preserve stability in Japan’s government bond market, which has become sensitive to inflation risks and geopolitical uncertainty.

This appears as another balancing act confronting the BOJ. While it seeks to normalize policy and reduce its enormous footprint in financial markets, it must avoid triggering excessive volatility in a bond market that has operated under extraordinary central bank support for years.

The expected move to 1% would be symbolically important because it places Japan’s benchmark rate within the lower end of estimates for a neutral interest rate, generally considered to be between 1.1% and 2.5%.

That milestone suggests the BOJ is entering a new phase of policymaking. The central bank is confronting the traditional challenge faced by its global peers: containing inflation without choking off growth, rather than focusing primarily on stimulating demand and escaping deflation.

The transition marks one of the most significant changes in Japanese monetary policy in decades.

The implications, however, are said to be substantial for investors, businesses, and households. Borrowing costs are likely to continue rising, the era of virtually free money is fading, and policymakers appear willing to tolerate slower growth if that is what is required to prevent inflation from becoming entrenched.

4 Top Crypto Coins in 2026: BlockDAG, Dogecoin, Ondo & Pepe Coin Drive Real Adoption

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Dogecoin keeps riding on community sentiment. Ondo Coin is quietly building a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized networks. Pepe Coin continues attracting traders who want raw volatility exposure on the Ethereum chain. All three hold their place among the top crypto coins worth watching right now.

BlockDAG, though, is operating on a completely different level. The Legacy Sale has crossed 1 billion coins sold, and the structure behind it is what separates it from everything else. Buyers entering at $0.00000044 and holding toward the confirmed $0.05 buy-back price are sitting on a calculable return gap that no meme coin or tokenized asset on this list can come close to matching.

1. BlockDAG (BDAG): $0.05 Buyback Value Creates a Unique Arbitrage Play

Something worth paying close attention to is happening inside the BlockDAG ecosystem right now. The Legacy Sale price sits at $0.00000044 per BDAG coin. The confirmed buy-back price within the program is $0.05 per coin. That gap between the two numbers is not a forecast or a price prediction. It is a structured arbitrage opportunity sitting inside a program backed by the ecosystem itself. Participants who buy through the Legacy Sale and register those coins through the dashboard to sell at the $0.05 buy-back price are working with a defined, calculable return rather than a speculative bet on market conditions.

The milestone of over 1 billion coins sold back to the network already shows how quickly this opportunity is being absorbed. Supply at Legacy Sale prices is not open-ended, and the pace of absorption reflects that clearly.

New buyers also benefit from uncapped daily sell limits when registering coins for the $0.05 exit, which removes the friction that typically slows participation in structured programs like this. Existing holders have their own dedicated buy-back tier priced at $0.00025 per BDAG, though that route operates with organized daily submission limits to keep the system stable.

Among the top crypto coins right now, BlockDAG offers something genuinely different. The return is not dependent on social media cycles or a sudden liquidity wave. It is built into the program structure, and the window for Legacy Sale pricing is narrowing as the available supply gets absorbed at a lightning pace.

2. Dogecoin (DOGE): Infinite Supply Lacks Any Built-In Utility

Dogecoin holds a unique position in crypto history, having turned a widely shared internet joke into a globally traded digital asset with real market weight. A fiercely loyal community and repeated attention from well-known public figures keep liquidity flowing into the coin regularly. That public visibility is exactly why many short-term traders keep DOGE on their radar when looking at top crypto coins during hype-driven market stretches.

Order execution tends to be fast, given the consistently high trading volume across major exchanges. The risks, though, are just as real as the hype. Dogecoin carries no built-in utility, and its token supply has no cap, meaning the value rests entirely on sustained social media attention. The moment sentiment shifts, there is no fundamental floor to slow the decline.

3. Ondo Coin (ONDO): Connects Traditional Finance With DeFi Rails

Ondo Coin has carved out a distinct space by bringing tokenized real-world assets directly onto decentralized finance networks. Structured yield products keep engagement high among DeFi participants who want exposure to institutional-grade financial instruments without leaving the on-chain environment. That unique positioning has earned Ondo a firm spot among the top crypto coins for traders focused on utility-driven setups rather than pure speculation.

That said, the regulatory environment surrounding tokenized securities is still unsettled in many jurisdictions. Any sudden legal development targeting this asset class could restrict liquidity quickly and put significant downward pressure on the token price. Short-term holders carry real exposure to that kind of external risk regardless of the platform’s technological strength.

4. Pepe Coin (PEPE): High Volatility Meme Token on Ethereum Network

Pepe Coin operates as one of the most liquid meme tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, drawing consistent attention from algorithmic trading systems and retail participants alike. The token tends to amplify broader Ethereum market moves, posting sharp gains when decentralized ecosystems see bullish conditions.

That behavior keeps it on the radar of traders scanning top crypto coins for fast, double-digit percentage swings within short timeframes. Deep exchange listings mean large orders can move without creating heavy slippage costs.

The other side of that picture is equally stark. Pepe Coin carries no underlying utility or real-world function whatsoever. Its price behavior is entirely speculative, and when retail enthusiasm exits the market, the token is fully exposed to severe and rapid value loss with nothing fundamental to cushion the fall.

Final Say

Dogecoin, Ondo Coin, and Pepe Coin each bring something recognizable to the table, whether that is community-driven liquidity, DeFi utility, or raw volatility. Each one also carries the kind of exposure that comes with depending heavily on external market conditions to deliver returns.

BlockDAG sits apart from all three. The Legacy Sale buy-back arbitrage puts a confirmed $0.05 exit price against a $0.00000044 entry, giving participants a structured return path rather than a speculative one. With over 1 billion coins already sold back through the Buyback Program and Legacy Sale supply shrinking, the window for this specific opportunity among the top crypto coins is not staying open indefinitely.