4491-year-old Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan released from the hospital: Diagnosed with silent myocardial ischemia, will begin a new medication regimen
On May 10, 2025, Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan, accompanied by Empress Emerita Michiko of Japan, was discharged from the University of Tokyo Medical School Hospital in Tokyo and returned to the Sento Imperial Residence. He had been hospitalized for five days for a cardiac examination and was diagnosed with asymptomatic myocardial ischemia, a condition where the heart muscle doesn't receive enough blood flow. The medical team adjusted his treatment plan, adding new medication and recommending the avoidance of excessive exercise to slow down the progression of arteriosclerosis. Emperor Emeritus Akihito had previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery in 2012 and was diagnosed with right heart failure in 2022, and he continues to receive treatment for this condition.
40May 2025: Bitcoin Exceeds $100,000, Influx of Institutional Funds and Policy Changes Drive the Market to New Heights
In May 2025, the price of Bitcoin surpassed $100,000, and market sentiment was optimistic, with analysts predicting the next target would be $160,000. Institutional investors entered the market via ETFs, and some U.S. state governments changed their policies to support Bitcoin. On the technical side, core developers proposed removing the OP_Return limit, which sparked a debate on decentralization. The Ordinals craze continued, boosting miners' revenue, but it challenged Bitcoin's role as a financial platform.
70Stripe introduces stablecoin support for USDC and USDB, available in over 100 countries but not available in Taiwan.
Global payment giant Stripe announced the launch of "Stablecoin Financial Accounts" at their annual developer conference "Stripe Sessions" in May 2025. These accounts, which support USDC issued by Circle and USDB issued by Bridge, are available in over 100 countries. This feature allows businesses and users to hold, receive, and send USD stablecoins, enhancing the efficiency and security of cross-border payments. However, Taiwan is not included in the list of supported countries.
50BlackRock Meets with the SEC: Focus on Crypto ETF Staking and Options Regulation, Regulatory Direction Shifts Towards Collaboration
On May 9, 2025, BlackRock Inc. held a meeting with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cryptocurrency task force to discuss cryptocurrency staking, options, and asset tokenization of exchange-traded products (ETPs) related to cryptocurrencies. The meeting reflected a shift towards a collaborative regulatory approach under the new leadership of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. BlackRock Inc. submitted revised documents for the Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and Ethereum ETF (ETHA), advocating for the inclusion of mechanisms for the physical creation and redemption of assets.
54President Trump of the United States Launches 2025 Trade Negotiations: with Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea Involved, US-China Tariff Talks Show Progress
In May 2025, the Trump administration initiated a new round of trade negotiations, planning to conduct bilateral talks with about 20 countries, including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, with the goal of achieving preliminary results by the end of the year. The negotiations involve both major economies and smaller trade partners, aiming to create a model for future trade agreements. Trump is also considering lowering the punitive tariffs, which are as high as 145%, on China, suggesting there may be room for negotiation in the US-China trade war. Senior US and Chinese officials held talks in Geneva on May 10, marking the first significant trade talks since Trump assumed office.
60The United States and the United Kingdom have reached their first trade agreement: reduction in car tariffs and exemptions on steel and aluminum products, sparking concerns about Taiwan's tariff treatment.
On May 8, 2025, the United States and the United Kingdom announced the signing of the "Economic Prosperity Agreement," which marks the first bilateral trade agreement since President Trump initiated the "Reciprocal Tariff Policy" in April. The agreement includes a reduction in automobile tariffs, the establishment of import quotas, tariff exemptions for steel and aluminum products, and creates $5 billion in business opportunities for U.S. exporters. This move has raised concerns regarding the future tariff treatment of other trade partners, particularly Taiwan, since the U.S. imposes a 32% tariff on most Taiwanese products, with only a few high-tech products being exempt.
70Coinbase launches the first 24/7 Bitcoin and Ethereum futures trading platform in the US, marking a market innovation under CFTC regulation.
On May 9, 2025, Coinbase became the first cryptocurrency exchange in the United States to offer 24/7 Bitcoin and Ethereum futures trading regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This move breaks the traditional financial markets' trading time limitations and marks a significant institutional change in the U.S. crypto derivatives market. Coinbase Derivatives is collaborating with Nodal Clear, Virtu Financial, and others to offer flexible trading options and market access for both retail and institutional investors.
65Zodiac Forecast for May 10, 2025: Aries needs to be careful with work transitions, Taurus is experiencing a cold spell in their relationship, Gemini is under financial pressure, Cancer is dealing with a significant task, Leo is contemplating a career change.
On May 10, 2025, astrological changes will affect the horoscopes of the twelve zodiac signs. Aries should pay attention to the details of work transitions, Taurus is experiencing a relationship cold spell, Gemini's spending habits could lead to financial stress, Cancer is taking on important tasks and feeling emotionally strained, and Leo is at a pivotal point in their career transition. These horoscope insights are intended to help them make more informed decisions in their personal and professional lives.