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Here’s your weekly round-up of what’s been happening in the world of money, markets, and macro trends: Topics

BRICS Accelerates De-Dollarization

Russia is intensifying efforts to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar by working closely with the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) to promote financing in local currencies. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that Russia and its BRICS partners are aligned in their efforts to promote a more balanced, multipolar financial system, citing the detrimental effects of Western sanctions on global economic stability. Under the leadership of Dilma Rousseff, the NDB is advancing initiatives to expand non-dollar financing despite operational challenges inside Russia due to international restrictions.

A broader shift away from the U.S. dollar in international finance could impact currency markets, commodity pricing, and global capital flows. For investors, this development could increase volatility in foreign exchange markets and reduce the relative strength of the U.S. dollar over time. It may also boost long-term demand for assets denominated in emerging market currencies and commodities, such as gold, which are often seen as alternatives to the dollar. Investors seeking diversification might consider increasing exposure to emerging markets or inflation-hedging assets if the trend toward a multipolar currency system gains momentum.

Housing Market Is Easing, But Affordability Still Tight

The U.S. housing market in 2025 shows signs of improvement as mortgage rates are expected to decline modestly and home price growth slows. The average 30-year mortgage rate stood at 6.71% in April, while median home prices reached $403,700—a 2.7% increase from the prior year. A persistent supply shortage continues to drive prices, though inventory is gradually improving. Forecasts suggest moderate price growth through 2026, and more homes may come onto the market if mortgage rates ease further. Meanwhile, the long-term impact of aging baby boomers, dubbed the "silver tsunami", could eventually increase housing supply.

Real estate investors and homeowners may benefit from moderate appreciation in home values, though rapid price gains seen during the pandemic are unlikely to return. For those holding real estate assets, rising inventory and interest rate shifts could affect resale values and rental yields. Potential homebuyers should remain vigilant for local buying opportunities, particularly if rates fall and inventory increases. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) exposed to residential housing could see improved performance if affordability and transaction volumes rise in the coming quarters.

SUI Votes To Recover Stolen Funds

The Sui community overwhelmingly approved a governance proposal, garnering 90% support, to recover $162 million in tokens stolen from the Cetus decentralized exchange (DEX) during a recent $223 million exploit. Validators had previously frozen the stolen assets, which will now be transferred to a multisig trust controlled by Cetus, OtterSec, and the Sui Foundation. Cetus aims to restart operations within a week, introducing compensation contracts and security enhancements to its liquidity market infrastructure. The platform also patched the exploited smart contract vulnerability and offered a $6 million bounty to recover bridged funds.

For investors in DeFi and digital assets, this recovery vote signals a positive shift toward community-led crisis management and security accountability. While the hack underscores ongoing risks in decentralized finance, the rapid response and asset recovery help restore confidence in the Sui ecosystem. Investors holding SUI tokens or exposed to DeFi protocols should closely monitor smart contract audits, governance processes, and risk mitigation tools. This incident also highlights the need to diversify crypto holdings and prioritize protocols with strong recovery frameworks and security practices.

Real Estate Tokenization

Real estate tokenization is accelerating on a global scale, with two major initiatives announced in May. In the U.S., Bergen County, New Jersey signed a five-year deal with blockchain firm Balcony to tokenize $240 billion worth of property deeds on the Avalanche blockchain, making it the largest deed tokenization project in U.S. history. This initiative is expected to streamline deed processing, reduce fraud, and modernize land records. Meanwhile, Dubai launched the MENA region’s first licensed tokenized real estate project, allowing UAE residents to buy fractionalized property shares via the Prypco Mint platform. Supported by major government and banking entities, Dubai’s initiative highlights growing regulatory acceptance and the push to enhance real estate liquidity using blockchain.

These developments indicate increasing institutional and government support for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, particularly in real estate. For investors, this trend could open new doors to traditionally illiquid markets, enabling fractional ownership, faster transactions, and increased transparency. As tokenization becomes more mainstream, real estate-related blockchain projects and infrastructure providers could see significant long-term upside. Investors should watch for growth in Avalanche-based platforms, regulatory progress in RWA tokenization, and new investment vehicles that make property ownership more accessible and liquid across global markets.

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