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The first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia with Laurent Poirot, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives.

In today's Markets Outlook, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives, Laurent Poirot, joins CoinDesk's Andy Baehr to discuss the launch of the first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia. He breaks down how this groundbreaking product merges crypto-native innovation with trusted TradFi infrastructure to meet surging institutional demand.

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This episode was hosted by Andy Baehr.

A CDC advisory panel has voted to roll back Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns. If approved, it could reverse 30 years of gains in fighting the liver disease. We also look how Hollywood is responding Netflix purchasing Warner Bros. And we look at a series of economic indicators and how the Federal Reserve might respond to in their meeting next week.

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Fifa's president gave Mr Trump the award at the draw for the 2026 World Cup. It was widely expected that the US president would receive the award, but for critics the move is a threat to Fifa's commitment to political neutrality.

Also in the programme: We reflect on the life and legacy of one of the world's most acclaimed architects, Frank Gehry, who has died, and we head to Bethlehem where, for the first time since 2022, the traditional giant Christmas tree outside the Nativity Church will be lit.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump and Fifa President Gianni Infantino as the Village People perform during the 2026 World Cup draw. Credit: Mandel Ngan/Reuters)

We hear about an extraordinary story of love, friendship and a teenage promise fulfilled over a decade later. When Georgia Barrington was told, at the age of 15, that she'd been born without a womb, she thought her dreams of having a baby were over. So her best friend, Daisy Hope, promised she would one day act as her surrogate. Years later, after having her daughter, she reminded her friend of that offer -- and a few weeks ago gave birth to Georgia's baby girl. The women say it's given them a bond like no other. Also: how the traditionally male world of yodelling is being given a modern, feminist twist. Switzerland's new yodel choirs aim to bring people from all backgrounds together and connect them through song. The world-famous Chinese pianist, Lang Lang, talks about the healing power of music. His charitable foundation runs concerts and creative workshops for children struggling with physical or mental health issues or grief. We find out about how one winner of this year's Earthshot prizes is bringing education to women living on some of Bangladesh's most fragile islands. Plus: a statue honouring the true impact of pregnancy and childbirth on women's bodies; the man bringing the stress-busting sights and sounds of nature to tens of thousands of people around the world; and the young owl rescued from a cement mixer.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Presenter: Ankur Desai. Music composed by Iona Hampson

Was the 2025 Bitcoin top a failure? We analyze why $126k felt underwhelming, compare BTC returns against Gold and the S&P 500, and discuss Meltem Demirors’ thesis on why TradFi is beating DeFi. Plus, why institutional adoption might be making crypto boring.

Today, we unpack the "underwhelming" 2025 bull market. Was $126k really the top? We dive into the data showing Bitcoin's 4-year ROI is virtually indistinguishable from the S&P 500 and Gold. We also break down Meltem Demirors’ viral thread on why "Proof of Stake was a mistake", how TradFi revenue has officially flipped DeFi, and why the meme coin supercycle left retail investors empty-handed.

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Notes:

* BTC 4yr ROI: 12% vs Gold 10%

* TradFi Rev $9.1B vs DeFi $9B

* BTC Range: $70k-$100k for 2 yrs

* '21 Inflation Adj Peak: $84k

* BTC Down 2.6% in 12 Months

* 2025 Bitcoin Top: $126k

Timestamps:

00:00 Start

02:02 Have you seen my bull run?

10:05 Meltem's Thread

16:26 Maker DAO

24:37 Proof of Mistake

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👋Bitcoin Season 2 is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech!

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Ukraine has been hit by a corruption scandal. One that strikes at the core of the political establishment in a way never before seen—and this in a country with a long and turbulent history of corruption. It has toppled President Zelensky’s right-hand man. It could mean the President himself won’t survive re-election when the war is over. And the timing couldn’t be worse—right in the middle of a peace deal Ukraine has had little part in composing.

The Economist’s Ukraine correspondent, Ollie Carroll, has been following the scandal and the investigation that brought it crashing to the surface for months. On The Weekend Intelligence he takes us deep inside "Operation Midas”.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

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Music by Blue dot and Epidemic

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What are supermarkets and consumer brands saying about shoppers? And which companies are getting a boost from higher-income customers? Plus, who are the winners and losers after Netflix’s biggest acquisition? Host Francesca Fontana discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.

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