The longest government shutdown in US history hits the economy.

The longest government shutdown in US history.

The US government has been shut down for weeks as Congress remains deadlocked over the budget. The dispute centers on cuts to social programs, defense spending, and subsidies for new industries. With both parties blocking each other’s proposals, thousands of federal employees are unpaid, and key public services are limited.

The economic toll is becoming visible. Consumer confidence is falling, tourism revenues are down, and business investments are being delayed. Analysts warn that a prolonged shutdown could slow growth just as the US economy was recovering from earlier rate hikes. Political uncertainty is also increasing volatility in financial markets.

Zcash makes a spectacular comeback.

Privacy coin Zcash has surged more than tenfold in just a month. The renewed interest stems from growing concern over digital privacy at a time when most blockchains are becoming more transparent. Recent technical upgrades, including improved wallet support and faster transactions, have also been well received by the community.

Institutional investors are revisiting the idea of “private money.” While Bitcoin evolved into a transparent financial system, Zcash represents the opposite: untraceable transactions that take place entirely out of public view. In an increasingly transparent world, that kind of privacy feels like a new form of freedom.

Google Finance embraces prediction markets.

Google Finance has announced a partnership with prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi. Users will soon be able to view real-time market data on political, economic, and sports forecasts directly through Google. Once a niche within crypto, prediction markets are now being integrated into one of the world’s largest financial platforms.

This move legitimizes on-chain prediction markets as a valuable source of real-time sentiment. Unlike traditional polls, which are slow and subjective, these markets reflect collective expectations priced in money. The line between traditional financial data and decentralized information markets is fading, marking a major step toward mainstream adoption.