Washington And Moscow On The Verge Of Economic Reconciliation
The foreign policy of the United States may be on the verge of a major shift. As diplomatic tensions between Washington and Moscow have continued to escalate in recent years, Donald Trump appears ready to rewrite the rules of the game. The American president, a favorite in the race for the White House, is considering an economic rapprochement with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, thereby breaking somewhat with the sanctions strategy imposed under Joe Biden. Is this a maneuver aimed at weakening the BRICS alliance?
Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to reopen cooperation channels with the United States by putting several key sectors on the table. The aluminum industry is at the center of discussions. Moscow proposes the export of 2 million tons per year to the United States , an initiative that could stabilize a market disrupted by sanctions and the global energy crisis. A return of Boeing to Russia is also being considered, with the possibility for the American aircraft manufacturer to resume its purchases of titanium, an essential material for aeronautics, of which Russia is one of the main global suppliers.
Access to rare earths, essential resources for the technology and military industries, represents another major leverage. Thus, American companies could invest in the extraction and processing of these metals in Russia, a market that remains largely dominated by China, a member of the BRICS bloc. This economic opening, if realized, would mark a significant change of course after years of restrictions and financial sanctions aimed at isolating the Russian economy.
Meanwhile, energy remains a central topic of negotiations. According to several sources, American oil companies are considering reinvesting in Russian offshore exploration, particularly in the Arctic, where Moscow has significant deposits. These advances, although discussed in a still informal framework, reflect a mutual desire to reactivate economic exchanges between the two powers.
Beyond purely economic aspects, discussions also extend to the scientific and technological fields. Elon Musk, known for his long-term vision and willingness to explore new markets, is expected to collaborate with Russian researchers in several strategic sectors. Exchanges are anticipated around artificial intelligence, nuclear technology, and microbiology, all areas where Russia has recognized expertise.
The space sector is not to be left out. Moscow is working on a project for an autonomous orbital station, and discussions are underway for American participation. In parallel, Russia could join the Martian mission programs that SpaceX plans to launch by 2026. Such a partnership would mark a turning point in the relationship between the two nations, placing scientific cooperation at the center after years of diplomatic freeze.
Other more unexpected areas are also being explored, particularly in disaster management. Russia proposes to make its Be-200 water bombing planes available, recognized for their effectiveness in fighting fires, to assist in combating wildfires in California. This initiative, although anecdotal at first glance, illustrates a change of tone in the relationship between the two countries, where pragmatic collaboration could replace systematic confrontation.
Although the rapprochement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin may worry some observers, it would be an exaggeration to claim that their alliance would suffice to put an end to the BRICS . This organization, which encompasses major emerging economies, is based on deep strategic interests, particularly in trade, finance, and geopolitics. The strength of the BRICS lies not only in their relations with Russia but especially in their common desire to provide an alternative to the financially Western-dominated system. Even if Moscow were to strengthen its ties with Washington, it would not challenge the entire dynamics that bind these countries, especially since Beijing and New Delhi have distinct objectives that do not solely depend on Russia’s position.
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The Fear and Greed Index has plummeted into the "Extreme Fear" range, signaling a palpable wave of investor panic and uncertainty rippling through the market. Historically, such profoundly low sentiment levels have frequently coincided with significant market bottoms, presenting tantalizing opportunities for savvy investors to scoop up undervalued assets at bargain prices.
These moments of extreme pessimism often attract contrarian buyers, who view the downturn as a chance to capitalize on fear-driven sell-offs before a potential rebound. However, the reliability of this pattern wanes in the grip of a prolonged bear market, where despair can linger, and recovery remains elusive despite the low readings. Nevertheless, with technical chart patterns and market structures still hinting at latent bullish potential—such as key support levels holding firm or emerging reversal signals—this downturn warrants close attention.
The confluence of extreme fear and these promising structural developments could mark a critical juncture, offering a rare window for strategic accumulation, even amidst the challenges of a bearish environment. As of February 2025, this alignment underscores the importance of monitoring broader market dynamics, including trading volume, on-chain activity, and macroeconomic shifts, to fully assess the opportunity this moment presents.
FTX’s bankruptcy nears $1B in costs, ranking among the most expensive in history
FTX’s bankruptcy costs are approaching $1 billion, making it one of the most expensive Chapter 11 cases in U.S. history.
Court records show that nearly $948 million has been paid to legal and financial firms working on the case, with over $952 million in fees approved so far. Despite the hefty costs, most customers are expected to recover 118% of their claims, a rare outcome in bankruptcy proceedings , according to Bloomberg .
The high fees stem from efforts to recover billions of dollars in assets spread across a complex web of accounts. Lawyers and financial advisers have played a crucial role in this process, with hedge funds that purchased FTX claims at steep discounts among the beneficiaries.
FTX began initial distributions to creditors last week, though legal teams continue to track additional assets.
FTX’s lead law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell, has been paid over $248 million, while financial adviser Alvarez & Marsal has received approximately $306 million, according to Bloomberg. The firm overseeing customer claims and other creditor matters has charged about $110 million.
Sullivan & Cromwell played a key role in guiding the U.S. Treasury and major financial institutions during the 2008 financial crisis. The firm assisted with JPMorgan Chase’s acquisition of Bear Stearns and the government bailout of AIG.
Additionally, the firm provided legal and financial counsel in the aftermath of the Enron bankruptcy, one of the most significant corporate fraud cases in history.
The FTX case’s costs have far exceeded those of other crypto bankruptcies, including Celsius , Genesis, BlockFi, and Voyager Digital, which together incurred about $502 million in expenses.
The bankruptcy still faces ongoing litigation, including a lawsuit against Binance seeking $1.8 billion.
While FTX’s costs are significant, they remain well below those of Lehman Brothers’ $6 billion bankruptcy—the most expensive in U.S. history, according to Bloomberg.