Finance

Smart Money Moves I’m Making Now to Stay Ahead of Tariff Changes

As a financial planner, I know I can’t control the markets—but I can control how I respond to them. Following the steep global market drop after the Trump administration’s tariff announcement, which wiped out $5 trillion in just two days, my wife and I are reassessing our personal finances. We’ve decided to hold off on buying a new car and are taking a closer look at our spending priorities. While we’re staying committed to our long-term investing strategy, we’re also shoring up our emergency fund to increase our financial flexibility. In times of economic uncertainty, it’s all about focusing on the choices we can make to stay grounded and prepared.

TECH

Time Travel? Trump Official Says American Tech Can Alter Time and Space

White House Director of Science and Technology, Michael Kratsios, made a bold statement on Monday, suggesting that the United States possesses technology capable of "manipulating time and space."

Kratsios made the comment while speaking at the Endless Frontiers Retreat in Austin, Texas. His remarks were part of a broader speech focused on what he called “the golden age of American innovation.”

He expressed concern over the pace of modern technological progress, saying that the transformative breakthroughs seen in the mid-20th century have largely slowed down.

“There’s a noticeable gap between the innovation boom of previous decades and the rate of progress today,” he said. “That kind of rapid transformation has become rare.”

Kratsios argued that the current slowdown in advancement is not due to a lack of ability but rather to a lack of initiative. “Stagnation was a choice,” he noted, implying that the U.S. still has untapped potential.

“Our capabilities are far greater than what we’re currently achieving,” he continued. “We have the tools and intelligence to do much more.”

Among those capabilities, Kratsios said, are technologies that can “manipulate time and space.” He elaborated briefly, stating that such tools can collapse distances, enhance growth, and boost productivity.

He did not provide specific examples of what technologies he was referring to, leaving the statement open to interpretation. However, he did later highlight areas like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and semiconductors.

Kratsios' remarks coincided with the Trump administration’s decision to grant exemptions to certain tech products from its sweeping tariffs. Devices such as Apple Watches, laptops, and semiconductor equipment were spared from the latest round of trade penalties on Chinese imports.

These exemptions come amid a broader administration effort to reduce the impact of tariffs on American tech companies while still maintaining economic pressure on China.

In a related move, President Trump also released a fact sheet on his strategy to incorporate technology into federal government operations. The document included a directive urging agencies to fully leverage technology in infrastructure and modernization projects.

CRYPTO

Trump’s Bitcoin Policies Are Turning the U.S. Into a Global Crypto Leader

Forbes contributor Sandy Carter notes that “President Trump’s second administration is already transforming the U.S. cryptocurrency landscape.”

While smaller nations like El Salvador have led the way by adopting bitcoin-friendly policies and building up strategic reserves—amassing around 6,101 BTC—Trump’s renewed focus on crypto is positioning the U.S. to take a leadership role. Despite recent restrictions from the International Monetary Fund on El Salvador’s future bitcoin purchases, the country has already drawn major players like Tether, which is reportedly relocating its headquarters there.

Similar to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Trump actively appealed to crypto enthusiasts during his 2024 presidential campaign. At the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville last July, he made sweeping promises that resonated with the crowd.

According to Forbes contributor Susie Violet Ward, who attended the event, Trump pledged to turn the U.S. into a “bitcoin mining powerhouse” and encouraged supporters to hold onto their bitcoin.

Ward writes that “the convergence of political resilience and financial innovation marks a defining moment for Trump and for bitcoin’s growing acceptance in mainstream politics.”

Although Trump’s tariff policies have stirred uncertainty in traditional markets, his administration’s pivot toward crypto-friendly regulation has brought a degree of stability to the digital asset space.

Crypto prices, while volatile, have so far held above the previous cycle’s peak of around $73,000—something some analysts attribute to the U.S. government’s more measured regulatory stance.

This shift in tone from Washington, D.C., especially under Trump’s leadership, could be a key factor in cementing America’s position as a global crypto superpower.