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Today’s Menu

• Google Just Made Universal Translators Real

• Bitcoin Faces $70K Target if Japan Hikes Rates Thursday

Markets

TODAY IN AI

Google Just Made Universal Translators Real

Google rolled out a series of new Gemini-powered translation upgrades, including a new beta feature that streams live speech translations to any connected headphones, expanding on a capability previously restricted to its own Pixel Buds hardware.

The new Gemini 2.5 Flash Native Audio model upgrades conversational abilities, instruction following, and real-time info use for live voice agents. The integration into Translate works with any earbuds on Android, supporting 70+ languages while preserving tone, pacing, and cadence of the speaker.

2.5 Flash Native Audio's world knowledge also helps better interpret slang or culturally specific language contextually for more nuanced translations. Google also expanded a Duolingo-style language practice mode to 20 new countries, with new features like streak tracking and pronunciation feedback.

The universal translators from sci-fi are getting closer, with Google's update making cross-language conversation more seamless than ever. Between any headphones now facilitating real-time translation and the tech eventually coming to areas like YouTube and social media, language barriers could disappear in the AI age.

When you can have real-time conversations in 70+ languages using any earbuds you already own, that's not incremental improvement. That's breaking down one of humanity's oldest barriers.

TODAY IN CRYPTO

Bitcoin Faces $70K Target if Japan Hikes Rates Thursdayddd

Bitcoin slipped below $89,000 over the weekend as traders brace for what could be the next major macro risk. The Bank of Japan meets Thursday, and if history is any guide, a rate hike could send Bitcoin much lower.

Every time the BOJ has raised rates since 2024, Bitcoin has dropped over 20%. March 2024 saw -23%, July 2024 saw -26%, January 2025 saw -31%. Now the BOJ is widely expected to hike again, lifting rates to 0.75%. Analysts are warning the pattern could repeat.

Why are Japan's interest rates such a big deal? Simple. For years, traders borrowed yen at near-zero interest rates, converted it to dollars, and used that cash to buy Bitcoin, stocks, and other risk assets. This carry trade flooded global markets with cheap liquidity.

But when the BOJ raises rates, borrowing yen gets more expensive. The yen strengthens. Those trades stop working. Traders are forced to unwind: sell their Bitcoin, buy back yen, repay the loans. That drains liquidity from the system fast. Leverage gets cut. Risk-off takes over.

Multiple analysts are now targeting $70,000 as the next downside level if the BOJ hikes as expected.

Markets are already positioning defensively. Bitcoin is down roughly 7.6% over the past month and trading with subdued volume. Altcoins are bleeding harder. SOL, XRP, DOGE, and ADA all show double-digit monthly losses. ETH is holding slightly better, outperforming Bitcoin weekly, but the broader market remains weak.

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez flagged $86,000 as critical support. If that breaks, a deeper pullback accelerates fast.

The macro calendar is stacked this week. U.S. unemployment data, ADP employment figures, November inflation numbers, and December flash PMI readings all drop before the BOJ decision Thursday. Fed Governors Stephen Miran and Christopher Waller are also scheduled to speak, adding more uncertainty around the rate path.

Short term: range-bound and fragile. Markets are in wait-and-see mode with thin liquidity and no conviction. Medium term: the BOJ decision is the biggest risk. If they hike and the yen surges, the carry trade unwind could drain liquidity fast. And if $86,000 breaks, the path to $70,000 opens up.

Bitcoin doesn't care about Powell's words or Treasury purchases right now. It cares about liquidity. And Thursday could determine how much of it disappears.

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Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Damon James