Biggest Financial News from the Last 24 Hours

Here’s a roundup of the most significant financial developments on August 9, 2025:

1. Gold Futures Surge on U.S. Tariffs

Gold futures soared to a record high of $3,499.30, up 1.3%, following the U.S. imposition of a steep 39% tariff on one-kilo gold bars, primarily impacting Swiss bullion exports. The move heightened trade tensions and widened the gap between New York futures and spot prices.

---

2. Ripple vs. SEC: Legal Battle Ends

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission officially ended its lawsuit against Ripple Labs. Ripple will pay a $125 million fine, providing a landmark conclusion to one of the most high-profile legal skirmishes in the cryptocurrency world.

---

3. Trump’s Crypto Push Sparks Wall Street Shift

Former President Trump’s renewed endorsement of cryptocurrency is fueling a push for tokenized stocks—digital versions of equities that could trade 24/7. This has triggered a clash between traditional finance institutions and crypto firms, prompting the SEC to weigh new regulations to manage this evolving terrain.

---

4. U.S. Education Endowment Tax Impacts Hiring and Aid

A recent tax hike on college endowments is creating budget pressures at wealthy institutions, leading to hiring freezes and the potential for cuts in financial aid. This signals growing fiscal strain in the landscape of higher education funding.

---

Quick Summary

Headline	Impact
Gold prices spike	Trade policy drives commodity volatility
Ripple fine settled	Crypto gets firmer regulatory clarity
Tokenized trading surge	Wall Street adapts to blockchain disruption
Endowment tax pressure	Education sector faces financial strain

---

August 9, 2025, brought dramatic shifts across traditional markets, crypto innovation, and the education sector—highlighting how policy changes ripple through diverse corners of the global economy.