In this week’s wrap-up, we look at the challenges facing Tether’s stablecoin empire, why NASDAQ wants stock markets to stay open 24 hours, Trump’s bold plan to crash the US stock market, why Punjab’s Basmati rice is running the state dry and why pickleball is suddenly India’s hottest sport.

And in this week’s markets edition, we break down why Hyundai Motor India’s related party transactions are raising eyebrows, if it’s impacting governance standards and whether shareholders should be concerned.

Click here to read the full markets story.

But before we begin… We’re on the lookout for a Financial Writer!

If you love finance and have a knack for storytelling, this is your chance to join Finshots. We simplify business and finance for 5,00,000+ readers every day, and now, we’re looking for someone who can break down market trends, economic policies and business stories into crisp, engaging reads.

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Now, let’s dive into what we wrote over the week…

Can Tether sustain its dominance?

Tether (USDT) is the world’s most dominant stablecoin, with a market cap of nearly $140 billion. It’s the backbone of crypto trading and even serves as a hedge against inflation in struggling economies like Argentina and Turkey. But its iron grip on the market might be loosening. Why?

Well, because Binance is delisting Tether in Europe due to new EU crypto regulations. The US and Turkey are cracking down on its use for illicit activities. And competitors like USDC are gaining ground with better transparency.

So, does Tether have what it takes to survive this regulatory storm? Or is the endgame near for the king of stablecoins? We answer these and a few more things in our Monday’s newsletter.

Do we need 24 hour stock markets?

It seems like US investors are going to get busy tracking markets. Because NASDAQ is thinking of keeping the stock market open 24 hours, 5 days a week. That’s right — no more wasting time or waiting for the opening bell. You can trade in the US markets anytime, anywhere around the globe.

On paper, this sounds great. Global investors get more access. Price discovery gets smoother. And exchanges make more money.

But the catch? A non-stop market could lead to liquidity problems and wild price swings. And someone still has to stay awake to keep things running, right?

So, is this the future of stock markets, or is Wall Street about to learn a hard lesson? 

We break it all down in Tuesday’s newsletter. You can read it here.

The US wants its stock market to crash

If you thought Trump wanted stock markets to boom, think again. Because over the past month, US markets have lost trillions in value—and it might actually be a deliberate strategy.

Yeah, you read that right and no–we aren’t making things up. 

You see, the Trump administration is pulling economic levers to shift the US economy from being consumer-driven to investment-driven. They’re using tariffs, cutting government spending and pushing for lower interest rates. And all these moves could send the markets tumbling in the short run.

But here’s the thing. These moves could also supposedly strengthen the economy later.

How’s that?

That’s the question we tackle in our Wednesday’s story.

Punjab's Basmati conundrum

Punjab produces 40% of India’s Basmati rice, and it’s a prized export. The only problem? It’s draining Punjab’s groundwater at an alarming rate.

You see, farmers have been pumping water from underground reserves faster than nature can replenish. And if this continues, Punjab could run out of drinking water in just 30 years (or even sooner)!

So what’s the fix? 

Israel’s water pricing model could be an inspiration. Smarter irrigation techniques could help. 

But will Punjab make the tough choices needed to save its future? Well, it’s a hard sell. And we tell you the reason behind it in Thursday’s newsletter.

India's Pickleball boom!

Move over cricket because there’s a new sport in town. Why do we say that? Because Pickleball is exploding across India, with the number of active players soaring by 275% in just three years.

If you’re wondering why, well, it’s easy to play, cheap to set up and loved by everyone — from Gen Alpha kids to baby boomers. Not only that. Startups and VCs are jumping in on the craze too, betting big on pickleball as India’s next sporting revolution.

But could it get premiumised and lose its grassroots charm? We dive into the pickleball mania, break down its business model and its future in Friday’s newsletter.

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