Kevin Hassett, the U.S. National Economic Council director and a potential nominee for the Federal Reserve chair, has expressed concerns that the U.S. is significantly lagging in implementing rate cuts. Despite robust growth in the third quarter, Hassett pointed to AI-driven declines in inflation as a reason for more aggressive rate reductions. The recent 25-basis-point cut in December faced three dissenting votes, marking the highest level of opposition since 2019. Hassett's potential nomination has raised alarms about the extent of Trump's influence on the Federal Reserve. Concurrently, global regulators, including those under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, are intensifying their oversight efforts, particularly in areas like Countering the Financing of Terrorism.