Wolf Street Economics

Wolf Street Economics Serious Economics. No Hype. Just Signals The Quiet Chessboard of Power Rare earth elements. Lithium. Cobalt. Graphite. These aren’t just ingredients for smartphones or electric vehicles — they’re the quiet backbone of the modern global economy, and increasingly, they’re the front lines of geopolitical confrontation. The story of China’s mineral dominance is no longer a footnote in trade discussions. It is the strategic playbook for a world where power is not only military or financial, but deeply material.  Geoeconomics Isn’t Just About Money  The U.S. once defined power through the dollar, through markets, and through military alliances. But China’s economic rise is telling a different story — one that emphasises physical control over supply chains, bottlenecks, and resource leverage. This is not just trade policy. This is mineral-centric statecraft, and it’s happening in slow motion, with tectonic consequences.  China’s Rare Earth Weaponisation Whe...

By Wolf Street Economics Serious Economics. No Hype. Just Signals. Introduction The future of money is no longer hypothetical; it's happening, now. Over 100 countries are actively researching or deploying Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). These state-backed digital assets are reshaping payments, cross-border trade, and financial sovereignty. But, in a sweeping move earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the development of a digital dollar. Supporters framed it as a defence of liberty. Critics say it's a self-inflicted wound that could compromise America's financial leadership. So, what does this decision really mean: for the U.S. economy, for the dollar, and for America's place in the world? Let's break it down. What the Ban Does On 23 January 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive order that: Prohibits the Federal Reserve and Treasury from launching or developing a Central Bank Digital Currency. Establishes a digit...

By Wolf Street Economics Serious Economics. No Hype. Just Signals. A New Kind of Scramble A century ago, the "Scramble for Africa" evoked colonial conquest; a dark period defined by occupation, exploitation, and boundary lines drawn with no regard for the continent itself. Today, a new scramble is underway. But, this time, it's not for land. It's for the minerals embedded beneath it; the critical inputs powering the green transition and the geopolitics of the 21st century. Cobalt. Lithium. Rare earths. Manganese. Graphite. These aren't just resources. They're leverage. And Africa is central to the global supply of all of them. The Stakes: Energy, Defence, Technology Every major industrial transition in history has been resource-driven. Today is no different. Electric vehicles require cobalt and lithium. Wind turbines need rare earth magnets. Smartphones, solar panels, defence systems, all depend on a reliable supply of niche minerals. And while the West debate...