Analyst Preview for Non-Farm Payrolls: Unemployment Rate Could Rise to 4.5%

December 16: The Trump administration launched the "U.S. Tech Force" initiative this Monday—a two-year program to place tech experts across federal agencies. It aims to recruit around 1,000 engineers and tech specialists, assigning them to bodies including the Treasury Department and Department of Defense, where they’ll work on AI infrastructure and other critical tech projects. Coinbase and Robinhood are among nearly 30 private-sector partners, alongside major tech firms like OpenAI, Nvidia, and Microsoft. Participants will earn an annual salary of $150k to $200k, with the chance to pursue roles at private-sector partners post-government service. Sources say the move signals the crypto industry’s shift from a "regulated entity" to a government-recognized tech provider.

Axios reported on December 16 that Elon Musk could run as a Republican in the 2026 midterm elections. He has begun funding 2026 midterm campaign efforts for Republican House and Senate candidates — a sign his relationship with former President Donald Trump has thawed after their rift earlier this year. This summer, amid a dispute with Trump, Musk threatened to launch a third party called the "American Party" to challenge the U.S. two-party system. Now, however, he has firmly returned to the Republican fold.

As of December 16, DefiLlama data shows 24-hour trading volumes for top perpetual DEXs have rebounded sharply from the prior day. Aster leads the pack, with Hyperliquid and Lighter trailing closely. Here’s a breakdown of key metrics for selected platforms: - **Aster** (via https://www.asterdex.com/en-US/referral/aboter): 24h volume ~$9.27B, TVL ~$1.32B, open interest ~$2.5B - **Lighter**: 24h volume ~$7.65B, TVL ~$1.41B, open interest ~$1.72B - **Hyperliquid** (via https://app.hyperliquid.xyz/join/NTOD): 24h volume ~$7.29B, TVL ~$4.33B, open interest ~$7.3B - **EdgeX**: 24h volume ~$4.46B, TVL ~$391M, open interest ~$762M - **ApeX**: 24h volume ~$2.79B, TVL ~$46.34M, open interest ~$87.78M - **Variational**: 24h volume ~$1.52B, TVL ~$66.18M, open interest ~$319M - **Backpack**: 24h volume ~$1.19B, TVL not disclosed, open interest ~$2.02B - **Pacifica** (via https://app.pacifica.fi/?referral=pacbot): 24h volume ~$0.888B, TVL ~$41.45M, open interest ~$59.11M *Note: Me

On December 16, Singapore-based trade finance platform Olea Global closed a $30 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Spanish bank BBVA, with XDC Network, theDOCK and SC Ventures—Standard Chartered Bank’s venture arm and an existing shareholder—also participating. Olea Global will deploy the fresh capital to advance AI-powered analytics and Web3 innovation, as well as scale its operations in high-growth markets.

**December 16 — Perp DEX aggregator vooi announced its airdrop claim window is set to open on December 18 at 8 p.m. Beijing time.** Eligibility snapshots were taken on December 8 at 8 a.m. Beijing time, and the claim period will last 30 days. Airdrops are available to three groups: trading volume holders, V1 legacy users, and winners of the Cookie event. **Tokenomics Breakdown (1 billion total supply):** - 10.53%: Airdrop + community sale - 27.82%: Community development & marketing (including the second-season airdrop) - 17%: Community contributors - 13.65%: Private sale rounds & strategic investors - 31%: The project’s foundation This rewrite uses concise, news-friendly language aligned with American English conventions (e.g., lowercase "p.m./a.m.," clear sectioning, direct phrasing for key details).

December 16 — HTX market data shows Bitcoin rebounded past $87,000, with its 24-hour decline narrowing to 3.25%.