⚽ FIFA Is Putting On A Halftime Show During The 2026 World Cup Final Game

Word From The Editor
It’s been a while since I’ve written to you directly. I was in a nice little habit of writing almost weekly, then somehow it fell off my radar. For that apologize. I’ll do better!

I’ve been spending a lot of my time over on LinkedIn these days posting content and growing my following. Why? In a word, exposure. My goal in 2025 is to grow this irl Media NEWSletter, and LinkedIn is a key to doing that. Since January 1st I’ve added over 1,000 new followers to bring my count to 4,059.

I’ve had so many people from this newsletter reach out to me on LinkedIn and connect, and that’s led to some great conversations for which I’m profoundly thanksful.

So I’d like to ask you to take a minute to head over to LinkedIn and follow me if you aren’t already: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjthompson/

I’ve begun making video Shorts from each of the articles I include in this newsletter, and I’m starting to post them on LinkedIn. Video on LinkedIn has really taken off in the last few months, and I’m excited to share my content in a new format.

I’ve also had the good fortune to have (6) of my articles in 2025 features on LinkedIn News, and led to my writings reading over 100,000 LinkedIn members. Little old 47-year old me has been able to spur conversations on topics as wide ranging as the “Economic Blackout” article I wrote last week, to FIFA throwing a halftime show for the 2026 World Cup. So again, if you’re not already following me over on LinkedIn I’d love to connect, and hear from you in the comments. Thanks!

In today’s newsletter we discuss FIFA is putting on a halftime show during the 2026 World Cup final game, the Whitehouse is hosting the first ever Crypto Summit today, Warren Buffett thinks tariffs are "an act of war" against American economic interests - and he’s never wrong! Adidas has officially sold the last paid of Yeezy sneakers and is finally done with Kanye West, the SEC drops their investigation into Yuma Labs who created the Bored Ape Yacht Club, and Ryan Reynolds is buying back his agency Maximum Effort from MNTN.

Scroll on!

WHAT WE’RE READING

💰Whitehouse Crypto Summit Focuses Brings Industry Leaders Together To Push For Better Regulation

Today's Whitehouse Crypto Summit is drawing a high-powered assembly of cryptocurrency industry titans, all united in their pursuit of a more accommodating regulatory landscape. The event, held in Washington D.C., is marked by intense discussions centered on the recent establishment of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

VIP attendees include:

• Brad Garlinghouse: CEO of Ripple, advocating for clarity on XRP's regulatory status.

• Brian Armstrong: CEO of Coinbase, pushing for comprehensive exchange regulations.

• David Sacks: The Trump administration's AI and Crypto Czar, who has been very vocal about the new digital asset stockpile.

• Michael Saylor: From MicroStrategy, who is a strong advocate for bitcoin adoption.

• Chris Giancarlo: Former CFTC Chair, bringing regulatory expertise to the discussions.Executives from Gemini, Kraken, and Crypto.com: All seeking clearer guidelines for their operations.

  Key objectives include:

• Establishing clear regulatory frameworks for DeFi platforms and stablecoins.

• Advocating for tax reforms, potentially including reduced capital gains taxes on crypto.

• Creating a regulatory environment that fosters innovation while prioritizing consumer protection.

The summit's atmosphere is charged with anticipation, as attendees hope this administration will take decisive steps to solidify the United States' position as a global leader in the cryptocurrency space. The creation of the strategic bitcoin reserve has created much excitement, and many attendees are wanting to learn the full scope of what that entails.

💵 Business

Warren Buffett's pointed description of tariffs as "an act of war" against American economic interests highlights their potential to disrupt. He argues that by artificially inflating the cost of imported goods, tariffs act as a hidden tax on consumers and businesses.

He’s not wrong.

This disrupts established supply chains, forcing companies to absorb increased costs or pass them on, thus fueling inflation. Historically, tariff implementations have often led to retaliatory measures from trading partners, further destabilizing the economy. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway $BRK.A ( ▼ 1.46% ) hasn’t been immune to the effects of tariffs, so when he speaks the markets should listen.

There is also a growing concern about stagflation arising from the convergence of several economic pressures. For instance, in 2018-2019 during the first Trump administration, the U.S. imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of Chinese goods, triggering retaliatory tariffs and significant global trade disruptions. During this period, while official inflation figures remained relatively contained, businesses reported substantial increases in input costs. More recently, ongoing geopolitical tensions and supply chain bottlenecks, exacerbated by events like the conflict in Ukraine, have contributed to a surge in energy and commodity prices. In the U.S., the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached a 40-year high in 2022, peaking at 9.1%, while GDP growth slowed, raising concerns about a potential stagflationary environment.

The impact of tariffs and trade tensions are not just theoretical.

Tariffs can lead to significant financial consequences. Studies have indicated that the 2018-2019 trade war with China resulted in billions of dollars in lost economic output and increased costs for American businesses. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimated that the tariffs reduced U.S. real income by billions of dollars. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve's analysis suggested that trade tensions contributed to a decline in business investment.

Adding to the complexity, the Federal Reserve’s efforts to combat inflation by raising interest rates can further dampen economic growth, potentially exacerbating the risk of stagflation. The delicate balancing act of controlling inflation without triggering a recession is proving to be a significant challenge for policymakers. The fear is that a prolonged period of high inflation coupled with stagnant or declining economic growth could lead to a protracted period of economic hardship, reminiscent of the stagflation crisis of the 1970s, and don’t no one want that.

So repeat after me:

“Tarrifs are a tax on consumers, and are bad for the economy overall.”

Good. I’m glad we’re all on the same page now.

🗻 Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds, the actor, entrepreneur, and marketing mogul, is poised to regain full ownership of his creative agency Maximum Effort, according to recent SEC filings. This move comes after a period of integration with advertising software company MNTN, signaling a strategic shift for both Reynolds and the agency.

In 2021, Reynolds and his co-founder, George Dewey, sold Maximum Effort to MNTN, the connected TV advertising platform founded by Mark Douglas. This acquisition aimed to blend Maximum Effort's renowned creative capabilities with MNTN's data-driven advertising technology.

Maximum Effort quickly became known for its viral marketing campaigns, characterized by humor, wit, and a keen understanding of online culture. Projects that Maximum Effort had worked on included the Deadpool franchise, Free Guy, IF, Welcome to Wrexham and Shotgun Wedding. The agency's success stemmed from Reynolds' personal brand and his knack for creating engaging content that resonated with audiences.

MNTN sought to enhance its advertising platform by incorporating Maximum Effort's creative expertise. Their goal was to create more impactful and effective advertising campaigns for its clients.

The recent SEC filings have revealed that Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey are now in the process of buying back Maximum Effort. This signals a change in the original strategic alignment, though specific details surrounding the reasons for the reacquisition remain largely undisclosed.

Even though Ryan Reynolds is reacquiring his agency Maximum Effort, he will continue to serve as MNTN's Chief Creative Officer, so it sounds like this is an amicable divestiture, and there’s no hard feelings. The collaboration between Ryan Reynolds and MNTN will continue, albeit in a restructured form. 

The reacquisition of Maximum Effort by Ryan Reynolds marks an interesting development in the advertising and entertainment landscape. It will be interesting to see how this transition influences both Maximum Effort and MNTN in the future. Ryan Reynolds' innovative approach to marketing continues to captivate audiences and redefine industry standards.

👟 Entertainment

Adidas has officially closed the book on its Yeezy partnership, selling their last pair of Yeezy sneakers following Ye's 2022 anti-Semitic remarks. The lucrative but controversial era ended after the October split, leaving Adidas with a sizable inventory. The sell off began in May 2023, with $280.8 million dollars that they’ve earmarked for anti-Semitism combating charities. While the Yeezy line significantly boosted Adidas’s US revenue, its loss impacted their North American finances.

With the sale of the last Yeezy, Adidas has definitively ended its association with the Kanye West and his Yeezy brand. This marks the close of a period defined by both substantial financial gains for both Adidas and Kanye West, and significant controversy brought on by Ye’s ansi-Semitis rants.

The Yeezy line was a major revenue driver for Adidas, particularly in the United States. The termination of the partnership and subsequent inventory liquidation have had a notable impact on Adidas's financial performance, especially in North America, where 2024 sales were notably impacted by the loss of Yeezy sales. To mitigate the impact of the large inventory, Adidas began selling off the remaining Yeezy stock in May 2023. Importantly, Adidas has committed approximately $280.8 million from the sales proceeds to organizations combating anti-Semitism. The sale of the remaining Yeezy inventory generated revenues of approximately $702 million in the year 2024, and approximately $810 million in 2023., for a total of $1.512 billion dollars.

Despite the financial challenges posed by the Yeezy split, Adidas has demonstrated resilience. The company has experienced growth in other markets and with alternative product lines, such as the retro-styled Samba and Gazelle collections. Adidas is now focused on future growth beyond Yeezy. While North American sales saw a 2% decline in 2024 solely due to lower Yeezy sales, the company is projecting growth in other key markets. Adidas is also streamlining its operations, with plans to increase efficiency at its headquarters. Overall Adidas projects operating profits to increase in 2025.

With the sale of the last Yeezy sneakers, Adidas is moving on.

🎤 Fraud

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

It seems like no one ever remembers that saying.

This brings us to the supposed “upcoming” Fyre Festival 2, that is scheduled to occur from May 30 to June 2 on an island off the coast of Mexico called Isla Mujeres.

The only catch is no one from Isla Mujeres’s tourism board or the local government has heard about the event. No hotels or venues on the island have ever been contacted by the (*cough* con artists) behind the Fyre Festival 2 event. Essentially, no one that you’d think would be involved in putting on a concert on a tiny island off the coast of Mexico has ever heard of Fyre Festival 2, but that hasn’t stopped them from beginning to sell tickets to the event with prices ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million per ticket, with some packages costing $25,000. According to Billy McFarland, the founder of the original Fyre Festival, he claims he has already sold 100 tickets at $500 each.

I’ll wait while you stop giggling at the thought of 100 individuals being naive enough to fall for this scam of a music festival for a second time.

If you don’t already know who Billy McFarland is, he was the co-founder mastermind behind the first Fyre Festival, along with rapper Ja Rule, and he was ultimately arrested, charged with fraud, sued for $100 million dollars, was convinced and went to jail for 6 years, and order to pay $27.4 million in restitution to the concert goers, I mean victims, who purchased tickets for the original fake Fyre Festival.

So if you like getting scammed, you don’t have any plans between May 30 to June 2, and you’ve got between $1,400 to $1.1 million to be able to afford a ticket, then come on out to the Fyre Festival 2 in Isla Mujeres, Mexico where the event is allegedly being held. 🤣

🃏 NFTs

Yuga Labs, creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, announced the SEC has closed its investigation, a "huge win" for the NFT sector. This signals a potential shift in regulatory scrutiny. The SEC's decision suggests a growing understanding of the unique nature of NFTs.

This follows a trend of the SEC stepping back from investigations into major crypto players, including recently dropping probes into Coinbase's "Project Diamond," MetaMask's staking features, and Kraken's custody services. These actions hint at a possible recalibration of the SEC's approach, offering breathing room for innovation within the digital asset space.

These decisions are not isolated events. They align with the broader trend of the SEC stepping away from previously initiated probes into major players within the digital asset space.

The SEC has also dismissed investigations into several other prominent companies:

• Robinhood Crypto: The SEC closed its investigation into Robinhood's cryptocurrency operations, a significant reversal after a prior Wells notice.

• Gemini: The cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has also seen the conclusion of an SEC investigation, alleviating prolonged regulatory uncertainty.

• Uniswap Labs: The SEC has also dropped investigations into Uniswap Labs.

• OpenSea: The SEC has also dropped investigations into OpenSea.

These actions suggest a potential recalibration of the SEC's approach to the cryptocurrency industry. This shift hints at a move towards a more nuanced regulatory environment, potentially fostering innovation by providing greater clarity.

Many industry experts attribute this shift to recent changes in SEC leadership, and a move away from regulation through enforcement, and towards a more defined regulatory framework. While the long-term implications of this change remain to be seen, the immediate impact is a sense of relief and optimism within the digital asset community.

⚽ Sports

FIFA is taking a page from the NFL, and introducing a halftime show during their 2026 World Cup Final game. I love how FIFA is embracing innovation, and literally changing how the World Cup final will play out. 

The introduction of a halftime show that brings multiple artists to perform is a first in the history of FIFA matches, and it couldn't come at a better time or for a bigger event considering that 1.5 billion people watched the 2022 World Cup final live on television.

The FIFA World Cup final match will be held in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and none other than Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay are working with FIFA to organize the halftime show and help finalize the list of artists performing. Coldplay has a little bit of experience playing big shows, having played at Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already shaking things up by playing in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first time in FIFA history that the World Cup will be hosted by multiple countries.

There's no way to understate how big the 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be!

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irl Media NEWSLETTER is written, edited, and published by Chris Thompson.