Looks like Trump just gave the green light on that Russia sanctions bill that's been sitting in limbo forever. Senate can finally move forward after months of basically doing nothing.

Here's what's in it: Trump would get the power to hit countries with serious secondary sanctions and tariffs if they're buying Russian oil and gas. The whole point? Put the squeeze on Putin and force his hand.

Why this matters: Secondary sanctions are no joke—they don't just target Russia directly, they go after anyone doing business with them. Countries have to choose between accessing U.S. markets or keeping their Russian energy deals. That's a massive leverage play.

For energy markets, this could shake things up. If major buyers start backing away from Russian supply, we're talking potential price swings and supply chain shifts. And historically, when traditional financial channels get restricted, that's when alternative systems—including crypto rails—start looking more attractive for cross-border settlements.

Whether this actually moves the needle on Putin's strategy remains to be seen, but the tools are about to be on the table.