According to The Kobeissi Letter, rice prices in Japan soared by 98.4% year-over-year in April 2025, marking the largest monthly increase since 1971. Energy prices also rose by 9.3% after the government phased out subsidies in March. These sharp price hikes reflect accelerating inflation, which typically drives heightened interest in cryptocurrency as an inflation hedge. Crypto traders should monitor this trend closely, as rising inflation in major economies like Japan historically fuels increased demand and price action in Bitcoin and other digital assets as alternative stores of value. Source: The Kobeissi Letter on Twitter, May 25, 2025.