[Federal Reserve's Kashkari: Cryptocurrency 'Basically Useless'] According to Cryptopolitan, Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, expressed sharply contrasting views on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence during a virtual event. He stated that cryptocurrency is 'basically useless' for ordinary people, arguing that it lacks practical use for average consumers. In contrast, he held a positive view of artificial intelligence, describing it as practical, even though most businesses are still in the testing phase. Kashkari expressed optimism about the outlook for the U.S. economy, predicting continued growth and noting that inflation is trending in the right direction. He specifically pointed out signs of cooling in housing prices. On monetary policy, he dismissed the notion that the recent expansion of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet equates to a new round of quantitative easing, emphasizing the importance of the central bank's independence. Regarding tariffs, he stated that their impact has not been as severe as expected, though the long-term effects remain to be seen.