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BlackRock Multi-Sector

BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust is a closed-end investment management company. It invests on behalf of its clients. The fund's primary investment objective is to provide a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The company seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, a majority of its assets in loan and debt instruments and other investments with similar economic characteristics. Its portfolio consists of Corporate Bonds, Asset-Backed Securities, Preferred Securities and others.

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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) traders are setting their sights on a $64,000 price target as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF experiences a massive $500 million inflow in a single day.

Bitcoin Traders Eye $64K Target As Blackrock&#39;s ETF Rakes In $500M In A Day

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Fred Thiel, the CEO of&nbsp;MARA Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>), discussed on Wednesday the company&#8217;s active collaboration with President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration to bolster Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining in the U.S.
What happened: During the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, Thiel said MARA was committed to mining blocks domestically, highlighting how it labels every Bitcoin block it produces as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/08/40335353/marathon-digital-stamps-all-bitcoins-produced-by-its-mining-pool-as-made-in-usa-after-trum">&#8220;made in USA</a>.&#8221;
"Because we believe it&#8217;s a strategic importance to the U. S., not just having a strategic reserve of Bitcoin but also having a predominant amount of block space such that the U. S. can project power and defend the Bitcoin blockchain, regardless of what other nations do," Thiel emphasized.
Thiel assured that MARA will continue to work closely with the executive and legislative branches of the government, at federal and state levels, to ensure the industry&#8217;s best interests are represented and implemented.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43963817/gamestop-themed-cryptos-soar-after-vivek-ramaswamy-co-founded-firms-ceo-urges-bitcoin-investment-graduate-from-being-meme-stock-to-sector-leader">GameStop-Themed Cryptos Soar After Vivek Ramaswamy Co-Founded Firm&#8217;s CEO Urges Bitcoin Investment: Graduate From Being &#8216;Meme Stock&#8217; To Sector Leader</a>
Why It Matters: President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41081939/trump-wants-us-to-be-bitcoin-mining-capital-of-the-world-core-scientifics-move-to-buy-chip">promised full support for the industry</a> during his presidential campaign last year, with a vision to mine all remaining Bitcoins in the U.S.
Notably, U.S. miners <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43119109/us-bitcoin-miners-boost-mining-capacity-capture-30-of-global-hash-rate-mara-holdings-sees-sharp-jump-in-btc-balance">controlled over 30% of the global network hash rate</a>, according to a research report released last month, marking a 9% increase in market share since April&#8217;s halving
The remarks come in the wake of MARA's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43993028/mara-holdings-q4-earnings-highlights-record-revenue-net-income-bitcoin-holdings-hit-44893-btc">record-breaking fourth-quarter earnings</a>, with revenue and earnings beating analysts' expectations.&nbsp;
The company held 44,893 BTC at the end of the fiscal year, purchasing 15,574 BTC in the fourth quarter
Price Action: Shares of MARA pumped 7.47% in after-hours trading, after closing 0.28% higher at $12.45 during Wednesday's regular session, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Year-to-date, the stock was down 25.76%.
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Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43965125/bybit-hacker-launders-nearly-30-of-hacked-1-4-billion-eth-in-5-days-needs-only-8-10-days-to-finish-the-job">Bybit Hacker Launders Nearly 30% Of Hacked $1.4 Billion ETH In 5 Days — Needs Only 8-10 Days To Finish The Job</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

MARA

MARA Holdings Stock Spikes Over 7% In After-Hours Trading As CEO Assures Commitment To 'Made In USA' Bitcoin Mining

NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang said during the company&#8217;s fourth-quarter&nbsp;earnings call that &#8220;No technology has ever had the opportunity to address a larger part of the world&#8217;s GDP than AI.&#8221;
What Happened: This assertion, made as NVIDIA reported a staggering 78% year-over-year revenue increase to $39.3 billion for the fourth quarter, reflects how artificial intelligence rapidly transcends its initial applications to permeate virtually every economic sector.
Huang elaborated on this vision by emphasizing AI&#8217;s transition from specialized tool to mainstream software. &#8220;AI is modern software&#8230; AI has gone mainstream,&#8221; he noted, highlighting how the technology now underpins everyday services from e-commerce and delivery to education and healthcare.
What makes this claim particularly significant is the historical context. Previous technological revolutions—from steam power to electricity to computing—each transformed substantial portions of economic activity. Yet Huang suggests AI&#8217;s reach could be even more expansive, potentially touching nearly every industry simultaneously.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43987636/bitcoin-tumbles-below-85000-amid-president-trumps-eu-tariff-threats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Tumbles Below $85,000 Amid President Trump's EU Tariff Threats</a>
Why It Matters: The company&#8217;s forecast of $43 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2026 underscores the accelerating adoption curve.
Unlike previous technologies that often required decades to fully permeate industries, AI is being deployed at unprecedented speed. From traditional enterprises to startups, organizations worldwide are racing to implement AI capabilities, creating what Huang describes as the beginnings of a new era just two years into this transition.
Price Action: Nvidia closed at $131.28 on Wednesday, up 3.67%. In after-hours trading, the stock fell 1.49% to $129.32. Year to date, NVDA is down 5.08%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991325/salesforce-shares-sink-after-q4-revenues-miss-estimates-weak-fy26-guidance-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Shares Sink After Q4 Revenues Miss Estimates, Weak FY26 Guidance: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

NVDA

Jensen Huang: 'No Technology Has Ever Touched More Of The World's GDP Than AI' But Nvidia Shares Slip In After-Hours Trading

A Canadian regulator announced Wednesday it will require Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) to pay a fee to cover the costs of enforcing the country&#8217;s Online News Act, adding to growing tensions between Canada and the United States <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43926015/trump-confirms-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-will-take-effect-as-planned">over trade and technology policies</a>.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said the fee will take effect on Apr. 1, with no upper limit established, Reuters reported. Google previously objected during public consultations, arguing it was &#8220;not a rational approach&#8221; to impose all costs on one entity.
Despite these objections, Google had already agreed to pay C$100 million annually to news publishers to maintain news <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/02/19594268/google-launches-paid-news-showcase-platform-in-uk-cnbc">content in search results</a>. Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), the only other company meeting the size threshold under the law, instead chose to block news on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in Canada.
The regulation represents part of a global trend requiring tech giants to compensate news organizations. The CRTC noted in its policy notice that the recovery costs can only be levied on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42238248/google-faces-historic-antitrust-lawsuit-in-canada-demanding-sale-of-key-ad-tech-tools">digital platforms covered by the law</a>.
Price Action: Alphabet&#8217;s Class A stock closed at $172.73 on Wednesday, down 1.53%, while Class C fell 1.51% to $174.70, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991325/salesforce-shares-sink-after-q4-revenues-miss-estimates-weak-fy26-guidance-details" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce Shares Sink After Q4 Revenues Miss Estimates, Weak FY26 Guidance: Details</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

GOOG

GOOGL

Google-Parent Alphabet Gets Slapped With New Fee By Canada To Fund Online News Act —  Tech Policy Tensions Escalate

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has condemned the United Kingdom&#8217;s demand for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) to create a &#8220;backdoor&#8221; to encrypted iCloud accounts, calling it a &#8220;clear and egregious violation of Americans&#8217; privacy and civil liberties.&#8221;
What Happened: In a letter to British lawmakers Wednesday, Gabbard warned the order would &#8220;open up a serious vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors&#8221; and potentially violate the bilateral Cloud Act agreement between the two nations, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/26/tulsi-gabbard-uk-apple">reported</a> The Guardian.
The dispute emerged after the UK Home Office issued a &#8220;technical capability notice&#8221; under the Investigatory Powers Act, requiring Apple to provide access to encrypted user data for law enforcement investigations. In response, Apple removed its Advanced Data Protection encryption feature entirely from the UK market.
Since February, British users attempting to activate ADP have received error messages. The feature, introduced in December 2022, had previously been available as an opt-in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43901425/apple-bows-out-of-uks-cloud-encryption-amid-governments-backdoor-demands">service for UK customers</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43995515/jensen-huang-says-deepseek-was-fantastic-next-gen-models-demand-100x-more-compute-as-nvidia-smashes-earnings-records">Jensen Huang Says &#8216;DeepSeek Was Fantastic:&#8217; Next-Gen Models Demand 100x More Compute As Nvidia Smashes Earnings Records</a>
Why It Matters: Apple&#8217;s decision continues its history of resisting government demands for user data access, reminiscent of its 2015 refusal to create an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41286584/apple-goes-from-waging-encryption-war-with-fbi-to-holding-hush-hush-global-police-summits-an-evolvin">FBI backdoor following the San Bernardino terror attack</a>.
Cybersecurity experts have criticized the UK government&#8217;s move. Professor Alan Woodward called it an &#8220;act of self-harm,&#8221; while privacy advocate Caro Robson noted it was unprecedented for a company to withdraw a product rather than comply with government directives.
Gabbard indicated she was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43901425/apple-bows-out-of-uks-cloud-encryption-amid-governments-backdoor-demands">unaware of the UK&#8217;s order until media reports surfaced</a>. She has requested insights from various U.S. security agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA, and said national security lawyers are working on a legal opinion regarding the implications.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock closed at $240.36 on Wednesday, down 2.70%. In after-hours trading, the stock declined another 0.30%. Year to date, AAPL is down 1.43%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43995014/elon-musks-influence-over-the-government-set-to-increase-trump-orders-all-federal-agencies-to-appoint-a-doge-commissar">Elon Musk&#8217;s Influence Over The Government Set To Increase, Trump Orders All Federal Agencies To Appoint A DOGE Commissar</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

AAPL

Tulsi Gabbard Slams UK's Apple Encryption Demand As 'Egregious Violation' Of Americans' Privacy, Warns Of Cyber Threats

Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, is reportedly looking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in a funding round that would value his business empire at approximately $5 billion.
What Happened: MrBeast is in talks with financial firms and high-net-worth individuals to secure investment for his growing business empire, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/youtube-star-mrbeast-is-raising-money-at-a-5-billion-valuation">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
Donaldson&#8217;s business, which includes brands like Feastables and Lunchly, generated over $400 million in sales last year. He reportedly aims to expand his packaged goods and media ventures.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43325058/mrbeasts-net-worth-hits-1-billion-but-in-2023-he-promised-to-give-away-all-his-money-what-drives-the-youtubers-philanthropy">MrBeast&#8217;s Net Worth Hits $1 Billion—But In 2023, He Promised To &#8216;Give Away&#8217; All His Money. What Drives The YouTuber&#8217;s Philanthropy?</a>
Why It Matters: MrBeast's Amazon Prime reality series, "Beast Games," cost him personally. "I lost tens of millions of dollars," he admitted on the Diary of a CEO podcast, adding that he <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43903423/mrbeast-calls-his-amazon-deal-for-beast-games-a-financial-mistake-this-is-the-price-you-have-to-pay">overspent to make Season 1</a> as strong as possible.
Amazon, which committed $100 million for the first season, has agreed to produce additional seasons but is still negotiating the budget.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
During the same podcast, the YouTube sensation admitted being a billionaire "on paper," but said he has less than a million dollars in his bank account.
Previously, it was reported that MrBeast is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42994923/mrbeast-discussing-buying-tiktok-with-billionaires-to-prevent-us-shutdown-lets-see-if-we-can-pull-this-off">exploring business opportunities</a>, including a potential acquisition of TikTok.
Photo via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43078570/mrbeast-unhappy-with-billionaires-silence-on-feeding-the-hungry-after-overwhelming-interest-about-tiktok-purchase-when-i-fundraise-its-crickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MrBeast Unhappy With Billionaires' Silence On Feeding The Hungry After Overwhelming Interest About TikTok Purchase: ‘When I Fundraise It's Crickets'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

MrBeast Lost Millions On Amazon's 'Beast Games'—Now He's Looking To Raise Hundreds Of Millions To Take His Brand To The Next Level

Despite initial delays with its Blackwell AI chip, Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang has reassured investors that Blackwell Ultra remains on schedule for the second half of 2025.
What Happened: During Nvidia's <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991607/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-demand-for-blackwell-is-amazing">fourth-quarter</a> earnings call, JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur asked Huang about the demand and rollout strategy for Blackwell Ultra, given that the company is still ramping up its Blackwell chips.
In response, Huang acknowledged that the first Blackwell chips faced a "hiccup" that "probably cost us a couple of months," but said that Nvidia has fully recovered. "The team did an amazing job recovering," he said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43995198/jensen-huang-wants-nvidia-and-him-to-be-remembered-for-making-an-extraordinary-impact-as-the-chip-giant-continues-to-expand-its-legacy">Jensen Huang Once Disclosed How He Wants Nvidia And Him Remembered: &#8216;Very Simply…&#8217;</a>
The CEO confirmed that Blackwell Ultra will arrive in the second half of 2025 and will feature "new networking, new memories, and, of course, new processors."
He assured investors that Nvidia's supply chain and partners are fully prepared for the transition and noted that unlike the transition from Hopper to Blackwell, which required significant hardware changes, Blackwell Ultra will "slot right in" without major architectural overhauls.
Beyond Blackwell Ultra, Huang revealed that Nvidia is already working closely with partners on the "click after that," called Verarubin, which he plans to unveil at the upcoming GTC conference.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Last year, the Blackwell chips faced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42028342/blackwell-backfires-nvidias-ai-chips-struggle-with-server-overheating-impacting-meta-microsoft-and-musks-xai-data-centers">significant challenges</a>, including overheating issues when integrated into server racks, impacting major clients like Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Elon Musk&#8217;s xAI.
These overheating problems were reported to have affected the performance of data centers, causing concern among Nvidia&#8217;s partners and customers.
Nvidia reported $39.3 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, marking a 12% increase from the previous quarter and 78% growth year-over-year. This surpassed Wall Street's estimate of $38.05 billion.
At the earnings call, Huang said, "Demand for Blackwell is amazing as reasoning AI adds another scaling law."
Price Action: At the time of writing, Nvidia&#8217;s stock declined 1.49% in after-hours trading to $129.32, after gaining 3.67% earlier on Wednesday and closing at $131.28, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42260222/how-nvidia-ceos-clever-but-nerdy-pick-up-line-turned-a-homework-proposal-into-marriage-while-building-338-trillion-ai-chip-giant-along-the-way" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's Clever Pick-Up Line Turned A Homework Proposal Into Marriage While Building $3.38 Trillion AI Chip Giant Along The Way</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jensen Huang Admits First Nvidia Blackwell Chips Faced Hiccups, Praises Team For Amazing Recovery — Blackwell Ultra On Track For Second Half Of 2025

Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss disclosed Wednesday that the SEC has concluded its investigation into the cryptocurrency exchange with no enforcement action to be taken.
What happened: In an X post, Winklevoss stated that the regulator notified the company&#8217;s litigation counsel of the closure. He called this &#8220;another milestone to the end of the war on crypto.&#8221;
"This comes 699 days after the start of their investigation and 277 days after they sent us a Wells Notice," Winklevoss said. "The SEC cost us tens of millions of dollars in legal bills alone and hundreds of millions in lost productivity, creativity, and innovation."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">On Monday, the SEC informed our litigation counsel <a href="https://twitter.com/JackBaughman27?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackBaughman27</a> that it has closed its investigation into <a href="https://twitter.com/Gemini?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gemini</a> and will not be pursuing an enforcement action against us. This comes 699 days after the start of their investigation and 277 days after they sent us a Wells… <a href="https://t.co/dTjg9CJXVl">pic.twitter.com/dTjg9CJXVl</a>
&mdash; Cameron Winklevoss (@cameron) <a href="https://twitter.com/cameron/status/1894876433979154893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
The conflict dates back at least to Mar. 2023, when <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/43328412/gemini-refuses-to-hire-mit-graduates-unless-university-drops-gary-gensler">Gemini settled with the SEC </a>by paying $21 million in fines for allegedly selling unregistered securities through its Gemini Earn program. The regulatory action was spearheaded by former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
The SEC didn't immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment.&nbsp;
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43963817/gamestop-themed-cryptos-soar-after-vivek-ramaswamy-co-founded-firms-ceo-urges-bitcoin-investment-graduate-from-being-meme-stock-to-sector-leader">GameStop-Themed Cryptos Soar After Vivek Ramaswamy Co-Founded Firm&#8217;s CEO Urges Bitcoin Investment: Graduate From Being &#8216;Meme Stock&#8217; To Sector Leader</a>
Why It Matters: Cameron and his twin brother Tyler have been vocal critics of Gensler. Last month, they announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43329158/crypto-firm-gemini-announce-hiring-freeze-against-mit-due-to-gary-genslers-return">hiring boycott</a> against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Gensler joined as a professor.
The Winklevoss twins made Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) donations to campaigns, including those of President Donald Trump and John Deaton, a pro-cryptocurrency candidate who unsuccessfully ran against Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The development follows a series of similar actions by the SEC, including the <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43883117/coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-says-sec-has-agreed-to-end-bogus-enforcement-case-without-penalties">withdrawal</a> of its enforcement case against cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43914267/sec-drops-investigation-into-robinhoods-crypto-unit">termination of its investigation</a> into Robinhood Markets&#8217; cryptocurrency operations.
Photo via Shutterstock
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SEC Closes Investigation Against Crypto Exchange Gemini, Says Cameron Winklevoss: 'Another Milestone To The End Of The War On Crypto'

Leading cryptocurrencies plunged on Wednesday on fears of a full-blown trade war between the U.S. and Europe.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-4.01%</td>
<td>$84,586.64</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-5.64%</td>
<td>$2,334.17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-3.32%</td>
<td>$0.2024</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin sank below $83,000 for the first time in 15 weeks before pairing losses late in the evening. The leading cryptocurrency was down over 21% since its January all-time high.
In the last 24 hours, BlackRock transferred over $160 million in BTC to Coinbase, which were outflows from iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>), according to Arkham Intelligence.
Similarly, Ethereum plunged to an intraday low of $2,255.05, its lowest since Donald Trump's presidential victory.
The continuing price decline was precipitated by reports of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43987636/bitcoin-tumbles-below-85000-amid-president-trumps-eu-tariff-threats">Trump's threats to impose 25%</a> tariffs on the European Union.
Over $760 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with $606 million in long positions erased.
That said, a recovery to $90,500 would liquidate over $1 billion worth of short positions
Bitcoin's Open Interest fell by 5.45% in the last 24 hours and has collapsed by more than 18% since the beginning of February.
The "Extreme Fear" sentiment strengthened, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, fueling concerns of further downsides.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kaito (KAITO)</td>
<td>+43.73%</td>
<td>$2.48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Story (IP)</td>
<td>+19.36%</td>
<td>$6.83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berachain (BERA)</td>
<td>+9.03%</td>
<td>$7.34</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.77 trillion, shrinking by 4.91% in the last 24 hours.
Major stock averages snapped a losing streak Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.01% to close at 5,956.06 after four consecutive days of ending in the red. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite rose 0.26% to end at 19,075.26. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the outlier, closing 0.43% lower at 43,433.12.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares rose 3.67% ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings report, boosting the overall sentiment. The AI behemoth reported a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991607/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-demand-for-blackwell-is-amazing">higher-than-expected</a> revenue and earnings per share.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and investor Rekt Capital noted the formation of Bitcoin's new "CME Gap" between ~$92,700 and ~$94,000
"This offers some confluence to the idea of price revisiting $93,500 at some point in the future as part of a post-breakdown relief rally," the analyst predicted.
CME gaps are the differences in price between the closing price on a given trading day and the opening price on the following trading day on a Bitcoin futures chart.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin is getting closer to filling the CME Gap that created between $78000 and ~$80700 in November 2024 On this retrace however, Bitcoin has developed a brand new CME Gap between ~$92700 and ~$94000 That new CME Gap is confluent with the Re-Accumulation Range Low… <a href="https://t.co/lDWd6C8nHf">https://t.co/lDWd6C8nHf</a> <a href="https://t.co/8Q58b67uI3">pic.twitter.com/8Q58b67uI3</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1894858387579646277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
In a note to Benzinga, Chris Kline, COO and Co-Founder of BitcoinIRA, called Bitcoin's ongoing consolidation phase a "healthy reset."
"Bitcoin has established a more defined trading range following its impressive run to near all-time highs, demonstrating resilience despite short-term fluctuations," Kline added.
The analyst suggested that such periods of measured trading activity typically precede upward momentum.
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
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$DOGE

IBIT

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Plunge Deeper On Trump's Tariff Threats: Analyst Hopeful BTC Will Touch $93,500 In Relief Rally

On Wednesday, Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) released six months of viewership data, revealing that &#8220;Squid Game&#8221; Season 2 soared to the top in just a few days, while a mix of thrillers, rom-coms, and even a high-profile boxing match captured global audiences.
What Happened: Netflix's latest "What We Watched" report, covering July to December 2024, revealed that subscribers streamed 94 billion hours of content during this period.
Despite being released just days before the year ended, ‘Squid Game' Season 2 led the most-watched shows rankings, amassing 87 million views. Squid Game Season 2 debuted on Dec. 26 and set a new record with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42751367/netflix-posts-record-debut-with-squid-game-season-2-heres-how-many-people-watched-show">68 million views in its first week</a>.
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Following closely behind was ‘The Perfect Couple,' a romantic thriller that garnered 75 million views after its Sept. 5 debut. Ryan Murphy's crime drama ‘Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' took third place with 70 million views.
Netflix's data also highlighted audience interest across different genres. The British spy thriller ‘Black Doves,' Adam Brody's romcom ‘Nobody Wants This,' and the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight—which pulled in 49 million views—all ranked among the most-watched titles.
In the most-watched films category, &#8216;Carry-On,&#8217; released on Dec. 5, topped the list with 137 million views, followed by &#8216;The Union&#8217; (131 million views) and &#8216;Rebel Ridge&#8217; (129 million views).
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It&#8217;s Important: Netflix reported $10.25 billion in revenue <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43114866/netflix-q4-earnings-record-subscribers-nfl-squid-game-push-past-highest-expectations">for the fourth quarter</a>, a 16% increase year-over-year. This exceeded Wall Street's estimate of $10.11 billion, per Benzinga Pro.
The company gained 18.91 million paid subscribers in the quarter, a 15.9% increase from the previous year. Total paid subscribers reached 301.63 million.
Average revenue per member rose 1% year-over-year.
Price Action: Netflix&#8217;s stock rose 0.40% in after-hours trading to $993.99, following a 1.31% gain earlier on Wednesday, closing at $990.06, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo by DANIEL CONSTANTE on Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Entertainment

NFLX

'Squid Game' Season 2 Took Just Days To Dominate Netflix—Here's What Else Viewers Binge-Watched In The Last Six Months

Restaurant spending is the largest potential source of savings for most couples, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/06/39402040/ramit-sethi-says-becoming-a-multimillionaire-is-simple-invest-10-of-your-salary-every-year-with-">financial expert and self-made millionaire Ramit Sethi</a>.
&#8220;For 90% of the people I talk to, food — whether eating out or ordering in — is the biggest category where there&#8217;s money to free up and redirect into something that matters more,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/19/self-made-millionaire-90-percent-of-people-need-to-stop-wasting-so-much-money-in-this-category.html">Sethi told CNBC</a>.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38627546/i-will-teach-you-to-be-rich-author-ramit-sethi-became-a-self-made-millionaire-he-now-shares-his-simp">author and Netflix host</a> identified a host of factors that make dining expenses particularly difficult to control. &#8220;Food is emotional — buying dinner is about a lot more than just hunger. It&#8217;s about convenience, impulsivity, reward and more,&#8221; he explained.
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Tracking those expenses proves especially challenging for couples. The spending often happens across multiple payment methods, locations, and circumstances—from workplace lunches to family pizza nights, social outings, and children&#8217;s meal money sent through payment apps.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a mishmash, and it can easily get away from you,&#8221; Sethi said.
In his new book &#8220;Money for Couples,&#8221; Sethi outlined a 10-step program for partners to develop shared financial vision despite differing money perspectives. He recommends couples consolidate restaurant spending on a single shared credit card to improve tracking and visibility.
Several individuals who worked with Sethi shared their strategies for reducing food spending. Mary found a meat delivery service that enabled more home cooking during weeknights, allowing guilt-free weekend dining.&nbsp;
Trending: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Lauren, someone who worked with Sethi, created themed potluck dinner parties to capture restaurant ambiance at lower cost. Rosana implemented a twice-weekly cooking schedule with planned leftovers, directing her savings toward credit card debt reduction.
&#8220;We were eating out at least five to six days a week; the only meal we were making at home was breakfast!&#8221; Rosana, another colleague, told Sethi. &#8220;Now, we cook every Wednesday and Sunday and we eat leftovers at least one night, which saves us a ton of money.&#8221;
The financial expert said that changing food habits requires partners to be &#8220;kind and supportive of each other,&#8221; noting that &#8220;changing habits around food can be tricky.&#8221;
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Sethi recommends couples start with honest conversations about spending patterns, &#8220;what are you spending too much on? Where can you cut back?&#8221;
His approach focuses on identifying &#8220;invisible spending&#8221; that occurs without conscious decision-making. By bringing food expenses into awareness, couples can redirect funds toward priorities that bring greater satisfaction than convenience meals.
&#8220;The more you have open, honest conversations about these things, the easier it will be to spend meaningfully,&#8221; Sethi said.
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Personal Finance

Self-Made Millionaire Warns 90% Of People Are Throwing Away Money On This Expense

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday that next-generation artificial intelligence models need &#8220;100 times more compute&#8221; than earlier versions, citing new reasoning approaches that process information step by step.
What Happened: &#8220;The amount of computation necessary to do that reasoning process is 100 times more than what we used to do,&#8221; Huang <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/26/nvidia-ceo-huang-says-next-generation-ai-will-need-more-compute.html">told</a> CNBC following the company&#8217;s record-breaking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991607/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-demand-for-blackwell-is-amazing">fourth-quarter earnings report</a>.
The chipmaker reported $39.3 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 78% year-over-year and exceeding analyst expectations of $38.05 billion. Data center revenue, which includes Nvidia&#8217;s market-leading GPUs for AI workloads, surged 93% to $35.6 billion, now representing over 90% of total revenue.
Huang specifically mentioned DeepSeek&#8217;s R1, OpenAI&#8217;s GPT-4 and xAI&#8217;s Grok 3 as models utilizing reasoning processes that require substantially more computing power. This comes despite a 17% stock drop in January triggered by concerns that DeepSeek had found ways to achieve better AI performance with lower infrastructure costs.
&#8220;DeepSeek was fantastic,&#8221; Huang said. &#8220;It was fantastic because it open-sourced a reasoning model that&#8217;s absolutely world class.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43987636/bitcoin-tumbles-below-85000-amid-president-trumps-eu-tariff-threats">Bitcoin Tumbles Below $85,000 Amid President Trump&#8217;s EU Tariff Threats</a>
Why It Matters: The company has faced challenges in China due to export restrictions, with Huang noting that Nvidia&#8217;s percentage of revenue from China has fallen by about half. He added that Nvidia&#8217;s GB200 chip, sold in the United States, can generate AI content 60 times faster than versions sold to China under export controls.
Looking ahead, Nvidia projects first-quarter revenue of $43 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of $41.75 billion. Huang emphasized strong demand for the company&#8217;s new Blackwell AI supercomputers, which achieved &#8220;billions of dollars in sales in its first quarter.&#8221;
&#8220;Demand for Blackwell is amazing as reasoning AI adds another scaling law – increasing compute for training makes models smarter and increasing compute for long thinking makes the answer smarter,&#8221; Huang said.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jensen Huang Says 'DeepSeek Was Fantastic:' Next-Gen Models Demand 100x More Compute As Nvidia Smashes Earnings Records

The U.S. stock market had a mixed session today, with the Nasdaq Composite leading gains, rising about 50 points to close Wednesday at 19,075.26. The S&amp;P 500 edged up slightly, finishing nearly flat with a 0.01% gain at 5,956.06, while the Dow dipped 0.43% to 43,433.12.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
NVIDIA Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)
NVIDIA shares rose by 3.67% to close at $131.28. The stock hit an intraday high of $133.73 and a low of $128.49. The 52-week range stands at $75.61 to $153.13. In after-hours trading, Nvidia shares fell almost 1.5% to $129.32. The company reported strong fourth-quarter financial results, beating both revenue and EPS estimates. The <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991607/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-demand-for-blackwell-is-amazing">demand for Blackwell</a> was highlighted as particularly impressive.
MARA Holdings&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>)
MARA shares closed slightly higher, up 0.28% at $12.45. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $12.87 and the low was $12.21. The 52-week range is $12.05 to $34.09. MARA stock shot up nearly 7.5% in after-hours trading. The digital asset company reported record revenue, net income, and Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) holdings in its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43993028/mara-holdings-q4-earnings-highlights-record-revenue-net-income-bitcoin-holdings-hit-44893-btc">fourth-quarter earnings</a>.
Snowflake Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>)
Snowflake shares rose 1.20% to close at $166.19. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $170.01 and the low was $164.80. The 52-week range is $107.13 to $235.66. Snowflake shares rose over 9% to $181.25 in the after-hours trading. The company beat fourth-quarter estimates and announced the expansion of its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991826/snowflake-beats-q4-estimates-expands-microsoft-partnership-to-include-openai-models">partnership with Microsoft</a> to include OpenAI models.
AppLovin Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>)
AppLovin shares dropped 12.22% to close at $331. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $343.17 and the low was $288.92. The 52-week range is $57.4 to $525.04. The company&#8217;s stock was hit by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43981217/applovin-stock-drops-on-multiple-short-reports-allegations-of-copying-meta-creating-smoke-and-mirrors-game">multiple short reports</a>, with allegations of copying Meta and creating a &#8216;smoke and mirrors&#8217; game.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla shares fell 3.96% to close at $290.80. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $309 and the low was $288.04. The 52-week range is $138.8 to $488.54. A researcher suggested that the EV maker is <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43967968/tesla-unlikely-to-deliver-500000-evs-in-a-quarter-in-2025-says-researcher-doesnt-seem-possible-this-year-either">unlikely to deliver 500,000 vehicles</a> in a quarter in 2025 due to brand sentiment issues.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

SNOW

TSLA

Nvidia, MARA Holdings, Snowflake, Applovin, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is shaking things up when it comes to executive pay. The company recently approved a plan to boost top executives' bonuses from 75% of their base salaries to as much as 200%.&nbsp;
According to a recent <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680125000021/meta-20250213.htm">SEC filing</a>, the goal is to better align executive compensation with company priorities and industry standards. But the timing is raising eyebrows—just a week before announcing these pay increases, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/01/43084473/mark-zuckerbergs-900k-hand-made-1-watch-steals-the-spotlight-as-meta-ends-u-s-fact-checking-partnerships">Meta</a> laid off 3,600 employees, or about 5% of its workforce.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pay Raises at the Top, Layoffs Down Below</h2>
Meta's board defended the move, saying that before this change, executive compensation was well below that of other tech giants.&nbsp;
The company said in the filing that its executive pay was at or below the 15th percentile compared to similar roles at peer companies. The bump to 200% will bring their compensation to around the 50th percentile, making it more competitive in the industry, the filing added.&nbsp;
The announcement comes as many former employees are still processing recent job cuts. Meta said it let go of workers based on performance, but some of those affected are pushing back on that explanation.&nbsp;
A former content manager <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7294825272653094912/">shared on LinkedIn</a> that she had consistently received positive feedback, was never placed on a performance improvement plan, and wasn't given clear expectations before losing her job.
Trending: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/1milsaved"> The percentage may shock you</a>.
Meta isn't alone in making these kinds of decisions. Other tech giants have followed a similar playbook—Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) approved a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-ceo-nadellas-2024-pay-rose-63-79-mln-stock-awards-2024-10-24/">63% raise for CEO Satya Nadella</a> shortly after laying off 1,900 employees in its gaming division.&nbsp;
On top of that, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-approves-bonuses-executives-amid-layoffs-2025-2">Business Insider reported</a> last week that Meta has also reduced the value of annual employee stock options by 10%, despite its stock performing well. That's a big deal since many employees rely on stock-based compensation as a key part of their earnings.
Not surprisingly, industry experts are divided on whether these pay increases are justified. Some argue that competitive compensation is necessary to attract and keep top talent, especially as companies like Meta invest heavily in artificial intelligence and other growth sectors. According to <a href="https://www.ajg.com/using-executive-compensation-data-to-retain-talent/">Gallagher's CEO and Executive Compensation Trends report</a>, making sure executive pay is in line with industry benchmarks is crucial for stability at the leadership level.
See Also: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>
Others warn that growing pay gaps between executives and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43681931/googles-ai-ambitions-spark-cost-cuts-over-25000-employees-offered-buyouts-as-company-focuses-on-speed-and-efficiency">employees</a> can cause major problems. A report from the <a href="https://www.esgdive.com/news/ceo-worker-pay-gap-rising-bad-for-business-report/699590/">Institute for Policy Studies and the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center</a> found that extreme pay disparities can lower productivity and increase turnover.&nbsp;
Public sentiment also leans against these widening gaps—according to a <a href="https://justcapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/JUST-Capital_Worker-CEO-Pay-Survey-Analysis_May-2022-min.pdf">Just Capital poll</a>, 87% of Americans believe the growing difference between CEO and worker pay is a problem.
Even with the controversy, Meta is doing well financially. In its <a href="https://s21.q4cdn.com/399680738/files/doc_financials/2024/q4/Meta-12-31-2024-Exhibit-99-1-FINAL.pdf">Q4 2024 earnings report</a>, the company posted a 21% year-over-year revenue increase, hitting $48.4 billion and exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company credited <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43903135/ais-19-9-trillion-impact-could-create-the-first-trillionaire-but-mark-cuban-says-it-wont-be-musk-or-bezos">AI</a>-driven improvements in advertising and product innovation for the growth.&nbsp;
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MSFT

Meta Boosts Executive Bonuses To 200% As It Slashes 5% Of Workforce—Laid-Off Employees Call It 'Unfair'

Jensen Huang envisions Nvidia Corporation's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) legacy as a transformative force in technology, one that will be remembered for making an "extraordinary impact" on industries beyond gaming.
What Happened: Last month, during an interview with Cleo Abram, Huang was asked that after he is gone, how would he like the world to describe him and Nvidia?
"Very simply, they made an extraordinary impact," Huang said in response, reflecting on Nvidia's rise to becoming one of the most consequential technology companies in the world.
He highlighted the company's commitment to providing cutting-edge computing power to businesses, researchers, and developers across diverse fields.
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Huang also pointed to Nvidia's role in revolutionizing digital biology, material sciences, robotics, and autonomous driving.
"When we look back in a few years&#8230; we'll realize that the whole field of digital biology and life sciences has been transformed. Our whole understanding of material sciences has completely been revolutionized," he said.
The CEO hopes that future generations will recognize Nvidia's influence in shaping cutting-edge industries, stating, "There's this company almost at the epicenter of all of that&#8230; and it happens to be the company that you grew up playing games with."
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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Why It's Important: Nvidia's transformation from a gaming GPU company to a global leader in artificial intelligence, data centers, and high-performance computing is nothing short of remarkable.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/43140861/if-you-invested-1000-in-nvidia-stock-at-ipo-heres-how-much-youd-have-today-2">Founded in 1993</a>, Nvidia initially focused on graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming, but its deep investments in AI and machine learning have propelled it into cloud computing, autonomous vehicles, and enterprise AI applications.
This strategic evolution has made Nvidia the second-largest company by market cap in 2025 at $3.215 trillion, despite a 4.18% decline from 2024, which ended at $3.355 trillion.
The company's meteoric rise has been marked by staggering growth, having surged from just $17.73 billion in 2015 to over $1.223 trillion by 2023, representing a 235.88% year-over-year increase in 2023 alone.
While it faced a sharp decline in 2022, dropping by 50.47%, the rebound in 2023 and 2024 reaffirmed its dominance in the AI and semiconductor industries.
Price Action: Nvidia&#8217;s stock fell 1.23% in after-hours trading to $129.67 after rising 3.67% earlier on Wednesday, closing at $131.28, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jensen Huang Once Disclosed How He Wants Nvidia And Him Remembered: 'Very Simply…'

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday requiring all federal agencies to have a representative from Elon Musk&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency, marking a significant expansion of the billionaire&#8217;s influence over government operations.
What Happened:&nbsp;The executive order mandates that each federal agency appoint a DOGE representative to oversee spending and ensure transparency,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/26/trump-order-federal-agencies-doge-representative-00206359">Politico reports</a>. These representatives will work alongside agency leadership to monitor all expenditures, requiring managers to provide written justifications for payments and implement new systems for tracking expenses.
The order also freezes most government credit cards for 30 days and requires monthly spending reports to be submitted to DOGE administrator&nbsp;Amy Gleason. This information will be made public, except for certain law enforcement and intelligence activities.
&#8220;To ensure Government spending is transparent and Government employees are accountable to the American public,&#8221; the order states, outlining the responsibilities of DOGE representatives.
This move is part of a broader efficiency project led by Trump and Musk, which has already resulted in the termination of numerous federal contracts and the dismissal of thousands of public-sector workers.
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Why It Matters:&nbsp;The expansion of DOGE&#8217;s influence comes at a time when the effectiveness of Trump and Musk&#8217;s cost-cutting measures is being questioned. Despite claims of billions in savings,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43972234/trump-and-elon-musks-cost-cutting-measures-fail-to-curb-rising-us-government-spending-report">government spending continues to rise</a>, primarily due to increasing expenditures on health and retirement programs, as well as growing interest payments.
The initiative has faced significant challenges, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43962278/elon-musks-doge-staffers-resign-refuse-to-dismantle-critical-public-services-white-house-hits-back-saying-trump-wont-be-stopped-by-protests-and-lawsuits">resignation of over 20 civil service employees</a>&nbsp;from DOGE, who cited concerns about dismantling critical public services. This setback, coupled with ongoing court challenges, has raised questions about the long-term viability of the administration&#8217;s approach to government reform.
Public opinion also appears to be mixed on Musk&#8217;s role in government. A recent Emerson College poll found that only 41% of voters approve of Musk&#8217;s performance at DOGE, with 45% disapproving. The poll also revealed limited support for some of DOGE&#8217;s more controversial proposals, such as eliminating the US Agency for International Development and the Department of Education.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration&#8217;s approach, stating, &#8220;Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years.&#8221;
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

Elon Musk's Influence Over The Government Set To Increase, Trump Orders All Federal Agencies To Appoint A DOGE Commissar

SJW Gr (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SJW#NASDAQ">SJW</a>) is looking for FY2025 Adj EPS of $2.90-$3.00 vs $2.95 analyst estimate..

Guidance

SJW Gr Sees FY2025 Adj EPS $2.90-$3.00 vs $2.95 Est

SJW Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SJW#NYSE">SJW</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.55 by 34.55 percent. This is a 25.42 percent increase over earnings of $0.59 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $197.82 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $187.48 million by 5.52 percent. This is a 15.46 percent increase over sales of $171.34 million the same period last year.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

SJW Gr Q4 Adj $0.74 Beats $0.55 Estimate, Sales $197.82M Beat $187.48M Estimate

Market observers warn an expanding U.S. budget deficit and aggressive trade policies under President Donald Trump could test investors&#8217; appetite for government debt, despite campaign promises <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43587245/tariffs-are-the-only-way-to-fund-tax-cuts-without-deficit-expansion-argues-expert-as-it-takes-center-stage-in-donald-trumps-economic-plan">to lower borrowing costs</a>.
Treasury yields have fluctuated since Trump&#8217;s election, initially spiking to 4.8% before settling at 4.6%, according <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/0259de87-9488-404d-b418-cdb26a2a8f89">to the Financial Times</a>. Investors now balance inflation concerns against fears that new tariffs could slow economic growth.
The <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-01/60870-Outlook-2025.pdf">Congressional Budget Office projects</a> the government deficit will reach $1.9 trillion, or 6.2% of GDP, by Sept. 30. It could grow to $2.7 trillion by 2035, far exceeding the 50-year average deficit of 3.8%.
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&#8220;The investment community in general is certainly uncertain, and perhaps nervous, but it&#8217;s not obvious whether they should be more worried about recession or inflation,&#8221; David Kelly, chief global strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, told the Financial Times.
House Republicans <a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-budget-blueprint-trump-tax-cuts-ff2bddf31f4e7cb0928139072392a091">have proposed tax cuts potentially reaching $4.5 trillion</a>, alongside a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase. The <a href="https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/house-budget-allows-too-much-debt">Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates</a> the changes could add $2.8 trillion to the deficit through 2034.
International investors have already shown signs of hesitation. Japan and China, the largest foreign Treasury holders, <a href="https://ticdata.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/slt_table5.html">reduced their positions throughout 2024.</a> Foreign investors sold $50 billion in long-term Treasuries in December alone, the highest amount since May 2021, according to the Financial Times.
&#8220;Is the debt financeable? It is, until it isn&#8217;t,&#8221; Mark Sobel, former Treasury official and U.S. chair of think-tank Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, said.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faces pressure to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43529306/tariffs-are-a-means-to-an-end-bessent-defends-trade-strategy-pushes-growth-plan">maintain market confidence while pursuing expansionary policies</a>. However, analysts suggest U.S. debt retains advantages through market liquidity and the dollar&#8217;s reserve currency status.
The Federal Reserve&#8217;s quantitative tightening program, reducing its Treasury holdings since mid-2022, adds another variable as the government potentially increases debt issuance, the Financial Times reported.
&#8220;The scale and scope of the fiscal deficit could be quite large and could be relatively long term,&#8221; Ed Al-Hussainy, rates analyst at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, told the Financial Times. &#8220;That&#8217;s the main thing that could be damaging for the rates market.&#8221;
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Will Investors Push Back Against Trump's Massive Borrowing Plans?

Citigroup analyst Steven Enders maintains Intuit (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $760 to $726.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

INTU

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Intuit, Lowers Price Target to $726

Maxim Group analyst Tom Forte maintains Beyond (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYON#NYSE">BYON</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $26 to $16.

BYON

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on Beyond, Lowers Price Target to $16

Press Releases

Certain BlackRock Closed-End Funds Announce Estimated Sources of Distributions

Distribution Dates and Amounts Announced for Certain BlackRock Closed-End Funds

Certain BlackRock Funds Announce Expiration and Preliminary Results of Tender Offers

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