Option chain shows key data for BMW's stock options at various strike prices and expiration dates. Traders use this information to analyze potential trades and assess market sentiment for BMW.

BMW (OTC:BMWKY) Stock, Option Chain

BMW is a premium passenger car and motorcycle original equipment manufacturer, home to the brands BMW, Mini Cooper, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. BMW sold 2.8 million vehicles in 2023 (2.6 million being passenger cars). In terms of sales volumes, Asia and Europe are BMW's largest regions, contributing 39% and 38%, respectively. BMW's core competence is in the "affordable" luxury channel, with limited exposure to high-end priced vehicles.

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Elon Musk is accused of interfering in Germany&#39;s 2025 elections by supporting the far-right party. With Tesla&#39;s Gigafactory in Germany and his other interests, he could impact policies and financial markets.

Elon Musk Blasted As &#39;Intrusive And Presumptuous&#39; For &#39;Trying To Influence&#39; German Elections Toward Far-Right Party

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MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG by Mercedes Benz Group AG

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European Automakers Criticize Chinese EV Tariffs

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Nokia to modernize Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation's communication network for improved safety
<ul>
<li>Vietnam's Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) will use Nokia's multi-service network solution to upgrade its legacy network systems to enhance the performance and flexibility of its air traffic network.</li>
<li>Nokia's trusted mission-critical Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) networking solution will make air traffic management more robust, and Vietnam's airways safer.</li>
<li>Nokia Quantum-Safe Network (QSN)-ready network will provide unparalleled security and reliability to VATM.</li>
</ul>

Reported Earlier, Nokia To Upgrade Vietnam's Air Traffic Communication Network With Mission-Critical Technology For Enhanced Safety

ValueAct Holdings, L.P. disclosed its third-quarter portfolio in a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 14. 
What Happened: The activist hedge fund made significant adjustments, adding shares in Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), and Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYV#NYSE">LYV</a>) while exiting its stake in Spotify Technology (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>).
Since then, these investments have seen notable price changes. Here's a breakdown:
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Holdings</th>
<th>Stock Units</th>
<th>Share Price on Nov. 14 ($)</th>
<th>Price Today ($)</th>
<th>Percentage Change</th>
<th>Value on Nov. 14 ($)</th>
<th>Value as of Feb. 5 ($)</th>
<td>Gains/Losses ($)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta</td>
<td>211,500</td>
<td>577.16</td>
<td>710.31</td>
<td>23.06%</td>
<td>122.07 million</td>
<td>150.23 million</td>
<td>+28 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Visa</td>
<td>373,600</td>
<td>308.25</td>
<td>348.22</td>
<td>12.96%</td>
<td>115.16 million</td>
<td>130.09 million</td>
<td>+15 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Live Nation</td>
<td>1.01 million</td>
<td>129.19</td>
<td>148.44</td>
<td>14.90%</td>
<td>131.08 million</td>
<td>150.61 million</td>
<td>+20 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Spotify (Exited Position)</td>
<td>676,553</td>
<td>477.50</td>
<td>617.89</td>
<td>29.40%</td>
<td>302.76 million</td>
<td>418.04 million</td>
<td>+115 million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Since filing, Live Nation, Visa, and Meta have all experienced double-digit growth. Spotify recorded the biggest rise, though, at 29.40%, despite ValueAct&#8217;s exit.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43494650/disney-q1-earnings-powered-by-moana-2-and-mufasa-theme-parks-loses-streaming-subscribers">Disney Q1 Earnings: Revenue And EPS Beat, Moana 2 and Mufasa Power Operating Income, 700K Drop In Streaming Subscribers</a>
Why It Matters: ValueAct, known for its activist investment approach, typically uses an event-driven strategy to influence corporate policy and enhance company value. CEO Mason Morfit leads the firm, which has built a reputation for a collaborative, constructivist style compared to more confrontational activist funds. A ValueAct <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42006101/activist-hedge-fund-valueact-boosts-meta-stake-with-121m-bet-but-ceo-morfit-supports-mark-zuckerbergs-ai-vision-heres-what-investors-should-know">spokesperson confirmed to Benzinga</a> that the firm has built a $1 billion stake in Meta.
Co-founded by Jeff Ubben in 2000 in San Francisco, ValueAct Capital has a long history of investing in technology companies and other growth sectors. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43494246/private-employment-rises-by-183000-beats-estimates-in-january-consumer-facing-industries-drove-hiring">Private Employment Rises By 183,000, Beats Estimates In January: &#8216;Consumer-Facing Industries Drove Hiring&#8217;</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

SPOT

Jeff Ubben's ValueAct Bet On Meta, Visa And Exited Spotify In Q3: Was It A Clever Move?

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has recruited top talent from Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google DeepMind. This recruitment is part of an effort led by Mustafa Suleyman to expand Microsoft&#8217;s AI lab in Zurich.
What Happened: Microsoft has onboarded Marco Tagliasacchi and Zalán Borsos. The duo who played key roles in developing the AI podcasting feature &#8220;Audio Overviews,&#8221; announced their move on Tuesday.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05235247/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-10.22.39%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-768410" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: LinkedIn</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05233849/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-10.08.43%E2%80%AFAM-1024x430.png" alt="" class="wp-image-768396" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: LinkedIn</figcaption></figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43425734/apple-watch-faces-are-a-mess-series-10s-biggest-feature-is-limited-to-just-four-faces-frustrating-users" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Watch Faces Are A Mess — Series 10's Biggest Feature Is Limited To Just Four Faces, Frustrating Users</a>
The company has also hired Matthias Minderer, formerly of DeepMind, to spearhead efforts in artificial intelligence image analysis.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05235402/Screenshot-2025-02-06-at-10.23.56%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-768411" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: LinkedIn</figcaption></figure>
The new hires will join Microsoft&#8217;s AI lab in Zurich, focusing on developing next-generation AI technologies.
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: The recruitment is part of a strategic move by Suleyman, who co-founded DeepMind in 2010, left Google in 2022, and joined Microsoft in March 2024, to improve the company&#8217;s capabilities in creating advanced AI agents.
Last year also, Suleyman recruited Dominic King, former head of DeepMind&#8217;s health unit, to spearhead <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42453191/microsoft-plans-to-lead-the-charge-in-ai-healthcare-as-mustafa-suleyman-recruits-google-deepmind-talent-report">Microsoft&#8217;s AI health team</a> in London.
Microsoft&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43320124/microsoft-shares-slide-after-q2-results-cloud-revenue-misses-expectations-details">second-quarter revenue</a> reached $69.6 billion surpassing the $68.78 billion analyst consensus estimate.
At the time, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43320124/microsoft-shares-slide-after-q2-results-cloud-revenue-misses-expectations-details">Microsoft CEO</a> Satya Nadella said, &#8220;Already, our AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $13 billion, up 175% year-over-year.&#8221;
Price Action: Microsoft's stock gained 0.11% in after-hours trading, settling at $413.73. Earlier on Wednesday, it closed at $413.29, marking a 0.22% increase, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Image 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>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43221770/apples-ipad-turns-15-today-heres-a-throwback-to-when-steve-jobs-explained-called-it-the-third-category-after-phones-and-notebooks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPad Turns 15 Today: Here&#8217;s A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The ‘Third Category&#8217; After Phones And Notebooks</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.

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

Microsoft Poaches Top DeepMind AI Talent Behind Google's Podcasting Feature—Mustafa Suleyman's Zurich AI Lab Expands

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Reported Earlier, Australia Trade Balance For December 5.085B Vs. 6.520B Est.; 6.792B (Revised) Prior

The Official TRUMP (TRUMP) coin has surged 4.27% in the last 24 hours, reaching $18.50, with a market cap of $3.7 billion. Despite this short-term rally, TRUMP remains down 75.36% from its all-time high of $75.35 set on Jan. 19. 
What Happened: This dramatic drop follows a volatile market phase, where it <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">lost 42% of its value in the last week</a>.
The meme coin, originally launched by CIC Digital, a group linked to President Donald Trump's campaign, reached an astonishing market cap of nearly $75 billion within days of its launch. 
However, its meteoric rise has been matched by sharp declines, as investors face uncertainty amid broader market conditions and recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43152664/trump-memecoin-achieved-this-valuation-milestone-inside-two-days-that-took-jeff-bezos-amazon-over-13-years">tariff announcements by Trump</a>.
Despite the volatility, TRUMP has still managed to maintain its position as one of the top meme coins, even after falling from 14th to 32nd in market cap rankings, according <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/#About">to</a> CoinMarketCap.
At the time of writing, TRUMP was the second-best performing coin behind FTX Token (FTT), according to data from CoinMarketCap. TRUMP outpaced Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), and meme-king Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) over a 24-hour period.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43507132/stocks-rebound-google-eyes-worst-drop-in-a-year-gold-shatters-fresh-records-whats-driving-markets-wednesday">Stocks Rebound, Google Eyes Worst Drop In A Year, Gold Shatters Fresh Records: What&#8217;s Driving Markets Wednesday?</a>
Why It Matters: The coin has also started to see real-world use cases, with online merchants and travel websites like Travala accepting TRUMP as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">payment through Solana Pay</a>. 
The involvement of insiders linked to CIC Digital, who control a large portion of the coin's supply, has raised concerns over potential market manipulation and its <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43335432/trump-meme-coin-now-accepted-for-merchandise-purchases">impact on price stability</a>.
Price Action: The Official TRUMP coin is currently priced at $18.50, up 4.09% in the last 24 hours. It has experienced a significant 171.24% increase since its inception, according <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/#About">to</a> CoinMarketCap. 
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43517995/amazons-remarkable-alexa-is-coming-heres-what-to-expect-from-the-ai-overhaul-and-its-potential-10-monthly-fee">Amazon&#8217;s &#8216;Remarkable Alexa&#8217; Is Coming—Here&#8217;s What To Expect From The AI Overhaul And Its Potential $10 Monthly Fee</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.

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TRUMP Meme Coin Jumps 4.27%, Outpaces Bitcoin, Ethereum And Dogecoin, But It's Still No Where Near January Highs

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is gearing up to introduce a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/42055771/amazons-ai-powered-alexa-upgrade-faces-latency-compatibility-concerns-report">major AI upgrade</a> to its Alexa voice assistant with a press event reportedly in New York on Feb. 26.
What Happened: Internally known as &#8220;Banyan&#8221; or &#8220;Remarkable Alexa,&#8221; the upgrade has experienced delays due to concerns about response quality and speed. A final decision on its readiness is anticipated on Feb. 14 during a &#8220;Go/No-go&#8221; meeting, reported Reuters.
The enhanced Alexa is designed to improve user interaction by processing multiple prompts in sequence and functioning as an &#8220;agent&#8221; for users. This represents a shift from the current version, which typically handles one request at a time.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43506632/mark-zuckerberg-once-told-sam-altman-that-the-most-painful-moment-in-his-life-was-not-rejecting-a-1">Mark Zuckerberg Once Told Sam Altman That The Most Painful Moment In His Life Was Not Rejecting A $1 Billion Buyout Offer For Facebook But Losing An Entire Team — Here&#8217;s Why&nbsp;</a>
Amazon intends to initially offer the upgraded service to a limited user base for free, although a monthly fee ranging from $5 to $10 was being considered.
The existing &#8220;Classic Alexa&#8221; will continue to be available at no cost, but it will not receive any new features, the report noted, citing one person familiar with the matter.
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: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42176396/amazon-anthropic">Amazon&#8217;s $8 billion investment</a> in AI startup Anthropic will bolster the new Alexa&#8217;s AI capabilities.
This overhaul is viewed as a strategic effort to convert Alexa&#8217;s extensive user base into paying customers, addressing the current service&#8217;s lack of profitability, the report added.
The Alexa division has been grappling with profitability issues, reportedly incurring a $5 billion loss in 2022. According <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/06/24/amazon-ai-enabled-remarkable-alexa-paid-version-subscription-investment-cuts/">to</a> Bank of America, the success of &#8220;Remarkable Alexa&#8221; is crucial, as further investment cuts could occur if the paid version does not gain traction.
Last month, OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT also entered the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42993561/is-openais-chatgpt-about-to-make-amazons-alexa-apples-siri-and-google-assistant-a-thing-of-the-past">virtual assistant market</a> with its &#8220;Tasks&#8221; feature, challenging established players like Amazon&#8217;s Alexa, Apple&#8217;s Siri, and Google&#8217;s Assistant.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has chosen to integrate its &#8220;Apple Intelligence&#8221; into Siri, using the capabilities of ChatGPT.
In 2023, Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google Assistant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/10/35094259/google-unveils-assistant-with-bard-powered-by-generative-ai-for-android-ios">was upgraded with the features</a> of Bard, which has since been rebranded as Gemini.
Image 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>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43517468/google-joins-meta-amazon-in-winding-up-dei-hiring-memo-reveals-details">Google Joins Meta, Amazon In Winding Up DEI Hiring — Memo Reveals Details</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

AAPL

AMZN

Amazon's 'Remarkable Alexa' Is Coming—Here's What To Expect From The AI Overhaul And Its Potential $10 Monthly Fee

Nissan Motor Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSANY#OTC">NSANY</a>) CEO Makoto Uchida has informed Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>) CEO Toshihiro Mibe of his intention to terminate discussions on a potential merger, Asahi <a href="https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15613735">reported</a> Thursday. 
Nissan&#8217;s stock rose 2.09% to 395 Japanese Yen ($2.59) on the Tokyo exchange, while Honda fell 4.10% to 1,438 Japanese Yen ($9.44). 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43511849/strategy-q4-earnings-bitcoin-treasury-company-spends-205b-on-btc-shares-inch-higher-despite-revenue-miss">Strategy Q4 Earnings: Bitcoin Treasury Company Spends $20.5B On BTC, Shares Inch Higher Despite Revenue Miss</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

NSANY

Nissan CEO Seeks To End Honda Merger Talks: Report

U.S. markets were in the green on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite rising approximately 40 points to 19,692.33. The Dow Jones saw a slight increase of 0.7%, reaching 44,873.28, while the S&amp;P 500 experienced a rise of nearly 0.4%, settling at 6,061.48.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day.
MicroStrategy Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>)
MicroStrategy&#8217;s stock fell by 3.33%, closing at $336.70. The stock hit an intraday high of $352.36 and a low of $333.55, with a 52-week range of $46.75 to $542.99. The company has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43506411/microstrategy-rebrands-as-strategy-unveils-new-logo-and-bitcoin-focused-identity">rebranded</a> as Strategy, emphasizing its focus on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and artificial intelligence. The new logo features a stylized &#8220;B,&#8221; symbolizing its position as a major Bitcoin Treasury Company. The Michael Saylor-led company reported a <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43511849/strategy-q4-earnings-bitcoin-treasury-company-spends-205b-on-btc-shares-inch-higher-despite-revenue-miss">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $120.7 million, missing the analyst estimate.
Qualcomm Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)
Qualcomm&#8217;s shares rose by 1.63%, closing at $175.86. The stock reached an intraday high of $177 and a low of $169.90, with a 52-week high of $230.63 and a low of $142.43. The company reported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43509115/qualcomm-q1-earnings-highlights-record-revenue-eps-beat-estimates">record first-quarter revenue</a>&nbsp;of $11.7 billion, surpassing analyst expectations. This growth is attributed to its diversification initiatives.
Arm Holdings Plc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>)
Arm Holdings saw a 6.82% increase in its stock price, closing at $173.26. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $173.95, with a low of $162.50, and a 52-week range of $71.80 to $188.75. The company reported&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43513408/arm-holdings-stock-slides-on-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-revised-guidance-and-more">third-quarter earnings</a>&nbsp;that exceeded expectations, with revenue of $983 million and adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share.
Ford Motor Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>)
Ford&#8217;s stock declined by 1.48%, closing at $10.01. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $10.32, with a low of $9.96, and a 52-week range of $9.49 to $14.85. The company reported&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43512137/ford-shares-skid-after-q4-report-details">fourth-quarter earnings</a>&nbsp;of 39 cents per share, beating the 33-cent estimate, with revenue of $48.2 billion.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock dropped by 3.58%, closing at $378.17. The stock reached an intraday high of $388.39 and a low of $375.53, with a 52-week range of $138.80 to $488.54. Reports suggest that Elon Musk may meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, potentially discussing <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43489837/elon-musk-likely-to-meet-india-pm-later-this-month-report">Tesla and Starlink launches in India</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43517403/cathie-wood-sells-palantir-shares-as-rally-cools-down-ark-invest-also-dumps-nearly-7-million-worth-of-robinhood-stock">Cathie Wood Sells Palantir Shares As Rally Cools Down, Ark Invest Also Dumps Nearly $7 Million Worth Of Robinhood Stock</a></li>
</ul>
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.
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>

MSTR

QCOM

Microstrategy, Qualcomm, Arm Holdings, Ford, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Broader cryptocurrency markets saw declines over the past 24 hours, with total market capitalization dropping 2.01% to $3.17 trillion. 
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8.15 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-1.23%</td>
<td>$97,104.13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td>
<td>-1.90%</td>
<td>$$2,798.85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td>
<td>-2.21%</td>
<td>$$0.259</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened:&nbsp;Bitcoin briefly dipped below $97,000, touching a low of $96,174.83, while other major altcoins also faced downward pressure. The pullback follows recent remarks from Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson, who urged caution regarding interest rate cuts in the current economic environment.
Jefferson stated Tuesday that the central bank should be careful when adjusting interest rates amid economic uncertainty. His comments aligned with the Federal Open Market Committee's recent decision to maintain the federal funds rate at 4.25% to 4.5%, according to a CNBC report. The Fed has previously cut rates by a total of one percentage point over three meetings after aggressive hikes to combat inflation.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8.15 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP)</td>
<td>+6.82%</td>
<td>$18.77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FTX Token (FTT)</td>
<td>+5.24%</td>
<td>$2.04</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monero (XMR)</td>
<td>+4.18%</td>
<td>$229.48</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Traditional markets painted a mixed picture amid crypto's pullback. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317.24 points, or 0.71%, to close at 44,873.28, while the S&amp;P 500 gained 0.39% to reach 6,061.48. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.19% to 19,692.33. Meanwhile, Dow futures saw modest movement, rising 55.00 points in after-hours trading.
Market sentiment remains mixed, with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index at 49, signaling a neutral stance. 
In the past 24 hours, 88,973 traders were liquidated, with total liquidations amounting to $185.46 million, according to CoinGlass. 
While Bitcoin struggled, Ethereum saw <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43484922/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-drops-as-trumps-crypto-czar-announces-oversight-committee-eric-trump-says-great-time-to-add-eth">increased interest following social media commentary</a> on from Eric Trump on Tuesday, who suggested on X that it was a &#8220;great time to add $ETH.&#8221; Altcoins continued to show volatility, with Dogecoin trading lower.
Analyst Notes: Analyst Rekt Capital highlighted on X that previous altcoin cycles gained momentum when Bitcoin's dominance rejected the 71% level. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Dominance The strongest Altseasons have occurred every time Bitcoin Dominance rejected from 71%<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crypto?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crypto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/4rC6Se2PxR">https://t.co/4rC6Se2PxR</a> <a href="https://t.co/15bd906Jg3">pic.twitter.com/15bd906Jg3</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1887233489587589254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Separately, cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe provided a long-term bullish outlook, suggesting that Bitcoin could reach $500,000 and Ethereum $20,000 in an extended bull cycle. He compared the current market setup to previous speculative booms, including the dot-com era and the 2017 crypto surge, emphasizing institutional adoption and government support as key drivers.
Van de Poppe also pointed to macroeconomic shifts that could impact crypto, including potential devaluation strategies by China and increased institutional involvement in Bitcoin. He noted that the U.S. government appears increasingly supportive of digital assets, with financial institutions expanding custody services and regulatory attitudes shifting toward broader adoption. 
Despite the recent bearish sentiment, he argued that altcoins remain undervalued and that the long-term crypto cycle still has room for upside movement. &#8220;The current sentiment of the markets is ultra bearish as the biggest daily capitulation in the history of the crypto markets has been taking place,&#8221; he wrote. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The perfect storm for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> at $500,000 and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> at $20,000. The current sentiment of the markets is ultra bearish as the biggest daily capitulation in the history of the crypto markets has been taking place. Understandable. What&#39;s next? Well, if your positions were… <a href="https://t.co/q7IvIXM7VU">pic.twitter.com/q7IvIXM7VU</a>
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1887169793322897758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43511849/strategy-q4-earnings-bitcoin-treasury-company-spends-205b-on-btc-shares-inch-higher-despite-revenue-miss">Strategy Q4 Earnings: Bitcoin Treasury Company Spends $20.5B On BTC, Shares Inch Higher Despite Revenue Miss</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.

Bitcoin, Dogecoin Drop, Ethereum Drop After Fed Vice Chair Pours Cold Water On Rate Cut Expectations: Top Trader Sees BTC At $500,000 And ETH At $20,000

Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) has reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42835400/mcdonalds-scales-back-diversity-initiatives-amid-conservative-pressure-cites-shifting-legal-landscape">decided to discontinue</a> its diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring targets.
What Happened: Fiona Cicconi, Google&#8217;s head of HR, cites the company&#8217;s obligations as a federal contractor and recent U.S. court rulings and executive orders as reasons for the change, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/google/607012/google-dei-hiring-goals-internal-memo">reported</a> The Verge, citing a memo obtained on Wednesday.
The Wall Street Journal also <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/google-kills-diversity-hiring-targets-04433d7c?st=4f5Pst">noted</a> that Google has removed a statement from its SEC reports about its commitment to DEI.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43487551/sundar-pichai-acknowledges-deepseeks-ai-advancementsbut-says-googles-gemini-still-leads-in-cost-performance-and-latency">Sundar Pichai Downplays DeepSeek Threat — Google&#8217;s Gemini Still Leads In Cost, Performance, And Latency</a>
Google spokesperson Chloe Cooper told the publication that the company remains dedicated to fostering a workplace where all employees can thrive.
Alphabet did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Why It Matters: Earlier, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Target Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), and McDonald's Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) also announced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43214683/target-ends-dei-program-following-trumps-call-to-eliminate-illegal-preferences-expert-calls-it-brand-suicide-for-retail-giant-with-diverse-customer-base">discontinuation of their</a> DEI programs.
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) also decided to wind down on some of its DEI initiatives.&nbsp;
The decisions came after President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to dismantle DEI programs and urged private companies to stop what he called &#8220;illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.&#8221;
Alphabet reported <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/25/02/43479274/alphabet-q4-earnings-highlights-ai-cloud-youtube-momentum-continues-capex-guidance-sends-shares-lower">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $96.5 billion, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. However, it narrowly missed the Street consensus estimate of $96.6 billion.
Price Action: As of this writing, Alphabet's Class A shares were up 0.089% in after-hours trading, while Class C shares rose 0.052%. Earlier on Wednesday, Class A shares closed 7.29% lower at $191.33, and Class C shares dropped 6.94% to $193.30, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43221770/apples-ipad-turns-15-today-heres-a-throwback-to-when-steve-jobs-explained-called-it-the-third-category-after-phones-and-notebooks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple&#8217;s iPad Turns 15 Today: Here&#8217;s A Throwback To When Steve Jobs Explained Called It The ‘Third Category&#8217; After Phones And Notebooks</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.

Google Joins Meta, Amazon In Winding Up DEI Hiring — Memo Reveals Details

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) and Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>). These trades occurred amid notable developments in both companies, drawing attention from investors and market analysts.
The Palantir Trade
On Wednesday, Ark Invest, through its ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>), decided to offload 5,495 shares of Palantir. This move came as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/43497092/palantir-stock-surges-after-blockbuster-earnings-whats-next">Palantir&#8217;s stock soared</a> following its impressive fourth-quarter earnings report. The company reported a 36% year-over-year increase in total revenue, with substantial growth in its U.S. commercial and government sectors. The Palantir rally has since simmered down with the stock ending 2.4% lower at $101.36 on Wednesday. This valued the Ark trade at approximately $556,973.
Palantir&#8217;s stock performance has been remarkable, showing a 34.8% upside since 2025 began.The retail investing community actively engaging with the company&#8217;s prospects. The recent earnings report has only fueled this enthusiasm, showcasing the company&#8217;s strong performance and future potential.
Notably, Ark <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43484615/cathie-wood-led-ark-invest-dumps-7m-worth-of-palantir-stock-amid-searing-rally">chose to offload</a> nearly $7.4 million worth of Palantir shares a day earlier amid the searing rally in the stock on Tuesday.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/02/43502478/microstrategy-stock-caught-in-a-tug-of-war-will-q4-earnings-tip-the-scale">MicroStrategy Stock Caught In A Tug-Of-War: Will Q4 Earnings Tip The Scale?</a>
The Robinhood Trade
Ark Invest also made moves involving Robinhood through its flagship ARKK fund. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports-betting/25/02/43482999/robinhood-ends-super-bowl-lix-bets-plan-after-cftc-complaint">recently faced challenges</a> after its plan to offer event contracts for Super Bowl LIX was halted due to a complaint from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Robinhood had intended to launch these contracts in collaboration with Kalshi, but the plan was scrapped following regulatory pressure.
Despite this setback, Robinhood is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43310167/robinhood-expands-trading-services-with-bitcoin-oil-gold-futures">expanding its trading services</a>, including futures trading for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), oil, and gold. This strategic move into derivative markets indicates Robinhood&#8217;s efforts to diversify its offerings and attract a broader user base. The developments surrounding Robinhood highlight the dynamic nature of the financial services industry and the challenges companies face in navigating regulatory landscapes.
On Wednesday, Ark sold 127,952 Robinhood stocks worth $6.9 million. Robinhood shares ended the day 3.1% higher at $54.20.
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Crisper Therapeutics (CRSP): Ark Invest purchased 159,139 shares through ARKK and 28,199 shares through ARKG.</li>
<li>10X Genomics Inc (TXG): Acquired 77,594 shares via ARKK.</li>
<li>Twist Bioscience Corp (TWST): Bought 15,291 shares from ARKK.</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT): Sold 100 shares through ARKQ.</li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43517095/elon-musks-lenders-cash-in-55-billion-on-thanks-to-investor-demand-for-x-loans-report">Elon Musk&#8217;s Lenders Cash In $5.5 Billion On Thanks To Investor Demand For X Loans: Report</a></li>
</ul>
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>

ARKK

HOOD

PLTR

Cathie Wood Sells Palantir Shares As Rally Cools Down, Ark Invest Also Dumps Nearly $7 Million Worth Of Robinhood Stock

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story has been updated to correct a typographical error.
Before Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) became the world's most valuable semiconductor company, it was on the brink of bankruptcy—until a single letter from Jensen Huang to Taiwan Semiconductor's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) Morris Chang changed everything.  
What Happened: In 1997, Nvidia was struggling financially, with just 50 to 60 employees and an increasingly uncertain future.
Facing potential bankruptcy, Nvidia CEO wrote a letter to Chang, pleading for the company's support in manufacturing a critical chip that could turn Nvidia's fortunes around.
In a podcast, Chang recalled time saying that in his letter, Huang explained that Nvidia had developed promising technology but was struggling to find a reliable foundry partner.
Nvidia had already approached TSMC's San Jose office but had received no response. The letter, mailed to TSMC's general post office, eventually made its way to Chang, sparking curiosity and irritation.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/01/43274796/jensen-huang-loses-20b-in-wealth-how-deepseek-hit-nvidia-stock-and-worlds-richest-people"> Jensen Huang Loses $20B In Wealth: How DeepSeek Hit Nvidia Stock And World&#8217;s Richest People</a>
"The letter raised my curiosity and also irritated me a little bit," Chang recalled. "I had always told our salespeople that we should never be negligent in talking to future customers, even if the customer seems to be a very small one."&nbsp;&nbsp;
Coincidentally, Chang was planning a visit to the U.S. the following week. He decided to call Huang personally using the phone number printed on the letter's stationery.
Huang answered amidst background noise, seemingly in the middle of a heated discussion with his team. But as soon as he realized who was calling, he silenced the room and excitedly shouted, "Quiet! Morris Chang is calling me!"&nbsp;&nbsp;
The two arranged to meet in person, where Huang made a bold prediction. Despite Nvidia's financial troubles, he was confident that its upcoming chip—whose name Chang couldn't recall—would not only save the company but also make Nvidia one of TSMC's major customers.
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.
"That was quite a bold statement," Chang admitted. "We were a billion-dollar company at that time, and to be a major customer of ours, he would have to produce revenue for us of at least $50 million a year."&nbsp;&nbsp;
Against all odds, Huang's prediction came true. The chip was a massive success, not only rescuing Nvidia from financial collapse but also cementing its position as a leading force in the gaming and graphics industry.
Within two to three years, Nvidia had become one of TSMC's top five customers.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="TSMC founder Morris Chang" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZItbr4ZJnc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Today, Nvidia and TSMC's partnership, potentially valued in billions of dollars, is one of the most important in the semiconductor industry.
TSMC manufactures the world's most advanced chips, including Nvidia's AI-focused GPUs, which have driven the company's market valuation to $3.057 trillion.&nbsp;
Nvidia's AI processors, such as the H100 and upcoming Blackwell GPUs, rely on TSMC's cutting-edge fabrication technology. Nvidia contributed 11% of TSMC&#8217;s revenue in 2023, according to estimates from semiconductor analyst Dan Nystedt. The company paid TSMC $7.73 billion that year for its services.
<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">Nvidia became TSMC's 2nd biggest customer last year, as the AI chip maker paid NT$241.15 billion (US$7.73 billion) for TSMC's chip manufacturing services and accounted for 11% of net revenue. 1/3 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSM&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/semiconductors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#semiconductors</a>
&mdash; Dan Nystedt (@dnystedt) <a href="https://twitter.com/dnystedt/status/1763361992864415930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Earlier it was revealed in Chang's biography that in 2013 he offered Huang the position of CEO at his company. However, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42270404/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-was-offered-ceo-role-at-rival-company-in-2013-i-already-have-a-job">Nvidia CEO declined</a>, stating, &#8220;I already have a job.&#8221;
TSMC currently has a market capitalization of $1.081 trillion, making it the 10th most valuable company in the world.
However, reports from last year suggested strain in Nvidia and TSMC's three-decade partnership. The Information <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/nvidia-and-tsmcs-lucrative-ai-alliance-shows-signs-of-stress">reported</a> that TSMC believes Nvidia rushed production despite knowing about Blackwell&#8217;s defects. Meanwhile, Nvidia blamed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40800236/nvidia-faces-investor-scrutiny-over-blackwell-chip-delays-big-revenue-expected-report">delays on TSMC's new</a> semiconductor packaging technology.
Photo Courtesy: Glen photo on Shutterstock.com
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.

NVDA

Jensen Huang Once Wrote A Desperate Letter To Save Nvidia But Also Forged A Partnership Worth Billions With TSMC: Morris Chang Reveals The Story (UPDATED)

Banks have successfully sold $5.5 billion in loans tied to X Corp., the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43373012/elon-musk-bringing-advertisers-back-to-x-amazon-boosts-spending-apple-considers-return">surging investor demand</a>. 
What Happened: The sale, which was initially planned at $3 billion, was expanded due to heightened interest, with investors including Pimco and Citadel purchasing the loans at 97 cents on the dollar, people familiar with the matter <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/banks-sell-5-5-billion-of-x-loans-after-investor-interest-surges-4b84f89c?st=GYpPqP&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink">told</a> The Wall Street Journal. 
The floating-rate debts carry an interest rate of approximately 11%—a premium even compared to some of Wall Street's riskiest loans.
The transaction underscores the renewed investor enthusiasm surrounding X Corp. following Musk's growing influence in Washington and the return of key advertisers, such as Amazon.com Inc. The platform faced significant turmoil after Musk's $44 billion acquisition in 2022, as advertisers pulled back due to concerns over content moderation. While X is still grappling with financial challenges, recent signs of stability have drawn fresh interest from investors.
At a recent investor meeting led by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) bankers and X CEO Linda Yaccarino, financial documents revealed that Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has injected hundreds of millions of dollars into X. The two entities share executives and business ties, and X now holds a 10% stake in xAI, valued at approximately $5 billion, according to the WSJ report.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43513408/arm-holdings-stock-slides-on-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-revised-guidance-and-more">Arm Holdings Stock Slides On Q3 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, Revised Guidance And More</a>
Why It Matters: The loan sale is a significant win for the banks, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), and Barclays (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>), which originally extended financing for Musk's 2022 buyout. The sluggish performance of X and high interest rates had forced them to hold onto the debt far longer than expected.
Despite the successful sale, the banks still retain around $6 billion in X-related debt, some of which is considered riskier. X remains under financial pressure, with annual interest payments exceeding $1 billion. 
With major advertisers like Amazon ramping up spending and Apple Inc. reportedly considering reintroducing ads. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43511849/strategy-q4-earnings-bitcoin-treasury-company-spends-205b-on-btc-shares-inch-higher-despite-revenue-miss">Strategy Q4 Earnings: Bitcoin Treasury Company Spends $20.5B On BTC, Shares Inch Higher Despite Revenue Miss</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.

Social Media

Elon Musk's Lenders Cash In $5.5 Billion On Thanks To Investor Demand For X Loans: Report

Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency has secured access to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according a report Wednesday. The extent of the access and the systems involved are yet to be clarified.
What Happened: DOGE representatives have been granted access to key payment and contract systems, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-doge-medicare-medicaid-fraud-e697b162?mod=hp_lead_pos3">reported</a> Wall Street Journal. However, the CMS has not provided any clarification on this matter.
Musk said on X that &#8220;big money fraud&#8221; was taking place at the CMS on Wednesday in response to another user sharing the story..
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Yeah, this is where the big money fraud is happening <a href="https://t.co/jXqXrlKDGp">https://t.co/jXqXrlKDGp</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1887184902543577590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
The CMS confirmed the collaboration with DOGE, mentioning two senior agency veterans leading the collaboration and ensuring appropriate access to CMS systems and technology, according to the Journal.
DOGE&#8217;s focus on CMS aligns with its&nbsp;mandate to cut at least&nbsp;$1 trillion in federal spending. The CMS, which spent over $1.5 trillion in 2024, is often criticized for fraudulent and wasteful spending. Musk expressed&nbsp;his interest in the health&nbsp;agency, hinting at potential fraud in Medicare spending.
Musk&#8217;s representatives had reportedly yet to access sensitive databases that include identifiable personal health information of people enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. The access given to DOGE representatives was &#8220;read-only.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43514257/trump-administration-softens-gaza-takeover-proposal-as-middle-east-allies-reject-plan">Trump Administration Softens Gaza Takeover Proposal As Middle East Allies Reject Plan</a>
Why It Matters: DOGE&#8217;s access to CMS comes in the wake of Trump&#8217;s Medicaid cuts. In January it was reported that the GOP was pushing for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43191852/an-existential-fight-ahead-why-trumps-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-millions-struggling-with-healthcare-costs">big changes to Medicaid</a>, which serves 79 million low-income or disabled Americans.
Later that month, the White House ordered a temporary freeze on all federal grants and loans, putting $3 trillion in funding under scrutiny. This move threatened a wide range of industries, including healthcare. Benzinga reported that all federal agencies were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43290381/trumps-federal-spending-freeze-puts-3-trillion-in-limbo-threatens-industries-like-clean-energy-defense-healthcare">required to halt disbursements</a> while programs were reviewed for alignment with Trump&#8217;s policy priorities.
Soon after the freeze was announced the Medicaid website stopped functioning, but the White House later attributed that to an &#8220;outage.&#8221; The executive branch of the government said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43294006/trump-white-house-blames-outage-for-medicaid-website-lockout-we-have-confirmed-no-payments-have-been-affected">no payments had been affected</a>.
The Department of Government Efficiency shares its acronym with Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), the cryptocurrency frequently mentioned in Musk&#8217;s posts on X.
Price Action: At the time of writing, DOGE traded 2.7% lower at $0.26, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image via Shutterstock
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
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>

Health Care

DOGE Gains Access To Medicare And Medicaid Systems: Elon Musk Says, 'This Is Where The Big Money Fraud Is Happening'

Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) reported record deliveries in the fourth quarter as the company prepares to grow in the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/electric-vehicle"> electric vehicle sector.</a>
The company enters 2025 with strong momentum and the launch of a second vehicle model.
What Happened: Lucid launched the highly anticipated Gravity three-row SUV in late 2024.
In January, Lucid sold 50 Lucid Gravity SUVs, according to data from Motor Intelligence reported by <a href="https://electrek.co/2025/02/04/lucid-lcid-ev-sales-climb-50-jan-after-gravity-suv-launch/">Electrek</a>. The company had total sales of 665 units in January, consisting of the Gravity vehicles and 615 Lucid Air sedans.
The sales figure is among the highest monthly totals in Lucid history, falling shy of the record 780 deliveries in the month of December. 
This represents a 51% year-over-year increase for Lucid for January, which could illustrate how important the launch of the Gravity was, giving the company a second model and important entry into the SUV sector.
Lucid reported deliveries of 3,099 vehicles in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42842059/lucids-q4-deliveries-soar-to-new-highs-gravity-suv-sets-optimism-for-coming-months">the fourth quarter</a>, a company record at the time. Quarterly deliveries were up 79% year-over-year in the fourth quarter.
Read Also<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41826774/lucid-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-on-track-to-produce-9k-vehicles-in-2024">: Lucid Q3 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, On Track To Produce 9K Vehicles In 2024</a>
Why It's Important: The Gravity SUV, which has a starting price of $94,900 will help Lucid compete with the Tesla Model X from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and the Rivian R1S from Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>).
The company also plans to launch its lower-priced version of the Gravity later this year with a starting price of $79,900.
With the potential end of the federal EV tax credit, Tesla is expected to benefit from its lower prices. Lucid has not been among the sales leaders for EVs, but has received attention and praise <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/24/06/39364585/lucid-vs-tesla-ceo-says-companys-technology-is-a-number-of-years-ahead-of-ev-leader">for its technology.</a>
The early success of the Gravity could go a long way to showing that Lucid has staying power in the electric vehicle sector.
Lucid reports fourth-quarter financial results Feb. 25, which could offer more commentary on how Gravity demand and momentum is fairing. 
LCID Price Action: Lucid stock closed Wednesday at $2.91 versus a 52-week trading range of $1.93 to $4.43. The stock is up in the last several trading days, but shares remain down 10% over the past year. The stock is up over 40% from its year lows hit in December.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42986863/us-electric-vehicle-sales-hit-record-1-3-million-units-in-2024-despite-tesla-declines-top-10-bestsel">US Electric Vehicle Sales Hit Record 1.3 Million Units In 2024, Despite Tesla Declines: Top 10 Bestselling Models</a></li>
</ul>
Courtesy: Lucid

LCID

RIVN

Lucid Deliveries Up 51% In January, Here's How Many Gravity SUVs Sold In First Full Month

AVGO CLIMBS OVER 9 POINTS
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="794" height="595" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05211815/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-4.25.03-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5516" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05211815/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-4.25.03-PM.png 794w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05211815/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-4.25.03-PM-300x225.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/05211815/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-4.25.03-PM-768x576.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px" /></figure>
Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO) today experienced a Power Inflow, a significant event for those who follow where smart money goes and value order flow analytics in their trading decisions. 
Today, at 10:03 AM on February 5th, a significant trading signal occurred for Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO) as it demonstrated a Power Inflow at a price of $228.86. This indicator is crucial for traders who want to know directionally where institutions and so-called "smart money" moves in the market. They see the value of utilizing order flow analytics to guide their trading decisions. The Power Inflow points to a possible uptrend in Broadcom&#8217;s stock, marking a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the expected upward movement. Traders with this signal closely watch for sustained momentum in Broadcom&#8217;s stock price, interpreting this event as a bullish sign.
Signal description
Order flow analytics, aka transaction or market flow analysis, separate and study both the retail and institutional volume rate of orders (flow). It involves analyzing the flow of buy and sell orders, along with size, timing, and other associated characteristics and patterns, to gain insights and make more informed trading decisions. This particular indicator is interpreted as a bullish signal by active traders.&nbsp;
The Power Inflow occurs within the first two hours of the market open and generally signals the trend that helps gauge the stock&#8217;s overall direction, powered by institutional activity in the stock, for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
By incorporating order flow analytics into their trading strategies, market participants can better interpret market conditions, identify trading opportunities, and potentially improve their trading performance. But let's not forget that while watching smart money flow can provide valuable insights, it is crucial to incorporate effective risk management strategies to protect capital and mitigate potential losses. Employing a consistent and effective risk management plan helps traders navigate the uncertainties of the market in a more controlled and calculated manner, increasing the likelihood of long-term success
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for AMZN, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis?_gl=1&#x2A;1hlgn5i&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTY1NjE2NTYxMi4xNzE0NzQ4MTAy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDc0ODEwMi4xLjEuMTcxNDc0ODQyOC4wLjAuMA..">Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs</a> and include firms, like&nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.tradepulse.net">https://www.tradepulse.net</a>&nbsp; which are responsible for parts of the data within this article. 
&#xA9; 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
After Market Close UPDATE:
The price at the time of the Power Inflow was $228.86. The returns on the High price ($237.93) and Close price ($232) after the Power Inflow were respectively 4.0% and 1.7%. That is why it is important to have a trading plan that includes Profit Targets and Stop Losses that reflect your risk appetite. 
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results

Technicals

TRADEPULSE POWER INFLOW ALERT: BROADCOM INC. (AVGO) MOVES UP 4% AFTER ALERT FROM TRADEPULSE

The life of shopping malls has transformed in recent years with big-box tenants going bankrupt and malls looking for new uses for their large real estate space, including new tenants, apartments and entertainment experiences like<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/06/39439112/will-netflix-save-shopping-malls-new-experiences-a-potential-game-changer-for-retail-center"> those from Netflix.</a>
Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) is now the owner of a shopping mall and the move will likely be closely followed by the real estate sector.
 What Happened: For what is believed to be the first time in company history, Walmart is the owner of a shopping mall. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42247997/walmart-shoppers-shun-electronics-for-black-friday-deals-on-eggs-bread-slippers">world's largest retailer </a>paid $34 million to acquire the Monroeville Mall, located near Pittsburgh.
Walmart purchased the mall from CBL &amp; Associates (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBL#NYSE">CBL</a>) recently and partnered with Cypress Equities to redevelop the property. Cypress has been used by Walmart previously to help with site selection on new retail locations.
"Walmart did purchase the Monroeville Mall and is very interested in being part of any future redevelopment of this site," Walmart said in a statement, as <a href="https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-buys-pittsburgh-area-mall/739277/">reported </a>by Retail Dive. "Walmart is working with Cypress on mall operations and potential redevelopment of the site."
The retailer is staying quiet on what the redevelopment plans look like for the 1.2 million square foot mall. The mall occupies 186 acres and sits near several major highways.
The Monroeville Mall, which was built in 1969, was last renovated in 2003. CBL bought the mall for $231.2 million in 2004.
Covering two stories, the mall has over 130 stores, which currently include Macy's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Barnes &amp; Noble and a Cinemark movie theater.
CBL, who listed the property for sale in December, said the mall gets over 3.5 million annual visits. &nbsp;
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43501464/walmart-reshapes-workforce-shuts-offices-as-it-consolidates-operations">Walmart Reshapes Workforce, Shuts Offices As It Consolidates Operations</a>
Why It's Important: With Walmart or Cypress not providing details on what will happen to the mall, a lot could change in the coming months.
The biggest question mark is why Walmart bought the mall, which leads into the second biggest question of will Walmart add its own store or a Sam's Club to the tenants that make up Monroeville Mall.
The report said Walmart does not have a store in Monroeville and has eyed the location before. With the mall having prominent real estate by major highways, a Walmart as a mall anchor could make a lot of sense and help justify the purchase price.
Based on what happens with this mall redevelopment it will also be interesting to see if Walmart keeps ownership of the property and becomes landlord to the other retailers and if the company would utilize this model at other shopping malls across the country.
WMT Price Action: Walmart stock closed 1.68% up at $102.46 on Wednesday versus a 52-week trading range of $55.85 to $102.58. Walmart stock hit the new 52-week highs during Wednesday's intraday session and the stock is now up 82% over the last year.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43395171/walmart-canada-to-invest-about-3-8-billion-over-five-years">Walmart Canada To Invest About $3.8 Billion Over Five Years</a></li>
</ul>

Photo: Shutterstock

Real Estate

Walmart Stock Hits New All-Time Highs, Company Goes Shopping For ... Malls?

Gaming company Roblox Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RBLX#NYSE">RBLX</a>) could highlight user growth and better monetization efforts when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market open Thursday.</a>
Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect Roblox to report fourth-quarter revenue of $1.35 billion, up from $1.13 billion in last year's fourth quarter according to data <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent020525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">from Benzinga Pro.</a>
The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in two straight quarters and seven of the past 10 quarters overall.
Analysts expect Roblox to report a loss of 45 cents per share in the fourth quarter, an improvement from a loss of 52 cents per share in last year's fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in five straight quarters and six of the past 10 quarters overall.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43325891/backed-by-youtube-king-mrbeast-group-of-american-investors-including-roblox-ceo-lock-in-over-20-billion-for-tiktok-takeover-but-they-have-not-heard-back-directly-from-bytedance">MrBeast And Group Of Investors, Including Roblox CEO, Lock In Over $20 Billion For TikTok Takeover</a>
Key Items to Watch: The company saw strong growth in bookings, users and average booking per user in the third quarter. Those items will be closely watched by investors and analysts again.
Roblox <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41654520/roblox-q3-earnings-bookings-jump-34-user-base-hits-89-million-raises-annual-outlook">ended the third quarter</a> with a user base of 89 million as it puts an emphasis on keeping users engaged on the platform and also working on new initiatives to get older users to remain.
Analysts and investors will be closely watching to see if Roblox shares 2025 guidance for key metrics including bookings, revenue and earnings per share.
With quarterly losses, analysts and investors may look for any commentary on how close the gaming company is to profitability for its long-term sustainability.
Here are recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RBLX/analyst-ratings">analyst ratings on Roblox</a> and their price targets:
<ul>
<li>Citigroup: Maintained Buy rating, raised price target from $63 to $82</li>
<li>Piper Sandler: Reiterated Overweight rating, raised price target from $65 to $72</li>
<li>Roth MKM: Maintained Neutral rating, raised price target from $54 to $70</li>
<li>Wells Fargo: Maintained Overweight rating, raised price target from $58 to $76</li>
</ul>
 RBLX Price Action: Heading into the quarterly results, Roblox stock has momentum with shares hitting new 52-week highs of $75.74 on Wednesday. This marked the highest share price for Roblox since January 2022. The stock has traded between $29.55 and $75.74 over the past 52 weeks and shares are up 92% over the past year.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/01/43017547/hindenburg-research-is-closing-up-shop-we-shook-some-empires-that-we-felt-needed-shaking">Hindenburg Research Is Closing Up Shop: &#8216;We Shook Some Empires That We Felt Needed Shaking&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Entertainment

Gaming

Previews

Analyst Ratings

RBLX

Roblox Q4 Earnings Preview: Can Gaming Company Beat Analyst Estimates With Shares At Three-Year Highs?

Brookfield (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BN#NYSE">BN</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 2.4% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.55%. Currently, Brookfield has a market capitalization of $89.92 billion. 
Buying $100 In BN: If an investor had bought $100 of BN stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $780.28 today based on a price of $59.61 for BN at the time of writing.
<h3>Brookfield's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738798333_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In Brookfield 15 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Billionaire investor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/01/43084861/mark-cubans-29-million-shark-tank-portfolio-from-200k-in-dude-wipes-to-200m-for-beatbox-beverages-im-killing-it">Mark Cuban</a> recently floated an interesting idea on X. He's thinking about launching his own meme coin, but with a twist. Unlike Donald Trump's $TRUMP token, which made waves in the crypto world, Cuban wants all the proceeds from his token sales to go straight to the U.S. Treasury to help tackle the national debt.
Cuban <a href="https://x.com/mcuban/status/1881445569727758392">said on X</a>: &#8220;If meme coins are the way, maybe I'll issue one. With a twist. Same terms as $TRUMP. 20% float. Same release schedule. One difference. All the revenue from the sale of the coins go to the U.S. Treasury. The wallet address will be published so everyone can track it. If you want to gamble, gamble. But at least use it to make a dent in the U.S. Debt. You in?&#8221;
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To put things into perspective, the U.S. national debt is sitting at a staggering $36.22 trillion, according to the U.S. Treasury. Naturally, Cuban's post blew up, racking up over 60,000 likes and sparking all kinds of reactions.&nbsp;
Some people were quick to call him out, reminding him that he had previously dismissed meme coins as &#8220;shit coins.&#8221; One user, &#8220;Injective AI Intern,&#8221; pointed out the contradiction, and Cuban clapped back, saying, &#8220;Just making the point. If it's a grift, make it a grift to benefit all Americans.&#8221;
Not everyone was against the idea, though. Journalist Brian Krassenstein chimed in, suggesting that Cuban could split the funds—half to the Treasury, half to help lower prescription drug prices.&nbsp;
Trending: According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a>
Cuban wasn't on board with that, saying he didn't want to pick favorites and that paying down the national debt was the best way to create broad benefits.
Now, Cuban and Trump have a bit of a history. Cuban has been one of Trump's biggest critics, but at the same time, he's clearly paying attention to the financial success of the $TRUMP meme coin.&nbsp;
That token skyrocketed 1,000% in just two days, peaking at $71 before cooling off to about $26.40 by Jan. 27—still a hefty 300% jump from its launch.
See Also: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-nancy-pelosi">Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000</a>
But not everyone is thrilled about the rise of political meme coins. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has raised red flags, calling them a &#8220;perfect bribery vehicle.&#8221; His concern? Politicians could profit without anyone actually handing them money.&nbsp;
&#8220;If a politician issues a coin, you don't even need to send them any coins to give them money,&#8221; Buterin said. &#8220;Instead, you just buy and hold the coin, and this increases the value of their holdings passively.&#8221; Basically, it's a sneaky way for financial influence to creep into politics.
Of course, not everyone sees it that way. White House AI and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42009965/vaneck-ceo-boldly-predicts-bitcoin-at-300k-per-coin-reaching-half-of-golds-market-cap-in-the-face-of-growing-demand"> crypto</a> advisor David Sacks compared meme coins with collectibles—think baseball cards or stamps. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zOqyntqzOI">In an interview with Fox Business</a>, he said people aren't necessarily buying these tokens for financial gain but as a way to support or commemorate a political movement.
Read Next:
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<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
<li>Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-the-most-boring-blockchain-company-partners-with-salesforce">this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.</a></li>
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