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Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) CEO Alex Karp welcomed praise from billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller during JPMorgan&#8217;s Asset Managers CEO Forum which took place from Friday to Sunday, as the data analytics company&#8217;s stock continues its remarkable ascent.
What Happened: Druckenmiller, chairman and CEO of Duquesne Family Office, endorsed Karp&#8217;s new book &#8220;The Technological Republic,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08wadxp9FnQ">calling</a> it &#8220;one of the most important books I&#8217;ve ever read.&#8221; The endorsement comes as Palantir&#8217;s stock has surged nearly 350% year-to-date, significantly outperforming broader market indices.
The interaction followed recent characterizations of Palantir as a &#8220;cult stock&#8221; by CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer, who grouped it with Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) as companies whose loyal investor bases help them <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42524611/jim-cramer-highlights-cult-stocks-like-tesla-palantir-netflix-as-2025-investment-strategy">outperform traditional valuation metrics</a>.
"A cult where I get no sexual benefits by the way. Just to be clear. It's a rare cult with no sex and very little drugs and we're not poisoning anyone,&#8221; Karp said. 
Druckenmiller&#8217;s family office has recently increased its stake in Palantir, purchasing 769,965 shares in the first quarter of 2024 after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41388306/stanley-druckenmiller-crypto-is-pricing-in-trump-as-election-favorite-but-does-bitcoins-su">previously exiting its position in 2023</a>. The investment comes as Palantir&#8217;s artificial intelligence platform, AIP, gains traction among customers.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42545204/marjorie-taylor-greene-pushes-to-sell-off-usps-amid-doge-momentum-we-need-to-privatize-ive-been-saying-it-for-years">Marjorie Taylor Greene Pushes To Sell Off USPS Amid DOGE Momentum: &#8216;We Need To Privatize&#8230;I&#8217;ve Been Saying It For Years&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Karp also said that Peter Thiel, Palantir&#8217;s co-founder, chose him as CEO because of his talent for recognizing and nurturing exceptional people. Thiel &#8220;is an artist in picking talent,&#8221; Karp said
The company&#8217;s market capitalization has now surpassed $169 billion, exceeding traditional defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives remains bullish on Palantir, dubbing it the &#8220;Messi of AI&#8221; and predicting 2025 will be a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42522531/tesla-will-be-the-biggest-winner-in-the-trump-era-says-dan-ives-predicts-nasdaq-at-25000-in-18-months-get-the-popcorn-out">breakout year for the company&#8217;s AI platform</a>.
The stock&#8217;s surge comes despite recent insider sales, with CFO David Glazer and CTO Shyam Sankar selling $23 million and $367.9 million worth of shares respectively in December. Karp himself sold $132.8 million in shares last month, though these transactions represent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42538479/palantir-stock-rockets-350-ytd-but-insiders-cash-out-should-you-follow-suit">small portions of their overall holdings</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42545757/ross-gerber-sees-earnings-to-beat-expectations-but-warns-investors-on-slower-pace-of-federal-reserve-rate-cuts-in-2025">Ross Gerber Asks Investors To Moderate Expectations On Fed Front In 2025: &#8216;Don&#8217;t Expect Much Lower Rates&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Palantir CEO Alex Karp. Photo by WEF on Flickr
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

News

Markets

NFLX

PLTR

TSLA

Palantir's Alex Karp Embraces 'Cult' Status, Complains About The Missing Perks As Stock Soars 350%

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, Japan Trade Balance For November -117.6B Vs. -688.9B Est.; -462.1B Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Exports (YoY) For November 3.8% Vs. 2.8% Est.; 3.1% Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Adjusted Trade Balance -0.38T Vs. -0.45T Est.; -0.23T (Revised) Prior

Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>) became one of the biggest cryptocurrency gainers Tuesday, outpacing coins with significantly higher market capitalization.&nbsp;
What happened: The proof-of-work cryptocurrency lifted over 5% in the last 24 hours to a market capitalization of $9.23 billion. The coin's trading volume surged 90% to $1.89 billion.
LTC's rally overshadowed heavyweights like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), which fell 2.54% and 4.63%, respectively, in the last 24 hours.
The positive momentum was imparted following Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas' remarks that spot exchange-traded funds tied to LTC <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42537836/litecoin-hbar-etfs-could-come-before-xrp-solana-heres-why">could get approval ahead</a> of Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) and XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>).
Balchunas noted that as Litecoin is a hard fork of Bitcoin, it may avoid regulatory scrutiny since it is generally viewed as a commodity.
As of this writing, LTC has one <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41349672/coin-that-underpins-dogecoin-becomes-markets-biggest-gainer-litecoin-pops-7-after-filing-o">S-1 filing</a>, that was submitted by cryptocurrency-focused investment firm Canary Capital in October.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42519107/if-you-invested-1000-in-bitcoin-when-the-first-bitcoin-etf-was-filed-heres-how-much-youd-have-today"> If You Invested $1,000 In Bitcoin When The First Bitcoin ETF Was Filed, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a>
Why It Matters: After lagging behind much of the market in 2024, Litecoin got a fresh lease of life due to the broader rally spurred by Donald Trump's presidential victory last month.&nbsp;
The coin has jumped 31% in the last month, exceeding the returns from Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Social mentions of the coin have significantly risen, according to social intelligence platform LunarCrush, potentially indicating growing retail interest.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f52d;Zooming out, we see that <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24LTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$LTC</a> continues to gain momentum with social mentions accelerating dramatically this year, hitting the highest point ever on November 15ᵗʰ. <a href="https://t.co/UNPzIPKgJW">pic.twitter.com/UNPzIPKgJW</a>
&mdash; LunarCrush Social Intelligence (@LunarCrush) <a href="https://twitter.com/LunarCrush/status/1869227334433480857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Additionally, the coin's Open Interest surged 17% in the last 24 hours, and over 48% over the previous month, implying a surge in bets on future price movements.
Around 72% of traders on Binance were levered long on LTC as of this writing, according to the Long/Short Ratio.
Price Action:  At the time of writing, Litecoin was exchanging hands at $122.03, up 4.70% in the last 24 hours, 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>.
Photo by DIAMOND VISUALS on Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/24/12/42517262/most-crypto-foward-ria-slams-bitcoin-forecasts-from-michael-saylor-others-disvalues-it-to-me">&#8216;Most Crypto-Foward&#8217; RIA Slams Bitcoin Forecasts From Michael Saylor, Others: &#8216;Disvalues It To Me&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$ETH

$LTC

$SOL

$XRP

This Bitcoin Fork Is Defying Declines In Top Two Cryptos With A 5% Rally Thanks To Strong ETF Hopes In 2025

New leaks have emerged, offering a glimpse into the design of the upcoming Samsung Electronics Co.'s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) Galaxy S25 Ultra and S25+.
What Happened: Images shared by Evan Blass on a private X, formerly Twitter, account showcase the Galaxy S25 Ultra&#8217;s sleek curved corners and notably thin display bezels, <a href="https://9to5google.com/2024/12/17/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-bezels-corners-leak/">reported</a> 9To5Google.
The device is depicted running One UI 7, although further details remain scarce from the images alone.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra&#8217;s bezels are reportedly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39129016/iphone-16-destined-to-have-the-worlds-thinest-bezels-new-leak-reveals-it-could-outshine-current-reco">thinner than those</a> on Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPhone 16 Pro Max.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42499609/micron-gets-investment-from-white-house-china-launches-antitrust-investigation-on-nvidia-apple-faces-1-2-billion-lawsuit-in-california-more-consumer-tech-news-december-9-13?itm_source=parsely-api">Micron Gets Investment From White House, China Launches Antitrust Investigation On Nvidia, Apple Faces $1</a>
The Galaxy S25+ images, posted by the handle Jukanlosreve, suggest minimal changes in hardware design compared to its predecessor.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17231225/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-9.42.12%E2%80%AFAM-1024x820.png" alt="" class="wp-image-696953" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: X</figcaption></figure>
The device features a prominent mmWave window and a slightly modified camera module, maintaining a similar overall appearance to the previous model.
These leaks suggest a significant design shift, featuring curved corners and slimmer bezels, moving away from the previous squared-off aesthetic.
The Galaxy S25 series is anticipated to launch on Jan. 22 next year.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Counterpoint Research stated in May that Samsung&#8217;s Galaxy S24 series dominated the GenAI-capable smartphone market in the first quarter of 2024.
The South Korean smartphone manufacturer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/10/41645191/samsung-profits-soar-but-companys-nvidia-ai-chip-race-lag-allows-sk-hynix-micron-to-take-the-lead-in">reported a net income of 9.78 trillion won</a> ($7.1 billion) for the quarter ending in September.
By the third quarter of 2024, Samsung Electronics&#8217; Mobile Experience (MX) division generated roughly $21.6 billion, according to Statista, making it the largest revenue contributor.
However, Samsung is facing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40812318/samsung-to-reportedly-slash-global-workforce-by-up-to-30-in-certain-divisions-amid-intense-competiti">intense competition</a> from both Apple and China&#8217;s Huawei Technologies.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42499566/google-willow-nvidias-china-troubles-trump-on-ai-and-more-this-week-in-artificial-intelligence?itm_source=parsely-api">Google Willow, Nvidia&#8217;s China Troubles, Trump On AI, And More: This Week In Artificial Intelligence</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Media

AAPL

SSNLF

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra And S25+ Leaks Feature Sleek Curved Design And Slimmer Bezels Than Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max

Billionaire investor and television personality Mark Cuban on Monday lent support to &#8216;Hawk Tuah&#8217; girl Haliey Welch in the recent meme coin fiasco, stating that she ended up in an unfortunate situation.
What Happened: During a podcast with content creator Jules Terpak, Cuban empathized with Welch and said he doesn&#8217;t blame her for the controversy. 
&#8220;It was obvious; it wasn&#8217;t, you know, intrinsic to her. It wasn&#8217;t something she fully understood, but she trusted the people around her,&#8221; the &#8220;Shark&#8221; said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not mad at Haliey at all. I feel bad for her that she got put in this position.&#8221;
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="The evolution of the tech industry (ft. Mark Cuban)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEK2063FPLw?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>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42538636/pudgy-penguin-token-launches-at-2-billion-valuation-could-land-between-shiba-inu-and-dogecoin-trader-says">Pudgy Penguin Token Launches At $2 Billion Valuation, Could Land &#8216;Between Shiba Inu And Dogecoin,&#8217; Trader Says</a>
Cuban added that mistakes happen when people move forward on things and they learn from them. &#8220;She&#8217;ll be fine and you know what&#8217;s done is done.&#8221;
On a personal level, Cuban made it clear that he is&nbsp;not a fan of meme&nbsp;coins, describing them as a &#8220;game of musical chairs with&nbsp;money.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s just hustle. There&#8217;s no there there, and so it&#8217;s like a game of musical chairs with money and some people will make money and some people won&#8217;t.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Welch recently launched a Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)-based meme coin HAWK, that quickly gained a market valuation of almost $425 million before plummeting to $30 million in a jiffy. This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42333397/hawk-tuah-girl-accused-of-scamming-crypto-buyers-after-newly-launched-meme-coin-pumps-and-dumps-victims-contemplate-legal-action">rapid pump and dump </a>led to accusations of insider trading against Welch, with many victims contemplating legal action. Welch denied wrongdoings on her part, stating that no free tokens were given to anyone.
Shytoshi Kusama, the pseudonymous lead of the Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) ecosystem, also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42357945/shiba-inus-shytoshi-kusama-denies-links-with-hawk-tuah-girls-pump-and-dump-memecoin-advises-community-to-stay-away-from-the-terrible-launch">distanced themselves from the controversial meme coin</a>. Kusama revealed that they were approached by Welch's team to promote the coin but declined the offer.
 Welch went viral earlier this year for her quirky catchphrase "Hawk Tuah" during a street interview. The video was posted online and made waves on social media, giving Welch the nickname "Hawk Tuah Girl."
Image via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499950/crypto-analyst-shiba-inu-price-set-for-massive-surge-could-go-up-sixfold?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42538067/bitcoin-president-nayib-bukele-sends-greetings-to-french-member-of-eu-parliament-calling-for-a-european-bitcoin-reserve">Bitcoin President&#8217; Nayib Bukele Sends &#8216;Greetings&#8217; To French Member Of EU Parliament Calling For A European Bitcoin Reserve</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>

Entertainment

$SHIB

Mark Cuban Expresses Sympathy For 'Hawk Tuah' Girl Amid Meme Coin Controversy: 'Wasn't Something She Fully Understood'

Investors anticipating aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025 might need to temper their expectations, according to a prominent investment manager, even as markets price in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42538011/stocks-slip-ahead-of-fed-meeting-chipmakers-suffer-from-chinas-threat-bitcoin-breaks-past-107000-whats-driving-markets-tuesday">near-certain rate cut this week</a>.
What Happened: Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management and a prominent Tesla Inc. investor, cautioned on Tuesday that while rate cuts are coming, the pace might be slower than many expect. &#8220;The Fed will lower but don&#8217;t assume many rate cuts in 2025. The economy has reaccelerated and inflation will hold in the 3% range,&#8221; Gerber wrote on X.
The CME FedWatch Tool currently shows a 95.4% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut at Wednesday&#8217;s Federal Reserve meeting, marking the central bank&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42528810/93-experts-anticipate-a-fed-rate-cut-yet-not-everyone-agrees-its-the-right-decision-president-elect-trump-is-offering-us-a-mix-of-inflationary-and-disinflationary-policies">third consecutive reduction</a> following cuts of 50 basis points in September and by 25 in November.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Fed will lower but don't assume many rate cuts in 2025. The economy has reaccelerated and inflation will hold in the 3% range. But this is good news as earnings will be way better than expected. Just don't expect much lower rates.
&mdash; Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1869074752025051201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42539116/fed-meetings-made-stock-traders-richer-in-2024-could-wednesday-bring-last-big-rally">Fed Meetings Made Stock Traders Richer In 2024: Could Wednesday Bring Last Big Rally?</a>
Why It Matters: Recent economic data supports a more measured approach to rate cuts. November retail sales exceeded expectations, rising 0.7% month-over-month and 3.8% annually, marking the fastest pace since December 2023. This economic resilience, coupled with persistent inflation concerns, could influence the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42539116/fed-meetings-made-stock-traders-richer-in-2024-could-wednesday-bring-last-big-rally">Fed&#8217;s decision-making process</a>.
Despite the potentially slower pace of rate cuts, Gerber sees a silver lining for investors. &#8220;This is good news as earnings will be way better than expected. Just don&#8217;t expect much lower rates,&#8221; he noted.
According to a Bloomberg survey, Fed policymakers are expected to project three interest rate cuts for 2024, with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42489039/feds-december-meeting-could-crush-rate-cut-optimism-for-2025">federal funds rate</a> potentially reaching 3.5%-3.75% by December 2025. 
The focus now shifts to the Fed&#8217;s updated Summary of Economic Projections and Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s press conference, which could provide crucial signals about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42514008/fed-poised-to-cut-interest-rates-by-0-25-this-week-heres-why-your-focus-should-shift-to-other-signals">monetary policy trajectory for 2025</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42545536/jim-cramer-signals-potential-bottom-for-nvidia-at-127-after-predicting-vicious-reversal-earlier">Jim Cramer Signals Potential Bottom For Nvidia At $127 After Predicting &#8216;Vicious&#8217; Reversal Earlier</a></li>
</ul>
Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Federal Reserve

Ross Gerber Asks Investors To Moderate Expectations On Fed Front In 2025: 'Don't Expect Much Lower Rates'

Financial market commentator&nbsp;Peter Schiff&nbsp;on Tuesday criticized Michael Saylor&#8217;s comparison of MicroStrategy Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) debt-financed Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) buying strategy to Manhattan real estate.
What Happened: In an X post, Schiff disagreed with Saylor&#8217;s analogy. &#8220;Real estate generates rents, which can be used to service and repay debt. Bitcoin doesn&#8217;t generate any income to make interest or principal payments,&#8221; he argued.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It&#39;s wrong for <a href="https://twitter.com/saylor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saylor</a> to compare his leveraged buying of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> to investors borrowing money to purchase Manhattan real estate. Real estate generates rents, which can be used to service and repay debt. Bitcoin doesn&#39;t generate any income to make interest or principal payments.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1869116244714262623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Spencer Hakimian, founder of hedge fund Tolou Capital Management, countered Schiff&#8217;s viewpoint, stating that, unlike the Manhattan real estate industry, Bitcoin doesn&#8217;t have any expenses or maintenance.
Schiff responded that rents from real estate exceed the expenses.
The city&#8217;s rental market contradicts national trends, with the top 50 markets experiencing 15 consecutive months of rent decreases. In October 2024, New York&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/12/42256888/as-nyc-rents-hit-new-highs-85-of-residents-look-to-buy-elsewhere-heres-what-they-find">median asking rent</a> increased 1.7% year-on-year to $3,374, representing a 13.1% increase from pre-pandemic values. Manhattan&#8217;s median monthly rent stood at $4,750 as of this writing, according to Realtor.com.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42544639/moonpay-partners-with-element-wallet-to-boost-core-token-access-in-btcfi-ecosystem">MoonPay Partners With Element Wallet To Boost Core Token Access In BTCfi Ecosystem</a>
Why It Matters: This criticism comes after Saylor defended MicroStrategy&#8217;s Bitcoin acquisition strategy by equating it to Manhattan&#8217;s real estate industry. He said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42524546/michael-saylor-counters-critics-who-label-microstrategys-bitcoin-play-ponzi-scheme-calls-it-similar-to-manhattans-real-estate-developers-using-debt-to-build-more-skyscrapers">just like developers in Manhattan issue more debt </a>to develop more real estate when its value goes up, MicroStrategy capitalizes on high returns from Bitcoin to buy more Bitcoin.
Schiff&#8217;s critique adds to the ongoing debate around MicroStrategy&#8217;s Bitcoin strategy. Earlier, he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42237876/peter-schiff-predicts-microstrategys-bankruptcy-due-to-bitcoin-investment-strategy">warned that the</a> company's commitment to repay a large sum of money to convertible note holders could be a potential risk if the price of Bitcoin falls sharply.
Well-known cryptocurrency analyst Willy Woo also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42228264/crypto-analyst-flags-convertible-debt-induced-liquidation-risk-to-michael-saylors-microstrategy">flagged the risk </a>associated with the firm&#8217;s convertible debt offerings, stating that if buyers do not convert to shares&nbsp;before maturity, MicroStrategy would be forced to sell Bitcoin to repay them.
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $105,351.94, down 0.86% in the last 24 hours, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Shares of MicroStrategy closed 5.41% lower at $ 386.42 during Tuesday&#8217;s regular session. The stock has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR">consensus price target </a>of $449.5 based on the ratings of 12 analysts, with an average price target of $546.67 between Bernstein, TD Cowen, and Barclays.
Image via Flickr/ Gage Skidmore
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42538636/pudgy-penguin-token-launches-at-2-billion-valuation-could-land-between-shiba-inu-and-dogecoin-trader-says">Pudgy Penguin Token Launches At $2 Billion Valuation, Could Land &#8216;Between Shiba Inu And Dogecoin,&#8217; Trader Says</a></li>
</ul>

MSTR

Bitcoin Is No Manhattan Real Estate, Peter Schiff Challenges MicroStrategy's Micheal Saylor: 'BTC Doesn't Generate Any Income'

On Tuesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) and Shopify Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NYSE">SHOP</a>). The investment firm reduced its holdings in both companies.
The Coinbase Trade
Ark Invest sold 5,646 shares of Coinbase Global Inc. through its Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKF#NYSE">ARKF</a>) on Tuesday. With Coinbase&#8217;s stock closing at $311.64, the transaction was valued at approximately $1.8 million. This move follows a challenging period for Coinbase, as highlighted in their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41637702/coinbase-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-miss-eps-miss-transaction-revenue-falls-from-q2">third-quarter earnings report</a>, which revealed a revenue miss and declining transaction revenue. The company&#8217;s financials have been under pressure, impacting investor sentiment.
Coinbase&#8217;s recent performance has been scrutinized, with the company reporting third-quarter revenue of $1.21 billion, falling short of the $1.26 billion consensus estimate. However, the sale of Coinbase shares comes at a time when the apex cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42545419/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-stay-muted-before-feds-interest-rate-decision-analyst-says-btc-in-parabolic-phase-reveals-its-duration">hitting new all-time highs</a> consistently. The leading cryptocurrency earlier hit a fresh all-time high of $108,000 in early trading hours before witnessing a sharp decline.
The Shopify Trade
Ark Invest also reduced its stake in Shopify Inc. by selling 31,078 shares through the ARKF ETF. With Shopify&#8217;s stock closing at $119.49, the sale amounted to approximately $3.7 million. Shopify has been on a growth trajectory, as evidenced by its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/11/41901788/shopify-q3-earnings-ninth-consecutive-quarter-of-revenue-beat-gmv-up-24-positive-outlook-and-more">third-quarter earnings</a>, which marked its ninth consecutive quarter of revenue beats.
The e-commerce giant reported a 26% year-over-year revenue growth to $2.16 billion, surpassing analyst expectations. Notably, Ark Invest has been seen <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42227834/cathie-wood-buys-amazon-amd-stock-trims-palantir-block-holdings-amid-ai-and-bitcoin-euphoria">shopping for shares</a> of Shopify&#8217;s larger rival Amazon.com, Inc (AMZN) recently.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499950/crypto-analyst-shiba-inu-price-set-for-massive-surge-could-go-up-sixfold?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crypto Analyst: Shiba Inu Price Set For Massive Surge, Could Go Up Sixfold</a>
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Futu Holdings Ltd: Ark Invest bought shares through ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK).</li>
<li>Tempus AI Inc: Acquired shares via ARKG and through ARKK.</li>
<li>Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp: Sold shares from ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG).</li>
<li>Pacific Biosciences of California Inc: Purchased shares through ARKG and ARKK.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42522048/jim-cramer-warns-nvidias-vicious-and-fast-reversal-is-coming-amid-174-surge-this-year-and-china-antitrust-probe?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Cramer Warns Nvidia&#8217;s &#8216;Vicious&#8217; And &#8216;Fast&#8217; Reversal Is Coming Amid 174% Surge This Year And China Antitrust Probe</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>

ETFs

ARKF

COIN

SHOP

Cathie Wood's Ark Dumps Coinbase Stock Amid Bitcoin Highs, Shopify Holdings Also Cut

Mondelez International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>) has been leveraging AI to speed up recipe development and improve flavor profiles.
What Happened: The AI tool, created in collaboration with software consulting firm Fourkind, now part of Thoughtworks, has been operational since 2019, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/oreo-owner-mondelez-taps-ai-to-tweak-its-classic-snacks-6fa4c4cd?mod=tech_lead_pos4">reported</a> the Wall Street Journal.
It aids Mondelez&#8217;s R&amp;D team by generating recipes based on desired traits like flavor, aroma, and appearance. The tool also evaluates ingredient costs, environmental impact, and nutritional value.
The AI leverages this data to propose new formulations—a process that once relied on trial and error. Mondelez reports that AI-driven development although subjected to human taste-testing, has accelerated product testing and production trials by four to five times.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42499566/google-willow-nvidias-china-troubles-trump-on-ai-and-more-this-week-in-artificial-intelligence?itm_source=parsely-api">Google Willow, Nvidia&#8217;s China Troubles, Trump On AI, And More: This Week In Artificial Intelligence</a>
"The point is we get there faster," stated Kevin Wallenstein, section manager at Mondelez. "The consumer wants the product to taste like X. We're not stopping iterating until it tastes like X … we're doing things more efficiently."&nbsp;
The tool has been used in over 70 projects, resulting in new products such as the Gluten-Free Golden Oreo and revamped classic recipes.
In addition to Oreos and Chips Ahoy, Mondelez produces popular snacks like Ritz crackers, Cadbury chocolates, Clif bars, Triscuits, Tate's cookies, and Toblerone. 
According to the report, Mondelez carefully limits how far its AI can push innovation. Earlier, less-refined versions of the tool, lacking sufficient data, made odd suggestions.
"Because [baking soda is] a very low-cost ingredient, it would try to just make cookies that were very high in baking soda, which doesn't taste good at all," said Wallenstein. This is why a brand steward plays an important role is to uphold each snack&#8217;s core identity.
Modelez did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: The integration of AI in food production is not without its challenges. For instance, Instacart&#8217;s AI recipes in January this year went viral for their unusual and often unappetizing results.
Moreover, Mondelez is not just using AI for product development. The company is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42307366/googles-veo-video-generator-arrives-on-cloud-how-quora-and-mondelez-are-using-ai-for-creative-content">leveraging AI for marketing</a> via Google&#8217;s Veo video generator.
Earlier this month, the Oreo-maker <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42483141/hershey-merger-talks-fail">also explored a merger</a> with The Hershey Co., but the latter remains a tough acquisition target.
Mondelez's organic sales increased by 5.4% in the latest quarter, accompanied by an 11.2% rise in adjusted gross profit dollars.
Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Mondelez shares declined by 0.24% to $61.34 on Tuesday, with an additional 0.42% drop in after-hours trading. Year-to-date, Mondelez has fallen by 16.93%.
Photo Courtesy: Achmad Agus Ilyas via Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42525551/ahead-of-trumps-return-to-white-house-us-approves-406m-grant-for-taiwans-chipmaker-globalwafers?itm_source=parsely-api">Ahead Of Trump&#8217;s Return To White House, US Approves $406M Grant For Taiwan&#8217;s Chipmaker GlobalWafers</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

MDLZ

Oreo Maker Uses AI To Come Up With Flavor Perfection: Mondelez Says, 'Not Stopping Iterating Until It Tastes Like X'

CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer suggested on Tuesday that NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) may have reached a key turning point after the stock touched $127, potentially signaling a bottom for the semiconductor giant&#8217;s recent pullback.
What Happened: &#8220;We may have hit a possible crescendo for Nvidia&#8217;s stock when it hit the $127 mark. Could be a moment where everyone who wanted to sell did so,&#8221; Cramer wrote on X, formerly Twitter. This marks a shift from his Monday warning when he predicted a &#8220;vicious&#8221; and &#8220;fast&#8221; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42522048/jim-cramer-warns-nvidias-vicious-and-fast-reversal-is-coming-amid-174-surge-this-year-and-china-antitrust-probe">reversal for the chipmaker</a>.
<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">We may have hit a possible crescendo for Nvidia&#39;s stock when it hit the $127 mark. Could be a moment where everyone who wanted to sell did so. Never know but it did seem do or die
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1869076573267370049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Nvidia shares closed Tuesday at $130.39, down 1.22%, before gaining 0.53% in after-hours trading. Despite recent volatility, the stock has maintained an impressive 170.69% gain year-to-date, largely fueled by artificial intelligence demand.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/12/42545185/nissan-soar-over-20-on-merger-talks-with-honda-eyeing-8-million-annual-vehicle-sales">Nissan Stock Soar Over 20% On Merger Talks With Honda, Mitsubishi Spikes</a>
Why It Matters: The company&#8217;s fundamental strength remains evident in its recent financial performance, with third-quarter revenue surging 94% year-over-year to $35.1 billion. Nvidia&#8217;s market capitalization stands at $3.21 trillion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.
Wall Street maintains an optimistic outlook, with 40 analysts setting an average price target of $170.56. Rosenblatt Securities leads with the most bullish target of $220, while New Street Research sets a more conservative target of $120, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NVDA/analyst-ratings">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/17211645/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-7.46.05%E2%80%AFAM-1024x368.png" alt="" class="wp-image-696862" style="width:764px;height:auto" /></figure>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42545419/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-stay-muted-before-feds-interest-rate-decision-analyst-says-btc-in-parabolic-phase-reveals-its-duration">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Stay Muted Before Fed&#8217;s Interest Rate Decision: Analyst Says BTC In Parabolic Phase, Reveals Its Duration</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

NVDA

Jim Cramer Signals Potential Bottom For Nvidia At $127 After Predicting 'Vicious' Reversal Earlier

Wall Street experienced a downturn on Tuesday as major indices fell following a strong retail sales report for November. The data raised concerns about the Federal Reserve&#8217;s potential delay in cutting interest rates next year. The S&amp;P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.4% and 0.6% respectively, while the Nasdaq 100 declined by 0.3%, with semiconductor stocks leading the losses amid geopolitical tensions.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day:
Nukkleus Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUKK#NASDAQ">NUKK</a>)
Nukkleus Inc. saw a significant surge of 754.68%, closing at $11.88. The stock reached an intraday high of $17.66 and a low of $1.84, with a 52-week range of $34.16 to $0.40. This dramatic rise followed the company&#8217;s announcement of acquiring a 51% controlling stake in Star 26 Capital Inc., which holds a substantial share in RIMON, an Israeli supplier for the Iron Dome missile defense system. This acquisition <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42535878/why-nukkleus-stock-is-gaining-tuesday">boosts</a> Nukkleus&#8217;s defense ambitions.
Micron Technology Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>)
Micron Technology Inc. experienced a modest increase of 0.31%, closing at $108.60. The stock fluctuated between a high of $110.49 and a low of $107.68, with a 52-week range of $157.54 to $78.63. The company is set to release its first-quarter financial results, with analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42541544/micron-q1-earnings-preview-analyst-estimates-why-company-is-well-positioned-heading-into-2025">expecting revenue</a> to reach $8.72 billion, a significant increase from the previous year. Micron has consistently outperformed revenue estimates in recent quarters.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>)
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. saw its stock rise by 26.47%, closing at $20.88. The stock hit an intraday high of $21.05 and a low of $19.03, with a 52-week high of $21.05 and a low of $10. The increase followed the successful completion of a Phase 2b study for a monoclonal antibody targeting inflammatory bowel disease, achieving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42531132/why-are-teva-and-sanofi-stocks-trading-higher-on-tuesday">positive</a>&nbsp;results in clinical remission rates.
Quantum Computing Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>)
Quantum Computing Inc. shares jumped by 51.53%, closing at $16.79. The stock&#8217;s intraday range was $18.06 to $12.60, with a 52-week high of $18.06 and a low of $0.35. The rise came after the company announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42533581/quantum-computing-stock-is-rising-tuesday-heres-why">prime contract</a> with NASA for imaging and data processing support, utilizing its Dirac-3 machine to enhance data quality and accuracy.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla Inc. saw a 3.64% increase, closing at $479.86. The stock reached an intraday high of $483.99 and a low of $457.51, with a 52-week range of $483.99 to $138.8. Analyst Dan Ives predicts that Tesla will be a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42522531/tesla-will-be-the-biggest-winner-in-the-trump-era-says-dan-ives-predicts-nasdaq-at-25000-in-18-months-get-the-popcorn-out">major beneficiary</a> in the tech sector expansion anticipated under President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s administration, driven by artificial intelligence and deregulation.
Image Via Shutterstock.com
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.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42485284/billionaire-warren-buffett-paid-120000-for-a-home-but-took-out-a-mortgage-to-do-it-investing-that-money-instead-made-him-2-billion?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billionaire Warren Buffett Paid $120,000 For A Home But Took Out A Mortgage To Do It – Investing That Money Instead Made Him $2 Billion</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>

NUKK

QUBT

TEVA

Nukkleus, Micron, Teva Pharmaceutical, Quantum Computing, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Leading cryptocurrencies stayed muted on Tuesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's last policy decision of 2024.
<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>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-0.18%</td>
<td>$105,942.00</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>-2.29%</td>
<td>$3,873.95</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>-1.68%</td>
<td>$0.3916</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin made a new all-time high of $108,000 in early trading hours before falling sharply to $105,000 shortly thereafter. Volatility persisted throughout the day, with the leading coin bouncing around and below $107,000.
Ethereum's decline was steeper, as it dropped below $4,000 to a low of $3,800.
The total cryptocurrency liquidations surpassed $316 million in the last 24 hours, with long liquidations accounting for an overwhelming share.
Bitcoin's Open Interest rose despite the price weakness, suggesting the opening of new short positions. Nearly 60% of Binance futures traders were betting against Bitcoin, according to the Long/Short Ratio.
Market sentiment remained in the "Extreme Greed" region, per the Cryptocurrency Fear &amp; Greed Index.
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>Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)</td>
<td>+487.34%</td>
<td>$0.02936</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitget Token (BGB)</td>
<td>+12.58%</td>
<td>$3.90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cronos (CRO)</td>
<td>+11.16%</td>
<td>$0.1941</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.78 trillion, following an increase of 2.43% over the last 24 hours.
Major stock indexes closed in the red on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the ninth consecutive day, dropping 267.58 points, or 0.61%, to close at 43,449.90. The S&amp;P 500 lost 0.39%, ending at 6,050.61, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite reversed from its record highs, falling 0.32% to 20,109.06.
Investors are now preparing for the final monetary policy decision on Wednesday. The Fed is widely expected to enact a 0.25% cut, with traders pricing in a 97% possibility of such a scenario, as per the <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">CME FedWatch</a> tool.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital said that this was only the start of Bitcoin's parabolic phase, drawing parallels with historical price action.
"Historically, this phase has lasted on average ~300 days Bitcoin is only on day 41 of its parabolic phase," the analyst stated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> has only just begun its Parabolic Phase in the cycle Historically, this phase has lasted on average ~300 days Bitcoin is only on Day 41 of its Parabolic Phase<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$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>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1869042931518374304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Cryptocurrency influencer Quinten Francois said that the Bitcoin cycle was being pushed by institutional investors and not retail.
"BTC is knocking at its ATH while there is no hype or euphoria. Why? Retail is in alts,&#8221; Francois added.
<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/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> is knocking at its ATH while there is no hype or euphoria Why? Retail is in alts This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> cycle isn't pushed by retail It's the institutional cycle
&mdash; Quinten &#x7C; 048.eth (@QuintenFrancois) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintenFrancois/status/1868920066097697080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
Data fetched from Google Trends also <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US&amp;q=bitcoin&amp;hl=en">showed </a>that search interest for Bitcoin has dwindled sharply from its peak just after Donald Trump's win last month.
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42535718/raoul-pal-predicts-violent-upside-for-bitcoin-targets-250000">Raoul Pal Predicts &#8216;Violent Upside&#8217; For Bitcoin, Targets $250,000</a></li>
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Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Stay Muted Before Fed's Interest Rate Decision: Analyst Says BTC In Parabolic Phase, Reveals Its Duration

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) voiced her support for the privatization of the United States Postal Service, amidst its financial woes on Tuesday.
What Happened: In a recent post on X, Greene expressed her long-held belief in the need for privatizing the USPS. She emphasized that her newly formed committee, along with the support of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy&#8211;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently">headed</a> Department of Government Efficiency, is gaining momentum in pushing for this change.
<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">We need to privatize <a href="https://twitter.com/USPS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USPS</a>—I've been saying it for years!<a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> and my new committee have a lot of momentum heading into next year. The American people gave President Trump a mandate, but they gave all of us in Washington a mandate, too. Selling the Postal Service is a smart… <a href="https://t.co/WqEKXddlFH">pic.twitter.com/WqEKXddlFH</a>
&mdash; Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene&#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8; (@RepMTG) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG/status/1869110704998846596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42500224/elon-musks-mother-opens-up-about-his-friendship-with-barron-trump-bonded-over-out-of-this-world-exploration?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s Mother Opens Up About His Friendship With Barron Trump: &#8216;Bonded Over Out-Of-This-World Exploration&#8217;</a>
She stated, &#8220;Selling the Postal Service is a smart decision that keeps our promise to the American people to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.&#8221; 
She also mentioned that the American people have given a mandate to President-elect Donald Trump and all of Washington, implying a collective responsibility to address the USPS&#8217;s financial struggles. 
Notably, Greene chairs the Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee in the next Congress. She has previously said that the goal of DOGE is to &#8220;bring accountability and GUT useless government agencies.&#8221;
Why It Matters: The USPS has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42496990/trump-eyes-privatization-of-postal-service-amid-9-5-billion-loss">grappling with financial difficulties</a>, reporting a massive $9.5 billion loss in the fiscal year ending September 30. The agency&#8217;s liabilities have soared to nearly $80 billion, primarily due to declining mail volumes and slower-than-expected growth in parcel shipping.
Trump is reportedly considering the privatization of the USPS as a potential solution to these financial challenges. The move towards privatization is seen as a means to overhaul the agency and address its mounting liabilities.
Privatizing the USPS can potentially reshape consumer shipping, favoring profitable routes while leaving rural areas underserved. FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) and United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>), already dominate the parcel market and might increase their influence, potentially impacting millions relying on affordable mail services.
For privatization to occur, approval would be needed from the USPS Board of Governors, consisting of 11 members led by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, CNBC <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-biden-signal-emerging-fight-future-postal-service-rcna184451">reported</a>.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced his intention to renominate former general counsel for the American Postal Workers Union, Anton Hajjar, to the Postal Service Board of Governors. This will require swift Democratic action to confirm him before Republicans gain Senate control in January. Hajjar, previously nominated by Biden and confirmed in 2021, served a term that ended in December 2023. 
Check This Out:
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<li>Lawmakers Made Huge Investments This Year. <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>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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

General

Marjorie Taylor Greene Pushes To Sell Off USPS Amid DOGE Momentum: 'We Need To Privatize...I've Been Saying It For Years'

Nissan Motor Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSANY#OTC">NSANY</a>)&nbsp; shares surged 22.54% in Tokyo on Wednesday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42541842/japanese-auto-giants-nissan-honda-eye-merger-says-nikkei">after the reports of merger talks</a> with Honda Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMC#NYSE">HMC</a>). Honda&#8217;s stock is trading down 2%.
According to the report, the two automakers are exploring a merger under a holding company structure, with plans to include Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMTOF#OTC">MMTOF</a>), where Nissan holds a 24% stake. A memorandum of understanding is expected soon. Mitsubishi Motor shares were seen trading over 13% higher in Tokyo at the time of writing.
If finalized, the combined Nissan-Honda-Mitsubishi group could achieve annual sales exceeding 8 million vehicles, making it one of the world's largest automakers. However, it would still trail Japan&#8217;s Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>), with 11.2 million sales in 2023, and Germany's Volkswagen AG at 9.2 million.
Year-to-date, Nissan shares have fallen 28.3% trading at 412 Japanese Yen ($2.68), while Honda is trading at 1,270 Japanese Yen ($8.27), down 15.7%. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motor stock is up 1.49% this year trading at 463 Japanese Yen ($3.01).
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42538146/asml-lawsuit-drama-semiconductor-titan-faces-investor-backlash-after-stock-sinks-27-in-6-months">ASML Lawsuit Drama: Semiconductor Titan Faces Investor Backlash After Stock Sinks 27% In 6 Months</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.

Asia

MMTOF

NSANY

Nissan Stock Soar Over 20% On Merger Talks With Honda, Mitsubishi Spikes

Trading Halt: Halted at 7:50:00 p.m. ET - Trading Halt: Halt News Pending

MoonPay announced a strategic partnership with Element Wallet to enhance access to Core (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">CORE</a>) tokens within the Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) DeFi (BTCfi) ecosystem.
The integration will allow users to seamlessly purchase CORE tokens using multiple payment methods, including debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and bank transfers, marking a significant step in improving user accessibility.
The partnership aligns with Core's mission to drive the adoption of BTCfi technology and expand the usability of its self-custodial staking platform.
Ivan Soto-Wright, co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, said integrating with Element Wallet will create new opportunities for users to engage with the Bitcoin ecosystem, reducing friction and enhancing the overall user experience.
Core, which launched in April 2024, emerged as a Proof-of-Stake layer for Bitcoin and the first blockchain to enable self-custodial Bitcoin staking.
Since its launch, over 6,700 Bitcoin have been staked on the platform, demonstrating its growing role in the BTCfi ecosystem.
Element Wallet, serving as Core's flagship wallet, will integrate CORE alongside additional tokens such as stCORE and wCORE, to simplify user engagement with Bitcoin staking and the broader ecosystem. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42526592/bitcoin-ethereum-etfs-see-688m-net-inflows-analysts-target-124000">Bitcoin, Ethereum ETFs See $688M Net Inflows, Analysts Target $124,000</a>
Rich Rines, an initial contributor to Core, emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, "The addition of CORE to MoonPay, alongside its integration with Element Wallet, represents a pivotal step in our mission to drive further adoption and usability within the growing Core ecosystem and beyond."
Beyond Element Wallet, CORE tokens are now available directly on the MoonPay platform, enabling users broader access to the growing BTCfi network.
The partnership builds on Core's impressive milestones since its January 2023 mainnet launch, which includes over 31 million unique addresses, 300 million transactions and nearly $1 billion in total value locked (TVL).
Core has also powered innovations like the Valour Bitcoin Staking (BTC) SEK, the world's first yield-bearing Bitcoin ETP, aimed at institutional adoption.
Read Next: • <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42514820/ftx-reorganization-plan-set-for-january-3-distributions-to-commence-within-60-days">FTX Reorganization Plan Set For January 3, Distributions To Commence Within 60 Days</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

$CORE

MoonPay Partners With Element Wallet To Boost Core Token Access In BTCfi Ecosystem

If you've ever been told to "be grateful for what you have," <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40166983/grant-cardone-says-earning-400-000-a-year-is-embarrassing-as-a-human-being-asks-how-do-you-make-">Grant Cardone</a> is here to flip that advice. He's blunt about it. In an article on his website, Grant Cardone shared a powerful message:&nbsp;
"Don't be grateful for the middle class – be in a hurry to get out of it!"
As Cardone sees it, the middle class is trapped – not just financially but mentally. They cling to outdated ideas about money that leave them living paycheck to paycheck, terrified of the next unexpected bill.
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<li>The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a></li>
</ul>
The Middle-Class Trap: A Personal Take
Grant grew up in the middle class, so he speaks from experience. He remembers watching his mom stretch every dollar, clip coupons and worry about how far the money would go. Sure, there was enough to get by, but "just enough" didn't cut it for him.
At 16, he told his mom, "One day I am going to be rich and take care of you and help others." Her response? The classic middle-class mantra: "Money won't make you happy. Be grateful for what we have."
But Grant wasn't buying it then and is not now. His counterargument? "I am grateful, I just don't want to be worried about every day of my life."
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>
Why the Middle Class Is Struggling
According to the real estate guru, here's the cold, hard truth: the middle class is broke. Cardone points to a Bankrate survey that found 63% of Americans can't afford a $500 car repair. Let that sink in. In the wealthiest country in the world, most people don't even have a small financial cushion.
According to Cardone, this all comes back to the toxic financial advice middle-class families have followed for generations. Ideas like "money won't make you happy" and "save your pennies" keep people stuck.
"Everywhere you look – TV, radio, social media – you've got people dishing out advice they haven't mastered themselves," he says. The result? A middle-class population working hard but with less than $3,000 in savings, constantly living on the edge.
Grant's Turning Point: Breaking Free
At 25, Cardone was broke. Worse, he realized he was poorer at 25 than he'd been at 15. Why? He had adopted middle-class money habits from people who didn't have financial freedom.
"I finally had enough," he says. That's when he decided to stop taking advice from broke people and start learning from those who had built wealth.
Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/bezos-landlord-100-dollars">become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100 for properties like the Byer House from Stranger Things.</a>
Busting Middle-Class Money Myths
If you're ready to escape the middle-class mindset, Cardone lays out six toxic money beliefs you need to ditch ASAP:
"Money won't make you happy."
Let's face it, no one's smiling when they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42488326/grant-cardone-offer-citizenship-to-1-million-immigrants-who-deposit-5-million-each-5-trillion-in-new-investment-dollars-for-america">can't pay their bills</a>. Cardone calls this "stupid and irrelevant." When someone says this, he argues, it's usually because they've given up on money entirely.
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
Nope. A penny saved is just a penny and will never grow into anything more. This old-school mentality keeps people broke.
"Save your money."
Saving won't make you rich, but investing will. Cardone's advice: Stop hoarding pennies and start making your money work for you.
See Also: <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.
"Money doesn't grow on trees."
Actually, money is human-made and whenever there's a shortage, governments print more. It's not scarce – so stop thinking small.
"Get a good deal."
Middle-class families obsess over finding the cheapest price. But Grant points out that "good deals don't make you rich – big deals do." The most lucrative opportunities often come with a premium price tag.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
Cardone says Wall Street sold this advice to the middle class to promote mutual funds and index funds. The wealthy go all-in on a few high-value investments. Even Warren Buffett says, "Wide diversification is only required when investors don't fully understand what they are doing."
Grant's message <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/10/41234906/if-you-want-to-be-a-millionaire-stop-doing-the-9-5-grant-cardone-says-working-40-hours-a-week-on">isn't about being ungrateful – </a>it's about refusing to settle. The middle-class mindset might feel safe, but it's a trap that keeps you broke and stressed. The key? Start questioning the beliefs you've been taught and commit to breaking out of the cycle.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>The number of ‘401(k)' Millionaires is up 43% from last year —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/401k-millionaires"> Here are three ways to join the club.</a></li>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>

Personal Finance

Don't Be Grateful For The Middle Class. Be In A Hurry To Get Out Of It – Grant Cardone Exposes Middle-Class Money Trap Keeping People Broke

In a significant development, U.S. Congressional leaders have reached a consensus on a bipartisan deal to extend government funding, thereby averting the looming December 20 shutdown deadline.
The legislation, revealed on Tuesday, extends the funding deadline to March 14, 2025. This move allows the incoming Congress and president to decide on the government&#8217;s funding for the majority of the year. The package includes a one-year farm bill extension, approximately $100 billion in disaster relief, and around $30 billion in disaster and economic assistance for farmers among other authorizations, <a href="https://thehill.com/business/budget/5040567-government-funding-deal-shutdown-deadline/">reported</a> The Hill.
The agreement marks the end of weeks of negotiations over disaster aid and overall funding. This is the final funding agreement of a divided Congress before the new class takes over in January. The bill provides nearly $30 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, following recent concerns about the agency&#8217;s Disaster Relief Fund.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42497173/investment-guru-peter-lynch-if-you-cant-explain-to-an-11-year-old-in-2-minutes-or-less-why-you-own-the-stock-you-shouldnt-own-it?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Investment Guru Peter Lynch: &#8216;If You Can&#8217;t Explain To An 11-Year-Old In 2 Minutes Or Less Why You Own The</a>
More than $2 billion in funding for the Small Business Administration was agreed upon after officials reported that its disaster loan program had exhausted its funds during the hurricane season. The bill also allocates $20 billion for disaster relief for farmers and $10 billion in economic support for farmers.
The legislation also extends the National Flood Insurance Program&#8217;s authorization and includes measures aimed at pandemic mitigation. The total emergency and disaster funding attached to the continuing resolution amounts to approximately $110 billion, with no offsets included.
Although some Republicans have voiced frustration over the bill&#8217;s additional provisions and delayed implementation, the House is anticipated to swiftly pass the legislation to prevent a government shutdown ahead of the holidays.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Did You Know?
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<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>
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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>

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