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A new leak reiterates that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly set to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41699427/apples-iphone-17-base-models-could-finally-get-this-highly-requested-pro-feature">improve the display technology</a> in its upcoming iPhone 17 series.
What Happened: Over the weekend, Weibo-based Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station said that supply chain materials support the rumors of a higher refresh rate for the standard iPhone 17.
Although the exact refresh rate wasn&#8217;t specified, earlier reports suggest a 120Hz ProMotion rate, which was previously exclusive to Pro models, might be implemented.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42715441/openais-for-profit-transition-trumps-ai-advisor-and-googles-code-red-this-week-in-ai?itm_source=parsely-api">OpenAI&#8217;s For-Profit Transition, Trump&#8217;s AI Advisor, And Google&#8217;s Code Red: This Week In AI</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/31010935/Screenshot-2024-12-31-at-11.39.28%E2%80%AFAM-1024x465.png" alt="" class="wp-image-712644" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Weibo</figcaption></figure>
ProMotion technology, enabled by low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panels, allows for variable refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz.
This technology enhances user experience with smoother scrolling and video playback, and always-on functionality for time, widgets, and notifications on Lock Screens.
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: Earlier, Ross Young from Display Supply Chain Consultants indicated that both the standard iPhone 17 and a new model, tentatively named &#8220;iPhone 17 Air,&#8221; will feature ProMotion displays.
This shift means all four iPhone models in 2025 will have ProMotion, eliminating the 60Hz displays that have been standard in previous base models.
Meanwhile, Novatek&#8217;s OLED technology could play a crucial role in the design of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41195325/apple-might-have-just-found-the-technology-to-power-its-thin-iphone-17-air-display">ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air</a>.
Leaks regarding iPhone 17 Pro Max suggest that the device could feature 12GB DRAM and upgraded cooling systems. These enhancements, along with improved on-device AI capabilities, are likely to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41195325/apple-might-have-just-found-the-technology-to-power-its-thin-iphone-17-air-display">major selling points</a> for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42716915/porn-on-spotify-users-discover-explicit-content-hidden-in-search-results-sparking-outrage-over-moderation-loopholes?itm_source=parsely-api">Spotify Users Discover Adult Content Hidden In Search Results Sparking Outrage Over Moderation Loopholes</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Tech

AAPL

iPhone 17 To Get Display Upgrade As Apple Finally Ditches 60Hz Technology? New Leak Reiterates Possibility

Earnings

DJCO

Reported Earlier, Daily Journal FY24 EPS $56.73 Up From $15.58 YoY, Sales $69.93M Up From $67.71M YoY

Reported Earlier, Marcus & Millichap's IPA Brokers Record-Breaking $116M Sale Of La Vista Apartments In Santa Maria

IPOs

ONEG

OneConstruction Group Prices Initial Public Offering Of 1.75M Common Shares At $4/Share

HIVE

HIVE Digital Technologies Relocates Headquarters To San Antonio, Texas And Adopts US GAAP Reporting

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

Reported Earlier, China Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index For December 52.2 Vs. 50.2 Est.; 50.0 Prior

Reported Earlier, China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index For December 50.1 Vs. 50.3 Est.; 50.3 Prior

Reported Earlier, China Composite Purchasing Managers' Index For December 52.2 Vs. 50.8 Prior

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Monday that the company hopes to conduct the seventh flight test of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42718758/elon-musk-says-starship-will-get-fully-reusable-heat-shield-in-2025-i-am-confident" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Starship launch vehicle</a> on January 10th.
What Happened: &#8220;10th,&#8221; Musk wrote on social media platform X. The billionaire CEO was responding to a query on when SpaceX expects to conduct the seventh test flight of its Starship launch vehicle. 
<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">10th
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1873862900915593679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Starship is still in development and undergoing testing. While NASA is looking forward to landing humans back on the surface of the Moon after a gap of over 50 years with the help of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42108681/spacex-shows-off-conceptual-version-of-starship-which-will-help-humans-land-back-on-moon-in-over-50-yrs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">custom version of the Starship</a>, Musk dreams of taking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40770222/elon-musk-sets-2026-for-starships-first-uncrewed-mars-mission-targeting-successful-landing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">humans to the planet Mars</a> aboard the Starship.
The last time humans set foot on the Moon was in 1972&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36692749/just-a-worse-version-of-apollo-elon-musk-baffled-by-nasa-veterans-push-to-ditch-spacex-blue-origin-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with Apollo 17</a>. Since then, no crew has traveled beyond low-Earth orbit.
Starship is currently in the testing and development phase. The company has conducted six test flights of the vehicle thus far starting in April 2023 but without a payload. The last flight test took place in November.
Why It Matters: Earlier this month, Musk said that the version of the Starship spacecraft planned for the launch vehicle's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42455167/spacex-rolls-out-starship-for-testing-ahead-of-next-flight-will-the-7th-test-happen-before-2024-end" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seventh test flight</a>&nbsp;features "major" design improvements.
"Lighter, easier to manufacture, and less susceptible to high heating," Musk said in a post on X about the new version of the spacecraft.
For the upcoming flight test, SpaceX will attempt to land the Starship spacecraft in the ocean yet again.
&#8220;We will do one more ocean landing of the ship. If that goes well, SpaceX will attempt to catch the ship with the tower (launch tower at Starbase),&#8221; Musk previously said.
Catching the booster of the vehicle as well as the spacecraft back at the launch tower at Starbase is an important demonstration of the vehicle&#8217;s reusability. 
SpaceX is attempting to make its rockets reusable to bring down the cost of spaceflight.
In July 2023, Musk warned that rocket manufacturers will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/07/33383081/elon-musk-tells-rocket-makers-go-all-in-on-reusability-or-be-utterly-uncompetitive" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">need to go all-in on reusability</a>&nbsp;or risk being uncompetitive.
"Rockets are no different from other transport technologies, just harder to make reusable. No one would buy a single-use airplane, car, or even bicycle! You'd need to tow another car just for the return trip," Musk said.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42718758/elon-musk-says-starship-will-get-fully-reusable-heat-shield-in-2025-i-am-confident">Elon Musk Says He Is &#8216;Confident&#8217; SpaceX&#8217;s Starship Will Get Fully Reusable Heat Shield In 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: SpaceX

SPACE

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says Starship's 7th Test Flight Slated For Jan 10

XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) might have retraced sharply in recent days, but one influential analyst on Monday predicted massive upsides for the payment-focused cryptocurrency in 2025.
What happened: Ali Martinez, a well-known chartist, observed a "promising setup" for XRP, prompting him to set a price target of $11.
Martinez identified a falling wedge pattern, commonly interpreted as a bullish indicator by technical analysts.
If the projections turn out to be accurate, it would imply a 450% increase, or more than a fivefold jump, from XRP's current market price.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1873858351857328157" title="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1873858351857328157">https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1873858351857328157</a>.
</div>
</figure>
Martinez also observed the converging Bollinger Bands on XRP's daily chart, indicating a sharp price movement could be on the cards.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Bollinger Bands are squeezing on the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24XRP&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$XRP</a> daily chart, indicating a big price movement is underway! <a href="https://t.co/CvxomYnH5E">pic.twitter.com/CvxomYnH5E</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1873763728413344029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Another widely followed analyst, Javon Marks, joined the bullish optimism, drawing comparisons to the 2017 bull market.
"XRP&#8217;s current 3-day timeframe is currently looking extremely similar to that 2017 run, even more so, and prices right now may only be getting ready to come out of an &#8216;intermission phase&#8217; before yet another &#8216;groundbreaking&#8217; bullish rally," Marks remarked.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24XRP&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$XRP</a>&#39;s Current 3 Day Timeframe is currently looking extremely similar to that 2017 Run even more so and prices right now may only be getting ready to come out of an &#39;Intermission Phase&#39; before yet another &#39;groundbreaking&#39; bullish rally! It may be time to strap in&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/MwtXddA7Ad">pic.twitter.com/MwtXddA7Ad</a>
&mdash; JAVON&#x26a1;&#xFE0F;MARKS (@JavonTM1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JavonTM1/status/1873901685992808762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> &#8216;Pharma Bro&#8217; Martin Shkreli Predicts Liquidation Doom For MicroStrategy Amid Fall Below $300, Says Bitcoin Will Hit $250K Without Michael Saylor</a>
Why It Matters: A handful of other technicals supported XRP's rally in the days ahead. The popular Bull Bear Power indicator, used for measuring the strength of buyers and sellers in the market, flashed a "Buy" signal, <a href="https://in.tradingview.com/symbols/XRPUSD/technicals/">according </a>to TradingView.
The Commodity Channel Index, which measures the difference between the current price and the historical average price, also signaled "Buy" for the fourth-largest cryptocurrency.
The Relative Strength Index, though, was still "Neutral," suggesting balance between bullish and bearish market forces.
Price Action: At the time of writing, XRP was exchanging hands at $2.02, down 2.92% 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>. The coin has been one of the biggest gainers of 2024, surging 227% year-to-date.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42729068/donald-trumps-9-9-million-crypto-portfolio-over-50-growth-since-september-how-many-cryptocurrencies-does-trump-own">Donald Trump&#8217;s $9.9 Million Crypto Portfolio: Over 50% Growth Since September – How Many Cryptocurrencies Does Trump Own?</a></li>
</ul>

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

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$XRP

XRP Poised For 450% Upside, Says Analyst, As Coin Shows 'One Of The Most Promising Setups' Heading Into 2025

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>) are heading toward a critical Jan. 10 deadline over new compliance measures affecting the asset manager&#8217;s holdings in U.S. banks, marking a significant development in the ongoing debate over institutional investor influence in the banking sector.
What Happened: The FDIC is pushing BlackRock, which manages $11.5 trillion in assets, to accept enhanced oversight requirements when it owns more than 10% of FDIC-supervised banks&#8217; shares, the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1d559e21-66b6-4a50-8177-6b0daefaf7a1">reported</a>, citing sources. 
This move follows competitor Vanguard&#8216;s recent agreement to broader FDIC oversight and expanded passivity agreements covering banks within larger holding companies.
BlackRock&#8217;s stakes in 39 U.S. community and regional banks exceed the 10% threshold, triggering regulatory concern. In an October comment letter, BlackRock strongly opposed the proposal, arguing it would &#8220;harm investors, disrupt the flow of capital to the economy, and undermine the efficacy&#8221; of existing regulations.
In its iShares U.S. Financial ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYF#NYSE">IYF</a>), BlackRock&#8217;s largest banking holdings are in JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co, Bank of America Corp, and Wells Fargo &amp; Company.
BlackRock and FDIC did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42735623/trump-backed-platforms-pick-years-chart-topper-6-new-cryptos-added-to-grayscales-top-20-list-with-growth-potential-in-q1-2025">Trump-Backed Platform&#8217;s Pick, Year&#8217;s Chart Topper: 6 New Cryptos Added To Grayscale&#8217;s &#8216;Top 20&#8217; List With Growth Potential In Q1 2025</a>
Why It Matters: The conflict reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of major asset managers&#8217; influence over the financial sector. Harvard law professor John Coates, in his 2023 book &#8220;The Problem of Twelve,&#8221; warned about the unprecedented concentration of voting power, noting that major index funds together <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38051183/could-3-powerful-fund-managers-take-control-of-us-banks">control over 20% of S&amp;P 500 companies&#8217; votes</a>.
FDIC director Jonathan McKernan has emphasized the necessity of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38051183/could-3-powerful-fund-managers-take-control-of-us-banks">robust compliance measures</a>, particularly as passive investment giants like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street Corp. continue to expand their holdings through index funds.
While BlackRock proposed alternative passivity agreements in December, these fell short of the compliance measures Vanguard accepted. The FDIC&#8217;s January deadline comes as the agency anticipates new leadership following the upcoming administration change.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735573/two-magnificent-7-giants-snubbed-in-dan-ives-top-10-tech-winners-for-the-ai-revolution-into-2025-but-palantir-salesforce-and-snowflake-made-the-cut">Palantir, Salesforce, And Snowflake Made The Cut, But 2 &#8216;Magnificent 7&#8242; Giants Left Out From Dan Ives&#8217; Top 10 Tech Winners For The AI Revolution In 2025 List</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Blackrock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

iShares Dow Jones US Financial Sector Index Fund

BlackRock Faces Jan. 10 Deadline For Compliance Over Bank Stakes As FDIC Scrutinizes Investor Power: Report

The king of outrageous challenges, Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast, is back with a bold giveaway.
What Happened: In a conversation with PodSensei that was released on Sunday, MrBeast revealed that he purchased a private jet and challenged two fresh aviation school graduates to live inside it for 100 days.
If they succeed, they get to keep the jet.
The YouTube sensation described the jet as a &#8220;really nice&#8221; Dassault Aviation's (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUAVF#OTC">DUAVF</a>) Hawker 2000, offering the participants the freedom to fly it anywhere globally.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42701155/made-in-china-paid-in-america-what-trumps-new-tariffs-mean-for-the-us-economy?itm_source=parsely-api">Made In China, Paid In America: What Trump&#8217;s New Tariffs Mean For The US Economy</a>
However, they must remain inside the aircraft for the entire duration to win. The challenge allows them to open the door for deliveries, such as pizza, but they cannot step outside.
The video of the conversation was posted by a user on X, to which MrBeast replied posing a question to his followers, &#8220;Would you guys live in a private jet for 100 days to keep it?&#8221;
<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">Would you guys live in a private jet for 100 days to keep it?
&mdash; MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1873879348471836939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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: MrBeast has a history of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39024370/mrbeast-unveils-largest-game-show-ever-with-5m-prize-heres-how-you-can-enter">creating viral challenges</a> that captivate audiences worldwide.
His extreme endurance test, &#8220;I Survived 50 Hours in Antarctica&#8221; was posted two years ago and has since racked up over 220 million views on YouTube, owned by 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.
MrBeast also attempted a 24-hour underwater challenge, though seasickness forced an early exit.
The YouTuber also famously recreated Netflix Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) &#8220;Squid Game,&#8221; attracting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/11/24369935/mr-beasts-squid-game-video-has-more-views-in-a-week-than-netflixs-show-had-in-first-month">more viewership in a week</a>, than the show gained in its first month.&nbsp;
In July this year, he posted a video titled &#8220;50 YouTubers Fight For $1,000,000.&#8221; The video quickly became his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39766403/mrbeasts-latest-youtubers-challenge-video-goes-viral-as-he-plans-to-give-away-10-tesla-cybertrucks-h">most-watched video on YouTube</a> within 24 hours.
MrBeast&#8217;s &#8220;Beast Games&#8221; also premiered on Amazon.com, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Prime Video. The game show <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42657482/mrbeast-dominates-prime-video-how-youtuber-could-help-amazon-boost-streaming-presence">debuted its first two episodes</a> on Dec. 19.&nbsp;
Although official viewership numbers remain undisclosed, Donaldson earlier said that &#8220;Beast Games&#8221; was Prime Video&#8217;s most-watched show or movie of the week.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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/24/12/42715441/openais-for-profit-transition-trumps-ai-advisor-and-googles-code-red-this-week-in-ai?itm_source=parsely-api">OpenAI&#8217;s For-Profit Transition, Trump&#8217;s AI Advisor, And Google&#8217;s Code Red: This Week In AI</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.

AMZN

DUAVF

GOOG

GOOGL

NFLX

MrBeast's Daring New Challenge: Live In A Jet For 100 Days And Then Keep It — Are You Game?

Controversial figure Martin Shkreli issued a stark warning for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) proxy stock, MicroStrategy Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), on Monday, predicting its potential liquidation and a significant Bitcoin surge.
What Happened:&nbsp;Shkreli, popularly known as &#8220;Pharma Bro,&#8221; took to X to vent his thoughts on MicroStrategy&#8217;s ongoing downturn, which has resulted in the stock plummetting more than 15% in a week. The decline coincided with Bitcoin&#8217;s corrective action, which caused the leading cryptocurrency <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735439/bitcoin-falls-below-93k-ethereum-dogecoin-slip-ahead-of-new-year-top-analyst-anticipates-problem-for-apex-crypto">to slip below $93,000</a>.
&#8220;Uh $MSTR &lt; $300. We will liquidate you and take BTC to $250,000 without Saylor—poetic justice?&#8221; Shkreli made a cheeky jibe at the company&#8217;s co-founder and chair, Michael Saylor.
Shkreli sarcastically advised Saylor to sell some of the firm&#8217;s Bitcoin holdings to protect against risks. &#8220;Best thing Saylor can do is shor (pun intended) up his balance sheet.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">uh <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSTR</a> &lt; $300. we will liquidate you and take BTC to 250,000 without saylor &#8211; poetic justice? best thing saylor can do is shor (pun intended) up his balance sheet
&mdash; Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinShkreli/status/1873846733643669578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Shkreli has been a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caDx7zhdpM0">vocal critic</a> of MicroStrategy&#8217;s widely popular Bitcoin playbook and revealed that he took short positions in the stock. He called the play a &#8220;big bubble&#8221; and predicted it to end poorly.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42729068/donald-trumps-9-9-million-crypto-portfolio-over-50-growth-since-september-how-many-cryptocurrencies-does-trump-own">Donald Trump&#8217;s $9.9 Million Crypto Portfolio: Over 50% Growth Since September – How Many Cryptocurrencies Does Trump Own?</a>
Why It Matters: Shkreli&#8217;s comments come amid MicroStrategy&#8217;s aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy. The company has been on an 8-week buying streak, with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42723691/microstrategy-drops-209-million-on-bitcoin-in-8-week-buying-blitz">latest purchase on Monday</a> taking its total holdings to 446,400 BTC, worth over $41 billion at prevailing prices.
However, the strategy, which leverages convertible debt to fund Bitcoin purchases, has drawn criticism from financial experts. Peter Schiff said last month that the company's commitment to repay convertible note holders could be at a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42237876/peter-schiff-predicts-microstrategys-bankruptcy-due-to-bitcoin-investment-strategy">potential risk</a> if Bitcoin drops significantly in value.
But nothing thus far has deterred Saylor&#8217;s bullish optimism. 
The firm recently announced a special shareholder meeting to vote on proposals supporting its ambitious $42 billion Bitcoin purchase plan. As part of this plan, Saylor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42665877/microstrategy-to-hold-special-shareholder-vote-to-support-the-42-billion-bitcoin-acquisition-strategy">proposed increasing the company&#8217;s authorized Class A shares</a> and the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $92,338.85, down 1.23% 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 plunged 8.19% to $302.96 during Monday's regular session and dropped lower to $293.59 in after-hours trading.
The stock&#8217;s consensus price target was $449.5 based on 12 analyst recommendations, with an average price target of $546.67 from Bernstein, TD Cowen, and Barclays.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/eurozone/24/12/42724073/european-central-bank-should-consider-bitcoin-reserve-former-german-finance-minister-says">European Central Bank Should Consider Bitcoin Reserve, Former German Finance Minister Says</a></li>
</ul>

$BTC

MSTR

'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli Predicts Liquidation Doom For MicroStrategy Amid Fall Below $300, Says Bitcoin Will Hit $250K Without Michael Saylor

Leading digital asset manager Grayscale Investments broadened its Top 20 list of cryptocurrencies on Monday by adding six new tokens with strong growth potential for the upcoming quarter.
What Happened: Grayscale <a href="https://www.grayscale.com/research/market-commentary/grayscale-research-insights-crypto-sectors-in-q1-2025">added </a>Layer-1 blockchain token Hyperliquid (HYPE), decentralized stablecoin protocol Ethena (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ENA</a>), AI agent creator Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), decentralized exchange Jupiter (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">JUP</a>), liquid staking protocol Jito (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">JTO</a>), and decentralized data network Grass (GRASS) to the list, which it publishes every quarter.
Interestingly, VIRTUAL has been the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42717267/2024s-cryptocurrency-champions-these-top-performers-surpass-bitcoin-in-a-year-of-unprecedented-gains">market&#8217;s best performer in 2024</a>, with year-to-date gains of 26043%. Additionally, ENA has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42500884/trump-backed-world-liberty-financials-purchases-trigger-strong-rally-in-these-defi-tokens">heavily accumulated</a> by President-elect Donald Trump-backed platform World Liberty Financial.
The asset manager said it considered metrics like network adoption, upcoming catalysts, sustainability of fundamentals, token valuation, token supply inflation, and potential tail risks for the inclusion.
Grayscale added that the focus was on assets that touched on themes like the U.S. election and its potential impact on cryptocurrency regulation, decentralized AI technology, and growth in the Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) ecosystem.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42729068/donald-trumps-9-9-million-crypto-portfolio-over-50-growth-since-september-how-many-cryptocurrencies-does-trump-own">Donald Trump&#8217;s $9.9 Million Crypto Portfolio: Over 50% Growth Since September – How Many Cryptocurrencies Does Trump Own?</a>
The &#8216;Top 20&#8217; list consisted of a diversified set of assets spanning different cryptocurrency sectors, including 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>), Chainlink (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/link/usd">LINK</a>), and Uniswap (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/uni/usd">UNI</a>).
Why It Matters: This decision by Grayscale Research comes in the wake of a transformative forecast for the cryptocurrency industry in 2025. According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42724952/2025-outlook-bitcoin-to-150000-ethereum-to-5500-dogecoin-hits-1-galaxy-research-predicts">study</a>&nbsp;by Galaxy Research, the industry is set for significant advances in adoption, infrastructure, and regulatory clarity. 
The research predicted Bitcoin to surpass $150,000 in the first half of 2025, potentially reaching or exceeding $185,000 by the fourth quarter.
The inclusion of these new tokens implied the growing potential of assets tied to decentralized finance and AI, as well as the weight attached to assets that provide utility. 
Price Action: At the time of writing, all of these new entrants to the &#8216;Top 20&#8217; list were down in the 24-hour period, 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 Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42729819/bitcoin-up-1-to-94000-sweet-setup-going-into-2025-but-beware-a-drop-below-93000-experts-say">Bitcoin Up 1% To $94,000: &#8216;Sweet&#8217; Setup Going Into 2025, But Beware A Drop Below $93,000, Experts Say</a></li>
</ul>

$ENA

$ETH

$JTO

$JUP

$LINK

$SOL

$UNI

Trump-Backed Platform's Pick, Year's Chart Topper: 6 New Cryptos Added To Grayscale's 'Top 20' List With Growth Potential In Q1 2025

On Monday, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives unveiled his top 10 tech winners for the AI revolution into 2025, leaving two major Magnificent 7 players notably absent from the list.
What Happened:&nbsp; In his post, Ives said that the companies are poised to ride the wave of a $2 trillion AI capital expenditure boom over the next three years.
His list of top 10 tech winners for the AI revolution: Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), 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, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), MongoDB Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>), Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEGA#NASDAQ">PEGA</a>), Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>), and Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>).&nbsp;
&#8216;Magnificent 7&#8217; heavyweights Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) were conspicuously absent from the list.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42715441/openais-for-profit-transition-trumps-ai-advisor-and-googles-code-red-this-week-in-ai?itm_source=parsely-api">OpenAI&#8217;s For-Profit Transition, Trump&#8217;s AI Advisor, And Google&#8217;s Code Red: This Week In AI</a>
"We expect tech stocks to be up 25% in 2025," Ives stated, adding that it will be bolstered by "a goldilocks foundation for Big Tech and Tesla" and reduced regulatory hurdles under a Donald Trump-led administration.
Ives also cautioned about potential "white-knuckle moments" in 2025, citing concerns around Fed actions, China trade dynamics, and stretched valuations.
However, he said, &#8220;This will create the opportunities to own the tech theme and key names which has been our core investing tech playbook the last 2 years.&#8221;
<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 expect tech stocks to be up 25% in 2025 as the Street further digests a less regulatory spider web under Trump in the White House with Khan/FTC days in the rear-view mirror, stronger AI initiatives within the Beltway, and a goldilocks foundation for Big Tech into 2025 &#x1f525;&#x1f3c6;&#x1f402; <a href="https://t.co/buam9doR6K">pic.twitter.com/buam9doR6K</a>
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1873877365572723044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Apple currently leads the market with an impressive valuation of $3.812 trillion, and its stock has surged by 35.85% year-to-date.
Cupertino introduced Apple Intelligence this year, a robust collection of AI tools and features designed to greatly improve the user experience on its devices.
Following closely is Nvidia, with a market cap of $3.367 trillion and an impressive 185.43% year-to-date increase. Nvidia is anticipated to launch its next-generation RTX 5000 series GPUs at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/12/42677149/nvidia-ces-2025-keynote-how-to-watch-jensen-huang-unveil-the-rtx-5000-series-gpus">CES 2025 scheduled for the second week</a> of January.
Microsoft secures the third spot with a valuation of $3.158 trillion. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, holds a market cap of $2.350.
Amazon rounds out the top five with a valuation of $2.326 trillion, while Meta and Tesla are at number seven and eight with a market cap of $1.492 trillion and $1.339 trillion, respectively.
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42717000/palantir-was-not-part-of-cool-kids-club-says-dan-ives-as-stock-surges-376-institutional-investors-were-stuck">Palantir Was Not Part Of &#8216;Cool Kids Club,&#8217; Says Dan Ives, As Stock Surges 376%: &#8216;Group Think&#8217; Mentality Of Institutional Investors Gave Retail The Edge</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.

MSFT

NVDA

PEGA

PLTR

SNOW

TSLA

Palantir, Salesforce, And Snowflake Made The Cut, But 2 'Magnificent 7' Giants Left Out From Dan Ives' Top 10 Tech Winners For The AI Revolution In 2025 List

New Street Research analyst Pierre Ferragu predicts 2025 will mark the beginning of a new artificial intelligence era, citing breakthrough developments in Tesla Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/10/41449625/tesla-or-google-who-will-steer-the-future-of-self-driving">Full Self-Driving technology</a> and OpenAI&#8217;s latest O3 model.
What Happened: In a detailed research note, Ferragu emphasizes the remarkable performance of OpenAI&#8217;s O3 model on the Advanced Reasoning Corpus &#8211; Artificial General Intelligence benchmark, a testing framework that assesses the reasoning and problem-solving abilities of AI systems. 
The model achieved an impressive 87.5% score, nearing human-level capabilities and marking a substantial improvement over previous AI models, which typically scored below 10%.
&#8220;This is not merely incremental improvement, but a genuine breakthrough, marking a qualitative shift in AI capabilities,&#8221; says François Chollet, founder of the ARC-AGI foundation, as quoted in the research report.
The O3 model, set for release in January, demonstrates remarkable improvements across multiple benchmarks. It achieved a 71.7% accuracy in software engineering tasks, matching human professional performance, and scored 2,727 Elo in competitive coding, surpassing many expert programmers.
&#8220;Between FSD v13.2.2 driving me around with literally no intervention and o3 scoring 88% at ARC-AGI, I do believe the inflection is now. 2025 will be year zero of the AI era,&#8221; Ferragu wrote on X. 
<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">Between FSD v13.2.2 driving me around with literally no intervention and o3 scoring 88% at ARC-AGI, I do believe the inflection is now. 2025 will be year zero of the AI era. For more detailed thoughts, check the link in the next post&#x1f447;. <a href="https://t.co/b2UTWi29pz">pic.twitter.com/b2UTWi29pz</a>
&mdash; Pierre Ferragu (@p_ferragu) <a href="https://twitter.com/p_ferragu/status/1873828283764400515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/12/42731943/top-5-benzinga-articles-for-2024-the-year-of-the-cybertruck-though-perhaps-elon-musk">Benzinga&#8217;s Top 5 Stories In 2024: The Year Of The Cybertruck</a>
Why It Matters: However, these advances come with substantial computational costs. The high-performance version of O3 requires approximately 2,000 times more computing power than its predecessor, with a single AGI task costing about $3,500 to process.
Ferragu suggests this breakthrough has significant implications for AI infrastructure providers. &#8220;We likely are still only at the very beginning of the growth curve for AI infrastructure and its supply chain,&#8221; he notes, indicating potential investment opportunities in the sector.
While O3 represents a major <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42712683/openai-lays-out-its-for-profit-transition-plans-says-it-must-evolve-to-advance-its-agi-mission">step toward Artificial General Intelligence</a>, Ferragu clarifies it hasn&#8217;t achieved full AGI status yet. The model is expected to face challenges with next-generation tests, where estimates suggest it may not exceed 25% accuracy.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/12/42726598/dow-jones-2024-scoreboard-top-5-winners-losers-and-how-amazon-nvidia-could-reshape-2025">Dow Jones 2024 Scoreboard: Top 5 Winners, Losers — And How Amazon, Nvidia Could Reshape 2025</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.

Tesla's FSD And OpenAI's O3 Model Signal 'Year Zero Of The AI Era,' Says Analyst Pierre Ferragu

Leading coins moved&nbsp;further south Monday as traders turned to profit-taking ahead of the New Year.&nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-1.05%</td>
<td>$92,439.45</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>-1.23%</td>
<td>$3,340.67</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>-0.67%</td>
<td>$0.3138</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin had a bumpy morning, dipping to a low of $91,317 in early trade, recovering to highs of $94,000 late in the afternoon, and then retreating to $92,000 by evening.
Since the surge to $99,000 on Christmas, the leading cryptocurrency has slipped as much as 6.5%.
Ethereum dipped below $3,400, extending its weekly losses to 2.40%.&nbsp;
The downward market triggered $283 million worth of liquidations in the last 24 hours, with bullish bets worth nearly $200 million getting wiped out.
That said, Bitcoin's rebound to $100,000 from here could liquidate $687 million in short positions.
About 67% of all traders on Binance were levered long on Bitcoin, according to the Long/Short Ratio indicator, indicating expectations of a rebound.
The "Greed" sentiment cooled further from 65 to 64, according to the Crypto 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 7:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lido DAO (LDO)</td>
<td>+3.38%</td>
<td>$1.85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arweave (AR)</td>
<td>+1.86%</td>
<td>$16.51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pepe (PEPE)</td>
<td>+1.85%</td>
<td>$0.00001822</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.24 trillion, following a drop of 0.97% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks edged lower on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 418.48 points, or 0.97%, to close at 42,573.73. The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.07%, ending at 5,906.94, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite lost 1.19% to close at 19,486.78.
The so-called "Santa Claus Rally" fizzled out, as both the Dow and the S&amp;P 500 suffered losses in the trading sessions after Christmas.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Influential cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez weighed in on Bitcoin's corrective action.
"Bitcoin below $93,000 is a problem because, as you can see, there isn&#8217;t enough significant support below it," Ali said, pointing to fewer addresses that purchased the cryptocurrency at prices below $93,000.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> below $93,000 is a problem because, as you can see, there isn&#39;t enough significant support below it! <a href="https://t.co/MSJxAT56OG">pic.twitter.com/MSJxAT56OG</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1873733620160197093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Well-known on-chain analytics firm Santiment noted the sizable paper gains held by short-term holders of Bitcoin on average.
"Currently, their aggregate cost-basis resides at a value of $86,800, marking this as a key region of interest for local price momentum," the firm 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">Despite the decline in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> price, the average Short-Term Holder continues to hold an unrealized profit (paper gain) of +7.9%. Currently, their aggregate cost-basis resides at a value of $86.8k, marking this as a key region of interest for local price momentum. <a href="https://t.co/fQaQJ8mZtb">pic.twitter.com/fQaQJ8mZtb</a>
&mdash; glassnode (@glassnode) <a href="https://twitter.com/glassnode/status/1873741504096907361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Image via Shutterstock
Read Next:    
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42729819/bitcoin-up-1-to-94000-sweet-setup-going-into-2025-but-beware-a-drop-below-93000-experts-say">Bitcoin Up 1% To $94,000: &#8216;Sweet&#8217; Setup Going Into 2025, But Beware A Drop Below $93,000, Experts Say</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

Bitcoin Falls Below $93K, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slip Ahead Of New Year: Top Analyst Anticipates 'Problem' For BTC

Influential economist Mohamed El-Erian recently pointed out the stark contrast between US &#8220;economic exceptionalism&#8221; and the struggles of lower-income households in what he calls a &#8220;K economy.&#8221;
What Happened: On Monday, El-Erian posted a comment and shared a story from the front page of the Financial Times, highlighting the growing economic disparity in the United States. He noted that while the US economy is exceptional in many ways, it has also led to a &#8220;K economy&#8221; where lower-income households face significant and increasing challenges.
<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">This is from the front page of today&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/FT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FT</a>. It is a reminder that, from a distributional perspective, US &quot;economic exceptionalism&quot; has been accompanied by what many have called a &quot;K economy&quot; in which lower-income households face considerable and mounting challenges. <a href="https://t.co/0HL08g8nMJ">pic.twitter.com/0HL08g8nMJ</a>
&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1873726565982617611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
El-Erian&#8217;s post comes in the context of a recent report on the surge in US credit card defaults, which have reached their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42711387/wall-streets-santa-rally-at-risk-palantir-dethrones-nvidia-consumer-confidence-pulls-back-this-week-in-the-markets?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wall Street&#8217;s Santa Rally At Risk, Palantir Dethrones Nvidia, Consumer Confidence Pulls Back: This Week In The Markets</a>
Why It Matters: This situation underscores the financial strain on lower-income households, which El-Erian refers to in his &#8220;K economy&#8221; comment. The term &#8220;K economy&#8221; refers to a situation where the wealthy continue to prosper while the less affluent struggle, creating a divide that resembles the letter &#8216;K.&#8217; Traditionally the economy is viewed as &#8216;V&#8217; shaped with even ups and downs.
Credit card lenders wrote off a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42721109/mark-cuban-once-said-credit-card-users-dont-want-to-be-rich-now-us-credit-card-defaults-have-skyrocketed-to-highest-levels-since-2008-financial-crisis">staggering $46 billion</a>&nbsp;in seriously delinquent loan balances&nbsp;during&nbsp;the first nine months of&nbsp;2024. This figure, representing a 50% increase&nbsp;from the same period in&nbsp;2023, is the highest&nbsp;in 14 years, according to&nbsp;data from BankRegData.
Mark Zandi, the head of Moody's Analytics, stated,&nbsp;"High-income households are fine, but&nbsp;the bottom third of US&nbsp;consumers are tapped out. Their&nbsp;savings rate right now is&nbsp;zero."
The rise in defaults underscores the strain on consumers&#8217; personal finances following years of high inflation and the Federal Reserve&#8217;s policy of maintaining elevated borrowing costs. Early indicators suggest a growing number of&nbsp;defaults on consumer debt.
Capital One, the third-largest credit card lender in the US, reported its annualized credit card write-off rate hit 6.1% as of November, up from 5.2% a year ago.
Odysseas Papadimitriou, head of consumer&nbsp;credit research firm WalletHub, noted,&nbsp;"Consumer spending power has been&nbsp;diminished." Despite nearly $60 billion&nbsp;in consumer credit card debt&nbsp;being written off&nbsp;in the past year, another&nbsp;$37 billion remains overdue by at least one month.
Photo by International Monetary Fund on Flickr
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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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El-Erian Warns Of Hidden Crisis In 'Exceptional' US Economy As Lower Income Households Face 'Considerable' Challenges

U.S. stock markets experienced a downturn today, with the S&amp;P 500 declining by 1.07%. The NASDAQ also saw a decrease, falling by almost 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined almost 1%. Despite these indices in the red, certain stocks captured significant attention from investors.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Federal National Mortgage Association&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNMA#OTC">FNMA</a>)
Fannie Mae&#8217;s stock surged by 36.14%, closing at $3.39. It reached an intraday high of $3.48 and a low of $2.24, with a 52-week range of $3.65 to $0.93. The stock&#8217;s rise followed comments from Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42734220/bill-ackman-sends-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-stocks-soaring-trump-likes-big-deals">highlighted the potential</a> for Fannie Mae to exit conservatorship, influenced by the incoming Trump administration.
Boeing Co.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)
Boeing&#8217;s shares fell by 2.31%, closing at $176.55. The stock hit an intraday high of $178.17 and a low of $170.15, with a 52-week high of $258.59 and a low of $137.03. The decline followed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/12/42725208/boeing-crash-headlines-rattle-investors-why-the-stock-chart-shows-resilience">news of a tragic crash</a>&nbsp;involving a 737-800 in South Korea, prompting safety inspections of the aircraft.
MicroCloud Hologram Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOLO#NASDAQ">HOLO</a>)
MicroCloud Hologram&#8217;s stock skyrocketed by 167.08%, closing at $6.41. It reached an intraday high of $7.81 and a low of $3.42, with a 52-week range of $1968 to $1.23. The surge came after the company announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/small-cap/24/12/42726137/microcloud-hologram-rockets-with-quantum-leap-details">breakthrough in quantum technology</a>, enhancing control over qubits in a double quantum dot system.
MicroStrategy Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>)
MicroStrategy&#8217;s shares dropped by 8.19%, closing at $302.96. The stock recorded an intraday high of $320.01 and a low of $301.75, with a 52-week high of $542.99 and a low of $43.89. The decline followed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42723691/microstrategy-drops-209-million-on-bitcoin-in-8-week-buying-blitz">company&#8217;s announcement</a> of a significant Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) purchase, adding 2,138 BTC to its holdings. The transaction was valued at nearly $209 million.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s stock decreased by 3.30%, closing at $417.41. It reached an intraday high of $427 and a low of $415.75, with a 52-week range of $488.54 to $138.8. The decline occurred as the company prepared to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/12/42721312/tesla-stock-takes-a-breather-is-the-rally-losing-charge">report its fourth-quarter delivery numbers</a>, with expectations of 511,000 vehicles delivered.
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.
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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>

FNMA

MicroCloud Hologram Inc. - Ordinary Shares

HOLO

Bill Ackman Sets Off Fannie Mae Buzz — Boeing, MicroCloud Hologram, MicroStrategy, Tesla Also On Investors' Radars Today

A South Korean court has approved the detainment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law earlier in the month.
What Happened: On Tuesday (local time), the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant against Yoon on charges of masterminding a failed martial law declaration, orchestrating an insurrection, and abusing power, according to <a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_389449.html">The Korea Times</a> report. The Corruption Investigation Office applied for the warrant after Yoon ignored three requests for an appearance from the anti-corruption agency for questioning.
The court warrant grants the CIO 48 hours to detain Yoon for questioning and seek an arrest warrant. However, the Presidential Security Service has blocked investigators from accessing both the presidential office compound and Yoon&#8217;s official residence, citing concerns over military security.
Although Yoon has presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, this protection does not extend to charges of insurrection or treason. Yoon&#8217;s defense team contends that the CIO does not have the legal authority to investigate insurrection, a charge that, under the current system, falls within the investigative jurisdiction of the police.
Yoon was suspended from his duties after the opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 for imposing martial law, which was overturned by a parliamentary vote just six hours later. The Constitutional Court has initiated proceedings to decide whether to remove the incumbent from office or reinstate him, with a ruling expected within 180 days beginning Dec. 14.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42714291/anthony-scaramucci-tells-musk-to-stick-to-business-heres-musks-musical-response?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Tells Elon Musk To ‘Stick To Business'—Here's Musk's Bold Response</a>
Why It Matters: The impeachment and potential arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol is the culmination of a series of events that started with his controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42292488/south-korean-etfs-slide-on-presidents-emergency-martial-law-declaration-protect-the-constitutional-democratic-order">declaration of martial law</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 3. This move, which Yoon justified as a measure against anti-state activities, led to a significant drop in South Korean ETFs and widespread protests across the country.
In mid-December, South Korean lawmakers, including several members of Yoon&#8217;s own People Power Party (PPP), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42497084/south-korean-lawmakers-impeach-yoon-over-martial-law-attempt">voted to impeach him</a> over his martial law attempt. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to ratify the impeachment, which could result in Yoon&#8217;s removal from office.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index was seen trading lower by 0.22% at 2,399.49 at the time of writing. Shares of major South Korean companies like Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) and Hyundai Motor Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HYMTF#OTC">HYMTF</a>) were in the red. Korean memory giant SK Hynix Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HXSCL#OTC">HXSCL</a>) also traded lower in Seoul.
Image via Shutterstock
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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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