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ByteDance Ltd., the owner of TikTok, has reportedly seen its valuation climb past $400 billion, driven by major investors like SoftBank Group (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBF#OTC">SFTBF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SFTBY#OTC">SFTBY</a>), Fidelity, and T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TROW#NASDAQ">TROW</a>).
What Happened: At least three major investors have marked up ByteDance's valuation, with Fidelity estimating it at more than $410 billion and T. Rowe Price at over $450 billion.
SoftBank's Vision Fund has also revised its valuation to exceed $400 billion, factoring in the growth potential of ByteDance's AI business, Doubao, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-21/softbank-fidelity-t-rowe-value-bytedance-at-above-400-billion?srnd=phx-technology">reported</a> Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43876492/apples-visual-intelligence-may-come-to-iphone-15-pro-heres-how-it-can-transform-your-camera-with-ai-powered-real-time-search">Apple&#8217;s Visual Intelligence May Come To iPhone 15 Pro: Here&#8217;s How It Can Transform Your Camera With AI-Powered Real-Time Search</a>
SoftBank's valuation model assigns zero value to <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43724471/tiktok-returns-to-apple-and-google-app-stores-after-a-month-long-hiatus">TikTok's U.S. operations</a>, reflecting ongoing regulatory threats. If TikTok avoids a shutdown in the U.S., ByteDance's valuation could rise even further, the report noted, citing a source.
The increase comes amid a broader rally in Chinese tech stocks, driven by optimism <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43878215/chinas-deepseek-to-open-source-key-code-repositories-in-a-bid-for-full-transparency">around AI startup</a> DeepSeek and a more favorable regulatory environment in China.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: ByteDance's valuation surge highlights the growing importance of AI in the global tech sector, even as geopolitical tensions cloud its U.S. business prospects.
Investors are betting on ByteDance's AI leadership in China, where Doubao has 75 million active users.
In October 2023, ByteDance valued <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42027476/bytedance-valuation-soars-to-300b-despite-threat-of-us-tiktok-ban">itself at around $225 billion</a>. This rose to $268 billion after a buyback in December 2023.
ByteDance investors see Donald Trump's return to the White House as a good sign for TikTok in the U.S. Although Trump once backed a ban on the app, he changed his position during his campaign.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43840286/apples-iphone-16e-to-drive-revenue-growth-for-tim-cooks-company-says-top-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple's iPhone 16e To Drive Revenue Growth For Tim Cook's Company, Says Top Analyst</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

SFTBF

SFTBY

TROW

ByteDance's AI Business Helps Boost Valuation Past $400 Billion Even As US TikTok Business Risks Loom

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index moved to the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.
U.S. stocks settled lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones index dipping more than 700 points during the session.
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell to 64.7 in January, a decline of 10% and a steeper drop than expected. The 5-year inflation outlook in the survey is the highest since 1995 at 3.5%. Existing home sales sank by 4.9% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.08 million in January, the sharpest decline in seven months, according to Trading Economics.
February&#8217;s flash S&amp;P Global PMIs released Friday morning revealed a sharp, unexpected drop in services and raised concerns about the health of the private sector.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) slumped around 7% on Friday after the Wall Street Journal reported the Department of Justice launched an investigation into the company's Medicare billing practices.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with information technology, consumer discretionary, and industrials stocks recording losses on Friday. However, consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 749 points to 43,428.02 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 fell 1.71% to 6,013.13, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.20% at 19,524.01 during Friday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Owens Corning (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OC#NYSE">OC</a>), Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>), and Westlake Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 35.4, the index moved to the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 45.1.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43891623/top-2-health-care-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-month">Top 2 Health Care Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Month</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

Dow Tumbles Over 700 Points Following Weak Economic Data: Investor Sentiment Declines, Greed Index Moves To 'Fear' Zone

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) share repurchases have dropped dramatically as Warren Buffett appears to prefer 5% Treasury bills over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">buying back company stock</a>.
What Happened: Berkshire&#8217;s buybacks fell to $2.9 billion in 2024 from $9.2 billion in 2023 and $7.9 billion in 2022, Bear Traps Report founder Lawrence McDonald noted on Sunday on X. This decline comes as the conglomerate&#8217;s cash reserves have surged nearly 300% since 2022, reaching $334 billion by 2025.
&#8220;It&#8217;s NOT the size of the cash hoard, it&#8217;s the &#8216;rate of change&#8217; in the size of the cash that&#8217;s most telling,&#8221; McDonald wrote, highlighting Berkshire&#8217;s rapidly growing cash position from $109 billion in 2022 to $277 billion in 2024.
<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">Berkshire &#8211; share repurchases &#8211; Buffett's actions are telling, indeed… 2024: $2.9B 2023: $9.2B 2022: $7.9B With <a href="https://twitter.com/DrDavidKass?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrDavidKass</a>
&mdash; Lawrence McDonald (@Convertbond) <a href="https://twitter.com/Convertbond/status/1893403416849773019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
<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">It's NOT the size of the cash hoard, it's the "rate of change" in the size of the cash that's most telling. <a href="https://t.co/NouUJot9SN">https://t.co/NouUJot9SN</a>
&mdash; Lawrence McDonald (@Convertbond) <a href="https://twitter.com/Convertbond/status/1893396250273140790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</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/news/25/02/43902384/trumps-tax-plans-gold-nears-3000-and-ray-dalios-solution-to-americas-debt-crisis-this-week-in-economics">Trump&#8217;s Tax Plans, Gold Nears $3000, And Ray Dalio&#8217;s Solution To America&#8217;s Debt Crisis: This Week In Economics</a>
Why It Matters: The 94-year-old Buffett addressed these trends in his annual letter to shareholders on Saturday, reaffirming his commitment to business ownership <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43903272/buffetts-assures-berkshire-hathaway-shareholders-amid-skyrocketing-cash-reserves">despite the record cash pile</a>. He assured investors that Berkshire would &#8220;forever deploy a substantial majority of their money in equities — mostly American equities.&#8221;
The surge in cash reserves comes as Berkshire has reduced stakes in several companies, including Citigroup and Bank of America while reinvesting proceeds into Treasury bills. Buffett cited improved Treasury yields as a factor, though he warned that fixed-coupon bonds offer no protection against currency devaluation.
The shifting allocation strategy reflects both current market conditions and Buffett&#8217;s cautious outlook. With U.S. stocks at record valuations, the legendary investor has found it challenging to identify attractive acquisition targets, leading to the unprecedented accumulation of cash equivalents despite his historical preference for owning businesses outright.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43904642/peter-schiff-slams-feds-2-inflation-target-for-the-first-99-years-the-unofficial-target-was-zero-amid-jerome-powells-inflation-concerns">Peter Schiff Slams Fed&#8217;s 2% Inflation Target: &#8216;For The First 99 Years… The Unofficial Target Was Zero&#8217; Amid Jerome Powell&#8217;s Inflation Concerns</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Warren Buffett Favors 5% Treasury Bills Over Buybacks As Berkshire Hathaway's Cash Pile Balloons To $334 Billion: 'The Rate Of Change… That's Most Telling,' Says Expert

With U.S. stock futures trading mixed this morning on Monday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Owens Corning (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OC#NYSE">OC</a>) to report quarterly earnings at $2.90 per share on revenue of $2.77 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Owens Corning shares gained 0.01% to $165.47 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Domino&#8217;s Pizza Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $4.91 per share on revenue of $1.48 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. Domino&#8217;s shares fell 2% to close at $462.37 on Friday.</li>
<li>Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HE#NYSE">HE</a>) posted a loss of 40 cents per share for the fourth quarter, versus earnings of 44 cents per share in the year-ago period. The company's sales fell to $799.18 million from $853.42 million. Hawaiian Electric shares fell 2.7% to $10.47 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>After the markets close, ONEOK Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.51 per share on revenue of $6.73 billion. ONEOK shares fell 0.1% to $97.97 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Westlake Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WLK#NYSE">WLK</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $1.09 per share on revenue of $2.94 billion before the opening bell. Westlake shares fell 1.5% to close at $109.71 on Friday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43891623/top-2-health-care-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-month">Top 2 Health Care Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Month</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Owens Corning, Domino's Pizza And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Monday

U.S. stocks settled lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones index dipping more than 700 points during the session. The S&amp;P 500 also fell 1.71% to 6,013.13, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 2.20% at 19,524.01 during Friday's session.
Wall Street analysts make new stock picks on a daily basis. Unfortunately for investors, not all analysts have particularly impressive track records at predicting market movements. Even when it comes to one single stock, analyst ratings and price targets can vary widely, leaving investors confused about which analyst&#8217;s opinion to trust.
Benzinga&#8217;s Analyst Ratings API is a collection of the highest-quality stock ratings curated by the Benzinga news desk via direct partnerships with major sell-side banks. Benzinga displays overnight ratings changes on a daily basis three hours prior to the U.S. equity market opening. Data specialists at investment dashboard provider Toggle.ai recently uncovered that the analyst insights Benzinga Pro subscribers and Benzinga readers regularly receive can successfully be used as trading indicators to outperform the stock market.
Top Analyst Picks: Fortunately, any Benzinga reader can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. One of the ways traders can sort through Benzinga&#8217;s extensive database of analyst ratings is by analyst accuracy. Here&#8217;s a look at the most recent stock picks from each of the five most accurate Wall Street analysts, according to Benzinga <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock</a> Ratings.
Analyst: Lloyd Walmsley
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: UBS</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Buy rating on Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>) and raised the price target from $5,560 to $5,960 on Feb. 21. This analyst sees around 20% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 20, Booking Holdings reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and raised its quarterly dividend.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Mark Kelley
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Stifel</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Hold rating on Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/W#NYSE">W</a>) and slashed the price target from $47 to $46 on Feb. 21. This analyst sees around 9% surge in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 20, the company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 25 cents loss.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Doug Anmuth 
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: JP Morgan</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained an Underweight rating on Tripadvisor, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRIP#NASDAQ">TRIP</a>) and raised the price target from $14 to $15 on Feb. 21. This analyst sees around 1% downside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 20, TripAdvisor posted upbeat quarterly results.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: Alexander Paris
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Barrington Research</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 86%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained an Outperform rating on Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LINC#NASDAQ">LINC</a>) with a price target of $20 on Feb. 19. This analyst sees around 22% surge in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 18, Lincoln Educational Services said it will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end financial results on Monday, Feb. 24.</li>
</ul>
Analyst: William Stein
<ul>
<li>Analyst Firm: Truist Securities</li>
<li>Ratings Accuracy: 85%</li>
<li>Latest Rating: Maintained a Hold rating on Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>) and raised the price target from $230 to $248 on Feb. 20. This analyst sees around 4% upside in the stock.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 19, the company said its first-quarter revenue declined 4% year-on-year to $2.42 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.36 billion.</li>
</ul>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43891623/top-2-health-care-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-month">Top 2 Health Care Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Month</a></li>
</ul>

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

BKNG

LINC

TRIP

This Analyst With 86% Accuracy Rate Sees Around 20% Upside In Booking Holdings - Here Are 5 Stock Picks For Last Week From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

Domino&#8217;s Pizza, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NASDAQ">DPZ</a>) will release its fourth-quarter financial results, before the opening <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DPZ/earnings">bell, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company to report quarterly earnings at $4.91 per share, up from $4.48 per share in the year-ago period. Domino&#8217;s projects quarterly revenue of $1.48 billion, compared to $1.4 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
On Oct. 10, the company reported sales growth of 5.1% Y/Y to $1.08 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. EPS of $4.19 beat the consensus estimate of $3.68.
Domino&#8217;s shares fell 2% to close at $462.37 on Friday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/DPZ/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $440 to $520 on Feb. 19, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Jeffrey Bernstein maintained an Underweight rating and lowered the price target from $412 to $402 on Jan. 24, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Harbour maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $510 to $496 on Jan. 21, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer analyst Brian Bittner maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $490 to $495 on Jan. 7, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li>TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $475 to $515 on Nov. 25, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying DPZ stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="613" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23131450/image-183-1024x613.png" alt="" class="wp-image-794262" style="width:597px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23131450/image-183-1024x613.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23131450/image-183-300x179.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23131450/image-183-768x459.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23131450/image-183.png 1115w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Read This Next:
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43891623/top-2-health-care-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-this-month">Top 2 Health Care Stocks That May Rocket Higher This Month</a></li>
</ul>

Domino's Gears Up For Q4 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

On Monday, Australia&#8217;s online safety regulator fined messaging platform Telegram about 1 million Australian dollars ($640,000) for failing to respond on time to an inquiry into measures preventing the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/08/40563957/is-telegram-safer-than-whatsapp-or-signal-app-might-not-be-so-private-after-all-report">spread of child abuse</a> and extremist content.
What Happened: The eSafety Commission had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38751844/australia-calls-for-inquiry-into-metas-facebook-elon-musks-x-tiktok-to-make-these-platforms-accounta">requested information</a> from Telegram and Reddit about their efforts in combating child sexual abuse material and extremist activities.
Telegram was expected to respond by May but only submitted its answers in October, reported Reuters.
"Timely transparency is not a voluntary requirement in Australia, and this action reinforces the importance of all companies complying with Australian law," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43840109/google-takes-away-gemini-from-main-ios-app-users-forced-to-download-standalone-ai-chatbot">Google Takes Away Gemini From Main iOS App, Users Forced To Download Standalone AI Chatbot</a>
She added that Telegram's delay obstructed the regulator's ability to enforce online safety measures.
Telegram defended itself, stating it had fully answered all of eSafety's questions last year. "The unfair and disproportionate penalty concerns only the response timeframe, and we intend to appeal," the company told the publication.
Telegram did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Last year, Telegram faced massive global scrutiny, when its founder Pavel Durov came <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/10/41145263/telegrams-pavel-durov-little-has-changed-in-privacy-policies-despite-legal-woes">under investigation in France</a> for alleged illegal activity on the platform.
Durov has denied the allegations. He is out on bail currently.
A <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41221289/telegram-the-new-frontier-for-criminal-gangs-un-report-uncovers-alarming-trends-in-organized-crime">UN report</a> in October 2024 also identified Telegram as a major platform for criminal networks in Southeast Asia, involved in trading hacked data and selling cybercrime tools.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40680081/alleged-deepfake-sex-crimes-south-korea-puts-telegram-under-the-microscope">South Korean authorities</a> have also been investigating the app for its alleged role in spreading explicit deepfake content.
The Australian government was also considering <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40784803/after-feud-with-elon-musk-and-mark-zuckerberg-australian-pm-anthony-albanese-set-to-ban-social-media">banning social media for children</a> due to health concerns.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/43763629/south-korea-joins-italy-in-halting-downloads-of-chinas-deepseek-amid-global-scrutiny-over-privacy-issues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Korea Joins Italy In Halting Downloads Of China&#8217;s DeepSeek Amid Global Scrutiny Over Privacy Issues</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.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Telegram Fined $640,000 By Australia For Delayed Response To Child Abuse, Terrorism Inquiry: 'Unfair And Disproportionate Penalty'

Leading coins remained weak on Sunday as the cryptocurrency market grappled with the massive $1.4 billion hack on cryptocurrency exchange Bybit.
<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>-0.24%</td>
<td>$96,377.59</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>+2.66%</td>
<td>$2,832.54</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>-1.13%</td>
<td>$0.2435</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin meandered in the $95,000-$96,000 zone after retracing sharply from the mid-$99,000s following the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43901287/north-koreas-lazarus-group-suspected-in-1-4-billion-bybit-crypto-hack">attack </a>on Friday.
The apex cryptocurrency has failed to reclaim $100,000 in the last three weeks.
Ethereum, the coin at the center of the mega breach, made amends, recovering to an intraday high of $2,850.&nbsp;
Cryptocurrency liquidations hit $131.20 million in the last 24 hours, wiping out $79 in upside bets.
Bitcoin's Open interest rose marginally by 0.75%. More than 50% of the derivatives traders were positioned short for the cryptocurrency, according to the Long/Short ratio, indicating a likelihood of more downsides.
The market sentiment was "Neutral," 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>Sonic (S)</td>
<td>+6.98%</td>
<td>$0.8629</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Helium (HNT)</td>
<td>+6.12%</td>
<td>$3.77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Injective (INJ)</td>
<td>+5.45%</td>
<td>$16.08</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.19 trillion, contracting 0.27% in the last 24 hours.
Stock futures climbed on Sunday evening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures rose 149 points, or 0.35%, as of 7:46 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 gained 0.41%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lifted 0.44%.
Investors will be watching the all-important earnings report of artificial intelligence darling Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), slated for Wednesday.&nbsp;
In addition, the Federal Reserve&#8217;s favorite inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released on Friday, providing cues about the central bank&#8217;s moves on interest rates.
Stocks reversed from record highs on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 slid 0.43% to close at 6,117.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 450.94 points, or 1.01%, to end at 44,176.65, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.47% to close at 19,962.36
The sell-offs <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43869433/walmart-expects-slower-growth-in-an-uncertain-time-cfo-says-on-earnings-call">followed a grim fiscal 2026 forecast</a> by mega-retailer Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>). Shares of the company plunged 6.53%.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Miles Deutscher, citing data from derivative data analysis platform Coinglass, showed that none of Bitcoin's bull market peak indicators have yet been triggered.
"If BTC really was on the cusp of a multi-year top, you would expect at least a few of these signals to be flashing. There is still time left in the cycle imo," the analyst 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">Not a single on-chain metric that has historically preceded a top for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> was triggered this cycle. If <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> really was on the cusp of a multi-year top, you would expect at least a few of these signals to be flashing. There is still time left in the cycle imo. <a href="https://t.co/G8NWFNxVKp">pic.twitter.com/G8NWFNxVKp</a>
&mdash; Miles Deutscher (@milesdeutscher) <a href="https://twitter.com/milesdeutscher/status/1893677243677003801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Gladiator, another well-known trader, noted a bull pennant developing on Bitcoin's weekly chart.
"This might take another month before breaking out, but when it happens, I will be ready," the trader predicted.
A bullish pennant pattern indicates a short break during an uptrend, after which the price resumes the rally.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> is developing a beautiful bull pennant on weekly chart. This might take another month before breaking out, but when it happens, I will be ready. I am fully ported in <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSTR</a>. When <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> breaks out of this bull flag, it is going to get crazy.<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSTR</a> will finish this year over… <a href="https://t.co/f4ygqDszxf">pic.twitter.com/f4ygqDszxf</a>
&mdash; Gladiator (@GladiatorMSTR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GladiatorMSTR/status/1893819945731158395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
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Photo courtesy:Shutterstock

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

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$DOGE

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NVDA

Bitcoin, Dogecoin Struggle, Ethereum Gains Amid Grim Crypto Sentiment After Bybit's Billion-Dollar Hack: Analyst Says 'Still Time Left In The Cycle'

Economist Peter Schiff criticized the Federal Reserve&#8217;s 2% inflation target as a pretext for accommodative monetary policy, amid Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s recent congressional testimony highlighting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43668443/powell-to-congress-fed-is-not-there-yet-on-inflation-cpi-was-above-every-forecast-us-debt-path-is-unsustainable">persistent inflation concerns</a>.
What Happened: In a post on X on Sunday, Schiff argued that the Fed&#8217;s 2% target, introduced in 2012, served as justification for quantitative easing and zero interest rate policies. &#8220;For the first 99 years of the Fed&#8217;s existence, the unofficial target was zero, as the mandate was price stability,&#8221; Schiff wrote.
Former central banker Neil Grossman added historical context, noting that the 2% inflation concept originated with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in 1995 before other central banks adopted it. Grossman suggested the Fed used this target to &#8220;ignore one leg of their statutory mandate.&#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">I believe the 2% inflation concept was introduced by the RBNZ in 1995 and slowly adopted by other CBs. In the Fed's case it was just another opportunity to ignore one leg of their statutory mandate (price stability) which as you point out is 0%. The dual mandate includes full…
&mdash; Neil Grossman (@Neilytics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Neilytics/status/1893742592271266217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</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/personal-finance/25/02/43904075/warren-buffett-said-he-could-end-u-s-deficit-in-5-minutes-if-you-guys-cant-get-it-done-well-get-some-other-guys-to-get-it-done">Warren Buffett Said He Could End U.S. Deficit In 5 Minutes: &#8216;If You Guys Can&#8217;t Get It Done, We&#8217;ll Get Some Other Guys To Get It Done&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The criticism comes as Powell told Congress that inflation, currently at 3%, remains above the Fed&#8217;s target. &#8220;Today&#8217;s inflation print shows we&#8217;re close but not there yet,&#8221; Powell said during his House Financial Services Committee testimony. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, increased <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43668443/powell-to-congress-fed-is-not-there-yet-on-inflation-cpi-was-above-every-forecast-us-debt-path-is-unsustainable">more than expected to 3.3%</a>.
Recent Fed minutes revealed officials see &#8220;a high degree of uncertainty&#8221; requiring a careful approach to rate decisions. Market participants are closely monitoring these developments, with major retailers like Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) expressing caution about economic uncertainties and <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/02/43895372/walmarts-warning-fed-highlights-inflation-risks-chinese-stocks-surge-this-week-in-markets">persistent inflation pressures</a>.
Powell emphasized the Fed&#8217;s commitment to its restrictive stance, declining to specify an inflation threshold for rate cuts. He also raised concerns about the U.S. fiscal outlook, describing the current debt path as &#8220;unsustainable&#8221; given large <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43668443/powell-to-congress-fed-is-not-there-yet-on-inflation-cpi-was-above-every-forecast-us-debt-path-is-unsustainable">deficits and low unemployment</a>.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Economics

Peter Schiff Slams Fed's 2% Inflation Target: 'For The First 99 Years… The Unofficial Target Was Zero' Amid Jerome Powell's Inflation Concerns

A TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@proudunionguy/video/7471336532293553451">video</a> by Proud Union Guy is getting a lot of attention for calling out &#8220;bootlickers&#8221;—those who defend corporate profits over fair wages and labor rights. The video has sparked intense discussions and over a thousand comments on Reddit and TikTok from people venting their grievances and experiences.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What's A Bootlicker?</h2>
According to Proud Union Guy, a &#8220;bootlicker&#8221; is someone who sides with corporations at the expense of workers. For example, he says that if you think record corporate profits are fine but get upset when <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41303608/hundreds-of-hilton-hotel-workers-strike-at-seattle-airport-demand-higher-wages-and-reversal-of-covid">workers demand higher wages</a>, you might be a bootlicker. If you believe staying late without pay proves dedication instead of being exploited, same deal.&nbsp;
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Other signs include blaming high prices on worker pay instead of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38724294/biden-says-hes-already-turned-economy-around-blames-corporate-greed-for-persistently-high-inflation">greedy companies</a>, thinking unions have too much power while ignoring how big businesses control everything, or getting mad at workers on strike instead of the companies paying them unfairly.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Workers Are Weighing In</h2>
The video quickly took off, with many viewers agreeing and sharing stories of coworkers who fit the description. One <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/UnitedAssociation/comments/1ippfvp/we_all_know_somebody_that_would_flunk_this_quiz/">Reddit</a> user commented, &#8220;I bet we all know a guy or two working after hours doing paperwork or taking phone calls.&#8221; Another pointed out, &#8220;My foreman at my last job told my partner and I that we should be grateful to have a job. Kind of funny since the only reason he was a foreman was through nepotism.&#8221;
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One worker said, &#8220;Way too many trumpy guys in the unions voting for our own downfall because they've been poisoned by social media propaganda,&#8221; expressing their annoyance at coworkers who vote against their own interests. One user even &#8220;outed&#8221; their son as a bootlicker saying, &#8220;My dumbass kid is one of them. Funny thing is, I&#8217;m non-union ([International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers] is weak af where I live) but he&#8217;s [United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada]. He drank the Kool aid and voted against his own self interests, despite me trying to talk him out of it. Now he&#8217;s all pissed because he feels lied to. I tried to tell ya kiddo.&#8221;
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Not Everyone Agrees</h2>
While the video got a lot of support, not everyone was on board. Some critics mocked the TikToker's delivery, pointing out his sunglasses, clean gear, and toothpick as signs of trying too hard. Others argued that unions sometimes protect <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43723246/meta-faces-backlash-as-laid-off-workers-say-they-were-unfairly-targeted-despite-strong-performance-records">underperforming workers</a>, sharing their own negative experiences. A few even questioned the term &#8220;bootlicker,&#8221; noting that billionaires don't wear boots, so maybe &#8220;Italian shoe licker&#8221; would be more accurate.
Whether you agree with Proud Union Guy or not, the debate over labor rights and fair pay isn't going away. With corporations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/02/43596413/corporate-americas-best-earnings-in-3-years-will-tariffs-end-wall-streets-honeymoon">raking in record profits</a> while many workers struggle, conversations about who benefits from the system—and who defends it—are bound to continue.
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'Are You A 'Bootlicker?' Viral Video Lists The Signs Of A Corporate Bootlicker, And People Are Calling Out Their Coworkers

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43718032/warren-buffett-was-asked-how-a-regular-person-gets-rich-he-detailed-exactly-how-hed-make-30-billion-starting-over-with-only-10000">Warren Buffett</a> back in 2011 made a bold <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2011/07/07/warren-buffetts-5minute-plan-to-fix-the-deficit.html">claim on CNBC</a>. He said he could fix the U.S. deficit in five minutes. His idea? Make sure politicians actually feel the consequences of their spending habits.
"You just pass a law that says that any time there's a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election," Buffett said. He laughed, but his point was clear: politicians don't fix the deficit because there's no real incentive for them to do so. "A more effective threat would be just to say, ‘If you guys can't get it done, we'll get some other guys to get it done.'"
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Nearly 14 years later, the deficit hasn't just stuck around—it's ballooned. In 2011, the U.S. debt was around $14.3 trillion. As of 2025? It's now <a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/vendor/_accounts/JEC-R/debt/Monthly%20Debt%20Update.html#:~:text=As%20of%20January%202025,%20of,16.75%25%20($4.84%20trillion).">past $36 trillion</a>, with an annual deficit projected at $2.84 trillion. If Buffett thought Washington was reckless in 2011, what would he say now?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Enter Trump and Musk: A New Plan to Cut the Deficit</h2>
In a move that nobody saw coming at the time, President Donald Trump—reelected in 2024—teamed up with billionaire Elon Musk to take a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43801493/this-says-it-all-says-mark-cuban-as-doge-website-was-still-blank-despite-musks-claim-that-all-department-actions-were-posted-there">swing at government inefficiency</a>. Their newly formed Department of Government Efficiency aims to trim federal spending by up to $2 trillion by July 4, 2026.
DOGE, which Musk himself is leading, has already started slashing budgets, focusing on programs under agencies like USAID and the Department of Health and Human Services. So far, their reported savings sit at $55 billion, a small dent in their massive goal — but it's only been four weeks.&nbsp;
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Trump, never one to shy away from bold claims, has praised Musk as the smartest guy for the job. But not everyone is convinced. Conservatives are torn—some love the aggressive cost-cutting, while others point out that major entitlement programs, which make up a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43759664/trump-investigates-u-s-debt-for-fraud-suggests-treasury-payments-might-not-count">bulk of federal spending</a>, remain untouched.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Would Buffett's Idea Have Worked?</h2>
Buffett's plan was simple but ruthless: make politicians personally accountable for running deficits. But in reality, Congress would never pass such a law—because it would mean voting themselves out of power.
In a 2011 CNBC article, an attorney pointed out that there is a legal loophole that could make it happen. Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, two-thirds of state legislatures could call for a convention to propose an amendment. If three-fourths of the states ratified it, it would become law—no Congressional approval needed. But as the attorney noted, odds of that happening would have been slim and the process would take longer than "five minutes."
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Same Problem, Just Bigger</h2>
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Washington is still <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43756938/ray-dalio-warns-of-looming-us-debt-crisis-says-america-faces-economic-heart-attack-without-fiscal-cuts">kicking the debt problem down the road</a>, and politicians are still avoiding real consequences. Buffett's five-minute plan never happened, and neither did serious budget reform.
Trump and Musk's DOGE initiative might be the biggest attempt yet to tackle spending, but the question remains: will it be enough?&nbsp;
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Personal Finance

Warren Buffett Said He Could End U.S. Deficit In 5 Minutes: 'If You Guys Can't Get It Done, We'll Get Some Other Guys To Get It Done'

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, was direct when speaking at the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Annual Leaders Roundtable last week. In a speech addressing the shifting global landscape, he said the world is witnessing a fundamental change in the assumptions that have shaped international relations for the past 80 years.
The U.S. has &#8220;willy-nilly&#8221; shifted its image from a liberator to a great disruptor and now to a landlord demanding rent, Ng said, pointing to a stark departure from the post-World War II global order where the US was seen as a stabilizing force.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Shift in US Priorities</h2>
Ng suggested that while American primacy has always been a key element of its foreign policy, it has now become the overriding concern, sometimes at the expense of traditional alliances. "America's primacy has become the overriding consideration," he said, adding that this shift is disrupting global stability and trade.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43607060/5-stocks-to-sell-on-the-new-china-trade-war">U.S.-China rivalry</a> remains the most significant geopolitical factor moving forward. With new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43423288/trumps-tariffs-are-here-heres-what-will-get-more-expensive-from-canada-china-and-mexico">trade restrictions and fresh tariffs</a>, Ng noted that the world should brace for continued economic disruptions. Citing the previous trade war between 2018 and 2019, he pointed out that bilateral trade between the two economic giants dropped by 10%. Europe, too, imposed tariffs to counter its trade imbalance with China, but the result was a slowdown in economic growth, from 3.5% to just 0.4% in 2023.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">US Antagonism Pushing Allies Toward China</h2>
Donald Trump's administration has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43418661/trump-announces-new-tariffs-on-goods-from-canada-mexico-and-china-will-go-into-effect-from-feb-1">imposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico</a> while pressuring Colombia and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43447167/trumps-takeover-of-panama-canal-stocks-to-watch-as-diplomacy-affects-presidents-plan">Panama</a> over trade and migration. He has also repeatedly said Canada &#8220;should become the 51st state." Colombia, a longtime U.S. partner, initially resisted his demand to accept deported migrants on military flights but ultimately complied, which critics dismissed as political theater. Meanwhile, as Trump's hardline approach strains relations, China has been actively courting these and other U.S. allies with economic incentives and diplomatic overtures.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A World Without a Stabilizing Leader</h2>
Ng warned that the absence of a stabilizing global leader could have serious consequences. "In the absence of a leader to protect our global commons, I think we must all expect that the progress and well-being of the global commons will suffer," he stated.&nbsp;
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&#8220;On the other hand, if you look at China, it is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42779225/this-domestic-solar-stock-fslr-could-shine-in-your-portfolio-if-president-elect-donald-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-panels">80% of the world's solar manufacturing</a> capacity, and more than half of EVs produced worldwide are Chinese-made,&#8221; Ng pointed out. As the U.S. takes a more isolationist stance, China is seizing opportunities to strengthen its economic and political ties with countries that feel alienated by Washington's hardball tactics.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who Will Step Up?</h2>
Ng left his audience with an open question: If the U.S. no longer plays the role of global stabilizer, who will? "Who, if anyone, any one country or region or bloc, can step in if the U.S. declines to protect the global commons, and how effective, and against what resistance?"
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<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
</ul>

'Willy-Nilly'—Singapore Defense Minister Says The US Is No Longer A Stabilizing Force, But A 'Landlord Seeking Rent'

Samson Mow, a staunch Bitcoin supporter, has suggested a rollback of the Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) blockchain. This comes in the wake of a massive $1.4 billion theft from the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, reportedly orchestrated by North Korean hackers.
What Happened: In a post on X, Mow proposed that Ethereum, the dominant smart contract platform in terms of volume, should execute a hard fork. The aim is to return the purloined funds to Bybit and hinder the North Korean government from exploiting the stolen assets.
Mow expressed his support for the rollback of Ethereum&#8217;s chain, stating, "I fully support rolling back Ethereum's chain (again) so the stolen ETH is returned to Bybit and also to prevent the North Korean government from using those funds to finance their nuclear weapons program.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I fully support rolling back Ethereum's chain (again) so the stolen ETH is returned to <a href="https://twitter.com/Bybit_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bybit_Official</a> and also to prevent the North Korean government from using those funds to finance their nuclear weapons program. It must be done <a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VitalikButerin</a>.
&mdash; Samson Mow (@Excellion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Excellion/status/1893132013768491239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Blockchain rollbacks, a process that reverses confirmed transactions to restore the chain to a previous state, are typically initiated after a significant security violation. In the case of Ethereum, a rollback would result in a hard fork, akin to the one that occurred in 2016 during the Ethereum DAO hack.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43901287/north-koreas-lazarus-group-suspected-in-1-4-billion-bybit-crypto-hack">North Korea&#8217;s Lazarus Group Suspected in $1.4 Billion Bybit Crypto Hack</a>
In a lighter vein, Mow suggested&nbsp;that the new roll-backed chain&nbsp;should retain the ticker ETH, while the existing one could be rebranded as "ETHNK." He also cautioned investors to abstain from trading ETH until the issue is fully resolved.
As of now, Ethereum is being traded at $2,770, reflecting a 4% surge over the last day.
Why It Matters: The proposed rollback and hard fork of Ethereum&#8217;s blockchain is a significant development in the crypto world. It underscores the security vulnerabilities that persist in the digital asset ecosystem and the potential measures to mitigate the impact of such breaches. 
The situation also highlights the geopolitical implications of cryptocurrency theft, with the alleged involvement of North Korean hackers. 
The outcome of this situation could set a precedent for how the crypto industry responds to such security breaches in the future.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43890188/bybit-founder-says-14b-eth-hack-may-stem-from-safe-wallet-compromise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bybit Founder Says $1.4B ETH Hack May Stem From Safe Wallet Compromise</a>

Bitcoin Enthusiast Proposes Ethereum Chain Rollback Post $1.4B Bybit Cyber Heist

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently underscored the significance of hiring employees who exhibit &#8216;genuine decency&#8217;, a characteristic he feels is frequently undervalued in recruitment.
What Happened:&nbsp;Iger advocates for the prioritization of &#8216;genuine decency&#8217; in the hiring process. Iger contends that this trait is often overlooked by hiring managers.
In&nbsp;his book published in 2019, &#8220;The Ride&nbsp;of A Lifetime: Lessons Learned&nbsp;from 15 Years as CEO&nbsp;of the Walt Disney Company,&#8221; Iger wrote,&nbsp;&#8220;Genuine decency — an instinct&nbsp;for fairness and openness and&nbsp;mutual respect — is a&nbsp;rarer commodity in business than&nbsp;it should be, and you&nbsp;should look for it in&nbsp;the people you hire and&nbsp;nurture it in the people&nbsp;who work for you.&#8221;
"When hiring, try to surround yourself with people who are&nbsp;good&nbsp;in addition to being good at what they do," Iger wrote and as quoted <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/29/disney-ceo-bob-iger-bosses-should-hire-genuinely-decent-people-more-often.html">by </a>CNBC. 
While acknowledging the importance of skills and experience, Iger asserts that character is equally crucial in fostering a positive workplace culture. He further emphasized that leaders should embody the values of integrity, decency, and honesty, as they are representative of the company&#8217;s values.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/41703723/mark-cubans-million-dollar-advice-to-teens-if-i-were-16-again-id-start-this-lucrative-side-hustle">Mark Cuban&#8217;s Million-Dollar Advice To Teens: &#8216;If I Were 16 Again, I&#8217;d Start This Lucrative Side Hustle&#8217;</a>
&#8220;What people think of you&nbsp;is what they&#8217;ll think of&nbsp;your company,&#8221; Iger wrote, underlining the importance of a leader&#8217;s reputation in shaping the company&#8217;s image.
"You can be the head of a seven-person organization or a quarter-million person organization, the same truth holds. What people think of you is what they'll think of your company," he wrote in the book. 
Why It Matters: Iger&#8217;s comments come at a time when companies are increasingly being scrutinized for their corporate culture and values. 
The emphasis on &#8216;genuine decency&#8217; not only reflects the changing dynamics of the workplace but also underscores the need for companies to align their values with those of their employees. 
This alignment is becoming increasingly important as workers are more likely to remain loyal to companies that share their values, thereby reducing turnover and increasing productivity.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33634432/raising-ceos-the-unconventional-parenting-secret-behind-2-successful-tech-startups">Raising CEOs: The Unconventional Parenting Secret Behind 2 Successful Startup Founders</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Success Stories

Disney CEO Reveals the One Quality Leaders Should Prioritize, and Why It's So Rare

In his annual letter to&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) shareholders, investment mogul&nbsp;Warren Buffett&nbsp;has once again imparted his insights on investing.
What Happened: Warren Buffett&#8217;s <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2024ltr.pdf">letter</a>, released on Saturday, provides insights into investing and lessons from his six-decade tenure at Berkshire. The letter, which Buffett has kept free from political and current events, focuses on the future of Berkshire and his reliance on equities.
Buffett hinted at his successor, stating, &#8220;At 94, it won't be long before Greg Abel replaces me as CEO and will be writing the annual letters.&#8221; He also stressed the importance of honesty with shareholders.
Buffett also discussed Berkshire&#8217;s investment strategies, expressing impartiality in choosing equity vehicles and the occasional availability of outstanding businesses at bargain prices.
"Businesses, as well as individuals with desired talents, however, will usually find a way to cope with monetary instability as long as their goods or services are desired by the country's citizenry. So, too, with personal skills. Lacking such assets as athletic excellence, a wonderful voice, medical or legal skills or, for that matter, any special talents, I have had to rely on equities throughout my life. In effect, I have depended on the success of American businesses and I will continue to do so," he shared in the letter. 
He also reflected on America&#8217;s prosperity, attributing it to the wise deployment of capital and consistent saving by Americans. Despite the presence of scoundrels and promoters, Buffett believes the savings of Americans have delivered a quality of output beyond the dreams of any colonist.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43901149/buffett-reflects-on-60-years-at-berkshire-helm-cardinal-sin-is-delaying-the-correction-of-mistakes">Buffett Reflects on 60 Years at Berkshire Helm: &#8216;Cardinal Sin Is Delaying the Correction of Mistakes&#8217;</a>
"Understandably, really outstanding businesses are very seldom offered in their entirety, but small fractions of these gems can be purchased Monday through Friday on Wall Street and, very occasionally, they sell at bargain prices. We are impartial in our choice of equity vehicles, investing in either variety based upon where we can best deploy your (and my family's) savings. Often, nothing looks compelling; very infrequently we find ourselves knee-deep in opportunities. Greg has vividly shown his ability to act at such times," he added. 
On Berkshire&#8217;s $334.2 billion cash pile, Buffett assured shareholders that the majority of their money remains in equities and that preference won&#8217;t change. He warned against the potential evaporation of paper money&#8217;s value if fiscal folly prevails.
Why It Matters: Buffett&#8217;s annual letter is a much-anticipated event in the investment world, offering insights into his investment philosophy and the future direction of Berkshire Hathaway. 
His comments on his successor and the company&#8217;s investment strategies provide valuable insights for investors. His reflections on America&#8217;s prosperity and the role of savings and capital deployment underscore his long-term, value-oriented investment approach. 
His warning about the potential devaluation of paper money in the face of fiscal folly serves as a cautionary note for investors.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans' With Market Value in ‘Trillions'</a>

Buffett's Key Lessons in Berkshire Annual Letter: 'Really Outstanding Businesses Are Very Seldom Offered in Their Entirety'

The late billionaire Charlie Munger, who passed away at the age of 99, shared in an interview that there&#8217;s no hidden formula to achieving <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/42935637/heres-how-charlie-mungers-final-investment-move-doubled-his-money-reveals-his-close-friend-li-lu">financial success and longevity.</a>
What Happened: Munger&#8217;s approach to life and work was simple and direct. He focused on evading conventional pitfalls and was prudent in his decision-making.
Munger, a resident of the same humble abode for seven decades, held the belief that lavish living often paves the way to discontent. 
"I avoided the standard ways of failing, because my game in life was always to avoid all standard ways of failing. You teach me the wrong way to play poker and I will avoid it. You teach me the wrong way to do something else, I will avoid it. And, of course, I've avoided a lot, because I'm so cautious," Munger said in the interview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Oom5Rjp_Y">with </a>CNBC. 
This pragmatic approach was also mirrored in his spending habits. When his business associate at&nbsp;Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, opted&nbsp;to replace a company jet,&nbsp;Munger deemed the $6.7 million expense as extravagant.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43219503/charlie-mungers-three-investment-lessons-buy-wonderful-businesses-at-fair-prices-big-money-isnt-in-buying-or-selling-its-in-waiting-good-businesses-are-ethical-businesses">Charlie Munger&#8217;s Three Investment Lessons: &#8216;Buy Wonderful Businesses At Fair Prices, Big Money Isn&#8217;t In Buying Or Selling-It&#8217;s In Waiting, Good Businesses Are Ethical Businesses&#8217;</a>
In Munger&#8217;s view, steering clear of apparent risks, frivolity, and &#8220;insane&#8221; scenarios were instrumental to his financial success and longevity. &#8220;Steer clear of insanity at all costs. Insanity is far more prevalent than you&#8217;d imagine,&#8221; he said. 
Munger&#8217;s financial success and longevity were driven by his ability to steer clear of unnecessary risks, frivolous decisions, and irrational situations.
"Avoid crazy at all costs. Crazy is way more common than you think. It's easy to slip into crazy. Just avoid it, avoid it, avoid it," Munger said. 
Why It Matters: Munger&#8217;s philosophy of financial success and longevity offers valuable insights into his life and work ethic. 
His avoidance of conventional failure modes, his cautious decision-making, and his disdain for extravagance and risky ventures like cryptocurrency, all paint a picture of a man who valued practicality and prudence over quick gains and lavish lifestyles. 
His views on financial success and longevity, while not groundbreaking, offer a refreshing perspective in a world often obsessed with quick riches and ostentatious displays of wealth. 
His legacy serves as a reminder that success can be achieved through simplicity, caution, and a steadfast refusal to participate in &#8220;insane&#8221; ventures.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43077104/charlie-mungers-3-rules-for-success-dont-sell-what-you-wouldnt-buy-work-for-those-you-admire-partner-with-people-you-enjoy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlie Munger's 3 Rules For Success: ‘Don't Sell What You Wouldn't Buy, Work For Those You Admire, Partner With People You Enjoy'</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Charlie Munger's Financial Success and Longevity Advice: 'My Game in Life Was Always To Avoid All Standard Ways of Failing'

Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is one stock that has skyrocketed from its beginning stages, leaving many wishing they got in on it from the start. One woman recently called "The Ramsey Show" for financial advice regarding her Tesla stock, which grew to an astonishing amount from her initial investment.&nbsp;
Her dilemma? Whether to cash out and pay off her mortgage or hold onto the stock because, in her words, "Nobody knows what Tesla&#8217;s capable of."
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From $1,000 to $380,000 in Tesla Stock</h2>
The caller explained that she invested $1,000 in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43686887/teslas-stock-climbs-nearly-3-in-thursday-pre-market-as-analyst-predicts-growth-in-ev-ai-and-robotics">Tesla stock</a> in 2011, in the company's early stages. Over the years, without adding any additional money to her investment, the stock surged, reaching upwards of $380,000. She and her family now owe $288,000 on their home and are weighing the benefits of selling the stock to become mortgage-free.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<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>
<li>‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a></li>
</ul>
Financial expert <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/43276105/trumps-tax-plan-could-slash-social-security-benefits-33-by-2035-ramsey-show-host-george-kamel-weighs-in">George Kamel</a>, a host on "The Ramsey Show," was impressed by the caller's success. "What?" he reacted in shock, before confirming that she had truly turned just $1,000 into hundreds of thousands of dollars without adding more funds to the investment.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Risks of Holding a Single Stock</h2>
While acknowledging the incredible return, Kamel advised the caller to be cautious. He emphasized the risks associated with keeping such a large portion of wealth in a single stock, even one as well-known as Tesla. "As soon as you can get that house paid off and get out of a single stock, the better," he said.
His advice aligns with common financial principles: diversifying investments can help protect against market downturns. Tesla's stock, like any other, is subject to volatility. Holding onto the stock means exposure to potential price swings that could reduce the value of her gains.
Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Role of Taxes in the Decision</h2>
One of the biggest factors to consider in selling such a large stock position is the tax implication. Kamel advised the caller to consult a tax professional before making any moves. Since the stock's value has increased significantly since she bought it, selling would trigger <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43669470/im-so-sorry-dave-ramsey-left-speechless-after-hearing-the-capital-gains-tax-a-canadian-restaurant-owner-would-owe-if-he-sold-his-business">capital gains taxes</a>. Depending on her income and how long she has held the stock, the tax bill could be substantial.
Instead of selling all at once, Kamel suggested an alternative approach: selling off portions of the stock gradually over a few years. This strategy could help reduce the overall tax burden by spreading the gains across multiple tax years, potentially keeping her in a lower tax bracket.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Can Her Income Cover the Mortgage Instead?</h2>
Another consideration is the caller's household income. She shared that her family is earning $275,000 annually, which is a strong financial position. Kamel's advice implies that, with such a high income, they may be able to aggressively pay down the mortgage without relying entirely on the Tesla stock sale.
See Also: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Should She Do?</h2>
Ultimately, the decision rests on her financial goals and risk tolerance. Paying off the mortgage would provide security and eliminate monthly payments, but holding onto the stock could yield further gains—though with added risk. Consulting a financial and tax professional could help her determine the best course of action based on her specific situation.
For investors who find themselves in a similar position, the key takeaway is clear: while big gains in the stock market can be life-changing, careful planning is essential to ensure those gains translate into lasting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/02/36957443/the-majority-of-americans-dont-feel-financially-secure-and-believe-they-need-to-earn-233-000-a-y">financial stability</a>.
Read Next:
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<li>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></li>
<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
</ul>

JEPQ

MSTY

NVDY

PLTR

QQQM

SMCI

TSLA

Should She Cash Out? Woman Who Turned $1,000 Into $380,000 In Tesla Stock Asks The Ramsey Show For Guidance

Billionaire business tycoon Mark Cuban has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party&#8217;s salesmanship.
What Happened: Cuban, a supporter of then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election, voiced his disappointment over the Democrats&#8217; performance in an interaction on Saturday.
He pinpointed the party&#8217;s failure to effectively communicate their message as a significant reason for their defeat in the White House and Senate races, and the Republicans&#8217; success in retaining the House majority.
Cuban shared his experiences as a spokesperson for Harris&#8217;s campaign. He criticized the Biden administration&#8217;s approach to several issues, notably immigration, labeling it as &#8220;awful.&#8221;
Despite his criticisms, Cuban attributed the Democrats&#8217; November losses to inadequate salesmanship. He compared this to President Donald Trump&#8216;s knack for selling a winning message, despite his own criticisms of Trump.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43424157/mark-cuban-suggests-20-minute-daily-habit-to-destabilize-musk-zuckerberg-and-even-president-trump">Mark Cuban Suggests 20-Minute Daily Habit to &#8216;Destabilize&#8217; Musk, Zuckerberg, and Even President Trump</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">.<a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mcuban</a>: "I learned that the Democrats can't sell worth sh&#x2A;t." <a href="https://t.co/IZgRj72EOB">pic.twitter.com/IZgRj72EOB</a>
&mdash; Principles First (@Principles_1st) <a href="https://twitter.com/Principles_1st/status/1893342559813910879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"It was kind of fun actually. I learned that the Democrats can't sell worth shit. And they're so, you know, persnickety about every little detail and that's why the Republicans at the presidential level — I don't want to say kicked their ass because it wasn't a runaway, but like I said, Donald Trump can sell. If you gave the Democrats a dollar bill and said, you can sell these for 50 cents, they would hire 50 people to decide how to do it and then would not know how to sell a dollar bill for 50 cents,&#8221; Cuban said. 
&#8220;If you gave it to Donald Trump and said sell this dollar bill for two dollars, he'd figure out a way. He'd tell you that two dollar bill is huge, it'll get you gold tennis shoes, it'll get you a Trump meme coin. That's the problem and that's what I learned,&#8221; Cuban added. 
When asked about possibility of a presidential run, Cuban emphatically stated, &#8220;Hell&nbsp;no. No. No. No, it's&nbsp;not going to happen.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Cuban&#8217;s critique of the Democrats&#8217; salesmanship underscores the party&#8217;s struggle to effectively communicate their message to voters. 
This has been a recurring issue, leading to significant losses in recent elections. 
Cuban&#8217;s comments also highlight the importance of effective communication and salesmanship in politics, a factor that has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43219136/cuban-on-musk-i-have-no-problem-throwing-elon-under-the-bus-but-ill-save-it-for-when-its-truly-deserved" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cuban on Musk: ‘I Have No Problem Throwing Elon Under the Bus, but I'll Save It for When It's Truly Deserved'</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Politics

Mark Cuban Criticizes Democrats, Says They Fail at Selling Their Message

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev recently expressed the company&#8217;s commitment toward prediction markets, stating that they are poised to shape the future of trading and information.
What Happened: Tenev, during an&nbsp;episode of &#8220;Hard Fork,&#8221; a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/podcasts/hardfork-grok-robinhood.html">podcast</a> by The New York Times, shared his belief in the potential of prediction markets. Tenev, who has a net worth of over $3 billion, explained the distinction between prediction markets, sports betting, and traditional news models.
&#8220;Prediction&nbsp;markets are the future of&nbsp;not just trading, but also&nbsp;information,&#8221; Tenev stated. He further elaborated that prediction markets, which involve wagers on the outcomes of future events, could potentially deliver news faster than traditional models. 
&nbsp;&#8220;I&#8217;ve been a big believer in the power of prediction markets for a long time — kind of a student of them — and I think prediction markets should be live for everything,&#8221; he added. 
He also suggested that the economic value of prediction markets could surpass that of news after the event.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43739651/robinhoods-january-metrics-shine-but-crypto-notional-trading-volume-hits-a-speed-bump-sequentially">Robinhood&#8217;s January Metrics Shine, But Crypto Notional Trading Volume Hits A Speed Bump Sequentially</a>
Robinhood had previously seen&nbsp;success with its prediction market&nbsp;for the 2024 presidential election. The platform also introduced&nbsp;Super Bowl event contracts earlier&nbsp;this month, but had to pause the rollout following&nbsp;a request from the US&nbsp;Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
In a recent earnings call, Tenev underscored the potential of prediction markets for Robinhood&#8217;s business, stating,&nbsp;&#8220;We had over half a&nbsp;billion contracts traded in right&nbsp;around a week leading up&nbsp;to the election&#8230;&nbsp;what you should expect from&nbsp;us is a comprehensive events&nbsp;platform that will give access&nbsp;to prediction markets across a&nbsp;wide variety of contracts later&nbsp;this year.&#8221;
Why It Matters: The commitment to prediction markets by Robinhood signifies a shift in the trading landscape. 
As Tenev pointed out, these markets could potentially provide faster and more economically valuable information than traditional news models. 
With Robinhood&#8217;s previous success in the 2024 presidential election prediction market and plans for a comprehensive events platform, the company seems to be positioning itself at the forefront of this emerging trend in trading.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/options/25/02/43534290/robinhood-marketss-options-frenzy-what-you-need-to-know">Robinhood Markets&#8217;s Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know</a>

Robinhood CEO Foresees Prediction Markets as Future of Trading

Renowned YouTuber MrBeast has disclosed a massive financial loss amounting to &#8220;tens of millions of dollars&#8221; from the production of his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/05/32297538/mrbeast-invades-suburbia-buys-neighborhood-cul-de-sac-to-create-ultimate-friend-zone">Amazon Prime Video series, &#8220;Beast Games.&#8221;</a>
What Happened: In a recent podcast, MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, confessed to the financial loss. 
Despite the fact that &#8220;Beast Games&#8221; was one of Amazon&#8217;s most successful series debuts in 2024, Donaldson labeled the decision to create it as&nbsp;&#8220;not a good financial decision.&#8221;
The reality show, consisting of 10 episodes and offering contestants the opportunity to win $5 million cash prizes, garnered over 50 million viewers within its first 25 days. However, the high production costs led to significant losses for Donaldson. He disclosed that the sets for just&nbsp;the first two episodes cost&nbsp;more than $29 million.
During the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjrJ2DJN_pA&amp;ab_channel=TheDiaryOfACEO">podcast</a>, Donaldson confirmed that the total production cost surpassed $100 million. Despite the financial setback, he expressed no regrets, underlining his dedication to creating high-quality content for the YouTube community and his apprehension about disappointing them.
&#8220;I lost a ton of money filming the show, so that came out of my pocket,&#8221; he said. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/02/43766653/mrbeasts-beast-games-wraps-up-first-season-heres-how-much-money-players-won">MrBeast&#8217;s Beast Games Wraps Up First Season &#8211; Here&#8217;s How Much Money Players Won</a>
&#8220;I lost tens of millions of dollars on that show. I&#8217;m an idiot,&#8221; he said adding that the sets on the first two episodes cost more than $29 million together.
In the same conversation, Donaldson also touched upon his personal finances, stating&nbsp;that he had &#8220;less than&nbsp;a million dollars&#8221; in his&nbsp;bank account, even though he boasts over&nbsp;365 million subscribers on YouTube.
&#8220;For me, it was about making season one as good as possible. I can&#8217;t let the YouTube community down because creators don&#8217;t have a good rep when it comes to doing stuff on streaming platforms. If I fail, it&#8217;s over; no streaming platform is ever gonna touch a YouTuber ever again,&#8221; he added.
Talking about his mental health, he said, &#8220;There&#8217;s definitely times where I would cry. But if my mental health was a priority, I wouldn&#8217;t be as successful as I am.&#8221;
&#8220;This is the life I chose. You want success, you want to change the world, you want to do this. And this is the price you have to pay,&#8221; he added. 
Why It Matters: This incident underscores the high costs associated with producing quality content, even for successful YouTubers like MrBeast. Despite the financial loss, 
Donaldson&#8217;s commitment to his audience and the quality of his content remains unwavering. This could potentially influence other content creators&#8217; decisions regarding the production of high-budget projects, highlighting the balance between financial investment and audience engagement.
Read Next
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<ul>
	<li>KLDiscovery Inc.&nbsp;(OTC:&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kldi#OTC" style="color: rgb(14, 16, 26); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;; color: #4a6ee0;" target="_blank">KLDI</a>)&nbsp;<a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://investors.kldiscovery.com/news/news-details/2021/KLDiscovery-Inc.-Signs-New-Credit-Agreement-to-Refinance-Existing-Debt-Obligations-With-Increased-Capacity-and-Reduced-Principal-Amortization-Lowering-Annual-Debt-Payments-from-17-Million-to-3-Million/default.aspx" style="color: rgb(14, 16, 26); background: transparent; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt;; color: #4a6ee0;" target="_blank">has refinanced current debt commitments</a>&nbsp;with Wilmington Trust, National Association, and certain lenders to raise the borrowing capacity and reduce principal amortization and yearly debt payments from $17m to $3 million.</li>
	<li>The new agreement encompasses an initial term loan of $300 million, delayed draw term loans of $50 million, revolving credit loans of $40 million.</li>
	<li>The revolving credit loan represents an increase of $10 million over the prior balance.</li>
	<li>The initial term loans and delayed draw term loans will accrue interest at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus 6.50% p.a., or the Base Rate plus 5.50% p.a.</li>
	<li>The revolving credit loans will accrue interest at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus 4% p.a., or the Base Rate plus 3% p.a.</li>
	<li>The initial term loans and delayed draw term loans will amortize at 1% of the aggregate principal amount of respective loan outstanding balances, payable quarterly compared to the previous amortization rate of 5%.</li>
	<li>The revolving credit loans, initial term loans, and delayed draw term loans will mature at the earlier of February 8, 2026, and six months before the maturity of its convertible debentures due 2024.</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Lowering our annual debt payments significantly improves our annual cash flow,&rdquo; said KLDiscovery CEO Christopher Weiler.</li>
	<li>Price action:&nbsp;KLDI shares closed lower by 5.29% at $8.05 Monday.</li>
</ul>

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