Latest news for Pacific West Bancorp (OTC:PWBK) Stock

Pacific West Bancorp provides banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in Oregon. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers debit and credit cards, safe deposit boxes, ATM services, and online and mobile banking services.

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Cathie Wood, the founder of asset management firm&nbsp;Ark Invest, expressed uncertainty about the utility of President Donald Trump&#8217;s coin on Wednesday, adding that her company has avoided memecoin investments.
What Happened: During an interview with Bloomberg TV, Wood labeled the launch of Official Trump&nbsp;(TRUMP)&nbsp;as part of a &#8220;memecoin moment,&#8221; but only time will tell if it becomes useful in some way.
&#8220;I mean there is speculation that you&#8217;ll get to meet President Trump as one of the utilities of owning this coin. I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s the case or not. But so far, we don&#8217;t know of much utility for this coin, except that it is a meme coin of President Trump,&#8221; the veteran investor said.
That said, Wood noted that the launch could potentially symbolize the &#8220;next phase of&nbsp;the cryptocurrency revolution.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ARKInvest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARKInvest</a> CEO and CIO Cathie Wood says we don&#39;t know if President Trump&#39;s memecoin holds much utility, but Trump is &quot;ushering in the next phase of the crypto revolution.&quot; She speaks with <a href="https://twitter.com/scarletfu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scarletfu</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/kgreifeld?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kgreifeld</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/EricBalchunas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricBalchunas</a> on &quot;ETF IQ&quot; <a href="https://t.co/YbD2ANk8TA">https://t.co/YbD2ANk8TA</a> <a href="https://t.co/pxlEjL3ZUA">pic.twitter.com/pxlEjL3ZUA</a>
&mdash; Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/BloombergTV/status/1882153888981123336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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When asked if she would buy the cryptocurrency, Wood responded that Ark Invest has mostly stayed away from meme coins, focusing instead on the &#8220;Big Three,&#8221; namely Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>).
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43119637/michael-saylors-proposal-to-increase-microstratagys-share-count-approved-by-shareholders-more-bitcoin-purchases-on-the-cards">Michael Saylor&#8217;s Proposal To Increase MicroStratagy&#8217;s Share Count Approved By Shareholders — More Bitcoin Purchases On The Cards?</a>
Why It Matters: The meme coin, which was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43080060/donald-trump-and-melania-memecoins-combined-market-value-is-now-higher-than-that-of-warren-buffetts-hot-pick">launched last weekend</a>, has seen wild fluctuations in its price and capitalization.
At its peak, the coin spawned a fully diluted valuation of nearly $75 billion, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43080060/donald-trump-and-melania-memecoins-combined-market-value-is-now-higher-than-that-of-warren-buffetts-hot-pick">well over many reputed publicly-listed firms</a>. As of this writing, the valuation has halved to $36.79 billion.
Entities affiliated with The Trump Organization control 80% of the coin&#8217;s supply. When President Trump was asked about the "several billion dollars" the memecoin has raked in, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43118779/trump-memecoin-regains-momentum-rallies-22-as-the-president-calls-billions-earned-through-the-venture-as-peanuts">he deemed them</a> &#8220;peanuts.&#8221;
Price Action: At the time of writing, TRUMP was exchanging hands at $36.59, crashing 11.94% in the last 24 hours, according to data from <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/">CoinMarketCap</a>.
Image via Flickr
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43118234/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-pardon-silk-road-creator-ross-ulbricht">President Trump Signs Executive Order To Pardon Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht</a></li>
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Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

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Markets

$BTC

$ETH

$SOL

Cathie Wood Was Asked If She Would Buy TRUMP Coin, Here's What She Said

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, Japan Trade Balance For December 130.9B Vs. 55.0B Est.; -110.3B Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Exports (YoY) For December 2.8% Vs. 2.3% Est.; 3.8% Prior

Reported Earlier, Japan Adjusted Trade Balance -0.03T Vs. -0.51T Est.; -0.39T (Revised) Prior

Wall Street personalities and market watchers are closely monitoring coal stocks following unexpected industry dynamics, with CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer hinting at a potential sector resurgence.
What Happened: Cramer&#8217;s cryptic Wednesday post on X, questioning &#8220;And what if coal makes a comeback??? Stay tuned&#8230;&#8221;, preceded a notable decline in coal-related equities.
Major industry players like Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTU#NYSE">BTU</a>) and Warrior Met Coal Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCC#NYSE">HCC</a>) experienced significant price corrections, with the Exchange Traded Concepts Trust Range Global Coal Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COAL#NYSE">COAL</a>) dropping 2.20%.
The potential shift comes amid President Donald Trump&#8216;s aggressive energy infrastructure plans, which emphasize expanding <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42865106/trump-vows-to-power-ai-boom-with-expanded-oil-drilling-need-double-the-electricity-at-least-that-we-have-right-now">domestic drilling and electricity production</a> to support the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture">burgeoning artificial intelligence sector</a>. 
Trump has pledged to unlock 625 million acres of offshore reserves <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42865106/trump-vows-to-power-ai-boom-with-expanded-oil-drilling-need-double-the-electricity-at-least-that-we-have-right-now">valued at $50-$60 trillion</a>, directly challenging existing environmental restrictions.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">And what if coal makes a comeback??? Stay tuned&#8230; <a href="https://twitter.com/MadMoneyOnCNBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MadMoneyOnCNBC</a>
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1882212612391506216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43150781/netflix-crushed-q4-thanks-to-sports-squid-game-says-gary-black-analyst-highlights-low-attrition-despite-price-hikes-predicts-stock-upside">Netflix Crushed Q4 Thanks To Sports, Squid Game, Says Gary Black: Analyst Highlights Low Attrition Despite Price Hikes, Predicts Stock Upside</a>
Why It Matters: Notably, the AI-driven energy transformation is sparking unprecedented electricity demand. The Department of Energy projects AI-related data center electricity consumption <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43107819/i-wish-i-couldve-predicted-it-the-27-billion-gas-deal-behind-ais-energy-appetite">could triple within three years</a>, forcing a reevaluation of traditional energy strategies.
Energy consultancy Enverus <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43107819/i-wish-i-couldve-predicted-it-the-27-billion-gas-deal-behind-ais-energy-appetite">projects 80 new gas-fired plants</a> will be constructed by 2030, adding 46 gigawatts of power capacity. This expansion represents a 20% increase over recent construction rates and signals a potential renaissance for fossil fuel infrastructure.
Major tech companies are already positioning themselves strategically. Meta Platforms Inc. plans to power a $10 billion AI data center through a $3.2 billion gas plant expansion exemplifies the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43107819/i-wish-i-couldve-predicted-it-the-27-billion-gas-deal-behind-ais-energy-appetite">industry&#8217;s current trajectory</a>.
While renewable energy development continues, industry leaders argue that current battery technologies cannot match gas plants&#8217; reliability for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43107819/i-wish-i-couldve-predicted-it-the-27-billion-gas-deal-behind-ais-energy-appetite">power-intensive AI operations</a>. 
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43150793/nvidia-supplier-sk-hynix-soars-102-in-revenue-but-stock-slides-310-despite-ai-memory-boom">Nvidia Supplier SK Hynix Soars 102% In Revenue, But Stock Drops Despite AI Memory Boom</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

COAL

Jim Cramer Hints At Coal 'Comeback' As Stocks Dip, Trump's Energy Agenda Fuels Debate

Samsung Electronics Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) and 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 have decided to team up to develop <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43114842/meta-expands-ai-wearables-with-oakley-smart-glasses-camera-equipped-earbuds-in-development">augmented reality glasses</a>.
What Happened: The development was confirmed by TM Roh, the president of Samsung's Mobile Experience division, in an <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-22/samsung-set-to-enter-ar-glasses-market-in-race-with-meta-apple">interview</a> with Bloomberg.
However, the specific details and a release timeline remain undisclosed. The companies &#8220;will try to reach the quality and readiness we want as soon as possible,&#8221; he stated.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43150781/netflix-crushed-q4-thanks-to-sports-squid-game-says-gary-black-analyst-highlights-low-attrition-despite-price-hikes-predicts-stock-upside">Netflix Crushed Q4 Thanks To Sports, Squid Game, Says Gary Black: Analyst Highlights Low Attrition Despite Price Hikes, Predicts Stock Upside</a>
The development follows the introduction of Samsing's Project Moohan, a mixed-reality headset, that operates on Google&#8217;s Android XR platform.
The South Korean giant is still finalizing the release date and price for this product, expected to launch in 2026, the report noted.
According to Roh, the company is trying to ensure there is sufficient content available for the device for which Samsung and Google are partnering with third-party developers.&nbsp;
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: Samsung-Google collaboration will compete with major players like Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) in the rapidly growing AR market.
Meta plans to introduce its AR glasses, named Artemis, in 2027. Apple has been secretive about its AR ambitions.
Last year, Meta also unveiled its Orion AR glasses, described as an &#8220;impressive demo&#8221; but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/41084112/mark-zuckerberg-says-orion-is-probably-going-to-be-the-next-major-platform-after-phones-metas-new-ar">not intended for consumer sale</a>. In 2024, Snap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) has also entered the AR space <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40909648/snap-unveils-smart-glasses-to-bring-ar-technology-to-physical-world-what-investors-need-to-know">with its smart glasses</a>.
Notably, Google&#8217;s earlier AR venture, Google Glass Enterprise, was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31376205/what-went-wrong-with-google-glass-enterprise-inside-look-at-the-discontinued-ar-project">discontinued in 2023</a> due to challenges like privacy concerns.
Photo Courtesy: dennizn on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43047721/apple-cfo-denies-claims-of-75-profit-margins-on-app-store-i-wouldnt-say-theyre-accurate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple CFO Denies Claims Of 75% Profit Margins On App Store: ‘I Wouldn't Say They're Accurate'</a></li>
</ul>

Tech

Media

AAPL

GOOG

GOOGL

SNAP

SSNLF

Samsung, Google Team Up On AR Glasses Development, Duo To Enter Race Against Meta And Apple

World Network (WLD) was one of the cryptocurrency market's biggest gainers on Wednesday amid the hype surrounding OpenAI's ambitious $500 billion Project Stargate.
What happened: WLD, the native currency of the decentralized identity verification project, surged over 4%, becoming the third best-performing cryptocurrency over the last 24 hours.
The coin&#8217;s trading volume surged 22.50% to $819 million, indicating significant buying pressure.
The rally defied downturns in market heavyweights like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), which fell 2.71% and 3.19%, respectively.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43119637/michael-saylors-proposal-to-increase-microstratagys-share-count-approved-by-shareholders-more-bitcoin-purchases-on-the-cards">Michael Saylor&#8217;s Proposal To Increase MicroStratagy&#8217;s Share Count Approved By Shareholders — More Bitcoin Purchases On The Cards?</a>
Why It Matters: The uptick comes after President Donald Trump announced an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43111153/nvidia-and-ai-stock-rises-as-trump-announces-500-billion-stargate-ai-infrastructure-venture">AI infrastructure joint venture</a> in the U.S., with OpenAI, a leading AI research company, taking operational responsibilities.
Note that the company's CEO and co-founder, Sam Altman, launched the World Network project, formerly Worldcoin, last year. The coin has rallied <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41038522/sam-altman-founded-worldcoin-becomes-crypto-markets-biggest-gainer-on-openai-ceos-equity-s">in response to developments</a> around Altman and OpenAI in the past as well.
The project collects people's irises to authenticate their humanness and creates a digital ID, thereby making them eligible to receive free WLD tokens.
However, the project has faced government scrutiny over concerns around personal data privacy. The project has been banned in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/05/38981228/sam-altman-founded-worldcoin-shown-the-door-in-hong-kong-over-privacy-concerns">Hong Kong</a>, Kenya, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/06/39176283/sam-altman-founded-worldcoins-suspension-extended-in-spain-crypto-plunges-55-since-march-p">Spain</a>.
Price Action: At the time of writing, WLD was exchanging hands at $2.25, up 4.31% 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>. Year-to-date, the cryptocurrency has gained 7.56%. Last year, it recorded a drop of 42%. 
Image by CryptoFX on Shutterstock
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43118234/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-pardon-silk-road-creator-ross-ulbricht">President Trump Signs Executive Order To Pardon Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

Sam Altman-Founded Worldcoin Network Rallies, Defying Bitcoin and Ethereum Decline, Amid OpenAI's Role in Project Stargate

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives has raised Tesla Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) price target to $550, signaling growing confidence in the electric vehicle manufacturer&#8217;s demand and autonomous potential under President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration. 
What Happened: Ives characterized the emerging landscape as a &#8220;golden era&#8221; for CEO Elon Musk and Tesla heading into 2025.
The price target increase comes amid complex market dynamics, including challenges in vehicle deliveries and potential policy changes. Tesla&#8217;s U.S. deliveries declined 5.6% in 2024 to 633,762 units, yet the company remains the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42967593/cybertruck-sales-rise-in-2024-weighed-down-on-tesla-model-s-deliveries-in-us-shows-data">dominant electric vehicle brand nationwide</a>.
Simultaneously, debates around Tesla&#8217;s future have intensified. Investor Gary Black cautioned against <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42904377/tesla-bull-gary-black-warns-against-inflated-optimus-robot-assumptions-get-pounded-each-time-i-try-to-right-size-expectations">inflated expectations</a> for the Optimus robot program, estimating it could add only $0.70 to earnings per share by 2027. 
Bank of America analyst John Murphy valued the Optimus segment between $14 billion and $95 billion, representing just 2% of Tesla&#8217;s total estimated value.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We do not include Optimus yet in our valuation. Bull case is $650 &#x1f447; <a href="https://t.co/mGPSeIxK4v">https://t.co/mGPSeIxK4v</a>
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1882079361656049883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43150793/nvidia-supplier-sk-hynix-soars-102-in-revenue-but-stock-slides-310-despite-ai-memory-boom">Nvidia Supplier SK Hynix Soars 102% In Revenue, But Stock Drops Despite AI Memory Boom</a>
Why It Matters: The potential elimination of the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit under the Trump administration introduces additional uncertainty. While Musk previously suggested minimal impact on Tesla, Black warned of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43122855/trumps-plan-to-revoke-7500-ev-tax-credit-is-a-huge-negative-for-tesla-says-gary-black-downplays-impact-on-rivals">significant pricing challenges</a>.
Notably, Tesla&#8217;s stock performance has lagged behind market expectations, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42904377/tesla-bull-gary-black-warns-against-inflated-optimus-robot-assumptions-get-pounded-each-time-i-try-to-right-size-expectations">fiscal 2025 and 2026 earnings estimates</a> declining 39% and 45% respectively over the past year. 
Despite these challenges, Ives remains optimistic, setting a bull case target of $650, representing a 56% increase from the current trading price, without factoring in Optimus&#8217; potential.
Price Action: Tesla stock closed at $415.11 on Wednesday, down 2.11% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped further 0.32%. Over the past year, Tesla's stock has gained 98.81%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Tesla has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA/analyst-ratings">consensus price target</a> of $308.4, with a high of $550 and a low of $24.86. The average target from Wedbush, Piper Sandler, and Barclays is $458.33, implying a 10.77% upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/22215448/Screenshot-2025-01-23-at-8.24.05%E2%80%AFAM-1024x375.png" alt="" class="wp-image-745862" style="width:678px;height:auto" /></figure>
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/43150661/apples-510-billion-market-cap-drop-opens-door-for-nvidia-to-reclaim-worlds-largest-company-title-amid-iphone-makers-china-struggles">Apple&#8217;s $510 Billion Market Cap Drop Opens Door For Nvidia To Reclaim World&#8217;s Largest Company Title Amid iPhone Maker&#8217;s China Struggles</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.

TSLA

Dan Ives Raises Tesla Price Target To $550, Sees 'Golden Era' For Elon Musk Under Trump, Sees Bull Case Upside Of Over 56% If Optimus Robot Counted In Valuation

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink touted Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) as a tool for overcoming economic and political uncertainties on Wednesday, projecting it to rise to as much as $700,000 if the world catches up with this narrative.
What Happened: During an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Fink stated that Bitcoin could serve as a hedge against local fears related to currency debasement and political instability.
&#8220;If you&#8217;re frightened of the debasement of your currency or you&#8217;re frightened of the economic or political stability of your country, You could have an internationally based instrument called Bitcoin that will overcome those local fears, &#8221; the CEO of the world&#8217;s largest asset manager said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&quot;Crypto is a currency of fear&#8230;you can have an internationally based instrument called bitcoin that will overcome those local fears,&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/BlackRock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlackRock</a>&#39;s Larry Fink talks crypto&#39;s ability to withstand economic and political instability. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BloombergHouse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BloombergHouse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WEF25?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WEF25</a> &#x23ef;&#xFE0F;<a href="https://t.co/2Bkhd9o3JY">https://t.co/2Bkhd9o3JY</a> <a href="https://t.co/2ZwVmMFS3W">pic.twitter.com/2ZwVmMFS3W</a>
&mdash; Bloomberg Live (@BloombergLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/BloombergLive/status/1882102462259114009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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He also mentioned discussions he regularly has&nbsp;with the sovereign wealth funds&nbsp;about the possibility of allocating 2% to 5% of their portfolio to Bitcoin.
&#8220;If everybody adopted that conversation, you know, it would be $500,000, $600,000, $700,000 per Bitcoin,&#8221; Fink made a bold prediction.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43119637/michael-saylors-proposal-to-increase-microstratagys-share-count-approved-by-shareholders-more-bitcoin-purchases-on-the-cards">Michael Saylor&#8217;s Proposal To Increase MicroStratagy&#8217;s Share Count Approved By Shareholders — More Bitcoin Purchases On The Cards?</a>
Why It Matters: Fink&#8217;s views on Bitcoin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40937953/larry-fink-defies-blackrocks-largest-shareholder-to-make-a-bold-bet-on-bitcoin-heres-how-h">have evolved with time</a>. Back in 2017, he famously said, "Bitcoin just shows you how much demand for money laundering there is in the world."
The skepticism has given way to endorsement in recent years. In October, Fink deemed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41323418/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-says-bitcoin-other-cryptos-have-bright-future-regardless-of-wheth">Bitcoin a unique asset class</a>, comparable to commodities like gold, and predicted an expansion in its investment appeal.
His firm BlackRock recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42463001/blackrock-advocates-for-2-bitcoin-allocation-in-multi-asset-portfolios">suggested a &#8220;reasonable range&#8221; for Bitcoin allocation</a> in multi-asset portfolios to be between 1% and 2%.
The company debuted its U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>), last year, which ended up <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42737368/blackrocks-bitcoin-fund-breaks-records-with-historic-etf-launchwill-it-surpass-the-worlds-biggest-gold-etf-in-january">becoming the most successful ETF launch</a> in history.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $102,438.56, down 2.93% 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.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Image via Flickr/ Jolanda Flubacher
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</ul>

IBIT

Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says Bitcoin Could Rise To $700,000 On Fiat Fears: 'If You're Frightened Of The Debasement…'

On Wednesday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made a significant move by selling shares of Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>).
The Robinhood Trade
Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKW#NYSE">ARKW</a>) fund sold 18,483 shares of Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) on Wednesday. The transaction was valued at approximately $927,107, based on Robinhood&#8217;s closing price of $50.16. This sale occurs as Robinhood navigates a challenging market environment, influenced by economic indicators and potential regulatory shifts.
Recent reports have highlighted Robinhood&#8217;s vulnerability to economic fluctuations, particularly those affecting retail investors. A report from early January noted that Robinhood&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42878117/whats-going-on-with-robinhood-markets-stock">stock faced pressure</a> due to a cooling U.S. labor market, which could impact its trading-dependent revenue model. The ADP National Employment Report indicated a slowdown in job growth, potentially affecting trading volumes on Robinhood&#8217;s platform.
Despite these challenges, Robinhood has been identified as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42086650/robinhood-positioned-as-top-crypto-deregulation-trade-says-bernstein">key player</a> in the potential deregulation of the cryptocurrency sector. A Bernstein report positioned the brokerage as a top beneficiary of regulatory changes, suggesting a promising outlook for its growth. This dual narrative of economic challenges and regulatory opportunities frames Ark Invest&#8217;s decision to adjust its position in Robinhood.
Other Key Trades:
<ul>
<li>Sold 61,235 shares of Accolade Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>) from the ARKG fund.</li>
<li>Bought 307 shares of Deere &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>) for the ARKQ fund and 93 shares via ARKX.</li>
<li>Sold 307 shares of Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>) from the ARKQ fund and 93 shares via ARKX.</li>
</ul>
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ETFs

ACCD

ARKW

ESLT

HOOD

Cathie Wood's Wednesday Moves: Ark Invest Dumps Robinhood Stock

U.S. stocks experienced an upward trend today, with the Dow Jones climbing over 130 points to 44,156.73. The NASDAQ surged by 1.3% to 20,009.34, while the S&amp;P 500 rose by 0.6% to 6,086.37.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Blackboxstocks, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLBX#NASDAQ">BLBX</a>)
Blackboxstocks shares soared 226.63%, closing at $5.52. The stock hit an intraday high of $6 and a low of $2.68, with a 52-week range of $6 to $1.51. The surge followed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43141430/whats-going-on-with-blackboxstocks-shares-wednesday">company&#8217;s announcement</a> of securing financing in anticipation of a potential merger. Blackboxstocks agreed to a securities purchase agreement, receiving an initial $250,000, with further financing contingent on the merger.
Discover Financial Services&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DFS#NYSE">DFS</a>)
Discover&#8217;s stock rose 4.35%, closing at $197.50. It reached an intraday high of $198.97 and a low of $190.15, with a 52-week range of $198.97 to $99.07. The increase came after Discover reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43148923/discover-delivers-q4-earnings-beat-revenue-beat-the-details">strong fourth-quarter earnings</a>. The company saw a 5% rise in net interest income and a 68% increase in non-interest income, despite a 6% drop in total loans year-over-year.
Alcoa Corp.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AA#NYSE">AA</a>)
Alcoa shares edged up 0.44% to close at $38.78, with an intraday high of $39.85 and a low of $38.68. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $47.77 to $24.86. The slight increase followed the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43147125/alcoa-shares-climb-after-better-than-expected-q4-results">better-than-expected fourth-quarter results</a>. Alcoa reported earnings of $1.04 per share, surpassing estimates, and revenue of $3.48 billion, up from $2.59 billion the previous year.
AST SpaceMobile Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTS#NASDAQ">ASTS</a>)
AST SpaceMobile&#8217;s stock fell 2.64%, closing at $22.49. The stock&#8217;s intraday high was $23.74, with a low of $22.42, and a 52-week range of $39.07 to $1.97. The decline followed the company&#8217;s announcement of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/01/43148725/ast-spacemobile-stock-is-tumbling-wednesday-whats-going-on">proposed private offering</a>&nbsp;of $400 million in convertible senior notes due 2032.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla shares dropped 2.11%, closing at $415.11. The stock reached an intraday high of $428 and a low of $414.59, with a 52-week range of $488.54 to $138.80. The decline followed news of the potential removal of the $7,500 EV tax credit, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43122855/gary-black-deems-loss-of-7500-ev-tax-credit-as-huge-negative-for-tesla-dismisses-impact-on-rivals">could negatively impact</a> Tesla&#8217;s pricing in the U.S., according to Gary Black, Managing Partner of The Future Fund.
Image via Shutterstock
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

ASTS

BLBX

Blackboxstocks, Discover, Alcoa, AST Spacemobile, And Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

SK hynix Inc. reported financial results for 2024, with revenues surging 102% to 66.19 trillion won ($46.34 billion), driven by explosive demand for artificial intelligence memory products. 
The South Korean semiconductor manufacturer, a critical supplier to Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), transformed from a loss-making position in 2023 to delivering a robust net profit of 19.79 trillion won ($13.84 billion).
The fourth-quarter performance highlighted the company&#8217;s strategic pivot, with revenues climbing 75% year-over-year to 19.7670 trillion won ($13.7 billion) and operating profit skyrocketing 2,236% to 8.08 trillion won ($5.66 billion). High-bandwidth memory emerged as a key growth driver, representing over 40% of total DRAM revenue and underscoring the company&#8217;s critical role in the AI semiconductor supply chain.
CFO Kim Woohyun emphasized the company&#8217;s profitability-first approach, noting &#8220;fundamental improvements&#8221; in high value-added product mix. The company plans continued investment in advanced memory technologies like HBM3E and HBM4, targeting growing demand from global technology leaders investing heavily in AI infrastructure.
Financial improvements were complemented by balance sheet optimization, with cash equivalents increasing 5.2 trillion won ($3.64 billion) and debt reducing 6.8 trillion won ($4.76 billion) in 2024. SK hynix also raised its annual dividend by 25% to 1,500 won ($1.05) per share, signaling confidence in its strategic positioning.
Price Action: SK Hynix stock is trading at 218,500 won ($151.97) on Thursday, down 3.10% as of 10:38 a.m. local time on the South Korea Exchange. Over the past year, the stock has surged by 55.18%, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Image via Wikimedia Commons
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Earnings

NVDA

Nvidia Supplier SK Hynix Soars 102% In Revenue, But Stock Drops Despite AI Memory Boom

Gary Black has credited Netflix Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43114866/netflix-q4-earnings-record-subscribers-nfl-squid-game-push-past-highest-expectations">fourth-quarter performance</a> to its live sports strategy, original content, and price hike that saw minimal customer attrition.
What Happened: The Future Fund LLC managing partner took to X on Wednesday and highlighted Netflix's ability to attract massive audiences with its live sports and entertainment offerings.
&#8220;$NFLX (+10.5% AH) crushed 4Q net streaming adds (+18.9M vs +9.2M est) behind the strength of live sports and Squid Games 2,&#8221; he stated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NFLX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NFLX</a> (+10.5% AH) crushed 4Q net streaming adds (+18.9M vs +9.2M est) behind the strength of live sports and Squid Games 2. 2025/1Q Rev and EPS guides light vs ests. 4Q: &#8211; Revs $10.25B vs $10.11B est &#8211; EPS $4.27 vs $4.18 est &#8211; Paid members 301.6M vs 290.9M 1Q guide: &#8211; Rev…
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1881813710328443019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43088582/gary-black-questions-elon-musks-take-on-ev-credit-removal-after-tesla-sales-drop-in-europe-not-sure-how-the-math-works">Gary Black Questions Elon Musk&#8217;s Take On EV Credit Removal After Tesla Sales Drop In Europe: &#8216;Not Sure How The Math Works&#8217;</a>
Black noted that the Mile Tyson&#8211;Jake Paul fight and Beyoncé's Christmas show as pivotal in delivering 18.9 million net subscriber adds, more than double the expected 9.2 million.
"When you have 65 million people go to Netflix for the Tyson-Paul fight and 25 million for Beyoncé&#8217;s halftime show, it was clear Netflix was going to get huge net subscriber adds," Black said.
The prominent investor also pointed out that Netflix's 14% price increase contributed significantly to its revenue growth while maintaining low customer attrition.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">When you have 65M people go to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NFLX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NFLX</a> for Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight, and 25M people for Beyonce halftime show on Christmas, it was clear NFLX was going to get huge net subscriber adds (+18.9M vs +9.2M exp). Add to that a +14% avg price increase with very low attrition, and it's…
&mdash; Gary Black (@garyblack00) <a href="https://twitter.com/garyblack00/status/1882062783635722505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: Netflix&#8217;s fourth-quarter results have been described as one of the best in the company&#8217;s history.
The streaming giant brought its total paid memberships to 301.63 million compared to 290.9 million estimated. It also reported $10.25 billion in revenue, beating the expected $10.11 billion, and an EPS of $4.27, exceeding the projected $4.19.&nbsp;
However, Netflix's first-quarter 2025 guidance slightly missed expectations, with forecasted revenue of $10.42 billion (vs. $10.48 billion expected) and EPS of $5.58 (vs. $6.01 expected).
Analysts have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43136402/netflix-stock-firing-on-all-cylinders-10-analysts-react-to-q4-beat-guidance-price-increases">adjusted their price targets</a> for Netflix, with Macquarie analyst Tim Nollen raising the target from $965 to $1,150, and KeyBanc analyst Justin Patterson increasing it from $1,000 to $1,100.
Netflix has also surpassed the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/01/43145703/netflix-worth-more-than-disney-paramount-comcast-fox-combined">combined market cap</a> of entertainment giants like Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), Paramount Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>) and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>).
Price Action: Black predicted a 20% upside for Netflix on Wednesday. During regular trading, the stock gained 9.69%, though it edged down 0.49% in after-hours trading.
Despite the slight after-hours dip, NFLX has delivered impressive gains this year, rising 7.59% year-to-date and an astounding 96.41% over the past 12 months, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Netflix currently has a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 67, indicating that the stock is in neutral territory.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFLX/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/22210933/Screenshot-2025-01-23-at-7.39.26%E2%80%AFAM-1024x375.png" alt="" class="wp-image-745822" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/25/01/43088007/nvidia-apple-supplier-tsmc-halts-production-as-6-4-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-taiwan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia, Apple-Supplier TSMC Halts Production As 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Taiwan</a></li>
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Entertainment

CMCSA

NFLX

PARA

Netflix Crushed Q4 Thanks To Sports, Squid Game, Says Gary Black: Analyst Highlights Low Attrition Despite Price Hikes, Predicts Stock Upside

Leading cryptocurrencies dipped on Wednesday, diverging with the stock market rally, as the market expects more from the new Donald Trump administration.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-2.33%</td>
<td>$103,392.39</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>-2.13%</td>
<td>$3,255.66</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>-1.94%</td>
<td>$0.3612</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin steadily fell from the highs of $107,000 tapped the day before. The top cryptocurrency hit an intraday low of $102,561 overnight.
Ethereum followed a similar trajectory, losing more than 2% of its value in the last 24 hours. The second-largest cryptocurrency has suffered losses of more than 5% over the week.
Though the SEC under acting Chairman Mark Uyeda launched a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/01/43110946/sec-launches-crypto-task-force-to-establish-clear-regulatory-framework"> dedicated cryptocurrency task force</a> to frame regulations for the industry, investors have been left disappointed due to no cryptocurrency-related executive orders from Trump thus far.
In the past 24 hours, 96,027 traders were liquidated, with total liquidations at $185.56 million. Upside bets worth $133.52 million were wiped out.
Long liquidations likely caused Bitcoin's Open Interest to slip by 3.06% in the last 24 hours.
That said, a rebound to $107,000 could liquidate nearly $565 million worth of short positions.
The market sentiment cooled from "Extreme Greed" to "Greed" over the last 24 hours, 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 7:30 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XDC Network (XDC)</td>
<td>+14.13%</td>
<td>$0.1318</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Worldcoin (WLD)</td>
<td>+8.21%</td>
<td>$2.28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pudgy Penguins (PENGU)</td>
<td>+5.10%</td>
<td>$0.02501</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.62 trillion, expanding by 3.62% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks surged for the second straight trading day of the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 130.92 points, or 0.30%, to close at 44,156.73. The S&amp;P 500 lifted 0.61%, ending at&nbsp; 6,086.37, just below its record closing highs. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.28% to close at 20,009.34.
Artificial intelligence players, including Nvidia Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), surged as President Donald Trump announced a $500 billion initiative <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43135764/trumps-500-billion-stargate-ai-plan-puts-3-etfs-in-focus">to bolster the industry</a> in the U.S. Nvidia rallied 4.43% during Wednesday's session.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Widely followed cryptocurrency technical analyst Rekt Capital noted that Bitcoin likely entered a re-accumulation phase before trend continuation to new all-time highs.
"The last time Bitcoin experienced re-accumulation was in the post-halving re-accumulation phase. Bitcoin rallied +46% upon breakout from that phase," the analyst added.
A similar move could propel the apex cryptocurrency to nearly $150,000, Rekt Capital projected.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTC</a> Bitcoin is likely experiencing another Re-Accumulation period before trend continuation to new All Time Highs The last time Bitcoin experienced Re-Accumulation was in the Post-Halving Re-Accumulation phase Bitcoin rallied +46% upon breakout from that phase If Bitcoin is… <a href="https://t.co/66cu6CjZmS">pic.twitter.com/66cu6CjZmS</a>
&mdash; Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/rektcapital/status/1882105114707587223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Popular cryptocurrency trader Michaël van de Poppe made optimistic predictions for Ethereum, owing to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43088676/trump-backed-world-liberty-financial-bags-47-million-each-of-ethereum-wrapped-bitcoin-to-honor-the-new-president">large purchases</a> by World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance platform backed by Trump.
"The fact that World Liberty has been buying so much ETH makes me more bullish on that particular asset," he said. "I think it&#8217;s going to start and make a great revival through 2025."
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The fact that World Liberty has been buying so much <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> makes me more bullish on that particular asset. I don&#39;t think <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> is the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ADA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ADA</a> of this cycle. I think it&#39;s going to start and make a great revival through 2025.
&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1882078516847538192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo by Avi Rozen on Shutterstock
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$DOGE

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Drop Amid Stock Rally, Cooling Investor Sentiment On Trump: Analyst Projects BTC At $150K If History Repeats

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has seen a staggering $510 billion decline in market capitalization over the past three weeks, paving the way for Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) to reclaim its position as the world&#8217;s largest company, according to analysis from The Kobeissi Letter.
What Happened: The market shift stems from Apple&#8217;s significant challenges in the Chinese smartphone market, where annual iPhone shipments dropped 17% in 2024—the largest annual sales decline since 2016. Apple has now fallen behind local competitors Vivo and Huawei in China&#8217;s competitive smartphone landscape.
Investor Warren Buffett, long a proponent of Apple, recently reduced Berkshire Hathaway&#8216;s Apple stake by 25%, maintaining 300 million shares. Despite this reduction, Apple remains a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43132892/warren-buffett-once-claimed-iphones-are-so-great-that-no-one-would-take-10000-to-stop-buying-them">critical 26% of Berkshire&#8217;s portfolio</a>.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Apple stock, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a>, has erased $510 billion in market cap over the last 3 weeks. Since December 26th, the stock has declined ~14% and the company's worth has fallen to $3.35 trillion. As a result, Nvidia, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NVDA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NVDA</a>, has again surpassed Apple as the world's largest company. This… <a href="https://t.co/pGmLxLxCsG">pic.twitter.com/pGmLxLxCsG</a>
&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1882148905166516690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee attributes Apple&#8217;s struggles to multiple factors, including currency headwinds, limited AI feature adoption, and challenging market conditions in China. The analyst expects Apple&#8217;s first-quarter earnings to fall slightly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43097512/apples-ai-advances-cant-offset-chinese-market-slowdown-says-analyst">below consensus estimates</a>, with potential guidance disappointments.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43144858/sp-500-hits-fresh-records-at-6100-as-strong-earnings-trumps-ai-wager-fuel-bull-run">S&amp;P 500 Hits Fresh Records At 6,100: Strong Earnings, Trump&#8217;s AI Wager Fuel Bull Run</a>
Why It Matters: Needham analyst Laura Martin remains cautiously optimistic, maintaining a $260 price target and highlighting Apple&#8217;s potential in services, wearables, and emerging technologies like Vision Pro. However, Martin acknowledges the company&#8217;s heavy <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43110913/apples-iphone-dependence-remains-but-services-wearables-offer-growth-potential-analyst">dependence on iPhone sales</a>.
The evolving tech landscape presents significant challenges for Apple, with local Chinese brands and AI-powered competitors increasingly threatening its market dominance. As Nvidia capitalizes on AI technological advancements, Apple faces critical questions about innovation and global market strategy, according to The Kobeissi.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock closed at $223.83 on Wednesday, gaining 0.53% during the regular session. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped 0.29%. Over the past 52 weeks, Apple has traded between a low of $164.08 and a high of $260.09, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple's $510 Billion Market Cap Drop Opens Door For Nvidia To Reclaim World's Largest Company Title Amid iPhone Maker's China Struggles

JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO, Jamie Dimon, expressed his approval of President Donald Trump&#8217;s proposed tariffs on several countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China on Wednesday.
What Happened: During a discussion at the World Economic Forum, Dimon argued that the national security benefits of these tariffs would surpass any potential inflationary impact. He was quoted saying, &#8220;If it&#8217;s a little inflationary, but it&#8217;s good for national security, so be it. I mean, get over it,&#8221; <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/jamie-dimon-on-trumps-tariffs-get-over-it.html">reported</a> CNBC.
Dimon also referred to tariffs as an &#8220;economic tool,&#8221; and dismissed the idea that they are inherently inflationary. His comments come amidst claims from some economists that tariffs would increase prices for American consumers and harm the country&#8217;s economy.
"Tariffs can change the dollar, but the most important thing is growth," Dimon said in the interview.
Dimon wasn't the only Wall Street leader expressing optimism about tariffs. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, speaking at Davos, said that business leaders have been adapting to potential policy changes, including trade.
 He described the shifts as a &#8220;rebalancing&#8221; of trade agreements that, if managed carefully, could benefit U.S. growth. Solomon emphasized the importance of a thoughtful approach, noting that some measures are likely part of broader negotiation strategies. &#8220;Used appropriately, it can be constructive,&#8221; he said, adding that the situation will evolve over time and requires close monitoring.
Why It Matters: Trump had previously announced his consideration of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/emerging-market-etfs/25/01/43130930/trump-looking-at-10-tariff-on-china-starting-feb-1">10% tariff on goods</a> from China, which could take effect as early as Feb.1.
This was followed by his pledge to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43103527/mexican-peso-canadian-dollar-slide-as-trump-threatens-25-tariffs-expert-eyes-price-hikes-on-typical-us-breakfast">impose 25% tariffs on imports</a> from Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1, causing the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar to weaken.
These proposed tariffs have sparked debates among economists, trade experts, and consumers, as they could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/12/42367505/economists-warn-trumps-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-and-china-could-hurt-your-budget-more-than-help-it">lead to higher costs</a> for American households. Economic analyst Catherine Rampell warned that the tariffs could raise prices on a wide range of consumer goods.
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

Politics

General

Jamie Dimo Supports Trump's Tariffs: 'If It's A Little Inflationary, But It's Good For National Security, So Be It'

Wallets belonging to Ross Ulbricht, the imprisoned creator of the illegal drug marketplace&nbsp;Silk Road, were discovered on Wednesday, containing as many as 430 Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) unmoved for over 13 years.
What Happened: In an X post, Conor Grogan, a director at&nbsp;Coinbase, said that he had found nearly 430 BTC across multiple wallets linked to Ulbricht. These wallets were not seized by the U.S. government and have remained untouched for over 13 years. 
&#8220;Back then these were probably&nbsp;dust wallets, now, collectively, they&nbsp;are worth about $47 million,&#8221; Grogan disclosed in the post. At the current prices, the value of these assets amounted to $44.48 million.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I found ~430 BTC across dozens of wallets associated with Ross Ulbricht that were not confiscated by the USGovt and have been untouched for 13+ years Back then these were probably dust wallets, now, collectively, they are worth about $47M. Welcome back Ross <a href="https://t.co/KmCp4xcrI7">pic.twitter.com/KmCp4xcrI7</a>
&mdash; Conor (@jconorgrogan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jconorgrogan/status/1882046613709115875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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It&#8217;s uncertain whether Ulbricht still has access to the keys to these wallets. Grogan said, &#8220;We will know soon enough,&#8221; suggesting that it&#8217;d be clear if the dormant Bitcoins start to move.
A section of the cryptocurrency community didn&#8217;t approve Conor making the wallet details public. In his defense, he said they were already public and cited in Ulbricht&#8217;s trial documents.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43119637/michael-saylors-proposal-to-increase-microstratagys-share-count-approved-by-shareholders-more-bitcoin-purchases-on-the-cards">Michael Saylor&#8217;s Proposal To Increase MicroStratagy&#8217;s Share Count Approved By Shareholders — More Bitcoin Purchases On The Cards?</a>
Why It Matters: This discovery comes shortly after President Donald Trump pardoned Ulbricht, fulfilling a campaign promise. Trump granted Ulbricht a &#8220;full and unconditional&#8221; pardon in support of the of the Libertarian Movement
Ulbricht was serving a double life sentence since 2013 for creating the darknet website, a hub of the illegal trafficking of heroin, cocaine, LSD, and other substances, all paid for in Bitcoin.
It remained to be seen whether Ulbricht would be able to access these funds following his pardon.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $103,150.67, down 2.17% 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>.
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Bitcoin Worth $44 Million Found In Ross Ulbricht's Wallets  — Will The Freshly Pardoned Silk Road Founder Move The Coins?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is gearing up for his first foreign tour, with Panama on his itinerary, amid rising tensions over the Panama Canal.
What Happened: Rubio&#8217;s inaugural foreign trip as Secretary of State will also include Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. However, these plans are still tentative, according to officials privy to the matter, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/22/marco-rubio-panama-00200137">reported</a> Politico.
This visit, which could reportedly take place as early as next week, follows President Donald Trump&#8217;s controversial remarks hinting at the U.S. potentially reclaiming the Panama Canal. These comments have sparked a diplomatic spat with Panama. &#8220;The Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama,&#8221; asserted Panama&#8217;s President, José Raúl Mulino, at the World Economic Forum earlier this week.
During his tour, Rubio is expected to tackle two critical issues on the MAGA foreign policy agenda: illegal migration and the Panama Canal. The countries on Rubio&#8217;s travel list,&nbsp;including Guatemala and El Salvador,&nbsp;are key transit points for migrants heading to the U.S. southern border.
In a recent memo&nbsp;to State Department employees, Rubio&nbsp;underscored mass migration as &#8220;among&nbsp;the most consequential issues of&nbsp;our time&#8221; and committed to collaborating with Western Hemisphere nations to stem illegal immigration.
The State Department has not yet commented on Rubio&#8217;s impending travel.
Why It Matters: The controversy over the Panama Canal has been brewing for some time. In January, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/42864556/trump-does-not-rule-out-military-force-to-acquire-panama-canal-greenland-we-need-them-for-economic-security">Trump refused to rule out the use of military force</a> to regain control of the canal, citing economic security. 
Trump&#8217;s comments sparked backlash from Panama&#8217;s President Mulino, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42639737/trumps-call-to-reclaim-panama-canal-sparks-backlash-every-square-meter-belongs-to-panama-says-president-mulino">asserted Panama&#8217;s ownership of the canal</a> in December. 
Trump&#8217;s threat to seize the canal, which <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/01/43036986/trumps-2-5-billion-power-play-what-seizing-the-panama-canal-would-cost">generates $2.5 billion in annual revenue for Panama</a> and handles 5% of global maritime trade, has raised concerns about potential disruption to international commerce.
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>

Marco Rubio Reportedly Set To Visit Panama Amid Trump's Canal Rhetoric

Artificial intelligence and AI agents are changing the workforce and the job market, according to a report from the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/search?q=World+Economic+Forum#:~:text=Adam%20Eckert,1%3A40%20PM">World Economic Forum.&nbsp;</a>
The Details: According to the WEF's The Future of Jobs Report 2025, 41% of employers surveyed expect to reduce the size of their workforces in the next five years, specifically in roles "where AI can replicate people's work." 
The survey's respondents expect the fastest-declining roles to include cashiers and ticket clerks, administrative assistants and executive secretaries, printing workers, accountants and auditors. The WEF primarily attributed the decline in demand for these clerical roles to AI and information processing technologies, robots and autonomous systems. 
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Growth in AI and information processing technology is expected to create 11 million jobs, while eliminating nine million others, more than any other technology trend. 
The WEF pointed to robotics and autonomous systems as the largest net job displacer, with a net decline of five million jobs.
"Trends such as generative AI and rapid technological shifts are upending industries and labor markets, creating both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks," said Till Leopold, head of Work, Wages and Job Creation at WEF. 
"The time is now for businesses and governments to work together, invest in skills, and build an equitable and resilient global workforce," Leopold added.&nbsp;
AI Agents: Some companies like Oracle Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>) and Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) are developing AI agents designed to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks. These AI agents could contribute to some of the job displacement the WEF highlighted. 
Oracle offers more than 50 role-based AI agents within its Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite which can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ORCL#:~:text=Oracle%20AI%20Agents%20Help%20Sales%20Teams%20Create%20More%20Meaningful%20Customer%20Connections">perform tasks</a> in the areas of finance, sales, customer service and marketing. Salesforce's Agentforce is an AI platform that enables companies and organizations <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42917603/salesforce-empowers-retailers-with-ai-to-boost-efficiency-and-sales">to build</a> customized autonomous AI agents for various business functions.
Experts predict AI agents will grow to become commonplace in the near term. 
"Agents are the next step in putting AI to work in the real world. Consumers should expect almost every major business they interact with to create an agent. We'll see agents supporting customers in banking, insurance, healthcare and retail. By this time next year, agents will be a reality of our collective digital lives," Paul Drews, managing partner for Salesforce Ventures<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91254053/25-experts-predict-how-ai-will-change-business-and-life-in-2025"> told</a> Fast Company.&nbsp;
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Photo: Shutterstock

Global

ORCL

AI, AI Agents Will Create 'Unprecedented Opportunities And Profound Risks,' World Economic Forum Says

Social media followers of the president, first lady and vice president were surprised to learn that they now follow people they may not have wanted to after Donald Trump was inaugurated as<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/43139381/how-many-people-watched-donald-trumps-2025-inauguration-spoiler-less-than-biden-four-years-ago"> president on Monday.</a>
What Happened: Users of Instagram and Facebook, which are owned by Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), have experienced several recent changes including CEO Mark Zuckerberg announcing the end of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42851889/meta-ditches-fact-checking-for-community-notes-zuckerberg-says-opportunity-to-restore-free-expression">content moderation teams</a>.
Instagram and Facebook users who followed Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Jill Biden over the past several years were also surprised to find themselves now following Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Melania Trump after Monday.
Users were quick to blame Meta Platforms and cite the potential influence of Zuckerberg, who has been cozying up to Trump in recent months. Zuckerberg attended the inauguration and Meta recently donated $1 million to the president's inauguration fund.
Some users reported they were unable to unfollow the accounts of the new political leaders, including singer Demi Lovato, as reported by <a href="https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/facebook-instagram-users-forced-trump-vance-follow-1236282155/">Variety</a>.
"I have unfollowed this guy twice today," Lovato said of the @vp account now belonging to Vance. "Shady f&#x2A;&#x2A;&#x2A;ing business meta."
Meta contends they have done nothing wrong and this is the practice done in past presidential transitions. The official accounts for @potus, @vp and @flotus have been transferred over to the new people in those roles, while keeping the same followers and the content being wiped clean and archived to other accounts.
"People were not made to automatically follow any of the official Facebook or Instagram accounts for the president, vice president or first lady," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone <a href="https://www.threads.net/@andymstone/post/DFImiJsPblY">said </a>in a post on Threads. "Those accounts are managed by the White House so with a new administration, the content on those Pages changes."
Stone said the same changes took place when Biden took over as president for Trump in 2021. One potential difference is the ability to unfollow these particular accounts.
"It may take some time for follow and unfollow requests to go through as these accounts change hands," Stone added.
Users can follow and unfollow other accounts without any problem as of time of writing of this article.
Here are the current follower accounts for several mentioned Instagram accounts:
<ul>
<li>@potus (now Trump): 16.8 million</li>
<li>@realdonaldtrump (his existing account): 31.2 million</li>
<li>@potus46archive (Joe Biden's old account): 18.7 million</li>
<li>@flotus (now Melania Trump): 4.1 million</li>
<li>@flotus46archive (Jill Biden's old account): 4.1 million</li>
<li>@joebiden (Joe Biden's existing account): 17 million</li>
<li>@vp (now Vance): 15.7 million</li>
<li>@vp46archive (Harris's old account): 16.9 million</li>
<li>@kamalaharris (Kamala Harris's existing account): 19.6 million</li>
</ul>
The accounts had the same number of followers when they were archived as they did for the new account holder. This means that the VP and POTUS accounts have lost followers since the transition took place.
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X Does It A Little Differently: Social media accounts with the names POTUS, VP and FLOTUS belong to the people in those roles. The question is how to manage the transition.
With users upset, the question now becomes whether social media companies should have to alert users that they are now following new people or if the accounts should start over from 0.
Platform X, which is owned by Trump-ally Elon Musk, chooses to do the latter.
Followers of the @potus, @vp and @flotus accounts on X saw those accounts change names to archived accounts. Users were not forced to follow the @potus, @vp and @flotus accounts once again as they started from 0 with the new names and faces attached.
Here's a look at the current follower accounts on X:
<ul>
<li>@potus: 1.5 million</li>
<li>@potus46archive: 37 million</li>
<li>@potus45: 31.4 million</li>
<li>@potus44: 12.9 million</li>
<li>@flotus: 116.1 thousand</li>
<li>@flotus46archive: 4.4 million</li>
<li>@vp: 424.9 thousand</li>
<li>@vp46archive: 14.9 million</li>
</ul>
Many politicians have existing accounts and use the official White House accounts along with their own personal ones. This means outgoing parties like Biden and Harris have their own accounts they will now use. For reference, here are the followers on those accounts along with former President Barack Obama:
<ul>
<li>Biden: 38.2 million</li>
<li>Harris: 21.0 million</li>
<li>Trump: 99.1 million</li>
<li>Obama: 130.8 million</li>
</ul>
Obama is ranked as the second most-followed person on X, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/10/41168674/elon-musk-passes-200-million-followers-on-x-heres-the-top-10-accounts-and-where-barack-obama">trailing only Musk</a> (213.7 million). Trump's personal account ranks eighth currently.
According to data from <a href="https://socialblade.com/twitter/user/potus">SocialBlade</a>, the @potus account ended Jan. 20 with 702,038 followers.
Trump's personal account has added 2.7 million followers over the past 30 days, averaging a gain of 89,571 daily. Biden's personal account has lost 33,118 followers over the past 30 days, averaging a daily loss of 1,104 a day.
Social media users should be aware of these policies and know who they are following as it may have changed after Monday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

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