Blockonomi

Key Points
Apple is requesting authorization to incorporate Chinese memory semiconductors into products distributed internationally, citing supply constraints and cost management
Micron Technology, America’s sole major memory chip producer, is actively opposing this initiative through extensive lobbying efforts
Memory semiconductor costs have surged fourfold in the last twelve months, primarily due to AI infrastructure requirements
The Pentagon has classified both Chinese manufacturers — CXMT and YMTC — as military-affiliated entities
The White House faces a critical choice between consumer affordability and safeguarding domestic semiconductor capabilities
A high-stakes confrontation is unfolding that places Apple, the Trump administration, and US manufacturing interests on a collision course.
Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, has engaged in multiple meetings with top Trump administration figures, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The objective: securing approval to source memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies, both Chinese firms.
Apple and Micron $MU are now in a major lobbying fight over memory chips, according to WSJ.$AAPL is pressing the White House to allow it to use chips from China’s CXMT and YMTC in products sold outside the U.S., arguing that it would ease the global shortage and lower costs.… pic.twitter.com/yln2yoDWki
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 25, 2026
Apple’s argument centers on addressing worldwide memory supply constraints while keeping prices manageable for consumers. Critically, these Chinese-made components would be restricted to Apple products distributed in foreign markets, not domestically.
However, Micron Technology stands as a formidable obstacle. As America’s only substantial domestic memory chip manufacturer, Micron’s CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has delivered stark warnings to government officials that permitting American technology giants to purchase from Chinese manufacturers — regardless of where the final products are sold — poses significant risks to the domestic semiconductor sector.
Micron has drawn parallels to the decline of American steel and manufacturing industries, where Chinese competition contributed to widespread industrial erosion.
Memory Chip Costs Skyrocket
The memory semiconductor market has experienced dramatic price inflation, with costs multiplying by four over the past year according to TechInsights data. The primary driver is unprecedented demand from artificial intelligence data centers, which consume massive quantities of cutting-edge memory at elevated price points.
This AI-driven consumption has significantly reduced available inventory for smartphones, automotive systems, and medical equipment — fundamentally altering Apple’s traditional negotiating leverage with semiconductor suppliers.
Apple has directly accused Micron of exploiting the supply shortage for excessive profits. The tech giant highlights Micron’s gross profit margins, now surpassing 80%, as proof of unreasonable pricing practices. Apple further alleges that Micron is prioritizing production expansion for AI customers over consumer electronics manufacturers.
Micron disputes these allegations entirely. The company maintains that price increases reflect broader market dynamics beyond simple memory costs, while emphasizing its commitment to invest $250 billion in expanding American manufacturing infrastructure.
Security Concerns Add Complexity
The two Chinese manufacturers central to this controversy carry substantial national security implications. YMTC appears on the US Entity List — a restrictive trade designation — while both CXMT and YMTC have received Pentagon classifications as Chinese military-affiliated companies.
Michael Kratsios, the White House technology adviser, stated explicitly to congressional members this week that American corporations should avoid commercial relationships with Entity List-designated firms.
Apple attempted a similar partnership with YMTC in 2022 but withdrew following intense political backlash, including a pointed warning from then-Senator Marco Rubio that Apple was “playing with fire.” Rubio now serves as Secretary of State and remains actively engaged in current deliberations.
President Trump has publicly commended both Apple and Micron for their domestic investment commitments and has refrained from declaring a position on this matter. The timing is further complicated by ongoing trade negotiations with China, adding strategic dimensions to any resolution.
The post Apple (AAPL) vs Micron (MU): Trump Faces Critical Decision on Chinese Chips appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Shares of CoreWeave (CRWV) plummeted 11.4% Friday, touching an intraday bottom of $71.67 from a previous closing price of $81.10
Jefferies and Citigroup both slashed their ratings from Buy to Hold midweek
First-quarter revenue surged 111.6% year-over-year to $2.08 billion, though earnings per share of -$1.40 fell short of expectations by $0.23
Company insiders have offloaded more than 17 million shares valued at approximately $2 billion during the past three months
Analyst consensus remains Moderate Buy with an average price target of $136.25
Shares of CoreWeave (CRWV) experienced a sharp decline Friday, plunging 11.4% and bottoming out at $71.67 during intraday trading before settling near $71.88. This marked a significant retreat from Thursday’s closing price of $81.10. Trading volume reached approximately 25.2 million shares, trailing slightly behind the stock’s average daily volume of 28.2 million.
The steep decline came on the heels of back-to-back analyst downgrades. Wednesday saw both Jefferies and Citigroup revise their stance on CRWV, slashing ratings from Buy to Hold. This coordinated shift in sentiment from two prominent Wall Street firms intensified selling pressure on a stock that had already retreated considerably from its 52-week peak of $153.20.
However, not all analysts have soured on the name. Roth Capital maintained its Buy recommendation alongside a $150 price objective. Rosenblatt stayed bullish with a Buy rating and an ambitious $250 target. Robert W. Baird launched coverage with an Outperform designation and $100 target. Oppenheimer boosted its price target from $140 to $150 while reaffirming Outperform.
Despite recent downgrades, the broader analyst community remains constructive. Among 37 analysts monitored by MarketBeat, one assigns a Strong Buy, 21 recommend Buy, 14 suggest Hold, and just one advises Sell. The consensus price target of $136.25 represents substantial upside from current trading levels.
Quarterly Earnings Shortfall Compounds Concerns
CoreWeave delivered its most recent quarterly results on May 7th. The company posted Q1 revenue of $2.08 billion, representing impressive year-over-year expansion of 111.6%. While the top-line performance appeared robust, profitability metrics painted a less favorable picture.
The company reported adjusted earnings per share of -$1.40, falling short of the Street’s expectation of -$1.17 by $0.23. Net margin registered at -25.57% while return on equity came in at -43.07%. Current analyst projections call for full-year EPS of -$4.57.
From a balance sheet perspective, CoreWeave carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.68. Both the quick ratio and current ratio stand at 0.31, indicating constrained near-term liquidity. The stock’s 50-day moving average sits at $97.75, while the 200-day moving average rests at $95.47—both significantly above where shares currently trade.
Heavy Insider Selling Raises Eyebrows
Substantial insider selling activity has captured market attention. Chief Executive Officer Michael Intrator offloaded 61,797 shares on July 8th at an average sale price of $86.94, generating proceeds of approximately $5.37 million. This disposal was conducted through a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement.
Separately, insider Brian Venturo disposed of 76,912 shares on July 1st at $86.99 per share, totaling $6.69 million. This transaction trimmed his holdings by 21.31%.
Across the trailing 90-day period, company insiders have collectively sold 17,070,099 shares worth roughly $1.98 billion. Despite this aggressive selling, insiders maintain ownership of approximately 24.2% of outstanding shares.
On the institutional front, Capula Management boosted its CoreWeave stake by 62% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 18,679 shares to bring its total position to 48,804 shares valued at about $3.78 million. Multiple smaller institutional investors similarly established new positions or expanded existing ones during the quarter.
CoreWeave’s 52-week low stands at $63.80. With shares currently hovering in the low $70s, the stock is now much closer to its annual floor than to the average analyst price target of $136.25.
The post CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Plunges 11% Following Dual Analyst Downgrades appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Financial Times reports Waymo is exploring options to terminate its Uber partnership
Shares of Uber Technologies fell 4.3% during Friday’s trading session
Disagreements between the companies include vehicle maintenance standards, navigation protocols, operational availability during inclement weather, and partnership economics
Waymo has informed Uber of intentions to independently operate in Austin and Atlanta beginning January 2028
Their Phoenix collaboration already concluded in late June 2026
Shares of Uber Technologies experienced a 4.3% decline on Friday, with selling pressure intensifying during the final trading hour after the Financial Times published a report indicating Waymo is evaluating the termination of their collaborative arrangement.
Since establishing their partnership in 2023, the companies have jointly provided Waymo autonomous vehicles through Uber’s platform in the Austin and Atlanta metropolitan areas.
According to the Financial Times article, which referenced individuals with knowledge of the discussions, Waymo executives have conducted internal deliberations regarding the potential dissolution of their agreements with Uber. Reuters was unable to confirm these details independently, and representatives from both organizations declined to provide comments.
WAYMO EXPLORES OPTIONS TO EXIT PARTNERSHIP WITH $UBER: FT
Waymo has held internal talks about ending its robotaxi deals with Uber as the companies clash over service quality, safety and robotaxi regulation.
Waymo vehicles in Austin and Atlanta are currently available only… pic.twitter.com/pwyP4e44ZB
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 24, 2026
Tensions between the autonomous vehicle company and the ride-hailing platform have been escalating over recent months. Waymo has expressed dissatisfaction regarding vehicle maintenance standards and route optimization. Meanwhile, Uber has characterized the partnership’s economic structure as “financially untenable” and voiced frustration about Waymo’s fleet becoming unavailable during adverse weather conditions.
A source with direct knowledge of the relationship told the Financial Times that both organizations are “moving toward incompatible strategic goals.” The diplomatic language suggests the collaboration may be approaching its natural conclusion.
Phoenix Partnership Already Dissolved
Warning signs emerged earlier this year. The companies discreetly terminated their autonomous vehicle collaboration in Phoenix, Arizona during late June — a region where they had previously coordinated operations.
Waymo has formally communicated to Uber its strategic decision to launch independent operations in both Austin and Atlanta markets commencing January 2028, the earliest date permitted under their existing contractual framework for competitive market entry.
Rather than an abrupt dissolution, this represents a methodical disengagement with a predetermined timeline.
Competition Emerges Between Former Allies
The conflict extends beyond operational disagreements. The Financial Times revealed that both corporations are pursuing competing legislative agendas, advocating for robotaxi regulations that advance their respective strategic interests — frequently in direct opposition to each other.
Uber’s approach has centered on partnerships with external autonomous vehicle manufacturers, including Waymo, enabling the company to expand its robotaxi capabilities without developing proprietary self-driving technology.
Should Waymo proceed with separation, Uber would face pressure to strengthen relationships with alternative AV providers or fundamentally reconsider its technology partnership strategy.
Alphabet stock (GOOGL), Waymo’s parent company, gained 0.65% on Friday, contrasting sharply with Uber’s performance, which absorbed investor anxiety with a 4.31% decline.
For the moment, both companies continue their partnership operations in Austin and Atlanta. Market observers should monitor developments closely as the January 2028 deadline approaches.
The post Uber (UBER) Stock Tumbles 4% Amid Reports of Waymo Partnership Dissolution appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Shares of AT&T climbed 4.8% to $24.06 following a second-quarter earnings report that exceeded analyst projections, delivering $0.65 per share versus the $0.59 consensus estimate
The telecommunications company generated $4.7 billion in free cash flow, marking a 6.3% increase from the prior year and surpassing internal forecasts
Postpaid phone net additions reached 432,000 customers, significantly outpacing Wall Street’s projection of 338,500
Management increased fiscal 2026 earnings per share outlook to $2.25–$2.35, while maintaining the quarterly dividend at $0.2775 per share (yielding 4.6%)
Following the earnings announcement, Wolfe Research upgraded the stock; the consensus recommendation remains Moderate Buy with a $29.19 average price target
Shares of AT&T (T) experienced a notable rally on Friday, advancing 4.8% to close at $24.06, after the telecommunications giant delivered second-quarter financial results that comfortably exceeded analyst expectations. Trading volume surged past 80 million shares, approximately 57% higher than typical daily activity.
The Dallas-based carrier reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.65, surpassing the Street’s $0.59 forecast. While quarterly revenue of $31.56 billion fell modestly short of the $31.80 billion consensus, the shortfall did little to dampen market enthusiasm.
The quarter’s most impressive metric was free cash flow generation. AT&T produced $4.7 billion during the three-month period — representing a 6.3% year-over-year increase — and exceeding the company’s previously stated guidance range of $4.0 billion to $4.5 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year, reaching $12.3 billion. The company’s adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 110 basis points to 39.1%, reflecting improved operational efficiency.
Customer acquisition momentum remained strong. The carrier welcomed 432,000 new postpaid phone subscribers during the quarter, substantially beating the 338,500 consensus forecast. Total advanced connectivity subscriber additions exceeded one million, powered by robust growth in both fiber and fixed wireless segments.
Looking ahead, AT&T elevated its full-year 2026 earnings per share guidance to $2.25–$2.35. The current analyst consensus for the full year sits at $2.31.
Wall Street Weighs In
Following the quarterly report, Wolfe Research upgraded its rating on AT&T. Sanford C. Bernstein maintained its “outperform” recommendation with a $25.00 price objective. TD Cowen increased its price target to $33.00 from $32.00, while holding its “hold” stance. Argus reduced its target to $30.00 from $33.00 but preserved its “buy” recommendation.
Barclays lowered its price target to $24.00 from $26.00, maintaining an “equal weight” position. Overall, the analyst community rates the stock as a Moderate Buy, with a mean price target of $29.19.
The stock currently trades at approximately 6.7x forward enterprise value-to-EBITDA — representing a valuation discount compared to Verizon at 7.3x and T-Mobile at 8.8x, and trading below AT&T’s own five-year historical range of 7.5x to 8x.
Shareholder Returns
AT&T announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share, scheduled for payment on August 3rd. This translates to an annualized dividend of $1.11 and a current yield of 4.6%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 37.25%.
The company maintains an active $10 billion share buyback authorization.
Short interest in the stock remains minimal at 1.81% of shares outstanding. Institutional ownership represents 57.10% of total shares.
Technical indicators show the 50-day moving average at $22.79, with the 200-day moving average at $24.24. AT&T carries a market capitalization of $167.14 billion, trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.97, and exhibits a beta of 0.24.
Options market activity following the earnings release showed unusually elevated call volume, suggesting traders are positioning for continued upward momentum.
The post AT&T (T) Stock Surges Nearly 5% on Strong Q2 Earnings Beat appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
MU shares declined 7% Friday while SK Hynix ADRs tumbled 8.8%, though both posted weekly gains
Micron achieved approximately 6% weekly gains after positive performance in three of five trading sessions
Bank of America maintains Buy recommendation with $1,550 target price, implying ~65% potential appreciation
The company delivered all-time high Q3 revenue of $41.46 billion, representing 346% year-over-year growth
Upcoming Microsoft and Amazon quarterly reports may serve as positive catalysts for memory chip stocks
Shares of Micron (MU) retreated 7% during Friday’s trading session, erasing a portion of Thursday’s 3.2% advance. However, the memory chipmaker still finished the week with approximately 6% gains.
American depositary receipts for SK Hynix declined 8.8% during the same trading day, following a 2.6% increase in the previous session.
Friday’s decline followed a challenging month for memory semiconductor stocks. Over the past 30 trading days, Micron shares have decreased 12.8%, while SK Hynix’s Seoul-traded stock has plummeted nearly one-third during the identical timeframe.
Questions surrounding memory chip pricing sustainability have pressured the sector. These concerns persist despite this week’s recovery in both stocks.
A positive development emerged from Alphabet’s quarterly earnings, revealing ongoing expansion in data center capital expenditure — encouraging news for memory semiconductor manufacturers like Micron. Alphabet stock experienced its largest single-session market capitalization decline in history, yet the optimistic data center spending forecast helped boost memory stocks approaching week’s end.
Bank of America Maintains Conviction
Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy recommendation on MU during the week with a $1,550 price objective, representing approximately 65% potential upside from present levels.
The investment bank dismissed concerns that China’s Kimi K3 AI model would curtail AI infrastructure investment. BofA presented a contrarian view — suggesting that increasingly efficient AI models may actually accelerate demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), DDR5, and NAND storage solutions.
BofA further believes open-weight AI architectures could significantly expand Micron’s total addressable market by attracting thousands of enterprise customers who will deploy AI models on proprietary infrastructure, rather than depending exclusively on major hyperscale providers.
Micron presently trades at approximately 21.5 times trailing twelve-month earnings and 13.1 times forward earnings — below the semiconductor sector average. Additional financial institutions including KeyBanc, TD Cowen, Bernstein, and Citigroup maintain optimistic ratings on the stock. The analyst consensus price target stands near $1,495, indicating roughly 60% upside potential.
Exceptional Financial Performance Supports Optimism
Micron’s latest quarterly performance provides substantial evidence supporting the bullish thesis. Fiscal third-quarter revenue reached an all-time record of $41.46 billion, climbing 346% compared to the prior-year period. Adjusted earnings per share totaled $25.11, substantially higher than $1.91 in the comparable quarter last year.
Free cash flow achieved a record $18.3 billion. Operating cash flow reached $25.39 billion.
Company management provided guidance for approximately $50 billion in fourth-quarter revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share of roughly $31.
Micron has additionally secured long-term supply partnerships with automotive industry customers including Ford, General Motors, Qualcomm, Denso, Harman, and Visteon.
The coming week features earnings announcements from Microsoft on July 29 and Amazon on July 30. Should either company indicate elevated data center capital spending — similar to Alphabet’s disclosure — memory semiconductor stocks may experience additional momentum.
Wall Street analysts assign Micron a “Strong Buy” consensus rating.
The post Bank of America Sets $1,550 Price Target on Micron (MU) Stock — 65% Upside Potential appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Shares surged 3.5% Friday, approaching the 52-week peak of $334.99
Wall Street is favoring Apple’s efficient AI approach through collaborations with OpenAI, Nvidia, Alphabet, Alibaba, and Baidu
Competitors Amazon and Alphabet are preparing to allocate $200 billion each for AI infrastructure in 2026
Q3 results exceeded expectations with $2.01 EPS versus the anticipated $1.95, delivering revenue of $111.18 billion
Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average target of $327.40
Apple (AAPL) stock surged 3.5% during Friday’s trading session, reaching $332.97 and approaching its 52-week peak of $334.99, as market participants embraced the tech giant’s strategic approach to artificial intelligence development.
As competing tech giants commit unprecedented capital expenditures, Apple has adopted a distinctly different path — and the market is responding favorably.
Both Amazon and Alphabet are preparing to deploy approximately $200 billion on AI-related infrastructure throughout 2026. Apple, meanwhile, has opted for strategic alliances rather than massive capital outlays.
The Cupertino-based company has forged partnerships with OpenAI, Nvidia, and Alphabet to integrate AI functionality throughout its product lineup. For the Chinese market, collaborations with Alibaba and Baidu enable localized AI-driven features.
This methodology minimizes expenses while simultaneously providing users with advanced AI tools. It represents a calculated business decision, and shareholders are responding positively.
Growing apprehension that excessive AI expenditures may be creating market distortions has made Apple’s measured strategy appear increasingly prudent by comparison.
Shares began Friday’s session at $333.02, fluctuating between $321.63 and $334.33 throughout trading. The company’s valuation currently ranges from approximately $4.7 to $4.89 trillion based on various calculations.
Strong Quarterly Performance Strengthens Bull Thesis
The company’s latest financial results provided additional momentum for the stock. Apple delivered earnings per share of $2.01 for the third quarter, exceeding the consensus forecast of $1.95 by $0.06.
Total revenue reached $111.18 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $109.46 billion. This represents a year-over-year growth rate of 16.6%.
The company achieved a net profit margin of 27.15% and generated a return on equity of 146.69%. Wall Street analysts are projecting full-year earnings of $8.76 per share.
Apple increased its quarterly dividend payment to $0.27 per share from the previous $0.26. The annualized dividend yield currently stands at 0.3% with a payout ratio of 13.06%.
Wall Street Ratings and Institutional Holdings
Bank of America maintains a Buy recommendation on AAPL with a $380 price objective. Monness Crespi & Hardt upgraded their target from $315 to $335, maintaining a Buy rating. Rosenblatt takes a more cautious stance with a Neutral rating and $276 target.
The prevailing consensus among analysts is “Moderate Buy” with a mean price objective of $327.40. Among covering analysts, 23 recommend Buy, nine suggest Hold, and two advise Sell.
Baird reaffirmed its Outperform rating recently while increasing its price target, contributing to a series of favorable analyst revisions ahead of the current earnings cycle.
Regarding institutional movements, Kornitzer Capital Management reduced its holdings by 1.5% during the first quarter, divesting 6,492 of its 421,039 shares. Apple remains a 2.3% allocation within the firm’s total portfolio.
Ford disclosed plans this week to integrate Apple Maps natively into its forthcoming electric vehicles, expanding Apple’s software presence within the automotive industry.
Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively control 67.73% of outstanding shares. The 50-day moving average stands at $306.62, while the 200-day moving average is positioned at $279.01.
The post Apple (AAPL) Stock Surges as Smart AI Strategy Outshines Big Tech Rivals appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
The chipmaker notified clients Friday of significant percentage-based price increases
New pricing applies to all shipments beginning September 1
Rising supplier costs have become unsustainable to absorb internally
The company explored alternative sourcing options before implementing increases
Shares declined 2.42% following the announcement; third-quarter results scheduled for July 29
The San Diego-based semiconductor manufacturer informed its customers Friday that it plans to implement double-digit percentage price increases, attributing the move to escalating costs that have become impossible to absorb. A letter sent to clients specified that the new pricing structure will affect all products shipped beginning September 1.
Following Bloomberg’s coverage of the announcement, QCOM shares declined 2.42%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSM) experienced a similar downturn, falling 2.93% during the same trading session.
According to the communication, the company had exhausted all internal measures to mitigate escalating supplier expenses and had actively pursued alternative component sources from different suppliers. Despite these efforts, passing costs along to customers became unavoidable.
As one of TSMC’s largest clients, the chipmaker relies heavily on the world’s leading contract semiconductor manufacturer for production capacity.
Component Shortage Creates Industry-Wide Strain
Explosive growth in artificial intelligence data center development has created severe constraints on memory chips and various semiconductor components. This bottleneck has created cascading effects throughout technology supply chains, impacting even standard components.
The smartphone sector has been particularly affected, with the company experiencing demand headwinds as memory chip shortages persist and capital flows increasingly toward AI infrastructure projects.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of smartphone processors, the company supplies silicon that powers Android devices from major manufacturers across the globe.
Third-Quarter Results Approaching
Qualcomm will announce its third-quarter financial performance on July 29. The proximity of the price increase notification to the earnings release has heightened investor attention on the company’s cost dynamics and profit margins.
The company declined to provide commentary regarding Bloomberg’s coverage. Reuters reported being unable to independently confirm the letter’s content.
The pricing adjustment represents a strategic pivot. Previously, the semiconductor manufacturer had been absorbing supplier cost increases internally without transferring them to customers.
Customer reactions to the notification remain unclear, including whether any have challenged the revised pricing structure.
The substantial percentage increase will take effect for all shipments from September 1 forward, providing customers limited time before the new rates become active.
QCOM shares were already experiencing pressure from broader semiconductor industry headwinds before Friday’s session. The 2.42% decline following the announcement compounded recent share price fluctuations.
As the July 29 earnings call approaches, market participants will scrutinize management commentary regarding expense pressures and whether the company maintained margin levels during the previous quarter.
The post Qualcomm (QCOM) Stock Drops 2.4% After Announcing Steep Price Increases appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Claude Opus 5 debuts with pricing 50% below Fable 5 while maintaining competitive performance
The new model exceeds Fable 5 in coding tasks and knowledge-based work according to internal benchmarks
The company submitted confidential IPO documents in June with plans to complete its public listing in 2026
OpenAI’s public offering timeline may extend to 2027 amid legal challenges including an Apple lawsuit
Chinese competitor Moonshot AI introduced Kimi K3, positioning it as equal to GPT-5.6 Sol and Fable 5
On Friday, Anthropic unveiled Claude Opus 5, positioning it as the company’s highest-performing model in its most economical package yet. According to the firm, this latest release surpasses Fable 5 in both programming tasks and knowledge-intensive applications.
Introducing Claude Opus 5.
It's a thoughtful and proactive model that comes close to the frontier intelligence of Fable 5 at half the price. pic.twitter.com/GQWhcq2CQL
— Claude (@claudeai) July 24, 2026
The pricing structure for Opus 5 stands at $5 for every million input tokens and $25 for every million output tokens. This represents a 50% reduction compared to Fable 5, positioning it as an appealing choice for organizations seeking to optimize their artificial intelligence expenditures.
Anthropic markets Opus 5 as the solution “designed to be used every day.” Within the company’s product hierarchy, it ranks beneath both Fable 5 and Mythos 5, bringing the Claude 5 family to a total of four distinct models.
While Mythos 5 represents Anthropic’s flagship in terms of raw capability, its availability remains limited to an exclusive roster of enterprise clients. The company maintains these restrictions due to the model’s sophisticated cybersecurity functionalities.
Economic Pressures Reshape Model Development
Corporate clients have adopted a more conservative approach to artificial intelligence investments. According to Dianne Penn, Anthropic’s head of product management for research, organizations prioritize quality outcomes over reduced pricing alone.
“If it’s a cheaper model or a cheaper offering, but it’s not accomplishing a similar level of quality, it’s actually not useful,” she told CNBC.
The company contends with competitive pricing from industry giants including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, along with emerging Chinese artificial intelligence ventures. OpenAI introduced its GPT-5.6 suite this month, while Google allegedly readies a Gemini 3.5 Pro rollout, though reports indicate postponement.
Last week, China’s Moonshot AI debuted its open-weight Kimi K3 model. The research lab claims performance metrics nearly identical to both Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol.
Public Listing Competition Intensifies Rivalry
These product releases unfold as companies navigate their respective paths to public markets. Anthropic submitted confidential registration documents in June and maintains its trajectory toward a 2026 stock market debut.
OpenAI filed similar paperwork subsequently but insiders suggest a possible delay until 2027. Additionally, the organization confronts legal action from Apple alleging misappropriation of confidential information, adding complexity to its public offering timeline.
During the early months of this year, the Trump administration mandated Anthropic withdraw Mythos 5 and Fable 5 citing national security considerations. Market access resumed following approximately two weeks of regulatory discussions.
Anthropic maintains ongoing collaboration with federal agencies regarding pre-release security evaluations, including those conducted for Opus 5. The organization confirmed that Opus 5 demonstrates reduced capabilities compared to Mythos 5 in offensive cyber operations and biological research applications.
In contrast to Fable 5, Opus 5 implements a zero-retention policy for user information. Anthropic continues collecting Fable 5 interaction data as a component of its safety oversight protocols.
The artificial intelligence development landscape remains intensely competitive as organizations navigate the intersection of capability, economics, and regulatory compliance during what promises to be a pivotal year for the sector.
The post Anthropic Cuts AI Pricing in Half With Claude Opus 5 Launch Amid IPO Push appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Friday saw the Dow advance 0.5%, the S&P 500 finish essentially unchanged, and the Nasdaq decline 0.6%
Weekly losses hit all three primary benchmarks, with the Nasdaq shedding 2% over five trading sessions
Mega-cap technology companies collectively erased close to $800 billion in valuation Thursday amid AI investment anxieties
Fresh import duties ranging from 10% to 12.5% on most goods took effect
Intel stock tumbled almost 8% even after surpassing analyst profit projections
Wall Street wrapped up a chaotic trading week Friday with divergent performance across major indexes, as equities fought to regain footing following Thursday’s steep downturn.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the session higher by 235 points, representing a roughly 0.5% advance. The S&P 500 managed to eke out a barely positive close. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite surrendered 0.6%, continuing to face headwinds from technology sector weakness.
E-Mini S&P 500 Sep 26 (ES=F)
Though the Dow posted Friday gains, none of the three benchmark indexes escaped weekly losses. The technology-focused Nasdaq bore the brunt of the damage with a 2% retreat for the period.
Technology Sector Rattled by AI Investment Uncertainty
The previous session’s rout stemmed from mounting anxiety surrounding artificial intelligence capital expenditures. The so-called “Magnificent Seven” cohort of large-cap technology giants saw roughly $800 billion in aggregate market capitalization vanish in just one trading day.
Alphabet’s quarterly financial results, disclosed Wednesday after market close, served as the catalyst. Market participants expressed growing unease about aggressive AI infrastructure investments in the absence of demonstrable revenue generation.
Intel shares plummeted nearly 8% Friday despite delivering second-quarter financial figures that exceeded analyst consensus estimates. The negative market response underscored deepening skepticism surrounding semiconductor stocks.
Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are all scheduled to unveil their quarterly performance in the days ahead. Given investor reaction to Alphabet’s disclosure, additional volatility appears likely.
Import Duties and Energy Prices Compound Market Stress
New trade levies implemented under Section 301 authority became effective overnight, affecting nearly all American imports. The duty rates span from 10% to 12.5% and impact major U.S. trading relationships.
Administration officials excluded certain energy commodities from the tariff framework, acknowledging elevated petroleum prices that have intensified inflation worries.
Oil markets retreated Friday, with Brent crude futures declining approximately 4% to settle under $96 per barrel. Nevertheless, crude was positioned for a weekly advance following a brief surge past the $100 threshold.
Treasury Markets and Monetary Policy Expectations
The 2-year Treasury yield concluded the week at 4.33%, though it retreated Friday, snapping a six-session climb.
Trading activity suggests investors are assigning a 62.1% probability the Federal Reserve maintains current interest rates at next Wednesday’s policy meeting. Expectations for a rate increase have jumped to 37.9%, a significant shift from the prior week’s 12.8% probability.
Corporate earnings delivered mixed signals. Verizon, American Express, and NextEra Energy each exceeded bottom-line expectations but fell short on top-line performance. American Express and Alphabet collectively pushed the Dow into negative territory for the weekly period.
U.S. business activity registered its strongest expansion in eight months during July, based on S&P Global’s preliminary Purchasing Managers’ Index, with World Cup-related economic activity providing partial support.
The post Tech Selloff Continues: Nasdaq Drops Again Amid AI Investment Worries and Trade Tensions appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
RWA adoption accelerated as global holders rose 190.9% year over year to 1.09 million, while Ethereum surpassed $17 billion in tokenized value.
Robinhood Chain recorded 11,416.2% monthly growth and passed 244,000 RWA holders, although memecoins still dominate much of its DEX volume.
Hyperliquid RWA contracts generated $25.1 billion in weekly trading volume, accounting for 52% of the decentralized exchange’s total activity.
Avalanche tokenized Treasuries climbed 68% to $842 million, while Solana, BNB Chain and several smaller networks also expanded their markets.
RWA adoption accelerated across major blockchain networks as tokenized assets reached new records in value, holders, and trading activity. Ethereum crossed $17 billion in tokenized real-world asset value, while Solana reached an all-time high of $3.4 billion. The number of RWA holders rose 190.9% year over year, increasing from 375,000 to 1.09 million.
Tokenized stocks also recorded $9 billion in monthly transfer volume during June. Robinhood Chain posted the fastest monthly growth, while Avalanche expanded its tokenized Treasury market.
RWA Adoption Drives Record Growth Across Major Blockchains
Robinhood Chain led monthly network growth after its tokenized asset value increased 11,416.2% to $323.7 million. The network also passed 244,000 RWA holders, showing rapid demand for blockchain-based versions of traditional assets. Its growth followed an early period dominated by memecoins and stablecoins rather than tokenized equities.
RWA week in numbers
→ RWA holders up 190.9% YoY, from 375K to 1.09M
→ Ethereum crosses $17B in tokenized RWA value, still the largest chain by a wide margin
→ Solana hits a new all time high of $3.4B in tokenized RWA value
→ Tokenized stocks hit a $9B all time high in…
— RWA Foundation (@RWAFoundation_) July 24, 2026
Activity has since moved closer to Robinhood’s original tokenization strategy. Real-world assets now carry an active market value near $70 million, according to DefiLlama. Tokenized GameStop shares generated $26.6 million in daily volume. Nvidia reached $14 million, while SpaceX recorded $6.4 million. Twelve tokenized stocks now clear more than $500,000 daily.
Robinhood Chain still records much larger total decentralized exchange activity. Daily DEX volume has exceeded $600 million, while tokenized stocks generate about $55 million. Memecoins remain prominent across trending markets, and stablecoins still represent the network’s largest asset category. Even so, RWA adoption is gaining measurable market share.
Ethereum remains the leading blockchain for tokenized assets, with more than $17 billion in onchain value. It also controls 62.2% of the tokenized ETF market, which reached a record capitalization of $526.4 million. Solana’s tokenized RWA value climbed to a record $3.4 billion, extending competition among high-throughput networks.
Avalanche also recorded broad growth. Its total RWA market increased 22.6% to $2.5 billion. Tokenized US Treasuries rose 68% in 30 days to $842 million. BNB Chain gained 16.5% to $9.2 billion. Cardano, Tempo, Monad, Plume, Sonic, Fraxtal, and TON also posted monthly increases.
RWA Adoption Reshapes Trading Demand on Hyperliquid
RWA adoption is also changing activity on decentralized derivatives platforms. Real-world asset markets became Hyperliquid’s largest trading category for the first time. RWA-linked contracts generated $25.1 billion in volume from July 13 through July 19. That represented 52% of the platform’s $48.2 billion weekly total.
Source: X
Tokenized stocks, indexes, and commodities attracted more volume than all other categories combined. Individual equities represented 61% of RWA trading volume. That shift shows traders are using decentralized infrastructure beyond crypto-native tokens. The assets include links to public companies, traditional finance, and global markets.
The broader market also recorded strong product-level expansion. Onre Finance increased distributed value by 21% to $234 million, while ONYC holders rose 10% to 7,382. Chainlink CCIP distributed $400 million during the month, up 69%, highlighting rising demand for cross-chain settlement and asset movement.
RWA.xyz added several products during the week, including Mobilization Advance Program One from Hashfire. New Midas listings included Fasanara Global Open, Hyperithm BTC, mAPOLLO, and mHYPER. These additions broaden the range of tokenized credit, digital asset, and investment products available through onchain markets.
ARK Invest Digital Assets Research Director Lorenzo Valente described the shift as a new phase for decentralized finance. Circle co-founder Jeremy Allaire also framed tokenized assets as a structural market change. Continued RWA adoption will depend on liquidity, regulation, custody standards, and sustained demand from institutions and retail users. Custody standards remain uneven.
The post RWA Adoption Surges as Robinhood Chain Leads Global Market Growth appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
SpaceX conducted Starship’s 13th test mission on Friday from its Starbase facility in Texas — marking the inaugural launch following last month’s public offering.
The Super Heavy booster experienced a rough ocean landing in the Gulf of Mexico when only partial engine reignition occurred.
The Starship upper stage successfully achieved a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean, remaining structurally sound.
The mission marked the debut deployment of 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites into orbit.
SPCX shares have declined during four of the last five trading weeks, tumbling 43% from the June 16 high and remaining beneath the initial public offering price.
Shares of SpaceX (SPCX) continue trading beneath their initial public offering level following the completion of the company’s 13th Starship test mission Friday night at Starbase in South Texas. The equity has retreated 43% from its highest closing price recorded on June 16 and has posted losses across four of the previous five weeks.
This mission represented the initial launch following SpaceX’s historic initial public offering completed in the prior month. The flight also served as the second evaluation of the upgraded V3 Starship variant, representing the newest iteration of the planet’s most powerful launch vehicle.
Approximately two minutes after liftoff, the Super Heavy booster completed its separation from the Starship upper stage. During the descent phase, the booster initiated its engine relight sequence for the powered landing maneuver, but achieved ignition on only a limited number of Raptor engines, culminating in an uncontrolled impact with Gulf waters.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the 13th flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/g27YJCQgiN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 24, 2026
The upper portion of the vehicle demonstrated superior performance. The Starship spacecraft executed a controlled ocean entry in the Indian Ocean, maintaining structural integrity and providing SpaceX engineers with unprecedented imagery of an undamaged thermal protection system following water impact.
Mission commentators on the live broadcast referred to the outcome as “lucky number 13.”
Approximately 18 minutes following launch, SpaceX achieved successful orbital insertion of 20 Starlink V3 communication satellites. This deployment represented the maiden operational flight for these advanced satellite units.
Advanced Satellite Technology and Future Goals
The V3 satellite generation features enhanced dimensions and capabilities compared to predecessor models. These units incorporate solar panel arrays capable of producing double the electrical output of earlier iterations. Manufacturing takes place at SpaceX’s production center located in Redmond, Washington.
SpaceX is simultaneously advancing development of Starmind satellites, which are intended to function as space-based computing facilities.
The Starship launch system represents a critical component of SpaceX’s strategy to scale the Starlink constellation. Additionally, the vehicle must achieve readiness for a NASA demonstration mission scheduled for next year that could pave the way for human lunar surface operations.
Propulsion Challenges Prompt Industry Scrutiny
Tim Farrar, a satellite sector analyst with TMF Associates, acknowledged SpaceX’s advancement while noting the company “remains a long way from achieving rapid reusability of the entire ship.”
He highlighted the engine restart failures as a significant issue. “Any similar failure during an attempted landing at the company’s launch site could cause severe damage to the launchpad,” he stated.
Recent weeks have witnessed additional operational setbacks. SpaceX canceled a scheduled July 16 launch when the booster system initiated an automatic abort sequence, terminating engine startup procedures. A subsequent launch window on Thursday was postponed due to adverse meteorological conditions.
The inaugural V3 mission conducted in May experienced multiple engine shutdowns that resulted in diminished vehicle performance.
The previous week’s launch cancellation precipitated a stock price decline. SPCX shares remain valued below the initial public offering level.
The post SpaceX (SPCX) Stock Slides as Starship Flight 13 Reveals Engine Challenges appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Suspicious withdrawals exceeding $9.7 million were detected from Triple-A’s hot wallets spanning several blockchain networks
The breach affected Ethereum, Solana, TRON, and TON, with potential involvement of Polygon and Arbitrum
The alleged attacker converted stolen assets into roughly 5,226.66 ETH and moved them to Ethereum
Triple-A remains silent on whether the incident occurred and if user deposits are compromised
The Singapore-based firm operates under payment licenses across the United States, European Union, and Singapore
A suspected security breach targeting Triple-A, a Singapore-headquartered stablecoin payment infrastructure provider, has resulted in unauthorized withdrawals exceeding $9.7 million from the company’s hot wallets, according to blockchain security researchers monitoring on-chain activity.
ALERT: Triple-A wallets are under an apparent active exploit with over $9.7M drained.
Onchain analyst Specter has flagged suspicious outflows from Triple-A hot wallets across TRON, Ethereum, Polygon, and Arbitrum, with the stolen assets consolidated into 5,227 ETH.
Triple-A… pic.twitter.com/1RykKuPGwA
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) July 25, 2026
Blockchain investigator Specter initially identified the anomalous fund movements. Cybersecurity firm PeckShield subsequently confirmed the findings, with damage assessments climbing from an early estimate of $9.3 million to more than $9.7 million as additional transactions were discovered.
Assets Drained From Six Blockchain Networks
The unauthorized withdrawals targeted wallets operating on Ethereum, Solana, TRON, and TON blockchains. Additional evidence suggests Polygon and Arbitrum may also have been compromised, potentially expanding the attack surface to six separate networks.
Following extraction, the stolen digital assets underwent conversion and cross-chain bridging operations before landing on Ethereum. The destination wallet contained approximately 5,226.66 ETH when security analysts flagged the activity.
Converting multiple tokens into ETH represents standard procedure following cross-chain breaches, as it simplifies the movement of disparate assets through a single, liquid cryptocurrency.
The variance between initial and updated loss figures likely stems from ongoing transfers or fluctuations in Ethereum’s market value during the incident window.
Triple-A’s Business Operations and Official Silence
Triple-A delivers payment processing solutions enabling businesses to accept, exchange, and disburse funds through stablecoin rails and conventional banking channels. Its product suite encompasses point-of-sale integrations, enterprise payment systems, and international money transfers.
The firm maintains regulatory approval across multiple jurisdictions, including American, European, and Singaporean territories. It secured Major Payment Institution status from Singapore’s Monetary Authority and became part of Circle Payments Network during March 2026.
Triple-A has issued no official acknowledgment of the security incident. The company has not revealed how unauthorized access occurred, the timeline of suspicious activity, or whether client assets face exposure.
Fireblocks serves as Triple-A’s digital asset custody provider. Currently available information contains no indication that Fireblocks infrastructure suffered any compromise.
Attacker Identity Unknown, Customer Impact Unclear
Security analysts have not publicly attributed the attack to any specific threat actor. No confirmed reports indicate whether the consolidated funds subsequently moved through cryptocurrency exchanges or privacy-enhancing mixing services.
Absent official disclosure or forensic analysis, this incident remains classified as a suspected hot wallet security failure rather than a verified smart contract vulnerability.
Triple-A has not announced whether it has paused deposit acceptance, withdrawal processing, or cross-blockchain transfer capabilities in response to the suspected breach.
This event occurs separately from a July 17 attack wherein an adversary generated fraudulent Solana deposit records targeting Across Protocol. That unrelated incident caused losses below $4 million after Across suspended Solana integration. No connection exists between the two security breaches.
Stakeholders await Triple-A’s official response addressing the verified loss amount, the attack vector employed, and whether the company intends to reimburse impacted users.
The post Triple-A Crypto Payment Provider Hit by $9.7M Multi-Blockchain Security Breach appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
XRP has fallen to $1.09 following three consecutive days of losses, now positioned beneath all major exponential moving averages on the daily timeframe
Ripple announced a strategic stake in Notabene, a regulatory compliance solution serving over 2,300 financial entities spanning more than 100 countries
The XRP Ledger achieved a milestone of 1 million AI-driven agentic transactions, with Ripple forecasting expansion beyond 10 million
Technical analyst CryptosBatman identified a bearish pattern breakdown, cautioning that downward momentum persists until the 200 EMA is recovered
The Stochastic RSI for XRP reads 81.64, signaling overbought territory even amid persistent downward price action
XRP is presently valued at $1.09, hovering narrowly above a critical trendline support zone. The digital asset has experienced downward momentum across three straight trading sessions and trades beneath every exponential moving average on the daily chart.
[[IMG_4]]XRP Price
Even with several encouraging announcements from Ripple throughout the week, the token’s price has failed to generate any bullish response.
Ripple revealed a strategic capital allocation into Notabene, a regulatory compliance infrastructure provider linking more than 2,300 financial organizations across over 100 global jurisdictions. This initiative seeks to bolster RLUSD’s institutional framework and assist enterprises in satisfying compliance standards prior to transaction execution.
The development aligns with Ripple’s broader strategy to establish RLUSD as a credible solution for international payment flows and compliant financial operations.
Simultaneously, the XRP Ledger achieved a significant benchmark by surpassing 1 million agentic transactions. These represent transactions carried out by artificial intelligence agents and automated platforms, operating independently of direct human intervention. Ripple anticipates this volume could ultimately exceed 10 million as additional automated financial solutions emerge on the platform.
LATEST: The XRP Ledger has surpassed 1 million agentic transactions, with RippleX (@XRPLF) expecting the network to surpass 10 million soon and potentially reach 100 million within the next couple of years.
Agentic transactions are executed by AI agents and automated systems,… pic.twitter.com/t01g1XGx0g
— Cryptic (@Cryptic_Web3) July 23, 2026
In the previous month, Ripple introduced an AI development toolkit and incorporated the X402 payment standard to facilitate developers in constructing agentic AI payment systems on the XRP Ledger. Since implementation, the ledger has witnessed increased engagement, now exceeding 1.4 million total agentic transactions.
Technical Weakness Continues
Market analyst CryptosBatman issued a cautionary message on X, indicating that XRP has validated a bearish chart pattern. He observed that price action has surrendered both the rising trendline and the 200 EMA on the 2-hour chart, and that downward forces maintain dominance until the 200 EMA is successfully recaptured.
$XRP confirmed a bearish breakdown.
Price lost both the ascending trendline and the 200 EMA on the 2H timeframe
Until the 200 EMA is reclaimed sellers remain in control. pic.twitter.com/hJkvft7gMr
— BATMAN (@CryptosBatman) July 24, 2026
Blockchain metrics support this technical perspective. Active wallet addresses have stabilized near 14,500, increasing by merely 300 during the most recent measurement period. This indicates market participants are predominantly adopting a wait-and-see approach.
The Stochastic RSI indicator for XRP registers 81.64, positioning the asset in overbought conditions, despite ongoing downward price momentum. This conflicting signal has captured the attention of market participants.
Critical Price Level in Focus
A failure to maintain the present trendline support could drive XRP down to the $1.00 psychological threshold. Maintaining position above this support is considered essential for any prospective bullish reversal.
XRP maintains a market capitalization of $71 billion, with 62.46 billion tokens currently circulating from a total maximum supply of 100 billion. Ripple systematically releases supplementary tokens from its escrow reserves on a scheduled basis.
XRP maintains its position above the $1.05 support zone as market participants monitor for the next significant price movement.
The post Ripple (XRP) Price Analysis: AI Milestone Reached as Bearish Momentum Builds appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Overview
Never invest funds you cannot afford to lose completely — cryptocurrency markets are extremely volatile
Conduct thorough due diligence on projects rather than following hype and influencer endorsements
Resist fear of missing out — buying during price surges typically leads to losses
Protect your holdings with robust security measures including 2FA and hardware wallets
Establish your exit strategy before making any investment, not during market turbulence
The cryptocurrency market has created extraordinary wealth for some participants while devastating the portfolios of countless others. With 24/7 trading, extreme price fluctuations, and relentless social media influence driving impulsive behaviour, navigating this space requires discipline. These five fundamental principles will help you sidestep the most expensive and prevalent pitfalls.
Invest Only Expendable Capital
Cryptocurrency markets are notoriously unstable. Bitcoin and Ethereum can experience severe downturns. Lesser-known altcoins frequently collapse to near-zero valuations within days.
Never commit essential funds like mortgage payments, emergency savings, borrowed money, or credit card cash advances. Consider cryptocurrency as a single component within a well-balanced investment portfolio — never your entire financial strategy.
The objective is maintaining financial security regardless of how long market downturns persist.
Conduct Independent Research
Price appreciation alone doesn’t validate an investment opportunity. Countless tokens gain attention through influencer promotions and aggressive marketing campaigns rather than genuine technological innovation.
Prior to purchasing any cryptocurrency, understand its fundamental purpose. Does it address a legitimate market need? Are users actively engaging with the platform?
Investigate the development team, total token supply, and insider ownership concentration. Substantial token unlock events can trigger significant selling pressure that disadvantages retail investors.
A token trading under £1 may still be grossly overpriced if its total market capitalisation has already reached billions.
Eliminate FOMO-Based Decisions
The fear of missing out produces particularly destructive outcomes in crypto investing. Purchasing after substantial price increases usually means entering just as early investors prepare to exit.
Develop a comprehensive strategy before committing capital. Understand your investment thesis, intended holding period, position size, and specific exit triggers.
Dollar-cost averaging — systematically investing fixed amounts on a regular schedule — eliminates emotional decision-making and relieves the burden of perfect market timing.
Implement Robust Security Protocols
Investment returns become meaningless if hackers compromise your holdings. Employ complex, unique passwords for each platform and activate two-factor authentication universally.
Prioritise authenticator applications over SMS-based verification. SIM-swap attacks represent a genuine and growing security concern.
For substantial long-term holdings, a hardware wallet provides essential protection. Never disclose private keys or seed phrases to anyone, and avoid entering them on unfamiliar or suspicious websites.
Define Your Exit Strategy
While most investors meticulously plan their market entry, remarkably few establish clear exit criteria. During bull markets, the temptation to believe perpetual growth is overwhelming.
Determine specific price targets where you’ll liquidate portions of your holdings. Consider recovering your initial capital after achieving significant appreciation.
Realising profits doesn’t represent abandoning the cryptocurrency market. It acknowledges that paper gains can evaporate with shocking speed.
Cryptocurrency investing will perpetually involve substantial uncertainty. However, investors who prioritise risk management, perform rigorous project analysis, maintain emotional discipline, secure their assets properly, and adhere to predetermined strategies dramatically improve their prospects for lasting success.
The post 5 Critical Rules for Safe and Smart Crypto Investment appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
World Foundation secured $52.5 million through a locked WLD token sale with Pantera Capital as lead investor
Capital will support integration of biometric verification technology into enterprise systems and AI agent platforms
The World Network has attracted over 39 million users, with 18 million completing Orb-based verification
WLD token trades at approximately $0.37, maintaining a market capitalization exceeding $1.3 billion
This funding round aligns with accelerating venture capital interest in crypto and AI infrastructure, including Paradigm’s recent $1.2 billion raise
The World Foundation, which operates the Sam Altman-affiliated World Network, has successfully closed a $52.5 million financing round by selling locked WLD tokens to institutional investors.
LATEST: The World Foundation raised $52.5M in a Pantera Capital-led token sale to scale the World ID "proof of human" network, with the WLD sold locked for 12 months. pic.twitter.com/EzTbttb8Cr
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 25, 2026
Pantera Capital served as the lead investor, joined by Bain Capital Crypto, Eightco Holdings, Selini Capital, and Susquehanna Crypto. All tokens purchased in this round are restricted by a 12-month vesting schedule.
The capital injection will fuel the expansion of World ID, the platform’s mechanism for distinguishing genuine human users from artificial intelligence systems and automated bots across digital environments.
Understanding World ID’s Technology
The World ID system operates through biometric scanning at specialized hardware known as the Orb. This device generates a unique digital credential that authenticates human identity while maintaining privacy by avoiding permanent storage of personal information.
According to World, its network has onboarded more than 39 million individuals. Among these participants, approximately 18 million have completed verification through the Orb infrastructure. The platform has validated over 475 million World ID authentication requests since its inception.
The initiative was co-founded by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, working with Max Novendstern and Alex Blania, who leads Tools for Humanity. The project has encountered regulatory challenges across multiple jurisdictions regarding its approach to biometric information gathering.
Pivoting Toward Enterprise Applications
World Network is transitioning from prioritizing user acquisition to emphasizing practical deployment. The fresh capital will facilitate integration of its authentication infrastructure into corporate software ecosystems and AI agent environments.
“The necessity for Proof of Human is becoming increasingly urgent as AI capabilities advance rapidly,” stated Cosmo Jiang, General Partner at Pantera Capital.
This represents World’s second significant capital event. The organization previously secured $135 million during May 2025 through a private token transaction involving a16z and Bain Capital Crypto.
The WLD token currently maintains a price point near $0.37, with total market capitalization hovering above $1.3 billion.
Worldcoin (WLD) Price
This financing event occurs amid sustained venture capital activity targeting AI and cryptocurrency infrastructure. Paradigm announced a $1.2 billion fund in July dedicated to investments spanning cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and robotics sectors. Framework Ventures finalized a $400 million fund in June with comparable investment priorities.
Coinbase has additionally rolled out infrastructure enabling companies to process USDC payments from autonomous AI systems. The exchange reported that AI-driven queries exceeded human traffic on its developer resources for the first time in the previous month.
World’s most recent funding positions the organization as a key player in the expanding movement to authenticate human presence online as distinguishing AI-created material becomes increasingly challenging.
The post World Network Secures $52.5M Investment to Combat AI-Generated Deepfakes Through Biometric Verification appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
BTC declined more than 2.3% to approximately $63,919, breaching the $64,000 threshold
Climbing US Treasury yields are amplifying market expectations for additional Federal Reserve rate increases
Exchange stablecoin deposits have plunged to their weakest levels since 2025
Analyst Ted identified $65,000 support as broken and highlighted $62,500–$63,000 as the critical level to watch
Legislative gridlock over the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act compounds regulatory concerns
Bitcoin (BTC) slipped beneath the $64,000 threshold on Saturday, with prices hovering around $63,919 based on Binance exchange data. The flagship cryptocurrency registered approximately 2.3% losses across a 24-hour period.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price
Selling pressure intensified following Friday’s Wall Street market open. Throughout the trading session, BTC/USD fluctuated within a band of approximately $63,703 to $65,396.
Trading outfit Mosaic Asset Company identified surging US Treasury yields as a primary catalyst behind the downturn. The two-year Treasury yield advanced to 4.31%, positioning itself considerably above the Federal Reserve’s existing target corridor.
Mosaic observed “significant movements rippling throughout the yield curve” notwithstanding a softer-than-anticipated Consumer Price Index reading. According to their analysis, elevated yields are exerting bearish pressure on equity indices and speculative assets including cryptocurrencies.
Market expectations reflected in CME Group’s FedWatch Tool indicate traders anticipate the central bank will maintain current policy at next week’s meeting. Nevertheless, a 0.25% rate increase is being priced for September, representing one of two anticipated hikes before the calendar year concludes.
Market commentator Ted, writing on X, emphasized the breakdown of the $65,000 support level. He stated: “BTC has lost the $65,000 support zone. The next key zone is $62,500–$63,000, which should hold for the next leg up in Bitcoin.” His commentary suggests market participants are monitoring this range intently as a prospective bottom.
$BTC has lost the $65,000 support zone.
The next key zone is $62,500-$63,000, which should hold for the next leg up in Bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/Kzfk83WTUp
— Ted (@TedPillows) July 25, 2026
Stablecoin Deposits Reach Multi-Year Bottom
CryptoQuant researcher Darkfost observed that stablecoin movements to centralized exchanges have declined to their weakest reading since 2025. The rolling 30-day average for USDT and USDC transfers on the Ethereum network currently sits at $2.3 billion, significantly trailing the 365-day average of $3.7 billion.
Since 2025, stablecoin inflows to exchanges have continued to drop.
They’ve hit their most obscenely low levels of the period.
Today the monthly average of stablecoin inflows (USDT, USDC) sits at ~$2.3B while the yearly average is at ~$3.7B.
At BTC’s ATH, monthly average… pic.twitter.com/uEIgKbZtYv
— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) July 25, 2026
During Bitcoin’s all-time high period, these metrics registered $5.6 billion and $4.3 billion respectively. Diminished inflows indicate reduced capital availability on trading venues, reflecting subdued purchasing appetite.
Market participant Killa observed on X that BTC appears to be replicating a recurring short-duration pattern, spotting what he termed a “plunge protection team” mechanism on Binance. Multiple levels of buy-side liquidity materialized beneath current prices, potentially serving as defense against steeper declines.
Analytics profile Wealthmanager cautioned that a sustained breakdown beneath $64,000 would “invalidate” the lower-timeframe market framework.
Chartist Rekt Capital remarked that Bitcoin continues exhibiting 2022 bear market characteristics, experiencing rejection at the 50-month exponential moving average positioned at $65,950.
#BTC
Bitcoin continues to reject from the 50-Month EMA (purple)
Bitcoin hasn't really offered any evidence to the contrary
Still following 2022 historical tendencies$BTC #Crypto #Bitcoin https://t.co/lzyma7Z5cQ pic.twitter.com/SU6LHiu6Xx
— Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) July 24, 2026
Legislative Stalemate Compounds Market Headwinds
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act faces substantial obstacles in the Senate chamber. Democratic lawmakers have dismissed proposed ethics safeguards as insufficient, particularly concerning President Trump’s cryptocurrency holdings. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated passage before the summer congressional break appears doubtful.
Bitcoin presently trades approximately 50% beneath its all-time peak as the bearish cycle that commenced in October persists.
The post Bitcoin (BTC) Slides Under $64K Amid Rising Treasury Yields and Weak Stablecoin Activity appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Gen Z holds 44% share of Binance Direct Stocks and bStocks users industry-wide currently.
Gen Z’s new TradFi user share climbed from 41% in January to 47% by July 2026.
Gen Z generated roughly $80 billion in TradFi volume with 24% monthly compounding growth.
Leveraged ETFs made up only 5.9% of Gen Z’s trading volume, lowest among all generations.
Gen Z has emerged as the dominant force behind Binance’s stablecoin-based stock trading products, according to new data from Binance Research.
The generation accounts for 44% of users on both Binance Direct Stocks and bStocks, marking it as the single largest cohort across these offerings.
Gen Z also holds roughly 45% of TradFi perpetual users, placing it on par with Millennials in that category.
Gen Z Leads Adoption Across Binance’s TradFi Suite
Binance Research data shows Gen Z’s dominance extends beyond individual products. Among traders who have adopted all three TradFi offerings, a signal of genuine engagement rather than casual testing, Gen Z represents 48% of that group. Millennials follow at 33.6%, with Gen X and Baby Boomers trailing well behind at 13.6% and 4.9%.
Gen Z Dominates Binance’s Stablecoin-Based Stock Trading, Accounting for 44% of Users
Binance Research said Gen Z is the largest user group for its stablecoin-based stock products, accounting for 44% of both Binance Direct Stocks and bStocks users, as well as about 45% of TradFi… pic.twitter.com/Asbq0xbqj4
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 24, 2026
New user trends confirm the pattern is accelerating rather than leveling off. Gen Z’s share of newly onboarded TradFi users rose from 41% in January 2026 to 47% in July.
That climb suggests younger traders are increasingly choosing Binance’s stablecoin-based stock products as their entry point into equity markets.
This dominance is rooted in early market participation. Thirty percent of Gen Z investors began investing during university or early adulthood, more than double the 15% rate seen among Millennials.
Seventy-seven percent reported receiving formal financial education, the highest share of any generation surveyed.
Geography plays a defining role in this trend as well. More than 90% of TradFi users across every generation are based in emerging markets, with Gen Z at 95%.
Within that group, 13% of Direct Stocks users are Gen Z traders holding less than $2,000 in equity assets, often marking their first exposure to US equities.
Volume and Trading Behavior Reflect Gen Z’s Growing Weight
Gen Z’s dominance in user share is matched by its contribution to trading volume. The cohort has generated approximately $80 billion in TradFi trading volume year-to-date in 2026.
Monthly volume has compounded at around 24%, even though Gen Z holds the lowest capital per user among all generations.
Despite representing the largest user base, Gen Z’s trading behavior remains measured rather than aggressive. Leveraged ETFs account for just 5.9% of the cohort’s total trading volume, the lowest share of any generation. Baby Boomers recorded the highest leveraged exposure at 8.1%.
Lower-balance Gen Z traders, described by Binance as Next Gen Users, traded less frequently than the wider base. This segment averaged 2.6 trades per day compared with 3.0 among other cohorts.
First trades among these users clustered around established names, with NVIDIA leading at 20% and Micron following at 8%.
Across every metric, Binance Research frames Gen Z’s 44% user share as evidence that stablecoin-based stock trading has found its strongest foothold among younger, emerging-market traders entering global markets for the first time.
The post Gen Z Dominates Binance’s Stablecoin-Based Stock Trading, Accounting for 44% of Users appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Shares of Salesforce surged 3.24% following confirmation of the $1.6 billion VA contract.
The Department of Veterans Affairs will deploy Salesforce solutions throughout healthcare and benefits divisions.
Advanced AI capabilities will enhance patient triage, case management, and care coordination processes.
Integration tools including Slack, MuleSoft, and Tableau will streamline data connectivity and operational efficiency.
This contract extends a collaborative relationship between Salesforce and the VA spanning more than ten years.
Shares of Salesforce (CRM) advanced 3.24% to finish trading at $162.01 following news that the technology giant secured a $1.6 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This three-year enterprise license agreement will extend Salesforce’s technology footprint throughout the department’s healthcare, benefits administration, and support services. The development reinforces Salesforce’s growing influence in government digital transformation initiatives.
Salesforce, Inc., CRM
Department of Veterans Affairs expands Salesforce deployment
The Department of Veterans Affairs has granted Salesforce a three-year Agentic Enterprise License Agreement worth $1.6 billion. This contract allows the agency to scale digital capabilities throughout its healthcare delivery network, benefits processing systems, and administrative functions. The department aims to enhance service quality while simultaneously decreasing administrative burden on staff.
This expanded implementation continues a collaborative relationship spanning over a decade. Salesforce will deliver an integrated platform combining data management, process automation, team collaboration, and artificial intelligence tools. This unified approach enables staff members to retrieve information more quickly and streamline repetitive operational tasks.
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides services to over 17 million veterans, their families, and caregivers nationwide. The agency manages 170 medical centers alongside more than 1,100 outpatient facilities. Throughout 2025, the department has facilitated over 82 million direct-care appointments as service demand continues its upward trajectory.
New contract enables enhanced service delivery across VA systems
This agreement introduces expanded functionality for virtual assistance, coordinated care delivery, and administrative process management throughout the organization. Artificial intelligence-powered solutions will streamline patient triage processes, intake procedures, benefits confirmation, and case distribution. These enhancements allow personnel to focus greater attention on direct veteran support and clinical care responsibilities.
Salesforce will additionally deploy collaboration tools via Slack throughout current medical centers and outpatient locations. The platform will facilitate interdepartmental communication while optimizing scheduling workflows and provider coordination. The initiative supports the department’s objective of transforming appointment scheduling from a weeks-long process to one completed within minutes following complete implementation.
The contract also advances data integration capabilities through MuleSoft and Data 360 technologies. These solutions will consolidate legacy infrastructure into a cohesive data ecosystem accessible to staff and automated systems. Tableau will transform operational information into visualization dashboards supporting claims adjudication, compliance reporting, and executive decision-making.
Current VA implementations establish groundwork for expansion
This latest contract builds upon multiple Salesforce systems already operational throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans Crisis Line currently leverages Salesforce Government Cloud to orchestrate emergency response services for veterans requiring immediate intervention. The platform facilitates accelerated information exchange during time-sensitive situations.
VA Health Connect similarly operates on Salesforce infrastructure to deliver ongoing patient support through clinical contact centers. Since implementation, this service has processed over 40.6 million veteran calls encompassing triage services, telehealth consultations, urgent care access, and provider communications. These operations illustrate the department’s established dependence on Salesforce systems.
Salesforce technology additionally powers the Status Query and Response Exchange System, which delivers eligibility verification for authorized organizations supporting veterans. Slack currently functions across more than 150 medical and outpatient locations to enhance staff collaboration. This expanded agreement leverages these existing deployments while advancing the department’s comprehensive modernization objectives

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TLDR
MCHP stock fell 3.06% after announcing the planned Hailo acquisition.
Hailo adds edge AI processors and advanced vision SoCs to Microchip.
The deal expands AI capabilities for robotics and industrial applications.
Microchip gains over 100 customers and a 10,000-member developer community.
The acquisition strengthens Microchip’s long-term intelligent edge AI strategy.
Microchip Technology (MCHP) shares ended lower after the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire edge AI chipmaker Hailo. The stock closed at $78.86, down 3.06%, before rising slightly to $79.15 in after-hours trading. The acquisition expands Microchip’s artificial intelligence capabilities for intelligent edge computing across industrial and embedded markets.
Microchip Technology Incorporated, MCHP
Acquisition Expands Edge AI Processing Portfolio
Microchip Technology announced a definitive agreement to acquire Hailo, an edge AI processor developer focused on accelerated computing and vision technologies. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The companies expect completion before the current quarter ends on September 30.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement. However, Microchip stated the acquisition should not materially affect its financial results. The company instead highlighted the strategic value of adding dedicated edge AI processing technologies.
The acquisition strengthens Microchip’s processing portfolio for intelligent edge systems. It also expands support for robotics, drones, industrial automation, smart cameras, and embedded AI applications. The company expects broader product integration across its existing semiconductor platforms.
Hailo Adds Customers, Products and Developer Ecosystem
Hailo contributes a broad portfolio covering edge AI accelerators and vision system-on-chip products. Its technologies support computer vision, transformer models, large language models, and vision language model workloads. The portfolio also includes image signal processing, digital signal processing, video encoding, and AI video stream processing.
Microchip also gains more than 100 existing customers through the acquisition. Hailo brings a developer community exceeding 10,000 users across multiple software platforms. The ecosystem includes Raspberry Pi integrations, GitHub activity, a gated developer platform, and an active technical community.
The expanded software ecosystem complements Microchip’s embedded processing, FPGA, connectivity, analog, power management, and security products. Together, these technologies support higher-performance intelligent edge systems while maintaining power efficiency. The combined offering also broadens deployment options across industrial and commercial markets.
Acquisition Builds on Existing AI Expansion Strategy
The agreement continues Microchip’s broader strategy of expanding artificial intelligence capabilities for embedded systems. The company previously acquired Neuronix AI Labs to strengthen neural network optimization for FPGA and system-on-chip platforms. The Hailo transaction adds dedicated AI processors and advanced vision technologies to that foundation.
Hailo’s products range from high-performance edge servers handling multimodal generative AI workloads to compact camera solutions. The Hailo-8, Hailo-10, and Hailo-15 families extend support for advanced computer vision applications. These products also enhance image processing and real-time AI capabilities across embedded devices.
Microchip expects the acquisition to strengthen its position in the growing intelligent edge computing market. The combined portfolio expands available hardware, software, and development tools for embedded AI deployments. The agreement also increases Microchip’s reach across advanced vision processing and power-efficient edge computing solutions.

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TLDR
Vivakor stock jumped after announcing $384 million annual crude oil programs.
Two recurring contracts add 400,000 barrels of crude oil monthly volume.
Annualized commercial platform now exceeds $1.09 billion in activity.
New agreements cover crude oil transactions at Cushing and Midland terminals.
Vivakor expands integrated energy operations through recurring commercial deals.
Vivakor, Inc. expanded its physical crude oil marketing platform with two recurring commercial programs worth about $384 million annually. The agreements lifted the company’s announced annualized commercial activity beyond $1.09 billion. Vivakor shares gained 37.03% to $2.9050 after the announcement, reflecting strong market reaction.
Vivakor, Inc., VIVK
Vivakor expands recurring crude oil marketing operations
Vivakor Supply & Trading, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivakor, signed two recurring physical crude oil commercial programs. The agreements cover purchase and sale transactions at the Cushing and Midland terminals. The company strengthened its physical crude oil marketing operations across key U.S. energy hubs.
The new programs will begin on August 1, 2026, and continue through July 31, 2027. Together, they add about 400,000 barrels of marketed crude oil each month. That volume equals approximately 4.8 million barrels over one year under the announced agreements.
The additional contracts increase Vivakor’s announced annualized commercial activity by about $384 million. As a result, the company’s disclosed commercial platform now exceeds $1.09 billion using current market pricing assumptions. The expansion supports Vivakor’s broader strategy of integrating marketing with transportation, storage, and terminal services.
New contracts strengthen integrated energy platform
Vivakor designed the new commercial programs to complement its existing infrastructure network. The company continues building an integrated operating model that combines marketing, logistics, terminaling, and storage services. Therefore, recurring commercial transactions now represent a larger portion of its operating activities.
The Cushing and Midland terminals remain major crude oil trading and transportation centers in the United States. Expanding activity at those locations increases operational scale while supporting established commercial relationships. Moreover, recurring transactions provide additional opportunities to utilize existing infrastructure assets.
Vivakor stated that the new agreements reflect continued execution of its commercial growth strategy. The company continues expanding recurring physical crude oil transactions across multiple market locations. This approach supports long-term growth through larger commercial volumes instead of relying on one-time transactions.
Commercial activity rises while profit recognition remains limited
Although the contracts represent approximately $384 million in annualized commercial activity, Vivakor will not recognize the full value as revenue or profit. Instead, Vivakor Supply & Trading records only a small portion as gross profit because it operates as an intermediary within the physical crude oil supply chain. Accordingly, reported earnings will remain substantially lower than the total contract value.
Gross profit from the agreements will depend on commodity prices, market differentials, transaction structures, delivered volumes, and delivery timing. Those factors can change throughout the contract period and directly affect financial results. Therefore, actual recognized profit will vary despite the announced commercial activity estimate.
Vivakor has steadily expanded its energy business through transportation, storage, terminaling and physical commodity marketing operations. The latest agreements continue that strategy by increasing recurring commercial activity and strengthening operational scale. Combined with its existing infrastructure, the new programs reinforce Vivakor’s position in the physical crude oil marketing sector while extending its commercial platform above the $1.09 billion annualized level.

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