Blockonomi

TLDR:
Rapid7 found 885,000 phone numbers tied to datasets supporting Operation ASTERIX’s crypto targeting activity.
A German dataset produced 43,066 identified Crypto.com accounts from 316,002 phone numbers.
Recovered files showed AI tools supporting coding, debugging, data processing, and phishing infrastructure.
Attackers switched AI providers after safety refusals and attempted to bypass another model’s safeguards.
Rapid7 has uncovered Operation ASTERIX, a crypto fraud campaign that combined AI-assisted development with targeted phishing. The operation used phone datasets, account-validation tools, phishing emails, voice calls, and counterfeit wallet applications.
Researchers found evidence that attackers used AI coding tools throughout the campaign’s development. The exposed infrastructure gave Rapid7 an unusual view into an active crypto phishing operation.
Operation ASTERIX Used AI to Target Crypto Users
Rapid7 discovered roughly 885,000 phone numbers across multiple datasets linked to the operation. The attackers used validation tools to identify numbers connected to cryptocurrency accounts.
One German dataset contained 316,002 mobile numbers. The operators identified 43,066 associated Crypto.com accounts from that list.
The campaign then narrowed its target pool using enriched records. Those records included names, contact details, locations, and account-related information in some cases.
Rapid7 said this information helped attackers make support impersonation appear more convincing. The operation coordinated emails and follow-up calls around matching support details.
The phishing infrastructure impersonated brands including Crypto.com and Binance. Attackers also maintained counterfeit applications resembling Trezor Suite, Ledger Live, and Exodus.
Rapid7 also recovered evidence of AI-assisted development from the exposed server. The operators used GitHub Copilot and Claude Code for coding, scripting, data processing, and infrastructure work.
AI Tools and Fake Wallet Apps Expanded Operation ASTERIX
The investigation showed that AI tools supported several parts of the campaign. Recovered artifacts indicated their use for application packaging, debugging, code changes, and phishing infrastructure.
Rapid7 found that Claude refused some requests involving code obfuscation. The operator then switched to Kimi and attempted to bypass its safety controls.
However, Rapid7 could not confirm whether that bypass attempt succeeded. The recovered evidence instead documented the operator’s effort to switch tools after encountering model restrictions.
The fake wallet applications formed another major part of the campaign. Rapid7 recovered versions designed to imitate popular cryptocurrency wallet software across macOS and Windows.
The operation also hosted a counterfeit Claude Code installer. According to Rapid7, that distribution channel attempted to install a malicious wallet application alongside the legitimate software.
Rapid7 discovered the campaign while much of its infrastructure remained active or under development. The firm notified relevant providers and authorities, including Apple’s security team, after documenting the activity.
The post Rapid7 Uncovers Operation ASTERIX, AI-Powered Crypto Phishing Campaign appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Trump urged Congress to make the administration’s crypto policies permanent through legislation.
The CLARITY Act would divide digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC.
Senate negotiations remain divided over ethics rules, DeFi treatment, and stablecoin rewards.
The CFTC will discuss crypto, AI, and prediction markets at its first advisory committee meeting.
Odds of the bill passing have dropped sharply since February, according to prediction markets.
President Donald Trump asked Congress on August 19 to pass a “fair” version of the CLARITY Act. He spoke at a White House event with executives from Coinbase, Gemini, Ripple, and Chainlink Labs.
Trump said the bill would keep the United States ahead of China in crypto innovation. He called the measure “very bipartisan,” though Senate talks are still unresolved.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong told the crowd that passing the law would protect current crypto policies from being reversed later. He described the bill as a genuine compromise between parties.
The CLARITY Act would split oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It would also set rules for exchanges, brokers, and custodians.
The House passed its version of the bill in July 2025 by a vote of 294 to 134. The Senate Banking Committee later approved it, but no floor vote has happened yet.
Ethics Rules and DeFi Treatment Divide Lawmakers
Democrats want limits on crypto holdings for senior officials in all three branches of government. This includes rules that could affect Trump’s own digital asset ventures.
Negotiators also disagree on how to treat decentralized finance protocols. Rules covering stablecoin rewards matter to Coinbase, which earns revenue from USDC trading activity.
Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, short of the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. That means Democratic support is required before lawmakers leave for the November elections.
A crypto.news analysis from August 18 found that Polymarket’s odds of passage fell from 82% in February to under 20% by mid-August. Galaxy Digital cut its own estimate to 10% on August 14.
SEC and CFTC Continue Separate Rulemaking
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins linked the agency’s new crypto proposal to the need for congressional action. He said the plan gives entrepreneurs more certainty to raise money using digital assets.
The SEC’s proposal would create two funding paths for crypto offerings. One allows up to five million dollars raised over four years. The other allows up to seventy five million dollars over twelve months.
Atkins said the SEC cannot rewrite the legal line between securities and commodities on its own. Only Congress can grant the CFTC full authority over spot digital commodity markets.
The Treasury Department is also implementing the GENIUS Act, signed by Trump in July 2025. Its stablecoin rules cover issuer authorization, reserves, and disclosure requirements.
The CFTC held its first Innovation Advisory Committee meeting on August 20, one day after the White House event. Executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, Anchorage Digital, and Grayscale took part.
The three hour meeting covered digital assets, artificial intelligence, and prediction markets. The committee can advise the CFTC but cannot write rules or take enforcement action.
Public comments tied to the meeting can be submitted through August 27 and will become part of the official record.
The post Trump Urges Senate to Pass CLARITY Act at White House Event appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Arthur Hayes proposed giving roughly 20% of the FLOP token supply to testnet participants over 10 years.
Flop Network would price AI computing work using floating-point operations instead of model-specific tokens.
Miners would earn block rewards plus fees for processing AI inference requests, a system called Proof of Useful Inference.
Hayes said he self-funded the development team, so there was no presale for early investors.
Key details remain unpublished, including total token supply, blockchain choice, and how validators would check miner output.
Arthur Hayes has laid out new details about Flop Network, a computing project designed to serve artificial intelligence agents. The BitMEX co-founder shared the plan in an Aug. 19 Substack post.
He said testnet participants could receive about 20% of the total FLOP token supply. That allocation would be spread out over a 10-year period.
Hayes did not say how many tokens would exist in total. He also did not explain how fast the testnet rewards would be released.
The network would connect AI agents that need computing power with miners who run internet-connected hardware. FLOP would be the token used for payment and rewards on the network.
How Flop Network Would Price Computing Work
Flop Network plans to charge for AI work based on floating-point operations, known as FLOPs. This differs from how most AI companies bill customers today.
Hayes said current AI providers each define their own input and output tokens. That makes it hard for customers to compare prices across different services.
He argued that a FLOP-based pricing system would create one common measure. Buyers could compare compute costs no matter which model, hardware, or location handled their request.
Anyone with an internet-connected computer could become a compute provider under this design. Users would submit jobs with details on the work needed, the time available, and the model to use.
Mining Rewards and Unanswered Questions
Flop Network would use a system Hayes called Proof of Useful Inference. Miners would earn two types of income under this model.
They would receive FLOP block rewards simply for supporting the network. They would also collect fees for completing specific inference requests from users.
The post did not explain how the network would verify a miner’s work. It is unclear how validators would confirm the correct model was used or check for false results.
No white paper, security audit, or token contract had been released. The blockchain that will support FLOP has also not been named.
Hayes said he personally funded the development team, so there was no presale. He said this avoids leaving retail buyers with too many tokens once trading begins.
The plan calls for a FLOP airdrop in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Flop Network genesis block is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Flop Network would compete in a market where stablecoins already handle agent payments. A May 2026 Keyrock report found AI agents settled $73 million in stablecoin transactions over 12 months, with USDC making up 98.6% of that volume.
Coinbase began letting business customers accept agent payments in USDC through its x402 standard in July. Hayes said FLOP would work differently by tying its value to actual computing supply rather than the dollar.
Hayes said his next article will explain why he believes the AI agent economy needs a spot market priced by floating-point operations.
The post Arthur Hayes Proposes FLOP Token Plan for AI Computing Network appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Binance detected a malicious DAO proposal with less than 48 hours left before it could execute.
The attack targeted about $1.2 million in treasury tokens from an unnamed project.
Binance worked with other exchanges to freeze deposits, and the project voted down the proposal.
The case follows a similar attack on BonkDAO that led to a $20 million loss in July.
Binance says it spends about $300 million a year on compliance and fraud prevention.
Binance said on Aug. 18 that its security team stopped a malicious governance proposal aimed at a decentralized autonomous organization, known as a DAO.
The proposal could have put about $1.2 million in treasury tokens at risk.
Binance’s team found the issue before any outside security firm flagged it.
The company did not name the project or the token involved.
Less than 48 hours remained before the proposal could take effect.
Once the threat was found, Binance contacted the project’s team directly.
The exchange also asked other platforms that list the token to pause deposits.
The project’s community then voted against the proposal.
That vote stopped the attack before any funds could be moved.
How the Attack Worked
The attacker used a weak point in the project’s voting rules, called governance.
DAOs let token holders vote on choices like spending funds or approving upgrades.
If the rules allow proposals with little review time, a bad actor can push one through fast.
Binance security chief Jimmy Su said the response shows that security work now reaches past the exchange’s own systems.
He said many attacks today target people and access rather than code flaws.
Past Governance Attacks Show the Risk
In July, BonkDAO said an attacker drained about $20 million in BONK tokens from its treasury.
That attacker built up enough voting power to pass a harmful proposal on their own.
A separate case at KelpDAO involved a bridge hack rather than a vote.
Chainalysis reported that hackers took about $292 million from KelpDAO’s bridge.
Quick action after that theft blocked another $95 million and froze thousands of ETH tied to the attacker.
Su said this latest case started with a weakness in how the DAO’s voting system was built.
Early warnings have also helped outside of DAO cases.
The FBI’s Operation Level Up told more than 8,000 people they may be victims of crypto fraud by December 2025.
Most of them did not know they were being targeted.
The agency said its tips likely stopped about $511.5 million in losses.
Binance said it spends close to $300 million a year on compliance work.
Almost 1,500 staff work in related roles at the company.
The exchange said its checks caught $10.53 billion in fraud or unusual activity from 2025 into early 2026.
As of Binance’s Aug. 18 disclosure, the exchange has not released the name of the DAO or the token involved in this case.
The post Binance Stops $1.2 Million DAO Governance Attack appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
SOFI gained 4.3% to reach $18.42, benefiting from sector-wide fintech strength without company-specific news
Second-quarter revenue totaled $1.21 billion, representing a 42.5% year-over-year increase, while EPS of $0.12 exceeded forecasts by one cent
The company achieved record loan originations of $14.8 billion during the latest reporting period
Wall Street consensus stands at Hold with an average price target of $22.42; breakdown includes eight Buy, ten Hold, and three Sell ratings
Company executives offloaded 125,219 shares valued at approximately $2.2 million during the previous 90-day period
Shares of SoFi Technologies (SOFI) advanced 4.3% to settle at $18.42 during Wednesday’s trading session, briefly touching an intraday peak of $18.72, as the broader fintech sector experienced a resurgence tied to positive bond market developments. The upward movement reflected industry-wide strength that also boosted competitors including Upstart and Affirm.
Approximately 41 million shares changed hands during the session, significantly lower than the typical daily volume of around 69 million shares.
The previous trading day saw shares close at $17.66. Over the past twelve months, the stock has fluctuated between $14.88 and $32.73.
For the second quarter, SoFi reported revenue of $1.21 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s expectation of $1.11 billion. This figure marks a 42.5% increase versus the comparable period in the prior year.
Earnings per share reached $0.12, topping the consensus forecast of $0.11 by a penny. The company delivered $0.08 per share in the year-ago quarter.
Lending Activity Hits All-Time High
Loan originations for the quarter reached an unprecedented $14.8 billion, signaling robust demand for the company’s lending products. Market observers are now focused on whether SoFi can sustain this growth trajectory while preserving credit standards.
Management has issued guidance for fiscal 2026 EPS of $0.60. The Street’s average projection stands slightly higher at $0.61 for the full year.
Piper Sandler kicked off coverage with an Overweight designation and $22 price objective, highlighting that product adoption is outpacing member acquisition. This cross-selling dynamic represents a cornerstone of SoFi’s strategic approach.
Wall Street Opinion Remains Divided
Analyst sentiment on SOFI remains fragmented. Eight analysts maintain Buy recommendations, ten advocate Hold positions, and three have issued Sell ratings. The average price target of $22.42 suggests potential appreciation from current trading levels.
TD Cowen maintains a $18 Hold stance. Morgan Stanley takes a more bearish view with a $15 Underweight rating. Among the bulls, Needham carries a $24 Buy target while Stephens holds an Overweight designation with a $25 objective.
Mizuho reduced its price target from $29 to $22 following the most recent quarterly results but maintained its Outperform recommendation.
Truist made a modest adjustment, raising its target from $18 to $19 while keeping a Hold rating intact.
From a technical perspective, the stock’s 50-day moving average stands at $17.61 while the 200-day average is positioned at $17.71. Chart watchers have identified resistance around the $20.13 level, which could attract trader interest should the rally continue.
Among major institutions, BlackRock established a fresh position valued at approximately $1.3 billion during Q2. Bank of America similarly initiated a stake worth roughly $164 million in that same timeframe.
Executive selling activity has been notable. The company’s Chief Technology Officer divested more than 102,000 shares in June, while an Executive Vice President sold nearly 11,000 shares in July. Both sales occurred through previously established 10b5-1 trading arrangements.
Institutional shareholders and hedge funds collectively control 38.43% of outstanding SOFI shares.
The firm maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30 with a market capitalization hovering around $23.79 billion.
The post SoFi Technologies (SOFI) Stock Surges 4% Amid Fintech Sector Rally appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Senator Ruben Gallego warned that a rushed Senate vote on the CLARITY Act could set back crypto market structure legislation.
He spoke at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium and urged lawmakers to keep negotiating instead of pushing for a quick vote.
Gallego said the White House has not given a point-by-point response to a bipartisan ethics proposal he sent with Senator Thom Tillis.
The Senate vote on the CLARITY Act has been pushed to September, according to Majority Leader John Thune.
President Trump has publicly urged Congress to pass a fair version of the bill.
Senator Ruben Gallego says the crypto industry should be careful about pushing for a fast vote on the CLARITY Act. He made the comments at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium on Wednesday.
The CLARITY Act is a bill meant to set clear rules for digital assets in the United States. It would split oversight of the crypto market between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Gallego said lawmakers still have work left to do before the bill is ready. He pointed to the Agriculture Committee’s part of the bill, which still needs to be finished.
What Gallego Said About Timing
Gallego said a fast vote will get a fast result, but that result might not be the one people want. He said any early movement could set the bill back further instead of helping it move forward.
He also said Congress needs to figure out how the bill will move to the House once the Senate finishes its work. That step has not been settled yet.
Gallego encouraged the crypto industry to support more negotiation time rather than demand a quick vote. He said rushing could hurt the bill’s chances long term.
Ethics Proposal Still Waiting On A Response
Gallego said he and Republican Senator Thom Tillis sent compromise language on ethics rules to the White House before Congress left for recess. He said the goal was to build ethics protections strong enough to bring more Democrats on board.
He said the White House has not given a clear answer. According to Gallego, responses have come back blank, weaker than before, or not at all.
Cointelegraph reached out to the White House for comment. No response was received before publication.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed on August 7 that the chamber was delaying the vote. He said the CLARITY Act would be one of the first items taken up when the Senate returns from recess in September.
The delay comes as the Trump administration keeps pushing for the bill to move forward. On Wednesday, President Trump asked Congress to pass what he called a fair version of the CLARITY Act during an event with crypto executives at the White House.
White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has said the administration plans to keep talking with Democrats before the September vote. Witt said the administration cannot wait forever for a deal.
Gallego’s comments show there are still gaps between lawmakers on ethics rules and other parts of the bill. Those gaps have not been closed as the September deadline gets closer.
The bill’s path through the Senate and then the House remains unclear. For now, both sides say talks are continuing, but no final agreement has been reached.
The post Senator Says CLARITY Act Ethics Talks With White House Still Unresolved appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Shares of BioNTech climbed 22% to reach $113.12, marking the company’s strongest daily performance since April 2023
The surge followed encouraging Phase 3 data from Moderna and Merck’s customized cancer treatment, intismeran autogene, used with Keytruda
Leerink Partners’ Daina Graybosch warns the momentum will probably dissipate, noting limited relevance to BioNTech’s situation
BioNTech’s cancer vaccine development has lagged behind Moderna’s timeline, with a significant candidate halted in late 2025
The biotech firm is navigating a founder departure and declining revenue in the post-Covid era
Shares of BioNTech experienced a dramatic 22% climb on Wednesday, closing at $113.12 and recording the company’s most significant one-day advance in nearly two years. The surge followed the announcement of successful Phase 3 clinical trial results from Moderna and Merck regarding their individualized cancer treatment.
The clinical study, designated INTerpath-001, demonstrated that intismeran autogene when paired with Merck’s checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda delivered superior outcomes in preventing melanoma from returning compared to Keytruda administered as a standalone therapy. Market response was substantial, with Moderna shares nearly tripling in value and Merck climbing more than 12%.
The positive sentiment spread across the vaccine industry. Novavax shares rose 11%, as investors broadly embraced companies in the immunotherapy space following the encouraging clinical data.
However, Wall Street analysts from Leerink Partners were quick to temper expectations regarding BNTX shares specifically. Daina Graybosch, an analyst at the firm, cautioned that the stock’s advance will likely “fade as investors absorb the poor read-through.”
Her assessment is clear-cut: the clinical achievement belongs squarely to Moderna and Merck, with minimal implications for BioNTech. Though BioNTech operates its own mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy programs, progress has lagged behind competitors.
Slowing Development Timeline
BioNTech’s oncology vaccine initiatives center on the iNeST technology platform, created in partnership with Genentech, a Roche subsidiary. This approach focuses on solid tumor malignancies through individualized vaccines tailored to specific genetic mutations.
The development trajectory has encountered obstacles. Late in 2025, BioNTech halted work on BNT111, a candidate targeting advanced treatment-resistant melanoma, following Phase 2 evaluation in combination with Regeneron’s immunotherapy Libtayo.
According to Leerink’s analysis, BioNTech’s prospects of emerging as a frontrunner in cancer immunotherapy have diminished significantly, to the extent that such potential no longer factors into current valuations.
Goldman Sachs’ Asad Haider recently highlighted pumitamig as a more promising asset within BioNTech’s portfolio, describing its non-small cell lung cancer results as “encouraging,” while acknowledging a competing therapy has achieved more advanced development stages.
Management Transition and Financial Challenges
Compounding pipeline concerns, BioNTech is managing a significant leadership transition. The company’s founding couple plans to depart before year-end to establish a separate biotechnology venture. BioNTech has arranged to provide mRNA platform access to this new entity in exchange for equity participation, developmental milestone fees, and product royalties.
Financially, challenges persist. Recent second-quarter results revealed continued heavy reliance on Covid-19 vaccine sales, which remain on a downward trajectory. Management’s full-year revenue projections disappointed Wall Street forecasts.
By contrast, Pfizer, BioNTech’s Covid vaccine collaborator, has demonstrated more effective navigation through the post-pandemic business environment.
Analyst focus appears to be gradually moving away from BioNTech’s cancer vaccine initiatives toward other components of its broader oncology development portfolio.
The company’s annual revenue outlook underperformed analyst consensus estimates based on its latest quarterly financial disclosures.
The post BioNTech (BNTX) Stock Jumps 22% Following Moderna’s Cancer Vaccine Breakthrough appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Edward Zimbardi faces federal wire fraud and money laundering charges tied to a crypto Ponzi scheme.
Prosecutors say the scheme, called The Crypto Program, took in more than $165 million from thousands of investors.
Zimbardi allegedly promised a guaranteed 25% monthly return on advertising packages paid for with crypto.
He fled to Fiji in 2025 and was deported back to the U.S. on August 14, 2026.
He appeared before a federal magistrate in Los Angeles, and prosecutors are asking that he stay in custody.
Federal prosecutors in Georgia have charged Edward Zimbardi with running a crypto investment scheme that collected more than $165 million from thousands of people. Zimbardi was deported from Fiji last week after living there for over a year.
He appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Los Angeles. Prosecutors asked the court to keep him in custody while the case moves forward in the Northern District of Georgia.
How the Scheme Worked
Court documents say Zimbardi created and promoted a program called The Crypto Program between June 2022 and August 2023. He told investors it was a way to buy advertising packages that would pay a guaranteed 25% return every month.
Investors were told to send crypto into wallets that Zimbardi controlled. Prosecutors say thousands of people sent in more than $165 million total.
Instead of buying advertising, prosecutors allege Zimbardi gambled more than $34 million on foreign currency trades. Those trades reportedly lost money.
To keep the scheme running, he allegedly used money from new investors to pay earlier investors. This is a common feature of a Ponzi scheme.
Prosecutors also say Zimbardi spent at least $10 million on himself. That included a house for his son, luxury vehicles, and alimony payments to his ex-wife.
The Collapse and the Flight
The scheme fell apart in August 2023, and investors lost their money. Zimbardi then traveled to Hawaii, Fiji, and other locations.
In July 2025, he learned that the FBI was investigating him. He then moved to Fiji and stayed there for more than a year.
In May 2026, Zimbardi skipped his own son’s wedding in Virginia. He reportedly suspected FBI agents would try to arrest him there, and he was right.
On August 14, 2026, Fijian authorities deported Zimbardi to the United States. The move came after Fiji learned about the federal charges against him. U.S. and Fijian officials worked together on the deportation.
A federal grand jury indicted Zimbardi on July 8, 2026. He faces twelve counts of wire fraud, twelve counts of money laundering, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said Zimbardi tricked people with false promises of high returns. He said Zimbardi spent the money on risky trades, payouts to earlier investors, and personal purchases.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham said Zimbardi allegedly fled more than 7,300 miles to the South Pacific after the scheme collapsed. Graham said the FBI worked to bring him back regardless of where he tried to hide.
The FBI is asking anyone who invested in The Crypto Program to submit information through its victim reporting page. The agency says it will reach out to victims later about restitution.
Zimbardi is 59 years old and lives in Flowery Branch, Georgia. He has not been convicted, and he is presumed innocent unless the government proves its case at trial.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with help from the State Department, the SEC, the CFTC, and other agencies in the U.S. and Fiji.
The post FBI Says Crypto Program Founder Ran $165 Million Investor Fraud appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
ASIC removed 3,106 cryptocurrency investment scams in FY26, nearly 30% more than the year before.
Total online scam takedowns jumped 182% to more than 19,400, including fake platforms and phishing links.
Scammers are using AI deepfakes and fake celebrity endorsements to make fraudulent crypto sites look real.
Impersonation scams involving 10 well known Australians led to more than A$7.4 million in reported losses.
ASIC is telling investors to check licence details on its own registers, not just trust a web search.
Australia’s securities regulator has stepped up its fight against online fraud. ASIC removed 3,106 cryptocurrency investment scams during FY26.
That is close to a 30% rise from the year before. The regulator also removed 7,051 fake investment platforms and 5,476 phishing links.
Fake platform takedowns rose 151% compared to FY25. Phishing link removals climbed 279% over the same period.
In total, ASIC took down more than 19,400 online scams during the financial year. That is a 182% jump from FY25.
How AI Is Fueling Crypto Scam Networks
ASIC says criminals are now using generative AI to build entire webs of fake content around a single scam. This can include deepfake videos, fake news articles and fabricated reviews.
Some scams use AI generated footage of politicians or financial commentators. These clips are combined with copied branding and fake testimonials to promote bogus trading platforms.
Once a victim shares their details, scammers often follow up by phone. They may show fake profits on a dashboard to build trust before asking for larger transfers.
ASIC Chair Sarah Court said this makes scams harder to catch. “A simple online search is not enough to verify whether an opportunity is legitimate,” she said.
Court added that polished websites and familiar branding do not prove an investment is real.
Celebrity Deepfakes Linked to Millions in Losses
Scams impersonating 10 frequently targeted public figures resulted in more than A$7.4 million in reported losses in FY26. Those figures included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and commentators Tom Piotrowski and Alan Kohler.
This tactic is not new. In 2024, a deepfake video of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest was used to promote a fake trading platform called Quantum AI.
Later that year, hackers took over a 7News YouTube account. They used an AI generated version of Elon Musk to push a crypto scam through a QR code.
Federal police say Australians lost A$382 million to investment scams in FY24. Crypto made up close to half of that total, with people under 50 making up 60% of crypto scam reports.
Fake trading platforms often show made up profits and rising balances. When victims try to withdraw money, scammers may demand extra fees before releasing funds that never existed.
Law enforcement has pursued some of these networks. In February, two men were charged over an alleged A$5 million scam tied to a platform called NEXOpayment.
ASIC also acted against a platform called Yepbit after customers said they could not withdraw funds. Yepbit told users that ASIC had frozen their money, which the regulator denied.
ASIC says fraudsters sometimes fake Australian Financial Services Licence numbers to look legitimate. It advises checking licence details on its own Professional Registers rather than trusting a website alone.
Investors can also check the Moneysmart Investor Alert List before sending money or crypto to any platform.
Separately, ASIC recently extended temporary licensing relief for some digital asset businesses. The new deadline moved from June 30 to September 30.
The post ASIC Removes Over 3,100 Crypto Scams in FY26 Report appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
BNP Paribas analyst Nick Jones reaffirmed his Outperform rating on META stock with an $855 price target, suggesting a potential 57% gain from current trading levels.
The social media giant may capitalize on surplus AI computing infrastructure via short-term or strategic cloud partnerships, though only if internal needs permit.
During May’s shareholder meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that monetizing excess computing capacity is “definitely on the table.”
BNP anticipates Meta’s advertising platform will sustain momentum, with cloud offerings providing supplementary revenue opportunities.
Consensus among Wall Street analysts leans heavily positive with a Strong Buy rating: 38 Buy recommendations, 5 Hold ratings, and a mean price target of $752.18.
Meta Platforms has deployed substantial capital toward AI infrastructure buildout, and analysts are increasingly identifying monetization pathways that extend beyond traditional advertising revenue.
Following discussions with Meta executives, BNP Paribas analyst Nick Jones established an $855 price target for META shares, maintaining his Outperform stance. This target represents approximately 57% appreciation potential from present valuation levels.
At the time Jones issued his research note, META shares were changing hands near $544.
The thesis centers on a clear premise. Meta has accumulated significant computational resources designed to power its AI initiatives. Should actual internal requirements fall below projections, the company possesses the option to commercialize that excess capacity through external partnerships.
However, this approach differs fundamentally from conventional cloud service models. Company leadership has emphasized that the objective involves monetizing AI intelligence rather than functioning as a commodity compute infrastructure provider.
Any potential cloud arrangements would likely be limited in duration or strategically targeted. Meta intends to reserve the majority of its computational assets for proprietary applications and platforms.
During the company’s May shareholder gathering, CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly commented on this possibility. He confirmed that monetizing surplus computing resources remains “definitely on the table,” while noting that Meta hasn’t pursued this avenue yet due to anticipated internal utilization.
Advertising Platform Remains Core Growth Driver
Jones also highlighted Meta’s foundational advertising operations as a reliable growth engine. His analysis suggests the advertising division will maintain solid performance metrics, with potential cloud revenue streams serving as incremental contributions.
The analyst projects that Meta will ultimately generate sufficient returns to validate its aggressive capital deployment strategy. Operational discipline around expenses, according to Jones, should support margin expansion as the current investment phase reaches maturity.
Capital spending is projected to increase through 2027, after which revenue realization should become more apparent.
Infrastructure Availability Poses Post-2028 Challenge
BNP identified one notable concern: infrastructure supply constraints beginning in 2028. Management teams are monitoring possible limitations related to power grid capacity and evolving regulatory frameworks surrounding computing infrastructure development.
Jones holds the 285th position among 12,488 Wall Street analysts tracked by TipRanks.
The overall Street sentiment toward META remains decidedly optimistic. Analyst consensus reflects a Strong Buy rating derived from 38 Buy recommendations and 5 Hold ratings issued over the trailing three-month period. The consensus 12-month price target stands at $752.18, implying roughly 38% upside potential.
BNP’s $855 projection exceeds the Street consensus substantially, positioning it among the most bullish forecasts currently tracking the stock.
The post Meta Platforms (META) Stock: BNP Paribas Sets $855 Target on AI Infrastructure Play appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
LCID shares advanced 2.6% following the announcement of its 2027 Air sedan range without any pricing adjustments.
The primary update involves streamlined options for the Air Pure variant, featuring a newly introduced $6,250 Stealth & Sound Package.
Shares have declined 44% year-to-date in 2026, amid manufacturing disruptions, workforce reductions, and financial uncertainty discussions.
The company eliminated 18% of its domestic workforce and reduced annual operational expenses by approximately $1.4 billion.
Analysts maintain a Hold rating on LCID with a consensus target of $9.17, suggesting potential upside of about 55%.
Shares of Lucid posted a 2.6% gain on Wednesday following the electric vehicle manufacturer’s announcement of its 2027 Air sedan series, maintaining consistent pricing across all configurations in both United States and Canadian markets.
The complete Air lineup—comprising the Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Sapphire variants—enters the upcoming model year without any price modifications. The Air Grand Touring continues to lead the range with an EPA-estimated 512-mile driving distance on a single charge.
For the 2027 model year, the most significant update centers on configuration changes for the Air Pure. The automaker consolidated numerous individual options into a streamlined selection process, introducing the Stealth & Sound Package at $6,250, which combines the most popular enhancements for this entry-level trim.
Lucid's 2027 Air lineup is mostly a cleaner configurator — plus a Stealth pack
What this means
Lucid unveiled the 2027 Air and kept sticker prices flat across all four trims in the US and Canada. The Grand Touring still claims the longest range on sale at up to 512 miles, and…
— Tesla_Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus_K) August 20, 2026
The decision to maintain stable pricing carries particular significance in the current market environment. Electric vehicle costs have generally increased industry-wide due to elevated import duties and the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV incentive program in late 2025. Lucid chose to absorb these financial pressures rather than transfer them to consumers.
The Air sedan has been making notable progress in the premium electric vehicle marketplace. Data from Electrek indicates it claimed the position of best-selling luxury electric sedan in the United States during the previous year, surpassing Tesla’s Model S.
LCID Faces Challenging 2026
Notwithstanding Wednesday’s positive movement, LCID has experienced a 44% decline throughout 2026. The equity has faced headwinds from several sources.
During the earlier portion of this year, a defective component in the second-row seating system compelled Lucid to suspend Gravity SUV deliveries for a 29-day period. The interruption proved significant enough that newly appointed CEO Silvio Napoli withdrew the company’s annual production forecast of 25,000 to 27,000 units.
In mid-July, the stock experienced volatile trading and temporary circuit breaker halts following media reports suggesting advisers were evaluating potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or a privatization transaction. Leadership refuted the speculation, highlighting approximately $3 billion in available liquidity projected to sustain operations through 2027.
In response to the bankruptcy speculation, Lucid implemented swift and substantial organizational changes. The enterprise reduced its domestic workforce by 18% and eliminated approximately $1.4 billion in yearly operating expenditures.
Regarding financial performance, Lucid posted a quarterly loss of $2.78 per share, falling short of analyst projections of $2.36. Revenue totaled $405.35 million, surpassing the $381.59 million consensus estimate. Revenue demonstrated a 56.2% increase compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.
Institutional Activity Shows Growing Interest
Despite the stock’s challenging performance, institutional investors have been expanding their positions. Bank of America grew its holdings by 10.9% during the first quarter, bringing total ownership to slightly above 1.9 million shares worth approximately $18.3 million.
Goldman Sachs executed a substantial increase in its stake, expanding its position by 112% to exceed 5.4 million shares. BNP Paribas enhanced its holdings by 93.5%, while Uber Technologies established a fresh position valued at roughly $326 million. Institutional ownership currently represents 75.17% of outstanding shares.
Wall Street analyst sentiment remains measured. William Blair shifted LCID to a market perform rating on August 3rd. Morgan Stanley maintains a $5.00 price objective on the shares, while Evercore’s target stands at $6.00.
The prevailing Street consensus ranks LCID as a Hold, with a mean price target of $9.17, suggesting approximately 55% potential appreciation from present levels based on one Buy recommendation, seven Hold ratings, and four Sell recommendations.
The post Lucid (LCID) Stock Rises 3% After 2027 Air Pricing Announcement Keeps Rates Unchanged appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Shares of SMCI declined 2.2% to reach $36.58 following fourth-quarter revenue of $11.12 billion that fell below the $11.60 billion analyst consensus
Despite missing expectations, revenue surged 93% compared to the same period last year, while earnings per share exceeded forecasts
The company announced over $60 billion in fresh orders and projected fiscal 2027 revenue between $65 billion and $72 billion
Technical analysis points to a Buy signal, with shares climbing 25% so far this year
Analyst consensus remains at “Hold” with a mean price target of $42.13
Shares of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) retreated 2.2% to close at $36.58 on Wednesday following the release of quarterly results that showed record-breaking revenue figures that nonetheless disappointed market expectations.
Intraday trading saw the stock bottom out at $35.72. Trading volume registered approximately 35 million shares, representing a 23% decrease from typical activity levels.
The server and storage solutions provider posted fourth-quarter revenue of $11.12 billion, marking a substantial 93.2% increase from the prior-year period. While impressive in isolation, the figure fell short of the Street’s $11.60 billion projection, triggering investor concern.
Although the company exceeded expectations on the earnings per share front, providing some relief, the magnitude of the revenue shortfall became the primary focal point for market participants.
Massive Order Pipeline and Ambitious Projections
Looking beyond the revenue disappointment, Super Micro unveiled impressive metrics that paint a promising picture. The enterprise reported securing over $60 billion worth of new orders while establishing fiscal 2027 revenue projections ranging from $65 billion to $72 billion.
These forecasts underscore robust appetite for AI-driven infrastructure and data center platforms, segments where Super Micro has been making significant strategic investments.
The company’s liquid-cooling innovations and comprehensive data center offerings represent core pillars of its competitive strategy. Major rivals including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Dell continue vying for market share in these rapidly expanding categories.
Market apprehension extends beyond the single-quarter revenue shortfall. Challenges related to inventory optimization, client diversification, and unresolved legal and corporate governance matters continue impacting investor confidence.
A portion of Wednesday’s selloff was attributed to profit-taking activity. With SMCI shares having appreciated 25% year-to-date, some investors opted to realize gains.
Analyst Community Perspective
The Street’s reaction to the earnings release was generally cautious. Mizuho established a $35.00 price objective with a neutral stance. Citigroup upgraded its target from $33.00 to $39.00 while maintaining a neutral rating. Stifel Nicolaus posted a $42.00 target. Bank of America retained an underperform designation.
Among the 18 analysts providing coverage, four recommend buying SMCI, 12 advise holding, and two suggest selling. The consensus price objective stands at $42.13, indicating potential appreciation from present levels.
Technical analysis presents a contrasting perspective to the fundamental analyst consensus. Based on TipRanks metrics, SMCI demonstrates an aggregate Buy signal, supported by 14 bullish indicators, five neutral readings, and three bearish signals.
The equity currently trades above both its 20-day exponential moving average of $33.04 and its 50-day exponential moving average of $31.60. These positioning metrics are typically interpreted as positive momentum indicators.
The Williams %R oscillator indicates the stock has not entered overbought territory. Meanwhile, the Rate of Change metric registers 45.56%, further supporting an upward trajectory.
SMCI commands a market capitalization of $22 billion. Its price-to-earnings ratio of 11.43 appears modest relative to certain competitors operating within the AI infrastructure ecosystem.
The aggregated price target from TipRanks’ consensus sits at $40.85, suggesting approximately 11.7% upside potential from Wednesday’s $36.58 closing price.
The post Super Micro Computer (SMCI) Stock Dips Despite Record Revenue: Is Now the Time to Buy? appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Nvidia pursues investment opportunity in AI data platform Mercor with proposed $20 billion valuation, representing a 100% increase from its last funding round of $10 billion
The startup reported $614 million in gross revenue during H1 2026, achieving an annualized revenue run rate exceeding $2 billion by mid-year
Nvidia currently compensates Mercor with millions of dollars for specialized training data utilized in developing its Nemotron suite of open-source AI technologies
Investment firm General Catalyst spearheads the funding initiative; Mercor’s client roster includes major AI players such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic
Analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating on NVDA shares with mean price objective of $306.13, suggesting potential gains exceeding 40%
Nvidia is engaged in advanced discussions to make a substantial investment in Mercor, a specialized AI data labeling and talent acquisition platform, with preliminary valuations hovering around $20 billion. This represents a significant leap from the startup’s previous Series C valuation of $10 billion.
NVIDIA EYES MERCOR INVESTMENT$NVDA has discussed investing in AI data supplier Mercor as part of a funding round that would value the startup at $20 billion, The Information reports.
Mercor hires specialists across fields such as science, law and finance to train and evaluate… pic.twitter.com/xDqeh2XOyW
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 19, 2026
Venture capital firm General Catalyst is spearheading this latest fundraising initiative. The transaction remains under negotiation and has not yet reached completion.
Three San Francisco-based college dropouts—Brendan Foody, Adarsh Hiremath, and Surya Midha—established Mercor in 2023. The platform facilitates connections between domain specialists across sectors including legal, financial, and scientific disciplines and artificial intelligence laboratories seeking expertise for model refinement.
The chip manufacturer has emerged as one of Mercor’s most significant clients. During the previous quarter, Nvidia allocated millions of dollars to acquire premium-grade training datasets from the startup.
These datasets play a crucial role in developing Nvidia’s Nemotron collection of open-source artificial intelligence models, strategically positioned to rival proprietary platforms developed by organizations such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
The business partnership has intensified to the point where multiple Mercor staff members now dedicate nearly their entire workweek to Nvidia-related initiatives.
Explosive Revenue Trajectory at Mercor
The startup has demonstrated remarkable expansion velocity. During the initial six months of 2026 alone, Mercor generated $614 million in gross receipts. By June’s conclusion, the company’s annualized gross revenue trajectory had surpassed the $2 billion threshold, representing more than a twofold increase compared to the previous year.
Proprietary AI development firms continue to constitute the majority of Mercor’s revenue sources. Major technology clients include OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. Nvidia has simultaneously engaged alternative data annotation providers, including Turing and Scale AI.
Strategic Diversification in Nvidia’s Investment Portfolio
This prospective transaction aligns seamlessly with Nvidia’s evolving investment philosophy. The semiconductor leader has expanded well beyond its traditional hardware sales model. The company now actively deploys capital throughout the artificial intelligence ecosystem, spanning infrastructure funds, software platforms, and data providers.
During a single fiscal quarter, Nvidia committed an impressive $18.6 billion toward private enterprises and infrastructure investment vehicles. This represents an unusually aggressive venture capital footprint for a semiconductor manufacturer.
Securing an ownership position in Mercor would provide Nvidia with enhanced control over the data supply chain supporting its proprietary AI model initiatives. The strategic move also ensures preferential access to premium expert-annotated datasets amid escalating industry-wide demand for specialized training information.
NVDA stock experienced a 0.99% decline at the time of this report.
Analyst sentiment toward Nvidia remains overwhelmingly positive. With 34 Buy recommendations and a single Hold rating issued over the most recent three-month period, the equity maintains a Strong Buy consensus rating. The mean analyst price target stands at $306.13, implying potential appreciation exceeding 40% from present trading levels.
The post Nvidia (NVDA) Stock Pursues $20B Investment in AI Data Company Mercor appeared first on Blockonomi.

主要ハイライト
CRCLの株価は通常取引時間に9.56%急騰し、時間外取引でもさらに2.37%上昇して80.45ドルに到達した
2026年上半期にUSDCの取引件数が前年比209%急増し、テザーのUSDT活動の低下とは対照的だった
ビットコインが約8%上昇して70,000ドルの節目に到達し、暗号資産関連株の勢いを押し上げた
トランプ大統領とのホワイトハウス暗号資産サミットでは、CLARITY法案の推進に焦点が当てられた
アナリストはCRCLについて、平均目標株価98.61ドルのもとで「モデレート・バイ（中立寄りの買い）」コンセンサスを維持している

Key Takeaways
Shares of WOLF declined 11% in extended trading following fourth-quarter earnings release
The company posted an EPS loss of $2.26, beating one projection but significantly missing another consensus estimate of $0.52 loss
Fourth-quarter revenue reached $149.6 million, falling short of certain Wall Street expectations of $223.55 million
Revenue from AI data center applications more than doubled compared to last year and increased 20% sequentially
First-quarter revenue outlook ranges from $140 million to $160 million, with continued margin challenges expected
Shares of Wolfspeed tumbled 11% during after-hours trading Tuesday following the release of the silicon carbide manufacturer’s fiscal fourth-quarter financial results. The decline extended losses from the regular session, where the stock had already retreated 7.5% to close at $26.00.
For the fourth quarter, the company disclosed an earnings per share loss of $2.26. While this figure surpassed one analyst projection of a $2.45 loss, it fell considerably short of an alternative consensus estimate calling for just a $0.52 loss. Quarterly revenue totaled $149.6 million, aligning with certain forecasts but substantially trailing others anticipating $223.55 million.
WOLFSPEED $WOLF Q4’26 EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS
Revenue: $149.6M (Est. $224M)
Adj. EPS: -$2.26 (Est. -$2.45)
Gross Margin: -25%
Free Cash Flow: -$60.9M (Est. -$108M)
Q1 Guide:
Revenue: $140M-$160M (Est. $150M)
Non-GAAP Gross Margin: Negative
Non-GAAP… pic.twitter.com/rVhlGkPI3j
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) August 19, 2026
The company’s gross margin registered at 25% for the period. Management pointed to insufficient factory utilization as the primary driver behind the margin performance. This underutilization issue is anticipated to persist and continue impacting profitability through the current quarter.
Artificial Intelligence Delivers Strong Growth
Among the quarterly highlights, Wolfspeed’s artificial intelligence segment stood out prominently. Revenue generated from AI data center customers more than doubled on a year-over-year basis during Q4, while posting 20% sequential growth from the third quarter. Company leadership characterized this performance as representing a notable evolution in the firm’s customer demand profile.
This AI-driven expansion has helped counterbalance significant weakness in electric vehicle demand. Sales linked to the EV sector have contracted across both of the company’s core business units: the materials segment, which manufactures silicon carbide wafers, and the power products division.
The materials business unit experienced particularly challenging conditions. Year-over-year sales plummeted 44%, while also declining nearly 14% from the prior quarter. Market analysts identified this materials segment weakness as a primary catalyst for the after-hours selloff, overshadowing the partial earnings beat.
Financial Position and Liabilities
Wolfspeed concluded the quarter holding $1.1 billion in cash reserves. The company’s total debt obligation currently sits at $1.7 billion. Leadership indicated meaningful progress was achieved in decreasing the debt burden throughout the quarter.
The organization entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 30, 2025, successfully emerging from the restructuring process last September. Following the bankruptcy exit, WOLF shares had surged as much as 80% on a year-to-date basis prior to Tuesday’s decline.
Looking ahead to the first quarter, Wolfspeed issued revenue guidance ranging from $140 million to $160 million. The $150 million midpoint closely matches Wall Street’s consensus projection of $150.4 million. Operating expenditures are projected to fall between $62 million and $66 million.
Management cautioned that gross margin pressure will likely continue as a result of persistent factory underutilization challenges.
The post Wolfspeed (WOLF) Stock Plunges 11% as Q4 Revenue Disappoints Analysts appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Samsung Electronics plans to unveil an investor return initiative exceeding 100 trillion won ($72 billion)
Board approval expected by the conclusion of August
Fifty percent of free cash flow will finance the initiative
Cash dividends, not share repurchases, will dominate the programme due to compliance considerations
Announcement comes after SK Hynix revealed its 40 trillion won ($29 billion) share buyback strategy on Wednesday
Shares of Samsung Electronics (005930) jumped 9.49% on Thursday following reports that the tech giant is developing an investor return initiative valued at over 100 trillion won ($72 billion).
MoneyToday broke the story, referencing insider sources who indicated that a board meeting would take place before August concludes to officially greenlight the proposal.
Should the plan materialize, it would represent one of the most substantial shareholder return initiatives in South Korean corporate history.
The initiative will draw funding from half of the corporation’s free cash flow. Samsung disclosed last month that its board had begun deliberating this year’s shareholder compensation strategy, with special dividend payments under consideration.
Cash dividends will take center stage instead of stock buybacks. According to the report, share repurchase programs could trigger regulatory challenges related to Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, both entities with ownership connections to the parent corporation.
Certain market observers had speculated that Samsung might distribute up to 200 trillion won to shareholders. MoneyToday indicated this estimate was deemed impractical considering the company’s substantial ongoing capital expenditure obligations.
SK Hynix Establishes the Benchmark
Samsung’s announcement follows closely behind domestic competitor SK Hynix, which unveiled a 40 trillion won ($29 billion) share repurchase and retirement program just one day earlier. SK Hynix committed to dedicating over 50% of free cash flow produced from 2025 through 2027 toward investor distributions.
That program represented the most generous shareholder return commitment from any publicly traded South Korean enterprise. Samsung’s reported strategy would eclipse it.
SK Hynix ranks as the globe’s second-largest memory semiconductor manufacturer. Samsung maintains the leading position.
Programme Components
According to MoneyToday’s reporting, Samsung’s blueprint features special cash dividends as a central element. The board convening is anticipated during August’s final days.
Samsung had previously indicated its intention to strike a balance between investor payouts and capital allocation for future expansion. The corporation is managing an artificial intelligence-fueled semiconductor demand surge that has elevated earnings throughout the memory chip industry.
The 50% free cash flow commitment reflects the framework SK Hynix adopted for its programme, revealed the previous day.
Samsung’s 005930 shares climbed 9.49% on the Seoul exchange in response to the announcement.
The post Samsung Electronics (005930) Stock Soars 9% Following $72B Investor Return Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Summary
Alibaba’s fiscal Q1 results arrive Thursday prior to the opening bell in U.S. markets
Analysts project net income to decline to 21.8 billion yuan versus 43.12 billion yuan in the year-earlier period
Top-line growth anticipated at 266.78 billion yuan, climbing from 247.65 billion yuan previously
Shares in Hong Kong have jumped 36% during the current quarter, outpacing the Hang Seng Tech Index
Alibaba commands 37% of China’s cloud infrastructure market, significantly ahead of Huawei’s 17% share
Thursday morning brings Alibaba’s fiscal first-quarter financial results, scheduled for release ahead of the U.S. trading session. The company’s shares have experienced notable strength leading into the announcement, climbing 36% in Hong Kong throughout the quarter—marking its strongest relative performance versus Tencent since the beginning of 2025.
Trading in Hong Kong saw the stock advance up to 2.3% Thursday morning before the earnings release. However, the American depositary receipts tell a less optimistic tale, declining roughly 13% since the start of the year, highlighting divergent regional sentiment.
Wall Street consensus compiled by FactSet projects earnings of 21.8 billion yuan ($3.23 billion) for the June-ended quarter. This represents a significant contraction from the 43.12 billion yuan reported during the comparable period last year.
The anticipated earnings compression stems from aggressive capital allocation toward artificial intelligence infrastructure, cloud services, and rapid commerce initiatives. Company leadership has made clear this investment strategy is intentional and strategic.
Top-line performance presents a contrasting narrative. Consensus estimates call for quarterly revenue of 266.78 billion yuan, representing an increase from 247.65 billion yuan year-over-year. Data from Bloomberg suggests this translates to 8.4% expansion, potentially marking the strongest growth rate in close to three years.
Cloud Business Under the Microscope
The cloud computing segment represents the critical metric investors will scrutinize. Alibaba maintains approximately 37% of China’s cloud infrastructure market share as of the fourth quarter of 2025, per analytics firm Omdia. Huawei captures 17%, while Tencent accounts for 10%. This competitive positioning carries significant implications.
JPMorgan’s Alex Yao suggested in a research note that results could prove “better than feared,” highlighting expectations for reduced losses in food delivery and rapid commerce operations, alongside accelerating cloud revenue and expanding margins.
Citigroup’s Alicia Yap observed that organizations possessing “full-stack capabilities, from chips and cloud infrastructure to models and applications” enjoy superior long-term positioning, specifically identifying Alibaba among this group.
The tech giant develops proprietary semiconductor technology and delivers a comprehensive portfolio spanning the Qwen consumer application to enterprise development tools and artificial intelligence agents.
Alibaba’s open-weight Qwen model family has been capturing increased market adoption internationally, benefiting from growing interest in China’s more cost-effective AI solutions.
Artificial Intelligence Strategy Reshapes Market Perception
The pivot toward AI has enabled Alibaba to transform its market narrative from embattled e-commerce operator to diversified technology infrastructure provider.
“Alibaba’s AI investments have been effective in reviving both investor interest in the stock and user engagement across its broader ecosystem,” said Gary Tan, portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments.
For the first time in over ten years, Alibaba is maintaining a sustained valuation premium relative to Tencent—a development that reflects growing market confidence in its artificial intelligence roadmap.
The company disclosed plans to divest its Lingxi Games division to Asia-focused private equity firm Trustar Capital for no less than $1.5 billion, reallocating proceeds toward expanded AI development.
Both Tencent and Baidu experienced stock declines following underwhelming recent earnings announcements. Market participants will be monitoring whether Alibaba can buck this trend.
Primary areas of focus include cloud segment revenue trajectory and the rate at which rapid commerce operations are reducing losses.
The post Alibaba (BABA) Earnings Preview: Analysts Eye Cloud Growth Despite Profit Decline appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Target delivered Q2 revenue of $26.5B, representing a 5.3% year-over-year increase and exceeding the $25.5B consensus
Earnings per share surged to $4.11, more than double the $2.32 forecast, aided by a $1.65 per-share tariff reimbursement
The retailer secured a $994M pre-tax tariff refund after a Supreme Court decision invalidated certain Trump-era import duties
Comp sales advanced 3.8%, while digital comp sales climbed 8.7%
Annual EPS outlook elevated to the upper end of $9.90-$10.90, a significant increase from the previous $7.50-$8.50 range
Shares of Target (TGT) advanced 4.28% to reach $159.00 on Wednesday following the retailer’s impressive second-quarter financial performance and disclosure of a substantial government tariff reimbursement approaching $1 billion.
Revenue totaled $26.5 billion, marking a 5.3% year-over-year gain and comfortably surpassing the $25.5 billion Wall Street projection. Diluted earnings per share reached $4.11, matching twice the prior-year result and substantially exceeding the $2.32 analyst consensus.
The retailer benefited from a $994 million pre-tax tariff reimbursement following a Supreme Court decision that ruled certain import tariffs imposed under President Trump’s administration as unlawful. This windfall propelled Q2 operating income to $2.6 billion, compared to $1.3 billion in the same quarter last year.
The per-share earnings figure incorporated a $1.65 benefit from the tariff refunds. Gross margin expanded to 33.7%, up from 29% in the prior-year period and significantly above the 28.5% estimate. The quarter also reflected a 370 basis point margin improvement attributable to tariff reimbursements.
Comparable store sales increased 3.8% versus the 2.43% expectation, a reversal from last year’s -1.9% comp decline. Digital comparable sales expanded 8.7%.
Revenue growth was broad-based across all product categories, with beauty and food segments leading performance. Store traffic strengthened, with transaction count up 3.6% and average ticket size rising 0.2%.
Transformation Strategy Shows Progress
CEO Michael Fiddelke attributed the performance to comprehensive initiatives aimed at reinventing Target’s merchandise mix and selling approach. The retailer has introduced 3,000 beauty products spanning 60 new brands, refreshed 75% of home décor offerings, and debuted a back-to-school assortment that is more than half new.
Target has also implemented price reductions on over 10,000 items in the past year, predominantly grocery products, to better compete with rivals like Walmart and Kroger. Fiddelke indicated additional price investments are planned.
“We’re encouraged,” Fiddelke said. “We laid out a plan for the year that had a lot of change in it, more change to what we were selling and how we were going to sell it than in the last decade.”
Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe characterized the effort as one of the most comprehensive assortment overhauls in recent years and noted that strengthening traffic patterns are becoming evident in the results. He suggested the market may be underappreciating the sustainability of these traffic improvements.
Updated Financial Outlook
Target increased its full-year revenue growth projection to roughly 5%, up from the previous 4% forecast.
Annual earnings per share are now anticipated at the upper end of the $9.90 to $10.90 range. This represents a notable increase from previous guidance at the high end of $7.50 to $8.50, and surpasses analyst projections of $8.48.
When excluding the tariff reimbursement impact, the midpoint of the revised guidance represents a $0.75 improvement over the prior outlook.
Capital spending in Q2 totaled $1.4 billion, representing a 27% increase year-over-year, fueled by store renovation projects and new location openings.
Target has successfully diversified its sourcing strategy away from China, with 30% of its private-label merchandise now originating from the country, down from 60% in 2017.
CFO Jim Lee indicated the company plans to maintain its investment in competitive pricing, though he did not elaborate on specific plans for allocating the tariff refund proceeds.
The post Target (TGT) Stock Surges 4% on Earnings Surprise and Nearly $1B Tariff Refund appeared first on Blockonomi.

要点
謎のウォレットが5,000ETHを購入し、その価値は953万ドル。購入直後にすぐステーキングしたが、主要なホワイトハウスの暗号資産サミットの直前だった
トランプ大統領は8月19日の集会を主催し、暗号資産業界の幹部とSECおよびCFTCのトップ金融規制当局が参加した
Coinbase、Ripple、Chainlink、a16z、Kalshiを含む主要プレイヤーたちは、代表者をこのセッションに送り込んだ
同じウォレットは現在、合計10,657ETHを保有しており、その価値は2,000万ドル超
タイミングは不審に見えるものの、インサイダー活動を裏付ける具体的な証拠は示されていない。とはいえ、2026年を通じて同様のパターンが現れた

主なハイライト
SPCX株は、水曜日に2.6%下落して139.65ドルとなった。投資家は、8月20日に予定されている3億1900万株のロックアップ期限切れに備えている。
中国のLandSpaceは、軌道クラスの再利用可能ロケットブースターの着陸に成功し、これを達成するのが中国企業として初めてであることから、歴史的なマイルストーンを達成した。
8月6日の直前の解除（9億1,150万株を放出）が市場にうまく消化され、株価が6%上昇した。
今後さらに大きな解除が控えており、11月の第3四半期決算（Q3）前後に見込まれる約13億株の大規模な放出や、12月のIPO後180日間の期限切れが含まれる。