Cryptopolitan

The EIA delayed its Weekly Petroleum Status Report by several hours on Monday, leaving oil traders without expected data during active market hours.

The report covers U.S. crude oil and refined product inventories for the week ended Dec. 19, and it was scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time.

But early that morning, the agency said the report would not be released as planned, and no new time was given.

Hours later, the EIA popped back out and said the report would be published at 5 p.m., after markets had closed. The delay followed staffing reductions inside the agency after President Donald Trump ordered changes to the federal workforce.

The delay came after the report had already been shifted from its normal Wednesday release to Monday because Trump signed an executive order that gave federal employees additional days off on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26.

The agency said the calendar change exposed internal problems that affected how the report was produced and formatted for publication.

Staff cuts disrupted systems behind the petroleum report

The EIA said the publication date changed to match the holiday schedule, but the internal code used to generate the report was not updated at the same time. The agency said this mismatch slowed the creation of tables and files used to publish the report.

The agency said the issue did not affect the accuracy of the data and said the problem would not happen again.

The staffing reductions came from buyouts and restructuring tied to a government efficiency push that was previously associated with Elon Musk. The EIA lost more than 100 employees this year from a workforce of about 350 people.

Several of those who left had worked directly on systems used to build the petroleum report. The report relies on multiple surveys and software systems, and the loss of staff reduced the number of people who understood how those systems connect.

Tristan Abbey, the EIA Administrator, said the agency needs faster progress to fix its aging technology.“Without decisive acceleration, we’re going to have much bigger problems than delayed data tables,” Tristan said in a statement.

He said staff are working to rebuild critical products that are written in outdated programming languages and said the work is continuing at full speed.

Delays like this are rare for the petroleum report. During the recent government shutdown, the figures were still released on time. The report includes weekly data on U.S. oil inventories, which are widely followed by energy traders, refiners, and analysts.

Oil prices held steady as geopolitics drove trading

Despite the delay, the oil market showed little reaction. Traders focused more on global political events than on U.S. inventory levels. Scott Shelton, an energy specialist at TP ICAP Group Plc, said traders showed little concern about the missing data.

“There is a general indifference to it other than rolling their eyes on how inefficient and unpredictable data has become from the US government, post the shutdown,” Scott said.

Oil prices were steady on Tuesday after a volatile session. Brent crude for February delivery, which expires Tuesday, slipped 2 cents, settling at $61.92 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 13 cents, closing at $57.95 a barrel.

Both benchmarks had risen more than 2% on Monday after Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against Yemen. Prices also moved higher after Moscow accused Kyiv of targeting a Russian presidential residence.

The accusation hurt expectations for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv rejected the claim, saying it was baseless and aimed at disrupting negotiations.

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A $2.9 billion deal with Tesla and L&F Co. has collapsed into just $7,386 on paper, a 99% plunge that has blown a massive hole in the company’s value and crushing the fortune of the family that own it by over $660 million.

Hur Jae-hong, chairman and CEO of L&F, watched his listed holdings fall from $800 million to $134 million, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The contract, once hailed as game-changing, has officially been downgraded to almost nothing. Tesla’s Cybertruck delays and weak customer demand choked the order before it could deliver.

Tesla’s Cybertruck delay kills a key EV battery deal

L&F builds high-nickel cathodes for electric vehicle batteries. These were supposed to go straight to Tesla for the Cybertruck. But that model ran into constant delays, and buyers just didn’t bite.

No one’s seen much of the angular truck, and L&F’s order quietly died behind the scenes. The company confirmed this week that the massive order is now worth less than $10,000.

The stock market didn’t wait for the news. L&F shares have been dropping since their 2023 peak, when the Tesla contract was first announced. They’ve now plunged more than 70%, dragged down by the collapse of the order and a general slump in EV demand worldwide.

It didn’t help that L&F was leaning heavily on LG Energy Solution Ltd., its top customer, and investor confidence began to crack long before Monday’s shock filing. Still, analysts say this isn’t a full break-up between L&F and Elon Musk’s company.

“L&F had probably already stopped supplying cathodes to Tesla since last year,” said Changmin Lee, an analyst at KB Securities. The materials were only meant for some Cybertruck models, and with that project stalling, the deliveries never picked up. Lee added that the recent filing “will likely be extremely limited” in terms of market impact, since the contract had already been factored out of forecasts.

L&F’s long-term partnerships now under pressure

Even though the Cybertruck plan crashed, L&F’s business with Tesla still supplies Model Y components indirectly through LG Energy Solution, which accounts for around 80% of its total sales. That pipeline is running without disruption for now.

But the loss of the direct Tesla order smashed L&F’s diversification strategy.In 2021, the company inked a deal with Redwood Materials, the US battery recycler run by Tesla’s ex-CTO, JB Straubel.

That partnership was supposed to help L&F lower its dependence on LG Energy Solution to 50% by 2025. That goal now looks shaky.

There might still be a way out. Anna Lee, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea, said L&F is expected to begin production for Rivian in 2026, after securing a deal back in March. They’re also sending mid-nickel cathodes to SK On Co., used in Hyundai Motor’s EV batteries. That means they’ve still got irons in the fire.

“A short-term damper in investor sentiment is inevitable,” said Anna. “But there is an increasing possibility that the sector will regain attention in 2026, specifically centering on energy storage systems for AI data centers.”

Still, none of that changes the fact that a $2.9 billion Tesla contract just evaporated into dust, and L&F’s billionaire dreams were smashed into seven thousand bucks.

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Earnings in the materials sector are expected to climb about 20% in 2026, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

That would make it the best performance in five years for the group, second only to tech. Companies from Nucor to Sherwin-Williams, and packaging giants like Smurfit WestRock and Ball Corp., are in the spotlight.

The rise is tied directly to trade protections and a sharp shift in consumer goods demand. Metals and packaging stocks will lead the charge, both forecast to post over 30% profit growth. Steel prices are up, and companies selling boxes and cans are seeing more orders as food brands push volume using discounts.

Steelmakers prepare for backlog boost as tariffs drive prices

Richard Bourke from Bloomberg Intelligence said tariffs on imported steel are giving U.S. producers more control over pricing.

“U.S. mills should continue to displace imports as long as 50% Section 232 tariffs remain in place,” he wrote. These are the same Trump-era levies still shaping trade today.

Nucor, which Bourke called the U.S. mill with the widest product range and some extra capacity, reported a strong order book for 2026. It pointed to projects in energy, infrastructure, data centers, and manufacturing as key drivers.

In a December update, the company said existing policy should lead to “continued gradual improvement in business conditions.”

Steel Dynamics also flagged a larger backlog.

The company expects lower interest rates to help push up infrastructure spending and bring more production back to the U.S. Bourke explained that many of the orders in play are lag contracts, meaning the money won’t show up until next year.

The packaging sector isn’t having the same smooth ride. Tariffs here are more of a burden, but some companies are getting help from their clients. General Mills and PepsiCo have been promoting products more aggressively, which means higher volume. Truist’s Michael Roxland said this trend has boosted Amcor and similar suppliers.

Jefferies analysts believe easier year-over-year comparisons and a slow return of consumer confidence could help the sector in the second half of the year.

But right now, it’s tight. RBC’s Matthew McKellar said mills in North America are already near full capacity, which could support a price hike.

Packaging, chemicals, and construction firms shift strategy for growth

Packaging companies are reacting with internal changes. Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said the company plans to meet its 2026 targets using synergies, not economic improvement. The company sees adjusted profit growth of 12% to 17%, its best in five years.

Still, the overall picture in packaging is messy. Growth from food producers hasn’t extended to other customers, so firms are turning to cost cuts and plant closures to manage softer demand and economic drag. International Paper, which had four years of declining profits, now expects a turnaround.

But the company isn’t upbeat. Executives told an industry event in December that demand is still weak. They blamed inflation, trade pressure, and the sluggish housing market.

“In North America, we still feel very tight from a supply-demand perspective,” said CFO Lance Loeffler. “All we need is a little bit of spark on the demand side, and I think it would be really good for business.”

Outside packaging and metals, the remaining materials sub-sectors are hoping for a rate-cut lifeline. Chemicals are forecast to finally grow after three rough years. The same goes for construction materials, which dropped in 2025 but are set to rebound.

Sherwin-Williams is ready to benefit if home sales pick up, said Citigroup’s Patrick Cunningham. Albemarle is also expected to gain ground thanks to higher lithium prices from rising demand in energy storage.

For construction stocks, like CRH, falling interest rates could lower borrowing costs and push more projects forward. BI analyst Sonia Baldeira said this could help unlock residential and commercial construction deals stuck in limbo.

Every piece of this puzzle points to a rare winning streak for the materials sector, one fueled by tariffs, backlogs, tighter supply, and cost cuts.

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SoftBank has officially wrapped up its monster $40 billion investment in OpenAI, finishing things off with a final payment of around $22 billion, according to a report from CNBC.

Allegedly, the last tranche may have even been closer to $22.5 billion, but either way, it’s done.

The Japanese conglomerate now holds over 10% ownership in the Sam Altman-led AI powerhouse because apparently, a few billion here and there just wasn’t enough, and the final payment was transferred last week, with a deal that’s been in the works since early 2024. SoftBank had initially invested $8 billion directly into the ChatGPT creator, then brought in a crew of co-investors to syndicate another $10 billion.

OpenAI is preparing for IPO and massive infrastructure plans

The SoftBank-OpenAI deal was originally priced at a $260 billion pre-money valuation, and SoftBank was expected to drip out the funds across 12 to 24 months, with some of the capital earmarked for OpenAI’s wild Stargate venture with Oracle and the White House, among others.

Just a few weeks ago, SoftBank dumped its entire $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia. People close to the matter have allegedly said the Nvidia sale, plus other liquidity moves, were aimed at fueling the OpenAI mega-deal. And now that it’s finalized, there’s no ambiguity about where that money went.

Over the next few years, OpenAI is planning to throw more than $1.4 trillion into infrastructure. That’s trillion with a T. The spending spree includes deep collaborations with Nvidia (again), AMD, and Broadcom. Everyone’s cashing in on the AI boom—and SoftBank wants a front-row seat.

The startup isn’t just collecting checks from Tokyo, either. Microsoft has been backing it for years. Amazon is reportedly exploring a $10 billion investment, and even Disney slid in recently with a $1 billion deal, letting Sora, OpenAI’s video generator, use its roster of characters. Mickey Mouse in AI content? Yep, that’s where this is headed.

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The crypto market today reveals that Ripple is finally getting some much-needed relief. Back in the early months of this year, the SEC abandoned its case against Ripple, thereby unloading a huge legal concern for this crypto company. 

Nonetheless, this action by the SEC boosted confidence in XRP, thereby giving many investors a glimmer of hope. Currently, XRP is being traded at $1.90 as another cheap crypto emerges as a leading challenger for 2026 gains.

Big Promises Around XRP Payments

Ripple has XRP to make money fast and inexpensive across borders. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of the company, thinks the XRP money transfer system can handle payment volumes of 14% of what SWIFT handles in the next five years.

Another positive factor for XRP was the approval by the SEC of multiple spot XRP ETFs. These new funds allow simple investments in XRP by individual investors or institutional investors rather than requiring purchases on crypto exchanges. This could spark a relief rally in XRP, similar event. Prognoses show XRP might hit $3 by 2026, 58% higher than now.

Despite the positives, XRP has still not made much progress this year and remains in a downward trend. This is a confirmation that, despite developments being in a positive direction, progression in overall demand is still not satisfactory, and thus it is not advisable to invest in this crypto asset at present.

A Cheap Crypto Takes The Lead

Though XRP is performing slowly, Mutuum Finance is gaining immense attraction because of being an affordable crypto with rapid growth. Currently, MUTM is in Phase 7 after the completion of Phase 6, which was quickly sold out. Additionally, the coin is set at a price of $0.04, earning it the title of best crypto to invest in among prospective buyers.

Phase 7 is already filling up quickly. This is the final opportunity to purchase MUTM tokens at $0.04 pricing that will soon rise to Phase 8 pricing at $0.045. This represents nearly a 20% increase. Mutuum Finance has secured a total of $19,500,000 since the onset of the presale. Total holders have reached 18560 since the onset of the presale. The token is already up 300% from the Phase 1 pricing of $0.01.

Why Buyers Are Rushing In

Many of the buyers just can’t wait. This is because phase 7 is currently selling out fast, and buyers who miss it shall be forced to pay more in a very short while. MUTM has fixed the launch price at $0.06, in which investors can earn an estimated 395% ROI. This explains why MUTM is one of the best cryptocurrencies to buy right now rather than the larger ones.

Mutuum Finance concentrates on lending and borrowing, which provides utility to the token. This will keep the demand constant. An independent audit is being performed. Halborn Security is currently auditing the lending and borrowing smart contracts of Mutuum. The team has also created a dashboard that features a Top 50 holders leaderboard. There is a 24-Hour Leaderboard that renews at 00:00 UTC each day. Daily, the top buyer will win a $500 MUTM reward if he or she transacts once. Mutuum also has a giveaway of $100,000, where ten people will win $10,000 in MUTM.

XRP may witness a short-term relief rally based on legal victories and ETFs. Nevertheless, Mutuum Finance is one of the cheap cryptos with superior growth speed, demand, and pricing momentum. Investors currently asking about the crypto to invest in will soon realize that the best crypto to invest in before the prices advance is MUTM.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Federal Reserve policymakers can’t seem to agree on when they’ll cut borrowing costs again. Most say further cuts could happen if prices keep cooling, but several officials think rates need to stay put for a while. That’s according to meeting records released Tuesday.

The minutes from the Fed’s December 9-10 gathering showed ongoing disagreements among central bank leaders. While the majority backed another rate reduction last month, the decision wasn’t easy for everyone.

The Fed voted 9-3 to trim its key rate by a quarter point in December. That’s the third cut in a row, bringing the rate down to between 3.5% and 3.75% as previously reported by Cryptopolitan.

“A few of those who supported lowering the policy rate at this meeting indicated that the decision was finely balanced or that they could have supported keeping the target range unchanged,” the minutes stated.

Officials adjusted their statement after the meeting in a way that showed less certainty about the timing for future cuts. Their median forecast had just one quarter-point reduction coming in 2026, though individual predictions were all over the map. Market watchers are betting on at least two cuts next year.

The vote exposed clear rifts

Governor Stephen Miran broke ranks by pushing for a bigger half-point cut. Meanwhile, Austan Goolsbee from the Chicago Fed and Jeff Schmid from Kansas City voted against any reduction. They wanted to leave rates alone.

Things got messier when looking at rate forecasts for 2025. Six out of 19 policymakers showed their opposition to December’s cut by saying rates should end this year at 3.75% to 4%. That’s exactly where they stood before the meeting.

Central bankers are dealing with competing worries about inflation versus jobs. Most officials noted that moving toward lower rates would help prevent serious damage to the job market, according to the minutes.

But others had concerns about prices. Several officials warned that cutting rates while inflation stays high could send the wrong message. People might think the Fed isn’t serious about reaching its 2% inflation target.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters after the meeting that officials had cut rates enough to protect jobs while keeping them high enough to control prices.

Making decisions proved harder than usual because policymakers didn’t have the typical economic data. A government shutdown ran through October and nearly half of November, which meant less information was available. Officials noted that data coming in over the next few weeks would help guide their choices.

The minutes said some officials who wanted to hold rates steady thought the large amount of job and inflation data coming before the next meeting would be “helpful in making judgments on whether a rate reduction was warranted.”

New information since December hasn’t settled the debate

Unemployment climbed to 4.6% in November, the highest since 2021. Consumer prices rose less than forecasters expected. Both figures support the case for lower rates.

But there’s a catch. The economy expanded at a 4.3% annual pace in the third quarter, the strongest growth in two years. That probably reinforced concerns among officials worried about inflation.

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A healthcare business backed by David Beckham that began purchasing Bitcoin this year has pulled back from that plan as cryptocurrency values drop.

Prenetics announced Tuesday it stopped acquiring Bitcoin on Dec. 4. The company will now concentrate its efforts on IM8, a vitamin and supplement line created with former England soccer star David Beckham. Beckham also holds an investment stake in Prenetics, the company’s website shows.

“We are making disciplined strategic decisions that reflect our experience as operators and our commitment to maximizing long-term shareholder value,” said Danny Yeung, who leads Prenetics as chief executive officer.

The company started its Bitcoin buying program in June. It followed an approach created by Michael Saylor’s Strategy Inc. These businesses, called digital asset treasury firms, collect money to purchase cryptocurrencies.

Company keeps remaining Bitcoin holdings

This plan gained popularity in early 2025 when prices climbed higher, but interest dropped after the crypto market fell in October. Many company leaders shifted their approach as Bitcoin prices declined and their stock values tumbled.

When Prenetics revealed its Bitcoin plan in June, Yeung expressed enthusiasm about the “convergence we’re witnessing between healthcare innovation and blockchain technology,” describing it as “the dawn of a new era.”

The company plans to keep its existing 510 Bitcoin, valued at $44.8 million on Tuesday.

The Bitcoin treasury approach appears to be struggling

Companies built to stockpile digital currencies have faced one setback after another in recent months. Their stock values dropped below the worth of the cryptocurrencies they own. Several firms started buying back their own shares, with some even selling their digital tokens to pay for those purchases.

The troubles have attracted activist investors, including Paul Glazer, known in financial circles as the “True King of SPACs.”

What started as a force pushing crypto prices higher has turned into something dragging them down. Even Strategy, the company that pioneered this approach, faces mounting challenges. Bitcoin’s sharp drop in November created stress for the preferred stock that Strategy sold to finance its purchases.

The price advantages these companies once enjoyed have nearly disappeared, according to data from Artemis. In the past, investors paid extra to buy shares in these firms compared to the value of their actual crypto holdings. That premium has now evaporated.

Investors and crypto traders are now trying to figure out what happens next, especially since these companies have become important indicators of market mood.

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Digital currency holders are trying one more time to turn around losses before the year closes as Bitcoin climbed toward the $90,000 mark for the second day in a row on Tuesday before the increase stopped.

The largest cryptocurrency has been moving between roughly $85,000 and $95,000 after a drop in October that could result in its first yearly decline in three years. Since last December, the currency has fallen about 5%. Earlier in the year, it had risen around 30% and reached a record high in early October.

BTC/USDT 4-hour price chart. Source: TradingView

Jasper De Maere, who works as a desk strategist at Wintermute, said traders should expect big swings on low trading volume through New Year’s. He wrote on Tuesday that people should not read too much into very short-term patterns until normal market activity returns.

Trump policies shake crypto markets

The currency started 2024 with gains as people felt positive about the Trump administration’s support for digital currencies. However, concerns about President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which shook worldwide markets, hurt Bitcoin’s value. While other risky investments like American stocks bounced back, Bitcoin stayed down after Oct. 10, when a record amount of borrowed positions were cleared out.

Exchange-traded funds focused on Bitcoin have seen money flowing out, putting pressure on prices. These funds lost $6 billion in the final three months of the year as Bitcoin stayed under $90,000, based on Bloomberg Intelligence numbers.

Open interest surges despite low trading

As reported by Cryptopolitan previously, despite a 40% drop in trading during December, Open Interest in digital currencies jumped $2.4 billion in the same month. Data shows Bitcoin and Ethereum futures contracts grew from $35 billion to $38 billion, a 7% rise in borrowed trading.

Bitcoin Open Interest climbed from $22 billion to $23 billion this month. Ethereum’s Open Interest added $1.4 billion, going from $13 billion to $15 billion. CryptoQuant analysts pointed out that this happened with Bitcoin near $88,000 and the Fear Index at 37.

Big exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Bybit kept building positions through December. CryptoQuant says this shows traders are staying optimistic instead of throwing in the towel.

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After a six-month ban, X restored the accounts of Shaw Walters and that of his agentic AI platform, ElizaOS, and it has set off a chain reaction in the token price, which has risen by over 150% within the past 24 hours.

The account of Walters, who operates under the handle @shawmakesmagic, was restored alongside growing questions about platform power over emerging technology companies. The token’s market capitalization has hit $48 million following the news, though it remains significantly below its November peak, when it traded at nearly $0.039.

ElizaOS is an open-source framework for building autonomous AI agents that operate across blockchains.

Why is ElizaOS surging?

ElizaOS went through major restructuring in November 2025, migrating from the AI16Z token at a one-to-six ratio and increasing total supply to 11 billion tokens.

Upon return, the Walters posted on X, “SO MUCH HAPPENED. We finished Eliza framework and migrated from ai16z to elizaOS. It was really really hard without X. We almost died. But now we’re back, and we’ve got some things built that I think people will be excited by. Can’t wait to show you.”

However, the recent token surge, which was around 175%, has failed to match that November high. The token currently trades at around $0.0064, which is an 83.17% decline from that all-time high.

Does this set a precedent for AI regulation?

While some industry participants call for stricter regulation of AI-generated content to maintain platform integrity, others view aggressive enforcement actions as potentially anticompetitive behavior that could stifle innovation.

The clash between ElizaOS and X touches on the application of AI on the social media platform, which also has its own agentic AI platform, Grok, embedded on it, raising eyebrows about fair play and antitrust violations.

The restoration of Walters’ account may also mean that the legal tussle between both parties has been resolved; however, neither Walters nor X has made any announcement that hints at that. It could also mean that X’s approach may have relaxed regarding some applications of AI on its platform.

The ban of Walters’ and ElizaOS accounts, for what X called a violation of its terms of service, brought to light ongoing tensions in the AI race and the usage of a social media platform to ward off competition.

ElizaOS and X have a history

In an August filing at a federal court in San Francisco, Eliza Labs and its founder, Shaw Walters, accused X of launching copycat AI products after being exposed to key technical information from Eliza. The lawsuit also claims that X removed the company from its platform.

“This case involves X Corp wielding its incredible monopoly power with perceived immunity from suit to deplatform users with the intent to restrain competition for launching AI Agents on the X Corp platform,” the lawsuit documents read.

In their argument, the plaintiffs said that X suspended Eliza Labs’ account and got rid of Walters without warning or legitimate justification.

This came after X reached out to Eliza last year to discuss AI agents operating on X’s platform. Eliza. During those meetings, Shaw Walters said they shared extensive details about the company’s development roadmap and vision for AI agents.

Eliza claims that X said it would need up to $50,000 per month for an enterprise license to continue operating on the platform. The lawsuit suggested X was forcing developers to pay “exorbitant” prices if they wanted to remain on the site, but Eliza claims it had declined to pay for such services.

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The artificial intelligence investment game is changing. While tech giants spent 2025 pouring money into new data centers, a different set of companies ended up stealing the show, the ones making the basic equipment these facilities need to operate.

Storage companies grabbed the top spots on the S&P 500 Index this year. Sandisk Corp. shot up nearly 580%, taking first place. Western Digital Corp. came in second, and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc landed in fourth. Companies providing power and connectivity, Amphenol Corp., Corning Inc., NRG Energy Inc., and GE Vernova Inc., made it into the top 25 according to Bloomberg’s data.

This is different from the past few years. Nvidia Corp., the original pick-and-shovel name in AI, used to dominate the index’s best performers. The chipmaker went up 40 percent in 2025 but ended up ranked 71st among the benchmark’s top stocks. The big cloud companies, Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., and Alphabet Inc., still drive things because they’re huge, but their percentage gains have cooled off.

Jake Seltz manages portfolios at Allspring Global Investments. “When the benchmarks are fairly concentrated, it’s important to look for themes that are gonna drive sales and earnings growth,” he said. “AI is kind of one of those dominant themes right now, that’s nothing new. So we’re just looking, broadening our horizons beyond tech.”

Finding value beyond tech giants

There’s room to grow and better prices if you invest in companies set to benefit from the billions hyperscalers are spending on building data centers.

Matt Sallee manages portfolios at Tortoise Capital Advisors. His firm doesn’t own any hyperscaler shares. “What we are focused on are the picks and shovels of where that money is being spent,” he said. “The chips to a degree, but more so some of the names that you haven’t really heard of.”

Some people on Wall Street worry the spending could slow down, which would reverse the gains in AI-related stocks. It’s kind of like what happened during the pandemic with basic health supplies.

“Covid hit and this world needed way more face masks, hand sanitizer, all those things,” said Jed Ellerbroek, Argent Capital Management portfolio manager. But within six to 12 months, there was too much of everything, and “those businesses that supplied those things went from the best times ever to the absolute worst times ever.”

But investors are staying bullish on the AI trade since the hyperscalers keep saying they’ll spend. Here’s what people are buying right now.

Wall Street thinks storage will stay hot in 2026 after Sandisk, Western Digital, and Seagate surged this year. But the good times for 2025’s winners might be wrapping up. Analysts see Sandisk hitting $264 in 2026, which is only about 8 percent higher than where it sits now at around $244.

Pure Storage Inc. looks like it has more upside. It’s trading at $68, but analysts think it’ll reach $94 in 2026—a 38 percent jump. Other digital storage names tied to AI include NetApp Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc.

A bunch of stocks connected to building and powering data centers should keep running. Sallee from Tortoise Capital likes Quanta Services Inc., which does specialized work for utilities and telecommunications companies. Other contractors include MYR Group Inc., Primoris Services Corp., and MasTec Inc.

Wiring companies are getting attention, too. Amphenol designs and makes high-speed fiber and copper connections used in data centers. Emcor Group Inc. does mechanical and electrical construction. Other power infrastructure names include Vistra Corp., Constellation Energy Corp., GE Vernova, and Generac Holdings Inc., which makes backup generators.

Bitcoin miners making the pivot to AI

Bitcoin miners represent a “total revaluation story”, as previously reported by Cryptopolitan, as they pivot from mining cryptocurrency to powering data centers. “They have the electricity already, they’ve had it for five-plus years to produce Bitcoin,” Sallee said. “They’re going to redirect that electricity to higher-value, long-term contracts for high-performance computing hosting.”

Companies here include Bitdeer Technologies Group. Its shares jumped in October after the company said it would move further into AI. Shares of IREN Ltd., Cipher Mining Inc., Riot Platforms Inc., and WhiteFiber Inc. have gotten a boost from plans to convert to high-performance computing data centers.

Data centers need specialized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Vertiv Holdings Co. provides power systems and cooling solutions for data centers. It’s up 46 percent in 2025 and worth watching. Eaton Corp. is another power management firm that overlaps with Vertiv but isn’t as focused, according to Seltz.

Other names include Comfort Systems USA Inc., which installs and maintains HVAC systems. Water providers include Xylem Inc., Ecolab Inc., and American Water Works Co.

Some investors with longer views are watching software companies as future AI beneficiaries as language models get better and more applications get built.

Melissa Otto heads technology, media, and telecommunications research at Visible Alpha. “Investors are, I think, naturally inclined to look for companies that have cheaper valuations with terrific magnitude of growth that are potentially gonna really benefit from the application of AI,” she said.

Software stocks haven’t done as well this year. The S&P 500 Software Industry Index is up 12 percent in 2025 compared with a 17 percent gain in the overall benchmark. But that’s made the valuations look better.

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Bitcoin news today includes a warning that many Bitcoin fans would rather not hear. An experienced crypto trader has offered a cycle graph, foretelling that Bitcoin might go down in price dramatically during the next market correction. 

Bitcoin currently trades at around $88,887, but the past shows that dramatic downward movements always follow large positive cycles. In this regard, many people are trying to determine which crypto to invest in in order to make profits in the future, especially in 2026.

Bitcoin’s Cycle History Creates Worrisome Scenes

A recognized Bitcoin analyst with over eight years of experience predicts that Bitcoin can potentially drop to around $25,000 in 2026. His predictions are based on data that shows that after every significant peak in the Bitcoin graph, it went down by either 70% or 80%. 

Previously, Bitcoin went down by 79% in 2012, 81% in 2017, and 75% in 2021. Each time took several years. This makes most Bitcoin maximalists think twice about putting all their faith in Bitcoin in the coming cycle.

Why Some Investors Are Looking Beyond BTC

Despite Bitcoin being the most prominent cryptocurrency, market capitalization might limit drastic growth. A changeover from $88,000 to much higher levels would require significant capital. Bitcoin could fall to the $25,000 mark, at which point many people might choose to stay on the sidelines. This further leads to growing interest in finding the best crypto to buy now that has a higher growth prospect than Bitcoin in the coming years, including 2026. 

A $0.04 Token Sparks Interest

Though Bitcoin has cycle risks, Mutuum Finance is gaining popularity as a likely early-tier investment. The cost of the MUTM token in Phase 7 of the presale is $0.04. This is quite cheap compared to other larger cryptos. Phase 7 of the presale is almost sold out, and many people see this as the last chance to invest at this cost level.

Mutuum Finance has managed to raise $19,500,000 from the time the presale began. The total number of MUTM holders from the time the presale began is 18,560. The current price of Phase 7 is at $0.04. It has increased by 300% from the initial price of Phase 1 of $0.01. Phase 7 is filling up quickly. Phase 8 will begin at $0.045. It approximates an increase of 12.5%. The price of MUTM at launch is at $0.06. It means there shall be an estimated 405% ROI.

Why FOMO Is Growing Fast

Many buyers feel they can’t wait any further. The consequence of missing Phase 7 would be adding cost in Phase 8, in addition to forgoing any advantages accrued so far in MUTM’s current development stage. The possibility of missing out is increasing by the day, considering how fast tokens sell out. For now, MUTM is much better than waiting for the trough years in order to buy Bitcoin in the future for long-term and short-term investors alike.

Mutuum Finance is more than a cost-effective token. It has a lending and borrowing mechanism. This instigates a demand that isn’t just based on hype. An audit process is currently underway. Halborn Security is auditing the lending and borrowing contracts offered by Mutuum. This instigates investor confidence. 

The MUTM team has developed a dashboard that highlights a leaderboard for the top 50 holders, as well as the daily 24-Hour Leaderboard that resets at 00:00 UTC. Every day, the top individual is credited with a bonus worth $500 MUTM if they complete one transaction. This approach ensures that user interaction is encouraged. 

Though Bitcoin seems set for further success in the long run, the risks occurring within the cycles are also still a reality. 

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance 

Erden Timur, former Galatasaray vice chairman and real estate developer worth $550 million, has been formally arrested on money laundering charges linked to Turkey’s illegal betting investigation.

Erden Timur’s real estate company, NEF, is believed to have engaged in suspicious transactions involving cryptocurrency platforms.

The arrest is part of a broader investigation that has already led to the arrests of Turkish players, referees, and club executives and caused Galatasaray’s shares to plummet over 20% in two months.

Why was Galatasaray’s former vice chairman arrested?

Turkish authorities have formally arrested Erden Timur, a popular real estate developer and former executive of the Galatasaray football club, on money laundering charges.

Erden Timur, 44, served as vice chairman of the Istanbul-based club until last year, when he stepped down from the board. He was detained last week and formally arrested by an Istanbul court on Tuesday.

Turkey’s state-run news agency, Anadolu, reports that prosecutors believe Timur’s main real estate company, NEF (formally known as Timur Gayrimenkul Gelistirme Yapi ve Yatirim AS), was involved in suspicious financial transactions with other suspects in an illegal betting investigation. These transactions occasionally involved cryptocurrency platforms.

The case is now being handled by judicial units that specifically oversee terror financing and money laundering cases. Timur denied any wrongdoing during his testimony and stated that the transfers being investigated were simply payments made by customers purchasing houses from his firm.

Forbes estimates Timur’s personal wealth at more than $550 million.

On Tuesday, NEF canceled the sale of 250 million lira ($8.5 million) worth of short-term debt, citing “market conditions and recent developments” as the reason. However, the company’s communications agency confirmed that NEF made a 320 million lira payment to investors on a previous debt issue that matured earlier.

Observers consider it the first sign of the immediate financial consequences of his arrest.

In a statement following Timur’s detention, NEF requested that all parties respect the presumption of innocence and the ongoing judicial process. The company has attempted to maintain its business operations despite the legal troubles facing its founder, but the debt sale cancellation suggests the strategy is not going well.

Turkey is cracking down on illegal betting

Turkish authorities have arrested several top Turkish players, referees, and club executives as part of their ongoing illegal betting investigations.

Galatasaray’s shares have slumped more than 20% over the last two months since the betting scandal began to unfold. The club’s rival Fenerbahce has also seen its shares drop approximately 8% during the same period, even without direct links to the investigation.

Meanwhile, the benchmark Turkish index BIST 100 was up 2% during the same timeframe.

Even though the involvement of cryptocurrency platforms in the money laundering allegations against Timur is relatively obscure at the moment, it is pouring fuel to the fire of international concern about the potential misuse of crypto for illegal financial activities.

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The crypto news today revolves around two events. Cardano is under pressure because the price of ADA has dropped. The other event is that of the new crypto coin that has prices lower than $0.05 and has received massive attention in a short span of time. The reason is that it has sold out presales Phase 6. It seems that investors are able to distinguish between the major cryptos that move at a slow pace and the ones that expand rapidly.

ADA Price Stuck While Sellers Stay Active

Although there was some positive news for Cardano, it did not help the price to rise. The fact is, people began selling their ADA when they heard the news, causing prices to lower. This has already caused a 20% loss in just one month.

However, one thing that went well for Cardano was that the investors in the network decided to give more power to a special committee. This is a huge leap to let the community make their own decisions. However, this positive development has done little to aid the price, as trading activities are very sluggish.

Other challenges are also being faced by ADA. The regulations for cryptocurrencies in the US are unclear. This is intimidating some large investors away, thus affecting all other altcoins, including ADA. Due to this reason, ADA is facing difficulties in finding solid support.

MUTM Presale Momentum Takes Center Stage

Compared to ADA, which is going sideways, Mutuum Finance is moving ahead full throttle. Currently, the project has already sold out Phase 6 of its presale, which was a record time, but now the demand has increased because Phase 7 is also open. This new crypto, which is currently valued at under $0.05, is classified under the DeFi crypto category, has already gone up to $0.04, but Phase 7 is quickly filling up.

Strong numbers are confidence-boosters

Mutuum Finance has already accumulated $19,500,000 since the presale began. The total number of MUTM token holders since the presale began is now 18560. The market value for Phase 7 is priced at $0.04. It shows a tremendous 300% increase since Phase 1, which was priced at $0.01. 

Phase 7 is selling like hotcakes. It means that soon you will not have a chance to join through this phase. It will be followed by Phase 8, which costs $0.045 in nearly a 20% increase. Lastly, the final launch for MUTM is priced at $0.06. It means that there might be a return on investment for MUTM to existing customers, which is 380% ROI.

Furthermore, the system architecture of Mutuum Finance includes lending and borrowing, which guarantees a use for the token from the very start. This not only attracts use but will also be a motivational tool to sustain the same. Furthermore, the platform has introduced a leaderboard of the top 50 holders, as well as a leaderboard measured per 24 hours. Additionally, the top user of the day receives a bonus of $500 in MUTM if they have made at least one trade.

Given the fast pace of Phase 7, investors feel as if there is not enough time. Failure to participate in Phase 7 means investors have to invest money in the next phase at a price higher. The relatively slower process of ADA makes MUTM the most preferred cryptocurrency to invest in, considering the factors of speed, demand, and the initial cost.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Grayscale, a crypto asset manager, has revealed its 2026 crypto market outlook today on what is poised to drive the next wave of crypto markets. According to Grayscale, clearer rules and regulations could accelerate institutional crypto adoption and increase on-chain activity. 

Grayscale’s analysts have projected that the U.S. will pass a bipartisan crypto asset framework in 2026. The bill will apply traditional financial rules to digital asset classes, including registration, disclosure requirements, asset classifications, and insider trading protections. The asset manager believes a clearer regulatory framework could push the next wave of crypto adoption, led by institutional traders. 

Grayscale says quantum computing poses no real risk to crypto so far

Quantum computing risks remain legitimate from the asset manager’s perspective. Grayscale’s analysts believe quantum risks are still overstated heading into 2026, with no real or sufficiently powerful quantum computer having been developed that could undermine the current cryptographic encryption standards. 

Grayscale analysts believe that quantum computing has not yet developed a material influence on price action across the crypto landscape. So far, based on a recent Cryptopolitan report, the major quantum computing achievement is IBM’s 12-qubit system, which was achieved in October this year. Based on the ‘Cats: Entanglement in 120 Qubits and Beyond’, IBM  researchers outlined that they were able to entangle 120 quantum bits into a single coherent system. This represented the largest and most stable multipartite quantum state ever recorded. 

The crypto asset manager analysts view one of these debates as the key driver shaping crypto markets in the near term, and another as shaping the longer-term crypto landscape. Based on Grayscale’s 2026 outlook report, a comprehensive set of crypto regulations harmonized with traditional rules could influence crypto adoption across the U.S. and other major economies worldwide. Grayscale’s analysts forecast that large institutions, including banks and hedge funds, may become more comfortable handling digital assets and their holding abilities. 

Regulations across the crypto landscape could offer a more balanced and stable liquidity across the crypto market as opposed to the retail speculative nature across the market. The 2026 outlook noted that regulated assets will encourage regulated institutions to transact directly with blockchains. The report further argued that this will mark only the beginning of a more institutional era for crypto markets. 

Grayscale urges blockchains to prepare for a post-quantum crypto market

Grayscale analysis revealed, however, that quantum computing will prompt most blockchains and the broader digital economy to adapt to a post-quantum cryptocurrency, utilizing more sophisticated quantum cryptographic standards. The firm believes that, although the risks are distant for now, they are legitimate and require blockchain preparation. 

The asset manager projects that more asset classes will emerge next year via exchange-traded funds. The report estimated that approximately $87 billion was raised in 2025 as ETF proceeds globally since its launch in 2024. As of now, based on SoSoValue, U.S. spot ETFs hold roughly $113 billion in BTC, $17 billion in ETH, and $1.24 billion in XRP. The rest of the spot ETFs in the U.S. include SOL, DOGE, and LINK, with a combined net assets of $1 billion, and many more have been released recently. Grayscale manages $18.4 billion and $4.74 billion across BTC and ETH spot ETFs. 

Grayscale’s 2026 crypto market outlook outlined ten crypto investing themes for 2026, which included the Dollar Dibasement Risk expected to drive crypto adoption. Grayscale analysts expect the risk of debasement, alongside high public debt and inflation risks, to influence demand for crypto assets and drive prices to new all-time highs.

The GENIUS Act, which paved the way for stablecoins in 2025, is expected to drive growth in 2026 with the passage of the bipartisan crypto asset framework. The report reiterated that quantum computing risks and digital asset treasuries (DATs) do not pose a real danger to crypto markets in 2026 despite their media attention. 

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Financial authorities in Russia are ready to allow ordinary citizens to invest in cryptocurrencies legally, as indicated by the head of one of the key regulators in Moscow.

While this is unlikely to happen without some limitations, which are currently under consideration, it is now perfectly “possible,” according to the high-ranking government official.

Russia to admit non-qualified investors to the crypto market

The Ministry of Finance (Minfin) and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) intend to allow non-qualified investors into the crypto market under certain conditions.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made that clear during an interview, quoted by the official news agency TASS on other Russian media on Tuesday. Speaking to the Rossiya-24 TV channel, he elaborated:

“According to our proposals, with the Central Bank, such permission is possible. However, in order to minimize the risks … we plan to limit the volume of such transactions and investments in the crypto market.”

The exact parameters of the discussed restrictive measures are being worked out right now with the monetary authority, the minister noted.

Siluanov’s comments confirmed his department’s support for the new Russian crypto policy, unveiled recently by the Bank of Russia, which calls for the adoption of a comprehensive legislative framework by next summer.

An excerpt from the regulatory concept, published on the CBR’s website last Tuesday, showed that non-qualified investors will be able to purchase the most liquid crypto assets.

Also quoted by the business news agency Prime, the Russian minister remarked that cryptocurrency is currently used by both individuals and companies primarily for payments.

Russian access to traditional financial channels and cross-border payments has been severely limited by Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Earlier this year, the Central Bank of Russia proposed a special “experimental legal regime” to allow Russian firms to use coins in foreign trade. The same arrangement gave a small group of “highly qualified” investors access to decentralized digital assets.

Russian government still wary of crypto investments

Anton Siluanov is convinced, however, that considering cryptocurrencies as an instrument for investment and saving is hardly advisable, as they are highly volatile, which is why Russian regulators developed the new crypto concept.

He pointed out that the central bank and the government, represented by the Minfin, have already reached “a rough understanding of how to proceed … in terms of regulating this process,” adding:

“Cryptocurrency settlements have been and are being conducted, the crypto market exists, but there is no regulation. Therefore, it’s clear that this topic requires legislative definition.”

The future framework, drafted together with the CBR, should determine what is permitted and what is not, as well as who can participate in this market, Siluanov insisted.

The proposals announced by the Bank of Russia have already been filed for government review, and the authority indicated it expects them to be passed by the Russian parliament by July 1, 2026.

Another set of provisions, amending the country’s criminal code and other relevant laws in order to introduce criminal liability for illegal provision of crypto services, should be adopted by the same date of 2027.

Besides expanding investor access, a key element of Moscow’s new strategy is the plan to recognize cryptocurrencies and stablecoins as “currency assets” and regulate crypto exchange through existing and new infrastructure.

The year 2025 brought significant changes in Russia’s attitude towards cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, as reported by Cryptopolitan. In the past 12 months, Russian regulators started gradually moving away from their previous overly conservative stance on the matter.

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There is a new cheap crypto that is attracting massive attention in the marketplace. Mutuum Finance (MUTM), is currently attracting massive demand as presale Phase 7 has opened. However, it should be noted that the crypto’s price still stands at $0.04. Questions are being asked about what crypto to buy now as major cryptos are still shaky in terms of prices.  The reason why MUTM is attracting a lot of attention is that it is a young, inexpensive token that is rising rapidly. With Phase 7 already selling out quickly, this may soon turn out to be a decisive moment regarding just how far this cheap crypto can go.

Why Phase 7 Sparked Fresh Urgency

Phase 7 is underway, and the buying is occurring at a rapid pace. This phase is critical, as this is the last and final opportunity to accumulate MUTM at the price of $0.04. After this stage, the launch of Phase 8 will occur at $0.045, almost a 20% increase. This is basic mathematical calculation, and that’s why the pace is so fast. Since the launch of Phase 1, the price of MUTM has already seen an increase of 300%, increasing from $0.01 to the present price.

The numbers speak of the level of interest. Mutuum Finance has managed to collect $19,500,000 since the presale began. The total number of MUTM holders has reached 18570, and this is expected to rise every day. The fact that phase 7 is selling out quickly makes it evident that time is of the essence. There will not be an opportunity to buy tokens at this price once phase 8 commences.

How High Could MUTM Go After Launch?

The launch pricing of MUTM is fixed at $0.06. First of all, this already indicates that the existing price of $0.04 is attractive. Most of those who bought this cheap crypto during the early stages target making money through a potential increase of 410% once it is released. Individuals seeking advice on the best crypto to invest in during the early stages or when it is newly released can find this gap difficult to ignore.

The team is not only hyping the community. There is an independent audit ongoing as Halborn Security is currently analyzing MUTM’s lending/borrowing agreements. The code is complete and is set to undergo official testing. This is an important factor in trust-building. This makes MUTM a defi crypto project developed carefully, not hastily. Projects that concentrate on security first are likely to gain increased future support.

Adding Value After the Token Price

Mutuum Finance is also working on the development of actual tools. They confirmed that V1 protocol launch is going to take place on the Sepolia testnet in Q4 2025. This first version of the project will comprise a liquidity pool, mtToken, debt token, as well as a liquidator bot. ETH and USDT are the two first assets that will be used for lending and borrowing. More assets will be added after the test phase, which represents an important step for those wondering what is the best cryptocurrency to buy for long-term use.

Demand is usually high during the presale stages and may define how events will likely unfold thereafter. Phase 7 is essentially playing that role for MUTM. Buyers can see that the price floor is rising, another phase is just around the corner, and the launch price is set higher. This makes for compelling buying demand that may well illustrate why MUTM is the best cryptocurrency to buy now.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://mutuum.com/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

A Whale identified as BitcoinOG has just deposited 112,894 ETH on Binance today, valued at approximately $332 million. BitcoinOG surfaced in August with approximately $11 billion worth of Bitcoin. The whale opened almost $900 million in short positions across BTC and ETH.

Lookonchain data tracked an address belonging to the Whale, showing a series of transactions made during the Christmas week. This is not the first time the whale has made such transactions. The Whale had deposited 100,000 ETH valued at approximately $292 million on December 24th. 

BitcoinOG faces roughly $48 million floating loss in unrealized gains

The Whale has now cashed out $332 million and opened a series of longs signaling a potential market upside in 2026. Based on on-chain data, BitcoinOG has opened $749 million worth of long positions in BTC, ETH, and SOL.

ETH holds the largest position, with approximately $598 million, and a liquidation price of $2,143. It is followed by roughly $87 million in BTC and $63 million in SOL. BitcoinOG has so far incurred a loss of approximately $48 million in unrealized gains across all its positions. 

BREAKING!

The #BitcoinOG(1011short) with a massive $749M long position in $BTC, $ETH, and $SOL, just deposited 112,894 $ETH($332M) into #Binance again.https://t.co/rM9dXV3Ln4https://t.co/Fsi6okD47f pic.twitter.com/qVlZ4c6Htx

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) December 30, 2025

BitcoinOG came to light when it correctly predicted the October $19 billion market crash. Based on Onchain Lens, the Whale opened a 5,000 BTC short position with a 6X leverage and later changed to 8X leverage.

The entry price was $120,761, with a liquidation price of $133,760 on October 10. The October crash resulted in the crypto market losing approximately $19 million, driving the BTC price below $100,000 for the first time this year.

Based on on-chain analysis, the Whale has been routing funds across BTC and ETH as a short-term strategy to take on market rallies. For instance, on August 21, BitcoinOG sold $5 billion worth of BTC to ETH. The transaction involved a series of deposits, including $2.59 billion sold for a $2.2 billion spot ETH and a $577 million Ether perpetual long position. The Whale’s activity triggered a series of purchases on-chain within that day, traders cumulatively acquiring $456 million worth of ETH. 

The Whale briefly surpassed Sharplink, which is currently second in ETH holdings, valued at $2.57 billion in August. Ethereum-focused public firms, which hold roughly 6.81 million ETH valued at $20.31 billion, have Bitmine leading with approximately 67% of the share. Bitmine holds 4.07 million ETH valued at $12.12 billion, representing approximately 3.36% of the total ETH supply.  

BTC Whales buy into the dip across the $80-$90K range 

According to a recent Cryptopolitan report, Bitcoin Whales are buying into the current dip, with BTC pricing around $88,000. Bitcoin Whales represent addresses holding between 1000 and 10000 BTC. The report noted that most whales are buying into the dip while small investors are selling. The report cited the Whale’s Accumulation Trend Score, a metric that tracks whether investors are buying or selling crypto assets over the past 15 days, which is close to 1. 

Glassnode analytics data indicates a score of nearly 1, which signifies accumulation rather than distribution, as the score typically approaches 0. The analysis suggests that whales are strategically accumulating BTC in the range of $ 80,000 to $ 90,000. The current BTC dip resembles the one experienced in April, when BTC dropped to an all-time low for 2025, approximately $76K, before it rose to its all-time high of $126K in October. 

The Bitcoin price has maintained a moderate change today, showing only a 0.1% change over the past 24 hours. At the time of publication, BTC was trading at $87,812, with a market cap of $1.75 trillion. ETH  was trading at $2,973 at the time of publication. 

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Britain received the lowest investment among the G7 nations in 2025 despite renewed hopes by officials to improve the economy.

The United Kingdom has witnessed the lowest capital inflow among the G7 nations this year. According to official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), British investments in the Government and businesses settled at 18.6% in the three months to September.

The figures reveal that the investment the UK drew in 2025 lagged behind that drawn by Germany, which is currently considered to be in its most extended period of stagnation since the Second World War. 

The declining numbers pose a significant challenge to the Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves, who have actively shown proactive efforts to attract more investment in the country by cutting planning red tape and spearheading a crackdown on regulators. However, official data shows that Britain’s economy has either shrunk or remained stagnant in 9 out of the 16 months Labour has held office.

Experts believe Britain’s investment frameworks are discouraging investors

Expert commentators have expressed concerns that Britain’s current investment frameworks could be discouraging investments. However, other European countries have shown proactive efforts to lure international investors.

For instance, Italy claimed the top spot as the best-performing country in the G7 this year despite being regarded as Europe’s weakest link in the past. The country’s recent growth is primarily credited to moves made by its Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, to attract foreign investment in the country.

The Prime Minister initiated growth-oriented policies such as welfare cuts, which have incentivized more people to work, and tax breaks to attract wealthy expats. On the other hand, Japan recorded the highest investment-to-GDP ratio in the G7 at 27.4%. The Asian country typically invests heavily in infrastructure.

The UK’s limited investment is negatively affecting the nation’s economic potential, according to experts. Tera Allas, Chairperson of the Productivity Institute’s advisory board, said that low investment levels have a significant impact on the UK economy. She also mentioned that the most significant economic problem in Britain is the lack of investment.

Allas added that the UK has a history of policy uncertainties that dampened business investment. She explained that the British planning system is complex and can sometimes slow down the process, which can be frustrating for investors. 

Tera Allas detailed that the UK’s sluggish investment figures represent a dark historical attitude in which businesses and the Government had not focused on building future frameworks. She said that business culture and attitudes of leaders hint at risk aversion and short-termism.

The Productivity Institute stated that the UK would take almost 100 years to catch up with countries such as Germany and the Netherlands if it were to increase its investment rate by approximately four percentage points of GDP. South African businessman Jonathan Oppenheimer also gave similar comments about Britain’s investment environment. The Billionaire said the UK had become uninvestable due to slow decision-making and planning rules.” 

Investors halt projects in the UK, citing poor investment conditions

The UK’s economic constraints have already led to investments from high-profile casualties, including pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. The drugmaker halted a £279 million construction plan for its London lab. Global medicine manufacturer AstraZeneca suspended its plans to build a research site in Cambridge worth £200 million. Merck, a US-based multinational pharmaceutical company, also scrapped a £1 billion plan to develop a research center in the capital.

UK consumer spending has also declined for the first time since 2020, as concerns about the rising cost of living take precedence. According to a recent Cryptopolitan report, the number of British consumers spending on their debit and credit cards dropped this year.

Data from Barclays reveals that despite the spending decline, people still showed interest in spending on small luxuries and experiences. The bank reported that the value of card spending decreased by 0.2% compared to 2024.

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Tesla put analyst predictions for its car deliveries up on its website, and the numbers don’t look great. At the same time, a big supplier just revealed that its battery contract with the carmaker got slashed by almost everything.

According to what Tesla posted, analysts think the company will deliver around 422,850 cars between October and December. That’s down 15% from the same time last year. Bloomberg’s own count of what analysts expect is a bit higher at 445,061 vehicles, but that’s still a 10% drop.

Tesla’s investor relations team has been tracking these predictions for years now, but this is the first time they’ve actually put the numbers out there for everyone to see on their website.

Second year of declining sales expected

Things aren’t looking up for the year either. The company is on track for its second year in a row of declining sales. Analysts figure Tesla will deliver about 1.6 million vehicles total this year, which is over 8% less than last year.

Sales took a hit early this year when Tesla had to shut down production at its plants to retool the lines for the redesigned Model Y. That’s their most popular car. Around that same time, CEO Elon Musk got involved with the Trump administration, which stirred up plenty of controversy.

Third quarter was actually a bright spot. Deliveries jumped to a record high as U.S. buyers rushed to get electric vehicles before the $7,500 federal tax credits went away at the end of September.

When those incentives disappeared at the start of this quarter, Tesla tried to soften the blow by rolling out stripped-down versions of the Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan. Both came in under $40,000.

Even with sales dropping, Tesla’s stock is still up for the year. Shares climbed 14% through Monday, though that trails the S&P 500’s 17% gain.

Massive battery supply contract collapses

On another front, there’s trouble with a supplier. L&F Co., a South Korean company, made an announcement Monday about a contract with Tesla that pretty much disappeared. The deal was originally worth 3.83 trillion won, which comes out to $2.67 billion. It got reduced to 9.73 million won. That’s a 99% cut. The company’s filing blamed it on supply quantity changes.

What went wrong? The Cybertruck kept getting pushed back, so hardly any material ended up being delivered. Customers were going for other Tesla vehicles, the Model 3 and Model Y mostly. There were other factors at play too. The elimination of Inflation Reduction Act subsidies was one of them.

L&F released a statement. They said the revision couldn’t be helped because of shifts in the global EV market and how battery supplies work. Their main high-nickel product shipments haven’t been affected, they noted. Deliveries to big Korean battery cell manufacturers are continuing as normal.

The company supplies others besides Tesla. LG Energy Solution is one of them. L&F’s stock took an 11% hit in Seoul trading Tuesday. For the year, shares are up around 16%. That looks small next to the Kospi Index, which jumped 76%.

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