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CRYPTO
Coinbase Pushes for Tokenized Stocks
Coinbase is pursuing approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer tokenized equities—digital versions of traditional stocks that trade on the blockchain. This move could place Coinbase in direct competition with brokers like Robinhood and Schwab.
Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal said this initiative is a “huge priority” and reiterated Coinbase’s stance that the SEC should enable digital securities markets. Tokenized equities allow for 24/7 trading and have been a longstanding ambition for the company, which first attempted a launch in 2021. CFO Alesia Haas noted that regulatory roadblocks under SEC Chair Gary Gensler halted earlier efforts, but a more crypto-friendly administration could revive the conversation.
Coinbase may seek a “no action letter” from the SEC, which would indicate the agency does not plan to challenge the offering. It remains unclear which legal path Coinbase will pursue, but the company is signaling renewed momentum in pushing tokenized finance forward.
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TECH
Meta Offers $100M to Poach Talent
Meta has aggressively tried to recruit top OpenAI talent by offering massive compensation packages—some with signing bonuses up to $100 million, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Speaking on the “Uncapped” podcast, Altman said none of OpenAI’s top employees have accepted the offers. He noted Meta views OpenAI as a primary competitor and has struggled with its own AI initiatives. Meta’s recent $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, along with high-profile hires like Google DeepMind’s Jack Rae, signals a deep push into “superintelligence” research. While Altman criticized Meta’s strategy of big upfront pay as counterproductive to innovation, other analysts argue Meta’s open-source Llama models have laid critical groundwork for AI progress.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has personally led efforts to build a top-tier AI team and remains committed to massive investments in the space. Despite criticism, Meta’s expanding footprint in open-source AI and billion-dollar talent acquisitions is reshaping the competitive AI landscape.
FINANCE
Stocks Slide as War Fears Grow
Stocks fell Tuesday as investors reacted to rising geopolitical tensions. The S&P 500 dropped 0.84% amid reports that former President Trump is considering U.S. military action in support of Israel’s campaign against Iran. Trump’s calls for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and threats against its leadership on Truth Social have fueled fears of escalation. Oil stocks rose as investors anticipated supply disruptions, with prices climbing 15% over five days.
The market is also closely watching the Federal Reserve, which is expected to hold interest rates steady despite Trump’s pressure for cuts. Analysts believe the Fed wants to maintain independence and is unlikely to shift policy without stronger economic signals.
This marks a shift from Trump’s previous market disruptions, which were driven by tariffs. A broader conflict could hit tech and retail through supply chain risks, while energy may continue to rally. Analysts warn any misstep, like targeting oil exports, could spark a global crisis.
DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.