最新ニュース VanEck Merk Gold ETF (ARCA:OUNZ)

The investment seeks to provide investors with an opportunity to invest in gold through the shares and be able to take delivery of physical gold in exchange for those shares.

VanEck Merk Gold Trust

VanEck Merk Gold ETF

News

LDOS

Leidos Signs MoU With Saudi Arabia's National Security Services To Enhance Threat Detection Across Airports And Borders

Amid mounting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44677497/microsoft-fires-employee-protestors-who-disrupted-50th-anniversary-event-you-have-shown-no-remorse-for-the-effect-that-your-actions-have">employee protests</a> over its contracts with the Israeli government, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) is reportedly blocking internal and external emails.
What Happened: According to the employee-led protest group No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA), dozens of Microsoft workers discovered that emails containing the terms "Palestine," "Gaza" or "Genocide" in subject lines or message bodies were temporarily blocked from being sent, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/672312/microsoft-block-palestine-gaza-email">reported</a> The Verge.
In a statement, NOAA organizers said that words like ‘Israel' or even altered spellings like ‘P4lestine' do not trigger such a block.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44508019/tesla-and-other-us-robotics-giants-demand-federal-strategy-to-compete-with-chinas-138-billion-push-warn-america-will-lose-the-race-without-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla And Other US Robotics Giants Demand Federal Strategy To Compete With China&#8217;s $138 Billion Push — Warn America Will Lose The Race Without It</a>
Microsoft confirmed to the publication that it had implemented email restrictions, citing concerns over politically charged mass messaging.
"Emailing large numbers of employees about any topic not related to work is not appropriate. We have an established forum for employees who have opted in to political issues," Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw told the outlet.
Why It's Important: The censorship comes during a week of high-profile disruptions at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45505379/whats-going-on-with-microsoft-stock">Microsoft's Build developer</a> conference.
On Monday, employee Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's keynote, accusing the company of supporting "Israeli war crimes powered by Azure." Lopez was fired later that day after sending a mass email about Microsoft's ties to Israel, the report said.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Other protests followed throughout the week, including disruptions from a Palestinian tech worker and two former employees.
Last month also a Microsoft employee <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44655911/microsoft-worker-disrupts-50th-anniversary-celebration-hurls-accusations-at-ai-ceo-mustafa-suleyman-while-calling-the-tech-giant-war-profiteer">disrupted the company&#8217;s 50th-anniversary event</a>, accusing the tech giant of being a &#8220;war profiteer&#8221; and complicit in war crimes.&nbsp;
Microsoft has acknowledged contracts with the Israeli government but said reviews found "no evidence" of its tools being used to harm people in Gaza, the report added.
Price Action: Microsoft's stock fell by 1.22% on Wednesday and slipped another 0.060% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings assigns MSFT a growth score of 52.03%. Curious how it stacks up against other stocks? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here for the full analysis</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/22012557/Screenshot-2025-05-22-at-10.55.09%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-923774" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Photo Courtesy: Bumble Dee on Shutterstock.com
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

MSFT

Microsoft Faces Employee Protests Over Email Censorship, Satya Nadella-Led Company Explains Rationale

Financial considerations Under the terms of the merger agreement, Sanofi and Vigil have agreed to the following:
<ul>
<li>Sanofi will acquire all outstanding common shares of Vigil for $8 per share in cash at closing, representing an equity value of approximately $470 million (on a fully diluted basis)</li>
<li>In addition, Vigil's shareholders will receive a non-transferrable contingent value right (CVR) per Vigil share, which will entitle its holder to receive a deferred cash payment of $2, conditioned upon the first commercial sale of VG-3927.</li>
</ul>
To demonstrate their commitment to the transaction, Bruce Booth, Atlas Ventures, and CEO Ivana Magovčević-Liebisch have signed voting and support agreements in favor of the deal. The shares subject to these agreements represent a total of approximately 16.2% of Vigil's total common shares outstanding.

VIGL

Reported Earlier, Sanofi To Acquire Vigil Neuroscience In $470M Deal, Boosting Neurology Pipeline With Investigational Alzheimer's Medicine

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) blistering rise past $110,000 has handed El Salvador another headline-worthy windfall, prompting President Nayib Bukele to fire back at critics with a screenshot of the country's Bitcoin treasury and the quip, "They said, ‘Don't take screenshots, take profits.'"
What Happened: Bukele's image, posted on X, pegs the nation's stash of roughly 6,180 BTC at $678 million—an unrealized gain of about $386 million, or 132%, on the $292 million the government has spent buying the dips since 2021. Bukele had posted a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45490643/el-salvadors-bitcoin-holdings-show-357-million-in-unrealized-profit-as-bitcoin-closes-at-record-highs">similar screenshot</a> on May 19 after BTC had edged past the $105,000 mark.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">They said, "Don't take screenshots, take profits" &#x1f937;&#x1f3fb;&#x200d;&#x2642;&#xfe0f; <a href="https://t.co/dEKP5Y4qzc">https://t.co/dEKP5Y4qzc</a> <a href="https://t.co/2lx8sPWBSJ">pic.twitter.com/2lx8sPWBSJ</a>
&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1925347440774791552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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His post landed shortly after Bitcoin shattered its prior record of $109,241 set on Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556607/bitcoin-clocks-110000-ethereum-dogecoin-extend-gains-experienced-trader-peter-brandt-speculates-btc-to-enter-this-range-by-august-end">sprinting to $110,700</a> overnight. Trading volume ballooned 76% in the past 24 hours, signaling heavy speculative interest as derivatives open interest also hit fresh highs.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45557042/unicoin-ceo-alex-konanykhin-calls-sec-fraud-charges-blatantly-false-vows-to-fight-in-court">Unicoin CEO Alex Konanykhin Calls SEC Fraud Charges &#8216;Blatantly False,&#8217; Vows To Fight In Court</a>
El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in September 2021, a first for any nation, and has steadily averaged down on price despite International Monetary Fund pressure to limit exposure. The IMF's $1.4 billion program approved in March allows the country to keep a "strategic reserve" without adding Bitcoin to wider public-sector balance sheets, a loophole Bukele continues to exploit.
Why It Matters: Bitcoin's latest leg higher follows a U.S. Senate committee vote <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45511929/coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-hails-huge-win-as-genius-act-advances-with-bipartisan-senate-support">advancing</a> stable-coin legislation and JPMorgan's surprise move to let <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45501880/jamie-dimon-opens-jpmorgan-to-bitcoin-access-despite-longstanding-criticism">clients buy the asset</a> — developments analysts say highlight mainstream acceptance. Corporate demand remains a tailwind too. BTC treasury firm Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) added another <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45496435/strategy-adds-765-million-in-bitcoin-faces-lawsuit-over-btc-holdings">$765 million worth</a> of coins earlier in the week, lifting its trove above $63 billion.
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $111,691.50, up 1.95% in the last 24 hours, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Photo Courtesy: egaranugrah On Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45536067/michael-saylor-uses-dmc-delorean-back-to-the-future-reference-to-promote-bitcoinshiba-inu-joins-in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Saylor Drops ‘Back To The Future' Reference To Promote Bitcoin, Shiba Inu Flaunts Its Own DeLorean Links</a>

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$BTC

MSTR

Nayib Bukele Hits Back At Naysayers After Bitcoin Bolts Past $110,000: 'They Said, Don't Take Screenshots, Take Profits' — Flaunts El Salvador's Neat Gains

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, au Jibun Bank Japan Services Purchasing Managers' Index Preliminary For May 50.8 Vs. 52.4

As U.S. Treasury yields spike alongside falling equities and a weakening dollar, investor Chamath Palihapitiya puts the blame squarely on the media and the political establishment.
What Happened: On Wednesday, in a post on X, Palihapitiya, while talking about the rising yields and renewed volatility in the bond markets amid falling equities, said, &#8220;The bond market understands what has transpired and it doesn&#8217;t like it.&#8221; 
&#8220;Rates are rising, and may now move rapidly,&#8221; he said, and while this comes in the lead up to the passing of President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; which offers extensive tax breaks in the face of mounting fiscal deficits, Chamath blames this on journalists and politicians. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/05/45557031/trump-considers-taking-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-public-calls-mortgage-giants-very-profitable-says-timing-seems-right">Trump Considers Taking Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Public, Calls Mortgage Giants &#8216;Very Profitable,&#8217; Says Timing Seems Right</a>
He says the recent actions to &#8220;sideline DOGE,&#8221; or the Department of Government Efficiency, were short-sighted and politically motivated, and argues that those behind the push are now facing an &#8220;uncomfortable new reality&#8221; as borrowing costs rise.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Cutting your nose off to spite your face&#8230; The bond market understands what has transpired and it doesn&#39;t like it. Rates are rising, and may now move rapidly. Many of the same journos, politicians and media who thought they &quot;won&quot; by trying to sideline DOGE will now face an… <a href="https://t.co/K5VLC7kiGZ">https://t.co/K5VLC7kiGZ</a>
&mdash; Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) <a href="https://twitter.com/chamath/status/1925302874554474606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Many of the same journos, politicians and media who thought they ‘won' by trying to sideline DOGE will now face an uncomfortable new reality in their personal financial lives and those of their constituents,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They will then realize, but never admit, that what they did was reckless.&#8221;
Palihapitiya prefaced this post with the phrase &#8220;Cutting your nose off to spite your face,&#8221; framing this as a cautionary tale against short-sightedness in politics and public policy.
The post drew swift pushback on X, with several prominent users questioning the logic behind blaming the media and journalists. 
Among them was Seth Antiles, a macroeconomist, who criticized Palihapitiya's shifting narrative. &#8220;Chamath, remember a few weeks ago when you said the Trump team was orchestrating an economic slowdown to bring down bond yields? You were mistaken then, and you are mistaken now as well,&#8221; Antiles said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Chamath, remember a few weeks ago when you said the Trump team was orchestrating an economic slowdown to bring down bond yields? You were mistaken then and you are mistaken now as well. Trump and Bessent should not have wasted political capital on tariffs. Their priority should…
&mdash; Seth Antiles (@AntilesSeth) <a href="https://twitter.com/AntilesSeth/status/1925310065927745647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Antiles further adds that the Trump administration wasted valuable political capital on the tariffs, when &#8220;their priority should have been on deficit reduction.&#8221;
Why It Matters: Several prominent experts have criticized Trump&#8217;s proposed budget reconciliation bill over the past couple of days. 
This includes investor Kevin O&#8217;Leary, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45539686/kevin-oleary-warns-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-could-be-devastating-for-small-businesses-somebodys-got-to-raise-the-red-flag">expressed concerns</a> regarding part of the bill that pertains to small business tax audits, which he warned could cause &#8220;chaos in valuations.&#8221;
Macro strategist Craig Shapiro said that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45536595/big-beautiful-bill-will-explode-the-deficit-and-make-the-rich-richer-congressional-budget-office">proposed bill would</a> &#8220;explode the deficit,&#8221; while enriching those in the highest income bracket, at the expense of those in the lowest. 
University of Michigan Economist Justin Wolfers referred to it as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45535537/trumps-budget-agenda-is-reverse-robin-hood-economics-says-justin-wolferstakes-from-working-families-gives-to-the-rich">&#8220;pure reverse Robin Hood,&#8221;</a> adding that it is &#8220;stacked towards the upper end of the upper end of the upper end of the economic food chain.&#8221; Wolfers also warned that the budget&#8217;s structure could validate the recent downgrading of U.S. Government bonds by Moody&#8217;s.
There, however, are a few proponents of the bill, or parts of the bill, with a few supporters. This includes the &#8220;No Tax On Tips Act,&#8221; which was one of Trump&#8217;s key campaign promises, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45533526/trumps-no-tax-on-tips-agenda-gets-a-boost-as-senate-approves-bill-ted-cruz-praises-presidents-political-genius-for-backing-the-idea">got the backing</a> of Sen.&nbsp;Ted Cruz&nbsp;(R-Texas), who called the move &#8220;political genius.&#8221;
Price Action: U.S. 30-Year Treasury yields are now at 5.09%, with the 10-Year Notes now yielding 4.59%.
Photo Courtesy: Kathy Hutchins on Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45557355/elon-musk-wants-the-us-government-to-hang-up-the-phone-government-is-wasting-about-100-million-per-year-on-unused-phone-lines">Elon Musk Wants The US Government To Hang Up The Phone: &#8216;Government Is Wasting About $100 Million Per Year On Unused Phone Lines&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

Government

Federal Reserve

Chamath Palihapitiya Slams Anti-DOGE Crusade As Catalyst For Bond Turmoil —Says Critics 'Will Never Admit It'

Two Israeli Embassy staff members died Wednesday evening in a targeted shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington, D.C. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the fatalities, calling for justice against the &#8220;depraved perpetrator.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Two Israeli Embassy staff were senselessly killed tonight near the Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share. Please pray for the families of the victims. We will bring this depraved perpetrator to justice.
&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1925390666441314737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Israeli Embassy spokeswoman Tal Naim Cohen said staff were shot at &#8220;close range&#8221; outside a diplomatic reception. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x2A;Spokesperson at the Israeli embassy in Washington Tal Naim Cohen&#x2A;: Two staff members of the Israeli embassy were shot this evening at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on…
&mdash; Tal Naim (@TalNaim_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalNaim_/status/1925394890952745329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Israel&#8217;s UN Ambassador Danny Danon characterized the attack as &#8220;anti-Semitic terrorism,&#8221; stating, &#8220;harming diplomats crosses a red line.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The fatal shooting that took place outside the event that took place at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. is a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Harming the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against… <a href="https://t.co/mVyXHjGyxU">pic.twitter.com/mVyXHjGyxU</a>
&mdash; Danny Danon &#x1f1ee;&#x1f1f1; דני דנון (@dannydanon) <a href="https://twitter.com/dannydanon/status/1925388251864379433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The incident highlights escalating security threats against Jewish institutions nationwide. The museum recently received federal security grants due to rising antisemitism concerns. 
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the scene while Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel confirmed federal assistance. Officials report no ongoing public safety threat.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I am on the scene of the horrible shooting outside the Washington, DC Capital Jewish Museum with <a href="https://twitter.com/USAttyPirro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USAttyPirro</a>. Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more.
&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1925386917366911042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and near our Washington Field Office. While we're working with MPD to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families. We will keep…
&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1925395640835604530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBIWFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBIWFO</a> has responded with our <a href="https://twitter.com/DCPoliceDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCPoliceDept</a> partners to a shooting that occurred tonight on 3rd and F Streets NW. There is no ongoing threat to public safety. <a href="https://t.co/BPzoH9JFbH">pic.twitter.com/BPzoH9JFbH</a>
&mdash; FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIWFO/status/1925389573665767743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Image Via Shutterstock
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45557202/nvidia-founder-jensen-huang-surpassed-by-satoshi-nakamoto-in-personal-wealth-as-bitcoin-tops-111000">Bitcoin&#8217;s $111,000 Move Puts Satoshi Nakamoto Above Nvidia&#8217;s Jensen Huang In Personal Wealth &#8211; Where Would The Mysterious Crypto Founder Rank Among Global Billionaires?</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

General

Two Israeli Embassy Staff Killed In Shooting Near DC Museum

Jim Cramer wrote on X Wednesday that bonds will &#8220;overshoot and then settle,&#8221; predicting that a turbocharged economy could emerge from the current budget agreement despite near-term market volatility.
What Happened: &#8220;Bonds will overshoot and then settle. They will get to a level that brings in actual buyers and then we will have a turbocharged economy from that budget agreement. We just can&#8217;t believe any of that right now. But it is possible,&#8221; CNBC&#8217;s Cramer posted on X.
His comments came as Treasury yields spiked to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">multi-month highs Wednesday</a>, with the 30-year bond yield hitting 5.08% &#8211; the highest level since October 2023. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield traded at 4.59%, while the 2-year yield reached 4.00%.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Bonds will overshoot and then settle. They will get to a level that brings in actual buyers and then we will have a turbocharged economy from that budget agreement. We just can&#39;t believe any of that right now. But it is possible.
&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1925295837682315296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The bond market selloff accelerated following a weak $16 billion 20-year Treasury auction that showed soft demand. The bid-to-cover ratio came in at 2.46, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">sitting near the bottom quartile</a> of the last 50 auctions, according to Exante Data analysis.
The yield surge triggered broad equity weakness, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 816.80 points or 1.91% to 41,860.44. The S&amp;P 500 shed 1.61% to 5,844.61, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.41% to 18,872.64. 
High-growth tech stocks, including NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>), and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) fell over 2.5% during the Treasury market spike.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/05/45557031/trump-considers-taking-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-public-calls-mortgage-giants-very-profitable-says-timing-seems-right">Trump Considers Taking Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Public, Calls Mortgage Giants &#8216;Very Profitable,&#8217; Says Timing Seems Right</a>
Why It Matters: Market participants remain focused on fiscal policy under President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration, with the proposed tax-and-spending package <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">potentially slashing federal revenues</a> by $4.1 trillion through 2034, according to the Tax Foundation. 
Economist Justin Wolfers criticized the bill as &#8220;reverse Robin Hood,&#8221; while Moody&#8217;s recent sovereign debt downgrade amplified <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45535537/trumps-budget-agenda-is-reverse-robin-hood-economics-says-justin-wolferstakes-from-working-families-gives-to-the-rich">existing fiscal sustainability concerns</a>.
&#8220;Budget deficits matter,&#8221; said veteran investor Ed Yardeni. &#8220;That&#8217;s especially so when they lead to higher interest rates, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">higher bond yields, and potentially higher inflation</a>.&#8221;
Image Via Shutterstock
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556921/mark-zuckerberg-slams-endless-one-on-one-meetings-says-i-just-like-explode-without-open-blocks-of-time-in-the-calendar">Mark Zuckerberg Gets &#8216;Really Frustrated&#8217; And In A Bad Mood When He Can&#8217;t Do This One Thing</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

Bonds

COIN

NVDA

PLTR

Jim Cramer Says Bonds Will 'Overshoot And Then Settle,' Predicts Turbocharged Economy From Budget Agreement

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Elon Musk amplified a cost-cutting move by President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Wednesday, stating that the U.S. government may be wasting $100 million a year on inactive phone lines.
What Happened: In a post on X, formerly Twitter, DOGE's official handle revealed that an internal audit found 198 out of 1,048 phone lines at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) were either unused or duplicated — roughly 19% of the total.
DOGE said canceling the lines took one hour and would save around $100,000 annually.
"Since OPM is ~0.1% of the federal government, this suggests that ~$100M/yr is wasted on unused lines," the agency wrote.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45534314/elon-musk-just-got-grilled-on-doge-spending-hits-back-with-were-not-kings-here">Elon Musk Just Got Grilled On DOGE Spending, Hits Back With &#8216;We&#8217;re Not Kings Here&#8217;</a>
Musk, who helped lead DOGE's early initiatives but announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45381782/elon-musk-vows-to-spend-less-time-in-white-house-doge-office-investors-warn-the-damage-is-done-and-teslas-troubles-are-far-from-over">plans to reduce</a> his involvement during <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44937440/tesla-q1-misses-estimates-as-tariff-pressures-weigh-on-outlook-lower-cost-evs-still-on-track">Tesla's first-quarter earnings call</a>, reposted the update and added:
"Government is wasting about $100 million per year on unused phone lines!"
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Government is wasting about $100 million per year on unused phone lines! <a href="https://t.co/UZQflu9jhl">https://t.co/UZQflu9jhl</a>
&mdash; Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1925367674894270940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This latest move by DOGE could impact leading telecom providers that deliver services to both residential and business customers.
Only 2% of U.S. adults use landlines exclusively, according to a 2023 <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/23/landline-telephone-holdouts/">report</a> by The Washington Post. In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission scrapped requirements that made it compulsory to run copper wires to each home. The report noted that Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) is the dominant landline player in the Northeast of the country.
Photo courtesy: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45396297/cathie-wood-dumps-palantir-as-stock-touches-peak-prices-bails-on-soaring-flying-taxi-maker-archer-aviation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Dumps Palantir As Stock Touches Peak Prices, Bails On Soaring Flying-Taxi Maker Archer Aviation</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ATUS

CHTR

CMCSA

DTEGY

FYBR

LUMN

NTTYY

ORANY

TMUS

TSLA

Elon Musk Wants The US Government To Hang Up The Phone: 'Government Is Wasting About $100 Million Per Year On Unused Phone Lines'

Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), is now wealthier than Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of the world&#8217;s largest semiconductor firm, Nvidia.
What happened: The cryptocurrency address linked to Satoshi held about $121.80 billion worth of Bitcoin at the time of writing, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham.
According to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list, Huang had an estimated wealth of $115 billion as of this writing. A few days back, Satoshi <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45393795/bill-gates-left-behind-by-satoshi-nakamoto-bitcoin-creators-wealth-now-eclipses-that-of-microsoft-co">pipped</a> Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in personal fortune.
Had Satoshi been ranked on Forbes' list, they would be the 11th-wealthiest person on the planet.
It is collectively believed that Satoshi owns roughly 1.1 million Bitcoin, making them the largest BTC whale.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45511186/coinbase-says-justice-department-has-launched-probe-into-its-recent-cyberattack">Coinbase Says DOJ Probing Latest Attack On Its Platform, Clarifies Its Not The &#8216;Subject&#8217; Of The Investigation</a>
Why It Matters: Nakamoto's true identity <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/who-is-satoshi-nakamoto">has been a subject of intense speculation</a> since the inception of Bitcoin in 2009. Various figures, including Bitcoin Core developers Peter Todd, Len Sassaman, and Nick Szabo have been linked to the mysterious personality over the years.
The surge in Satoshi's wealth follows a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556607/bitcoin-clocks-110000-ethereum-dogecoin-extend-gains-experienced-trader-peter-brandt-speculates-btc-to-enter-this-range-by-august-end">spectacular Bitcoin rally</a> that has sent the world's largest cryptocurrency past its previous highs. The asset's market capitalization <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556899/from-amazon-to-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathawaybitcoin-is-now-bigger-than-these-wall-street-titans">has surpassed</a> many Wall Street giants, including Amazon and Google's parent company, Alphabet.
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $111,774.17. up 4.66% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.&nbsp;
Photo Courtesy: Szabolcs Magyar On Shutterstock.com
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</ul>

Bitcoin's $111,000 Move Puts Satoshi Nakamoto Above Nvidia's Jensen Huang In Personal Wealth - Where Would The Mysterious Crypto Founder Rank Among Global Billionaires?

Alex Konanykhin, CEO of cryptocurrency company Unicoin, denounced the Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit against his company on Wednesday, calling the allegations &#8220;blatantly false.&#8221;
What Happened: In a LinkedIn post, Konanykhin <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/konanykhin_last-night-the-sec-launched-a-lawsuit-against-activity-7331039366309412866-6Cm8/">expressed </a>shock and disappointment over the regulator&#8217;s legal action. 
&#8220;This attack came when we believed a brighter future for cryptocurrency was emerging. Just a day before, SEC Commissioner Peirce, the Chair of its Crypto Task Force, said that such coins should not be regulated by the SEC,&#8221; he said.
In the speech referred to by Konanykhin, Hester Peirce <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/peirce-remarks-sec-speaks-051925">stated </a>that &#8220;most&#8221; cryptocurrencies were not securities according to her understanding.
&#8220;The SEC&#8217;s allegations are blatantly false. We intend to prove in court that they constitute yet another case of gross abuse of power,&#8221; Konanykhin said.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45489390/crypto-traders-who-secured-a-dinner-with-donald-trump-walked-away-with-major-profits-says-analysis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crypto Traders Who Secured A Dinner With Donald Trump Walked Away With Major Profits, Says Analysis &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Konanykhin further defended Unicoin, stating it is &#8220;the most compliant cryptocurrency company&nbsp;in the country,&#8221; and the only one&nbsp;with years of audited financials&nbsp;and detailed SEC reports. He vowed to fight the allegations, stating that the SEC&#8217;s actions have&nbsp;caused multi-billion-dollar damages to Unicoin&nbsp;investors.
Konanykhin&#8217;s defense comes a day after the SEC filed fraud charges against the New York-based company and its top executives, including the Unicoin CEO, for deceiving investors and raising more than $100 million. In addition, the firm was accused of violating federal securities laws by engaging in unregistered offers and sales of rights certificates.
Photo Courtesy: JRdes on Shutterstock.com
Unicoin was the title sponsor for Benzinga&#8217;s 2023 Fintech Deal Days&nbsp;and Future of Digital Assets Event.
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45536067/michael-saylor-uses-dmc-delorean-back-to-the-future-reference-to-promote-bitcoinshiba-inu-joins-in" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Saylor Drops &#8216;Back To The Future&#8217; Reference To Promote Bitcoin, Shiba Inu Flaunts Its Own DeLorean Links</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

Regulations

Unicoin CEO Alex Konanykhin Calls SEC Fraud Charges 'Blatantly False,' Vows To Fight In Court

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is giving &#8220;very serious consideration&#8221; to taking mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac&nbsp;public, signaling potential privatization of the government-sponsored enterprises.
What Happened: In a Truth Social post, Trump said he will consult with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte before making a decision. &#8220;Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH, and the time would seem to be right,&#8221; Trump stated.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://t.co/kJK33mcTh3">pic.twitter.com/kJK33mcTh3</a>
&mdash; U.S. Federal Housing (FHFA) (@FHFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FHFA/status/1925335513386324136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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The mortgage giants, which underpin approximately half of the U.S. residential mortgage market, have generated substantial cash flows since their 2008 conservatorship, according to Reuters. Both companies operate as for-profit corporations with private shareholders, purchasing home loans from private lenders and repackaging them as mortgage-backed securities.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45553121/snowflake-q1-earnings-revenue-eps-beat-estimates-ai-data-cloud-company-sees-25-growth-ahead-shares-climb">Snowflake Q1 Earnings: Revenue, EPS Beat Estimates, AI Data Cloud Company Sees 25% Growth Ahead, Shares Climb</a>
Why It Matters: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under Federal Housing Finance Agency conservatorship during the 2008 financial crisis after suffering overwhelming losses from the housing market collapse. The government intervention prevented catastrophic economic effects but maintained federal control over the entities.
FHFA Director Bill Pulte recently fired Freddie Mac CEO Diana Reid and placed senior FHFA officials on administrative leave. Pulte also dismissed 14 board members from both companies and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/03/44436692/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-in-upheaval-as-trump-administration-considers-privatizing-mortgage-giants">appointed himself chairman of both entities</a>.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/12/42734220/bill-ackman-sends-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-stocks-soaring-trump-likes-big-deals">recommended both companies as investments</a>, stating in December that he expects them to exit conservatorship under the Trump administration. &#8220;Trump likes big deals and this would be the biggest deal in history,&#8221; Ackman wrote.
Image Via Shutterstock
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Financing

FMCC

FNMA

Trump Considers Taking Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Public, Calls Mortgage Giants 'Very Profitable,' Says Timing Seems Right

Mark Zuckerberg says the secret of his calendar management is leaving it empty, and not packing it tight. "I try to generally keep a bunch of time open," the Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) chief told Stripe co-founder John Collison, adding that over-scheduling drives him "in a bad mood … I just like explode."
What Happened: Speaking to Collison at a recent fireside chat, Zuckerberg scrapped recurring one-on-one meetings — "I talk to all these people constantly, more than they want to talk to me," he joked — because every day's priorities change and he wants blocks to chase the top three tasks that pop up each morning.
"I get really frustrated and in a bad mood if my whole day is scheduled and there's a thing that I know is really important and I don't get time to do it because I'm sitting in other things that are not the most important thing to be doing," he tells Collison.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="A conversation with Mark Zuckerberg" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gF12Xn3C-0c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
His self-styled flexibility mirrors the "80 Percent Rule," a Google productivity mantra that advises leaders to book only 80% of the workday and leave the rest for surprises. Productivity coach Laura Mae Martin <a href="https://hbr.org/podcast/2024/04/treat-email-like-laundry-and-other-tips-from-googles-productivity-expert">says</a> leaders who "shoot to under-commit" hit the right workload sweet spot and avoid burnout.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45537630/trump-claimed-qatar-gifted-him-a-400-million-jet-but-insiders-say-the-us-initiated-the-deal">Trump Said Qatar Gifted Him A $400 Million Jet, But Insiders Say The US Initiated The Deal</a>
Zuckerberg echoed that rationale: leaving "a meaningful amount of your time open" lets him pounce on high-impact issues without delaying decisions.
The Growing Anti-Meeting Club: Zuckerberg now joins at least four other big-name bosses who shun standing check-ins. According to a CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/18/elon-musks-productivity-rules-according-to-tesla-email.html">report</a> from 2018, Tesla's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Elon Musk told staff to "walk out of a meeting" that adds no value, pressing for fewer, shorter gatherings. Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) founder Jeff Bezos enforces the "<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/psychology/24/12/42521026/jeff-bezos-prefers-messy-meetings-be-part-of-the-sausage-making-process?utm_source=chatgpt.com">two-pizza rule</a>," capping any session at the number of people two pizzas can feed.
Nvidia's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) Jensen Huang "prefers not to schedule one-on-one meetings," <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41383474/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-says-his-day-is-a-success-before-he-even-starts-work-he-explains-why-hes-nev">keeping himself available</a> on demand instead. Airbnb's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>) Brian Chesky has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45463946/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-reveals-why-he-doesnt-do-emails-and-early-morning-meetings-says-silicon-valley-founders-dont-need-to-be-miserable">banned internal email</a> and blocks all meetings before 10 am to curb "grind culture."
Photo Courtesy: Harmony Video Production on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45537159/gary-black-compares-ubers-shift-to-driverless-cars-with-netflixs-2007-move-from-dvds-to-streaming-says-tesla-faithful-are-missing-the-bigger-picture">Gary Black Compares Uber&#8217;s Shift To Driverless Cars With Netflix&#8217;s 2007 Move From DVDs To Streaming, Says Tesla &#8216;Faithful&#8217; Are Missing The Bigger Picture</a>

ABNB

AMZN

Mark Zuckerberg Gets 'Really Frustrated' And In A Bad Mood When He Can't Do This One Thing

Bitcoin overtook several Wall Street behemoths Wednesday to become the fifth-largest asset by market capitalization.
What happened: The leading cryptocurrency broke its all-time high, helped by a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45517785/bitcoin-to-hit-500000-by-2028-standard-chartered-says-as-etfs-buy-667m-on-monday">growing wave of institutional inflows</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45535042/recession-odds-tumble-on-kalshi-crypto-based-polymarket-as-trumps-tariff-concerns-subside">improved sentiment</a> around tariffs.
The rally pushed Bitcoin's market capitalization to $2.183 trillion, higher than some of the largest technology companies on the planet.
As seen from the table below, Bitcoin was more valuable than Amazon, Google&#8217;s parent company Alphabet, Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms and the electric vehicle juggernaut Tesla, all of which are part of the high-performing &#8220;Magnificent 7&#8221; cohort.
The leading cryptocurrency has also outperformed Saudi Aramco, the world&#8217;s largest oil producer and most valuable energy company.
Additionally, Bitcoin's valuation was nearly double that of Warren Buffett's multinational holding company Berkshire Hathaway 
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Asset</td>
<td>Market Capitalization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>$2.183 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</td>
<td>$2.135 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</td>
<td>$2.054 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Saudi Aramco</td>
<td>$1.683 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>$1.597 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</td>
<td>$1.093 trillion</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</td>
<td>$1.077 trillion</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Bitcoin was only surpassed by gold, which had a staggering $22.34 trillion capitalization, and the other Mag 7 firms, which included NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>).
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45511186/coinbase-says-justice-department-has-launched-probe-into-its-recent-cyberattack">Coinbase Says DOJ Probing Latest Attack On Its Platform, Clarifies Its Not The &#8216;Subject&#8217; Of The Investigation</a>
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $110,216.25, up 7.30% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Over the last year, the coin has gained over 57%.
The&nbsp;Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAGS#BATS">MAGS</a>), which offers exposure to the Mag 7 stocks, closed 1.10% lower at $51.42 during Wednesday&#8217;s regular session.
The ETF demonstrated a moderately high momentum score—a measure of the stock's relative strength based on its price movement patterns and volatility over multiple timeframes—as of this writing. If you are seeking similar high-momentum stocks for your portfolio, check out <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> for more details.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="730" height="193" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21223126/Screenshot-2025-05-22-080108.png" alt="" class="wp-image-923687" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21223126/Screenshot-2025-05-22-080108.png 730w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21223126/Screenshot-2025-05-22-080108-300x79.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Yalcin Sonat on Shutterstock.com
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AAPL

GOOGL

MAGS

From Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway To Jeff Bezos' Amazon — Bitcoin Is Now Outshining These Wall Street Titans

On Wednesday, Donald Trump's AI and crypto czar, David Sacks, backed the President's high-profile confrontations with global leaders, praising his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556089/trump-gives-south-african-president-the-zelenskyy-treatment-hits-cyril-ramaphosa-with-controversial-genocide-claims">Oval Office exchange</a> with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
What Happened: In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sacks shared a video of the exchange, saying, "There is literally nothing better than President Trump calling out foreign leaders at the White House."
"Zelensky didn't have the cards. Ramaphosa is playing dumb about genocide. President Trump brings the receipts," he added.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45536187/dan-ives-calls-teslas-austin-robotaxi-launch-a-watershed-moment-maintains-bullish-views-on-tesla" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dan Ives Calls Tesla's Austin Robotaxi Launch A ‘Watershed Moment,' Maintains Bullish Views On Tesla</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">There is literally nothing better than President Trump calling out foreign leaders at the White House. Zelensky didn't have the cards. Ramaphosa is playing dumb about genocide. President Trump brings the receipts. <a href="https://t.co/BZwSFhqLtt">pic.twitter.com/BZwSFhqLtt</a>
&mdash; David Sacks (@DavidSacks) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidSacks/status/1925244138045186309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Trump confronted Ramaphosa over allegations of violence against white farmers in South Africa. He showed a video of Black politicians allegedly chanting anti-apartheid slogans, ending with imagery of white crosses, which he claimed represented murdered white farmers.
Ramaphosa questioned the credibility of the video, while Afrikaner billionaire Johann Rupert, present at the meeting, pointed out that violence affects all South Africans, not just white farmers.
A footage from the meeting showing Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk intensely watching Ramaphosa has also quickly gone viral.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Elon Musk's piercing stare has captured the internet's attention — his eyes say it all. END RACISM IN SOUTH AFRICA! <a href="https://t.co/BrELCausQB">pic.twitter.com/BrELCausQB</a>
&mdash; Africalix (@Africa_lix) <a href="https://twitter.com/Africa_lix/status/1925305350665720009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Sacks, a South Africa-born tech investor and former PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>) executive, was appointed Trump's AI and crypto czar in December 2024. He holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and South Africa.
Musk, who was also born in South Africa, holds citizenship from South Africa, the U.S. and Canada.
Earlier this year, during an Oval Office meeting, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44064817/zelenskyy-says-not-sure-he-did-something-bad-after-public-spat-with-trump-jd-vance-we-have-to-be-very-honest-and-direct">Trump also criticized Ukrainian</a> President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not showing appreciation and accused him of lacking readiness for peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, it was also reported that South Africa may offer <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45537805/musks-starlink-could-sidestep-south-african-equity-rules-under-deal-aimed-at-calming-relations-ahead-of-trump-meeting-report">Musk a regulatory workaround</a> for Starlink as a diplomatic gesture. South African officials were reportedly scheduled to meet Musk or his team on Tuesday night to ease tensions before Ramaphosa's White House visit.
Photo Courtesy: Alexandros Michailidis On Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

PYPL

Trump's AI Czar Says Cyril Ramaphosa Is 'Playing Dumb About Genocide,' Credits US President For Bringing 'The Receipts' Amid Elon Musk's Icy Glare

In a volatile trading session on Wednesday, the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq indices faced downward pressure as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45550679/treasury-yields-top-5-these-20-stocks-tanked-in-just-one-hour">Treasury yields spiked above 5%</a>. This surge in yields led to a broad selloff, particularly impacting high-growth and tech stocks. The S&amp;P 500 fell by 1.6% to 5,844.61, while the Nasdaq dropped by 1.4% to 18,872.64. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 1.9% to 41,860.44.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)
UnitedHealth&#8217;s shares dropped 5.78% to close at $302.98. The stock hit an intraday high of $309.96 and a low of $300.07, with a 52-week range of $630.73 to $248.88. In the after-hours session, the stock declined 3.1% to $293.50. HSBC analyst Sidharth Sahoo <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45542169/this-unitedhealth-group-analyst-turns-bearish-here-are-top-3-downgrades-for-wednesday">downgraded UnitedHealth</a> Group from Hold to Reduce and slashed the price target from $490 to $270.
Snowflake Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>)
Snowflake shares fell 2.06% to $179.12, with a high of $184.09 and a low of $178.91. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $194.40 to $107.13. Snowflake stock spiked over 7% to $192.30 in after-hours trading as the company reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45553121/snowflake-q1-earnings-revenue-eps-beat-estimates-ai-data-cloud-company-sees-25-growth-ahead-shares-climb">better-than-expected first-quarter earnings</a>, with revenue of $1.04 billion and adjusted earnings of 24 cents per share.
Navitas Semiconductor Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVTS#NASDAQ">NVTS</a>)
Navitas Semiconductor saw its stock decline by 4.50%, closing at $1.91. The day&#8217;s high was $2.06, and the low was $1.88, with a 52-week range of $5.14 to $1.52. Navitas shares spiked as much as 188% to $5.50 in the after-hours trading. The company announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45554132/navitas-semiconductor-shares-soar-on-nvidia-collaboration">collaboration with NVIDIA</a> on next-generation architecture, which initially boosted the stock. 
Nike, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>)
Nike&#8217;s stock decreased by 4.12% to $59.98, reaching a high of $61.76 and a low of $59.88. The 52-week range stands at $98.04 to $52.28. Nike stock gained 1.7% in the after-hours traidng. The decline came despite news of Nike <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/05/45555035/nike-stock-sprints-higher-after-hours-as-retailer-returns-to-amazon-report">returning to sell</a> on Amazon after a six-year hiatus.
Target Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>)
Target shares fell 5.21% to $93.01, with an intraday high of $95.31 and a low of $90.60. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $167.40 to $87.35. The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45548732/target-under-strain-analyst-cautions-on-inventory-margins-amid-dei-and-tariff-issues">reported first-quarter sales</a> of $23.85 billion, missing analyst expectations. The retailer lowered its guidance for the financial year 2025 from the $8.80-$9.80 range to the $7 to $9 range.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows Nike checks out in terms of price trend in the short term, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">find out</a> how it ranks on other metrics.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="443" height="278" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21213507/Screenshot-2025-05-22-at-10.34.52.png" alt="" class="wp-image-923655" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21213507/Screenshot-2025-05-22-at-10.34.52.png 443w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21213507/Screenshot-2025-05-22-at-10.34.52-300x188.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Tada Images On Shutterstock.com
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

NVTS

SNOW

Unitedhealth, Snowflake, Navitas, Nike, And Target: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump, urging the latter to retreat on the taxes, as he did with the tariffs.
What Happened: On Wednesday, in a post on X, Summers said the &#8220;country risk trade is back,&#8221; citing simultaneous selloffs in U.S. bonds, equities and the dollar as a sign of rising economic fragility. 
&#8220;A few more days like today and recession will be likely,&#8221; Summers says, while adding that the probability of a &#8220;financial accident&#8221; is also climbing, referring to potential blow-ups in banks, hedge funds, and financial institutions that could cause liquidity to dry up, further exacerbating the crisis.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45551594/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-no-slowdown-in-consumer-spending-amid-tariffs">Amazon CEO Andy Jassy: No Slowdown In Consumer Spending Amid Tariffs</a>
Summers called on Trump to reconsider his proposed tax agenda, drawing parallels to Trump's recent tariff shift. &#8220;President Donald Trump needs to retreat on taxes just as he did on tariffs,&#8221; Summers says, referring to his walk-back on the aggressive tariff proposals following political and market backlash in recent weeks.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The U.S. country risk trade is back as bonds, stocks and the dollar all fell sharply today. A few more days like today and recession will be likely. And financial accident risk is rising as well. President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> needs to retreat on taxes just as he did on tariffs.
&mdash; Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) <a href="https://twitter.com/LHSummers/status/1925343683232088098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
As U.S. Treasury Yields spiked on Wednesday, with 30-Year Treasuries hitting 5.09%, the highest level since 2023, equity markets witnessed a steep decline, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 816.80 points, or 1.91%, the S&amp;P 500 dropping 1.61%, and the Nasdaq Composite index down 1.41%.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) dipped below the 100 level on Wednesday and is currently trading at 99.548, marking its third consecutive day of losses.
Why It Matters: Early this week, Summers warned that the U.S. was at <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/05/45484394/gold-hits-3500-as-larry-summers-says-u-s-market-is-on-a-path-to-crisis-like-uks-2022-meltdown">risk of a fiscal crisis</a> similar to the meltdown in the U.K. in 2022, calling it a &#8220;Liz Truss moment,&#8221; referring to the former British Prime Minister who was ousted soon after the crisis.
&#8220;We're on a path towards having an episode like that. I think it will be very costly for our economy, and for the global economy,&#8221; he said. 
Summers, a Clinton-era Treasury Secretary, said last week that it was Trump who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45423748/trump-blinked-on-china-tariffs-says-ex-treasury-secretary-larry-summers-sometimes-its-good-to-blink">blinked on the tariffs</a>, and despite being a vocal critic of this administration, he lauded the move, saying that &#8220;sometimes it&#8217;s good to blink.&#8221;
Photo Courtesy: Dilok Klaisataporn On Shutterstock.com
Read More:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45536595/big-beautiful-bill-will-explode-the-deficit-and-make-the-rich-richer-congressional-budget-office-estimates-4-income-fall-for-lowest-decile-of-americans-by-2033">Big Beautiful Bill Will &#8216;Explode The Deficit,&#8217; And Make The Rich Richer: Congressional Budget Office Estimates 4% Income Fall For Lowest Decile Of Americans By 2033</a></li>
</ul>

Larry Summers Asks Trump To 'Retreat' On Taxes Just Like He Did On Tariffs: 'Few More Days Like This And Recession Will Be Likely'

Major cryptocurrencies rode the wave of Bitcoin's fresh all-time highs on Wednesday, gaining momentum alongside the top coin by market capitalization.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>+2.55%</td>
<td>$109,618.48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+1.58%</td>
<td>$2,572.12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+4.97%</td>
<td>$0.2375</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: The leading cryptocurrency broke $110,000 overnight, hours after officially bettering its previous high of $109,241 set on President Donald Trump's inauguration day. Bitcoin's trading volume spiked 136% over the last 24 hours.
The rally rubbed off on Ethereum as the second-largest cryptocurrency reentered the $2,600 region, with volumes surging by 51%.
Ethereum's dominance increased to 9%, while Bitcoin's market share narrowed marginally to 63.2%
Over $232 million in bearish shorts were erased in the last 24 hours, out of the total liquidations worth nearly $403 million.
Moreover, about $713 million in Bitcoin shorts were at further risk of liquidation if the leading cryptocurrency advanced to $112,000.
Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest soared 16.73% in the last 24 hours to a new record of $78.89 billion, suggesting heightened speculative interest. Over 50% of derivatives traders with open BTC positions bet in favor of BTC as of this writing.
The market retained the "Greed" sentiment, according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, indicating high buying interest.
Top Gainers (24-Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cryptocurrency</td>
<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 8:45 p.m. ET)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>dogwifhat (WIF)</td>
<td>+12.19%</td>
<td>$1.11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monero (XMR)</td>
<td>+11.64%</td>
<td>$391.35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Core (CORE)</td>
<td>+11.42%</td>
<td>$0.8544</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.41 trillion, following an increase of 1.93% in the last 24 hours.
Stocks sank further on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 816.80 points, or 1.91%, to end at 41,860.44. The S&amp;P 500 slid 1.61% to close at 5,844.61, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.41% to end at 18,872.64.
The sell-offs came after long-dated U.S. Treasuries <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/05/45550324/us-bond-market-flashing-red-30-year-yield-tops-5-prices-tank-to-october-2023-lows">tumbled to their lowest levels</a> since October 2023, fueled by a weaker-than-expected bond auction and increasing deficit fears tied to Trump's proposed tax-cut plan.&nbsp;
The 30-year Treasury yield jumped above 5.08%, while the benchmark 10-year yield hit 4.61%.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: Seasoned trader Peter Brandt described Bitcoin making a new high as &#8220;wonderful&#8221; and stated he was long.
"Bull markets make ATHs all the time. It is the definition of a bull market. On track maybe for top of $125,000 to $150,000 by end of August," Brandt speculated.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I think it is wonderful Bitcoin is making ATHs. I am long. I actually think ATHs is not technically significant Bull markets make ATHs all the time. It is the definition of a bull market On track maybe for top of $125,000 to $150,000 by end of August???? (Hey trolls, note the… <a href="https://t.co/8PDatXYGP2">pic.twitter.com/8PDatXYGP2</a>
&mdash; Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterLBrandt/status/1925207233492869218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez said BTC was entering a price discovery phase, with $116,000, $126,000, $136,000 and $148,000 being the "next key levels" to watch out.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> is trading at new all-time highs, entering price discovery. The next key levels to watch are $116,000, $126,000, $136,000, and $148,000! <a href="https://t.co/yh3ShJ5X59">pic.twitter.com/yh3ShJ5X59</a>
&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1925316673911083149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: alfernec on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45541858/germany-sold-50000-bitcoin-below-60000-heres-how-much-it-missed-out-on">Germany Sold 50,000 Bitcoin Below $60,000: Here&#8217;s How Much It Missed Out On</a></li>
</ul>

Movers

Trading Ideas

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin Clocks $110,000, Ethereum, Dogecoin Extend Gains: Well-Known Trader Peter Brandt Says BTC Could Gain Another 37% As Soon As August

Long before Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) became a trillion-dollar giant, Jeff Bezos shrugged off <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/01/36606013/happy-60th-birthday-jeff-bezos-the-billionaire-survived-the-dot-com-bubble-burst-what-if">internet hype and leaned hard</a> into customer obsession—even as critics questioned his company's razor-thin margins and relentless expansion.
What Happened: In a 1999 interview with CNBC during the height of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40178601/global-market-crash-sparks-reflection-on-jeff-bezos-2000-dotcom-comments-after-amazons-80-plunge">dot-com boom</a>, the Amazon founder offered a candid view of his company's strategy and why customer satisfaction, not internet buzz, was Amazon's true north.
"It doesn't matter to me whether we're a pure internet play," Bezos said. "What matters to me is: do we provide the best customer service. Internet, shminternet … That doesn't matter."
At the time, Amazon was a fast-growing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42935158/whats-the-internet-jeff-bezos-faced-clueless-investors-before-launching-amazon-had-to-give-up-20-of-the-company-for-only-1-million">online bookstore expanding</a> into new verticals like electronics and toys, all while facing skepticism from investors about profitability and sustainability.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45484235/facebook-vs-orkut-one-became-meta-with-a-1-6-trillion-market-cap-the-other-was-shut-down-by-google-heres-why" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook Vs. Orkut: One Became Meta With A $1.6 Trillion Market Cap, The Other Was Shut Down By Google: Here's Why</a>
Bezos acknowledged the challenges but maintained that customer experience would define the company's long-term value.
"There's no guarantee that Amazon.com can be a successful company. What we're trying to do is very complicated," he admitted. "There's huge execution risk involved."
Bezos was especially adamant about aligning customer and shareholder interests. "In the long term, there is never any misalignment between customer interests and shareholder interests," he said.
When asked if that's a statement even Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) could make, he replied, "I think they should make that argument. It's the correct argument."
Bezos also rejected the idea that Amazon's growth, marked by sprawling warehouses and thousands of employees, was an expensive gamble. Compared to opening an equivalent network of retail stores, Amazon's distribution centers are not the same, he stated.
"You can't compare a big chain of retail stores to half a dozen distribution centers," he told the interviewer, "It's bad math."
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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Why It's Important: Bezos' early insistence on customer-centricity helped Amazon weather the brutal dot-com crash of the early 2000s, which wiped out competitors like Pets.com and Webvan.
Despite Amazon's stock plunging from $113 to just $6 in less than a year, the company survived—thanks to what CNBC later <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/18/dotcom-bubble-amazon-stock-lost-more-than-90percent-long-term-investors-still-got-rich.html">described</a> as "shrewd management and a lucky last-minute infusion of capital."
After branching out beyond books in 1998, Amazon reportedly first turned a profit in the final quarter of 2001, following a strong holiday shopping season.
From there, 2003 marked its first full year of profitability. Net income rose sharply from $3 million in the fourth-quarter of 2002 to $73 million in the same period in 2003, resulting in a total annual profit of $35 million—an impressive recovery from a $149 million loss the year before, <a href="https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2023/05/01/the-history-of-amazon-and-its-rise-to-success/">according</a> to the Michigan Journal of Economics which cited reports from ABC and the New York Times.
Today, with Amazon operating everything from cloud services to logistics and groceries, Bezos' 1999 vision, centered not on buzzwords but on customers, appears remarkably prescient. The company currently has a market capitalization of $2.16 trillion, whereas Walmart has a market capitalization of $782.48 billion.
Based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, AMZN showed solid price performance over short and long-term periods. It ranked in the 66th percentile for momentum and the 91st percentile for growth. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More details on these metrics are available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/21045411/Screenshot-2025-05-21-at-2.23.15%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-922433" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Lev Radin on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jeff Bezos At Peak Dot-Com Hype Identified A Winning Strategy That Made Amazon Into A 2 Trillion Success Story Today: 'Internet, Shminternet … That Doesn't Matter'

In a recent Oval Office on Wednesday, President Donald Trump engaged in a contentious discussion with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations concerning the treatment of white farmers in South Africa. The meeting, marked by dramatic exchanges, involved Trump presenting a video that he claimed demonstrated the persecution of white farmers.
What Happened: During the meeting, Trump displayed a video featuring Black politicians chanting anti-apartheid slogans, asserting that it highlighted the plight of white farmers, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-oval-office-drama-0080e7c7288860bd0511b8cc4efd06f6">reported</a> the Associated Press. However, none of the politicians in the video were part of Ramaphosa's government, and many have dismissed the comments as not being literal. The video ended with images of white crosses, which Trump claimed represented murdered white farmers.
&#8220;It's a terrible sight. I've never seen anything like it,&#8221; said Trump about the video.
Ramaphosa questioned the video&#8217;s credibility and engaged in a discussion with Trump, accompanied by his delegation, including pro golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and Afrikaner tycoon Johann Rupert. Rupert pointed out the broader violence issues in South Africa, noting, &#8220;It's not only white farmers.&#8221;
The meeting briefly shifted focus when Trump addressed a question about a Boeing 747 donation from Qatar, intended for use as Air Force One. Ramaphosa humorously remarked on the situation by saying, &#8220;I wish I had a plane to give you.&#8221;
The South African leader expressed his satisfaction with the meeting&#8217;s outcome despite the intense discussions. He later told reporters, &#8220;You wanted to see drama and something really big happening,&#8221; said Ramaphosa. &#8220;I'm sorry that we disappointed you somewhat when it comes to that.&#8221;
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Why It Matters: This meeting is part of a series of tense diplomatic encounters involving President Trump. Recently, a&nbsp;<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/44053592/white-house-meeting-turns-tense-as-trump-warns-zelenskyy-youre-gambling-with-world-war-iii">White House meeting</a>&nbsp;with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;also escalated into a heated exchange. During that meeting, Trump warned Zelenskyy about the risks of escalating tensions, accusing him of &#8220;gambling with World War III.&#8221; The encounter was originally intended to finalize a U.S.-Ukraine agreement on critical mineral supplies but turned confrontational.
In another instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44064817/zelenskyy-says-not-sure-he-did-something-bad-after-public-spat-with-trump-jd-vance-we-have-to-be-very-honest-and-direct">Zelenskyy addressed</a>&nbsp;the public spat with Trump, expressing optimism about mending ties between the two leaders. Despite these diplomatic tensions, Zelenskyy emphasized the longstanding relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine, expressing gratitude for American support.
Photo Courtesy: Joey Sussman on Shutterstock.com
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This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivdeep-dhaliwal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shivdeep Dhaliwal</a>

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