Billionaire and Department of Government Efficiency lead Elon Musk on Thursday called on retired air traffic controllers to return to work.



What Happened: &#8220;There is a shortage of top notch air traffic controllers,&#8221; Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. &#8220;If you have retired, but are open to returning to work, please consider doing so.&#8221;



Musk&#8217;s post comes on the heels of the FAA calling for entry-level air traffic controllers. Interested candidates can apply now through March 17. 



U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary&nbsp;Sean Duffy said on Thursday that the FAA is streamlining the 8-step hiring process at the agency into a 5-step process. 



&#8220;This will accelerate the time-to-hire for these critical positions by shaving more than four months off the old process. We want the best and brightest to get expedited entry into the academy, and as an incentive to apply, we will be increasing the pay for those in training,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;This administration is committed to solving the air traffic control shortage that has existed for too long.&#8221;



Duffy said in a statement that the starting salary for candidates who go to the FAA&#8217;s academy for training will increase by 30%, making the average certified professional controller salary go over $160,000 a year.



What Happened: Earlier this month, Duffy said that the FAA has about 45,000 employees and the new government has let go "less than 400" who were probationary. Those laid off were at the agency for less than a year and did not include air traffic controllers or critical safety personnel, he said.



The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union&nbsp;told&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>&nbsp;that a total of 130 probationary employees represented by the union were terminated. The terminated job roles include aviation safety assistant, environmental protection specialist, management and program analyst, and maintenance mechanic, among others, it said.



The rising demand for air traffic controllers comes on the heels of multiple plane accidents in the recent past. In January, a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43326442/psa-airlines-jet-falls-in-potomac-river-after-mid-air-crash-with-helicoper">collision between an army helicopter</a> and a plane while it was nearing the runway at Reagan Washington National Airport killed 67 people. 



The FAA is nearly 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its targeted staffing levels. 



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/44000938/stellantis-executive-chairman-speaks-out-against-tariffs-on-vehicles-made-in-mexico-canada-real-opportunity-is-4m-cars-that-are-sold-in-america-that-dont-have-any-us-content" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stellantis Executive Chairman Speaks Out Against Tariffs On Vehicles Made In Mexico, Canada: ‘Real Opportunity Is… 4M Cars That Are Sold In America That Don&#8217;t Have Any US Content&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Government

News

Politics

Elon Musk Calls On Retired Employees To Return To Work At FAA: 'There Is A Shortage Of Top Notch Air Traffic Controllers'

Large Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) investors took advantage of the meme coin&#8217;s ongoing downturn to increase their stockpile.&nbsp;



What happened: Influential cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez highlighted in an X post on Thursday that whales bought the dip, snapping up over 530 million DOGE tokens in the last three days.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<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">Whales bought the dip, accumulating more than 530 million <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> in the last 72 hours! <a href="https://t.co/0cRGqxLoXw">pic.twitter.com/0cRGqxLoXw</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1895217845186724299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The heightened whale activity was also evidenced by a 41% surge in DOGE transactions valued at over $100,000 over the last 24 hours, <a href="https://app.intotheblock.com/">according </a>to IntoTheBlock.&nbsp;



The optimism was also reflected in the derivatives market, with 74% of institutional investors and top traders positioned long on the cryptocurrency, <a href="https://www.coinglass.com/TopTrader/Binance">data </a>from Coinglass revealed.



Whale accumulation typically indicates belief in the long-term potential of a cryptocurrency. Additionally, their actions might influence retail investors to adopt a similar strategy.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43996312/sec-closes-investigation-against-crypto-exchange-gemini-says-cameron-winklevoss-another-milestone-to-the-end-of-the-war-on-crypto">SEC Closes Investigation Against Crypto Exchange Gemini, Says Cameron Winklevoss: &#8216;Another Milestone To The End Of The War On Crypto&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The surge in whale purchases coincided with bullish forecasts by analysts.



Rose Premium Signals, a cryptocurrency-focused X account, painted a bullish forecast for the world's largest meme coin.&nbsp;



"A breakout above $0.29124 could confirm a rally toward new highs," the analyst said. "Long-term target sits near $0.50 &#8211; $0.60, with potential for further upside."



<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/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> is showing strong bullish potential as it approaches a key reversal zone. &#x23f3; Price has reached the $0.16896 support, aligning with a potential Cup &amp; Handle formation. &#x23f3; A breakout above $0.29124 could confirm a rally toward new highs. &#x23f3; Long-term target sits near $0.50… <a href="https://t.co/nphcqoJzhA">pic.twitter.com/nphcqoJzhA</a>&mdash; Rose Premium Signals &#x1f339; (@VipRoseTr) <a href="https://twitter.com/VipRoseTr/status/1894880238531944682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The optimistic predictions come despite Dogecoin's ongoing troubles. The world's largest meme coin has plunged over 42% this month, while its year-to-date losses widened to 40%.



Price Action: At the time of writing, Dogecoin was exchanging hands at $0.1881, down 7.87% 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>.



Image via Shutterstock



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43997635/bitcoin-spin-off-litecoin-ethereum-killer-avalanche-weather-crypto-meltdown-heres-why-ltc-avax-are-spiking">Bitcoin Spin-Off Litecoin, &#8216;Ethereum Killer&#8217; Avalanche Weather Crypto Meltdown, Here&#8217;s Why LTC, AVAX Are Spiking</a></li>
</ul>

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$DOGE

$PEPE

Dogecoin Scooped By Whales In Large Numbers As Memecoin Plunges Further: Analyst Says Rally Toward New Highs On The Cards If DOGE Crosses This Level

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.



This week, global markets experienced significant volatility due to escalating trade tensions and disappointing tech earnings. President Trump's announcement of impending tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China led to a broad selloff in equities, with the S&amp;P 500 erasing its gains for the year.



Technology stocks were notably impacted; Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) shares fell sharply after underwhelming earnings, contributing to a broader decline in the semiconductor sector. Cryptocurrency markets also suffered, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) dropping below $80,000 amid the heightened market uncertainty.



In the fintech sector, Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>) led a selloff after reporting mixed fourth-quarter results, causing its stock to plunge 18% — the most significant single-day drop since March 2020. Despite the downturn, some analysts view the current valuation as an attractive entry point, anticipating growth in the company's Square and Cash App segments.



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.



The Bulls



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43993466/joby-aviation-stock-climbs-after-q4-results-heres-why">"Joby Aviation Stock Climbs After Q4 Results: Here's Why"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that Joby Aviation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JOBY#NYSE">JOBY</a>) posted a fourth-quarter loss of 34 cents per share, missing analyst expectations of a 20-cent loss, while revenue of $55,000 surpassed the anticipated $45,800.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43960671/super-micro-computer-stock-is-soaring-after-hours-whats-going-on">"Super Micro Computer Stock Is Soaring After Hours: What's Going On?"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) shares surged over 22% after the company filed its delayed annual and quarterly reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43929375/walgreens-boots-alliance-stock-is-up-more-than-6-on-monday-heres-what-happened">"Walgreens Boots Alliance Stock Is Up More Than 6% On Monday: Here's What Happened"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) surged over 6% after reports that Sycamore Partners is preparing a $10 billion financing package for a potential buyout of the pharmacy giant.



For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43991166/apple-stock-to-get-a-boost-from-indonesia-iphone-16-ban-could-be-over-soon">Apple Stock To Get A Boost From Indonesia? iPhone 16 Ban Could Be Over Soon</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43928216/riot-platforms-shares-climb-after-fy-2024-results-details">Riot Platforms Shares Climb After FY 2024 Results: Details</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43980853/why-is-mullen-automotive-stock-skyrocketing-today">Why Is Mullen Automotive Stock Skyrocketing Today?</a>



The Bears



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/02/43984093/lucid-stock-falls-on-q4-results-ceo-exit-analysts-see-surge-in-demand-for-gravity-suv">"Lucid Stock Falls On Q4 Results, CEO Exit: Analysts See ‘Surge In Demand' For Gravity SUV"</a>, by Chris Katje, reports that Lucid Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) shares declined after CEO Peter Rawlinson resigned, despite analysts anticipating increased demand for the upcoming Gravity SUV.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/02/44015147/nvidia-rival-amd-hits-52-week-lows-buying-opportunity-or-more-pain-ahead">"Nvidia Rival AMD Hits 52-Week Lows &#8211; Buying Opportunity Or More Pain Ahead?"</a>, by Surbhi Jain, reports that Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) shares have plummeted over 42% in the past year, hitting a 52-week low of $102.17, as bearish technical indicators overshadow strong data center growth projections.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/02/44043021/tesla-the-only-magnificent-seven-stock-in-freefall-can-it-reverse-course">"Tesla: The Only Magnificent Seven Stock In Freefall &#8211; Can It Reverse Course?"</a>, by Surbhi Jain, reports that Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has declined over 25% year-to-date, making it the worst-performing stock among the Magnificent Seven, with bearish technical indicators and a high forward P/E ratio of 95.24.



For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43254923/7-ai-infrastructure-stocks-plunge-over-20-outpace-semiconductor-rout-as-deepseek-upends-investment-landscape">7 AI Infrastructure Stocks Plunge Over 20%, Outpace Semiconductor Rout As DeepSeek Upends Investment Landscape</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43932271/dogecoin-gearing-for-final-leg-up-says-analyst-amid-40-slump-but-be-mindful-of-this-bearish-forecast">Dogecoin Has ‘One Final Leg Up Left,' Says Analyst Amid 40% Slump But Investors Should Be Wary Of This Bearish Forecast</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/43920295/palantir-extends-losses-microsoft-slides-whats-driving-markets-monday">Palantir Extends Losses, Microsoft Slides: What's Driving Markets Monday?</a>



Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on X</a>.



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

$BTC

AAPL

JOBY

LCID

NVDA

SMCI

TSLA

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Joby Aviation, Nvidia, Tesla — And Bitcoin Drops Below $80,000

Risk assets tumbled as a wave of bearish sentiment gripped markets, with escalating trade tensions, disappointing earnings and signs of economic fragility weighing on investor confidence.



President Donald Trump confirmed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43926015/trump-confirms-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-will-take-effect-as-planned">a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada</a>, effective March 4, while also targeting European Union's goods including automobiles and imposing an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.&nbsp;



The sweeping trade measures rattled markets, triggering broad-based sell-offs, with cryptocurrencies bearing the brunt of risk aversion.&nbsp;



Though seeing a small uptick after it plunged below $80,000 in early Friday trading, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is still entering a bear market after dropping more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43987636/bitcoin-tumbles-below-85000-amid-president-trumps-eu-tariff-threats">than 20% from its peak.</a> Sentiment in the digital asset space worsened following a massive security breach at Bybit, where hackers stole $1.5 billion worth of Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) in one of the largest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43942256/making-ethereum-private-again-a-1-5-billion-wake-up-call">crypto heists in history.</a>



The high-flying artificial intelligence sector took a hit as investors <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44034855/this-is-as-good-as-it-gets-for-nvidia-says-this-analyst-as-he-predicts-a-slowdown-for-the-chipmaker">reassessed its lofty valuations</a>. NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) suffered steep losses after delivering earnings that, while stronger-than-expected, failed to astonish investors accustomed to impressive beats. The stock's sharp retreat dragged down peers Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Broadcom Inc., Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp., all of which saw declines.



Fresh cracks in economic data emerged, adding to investor anxiety. While the fourth-quarter <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/02/44007082/q4-gdp-holds-at-2-3-after-minor-revision-in-second-estimate">gross domestic product remained unchanged</a> at an annualized 2.3% growth rate, inflation metrics for the same quarter were revised higher.



In January, personal spending contracted by 0.2% on the month, marking the first negative reading since March 2023. The Personal Consumption Expenditure price index — Fed's favorite inflation gauge — came in at 2.5% as expected, remaining above the 2% target.&nbsp;



Housing data also disappointed, with pending home sales plunging 4.6% in January to their lowest level on record. Elevated mortgage rates continued to strain affordability, further cooling demand <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/02/44015237/pending-home-sales-crash-to-record-low-jobless-claims-soar-wall-street-reacts">in the housing market</a>.



The labor market showed signs of softening, as weekly jobless claims jumped by 22,000 to 242,000, marking the highest level in over two months.



GM Boosts Dividends



General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) rewarded shareholders with a dividend hike and a fresh buyback plan. The automaker raised its quarterly dividend by three cents to 15 cents per share, effective with its next payout in April. GM also authorized a new $6 billion share repurchase program, including a $2 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/43976235/why-general-motors-stock-is-gaining-today">billion accelerated buyback initiative</a>.



Read Next: •<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/02/44055933/investor-bearishness-surges-yet-historical-data-suggests-potential-market-gains-ahead"> Investor Bearishness Surges, Yet Historical Data Suggests Potential Market Gains Ahead</a>



Photo: Shutterstock

Federal Reserve

Tech

Trading Ideas

$ETH

Tariffs Shock Hit Stocks, Cryptos, While Nvidia Fails To Come To The Rescue: This Week In Markets

The Friday confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has left Ukraine and its European <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43769730/ukraine-raises-alarm-over-us-russia-talks-on-war-without-kyivs-involvement">allies in a challenging position</a>.



What Happened: The Oval Office incident has sparked worries about the future of Ukraine&#8217;s ongoing conflict with Russia and its ties with the US. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy escalated into a heated exchange that was broadcast live. Trump subsequently advised Zelenskyy via social media to &#8220;come back when he is ready for Peace,&#8221; leaving Ukraine in a bind.



Ukraine has been depending on the US as its primary ally and arms provider in its battle against Russia. Trump&#8217;s allies have suggested that a peace agreement is unlikely as long as Zelenskyy is in power.



"Either we're going to end it or let him fight it out, and if he fights it out, it's not going to be pretty, because without us, he doesn't win," Trump said on Friday evening. 



This has left European allies, who have been urging Trump not to hastily agree to a peace deal on Russian President Vladimir Putin&#8216;s terms, in shock. &#8220;Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader,&#8221; stated Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-28/zelenskiy-s-blowup-with-trump-leaves-allies-facing-disaster?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">reports</a> Bloomberg.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43901353/trump-says-he-could-influence-putin-to-free-kidnapped-ukrainian-children-its-pretty-tough-stuff-but-i-believe-i-could-do-that">Trump Says He Could Influence Putin To Free Kidnapped Ukrainian Children: &#8216;It&#8217;s Pretty Tough Stuff, But I Believe I Could Do That&#8217;</a>



European leaders are now faced with the difficult decision of either backing Ukraine&#8217;s war efforts independently or negotiating with Trump, potentially jeopardizing Zelenskyy's political future. &#8220;It's very difficult to do an economic deal with a leader who doesn't want to do a peace deal,&#8221; said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.



"What is needed is an immediate summit between the United States, European states and allies to talk frankly about how we intend to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine," Italian Prime Minister&nbsp;Giorgia Meloni&nbsp;told the outlet.



On Friday evening, Zelenskyy told the Fox News "we want peace, and said he's confident he'll be able to salvage his relationship with Trump. "But we can't lose our values, our people. We can't lose our freedom."



Why It Matters: The aftermath of the meeting has left Ukraine and its allies in a scramble to respond. European leaders are now trying to figure out their next move if Trump attempts to coerce Ukraine into a peace agreement favoring Russia. 



The situation has also heightened concerns about the future of Ukraine&#8217;s war against Russia, which is the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43900927/mary-trump-slams-uncle-trump-and-his-corrupt-fascist-regime-are-aligned-with-the-agenda-of-vladimir-putin-and-moscow" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mary Trump Slams Uncle: ‘Trump and His Corrupt Fascist Regime Are Aligned With the Agenda of Vladimir Putin and Moscow'</a>

Global

Zelenskyy's Clash With Trump Sparks Chaos For Allies, Trump Says 'It's Not Going To Be Pretty, Without Us He Doesn't Win'

Risk-on markets plummeted in February thanks to global trepidation fueled by President Donald Trump's tariff war. Consequently, demand for safe haven assets increased, sending gold-related investments higher.



What happened: Blue-chip indexes like the Nasdaq Composite and the S&amp;P 500 slid 2.93% and 2.96%, respectively, while Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), the world's largest cryptocurrency, tanked 22% in a month.



Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/44010093/trumps-plan-for-canada-mexico-china-tariffs-to-start-march-4-could-shake-stock-market">declaration to impose tariffs</a> on major U.S. trade partners, such as China, Mexico, and Canada, has dampened risk sentiment, with critics claiming that it will disrupt critical sectors like auto production and agriculture.



Accordingly, demand for gold, seen as a hedge against economic uncertainty, rose.&nbsp;



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44033154/jamie-dimon-was-a-believer-in-smart-contract-cryptos-long-before-jpmorgan-started-piling-on-ethereum-etfs-heres-what-he-said">Jamie Dimon Was A Believer In Smart Contract Cryptos Long Before JPMorgan Hit The Buy Button On Ethereum ETFs: Here&#8217;s What The CEO Said</a>



Spot gold traded at $2,854.22 per ounce as of this writing, up 6.1% from the previous month and 8.8% year to date.



Similarly,&nbsp; SPDR Gold Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>), the world's largest physically-backed gold exchange-traded fund, gained 2.46% in the last month and 9.42% since 2025 began.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Asset</td><td>Monthly Gains +/-</td><td>Year-to-date Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Spot gold</td><td>+6.1%</td><td>+8.8%</td></tr><tr><td>SPDR Gold Trust ETF</td><td>+2.46%</td><td>+9.42%</td></tr><tr><td>Tether Gold</td><td>+4.19%</td><td>+8.87%</td></tr><tr><td>PAX Gold</td><td>+3.37%</td><td>+8.84%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Interestingly, while cryptocurrency investors struggled in the ongoing downturn, they had the option of gaining exposure to the yellow metal via physical gold-backed coins such as Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUt) and PAX Gold (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/paxg/usd">PAXG</a>).



XAUt was up 4.19% over the month and 8.87% year-to-date. PAXG rose 3.37% in a month and 8.84% since the beginning of 2025.



The compiled data revealed broadly similar returns by spot gold and gold-backed cryptocurrencies since the beginning of the year, while the GLD ETF generated a higher profit.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44033445/dogecoin-scooped-by-whales-in-large-numbers-as-memecoin-plunges-further-analyst-says-rally-toward-new-highs-on-the-cards-if-doge-crosses-this-level">Dogecoin Scooped By Whales In Large Numbers As Memecoin Plunges Further: Analyst Says Rally Toward New Highs On The Cards If DOGE Crosses This Level</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

$PAXG

Spot Gold, GLD Gold ETF, Or Gold-Backed Cryptos: Which Was A Better Investment In February Amid A Downturn In Stocks And Bitcoin?

On Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, Cathie Wood&#8217;s&nbsp;Ark Invest&nbsp;made some notable trades. The most prominent among these were the purchases of&nbsp;Archer Aviation Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACHR#NYSE">ACHR</a>),&nbsp;Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>),&nbsp;Tempus AI Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), and&nbsp;Iridium Communications Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRDM#NASDAQ">IRDM</a>).



On the other hand, Ark Invest decided to offload shares of&nbsp;Twist Bioscience Corp&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TWST#NASDAQ">TWST</a>),&nbsp;Adyen NV&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADYEY#OTC">ADYEY</a>),&nbsp;Accolade Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACCD#NASDAQ">ACCD</a>), and&nbsp;Exact Sciences Corp&nbsp;(NCM: EXAS).



The ACHR Trade



Ark Invest purchased a significant number of shares in&nbsp;Archer Aviation Inc&nbsp;across three of its ETFs. The ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) bought 360,583 shares, the ARK Autonomous Technology &amp; Robotics ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKQ#BATS">ARKQ</a>) acquired 54,699 shares, and the ARK Space Exploration &amp; Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKX#BATS">ARKX</a>) added 17,322 shares.



Based on the closing price of $8.88 on Friday, the total value of these trades is approximately $3.8 million.



The RXRX and TEM Trades



Ark Invest also showed a strong interest in&nbsp;Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tempus AI Inc. Ark Invest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43963343/cathie-woods-buys-the-dip-in-tempus-ai-coinbase-but-sells-arks-bitcoin-etf-shares-amid-crypto-meltdown">previously purchased</a> a substantial number of shares in Tempus AI despite the company&#8217;s stock falling after reporting mixed fourth-quarter results.



Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) bought 268,467 shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals and 32,467 shares of Tempus AI.



The ARK Innovation ETF acquired 384,956 shares of Recursion Pharmaceuticals and 49,250 shares of Tempus AI.



Given the closing prices of $56.18 for Tempus AI and $7.51 for Recursion Pharmaceuticals, the total value of these trades is $36.7 million and $0.61 million, respectively.



The IRDM, TWST, ADYEY, ACCD, and EXAS Trades



Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF bought 73,659 shares of&nbsp;Iridium Communications Inc, while selling 65,290 shares of&nbsp;Twist Bioscience Corp.



The ARK Next Generation Internet ETF sold a small number of shares (52) of&nbsp;Adyen NV.



The ARK Genomic Revolution ETF sold 80,270 shares of&nbsp;Exact Sciences Corp&nbsp;and a minor quantity (232) of&nbsp;Accolade Inc&nbsp;shares.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900360/bill-gates-has-a-warning-for-the-next-generation-says-be-very-afraid-of-these-4-issues" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Gates Has A Warning For The Next Generation, Says Be ‘Very Afraid' Of These 4 Issues</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image via Ark Invest

Equities

ETFs

ACCD

ACHR

ADYEY

ARKG

ARKK

ARKQ

ARKX

EXAS

IRDM

RXRX

TWST

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Loads Up On Tempus AI, Archer Aviation, But Sells Twist Bioscience: Here Are Key Ark Trades This Friday

EV giant Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is offering discounts of up to $7950 on the older version of its Model Y SUV, before it starts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43183608/tesla-launches-refreshed-model-y-in-us-with-25-price-hike-full-self-driving-included">delivering the refreshed version </a>of the vehicle in March.



What Happened: While the long-range rear-wheel drive variant is listed with as much as $3720 discount, the long-range all-wheel drive variant is listed with as much as $4950 discount, and the performance version with up to $7950 in discounts.



The offers come as the company is gearing up to start deliveries of its refreshed Model Y. 



Tesla launched the refreshed version of its best-selling Model Y SUV in January. Deliveries of the vehicle are slated to start in March. 



Why It Matters: The refreshed Model Y long-range all-wheel drive is now listed on Tesla&#8217;s website alongside the older models, with a starting price of $59,990, roughly 25% more expensive than its predecessor. 



Model Y, launched in 2020, is Tesla's best-selling vehicle. The launch of the refreshed vehicle comes after the company reported its first decline in annual global deliveries in over a decade.



Tesla reported global&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42766117/tesla-stock-tumbles-on-q4-deliveries-whats-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliveries of 1.79 million</a>&nbsp;vehicles in 2024, down from full-year deliveries of 1.81 million in 2023.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/44036158/elon-musk-calls-on-retired-employees-to-return-to-work-at-faa-there-is-a-shortage-of-top-notch-air-traffic-controllers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Calls On Retired Employees To Return To Work At FAA: ‘There Is A Shortage Of Top Notch Air Traffic Controllers'</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Tesla

Tesla Offers Deep Discounts Of Up To $7950 On The Model Y As The EV Giant Gears Up To Deliver The Refreshed Version

General Motors (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) consumers are most loyal to the manufacturer while Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) vehicle owners are most loyal to the vehicle make, according to automotive research firm S&amp;P Global Mobility.



What Happened: S&amp;P Global Mobility announced the winners of its automotive loyalty awards earlier this week based on a review of 13.1 million new retail vehicle registrations in the U.S. from January to December 2024. Overall, loyalty rates increased year-on-year for the third time in a row in 2024, the firm said. More consumers are remaining with their previous brand when purchasing a new vehicle, the firm noted.



While GM won the award for overall loyalty to the manufacturer, Tesla won the award for overall loyalty to the make. Both companies are repeat winners, having bagged loyalty awards in 2023.



Lincoln Corsair, manufactured by Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), won the award for overall loyalty to the model.



Why It Matters: "While brand loyalty is still below pre-pandemic levels, we are starting to see a consistent trend of customers going back to the brands they are familiar with," said Joe LaFeir, President, Automotive Insights, S&amp;P Global Mobility. "This will be important as we navigate a period of uncertainty in our industry assessing tariff and trade impacts on vehicle demand, making retention an even greater indicator of brand health."



President Donald Trump has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43926015/trump-confirms-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-will-take-effect-as-planned">proposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada</a>, slated to be effective on March. 4. The move is expected to impact the automotive industry significantly as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43524700/ford-ceo-jim-farley-says-trumps-proposed-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-will-be-manageable-in-near-term-but-will-have-huge-impact-if-protracted">GM and Ford manufacture</a> some of their vehicles in Mexico and also have supply chains that depend on cross-border component movement.



"There's no question that tariffs at 25% level from Canada, Mexico, if they're protracted, would have a huge impact on our industry, with billions of dollars of industry profits wiped out and adverse effect on the US jobs as well as the entire value system in our industry. Tariffs would also mean higher prices for customers," Ford CEO Jim Farley said earlier this month. 



Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/44036158/elon-musk-calls-on-retired-employees-to-return-to-work-at-faa-there-is-a-shortage-of-top-notch-air-traffic-controllers">Elon Musk Calls On Retired Employees To Return To Work At FAA: &#8216;There Is A Shortage Of Top Notch Air Traffic Controllers&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Tesla Owners Stay True To Their Cars, While GM Retains The Most Loyal Customers

Cryptocurrency markets are rebounding from an overnight dip that saw Bitcoin go <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44039431/bitcoin-plummets-below-80000-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-get-hammered-as-crypto-crash-continues">as low as $78,300</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$84,650.16</td><td>+1.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$2,233.35</td><td>-1.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$146.31</td><td>+8.3%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$2.15</td><td>-0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.2013</td><td>-0.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001389</td><td>-2.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume decreasing by 26.1%. Daily active addresses grew by 6.3%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are down from 13,305 to 12,754 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 148.7%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 233,253 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $1.01 billion.</li>



<li>IntoTheBlock data shows Bitcoin's active addresses reached the highest daily level since December 2024. Spikes in on-chain activity coincides with market peaks and bottoms. This surge implies the market could be at a crucial turning point.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44048486/bitcoins-24-correction-mostly-technical-say-experts">Bitcoin&#8217;s 24% Correction &#8216;Mostly Technical&#8217; Say Experts</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44050992/the-real-reason-why-bitcoin-is-down-14-in-7-days-and-may-go-down-more">The Real Reason Why Bitcoin Is Down 14% In 7 Days (And May Go Down More)</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44041389/bitcoin-will-still-hit-500000-before-trump-leaves-office-standard-chartered-analyst-maintains">Bitcoin Will Still Hit $500,000 Before Trump Leaves Office, Standard Chartered Analyst Maintains</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44046215/bitvm-integration-unlocks-bitcoins-19-trillion-liquidity-across-five-major-blockchains">BitVM Integration Unlocks Bitcoin&#8217;s $1.9 Trillion Liquidity Across Five Major Blockchains</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44032261/michael-saylor-advocates-for-us-leadership-in-bitcoin-and-crypto-to-house-financial-services-committee">Michael Saylor Presents &#8216;Digital Assets Framework&#8217; To House Committe, Pitches For US Supremacy In Bitcoin, Crypto</a></li>
</ul>



Top Gainers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Berachain (CRYPTO: BERA)</td><td>&nbsp;$8.41</td><td>+12.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Celsetia (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TIA</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$4.05</td><td>+12.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Hedera (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/hbar/usd">HBAR</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.2151</td><td>+10%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: BTC has fallen 19% over the past week, prompting trader Altcoin Sherpa to question whether a short-term recovery is possible.



<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">Lets see if we can break this cycle of poverty in the short term for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZWhyzAsXXz">pic.twitter.com/ZWhyzAsXXz</a>&mdash; Altcoin Sherpa (@AltcoinSherpa) <a href="https://twitter.com/AltcoinSherpa/status/1895533795186774154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Santiment data highlights how traders consistently misjudge BTC's direction. Mentions of $70,000-$75,000 (bearish) and $90,000-$95,000 (bullish) indicate that when traders expect BTC to rise, it falls—and vice versa.



Trader Blockchainedbb points to liquidity above $107,000, with $110,000 as the next major profit-taking zone. Meanwhile, CrediBULL Crypto sees relief after BTC tagged $79,000, expecting a base to form between $74,000 (HTF demand) and $94,000-$99,000 (local supply) before a full reversal.



<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">More like 2025! Liquidity above 107k ! Around 110k ish is next major profit taking <a href="https://t.co/LDM2mEVSMH">https://t.co/LDM2mEVSMH</a> <a href="https://t.co/GQeVR1xgOF">pic.twitter.com/GQeVR1xgOF</a>&mdash; Blockchainedbb (@blockchainedbb) <a href="https://twitter.com/blockchainedbb/status/1895558550178734140?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/44044388/michael-saylor-says-sell-a-kidney-but-keep-the-bitcoin-but-mstr-is-down-28-since-he-appeared-on-the-cover-of-forbes">Michael Saylor Says &#8216;Sell A Kidney, But Keep The Bitcoin&#8217;, But MSTR Is Down 28% Since He Appeared On The Cover Of Forbes</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$HBAR

$SHIB

$SOL

$TIA

$XRP

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Rebound From The Brink: Here Are The Key Levels To Watch

Ukraine&#8217;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Friday but left the White House without signing an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/44053592/white-house-meeting-turns-tense-as-trump-warns-zelenskyy-youre-gambling-with-world-war-iii">agreement for rare minerals</a>.



The meeting, originally set to finalize the deal over critical minerals as a form of repayment for military aid, escalated into a heated exchange as Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/44053592/white-house-meeting-turns-tense-as-trump-warns-zelenskyy-youre-gambling-with-world-war-iii"> "gambling with World War III."</a>



"You're either going to make a deal or we're out," Trump noted. "And if we're out, you'll fight it out and I don't think it's going to be pretty."



Trump&#8217;s administration moved to sign the proposal earlier this month, but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/02/43788546/ukraine-officials-stall-trumps-colonial-rare-earths-bid-prefer-mutually-beneficial-deal">Ukrainian officials stalled</a>. They called the bid exploitative and rushed and stated that Kyiv could not accept it in that form.



After weeks of negotiation, the two parties found common ground, dropping Trump&#8217;s original $500 billion proposal but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43968607/trump-negotiates-a-very-big-deal-for-ukraines-mineral-wealth">not including security guarantees</a> — one of Kyiv&#8217;s key demands, which Trump wanted to address "later on." According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the U.S. donated $118 billion during the three-year conflict.



Rare earth minerals are used in numerous modern technologies, from electric vehicles to defense systems. Per EU classifications, Ukraine holds deposits of 22 out of 34 of those minerals. Still, in a war-ridden country, getting to those minerals might be an issue.



According <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/28/mapping-ukraines-rare-earth-and-critical-minerals">to</a> Al Jazeera, most of those deposits are in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporzhizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Korovohrad, Poltava and Kharkiv, with the Russian Federation controlling about 40% of them.



Besides the war factor, BCA Research Chief Strategist Marko Papic noted yet another issue.



"Even if you somehow manage to get the rare earths out, the question would be — where do you refine them? And the fact is that most of them would have to go to China. I mean, that&#8217;s the critical bottleneck in this whole situation," he <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marko-papic-geopolitics_does-the-rare-earth-deal-matter-im-out-activity-7301045940683997184-YB4b?">said</a> on LinkedIn.



Furthermore, Papic sees the entire situation as Trump&#8217;s way of garnering domestic support.



"I think it&#8217;s the way to effectively build domestic political consensus for continued support of Ukraine. Many of his voters, many of his supporters, many conservatives in the U.S., specifically Republican voters, are increasingly becoming skeptical of continued support for Ukraine. Polling shows that the vast majority believe that Ukraine&#8217;s aid has already been too much. Therefore, this is the way for President Trump to do something domestically," he noted, pointing at the parallels with the USMCA agreement from 2020.



"This is something that President Trump does over and over again. The theater surrounding many of his deals, the back and forth, calling countries bad names, saying they should be states of the United States &#8230; that&#8217;s in many ways designed to build domestic consensus, particularly among his voters," Papic concluded



Read Next: • <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/02/44052145/taiwan-semi-faces-geopolitical-strain-due-to-us-scrutiny-on-huaweis-chip-access">Taiwan Semi Faces Geopolitical Strain Due To US Scrutiny On Huawei&#8217;s Chip Access</a>

Commodities

'This Is Something That President Trump Does Over And Over Again,' Geopolitical Strategist Says About Failed Rare Minerals Deal With Ukraine President Zelenskyy

Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), sent a subtle but pointed message to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/02/43926015/trump-confirms-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-will-take-effect-as-planned">President Donald Trump</a> in his <a href="https://berkshirehathaway.com/2024ar/2024ar.pdf">latest annual letter</a> to shareholders. While celebrating Berkshire&#8217;s success, including a record-setting $26.8 billion corporate tax payment in 2024, Buffett urged the government to &#8220;spend it wisely.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Record Tax Payment and a Message to Washington</h2>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/02/43466203/warren-buffetts-127-billion-stock-sell-off-sends-wall-street-a-stark-warning-for-2025-below-average-returns-ahead">Buffett</a> said Berkshire Hathaway paid more in corporate taxes last year than any company in U.S. history, even surpassing the tech giants.&nbsp;



He emphasized that this contribution should be used responsibly, writing, &#8220;Thank you, Uncle Sam. Someday your nieces and nephews at Berkshire hope to send you even larger payments than we did in 2024. Spend it wisely. Take care of the many who, for no fault of their own, get the short straws in life. They deserve better. And never forget that we need you to maintain a stable currency and that result requires both wisdom and vigilance on your part.&#8221;



While Buffett has historically avoided direct political commentary in his shareholder letters, his remarks reflect the economic principles he has long supported, including responsible fiscal management and support for those in need. CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert <a href="https://apnews.com/article/warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-annual-shareholders-letter-89d882488c22faf86c684993022c1428">told the Associated Press</a> that Buffett's statement was &#8220;a powerful message&#8221; delivered in a measured, non-confrontational tone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Berkshire's Growing Cash Reserves and Strategic Moves</h2>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43922143/warren-buffett-backtracks-on-dei-berkshire-hathaway-shareholder-letter-removes-diversity-mention">Berkshire Hathaway</a>&#8216;s financial strength continues to grow, with cash reserves swelling to $334.2 billion. Theincrease comes after the company sold off significant portions of its Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) holdings, reflecting a cautious investment approach. Buffett's ability to hold cash and wait for the right investment opportunities has been a key part of his long-term success.



Despite sitting on a massive cash pile, Buffett reassured shareholders that Greg Abel, his chosen successor, is prepared to seize investment opportunities when the time is right. Berkshire made several strategic moves in 2024, including spending $3.9 billion to acquire the remaining stake in its utility business and $2.6 billion to complete ownership of the Pilot truck stop chain. Additionally, the company continued increasing its investment in five major Japanese conglomerates, a strategy that has proven lucrative.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Mixed Year for Berkshire's Businesses</h2>



Buffett acknowledged that 53% of Berkshire's 189 subsidiaries reported lower earnings in 2024. However, the company still posted strong overall results, largely due to higher interest income on its short-term investments and increased profits from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/09/40969498/insurance-companies-turn-every-claim-into-a-fight-heres-how-mark-cuban-thinks-transparency-could">insurance businesses</a>. Berkshire reported $14.5 billion in operating profits for the fourth quarter, up significantly from $8.5 billion the previous year.



Despite these gains, some analysts, including Edward Jones' Jim Shanahan, expressed concern over the softening performance of Berkshire's core businesses. He said Berkshire's broad exposure across manufacturing, retail, and consumer markets makes it a useful economic indicator. &#8220;These results kind of look soft to me, and it makes me concerned about how strong the economy might really be right now,&#8221; Shanahan told AP.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Changes at the Annual Shareholder Meeting</h2>



Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting, often referred to as the &#8220;Woodstock for Capitalists,&#8221; will undergo some changes this year. Buffett, now 94, announced that the Q&amp;A session will be shorter than usual, running from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The traditional opening movie, featuring celebrity cameos and humorous sketches, has been canceled. Buffett humorously acknowledged his age, noting that he now uses a cane to avoid &#8220;falling flat on my face.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking Ahead</h2>



With Berkshire Hathaway's strong financial position and Abel preparing to take the reins, the company appears well-positioned for the future. Buffett's message to Washington—delivered in his signature understated style—reinforces his belief in sound fiscal management and responsible governance. As Berkshire continues to generate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/42146895/are-you-rich-enough-to-benefit-from-trumps-tax-breaks-heres-how-much-youd-need-to-be-part-of-the-top-5">massive tax contributions</a>, the question remains: How will the government choose to spend it?

Warren Buffett's Subtle Message To Trump: 'Spend It Wisely' After Berkshire's Record $26.8 Billion Tax Payment

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) continues to tumble, falling as low as $78,433 in early Friday morning hours amid a record streak of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-spot-bitcoin-etfs">spot Bitcoin ETF</a> outflows.



What Happened: According to <a href="https://sosovalue.com/assets/etf/us-btc-spot">data</a> from SoSoValue, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen $3.2 billion in net outflows over an eight-day period, matching the longest negative streak since their debut. 



This trend has resulted in a monthly net outflow of $3.65 billion for February, with only four days of net inflows recorded this month. 



The largest single-day outflow occurred on Tuesday, with a record $1.14 billion leaving these funds. 



BlackRock&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>), the largest Bitcoin ETF by net assets, experienced its most significant outflow of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/44003905/bitcoin-steadies-around-86500-as-spot-etf-see-another-750-million-outflows-on-wednesday">$418 million on Wednesday</a>.



Thursday&#8217;s outflows moderated to $275.8 million, though potential easing of selling pressure was not reflected in the price of Bitcoin, which is trading around $80,345, down 6.9% at the time of writing. 



The entire crypto market capitalization has contracted by 8.7% to $2.76 trillion in the past day amid broader market concerns following President Trump&#8217;s aggressive tariff policies.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td> $80,345</td><td>-6.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td> $2,131</td><td>-9.3%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td> $2.03</td><td>-8.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td> $0.1864</td><td>-10.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Experts Are Saying: Augustine Fan, Head of Insights at SignalPlus, <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/343924/bitcoin-dips-below-80000-and-eth-tests-2100-amid-trump-tariff-concerns?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss">told</a> The Block that &#8220;renewed tariff concerns, slowing economy and overstretched positioning&#8221; are catalysts driving the decline. 



President Trump&#8217;s announcement of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/trumps-tarrifs-impact-on-us-dollar-and-currency-trading">new tariffs</a> on imports from Canada, Mexico and China has exacerbated investor concerns, leading to a sell-off in both equities and cryptocurrencies.



The market downturn has pushed the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index to &#8220;extreme fear&#8221; levels, with a score of 10, the lowest since the 2022 collapse of Terra-Luna and Three Arrows Capital. 



This pessimism persists despite the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to implement <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43177482/trump-signs-executive-order-on-crypto-bitcoin-reserve-to-be-evaluated">pro-crypto policies</a> and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43836911/trump-reiterates-resolve-to-make-us-the-crypto-capital-critic-labels-idea-of-bitcoin-reserve-legislation-absurd">regulatory reforms</a>.



Analysts are divided on whether Bitcoin has reached a bottom. 



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/02/44031605/bitcoin-ethereum-lose-dogecoin-gains-amid-trumps-tariff-war-moves-has-btc-hit-a-bottom-yet">CryptoQuant suggests oversold conditions</a> based on the NVT Golden Cross indicator, while others warn of potential further declines. 



The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the market can stabilize and potentially recover from this significant correction.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/02/44029165/if-you-invested-1000-in-bitcoin-when-changpeng-cz-zhao-predicted-btc-would-crash-from-101k-to-85k-heres-how-much-youd-have-today">If You Invested $1,000 In Bitcoin When Changpeng &#8216;CZ&#8217; Zhao Predicted BTC Would Crash From $101K to $85K, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a></li>
</ul>



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IBIT

Bitcoin Plummets Below $80,000, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Get Hammered As Crypto Crash Continues

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