Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg&nbsp;expressed concerns about companies distancing themselves from &#8220;masculine energy&#8221; during a podcast with&nbsp;Joe Rogan.



What Happened: Zuckerberg, who appeared on&nbsp;The Joe Rogan Experience, discussed his views on corporate culture and his personal interests, including&nbsp;mixed martial arts and hunting.



He emphasized the importance of creating environments where women can thrive in the workplace and added that he believes corporate culture should embrace both masculine and feminine energies.



"Masculine energy I think is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it," Zuckerberg said.



The podcast episode coincided with reports that said Meta is changing its content moderation policies. The company is ending third-party fact-checking in the U.S. and halting diversity training programs, according to an internal memo seen <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/meta-dei-programs-employees-trump?ref=platformer.news">by</a> Axios.



"I think that that's all good. But I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung toward being this somewhat more neutered thing."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931869/jeff-bezos-amazon-to-pay-40-million-for-melania-trump-documentary-report">Jeff Bezos&#8217; Amazon To Pay $40 Million For Melania Trump Documentary: Report</a>



Zuckerberg also criticized the&nbsp;Biden administration&nbsp;for its approach to content moderation during the pandemic, claiming that officials overstepped their bounds.



He expressed optimism about&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;returning to the White House, aligning Meta&#8217;s policies with the incoming administration.



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.



Why It Matters: The recent comments by Zuckerberg&nbsp;and the policy shifts at&nbsp;Meta are part of a broader strategy to restore free expression on its platforms.



For instance, Meta is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42851889/meta-ditches-fact-checking-for-community-notes-zuckerberg-says-opportunity-to-restore-free-expression">transitioning to a Community Notes style</a> of content moderation, similar to the approach taken by Elon Musk&#8217;s X.



This move is seen as a way to align with the incoming Trump administration, following a significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42454227/months-after-trump-threatened-to-put-mark-zuckerberg-in-prison-meta-ceo-donates-1m-to-president-elects-inaugural-event">$1 million donation by Zuckerberg</a> to Trump&#8217;s inauguration event.



This donation is part of efforts to mend relations with Trump, who had previously criticized Meta for censoring conservative voices.



Zuckerberg also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931361/mark-zuckerberg-says-biden-officials-berated-meta-staff-as-they-refused-to-remove-true-content-it-just-got-to-thi">revealed instances</a> where Biden officials pressured Meta staff to remove certain content, which the company resisted, marking a shift towards a more open platform.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Joe Rogan Experience #2255 - Mark Zuckerberg" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7k1ehaE0bdU?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>



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>.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To &#8216;Deliver Immediately&#8217; On His &#8216;Promise&#8217; To Save App From US Ban: &#8216;We Don&#8217;t Need The Supreme Court To…&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Ray-Ban

Entertainment

News

Tech

Mark Zuckerberg Critiques 'Culturally Neutered' Companies, Advocates For 'Masculine Energy' As Meta Cuts DEI Programs Post-Joe Rogan Appearance

Melania Trump&nbsp;is set to executive produce a new documentary on&nbsp;Amazon.com, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) Prime Video, offering a rare glimpse into her life and influence in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806697/melania-trump-to-executive-produce-upcoming-amazon-documentary-offering-rare-insight-into-her-life-and-influence-in-donald-trumps-political-world" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806697/melania-trump-to-executive-produce-upcoming-amazon-documentary-offering-rare-insight-into-her-life-and-influence-in-donald-trumps-political-world" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;political sphere</a>.&nbsp;



Smartphones



Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) remains unable to sell its&nbsp;iPhone 16&nbsp;in Indonesia. the company has&nbsp;not met Indonesia's domestic&nbsp;content requirements, which stipulate that smartphones sold in the country must include at<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42890863/apples-airtag-factory-fails-to-impress-indonesia-iphone-16-sales-remain-banned-despite-local-production-plans" rel="noreferrer noopener"> least 35% locally-made components</a>.



Apple has clarified its privacy policies regarding Siri, following a $95 million settlement over allegations of unauthorized recordings. The company emphasized&nbsp;that it has never sold&nbsp;or used<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42890955/apple-clarifies-siri-privacy-policies-after-95-million-settlement" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Siri data for marketing purposes</a>.



Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSNLF#OTC">SSNLF</a>) is gearing up for CES 2025 with major announcements and futuristic tech. Samsung&#8217;s theme for this year&#8217;s CES presentation is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42808821/samsung-ces-2025-press-conference-from-cutting-edge-ai-to-transparent-screens-heres-what-to-expect" rel="noreferrer noopener">"AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere.</a>"



Early announcements from Samsung&#8217;s newsroom highlight AI-enhanced refrigerators, appliances with built-in screens, and more. Expect features like advanced personalization and smarter home integration.



Samsung has confirmed the release of its much-anticipated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836293/samsungs-ballie-is-finally-coming-in-2025-will-this-round-home-robot-live-up-to-the-hype" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ballie</a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836293/samsungs-ballie-is-finally-coming-in-2025-will-this-round-home-robot-live-up-to-the-hype" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;home robot</a>.



Samsung announced its Unpacked event, set for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in San Jose. The event will showcase the new&nbsp;Galaxy S25&nbsp;series <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836040/samsung-unpacked-2025-date-time-livestream-details-and-galaxy-s25-pre-order-offers-everything-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">and advancements in&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836040/samsung-unpacked-2025-date-time-livestream-details-and-galaxy-s25-pre-order-offers-everything-you-need-to-know" rel="noreferrer noopener">Galaxy AI</a>.



Samsung is set to introduce a subscription model <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42893958/after-apple-halts-hardware-subscription-plans-samsung-unveils-similar-strategy-for-ai-powered-galaxy-smartphones" rel="noreferrer noopener">for its Galaxy smartphones</a>.



Media &amp; Gaming



Alphabet Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google&nbsp;TV users are reportedly encountering issues with purchasing certain movies, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42808621/google-tv-reportedly-struggles-with-missing-movie-purchases-disney-classics-and-new-releases-now-locked-behind-streaming-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">Walt Disney Co.&#8217;s</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42808621/google-tv-reportedly-struggles-with-missing-movie-purchases-disney-classics-and-new-releases-now-locked-behind-streaming-services" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>)&nbsp;classics</a>.



Walt Disney said that its streaming platforms have reached another milestone.&nbsp;The company&#8217;s streaming platforms,&nbsp;Disney+,&nbsp;Hulu, and&nbsp;ESPN+, have amassed approximately 157 million monthly active users globally who<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890512/disney-now-has-157-million-monthly-ad-supported-viewers-on-disney-hulu-and-espn-globally" rel="noreferrer noopener"> engage with ad-supported content</a>.



Technology



Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has decided to temporarily pause construction on parts of its&nbsp;ambitious data center <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42806852/microsoft-pauses-construction-on-33-billion-mount-pleasant-data-center-project-cites-technology-changes-and-design-re-evaluation" rel="noreferrer noopener">project&nbsp;in Mount Pleasant</a>.



Nvidia Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) CEO&nbsp;Jensen Huang&nbsp;delivered the keynote at CES 2025. The keynote's highlight was the introduction of the latest&nbsp;GeForce&nbsp;RTX 5000&nbsp;Graphic cards series, which include the $1,999 RTX 5090, $999 RTX 5080, $749 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42835923/jensen-huang-unveils-monster-gpus-nvidias-rtx-5000-series-starting-at-549" rel="noreferrer noopener">RTX 5070 Ti, and $549 RTX 5070</a>.



The lead product for&nbsp;Google's AI Studio&nbsp;has voiced concerns over the U.S. government's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836724/google-lead-product-questions-americas-ai-priorities-as-platforms-embrace-chinese-models-its-so-great-so-cheap-so-fast-such-good-rate-limits" rel="noreferrer noopener">approach to artificial intelligence</a>.



Also, Nvidia CEO&nbsp;Jensen Huang&nbsp;introduced the company&#8217;s $3,000 "personal AI supercomputer," a compact, high-performance machine designed to run advanced AI models right <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42838231/jensen-huang-unveils-3000-personal-ai-supercomputer-the-size-of-a-small-book-it-runs-the-entire-nvidia-ai-stack" rel="noreferrer noopener">from your desk at CES 2025</a>.



Amazon.com has expanded its home security portfolio with the launch of smart smoke <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42838001/amazons-ring-introduces-smart-smoke-alarms-at-ces-2025-boosting-home-security-with-pro-monitoring-features" rel="noreferrer noopener">and carbon monoxide alarms</a>.



Dell Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) announced a major rebranding of its personal computers, aiming to boost sales by adopting a simplified <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42869349/dell-takes-bold-step-to-revive-pc-sales-with-simplified-apple-like-brandingxps-and-inspiron-are-gone-for-good" rel="noreferrer noopener">naming strategy similar to&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42869349/dell-takes-bold-step-to-revive-pc-sales-with-simplified-apple-like-brandingxps-and-inspiron-are-gone-for-good" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple</a>.



Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) CEO&nbsp;Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s&nbsp;accusation of censorship has been firmly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42891403/mark-zuckerberg-accuses-eu-of-censorship-spokesperson-pushes-back-on-metas-allegations-we-absolutely-refute-any-claims" rel="noreferrer noopener">denied by the European Commission</a>.



The Commission stated that their regulations only mandate the removal of illegal content. "We absolutely refute any claims of censorship," said a Commission spokesperson.



Artificial Intelligence (AI)



Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) is making a significant move in the AI sector with a $300 million investment in&nbsp;DDN, a company known for its expertise <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42892338/blackstone-invests-300-million-in-ai-data-firm-that-powers-elon-musks-xai-supercomputer" rel="noreferrer noopener">in data storage and analysis</a>.



Apple committed to updating its AI feature following a complaint from the BBC.&nbsp;The issue came to light last month after the BBC reported that an AI-generated summary falsely claimed that&nbsp;Luigi Mangione, accused of killing&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;CEO<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Thompson</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42836957/apple-acknowledges-ai-flaws-after-bbc-complaint-vows-fix-for-misleading-news-summaries" rel="noreferrer noopener">, had shot himself</a>.



OpenAI&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;Sam Altman&nbsp;has made a bold prediction regarding the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), suggesting it will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">occur during&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump's</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/01/42867568/openai-ceo-sam-altman-predicts-agi-will-arrive-during-the-trump-presidency-says-chips-act-not-effective-enough" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;presidency</a>.&nbsp;



Anthropic, the AI startup behind "Claude" backed by Jeff Bezos, is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure $2 billion in funding. This deal could elevate its valuation to $60 billion, positioning it among the top <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42867792/jeff-bezos-backed-anthropic-set-to-become-one-of-the-top-5-us-startups-as-it-reportedly-eyes-60-billion-valuation-with-2-billion-funding-round" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">five most valuable U.S. startups</a>.



Image: Shutterstock

Equities

Large Cap

AAPL

AMZN

DELL

GOOG

MSFT

NVDA

SSNLF

Consumer Tech News (Jan 6-10): Microsoft Pauses Ambitious Data Center Project, Blackstone Makes $300 Million Investment In AI & More

Wall Street wiped out its entire post-election rally this week as mounting interest-rate fears were stoked by a red-hot labor market, surging inflation expectations and escalating geopolitical tensions ahead of Donald Trump&#8216;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42916780/donald-trump-receives-unconditional-discharge-in-new-york-hush-money-case-will-enter-white-house-as-convicted-felon">return to the White House</a>. 



In a shortened trading week due to Thursday&#8217;s funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, market activity reached a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42922299/wall-street-tumbles-on-blowout-payrolls-oil-rallies-to-76-us-dollar-hits-26-month-highs-whats-driving-markets-friday"> fever pitch on Friday.</a>



The U.S. economy boasted an impressive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42912480/us-economy-adds-256000-payrolls-in-december-as-tight-labor-market-tops-forecasts-dollar-treasury-yields-spike">256,000 nonfarm payrolls</a> in December — a figure that made the consensus economist forecast of 160,000 jobs pale in comparison. This marked the strongest employment growth since March. Additionally, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1%, beating forecasts of 4.2%.



In simple terms, the U.S. labor market ended 2024 firing on all cylinders. While this robust performance bodes well for consumer spending, it poses a significant challenge for the Federal Reserve, which now faces mounting pressure to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42913622/dollar-soars-to-27-month-highs-30-year-yields-hit-5-stocks-tumble-jobs-report-oil-spike-darken-feds-interest-rate-cut-hopes">keep inflation in check.</a>



Expectations for a new interest rate cut were further pushed down the road to September 2025 in reactions to new economic developments. For stocks, this represented a setback, as indices tumbled across the board.



Earlier in the week, President-elect Trump, in a one-hour speech at Mar-a-Lago, floated provocative ideas, including annexing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/01/42860583/trump-floats-canada-as-51st-us-state-says-hes-ready-to-use-economic-force-to-achieve-it">Canada as a 51st state</a>, imposing stringent tariffs on Mexico and demanding NATO members increase military spending to 5% of GDP.



On Friday, the Biden administration announced <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/42919047/oil-nears-80-as-us-prepares-new-russia-sanctions">new sanctions targeting Russian oil </a>giants Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, shadow fleet vessels and opaque traders. These measures triggered a sharp rise in oil prices, further unsettling markets.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Inflation Fears Surge</h3>



Consumer inflation expectations for the next five years reached 3.3% in January 2025, hitting their highest levels since June 2008, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42917321/consumer-inflation-worries-highest-since-2008-u-of-m-survey-says-wall-street-tumbles-to-2-month-lows">a University of Michigan survey</a>. Rising inflation anxiety may reflect concerns over the incoming Trump administration&#8217;s planned tariff hikes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wildfires Impact Insurers</h3>



California wildfires destroyed over 10,000 structures, intensifying pressure on property insurers like Allstate Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALL#NYSE">ALL</a>) and Travelers Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>). Economic losses could reach $57 billion, with insurance <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42906089/california-wildfires-ignite-concerns-for-insurance-stocks-here-are-some-insurance-etfs-which-could-be-impacted">stocks under market focus.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Rate Hike Panic</h3>



The blowout December jobs report forced Bank of America Securities to scrap expectations for further interest-rate cuts. It marks a notable U-turn from a top investment bank. Economist Aditya Bhave floated the risk of rising discussions towards interest rate cuts, should core inflation <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/42926956/bank-of-america-scraps-interest-rate-cut-calls-betting-markets-go-haywire-as-hiking-panic-mounts">surges above 3% again. </a>



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/01/42925767/palantirs-nasdaq-100-hype-fades-as-stock-sinks-post-inclusion">Palantir&#8217;s Nasdaq-100 Hype Fades As Stock Sinks 15% Post-Inclusion</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Government

Macro Economic Events

Regulations

Economics

Federal Reserve

US Labor Market Smashes Expectations, Wall Street Erases Post-Election Rally As Interest Rate Anxiety Grows: This Week In The Markets

Cathie Wood-led&nbsp;Ark Invest&nbsp;made significant trades in five major companies on Friday: Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXRX#NASDAQ">RXRX</a>), Illumina Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>), Intellia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTLA#NASDAQ">NTLA</a>), Cloudflare Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NET#NYSE">NET</a>), and Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADPT#NASDAQ">ADPT</a>).



The RXRX Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#NYSE">ARKK</a>) purchased a substantial 264,596 shares of&nbsp;Recursion Pharmaceuticals.



The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $6.88, is approximately $1.82 million. This move comes despite RXRX&#8217;s stock closing at a 5.23% decrease on Friday.



The ILMN Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>) and ARK Innovation ETF both bought shares of&nbsp;Illumina Inc.



ARKG acquired 4038 shares, while ARKK purchased 11425 shares. The combined value of these trades, calculated from the closing price of $136.69, is approximately $1.97 million.



This move was made despite Illumina's stock closing at a 2.14% decrease on Friday.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931747/bitcoin-supercycle-incoming-says-economist-but-theres-a-catch">Bitcoin Supercycle Incoming, Says Economist, But There&#8217;s A Catch</a>



The NTLA Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF and ARK Innovation ETF both bought shares of&nbsp;Intellia Therapeutics.



ARKG acquired 41503 shares, while ARKK purchased 124799 shares.



The combined value of these trades, calculated from the closing price of $10.2, is approximately $1.46 million. This move was made despite NTLA&#8217;s stock closing at a 15.14% decrease on Friday.



Intellia Therapeutics announced a 27% workforce reduction on Friday to cut costs.



The NET Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) sold 7840 shares of&nbsp;Cloudflare.



The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $112.62, is approximately $882,608. This move was made despite NET&#8217;s stock closing at a 2.66% decrease on Friday.



The ADPT Trade



Ark Invest&#8217;s Genomic Revolution ETF sold 130,790 shares of&nbsp;Adaptive Biotechnologies.



The value of this trade, calculated from the closing price of $6.5, is approximately $850,135. This move was made despite ADPT&#8217;s stock closing at a 2.84% decrease on Friday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931941/mark-zuckerberg-critiques-culturally-neutered-companies-advocates-for-masculine-energy-as-meta-cuts-dei-programs-">Mark Zuckerberg Critiques &#8216;Culturally Neutered&#8217; Companies, Advocates For &#8216;Masculine Energy&#8217; As Meta Cuts DEI Programs Post-Joe Rogan Appearance</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Ark Invest

Markets

ETFs

ADPT

ARKG

ARKK

ILMN

NTLA

RXRX

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Loads Up On Intellia Therapeutics Which Laid Off Over A Quarter Of Its Workforce

Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is reportedly investing $40 million in a documentary about&nbsp;Melania Trump, directed by&nbsp;Brett Ratner.



What Happened: The deal also includes a follow-up docuseries, marking Ratner&#8217;s return to filmmaking after a hiatus since 2018, according <a href="https://puck.news/melania-trump-documentary-scores-massive-amazon-payday">to</a> a report by Puck.



The documentary will have a limited theatrical release before becoming available on Prime Video.



Amazon&#8217;s acquisition of the documentary is notable for its involvement of Melania Trump herself.



This project comes amid ongoing speculation about Amazon founder&nbsp;Jeff Bezos&nbsp;and his connections to the Trump family.



The deal also includes a previously undisclosed project related to the former first lady. The release on Prime Video also highlights Amazon&#8217;s continued investment in exclusive content to attract subscribers.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To ‘Deliver Immediately' On His ‘Promise' To Save App From US Ban: ‘We Don't Need The Supreme Court To…'</a>



Why It Matters: The acquisition of the Melania Trump documentary by Amazon is set against a backdrop of previous interactions between Bezos and the incoming Trump administration.



In December, Bezos expressed optimism about President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s second term, highlighting potential regulatory reductions.



At the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/24/12/42331420/jeff-bezos-optimistic-about-trumps-second-term-wants-to-help-streamline-rules-we-do-have-too-many-regulations-in-this-country">New York Times DealBook Summit</a>, Bezos stated, &#8220;I&#8217;m actually very optimistic this time around,&#8221; referring to Trump&#8217;s enthusiasm for reducing regulations.



Additionally, Amazon pledged $1 million to Trump&#8217;s inaugural event in January 2024, aligning with other tech giants like&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc.



This move was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42801809/apple-ceo-tim-cook-reportedly-donates-1-million-to-trump-inauguration-joins-ranks-of-mark-zuckerberg-jeff-bezos-and-sam-altman">part of a broader trend</a> where tech leaders, including&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;CEO Tim Cook, contributed to Trump&#8217;s inauguration, emphasizing unity and tradition.



Cook, along with Bezos, was among those who donated $1 million to the event.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42801788/jeff-bezos-says-good-old-days-are-such-an-illusion-as-far-as-planet-earth-is-concerned-but-theres-one-except">Jeff Bezos Says ‘Good Old Days' Are ‘Such An Illusion' As Far As Planet Earth Is Concerned, But There's One Exception</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Flickr

Politics

Jeff Bezos' Amazon To Pay $40 Million For Melania Trump Documentary: Report

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) has reportedly secured a deal worth over $1 billion to supply servers optimized for artificial intelligence to Elon Musk&#8216;s social media platform, X.



What Happened: The deal between HP and X was finalized late last year, Bloomberg News <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/hpe-wins-1-billion-ai-server-deal-for-elon-musk-s-x">reported</a> on Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter.



The servers are tailored for AI applications, a segment witnessing robust demand from enterprises. Competitors Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>) and Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>) also vied for the contract.



The market for AI servers has been expanding, with businesses increasingly looking for hardware that can support artificial intelligence applications. Companies under Musk&#8217;s leadership, including&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and xAI, have become prominent clients for such hardware. 



Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s interest in AI is well-documented. In a recent discussion, Musk predicted that AI could reach <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41618261/elon-musk-predicts-ai-will-match-human-capabilities-in-few-years-the-cup-is-80-full-maybe-90">human-level capabilities by&nbsp;2029.</a> "I certainly feel comfortable saying that it's getting 10 times better per year which is, let's say, four years from now that would mean 10,000 times better," Musk said.



 His AI startup, xAI, is also making strides, with Musk announcing the integration of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42867252/xais-grok-chatbot-to-be-integrated-into-tesla-vehicles-soon-says-elon-musk">Grok chatbot into Tesla vehicles&nbsp;</a>soon. Musk shared the update during a live stream on X, stating, &#8220;Grok in Teslas is coming soon. You will be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything.&#8221;&nbsp;



Meanwhile, Musk&#8217;s social media platform, X, is facing competition from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42867967/elon-musks-x-rival-bluesky-is-being-valued-at-700-million-after-explosive-growth-post-trumps-victory-report">Bluesky, a rival platform that is reportedly </a>nearing a $700 million valuation. 



Price Action:&nbsp;On Friday, HPE stock saw a 0.23% increase, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



The latest analyst ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. were issued by Deutsche Bank, Loop Capital, and Barclays on Dec. 19, Dec. 9, and Dec. 6, respectively. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HPE/analyst-ratings">With an average price target</a> of $25.33 across these firms, the ratings suggest an implied upside of 14.01% for the company.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HPE/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10232310/Screenshot-2025-01-11-at-9.53.03%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-729087" style="width:376px;height:auto"/></a></figure>



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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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42833727/dana-white-wanted-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-in-cage-fight-now-hes-on-metas-board-of-directors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dana White Wanted Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg In Cage Fight, Now He's On Meta's Board Of Directors</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Social Media

SMCI

TSLA

Elon Musk's X, Hewlett Packard Strike $1 Billion AI Server Deal: Report

Washington state has taken legal action against&nbsp;T-Mobile US (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>)&nbsp;for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022124/t-mobile-hit-by-chinese-hackers-after-rivals-att-verizon-suffer-breach-report">allegedly neglecting cybersecurity vulnerabilities</a>, leading to a significant data breach in 2021 that impacted 79 million people across the U.S.



What Happened: The lawsuit,&nbsp;filed by Washington Attorney General&nbsp;Bob Ferguson, accuses T-Mobile of ignoring known security issues and failing to adequately notify over two million Washington residents affected by the breach.



The breach exposed sensitive personal information, such as names, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers.



The lawsuit claims T-Mobile&#8217;s notifications about the&nbsp;breach violated the Consumer Protections&nbsp;Act by omitting crucial details, making it difficult for individuals to assess their risk of identity theft.



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.



Furthermore, the filing criticizes T-Mobile for not adhering to industry cybersecurity standards and using weak passwords to protect sensitive data.



Ferguson emphasized that the data breach was &#8220;entirely avoidable&#8221; and highlighted T-Mobile&#8217;s failure to address vulnerabilities.



The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected customers and demands improvements in T-Mobile&#8217;s cybersecurity practices and transparency.



This legal action follows T-Mobile&#8217;s previous settlements, including a $350 million payout in 2022 related to the same breach.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931704/tiktok-users-call-on-trump-to-deliver-immediately-on-his-promise-to-save-app-from-us-ban-we-dont-need-the-supreme-court-to">TikTok Users Call On Trump To &#8216;Deliver Immediately&#8217; On His &#8216;Promise&#8217; To Save App From US Ban: &#8216;We Don&#8217;t Need The Supreme Court To…&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The lawsuit against T-Mobile comes amid heightened concerns over cybersecurity threats, particularly from foreign actors.



In recent years, major telecom companies, including T-Mobile, have been targeted by cyber-espionage operations linked to Chinese intelligence.



A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42022124/t-mobile-hit-by-chinese-hackers-after-rivals-att-verizon-suffer-breach-report">report</a>&nbsp;from November revealed that T-Mobile and other telecom giants, such as&nbsp;AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Verizon Communications Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), were compromised in a large-scale cyber-espionage operation attributed to Chinese hackers.



This breach raised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41200026/chinese-hackers-breach-at-t-verizon-networks-in-major-wiretap-data-theft-putting-us-national-securit">significant national security concerns</a> as it targeted cellphone communications of high-value intelligence targets.



Earlier in 2024, the FBI warned about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38330156/fbi-chief-warns-xi-jinpings-ccp-linked-chinese-hackers-are-planning-to-physically-wreak-havoc-on-us">Chinese hackers</a> infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure, including telecommunications, energy, and water sectors.



FBI Director Christopher Wray cautioned that these hackers could potentially &#8220;physically wreak havoc&#8221; on U.S. infrastructure at a time of their choosing.



These incidents underscore the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38659657/major-hacking-incident-exposes-data-of-military-personnel-in-uk-ministry-of-defence-breach-is-china">growing threat of cyberattacks</a> and the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and national security.



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>.



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



Photo courtesy: Unsplash

TMUS

T-Mobile Sued Over Massive Data Breach Impacting 79 Million Americans: Sensitive Information Included Names, Addresses, And More

Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is experiencing a drop in its market share in China. This decline is attributed to a decrease in iPhone shipments, as reported by&nbsp;supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. 



What Happened: &nbsp;Kuo, an analyst at TF&nbsp;Securities, <a href="https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple-likely-to-face-fiercer-challenges-in-2025-requiring-caution-against-potential-downside-risks-5cec099e1d5d">revealed</a> that Apple has been &#8220;cautious&#8221; in discussing its&nbsp;2025 iPhone production plans with&nbsp;key suppliers. Despite&nbsp;the expected launch of the&nbsp;new iPhone SE 4, Kuo forecasts a 6% year-over-year decline in shipments&nbsp;for the first half of&nbsp;2025.



He also expects Apple&#8217;s&nbsp;market share to continue to&nbsp;decline, attributing this to the thin design of two upcoming iPhone models, which may only support eSIM, a feature not widely promoted in the Chinese market.



"These two models could face shipping momentum challenges unless their design is modified," he said.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42931361/mark-zuckerberg-says-biden-officials-berated-meta-staff-as-they-refused-to-remove-true-content-it-just-got-to-this-pointthats-ridiculous">Mark Zuckerberg Says Biden Officials Berated Meta Staff As They Refused To Remove &#8216;True&#8217; Content: &#8216;It Just Got To This Point…That&#8217;s Ridiculous</a>&#8216;



In December, while overall smartphone shipments in China remained stable year-over-year, iPhone shipments saw a decline of 10% to 12%. Kuo pointed out that Apple's on-device artificial intelligence feature, Apple Intelligence, has yet to drive hardware upgrades or boost services revenue.



For 2024, Apple's estimated iPhone shipments were around 220 million units, with projections for 2025 ranging from 220 million to 225 million, falling short of the market consensus of 240 million or more, according to Kuo.



Why It Matters: This news comes in the wake of a series of challenges for Apple. Earlier in the month, an analyst downgraded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42854151/apple-faces-downgrade-amid-iphone-challenges-turns-to-news-for-growth">Apple from Neutral to Sell </a>and lowered the price target from $202 to $188. MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett cited the lack of traction for iPhone 16 models featuring artificial intelligence and ongoing geopolitical tensions with China.



Apple also reached a $95 million settlement in a lawsuit regarding allegations of unauthorized Siri recordings. After the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42903742/apple-clarifies-siri-privacy-policy-after-95-million-settlement-over-allegations-of-unauthorized-rec">Siri privacy policies</a> lawsuit, the company clarified that it has never sold or used Siri data for marketing purposes.



Despite these controversies, Apple&#8217;s CEO&nbsp;Tim Cook&nbsp;saw a significant increase in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42931220/apple-ceo-tim-cook-took-home-74-6-million-in-2024-up-18-despite-ai-and-siri-privacy-controversies">annual compensation in 2024</a>. Cook's total compensation for 2024 rose by 18% from the previous year, reaching $74.6 million,&nbsp;the company said in a proxy filing on Friday.



Price Action: On Friday, Apple's stock saw a 2.41% decrease, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Apple has a consensus price target of $245.17, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings">according to 30 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a> The most recent ratings, issued by MoffettNathanson, Bernstein, and B of A Securities on Jan. 7 and 3, 2025, suggest an average price target of $234.67, implying a slight downside of -0.99% based on these assessments.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10225601/Screenshot-2025-01-11-at-9.25.54%E2%80%AFAM-1024x392.png" alt="" class="wp-image-729079"/></a></figure>



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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</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Apple Staring At Market Share Decline In China Amid Declining iPhone Shipments: Top Analyst Flags Why Some Models Could Be Face Shipping Momentum Challenges

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), on Friday criticized Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) for its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41894509/apples-next-big-bet-think-smaller-says-analyst-there-will-never-be-another-iphone">lack of innovation</a> and restrictive policies. He also hinted at the potential downfall of the tech giant if it doesn&#8217;t adapt to the rapidly changing industry.



What Happened: In a podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg expressed his views on Apple&#8217;s recent performance. He stated that Apple has been coasting on its past success and hasn&#8217;t "really invented anything great in a while."



"Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they're just kind of sitting on it 20 years later," he said, adding Tim Cook-led tech giant has "been so off their game in terms of not really releasing many innovative things."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/42931220/apple-ceo-tim-cook-took-home-74-6-million-in-2024-up-18-despite-ai-and-siri-privacy-controversies">Apple CEO Tim Cook Took Home $74.6 Million In 2024, Up 18% Despite AI And Siri Privacy Controversies</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"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24META&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$META</a> CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG ON <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> BEING ‘OFF THEIR GAME' &#39;They haven't really invented anything great in a while—Steve Jobs invented the iPhone, and now they&#39;re just kind of sitting on it 20 years later&#8230; Apple's basically squeezing people with a 30% tax on developers and… <a href="https://t.co/9LpaigOs5H">pic.twitter.com/9LpaigOs5H</a>&mdash; Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) <a href="https://twitter.com/wallstengine/status/1877796140675911979?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



While acknowledging the iPhone as a groundbreaking invention, he criticized Apple&#8217;s restrictive policies, which he believed would stifle competition and innovation. He also highlighted the financial impact of Apple&#8217;s policies on Meta, citing potential profit increases if Apple were to relax its rules.



"if you just don't do a good job for like 10 years, eventually, you're just going to get beat by someone."



He also mentioned Meta&#8217;s ongoing issues with Apple, particularly the 30% cut Apple takes on some App Store transactions which "feel arbitrary." These restrictions have reportedly hindered Meta&#8217;s hardware competition and led to significant losses in advertising revenue.



If the iPhone maker&#8217;s "random rules" didn't apply, his company would make "twice as much profit or something" based on his "back of the envelope calculation," Zuckerberg said.



Why It Matters: Zuckerberg&#8217;s comments come at a time when Apple is facing increasing scrutiny over its App Store policies and alleged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37447136/apple-faces-class-action-lawsuit-for-alleged-icloud-monopoly-they-are-generating-almost-pure-profit">monopoly over smartphones.</a> The company is under pressure to open up its ecosystem, with regulatory changes in the EU and&nbsp;a lawsuit from the U.S.&nbsp;Department of Justice. Despite facing pressure <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/24/06/39530832/apple-battles-with-the-eu-over-app-store-policies-while-their-30-recovery-could-propel-their-stock">from regulatory bodies</a> and lawsuits, Apple has shown no signs of opening up its closed ecosystem.



Meanwhile, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been rebranding and expanding its focus on the metaverse, a virtual reality space. The company&#8217;s rift with Apple is significant, given the latter&#8217;s dominance in the smartphone market and its potential impact on Meta&#8217;s future developments.



In April of last year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38424000/mark-zuckerberg-shades-apple-vision-pro-once-again-calls-it-fashionable-ai-glasses-without-a-display">Zuckerberg criticized Apple's Vision Pro</a>. During Meta&#8217;s first-quarter earnings call, he expressed doubt about the widespread appeal of augmented reality (AR) glasses, especially those lacking &#8220;full holographic displays.&#8221; In a subtle dig at the Vision Pro, Zuckerberg said, "It seems clear that there&#8217;s also a significant market for fashionable AI glasses without a display.&#8221;



Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock has risen by 27.21% over the past year but has dropped 2.56% so far in 2025, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro data</a>. In comparison, Meta saw a 66.24% increase over the past year and a 4.45% gain in 2025.



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: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photos courtesy: Flickr and Wikimedia

'Steve Jobs Invented The iPhone And Now They're Just...Sitting On It:' Mark Zuckerberg Hints At Apple's Potential Downfall Amid iPhone Maker's 'Random Rules'

Cryptocurrency markets are trading higher on Friday after experiencing significant volatility throughout the day.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><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>$94,777</td><td>+3.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$3,266</td><td>+2.5%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$188.06</td><td>+2.3%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$2.36</td><td>+3.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.3323</td><td>+4.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00002151</td><td>+2.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume decreasing by 6.2% and daily active addresses falling by 0.02%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are down from 11,991 to 11,484 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 335%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 111,905 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $381.10 million.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42908193/exclusive-answering-key-questions-about-bitcoins-future-before-inauguration">EXCLUSIVE: Answering Key Questions About Bitcoin&#8217;s Future 10 Days Before The Inauguration</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42906328/crypto-fear-and-greed-index-hits-lowest-level-since-october-as-bitcoin-falls-under-92k-dogecoin-and-shiba-inu-trade-in-red">Crypto Fear And Greed Index Hits Lowest Level Since October As Bitcoin Falls Under $92K, Dogecoin And Shiba Inu Trade In Red</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42921919/bitcoin-takes-stairs-up-and-elevator-down-on-labor-market-data-whats-next">Bitcoin Takes &#8216;Stairs Up&#8217; And &#8216;Elevator Down&#8217; On Labor Market Data: What&#8217;s Next?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42904654/coinbase-subpoenaed-over-polymarket-involvement-federal-agency-seeks-customer-information">Coinbase Subpoenaed Over Polymarket Involvement, Federal Agency Seeks Customer Information</a></li>
</ul>



Top Gainers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin SV (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">BSV</a>)</td><td> $61.95</td><td>+21.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Algorand (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/algo/usd">ALGO</a>)</td><td> $0.3814</td><td>+!2.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Sui (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">SUI</a>)</td><td> $5.20</td><td>+11.4%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: With Bitcoin prices changing course to green after a highly volatile day, crypto trader Altcoin Sherpa <a href="https://x.com/ColdBloodShill/status/1877766962488496426">acknowledged</a> the tough market conditions but expressing relief it&#8217;s Friday. 



He predicts a "weekend altcoin season" to begin tomorrow.



Altcoin Sherpa believes Bitcoin is in a bounce zone, with high volatility suggesting potential for modest short-term gains. He advises scalping for most trades.



<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=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> still a bounce region imo. volatility is high but guessing we go up a little bit in the short term. Still think all trades should be scalps for the most part, though <a href="https://t.co/n0Wnlo30rK">https://t.co/n0Wnlo30rK</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jov4F6vm7F">pic.twitter.com/Jov4F6vm7F</a>&mdash; Altcoin Sherpa (@AltcoinSherpa) <a href="https://twitter.com/AltcoinSherpa/status/1877773333069967764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Additionally, he <a href="https://x.com/AltcoinSherpa/status/1877777158711435423">sees</a> Bitcoin as having momentarily bottomed, while altcoins are expected to continue their slight rebounds.



According to Glassnode data, new investors now hold 49.6% of Bitcoin&#8217;s liquidity, indicating that seasoned investors have sold during the uptrend, with strong demand from new buyers absorbing the sell pressure.



<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 percentage of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> wealth held by new investors (coins aged &lt; 3m) has surged, now representing 49.6% of the network liquidity. This infers that mature investors have meaningfully distributed coins across the uptrend, with new demand absorbing the sell-side pressure. <a href="https://t.co/1qX9EuVgGA">pic.twitter.com/1qX9EuVgGA</a>&mdash; glassnode (@glassnode) <a href="https://twitter.com/glassnode/status/1877763363796562264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 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/25/01/42919731/bitcoin-to-bounce-back-in-q1-but-beware-20-corrections-analysts-warn">Bitcoin To Bounce Back In Q1 But Beware 20% Corrections, Analysts Warn</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$ALGO

$BSV

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

$SHIB

$SOL

$SUI

$XRP

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin In The Green On Friday: 'Weekend Altcoin Season' Coming?

Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) is trading higher amid a sharp increase in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42805470/shiba-inus-2133-burn-rate-surge-followed-by-10-price-rise-whats-happening#:~:text=Shiba%20Inu's%202%2C133%25%20Burn%20Rate,%2D%20Benzinga">token burn rate</a> and anticipation surrounding the launch of the TREAT token on Jan. 14.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00002165</td><td>$12.8 billion</td><td>+2.6%&nbsp;</td><td>-7%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.3337</td><td>$49.3 billion</td><td>+1.5%&nbsp;</td><td>-4.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001772</td><td>$7.5 billion</td><td>+1.5%&nbsp;</td><td>-14%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader Javon Marks observed that Shiba Inu is maintaining its post-breakout momentum, signaling the potential for further gains. 



He stated that the slower pace of the current rally might actually support its longevity and scale. 



"The sustained momentum suggests this run may not be over yet," Marks tweeted.



Marks identified $0.000081 as the next key resistance level, which would be a 261% gain from current prices. 



Surpassing this level could set the stage for a move toward $0.0001553.



<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">Usually, you give dogs treats, but this <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SHIB&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SHIB</a> (Shiba Inu) looks like its going to be giving us one as its priced continue to hold significant post-breakout gains in a run that can be far from concluded &#x1f415;! Still being broken out, the target remains over +261% away at $0.000081… <a href="https://t.co/l1fyji0lDb">https://t.co/l1fyji0lDb</a> <a href="https://t.co/XmlO6wOWv2">pic.twitter.com/XmlO6wOWv2</a>&mdash; JAVON&#x26a1;&#xFE0F;MARKS (@JavonTM1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JavonTM1/status/1877393141621228017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Statistics: Shibburn data indicates that in the past 24 hours, 27.99 million SHIB tokens were burned, including a 17.2 million SHIB burn in a single transaction, followed by another 4.6 million burn. 



This spike represents a 5,895.9% increase in the burn rate, reducing token supply and boosting scarcity.



According to IntoTheBlock, five wallets control 57% of the total SHIB supply, with one wallet alone holding 41.7%. 



Such concentrated holdings amplify the likelihood of market volatility, as significant movements in these wallets could disrupt price stability.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/01/42898917/dogecoin-killer-shiba-inu-down-3-5-in-7-days-is-this-really-healthy-accumulation">&#8216;Dogecoin Killer&#8217; Shiba Inu Down 3.5% In 7 Days: Is This Really &#8216;Healthy Accumulation&#8217;?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$PEPE

Shiba Inu Burns 28 Million Tokens, Rises 2%: What Is Going On?

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) co-founder Joe Lonsdale offered a sobering assessment of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative, suggesting that while $1 trillion in federal spending cuts might be achievable, further reductions would face significant hurdles.



What Happened: &#8220;The next trillion will be a lot harder,&#8221; Lonsdale said during a CNBC <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBAGWBQNogU">interview</a> on Thursday, tempering expectations for the ambitious cost-cutting program championed by Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk. The initiative, which initially targeted $2 trillion in cuts, has recently scaled back its goals.



Lonsdale revealed that the effort has attracted significant talent, noting, &#8220;I know dozens of friends who are helping out in various ways—brilliant engineers and lawyers working day and night.&#8221; However, he emphasized that government resistance and bureaucratic obstacles would make deeper cuts challenging.



The discussion gains particular significance as President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s team plans to integrate DOGE into a second administration. 



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/01/42904377/tesla-bull-gary-black-warns-against-inflated-optimus-robot-assumptions-get-pounded-each-time-i-try-to-right-size-expectations">Tesla Bull Gary Black Warns Against Inflated Optimus Robot Assumptions: Get Pounded Each Time &#8216;I Try To Right-Size Expectations&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: Lonsdale, who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40786654/elon-musk-invites-joe-lonsdale-to-join-d-o-g-e-but-palantir-founder-points-out-failure-of-simila">previously attempted similar efficiency initiatives</a> during the former President Barack Obama&#8216;s administration, shared a cautionary tale: &#8220;Obama even verbally agreed to let us do it back in the day but then his people stopped it from going ahead; wasn&#8217;t politically useful to find all that for some reason.&#8221;



Analyzing potential savings areas, Lonsdale identified fraud reduction, entitlement reform, and elimination of unused government buildings as promising targets. However, he expressed skepticism about substantial defense spending cuts, citing strong bipartisan support in Congressional committees and national security considerations.



The initiative&#8217;s evolution reflects growing attention to government efficiency as Trump has appointed Musk to lead a commission auditing federal agencies. This alignment of technology leaders with government reform efforts marks a significant shift in approaches to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/41927289/trump-appoints-elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamy-to-lead-doge-targeting-bureaucracy-and-65-trillion-federal-spending-we-will-not-go-gently">federal spending reduction</a>.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42906328/crypto-fear-and-greed-index-hits-lowest-level-since-october-as-bitcoin-falls-under-92k-dogecoin-and-shiba-inu-trade-in-red">Crypto Fear And Greed Index Hits Lowest Level Since October As Bitcoin Falls Under $92K, Dogecoin And Shiba Inu Trade In Red</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock 



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

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Palantir Co-Founder Joe Lonsdale Sets Realistic Expectations For Elon Musk's DOGE Initiative: 'Next Trillion Will Be A Lot Harder'

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