Thumzup Media Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TZUP#NASDAQ">TZUP</a>), a digital adtech company backed by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45966444/donald-trump-jr-says-his-father-doesnt-touch-the-family-backed-crypto-company-despite-disclosure-of-57-million-income">Donald Trump Jr.</a>, has received board approval to allocate up to $250 million into cryptocurrencies.



What Happened: The board authorization allows Thumzup to hold a diversified portfolio including Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), Ripple (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>), Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>), and USDC (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDC</a>).



The <a href="https://thumzupmedia.com/investor-relations/investor-news/news-details/2025/Thumzup-Media-Corporations-Board-of-Directors-Authorizes-Company-to-Hold-up-to-250-Million-in-Cryptocurrencies/default.aspx">announcement</a> reflects a growing trend of Trump-aligned businesses embracing digital assets as part of broader treasury strategies.



Thumzup CEO Robert Steele said the decision comes amid a shift in the U.S. regulatory landscape.



"As the U.S. federal government moves toward more crypto-friendly policies and greater regulatory clarity, Thumzup is committed to remaining at the forefront of this transformative technology," Steele said.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46488447/bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-lead-crypto-market-cap-rebound-above-4-trillion">Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Lead Crypto Market Cap Rebound Above $4 Trillion</a>



Why It Matters: Thumzup's decision echoes a pattern seen across several Trump-affiliated ventures.



Trump Media &amp; Technology Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMTG#NASDAQ">TMTG</a>), the parent of Truth Social, holds a material stake in Trump-themed tokens and has promoted crypto-friendly payment processors on its platform.



In 2024, campaign finance filings revealed Donald Trump&#8216;s own crypto holdings, which included ETH and various Trump-themed meme coins received from supporters. 



Trump also declared support for Bitcoin mining and stablecoin innovation during campaign events earlier this year.



Thumzup&#8217;s portfolio allocation expands beyond Bitcoin to include XRP and DOGE, both of which have strong retail investor bases and growing adoption in payments and remittances. 



The decision to include USDC indicates a hedge toward on-chain dollar exposure amid crypto market volatility.



The board&#8217;s approval makes Thumzup one of the few publicly traded companies to formally adopt a multi-asset crypto treasury strategy that includes meme coins, stablecoins, and Layer-1 tokens. 



The firm says it aims to "create significant value for TZUP shareholders" through strategic exposure to the evolving crypto market.



Read Next: 



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46480331/the-us-just-took-a-big-step-toward-crypto-regulation-heres-what-the-clarity-act-actually-says">The US Just Took A Big Step Toward Crypto Regulation—Here&#8217;s What The Clarity Act Actually Says</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

News

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

$LTC

$SOL

$USDC

$XRP

TZUP

TMTG

Donald Trump Jr-Backed Thumzup Media Approves $250M In Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, SOL, Dogecoin Treasury Purchases

On Friday, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest made significant trades involving Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Caris Life Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAI#NASDAQ">CAI</a>) and Guardant Health Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GH#NASDAQ">GH</a>).



The META Trade



Ark Invest sold 2,106 shares of Meta Platforms through its ARK Innovation ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKK#BATS">ARKK</a>).



The value of the Meta trade, calculated from the latest closing price, is around $1.48 million.



The TER Trade



Ark Invest purchased 39,792 shares of Teradyne through the ARKK fund. Teradyne is a leading supplier of automation equipment for test and industrial applications.



This move aligns with Wood&#8217;s recent emphasis on the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on the job market, as highlighted in a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46460054/cathie-wood-says-ai-is-hurting-entry-level-jobs-offers-advice-to-jobseekers-here-is-her-advice-for-those-joining-the-workforce">recent video</a> shared by Ark Invest.



The value of the Teradyne trade, calculated from the latest closing price, is around $3.74 million.



The CAI Trade



Ark Invest bought 13,036 shares of Caris Life Sciences through ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKG#BATS">ARKG</a>).



The value of the Caris Life Sciences trade, calculated from the latest closing price, is around $393K.



The GH Trade



Ark Invest sold 3,013 shares of Guardant Health through ARKG.



The value of the Guardant Health trade, calculated from the latest closing price, is around $140K.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46460054/cathie-wood-says-ai-is-hurting-entry-level-jobs-offers-advice-to-jobseekers-here-is-her-advice-for-those-joining-the-workforce">Cathie Wood Says AI Is &#8216;Hurting&#8217; Entry-Level Jobs, Offers Advice To Jobseekers: Here Is Her Advice For Those Joining The Workforce</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: ChrisStock82 / Shutterstock.com

ETFs

ARKG

ARKK

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest Offloads Meta, Loads Up On Teradyne, Caris Life Sciences

Each week, Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.



Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.



Read Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/46157351/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: June&#8217;s 20 Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do CoreWeave, Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?</a>



Here&#8217;s a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week ending July 18:



Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELH#NASDAQ">CELH</a>): The energy beverage company saw strong interest from readers during the week with new <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/liquid-death-expands-into-energy-drinkseasy-on-the-octane-bbc212bc?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAgCZEC7BHSD9KdBbAUy2rJCV2xEtrcfAGerBy7633p0VCMzpjqpoznrAtTxnY4%3D&amp;gaa_ts=687ac2fb&amp;gaa_sig=ILLiCwN7bsGO-Uh0xO6ZERFn_WfpgWE7uYVNFBYz3T-JiUiCy3m2okGgfqGepOH7iSLF0lmf2LdAWCYVDDaSUQ%3D%3D">reports </a>that Liquid Death is entering the energy drink sector and brings a new competitor to the field. The entry of another well-known brand could hurt Celsius and others. Celsius also saw increased interest with distribution partner PepsiCo reporting quarterly financial results and sharing some details on how the partnership is going. Analysts have been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CELH/analyst-ratings">raising their price targets</a> on the stock in July, including Truist, Needham and UBS. Shares were down on the week, but the stock remains up 63% year-to-date in 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181942/Screenshot-505.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992258" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181942/Screenshot-505.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181942/Screenshot-505-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181942/Screenshot-505-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Tyler Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYL#NYSE">TYL</a>): The software company saw strong interest from readers during the week ahead of second-quarter financial results scheduled for July 30. Analyss expect the company to report earnings per share of $2.77, up from $2.40 in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in eight of the last 10 quarters. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $587.9 million, up from $541.0 million in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in six of the last 10 quarters, including two straight quarters.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="504" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181956/Screenshot-506.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992259" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181956/Screenshot-506.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181956/Screenshot-506-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18181956/Screenshot-506-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Teledyne Technologies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDY#NYSE">TDY</a>): With business segments that include government contracts, Teledyne has been getting attention as a drone stock in recent weeks. The company's FLIR Defense segment issues a press release on drones and praising recent comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The company reports second-quarter financial results on July 23. Analysts expect the company to show increases in earnings per share and revenue on a year-over-year basis. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine of the last 10 quarters, including four straight quarters. The company has beaten revenue in seven of the last quarters, including four straight quarters.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="500" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182014/Screenshot-507.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992261" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182014/Screenshot-507.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182014/Screenshot-507-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182014/Screenshot-507-768x384.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OLLI#NASDAQ">OLLI</a>): The retailer of closeout merchandise saw increased interest from readers during the week likely due to an appearance at the Nasdaq to ring the opening bell. The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary of being a public company. Ollie's is also celebrating the opening of its 600th store and entering its 34th state (New Hampshire). Shares trade at all-time highs despite missing analyst estimates for both revenue and earnings per share in the last fiscal quarter.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="999" height="502" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182028/Screenshot-508.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992262" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182028/Screenshot-508.png 999w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182028/Screenshot-508-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182028/Screenshot-508-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></a></figure>



Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSK#NASDAQ">VRSK</a>): The insurance company saw increased interest, which comes as the company announced the acquisition of SuranceBay. The acquisition will expand Verisk's operations in the life insurance and annuity segments. Verisk is set to report second-quarter financial results on July 30. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in five straight quarters and nine of the last 10 quarters overall. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in three straight quarters and nine of the last 10 quarters overall.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="995" height="503" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182042/Screenshot-509.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992263" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182042/Screenshot-509.png 995w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182042/Screenshot-509-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18182042/Screenshot-509-768x388.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px" /></a></figure>



Stay tuned for next week's report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0718" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>



Read the latest Stock Whisper Index reports here:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45827517/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-68" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June 6</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45938888/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-69" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June 13</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/46043300/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-70" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June 20</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/46157351/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-71" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">June 27</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46264224/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-72" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 4</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46381556/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet-73">July 11 </a></li>
</ul>



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46236448/exclusive-2025s-first-half-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-where-do-nvidia-tesla-apple-stock-rank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE: 2025&#8217;s First Half Most-Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro — Where Do Nvidia, Tesla, Apple Stock Rank?</a></li>
</ul>

Exclusives

Trading Ideas

CELH

OLLI

VRSK

Benzinga's 'Stock Whisper' Index: 5 Stocks Investors Secretly Monitor But Don't Talk About Yet

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



The Magnificent Seven led Wall Street higher this week, pushing the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 to new all-time highs. Strong retail sales, low jobless claims, and standout bank earnings drove momentum, while tech giants' rally — including gains by Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) — supported investor enthusiasm.



Nvidia remains central, its AI-fueled valuation anchoring broader tech optimism. Microsoft posted a 22% YTD gain — second only to Nvidia — while Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) also kicked off upbeat forecasts.



The S&amp;P 500 closed above 6,297 — the highest ever — reflecting a broad-based bullish sentiment. Yet focus is shifting to potential Fed commentary and looming trade risks, which could test tech's capacity to carry markets much further



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/markets/earnings/25/07/46453684/defense-stocks-earnings-q2-2025-preview">"Defense stocks head into earnings at record highs — is the boom just beginning?"</a>, by Piero Cingari, reports that, buoyed by the $156 billion "One Big Beautiful Bill" defense package, aerospace and defense stocks — including the iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS: ITA) — have rallied into record‑high territory ahead of Q2 earnings season, though analysts caution upcoming results must justify the bullish run.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46473075/exclusive-this-stocks-up-1300-but-ceo-says-the-real-payoffs-4-years-away">"Exclusive: This stock's up 1,300% — but CEO says the real payoff's 4 years away"</a>, by Surbhi Jain, reports that Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) stock has surged over 1,300% on quantum hype, but CEO Subodh Kulkarni cautions that true commercial quantum advantage — and meaningful returns — are still about four years away.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46481193/netflix-q2-fueled-by-price-ads-squid-game-q3-set-to-repeat">"Netflix Q2 fueled by price, ads, Squid Game; Q3 set to repeat"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) delivered a strong Q2 thanks to subscription price hikes, increased ad revenue, and the return of Squid Game, and analysts anticipate similar momentum in Q3.



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



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46444470/gamesquare-holdings-stock-is-surging-wednesday-whats-going-on">GameSquare Holdings Stock Is Surging Wednesday: What's Going On?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46471676/meta-palantir-amazon-ai-datacenter-growth">Meta, Palantir, Amazon Are All-In On AI—Can Datacenters Keep Up?</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46424062/rocket-lab-stock-launches-to-new-all-time-highs-whats-going-on">Rocket Lab Stock Launches To New All-Time Highs: What's Going On?</a>







The Bears



"GameStop CEO is not scared of the short sellers, calls it ‘un‑American' to bet against business — but it's a free market", by Adam Eckert, reports that GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) CEO Ryan Cohen pushed back on skeptics—calling short-selling "un‑American" — while reaffirming confidence in the company's turnaround and the strength of its free-market model.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46398722/plug-powers-hot-streak-stalls-as-wall-street-frets-over-warrant-surprise">"Plug Power's hot streak stalls as Wall Street frets over warrant surprise"</a>, by Akanksha Bakshi, reports that Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) shares dropped over 7% after the company filed to register 31.5 million shares for resale—raising investor concerns about dilution despite the stock being up 8% over the prior week thanks to a hydrogen supply deal and supportive federal policy developments.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/space/25/07/46481437/blacksky-stock-drops-after-hours-what-happened">"BlackSky stock drops after hours — what happened?"</a>, by Erica Kollmann, reports that BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKSY#NYSE">BKSY</a>) saw its shares fall after hours following weaker-than-expected Q2 bookings, prompting investor concerns about near-term revenue visibility despite the company reaffirming its full-year guidance.



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



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46393365/salesforce-underperforms-market-as-growth-concerns-plague-crm-giant">Salesforce Underperforms Market As Growth Concerns Plague CRM Giant</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/25/07/46504921/stock-of-the-day-pepsicos-former-floor-becomes-ceiling-sellers-lining-up">Stock Of The Day: PepsiCo's Former Floor Becomes Ceiling — Sellers Lining Up</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46499876/wall-street-friday-stocks-today-trump-netflix-earnings">Stocks Slip As Netflix Fails To Impress, Bitcoin Eyes Negative Week: What's Moving Markets Friday?</a>







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



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Markets

AMZN

BKSY

GAME

GOOGL

MSFT

NFLX

NVDA

PLTR

PLUG

RGTI

RKLB

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Netflix, GameStop, Plug Power — And Defense Stocks Soar

Wall Street extended its historic rally this week, with major benchmarks such as the S&amp;P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 hitting fresh all-time highs, as strong corporate earnings, robust economic data and AI-fueled tech momentum continued <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">to boost investor optimism.</a>



Big banks beat earnings estimates, setting a strong tone for the season. Airlines and consumer-focused giants also impressed.



Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) and PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) reported their best trading weeks of the year, further supporting the confidence that solid consumer demand is driving margins across sectors.



Economic strength was underscored by June's retail sales data, which showed a 0.6% monthly increase — crushing economists&#8217; forecast of 0.1% — while jobless claims dropped to 221,000, their <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46467952/us-retail-sales-june-2025-fed-trump-inflation-consumer">lowest level since April.</a>



Investors appear to be buying into a &#8220;Goldilocks&#8221; scenario, where growth is strong enough to support profits but not so strong as to trigger new inflation fears. June's inflation data came in broadly lower than expected, marking a sharp turnaround from the stagflation concerns that gripped the market in the first quarter.



Since the post-tariff lows in April, the S&amp;P 500 has surged 27%, a rally that now ranks among the sharpest three-month advances ever.



Read also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46426381/sp500-rally-investor-sentiment-2025">S&amp;P 500 Defies Odds With Rare Rally — But &#8216;Toppy&#8217; Sentiment Creeps In</a>



NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) remains the epicenter of the tech rally. Its shares have nearly doubled since April, driven by surging demand for AI chips from cloud giants like Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).



Nvidia's rally has helped lift the "Magnificent Seven" — including Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com Inc., Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) — to a combined $18.5 trillion market cap, surpassing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46477275/wall-street-big-7-are-now-bigger-than-chinas-entire-economy">China's entire nominal GDP.</a>



Despite the economic strength, President Donald Trump has renewed his attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, calling for immediate rate cuts. He even reportedly floated the idea of firing Powell before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46454852/trump-fed-powell-odds-inflation-markets">backing off the proposal.</a>



Meanwhile, Fed Gov. Christopher Waller — a potential candidate to replace Powell next year — said he's willing to cut rates by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46491573/waller-fed-chair-trump-rate-cut-july">the end of July.</a> The Fed meeting on July 30 now carries heightened political stakes, with growing signs of internal divisions.



Read Now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46496809/magnificent-7-stocks-wall-streets-estimates-google-alphabet-microsoft">These Two Magnificent 7 Stocks Are About To Hit Overdrive — And Wall Street&#8217;s Getting Excited </a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

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Wall Street Sets New Records As Magnificent Seven Valuation Tops $18.5 Trillion: This Week In Markets

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas believes the future of AI won&#8217;t be driven by chatbots, but by intelligent browsers that can fully automate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46257861/jim-cramer-contradicts-ai-led-job-cuts-at-white-collar-firms-as-cathie-wood-says-its-hurting-entry-level-jobs-heres-how-experts-debunk-ais-impact-on-employment">key white-collar roles</a>.



What Happened: Speaking on The Verge's Decoder podcast <a href="https://www.theverge.com/decoder-podcast-with-nilay-patel/708256/perplexity-ceo-decoder-aravind-srinivas-comet-browser-ai-search">on</a> Thursday, Srinivas introduced Comet, Perplexity's new AI-native browser designed to function as a full-fledged knowledge worker.



Unlike typical AI assistants, Comet integrates directly with workplace apps like Gmail, LinkedIn and Google Calendar to perform high-value tasks—everything from sourcing candidates to managing meeting schedules.



"A recruiter's work worth one week is just one prompt: sourcing and reach outs," Srinivas said, describing how Comet can automatically generate candidate lists, pull contact info and send tailored outreach emails.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46188237/bill-gates-is-betting-two-thirds-of-his-foundations-portfolio-in-these-3-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Gates Is Betting Two-Thirds Of His Foundation's Portfolio In These 3 Stocks</a>



He added that the browser can even follow up, update spreadsheets, sync calendars, resolve scheduling conflicts and prep briefs ahead of meetings.



Srinivas said he envisions Comet evolving into an AI operating system for professionals that works continuously in the background, executing natural language commands.



He argued that Comet could effectively replace two key office roles: recruiters and executive assistants.



"You want it to keep following up, keep a track of their responses," he said. "At scale, if it helps you to make a few million bucks, does it not make sense to spend $2,000 for that prompt?"



This news was first <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/perplexity-ceo-ai-browser-will-automate-2-white-collar-roles-2025-7">spotted</a> by Business Insider.



Why It&#8217;s Important: Earlier this month, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood raised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46460054/cathie-wood-says-ai-is-hurting-entry-level-jobs-offers-advice-to-jobseekers-here-is-her-advice-for-those-joining-the-workforce">concerns about rising unemployment</a>, particularly among recent college graduates, as AI increasingly displaces entry-level jobs.



She cited The Wall Street Journal, she noted the unemployment rate for new grads has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45613320/ai-is-gutting-entry-level-jobs-and-gen-z-is-paying-the-price-warns-linkedins-aneesh-raman">risen from 4% to over 6%</a>. Wood advised job seekers to focus on learning AI-related skills to stay competitive.



Last month, the Kobeissi Letter pointed out that the difference between Americans who believe jobs are "plentiful" and those who say <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46110254/us-labor-market-is-flashing-red-plentiful-versus-hard-to-get-job-gauge-hits-4-year-low-signals-unemployment-could-jump-to-6">they're "hard to get" has shrunk</a> to just 11.1% — the smallest margin since 2017, aside from the COVID-19 period.



Craig Shapiro previously warned that AI could disrupt 25% of all jobs by 2030 — a challenge he believes the Federal Reserve has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46093421/ai-will-disrupt-25-of-us-jobs-by-2030-and-the-fed-cant-save-them-economist-warns">little ability to address</a>.



Previously, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged students to embrace AI to enhance their career <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/05/45485072/if-i-were-a-student-today-heres-how-id-use-ai-to-do-my-job-better-says-nvidia-ceo">prospects and productivity</a>. At the same time, Microsoft Corporation has laid off <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46226585/microsoft-cuts-9000-jobs-in-second-2025-layoff">9,000 employees</a> in its second wave of 2025 job cuts—impacting under 4% of its workforce—as it manages costs while investing $80 billion in AI data centers.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46216283/dan-ives-urges-apple-to-make-a-move-saying-that-perplexity-acquisition-is-a-no-brainer-its-a-matter-of-when-and-not-if" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dan Ives Urges Apple ‘To Make A Move,' Saying That Perplexity Acquisition Is ‘A No-Brainer': ‘It's A Matter Of When And Not If'</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Forget Chatbots—Perplexity's Aravind Srinivas Says The Real AI Disruption Is In The Browser And It's Coming For Office Jobs

Private equity giant Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>) has reportedly withdrawn from a high-profile <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/06/46160115/donald-trump-drops-hint-about-potential-tiktok-buyer-but-keeps-details-close-to-his-chest">investor group vying</a> for TikTok's U.S. operations.



Check out the current price of <a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/bx">BX stock here</a>.



What Happened: Blackstone exited a consortium led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, both existing investors in ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, reported Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.



The group had emerged as the frontrunner to acquire TikTok's U.S. business under a plan backed by President Donald Trump.



The Chinese social media giant, which generated $43 billion in revenue during the first quarter of this year, has recently overtaken Meta in quarterly earnings, the report added, citing sources.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/07/46264668/elon-musks-father-says-he-warned-his-son-against-going-into-politics-hes-not-a-very-good-politician-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk's Father Says He Warned His Son Against Going Into Politics – ‘He's Not a Very Good Politician At All'</a>



Why It&#8217;s Important: The deal, which would have granted U.S. investors an 80% stake in a new American TikTok entity, was intended to satisfy a U.S. law passed in April 2024 that mandates ByteDance either divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban by Jan. 19, 2025.



However, progress has stalled amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988862/trump-extends-tiktok-divestment-deadline-again-says-xi-will-ultimately-approve-the-deal-amid-stalled-us-spinoff-talks">repeated deadline extensions</a> and pushback from Beijing.



In June, Trump issued a third executive order extending the divestment deadline to Sept. 17. Chinese regulators have reportedly objected to the proposed spin-off, especially following Trump's announcement of sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports.



The deal's unraveling could jeopardize the future of TikTok in the U.S., a market where it boasts over 150 million users. With Trump expected to raise the issue directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the platform's fate may <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46267944/tiktok-to-roll-out-new-us-app-as-trump-says-we-pretty-much-have-a-deal-report">hinge on diplomacy</a> as much as regulation.



Price Action: On Friday, shares of Blackstone dipped 2.19% during regular trading but edged up 0.17% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0717">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that BX maintains steady upward momentum across short, medium and long-term timeframes. Although it performs well on momentum, its growth rating remains comparatively weaker. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance metrics can be found here</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/19024506/Screenshot-2025-07-19-at-12.13.14%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-992420"/></a></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46267477/trump-threatens-10-additional-tariff-on-all-brics-aligned-nations-says-tariff-letters-drop-at-noon-monday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Threatens 10% ‘Additional&#8217; Tariff On All BRICS-Aligned Nations, Says Tariff Letters Drop At Noon Monday</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Blackstone Backs Out Of TikTok US Deal As Trump Deadline Looms, China Opposition Mounts: Report

Cryptocurrency markets are trading sideways on Friday as Bitcoin continues to trade below the $118,000 mark.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Ticker</td><td>Price</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$117,506.77</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$3,583.13</td></tr><tr><td>Solana</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$178.23</td></tr><tr><td>XRP</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$3.45</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.2352</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu</td><td>(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00001477</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume and daily active addresses increasing by 13.4% and 12.4% respectively. Transactions greater than $100,000 are up from 11,451 to 12,641 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 77.7%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data shows 190,589 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $909.36 million.</li>



<li>The top gainers/losers in the past 24 hours include Pump.fun (CRYPTO: PUMP), SPX6900 (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">SPX</a>) and Fartcoin (CRYPTO: FARTCOIN)</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46497183/first-strategy-now-mei-pharma-litecoin-joins-bitcoin-as-treasury-asset">First Strategy, Now MEI Pharma: Litecoin Joins Bitcoin As Treasury Asset</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46494778/67m-for-more-eth-bit-digital-expands-its-ethereum-treasury-beyond-120000-coins">$67M For More ETH: Bit Digital Expands Its Ethereum Treasury Beyond 120,000 Coins</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46489126/another-1-1-billion-is-this-bitcoin-ethereum-etf-buying-spree-sustainable">Another $1.1 Billion: Is This Bitcoin, Ethereum ETF Buying Spree Sustainable?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46494592/coinbase-stock-soars-to-all-time-high-on-landmark-crypto-legislation">Coinbase Stock Soars To All-Time High On Landmark Crypto Legislation</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46491139/donald-trump-jr-backed-thumzup-media-approves-250m-in-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-sol-dogecoin-treasury-purchases">Donald Trump Jr-Backed Thumzup Media Approves $250M In Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, SOL, Dogecoin Treasury Purchases</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46487109/ripple-ceo-hails-genius-act-as-transformational-legislation-compares-it-to-dodd-frank-act-this-moment-is-a-historic-one">Ripple CEO Hails GENIUS Act As &#8216;Transformational Legislation,&#8217; Compares It To Dodd-Frank Act: &#8216;This Moment Is A Historic One&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader Jelle emphasized the importance of a weekly breakout for Bitcoin, suggesting it could trigger a surge in bullish momentum or mark a key trend reversal. 



He expressed growing excitement about the upside potential if BTC can break from its current range.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I wouldn&#39;t underestimate the power of a weekly breakout &#x1f440;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/8ntAMVZcOJ">pic.twitter.com/8ntAMVZcOJ</a>&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1946213781786259953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



In another X post, Jelle <a href="https://x.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1946160697781416109">pointed</a> out that Bitcoin may remain range-bound over the weekend, but a sharp breakout could occur early next week. 



He warned that such a move could lead to a temporary pullback in altcoins, creating ideal dip-buying opportunities, a classic sign of capital rotating back into Bitcoin.



CrediBULL Crypto analyzed analyzed Bitcoin's Elliott Wave structure, noting that the 4th subwave correction appears near completion. 



According to him, the impulsive 5th wave, typically a strong upward move, is still in play, hinting at an imminent breakout once this consolidation resolves.



<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">Still missing that impulsive 5th subwave here&#8230;4th should be wrapping up soon&#8230;<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> <a href="https://t.co/QOY0DTbH5Q">https://t.co/QOY0DTbH5Q</a> <a href="https://t.co/EUz372ep5D">pic.twitter.com/EUz372ep5D</a>&mdash; CrediBULL Crypto (@CredibleCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/CredibleCrypto/status/1946272009362543044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Bitcoin.com News <a href="https://x.com/BTCTN/status/1946270646247248207">reported</a> that Bitcoin dominance has slipped to a 4-month low, even as Ethereum, XRP, and other altcoins surge. 



This signals that traders are rotating profits from Bitcoin's all-time highs into altcoins, a typical hallmark of a summer altcoin season. 



While Bitcoin is still expected to rally again, the current price action favors alts in the short term.



Read Next:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/07/46476705/are-you-up-on-your-bitcoin-eth-xrp-holdings-take-out-enough-prominent-whale-cautions">Are You Up On Your Bitcoin, ETH, XRP Holdings? &#8216;Take Out Enough,&#8217; Prominent Whale Cautions</a></li>
</ul>

$SHIB

$SPX

Bitcoin Stuck Below $118,000 As Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Extend Gains

Despite a Washington-Beijing trade truce at May&#8217;s Geneva summit, China just dropped its U.S. Treasury holdings to the lowest level in over 16 years ― and the timing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">couldn't be more telling</a>.



In May, Beijing trimmed its stockpile of American debt to $756.3 billion, shaving off nearly $1 billion from April and marking the third straight month of reductions.



With the latest deflux, China has now slipped to third place among foreign creditors to the U.S., behind Japan and the United Kingdom. It's a far cry from the days when Beijing was America's largest lender, holding more than $1.3 trillion in Treasuries between 2012 and 2016.



China's move to slash its U.S. Treasury holdings is likely more than mere portfolio adjustment—it's a geopolitical signal. Coming on the heels of Trump's aggressive tariff regime, it could be interpreted as a calculated form of financial retaliation, subtly reminding Washington that Beijing holds levers beyond trade. By dumping American debt, China isn't just reshuffling assets—it's likely sending a message to Trump: economic pain can be delivered quietly, through markets, not megaphones.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top 10 Foreign Holders Of US Debt As Of May 2025</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Country</th><th>US$ Billion</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Japan</td><td>1135.0</td></tr><tr><td>United Kingdom</td><td>809.4</td></tr><tr><td>China, Mainland</td><td>756.3</td></tr><tr><td>Cayman Islands</td><td>441.3</td></tr><tr><td>Canada</td><td>430.1</td></tr><tr><td>Belgium</td><td>415.5</td></tr><tr><td>Luxembourg</td><td>412.6</td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>375.1</td></tr><tr><td>Ireland</td><td>327.3</td></tr><tr><td>Switzerland</td><td>303.7</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: U.S. Treasury </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Tariffs To Treasuries: What Sparked China's Move?</h2>



Beijing's latest pullback came just weeks after President Donald Trump shocked global markets by ramping tariffs on Chinese imports up to 155% in April. Stocks wobbled, the dollar took a hit and foreign investors ran for cover—selling $40.8 billion in U.S. debt that month alone.



But May flipped the script. After Trump agreed to slash tariffs by 115 percentage points on China and enter a 90-day negotiation window, confidence returned, at least temporarily. 



Foreign buying of Treasuries bounced back hard, reaching $146 billion in net purchases—the biggest monthly inflow since August 2022.



Still, China didn't follow the crowd.



Even with a shaky trade truce in place, tensions snapped back. Washington hit China with new export restrictions just days after the Geneva talks and Beijing responded by tightening exports of rare earth minerals—vital components in everything from EV batteries to missile systems.



A more subtle message may be embedded in the bond sale itself: China appears to be testing its leverage over the U.S. economy, using Treasuries—the same bonds that fund America's deficits—as a potential pressure point.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Trump's Spending Bill Raises Fiscal Alarm, All Eyes On The Fed</h2>



Beyond what foreign investors are doing, America's fiscal burden is growing fast and is causing upward pressure on bond yields. 



Trump's newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act—passed on July 4—is set to balloon the federal deficit by $2.7 trillion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That kind of spending puts fresh strain on government borrowing—and investors are noticing.



The 30-year Treasury yield has climbed back toward 5%, a level that's triggered alarm bells on Wall Street in the past. It raises borrowing costs for everything from mortgages to corporate debt and puts added pressure on a stock market that&#8217;s hovering at all-time highs. 



The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) is down 3% year-to-date, after falling in each of the past four years. 



Trump, meanwhile, hasn't let up on the Federal Reserve. He's ramped up public pressure on Chair Jerome Powell to cut interest rates—and has even floated the idea of replacing him before his term ends next May.



The July 30 Fed meeting could bring fireworks. Most market participants and policymakers currently expect no change to rates, but dissent is brewing. Fed Governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller have already signaled their readiness to vote for a rate cut, even as inflation data remain mixed.



Powell is walking a tightrope. With the bond market already flashing signs of stress, any misstep in Fed policy may risk triggering deeper summer volatility across markets. 



Read now:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46491573/waller-fed-chair-trump-rate-cut-july">Trump&#8217;s Fed Pick? He&#8217;s Cutting First, And Cutting Powell Out </a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bonds

Specialty ETFs

Politics

Treasuries

Global

Econ #s

Trump Just Got A $756 Billion Message From China — And It's Not Friendly

XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) has been one of the most polarizing altcoins in crypto, but one prominent trader shared a story about how it has paid off in a big way.



What Happened: Back in December 2019, crypto trader CrediBULL Crypto made a bold post: "Within 4 years, this XRP will buy me a Lambo. What color should I get?" 



At the time, he had invested $10,000 into XRP at around $0.1835, calling it an "accumulation buy" rather than a short-term trade. 



He predicted prices could dip to $0.13–$0.15 but stuck with the position.



Now, nearly five years later, that same <a href="https://x.com/CredibleCrypto/status/1945959515536408743">position</a> is worth $186,000, marking a 185x return. While the Lambo timeline was slightly off, the conviction paid off.



Despite the huge gains, CrediBULL isn't selling. He says XRP's real run is still ahead, and that Bitcoin&#8217;s ROI potential is now limited.



"I don't see BTC going to $300,000+ from here," he said, suggesting only a 2x upside remains for Bitcoin.



While others argue that Bitcoin offered better risk-adjusted returns, he disagrees — pointing to XRP's explosive upside in recent months and suggesting the altcoin cycle has more to give.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46477874/xrp-explodes-for-32-weekly-rally-to-form-a-golden-cross-all-time-highs-soon">XRP Explodes For 32% Weekly Rally To Form A Golden Cross: All-Time Highs Soon?</a>



What's Next: Santiment notes that XRP hasn't seen real retail fear of missing out yet, even as it leads recent altcoin rallies.



Pentoshi called XRP's behavior a clear sign of "bull market things."



<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=%24XRP&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$XRP</a> my goodness bull market things <a href="https://t.co/rSri74ului">pic.twitter.com/rSri74ului</a>&mdash; &#x1f427; Pentoshi (@Pentosh1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pentosh1/status/1946011034919039175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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DonAlt <a href="https://x.com/CryptoDonAlt/status/1946087178909454673">shared</a> that his XRP bag has 6x'd in just a couple of months, while Bitcoin hasn't even doubled. "This is why people chase altcoins," Don said, adding that he's simply holding now and warns: He also <a href="https://x.com/CryptoDonAlt/status/1946084698158928327">felt</a> this is the most obvious trade of a lifetime and he still thinks there&#8217;s more upside. The higher it goes, the higher the risk. Don't get too greedy, he added.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46475904/344m-and-counting-what-is-ripple-co-founder-chris-larsen-planning-with-his-xrp-transfers">$344M And Counting: What Is Ripple Co-Founder Chris Larsen Planning With His XRP Transfers?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

'Within 4 Years, This XRP Will Buy Me A Lambo,' Trader Said In 2019 — Now He's Up $176,000

Shares of Opendoor Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OPEN#NASDAQ">OPEN</a>) have soared in recent weeks, climbing another 10.8% on Thursday and pushing its one-month <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46470320/chamaths-spacs-are-crushing-nvidia-wall-street-didnt-see-this-coming">rally close to 200%.&nbsp;</a>



The surge has been driven by fresh interest from retail investors and the endorsement of EMJ Capital founder Eric Jackson.



What To Know: Jackson laid out his reasons for backing Opendoor in a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/small-cap/25/07/46459498/opendoor-is-the-next-carvana-stock-surges-43-on-activist-investors-take-on-company-ill-saddle-up"> social media post </a>on Monday, saying "it could be a 100-bagger over the next few years."



<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">Over the last month, my X impressions have exploded talking about <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTQQF&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTQQF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24IREN&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$IREN</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CIFR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CIFR</a> because everyone is looking for the next <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24CVNA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$CVNA</a>. We think we just found another.<a href="https://twitter.com/EMJCapital?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EMJCapital</a> has taken a position in <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24OPEN&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$OPEN</a> — and we believe it could be a 100-bagger over the next few years.…&mdash; Eric Jackson (@ericjackson) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericjackson/status/1944821356157165722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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He identified several positive industry and company-specific trends, even suggesting the potential for the stock to increase one hundredfold in the years ahead.



"Let's talk upside math. If $OPEN goes to $12B in revenue in a few years (already the Bloomberg consensus estimate)… And if the market gives them a 5x EV/revenue multiple again (as it did at the 2021 peak)…That's a stock price of $82. 100x from here," Jackson wrote.&nbsp;



Since his post, the stock price has about doubled, closing at $1.65 on Thursday.&nbsp;



A central point of Jackson's thesis is that with Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/Z#NASDAQ">Z</a>) and Redfin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDFN#NASDAQ">RDFN</a>) having stepped away from iBuying in the last few years, Opendoor now effectively dominates the market segment.&nbsp;



The company's iBuyer model, which relies on technology to buy homes directly for cash, perform basic renovations and resell them, was once a popular approach among major real estate firms, but most have retreated to focus on other areas.



Jackson <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/opendoor-stock-jumps-another-10-as-retail-piles-in-on-potential-100x-rally-in-next-few-years-202539566.html">told </a>Yahoo Finance on Thursday that investor sentiment could play a major role in the stock's reversal.&nbsp;



&#8220;I think it just shows how mispriced the stock has been over the last, I don&#8217;t know, year and a bit,&#8221; Jackson said.&nbsp;



&#8220;The valuation was so off that if people did start to change their opinions, this thing could move a lot, not just double or triple or quadruple.&#8221;



OPEN Stock Price: According to data from<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw"> Benzinga Pro</a>, Opendoor Technologies stock was up 20% at $1.98 at the time of publication Friday.



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</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Movers

OPEN

RDFN

Here's What's Going On With Opendoor Stock—And Why It 'Could Be A 100-Bagger'

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk launched another attack on President Donald Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein client list row amid rising discontentment over the case.



What Happened: The billionaire took to social media platform X to share his thoughts on the case after Trump deemed the Epstein case a "hoax."



"Wow I can't believe Epstein killed himself before realizing it was all a hoax," Musk said in his post on Thursday.



<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">Wow I can't believe Epstein killed himself before realizing it was all a hoax&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1945967524564369877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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However, the billionaire was also seen coming to the defense of the President after WSJ reported <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?st=eGnQWo&amp;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink">on</a> Thursday, claiming to have reviewed a 2003 lewd birthday letter to Epstein by Trump for Epstein's 50th birthday as part of an album collected by Epstein's wife, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump has since <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46486660/trump-directs-pam-bondi-to-release-more-epstein-documents-subject-to-court-approval-threatens-legal-action-against-wsj-over-epstein-letter">threatened to sue</a> WSJ over the claims.



Musk prompted Grok, asking the xAI model to verify whether the letter was false or true in a reply to a post on X. The billionaire then reposted Grok's explanation on the claim, which Grok identified as false.



"Grok, is the letter most likely fake or true?" Musk asked in his post.



<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/grok?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grok</a> Is the letter most likely fake or true?&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1946060849132577181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<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">Most likely fake. The letter&#39;s cryptic, third-person script doesn&#39;t match Trump&#39;s direct style or known handwriting (he uses Sharpie notes). No photo for signature verification, and allies confirm it&#39;s uncharacteristic. WSJ claims DOJ review, but timing amid Epstein file…&mdash; Grok (@grok) <a href="https://twitter.com/grok/status/1946061285474636000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Why It Matters: The news comes as Musk had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46270547/elon-musk-reignites-jeffrey-epstein-client-list-row-adding-fuel-to-the-feud-with-trump">reignited the Epstein row</a>, calling on the Trump administration to release the files as tensions rose between the pair following disagreements over the Big Beautiful Bill law.



In what could be perceived as an anti-Musk move, Trump recently appointed Jonathan Morrison, a Tesla critic, as his nominee to lead the NHTSA. Morrison had called for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46434613/elon-musks-tesla-could-face-stricter-oversight-as-trumps-nhtsa-pick-targets-autonomous-driving-cannot-sit-back">tougher oversight of autonomous vehicles</a> in the U.S., which could create hurdles for Tesla's robotaxi ambitions.



The company's FSD tech has already been under scrutiny by the NHTSA for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46067027/tesla-robotaxi-faces-nhtsa-scrutiny-over-traffic-violations-during-austin-launch">possible traffic violations</a> committed by the Robotaxis during Austin's launch event in June.



Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, which gets rid of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46289556/trumps-tax-bill-axes-the-7500-ev-credit-heres-how-you-can-still-claim-it">the $7,500 EV credit</a>, also effectively makes the ZEV credits, which earned Tesla <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46258669/tesla-made-2-76-billion-from-zev-credits-in-2024-in-us-but-trumps-tax-bill-just-killed-this-revenue-stream">billions in revenue last year</a>, redundant by relaxing CAFE or Corporate Average Fuel Economy norms.



The norms dictate that each car should drive a certain number of miles on a gallon of fuel. Violating the norms by failing to meet the figures would result in hefty fines for automakers.



With relaxed norms, automakers wouldn't have to worry about violating the norms due to decreased fuel economy requirements, buying a lesser amount of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46385263/tesla-rival-rivian-could-lose-a-major-revenue-stream-due-to-a">ZEV credits from companies</a> like Tesla to comply.



Elsewhere, Tesla has also been under fire for Musk's political activities with the America Party, with experts like Gerber Kawasaki's co-founder Ross Gerber claiming that the company has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46337215/tesla-is-basically-hijacked-by-elon-musk-says-ross-gerber-calling-it-completely-ridiculous-america-party-is-the-worst-news-for-tsla">been "hijacked" by Musk</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="206" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2-1024x206.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-991213" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2-1024x206.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2-300x60.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2-768x155.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2-1536x310.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/18061104/TSLA-JUL-18-2025-2.jpg 1563w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Tesla offers Satisfactory Momentum and Quality, while scoring well on the Growth metric, but offering poor Value. For more such insights, sign up for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"> Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> today!



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



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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Elon Musk Attacks Trump For Calling Jeffrey Epstein Case 'A Hoax,' Then Defends Him Against Birthday Letter Leak

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