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Blaize Holdings Inc provides customized, programmable processor architecture suite, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled edge computing solutions. The company is a semiconductor and software technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the world of AI.

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Economic sentiments among some of America&#8217;s top corporate leaders have taken a sharp dip during the second quarter, reaching their lowest level since 2020.
What Happened: On Wednesday, the Business Roundtable, a non-profit lobbyist association, released its second quarter of 2025 CEO Economic Outlook Survey, a composite index that tracks the plans and predictions of leading CEOs and their organizations for the next 6 months.
This time around, the reading showed a 15-point decline in sentiments to 69, marking its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, based on a survey conducted from June 2 to June 13.
The decline places the index well below its historical average of 83, but it is still above the 50-point threshold, a sign that the economy continues to expand despite the uncertainties. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010639/elizabeth-warren-says-americans-deserve-lower-interest-rates-but-trumps-reckless-tariffs-stand-in-the-way-the-fed-is-getting-boxed-out">Elizabeth Warren Says Americans &#8216;Deserve&#8217; Lower Interest Rates, But Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Reckless&#8217; Tariffs Stand In The Way: &#8216;The Fed Is Getting Boxed Out&#8217;</a>
Subindices for hiring, capital expenditure and sales growth witnessed similar declines, dropping 19, 15, and 11 points, from the prior quarter, respectively.
According to Business Roundtable&#8217;s CEO, Joshua Bolten, &#8220;Driving this quarter's decline in the Index is broad-based uncertainty, arising substantially from an unpredictable trade policy environment.&#8221;
He also said that &#8220;extending and enhancing tax reform is critical, but it is not sufficient,&#8221; since the country&#8217;s businesses need the administration to pursue and close trade deals, which can help provide much-needed certainty for investment decisions. 
Why It Matters: A recent CFO survey, taken a couple of months ago by Duke University and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44492183/cfos-increasingly-alarmed-over-tariffs-as-business-confidence-wavers-15-say-they-are-concerned-about-duties-in-q1">indicated similar trends</a>, with most CFOs expressing concerns regarding President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs and duties.
The Employee Confidence Index, a survey conducted by Glassdoor in March, plunged to 44.4%, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/03/44461799/employee-confidence-hits-new-low-as-economic-anxiety-grows">its lowest level</a> since the study first began in 2016, with employees becoming more concerned regarding inflation and recessions than they were a couple of months ago. 
According to the survey, public sector employees were the least confident about the future, with a score of just 38.1%, due to the changes brought about by the Elon Musk-led Department of Governmental Efficiency. 
Photo Courtesy: Peshkova on Shutterstock.com
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46010921/palantirs-head-of-defense-says-xi-jinping-is-decoupling-from-us-warns-america-risks-losing-leverage-if-china-tech-shift-goes-unchecked">Palantir&#8217;s Head Of Defense Says &#8216;Xi Jinping Is Decoupling From Us&#8217; — Warns America Risks Losing Leverage If China Tech Shift Goes Unchecked</a></li>
</ul>

News

Economics

'Unpredictable Trade Policy Environment' Sinks CEO Sentiment To Pandemic-Era Lows In Business Roundtable Survey

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is advocating for direct U.S. military intervention in Gaza, proposing the deployment of Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) B-2 Spirit bombers equipped with Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs to help Israel conclude its military campaign.
What Happened: Writing on X Wednesday, the Pershing Square Capital Management CEO outlined a comprehensive Middle East peace plan that would position President Donald Trump for a &#8220;Nobel Peace Prize.&#8221; 
&#8220;How about the following? The United States helps Israel finish the job with some B-2s and some GBU-57s,&#8221; Ackman wrote, calling for Israel to end the Gaza conflict in exchange for hostage returns and Saudi-funded reconstruction.
Ackman&#8217;s proposal specifically references advanced U.S. military hardware designed for precision strikes on fortified targets. 
The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator is a precision-guided bunker buster designed to strike deep underground targets. It can be carried by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
The comments <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/45966450/bill-ackman-warns-iran-an-existential-threat-to-america-says-it-is-time-to-finish-the-job">escalate Ackman&#8217;s previous statements</a> calling Iran &#8220;an existential threat to Israel, America and the world.&#8221; Earlier this month, he argued against negotiations with Tehran, stating &#8220;it is time to finish the job&#8221; regarding Iran&#8217;s nuclear program.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">How about the following? The United States helps Israel finish the job with some B-2s and some GBU-57s. Israel ends the Gaza war in exchange for the return of the hostages, a commitment for a new civilian government in Gaza, and reconstruction overseen and funded by the Saudis…
&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1935421336157053172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/46011237/trump-was-confronted-at-g7-by-canadas-indigenous-honor-guard-who-said-he-was-filled-with-rage-but-delivered-a-message-of-peace">Trump Was Confronted At G7 By Canada&#8217;s Indigenous Honor Guard Who Said He Was &#8216;Filled With Rage,&#8217; But Delivered A Message Of &#8216;Peace&#8217;</a>
Defense stocks have shown volatility amid Middle East tensions. After-hours trading Wednesday <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">showed gains for major contractors</a>: Northrop Grumman up 0.88%, RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) up 0.60%, and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) up 0.30%. The Global X Defense Tech ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NASDAQ">SHLD</a>) has surged 56.80% year-to-date.
Trump has maintained strategic ambiguity <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/market-summary/25/06/46010350/as-trump-weighs-options-on-iran-dow-futures-slip-defense-stocks-tick-up-in-after-hours-session">regarding potential U.S. involvement</a>, telling reporters Wednesday, &#8220;I may do it, I may not do it&#8221; when asked about striking Iran. The president warned Tehran residents to evacuate &#8220;immediately&#8221; earlier this week, stating &#8220;Iran can not have a nuclear weapon.&#8221;
Ackman&#8217;s vision extends beyond <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45414969/trump-attempts-to-make-good-on-his-proposal-for-a-middle-eastern-riviera-but-in-dubai-jeddah-and-riy">military action to economic transformation</a>. He proposes expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia, predicting &#8220;an economic boom emerges in the Middle East&#8221; with Gaza becoming &#8220;a beautiful place to live and work.&#8221;
The investor&#8217;s peace plan reflects former President Barack Obama&#8216;s 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recognition. 
Both defense contractors, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, show strong momentum but rank poorly on valuation, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. NOC also maintains a positive price trend across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here to view the full breakdown</a> of BA.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="880" height="632" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296.png" alt="" class="wp-image-954814" style="width:579px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296.png 880w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296-300x215.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19023322/image-296-768x552.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 880px) 100vw, 880px" /></a></figure>
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46010921/palantirs-head-of-defense-says-xi-jinping-is-decoupling-from-us-warns-america-risks-losing-leverage-if-china-tech-shift-goes-unchecked">Palantir&#8217;s Head Of Defense Says &#8216;Xi Jinping Is Decoupling From Us&#8217; — Warns America Risks Losing Leverage If China Tech Shift Goes Unchecked</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: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com

Politics

SHLD

Bill Ackman Calls For Northrop's B-2 Bombers, Boeing's GBU-57s To Help Israel 'Finish The Job' In Gaza, Pave Way For Trump's 'Nobel Peace Prize'

The National Transport Safety Board, or NTSB, has issued a safety warning over engines used in aircraft manufactured by Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) and Airbus SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EADSF#OTC">EADSF</a>).
What Happened: The agency warned that the CFM International Leap 1B engine could potentially let in smoke into the aircraft's cabin or cockpit when damaged, the agency said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
"The NTSB found that the engine load reduction device, or LRD, a safety feature designed to reduce the severity of vibrations transmitted from a damaged engine to the airframe, can result in damage to the engine oil system." the agency said in the statement before adding that such a condition "can allow smoke" to enter aircraft's the ventilation system.
The agency also recommended evaluating other engines from CFM, like Leap 1A and Leap 1C. The recommendations stem from two separate incidents in 2023 when a bird was ingested into the engines, leading to smoke in the aircraft's cabin.
Why It Matters: The news comes in as the aviation industry has been dealing with the aftermath of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/06/45911791/boeing-dreamliner-carrying-over-200-passengers-crashes-shortly-after-takeoff-near-indias-ahmedabad-b">Air India Flight 171 </a>crashed in India's Ahmedabad. The crash resulted in over 241 lives lost.
Another Air India 787 Dreamliner returned to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45945153/air-india-boeing-787-8-returns-to-hong-kong-mid-flight-due-to-technical-issue-prompting-fresh-scrutiny-of-airlines-safety-protocols">Hong Kong mid-flight</a> due to a technical glitch, which prompted safety concerns. "AI315 returned to Hong Kong shortly after take-off due to a technical issue. The flight landed safely … and is undergoing checks as a matter of abundant precaution," the company stated.
Elsewhere, Boeing is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45973965/boeing-lockheed-martin-compete-for-key-role-in-trumps-175-billion-golden-dome-project">vying for defense contracts</a> as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system. Interim Defense and Space CEO Steve Parker noted that the aerospace giant has &#8220;done a lot of work&#8221; on the project.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45991614/if-its-boeing-im-not-going-why-some-people-are-turning-their-backs-on-the-american-plane-maker-in-favor-of-rival-airbus">&#8216;If It&#8217;s Boeing, I&#8217;m Not Going:&#8217; Why Some People Are Turning Their Backs On The American Plane Maker In Favor Of Rival Airbus</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Equities

EADSF

Safety Concerns Mount For Boeing, Airbus As NTSB Investigates Smoke Risk Linked To Engines

Addex Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADXN#NASDAQ">ADXN</a>) reported quarterly losses of $(1.33) per share. This is a 2.92 percent increase over losses of $(1.37) per share from the same period last year. The company reported $78.93 thousand in sales this quarter. This is a 70.64 percent decrease over sales of $268.83 thousand the same period last year.

Earnings

ADXN

Addex Therapeutics Q1 EPS $(1.33) Up From $(1.37) YoY, Sales $78.93K Down From $268.83K YoY

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) could see a 120% price increase in 2025 if it sticks to a consistent pattern tied to its four-year growth cycle, on-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant said Wednesday.
What happened: CryptoQuant analyst Carmelo Aleman drew attention to the Bitcoin Yearly Percentage Trend, a metric that tracks Bitcoin's annual price performance since 2011.&nbsp; The indicator reveals a recurring cycle of three years of growth followed by one of consolidation, matching Bitcoin&#8217;s four-year halving cycle.&nbsp;
"The importance of this growth cycle is that, based on this metric, if Bitcoin maintains the pace typical of the third year in the cycle, it could grow about 120% during 2025," Aleman wrote.&nbsp;
If this trend holds, Bitcoin could rise from $93,226 at the start of 2025 to about $205,097 by year-end, marking a cycle top.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Metric That Reveals Bitcoin&#39;s Direction "The importance of this growth cycle is that, based on this metric, if Bitcoin maintains the pace typical of the third year in the cycle, it could grow about 120% during 2025." – By <a href="https://twitter.com/oro_crypto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@oro_crypto</a> <a href="https://t.co/MevnEKPIru">pic.twitter.com/MevnEKPIru</a>
&mdash; CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/cryptoquant_com/status/1935221187514093804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"This places us in the final phase of the current cycle, with important strategic implications for investors aiming to align their positioning with Bitcoin&#8217;s multi-year structure," the analysis read.
Why It Matters: Bitcoin growth cycles have been a subject of great interest in the cryptocurrency community.&nbsp;
Typically, the apex cryptocurrency <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/is-the-bitcoin-4-year-market-cycle-real">experiences halvings in the first half of the market cycle</a>. This event could be the catalyst for growth toward new highs, which usually occur around 18 months after the halving.
However, with changing investor dynamics caused by the launch of spot exchange-traded funds and rising institutional interest, some have begun to question the accuracy of these cycles.
Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Justin Bennett said in September of last year that Bitcoin's four-year cycles won't last for long due to its correlation with broader business cycles.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Warning: This will piss people off, but it needs to be said. Since its inception, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> has followed mostly perfect 3-4 year cycles: 1-2 years of a bear market followed by 1-2 years of a bull market. But that won't last! Bitcoin was created at the start of a short-term… <a href="https://t.co/VkEf7RyyhV">pic.twitter.com/VkEf7RyyhV</a>
&mdash; Justin Bennett (@JustinBennettFX) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinBennettFX/status/1833867138131492990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Bitcoin veteran and trader Fred Krueger argued that the four-year cycle is based on limited data points and questioned its continuation, given that mining rewards, a key driver of past cycles, have dropped considerably.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">TLDR from today&#39;s spaces. 1. The &quot;Four year cycle&quot; is based on 3 datapoints: 2013, 2017 and 2021. After each of these peaks we crashed. Not clear at all this will happen end of 2025. 2. The &quot;Power Law&quot; doesn&#39;t say anything about 4 year cycles. 3. The BTC ETF adoption cycle is…
&mdash; Fred Krueger (@dotkrueger) <a href="https://twitter.com/dotkrueger/status/1854732918679110075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $104,910.24<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Inter, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;segoe ui&quot;, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgb(13, 20, 33);">, down 0.65% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.&nbsp;
Photo: Antonio Gravante On Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45988475/us-military-action-on-iran-odds-rise-on-crypto-betting-site-polymarket-as-trump-demands-unconditional-surrender">US Military Action On Iran? Odds Rise On Crypto Betting Site Polymarket As Trump Demands &#8216;Unconditional Surrender&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>

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

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$BTC

Bitcoin Could Pop 120% In 2025 To $205,097 If Current Growth Cycle Indicator Is Anything To Go By, Says This Analyst

Steven Crowchild says he nearly walked off the G7 tarmac rather than greet a man he believes has "caused much pain and suffering in the world," but the Tsuut'ina First Nation leader stayed, prayed and delivered an impromptu plea for peace and clean water directly to President Donald Trump.
What Happened: According to a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-g7-first-nation-crowchild-rage-canada-a0af79321cd4b4f4b6d2a66319206137">report</a> by the Associated Press, Crowchild, wearing a feathered headdress and clutching treaty medals older than Canada itself, told Trump on Sunday night that First Nations need leaders who protect &#8220;water for future generations."
The meeting came as heads of state arrived for the summit outside Calgary. Crowchild was part of an Indigenous honor guard because "no Indigenous representation was there at the time."
&#8220;I was filled with rage&#8221;, he recalled as he considered leaving, but stayed, conceding &#8220;visibility is key and diplomacy is important.&#8221; After consulting elders, he decided to confront Trump face-to-face. "Instead of war, I choose peace," he said, describing the encounter as "really intense."
See also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/45988985/israel-says-it-struck-iranian-centrifuge-site-missile-factories-near-tehran-with-over-50-jets-to-disrupt-weapons-program">Israel Says It Struck Iranian Centrifuge Site, Missile Factories Near Tehran With Over 50 Jets To Disrupt Weapons Program</a>
Trump, wearing a white "Make America Great Again" cap, listened for several minutes before Crowchild greeted other leaders with the same message.
Why It Matters: The exchange unfolded as the summit grappled with widening Israel-Iran hostilities and as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45965629/trump-exits-g7-summit-early-citing-obvious-reasons-amid-escalating-iran-israel-conflict-gold-oil-etfs-spike-in-after-hours-trading">Trump prepared to leave early</a>, a move that roiled agendas on Ukraine and trade. Ottawa and Washington nevertheless <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45992119/trump-cuts-g7-visit-short-calls-canada-deal-achievable">vowed to finish</a> a new bilateral deal within 30 days.
Crowchild, an elected Tsuut'ina councillor, said he will judge the outcome by actions, not photo-ops: "Whether he listened or not, time will tell." For now, he added, the U.S. president remains "just another person," and he stood "taller than him as proud Tsuut'ina Isgiya."
Photo Courtesy: Joey Sussman on Shutterstock.com
Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010756/texas-lawmakers-urge-elon-musks-tesla-to-delay-june-22-robotaxi-launch-till-september-report">Texas Lawmakers Urge Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla To Delay June 22 Robotaxi Launch Till September: Report</a>

Events

Trump Was Confronted At G7 By Canada's Indigenous Honor Guard Who Said He Was 'Filled With Rage,' But Delivered A Message Of 'Peace'

YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45560919/everyones-losing-their-minds-over-googles-veo-3-ai-videos-and-everyones-also-annoyed-they-cant-actually-use-it-yet-here-are-some-wild-examples-of-the-magic-this-model-can-create">preparing to integrate</a> Veo 3 AI video generation model into Shorts.
What Happened: During a keynote at the Cannes Lions Festival posted on Tuesday, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced that the company will roll out Veo 3, Google's latest generative AI video model, to YouTube Shorts later this summer.
Mohan noted that Veo 3 offers higher video quality and audio integration, suggesting Shorts could soon support richer, AI-powered content creation.
However, it remains unclear whether the Veo 3 features will be free for Shorts creators. Currently, Veo 3 access requires a paid subscription to Google's AI Pro or AI Ultra plans. YouTube has not confirmed whether that requirement will apply within Shorts.
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's Important: The move comes as YouTube Shorts surpasses 200 billion daily views, underscoring the platform's rapid growth and its battle for short-form dominance against TikTok and Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Instagram Reels.
Google unveiled Veo 3 at its annual developer conference last month. The new version now features realistic audio, including sound effects, ambient noise, and spoken dialogue, setting it apart from competitors like OpenAI&#8217;s Sora, Runway ML Gen-4, Meta's MovieGen, Pika Labs and Stability AI's Stable Video 4D 2.0, none of which currently offer audio support.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings indicate a consistent upward trajectory for Alphabet over the short, medium and long term. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance insights can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19004152/Screenshot-2025-06-19-at-10.08.02%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-954749" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988600/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-dangled-100-million-signing-bonuses-to-openai-team-members-says-sam-altman-happy-none-of-our-best-people-took-them" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Dangled ‘$100 Million Signing Bonuses' To OpenAI Team Members, Says Sam Altman: Happy ‘None' Of Our Best People Took Them</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Media

GOOG

GOOGL

YouTube Shorts Will Soon Feature Veo 3 AI Video Tools With Audio And Higher Quality — But Creators May Need A Paid Plan

Amazon.com Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) robotaxi company, Zoox, has announced its first serial production facility in Hayward, California.
What Happened: The facility can produce over 10,000 Robotaxis annually and spans an area of 220,000 square feet, Zoox said in a statement released on Wednesday. This is the company's second production facility after Fremont in California.
Zoox's robotaxis lack a steering wheel as well as any pedals and feature a pod-like design, which can autonomously transport up to 4 passengers at a time. Zoox rivals Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) robotaxi service Waymo.
Zoox is currently operating in a limited capacity in Las Vegas, San Francisco and Foster City in California for company employees.
Why It Matters: The news comes in as the self-driving taxi sector in the U.S. is growing with multiple players in the mix. Recently, Waymo announced it was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988738/tesla-robotaxi-rival-waymo-expands-services-in-california-amid-us-autonomous-vehicle-push">expanding its services</a> in California and will now operate across more neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley and the SF Bay Area.
This comes days after the company had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45853688/tesla-robotaxi-rival-waymo-suspends-services-in-downtown-la-following-vandalism-during-anti-ice-protests">halted operations</a> in Downtown Los Angeles over bouts of vandalism against its fleet during the Anti-ICE protests in the city.
Tesla, on the other hand, is gearing up to launch its Robotaxi service in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45876375/elon-musk-says-tesla-robotaxi-rides-begin-june-22-in-austin-full-self-driving-to-enable-home-delivery-by-june-28-were-being-super-paranoid">Austin on June 22. </a>However, Elon Musk's EV giant has been called upon by lawmakers in Texas to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46010756/texas-lawmakers-urge-elon-musks-tesla-to-delay-june-22-robotaxi-launch-till-september-report">delay the launch</a>, citing updated regulations.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="208" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025-1024x208.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-954767" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025-1024x208.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025-300x61.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025-768x156.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025-1536x312.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19010745/AMZN-JUN-19-2025.jpg 1562w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
AMZN scores well on Growth and Quality metrics and offers satisfactory Momentum and 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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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

AMZN

TSLA

Amazon-Backed Zoox Launches California Robotaxi Plant: Tesla Rival Targets 10,000 Vehicles A Year

Vice President JD Vance&#8216;s debut on the social media platform Bluesky lasted less than 30 minutes before automated systems suspended his account Wednesday, marking another high-profile content moderation incident for the X alternative.
What Happened: Vance posted his first message at 4:50 p.m. ET, writing: &#8220;Hello Bluesky, I&#8217;ve been told this app has become the place to go for common sense political discussion and analysis. So I&#8217;m thrilled to be here to engage with all of you.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-bluesky-social wp-block-embed-bluesky-social"> 
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<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:tkspefzlu72575kljanhe3uj/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrvv4sv2sc24" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihy57etibipqayy3xnsucpvph6232nvki53mg2vtnjv2no72k6jt4">Hello Bluesky, I&#39;ve been told this app has become the place to go for common sense political discussion and analysis. So I&#39;m thrilled to be here to engage with all of you.
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:tkspefzlu72575kljanhe3uj?ref_src=embed">JD Vance (@jd-vance-1.bsky.social)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:tkspefzlu72575kljanhe3uj/post/3lrvv4sv2sc24?ref_src=embed">2025-06-18T20:49:56.916Z</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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The platform&#8217;s automated impersonation detection system flagged the account as potentially fraudulent, according to a Bluesky spokesperson. &#8220;Vice President Vance&#8217;s account was briefly flagged by our automated systems that try to detect impersonation attempts which have targeted public figures like him in the past,&#8221; the company <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/bluesky-explains-jd-vance-suspension-2087685">told</a> Newsweek.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010639/elizabeth-warren-says-americans-deserve-lower-interest-rates-but-trumps-reckless-tariffs-stand-in-the-way-the-fed-is-getting-boxed-out">Elizabeth Warren Says Americans &#8216;Deserve&#8217; Lower Interest Rates, But Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Reckless&#8217; Tariffs Stand In The Way: &#8216;The Fed Is Getting Boxed Out&#8217;</a>
Bluesky restored the account within 20 minutes and added a verification badge. &#8220;We welcome the Vice President to join the conversation on Bluesky,&#8221; the company said.
Why It Matters: The incident highlights ongoing challenges facing social media platforms as they balance automated content moderation with user experience. Bluesky, launched in February 2023, has attracted over 36 million users as an alternative to Elon Musk&#8216;s X platform.
The platform faces pressure to maintain user growth amid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/social-media/25/06/45941107/mark-cuban-criticizes-bluesky-gets-welcome-back-on-x-by-ceo-yaccarino-welcome-home-to-the-true-global-town-square">criticism from prominent users</a>, including Mark Cuban, who recently said Bluesky has &#8220;grown ruder and more hateful&#8221; and lacks &#8220;diversity of thought.&#8221;
In February, Jack Dorsey attributed Bluesky's growth to users fleeing X (formerly Twitter), calling it "not a great way to build a product." He emphasized that Bluesky's appeal lies in its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43757119/jack-dorsey-says-blueskys-rapid-expansion-fueled-by-x-exodus-not-a-great-way-to-build-a-product">user-controlled algorithms</a>, a feature he believes will attract users over time. 
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Phil Mistry on Shutterstock.com

Social Media

JD Vance Gets Suspended On BlueSky After First Post, Platform Says It Was A Mistake: 'We Welcome The Vice President'

Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping is actively decoupling from the United States and that America risks losing negotiating leverage by ignoring this strategic shift.
What Happened: &#8220;Xi Jinping is decoupling from us. If we ignore it, our own attempts at selective decoupling will happen on much less favorable terms,&#8221; Gallagher wrote on X Wednesday.
Gallagher, who represented Wisconsin&#8217;s Eighth District from 2017 to 2024 before joining Palantir, made the comments during an interview with popular Palantir investor Amit Kukreja. He emphasized that China has never adhered to promised trade rules since Xi&#8217;s rise to power in 2013, particularly regarding the &#8220;Made in China 2025&#8221; initiative.
The former congressman cited China&#8217;s $300 billion annual effort to steal critical technology as evidence of systematic decoupling. He advocated for a strategic U.S. response through selective decoupling coordinated with allies, particularly Japan.
Gallagher referenced former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#8216;s vision of &#8220;free flow data with trust&#8221; as a framework for enhanced digital trade agreements that could strengthen U.S.-allied relationships while challenging China&#8217;s technological ambitions.
<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">Xi Jinping is decoupling from us. If we ignore it, our own attempts at selective decoupling will happen on much less favorable terms. <a href="https://t.co/Xqa2mT22a4">pic.twitter.com/Xqa2mT22a4</a>
&mdash; Mike Gallagher (@RepGallagher) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepGallagher/status/1935341558624145487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010639/elizabeth-warren-says-americans-deserve-lower-interest-rates-but-trumps-reckless-tariffs-stand-in-the-way-the-fed-is-getting-boxed-out">Elizabeth Warren Says Americans &#8216;Deserve&#8217; Lower Interest Rates, But Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Reckless&#8217; Tariffs Stand In The Way: &#8216;The Fed Is Getting Boxed Out&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The warning comes amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions. President Donald Trump recently described Xi as &#8220;very tough&#8221; and &#8220;extremely hard to make a deal with&#8221; on Truth Social, though he maintains <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45764844/trump-says-he-likes-xi-jinping-of-china-but-calls-him-very-tough-and-extremely-hard-to-make-a-deal-with">personal rapport with the Chinese leader</a>.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced this month that both nations reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus following Trump-Xi discussions in London. The agreement includes a 90-day tariff pause and addresses <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/macro-notification/25/06/45876366/howard-lutnick-says-us-and-china-reached-a-framework-to-implement-geneva-consensus-following-trump-xi-call-csi-300-index-gains">rare-earth exports and advanced technology restrictions</a>.
Palantir shares have surged 448% over 12 months, reaching new all-time highs. The company secured over $113 million in new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/45988762/palantir-rejects-surveillance-claims-after-being-compared-to-nazi-collaborators-touts-pltrs-transparent-lineage">federal contracts since Trump&#8217;s inauguration</a>, including a $795 million Defense Department agreement.
Gallagher previously authored legislation forcing TikTok&#8216;s divestment from Chinese ownership and investigated Chinese Communist Party involvement in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40523523/former-gop-congressman-mike-gallagher-who-joined-palantir-says-true-divide-on-national-security-is-b">fentanyl crisis while serving in Congress</a>.
According to&nbsp;Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, Palantir shows strong Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Price Trends. Here&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how the stock performs across other key metrics</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="890" height="644" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19004330/image-295.png" alt="" class="wp-image-954751" style="width:400px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19004330/image-295.png 890w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19004330/image-295-300x217.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/19004330/image-295-768x556.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px" /></a></figure>
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</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: plavi011 / Shutterstock.com<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>

PLTR

Palantir's Head Of Defense Says 'Xi Jinping Is Decoupling From Us' — Warns America Risks Losing Leverage If China Tech Shift Goes Unchecked

A group of Texas lawmakers has urged Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) to delay its Robotaxi launch in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45876375/elon-musk-says-tesla-robotaxi-rides-begin-june-22-in-austin-full-self-driving-to-enable-home-delivery-by-june-28-were-being-super-paranoid">Austin, scheduled for June 22</a>.
What Happened: In a letter addressed to Elon Musk's electric vehicle giant, lawmakers state that the state's legislature updated its regulations on autonomous vehicles in 2017, which will take effect in September of this year, KXAN reported <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/texas-lawmakers-send-letter-to-tesla-asking-to-delay-robotaxi-rollout-in-austin/">on</a> Wednesday.
"As members of the Austin delegation in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, we are formally requesting that Tesla delay autonomous robotaxi operations until the new law takes effect on September 1, 2025," the lawmakers said in the letter.
New regulations state that all AV operators transporting passengers or property "must receive prior authorization from the Department of Motor Vehicles before operating on public streets without a human driver," the report suggests.
Regulations suggest that compliance requires all AVs must obey state traffic laws, have registered and titled insurance under Texas law, have recording devices and "a minimal risk condition if the automated driving system is rendered inoperable."
Additionally, AV operators are also required to have a first responder interaction plan in place, highlighting how first responders interact with AVs.
Why It Matters: The news comes in as Tesla was officially named as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45854273/elon-musks-tesla-officially-named-av-operator-in-austin-ahead-of-robotaxi-launch">an AV operator</a> in Austin, ahead of June 22's Robotaxi launch, which Musk says will have over 10 Tesla Model Ys initially.
The automaker also recently received a major boost for its Cybercab ambitions as the NHTSA announced it would be updating its regulatory framework to provide <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45942936/elon-musks-cybercab-ambitions-just-got-a-boost-as-nhtsa-eases-regulations-for-autonomous-vehicles">exemptions to AVs </a>from safety standards.
However, questions are being raised about the company's FSD tech, a crucial element in the Robotaxi plan, after incidents involving Tesla vehicles driving in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45991698/tesla-cybertruck-caught-driving-in-wrong-lane-on-fsd-just-days-before-robotaxi-launch">the wrong lane</a>, as well as getting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45945298/tesla-model-3-on-fsd-mode-struck-by-train-after-getting-trapped-on-railroad-tracks-report">struck by a train</a> after getting stuck on railroad tracks, while in self-driving mode.&nbsp;
Robotaxis are steadily growing in the U.S., as Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Waymo announced it will be further <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988738/tesla-robotaxi-rival-waymo-expands-services-in-california-amid-us-autonomous-vehicle-push">expanding its presence</a> in California.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="196" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025-1024x196.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-954710" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025-1024x196.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025-300x57.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025-768x147.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025-1536x294.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18234145/TSLA-JUN-19-2025.jpg 1557w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Tesla scores well on Momentum, Quality and Growth metrics, but offers 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's Future Of Mobility coverage by<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility"> following this link.</a>
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Photo courtesy: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com

Texas Lawmakers Urge Elon Musk's Tesla To Delay June 22 Robotaxi Launch Till September: Report

Iranian cryptocurrency exchange, Nobitex, was hacked for nearly $90 million on Wednesday, with an Israel-linked group claiming responsibility for the cyberattack.
What Happened: A group called Gonjeshke Darande, or "Predatory Sparrow," announced the attack on X, calling Nobitex &#8220;a tool for financing terrorism and violating sanctions.&#8221;
&#8220;In the next 24 hours, we will publish the Nobitex source code and internal information from its internal network. Any assets left there after that will be at risk,&#8221; the group said in an X post in Persian.
This marks the second operation by the hacking group in two days, following their claim of data destruction&nbsp;at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah&nbsp;on Tuesday, a Reuters report said.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">پس از بانک سپه، نوبت Nobitex شد هشدار! در 24 ساعت آینده، کد منبع نوبیتکس و اطلاعات داخلی از شبکه داخلی آن را منتشر خواهیم کرد. هر دارایی که پس از آن در آنجا باقی بماند در معرض خطر خواهد بود! صرافی نوبیتکس در قلب تلاش های رژیم برای تامین مالی ترور در سراسر جهان قرار دارد. این… <a href="https://t.co/IXoFrQBlAK">pic.twitter.com/IXoFrQBlAK</a>
&mdash; Gonjeshke Darande (@GonjeshkeDarand) <a href="https://twitter.com/GonjeshkeDarand/status/1935231054249435607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/45990647/trump-financial-disclosures-reveal-barron-trumps-potential-40-million-windfall-from-crypto-project" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Financial Disclosures Reveal Barron Trump&#8217;s Potential $40 Million Windfall From Crypto Project</a>
While Israel has never officially acknowledged its association with Gonjeshke Darande, Israeli news outlets such as the Jerusalem Post have <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858131">reported</a> the group as &#8220;Israel-linked&#8221;.
Why It Matters: Nobitex, Iran&#8217;s largest cryptocurrency trading platform, was exploited for more than $90 million in assets across a range of cryptocurrencies, 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>) and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), <a href="https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/nobitex-iranian-exchange-exploit-june-2025/">according </a>to on-chain analytics firm Chainalysis.&nbsp;
Chainlaysis said the exchange is involved in &#8220;illicit&#8221; activities, having wallets affiliated with ransomware operators, and entities&nbsp;tied to militant groups such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/10/35159368/israel-seizes-hamas-crypto-accounts-with-help-from-binance">Hamas </a>and the Houthis.
This cyberattack on Nobitex comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/45983526/trump-wants-an-end-not-a-ceasefire-for-the-israel-iran-war-what-that-means-for-etfs"> two rivals carrying out missile attacks against each other</a> since last week. 
Iran&#8217;s state-run news agency IRIB warned citizens against using WhatsApp, Telegram, and other &#8220;location-based applications,&#8221; claiming they are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988833/iran-says-whatsapp-a-tool-for-israeli-surveillance-meta-hits-back-calling-it-false-reports">tools for Israeli surveillance</a>. Israel has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/45965846/israel-is-pounding-irans-energy-infrastructure-and-its-sending-these-oil-etfs-soaring-but-it-maybe-bad-news-at-the-gas-pump">launched attacks</a> on Iran's energy infrastructure, causing a surge in global energy prices.
Photo Courtesy: Sergey Nivens on Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>

$DOGE

$ETH

Israel-Linked 'Predatory Sparrow' Hackers Say They've Drained Millions In Bitcoin, Ethereum From Iran's Crypto Exchange

The U.S. markets will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
What Happened: According to the guidance from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq will both suspend trading for the day, along with the U.S. bond market, which will also remain closed. Trading will resume as normal on Friday, June 20.
Juneteenth is the newest federal holiday in the calendar, having been designated only in 2021 by former President Joe Biden, 156 years after Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46010064/ayatollah-assassination-discussion-rejected-by-putin-i-do-not-even-want-to-discuss-this-possibility">Ayatollah Assassination Discussion Rejected By Putin: &#8216;I Do Not Even Want To Discuss This Possibility&#8217;</a>
The decision to make this a national holiday was undertaken following <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39397814/is-the-market-open-on-juneteenth">months of widespread protests</a> against racial injustice and inequality in 2020. 
While financial markets will be off on Thursday, not all sectors will stop functioning. Most federal government offices, bank branches, schools, and even the U.S. Postal Service will be shutting down, with many state and local government offices also observing the holiday.
Private companies, however, aren&#8217;t required by law to close for federal holidays, and retailers such as Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Target Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>), and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) will continue <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/18/business/open-closed-juneteenth">to</a> remain open during their normal working hours. 
Major banks such as JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), among others, will be closed, while online banking and ATMs will continue to function. 
Why It Matters: For years, Juneteenth celebrations were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/06/27699154/juneteenth-2022-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-is-the-holiday-all-about-1">restricted only to Texas</a>, but following the unrest that stemmed from the death of George Floyd in 2020, there were growing calls for making it a nationwide holiday.
Besides Juneteenth, the markets remain closed for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/stock-market-holidays">eight other federal holidays</a>, with the following occasions in the coming months,
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Friday, July 4th—Independence Day</li>
<li>Friday, September 5th—Labor Day</li>
<li>Monday, November 24th—Thanksgiving</li>
<li>Friday, December 26th—Christmas Day</li>
</ul>
Photo Courtesy: iHumnoi on Shutterstock.com Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46010451/peter-schiff-doesnt-think-stablecoins-will-help-preserve-dollar-dominance-heres-what-the-economist-says-theyll-do-instead">Peter Schiff Doesn&#8217;t Think Stablecoins Will Help Preserve Dollar Dominance — Here&#8217;s What The Economist Says They&#8217;ll Do Instead</a></li>
</ul>

Are Markets Open On Juneteenth This Year? Here's What's Open And What's Closed On June 19

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariff policies on Wednesday, arguing they prevent the Federal Reserve from delivering the lower interest rates Americans need.
What Happened: &#8220;Americans deserve lower interest rates and lower costs, but Donald Trump and his reckless tariffs are standing in the way of that relief,&#8221; Warren wrote on X. &#8220;The Fed is getting boxed out by the President&#8217;s chaotic economic policies.&#8221;
Warren&#8217;s comments follow the Fed&#8217;s decision to hold rates at 4.25%-4.50% for the fourth consecutive meeting. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cited tariff-induced inflation concerns as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46004338/no-rate-cuts-yet-fed-flags-slower-growth-sticky-inflation">key factor preventing rate cuts</a>.
The Fed raised its core Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation forecast to 3.1% for 2025, up from 2.8% in March. Powell directly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46004338/no-rate-cuts-yet-fed-flags-slower-growth-sticky-inflation">attributed this increase to tariff effects</a>, noting &#8220;we&#8217;re beginning to see some effects&#8221; on goods prices, particularly personal computers and audiovisual equipment.
Powell said <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46006680/powell-holds-line-on-interest-rates-blames-tariff-uncertainty-for-delay-in-cuts">business surveys indicate</a> &#8220;many companies do expect to put all or some of the effect of tariffs through to the next person in the chain. And ultimately, to the consumer.&#8221;
<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">Americans deserve lower interest rates and lower costs, but Donald Trump and his reckless tariffs are standing in the way of that relief. The Fed is getting boxed out by the President&#39;s chaotic economic policies. <a href="https://t.co/FKfO5tGHlN">pic.twitter.com/FKfO5tGHlN</a>
&mdash; Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/1935455623908348265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/45988985/israel-says-it-struck-iranian-centrifuge-site-missile-factories-near-tehran-with-over-50-jets-to-disrupt-weapons-program">Israel Says It Struck Iranian Centrifuge Site, Missile Factories Near Tehran With Over 50 Jets To Disrupt Weapons Program</a>
Why It Matters: The Fed&#8217;s dot plot maintains expectations for two rate cuts in 2025, unchanged from March projections. However, 2026 expectations dropped to two cuts from three previously.
Markets initially declined during Powell&#8217;s press conference, with the Nasdaq 100 tracked by Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) dropping 180 points from session highs before recovering on Trump&#8217;s Middle East comments.
Warren <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45785851/elizabeth-warren-says-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-will-rip-away-health-coverage-from-16-million-americans-just-so-jeff-bezos-can-buy-a-third-ya">previously clashed with Trump</a> over his &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years while potentially removing health coverage from 16 million Americans.
The Fed projects real GDP growth at 1.4% in 2025, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46004338/no-rate-cuts-yet-fed-flags-slower-growth-sticky-inflation">down from 1.7% in March</a>, while unemployment is expected to rise to 4.5%. Powell emphasized there&#8217;s &#8220;no rush&#8221; to ease policy given current economic uncertainties.
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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: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

Elizabeth Warren Says Americans 'Deserve' Lower Interest Rates, But Trump's 'Reckless' Tariffs Stand In The Way: 'The Fed Is Getting Boxed Out'

Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) is reportedly looking to bring high-profile AI talent in-house as it doubles down on its efforts to lead the next wave of artificial intelligence innovation.
What Happened: Meta is in discussions to hire Nat Friedman, former CEO of GitHub, to support its artificial intelligence efforts, reported Reuters (<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/meta-talks-hire-former-github-ceo-nat-friedman-daniel-gross-join-ai-efforts">via</a> The Information).
The company is also reportedly in talks with Daniel Gross, Friedman's partner at investment fund NFDG, about a potential AI-related role.
Meta is also considering a partial acquisition of NFDG, the report said. The move would further integrate top-tier AI talent and resources into the company's growing portfolio.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45680165/meta-hits-1-billion-monthly-ai-users-eyes-future-with-subscriptions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Meta Hits 1 Billion Monthly AI Users, Eyes Future With Subscriptions</a>
Friedman currently serves on Meta's Advisory Group, an external council that advises the company on technology and product development.
Why It's Important: Earlier this week, during a podcast, ​​OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45988600/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-dangled-100-million-signing-bonuses-to-openai-team-members-says-sam-altman-happy-none-of-our-best-people-took-them">Meta offered $100 million compensation</a> packages to lure top AI talent from his company and Google DeepMind.
Previously, it was also reported that Meta is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45899037/metas-mark-zuckerberg-is-losing-top-ai-talent-to-openai-and-anthropic-even-as-it-shells-out-millions-in-salaries-report">struggling with a wave of departures</a> from its AI division, as more employees head to competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Meanwhile, Meta has made a strategic minority investment in Scale AI, pushing the startup's valuation beyond $29 billion. As part of the deal, Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45919069/meta-invests-in-scale-ai-at-29-billion-valuation-taps-ceo-alexandr-wang-to-drive-internal-ai-push-as-part-of-deepening-partnership">join Meta to assist</a> with its AI initiatives while continuing to serve on Scale's board.
Price Action: Meta shares are up 16.11% year-to-date. On Wednesday, the stock dipped 0.21% during regular trading and edged down another 0.062% after hours, as per <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings show META maintaining an upward trajectory across short, medium and long-term timeframes. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'">Additional performance data is available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound'"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18225542/Screenshot-2025-06-19-at-7.55.55%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-954686" /></a></figure>
Photo courtesy: Skorzewiak / Shutterstock.com
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Reportedly Looking To Hire Former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman And Investor Daniel Gross As Part Of Aggressive AI Expansion Strategy

Economist and market commentator Peter Schiff raised doubts about the potential of stablecoins to uphold the U.S. dollar&#8217;s dominance on Wednesday, stating that their primary use would be in cryptocurrency trading.
What Happened:&nbsp;Schiff took to X, disputing the widely touted role of stablecoins in helping the U.S. economy. 
&#8220;Rising federal budget deficits and higher inflation will erode demand for non–interest-bearing U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoins,&#8221; Schiff argued. 
<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">With respect, you are forgetting the use of stablecoins in countries with high inflation where individuals trade their devaluing fiat into USDT (for example) to preserve buying power. Merchants in these countries may prefer to be paid this way. Subtle infiltration.
&mdash; Frederick Frost (@fafrost) <a href="https://twitter.com/fafrost/status/1935368846548119680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
He added that stablecoins will fail to preserve the dollar&#8217;s role as the global reserve currency, as claimed, with their primary use case as trading pairs with other cryptocurrency tokens.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45988984/anthony-scaramucci-quotes-harry-truman-to-take-a-sly-dig-at-trumps-recent-ventures-show-me-a-man-th" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Scaramucci Quotes Harry Truman To Take A Sly Dig At Trump&#8217;s Recent Ventures? — &#8216;Show Me A Man That Gets Rich By Being A Politician&#8230;&#8217;</a>
However, Schiff&#8217;s views were contested by critics. An X user, Frederick Frost, highlighted&nbsp;the use of stablecoins in&nbsp;countries with high inflation, arguing that individuals in these regions could&nbsp;trade their devalued national currency into&nbsp;Tether (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">USDT</a>) to maintain their buying power. 
In response, Schiff said those people could use tokens pegged to other currencies or gold.
Why It Matters: Schiff&#8217;s comments come in the wake of the passage of the stablecoin bill by the Senate. President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46009971/trump-cheers-incredible-stablecoin-bill-passed-by-senate-get-it-to-my-desk-asap-no-delays">praised the move</a> and urged Congress to get it on his desk without delay.
Treasury Secretary&nbsp;Scott Bessent said that the bill&#8217;s passage could help stablecoins <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45897485/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-sees-stablecoin-market-surging-past-2-trillion-as-senate-a">grow into a $3.7 trillion market</a> by the end of the decade, generate significant demand for U.S. Treasuries and T-bills.
Schiff has been opposed to regulating dollar-pegged stablecoins. &#8220;Let the free market regulated it. Lots of companies can issue stablecoins, have independent audits and offer privately insured deposits,&#8221; he wrote in a post from 2022.
<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">We don&#39;t need regulation for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StableCoins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StableCoins</a>. Let the free market regulated it. Lots of companies can issue stable coins, have independent audits and offer privately insured deposits. Let businesses compete for reputation, build brands, and allow educated consumers to shop around.
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1602735693314260994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: ddRender on Shutterstock.com
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/events/25/06/45964856/trump-asks-everyone-to-immediately-evacuate-tehran-odds-of-us-striking-iran-spike-on-crypto-betting-p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Asks &#8216;Everyone&#8217; To Immediately Evacuate Tehran, Odds Of US Striking Iran Spike On Crypto Betting Platform</a></li>
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Government

Regulations

$USDT

Peter Schiff Doesn't Think Stablecoins Will Help Preserve  Dollar Dominance — Here's What The Economist Says They'll Do Instead

Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) warns that the traditional 9-to-5 has dissolved into an "infinite workday," with employees signing on before dawn, moving between impromptu meetings all day, and rechecking email near midnight.
What Happened: Microsoft&#8217;s June Work Trend Index Special Report, <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/de-ch/2025/06/17/new-microsoft-study-reveals-the-rise-of-the-infinite-workday-40-of-employees-check-email-before-6-a-m-evening-meetings-up-16/">based</a> on trillions of anonymized Microsoft 365 signals, shows 40% of users are already triaging messages at 6 am, while 29% return to their inbox around 10 pm.
57% of meetings are scheduled on the fly without an invite, and half of all gatherings cluster between 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. — hours the research identifies as prime focus time.
Evening obligations are rising fast, too. Virtual meetings after 5 pm jumped 16% year-over-year, and the typical employee now handles about 50 Teams messages outside core hours. 20% of staff work on weekends, with many opening emails before noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Workers are pinged roughly every 1.75 minutes and about 275 interruptions in an eight-hour span. Microsoft thus calculates that the median employee enjoys just two consecutive minutes of deep focus during the day.
See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/45995888/scott-galloway-says-people-are-still-spending-shopping-at-whole-foods-and-vacationing-despite-irrational-economic-policy-why-is-that">Scott Galloway Says People Are Still Spending, Shopping At Whole Foods, And Vacationing Despite &#8216;Irrational Economic Policy.&#8217; Why Is That?</a>
The company calls meetings "the primary thief of concentration" and notes that mass emails to 20-plus recipients climbed 7% in the past year.
Why It Matters: Microsoft argues the always-on culture could stunt productivity unless firms rethink calendars and adopt AI tools to triage low-value tasks. The findings arrive after JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO Jamie Dimon urged corporate managers to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/financing/25/06/45878903/jpmorgan-ceo-jamie-dimon-urges-managers-to-stop-running-meetings-to-impress-the-boss-and-start-confronting-real-problems-head-on">abandon meetings</a> designed to impress bosses and instead focus on being transparent about business problems.
Similarly, Airbnb (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>) chief Brian Chesky has admitted <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/25/05/45463946/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-reveals-why-he-doesnt-do-emails-and-early-morning-meetings-says-silicon-valley-founders-dont-need-to-be-miserable">he doesn&#8217;t do email</a> and doesn&#8217;t attend meetings before 10 am. Similarly, Meta Platforms Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) Mark Zuckerberg says the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45556921/mark-zuckerberg-slams-endless-one-on-one-meetings-says-i-just-like-explode-without-open-blocks-of-time-in-the-calendar">secret to his calendar management</a> is leaving it empty and not packing it tight.
Photo Courtesy: Ground Picture on Shutterstock.com
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Management

ABNB

MSFT

Microsoft Study Finds That 9-To-5 Has Morphed Into 'Infinite Workdays' And Employees Can't Stop Checking Mail Even At Midnight

Graham Stephan was a real estate agent long before he started his YouTube channel, but the financial personality recently unveiled how much <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@grahamstephan/video/7514547069537799454?lang=en">YouTube accelerated his real estate career</a>. This tidbit came up in a conversation about Stephan's cameos in a Netflix show that centered around Los Angeles real estate.
While Stephan had other ways to promote his real estate services, none of them came close to the growth that YouTube provided.
"YouTube allowed me to scale," he explained.
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Stephan's praises for YouTube may make more people consider starting their own channels on the side. Here's what he said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Videos Get Views While You Sleep</h2>
Real estate agents send plenty of cold emails and hop on the phone to speak with potential clients. While this strategy can be enough to produce a full-time income, it's not scalable. You're limited by how many hours you can get on the phone each day, but those constraints do not exist with a YouTube channel.
When Stephan records and publishes a YouTube video, it stays up forever. YouTube videos can act as 24/7 salespeople that bring more attention to your products and services. You can also bring more people through the customer journey without any additional effort.&nbsp;
YouTube introduces you to new people and can make them feel like they already know you by the time they call about your services. Stephan created YouTube's scalability as one of the key reasons his real estate career took off.
Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/wideradvisor-retirement-planning">Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">He Eventually Made More Money With YouTube</h2>
While you can make good money by using YouTube to promote your products and services, the video platform also allows you to make money with online ads. As Stephan's videos became more popular, his YouTube income eventually exceeded his real estate earnings.
Stephan continued to work as a real estate agent even when YouTube produced most of the revenue and had a better growth trajectory. YouTube helped him create multiple income streams, which now include ads, training courses, affiliate promotions, and sponsorships.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stephan Become A Full-Time YouTuber During The Pandemic</h2>
Stephan expected to stick with real estate even as his YouTube channel grew, but those plans unraveled during the pandemic. He explained in an interview that the breaking point was when the National Association of Realtors said it wasn't safe to do open houses anymore.
Open houses are a key part of marketing a property and getting a buyer. Not being able to meet people and show off the property in person made real estate less attractive. Stephan had luckily built a large YouTube audience by that point, allowing him to seamlessly transition to a more promising opportunity than being a real estate agent.
This experience highlights the value of building new skills and diversifying your income. You never know when you may get paid off from your job and have to make ends meet with different income sources. Stephan didn't know a pandemic was coming, but by growing his YouTube channel during the good times, he was able to weather the storm.
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<li>Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-peter-thiel-turned-his-roth-ira-into-5-billion-and-why-accredited-investors-are-now-eyeing-this-smartphone-disruptor">invest with $1,000 at just $0.30/share.</a></li>
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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

Graham Stephan Explains How YouTube Accelerated His Real Estate Career: 'YouTube Allowed Me To Scale'

As tensions continue to flare in the Middle East, U.S. Stock futures inch lower on Wednesday evening, compounded by the Fed&#8217;s decision to hold rates steady, while warning of lower economic growth and persistent inflation.
The&nbsp;S&amp;P 500 Futures are down 0.32%, trading at 6,014.75, followed by Nasdaq Futures at 21,840.50, down 0.48%, and finally Dow Futures, trading at 42,398.00, down 0.27%, at the time of writing this.
This comes amid a Situation Room meeting held in the White House on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. It is still unclear what was discussed during the meeting or who was in attendance, according <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-live-updates-trump-weighs-us-strike-khamenei-rcna213665">to</a> a report by NBC News. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46009971/trump-cheers-incredible-stablecoin-bill-passed-by-senate-get-it-to-my-desk-asap-no-delays">Trump Cheers &#8216;Incredible&#8217; Stablecoin Bill Passed By Senate: &#8216;Get It To My Desk, ASAP — No Delays&#8217;</a>
Earlier in the day, when asked if the U.S. would strike Iran in support of Israel&#8217;s ongoing campaign, President Donald Trump remained undecided, telling reporters, &#8220;I may do it, I may not do it.&#8221;
Meanwhile, defense stocks and ETFs continue their volatile streak with no clarity just yet on American involvement in this new geopolitical conflict.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Stocks</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">After Hours</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ESLT#NASDAQ">ESLT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RTX Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.30%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">ETFs</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Month-To-Date</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Year-To-Date</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHLD#NYSE">SHLD</a>)</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+2.34%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+56.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">iShares U.S. Aerospace &amp; Defense ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ITA#BATS">ITA</a>)&nbsp;</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+0.86%</td>
<td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">+23.42%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Asian markets opened lower on Thursday, with Japan&#8217;s benchmark Nikkei 225 down 0.74%, trading at 38,598, led by shipping, exports, and electronics companies.
The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) is up 0.14%, trading at 98.046 against a basket of global currencies, following the Fed&#8217;s decision to keep rates steady in the short term.
Thursday is a market holiday due to Juneteenth. So, no economic events or major corporate earnings calls are scheduled for the day.
Photo Courtesy: Zakharchuk on Shutterstock.com
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As Trump Weighs Options On Iran — Dow Futures Slip, Defense Stocks Tick Up In After-Hours Session

Leading cryptocurrencies moved sideways Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled slower growth and hotter inflation after the central bank left interest rates unchanged.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Cryptocurrency</th>
<th>Gains +/-</th>
<th>Price (Recorded at 9:50 p.m. ET)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td>
<td>-0.15%</td>
<td>$104,630.33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>-0.27%</td>
<td>$2,515.68</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+0.37%</td>
<td>$0.1698</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
What Happened: Bitcoin consolidated in the $104,000-$105,000 range, with trading volumes plummeting 11% in the last 24 hours.
Similarly, Ethereum fluctuated around $2,500, with an 18% volume decline indicating a lack of interest among traders.
Both assets have stagnated in June after their May surges, with BTC up 0.23% and ETH up 0.03%.
Over $224 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with long position traders bearing the brunt of the losses.&nbsp;
Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest dipped 1.24% in the last 24 hours, while ETH recorded a 2.35% fall in funds locked in its derivatives contracts.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the percentage of Binance traders with long BTC positions fell in the last 24 hours, according to the Long/Short ratio.
The market sentiment returned to "Greed," according to the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Cryptocurrency</th>
<th>Gains +/-</th>
<th>Price (Recorded at 9:50 p.m. ET)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Aerodrome Finance (AERO)</td>
<td>+19.02%</td>
<td>$0.8917</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Raydium (RAY) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+17.56%</td>
<td>$2.42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kaia (KAIA)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td>
<td>+7.60%</td>
<td>$0.1723 </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $3.25 trillion, following a dip of 0.22% in the last 24 hours.
Major stock indexes closed in the red on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 44.14 points, or 0.10%, to close at 42,171.66. The S&amp;P 500 lost 0.03% to end at 5,980.87. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite was the silver lining, edging up 0.13% to close at 19,546.27.
As widely expected, the Fed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/46004338/no-rate-cuts-yet-fed-flags-slower-growth-sticky-inflation">left the interest rates unchanged</a> at 4.25%-4.50%, while signaling slower growth and hotter inflation. Later in the day, Fed Chair Powell called <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46006680/powell-holds-line-on-interest-rates-blames-tariff-uncertainty-for-delay-in-cuts">tariffs a significant source of uncertainty</a> but downplayed ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>
Analyst Notes: In a statement to Benzinga, Arthur Azizov, founder and investor at B2 Ventures, noted "very few positive developments" are currently occurring.
"If no positive sentiment emerges in the near future, Bitcoin could very well retreat into the $90,000-$84,000 range. On the other hand, if a positive backdrop does appear—particularly if the Fed signals a rate cut—then Bitcoin is likely to reach $128,000 by the end of the year," Azizov said.
He said the key levels to watch are $112,000 and $100,500, with no "major" surges or corrections in sight.
Blockchain analytics firm Santiment stated that the Iran-Israel conflict would continue to cause "volatile and unpredictable price action.
"Despite the initial panic, Bitcoin has remained in the $104,000-$105,000 range, aided by consistent ETF inflows and a lack of follow-through in military actions, mirroring the typical &#8216;risk-off, then stabilize&#8217; pattern seen in previous geopolitical crises," Santiment added.
<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">&#x1f1ee;&#x1f1f1;&#x1f1ee;&#x1f1f7; The ongoing conflict between Israel &amp; Iran has led to a visible increase in volatility across crypto. Sentiment data showed major bearish sentiment coming in between June 12th to 15th, in particular, coinciding with a 4–6% drop in Bitcoin&#39;s price and erasing over $200B from… <a href="https://t.co/t1Qe7DlOCf">pic.twitter.com/t1Qe7DlOCf</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1935375698828399046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Photo Courtesy: sundaemorning on Shutterstock.com
Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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