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Despegar.com

Despegar.com Corp is an online travel company in Latin America. Its product offering includes airline tickets, packages, hotels, and other travel-related products, which enables consumers to find, compare, plan and purchase travel products easily through its marketplace. The company provides a technology platform for managing the distribution of products and access to users to the network of travel suppliers. It operates through two segments: Air, which consists of the sale of airline tickets; and Packages, Hotels, and Other Travel Products, which consists of travel packages, as well as sales of hotel rooms, car rentals, bus tickets, cruise tickets, travel insurance and destination services. Its geographical segments are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, and other countries.

Despegar.com Corp

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt stressed that artificial intelligence-powered drones represent the future of warfare while emphasizing the crucial need for human oversight to prevent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40546030/ex-general-chief-mark-milley-and-former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-warn-us-is-unprepared-for-ai-warfare">autonomous weapons from operating independently</a>.
What Happened: Speaking to PBS <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMNyroDl9_k">on</a> Friday, Schmidt called the traditional deployment of armed forces on battlefields &#8220;antiquated&#8221; and outlined his vision for AI-networked drone warfare with &#8220;meaningful human control.&#8221;
&#8220;The correct model, and obviously war is horrific, is to have the people well behind and have the weapons well up front, and have them networked and controlled by AI,&#8221; Schmidt said. &#8220;The future of war is AI, networked drones of many different kinds.&#8221;
Schmidt&#8217;s comments come as his drone startup White Stork supplies Ukraine with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/02/36914704/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-plans-to-build-next-gen-kamikaze-drones-through-his-new-venture-white">unmanned aircraft in its conflict</a> with Russia. At a Stanford lecture in August, Schmidt acknowledged his transition to becoming a &#8220;licensed arms dealer&#8221; through the venture.
In 2018, thousands of Google employees protested the company&#8217;s involvement in Project Maven, a Pentagon AI program potentially enhancing drone strike targeting, arguing it contradicts Google&#8217;s &#8220;Don&#8217;t Be Evil&#8221; ethos and risks damaging its brand, according <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/technology/google-letter-ceo-pentagon-project.html#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20Thousands%20of%20Google%20employees,the%20targeting%20of%20drone%20strikes.">to</a> The New York Times.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42501141/amazon-faces-strike-threat-over-labor-disputes-as-teamsters-push-for-fair-contract-ahead-of-crucial-holiday-season">Amazon Teamsters Threaten Strike Ahead Of Crucial Holiday Season: &#8216;We Are Going To Hold This Company Accountable&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The push for AI warfare capabilities has gained urgency amid growing concerns about U.S. military readiness. In a previous Foreign Affairs article, Schmidt and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley warned that American forces remain <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40546030/ex-general-chief-mark-milley-and-former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-warn-us-is-unprepared-for-ai-warfare">unprepared for drone-dominated conflicts</a>, particularly against potential adversaries like China and Russia.
Mike Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s national security adviser pick, warned Sunday on CBS News&#8217; Face the Nation about &#8220;gaps in our agencies&#8221; amid mysterious drone sightings across multiple U.S. states. He advocated expanding Israel&#8217;s Iron Dome concept to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42500701/trumps-security-adviser-pick-warns-of-gaps-in-our-agencies-amid-growing-drone-sightings-across-us-calls-for-expanding-israels-iron-dome-for-defense">include drone defense capabilities</a>.
Elon Musk, Trump&#8217;s choice to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, strongly criticized traditional military programs, particularly Lockheed Martin Corp.&#8217;s F-35 fighter jets. &#8220;Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,&#8221; Musk posted on X while sharing footage of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/11/42157649/trumps-doge-co-lead-elon-musk-slams-lockheed-martins-f-35-fighter-jets-advocates-drone-warfare-as-pentagon-defends-1-8-trillion-program">synchronized drone swarms</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42501018/marc-andreessen-praises-openais-sora-video-model-we-may-have-basically-just-solved-the-fundamental-challenge-of-robotics">Marc Andreessen Praises OpenAI&#8217;s Sora Video Model: &#8216;We May Have Basically Just Solved The Fundamental Challenge Of Robotics&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

Tech

Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt Sees AI Drones As The Future Of Warfare But Stresses Need For 'Meaningful Human Control'

INVA

Basilea Licenses U.S. Commercialization Rights For Zevtera To Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics

Bitcoin&#8217;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) record-breaking run to $106,000 has been considerably boosted by a spurt in whale investor holdings, on-chain data revealed Sunday, although retail continued to control the majority supply.
What Happened:&nbsp;Since the bull rally commenced&nbsp;on Oct. 10, there has&nbsp;been a net increase of&nbsp;1,582 more wallets holding at least 100 BTC, blockchain analysis firm Santiment reported on X. 
The jump, from 16,072 to 17,644, over nine weeks, reflected a gain of nearly 10%. In the same period, Bitcoin rallied by 77%.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f973; Bitcoin has climbed to $106.5K for the first time in its 16+ year history. Since the bull rally began back on October 10th, there has been a net increase of 1,582 more wallets that hold at least 100 BTC, a jump of +9.9% more wallets in the relatively short period of time! <a href="https://t.co/261LfRd776">pic.twitter.com/261LfRd776</a>
&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1868482896886964638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Additional data from IntoTheBlock <a href="https://app.intotheblock.com/coin/BTC">indicated </a>that large holders owned about 12% of Bitcoin&#8217;s supply. The term &#8220;large holders&#8221; refers to those addresses that hold more than 1% of the supply, also called whales, and those who hold between 0.1% and 1% of the supply.
On the whole, all the whales together accounted for just 1.25% of the total supply. Retail investors, on the other hand, owned 88%.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Cohort</td>
<td>Holding Threshold Per Investor</td>
<td>Share Of Total Bitcoin Supply</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whales</td>
<td>Over 1% BTC</td>
<td>1.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Investors</td>
<td>Between 0.1%-1% BTC</td>
<td>10.42%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Retail </td>
<td>Less than 0.1% BTC</td>
<td>88.33%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
In contrast, 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>) had far bigger whale share, 43.50%, and 41.74%, respectively.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42501037/famed-investor-dennis-gartman-chooses-gold-over-bitcoin-i-prefer-centuries-bet-over-monthly-bet">Wall Street Veteran Dennis Gartman Chooses Gold Over Bitcoin Despite BTC&#8217;s Record-Breaking Bull Run: &#8216;I Prefer Centuries Bet Over Monthly Bet&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;Typically, high supply concentration points to low decentralization, as few wealthy investors cornering a disproportionate share of supply could result in market manipulation.
If these players hold a large enough portion, they could act maliciously to the expense of retail, potentially selling and crashing an asset&#8217;s price.
However, with Bitcoin&#8217;s whale dominance still at very low levels, such a possibility looked highly unlikely.
The leading digital asset has been on a record-breaking spree over the past month, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42500721/bitcoin-breaks-106k-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-ahead-of-key-fed-meet-but-top-analyst-triggers-anxiety-with-this-observation">pushing well beyond $100,000</a> to reach unprecedented levels. 
Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $104,990.72, up 2.70% 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>.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42500884/trump-backed-world-liberty-financials-purchases-trigger-strong-rally-in-these-defi-tokens">Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial&#8217;s Purchases Trigger Strong Rally In These DeFi Tokens</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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

Cryptocurrency

Markets

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin's Bull Run Gets A Boost From Whale Accumulators, But Retail Still The King In Ownership

Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) Cybertruck production rate was reduced even before the EV giant halted manufacturing for a few days earlier this month, according to researcher Troy Teslike.
What Happened: Teslike estimates Tesla to have produced 30,582 Cybertrucks by the end of Q3 2024 and delivered 21,450, leaving 9,132 in inventory, according to vehicle registration data for sales and VIN data for production.
Assuming some of these unsold vehicles were used as showroom models, Tesla would have had an inventory of nearly 9,000 Cybertrucks going to Q4, Teslike said. However, in this quarter, the company seems to be faced with some demand challenges, he noted, citing the production pause for the vehicle earlier this month.
Early in December, it was reported that Tesla told its workers on the Cybertruck production line at Giga Texas that they need not report to work for three days from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Hi everyone. Based on vehicle registration data for sales and VIN data for production, Tesla had produced 30,582 Cybertrucks by the end of Q3 2024 and delivered 21,450, leaving 9,132 in inventory. Some of these were likely used as showroom models, so I estimate around 9,067… <a href="https://t.co/YMqNBAEdji">pic.twitter.com/YMqNBAEdji</a>
&mdash; Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike/status/1867815687483277623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
However, according to Teslike, Cybertruck production was reduced even before the pause. The company stopped selling its more expensive Foundation series version of the Cybertruck in October and started selling regular variants <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42496103/teslas-model-s-model-x-and-cybertruck-now-have-the-same-starting-price-which-to-buy">priced about $20,000 lower</a>.
Furthermore, on days in November, Tesla&#8217;s website showed that buyers could place an order for the Cybertruck and take delivery on the same day in states including California, he noted.
Based on VIN data, Tesla also cut the Cybertruck production rate by over 55% on Nov. 10, he added.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Hi everyone. Cybertruck production was paused for a few days earlier this month, but that wasn&#39;t the only change. The production rate had already been reduced before the pause. Here's a timeline of key events: • 30 Sep: Tesla ends Q3 with 9,067 Cybertrucks in inventory, likely… <a href="https://t.co/eAGOzPEZJC">pic.twitter.com/eAGOzPEZJC</a>
&mdash; Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyTeslike/status/1868030757643677717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
Why It Matters:&nbsp;Tesla started delivering the Cybertruck to customers in the U.S. in November 2023. Months prior to starting deliveries, company CEO&nbsp;Elon Musk&nbsp;said that scaling production and not demand would be the biggest hurdle for Cybertruck given its strong order book. Musk then said that the company already has over a million pre-orders for the vehicle.
However, upon the start of deliveries, the vehicle was priced significantly higher than the estimated price provided at the time of the vehicle's unveiling in 2019, possibly deterring reservation holders from making the purchase.
According to data from automotive research company Kelley Blue Book,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41325252/tesla-cybertruck-leads-the-pack-as-most-popular-ev-truck-in-us-in-q3-outselling-rivals-from-ford-gm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla sold 16,692 Cybertrucks</a>&nbsp;in the third quarter in the U.S., trumping EV trucks from rivals including the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, to become the third-best-selling EV behind Model Y and Model 3.
However, the company had bigger ambitions for the Cybertruck with Musk previously saying that the company is aiming to make up to 250,000 Cybertrucks in 2025.
Cybertruck production achieved a positive gross margin for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41873767/cybertruck-likely-wont-be-profitable-in-q4-says-tesla-researcher">first time in the third quarter</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42481346/spacex-eyes-turning-its-starbase-site-into-a-city" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk's SpaceX Wants To Turn Its Starbase Site Into A City</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

TSLA

Tesla's Cybertruck Production Rate Was Reduced Even Before December's Pause, Says Researcher

Macro Economic Events

Econ #s

Economics

INDA

India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Inflation (YoY) For November 1.89% Vs. 2.20% Est.; 2.36% Prior

Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) today jointly announced a Distribution and Promotion Agreement in Mainland China regarding Lilly's non-covalent (reversible) Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, Jaypirca&#xAE; (pirtobrutinib, 100 mg &amp; 50 mg tablets). The agreement highlights the following aspects:
<ul>
<li>Innovent will be responsible for the importation, marketing, distribution and promotion of Jaypirca&#xAE;;</li>
<li>Lilly will be responsible for the R&amp;D and post-market medical affairs of&nbsp;Jaypirca&#xAE;.</li>
</ul>

IVBIY

Reported Earlier, Innovent And Lilly Expand Global Oncology Partnership Through Jaypirca Commercialization Deal In China

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily for costs directly related to sales and marketing, for research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes, including personnel costs, capital expenditures and the costs of operating as a public company. The Company may also use a portion of the net proceeds to repay indebtedness outstanding.

RDZN

Reported Earlier, Roadzen Prices $2.5M Public Offering Of 2M Common Shares At $1.25/Share

Reported Earlier, Chinese Unemployment Rate For November Unchanged At 5.0%

Reported Earlier, China Industrial Production Year to Date (YTD) (YoY) For November 5.8% Vs. 5.8% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Industrial Production (YoY) For November 5.4% Vs. 5.4% Est.; 5.3% Prior

Reported Earlier, China Fixed Asset Investment (YoY) For November 3.3% Vs. 3.5% Est.; 3.4% Prior

BBJP

WisdomTree Trust Japan Total Dividend Fund

Reported Earlier, au Jibun Bank Japan Services Purchasing Managers' Index Preliminary For December 51.4 Vs. 50.5 Prior

Instagram head Adam Mosseri raised concerns about the growing challenge of distinguishing between real and AI-generated images on social media platforms.
What Happened: In a series of posts on Threads on Sunday, Mosseri highlighted the need for social media platforms to provide more context to help users discern the authenticity of online content.
His warning comes amid increasing sophistication in AI technology, which is making it harder for users to identify real content.
In his posts, Mosseri stated that AI is &#8220;clearly producing&#8221; content that can easily be mistaken for reality. He urged users to consider the source of images and suggested that platforms should label AI-generated content as accurately as possible.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495758/elon-musk-finds-an-unlikely-ally-in-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-in-his-fight-against-sam-altmans-openai?itm_source=parsely-api">Elon Musk Finds An Unlikely Ally In Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta In His Fight Against Sam Altman&#8217;s OpenAI</a>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16000503/Screenshot-2024-12-16-at-10.34.57%E2%80%AFAM-1024x730.png" alt="" class="wp-image-693045" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Threads</figcaption></figure>
However, he acknowledged that some AI content might evade these labels. &#8220;My advice is to &#x2A;always&#x2A; consider who it is that is speaking.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/16000534/Screenshot-2024-12-16-at-10.35.29%E2%80%AFAM-1024x527.png" alt="" class="wp-image-693046" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Threads</figcaption></figure>
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Why It Matters: Currently, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) does not offer extensive context as described by Mosseri, though the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38120400/meta-expands-labels-for-ai-generated-content-to-include-photos-and-audio-across-facebook-instagram-a">company has hinted at significant changes</a> to its content policies.
Mosseri&#8217;s vision aligns with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39008030/elon-musks-x-wants-to-bring-community-notes-feature-to-newspapers-and-other-platforms-says-linda-yac">user-led moderation systems</a> like Community Notes on X, formerly Twitter, and custom moderation filters on platforms like YouTube or Bluesky.&nbsp;
The issue of AI-generated content is not new, but it is becoming more sophisticated and widespread. Previously, in Florida, an incident highlighted the potential for AI to be used in fraudulent activities, where a young investor was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/09/41051101/its-just-going-to-get-more-sophisticated-ai-fake-nearly-completes-fraudulent-land-deal">nearly deceived into purchasing</a> a non-existent property.
Moreover, a study by Google DeepMind revealed that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39471997/google-deepmind-study-reveals-that-deepfakes-of-politicians-and-celebrities-more-common-than-ai-assi">deepfakes of public figures</a> are more common than AI-assisted cyber attacks, indicating a significant misuse of AI technology.&nbsp;
In response to these challenges, Meta has previously taken some steps to combat AI-generated disinformation. Earlier in May this year, the company dismantled several <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39077408/meta-cracks-down-on-ai-generated-fake-news-campaigns-from-four-countries-including-china-and-russia">fake news campaigns</a> originating from countries like China and Russia, which used AI to spread false information.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42499106/microsofts-iphone-file-sharing-apples-watch-ultra-1-2-billion-lawsuit-and-more-this-week-in-appleverse?itm_source=parsely-api">Microsoft&#8217;s iPhone File Sharing, Apple&#8217;s Watch Ultra, $1.2 Billion Lawsuit And More: This Week In Appleverse</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Social Media

Instagram Head Wants X's Community Notes-Like Feature To Offer Context On What People Are Saying, Warns Against Generative AI Blurring Lines Between Reality And Fiction

Amazon Teamsters threatened Sunday to strike against Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), escalating tensions between workers and the e-commerce giant ahead of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42323943/amazon-emerges-as-top-analyst-pick-after-impressive-us-e-commerce-cyber-week-sales-growth">crucial holiday shopping season</a>.
What Happened: &#8220;We are ready to strike to stop Amazon&#8217;s unfair labor practices,&#8221; the Amazon Teamsters posted on X. &#8220;Amazon is legally required to bargain a union contract that addresses our low pay and unsafe working conditions. We are going to hold this company accountable.&#8221;
The strike threat follows Thursday&#8217;s vote by workers at two New York City facilities—JFK8 and DBK4—to authorize strike action. The union set a Dec. 15 deadline for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42490912/teamsters-authorize-strike-at-amazons-new-york-warehouses-get-ready-for-a-fight">Amazon to begin contract negotiations</a>.
&#8220;Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,&#8221; said Teamsters General President Sean M. O&#8217;Brien.
Amazon spokesperson Eileen Hards disputed the union&#8217;s claims in an email to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>, stating, "For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent ‘thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative.&#8221;
&#8220;The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We are ready to strike to stop Amazon's unfair labor practices. Amazon is legally required to bargain a union contract that addresses our low pay and unsafe working conditions. We are going to hold this company accountable. Click the link to get started organizing your facility! <a href="https://t.co/rENubmm2Tm">pic.twitter.com/rENubmm2Tm</a>
&mdash; Amazon Teamsters (@amazonteamsters) <a href="https://twitter.com/amazonteamsters/status/1868464342947209335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</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/markets/equities/24/12/42500980/palantir-surges-over-3-in-overnight-trading-after-army-navy-game-spotlight-elon-musk-and-trumps-presence-and-nasdaq-100-inclusion">Palantir Surges Over 3% In Overnight Trading After Army-Navy Game Spotlight, Elon Musk And Trump&#8217;s Presence, And Nasdaq 100 Inclusion</a>
Why It Matters: The labor dispute comes during Amazon&#8217;s peak season, with the company reporting record Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth recently named <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42323943/amazon-emerges-as-top-analyst-pick-after-impressive-us-e-commerce-cyber-week-sales-growth">Amazon his top retail pick</a>, citing the company&#8217;s dominant 45% share of U.S. e-commerce.
The facilities in question serve over 20 million residents in the New York metropolitan area. This year&#8217;s holiday shopping season is the shortest since 2019, with just 27 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, adding pressure to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42101690/amazon-remains-best-idea-in-e-commerce-this-holiday-season-jpmorgan-analyst-says">Amazon&#8217;s delivery operations</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42500865/ark-invests-cathie-wood-predicts-rapid-robotaxi-market-shift-as-waymo-gains-on-lyft-in-san-francisco">Ark Invest&#8217;s Cathie Wood Predicts Rapid Robotaxi Market Shift As Waymo Gains On Lyft In San Francisco</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

AMZN

Amazon Teamsters Threaten Strike Ahead Of Crucial Holiday Season: 'We Are Going To Hold This Company Accountable'

Renowned Wall Street investor and economist Dennis Gartman downplayed Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) record-breaking run on Friday, instead preferring gold due to its long history as a store of value.
What happened: During an interview with Bloomberg, Gartman said he was surprised by the leading cryptocurrency's climb above $100,000.
&#8220;It reminds me too much of the tulip bulb craze of 16th-century Holland and the high-tech craze of the late 1990s and early 20th century," the Chairman of the Akron University Investment Committee stated.
"I will leave it to others to buy; I will avoid it."
Gartman also dismissed Bitcoin's narrative of &#8220;digital gold," arguing that gold has been around for centuries.&nbsp;
"It [Bitcoin] has months of being valued at some price. Gold has centuries of being valued as an asset. I will take the centuries bet over the monthly bet almost anytime," Gartman said.
Despite the pessimism, the veteran investor said he won't sell Bitcoin short. "I will leave it to people wiser or more dreadworthy than I am."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42500002/massive-crypto-exchange-witnesses-unusual-100-million-bitcoin-activity">Massive Crypto Exchange Witnesses Unusual $100 Million Bitcoin Activity</a>
Why It Matters: Bitcoin is in the middle of a bull run, having <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42500721/bitcoin-breaks-106k-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-ahead-of-key-fed-meet-but-top-analyst-triggers-anxiety-with-this-observation">recently topped $106,000 for the first time</a>. 
The world's largest digital asset by market capitalization has gained over 70% since Donald Trump emerged victorious in the November elections as investors count on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499633/exclusive-eric-trump-declares-bitcoin-the-future-details-tax-free-crypto-goals-for-trump-presidency">pro-cryptocurrency measures during his presidency</a>.
Bitcoin has surged 150% year-to-date, dwarfing returns from other asset classes, including gold. While the yellow metal also hit its all-time high in 2024, it has secured year-to-date gains of just about 29%.
Gartman's positioning is similar to another well-known Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff, who routinely <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/24/11/41896213/economist-peter-schiff-sees-a-silver-lining-as-gold-plummets-while-investors-rush-to-snap-up-bitcoin-gains-typicallysilver-would-be-down-twice-as-much">discounts BTC&#8217;s performance</a>, promoting gold as a better investment option.
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Price Action:&nbsp; At the time of writing, Bitcoin was exchanging hands at $104,373.32, up 2.77% 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>.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499633/exclusive-eric-trump-declares-bitcoin-the-future-details-tax-free-crypto-goals-for-trump-presidency">EXCLUSIVE: Eric Trump Declares Bitcoin The Future, Details Tax-Free Crypto Goals For Trump Presidency</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Wall Street Veteran Dennis Gartman Chooses Gold Over Bitcoin Despite BTC's Record-Breaking Bull Run: 'I Prefer Centuries Bet Over Monthly Bet'

Marc Andreessen has lauded OpenAI&#8217;s Sora <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42398825/sam-altman-calls-openais-new-video-generator-so-compelling">video model</a>, suggesting it may have resolved a significant challenge in robotics.
What Happened: In a conversation with Chris Williamson posted on YouTube on Sunday, Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, elaborated on Sora&#8217;s technology.
He said that the model&#8217;s capability to generate video from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/12/42500663/rip-hollywood-joe-rogan-shares-openais-sora-video-asking-the-question-on-everyones-mind-is-a-trillion-dollar-industry-at-risk">text prompts and create realistic video</a> representations that pass the &#8220;sniff test&#8221; of human perception is &#8220;very magical.&#8221;
The Sora model is trained on extensive video data, yet it goes beyond simple 2D video generation, he stated, adding that it accurately simulates 3D reality, including lighting, reflections, and translucency, which are crucial for realistic video rendering.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495758/elon-musk-finds-an-unlikely-ally-in-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-in-his-fight-against-sam-altmans-openai?itm_source=parsely-api">Elon Musk Finds An Unlikely Ally In Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta In His Fight Against Sam Altman&#8217;s OpenAI</a>
Andreessen believes this advancement in video modeling could solve the fundamental challenge of robotics: enabling robots to navigate the real world safely and effectively.
He stated that a comprehensive understanding of 3D physical reality, or a &#8220;world model,&#8221; is essential for robots to interact with their environment without errors.
"It [Sora model] actually understands 3D physical reality. The implication of that is that we may have basically just solved the fundamental challenge of robotics. The fundamental challenge of robotics is how do you get a physical robot to navigate the real world without screwing everything up," he stated.
"Up until now building a world model like that has been difficult or impossible and it now appears that that&#8217;s actually starting to work," Andreessen concluded.
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
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Why It Matters: While Andreessen may have praised OpenAI's video model, he has long been at odds with the way the ChatGPT-parent operates.
Earlier this year, he was involved in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37448936/would-you-open-source-the-manhattan-project-vinod-khosla-and-marc-andreessen-clash-over-musks-openai">a public debate with OpenAI investor</a> Vinod Khosla over the security of open-source software, particularly in the context of Elon Musk&#8217;s lawsuit against OpenAI. Andreessen argued that open-source software is secure due to its transparency.
In September, Andreessen Horowitz <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40722123/openai-co-founder-ilya-sutskevers-ai-startup-raises-1b-from-andreessen-horowitz-sequoia-as-sam-altma">invested $1 billion</a> in Safe Superintelligence (SSI), an AI startup co-founded by Ilya Sutskever. Sutskever, who also co-founded OpenAI, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38834519/openai-chief-scientist-ilya-sutskever-steps-down-ceo-sam-altman-calls-him-a-guiding-light-of-ai-fiel">left ChatGPT-maker earlier</a> this year.&nbsp;
Last month, Andreessen also commented on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41932289/ai-capabilities-plateauing-say-andreessen-horowitz-founders-echoing-concerns-of-openai-co-founder-ilya-sutskever">plateauing of AI capabilities</a> during a podcast discussion, underscoring the importance of breakthroughs like Sora in pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42479401/nancy-pelosis-stock-pick-broadcom-shoots-15-in-friday-pre-market-as-broadcom-ceo-sees-opportunity-over-the-next-3-years-in-ai?itm_source=parsely-api">Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s Stock Pick Broadcom Shoots 15% In Friday Pre-Market As Broadcom CEO Sees &#8216;Opportunity Over The Next 3 Years In AI&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Marc Andreessen Praises OpenAI's Sora Video Model: 'We May Have Basically Just Solved The Fundamental Challenge Of Robotics'

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) shares jumped more than 3% in overnight trading on Robinhood following the company&#8217;s high-profile presence at the Army-Navy football game, where its executives were spotted alongside key political figures.
What Happened: The data analytics company&#8217;s stock, which closed at $76.07 on Friday after gaining 3.92% in regular trading, continued its upward momentum as images of an advertisement circulated on social media showing Palantir executives, including Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar and co-founder Joe Lonsdale, at the prestigious military matchup.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Joe Lonsdale (CoFounder) &amp; Shyam Sankar (CTO) of Palantir at the Army Navy Game! <a href="https://t.co/NJqgzJgpW6">pic.twitter.com/NJqgzJgpW6</a>
&mdash; amit (@amitisinvesting) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitisinvesting/status/1867942733299720692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The event gained additional attention when Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk responded with an American flag emoji to a social media post showing President-elect Donald Trump and other officials at the game, where Palantir&#8217;s logo was prominently displayed.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Iconic &#x1f525; <a href="https://t.co/AhnMftg7Jw">pic.twitter.com/AhnMftg7Jw</a>
&mdash; Autism Capital &#x1f9e9; (@AutismCapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/AutismCapital/status/1868062856375312689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f1fa;&#x1f1f8;
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1868097801965715862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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This latest surge follows a string of positive developments for Palantir, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495649/microstrategy-palantir-axon-added-to-nasdaq-100-super-micro-computer-moderna-illumina-exit-the-index">including its recent addition to the Nasdaq 100 index</a>, effective Dec. 23, and expansion of government contracts.
The company&#8217;s market value has now surpassed traditional defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/11/41891026/palantir-overtakes-lockheed-martin-in-market-cap-how-does-the-messi-of-ai-stack-up-against-the-traditional-defense-player">reaching $173 billion</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42500865/ark-invests-cathie-wood-predicts-rapid-robotaxi-market-shift-as-waymo-gains-on-lyft-in-san-francisco">Ark Invest&#8217;s Cathie Wood Predicts Rapid Robotaxi Market Shift As Waymo Gains On Lyft In San Francisco</a>
Why It Matters: Wedbush Securities Managing Director Dan Ives has labeled Palantir the &#8220;Messi of AI,&#8221; predicting 2025 will be a breakout year for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42453057/palantir-positioned-to-become-the-next-oracle-in-2025-says-dan-ives-messi-of-ai-set-for-breakout-year">company&#8217;s artificial intelligence platform</a>.
The company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42292744/whats-going-on-with-palantir-technologies-stock-today-9">recently secured a $36.8 million expanded contract</a> with U.S. Special Operations Command and achieved FedRAMP High Authorization for its Federal Cloud Service.
Adding to the momentum, reports indicate Sankar is being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/12/42331892/trump-eyes-shyam-sankar-for-pentagon-role-while-palantir-gains-from-border-crisis-contracts-analyst-says-this-is-a-win-for-the-stock">considered for a top Pentagon research</a> and engineering position in the incoming administration. This development comes as Palantir continues to strengthen its government partnerships, including significant contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The company&#8217;s CEO Alex Karp has maintained a firm stance on government collaboration, stating in company filings, &#8220;We stand by [government clients] when it is convenient, and when it is not.&#8221;
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42500701/trumps-security-adviser-pick-warns-of-gaps-in-our-agencies-amid-growing-drone-sightings-across-us-calls-for-expanding-israels-iron-dome-for-defense">Trump&#8217;s Security Adviser Pick Warns Of &#8216;Gaps In Our Agencies&#8217; Amid Growing Drone Sightings Across US, Calls For Expanding Israel&#8217;s Iron Dome For Defense</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Flickr
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

PLTR

Palantir Surges Over 3% In Overnight Trading After Army-Navy Game Spotlight, Elon Musk And Trump's Presence, And Nasdaq 100 Inclusion

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly planning to launch foldable iPhones and ultralight devices by 2026.
What Happened: Apple is reportedly working on a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38900479/apple-plans-for-thinner-more-expensive-iphone-17-in-2025">thinner iPhone model</a>, expected to be more affordable than the Pro versions.
This device will feature a simplified camera system to cut costs, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-thin-iphone-foldable-computer-plans-dbb4286c?mod=mhp">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The tech giant is also developing two foldable devices: a larger one that unfolds to a 19-inch screen, and a smaller foldable iPhone, the sources noted.
Challenges in hinge and display cover technology have delayed these foldable designs, but Apple is pushing for a 2026 release.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42495758/elon-musk-finds-an-unlikely-ally-in-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-in-his-fight-against-sam-altmans-openai?itm_source=parsely-api">Elon Musk Finds An Unlikely Ally In Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta In His Fight Against Sam Altman&#8217;s OpenAI</a>
While Apple initially planned to launch the larger foldable device first to assess market reception, it now seems that the foldable iPhone will likely debut earlier.
Executives are targeting a 2026 release for the foldable iPhone, though an additional year may be required to resolve ongoing technical issues, the report noted, citing sources.
Meanwhile, the ultrathin iPhone is expected to cater to consumers who prioritize a sleek design over some of the advanced features found in the Pro models.
Analyst Jeff Pu from Haitong International Securities noted that current foldable phones do not meet Apple&#8217;s standards for thinness, lightness, and energy efficiency.
Apple did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga's</a> request for comments.&nbsp;
Subscribe to the <a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a> to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: This move aims to boost consumer interest amid stagnant smartphone sales. Apple&#8217;s iPhone business, which contributes significantly to its revenue, has seen minimal growth. The company is seeking new ways to accelerate growth.
Earlier in August, it was reported that Apple is working on a thinner version of the iPhone 17, dubbed the &#8220;Air,&#8221; which could potentially <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40332493/apples-thinner-iphone-17-air-with-sleeker-design-could-be-a-game-changer-says-promi">reignite consumer interest</a> in its flagship product. The device could be a significant redesign akin to the iPhone X.
Apple&#8217;s smartphone sales saw a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41551122/apples-q3-smartphone-sales-slip-despite-strong-iphone-16-demand-market-share-dropped-slightly">slight 0.3% decline year-over-year</a> in the third quarter, yet demand for the iPhone 16 series remained steady compared to previous models, according to an IDC report. This performance enabled Apple to regain the second spot in China's smartphone market, securing a 15.6% share.&nbsp;
In October, Apple reported fiscal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41666494/apple-q4-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-new-highs-iphone-sales-rise-as-apple-in">fourth-quarter revenue</a> of $94.9 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $94.56 billion. iPhone sales contributed $46.22 billion, up from $43.8 billion in the same period last year.
On Sunday, Mark Gurman in his latest installment of the weekly "Power On" newsletter reported that Apple is exploring the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/12/42500167/could-apple-set-revolutionize-tablet-market-with-18-8-inch-foldable-ipad">tablet market with a potential</a> 18.8-inch foldable iPad by 2028.
This device is expected to offer a seamless experience, similar to using two iPad Pros side-by-side, and may incorporate features from both Macs and iPads.
Price Action: Apple&#8217;s stock edged up 0.069% on Friday, finishing the day at $248.13. Year-to-date, the company&#8217;s shares have increased by 33.66%.
The latest price targets from Morgan Stanley, Needham, and Wedbush suggest an average target of $277.67, indicating a potential upside of 11.96%, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro data</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AAPL/analyst-ratings"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/15213632/Screenshot-2024-12-16-at-8.06.27%E2%80%AFAM-1024x378.png" alt="" class="wp-image-692949" /></a></figure>
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42479401/nancy-pelosis-stock-pick-broadcom-shoots-15-in-friday-pre-market-as-broadcom-ceo-sees-opportunity-over-the-next-3-years-in-ai?itm_source=parsely-api">Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s Stock Pick Broadcom Shoots 15% In Friday Pre Market As Broadcom CEO Sees &#8216;Opportunity Over The Next 3 Years In AI&#8217;</a></li>
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Unsplash

Media

AAPL

Apple Eyes 2026 To Launch Foldable iPhones And Ultralight Devices As It Looks To Revitalize Sales Momentum: Report

World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency project backed by President-elect Donald Trump, continued to add momentum to the coins it was purchasing.
What happened: ONDO, a tokenization-themed cryptocurrency, zoomed over 11% to record-breaking highs, becoming the fourth-biggest market gainer over the last 24 hours.
The coin's trading volume surged over 73% to $483 million, suggesting significant buying pressure.
ONDO serves as the governance token of Ondo Finance, a decentralized finance platform built atop Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) that tokenizes real-world assets.
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<td>Gains +/-</td>
<td>Price (Recorded at 9:00 p.m. EDT)</td>
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<td>Ondo (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ONDO</a>)</td>
<td>+11.81%</td>
<td>$2.08</td>
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<td>Ethena (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">ENA</a>)</td>
<td>+8.25%</td>
<td>$1.28</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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Another Ethereum-based coin, ENA, lifted to an eight-month high following an 8% increase in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;
ENA is the native token of Ethena, a protocol that offers a so-called synthetic dollar for DeFi uses.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42500002/massive-crypto-exchange-witnesses-unusual-100-million-bitcoin-activity">Massive Crypto Exchange Witnesses Unusual $100 Million Bitcoin Activity</a>
The upsurge was powered by significant purchases by World Liberty Financial. The DeFi project spent $250,000 to buy 134,216 ONDO tokens on Sunday, on-chain data showed.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Donald Trump's World Liberty Financial (<a href="https://twitter.com/worldlibertyfi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@worldlibertyfi</a>) just spent 250K <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24USDC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$USDC</a> to buy the first 134,216 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ONDO&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ONDO</a> an hour ago! Overall, since November 30, this fund has spent $44.75M to buy 6 crypto assets: • 8,105 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> (cost: $30M, avg buy price: $3,701), now +$2.12M • 102.9… <a href="https://t.co/KBaKgqvvq1">https://t.co/KBaKgqvvq1</a> <a href="https://t.co/ez4dNwmATA">pic.twitter.com/ez4dNwmATA</a>
&mdash; Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) <a href="https://twitter.com/spotonchain/status/1868450217491935553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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A day earlier, the fund acquired over $500,000 of ENA at an average buying price of $0.981.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Donald Trump's World Liberty Financial (<a href="https://twitter.com/worldlibertyfi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@worldlibertyfi</a>) is buying <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ENA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ENA</a>! 3 hours ago, this fund spent 500,013 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24USDC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$USDC</a> to buy the first 509,955 <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ENA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ENA</a> at an average price of $0.981. Overall, since November 31, World Liberty Financial has spent $44.41M to buy 5 crypto assets,… <a href="https://t.co/2jSNS2Oc00">pic.twitter.com/2jSNS2Oc00</a>
&mdash; Spot On Chain (@spotonchain) <a href="https://twitter.com/spotonchain/status/1868073696663122207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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</figure>
Since the beginning of December, the project has i<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42452819/trump-backed-world-liberty-financial-bags-10m-in-ethereum-whats-going-on">nvested more than $44 million</a> to bag cryptocurrencies like Ether, Aave (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/aave/usd">AAVE</a>), and Chainlink (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/link/usd">LINK</a>) along with ONDO and ENA.
World Liberty Financial is being <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/40905315/donald-trumps-new-crypto-project-world-liberty-financial-everything-you-need-to-know">promoted as a decentralized money market </a>that will allow users to borrow, lend, and earn interest on cryptocurrencies.
Trump and his family have aggressively promoted the project, and a firm associated with the President-elect, DT Marks DEFI, LLC, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41395007/trump-affiliated-entity-will-get-75-of-world-liberty-financials-revenue-and-22-of-wlfi-tok">would receive 75% of the protocol revenue</a>.
Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499633/exclusive-eric-trump-declares-bitcoin-the-future-details-tax-free-crypto-goals-for-trump-presidency">positioned himself as the &#8220;Crypto President&#8221;</a> through several bold commitments, and his involvement with any coin, no matter how minor, significantly piques the market&#8217;s interest.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42499633/exclusive-eric-trump-declares-bitcoin-the-future-details-tax-free-crypto-goals-for-trump-presidency">Eric Trump Declares Bitcoin The Future, Details Tax-Free Crypto Goals For Trump Presidency</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

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Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial's Purchases Trigger Strong Rally In These DeFi Tokens

Cathie Wood, CEO of ARK Invest, suggests Tesla Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) entry into the robotaxi market could trigger a swift transformation of the ride-hailing industry, pointing to Alphabet Inc. (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>) subsidiary Google-backed Waymo&#8216;s recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/12/42347027/waymo-announces-expansion-to-miami-how-soon-will-self-driving-cars-hit-the-magic-city">success in San Francisco as evidence</a>.
What Happened: Wood&#8217;s comments on X, formerly Twitter, came after data shared by Alex Immerman, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz showed Waymo had matched Lyft Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LYFT#NASDAQ">LYFT</a>) market share in San Francisco, reaching 22% of rides within its operating boundary. Uber Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NASDAQ">UBER</a>) leads with 55% of the market.
&#8220;When Tesla&#8217;s solution enters the market next year, the transition is likely to shift from &#8216;slowly, slowly&#8217; to &#8216;all at once,'&#8221; Wood wrote on Sunday.
ARK Investment Management projects Tesla&#8217;s driverless ride-hailing service could <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41593922/cathie-woods-ark-invest-sees-tesla-unlocking-11-trillion-revenue-potential-with-rob">unlock $11 trillion in revenue potential</a>. The firm estimates Tesla&#8217;s robotaxi rides could cost consumers $0.25 per mile, significantly below current ride-hail costs of about $2 per mile.
<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 a tiny fraction of cars compared to Uber and Lyft, Waymo is beginning to disrupt the raid-hail market in San Francisco. When $TSLA's solution enters the market next year, the transition is likely to shift from "slowly, slowly" to "all at once". Can't wait! <a href="https://t.co/IkZ3mdohyl">https://t.co/IkZ3mdohyl</a>
&mdash; Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) <a href="https://twitter.com/CathieDWood/status/1868104910975410283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2024</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/trading-ideas/movers/24/12/42500721/bitcoin-breaks-106k-ethereum-dogecoin-rally-ahead-of-key-fed-meet-but-top-analyst-triggers-anxiety-with-this-observation">Bitcoin Breaks $106K, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rally Ahead Of Key Fed Meet But Top Analyst Triggers Anxiety With This Observation</a>
Why It Matters: Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to launch ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year, pending regulatory approval. While initial operations may require human <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41593922/cathie-woods-ark-invest-sees-tesla-unlocking-11-trillion-revenue-potential-with-rob">drivers in some states</a>, Musk expects to operate driverless paid rides in 2025.
The company recently unveiled its purpose-built robotaxi, the Cybercab, scheduled for production before 2027. Until then, Tesla plans to use its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles for the ride-hailing fleet.
However, some analysts remain cautious. Gary Black, managing partner at The Future Fund LLC, excludes robotaxi revenue from his Tesla valuations until competitive dynamics become clearer. 
Black expects multiple automakers to receive approval for unsupervised autonomy simultaneously, suggesting market dynamics will be demand-driven <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41420662/gary-black-explains-why-he-doesnt-factor-in-robotaxi-or-optimus-to-tesla-valuation-investors-may">rather than supply-controlled</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/12/42496864/exclusive-eric-trump-calls-elon-musk-albert-einstein-of-our-time-says-tesla-ceo-will-help-build-a-stronger-america">EXCLUSIVE: Eric Trump Calls Elon Musk &#8216;Albert Einstein Of Our Time,&#8217; Says Tesla CEO Will Help Build &#8216;A Stronger America&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy of Tesla.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Ark Invest's Cathie Wood Predicts Rapid Robotaxi Market Shift As Waymo Gains On Lyft In San Francisco

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