President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he may provide a 90-day extension to ByteDance-owned TikTok to delay or prevent a ban in the U.S.



What Happened: During an interview with NBC on Saturday, Trump suggested that he is &#8220;most likely&#8221; to grant TikTok a 90-day extension from a potential U.S. ban.



"I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. You know, it's appropriate. We have to look at it carefully. It's a very big situation," Trump said.



This extension would provide ByteDance additional time to sell to a non-Chinese buyer, in compliance with the law enacted by President Joe Biden last year. However, Trump&#8217;s final decision on this matter is still pending.



As reported <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-likely-give-tiktok-90-day-extension-avoid-ban-rcna188258">by</a> NBC News, the existing deadline for TikTok&#8217;s compliance is midnight Sunday. An extension announced on Monday might not be able to prevent the app from going offline for at least a day. The future of TikTok has been a major concern during the last days of the Biden administration.



The Biden administration has consistently stated that it does not intend to enforce the law, thereby shifting the responsibility to the incoming Trump administration. However, TikTok expressed apprehensions on Friday that the assurances from the White House might&nbsp;not be enough to prevent&nbsp;the app from being shut down.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43073056/tiktok-says-it-will-be-forced-to-go-dark-in-us-on-jan-19-after-supreme-court-upholds-ban">TikTok Says It Will Be &#8216;Forced To Go Dark&#8217; In US On Jan 19 After Supreme Court Upholds Ban</a>



Trump&#8217;s potential support for TikTok marks a significant departure from his previous&nbsp;stance during his first term,&nbsp;when he attempted to ban the app along with&nbsp;the Chinese messaging app WeChat.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Biden administration called TikTok&#8217;s statement on going dark on Sunday a &#8220;stunt.&#8221;



&#8220;It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told Reuters. 



&#8220;We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up concerns with them.&#8221;



&#8220;President Biden&#8217;s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President&#8217;s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,&#8221; Jean-Pierre added in the statement.



Why It Matters: TikTok&#8217;s potential ban in the US has been a contentious issue, with the app&#8217;s fate hanging in the balance during the transition between the Biden and Trump administrations. 



The proposed 90-day extension could provide much-needed respite for TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, allowing them additional time to comply with US regulations. 



However, the future of the app in the US market remains uncertain until a final decision is made by the incoming Trump administration.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40866761/is-amazon-eyeing-tiktok-for-a-possible-acquisition">Is Amazon Eyeing TikTok For A Possible Acquisition?</a>



Image: Shutterstock

News

Social Media

Markets

Tech

Trump Floats Possibility of 90-Day Reprieve From TikTok Ban

In the wake of the launch of a meme coin themed to President-elect Donald Trump, the cryptocurrency Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) has surged 15% on Saturday.



What Happened: According to Coinmarketcap, the SOL token of Solana experienced a significant value increase following the launch of a Trump-themed meme coin on the Solana blockchain. 



On Saturday, SOL&#8217;s price soared more than 15% to $254.71. The newly introduced meme coin, named &#8220;Official Trump&#8221; (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>), was unveiled on Trump&#8217;s social media accounts late Friday and has since garnered more than $5 billion, making it the largest meme coin on the Solana network, according <a href="https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/solana-meme-coins">to</a> CoinGecko.



Trump himself, and entities directly connected to him, have earned as much as $25 billion from the offering, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/18/trump-meme-coin-25-billion">according</a> to Axios.



This development is timed ahead of Trump&#8217;s inauguration on Monday, which is anticipated to usher in a new era of innovation and productivity in the crypto industry. It also coincides with the conclusion of Gary Gensler&#8216;s term as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43073327/official-trump-memecoin-jumps-over-260-ahead-of-president-elects-white-house-inauguration-market-cap-reaches-whopping-4-billion-within-8-hours-of-launch">&#8216;Official Trump&#8217; Memecoin Jumps Over 260% Ahead Of President-Elect&#8217;s White House Inauguration</a>



Solana,&nbsp;the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market&nbsp;cap, was established in 2020 as a quicker and more affordable alternative to Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>). It hosts&nbsp;popular meme coins like dogwifhat and&nbsp;Pudgy Penguins, in addition to&nbsp;decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming&nbsp;projects.



The decision deadline&nbsp;for potential ETFs from Bitwise,&nbsp;VanEck, 21Shares, and Canary is January 25. ProShares&nbsp;also filed for four different&nbsp;ETFs based on SOL on Friday.



Why It Matters: The introduction of the Trump-themed memecoin and its subsequent success highlights the growing influence of political figures on the cryptocurrency market. 



The surge in Solana&#8217;s value following the meme coin&#8217;s launch underscores the potential of such themed coins to drive market trends. With the end of Gensler&#8217;s term, the crypto industry is poised for potential regulatory changes that could further impact the market dynamics. 



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40001426/trump-aims-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-well-get-it-done">Trump Aims To Make US &#8216;Crypto Capital Of The Planet&#8217;: &#8216;We&#8217;ll Get It Done&#8217;</a>

Cryptocurrency

$ETH

$SOL

Solana Skyrockets, Sees 15% Surge Following Launch Of Trump-Themed Meme Coin

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.



The Dow, S&amp;P 500, and Nasdaq gained 3.7%, 2.9%, and 2.5% this week, respectively, with all three posting their strongest advances in weeks. 



A December inflation report, showing a 2.9% rise <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43003047/stocks-rise-on-core-inflation-slowdown-banks-rally-after-strong-q4-earnings-treasury-yields-plummet">and softer core inflation</a>, fueled optimism for potential Fed rate cuts this year. Financial stocks surged 6% as major banks reported stellar earnings, with Goldman Sachs jumping 11% to record highs. 



Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) crossed $100,000 amid optimism surrounding crypto-friendly policies expected under the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43068335/wall-street-rallies-as-inflation-fears-recede-banks-smash-earnings-bitcoin-reclaims-100000-this-week-in-the-markets">incoming Trump administration.</a>



Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">Tesla Stock &#8216;Valuation Is Full&#8217;: Analyst Flags Long-Term Growth Opportunities With Robotaxis, FSD</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, discusses a Goldman Sachs analyst&#8217;s insights on Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), forecasting $115 million in 2027 revenue from robotaxis as Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology advances.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42993997/dogecoin-to-hit-new-all-time-high-after-trump-is-sworn-in-influencer-says-pattern-nearly-identical-to-last-inauguration">Dogecoin To Hit New All-Time High After Trump Is Sworn In? Influencer Says Pattern &#8216;Nearly Identical&#8217; To Last Inauguration</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/aniket-verma">Aniket Verma</a>, highlights speculation among influencers that Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) could replicate its post-inauguration rally from 2021, with one suggesting DOGE might double to $0.73 if historical patterns repeat.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/initiation/25/01/43010706/doge-fears-for-defense-contractors-lockheed-martin-northrop-grumman-overblown-analyst-says">DOGE Fears For Defense Contractors Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman &#8216;Overblown,&#8217; Analyst Says</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/erica-kollmann">Erica Kollmann</a>, features an analyst initiating coverage on Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>) with Buy ratings and targets of $579 and $544, dismissing concerns tied to Donald Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency as exaggerated.



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



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42948649/goldman-sachs-warns-of-90-oil-risk-trump-may-not-ease-sanctions-once-he-takes-office">Oil Could Hit $90, Goldman Sachs Says: &#8216;Trump May Not Ease Sanctions&#8217; On Russia</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42692787/private-prisons-poised-to-prosper-in-second-trump-term">CoreCivic, Geo Group Rally By Double Digits Since Election Day: Why Trump Boosts Private Prison Stocks</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43035566/taiwan-semiconductor-projects-ai-revenue-to-double-in-2025-highlights-advanced-packaging-as-growth-driver-analyst">Taiwan Semiconductor Projects AI Revenue To Double In 2025, Highlights Advanced Packaging As Growth Driver: Analyst</a>



The Bears



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42960291/metas-content-moderation-changes-alarm-advertisers-as-zuckerberg-aligns-with-trump-and-musk">Meta&#8217;s Content Moderation Changes Alarm Advertisers as Zuckerberg Aligns with Trump and Musk</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anusuya-lahiri-0">Anusuya Lahiri</a>, reports on Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) adopting a &#8220;free speech&#8221; content moderation style inspired by Elon Musk&#8217;s X, raising advertiser concerns over harmful content.



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/short-ideas/25/01/43037214/drone-maker-red-cat-set-to-be-blown-out-of-the-sky-short-seller-claims-management-set-almost-impossible-expectations">Drone Maker Red Cat &#8216;Set To Be Blown Out Of The Sky&#8217;: Short Seller Claims Management Set &#8216;Almost Impossible&#8217; Expectations</a>,&#8221; by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/adam-eckert">Adam Eckert</a>, covers Kerrisdale Capital's short position on Red Cat Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCAT#NASDAQ">RCAT</a>), arguing the company&#8217;s valuation is inflated by unrealistic expectations surrounding its U.S. Army SRR drone contract, which the firm says bears &#8220;almost no relationship to reality.&#8221;



&#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42986042/apple-sees-market-share-decline-in-2024-as-chinese-smartphone-brands-surge-globally-idc">Apple Sees Market Share Decline in 2024 as Chinese Smartphone Brands Surge Globally: IDC</a>,&#8221; by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/anusuya-lahiri-0">Anusuya Lahiri</a>, highlights Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) losing global market share to Chinese competitors like Xiaomi Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACF#OTC">XIACF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XIACY#OTC">XIACY</a>) as smartphone shipments grew 6.4% in 2024, driven by affordable premium offerings and aggressive pricing in emerging markets.



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



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42970112/nvidia-order-delays-and-ai-sanctions-threaten-global-sales-offer-growth-opportunity-for-us-tech-giants">US Semiconductor Sanctions Spell Trouble for Nvidia, But May Benefit Big Tech</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43017875/southwest-airlines-is-sued-by-department-of-transportation-over-chronically-delayed-flights">Southwest Airlines Is Sued By Department Of Transportation Over &#8216;Chronically Delayed&#8217; Flights</a>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42938301/michael-saylors-microstrategy-will-struggle-when-bitcoins-volatility-falls-says-arthur-hayesi-would-not-trade-mstr-at-all">Michael Saylor&#8217;s MicroStrategy Will Struggle When Bitcoin&#8217;s Volatility Falls, Says Arthur Hayes — I Would Not Trade MSTR At All</a>



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



Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Long Ideas

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

$BTC

$DOGE

AAPL

RCAT

TSLA

XIACF

XIACY

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Tesla, Apple, Meta And Dogecoin Influencers See Pattern For Post-2025 Inauguration Rally

A benign December inflation report was all it took to ignite another strong rally on Wall Street, with major indices delivering their best weekly performance since the post-election <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43064144/wall-street-roars-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration-intel-rallies-bitcoin-tops-105000-whats-driving-markets-friday">surge in early November.</a>



Heading into the week, markets were gripped by concerns over inflation and interest rates, pricing in just one rate cut by year-end while the 30-year Treasury <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42990155/5-yields-fuel-demand-treasury-etfs-despite-bond-market-pain-relief-rally">yield hovered around 5%.</a>



Fresh data showed inflation rising for the third straight month up to 2.9%, yet right in line with forecasts. A softer core reading — excluding food and energy — gave traders hope that the Fed might cut rates at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43003047/stocks-rise-on-core-inflation-slowdown-banks-rally-after-strong-q4-earnings-treasury-yields-plummet">least twice this year.</a>



Adding fuel to the bull run, major banks kicked off the fourth-quarter 2024 earnings season with blowout results.



Financial stocks — as tracked by the Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) — jumped 6% for the week, their best <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43007354/big-banks-crush-q4-earnings-forecasts-financial-stocks-set-for-biggest-1-day-rally-since-trumps-election">rally since October 2023.</a> Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) led the charge among big players, surging 11% to hit record highs.



In commodities, oil briefly touched $80 per barrel before retreating after the approval of a ceasefire deal in Gaza <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43055426/oil-dips-as-israeli-security-cabinet-approves-gaza-ceasefire-yet-experts-warn-red-sea-risks-persist">between Israel and Hamas.</a>



In cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) continues to defy gravity, surpassing $100,000, fueled by optimism over crypto-friendly policies under the incoming Donald Trump administration.



Trump will officially take office as the 47th U.S. president on Monday.



You might have missed&#8230;



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Bessent&#8217;s Economic Vision</h1>



Scott Bessent, Trump's Treasury secretary nominee, laid out his economic agenda before the Senate, emphasizing tax cuts, deregulation, energy expansion and tougher trade policies — particularly targeting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43041207/5-things-investors-need-to-know-about-scott-bessents-economic-policies-as-he-faces-senate-grilling-for-treasury-job">China, Russia and Iran.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin Reserve Talks</h1>



Reports suggest Trump is open to the idea of a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, a move that could reshape fiscal policy and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43035888/donald-trump-reportedly-open-to-us-crypto-reserve-as-bitcoin-reserve-chatter-gathers-steam">spark industrywide debate.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Detroit EV Surge</h1>



Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) reported a sharp rise in electric vehicle sales, with the Mustang Mach-E and Cadillac Lyriq emerging <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/01/42978236/us-electric-vehicle-sales-hit-record-1-3-million-units-in-2024-despite-tesla-declines-top-10-bestselling-models-list">as top sellers in 2024.</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">TikTok Ban Upheld</h1>



The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law forcing ByteDance to sell the TikTok app by Jan. 19 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43060894/supreme-court-upholds-tiktok-ban-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration">over national security concerns.</a> Trump could attempt to roll back the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43018125/trump-considers-executive-order-to-save-tiktok-from-being-banned-in-4-days">ban after taking office.</a>



Read Now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43062563/imf-lifts-us-growth-outlook-betting-markets-raise-odds-on-trump-led-economic-boom">IMF Lifts US Growth Outlook, Betting Markets Raise Odds On Trump-Led Economic Boom</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Politics

Wall Street Rallies As Inflation Fears Recede, Banks Smash Earnings, Bitcoin Reclaims $100,000: This Week In The Markets

President Joe Biden prioritized <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/25/01/43054504/biden-commutes-sentences-of-nearly-2500-convicted-of-non-violent-drug-offenses-no-mention-of-cannabis-prisoners">freeing non-violent drug offenders</a> during his final few days in the White House, but TikTok? That's President-elect Donald Trump's problem now. 



According to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-trump-executive-order-1e95d9836bf6f8c0c245ed1c3234d968">Associated Press</a>, Biden has no intention of enforcing the ban, which takes effect on his last full day in office, Jan. 19, and one day <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42995328/trump-inauguration-from-elon-musk-jeff-bezos-to-barack-obama-george-bush-and-bill-clinton-who-all-will-attend">before Trump&#8217;s inauguration</a>.



With a deadline looming, the app's fate lands in the hands of the so-called People's Bid for TikTok—backed by none other than Kevin O'Leary of &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; and billionaire Frank McCourt. Apparently, TikTok's U.S. assets are still up for grabs, but no word yet on the price tag or whether a deal can realistically get done <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/43060894/supreme-court-upholds-tiktok-ban-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration">in a few days</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>



Joann Inc. is stitching together a bankruptcy plan for the second time within 12 months. The Ohio-based fabric and crafts retailer is seeking a buyer for its portfolio of some 800 stores. 



Gordon Brothers Retail Partners emerged as the &#8220;stalking horse&#8221; bidder, but Joann remains hopeful for better offers—perhaps from someone who knows how to thread the needle.



Previously, the 82-year-old retailer was under the stewardship of private equity firm Leonard Green &amp; Partners, which acquired it via a $1.6 billion leveraged buyout in 2011. The firm buried the company under a pile of debt (<a href="https://wolfstreet.com/2024/03/18/brick-and-mortar-meltdown-fells-another-retailer-joann-inc-files-for-bankruptcy-3-years-after-ipo/">reportedly</a> $921 million in long-term debt as of Oct. 31, 2020) and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/03/20048728/ipo-preview-roblox-coupang-joann-lead-busy-week-of-offerings">sent it public in 2021</a>. 



Joann went private again in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joann-bankruptcy-chapter-11-filing-75093d4032907c59a45e472dd4e23229">March</a> 2024 while under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company managed to reduce its $1 billion total debt by about $500 million at the time.



Despite efforts to save itself last year, Joann is joining the growing quilt of recent retail casualties: Party City, Big Lots, LL Flooring, The Body Shop and The Container Store <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42710619/deal-dispatch-party-city-wraps-big-lots-goes-bust-container-store-continues">to name a few</a>.



Kirkland &amp; Ellis is handling legal matters, while Centerview Partners LLC offers financial advice. Alvarez &amp; Marsal North America, LLC is overseeing the restructuring process.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>Investment firm KKR &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) hired Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) to run an auction for its minority stake in Philippine fintech company Maya, Reuters reported. </li>



<li>New York-headquartered KKR owns more than 20% of Maya and the potential sale, if it goes through, could value Maya at more than $2 billion, one of the sources said.</li>



<li>DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>) is looking to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43028181/chemical-company-dupont-electronics-business-separation-retains-water-business">jettison its electronics business</a>. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company expects the transaction to be completed by Nov. 1. DuPont also decided to retain its water business after evaluating strategic alternatives.</li>



<li>Ingevity Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NGVT#NYSE">NGVT</a>) is shopping its Performance Chemicals Industrial Specialties segment, which includes divesting parts of its North Charleston, South Carolina site. The company hopes to improve earnings cash flow and conclude the review process by year-end. Whether a transaction comes about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43027745/ingevity-explores-strategic-options-for-performance-chemicals-segment-to-strengthen-portfolio-projects-fy24-revenue-at-1-40-billion">remains to be seen</a>. </li>



<li>S&amp;W Seed Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SANW#NASDAQ">SANW</a>) is up for sale. It&#8217;s also considering a merger or recapitalization as part of a larger strategic review. The Longmont, Colorado-based company has already sold its Australia subsidiary. &#8220;We continue to support all initiatives that optimize shareholder value and will consider the full range of potential strategic alternatives to ensure S&amp;W Seed is best positioned for future success,&#8221; chairman Alan Willits said.</li>
</ul>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43046722/starship-explodes-during-flight-test-elon-musk-says-success-is-uncertain-but-entertainment-is-guaranteed">Starship Explodes During Flight Test, Elon Musk Says: &#8216;Success Is Uncertain, But Entertainment Is Guaranteed!&#8217;</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>



<ul>
<li>Lourenco Goncalves raised eyebrows during a Monday press conference. According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-14/cliffs-ceo-rips-evil-japan-and-doubles-down-on-america-first">Bloomberg</a>, the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLF#NYSE">CLF</a>) called Japan, a U.S. ally, &#8220;evil&#8221; and accused it of teaching China harmful practices like dumping and overproduction. His comments came as Cleveland-Cliffs eyes a new bid for U.S. Steel (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/X#NYSE">X</a>), following Biden&#8217;s decision to block Nippon Steel&#8216;s (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NPSCY#OTC">NPSCY</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42787508/biden-blocks-14-9b-us-steel-takeover-shares-plunge">$14 billion acquisition attempt</a>. While positioning his company as a potential buyer, Goncalves&#8217; rhetoric escalated tensions within the steel industry. Nippon is now looking to Trump to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/42994950/nippon-steel-eyes-trump-administration-to-revive-15b-us-steel-deal-blocked-by-biden-well-do-whatever-it-takes">help close the deal</a>. </li>



<li>T-Mobile (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) will buy Vistar Media for $600 million. The telecom company expects the deal to strengthen its advertising business, Reuters reported. </li>
</ul>



Deals in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors piled up this week. Here&#8217;s a sample of Benzinga&#8217;s coverage:



<ul>
<li>Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) submitted an unsolicited bid to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Sage Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAGE#NASDAQ">SAGE</a>) that it does not already own <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42957657/biogens-push-for-sage-therapeutics-could-strengthen-its-neurology-strategy-analysts-say">for $7.22 per share</a>. Goldman Sachs analyst Salveen Richter believes the proposal makes strategic sense, considering the financial success of the Zurzuvae launch for postpartum depression (PPD).</li>



<li>GSK plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42950025/gsk-to-buy-us-based-stomach-cancer-drug-developer-for-over-1-billion">agreed to acquire</a> IDRx, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on precision therapeutics for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), for $1 billion. The deal may require an additional $150 million from GSK after certain regulatory approval milestones. </li>



<li>Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) scooped up Scorpion Therapeutics&#8217; early-stage <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42949261/eli-lilly-scoops-up-scorpion-therapeutics-early-stage-cancer-program-for-25-billion">cancer program for $2.5 billion</a>. </li>



<li>Like Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>) and AbbVie Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) is seeking to bolster its neuropsychiatric portfolio<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/42948170/like-bristol-myers-squibb-and-abbvie-johnson-johnson-seeks-to-bolster-neuropsychiatric-portfolio-with-15-billion-deal"> with a $15 billion deal</a></li>



<li>Crown Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCK#NYSE">CCK</a>) offered to acquire all outstanding common shares of Revance Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RVNC#NASDAQ">RVNC</a>) at $3.10 per share.</li>



<li>Salarius Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLRX#NASDAQ">SLRX</a>) agreed to a deal with Decoy Therapeutics, a preclinical biotech focused on peptide conjugate therapeutics. The merged entity will target unmet needs in respiratory diseases and GI oncology.</li>



<li>Lantheus Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNTH#NASDAQ">LNTH</a>) strengthens its radiopharmaceutical position with<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/25/01/42937565/lantheus-strengthens-radiopharmaceutical-leadership-with-350m-acquisition-of-life-molecular-imaging"> $350 million acquisition of Life Molecular Imaging</a>.</li>
</ul>



For last week&#8217;s edition of Deal Dispatch, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/ma/25/01/42921113/deal-dispatch-td-bank-charles-schwab-eyenovia-smart-share-hit-auction-block">click here</a>.



Now Read:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/01/43055513/eccentric-billionaire-howard-hughes-former-miami-estate-on-market-for-55-5-million">Eccentric Billionaire, Legendary Filmmaker Howard Hughes&#8217; Former Miami Estate On Market For $55.5 Million</a></li>
</ul>



Image created with a photo from Shutterstock.

ABBV

BIIB

LNTH

NGVT

NPSCY

RVNC

SAGE

SANW

SLRX

TMUS

Deal Dispatch: Biden Punts TikTok Ban To Trump, Plus Another Legacy Retailer Goes Bankrupt

Online trading platform Robinhood reportedly transferred a whopping 131 million Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) within the span of an hour, sparking intrigue and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42256959/dogecoin-trading-volume-skyrockets-76-indicating-potential-major-price-upswing">speculation among crypto enthusiasts</a>.



What Happened: According to <a href="https://whale-alert.io/transaction/dogecoin/942ce5c784b2e9f4d6c5b0fde2c028767d54eefd13c00068b10c71c543c80935">data</a>, this massive amount of DOGE was moved in two significant transactions.



The initial&nbsp;transaction involved the transfer of&nbsp;80,452,117 DOGE, valued at approximately&nbsp;$33,127,063, from Robinhood to an&nbsp;unidentified wallet. 



The subsequent transaction witnessed&nbsp;51,954,195 DOGE, worth around $21,334,106,&nbsp;being transferred from Robinhood to leading cryptocurrency exchange,&nbsp;Coinbase.



<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">&#x1f6a8; &#x1f6a8; 80,452,117 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOGE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOGE</a> (33,127,063 USD) transferred from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Robinhood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Robinhood</a> to unknown wallet<a href="https://t.co/FV4f1wCkh1">https://t.co/FV4f1wCkh1</a>&mdash; Whale Alert (@whale_alert) <a href="https://twitter.com/whale_alert/status/1880312975711461739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



These considerable transactions could&nbsp;be associated with whales or&nbsp;institutional entities. The transfer to Coinbase might imply&nbsp;a potential sale or preparation&nbsp;for trading activity. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42497156/dogecoin-poised-for-85-surge-as-whales-accumulate-130-billion-doge">Dogecoin Poised For 85% Surge As Whales Accumulate 130 Billion DOGE</a>



Conversely,&nbsp;the transfer to an unknown&nbsp;wallet could suggest private custody or acquisition&nbsp;by a large holder or&nbsp;whale. Nevertheless, the precise motive behind the transfers remains a mystery.



Why It Matters: These recent transactions underscore the increasing activity and interest in DOGE. The transfers could potentially indicate a shift in the market dynamics, with large players possibly moving their assets for various strategic reasons. However, without concrete information, these remain speculative assumptions.



The movement of such a large amount of DOGE also highlights the role of Robinhood as a significant player in the crypto trading space. The platform&#8217;s involvement in these transactions could have implications for its user base and the broader crypto market.



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42380572/dogecoins-whopping-60-9b-movement-in-24-hours-a-bullish-sign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin's Whopping 60.9B Movement In 24 Hours: A Bullish Sign?</a>

Robinhood Moves 131 Million DOGE In An Hour: What's Happening?

The cryptocurrency market saw a notable surge on Saturday. 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>) all experienced a rise in value, as traders anticipate a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42379899/trump-fuels-bitcoin-rally-but-where-will-it-go-next-year">&#8216;Trump bump&#8217; with the upcoming second Donald Trump presidency.</a>



What Happened: The crypto market sprung to life on the final trading day before the Trump&nbsp;administration takes over. Bitcoin spearheaded the rally, surging 2.81% and almost touching&nbsp;$104,987 per token. Ethereum (ETH&nbsp;-0.22%) and Dogecoin (DOGE -0.16%) also saw gains.



There is widespread speculation that President-elect Trump will prioritize cryptocurrency, with rumors of an executive order on his first day in office. This might include the appointment of a more crypto-friendly chairman for the Securities and Exchange Commission.



However, traders are advised to be cautious of the speed of policy changes in Washington. While changes to the industry&#8217;s rules may require congressional action, this doesn&#8217;t necessarily translate to a direct value gain for meme coins and blockchain tokens.



Instead, it could lead to&nbsp;assets like stocks and bonds&nbsp;trading&nbsp;on the blockchain and more&nbsp;business formation taking place on the blockchain.



Also Read: <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>



Despite the current speculation-driven surge, the market may face disappointment if the news doesn&#8217;t meet high expectations. 



The Federal Reserve cannot&nbsp;make Bitcoin or any other&nbsp;cryptocurrency a reserve currency without&nbsp;Congressional action, which seems unlikely in the current political climate.



The market movement today is largely driven by speculation that Trump will be beneficial for the crypto market. However, similar speculation in 2021 led to a market crash in 2022, cautioning investors against buying tokens based solely on speculation.



Why It Matters: The potential for a &#8216;Trump bump&#8217; in the cryptocurrency market is significant, given the President-elect&#8217;s rumored focus on this sector. 



However, the history of speculation-driven surges and crashes in the crypto market serves as a warning to investors. The potential for policy changes under the new administration could have far-reaching implications for the industry, but these changes are uncertain and could take time to implement. 



Read Next



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/07/40001426/trump-aims-to-make-us-crypto-capital-of-the-planet-well-get-it-done" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Aims To Make US ‘Crypto Capital Of The Planet': ‘We'll Get It Done'</a>



Image: Midjourney

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin Spike on Optimism Over New Trump Presidency

Elon Musk has stirred the pot with a recent post on X shifting &#8220;from MAGA to MEGA&#8221; to &#8220;Make Europe Great Again!&#8221;



What Happened: On Saturday, Musk&nbsp;took to X to express his new vision, transitioning from MAGA to MEGA. His post has since garnered significant attention, with over 28.7 million views.



<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">From MAGA to MEGA: Make Europe Great Again!&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1880536914690036015?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Musk&#8217;s post, &#8220;From MAGA to MEGA: Make&nbsp;Europe Great Again!&#8221; implies a shift in focus towards Europe, a region that has been a significant player in the global tech and automotive industries.



The slogan associated with Hungary&#8217;s hard-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sparked controversy among European political leaders.



Last week on Thursday, the European Commission demanded documents related to X&#8217;s &#8220;recommender systems,&#8221; which suggest content to users. 



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/42935746/is-elon-musks-mental-health-a-cause-for-concern-biographer-thinks-so">Is Elon Musk&#8217;s Mental Health a Cause for Concern? Biographer Thinks So</a>



&#8220;Today&nbsp;we are taking further steps&nbsp;to shed light on the&nbsp;compliance of X's recommender systems&nbsp;with the obligations under the&nbsp;DSA,&#8221; stated Henna Virkunnen,&nbsp;Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty,&nbsp;Security and Democracy.



Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s tweet comes at a time when Europe is striving to establish itself as a leader in the tech and automotive sectors. His call to &#8220;Make Europe Great Again&#8221; could be seen as a rallying cry for European innovation and progress.



As the CEO of&nbsp;Tesla Inc.&nbsp;and&nbsp;SpaceX, Musk&#8217;s words carry weight in the industry. His endorsement of Europe&#8217;s potential could stimulate further growth and investment in the region.



However, Musk&#8217;s post also raises questions about his future plans. Could this be a hint towards a greater European focus for his companies, or is it merely a commentary on the current global landscape? Only time will tell.



Read Next



<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>



Image: Shutterstock

Global

Elon Musk Sparks Controversy With Hard-Right 'Make Europe Great Again!' Post

The cryptocurrency sector is optimistic of what is to come with Donald Trump serving as the next president. Optimism comes as many cryptocurrencies have hit all-time highs since Trump won the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41778425/bitcoins-all-time-high-a-groundbreaking-milestone-and-strong-post-election-rally-coming-ex">2024 presidential election.</a>



A new Benzinga reader poll predicts which cryptocurrency could have the best return early in Trump's presidency.



What Happened: Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43065423/donald-trump-to-mention-bitcoin-or-crypto-at-the-inauguration-polymarket-traders-say-theres-a-chance">will be sworn in </a>as the next president of the United States on Monday, marking his second non-consecutive term as the leader of the country.



The stock market will be closed on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is a federal holiday.



While investors won't be able to buy and sell stocks that could be mentioned individually or part of sectors that are highlighted during Trump's inauguration speech, the cryptocurrency market will be open.



"Which crypto will pump the most on Donald Trump's Inauguration Day?" Benzinga recently asked readers.



Here were the results:



<ul>
<li>XRP Token (CRYTO:XRP): 41%</li>



<li>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>): 35%</li>



<li>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>): 14%</li>



<li>None, Crypto Will Crash: 7%</li>



<li>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>): 4%</li>
</ul>



The winner of the poll was XRP Token, which is one of the top gaining cryptocurrencies over the last year. XRP, which is from Ripple Labs, has been in the spotlight a lot recently, including thanks to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/42865935/trump-meets-top-ripple-executives-ceo-says-strong-start-to-2025-as-technicals-favor-xrp-bulls">visit by Ripple executives</a> to meet with Trump.



The poll saw only 7% of readers predict that cryptocurrency would crash on Monday, which could end up being the result of sell the news as cryptos trade higher ahead of Monday.



If Trump announces cryptocurrency related initiatives on Monday, the sector could see strength, but likewise cryptos could fall if he minimizes the sector in his speech.



Why It's Important: Benzinga readers have selected XRP and Bitcoin as winners in several polls, which won't make the latest results a huge surprise.



An early<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42378513/can-bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-shiba-inu-or-solana-beat-xrp-in-2025-poll-says-yes-one-coin-stands-out"> December 2024 poll </a>asked Benzinga readers if any of several hand-picked cryptocurrencies would outperform XRP in 2025.



The results were:



<ul>
<li>Bitcoin: 28%</li>



<li>Solana: 15%</li>



<li>Dogecoin: 13%</li>



<li>Ethereum: 10%</li>



<li>Shiba Inu: 10%</li>



<li>Hedera: 1%</li>



<li>None of the Above: 24%</li>
</ul>



Bitcoin won the poll with 28% of readers believing the leading cryptocurrency will outperform the other options in 2025.



Ranking second in the poll was None of the Above, which means 24% of readers think XRP will outperform the other six cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin in 2025.



Here are the current returns of the cryptocurrencies in the new poll:



<ul>
<li>XRP: 1-Month +32.0%, 1-Year +478.1%</li>



<li>BTC: 1-Month: -1.6%, 1-Year +145.3%</li>



<li>DOGE: 1-Month +3.5%, 1-Year +414.9%</li>



<li>SHIB: 1-Month -0.9%, 1-Year +155.1%</li>
</ul>



XRP and Dogecoin have already had huge one-year gains and XRP is up significantly over the last month, which could make any additional gains on Monday icing on the cake as more eyes are on the cryptocurrency sector in 2025.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43059744/exclusive-can-sp-500-repeat-large-gains-from-donald-trumps-first-term-a-second-time-around-readers-say-this-return-range-most-likely">EXCLUSIVE: Can S&amp;P 500 Repeat Large Gains From Donald Trump&#8217;s First Term A Second Time Around? Readers Say This Return Range Most Likely</a></li>
</ul>



The study was conducted by Benzinga from Jan. 16, 2025 through Jan. 17, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 107 adults.

Exclusives

$SHIB

$XRP

EXCLUSIVE: Will Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Or XRP Gain More On Trump's Inauguration Day? 41% Pick This Crypto

Despite his well-known disdain for cryptocurrencies, the &#8216;Oracle Of Omaha&#8217; &#8211; Warren Buffett&#8216;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) has invested in a company that supports the cryptocurrency market and has soared by 27.43% in 2024.



What Happened: Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/05/39093145/berkshire-hathaway-profits-f[%E2%80%A6]to-despite-warren-buffets-stance-on-not-buying-even-if-all-w">initially</a> invested $500 million in a Series G funding round and subsequently another $250 million in Nu Holdings Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>). 



Nu, a Brazilian digital banking company launched its cryptocurrency platform, Nubank Cripto, in 2022. Berkshire has since added 0.3% of this company&#8217;s shares in 18 months as of the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024. 



Berkshire increased its holdings from 0.1% in the fourth quarter that ended Dec. 31, 2022, to 0.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025.



Initially supporting 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 Polygon (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/matic/usd">MATIC</a>), the platform, Nubank Cripto, now includes Uniswap (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/uni/usd">UNI</a>) and Chainlink (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/link/usd">LINK</a>). It allows users to send, receive, and convert cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins like USD Coin.



In 2018, during Berkshire Hathaway Inc.&#8217;s annual <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/03/37513063/warren-buffett-says-he-wouldnt-pay-25-for-all-the-bitcoin-in-the-world-he-considers-crypto-rat-poiso">shareholder</a> meeting, Buffett famously described Bitcoin as &#8220;probably rat poison squared&#8221;. On the contrary, Berkshire has profited substantially through its investment in Nu.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42908280/intel-aims-for-cpu-market-share-growth-ai-breakthroughs-citi-reiterates-neutral-as-new-ceo-appointment-expected-in-coming-months">Intel Stock Has Fallen Over 58% In 1 Year, But Citi Maintains &#8216;Neutral&#8217; Rating On Expected Replacement Of Pat Gelsinger In A &#8216;Couple Of Months&#8217;</a> 



Why It Matters: According to its 13F filings, Berkshire held 86.438 million shares of Nu valued at $1.179 billion, as of the end of the third quarter.



With data for the fourth quarter not available at the time of writing, assuming that Berkshire&#8217;s holdings in Nu don&#8217;t change during this period, the value of these shares would have declined by 24.10% as of the quarter ended Dec. 31, when the share price was $10.36, as compared to $13.65 on Sept. 30, 2024.



However, Nu&#8217;s shares have risen by 27.43% in 2024, according to the data compiled by <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-730370" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024-1024x576.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024-300x169.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024-768x432.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024-1536x864.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/13074755/nu-in-2024.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



While Nu offers cryptocurrency services, one can argue in favor of Buffett that it&#8217;s not primarily a cryptocurrency company.



However, back in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/24/03/37513063/warren-buffett-says-he-wouldnt-pay-25-for-all-the-bitcoin-in-the-world-he-considers-crypto-rat-poiso">2018</a>, Buffett also said &#8220;In terms of cryptocurrencies generally, I can say almost with certainty that they will come to a bad ending.&#8221;



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/01/42938954/michael-saylors-microstrategy-faces-risk-if-mstrs-0-convertible-bond-lenders-recall-non-recourse-loans-due-to-covenant-breach-heres-what-it-means-for-investors">Michael Saylor&#8217;s MicroStrategy Faces Risk If MSTR&#8217;s 0% Convertible Bond Lenders Recall Non-Recourse Loans Due To Covenant Breach: Here&#8217;s What It Means For Investors</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Financing

Management

$LINK

$MATIC

$UNI

LINK

Warren Buffett Openly Called Bitcoin A 'Rat Poison' In 2018. 7 Years Later, He Is Invested In This Crypto-Linked Stock Which Soared 27% In 2024

Earlier this week, Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook shared a personal story about how the Apple Watch saved his father&#8217;s life. 



What Happened: In a podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://shows.acast.com/tablemanners/episodes/tim-cook">interview</a> with Table Manners with&nbsp;Jessie and Lennie Ware, Cook on Wednesday shared various aspects of his personal life, including his humble beginnings and daily routine.



Among the shared anecdotes, Cook narrated an incident involving his father. Cook&#8217;s father, who was living alone, fell in his house. The Apple Watch, equipped with a fall detection feature, sent a notification to emergency services and Cook&#8217;s family. When the emergency services arrived, they found Cook&#8217;s father unconscious and had to break down the door to reach him.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43072409/mark-cuban-warns-kevin-oleary-about-tiktok-purchase-if-you-cant-see-the-sucker-at-the-negotiation-table-its-you">Mark Cuban Warns Kevin O&#8217;Leary About TikTok Purchase: If You Can&#8217;t See The Sucker At The Negotiation Table, It&#8217;s You</a>



When asked if his father was proud of him for working at Apple, Cook humorously replied, &#8220;No,&nbsp;he was focused on the&nbsp;door, to be honest. He&nbsp;was more upset, they kicked&nbsp;out my door!&#8221;



Alongside this personal story, Cook also shared insights into his daily routine, which includes starting his day before 5 AM, working four days a week at Apple Park, and his love for Chardonnay, dark chocolate, and hiking.



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



Why It Matters: This is not the first time the Apple Watch has been credited with saving lives. In 2024, a&nbsp;story&nbsp;emerged about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40742928/apple-watch-saves-life-of-pregnant-woman-and-her-baby-that-information-is-like-gold">Apple Watch saving the life of a pregnant </a>woman and her unborn child. The watch&#8217;s heart monitoring, fall detection, and other medical-related features have proven beneficial for many consumers globally. 



In another instance, the Apple Watch&#8217;s crash detection feature helped save a user&#8217;s life after they were involved in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34760115/never-thought-i-would-ever-need-that-feature-apple-watch-saves-life-in-a-highway-car-crash">highway car crash</a>. The user&#8217;s emergency contact was alerted, and emergency services were informed to rescue them.



In the interview, Cook shared that he begins his day before 5:00 AM, using the quiet <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36445675/tim-cook-surprises-apple-watch-users-with-personal-responses-to-life-saving-stories">early hours to answer emails,</a> which he considers the most manageable part of his day. &#8220;I&#8217;m doing emails and generally what I&#8217;m focused on in the morning is responding to employees and customers. Yeah, I would. And so I get an extraordinary amount of outreach from customers and they&#8217;re telling me things that are critical in their lives. Maybe they&#8217;re telling me a story of how the Apple Watch saved their life,&#8221; he said. 



Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



<ul>
<li>Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/01/43072303/mark-zuckerberg-stands-to-gain-from-tiktoks-us-ban-analysis-shows-meta-could-reap-billions-in-ad-revenue">Mark Zuckerberg Stands To Gain The Most From TikTok&#8217;s US Ban: Meta Could Reap Billions In Ad Revenue</a></li>
</ul>



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



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

General

Tim Cook Reveals Apple Watch Saved His Father's Life By Alerting Emergency Services, But His Father 'More Upset' Because Of This

Mark Cuban is leaving no room for doubt when it comes to Kevin O'Leary's plan to buy TikTok's U.S. operations. The billionaire investor and &#8220;Shark Tank&#8221; star <a href="https://x.com/mcuban/status/1879028970726826132">took to X</a> to critique the bid, calling it a long shot and warning O'Leary about the risks involved. Cuban's message to him is to think twice before diving into this deal, especially without a clear path to success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">O'Leary and McCourt Make Their Move</h2>



Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has teamed up with Kevin O'Leary to buy TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/01/42834240/kevin-oleary-joins-the-peoples-bid-for-tiktok-as-pending-ban-looms">Dubbed The People's Bid for TikTok,</a> their proposal aims to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets, rebuild the app with American-designed technology and ensure user privacy.



Don't Miss:



<ul>
<li>Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.</a></li>



<li>Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-the-most-boring-blockchain-company-partners-with-salesforce">this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.</a></li>
</ul>



The bid comes at a critical time. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42919029/supreme-court-hears-tiktok-oral-arguments">The Supreme Court is set to review</a> a U.S. law that could ban TikTok starting Jan. 19, 2025, unless it's sold. However, ByteDance has repeatedly said it's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/01/42994923/mrbeast-discussing-buying-tiktok-with-billionaires-to-prevent-us-shutdown-lets-see-if-we-can-pull-this-off">not interested in selling TikTok – </a>and experts are also questioning whether the platform can survive without its famous algorithm, which is excluded from any potential sale due to Chinese export controls.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cuban's Concerns</h2>



Mark Cuban doesn't see O'Leary's plan working out. In his X thread, Cuban predicted that O'Leary would tell ByteDance and its bankers to accept the deal as a way to avoid TikTok being shut down in the U.S. However, Cuban doubts the viability of such a move, highlighting several major obstacles:



<ul>
<li>Ad revenue isn't what it used to be: Cuban argued that O'Leary's plan to rely on advertising revenue to sustain TikTok's U.S. operations isn't realistic in today's market.</li>



<li>User retention will be tough: Keeping users engaged without the original TikTok algorithm will be a significant challenge, especially with other platforms eager to poach its audience.</li>



<li>ByteDance likely won't sell: Cuban doubts ByteDance would agree to sell TikTok, calling it a $300 billion asset that wouldn't be off-loaded for a fraction of its value.</li>



<li>Competitors are ready to pounce: With every major platform eyeing TikTok's users, rebuilding from scratch will be an uphill battle.</li>
</ul>



Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a>



Cuban ended his thread with a stark warning: "When you sit at the negotiating table, you always look for the sucker. If you don't see one …"



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Risky Plan to Rebuild TikTok</h2>



O'Leary and McCourt insist they don't need the original TikTok algorithm to succeed. They've proposed creating a new algorithm to power the platform, with backing from Guggenheim Securities and prominent technologists like Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li>With 100+ historic trademark victories, this company holds IP for some of the highest-grossing characters in history. Now, they've propelled these icons into the future using next-gen patented AR, VR, and AI technology. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-1">There&#8217;s now a limited window for investors to claim shares at just $2/share with $980 minimum—but the clock is ticking.</a></li>



<li>According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a></li>
</ul>

Mark Cuban Warns Kevin O'Leary About TikTok Purchase: If You Can't See The Sucker At The Negotiation Table, It's You

Cryptocurrency markets are surging on the last trading day before the presidential inauguration. 



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$105,607.81</td><td>+5.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$3,426.67</td><td>+2.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$216.86</td><td>+1.7%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$3.24</td><td>-4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.4148</td><td>+7.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00002403</td><td>+7.5%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume increasing by 6.4% and daily active addresses falling by 2.9%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are up from 11,601 to 12,233 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 268%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 94,646 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $285.01 million.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43062518/2025-to-see-dogecoin-etf-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-microstrategy-of-ethereum-predicts-crypto-hedge-fund">2025 To See Dogecoin ETF, Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, &#8216;MicroStrategy Of Ethereum,&#8217; Predicts Crypto Hedge Fund</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43062997/exclusive-how-donald-trumps-crypto-plans-will-bitcoin-xrp-solana">EXCLUSIVE: How Donald Trump&#8217;s Crypto Plans Will Impact Bitcoin, XRP, Solana</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43053129/bitcoin-miners-consolidate-power-12-firms-now-control-30-of-network-hash-rate">Bitcoin Miners Consolidate Power: 12 Firms Now Control 30% Of Network Hash Rate</a></li>
</ul>



Top Gainers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>SPX6900 (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">SPX</a>)</td><td>$1.48</td><td>+43.1%</td></tr><tr><td>OKB (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">OKB</a>)</td><td>$57.26</td><td>+15.3%</td></tr><tr><td>THORChain (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/rune/usd">RUNE</a>)</td><td>$4.04</td><td>+14.4%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Bitcoin has reached the $105,000 mark, fueled by speculation that President-elect Donald Trump may announce a &#8220;Strategic&#8221; Bitcoin Reserve.



Economist Peter Schiff <a href="https://x.com/PeterSchiff/status/1880301563450913059">expressed</a> concerns, hoping Trump won't compromise the country&#8217;s integrity just to benefit Bitcoin donors. 



He warns that such a reserve could lead to higher inflation and a weaker economy.



Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez pointed out that Bitcoin has broken out of a cup-and-handle pattern, suggesting a potential upside target of $276,400.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> has broken out of a cup-and-handle pattern, signaling a potential upside target of $276,400! <a href="https://t.co/7FMhuiEBhS">pic.twitter.com/7FMhuiEBhS</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1880274881989996750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Crypto trader Stoic observed that Bitcoin has reclaimed a key level from the Dec. 18 sell-off, now 5% above the HTF range value. 



He <a href="https://x.com/Stoiiic/status/1880322637882355791">believes</a> that if Bitcoin stabilizes, altcoins could have room to perform over the weekend.



Crypto trader Jelle highlighted a spot-driven rally that breached a key level, signaling strong momentum. He predicts that if Bitcoin closes the day around $104,738, the path will be clear for new all-time highs.



<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">Level breached on a spot-driven rally. Just what I like to see. Very little resistance left &#8212; close the day anywhere around these levels and new all-time highs will come very, very soon.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/kAhrPCMa9x">pic.twitter.com/kAhrPCMa9x</a>&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1880320231815671941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43064882/bitcoin-etfs-outperform-in-first-year-but-solana-xrp-etfs-face-challenges-expert-says">Bitcoin ETFs Outperform In First Year, But Solana, XRP ETFs Face Challenges, Expert Says</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$OKB

$RUNE

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Chasing New Highs But XRP Dwindling: 'Weekend Probably Gives Alts Breathing Room,' Trader Says

President-elect Donald Trump is set to move back into the White House on Monday after he officially assumes office, kicking off a flurry of speculation about immediate crypto-relation action, such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43035888/donald-trump-reportedly-open-to-us-crypto-reserve-as-bitcoin-reserve-chatter-gathers-steam">support for a U.S. crypto reserve</a>.



Benzinga talked to cryptocurrency experts, who are divided on the likelihood of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43047039/trump-planning-to-declare-cryptocurrency-as-national-priority-increase-engagement-with-industry-report">immediate executive orders</a>, but largely bullish on the near-term market outlook.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Will Trump Sign A Crypto Executive Order On Day 1?</h2>



The prospect of executive orders on day one is a source of debate among the experts, however, most agree that the move is highly probable in the near future.



Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder &amp; COO of Redstone, stated his view that any orders will likely emerge in the weeks following the inauguration, rather than on day one, due to the numerous pressing issues new administrations face.



Vijay Pravin Maharajan, CEO and Founder of bitsCrunch, however, suggests that decisive early action, such as executive orders, could be a strategic move for the incoming President to project an image of immediate success and capitalize on the markets.



Aurelie Barthere, Principal Research Analyst at Nansen, indicated that the idea of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43056350/maga-memecoin-leads-trump-meme-rally-as-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-speculation-intensifies">strategic Bitcoin reserve</a> is not likely to be a unanimous preference and will require building consensus in Congress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Trump 2.0 Means For The Crypto Markets</h2>



Concerning near-term market behavior, Kazmierczak expects a positive market response to what he calls favorable <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/42997294/trumps-crypto-legislation-will-be-a-frankenstein-bill-of-mishmash-says-arthur-hayes-bitcoin-doesnt-need-government-support-to-flourish">regulatory changes</a>.



This sentiment is echoed by Maharajan, who predicts a post-inauguration rally, especially if Trump makes explicit pro-crypto statements. 



Barthere has stated that a drop in interest rates could provide a positive impulse for crypto, and the markets currently have &#8220;some juice&#8221; for risk assets.



James Toledano, Chief Operating Officer at Unity Wallet, highlighted the importance of factors beyond political influence and focused on "adoption, regulation and macroeconomic factors" as the real drivers of Bitcoin prices.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43059401/bitcoin-spikes-to-104000-traders-eye-130000-target-in-late-january">Bitcoin Spikes To $104,000, Traders Eye $130,000 Target In Late January</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Yay Or Nay?</h2>



The possibility of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41770352/bitcoins-future-under-president-elect-donald-trump-a-look-at-his-crypto-policies">U.S. crypto reserve</a> is a notable point of discussion among the experts.



Kazmierczak highlighted the significant potential for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) if it is recognized by the largest economy, adding that this could represent a fundamental shift in the market. 



Barthere stated her belief that such a move would provide a &#8220;very bullish&#8221; outlook for crypto, "legitimizing it as an asset class," and signaling potential action to institutional investors. 



Maharajan further added that this inclusion could reinforce the dollar's strength and signal commitment to leading the digital asset space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here&#8217;s Which Crypto Assets Experts Tip To Do Well</h2>



Kazmierczak stated he believes that the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-defi#:~:text=DeFi%20is%20possible%20through%20the,without%20anyone%20watching%20over%20them.">DeFi sector</a> may see outperformance, if the environment for the sector improves.



Barthere named BTC because of its ‘reserve currency' narrative, but also tips Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), Ripple (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) as well as the whole AI narrative to do well.



Maharajan suggested that Trump might favor U.S.-created crypto like XRP and Solana, in keeping with his &#8220;America First&#8221; ideology, adding, &#8220;Bitcoin will of course do extremely well.&#8221;



The consensus among the experts is that Trump's inauguration will be a significant event for the crypto market, with the potential for significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43033465/solana-is-a-stronger-investment-than-bitcoin-ethereum-crypto-asset-management-firm-states">price action and policy changes</a>.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43053129/bitcoin-miners-consolidate-power-12-firms-now-control-30-of-network-hash-rate">Bitcoin Miners Consolidate Power: 12 Firms Now Control 30% Of Network Hash Rate</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

EXCLUSIVE: How Donald Trump's Crypto Plans Will Impact Bitcoin, XRP, Solana

Dogecoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) market valuation has soared to $61.4 billion as the &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dogecoin-doge-price-prediction">king of memes</a>&#8221; spiked 10% overnight.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.415</td><td>$61.4 billion</td><td>+10.4%&nbsp;</td><td>+23.7%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00002438</td><td>$14.4 billion</td><td>+10.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+12.6%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001999</td><td>$8.4 billion</td><td>+8.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+12.7%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Prominent technical analyst Kevin has identified the $0.4155 level (0.786 Fibonacci) as the key target following Dogecoin's breakout. 



Breaking this resistance could pave the way for revisiting previous highs and potentially surpassing them. 



<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">Break the .786 at .4155 is the next mission here after the perfect breakout call. If we do then revisiting the highs and beyond is next. Patreon members are printing heavy of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a>. We love some <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOGE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DOGE</a> <a href="https://t.co/WFhtqVlBb4">pic.twitter.com/WFhtqVlBb4</a>&mdash; Kevin (@Kev_Capital_TA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kev_Capital_TA/status/1880175090031292883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Johnny, another crypto trader, highlighted retail investors&#8217; recent success with XRP, which surged from $0.50 to $3.40 in mere weeks. 



He predicts DOGE could similarly trend higher, with retail enthusiasm potentially pushing it past $1. 



This rally may <a href="https://x.com/CryptoGodJohn/status/1880078238959239177">coincide</a> with Donald Trump's inauguration and Elon Musk's influence, igniting what he calls &#8220;Doge season&#8221; as early as Monday.



Prominent trader Unipcs <a href="https://x.com/theunipcs/status/1880180717709099155">echoed</a> this sentiment, forecasting DOGE to become the first $100 billion meme coin, riding momentum from the formation of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41734897/elon-musks-doge-department-mention-gives-dogecoin-boost-to-top-of-daily-gainers-memecoin-s">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.



Statistics: Whale Alert data shows around 600 million DOGE was transferred between unknown wallets in two different transactions.  



In <a href="https://x.com/whale_alert/status/1880140296039637264">one</a> 200 million DOGE, worth 77.3 million, and in the <a href="https://x.com/whale_alert/status/1880142435264729185">second</a> 400 million DOGE, worth $154.3 million, were transferred. 



Both transactions originated from addresses among the richest Dogecoin wallets, sparking potential price volatility.



Coinglass data shows open interest spiked 17.1% to $5.4 billion while DOGE derivatives volume maximized by 30.9% to $10.3 billion.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43037301/dogecoin-surges-21-in-7-days-why-is-doge-going-up">Dogecoin Surges 21% In 7 Days: Why Is DOGE Going Up?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

$PEPE

Dogecoin Rallies 10% To 41 Cents: How High Can DOGE Go?

The Symbol JEPI was not found. Here are some similar symbols and popular symbols to consider.

Symbol Similar to: JEPI

Top Gaining Stocks

Noticias

SOCIO/CONTRIBUIDOR

BENZINGA GLOBAL