Regulatory Reform

Business

Ripple Executes $1.63 Billion XRP Unlock, Sparking Market Scrutiny Over Price Impact

Ripple has released 1 billion XRP tokens from escrow, valued at approximately $1.63 billion, as part of its scheduled monthly treasury management. While a portion has been re-locked, $500 million worth is earmarked for potential company operations this month, raising questions about market absorption amid a broader crypto downturn.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Alphabet's Q4 Earnings Preview: AI Momentum and Lofty Expectations

As Alphabet prepares to report its fourth-quarter results, investors are weighing the company's robust AI-driven growth against a stock that may have already priced in much of the good news.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hyperliquid's New Protocol Paves Way for On-Chain Prediction Markets

Hyperliquid has upgraded its core engine with the HIP-4 protocol, introducing a novel 'Outcomes' contract system designed for prediction markets and structured products, currently in testnet phase.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hong Kong Set to Issue First Stablecoin Licenses in March, Marking Watershed Moment for Crypto Hub Ambitions

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is poised to grant its inaugural stablecoin issuer licenses next month, a key step in the city's comprehensive push to establish a regulated digital asset ecosystem. The move follows a rigorous application process and signals a new era of oversight for the burgeoning sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Waymo Secures $16 Billion, Valuation Soars to $126 Billion in Major Autonomous Driving Bet

Alphabet's self-driving subsidiary Waymo has closed a massive $16 billion funding round, catapulting its valuation to $126 billion and signaling robust investor confidence in the future of autonomous vehicles.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Alphabet's Q4 Earnings: Can the Tech Giant Extend Its Record Rally?

As Alphabet prepares to report its fourth-quarter results, traders are bracing for significant stock movement. The focus is on whether strong performance in cloud and AI can justify its recent surge and sustain momentum amid heightened investor scrutiny.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Chicago's Metropolitan Capital Bank Fails, Marking Second Consecutive Year of Early U.S. Banking Collapse

For the second year running, a Chicago financial institution has become the nation's first bank failure. Regulators shuttered Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust on Friday, citing unsafe practices and depleted capital. The FDIC facilitated a swift takeover by Detroit's First Independence Bank, ensuring depositors are protected.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Uber, Nvidia, and Mercedes Forge Robotaxi Alliance, Spotlighting Uber's Data as a Strategic Asset

Uber's vast trove of real-world driving data has become the cornerstone of a new autonomous vehicle partnership with Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz, potentially reshaping its investment narrative.

Feb 2, 2026

World

DHS Mandates Body Cameras for All Field Agents Nationwide, Starting with Minneapolis

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces immediate rollout of body-worn cameras to all field officers, including ICE agents, with Minneapolis as the initial focus. The policy expands a federal transparency initiative amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts Flag Potential 50% Undervaluation in Nine Entertainment Amid Media Sector Shake-up

A new discounted cash flow analysis suggests Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings' shares could be trading at half their intrinsic value, sparking debate among investors about the true worth of the Australian media giant in a challenging advertising landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SpaceX Acquires xAI in Landmark Deal, Uniting Musk's Space and AI Ambitions Under One Roof

Elon Musk's SpaceX has finalized the acquisition of his artificial intelligence venture, xAI, in a strategic move that merges the aerospace giant with the creator of the Grok chatbot. The deal, valued at a staggering $1.25 trillion, aims to accelerate AI development by leveraging shared computing resources and engineering talent from Musk's broader technology portfolio.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump's Fed Nominee Warsh's Crypto Ties Raise Questions Over Stablecoin's 'Made in America' Push

Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, nominated to lead the central bank, previously advised the firm issuing Tether's new U.S.-regulated stablecoin, intertwining his potential oversight role with a key player in the digital asset industry.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

MicroStrategy's Bitcoin Bet Sinks Underwater, Raising Questions on Funding Strategy

MicroStrategy's massive Bitcoin holdings have fallen below their average purchase price, resulting in over $900 million in paper losses. This development intensifies scrutiny on the company's reliance on equity markets to fund its crypto acquisitions as financial conditions tighten.

Feb 2, 2026

Distress Signals: Three Multifamily Loans Enter Servicing in January, Highlighting Regional Pressures

January saw three apartment loans transferred to special servicing, revealing distinct challenges in Colorado and Houston markets despite strong national trends.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Unseen Danger: How Banking Risks Thrive in the Gaps Between Committees

As financial institutions grow more complex, a new report warns that their greatest vulnerabilities often lie not in unknown threats, but in systemic blind spots where accountability is diffused across multiple committees and functions.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Musk's SpaceX and xAI to Merge in Landmark $1.25 Trillion Deal Ahead of Public Offering

Elon Musk is set to combine his aerospace giant SpaceX with his artificial intelligence venture xAI, creating a single entity valued at $1.25 trillion ahead of a highly anticipated IPO later this year, according to a Bloomberg report.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Market Volatility Highlights Tether's Enduring Appeal as a Dollar Proxy

Amidst crypto market turbulence, Tether (USDT) maintains its dominance as the leading stablecoin, offering investors a potential harbor and sparking debate over its role in modern finance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SoFi's Billion-Dollar Milestone: Is the Fintech's Valuation Running Ahead of Reality?

SoFi Technologies dazzles with its first $1 billion revenue quarter and a push into crypto payments, but a stark valuation gap has emerged, raising questions about whether its stock price has already outpaced its growth narrative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Barclays Reshuffles Top Ranks, Bolstering Key Divisions Ahead of EU Headquarters Move

Barclays PLC announces a series of senior leadership appointments across its securitized products, payments, and European operations, signaling strategic focus areas as it prepares to relocate its EU hub to Paris.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Devon and Coterra Forge a Permian Powerhouse: Merger Creates Delaware Basin Giant

In a landmark consolidation move, Devon Energy and Coterra Energy have agreed to an all-stock merger, positioning the combined entity as a dominant force in the prolific Delaware Basin. The deal signals a strategic shift towards scale and capital efficiency in the U.S. shale sector.

Feb 2, 2026