RT Matt Hougan (@Matt_Hougan)The folks saying this winter is worse than 2018 or 2022 don't remember 2018 or 2022.In 2018, we had $3000 bitcoin and a "global computer" with no applications and limited throughput. In 2022, we had a total market collapse and a regulator that wanted to put us out of business.Today, we have stablecoins going to $3 trillion, tokenization going to $200 trillion, a positive regulatory climate, better tokenomics, BlackRock and Apollo building on DeFi, massively built out infrastruct ...

RT Ignas | DeFi (@DefiIgnas)One day, BlackRock buying $UNI and Apollo buying MORPHO will look like obvious key crypto turning point.I say one day, because the market is underpricing these moves.TradFi companies entering crypto not via ETFs but direct token acquisitions is a big deal.They'll likely use tokens for governance allowing them to influence the rules of the infra they use.This matters because 1) governance stops being a pure meme, and 2) it also brings institutional expertise to our onchain world.M ...

One day, BlackRock buying $UNI and Apollo buying MORPHO will look like obvious key crypto turning point.I say one day, because the market is underpricing these moves.TradFi companies entering crypto not via ETFs but direct token acquisitions is a big deal.They'll likely use tokens for governance allowing them to influence the rules of the infra they use.This matters because 1) governance stops being a pure meme, and 2) it also brings institutional expertise to our onchain world.Most importantly for our bags ...

apollo committed to buying 90m morpho tokens over 48 months. that's 1.875m tokens monthly from a $900b aum manager. they're not speculating on price. they're securing onchain credit rails for when tokenized assets need lending infrastructure. the four year timeline tells you this isn't a trade for them. it's operational positioning. ...

Group 1 - QXO Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Kodiak Building Partners for approximately $2.25 billion, consisting of $2.0 billion in cash and 13.2 million shares, with the acquisition expected to close in early Q2 2026 [1][2] - Kodiak Building Partners is a significant US distributor of construction supplies, generating around $2.4 billion in revenue in 2025, with a strong presence in high-growth markets like Florida and Texas [2][3] - The acquisition is projected to be highly accretive to QXO's earnings and will expand its addressable market to over $200 billion [1][2] Group 2 - QXO aims to drive margin expansion through scaled procurement, AI-powered inventory management, and other technology-enabled efficiencies as part of the acquisition strategy [3] - The company is actively pursuing further acquisitions, supported by recent equity financings from Apollo and Temasek, aligning with its long-term goal of reaching $50 billion in annual revenue within the next decade [3][4]

Market Overview - Wall Street is experiencing significant disruption concerns due to AI, leading to a sell-off in various sectors, particularly software companies, which has resulted in sharp losses in U.S. stocks this week [1][2]. Software Sector - The S&P 500 Software & Services index has lost approximately $2 trillion in value since its peak in October, with half of this loss occurring in the past two weeks due to fears that AI could disrupt traditional subscription and enterprise tools [2]. - Notable declines in the Nasdaq 100 include Atlassian down 47%, Intuit down 40%, and Workday down 33% [4]. - The U.S. software sector is facing its worst drawdown in over three years, impacting alternative asset managers with exposure to software-related loans, with firms like Ares, Blackstone, and KKR seeing declines between 13% and 24% this year [5]. Financial Brokerage, Data Analytics & Legal Services - The financial industry, especially brokerages and data analytics firms, has been negatively affected after Altruist introduced AI-enabled tax planning features, raising fears about the viability of their business models [6]. - Shares of brokers such as LPL Financial and Charles Schwab fell over 7%, while S&P Global's shares dropped more than 25% in February, marking its worst month since 2009 [7]. Real Estate Services - Commercial real estate and investment managers have suffered as investors shift away from high-fee, labor-intensive business models perceived as vulnerable to AI disruption, with CBRE Group and Jones Lang LaSalle each dropping about 12% [8]. Insurance Sector - Insurance stocks have experienced a significant decline, with the S&P 500 insurance index falling 3.9% on a single day, its largest drop since mid-October, following the release of an AI-powered comparison tool by Insurify [10]. - Shares of Willis Towers Watson have decreased by 15% this week, while Aon and Arthur J. Gallagher fell by 9% and 15%, respectively [11]. Trucking & Logistics - The trucking and logistics sector saw unexpected declines, with stocks like Landstar System and C.H. Robinson dropping sharply after Algorhythm Holdings reported a significant increase in freight volumes without a corresponding rise in operational headcount [13].

Apollo is in early talks to partner with Revolut and offer its funds to retail customers in Europe https://t.co/PsbTTC36tG ...

Core Viewpoint - Executives from major private capital firms, including Apollo, Blackstone, and Ares, are struggling to reassure investors about the safety of their portfolios amid a selloff in the software sector driven by fears of AI disruption [1] Group 1: Impact of AI on Alternative Asset Managers - Concerns about AI's impact on software companies have negatively affected the stock prices of alternative asset managers, despite significant new client investments and a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions [1] - Executives have defended their portfolios, stating that they are well-constructed to withstand AI-related risks, with Ares reporting only 6% of its assets in software, which is highly diversified [1] - Apollo's CEO indicated that software accounts for less than 2% of its assets under management, with minimal exposure in private equity and insurance portfolios [1] Group 2: Stock Performance and Market Reactions - Despite some recovery in stock prices following earnings reports, shares of these firms remain down approximately 30% over the last six months [1] - KKR has about 7% of its portfolio in software, with its shares down 29% over the same period, while Blue Owl reported 8% exposure and a 36% decline in share price [1] - Blackstone's shares have decreased by 24% over the last six months, with software comprising 7% of its total assets and 10% of its credit holdings [1] Group 3: Executive Insights and Future Outlook - Executives from these firms express confidence in their portfolios, with Blue Owl's co-CEO stating they do not foresee meaningful losses or performance deterioration [1] - KKR's co-CEO mentioned that the firm has identified AI as both an opportunity and a risk, with $118 billion in dry powder available for investment [1] - Analysts suggest that the narrative surrounding alternative asset managers has shifted, with concerns about their role in AI financing and potential losses due to AI's transformative impact [1]

Group 1 - QXO Inc. (NYSE:QXO) reached a new 52-week high, increasing by 16.59% to $27.06, following the announcement of its acquisition of Kodiak Building Partners for $2.25 billion [1][2] - The acquisition agreement includes a payment of $2 billion in cash and 13.2 million shares, with the option for Kodiak to repurchase shares at $40 each [2] - Kodiak generated $2.5 billion in revenue last year from various construction-related products and services, indicating a strong financial background [4] Group 2 - The acquisition is expected to open access to a $200 billion addressable market, enhancing QXO's growth potential [2] - QXO's Chairman and CEO, Brad Jacobs, emphasized that the acquisition will allow for cross-selling and improved customer value, as well as margin expansion through operational efficiencies [5] - QXO's acquisition pipeline remains active, supported by recent equity financings led by Apollo and Temasek [6]

Company Overview - Monaco is a startup co-founded by Sam and Brian Blond, who have backgrounds in sales and venture capital, along with two other co-founders, Abishek Viswanathan and Malay Desai [2] - The company has raised a total of $35 million, consisting of a $10 million seed round and a $25 million Series A round, both led by Founders Fund [3] Investment and Backing - Monaco has attracted notable investors, including the founders of Stripe and Y Combinator, indicating strong confidence in its business model [4] - The involvement of experienced investors suggests a promising outlook for the startup in the competitive AI sales tech market [5] Product Offering - Monaco is entering the AI sales technology sector with a unique approach, combining AI-driven solutions with human sales expertise [5] - The startup targets early-stage companies with a product suite that includes an AI-native CRM system and a database for prospecting [6] Technology and Functionality - The AI agents developed by Monaco can automate various sales tasks, such as creating email outreach campaigns and drafting follow-up emails, while being monitored by human experts [6][7] - The platform aims to replace traditional sales workflows, orchestrating the entire sales process from prospect identification to meeting scheduling [7] Human-AI Collaboration - Unlike many AI startups, Monaco emphasizes the role of human salespeople in the sales process, ensuring that AI outputs are accurate and effective [8] - This model allows Monaco to provide experienced sales professionals to startups that may not yet have the resources to hire them directly [8]