Stripe’s stablecoin arm Bridge received conditional approval from a US regulator to become a national trust bank, the latest in a string of firms getting the green light to offer banking services tied to digital assets https://t.co/o9vwP4K7Tv ...

Fundraising Overview - Thrive Capital has raised $10 billion for its new fund, Thrive X, which is the largest fund the firm has ever raised and nearly double the size of its previous fund [2][3] - Of the total amount, $1 billion is allocated for early-stage investments, while the remaining funds are designated for growth-stage investments [2] Investment Strategy - The firm focuses on committing deeply to a small number of founders, emphasizing loyalty to the founders and missions they support [4] - Thrive Capital has a history of significant investments in high-profile companies such as OpenAI, Stripe, and SpaceX, which have seen substantial increases in value [3] Market Implications - The oversubscription of the latest fundraise indicates strong interest from investors, particularly in light of potential IPOs for companies like OpenAI and SpaceX, which could lead to significant capital returns for limited partners [3][5] - The firm has incubated 12 companies, with at least six achieving unicorn status, showcasing its successful track record in nurturing startups [3]

Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital is doing just that, thriving. Its 10th fund raising more than $10 billion, having to turn money away exclusively. And that's as their early concentrated investments are showing such success.They're in the who's who of the most valuable private companies in SpaceX, in OpenAI, and Stripe backing these founders early and recommitting to them as they scaled. And now Open AI is looking to raise funds at an $830 billion valuation. We're up more than 30fold.SpaceX now worth $1.25% $.2 ...

Core Insights - Payoneer is set to launch stablecoin capabilities within its platform, powered by Bridge, to facilitate secure and efficient cross-border transactions for businesses [1] - The integration aims to simplify the use of stablecoins for businesses, particularly in emerging markets, addressing challenges such as currency conversion and regulatory complexities [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Payoneer will enable businesses to receive, hold, and send stablecoins as part of their daily financial operations, enhancing their global transaction capabilities [1] - The new stablecoin features will be rolled out in select markets in Q2 2026, with broader availability planned throughout the year [1] - Payoneer has nearly 2 million customers globally and aims to leverage its compliance expertise to support stablecoin adoption [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The adoption of stablecoins is accelerating, with real-world applications emerging that offer faster settlement and programmable money movement [1] - Many cross-border businesses face challenges in integrating stablecoins due to fragmented workflows and evolving regulations, which Payoneer aims to address [1] - Bridge, the partner providing the stablecoin infrastructure, focuses on simplifying blockchain complexities for companies like Payoneer [1]

Group 1 - The core concern raised by Ben Thompson is the conservative capacity expansion of TSMC, which he believes is a limiting factor for global AI expansion [2][3] - Thompson predicts a significant chip shortage around 2029 due to insufficient capital expenditure growth to meet the exponential demand for computing power driven by AI [2][3] - He emphasizes that TSMC's cautious approach to capacity expansion is rational, as they prefer to avoid the risks associated with overcapacity and its impact on profit margins [2][3] Group 2 - Thompson advocates for tech giants to support companies like Intel or Samsung through prepayments or other means to mitigate future capacity bottlenecks [3] - He argues that the advertising model is the most effective monetization strategy for AI applications, countering the prevalent skepticism in Silicon Valley regarding advertising [4][5] - Thompson cites Facebook's advertising system as a successful automated agent, highlighting its effectiveness in delivering results for businesses [4][5] Group 3 - Thompson provides insights on the performance of major tech companies, labeling Meta as the strongest in execution despite concerns over its capital expenditures [5] - He describes Google as chaotic yet resilient, comparing it to a slime mold that adapts effectively despite its apparent disorder [5] - Concerns are raised about Amazon's chip strategy in the AI era, suggesting that its low-cost approach may not be sustainable in a rapidly evolving market [5] Group 4 - Thompson discusses the potential end of the SaaS business model if AI leads to a reduction in workforce, indicating a growth ceiling for per-seat pricing [6] - He posits that in a world of infinite content, live experiences will gain value, as they cannot be personalized by AI [7] - The future of AI-generated content will redefine value based on scarcity, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences [7]

RT Gwart (@GwartyGwart)People keep saying it’s a shame that retail hasn’t had access to Anthropic, OpenAI, Stripe, SpaceX, and others and haven’t been able to share in the upside of these companies so far. Why does retail feel entitled to be on these cap tables? It seems that people conflate the idea that accredited investors laws are broken and that it’s costly and burdensome to go public with thinking that they deserve the right to share in upside of these companies. It’s not like we created that value, I ...

The Morning Minute (2.13)Powered by @yeet⏰Top News:-Crypto majors fall alongside metals & stocks; BTC at $67k-Coinbase misses Q4 earnings, revenue down 22% YoY-CFTC names dozens of crypto execs to its Innovation Advisory Committee-Solana announces Graveyard Hack to resurrect dead sectors-Aave Labs shares new proposal to send 100% of revenue to the DAO🌎 Macro Crypto and Markets-Crypto majors are red down 1-2% following a red day for metals, stocks and crypto; BTC -1% at $67.1K; ETH -1% at $1,960; SOL -2% at ...

Core Viewpoint - PayPal's stock has declined significantly, dropping 25.32% since its Q4 2025 earnings report, and over 54% since the beginning of 2025, reflecting concerns about its growth prospects and market position [1][3]. Financial Performance - In Q4 2025, PayPal reported revenue of $8.68 billion, a 3.7% year-over-year increase, which was below analyst expectations of $8.78 billion [3][4]. - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 were $1.23, a 3.4% increase year-over-year, also missing the expected $1.28 [4]. - For the full year 2025, PayPal's revenue was $33.172 billion, up 4.3%, with an EPS of $5.41, slightly above the forecast of $5.36 [4]. Business Challenges - PayPal's core business indicators are showing a slowdown, particularly in its brand payment services, which saw only a 1% growth in total payment volume in Q4, significantly lower than the usual 5% [5]. - The company is facing increased competition from Apple Pay and Google Pay, which are eroding its market share in the e-commerce payment sector [5][8]. - The number of net new active accounts has stagnated, with only 1.2 million net additions in 2025, reflecting a growth challenge [5]. Management Changes - Following the disappointing earnings report, PayPal announced a change in leadership, with Enrique Lores replacing Alex Chriss as CEO, raising concerns about the company's strategic direction [2][6]. Market Valuation - PayPal's current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 6.9, significantly lower than the median P/E of 20 for its peers, indicating a substantial discount in valuation [2][8]. - The valuation decline is attributed to structural flaws in its business model, as it lacks the native commercial ecosystem support that competitors like Apple Pay and Google Pay benefit from [8][9]. Competitive Landscape - PayPal's average transaction fee is approximately 1.7%-2.0%, higher than some emerging payment service providers, which may hinder its competitiveness as merchants become more cost-sensitive [9]. - The total number of payment transactions in Q4 2025 was 6.8 billion, a mere 2% increase year-over-year, indicating declining bargaining power with merchants [9]. Offline Expansion Challenges - PayPal faces significant barriers to expanding its offline business in the U.S., where the credit card system dominates, and the market is characterized by high entry barriers [10][11]. - The fragmented nature of offline payment scenarios complicates PayPal's ability to optimize user experience and achieve scale [11][12]. Future Outlook - PayPal's guidance for 2026 suggests a potential decline or minimal growth in adjusted EPS, indicating ongoing growth challenges [7]. - The new CEO will need to develop a clear transformation strategy, focusing on enhancing merchant services and optimizing fee structures to compete effectively [12].

Core Argument - The article discusses the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the job market, suggesting that the U.S. is unprepared for the potential disruptions it may cause to employment and economic stability [1]. Group 1: Historical Context and Current Trends - The establishment of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) aimed to measure labor conditions and create fair outcomes amidst industrial changes, highlighting the importance of data in understanding economic realities [5][6]. - The BLS has documented significant job growth in various sectors, such as a 907% increase in mobile food service jobs since 2000, indicating a dynamic labor market [6]. - However, the BLS is limited in its predictive capabilities, particularly regarding the impact of emerging technologies like AI on the workforce [7]. Group 2: AI's Impact on Employment - AI is rapidly transforming job functions, enabling tasks to be completed more efficiently than ever before, which raises concerns about job displacement [8][9]. - Predictions from industry leaders suggest that AI could lead to a 10% to 20% increase in unemployment rates and potentially eliminate half of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next decade [10]. - A Reuters/Ipsos survey indicates that 71% of Americans fear AI will lead to permanent job losses, reflecting widespread anxiety about the future of work [9]. Group 3: Economic Resilience and Job Creation - Economists argue that capitalism has a strong resilience, often leading to job creation following technological advancements, as seen with ATMs and software like Excel [8]. - The BLS forecasts a 3.1% employment growth rate over the next decade, which, while lower than previous years, still represents the addition of 5 million jobs [8]. Group 4: The Role of Policy and Corporate Responsibility - There is a growing concern that corporate leaders are prioritizing automation and efficiency over employee welfare, leading to potential mass layoffs [22][23]. - The article suggests that CEOs are under pressure to demonstrate the benefits of AI quickly, often resulting in job cuts rather than exploring ways to integrate AI while supporting their workforce [22][23]. - Proposals for policies such as retraining programs and a robot tax to support displaced workers are discussed, but there is skepticism about their implementation [33][28]. Group 5: Political and Social Implications - The political landscape is characterized by a lack of proactive measures to address the challenges posed by AI, with many lawmakers adopting a hands-off approach [26][27]. - The article emphasizes the need for a coordinated response to the potential upheaval caused by AI, suggesting that without intervention, the consequences could be severe for both the economy and society [30][31].

Core Insights - Companies such as Stripe, OpenAI, Anthropic, Databricks, and SpaceX are increasingly allowing employees to sell portions of their shares [1] Group 1 - The trend of enabling employees to sell shares reflects a shift in compensation strategies among tech companies [1] - This practice may enhance employee liquidity and attract talent by providing more immediate financial benefits [1] - The move is indicative of a broader trend in the tech industry towards more flexible equity compensation [1]