Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is expanding its presence in the cryptocurrency ETF market by planning to launch the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to provide income from bitcoin exposure [1]. Group 1: Fund Structure and Strategy - The proposed fund will actively manage bitcoin exposure, either directly or through shares of BlackRock's existing iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), and will generate income by selling call options on that exposure [2]. - This fund will utilize a "covered-call" strategy, which is common in stock-based income funds, allowing it to generate income by selling the right to purchase its underlying assets at a fixed price [2][3]. - The fund will distribute the premiums generated from the covered-call strategy to investors as income, trading potential upside for income [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Performance - BlackRock's entry into the market is notable due to its scale and the success of IBIT, which has over $69.7 billion in assets, making it the dominant spot bitcoin ETF [4]. - BlackRock's bitcoin funds have become the firm's top revenue source, indicating strong market demand and performance [4]. - Other covered-call ETFs, such as YBTC, BTCI, and BAGY, have shown high distribution rates, but they may dilute net asset value (NAV) due to higher yields offered [5]. Group 3: Performance Comparison - Bitcoin-focused income ETFs have underperformed BTC, with BTCI down approximately 31.3% and YBTC losing 45% over the last 12 months, compared to a 14% drawdown in bitcoin [6]. - BAGY, which launched in late April 2025, has also seen a decline of 25% since its debut [6].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock has filed for its Bitcoin Premium Income ETF with the SEC, coinciding with significant outflows from crypto ETPs, indicating a challenging market environment for cryptocurrency investments [1][6]. Company Summary - BlackRock has submitted the S-1 registration statement for its Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which is set to be listed on the Nasdaq [2][8]. - The ETF will primarily hold Bitcoin (BTC), shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, and cash, aiming to track BTC prices while generating premium income through an actively managed strategy involving call options [3][5]. - The fund will allow in-kind creations and redemptions, with Coinbase acting as the custodian for Bitcoin holdings and the Bank of New York Mellon for cash holdings [3]. Industry Summary - The filing comes at a time when crypto ETPs have experienced their largest weekly outflows since November 2022, totaling $1.73 billion, with U.S. crypto ETPs accounting for $1.8 billion of this figure [6][8]. - Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs led the outflows, with $1.09 billion and $630 million respectively, driven by factors such as reduced expectations for a Fed rate cut and negative price momentum [7].

Economic Outlook - ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood predicts real GDP growth will exceed 7%, attributing this to AI-driven productivity gains and calling it "the biggest entrepreneurial explosion in history" [1][4] - Wood forecasts that inflation will turn negative, driven by technology-enhanced productivity [4] AI Adoption and Corporate Restructuring - Companies must undergo complete restructuring around AI to avoid becoming irrelevant, with a strong emphasis on CEO leadership in this transformation [1][2] - Wood cites ARK's own implementation of Palantir Technologies as a successful example of AI adoption leading to productivity gains [2] Bitcoin Market Projection - Wood projects Bitcoin's market capitalization will reach $16 trillion by 2030, a significant increase from below $2 trillion currently [5] Youth Unemployment and Entrepreneurship - Youth unemployment for ages 16-24 is at 12%, with an average duration of 24 weeks, but Wood believes this will not lead to persistent unemployment due to demographic shifts [6][7] - Wood encourages young people to leverage AI to create businesses that address unmet needs while seeking employment [7]

Group 1: Bitcoin ETF Outflows - Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds have seen significant outflows totaling $1.62 billion over four trading days, raising concerns about hedge funds withdrawing their Bitcoin exposure as market conditions shift [1] - As of January 22, 2026, US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net daily outflows of $32.11 million, with a peak of $708.71 million on January 21 and $483.38 million on January 20, leading to a total of $1.22 billion in net outflows over the past week [2] - BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust led the daily outflows with $22.35 million redeemed, while Fidelity's FBTC followed with $9.76 million in outflows [3][4] Group 2: Market Conditions and Trading Activity - Bitcoin's price was around $89,982 on January 22, down 1.3% for the day and nearly 5% over the past week, indicating a lack of momentum as it briefly dipped to $88,600 [5] - Trading volume for Bitcoin spot ETFs was recorded at $3.30 billion, despite assets under management decreasing to $115.99 billion, which is about 6.49% of Bitcoin's market cap [3] - The overall trading volume has decreased by nearly 28% to $37.77 billion, suggesting thinning market participation as prices consolidate below $90,000 [5] Group 3: Hedge Fund Strategies and Yield Compression - Hedge fund positioning is identified as a significant factor driving the ETF outflows, with yields on the Bitcoin basis trade dropping below 5%, down from around 17% a year ago [6] - As returns compress and approach yields available on short-dated US Treasuries, there is less incentive for fast-moving capital to remain invested in Bitcoin ETFs [6] - Grayscale's GBTC reported flat daily flows but remains deeply negative overall, with cumulative net outflows of $25.58 billion as investors shift away from its higher 1.5% fee [4]

Steak n Shake is offering hourly employees a bitcoin (BTC) bonus of $0.21 for every hour worked, the company said Tuesday in a post on X. The new policy applies to staff at all company-operated locations starting March 1, and rewards will vest after two years. The bonus — equivalent to roughly 1% of the federal minimum wage — is the fast-food chain’s latest move in a broader embrace of bitcoin that began in May 2025, when it started accepting BTC payments via the Lightning Network at all U.S. locations. ...

Key Takeaways Steak ’n Shake will offer hourly employees a $0.21-per-hour Bitcoin bonus starting March 2026. The plan sparked backlash over the small payout, two-year vesting period, and exposure to Bitcoin volatility for low-wage workers. The announcement landed amid a Bitcoin price drop, fueling online criticism and memes. Steak ’n Shake, the U.S.-based fast-food chain, has announced plans to pay hourly employees a small Bitcoin (BTC) bonus for every hour worked at company-operated locations. ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets faced a significant downturn, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experiencing their largest drop in over three months, primarily due to heightened risk-off sentiment linked to President Trump's tariff threats regarding Greenland [1] - The market capitalization of major stocks, including Nvidia and Apple, decreased by approximately $700 billion [1] Stock Performance - The Nasdaq fell by 2.39% to 22,954.32, the S&P 500 dropped 2.06% to 6,796.86, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.76% to 48,488.59 [2] - Netflix Inc. saw its shares decline by 1.08% to close at $87.05, with an after-hours drop of 4.84% to $82.84 [2] - IBM's stock decreased by 4.68% to $291.35, with analysts predicting an 8% rally in the near future despite the decline [5] - United Airlines shares dropped by 4.34% to $108.57 but gained 3.46% in after-hours trading to $112.33 [6] - Block Inc.'s stock fell by 5.03% to $62.63, with a 52-week range of $94.25 to $44.27 [8] - Strategy Inc. shares plunged by 7.76% to $160.23, with a significant drop from its historical highs [11] Company Developments - Netflix announced a switch to an all-cash offer for acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming businesses, maintaining a total price of $82.7 billion [3] - The acquisition includes major franchises such as "Game of Thrones," "Harry Potter," and DC superheroes, enhancing Netflix's content library [4] - United Airlines reported record fourth-quarter revenue of $15.4 billion and a diluted EPS of $3.19, despite a $250 million pre-tax hit from the government shutdown [7] - Block Inc. highlighted its alternative lending ecosystem, providing over $200 billion in credit, with stable loss rates since 2013 [9] - Strategy Inc. increased its Bitcoin holdings to 709,715 BTC, acquired for $53.92 billion, making it one of the largest corporate holders globally [12]

Core Insights - Delaware Life Insurance Company has launched the first fixed indexed annuity linked to a Bitcoin-inclusive index, specifically the BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index [1] - The new annuity product aims to provide principal protection while allowing for potential upside growth linked to Bitcoin and U.S. stocks [1][2] Product Details - The fixed indexed annuity (FIA) will offer policyholders indirect exposure to Bitcoin through an ETF within the index, ensuring that returns are capped and protecting against market declines [2][3] - The BlackRock U.S. Equity Bitcoin Balanced Risk 12% Index targets 12% volatility and incorporates cash adjustments to mitigate Bitcoin's price fluctuations, utilizing the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) which has $74.5 billion in assets under management [4] Market Context - The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. has led to various financial products incorporating them, with significant sales of structured notes linked to Bitcoin ETFs by major financial institutions [5] - Historically, life insurance companies have been cautious in adopting Bitcoin and related products due to market volatility, focusing instead on blockchain for operational efficiencies [6][7]

Group 1: Acquisition and Corporate Strategy - Strive, Inc. has successfully completed the acquisition of Semler Scientific, making it the 11 largest public corporate holder of bitcoin globally with approximately 12,797.9 bitcoin [1] - The company aims to monetize the operating business from the Semler Scientific subsidiary by expanding its focus on early disease detection products under the leadership of newly appointed Chief Strategy Officer Avik Roy [2] Group 2: Leadership and Expertise - Avik Roy, who has a background in science from MIT and medical training from Yale, has extensive experience in biotech and healthcare, having worked at Bain Capital and J.P. Morgan [3] - Eric Semler, former chairman of Semler Scientific, has joined Strive as an independent board member, while Joe Burnett, previously director of Bitcoin Strategy for Semler Scientific, has taken on the role of VP of Bitcoin Strategy at Strive [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Strive is the first publicly traded asset management Bitcoin treasury company, focused on increasing Bitcoin per share to outperform Bitcoin over the long run, managing over $2 billion in assets since launching its first ETF in August 2022 [5] - Semler Scientific is recognized as a leader in medical devices and software for chronic diseases, with its flagship product QuantaFlo providing rapid point-of-care testing for peripheral arterial disease [6]

Core Insights - Lemon, a leading crypto platform in Argentina, has launched the country's first Bitcoin-backed Visa credit card, allowing users to access credit in Argentine pesos while retaining their Bitcoin holdings as collateral [1][3] - The initiative addresses the economic challenges in Argentina, where high inflation and currency devaluation have led many to adopt cryptocurrency as a survival tool [2] Product Details - Users can deposit 0.01 BTC to access up to 1 million Argentine pesos (approximately $700), with Lemon holding the Bitcoin as security until the balance is repaid [3] - Marcelo Cavazzoli, Lemon's CEO, highlighted the product's simplicity and the importance of Bitcoin as a store of value in the new digital economy [3] Economic Context - Argentina has faced severe economic instability, with hyperinflation exceeding 200% annually in 2023-2024, although recent measures have reduced it to around 31.5% year-over-year by December 2025 [4] - Monthly inflation remains high, with a 2.8% increase in December 2025, eroding the purchasing power of the peso and increasing distrust in traditional banking [4] Historical Factors - Historical banking crises, such as the 2001 "corralito," have led to a culture of cash hoarding, with an estimated $271 billion in undeclared U.S. dollars held outside the formal system [5] - The shift towards hard assets like Bitcoin has been significant, with Latin America experiencing approximately $1.5 trillion in crypto activity from 2022-2025, and Argentina ranking second in per-capita usage [5]