DD
MM
YYYY

PAGES

DD
MM
YYYY

spot_img

PAGES

Home Blog Page 13

Jim Cramer Calls Bitcoin & Gold “Bad Money”, Claims Investors Are Dumping Them For SpaceX IPO

0

CNBC host and longtime market commentator Jim Cramer has sparked debate in the financial space after dismissing Bitcoin and gold as “bad money”.

Cramer in a post on X, argued that investors are increasingly shifting their attention toward high-growth opportunities such as SpaceX’s anticipated initial public offering (IPO).

He wrote,

“Bitcoin and gold bad money, being liquidated for SpaceX. Apple and Nvidia  good money being liquidated”.

His post suggests that capital is flowing away from traditional stores of value and speculative assets into companies perceived to offer stronger long-term growth potential, reigniting discussions about the future role of cryptocurrencies and precious metals in modern investment portfolios.

The remarks quickly spread across X, as many in the crypto community interpreted the statement as a classic “inverse Cramer” signal, suggesting it could be bullish for Bitcoin and gold.

Many commenters challenged the logic behind the argument. Some questioned why investors would avoid the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO if market participants were indeed selling other assets to gain exposure to it.

Others argued that the reasoning appeared inconsistent and disconnected from the behavior of everyday investors. Several users also took issue with Cramer’s characterization of gold as “bad money,” pointing out that the precious metal has served as a store of value and medium of exchange for thousands of years.

For these critics, gold’s long history in global commerce undermined the notion that it belongs in the same category as assets being discarded by investors.

See some comments below;

@The Terminal wrote,

“If markets are being liquidated because people are buying into this, avoiding the IPO does not make any sense. Maybe they call us ‘dumb money’ because they think we believe inconsistent arguments. If Elizabeth Warren says, ‘I do not want it,’ I know for a fact that I want it. This does not make sense to educated, middle-class investors.”

@his_eminence_j wrote,

“Once again, I don’t know where you pull your analysis from. People are pulling away from cyclical sectors and are buying defensives. It’s not some mad rush toward the IPO of a company that 93% of its estimated value, by their own admission, is a fiction.”

@Sean_Willis wrote,

“The people selling to buy SpaceX will only get allocated a fraction of their shares at IPO…if they get any shares at all. The people that sold companies will have to buy back the stock of those companies with the funds that didn’t get used.”

Cramer’s Long-Running Skepticism of Bitcoin

Cramer’s history with Bitcoin has been unfriendly. He has frequently criticized the cryptocurrency over the years, only for BTC to often rally after his bearish calls.

His latest criticism of Bitcoin is consistent with a long history of skepticism toward the cryptocurrency. Over the years, the television host and market commentator has repeatedly questioned Bitcoin’s value proposition, volatility, and suitability as an investment asset, often drawing sharp reactions from the crypto community.

His comments have frequently sparked debate among investors, with Bitcoin supporters arguing that the cryptocurrency has continued to defy bearish predictions by reaching new highs and attracting growing institutional adoption.

As a result, many crypto enthusiasts have come to view Cramer’s negative outlook as a contrarian signal, often interpreting his criticism as a bullish indicator for the digital asset.

The latest remarks therefore fit into a broader pattern of public skepticism from Cramer toward Bitcoin, a stance that has made him one of the cryptocurrency’s most prominent critics in traditional financial media.

This latest take comes amid ongoing Bitcoin ETF outflows and market rotation ahead of SpaceX’s public debut, which has generated massive hype and is expected to command a valuation in the hundreds of billions or even trillions according to some projections.

As SpaceX prepares for its IPO, market observers will watch whether the capital shift described by Cramer materializes and how it impacts traditional assets like Bitcoin and gold in the near term. For now, Cramer’s latest hot take has once again energized the crypto community.

“I love the inflation:” Trump Embraces Surging Inflation as Energy Shock from Iran War Reshapes U.S. Economic Outlook

0

President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed unexpected enthusiasm for the latest inflation data, declaring “I love the inflation” after the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed to a three-year high of 4.2% annually in May — the third consecutive monthly increase since the U.S.-Iran war began.

The sharp acceleration in prices, driven overwhelmingly by energy costs linked to disruptions in the Middle East, marks a significant shift from the relatively stable inflation environment that prevailed before the conflict. In February, before hostilities escalated, the annual inflation rate stood at just 2.4%. It rose to 3.3% in March and 3.8% in April, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday.

Energy prices accounted for roughly 60% of the overall monthly increase. The national average price for a gallon of gasoline reached $4.15, according to AAA — still about $1 higher than a year ago, though slightly below last month’s peak. Airline fares surged 26.7% year-over-year, adding further strain on households as the busy summer travel season approaches. Food, energy services, and clothing costs also rose. Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, core CPI increased to 2.9%.

Trump, speaking from the White House, framed the higher inflation as manageable and even positive in the broader context of the conflict. He highlighted U.S. actions against Iranian oil infrastructure and claimed American forces had seized “millions of barrels of oil” without Iran’s knowledge, contributing to lower global prices.

“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” Trump said, before referencing recent military operations: “We took out the other night 22 ships late at night… That’s why oil is at $85 a barrel.”

He also reiterated his long-standing view that confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions was necessary, despite the economic side effects.

The White House sought to downplay the inflation spike, calling the figures “at-expectation” and attributing them to “temporary disruptions” from Iran’s efforts to restrict energy flows. Spokesperson Kush Desai emphasized positive trends in other areas.

“Prices of prescription drugs, dairy products, cars, as well as both health and auto insurance continue to decline thanks to the Trump administration’s policymaking. The Administration will continue pushing our affordability agenda to enable Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money,” he said.

However, the data paints a more complicated picture. Persistent energy-driven inflation is feeding into broader price pressures at a time when the labor market remains resilient. May’s jobs report showed employers added a surprisingly strong 172,000 positions, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%. This combination of strong hiring and rising prices complicates the Federal Reserve’s task as it prepares for its first meeting under new Chair Kevin Warsh next week.

Americans are feeling the pinch. A survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York released Monday showed households have grown more pessimistic about inflation, job prospects, and the risk of layoffs. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index has fallen for three consecutive months to historic lows, reflecting widespread anxiety over higher costs for essentials.

The energy shock from the Iran war is a key driver. With the Strait of Hormuz largely blocked, global oil prices have remained elevated despite some recent moderation. This has direct consequences for U.S. consumers and businesses, even as the country benefits from its status as a net energy exporter.

Pressure on the Fed and Shifting Rate Expectations

The inflation data intensifies the challenge for the Federal Reserve. Warsh, who has previously aligned with Trump’s preference for lower rates, faces a difficult environment. While the president continues to call for rate cuts, recent developments have shifted market expectations.

Goldman Sachs said on Friday it no longer expects any Fed rate cuts this year, projecting rates will remain unchanged through 2026 before possible easing in 2027. JP Morgan Global Research went further, forecasting potential rate hikes by the Fed in 2027 as energy costs and labor market strength sustain inflationary pressures.

Bruce Kasman, chief global economist at JPMorgan Chase, summarized the evolving debate, noting: “The energy price spike is now raising inflation and generating a sharp squeeze on household purchasing power that could intensify if the Middle East conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed.”

This outlook represents a reversal from earlier expectations of rate easing. Markets are now pricing in roughly a 50% chance of a hike by September, with some analysts seeing two 25-basis-point increases before year-end.

Geopolitical Roots and Long-Term Risks

The current inflation surge is inextricably linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have tightened global energy supplies, pushing up costs for gasoline, aviation fuel, and related goods. While Trump has portrayed U.S. actions as strategically successful, the sustained higher energy prices are transmitting inflation through the economy and complicating domestic policy.

For the Fed, the situation creates a classic policy dilemma: balancing growth risks against persistent price pressures. With the labor market still robust, economists believe the central bank has more room to prioritize inflation control, but prolonged energy shocks could embed higher expectations and make the task harder.

Economically, the war’s impact extends beyond headline CPI. Higher transportation and input costs are rippling through supply chains, affecting everything from food prices to manufacturing. Consumer spending, which drives the majority of U.S. growth, is expected to face further headwinds if real wages are eroded by sustained inflation.

The administration’s messaging seeks to frame the inflation as temporary and manageable, but the data and market reactions suggest a more protracted challenge.

Trump Media Drops Truth Social Spinoff Plan as It Doubles Down on Fusion Energy Bet

0

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) and fusion energy developer TAE Technologies have abandoned plans to spin off Truth Social and other media assets into a separate publicly listed company, signaling a renewed focus on completing their high-profile merger and transforming the Trump-linked firm into an energy and infrastructure play tied to the artificial intelligence boom.

The decision marks a notable shift in strategy for TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social, which has struggled to scale its social media business in an increasingly crowded digital landscape.

While the companies did not disclose why they scrapped the proposed spinoff, the move suggests management is prioritizing the larger and potentially more transformative fusion-energy transaction rather than pursuing a complex corporate restructuring. TMTG said it remains committed to finalizing its merger with TAE Technologies, targeting completion in the fourth quarter of 2026 or earlier. The deal, announced in December, was valued at more than $6 billion and represented one of the most surprising strategic pivots by a media company in recent years.

The merger would reposition TMTG from a company best known for operating Truth Social into a publicly traded fusion-energy enterprise seeking to capitalize on one of the fastest-growing themes in global markets: the exploding demand for electricity driven by artificial intelligence.

The move comes amid the growing influence of AI infrastructure, which has become one of the dominant investment narratives of 2026, with technology giants, cloud providers, and data center operators committing hundreds of billions of dollars to expand computing capacity. As AI models become larger and more energy-intensive, concerns over power availability have become a central issue for the industry.

Against that backdrop, TAE Technologies is attempting to take a position as a future supplier of carbon-free baseload electricity. Fusion energy, long regarded as the “holy grail” of clean power, promises virtually limitless energy generation by replicating the process that powers the sun. Although commercial deployment remains years away, investors have increasingly viewed the sector as a potential beneficiary of surging power demand from AI data centers.

TAE Technologies is among the best-funded private fusion companies globally. The California-based firm has raised more than $1 billion from investors, including Alphabet’s Google and energy giant Chevron, underscoring growing institutional confidence in advanced energy technologies.

The company has spent years developing fusion systems aimed at generating utility-scale electricity. This means the technology has the capacity to provide a long-term solution to mounting concerns about power shortages, grid constraints, and rising energy costs that threaten to slow AI expansion.

The merger offers a path beyond the limitations of the social media business for TMTG. Truth Social has struggled to achieve the scale of larger platforms, facing stiff competition from established networks while contending with uneven user growth and advertising challenges.

The decision to abandon the Truth Social spinoff may also reflect a recognition that separating media assets could have complicated the merger process or diluted investor focus at a time when markets are increasingly rewarding companies linked to AI infrastructure, energy security, and advanced technology.

Currently, investors are pouring capital into sectors that support AI development. Semiconductor firms, data center operators, power producers, and infrastructure companies have all seen significant inflows as the race to build AI capacity intensifies.

Fusion energy has emerged as a particularly attractive long-term theme. Industry executives believe that current electricity grids may struggle to support future AI workloads, creating opportunities for next-generation energy technologies. Several major technology companies have already begun investing in nuclear and advanced energy projects to secure future power supplies.

TMTG’s strategic evolution mirrors a broader shift occurring across capital markets, where investors are increasingly prioritizing companies positioned to benefit from AI-driven infrastructure spending rather than traditional social media growth stories.

The company also announced earlier this year that Kevin McGurn, who has served as an adviser to Trump Media since December 2024, had been appointed interim chief executive officer, a move viewed by some analysts as part of preparations for the firm’s transition toward its new direction.

However, investors appeared cautious following Wednesday’s announcement. Shares of TMTG slipped about 1% in premarket trading and have fallen more than 38% this year, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the company’s future and the challenges involved in commercializing fusion technology.

The decision to abandon the Truth Social spinoff is believed to have removed a layer of complexity from the transaction and allowed management to focus squarely on closing one of the most unconventional deals of the year.

The merger would potentially place TMTG at the intersection of two of the most closely watched themes in global markets: the AI-driven scramble for electricity and the long-running quest to commercialize fusion power.

Trump Endorsement Highlights Citi’s Turnaround, but Fraser’s Real Test Lies Beyond Market Rankings

0

Shares of Citigroup outperformed much of the banking sector after President Donald Trump publicly praised the bank and its chief executive, Jane Fraser.

The development is believed to underline how far the lender has come in a turnaround effort that only a few years ago faced skepticism from investors and analysts.

Trump’s endorsement on Truth Social briefly lifted Citigroup shares at the opening bell, with the stock rising nearly 2% intraday before broader market weakness erased most of the gains. Even so, Citi ended the session outperforming rivals, including JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, as well as the broader market.

Yet the significance of the episode extends beyond a single trading session, as it reflects growing recognition that Citigroup’s multiyear restructuring is beginning to yield tangible results, even as questions remain about whether the bank can permanently close the valuation gap with larger Wall Street rivals.

A turnaround that few expected

When Fraser took over in 2021 as Citigroup’s first female chief executive, she inherited a sprawling institution that had underperformed peers for years. The bank was grappling with regulatory scrutiny, operational shortcomings, and a business model that many investors viewed as overly complex. Its stock consistently traded at a discount to rivals because of concerns over profitability, efficiency, and execution.

Fraser responded with one of the most ambitious restructurings in the bank’s modern history.

The strategy involved:

  • Simplifying management layers.
  • Exiting non-core international consumer businesses.
  • Reducing costs through job cuts and operational streamlining.
  • Concentrating resources on institutional banking, wealth management, and transaction services.
  • Improving regulatory compliance and risk controls.

The restructuring initially faced criticism because of its scale and associated costs. However, recent performance suggests the effort is gaining traction.

Citigroup’s share-price performance has become increasingly difficult for investors to ignore. The stock has now delivered gains for four consecutive years and has emerged as one of the strongest performers among major U.S. banks.

The striking figures go as follows:

  • Up more than 70% in 2025.
  • Up nearly 42% in 2024.
  • Up roughly 19% in 2023.
  • Up more than 14% so far in 2026.

That compares favorably with many of its peers.

While investors traditionally favored JPMorgan as the industry’s gold standard and Goldman Sachs for investment banking exposure, Citi has been attracting attention as a turnaround story with further room for improvement. The market appears to be rewarding evidence that Fraser’s restructuring is translating into stronger profitability and operational discipline.

The M&A ranking debate misses the bigger story

Trump’s praise centered on Citigroup’s alleged leadership in mergers-and-acquisitions advisory work. However, publicly available league tables do not support the claim that Citi is currently the leading global M&A adviser.

According to industry data cited in the report, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America all rank ahead of Citigroup globally by deal value in 2026. Goldman alone has advised on nearly $1 trillion worth of transactions this year, substantially exceeding Citi’s advisory volume. In fact, Citi’s position has slipped from fourth to fifth place among global M&A advisers.

That suggests the more important story is not whether Citi tops a specific league table but whether its broader franchise is becoming more competitive across multiple business lines.

One area where Citigroup has quietly built momentum is energy and infrastructure advisory work. The bank has emerged as a leading adviser on power-sector transactions, a segment becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence drives unprecedented demand for electricity generation, transmission infrastructure, and data-center development.

The AI boom is creating a new generation of financing opportunities involving utilities, power producers, renewable energy projects, and grid modernization. Banks with strong corporate relationships in these sectors stand to benefit from years of elevated deal activity.

Citigroup’s growing presence in these markets aligns with Fraser’s strategy of emphasizing businesses where the bank has a global competitive advantage.

The broader investment case for Citi is based on valuation and earnings potential rather than simple market-share gains. Unlike many technology stocks that trade at aggressive multiples, major banks remain relatively inexpensive by historical standards.

Investors are particularly focused on whether Citi can continue improving returns on tangible common equity, a key profitability measure closely watched in banking. Some analysts opine that if management continues delivering operational improvements while maintaining credit quality, Citi could continue narrowing the valuation gap with competitors.

That possibility helps explain why investors have increasingly viewed the stock as one of the more attractive opportunities in the financial sector.

Next Big Crypto Alert: Why BlockDAG, Dogecoin, Tron, and Solana Are Suddenly in Focus

0

The crypto market keeps evolving as both new entrants and established networks continue to attract attention from traders and long-term watchers. BlockDAG, Dogecoin, Tron, and Solana each sit in different segments of the blockchain landscape, covering experimental architectures, payment networks, and high-performance ecosystems.

BlockDAG has recently recorded stronger engagement across distribution activity and user participation metrics, which has brought it into closer focus. Dogecoin remains widely recognized for its community-led movement and active trading behavior. Tron continues to support consistent decentralized application usage, while Solana is known for its fast processing design and active developer ecosystem.

Across discussions around the next big crypto, these assets are often assessed based on liquidity behavior, usage trends, and broader cycle performance rather than isolated price movement alone. Each reflects a different layer of how the market develops over time.

1. BlockDAG: Buyback Model Driving Continuous Activity

BlockDAG (BDAG) continues to stand out due to its buyback-led structure, where circulating supply is shaped through participation and system-level activity. Over 1 billion coins have been sold back through its buyback channel, becoming a major reference point in conversations tied to the next big crypto. The project also operates a Legacy Sale priced at just $0.00000044!

At the core of its system is a structured buyback process built to manage liquidity flow in an organized way. Users can access the platform dashboard and use the Sell Coins feature to submit eligible holdings back into the system. Within this setup, buyback transactions may occur at a rate of $0.05 per coin, without a strict upper participation cap in that tier.

Existing holders can also participate under a separate tier, where qualified holdings may be sold at $0.00025 per coin, subject to daily limits and program rules. This creates a layered mechanism that balances activity while controlling distribution flow.

Beyond the buyback structure, the ecosystem also includes more than 100 casino-style games that maintain constant user interaction. This activity supports steady transactional movement across the platform and strengthens liquidity behavior linked to the system. Because of this combined framework, BlockDAG is increasingly described as an activity-driven model within broader discussions of the next big crypto.

2. Dogecoin: Sentiment-Led Market Behavior

Dogecoin started as a light and community-focused crypto project but has developed into one of the most frequently traded digital assets. Its price commonly moves between $0.08 and $0.18, depending on overall market conditions and liquidity shifts.

The asset is strongly influenced by online discussions and community sentiment rather than technical upgrades or development progress. Within the next big crypto narrative, Dogecoin is often viewed as a sentiment-driven asset that experiences sharp upward and downward moves followed by periods of stabilization.

Its large supply and strong retail participation continue to define its behavior, keeping it closely aligned with broader market cycles. Weak or strong phases in the market tend to affect its direction more than internal changes within its ecosystem. It remains widely tracked across market cycle analysis.

3. Tron: Utility-Based Network with Steady Flow

Tron operates as a blockchain network designed for large-scale transactions and decentralized application support. It is widely used for stablecoin transfers and maintains consistent activity across its ecosystem.

Prices generally remain within the $0.30 to $0.40 range, reflecting more stable movement compared to higher volatility assets. In discussions around the next big crypto, Tron is typically evaluated based on utility rather than short-term price swings.

Network activity is driven mainly by usage growth, DeFi integration, and content distribution across its ecosystem. This results in steady liquidity patterns with gradual changes shaped by adoption trends and broader market conditions. It continues to be referenced in analyses focused on real-world blockchain usage and scalability trends.

4. Solana: High-Speed Network Supported by Ecosystem Growth

Solana is a high-performance blockchain built for fast processing speeds and low transaction costs. It supports a wide ecosystem that includes decentralized applications, NFT platforms, and DeFi protocols.

Trading activity typically moves between $60 and $75, depending on liquidity and overall market conditions. Network usage plays a major role in price movement, especially during periods of expansion or increased activity.

Within the next big crypto narrative, Solana is frequently highlighted for its developer engagement and scaling-focused architecture. Price behavior is closely tied to ecosystem expansion and broader cycle movement rather than isolated sentiment shifts. It remains a key blockchain for builders due to its scalability and active participation levels.

Key Takeaways

The current cycle involving BlockDAG, Dogecoin, Tron, and Solana reflects multiple layers of market behavior across the crypto space. Dogecoin continues to show sentiment-driven movement patterns, Tron maintains stable usage-based activity, and Solana remains closely connected to ecosystem expansion and network growth.

BlockDAG stands apart due to its buyback framework, consistent participation levels, and ongoing ecosystem engagement. These factors create different forms of price behavior across assets, where sentiment, utility, and network activity all interact in distinct ways.

Market attention is gradually shifting toward systems that show structured liquidity mechanisms and sustained on-chain activity. Within the next big crypto narrative, emphasis continues to move toward projects that combine real usage with measurable participation patterns over time. This separates short-term sentiment movements from longer-term utility-driven growth models.

As cycles continue to evolve, attention remains focused on assets that maintain consistent activity and visible network engagement, reinforcing their relevance in broader crypto discussions.