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Trump Says He Did Not Know About 1.4 Billion Crypto EarningsTLDR; Trump crypto earnings exceeded $1.4 billion, according to federal financial disclosures, with most income linked to World Liberty Financial and the TRUMP memecoin licensing business. Donald Trump said he does not actively manage his investments, explaining that external funds and blind trust arrangements oversee his personal finances rather than himself. Financial filings reveal more than $600 million came from TRUMP memecoin royalties and over $500 million originated from World Liberty Financial operations. Ethics experts continue debating whether blind trust protections remain effective when policies affecting digital assets overlap with businesses carrying the president’s own brand. Trump crypto earnings have become a major talking point after newly released federal financial disclosures showed more than $1.4 billion in digital asset-related income. Speaking to reporters, President Donald Trump said he does not oversee his personal investments and relies on professional fund managers and blind trusts to manage his assets.  The disclosures indicate that most of the reported income came from businesses connected to the Trump family, including World Liberty Financial and licensing revenue tied to the TRUMP memecoin. The filings have renewed debate over ethics, financial transparency and potential conflicts involving cryptocurrency ventures. Trump Crypto Earnings Driven by Memecoin and Financial Ventures Federal financial disclosures filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics show that Trump reported more than $1.4 billion in digital asset income. According to the filing, over $600 million came from licensing and royalty agreements connected to the TRUMP memecoin. PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST SAID: 1) HE WAS IN CRYPTO BUSINESS BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT. 2) “CRYPTO IS A BIG DEAL” 3) “USA IS NO.1 IN CRYPTO AND AI” pic.twitter.com/O5h73vW8mX — Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) July 2, 2026 World Liberty Financial generated more than $500 million of the reported income. The crypto project focuses on governance tokens and stablecoin products. Together, these businesses accounted for nearly all of the disclosed digital asset earnings. Responding to questions, Trump said he does not actively monitor his investment portfolio. He explained that outside funds manage his assets and that he was not personally involved in day-to-day financial decisions. His remarks have become central to the discussion surrounding the latest disclosures. Trump Crypto Earnings Fuel Ethics Debate Over Policy Decisions The disclosures have intensified scrutiny from ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that a blind trust is only effective if the beneficiary has no meaningful knowledge or influence over assets held within it. They also point to administration policies supporting digital asset innovation while businesses linked to Trump operate in the same industry. The TRUMP memecoin illustrates the divide between project revenue and investor outcomes. After reaching prices above $74 following its launch, the token later traded near $1.68. Market analysts estimate retail investors collectively lost billions during the decline, while Trump-linked businesses reported substantial earnings from licensing activity. Source: Coingecko World Liberty Financial also experienced sharp price declines after its governance tokens entered the market. Additionally, a $500 million investment from a UAE-linked entity near Trump’s inauguration has drawn additional attention from ethics watchdogs. The administration has defended its digital asset agenda, including support for stablecoin legislation through the proposed GENIUS Act. Opponents argue the overlap between crypto policymaking and family-linked business interests deserves closer examination, even though no official findings have alleged unlawful conduct. The post Trump Says He Did Not Know About 1.4 Billion Crypto Earnings appeared first on Blockonomi.

Trump Says He Did Not Know About 1.4 Billion Crypto Earnings

TLDR;
Trump crypto earnings exceeded $1.4 billion, according to federal financial disclosures, with most income linked to World Liberty Financial and the TRUMP memecoin licensing business.
Donald Trump said he does not actively manage his investments, explaining that external funds and blind trust arrangements oversee his personal finances rather than himself.
Financial filings reveal more than $600 million came from TRUMP memecoin royalties and over $500 million originated from World Liberty Financial operations.
Ethics experts continue debating whether blind trust protections remain effective when policies affecting digital assets overlap with businesses carrying the president’s own brand.
Trump crypto earnings have become a major talking point after newly released federal financial disclosures showed more than $1.4 billion in digital asset-related income. Speaking to reporters, President Donald Trump said he does not oversee his personal investments and relies on professional fund managers and blind trusts to manage his assets.
The disclosures indicate that most of the reported income came from businesses connected to the Trump family, including World Liberty Financial and licensing revenue tied to the TRUMP memecoin. The filings have renewed debate over ethics, financial transparency and potential conflicts involving cryptocurrency ventures.
Trump Crypto Earnings Driven by Memecoin and Financial Ventures
Federal financial disclosures filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics show that Trump reported more than $1.4 billion in digital asset income. According to the filing, over $600 million came from licensing and royalty agreements connected to the TRUMP memecoin.
PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST SAID:
1) HE WAS IN CRYPTO BUSINESS BEFORE HE BECAME PRESIDENT.
2) “CRYPTO IS A BIG DEAL”
3) “USA IS NO.1 IN CRYPTO AND AI” pic.twitter.com/O5h73vW8mX
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) July 2, 2026
World Liberty Financial generated more than $500 million of the reported income. The crypto project focuses on governance tokens and stablecoin products. Together, these businesses accounted for nearly all of the disclosed digital asset earnings.
Responding to questions, Trump said he does not actively monitor his investment portfolio. He explained that outside funds manage his assets and that he was not personally involved in day-to-day financial decisions. His remarks have become central to the discussion surrounding the latest disclosures.
Trump Crypto Earnings Fuel Ethics Debate Over Policy Decisions
The disclosures have intensified scrutiny from ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue that a blind trust is only effective if the beneficiary has no meaningful knowledge or influence over assets held within it. They also point to administration policies supporting digital asset innovation while businesses linked to Trump operate in the same industry.
The TRUMP memecoin illustrates the divide between project revenue and investor outcomes. After reaching prices above $74 following its launch, the token later traded near $1.68. Market analysts estimate retail investors collectively lost billions during the decline, while Trump-linked businesses reported substantial earnings from licensing activity.
Source: Coingecko
World Liberty Financial also experienced sharp price declines after its governance tokens entered the market. Additionally, a $500 million investment from a UAE-linked entity near Trump’s inauguration has drawn additional attention from ethics watchdogs.
The administration has defended its digital asset agenda, including support for stablecoin legislation through the proposed GENIUS Act. Opponents argue the overlap between crypto policymaking and family-linked business interests deserves closer examination, even though no official findings have alleged unlawful conduct.
The post Trump Says He Did Not Know About 1.4 Billion Crypto Earnings appeared first on Blockonomi.
Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Climbs on Launch of $2.5B AI Enterprise Services DivisionKey Highlights Microsoft shares increased 1.86% following the announcement of its Frontier AI business division worth $2.5B. The division will assist corporate customers in selecting and implementing AI technologies. 6,000 Microsoft employees will be stationed at client locations through this initiative. The strategy emphasizes adaptable AI frameworks and integration with proprietary client data. This initiative intensifies Microsoft’s competition in the corporate AI consulting market. Microsoft (MSFT) shares advanced 1.86% to reach $391.42 as the technology company announced plans to expand its corporate AI offerings. After opening lower, the stock reversed course and maintained gains close to its session peak. The upward movement came after Microsoft revealed its intention to establish a $2.5 billion AI-focused business division. Microsoft Corporation, MSFT Tech Giant Establishes Frontier Division for Corporate AI Solutions Microsoft announced the creation of Microsoft Frontier Company, a new operational division designed to assist enterprises in navigating AI technology selection and implementation. The division will serve prominent clients such as Unilever and Novo Nordisk, concentrating on AI frameworks that deliver measurable returns and practical business applications. The Redmond-based company is allocating $2.5 billion to this initiative as corporate appetite for AI solutions continues expanding. The plan involves deploying 6,000 personnel directly at client sites through a forward deployed engineering model. These deployment teams will comprise technical advisors, customer support professionals, account managers, and vertical market experts. Rodrigo Kede Lima, previously overseeing Microsoft’s operations across Asia, has been appointed as president of the division. The organization will merge Microsoft’s current AI consulting teams with on-site engineering resources. This shift represents Microsoft’s evolution from merely selling software to actively assisting clients in constructing operational AI infrastructures. Strategy Focuses on Multi-Model AI Implementation Enterprise organizations increasingly deploy multiple AI frameworks rather than relying exclusively on a single vendor. Numerous corporations now blend Microsoft platforms, third-party models, and open-source solutions tailored to distinct operational requirements. Consequently, AI implementation has become more expensive and complex to administer. The Microsoft Frontier Company will guide customers through selecting, integrating, and transitioning between various AI frameworks. Additionally, the division will facilitate connections between these frameworks and each organization’s confidential internal information. Importantly, clients will retain ownership of all outputs and associated intellectual property within their own infrastructure. Microsoft developed this methodology based on lessons learned from Copilot and other enterprise AI offerings. Initially, the company depended substantially on OpenAI’s technology when developing its AI assistant. However, emerging frameworks from Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, and competing providers have driven demand for platform-agnostic solutions. Shares Rise Amid Intensifying AI Consulting Competition Microsoft’s equity value increased following the disclosure, though shares have struggled year-to-date. The corporation has allocated substantial capital toward data center expansion and generative AI capabilities. Despite these investments, certain AI products have experienced modest uptake among business customers. This new division positions Microsoft in direct competition with Amazon, Palantir, OpenAI, Anthropic, Accenture, and EY. Amazon recently announced a comparable $1 billion field engineering program targeting AI customers. Palantir has established expertise deploying engineering personnel to serve government agencies and corporate accounts. Microsoft currently generates income from enterprise consulting and channel partner programs throughout its software portfolio. The company disclosed approximately $2.1 billion in enterprise and partner services revenue during the March quarter. As such, the Frontier division represents an expansion of proven business practices into the broader AI services marketplace.   The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Climbs on Launch of $2.5B AI Enterprise Services Division appeared first on Blockonomi.

Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Climbs on Launch of $2.5B AI Enterprise Services Division

Key Highlights
Microsoft shares increased 1.86% following the announcement of its Frontier AI business division worth $2.5B.
The division will assist corporate customers in selecting and implementing AI technologies.
6,000 Microsoft employees will be stationed at client locations through this initiative.
The strategy emphasizes adaptable AI frameworks and integration with proprietary client data.
This initiative intensifies Microsoft’s competition in the corporate AI consulting market.
Microsoft (MSFT) shares advanced 1.86% to reach $391.42 as the technology company announced plans to expand its corporate AI offerings. After opening lower, the stock reversed course and maintained gains close to its session peak. The upward movement came after Microsoft revealed its intention to establish a $2.5 billion AI-focused business division.
Microsoft Corporation, MSFT
Tech Giant Establishes Frontier Division for Corporate AI Solutions
Microsoft announced the creation of Microsoft Frontier Company, a new operational division designed to assist enterprises in navigating AI technology selection and implementation. The division will serve prominent clients such as Unilever and Novo Nordisk, concentrating on AI frameworks that deliver measurable returns and practical business applications.
The Redmond-based company is allocating $2.5 billion to this initiative as corporate appetite for AI solutions continues expanding. The plan involves deploying 6,000 personnel directly at client sites through a forward deployed engineering model. These deployment teams will comprise technical advisors, customer support professionals, account managers, and vertical market experts.
Rodrigo Kede Lima, previously overseeing Microsoft’s operations across Asia, has been appointed as president of the division. The organization will merge Microsoft’s current AI consulting teams with on-site engineering resources. This shift represents Microsoft’s evolution from merely selling software to actively assisting clients in constructing operational AI infrastructures.
Strategy Focuses on Multi-Model AI Implementation
Enterprise organizations increasingly deploy multiple AI frameworks rather than relying exclusively on a single vendor. Numerous corporations now blend Microsoft platforms, third-party models, and open-source solutions tailored to distinct operational requirements. Consequently, AI implementation has become more expensive and complex to administer.
The Microsoft Frontier Company will guide customers through selecting, integrating, and transitioning between various AI frameworks. Additionally, the division will facilitate connections between these frameworks and each organization’s confidential internal information. Importantly, clients will retain ownership of all outputs and associated intellectual property within their own infrastructure.
Microsoft developed this methodology based on lessons learned from Copilot and other enterprise AI offerings. Initially, the company depended substantially on OpenAI’s technology when developing its AI assistant. However, emerging frameworks from Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, and competing providers have driven demand for platform-agnostic solutions.
Shares Rise Amid Intensifying AI Consulting Competition
Microsoft’s equity value increased following the disclosure, though shares have struggled year-to-date. The corporation has allocated substantial capital toward data center expansion and generative AI capabilities. Despite these investments, certain AI products have experienced modest uptake among business customers.
This new division positions Microsoft in direct competition with Amazon, Palantir, OpenAI, Anthropic, Accenture, and EY. Amazon recently announced a comparable $1 billion field engineering program targeting AI customers. Palantir has established expertise deploying engineering personnel to serve government agencies and corporate accounts.
Microsoft currently generates income from enterprise consulting and channel partner programs throughout its software portfolio. The company disclosed approximately $2.1 billion in enterprise and partner services revenue during the March quarter. As such, the Frontier division represents an expansion of proven business practices into the broader AI services marketplace.

The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Climbs on Launch of $2.5B AI Enterprise Services Division appeared first on Blockonomi.
MSFTonAlpha
MSFT+1.26%
MSFTUS+1.59%
Ondo Rolls Out Blockchain-Based IVV ETF and Micron Stock Tokens in U.S. MarketsQuick Overview Ondo introduces blockchain versions of IVV ETF and Micron stock following SEC guidelines. Each digital token maintains 1:1 correspondence with traditionally custodied U.S. securities. Broadridge integration enables proxy voting capabilities for token holders. Platform leverages Ethereum infrastructure while maintaining regulated asset custody. Initiative represents significant expansion of Ondo’s U.S. tokenized securities operations. Ondo has introduced blockchain-based representations of BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron Technology stock for U.S. investors. The offering operates within a third-party custodial framework outlined by the SEC in January 2026. This development integrates tokenized U.S. securities into established regulatory and market infrastructure. Ondo deploys tokenized S&P 500 ETF within U.S. regulatory framework Ondo has released an Ethereum-based tokenized product tracking BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF. This offering mirrors IVV, a major exchange-traded fund benchmarked against the S&P 500 index. The actual ETF shares continue residing within conventional U.S. custodial arrangements. Oasis Pro TA, operating as Ondo’s SEC-registered transfer agent subsidiary, creates the corresponding digital tokens. Every token maintains complete 1:1 correspondence with its underlying ETF shares. Qualified custodians secure the tokens, while traditional financial custodians safeguard the physical securities. This architecture aligns with the SEC’s January 2026 guidance regarding tokenized securities. That guidance outlined an approach where third parties maintain securities while issuing associated crypto instruments. Ondo applied this regulatory blueprint to deliver an operational U.S. tokenized ETF offering. Micron stock joins Ondo’s tokenized equity portfolio Ondo has simultaneously introduced a tokenized representation of Micron Technology stock using identical structural principles. Micron shares remain within standard U.S. custody infrastructure. Token holders gain exposure through Ethereum-recorded ownership positions. The Micron offering advances Ondo’s broader initiative into tokenized equities with full regulatory compliance. This approach eliminates offshore issuance requirements and functions independently of individual issuer sponsorship. Implementation occurs through pre-existing broker-dealer, transfer agent, and custody relationships. Transfer restrictions operate via participating broker-dealers, custodians, and the transfer agent network. These mechanisms ensure token transactions align with prevailing regulatory standards. Consequently, Ondo bridges blockchain settlement capabilities with traditional U.S. securities frameworks. Broadridge enables shareholder voting for tokenized equity owners Broadridge facilitates the rollout by delivering governance infrastructure for tokenized equity participants. Token holders gain access to issuer communications and regulatory filings through conventional distribution channels. Additionally, they can exercise voting rights via ProxyVote.com for blockchain-recorded proxy votes. Ondo indicates token holders obtain shareholder rights and safeguards comparable to traditional brokerage account owners. These privileges encompass issuer notifications and voting participation linked to underlying securities. This configuration strengthens tokenized securities’ integration with public market governance structures. The initiative also provides context for Ondo’s comprehensive real-world asset approach. Beyond U.S. borders, its Global Markets infrastructure handles over $1 billion in tokenized securities. That platform encompasses more than 430 equities and ETFs across various supported jurisdictions. Ondo has simultaneously grown through strategic collaborations in recent periods. In June, the company partnered with Exodus to establish Exodus Markets on Solana. This platform provides qualified users with tokenized stock, ETF, and real-world asset access. This recent product launch positions Ondo more prominently within U.S. tokenization markets. The implementation merges Ethereum-based issuance with conventional custody, voting mechanisms, and compliance frameworks. This integration creates a more defined pathway for tokenized securities under current U.S. market regulations.   The post Ondo Rolls Out Blockchain-Based IVV ETF and Micron Stock Tokens in U.S. Markets appeared first on Blockonomi.

Ondo Rolls Out Blockchain-Based IVV ETF and Micron Stock Tokens in U.S. Markets

Quick Overview
Ondo introduces blockchain versions of IVV ETF and Micron stock following SEC guidelines.
Each digital token maintains 1:1 correspondence with traditionally custodied U.S. securities.
Broadridge integration enables proxy voting capabilities for token holders.
Platform leverages Ethereum infrastructure while maintaining regulated asset custody.
Initiative represents significant expansion of Ondo’s U.S. tokenized securities operations.
Ondo has introduced blockchain-based representations of BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron Technology stock for U.S. investors. The offering operates within a third-party custodial framework outlined by the SEC in January 2026. This development integrates tokenized U.S. securities into established regulatory and market infrastructure.
Ondo deploys tokenized S&P 500 ETF within U.S. regulatory framework
Ondo has released an Ethereum-based tokenized product tracking BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF. This offering mirrors IVV, a major exchange-traded fund benchmarked against the S&P 500 index. The actual ETF shares continue residing within conventional U.S. custodial arrangements.
Oasis Pro TA, operating as Ondo’s SEC-registered transfer agent subsidiary, creates the corresponding digital tokens. Every token maintains complete 1:1 correspondence with its underlying ETF shares. Qualified custodians secure the tokens, while traditional financial custodians safeguard the physical securities.
This architecture aligns with the SEC’s January 2026 guidance regarding tokenized securities. That guidance outlined an approach where third parties maintain securities while issuing associated crypto instruments. Ondo applied this regulatory blueprint to deliver an operational U.S. tokenized ETF offering.
Micron stock joins Ondo’s tokenized equity portfolio
Ondo has simultaneously introduced a tokenized representation of Micron Technology stock using identical structural principles. Micron shares remain within standard U.S. custody infrastructure. Token holders gain exposure through Ethereum-recorded ownership positions.
The Micron offering advances Ondo’s broader initiative into tokenized equities with full regulatory compliance. This approach eliminates offshore issuance requirements and functions independently of individual issuer sponsorship. Implementation occurs through pre-existing broker-dealer, transfer agent, and custody relationships.
Transfer restrictions operate via participating broker-dealers, custodians, and the transfer agent network. These mechanisms ensure token transactions align with prevailing regulatory standards. Consequently, Ondo bridges blockchain settlement capabilities with traditional U.S. securities frameworks.
Broadridge enables shareholder voting for tokenized equity owners
Broadridge facilitates the rollout by delivering governance infrastructure for tokenized equity participants. Token holders gain access to issuer communications and regulatory filings through conventional distribution channels. Additionally, they can exercise voting rights via ProxyVote.com for blockchain-recorded proxy votes.
Ondo indicates token holders obtain shareholder rights and safeguards comparable to traditional brokerage account owners. These privileges encompass issuer notifications and voting participation linked to underlying securities. This configuration strengthens tokenized securities’ integration with public market governance structures.
The initiative also provides context for Ondo’s comprehensive real-world asset approach. Beyond U.S. borders, its Global Markets infrastructure handles over $1 billion in tokenized securities. That platform encompasses more than 430 equities and ETFs across various supported jurisdictions.
Ondo has simultaneously grown through strategic collaborations in recent periods. In June, the company partnered with Exodus to establish Exodus Markets on Solana. This platform provides qualified users with tokenized stock, ETF, and real-world asset access.
This recent product launch positions Ondo more prominently within U.S. tokenization markets. The implementation merges Ethereum-based issuance with conventional custody, voting mechanisms, and compliance frameworks. This integration creates a more defined pathway for tokenized securities under current U.S. market regulations.

The post Ondo Rolls Out Blockchain-Based IVV ETF and Micron Stock Tokens in U.S. Markets appeared first on Blockonomi.
Lucid Group (LCID) Stock Drops 7.6% Following Q2 Results and Executive OverhaulKey Takeaways LCID shares declined 7.62% to $6.13 following the release of second-quarter production data. The electric vehicle maker manufactured 4,774 units and handed over 3,953 vehicles in Q2. Alexander De Bock has been appointed as the new chief financial officer at Lucid. Major leadership restructuring aims to streamline operations and enhance accountability. Management seeks better alignment between production capacity, operational expenses, and market demand. Shares of Lucid Group (LCID) experienced a sharp 7.62% decline, closing at $6.13, after the electric vehicle manufacturer disclosed its second-quarter manufacturing and delivery metrics. The downturn came alongside announcements of significant executive transitions, including a new chief financial officer and extensive leadership reorganization. These developments have intensified investor attention on the company’s operational effectiveness and cost management. Lucid Group, Inc., LCID Second Quarter Manufacturing and Distribution Figures Released Lucid manufactured a total of 4,774 electric vehicles throughout the quarter ending June 30, 2026. During this same timeframe, the automaker successfully delivered 3,953 units to customers. Market participants responded negatively, sending LCID shares downward at the opening bell. The stock experienced initial selling pressure before finding some stability and staging a minor recovery later in the trading session. Nevertheless, the overall negative movement maintained downward momentum on the company’s short-term valuation. The quarterly performance data intensified questions surrounding customer demand dynamics, manufacturing planning capabilities, and distribution effectiveness. The company maintains its strategic focus on software-integrated electric vehicles and cutting-edge automotive technology. However, Lucid remains under considerable pressure to expand production volumes while simultaneously enhancing operational efficiency. Consequently, this latest operational disclosure coincided with a comprehensive reorganization of its management team and corporate structure. Financial Leadership Transition Marks Latest Executive Change Lucid has announced Alexander De Bock as its next chief financial officer. De Bock comes with over twenty years of automotive financial management expertise. His previous role included serving as CFO at TI Automotive, where he led cost optimization initiatives and organizational restructuring projects. Taoufiq Boussaid, the current CFO, will depart from Lucid following a transition period. He is expected to remain with the organization through the publication of second-quarter financial results. This transition represents another significant shift in the company’s financial leadership structure. Lucid simultaneously revealed multiple executive appointments under the direction of CEO Silvio Napoli. Management stated these organizational modifications will simplify corporate structure and strengthen accountability mechanisms. The restructuring will reduce the number of executives reporting directly to the CEO by fifty percent. Organizational Restructuring Aims to Accelerate Performance and Responsibility Raja Ramana Macha has been named chief technology officer at Lucid. In this capacity, he will direct technology initiatives and engineering implementation. Macha’s professional history includes senior technology leadership positions at Eaton spanning automotive and additional industrial segments. Billy Hayes has assumed the role of chief customer officer, taking charge of sales operations, customer service, marketing functions, and regional execution. Hugo Martinho will step into the position of chief transformation officer effective August 1. Kay Stepper will head Lucid Technologies, supervising robotaxi development, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving systems, advanced driver assistance systems, and enterprise information technology. Lucid has additionally elevated Christian Appel to vice president of program management. Appel will coordinate platform execution and manage product portfolio alignment. These organizational changes build upon previous efforts to reduce operational complexity, synchronize manufacturing capacity with market demand, and strengthen competitive positioning. The post Lucid Group (LCID) Stock Drops 7.6% Following Q2 Results and Executive Overhaul appeared first on Blockonomi.

Lucid Group (LCID) Stock Drops 7.6% Following Q2 Results and Executive Overhaul

Key Takeaways
LCID shares declined 7.62% to $6.13 following the release of second-quarter production data.
The electric vehicle maker manufactured 4,774 units and handed over 3,953 vehicles in Q2.
Alexander De Bock has been appointed as the new chief financial officer at Lucid.
Major leadership restructuring aims to streamline operations and enhance accountability.
Management seeks better alignment between production capacity, operational expenses, and market demand.
Shares of Lucid Group (LCID) experienced a sharp 7.62% decline, closing at $6.13, after the electric vehicle manufacturer disclosed its second-quarter manufacturing and delivery metrics. The downturn came alongside announcements of significant executive transitions, including a new chief financial officer and extensive leadership reorganization. These developments have intensified investor attention on the company’s operational effectiveness and cost management.
Lucid Group, Inc., LCID
Second Quarter Manufacturing and Distribution Figures Released
Lucid manufactured a total of 4,774 electric vehicles throughout the quarter ending June 30, 2026. During this same timeframe, the automaker successfully delivered 3,953 units to customers. Market participants responded negatively, sending LCID shares downward at the opening bell.
The stock experienced initial selling pressure before finding some stability and staging a minor recovery later in the trading session. Nevertheless, the overall negative movement maintained downward momentum on the company’s short-term valuation. The quarterly performance data intensified questions surrounding customer demand dynamics, manufacturing planning capabilities, and distribution effectiveness.
The company maintains its strategic focus on software-integrated electric vehicles and cutting-edge automotive technology. However, Lucid remains under considerable pressure to expand production volumes while simultaneously enhancing operational efficiency. Consequently, this latest operational disclosure coincided with a comprehensive reorganization of its management team and corporate structure.
Financial Leadership Transition Marks Latest Executive Change
Lucid has announced Alexander De Bock as its next chief financial officer. De Bock comes with over twenty years of automotive financial management expertise. His previous role included serving as CFO at TI Automotive, where he led cost optimization initiatives and organizational restructuring projects.
Taoufiq Boussaid, the current CFO, will depart from Lucid following a transition period. He is expected to remain with the organization through the publication of second-quarter financial results. This transition represents another significant shift in the company’s financial leadership structure.
Lucid simultaneously revealed multiple executive appointments under the direction of CEO Silvio Napoli. Management stated these organizational modifications will simplify corporate structure and strengthen accountability mechanisms. The restructuring will reduce the number of executives reporting directly to the CEO by fifty percent.
Organizational Restructuring Aims to Accelerate Performance and Responsibility
Raja Ramana Macha has been named chief technology officer at Lucid. In this capacity, he will direct technology initiatives and engineering implementation. Macha’s professional history includes senior technology leadership positions at Eaton spanning automotive and additional industrial segments.
Billy Hayes has assumed the role of chief customer officer, taking charge of sales operations, customer service, marketing functions, and regional execution. Hugo Martinho will step into the position of chief transformation officer effective August 1. Kay Stepper will head Lucid Technologies, supervising robotaxi development, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving systems, advanced driver assistance systems, and enterprise information technology.
Lucid has additionally elevated Christian Appel to vice president of program management. Appel will coordinate platform execution and manage product portfolio alignment. These organizational changes build upon previous efforts to reduce operational complexity, synchronize manufacturing capacity with market demand, and strengthen competitive positioning.
The post Lucid Group (LCID) Stock Drops 7.6% Following Q2 Results and Executive Overhaul appeared first on Blockonomi.
LCIDUS-8.29%
Aave V3 Protocol Deploys on Monad with GHO Stablecoin IntegrationKey Highlights Aave V3 protocol deploys comprehensive lending infrastructure on Monad Network supporting a dozen digital assets. Native GHO stablecoin becomes available on Monad for enhanced borrowing capabilities and liquidity provision. $15 million liquidity incentive program launched by Monad Foundation for first-year ecosystem growth. Chainlink Smart Value Recapture technology integrated to redirect liquidation proceeds to protocol treasury. Strategic deployment positions Monad as emerging DeFi hub with plans for tokenized asset integration. The decentralized finance landscape has expanded as Aave deployed its V3 lending protocol on the Monad Layer 1 blockchain. This integration delivers comprehensive lending and borrowing capabilities through a dozen supported digital assets while introducing GHO stablecoin functionality to the network. The deployment incorporates Chainlink’s Smart Value Recapture mechanism from the outset. Comprehensive Lending Platform Arrives on Monad The Aave V3 deployment on Monad includes support for USDT0, USDC, GHO, USDe, mUSD, AUSD, WETH, and cbBTC at the initial launch phase. Additional assets including wstETH, weETH, syrupUSDC and sUSDe round out the initial offering. This diverse selection provides network participants with extensive options for borrowing activities, yield generation, and collateral deployment immediately upon launch. This strategic expansion broadens Aave’s presence across multiple blockchain ecosystems while simultaneously reinforcing Monad’s nascent decentralized finance infrastructure. Development teams gain immediate access to battle-tested lending mechanisms. Monad’s compatibility with Ethereum development standards enables seamless deployment of Solidity-based smart contracts with minimal modifications required. Aave‘s implementation includes Chainlink Smart Value Recapture functionality activated at launch. This innovative feature channels a portion of liquidation-derived value directly back to protocol reserves. Consequently, the deployment delivers both enhanced liquidity infrastructure and sophisticated protocol revenue mechanisms. Strategic Incentive Program Targets Early Adoption Monad Foundation has pledged $15 million in incentive allocations during the inaugural year following Aave’s deployment. Additionally, the foundation committed to purchasing and maintaining 10 million GHO tokens for a minimum six-month duration. Aave DAO supplemented this initiative with an additional 500,000 GHO allocation designated for user engagement. These financial commitments target initial liquidity establishment and stimulate borrowing demand during the critical early phase. Nevertheless, long-term platform viability depends on organic activity levels once incentive programs diminish. Monad requires genuine market participation beyond superficial total value locked metrics. The Monad mainnet and MON token officially launched on November 24, 2025. By early June, network statistics indicated approximately $359.5 million in aggregate value locked across protocols. LlamaRisk provided assessment support for the Aave deployment while advocating conservative initial parameter settings given Monad’s limited operational track record. Stablecoin Expansion Aligns with Tokenized Asset Momentum GHO’s integration on Monad represents another milestone in Aave’s native stablecoin distribution strategy across diverse blockchain networks. The digital currency previously expanded operations to Base and Arbitrum networks following its 2023 introduction. Within the Monad ecosystem, GHO facilitates borrowing mechanisms, liquidity provision, and broader stablecoin utility throughout Aave markets. This deployment coincides with accelerating interest in tokenized real-world assets within decentralized finance protocols. Centrifuge previously announced intentions to introduce tokenized Treasury securities, private credit instruments, and AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations to Monad. These asset categories could underpin sophisticated lending markets and collateral frameworks as the ecosystem matures. Standard Chartered projects substantial expansion in decentralized finance asset valuations approaching 2030. The financial institution identified tokenized real-world assets and crypto-native demand as primary growth catalysts. Aave’s presence on Monad establishes a proven infrastructure foundation for anticipated future lending activity.   The post Aave V3 Protocol Deploys on Monad with GHO Stablecoin Integration appeared first on Blockonomi.

Aave V3 Protocol Deploys on Monad with GHO Stablecoin Integration

Key Highlights
Aave V3 protocol deploys comprehensive lending infrastructure on Monad Network supporting a dozen digital assets.
Native GHO stablecoin becomes available on Monad for enhanced borrowing capabilities and liquidity provision.
$15 million liquidity incentive program launched by Monad Foundation for first-year ecosystem growth.
Chainlink Smart Value Recapture technology integrated to redirect liquidation proceeds to protocol treasury.
Strategic deployment positions Monad as emerging DeFi hub with plans for tokenized asset integration.
The decentralized finance landscape has expanded as Aave deployed its V3 lending protocol on the Monad Layer 1 blockchain. This integration delivers comprehensive lending and borrowing capabilities through a dozen supported digital assets while introducing GHO stablecoin functionality to the network. The deployment incorporates Chainlink’s Smart Value Recapture mechanism from the outset.
Comprehensive Lending Platform Arrives on Monad
The Aave V3 deployment on Monad includes support for USDT0, USDC, GHO, USDe, mUSD, AUSD, WETH, and cbBTC at the initial launch phase. Additional assets including wstETH, weETH, syrupUSDC and sUSDe round out the initial offering. This diverse selection provides network participants with extensive options for borrowing activities, yield generation, and collateral deployment immediately upon launch.
This strategic expansion broadens Aave’s presence across multiple blockchain ecosystems while simultaneously reinforcing Monad’s nascent decentralized finance infrastructure. Development teams gain immediate access to battle-tested lending mechanisms. Monad’s compatibility with Ethereum development standards enables seamless deployment of Solidity-based smart contracts with minimal modifications required.
Aave‘s implementation includes Chainlink Smart Value Recapture functionality activated at launch. This innovative feature channels a portion of liquidation-derived value directly back to protocol reserves. Consequently, the deployment delivers both enhanced liquidity infrastructure and sophisticated protocol revenue mechanisms.
Strategic Incentive Program Targets Early Adoption
Monad Foundation has pledged $15 million in incentive allocations during the inaugural year following Aave’s deployment. Additionally, the foundation committed to purchasing and maintaining 10 million GHO tokens for a minimum six-month duration. Aave DAO supplemented this initiative with an additional 500,000 GHO allocation designated for user engagement.
These financial commitments target initial liquidity establishment and stimulate borrowing demand during the critical early phase. Nevertheless, long-term platform viability depends on organic activity levels once incentive programs diminish. Monad requires genuine market participation beyond superficial total value locked metrics.
The Monad mainnet and MON token officially launched on November 24, 2025. By early June, network statistics indicated approximately $359.5 million in aggregate value locked across protocols. LlamaRisk provided assessment support for the Aave deployment while advocating conservative initial parameter settings given Monad’s limited operational track record.
Stablecoin Expansion Aligns with Tokenized Asset Momentum
GHO’s integration on Monad represents another milestone in Aave’s native stablecoin distribution strategy across diverse blockchain networks. The digital currency previously expanded operations to Base and Arbitrum networks following its 2023 introduction. Within the Monad ecosystem, GHO facilitates borrowing mechanisms, liquidity provision, and broader stablecoin utility throughout Aave markets.
This deployment coincides with accelerating interest in tokenized real-world assets within decentralized finance protocols. Centrifuge previously announced intentions to introduce tokenized Treasury securities, private credit instruments, and AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations to Monad. These asset categories could underpin sophisticated lending markets and collateral frameworks as the ecosystem matures.
Standard Chartered projects substantial expansion in decentralized finance asset valuations approaching 2030. The financial institution identified tokenized real-world assets and crypto-native demand as primary growth catalysts. Aave’s presence on Monad establishes a proven infrastructure foundation for anticipated future lending activity.

The post Aave V3 Protocol Deploys on Monad with GHO Stablecoin Integration appeared first on Blockonomi.
Ondo Finance Expands US Reach With Tokenized IVV ETF and Micron StockTLDR Ondo Finance launched tokenized versions of BlackRock’s IVV ETF and Micron stock in the U.S. The products use a third-party custodial model outlined by the SEC in January. Oasis Pro TA mints the tokens with 1:1 backing from the underlying securities. The tokenized IVV and Micron products are issued on Ethereum and held by regulated custodians. Token holders receive shareholder rights, issuer communications, and onchain proxy voting access. Ondo Finance launched tokenized versions of BlackRock’s IVV ETF and Micron stock in the U.S. on Thursday. The products use a custodial model outlined by the SEC in January. The launch expands Ondo Finance’s regulated tokenized securities push. Ondo Finance Uses SEC Custodial Framework Ondo Finance said the products mark a new step for tokenized U.S.-listed securities. The firm tokenized BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron shares. Both products trade as blockchain-based representations of traditional securities. The SEC described this structure in January guidance on tokenized securities. Under that model, a third party holds the underlying securities. It then issues crypto assets that represent investor entitlement to those holdings. Ondo Finance said its IVV and MU tokens follow that structure. The underlying shares remain inside the normal U.S. custody chain. Oasis Pro TA mints tokens backed 1:1 by those securities. BlackRock IVV ETF Enters Ondo Tokenized Offering Ondo Finance issued the tokenized IVV product on Ethereum. Regulated custodians hold the related tokens for eligible users. The company said this structure keeps the product inside existing market systems. The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 and remains a major U.S. equity fund. Ondo Finance now offers blockchain access to that exposure through tokenized ownership. However, the product still depends on traditional custody links. Ondo Finance CEO Ian De Bode called the launch a regulatory and market milestone. “Today’s milestone shows we can tokenize securities in ways that meet both market and regulatory requirements,” he said. He added that it supports broader onchain investment access. Micron Stock Gets Tokenized Under Same Model Ondo Finance also tokenized Micron shares under the same U.S. custodial setup. The MU-backed token gives eligible holders exposure to the chipmaker’s stock. The token uses the same 1:1 backing process. Token holders receive shareholder rights linked to traditional brokerage accounts. These rights include issuer communications and proxy voting. Ondo Finance said Broadridge’s ProxyVote.com supports onchain proxy voting for the products. Transfer limits also apply through broker-dealers, transfer agents, and custodians. These controls align the tokens with current regulatory requirements. Ondo Finance said the framework supports U.S. and global access. Ondo Finance Expands Tokenized Securities Market Ondo Finance focuses on tokenized real-world assets and institutional financial products. Its Global Markets platform outside the U.S. supports more than $1 billion in tokenized securities. The platform covers more than 430 stocks and ETFs. The firm also expanded through a June partnership with Exodus. That deal launched Exodus Markets for eligible users through the Exodus app. The platform offers more than 200 tokenized stocks, ETFs, and real-world assets. The tokenized equities sector reached a $5.5 billion market cap on June 8. That marked a 147% rise from $2.23 billion at year-start. Ondo Finance now adds U.S.-structured IVV and MU products to that market. The post Ondo Finance Expands US Reach With Tokenized IVV ETF and Micron Stock appeared first on Blockonomi.

Ondo Finance Expands US Reach With Tokenized IVV ETF and Micron Stock

TLDR
Ondo Finance launched tokenized versions of BlackRock’s IVV ETF and Micron stock in the U.S.
The products use a third-party custodial model outlined by the SEC in January.
Oasis Pro TA mints the tokens with 1:1 backing from the underlying securities.
The tokenized IVV and Micron products are issued on Ethereum and held by regulated custodians.
Token holders receive shareholder rights, issuer communications, and onchain proxy voting access.
Ondo Finance launched tokenized versions of BlackRock’s IVV ETF and Micron stock in the U.S. on Thursday. The products use a custodial model outlined by the SEC in January. The launch expands Ondo Finance’s regulated tokenized securities push.
Ondo Finance Uses SEC Custodial Framework
Ondo Finance said the products mark a new step for tokenized U.S.-listed securities. The firm tokenized BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Micron shares. Both products trade as blockchain-based representations of traditional securities.
The SEC described this structure in January guidance on tokenized securities. Under that model, a third party holds the underlying securities. It then issues crypto assets that represent investor entitlement to those holdings.
Ondo Finance said its IVV and MU tokens follow that structure. The underlying shares remain inside the normal U.S. custody chain. Oasis Pro TA mints tokens backed 1:1 by those securities.
BlackRock IVV ETF Enters Ondo Tokenized Offering
Ondo Finance issued the tokenized IVV product on Ethereum. Regulated custodians hold the related tokens for eligible users. The company said this structure keeps the product inside existing market systems.
The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 and remains a major U.S. equity fund. Ondo Finance now offers blockchain access to that exposure through tokenized ownership. However, the product still depends on traditional custody links.
Ondo Finance CEO Ian De Bode called the launch a regulatory and market milestone. “Today’s milestone shows we can tokenize securities in ways that meet both market and regulatory requirements,” he said.
He added that it supports broader onchain investment access.
Micron Stock Gets Tokenized Under Same Model
Ondo Finance also tokenized Micron shares under the same U.S. custodial setup. The MU-backed token gives eligible holders exposure to the chipmaker’s stock. The token uses the same 1:1 backing process.
Token holders receive shareholder rights linked to traditional brokerage accounts. These rights include issuer communications and proxy voting. Ondo Finance said Broadridge’s ProxyVote.com supports onchain proxy voting for the products.
Transfer limits also apply through broker-dealers, transfer agents, and custodians. These controls align the tokens with current regulatory requirements. Ondo Finance said the framework supports U.S. and global access.
Ondo Finance Expands Tokenized Securities Market
Ondo Finance focuses on tokenized real-world assets and institutional financial products. Its Global Markets platform outside the U.S. supports more than $1 billion in tokenized securities. The platform covers more than 430 stocks and ETFs.
The firm also expanded through a June partnership with Exodus. That deal launched Exodus Markets for eligible users through the Exodus app. The platform offers more than 200 tokenized stocks, ETFs, and real-world assets.
The tokenized equities sector reached a $5.5 billion market cap on June 8. That marked a 147% rise from $2.23 billion at year-start. Ondo Finance now adds U.S.-structured IVV and MU products to that market.
The post Ondo Finance Expands US Reach With Tokenized IVV ETF and Micron Stock appeared first on Blockonomi.
eToro Leads $12.5M Extended Round to Expand Onchain DerivativesTLDR eToro led a $12.5 million funding round for Extended, an onchain perpetual futures exchange. Jump Crypto and Alber Blanc also joined the funding round for Extended. eToro plans to integrate Extended’s trading engine directly into the Zengo wallet. The deal follows eToro’s $70 million acquisition of self-custody wallet Zengo. Extended has processed more than $245 billion in trading volume as of June. eToro moved deeper into DeFi by backing Extended, an onchain perpetual futures platform from former Revolut employees. The broker led a $12.5 million round with Jump Crypto and Alber Blanc. The deal strengthens its Web3 plan after the $70 million Zengo acquisition. eToro Backs Extended Funding eToro said the funding supports client demand for decentralized finance products. Extended runs an onchain perpetual futures exchange and has processed over $245 billion in volume. The platform supports over 100 perpetual markets across crypto and other assets. Elad Lavi, eToro executive vice president, linked the deal to user demand. “We are seeing growing demand from our users for seamless access to DeFi products,” Lavi said. He added that Zengo and Extended support eToro’s Web3 services plan. The investment follows eToro’s April purchase of Zengo, a self-custody wallet provider, for $70 million. eToro plans to connect Extended’s perpetual futures engine with the Zengo wallet. The integration would let users trade derivatives while keeping custody of assets. Zengo Puts Derivatives Inside Wallets The planned integration gives eToro a route into DeFi without moving users away from self-custody tools. Zengo would serve as the entry point, while Extended would supply trading infrastructure. That structure targets users who want wallet-based access to advanced market products. Perpetual futures remain a large crypto trading product because they do not expire. Platforms now list contracts tied to bitcoin, equities, commodities, and real-world assets. As a result, crypto markets and traditional finance share trading formats. Ruslan Fakhrutdinov, Extended’s founder and former Revolut crypto head, described the company’s next stage. “The first phase was building for DeFi natives,” Fakhrutdinov said. He said the next phase needs infrastructure and partnerships for onchain derivatives growth. Brokerages Push Toward DeFi Markets The eToro investment comes as brokers build blockchain-based trading services for mainstream trading users. Robinhood launched its own blockchain and expanded tokenized stock products. It plans commodity perpetual futures tied to assets such as gold and oil. Coinbase has expanded into perpetual futures, while Kalshi entered the same market. These moves show how brokers, crypto exchanges, and prediction markets now compete across similar products. Therefore, firms aim to become broader trading platforms for traditional assets. Zengo managing director Ouriel Ohayon said capital markets now overlap with digital asset infrastructure. He said EToro’s Extended investment reflects a belief in accessible trading. He also said future trading can run 24/7, beyond the traditional trading week. The post eToro Leads $12.5M Extended Round to Expand Onchain Derivatives appeared first on Blockonomi.

eToro Leads $12.5M Extended Round to Expand Onchain Derivatives

TLDR
eToro led a $12.5 million funding round for Extended, an onchain perpetual futures exchange.
Jump Crypto and Alber Blanc also joined the funding round for Extended.
eToro plans to integrate Extended’s trading engine directly into the Zengo wallet.
The deal follows eToro’s $70 million acquisition of self-custody wallet Zengo.
Extended has processed more than $245 billion in trading volume as of June.
eToro moved deeper into DeFi by backing Extended, an onchain perpetual futures platform from former Revolut employees. The broker led a $12.5 million round with Jump Crypto and Alber Blanc. The deal strengthens its Web3 plan after the $70 million Zengo acquisition.
eToro Backs Extended Funding
eToro said the funding supports client demand for decentralized finance products. Extended runs an onchain perpetual futures exchange and has processed over $245 billion in volume. The platform supports over 100 perpetual markets across crypto and other assets.
Elad Lavi, eToro executive vice president, linked the deal to user demand. “We are seeing growing demand from our users for seamless access to DeFi products,” Lavi said.
He added that Zengo and Extended support eToro’s Web3 services plan.
The investment follows eToro’s April purchase of Zengo, a self-custody wallet provider, for $70 million. eToro plans to connect Extended’s perpetual futures engine with the Zengo wallet. The integration would let users trade derivatives while keeping custody of assets.
Zengo Puts Derivatives Inside Wallets
The planned integration gives eToro a route into DeFi without moving users away from self-custody tools. Zengo would serve as the entry point, while Extended would supply trading infrastructure. That structure targets users who want wallet-based access to advanced market products.
Perpetual futures remain a large crypto trading product because they do not expire. Platforms now list contracts tied to bitcoin, equities, commodities, and real-world assets. As a result, crypto markets and traditional finance share trading formats.
Ruslan Fakhrutdinov, Extended’s founder and former Revolut crypto head, described the company’s next stage. “The first phase was building for DeFi natives,” Fakhrutdinov said. He said the next phase needs infrastructure and partnerships for onchain derivatives growth.
Brokerages Push Toward DeFi Markets
The eToro investment comes as brokers build blockchain-based trading services for mainstream trading users. Robinhood launched its own blockchain and expanded tokenized stock products. It plans commodity perpetual futures tied to assets such as gold and oil.
Coinbase has expanded into perpetual futures, while Kalshi entered the same market. These moves show how brokers, crypto exchanges, and prediction markets now compete across similar products. Therefore, firms aim to become broader trading platforms for traditional assets.
Zengo managing director Ouriel Ohayon said capital markets now overlap with digital asset infrastructure. He said EToro’s Extended investment reflects a belief in accessible trading. He also said future trading can run 24/7, beyond the traditional trading week.
The post eToro Leads $12.5M Extended Round to Expand Onchain Derivatives appeared first on Blockonomi.
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HOODUS+3.88%
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Artículo
Crypto Hacks Hit Record 207 Cases in H1 2026, But Losses Decline: TRM LabsTLDR: Crypto hacks hit a record 207 incidents in H1 2026 while losses dropped to $972 million overall. Smart contract exploits represented 125 incidents but generated only a small share of stolen funds. North Korea-linked attacks accounted for roughly $643 million, or about 66% of all crypto thefts. Infrastructure breaches made up only 15% of incidents yet drove around 76% of total losses. Crypto hacks reached a new record during the first half of 2026, even as total losses declined sharply from a year earlier. Attackers carried out 207 separate incidents and stole $972 million during the six-month period.  The number of incidents more than doubled compared with the same period in 2025. The data shows that smaller exploits now occur more frequently while a few major breaches still drive most financial damage. Crypto Hacks Surge as Smart Contract Exploits Push Incident Count Higher TRM Labs reported that crypto hacks reached their highest six-month total on record during H1 2026. The firm tracked 207 incidents, up from 83 cases during the first half of last year. The increase continued throughout the year instead of emerging from a single event. TRM Labs recorded 123 incidents during the second quarter alone. Smart contract exploits accounted for 125 of the 207 incidents. These attacks targeted decentralized finance protocols, decentralized exchanges, and token projects. According to TRM Labs, attackers increasingly combined several code manipulations into one exploit. The firm said this trend contributed to the steady rise in incident numbers. Despite the increase, financial losses remained well below 2025 levels. Total stolen funds reached $972 million compared with $2.3 billion during the first half of last year. TRM Labs said the median loss from a hack stood near $219,000. Thousands of DeFi applications and smart contracts continue to create new opportunities for attackers. Attackers carried out 207 crypto hacks in H1 2026 — a record for any six-month period — but total losses fell to USD 972 million, less than half of the USD 2.3 billion stolen in H1 2025. Two distinct patterns explain the divergence. Infrastructure compromises made up roughly… pic.twitter.com/lLDiTjmrFM — TRM Labs (@trmlabs) July 2, 2026 North Korea-Linked Attacks Dominated Crypto Theft Losses TRM Labs attributed about $643 million of stolen funds to North Korea-linked activity. That amount represented roughly 66% of all losses recorded during H1 2026. Nearly all of those losses came from two April attacks. The breaches targeted Drift Protocol and KelpDAO and resulted in combined losses of about $577 million. The Drift Protocol incident accounted for approximately $285 million in losses. The KelpDAO exploit added another $292 million, according to TRM Labs. Infrastructure and operational compromises represented only about 15% of incidents. However, those attacks generated around 76% of total losses. TRM Labs said these breaches targeted signing systems, credentials, and asset control infrastructure rather than vulnerabilities in on-chain code. Meanwhile, smart contract exploits made up most incidents but contributed a much smaller share of stolen funds. The report also identified other attack types during the period. One physical coercion incident, commonly called a wrench attack, resulted in losses of around $24 million. TRM Labs said organizations should continue auditing smart contracts while strengthening key management systems and transfer approval procedures. The firm also noted that major infrastructure compromises continue to define annual crypto theft totals even when smaller exploits occur more frequently. The post Crypto Hacks Hit Record 207 Cases in H1 2026, But Losses Decline: TRM Labs appeared first on Blockonomi.

Crypto Hacks Hit Record 207 Cases in H1 2026, But Losses Decline: TRM Labs

TLDR:
Crypto hacks hit a record 207 incidents in H1 2026 while losses dropped to $972 million overall.
Smart contract exploits represented 125 incidents but generated only a small share of stolen funds.
North Korea-linked attacks accounted for roughly $643 million, or about 66% of all crypto thefts.
Infrastructure breaches made up only 15% of incidents yet drove around 76% of total losses.
Crypto hacks reached a new record during the first half of 2026, even as total losses declined sharply from a year earlier. Attackers carried out 207 separate incidents and stole $972 million during the six-month period.
The number of incidents more than doubled compared with the same period in 2025. The data shows that smaller exploits now occur more frequently while a few major breaches still drive most financial damage.
Crypto Hacks Surge as Smart Contract Exploits Push Incident Count Higher
TRM Labs reported that crypto hacks reached their highest six-month total on record during H1 2026. The firm tracked 207 incidents, up from 83 cases during the first half of last year.
The increase continued throughout the year instead of emerging from a single event. TRM Labs recorded 123 incidents during the second quarter alone.
Smart contract exploits accounted for 125 of the 207 incidents. These attacks targeted decentralized finance protocols, decentralized exchanges, and token projects.
According to TRM Labs, attackers increasingly combined several code manipulations into one exploit. The firm said this trend contributed to the steady rise in incident numbers.
Despite the increase, financial losses remained well below 2025 levels. Total stolen funds reached $972 million compared with $2.3 billion during the first half of last year.
TRM Labs said the median loss from a hack stood near $219,000. Thousands of DeFi applications and smart contracts continue to create new opportunities for attackers.
Attackers carried out 207 crypto hacks in H1 2026 — a record for any six-month period — but total losses fell to USD 972 million, less than half of the USD 2.3 billion stolen in H1 2025. Two distinct patterns explain the divergence.
Infrastructure compromises made up roughly… pic.twitter.com/lLDiTjmrFM
— TRM Labs (@trmlabs) July 2, 2026
North Korea-Linked Attacks Dominated Crypto Theft Losses
TRM Labs attributed about $643 million of stolen funds to North Korea-linked activity. That amount represented roughly 66% of all losses recorded during H1 2026.
Nearly all of those losses came from two April attacks. The breaches targeted Drift Protocol and KelpDAO and resulted in combined losses of about $577 million.
The Drift Protocol incident accounted for approximately $285 million in losses. The KelpDAO exploit added another $292 million, according to TRM Labs.
Infrastructure and operational compromises represented only about 15% of incidents. However, those attacks generated around 76% of total losses.
TRM Labs said these breaches targeted signing systems, credentials, and asset control infrastructure rather than vulnerabilities in on-chain code. Meanwhile, smart contract exploits made up most incidents but contributed a much smaller share of stolen funds.
The report also identified other attack types during the period. One physical coercion incident, commonly called a wrench attack, resulted in losses of around $24 million.
TRM Labs said organizations should continue auditing smart contracts while strengthening key management systems and transfer approval procedures. The firm also noted that major infrastructure compromises continue to define annual crypto theft totals even when smaller exploits occur more frequently.
The post Crypto Hacks Hit Record 207 Cases in H1 2026, But Losses Decline: TRM Labs appeared first on Blockonomi.
NFLX Stock Climbs 3.95% as Valuation and Ad Growth Lift Demand NowTLDR Netflix shares rose 3.95% on July 2, outperforming the Software & IT Services sector, which fell 1.01%. Market sentiment improved after concerns eased around possible Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal acquisition activity. NFLX stock gained support from a lower valuation, which attracted buyers after recent selling pressure. Netflix’s advertising tier remained a major growth driver, supported by its Omnicom partnership and wider distribution reach. The $400 million Radford Studio Center acquisition signaled Netflix’s continued focus on production efficiency and cost control. Netflix (NFLX) stock rose 3.95% on July 2, while Software & IT Services fell 1.01%, showing clear market outperformance. The move came with strong turnover, intraday swings, and confidence after weak sessions. NFLX stock also beat major sector peers. Microsoft rose 1.24%, Meta fell 4.09%, and Palantir gained 2.72% among the sector’s busiest names. However, Netflix drew stronger attention because buyers entered after recent selling pressure. The price action showed renewed demand near depressed valuation levels. NFLX stock benefited as traders shifted focus back to Netflix’s core business and away from deal speculation. The company faced concerns over large media deals that could raise leverage. Yet management avoided costly merger risks and preserved capital discipline during a volatile backdrop. Deal Concerns Ease Around Netflix Market sentiment improved after Netflix moved away from major acquisition speculation. Reports had linked the company with Warner Bros Discovery, but concerns eased after the overhang faded. Management also saw NBCUniversal rumors denied, which reduced deal pressure and stabilized expectations. The market viewed that restraint as positive for NFLX stock because it reduced concern over large commitments. Large media mergers often create debt concerns, integration risks, and uncertainty over earnings. Therefore, Netflix’s decision helped restore attention to subscriber growth, advertising revenue, and content returns. NFLX stock gained momentum as deal risks faded and organic growth returned to focus. Netflix did not issue a fresh statement on the move, and the stock traded on market interpretation. Still, the reduced deal noise supported a cleaner investment case for NFLX stock and strengthened the recovery. Valuation and Ads Support Momentum NFLX stock also attracted demand after trading near its 52-week low and a cheaper forward earnings multiple. The lower valuation encouraged dip buying from funds and active traders before the next earnings update. Technical signals also improved after earlier oversold readings, which helped short-term momentum. The advertising business added another growth driver for NFLX stock as Netflix expands beyond standard subscription revenue. Its Omnicom partnership strengthens ad targeting, campaign tools, and monetization across the ad-supported base. The company also expands access through Spectrum’s app store distribution deal, which may support wider reach. NFLX stock gained further support from cost controls and studio investments. Netflix bought Radford Studio Center for $400 million to improve production efficiency and manage content costs. Together, ads, valuation, and spending discipline drove the 3.95% move in NFLX stock. The post NFLX Stock Climbs 3.95% as Valuation and Ad Growth Lift Demand Now appeared first on Blockonomi.

NFLX Stock Climbs 3.95% as Valuation and Ad Growth Lift Demand Now

TLDR
Netflix shares rose 3.95% on July 2, outperforming the Software & IT Services sector, which fell 1.01%.
Market sentiment improved after concerns eased around possible Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal acquisition activity.
NFLX stock gained support from a lower valuation, which attracted buyers after recent selling pressure.
Netflix’s advertising tier remained a major growth driver, supported by its Omnicom partnership and wider distribution reach.
The $400 million Radford Studio Center acquisition signaled Netflix’s continued focus on production efficiency and cost control.
Netflix (NFLX) stock rose 3.95% on July 2, while Software & IT Services fell 1.01%, showing clear market outperformance. The move came with strong turnover, intraday swings, and confidence after weak sessions. NFLX stock also beat major sector peers.
Microsoft rose 1.24%, Meta fell 4.09%, and Palantir gained 2.72% among the sector’s busiest names. However, Netflix drew stronger attention because buyers entered after recent selling pressure. The price action showed renewed demand near depressed valuation levels.
NFLX stock benefited as traders shifted focus back to Netflix’s core business and away from deal speculation. The company faced concerns over large media deals that could raise leverage. Yet management avoided costly merger risks and preserved capital discipline during a volatile backdrop.
Deal Concerns Ease Around Netflix
Market sentiment improved after Netflix moved away from major acquisition speculation. Reports had linked the company with Warner Bros Discovery, but concerns eased after the overhang faded. Management also saw NBCUniversal rumors denied, which reduced deal pressure and stabilized expectations.
The market viewed that restraint as positive for NFLX stock because it reduced concern over large commitments. Large media mergers often create debt concerns, integration risks, and uncertainty over earnings. Therefore, Netflix’s decision helped restore attention to subscriber growth, advertising revenue, and content returns.
NFLX stock gained momentum as deal risks faded and organic growth returned to focus. Netflix did not issue a fresh statement on the move, and the stock traded on market interpretation. Still, the reduced deal noise supported a cleaner investment case for NFLX stock and strengthened the recovery.
Valuation and Ads Support Momentum
NFLX stock also attracted demand after trading near its 52-week low and a cheaper forward earnings multiple. The lower valuation encouraged dip buying from funds and active traders before the next earnings update. Technical signals also improved after earlier oversold readings, which helped short-term momentum.
The advertising business added another growth driver for NFLX stock as Netflix expands beyond standard subscription revenue. Its Omnicom partnership strengthens ad targeting, campaign tools, and monetization across the ad-supported base. The company also expands access through Spectrum’s app store distribution deal, which may support wider reach.
NFLX stock gained further support from cost controls and studio investments. Netflix bought Radford Studio Center for $400 million to improve production efficiency and manage content costs. Together, ads, valuation, and spending discipline drove the 3.95% move in NFLX stock.
The post NFLX Stock Climbs 3.95% as Valuation and Ad Growth Lift Demand Now appeared first on Blockonomi.
CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Plunges 20% as Meta Eyes AI Cloud Entry — Analyst Sees Major Buying Opport...TLDR CoreWeave shares plunged 14% Wednesday followed by another 5.5% decline Thursday, settling at $80.97 Bloomberg reported Meta Platforms is considering launching a cloud service to monetize surplus AI computing capacity The social media giant currently ranks among CoreWeave’s most significant clients SoftBank separately revealed intentions to enter America’s AI cloud sector with SB Neo Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed its Buy recommendation and $250 price objective, describing the downturn as an attractive entry point Shares of CoreWeave (CRWV) experienced a dramatic selloff this week. The artificial intelligence cloud infrastructure provider tumbled 14% Wednesday before sliding an additional 5.5% Thursday, ending at $80.97 and erasing more than $7.5 billion in total market capitalization over the two-day period. The catalyst came from a Bloomberg article revealing that Meta Platforms is evaluating options to commercialize its unused AI computational resources by offering them to external businesses — a move that would position the tech giant as a direct competitor in the neocloud space where CoreWeave currently thrives. The development carries particular weight given that Meta represents one of CoreWeave’s most important customers, creating a scenario where a major client could simultaneously become a direct market rival. CoreWeave issued a response challenging this interpretation. “We’re continuing to see incredibly strong demand across a growing and increasingly diverse customer base, including Meta who is a great customer and partner of CoreWeave’s,” the company stated officially. The firm further emphasized its belief that the expanding AI infrastructure investment trend represents “a rapidly expanding market, not a zero-sum game.” The market reaction wasn’t isolated to CoreWeave. Shares of competing neocloud provider Nebius also experienced declines following the Meta announcement, indicating investors view this development as an industry-wide threat rather than company-specific risk. Rosenblatt Analysts Remain Confident While many investors headed toward the exits, Rosenblatt Securities took a contrarian stance. Analysts John McPeake and Tanu Chauhan released a note Wednesday evening characterizing the selloff as “presents a buying opportunity.” Their analysis highlighted persistent robust demand for GPU computing capabilities, with capacity constraints remaining widespread throughout the sector. The analysts also emphasized an important contractual consideration — that Meta most likely lacks contractual authorization to sublease the computing power it has secured from CoreWeave under agreements extending through 2032 to outside parties. Rosenblatt reaffirmed its Buy rating while maintaining its $250 price objective, implying potential appreciation of approximately 209% from present price levels. Wall Street’s broader assessment shows more divergence. Among 35 analysts tracking the stock, 21 recommend buying, 12 suggest holding, and 2 advise selling. The average price target stands at $135, representing roughly 58% upside from where shares currently trade. SoftBank Announcement Compounds Pressure Compounding Thursday’s decline, SoftBank disclosed plans to establish its own AI cloud operation in the United States, provisionally named SB Neo. This represents yet another prospective competitor entering the market segment CoreWeave has been developing. CoreWeave shares now show a modest 13% gain year-to-date but have declined 51% over the trailing twelve months. The stock trades within a 52-week range spanning from $63.80 to $166.22. The company’s most recent quarterly results, released May 7, demonstrated revenue of $2.08 billion — representing 111.6% year-over-year growth. However, profitability fell short of expectations, with a reported loss of $1.40 per share compared to the anticipated loss of $1.17. Insider transaction activity has drawn attention from market watchers. During the past 90 days, company insiders have divested over 26.5 million shares valued at more than $3 billion. On the institutional investment front, Vanguard substantially expanded its stake by 275.6% during the fourth quarter, acquiring an additional 20.4 million shares. CoreWeave stock began Thursday’s session at $85.68, carrying a market capitalization of $38.35 billion. The post CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Plunges 20% as Meta Eyes AI Cloud Entry — Analyst Sees Major Buying Opportunity appeared first on Blockonomi.

CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Plunges 20% as Meta Eyes AI Cloud Entry — Analyst Sees Major Buying Opport...

TLDR
CoreWeave shares plunged 14% Wednesday followed by another 5.5% decline Thursday, settling at $80.97
Bloomberg reported Meta Platforms is considering launching a cloud service to monetize surplus AI computing capacity
The social media giant currently ranks among CoreWeave’s most significant clients
SoftBank separately revealed intentions to enter America’s AI cloud sector with SB Neo
Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed its Buy recommendation and $250 price objective, describing the downturn as an attractive entry point
Shares of CoreWeave (CRWV) experienced a dramatic selloff this week. The artificial intelligence cloud infrastructure provider tumbled 14% Wednesday before sliding an additional 5.5% Thursday, ending at $80.97 and erasing more than $7.5 billion in total market capitalization over the two-day period.
The catalyst came from a Bloomberg article revealing that Meta Platforms is evaluating options to commercialize its unused AI computational resources by offering them to external businesses — a move that would position the tech giant as a direct competitor in the neocloud space where CoreWeave currently thrives.
The development carries particular weight given that Meta represents one of CoreWeave’s most important customers, creating a scenario where a major client could simultaneously become a direct market rival.
CoreWeave issued a response challenging this interpretation. “We’re continuing to see incredibly strong demand across a growing and increasingly diverse customer base, including Meta who is a great customer and partner of CoreWeave’s,” the company stated officially.
The firm further emphasized its belief that the expanding AI infrastructure investment trend represents “a rapidly expanding market, not a zero-sum game.”
The market reaction wasn’t isolated to CoreWeave. Shares of competing neocloud provider Nebius also experienced declines following the Meta announcement, indicating investors view this development as an industry-wide threat rather than company-specific risk.
Rosenblatt Analysts Remain Confident
While many investors headed toward the exits, Rosenblatt Securities took a contrarian stance. Analysts John McPeake and Tanu Chauhan released a note Wednesday evening characterizing the selloff as “presents a buying opportunity.”
Their analysis highlighted persistent robust demand for GPU computing capabilities, with capacity constraints remaining widespread throughout the sector. The analysts also emphasized an important contractual consideration — that Meta most likely lacks contractual authorization to sublease the computing power it has secured from CoreWeave under agreements extending through 2032 to outside parties.
Rosenblatt reaffirmed its Buy rating while maintaining its $250 price objective, implying potential appreciation of approximately 209% from present price levels.
Wall Street’s broader assessment shows more divergence. Among 35 analysts tracking the stock, 21 recommend buying, 12 suggest holding, and 2 advise selling. The average price target stands at $135, representing roughly 58% upside from where shares currently trade.
SoftBank Announcement Compounds Pressure
Compounding Thursday’s decline, SoftBank disclosed plans to establish its own AI cloud operation in the United States, provisionally named SB Neo. This represents yet another prospective competitor entering the market segment CoreWeave has been developing.
CoreWeave shares now show a modest 13% gain year-to-date but have declined 51% over the trailing twelve months. The stock trades within a 52-week range spanning from $63.80 to $166.22.
The company’s most recent quarterly results, released May 7, demonstrated revenue of $2.08 billion — representing 111.6% year-over-year growth. However, profitability fell short of expectations, with a reported loss of $1.40 per share compared to the anticipated loss of $1.17.
Insider transaction activity has drawn attention from market watchers. During the past 90 days, company insiders have divested over 26.5 million shares valued at more than $3 billion.
On the institutional investment front, Vanguard substantially expanded its stake by 275.6% during the fourth quarter, acquiring an additional 20.4 million shares.
CoreWeave stock began Thursday’s session at $85.68, carrying a market capitalization of $38.35 billion.
The post CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Plunges 20% as Meta Eyes AI Cloud Entry — Analyst Sees Major Buying Opportunity appeared first on Blockonomi.
Tesla Stock Falls 7% Even as Q2 Deliveries Beat Wall Street ViewsTLDR Tesla reported 482,229 vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates of about 406,600 vehicles. Tesla stock fell about 7% on Thursday despite the strong delivery report and continued its recent post-report weakness. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles accounted for 467,762 deliveries, representing 97% of Tesla’s total quarterly deliveries. Tesla deliveries rose 25% from the same period last year and increased 34% from the first quarter of 2026. The company deployed 13.5 GWh of energy storage in the quarter, beating analyst expectations of 13.3 GWh. Tesla stock fell 7% on Thursday after Tesla reported second-quarter deliveries that beat Wall Street estimates. The Tesla stock drop showed market concern beyond the headline sales rebound. Tesla stock also extended its weakness after recent updates. Tesla Stock Falls After Strong Delivery Beat Tesla delivered 482,229 vehicles in the second quarter, beating StreetAccount estimates of about 406,600 vehicles. The company-compiled consensus stood at 406,024 deliveries last week. Tesla stock still declined as traders weighed broader market risks. Tesla stock reacted even as deliveries marked a 25% rise from roughly 384,000 vehicles a year earlier. Deliveries also rose 34% from 358,023 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026. Tesla stock had fallen after each of the past three quarterly delivery reports. Model 3 and Model Y accounted for 467,762 deliveries, or 97% of the total. Tesla does not report exact deliveries by region or model. Deliveries offer Tesla’s closest sales measure, although the company does not define them precisely. Sales Rebound Meets Market Doubts Tesla aims to recover after two straight years of lower vehicle sales. Consumer backlash against Elon Musk and the loss of a federal tax credit hurt demand. Tesla stock reflected that concern despite the stronger quarterly numbers. The company also faces rising pressure from global electric-vehicle rivals. BYD, Nio, and Xiaomi offer cheaper and advanced EVs in China. Hyundai, Volkswagen, and other automakers have also increased competition in major markets. Tesla responded by selling lower-cost versions of the Model 3 and Model Y. It also expanded Full Self-Driving (Supervised) into some European markets. Still, Tesla stock moved lower as buyers questioned whether demand can last. Energy Growth and Upcoming Results European demand helped Tesla during the quarter as gas prices surged after the Iran war. Buyers in Europe purchased more EVs during the first half. However, oil prices later returned near levels seen before the conflict began. In the U.S., buyers have shifted toward hybrid vehicles, according to AlixPartners executive Dan Hearsch. “We have a huge country,” Hearsch said, citing distance and charging limits. He added that Europe has stronger charging networks and shorter driving needs. Tesla deployed 13.5 GWh of energy storage in the quarter, beating estimates of 13.3 GWh. The figure also rose from 9.6 GWh a year earlier. Tesla stock faces the July 22 earnings report, and Tesla stock remains under clear pressure. The post Tesla Stock Falls 7% Even as Q2 Deliveries Beat Wall Street Views appeared first on Blockonomi.

Tesla Stock Falls 7% Even as Q2 Deliveries Beat Wall Street Views

TLDR
Tesla reported 482,229 vehicle deliveries in the second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates of about 406,600 vehicles.
Tesla stock fell about 7% on Thursday despite the strong delivery report and continued its recent post-report weakness.
Model 3 and Model Y vehicles accounted for 467,762 deliveries, representing 97% of Tesla’s total quarterly deliveries.
Tesla deliveries rose 25% from the same period last year and increased 34% from the first quarter of 2026.
The company deployed 13.5 GWh of energy storage in the quarter, beating analyst expectations of 13.3 GWh.
Tesla stock fell 7% on Thursday after Tesla reported second-quarter deliveries that beat Wall Street estimates. The Tesla stock drop showed market concern beyond the headline sales rebound. Tesla stock also extended its weakness after recent updates.
Tesla Stock Falls After Strong Delivery Beat
Tesla delivered 482,229 vehicles in the second quarter, beating StreetAccount estimates of about 406,600 vehicles. The company-compiled consensus stood at 406,024 deliveries last week. Tesla stock still declined as traders weighed broader market risks.
Tesla stock reacted even as deliveries marked a 25% rise from roughly 384,000 vehicles a year earlier. Deliveries also rose 34% from 358,023 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026. Tesla stock had fallen after each of the past three quarterly delivery reports.
Model 3 and Model Y accounted for 467,762 deliveries, or 97% of the total. Tesla does not report exact deliveries by region or model. Deliveries offer Tesla’s closest sales measure, although the company does not define them precisely.
Sales Rebound Meets Market Doubts
Tesla aims to recover after two straight years of lower vehicle sales. Consumer backlash against Elon Musk and the loss of a federal tax credit hurt demand. Tesla stock reflected that concern despite the stronger quarterly numbers.
The company also faces rising pressure from global electric-vehicle rivals. BYD, Nio, and Xiaomi offer cheaper and advanced EVs in China. Hyundai, Volkswagen, and other automakers have also increased competition in major markets.
Tesla responded by selling lower-cost versions of the Model 3 and Model Y. It also expanded Full Self-Driving (Supervised) into some European markets. Still, Tesla stock moved lower as buyers questioned whether demand can last.
Energy Growth and Upcoming Results
European demand helped Tesla during the quarter as gas prices surged after the Iran war. Buyers in Europe purchased more EVs during the first half. However, oil prices later returned near levels seen before the conflict began.
In the U.S., buyers have shifted toward hybrid vehicles, according to AlixPartners executive Dan Hearsch. “We have a huge country,” Hearsch said, citing distance and charging limits. He added that Europe has stronger charging networks and shorter driving needs.
Tesla deployed 13.5 GWh of energy storage in the quarter, beating estimates of 13.3 GWh. The figure also rose from 9.6 GWh a year earlier. Tesla stock faces the July 22 earnings report, and Tesla stock remains under clear pressure.
The post Tesla Stock Falls 7% Even as Q2 Deliveries Beat Wall Street Views appeared first on Blockonomi.
Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Surges 3% Amid Sector Rotation from Semiconductors to SoftwareKey Takeaways MSFT experienced a 23% decline during the first half of 2026, marking its steepest H1 drop in 26 years Shares have gained approximately 3% this week driven by sector rotation favoring software over semiconductors IGV, the iShares Tech-Software ETF, has surged 7% across eight sessions; meanwhile, SOXX semiconductor ETF has declined 8.5% The company unveiled Microsoft Frontier Co., a dedicated AI division backed by $2.5 billion and approximately 6,000 employees Current trading price of $389.51 represents roughly 30% below GF Value estimate of $560.33, with P/E ratio at 23.19 compared to five-year median of 34.01 The first six months of 2026 proved punishing for Microsoft shareholders. Shares plummeted 23% from January through June, representing the company’s most severe first-half decline since the dot-com bust of 2000. The month of June alone witnessed a 17% collapse — MSFT’s steepest monthly loss in more than a quarter century. However, the tide appears to be turning as the second half begins. Shares climbed 3% during Wednesday’s session and tacked on an additional 1.4% Thursday, bucking broader market weakness as the S&P 500 dipped 0.1% and the Nasdaq retreated 0.8%. Only the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted gains that day, advancing 0.7%. This reversal coincides with a notable capital reallocation away from semiconductor equities toward software names. The rotation has unexpectedly transformed Microsoft’s concentrated software business — previously viewed as a vulnerability — into a temporary advantage. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) posted gains for four consecutive sessions ending Wednesday and edged up another 0.2% Thursday. Across the past eight trading days, IGV has surged 7%. By contrast, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) plunged 5.4% Thursday alone and has shed 8.5% during that same eight-session stretch. $2.5 Billion Enterprise AI Division Unveiled Microsoft announced on July 2 the establishment of Microsoft Frontier Co., a freshly minted division supported by $2.5 billion in funding. This business unit will deploy roughly 6,000 personnel dedicated to delivering AI implementation services for enterprise customers. The initiative centers on what Microsoft terms “frontier on-site engineers” — technical professionals stationed directly at customer facilities to facilitate AI integration into existing business operations. The division will consolidate current engineering talent, technical advisors, and sales personnel from various segments of Microsoft’s enterprise operations. This announcement follows closely on the heels of Amazon‘s disclosure of a $1 billion commitment to a comparable initiative. Microsoft has already committed hundreds of billions toward data center infrastructure to power its generative AI platforms, though monetization has proven challenging. Weak Copilot Uptake Has Pressured Valuation Both Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot have encountered sluggish enterprise adoption rates, creating a persistent headwind for investor sentiment throughout 2026. The stock’s 21% year-to-date decline partially reflects skepticism about whether Microsoft can translate its massive AI infrastructure investments into meaningful revenue generation. The Frontier Co. framework directly addresses this monetization challenge. Instead of depending exclusively on software deployment, Microsoft is embedding consultants directly with enterprise clients. At the current price of $389.51, MSFT carries a P/E multiple of 23.19 — significantly compressed from its five-year median of 34.01. According to GuruFocus analysis, the stock’s GF Value stands at $560.33, implying approximately 30% upside from present levels. Insider transaction data over the trailing three months reveals zero purchase activity, with aggregate sales totaling around $10.5 million. The SOXX ETF finished Thursday’s session down 5.4% as the semiconductor-to-software rotation extended into the second trading day of 2026’s second half. The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Surges 3% Amid Sector Rotation from Semiconductors to Software appeared first on Blockonomi.

Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Surges 3% Amid Sector Rotation from Semiconductors to Software

Key Takeaways
MSFT experienced a 23% decline during the first half of 2026, marking its steepest H1 drop in 26 years
Shares have gained approximately 3% this week driven by sector rotation favoring software over semiconductors
IGV, the iShares Tech-Software ETF, has surged 7% across eight sessions; meanwhile, SOXX semiconductor ETF has declined 8.5%
The company unveiled Microsoft Frontier Co., a dedicated AI division backed by $2.5 billion and approximately 6,000 employees
Current trading price of $389.51 represents roughly 30% below GF Value estimate of $560.33, with P/E ratio at 23.19 compared to five-year median of 34.01
The first six months of 2026 proved punishing for Microsoft shareholders. Shares plummeted 23% from January through June, representing the company’s most severe first-half decline since the dot-com bust of 2000. The month of June alone witnessed a 17% collapse — MSFT’s steepest monthly loss in more than a quarter century.
However, the tide appears to be turning as the second half begins.
Shares climbed 3% during Wednesday’s session and tacked on an additional 1.4% Thursday, bucking broader market weakness as the S&P 500 dipped 0.1% and the Nasdaq retreated 0.8%. Only the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted gains that day, advancing 0.7%.
This reversal coincides with a notable capital reallocation away from semiconductor equities toward software names. The rotation has unexpectedly transformed Microsoft’s concentrated software business — previously viewed as a vulnerability — into a temporary advantage.
The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (IGV) posted gains for four consecutive sessions ending Wednesday and edged up another 0.2% Thursday. Across the past eight trading days, IGV has surged 7%. By contrast, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) plunged 5.4% Thursday alone and has shed 8.5% during that same eight-session stretch.
$2.5 Billion Enterprise AI Division Unveiled
Microsoft announced on July 2 the establishment of Microsoft Frontier Co., a freshly minted division supported by $2.5 billion in funding. This business unit will deploy roughly 6,000 personnel dedicated to delivering AI implementation services for enterprise customers.
The initiative centers on what Microsoft terms “frontier on-site engineers” — technical professionals stationed directly at customer facilities to facilitate AI integration into existing business operations. The division will consolidate current engineering talent, technical advisors, and sales personnel from various segments of Microsoft’s enterprise operations.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of Amazon‘s disclosure of a $1 billion commitment to a comparable initiative. Microsoft has already committed hundreds of billions toward data center infrastructure to power its generative AI platforms, though monetization has proven challenging.
Weak Copilot Uptake Has Pressured Valuation
Both Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot have encountered sluggish enterprise adoption rates, creating a persistent headwind for investor sentiment throughout 2026. The stock’s 21% year-to-date decline partially reflects skepticism about whether Microsoft can translate its massive AI infrastructure investments into meaningful revenue generation.
The Frontier Co. framework directly addresses this monetization challenge. Instead of depending exclusively on software deployment, Microsoft is embedding consultants directly with enterprise clients.
At the current price of $389.51, MSFT carries a P/E multiple of 23.19 — significantly compressed from its five-year median of 34.01. According to GuruFocus analysis, the stock’s GF Value stands at $560.33, implying approximately 30% upside from present levels.
Insider transaction data over the trailing three months reveals zero purchase activity, with aggregate sales totaling around $10.5 million.
The SOXX ETF finished Thursday’s session down 5.4% as the semiconductor-to-software rotation extended into the second trading day of 2026’s second half.
The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Surges 3% Amid Sector Rotation from Semiconductors to Software appeared first on Blockonomi.
Verificado
SanDisk (SNDK) Plunges 13% as AI Sector Rotation Hammers Memory StocksQuick Summary SanDisk stock plummeted 13.37% Thursday amid rotation from AI hardware to software sectors The decline reflects momentum-driven profit-taking rather than fundamental company concerns BofA analyst upgraded price target from $2,100 to $2,500 while maintaining Buy recommendation Chinese manufacturer YMTC identified as primary structural threat to NAND market pricing Despite Thursday’s selloff, SNDK remains up more than 756% in 2024 SanDisk (SNDK) experienced a steep decline Thursday, shedding 13.37% as investors unwound holdings throughout the AI hardware and memory semiconductor sectors. During premarket activity, shares traded at $1,980.68, representing a 2.54% decline, before accelerating lower once regular trading commenced. The selloff stems from widespread sector rebalancing. Capital is flowing away from high-flying AI infrastructure names toward AI software companies, a shift that typically punishes stocks with the most substantial year-to-date appreciation. No fresh company-specific negative developments triggered the downturn. This represents a classic momentum reversal. SNDK began the trading week carrying gains of 756.10% year-to-date and an extraordinary 4,297.79% over the trailing twelve months. Following such explosive appreciation, sharp profit-taking episodes are common. Despite the session’s volatility, analyst sentiment toward the stock remains unchanged. Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan maintained his Buy recommendation Wednesday while lifting his price objective from $2,100 to $2,500. Mohan projects $9.1 billion in June quarter revenue alongside earnings per share of $37.01. Both forecasts exceed consensus analyst estimates and surpass the company’s official guidance range of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion in quarterly revenue. “We expect supply/demand imbalance in the NAND market to remain through 2027,” Mohan stated, projecting that pricing will hold steady through mid-2027. Bernstein has similarly increased its price objective on the shares. Chinese Production Capacity Presents Headwind A significant risk under trader scrutiny involves Chinese memory manufacturing capacity. Mohan highlighted Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) as a structural threat, cautioning that expanded production from the Chinese competitor could accelerate NAND price declines beyond current expectations. His baseline scenario anticipates YMTC will concentrate on serving domestic Chinese customers instead of pursuing aggressive global market share. Should this assumption prove incorrect, the supply-demand equation could shift dramatically. Industry observer Ming-Chi Kuo contributed additional perspective over the weekend, projecting the “memory supply-demand gap will keep widening through 2027.” Kuo further revealed that Apple is actively engaging the U.S. government regarding ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to establish additional DRAM sourcing alternatives. Technical Chart Analysis Even following Thursday’s retreat, the long-term trend architecture remains constructive. SNDK trades 1.9% above its 20-day simple moving average ($1,956), 25.1% beyond its 50-day SMA ($1,593), and 186.7% above its 200-day SMA ($695). The moving average configuration — with the 20-day positioned above the 50-day, and the 50-day above the 200-day — preserves bullish technical structure. The Relative Strength Index registers 54.24, having retreated from overbought conditions without entering oversold territory. This represents a moderated reading following the extended rally. Critical resistance lies at $2,354.50, approaching the recent 52-week peak of $2,354.39. Primary support appears around $1,861, representing the nearest technical floor beneath current pricing. SNDK commands a market capitalization of $301 billion. Average daily share volume totals 13.5 million. The post SanDisk (SNDK) Plunges 13% as AI Sector Rotation Hammers Memory Stocks appeared first on Blockonomi.

SanDisk (SNDK) Plunges 13% as AI Sector Rotation Hammers Memory Stocks

Quick Summary
SanDisk stock plummeted 13.37% Thursday amid rotation from AI hardware to software sectors
The decline reflects momentum-driven profit-taking rather than fundamental company concerns
BofA analyst upgraded price target from $2,100 to $2,500 while maintaining Buy recommendation
Chinese manufacturer YMTC identified as primary structural threat to NAND market pricing
Despite Thursday’s selloff, SNDK remains up more than 756% in 2024
SanDisk (SNDK) experienced a steep decline Thursday, shedding 13.37% as investors unwound holdings throughout the AI hardware and memory semiconductor sectors. During premarket activity, shares traded at $1,980.68, representing a 2.54% decline, before accelerating lower once regular trading commenced.
The selloff stems from widespread sector rebalancing. Capital is flowing away from high-flying AI infrastructure names toward AI software companies, a shift that typically punishes stocks with the most substantial year-to-date appreciation.
No fresh company-specific negative developments triggered the downturn. This represents a classic momentum reversal.
SNDK began the trading week carrying gains of 756.10% year-to-date and an extraordinary 4,297.79% over the trailing twelve months. Following such explosive appreciation, sharp profit-taking episodes are common.
Despite the session’s volatility, analyst sentiment toward the stock remains unchanged. Bank of America’s Wamsi Mohan maintained his Buy recommendation Wednesday while lifting his price objective from $2,100 to $2,500.
Mohan projects $9.1 billion in June quarter revenue alongside earnings per share of $37.01. Both forecasts exceed consensus analyst estimates and surpass the company’s official guidance range of $7.75 billion to $8.25 billion in quarterly revenue.
“We expect supply/demand imbalance in the NAND market to remain through 2027,” Mohan stated, projecting that pricing will hold steady through mid-2027. Bernstein has similarly increased its price objective on the shares.
Chinese Production Capacity Presents Headwind
A significant risk under trader scrutiny involves Chinese memory manufacturing capacity. Mohan highlighted Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) as a structural threat, cautioning that expanded production from the Chinese competitor could accelerate NAND price declines beyond current expectations.
His baseline scenario anticipates YMTC will concentrate on serving domestic Chinese customers instead of pursuing aggressive global market share. Should this assumption prove incorrect, the supply-demand equation could shift dramatically.
Industry observer Ming-Chi Kuo contributed additional perspective over the weekend, projecting the “memory supply-demand gap will keep widening through 2027.” Kuo further revealed that Apple is actively engaging the U.S. government regarding ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) to establish additional DRAM sourcing alternatives.
Technical Chart Analysis
Even following Thursday’s retreat, the long-term trend architecture remains constructive. SNDK trades 1.9% above its 20-day simple moving average ($1,956), 25.1% beyond its 50-day SMA ($1,593), and 186.7% above its 200-day SMA ($695).
The moving average configuration — with the 20-day positioned above the 50-day, and the 50-day above the 200-day — preserves bullish technical structure.
The Relative Strength Index registers 54.24, having retreated from overbought conditions without entering oversold territory. This represents a moderated reading following the extended rally.
Critical resistance lies at $2,354.50, approaching the recent 52-week peak of $2,354.39. Primary support appears around $1,861, representing the nearest technical floor beneath current pricing.
SNDK commands a market capitalization of $301 billion. Average daily share volume totals 13.5 million.
The post SanDisk (SNDK) Plunges 13% as AI Sector Rotation Hammers Memory Stocks appeared first on Blockonomi.
SNDK-12.95%
SNDKUS-12.47%
IREN Stock Plummets 23% Following Meta’s AI Cloud Infrastructure AnnouncementKey Highlights IREN shares declined approximately 23% over five trading sessions, including a 9% drop on Thursday The downturn initiated Wednesday following Meta’s announcement to enter AI cloud infrastructure services Company welcomed Kambiz Aghili (formerly Oracle) as Chief Product Officer and Michael Nudelman (formerly Google) as Chief Development Officer Nudelman tasked with expanding IREN’s substantial 5GW power capacity; Aghili to direct AI Cloud platform product strategy Wall Street maintains a Moderate Buy rating with an average target price of $79.33, suggesting approximately 108% potential upside IREN Limited has experienced significant turbulence this week. Shares of the AI cloud infrastructure and data center operator have tumbled roughly 23% across the last five trading sessions, including an additional 9% slide on Thursday. The pressure persisted despite the company’s announcement of two strategic executive appointments from major tech firms. The market reaction began Wednesday when Meta disclosed its intentions to expand into AI cloud infrastructure services. This announcement sent shockwaves through the neocloud sector, with IREN becoming collateral damage in the broader selloff. Amid the market turmoil, IREN revealed on Wednesday the addition of Kambiz Aghili as Chief Product Officer and Michael Nudelman as Chief Development Officer. Both executives will operate from the company’s San Francisco base. Aghili transitions from Oracle, where he served as Vice President of Products for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. His portfolio included strategic oversight and development initiatives across multiple cloud platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Nudelman contributes more than two decades of experience spanning data center development, energy infrastructure, and corporate finance. His background includes leadership positions at Google, CyrusOne, and Beale Infrastructure. In his new role at IREN, Aghili will spearhead product strategy for the company’s AI Cloud ecosystem, encompassing bare metal GPU solutions and comprehensive managed service offerings. Nudelman will oversee worldwide data center development initiatives and advance the company’s expansive 5GW power portfolio across both established and emerging markets. Co-founder and Co-CEO Daniel Roberts characterized these appointments as essential to IREN’s expansion blueprint, which relies on acquiring substantial land and power resources before deploying infrastructure solutions. Strategic Implications of the Leadership Additions These executive appointments arrive as IREN accelerates efforts to expand its AI Cloud operations. The organization recently acquired a data center development company in Spain to establish its European footprint. Additionally, it’s constructing a new data center facility in Australia. IREN functions as a fully integrated AI Cloud solutions provider, managing data centers, GPU computing clusters, and the necessary software infrastructure to deliver managed services. The company controls grid-connected land and power resources spanning North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company has posted revenue growth exceeding 100% over the trailing twelve months and currently maintains a market capitalization of approximately $16.34 billion. Analyst Perspectives Wall Street observers have characterized IREN’s transition from Bitcoin mining operations to AI cloud services as a “compelling strategic pivot.” However, questions remain about execution capabilities. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani recently noted that IREN “is behind on scale and building an enterprise business” when compared to neocloud competitors such as CoreWeave and Nebius. This cautious outlook is evident in the consensus rating. Analysts currently assign a Moderate Buy rating to the stock, comprised of seven Buy recommendations, two Hold ratings, and one Sell rating issued over the previous three months. The consensus price target stands at $79.33, implying potential upside of approximately 108% from present trading levels. Despite the bullish price target, shares have been under sustained pressure. The stock declined 9.3% in the week leading up to Thursday’s additional 9% decrease, bringing total weekly losses to approximately 23%. The post IREN Stock Plummets 23% Following Meta’s AI Cloud Infrastructure Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.

IREN Stock Plummets 23% Following Meta’s AI Cloud Infrastructure Announcement

Key Highlights
IREN shares declined approximately 23% over five trading sessions, including a 9% drop on Thursday
The downturn initiated Wednesday following Meta’s announcement to enter AI cloud infrastructure services
Company welcomed Kambiz Aghili (formerly Oracle) as Chief Product Officer and Michael Nudelman (formerly Google) as Chief Development Officer
Nudelman tasked with expanding IREN’s substantial 5GW power capacity; Aghili to direct AI Cloud platform product strategy
Wall Street maintains a Moderate Buy rating with an average target price of $79.33, suggesting approximately 108% potential upside
IREN Limited has experienced significant turbulence this week. Shares of the AI cloud infrastructure and data center operator have tumbled roughly 23% across the last five trading sessions, including an additional 9% slide on Thursday. The pressure persisted despite the company’s announcement of two strategic executive appointments from major tech firms.
The market reaction began Wednesday when Meta disclosed its intentions to expand into AI cloud infrastructure services. This announcement sent shockwaves through the neocloud sector, with IREN becoming collateral damage in the broader selloff.
Amid the market turmoil, IREN revealed on Wednesday the addition of Kambiz Aghili as Chief Product Officer and Michael Nudelman as Chief Development Officer. Both executives will operate from the company’s San Francisco base.
Aghili transitions from Oracle, where he served as Vice President of Products for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. His portfolio included strategic oversight and development initiatives across multiple cloud platforms, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
Nudelman contributes more than two decades of experience spanning data center development, energy infrastructure, and corporate finance. His background includes leadership positions at Google, CyrusOne, and Beale Infrastructure.
In his new role at IREN, Aghili will spearhead product strategy for the company’s AI Cloud ecosystem, encompassing bare metal GPU solutions and comprehensive managed service offerings. Nudelman will oversee worldwide data center development initiatives and advance the company’s expansive 5GW power portfolio across both established and emerging markets.
Co-founder and Co-CEO Daniel Roberts characterized these appointments as essential to IREN’s expansion blueprint, which relies on acquiring substantial land and power resources before deploying infrastructure solutions.
Strategic Implications of the Leadership Additions
These executive appointments arrive as IREN accelerates efforts to expand its AI Cloud operations. The organization recently acquired a data center development company in Spain to establish its European footprint. Additionally, it’s constructing a new data center facility in Australia.
IREN functions as a fully integrated AI Cloud solutions provider, managing data centers, GPU computing clusters, and the necessary software infrastructure to deliver managed services. The company controls grid-connected land and power resources spanning North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The company has posted revenue growth exceeding 100% over the trailing twelve months and currently maintains a market capitalization of approximately $16.34 billion.
Analyst Perspectives
Wall Street observers have characterized IREN’s transition from Bitcoin mining operations to AI cloud services as a “compelling strategic pivot.” However, questions remain about execution capabilities.
Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani recently noted that IREN “is behind on scale and building an enterprise business” when compared to neocloud competitors such as CoreWeave and Nebius.
This cautious outlook is evident in the consensus rating. Analysts currently assign a Moderate Buy rating to the stock, comprised of seven Buy recommendations, two Hold ratings, and one Sell rating issued over the previous three months.
The consensus price target stands at $79.33, implying potential upside of approximately 108% from present trading levels.
Despite the bullish price target, shares have been under sustained pressure. The stock declined 9.3% in the week leading up to Thursday’s additional 9% decrease, bringing total weekly losses to approximately 23%.
The post IREN Stock Plummets 23% Following Meta’s AI Cloud Infrastructure Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.
Ford (F) Stock Slides as Q2 Sales Plunge 10% Amid Electric Vehicle SlowdownKey Takeaways Second-quarter U.S. deliveries at Ford decreased 10.3% year-over-year to 549,200 units, with year-to-date volumes declining 9.6% to approximately 1 million vehicles. Electric vehicle deliveries plummeted 40.7% during the quarter to 9,746 units; F-150 Lightning sales plunged 58.6% before production ceased. Bronco achieved quarterly sales record with 45,739 units delivered, surpassing Jeep Wrangler; Explorer volumes increased 13.8%. F-Series pickup deliveries declined 11% to 197,900 units in Q2, though Ford maintained its lead over Silverado by 80,000 vehicles. Louisville Assembly Plant undergoing transformation to manufacture sub-$30,000 electric pickup launching in 2026. Ford disclosed Thursday that its second-quarter U.S. vehicle deliveries tumbled 10.3% to 549,200 units as softening electric vehicle appetite and strategic model eliminations impacted performance. Shares of Ford (F) declined approximately 2.79% during Thursday’s session, hovering around $13.27. While the topline figure appears concerning, Ford management contends the underlying story is more nuanced. When adjusting for the discontinued Escape and Lincoln Corsair models, combined with a 69% reduction in daily rental fleet deliveries, the automaker calculates Q2 sales would have increased by 0.5%. Year-to-date volumes through June decreased 9.6% to slightly above 1 million units. Ford announced today that it sold 9,746 EVs in the U.S. in Q2 2026, -40.7% YoY. Units sold: • Mach-E: 7,032 (-31% YoY) • F-150 Lightning: 2,421 (discontinued) • E-Transit: 293 (-30% YoY) pic.twitter.com/g11LTXB4r5 — Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) July 2, 2026 The electric vehicle segment experienced particularly challenging conditions. Ford’s EV deliveries collapsed 40.7% in the second quarter to merely 9,746 vehicles. Mustang Mach-E volumes decreased 30.9%, while the discontinued F-150 Lightning plummeted 58.6%. For the six-month period, electric vehicle sales have declined 57.4%. This electric vehicle weakness stems from the elimination of federal EV tax incentives at the conclusion of Q3 last year—a challenge affecting the entire automotive sector, including GM. Hybrid volumes also weakened, falling 20% during the quarter. This stands in stark contrast to competitors Honda and Toyota, both of which reported growth in electrified vehicles. Pickup Truck Performance The F-Series lineup, maintaining its position as America’s top-selling truck, experienced declines as well. Deliveries fell 11% in Q2 to 197,900 units and dropped 13.3% for the first six months to 357,801 vehicles. Ford attributed this to a “retiming of commercial production” connected to previous year aluminum supply constraints, emphasizing demand remains robust. The manufacturer highlighted that it continues to outsell the second-place Chevrolet Silverado by over 80,000 trucks year-to-date. [[LINK_START_3]]GM[[LINK_END_3]] posted a more modest 4.2% second-quarter decline. Performance Highlights Several product lines delivered strong results. The Bronco family achieved a second-quarter record with 45,739 units delivered, climbing 15.9%, and surpassed the Jeep Wrangler during the period. First-half Bronco deliveries reached a record 76,936 units. Explorer volumes advanced 13.8% to 65,538 vehicles. Combined deliveries of Bronco, Explorer and Expedition increased 10.1% in the first half—what Ford characterized as the segment’s strongest six-month performance in a quarter-century. The Maverick Hybrid established a Q2 record at 29,457 units, advancing 19.3%. Mustang deliveries rose 22% in the first half to 28,725 units despite overall passenger car market contraction. Ford’s estimated June retail market share improved 0.2 percentage points to 12.3%. Across the industry, June sales exceeded a 17 million seasonally adjusted annual rate for the first time since July 2025. CEO Jim Farley emphasized the forthcoming affordable electric vehicle portfolio as the company’s next expansion catalyst. The Louisville Assembly Plant is currently being retooled to manufacture a sub-$30,000 compact electric pickup utilizing Ford’s Universal EV architecture, scheduled for next year’s launch. “We’re going to be launching five or six new affordable vehicles,” Farley told Yahoo Finance last week. “The first one is transformational. It’ll be our less-than-$30,000 new electric truck coming out next year.” The post Ford (F) Stock Slides as Q2 Sales Plunge 10% Amid Electric Vehicle Slowdown appeared first on Blockonomi.

Ford (F) Stock Slides as Q2 Sales Plunge 10% Amid Electric Vehicle Slowdown

Key Takeaways
Second-quarter U.S. deliveries at Ford decreased 10.3% year-over-year to 549,200 units, with year-to-date volumes declining 9.6% to approximately 1 million vehicles.
Electric vehicle deliveries plummeted 40.7% during the quarter to 9,746 units; F-150 Lightning sales plunged 58.6% before production ceased.
Bronco achieved quarterly sales record with 45,739 units delivered, surpassing Jeep Wrangler; Explorer volumes increased 13.8%.
F-Series pickup deliveries declined 11% to 197,900 units in Q2, though Ford maintained its lead over Silverado by 80,000 vehicles.
Louisville Assembly Plant undergoing transformation to manufacture sub-$30,000 electric pickup launching in 2026.
Ford disclosed Thursday that its second-quarter U.S. vehicle deliveries tumbled 10.3% to 549,200 units as softening electric vehicle appetite and strategic model eliminations impacted performance. Shares of Ford (F) declined approximately 2.79% during Thursday’s session, hovering around $13.27.
While the topline figure appears concerning, Ford management contends the underlying story is more nuanced. When adjusting for the discontinued Escape and Lincoln Corsair models, combined with a 69% reduction in daily rental fleet deliveries, the automaker calculates Q2 sales would have increased by 0.5%.
Year-to-date volumes through June decreased 9.6% to slightly above 1 million units.
Ford announced today that it sold 9,746 EVs in the U.S. in Q2 2026, -40.7% YoY.
Units sold:
• Mach-E: 7,032 (-31% YoY)
• F-150 Lightning: 2,421 (discontinued)
• E-Transit: 293 (-30% YoY) pic.twitter.com/g11LTXB4r5
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) July 2, 2026
The electric vehicle segment experienced particularly challenging conditions. Ford’s EV deliveries collapsed 40.7% in the second quarter to merely 9,746 vehicles. Mustang Mach-E volumes decreased 30.9%, while the discontinued F-150 Lightning plummeted 58.6%. For the six-month period, electric vehicle sales have declined 57.4%.
This electric vehicle weakness stems from the elimination of federal EV tax incentives at the conclusion of Q3 last year—a challenge affecting the entire automotive sector, including GM.
Hybrid volumes also weakened, falling 20% during the quarter. This stands in stark contrast to competitors Honda and Toyota, both of which reported growth in electrified vehicles.
Pickup Truck Performance
The F-Series lineup, maintaining its position as America’s top-selling truck, experienced declines as well. Deliveries fell 11% in Q2 to 197,900 units and dropped 13.3% for the first six months to 357,801 vehicles.
Ford attributed this to a “retiming of commercial production” connected to previous year aluminum supply constraints, emphasizing demand remains robust. The manufacturer highlighted that it continues to outsell the second-place Chevrolet Silverado by over 80,000 trucks year-to-date.
[[LINK_START_3]]GM[[LINK_END_3]] posted a more modest 4.2% second-quarter decline.
Performance Highlights
Several product lines delivered strong results. The Bronco family achieved a second-quarter record with 45,739 units delivered, climbing 15.9%, and surpassed the Jeep Wrangler during the period. First-half Bronco deliveries reached a record 76,936 units.
Explorer volumes advanced 13.8% to 65,538 vehicles. Combined deliveries of Bronco, Explorer and Expedition increased 10.1% in the first half—what Ford characterized as the segment’s strongest six-month performance in a quarter-century.
The Maverick Hybrid established a Q2 record at 29,457 units, advancing 19.3%. Mustang deliveries rose 22% in the first half to 28,725 units despite overall passenger car market contraction.
Ford’s estimated June retail market share improved 0.2 percentage points to 12.3%. Across the industry, June sales exceeded a 17 million seasonally adjusted annual rate for the first time since July 2025.
CEO Jim Farley emphasized the forthcoming affordable electric vehicle portfolio as the company’s next expansion catalyst. The Louisville Assembly Plant is currently being retooled to manufacture a sub-$30,000 compact electric pickup utilizing Ford’s Universal EV architecture, scheduled for next year’s launch.
“We’re going to be launching five or six new affordable vehicles,” Farley told Yahoo Finance last week. “The first one is transformational. It’ll be our less-than-$30,000 new electric truck coming out next year.”
The post Ford (F) Stock Slides as Q2 Sales Plunge 10% Amid Electric Vehicle Slowdown appeared first on Blockonomi.
F0.00%
FUS-2.33%
CaliberCos (CWD) Stock Jumps 83% Following Chainlink Real Estate Tokenization AnnouncementKey Highlights CWD shares jumped 83% following CaliberCos’ blockchain tokenization announcement. The company revealed plans to tokenize real estate investment funds using advanced technology. Chainlink’s infrastructure will enable regulatory compliance for tokenized offerings. The initiative aims to enhance accessibility in private real estate markets through blockchain. Investors responded enthusiastically to Caliber’s integration of blockchain into its operations. Shares of CaliberCos Inc. (CWD) rocketed 83.47% to reach $1.1850 following the company’s disclosure of an advanced real estate tokenization initiative. The stock experienced significant early trading activity before settling around $1.18, retaining the majority of its intraday gains. This dramatic price movement came after Caliber revealed its intention to leverage Chainlink’s technology infrastructure for creating compliant digital real estate investment vehicles. CaliberCos Inc., CWD CaliberCos Advances Digital Real Estate Investment Platform Caliber announced its upcoming phase will concentrate on integrating tokenization technology directly into its real estate investment operations. As a manager of alternative property assets, the firm intends to transform how private fund ownership functions. The initiative seeks to enhance financing mechanisms, administrative processes, market accessibility, and transparency through distributed ledger technology. According to the company, modern tokenization challenges extend well beyond simply generating digital securities. Critical hurdles include regulatory adherence, distribution networks, investor qualification procedures, advisor integration systems, and meeting stringent market regulations. Consequently, Caliber intends to seamlessly integrate its tokenized offerings with established wealth management infrastructure and fund administration workflows. This approach represents a fundamental transition from merely holding digital assets to actively deploying them operationally. While Caliber currently maintains holdings of LINK, the native token of Chainlink’s ecosystem, the company now seeks to implement Chainlink-powered solutions to facilitate real estate fund tokenization within its operational framework. Chainlink Technology Enables Regulatory Compliance Framework Caliber intends to deploy Chainlink’s Automated Compliance Engine to facilitate regulated operations for its tokenized investment products. This integrated system creates connections between identity verification providers, digital wallets, risk management platforms, issuers, and distribution networks. Consequently, it enables streamlined investor verification processes, automated compliance enforcement, comprehensive audit documentation, and digital distribution capabilities. Regulatory compliance represents a significant obstacle for tokenizing private investment funds. Fund managers must authenticate qualified participants, track all activities, and preserve detailed documentation. Chainlink’s technological framework addresses these requirements through automated, reusable compliance mechanisms. According to Caliber, the emphasis remains squarely on genuine investment vehicles and established fund architectures. The organization expects tokenization to deliver more transparent valuations, broader market access, and streamlined administrative operations. Additionally, the system should facilitate custody solutions, enhanced reporting capabilities, liquidity mechanisms, and compliant asset transfers. Market Responds Positively to CaliberCos Blockchain Integration CWD experienced substantial gains as investors recognized Caliber’s integration of blockchain technology into its fundamental real estate operations. Rather than pursuing tokenization as an isolated technology experiment, the company plans comprehensive implementation across carefully selected private property investments. Caliber indicated its implementation strategy will commence with properties ideally suited for tokenization. One notable example includes the company’s investment in a major indoor Pickleball and Padel complex in the United States. According to Caliber, such ventures could demonstrate tangible investor advantages through enhanced ownership structures and superior administrative capabilities. Regarding public market positioning, Caliber presents CWD as a real estate asset management company leveraging blockchain infrastructure for operational advantages. The firm’s LINK holdings provide supplementary exposure to the Chainlink ecosystem. However, Caliber emphasized that blockchain adoption does not eliminate fundamental investment risks, though it may enhance operational efficiency for fund management.   The post CaliberCos (CWD) Stock Jumps 83% Following Chainlink Real Estate Tokenization Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.

CaliberCos (CWD) Stock Jumps 83% Following Chainlink Real Estate Tokenization Announcement

Key Highlights
CWD shares jumped 83% following CaliberCos’ blockchain tokenization announcement.
The company revealed plans to tokenize real estate investment funds using advanced technology.
Chainlink’s infrastructure will enable regulatory compliance for tokenized offerings.
The initiative aims to enhance accessibility in private real estate markets through blockchain.
Investors responded enthusiastically to Caliber’s integration of blockchain into its operations.
Shares of CaliberCos Inc. (CWD) rocketed 83.47% to reach $1.1850 following the company’s disclosure of an advanced real estate tokenization initiative. The stock experienced significant early trading activity before settling around $1.18, retaining the majority of its intraday gains. This dramatic price movement came after Caliber revealed its intention to leverage Chainlink’s technology infrastructure for creating compliant digital real estate investment vehicles.
CaliberCos Inc., CWD
CaliberCos Advances Digital Real Estate Investment Platform
Caliber announced its upcoming phase will concentrate on integrating tokenization technology directly into its real estate investment operations. As a manager of alternative property assets, the firm intends to transform how private fund ownership functions. The initiative seeks to enhance financing mechanisms, administrative processes, market accessibility, and transparency through distributed ledger technology.
According to the company, modern tokenization challenges extend well beyond simply generating digital securities. Critical hurdles include regulatory adherence, distribution networks, investor qualification procedures, advisor integration systems, and meeting stringent market regulations. Consequently, Caliber intends to seamlessly integrate its tokenized offerings with established wealth management infrastructure and fund administration workflows.
This approach represents a fundamental transition from merely holding digital assets to actively deploying them operationally. While Caliber currently maintains holdings of LINK, the native token of Chainlink’s ecosystem, the company now seeks to implement Chainlink-powered solutions to facilitate real estate fund tokenization within its operational framework.
Chainlink Technology Enables Regulatory Compliance Framework
Caliber intends to deploy Chainlink’s Automated Compliance Engine to facilitate regulated operations for its tokenized investment products. This integrated system creates connections between identity verification providers, digital wallets, risk management platforms, issuers, and distribution networks. Consequently, it enables streamlined investor verification processes, automated compliance enforcement, comprehensive audit documentation, and digital distribution capabilities.
Regulatory compliance represents a significant obstacle for tokenizing private investment funds. Fund managers must authenticate qualified participants, track all activities, and preserve detailed documentation. Chainlink’s technological framework addresses these requirements through automated, reusable compliance mechanisms.
According to Caliber, the emphasis remains squarely on genuine investment vehicles and established fund architectures. The organization expects tokenization to deliver more transparent valuations, broader market access, and streamlined administrative operations. Additionally, the system should facilitate custody solutions, enhanced reporting capabilities, liquidity mechanisms, and compliant asset transfers.
Market Responds Positively to CaliberCos Blockchain Integration
CWD experienced substantial gains as investors recognized Caliber’s integration of blockchain technology into its fundamental real estate operations. Rather than pursuing tokenization as an isolated technology experiment, the company plans comprehensive implementation across carefully selected private property investments.
Caliber indicated its implementation strategy will commence with properties ideally suited for tokenization. One notable example includes the company’s investment in a major indoor Pickleball and Padel complex in the United States. According to Caliber, such ventures could demonstrate tangible investor advantages through enhanced ownership structures and superior administrative capabilities.
Regarding public market positioning, Caliber presents CWD as a real estate asset management company leveraging blockchain infrastructure for operational advantages. The firm’s LINK holdings provide supplementary exposure to the Chainlink ecosystem. However, Caliber emphasized that blockchain adoption does not eliminate fundamental investment risks, though it may enhance operational efficiency for fund management.

The post CaliberCos (CWD) Stock Jumps 83% Following Chainlink Real Estate Tokenization Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.
LINK+4.93%
CWDUS+55.98%
Micron (MU) Stock Falls Over 10% Despite Trump’s ‘Hottest Company’ LabelTLDR Micron (MU) fell an additional 2.1% Thursday after Wednesday’s 10.6% plunge, even as President Trump lauded the chipmaker on Truth Social. The President highlighted Micron’s $250 million commitment to Trump Accounts, describing it as “HISTORIC” for American families. Broader memory chip weakness drove declines, with SanDisk (SNDK) falling 10% and Western Digital (WDC) losing over 10%. International markets felt the pain too: South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled 7.9%, SK Hynix dropped 14.6%, and Samsung declined 9.1%. Year-to-date, MU remains elevated approximately 262% in 2026, with Q3 results exceeding analyst projections on all metrics. Micron Technology (MU) extended its losses Thursday morning, declining another 2.1% to approximately $1,007 per share, after Wednesday’s harsh 10.6% selloff — and even a presidential shoutout couldn’t reverse the momentum. On Wednesday, President Trump took to Truth Social to champion Micron as “one of the HOTTEST anywhere in the World,” applauding CEO Sanjay Mehrotra’s commitment of $250 million toward Trump Accounts. These accounts represent tax-advantaged savings programs designed for Americans under 18, with children born from 2025 through 2028 receiving an initial $1,000 Treasury deposit. Trump doubled down Thursday morning with another message: “How about this? Micron, a GREAT American Company, announced that they are putting in 250 Million Dollars into the Trump Accounts for the future benefit of children.” Wall Street’s reaction? Continued selling pressure. This downturn extends beyond Micron alone. The entire memory semiconductor segment is experiencing weakness. SanDisk (SNDK) dropped approximately 10%, Western Digital (WDC) shed more than 10%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) retreated despite posting a 6.19% weekly advance. International markets reflected similar pressure. South Korea’s KOSPI index finished Thursday’s session down 7.9%. SK Hynix plummeted 14.6% while Samsung lost 9.1%. Intel and Nvidia also registered declines. Taking Chips Off the Table After Massive Gains Perspective is crucial. MU has surged approximately 262% during 2026 and climbed roughly 754% over the trailing twelve months. Coming into this week, the stock carried extraordinarily elevated expectations. Traders on Polymarket placed the probability of Thursday showing red at 98.5% before market open. The consensus anticipated continued weakness. Insider activity adds another dimension. CEO Mehrotra executed sales totaling $32.7 million on June 26 through a predetermined 10b5-1 trading arrangement, near the 52-week peak. While systematic and compliant, such transactions at current valuations draw attention. The Underlying Business Performance Micron’s fiscal Q3 2026 results, released June 24, demonstrated strength. Revenue reached $41.46 billion, representing 345.7% year-over-year growth and surpassing consensus by 17.6%. Non-GAAP earnings per share registered $25.11 against the $20.28 Street estimate — marking the seventh consecutive quarterly beat. GAAP gross margin expanded dramatically to 84.6% from 37.7% in the prior-year period. The company projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion with EPS targeting $31.00. During the analyst conference call, Mehrotra disclosed that Micron has executed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements representing approximately 25% of total revenue. Fourteen of these agreements are projected to generate cumulative floor-price revenue approaching $100 billion. Additionally, Micron holds $22 billion in customer cash deposits plus letters of credit backing take-or-pay obligations. HBM4 shipments have surpassed $1 billion, scaling at double the rate of HBM3E 12-high. The $250 million Trump Accounts commitment doesn’t alter Micron’s financial performance. The critical factors remain the transition toward long-term contract structures and accelerating HBM adoption — both narratives continue progressing. MU last changed hands near $1,007, off 2.64% for the session. The post Micron (MU) Stock Falls Over 10% Despite Trump’s ‘Hottest Company’ Label appeared first on Blockonomi.

Micron (MU) Stock Falls Over 10% Despite Trump’s ‘Hottest Company’ Label

TLDR
Micron (MU) fell an additional 2.1% Thursday after Wednesday’s 10.6% plunge, even as President Trump lauded the chipmaker on Truth Social.
The President highlighted Micron’s $250 million commitment to Trump Accounts, describing it as “HISTORIC” for American families.
Broader memory chip weakness drove declines, with SanDisk (SNDK) falling 10% and Western Digital (WDC) losing over 10%.
International markets felt the pain too: South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled 7.9%, SK Hynix dropped 14.6%, and Samsung declined 9.1%.
Year-to-date, MU remains elevated approximately 262% in 2026, with Q3 results exceeding analyst projections on all metrics.
Micron Technology (MU) extended its losses Thursday morning, declining another 2.1% to approximately $1,007 per share, after Wednesday’s harsh 10.6% selloff — and even a presidential shoutout couldn’t reverse the momentum.
On Wednesday, President Trump took to Truth Social to champion Micron as “one of the HOTTEST anywhere in the World,” applauding CEO Sanjay Mehrotra’s commitment of $250 million toward Trump Accounts. These accounts represent tax-advantaged savings programs designed for Americans under 18, with children born from 2025 through 2028 receiving an initial $1,000 Treasury deposit.
Trump doubled down Thursday morning with another message: “How about this? Micron, a GREAT American Company, announced that they are putting in 250 Million Dollars into the Trump Accounts for the future benefit of children.”
Wall Street’s reaction? Continued selling pressure.
This downturn extends beyond Micron alone. The entire memory semiconductor segment is experiencing weakness. SanDisk (SNDK) dropped approximately 10%, Western Digital (WDC) shed more than 10%, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) retreated despite posting a 6.19% weekly advance.
International markets reflected similar pressure. South Korea’s KOSPI index finished Thursday’s session down 7.9%. SK Hynix plummeted 14.6% while Samsung lost 9.1%. Intel and Nvidia also registered declines.
Taking Chips Off the Table After Massive Gains
Perspective is crucial. MU has surged approximately 262% during 2026 and climbed roughly 754% over the trailing twelve months. Coming into this week, the stock carried extraordinarily elevated expectations.
Traders on Polymarket placed the probability of Thursday showing red at 98.5% before market open. The consensus anticipated continued weakness.
Insider activity adds another dimension. CEO Mehrotra executed sales totaling $32.7 million on June 26 through a predetermined 10b5-1 trading arrangement, near the 52-week peak. While systematic and compliant, such transactions at current valuations draw attention.
The Underlying Business Performance
Micron’s fiscal Q3 2026 results, released June 24, demonstrated strength. Revenue reached $41.46 billion, representing 345.7% year-over-year growth and surpassing consensus by 17.6%. Non-GAAP earnings per share registered $25.11 against the $20.28 Street estimate — marking the seventh consecutive quarterly beat. GAAP gross margin expanded dramatically to 84.6% from 37.7% in the prior-year period.
The company projected Q4 revenue of $50 billion with EPS targeting $31.00.
During the analyst conference call, Mehrotra disclosed that Micron has executed 16 Strategic Customer Agreements representing approximately 25% of total revenue. Fourteen of these agreements are projected to generate cumulative floor-price revenue approaching $100 billion.
Additionally, Micron holds $22 billion in customer cash deposits plus letters of credit backing take-or-pay obligations. HBM4 shipments have surpassed $1 billion, scaling at double the rate of HBM3E 12-high.
The $250 million Trump Accounts commitment doesn’t alter Micron’s financial performance. The critical factors remain the transition toward long-term contract structures and accelerating HBM adoption — both narratives continue progressing.
MU last changed hands near $1,007, off 2.64% for the session.
The post Micron (MU) Stock Falls Over 10% Despite Trump’s ‘Hottest Company’ Label appeared first on Blockonomi.
Anthropic Eyes Custom AI Chip Development with Samsung as Manufacturing PartnerKey Highlights Samsung Electronics is in preliminary discussions with Anthropic about manufacturing custom AI processors utilizing 2-nanometer technology Development remains in conceptual phase without active design or production activities The Claude AI maker recruited Clive Chan from OpenAI’s chip division, demonstrating commitment to hardware development Memory chip giants Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron invested in Anthropic’s massive $65 billion funding round in May Company confirms continued reliance on Nvidia GPUs, AWS Trainium processors, and Google TPUs for computing infrastructure The artificial intelligence firm responsible for the Claude language models has initiated exploratory efforts to develop proprietary semiconductor technology. According to reporting from The Information, Anthropic has engaged in preliminary conversations with Samsung Electronics regarding potential chip fabrication. Anthropic is reportedly in early talks with Samsung to manufacture a custom AI chip, per The Information. The Claude maker is still in the early planning stage, deciding what the processor should do and how it would fit into AI servers or clusters. Samsung is reportedly being… pic.twitter.com/7yLkZlhrbr — Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 2, 2026 The initiative remains highly preliminary. Detailed engineering specifications and fabrication processes haven’t commenced, and the company may ultimately abandon the project. Demonstrating serious intent, Anthropic brought aboard Clive Chan, who previously worked on OpenAI’s semiconductor initiatives. This strategic hire indicates a focused effort to establish internal chip engineering capabilities. Discussions have concentrated on leveraging Samsung’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer production technology alongside its sophisticated packaging infrastructure. Success here would position Samsung as a formidable challenger to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the current leader in premium AI chip fabrication. This strategic direction follows established industry precedent. Google developed its Tensor Processing Unit architecture several years back. Amazon created its Trainium and Inferentia chip families. OpenAI collaborated with Broadcom on an inference processor called Jalapeño, which emerged publicly last month. Anthropic secured $65 billion during its Series H financing round in May, achieving a valuation approaching $965 billion. Among the participants were Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron—positioning Samsung uniquely as both a financial backer and prospective manufacturing collaborator. Samsung’s Competitive Advantage Samsung stands alone among chip investors in that funding round as the sole entity operating foundry services. Unlike companies focused exclusively on memory or design, Samsung manufactures custom chip architectures in its own production facilities. Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, enable AI organizations to optimize hardware for particular computational tasks. This specialization can deliver superior performance efficiency versus purchasing standard processors from Nvidia. Nvidia maintains approximately 74% of the AI semiconductor market. This dominant position has persisted despite concentrated efforts by AI laboratories to create proprietary silicon solutions. Google is independently evaluating Samsung as a potential manufacturer for upcoming Tensor Processing Unit iterations. Such a contract would significantly strengthen Samsung’s foundry business portfolio. Earlier this week, Samsung Group and SK Group unveiled a joint $518 billion investment spanning ten years to construct four memory chip manufacturing facilities in South Korea. Existing Supplier Relationships Remain Intact Anthropic emphasized that custom chip exploration doesn’t represent abandonment of current hardware partnerships. Company representatives told The Information that AWS Trainium, Google TPUs, and Nvidia GPUs will continue serving as foundational elements of its computational scaling strategy. The organization is simultaneously evaluating processors from Microsoft and UK-based Fractile. This approach suggests a diversified supplier framework rather than exclusive dependence on any single manufacturer. From an investment perspective, the critical consideration is whether Samsung can convert these exploratory discussions into binding production agreements. Any finalized deal would represent a significant challenge to TSMC’s dominance in advanced AI chip manufacturing. Samsung has faced persistent challenges achieving competitive production yields at leading-edge process nodes compared to TSMC, a concern industry analysts consistently highlight. The post Anthropic Eyes Custom AI Chip Development with Samsung as Manufacturing Partner appeared first on Blockonomi.

Anthropic Eyes Custom AI Chip Development with Samsung as Manufacturing Partner

Key Highlights
Samsung Electronics is in preliminary discussions with Anthropic about manufacturing custom AI processors utilizing 2-nanometer technology
Development remains in conceptual phase without active design or production activities
The Claude AI maker recruited Clive Chan from OpenAI’s chip division, demonstrating commitment to hardware development
Memory chip giants Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron invested in Anthropic’s massive $65 billion funding round in May
Company confirms continued reliance on Nvidia GPUs, AWS Trainium processors, and Google TPUs for computing infrastructure
The artificial intelligence firm responsible for the Claude language models has initiated exploratory efforts to develop proprietary semiconductor technology. According to reporting from The Information, Anthropic has engaged in preliminary conversations with Samsung Electronics regarding potential chip fabrication.
Anthropic is reportedly in early talks with Samsung to manufacture a custom AI chip, per The Information.
The Claude maker is still in the early planning stage, deciding what the processor should do and how it would fit into AI servers or clusters.
Samsung is reportedly being… pic.twitter.com/7yLkZlhrbr
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 2, 2026
The initiative remains highly preliminary. Detailed engineering specifications and fabrication processes haven’t commenced, and the company may ultimately abandon the project.
Demonstrating serious intent, Anthropic brought aboard Clive Chan, who previously worked on OpenAI’s semiconductor initiatives. This strategic hire indicates a focused effort to establish internal chip engineering capabilities.
Discussions have concentrated on leveraging Samsung’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer production technology alongside its sophisticated packaging infrastructure. Success here would position Samsung as a formidable challenger to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the current leader in premium AI chip fabrication.
This strategic direction follows established industry precedent. Google developed its Tensor Processing Unit architecture several years back. Amazon created its Trainium and Inferentia chip families. OpenAI collaborated with Broadcom on an inference processor called Jalapeño, which emerged publicly last month.
Anthropic secured $65 billion during its Series H financing round in May, achieving a valuation approaching $965 billion. Among the participants were Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron—positioning Samsung uniquely as both a financial backer and prospective manufacturing collaborator.
Samsung’s Competitive Advantage
Samsung stands alone among chip investors in that funding round as the sole entity operating foundry services. Unlike companies focused exclusively on memory or design, Samsung manufactures custom chip architectures in its own production facilities.
Application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs, enable AI organizations to optimize hardware for particular computational tasks. This specialization can deliver superior performance efficiency versus purchasing standard processors from Nvidia.
Nvidia maintains approximately 74% of the AI semiconductor market. This dominant position has persisted despite concentrated efforts by AI laboratories to create proprietary silicon solutions.
Google is independently evaluating Samsung as a potential manufacturer for upcoming Tensor Processing Unit iterations. Such a contract would significantly strengthen Samsung’s foundry business portfolio.
Earlier this week, Samsung Group and SK Group unveiled a joint $518 billion investment spanning ten years to construct four memory chip manufacturing facilities in South Korea.
Existing Supplier Relationships Remain Intact
Anthropic emphasized that custom chip exploration doesn’t represent abandonment of current hardware partnerships. Company representatives told The Information that AWS Trainium, Google TPUs, and Nvidia GPUs will continue serving as foundational elements of its computational scaling strategy.
The organization is simultaneously evaluating processors from Microsoft and UK-based Fractile. This approach suggests a diversified supplier framework rather than exclusive dependence on any single manufacturer.
From an investment perspective, the critical consideration is whether Samsung can convert these exploratory discussions into binding production agreements. Any finalized deal would represent a significant challenge to TSMC’s dominance in advanced AI chip manufacturing.
Samsung has faced persistent challenges achieving competitive production yields at leading-edge process nodes compared to TSMC, a concern industry analysts consistently highlight.
The post Anthropic Eyes Custom AI Chip Development with Samsung as Manufacturing Partner appeared first on Blockonomi.
Wall Street Rallies as Disappointing Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Hike PressureTLDR June employment figures showed only 57,000 new positions created, significantly below the anticipated 113,000. Major equity indexes rallied following the release, with the Dow climbing approximately 0.7%. Jobless figures declined modestly to 4.2%, compared to predictions of 4.3%. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh emphasized that markets should analyze economic indicators rather than central bank signals for rate direction. Probability of unchanged rates through December increased to 21.7% based on CME FedWatch Tool data. Equity markets across the United States posted gains on Thursday following a disappointing June employment report that suggested the Federal Reserve might pause its interest rate tightening campaign. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced approximately 370 points, representing a 0.7% increase. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite registered a 0.5% gain during morning trading sessions. E-Mini S&P 500 Sep 26 (ES=F) Employment Data Falls Short of Projections According to the Labor Department’s latest release, the American economy generated 57,000 new positions during June. This figure represented a substantial miss compared to economist consensus estimates of 113,000. The data marked a notable deceleration from hiring patterns observed over the preceding three-month period. BREAKING: The US economy adds 57,000 jobs in June, well below expectations of 114,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, below expectations of 4.3%. May's jobs number was also revised down by -43,000 jobs. The labor market remains in a volatile situation. — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 2, 2026 The unemployment metric registered at 4.2%. Analysts had projected the rate would remain unchanged at 4.3%, making the slight decline an unexpected development. The subdued hiring figures interrupted what had been a consecutive three-month stretch of robust employment growth. It simultaneously altered market sentiment regarding the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decisions. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh recently advised Wall Street participants to concentrate on fundamental economic metrics instead of anticipating explicit central bank communication. Thursday’s employment data provided market participants with tangible information to digest. Chris Zaccarelli, serving as chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, suggested the deceleration in job creation might encourage more aggressive Federal Reserve policymakers to reconsider the pace of monetary tightening. The likelihood of interest rates remaining unchanged through year-end climbed to 21.7%, as indicated by the CME FedWatch Tool. Market participants continue to factor in the possibility of at least one rate increase during 2025. Government bond yields adjusted following the data release. The 2-year yield declined to 4.15%, whereas the 10-year yield ticked upward to 4.49%. The U.S. dollar simultaneously weakened against major currencies. Technology Sector Experiences Headwinds From Semiconductor Decline Despite broader market strength, technology equities encountered resistance. The Nasdaq underperformed relative to both the Dow and S&P 500 during the trading session. A significant decline among South Korean semiconductor manufacturers dampened investor sentiment. The Kospi index plummeted 7.9%. SK Hynix tumbled more than 14%, while Samsung Electronics experienced a decline exceeding 9%. Both corporations had recently unveiled substantial artificial intelligence infrastructure investment initiatives. Microsoft shares defied the broader technology sector weakness, posting gains despite surrounding headwinds. Oil prices retreated after Qatar, serving as intermediary in U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, characterized this week’s diplomatic exchanges as productive. While no agreement materialized, the diplomatic atmosphere was interpreted favorably. With American financial markets scheduled to close Friday in observance of Independence Day, certain traders appeared to be adjusting positions ahead of the extended holiday weekend. The S&P 500 was trading at 7,501 during midday activity. The Dow reached 52,757. The Nasdaq positioned at 25,992. The post Wall Street Rallies as Disappointing Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Hike Pressure appeared first on Blockonomi.

Wall Street Rallies as Disappointing Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Hike Pressure

TLDR
June employment figures showed only 57,000 new positions created, significantly below the anticipated 113,000.
Major equity indexes rallied following the release, with the Dow climbing approximately 0.7%.
Jobless figures declined modestly to 4.2%, compared to predictions of 4.3%.
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh emphasized that markets should analyze economic indicators rather than central bank signals for rate direction.
Probability of unchanged rates through December increased to 21.7% based on CME FedWatch Tool data.
Equity markets across the United States posted gains on Thursday following a disappointing June employment report that suggested the Federal Reserve might pause its interest rate tightening campaign.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced approximately 370 points, representing a 0.7% increase. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite registered a 0.5% gain during morning trading sessions.
E-Mini S&P 500 Sep 26 (ES=F)
Employment Data Falls Short of Projections
According to the Labor Department’s latest release, the American economy generated 57,000 new positions during June. This figure represented a substantial miss compared to economist consensus estimates of 113,000. The data marked a notable deceleration from hiring patterns observed over the preceding three-month period.
BREAKING: The US economy adds 57,000 jobs in June, well below expectations of 114,000.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, below expectations of 4.3%.
May's jobs number was also revised down by -43,000 jobs.
The labor market remains in a volatile situation.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) July 2, 2026
The unemployment metric registered at 4.2%. Analysts had projected the rate would remain unchanged at 4.3%, making the slight decline an unexpected development.
The subdued hiring figures interrupted what had been a consecutive three-month stretch of robust employment growth. It simultaneously altered market sentiment regarding the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decisions.
Chairman of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh recently advised Wall Street participants to concentrate on fundamental economic metrics instead of anticipating explicit central bank communication. Thursday’s employment data provided market participants with tangible information to digest.
Chris Zaccarelli, serving as chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, suggested the deceleration in job creation might encourage more aggressive Federal Reserve policymakers to reconsider the pace of monetary tightening.
The likelihood of interest rates remaining unchanged through year-end climbed to 21.7%, as indicated by the CME FedWatch Tool. Market participants continue to factor in the possibility of at least one rate increase during 2025.
Government bond yields adjusted following the data release. The 2-year yield declined to 4.15%, whereas the 10-year yield ticked upward to 4.49%. The U.S. dollar simultaneously weakened against major currencies.
Technology Sector Experiences Headwinds From Semiconductor Decline
Despite broader market strength, technology equities encountered resistance. The Nasdaq underperformed relative to both the Dow and S&P 500 during the trading session.
A significant decline among South Korean semiconductor manufacturers dampened investor sentiment. The Kospi index plummeted 7.9%. SK Hynix tumbled more than 14%, while Samsung Electronics experienced a decline exceeding 9%. Both corporations had recently unveiled substantial artificial intelligence infrastructure investment initiatives.
Microsoft shares defied the broader technology sector weakness, posting gains despite surrounding headwinds.
Oil prices retreated after Qatar, serving as intermediary in U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, characterized this week’s diplomatic exchanges as productive. While no agreement materialized, the diplomatic atmosphere was interpreted favorably.
With American financial markets scheduled to close Friday in observance of Independence Day, certain traders appeared to be adjusting positions ahead of the extended holiday weekend.
The S&P 500 was trading at 7,501 during midday activity. The Dow reached 52,757. The Nasdaq positioned at 25,992.
The post Wall Street Rallies as Disappointing Jobs Data Reduces Fed Rate Hike Pressure appeared first on Blockonomi.
Tesla (TSLA) Stock Tumbles 6% Despite Q2 Delivery Numbers Crushing EstimatesKey Highlights Q2 2026 saw Tesla deliver 480,126 vehicles, surpassing Bloomberg’s consensus forecast of 397,466 by more than 20% Year-over-year deliveries rose 25%, while quarter-over-quarter figures climbed 34% European registrations surged 108% compared to the previous year, leading global growth Domestic US sales continue struggling following the end of federal EV tax incentives TSLA shares dropped nearly 3% during Thursday morning trading despite exceeding delivery targets Tesla (TSLA) reported second-quarter 2026 vehicle deliveries totaling 480,126 units, comfortably surpassing analyst projections. Bloomberg’s consensus estimate had anticipated 397,466 deliveries, while Tesla’s internal compilation of analyst forecasts stood at 406,024. The actual figure exceeded both benchmarks significantly. Shares of TSLA declined approximately 6.5% during Thursday’s morning session, hovering around the $397 mark, despite the delivery figures substantially beating Wall Street’s expectations. The quarterly delivery performance represents a 25% increase compared to Q2 2025 and a 34% sequential gain from Q1 2026. This marks Tesla’s strongest quarterly electric vehicle sales since Q3 2025, when consumers accelerated purchases ahead of expiring US tax incentives. Tesla $TSLA delivered 480,126 vehicles in Q2, well above estimates around 396K to 406K. Q2 breakdown: Produced: 451,758 vehicles Delivered: 480,126 vehicles Model 3/Y deliveries: 467,762 Other model deliveries: 12,364 Energy storage deployed: 13.5 GWh pic.twitter.com/dLlWFGZ0aU — Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 2, 2026 The majority of these deliveries—467,762 units—consisted of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The remaining 12,364 units came from alternative models, including the Cybertruck. Tesla ended production of its Model S and Model X lines during the previous quarter, with final limited edition deliveries concluding in May. Deepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster characterized the results as “the first sign we’re exiting the EV winter that started in March of 2024.” European Markets Drive Growth Global markets outside the US proved instrumental in Tesla’s quarterly performance. Tesla registrations throughout greater Europe reached 28,610 units in May alone, representing a 108% year-over-year increase. Through the first five months of 2026, registrations totaled 118,068—a 57% annual gain. Within EU borders specifically, May registrations more than doubled with a 152% surge. Deutsche Bank’s analyst Edison Yu observed that “international strength is doing the heavy lifting with Europe acting as the standout driver and China providing further support.” This remarkable European growth occurred despite ongoing concerns about Elon Musk’s controversial political involvement potentially damaging the brand in certain regions. Consumer purchasing decisions appear focused on value propositions rather than executive controversies. Domestic Market Faces Headwinds The American market presents a contrasting narrative. Federal EV tax credit elimination has significantly impacted domestic sales momentum. Cox Automotive data suggests Tesla’s US deliveries have declined approximately 20% following the loss of this financial incentive. Meanwhile, European EV market penetration continues its upward trajectory. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 20% of EU sales through May, compared to 15.3% during the same period last year. Regarding energy storage products, Tesla deployed 13.5 GWh in Q2, up from 9.6 GWh in Q2 2025 and 8.8 GWh in Q1 2026. This figure slightly missed analyst expectations of 13.8 GWh. CFO Vaibhav Taneja has previously cautioned investors that the energy division is “inherently lumpy.” Baird’s analyst Ben Kallo recently suggested the energy segment may be “underappreciated by investors.” Across the broader EV industry, quarterly results varied considerably. Ford’s electric vehicle sales plummeted 40.7% year-over-year. General Motors experienced a 4.2% decline. Lucid delivered 3,953 vehicles, falling short of Wall Street’s ~5,000 unit expectation. Rivian emerged as a positive outlier, delivering 12,194 vehicles while increasing its full-year delivery guidance to a range of 65,000–70,000 units. Tesla shares remain essentially unchanged for the quarter and have declined more than 8% year-to-date. The post Tesla (TSLA) Stock Tumbles 6% Despite Q2 Delivery Numbers Crushing Estimates appeared first on Blockonomi.

Tesla (TSLA) Stock Tumbles 6% Despite Q2 Delivery Numbers Crushing Estimates

Key Highlights
Q2 2026 saw Tesla deliver 480,126 vehicles, surpassing Bloomberg’s consensus forecast of 397,466 by more than 20%
Year-over-year deliveries rose 25%, while quarter-over-quarter figures climbed 34%
European registrations surged 108% compared to the previous year, leading global growth
Domestic US sales continue struggling following the end of federal EV tax incentives
TSLA shares dropped nearly 3% during Thursday morning trading despite exceeding delivery targets
Tesla (TSLA) reported second-quarter 2026 vehicle deliveries totaling 480,126 units, comfortably surpassing analyst projections. Bloomberg’s consensus estimate had anticipated 397,466 deliveries, while Tesla’s internal compilation of analyst forecasts stood at 406,024. The actual figure exceeded both benchmarks significantly.
Shares of TSLA declined approximately 6.5% during Thursday’s morning session, hovering around the $397 mark, despite the delivery figures substantially beating Wall Street’s expectations.
The quarterly delivery performance represents a 25% increase compared to Q2 2025 and a 34% sequential gain from Q1 2026. This marks Tesla’s strongest quarterly electric vehicle sales since Q3 2025, when consumers accelerated purchases ahead of expiring US tax incentives.
Tesla $TSLA delivered 480,126 vehicles in Q2, well above estimates around 396K to 406K.
Q2 breakdown:
Produced: 451,758 vehicles
Delivered: 480,126 vehicles
Model 3/Y deliveries: 467,762
Other model deliveries: 12,364
Energy storage deployed: 13.5 GWh pic.twitter.com/dLlWFGZ0aU
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) July 2, 2026
The majority of these deliveries—467,762 units—consisted of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The remaining 12,364 units came from alternative models, including the Cybertruck. Tesla ended production of its Model S and Model X lines during the previous quarter, with final limited edition deliveries concluding in May.
Deepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster characterized the results as “the first sign we’re exiting the EV winter that started in March of 2024.”
European Markets Drive Growth
Global markets outside the US proved instrumental in Tesla’s quarterly performance. Tesla registrations throughout greater Europe reached 28,610 units in May alone, representing a 108% year-over-year increase. Through the first five months of 2026, registrations totaled 118,068—a 57% annual gain. Within EU borders specifically, May registrations more than doubled with a 152% surge.
Deutsche Bank’s analyst Edison Yu observed that “international strength is doing the heavy lifting with Europe acting as the standout driver and China providing further support.”
This remarkable European growth occurred despite ongoing concerns about Elon Musk’s controversial political involvement potentially damaging the brand in certain regions. Consumer purchasing decisions appear focused on value propositions rather than executive controversies.
Domestic Market Faces Headwinds
The American market presents a contrasting narrative. Federal EV tax credit elimination has significantly impacted domestic sales momentum. Cox Automotive data suggests Tesla’s US deliveries have declined approximately 20% following the loss of this financial incentive.
Meanwhile, European EV market penetration continues its upward trajectory. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 20% of EU sales through May, compared to 15.3% during the same period last year.
Regarding energy storage products, Tesla deployed 13.5 GWh in Q2, up from 9.6 GWh in Q2 2025 and 8.8 GWh in Q1 2026. This figure slightly missed analyst expectations of 13.8 GWh. CFO Vaibhav Taneja has previously cautioned investors that the energy division is “inherently lumpy.”
Baird’s analyst Ben Kallo recently suggested the energy segment may be “underappreciated by investors.”
Across the broader EV industry, quarterly results varied considerably. Ford’s electric vehicle sales plummeted 40.7% year-over-year. General Motors experienced a 4.2% decline. Lucid delivered 3,953 vehicles, falling short of Wall Street’s ~5,000 unit expectation. Rivian emerged as a positive outlier, delivering 12,194 vehicles while increasing its full-year delivery guidance to a range of 65,000–70,000 units.
Tesla shares remain essentially unchanged for the quarter and have declined more than 8% year-to-date.
The post Tesla (TSLA) Stock Tumbles 6% Despite Q2 Delivery Numbers Crushing Estimates appeared first on Blockonomi.
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