🤑Bitcoin Hit $100K

☀️Good morning. It's Thursday, Dec. 5, and we're covering, Meta Pursues Nuclear-Powered Data Centers, Seeks Proposals From Developers, Anduril And OpenAI Partner To Boost National Security With AI Solutions, French Government Collapses After No-Confidence Vote Against Prime Minister Barnier, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here.

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• Today's global cryptocurrency market cap is $3.65 Trillion, a 2.80% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $347.97B, which makes an 18.36% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $29.19B, 8.39% of the total crypto market 24 hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $316.25B, which is 90.88% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 55.80%, an increase of 1.25% over the day.

Bitcoin Surges Past $100K, Approaches $2 Trillion Market Cap

For the first time, Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark, pushing its market capitalization close to $2 trillion. This surge, a 130% year-to-date increase, was driven by institutional demand, corporate adoption, and optimism about crypto-friendly policies under recently elected U.S. PresidentAnduril and OpenAI Partner to Boost National Security with Advanced AI Solutions Donald Trump. Key factors include the successful launch of U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs by firms like BlackRock and Fidelity, which accumulated $30 billion in under a year. (Read Deeper )

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Meta Pursues Nuclear-Powered Data Centers, Seeks Proposals From Developers

Meta is advancing its plans for nuclear-powered data centers, issuing a request for proposals from nuclear developers to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of electricity-generating capacity in the U.S. The company aims to power its facilities sustainably and is open to sharing development costs while committing to purchasing energy once reactors are operational. While traditional nuclear plants are costly and time-intensive, Meta may leverage newer small modular reactor (SMR) technology, which promises faster and cheaper deployment despite unproven scalability.

Why It Matters: This initiative follows a failed attempt earlier this year to build a center near an existing reactor, blocked due to environmental concerns. Developers face a tight deadline, with proposals due by February 2025 and operations targeted for the early 2030s. Meta is flexible on plant locations as long as they support both its data centers and local grids. (Read Deeper)

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Fatally Shot In Midtown Manhattan

Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a targeted attack on a Manhattan sidewalk. The 50-year-old executive, who had led the nation's largest health insurer since 2021, oversaw a company providing coverage to over 49 million Americans and generating $281 billion in annual revenue. Known for championing "value-based care," Thompson worked to shift healthcare towards preventive measures.

Takeaway: The shooting occurred as Thompson was heading to an investor meeting in Midtown. The assailant, masked and armed, fled the scene on foot and later escaped on an e-bike. Investigators are examining Thompson's social media activity and interviewing his family and colleagues but have not identified a motive. Thompson, who lived in Minnesota with his wife and two sons, was respected for his contributions to the healthcare industry. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Anduril And OpenAI Partner To Boost National Security With AI Solutions

Anduril Industries, a defense tech company, has partnered with OpenAI to enhance national security capabilities using AI. The collaboration will focus on improving counter-unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) to detect, assess, and respond to drone threats in real time. These systems are crucial for defending against airborne drone strikes.

Takeaway: OpenAI’s models will be trained on Anduril’s CUAS threat data to create advanced AI-driven solutions. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, highlighted the partnership’s goal to protect U.S. military personnel. This development aligns with an ongoing global competition, particularly between the U.S. and China, to integrate AI into autonomous weapons like drones, warships, and fighter jets. (Read Deeper)

Trump Nominates Billionaire SpaceX Astronaut Jared Isaacman To Lead NASA

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the CEO of Shift4 Payments and a SpaceX astronaut, to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for funding and participating in SpaceX missions, would oversee NASA's $24.8 billion budget and major projects like the Artemis moon mission. His ties to SpaceX have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as his company has financially supported SpaceX.

Takeaway: Isaacman has expressed a strong commitment to advancing U.S. space exploration and ensuring American leadership in the field. former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine sees him as the ideal candidate to push NASA into a bold new era. His nomination aligns with Trump's broader support for SpaceX and private sector involvement in space exploration. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

French Government Collapses After No-Confidence Vote Against Prime Minister Barnier

The French government has collapsed following a no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The motion, supported by opposition parties, was triggered after Barnier used special powers to pass his budget without a vote, which included significant reforms to social security and deficit reduction measures. The vote passed with 331 in favor, well over the 288 required. This is the first time since 1962 that a French government has fallen through a no-confidence vote.

Takeaway: Barnier is now required to resign, though he may remain as a caretaker prime minister until President Emmanuel Macron appoints a successor. The collapse adds to France's political instability, as no party holds a majority in parliament following the summer's snap elections. Opposition groups, including the left-wing New Popular Front and the far-right National Rally, criticized the budget and Barnier's actions. Macron has stated he will not resign and is expected to quickly appoint a new prime minister to avoid a government vacuum. (Read Deeper)

South Korea’s President Faces Impeachment Vote Over Martial Law Declaration

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing impeachment after declaring and quickly rescinding martial law earlier this week. The opposition plans to vote on the impeachment motion Saturday. Yoon's government faced backlash after martial law, which banned political activity and censored media, was declared in response to a deadlock with lawmakers. Public protests erupted, and key officials, including the defense minister, resigned.

Takeaway: The impeachment motion needs a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, with opposition parties holding a slim lead. If passed, the Constitutional Court will review the decision within 180 days. This incident has raised concerns about democratic principles and Yoon’s leadership. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell, criticized Yoon’s decision but emphasized the resilience of South Korea’s democracy. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Arsenal Triumphs Over Manchester United With Set-Piece

Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with both goals coming from corners. Jurrien Timber scored the opener in the 54th minute, followed by William Saliba’s header in the 71st. The victory, Arsenal's third consecutive league win, moved them to third in the Premier League, just seven points behind leaders Liverpool. United struggled to defend set-pieces, which have been a major strength for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta. (Read Deeper)

Khloé Kardashian And Kris Jenner Raising $10 Million For New Startup

Khloé Kardashian and Kris Jenner are raising $10 million for their new consumer startup, Khloud, which has already secured $4.49 million. The company is expected to focus on snacks like popcorn and granola, as well as protein supplements, with trademarks filed for these products. Bryan Baum, a serial entrepreneur, is listed as CEO, and Michael Kives, a co-founder of K5 Global with close ties to the Kardashian-Jenner family, is also involved. Speculation suggests that Khloud may be a protein popcorn brand, though details are not yet confirmed. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• The AI landscape in 2025 will be marked by immense growth and transformation. From revolutionizing healthcare and transportation to reshaping finance and education. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Spotify users have expressed disappointment with this year’s Spotify Wrapped, describing the personalized year-in-review feature as lackluster and uninspired. (Read More)

• Airbus is set to lay off nearly 500 employees in the UK as part of a broader restructuring of its space and defense division. (Read More)

• Technological advances and artificial intelligence are bringing humanoid robots closer to mainstream adoption, with Citi Global Insights analysts projecting a potential $7 trillion market by 2050. (Read More)

• Syrian rebels have launched a bold offensive targeting the outskirts of Hama, a stronghold for President Bashar al-Assad's government. (Read Deeper)