⚖️DOJ Wants Google To Sell Chrome

Good morning. It's Tuesday, Nov. 19, and we're covering, Trump Media In Advanced Talks To Acquire Bakkt, DOJ Pushing For Google To Sell Chrome Browser Amid Antitrust Battle, G20 Summit Calls For Increased Aid To Gaza And Resolution In Ukraine, 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

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $3.03 Trillion, a 1.04% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $198.02B, which makes a 30.82% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $11.59B, 5.85% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $180.42B, which is 91.11% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 58.85%, an increase of 0.15% over the day.

MicroStrategy Adds 51,780 Bitcoin, Surging Total Holdings to 331,200 BTC

MicroStrategy has purchased 51,780 Bitcoin for $4.6 billion, raising its total holdings to 331,200 BTC, acquired at a cost of $16.5 billion. The purchase was funded through a stock issuance program, with 13.6 million shares sold. At Bitcoin's current price near $90,000, the holdings are worth nearly $30 billion. Recent acquisitions include 72,000 BTC for $6.6 billion over a few weeks. Despite a 1% premarket dip, MicroStrategy's stock has surged almost 400% this year. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Trump Media In Advanced Talks To Acquire Bakkt

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the company behind Truth Social, is in advanced talks to acquire Bakkt, a digital-asset platform, in an all-share deal. Bakkt, currently valued at $155 million, was originally launched by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in 2018. Bakkt's shares surged by 162% following the news, but the company had faced challenges, including a significant drop in value from its peak in 2021.

Takeaway: TMTG, which operates Truth Social and is owned by former President Donald Trump, owns more than 50% of the company. As the cryptocurrency sector continues to grow and evolve, the potential acquisition of Bakkt by Trump’s media company signals a further consolidation of digital-asset platforms. (Read Deeper)

Boeing To Lay Off Over 2,500 Workers As Part Of Global Job Cuts

Boeing has announced plans to lay off over 2,500 workers in the U.S., primarily in Washington, Oregon, South Carolina, and Missouri, as part of its strategy to cut 17,000 jobs, or 10% of its global workforce. The layoffs affect various divisions, including commercial airliner manufacturing in Washington and South Carolina, with nearly 2,200 notices in Washington and 220 in South Carolina. The affected employees will remain on Boeing's payroll until January 17 to comply with federal notification requirements.

Takeaway: Boeing's decision to send out the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) was anticipated, and further rounds of layoffs are expected. The company may also reduce its workforce through attrition, selective hiring, and sales of subsidiaries. The layoffs come after a lengthy strike by U.S. West Coast workers disrupted production of the 737 MAX. Boeing’s shares rose by 2.6% on Monday. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

DOJ Pushing For Google To Sell Chrome Browser Amid Antitrust Battle

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to ask a judge to force Google to sell its Chrome internet browser. This comes after a ruling in August that Google illegally monopolized the search market. The DOJ also seeks measures addressing Google's AI practices and its Android operating system. Chrome, which holds about two-thirds of the global browser market, is a key component of Google's dominance. It integrates with Google search, gathers user data for advertising, and drives significant revenue.

Why It Matters: The DOJ has proposed remedies ranging from ending exclusive agreements with companies like Apple to divesting Chrome or Android. The government may decide later if a Chrome sale is necessary. A trial on these proposals is set for April 2025, with a final ruling expected by August 2025. Google plans to appeal any ruling requiring divestiture. (Read Deeper)

Rolls-Royce Explores Compact Nuclear Reactors For Data Centers And Space Missions

Rolls-Royce is in early talks with potential customers about its compact nuclear microreactors, designed to power data centers, mining operations, remote communities, and space missions. These reactors are smaller and more transportable than traditional modular reactors. The company, which has been working on the technology for over three years, sees growing interest in nuclear energy as industries like artificial intelligence demand more power.

Takeaway: Rolls-Royce is also exploring space applications, with support from the UK Space Agency, which awarded £4.8 million in funding to advance the reactor’s development. Major tech companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have expressed interest in nuclear energy to meet the growing needs of AI infrastructure. Rolls-Royce is optimistic that this increasing demand for clean and reliable power will boost interest in its microreactors. ( Read Deeper )

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

G20 Summit Calls For Increased Aid To Gaza And Resolution In Ukraine

The G20 summit called for increased global efforts to address key issues, including providing more aid to Gaza, resolving the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and combating global hunger. The joint declaration emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and Lebanon and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The statement also supported Ukraine's sovereignty without directly blaming Russia for the conflict.

Takeaway: The G20 discussed the potential for a global tax on billionaires and advocated for reforming the U.N. Security Council to better reflect modern geopolitical realities. Despite the broad calls for action, the declaration lacked specific plans to implement these goals. (Read Deeper)

Ukraine Marks 1,000 Days Of Russian Invasion

Ukraine marked the 1,000 days of Russia's full-scale invasion on Tuesday, a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict that has devastated the country. Thousands of Ukrainian lives have been lost, and more than 6 million people have sought refuge abroad. The war has caused catastrophic military losses on both sides, with casualties estimated in the hundreds of thousands, though official figures remain closely guarded.

Takeaway: U.S. President Biden's decision to allow strikes deeper inside Russia is seen as a boost for Ukraine, but the potential return of Donald Trump could alter U.S. policy and military support. Russia, supported by Iran and North Korea, has escalated its efforts, while Ukraine continues to defend its territory, including a piece of Russian land seized as a bargaining chip. The future remains uncertain as the conflict rages on, with both sides preparing for intensified fighting in the coming months. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Diddy Accused Of Witness Tampering And Violating Prison Rules

Prosecutors have accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of attempting to influence witnesses in his upcoming sex trafficking trial while in custody. Allegations include using other inmates' phone accounts and three-way calls to bypass restrictions and instructing his family to contact potential witnesses. Combs, detained in Manhattan since September, faces multiple charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, related to coercive and exploitative behavior. (Read Deeper)

Sam Kerr And Kristie Mewis Are Expecting Their First Child

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr and West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis have shared the exciting news that they are expecting their first child. The couple, who have been together since 2021 and got engaged last year, are celebrating this milestone in their personal lives. Kerr is recovering from a knee injury that will keep her out of action until 2025, while Mewis has been limited to four appearances for West Ham due to tendon and calf injuries. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Presidential campaigns aren’t just political endeavors; they’re marketing machines at the forefront of innovation. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• ElevenLabs, known for its AI voice cloning and text-to-speech technology, has introduced tools for building conversational AI agents on its developer platform.. (Read More)

• Design software giant Canva has announced the appointment of Kelly Steckelberg as Chief Financial Officer. (Read More)

• AI search startup Perplexity has introduced a shopping hub, enhancing its platform as it challenges Google’s dominance in the search engine market. (Read More)

• President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to attend a SpaceX rocket launch in Texas on Tuesday. (Read Deeper)