🤝Israel, Hamas Agreed To Ceasefire

☀️Good morning. It's Thursday, Jan. 16, and we're covering, Hindenburg Research Shuts Down After Seven Years Of High-Impact Investigations, TikTok Faces U.S. Shutdown As Federal Ban Looms, Escalating Conflict: Russia's Airstrike on Ukraine Targets Critical Infrastructure, 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 $3.5 Trillion, a 3.66% increase in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $155.85B, which makes a 22.12% increase.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $9.58B, 6.14% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $141.8B, which is 90.99% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 56.45%, a decrease of 0.49% over the day.

Bitcoin Surpasses $100,000 As Optimism Grows Over U.S. Inflation And Federal Reserve Policy

Bitcoin surpassed $100,000, marking its biggest gain of the year, following U.S. inflation data that raised hopes of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The surge in Bitcoin, along with other digital assets like Ether and XRP, came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported cooling core consumer prices, boosting market optimism. Investors are now focusing on the policy moves that may follow President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, including his plans to support digital assets. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Hindenburg Research Shuts Down After Seven Years Of High-Impact Investigations

Hindenburg Research, a short-selling firm known for exposing corporate fraud and misconduct, is closing after seven years. Founder Nate Anderson announced the decision, citing personal health concerns and a desire to focus on family. The firm earned a reputation for impactful investigations that led to SEC probes, criminal charges, and financial penalties for targeted companies. Notable cases included allegations against Nikola and Lordstown Motors, revealing fraudulent practices in the electric vehicle industry, as well as critiques of tech firms like Roblox.

Takeaway: Hindenburg became synonymous with shaking markets, particularly in the tech and electric vehicle sectors. Its reports not only affected share prices but also pushed companies and regulators to address systemic issues. Anderson stated the firm had achieved more success than anticipated and completed its final cases before disbanding. (Read Deeper)

Phone Startup Nothing Raises New Funding After Surpassing $1 Billion in Sales

Nothing, a London-based smartphone startup co-founded by Carl Pei, has surpassed $1 billion in lifetime sales and is raising at least $100 million in a Series C funding round to support its growth. The company, known for its transparent phone designs, saw its annual revenue double to over $500 million in 2024. While its biggest markets are India, Germany, and the UK, the company plans to focus on expanding its U.S. market by 2026.

Takeaway: Nothing also plans to integrate more artificial intelligence features into its devices in the coming year. With around 600 employees and manufacturing in China and India, the company continues to build its presence in the competitive smartphone market. The additional funding will enable the company to strengthen its global presence and build on its reputation as an innovative disruptor in the consumer tech space. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

TikTok Faces U.S. Shutdown As Federal Ban Looms

TikTok is set to cease operations in the U.S. on Sunday if a federal ban goes into effect, impacting 170 million American users. The ban stems from a law signed in April requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19. Without compliance, U.S. companies are prohibited from supporting TikTok's app maintenance and distribution. TikTok has argued that the ban infringes on First Amendment rights and estimates a third of its U.S. user base could abandon the platform within a month if the ban persists.

Takeaway: President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order to delay the ban by 60–90 days, but legal questions remain. f enforced, TikTok will display a shutdown notice to U.S. users and allow them to download their data. The platform has warned that global operations could also be disrupted due to reliance on U.S.-based infrastructure. The Supreme Court is reviewing the case and may decide to uphold, overturn, or pause the law. (Read Deeper)

Stoke Space Secures $260 Million Series C Funding For Fully Reusable Nova Rocket

Stoke Space, a rocket company developing the world’s first fully reusable medium-lift rocket, has raised $260 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $480 million. Investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Point72 Ventures, and Y Combinator. The funds will be used to complete the Nova rocket, enhance test facilities, and develop Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, a historic site for space exploration.

Takeaway: Stoke recently achieved a major milestone by successfully testing its Zenith engine, one of the most efficient rocket engines globally, and pioneering an actively cooled metallic heat shield for reusable upper-stage rockets. CEO Andy Lapsa emphasized the importance of these innovations for making space access more affordable and frequent. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Israel And Hamas Agreed To Ceasefire Deal To End 15-Month War In Gaza

Hamas and Israel have reached a ceasefire deal, set to take effect on Sunday, after 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza. The agreement includes a phased six-week ceasefire, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. The ceasefire aims to halt the violence that has devastated Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed. It will also allow for a surge of humanitarian aid to the region and reuniting hostages with their families.

Takeaway: While both sides have agreed to the terms, tensions remain as Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza just days before the ceasefire's official start. The deal, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., is considered a significant step toward peace but comes with challenges, including concerns about the full implementation of the agreement. Future phases of the deal will address the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and Gaza's reconstruction. (Read Deeper)

Mozambique’s New President Sworn In Amid Opposition Boycott And Protests

Daniel Chapo, Mozambique’s newly elected president, was inaugurated in a tense ceremony in Maputo, overshadowed by a boycott from opposition parties and violent protests. Chapo, 47, pledged to unify the nation and tackle corruption and economic challenges but faces significant public skepticism over the legitimacy of his election. The opposition, led by defeated candidate Venâncio Mondlane, has rejected the election results, citing fraud.

Takeaway: Chapo, who won 65% of the vote, succeeds Filipe Nyusi as president. Critics, however, highlight his uphill battle in addressing Mozambique’s systemic corruption, economic woes, and violent post-election unrest, which has claimed over 300 lives since October. A lawyer and former Frelimo general secretary, Chapo is viewed as a potential reformer willing to engage in dialogue. Protests against Chapo’s inauguration resulted in eight deaths and a near-shutdown of Maputo as businesses closed in solidarity with Mondlane's call for a strike. ( Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Drake Sues Universal Music Group Over Kendrick Lamar's Defamatory Track "Not Like Us"

Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation and harassment over the release of Kendrick Lamar's diss track Not Like Us, which accused Drake and his entourage of being "certified paedophiles." The song, part of a long-running feud between the two artists, made the false claim that Drake was a criminal, suggesting vigilante justice. In his legal filing, Drake’s lawyers argue that UMG prioritized viral success over the safety of its artists by promoting the song. (Read Deeper)

Saudi Arabia Offers Mo Salah £65 Million For Two Seasons

Saudi Arabia is making a bold move to sign Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, offering him £65 million for a two-year deal with Al-Hilal. The push is fueled by Turki Alalshikh, a key Saudi government figure, who hinted at the deal by sharing a photo of Salah in an Al-Hilal jersey. This move is linked to Al-Hilal's preparations for the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in June, which allows clubs an additional transfer window. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Mars, Incorporated, is a leading global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products. Founded in 1911 by Franklin Clarence Mars in Tacoma, Washington, the company began by producing and selling fresh candies. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Duolingo sees 216% surge in U.S. as users learning Chinese, this spike coincides with TikTok users migrating to RedNote. (Read More)

• Canada Prepares Retaliatory Tariffs on $105 Billion of U.S. Goods If Trump Strikes First. (Read More)

• Tencent Stake in Skydance-Paramount Merger Faces Scrutiny Over National Security Concerns. (Read More)

• Apple Explores New Credit Card Partners, Including Barclays and Synchrony, to Replace Goldman Sachs. (Read More)