Investment

In a remarkable economic transformation, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has emerged as the world’s third-largest government holder of Bitcoin, amassing a digital fortune worth approximately $1.3 billion—equivalent to nearly 40% of its GDP. Since 2020, Bhutan has quietly scaled up its cryptocurrency mining operations, leveraging its abundant hydropower resources to fuel a sustainable and highly profitable venture. Managed by the state-owned Druk Holding & Investments (DHI) through its Green Digital arm, this initiative has positioned Bhutan as an unlikely powerhouse in the global crypto landscape, all while maintaining its commitment to environmental sustainability and Gross National Happiness.

Just days after unveiling its latest AI model, xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, has begun preparations for a new funding round that could value it at up to $200 billion—ten times its valuation from last year. This would mark the third major financial maneuver in less than two months, following a $10 billion debt and equity raise in July and a $300 million share sale in June. The rapid succession of funding efforts underscores xAI’s aggressive expansion plans amid fierce competition in the AI sector.

Amazon is reportedly considering a new multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, the developers behind the advanced AI model Claude. This would mark the second major financial infusion from the tech giant, following a $4 billion investment in November 2024, bringing Amazon’s total stake to $8 billion and cementing its position as a key shareholder in the AI firm.

Did anyone truly believe that a $16 million payout to Donald Trump would finally put an end to the months-long saga of the Paramount-Skydance merger? The funds have been transferred to the president’s account, yet the deal remains in limbo. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to withhold its approval, leaving the parties with no choice but to invoke yet another 90-day extension—mirroring the delay granted in April.

Anysphere, the developer behind the AI-powered code editor Cursor, has attracted investor proposals to double its valuation to between $18 billion and $20 billion, only a month after securing $900 million at a $9.9 billion valuation. Founded in 2023, the company has already achieved an impressive $500 million in annual revenue, cementing its status as one of the fastest-growing startups in history.

Scale AI, a leading data labeling provider, is experiencing a subtle but significant client backlash following its recent partnership with Meta. The deal has sparked concerns among major clients, prompting some to seek alternative vendors for data annotation services.

In the 19th-century gold rush, it wasn’t the prospectors who struck it rich—it was the shovel sellers. Fast forward to 2025, and NVIDIA has become the quintessential shovel seller of the AI revolution, inching toward a staggering $4 trillion market capitalization. As startups and tech giants alike chase the "gold" of artificial intelligence—large language models (LLMs), autonomous agents, and generative AI services—NVIDIA is cashing in by supplying the essential tools powering this frenzy.

Design platform Figma has submitted an IPO application on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "FIG," marking one of the most eagerly awaited public offerings in recent years. The company is showcasing robust growth, with first-quarter revenue surging 46% to $228.2 million and net profit rising from $13.5 million to $44.9 million year-over-year.

Rumors are swirling that Substack, the newsletter platform, is discreetly raising a new investment round ranging from $50 million to $100 million. Following its last valuation of $700 million, this round could significantly boost its worth, reflecting growing interest from investors. Notably, Benchmark has emerged as a potential backer, joining existing supporter Andreessen Horowitz, signaling strong confidence in the platform’s trajectory.

A recent report suggests that xAI, Elon Musk’s AI venture, is planning to raise $4.5 billion in equity investments and an additional $4.5 billion through loans to fuel its ongoing development. According to Bloomberg, the company is burning through $1 billion monthly, while its annual revenue stands at a modest $500 million. In contrast, rival OpenAI is projected to generate $12.7 billion this year—roughly 25 times xAI’s current earnings—highlighting the significant gap between the two firms.

Major technology companies Apple, Google, X (formerly Twitter), and Airbnb are reportedly delving into the potential integration of stablecoins to enhance their payment systems, reflecting a growing interest in blockchain-based solutions. This move comes as the global payments landscape shifts toward more efficient and cost-effective alternatives.

Telegram, the popular encrypted messaging platform, is set to raise $1.5 billion through a new bond issuance, signaling a bold move to bolster its financial position. The deal, reportedly in the works for this week, has attracted interest from major institutional investors, including BlackRock, Citadel, and Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Metaplanet, often dubbed the "Japanese MicroStrategy," has announced an ambitious plan to raise $5.3 billion by issuing 555 million shares through warrants, marking the largest stock warrant issuance in Japan’s history. Nearly 96% of the proceeds will be allocated to purchasing Bitcoin, reflecting the company’s bold strategy to integrate the cryptocurrency into its financial framework.