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President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, marking a historic integration of stablecoins into the U.S. financial system with bipartisan Congressional backing. The signing event at the White House featured key industry leaders like Tether CEO Paulo Ardoino, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Ardoino outlined Tether’s plans to comply with the new law as a foreign issuer, including audits and a new U.S.-focused stablecoin for institutional markets. Allaire emphasized that the legislation aligns with Circle’s transparent practices and noted growing interest from major tech and financial firms. Armstrong called the law a financial revolution, while advocating for further crypto market regulations, backed by Coinbase’s significant political contributions through the Fairshake PAC. The GENIUS Act mandates stablecoins be backed by highly liquid assets like U.S. Treasuries and undergo rigorous audits. Trump and his administration, including crypto adviser David Sacks, expressed strong support for modernizing the financial system with crypto technology, with the president touting the bill as a 21st-century upgrade. The event underscored a shift in the crypto industry’s relationship with U.S. regulators, highlighted by Tether’s past legal challenges and newfound presidential recognition. Industry leaders expressed optimism about future innovations and legislative efforts, with a focus on upcoming market structure reforms.
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Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT), associated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform, has partnered with Crypto.com to form Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, a new entity aimed at accumulating Crypto.com’s native token, cronos (CRO-USD). This venture will go public via a merger with Yorkville Acquisition Corp, supported by substantial funding, including $1 billion in CRO tokens, $200 million in cash, $220 million in warrants, and a $5 billion equity line of credit from a Yorkville affiliate. The announcement triggered a significant market response, with CRO-USD soaring 26.85% to $0.204591, Trump Media shares increasing by 4.2% to $17.94, and Yorkville’s shares declining by 2.3%. Cronos holds a market value of $6.8 billion, a minor fraction of the $3.88 trillion global crypto market. The deal includes a one-year lockup period for the parties involved. This move further ties Trump to the cryptocurrency industry, building on earlier collaborations with Crypto.com to launch exchange-traded funds and products under the Truth.Fi brand.
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Genuine Parts Company (GPC), a leading auto parts distributor based in Atlanta, Georgia, has shown robust performance in 2025 with a year-to-date stock return of 19.3%, outpacing the S&P 500’s 9.5% gain. Despite a 2.1% decline over the past 52 weeks, GPC’s Q2 earnings reported on July 22 highlighted a 3.4% sales increase to $6.2 billion, driven by acquisitions and modest growth, with adjusted EPS of $2.10 beating expectations. However, the company revised its 2025 outlook downward, projecting revenue growth of 1%-3% and EPS of $7.50-$8.00, citing macroeconomic challenges like tariffs. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, assigning a “Moderate Buy” rating, with price targets suggesting potential upside. GPC continues to navigate volatility with a focus on cost discipline and M&A gains, positioning it as a key player in the consumer discretionary sector despite economic headwinds.
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The rapid expansion of data centers by Big Tech to support AI growth is meeting resistance from local communities concerned about environmental and social impacts. With global spending on data centers projected to nearly double from $493 billion in 2025 to $920 billion by 2028, issues like soaring electricity costs, water consumption, and infrastructure strain are escalating. Critics highlight risks of blackouts and dry taps, while economic benefits like jobs and tax revenue are often overstated. Across 24 states, 142 activist groups have stalled $64 billion in projects since early 2023, employing tactics from lawsuits to grassroots campaigns. In Virginia, Elena Schlossberg’s coalition has led significant battles, achieving partial victories against projects by Amazon and Blackstone. Similar efforts in Georgia and elsewhere show mixed results, with some communities blindsided by nondisclosure agreements and zoning changes. State legislative attempts to regulate the industry largely fail, leaving locals to fend for themselves. While Big Tech touts economic gains, the fight against data centers reveals a broader struggle over community rights versus technological progress, with activists slowing—but not stopping—the AI-driven expansion.
