Market news
Crypto, stocks, forex and macro, aggregated for traders.
Russia eyes top-3 global quantum tech position by 2030s
Ekaterina Solntseva, Rosatom's director for quantum technologies, says Russia has coordinated efforts nationwide — akin to the 1940s atomic project — and is now targeting the top three quantum nations within the next decade.
US Think Tanks Propose New Cyber Force Branch with $10-11B Budget
A joint report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) recommends creating a separate Cyber Force under the US Department of Defense, consolidating digital resources from Cyber Command and other branches. The new unit could reach initial operational readiness in 12-18 months with a starting budget of $10-11 billion.
Crypto roundup: Bitmine files preferred stock, DOJ freezes $3.8M, Standard Chartered sees BTC bottom
Bitmine filed for 3M shares of 9.5% preferred stock, DOJ froze $3.8M in crypto, and Standard Chartered says bitcoin's bottom is near. Other news: Arthur Hayes exits HYPE/NEAR, Coinbase launches pre-IPO perps, DDC adds 90 BTC, and first BTC-backed mortgage completed.
Ostrovok Valuation Estimated at 20-30 Billion Rubles Amid Tourism Boom
Experts value Russian hotel booking service Ostrovok at 20–30 billion rubles. A potential sale comes as the tourism sector sees strong growth, with collective accommodation revenues up 16% YoY, exceeding 1 trillion rubles.
Venezuela's Crude Oil Exports Surge 61% YoY to 1.25M bpd, Highest in 7 Years
Venezuela's crude oil exports jumped 61% year-on-year in May to 1.25 million barrels per day, the highest level in seven years, driven by rising shipments to the US, India, and Europe after sanctions eased.
Russia's 'Priority 2030' Program Aims to Address Tech Challenges, Says Official
A Russian official stated that the 'Priority 2030' program is designed to create a trigger for understanding markets and the lack of resources, aiming to efficiently use resources to respond to foreign technological challenges.
OPEC Sees Slowing Oil Demand Growth Due to Middle East Conflict, Calls It Insignificant
OPEC acknowledges a slowdown in oil demand growth linked to the Middle East conflict but views the impact as minor. The organization expects the global oil supply-demand balance to normalize by the end of 2026.
VTB Says AI-Powered Tool Boosts Client Investment by 25%
VTB's brokerage unit reports that clients using its AI 'Intellect' service invest an additional 25,000 rubles for every 100,000 rubles allocated to the tool, according to an interview at SPIEF.
VTB Plans Secondary Share Offering, Aims to Resume 50% Dividend Payout
VTB Bank is planning a secondary share offering with unique features for the Russian market. The bank aims to gradually return to paying 50% of net profit as dividends, according to First Deputy Chairman Dmitry Pianov.
Alfa-Bank to finance Efko food plant expansion for over 10 bln rubles
Alfa-Bank has signed a deal to finance the expansion of the Tula Food Processing Plant of Efko, with investments exceeding 10 billion rubles. The plant's capacity will reach 270,000 tonnes, and over 1,000 jobs will be created.
Sberbank Executive: Agent AI Could Strengthen Market Concentration Around Major Platforms
Sberbank First Deputy Chairman Alexander Vedyakhin said that the development of agent AI may increase market concentration around the largest platforms, while also creating opportunities for new AI-native companies.
AI Chiefs Urge US Law for Synthetic DNA Screening
Leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Microsoft AI have signed an open letter calling for US legislation to mandate screening of synthetic DNA and RNA orders and customer verification.
MicroStrategy Faces Record $10.8B Unrealized Loss on Bitcoin Holdings
MicroStrategy's Bitcoin investment has hit a record unrealized loss of $10.8 billion, with the company now down 17% on its position after six years. The news comes as MSTR stock trades 77% below its all-time high.
Kaspersky Lab Developing 'Unhackable' Phone Running Own OS
Kaspersky Lab CEO says the company is working on a smartphone that is impossible to hack, featuring a proprietary operating system and hardware.
Hyperliquid Perpetual Futures Volume Share Hits Record 6.63% of CEX in May
Hyperliquid's share of perpetual futures trading volume on centralized exchanges rose to a record 6.63% in May, driven by the HIP-3 proposal, though dollar-denominated volume saw a slight month-on-month decline.
US CLARITY Act Vote Likely Before August Recess, Lummis and Bessent Say
Senator Cynthia Lummis indicated that a vote on the CLARITY Act is probable before the August congressional break, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects the bill to pass this summer.
Segezha Group Aims for Positive Free Cash Flow by End of 2026, AFK Sistema Says
AFK Sistema president Tagir Sitdekov expects Segezha Group to reach zero or positive free cash flow by the end of 2026, according to a business plan update.
Reshetnikov: Higher rates and strong ruble may define next economic model
Russian official Maxim Reshetnikov says structural economic changes are ongoing and that higher interest rates and a strong ruble could become the contours of the next economic model.
BitMine Immersion Technologies Files $300M Preferred Share Offering to Buy ETH
BitMine Immersion Technologies has filed with the SEC to publicly offer 3 million Series A perpetual preferred shares at $100 par, targeting $300 million in proceeds. The funds will be used to purchase additional ETH and expand staking infrastructure.
Novak: Global Oil Crisis Unprecedented, 12M Bpd Supply Gap Could Lead to Deficit
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the current global oil crisis is unprecedented, with roughly 12 million barrels per day not reaching the market. He warned that a deficit could occur within months if the conflict persists, as Gulf producers cannot increase output if key straits remain blocked.
Russia Oil Output Lower on Refinery Repairs; Diesel Export Ban Possible
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said oil production is below start-of-year levels due to refinery maintenance, but will recover once repairs are completed. He also flagged a potential ban on diesel exports for producers if needed, while noting gasoline price rises remain within inflation.
Russia Keeps Budget Rule Cutoff Unchanged in 2024, Eyes Reduction for 2026
The Russian Ministry of Finance will not change the budget rule's cutoff price this year, but Finance Minister Siluanov stated at the SPIEF that a downward adjustment in 2026 would help reduce the ruble's dependence on energy prices and improve exchange rate predictability.
Russian Lawmaker Says Nabiullina Missed SPIEF Session Due to Objective Reasons
Andrey Makarov, head of the Russian State Duma committee on budget and taxes, stated that Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina had objective reasons for not attending a session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Bitcoin plunges below $65K, hits $61K; $1.61B liquidated
Bitcoin dropped nearly 5% in 24 hours, briefly touching $61,000, with $1.61 billion in crypto liquidations. Ethereum traded around $1,800. The sell-off coincides with renewed US-Iran tensions.