Bitcoin surged to a record $106,509 on Sunday before settling at $103,804.71 on Monday as investors watched for an expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later this week. The flagship cryptocurrency is up nearly 8% this month and an astonishing 145% for the year, reflecting growing confidence in its future. Ether also rose, approaching the $4,000 mark, while the broader crypto market remained steady.
Anticipation of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut has fuelled optimism among Bitcoin investors. Lower rates, which weaken the dollar and expand the money supply, have historically correlated with higher Bitcoin prices. Bitcoin’s performance is now likened to tech stocks, which also thrive in low-rate environments.
Meanwhile, shares of MicroStrategy jumped 4% after the company announced its inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 and QQQ ETF. This news further bolstered market sentiment, as institutional interest in Bitcoin and related stocks continues to rise.
TikTok’s deadline is approaching as its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, prepares to take its case to the US Supreme Court. A federal appeals court on Friday rejected TikTok’s request for more time to challenge a law mandating ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US operations by 19 January or face a nationwide ban. The platform, used by 170 million Americans, now has weeks to seek intervention from the Supreme Court to avoid a shutdown that would reshape the digital landscape.
The US government argues that ByteDance’s control over TikTok poses a persistent national security threat, claiming the app’s ties to China could expose American data to misuse. TikTok strongly disputes these assertions, stating that user data and content recommendation systems are stored on US-based Oracle servers and that moderation decisions are made domestically. A TikTok spokesperson emphasised the platform’s intention to fight for free speech, pointing to the Supreme Court’s history of defending such rights.
The ruling leaves TikTok’s immediate fate uncertain, placing the decision first in the hands of President Joe Biden, who could grant a 90-day extension if progress toward a divestiture is evident. However, Biden’s decision would give way to President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office just one day after the 19 January deadline. Despite his previous efforts to ban TikTok in 2020, Trump recently opposed the current law, citing concerns about its benefits to rival platforms like Facebook.
Adding to the urgency, US lawmakers have called on Apple and Google to prepare to remove TikTok from their app stores if ByteDance fails to comply. As the clock ticks, TikTok’s battle with the US government highlights a broader conflict over technology, data privacy, and national security. The legal outcome could force millions of users and businesses to rethink their digital strategies in a post-TikTok world.
More than 20 price comparison websites across Europe, including Germany’s Idealo and France‘s LeGuide, criticised Google’s proposed changes to its search results, claiming they fail to comply with EUDigital Markets Act (DMA) requirements. The Act prohibits companies from favouring their own products and services on their platforms.
Google’s latest proposal includes redesigned search results to balance comparison sites and supplier websites, alongside testing an older ‘ten blue links’ format in some countries. However, the websites argue Google has disregarded feedback from over a year of discussions.
The critics, in an open letter, called on the European Commission to take decisive action, including fines, to ensure compliance. Google referred to a November statement highlighting efforts to meet DMA requirements.
Krispy Kreme has reported a cybersecurity incident that disrupted online ordering systems across the United States. The doughnut chain discovered the unauthorised activity on 29 November and immediately launched an investigation with external cybersecurity experts.
While the company’s stores remain open for in-person orders, it warned that revenue losses from digital sales could materially impact its financial results. Shares of Krispy Kreme fell by around 2% in premarket trading following the announcement.
The company said it is actively working to mitigate the effects of the incident while maintaining operations at its global locations.
Apple plans to introduce its own chips for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in devices starting in 2025, phasing out components currently supplied by Broadcom. The custom chip, code-named Proxima, has been in development for years and will debut in iPhones and smart home devices. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company will handle production.
The shift aligns with Apple‘s broader strategy to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers. Alongside Proxima, Apple is also developing cellular modem chips to replace Qualcomm components, with plans to integrate both systems in the future.
In parallel, Apple is working on a server chip, internally called Baltra, to support AI processing. This move highlights the company’s efforts to reduce dependence on Nvidia‘s costly processors, which remain in high demand for AI applications.
Canada’s federal government is exploring a proposal to offer up to $15 billion in incentives to encourage domestic pension funds to invest in AI data centres powered by clean energy. The initiative, reportedly discussed in private consultations, is part of Ottawa’s broader economic strategy to meet rising global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The growing adoption of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, has accelerated the need for advanced data centres, creating unprecedented demand for energy. While clean energy solutions are preferred, slow deployment has led many countries to rely on fossil fuels like natural gas and coal to bridge the gap.
Globally, the rush to develop AI infrastructure has exposed critical challenges in planning and power availability. Canada‘s proposed incentives aim to position the country as a leader in green-powered AI development while addressing both energy sustainability and economic opportunities.
Elon Musk announced that SpaceX’s headquarters is now officially located in Starbase, Texas, marking another shift for the billionaire’s companies away from California. The decision follows Musk’s earlier comments about relocating both SpaceX and social media platform X to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with California’s policies.
SpaceX‘s new base will be at its existing site in Boca Chica, Texas, while X will settle in Austin. Musk has also moved SpaceX’s incorporation to Texas, aligning with earlier actions to transfer Tesla’s incorporation after a Delaware court ruling.
Musk has increasingly favoured Texas, moving Tesla’s headquarters there in 2021 and choosing the state as his personal residence due to its tax benefits. While California remains Tesla’s main engineering hub in the United States, Musk continues to deepen his business operations in Texas.
Serie A has partnered with Meta to combat illegal live streaming of football matches, aiming to protect its broadcasting rights. Under the agreement, Serie A will gain access to Meta’s tools for real-time detection and swift removal of unauthorised streams on Facebook and Instagram.
Broadcasting revenue remains vital for Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan and Juventus, with €4.5 billion secured through deals with DAZN and Sky until 2029. The league’s CEO urged other platforms to follow Meta’s lead in fighting piracy.
Italian authorities have ramped up anti-piracy measures, passing laws that enable swift takedowns of illegal streams. Earlier this month, police dismantled a network with 22 million users, highlighting the scale of the issue.
Social media platforms operating in the UK have been given until March 2025 to identify and mitigate illegal content on their services or risk fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. The warning comes as the Online Safety Act (OSA) begins to take effect, with Ofcom, the regulator, releasing final guidelines on tackling harmful material, including child sexual abuse, self-harm promotion, and extreme violence.
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s chief, described this as the industry’s “last chance” to reform. “If platforms fail to act, we will take enforcement measures,” she warned, adding that public pressure for stricter action could grow. Companies must conduct risk assessments by March, focusing on how such material appears and devising ways to block its spread.
While hailed as a step forward, critics argue the law leaves gaps in child safety measures. The Molly Rose Foundation and NSPCC have expressed concerns about the lack of targeted action on harmful content in private messaging and self-harm imagery. Despite these criticisms, the UK government views the Act as a reset of societal expectations for tech firms, aiming to ensure a safer online environment.
Apple has begun rolling out ChatGPT integration into its devices, enhancing the Siri voice assistant with advanced AI capabilities. The update, part of Apple’s latest operating system releases for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, enables Siri to handle complex tasks like analysing documents and generating written content across supported apps.
The AI-powered Writing Tools feature also lets users create text and generate images. Available on newer iPhones, iPads, and Macs, the update coincides with the critical holiday shopping season, a key sales period for Apple.
The integration aims to boost sales of the latest iPhone models amid investor concerns about the iPhone 16’s performance. Apple’s AI-driven features are positioned to make its devices more versatile and competitive in the growing artificial intelligence market.
