World Liberty Financial Seeks $1.5B
World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance platform linked to the Trump family, is reportedly in talks to raise about $1.5 billion from major technology and crypto investors, according to Bloomberg. The funding would establish a public company holding WLFI tokens, which are expected to become tradable after initially launching as non-transferable governance assets.
The firm already issues USD1, a dollar-backed stablecoin used in MGX’s $2 billion Binance investment, and holds a diversified token portfolio. Last year, it announced plans for a crypto-lending app. The potential deal would place World Liberty Financial among a growing class of crypto treasury firms issuing debt and equity to amass significant token reserves.
This development aligns with a broader shift in U.S. policy, as Trump recently signed an executive order allowing 401(k) plans to invest in alternative assets, including cryptocurrency—signaling increased institutional acceptance of digital assets in mainstream finance.
Mike Wilson Declares New Bull Market
Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson says April’s sharp selloff, triggered by Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, marked the end of a bear market and the start of a new bull run. He describes recent years as a “rolling recession” that has now ended, with strong earnings, AI adoption, a weaker dollar, and expected Fed rate cuts in 2026 driving optimism.
The S&P 500 has surged 30% since April lows, hitting record highs and up nearly 9% this year. Wilson predicts some cooling in Q3, creating opportunities to “buy the dip” as the rally is still in early stages. His bull case sees the index reaching 7,200 by mid-2026. Other strategists share this optimism—Oppenheimer’s John Stoltzfus recently raised his 2025 target to 7,100.
Retail investors’ aggressive dip-buying has shortened pullbacks, though experts warn against blindly chasing every decline without assessing value. Volatility, Wilson says, is healthy and preferable to unsustainable straight-line gains.
Apple Stock Soars on Tariff Relief
Apple shares surged 13% this week—the company’s biggest weekly gain since July 2020—after CEO Tim Cook joined President Donald Trump at the White House to announce a $100 billion commitment to buy American-made components over the next four years. The stock closed Friday at $229.35, up 4% on the day, lifting Apple’s market cap to $3.4 trillion, making it the third-most valuable company behind Nvidia and Microsoft.
Trump said Apple would be exempt from future tariffs on imported chips, easing investor fears that had weighed on the stock. In July, Apple had warned of over $1 billion in tariff costs this quarter if no policy changes occurred.
JP Morgan’s Samik Chatterjee praised the company’s handling of uncertainty, maintaining an overweight rating. The news follows strong June quarter earnings, with revenue up 10% and iPhone sales up 13%, reinforcing investor confidence in Apple’s growth trajectory despite trade policy risks.
DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.