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Washington enters partial shutdown as negotiators eye a quick deal

The U.S. government began a partial shutdown, but lawmakers signaled a resolution could come quickly. Markets are watching the duration and breadth of any disruption for knock-on effects to economic data releases, federal services, and contract flows. A short-lived stoppage would likely limit macro impact, but prolonged uncertainty could dent risk sentiment.

Source: SeekingAlpha


Crypto sentiment sours: $1.82B exits spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in a week

U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs saw about $1.82 billion in net outflows over the past five trading days, coinciding with a slide in crypto prices. Bitcoin and Ether fell roughly 6.6% and 9.0% during the period, highlighting how ETF flows remain a high-frequency gauge of investor risk appetite. The reversals came shortly after a mid-January burst of inflows, underscoring fragile momentum.

Source: FinanceFeeds


Nvidia’s Huang presses TSMC to expand as AI chip demand strains capacity

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to “work very hard” to meet swelling AI chip demand, suggesting Nvidia alone could require TSMC to more than double capacity over the next decade. The push underscores persistent supply-chain tightness in advanced packaging and leading-edge nodes as hyperscaler and AI spending accelerates.

Source: South China Morning Post


Waymo reportedly targets $16B raise at $110B valuation

Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit Waymo is said to be eyeing a $16 billion funding round at a roughly $110 billion valuation. The raise would cement Waymo among the most valuable private AI/AV platforms and signals continued investor conviction in autonomy’s long-term commercial upside across robotaxi and logistics markets.

Source: SeekingAlpha


U.S. hits Iran-linked crypto exchanges in first OFAC action of its kind

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two UK-registered crypto exchanges tied to Iran, the first direct action against digital-asset platforms under the Iran sanctions regime. By targeting market infrastructure—not just wallets—the move raises the compliance bar for exchanges with cross-border exposure and signals broader enforcement reach.

Source: FinanceFeeds


Tether posts $10B profit for 2025, Treasuries holdings reach $122B

Stablecoin issuer Tether reported more than $10 billion in net profit for 2025 as USDT supply climbed above $186 billion. The firm disclosed $193 billion in total assets backing tokens in circulation, including over $122 billion in U.S. Treasuries and $6.3 billion in excess reserves—reinforcing its central role in crypto liquidity and dollar access outside banks.

Source: FinanceFeeds


Report warns of long-term grid reliability risks across large parts of the U.S.

A new report cautions that grid reliability faces mounting long-term risks in broad regions of the U.S., as load growth from data centers and electrification outpaces new firm generation and transmission buildout. The warning highlights potential cost and investment implications for utilities, generators, and power-hungry industries.

Source: SeekingAlpha


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Business — February 1, 2026 | Briefing24