Recent headlines from the sources AlphaScala monitors. AlphaScala analysis is published in the main market section.
Circle buys 1,000 IBM blockchain patents. BNY builds on-chain fund records. Europe launches RL1. Three models for how blockchain becomes financial infrastructure.
Starbucks is testing carbonated Refreshers called Spritzers in 100 stores. CEO Brian Niccol aims to revive afternoon sales and attract younger customers with the new lineup.
SOON dropped 15% in 24 hours as $58 million left perpetuals. On Binance, top traders are accumulating longs, funding rate stays positive, setting up a potential squeeze.
a16z Bio + Health anchors the IPO of Braveheart Bio, a heart-drug startup founded eight months ago, seeking a $1.2B valuation with no approved drugs yet.
Pope Leo XIV told NBC and Telemundo he wants to visit the U.S. within 'a couple of years' and discussed his mission as a universal pastor, while also addressing tensions with President Trump over immigration and Iran.
American Airlines will no longer offer full refunds on tickets booked less than 7 days before departure, aligning with rivals United and Southwest. Delta remains more flexible.
GM Canada is targeting 2028 for its first eyes-off driving system in the Cadillac Escalade IQ. The Canadian Technical Centre's university partnerships are key to building the talent pipeline for software-defined vehicles.
Consumer spending rose 3.2% in Q2, the strongest pace since late 2021, powering GDP growth of 1.5% as the economy absorbed the drag from the Iran war and rising gasoline prices.
Two stall warnings on a British Airways A320 triggered a mayday near Heathrow. The AAIB is investigating the July 6 incident, which involved a data system failure and a switch to alternate flight law.
BIS Project Agorá settles cross-border payments in 80 seconds using tokenized central bank reserves; JPMorgan, Citi, UBS among 28 banks. The pilot signals a shift toward shared-ledger settlement that could reshape stablecoin competition.
Upbit's KRW-USDT volume hit 200 billion won on July 29, a 600% surge from July 25, as South Korea's Kospi fell 18%. The question is whether this is a defensive rotation or a one-week anomaly.
Subsea orders surged to $3.1 billion, more than double the prior year, as deepwater spending accelerates. The company raised its full-year EBITDA forecast and added $300 million to its buyback program.
Mastercard Q2 net income rose 21% to $4.7B as stablecoin settlement rails and the BVNK acquisition drove crypto infrastructure expansion. The regulatory test lies ahead.
Treasury Secretary Bessent calls for Senate CLARITY vote before recess, defends BRCA provision against law enforcement criticism as odds slip to 27%.
Altius Minerals increased its ownership in Great Bay Renewables to 50% after a US$390M transaction with Apollo, and expanded its credit facility to C$350M led by Scotiabank and TD.
Jersey Mike's opened at $21 per share, below its $23 IPO price, valuing the company at $7.3 billion. CEO Morrison sees consumer comeback and international expansion ahead.
Microsoft shares jumped 16.68% to $455.67. A viral Claude AI hallucination on a Microsoft Project query showed the gap between the AI rally and product reliability, traders said.
Safe's Q2 report shows 130M transactions and $27B in assets. A $270k exploit on Arbitrum highlights the security challenges of smart accounts.
The Major Cities Chiefs Association endorsed the latest CLARITY Act draft, citing improved financial crime provisions. The bill faces a tight timeline before the August recess.
Total DeFi TVL fell 38% and six major L1s lost $246.5B in H1 2026, Binance Research said. Prediction markets defied the contraction, rising 86% to $51.6B.
Apollo research finds AI knocked real wage growth 6.7% for exposed jobs, with no detectable effect on employment. Service workers hit hardest, down 24.3%.
Dan Go wore four devices for two weeks. The Apple Watch won on accuracy and value. Whoop's data drew criticism. The result puts wearable subscription models on notice.
Apple shares slipped 0.8% ahead of earnings as traders eye China demand and services growth. Options volume suggests caution before the 4:30 p.m. report.
Bryan Johnson's second thoughts on his longevity protocol give investors a fresh data point to weigh against the sector's promises. Apple's health business is the largest proxy for the space.
Pat LaFrieda's Chop House at Citi Field serves $215 Tomahawk steaks and white-napkin service, offering a resort-like dining experience for premium ticket holders.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins aims to reverse the decline in US public listings by easing disclosure and embracing blockchain tokenization. Superstate already issues on-chain shares.
FTX begins $900M fifth distribution on July 31. Creditors who missed provider onboarding by June 16 have six months to complete it or forfeit their claim.
BlockShoals Technologies operates Binance under the SEC's StratBox sandbox. Local fiat channels are pending; the app hasn't returned to stores.
JPMorgan, BofA, Wells Fargo explore shared blockchain for tokenized deposits, aiming for real-time interbank settlement. $4 trillion Kinexys volume shows feasibility.
Mondi's H1 EBITDA fell to EUR 379 million. Lower prices and higher costs squeezed margins. Higher volumes and cost control offset some pressure, generating EUR 347 million in cash.