Unusual Whales

Web searches for VPNs swell 400% in Texas as Pornhub blocks access

Web searches for VPNs swell 400% in Texas as Pornhub blocks access, per NYP. Searches for virtual private networking (VPN) software surged in Texas this week after Pornhub suspended its service in the state due to a law mandating adult websites to verify user ages or identities. The significant increase

The richest 1% of India's population now own 40% of the country’s wealth

The World Inequality Lab found that the wealth held by the richest 1% of India's population is at its highest level in six decades, with their share of income surpassing that of countries like Brazil and the United States. Since India opened its markets to foreign investment in

Trump bond reduced to $175 million in NY fraud case

In a last-minute decision, a panel of state Appellate Division judges, all appointed by Democratic governors, ruled in favor of the former president, providing a major victory and relief. His attorneys had previously argued that coming up with the larger bond amount was practically impossible. The ruling also prevents the

Ron DeSantis signs bill requiring parental consent for kids under 16 to hold social media accounts

Ron DeSantis signs bill requiring parental consent for kids under 16 to hold social media accounts. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that will restrict children under 14 from using social media in the state. Those aged 14 or 15 will require parental consent to join a platform.

Chicago voters have rejected a tax increase on sales of properties over $1 million

Chicago voters have rejected a tax increase on sales of properties over $1 million. The extra revenue would have gone toward addressing homelessness, per NYT. Chicago voters have turned down a proposed one-time real estate tax on properties over $1 million to fund services for homeless individuals. The defeat is

Binance crypto exec reportedly on the run after busting out of custody in Nigeria

Binance crypto exec reportedly on the run after busting out of custody in Nigeria. A Binance executive reportedly escaped from police custody in Nigeria on Friday. Nadeem Anjarwalla, the cryptocurrency exchange's regional manager for Africa, managed to flee while being taken to pray at a mosque in Abuja

The EU enacts a ban on anonymous crypto transactions via self-custody wallets

The EU enacts a ban on anonymous crypto transactions via self-custody wallets, per Cointelegraph. The majority of the European Parliament's lead committees have endorsed a prohibition on cryptocurrency transactions of any value conducted through hosted crypto wallets. This decision follows the European Council and Parliament's provisional

Older siblings tended to make more money than their younger siblings

Older siblings tended to make more money than their younger siblings, per BI and NBER. For years, researchers have observed a trend where the eldest child tends to earn more money and perform better on cognitive tests than their younger siblings. However, experts have debated the primary factors driving this

78% of equity options traded worldwide were traded in India last year

78% of equity options traded worldwide were traded in India last year, per WSJ. Global listed derivatives markets saw a significant increase in trading activity in 2023, with the total volume of trading reaching 137.3 billion contracts, marking a 64% increase from the previous year. This continued a trend

An inverted yield curve no longer a reliable indicator for recession

An inverted yield curve no longer a reliable indicator for recession, per Reueters. A majority of strategists surveyed by Reuters have expressed doubts about the reliability of the U.S. bond market's inverted yield curve as an indicator of an impending recession. The yield curve, specifically the difference

Canadian standard of living is declining, per the National Bank of Canada Financial

Canadian standard of living is declining, per the National Bank of Canada Financial. Canada’s real gross domestic product (GDP) has stagnated at the same level as seven years ago, indicating a concerning trend. Real GDP per capita, which factors in inflation and population growth, is typically seen as a

The US dollar would be poised to rally 3% if Donald Trump is re-elected in November based on his policy proposals for more tariffs, economic stimulus and a weaker commitment to NATO

The US dollar would be poised to rally 3% if Donald Trump is re-elected in November based on his policy proposals for more tariffs, economic stimulus and a weaker commitment to NATO. Barclays Plc's foreign-exchange strategists suggest that if former President Donald Trump is re-elected in November, the

$RDDT IPO

Reddit's shares surged 48% in their debut on Thursday, marking the first initial public offering for a major social media company since Pinterest's IPO in 2019. The 19-year-old website, known for hosting millions of online forums, priced its IPO on Wednesday at $34 a share, the

U.S. Justice Department official does not rule out seeking breakup of Apple, $AAPL, says 'structural relief' a possibility

U.S. Justice Department official does not rule out seeking breakup of Apple, $AAPL, says 'structural relief' a possibility. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple on Thursday, alleging that its iPhone ecosystem has created a monopoly that has driven the company's valuation to

7.6% of adults in the U.S. now identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or another sexual orientation besides heterosexual, per Gallup

7.6% of adults in the U.S. now identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or another sexual orientation besides heterosexual, per Gallup. The current figure is up from 5.6% four years ago and 3.5% in 2012, Gallup’s first year of measuring sexual orientation and transgender identity.

The ‘Magnificent Seven’ stocks are actually undervalued vs. the rest of the market, JPMorgan, $JPM, has said

The ‘Magnificent Seven’ stocks are actually undervalued vs. the rest of the market, JPMorgan, $JPM, has said per MW. In their analysis, JPMorgan's analysts pointed out that while the top tech companies, known as the Magnificent Seven, are currently trading at high absolute prices, they are actually trading

Americans’ feeling of financial insecurity is at a record

Americans’ feeling of financial insecurity is at a record, per Northwestern Mutual. The 2024 Planning & Progress Study revealed a concerning trend in Americans' financial security, with 33% of adults reporting feeling financially insecure, up from 27% last year. This increase, driven by worries about inflation, marks the highest

Mark Spitznagel says he the stock market to rally further before we hit the "worst crash since 1929"

Mark Spitznagel says he the stock market to rally further before we hit the "worst crash since 1929," per BI. Spitznagel is known on Wall Street for his bearish outlook, particularly highlighting concerns about the potential bursting of the largest-ever debt "bubble," although he does not

75% of the jobs the U.S. economy added last year were in just three sectors: government, healthcare and hotels and restaurants

75% of the jobs the U.S. economy added last year were in just three sectors: government, healthcare and hotels and restaurants, per MW. While the January employment data initially indicated a broadening of sectors intensifying their hiring efforts, February saw a return to the norm, with healthcare and government

The ethereum, $ETH, foundation is under investigation by a "state authority"

The ethereum, $ETH, foundation is under investigation by a "state authority", per CoinDesk. According to a GitHub commit dated February 26, 2024, the Ethereum Foundation revealed that it had received a voluntary inquiry from a state authority, accompanied by a strict requirement for confidentiality. The specific nature of

The US has announced an $8.5 billion preliminary agreement with Intel, the largest CHIPS investment yet

The US has announced an $8.5 billion preliminary agreement with Intel, the largest CHIPS investment yet. It will take a considerable amount of time for new manufacturing projects to become operational, and there are existing environmental concerns about the availability of water in Arizona to sustain chip manufacturing in

47% of parents still financially support adult children, per CNBC

47% of parents still financially support adult children, per CNBC. These parents are shelling out $1,384 a month, on average. Millennials and Generation Z face unique financial challenges, including lower wages adjusted for inflation compared to their parents' earnings at the same age and higher student loan debt.

Elon Musk has said: AI will probably be smarter than any single human next year. By 2029, AI is probably smarter than all humans combined

Elon Musk has said: AI will probably be smarter than any single human next year. By 2029, AI is probably smarter than all humans combined. LeCun, Meta's chief AI scientist and often regarded as one of the "godfathers of AI," rebutted Musk's argument and

El Salvador says it’s sitting on an $84 million profit after bitcoin’s record-breaking run

El Salvador says it’s sitting on an $84 million profit after bitcoin’s record-breaking run. ChatGPTChatGPT El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, shared a chart on X (formerly Twitter) late Monday, illustrating the country's significant profit from its bitcoin investment since 2021: The chart, sourced from

France is preparing a military contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin said

France is preparing a military contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Sergey Naryshkin said. Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin has stated that Russia has information indicating that France is preparing a military contingent of