Bernstein favors CleanSpark on AI execution as MARA awaits first commercial contract

Quick TakeBernstein reaffirmed its $24 price target and Outperform rating on CleanSpark, while maintaining a $17 target and Market-Perform rating on MARA.Analysts highlighted AI execution as a differentiator, with CleanSpark having already signed a $6.6 billion AI lease, while MARA has yet to land a single commercial AI contract.  Analysts at research and brokerage firm Bernstein shared split ratings on two of the largest bitcoin miners pivoting to AI infrastructure, keeping CleanSpark (CLSK) at Outperform with a $24 price target and MARA Holdings (MARA) at Market-Perform with a $17 price target, in a pair of notes published Friday.  The divergence reflects on execution, according to Bernstein.  CleanSpark has a signed anchor tenant and a data center build is underway, while MARA is still waiting for its first commercial AI contract, the analysts led by Gautam Chhugani wrote.  CleanSpark secures AI tenant  CleanSparks $6.6 billion 20-year triple-net lease covers 175 IT MW at its Sandersville site in Georgia, with a high-investment-grade global technology company as tenant. The lease carries an exclusivity agreement over CleanSparks entire 885 MW Texas portfolio.  The miner has also partnered with the tenants preferred engineering and construction firm for the Sandersville build, a step Bernstein said de-risks CleanSparks first scaled AI deployment. Another

08-07Industry

Chinas Exports Rise 23.9% YoY as Chip Demand Surges

China‘s exports rose 23.9% in July from a year earlier, beating analyst forecasts. A worldwide buildout of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure lifted demand for the country’s chips and high-tech goods.  The gains kept the worlds second-largest economy on track through a year of trade shocks. Yet, they also highlight the split between booming factory exports and weak domestic spending.  Sponsored  Sponsored  Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens  AI Chip Boom Powers Chinas Export Surge  Chinas exports rose 23.9% year over year in dollar terms in July, slightly ahead of economists expectations. Reuters-polled analysts had forecast a 22.2% increase, while a separate Bloomberg survey projected a median gain of 23%.  Although exports beat estimates, growth eased from Junes 27% jump, which marked the strongest expansion since October 2021.  Imports increased 27.5% during the month. Meanwhile, China‘s trade surplus totaled $112.5 billion, above market expectations of roughly $107 billion but lower than June’s $125.6 billion.  Semiconductors drove much of the strength. Chinas integrated circuit exports, measured by value, nearly doubled over the first seven months of the year. In July alone, chip shipments climbed 117% from a year earlier.  Sponsored  Sponsored  Mechanical and electrical products made up more than 60% of shipments over the first seven months. Electric

08-07Industry

Crypto crime has moved beyond online hacks, Chainalysis says

Chainalysis has warned that cryptocurrency crime has increasingly extended into kidnappings, home invasions and other violent incidents as criminals pursue holders who can transfer digital assets immediately under coercion.  SummaryChainalysis said violent attacks against crypto holders have become more common as criminals target self custody wallets and instantly transferable assets.The report estimated more than $30 million has been stolen through successful physical attacks during the first half of 2026.Investigators found attackers leave blockchain trails that help trace stolen funds even after violent thefts succeed.France has recorded the highest number of publicly known crypto related violent incidents since 2023 as authorities expand organized crime investigations.Family members have increasingly been targeted to pressure crypto holders into transferring digital assets.  According to the blockchain analytics firms latest report shared with crypto.news, cybercrime still accounts for most illicit crypto activity, including an estimated $3.4 billion stolen through hacks, $17 billion lost to scams and about $820 million linked to ransomware in 2025.  At the same time, physical attacks have become more common because crypto holders often control large amounts of wealth through self-custody wallets without the institutional safeguards associated with traditional financial assets.  The report estimates that violent criminals have extracted more than $30 million from crypto holders

08-07Industry

Ripple News: XRP USD at Risk of Losing Key Support at $1

XRP trades near $1.03 as short positioning builds and spot demand weakens following news that the U.S. Senate delayed its CLARITY Act vote until September, which has had a negative effect on the Ripple chart.  According to market data from CoinGecko, the token recorded a near -2% 24-hour decline, with an intraday range of $1.0153 to $1.039, keeping its market capitalization near $64.7Bn. Trading volume stands around $1.4Bn against a circulating supply of 62.53 billion tokens.  Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed on August 7 that consideration of the CLARITY Act will resume after the August legislative recess. While the delay removes an immediate regulatory tailwind in the US, market participants are weighing this against Ripples reported full compliance in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) and Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) in Luxembourg.  Can regulatory clearance in Europe offset deferred US legislative timelines? Meanwhile, speculative chart projections circulating on social channels point toward targets at $7 and $27 by October 2026, though present market indicators reflect more realistic near-term consolidation.  Can the XRP Price Hold Above $1 Amid Regulatory Delays?  $XRP is at a two-year low. Pay attention!  Ripple is approaching the support zone at the bottom of a falling wedge pattern on the weekly chart.  The price has hit

08-07Industry

Crypto market maker Wintermute lands SEC approval to trade equities and ETF blocks

SummaryWintermutes U.S. arm has officially registered with the SEC and joined FINRA, securing broker-dealer status for its institutional operations.The firm is now authorized to trade U.S. stocks and options, provide liquidity for ETFs, and self-clear digital asset securities for proprietary accounts.Wintermute plans to focus initially on crypto-linked markets, with intentions to scale into tokenized stocks pending necessary regulatory approvals.  Crypto market maker Wintermute has secured broker-dealer status in the U.S., giving the firm a regulated route into Wall Street as crypto trading and traditional securities markets draw closer together.  New York-based Wintermute USA LLC registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The unit will operate as a proprietary trading firm rather than a retail broker.  The registration lets Wintermute trade stocks and equity options, provide liquidity to exchanges and over-the-counter counterparties, and act as an authorized participant for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including crypto-linked funds.  Authorized participants create and redeem large blocks of ETF shares, a process that helps keep an ETFs market price close to the value of its holdings.  Wintermute described the unit as proprietary-only and did not announce retail brokerage services.  Authorized participants create and redeem blocks of ETF shares directly with fund issuers, helping keep

08-07Industry

Bitcoin hovers below $65,000 as Middle East tensions escalate further

SummaryBitcoin is holding near $64,700 Friday, barely changed over the last 24-hour period, while the broader CoinDesk 20 index is down 0.2% over the period.Brent crude has meanwhile moved to over $83 a barrel after Yemens Iran-linked Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.Gold has meanwhile maintained its recovery, moving up 1.5% to now trade at $4,300 per ounce as investors move toward safety in the face of uncertainty.  Bitcoin is holding near $64,700 Friday, barely changed over the last 24-hour period, while the broader CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index is down 0.2% over the period.  Brent crude has meanwhile moved to over $83 a barrel after Yemens Iran-linked Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.  Treasury yields have seen a slight correction, but remain at 4.67% for the 10-year note, a level Fidelitys Director of Global Macro Jurrien Timmer said “history suggests that nothing good happens.”  Higher oil could add to inflation pressure if sustained, while elevated Treasury yields tighten financial conditions. Together, they could limit expectations for near-term rate cuts and weigh on bitcoin and other risk assets.  Gold has meanwhile maintained its recovery, moving up 1.5% to now trade at $4,300 per ounce as investors

08-07Industry

GTA 6 Creators Stock Hits Solana as Netflix Special Approaches

A tokenized version of Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) publisher Take-Two Interactive Software‘s (TTWO) stock has launched on Solana through Backpack Securities. Holders can now trade the company’s equity straight from a compatible crypto wallet.  The listing arrives as Netflix readies an exclusive extended look at GTA 6. The special airs August 27. It lands ahead of the games November 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.  Sponsored  Sponsored  How the TTWO Tokenized Stock Trades on Solana  Backpack Securities is the tokenization arm of the Solana-based exchange Backpack. It minted the wrapped TTWO shares and listed them across several venues.  Backpack frames the tokens as direct equity claims rather than synthetic price trackers. Each one represents a 1:1 redeemable stake in TTWO shares held through a dedicated custody vehicle, not a derivative contract that only mirrors the stocks price.  “Unlike synthetic alternatives, Backpack investors hold full ownership of the traded U.S. equities, backed by the depth of traditional exchange liquidity,” Backpack CEO Armani Ferrante, via GlobeNewswire  The tokens still settle instantly and trade outside Nasdaqs normal hours, unlike the underlying stock itself.  The wrapped stock last changed hands at $233.79, according to live BeInCrypto data. That price held flat over the past 24 hours. Market capitalization

08-07Industry

Elon Musk‘s Terafab Will Be Earth’s Most Valuable Building, 50x the Size of the Pentagon

Elon Musk announced Terafab, a Texas chip factory that Tesla and SpaceX will build together.The plant will manufacture semiconductors for artificial intelligence and robotics.   Musk said Terafab Texas would become the most valuable building on Earth by far.  Sponsored  Sponsored  Tesla and SpaceX plan to invest $16.8 billion to start construction. Total spending could reach $119 billion across multiple phases, according to regulatory filings reported this week.  Terafab Texas Aims to Be Earths Most Valuable Building  Musk made the claim in a post on X, where he also praised the factorys planned design.  Terafab Texas will be the largest and most valuable building on Earth by far.  And it will be stunningly beautiful. pic.twitter.com/4NweOqTL7y  — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2026  Analyst estimates suggest the facility could generate more than one trillion watts of AI computing capacity each year. It will rely on two-nanometer chip technology, among the most advanced processes available today.  Social media users quickly compared Terafab‘s footprint to some of the largest structures on the planet. Side-by-side graphics placed the factory next to Tesla’s own Austin gigafactory, government buildings, corporate campuses, and shopping centers built for millions of annual visitors. One such comparison gathered millions of views within a day.  Terafab will be 50 times the size of

08-07Industry

CleanSpark misses Wall Street revenue estimates as shares sink

Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company CleanSpark reported $138 million in revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2026.  The $138 million represented a 30.5% year-over-year decrease from $198 million, according to its quarterly results published on Thursday.  CleanSpark also reported a net loss of $239 million, or $0.89 per basic share, for the three months ended on June 30, compared with $257 million in net income, or $0.90 per share, for the same period last year.  The revenue narrowly missed analysts consensus estimate of $142.2 million, according to analyst estimates compiled by Yahoo Finance.  CleanSparks shares fell 5.5% on Thursday, but staged a 3% pre-market recovery on Friday to trade above $13.10, Yahoo Finance data showed.  CleanSpark is among the companies that have expanded beyond their core Bitcoin (BTC) mining operations into AI and high-performance computing infrastructure.  On July 14, CleanSpark signed a 20-year data center lease with an undisclosed investment-grade global technology company for a 175-megawatt data center at its Sandersville, Georgia, campus. The company estimated the deal would generate $6.6 billion in contracted revenue over the initial term.

08-07Industry

CleanSpark reports $239M quarterly loss as revenue falls 30.5%, misses estimates

CleanSpark has reported a $239 million quarterly loss as revenue fell 30.5% year over year, while its latest AI data center lease has added a long-term revenue stream outside Bitcoin mining.  SummaryCleanSpark reported a $239 million quarterly net loss as revenue fell 30.5% year over year.Quarterly revenue came in at $138 million, missing analysts estimates compiled by Yahoo Finance.The company signed a 20 year lease expected to generate $6.6 billion from its Georgia AI data center.CleanSpark continued expanding its AI infrastructure while maintaining its Bitcoin mining operations.  According to CleanSparks fiscal third-quarter results published on Thursday, the Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company generated $138 million in revenue for the three months ended June 30, down 30.5% from $198 million in the same quarter last year. The figure also came in below Wall Street expectations, with Yahoo Finance analyst estimates placing the consensus forecast at $142.2 million.  For the quarter, the company posted a net loss of $239 million, or $0.89 per basic share, reversing from net income of $257 million, or $0.90 per share, recorded a year earlier.  The earnings release arrived after the company had already reported another loss-making quarter in May. For the fiscal second quarter ended March 31, CleanSpark reported a net

08-07Industry
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