As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44856008/china-dismisses-trumps-tariff-numbers-game-files-wto-complaint-talks-can-only-proceed-based-on-mutual-respect">US-China trade tensions</a> continue to escalate, Chinese refiners have cut their U.S. oil imports, while imports of Canadian crude have reached record highs



What happened: Imports of U.S. oil by China have plunged roughly 90% since 2023, falling from a peak of 29 million barrels per month to just 3 million, according to Vortexa Ltd. data, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-16/china-pivots-from-us-to-canada-for-more-oil-as-trade-war-worsens">reported</a> Bloomberg. In March, China imported 7.3 million barrels of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44855903/scott-bessent-warns-of-serious-risk-to-anyone-buying-iran-oil-crude-moves-up-us-futures-and-nikkei-post-modest-gains">crude</a> from Canada's Vancouver port.



This figure is expected to rise even more this month. This shift follows the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) in late 2023, which added 590,000 barrels per day of export capacity and gave Alberta's landlocked oil sands direct access to Asian markets.



Why it matters: China's shift to Canadian oil highlights the larger impact of the<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle"> current trade conflict</a> between the Donald Trump administration and Team Xi Jinping. For investors, the emergence of Canada as a key supplier to China signals a structural shift in North American oil fundamentals, with implications for companies such as Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc., and U.S. majors like Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>).



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44858847/nancy-pelosi-called-us-china-trade-a-job-loserold-remarks-reemerge-amid-trump-tariff-push">Nancy Pelosi Called US-China Trade &#8220;A Job Loser:&#8221; Old Remarks Reemerge Amid Trump Tariff Push</a>



This move is also strategically significant for China's refineries, which gain from the comparatively inexpensive and dense oil available from Canada's oilsands. Wenran Jiang, president of the Canada-China Energy &amp; Environment Forum, stated, "Given the trade war, it's unlikely for China to import more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/buybacks/25/04/44853647/northern-oil-and-gas-stock-climbs-on-q1-hedging-results-shareholder-return-update-what-you-need-to-know">US oil</a>."



Oil prices witnessed a rally on early Thursday, with Brent Crude Oil up 0.85%, now trading at $66.42 per barrel, and the WTI Futures up by 1.06%.



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44856114/nvidia-says-it-follows-us-government-instructions-on-what-it-can-sell-and-where-amid-trade-war-escalation-with-china">Nvidia Says It Follows US Government Instructions On What It Can Sell And Where Amid Trade War Escalation With China</a>



Image via Shutterstock

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China Slashes US Oil Imports By 90% Amid Trump Tariffs, Turns To Canada Instead

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) may be gearing up for a major move, as its Layer-2 roadmap comes into focus and key technical indicators <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dogecoin-doge-price-prediction">flash bullish signals</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1550</td><td>$23 billion</td><td>+0.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+0.06%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00001175</td><td>$6.9 billion</td><td>-0.6%&nbsp;</td><td>-1.1%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.057194</td><td>$3 billion</td><td>+0.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+7.3%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Trader Tardigrade <a href="https://x.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1912770190636642465">noted</a> Dogecoin has flipped from a downtrend to an uptrend on the 4-hour chart, breaking a key trendline. 



The RSI is now approaching 50 and inching closer to bullish momentum.



In another X post, Tardigrade questions a "93-day Doge Bull Run?"



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Are you ready for a 93-day <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24Doge&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$Doge</a> Bull Run?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> <a href="https://t.co/85T96AwHEv">pic.twitter.com/85T96AwHEv</a>&mdash; Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1912850798390002135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Javon Marks <a href="https://x.com/JavonTM1/status/1912867110507651470">highlighted</a> a strong bullish divergence on the charts, signaling that bearish pressure is fading. 



He sees the potential for a 150%+ move toward $0.40.



Statistics: In an X <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1912052774310719551">post</a> on Tuesday 15, crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez noted whales have accumulated more than 800 million DOGE in the last 48 hours.



Coinglass data shows Dogecoin liquidations in the past 24 hours at $4.35 million, with $2.51 million in long liquidations. DOGE derivatives data volume expanded by 12.6%.



Community News: The Dogecoin Foundation recently unveiled plans for integrating Layer-2 networks, aiming to supercharge DOGE's utility. 



Foundation director Timothy Stebbing <a href="https://x.com/tjstebbing/status/1912627688998838489">emphasized</a> that while Dogecoin's Layer-1 should remain lean and optimized for speed and security, real innovation—including smart contracts, tokenization and identity—will thrive on L2s.



He called this "a new era" for the meme coin, noting that progress always brings both opportunities and risks—and that it's up to the community to harness the good while fending off scams.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44846673/meme-coin-market-is-very-much-alive-can-dogecoin-shiba-inu-fartcoin-bounce-back">Meme Coin Market Is &#8216;Very Much Alive&#8217;: Can Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, Fartcoin Bounce Back?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$PEPE

$SHIB

A 93-Day Dogecoin Bull Spring May Be About To Begin

In speeches and rallies, President Donald Trump paints a spirited picture of a manufacturing comeback. He wants to fill up <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44506409/steve-jobs-warned-34-years-ago-about-america-being-hollowed-out-by-foreign-manufacturing-a-concern-trump-now-echoes">half-empty factories</a>, bring jobs back from overseas and restore America's status as a &#8220;manufacturing superpower.&#8221;



But while Americans might love the idea of more factory jobs, most don't actually want to work in one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Nostalgic Vision Meets Modern Reality</h2>



Manufacturing once dominated the U.S. job market. In 1970, more than 25% of American workers held manufacturing jobs. Today, it's only around 8%, and many of those jobs look very different than they used to.



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<li>Invest in the future of digital engagement: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/vatom-adv">Own a piece of the $100 billion Metaverse for just $500</a>.</li>
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Despite this drop, support for manufacturing remains high. A 2024 Cato Institute <a href="https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2024-08/Globalization%20Survey_2024.pdf">survey</a> found that 80% of Americans believe the country would be better off with more manufacturing jobs. But when asked if they personally would prefer a factory job over their current work, only 25% agreed. About 73% said no, and just 2% of respondents actually work in manufacturing today.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"America would be better off if more people worked in manufacturing." • 80% of Americans agree • 20% disagree "I would be better off if I worked in a factory." • 25% of Americans agree • 73% disagree • 2% currently work in a factory &#x1f449;&#x1f3fb; <a href="https://t.co/ycnHVZ1gT1">https://t.co/ycnHVZ1gT1</a> <a href="https://t.co/4NXb0GLK5L">pic.twitter.com/4NXb0GLK5L</a>&mdash; Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankLuntz/status/1911463710029488317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



So what gives? According to Carolyn Lee, executive director of the Manufacturing Institute, the jobs that still exist in modern factories are not what they used to be. &#8220;The majority of the jobs in the sector are not entry-level jobs that have no skills,&#8221; she told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/10/business/manufacturing-us-jobs-trump-tariffs/index.html">CNN</a>. These roles now require everything from certifications to software and robotics skills.



Trending: With shares starting at $1.52, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-a-10k-bet-on-health-care-originals-could-have-skyrocketed-your-portfolio">this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tariffs Alone Won't Bring Back the Old Jobs</h2>



Trump believes sweeping tariffs will reverse the decades-long decline in factory work. In a recent social media <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1909784713847321085">post</a>, he wrote, "I'm proud to be the president for the workers, not the outsourcers."



But many economists say the plan oversimplifies the issue. U.S. manufacturing output has actually increased over the last 40 years, even as jobs declined—thanks to automation and improved productivity. American factories now produce more high-value goods with fewer workers.



The push to onshore production also faces a major labor problem. There simply aren't enough Americans willing—or trained—to fill these roles. In February, the U.S. had <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.t01.htm">482,000</a> open manufacturing jobs, and projections show 1.9 million may go unfilled by 2033, <a href="https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Digital_Skills_Report_April_2024.pdf">according</a> to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute.



&#8220;The skills U.S. workers have are mismatched for manufacturing right now,&#8221; Olaf Groth, a professor at UC Berkeley, told CNN. &#8220;What we need to do is lift the majority of American labor from mid-skilled to high-skilled.&#8221;



See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High Costs, Uncertain Results</h2>



Trump's supporters argue that tariffs will help revive old factory towns. But the costs are high. Tariffs raise the price of imported goods, which hits lower-income families the hardest. A <a href="https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/us-tariffs">note</a> from JPMorgan Chase summed it up: "At the end of the day, tariffs are a tax on imports… the tax incidence nearly always falls on domestic sellers and consumers, not foreign producers."



Trump&#8217;s steel and aluminum tariffs during his first term are a case in point. They raised costs for U.S. manufacturers and consumers alike. In 2018, the Peterson Institute <a href="https://www.piie.com/blogs/trade-and-investment-policy-watch/steel-profits-gain-steel-users-pay-under-trumps">estimated</a> it cost about $650,000 to save a single job in the steel industry.



There's also no guarantee that jobs would come back <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44660218/commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-says-army-of-workers-will-build-iphones-in-the-us-but-trumps-tariffs-could-reportedly-push-iphone-16-pro-maxs-prices-to-2300">at the scale envisioned</a>. As Lee noted, new factories may open, but they'll need fewer people. Robots and machines will do most of the manual work. And many Americans just aren't interested. The Cato survey confirms that.



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<li>Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart &amp; Target – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!</a></li>
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Image: Shutterstock

80% Of Americans Say The Country Would Be Better Off With More Manufacturing Jobs—But Only 25% Want One Themselves

The U.S. Energy Department (DoE) is reportedly contemplating substantial reductions, potentially halting&nbsp;nearly $10 billion in federal&nbsp;funding for clean-energy projects. This move could jeopardize high-profile collaborations with&nbsp;Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>).



What Happened: The proposed cuts could disrupt contracts with energy companies involved in&nbsp;hydrogen, carbon capture, long-duration energy&nbsp;storage, and other technologies, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/doge-comes-for-clean-energy-putting-exxon-and-occidental-projects-at-risk-565bd42f">reported</a>. These reductions are a part of President Donald Trump's broader initiative through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size and cost of government, and could result in thousands of job losses at the Department of Energy (DOE), according to the report. 



DOGE&#8217;s&nbsp;efforts, overseen by Trump advisor Elon Musk, have already resulted in significant contract reductions and&nbsp;job cuts across the federal&nbsp;workforce. The $10 billion figure represents&nbsp;potential funding slashes in two&nbsp;DOE offices and a portion of the DOGE-driven cancellations being considered across the Energy Department.



Several key partnerships are at risk, including projects with Exxon, NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>), and Occidental Petroleum, as the DOE considers cutting support. Additionally, funding for four regional hydrogen hubs—mainly in Democratic-leaning areas—is also under review.



DOE did not respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comment.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44877231/ethereum-price-plunges-to-2018-levels-what-is-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On? &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: The proposed cuts follow President Trump&#8217;s earlier move to freeze billions in federal funding, affecting projects in clean energy, conservation, and transportation across the United States. This move&nbsp;in February has created <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43628767/trump-freezes-billions-in-federal-funding-jobs-and-projects-in-clean-energy-conservation-and-transportation-left-in-limbo">uncertainty </a>for thousands of workers and local economies.



Moreover, in April 2025, Trump unveiled plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44701436/trump-unleashes-beautiful-clean-coal-policies-as-wall-street-tanks-sp-500-hits-1-year-low">revive U.S. coal production</a>, marking a dramatic policy reversal from the climate-focused agendas of the Biden and Obama administrations. This shift in policy and the proposed funding cuts could significantly impact the clean energy sector and its stakeholders.



Meanwhile, DOGE has drawn severe criticism for its mass firings. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44484549/mark-cuban-on-doge-government-cuts-this-isnt-a-corporate-turnaround-this-is-the-united-states-of-america">warned </a>that abruptly cutting federal programs, agencies, and jobs without considering the economic impact could harm local economies. He noted that in some cities, up to 9% of the workforce depends on government jobs, and sudden cuts could lead to job losses, falling home values, and economic decline.



iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICLN#NASDAQ">ICLN</a>) and Invesco Solar ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAN#NYSE">TAN</a>) climbed 1.77% and 1.19%, respectively, on Thursday.



While shares of Occidental Petroleum and Exxon Mobil rose 3.28% and 2.62%, respectively, during the same period.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44881570/trump-administration-to-lay-off-nearly-90-of-cfpb-employees-in-major-downsizing-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Administration To Lay Off Nearly 90% Of CFPB Employees In Major Downsizing: Report</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

ICLN

Trump's Energy Department Mulls Cutting Billions In Clean-Energy Funds, Threatening Exxon, Occidental Projects

On Friday, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks about potential collaboration in technology and innovation, signaling a strong push for deeper ties in these areas.



What Happened: In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi shared that he and Musk had discussed "various issues," including the topics they touched upon during their earlier meeting in Washington, D.C., this year.



Modi went on to add that the discussion revolved around the &#8220;immense potential for collaboration&#8221; in tech and innovation.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our…&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1913129902100090992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44881778/amid-rising-competition-from-chinas-deepseek-and-us-rivals-openai-ceo-sam-altman-launches-codex-cli-a-coding-agent-that-runs-on-your-computer">Facing Heat From China&#8217;s DeepSeek And US Rivals, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Launches Codex CLI: &#8216;A Coding Agent That Runs On Your Computer&#8217;</a>



Why It's Important: The meeting between the two comes <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44833951/elon-musk-led-teslas-model-y-spotted-testing-in-mumbai-ahead-of-india-debut">amid growing anticipation</a> for Tesla&#8217;s expansion into the Indian market, further fueled by a recent test run of a Tesla Model Y in Mumbai.



Tesla has also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43805175/elon-musks-tesla-prepares-for-india-expansion-engineer-confirms-hiring-push-we-are-looking-for-motivated-talent-to-help-us">been hiring for roles in India</a>, a sign that the company is serious about establishing a presence there after facing challenges with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43718656/will-tesla-finally-enter-india-modi-musk-meeting-reportedly-focused-on-tariffs-starlink-licensing-and-spacex-collaboration">local tariffs and manufacturing</a> requirements.



Last month, Musk's SpaceX partnered with India&#8217;s Jio Platforms to expand Starlink <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44268506/elon-musk-led-spacex-inks-agreements-with-indias-top-telecom-providers-expands-addressable-market-by-over-850-million-users">satellite internet services</a>. SpaceX has also signed up a similar agreement with Bharti Airtel, Jio&#8217;s main competitor.



Price Action: Tesla shares dipped 0.070% on Thursday and slipped an additional 0.20% in after-hours trading, settling at $240.89. While the stock has seen some recent gains, it&#8217;s still down 36.36% year-to-date, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.



The EV leader currently boasts a solid growth score of 67.60%, based on Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it stacks up against</a> other top industry players.



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<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/25/03/44554189/openai-and-microsoft-back-mcp-standard-in-major-shift-toward-interoperable-ai-agents-that-can-think-click-and-navigate-the-web-but-google-ceo-sundar-pichai-appears-to-be-mulling-over-it-in-shakespearean-fashion-to-mcp-or-not-to-mcp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI And Microsoft Back MCP Standard For Web-Surfing AI Agents; Google's Sundar Pichai Asks A Shakespearean Question</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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Tech

TSLA

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian PM Modi Discuss Deeper Tech Ties Amid Model Y Test Run In Mumbai

Warren Buffett's anti-Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rhetoric has long been discussed in market circles, with many trying to comprehend why one of the world's most valuable assets failed to impress the "Oracle of Omaha."



That being said, his firm, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), has indirect exposure to the price moves of the apex cryptocurrency through a company that bets on spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.



What happened: According to the latest 13F filing, Berkshire Hathaway held 680.23 million shares of banking giant Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), translating to a stake worth nearly $29.89 billion, at the end of 2024.



Notably, BAC was Berkshire Hathaway's third-largest holding, cornering about 11.88% of its investment portfolio.



However, unlike its investor, the financial behemoth was not hesitant to park its funds in Bitcoin.



BAC has a stake in each of the six top ETFs tracking Bitcoin&#8217;s spot price, with the largest position valued at $21.78 million in the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>). The company&#8217;s 13F filing revealed that it has held the shares since the first quarter of 2024 and scooped up an additional 249,292 shares in the fourth quarter.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44856286/solana-outpaces-bitcoin-ethereum-after-cathie-woods-ark-invest-piles-on-sols-new-canada-based-etf">Solana Breaks Free From Bitcoin, Ethereum Lag After Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Accumulates New SOL Staking ETF</a>



Why It Matters: The investment sharply contrasted with Buffett's disdain toward Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The seasoned stock picker has called Bitcoin<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44728494/bitcoin-draws-ire-from-buffett-and-dimon-but-blockchain-technology-sees-a-softer-stance-from-both"> "probably rat poison squared"</a> and a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44728494/bitcoin-draws-ire-from-buffett-and-dimon-but-blockchain-technology-sees-a-softer-stance-from-both">&#8220;delusion&#8221;</a> in the past, questioning its intrinsic value.



Interestingly, like BAC, some other Berkshire Hathaway holdings are tied to cryptocurrencies.



Financial services company&nbsp;Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEF#NYSE">JEF</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44622000/warren-buffett-avoids-bitcoin-but-do-you-know-berkshire-hathaway-holds-a-stake-in-a-bitcoin-hedge-advocate">also held over $85 million worth of IBIT shares</a> and deemed Bitcoin a &#8220;critical hedge&#8221; against fiat debasement and inflation.



Additionally, Berkshire <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/12/42480133/do-you-know-warren-buffetts-berkshire-hathaway-has-positions-in-this-lesser-known-crypto-friendly-bank-heres-how-the-stock-has-performed-this-year">has a stake</a> in Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), a Brazil-based cryptocurrency-friendly bank.



Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin traded at $84,624.93, up 0.03% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.&nbsp;



Shares of Berkshire Hathaway rose 0.13% in after-hours trading after closing 0.34% higher at $518.21 during Thursday&#8217;s regular session. BAC stock closed 0.21% higher at $37.41.



As of this writing, Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s stock was experiencing strong momentum. Go to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings</a> to see how BAC and its other top holdings perform on this metric.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="484" height="123" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602.png" alt="" class="wp-image-878091" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602.png 484w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/18041626/Screenshot-2025-04-18-134602-300x76.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 484px) 100vw, 484px" /></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44856786/bhutan-flexes-hydropower-for-bitcoin-mining-explores-sale-of-green-coins">Bhutan Flexes Hydropower For Bitcoin Mining, Explores Sale Of &#8216;Green&#8217; Coins</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

$BTC

IBIT

MSTR

MTPLF

Warren Buffett Dislikes Bitcoin—But Berkshire Hathaway Finds Itself Linked To BTC ETFs Through One Of Its Biggest Holdings

President Donald Trump's potential attempt to dismiss Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could rattle U.S. financial markets and undermine central bank independence, investment strategists warn.



What Happened: Trump&#8217;s aggressive stance on tariffs has already caused turbulence in the financial markets.



Investment strategists have now warned against dismissing the possibility of Trump trying&nbsp;to remove Powell from the&nbsp;Fed.



Kathy Jones, chief fixed-income strategist at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, stated that Trump&#8217;s desire to fire Powell and lower interest rates is evident, according <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/if-trump-fires-powell-it-would-blindside-wall-street-and-rattle-financial-markets-4b21833c?g=d37519b0-9514-4474-9d8e-414d33c0919d&amp;ref=biztoc.com">to</a> a report by MarketWatch.



Trump has publicly criticized Powell&nbsp;for refusing to lower interest&nbsp;rates, demanding that&nbsp;the central bank follow the&nbsp;European Central Bank&#8217;s example,&nbsp;which announced its latest rate&nbsp;cut on Thursday.



Despite Trump&#8217;s threats, Powell has maintained that the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/fed-chair-powell-deliver-fresh-economic-view-tariffs-inject-uncertainty-2025-04-16/">Fed will wait</a> to see how Trump&#8217;s&nbsp;tariffs impact the economy and&nbsp;inflation before proceeding with further interest-rate cuts. He also stated that the Fed would not&nbsp;intervene if the stock market&nbsp;plummeted.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44860334/china-cuts-us-oil-purchases-by-90-boosts-imports-from-canada-to-new-heights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Slashes US Oil Imports By 90% Amid Trump Tariffs, Turns To Canada Instead</a>



Following Trump&#8217;s social media post criticizing Powell, several press reports cited White House officials stating that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-says-his-proposed-tariffs-will-cost-americans-nothing-but-he-can-t-guarantee-anything-226489925905">Trump was not&nbsp;actually planning to fire Powell</a>.&nbsp;However, the authority Trump has to dismiss Powell remains unclear.



Analysts have warned that&nbsp;an upcoming Supreme Court decision&nbsp;could potentially undermine the independence&nbsp;of the Fed and other government agencies by expanding presidential powers. This could allow&nbsp;firings at institutions previously considered&nbsp;insulated from political pressure.



Despite the uncertainty, investors seemed willing to&nbsp;give Trump the benefit of&nbsp;the doubt, with the S&amp;P 500 index finishing&nbsp;slightly higher after a rocky&nbsp;session ahead of the long&nbsp;holiday weekend.



Why It Matters: The potential dismissal of Powell by Trump has been a topic of discussion since Trump&#8217;s re-election.



In November, Powell dismissed speculation about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/41823887/powell-dismisses-talk-of-resignation-after-trump-victory-says-policy-is-still-res">his potential resignation</a> or removal upon Trump&#8217;s return to the White House, stating the president cannot legally fire the central banker.



However, Trump later said he had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42381894/donald-trump-shifts-stance-on-jerome-powell-says-no-immediate-plans-to-replace-fed-chair-i-dont-think-so">no immediate plans to remove Powell</a>.



Despite this, Trump&#8217;s criticism of Powell&#8217;s handling of interest rates has continued, leading to speculation about a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41849984/powell-brushes-off-trumps-removal-threat-economists-say-2026-could-be-his-last-stand">clash between the White House and the central bank</a>.



This ongoing tension, coupled with the lack of a perceived &#8220;Trump put&#8221; or <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44661029/trump-and-fed-stand-firm-lack-of-a-put-could-drive-the-market-lower-very-quickly-warns-expert">&#8220;Fed put&#8221;</a>, could trigger a swift and significant market downturn. Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44866755/mark-cuban-says-this-trump-healthcare-order-could-save-hundreds-of-billions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says This Trump Healthcare Order &#8216;Could Save Hundreds Of Billions&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo Courtesy: Jonah Elkowitz on Shutterstock.com

Federal Reserve

Trump's Threat To Fire Powell Could Shake US Financial Markets

Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) is reportedly scaling back its Cybertruck production and shifting workers in response to a sales slump.



What Happened: Over the recent months, Tesla has been reducing&nbsp;production targets for several Cybertruck&nbsp;lines, with some operating at a significantly reduced capacity. The size of several Cybertruck production teams has also been cut down. Since the start of the year, Tesla has been reassigning workers from the Cybertruck line at its Gigafactory Texas to the Model Y line, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-production-drops-sales-slump-2025-4">reported </a>Business Insider.



 &#8220;It feels a lot like they&#8217;re filtering people out,&#8221; a worker commented. &#8220;The parking lot keeps getting emptier.&#8221;



In Q1&nbsp;2025, Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks, a 50% drop from the previous quarter. Although Elon Musk initially claimed that the vehicle had over a million reservations, fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks have been delivered to date.



Tesla&#8217;s overall sales have also been declining, with Q1 delivery results showing&nbsp;a 13% decline from the&nbsp;same period in 2024. This decline coincides with increasing competition, protests outside showrooms, and a 40% drop in stock value year-to-date.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44779863/warren-buffetts-son-sold-his-berkshire-stock-inheritance-to-buy-something-infinitely-more-valuable-than-the-500-million-it-would-be-worth-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Son Sold His Berkshire Stock Inheritance To Buy Something &#8216;Infinitely More Valuable&#8217; Than The $500 Million It Would Be Worth Today &#8211; Benzinga</a>



Why It Matters: Tesla has once again adjusted its Cybertruck production schedule, similar to changes made in December 2024. Back then, the company informed workers about schedule changes and asked for their role preferences. Workers were told at the time that Tesla intended to reduce Cybertruck production targets for the first quarter of 2025. Notably, in March, the EV maker announced the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44414187/elon-musks-tesla-recalls-over-46000-cybertrucks-due-to-safety-concerns">recall of more </a>than 46,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. due to a safety issue pertaining to the exterior panel.



The Cybertruck, a brainchild of Elon Musk, is being considered as one of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44662021/is-tesla-cybertruck-the-biggest-automotive-blunder-in-decades-after-fords-edsel-its-a-huge-swing-and-a-huge-miss">biggest automotive flops </a>in decades according to experts. The vehicle fell short of Musk&#8217;s ambitious sales target by a whopping 84%, with no signs of recovery in sight.



Furthermore, Tesla is reportedly sitting on nearly<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44670296/tesla-has-over-200-million-worth-of-cybertrucks-in-inventory-and-thats-raising-questions-about-demand-again"> 2,400 unsold</a> Cybertrucks worth $200 million in inventory across the U.S., which is approximately $200 million worth of inventory. The sticker shock from the base model&#8217;s price, coupled with frequent quality issues, has led to eroding trust in the vehicle.



Tesla has a momentum rating of 92.50% and a quality rating of 93.93%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/TSLA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga's Proprietary Edge Rankings</a>. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sign</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up for Benzinga Edge.</a>



<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44816385/joe-rogan-says-ross-perot-was-right-american-manufacturing-collapsed-because-greedy-executives-sent-jobs-ove" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joe Rogan Says Ross Perot Was Right: &#8216;American Manufacturing Collapsed&#8217; Because &#8216;Greedy&#8217; Executives Sent Jobs Overseas</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tesla Reportedly Scales Back Cybertruck Production, Shifts Workers As Sales Plummet: 'The Parking Lot Keeps Getting Emptier'

Peter Thiel co-founded Palantir Technologies Inc.&nbsp;(PLTR) has signed a $29.8 million contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to enhance its immigration enforcement tools. This new deal is an expansion of an existing agreement and concentrates on tracking visa overstays and self-deportations through a system called ImmigrationOS.



What Happened: The contract, reviewed <a href="https://www.404media.co/ice-just-paid-palantir-tens-of-millions-for-complete-target-analysis-of-known-populations/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter">by</a> 404 Media, details a prototype of ImmigrationOS, a software suite created to streamline ICE's case management system.



The upgrade promises "near real-time visibility" into cases of self-deportation and promises to cover the "end-to-end immigration lifecycle," from identifying individuals to removal.



The system will also track visa overstays and share data with Customs and Border Protection for synchronized enforcement.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44706330/irs-reverses-stance-agrees-to-share-undocumented-migrant-taxpayers-information-with-ice-this-is-unprecedented">IRS Reverses Stance, Will Hand Over Undocumented Taxpayer Info To Immigration Authorities: &#8216;It&#8217;s Unprecedented&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: These technological tools are being conceptualised in accordance with executive orders that define unauthorized immigration and transnational crime as national security threats.



According to ICE, the software will help prioritize enforcement against individuals highlighted for serious offenses, but also broadens scrutiny to civil immigration violations.



ICE stressed Palantir's decade-long role in building and maintaining these systems, pointing to the contractor&#8217;s compliance with DHS privacy and security standards.



Palantir, along with Elon Musk's SpaceX, may also be major players in President Donald Trump's proposed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44861620/spacex-palantir-frontrunners-in-bid-that-could-build-donald-trumps-golden-dome-report">Golden Dome missile defense initiative</a>.



Delivery of the ImmigrationOS prototype is expected by Sept. 25.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44757218/federal-judge-greenlights-trump-administrations-registry-for-undocumented-immigrants">Federal Judge Clears Trump Plan Requiring Undocumented Immigrants To Register Or Face Penalties</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: slyellow / Shutterstock.com

PLTR

Peter Thiel's Palantir Bags $30 Million Order From ICE For Immigrant Tracking System

In a recent dialogue with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook reportedly discussed the potential ramifications of President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs on iPhone prices.



What Happened: Cook held a discussion last week with the Commerce Secretary about the possible impact of the tariffs on iPhone prices. Cook also engaged in talks with other senior White House officials, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/17/apple-iphone-tariff-exemption-trump/">report</a> by The Washington Post. As a result of this conversation, the Trump administration has agreed to exempt Apple&#8217;s China-produced electronic products from import duties.



Despite the widespread criticism of President Donald Trump&#8216;s trade policies by numerous executives, Cook chose not to do so. By the end of the week, the Trump administration decided to exempt import duties on electronic products that Apple manufactures in China. This decision also benefited other major U.S. firms like HP Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>) and Dell (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NASDAQ">DELL</a>).



Notably, the exemption was approved even though senior White House aide Peter Navarro had recommended keeping the taxes in place.



Wilbur Ross, former commerce secretary during Trump's first term, told the publication, &#8220;Tim has a very good relationship with the president and rightly so. He has been playing a very careful role in that he obviously has a huge dependency on China but is also hugely important to the U.S.&#8221;



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44869983/a-small-business-owner-asks-whats-your-plan-now-that-a-20-product-from-china-costs-50-before-it-even-hits-th" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Small Business Owner Asks, &#8216;What&#8217;s Your Plan,&#8217; Now That A $20 Product From China Costs $50 Before It Even Hits The Warehouse?</a>



Why It Matters: Apple shares climbed over 2% on Monday after Trump exempted tariffs on electronics on Friday and pushed the company's market cap back more than $3 trillion. After the exemption, Trump stated, "I helped Tim Cook, recently, and that whole business,&#8221; reported CNBC.



The Apple CEO also invested $500 billion in the U.S. in March for an AI push, boosting U.S. manufacturing tech after a discussion with President Trump.



Prior to this development, Apple had been preparing for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44781528/apples-preemptive-iphone-stockpile-could-disrupt-supply-chain-amid-looming-semiconductor-tariffs-warns-top-analyst-says-this-may-be-cupertinos-best-option-beyond-white-house-talks">potential impact </a>of tariffs on its supply chain. Top analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had warned that Apple&#8217;s supply chain could face significant disruptions due to the tariffs.



Interestingly, Cook had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44783543/when-tim-cook-revealed-the-real-reason-iphones-are-made-in-chinaand-its-not-low-labor-costs-china-stopped-being-a-low-wage-country-years-ago">previously clarified</a> that Apple&#8217;s decision to manufacture its products in China was not due to low labor costs. In a 2024 video, Cook stated, &#8220;China stopped being a low labor cost company many years ago.&#8221; This tariff exemption will allow Apple to continue its manufacturing operations in China without the added cost of import duties.



According to&nbsp;Benzinga Edge Rankings,&nbsp;Apple is unfavorable in the short, medium, and long term, but how does it compare with other tech stocks? Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Edge Stock rankings</a>&nbsp;today to learn more.



Over the past month, Apple stock declined by over 7.4%, according to data from <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro.</a>



<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44877231/ethereum-price-plunges-to-2018-levels-what-is-going-on" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On? &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

AAPL

DELL

Tim Cook's Talks With Commerce Secretary Lutnick Helped Apple Secure Tariff Exemption For iPhones: Report

Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) has pulled back to levels not seen since 2018, yet key players from whales to traders remain defiant about the coin&#8217;s future prospects.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$1,582</td><td>$193.5 billion</td><td>-0.3% </td><td>+4.5% </td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$84,853</td><td>$1.68 trillion</td><td>+0.6% </td><td>+6.7%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$2.08</td><td>$121.5 billion</td><td>-2.0% </td><td>+5.5% </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: In an X <a href="https://x.com/CrypNuevo/status/1912557361283113036">post</a> on Wednesday, trader CrypNuevo highlighted that Ethereum's current range mirrors historical accumulation zones. 



With Bitcoin holding its one-week 50-day moving average and BTC dominance not yet peaking, he's placing some of his largest spot buys in this range.



Crypto Caesar emphasized the importance of this support zone, calling it a potential millionaire-making moment. He urged traders not to sit idle, saying the next big move is likely just &#8220;a few clicks away.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> &#8211; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ethereum?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ethereum</a> is testing support. I'm still bullish. This is not the time to do nothing. In times like this millionaires are being made. You are just a few clicks away. <a href="https://t.co/aSmNh8fB3v">pic.twitter.com/aSmNh8fB3v</a>&mdash; Crypto Caesar (@CryptoCaesarTA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoCaesarTA/status/1912453098540253238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Niels, another prominent trader, <a href="https://x.com/Web3Niels/status/1912798313679630767">acknowledged</a> ETH's underperformance this cycle despite ETF approvals, major upgrades, and institutional interest. 



He believes the two catalysts that could send ETH to $10,000 are: a return of Fed quantitative easing and approval of ETH spot ETFs with staking enabled.



Statistics: Ethereum ETF flows remain negative, according to trader Ted Pillows, who suggests staking might be the only lever left to revive bullish momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> ETF inflows remain in the red. Ethereum staking might be the only factor capable of reversing the trend. You agree? <a href="https://t.co/xZMsacmU3Z">pic.twitter.com/xZMsacmU3Z</a>&mdash; Ted (@TedPillows) <a href="https://twitter.com/TedPillows/status/1912777752484229314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



CryptoGoos <a href="https://x.com/crypto_goos/status/1912506515023446323">pointed </a>out a curious divergence: whales are buying heavily—possibly anticipating a move retail hasn't yet seen.



Coinglass data shows a 4.6% spike in open interest, with $27.8 million in liquidations over 24 hours. Notably, short liquidations ($14.5M) are outpacing longs, suggesting the market could be bracing for a squeeze.



IntoTheBlock data reveals a 2.2% increase in large transaction volume and a 4% bump in daily active addresses. Exchange netflows dropped 127.6%, signaling potential accumulation off exchanges.



Community News: Crypto YouTuber Crypto Rover <a href="https://x.com/rovercrc/status/1912869406549660008">reminded</a> his followers that BlackRock now owns $2 billion in ETH, arguing that such a move from the world's largest asset manager isn&#8217;t made lightly.



In a post on April 17, analytics firm Santiment&#8217;s marketing director Brian Quinlivan <a href="https://insights.santiment.net/read/ethereum-s-network-costs-hit-historically-low-milestone-8619?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=post&amp;utm_campaign=twitter_eth_low_fee_milestone_b_041625/&amp;fpr=twitter">noted</a> that Ethereum gas fees are at five-year lows, indicating a lack of on-chain activity.



Historically, these conditions have preceded price rebounds, making current entry levels appealing for long-term investors. Low fees usually signal a bottom, Quinlivan said and they often precede strong upside moves.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44858748/millennium-managements-bitcoin-and-ethereum-etfs-purchased-in-q4-suffer-22-7-million-loss-amid-crypto-slump">Millennium Management&#8217;s Bitcoin And Ethereum ETFs Purchased In Q4 Suffer $22.7 Million Loss Amid Crypto Slump</a></li>
</ul>

$ETH

$XRP

Ethereum Price Plunges To 2018 Levels: What Is Going On?

If you hold U.S.-listed Chinese stocks like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NASDAQ">BABA</a>), JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JD#NASDAQ">JD</a>) or PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), you may soon face serious liquidity risks, as delisting threats tied to geopolitical and regulatory frictions between Washington and Beijing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">mount with fresh urgency.</a>



In a note shared Thursday, Goldman Sachs analyst Kinger Lau, CFA, said delisting fears for Chinese American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are rising again, driven by escalating trade tensions and new policy guidance from U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump&#8216;s America First Investment Policy and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's statement that "everything is on the table" in the response to China's retaliatory tariffs.



According to Goldman Sachs&#8217; ADR Delisting Barometer, there is currently a 66% probability of delisting risk embedded in Chinese ADRs. A full pricing in of delisting risk could lead to a 9% drop in ADR valuations from current levels. 



&#8220;U.S. listings by Chinese companies is widely regarded as an embodiment of financial market relations and a leverage for the potential negotiation between the two nations,&#8221; Lau wrote.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">How High Are The Stakes?</h1>



&#8220;We estimate that U.S. institutional investors currently own around U.S.$830 billion of Chinese stocks across A shares, H shares and ADRs,&#8221; Goldman Sachs stated. Of this, approximately $250 billion is tied up in ADRs specifically.



At the same time, Chinese investors could be forced to offload up to $1.7 trillion in U.S. financial assets, including approximately $370 billion in equities and $1.3 trillion in bonds.



This extreme scenario — which alludes to a full investment ban — would represent the largest forced unwind of cross-border holdings in modern financial history.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Who Gets Hit The Hardest?</h1>



According to Goldman's analysis, 5% of Alibaba's and 3% of PDD's market cap is owned by U.S. institutions that currently don't own other Hong Kong-listed stocks such as Tencent or Meituan. That means they may not have operational flexibility to pivot to Hong Kong in the event of delisting.



Roughly 20% of U.S. institutional holdings in top ADRs — equivalent to 7% of the total market cap — may face similar constraints, meaning they may be forced sellers.



For Alibaba, there are 1,275 institutional holders globally, and institutional investors collectively own 50% of the company&#8217;s outstanding shares. Out of that, 26% of Alibaba's total shares are held by U.S.-based institutions, with 176 U.S. institutional investors holding positions larger than 0.005% of the company's total shares.



For PDD, the figures are more concentrated: it has 1,006 institutional holders, with institutions holding 31% of the stock overall. 16% of the total shares are held by U.S. institutional investors, and there are 107 U.S.-based institutional holders with significant stakes (above 0.005% ownership).



In short, the data suggests Alibaba has both broader and deeper institutional engagement, especially from U.S. investors, compared to PDD. This means that, in the event of a U.S. delisting, Alibaba could see a greater volume of forced selling from U.S. institutional investors due to the larger size and scale of U.S. holdings.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Are ETFs And Derivatives at Risk?</h1>



Yes. Passive funds and ETF products are particularly exposed. The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KWEB#NYSE">KWEB</a>) has 33% of its assets in ADRs, half of which do not have Hong Kong listings, making it vulnerable in a forced delisting scenario.



Other funds, like the iShares MSCI China ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCHI#NYSE">MCHI</a>), have already shifted weightings from ADRs to Hong Kong shares, thanks to changes in primary ticker designations by index providers like MSCI.



In derivatives markets, any forced delisting of ADRs could trigger early termination events under ISDA contracts, potentially unwinding outstanding options and swaps linked to these securities.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">What Happens In A Delisting Event?</h1>



If a delisting takes place, investors may have a few paths forward depending on how the company is structured. For firms with dual listings, investors can convert their ADRs into Hong Kong-listed shares through the depositary bank. 



This process typically takes about two business days and may involve fees and applicable taxes. In some cases, investors might be able to sell their shares on over-the-counter (OTC) markets, although this route is blocked for companies delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA) or sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). 



If no action is taken by the investor, the ADR program will eventually be terminated and the depositary will sell the underlying shares, distributing the net proceeds in cash after deducting fees.



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US-Listed Chinese Stocks Face $250 Billion Forced Selling Risk As Delisting Fears Emerge: What Investors Need To Know

Former Google chief executive Eric&nbsp;Schmidt sketched an aggressive road&nbsp;map for artificial intelligence progress, warning that machines will match — and soon eclipse — elite human talent across most creative and technical fields.



What Happened: Speaking at the AI&nbsp;+&nbsp;Biotechnology Summit, co‑hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), Schmidt predicted "the vast majority of programmers" will be supplanted within 12&nbsp;months as generative models crank out production‑ready code in any language. Over the same span, he expects AI systems to reach the level of "the tippy‑top of graduate math programs," leveraging formal proof languages such as Lean, to out‑reason human savants.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dr. Eric Schmidt" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L5jhEYofpaQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Two Years: Self‑Improving AI</h3>



Schmidt reveals that by 2027, research labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic could see 20% of their research code written autonomously, a feedback loop Schmidt called "recursive self‑improvement." Pairing that capability with advanced reasoning, he said, lays the groundwork for broader disruption of business and government workflows.



See also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/44856114/nvidia-says-it-follows-us-government-instructions-on-what-it-can-sell-and-where-amid-trade-war-escalation-with-china">Nvidia Says It Follows US Government Instructions On What It Can Sell And Where Amid Trade War Escalation With China</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Three To Five Years: Artificial General Intelligence</h3>



Schmidt subscribes to what he dubbed the "San&nbsp;Francisco consensus": between 2028 and 2030, a single model will rival the best mathematician, physicist, writer, or artist. That milestone — artificial general intelligence — would put a "smartest human" in every pocket, able to design homes, negotiate contracts, or draft policy with minimal oversight.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Six Years: Super‑Intelligence</h3>



Extend the scaling curves, Schmidt argued, and "artificial super‑intelligence" emerges by 2031 — machines smarter than the sum of humanity, operating largely outside human guidance. Realizing that the future will hinge on massive computing power, he cautioned, and society still lacks language, let alone policy, for managing intellect "that's largely free."



Schmidt rejected the notion that everyone will be unemployed, but stressed the window to prepare for AI's cascading impact is closing fast: "The foundation is being locked in. We're not going to stop it."



Why It Matters: Schmidt had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44185833/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-warn-of-nuclear-level-risks-in-global-superintelligent-ai-race-what-begins-as-a-push-for-a-superweapon">earlier warned</a> that an unchecked race for super‑intelligence could mirror a nuclear arms sprint. In a March&nbsp;7 white paper with Alexandr&nbsp;Wang and Dan&nbsp;Hendrycks, he urged the U.S. to pursue "Mutual&nbsp;Assured&nbsp;AI&nbsp;Malfunction" safeguards and non‑proliferation pacts to prevent destabilizing, Cold‑War‑style escalation.



xAI founder Elon Musk, meanwhile, strikes a middle course: he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37987626/is-superintelligence-safe-elon-musk-backtracks-on-ai-warnings">pegs a 10‑20% chance</a> that super-intelligent AI ends humanity but still expects machines to outthink us by 2029 and create "abundance," abandoning his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36070359/larry-page-disliked-elon-musks-love-for-humanity-over-ai-powered-digital-life-forms-and-that-soured">2023 pause proposal</a>. Palantir's Peter Thiel is more <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/08/40475377/palantir-co-founder-peter-thiel-says-ai-could-take-15-20-years-to-become-super-dominant-calls-this-t">skeptical</a>, arguing true AGI could take 15‑20 years and calling near‑term super‑dominance a distant "holy grail."



Photo Courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO on Shutterstock.com



Read next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/25/04/44854679/time-100-most-influential-people-includes-elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-alex-karp-and-more-public-company-ceos">Time 100 Most Influential People Includes Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Alex Karp And More Public Company CEOs</a>

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Predicts AI Sprint Toward Super Intelligence Could Put 'Smartest Human' In Every Pocket In 6 Years

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