Bullish Shares Surge on NYSE Debut, Valued at $13.2 Billion

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Cryptocurrency exchange Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel and parent of CoinDesk, saw its NYSE shares more than double in their debut, valuing the company at approximately $13.16 billion. The stock opened at $90 and traded as high as $118, far above its $37 IPO price, highlighting strong investor confidence in the crypto sector. Bullish raised $1.11 billion in the IPO, giving it an initial valuation of $5.4 billion.

The surge comes amid a series of regulatory wins for crypto in the U.S., increased corporate adoption, and growing ETF inflows. Bullish targets institutional clients, aiming for stable, recurring revenue, and is close to obtaining a New York BitLicense to operate under regulatory requirements including KYC, anti-money laundering, and capital standards.

Executives cited institutional demand and a favorable regulatory environment as key drivers, noting that other crypto exchanges such as Gemini and Grayscale have also filed to go public. Bullish CEO Tom Farley, former NYSE president, brings leadership experience that may help secure institutional mandates.

Standard Chartered Raises Year-End Ether Forecast to $7,500

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Standard Chartered has raised its year-end target for ether to $7,500, up from $4,000, citing stronger industry engagement and increased holdings of the cryptocurrency in recent months. The new forecast represents a nearly 60% premium over ether’s recent high of $4,700.

Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, offers staking opportunities, allowing holders to earn rewards by supporting the Ethereum network, unlike Bitcoin which relies solely on price appreciation. Ether has surged more than 50% over the past month, boosted by the passage of the Genius Act, which establishes a regulatory framework for dollar-pegged stablecoins.

Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, highlighted that growth in the stablecoin sector—projected to expand eightfold by 2028—would drive increased transaction fees on Ethereum, boosting demand for ether. The brokerage also raised its 2028 forecast for ether to $25,000 and noted that Ethereum treasury companies could hold up to 10% of circulating ether, supporting long-term growth.

Manufacturers Turn to AI to Manage Supply Chains Amid Tariff Volatility

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U.S. manufacturers like The Toro Company are using artificial intelligence to maintain lean “just-in-time” inventories despite ongoing global trade uncertainties and fluctuating tariffs. Toro’s supply chain chief, Kevin Carpenter, says AI helps the company process daily news—from policy updates to commodity prices—into actionable insights, guiding purchasing and inventory decisions.

Generative AI is being increasingly adopted in supply chains, capable of analyzing massive datasets and suggesting optimal actions. Industry research firm Gartner predicts AI software spending for supply chains could rise from $2.7 billion today to $55 billion by 2029. Leading providers include SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Microsoft, and Blue Yonder.

While AI improves efficiency and helps manage cost pressures, experts caution it is not a “silver bullet.” Human oversight remains essential for strategic decisions, with AI handling routine tasks like scheduling and ordering. Companies using AI can better react to uncertainty, reduce excess inventory, and protect profit margins amid rising costs and global disruptions.