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Brazilian Fintech Meliuz Adopts Bitcoin Reserve Strategy, Shares Surge

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Meliuz, a Brazilian fintech company, has adopted a bold new strategy allowing it to allocate part of its cash reserves into bitcoin, potentially making the cryptocurrency the main asset of its treasury in the future. This announcement has had an immediate impact on the company’s São Paulo-traded shares, which surged more than 25% on Thursday.

In a securities filing, Meliuz revealed that it aims to capture long-term returns from its bitcoin investments, drawing inspiration from prominent firms like U.S.-based MicroStrategy and Japan’s Metaplanet, both of which have significant bitcoin holdings. The company has committed to allocating up to 10% of its cash reserves into bitcoin, having already purchased 45.72 bitcoins for around $4.1 million.

Founded in 2011, Meliuz initially started as a cashback service for online purchases, later expanding into physical retail, app usage, and offering free digital accounts and credit cards. Although the company went public in late 2020, its stock had faced difficulties, mainly due to Brazil’s high interest rates. Despite this, Meliuz currently has over 240 million reais ($41.72 million) in net cash.

Chairman Israel Salmen explained that while allocating capital to fixed-income investments might seem prudent, Meliuz believes this strategy represents a significant opportunity cost. He emphasized that the bitcoin reserve strategy would not only strengthen the company’s financial position but also help it lead in a global financial transformation already underway.

Meliuz will further analyze the potential of adopting bitcoin as its main strategic asset. UBS BB analysts noted that while the approach is new for Brazilian companies, it aligns with a growing global trend seeking alternative stores of value. They added that, if successful, Meliuz’s strategy could attract crypto-focused investors, though it may also bring increased volatility to the company’s results.

Chinese Companies Embrace DeepSeek’s AI Amid Growing Frenzy

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Chinese companies, including Great Wall Motor and major telecom providers, are quickly integrating the AI model released by DeepSeek, capitalizing on its attention and breakthroughs. Great Wall Motor, China’s first listed automaker, confirmed that it had embedded DeepSeek’s AI into its connected vehicle system, branded “Coffee Intelligence.” This integration marks a significant shift as the company seeks to enhance its technological offerings.

Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that the country’s three largest telecom operators—China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom—are collaborating with DeepSeek to promote the inclusive application of AI technology. This move is part of a larger trend as companies rush to incorporate the model into their products.

DeepSeek’s AI platform has sparked investor interest, fueling speculation about its disruptive potential across China’s tech sector. Stocks of Chinese companies tied to AI, including chipmakers, software developers, and data center operators, have surged in response to this new development. Capitalonline Data Service and MeiG Smart Technology, two listed companies, experienced significant stock price jumps after announcing their integration of DeepSeek’s AI. However, both firms have cautioned investors, stating that the impact on their future business performance remains uncertain.

Other industry giants like Tencent and Huawei have also joined the wave, revealing they have integrated DeepSeek’s model into their own offerings. The rapid adoption highlights the growing impact of DeepSeek’s AI on China’s tech landscape.

Pinterest Shares Surge on Strong AI Ad Forecasts

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Pinterest’s stock soared by 20% on Friday after the company raised its first-quarter revenue forecast, indicating that its AI-driven advertisement tools will boost ad spending on the platform. The surge was driven by Pinterest’s prediction of revenue exceeding expectations, with a focus on its direct response ads, which encourage actions like app downloads or website visits.

CEO Bill Ready highlighted the success of Pinterest’s AI tools, particularly the Performance+ suite, which automates ad targeting and reduces the inputs required for campaign creation. This has been especially helpful for smaller advertisers. “Advertisers using these tools now need 50% fewer inputs to create a campaign,” Ready explained.

Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik noted that automating the ad creation process makes Pinterest an appealing choice for advertisers, particularly smaller ones, due to the ease it offers. Shmulik also expressed confidence that Pinterest’s progress is sustainable.

In the fourth quarter, Pinterest reported record revenue, driven by strong ad spending from the retail, technology, and financial services sectors. However, advertising spend from food and beverage companies remained weak. Following the positive earnings report, at least 27 brokerages raised their price target for Pinterest.

The company’s first-quarter revenue projection of $837 million to $852 million exceeds analysts’ consensus estimate of $832.8 million. Additionally, its adjusted core earnings forecast of $155 million to $170 million also surpassed expectations.

Pinterest’s stock value could increase by over $4 billion if the gains hold, with the company’s market valuation currently sitting at $22.70 billion. Despite volatility in stock price following earnings reports, Pinterest’s outlook remains positive, with its first-quarter projections further fueling investor optimism.