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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Bloomberg/Getty Images Meta is walking back its stance on forcing engineers to join a task force focused on AI training, according to an internal memo obtained by Business Insider and four people familiar with the matter.

Last month, Meta reassigned 7,000 employees to units such as an Applied AI task force to help train Meta's coming AI models.

On Wednesday, Meta sent a memo about this task force, saying the company will now "defer to each individual's choice." The company sent the email to employees who had been "drafted," as some described its Applied AI task force.

"As I emphasized before, personal agency will remain at the heart of all opportunities at Meta: we will support employees in whatever decisions they make," the memo said.

"Of course, we'd prefer everyone to stay and push to SOTA together, but we defer to each individual's choice," it read, referring to state-of-the-art.

The memo went on to say that people in the unit would have preferential placement in other parts of the company due to staffing shortages.

Meta declined to comment for this story.

Some employees on Blind called the memo an "undraft."

The task force faced significant backlash last month from employees who compared the job to data labeling.

The reversal comes after chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth addressed a broader morale crisis at the company. During an internal "Tuesdays with Boz" session on June 2, Bosworth told employees that morale was "probably one of the worst it's ever been" in Meta's 20-year history, Business Insider previously reported.

In May, Meta laid off 10% of its staff, or 8,000 people.

Have a tip? Contact Charles via email at [email protected] or on Signal and WhatsApp at 628-282-2811. Contact Pranav via encrypted messaging app Signal at +1-408-905-9124, or email him at [email protected] or [email protected]. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

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Pranav Dixit You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Pranav Dixit is the Meta Correspondent at Business Insider based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He writes about Meta’s products, policies, and internal workings while examining how the company’s decisions shape how billions of people connect and communicate.Previously, Pranav was the India-based technology correspondent for BuzzFeed News, covering the impact of Silicon Valley’s largest companies on the culture, society, and politics of more than a billion people in South Asia. He has also been a senior news editor at Engadget and ran technology coverage at the Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest national newspapers.Pranav’s reporting has shed light on the human consequences of Big Tech’s quest for growth in emerging markets, and sparked widespread conversations about the impact of American technology companies on the Global South. In 2019, he won Syracuse University’s Mirror Award for a boots-on-the-ground feature about how WhatsApp misinformation sparked gruesome lynchings in rural India. He has also reported from Kashmir, a volatile geopolitical hotspot, documenting the world’s longest-running internet shutdown.His work has been widely cited by major national and international publications, and he has been featured on the BBC, Al Jazeera, and podcasts such as Vox Media’s Land of the Giants to discuss his work. He has also spoken in journalism classes including at UC Berkeley’s graduate journalism program. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, Vox, Time, The Information, and Al Jazeera.Pranav moved to the United States in 2021 from New Delhi, India, to be a fellow at Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism, where he studied the evolution of the American tech press and ways newsrooms around the world can cover technology and society more effectively.Got a tip about Meta or anything else in Silicon Valley? Contact Pranav via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1408-905-9124), or email him at [email protected] or [email protected]. You can also reach him on WhatsApp at +857-753-3949 or DM him on X (@PranavDixit) or BlueSky (@pranavdixit.bsky.social).Pranav keeps sources anonymous. Please use a non-work device to reach out.Expertise: Meta, Facebook, WhatsApp, Llama, AI, Threads, Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg, social media, platforms, immigration

Charles Rollet You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Charles Rollet is BI's tech correspondent in San Francisco. Prior to joining BI, Charles worked at TechCrunch covering startups and VC. Charles is based in the Bay Area, where he enjoys hiking with his dogs. You can contact Charles securely on Signal at charlesrollet.12 or +1-628-282-2811.

Exclusive Meta AI More Layoffs Careers Big Tech

Zoox refreshed its robotaxi and said it's prepared to produce up to 100 vehicles a week. Zoox Amazon's Zoox is getting ready to ramp up vehicle production with a newly refreshed robotaxi design as the company seeks to expand its service areas in the US.

Zoox unveiled several tweaks to its purpose-built robotaxi on Wednesday, including changes to the interior color, more ergonomic seats, larger cupholders, a more vivid touchscreen, and two-way audio capabilities designed to improve communication with riders and first responders.

Zoox said it can produce up to 100 of the newly updated robotaxis a week to support its expansion plans for this year, pending regulatory approval.

A spokesperson for Zoox said the regulatory approval refers to a pending petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The petition seeks a temporary exemption from some federal safety standards that assume a vehicle has a human driver and traditional driving controls.

The core robotaxi design remains unchanged. Zoox said the updates are designed to make rides feel calmer and more intuitive as it prepares to put more vehicles on the road.

The lighter interior color scheme is meant to reduce "visual distractions" and make it easier for riders to spot items left behind, such as phones or keys, Zoox said.

Zoox updated the interior to include a lighter color scheme, more ergonomic seats, and other adjustments.  Zoox "These robotaxis will join the fleet across our markets and become available to riders later this year as they come off the production line," Zoox said.

The company said in its announcement that the updated vehicle is its production-intent robotaxi and will be built at its Hayward, California, factory.

Business Insider previously reported that Zoox's 220,000-square-foot factory can produce more than 10,000 vehicles a year.

A Zoox spokesperson told Business Insider that the company does not need to build 10,000 robotaxis at the moment.

"We are ramping production in a deliberate, phased manner to safely meet the strong consumer demand and regulatory requirements," the spokesperson said.

Zoox provides free robotaxi rides to the public in limited parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco as the company continues to collect rider feedback.

The company said that it plans to expand to Austin and Miami later this year.

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Lloyd Lee You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

AT&T (T - Free Report) closed at $22.35 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.04% move from the prior day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.1% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.35%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.43%.

The telecommunications company's shares have seen a decrease of 8.83% over the last month, not keeping up with the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 2.15% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of AT&T in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on July 22, 2026. In that report, analysts expect AT&T to post earnings of $0.59 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 9.26%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $31.99 billion, up 3.71% from the year-ago period.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $2.3 per share and revenue of $129.78 billion. These totals would mark changes of +8.49% and +3.29%, respectively, from last year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for AT&T. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. At present, AT&T boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In terms of valuation, AT&T is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.9. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 11.36, so one might conclude that AT&T is trading at a discount comparatively.

Meanwhile, T's PEG ratio is currently 0.95. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. Wireless National stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 1.11 based on yesterday's closing prices.

The Wireless National industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 177, which puts it in the bottom 28% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow T in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Mastercard: Steady Revenue TrajectoryMastercard (MA +1.21%) primarily generates its revenue by providing global transaction processing and a wide array of payment solutions to individual account holders, merchants, and financial institutions.

While it recently announced plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 4%, it reported 46% net income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Visa: Maintaining a Revenue LeadVisa (V +1.17%) earns the majority of its revenue by enabling the secure and efficient digital transfer of funds among consumers, retail businesses, and banking institutions around the world.

It entered into a strategic partnership with OpenAI to explore artificial intelligence in commerce, and it recorded approximately 64% EBIT margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Why Revenue Matters for Retail InvestorsRevenue serves as a gauge to help investors understand the total amount of money a business brings in before deducting any operational expenses. Understanding this top-line figure helps retail investors measure how effectively a business generates sales over time.

Quarterly Revenue for Mastercard and VisaQuarter (Period End)Mastercard RevenueVisa RevenueQ2 2024 (June 2024)$7.0 billion$8.9 billionQ3 2024 (Sept. 2024)$7.4 billion$9.6 billionQ4 2024 (Dec. 2024)$7.5 billion$9.5 billionQ1 2025 (March 2025)$7.3 billion$9.6 billionQ2 2025 (June 2025)$8.1 billion$10.2 billionQ3 2025 (Sept. 2025)$8.6 billion$10.7 billionQ4 2025 (Dec. 2025)$8.8 billion$10.9 billionQ1 2026 (March 2026)$8.4 billion$11.2 billionData source: Company filings. Data as of June 23, 2026.

Foolish TakeComparing revenue trends between Mastercard and Visa surfaces the unique quirks of their businesses. Visa experienced steady quarter-over-quarter sales growth in the past year. Over the same timeframe, Mastercard’s revenue expanded on a year-over-year basis, but saw uneven growth from quarter to quarter. The reason behind this is that Visa’s income relies heavily on payment processing transactions while Mastercard depends more on cross-border travel, which is not as consistent.

Both companies have seen revenue growth over time, given transaction fees automatically scale with global consumer spending. This doesn’t necessarily mean consumers are buying more. Part of the rising revenue is a sign that inflation has caused prices to increase, and since Visa and Mastercard’s fees are a percentage of every transaction, higher prices equate to more revenue.

Visa’s sales are larger than its rival’s because it has a greater market share of payment processing volume. That said, as digital payments continue to grow, both are poised to benefit for years to come.

Robert Izquierdo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

In the latest trading session, Exxon Mobil (XOM - Free Report) closed at $136.90, marking a -2.03% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.1% loss on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.35%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.43%.

The stock of oil and natural gas company has fallen by 6.73% in the past month, leading the Oils-Energy sector's loss of 7.58% and undershooting the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Exxon Mobil in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $3.96, up 141.46% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $97.91 billion, up 20.12% from the prior-year quarter.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $11.86 per share and a revenue of $392.6 billion, representing changes of +69.67% and +18.17%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Exxon Mobil. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.24% higher within the past month. At present, Exxon Mobil boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

From a valuation perspective, Exxon Mobil is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 11.78. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 7.33.

It's also important to note that XOM currently trades at a PEG ratio of 0.59. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 0.53 as of yesterday's close.

The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 56, placing it within the top 23% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

By Reuters

June 24, 202611:28 PM UTCUpdated 55 mins ago

The GM logo is displayed at the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesSAO PAULO, June 24 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab announced on Wednesday it would invest ​an extra 3.5 billion reais ($674.88 ‌million) in Brazil, expanding its commitment to the country's auto industry by ​50% and supporting production ​of hybrid vehicles and factory modernization.

The ⁠new amount adds to 7 ​billion reais announced in 2024, ​bringing GM's total planned investment to 10.5 billion reais until 2028, it said ​in a statement.

The investment will ​go mainly to the company's operations in ‌Sao ⁠Paulo state, the most populated and wealthiest in the country.

It will support Chevrolet portfolio renewal, incorporation ​of new ​technologies including ⁠hybrid models, factory modernization and expansion of engineering ​and manufacturing capabilities.

The initiative ​will ⁠also contribute to generating qualified jobs and strengthening the competitiveness of ⁠Brazil's ​auto industry, the company ​said.

($1 = 5.1861 reais)

Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.

Reporting by Paula Laier and ​Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Sonali Paul

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

In the latest trading session, Verizon Communications (VZ - Free Report) closed at $45.74, marking a -2.13% move from the previous day. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.35%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.43%.

Shares of the largest U.S. cellphone carrier witnessed a loss of 3.63% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Computer and Technology sector with its loss of 2.15%, and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Verizon Communications in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on July 24, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.27, signifying a 4.10% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $35.41 billion, up 2.62% from the prior-year quarter.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $4.96 per share and revenue of $142.7 billion, indicating changes of +5.31% and +3.26%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Verizon Communications. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.06% higher. At present, Verizon Communications boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Verizon Communications has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.41 right now. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 11.36 for its industry.

It is also worth noting that VZ currently has a PEG ratio of 1.14. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Wireless National industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.11.

The Wireless National industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 177, putting it in the bottom 28% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

Novavax (NVAX - Free Report) closed at $8.90 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.17% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.1% loss on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.35%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.43%.

The stock of vaccine maker has fallen by 13.96% in the past month, lagging the Medical sector's gain of 1.97% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Novavax in its upcoming earnings disclosure. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of -$0.36, marking a 158.06% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $50.04 million, indicating a 79.08% downward movement from the same quarter last year.

NVAX's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of -$0.19 per share and revenue of $371.85 million. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -107.36% and -66.9%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Novavax. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Currently, Novavax is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 158, this industry ranks in the bottom 36% of all industries, numbering over 250.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow NVAX in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Warren Buffett, at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway for six decades, constructed a long track record of investing success. And that's why investors have continually looked to him for inspiration. The Oracle of Omaha, as he's often called, led the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio to market-beating gains, delivering a compounded annual gain of nearly 20%. That's compared to the S&P 500's 10% compounded annual increase over that time period.

Of course, the portfolio hasn't looked exactly the same every year as Buffett bought and sold various stocks. But the billionaire, known for long-term investing, has held certain companies for many years -- and even decades. Buffett earlier this year handed his chief executive officer role off to Greg Abel, but as chairman, he still remains involved in the holding company.

Let's check out three of Buffett's favorites: They're worth owning for a lifetime.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Coca-Cola Warren Buffett, in his 1988 letter to shareholders, wrote about his recent purchase of Coca-Cola (KO +0.36%), saying he planned to hold onto the shares for "a long time" and that when he finds a good business, "our favorite holding period is forever." Buffett followed through on the plan as the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio still holds Coca-Cola shares, and they remain among the top positions as of the end of the first quarter -- in the third spot, to be exact.

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Buffett surely likes Coca-Cola for two clear reasons: the company's solid moat, or competitive advantage, and its dividend payments. Coca-Cola's brand strength, as well as its deep distribution network, has kept the company in the lead year after year. Meanwhile, the company is a Dividend King, having increased its dividend payments for more than 50 consecutive years.

So, when you hold Coca-Cola shares, you'll benefit from steady earnings growth as well as passive income that's likely to increase over time.

2. American Express American Express (AXP +1.40%) is another stock Buffett bought many years ago -- and it now is the second-biggest position in the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio. This leading payment card company has demonstrated strength over time, even in tough economic conditions. Since American Express generally serves high-income individuals and households, it's less vulnerable to economic downturns.

This has helped the company increase earnings over time, and in recent quarters, American Express is showing that it has what it takes to keep this strength going: It's seeing significant growth in younger customers. In the latest quarter, for example, 66% of global new customer accounts were from Millennial and Gen Z customers.

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American Express is also a fantastic dividend stock, and its free cash flow level shows that it has the financial strength to continue along this path.

AXP Free Cash Flow data by YCharts

3. Apple Finally, I'll talk about the No. 1 stock in Buffett's portfolio. He hasn't held it as long as Coca-Cola and American Express, but it still is clearly a long-term holding. And this is Apple (AAPL 0.43%), a stock Buffett originally bought in 2016.

Generally, Buffett doesn't invest in technology companies, but he makes exceptions when he finds a particularly well-run business with a fantastic moat. And this is the case with Apple. Buffett has publicly praised Apple chief Tim Cook for his accomplishments and for making Apple a great investment for Berkshire Hathaway.

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But this growth story isn't over. The leadership Apple has built in the smartphone market and across devices, such as tablets, should keep paying off. And part of that may be due to the large installed base of active devices, at more than 2.5 billion today. These customers not only have purchased an Apple product, but they now are offering the company a recurrent stream of revenue.

This is through services, from digital entertainment to storage. Services revenue has exploded higher, reaching record levels quarter after quarter. All of this makes Apple a stock to hold onto for Buffett's favorite holding period: forever.

In the latest close session, Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) was down 2.75% at $24.04. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.1%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.35%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 0.43%.

The drugmaker's stock has dropped by 4.37% in the past month, falling short of the Medical sector's gain of 1.97% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Pfizer in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on August 4, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Pfizer to post earnings of $0.68 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 12.82%. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $14.4 billion, showing a 1.71% drop compared to the year-ago quarter.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.99 per share and revenue of $61.64 billion, which would represent changes of -7.14% and -1.49%, respectively, from the prior year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Pfizer. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Pfizer is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Pfizer has a Forward P/E ratio of 8.28 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 15.31, so one might conclude that Pfizer is trading at a discount comparatively.

The Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry is part of the Medical sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 94, putting it in the top 39% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

Blue Owl Capital presents a compelling high-yield opportunity with a nearly 10% dividend, despite investor concerns about its credit business. IBM secures a bullish catalyst as the US government proposes a $1B equity stake to support its quantum computing roadmap. Quantum Computing is a speculative buy, leveraging a strong cash position and accelerating revenue in a nascent market projected at 35% CAGR.

Newmont Corporation (NEM - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $94.04, moving -3.88% from the previous trading session. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.35%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.43%.

The stock of gold and copper miner has fallen by 12.34% in the past month, lagging the Basic Materials sector's loss of 3.56% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Newmont Corporation in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $2.25, reflecting a 57.34% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $6.19 billion, indicating a 16.38% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $9.91 per share and revenue of $27.25 billion, which would represent changes of +43.83% and +20.2%, respectively, from the prior year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Newmont Corporation. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 1.93% higher. As of now, Newmont Corporation holds a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Investors should also note Newmont Corporation's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 9.88. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 9.01, which means Newmont Corporation is trading at a premium to the group.

We can additionally observe that NEM currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.62. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Mining - Gold was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.88 at yesterday's closing price.

The Mining - Gold industry is part of the Basic Materials sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 167, placing it within the bottom 32% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

Singapore's proximity to China, Japan, and India, paired with world-class trade infrastructure and a stable political and regulatory landscape, cements its status as a premier business hub in the region. With English as an official language, communication, and navigation are furthermore effortless—Singapore can be regarded as the West's gateway to Asia.

Takeaway 1: Invest In China

At the Milken Institute's Asia Summit, Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warned of looming economic challenges, describing it as a "hundred-year storm." While U.S. assets may be fairly valued, they carry more risk to the downside. Accordingly, Dalio advised diversifying into Asia, with China offering significant potential for growth.

"You need to diversify into Asia," Hui said. "That's where the growth is."

Takeaway 2: Global Trade Order Disrupted

Peter Mandelson, the co-founder and president of Global Counsel and chairman of the International Advisory Board, focused on growing uncertainties around the global trading order and the shift towards a multipolar world, noting that "danger signals are flashing."

Jacqueline Poh, managing director of Singapore's Economic Development Board, pointed out that Southeast Asia—especially Singapore—is benefiting. While global trade as a percentage of GDP has decreased, foreign direct investment (FDI) has risen in Southeast Asia, with companies increasingly moving their global supply chain hubs to Singapore.

Also Read: Japan’s Nikkei Plummets Over 2,000 Points Amid Change Of Guard, While Chinese Market Extends Stimulus-Driven Run: What’s Driving Sentiment In Asia

Takeaway 3: Recruiting Beyond Universities

Takeaway 4: Words To Motivate A Workforce

On the same panel, James Vowles, the team principal of Williams Racing, shared his approach to leadership, which focuses on trusting and empowering his team.

"My job is to put them on a pedestal and promote them to the world," he said. "They are remarkable individuals—let the world know that."

Takeaway 5: Walk Before Running In Crypto

Wrapping up Benzinga's coverage at the Milken Institute's Asia Summit, Crypto.com's President and Chief Operating Officer, Eric Anziani, expressed a more measured approach to making digital assets accessible to everyone worldwide.

"We like to set the foundation before we run," he explained. "Then we go aggressive and put our name out there," referencing Crypto.com's strategic approach to marketing, something its competitor OKX serendipitously nailed across the city after it unveiled the limited-edition ‘Legend Reborn' livery on the car that ended up winning the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.

"If you look at crypto, for a large part of our existence, it's been a very engineering-lead industry," OKX's Chief Marketing Officer Haider Rafique shared during a TOKEN2049 panel alongside McLaren Racing driver Lando Norris. "We want to be remembered as a design and engineering-led technology company."

Takeaway 6: Crypto Moving To Horizontal Model

"Only the professional trading firms and HFTs have been able to have access to that."

Takeaway 7: Crypto's Real-World Use Cases

Propy co-founder Denitza Tyufekchieva privately showcased how blockchain makes real estate transactions faster and safer. She explains that Propy automates processes like title transfers and escrow, allowing buyers to verify funds and complete purchases within minutes. Conversely, agents can lean on AI to cut paperwork and focus more on clients.

"We've built this transactional engine that allows the instant access of transfer of ownership and transfer of funds and everything to be recorded on-chain," Tyufekchieva said, noting Propy is building a single source on-chain registry for real estate ownership. "Our mission is to help end users buy and sell real estate quickly."

Read Next:

Economist Ben Golub Sounds Alarm On Upcoming US Shipping Strike Affecting 36 Ports: ‘Chaotic Supply Chain Crisis’ Of 2021-2022 Threatens To Resurface Photo courtesy of OKX.

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What Is Blockchain and How Does it Work?

With the rising institutional interest in digital assets, Tanya Solati, vice president of business development at Propy, recently shared her perspective on why firms like BlackRock and PayPal are increasing their involvement in the blockchain space.

Solati will speak at the upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event, focusing on regulatory changes and their impact on digital finance.

Regulatory Clarity Behind Institutional MovesSolati attributed the surge in institutional participation to clearer regulations. "One of the strengths of the U.S. market is the clear and structured regulatory process, which is why it continues to attract so much global investment," she noted. She pointed out that the recent approval of crypto-related ETFs, which had previously faced delays, has significantly contributed to this shift.

Solati explained that firms like BlackRock, previously hesitant to enter the crypto space, are now moving forward because of greater regulatory certainty.

"BlackRock has invested tremendous resources behind the scenes, dedicating countless hours and thousands of meetings to navigate the complexities," Solati said. She emphasized that a firm of BlackRock's caliber would not commit such efforts without seeing strong potential in the evolving market.

Realigning Institutional PrioritiesAccording to Solati, the recent momentum isn't primarily driven by blockchain technology or philosophy but rather by a more defined regulatory framework. "This regulatory certainty, rather than the underlying tech, unlocks institutional interest in the space," she said. She emphasized that having clear guidelines has helped institutions navigate the complexities of the crypto market, fostering increased engagement.

What’s AheadPhoto by stockphoto-graf on Shutterstock

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Can Blockchain Transform Finance Or Will Banks Like Citi, JPMorgan Wield It For Efficiency?

In the latest trading session, Emerson Electric (EMR - Free Report) closed at $141.44, marking a -1.19% move from the previous day. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.1% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.35%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.43%.

Coming into today, shares of the maker of process controls systems, valves and analytical instruments had gained 1.54% in the past month. In that same time, the Industrial Products sector gained 6.25%, while the S&P 500 lost 1.34%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Emerson Electric in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $1.68, indicating a 10.53% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $4.8 billion, indicating a 5.48% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $6.49 per share and a revenue of $18.81 billion, representing changes of +8.17% and +4.41%, respectively, from the prior year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Emerson Electric. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.01% higher. Emerson Electric is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Emerson Electric has a Forward P/E ratio of 22.04 right now. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 22.61.

It's also important to note that EMR currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.28. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. EMR's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.8 as of yesterday's close.

The Manufacturing - Electronics industry is part of the Industrial Products sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 85, which puts it in the top 35% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.

Propy, a real estate tokenization firm, is introducing crypto-backed mortgage services to the real-world assets, aiming to change how people purchase real estate.

According to a news release, Propy has announced the first-ever crypto loan that will enable prospective real estate buyers to access onchain loans to purchase property in Hawaii.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) holders will be able to use their digital assets as collateral to buy real estate. This crypto-backed mortgage service marks the first step in Propy’s mission to make the $300 trillion real estate market more liquid and swappable.

“This isn’t just a milestone; it’s a glimpse into the future of real estate,” said Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy. “We’re demonstrating how blockchain technology can simplify home buying, replacing the traditionally lengthy loan approval process with an instant, efficient solution.”

Propy says this new financing option will allow customers to leverage their cryptocurrency to purchase real estate while retaining ownership of their digital assets.

The loans will be double-collateralized, with the property accounting for 50% of the collateral and BTC or ETH covering the remaining 50%. The interest rate is set at 10%.

Propy’s first offering under this service is a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The property will go on sale on Jan. 29, 2025, with an asking price of $250,000. BTC and ETH holders can use their assets as collateral to access a loan to finance the purchase, the company announced.

Natalia Karayaneva, the real CEO of Propy, with the AI-generated image of their new feature Agent Avery, showcasing how AI will help close the deal with Real World Assets

Propy

I wish I had an AI Agent when buying my first house. It was supposed to be one of the most exciting milestones of my life, but instead, I found myself buried under piles of paper. Each step required another form, another signature, another delay. Even in a digital world, the home-buying process felt frozen in time.

That memory came rushing back when I read about Propy’s latest move. The company just announced a 100 million dollar expansion to modernize the 25 billion dollar U.S. title industry and launched something remarkable: Agent Avery, an AI escrow officer that can automate the entire real estate closing process.

This is more than just a real-estate-tech headline.

It represents a new frontier in how AI and real-world assets (RWA) come together. By merging onchain infrastructure with AI-driven automation, Propy may have built the first decentralized AI agent capable of managing real, tangible value and one that doesn’t just analyze or predict, but actually closes transactions. AI Agents have been built for gyms, and banking, but this is the first as an AI Escrow Officer.

The Paper Problem That AI Can Help SolveThe title and escrow process is one of the most outdated systems in modern finance. According to Rentechdigital, there are 24,028 title companies in North America as of May 2025 — a 0.5% increase since 2023. About 55% (13,270) are single-owner businesses, while the remaining 45% (10,758) belong to larger brands. Nearly 7,000 fragmented title firms operate across the United States, each handling massive amounts of paperwork and manual verification.

According to The National Association of REALTORS found that 63 percent of agents reported title fraud in their markets last year, rising to 92 percent in the Northeast.

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Propy’s plan is to acquire high-performing title and escrow companies in major states like California, Texas, and Florida, and retrofit them with AI and blockchain infrastructure. The goal is to transform paper-based closings into digital, secure, and fully automated operations.

“Closing on a home is still a bureaucratic maze, while Gen-Z and Millennials expect digital, on-demand services,” said Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy and a fellow Forbes contributor. “Avery and our acquisition strategy give us a path to scale nationwide, transforming closings into a faster, AI-driven experience built for modern buyers.”

Natalia Karayaneva, CEO of Propy, who has been a pioneer in Real Estate Real World Assets.

Propy

Meet AI Agent Avery: The First Decentralized AI Escrow OfficerAgent Avery is not a chatbot. She is an intelligent AI agent trained on thousands of real estate transactions to handle every step of an escrow officer’s job, from contracts and compliance to communications and payment processing.

In traditional closings, more than two-thirds of an officer’s time is spent on repetitive administrative work such as lien searches, mortgage payoffs, wire instructions, and document checks.

Avery automates nearly all of it.

She can process crypto and fiat payments, track deadlines, verify compliance with RESPA regulations, and maintain records onchain for audit transparency.

Working 24 hours a day through natural text or voice interactions, Avery reduces workloads by about 40 percent and allows agents to handle more closings per year without additional staff. She is trained to follow real estate law and compliance frameworks, making her both autonomous and trustworthy, which is a foundation for what could become the next generation of AI-powered professionals.

Agent Avery, the first AI Escrow Officer, introduced from Propy

Propy

Propy even envisions Avery evolving into a licensed entity in her own right, similar to how governments in countries like Albania have granted official status to AI systems. The difference here is that Avery is tied directly to real-world transactions and financial flows, creating a bridge between digital intelligence and physical property.

The Big Idea: AI Meets Real World AssetsAgent Avery’s debut is part of a much larger shift. The world of real-world assets, or RWAs, is expanding rapidly as companies tokenize and trade physical assets—homes, vehicles, carbon credits, even art—on blockchain networks. But until now, most of these assets required human intermediaries to complete compliance and settlement. Avery changes that.

“Our long-term vision is for real estate to become programmable; we’re laying the foundation for homes to transact instantly, globally, and securely onchain,” said Karayaneva.

By combining AI with blockchain, Propy has created a fully operational decentralized agent that not only processes data but executes legally binding actions tied to physical property. That makes Avery one of the first true AI-RWA integrations in the market.

AI Agent + Blockchain is the combination that makes Avery so effective.

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This is the moment when AI moves from interpreting the physical world to participating in it. An intelligent system like Avery doesn’t just assist humans; it becomes part of the economic fabric—reviewing contracts, ensuring compliance, and finalizing payments.

It is the same logic that underpins the future of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and AI agents in finance, but now applied to the most personal and impactful transaction most people ever make: buying a home.

Financing Real Estate Through DeFi And AIPropy’s model extends beyond automation into how these deals are financed. The company’s 100 million dollar expansion is backed by both traditional lenders and onchain private credit, including crypto-collateralized loans from Morpho, the largest decentralized lending network on Base.

“Onchain private credit is a natural extension of crypto-backed loans,” said Merlin Egalite, cofounder of Morpho. “We’re excited to see how Propy leverages Morpho’s universal lending network to finance its expansion in real estate."

Propy is impacting DeFi. For the first time, DeFi is funding real-world property consolidation at scale. The combination of onchain lending and AI automation makes it possible to move capital faster and more securely across an industry that has long been slow and opaque.

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This means that parts of Propy’s M&A activity like buying and upgrading title companies, are being financed directly through decentralized credit pools. For the first time, DeFi is funding real-world property consolidation at scale.

The combination of onchain lending and AI automation makes it possible to move capital faster and more securely across an industry that has long been slow and opaque.

Competitive LandscapePropy focuses on real-world assets but operates within a broader movement that blends AI, blockchain, and finance to modernize how value moves and is recorded. Within real estate itself, a few key players are pushing toward similar transformation but from different angles.

Figure has built a strong foundation in blockchain-based lending through its Figure Heloc product, processing home equity loans on Provenance Blockchain with speed, transparency, and strong ties to capital markets. Its model excels in efficiency and regulatory alignment, though it remains concentrated on financing rather than the full closing cycle. Provenance Blockchain, which underpins Figure, has also become a trusted infrastructure layer for regulated assets and institutional settlement, giving it credibility with banks and mortgage lenders that value compliance-first design.

In the broader non-real-estate RWA space, Stellar and Algorand demonstrate how blockchain rails can move digital assets quickly and affordably across borders. These protocols enable programmable payments, remittances, and asset issuance, and have built strong developer ecosystems. Yet, they serve primarily as infrastructure layers.

They are excellent at moving tokenized value but rely on third parties to manage workflows, compliance, and legal execution. Chainlink, meanwhile, provides the connective tissue that allows RWAs to operate securely by verifying asset prices, proof of reserves, and cross-chain messaging. Its role is foundational for data integrity, though it depends on others to complete end-to-end transactions.

Gold-backed tokens such as Tether Gold (XAUT) and PAX Gold (PAXG) represent another side of the RWA evolution which is tangible, auditable value with clear redemption mechanisms. Their strength lies in trust and custodianship, making them stable instruments for investors seeking inflation hedges. But their function is passive; they store and represent value rather than automate or execute the processes around it.

Propy’s advantage is that it is not only tokenizing or moving assets but it is operationalizing them. By combining blockchain infrastructure with AI automation through Agent Avery, Propy directly tackles the inefficiencies, compliance burdens, and fraud risks in title and escrow.

A Glimpse of the Future of AI Agents OnchainFounded in 2017, Propy has already processed more than four billion dollars in digital real estate transactions. Its acquisition strategy now aims to consolidate mid-sized regional firms with five to fifty million dollars in revenue, giving them instant access to advanced AI and blockchain tools.

By doing so, Propy converts a fragmented, low-margin industry into a high-tech, high-efficiency network where every transaction can be verified, automated, and completed in real time. Morgan Stanley projects that AI could automate 37 percent of real estate tasks and unlock 34 billion dollars in efficiency gains by 2030. Propy is not waiting for that future—it is building it.

Why Does An AI Agent like Avery Matter? The launch of Agent Avery signals a turning point for both AI and blockchain. It shows how decentralized AI agents can take on trusted, regulated roles in handling real-world assets, not just simulate human reasoning but perform the work itself.

For anyone who has ever struggled through stacks of home-buying paperwork, this marks real progress.

The next time you close on a home, your agent might not be a person at all. It might be an AI Agent named Avery who can be your onchain teammate making real estate truly real-time.

2 min read

Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva (Propy, modified by CoinDesk)Summary

Propy оголосила про розширення на суму 100 мільйонів доларів для придбання компаній з оформлення прав власності на нерухомість по всій території США та оптимізації операцій за допомогою блокчейну та штучного інтелекту.Компанія має на меті досягти оцінки у 1 мільярд доларів шляхом об’єднання прибуткових, середніх за розміром компаній у сфері титулів, повідомила генеральний директор Наталія Караянева.Propy також розробила AI-агента ескроу, Агента Ейвері, щоб зменшити неефективність і заощадити близько 40% робочого навантаження у операціях з нерухомістю.Спеціаліст із токенізації нерухомості Propy окреслив плани щодо розширення на 100 мільйонів доларів для придбання середніх компаній із оформлення титулів власності по всіх США, прагнучи оптимізувати галузь, яка досі значною мірою покладається на ручні процеси, за допомогою блокчейн-технологій та штучного інтелекту (AI).

Упродовж наступних 12 місяців ми плануємо придбати регіональні титульні компанії по всій країні, — заявила генеральний директор Propy Наталія Караянева в інтерв’ю Coindesk. — Це дозволить нам досягти оцінки в один мільярд доларів як технологічна компанія.

Для залучення коштів на ролапи Propy звернулася до поєднання традиційних та ончейн-кредиторів, зокрема з децентралізованої фінансової (DeFi) кредитної платформи Morpho. Propy стверджує, що це один із перших відомих прикладів використання ончейн-приватного кредитування для фінансування злиттів і поглинань (M&A).

Плани розширення з’являються в той час, коли зростає інтерес до токенізації нерухомості — зусилля з цифровізації прав власності на нерухомість та оптимізації транзакцій за допомогою блокчейну для підвищення ефективності. Компанії з оформлення прав власності зосереджуються на перевірці історії власності об’єкта та забезпеченні відсутності юридичних претензій, застав чи спорів, які можуть вплинути на продаж. Вони також видають страхування титулу та керують передачею юридичної власності під час операцій з нерухомістю.

Це ринок обсягом 25 мільярдів доларів, який досі переважно ведеться на паперових носіях і розподілений між майже 7 000 компаній, багато з яких є невеликими сімейними підприємствами, пояснила генеральний директор Propy Наталія Караянева в інтерв’ю Coindesk.

Компанія Propy є ліцензованою титульною фірмою і обробила цифрові операції з нерухомістю на суму 4 мільярди доларів, автоматизуючи трудомісткі процеси за допомогою штучного інтелекту. Придбавши титульні фірми середнього розміру в таких штатах, як Каліфорнія, Флорида та Техас, компанія планує оптимізувати операції, зменшити шахрайство та прискорити час закриття угод, використовуючи технології блокчейн та ШІ, додала вона.

У центрі зусиль Propy — агент Avery, штучний інтелект для ескроу, який було створено для вирішення неефективностей, що займають більшу частину часу офіцера ескроу, повідомила компанія.

Агент Avery був навчений на основі транзакційних даних Propy та працює цілодобово, підтримуючи як традиційні, так і криптовалютні платежі. За оцінками компанії, цей інструмент може скоротити навантаження приблизно на 40%, що дозволяє агентам укладати більше угод.

Разом із розширенням та розвитком штучного інтелекту Propy також додала до своєї консультативної ради колишнього посадовця Міністерства фінансів США Кріса Кемпбелла та співзасновника Science Inc. Майка Джонса, які приєдналися до попередніх призначень, зокрема колишнього комісара SEC Майкла Півоваара.

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Oct 22, 2025, 1:03 p.m.

2 min read

Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva (Propy, modified by CoinDesk)Summary

Propy announced a $100 million expansion to acquire property title firms across the U.S. and streamline operation with blockchain and AI.The company aims to achieve a $1 billion valuation by rolling up profitable, mid-size title companies, CEO Natalia Karayaneva said.Propy also developed an AI escrow agent, Agent Avery, to reduce inefficiencies and save about 40% of the workload in real estate transactions.Real estate tokenization specialist Propy laid out plans for a $100 million expansion to acquire mid-size property title firms across the U.S., aiming to streamline an industry that still relies heavily on manual processes with blockchain rails and artificial intelligence (AI).

"In the next 12 months, we'll acquire regional title companies across the country," Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva told Coindesk in an interview. "This will allow us to get to a billion dollar valuation as a tech company."

To raise funds for the rollups, Propy has tapped a mix of traditional and onchain lenders, including from decentralized finance (DeFi) credit platform Morpho. Propy claimed that it's one of the first known examples of drawing onchain private credit to fund M&A activity.

The expansion plans come at a time when interest is growing for real estate tokenization, an effort to digitize property rights and streamline transactions through blockchain for efficiency gains. Title firms focus on verifying a property's ownership history and ensure there are no legal claims, liens or disputes that could affect the sale. They also issue title insurance and manage the transfer of legal ownership during real estate transactions.

That's a $25 billion market which still remains largely paper-based and split among nearly 7,000 firms, many of them small mom-and-pop shops, Propy CEO Natalia Karayaneva explained Coindesk in an interview.

Propy itself is a licensed title firm and has processed $4 billion in digital real estate transactions automating time-consuming processes with AI. By acquiring mid-sized title firms in states like California, Florida and Texas, the company plans to streamline operations reduce fraud and speed up transaction closing times using blockchain tech and AI, she added.

Central to Propy's efforts is Agent Avery, an AI escrow agent that was built to address inefficiencies that consume the majority of an escrow officer’s time, the firm said.

Agent Avery was trained on Propy’s transaction data and operates 24/7 supporting both traditional and crypto payments. The tool can save about 40% of the workload, the firm estimated, allowing agents to close more deals.

Along with the expansion and AI development, Propy also added former U.S. Treasury official Chris Campbell and Science Inc. co-founder Mike Jones to its advisory board, joining previous appointees including ex-SEC Commissioner Michael Piwowar.

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Altcoin Daily host Austin Arnold used a Jan. 1 video titled “Top 6 Crypto Altcoins To Invest In For 2026” to lay out what he framed as three “first-time” catalysts for crypto in 2026 and a corresponding list of six altcoins he says he’d “buy and hold” into that backdrop, spanning smart-contract platforms, AI infrastructure, and tokenization-focused plays.

Arnold opened with the claim that crypto sits at the center of “two mega trends”: digital assets and the tokenization of financial assets and argued the combination of macro policy, US legislation, and SEC posture could drive “trillions of dollars” of new inflows.

The 3 Bullisch Crypto Catalysts First, Arnold pointed to what he described as a monetary-policy regime shift, including the resumption of “reserve management purchases,” and framed it as supportive for risk assets broadly. “We’re starting to see significant stimulus,” he said, adding that markets were already seeing “quantitative easing light” as “the Fed is starting to buy its own bonds,” while suggesting demand for government debt could fall alongside lower rates.

Second, he argued crypto-specific regulation could function like a green light for institutional capital. He singled out the market structure focused Clarity Act, saying its passage would be “like a starter gun for ETH and SOL to run into trillions of dollars of value,” and noted discussion of a US Senate markup date of Jan. 15 with hopes of movement by late January or February.

Third, Arnold highlighted what he called a tokenization push led by SEC chair Paul Atkins, describing “Project Crypto” as an effort to “bring all of traditional finance on the blockchain.”

He paired that theme with a distribution angle around spot crypto ETFs, leaning on a quote he cited about how unusual the early ETF growth was: “These were the single best-selling product in the world and no one was allowed to make a phone call to sell it or advertise it,” he said.

Top 6 Crypto Altcoins To Invest In For 2026 Arnold’s first pick is Ethereum. He frames it as the primary beneficiary of stablecoin growth and added that stablecoins are “mostly on the Ethereum blockchain,” and tied the thesis to regulation via the Genius Act, citing a view that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expects the sector to grow “10x in the next few years.”

Arnold also said Ethereum’s stablecoin share rose to 53% from the high-40s “just a few months” earlier, and argued the link to ETH value accrual runs through fees: “30% of all fees on Ethereum are actually stablecoin revenue,” he said. “So as this is 10x’es the amount of fees, the amount of Ethereum being burned should be 10x to match.”

Arnold’s second pick was Solana, which he portrayed as a usage leader relative to its market value versus Ethereum. He argued Solana is “already one of or if not the most used chain in crypto,” and claimed that through 2025 it was “more used than the entire rest of the industry combined times 2 to three.” He also cited a real-world asset milestone, saying Solana “RWA holders…have surpassed 125,000 holders.”

Cardano is next, which Arnold said had a weak 2025 but could benefit from founder Charles Hoskinson’s push around Midnight. Arnold played a longer excerpt in which Hoskinson argued privacy could be the wedge that changes user behavior:

“They can go through Midnight to Cardano and they get privacy. They do something new and different,” Hoskinson said. “Midnight my view will be through hybrid applications… private prediction markets, private DEXes, private stable coins… maybe… those Bitcoin people are going to want to trade on a private DEX instead of a public DEX.”

Arnold then shifted to AI infrastructure with Bittensor (TAO), calling it “decentralized AI” plumbing and noting it had a recent “halving” and a fixed supply model he compared to Bitcoin’s. He also pointed to early-2026 ETF momentum, saying Grayscale filed an S-1 for a TAO product and Bitwise followed with a Bittensor ETF filing.

For tokenization exposure, Arnold highlighted Ondo Finance (ONDO) ahead of what he described as an Ondo Summit on Feb. 3, where “world leaders, investors, policy makers” would reconvene, and closed his list with Propy, a real-estate-focused project he said is “US licensed” for title and escrow closing and “backed by Coinbase,” positioning it as a bet on bringing home buying and selling “on-chain.”

Arnold closed his list with Propy, explicitly flagging it as the most speculative end of the spectrum and pairing it with a warning that lower-cap exposure can mean “these altcoins go to zero.”

The Altcoin Daily host described it as “essentially real estate on-chain.” He emphasized operational and regulatory positioning as part of the pitch, saying Propy is “US licensed title and escrow closing,” and also highlighted its backers: “They’re backed again by Coinbase.”

The investment thesis, as Arnold presented it, is straightforward tokenization logic applied to housing: bringing parts of the buying and selling process onto rails that can be settled and recorded on-chain, with Propy positioned as a project already operating within the US compliance perimeter he expects to matter more in 2026.

At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.98 trillion.

Total crypto market cap hovers below the 2021 high again, 1-week chart | Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Table of contents

The crypto landscape started the year 2026 with a notable spike in investor confidence. In this respect, January saw many staggering fundraising events across different projects. As per the data from Phoenix Group, Rain, BitGo, and BlackOpal emerged as the top fundraising rounds of January 2026. Along with that, LMAX Group, Alpaca, Tres Finance, 3iQ, Propy, Superstate, and Mesh have also added notable amounts. These events indicate the strong blockchain innovation as well as continued efforts for mainstream adoption.

Rain Leads January’s Crypto Funding Rounds with $250M in Collected Capital As per the market data, Rain has gained the top position among January’s notable crypto funding rounds. Specifically, it raised a total amount of up to $250M. Subsequently, BitGo emerged as the 2nd among the month’s key crypto fundraising events when it comes to valuation. So, it effectively collected a total capital of nearly $212.8M. YZiLabs reportedly led the respective funding round.

Coming after that, BlackOpal obtained the 3rd position with the collection of $200M in its funding in January. Additionally, Mars has become the leading investor in BlackOpal’s funding round. The next name on the list is LMAX Group, with its fundraising in January hitting the $150M mark. Ripple played a critical role in this event, taking the leading position among the investors.

Following that, Alpaca has also gained a crucial status among January’s crypto fundraisers. Hence, its fundraising touched the $150M spot. Kraken, BNP Paribas, and Citadel Securities were the primary contributors to the event. Simultaneously, Tres Finance made a total $130M in its fundraising in January 2026, with Fireblocks being the notable among the investors. Moreover, Coincheck led the $111.8M funding round of 3iQ in the same month.

Mesh Collects $75M in Funding during January’s Building Market Momentum Moving on, Phoenix Group’s list of January’s critical crypto funding rounds includes Propy in the 8th place. The project successfully raised $100M in its fundraising, with Metropolitan being the top among the investors. At the same time, Superstate raised $82.5M in its funding round, and Galaxy Digital was among the noteworthy investors. Ultimately, Mesh’s fundraising initiative amassed $75M from different investors like Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and SBI Investment.

AUTHOR

Umair Younas is a cryptocurrency-related content writer linked with this work since 2019. Here, at Blockchainreporter, he serves as a news and article writer. He is a crypto, blockchain, NFTs, DeFi, and FinTech enthusiast. He has strong command over writing authentic reviews about brokers and exchanges and he has collaborated with our education team to write educational content as well. He has a dream to raise awareness among people about digital currencies. His works are well-researched and brimmed with information hence they provide fresh insights. Stay tuned to his posts if you want to stay up-to-date with the crypto-verse.

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