Good morning, Coin Discoverers!

CRYPTO

• BTC: $63,935.10(-2.09%)YTD (+44.74%)

• ETH: $3,145.34(-1.72%)YTD (+33.69%)

• BNB: $567.12 (-1.44%)YTD (+80.67%)

*Crypto numbers as of 5:00 am EST on August 2th

Notcoin introduces an exciting new game on Telegram

Notcoin unveils 'Lost Dogs,' a new Telegram game featuring NFTs, NOT, and the introduction of new WOOF tokens. Meanwhile, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs report modest net inflows of $299,000, while Ethereum ETFs experience significant outflows of $77 million.

The game's characters are depicted as Lost Dogs NFTs, first launched in March 2023 on Getgems. These characters evolve and 'gain special powers' as the storyline advances. Players can earn Notcoins and 'mine' WOOF tokens by making daily decisions that shape the game's narrative and outcomes

Cypherpunk Holdings increases its investment in Solana

Cypherpunk Holdings acquired an additional 23,000 Solana tokens, bringing its total holdings to 86,294 SOL, valued at $21.6 million. This purchase comes just a few months after their initial investment.

The publicly traded investment firm has sold nearly all of its Bitcoin holdings, retaining only 52 BTC, and has divested its entire stake in Animoca Brands. This marks a notable strategic shift for the Toronto-based company.

Kujira Token Drops 40% Amid Foundation's Leveraged Investments Unraveling

The native token of the Cosmos-based Kujira blockchain suffered a significant 40% decline in value today, falling from $0.97 to $0.57. This sharp drop occurred following the liquidation of positions held by the Kujira Foundation's operations wallet.

The foundation's strategy involved leveraging millions of dollars in liquidity provisions on its decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. Unfortunately, this high-risk approach backfired due to inadequate management, leading to the token's steep decline.

Kamala Harris's presidential odds reach a record high on Polymarket

Presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris's election odds reached a new all-time high on the crypto prediction market Polymarket on Thursday, as the incumbent vice president's campaign gains momentum.

A Polymarket betting pool with over $472 million in wagers indicates that Kamala Harris's chances of winning the presidential election stand at 45%, an increase of approximately 6% over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump's odds have declined to 53% during the same period, according to the data.

STOCKS

• DOW: 40,347.97(-1.21%)

• S&P: 5,446.68 (-1.37%) 

• NASDAQ: 17,194.14 (-2.30%)

*Stock numbers as of market close on August 1th

BNP Paribas is negotiating to acquire AXA Investment Managers for €5.1 billion

BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) is in exclusive negotiations with French insurer AXA (AXAF.PA) to acquire 100% of its AXA Investment Managers division for an agreed price of €5.1 billion ($5.50 billion), according to a statement from the euro zone's largest bank on Thursday.

For BNP Paribas, this acquisition would substantially enhance its asset management division, positioning it for greater economies of scale and cost reductions in an industry increasingly focused on size. For AXA, Europe's second-largest insurer, this move represents a strategic shift towards concentrating on its core businesses, including life insurance, savings, property and casualty policies, and health insurance.

CD&R is considering the sale of American Greetings

Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is exploring various options, including the potential sale of American Greetings, which could value the 118-year-old greeting card company at approximately $1.5 billion, including debt, according to sources familiar with the situation.

CD&R, which acquired a majority stake in American Greetings in 2018, is collaborating with Bank of America and Centerview Partners on the sale process. The sale is anticipated to draw interest from other private equity firms, according to sources who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.

REAL ESTATE

• 15-year: 6.15%

• 30-year: 6.62%

*Mortage rates via Mortgage News Daily

Tech Jobs; Correspondent and Warehouse Opportunities; MSR Tools Update; FHA/VA News; Podcast Interview with Optimal Blue CEO

Thank you to Ira S. for noting that today marks the opening of Spirit Halloween Stores. Halloween's origins span thousands of years and numerous cultures, a stark contrast to personal computers (PCs), which have only been around since the 1970s and emerged from various companies. I’m fortunate to have a good rapport with Apple’s Steve Wozniak, and many of my jokes are inspired by him.

Veterans may recall the saying, "PCs didn’t replace people, but people who used PCs replaced those who didn’t." A similar notion might apply to AI: it won’t replace human workers, but those who leverage it will outpace those who don’t. In related news, AT&T has recently faced a significant hack involving the personal information of all its customers.

TECH

Canva expands its AI toolkit with the acquisition of Leonardo.AI

Canva has acquired the Australian generative AI startup Leonardo.AI for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to enhance Canva's generative AI capabilities as it competes with major brands such as Adobe, Microsoft, and Google in the visual content creation market.

Canva's CEO, Cameron Adams, highlighted the importance of the acquisition, stating, "This field is continually evolving, and Leonardo.AI’s technical expertise and community influence are immensely valuable. Integrating our efforts will enhance the work of both teams, driving us forward, and we are excited to begin this collaboration."

QUICK RECAP

#1. Barclays (BARC.L) announced a £750 million ($957 million) share buyback and upgraded earnings guidance despite a 9% profit drop.

#2. British Airways owner IAG ended its Air Europa takeover bid on Thursday, citing regulatory concerns, two months after offering remedies.

#3. Hedge fund tycoon Paul Marshall is nearing a deal to buy Spectator magazine from RedBird IMI, possibly this month.

#4. The EU Commission approved Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks unconditionally on Thursday.

#5. John Wood Group extended Sidara's offer deadline to August 9. Sidara's final offer ranged from 205 to 230 pence.