Category: 3. Business

It’s been a tremendous year so far for bitcoin and the crypto market.

Cryptocurrencies have gained greater acceptance in Washington, with President Donald Trump establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve and the Senate passing the GENIUS Act. They’ve also found favor with traditional finance; spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund net inflows in 2025 have totaled $14.4 billion through July 3, according to data from Farside Investors.

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has gained about 15% since the start of year, outpacing the S&P 500’s rise of 7%. It isn’t far from the all-time high of near $112,000 set in May, edging closer to the bullish year-end targets analysts set at the start of the year.

Here’s what crypto investors will be watching for in the second half of the year.

Will Bitcoin Treasuries Go Mainstream?

So-called bitcoin treasury companies have been the talk of the town in 2025. A bitcoin treasury company is a business that holds a substantial portion of its reserve assets in bitcoin, often as an inflation hedge or in anticipation of bitcoin’s development as a global, apolitical reserve asset. Some companies, like Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR), take it a step further by issuing shares or debt to accumulate bitcoin.

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has been at this for years, but there are several new players entering the arena, including Metaplanet and Twenty One. There are now an estimated 135 public companies that hold bitcoin as a reserve asset.

“The latter half of 2025 will mark a pivotal moment for bitcoin’s adoption as a treasury asset, driven by a convergence of global market trends, shifting corporate strategies, and institutional validation,” Stephen Cole, who is the co-founder and CEO of bitcoin treasury solution provider Castle, told Investopedia. “We’re already seeing bitcoin treasury companies emerge in every major global capital market and [I] expect that trend to continue,” he said.

Cole expects larger companies, including well-known tech giants, to begin establishing bitcoin positions and defining their allocation strategies by the end of the year. “For (small and medium sized businesses) and large corporations alike, the question of whether to acquire bitcoin is quickly going from if to when,” Cole added.

Do Altcoins Stand a Chance Against Bitcoin?

Some have wondered if bitcoin treasury companies will sap demand for smaller, more volatile altcoins.

“Demand for altcoins has historically stemmed from two main sources: (1) beta exposure to bitcoin, and (2) differentiated use cases that bitcoin’s blockchain doesn’t fulfill,” David Lawant, Head of Research at FalconX, told Investopedia. “What we’re seeing now is that bitcoin treasury companies and broader access to instruments like options can meet that first demand more efficiently and with less friction.”

However, Lawant says bitcoin treasuries only satisfy some of the criteria that drive demand for altcoins. He also cautioned that “the cycle is likely far from over,” and in his view, there is still time for certain types of alternative crypto assets to shine.

“Altcoins with a strong and distinct fundamental value proposition still have plenty of room to perform,” said Lawant. “Regulatory shifts such as the crypto market structure bill and a more permissive stance toward decentralized finance (DeFi) experimentation could unlock powerful new trends.”

More Crypto ETFs and IPOs

Of course, bitcoin treasury companies aren’t the only way to gain exposure to bitcoin and other crypto assets via public markets. Spot ETFs for bitcoin and ether already exist, and according to Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart, similar products could be on the way for other digital assets. Tweaks to existing ETFs, such as in-kind redemption and staking, are also likely.

“I think we will see the vast majority, if not all, of the currently filed 19b-4s obtain approval by the end of the year,” Seyffart told Investopedia. “That includes in-kind [redemptions] and staking and something like 10 individual assets [that have] attempted to get an ETF.”

Additionally, the undeniable success of the IPO for stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) has not gone unnoticed. Galaxy (GLXY) and eToro (ETOR), which are both heavily involved in the crypto market, also debuted earlier this year. According to Nate Geraci, President of The ETF Store, there could be more IPOs on the way from the likes of crypto exchanges Gemini and Kraken, and blockchain technology companies Consensys and Ripple, among others.

Ethereum’s Make or Break Moment?

Finally, ether (ETHUSD), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain and long the second-largest crypto asset behind bitcoin, may also be at a critical point in its history. It has underperformed both bitcoin and some of its smaller competitors, such as Binance Smart Chain and Solana, in recent years.

A recent report from a group of Ethereum proponents gained attention for comparing ether to digital oil. Still, some investors doubt that the use of Ethereum’s tech by the likes of Coinbase Global (COIN) and stablecoin-issuers will necessarily accrue value to the ether asset itself over the long term.

That said, Lawant believes there are still plenty of reasons to not count out ether quite yet.

“There have been clear signs over the past few months that sentiment is shifting in the Ethereum ecosystem,” said Lawant. “Ethereum also benefits from being more closely tied to traditional capital markets, which is a key price driver in today’s environment. That’s evident in its active CME futures market and the launch of spot ETFs.”

Ether “also remains underowned by many institutional investors,” says Lawant. Analysts say the addition of staking to spot ether ETFs could help improve institutional adoption. “If the current developments play out as expected, there’s meaningful room for a catch-up.”

Ether is down about 85% relative to bitcoin since hitting an all-time high of 0.1475 ether per bitcoin roughly eight years ago, according to data from CoinGecko.

Remember the era of cheap natural gas? Yea, that world is gone.

Utilities and tech companies may be clamoring to build new gas-fired power plants to meet rising energy demand, but no matter how much they envision gas as a solution, there’s no escaping gas’s expensive, bad-for-the-climate reality. Anyone harboring the illusion of low-cost gas is operating as if it’s still 2015.

“I think people have in their minds that gas is a cheap way to generate power”, said Rich Powell, CEO of trade group the Clean Energy Buyers Association. “New build natural gas is not a cheap way to generate electricity.”

Today, gas’s economics are facing pressure on two fronts: Supply chain bottlenecks and workforce shortages have made it nearly impossible to source equipment for new gas-fired power plants in the near to medium term while also raising the costs of those plants. And gas as a fuel is becoming more expensive as global demand for liquified natural gas intensifies and the United States exports more of the fossil fuel instead of keeping it within our borders to meet American demand.

The shale revolution did usher in an era of cheap gas that reshaped the U.S. energy landscape, with gas overtaking coal in electricity generation around 2016. However, in recent years, new natural gas plants have constituted a small share of new capacity additions to the overall U.S. electricity mix.

In fact, since the 2018 surge, nearly every megawatt of new generation added to the grid has been clean energy—96% of new power in 2024 and 85% in 2023. That’s largely because for more than half a decade, renewables have been the cheapest sources of new electricity.

A gas buildout would look different this time

The big surge of new U.S. gas-fired power plant additions came in the early 2000s, before leveling off to a more moderate pace where the slowdown triggered several reactions that could make it hard to quickly build new gas plants today.

It turns out building gas plants is a use-it-or-lose-it skill.

Gas turbine manufacturers such as GE Vernova and Siemens Energy scaled back their production capabilities to meet lower demand, and output can’t be increased overnight. As a result, new gas turbine orders face a wait time of five to seven years before they can be delivered to utilities.

“Gas turbines were dead in 2022,” Siemens Energy North America President Rich Voorberg said at a recent conference, noting the company had been down to one customer.

Additionally, the slowdown in gas plant construction led to a brain drain, with NextEra CEO John Ketchum explaining much of the workforce that built the early 2000s boom has retired or moved to other fields, leaving behind a serious labor shortage.

Because of these factors, not only will it take years to build more natural gas-fired power plants, they’ll also be more expensive this time around. NextEra’s Ketchum estimates building a new plant today would cost three times as much as the last facility the utility built, back in 2022.

Others agree. “We did a quote and to do the same kind of unit that had been built a few years back it would be two and a half times more today,” Paul Sotkiewicz, president and founder of consultant E-Cubed Policy Associates.

He’s not alone in this sentiment.

“We are seeing substantial increases in the estimates for new builds, including everything from the cost of engineering, procurement and construction to the cost of equipment and materials,” said Bobby Noble, senior program manager for Gas Turbine Research and Development at EPRI.

The fuel to run gas plants costs more too

Then there’s the other side of the coin—not only will it cost much more to build a natural gas plant in today’s world, but the fuel that plant will burn is becoming significantly more expensive. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts Henry Hub prices—the main benchmark for natural gas prices—will increase by 43% in 2025 and another 27% in 2026. Increased natural gas demand from growing liquified natural gas exports is a primary driver for these cost increases, according to the EIA.

It’s a textbook Econ 101 example—exporting LNG abroad where natural gas prices are much higher raises demand for U.S.-produced gas. And when demand goes up, so does the price.

“It is not clear how both the AI and LNG export boom, both of which need prodigious volumes of gas, can succeed without provoking price spikes,” Gas Outlook recently reported.

“The explosion of (LNG) exports has upended domestic energy markets … and has exposed American energy markets to increased price volatility and episodes of sharply higher prices,” said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s energy program.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” makes the problem even worse

There’s no question U.S. electricity demand will increase in the coming years, although exactly what the rate of growth will be remains an open question. But relying on natural gas to fill the gap over at least the next five years appears to be both a foolhardy and highly expensive gamble. Instead, we should be increasing the pace of wind, solar, and storage buildout, as these technologies are currently the fastest, most affordable ways to add more power to the grid. Unfortunately, Congress just built a giant roadblock for clean energy.

The new One Big Beautiful Bill Act would repeals renewable energy incentives and puts in place overly complicated supply chain constraints, killing many of the domestic clean energy projects that had been projected to come online over the next few years. That will increase wholesale electricity costs by 74% over the next decade, according to Energy Innovation analysis. Over same time period, 340 fewer gigawatts of clean energy would also not get built.

Thus, we face a scenario where we need more power quickly, can’t get the materials or staff needed to build new gas plants that would be wildly expensive anyway, and we’re taking big chunks of fast, cheap clean energy off the table.

That’s a great blueprint for losing the AI race and making America expensive again.

Master Changan Motor Limited has increased the prices of all its vehicles, with the revised rates taking effect from July 1, 2025.

The adjustment affects the full model lineup and follows broader pricing changes across the auto industry in response to measures introduced in the federal budget for 2025–26.

The new pricing includes increases ranging from Rs45,000 to Rs200,000, depending on the model. For the Oshan X7, the price of the Comfort (7 seats) variant has risen from Rs8,299,000 to Rs8,474,000, while the FS (5 seats) and FS (7 seats) variants are now priced at Rs9,149,000 and Rs9,299,000, respectively, both reflecting a Rs200,000 increase.

For the Alsvin, the MT Comfort variant now costs Rs4,189,000, up from Rs4,099,000. The Lumiere and Lumiere Black Edition have both seen Rs100,000 hikes, with new prices set at Rs4,899,000 and Rs4,999,000.

The Karvaan Power Plus 1.2 is now priced at Rs3,249,000, up from Rs3,199,000, and the Sherpa Power 1.2 has increased from Rs2,304,000 to Rs2,349,000.

The price hikes follow the introduction of a New Energy Vehicle (NEV) adoption levy under the 2025–26 budget. The levy ranges from 1% to 3% depending on engine displacement and applies to all locally assembled vehicles.

Automakers, including Changan, have revised prices to absorb the impact of the new levy. While some manufacturers have partially absorbed the increased cost, most have passed it on to customers.

A Quiet Revolution Above City Streets

Transforming the Daily Commute

Expanding the Limits of Electric Flight

Taking Flight in Dubai

Global Momentum for Clean Aviation

Ready for Takeoff

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By Francesca Merlo

Pope Leo XIV has received two custom-built electric vehicles to assist him during his apostolic journeys abroad. 

Developed by the Italian company Exelentia in collaboration with the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State, the compact vehicles are designed to be transported on long-haul flights without needing to be dismantled.

The news of the donation came in a press release issued on the 6th of July by the Governatorate of Vatican City State, which explains that the vehicles are “the result of a fusion of engineering design and the high-level mechanical, electronic, manufacturing, and artisanal expertise” of the team involved in their development. They are, in fact, fully electric and emit neither noise nor pollutants.

The statement explains that both have been customised to meet the specific needs of the Pope.  More specifically, “the bodywork was customised with the addition of a front handle and lateral supports under the armrests to offer secure grips and improved comfort when boarding and exiting the vehicle”.

The Gendarmerie Corps played a central role in supervising each phase of the project, aiming “at ensuring maximum efficiency, agility, and security”, especially given the vehicles’ intended use during international visits. ITA Airways, on which Pope’s travel, also collaborated on the project by helping define the technical and dimensional requirements for air transport.

The vehicles were presented to Pope Leo XIV during a private meeting on the 3rd of July at the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo. 

Story Continues

This week in oncology has been marked by significant regulatory advancements, the emergence of promising novel agents, and a continued focus on refining treatment strategies to enhance patient outcomes. From FDA approvals streamlining access to critical therapies to new breakthroughs in challenging malignancies, the field of cancer care continues to demonstrate remarkable progress.

FDA Approves Updated Labels on CAR T-Cell Therapies, Eliminating REMS

A pivotal development this week saw the FDA approve updated labels for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, notably eliminating the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program requirements. This significant regulatory change aims to ease monitoring requirements and expand access for eligible patients, streamlining the delivery of these transformative therapies in oncology. The decision reflects a growing confidence in the safety profile of CAR T-cell therapies as real-world data accumulates, ultimately benefiting patients by reducing logistical burdens and potentially speeding up treatment initiation. Read more about this crucial update here.

Daraxonrasib Earns FDA Breakthrough Status in Pancreatic Cancer

In a promising stride against one of the most challenging cancers, daraxonrasib earned FDA breakthrough therapy designation for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer with KRAS G12X mutations. This designation, granted to therapies that show substantial improvement over available options, highlights daraxonrasib’s potential to significantly impact survival rates in this specific patient population. The focus on KRAS mutations underscores the increasing success of precision oncology in targeting specific genetic drivers of cancer, offering renewed hope for patients battling this aggressive disease. Further details on this exciting breakthrough can be found here.

Oncologists’ Guide to the FDA Approval of Tafasitamab for Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma

Another key regulatory update this week was the FDA approval of tafasitamab (Monjuvi) in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab (Rituxan) for relapsed follicular lymphoma. This groundbreaking, chemotherapy-free treatment option represents a significant advancement for patients who have experienced relapse, offering a novel approach with potentially reduced toxicity. The approval of such combinations emphasizes the ongoing efforts to develop highly effective, yet less burdensome, regimens in hematologic malignancies, improving both efficacy and quality of life for patients. Dive deeper into this important approval for oncologists here.

Bladder-Sparing Approaches Gaining Ground in NMIBC

Beyond new drug approvals, this week also highlighted an evolving paradigm in bladder cancer management. This article explored innovative treatments for non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that prioritize bladder preservation. These emerging strategies, including novel therapies and refined active surveillance protocols, aim to improve outcomes while minimizing the need for radical surgical interventions. This shift reflects a patient-centric approach, focusing on maintaining organ function and quality of life whenever possible, without compromising oncologic efficacy. Read more about these strategies here.

TROP-2 Inhibitors Are Explored in Breast Cancer

Finally, the cutting edge of breast cancer research was a focal point, as our coverage detailed the exploration of TROP-2 inhibitors in breast cancer. This article, drawing insights from the 24th Annual International Congress on the Future of Breast Cancer® East, highlighted expert perspectives and groundbreaking research in this promising class of agents. TROP-2 inhibitors represent a significant area of investigation, showing potential to expand therapeutic options for various breast cancer subtypes. The continuous research and development in this space underscore the dynamic efforts to identify new targets and deliver more effective treatments for patients with breast cancer. Learn more here.

This past week has vividly illustrated the relentless pace of innovation in oncology. From accelerating access to established therapies to ushering in new breakthroughs for challenging diseases and refining treatment approaches, the commitment to improving patient lives remains at the forefront of cancer care.

Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, DP World is one of the world’s largest container terminal operators, with 108,100 employees in 74 countries on six continents. The company also provides logistics solutions, maritime services and free trade zones.

DP World currently has a workforce of nearly 800 logistics and freight forwarding professionals in Mexico.

Donohoe said they are seeing demand for logistics services for both northbound and southbound freight between Mexico and the U.S. 

“We’re seeing strong and sustained demand from shippers for logistics services between Mexico and the U.S. — in both directions,” Donohoe said. “Cross-border freight volumes hit record highs in early 2025, with Mexico exports to the U.S. fueling a significant portion of that growth.”

Donohoe said manufacturers in Mexico across sectors such as automotive, electronics, and industrial goods have been ramping up exports to the U.S. in recent months

“This has led to a surge in need for cross-border freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and multimodal transport solutions,” Donohoe said. “This corridor … is experiencing long-term, structural growth as companies reconfigure supply chains around resilience, regionalization, and speed to market.”

As of Thursday, the SONAR Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index shows that import container bookings from China to Mexico (IOTI.CHNMEX) are up 26% since May 12, but down 16% compared to the same period in 2024.

SONAR’s Inbound Ocean TEUs Indices (IOTI) measure bookings of twenty-foot equivalent units on a 14-day rolling average based on departure date from the port of lading. They are representative of maritime shipping container demand and a leading indicator of surface transportation demand.

While it is nearly impossible to say definitively what is driving the container growth from China to Mexico, nearshoring trends can be seen across the Americas, Donohoe said.

“The Americas is one of our fastest-growing and high-priority regions,” Donohoe said.

In September, The Wall Street Journal reported that DP World was in talks with the Mexican government about establishing a large industrial complex in the country, including combining a port and industrial park to streamline cargo bound for the U.S.

While DP World does not operate any U.S. ports currently, the company has been investing in Canadian terminals and U.S. inland logistics businesses. 

Donohoe declined to specifically address whether DP World plans to invest in or operate a port in Mexico.

“Right now, we are very focused on strengthening our inland logistics capabilities in Mexico,” Donohoe said. “Our priorities include freight forwarding, contract logistics, warehousing, and multimodal transport solutions that serve the vital Mexico-U.S. trade corridor.”

In addition to opening a freight hub in Mexico City, DP World has been expanding its presence across Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the freight forwarding sector. 

Over the past two years, DP World has opened more than 35 freight forwarding offices across the Americas, with recent additions in Curitiba, Brazil, as well as Toronto.

In May, DP World announced plans for $760 million expansion of the Dominican Republic’s Port of Caucedo and its free trade zone.

“We recently signed a multi-million-dollar MOU with the Dominican Republic to expand cargo capacity and manufacturing operations at the Port of Caucedo and its adjacent special economic zone,” Donohoe said. “This investment will fill a critical demand from global businesses for alternative trade and manufacturing hubs to serve their major American markets.”

Aerospace manufacturer plans $120M expansion in Texas

Germany-based MTU Maintenance plans to invest $120 million to upgrade its 462,847-square-feet facility at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.

The expansion will create 1,200 direct jobs to the region and up to 2,000 indirect jobs in services, logistics and infrastructure, according to a news release.

MTU will be adding engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for its clients CFM International and GE Aerospace at the facility. 

“These agreements will see MTU’s site in Fort Worth develop from an on-site service center to full disassembly, assembly and test facility,” the company stated. 

The facility will be renamed MTU Maintenance Fort Worth. Officials did not provide a timeline for the facility’s expansion.

MTU Maintenance operates a global network of service centers, including locations in Germany, Canada, Serbia, China, Brazil, Australia and the U.S. The company is a subsidiary of Munich-based MTU Aero Engines AG.

Third-party logistics provider plans warehouse near Houston

Houston-based Texas Logistic and Fulfillment Services LLC said it is taking over a former Amazon logistics warehouse in Sugar Land, Texas.

The 300,000-square-foot facility is being converted into one of the largest HVAC-enabled third-party logistics hubs in the Houston area, according to a news release.

“This expansion will unlock major service bottlenecks and support the fast-growing demand for climate-controlled logistics — especially for electronics and temperature-sensitive goods arriving through Port Houston. It also enables us to handle the increasing volume of lithium battery containers flowing into Texas,” Omri Shafran, CEO of Texas Logistic and Fulfillment, said in a statement.

Texas Logistic and Fulfillment Services provides warehousing, logistics and fulfillment services to customers such as Best Buy, CVS, Academy and Costco.