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9 Feb 2026, 18:45

BYD sues the U.S. government to recover tariffs paid since April

BYD has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, going after billions in tariff refunds and directly challenging Donald Trump’s decision to use emergency powers to slap new taxes on imports. The case, filed January 26 at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, argues that Trump had no legal ground to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify these border taxes. This is the first time a Chinese automaker has sued the U.S. over tariffs . Four BYD subsidiaries in the U.S. say the IEEPA doesn’t actually allow for tariffs at all. Their legal filing says, “the text of IEEPA does not employ the word ‘tariff’ or any term of equivalent meaning.” The company says it had to file the suit to make sure it can recover the money it already paid. It wants all of it back. No rounding, no compromise. BYD challenges legality of tariffs in court The case is happening while the U.S. Supreme Court is also reviewing whether Trump’s tariff program is even legal. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said last week the court is moving slowly because the case could change everything. “The stakes are enormous,” he said. And yeah, BYD is watching that closely. But they’re not waiting. They’ve filed separately to make sure they don’t miss out on any refund opportunities if the Supreme Court rules against Trump. Even though BYD doesn’t sell passenger cars in the U.S., it’s got plenty of business in the country. Its U.S. operations include commercial trucks, buses, solar panels, batteries, and energy storage tech. BYD North America runs a plant in Lancaster, California, where about 750 people work. Trump, now the 47th president of the United States after winning the 2024 election, has said Chinese cars are a “threat” to the future of the U.S. auto industry. But he’s also said that if a Chinese company wants to build in the U.S., he’d be fine with that. Well, BYD is doing exactly that, and still got hit with tariffs. The court case is listed as No. 26-00847, and it’s becoming a major piece of the wider tariff backlash coming from global companies. Thousands of firms operating in the U.S. have already filed similar challenges. BYD expands solid-state battery tech as Tesla stumbles in Europe While the lawsuit grabs headlines, BYD isn’t slowing down on the tech side either. It’s made real progress on sulfide-based solid-state batteries. The company says it’s improved fast-charging and battery life, with limited production expected to start in 2027. Its investor relations team said that sulfide electrolytes are a big focus, and they’re testing different approaches. At the 2025 Solid-State Battery Forum in China, BYD’s lithium battery CTO said these new batteries might eventually cost the same as regular ones. That would be huge. The plan is to start using solid-state batteries in test vehicles by 2027 and go big after 2030. That’s not all. BYD is also building a third-gen sodium-ion battery platform. Reports say it can handle up to 10,000 charge cycles. Commercial rollout will depend on demand and how customers want to use it. The company is clearly trying to cover all angles, working on both lithium and sodium battery tech at the same time. Meanwhile, BYD keeps gaining ground on Tesla in Europe. Sales data from ACEA, the European car industry group, show BYD tripled its new car registrations in December to 27,678. For the whole year, it hit 187,657. Tesla dropped 20% in December and fell 27% for the year to 238,656 units. So while Tesla still sold more, the gap is closing fast. BYD’s rise in Europe is no accident. Its lineup of cheap electric and hybrid vehicles has started eating into the market share of brands like Volkswagen and Tesla. No one’s safe. Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

9 Feb 2026, 18:30

Bitmine’s Ethereum Treasury Swells to 4.3M ETH—Unrealized Losses Mount

Bitmine disclosed Monday that it now holds more than 4.3 million ether, a massive position that places the digital asset treasury firm roughly $480 million underwater as ETH trades below its average purchase price. Bitmine Doubles Down on Ethereum While Paper Loss Nears Half a Billion Bitmine Immersion Technologies said it holds 4,325,738 ETH, acquired

9 Feb 2026, 17:21

Bitcoin Juggernaut Strategy Purchased $90 Million Worth Of BTC Last Week As Total Holdings Remain Underwater

Software firm turned Bitcoin treasury company Strategy added another tranche of BTC last week, expanding its holdings.

9 Feb 2026, 16:50

U.S. government isn't poised to sweep in with bitcoin buys, despite Jim Cramer rumor

President Donald Trump did order a bitcoin reserve, but it doesn't yet exist, even as the CNBC host says the feds will start filling it when bitcoin hits $60,000.

9 Feb 2026, 16:21

Apollo nears $3.4 billion loan to fund Nvidia chips for xAI

Apollo Global Management is on the verge of finalizing a $3.4 billion loan for an investment vehicle that plans to buy Nvidia AI chips and lease them to xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company. That’s according to a person familiar with the deal, who allegedly spoke to The Information. The agreement could be wrapped up this week. Valor Equity Partners, one of Elon’s long-time backers, is putting the whole thing together. This wouldn’t be Apollo’s first chip-for-rent arrangement with xAI. Back in November, Apollo provided a $3.5 billion loan to a similar leasing structure. That deal was part of a larger $5.4 billion data center compute transaction arranged by Valor. Just like this one, it was designed to supply xAI with high-powered chips and infrastructure, without the company having to pay upfront. The hardware will be leased under a triple-net structure, which makes xAI responsible for upkeep, taxes, and insurance. The goal is to build out one of the biggest AI model training clusters on Earth. Even Nvidia itself is involved in the financing vehicle. The chipmaker is acting as an anchor investor, betting on demand for its own products through this leasing model. The setup lets xAI expand quickly, while limiting how much cash it has to sink into the hardware itself. Apollo reports record capital inflows and growing fees Meanwhile, Apollo’s Q4 2025 earnings were released today too, and the company beat the Street’s forecasts, pulling in nearly $30 billion in net inflows, boosting its total assets under management to $938 billion, a new record. It wasn’t just inflows. Apollo said it also had a record quarter for deploying capital, which helped increase the fees it charges clients. According to analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha, fee-related earnings rose 25% year-over-year to $690 million, thanks to a 27% spike in management fees and a 41% jump in fees from originating and syndicating deals through its capital markets division. “Apollo’s fourth-quarter results capped a year of exceptional execution,” said CEO Marc Rowan in a statement. He added that the firm was pushing forward across multiple fronts: financing infrastructure, scaling retirement solutions, and giving more buyers access to private markets. However, not all numbers were pretty. Net income fell 55% to $660 million, or $1.07 per share, which missed forecasts. Despite that, Apollo’s board approved a $4 billion share buyback, showing confidence in the long-term picture. AI fears hit private credit as investors dump asset managers As Apollo doubled down on leasing chips to xAI, the rest of the private credit market wasn’t having such a great week. Shares of big asset managers took a hit, with Ares Management falling over 12%, Blue Owl Capital down 8%, and KKR losing nearly 10%. TPG fell 7%, while Apollo and BlackRock slipped over 1% and 5%, respectively. The S&P 500 barely budged, down just 0.1%, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.8%. Why the selloff? Investors are starting to panic about how AI could change the game for borrowers. As software companies get disrupted, cash flow gets tighter, and the risk of default climbs, especially when those buyouts are backed by murky, illiquid loans. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody Analytics, said it’s tough to know the full risk because of how secretive the sector is. Still, he warned that the mix of fast-growing AI-related borrowing, more leverage, and low transparency were flashing big “yellow flags.” His words: “There will surely be significant credit problems, and while the private credit industry is probably currently able to absorb any losses reasonably well, this may not be the case a year from now if the current credit growth continues.” Meanwhile, Apollo’s Athene insurance unit brought in $34 billion in annuity inflows over 2025, with $7.3 billion coming in Q4. That’s down slightly from $36 billion in 2024. So retail demand might be cooling off just as risk levels are rising. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

9 Feb 2026, 16:11

Stablecoin Savings Explained: Earning Interest on USDT and USDC

Stablecoins have become one of the most widely used tools in crypto, but their role has changed. What started as a way to avoid volatility is now a common way to earn predictable passive income. In 2026, USDT and USDC are no longer just parking assets between trades. They are actively used as savings instruments that generate interest. This article explains how stablecoin savings accounts work, where the yield actually comes from, what trade-offs exist, and how platforms like Clapp structure stablecoin savings for users who want clarity, liquidity, and steady returns. Why Stablecoins Are Well-Suited for Savings Unlike BTC or ETH, stablecoins are designed to maintain a fixed value. This makes them easier to use in lending, settlement, and liquidity operations. As a result, demand for USDT and USDC is constant across both centralized and decentralized markets. That demand creates a natural interest rate. Traders borrow stablecoins to access leverage, institutions use them for short-term liquidity, and platforms rely on them to balance markets. For savers, this means yields on stablecoins are usually higher and more stable than yields on volatile assets. In practice, stablecoin savings behave more like traditional savings accounts than other crypto yield products. How Stablecoin Savings Accounts Generate Interest A stablecoin savings account pools user deposits and allocates them into yield-generating activities. These typically include lending to vetted counterparties, overcollateralized credit strategies, or conservative liquidity mechanisms. The interest earned from these activities is shared with users. How flexible the account is depends on product design. Some platforms require fixed terms or lockups. Others allow funds to remain accessible while interest accrues continuously. The distinction matters. Lockups offer platforms certainty but reduce user control. Flexible savings prioritize access and transparency, even if yields are more moderate. Flexible vs Fixed Stablecoin Savings Fixed savings accounts promise higher APYs but require committing funds for a set period. Early withdrawals are often restricted or penalized. These products work best for users who are certain they will not need access to their capital. Flexible savings accounts take a different approach. Funds remain liquid, interest accrues daily, and withdrawals can be made at any time without losing earned interest. In 2026, this model has become the preferred option for users who value predictability and access over maximum yield. Clapp Flexible Savings: A Clear Model for Stablecoin Income Clapp’s Flexible Savings account is built around simplicity and liquidity. Users can earn interest on USDT and USDC with daily compounding, instant access, and no lockups. The APY is fixed and clearly displayed in the app. For stablecoins, Clapp offers 5.2% APY, without tiers, loyalty requirements, or “up to” language. Interest starts accruing immediately after deposit and is credited daily, making balance growth easy to track. Liquidity is central to the product. Stablecoins can be withdrawn, transferred, or converted at any time without penalties or loss of accrued interest. This makes the account suitable both for long-term savers and users who actively move funds between crypto and fiat. From a security and compliance perspective, Clapp Finance operates as a registered Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the Czech Republic and follows EU AML standards. Digital assets are safeguarded using Fireblocks’ institutional-grade custody, which addresses one of the key concerns around earning yield on stablecoins. Centralized Exchanges and Stablecoin Earn Products Most major exchanges offer stablecoin earn programs. These are usually integrated directly into trading accounts and come in both flexible and fixed variants. Flexible exchange products allow withdrawals at any time but often feature variable rates that change without much notice. Fixed-term products advertise higher yields but require locking funds. Promotions and tiered systems can make actual returns difficult to predict. For users who want simplicity and consistency, this variability can be a drawback. DeFi Stablecoin Lending Decentralized lending protocols allow users to lend USDT or USDC directly on-chain. Yields adjust dynamically based on demand and utilization. This offers transparency and self-custody, but it also requires managing wallets, gas fees, and smart contract risk. Returns can be attractive, but they are less predictable and require more active monitoring than centralized savings accounts. For many users, the added complexity outweighs the benefits. Risks to Understand Before Earning Stablecoin Interest Stablecoin savings are not risk-free. Centralized platforms carry custodial and counterparty risk. DeFi protocols carry smart contract risk. Stablecoins themselves carry issuer and peg risk. Reducing these risks comes down to transparency, regulation, and product design. Platforms that clearly explain how yield is generated and avoid unnecessary conditions are easier to evaluate and manage over time. Final Thoughts Stablecoin savings have become one of the most practical ways to earn passive income in crypto. USDT and USDC offer predictable returns, minimal price volatility, and broad platform support. Clapp’s Savings products demonstrate how stablecoin savings can work without lockups or complexity. Daily compounding, instant access, and a clearly defined APY create a savings experience that feels closer to modern finance than speculative crypto yield. For users looking to earn interest on stablecoins while staying in control of their funds, this model represents where stablecoin savings are heading. FAQ: Stablecoin Savings Accounts in 2026 How do stablecoin savings accounts generate interest? Interest is generated by lending USDT and USDC to borrowers, allocating them to overcollateralized credit strategies, or using them in conservative liquidity mechanisms. The yield earned from these activities is shared with users. Why are stablecoin yields usually higher than BTC or ETH yields? Stablecoins are in constant demand for trading, hedging, and settlement. This creates steady borrowing demand, which translates into higher and more predictable interest rates compared to volatile assets. Are USDT and USDC savings risk-free? No. While stablecoins reduce price volatility, risks remain. These include custodial risk on centralized platforms, counterparty risk, smart contract risk in DeFi, and issuer or peg risk related to the stablecoin itself. What is the difference between flexible and fixed stablecoin savings? Flexible savings allow withdrawals at any time while interest continues to accrue. Fixed savings require locking funds for a set period in exchange for higher advertised rates but reduced liquidity. Can I withdraw stablecoins without losing interest? With true flexible savings accounts, yes. Platforms like Clapp allow users to withdraw USDT or USDC at any time without penalties or loss of accrued interest. Is USDT or USDC better for earning interest? Both are widely supported and earn similar yields. The choice usually depends on platform availability, personal preference, and confidence in each issuer’s structure and disclosures. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.