hodler

6 Mar 2026, 18:16

Musk ridicules Anthropic as AI rivalry with xAI intensifies

Elon Musk has spent the last 48 hours roasting and taking jabs at Amodei as the Anthropic CEO goes through what the xAI founder mocked as groveling after a public standoff with the Department of War. Elon Musk, who has the reputation of a “world-class troll,” has not held back. He’s so far reposted clips of the interview and the leaked memo, as well as used Grok, his AI model, to generate insults and pictures of Amodei covered in mayonnaise. Musk called the apology a pathetic attempt at groveling after getting caught. He has stated that Anthropic is “misanthropic and evil,” and accused them of training their AI to “hate Western civilization.” Why did Dario Amodei apologize? In a leaked internal “memo”, Amodei vented to his employees, reportedly claiming that the company’s relationship with the government soured because he refused to offer “dictator-style praise” to President Trump. Amodei sat down with The Economist today, and he described the last few days as the most disorienting in the company’s history. He attempted to reframe the leaked 1,600-word internal document sent to over 2,000 employees as a “casual Slack post” in an effort to minimize his previous criticism of the Trump administration. He further explained that the memo was an emotional reaction to a difficult day. Musk’s xAI and Sam Altman’s OpenAI have already signed deals to provide their models for “all lawful purposes” without the specific constraints Anthropic demanded. Anthropic is now offering its AI services to the Department of War at a nominal cost to prove its loyalty and utility to national security operations. Amodei stated that Anthropic has “much more in common with the Department of War than we have differences.” Why did Anthropic get the supply chain risk tag? For months, Anthropic has not given ground on its position not to allow its Claude models to be used by the military for mass domestic surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous weapons systems. The Department of War issued an ultimatum to the company ordering it to remove these “woke” guardrails, or it would risk losing its contracts. When Anthropic refused to budge by the Friday deadline, President Trump issued a directive to “IMMEDIATELY CEASE” all federal use of Anthropic technology, and Secretary Hegseth officially tagged the company with a “supply chain risk” label. The legal basis for the label is 10 USC 3252, a statute that allows the Secretary of War to restrict suppliers to protect the government. It is usually reserved for foreign adversaries like Huawei or Kaspersky, so its being applied to a San Francisco-based startup valued at $380 billion is a massive statement. The label doesn’t just end Anthropic’s $200 million pilot contract; it also forces any other company doing business with the Department of War to certify that they aren’t using Claude in their military-related operations. Anthropic has already announced it is taking the government to court, claiming the move is “legally unsound” and purely retaliatory. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

6 Mar 2026, 17:41

Justin Sun says the SEC has agreed to drop all claims against him

Justin Sun said the SEC has agreed to drop all claims against him, the Tron Foundation, and the BitTorrent Foundation after a $10 million settlement, bringing an end to a case that had hung over one of crypto’s best-known founders since 2023. In a post on X, Justin said, “I am very pleased to confirm that the SEC has moved to dismiss all claims against me, Tron Foundation, and BitTorrent Foundation.” He added, “Today’s resolution brings closure, but I never stopped building.” Justin used the same post to say he plans to keep working on crypto growth in the United States and abroad. He also said he wants to work with the SEC on future rules for the industry. “I will continue to focus on accelerating innovation in the United States and around the world and look forward to working with the SEC to develop guidance and regulations for crypto going forward. The future is bright.” SEC had accused Justin Sun of using fake trades to lift TRON activity and price The case against Justin stands out because the SEC accused him of serious securities law violations tied to self-trading. Regulators said Justin arranged hundreds of thousands of fraudulent trades to manipulate the price of a cryptocurrency created on his TRON platform. The SEC said Justin and his employees deliberately inflated trading volume for a cryptocurrency so they could stir more interest in it. Regulators said Justin and one of his companies made nearly $32 million in profit from sales of that token in 2018 and 2019. The lawsuit said the trades came through different accounts, but Justin controlled the transactions. It also said ownership of the tokens did not actually change, meaning the trading volume looked real on the screen while the assets stayed under the same control. The SEC said that over an eight-month period, Justin and his team carried out an average of nearly 2,500 fake trades a day. The agency also accused Justin of misleading investors through celebrity promotions. Regulators said he paid celebrities to promote the cryptocurrency while making those endorsements look unbiased and unpaid. That became another major part of the case because it tied marketing tactics directly to investor deception claims. A group of celebrities, including Akon, Jake Paul, Ne-Yo, and Lindsay Lohan, later agreed to pay a total of $400,000 to settle those charges. Justin and his companies fought back in court. They said the lawsuit was “yet another salvo in the S.E.C.’s ever-widening campaign seeking dominion over digital assets whenever created, in whatever form, for whatever purpose, and wherever they may be found.” Trump-era ties surrounded Justin Sun as the SEC pulled back from crypto cases Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the SEC has dramatically reduced many of its crypto cases. Even so, agency leaders have kept saying they would still pursue fraud cases. That is why the end of Justin’s case drew so much attention. It was a fraud case, and it still ended in a settlement that clears the claims. A New York Times investigation from December alleges that the SEC had eased up on more than 60 percent of the crypto cases it inherited from the Biden administration and from Trump’s first term. The report said the agency had frozen litigation, reduced penalties, or dismissed cases across much of that docket. It also found that the rollback helped firms with financial ties to Trump more than others. That included Justin. His case was paused only weeks after Trump’s inauguration so the sides could pursue a settlement. After Trump’s re-election, Justin spent $75 million on a cryptocurrency developed by World Liberty Financial, the crypto firm co-founded by Trump and his sons. That investment made Justin one of the Trump family’s biggest crypto backers. It also gave the company fresh money at a time when it was struggling. The links kept growing. In May, Justin attended a private dinner for buyers of the president’s memecoin, a separate cryptocurrency that Trump launched shortly before he was sworn in for a second term. That same month, Justin appeared onstage with Eric Trump at a crypto conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At that event, Zach Witkoff, a co-founder of World Liberty and the son of senior presidential adviser Steve Witkoff, called out Justin by name. Zach said, “I just got to thank you for the support, Justin.” He added, “TRON is just an incredible technology, and we’re lucky to be partners with you.” Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

6 Mar 2026, 17:40

Nonfarm Payrolls Shock: February Jobs Report Plunges by 92,000 vs. Expected Gain

BitcoinWorld Nonfarm Payrolls Shock: February Jobs Report Plunges by 92,000 vs. Expected Gain The February 2025 Nonfarm Payrolls report delivered a stunning blow to economic expectations, revealing a decline of 92,000 jobs against consensus forecasts predicting a 59,000 gain. This unexpected contraction marks the first monthly job loss in over two years, sending immediate shockwaves through financial markets and policy circles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the data at 8:30 AM Eastern Time on March 7, 2025, from its Washington D.C. headquarters, triggering rapid reassessments of the U.S. economic trajectory. Nonfarm Payrolls February 2025: Analyzing the Data Breakdown The February employment situation summary reveals significant sectoral weaknesses driving the overall decline. Private sector employment decreased by 78,000 positions, while government employment fell by 14,000. Notably, the goods-producing sector experienced the sharpest contraction, losing 45,000 jobs primarily in manufacturing and construction. Meanwhile, the service-providing sector declined by 47,000 positions, with notable losses in retail trade and professional services. The unemployment rate, however, remained unchanged at 3.8%, suggesting complex labor market dynamics beyond headline numbers. Several key factors contributed to this unexpected downturn. First, severe winter weather across multiple regions disrupted normal business operations. Second, ongoing supply chain adjustments continued affecting manufacturing employment. Third, consumer spending patterns showed unexpected softness in February. Additionally, the data revision process affected previous months’ numbers, with January’s initially reported gain of 75,000 jobs revised downward to 52,000. This revision pattern suggests underlying weakness that analysts previously overlooked. Historical Context and Market Reactions Historical comparison reveals this February decline represents the largest monthly job loss since April 2023. The divergence from expectations marks one of the most significant forecasting misses in recent employment data history. Financial markets reacted immediately to the news, with Treasury yields falling sharply as investors anticipated potential Federal Reserve policy adjustments. The S&P 500 futures dropped 1.2% in pre-market trading, reflecting concerns about economic momentum. Currency markets showed dollar weakness against major counterparts as expectations for interest rate cuts increased. Previous employment trends provide important context for understanding this development. The labor market had shown remarkable resilience through 2024, adding an average of 185,000 jobs monthly. However, leading indicators had suggested potential softening. The ISM Manufacturing Employment Index had remained in contraction territory for five consecutive months. Similarly, jobless claims had shown a gradual upward trend since December 2024. These warning signs, while noted by some analysts, failed to prepare markets for the magnitude of February’s decline. Expert Analysis and Economic Implications Economic experts emphasize several critical implications from this data release. Dr. Eleanor Vance, Chief Economist at the Economic Policy Institute, notes, “The February numbers suggest we’re seeing more than temporary volatility. The breadth of sectoral declines indicates broader economic cooling that requires careful monitoring.” Federal Reserve officials will particularly scrutinize wage growth data, which showed average hourly earnings increasing by 0.2% month-over-month, the smallest gain in 18 months. This wage moderation, combined with employment contraction, suggests reduced inflationary pressures from the labor market. The participation rate remained steady at 62.5%, while the employment-population ratio edged down slightly to 60.1%. These stability measures suggest the decline reflects reduced hiring rather than increased separations. Temporary help services employment, often considered a leading indicator, fell by 15,000 positions. This decline typically precedes broader labor market softening. Regional data showed particular weakness in the Midwest and Northeast, where weather disruptions were most severe. However, even weather-adjusted estimates suggest underlying weakness beyond temporary factors. Sectoral Analysis and Geographic Distribution The employment decline showed uneven distribution across economic sectors and geographic regions. Manufacturing employment fell by 28,000, concentrated in durable goods production. Construction lost 17,000 positions, partly attributable to weather conditions but also reflecting housing market adjustments. Retail trade employment decreased by 22,000, continuing a longer-term trend of structural change in the sector. Professional and business services declined by 18,000, with temporary help services accounting for most of the reduction. Geographic analysis reveals regional variations in employment performance. The Midwest experienced the largest decline, losing 42,000 jobs, followed by the Northeast with 31,000 losses. The South showed relative resilience with only 12,000 job losses, while the West declined by 7,000 positions. Metropolitan statistical areas displayed similar patterns, with manufacturing-heavy regions showing the greatest weakness. These geographic patterns align with both weather impacts and industrial concentration factors affecting regional economies differently. Policy Implications and Forward Outlook The February employment data carries significant implications for monetary and fiscal policy. Federal Reserve officials will likely reassess their economic projections ahead of the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The unexpected weakness supports arguments for earlier or more substantial interest rate cuts than previously anticipated. However, policymakers will require additional data to determine whether February represents an anomaly or trend change. Congressional attention may turn toward potential stimulus measures if weakness persists into subsequent months. Forward-looking indicators provide mixed signals about coming months. The Conference Board’s Employment Trends Index showed slight improvement in February, suggesting potential stabilization. Job openings data from January indicated continued labor demand, though at reduced levels from peak 2024 readings. Business surveys show cautious hiring intentions, with many employers adopting wait-and-see approaches amid economic uncertainty. The March employment report, due April 4, 2025, will prove crucial for determining whether February’s weakness represents temporary fluctuation or sustained trend. Conclusion The February 2025 Nonfarm Payrolls report delivered an unexpected and significant decline of 92,000 jobs, sharply contrasting with economist expectations of a 59,000 gain. This development signals potential economic cooling that requires careful monitoring across multiple dimensions. While weather factors contributed to the weakness, underlying trends suggest broader labor market softening. The data will significantly influence Federal Reserve policy decisions and market expectations in coming months. Subsequent employment reports will prove crucial for determining whether this represents temporary volatility or sustained trend change in the U.S. labor market. FAQs Q1: What exactly are Nonfarm Payrolls and why are they important? The Nonfarm Payrolls report measures total U.S. employment excluding farm workers, private household employees, and nonprofit organization employees. It serves as the primary monthly indicator of labor market health and economic momentum, influencing Federal Reserve policy, financial markets, and business decisions nationwide. Q2: How significant is a 92,000 job decline in historical context? While not unprecedented, a decline of this magnitude represents the largest monthly job loss since April 2023. The significance lies in the contrast with expectations—economists predicted a gain, making the actual decline a 151,000-job swing from forecasts, one of the largest forecasting misses in recent employment data history. Q3: Could weather alone explain February’s employment decline? Severe winter weather certainly contributed to the decline, particularly in construction and retail sectors. However, even after accounting for weather effects using statistical adjustments, underlying weakness appears present across multiple sectors, suggesting factors beyond temporary weather disruptions influenced the results. Q4: How might this report affect Federal Reserve interest rate decisions? The unexpected weakness supports arguments for earlier or more substantial interest rate cuts than previously anticipated. However, the Federal Reserve typically requires multiple data points showing consistent trends before making significant policy shifts, making subsequent employment reports particularly important for March and April decisions. Q5: What sectors showed the strongest and weakest performance in February? The goods-producing sector showed particular weakness, with manufacturing losing 28,000 jobs and construction declining by 17,000. Within services, retail trade fell by 22,000 positions. Healthcare and social assistance showed relative resilience, adding 12,000 jobs, while government employment declined by 14,000 positions across federal, state, and local levels. This post Nonfarm Payrolls Shock: February Jobs Report Plunges by 92,000 vs. Expected Gain first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

6 Mar 2026, 17:29

SHIB Burns Fall to Zero Again — Does Price Strength Still Mean Anything Without Supply Pressure?

SHIB burns have once again come to a halt, raising questions about the impact on its price. While a reduced supply typically boosts value, the lack of burns puts this theory to the test. Can SHIB maintain its strength without the burning mechanism, and what other coins might be poised for a rise? Discover the dynamics at play. Shiba Inu Shows Potential Amidst Decline Source: tradingview Shiba Inu (SHIB) is currently trading between $0.00000513 and $0.00000622. Despite a recent drop of over 50% in six months, SHIB could rise to around $0.00000692 if it breaks the nearest resistance level, marking an increase of nearly 20%. The coin also holds potential to climb towards $0.00000801, which would be a gain of over 30% from its current range. Its relative strength index stands near 42, suggesting room for upward movement. Though SHIB's momentum has slowed, its current price close to the support level offers a chance for a promising breakout if positive sentiment returns. Conclusion SHIB's price movement remains strong despite the absence of supply reduction. The lack of burns does not seem to deter its potential value growth. Buyers and holders focus more on market sentiment and demand. This suggests that current price gains are driven by interest and speculation rather than supply constraints. Long-term effects remain to be seen, but immediate interest and engagement appear to keep SHIB afloat. 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.

6 Mar 2026, 17:23

XRP Trapped Between Two Levels as Liquidity Tightens — Breakout or Breakdown First?

XRP finds itself in a precarious position, wedged between key support and resistance levels. As liquidity becomes increasingly scarce, the question looms whether the cryptocurrency will surge or plunge. This article delves into the current market dynamics and explores which coins could be poised for significant growth in this volatile landscape. XRP Shows Potential as It Hovers Above $1.25 Source: tradingview XRP is currently trading between $1.25 and $1.47, showing a steady hold in this range. Even though it dipped over the past month and half-year, experts think it could climb again. The first growth target is $1.59, about a 10% increase if reached from the lower end of its range. If momentum builds, it might aim for $1.81, offering a nearly 25% rise from its current low point. The 10-day and 100-day moving averages sit close together, signaling potential stability. With its RSI under the neutral level, XRP might be due for an upward move, hinting at a chance for investors eyeing growth. Conclusion XRP is currently stuck between two significant price points. This limited movement is due to reduced trading activity. Without increased liquidity, it is difficult to predict whether it will rise or fall first. Momentum indicators are also unclear, adding to the indecision. Investors should watch for any significant moves, as a breakout or breakdown could signal a new trend. 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.

6 Mar 2026, 17:07

Binance slams US Senate probe over Iran as based on defamatory reports

The crypto exchange responded to a Senate inquiry over sanctions by claiming that “no Binance account transacted directly with an Iran-based entity.“