logo

Trump-backed World Liberty proposes $1.5bln crypto holder, Bloomberg News reports

Zawya2 days ago
World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by U.S. President Donald Trump's family, is sounding out investors for a $1.5 billion fundraising meant to set up a public company that will hold its WLFI tokens, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.
The structure of the deal is yet to be finalised, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter, adding that large investors in the crypto and tech space had been approached for the venture.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. World Liberty declined to comment.
World Liberty, a "decentralised platform" which counts Donald Trump and his sons as co-founders according to its website, has earned the family $500 million since its launch, according to Reuters' calculations.
World Liberty tokens, known as $WLFI, are not classified as securities by the Securities and Exchange Commission and are hence not subject to the same level of scrutiny as investments like stocks. (Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mark Potter and Diane Craft)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Just in time? Manufacturers turn to AI to weather tariff storm
Just in time? Manufacturers turn to AI to weather tariff storm

Zawya

time9 minutes ago

  • Zawya

Just in time? Manufacturers turn to AI to weather tariff storm

Manufacturers like U.S. lawnmower maker The Toro Company are not panicking at the prospect of U.S. President Donald Trump's global trade tariffs. Despite five years of dramatic supply disruptions, from the COVID pandemic to today's trade wars, Toro is resisting any temptation to stack its warehouses to the rafters. "We are at probably pre-pandemic inventory levels," says its chief supply-chain manager, Kevin Carpenter, looking relaxed in front of a whiteboard at his office in Minneapolis. "I mean 2019. I think everybody will be at a 2019 level." Among U.S. manufacturers, inventories have roller-coasted this year as they rushed to beat Trump's deadlines for tariff hikes, only to see them repeatedly delayed. But since their post-pandemic expansion, inventories have mostly contracted, according to U.S. Institute for Supply Management data. Instead, "just in time" inventory management - which aims to increase efficiency and reduce waste by ordering goods only as they are needed - is back. But how can firms run lean inventories even as tariffs fluctuate, export bans come out of the blue, and conflict rages? One of the answers, they say, is artificial intelligence. Carpenter says he uses AI to digest the daily stream of news that could impact Toro's business, from Trump's latest social media posts to steel prices, into a custom-made podcast that he listens to each morning. His team also uses generative AI to sieve an ocean of data and to suggest when and how many components to buy from whom. It is a boom industry. Spending on software that includes generative AI for supply chains, capable of learning and even performing tasks on its own, could hit $55 billion by 2029, up from $2.7 billion now, according to U.S. research firm Gartner, driven in part by global uncertainties. HYPE "The tool just puts up in front of you: 'I think you can take 100 tonnes of this product from this plant to transfer it to that plant. And you just hit accept if that makes sense (to you)," McKinsey supply chain consultant Matt Jochim said. The biggest providers of overall supply chain software by revenue are Germany's SAP, U.S. firms Oracle, Coupa and Microsoft and Blue Yonder, a unit of Panasonic, according to Gartner. Generative AI is in its infancy, with most firms still piloting it spending modest amounts, industry experts say. Those investments can climb to tens of millions of dollars when deployed at scale, including the use of tools known as AI agents, which make their own decisions and often need costly upgrades to data management and other IT systems, they said. In commenting for this article, SAP, Oracle, Coupa, Microsoft and Blue Yonder described strong growth for generative AI solutions for supply chains without giving numbers. At U.S. supply chain consultancy GEP, which sells AI tools like this, Trump's tariffs are helping to drive demand. "The tariff volatility has been big," says GEP consultant Mukund Acharya, an expert in retail industry supply chains. SAP said the uncertainty was driving technology take-up. "That's how it was during the financial crisis, Brexit and COVID. And it's what we're seeing now," Richard Howells, SAP vice president and supply chain specialist, said in a statement. An AI agent can sift real-time news feeds on changing tariff scenarios, assess contract renewal dates and a myriad of other data points and come up with a suggested plan of action. But supply chain experts warn of AI hype, saying a lot of money will be wasted on a vain hope that AI can work miracles. "AI is really a powerful enabler for supply chain resilience, but it's not a silver bullet," says Minna Aila, communications chief at Finnish crane-maker Konecranes and member of a business board that advises the OECD on issues including supply chain resilience. "I'm still looking forward to the day when AI can predict terrorist attacks that are at sea, for instance." Konecranes' logistics partners are deploying AI on more mundane data, like weather forecasts. The company makes port cranes that are up to 106 metres (348 ft) high when assembled. When shipping them, AI marries weather forecasts with data like bridge heights to optimise the route. "To ship those across oceans, you do have to take into consideration weather," Aila says. RISING COSTS By keeping inventories low, firms can bolster profit margins that are under pressure from rising costs. Every component or finished product sitting on a shelf is capital tied up, incurring finance and storage costs and at risk of obsolescence. McKinsey has been surveying supply-chain executives since the pandemic. Its most recent survey showed that respondents relying on bigger inventory to cushion disruptions fell to 34% last year from 60% in 2022. Early responses from its upcoming 2025 survey suggest a similar picture, Jochim said. Gartner supply chain analyst Noha Tohamy says that without AI, companies would be slower to react and be more likely to be drawn into building up inventories. "When supply chain organisations don't have that visibility and don't really understand the uncertainty, we go for inventory buffering," Tohamy says. But AI agents won't put supply chain managers out of work, not yet, consultants say. Humans still need to make strategic and big tactical decisions, leaving AI agents to do more routine tasks like ordering and scheduling production maintenance. Toro supply chain chief Carpenter says that without AI, supply chain managers might need to run bigger teams as well. Is he worried that AI is coming for his job one day? "I hope it doesn't take it until my kids get through college!" (Reporting by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

Gold rises on increasing Fed rate-cut bets, weaker dollar
Gold rises on increasing Fed rate-cut bets, weaker dollar

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

Gold rises on increasing Fed rate-cut bets, weaker dollar

Gold rose on Wednesday as expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September gained traction following mild inflation data, while a weaker dollar bolstered demand. Spot gold gained 0.6% to $3,363.61 per ounce by 1026 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery rose 0.5% to $3,414.10. "Market participants are starting to debate if the Fed will do a 50 basis point cut at its September meeting following the comments from U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent yesterday, with a focus on incoming weaker U.S. economic data supporting that," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Markets are pricing in a more than 96% chance of a Fed rate cut next month, after July's mild inflation bump signalled limited impact from U.S. import tariffs on consumer prices, with at least one additional reduction anticipated by year-end. Gold, a non-yielding asset often viewed as a safe haven during times of economic or geopolitical uncertainties, typically benefits from a low-interest-rate environment. The dollar index hit a two-week low, making greenback-priced bullion more affordable for overseas buyers. Europe and Ukrainian leaders will speak with U.S. President Donald Trump at a virtual meeting on Wednesday ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they try to drive home the perils of selling out Kyiv's interests in pursuit of a ceasefire. "Don't expect those talks to meaningfully influence the gold market, (they) might trigger some short-term volatility. Near-term prices are likely to move sideways, until incoming U.S. economic (data) starts to support a faster (Fed) rate cut cycle," Staunovo said. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China extended their tariff truce by another 90 days, averting triple-digit duties on each other's goods. Spot silver rose 1.7% to $38.53 per ounce, platinum was up 0.7% at $1,345.89 and palladium gained 0.5% to $1,135.45. (Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Kirsten Donovan)

PIF continued to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia while shaping global economies in 2024, growing AuM by 19%
PIF continued to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia while shaping global economies in 2024, growing AuM by 19%

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

PIF continued to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia while shaping global economies in 2024, growing AuM by 19%

Cumulative investments in priority sectors have exceeded $171 billion since 2021 RIYADH – PIF today published its 2024 Annual Report showing strong performance and continuous delivery on its unique mandate to drive Saudi Arabia's economic transformation and generate sustainable financial returns. PIF's assets under management (AuM) increased by 19% to $913 billion as of year-end 2024, with an annual average total portfolio return of 7.2% since 2017. Total revenue increased by 25%, and cash balance remains strong and broadly unchanged year on year as PIF maintains its robust liquidity. The report demonstrates significant progress against PIF's forward-looking investment strategy, reinforcing PIF's position as one of the world's largest and fastest-growing sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). PIF's cumulative real non-oil GDP contribution between 2021 and 2024 grew to $243 billion. PIF's portfolio reflects its focus on diversifying the Saudi economy as well as its commitment to global commercial partnerships. Yasir A. AlSalman, PIF's Chief Financial Officer, said: 'The annual report for 2024 is marked by significant growth underpinned by solid financial health, as PIF further established its position as one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. PIF's portfolio delivered year-on-year growth of assets under management of 19% to reach $913 billion. Capital deployment across priority sectors reached $56.8 billion in 2024, bringing cumulative investment since the beginning of 2021 to more than $171 billion. PIF continues to innovate to deliver on its mandate and drive economic transformation.' Maram Al Johani, PIF's Acting Chief of Staff and Secretary General to the Board, said: 'Throughout 2024, PIF continued to lead with long-term vision and purpose. PIF deepened its impact and continued to drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia, while generating sustainable returns. PIF now represents 10% of the nation's non-oil economy, with PIF's cumulative real non-oil GDP contribution between 2021 and 2024 growing to $243 billion. 'PIF's portfolio reflects its focus on diversifying the Saudi economy, PIF continued to invest in and establish new companies, driving forward change and bringing the total number of portfolio companies at year-end to 225 of which PIF has created and established 103. PIF continued to drive development of strategic economic sectors in Saudi Arabia, through national champions, expanding the technical capabilities of PIF's investment portfolios, promoting localization, and stimulating innovation. 'The 2024 results highlight PIF's transition from digital transformation to digital leadership, with artificial intelligence and automation together becoming a vital part of operations. In 2024, PIF completed 58 digital projects, launched 15 new applications and automated more than 477 processes, enabling insights, strategy and the creation of economic value.' Building Global Presence and Partnerships PIF's international investment pool continued to expand during 2024, leveraging long-term, high-impact capital to generate sustainable returns while building partnerships across key international markets. PIF's global investments serve strategic objectives by growing and diversifying PIF's assets and returns, forming strategic partnerships with innovative companies, investment managers and influential investors, and investing in cutting-edge technology that is shaping the future global economy. Diverse Funding Sources Over 2024, PIF continued to diversify funding sources, raising $9.83 billion in public debt and an additional $7 billion in private debt. PIF's strength and stability were recognized internationally in 2024. Moody's upgraded PIF to Aa3 from A1, with stable outlook, and Fitch affirmed PIF's rating at A+, with stable outlook, both validating PIF's robust credit profile. Global Governance Best Practice PIF reached a major milestone in governance, sustainability and resilience (GSR) performance, achieving a 96% score on Global SWF's 2024 GSR Scoreboard. In 2025, PIF tied for first place globally among 200 sovereign investors, with a score of 100%. Global Brand Strength A study by Brand Finance, the world's leading independent brand valuation company, found PIF to have the most valuable and fastest-growing brand in the world among all SWFs, with an A+ rating. -Ends- About PIF PIF is the investment engine driving economic transformation for Saudi Arabia and the world. With an ambitious program to deliver Vision 2030, PIF invests in projects, companies and partners to diversify the Saudi economy, stimulate growth in every major sector, and create new opportunities for investment and employment. And as a global investor and catalyst of change, PIF actively partners with the most pioneering organizations across the world to accelerate their growth, and transfer the technology and knowledge needed to build industry ecosystems of the future. Since 2017, PIF has established 103 companies and is driving the transition to a more sustainable economy through strategic investments and partnerships across the Saudi public and private sector. PIF is laying the foundations for local and international partners to invest in the economic and societal transformation of Saudi Arabia. For more information, visit the website at Rupert Trefgarne: rtrefgarne@ +966 546 0057 33 PIF 2024 highlights include: January: PIF unveiled Electric 360, a multi-year partnership with Formula E, Extreme E (now Extreme H) and E1 to support the growth of electric motor sports and their role in advancing the future of electric mobility. February: PIF announced the launch of Alat, a PIF-owned company focused on advanced technology sectors, including semiconductors, smart devices and industrial automation. February: PIF and ATP unveiled a new multi-year strategic partnership, marking a significant shared commitment to enhancing global tennis for players, fans, tournament organizers and stakeholders at all levels of the sport. April: PIF and BlackRock agreed to establish a Riyadh-based multi-asset investment management platform to accelerate capital market development in Saudi Arabia. May: PIF and WTA unveiled a multi-year partnership to grow women's professional tennis and inspire more women and girls around the world to take up the game. May: PIF announced the establishment of the Neo Space Group, a wholly owned PIF company that will become a national champion in the satellite and space sector. July: PIF announced three new joint ventures to localize in Saudi Arabia the manufacturing and assembly of equipment and components needed for solar and wind power. August: PIF and the regional soccer body Concacaf announced a partnership to further elevate the game in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. September: PIF launched National Interactive Entertainment Company to deliver immersive, storytelling-based exhibitions focused on Saudi heritage, culture and history. November: PIF announced the sale of 100 million shares in stc group, the Saudi telecoms company. December: PIF launched Adeera to create homegrown Saudi hospitality brands and manage hotels ranging from midscale to luxury across Saudi Arabia. December: PIF acquired a 15% stake in FGP TopCo, the holding company of London's Heathrow Airport, one of the world's premier aviation hubs.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store