⚡️Samsung & Tesla $16.5B

+ PayPal Expands Crypto Payments to Over 100 Coins for US Merchants

July 28, 2025

In partnership with

Good afternoon! If you're pouring your heart out to ChatGPT like it’s your therapist or lawyer, Sam Altman has a PSA for you: there’s no confidentiality. On Theo Von’s podcast, the OpenAI CEO reminded users that the chatbot isn’t protected by doctor-patient or attorney-client privilege, meaning those late-night vent sessions could be fair game in a legal case. Altman called it “screwed up,” but admitted there’s still no clear framework to treat AI conversations with the same privacy standards as real professionals.

The lack of legal protection could be a speed bump for broader AI adoption, especially as users open up more and more in their chats. OpenAI is already pushing back on a court order in its New York Times lawsuit that would force it to retain millions of conversations excluding those from Enterprise customers. As Altman put it, people are sharing their “most personal sh**” with AI, but unlike your doctor or lawyer, ChatGPT might not be able to keep your secrets.

MARKETS

  • Stocks barely moved Monday as Wall Street geared up for a packed week of Big Tech earnings, a Fed meeting, and fresh jobs data. The S&P 500 inched into another record close, its sixth in a row, after early gains from a US-EU trade deal fizzled out by the afternoon.

  • Investors welcomed signs of progress in trade talks with both Europe and China, but attention quickly turned to President Trump's upcoming tariff deadline on August 1. With Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta all reporting in the coming days, the market is holding its breath for the next move.

Learn from this investor’s $100m mistake

In 2010, a Grammy-winning artist passed on investing $200K in an emerging real estate disruptor. That stake could be worth $100+ million today.

One year later, another real estate disruptor, Zillow, went public. This time, everyday investors had regrets, missing pre-IPO gains.

Now, a new real estate innovator, Pacaso – founded by a former Zillow exec – is disrupting a $1.3T market. And unlike the others, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company.

Pacaso’s co-ownership model has generated $1B+ in luxury home sales and service fees, earned $110M+ in gross profits to date, and received backing from the same VCs behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.

STOCKS
Winners & Losers

What’s up 📈

  • Celcuity skyrocketed 167.18% after the biotech firm reported promising Phase 3 breast cancer trial results. ($CELC)

  • PagerDuty surged 7.06% following reports it is exploring a potential sale after receiving buyer interest. ($PD)

  • Super Micro Computer, AMD, ASML, and Nvidia rose 10.24%, 4.32%, 2.63%, and 1.87%, respectively, as chip stocks rallied on strong AI demand and Tesla’s $16.5B chip contract with Samsung. ($SMCI, $AMD, $ASML, $NVDA)

  • Tesla gained 3.02% after confirming a $16.5B chip supply deal with Samsung for AI development. ($TSLA)

  • Nike jumped 3.89% after JPMorgan upgraded the stock to overweight, citing confidence in its turnaround strategy. ($NKE)

  • Energy stocks climbed following the U.S.-EU trade deal requiring the EU to purchase $750B of U.S. energy. New Fortress Energy rose 5.56%,

  • Venture Global added 4.26%, Devon Energy climbed 3.49%, and Cheniere Energy and NextDecade each gained about 2%. ($NFE, $VENG, $DVN, $LNG, $NEXT)

What’s down 📉

  • Revvity fell 8.32% after lowering its full-year EPS guidance, with the midpoint coming in below analyst expectations. ($RVTY)

  • Albemarle dropped 10.73% as investors took profits following a 30% rally last week on rising lithium prices. ($ALB)

  • Centene Corp slid 5.39%, extending its decline after a weak earnings report on Friday. ($CNC)

  • Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken, and Molson Coors dropped 5.48%, 9.38%, and 2.48%, respectively, as the U.S.-EU trade deal introduced 15% tariffs on EU alcohol exports. ($BUD, $HEINY, $TAP)

  • Stellantis slipped nearly 4.24% on concerns that the 15% blanket tariff on EU autos would hurt demand. ($STLA)

  • Charter Communications dropped another 3.71% as investor concerns lingered after a tough Q2 earnings report. ($CHTR)

CHIPS
Samsung Surges on $16.5 Billion AI Chip Deal With Tesla for Self-Driving and Robotics

Samsung shares just had their best day of 2025, soaring 6.8 percent after inking a $16.5 billion chip deal with Tesla. The multiyear contract runs through 2033 and was confirmed by Elon Musk on X, who casually replied “yes” to a Bloomberg report. The chips, dubbed AI6, will power Tesla’s self-driving cars, humanoid robots, and AI data centers.

Tesla’s Texas-Sized Plans

The chips will be produced at Samsung’s new foundry in Taylor, Texas right near Musk’s home, as he helpfully pointed out. Musk said the project is so important that he plans to personally walk the factory floor to speed things up. Tesla already uses AI4 chips from Samsung and has TSMC lined up to produce AI5. With AI6, Tesla is aiming for next-level autonomy and computing power.

From EVs to AI Ambitions: This chip partnership is part of Musk’s bigger vision to transform Tesla from an EV maker into an AI and robotics powerhouse. The company already sells its Full Self-Driving software to drivers and has started pilot robotaxi programs in places like Austin. The AI6 chip could help power a more scalable version of those services, as well as Tesla’s future Optimus humanoid robots.

A Foundry Reboot for Samsung

For Samsung, the Tesla deal is a lifeline. The company has been losing ground to TSMC in the foundry space, with its global market share slipping below 8 percent. Analysts believe the Tesla contract could spark a turnaround, helping Samsung diversify beyond smartphones and into higher-growth areas like AI and robotics. The Taylor plant is set to begin operations in 2026.

Musk Thinks It’s Just the Start: According to Musk, the $16.5 billion price tag is only the beginning. He predicts actual output could be several times higher as demand for AI chips accelerates. Whether or not Samsung can keep up with that ambition remains to be seen—but investors clearly liked the sound of it. Tesla stock was up nearly 4 percent on the news.

NEWS
Market Movements

PAYMENTS
PayPal Expands Crypto Payments to Over 100 Coins for US Merchants

PayPal is giving crypto a serious upgrade. The payments giant will soon let US businesses accept more than 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and stablecoins like USDT and USDC. The “Pay with Crypto” feature will support wallets like Coinbase, MetaMask, Kraken, and Binance, giving merchants access to a global base of 650 million crypto users.

Fast, Cheap, and Global

Merchants will be able to settle transactions instantly at just 0.99% per transaction far cheaper than the typical 10%+ fees on international credit cards. And those who choose to hold their earnings in PayPal’s own stablecoin, PYUSD, can earn around 4% interest on balances. The new feature also allows merchants to convert crypto into either PYUSD or traditional fiat on the spot.

From Niche to Norm: This is a major signal that crypto payments are moving into the mainstream. Mike Cahill of Douro Labs told Sherwood News this isn’t just a UX improvement, it’s a challenge to the entire financial infrastructure. “When a payments giant starts offering 100+ crypto options and settles instantly with lower fees,” he said, “it pressures the entire financial system to modernize.”

A Bigger Bet on Blockchain

The move is part of a broader push by PayPal to weave crypto and blockchain deeper into its core. The firm recently announced PayPal World, a new fall platform that will link five of the world’s biggest domestic digital wallets like India’s UPI and China’s WeChat Pay into PayPal’s ecosystem. CEO Alex Chriss says these efforts are about “breaking long-standing barriers in global commerce.”

Investors Take Note: The market didn’t go wild PayPal stock was flat Monday morning but it’s up nearly 4% on the week. Meanwhile, Bitcoin held steady near $118,400. The bigger story is what this signals for the future: crypto may no longer be the fringe experiment. It’s looking more like a standard payment rail.

Calendar
On The Horizon

Tomorrow

Tuesday kicks off a flurry of key economic reports that could shape the market mood. We’ll get a fresh read on home prices via the S&P Case-Shiller index, a pulse check on consumer confidence, and the JOLTS report to set the tone for a labor-data-heavy week.

On the corporate side, it's a full house. PayPal, Visa, Starbucks, P&G, Spotify, Boeing, Merck, and more than a dozen other household names are on deck to report. And before markets open, one early release could offer a crucial snapshot of how U.S. consumers and the broader economy are really doing.

Before Market Open:

  • UPS is in the spotlight this week after a rocky stretch tied to a steep drop in Amazon shipment volume. With shares still under pressure, investors are watching closely for signs of a rebound though new tariffs could complicate any recovery story. Despite the headwinds, UPS still has solid fundamentals and a dividend that keeps income investors on board. Analysts are banking on automation gains to help lift margins this quarter.

NEWS
The Daily Rundown

  • 🔪 Traverse City Walmart Stabbing Injures 11: Eleven people were stabbed in a random attack at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, and a suspect is now in custody. Authorities say the 42-year-old assailant began stabbing shoppers near the checkout before being tackled by bystanders and arrested by a deputy. All victims are expected to survive, with several in critical condition. A terrorism charge is expected, and both state and federal agencies are investigating.

  • 🪖 Army ROTC Cadet Dies During Training: Cadet Neil Edara, a 22-year-old Rutgers student from Ridgewood, New Jersey, died during land navigation training at Fort Knox on July 24. He became unresponsive during the drill and was airlifted to a hospital in Louisville, where he was pronounced dead. Edara was part of ROTC’s Advanced Camp, a multi-week summer training exercise. The Army has launched an investigation into the cause of death.

  • ✈️ Boeing Defense Workers Plan Strike in St. Louis: More than 3,000 Boeing defense workers in the St. Louis area unanimously rejected a contract offering a 20% wage increase over four years. As a result, a strike could begin as early as August 4 after a cooling-off period. The union says the proposal didn’t address key priorities and sacrifices made by skilled workers, including benefits and job security. The potential labor disruption could affect production of fighter jets and military aircraft.

  • 🚴 Pogačar Wins Fourth Tour de France: Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar clinched his fourth Tour de France title, joining elite company with multiple championships. He sealed the victory on Sunday’s dramatic final stage in Paris after a bold run on the cobbled climbs of Montmartre, though the stage itself was won by Wout van Aert. The win reaffirms Pogačar’s dominance in cycling, matching legends like Chris Froome. He remains noncommittal about future goals despite his latest triumph.

  • 🏁 Bubba Wallace Wins Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis: Bubba Wallace captured his first major win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by winning the Brickyard 400, becoming the first Black driver to triumph on the oval track. The win came after rain delays, back-to-back overtimes, and a late fuel scare—yet Wallace held off Kyle Larson for the victory. The result also punched his ticket to the NASCAR postseason after a long winless streak. Wallace’s emotional celebrations underscored his resilience and racing talent.

  • 🎤 Destiny’s Child Reunites at Beyoncé’s Vegas Finale: On the final night of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour in Las Vegas, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on stage in a surprise Destiny’s Child reunion. The trio performed hits like “Independent Women,” “Lose My Breath,” and “Bootylicious” in coordinated gold outfits, delighting the crowd. It was their first joint public performance since Coachella 2018 and nearly broke the internet. Guests including Jay-Z and Shaboozey made surprise appearances during the tour finale.

  • 🛃 US and EU Reach Sweeping Tariff Deal: Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen struck a last-minute tariff agreement at the Trump Turnberry resort. The US will impose a flat 15% tariff on most EU goods—lower than the 30% Trump had threatened—and Europe will avoid new tariffs on American imports. Aircraft and chips are tariff-free, steel remains at 50%, and auto tariffs drop from 27.5% to 15%. The EU also committed to buying $750B in American energy and investing another $600B in the US economy.

  • 📦 Gaza Aid Grows as Starvation Surges: Israel, the UAE, and Jordan parachuted aid into Gaza over the weekend, following global outcry over widespread malnutrition. Israel has also announced daily “tactical pauses” in three high-population areas to facilitate more truck deliveries. Still, just 69 trucks per day are entering, far short of the 500+ the UN says are needed. Starvation deaths have doubled this month alone, with Israel accusing Hamas of blocking fair distribution.

  • 💳 Citi Launches $595 Strata Elite Card: Citigroup unveiled a premium rewards card to compete with the likes of Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum. With a hefty $595 annual fee, the card touts $1,500 in potential value from travel, dining, and American Airlines perks. It comes amid fierce competition in the $1.2T rewards credit card market. Citi hopes to win over affluent consumers who want top-tier benefits and don’t mind the price tag.

  • 🎥 Fantastic Four Delivers Marvel a Much-Needed Hit: The Fantastic Four: First Steps raked in $218 million globally, marking Marvel’s best box office opening since Deadpool & Wolverine. With Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, the film was praised for being fun and self-contained—"no homework required," as Marvel boss Kevin Feige said. After duds like Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, the studio desperately needed a hit. For now, the Fantastic Four are Marvel’s new MVPs.

  • 🎤 Astronomer Hires Gwyneth Paltrow in PR Pivot: After its CEO and HR chief were caught canoodling on a Coldplay kiss cam, data startup Astronomer turned to…Gwyneth Paltrow. The Oscar-winner and ex-wife of Coldplay’s Chris Martin became their new “temporary spokesperson” in a tongue-in-cheek explainer video. The move has drawn praise for cleverly shifting the narrative back to what the company actually does. Meanwhile, both execs have resigned and the board is investigating.

  • 🔬 NASA’s ‘Arsenic Life’ Discovery Finally Retracted: Fifteen years after claiming microbes in California’s Mono Lake could grow using arsenic instead of phosphorus, Science journal has retracted the controversial paper. The theory briefly captivated the world as a potential sign of alien-like life on Earth. Critics, however, long challenged the data and reproducibility. The lead author has since left research, though recently returned part-time.

  • 🧬 Science Roundup – Quantum Images and Maggot Meals: Researchers have captured the first-ever images of thermal vibrations in quantum materials, shedding light on how atomic structures behave at the tiniest scales. Meanwhile, a new study suggests Neanderthals consumed fermented meat infested with maggots to avoid protein poisoning—a real concern on high-meat diets. Scientists also observed Johns Hopkins licensing its books to AI firms for $100 a title to train large language models. It’s the latest move by publishers to cash in on AI training data.

REFERRAL
Share Investinq 🤝 Acquire Swag

If you love reading our newsletter, don’t be selfish — share it. Odds are your favorite finance bro, trader, investor, or stock market fanatic will too.

Don’t keep all the market news to yourself — share the love using the unique link below.

We deliver you all the news for free every single day (go on… help us out ;)

And here’s the kicker: every referral you make gets you entered into a raffle to win some awesome prizes listed below. Just share the link below and you’ll be entered once they sign up.

RESOURCES
The Federal Reserve Resource

Join our small yet growing subreddit 🚀: https://www.reddit.com/r/investinq/

Wall Street Reads 💎 (Best Books):

Check out our latest issues 🎯: https://investinq.beehiiv.com