TL;DR

Meta licenses Midjourney AI; WLFI token launches after $22.6B raise; US buys 10% of Intel.

Highlights

• Meta licenses Midjourney’s AI image/video tech for future models and products, following a string of major AI investments Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A Common Stock 1.
• World Liberty Finance to launch WLFI token Sept. 1 after raising $22.6B; pre-market valuation $20–55B 2.
• U.S. government acquires 9.9% of Intel for $8.9B to support domestic chip manufacturing; no board seat 3.
• xAI (Elon Musk) unveils “Macrohard,” aiming for AI-driven software development, escalating competition with Microsoft Microsoft Corp 4.
• Lightning AI launches Multi-Cloud GPU Marketplace, targeting up to 70% cost savings for AI compute. Launch partners include Nebius Group N.V. Class A Ordinary Shares 5.
• Aave expands to Aptos blockchain (non-EVM), integrating Chainlink - United States dollar and MetaMask, and launching new business lines Aave - United States dollar , Aptos - United States dollar 6.
• Google launches sub-$1 Gemini for Government plan, intensifying AI price competition and securing major cloud deals Alphabet Inc. Class C Capital Stock , Alphabet Inc. Class A Common Stock , Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A Common Stock , Apple Inc. 8.
• OpenAI releases Codex-CLI 0.23, increasing usage limits and adding GPT-5/image input for developers Microsoft Corp 10.
• LB Pharmaceuticals files for $100M Nasdaq IPO, one of few biotech listings in 2025 7.
• Stablecoin supply doubles to $270B YTD, driven by emerging-market adoption and tokenization growth Tether - United States dollar , USD Coin - United States dollar , Ethena - United States dollar , Sky - United States dollar , Ethereum - United States dollar , TRON - United States dollar , Solana - United States dollar , zkSync - United States dollar 14.
• Grayscale and peers file for spot Ripple - United States dollar ETFs, signaling potential for new regulated crypto investment products XRPI , XRPT 15.
• Bluesky blocks Mississippi users due to new age-verification law, illustrating regulatory hurdles for social startups 12.
• Puffer Finance breach and Apple Inc. 's emergency patch highlight persistent cybersecurity risks for DeFi and crypto users 13.
• Higgsfield releases Kling 2.1, boosting AI video generation performance and targeting creative industry incumbents Adobe Inc. 11.

Commentary

AI and crypto infrastructure remain central themes in this cycle’s deal flow and competitive dynamics. Meta’s licensing of Midjourney’s imaging technology—after considering an outright acquisition—demonstrates ongoing demand for differentiated AI capabilities and the preference for strategic partnerships over full M&A in the current market Meta Platforms, Inc. Class A Common Stock 1. Lightning AI’s GPU marketplace and Google’s sub-$1 Gemini plan both point to intensifying price competition in AI compute and services, which may lower entry barriers for startups but pressure margins for infrastructure providers Nebius Group N.V. Class A Ordinary Shares , Alphabet Inc. Class C Capital Stock , Alphabet Inc. Class A Common Stock 58. xAI’s “Macrohard” project and OpenAI’s Codex-CLI upgrades further reinforce the sector’s rapid push toward AI-native development tools, which could shift value away from traditional devtools and SaaS models Microsoft Corp 410.

In crypto, World Liberty Finance’s $22.6B raise and upcoming WLFI token launch set a new benchmark for token fundraising and could impact Ethereum - United States dollar liquidity around the event 214. The doubling of stablecoin supply to $270B, driven by emerging-market demand and tokenization, highlights ongoing momentum in on-chain financial infrastructure Tether - United States dollar , USD Coin - United States dollar , Ethena - United States dollar , Sky - United States dollar , Ethereum - United States dollar , TRON - United States dollar , Solana - United States dollar , zkSync - United States dollar 14. The wave of spot Ripple - United States dollar ETF filings led by Grayscale suggests the SEC may soon open the door to additional regulated crypto products, which could expand institutional participation but also increase scrutiny XRPI , XRPT 15.

The U.S. government’s $8.9B equity stake in Intel is a notable intervention, providing capital for domestic chip manufacturing without direct control 3. This move may improve funding conditions for U.S. semiconductor startups but also signals increased state involvement in strategic tech sectors—a factor VCs should weigh when assessing exit scenarios. Meanwhile, Aave - United States dollar 's cross-chain expansion to Aptos - United States dollar and LB Pharmaceuticals’ IPO filing both signal that select verticals—DeFi and biotech—are seeing renewed activity in product launches and public market access 67.

Security and regulation remain persistent headwinds. The Puffer Finance breach, Apple Inc. 's emergency patch, and Bluesky’s Mississippi exit illustrate the operational and compliance risks facing early-stage companies, especially in DeFi and social platforms 1312. These factors underscore the need for robust security diligence and regulatory strategy in new investments.