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The FTC's request for public comment defines tech platforms as companies that provide a range of services, from social media and video sharing to event planning and ride sharing.

The Republican-led committee has previously accused major tech companies of censorship. The panel subpoenaed Alphabet, Meta and other firms in 2023, demanding they turn over communications between the companies and the U.S. government over censorship concerns.

In January, Google executives said they would offer buyouts to U.S.-based employees in the company's "Platforms and Devices" unit ahead of expected cuts. That unit houses more than 25,000 full-time employees who work on Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel, Fitbit and Nest.

The company said it is supporting all affected employees, in line with local requirements, including time to explore and apply to different roles at Google.

The clarity could pave the way for both exchange operators to list more meme coins without the risk of regulatory enforcement.

In January, at the height of the Trump-fueled meme mania, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said that "given there are [about 1 million] tokens a week being created now, and growing ... evaluating each one by one is no longer feasible," in a post on X. "And regulators need to understand that applying for approval for each one is totally infeasible at this point," he said.

Meme coins, of which there are thousands, sit at the furthest end of the risk spectrum. They're three to four times more actively traded than bitcoin and ether, adjusting for market cap, which makes them lucrative offerings for newcomers to the market who feel they may have missed the boat on bitcoin. Historically, they've been a gauge of retail interest and risk appetite in crypto, though most market participants warn strongly against them.

Hannibal knew, from spies, the new Roman commander was anxious for battle so he set a trap. He located his camp on the west side of the Trebia River and then found a place to hide 2000 hand-picked men south of the camp. Early, on the day of the battle, Hannibal sent his cavalry to the Roman camp. Their purpose was to feign an attack and induce the Romans to fight. Longus took the bait, brought is army out, and followed the Carthaginians. When Longus reached the east side of the river he could see that the Carthaginians were on the opposite side so he sent his men across. The water was chest deep and freezing. The Roman army had not eaten breakfast so they were exhausted by the time they reached the other side. Meanwhile Hannibal’s men ate at their leisure and warmed themselves in front of campfires.

The clarification comes after the latest rapid rise of such cryptocurrencies following the election of President Donald Trump, as well as their crash in recent weeks. It's also another notch in the belt of the new administration, which has promised to create clearer and perhaps more favorable regulatory conditions for the crypto industry, and to do so swiftly.

"The SEC's recent statement on meme coins is the clarity that the digital asset space has been demanding for years," said Ishmael Green, a crypto attorney and partner at the law firm Diaz Reus. "This will drive continued investment in the U.S. crypto space, as the vast majority of meme coins launched in the last 12 months with multibillion dollar market caps have been released on Solana, an American blockchain."

Longus argued with Scipio about what they should do. Scipio was cautious and advised against a major battle before the end of the year (it was late December). Longus sought the glory of victory and the rare chance to command two armies. He knew if Rome waited until the next year to fight Hannibal, consular elections would intervene and the glory might go to the next commander instead of himself. Longus foolishness would set the stage for disaster.

In this case, the two consuls prepared to face Hannibal were Publius Cornelius Scipio (father of Africanus) and Tiberius Sempronius Longus. Scipio had been severely injured in a skirmish with Hannibal a week or two before Trebia. His losses were heavy and Scipio was humbled by his first encounter with the Carthaginian general. Longus, however, was newly arrived and anxious to fight. He immediately sent out a reconnaissance force which surprised and defeated a Carthaginian raiding party. This small victory fooled Longus into thinking he could defeat Hannibal in a larger battle.

A Formidable Opponent and a Self-made Handicap Produce Disaster for Rome
The second Punic War began in 218, and immediately after the onset of hostilities, Hannibal made his way across the Alps to the region the Romans called Cisalpine Gaul. His plan was to march down the Italian peninsula, defeat the Roman Army, turn the non-Roman Italians to his side, and force the Romans to surrender. Strategically innovative, a quick thinker tactically, and courageous in battle, Hannibal had all the attributes of a military genius. Even so, his personal ambition was placed above the goals of the Punic War Council, and he assumed that continuing victories would maintain support for him back home.

Management sees $9.34 to $9.67 in adjusted earnings per share for the 2026 fiscal year, with $6.895 billion to $6.965 billion in revenue. The LSEG consensus was $9.24 per share and $6.902 billion in revenue.

San Francisco-based Autodesk will make facility reductions as well. But it will not close any offices, a spokesperson told CNBC in an email. It expects $135 million to $150 million in restructuring costs before taxes.

The company on Thursday also announced better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results. The company delivered $2.29 in adjusted earnings per share on $1.64 billion in revenue, which was up 12% year over year. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had been looking for $2.14 per share and $1.63 billion in revenue.

For the fiscal first quarter, Autodesk called for $2.14 to $2.17 in adjusted earnings per share on $1.600 billion to $1.610 billion in revenue. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected $2.08 per share and $1.598 billion in revenue.

Jordan pointed to the European Union's Digital Services Act, a similar set of laws in the U.K., called the Online Services Act, and regulations around illegal content and hate speech in Brazil and Australia.

The committee is seeking communications around the companies' compliance with "foreign censorship laws, regulations, judicial orders or other government-initiated efforts" and any internal correspondence discussing those matters.

The subpoenas come after the Federal Trade Commission last week launched an inquiry into "tech censorship." FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that the probe will help the agency "better understand how these firms may have violated the law by silencing and intimidating Americans for speaking their minds."

There are two main types of network effects: direct and indirect. Direct network effects occur when the value of a product or service increases directly with the number of users, such as in the case of a social network. Indirect network effects occur when the value of a product or service increases due to the presence of complementary products or services, such as in the case of a platform that connects buyers and sellers.

Network effects can have a significant impact on the growth and success of a business, as they can create a competitive advantage that is difficult for others to replicate. However, they can also create challenges, such as managing the growth of the network and ensuring that the value proposition remains strong for all users.

Network effects refer to the phenomenon where the value or utility of a product, service, or platform increases as the number of users or participants in the network grows. This can create a self-reinforcing cycle, where more users attract even more users, leading to exponential growth and increased value for all participants.

Network effects can be seen in various types of networks, including social networks, communication platforms, marketplaces, and more. For example, a social media platform becomes more valuable to each user as more of their friends and acquaintances join, because they can connect with a larger number of people. Similarly, a ridesharing platform becomes more useful to users as more drivers join, because it increases the likelihood of finding a ride quickly.

Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, said in an interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday that bitcoin could surpass the $200,000 threshold this year.

Increased crypto adoption by institutions along with some "regulatory clarity" in the U.S., should lead to less volatility over time, he said.

Still, some crypto bulls remain positive on Bitcoin's outlook as they await key regulatory developments from the Trump administration.

Already, Trump has signed an executive order promoting the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and developing a national digital asset stockpile. Meanwhile, his administration has created task forces and a "crypto czar" tasked with supporting a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.