1) They Disconnect to Reconnect

Couples who spend time together but stay glued to their screens often miss the chance to truly connect. Instead, the happiest couples intentionally carve out moments that are tech-free. Whether it’s a relaxed breakfast, a walk without distractions, or a dinner where phones are out of reach, the key is presence — not perfection.

It’s not about planning an impressive date. It’s about showing up fully — to listen, talk, and just be. That quality of attention is what creates closeness, not the length of the activity or how exciting it looks on social media.

2) They Practice ‘Parallel Play’

Everyone needs personal space — even in a loving relationship. But couples in strong relationships find ways to blend “me time” and “we time.” One of the best ways to do that? Parallel play. It means doing your own thing in the same space — reading, gaming, drawing, journaling — while staying near one another.

This silent togetherness can be just as bonding as conversation. It communicates comfort, respect, and emotional presence, without requiring constant engagement. It’s how partners say: “I’m here with you, even while I’m recharging myself.”

3) They Stick to Rituals

Rituals give relationships rhythm. It doesn’t matter if they’re big or small — it matters that they’re shared. Rituals give couples something to count on. They create a sense of identity and continuity even when life feels chaotic.

It could be something as light as Friday-night takeout and Netflix, or as intentional as a Sunday planning session with a bottle of wine. Happy couples often have their own quirky traditions — and lean on them. These moments become anchors that reinforce the “us” in the relationship.

4) They Schedule Intimacy

Intimacy often takes a hit when weekends fill up with errands, chores, or exhaustion. But rather than letting it fall by the wayside, happy couples make space for it — sometimes by literally putting it on the calendar.

This doesn’t mean sex becomes a chore. It means that couples take the pressure off spontaneity and give intimacy the attention it deserves. When intimacy is scheduled, it removes guesswork and brings anticipation, helping both partners prioritize connection amid the noise of life.

5) They Laugh Intentionally

Couples who laugh together often weather life better together. Playfulness builds resilience, eases tension, and keeps romance alive. Happy couples actively look for fun — even in mundane moments. They joke, tease, dance, challenge each other to board games, or invent silly rituals that no one else would understand.

Laughter is bonding. It reminds partners not to take life — or each other — too seriously. And it helps shift the relationship from duty and logistics back into joy and spontaneity.

The Takeaway

The best weekend habits for couples aren’t about doing more. They’re about doing less — with more intention. By putting down their phones, embracing quiet closeness, holding onto rituals, making time for intimacy, and laughing on purpose, couples create a relationship that feels safe, alive, and deeply connected.

None of these things require a big budget or complicated planning. They just require choosing your partner — over and over again, weekend after weekend.

The post What Happy Couples Do on Weekends: 5 Habits That Strengthen Relationships first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

Nationally, home prices in March were 39% higher than in March 2019, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index. While new listings have started to rise, they are not appearing at price points that most buyers can afford. The highest demand is for homes on the lower end of the market, but these remain scarce, pushing sales in affordable and mid-tier segments far below those at the luxury end.

A new report from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com sheds light on just how far out of reach the housing market has become. Using standard guidelines that assume 30% of income goes toward a 30-year fixed mortgage, the study finds a sharp decline in affordable options compared to pre-pandemic times.

For buyers earning between $75,000 and $100,000 annually, the share of listings they could afford increased slightly over the past year, rising from 20.8% to 21.2%. But back in March 2019, this group could afford nearly half – 48.8% – of homes for sale. In a balanced market, they should be able to afford 48% of all listings. Currently, about 416,000 more homes priced at or below $255,000 would be needed for balance.

The situation is even tougher for those making less than $75,000. A buyer with a $50,000 salary could only afford 8.7% of listings in March, down from 9.4% last year and a sharp drop from 27.8% in 2019. Meanwhile, households earning $250,000 or more have access to at least 80% of homes on the market.

“Shoppers see more homes for sale today than one year ago, and encouragingly, many of these homes have been added at moderate-income price points,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “But as this report shows, we still don’t have an abundance of homes that are affordable to low- and moderate-income households.”

The increase in available homes has not been evenly spread across the country. The Midwest and South have seen the biggest improvements, while much of the rest of the nation continues to struggle.

Cities such as Akron, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh now offer a more balanced market with enough listings to meet local demand. Other areas like Raleigh, Des Moines, and Grand Rapids have made notable gains but still fall short of what buyers need. However, more than 40% of the 100 largest U.S. metro areas remain stuck in crisis, including Seattle and Washington, D.C., where a household needs over $150,000 a year just to afford half the homes for sale.

Some overheated markets, such as Austin, San Francisco, and Denver, have cooled and now feature more affordable listings than before the pandemic. Experts say this proves that new construction, market shifts, and local policies can help restore balance, even in the toughest markets.

Still, affordability is worsening in several regions, especially in Southern California cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as New York City. Persistent underbuilding, limited land, high costs, zoning laws, and population growth are all contributing to the crunch. Homebuilders are trying to keep up, but rising construction expenses and policy changes could make things even tougher. In March, single-family housing starts were down nearly 10% year over year.

The post America’s Housing Market Remains Out of Reach for Many as Affordability Crisis Deepens first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

AI Isn’t Just for Tech—It’s for Everyone

“The first thing I would do is to learn AI,” Huang said, pointing to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Grok as key platforms students should explore. He stressed that AI’s usefulness isn’t limited to programmers or engineers. Whether you’re in biology, journalism, or architecture, asking how AI can support your work is the right starting point.

“It doesn’t matter what profession,” Huang said. “Ask yourself: How can I use AI to do my job better?”

Prompting Is the New Core Skill

Huang compared learning to prompt AI effectively with learning how to ask smart questions. Vague queries won’t produce meaningful results — but well-structured ones can unlock powerful outputs.

For example, asking ChatGPT “Tell me about business” will yield generic answers. Instead, specificity works better: “What are the first steps to launching an online retail business?”

“You can’t just randomly ask a bunch of questions,” Huang explained. “Asking AI to be an assistant to you requires some expertise and artistry of how to prompt it.”

Think Like a Mentor, Not a User

Prompt director Kelly Daniel compares it to working with a smart but inexperienced assistant. “You’re talking to a smart kid,” she wrote. “They want to help but don’t have your context — your job is to give it to them.”

To do that, break your requests into clear steps. Use examples. Don’t write in long paragraphs. Here’s a sample structure:

I need to give a keynote speech at my company’s annual conference. I want it to sound like early Bill Gates. The speech needs to:

• Congratulate the team on a strong Q1.
• Highlight progress in marketing and media strategy.
• Introduce new productivity goals and motivate the team.

AI Is Already Shaping the Job Market

Despite AI’s rise, only 11% of young Americans aged 14–22 use generative AI weekly, according to a 2024 report. Meanwhile, LinkedIn predicts that up to 70% of workplace skills could shift due to AI by 2030.

That gap between opportunity and adoption is exactly why Huang urges students to act now. Whether you’re in school, freelancing, or building a business, using AI well can instantly expand your capacity — and it’s a skill that will keep growing in value.

The Takeaway

Huang’s advice is simple but powerful: no matter your field, no matter your goals — treat AI like a collaborator, not just a tool. Learn how to ask it the right questions, feed it the right information, and use its answers to refine your work. The skill of prompting, he says, is the foundation of modern problem-solving.

“Learning how to interact with AI is not unlike being someone who’s really good at asking questions,” he said. And that, he believes, is one of the most important things any student — or professional — can learn today.

The post Jensen Huang: How I’d Use AI Today If I Were a Student first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

“We have huge deficits; we have what I consider almost complacent central banks,” Dimon told the audience. “You all think they can manage all this. I don’t think they can.”

Dimon emphasized that investors remain too comfortable, having yet to experience the real impact of effective tariffs. “The market came down 10%, [it’s] back up 10%. That’s an extraordinary amount of complacency,” he said. His comments follow a recent move by Moody’s to downgrade the U.S. credit rating, citing concerns over mounting government debt. Investors have been on edge in recent months as President Donald Trump’s trade policies fuel fears of inflation and a slowdown in the U.S. economy.

Dimon also took aim at Wall Street’s earnings forecasts for S&P 500 companies, saying that projections have already dipped since the introduction of new trade policies and are likely to fall even further as uncertainty persists. According to Dimon, current estimates for S&P 500 earnings growth could drop from around 12% at the start of the year to zero within six months, dragging down stock prices and compressing price-to-earnings ratios.

He added that the likelihood of stagflation – a rare combination of recession and inflation – is now roughly double what the market anticipates.

Elsewhere at the meeting, Troy Rohrbaugh, co-head of JPMorgan’s commercial and investment bank, said corporate clients are still largely in a “wait-and-see” mode regarding acquisitions and deals. He predicted a “mid-teens” percentage decline in investment banking revenue for the second quarter compared to last year, though trading revenue is tracking higher by a “mid-to-high” single-digit percentage.

On succession plans, Dimon said there has been no change since last year, when he indicated he would likely remain CEO for less than five more years. “If I’m here for four more years, and maybe two more” as executive chairman, Dimon said, “that’s a long time.”

Among JPMorgan’s executive team, consumer banking chief Marianne Lake stood out during the presentations, speaking for a full hour and reinforcing her position as a leading candidate to eventually succeed Dimon. Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Piepszak, another rumored contender, recently announced she would not pursue the top job.

The post Jamie Dimon Warns of Market Complacency, Predicts S&P 500 Earnings Stagnation Amid Tariff Risks first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

“Duty-Inclusive” Deals Mask Illicit Tariff Evasion

At the heart of the scheme is the “delivered-duty-paid” (DDP) model, where Chinese sellers cover all import duties. But industry experts and legal analysts say these deals are often built on under-invoicing, false product declarations, and shell-company logistics structures that hide true import values.

Exporters — often via freight forwarders — misstate the value or misclassify goods in shipping documents to reduce declared customs duties. To complete the deception, shipments are routed through shell companies that serve as the “importer of record,” responsible for customs compliance.

These shell firms secure a minimum $50,000 customs bond, but when duty bills go unpaid, the bond is used and the company disappears — often without bankruptcy proceedings. A new shell is formed and the cycle repeats.

“Opening a shell company is easy. You can do that in a couple of hours,” said Ash Monga, CEO of Imex Sourcing Services. “The cost is a few hundred [dollars], so this whole process is easy to execute and can be replicated as many times as you want.”

Social Media Ads Promote Fraud-Friendly Shipping

On platforms like Xiaohongshu, searches for phrases such as “double clearance and all tax inclusive” surface promotions for furniture, appliances, and other high-value items, promising U.S. delivery with all tariffs covered. Sellers achieve this by declaring false values or using unrelated product categories to minimize duties.

Some U.S. buyers are reportedly requesting Chinese suppliers to use these methods to avoid newly imposed tariffs under President Donald Trump’s second-term trade policies.

Legal Liability for U.S. Companies

Many U.S. businesses wrongly believe they are legally insulated if not listed as the importer of record. But legal experts warn that any party benefiting from fraudulent practices can face steep penalties.

Dan Harris, a partner at Harris Sliwoski, said companies are already facing retroactive tariff bills and shipment seizures due to unpaid duties. Claiming ignorance is unlikely to hold up if businesses were clearly paying below-market rates during a tariff regime.

“There’s no way an American company that had been paying $20 for products paid only $25 [with new tariffs] unless something illegal was happening,” Harris said.

He advises requesting full customs documentation from suppliers to verify declared values and product classifications.

Competitive Pressure on Honest Importers

U.S. businesses that comply with trade rules are finding themselves at a pricing disadvantage. Cze-Chao Tam, CEO of California-based Trinity International, said buyers are resisting price hikes even as tariffs on some goods reach 55%.

“Consumers are most likely to choose the cheapest options,” Tam said. “It will be very difficult to compete with people who do business illegally.”

Customs Enforcement Under Strain

Enforcing tariffs on a massive volume of incoming goods is stretching U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) thin. Former customs officer Alex Capri said only a small fraction of shipments can be physically inspected, leaving CBP reliant on a “laser-focused” risk-based selection system.

Compounding the problem are loopholes and technical issues. In April, a system glitch prevented importers from coding their shipments correctly, delaying tariff enforcement. Meanwhile, rerouting Chinese goods through third countries to mask origin — known as transshipment — remains a frequent tactic.

Scale of Evasion

Goldman Sachs estimated that in 2023 alone, U.S. tariff evasion related to China reached $110 billion to $130 billion. Mislabeling and under-invoicing each accounted for around $40 billion, with transshipment contributing up to $50 billion.

Government Crackdown and Legal Reforms

The U.S. government is ramping up its enforcement response. A new Department of Justice directive issued last week prioritizes trade and customs fraud — with tariff evasion marked as a key investigation target.

CBP says it is deploying advanced systems, legal authority, and operational protocols to strengthen compliance. A spokesperson confirmed that enforcement would now include “the most severe penalties permitted by law.”

Meanwhile, officials are pressuring exporting nations to improve inspection procedures before shipments leave their ports, hoping to prevent fraud at the source.

While Chinese exporters offer seemingly unbeatable prices by absorbing tariffs, many of these deals are underpinned by customs fraud. U.S. businesses participating — even indirectly — risk financial penalties, shipment losses, and legal exposure. As enforcement tightens, the cost of noncompliance may far outweigh the discounts.

The post Behind the Bargains: How Chinese Exporters Use Fraud to Bypass U.S. Tariffs first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

Details of the Asset Seizure

On May 18, the AFP confirmed the execution of a court forfeiture order targeting property determined to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. Valued at 4.5 million Australian dollars, the assets seized from the suspect included:

• A waterfront mansion in Queensland.
• A Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
• Approximately 25 Bitcoin, currently equivalent to over $1.5 million.

The action follows a detailed review by the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT), which concluded that the items could not be attributed to any verifiable income sources. As a result, the assets were deemed forfeitable under federal law and will be liquidated to fund crime prevention and law enforcement initiatives nationwide.

The AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) has secured the forfeiture of more than $4.5 million worth of assets, including a Queensland waterfront mansion, luxury car and Bitcoin, after identifying them as suspected proceeds of crime. https://t.co/Wglk0m5K50

— AFP (@AusFedPolice) May 17, 2025

The Investigation’s Origins

The case began in 2018 when authorities in Luxembourg noticed suspicious Bitcoin transactions. Tracing the trail led to a known figure in the cybercrime world—Shane Stephen Duffy, a Queensland resident previously convicted in the United States.

Duffy had pleaded guilty in 2016 for selling the stolen personal information of players from the popular online game League of Legends. Although he was not involved in the initial 2011 breach of Riot Games, he profited from the resale of the leaked data. This prior conviction put him on the radar of international enforcement agencies, eventually linking him to further questionable activities involving digital currency.

The AFP believes Duffy also played a role in the 2013 theft of 950 Bitcoin from a French exchange. Although he was never formally charged in that case, the taskforce cited strong circumstantial evidence that some of the confiscated Bitcoin may have originated from that theft or related crimes.

The post Bitcoin Trail Ends in Seizure: Australian Man Loses Mansion, Mercedes, and Millions first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

The company, which owns renowned brands like Johnnie Walker and Casamigos, based its projections on the assumption that U.S. tariffs on imports from the U.K. and EU will remain at 10%. Imports from Mexico and Canada are not expected to be affected, as they remain exempt under the current United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Diageo also clarified that tariffs on Chinese goods would have no significant impact on its operations.

To cushion the blow, Diageo said it will be able to offset about half of the expected tariff-related costs by leveraging its current cost management strategies, before implementing any product price increases.

Alongside these mitigation efforts, Diageo unveiled an ambitious $500 million cost savings plan set to unfold over the next three years. The initiative is designed to boost reinvestment opportunities in the company’s growth and enhance operating leverage, supporting Diageo’s continued expansion in a challenging global landscape.

This announcement comes as Diageo reported a 5.9% increase in third-quarter organic net sales, reaffirming its full-year financial guidance despite the turbulent market environment.

For more updates, follow Diageo’s official channels on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Diageo Braces for $150 Million Annual Loss Amid U.S. Tariffs, Launches Major Cost-Cutting Initiative first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

Anti-natalism is the belief that human reproduction is morally wrong and that having children should be avoided. According to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation, the suspect appears to have espoused this worldview through a series of online posts and a 30-minute audio recording promoting anti-birth arguments. Although the materials are still undergoing verification, authorities believe they reflect the ideology that fueled the attack.

The same individual may be behind a recent online forum post discussing suicidal ideation through explosive means. Investigators are also examining a YouTube channel under the same alias that features videos of improvised explosive device experiments. These videos are now being reviewed by digital forensic teams for connections to the bomb used in the attack.

Three law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News that the suspect is believed to be a 25-year-old man from Twentynine Palms, California. He reportedly struggled with depression and recent personal relationship issues. On Saturday, tactical officers were seen conducting a raid at a residence in Twentynine Palms, about an hour’s drive from the blast site. Officials later confirmed that the operation was related to the Palm Springs bombing investigation.

The suspect has not been publicly identified due to the condition of his body following the explosion. The FBI and Palm Springs Police Department continue to withhold his name, citing the complexity of confirming identity post-blast. No additional details were released regarding the injuries sustained by the four other victims.

The FBI officially classified the incident as an act of terrorism. Authorities said the attack appeared targeted at American Reproductive Centers (ARC), a local fertility clinic located at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive. In a Facebook statement, the clinic confirmed the explosion took place in its parking lot, adding that no staff members were among the fatalities.

Witnesses reported feeling the blast from several miles away. Officials said the explosion caused extensive structural damage to multiple surrounding buildings, disrupting services across the nearby medical complex, which includes Desert Regional Medical Center.

On Sunday, investigators continued collecting forensic evidence from the scene, analyzing debris patterns, and canvasing the area for surveillance footage to establish a detailed timeline of the events. According to federal agents, the investigation is advancing swiftly on several fronts, with multiple teams coordinating to trace the bomb’s components and online planning.

Despite the magnitude of the blast, local authorities sought to calm public fears. Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills stated on Saturday, “I am confident that the community is not at risk any longer.”

The post FBI Ties California Fertility Clinic Bombing to Anti-Natalist Extremism first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

“Cancer touches us all,” Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

The official statement released Sunday detailed that Biden was evaluated after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. A prostate nodule was found, and further testing revealed an aggressive form of prostate cancer, described by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) — the highest category on the scale, indicating a high probability of metastasis and rapid progression.

Doctors confirmed the disease has spread to the bone — a condition known as metastasis — but noted that the cancer appears hormone-sensitive, which could make it more responsive to certain therapies.

Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support. pic.twitter.com/oSS1vGIiwU

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 19, 2025

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the statement noted. Biden is currently at home in Wilmington, Delaware, and is consulting with a team of doctors to consider multiple treatment options, including hormone therapy.

According to sources close to the Biden family, no decision has been made yet about the exact course of treatment or the facility where it will take place. A spokesperson for Biden’s office declined further comment.

Experts say the diagnosis is serious but not necessarily dire. Dr. Alan Tan, genitourinary oncology lead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized that while a Gleason score of 9 is classified as aggressive, prostate cancer in this stage is relatively common. “This is the most common thing I see in my clinic,” said Tan, who is not involved in Biden’s case.

Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it, and the hormone-sensitive nature of Biden’s tumor gives doctors room for optimism. Dr. Chris George of Northwestern Medicine noted that effective treatment could allow Biden to live for many more years with the disease under control.

The diagnosis drew bipartisan concern, with messages of encouragement coming from both allies and rivals.

President Biden’s health has been closely monitored for years. In 2021, he underwent a colonoscopy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, during which doctors removed a small, benign-looking 3 mm polyp from his colon. According to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, it was considered a “slow-growing, but precancerous lesion” requiring no further action. A similar polyp had been removed back in 2008.

In February 2024, following his annual physical exam, Biden was described by Dr. O’Connor as a “healthy, active, robust 81-year-old.” However, during a routine checkup last Tuesday, a “small nodule” was discovered on his prostate, leading to the follow-up that resulted in the cancer diagnosis.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among older men. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. It is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men, trailing only lung cancer. While standard guidelines typically advise against routine PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing for men over 70, exceptions are made based on individual health and history.

“It’s always a risk-benefit analysis,” said Dr. Kavita Patel, a former Obama administration health official. “Given his role as vice president and then president, the benefit of screening was high. I’ve screened patients in their 80s who are otherwise healthy.”

Biden, now 82 and the oldest president in U.S. history, had already drawn scrutiny over his age and health during his controversial 2024 re-election campaign. Following a deeply divided Democratic primary, Biden eventually withdrew from the race — a move that some within the party say helped fuel Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

But in the wake of his cancer diagnosis, the Democratic Party has largely put aside internal tensions, rallying around Biden and expressing gratitude for his decades of public service.

During his time in office, Biden made combating cancer one of his hallmark initiatives. He led the “Cancer Moonshot” effort — a public-private partnership launched in 2016 following the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer. The initiative aimed to reduce cancer deaths through funding research, expanding access to screenings, and accelerating medical innovation.

After stepping away from the 2024 race, Biden announced $150 million in new grants for advanced cancer treatment development and surgical support, vowing to continue the Moonshot’s momentum. According to the administration, nearly 8 million Americans have received no-cost screenings for various cancers under the program.

As the former president now faces his most personal battle with the disease, the nation watches — hopeful that the man who once championed the fight against cancer will again demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity.

The post Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Reviewing Treatment Options first appeared on Novex Fin – Daily News in Finance, Tech & Life.

The exclusive event, set for May 22, will welcome the top 220 wallets holding the $TRUMP meme coin. The final list was locked on Monday night, but many of the largest wallets remain shrouded in anonymity, raising questions about who will actually be sitting at the table with the former U.S. president.

Blockchain analytics from Inca Digital, reviewed by CNBC, show that many of the top 275 $TRUMP holders conduct their transactions through global crypto exchanges such as Binance, which does not serve U.S. users. This suggests that a large portion of the dinner’s attendees will not be Americans.

Further research by Bloomberg found that at least 19 of the top 25 wallets are almost certainly controlled by individuals outside the U.S. Notably, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, founder of Tron and a native of China, is widely believed to top the $TRUMP leaderboard, having publicly stated he purchased $75 million worth of the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial token. His wallet, labeled “Sun,” holds over $18 million in $TRUMP, with a significant portion acquired after the dinner was announced.

Sun’s representative did not respond to requests for comment, leaving speculation swirling about whether he will attend. Meanwhile, Singapore-based crypto network MemeCore has secured the second spot with an $18 million stake, and an Australian investor has also reportedly made the cut for the high-profile gathering.

The leaderboard reflects the token’s wild volatility. While 560,376 wallets have realized collective gains of $5.2 billion on the $TRUMP coin, an even larger number – 592,962 wallets – have suffered combined losses totaling $3.9 billion, according to Inca Digital. The data underscores the dramatic wealth transfer that has taken place within the Trump crypto ecosystem, where a handful of early adopters have profited massively, while the majority of participants have seen losses.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, has raised concerns that the Trump family’s expanding crypto empire could open a backdoor for foreign and corporate interests seeking influence with the former president.

Some U.S.-based companies have also tried to gain a seat at the table. Houston-based Freight Technologies, a Nasdaq-listed logistics firm, purchased $2 million in $TRUMP tokens as part of a strategy to influence U.S.-Mexico trade policy, according to CEO Javier Selgas. However, the company ended up in 250th place, just outside the cutoff for the dinner.

The $TRUMP token, of which 80% is controlled by the Trump Organization and affiliated entities, has become a centerpiece of Trump’s broader crypto ambitions. Launched in January shortly before the inauguration, the token rocketed to a $15 billion market cap almost overnight, thanks in part to Trump’s own social media posts urging supporters to “celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING!”

However, the token’s meteoric rise was short-lived, with most of its value evaporating within days. A brief spike in April, triggered by news of the dinner, pushed the market cap back up to $2.7 billion, before another sharp decline.

Questions about transparency and influence continue to swirl, even as the White House maintains that Trump’s assets are managed in a trust by his children and insists there are “no conflicts of interest.”

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