An investment banker is offering up about $8 million in Bay Area real estate, including a nearly $5 million house, in exchange for stock options for AI giant Anthropic ahead of the company’s potential initial public offering (IPO).

Storm Duncan, the founder of tech investment bank Ignatious, is proposing a deal that would see him exchange a four-bedroom, five-bath estate in Mill Valley in exchange for Anthropic shares, as the company reportedly explores an IPO this year, Realtor.com reported.

Duncan’s 4,372-square-foot home was built in 2005 and has views across San Francisco Bay as well as of the surrounding, while also featuring an infinity pool and chef’s kitchen area. Realtor.com’s automated valuation models put a $4.8 million price tag on the home, while Duncan says his 11-acre property next door is worth about $4 million and would be included in a deal.

Anthropic, the creator of AI assistant Claude, is looking to secure financing based on a valuation of close to $1 trillion, according to reports, though Duncan is basing his proposed deal on an $800 billion valuation for the tech startup.

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A Bay Area tech investor is looking to swap about $8 million in real estate for Anthropic stock ahead of a possible IPO. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Duncan is hoping to make a deal with an Anthropic employee who has a large number of shares in the company that are currently illiquid, as the company hasn’t gone public and transfers of shares are subject to restrictions. While he already holds about $1 million in Anthropic shares, he wants to increase his exposure to the company.

He told Realtor.com that he sees the deal as potentially appealing to a younger Anthropic employee who could be on track to have a large amount of valuable stock in the AI company that they want to diversify out of, adding that ahead of the IPO it would allow them to lower their tax basis. 

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Anthropic is the creator of the Claude AI assistant. (Jaque Silva/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Duncan told the outlet that it’s a “diversification play for me, too. Less exposure to real estate, more exposure to AI. And I think Anthropic is demonstrating that it will have the most fundamental value.”

The property hasn’t been listed with agencies or the multiple listing service, according to the report, but launched a LinkedIn page for it and has received some genuine inquiries so far that haven’t led to a sale.

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Duncan’s multi-million dollar property he’s offering in the swap is located in the Bay Area. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Duncan said in the report that he would structure the deal so that shares would be transferred after the lockup period concludes.

He said that he’s realistic about the possibility of finding the right buyer who has Anthropic shares worth millions of dollars, but he thought it’s worth a shot, explaining that he thinks “it’s a less than 50% chance that something happens,” in part because a “home is a very emotional purchase.”

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NEW YORK — DigitalOcean Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DOCN) shares exploded more than 35% Tuesday morning, surging to around $147.61 after the cloud infrastructure company reported blockbuster first-quarter 2026 results that far exceeded Wall Street expectations and highlighted accelerating AI-driven growth.

The stock, which closed Monday at roughly $108, jumped as much as 38.55% intraday on heavy volume as investors cheered record revenue, strong customer expansion and upbeat guidance tied to its expanding “agentic inference cloud” platform. The move added billions to the company’s market capitalization in a single session.

DigitalOcean reported first-quarter revenue of $257.9 million, up 22% year-over-year and well above analyst estimates of approximately $249.8 million. Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $0.44, crushing consensus forecasts of $0.27. The company also posted robust growth in key metrics, including million-dollar customer ARR surging 179% and AI customer ARR jumping 221%.

AI and Inference Cloud Driving Surge

Management highlighted strong traction in its AI-native offerings, including the recently launched Inference Engine. The company noted that AI workloads are becoming a significant growth driver, with customers reporting substantial cost savings and performance improvements compared to larger cloud providers.

Annual run-rate revenue reached $1.032 billion, up 22% year-over-year. Net income attributable to common stockholders stood at $16 million. Executives expressed confidence in continued momentum, citing demand from startups and enterprises building AI applications on the platform.

Raised Guidance Fuels Optimism

DigitalOcean also provided optimistic forward-looking commentary, reinforcing investor enthusiasm. The strong beat and positive tone on AI opportunities triggered widespread analyst upgrades and price target increases in recent weeks, setting the stage for Tuesday’s breakout.

Company Transformation and Strategy

DigitalOcean has evolved from a developer-friendly VPS provider into a specialized cloud platform focused on simplicity, affordability and high-performance AI inference. Its agentic inference cloud targets workloads that require fast, cost-effective model deployment — a sweet spot as AI adoption accelerates among smaller companies and startups.

The company operates a global network optimized for low-latency applications and has been winning business from customers seeking alternatives to hyperscale providers like AWS, Azure and Google Cloud. Recent product launches and acquisitions have strengthened its position in the fast-growing inference market.

Analyst and Market Reaction

Wall Street responded positively to the results. Multiple firms raised price targets following the report, with several highlighting DigitalOcean’s ability to capture AI market share while maintaining disciplined growth. The stock’s dramatic move reflects both the earnings surprise and broader enthusiasm for AI infrastructure plays.

Volume surged as retail and institutional investors piled in. The rally marks one of the largest single-day percentage gains for the stock in recent memory and pushes it to fresh all-time highs.

Valuation and Outlook

Even after today’s surge, analysts see further upside potential given the company’s growth trajectory. However, the rapid move also raises questions about near-term valuation and the risk of profit-taking. DigitalOcean trades at a premium multiple, reflecting expectations of sustained high growth in the AI cloud sector.

For the remainder of 2026, the company expects continued expansion in its core business and AI offerings. Investors will watch upcoming quarters for evidence of sustained momentum and margin trends as the company invests in capacity.

Broader Context

DigitalOcean’s performance comes amid a strong period for select cloud and AI infrastructure names. While larger hyperscalers dominate headlines, smaller, specialized providers like DigitalOcean are carving out niches with better economics for certain workloads. Tuesday’s reaction underscores investor appetite for companies delivering tangible AI growth.

As the earnings season progresses, DigitalOcean’s results provide a positive data point for the broader technology sector. The company’s focus on developer experience and cost efficiency continues to resonate in a market seeking practical AI solutions.

The stock’s explosive move on Tuesday highlights the market’s reward for companies that execute well in high-growth areas. Whether this momentum sustains will depend on future delivery, but the Q1 report has clearly energized investors and reaffirmed DigitalOcean’s position as a rising player in the cloud and AI infrastructure landscape.

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The crux of Brockman’s testimony so far has been that Musk was aware of plans to shift OpenAI to be more of a traditional for-profit business. When the company started, it was a non-profit, then it added a for-profit arm in order to raise billions of dollars in funding for investors, before deciding last year to make the for-profit part of the company the focus.

NEW YORK — Utz Quality Foods LLC is voluntarily recalling certain varieties of its popular Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips due to potential Salmonella contamination in a seasoning ingredient, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday, urging consumers to check their pantries and return or discard affected products.

The recall, issued out of an abundance of caution, affects limited batches of chips sold nationwide. It stems from notification that a third-party seasoning containing dry milk powder, sourced from California Dairies Inc., may contain Salmonella. Although the affected seasoning batches tested negative for the bacteria before use, Utz initiated the voluntary action to prioritize consumer safety.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled chips as of Tuesday. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Affected Products and Distribution

The recall includes specific sizes and flavors of Zapp’s and Dirty potato chips with particular best-by dates and batch codes. Examples include various Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch, Dirty varieties and other flavored options in bags ranging from 1.5 ounces to 8 ounces. Full details, including UPC codes, best-by dates and batch information, are available on the FDA’s website.

The products were distributed through retail stores across the United States. Consumers who purchased the items should stop eating them immediately, dispose of them safely or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Retailers have been instructed to remove the products from shelves.

Company Response and Consumer Advice

Utz Quality Foods emphasized that consumer safety is its top priority. “We are recalling these products out of an abundance of caution,” the company stated. No other Utz products are affected. The company is working closely with the FDA and suppliers to investigate the issue and prevent future occurrences.

The FDA advises anyone who has consumed the recalled chips and experiences symptoms of Salmonella infection to contact their healthcare provider. Symptoms typically appear six hours to six days after exposure and can last four to seven days in most cases. Severe cases may require hospitalization.

Broader Context of Food Safety

This recall highlights ongoing challenges in the snack food supply chain, particularly with ingredients like dry milk powder that can harbor bacteria if not properly handled. Salmonella outbreaks linked to processed foods have occurred periodically, prompting heightened vigilance from manufacturers and regulators.

The FDA classifies recalls based on risk levels. While this action is precautionary, officials stress the importance of checking product labels and staying informed through official channels. Consumers can visit the FDA’s recalls page or sign up for alerts to receive timely notifications.

Impact on Consumers and Industry

Popular snack brands like Zapp’s, known for bold Cajun-inspired flavors, and Dirty, recognized for its kettle-cooked varieties, enjoy loyal followings across the South and beyond. The recall may temporarily disrupt availability, but Utz has assured the public that unaffected products remain safe and widely available.

Industry experts note that voluntary recalls demonstrate responsible corporate practices, even when test results are negative. Such actions help maintain consumer trust in the food supply while underscoring the complexity of modern manufacturing with multiple suppliers.

What Consumers Should Do

Check your pantry for any Zapp’s or Dirty potato chips purchased recently. Compare UPC codes, best-by dates and batch information against the FDA’s detailed list. If in doubt, throw it out. Wash hands thoroughly after handling potentially affected products and sanitize any surfaces they contacted.

For questions, contact Utz Consumer Relations or consult the FDA recall notice. Retailers participating in the recall will handle returns smoothly, minimizing inconvenience for shoppers.

Preventing Future Risks

Food safety advocates encourage consumers to stay informed and practice safe handling. Proper storage, checking expiration dates and following recall notices contribute to reducing foodborne illness risks. The incident also reinforces the value of robust supplier oversight and testing protocols in the snack industry.

As investigations continue, the FDA and Utz will provide updates if additional products or details emerge. For now, the focus remains on protecting public health through swift action and transparent communication.

This precautionary recall serves as a reminder of the vigilance required in food production. While no illnesses have been linked, consumers are urged to err on the side of caution with the specified products. The snack industry’s quick response helps preserve confidence while addressing potential risks promptly.