YouTube celebrity MrBeast — real name Jimmy Donaldson — is in talks to join a number of bids for TikTok’s U.S. operations. But he hasn’t chosen one exclusively yet.

First, on Monday, the CEO of Employer.com, Jesse Tinsley, said MrBeast is part of an all-cash bid for TikTok that he’s leading. This was also repeated in a press release put out by the law firm representing Tinsley’s group.

But MrBeast’s spokesperson Matthew Hiltzik told the AP on Wednesday that even though Donaldson is in “ongoing discussions” with multiple bidders, he has no “exclusive” agreements with any of them. Employer.com declined to comment.

Updated January 23, 2025: Post-publication, an Employer.com spokesperson told TechCrunch that “clearly MrBeast is in high demand, for great reasons. Jesse and his team would love to see MrBeast be a part of whichever bid ultimately wins, and greatly values the shared support that MrBeast has shown across the board.”

That same day, real estate billionaire Frank McCourt, who is leading a different group’s $20 billion bid for TikTok, told Axios that MrBeast is going to be a part of his bid.

However, MrBeast is only in talks with McCourt’s group and the parties have not entered into an official agreement, a spokesperson told Axios and also confirmed to TechCrunch.

At this stage, it appears that MrBeast is keeping his options open. 

While MrBeast is certainly wealthy, with $85 million in earnings in the first 10 months of 2024 according to Forbes, it is his celebrity and operational experience as a creator that has attracted multiple bidders.

That could even mean running TikTok U.S. if a purchase goes through. “MrBeast the *future* CEO of TikTok,” posted Employer.com’s CEO Jesse Tinsley on Wednesday. 

There are multiple other bids floating around that MrBeast could well be in talks with.​​ Perplexity and Oracle have been brought up as potential buyers.

MrBeast himself hasn’t publicly commented on which side he’ll choose yet. “The leading groups who are all credible [sic] bidding on Tik Tok have reached out for us to help them, I’m excited to partner/make this a reality,” he posted on Wednesday.

“Big things cooking,” he wrote.

With OSOL AI index pumping 135%, experts suggest MEMEX’s new meme coin index presale could be next to surge.

OSOL (OSOL), the AI Index token on the Solana blockchain, has experienced a dramatic price surge, climbing 135% in recent trading sessions.

The token, designed to provide AI-powered insights and investment tools, saw its price soar from $0.02599 to a peak of $0.08461 within 24 hours. At the time of writing, OSOL is trading at $0.04847, still maintaining an impressive 76.20% increase over the day. With a market cap of $48.23 million and 24-hour trading volume of $792,269, the token’s liquidity and demand indicate strong market engagement.

Meanwhile, a new meme coin index platform is also turning heads. Meme Index (MEMEX) has now raised over $2.7m through its presale as it seeks to provide traders with a solution to market volatility.

OSOL showcases volatile price movements

From a technical perspective, the OSOL/USDT trading chart on the hourly timeframe showcases volatile price movements.

After the token hit its peak, it retraced to $0.04720, aligning closely with its 9-period SMA ($0.04779) and EMA ($0.04929).

The Bollinger Bands indicate high volatility, with the price hovering near the lower band at $0.03659, suggesting potential support.

On the 1-minute chart, OSOL displays a rebound from intraday lows, reflecting short-term buying pressure.

Key indicators such as the 9-period SMA ($0.04675) and EMA ($0.04679) suggest a stabilizing trend, though the Bollinger Bands remain wide, signaling ongoing fluctuations.

As OSOL approaches its next phase, its transformative AI Index platform continues to attract investor attention.

However, its network-specific approach has sparked discussions about the need for broader solutions that cater to multi-chain ecosystems.

MEMEX: Expanding horizons beyond Solana

The recent 135% price surge of OSOL showcases the potential of indexing solutions. However, its exclusive focus on Solana presents limitations for those seeking broader exposure across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

This is where Meme Index sets itself apart. 

Unlike OSOL, which operates solely within the Solana network, MEMEX will span a variety of blockchains, offering a cross-chain investment platform that provides unparalleled diversification.

Meme Index could transform the way investors approach the highly volatile meme coin market.

By offering a cross-chain index platform, MEMEX will eliminate the guesswork and risks associated with chasing individual tokens. Within just one month of its presale, the project has raised over $2.7 million, cementing its position as a game-changer in the crypto space.

The platform introduces four tailored indexes to cater to varying risk profiles and investment goals.

The Meme Titan Index focuses on established tokens like DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE, offering stability and gradual growth.

For those seeking higher returns, the Moonshot Index includes emerging tokens with market caps under $1 billion, while the Midcap Index targets mid-tier tokens poised for significant growth.

Risk-tolerant investors can opt for the Meme Frenzy Index, which features volatile and unconventional tokens, providing opportunities for exponential gains while minimizing the impact of individual token failures.

Meme Index’s adaptability extends beyond its index offerings. Token holders can customize their portfolios, vote on which tokens are included in the indexes, and participate in governance decisions, ensuring the platform evolves with market trends.

This community-driven approach enhances the relevance and effectiveness of each index.

Priced at $0.0154693, MEMEX provides an accessible entry point for early adopters. Holders also benefit from staking with an APY of up to 846%, adding significant passive income potential.

While single-chain solutions like OSOL may appeal to Solana enthusiasts, MEMEX’s cross-chain reach and tiered risk options position it as a potentially superior choice.

By combining diversification, adaptability, and community governance, Meme Index aims to redefine how investors engage with the meme coin market, offering a safer and smarter path to potential returns.

For more information on Meme Index, visit their website.

Crypto exchange Phemex appears to have been the victim of a multi-million exploit on Thursday, according to online reports. Millions worth of USDT, USDC, Ethereum (ETH), and other crypto assets were stolen from the exchange’s hot wallets, resulting in a temporary half of withdrawals.

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Phemex Suffers First Crypto Exchange Hack Of 2025

On Thursday morning, the first crypto exchange hack of the year hit the industry. Multiple reports revealed suspicious activity involving Phemex’s hot wallets was taking place over several chains.

Blockchain security firm Cyvvers shared on X it had detected multiple transactions to several suspicious wallets on different chains, “including BNB, ETH, OP, POL, BASE, and ARB.”

The security firm’s initial report stated that over $29 million worth of crypto had been transferred to the suspicious addresses, later raising the sum. “Upon deeper analysis, it has come to light that both BTC and TRON blockchains have also been impacted, with the estimated total loss now reaching approximately $37 million,” the update read.

Cyvvers seemingly identified around 125 suspicious transactions spread across the different blockchains and noted that the attackers had started swapping the tokens to Ethereum (ETH) to avoid potential freezing measures.

Meanwhile, on-chain data analysis firm Lookonchain broke down the crypto heist, stating that the hack had taken around $31 million worth of crypto assets. According to the analysis, 3.48 million USDC, 3.42 million USDT, and 841 ETH, worth $2.7 million were drained from the exchange’s hot wallet.

Additionally, the attackers took 110,701 LINK, 142 billion PEPE, 1.19 million FET, and 29,509 AVAX, valued at around $7.3 million combined. Lookonchain also listed ONDO, TRX, CRV, JASMY, AAVE, SHIB, GRT, and BRETT, as part of the stolen crypto assets.

Compensation Plan In The Works

After the news, Phemex CEO Federico Variola confirmed the attack on one of the crypto exchange’s hot wallets. Variola assured users that Phemex’s cold wallets remained safe and that they were investigating the reports.

The exchange then announced on X the temporary halt of withdrawals due to the emergency inspection and strengthening of the security measures but did not offer further details about the incident.

To ensure security, withdrawals have been temporarily suspended while we conduct an emergency inspection and strengthen wallet services. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Withdrawals will be restored soon. Phemex and the development team apologize for the disruption. Our mission to provide a seamless and trusted trading environment remains firm.

Nonetheless, the post stated that ongoing business operations were fine and that trading services continued as usual. Phemex’s team also revealed they are working on a compensation plan, which will be announced soon.

It’s worth noting that, in 2024, the number of hacks and total value lost increased from the year prior. According to Chainalysis data, 2024 was the fourth consecutive year in which the funds stolen from crypto hacks exceeded the billion-dollar mark.

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Additionally, the total value stolen surged to $2.2 billion last year, and it became the year with the most individual hacks, reaching 303 incidents by December.

Centralized exchanges (CEXs) were the most targeted platforms in Q2 and Q3, recording some of the largest incidents in the industry’s history, while Decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms accounted for the largest share of stolen assets in Q1, like most quarters between 2021 and 2023.

Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Morgan Stanley (MS) is figuring out how it can act as a transactor in the crypto market, CEO Ted Pick said.

The bank, which has some $1.6 trillion of assets under management, will work with the U.S. Treasury and other regulators to figure out how it can offer crypto in a safe way, Pick said in an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday.

“For us, the equation is really around whether we, as a highly-regulated financial institution, can act as transactors,” he said.

Pick had been asked about his views on cryptocurrency in the U.S. under the supposedly pro-crypto presidency of Donald Trump.

He described how Morgan Stanley is assessing whether the crypto industry has come of age as an asset class.

“I think there is liquidity and that liquidity will express itself in all kinds of different ways,” Pick said in an apparent reference to the availability of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S.

U.S. spot bitcoin (BTC) ETFs now hold a combined $39 billion worth of the largest cryptocurrency and first started trading in early January last year.

Read More: New Bitcoin ETF Promises 100% Downside Protection Against Price Volatility. Here Is How

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JPMorgan Chase boosted longtime chief executive Jamie Dimon’s pay 8 per cent to $39mn last year, his largest remuneration at the US bank.

The pay rise for Dimon, the longest-serving CEO among the biggest US banks, was roughly double the bump he received in 2023.

JPMorgan notched up record annual profits last year, with the New York-based group’s trading and investment banking units posting a blockbuster performance in the fourth quarter. Shares of the bank rose 41 per cent in 2024, in line with other large lenders.

“The annual compensation for 2024 reflects Mr Dimon’s stewardship of the firm,” JPMorgan said in a regulatory filing late on Thursday.

Dimon’s 2024 pay package included a $1.5mn salary, a $5mn cash bonus, and the rest in restricted stock. The $39mn remuneration matches that of Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who was handed a 26 per cent raise.

Dimon, 68, has been running America’s biggest bank since 2006, seeing it through the 2008 financial crisis that reshaped the industry and other periods of tumult such as the coronavirus pandemic.

JPMorgan in 2021 awarded Dimon a $50mn retention bonus that would tie him to the bank until at least the middle of 2026.

The Wall Street group also doled out double-digit pay raises to other top executives for last year.

Jennifer Piepszak, who earlier this month was named JPMorgan’s chief operating officer, was paid $21.5mn, up 16 per cent from 2023. Daniel Pinto, who Piepszak is replacing as COO, got a 5 per cent raise to $31.5mn.

Marianne Lake, who runs JPMorgan’s retail bank, also received a 16 per cent raise to $21.5mn. Lake is considered to be among the top contenders to one day replace Dimon. Piepszak, at the time of her promotion, said she was not interested in JPMorgan’s top job.

Doug Petno, who is the co-head of JPMorgan’s commercial and investment bank and also seen as a contender to replace Dimon, received a pay rise of 21 per cent to $20mn for last year.

• Apple has joined the board of the Ultra Accelerator Link consortium
• The link is a key technology that binds GPUs, not unlike synapses on neurons
• UALink is emerging as the biggest rival to Nvidia’s proprietary NVLink

Back in June 2024, we reported how a number of big tech names had banded together to form the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) Promoter Group, a strategic move aimed at reducing Nvidia‘s dominance in the AI accelerator market.

Directly competing with Nvidia’s proprietary NVLink technology, UALink seeks to develop a new industry standard for high-speed, low-latency communication for scale-up AI systems in data centers. It already has the backing of Intel, AMD, Google, Microsoft, Meta, HPE, Cisco, and Broadcom, but now Apple has joined the UALink board too.