SAM Altman

Bitcoin-focused life insurer Meanwhile has secured $37.5 million in a funding round led by Bain Capital Crypto, lifting total funding to $180 million. The Bermuda-based company is expanding outside the U.S. with broker relationships serving wealthy clients in Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UAE.

OpenAI is pursuing a major private funding round at a valuation of about $1.4 trillion, excluding the new capital, after postponing its public listing plans beyond 2026. The fundraising push comes as the ChatGPT maker expands premium AI products and reports a sharply rising annualized revenue run rate.

December E-mini Nasdaq-100 Index futures moved sharply lower in pre-market trading as sellers pressed the AI and semiconductor trade. Technical levels weakened after the contract took out a key swing bottom and fell below its 50-day moving average.

ByteDance has signed a $29.6 billion loan agreement with 28 banks as the TikTok developer expands its artificial intelligence operations. The financing comes as major technology firms face growing scrutiny over AI spending, safety risks, and infrastructure demand.

Bitcoin advanced as technology and artificial intelligence shares came under pressure following renewed calls for slower AI development. Oil prices added another layer of market stress, with Brent crude climbing above $107 while precious metals retreated.