Adobe (ADBE) Downgraded to Hold by Freedom Broker

Tether exits gold-backed stablecoin experiment, revealing limits of tokenized gold lending

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June 18, 2026

Tether exits gold-backed stablecoin experiment, revealing limits of tokenized gold lending

Tether is winding down Alloy by Tether and its aUSD₮ stablecoin, ending an experiment that sought to bring gold-backed collateralized lending to the blockchain.

The company announced that it will begin a phased shutdown of Alloy and aUSD₮ following a review of user activity, market demand, and broader strategic priorities.

New users can no longer open positions or mint aUSD₮, while existing users have until September 17 to unwind positions and reclaim their collateral.

The decision comes at a time when tokenized real-world assets [RWAs] are among crypto’s fastest-growing sectors, suggesting that demand in the market remains highly selective despite broader enthusiasm for tokenization.

Tether pulls the plug on Alloy and aUSD₮

Alloy by Tether was launched as an experimental platform designed to create digital assets backed by tokenized gold.

Its flagship product, aUSD₮, allowed users to deposit Tether Gold [XAU₮] as collateral and mint an overcollateralized dollar-denominated digital asset. The platform was designed to explore how tokenized commodities could support lending and collateralized financial products on-chain.

In its announcement, Tether said the platform generated valuable insights into user behavior and demand for tokenized assets. However, it concluded that resources would be better allocated elsewhere.

The company cited stronger user demand, deeper liquidity, and broader long-term opportunities in products including XAU₮ and other core offerings across the Tether ecosystem.

The RWA market is growing, but not evenly

The shutdown highlights an important distinction within the broader RWA narrative.

Over the past year, tokenized Treasury products, stablecoins, money-market funds, and tokenized commodities have attracted growing institutional and retail interest. Yet Alloy’s closure suggests that not every tokenized asset category is benefiting equally from that momentum.

While investors have shown an increasing appetite for direct exposure to tokenized assets, the market for borrowing against them appears less developed.

Alloy attempted to combine tokenized gold ownership with on-chain lending mechanics. The platform’s closure suggests that the use case has yet to achieve the scale or liquidity necessary to compete with more established crypto lending and stablecoin products.

Tether is choosing XAU₮ over synthetic dollars

Importantly, Tether is not abandoning tokenized gold.

The company specifically identified XAU₮ as an area where it continues to see stronger demand and long-term opportunity.

Rather than exiting the gold market, Tether is narrowing its focus to products that provide direct exposure to gold. At the same time, it’s stepping away from a structure that required users to manage collateralized debt positions.

The move suggests that tokenized gold remains attractive to users. At the same time, the market for gold-backed synthetic dollars has yet to develop the same level of traction.

What the shutdown says about the next phase of RWAs

The Alloy wind-down offers a reminder that tokenization alone does not guarantee adoption.

Successful RWA products still require liquidity, active users, and a clear reason for participants to choose them over traditional alternatives.

As tokenized assets continue to move into the mainstream, projects may increasingly be judged not by what can be tokenized, but by which tokenized products solve problems users actually have.

Final Summary

Tether is winding down Alloy by Tether and aUSD₮, ending its experiment with gold-backed collateralized lending.
The decision suggests demand for direct tokenized asset exposure remains stronger than demand for borrowing against those assets through more complex on-chain structures.

Alchemy’s AI-driven AgentCard gains access to Visa payments network

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June 18, 2026

Alchemy's AI-driven AgentCard gains access to Visa payments network

Blockchain infrastructure firm Alchemy said AI agents with its AgentCard now have access to the Visa (V) network with complete identity and payment capabilities, enabling them to make online purchases on behalf of consumers.

The integration allows AgentCard, a virtual ID and spending card for AI agents, to access Visa Intelligent Commerce to book a vacation, order groceries or renew a subscription, for example, without the consumer ever touching a checkout screen.

Agent-native payment protocols are in early adoption with firms like Stripe, Visa and Mastercard (MA) driving hard into this new area, known as agentic commerce. AgentCard works with agents built on models from any provider, including OpenAI or Anthropic.

“Every major computing shift has produced a new kind of economic actor,” Nikil Viswanathan, co-founder and CEO of Alchemy, said in a statement. “The internet created online businesses. Mobile created the app economy. AI agents are next, and they need to be able to access the global economy, and AgentCard is how that starts.”

‘Diary of a CEO’ Star Steven Bartlett Building Paid Membership Program

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June 18, 2026

'Diary of a CEO' Star Steven Bartlett Building Paid Membership Program

“The Diary of a CEO” podcaster Steven Bartlett is the latest superstar creator looking to turn fans into paying members.

Bartlett’s company, FlightStory, is seeking a “head of memberships” to build and operate a “world-class” product, according to a recent job posting.

The post says FlightStory wants to build a membership program that offers content, experiences, and benefits that promote retention, engagement, and lifetime value. The intention is for the program to become a “core, high-value” part of the company and extend beyond Bartlett to other creators within FlightStory’s portfolio.

Bartlett, who has the No. 1 business podcast on Spotify in the US and 17 million YouTube subscribers, has been looking to apply his growth playbook to other creators he’s brought into his orbit. FlightStory has five shows featuring creators in addition to “DOAC.”

Oli Thomas, director of commercial growth at FlightStory, said in a statement that the company’s audiences want to go beyond listening to its podcasts and connect with others who share their mindset and ambitions, as evidenced by attendance at its in-person events.

He listed among them “DOAC” screenings, which he said have attracted hundreds of listeners; “DOAC” dinners with founders and others; and Own the Room events featuring conversations with women’s groups around Maggie Sellers Reum’s “Hot Smart Rich,” another FlightStory podcast. He said the company is also planning an event called a Coffee Rave for the audience of “Begin Again,” a show hosted by Davina McCall about midlife.

“Each of these has underscored our belief in building communities and, in doing so, building direct, owned relationships with fans,” he said.

Other big creators — from MrBeast to Caleb Hammer — have been looking for growth by getting their loyal fans to pay them directly. Many creators rely on YouTube and other social platforms for their revenue. Going direct can insulate them from reliance on often-variable ad revenue, fickle platform algorithms, and growing competition for viewer attention.

Around 70% of independent creators’ revenue comes from ads and brand deals, but self-owned businesses, subscriptions, and affiliate links became a bigger part of their incomes from 2023 to 2025, according to a 2025 NeoReach survey of more than 3,000 creators.

Having a diversified business can also help creators raise capital from investors, who want to see signs that they have the potential to build a sustainable business.

Creators are looking to memberships for growth

Some creators are using platforms like Patreon and Beehiiv to diversify while others are looking to white-label apps.

Jeffrey Kohn, CEO of TopFan, a white-label platform for creators, said he’s seen a rush of influencer interest in his company as algorithmic feeds have made viewership unreliable.

“It’s just a numbers game,” he said. “The chances of you being seen on Instagram is pretty slim.”

MrBeast, YouTube’s top creator, recently teased plans to launch what his company called the “largest membership service in the world.” Beast Industries said it would include a philanthropic element, early access to content, exclusive content, and challenges for members to participate in.

Last month, YouTube network Theorist launched a paid membership program called TheoryVerse. Paying fans get access to ad-free episodes, exclusive shows, and community features via two tiers costing $6 and $12 a month.

One of the most successful examples of a creator getting into memberships is personal finance YouTuber Caleb Hammer. Hammer, who already has one of YouTube’s largest paid membership programs, recently relaunched his $90-a-year budgeting app, Dollarwise, and introduced Hammer Elite, a $9.99 membership program where fans of his show, “Financial Audit,” get benefits like ad-free access to the show and exclusive programming.

Allison Yazdian, CEO of Uscreen, which makes white-label apps for creators, imagined a membership program around Bartlett that could involve access to his back catalog, ad-free or exclusive content, and a community component.

“They have not only an incredible library of content but have built such a strong community,” she said.

There’s no guarantee of success, even for a top podcaster like Bartlett. People are being hit with a growing number of subscription paywalls. Creators still have to post on social media to keep their faces out there — and get new fans — and also ensure they fulfill the promise of their membership program.

“The biggest problem with membership sites and subscription sites is they overpromise and underdeliver,” Kohn said.

Everest and Stone Point launch Annapurna Re casualty sidecar

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June 18, 2026

Everest and Stone Point launch Annapurna Re casualty sidecar

Everest Group and Stone Point Insurance Solutions have established Annapurna Re, a Bermuda-domiciled casualty reinsurance sidecar.

Stone Point-managed funds will serve as anchor investors in the multi-year structure.

The vehicle is designed to deploy around $600m in third-party capital across a three-year underwriting period, channelling dedicated reinsurance capacity into Everest’s global casualty and specialty reinsurance portfolios.

Everest president and CEO Jim Williamson said: “Annapurna sharpens our edge in casualty reinsurance and supports our long-term strategy through underwriting excellence and disciplined capital management.

“Through our partnership with Stone Point, we are bringing additional high-quality capital to our platform in a scalable structure, enabling us to grow efficiently while enhancing our capital flexibility and positioning us to pursue the most attractive opportunities.”

Annapurna Re adds to Everest’s existing third-party capital platform, which already encompasses the Mt. Logan platform.

The new sidecar pairs Everest’s underwriting operations with Stone Point’s investment expertise in the insurance sector, with Stone Point Credit appointed as the vehicle’s exclusive investment manager.

Everest Group operates as a global provider of property, casualty and specialty reinsurance and insurance products through its operating affiliates. Stone Point is an investment firm focused on the global financial services industry.

Stone Point co-CEO Jim Carey added: “By combining the complementary capabilities of Everest and Stone Point, with support from strategic investor Mubadala, we believe Annapurna Re is well positioned to create value and deliver attractive outcomes for all stakeholders.”

The launch follows recent divestiture activity at Everest Group.

Last month, the company agreed to sell its Colombian insurance unit, Everest Compañía de Seguros Generales Colombia, to American International Group (AIG), a deal that will transfer the full equity of Everest Colombia — including its operations, staff and insurance portfolio — to AIG subsidiaries upon completion.

AIG has said that the acquisition will strengthen its presence in Latin America.

In March, Everest Group separately entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Canadian retail insurance operation, Everest Insurance Company of Canada, to Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company.

“Everest and Stone Point launch Annapurna Re casualty sidecar” was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.

Mounting AI costs and weaker performance are driving investors toward AI infrastructure

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June 18, 2026

Mounting AI costs and weaker performance are driving investors toward AI infrastructure

The biggest winners from the rotation have been memory and semiconductor stocks. Memory-chip maker Sandisk (SNDK) has surged roughly 800% this year and the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF, which focuses on memory-related companies (DRAM), is up about 140%. In microprocessors, Micron Technology (MU) has gained about 230% this year, and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) 67%.

The investments highlight a growing preference for the companies supplying the infrastructure behind the AI boom rather than the hyperscalers funding it.

In addition, capital has been attracted SpaceX (SPCX), Elon Musk’s space exploration company that is also expanding into AI. Last week, the company raised $75 billion in the largest IPO in history.

While AI has become the market’s dominant investment theme, the cash required to feed the growth is rising even faster. Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon, Microsoft and Meta are expected to spend a combined $725 billion on capital expenditures this year, a 77% increase from last year’s record level.

Free cash flow is no longer fully funding these ambitions. Alphabet, Amazon and Meta, collectively borrowed some $93 billion last year, accounting for roughly 6% of total corporate bond issuance.

Another source of support is also fading. Share repurchases have fallen 33% to $132 billion in 2025, reducing a key pillar of demand for these stocks.

Gold prices today, Thursday, June 18, 2026: Prices feeling a Fed hangover despite Iran peace deal

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June 18, 2026

Gold (GC=F) August futures opened at $4,275.10 per troy ounce on Thursday, June 18, 2026, down 2.4% from Wednesday’s close of $4,381.40. The price of gold is rising slightly this morning, trading at $4,283.80 as of 6:58 a.m. ET.

Last week, the price of gold opened below $4,100 for the first time since November 2025 following additional U.S. airstrikes against Iran the previous evening. This morning, the country wakes to a signed peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran, designed to fast-track the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and set the stage for more in-depth negotiations over the next two months.

While U.S. stock futures are up this morning, reacting positively to the signed “memorandum of understanding,” gold prices haven’t responded as strongly following the Fed’s meeting yesterday. The prospect of future rate increases, driven by the need to control inflation that was rocketed higher by the war, is very real. Almost half of FOMC members project at least one interest rate hike this year.

Current price of gold

The opening price of gold futures on Thursday, June 18, 2026, was down 2.4% from Wednesday’s close. Here’s a look at how the opening gold price has changed versus last week, month, and year:

One week ago: +5.7%
One month ago: -6.3%
One year ago: +26.3%

Year-over-year price growth fell again this morning, marking the lowest gain in over a year. Gold’s year-over-year growth was 95.6% on Jan. 29.

24/7 gold price tracking: Don’t forget you can monitor the current price of gold on Yahoo Finance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Want to learn more about the current top-performing companies in the gold industry? Explore a list of the top-performing companies in the gold industry using the Yahoo Finance Screener. You can create your own screeners with over 150 different screening criteria.

Gold IRA: What it is, how it works

If you are socking gold bars away for a rainy day, there may be an opportunity to earn some tax perks in the process. You could establish a gold IRA to hold those assets and diversify your retirement wealth.

Learn more: How to invest in gold in 4 steps

A gold IRA is a specialty form of self-directed IRA that’s designed for gold and other precious metals.

Gold IRA vs. traditional IRA

The table below compares the main features of standard IRAs and gold IRAs.

IRS restrictions

You must work with a specialty provider that can ensure your account complies with these IRS restrictions:

Storage: Your gold must be held in an IRS-approved facility.
Asset types: A gold IRA can hold physical gold, silver, platinum, or palladium — but not all forms of these metals are eligible. For example, gold bullion, silver coins, and bars must meet purity requirements. Additionally, gold bars must come from approved refiners.

Learn more: Gold IRA: Benefits, risks, and how it differs from a traditional IRA

Price of gold chart

Whether you’re tracking the price of gold since last month or last year, the price of gold chart below shows the precious metal’s value journey so far this year.