On January 13, Meta Platforms (META.O) announced layoffs of more than 1,000 employees in its Reality Labs division—part of the company’s shift of resources from virtual reality (VR) and metaverse products to AI-focused wearable devices and phone features. In an internal notice from Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, employees will begin receiving layoff notices starting Tuesday morning. Previous foreign media reports indicated this round of cuts will affect roughly 10% of Reality Labs’ approximately 15,000 staff. A Meta spokesperson stated: “Last month, we noted we would reallocate some investment from the metaverse to wearable devices. These layoffs are part of that strategy, and we plan to reinvest the saved resources to support the growth of this year’s wearable business.” (Source: Jinse Finance)

January 13th — According to market data from GMGN (link: https://t.me/gmgnaibot?start=i_m4TE56o8), the Chinese meme coin "Laozi" briefly fell below a $9 million market cap and has since rebounded to $9.5 million. Its price is down 20% from its Alpha launch announcement price, with a 10% 24-hour drop. The meme coin "Dark Horse" briefly topped a $10 million market cap and is now at $8.9 million. It has surged 519% from its Alpha launch announcement price, with a 313% 24-hour gain. BlockBeats reminds users that meme coin trading is highly volatile, largely driven by market sentiment and hype, and lacking real-world value or utility. Investors are advised to exercise caution.

On January 13, per Bitget market data, spot silver surged above $86.244 an ounce ahead of the CPI release, notching a new all-time high.

**Jan. 13 — As U.S. midterm elections loom, Wall Street is interpreting former President Trump’s recent economic statements as a “broad growth stimulus signal,” betting he’ll aggressively boost the economy and consumer spending ahead of November to benefit cyclical assets.** Market players note: From repeated calls for rate cuts to floating credit card rate caps, the Trump administration’s core goal is to sustain economic activity and household affordability. Investment banks broadly favor cyclical sectors (industrial, raw materials, non-essential consumer goods) over defensives. Raymond James said in a recent report: With strong monetary/fiscal policy expectations and Trump’s frequent pro-growth signals, the market can’t easily bet against a cyclical economic recovery. UBS added the policies are election-focused, with voters’ top concerns still prices, housing, gasoline and interest rates. While Trump’s credit card rate cap proposal briefly pressured bank stocks, UBS argues i

January 13: The Chinese meme coin "Dark Horse" saw a short-term surge of over 400%—possibly influenced by news of Binance Alpha’s launch related to the token—with its market cap once exceeding $8 million. It has since fallen to $5.94 million, posting a 24-hour gain of 242%. BlockBeats reminds users that most meme coins lack practical use cases and are highly volatile. Please exercise caution to protect your assets and avoid FOMO.

On January 13, possibly driven by news of Binance Alpha listing the Chinese meme coin “Laozi,” the token surged nearly 80% in the short term before pulling back. Its market cap has now fallen below $10 million, currently sitting at $9.32 million — down 18% from its price prior to the listing announcement. BlockBeats advises users that most meme coins lack real-world use cases and are prone to extreme price volatility. Exercise caution to protect your assets and avoid FOMO (fear of missing out).