Trump Vs Elon + Apple, Google, Airbnb, and X Explore Stablecoins
Ark Invest buys into Circle after explosive IPO, Big Tech explores stablecoin payments, Elon Musk and Donald Trump ease tensions, and Trump family shifts focus to official $TRUMP token amid crypto wallet fallout.
Because Bitcoin
June 6, 2025
Ark Invest Buys $373M in Circle Shares as Stablecoin Issuer Soars 168% on NYSE Debut
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest purchased 4.49 million shares of Circle worth $373.4 million across its ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF funds following Circle’s NYSE debut under the ticker CRCL. Circle, the issuer of USDC, saw its stock surge nearly 200% on its first trading day, closing at $83.23—up 168.5% from its IPO price of $31.
This marks Circle’s third attempt to go public, now successfully completed amid renewed investor demand. Ark, known for scooping up crypto-related stocks on listing day, has made CRCL a top-10 holding in each of the three funds, with initial weightings around 4.4%. At the same time, Ark trimmed its exposure to other crypto-related assets, selling shares of Coinbase, Robinhood, Block, and even its own Bitcoin ETF, though the ETF remains a top holding despite recent outflows.
Elon Musk Signals Truce with Trump After Threats to Cancel SpaceX’s Dragon Program
Elon Musk appears to be softening his stance in a public feud with Donald Trump, suggesting he will no longer decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which supports NASA missions. The move follows a heated exchange that included Trump criticizing Musk over his opposition to the president’s tax and spending bill, while Musk warned Trump’s trade policies could lead to a recession and referenced Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The White House has reportedly scheduled a call with Musk to ease tensions, and Musk responded positively to billionaire Bill Ackman’s call for peace, saying, “You’re not wrong.” Musk also replied “Good advice” to a social media user urging de-escalation.
Trump, when asked about the conflict, downplayed the situation, focusing instead on his high poll numbers and legislative agenda. His aides are reportedly encouraging him to avoid further clashes with Musk and concentrate on pushing his tax bill through the Senate.
Apple, Google, Airbnb, and X Explore Stablecoin Integration as Big Tech Warms to Crypto Payments
Major tech companies including Apple, Google, Airbnb, and Elon Musk’s X are in early discussions with crypto firms to integrate stablecoins into their payment systems, aiming to cut transaction fees and streamline cross-border payments. These talks follow Stripe’s acquisition of stablecoin startup Bridge and increased legislative focus on stablecoin regulation in the U.S.
Airbnb is considering stablecoin adoption through its partner Worldpay, while X is exploring stablecoin integration via its X Money app and has been in discussions with Stripe. Apple has reportedly been in talks with Circle since January. Google Cloud is already accepting PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin for customer payments, making it the most advanced among the group.
Regulatory shifts under the Trump administration have made stablecoin use more attractive, with companies cautiously navigating options like USDC, Tether, and potentially launching their own tokens. Despite the early stage of many talks, the interest signals that Big Tech may finally be ready to push crypto into mainstream finance.
Trump-Branded Crypto Wallet Canceled Amid Confusion and Legal Threats; Focus Shifts to $TRUMP Token
Plans for a Trump-branded crypto wallet and trading app have been abruptly scrapped after public confusion and a reported cease-and-desist letter. The app, announced by Magic Eden and Fight Fight Fight LLC, had promoted trading for the TRUMP memecoin and other major cryptocurrencies.
Eric Trump clarified Friday that while the wallet is no longer moving forward, the TRUMP token remains active and is now aligned with the DeFi project World Liberty Financial (WLFI), which is backed by the Trump family. WLFI has announced plans to acquire a substantial stake in $TRUMP for its long-term treasury.
The Trump Organization distanced itself from the original wallet, stating it had no involvement. WLFI subsequently sent a cease-and-desist letter to the app’s developers, asserting its role as the official channel for Trump-branded crypto initiatives.
While the scrapped wallet project exposed disorganization and brand miscommunication, Eric Trump emphasized the family’s commitment to $TRUMP as a patriotic crypto asset aligned with broader Web3 goals.
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