Top stories today:

1. Binance's registered users +40M to 170M in 2023
2. Carbon-free energy reaches 40% market share in U.S.
3. Israeli tech startup funding -15% YoY to $1.45B in Q4
4. Cybertruck's 1st reported accident shows little damage

0. Data and calendar

1. Binance's registered users +40M to 170M in 2023

• Binance's SAFU insurance fund has $1.2B, according to Binance.

• Coinbase reported 110M registered users in 2022, from 89M in 2021.

Binance also said it held licenses and regulatory authorizations in 18 jurisdictions

2. Carbon-free energy reaches 40% market share in U.S. in 2023, from 39% in 2022

• Coal fell from 20% to 16%, natural gas grew from 40% to 44%, and the others were largely unchanged.

Total energy consumption has stable since 2007

The 1st nuclear reactor since 2016 launched this year, highlighting the industry's stagnation

4. Israeli tech startup funding -15% YoY to $1.45B in Q4

Read more: Bloomberg.

5. Cybertruck's 1st reported accident appears to show little damage

To be fair, though:

1. It was the Corolla that hit the Cybertruck, at an “unknown speed.”

   • “The Toyota then re-entered the roadway, crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck traveling north on SR-35 northbound.”

2. We can't see the other side of the Cybertruck.

6. U.S. homicide rate set to drop to 5.6 per 100K in 2023, near record low

7. Interesting videos, posts, and memes

8. Other headlines

AI

• Baidu: Ernie AI chatbot reaches 100M users, unclear whether it's MAUs.

• Microsoft working on AI-focused Surface laptops for 2024.

• Hinge founder interview on how AI will improve dating.

Tech

• Masimo sued True Wearables in 2018 and won permanent injunction.

• SpaceX, DOJ launch secretive Boeing X-37B spaceplane.

• Affirm stock +430% YTD after -90% in 2022.

• Huawei expects 2023 revenue at $99B, +9% YoY.

• Apple's massive push to make the Mac gaming-friendly: a look at.

• The CEO Report: become a better leader by subscribing, 100% free.*

• toddle: no-code tool to develop web apps 10x faster.*

*Sponsored.

Tech & law

• Google agrees to settle $5B Chrome Incognito class-action lawsuit.

• JD wins $1B in damages in antitrust lawsuit against Alibaba.

• NVIDIA's Chinese GTX 4090 chip has 10% fewer processing cores.

• X loses effort to block California's content moderation law.

• Shein hires political advisors as it preps for IPO.

Biotech

• FDA warns Amazon about “bootlet Viagra” found on platform.

• Human life valued at $220K per year: study.

Business

• HBS MBA grads: 86% received offer, from 95% in 2022.

• European banks’ interest income jump to €378B in 2023.

• Boeing 737 MAX jets all back in China, after 2019 global grounding.

• Bonner Private Wines: remote wines delivered to your doorstep.*

*Sponsored.

Crypto

• LUNA, UST ruled securities by Judge Rakoff.

• Celsius’s bankruptcy plan approved by judge.

• OKX to delist privacy coins, including Monero, Zcash, Dash.

• India warns 9 exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, on non-compliance.

U.S. politics

• Maine's Secretary of State bars Trump from primary ballot.

• Trump flew parallel elector certificates to DC on Jan. 4, 2020.

• Haley: “of course” Civil War was about slavery, after criticism.

• 25 top charts from 538 in 2023.

World

• U.S. tries to persuade ships sailing through Red Sea is safe.

• Hamas showed pattern of rape, mutilation on Oct. 7.: NYT investigation.

• Biden pushes Netanyahu to solve Palestinian tax revenue issue.

• Russia moves Black Sea fleet away from Crimea into Novorossiysk.

• Ukraine's premier pleads for more aid, as 2024 financing needs reach $37B.

• Iraq gets 2 Chinese firms to build 30K housing units for new city.

• Chinese spy ballon used U.S. internet provider: U.S. officials.

• Hong Kong student activist flees to UK, seeks asylum.

• Taiwan's top presidential hopefuls increasingly skeptical of China.

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here. Liked it? Forward it to friends and get rewards (see below).

Advertise on the Bay Area Times

Disclaimer: The Bay Area Times is a news publisher. All statements and expressions herein are the sole opinions of the authors or paid advertisers. The information, tools, and material presented are provided for informational purposes only, are not financial advice, and are not to be used or considered as an offer to buy or sell securities; and the publisher does not guarantee their accuracy or reliability. You should do your own research and consult an independent financial adviser before making any investments. Neither the publisher nor any of its affiliates accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of the information contained herein. Assets mentioned may be owned by members of the Bay Area Times team.

Please read our Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy before using Our Service.