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Abu Dhabi National Energy Company has unveiled plans to invest more than AED37 billion to meet the escalating power demands of the emirate’s expanding data centre and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The announcement was made by Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet during the World Utilities Congress 2025.

This substantial investment is integral to TAQA’s strategy to deliver clean, certified, and reliable energy to critical infrastructure. The company aims to support Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global hub for digital innovation and AI development.

TAQA’s market capitalisation stands at approximately AED360 billion, positioning it among the top five companies in electricity generation, transmission, and water desalination across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Operating in 25 countries, TAQA has doubled its electricity production capacity to 56 gigawatts over the past four years, surpassing the total electricity consumption of the United Kingdom.

The company’s growth strategy includes significant international acquisitions. TAQA recently partnered with Mubadala to acquire an 875-megawatt gas-powered electricity station in Uzbekistan, aiding the country’s energy transition and opening new markets in Central Asia. Additionally, TAQA has acquired Transmission Investment, a leading UK-based energy and utility investment platform, enhancing its capabilities in offshore transmission services and infrastructure development.

In collaboration with Masdar, where TAQA holds a major stake, the company is developing 5 gigawatts of solar energy supported by 19 gigawatt-hours of battery storage. This integrated solar and battery system is designed to deliver a continuous supply of 1 gigawatt for 24 hours, marking it as the largest project of its kind globally.

TAQA plans to invest AED75 billion by 2030 to triple its electricity generation capacity to 150 gigawatts. Part of this strategy includes developing water desalination plants with a combined capacity of 1.3 billion gallons per day, with two-thirds utilising highly efficient reverse osmosis technology.

The company is also exploring acquisition opportunities in the United States, identifying it as a key market for expansion. TAQA aims to spend around $20 billion between 2023 and 2030 on organic and inorganic growth, targeting 150 gigawatts of capacity by the end of that period, up from around 56 gigawatts currently.

OPEC and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+, have reaffirmed their existing oil production targets through 2026, opting to maintain current supply restraints despite ongoing market volatility and internal disagreements over future quotas.

During a virtual ministerial meeting on Wednesday, the 22-member alliance confirmed that the group-wide production cuts, initially set in 2022, will remain in place. These cuts include a 2 million barrels per day reduction agreed upon in November 2022, along with additional voluntary cuts totaling 3.85 million bpd by eight key producers—Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, Oman, and Kazakhstan. The voluntary cuts are structured in two layers: a 1.65 million bpd reduction extended through the end of 2026 and a 2.2 million bpd cut scheduled to expire in March 2025.

The alliance’s decision to uphold these targets comes amid a backdrop of fluctuating oil prices and concerns over global demand. Brent crude futures have hovered around $65 per barrel, a significant drop from earlier highs, influenced by factors such as increased production from non-OPEC countries and economic uncertainties stemming from global trade tensions.

A more contentious discussion is set to take place on Saturday, when the eight core OPEC+ members implementing voluntary cuts will convene to decide on July production levels. These countries have been gradually unwinding the 2.2 million bpd cut since April, with increases of 411,000 bpd implemented in both May and June. The group is expected to consider a similar hike for July, potentially accelerating the rollback of cuts and impacting global oil supply dynamics.

Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company has raised $1 billion through a 10-year U.S. dollar-denominated Islamic bond, or sukuk, marking its first debt issuance of the year. The bonds, issued via its financing arm Mamoura Diversified Global Holding, were priced at 60 basis points over U.S. Treasuries, tightening from initial guidance of 95 basis points, following robust investor demand.

The offering attracted orders exceeding $4.75 billion, leading to a fivefold oversubscription, underscoring strong investor confidence in Mubadala’s creditworthiness and the appeal of Islamic finance instruments. This issuance follows Mubadala’s previous sukuk sale in October, where it raised 1 billion dirhams through a five-year bond.

The sukuk employs a wakalah structure, utilizing a portfolio of publicly listed shares as underlying assets, a first for a UAE-origin sukuk. This innovative approach reflects a shift towards more flexible and equity-based structures in Islamic finance, potentially setting a precedent for future issuances in the region.

Mubadala’s latest financial results indicate a 9.1% increase in assets under management, reaching 1.2 trillion dirhams, driven by strategic investments in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and private credit. As the second-largest state investment fund in Abu Dhabi, following the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mubadala plays a pivotal role in the emirate’s economic diversification efforts.

Telegram has entered into a one-year agreement with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, to integrate the Grok chatbot into its messaging platform, which boasts over one billion users globally. Under the terms of the deal, Telegram will receive $300 million in a combination of cash and equity, along with 50% of the revenue generated from xAI subscriptions sold through the app.

This partnership marks a significant expansion for Grok, which was previously available exclusively to premium subscribers of X . By integrating Grok into Telegram, xAI aims to broaden its user base and compete more directly with established AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced the collaboration on X, highlighting the strategic move to enhance user engagement through advanced AI capabilities. The integration of Grok into Telegram is expected to provide users with a more interactive and intelligent messaging experience, leveraging Grok’s ability to generate text, understand images, and summarise conversations.

The financial structure of the deal underscores the growing value of AI integration in messaging platforms. The $300 million investment from xAI not only provides Telegram with substantial capital but also aligns both companies’ interests through the shared revenue model. This approach reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies seek to monetise AI tools by embedding them into widely used applications.

Grok’s integration into Telegram comes amid a competitive landscape for AI chatbots. xAI, founded by Elon Musk in 2023, has rapidly developed Grok to offer features such as web search results, PDF uploads, and image understanding. The chatbot is designed to provide responses with a touch of wit and humour, distinguishing it from more conventional AI assistants.

The rollout of Grok on Telegram also raises questions about content moderation and user data privacy. Telegram has faced scrutiny in the past for its approach to content oversight, and the addition of an AI chatbot with unfiltered responses could attract further attention from regulators and watchdogs. xAI has previously faced criticism for Grok’s use of user data from X, leading to investigations by European privacy regulators.

The TON Foundation has appointed Nikola Plecas, a former Visa executive with deep expertise in blockchain-based payments, as its Vice President of Payments. This strategic hire signals the Foundation’s ambition to accelerate the adoption of crypto-native financial services within Telegram’s vast ecosystem.

Plecas, who previously led Visa’s crypto commercialization efforts across Europe, brings a wealth of experience in bridging traditional finance with blockchain innovation. At Visa, he was instrumental in developing stablecoin-based settlement solutions and expanding crypto-linked payment products to over 60 platforms globally. His work focused on enabling seamless fiat-to-crypto conversions, facilitating instant cross-border payments, and enhancing financial inclusion through blockchain infrastructure.

At the TON Foundation, Plecas is expected to lead initiatives aimed at improving fiat-crypto interoperability, forging strategic partnerships, and scaling TON’s payment infrastructure across Telegram’s user base, which exceeds one billion monthly active users. His appointment aligns with TON’s broader vision of integrating decentralized finance solutions and real-world payment applications into everyday digital interactions.

The Foundation has outlined a multi-pronged strategy to onboard 30% of Telegram’s active users to the TON blockchain by 2028. This includes leveraging Telegram’s native features like stickers and collectibles, introducing engaging mini-games, offering user-friendly DeFi savings options, and developing practical payment applications that provide tangible utility for crypto holdings.

TON’s recent $400 million funding round, backed by prominent venture capital firms such as Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, and Benchmark, underscores the growing confidence in its ecosystem. The capital infusion is earmarked for user acquisition, developer incentives, and product development, further bolstering TON’s capacity to deliver scalable and efficient financial tools within Telegram’s platform.

Plecas’s expertise in navigating regulatory landscapes and fostering institutional partnerships is anticipated to play a crucial role in TON’s expansion. His track record at Visa, where he emphasized the importance of regulatory frameworks for stablecoin adoption and the integration of blockchain solutions into existing financial systems, positions him well to guide TON through the complexities of global financial regulations.

Strategy Inc., formerly known as MicroStrategy, has emerged as the top-performing crypto-linked equity in 2025, surpassing the returns of all 74 cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded funds tracked globally. The company’s aggressive accumulation of Bitcoin has propelled its stock to outperform even the most leveraged crypto ETFs, reinforcing its position as the largest corporate holder of the digital asset.

As of May 25, Strategy holds approximately 580,250 Bitcoins, acquired at an average price of $69,979 per token, amounting to a total investment of around $40.61 billion. This latest acquisition of 4,020 Bitcoins, costing $427.1 million, was financed through proceeds from equity, debt, and preferred stock sales. The company’s stock has surged 118% over the past year and remains up nearly 27% year-to-date, trading at $365.95.

In contrast, the best-performing crypto ETF, the T-Rex 2X Long MSTR Daily Target ETF, which is heavily weighted with Strategy’s stock, delivered a 746% return year-to-date. Other notable ETFs, such as the Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF and the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF, posted returns of 79% and 76.7%, respectively, benefiting from their significant holdings in Strategy.

Strategy’s approach diverges from traditional ETF structures by offering direct exposure to Bitcoin through its corporate treasury. The company has consistently leveraged its balance sheet to acquire Bitcoin, utilizing various financial instruments, including convertible bonds and preferred stock offerings. This strategy has not only amplified its Bitcoin holdings but also attracted investors seeking indirect exposure to the cryptocurrency without the complexities of direct ownership.

The company’s commitment to Bitcoin was further solidified with its announcement of the “21/21 Plan,” aiming to raise $42 billion over three years—$21 billion through equity offerings and another $21 billion via fixed-income securities—to fund additional Bitcoin purchases. This ambitious plan underscores Strategy’s belief in Bitcoin as a superior store of value and a strategic asset for corporate treasuries.

Michael Saylor, Strategy’s Executive Chairman, has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, often emphasizing its potential as a hedge against inflation and a more stable alternative to traditional fiat currencies. Under his leadership, the company has transformed from an enterprise software firm into a prominent player in the cryptocurrency space.

The broader market has taken note of Strategy’s performance, with analysts suggesting that its success could inspire other corporations to consider similar strategies. Companies like Trump Media & Technology Group and Strive Asset Management have already announced plans to allocate significant portions of their treasuries to Bitcoin, signaling a potential shift in corporate investment strategies.

However, this aggressive approach is not without risks. The volatility of Bitcoin prices can lead to significant fluctuations in corporate valuations, and the reliance on debt to finance these purchases raises concerns about financial stability. Critics argue that such strategies may expose companies to undue risk, especially if Bitcoin prices experience sharp declines.

Bitcoin has surged to a record high of nearly $112,000, diverging from a flat and uncertain stock market. Traditionally, both assets moved in tandem, but 2025 has seen episodes of decoupling, particularly as Bitcoin has shown more resilience amid economic uncertainty spurred by President Trump’s tariff policies. Analysts attribute the crypto rally not to a broad risk-on sentiment but to growing optimism around favorable regulatory shifts under the Trump administration. Policies such as Trump’s executive order to create a federal bitcoin reserve and new state-level initiatives like Texas’s proposed strategic bitcoin reserve and New Hampshire’s law allowing public funds in digital assets have bolstered confidence.

The cryptocurrency’s ascent is further supported by institutional investors like BlackRock increasing Bitcoin allocations while reducing stock holdings, suggesting a shift in strategy. Proposed federal legislation to regulate stablecoins could further integrate cryptocurrencies with traditional finance and spur broader adoption.

Despite the mounting risks, Bitcoin has maintained a price range between $90,000 and $100,000. Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, has boldly declared that Bitcoin currently offers a “generational opportunity” for investors. Park highlighted BTC’s implied volatility percentile – a measure that reflects how its current volatility compares to historical levels – noting that BTC’s IV percentile is at its lowest level of the year, reinforcing his view that Bitcoin presents a “generational opportunity.”

However, some experts urge caution. Mark Hackett from Nationwide Financial emphasized it’s premature to classify bitcoin as a store of value due to its historically risk-prone nature. Analysts note that for bitcoin to be considered a legitimate alternative to safe havens like gold, it must sustain a long-term, low-correlation performance with traditional risk assets.

In emerging markets like BRIC and GCC, Bitcoin exhibits a more distinct behavior, diverging from traditional assets. This divergence may stem from less integrated financial markets, where Bitcoin can act as an alternative investment vehicle in the absence of robust traditional safe havens like government bonds. Furthermore, in these regions, cryptocurrencies may attract retail investors seeking protection against local currency devaluation or inflation, which are more common in emerging economies.

Bitcoin’s unique characteristics, continued adoption, and overall industry growth make the cryptocurrency a viable instrument for hedging against global liquidity crises, according to Grayscale Investments. The digital currency asset manager explores how bitcoin can give investors protection in uncertain political and economic situations, arguing that the digital currency “deserves a steady strategic position within many long-term investment portfolios” as it represents “a transparent, immutable, and global form of liquidity that can provide both wealth preservation and growth opportunities.”