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Alphabet to buy Wiz for $32 billion in its biggest deal to boost cloud security

TL;DR. Google’s biggest acquisition ever—a $32 billion deal for Wiz—signals a massive push into cloud security, while CoreWeave’s IPO is set to raise up to $2.7 billion. Meanwhile, Baidu is taking on DeepSeek in the AI race, and Ripple’s XRP surges as the SEC drops its lawsuit.

Alphabet to buy Wiz for $32 billion in its biggest deal to boost cloud security

Alphabet is acquiring cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion, making it Google’s largest-ever deal as it strengthens its cloud security offerings to compete with Amazon and Microsoft. Wiz’s technology will remain available across all cloud providers. With regulatory scrutiny looming, Alphabet expects the deal to close in 2026.

CoreWeave to ask for $47 to $55 per share in IPO, sources say

AI cloud provider CoreWeave is planning an IPO price range of $47-$55 per share, potentially raising up to $2.7 billion. Backed by Nvidia, CoreWeave provides AI-focused cloud infrastructure and competes with Microsoft Azure and AWS. The IPO will be closely watched as a benchmark for AI-driven cloud companies.

Baidu launches new reasoning AI model in challenge to DeepSeek

Baidu has unveiled Ernie X1, a new AI reasoning model designed to rival DeepSeek at a significantly lower cost. Additionally, Baidu released Ernie 4.5, claiming it surpasses OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 in performance. The models will be integrated into Baidu’s services, signaling heightened competition in China’s AI landscape.

XRP surges after Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says SEC is dropping its lawsuit against the company

Ripple’s XRP spiked 10% after CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the SEC is dropping its lawsuit against the company. The case, which lasted over four years, had major implications for the crypto industry. The decision comes amid the SEC’s shifting approach to digital asset regulation under the new administration.

Spotlight on the most popular asset classes in the secondary markets

The secondary market offers a wide range of opportunities in various asset classes, from the well-known stocks and bonds of the world to investments that are more niche and nuanced. in this edition of the Augment manual we’ll explore the most popular asset classes in the secondary market and discuss how each can potentially benefit investors looking for a diversified portfolio. 

Quick Takes

Cheerio! Until next week.
-Noel