Bitcoin prices fell to their lowest level in 16 months, while average UK house prices topped £300,000 for the first time, according to reports released Friday. These developments occurred as Amazon announced a massive investment in artificial intelligence, and Cuba signaled a willingness to engage in talks with the United States. Meanwhile, the release of the latest Epstein files triggered a political storm in Norway.
Bitcoin's value dipped to $60,000 (£44,000), its lowest point since September 2024, despite public support for cryptocurrency from former US President Donald Trump, according to BBC Technology. This drop followed a period of rising prices, which saw Bitcoin reach an all-time high of $122,200 in October 2025. Joshua Chu, co-chair of the Hong Kong Web3 Association, told Reuters that investors who had "bet too big, borrowed too much or assumed prices only go up are now finding out the hard way what real market volatility and risk management look like."
Simultaneously, the UK housing market saw average prices climb above £300,000 for the first time, as reported by BBC Business. Halifax, the UK's largest mortgage lender, stated that the average property price reached £300,077 in January, describing it as a "milestone." However, the report also noted that wage growth had outpaced house price inflation since 2022, potentially aiding affordability. The Bank of England hinted at interest rate cuts this year, which could further lower mortgage rates.
In the tech sector, Amazon revealed plans to invest $200 billion (£147.7 billion) in artificial intelligence and infrastructure, as detailed by BBC Business. This investment, significantly larger than the $125 billion spent on AI the previous year, led to a nearly 9% drop in Amazon's shares on Friday morning. The company's move is part of a broader trend, with major tech players collectively planning to spend $650 billion on AI and related projects this year. However, some financial experts have warned of a potential AI bubble.
Amidst these financial shifts, Cuba expressed its willingness to engage in talks with the United States, according to The Guardian. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel made the statement following months of threats from Donald Trump.
Finally, the release of the latest Epstein files has caused a political uproar in Norway, as reported by Al Jazeera. The files, containing millions of pages of documents, videos, and other materials, revealed close ties between two high-profile figures and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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