• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that

3

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
NewslettersCEO Daily

Bitcoin, housing booms, and Big Tech: Three Friday reads

By
Katherine Dunn
Katherine Dunn
and
Alan Murray
Alan Murray
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Katherine Dunn
Katherine Dunn
and
Alan Murray
Alan Murray
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 20, 2021, 6:26 AM ET

Good morning, and happy Friday.

Three interesting stories on Fortune.com this week that are worth your time this weekend, if you missed them.

First, there’s a fascinating piece by Fortune legend Shawn Tully about how Bitcoin miners, banished from China, are now reviving the Pennsylvania waste coal business. It’s a long and convoluted but utterly mind-blowing tale that’s worth your attention, here.

Second, Fortune data nerd Lance Lambert dives into some new real estate numbers and finds that the red-hot housing market is starting to cool, here.

And finally, David Meyer and Nicole Goodkind take a closer look at the growing global antitrust attack on big tech in the U.S., Europe and China, and try to divine where industry regulation is heading, here.

Warning that all three of these stories are behind the paywall. Reader support is how we fund our best journalism. If you don’t already subscribe, we have a special summer deal for you—$1 for a 6-month trial—that you can sign up for here.

More news below.

Alan Murray
@alansmurray

alan.murray@fortune.com

TOP NEWS

New J&J CEO 

Alex Gorsky said he would step down as CEO of the company on Thursday after nine years at the helm. He'll become executive chairman, while Joaquin Duato, who is currently vice chairman, will step into the CEO role. Duato, like Gorsky, is a longtime insider who has led the drug and consumer products division since 2018. Bloomberg

China tech drop 

Chinese tech stocks were dropping once again on Friday morning, as the Chinese government's regulatory crackdown continued to expand. The government said it has passed a law to regulate how personal data is processed, and it will go into effect on November 1—but there were few further details. Chinese media is also reporting that new regulation is expanding into online pharmaceutical sales. FT

Amazon department stores

Amazon disrupted department stores. Now, it wants to open them. In another surge into brick-and-mortar retail for the ecommerce giant, Amazon will reportedly open initial, 30,000 square foot stores in Ohio and California. It's not exactly clear what brands the company will sell, but its own private labels are likely to feature prominently. WSJ

Facebook suit 

The Federal Trade Commission is taking another crack at Facebook after a previous suit was thrown out by a judge two months ago. The new suit makes the same argument—that Facebook is a monopoly and should be broken up—but provides much more detail and analysis, saying that the tech giant "bought or buried" competitors that became a threat. Facebook denies the accusations. NYT

AROUND THE WATER COOLER

Coinbase in Japan

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has expanded into Japan, striking a deal with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. The entry gives access to one of the world's top crypto markets, but it's also a crowded field, with 31 already recognized exchanges. And worries about security were heightened when another exchange, Liquid, promptly announced it had been hacked, losing an estimated $80 million. FT

Elon's robots

Elon Musk said Tesla would create a human-form robot that can perform basic tasks, rendering physical work optional and requiring the introduction of a universal basic income (he was accompanied by a human dressed as a robot.) Of course, not everything Musk says comes to pass—he previously claimed the company would have a million A.I.-powered autonomous cars by 2020. WSJ

Taliban taxes

In recent days, the focus has grown on how the Taliban will—or won't—manage Afghanistan's economy after the U.S. stopped shipments of dollars ahead of the takeover. The Taliban have already been running a shadow economy for years—and while some of it does come from drugs (including a growing methamphetamine industry), more of it comes from taxes on road transport of fuel and other goods. They've also sought to be better administrators than the previous government (they provide receipts.) FT

OnlyFans goes PG (ish)

OnlyFans, the social media platform that exploded during the pandemic, is trying to raise funds from investors—and to do so, it's downplaying its popularity as a platform for sex work. The platform will ban sexually explicit material, though will allow some nudity, as it tries to highlight its influencers, chefs and fitness trainers instead. Fortune

This edition of CEO Daily was edited by Katherine Dunn. 

About the Authors
By Katherine Dunn
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Alan Murray
By Alan Murray
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Newsletters

Jenn Hyman reflects on the highs and lows of running Rent the Runway for almost two decades
NewslettersMPW Daily
Jenn Hyman reflects on the highs and lows of running Rent the Runway for almost two decades
By Emma HinchliffeMay 15, 2026
1 day ago
Andrew Feldman, co-founder of Cerebras
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Cerebras soars almost 70% by market close in a true blockbuster IPO
By Allie GarfinkleMay 15, 2026
2 days ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (left) and Apple CEO Tim Cook in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 4, 2025. (Photo: Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
OpenAI may take legal action against Apple over Siri’s ChatGPT integration
By Andrew NuscaMay 15, 2026
2 days ago
State Farm CEO is betting big on AI—and contemplating the company’s future in California
NewslettersCEO Daily
State Farm CEO is betting big on AI—and contemplating the company’s future in California
By Diane BradyMay 15, 2026
2 days ago
The AI boom sidelined sustainability. Two researchers want to change that
NewslettersEye on AI
The AI boom sidelined sustainability. Two researchers want to change that
By Sharon GoldmanMay 14, 2026
2 days ago
‘Be delusional enough to call yourself something the world hasn’t called you yet’: What powerful women told the class of 2026
NewslettersMPW Daily
‘Be delusional enough to call yourself something the world hasn’t called you yet’: What powerful women told the class of 2026
By Sydney LakeMay 14, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
13 hours ago
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
Success
Despite having a $165 million net worth, Scarlett Johansson says work-life balance doesn’t exist—and the first step to success is admitting that
By Preston ForeMay 13, 2026
3 days ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
4 days ago
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
Future of Work
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
17 hours ago
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
Future of Work
‘You’re not a hero, you’re a liability’: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary warns Gen Z founders to stop glorifying hustle culture
By Jacqueline MunisMay 16, 2026
13 hours ago
Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 15, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 15, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.