Bitcoin surged to over $11,000 yesterday before falling 20% later in the day, prompting this look from the Journal at the widespread lure of Bitcoin mania – WSJ [and Bloomberg]
Streetwise also weighs in on the cryptocurrency, conceding that it’s a “wonderful academic creation” but reminding us that it isn’t really accomplishing the three main purposes of a currency – WSJ
Breakingviews reacts to Fed Chair-nominee Jerome Powell’s Tuesday confirmation hearings, touting his “mastery of the central banking arts” – NYTimes
The SEC defended its fraud claims against former Nomura trader Tyler Peters in SDNY Court yesterday. Peters moved to dismiss the civil charges against him after being acquitted of criminal charges earlier this year – Law360
The agency also filed briefing with the Supremes yesterday in which it argues that its in-house administrative law judges are officers—not employees—and thus appropriately subject to the Constitution’s appointments clause – Law360
File under “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em [or take a stake in ‘em]”—Mars, the maker of Snickers and M&Ms, announced a minority stake in Kind (the maker of “more healthy” snack bars) that values the company at more than $4 billion and could pave the way for a future takeover – NYTimes
CEO Steve Ells is out at Chipotle, the fast casual chain he founded, according to a statement from the company announcing that it was looking for a new leader with “demonstrated turnaround expertise” – NYTimes and WSJ
The High Court appeared reticent to expand the definition of whistleblower under Dodd-Frank’s anti-retaliation provision during oral argument in Digital Realty Trust Inc. v. Paul Somers – Law360
A big-picture analysis of the US economy which, after Q3 growth was revised up to 3.3%, is “running at its full potential for the first time in a decade” – WSJ
Which may be part of the Dow posting a new record high even as tech-friendly Nasdaq took a beating after FAANG stocks were hammered – MarketWatch
I’m no birder, but this piece on the utterly counterintuitive nature of hummingbirds is worth a glance – TheAtlantic
