Axios

HEX and its related cryptocurrencies are among those projects that most people in the blockchain world have found embarrassing for a very long time.

Driving the news: Monday, four years after HEX first went live, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged its creator Richard Schueler for conducting unregistered offerings, and with fraud in connection with another project, PulseChain.

Theme parks are battling record temperatures with misters, more iced drinks on menus, water balloon fights and extended hours, WSJ reports.

Why it matters: Extreme summer weather is starting to reshape the industry — prompting more investment in construction, water parks and indoor rides too, according to the report.

The share of America's banks that said they're making it harder for consumers and companies to get a loan is still growing, according to a survey conducted by the Federal Reserve.

Why it matters: It all adds up to possible headwinds for the U.S. economy. Banks are being choosier about extending credit, making it more expensive for households and businesses to get a loan. At the same time, demand for such loans has plummeted.

The U.S. housing market is stuck — homeowners who nabbed low mortgage rates before the Fed hiked rates don't want to sell, and that's keeping home sales anemic and home prices high.

Driving the news: A new survey from Zillow shows this "rate lock" phenomenon in action. It finds that homeowners with a mortgage rate below 5% are much less likely to consider selling their home, compared with those who have a higher rate.

Fidelity Investments increased the carrying value of its Twitter/X shares by nearly 11% during the month of June, according to new disclosures.

Why it matters: This is the second straight month of X markups by Fidelity, after it marked down the shares or kept them flat during the first six months of Elon Musk's ownership.

Amazon, ahead of its earnings release later this week, shared a slew of updates on the speed and capacity of its U.S. delivery network.

Why it matters: The tech and logistics giant has been out to prove that the billions it spent to expand its supply chain during the pandemic have been paying off — even as online shopping habits have waned.

Former senior Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs are advising the company to help it analyze and develop strategic options for ESPN, sources told Axios.

Why it matters: The retaining of the respected duo, who left after both were passed over for the Disney CEO role, shows the high priority being placed on determining the future of the struggling sports entertainment juggernaut housed within the company.

The world's most powerful central banks suddenly have one message in common: We're not going to tell you exactly what we're about to do anymore.

Why it matters: Central banks have traded clear messages about what's ahead for more ambiguous ones — a dramatic shift in their approach as policymaking enters a more nuanced era.

The Inflation Reduction Act is a mighty boon to the climate tech sector, with its hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending, grants and tax incentives.

Behind the scenes: It's also creating a schism among climate tech-focused venture capitalists, who are warily eyeing next fall's elections.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) announced that it's seeking buyers for $18.5 billion in private equity-linked loans from Signature Bank, which collapsed in March.

Why it matters: This is a reminder that it can take less time for banks to fail than for bank regulators to dispose of the wreckage.

Venture capital firm Greenoaks recently raised $2.1 billion for its fifth fund, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: This is slightly more than the San Francisco-based firm secured for its fourth fund in 2021, bucking a difficult fundraising environment for multi-stage and growth-stage firms.

More evidence that the American consumer is in pretty good shape arrived on Friday.

Driving the news: Real personal spending— that is, adjusted for inflation — hit another new high in June.

Corporate America's profitability depends on preserving its fat profit margins, even as its power to force through price increases ebbs.

Why it matters: Falling inflation is weakening companies' ability to justify the hefty price increases that generate sales growth — so preserving profit margins will be the key to keeping a healthy bottom line.

You don't have to wait for self-driving cars to arrive in order to relax, work or watch a movie on the road.

• You can already do most of that in the rear seat of the BMW i7, the German automaker's flagship electric sedan.

"Barbie" earned $93 million in North American theaters this past weekend, marking one of the most successful second-weekend performances for any movie in history.

Why it matters: The continued momentum of "Barbie" is giving theaters a lifeline as they stare down possible movie delays this fall.