CBX Daily 7/18/2025

Author

Kori Hale
July 18, 2025

Today, art to Americans is wealth in motion, but let’s start with how Shaq is paying for his involvement in crypto promotion…

Cultural Intelligence Download

What Shaquille O’Neal’s FTX Lawsuit Settlement Means for Your Crypto Portfolio

CBX Vibe

Shaquille O’Neal may have dominated on the basketball court, but his off-court moves in crypto haven’t aged quite as gracefully. The NBA Hall of Famer recently agreed to a $1.8 million settlement in a class action lawsuit over his role promoting FTX, the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange. O’Neal, along with high-profile celebrities including Steph Curry, Tom Brady and others, were caught in the crosshairs when the $32 billion company collapsed, according to Bloomberg. As celebrity-backed crypto ventures fall under sharper scrutiny, the FTX fallout has become a cautionary tale with deep cultural implications, especially for vulnerable communities often targeted by influencer marketing.  

Art Meets Private Equity: Family Offices Reimagine Wealth Management

CBX Vibe:

Family offices already caught the attention of high-net worth individuals and now they're taking it up a notch higher to diversify their investment portfolios. Away from the traditional assets and stocks, more people are warming up to arts and collectibles as alternative investments. With 40% of Americans already actively hoarding their collectibles, it is a booming industry that cannot afford to be ignored.   

New Tariffs Put $219 Billion U.S. Auto Import Industry at Risk

CBX Vibe:

Tariffs are back in the news, and that has both American car buyers and automakers watching closely. In 2024, the U.S. imported $219.5 billion in passenger vehicles, up about 4.4% from the year before. As lawmakers weigh new duties on foreign-made cars and parts, the effects could hit hard, especially in top auto-importing states like Michigan, California, and Texas. Just five countries supply over 83% of all U.S. car imports by value. Mexico leads with $50 billion in exports, or nearly 23% of the total, thanks to its proximity and favorable NAFTA/USMCA terms. These numbers show how tightly the U.S. auto market is tied to a few key partners, making it highly sensitive to trade shifts.   

Tune-in Tuesdays!

Bitcoin’s latest record-setting milestone has seen its price top $122,000 in historic surge. Is this validation of crypto’s long game or the final phase before a reckoning?

A. “Started from the Bottom” by Drake – From obscure internet forums to the global financial stage, Bitcoin’s trajectory is the story of decentralization punching up
B. “Toxic” by YG – Addicts beware: the higher it climbs, the more seductive the risk
C. “Money Trees” by Kendrick Lamar – For early adopters, this is generational wealth in real time. For newcomers, it's a test of belief versus FOMO. Either way, Bitcoin is planting deep roots

What are your thoughts on this? Tune in next Tuesday to see which jam captures the prevailing sentiment!

A  |  B  |  C

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Nigeria, Ghana Emerging As Hotspots For Africa’s Next Billion-Dollar Startups

CBX Vibe:

What if the next billion-dollar startup isn’t from Silicon Valley, but from the bustling streets of Lagos, Nigeria or the creative corridors of Accra, Ghana? Across the African continent, a tech revolution is underway and Black Americans are uniquely poised to be part of the story. As more African founders solve real-world problems with homegrown innovation, the diaspora is stepping in with capital, mentorship, and cultural alignment that mainstream investors often lack.   

Greenback Comeback? U.S. Dollar Set to Rebound After Prolonged Decline

CBX Vibe:

Economic stress isn’t going away too soon for consumers or the House of Representatives in the wake of the U.S. dollar sliding to its lowest level since 2022. The steep decline has become a great cause for concern for the global markets, leading investors to believe that the greenback is losing its position as the cornerstone of global finance. However, a turn of events at the end of June may have provided a halt to the decline now that the megabill has passed and new resolutions are agreed for global tariffs.   

Vibes of the Week

Shaq is paying for having you “Change Your Mind" about crypto,, as Burna Boy and Shaboozey tell it in our CBX Vibes!