Weekly Roundup 05/22/26 (AI and power bills, SpaceX IPO, Prime Trust clawbacks, USG invests in quantum) (EP.721)

AI data centers are not the primary driver of rising residential electricity costs, as states with high data center concentration often experience lower power prices and slower rate growth. While concerns persist regarding job displacement and the lack of public investment opportunities in major AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, the sector continues to accelerate, evidenced by recent breakthroughs in solving complex mathematical conjectures. Meanwhile, the U.S. government’s move to take equity stakes in quantum computing firms signals an intensifying national security arms race. Financial markets face potential disruption from the SEC’s rumored innovation exemption for tokenized equities, which could lead to balkanized liquidity and price dislocations across various venues. Additionally, the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings of custodian Prime Trust highlight the systemic risks inherent in relying on thin interfaces for digital asset custody.