SpaceX Stock Cools Off After Record-Breaking IPO Run | This Week in IT
Just a few days ago, it seemed like SpaceX stock could do no wrong. Investors were rushing in, excitement was everywhere, and the company's share price was climbing at a pace that left many people stunned.
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| After reaching for the stars, SpaceX stock meets gravity. Credit: Daniel Oberhaus via WikiCommons / CC BY-SA 4.0 |
But after one of the biggest post-IPO rallies Wall Street has ever seen, the stock is finally showing signs of slowing down.
SpaceX shares jumped more than 50% shortly after making their highly anticipated Nasdaq debut, making it one of the most talked-about stock market stories of the year. The company’s historic IPO raised an incredible $75 billion, and for a brief moment, it felt as though investors simply couldn't get enough of Elon Musk's latest venture.
That excitement helped push SpaceX’s market value to roughly $2.78 trillion at its peak, allowing it to move ahead of Amazon and become the world’s fifth most valuable company. For many investors, watching a newly listed company reach such heights in just days was both thrilling and hard to believe.
However, even the hottest stocks need time to catch their breath.
After days of relentless buying, SpaceX shares slipped around 6% on Wednesday as some investors decided to lock in profits and others began questioning how much higher the stock could realistically go. The drop wasn't dramatic, but it was enough to remind the market that no rally lasts forever.
Musk Excitement Meets Market Reality
Much of the enthusiasm surrounding SpaceX comes from more than just rockets.
Investors are excited about Starlink's growing global presence, SpaceX's leadership in the space industry, and Elon Musk's ambitious plans for the future. Many believe the company could eventually become a powerful force across multiple industries, including satellite communications, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology services.
That vision has fueled enormous optimism.
Still, some analysts are urging caution. While SpaceX is undoubtedly a groundbreaking company, critics note that it generated less than $19 billion in annual revenue last year. They argue that its current valuation depends heavily on future growth rather than today's financial results.
Supporters see things differently. They point out that doubting Musk's companies has often proven costly in the past. From Tesla to SpaceX, many businesses once dismissed by critics have gone on to exceed expectations.
Right now, investors appear caught between two powerful emotions: the fear of missing out on the next big opportunity and the fear of paying too much for a stock that has already soared.
Whatever happens next, one thing is clear. SpaceX has gone from being a private aerospace company to Wall Street's newest obsession almost overnight.
And if the past week is any indication, the ride could remain a very emotional one.
Also in IT News—
UK Plans Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s
The UK government is considering a major move that would restrict social media access for children under 16, following a similar approach taken in Australia.
Supporters say the proposal could help protect young people from harmful content, misinformation, online bullying, and other digital risks. Many parents have welcomed the discussion, saying they worry about the amount of time children spend online and the content they are exposed to.
However, not everyone believes a blanket ban is the answer.
Cambridge psychologist Professor Sander van der Linden argues that the focus should be on fixing problematic platform features rather than restricting young users entirely. He believes stronger safety controls could be more effective than outright bans.
There are also concerns about enforcement. In Australia, reports suggest many teenagers are already bypassing restrictions through tools such as VPNs. Critics warn that similar challenges could emerge in the UK.
Meanwhile, Meta has raised concerns about privacy implications linked to age-verification systems, while campaigners continue to push for stronger protections.
The debate highlights a difficult question facing governments worldwide: how do you keep young people safe online without creating new problems in the process?
US Restricts Foreign Access to Anthropic's Advanced AI Models
The US government has ordered AI company Anthropic to suspend access to its advanced Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals, citing national security concerns.
The decision has sparked intense debate throughout the technology industry.
According to Anthropic, the restrictions apply regardless of whether users are inside or outside the United States and even affect some non-US employees working at the company.
The move reflects growing concerns among policymakers about the strategic importance of advanced artificial intelligence. As AI systems become more powerful, governments are increasingly treating them as technologies with national security implications.
Anthropic is reportedly working to restore access and believes the decision may be linked to concerns over a limited security vulnerability. However, US officials appear determined to keep tighter control over cutting-edge AI capabilities.
The situation highlights a growing reality in the AI race: technological innovation and national security are becoming more closely connected than ever before.
Authors Take Anthropic to Court Over Alleged Book Piracy
Anthropic is once again facing legal challenges, this time from more than 100 authors who claim the company used copyrighted books without permission.
The lawsuit alleges that Anthropic downloaded millions of books from online shadow libraries and stored them in a massive internal collection. According to the complaint, many of these works were obtained without licensing agreements or compensation for the authors who created them.
The authors argue that their work helped fuel the development of AI systems while they received nothing in return.
Court documents claim the company chose to avoid lengthy licensing negotiations and instead relied on unauthorized sources. The lawsuit also alleges that copies of books were retained even when they were not ultimately used for AI training.
For many writers, the case is about more than money. It is about recognition, ownership, and ensuring that creative work is respected in an era where AI is rapidly reshaping industries.
As legal battles over AI training data continue to grow, this case could become another important test of where the boundaries between innovation and copyright law should be drawn.
