Alternative Investing Report - January 29, 2026

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*as of 1/28 Sources: S&P, BTC, FTSE, DJRE, GOLD

In a widely expected move, the Federal Reserve elected to keep interest rates unchanged for the first time since July. Two of the governors dissented, hoping for a quarter-point cut, but were outvoted. Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to persistent inflation and a reasonably solid labor market as the drivers behind today’s decision. The stock market was essentially unchanged, falling early in the day before recovering in the afternoon, and crypto did not show a big reaction either. Gold and silver continued their surge upwards, with both hitting record-highs once again.

➨ TAKEAWAY: The market had already priced this decision in, so only a surprise cut would have really affected today’s movement. The CME FedWatch tool puts the odds of a cut at the next meeting in March at just 13%, and the probability does not top 50% until June. The forecast still expects between 1-3 cuts by the end of the year, but a lot can change before then.

Vincent’s Slava Rubin and Sacra's Jan-Erik Asplund discussed Perplexity, the $20 billion AI search startup, and its origins, growth trajectory, market positioning, revenue streams, and competitive landscape. They look at future projections for the company and the broader AI market, and talk about its investment potential.

Presented by Augment, whose Collective funds are the easiest way to invest in the most popular private tech companies.

💰 Tether loading up on gold: The crypto stablecoin giant now owns more than 140 tons of gold worth more than $24 billion, and is buying $1 billion worth every month as it diversifies the reserves that back USDT. The company is one of the largest known holders of gold outside of central banks and ETFs.

🚀 Once Upon a Farm IPO: The organic children’s food company co-founded by actress Jennifer Garner is going public, aiming to raise $209 million at a $764 million valuation, and will test the market’s appetite for a consumer good startup that is posting consistent losses.

🤖 Synthesia fundraise: The AI video startup raised $200 million at a $4 billion valuation, nearly doubling its worth in less than a year. The round was led by Alphabet’s Google Ventures with Nvidia and others also participating.

🏡 Gen Z home ownership: 27.1% of U.S. Gen Zers now own their home, up slightly from 26.1% in 2024, but the current generation — and Millennials as well — are still lagging behind older generations when compared to where they were at the same age.

💵 Secondaries boom: Of the $113 billion raised by evergreen funds targeting retail investors, 40% has gone to secondaries funds, becoming the fastest growing source of capital for the asset class.

🚘 Mecum auctions record: The major classic car auction in Florida brought in a record-breaking $441 million in sales, including a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for $38.5 million.

AI-generated art has quickly become controversial, even as some in the art world have embraced it, with AI artwork sold at major auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s. There has been considerable backlash, however, and one Alaskan college student took things a little further by ripping AI art off the wall of an exhibition and eating it. Yes, eating it. Graham Granger, a film and performing arts major, destroyed 57 of the 160 pieces at the exhibition and was eventually arrested for criminal mischief. Granger said his actions were both a protest against AI art and a form of artwork itself, and one thing is for sure - he accomplished something that AI can’t do right now.