The $11 million Ferrari

Hello and welcome to Alts Cafe

Highlights from the full issue:

  • Macro: CA retained its title as the world’s fifth-largest economy
  • Real Estate: Apple gave $50 million for housing affordability
  • Startups: Google is ​in talks to acquire​ Wiz
  • Private Credit: Blackstone’s distributable earnings rose 3%
  • Crypto: FTX reached a $4 billion bankruptcy settlement
  • NFTs: Weekly NFT sales reached $109 million
  • Art: Johnny Depp unveiled a ​new art collection
  • Vintage Autos: A 1960 Ferrari ​sold for $11 million
  • Coins: A 1794 Silver Dollar was ​valued at $7,750,000​.
  • Farmland: The farm sector debt is ​set​ to reach $547.6 billion
  • Luxury: Balenciaga launched the first luxury fashion app
  • Wine, Tequila, and Spirits: Wine consumption hit 27-year low
  • Film & Music: ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ ​climbed​ to #1 on Amazon
  • Precious Metals: Microsoft invested in Cyclic Materials
  • Collectibles: A stegosaurus fossil ​sold for $44.6 million
  • Websites: Atom launched its updated ​Cloud Broker program

Let’s go.

Wyatt

Macro View

Bullish News

Bearish News

What are the odds?

Kashi is showing a near certainty of two rate cuts in 2025, which still seems aggressive to me.

Get $25 to play around with using this link.

What are we doing?

​Altea​ Highlights

Check out the ​full roundup​.

Potential Deal

Solar Infrastructure Debt

Illustrative

We can’t share much about this one yet because it’s not been cleared by the lawyers, but here’s the gist.

It’s a utility-scale solar and energy storage project in Florida looking for funding. Although they’ve previously done equity placements, this will be either preferred shares or straight debt.

The timeframe is one to two years, and the IRR will be between 14% and 16%.

The project is already approved, so it’ll go ahead regardless of this year’s elections.

​I’m interested in this opportunity.​

​ALTS 1​ Fund news

Alts 1 is Open

After a strong few quarters, we’re opening ​Alts 1​ to new investors [​Announcement here​].*

If you’re ready, you can

Invest Now

Or ​book a call​ with me to discuss.

* If you’ve already invested and want to double down, please stand by. We’re busy porting over your previous commitments to the new platform.

Real Estate

Bullish News

  • Goldman Sachs ​recorded gains​ in real estate investments in Q2, with revenues rising 27% to $3.88 billion year-over-year.
  • Blackstone’s President Jon Gray said the firm is ​ready to invest​, deploying nearly $15 billion in real estate in the first six months of the year.
  • Canadian prop-tech company Repliers ​secured seed​ funding to democratize access to real estate technology.
  • Apple launched the Bay Area Housing Innovation Fund with a ​$50 million investment​ as part of its $2.5 billion commitment to address housing affordability in California.
  • Hawaii ​enacted a law barring​ the use of predatory real estate contracts for personal services.

Bearish News

How to invest in real estate right now:

Who’s moving to CA now?

Startups

Bullish News

Bearish News

  • Former TV host Carlos Watson was ​convicted of conspiracy​, wire fraud, and identity theft related to Ozy Media.
  • A Snowflake ​data breach​ exposed over 2 million Advance Auto Parts customers’ names, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
  • Chinese magnate Guo Wengui was convicted of ​bilking $1 billion​ from investors to fund his luxury lifestyle, facing up to 20 years in prison.
  • Global digital health ​funding declined​ to $2.9 billion across 235 deals in Q2 2024, a 26% drop quarter-over-quarter.
  • Nio is ​reducing discounts​ by up to RMB 5,000 for several models starting July 22, scaling back car purchase incentives.

How to invest in startups right now:

Bad time to be bilking.

Private Equity and Private Credit

Bullish News

Bearish News

How to invest in PE and Private Credit right now:

Welcome Japan, to the world of PE.

Crypto

Bullish News

Bearish News

How to invest in Crypto right now:

Between energy depletion and being so loud it hurts, crypto is starting to remind me of my sister.

NFTs

Bullish News

Bearish News

  • KnownOrigin’s ​imminent shutdown​ sparked debates about NFT storage reliability, raising concerns about inaccessible NFT metadata.
  • Messari CEO Ryan Selkis ​stepped down​ to a senior adviser role after controversial political tweets.
  • Tokens on WazirX traded at a ​steep discount​ following an exchange exploit.

How to invest in NFTs right now:

Who’s excited for another Trump NFT collection?

Artwork

Bullish News

  • The Tri-County Arts Council’s Artisan Market ​showcased over 35 pieces​ by Marilyn Reynolds.
  • Johnny Depp unveiled a ​new art collection​ inspired by tarot cards, with paintings sold separately or as a limited edition set.
  • A Westview High student Zoey Lestyk ​won first place​ in the 2024 La Jolla Institute for Immunology Art Competition.
  • The Hispanic Society Museum in Manhattan ​announced plans​ to launch a new global hub in September to research and preserve Francisco Goya’s works.

Bearish News

  • Valparaiso University ​argued in court​ to allow the sale of high-value paintings for dorm renovations.
  • Lévy Gorvy Dayan ​will not renew​ its Hong Kong lease, as auction house sales fell 27% in H1 2024.
  • Artworks billed as Picassos in a gender-discrimination lawsuit at an Australian museum were ​revealed as fakes​ by curator Kirsha Kaechele.
  • P. Buckley Moss, known for depicting Amish and Mennonite communities, ​died at 91​.
  • A Memphis artist’s ​car was stolen​ with a sculpture piece for a South City art project commissioned by the Urban Arts Commission.
  • Pioneering video artist Bill Viola ​died at 73​ after battling Alzheimer’s, leaving a five-decade career in video art.

How to invest in Artwork right now:

I’d pay big money to get a tarot reading from Johnny Depp.

Vintage Autos

Bullish News

Bearish News

How to invest in Vintage Autos right now:

Festival of Speed is the best name for an auto show I’ve ever heard.

Rare Coins

Bullish News

  • The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, originally worth $1, is now ​valued at $7,750,000​.
  • The 2011-P American Silver Eagle Reverse Proof ​retails​ for about $200 to $220 in PR69 and $350 to $400 in PR70.
  • Baldwin’s Ancient British and World Coins sale saw a Japan Meiji copper Pattern Yen from 1870 ​sell for £48,000​, over triple its estimate.
  • A ​double-struck​ 1794 S-28 Head of 1794 early large cent will cross the block in Heritage’s ANA US Coins Signature Auction August 13-18.
  • GreatCollections will display the ​1794 Silver Dollar​ at the ANA World’s Fair of Money.
  • Editions Gadoury and the National Library of France published a new two-volume of French ​royal gold coins​.
  • Czech archaeologists discovered ​over 2,150 silver coins​ from the 11th-12th centuries near Prague.

Bearish News

  • The theft of a 17th-century coin from the British Museum ​revealed​ more than half of the museum’s collection remains uncatalogued.
  • Brazilian artist Ilê Sartuzi ​stole a historic coin​ from the British Museum and dropped it in a donation box as art.

How to invest in Rare Coins right now:

I was just wondering where I’d left my 2,150 silver coins from the 11th-12th centuries.

Farmland

Bullish News

  • US vertical farming startup Plenty is ​forming​ a $680 million deal to develop indoor farms in the Middle East.
  • Owner-operated cotton fields had the highest rates of cover crop adoption for owned land, with ​22%​ in 2019.
  • US farmland values ​propelled up​ in two strong farm income periods over the last 15 years.
  • The Flickner Innovation Farm in Kansas is set to ​unveil​ the 360 RAIN irrigation system, one of only two operating in the state.
  • The Toll Brothers ​acquired​ an 86-acre parcel in Langhorne for $40.5 million.
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal ​announced​ a new legislation, which aims to improve crop insurance for small farms.

Bearish News

  • The farm sector debt is ​expected​ to reach $547.6 billion this year, a 40% increase since 2017.
  • The ​Farm Bill stalled​ as the deadline approached, with the House version calling for a significant decrease in SNAP funding.
  • Indiana ​lost​ 345,700 acres of farmland over 12 years from 2010-2022.
  • A Michigan farmer motioned to ​dismiss​ wire and mail fraud charges for allegedly setting up sham farming operations.

How to invest in Farmland right now:

Vertical farming is looking up.

Luxury Goods

Bullish News

  • Balenciaga launched the first luxury fashion app on Apple’s Vision Pro ​mixed-reality headset​.
  • Formula One is set to unveil LVMH as a ​global partner​ in a $150 million per year contract starting in 2025.
  • The son of Asia’s richest man ​gifted his groomsmen​ limited-edition Audemars Piguet watches worth over $200,000 each.
  • A recent study found that affluent millennials ​prioritize​ spending on luxury goods over experiences.
  • Louis Vuitton ​released​ a capsule collection with Timberland, featuring the LV 6-inch Boot crafted in their Italian atelier.
  • EssilorLuxottica ​acquired​ lifestyle brand Supreme in a $1.5 billion cash deal.

Bearish News

How to invest in Luxury Goods right now:

Virtual Luxury might fit in my budget.

Wine, Tequila, and other Spirits

Bullish News

  • Wines of last treasures’ from the ​Avery family’s private cellar,​ featured in a Christie’s auction, reached £2.57 million in sales.
  • The global beer market is projected to ​increase​ by $148.43 billion from 2024 to 2028.
  • New Jersey’s 3BR Distillery released vodka intended to taste like egg and cheese on an everything ​bagel​.
  • Guinness World Records will designate New Jersey’s ​Meximodo restaurant​ as having the most varieties of agave spirits commercially available.
  • A bill granting Boston ​more liquor licenses​ could make the city’s restaurant scene more equitable.
  • Tabitha Brown is set to unveil her inaugural wine collection ​exclusively​ at Target.
  • Whisky Chicks and Bourbon Brotherhood announced ​two rare bourbon raffles​ benefiting the Coalition for the Homeless.

Bearish News

How to invest in Wine and Spirits right now:

Tabitha Brown’s wine must be good!

Music and Film

Bullish News

Bearish News

  • Record labels ​sued​ Verizon for over $2 billion for alleged “massive copyright infringement” by its subscribers.
  • On-location reality TV filming days in Los Angeles ​dropped nearly 57%​ between April and June 2024.
  • Paramount+ ​canceled​ the live-action “Halo” series after two seasons.

How to invest in Music and Film right now:

Taylor Swift is a walking economy.

Metals and Gems

Bullish News

Bearish News

  • ​Platinum Group Metals​ had roughly 8 months of cash runway as of May 2024, with analysis spotting 3 warning signs.
  • The CFTC ​shut down​ Safeguard Metals for selling precious metals coins to seniors at inflated prices of 50% or more over the spot.
  • Indonesia’s nickel industry expansion is driving deforestation ​twice as fast​ around new processing plants.

How to invest in Metals and Gems right now:

There’s nothing seniors love more than special coins.

Collectibles

Bullish News

  • “Apex,” a nearly complete stegosaurus fossil discovered in 2022, ​sold for $44.6 million​ at Sotheby’s, setting a new auction record.
  • The collectibles industry is ​valued​ at $622.4 billion in 2024, with a projected 9.2% annual growth rate.
  • Fanatics ​launched Fanatics Collect​, a collectibles marketplace streamlining the buying and selling of trading cards.
  • A PSA Type I photo from Willie Mays’ 1951 debut sold for $12,063 at Goldin Auctions following his ​passing​.
  • TOYMAK3RS and $WEN launched a limited-edition collectible toy that unlocks cross-chain NFTs using ​Jellybean technology​.
  • Police in Oregon ​recovered​ 4,000 stolen Lego sets worth over $200,000.

Bearish News

How to invest in Collectibles right now:

If I were police in Oregon, I’d watch my step.

Websites and Domains

Bullish News

Bearish News

How to invest in Websites and Domains right now:

Crowdstrike? That’s exactly what they’ll do.

Cheers,

Wyatt

Disclosures

  • We hold BTC, ETH, and a couple Star Wars Action figures in our ​ALTS 1 Fund​.
  • There are a couple of affiliate links above. If you click them, we may get a couple of bucks.

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Author

Picture of Wyatt Cavalier

Wyatt Cavalier

With a background in finance & intelligence analysis, Wyatt has an unhealthy obsession with finding the best blue chip investment opportunities. His previous newsletter, Fractional, resonated deeply with subscribers, bringing actionable insights and unconventional trading strategies. His rare book collection specializes in banned editions. He currently lives in Spain with his beautiful wife, three young boys, and dog Monty.

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