Netflix (NFLX 7.26%) was down 8.2% in after-hours trading on July 16 at 5:53 PM EDT -- falling to $68.23 per share as investors digested its second-quarter 2026 earnings and weak third-quarter guidance. The problem is abundantly clear -- most of Netflix's revenue growth is coming from price increases.
Netflix's third price increase in less than three years marked a 12.5% jump in U.S. ad-supported monthly pricing, an 11.1% boost in U.S. standard monthly pricing, and an 8% increase in U.S. premium monthly pricing. In its latest quarter, Netflix reported a 13.4% year-over-year increase in revenue and is guiding for a 11.7% year-over-year increase in third-quarter revenue. Which sounds good on paper, until you factor in the glaring reality that price increases are the majority of revenue growth.
Here's what the results mean for investors, how they help paint the picture of why Netflix pursued major acquisitions, and if the growth stock is a buy now.
Image source: Netflix.
Competition for capturing user screen time is intensifying In February, Netflix declined to raise its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, losing the bid to Paramount Skydance. Netflix was also in the hunt to buy Roku before being outbid by Fox Corp. in June.
The moves were somewhat alarming, given Netflix's history of organic growth through licensing and producing its own content. But investors have been concerned that Netflix's viewer engagement is under pressure from a slew of competitors in traditional media, streaming services, gaming, and user-generated content on platforms like Alphabet-owned YouTube.
At its core, Netflix's business model is to have subscription revenue exceed content costs. The more subscription revenue, the more demand for content. And as its global subscriber base has grown and Netflix has aggressively raised prices, there's more pressure for it to produce high-quality, engaging content.
In its July 16 shareholder letter, Netflix emphasized the importance of content quality:
We've used "engagement" as a shorthand for the value we deliver members. But, as we've developed an increasingly sophisticated understanding of how consumers ascribe value to our service, we know not all hours are equal. Time spent is just one aspect of strong engagement -- quality and variety also matter. The key is to improve across all of those dimensions: quality, variety, and quantity.
In practice, Netflix's definition of quality seems to revolve around proven content, such as Warner Bros. Discovery's intellectual property, including franchises like the DC and Harry Potter universes, Game of Thrones, Looney Tunes, and more. Proven content also includes Netflix's push into sports through the latest MLB Home Run Derby on July 13 and marquee NFL games like opening week, Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Day, and week 18.
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Two sides to the Netflix narrative The glass-half-empty view of Netflix is that the company is desperately trying to buy content at premium prices to keep subscribers engaged and justify price increases. And that Netflix could eventually resemble a modern-day network with an emphasis on live-streamed events rather than pre-produced shows and movies. Netflix's quarter after quarter of slowing growth and dependence on price increases is fueling that narrative, which is why the stock is tanking.
However, the glass-half-full view on Netflix is that the company is simply bigger than it used to be and has the deep pockets to branch into new markets rather than relying heavily on its own content. To its credit, Netflix isn't willing to pay any price for content, as evidenced by its willingness to be outbid by much smaller companies in Paramount-Skydance and Fox. And Netflix has collected a sizable consolation prize in the process through its $2.8 billion termination fee from Warner Bros. Discovery.
Netflix's latest results are disappointing, and it was a mistake in hindsight to raise prices so much in just a few years. But the stock's decline reflects that pessimism -- with Netflix sporting its lowest valuation in years -- trading at just 19.1 times 2026 full-year earnings estimates as of its after-hours price at the time of this writing.
Netflix is no stranger to taking risks Netflix has always been a risk-taking company, from disrupting Blockbuster through mail-order DVDs to pioneering the modern streaming platform to producing award-winning live-action and animated series and movies. Each evolution has been riddled with bumps along the way and periods of investor loss of confidence. And right now, Netflix is enduring another such period as investors question the price it is willing to pay for quality entertainment and if it's making the right choices with sports and pushing into daytime and mobile device viewing.
So while it's understandable if some investors want to wait for the dust to settle and for Netflix to regain its footing, folks who are confident in Netflix's long-term strategy are getting an impeccable opportunity to buy the streaming service stock at a dirt-cheap price.
On July 15, it was reported that privately held fintech company Stripe and private equity firm Advent International made a joint offer to acquire PayPal (PYPL 0.24%) for around $53 billion; the stock surged more than 17% on the news.
But would selling make sense for PayPal right now? From a company perspective, no. From a shareholder perspective, possibly -- just not right now.
PayPal is in the middle of a turnaround; in February it appointed a new CEO, Enrique Lores, who was serving in the same position at HP. Typically, if you switch up leadership and reorganize your company, it's because you think the move can turn things around, and you want to give it more than a few months to see how it plays out.
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Stripe and Advent's $53 billion is a lowball offer At $53 billion, their offer equates to $60.50 per share, 30% above PayPal's closing price on July 10. PayPal's stock has been struggling, yes, but it was just trading around that price in early December. That "premium" doesn't quite seem high enough, especially after PayPal's recent run-up; at market close on July 15, its share price was $55.52.
Share price aside, PayPal still generates respectable free cash flow (FCF). Last year, it had $6.4 billion in FCF, meaning the business would essentially pay off the acquisition cost in less than nine years, assuming it didn't grow. Between the cash flow and the $13.5 billion that PayPal had in cash, cash equivalents, and investments at the end of the first quarter, such a deal would be a steal for Stripe and Advent.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Should shareholders want PayPal sold? I think that if you're a PayPal investor who's grown impatient with the company's "turnaround" story, you'd be OK with it selling at the right price. Whether you're taking profits as a long-term investor or cutting losses short, it could just be a way to wash your hands of the company.
The good news is that the price for Stripe and Advent's offer is public, so if PayPal rejects it on price grounds rather than because it's not interested in selling at all, we could see higher buyout offers coming in. This initial proposal seems more like a "let's feel it out and see if they bite" type of offer.
On the other end, though, PayPal has been diligent about returning value to its shareholders through stock buybacks -- it returned $1.5 billion in the first quarter -- so investors have a greater incentive to be patient during PayPal's (ideal) transition period.
I don't think selling PayPal is in the best interests of either the company or its shareholders, but the latter might easily be convinced at the right price.
It's a heavy earnings week, with results also coming in from Halliburton, 3M, AT&T, Blackstone, and more. On the economic front, we'll see data on jobs, new-home sales, and industry purchasing activity.
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN | AMZN Price Prediction) and Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP) sit on opposite sides of the same retail transaction.
Amazon owns the storefront, warehouse, and increasingly the cloud powering everyone else. Shopify arms independent merchants competing against it. Both posted Q1 2026 results beating revenue expectations, and the contrast reveals where commerce and AI money is flowing.
AWS Reaccelerates While Shopify Crosses $100B in GMV Amazon reported $181.519 billion in revenue, up 16.61%, with EPS of $2.78 against a $1.653 estimate. AWS drove the headline, hitting $37.587 billion in cloud revenue, up 28%, the fastest pace in 15 quarters.
Andy Jassy told investors the chips business (Trainium, Graviton, Nitro) crossed a “$20 billion revenue run rate (growing triple digits year-over-year)”. Advertising cleared $70 billion trailing twelve months, a real second engine.
Shopify reported $3.17 billion in revenue, but growth ran hotter at 34.32%, accelerating from 27% in Q1 2025. Merchant Solutions grew 39% to $2.42 billion. GMV crossed $100.74 billion for the quarter for the first time, up 35%.
Operating income nearly doubled to $382 million, though a $941 million mark-to-market equity hit pushed GAAP net income to negative $581 million. Underlying profit was $360 million.
One Builds the AI Backbone, the Other Arms Merchants Amazon is spending like a utility. Q1 capex was $44.203 billion, up 76.68%. Anthropic committed to up to 5 GW of Trainium capacity, OpenAI to roughly 2 GW. Polymarket traders assign a 98.5% probability that Amazon 2026 capex exceeds $170B, and 86.5% above $200B. That is a substantial bill for AWS to justify.
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Shopify took the opposite approach: capex of $5 million, free cash flow of $476 million, and $491 million in buybacks under a fresh $2 billion program. Merchant lending originations hit $1.349 billion, turning Shop Capital into a real financial services line.
Lens Amazon Shopify Core bet AI infrastructure and custom silicon Merchant tools, payments, lending Q1 capex $44.2B $5M P/E 31 121 Key risk Capex payback timeline SMB merchant health, loan losses The Next Test Is Whether Capex and Consumer Spending Cooperate Amazon guided Q2 revenue to $194 billion to $199 billion. Shopify guided revenue growth in the high-twenties percentage range with mid-teens free cash flow margin. Watch whether Bedrock token growth and Trainium deployments start pulling AWS margins higher despite capex drag. For Shopify, monitor credit losses inside that $1.35 billion lending book if SMB spending softens.
Post-earnings action split. Amazon slipped 5% since its report as the market weighed capex. Shopify recovered 16.19% from its post-earnings dip, though shares are down 22.31% year to date.
The Case for Amazon on Valuation Amazon offers AWS growing 28% at a 37.7% operating margin, a real ads business, and a chip franchise Reddit compares to AMD and Broadcom, at a P/E of roughly 31. Shopify’s growth is faster, but a 121 trailing P/E leaves little room for consumer weakness.
For higher-beta commerce exposure, Shopify fits. For AI infrastructure at a reasonable multiple, Amazon is cleaner. The setup to watch is whether capex begins converting to cash in the second half.
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Artificial intelligence has become the defining investment theme of the decade, with hyperscalers committing hundreds of billions to data centers, chips, power, and software. The spending has rewarded companies across the AI supply chain, but markets are shifting from excitement to accountability.
Investors now want proof that massive capital expenditures can produce lasting returns. Banks and Goldman Sachs traders are warning that AI infrastructure spending is increasingly fueled by debt, while credit markets show growing concern as borrowing accelerates faster than near-term cash generation.
AI Spending Has Become a Debt-Fueled Race The AI arms race is rapidly reshaping balance sheets. Companies are issuing bonds at unprecedented scale to fund data centers, expand energy capacity, and secure scarce computing resources. The six largest AI infrastructure spenders — Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) — have issued a combined $244 billion in bonds this year, more than double last year’s total and 14 times 2024 levels.
This surge in borrowing reflects the enormous capital requirements behind AI. Building the infrastructure needed to support advanced models requires billions of dollars before those investments begin producing meaningful revenue. Unlike traditional software businesses, where additional users can often be added at minimal cost, AI requires expensive physical infrastructure.
Goldman Sachs reports that hyperscaler leverage ratios have doubled from 0.9x to 1.8x in roughly six months. Market indigestion is evident: Goldman’s AI bond basket spreads widened sharply, and the supply pain threshold has collapsed — where $75 billion once stressed the market, just $25 billion now puts it on the defensive.
The concern is not that AI lacks potential — it is that the timeline for turning massive investments into profitable businesses remains uncertain.
While companies like Microsoft and Alphabet benefit from fortress balance sheets and strong free cash flow, the broader ecosystem — including smaller players and aggressive capex plans — faces greater strain. Goldman Sachs estimates $5.8 trillion in combined AI capital expenditures for major hyperscalers through 2030, already consuming most operating cash flow and necessitating heavy borrowing.
Companies are effectively committing trillions of dollars today based on expectations that AI will create productivity gains and new revenue streams over years. If those returns arrive slower than anticipated, investors may become less patient.
The Risk of Delayed Returns The core concern is timing. Massive upfront costs for data centers create cash flow gaps if revenue and productivity gains lag. Companies may eventually need to slow expansion, refinance debt at higher rates, or accept lower returns on invested capital.
A slower-than-expected payoff could trigger rating pressure, higher financing costs, equity dilution, or forced capex cuts — with potential spillover into simultaneous stock and bond weakness, especially amid Federal Reserve policy uncertainty.
AI may become just as transformative as the internet, but not every company spending money on the trend will emerge as a winner.
Rising caution does not negate the opportunity, but it signals a decisive shift. The first phase rewarded infrastructure suppliers. The next phase will separate companies that deliver measurable returns on invested capital from those that do not.
Revenue growth, margin expansion, customer adoption, and free cash flow will become the scoreboard. History shows that spending booms without timely monetization often end in painful repricings.
Key Takeaway The AI boom has entered a high-stakes accountability phase. Massive spending and debt issuance alone can no longer sustain valuations. Investors need clear evidence of revenue growth, expanding margins, and sustainable cash flows.
The best-positioned companies combine strong balance sheets, existing profit engines, and credible paths to monetization. The AI revolution is real — but it still requires a robust business model that delivers returns before the credit markets force one.
Shares of Oracle (ORCL +1.77%) touched a fresh 52-week low of $121.50 on Friday. The database and cloud infrastructure company now trades about 63% below its high of $345.72, and its market capitalization has shrunk to about $365 billion.
The new low wasn't even the month's worst news.
On July 9, S&P Global Ratings cut Oracle's credit rating from BBB to BBB-, leaving the company one notch above junk status. The driver was the enormous cost of the AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure build-out Oracle has signed up for.
The market, in short, is now treating Oracle's AI opportunity as a balance-sheet problem. But with the stock trading at about 16 times the earnings management just guided for this fiscal year, it's worth asking whether the fear has traveled further than the facts warrant.
Image source: Getty Images.
What S&P is worried about The numbers behind the downgrade are uncomfortable. Oracle spent $55.7 billion on capital expenditures in fiscal 2026 (the year ended May 31, 2026) as it raced to build data centers for AI customers. The company generated $32 billion in operating cash flow, up 54% year over year -- and still spent it all, posting free cash flow of negative $23.7 billion for the year.
S&P expects the gap to widen. The agency projects Oracle's fiscal 2027 capital expenditures will reach $90 billion to $95 billion, and it sees the company's free operating cash flow deficit widening to about $42 billion. Oracle already carried nearly $130 billion in borrowings at the end of fiscal 2026. And after issuing $5 billion of mandatory convertible preferred stock in February, the company plans another $20 billion equity issuance later this calendar year.
There's a concentration problem, too. S&P noted that roughly half of Oracle's $638 billion in remaining performance obligations (the contracted revenue Oracle has signed but not yet delivered) comes from a single customer: OpenAI. If the ChatGPT maker ever struggles to fund its commitments, Oracle could be left holding data centers built for demand that never arrives.
That, to me, is the sharpest risk on the list.
The strain shows up in guidance, too. Management expects revenue to climb about 34% this fiscal year, to $90 billion. But it guided for non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings per share of $8.05 -- about 18% growth once one-time investment gains are stripped from fiscal 2026's figure. That's healthy, but it's still barely half the pace of revenue, because depreciation and interest are climbing alongside the build-out.
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Demand isn't the problem Oracle's fiscal 2026 results, meanwhile, were excellent. Revenue rose 17% year over year to $67.4 billion, and growth accelerated over the year, with fiscal fourth-quarter revenue climbing 21%. The company's cloud infrastructure business, the part of Oracle actually selling AI computing capacity, grew 93% year over year in fiscal Q4 to $5.8 billion. And full-year net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) rose 37% to $17.1 billion.
The backlog, concentration risk aside, is extraordinary.
Remaining performance obligations ended the year at $638 billion, up 363% year over year and up $85 billion from the prior quarter alone. A year earlier, the figure was about $138 billion. Notably, about $75 billion of the recent large AI contracts involve customers prepaying for graphics processing units (GPUs) or supplying the chips themselves -- an arrangement that shifts some of the build-out's cost off Oracle's books.
Then there's the price. With shares near $127 as of this writing, Oracle trades at roughly 22 times earnings and about 16 times the adjusted earnings management just guided to for fiscal 2027. However, that's a multiple more commonly attached to slow-growing legacy software companies than to a business guiding for 34% revenue growth.
So, has the panic overshot? Partly, I think.
The fear itself is rational. Negative free cash flow, a credit rating one notch above junk, and half the backlog riding on one unprofitable customer are real risks. And the coming share issuance will dilute existing shareholders. But at today's valuation, an awful lot of failure is already priced in -- and if the backlog converts anywhere near schedule, earnings growth could reaccelerate once the heaviest spending is behind the company.
I'm not buying yet, because the thing that would make this stock work (confidence that OpenAI's commitments turn into cash) isn't something Oracle controls. For investors with a strong stomach who believe AI demand is durable, though, a small position arguably starts to make sense at this price. I'd consider changing my mind if free cash flow stops deteriorating ahead of schedule, or if OpenAI's funding keeps showing up quarter after quarter. Those two things matter more than the next rating action.
The artificial intelligence (AI) race is far from over, and plenty of cloud computing capacity still needs to be built to support it. AI isn't even close to being used everywhere yet, and the amount of computing capacity that will be necessary to handle an AI-first economy is hard to imagine.
I think that bodes well for a handful of companies, and those that stand to benefit from increased data center construction top the list of my favorite investments now. I think investors should consider loading up on Nvidia (NVDA 1.97%), Micron Technology (MU +0.04%), and Alphabet (GOOG 2.06%) (GOOGL 2.05%), since these three are bound to benefit from major AI spending increases.
Image source: Getty Images.
Nvidia Nvidia has been the big name in AI investing since the infrastructure-building boom kicked off in 2023: Its products sit at the center of nearly every data center constructed. Its GPUs have dominated the AI computing market for their flexibility and reliability, and countless companies choose them to run their workloads.
The chipmaker's dominance looks sustainable. It reported an 85% revenue increase last quarter, and Wall Street analysts project nearly 100% growth next quarter. All of that growth is without chip sales to China, and Nvidia could be able to reenter that market in a meaningful way soon.
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As a cherry on top, management has already told investors that it expects $1 trillion in data center capital expenditures (capex) from the big four AI hyperscalers next year, up from $650 billion this year. That's an indication that the data center construction trend is alive and well, which will benefit the other two companies on this list as well. Alphabet has also confirmed this on its end: It told investors to expect "significantly" higher capex in 2027.
Despite its incredible recent results and a rock-solid outlook, Nvidia trades for only 23.7 times forward earnings, just barely over the S&P 500's forward P/E ratio of 21.7.
NVDA PE Ratio (Forward), data by YCharts; PE = price to earnings.
That's a minor premium to pay for one of the best stocks in the market, and with long-term growth tailwinds, it's a no-brainer buy at these levels.
Micron Micron makes memory chips, which are in huge demand for AI data centers. More specifically, it makes NAND and DRAM memory, which have different use cases in servers. The company and its peers don't have sufficient production capacity to satisfy soaring demand, and constructing new foundries will take time. As a result, memory prices have skyrocketed, boosting Micron's revenue and profits.
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This trend will likely persist for some time. Micron management told investors that it foresees the "tightness" in the memory chip market lasting beyond 2027. That's great news for Micron investors and will lead to major profit and revenue increases over the next few years.
Trading at a mere 12.3 times forward earnings, it's a top AI stock to buy now.
Alphabet Micron and Nvidia are both beneficiaries of increased AI infrastructure spending, while Alphabet is one of the companies doing the major spending. In that light, it may seem like an odd inclusion on this list, but it's important to look at the bigger picture.
Alphabet isn't spending hundreds of billions of dollars a year on data centers for the fun of it. Instead, it's building a cloud computing empire where its clients run traditional and AI workloads on its servers. Last quarter, revenues from its Google Cloud segment soared 63% year over year, and with more computing capacity coming online each quarter, I would expect the rapid increases to continue for some time.
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That will boost the stock over the long term and transform the makeup of the business, since Google Cloud is growing so much faster than every other division. If Alphabet can keep up this growth rate and maintain its profit margins, its heavy spending on AI computing power will be justified, and investors will receive an incredible return. I think Alphabet is one of the best AI hyperscalers to own, and it makes plenty of sense to buy now.
Apple (AAPL +0.26%) recently raised prices on many of its devices to offset rising memory prices, but it may have found a fix for soaring costs. A recent CNBC report said the company is in talks with an AI start-up that reduces on-device memory demands by 15x.
Squeezing vastly more memory processing capabilities from the same amount of memory could be bad news for Micron Technology (MU +0.04%). Here's what both Apple and Micron investors should know.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Apple is trying to fix a stubborn problem Apple recently increased the prices of many of its devices to keep pace with soaring memory costs. Demand for memory chips has risen sharply as tech giants continue their massive build-out of AI data centers.
Apple wants to keep the high margins it commands on its products. To maintain them amid rising memory chip costs, it raised its computer prices by $200 or more. And it could increase iPhone prices for the same reason later this year.
It's no wonder, then, that Apple is on the hunt for a fix for its memory problems. And it may have found it in an AI start-up called PrismML. The company says its technology reduces memory usage for AI models by up to 15x while delivering responses up to 8x faster.
There's no concrete deal or partnership between Apple and PrismML right now. Still, if Apple ends up using the technology, or something similar, it could help the company deliver advanced on-device Siri AI features without adding more expensive memory.
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Tech companies are very motivated to reduce memory costs Micron has enjoyed a surge in demand for memory for AI data centers, causing a shortage of memory processors. That shortage, in turn, has allowed Micron to charge more for its memory chips.
The result has been soaring profits for Micron, with non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share skyrocketing more than 1,200% to $25.11 per share in the third quarter of 2026.
If PrismML and Apple (or another company) eventually implement technology across tech devices that increased efficiency and reduces memory demand, it could threaten Micron's profit margins, which are currently at an enviable 74%.
Still, it's probably too early for investors to worry. For one, the technology would have to be implemented across a wide range of devices from many different tech companies for it to impact Micron's business.
What's more, and potentially most importantly, even if Apple and others implement more memory efficiencies, memory demand could still rise. The memory processor market is estimated to increase to more than $1 trillion next year, up from $230 billion in 2025.
Micron's management believes that autonomous vehicles and robotics will drive a new wave of demand for memory. In short, even if more efficient memory processing is around the corner, there are already growing tech markets that could keep demand high.
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Apple and Micron investors should watch this space I suspect we'll see a lot more technology in the next few years aimed at addressing memory demands. Apple has received a lot of attention for raising product prices, but all tech giants are feeling the effects of rising memory costs right now and are looking for a fix.
It's unlikely that Apple will want to continue making big price hikes for its devices. So, it'll either need to figure out how to make memory work more efficiently or absorb the rising costs. My money is on the former.
For Micron investors, the latest news is a good reminder that some of the impressive earnings growth the company has enjoyed likely won't last forever. I still think Micron has many long-term growth opportunities, but it's unrealistic to assume profit growth can maintain its rapidly accelerating pace.
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Every retiree with $1 million faces a version of the same choice. Park the money in a higher-yield income fund and aim for roughly $55,000 a year, or buy dividend growers yielding closer to 4%, take about $40,000 in year one, and let raises compound. The first pays more now. The second has a better chance to transform the income stream over time.
The 10-year Treasury was near 4.5% in early July 2026, which sets a useful low-default-risk benchmark. Anything above that has to earn its premium, and how it earns matters more than the headline yield.
The Math at Three Yield Tiers For a $55,000 income target, required capital swings dramatically by yield tier.
Conservative tier (3% to 4%). $55,000 divided by 0.04 equals $1,375,000. This is the dividend growth zone: broad-market ETFs, Dividend Aristocrats, blue-chip compounders. Names like Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT | MSFT Price Prediction), Visa (NYSE:V), Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW), and Broadcom sit here. Yields are modest. Growth is not.
Moderate tier (5% to 7%). $55,000 divided by 0.055 equals $1,000,000. Covered call ETFs, preferred shares, REITs, and high-dividend funds live here. Income arrives faster, but dividend growth flattens and upside is often capped by strategy.
Aggressive tier (8% to 14%). $55,000 divided by 0.10 equals $550,000. Business development companies, mortgage REITs, and high-yield bond funds pay the highest current distributions. Principal erosion is common, and distribution cuts arrive when credit cycles turn.
Why the $15,000 Cut Buys a $55,000 Raise Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) illustrates the point. In 2026, the board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.42 per share, or $5.68 annualized. Long-term holders who bought before years of dividend growth now receive far more income on their original cost than the starting yield suggested.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) declared a $0.91 quarterly dividend in June 2026. Lowe’s raised its quarterly dividend to $1.25 in 2026, up 4% from $1.20. Visa (NYSE: V) declared a $0.30 quarterly dividend in 2020 and was paying $0.67 in 2026. NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) said its dividend-growth plan calls for roughly 10% annual dividend-per-share growth through 2026 and 6% per year from year-end 2026 through 2028. Broadcom approved a $0.65 quarterly dividend for 2026 after raising it from $0.59 in late 2025.
Run the Math Run the math on $40,000 of conservative starting income. If the portfolio grows its distribution at 8% annually, income doubles in about nine years, reaches about $86,000 after 10 years, and reaches about $186,000 after 20 years. A flat $55,000 income stream starts higher, but it loses ground once the dividend-growth portfolio’s annual income passes it.
The $15,000 given up in year one comes back faster than many investors expect. In this example, the growing income stream passes $55,000 in annual income around year six, and cumulative income catches the flat $55,000 option around year nine. By year 20, the annual income is roughly $186,000, though the annual raise itself is still far below $55,000. Our research team’s Never Touch the Principal playbook explores this tradeoff in detail.
When the Growth Story Breaks The math holds only if raises materialize. Three guardrails matter most:
Payout ratios with room to grow. A dividend consuming 90% of earnings cannot expand. Microsoft’s payout on TTM EPS of $16.79 and Visa’s on EPS of $11.31 leave decades of headroom. Business durability. Broadcom’s AI semiconductor revenue runs at $10.8 billion a quarter, up 143%. Lowe’s guides to $92 billion to $94 billion in FY26 sales. These are not fragile balance sheets. Diversification. No single Aristocrat is bulletproof. Spread the growth mandate across 15 to 25 names or use a dividend-growth ETF. What to Do This Week Pull your actual spending, not gross income. Many retirees replace only 60% to 70% of pre-retirement earnings, shrinking capital required and often eliminating the aggressive tier. Compare 10-year total return of your target moderate-tier fund against a diversified dividend-growth basket. TXN returned 509% and AVGO returned 2,975%. Total return funds retirement, not headline yield. If within five years of drawing income, model sequence risk in each tier. A high-yield fund cutting distributions in year three differs from a dividend grower that dips 20% and keeps paying. The Paycheck That Keeps Up Higher yield feels safer because the check is bigger today. Higher-growth portfolios can be more durable over 20 years because they give the paycheck a chance to keep pace with the person cashing it.
The trade-off is patience. A $55,000 income stream looks better than $40,000 in year one, but a growing $40,000 stream can eventually pass it, then keep widening the gap if the raises continue. That is the real question behind the yield choice: whether the portfolio is built only to pay you now, or to pay you more later.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Rivian Automotive (RIVN +2.14%) captured great investor interest during its 2021 initial public offering (IPO), when the stock surged to over $170 per share, while its market capitalization reached $150 billion amid enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs). However, the stock has fallen sharply in recent years and remains 90% off its all-time high.
Despite the drastic decline, the company has made strides with its EV lineup and boasts a technology stack that sets it apart. With the stock below $20, is now the time to invest $5,000 (or another amount) in the beaten-down EV stock? Let's dive into the company's progress to find out.
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Rivian is ramping up production despite a tough environment for EV makers Rivian takes a vertically integrated approach to its EV platform, focusing on in-house manufacturing, technology, and software development. This approach gives it total control over its EV ecosystem but also requires massive up-front investment. At the end of the first quarter, Rivian's accumulated deficit exceeded $27 billion, reflecting the cumulative net losses the company has recorded since its inception in 2009.
While the company remains unprofitable, it has made progress in expanding its manufacturing capabilities. In the second quarter, the company produced 12,613 vehicles and delivered 12,194, exceeding the high end of its guidance of 11,000 vehicles. The strong performance prompted management to raise its full-year delivery guidance from 64,500 at the midpoint to 67,500.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
The company is seeing solid performance despite a difficult backdrop for EV makers. Part of this is thanks to the rollout of the Rivian R2, its lower-cost production vehicle, starting at $45,000. This is part of Rivian's efforts to achieve mass-market scale, and the company is expanding its manufacturing in the long term with its multibillion-dollar Georgia facility, aiming to produce hundreds of thousands of units annually when it opens in 2028.
In addition, Rivian formed a joint venture with Volkswagen in November 2024, which includes $5.8 billion in investments from the German automaker to be made in tranches for its in-house-developed software and zonal architecture. The Rivian R2 is the first vehicle built on an optimized version of this architecture, and Volkswagen expects to start using this technology stack in its vehicles as soon as next year.
Rivian is making huge capital investments Rivian is making progress, growing production and deliveries, but the company continues to burn through cash. In the first quarter, the company's loss from operations topped $655 million, an improvement from last year, when it topped $881 million. To continue to fund its expansion, Rivian raised $1.2 billion by selling 75 million shares of stock this month.
Looking ahead, Rivian still needs to expand over the next couple of years as it builds out its megafactory in Georgia and has pushed back its goal for achieving positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in 2027. For these reasons, it may pay off to be patient and see how the company navigates this capital-intensive phase of its business before building a sizable position in the stock.
The share prices of space economy stocks may be sinking, but that does not make the sector any less important to the future of the global economy. Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.43%) is the best-known of these space businesses due to its famous founder, Elon Musk, its recent record-breaking initial public offering, and its market cap of $1.75 trillion.
But this is not the only space economy company today vying to dominate the skies. Enter Rocket Lab (RKLB +0.59%). The rocket launch company just made a massive $8 billion acquisition to start directly competing with SpaceX's Starlink segment, setting off the starting gun for a collision course for the two ambitious businesses.
Which is the better buy for your portfolio right now?
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Vertically integrated space services Rocket Lab has announced its intention to buy Iridium Communications for $8 billion. Iridium has a satellite constellation for global connectivity, as well as important rights to L-band spectrum, which can cost billions of dollars in today's market. With Rocket Lab's launch and satellite manufacturing capabilities, the combined business will be able to vertically integrate to grow a satellite internet business to serve both civilians and the United States military.
This will put Rocket Lab on a collision course with SpaceX, which is already the leader in satellite internet with Starlink. Starlink has 10 million subscribers, $11.4 billion in annual revenue, and is growing quickly. Iridium generated $872 million in revenue last year, more than Rocket Lab but well below what SpaceX is achieving in satellite internet services.
For Rocket Lab, everything hinges on its ability to catch up with Starlink's customer value proposition and get its new, larger rocket, called the Neutron, operational. With much heavier payloads, Neutron will be able to deliver more satellites -- both internally and for third-party customers -- to orbit much faster.
Image source: Getty Images.
Which stock is the better buy? Both Rocket Lab and SpaceX trade at premium valuations, even after this post-SpaceX IPO dip for the entire space sector. Rocket Lab trades at a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 54, while SpaceX is still near 100 based on its 2025 figures.
To be fair, both businesses are growing quickly and are poised to lead the fast-growing space economy. However, the average S&P 500 stock trades at a P/S ratio of about 3.7, which is actually near a record high, meaning that these two space economy stocks trade at ultra-premiums.
If I had to choose, the lower P/S ratio and $40 billion market cap would put Rocket Lab ahead of SpaceX as a potential buy today. But for my individual portfolio, neither is close to making the cut.
Are Shiba Inu investors losing interest? Data indicates a possible change. SHIB movements on trading platforms show a long-term decline in activity on the memecoin. Thus, routine trading patterns lead to capital shifts and can affect the memecoin’s price.
In Brief Shiba Inu’s daily outflows from exchange platforms plummet sharply by 65 %. This historic slowdown shows that investors are stopping securing their tokens long-term. About 96 billion SHIB tokens have been sent back to exchanges, threatening market balance. The asset now oscillates between a prolonged stagnation phase and a risk of deeper correction. The Accumulation Brake The Shiba Inu memecoin experienced a sudden drop in withdrawals, and blockchain data reveals a slowdown. Indeed, analysis platforms reveal a decrease in trading data as follows :
A decrease in outflows : Shiba Inu (SHIB) showed a 65 % drop in daily outflows over the last day ; Absolute volumes remain steady : over the 24-hour period, total outflows from crypto platforms amounted to around 112 billion SHIB tokens ; A reduced pace: reduced trading activity points to a change in Shiba Inu storage. Outflows refer to the transfer of tokens from centralized trading platforms to cold storage. Therefore, a high-velocity outflow indicates that traders limit circulating supply to make tokens available for trading.
Conversely, a 65 % drop in the outflow rate underscores a significant weakening of demand and accumulation. This suggests investors no longer move their assets to protect their positions.
The Specter of a Shiba Inu Correction With reduced outflows, and for the first time in a long while, Shiba Inu began to show increased transfers to exchanges. During the same period, inflows to trading platforms reached a total of 96 billion SHIB tokens.
According to on-chain data, the net flow remains negative, as inflows to exchange platforms have consistently been lower than SHIB outflows. However, this hasn’t stopped analysts from focusing on the total increase in Shiba Inu inflows to exchanges, suggesting investors prepare for massive liquidation or portfolio restructuring.
As the number of SHIB tokens accumulates on trading platforms and demand continues to stagnate, this creates a structural imbalance between supply and demand. The SHIB price remains stagnant around the $0.0000042 area, and due to the cumulative effect of several months of price decline, it continues trading below the 50, 100, and 200-day exponential moving averages (EMAs).
This technical setup below key EMAs confirms the persistence of a medium- to long-term bearish trend. The arrival of significant volumes ready to be traded strengthens the risk of the current support failing, due to the lack of buying counterparties capable of absorbing this liquidity.
Impact on Price and the Technical Challenge Against Resistances The decrease in outflows means SHIB lacks a catalyst to structure a bullish reversal in spot markets. A high buying component and a significant increase in outflows are necessary because the token faces substantial resistance levels from previous highs.
Short-term traders observe that the absence of significant outflows to private wallets reduces token scarcity and thus caps the price. This increases the token’s exposure, with decreasing scarcity, to a strong bearish correction when Bitcoin and global markets correct.
The lack of momentum keeps Shiba Inu in a range with decreasing liquidity. With each price downcycle, liquidity is drained. The RSI and other momentum indicators show a bearish signal due to the lack of price action.
Thus, whales seem to observe a truce, refusing to initiate new buying waves while general macroeconomic signals remain uncertain. This lack of initiative strengthens the fragility of technical defense lines and exposes the asset to slow drift if local supports fail under selling pressure.
In light of these contradictory indicators, Shiba Inu’s future oscillates between maturing fundamentals and short-term speculative fragility. On one hand, the prolonged decline in global reserves on exchange platforms and activity surges on the Shibarium second-layer solution, which saw a temporary increase in daily transaction volume, remind that the community retains a degree of mobilization capacity. On the other hand, overall demand stagnation and the 65 % slowdown in accumulation highlight that the token could enter a prolonged stagnation phase or suffer a deeper correction if crypto market conditions deteriorate.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Investors face a choice between high-growth disruption and steady government contracting when choosing between Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX 5.43%), better known as SpaceX, and BWX Technologies (BWXT 1.33%) for their portfolios in 2026.
SpaceX’s focus on reusable rocketry and satellite internet contrasts with the nuclear manufacturing expertise of BWX Technologies. While one aims to lower the cost of reaching orbit, the other provides critical nuclear solutions for global security and clean energy.
The case for SpaceXSpace Exploration Technologies designs and operates reusable rockets, the Starship platform, and the Starlink broadband service. By March 2026, the company served 10.3 million Starlink subscribers across 164 countries and territories. Its business strategy centers on reducing launch costs through reusability while leveraging its own rockets to deploy a massive satellite constellation.
In its 2025 fiscal year (FY), revenue reached $18.7 billion, representing revenue growth of 33% compared to the previous year. Despite this top-line expansion, the company reported a net loss of $4.9 billion for the period. This performance reflects a shift from the prior year when the company achieved a positive net income during its aggressive expansion phase.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the current ratio stands at 1.4x, which measures a company's ability to cover short-term debts with current assets. The company carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.6x, comparing its total debt to the value of shareholder equity. Free cash flow, or the cash remaining after the business pays for its operating activities and investments in physical equipment, was negative $14 billion in FY 2025. Note that stock-based compensation (SBC) represented 28.7% of operating cash flow, which inflates reported cash generation since SBC is a non-cash expense added back in the cash flow statement.
The case for BWX TechnologiesBWX Technologies provides specialized nuclear components and services among defense stocks and global security industries. Its primary customer is the U.S. government, which accounted for 68% of consolidated revenues in 2025. Customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business, though it often provides long-term revenue visibility through multi-year contracts.
In FY 2025, revenue reached $3.2 billion, which was an increase of 18% over the prior year. The company reported net income of $329.9 million, resulting in a net margin of 10.3%. This level of profitability has remained relatively stable over the last three fiscal years as the company expanded its manufacturing footprint.
In terms of financial health, the company reported a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.6x as of its December 2025 balance sheet. This figure compares total debt to the value of shareholder equity. Its current ratio stands at 2.3x, suggesting it has ample liquid assets to cover obligations due within one year. The company generated free cash flow of $295.3 million during FY 2025.
Risk profile comparisonSpaceX operates in a capital-intensive industry that requires constant technological breakthroughs. The high cost of developing reusable rockets and the Starship platform presents ongoing financial pressure. The company also faces increasing competition in the satellite internet market from Amazon, which is developing its own satellite constellations to compete with Starlink.
BWX Technologies faces significant concentration risk since the U.S. government remains its largest customer. The company also manages high-consequence nuclear activities under strict oversight from government agencies. Operations often involve fixed-price contracts where rising costs for labor or materials can hurt the net margin. Furthermore, reliance on joint ventures with partners such as Amentum means it has limited control over some large projects.
Valuation comparisonBWX Technologies appears more conservative based on its lower Forward P/E, while Space Exploration Technologies carries a high P/S ratio. The Forward P/E measures the stock price against future earnings estimates, while the P/S ratio compares the price to the company's annual sales.
MetricSpace Exploration TechnologiesBWX TechnologiesSector BenchmarkForward P/E197.7x36.6x24.6xP/S ratio87.2x4.9xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLI sector ETF. Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Deciding to invest in SpaceX or BWX Technologies (BWXT) depends on whether you are a risk taker willing to bet on the spectacular potential of a space-based economy, or prefer the more conservative investment of a defense stock.
SpaceX only became a public company in June while BWXT has a long history of performance that investors can review. That’s one reason why buying shares in the former is a risk. Another is that SpaceX’s debt picture looks poised to change in 2026. Shortly after its IPO, the company announced a $25 billion bond issuance to fund its capital-intensive operations.
BWXT is my pick for the stock to buy in 2026. SpaceX is too speculative at this stage. Meanwhile, BWXT has an enormous opportunity in front of it. The company produces components for nuclear power, and with the rise of artificial intelligence, the demand for electricity is soaring, so much so that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates power shortages by 2030.
Consequently, organizations are turning to nuclear power, creating a huge market for BWXT. In its first quarter earnings report, the company noted a whopping 121% year-over-year increase in sales to the commercial sector to $283.6 million. This reduces BWXT’s reliance on the government while providing a growing revenue stream for the company.
Aevo’s decentralized derivatives exchange delivers PERPS+ to mobile traders, achieving full feature parity with desktop. Downside protection on perpetual futures is now available in one tap from a phone.
Aevo, the decentralized derivatives exchange with more than $10 billion in options volume since 2020, has made PERPS+ available on mobile. The update adds protection directly to a perpetual futures position at entry, where the trader selects a mode, defines the level, and Aevo executes the full position in a single tap. No options knowledge is needed. With this release, Aevo’s mobile platform now mirrors its desktop experience completely.
Traders can download the Aevo app on the App Store and Google Play for the full mobile experience (currently not available to U.S. or U.K. persons).
Aevo has a track record of building products the rest of the market eventually adopts. PERPS+ on mobile is the latest example. Risk-defined positions once required either a professional options desk or a DeFi vault with fixed parameters. They now require a single tap.
Built first, copied later Aevo’s technical foundation helped shape how decentralized derivatives are built today. A custom Ethereum layer-2 combines an off-chain order book with on-chain settlement, delivering centralized-exchange execution speeds without requiring traders to give up custody. That architecture has since been widely replicated across the decentralized derivatives space.
Aevo also introduced aeUSD, a yield-bearing stablecoin designed specifically as trading collateral. With nearly two years of live production history, it ranks among the most battle-tested yield-bearing collateral assets in DeFi. Collateral earns passively whether positions are open or flat.
Everything runs inside a single cross-margin account: options, perps, and structured products sharing one collateral pool. Delivering decentralized options at exchange scale remains a technical challenge most venues have not solved.
PERPS+: protection built in, no options knowledge required The barrier has always been the same. Options provide genuine risk management, loss caps, upfront income, and defined entry parameters, but strikes, expiries, and premium calculations push most perps traders away. The result is a majority of leveraged traders running positions with no protection at all.
PERPS+ removes the interface barrier. Traders choose from three enhancers:
Limit My Loss defines the maximum loss at entry, with the downside capped and the upside remaining fully open. Get Paid to Hold delivers an upfront premium immediately, in exchange for a defined profit ceiling. Lock My Range sets both the floor and the ceiling on a position for approximately zero net cost. PERPS+ is currently available on BTC and ETH perpetual futures.
The trader selects the protection level. Aevo handles the structuring, pricing, and execution in one tap.
Aevo spokesperson said “Onchain options have been called the next big thing every year since 2021. And every year, they’ve failed to become it… So we thought, what if getting options-level protection felt exactly like trading a perp? That’s PERPS+”.
PERPS+ addresses two distinct trader profiles. The first is the perps trader who has never used options, where they gain one-tap protection on positions they were already planning to open. The second is the DeFi vault depositor who wants structured exposure but without fixed vault terms, as PERPS+ gives them the same vault-like payoff structure with full control over their own parameters.
PERPS+ is live across web and mobile. The feature launched on web first and is now fully available on both platforms.
Protection that travels Closing a position from a phone has always been possible. Opening one with a defined floor already built in has not, until now. Aevo mobile makes that a one-tap action, on a mobile derivatives exchange with full desktop parity.
A token with a shrinking supply The AEVO token has been fully distributed since mid-2025, when the final scheduled unlock completed. No vesting cliffs ahead. No investor unlock events. No dilution overhang.
74 million AEVO have been permanently removed from circulation to date through a recurring monthly buyback and burn, funded entirely by real exchange revenue. The supply mechanic makes the token deflationary. Stakers receive monthly Uniswap V3 LP positions in the AEVO/USDC pool, earning swap fees that compound as long as the position is held.
The result: no unlock calendar to trade against, and a deflationary supply that shrinks as the exchange earns.
About Aevo PERPS+ and the full mobile experience are live at www.aevo.xyz. Technical documentation is on Aevo Docs.
After another big run-up early this year, Bloom Energy (BE +3.98%) is stumbling again. Shares are down nearly 40% from their late-June peak, in fact, suggesting investors still don't remain fully convinced that hydrogen fuel cells will play a prominent role in the energy industry's future.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to hold onto those doubts, though, given all the deals now being made between fuel cell makers like Bloom and electricity-hungry AI data centers' owners and operators. Case(s) in point: Just a few days ago, artificial intelligence data center company ECL inked a contract to deploy 300 megawatts worth of hydrogen fuel cells made by Sweden's PowerCell.
Shortly before that, heavy equipment maker Siemens agreed to co-develop distributed energy solutions specifically for data centers with FuelCell Energy, just days after FuelCell Energy made a similar deal with Fit Energy USA.
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For its part, late last month investment manager and project developer Brookfield announced it would be quintupling its initial $5 billion purchase of power infrastructure manufactured by Bloom Energy. That follows April's announcement that technology giant Oracle more than doubled the amount of power it initially needed from Bloom's onsite fuel cell power solutions, from 1.2 gigawatts to 2.8 gigawatts.
Read between the lines. Hydrogen fuel cells are finally entering the mainstream as an option for powering artificial intelligence data centers. Now that the proverbial floodgates are open, investors will have little choice but to notice the companies making the noise. With Bloom Energy, they'll not only find a company that's already profitable, but one expected to become increasingly so.
Data source: Morningstar. Chart by author.
Moreover, the fact that Bloom's solid-oxide fuel cells can also utilize natural gas or biogas clearly makes its tech uniquely marketable within a fuel cell market that Mordor Intelligence expects to grow an average of 37% per year through 2031.
In other words, the hydrogen fuel industry is at a tipping point. Nobody will be able to deny or ignore this by the end of the year. This, of course, lays a much firmer foundation for Bloom Energy shares.
James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy, Brookfield Asset Management, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable and Siemens Energy Ag. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
PANews July 19 news, Token Unlocks data shows that tokens such as ZRO, KAITO, H will see significant unlocks next week, including:
LayerZero (ZRO) will unlock approximately 25.71 million tokens on July 20 at 7:00 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 4.6% of circulating supply and valued at around $20.9 million;
KAITO (KAITO) will unlock approximately 17.6 million tokens on July 20 at 8:00 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 4.3% of circulating supply and valued at around $16 million;
Humanity Protocol (H) will unlock approximately 266 million tokens on July 25 at 8:00 AM Beijing time, representing roughly 8.6% of circulating supply and valued at around $15.5 million;
Plasma (XPL) will unlock approximately 88.89 million tokens on July 25 at 8:00 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 3.44% of circulating supply and valued at around $7.3 million;
SoSoValue (SOSO) will unlock approximately 23.46 million tokens on July 24 at 5:00 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 6.78% of circulating supply and valued at around $6.9 million;
aPriori (APR) will unlock approximately 31.88 million tokens on July 23 at 8:00 AM Beijing time, representing roughly 11.28% of circulating supply and valued at around $6.8 million;
SOON (SOON) will unlock approximately 20.24 million tokens on July 23 at 4:30 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 3.91% of circulating supply and valued at around $3.3 million;
MBG By Multibank Group (MBG) will unlock approximately 27.15 million tokens on July 22 at 8:00 PM Beijing time, representing roughly 6.96% of circulating supply and valued at around $3.3 million;
Undeads Games (UDS) will unlock approximately 2.15 million tokens on July 21 at 8:00 AM Beijing time, representing roughly 1.11% of circulating supply and valued at around $2.4 million.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 19, 2026) - Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Peabody Energy securities between October 14, 2024 and May 4, 2026, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTU.
Peabody Energy Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose:
The true state of Centurion mine's commissioning challenges, including unanticipated electrical and mechanical problems, roof control deterioration, and floor softening that made the March 2026 longwall production deadline unachievable.That Defendants' repeated assurances that Centurion was "on time and on budget" and "ahead of schedule" were materially false and misleading.That the mine's production shortfalls would materially impact Peabody's full-year 2026 financial results, including an $80 million EBITDA impact in the first quarter alone.On March 30, 2026 and May 5, 2026, Peabody disclosed the true scope of Centurion's problems, slashing its full-year sales outlook from 3.5 million to 2.5 million tons and increasing cost guidance to $123-$133 per ton.
Following this news, BTU fell approximately 9.7% on March 30, 2026, and an additional 5.7% on May 5, 2026, declining from $39.50 to $25.00 per share, a cumulative decline of approximately 37%.
What's Next for Peabody Energy Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/BTU. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Peabody Energy you have until August 24, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Peabody Energy Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Peabody Energy Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com.
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/303065
Source: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL | MRVL Price Prediction) has been one of the most volatile large-cap AI infrastructure stocks of 2026. Wall Street’s tone has shifted noticeably since the company closed its XConn Technologies acquisition on February 10, 2026. Chiplet connectivity has moved from a side story to a central pillar of the AI datacenter thesis, and analysts have reset their price targets accordingly.
Our 24/7 Wall St. price target for Marvell is $264.31, roughly 40.37% above the current price of $188.30. Our recommendation is buy, with a model confidence of 90%.
24/7 Wall St. Price Target Summary Metric Value Current Price $188.30 24/7 Wall St. Price Target $264.31 Upside 40.37% Recommendation BUY Confidence Level 90% From $329 to $188: What Just Happened Marvell is up 121.9% year to date and 166.34% over the trailing year, but shares have cooled hard. They are down 22.58% over the past week and 32.41% over the past month from a 52-week high of $329.80, driven by hyperscaler capex worries and profit-taking after S&P 500 inclusion.
Fundamentals remain strong. Q1 FY2027 revenue landed at $2.418 billion, up 27.6% year over year, with data center at $1.833 billion, or 76% of total sales. CEO Matt Murphy guided Q2 to $2.7 billion at the midpoint, roughly 35% YoY growth, saying Marvell is “significantly raising Marvell’s revenue outlook for both fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028.”
The XConn deal, alongside Celestial AI (closed February 2, 2026) and a $2 billion NVIDIA strategic investment announced July 6, 2026, position Marvell inside the NVLink ecosystem.
Why Bulls See $350 Ahead Marvell has become the second name in custom silicon behind Broadcom. The ecosystem keeps expanding: KeyBanc raised its target to $385, BofA to $365, Stifel to $350, and UBS to $340 following the Teralynx T100 launch. Seeking Alpha analysts see the custom ASIC business scaling from $1.5 billion to over $4 billion by 2028.
Our bull scenario points to $349.35 over the next 12 months, an 85.53% return. Triggers include another guidance raise, deeper NVLink integration, and Celestial AI photonic fabric hitting production. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has called Marvell “the next trillion-dollar company.”
What Could Go Wrong Marvell trades at a trailing P/E of 66 and a forward P/E of 54, with quarterly earnings down 80.4% year over year. The headline decline is largely explained by a $331.8 million contingent consideration charge and $207.6 million of stock-based compensation tied to recent deals, but it represents real dilution and cash-adjusted margin pressure.
Concentration risk is another overhang: 76% of revenue is now data center, and any hyperscaler capex slowdown lands hard. GuruFocus flags a fair value of $109.60 to $111.04. Our bear scenario points to $201.57 over 12 months.
How Marvell Compares to Broadcom and Credo Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) is the direct comparable on custom AI silicon and networking. Broadcom delivered Q2 FY2026 revenue of $22.19 billion, up 47.9% YoY, with AI semiconductor revenue of $10.8 billion, up 143%. At a $1.78 trillion market cap, Broadcom’s scale makes Marvell the smaller, faster-follower play.
Credo (NASDAQ:CRDO) is the pure-play interconnect comparable. It posted Q4 FY2026 revenue of $437 million, up 157% YoY and trades at a $38.78 billion market cap. Credo grows faster in percentage terms, but Marvell has scale and diversification. On a growth-adjusted basis, Marvell’s forward multiple looks fair.
Company Latest Quarter Revenue Growth (YoY) Market Cap Marvell 27.6% $172.7B Broadcom 47.9% $1.78T Credo 157.0% $38.78B Weighing the Dip, With Guardrails Our 24/7 Wall St. price target is $264.31, our recommendation is buy, and our confidence is 90%. The scale-tipping factor is the raised FY2027 and FY2028 outlook combined with the NVIDIA capital injection.
Watch the next earnings report for confirmation of continued sequential acceleration in data center revenue. Hyperscaler capex guidance from Amazon, Google, or Microsoft turning negative before Marvell’s next report would be a key risk to monitor.
Year 24/7 Wall St. Price Target 2026 $264 2027 $310 2028 $370 2029 $425 2030 $485 These projections assume Marvell executes on custom ASIC, optical, and chiplet interconnect. Significant upside or downside could come from hyperscaler capex trajectory and integration of Celestial AI and XConn technology stacks.
Warren Buffett is one of the world's most famous investors. Although he was technically the CEO of industrial conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA 0.34%)(BRKB 0.42%), it was his investment approach that really grew the business. Essentially, he used the company as an investment vehicle, buying entire companies and large stakes in publicly traded stocks.
He has handed the CEO role to a handpicked successor, Greg Abel. But Buffett may be making Abel's job more difficult over the long term with the changes he is making to his giving plans. Here's what you need to know.
Buffett shifts gears with his $140 billion Berkshire stake Buffett's ownership of Berkshire Hathaway totals around $140 billion. The company's market cap is roughly $1.05 trillion, so Buffett alone controls around 13% of the giant company. That's a big position, and it gives the former CEO a strong voice in corporate decision-making. To be fair, he's the chairman of the board of directors, so he has a strong voice anyway. But large shareholders often have to be consulted when big decisions are made.
Image source: Getty Images.
This is where the shift away from giving shares to the Bill Gates Foundation comes into play. Unfortunately, Bill Gates has been caught up in the Epstein scandal, and Buffett has been distancing himself from the former Microsoft (MSFT 1.67%) CEO. So instead of donating Berkshire shares to Bill Gates' foundation, Buffett is donating the rest of his Berkshire stake to foundations run by his children.
Nothing is going to change right away This is a multi-year process that won't end until 2034, unless Buffett passes away, in which case it will happen more quickly. Regardless, so long as Buffett is still alive, it is unlikely that his children will do anything dramatic with their foundations' Berkshire positions. But a look at Hershey (HSY 1.89%) and Hormel (HRL 1.25%) is worth considering.
Both of these consumer staples companies have large foundations established by their founders. The Hormel Foundation has a stated goal of ensuring Hormel's ongoing independence. The Hershey Trust has stepped in to block acquisition attempts a couple of times. With a $1 trillion market cap, it is unlikely that Berkshire Hathaway will be acquired by another company. But there's another twist here.
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$
491.04
The Hormel Foundation and The Hershey Trust both use dividends from their respective equity stakes to support their philanthropic efforts. Buffett shied away from paying dividends, instead reinvesting in the business. But Berkshire Hathaway has ample capacity to pay dividends. It isn't a stretch to think that Buffett's children, in support of the foundations they run, could push Berkshire Hathaway to start paying a dividend. That would allow the foundations to maintain their stock positions while continuing to support their philanthropic goals.
Berkshire Hathaway is still changing Greg Abel is likely to run Berkshire Hathaway in a manner similar to Buffett, his mentor. However, Abel is a different person, so he will put his own imprint on the company. Essentially, Berkshire Hathaway is already changing. When Buffett gives away all his shares, it isn't a stretch to think the business will change further. And with the involvement of large philanthropic foundations, the change might include a deeper discussion of dividends in 2034, or even sooner.
84 million BANK tokens have been transferred from the foundation to the Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million.
Arkham data shows that 84 million BANK tokens (of Lorenzo Protocol) were transferred from the BANK Foundation address to a newly created wallet, then moved to an Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million. Market data indicates BANK has rallied more than 3 times over the past three days, briefly topping $0.21, and is now trading at $0.163 with a 24-hour gain of 53.7%.
49 minutes ago
World Cup Predict.fun Final Launches 30-Point Market, 260,000 USDT Prize Pool Up for Grabs
Predict.fun’s World Cup Finals have officially kicked off. Centered on the Argentina vs. Spain match, 30 fan token markets are now live, covering multiple dimensions including match outcome, score, goals, corner kicks, and player performance, with nearly 200,000 fan tokens released in total. Supporters of the eventual winning team will split the 260,000 USDT final prize pool based on their points rankings.
49 minutes ago
Analysis: Bitcoin will not bottom out this quarter; the current sideways consolidation is a false stability, with the real bottom and accumulation window arriving in October.
Market analyst Noname has published a post refuting the current "bottom is already here" narrative, arguing that calling a bottom is premature. The current sideways consolidation essentially reflects indecision, with "hesitation at this level usually preceding a downward breakout before an upward move." The analyst outlined a clear path forecast for the second half of 2026: July will see "false stability" and a bear trap rally, with volatility to flush out weak positions; August will mark the start of the real decline, testing the $50,000 level for the first time; September will extend downward pressure, with a W-bottom structure beginning to form; October will be the actual bottom and accumulation zone, at which point participation strategies will turn aggressive; November will show initial signs of recovery, with prices starting to rebound from the bottom; December will bring the possibility of returning to $100,000 for the first time since the bear market began. The analyst emphasized that the final sell-off is still imminent, though most refuse to believe it. "Don’t let the sideways movement fool you." In terms of rhythm, the decline since the June high is a full liquidation of the three-year rally. Previous bear cycles all ended with corrections of over 80%; the current price is roughly 50% down from its all-time high, so if history repeats, lower targets should still be within expectations. The analyst predicts the final bottom will not drag into the fourth quarter—this cycle will complete in the third quarter. An oversold zone with expanding volume may be observed between August and September, followed by a breakout in the fourth quarter, and returning to $100,000 by year-end will be the minimum rebound target needed for bulls to repair structural damage.
49 minutes ago
Smart money address 'gritsa.eth' has opened a long position of 50 BTC, valued at approximately $3.22 million.
According to OnchainLens monitoring, the smart money address "gritsa.eth" has just opened a long position on Hyperliquid for 50 BTC, worth approximately $3.22 million. The trader’s cumulative profit exceeds $2.83 million.
49 minutes ago
CZ teases in a post: Even being inactive doesn’t hurt gaining followers – could the bear market be nearing its end?
Binance founder CZ posted, "Inactivity doesn’t seem to affect follower growth at all. Is the bear market almost over?" According to the tweet CZ cited, his current follower count on X stands at 11.98 million, soon to cross the 12 million threshold.
49 minutes ago
US Secretary of Energy states that military operations against Iran will continue.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright has stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives. In an interview, Wright said the Trump administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until its task is completed," (CCTV)
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
The tokenized real-world asset market is sending mixed signals. Spot market capitalization has pulled back from earlier highs near $38 billion, while derivatives open interest for RWA-related tokens has surged to record levels.
As of mid-July 2026, RWA.xyz pegs the distributed value of tokenized real-world assets at roughly $34.79 billion, reflecting a modest 3.53% increase over the prior 30 days. That number represents a meaningful retreat from the $38 billion figure seen earlier in the year.
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Derivatives activity tells a different story On Hyperliquid, open interest for RWA-related perpetual futures has climbed to a record range of $3.6 billion to $4 billion as of July 13, 2026. That contributed to a total platform-wide open interest peak of $11 billion across all trading activity.
The bigger picture: a year of massive growth The total value of tokenized real-world assets has nearly tripled year-over-year, climbing from roughly $11.8 billion in mid-2025 to approximately $33.5 billion by July 2026. The first quarter of 2026 was particularly strong. Tokenized RWAs saw roughly 30% growth during Q1, with total values climbing to between $27.5 billion and $29 billion.
Much of this growth has been anchored by tokenized US Treasuries, which remain the dominant segment of the RWA market. Various snapshots throughout 2026 place their value between $12 billion and $15 billion.
What this means for investors The surge in derivatives activity means the RWA sector is becoming more efficient at price discovery, but it also means volatility events could be amplified. When $3.6 billion to $4 billion in open interest sits on perpetual futures contracts, liquidation cascades become a real risk during sharp price moves.
For those watching this space, the key metric to track isn’t just market cap. It’s the ratio between spot value and derivatives open interest. Right now, with RWA derivatives OI climbing toward $4 billion against a spot market around $34.79 billion, leverage ratios remain relatively contained compared to what you see in major crypto pairs. But that gap is closing, and the speed at which it closes will determine whether the next move in RWA tokens is driven by fundamentals or by forced liquidations.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Market capitalizations have climbed back. ETFs are running. New L1s and L2s launch every month. Yet the conversation at the highest levels of the industry is circling a quieter, more uncomfortable problem: the talent pool isn’t deep enough to match what crypto is trying to build. In a July 9 interview on the VALR podcast, Hyperliquid co-founder Jeff Yan framed it directly. The biggest challenge facing the sector today, he argued, is not regulation, not scalability, not user experience—it’s the failure to attract the highest quality entrepreneurial talent.
Yan’s remarks land at a moment when crypto infrastructure has never been more capable, but the pipeline of builders willing to reimagine financial rails from scratch looks dangerously thin. The observation is not about coding talent in the aggregate. It is about the specific kind of founder who can take academic concepts in market design, risk, and engineering and translate them into systems that operate at scale across fragmented global liquidity pools.
The Prestige Problem Part of the drain is cultural. Yan pointed to the AI boom and the gravitational pull of prestige careers. The smartest young graduates, he said, often do not have a clear picture of where their skills could create the most impact. The result is a narrow funnel into big tech, quant funds, and now AI labs, while on-chain finance struggles to compete for the same minds. This is not a new dynamic, but it has intensified as AI has captured the attention of both venture capital and the broader public imagination.
The shift creates a structural problem for crypto. Unlike the last cycle, where ICOs and NFT mania lured generalist entrepreneurs, today’s environment demands something harder to find: people who understand both traditional finance’s plumbing and the design constraints of decentralized networks. Without them, the gap between what blockchains can theoretically do and what actually gets shipped widens.
Rebuilding Finance From First Principles Yan described the work ahead as an “incredible undertaking”—rebuilding financial engineering from first principles and making academic concepts usable at scale. That is a different proposition from launching a token or a copycat protocol. It involves deep work on clearing mechanisms, cross-margining, liquidity models, and settlement guarantees that most crypto projects never touch. Institutional moves like Bullish buying Equiniti for $4.2 billion or Ondo settling directly with JPMorgan make it clear that the financial industry’s on-chain migration is no longer theoretical. It is happening, and it requires exactly the kind of talent Yan is trying to summon.
He urged the younger generation not to take things at surface value. Instead of chasing the obvious, he said, they should identify the real problems the world faces and recognize the scale of the renaissance happening in on-chain finance right now. That framing stands in contrast to the narrative that crypto has run out of big ideas.
Where the Developers Are Data on developer activity offers a mixed picture. Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Polygon still dominate weekly active developers, with Solana and Cosmos close behind. That activity is healthy, but much of it focuses on incrementally improving existing infrastructure rather than the kind of ground-up financial redesign Yan describes. The difference between maintaining a codebase and inventing a new market structure is the difference between a contributor and the entrepreneurial talent crypto is missing.
The industry’s oldest ecosystems have large developer bases, but the distribution is uneven. Newer chains often struggle to attract builders beyond airdrop farmers and short-term incentive programs. That environment does not naturally produce the deep, patient work of building clearinghouses, order matching engines, or risk management systems that can handle billions in notional value.
Regulatory Noise as a Talent Deterrent Regulatory uncertainty plays its own role in the talent equation. When the most visible policy battles involve things like banks attempting to kill landmark crypto legislation days before a Senate vote, the signal to technically gifted founders who have career options is not encouraging. The US market, in particular, sends conflicting messages: huge capital flows into ETFs, but an operating environment that can feel hostile to anyone building core financial infrastructure on-chain. For the kind of talent Yan wants to attract, risk-adjusted career calculus matters. If regulators treat decentralized clearing as an existential threat to legacy banking, the brightest minds will simply build elsewhere.
What remains uncertain is whether the industry can reverse the talent drain before the window of opportunity narrows. The AI sector is not slowing down, and traditional finance firms are paying top dollar for quant and engineering talent. Crypto’s pitch—that it offers a once-in-a-generation chance to rebuild the entire financial stack—will need to be made more clearly and to a wider audience if it is to compete. Yan’s comments are a reminder that the most expensive resource in crypto today is not capital, but capable founders who can think from first principles.
AUTHOR
Kester is an experienced freelance content writer. His focus is primarily on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. One might even refer to him as a "blockchain enthusiast." He has been following advancements in the crypto and blockchain area for several years, researching and writing his insights in the media. In addition to being a skilled content writer, Mushumir is also knowledgeable in SEO and digital marketing. He aspires to succeed as a content creator in the digital realm, dealing with customers in the finance and tech industries to generate traffic through engaging taglines and content. Mushumir enjoys traveling, reading, and playing cricket when he is not writing. He now works as a news and article writer for BlockchainReporter.
84 million BANK tokens have been transferred from the foundation to the Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million.
Arkham data shows that 84 million BANK tokens (of Lorenzo Protocol) were transferred from the BANK Foundation address to a newly created wallet, then moved to an Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million. Market data indicates BANK has rallied more than 3 times over the past three days, briefly topping $0.21, and is now trading at $0.163 with a 24-hour gain of 53.7%.
49 minutes ago
World Cup Predict.fun Final Launches 30-Point Market, 260,000 USDT Prize Pool Up for Grabs
Predict.fun’s World Cup Finals have officially kicked off. Centered on the Argentina vs. Spain match, 30 fan token markets are now live, covering multiple dimensions including match outcome, score, goals, corner kicks, and player performance, with nearly 200,000 fan tokens released in total. Supporters of the eventual winning team will split the 260,000 USDT final prize pool based on their points rankings.
49 minutes ago
Analysis: Bitcoin will not bottom out this quarter; the current sideways consolidation is a false stability, with the real bottom and accumulation window arriving in October.
Market analyst Noname has published a post refuting the current "bottom is already here" narrative, arguing that calling a bottom is premature. The current sideways consolidation essentially reflects indecision, with "hesitation at this level usually preceding a downward breakout before an upward move." The analyst outlined a clear path forecast for the second half of 2026: July will see "false stability" and a bear trap rally, with volatility to flush out weak positions; August will mark the start of the real decline, testing the $50,000 level for the first time; September will extend downward pressure, with a W-bottom structure beginning to form; October will be the actual bottom and accumulation zone, at which point participation strategies will turn aggressive; November will show initial signs of recovery, with prices starting to rebound from the bottom; December will bring the possibility of returning to $100,000 for the first time since the bear market began. The analyst emphasized that the final sell-off is still imminent, though most refuse to believe it. "Don’t let the sideways movement fool you." In terms of rhythm, the decline since the June high is a full liquidation of the three-year rally. Previous bear cycles all ended with corrections of over 80%; the current price is roughly 50% down from its all-time high, so if history repeats, lower targets should still be within expectations. The analyst predicts the final bottom will not drag into the fourth quarter—this cycle will complete in the third quarter. An oversold zone with expanding volume may be observed between August and September, followed by a breakout in the fourth quarter, and returning to $100,000 by year-end will be the minimum rebound target needed for bulls to repair structural damage.
49 minutes ago
Smart money address 'gritsa.eth' has opened a long position of 50 BTC, valued at approximately $3.22 million.
According to OnchainLens monitoring, the smart money address "gritsa.eth" has just opened a long position on Hyperliquid for 50 BTC, worth approximately $3.22 million. The trader’s cumulative profit exceeds $2.83 million.
49 minutes ago
CZ teases in a post: Even being inactive doesn’t hurt gaining followers – could the bear market be nearing its end?
Binance founder CZ posted, "Inactivity doesn’t seem to affect follower growth at all. Is the bear market almost over?" According to the tweet CZ cited, his current follower count on X stands at 11.98 million, soon to cross the 12 million threshold.
49 minutes ago
US Secretary of Energy states that military operations against Iran will continue.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright has stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives. In an interview, Wright said the Trump administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until its task is completed," (CCTV)
84 million BANK tokens have been transferred from the foundation to the Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million.
Arkham data shows that 84 million BANK tokens (of Lorenzo Protocol) were transferred from the BANK Foundation address to a newly created wallet, then moved to an Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million. Market data indicates BANK has rallied more than 3 times over the past three days, briefly topping $0.21, and is now trading at $0.163 with a 24-hour gain of 53.7%.
49 minutes ago
World Cup Predict.fun Final Launches 30-Point Market, 260,000 USDT Prize Pool Up for Grabs
Predict.fun’s World Cup Finals have officially kicked off. Centered on the Argentina vs. Spain match, 30 fan token markets are now live, covering multiple dimensions including match outcome, score, goals, corner kicks, and player performance, with nearly 200,000 fan tokens released in total. Supporters of the eventual winning team will split the 260,000 USDT final prize pool based on their points rankings.
49 minutes ago
Analysis: Bitcoin will not bottom out this quarter; the current sideways consolidation is a false stability, with the real bottom and accumulation window arriving in October.
Market analyst Noname has published a post refuting the current "bottom is already here" narrative, arguing that calling a bottom is premature. The current sideways consolidation essentially reflects indecision, with "hesitation at this level usually preceding a downward breakout before an upward move." The analyst outlined a clear path forecast for the second half of 2026: July will see "false stability" and a bear trap rally, with volatility to flush out weak positions; August will mark the start of the real decline, testing the $50,000 level for the first time; September will extend downward pressure, with a W-bottom structure beginning to form; October will be the actual bottom and accumulation zone, at which point participation strategies will turn aggressive; November will show initial signs of recovery, with prices starting to rebound from the bottom; December will bring the possibility of returning to $100,000 for the first time since the bear market began. The analyst emphasized that the final sell-off is still imminent, though most refuse to believe it. "Don’t let the sideways movement fool you." In terms of rhythm, the decline since the June high is a full liquidation of the three-year rally. Previous bear cycles all ended with corrections of over 80%; the current price is roughly 50% down from its all-time high, so if history repeats, lower targets should still be within expectations. The analyst predicts the final bottom will not drag into the fourth quarter—this cycle will complete in the third quarter. An oversold zone with expanding volume may be observed between August and September, followed by a breakout in the fourth quarter, and returning to $100,000 by year-end will be the minimum rebound target needed for bulls to repair structural damage.
49 minutes ago
Smart money address 'gritsa.eth' has opened a long position of 50 BTC, valued at approximately $3.22 million.
According to OnchainLens monitoring, the smart money address "gritsa.eth" has just opened a long position on Hyperliquid for 50 BTC, worth approximately $3.22 million. The trader’s cumulative profit exceeds $2.83 million.
49 minutes ago
CZ teases in a post: Even being inactive doesn’t hurt gaining followers – could the bear market be nearing its end?
Binance founder CZ posted, "Inactivity doesn’t seem to affect follower growth at all. Is the bear market almost over?" According to the tweet CZ cited, his current follower count on X stands at 11.98 million, soon to cross the 12 million threshold.
49 minutes ago
US Secretary of Energy states that military operations against Iran will continue.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright has stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives. In an interview, Wright said the Trump administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until its task is completed," (CCTV)
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
84 million BANK tokens have been transferred from the foundation to the Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million.
Arkham data shows that 84 million BANK tokens (of Lorenzo Protocol) were transferred from the BANK Foundation address to a newly created wallet, then moved to an Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million. Market data indicates BANK has rallied more than 3 times over the past three days, briefly topping $0.21, and is now trading at $0.163 with a 24-hour gain of 53.7%.
49 minutes ago
World Cup Predict.fun Final Launches 30-Point Market, 260,000 USDT Prize Pool Up for Grabs
Predict.fun’s World Cup Finals have officially kicked off. Centered on the Argentina vs. Spain match, 30 fan token markets are now live, covering multiple dimensions including match outcome, score, goals, corner kicks, and player performance, with nearly 200,000 fan tokens released in total. Supporters of the eventual winning team will split the 260,000 USDT final prize pool based on their points rankings.
49 minutes ago
Analysis: Bitcoin will not bottom out this quarter; the current sideways consolidation is a false stability, with the real bottom and accumulation window arriving in October.
Market analyst Noname has published a post refuting the current "bottom is already here" narrative, arguing that calling a bottom is premature. The current sideways consolidation essentially reflects indecision, with "hesitation at this level usually preceding a downward breakout before an upward move." The analyst outlined a clear path forecast for the second half of 2026: July will see "false stability" and a bear trap rally, with volatility to flush out weak positions; August will mark the start of the real decline, testing the $50,000 level for the first time; September will extend downward pressure, with a W-bottom structure beginning to form; October will be the actual bottom and accumulation zone, at which point participation strategies will turn aggressive; November will show initial signs of recovery, with prices starting to rebound from the bottom; December will bring the possibility of returning to $100,000 for the first time since the bear market began. The analyst emphasized that the final sell-off is still imminent, though most refuse to believe it. "Don’t let the sideways movement fool you." In terms of rhythm, the decline since the June high is a full liquidation of the three-year rally. Previous bear cycles all ended with corrections of over 80%; the current price is roughly 50% down from its all-time high, so if history repeats, lower targets should still be within expectations. The analyst predicts the final bottom will not drag into the fourth quarter—this cycle will complete in the third quarter. An oversold zone with expanding volume may be observed between August and September, followed by a breakout in the fourth quarter, and returning to $100,000 by year-end will be the minimum rebound target needed for bulls to repair structural damage.
49 minutes ago
CZ teases in a post: Even being inactive doesn’t hurt gaining followers – could the bear market be nearing its end?
Binance founder CZ posted, "Inactivity doesn’t seem to affect follower growth at all. Is the bear market almost over?" According to the tweet CZ cited, his current follower count on X stands at 11.98 million, soon to cross the 12 million threshold.
49 minutes ago
US Secretary of Energy states that military operations against Iran will continue.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright has stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives. In an interview, Wright said the Trump administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until its task is completed," (CCTV)
49 minutes ago
US semiconductor ETFs are poised to post their highest annual capital inflow ever, with over $46 billion already added this year.
As of now, U.S. semiconductor ETFs have attracted over $460 billion in inflows in 2026, on track to set a new record for the largest annual inflow ever, equal to 31% of the ETF’s total assets under management (AUM). Year-to-date total inflows are more than double the sum recorded from January 2017 to December 2025. As a result, cumulative inflows since 2017 have climbed to a record $680 billion. Last week alone, semiconductor ETFs drew in over $2.3 billion in inflows—investors have never allocated such massive sums to these ETFs before.
NEW YORK, July 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Verra securities between February 24, 2026 and May 26, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/VRRM.
Verra Case Details
The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:
(1)Defendants misrepresented the nature and stability of Verra’s relationship with Avis Budget Group (“Avis”), including the likelihood of securing a contract extension;(2)Defendants downplayed the risk that major rental car companies, including Avis, could replace Verra’s services with in-house solutions or alternative third-party providers; and(3)as a result, Defendants’ statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
What's Next for Verra Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/VRRM. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Verra you have until August 4, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Verra Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Verra Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NEW YORK, July 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) and certain of its officers.
This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Calix securities between January 28, 2026 and April 21, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/CALX.
Calix Case Details
The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to disclose to investors:
(1)the Company’s first quarter margins had significantly benefited from advanced purchasing of memory components; (2)that the Company’s advanced supply of memory components was dwindling; (3)that, as a result, the Company was experiencing negative margin pressure as it was forced to purchase memory components at rising market prices; and (4)that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s margins, business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. What's Next for Calix Investors?
A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/CALX. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Calix you have until July 27, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.
No Cost to Calix Investors
We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.
Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Calix Securities Class Action?
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com
"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.
Contact Info
Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]
Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
World Cup Predict.fun Final Launches 30-Point Market, 260,000 USDT Prize Pool Up for Grabs
Predict.fun’s World Cup Finals have officially kicked off. Centered on the Argentina vs. Spain match, 30 fan token markets are now live, covering multiple dimensions including match outcome, score, goals, corner kicks, and player performance, with nearly 200,000 fan tokens released in total. Supporters of the eventual winning team will split the 260,000 USDT final prize pool based on their points rankings.
1 hours ago
Analysis: Bitcoin will not bottom out this quarter; the current sideways consolidation is a false stability, with the real bottom and accumulation window arriving in October.
Market analyst Noname has published a post refuting the current "bottom is already here" narrative, arguing that calling a bottom is premature. The current sideways consolidation essentially reflects indecision, with "hesitation at this level usually preceding a downward breakout before an upward move." The analyst outlined a clear path forecast for the second half of 2026: July will see "false stability" and a bear trap rally, with volatility to flush out weak positions; August will mark the start of the real decline, testing the $50,000 level for the first time; September will extend downward pressure, with a W-bottom structure beginning to form; October will be the actual bottom and accumulation zone, at which point participation strategies will turn aggressive; November will show initial signs of recovery, with prices starting to rebound from the bottom; December will bring the possibility of returning to $100,000 for the first time since the bear market began. The analyst emphasized that the final sell-off is still imminent, though most refuse to believe it. "Don’t let the sideways movement fool you." In terms of rhythm, the decline since the June high is a full liquidation of the three-year rally. Previous bear cycles all ended with corrections of over 80%; the current price is roughly 50% down from its all-time high, so if history repeats, lower targets should still be within expectations. The analyst predicts the final bottom will not drag into the fourth quarter—this cycle will complete in the third quarter. An oversold zone with expanding volume may be observed between August and September, followed by a breakout in the fourth quarter, and returning to $100,000 by year-end will be the minimum rebound target needed for bulls to repair structural damage.
1 hours ago
Smart money address 'gritsa.eth' has opened a long position of 50 BTC, valued at approximately $3.22 million.
According to OnchainLens monitoring, the smart money address "gritsa.eth" has just opened a long position on Hyperliquid for 50 BTC, worth approximately $3.22 million. The trader’s cumulative profit exceeds $2.83 million.
1 hours ago
CZ teases in a post: Even being inactive doesn’t hurt gaining followers – could the bear market be nearing its end?
Binance founder CZ posted, "Inactivity doesn’t seem to affect follower growth at all. Is the bear market almost over?" According to the tweet CZ cited, his current follower count on X stands at 11.98 million, soon to cross the 12 million threshold.
1 hours ago
US Secretary of Energy states that military operations against Iran will continue.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright has stated that U.S. military operations against Iran will continue until President Trump achieves his military objectives. In an interview, Wright said the Trump administration’s goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and weaken its ability to threaten neighboring countries and global commercial activities. "Therefore, this mission will continue until its task is completed," (CCTV)
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Bitcoin continues to recover from its June capitulation but remains trapped beneath a major resistance cluster. Although buyers have managed to defend higher lows on the lower timeframe, the market is still approaching a critical confluence that could determine whether the recovery extends or transitions into another rejection.
BTC Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, BTC continues to trade below the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, keeping the broader trend tilted to the downside.
The asset is now approaching the $65K-$66.5K supply zone, which also coincides with the descending long-term trendline. This confluence has capped every recovery attempt since the sharp breakdown in early June, making it the key barrier that bulls must reclaim to shift the higher-timeframe structure.
A successful breakout above this region would expose the next resistance between $72K and $74K. However, another rejection from the current supply zone would likely trigger a corrective move toward the $58K-$60K support area, which now represents the most important demand zone on the daily chart.
BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart shows Bitcoin consolidating within a rising channel after establishing a series of higher lows throughout July.
BTC is once again testing the upper boundary of the channel while simultaneously approaching the higher-timeframe supply zone around $65K-$66.5K. This creates a significant confluence of resistance, suggesting that bullish momentum is entering an important decision area.
As long as Bitcoin remains above the $61K-$62K support zone, buyers maintain a short-term advantage and another attempt to break the overhead resistance remains likely.
However, failure to overcome the confluence of the channel resistance, descending trendline, and supply zone could result in another pullback toward the $58K-$60K demand region. Since this price action pattern typically hints at a potential decline, Bitcoin is poised for another bearish leg, testing the lower demand zones.
Sentiment Analysis The Realized Price UTXO Age Bands indicate that the realized prices of the 1-3 month and 3-6 month holder cohorts have converged near the current market structure, both sitting around the low $70K area.
Historically, the convergence of these younger holder cost bases often reflects a period of market transition, as recently accumulated coins begin to change hands at similar prices. At present, both realized price levels remain well above Bitcoin’s spot price, implying that these cohorts are still holding unrealized losses.
This reinforces the technical picture. While Bitcoin has recovered from its June lows, it remains below the realized cost basis of recent investors, suggesting that sentiment has not fully shifted back in favor of sustained accumulation.
A recovery above these realized price levels would strengthen the case for a broader trend reversal, whereas continued rejection below them would support the view that the current advance is still a relief rally within the broader bearish structure.
19 July 2026 | 17:33 Bitcoin’s rebound has reduced the losses carried by active on-chain traders, but the broader ownership data still stops short of confirming a trend reversal.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin’s on-chain trader loss margin has improved to -11%, returning to the neutral range used in the analysis. The realized prices of 1-3 month and 3-6 month holders have converged in the low-$70,000 area. Old whales realized approximately $297.3 million in losses on July 14, their second-largest daily loss event since September 2025. The reset becomes more convincing only if BTC absorbs the released supply and reclaims recent-holder cost bases. Different datasets describe different parts of the same adjustment. Recent investors have lowered their collective cost basis as coins changed hands during the decline. Older whales have started realizing unusually large losses, showing that the pressure has moved beyond the market’s newest participants. Bitcoin, however, remains below the price at which two important recent-holder groups would return to break-even.
The result is an on-chain structure that looks less damaged than it did at the June lows, but one that still needs demand to prove that the released supply has found durable buyers.
Recent Holders Have Repriced Lower but Remain Underwater CryptoQuant analyst reported that Bitcoin’s On-Chain Trader Profit/Loss Margin had recovered to -11%. The analyst classified the reading as neutral after it moved back inside the -12% boundary separating the bearish zone in this model.
Bitcoin on-chain trader realized price and profit/loss margin. A smaller loss margin can reflect a price recovery, but it can also develop when coins purchased or last moved at higher levels are sold and transferred again at lower prices. That second process reduces the realized price of the active cohort even without a complete market recovery.
ShayanMarkets found the same adjustment in the Realized Price UTXO Age Bands. Realized price values a group’s coins according to the market price when they last moved on-chain, making it a useful proxy for the cohort’s average cost basis rather than a record of every investor’s exact purchase price.
Bitcoin realized price by UTXO age bands. The realized prices of the 1–3 month and 3–6 month groups have converged in the low-$70,000 area. Continued trading during the downturn gradually pulled both readings lower, even though the cohorts entered the market at different stages.
These two analyses should not be treated as independent bullish confirmations. Both are capturing the same repricing among relatively recent holders: losses have been realized, coins have moved at lower values and the market’s collective break-even level has declined.
That adjustment reduces the distance Bitcoin must recover before recent investors return to profit. It also concentrates potential selling in the same area. Holders who endured the decline may use a rebound toward the low-$70,000s to exit near break-even, turning the shared realized price into an on-chain resistance zone.
Old Whales Are Now Participating in the Loss-Taking The third analysis shows that the stress has reached a more established part of Bitcoin’s holder base.
According to CryptoQuant analyst Moreno, old whales realized approximately $297.3 million in losses on July 14, when Bitcoin traded near $65,000. It was the second-largest daily negative reading for this cohort since September 2025.
BTC whale profit-taking activity chart / Source: CryptoQuant, Moreno. The only larger event occurred on January 20, when old-whale losses reached roughly $334.3 million with BTC near $88,300. That earlier event came before another severe stage of the downturn, so the size of the latest loss cannot be treated as evidence that capitulation has ended.
Older whales generally have greater capacity to withstand volatility than recent entrants. Their decision to move coins at a loss indicates that the drawdown has lasted long enough, or reached far enough, to force some mature holders to reassess their exposure.
They are not responsible for most of the capitulation. New whales, recently active whales and the 10,000-BTC balance cohort have recorded substantially larger losses at several points in the decline. The July 14 event shows that old whales have joined the process, while newer and more reactive capital continues to generate the heavier pressure.
Old whale Bitcoin profit-taking analysis. The Three Signals Describe an Ownership Reset The sequence across the datasets is more informative than any individual reading.
Active traders have already realized enough losses to pull their cost basis lower. Two recent-holder groups now share a similar break-even level, while some older whales are only beginning to accept losses of unusual size.
Coins are therefore being transferred from holders with higher reference prices to buyers receiving them closer to the current market. That can create a healthier base because the new owners need a smaller recovery to return to profit and may be less likely to sell after a modest bounce.
The data cannot identify those buyers or establish that they have stronger conviction. Realized losses confirm that ownership is changing; price must show whether the incoming demand can absorb the supply without another breakdown.
What Would Turn the Reset Into a Reversal? Three developments would provide stronger confirmation:
Whale losses begin to fade: The market should absorb the July 14 event without a cluster of larger losses from old or recently active whales. Bitcoin holds while supply changes hands: Avoiding new lows during continued loss realization would indicate that buyers are taking the released coins without requiring progressively lower prices. BTC reclaims the low-$70,000 area: A move above the converged 1-3 month and 3-6 month realized prices, followed by a successful retest, would show that recent-holder selling has been absorbed. Reclaiming the on-chain trader realized price would also return that cohort’s profit/loss margin above zero, shifting active traders from an aggregate loss into profit.
The bearish interpretation remains valid if large whale-loss events continue to cluster, BTC establishes new lows or another rebound fails below the recent-holder cost bases. Under those conditions, the lower realized prices would reflect ongoing capitulation rather than the foundation of a sustained recovery.
Bitcoin’s ownership structure is adjusting, but the market has not completed the final step. Losses have been realized and cost bases have moved lower; demand must now carry price through the low-$70,000 supply zone.
Even a move above the low-$70,000 area would not fully confirm a trend reversal on its own. Bitcoin would also need to hold above the recent-holder cost bases, absorb renewed selling and avoid a quick return below them. Until those conditions are met, the data supports an on-chain reset, not a reversal.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal or investment advice.
Author
Alexander Zdravkov is a market analyst and crypto journalist with interests in economics, broader financial markets and digital assets. His journey into crypto began more than four years ago, driven by a fascination with the rapid evolution of blockchain technology and the transformative potential of decentralized finance. He began analyzing market cycles and identifying emerging trends before they reach the mainstream. He holds a degree in International Relations - a background that helped shape his broader perspective on global economics, geopolitics, and the interconnected nature of modern financial markets. Whether covering the latest developments in the crypto sector or exploring broader macroeconomic themes, Alexander focuses on giving readers context rather than simply repeating headlines. During his career, he has authored more than 5,000 articles covering cryptocurrencies, traditional finance, and global market developments. His work spans everything from Bitcoin and altcoins to macroeconomic trends influencing risk assets worldwide.
Over the years, Bitcoin has evolved from a pure store of value into a more usable asset, with growing adoption in the payments sector.
As a result, consensus protocols and fee-paying transactions are becoming a bigger focus, as outlined in the BIP-110 proposal. However, not everyone is convinced this is the right direction, with Michael Saylor among its biggest critics.
In a post on X, Michael Saylor outlined 110 reasons why he believes BIP-110 is a bad idea.
His criticism targets Version 1.0.0 of the proposal, known as the “Reduced Data Temporary Softfork,” which reached complete status on the 25th of June, 2026. The proposal introduces a soft fork, prioritizing fee-paying Bitcoin transactions over non-financial data.
Source: Token Terminal Notably, the on-chain data already reflects the growing focus on transaction activity.
As the chart above shows, Bitcoin processed well over 56 million transactions in Q2 2026, setting a new quarterly record and surpassing the previous high of 55 million recorded in Q3 2024.
The surge signals growing network usage, reinforcing Bitcoin’s shift beyond its long-term store-of-value role.
Against this backdrop, it’s easy to see why Michael Saylor doubled down on his criticism of BIP-110. In a follow-up post on X, he argued that Bitcoin’s [BTC] long-term strength lies in deeper adoption by public companies, rather than protocol changes aimed at expanding utility.
Interestingly, when viewed alongside a key on-chain divergence, Saylor’s argument begins to carry more weight.
Bitcoin’s valuation outpaces network adoption Bitcoin’s valuation is rising faster than its adoption.
This comes even as Bitcoin’s transaction activity reaches a new all-time high. Despite a stronger push toward greater utility through the BIP-110 soft fork, Bitcoin’s market cap continues to grow faster than user activity.
This growing gap suggests that speculation is playing a larger role in driving BTC’s valuation.
As the chart below shows, Bitcoin’s Metcalfe Ratio is currently around 3.23. When the ratio rises, it means the price is moving further away from the growth in network participation.
In essence, BTC’s price is gaining faster than adoption, highlighting the growing speculative side of the current cycle.
Source: Alphractal In this context, Saylor’s push for greater BTC exposure among public companies starts to make sense.
As the market focuses more on consensus upgrades, network efficiency, and overall scalability, the debate around Bitcoin’s long-term fundamentals continues to grow.
Taken together, these factors put Bitcoin’s valuation narrative under greater scrutiny, as the market weighs network growth, and adoption against the growing speculation driving the current cycle, creating massive liquidity clusters around key BTC levels.
Final Summary Bitcoin’s network activity is growing, with record transaction levels and more focus on utility through proposals like BIP-110. Bitcoin’s valuation is rising faster than adoption, showing that speculation is playing a bigger role in BTC’s current cycle.
Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Strategy founder Michael Saylor posted a fresh chart of the company's crypto reserves on social media with the brief caption, "What's next?" — a teaser that immediately sparked discussion about the next steps of the world's largest corporate Bitcoin holder.
The situation is particularly intriguing because the company, which built its reputation on aggressive Bitcoin purchases, is now in a vulnerable position measured in billions of dollars in losses.
Billions in the red versus a fiat cushion: Strategy's capital scenariosAccording to the latest data from Strategy Tracker, the company holds 843,775 BTC on its balance sheet — an enormous 4% of Bitcoin's total global supply. The portfolio is worth $54.28 billion, but due to the high average purchase price of $75,653, the position is now sitting on an unrealized loss of nearly 15%, or around $5 billion, with Bitcoin currently trading near $64,000.
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Saylor's question about "what comes next" has divided the expert community into two camps, with the more optimistic side of the market predictably interpreting the post as an announcement of another buy-the-dip purchase financed through new debt. Investors are now awaiting the opening of trading on Monday and fresh SEC filings.
On the other hand, management's recent actions differ from the familiar "buy and never sell" slogan. Strategy has made no new purchases since June 22 and recently broke its own taboo by selling 3,588 BTC, with the latest transaction involving 2,225 BTC on July 6, used to pay dividends to shareholders and build a $2.55 billion reserve.
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Saylor's teaser appeared at a turning point, as the company is forced to balance its status as Wall Street's leading Bitcoin bull with the strict necessity of servicing its obligations during a market downturn.
Whether the next step will mark a return to aggressive purchases or a continuation of cautious maneuvering supported by a fiat safety cushion will become clear in the coming reporting days.
Strategy's Michael Saylor (Jason Koerner/Getty Images)Summary
Michael Saylor is warning that Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 110 (BIP-110), which would temporarily restrict the arbitrary storage of data on the blockchain, threatens Bitcoin’s core principles and neutrality.The proposal would introduce a one-year soft fork with new consensus limits on data and a lower 55% miner-signaling threshold, a change Saylor says risks network splits and market uncertainty.Saylor argues that fee markets and relay policies, not consensus changes, should address so-called spam, warning that BIP 110 could restrict innovation, weaken miner incentives and undermine Bitcoin’s role as an open, permissionless financial system.Michael Saylor, executive chairman and co-founder of Strategy, has come out swinging against a new proposal to clean up Bitcoin’s ‘spam,’ arguing that it could fundamentally alter how the world’s largest blockchain operates.
The Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 110, aimed at temporarily restricting arbitrary data to focus on the core monetary functions, is a threat to the main principles of the network, Saylor explained in a comprehensive critique published on X, titled “110 reasons BIP-110 is a bad idea.”
"The proposed cure is more dangerous than the condition," Saylor said in the recent detailed analysis. "BIP 110 would use consensus to narrow valid activity, constrain future options, complicate deployment, and establish a precedent it cannot later erase.”
Saylor’s primary objection is based on the "no-questions-asked" nature of money. "Bitcoin cannot read intent," Saylor writes. "The network cannot know whether bytes represent an image, a proof, a contract, metadata, an authentication record, or a future application," argued.
By banning "spam," the protocol would effectively elevate human judgment into protocol law, effectively turning Bitcoin’s conservatism upside down.
‘Too aggressive’Saylor is the latest bitcoin executive to weigh in on this highly debated topic among the Bitcoin community.
The proposal aims to implement a one-year temporary soft fork that would add seven distinct consensus restrictions, including capping data payload sizes and rejecting certain script executions. The goal is to keep the Bitcoin blockchain focused strictly on "sound money" rather than general-purpose data storage.
Its supporters think of the proposal as an attempt to restore Bitcoin's original purpose as peer-to-peer digital cash. But critics say it represents an attempt to restrict or censor certain uses of Bitcoin.
One of the most debated parts of BIP 110 is that it changes how upgrades get approved. Instead of needing 95% of miners to agree (the usual rule), it suggests lowering that requirement to just 55%.
Saylor, whose firm holds 843,775 BTC, worth $54.31 billion as of Sunday, and is the world’s largest publicly listed bitcoin treasury firm, calls this mechanism "too aggressive," warning that it could lead to a network split and widespread market uncertainty. In simple terms, lowering the approval threshold could encourage more disagreement, increasing the chances of the network splitting into competing versions.
For institutional investors, BTC’s appeal lies in the network’s stable, permissionless environment. The same appeal may be dented if the new proposal gets implemented, Saylor argues.
BIP 110 could create a "chilling effect" on developers and innovation, he explained, adding that if today’s target is data storage, tomorrow’s target could be privacy tools, novel custody solutions, or corporate applications.
Furthermore, Saylor warns of the economic blowback. By suppressing certain uses of the network, aggregate fee demand could fall. In a world where the block subsidy continues to halve, lower fee revenue could weaken miners’ incentive to commit hash power, ultimately compromising Bitcoin’s security.
Guardians of neutralityRather than changing the underlying code, Saylor suggests that better tools already exist to manage the network’s capacity.
He notes that market-based fees and individual relay policies are the appropriate places to address "spam" without altering the sacred consensus rules.
In simple terms, Saylor is arguing that if someone doesn’t like spam, they should configure their own note so it doesn’t pass it along (relay policy), or let spam users be priced out by higher costs (market fees), rather than modifying the fundamental blockchain rules for everyone.
Saylor concludes with a plea for the community to remain focused on the long-term vision of an open, permissionless financial system. "Bitcoin does not need guardians of purity," he asserts. "It needs guardians of neutrality."
Read more": Bitcoin's BIP-110 sparked a fight over who gets to decide the future of Bitcoin
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
Michael Saylor, the man whose company holds more Bitcoin than some small nations hold in gold reserves, has a message for anyone trying to tidy up the blockchain: don’t.
The Strategy executive chairman published a lengthy essay and social media thread on July 18-19 laying out what he calls “110 reasons” against BIP-110, a proposed temporary soft fork designed to restrict the embedding of large non-financial data in Bitcoin transactions.
What BIP-110 actually proposes BIP-110, formally titled the “Reduced Data Temporary Softfork,” would introduce several technical constraints aimed at curbing what its supporters consider blockchain spam. The proposal would cap outputs at 34 bytes and restore an 83-byte limit on OP_RETURN outputs, effectively invalidating data strings over 256 bytes that protocols like Ordinals have been using to embed images, text, and other non-monetary content directly onto Bitcoin.
The soft fork is designed to be temporary, lasting roughly one year before the community would evaluate whether to continue it. Activation would require approximately 55% miner signaling, a threshold that sounds modest but has proven difficult to reach.
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Miner support has been notably low. Miners collect fees from all transactions, including the data-heavy ones BIP-110 would restrict.
Saylor’s case against consensus tinkering Saylor’s argument centers on Bitcoin’s neutrality. The network processes transactions without judging their content, and Saylor argues that introducing content-based restrictions, even temporary ones, sets a dangerous precedent. Once you establish that consensus rules can be altered to filter certain transaction types, the door opens to future modifications that could be far more consequential.
He also flagged that BIP-110 could stall innovation pathways like BitVM-style contracting, which relies on flexible data embedding to enable more complex operations on Bitcoin.
Strategy holds hundreds of thousands of BTC and has built its entire corporate identity around Bitcoin as digital capital.
The 2026 spam wars and echoes of history The BIP-110 debate is the latest front in what the community has started calling the “spam wars” of 2026, a period of intensifying conflict over whether Bitcoin should remain a narrow monetary network or accommodate broader data uses.
The parallels to the Blocksize Wars of 2015-2017 are hard to miss. Back then, the community fractured over whether to increase Bitcoin’s block size to handle more transactions. That fight ultimately led to the Bitcoin Cash fork. The current dispute has a similar flavor: a technical proposal with deep philosophical implications, vocal factions on both sides, and no clear path to consensus.
The low miner signaling for BIP-110 suggests the proposal faces an uphill battle toward activation. Various alternative proposals have emerged in the governance vacuum, further fragmenting community attention.
What this means for investors Saylor’s vocal opposition carries outsized weight because of Strategy’s massive Bitcoin position. When the single largest corporate holder of Bitcoin publicly argues against a protocol change, it signals to institutional investors that the network’s conservative, don’t-touch-the-consensus-layer faction still has powerful advocates.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin continues to face heavy resistance as it approaches the $66,000 to $72,000 range, with recent price action suggesting the ongoing rebound is only corrective. The market shows signs that any upward move may be short lived unless Bitcoin can maintain a position above the $72,000 mark.
Resistance at $65,600 draws attentionTraders are watching the $65,600 level, which remains unswept and is seen as a possible short-term target. A brief break above this point could pull in buyers anticipating a sustained rally. However, analysts suggest that such a move might serve as a liquidity sweep, enticing late buyers before reversing lower.
If Bitcoin climbs above $65,600 but quickly falls back, several lower liquidity levels at around $61,807, $61,540, and $61,305 could become the next focal points. A deeper drop would bring the broader $60,000 to $61,000 range into play. The pattern near recent highs also supports the view of a potential lower high forming, signaling that sellers could regain control if a rejection emerges.
A sustained move above $72,000, on the other hand, could invalidate this bearish scenario and open the door to higher resistance targets.
Corrective structure dominates recoveryBitcoin’s latest bounce from its late-June low has raised hopes among some market participants, but technical perspectives continue to see it as a corrective rally. Analysis from More Crypto Online identifies the move as an ABC correction rather than the beginning of a new bullish trend.
According to this view, the move from the late-June low to roughly $64,750 forms wave A. The temporary pullback that followed marks wave B, and the current upward price movement may be completing wave C. As long as Bitcoin remains below major resistance points, this entire structure is seen as a correction within a broader downtrend.
Immediate resistance is located near $66,000. Higher up, significant resistance levels are noted at $69,000 and $72,000, with a descending trendline further strengthening pressure in that area.
A rally into the $69,000 to $72,000 region could complete the corrective pattern before sellers potentially re-enter the market. However, breaking above the descending trendline and maintaining daily closes above $72,000 would challenge the bearish outlook.
If support around $62,500 fails, focus could return to $61,000 and then to the late-June lows near $58,000, increasing the prospect of further downside.
Bitcoin’s price structure currently suggests that the recovery is corrective, with resistance around $66,000, $69,000, and $72,000 remaining decisive. Without a clear breakout, the risk of another rejection persists and may direct attention back to lower levels.
Key LevelPotential Action$65,600Possible liquidity sweep and short-term breakout target$66,000First resistance barrier$69,000-$72,000Major resistance zone; may cap corrective rally$61,807 / $61,540 / $61,305Lower liquidity targets if rejection occurs$60,000-$61,000Broader support and downside target$72,000 (sustained)Invalidates bearish setup, opens higher targetsDisclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
84 million BANK tokens have been transferred from the foundation to the Aster deposit address, valued at approximately $13.7 million.
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European football’s transfer window is in full swing, and buried inside a routine squad-building move between two Red Bull-linked clubs is a broader story about how crypto and blockchain are weaving themselves into the fabric of professional sports. Hoffenheim has submitted an official bid to Red Bull Salzburg for 19-year-old Danish winger Adam Daghim, a deal that on its surface looks like standard Bundesliga business. But zoom out, and you’ll find NFT marketplaces, Bitcoin sponsorships, and digital collectibles quietly reshaping how football clubs generate revenue, engage fans, and even value players.
The transfer and its Red Bull context Daghim joined Salzburg from Danish club Aarhus GF in 2023 for a reported fee of around €3M. He’s since extended his contract with the Austrian side through June 2028, which gives Salzburg significant leverage in any negotiation. Wolfsburg reportedly considered a deal for Daghim in 2025 that involved a €13M option, suggesting his valuation has climbed substantially since his initial move.
Hoffenheim’s bid amount hasn’t been disclosed. But there’s recent precedent for player movement between these two clubs: Haris Tabakovic completed a transfer from Salzburg to Hoffenheim for approximately €5M earlier in July 2026.
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Both clubs operate within the broader Red Bull football ecosystem, which also includes RB Leipzig and New York Red Bulls. Monaco and Wolfsburg have also shown interest in Daghim, confirming that the teenager’s market extends well beyond the Red Bull family.
Where crypto enters the picture Daghim already has a digital footprint in crypto through Ethereum-based NFT cards on the Sorare platform. His cards have traded in the low tens of dollars, which reflects a real, functioning secondary market for digital representations of football talent.
Sorare is a fantasy football platform built on Ethereum where users buy, sell, and trade officially licensed NFT player cards. The platform has partnerships with over 300 football clubs worldwide and has processed hundreds of millions in card transactions.
Then there’s the institutional side. Red Bull Salzburg partnered with 21bitcoin in 2025 to support its women’s team, making it one of several European football clubs to formalize a relationship with a crypto company. No specific cryptocurrency tokens have been linked to Daghim’s transfer negotiations.
Why this matters for crypto investors The football transfer market moves roughly €7-8B annually across Europe’s top leagues. For investors watching the intersection of sports and crypto, Sorare card prices for players involved in confirmed transfers tend to spike in the days surrounding announcements. If you’re active on that platform, Daghim’s situation presents a clear catalyst event. Second, the proliferation of Bitcoin and crypto partnerships among football clubs, like Salzburg’s deal with 21bitcoin, suggests that sponsorship revenue in this sector is growing.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor took to social media on Sunday to detail his “110 reasons” why a proposed temporary fork to limit non-monetary transactions on the Bitcoin network, or BIP-110, is a bad idea.
Bitcoin Improvement Proposal-110 was introduced in December 2025 to stop nonfungible token-like Ordinals inscriptions and other arbitrary data from spamming the network and to preserve BTC’s main use as a peer-to-peer cash system.
In a roughly 3,700 word post on X.com, the man in control of the largest Bitcoin (BTC) corporate treasury made a case for what he said are “neutral rules, hard consensus, open markets, and permissionless innovation.”
Source: Michael Saylor on X.com
“Many Bitcoiners I respect support BIP 110. They want to keep validation accessible, protect node operators from unwanted costs and content, preserve affordable payments, and keep Bitcoin focused on sound money rather than general-purpose data storage. Those are serious concerns. I share the objectives. I disagree about the remedy,” Saylor said. He added:
“This article critiques the proposal, not the people behind it. I assume good faith. Bitcoin is strongest when we can disagree vigorously without mistaking allies for enemies.”As of 12 p.m. ET, on Sunday, the post had been viewed 879,000 times, with 692 replies and 852 retweets.
BIP-110 is one of the more notable protocol-level disputes in the Bitcoin development community since the Blocksize Wars between 2015 and 2017, when ecosystem participants debated whether it was worth risking a chain split to raise the block size limit for scalability.
The proposal was introduced by pseudonymous Bitcoin developer “Dathon Ohm” with the support of Ocean protocol founder Luke Dashjr. Opponents include Blockstream CEO Adam Back.
Little certainty on BHP-110 approvalTo be sure, BIP-110 won’t be activated unless 55% of Bitcoin nodes validating blocks are in support of the proposal across a Bitcoin block “period.”
In the last period, period number 475 between block 955,584 and 957,599, only 1% of blocks were in support.
The dispute comes at a time when Ordinals activity is at near all-time lows, with fewer than 10,000 Ordinals inscribed into the Bitcoin blockchain on a daily basis over the last month, down from the more than 400,000 seen during its peak in August 2023.
Change in daily Ordinals inscriptions since December 2022.
Source: Dune Analytics
Bock has previously criticized BIP-110, describing it as a “quest to police other people.”
He said Bitcoin’s decentralization should mean “you can’t impose your views on others,” calling it incompatible with BTC’s cypherpunk ethos of permissionless, censorship-resistant money.
Dashjr and other BIP-110 supporters have called Ordinals-driven bloat a “serious threat” to the network, prompting the need for an imminent fix.
They have also argued BIP-110 wouldn’t cause a chain split, as many fear, while adding that the BIP-110 fork imposes a temporary one-year limit and thus wouldn’t invalidate fee-paying transactions over the long term.
Features: From Bitcoin critics to blockchain believers: The 5 biggest crypto backflips
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Michael Saylor, one of the most well-known names in the cryptocurrency world, has made a new Bitcoin post.
Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor has heightened expectations of renewed activity in the company’s Bitcoin reserves by posting a new BTC image on his social media account.
Saylor shared a screenshot of Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings, asking, “What’s next?” Saylor is known for making similar posts in the past, often a day before the company’s official announcements regarding BTC transactions.
However, Strategy’s recent trading history suggests that the post in question may not necessarily indicate a new BTC purchase. The company has sold Bitcoin following some of Saylor’s posts, while at other times it has kept its reserves unchanged.
As of July 19, 2026, Strategy holds a total of 843,775 Bitcoin. The current value of the company’s BTC reserves is estimated at approximately $54.45 billion, while the total cost is recorded as $63.83 billion.
Strategy’s average cost per BTC is $75,653. Based on current prices, the company’s unrealized loss on its BTC position is 14.70%, equivalent to approximately $9.38 billion.
*This is not investment advice.
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A previously recorded video featuring a SWIFT executive discussing its collaboration with enterprise blockchain software firm R3 has resurfaced, renewing conversation about the global payment messaging network’s links to the cryptocurrency XRP.
SWIFT and R3: Partnership details clarifiedCrypto researcher SMQKE brought renewed attention to the video on X, where a SWIFT executive outlined the company’s approach to integrating new technologies into cross-border payment systems. The executive explained that SWIFT developed APIs within its Global Payments Innovation (gpi) system, allowing both banks and corporate clients to efficiently track and manage transactions using their internal platforms.
The executive emphasized APIs as a means to connect SWIFT’s gpi capabilities with various distributed ledger ecosystems. In this context, the executive confirmed an official partnership with R3, describing R3 as a major provider of blockchain infrastructure for financial institutions.
He stated that the joint effort allowed R3’s Corda Settler application to support SWIFT’s gpi, bringing seamless access to SWIFT’s global payment services to blockchain-enabled environments.
While discussing benefits, the executive noted that the focus centered on improving the payment process. Objectives included minimizing friction, accelerating transaction speed, and enhancing transparency in cross-border payments.
Mini dictionary: SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a messaging network used by banks and financial institutions to securely transmit information and instructions for cross-border payments.
In the video, the SWIFT executive described efforts to bring distributed ledger compatibility to its flagship gpi product by leveraging APIs and enterprise blockchain software from R3, further confirming a direct collaboration with R3 for these integrations.
Technical links between Corda Settler and XRPSMQKE’s post highlighted the connection between the SWIFT-R3 partnership and XRP, referencing Corda Settler as an application built to streamline settlement of obligations across various payment types. Upon its launch by R3, Corda Settler initially supported XRP as the first cryptocurrency for settling transactions on its platform.
This technical choice often led to community speculation that SWIFT had adopted XRP as a currency for settlement. However, the actual partnership between SWIFT and R3 did not make XRP the settlement asset for SWIFT transactions.
Instead, SWIFT’s proof-of-concept with R3 and Corda showed how enterprise blockchain workflows could connect with SWIFT’s established banking rails, enabling standard gpi payments. Settlement of these transactions continued to rely on fiat currency through SWIFT’s traditional processes rather than digital assets.
Mini dictionary: R3 is an enterprise software firm that develops distributed ledger technology solutions, most notably the Corda platform, which allows financial institutions and businesses to record and manage transactions securely using blockchain-inspired systems.
Platform/ProjectMain FunctionRole in PartnershipSWIFT gpiGlobal payments messaging and trackingProvides messaging and payment infrastructureR3 CordaEnterprise blockchain platformHosts Corda Settler applicationXRPCryptocurrency/digital settlement assetAvailable as a settlement option within Corda SettlerCommunity reaction and ongoing debateThe renewed attention has sparked debate within the XRP community, with some members interpreting the historical details as evidence of potential future adoption. Community member Eugene Clark commented that XRP could play a significant role in global money movement because of its speed and underlying technology.
Despite such optimism among supporters, the available facts confirm only that the SWIFT-R3 partnership enabled enterprise users to link blockchain workflows with SWIFT payments. The system continued to use established fiat settlement processes, without SWIFT directly adopting XRP.
Despite the technical integration, the relationship was structured as a proof-of-concept to demonstrate possibilities for linking blockchain-based business processes to SWIFT’s existing global payment framework, rather than as a formal adoption of XRP by SWIFT.
The collaboration between SWIFT, R3, and the inclusion of XRP in Corda Settler remains notable as an early illustration of how enterprise blockchain solutions can potentially connect to mainstream financial infrastructures, though no direct use of XRP as SWIFT’s own settlement currency has taken place.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
TLDR: XRP price holds near $1.09 as buyers defend the $1.08 support area, although repeated selling around $1.12 limits the current recovery. The resurfaced video confirms SWIFT worked with R3 on connecting Corda workflows to SWIFT gpi, but it does not confirm SWIFT adopted XRP. XRP entered the discussion after Corda Settler selected the asset as its first supported cryptocurrency before the 2019 SWIFT proof of concept. The XRP Ledger now has more than eight million activated accounts, while technical indicators point to consolidation rather than a confirmed breakout. XRP price trades near $1.09 as an older SWIFT video renews debate over the payment network’s 2019 collaboration with R3. Crypto researcher SMQKE shared the clip on X, drawing attention to comments about connecting SWIFT gpi with R3’s Corda ecosystem.
The discussion has again linked the project to XRP, since Corda Settler supported the token as its first cryptocurrency. However, the proof of concept did not make XRP a SWIFT settlement asset. Buyers are also defending the $1.08 to $1.09 zone as XRP Ledger activity reaches another milestone.
XRP Price Holds Support as SWIFT R3 Claims Resurface The resurfaced clip shows a SWIFT representative explaining how application programming interfaces supported its Global Payments Innovation service. The tools allowed banks and corporate clients to add payment tracking to their systems.
SWIFT also used those interfaces to connect gpi with distributed ledger environments. The executive confirmed a partnership with R3, which developed the Corda enterprise blockchain platform.
The arrangement allowed users inside Corda to initiate and track conventional SWIFT gpi payments. Those transfers still moved through existing banking channels and settled in fiat currencies.
XRP entered the debate through Corda Settler. R3 launched the settlement application before the SWIFT proof of concept and selected XRP as its first supported cryptocurrency.
That link gave Corda users a possible XRP settlement option in separate workflows. It did not show that SWIFT adopted, held, or transferred XRP through its network.
The distinction matters as social media posts often combine two separate technical developments. SWIFT tested access from Corda, while Corda Settler offered several ways to settle obligations.
XRP Price Tracks Ledger Growth and Near-Term Resistance XRP price stands near $1.09 after buyers protected support around $1.08. The market has formed small higher lows, although sellers still control the $1.11 to $1.12 area.
Momentum indicators show a balanced setup. The RSI sits near 52, while the Ultimate Oscillator also holds slightly above its midpoint. The elevated Stochastic reading raises the risk of a brief pullback after the latest bounce.
Source: TradingView The MACD has improved but remains close to neutral. That leaves the XRP price inside a narrow range rather than confirming a strong trend change.
Network data provides another point of interest. The XRP Ledger has passed eight million activated accounts and more than 100 million completed ledgers. Funded accounts must meet the network reserve requirement, which locks at least one XRP per activated address.
The ledger also supports over $4 billion in tokenized real-world assets and has recorded more than one million AI agent transactions. Those figures show wider network use, though account growth does not guarantee immediate price gains.
XRP price could test $1.12 if buyers clear $1.10 with stronger volume. A clean break may expose $1.15, followed by $1.18. Failure to hold $1.08 would bring $1.05 back into focus, while $1.00 remains the next major psychological support.
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The most recent on-chain data indicates that the network itself is not offering the support required for a sustainable breakout, and XRP's recent recovery attempts are still encountering opposition. Three important XRP Ledger metrics are concurrently declining, creating a difficult environment for any bullish continuation, even though XRP has stabilized around the $1.10 region and is forming a tightening price structure on the chart.
Multiple red flags on XRP LedgerPayment activity throughout the network is the first red flag. Over the past few weeks, the total number of payments between accounts has drastically decreased, falling from levels that were regularly above one million daily transactions earlier in the year to some of the lowest readings in months.
The decline in the payment count, which is frequently seen as a direct indicator of network utilization, points to a decrease in transactional demand throughout the ecosystem.
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XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewThe volume of XRP payments is the second weakness. In the past, periods of increased market activity and capital movement have frequently coincided with spikes in transferred XRP. Nevertheless, despite sporadic brief spikes, payment volume has remained muted and is still trending downward. Large volume surges that were typical in the first quarter of 2026 have mostly vanished, suggesting that major players are not actively transferring funds through the network at the same rate.
Users activity plummetsActive user participation is the third metric demonstrating decline. The number of active addresses on the XRP Ledger has been steadily dropping from previous yearly highs, and it is currently significantly below the peak levels observed in February and March. Because user activity reflects real engagement rather than speculative price movement, it continues to be one of the most crucial indicators of network health. This weakness is reflected in the market structure.
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After months of consistent lower highs, XRP is currently trading inside a narrowing triangle formation. The asset is still below all significant moving averages even though it has been able to maintain support close to the $1.05 area. While the 100-day and 200-day averages are still much higher, the 50-day EMA around $1.13 continues to limit upside attempts. At 46, the RSI is close to neutral territory, indicating neither significant buying nor selling pressure.
This is in line with the on-chain scenario: instead of making a commitment, market participants are waiting. XRP might find it difficult to generate enough momentum for a significant breakout until payment counts, transaction volume, and active user growth all start to recover at the same time.
Although prices can still fluctuate based on speculation, sustained recoveries usually necessitate strengthening network fundamentals, which are presently pointing in the wrong direction.
A ransom negotiator loses his luxury Florida villas and $8.3 million crypto portfolio, including XRP and Bitcoin, following a major federal court seizure.
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The cybersecurity industry has faced a remarkable case as, instead of protecting corporate wallets, professional negotiator Angelo Martino became an architect of hacker ransom schemes himself. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida has officially brought the operation to a close by issuing a forfeiture order targeting his hidden crypto portfolios.
As the total value of the seized assets is estimated at $8.37 million, the most interesting part of the case is that the "independent diplomat" preferred not to keep all his eggs in one basket, spreading the funds across several blockchain ecosystems:
Anti-inflation artillery: 90.319 BTC, worth approximately $5.84 million, as the main defensive asset.Shadow cash: 7,999.873 XMR, worth approximately $2.46 million, held in the privacy-focused Monero cryptocurrency to cover his tracks.Liquid transit assets: 56,174.15 XRP, seized from wallet "…EkThx6", and 39,760.79 XLM, held at address "…5RJ3BD".Residual balances: small amounts of Solana's native SOL token.Alongside the blockchain addresses, the government also took control of tangible trophies from the lavish Florida lifestyle Martino financed by betraying his clients. The court ordered the forfeiture of two luxury residential properties, premium vehicles, and motorboats that the former negotiator used while taking breaks from his illicit dealings.
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A million-dollar schemeHow did Martino manage to accumulate such volumes of XRP and Bitcoin right under regulators' noses? The answer lies in a cynical double game.
Large companies hired him as a senior executive during their most critical moments, when hackers linked to the BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, ransomware group encrypted corporate networks and demanded millions of dollars in exchange for decryption keys. Martino was supposed to act as a shield by negotiating down the price and arranging the secure transfer of cryptocurrency.
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Instead, he turned the negotiations into an insider auction. The "diplomat" secretly leaked information to the hackers about his clients' actual budgets and the limits of their insurance policies. Knowing the victims' exact financial capacity, BlackCat could dictate tougher terms, while Martino received a fixed percentage in BTC and XRP for assisting with the extortion.
Over time, he became so deeply involved that he turned into a full participant in the attacks.
The double game ended in a predictable collapse. Martino was convicted and sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, while the latest court-ordered forfeiture of more than $8.3 million has effectively eliminated the financial foundation of his "business."
XRP has experienced a significant downturn over the past year, falling more than 70% from its peak price of $3.65, reached on July 18. The cryptocurrency has entered an extended period of consolidation, raising questions about its future direction. Recent analysis from ChartNerd and Diana, well-followed market analysts, suggests that the current correction may be setting the stage for a new bullish phase rather than signaling longer-term weakness.
XRP’s historical patterns and accumulation phaseChartNerd highlighted that similar deep corrections have occurred in previous XRP market cycles. After major tops, XRP typically undergoes steep pullbacks, which historically have transitioned into accumulation periods, characterized by reduced volatility and less retail involvement. During these phases, long-term holders, often regarded as “strong hands,” tend to acquire more XRP at lower prices, quietly preparing for the next upward movement.
This cycle of distribution, correction, accumulation, and eventual markup aligns with traditional market theory. Analysts generally see accumulation as a necessary precursor to future rallies, especially in the cryptocurrency sector, which is known for its rapid and volatile swings.
Mini dictionary: ChartNerd is a pseudonymous cryptocurrency market analyst known for in-depth technical analysis and market commentary, especially on social media platforms.
ChartNerd observed that XRP now appears to be trading within a historical accumulation range, a technical setup that previously preceded substantial upward moves in the asset. If history holds, this could mean the current stagnation is a preparatory phase for the next bull run.
Price targets and key technical levelsUsing Fibonacci extension levels, ChartNerd identified potential long-term price targets for XRP between $8 and $27—levels that could be possible if the asset breaks through major resistance and renewed institutional demand emerges alongside increased regulatory clarity.
Meanwhile, another analyst, Diana, examined key short-term price points. She stressed the importance of the $1.08 support level, which XRP has managed to defend even in the face of ongoing selling pressure. As of the latest price from CoinCodex, XRP was trading at $1.10, situated just beneath a descending trendline and in a relatively compressed range.
Diana reported that a confirmed breakout above the $1.10 to $1.12 range would generate the first significant bullish signal. For a larger move upward, XRP would need to establish $1.145 as new support before aiming to reclaim $1.20 and, ultimately, challenge resistance around $1.30.
Technical LevelRole$1.08Key support$1.10-$1.12Breakout confirmation zone$1.145Next support to reclaim$1.20Intermediate resistance$1.30Major resistance$0.90-$0.87Potential flush target if support fails$8-$27Long-term target (Fibonacci extension)On the downside, Diana warned that losing the $1.08 threshold could lead to another decline, with possible movement into the $0.90 to $0.87 liquidity zone before any broader market reversal might occur.
Institutional flows and future outlookDespite the sharp correction, XRP has maintained strong institutional interest. Spot XRP exchange-traded funds have captured nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows, underscoring that larger investors remain confident in the asset’s future prospects, even as retail sentiment appears subdued.
The direction of XRP in the coming weeks is likely to depend on whether it can sustain current support or experiences another temporary drop. Multiple analysts have stated that this phase of accumulation and sideways trading could become the foundation for an eventual breakout, reminiscent of previous upcycles in XRP’s history.
XRP has repeatedly experienced corrections greater than 70% after its major rallies, with these deep pullbacks serving as precursors to long periods of accumulation before the next advance begins.
If past patterns repeat, today’s subdued trading and underlying accumulation may pave the way for a new surge, potentially driving XRP well above current levels and even approaching the anticipated 10x breakout cited by numerous analysts.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
