Market Signal Briefing

TLDR:

ALT5 Sigma holds about 7.28 billion WLFI tokens worth $1.5B, representing 7.3% of total supply.
WLFI launched on Robinhood on September 25, giving 27.4M users retail access to the governance token.
WLFI’s debit card will allow USD1 stablecoin to function through Apple Pay, driving broader crypto usage.
ALT5 expects these integrations to strengthen its treasury and expand the WLFI ecosystem’s real-world reach.

ALT5 Sigma is tightening its grip on the WLFI ecosystem as new integrations push the token further into mainstream visibility. 

The company, which holds around 7.28 billion WLFI tokens valued at $1.5 billion, is banking on rapid adoption through retail and payment networks. With the token now listed on Robinhood and a USD1 debit card aiming for Apple Pay access, the growth trajectory looks set to accelerate. 

The timing aligns with rising interest in crypto-backed payment systems among everyday users. According to a company press release, these developments could strengthen ALT5’s digital asset treasury strategy over time.

WLFI Gains Retail Access Through Robinhood Listing
WLFI’s addition to Robinhood on September 25 opened the door to 27.4 million users, a milestone for accessibility. 

The move placed WLFI alongside established digital assets, offering retail investors direct access through one of America’s most-used trading apps. For many new users, it’s their first chance to hold WLFI without navigating complex exchange interfaces.

ALT5 said the listing could unlock more retail demand as WLFI gains traction in mainstream finance. 

Market watchers noted that exposure on Robinhood often translates into wider token visibility across U.S. investors. ALT5’s large WLFI treasury, representing about 7.3% of the total supply, positions it to benefit from that potential growth.

@ALT5_Sigma shared on X that the listing reinforces the company’s long-term digital asset strategy. They described the launch as part of a “stronger adoption wave,” driven by improved accessibility and utility. 

The company believes that as retail demand grows, the WLFI ecosystem will gain more liquidity and real-world use.

ALT5 Sigma strengthens its $WLFI digital asset treasury strategy with accelerating adoption following the launch of $WLFI on Robinhood and the planned USD1 Apple Pay integration.

With approximately 7.28B $WLFI tokens valued at $1.5B, ALT5 is positioned to benefit from growing… pic.twitter.com/zrTJ4PKvT0

— ALTS (@ALT5_Sigma) October 6, 2025

Apple Pay Integration Could Extend USD1 Adoption
World Liberty Financial, creator of WLFI and the USD1 stablecoin, is preparing to roll out a WLFI-branded debit card. 

The card, according to co-founder Zak Folkman, could work with Apple Pay, giving users an option to spend USD1 through a seamless tap-and-click system. This integration would not require a direct partnership with Apple, but it enables users to add the card to Apple Pay like any other payment method.

ALT5 views the move as a potential boost to its holdings since WLFI governs the USD1 ecosystem. 

The company expects that as USD1’s circulation,  currently around $2.7 billion,  expands into payments, WLFI’s value proposition will strengthen. The link between stablecoin usage and governance token demand could enhance ALT5’s treasury performance in the coming months.

The Apple Pay compatibility also marks a practical step toward connecting crypto with everyday purchases. It simplifies spending for users who prefer stability but still want exposure to blockchain-based assets. This blend of utility and accessibility aligns with ALT5’s goal of integrating crypto into real-world payment rails.

This year's weakness is rooted in misunderstanding and some misguided thinking.

It's been a not-so-great year for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 0.00%) (BRK.B 0.33%) shareholders. Long-time CEO and in-house stock-picking wizard Warren Buffett announced in May that he'd be stepping down from the role at the end of this year. Berkshire's stock has struggled ever since, down 8% from then versus the S&P 500's (^GSPC 0.36%) 18% gain. There's arguably nothing worse for a ticker's value than uncertainty, and there's certainly plenty of that surrounding this name now.

Forward-thinking investors of course know short-term setbacks like these can be long-term buying opportunities. Is that the case here, while you can still step into Berkshire's B shares for less than $500 apiece? (The A shares are currently priced at nearly $750,000 each, making them out of reach for most investors.) If you can take a step back and look at the bigger picture, yes, it's worth capitalizing on this current weakness.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

A performance pedigree to be proud of
There's no denying Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway are nearly synonymous. He's the chief reason Berkshire's become the massive success that it is today since he took the helm of the then-textile company back in 1970. From its early 1980 initial public offering (IPO) at a price of $290 per share, the stock's gained more than 250,000%, pumping the conglomerate's market cap up to over $1 trillion. That makes it the world's tenth-biggest company.

Perhaps more relevant to interested investors, this ticker's average annual gain of more than 15%, easily trounces the S&P 500's long-term average year gain. That's what most people fear will be going away in Buffett's absence.

And maybe it will go away.

Just because something is possible, however, doesn't make it likely. In fact, it's actually unlikely we'll start seeing a subpar performance from Berkshire shares once Buffett's no longer in charge. Here's why.

Berkshire's strength isn't just Buffett's brilliance
Having celebrity CEOs like Buffett can be a double-edged sword. Bigger-than-life personas often correlate with high-performing stocks. High-profile leaders, however, can't remain in charge forever. Once they're gone, it's not unusual for their companies to lose some of their magic. Apple's Steve Jobs and Amazon's Jeff Bezos come to mind. The organizations each formerly led are still solid investments, but there's no denying things aren't quite the same now as they were under their leadership.

These aren't quite apples-to-apples comparisons with Berkshire Hathaway though, for a couple reasons.

One of those reasons is simply how Warren Buffett has been as much of a teacher as he's been a chief executive, leaving behind 60 years' worth of instructional materials to absorb. His wisdom applies to everyone ranging from Berkshire's executives to individuals who simply want to build a bigger nest egg or achieve more success in life. His advice extends beyond the world of business too, reminding people that reputations are something that should be well protected. He also encourages investing in yourself as much as investing in the stock market.

The point is, there will be no ambiguity about how Berkshire's management team should steer the company as well as conduct themselves.

And the second reason Berkshire Hathaway's performance isn't likely to be all the different after Buffett steps down? It's the structure of the organization itself.

It's generally understood -- but underappreciated -- that there's nothing else quite like Berkshire Hathaway out there. It's a mutual fund in the sense that it owns a sizable portfolio of publicly traded stocks. Unlike most funds, however, it's not limited to a particular kind of stock, nor is it required to keep a minimum amount of money invested in the market at all times. It's also like a private equity firm in that it wholly owns a range of cash-generating businesses like insurer Geico, Duracell batteries, Dairy Queen, railroad BNSF, and Fruit of the Loom, just to name a few. But it's not looking to grow and then sell any of those businesses; as is the case with its stocks, Berkshire's favorite holding period with its privately owned companies is forever. And without the prospect of short-term shareholder pushback, the conglomerate can do what's best for these businesses in the long run even if it means short-term turbulence.

That being said, it's worth noting that once they're vetted, Buffett mostly prefers to leave the managers of Berkshire's businesses alone...which usually ends up being the smartest move. Buffett knows he doesn't know everything about every single one of the conglomerate's business lines.

Perhaps more than anything though, Berkshire's got the option of doing nothing for long stretches of time. Although it's recently earmarked just under $10 billion to wholly acquire Occidental Petroleum's chemical arm OxyChem -- Berkshire's biggest purchase in the past three years -- that's only a tiny fraction of Berkshire's current cash hoard of more than $300 billion that it's been sitting on for over a year now. Most companies would be forced to do something with that money, even if just giving a bunch of it back to shareholders in the form of a special dividend. Not Berkshire Hathaway, though. Investors seem to understand that the conglomerate is just waiting for the right opportunity to come along. And they're OK with that.

Sooner is better than later
So, yes -- most investors arguably should buy into Berkshire Hathaway's B shares while they can still be bought for less than $500 apiece. Just don't tarry if you're going to be one of those investors. The market now seems to be seeing everything discussed above, pushing shares up again following their pullback from May's peak to August's multi-month low. The Buffett news never really merited that sort of response in the first place, and now that more and more investors are realizing it, the tide's turning bullish again.

James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Geoffrey Crow

Welcome, everyone. The time being 5 minutes past 9. I'd like to welcome you to the Lake Resources Extraordinary General Meeting. My name is Stuart Crow. I'm the Chairman and will serve as the Chairman of the meeting. I'd also like to introduce to you the other directors attending. Participating online is managing Director, David Dickson, while Non-Executive Director Robert Trzebski is attending here in person. I'd also like introduce our Senior Finance Manager and Company Secretary, Nkechi Ezimah, who is managing today's meeting.

Lake is pleased to provide shareholders with the opportunity to participate in today's EGM either online through Automic or in the room here in Brisbane. Shareholders who wish to vote virtually during the meeting need to log in to Automic's online meeting platform. Shareholders can ask questions during the meeting either in person or virtually via the online platform.

I intend moving the formal meeting to the business contained in the Notice of Meeting. Under ASX Listing Rules, all resolutions will be determined by a poll. Also present is our share register, Automic, represented by Dean Ryan. I'm advise that a quorum of members is present and call the meeting to order.

Valid proxies have been tabulated for each resolution and are available for inspection if required. I intend to vote undirected proxies appointing the Chairman in favor of each resolution being considered at this meeting subject to compliance of the Corporations Act.

In accordance with the company's constitution, the Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting was sent to shareholders on 5th of September and will be taken as read. No notice of any other business has been received. And I should

Netflix shares have crushed the market so far in 2025.

The calendar quarter just ended. And with the start of October here, companies are getting ready to provide investors with a fresh set of financials, giving the market valuable insights into their operations. Netflix (NFLX 0.83%) is usually early to report its numbers, with its earnings call scheduled later in the month of October.

Netflix continues to have a lot of momentum on its side. And it has been a wildly successful investment in the past. Should you buy this top streaming stock before its Q3 earnings update is revealed on Oct. 21?

Image source: Getty Images.

Beating Wall Street estimates
Netflix shares have crushed the market in the past. Over the last decade, shares have soared nearly 1,000% (as of Oct. 2). The gains have continued recently, as the stock is up 30% in 2025 (at the time of this writing).

It's usual that for shares to perform so well, the underlying business reports financial results that come up well ahead of expectations. This is precisely what Netflix has done. When the company reported Q1 and Q2 results, it beat Wall Street estimates on both the top and bottom lines.

And for the three-month period that ended Sept. 30, the sell-side analyst community expects Netflix to report revenue of $11.5 billion and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.95. These projections are roughly in line with what Netflix's leadership team is forecasting. Executives think sales and diluted EPS will grow 17.3% and 27.2%, respectively, in the third quarter.

If the company outperforms, there is a very strong likelihood that the stock will pop. Even better, a favorable outlook for Q4 to wrap up the year would certainly drive even more bullish fever. Should this happen, it would be a smart move to buy shares today.

Always focus on the long term
Regardless of the view you have on Netflix's third quarter financials, no one has any idea how the market will react. In the short term, sentiment is the biggest factor moving share prices. And there's no way to accurately predict what the market's mood will be at any given point in time.

While it can certainly be exciting to make an investment decision based on an upcoming event, with the goal of generating a quick profit, investors should really be thinking about this situation with a long-term time horizon. In other words, only look to buy Netflix shares with a perspective that's fixed on the next five or 10 years. This will force you to consider the factors that are most important, which are the fundamentals of the business.

Based on Netflix's ongoing success, investors can confidently say that the company will likely have more subscribers, as well as higher revenue and earnings, in the future. That's a very encouraging perspective to have. And it's not a wild assumption, especially with proven pricing power, the impressive adoption of the ad-supported tier, strong free cash flow generation, and a fruitful entry into live events.

However, the market has lofty expectations, as shown by the valuation. Shares currently trade at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 49.5, which is certainly expensive any way you look at it. Of course, a clear argument can be made that Netflix is deserving of such a high P/E multiple. It has a large and engaged global audience, massive scale to invest in fresh content, a powerful brand name, and robust financial performance. It's hard to be pessimistic, even though a reasonable perspective is that returns going forward might disappoint.

In my view, the stock is too rich to put new capital to work. However, if investors have a desire to own the best companies in the world, then I can understand why buying shares today is the move. Just make sure you're making a decision that's based on looking well beyond the Oct. 21 financial update.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

This "Adobe-killer" still looks richly valued relative to its growth potential.

Figma (FIG 7.39%), a provider of cloud-based user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) tools, went public on July 31 at $33 a share. Its stock started trading at $85 and skyrocketed to a record high of $142.92 just two days later, but it now trades at about $52.

Figma's initial public offering (IPO) originally attracted a lot of attention because it challenged Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) with cloud-native UI/UX tools that could be run directly within a browser. It also provided real-time collaboration features, which allowed multiple users to access the same project.

Image source: Getty Images.

By comparison, Adobe's Creative Cloud apps are still installed as desktop apps before being synchronized across its cloud platform. Adobe added collaboration tools to those apps only after Figma proved they were essential features. Adobe even tried to buy Figma for $20 billion in 2022, but that deal collapsed amid antitrust concerns in 2023.

At its peak, Figma's market cap nearly reached $60 billion. It's only worth about $25 billion today, but that's still a lot higher than Adobe's original bid. Let's see what happened to Figma over the past year and whether its stock will head higher or lower over the next 12 months.

How fast is Figma growing?
Figma allows designers to design scalable graphics, create UI interfaces such as buttons, transform static designs into animations, and even access other third-party apps through plug-ins. It can be used to design websites and mobile apps, create interactive product prototypes, build design systems for organizations, and serve as a collaborative brainstorming platform. As a browser-native platform, Figma works across a wide range of operating systems without any on-device installations.

Figma operates a freemium business model, meaning it provides a free tier for individuals and small teams, while its subscription-based professional and organization tiers provide additional security, analytics, and administration tools. Its total number of customers generating at least $10,000 in annual recurring revenues (ARR) rose 45% to 10,517 in 2024.

Within that core cohort, its net dollar retention rate -- which gauges its year-over-year revenue growth for each customer -- increased from 122% in 2023 to 134% in 2024. Its number of large customers (which generate at least $100,000 in ARR) also rose 53% to 963 in 2024, which suggests it's gaining ground on Adobe in the enterprise market.

In 2024, Figma's revenue surged 48% to $749 million, but it posted a net loss of $732 million, compared to its net profit of $738 million in 2023. It attributed that net loss to some big one-time stock-based compensation expenses (mainly from its aborted acquisition by Adobe and a release of its restricted stock units) and other non-recurring expenses. But if we tune out that noise, we'll notice its gross margin dipped only from 91% in 2023 to 88% in 2024, so it still has plenty of pricing power.

Why did Figma's stock pull back?
In the first half of 2025, Figma's revenue rose 43% year over year to $478 million, its gross margin expanded by six percentage points to 90%, and its adjusted net income (which excludes the messy stock-based compensation expenses) rose 51% to $62 million. Its number of customers with at least $10,000 in ARR grew 31% year over year to 11,906, while its number of customers with more than $100,000 in ARR rose 42% to 1,119.

For the full year, Figma expects its revenue to rise by a midpoint of 37%. However, it expects its adjusted operating income to decline 23% to 31% as it rolls out more products, including Figma Draw, Figma Sites, and other artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools; potentially cannibalizes its subscription plans with its new consumption-based fees, which might attract more customers but generate lower-margin revenues; and ramps up its cloud infrastructure, sales, and marketing investments.

That combination of slowing growth and rising expenses spooked the bulls. At its all-time high, Figma was valued at a whopping 58 times this year's sales. But since its stock was priced for perfection and its full-year outlook wasn't a home run, it shed that hypergrowth valuation. Even after its steep decline over the past two months, Figma still doesn't look like a bargain at 25 times this year's sales. Adobe, which is growing at a much slower rate, trades at just 6 times this year's sales.

Where will Figma's stock be in a year?
From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Figma's revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25%. If it matches those estimates and still trades at 25 times its forward sales at the end of 2026, its market cap could rise 45% to nearly $37 billion within the next 12 months. Even if it trades at a more modest 20 times forward sales, its stock would still rise about 16%.

Figma's business is still firing on all cylinders, but too much growth is already baked into its stock. I think it has a shot at outperforming the S&P 500, which has generated an average annual return of 10% ever since its inception, but it probably won't generate life-changing returns over the next 12 months.

Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Adobe. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in PXS over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

These two stocks have a combination of a solid dividend, financial upside, and brand power.

If you're an income investor, or just a fan of highly valuable dividend-paying stocks, and are looking for a couple of companies with a 3%+ dividend yield, upside in their businesses, and brands you can trust, you're in the right place. Here are two excellent options that provide potential investors just that.

Image source: Getty Images.

Improving margins will fuel dividend
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK -1.42%) is a worldwide leader in Tools and Outdoor products that include power tools, hand tools, storage, digital jobsite solutions, and outdoor lifestyle products. The company operates manufacturing facilities across the globe and boasts impressive brands such as DEWALT, CRAFTSMAN, BLACK+DECKER, and STANLEY, among others.

One of the bright spots for owning shares of the power tools producer is its dividend. Over the summer, its Board of Directors approved a modest $0.01 increase of its quarterly cash dividend to $0.83 per common share, or a dividend-yield of 4.5%. It also extends the company's record for the longest consecutive annual and quarterly dividend payments among industrial companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

SWK data by YCharts

The good news is that for investors banking on not only its high-dividend yield, but its also  potential, the company's current focus will improve margins. This should eventually trickle down into an increased dividend.

Stanley Black & Decker's former President and CEO, Donald Allan, Jr., said in a press release, "Supporting our long-standing cash dividend is a key element of our overall shareholder value proposition. This signals our confidence that we are building a Company and culture geared to deliver long-term organic growth and margin expansion as well as generate significant free cash flow to enhance shareholder return." 

One way management is supporting dividends is through a series of initiatives expected to generate $2 billion of pre-tax run-rate cost savings by the end of 2025. The long-term adjusted gross margin target is an enticing 35%+. Since the beginning of the program in mid-2022, it's generated roughly $1.8 billion in pre-tax run-rate cost savings already.

Multiple routes to expansion
Bath & Body Works (BBWI 2.11%) is a specialty home fragrance and fragrant body care retailer operating with the brands Bath & Body Works, C.O. Bigelow, and White Barn. Not only does the specialty retailer offer a respectable dividend yield of 3.1%, there is immense growth potential for the company and its investors through store upgrades, digital opportunities, international expansion, as well as adjacent categories such as hair, lip, and laundry.

There is plenty of upside remaining in BBW's business that should power its top line well beyond its 2024 $7.3 billion level. The specialty retailer has a compelling product pipeline that should not only drive sales higher but reach new consumers. BBW could add low-hanging fruit business with expansion products that include shaving and facial care, but it could enter nascent categories such as haircare and men's care.

Beyond its potential production line expansion, the company has ample opportunity outside of its core U.S. market. In fact, for fiscal 2024, the company generated a vast majority of its sales from North America with only a paltry 5% of sales coming from international markets -- something the company plans to change.

The company already touches markets from Dubai, to Italy, all the way back to Mexico, and it just celebrated the opening of its 500th international store in London just last year, marking a stepping stone in the company's global growth strategy. In fact, Morningstar forecasts average sales growth of 3% from its North American stores, 3% from its digital e-commerce, and 5% from its international expansion.

Are they buys today?
Investors looking for rock-solid dividend stocks that also have upside potential in their business can certainly add Stanley Black & Decker and Bath & Body Works to their watchlists. Stanley Black & Decker has a lengthy history of delivering dividends and dividend increases, while it is also working to boost its bottom line through cost-cutting initiatives.

Meanwhile, Bath & Body Works may lack the dividend history of Black & Decker, it doesn't lack for opportunities. Not only does the company have nascent categories that make perfect sense under its umbrella of brands, it has immense untapped market potential globally -- both should power the company's business moving forward.

Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

TULSA, Okla. , Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today announced that on Oct. 6, 2025, a fire occurred in the heating system of ONEOK's MB-4 fractionator, which is one of the facilities located at ONEOK's Mont Belvieu, Texas, fractionation complex.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in ZIM over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Notably, positive sentiment toward early data from the Golden Week holiday comes despite the ongoing effect of US tariffs on the broader Chinese economy.

Unemployment and consumer spending have been pressure points as external demand has continued to weaken, prompting firms to cut prices to stimulate demand. The resulting squeeze on margins led firms to reduce staffing levels to counter pricing trends.

Rising Unemployment Threatens Momentum
However, economic uncertainty may resurface after the October data if external demand trends continue to affect the labor market. China’s unemployment rate increased from 5.2% in July to 5.3% in August. Crucially, youth unemployment reached 18.9%, up from 17.8% in July and 14.5% in June.

Rebooting external demand would likely be crucial in easing price pressures and boosting job creation, given that elevated unemployment is unlikely to foster a sustainable jump in consumer spending.

With domestic consumption still fragile, policymakers will look to foreign demand—and trade diplomacy—for support.

APEC Summit Looms: Trade Talks Back in Focus
As the APEC Summit, held from October 31 to November 1, looms, all eyes will be on President Trump and President Xi. A trade deal, including lower tariffs on Chinese goods, could change the narrative for China’s industrial sector and the broader economy.

However, a trade deal is not assured, given that China has taken evasive steps to pressure the US administration into dropping levies. Beijing has targeted US farmers, one of Trump’s key voting pools, drawing criticism from the US President.

Shaun Rein, founder of The China Market Research Group (CMR), recently commented on China’s ongoing retaliatory measures to US tariffs, stating:

“China is no longer buying American beef, they are buying Australian beef. China is no longer buying American soybeans, they are buying Argentinian soybeans.”

He also commented on Beijing halting US chip purchases, noting that China is manufacturing its own, reducing reliance on US chips.

Trump’s Response and Geopolitical Undercurrents
President Trump responded to China’s soybean strategy, stating:

“The Soybean farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for ‘negotiating’ reasons only, not buying. We’ve made so much money on Tariffs, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our farmers. I will never let our farmers down.”

However, the US President did not retaliate against China for cutting soybean imports, contrasting with the 50% US tariff on India for buying Russian oil. Notably, China remains the leading importer of Russian oil. This selective restraint may indicate ongoing backchannel negotiations.

President Trump’s silence on retaliatory measures against China suggests a potential deal, potentially at the APEC Summit. While China’s Golden Week holiday may reboot the economy, several US economic indicators are flashing early stagflation warnings.

Market Implications: Uncertainty Ahead of APEC
President Xi may have the upper hand going into the APEC Summit, but President Trump’s unpredictability will leave traders on edge. A full-blown US-China trade war could damage more than the world’s two largest economies and potentially derail investor sentiment.

Upcoming economic indicators could set the tone for talks between President Trump and President Xi at the end of the month.

US labor market data could fuel fears over stagflation, challenging expectations of aggressive Fed rate cuts to bolster the economy. Chinese retail sales and unemployment data will reflect the effectiveness of Beijing’s stimulus efforts in countering US tariffs.

President Xi’s reported plans to invest significantly in the US could be a checkmate in US-China relations. A substantial investment would create much-needed US jobs and support the economy at a pivotal time for the US administration. The question remains: what price is President Trump willing to pay?

China Beige Book recently reported:

“China is pushing the Trump administration to roll back national-security restrictions on Chinese deals in the US.”

Mainland Equity Markets: Post-Holiday Blues or New 2025 Highs?
Mainland equity markets will reopen on Thursday, October 9. During the Golden Week holiday, US equity markets reached new all-time highs, while gold hit a record high of $3,977.

Optimism toward a US-China trade deal and domestic consumption during the Golden Week holiday could lift Chinese stocks when trading resumes.

The CSI 300 gained 3.2% in September, extending the winning streak to five months. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.64%, reaching a 10-year high.

However, Mainland equity markets remain below record highs, offering the potential for strong fourth-quarter gains. Downside risks persist despite the market euphoria. Rising US-China trade relations could trigger a Mainland equity market sell-off in the absence of policy support from Beijing.

AppLovin Corp (NASDAQ: APP) tumbled rather significantly late on Monday following reports the SEC is probing its advertising practices – particularly around its AI-enabled AXON platform.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of IGR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of URBN either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Dogecoin (DOGE) recently weathered early market volatility before stabilizing near the $0.25 support level. Institutional flows and sustained buying interest helped anchor the price, which fluctuated in a narrow $0.251–$0.252 range.

As Bitcoin (BTC) hit a new all-time high (ATH) of $125,708 on Binance yesterday, BTC exchange inflows are starting to show signs of slowing down. As a result, crypto analysts are confident that the top cryptocurrency by market cap may be on the cusp of a healthy rally.

Bitcoin Exchange Inflows Slump Amid New ATH
According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor ChainSpan, fresh on-chain data shows that the average amount of BTC inflows into exchanges such as Binance has decreased significantly.

To recall, BTC sent to exchanges is usually seen as a warning sign, as it suggests that investors are attempting to sell their holdings at prevailing market prices. As a result, high inflows to exchanges typically create selling pressure on the underlying asset’s price.

On the contrary, a decrease in exchange inflows indicates that BTC holders are opting to hold their assets in cold wallets. One of the cascading effects of lower exchange inflows is that it could lead to a “supply crunch” for BTC, which may lead to extraordinary price appreciation in a short duration.

ChainSpan noted that as Bitcoin’s price surged from $108,000 to $125,000 over the past few weeks, the inflow average for the cryptocurrency has dropped from 0.55 to 0.48. This suggests that the current rally is being driven by organic market demand and holding behavior.

Source: CryptoQuant
Put simply, the increase in BTC’s price is not happening in tandem with a speculative selling wave, but rather on a foundation of reduced selling pressure. The analyst added:

In the short term, this backdrop supports the upward trend. Yet, if large inflows into exchanges suddenly appear in the coming days, it could be a sign that major players are preparing to sell. In such a case, a short-term correction in the price may follow.

The CryptoQuant analyst concluded by saying that although the current market conditions point toward low selling intent and strong demand for BTC, a sudden spike in exchange inflows could derail the digital asset’s momentum. As a result, investors should keep a close eye on the metric.

Will BTC Surge Further In Q4?
While BTC has already created a new ATH, some crypto analysts forecast that the digital asset may record more gains in the coming quarter. Crypto analyst Rekt Capital predicted that BTC could peak sometime in mid-November.

Similarly, recent analysis by the team at The Bull Theory forecasts that BTC may surge as high as $143,000 in October. Historically, October has been one of the strongest months for BTC in terms of price appreciation.

That said, BTC must first ensure it decisively breaks through the stiff resistance at $125,000 and defends the support level at $118,000. At press time, BTC trades at $125,189, up 1.9% in the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin trades at $125,189 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image from Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant and TradingView.com

Bitcoin price started a strong increase and traded above $126,000. BTC is now consolidating gains and might aim for more gains in the short term.

Bitcoin started a major increase above the $125,000 zone.
The price is trading above $124,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average.
There is a short-term bullish trend line forming with support at $124,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
The pair might continue to move up if it clears the $125,500 zone.

Bitcoin Price Sets New ATH
Bitcoin price managed to stay above the $122,000 zone and started a fresh increase. BTC settled above the $123,500 resistance zone to start the current move.

The bulls were able to pump the price above the $125,000 and $125,500 levels. They even cleared the $126,000 level. A new high was formed at $126,198 before there was a minor pullback. The price traded below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $122,230 swing low to the $126,198 high.

Bitcoin is now trading above $124,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a short-term bullish trend line forming with support at $124,200 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com
Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $125,250 level. The first key resistance is near the $125,500 level. The next resistance could be $126,200. A close above the $126,200 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $126,500 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $128,000 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $130,000.

Downside Correction In BTC?
If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $125,500 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support is near the $124,200 level and the trend line. The first major support is near the $123,250 level or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the recent wave from the $122,230 swing low to the $126,198 high.

The next support is now near the $122,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $121,200 support in the near term. The main support sits at $120,500, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the short term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $124,200, followed by $123,250.

Major Resistance Levels – $125,500 and $126,500.

Leading cryptocurrencies rose further on Monday as investors continued to rotate capital into risky assets.

CryptocurrencyGains +/-Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)+0.63%$124,566.84Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)
               +3.36%$4,670.30.XRP (CRYPTO: XRP)                         +0.25%$2.98Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)                         +0.80%$231.48Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE)                         +4.74%$0.2648BTC’s Bull Run ContinuesBitcoin extended its rally, hitting a new all-time highs past $126,000. Ethereum also reclaimed $4,700 late in the afternoon, but fell back to roughly $4,670 overnight.

XRP and Solana recorded modest gains. Altcoin Season was yet to start, according to the readings on the CMC Altcoin Season Index. 

Morgan Stanley’s latest wealth report advised clients to allocate only a small portion of their portfolios to cryptocurrency, up to 2% for conservative investors and up to 4% for those seeking higher growth.

Cryptocurrency liquidations, meanwhile, reached $328 million in the last 24 hours, with short liquidations accounting for the majority, according to Coinglass.

Bitcoin’s open interest rose further by 1.51% to $93.89 billion, while the majority Binance futures traders were positioned bearish, according to the Long/Short ratio.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

Cryptocurrency (Market Cap>$100 M)Gains +/-Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)ChainOpera AI (COAI)     +469.52%$2.25Bless (BLESS)    
               +73.00%$0.05892Aleo (ALEO)          +59.39%$0.4451The global cryptocurrency market capitalization rose to $4.28 trillion, reflecting an increase of 1.76% in the last 24 hours.

Tech Stocks Surge On AMD-OpenAI DealStocks continued their record-breaking run on Monday. The S&P 500 rose 0.36% to end at 6,740.28, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed up 0.71% at 22,941.67. Both indexes notched new closing highs.

The rally was supported by Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) surging over 23% following a landmark agreement with OpenAI to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPU power for the tech giant’s AI infrastructure.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the outlier, falling 63.31 points, or 0.14%, to close at 46,694.97. 

ETH To Rally Toward $10,000?On-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant highlighted a sharp increase in U.S. M2 money supply over the past three years, with Bitcoin showing an "exceptionally high correlation" and rising 130%.

"If global liquidity continues to expand and the structural outflow from exchanges persists, Ethereum could realign with M2 growth and enter a new revaluation phase. In that scenario, $10,000 is far from unrealistic," CryptoQuant projected.

Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ted Pillows said Ethereum and Bitcoin will pump like gold in the fourth quarter, referring to the yellow metal's uninterrupted 5-week rally.

"But as long as Gold is rallying like this, I’m a bit cautious on risk-on assets," Pillows added.

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Photo Courtesy: Marc Bruxelle on Shutterstock.com

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Large deposits spark speculation about possible sales or new strategies as Bitcoin whales shift behavior amid institutional ETF influence.

Key Takeaways

Whales transferred 15,054 BTC (worth approximately $1.9 billion) to crypto exchanges in a single day.
This move contrasts with 2024 trends, where whales have been withdrawing Bitcoin for self-custody.

Whales moved 15,054 Bitcoin worth nearly $1.9 billion into crypto exchanges today, according to CryptoQuant analyst JA Maarturn.

The massive deposit contrasts with broader whale behavior patterns observed previously, when large holders typically withdrew Bitcoin from exchanges like Binance and Coinbase to signal long-term holding strategies through self-custody.

Whales have been pulling Bitcoin from major exchanges amid bullish sentiment from ETF developments, with institutional platforms witnessing large outflows to unknown wallets as entities prepare for treasury allocations or long-term positions.

The move represents one of the largest single-day whale deposits in recent months, potentially indicating preparation for a significant sale or strategic repositioning as Bitcoin trades near current levels.

Disclaimer

While Warren Buffett has long championed investing in the S&P 500, recent analysis shows that Bitcoin has far outperformed the stock index since 2020. Phil Rosen, co-founder of Opening Bell Daily, highlighted that although the S&P 500 has gained around 106% in USD terms, it has fallen 88% in BTC terms over the same period.

Bitcoin's options pit stayed rowdy Monday evening as the price cooled to $124,843 at 8 p.m. EST after a quick rip to the $126,272 lifetime high. Options Appetite Climbs With Price as ETFs and Macro Tailwinds Bite On the options board, calls still carry the baton. Coinglass.com stats show calls represent 59.

Dogecoin (DOGE) is back in the spotlight after a sharp rebound from support, rallying roughly 15% to trade around $0.25–$0.26. The move coincides with heavy whale accumulation, over 30 million DOGE scooped up in 24 hours, and notable exchange outflows topping $25 million, signaling coins moving to cold storage.

With price compressing just beneath a dense resistance cluster, traders are asking the big question: is a 20% breakout to over $0.30 next?

DOGE's price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: DOGEUSD chart from Tradingview
Whales Accumulate as Exchange Balances Fall
On-chain data paints a constructive backdrop. Large holders added more than 30 million DOGE as spot demand returned, while net outflows from exchanges suggest decreasing sell-side inventory.

That tightening supply, coupled with rising participation from both short- and long-term holders (per HODL Waves), supports the idea that conviction is building beneath price.

Meanwhile, the Spent Coins Age Band has dropped sharply, implying fewer dormant coins are being moved, even as price rises, often a hallmark of early uptrends.

Key Levels to Watch $0.26 Trigger, $0.30–$0.34 Targets
Technically, DOGE is coiling under a 0.618 Fibonacci retracement near $0.2626, a level analysts such as The Great Mattsby flag as the immediate “doorway” to momentum.

The resistance band stretches through $0.26–$0.28, reinforced by the weekly Ichimoku cloud edge and the 50-week MA, creating a high-confluence ceiling.

A daily/weekly close above $0.2626–$0.275 would flip multiple trend filters and validate a push toward $0.30, with $0.32–$0.34 (20% higher) the next logical zone. Above there, historical Fibonacci checkpoints at $0.33–$0.35 and $0.41 come into play.

On the downside, $0.24–$0.25 remains key first support (former breakout/retest area), followed by $0.23 and $0.22. Losing $0.24 would dent the near-term structure and risk a deeper pullback into the mid-$0.20s.

On-Chain and Technicals Hint at 20% Breakout
Price recently broke a descending channel, then cleanly retested the upper boundary as support classic reversal behavior. Momentum gauges back the move, as the +DI sits above –DI with a rising ADX, the MACD has flipped positive, and DOGE continues to ride an ascending channel that’s guided higher lows since summer.

Some analysts also note a rising megaphone on higher time frames, where a sustained close above the upper rail could accelerate toward $0.70 later this cycle.

With whales buying, exchange supply thinning, and price compressing under a high-confluence ceiling, DOGE has the ingredients for a 20% breakout, provided it can secure a decisive close above $0.2626–$0.275. Until then, expect continued range-trading between $0.24–$0.28 as the market builds energy for the next move.

Cover image from ChatGPT, DOGEUSD chart from Tradingview

Data shows YEPE accumulation across select addresses signals coordinated buying.

Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemap highlighted fresh concerns around James Wynn’s activities in the meme coin market. Wynn’s history of turning small meme coin bets into massive profits may repeat with the latest YEPE meme coin.

But insider dominance is evident.

Bubblemap Reveals Pattern
According to the analysis by Bubblemap, insiders currently hold roughly 60% of YEPE, and a significant portion of these holdings are coming from addresses funded through the same centralized exchanges, LBank, KuCoin, and MEXC. These addresses reportedly exhibit similar funding behaviors and buying patterns, which point to coordinated or highly structured accumulation strategies.

Bubblemap argued that the recurring pattern behind Wynn’s meme coin promotions is one of manufactured hype, and often amplified by coordinated influencer campaigns that help fuel demand at launch. On-chain data reveals that these surges typically benefit a small group of insiders, who consistently accumulate and hold a large share of the token supply.

Despite the growing criticism of such moves and the concerns it raises around potential market manipulation, Wynn has continued to build visibility within the industry and has also received public endorsements from high-profile figures, including Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.

For many observers, such backing risks normalizing practices that resemble insider-driven trading activity, blurring the line between aggressive promotion and outright manipulation in the meme coin sector.

The Wynn Effect
Wynn, a pseudonymous crypto trader who rose to prominence between 2022 and 2023 through early investments in meme coins, has a history of using high leverage and aggressive trading techniques. His breakout moment came when he transformed a modest $7,000 investment in PEPE into a multimillion-dollar gain. That trade established hallmarks of his approach, which are high-leverage positions, bold risk-taking, and a narrative-driven strategy, often promoted publicly on social media.

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Since then, Wynn has repeatedly entered the market with similarly structured trades, promoting bundled meme coins like WIFE, ZEUS, and USDM, sometimes leveraging decentralized derivatives platforms such as Hyperliquid to magnify returns. In early 2025, Wynn’s activity on Hyperliquid drew attention, as he executed positions with leverage up to 40x on notional amounts reaching billions of dollars.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, however, cast doubt on Wynn’s high-profile trades and even questioned whether the pseudonymous investor’s real aim is profit or simply attention. In a discussion shared by Unchained host Laura Shin, Hayes said that Wynn’s actions looked more like “airdrop farming” than billion-dollar Bitcoin bets.

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Saylor's $3.9B gain and Japan's pro-crypto push fuel rally – Bitcoin price prediction now points toward the $160K zone.

Plume secures SEC transfer agent registration for tokenized securities, token surges 31% Gino Matos · 1 hour ago · 2 min read

The registration enables Plume to manage shareholder records, trades, and dividends on-chain.

Oct. 6, 2025 at 11:15 pm UTC

2 min read

Updated: Oct. 6, 2025 at 11:08 pm UTC

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Plume (PLUME) as a registered transfer agent of tokenized securities on Oct. 6.

The announcement caused the PLUME token to surge 31% from $0.1022 to $0.1342 before settling at $0.12 as of press time, representing a 21% increase over the past 24 hours.

The registration enables Plume to manage shareholder records, trades, and dividends on-chain, while linking cap tables and reporting directly to the SEC and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) systems.

Traditional transfer agents operate off-chain, but Plume now brings that infrastructure to blockchain networks with native compliance tools.

The platform’s transfer agent enables on-chain cap table and trade reporting to the SEC and DTCC, as well as native fund administration for issuers and asset managers, all while facilitating faster onboarding without compromising regulatory compliance.

Plume stated the registration represents its first step in working with the SEC to build fully compliant tokenized capital markets.

The platform reported it has onboarded over 200,000 real-world asset holders and more than $62 million in tokenized assets through its Nest platform in three months.

Plume said the transfer agent gives issuers and asset managers tools to scale on-chain securely while maintaining regulatory standards.

Tokenization grows in the USThe approval arrives as US regulators accelerate coordination on digital asset oversight.

The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) held a joint roundtable on Sept. 29 to address fragmented regulation that had previously discouraged innovation and pushed crypto activity offshore.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Acting Chairman Caroline Pham stated that harmonization can lower barriers and enhance efficiency in financial markets.

The CFTC announced on Sept. 23 an initiative to enable tokenized collateral in derivatives markets, including stablecoins.

Pham described the move as advancing blockchain technology in collateral management systems, stating that “tokenized markets are here, and they are the future.”

Plume’s transfer agent registration directly connects the platform’s infrastructure to federal reporting systems in response to regulatory advancements in the US tokenized securities market.

Mentioned in this articleLatest US Stories

On Monday, the crypto market experienced heightened demand from speculative investors. Bitcoin (BTC) price rallied over 2% to reach a new all-time high (ATH) of about $126,198 before retracing to trade about $124,879 at press time.

The wider altcoin market followed in tandem, led by Ethereum (ETH) and Binance Coin (BNB). According to the latest market data, the ETH price surged over 4% in the last 24 hours to reach a range high of about $4,736 before retracing to trade around $4,676 at press time.

The best performing large-cap altcoin was BNB, which surged over 6% to reach a new ATH of about $1,247 before retracing to trade about $1,225 at the time of this writing. 

Top Reasons Why Crypto Surged TodayHigh Demand from Whale Institutional InvestorsThe demand for crypto assets has significantly increased in the past few days amid the ongoing United States government shutdown. For instance, a weekly report from CoinShares shows crypto investment products recorded the highest weekly cash inflow of about $5.95 billion.

Bitcoin registered a weekly cash inflow of about $3.55 billion, Solana reported a record cash inflow of about $706.5 million, while Ether recorded $1.48 billion.  According to on-chain data analysis from Santiment, whale investors with a MNT account balance of between 100 and 1000 purchased over 60k BTC during the past week, thus currently holding 5.11 million.

October Bullish Sentiment Historically, the crypto market has performed exceptionally well during the fourth quarter, especially in October. With Bitcoin already following Gold price action, Wall Street analysts have predicted a parabolic rally for the crypto market in the coming months fueled by institutional investors and clear regulatory clarity.

The ‘Uptober’ bullish sentiment is bolstered by the notable spot crypto ETF application in the United States. With the recent approval of generic listing standards, ETF experts have predicted that dozens of crypto ETFs will be approved soon.

Technical TailwindsFrom a technical analysis outlook, the crypto market – led by Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB – has already broken out of a multi-week choppy consolidation. 

Crypto analysts Rekt Capital, BTC has entered its much-anticipated price discovery phase 

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