Vitalik Buterin Signals Major Ethereum Wallet Overhaul Prefer us on Google
Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum may be nearing a long-planned shift to account abstraction, potentially enabled by the Hegota fork.The design would make wallets programmable so they can batch actions, support multisig and new signature schemes.The Ethereum co-founder also pointed out that the plan seeks to bake privacy and parallel processing into the protocol's core.Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said a long-discussed plan to make the blockchain network’s accounts more flexible may finally be close to implementation.
On February 28, Buterin outlined a design built around account abstraction that could become possible with the network’s Hegota fork.
How EIP-8141 Could Make Ethereum Wallets More FlexibleButerin described EIP-8141 as the proposal’s centerpiece, an omnibus design that addresses the remaining challenges of account abstraction.
Now, account abstraction.
We have been talking about account abstraction ever since early 2016, see the original EIP-86: https://t.co/HYLSTLHgWH
Now, we finally have EIP-8141 ( https://t.co/jYqeS55j6P ), an omnibus that wraps up and solves every remaining problem that AA was…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 28, 2026 The goal is to transform wallets into programmable accounts that can batch actions, change signature schemes, and support multisig controls. This shift also enables the separation of transaction authorization from the underlying gas payment.
Most Ethereum users today rely on externally owned accounts (EOAs), which they control with private keys and typically fund with ETH to pay gas fees.
Under Buterin’s proposed design, transactions would be organized as “Frame Transactions.”
This is a structure that breaks activity into a series of calls that can validate a sender, authorize a gas payer, and execute one or more actions.
“The concept, ‘Frame Transactions’, is about as simple as you can get while still being highly general purpose. A transaction is N calls, which can read each other’s calldata, and which have the ability to authorize a sender and authorize a gas payer. At the protocol layer, that’s it,” he explained.
In practical terms, a transaction could include separate frames for validation and execution. For more complex flows, a deployment frame could be added for accounts that do not yet exist on-chain.
It also means that batch operations, such as approving and then spending a token in a single atomic sequence, could become easier to execute as a first-class transaction type.
Buterin highlighted the role of “paymaster” contracts, which could allow users to pay transaction fees in assets other than ETH. These contracts would also enable applications to sponsor those user fees directly.
In one example, he described a paymaster that could accept RAI, provide ETH for gas in real time, and refund unused value at the end of the transaction.
He argued that the approach would preserve the functionality of existing sponsored transaction systems while reducing reliance on intermediaries.
“Intermediary minimization is a core principle of non-ugly cypherpunk ethereum: maximize what you can do even if all the world’s infrastructure except the ethereum chain itself goes down,” he explained.
The New Model Could Strengthen Privacy ToolsMeanwhile, the proposal also has implications for privacy tools on the blockchain network.
Buterin said paymasters could be designed to verify zero-knowledge proofs and pay gas if those proofs are valid.
He also pointed to “2D nonces” as a way for an individual account to receive transactions in parallel from many users. This could potentially improve how privacy-preserving systems operate.
However, Buterin noted that the design’s primary challenge may lie in the mempool—where transactions propagate before entering a block—rather than at the blockchain level itself.
According to him, some highly complex validation logic may be unsafe to broadcast widely. This means that the initial mempool rules would likely need to be conservative before expanding over time.
He added that account abstraction would complement FOCIL, a separate proposal aimed at improving inclusion guarantees for transactions.
Buterin pointed out that developers are also discussing compatibility for existing accounts to ensure they can eventually access the new framework.
This inclusion would enable traditional wallets to benefit from advanced features such as batch operations and gas sponsorship.
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2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 07:3612d ago
Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Jumps to $67K After Crash as Iran Leader Killed
Bitcoin staged a sharp rebound over the weekend, ripping from lows near 63,000 USD back toward 67,000 USD after Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint US-Israeli strikes.
The move followed a violent sell‑off triggered by the initial bombing, which had briefly driven BTC below 63,100 USD as traders braced for an uncontrolled regional war and a prolonged risk‑off episode.
Source: CoinCodexOnce confirmation of Khamenei’s death filtered through official and media channels, markets pivoted to a “regime‑change rally” narrative, betting that the conflict timeline could compress and the uncertainty premium weighing on risk assets might unwind faster than feared.
Short Squeeze: Around $303M in Shorts Wiped OutDerivatives data show that the round‑trip move produced a sizable liquidation flush, with total crypto liquidations over 24 hours in the hundreds of millions of dollars and roughly 300 million USD of that tied to short positions as late bears were caught offsides by the reversal.
One analytics summary cited more than 500 million USD in leveraged positions wiped out across a large number of traders as BTC swung from about 63,000 USD to 67,000 USD in roughly half a day. Within that, shorts bore the brunt of the pain, with an estimated 303 million USD in short liquidations acting as forced buy orders that accelerated the rebound once price broke back above the 65,000-66,000 USD zone.
This short‑squeeze bid helped BTC push toward 67,000 USD even as headlines from the region remained highly fluid.
War Risk, Succession Fears and the Outlook for BTCFor now, the market is attempting to reprice the balance between war risk and the possibility of a faster resolution. Iran’s confirmation of Khamenei’s death, the declared mourning period, and the prospect of a succession struggle inject a new layer of political uncertainty, but traders are also speculating that the decapitation of Iran’s leadership could shorten the window for active hostilities.
In that framework, Bitcoin’s recovery toward 67,000 USD is being read as a vote that the worst‑case scenario – an open‑ended, uncontrollable regional war is now seen as slightly less likely than it seemed when the first missiles hit Tehran. Looking ahead, key levels to watch are support around 63,000-64,000 USD and resistance in the 67,000-68,500 USD band.
If geopolitical tensions stabilize and ETF flows stay constructive, BTC could retest recent highs, but with Middle East headlines still capable of flipping the risk narrative within hours, elevated volatility and sudden liquidation waves: both long and short are likely to remain a defining feature of price action.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 07:3912d ago
BNB Price Prediction as US Court Rejects Binance Arbitration Clause
A federal judge in Manhattan denied Binance’s motion to compel arbitration in a class action. The lawsuit alleges the exchange sold unregistered digital tokens to U.S. investors. The decision allows the case to proceed in open court rather than private arbitration.
Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr. ruled that Binance failed to properly notify users about changes to its Terms of Use. The exchange added an arbitration clause and class action waiver in February 2019. However, the plaintiffs created their accounts between September 2017 and April 2018.
The court found that posting updated terms online without direct notice was insufficient. The ruling cited precedent that users are not required to check for unilateral contract changes. As a result, the arbitration clause cannot apply to earlier claims.
The class action traces back to lawsuits filed in April 2020. The case was dismissed in 2022 but revived in 2024 by the Second Circuit. The appellate court held that U.S. securities laws could apply to Binance. The Supreme Court declined to review that ruling in January 2025.
Court Rejects Arbitration and Class Action WaiverBinance argued that its 2019 terms governed all disputes. However, the court rejected that position. It stated that unilateral modifications silent on accrued claims face limits under California law.
The judge also addressed the class action waiver. Although a section referenced a “CLASS ACTION WAIVER,” the body did not define its terms. The court described the language as ambiguous. It interpreted the adhesion contract against Binance as the drafter.
The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed claims arising after February 2019. This narrowed the case to conduct before the arbitration clause existed. Therefore, the dispute now focuses on earlier token sales. The ruling comes amid changes in Binance’s regulatory landscape. The SEC moved to dismiss its enforcement action last May. Meanwhile, the private class action continues.
Concurrently, Binance is also facing renewed political scrutiny in Washington. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal raised concerns about alleged exposure to $1.7 billion in transactions linked to Iran. However, as we reported, the crypto exchange has denied the claims and said it will share findings from an internal review with the U.S. Department of Justice.
BNB Price Prediction and Technical OutlookFollowing the court decision, attention turned to the BNB price prediction. Market analysts note that BNB trades nearly 60% below its all time high within four months. The asset maintains a lower high and lower low structure.
Crypto analyst Crypto Patel stated that BNB remains inside a bearish flag channel. He noted that $570 acts as key support. If the price breaks below that level, he expects another decline toward $450.
He identified a breakdown target between $445 and $450. According to his analysis, no bullish divergence has appeared on major timeframes. Therefore, the bearish bias remains until the structure shifts.
Source: X
BNB price currently faces both legal and technical pressure. The court decision may not directly affect exchange operations. However, prolonged litigation could weigh on investor sentiment.
Traders now monitor whether support levels hold. A sustained move below $570 could confirm the bearish setup. Conversely, a structural shift would require higher highs and renewed demand. However, despite the challenges faced by Binance, the token has been in the green zone despite the current bearish trend in the market. At press time, the BNB price was trading at $617.27, a 1.07% surge from the 24 hour low.
Cover image via U.Today 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.
Shiba Inu's current on-chain data indicates a significant influx of more than 600 billion tokens. Despite obvious pressure building beneath the surface, the market’s direction remains uncertain due to a conflicting setup created by the combination of weakening price structure and surging exchange inflows.
Shiba Inu stays downEvery major moving average is still below SHIB on the daily chart. Strengthening the overall bearish pattern that has prevailed since late 2025, the 50-day and 100-day lines are still well above price action.
SHIB/USDT Chart by TradingViewNumerous downward trends have already broken down, and the most recent consolidation close to the lower trendline suggests hesitancy rather than a robust recovery. Although the price is in the vicinity of a local support zone, candles indicate that buyers are not following through, indicating that demand is still erratic.
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The unexpected increase in exchange inflows is what makes this situation more noteworthy. More than 600 billion SHIB were moved into exchanges in a brief period of time, according to on-chain data. Large inflows like this have historically been linked to higher sell-side liquidity because tokens that move onto exchanges are frequently positioned for future distribution.
Will momentum increase?This increases the likelihood of increased volatility and quicker price reactions in the event that momentum turns negative, but it does not ensure an immediate decline. However, strong moves in either direction can sometimes be preceded by spikes in exchange inflow. Before attempting to defend support or initiate liquidity events, big players occasionally reposition.
As of right now, the chart illustrates this uncertainty: volume has not yet displayed a clear expansion, and the price is compressed inside a narrowing structure. The market is loaded but uncommitted, to put it briefly. From a structural standpoint, SHIB is making an effort to stabilize following lower lows, but the general trend continues to favor sellers until the price reclaims important moving averages and firmly breaks the declining resistance area.
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The key conclusion is that both outcomes are still possible at this pivotal moment for SHIB. Potential selling pressure is introduced by large exchange injections, and the technical chart indicates that the price is testing a crucial decision zone. The side of the current compression that breaks first will determine whether this turns into a recovery attempt or another leg down.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 07:4612d ago
Ethereum Hits Key Resistance Zones as Analysts Flag $2,100 and $2,125 Hurdles
Ethereum bounced back after a sharp dip, shifting trader focus to nearby resistance levels. Analysts on X pointed to $2,100 and a $2,125 sell wall as the next major tests for the rebound.
Ethereum Rebounds Toward $2,000 as Traders Eye $2,100 ReclaimEthereum traded near the $2,000 level after recovering from a sharp selloff, with market commentator Ted Pillows saying the token had “fully recovered from yesterday's dump.” On the daily Binance chart shared on X, ETH rebounded from a recent low near the mid $1,800 range and climbed back toward the $2,000 mark. The move erased most of the prior session’s losses and brought price back into a key horizontal zone that previously acted as support and resistance.
Ethereum/TetherUS Daily Chart. Source: Ted Pillows on X (@TedPillows)
The chart highlights $2,100 as the next level traders are watching. According to Ted, Ethereum needs to reclaim that area to strengthen the short term structure. The $2,100 zone aligns with a red resistance band on the chart, while $2,400 stands above as the next major supply area. Earlier breakdowns show ETH losing the $2,400 region before accelerating lower, which turned that level into overhead resistance.
At the same time, the chart outlines lower support bands near $1,720 and $1,540. These areas marked prior demand during past consolidations. For now, Ethereum holds above the upper green support zone, while testing the lower edge of the $2,100 resistance region. A sustained move above that barrier could open the path toward $2,400, while failure to reclaim it would keep price inside the broader consolidation range.
Ethereum Faces $2,125 Sell Wall as Traders Watch for BreakoutEthereum is approaching a sell wall near $2,125, a level that market commentator CW8900 said could act as resistance. In a post on X, he stated that $ETH will soon reach the $2,125 zone, describing it as a barrier that sellers may defend. The four hour Binance chart shared by the analyst shows a red resistance block positioned just above recent swing highs.
Ethereum/TetherUS 4 Hour Chart. Source: CW8900 on X (@CW8900)
The chart outlines a broader downtrend from late January, followed by a period of consolidation. After a sharp drop, Ethereum formed a base and then staged a rebound toward the highlighted resistance area. The $2,125 zone aligns with prior breakdown levels, where price previously failed to sustain upward momentum.
According to CW8900, a breakout above $2,125 is essential for further upward movement. If buyers push through that resistance and hold above it, the next supply region sits higher near the mid $2,400 area. However, if the sell wall holds, Ethereum could face renewed pressure and remain inside the broader range marked by lower support zones.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:0012d ago
SpaceX's $780 million bitcoin stack now down to about $545 million ahead of IPO filing
The company holds about 8,285 bitcoin in Coinbase Prime custody, a stake now worth roughly $545 million after a $235 million decline in value over the past three months. Mar 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
SpaceX has held bitcoin for years without ever having to explain why to the public market investors. That's about to change.
Bloomberg reported late Friday that Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company is targeting a confidential IPO filing with the SEC as soon as March, keeping it on track for a June listing that would be the largest in history. The company is expected to seek a valuation above $1.75 trillion and raise as much as $50 billion, eclipsing Saudi Aramco's 2019 record of $29 billion.
Buried inside that filing will be 8,285 bitcoin.
Arkham Intelligence data shows SpaceX's identified wallets held about $544.8 million in BTC as of Saturday morning, spread across 43 addresses in Coinbase Prime custody.
The balance has remained roughly stable around 8,300 BTC since at least early 2026, but the dollar value has moved sharply in the wrong direction. In December, when CoinDesk reported on the holdings ahead of the planned listing, the same stack was worth roughly $780 million at bitcoin's then price near $92,500.
By early February, when the SpaceX-xAI merger brought the position back into focus, it had dropped to around $650 million with bitcoin near $78,000.
Now it sits around $545 million. That's a $235 million decline in value over three months without SpaceX touching a single coin.
That means SpaceX's S-1 will show bitcoin-related paper losses for any period where BTC declined, and future quarterly earnings will carry that volatility regardless of whether the company buys or sells.
The Tesla exampleTesla offers the closest precedent, and it isn't reassuring.
Musk's automaker has booked hundreds of millions in paper losses during past drawdowns despite never changing its position, creating recurring headline risk that overshadowed the underlying business. SpaceX could soon face the same dynamic, except its first disclosure arrives during one of bitcoin's sharpest corrections in years rather than during a rally.
However, it's worth noting that Tesla reported total revenue of $94.8 billion and gross profit of $17 billion in 2025. So having millions of bitcoin paper losses in its balance sheet may not move the needle much for Elon Musk's companies.
SpaceX's BTC portfolio peaked near $2 billion in late 2021, crashed through 2022, and has spent the past two years fluctuating between $400 million and $800 million.
As such, SpaceX has shown no inclination to trade its position. Unlike Tesla, which sold and repurchased bitcoin, the Arkham data suggests SpaceX has simply held through every cycle.
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Ether, solana, xrp surge up to 10% as majors recover Saturday's war-driven losses
5 hours ago
Solana led major tokens with a 10.8% bounce, while ether reclaimed $2,000 and bitcoin climbed back above $66,800 ahead of traditional futures opens on Sunday.
What to know:
Crypto prices rebounded sharply Sunday, with bitcoin climbing about 5% to $66,843 after briefly dropping below $64,000 on Saturday amid U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.Traders interpreted Iranian state TV's confirmation of Supreme Leader Khamenei's death as increasing the odds of a shorter conflict, fueling gains led by Solana, ether and other major tokens.Despite the weekend surge, weekly performance remains mixed and the rally is seen as fragile, with thin liquidity and upcoming moves in oil, equities and bonds likely to determine whether crypto's bounce holds.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:0012d ago
Hyperliquid price prediction – HYPE eyes $38, but watch THIS golden pocket first
Hyperliquid [HYPE] exhibited bullish strength in recent trading days. Last week, HYPE dropped to a low of $25.63 on Monday, the 23rd of February. Since then, the DEX token has rallied by 19.73%.
AMBCrypto had reported that the pullback to the $25 demand zone was a buying opportunity.
A move below $23.4 and $20 would be the warning signs to exit long positions. These levels remain untouched by the bears, showing HYPE strength.
The underlying market fundamentals were strong, and the longer-term Hyperliquid price action had a bullish bias. Here’s what traders can expect the following week.
Mapping the HYPE short-term price trends
Source: HYPE/USDT on TradingView
The 1-day chart saw a bullish swing structure shift (orange) toward the end of January. The subsequent retracement reached the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level. From this support, the internal structure break (green) occurred.
The price action was aligning with the bulls. It was the time to buy, though the daily timeframe indicators reflected a neutral bias or even bearishness.
The CMF was at 0 (zero), while the A/D indicator was unable to reach new highs. Together, the volume indicators signaled a lack of buying strength. Meanwhile, the Awesome Oscillator was moving below the zero line.
Yet, traders should remember that the price action leads while most indicators follow, or lag.
Traders’ call to action – Buy!
Source: HYPE/USDT on TradingView
Though maybe not immediately. The H1 swing structure was bullish, and the price was receding from the $31 local highs.
The golden pocket from $27.27 to $28.17 was mapped using the lower timeframe’s swing move.
A retest of this region would present an ideal buying opportunity. The next price targets were $38 and $42.
For the upcoming week, a retracement into the Fibonacci golden pocket and a bullish price reaction are expected for HYPE. On the other hand, a drop below $26.1 would invalidate the short-term bullish setup.
Final Summary Hyperliquid has a bullish market structure across the higher and lower timeframe price charts. A pullback below $28 over the next week could present a buying opportunity for traders. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.
World Liberty Financial is moving to consolidate governance power by introducing a six-month staking requirement for voting rights. A newly proposed framework would require holders of unlocked WLFI tokens to stake them for at least 180 days before gaining access to protocol governance. The initiative introduces capital-tiered participation levels tied to large staking commitments and USD1-related incentives.
In brief WLFI requires 180-day staking before token holders can access governance voting rights. 10M WLFI stakers gain Node status with OTC USD1 conversion access and incentives. 50M WLFI threshold unlocks Super Node tier with expanded partnership privileges. USD1 supply hits $4.7B as market sentiment weakens and Bitcoin tests $66K. New WLFI Proposal Aligns Voting Rights With Capital Commitment and Stablecoin Liquidity Governance eligibility would be explicitly tied to long-term capital alignment. Token holders who stake at least 10 million WLFI—roughly $1 million at current prices—would qualify as “Nodes.” This designation grants access to over-the-counter 1:1 conversion channels into USD1 through licensed market makers.
To support liquidity and maintain peg stability, World Liberty Financial said it would subsidize participating market makers. Arbitrage spreads of 10 to 15 basis points per conversion cycle would be passed through to qualifying participants, effectively embedding yield into the conversion mechanism.
Staking 10 million WLFI grants “Node” status and access to OTC USD1 conversion channels. Market makers facilitating conversions would receive project-backed subsidies to maintain price parity. Staking 50 million WLFI, approximately $5 million, qualifies participants as “Super Nodes.” “Super Nodes” receive direct access to the team for partnership discussions and potential commercial incentives. In addition to structural privileges, stakers would earn an estimated 2% annual reward in WLFI, funded by the treasury and contingent on active governance participation. Voting power scales based on both the amount staked and the remaining lock-up duration, reinforcing long-term commitment as the core governance variable. A formal vote date has not yet been announced.
USD1 Nears Top Stablecoin Tier as Bitcoin Leads Market Lower USD1’s recent expansion provides a structural context for the proposal. Circulating supply has risen to roughly $4.7 billion, positioning the stablecoin among the largest in the market. By tying governance access to USD1 utility, the framework may deepen ecosystem integration while concentrating influence among capital-committed participants.
Even with the recent ecosystem development, market response has been muted. WLFI trades at $0.1148, down 0.48% over the past 24 hours, with a market capitalization near $3.2 billion. Price performance continues to mirror broader crypto beta, tracking Bitcoin’s recent 2.55% decline alongside a 2.48% drop in total market capitalization.
Sentiment remains fragile, with the Fear & Greed Index signaling extreme fear. Traders are closely watching Bitcoin’s $66,734 level, as additional downside pressure in BTC could amplify short-term volatility in WLFI.
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James G.
James Godstime is a crypto journalist and market analyst with over three years of experience in crypto, Web3, and finance. He simplifies complex and technical ideas to engage readers. Outside of work, he enjoys football and tennis, which he follows passionately.
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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.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:0512d ago
After a historic low, Ethereum holders show a return of conviction
The crypto market is holding its breath. After reaching its lowest level since 2021, Ethereum holders retention is finally showing signs of rebound! A key indicator that could mark a turning point for ETH in 2026.
In brief Ethereum holders retention reached a 4-year low at 92.4%, reflecting a loss of confidence among crypto investors. The recent rebound of Ethereum holders is explained by improved capital flows (positive CMF), whale accumulation, and technical innovations. This rebound of Ethereum holders could signal a recovery for ETH, but its sustainability will depend on the network’s capacity. Why has Ethereum holders retention dropped? Ethereum holders retention recently hit a historic floor at 92.4%, a level unprecedented since September 2021, i.e., 4 years ago. Several factors explain this drop:
First, the decline in the number of new active addresses, which dropped by 36% in 48 hours; Second, an unfavorable macroeconomic context marked by high interest rates and persistent inflation; Moreover, increased competition among blockchains, with alternatives like Solana or Cardano gaining popularity; Finally, selling pressure, fueled by crypto investors’ caution after the 2022 crises, has intensified this trend. As a result, a direct correlation between this retention drop and ETH’s mixed price performance in recent months.
Ethereum holders retention. Ethereum: what explains the recent rebound in holders retention? Several positive signals explain this unexpected rebound in Ethereum holders retention. Indeed, the CMF has entered positive territory, indicating a return of capital inflows to the Ethereum network. This change suggests an improvement in confidence among crypto investors, notably institutional ones. Additionally, ETH whales have started accumulating massively, thus reinforcing market stability.
Ethereum CMF has entered positive territory. Technical innovations also play a key role. The recent Dencun upgrade, which lowered transaction fees, reignited interest in decentralized applications (DeFi and NFT) on Ethereum. Finally, the anticipation of regulated financial products, such as crypto ETFs, has renewed hope for sustainable growth. These combined elements explain why long-term holders remain loyal despite recent turbulence.
Crypto: finally the ETH bull run? This rebound in Ethereum holders retention opens several perspectives. In the short term, ETH could test the resistance at 2,165 dollars, a key level to confirm an uptrend. However, a break below 1,816 dollars would invalidate this scenario, plunging the crypto market back into uncertainty.
In the longer term, this rebound could signal renewed confidence in Ethereum, especially if the network continues to innovate and attract major projects. Experts highlight that Ethereum’s dominance in the smart contract market will depend on its ability to maintain this momentum.
The rebound in Ethereum holders retention is a strong signal for the crypto market, but its sustainability will depend on the coming months. Between hope for recovery and caution, one question remains: does this rebound mark the start of a new bullish cycle or just a temporary respite, in your opinion?
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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.
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03/01 update below. This post was originally published on February 28
The bitcoin price has dropped sharply, plunging toward $60,000 per bitcoin and losing almost 5% in a matter of minutes.
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Bitcoin’s plunge comes as Israel strikes Iran, with the U.S. participating in the attack, according to AP sources.
Israel launched what it called a “preemptive strike” against Iran on Saturday morning local time, according to the country’s defence minister Israel Katz, it was reported by Reuters.
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ForbesPeople Are ‘Mistaken’—Wikipedia Founder Issues Surprise Bitcoin Price PredictionBy Billy Bambrough
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U.S. president Donald Trump has warned Iran not to retaliate after the U.S. and Israel strike sent shock waves through markets, hitting the bitcoin price.
AFP via Getty Images
“Bitcoin just dropped off a cliff,” one bitcoin and crypto market watcher posted to X, adding that “Monday will be a bloodbath in the market [as the] flight to safety will accelerate.”
The bitcoin price has failed to trade in line with gold in recent months, damaging its reputation as a burgeoning safe haven asset that’s sometimes referred to as digital gold.
03/01 update: Bitcoin has bounced back follow its sudden sell off after news first broke that the U.S. and Israel had launched strikes on Iran, topping $68,000 per bitcoin after dropping to just above $63,000.
The bitcoin price rallied as word spread that Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in the attack, with traders betting that meant a lower chance of Iran retaliating.
“This is about Hormuz risk, not retaliation. If shipping stays open, stocks can work through it,” Roundhill Financial’s Dave Mazza told Bloomberg. “If it doesn’t, all bets are off.”
Traders are closely watching for how Iran responds to the attack, with fears persistent that Iran could escalate the situation into a broader, regional conflict that causes market chaos and a drawn out battle U.S. battle.
"I can go long and take over the whole thing, or end it in two or three days and tell the Iranians: 'See you again in a few years if you start rebuilding [your nuclear and missile programs]," U.S. president Donald Trump told Axios. “In any case, it will take them several years to recover from this attack."
Earlier, Trump warned Iran not to further retaliate, posting to his Truth Social that, “they better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before.”
Meanwhile, some speculated that the fall of the Khamenei’s regime could send shockwaves through the world of shadow finance that’s embraced bitcoin, crypto and stablecoins in recent years.
"[It’s] unclear how much of the bitcoin and broader crypto pressure is linked to a shadow financing war between the west and rogue states," Benoit Bosc, a former portfolio manager at Millennium who now runs the crypto advisory business x2B, said in emailed note.
“Some geopolitical analysts noted when the U.S. first intervened in Venezuela that cryptocurrencies gave North Korea, Russia, Venezuela and Iran a meaningful lifeline against OFAC sanctions, though Tether has since stepped in and frozen USDT accounts linked to sanctioned entities, so there are two sides to this coin. Before crypto, some of those countries appeared genuinely close to collapse.”
Ahead of the attack, analysts speculated what war with Iran could mean for bitcoin, gold and stocks.
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Forbes‘My Anxiety Is High’—JPMorgan CEO Issues Financial Crisis Warning As Bitcoin Bulls Predict A Price BoomBy Billy Bambrough
The bitcoin price has crashed over the last few months, with the Iran war piling fresh pressure on bitcoin.
Forbes Digital Assets
“From a macroeconomic perspective, any direct confrontation could disrupt energy markets and push oil prices higher, exerting upward pressure on inflation and limiting central banks’ room for maneuver. In such an environment, investors tend to reduce exposure to volatile assets, increase liquidity holdings, or shift toward traditional safe havens,” Rania Gule, senior market analyst at XS.com, said in emailed comments.
“Some estimates suggest that gold could rise by around 15% within two weeks in the event of a direct conflict, targeting a range between $5,500 and $5,800 per ounce. Whether these projections materialize or not, the message is clear: in moments of existential risk, investors return to assets that have historically preserved value. In this context, I believe bitcoin—despite the ‘digital gold’ narrative—has not yet proven itself as a safe haven during sharp geopolitical shocks. Its recent behavior indicates that it is still priced as a high-beta risk asset sensitive to global liquidity flows.”
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:2212d ago
AI Predicts Pi Network (PI) Price at the end of March, The Answer Might Shock You
One of the most popular AI models gives a shocking answer to a pressing question regarding PI's price at the end of this month.
It goes without saying that the clock is officially ticking. We’re already in March, meaning that the close of the first quarterly window is upon us, and millions of people holding the native token of Pi Network are wondering: what will the PI price be?
Well, we’ve produced countless reports based on the thoughts of prominent and well-known analysts in the space, but for this one, we turned to Gemini – one of the most popular AI models out there.
After all, if AI is the future, why not try seeing the reasoning and justification of a price model? So, we asked it directly – what will the price of PI be at the end of this month? The answer is very interesting.
Generating PI Price Predictions for Various Scenarios First things first, Gemini went on to describe three scenarios for the PI price this month, somewhat expectedly covering all angles. The model called them “The Doomsday Bot,” “The Boring Realist,” and “The Hopium Generator.” Clearly, its crypto slang is somewhat stuck in 2021, but let’s ignore that for now.
The first scenario predicts PI’s price to dump to $0.14 or lower by the end of the month. The reasoning is that impatient early adopters will aggressively dump their bags the second they get a shred of liquidity following more KYC migration unlocks.
The second one predicts a chop – a sideways price action, where the “Pi Core team continues its notoriously methodical and slow approach.” Gemini says the token could continue trading in a relatively narrow range between $0.17 and $0.20.
Last but not least, we have the bullish take, which sees the price shooting above $0.50 – a 3x increase in what the AI calculates as the “perfect storm scenario.” This would require the network to successfully bridge millions of users into spending participants and surprise major exchange listings.
You may also like: Bitcoin (BTC) Plunges Before the FOMC Meeting, Pi Network (PI) Soars by 15%: Market Watch So, up until now, the AI model doesn’t take any chances and covers pretty much any scenario – from bearish, to sideways, to positive. Sounds an awful lot like a veteran analyst, right?
But here’s the twist.
Gemini’s Reality Check In its last paragraph, Gemini set its foot firmly on the ground, saying:
“Before you go financing a Lambo based on the Hopium Generator, let’s look at the facts. With PI sitting around $0.17 and an estimated circulating supply of over 9.4 billion tokens, jumping to $0.5, let alone the wild $314,159 numbers you see on X – would require billions of dollars in actual capital to enter the ecosystem.”
The model urges users to keep their expectations in check as the end of the quarter closes in.
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2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:2412d ago
Bitcoin Price Prediction After Middle-East Shock: Breakout or Fake Rally?
Bitcoin is starting the week on firmer ground after a dramatic 24 hours that shook global markets. Following geopolitical escalation involving U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, crypto markets initially reacted with sharp volatility. Leveraged positions were wiped out, funding rates flipped negative, and fear surged.
2026-03-01 13:3912d ago
2026-03-01 08:3012d ago
Bitcoin Range Compression Near $70K Signals Imminent Volatility Expansion
Bitcoin traded at $66,424 on March 1, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EST, consolidating inside a defined $63,886 to $68,043 intraday range as the broader structure remained under pressure. While short-term charts show range stabilization, moving averages and momentum metrics continue to lean defensive across time frames.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:1513d ago
Meet the Monster Stock That Continues to Crush the Market
What's a monster stock? There could be many answers to this question. But in my book, it's a major company that's proven itself over time when it comes to earnings growth, has seen its stock soar -- and still has room to run.
One company that fits the bill right now is the leader in its industry and has demonstrated that it can manage tough times and come out on top. Let's meet the monster stock that continues to crush the market...
Image source: Getty Images.
A cruising giant This company is one you may recognize if you like to travel, specifically if you enjoy cruise vacations. I'm talking about Carnival (CCL 3.44%) (CUK 3.41%), the world's biggest cruise operator. The stock has soared in recent times, advancing more than 30% over the past year and largely outperforming the S&P 500.
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Carnival faced rough waters (excuse the pun) during early pandemic days as it was forced to halt cruising for a time, and this forced it to take on more and more debt. The result was an annual loss and skyrocketing borrowings.
But Carnival immediately took action. The company cut costs, limited the number of new ship builds, chose more fuel-efficient models, and designed ways to boost onboard spending. Carnival also put into place a plan, known as SEA Change, to boost sustainability and return on invested capital. And it surpassed the plan's performance goals 18 months ahead of schedule.
A return to profitability All of these efforts have been reflected in Carnival's earnings reports over the past several quarters. The company not only returned to profitability but has also been setting record after record. For example, in the latest full year, Carnival reached record revenue and record adjusted net income. At the same time, the company also said advanced booked positions for this year remain at the record-high levels it saw during 2025. This is at historically high price levels. That's positive, as it shows that travelers are even willing to spend more to take a Carnival cruise.
Carnival has also steadily paid down debt and just recently returned to an investment-grade credit rating at Fitch Ratings.
It's also important to note that, prior to the pandemic, Carnival had demonstrated a positive earnings track record over time, too.
CCL Net Income (Annual) data by YCharts
Investors have recognized the company's strengths and its recovery efforts in recent quarters, and that's helped boost the stock. But this player still has plenty of room to advance. The stock trades at 12x forward earnings estimates, which is a very reasonable price.
And efforts it's made in recent years should favor profitability moving forward. All of this means that this monster stock may have what it takes to continue crushing the market.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:4513d ago
Should You Forget Eli Lilly and Buy This Magnificent High-Yield Dividend Stock Instead?
Eli Lilly (LLY +2.93%) is growing very quickly right now thanks to Mounjaro and Zepbound, its two GLP-1 drugs, the latter of which is approved for weight loss. Mounjaro's sales rose 99% in 2025, and Zepbound's sales were up a shocking 175%.
But these two drugs accounted for almost all of Lilly's top-line growth last year. That's a problem in the making -- and why you might want to consider an out-of-favor alternative like high-yielding Pfizer (PFE +1.94%).
Image source: Getty Images.
Eli Lilly is priced for perfection It's great news that Eli Lilly is leading the pack in the newly developed GLP-1 drug niche. However, the company has very quickly become a one-trick pony. As noted, Mounjaro (used to treat diabetes) and Zepbound are the company's primary growth drivers right now. And those two drugs accounted for 56% of the top line in 2025, which is a bit troubling.
Given the nature of the drug space, Mounjaro and Zepbound will eventually face generic competition. When that happens, their revenue and profits will materially decline. There's time before that happens, but don't count out Lilly's competitors. Many of its peers are looking for GLP-1 drugs that can unseat their dominant rival.
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Meanwhile, Wall Street has bid Eli Lilly's shares up to the point where the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a lofty 45, and the dividend yield is a paltry 0.6%. If the company's GLP-1 dominance falls short of perfection, there could be material downside risk.
Pfizer might be a better option for you Pfizer's internally developed GLP-1 drug failed to work out. Drug failures aren't uncommon in the pharmaceutical sector. But that misstep, coupled with upcoming patent expirations, has investors deeply worried about Pfizer's future.
On the other hand, the company recently stated that it plans to support the dividend at its current level as it works through its headwinds. The stock currently offers a lofty 6.3% yield, and (compared to Lilly) has a far more reasonable P/E ratio of around 20.
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That said, the real reason to buy Pfizer is what happened after its GLP-1 drug setback. The company quickly acquired a biotech with a promising GLP-1 drug candidate, and then inked a distribution partnership with another pharma company developing a GLP-1 pill.
Essentially, Pfizer is proving it has the wherewithal to survive and thrive over the long term. Given that and the statement made in support of the dividend, long-term income investors should probably take the time to research this unloved pharma stock today. If history is any guide, Pfizer will eventually get back into Wall Street's good graces.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:5713d ago
$100 oil? Prolonged Hormuz closure could spark a 1970s-style energy shock
Oil markets are bracing for a possible supply shock after U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend reignited fears that flows through the Strait of Hormuz could be disrupted.
While analysts expect an immediate "knee-jerk" reaction to oil prices when trading resumes in New York on Sunday evening, the bigger question is whether tensions could escalate into a sustained interruption of Gulf exports.
"At this point, it seems we are looking at a full-scale military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which would be unprecedented and the trajectory impossible to assess," said Vandana Hari, CEO of energy research firm Vanda Insights.
"If it carries on for days with Iran and its proxies retaliating to the fullest extent, we are looking at the worst-case scenarios for oil, including a major disruption of oil flows through the Middle East," Hari told CNBC. This is unless the U.S. is able to pre-emptively disarm the Iranian navy and military, as well as ensure tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to flow normally.
With tensions escalating, attention has shifted back to the Strait of Hormuz, where any disruption would have immediate and outsized consequences for global oil and LNG flows.
Oil prices year-on-year
Positioned between Oman and Iran, the strait serves as a critical transit route - and potential chokepoint - for global crude, with about 13 million barrels per day moving through it in 2025, equal to approximately 31% of all seaborne oil flows, Kpler data showed.
It links major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Reuters reported on Saturday that an official with the European Union's naval mission, Aspides, said commercial vessels had received VHF radio messages from Iran's Revolutionary Guards warning that "no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz."
The official was quoted as saying that Tehran had not formally confirmed any directive to close the waterway.
Early indications are of a broader scale attack on Iran, with counterattacks which could escalate to draw in multiple Gulf countries.
Saul Kavonic
MST Marquee
Reuters noted that Iran has repeatedly threatened over the years to block the narrow passage in response to attacks against the Islamic Republic.
Iran has in the past repeatedly threatened to block the narrow passage in response to attacks against the Islamic Republic.
Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group, who had advised clients for weeks that conflict was a 75% probability, called it "a very serious development" for the world's oil and gas markets given their dependence on Hormuz production and flows.
The larger question is duration, industry veterans emphasized. The extent of any oil and LNG price spike will depend on the duration and scope of any disruptions to Gulf production and flows, McNally said.
The worst-case scenario?: Triple digit oilAnalysts say the potential scenarios range from limited disruptions to Iranian exports to a full blockade of Hormuz.
The nightmare for global markets is not just lost Iranian barrels, but a broader disruption to shipping through the strait.
"Early indications are of a broader scale attack on Iran, with counterattacks which could escalate to draw in multiple Gulf countries," said Saul Kavonic, head of energy research at MST Marquee.
Kavonic said markets will initially price in a spectrum of risks — from the loss of up to 2 million barrels per day of Iranian exports to attacks on regional infrastructure or, in the extreme, a disruption of passage through Hormuz.
"If the Iranian regime feels they face an existential threat, attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz cannot be ruled out," he said, though he added that the U.S. and its allies would likely deploy military escorts to protect shipping lanes.
Should Iran succeed in closing the Strait, the implications for the global oil markets could be severe.
"This could present a scenario three times the severity of the Arab oil embargo and Iranian revolution in the 1970s, and drive oil prices into the triple digits, while LNG prices retest the record highs of 2022," Kavonic noted.
Brent crude settled at $72.48 on Friday, bringing its year-to-date gain to about 19%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) closed at $62.02, up roughly 16% so far this year.
Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, said the attacks will significantly heighten the risk of an oil supply disruption in the region, even though Iranian oil facilities have not been directly targeted so far.
Lipow described the worst-case outcome as "an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure followed by a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz." He estimates the probability of that scenario at about 33%, given Iran may feel cornered.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:0013d ago
The Best Trillion-Dollar Stock to Buy Right Now, According to Wall Street
Over the last few years, just a handful of companies have come to dominate the market. Eleven stocks now trade on U.S. exchanges with market caps exceeding $1 trillion, as of this writing. Analysts expect the trend of the big getting bigger to continue in 2026, with price targets for most of the members of the trillion-dollar club implying well above-average returns.
But one stock stands out among the rest. The median analyst price target for this titan is about 55% above the current stock price following a recent sell-off. Here's why it makes sense to stay bullish on Microsoft (MSFT 2.17%).
Image source: Getty Images.
What's weighing on Microsoft Shares of Microsoft are down 25% since the end of October due to a multitude of events changing investor sentiment on the stock.
First, it's spending heavily on Azure, its cloud computing segment. The company spent $34.9 billion on capital expenditures in its first quarter and $37.5 billion in the second quarter. That's a significant step-up in spending from the first half of fiscal 2025, but it's not out of line with what other hyperscale cloud computing providers are spending this year.
Investors may be concerned that the step-up in spending hasn't led to a meaningful acceleration in Azure revenue. Azure is already growing quickly, up 39% in the most recent quarter. Growth would have been higher, but Microsoft remains capacity-constrained, and it strategically shifted some of its compute to its own software to grow its own AI efforts.
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Moreover, investors might be worried about how generative AI platforms could disrupt Microsoft's enterprise software business. The entire software sector has sold off since the start of the year, and Microsoft hasn't been able to avoid it. But with its Windows operating system and Microsoft 365 suite sitting at the center of many enterprises' operations, it's hard to see AI displacing it. High-margin software remains a key cash cow for Microsoft, so any threat to the business could threaten its ability to invest in AI compute.
Most recently, Microsoft's stock may be facing pressure after OpenAI revised its long-term spending plans. After signing contracts to spend around $1.4 trillion over the next eight years, OpenAI now plans to spend $600 billion on compute by 2030. The AI lab notably has a $250 billion deal with Microsoft for compute. Additionally, Microsoft owns 27% of OpenAI, so its financial results can have a meaningful impact on how investors value Microsoft.
Despite those pressures, Microsoft looks poised to continue delivering strong operating results in 2026 and beyond, and the stock is a bargain right now.
The dual AI growth engine Microsoft is benefiting from generative AI development across both its cloud computing segment and its enterprise software business. The latter grew 14% on a constant-currency basis last quarter, fueled by the adoption of its Copilot AI assistant. It now counts over 15 million Copilot users across its Microsoft 365 corporate customers. Considering it has over 400 million total users across the enterprise and consumer versions of the software, there's still plenty of room for that to grow.
Azure remains the biggest growth driver for Microsoft. Its revenue climbed 39% last quarter, and it's on pace to surpass a $100 billion run rate this year.
Combined, Microsoft has a backlog of $625 billion in remaining performance obligations across its cloud computing contracts and enterprise software deals. Of that, $250 billion came from the OpenAI deal struck in October, but Microsoft is seeing fairly strong growth even without OpenAI's commitment. Management noted that its backlog would have grown 28% year over year without the OpenAI contract. Additionally, 25% of that $625 billion will be recognized over the next year, an amount 39% higher than at the start of 2025.
As a result, Microsoft should be able to produce solid revenue growth. And with higher pricing for Microsoft 365 contracts with Copilot and operating efficiencies gained as Azure scales, it should be able to deliver even better earnings-per-share (EPS) growth. Indeed, analysts expect EPS growth to accelerate over the next few years from a mid-teens level to the 20% range in 2028. However, shares now trade for just 23 times forward earnings expectations. That's severely undervalued based on the outlook for Microsoft, and it's no wonder analysts see more than 50% upside to the stock on average.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:0013d ago
VYM: Offering Low-Cost Exposure To Blue Chip Dividend Stocks
The Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF offers investors low-cost exposure to a diverse basket of dividend-paying stocks. VYM's methodology is more balanced than its name suggests and ultimately results in a portfolio that could be better described as a blue chip dividend fund. Its value tilt means VYM can lag composite indices during strong bull markets, though it has comfortably outperformed the value component of the Russell 1000 since inception.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:1513d ago
3 Reasons to Buy MercadoLibre Stock Like There's No Tomorrow
If one turns on the news, MercadoLibre (MELI +1.01%) stock may look more like a sell than a buy. Cartel violence in Mexico or high inflation in Argentina call into question the stability of the business environment the company operates in, and indeed, the stock has sold off amid rising competition and an increase in bad loans.
However, investors should remember that the stock is up by around 6,000% since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2007. Amid those gains, the retail stock is likely not done rising, and three reasons explain why.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. MercadoLibre thrives despite (and because of) regional adversity Despite the aforementioned issues, MercadoLibre has a history of thriving amid Latin America's problems, not merely in spite of them. This began when the company formed Mercado Pago to help its cash-based customers buy online.
Now, Mercado Pago also sells fintech services to other businesses and helps individuals with personal finances. For example, the company helped people cope with the aforementioned inflation in Argentina by turning its digital wallets into money markets that paid interest.
MercadoLibre also dealt with logistics challenges by forming Mercado Envios. This helps customers who sell online fulfill and ship orders. It also brought same-day or next-day shipping to Latin America, something that was previously not widely available in that part of the world.
Such innovations shield people from economic and political turmoil, thereby making MercadoLibre essential to the region's survival and improvement.
2. MercadoLibre continues to grow Amid such transformation, the company continues to look more like an underground growth stock. In 2025, revenue of $25 billon increased by 36% compared to year-ago levels.
Admittedly, that did not translate into higher profit growth, as its $2 billion in net income for 2025 rose by only 5%. Part of that was the rise in sales and marketing spend to address rising competition and higher income tax expenses.
As previously mentioned, an increased number of non-performing loans has also slowed growth. However, the company has begun addressing the bad loans by using AI to evaluate potential loans. It has also imposed more limits on borrowed amounts to limit the potential for bad loans.
Additionally, even as e-commerce competition intensifies, business conditions have improved in key markets. Although Argentina's inflation has stopped falling recently, the triple-digit inflation appears to have ended, and inflation is at the lowest levels since 2017, which takes some pressure off consumers.
Furthermore, regime change in Venezuela appears to be reviving the economy in that country. Although the improvements may take some time, the higher incomes will almost certainly mean that customers will buy more from MercadoLibre.
3. Its valuation is reasonable Admittedly, investors are slow to see those benefits as recent troubles have overshadowed the stock. Consequently, it is down by around 22% over the last year. Fortunately, its valuation has become more attractive given its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 42. Indeed, that may seem high given the S&P 500 average of 30.
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Still, long-term investors may recall that Amazon sold at a P/E ratio of 50 (and sometimes one above 100) in previous years. Hence, its earnings multiple appears to be consistent with its peer north of the border.
Moreover, the stock's forward P/E of 29 comes close to the market average. Given the continued rapid growth, one could argue that MercadoLibre's valuation is attractive for new investors.
Owning MercadoLibre stock Ultimately, MercadoLibre gives investors three compelling reasons to buy the stock like there is no tomorrow.
Admittedly, it operates in a region constantly dealing with economic and political volatility. Nonetheless, it has turned the region's challenges into economic opportunities in many cases.
Additionally, revenue growth remains rapid, and its valuation is reminiscent of Amazon when it was a smaller company. Such conditions make the decline over the last year a likely anomaly, creating an increasingly attractive opportunity for investors to buy MercadoLibre stock.
SummaryiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF is rated a Buy, offering a 30% valuation discount to the S&P 500 with faster projected earnings growth.IJR’s profitability screen avoids the 43% unprofitable companies in IWM, providing cleaner exposure to the small-cap rotation thesis.Manufacturing expansion, industrial policy tailwinds, and rate sensitivity create a compelling multi-quarter setup for IJR, with significant potential upside.Key risks include inflation re-acceleration, refinancing pressures, tariff uncertainty, and sector concentration, but the risk-reward remains attractive at current levels.quantic69/iStock via Getty Images
The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. This index is made up of 600 small-cap U.S. equities but with key differences that make it unique and compelling for investors in this
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of IJR 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.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:1713d ago
What to Expect in Markets This Week: Investors Watching Developments in Iran, Awaiting Jobs Report, Other Economic Data, Earnings Reports
News over the weekend brought a fresh jolt of geopolitical uncertainty for investors to digest as the first trading week of March kicks off.
On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military strike on Iran, and U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iranians to overthrow their government. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf nations. Investors will likely be watching for more developments and their impact in the coming days.
Investors will also be watching for employment data from the government's jobs report for February on Friday. The labor market showed signs of improvement in January after a shaky end to 2025. Retail sales data for January are due Friday as well. Consumers pulled back on spending to close out last year.
Apple has teased a “big week" of new product launches, and several noteworthy tech firms are scheduled to report earnings this week, including chipmaker Broadcom and cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike. A handful of prominent retailers are also on the calendar, including warehouse retailer Costco, Target, and electronics seller Best Buy.
Read to the bottom for our calendar of key events—and one more thing.
Jobs Report Comes As Investors Watch for Momentum in Labor Market Will U.S. employers surprise economists again in February? The jobs report release on Friday comes after surprisingly strong job gains in January potentially signaled positive developments in a labor market that was flashing warning signs at the end of 2025. U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in the year’s first month, more than double the amount forecasted by economists. But the same report also contained downward revisions to jobs data from earlier months, showing that hiring in 2025 was weaker than expected. Investors will also be eyeing the private-sector ADP jobs report released on Wednesday.
The Census Bureau is still playing catch-up on data releases following last year’s government shutdown, so the delayed retail sales report for January arrives this week. The December data showed that retail sales stalled at the end of the year, with economists pointing to weak labor market growth as a contributing factor to slower consumer spending.
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book will describe economic conditions around the country in advance of the central bank’s next meeting on March 17-18. Meanwhile, manufacturing and services sector survey data for February will also be in focus.
Broadcom, Marvell, and Retailer Earnings Could Highlight Corporate Calendar, Along With New Apple Products Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased “a big week ahead" for the iPhone maker, starting on Monday morning. The company is expected to announce a handful of new products, which could include the iPhone 17 and a lower-cost MacBook, over the course of several days, culminating in a “special Apple experience" event on Wednesday.
Following last week’s earnings from AI juggernaut Nvidia, more tech-focused earnings will also be in focus this week. Semiconductor designer Broadcom is set to release its latest quarterly results Wednesday. In December, the company projected its AI-related revenue would double in the quarter. Marvell Technology's earnings report is set to follow Thursday.
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike is reporting earnings during a period of pressure for software stocks, which have been rattled recently by fears of AI-driven disruption. Though some analysts see AI as an opportunity for many cybersecurity firms, including CrowdStrike. Investors will also be following reports from database software maker MongoDB, insurance software provider Guidewire, and Internet of Things firm Samsara.
Several noteworthy retailers are also on this week’s earnings calendar, including Target, which saw new CEO Michael Fiddelke take the helm last month. The retailer's shares have been on the rise this year after slumping in 2025. Investors will also hear from Costco, which is also seeing improvement in its stock price this year after a downbeat 2025. Electronics big box chain Best Buy and discount retailer Ross Stores report this week as well.
ISM manufacturing PMI (February) More Data to Watch: S&P Global U.S. manufacturing PMI (February) Key Earnings: EchoStar (SATS), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), MongoDB (MDB) Apple (AAPL) kicks off its first product launches of the year Tuesday, March 3
Federal Reserve Officials Speaking: New York Fed President John Williams, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari Key Earnings: CrowdStrike (CRWD), Ross Stores (ROST), AutoZone (AZO), Target (TGT), Viking Holdings (VIK), On Holding (ONON), Best Buy (BBY) Wednesday, March 4
ADP National Employment Report (February) More Data to Watch: S&P Global U.S. services PMI (February), ISM services PMI (February), Fed Beige Book Key Earnings: Broadcom (AVGO), Veeva Systems (VEEV), Brown-Forman (BF.A, BF.B), Okta (OKTA) Thursday, March 5
Initial jobless claims (Week ending Feb. 28) More Data to Watch: U.S. productivity (Q4), Import price index (January) Key Earnings: Costco (COST), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Kroger (KR), JD.com (JD), Burlington Stores (BURL), Samsara (IOT), Guidewire Software (GWRE), Gap (GAP) Friday, March 6
U.S. employment report (February) More Data to Watch: Consumer credit (January), Retail sales (January), Business inventories (December) Key Earnings: Genesco (GCO) One More Thing Have you given up on the idea of home ownership? Investopedia’s Terry Lane has more on a study that found renters who stop believing they'll ever be able to own a home end up spending more and working less, while those who are planning to buy exhibit better financial discipline.
Do you have a news tip for Investopedia reporters? Please email us at
[email protected]
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:2013d ago
Kering: Better Times Could Be Ahead, But Valuations Are Stretched
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within 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.
Schwab High Yield Bond ETF receives a hold rating due to rising macro risks and lackluster risk-reward in current high-yield credit conditions. SCYB offers a 6.7% yield, with a low 2.9-year duration and 58% BB-rated exposure, but faces seasonal headwinds and technical resistance near $27. Despite recent spread widening to 300 bps, SCYB's risk characteristics remain solid, with strong liquidity and a diversified portfolio mitigating sector-specific shocks.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:3413d ago
Kontoor Brands: Too Many Challenges To Justify An Upgrade
Kontoor Brands remains a 'hold' as recent revenue gains are offset by declining profitability and cash flow post-Helly Hansen acquisition. KTB's Wrangler brand shows robust growth and market share gains, but Lee's revenues are falling, with 2026 expected to be a transition year. Helly Hansen's integration has boosted revenue but delivered minimal profitability, with segment margins at just 1.5% versus Wrangler's 23%.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:3613d ago
EOSE Investigation Notice: BFA Law Urges Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. Investors with Losses to Act in the Securities Fraud Investigation Amid 39% Stock Decline
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ:EOSE) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Eos, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/eos-energy-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Eos ($EOSE) Class Action Investigation:
Investigation Overview: Securities fraud related to Eos’s representations regarding near-term revenue growth and the timing, execution, and feasibility of its manufacturing initiativesStock Decline: February 26, 2026 - 39% Stock DropAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights
Why is Eos Being Investigated for Violations of the Federal Securities Laws?
Eos manufactures zinc-based long-duration battery energy storage systems used to store renewable power and support grid reliability.
BFA is investigating whether Eos violated the federal securities laws by making false and misleading statements to investors regarding Eos’s near-term revenue growth, as well as the timing, scale, execution, and reliability of its manufacturing efforts.
Why did Eos’s Stock Drop?
On February 26, 2026, Eos reported a substantial net loss of approximately $970 million for fiscal year 2025 and disclosed full-year 2025 revenue that fell short of the guidance the company had repeatedly reaffirmed, including as recently as November 2025. At the same time, Eos issued weaker-than-expected 2026 revenue guidance. Eos attributed its 2025 results to heavy spending to scale its manufacturing operations, including ramp-up inefficiencies, automation-related costs, and large non-cash financing and asset write-down charges. Eos attributed the disappointing 2026 revenue forecast to slower-than-anticipated production progress and heightened execution risk.
On this news, the price of Eos stock dropped over 39% on February 26, 2026.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/eos-energy-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Eos, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit against Ardent Health, Inc. (NYSE:ARDT) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Ardent Health, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/ardent-health-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Ardent Health ($ARDT) Class Action:
Filing Law Firm: BFA LawLead Plaintiff Deadline: March 9, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Misrepresenting its receivables by delaying recognition of uncollectable accounts and misrepresenting its collection practicesStock Decline: November 13, 2025 – 33% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of TennesseeAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Investors have until March 9, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Ardent Health securities. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. It is captioned Postiwala v. Ardent Health, Inc., et al., No. 3:26-cv-00022.
Why is Ardent Health Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
Ardent Health and its affiliates operate acute care hospitals and other healthcare facilities. A critical aspect of Ardent Health’s operations is the collection of accounts receivable and the framework by which Ardent Health determines the collectability of such accounts. According to the lawsuit, Ardent Health stated that it employed an active monitoring process to determine the collectability of its accounts receivable, and that this process included “detailed reviews of historical collections” as a “primary source of information.”
As alleged, in truth, Ardent Health did not primarily rely on “detailed reviews of historical collections” in determining collectability of accounts receivable, but instead “utilized a 180-day cliff at which time an account became fully reserved.” This allowed Ardent Health to report higher amounts of accounts receivable during the Class Period, and delay recognizing losses on uncollectable accounts. The lawsuit alleges that Ardent Health’s purported misrepresentations are a violation of the federal securities laws.
Why did Ardent Health’s Stock Drop?
On November 12, 2025, after market hours, Ardent Health revealed it had completed “hindsight evaluations of historical collection trends” that resulted in a $43 million decrease in revenue for the quarter. Ardent Health also revealed that it increased its professional liability reserves by $54 million because of “adverse prior period claim developments” resulting from a set of claims between 2019 and 2022 “as well as consideration of broader industry trends.”
This news caused the price of Ardent Health stock to drop $4.75 per share, or more than 33%, from a closing price of $14.05 per share on November 12, 2025, to $9.30 per share on November 13, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/ardent-health-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Ardent Health, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis; there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fermi Inc. (NASDAQ: FRMI), certain of the Company’s senior executives and directors, and underwriters of Fermi’s Initial Public Offering after a significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Fermi, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/fermi-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Fermi ($FRMI) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 6, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Misstatements regarding tenant demand and fundingStock Decline: November 13, 2025 – 33% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New YorkAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Investors have until March 6, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts securities fraud claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Fermi securities, as well as claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Fermi common stock pursuant and traceable to the Company’s Initial Public Offering. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Lupia v. Fermi Inc., et al., No. 1:26-cv-00050.
Why is Fermi Being Sued for Violations of the Federal Securities Laws?
Fermi is an energy and AI infrastructure company that purportedly intends to build multiple, large scale nuclear reactors to support its own network of large, grid-independent data centers powered by nuclear and other energy to power AI companies. Fermi’s first project is Project Matador, its flagship, first-of-its kind energy and AI infrastructure campus designed to provide dedicated power for AI workloads.
Fermi completed its IPO in October 2025. In the IPO Registration Statement, Fermi represented that it “entered into a letter of intent . . . with an investment grade-rated tenant (the ‘First Tenant’) to lease a portion of the Project Matador Site . . . for an initial lease term of twenty years.” The Company also represented there was strong demand for Project Matador and that construction of the facility would be funded by “tenant payments” and “lease agreements.” Following the IPO, Fermi announced that the First Tenant entered into an Advance in Aid of Construction Agreement, through which it would advance up to $150 million to Fermi to fund Project Matador construction costs.
As alleged, in truth, Fermi overstated tenant demand for Project Matador and misrepresented the agreement with the First Tenant.
Why did Fermi’s Stock Drop?
On December 12, 2025, Fermi disclosed that “[o]n December 11, 2025, the First Tenant notified the Company that it is terminating the [Advance of Aid of Construction Agreement]” after “[t]he exclusivity period set forward in the letter of intent expired.” Fermi also stated that it had “commenced discussions with several other potential tenants” and “continue[s] to negotiate the terms of a lease agreement at Project Matador” with the First Tenant. This news caused the price of Fermi stock to drop $5.16 per share, or more than 33%, from a closing price of $15.25 per share on December 11, 2025, to $10.09 per share on December 12, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/fermi-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Fermi, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis; there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:3613d ago
SMR Deadline: BFA Law Urges NuScale Power Corporation Investors with Losses to Act Before April 20 Securities Fraud Class Action Deadline Amid 12% Stock Decline
A securities fraud class action has been filed against NuScale executives alleging misrepresentations about ENTRA1 leading to a 12.4% stock plunge.
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in NuScale, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/nuscale-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the NuScale ($SMR) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 20, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Misrepresenting the experience and capabilities of ENTRA1 and its role in developing and commercializing NuScale’s nuclear power modulesLargest Alleged Stock Decline: November 10, 2025 – 12.4% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the District of OregonAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights
Investors have until April 20, 2026 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in NuScale Class A common stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and is captioned Truedson v. NuScale Power Corporation, et al., No. 3:26-cv-00328.
Why is NuScale Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
NuScale is a nuclear technology company. Its core technology is the NuScale Power Module (“NPM”), a small modular nuclear reactor (“SMR”) designed to generate energy within a broader power plant. Prior to the start of the Class Period, NuScale established a partnership with ENTRA1 Energy LLC. Under this agreement, ENTRA1 was responsible for constructing power generation facilities incorporating NuScale’s NPMs and managing the financing, development, and initial operations of the facilities utilizing the NPMs.
NuScale allegedly touted ENTRA1’s purported wide-ranging capabilities and deep experience developing power plants. According to NuScale, ENTRA1 is an “independent power plant development platform,” “led by an executive team of energy, infrastructure, and finance sector veterans,” with the type of experience that is “exactly what is required” to commercialize and deploy NuScale’s NPMs.
As alleged, in truth, ENTRA1 had never built, financed, or operated any significant project, let alone a project in the complex field of nuclear power generation. Moreover, in contrast to NuScale’s representations, ENTRA1 had been organized primarily to support the work of one individual, its principal Wadie Habboush, an investor and entrepreneur.
Why did NuScale’s Stock Drop?
On November 6, 2025, NuScale disclosed that its general and administrative expenses had increased from $17 million in the prior year period, to $519 million during 3Q 2025, due largely to NuScale’s payment of $495 million to ENTRA1 for its services. Also on November 6, 2025, under pressure from investment analysts, NuScale acknowledged that ENTRA1 did not have any significant experience building nuclear power projects and admitted that ENTRA1 would not actually be “out there building the power plants” but would serve “to coordinate projects, to bring in partners, to get deals and the partners they bring in that can execute.”
Following this news, analysts with Guggenheim Securities, LLC published a report stating that ENTRA1 is a “3-year old company that has never built, financed or operated anything” and had just “3 employees and 1 investor,” and stated a “more accurate description of ENTRA1 would be that it is an entity supporting the activities of a single individual, specifically Mr. Habboush.” This news caused the price of NuScale stock to drop $4.03 per share over two trading days, or more than 12.4%, from a closing price of $32.46 per share on November 6, 2025, to $28.43 per share on November 10, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/nuscale-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in NuScale, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis; there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in Plug Power, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/plug-power-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the Plug Power ($PLUG) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 3, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Misstatements regarding the likelihood of accessing U.S. Department of Energy loan funds and constructing hydrogen production facilitiesLargest Alleged Stock Decline: November 14, 2025 – 17% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New YorkAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Investors have until April 3, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Plug Power securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York and is captioned Ortolani v. Plug Power Inc., et al., No. 1:26-cv-00165.
Why is Plug Power Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
Plug Power provides hydrogen fuel cell turnkey solutions for the electric mobility and stationary power markets and develops infrastructure such as hydrogen production plants. During the relevant period, Plug Power announced it had “closed a $1.66 billion loan guarantee” from the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Loan Program Office to “help finance the construction of up to six projects to produce and liquefy zero- or low-carbon hydrogen at scale throughout the United States.”
As alleged, in truth, Plug Power materially overstated the likelihood that DOE loan funds would ultimately become available to Plug Power, and that Plug Power would ultimately construct the hydrogen production facilities necessary to receive those funds.
Why did Plug Power’s Stock Drop?
On October 7, 2025, Plug Power announced the abrupt departure of its CEO, Andrew Marsh, and its President, Sanjay Shrestha. This news caused the price of Plug Power stock to drop $0.26 per share, or 6.3%, from a closing price of $4.13 per share on October 6, 2025, to $3.87 per share on October 7, 2025.
A month later, on November 10, 2025, Plug Power announced that it “suspended activities under the DOE loan program,” which purportedly allowed the Company to “redeploy capital” to pursue an agreement with a U.S. data center developer to monetize electricity rights. This news caused the price of Plug Power stock to drop $0.09 per share, or 3.4%, from a closing price of $2.65 per share on November 7, 2025, to $2.56 per share on November 10, 2025, the next trading day.
Then, on November 13, 2025, The Washington Examiner reported that Plug Power “confirmed . . . that it suspended activities” on “its plans to construct six facilities to produce and liquefy zero or low-carbon hydrogen, putting at risk” the $1.66 billion DOE loan it closed in January. This news caused the price of Plug Power stock to drop $0.48 per share, or 17.6%, from a closing price of $2.49 per share on November 13, 2025, to $2.25 per share on November 14, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/plug-power-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in Plug Power, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:3613d ago
MCW Investigation: BFA Law Urges Mister Car Wash, Inc. Shareholders to Contact the Firm about its Ongoing Investigation into the Board over Take Private Deal
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Mister Car Wash, Inc.’s (NASDAQ: MCW) board of directors and its controlling stockholder, LGP, for potential breaches of their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with a potential take-private sale of Mister Car Wash that would cash out every public stockholder for $7 per share.
If you are a current shareholder of Mister Car Wash, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/mister-car-wash-investigation.
Key Details of the Mister Car Wash ($MCW) Investigation:
Acquiring Company: Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (“LGP”)Offer Price: $7.00 per share in cashAlleged Misconduct: Potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the board of directors and LGP, including possible conflicts of interest and an unfairly low buyout price for public shareholdersAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Why is Mister Car Wash being Investigated?
On February 18, 2026, Mister Car Wash announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (“LGP”) for $7.00 per share. This price may represent an unfairly low price being paid to Mister Car Wash’s stockholders and may be the result of conflicts of interest between Mister Car Wash’s board of directors and LGP.
LGP is the largest owner of Mister Car Wash stock, owning over 66% of the company’s common stock. As Mister Car Wash noted in its most recent annual report (SEC Form 10-K) “[f]or as long as LGP owns more than 50% of [Mister Car Wash’s] common stock it will be able to exert a controlling influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the nomination and election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our Company or its assets.” As the controlling stockholder of Mister Car Wash, LGP owes fiduciary duties to the public stockholders of Mister Car Wash.
LGP has already used its shares to give stockholder approval to the take-private sale, and the company does not plan to solicit any further votes from public stockholders. With the ability to approve the sale of Mister Car Wash to itself, needing only its own votes, LGP is incentivized to execute the deal as cheaply as possible.
BFA Law is investigating Mister Car Wash’s board of directors and LGP to ascertain whether they have breached fiduciary duties to Mister Car Wash’s stockholders in connection with the contemplated transaction.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/mister-car-wash-investigation
What Can You Do?
If you are a current holder of Mister Car Wash stock you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 06:3913d ago
CRWV Deadline: BFA Law Urges CoreWeave, Inc. Investors with Losses to Act Before March 13 Securities Fraud Class Action Deadline Amid 16% Stock Decline
NEW YORK, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after significant stock drops resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.
If you invested in CoreWeave, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/coreweave-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the CoreWeave ($CRWV) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 13, 2026Alleged Misconduct: Misrepresenting its ability to meet customer demand and concealing significant construction delays at its data centersLargest Alleged Stock Decline: November 11, 2025 – 16% Stock DropCourt: U.S. District Court for the District of New JerseyAction: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Investors have until March 13, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in CoreWeave securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is captioned Masaitis v. CoreWeave, Inc., et al., No. 2:26-cv-00355.
Why is CoreWeave Being Sued For Securities Fraud?
CoreWeave is an AI-focused cloud computing company that builds and operates data centers offering high-performance GPU infrastructure. CoreWeave relies on multiple partners to develop its data centers and provide the infrastructure needed for its AI computing operations, including Core Scientific, a large digital infrastructure company. On July 7, 2025, CoreWeave announced a merger agreement with Core Scientific.
During the relevant period, CoreWeave repeatedly assured investors it could capitalize on the “robust” and “unprecedented” demand for its services given its “competitive strengths,” including its ability to “deploy” AI infrastructure “at massive scale” and “rapidly scale our operations.”
As alleged, in truth, CoreWeave overstated its ability to meet customer demand and concealed significant construction delays at its data centers.
Why did CoreWeave’s Stock Drop?
On October 30, 2025, Core Scientific announced it did not receive enough shareholder votes to approve the merger with CoreWeave and, as a result, terminated the merger agreement. This news caused the price of CoreWeave stock to drop $8.87 per share, or more than 6%, from $139.93 per share on October 29, 2025, to $131.06 per share on October 30, 2025.
Then, on November 10, 2025, CoreWeave lowered guidance for revenue, operating income, capital spending, and active power capacity for 2025 due to “temporary delays related to a third-party data center developer who is behind schedule.” This news caused the price of CoreWeave stock to drop $17.22 per share, or more than 16%, from $105.61 per share on November 10, 2025, to $88.39 per share on November 11, 2025.
Finally, on December 15, 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported that the “completion date” for a “huge data-center cluster” in Denton, Texas to be leased by OpenAI, “has been pushed back several months,” and that the site builder, Core Scientific, had flagged delays at the site months earlier. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Core Scientific had flagged additional delays at sites in Texas and elsewhere “since at least February.” This news caused the price of CoreWeave stock to drop $2.85 per share, or more than 3%, from $72.35 per share on December 15, 2025, to $69.50 per share on December 16, 2025.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/coreweave-inc-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in CoreWeave, you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.
All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named “Elite Trial Lawyers” by the National Law Journal, “Litigation Stars” by Benchmark Litigation, among the top “500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers” by Lawdragon, “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” by Law360 and “SuperLawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.
Chinese auto manufacturer BYD's logo is seen on its electric vehicle BYD Sealion 7 during Indonesia International Motor Show 2026, in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 9, 2026. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesBEIJING, March 1 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab recorded the biggest fall in global sales in six years last month.
BYD's February sales plunged by 41.1% from a year earlier, the sixth consecutive month of decline, according to a stock market filing on Sunday. The fall last month was the biggest since February 2020 when the economy was hit by the pandemic.
Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Xiuhao Chen, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by David Goodman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 07:1312d ago
2 oil stocks to buy this week amid U.S. – Iran war
The escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict intensified over the weekend, a situation that could offer opportunities for investors.
One sector likely to be hit hardest is oil, given the region’s critical role in global supply.
The conflict has involved coordinated strikes targeting Iranian leadership and infrastructure, including the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated against regional targets, raising fears of prolonged disruptions to global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude.
This comes as brent crude closed the week near seven-month highs around $73 per barrel, up roughly 16% year to date. Analysts forecast potential increases of $10 to $20 or more per barrel if tensions persist without rapid de-escalation.
In this environment of heightened geopolitical risk and supply uncertainty, major integrated oil companies with strong upstream production stand to benefit from elevated crude prices and stronger cash flows. Below are two stocks worth considering this week.
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) Chevron (NYSE: CVX) emerges as a compelling pick for investors seeking exposure to the current crisis.
The company maintains a diversified global portfolio, including significant low-cost assets in the Permian Basin and international operations that position it to capture higher revenues as oil prices rise.
With a market capitalization exceeding $370 billion, a forward price-to-earnings ratio in the low teens, and a dividend yield around 4%, Chevron offers an attractive valuation relative to peers, alongside a track record of disciplined capital spending and shareholder returns.
The conflict’s impact on Iranian output and potential chokepoint restrictions directly amplifies upstream profitability, as every sustained increase in Brent prices adds billions to annual earnings.
At the same time, Chevron’s resilient balance sheet and focus on efficient production provide a buffer against short-term volatility, making it well-suited for near-term gains amid the war-driven risk premium in energy markets.
At press time, CVX stock was trading at $186, up about 20% year-to-date.
CVX YTD stock price chart. Source: Finbold Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) represents another strong candidate, benefiting from its scale as the largest U.S. oil major and extensive upstream exposure.
The company’s operations span major developments in Guyana and the Permian Basin, delivering over 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of around 11, with a dividend yield near 3.5% and ongoing share buybacks, Exxon Mobil combines value with robust cash generation potential.
Escalation risks could constrain non-U.S. supplies, boosting the company’s production-heavy model and amplifying profits. Estimates indicate that a $10 per barrel increase in oil prices can add billions to annual earnings.
Exxon’s low-cost assets and emphasis on shareholder returns position it to outperform in a scenario of sustained higher crude prices triggered by Middle East disruptions.
At the close of the last market session, XOM stock was trading at $152, having gained nearly 25%.
XOM YTD stock price chart. Source: Finbold Both stocks reflect a broader rotation into energy during the crisis, as integrated majors benefit directly from rising commodity prices without heavy reliance on speculative factors.
Although the situation remains fluid and any de-escalation could limit gains, the near-term outlook favors these names as investors navigate the economic fallout from the U.S.–Iran war.
2026-03-01 12:3912d ago
2026-03-01 07:2012d ago
All the highlights from Berkshire CEO Abel's first shareholder letter
(This is the Warren Buffett Watch newsletter, news and analysis on all things Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. You can sign up here to receive it every Friday evening in your inbox.)
Abel: Berkshire's culture and values 'remain unchanged and will continue into perpetuity'In his first letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, new CEO Greg Abel didn't try to emulate Warren Buffett's folksy, conversational writing style.
He did, however, emphasize he won't be making major changes to the way the company has operated for decades under Buffett's leadership.
At the top of his letter, Abel called Buffett "arguably the greatest investor of all time," and acknowledged that "Warren is obviously a very hard act to follow."
Abel wrote that last month, he "sent a letter to our employees to emphasize that Berkshire's cultures and values remain unchanged and will continue into perpetuity."
"We are committed to strengthening the great legacy" built by Buffett and Charlie Munger, "ensuring it endures through our commitment to excellence."
Abel said Munger's comment at the 2021 annual meeting that "Greg will keep the culture" will "forever resonate with me" as a "reminder that our culture is our most treasured asset, a call to maintain what defines Berkshire, and a challenge to ensure our culture continues."
No change on buybacks or dividendsAny investors hoping Abel would be more specific about criteria for buybacks didn't get satisfaction.
His sentence on the subject could have been written by Buffett himself: "We will buy back Berkshire shares when they trade below our estimate of intrinsic value, conservatively determined, ensuring that repurchases enhance per-share value for continuing owners."
There were no buybacks during the fourth quarter, extending a streak that goes back to May 2024.
Abel also disappointed any shareholders hoping he might reverse Buffett's longstanding opposition to using some of Berkshire big cash pile to pay a dividend.
"Our approach to cash dividends continues to be that Berkshire will not pay dividends so long as more than one dollar of market value for shareholders is reasonably likely to be created by each dollar of retained earnings."
No 'retreat from investing'Abel vowed to maintain Buffett's "fortress-like balance sheet, ensuring Berkshire's foundation is never compromised."
Calling the cash Berkshire's "dry powder," he acknowledged there will "undoubtedly be incremental opportunities to deploy our owner's capital without compromising Berkshire's resilience. My role is to ensure our liquidity levels and capital deployment remain intentional and deliberate."
"Many times in Berkshire's history, some observers have suggested that our substantial cash position signals a retreat from investing. It does not. We continue to evaluate many opportunities and will remain patient and disciplined in pursuing the right ones for the benefit of our owners."
Berkshire still has a lot of cashBerkshire's overall cash decreased 2.2% in the fourth quarter to $373.3 billion as of December 31.
Excluding BNSF's cash and subtracting T-bills payable, it increased 4.1% to $369.0 billion.
Operating earnings fell 29.8% from last year's fourth quarter, coming in at $10.2 billion. Insurance underwriting was down 54%, insurance investment income fell 25%, while BNSF gained 5.3% and manufacturing, service and retailing edged 3.3% higher.
Ajit, Kraft, and the who's running the portfolioAbel praised Ajit Jain's "judgment and disciple" over four decades but didn't provide any clues on who may ultimately succeed him as Berkshire's insurance chief.
He also gave no indication on whether Berkshire still plans to reduce or eliminate its stake in Kraft Heinz now that its new CEO shelved plans to split the company in two, saying only the return "has been well short of adequate."
Abel did confirm the responsibility for Berkshire's equity portfolio "ultimately resides with me as CEO," with Ted Weschler continuing to manage about 6% of the investments, including those previously overseen by Todd Combs who left in December for a new job at JPMorgan.
New additions to annual meeting Q&AThere will be some new faces joining the Q&A sessions at the company's shareholder meeting on May 2 in Omaha.
Abel and Jain will do the morning session as would be expected, but the afternoon session will include Abel, BNSF's Katie Farmer, and Adam Johnson, who runs NetJets and is president of consumer products, service, and retailing, a new position created late last year.
Early reviewsIn an email to Warren Buffett Watch, Gabelli Funds portfolio manager Macrae Sykes praises Abel for covering all of Berkshire's major segments in the letter, saying he "showed humility" and "expressed clarity in communication and confidence in his role as the new CEO."
He also likes the inclusion of Farmer and Johnson in a Q&A. "Nice to see the delegation of communication responsibilities and emergence of leadership beyond Greg and Ajit."
Christopher Davis of Hudson Value Partners tells me we may be seeing "the first 'Abel Rule' added to the Berkshire playbook," a preference for immediate full control of private businesses it acquires.
He cites Abel's comment that while Berkshire first invested in Pilot in 2017, its ability to manage it was contractually delayed until 2023. "That mistake will not happen again."
Davis also thinks Abel saying the company may purchase large blocks of shares from major holders "when the opportunity presents itself," supports his thesis there will be a "very large buyback program" of Buffett's shares after he dies "as his children put the money to work in philanthropy."
Noted Berkshire analyst sees a decade of 10% to 12% annual returns Bloomstran believes Abel may be more aggressive with Berkshire's cash than Buffett has been.
"It's likely that Berkshire under Greg Abel's leadership will commit a large portion of today's outsized cash reserves at materially higher returns than are presently being earned on U.S. Treasuries."
BUFFETT & BERKSHIRE AROUND THE INTERNETSome links may require a subscription:
CNBC.com: Berkshire Hathaway operating earnings fell nearly 30% in Warren Buffett's final quarter as CEOCNBC.com: Berkshire CEO Greg Abel vows to keep Buffett's culture of disciplined investing in first annual letterWall Street Journal (subscription): Berkshire's Abel Pledges to Follow Buffett's 'Framework'Bloomberg (subscription): Greg Abel Promises to Uphold Berkshire's Culture in First LetterAssociated Press: Greg Abel praises Warren Buffett and promises Berkshire Hathaway won't retreat from investingReuters: Berkshire CEO Abel assures investors after taking baton from Buffett, with 'fortress-like' balance sheetBloomberg (subscription): Besieged Berkshire Utility Tries to Rewrite Who Pays for WildfiresThe Wall Street Journal (subscription): Warren Buffett and the Giant Gold Cube The Times of India: Warren Buffett's trusted executive Ajit Jain buys apartment in Gurugram [India] for Rs 85 crore [$9.3M]Associated Press: Court throws out judgment blaming Montana asbestos deaths on BNSF railroadBloomberg ETF IQ video: Active, Value Outperforming: Chris Davis [Berkshire director]Barron's (subscription): Berkshire Hathaway Bets on the New York Times. Buffett Wins Again.HIGHLIGHTS FROM CNBC'S BUFFETT ARCHIVEObservation is 'training in itself' to be Berkshire's CEO (2006)Warren Buffett explains why his successor, who he expected would come from within Berkshire, would not need any formal training.
watch now
AUDIENCE QUESTION: How do you train your successors? What do you tell them? How do you summarize to them what is important to you? ...
WARREN BUFFETT: We want managers to join us who believe in the sort of operation we have, a partnership with shareholders, a lifetime commitment to the businesses. We want those people to join us.
We want what they see after they join us to underscore the values we have. So everything we do we hope is consistent with what most people would call a "culture" at Berkshire.
So the written word, what they see, what they hear, what they observe. And that is training in itself.
It's the same sort of training you get as a child. I mean, you — when you are in the home and you're learning something every day by the behavior of these terribly important people, these big people that are around you.
And a home has a culture. A business has a culture. To some extent, a country can have a culture. And we try to do everything that's consistent with that. We try to do nothing that is inconsistent with that.
And, believe me, if you're a bright Berkshire manager — and they are bright — you know, they buy into it to start with, they see that it works, you know, and it doesn't require formal lessons or mentoring or anything of the sort.
I mean, if you talk to our Berkshire managers, you would find that they think consistently with how, in effect, Charlie and I think.
There are plenty of people that don't, and they don't join us...
The nice thing about it is our culture is so well-defined that there aren't many mistakes, in terms of people entering it or behaving in a way inconsistent with it.
So I think that — I don't think there's any formal training necessary...
CHARLIE MUNGER: At headquarters, we aren't training executives. We find them. And they're not hard to find.
You know, if a mountain stands up like Everest, you don't have to be genius to recognize that it's a high mountain.
BERKSHIRE'S TOP EQUITY HOLDINGS - Feb. 27, 2026Berkshire's top holdings of disclosed publicly traded stocks in the U.S. and Japan, by market value, based on the latest closing prices.
Holdings are as of September 30, 2025, as reported in Berkshire Hathaway's 13F filing on November 14, 2025, except for:
Mitsubishi, which is as of August 28, 2025Mitsui, which is as of September 30, 2025The full list of holdings and current market values is available from CNBC.com's Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTSPlease send any questions or comments about the newsletter to me at [email protected]. (Sorry, but we don't forward questions or comments to Buffett himself.)
If you aren't already subscribed to this newsletter, you can sign up here.
Also, Buffett's annual letters to shareholders are highly recommended reading. There are collected here on Berkshire's website.
-- Alex Crippen, Editor, Warren Buffett Watch
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 04:4313d ago
Geopolitical Risk and Bitcoin: What On-Chain Data Actually Reveals About Market Behavior
TLDR: Exchange Netflow data from three major conflicts shows Bitcoin inflows spike briefly, then normalize within 90 days. Bitcoin’s fixed supply schedule and network function remain unaffected by military conflicts or national fiscal crises. ETFs and institutional players now absorb geopolitical shocks through derivatives, reducing sustained spot market pressure. The U.S. Clarity Act and macro liquidity conditions are now the primary forces shaping Bitcoin’s structural direction. Geopolitical risk and Bitcoin have long been studied together, yet their relationship is still widely misread by market participants.
On-chain data from three major military conflicts shows that war events cause short-term volatility but do not reshape Bitcoin’s structural trend.
CryptoQuant’s Exchange Netflow data tracks this behavior consistently across all three cases. Fear-driven inflows appear briefly, then normalize.
Trade wars and regulatory changes, by contrast, carry far more weight in shaping Bitcoin’s medium-term direction.
War Events Trigger Brief Market Disruption but No Lasting Structural Change Three conflicts tested Bitcoin’s market resilience in recent years. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Israel–Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.
The Iran–Israel escalation followed on June 13, 2025. All three events produced short-lived spikes in CryptoQuant’s Exchange Netflow data, reflecting temporary fear-based positioning among traders.
Source: CryptoQUant
However, within three months of each event, Exchange Netflow levels returned to their normal ranges. Exchange trading volume showed no sustained structural shift in any of the three cases.
Capital did not exit the Bitcoin market in a lasting or measurable way during these conflict periods.
This pattern reflects Bitcoin’s core architecture and market structure. Unlike sovereign currencies, Bitcoin has no direct link to any single nation’s fiscal stability.
Military conflicts strain national economies, but they do not change Bitcoin’s supply schedule or disrupt its network function.
Additionally, the growing role of ETFs and institutional participants has changed how markets absorb conflict-driven shocks.
Much of the fear-based pressure now channels through derivatives markets rather than sustained spot selling. This structural shift reduces the lasting effect of geopolitical tension on Bitcoin’s price trajectory.
“Military events create noise. Macro conditions create trends. On-chain data continues to confirm this distinction across all three major conflict periods reviewed.” — Cryptoquant analyst XWIN Research JapaN noted.
Trade Policy and Regulation Carry Greater Weight for Bitcoin’s Direction Trade wars and economic instability carry a more direct and measurable effect on Bitcoin than armed conflict. Tariff escalation, financial tightening, and liquidity contraction all shape global dollar flows and investor risk appetite. These conditions produce concrete, observable changes across multiple on-chain metrics.
Stablecoin supply, Realized Cap trends, and broader capital allocation patterns all respond to macroeconomic tightening.
As a result, these indicators offer more reliable directional signals for Bitcoin than conflict headlines do. Reviewing on-chain data consistently over time makes this distinction between macro pressure and military events increasingly clear.
This analysis builds on the January 5, 2026 report, “Venezuela and Bitcoin — Reading Geopolitical Risk Through On-Chain Data.”
That earlier report showed how economic instability, rather than political conflict, drove Bitcoin capital movement in Venezuela. The current findings reinforce that same conclusion across different geopolitical contexts.
Regulatory clarity is now attracting close attention from institutional investors and market participants alike. The U.S. Clarity Act is gaining visibility for its potential to open new capital pathways and expand institutional access to Bitcoin.
History points firmly to liquidity conditions and regulatory frameworks, not military conflict, as the forces that consistently define Bitcoin’s structural direction.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 04:4613d ago
Moonpay Teams With M0 to Launch PYUSDx Stablecoin Framework for Developers
Moonpay and M0 dropped news. The two companies unveiled PYUSDx on February 27, 2026, creating a new framework that lets developers build branded stablecoins backed by PayPal USD.
The whole thing basically cuts through the usual mess developers face when they want to launch a stablecoin. PYUSDx gives them a ready-made solution that’s already tied to PYUSD, so they don’t have to deal with all the technical headaches and regulatory nightmares that come with building from scratch. Developers can focus on their actual product instead of spending months figuring out compliance stuff. The framework pretty much handles the heavy lifting, which should speed up development times considerably.
Not exactly rocket science here.
M0 CEO Alex Smith thinks this changes everything for stablecoin access. “Developers can now focus on innovation,” Smith said during the announcement. He’s betting that removing these barriers will open up tons of new applications and use cases that nobody’s thought of yet. The company sees this as democratizing the whole stablecoin space, making it accessible to smaller players who couldn’t afford the usual development costs.
PayPal’s clearly pushing hard into digital currency territory with this move. The company just reported that PYUSD transaction volumes spiked recently, and they’re hoping PYUSDx will accelerate adoption even more. PayPal sees this as a way to get their digital currency into more hands without having to do all the work themselves.
Moonpay handles the infrastructure side. Their tech keeps things stable and secure as new stablecoins pop up on the platform.
Regulatory compliance usually kills stablecoin projects before they start. But PYUSDx bakes compliance measures right into the framework from day one. Smith said that’s critical for getting developers and users to trust the system. Nobody wants to build something that regulators will shut down six months later.
The stablecoin market’s pretty crowded already. Tether and USD Coin basically own the space right now. But having PayPal USD backing might give PYUSDx an edge that other frameworks don’t have. PayPal’s brand recognition could matter more than people think.
Developers can start using PYUSDx right now. Moonpay and M0 expect a flood of interest as companies realize they can create stablecoins without the usual overhead costs. Early adoption numbers will tell the real story. See also: FCA Picks Four Firms for Stablecoin.
Market response remains unclear. Governance details and fee structures haven’t been released yet, which could affect how many developers actually jump in.
Moonpay CTO Lisa Tran talked about integration strategy during the launch. “Our goal is to ensure that new stablecoins are not just innovative but also practical for everyday transactions,” Tran said. She wants these new coins to work seamlessly with existing financial systems, not just sit in crypto wallets. That means retail integration and online payment platforms need to support whatever gets built on PYUSDx.
PayPal’s financial numbers back up their digital currency push. The company’s digital currency transactions hit over $1 billion last quarter, showing real consumer demand. PYUSDx could boost those numbers significantly if it takes off. PayPal CFO John Davis called it a “game-changer” during a March 1 press briefing.
Industry analysts are watching closely. Jordan Lee from CryptoExchange Insights said on March 1 that success depends on developer diversity. “The real test will be in the diversity of applications that emerge,” Lee noted. If PYUSDx only attracts one type of developer or use case, it probably won’t make much of a dent in the market.
Moonpay and M0 are already talking to fintech companies about partnerships. They want to expand PYUSDx’s reach and functionality beyond just the basic framework. Details should come out in the next few months, but early conversations seem promising.
The timing’s interesting given regulatory scrutiny. The U.S. Treasury Department announced a stablecoin regulation review on February 28, focusing on consumer protection and financial stability. That review could change how PYUSDx operates, depending on what new rules emerge. See also: Bitcoin Struggles Near K as Middle.
Developer interest looks strong so far. Blockchain Analytics reported on March 2 that over 100 developers registered for PYUSDx’s initial phase. That’s pretty solid early engagement for a brand new framework. Whether they actually build anything useful remains to be seen.
Educational initiatives start in April 2026. Moonpay and M0 plan workshops to walk developers through the stablecoin creation process using PYUSDx. Hands-on training usually helps adoption rates, especially for technical products like this.
M0 announced additional features coming to PYUSDx on March 3. Enhanced security protocols and API support should make development easier and more robust. The company’s clearly committed to iterating quickly based on early feedback.
Moonpay’s preparing for higher transaction volumes by upgrading infrastructure. CEO Ivan Soto-Wright said in a recent interview that the company’s investing heavily in scalability improvements. They don’t want technical issues to kill momentum if PYUSDx takes off faster than expected.
Institutional investors are paying attention too. Investment Weekly reported March 4 that several hedge funds are evaluating PYUSD-backed stablecoins for their portfolios. That’s beyond individual developers – bigger financial players see potential here.
A conference is planned for May 2026. Moonpay and M0 want to bring together developers, financial experts, and industry stakeholders to discuss stablecoin futures and PYUSDx’s role. These events usually generate buzz and partnerships that drive adoption.
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2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 04:5213d ago
Ethereum Smart Accounts Set to Launch Within a Year, Says Vitalik Buterin
Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has...
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Ethereum’s long-discussed “account abstraction” feature, often described as smart accounts, could arrive within the next year as part of the upcoming Hegota network upgrade, according to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.
Key Takeaways:
Ethereum’s account abstraction (smart accounts) could launch within a year through the Hegota upgrade and EIP-8141. The feature turns wallets into programmable apps, enabling recoverable keys, batch transactions and gas payments in non-ETH tokens. The upgrade aims to improve usability, support privacy tools and prepare the network for future scaling and quantum-resistance needs. Speaking over the weekend, Buterin said the effort, first discussed in 2016, has finally reached a workable design.
A new proposal, EIP-8141, bundles together the remaining technical pieces needed to implement the feature across the network. “After over a decade of research and refinement, this looks possible to deploy within a year,” he wrote.
Ethereum Account Abstraction Turns Wallets Into Programmable AppsAccount abstraction changes how transactions work on Ethereum. Instead of a transaction being a single action signed by a private key, it becomes a structured sequence of “frames.”
These frames can reference one another and separately verify authorization, execution and fee payment.
In practice, this allows wallets to behave more like programmable applications rather than simple key holders.
The framework would enable multi-signature security, recoverable wallets and accounts with changeable keys.
A validation step would check the user’s authorization before an execution step processes the transaction itself.
The model also supports batch operations and transaction sponsorship, meaning fees could be handled by another party.
One of the most notable implications is the ability to pay gas fees without holding Ether. Through a paymaster contract or a decentralized exchange mechanism that provides ETH in real time, users could cover transaction costs with other tokens.
Now, account abstraction.
We have been talking about account abstraction ever since early 2016, see the original EIP-86: https://t.co/HYLSTLHgWH
Now, we finally have EIP-8141 ( https://t.co/jYqeS55j6P ), an omnibus that wraps up and solves every remaining problem that AA was…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 28, 2026 Buterin said eliminating reliance on centralized intermediaries is consistent with Ethereum’s cypherpunk design philosophy.
The change may also ease usability issues faced by privacy tools. Current privacy protocols often rely on public transaction broadcasters, which can introduce friction.
A general-purpose mempool could replace those intermediaries, improving the experience for applications such as Railgun and Tornado Cash-style systems.
The upgrade is expected to apply to both new and existing accounts, allowing the entire network to operate under a unified framework.
Developers also anticipate improved automation, scheduled transactions and complex contract interactions managed directly at the wallet level.
Buterin also outlined a longer-term roadmap focused on preparing the network for future threats. He recently described plans to introduce quantum-resistant protections covering validator signatures, stored data, user authentication and zero-knowledge proofs.
The scaling roadmap further includes gradual reductions in block slot time and finality time to speed up transaction confirmation.
Vitalik Backs Anti-Censorship Upgrade Ahead of Ethereum’s 2026 Hegota ForkLast week, Buterin endorsed the Fork-Choice Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) upgrade, a major protocol change planned for the 2026 Hegota hard fork.
The proposal is designed to prevent transaction censorship by requiring validators to include all valid transactions in blocks, reinforcing Ethereum’s neutrality and cypherpunk principles.
FOCIL addresses growing centralization concerns after some validators filtered transactions linked to sanctioned services such as Tornado Cash.
Under the new rules, blocks that ignore valid transactions would be rejected by the network, ensuring public-mempool transactions settle within a defined timeframe and giving privacy protocols and smart-account transactions the same treatment as normal Ether transfers.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 04:5413d ago
Ripple CTO Emeritus Recalls Massive 40,000 ETH Sale
In a recent post on the X social media network, Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz recalled that he had felt like an "investment genius" after famously selling a total of 40,000 ETH when the leading cryptocurrency was trading at just $1.05.
Schwarz was personally invited by Ethereum's Buterin to take part in the launch of the red-hot altcoin.
The architect behind the XRP Ledger wanted to show some support for the project and handed over a total of 20 BTC. This sum allowed Schwartz to buy the entire stash.
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Schwartz initially bought the 40,000 ETH tokens at $0.311 and ended up walking away with a rather impressive return of 321%. The sale netted him a total of $42,000. Shortly after this, the price of the token would end up going parabolic.
The proceeds were used by Schwartz to purchase a set of solar panels that he installed at his home in Oakland, California.
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Notably, Schwartz does not even own that house anymore, according to his latest tweet.
Schwartz's current net worth Schwartz frequently shares information about his personal crypto holdings, which sets him apart from the rest of the Ripple executives.
He has confirmed that he continues to hold both Bitcoin (BTC) and ETH, as well as several altcoins.
The Ripple CEO previously claimed tha that he owned roughly 20 million XRPs, which was the biggest sum of the tokens that he has held at any point.
That said, the exact size of his net worth is unknown (it could be anywhere from $90 million to $500 million). It mainly depends on the value of his stake in Ripple. Schwartz famously opted for a 2% stake in the company instead of XRP holdings.
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Throughout February, the Bitcoin price barely showed real hopes of a trend shift from its stark bearish structure. However, in the last day, the flagship cryptocurrency has witnessed a modest amount of buying momentum, which might suggest an incoming short-term rebound, despite the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. However, data from a recent on-chain analysis has revealed a contrary perspective to this speculation.
Illiquid Supply Dominates Bitcoin Market In their latest Quicktake post on CryptoQuant, the analytics group, Arab Chain, highlights that the liquid supply of Bitcoin on the Binance exchange has recently increased significantly. This post hinges on data obtained from the BTC Binance Liquid Vs Illiquid Supply Model. For context, this metric measures how much Bitcoin held on Binance is readily tradable (liquid) as against the amount on the exchange that is inactive or intended to be held long-term (illiquid).
Arab Chain reveals in the post that Binance currently holds a total of around 670,000 BTC in its reserves. Of that amount, approximately 83,000 BTC stands as the liquid supply, and about 587,000 BTC exists as an illiquid supply, placing the liquidity ratio at around 12%. It is also worth noting that the current liquid supply portion stands close to levels that were last seen in 2024.
Nonetheless, this uptick in liquid supply still falls within a broader story: Binance’s Bitcoin reserves remain overwhelmingly illiquid. The analyst explains that this behavior, where illiquidity surmounts liquidity, is often associated with less-active holdings, or relatively long-term positions, even as they are held on Binance.
Because illiquid supply is disproportionately higher than liquid supply, there is a counterbalance between expected sell pressure and the unmoving hands. This existing stability, according to Arab Chain, is due mostly to the fact that the readily available amount of Bitcoin pales in comparison to the total amount of BTC on the platform.
Source: CryptoQuant Rising Liquid Supply Signals Increasing Market Readiness However, it remains that the liquid supply on Binance is steadily climbing, as it recently reached 2024 levels. As Arab Chain points out, liquid supply is more reactive to speculative activity and tends to expand alongside trading activity. Conversely, liquid supply often shrinks as the market enters periods of calmness or repositioning.
Hence, while this is not a direct signal of bearish intent, the current growth in liquid supply to 2024 levels suggests that Bitcoin traders are preparing for imminent volatility. It could also mean that investors are reallocating their positions or positioning in expectations of future price movements.
If this rise in liquid supply is followed by increasing sell pressure, it could be the signal to expect ensuing distribution. On the other hand, if demand should absorb the additional supply currently entering the market, the Bitcoin price could continue on its recovery journey. At press time, Bitcoin trades for $67,604, reflecting a 2.97% gain in 24 hours.
BTC trading at $67,552 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Featured image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview
Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:0013d ago
Traders, LayerZero flipped bullish – ZRO eyes $2.00, but THESE risks remain
LayerZero rebounded sharply from the recent market crash and printed higher highs despite broader weakness.
The altcoin hit $1.88 before a modest pullback. At press time, ZRO traded at $1.81. The daily close showed a 1.29% gain.
Price remained inside an ascending structure, reflecting sustained bid pressure. Buyers stepped in on dips, preventing deeper retracements.
LayerZero momentum indicators flip bullish LayerZero [ZRO] previously dropped to $1.30 during the late-February pullback. Dip buyers responded quickly.
The Buyer–Seller Strength indicator showed buyer dominance near 80, while seller strength stayed below 25. That imbalance persisted until the 28th of February.
At the same time, the Demand Index climbed from 0.058 to 0.206. That rise confirmed renewed accumulation pressure.
Historically, sustained Demand Index expansion preceded upside continuation.
On top of that, Stochastic RSI printed 86.73, deep inside overbought territory. In strong trends, Stochastic RSI can remain elevated before cooling.
Source: TradingView
Aroon added further context. Aroon Down remained at 0%, while Aroon Up read 28.57%. That structure indicated a recovering trend rather than a confirmed breakout.
Source: TradingView
That shift left traders focused on resistance near $2.00.
If momentum sustained, ZRO could test $2.00 and potentially extend toward $2.50. Even so, failure to hold structure could reopen support near $1.50.
Profit-taking risk remained visible. Holders trapped during the prior drawdown could sell into strength.
The Price DAA Divergence remained positive throughout the past month. A positive reading indicated user activity grew faster than price.
Source: Santiment
Even during market pullbacks, network activity remained relatively elevated, suggesting that more users continued to be attracted to it. Thus, while network activity is high, prices have yet to catch up, reflecting asset undervaluation relative to network growth.
Such a market setup indicates long-term interest is building, which historically follows a strong price breakout.
Thus, the altcoin’s bullish structure is positioned to remain intact, as long as network usage remains high.
Final Summary LayerZero rebounded to $1.88 before stabilizing near $1.81, maintaining an ascending structure despite broader market weakness. ZRO’s Buyer–Seller Strength, Demand Index, and Stochastic RSI signaled sustained accumulation and strong short-term momentum.
XRP is likely to remain below the $2 mark by the end of March, according to insights from an artificial intelligence model.
Notably, the asset has remained suppressed in recent weeks, losing key support levels amid broader weakness in the cryptocurrency market.
As of press time, the token was trading at $1.39, having rallied by over 5% in the past 24 hours, while on the weekly timeline, the asset is down 2%.
XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold Technically, XRP is below both its 50-day SMA at $1.67 and 200-day SMA at $2.25, signaling sustained short- and long-term bearish momentum. The wide gap beneath the 200-day average especially reflects a broader downtrend.
Meanwhile, the 14-day RSI stands at 42.15, in neutral territory but below 50, indicating weakening momentum without being oversold.
XRP price prediction Regarding the outlook, Finbold turned to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which projected that XRP could trade between $1.60 and $1.85 by March 31, 2026, pointing to expectations of moderate bullish momentum over the coming weeks.
According to the AI-driven analysis, XRP’s short-term trajectory remains closely tied to broader cryptocurrency market trends.
With digital assets pressured by risk-off sentiment in equities and technology stocks, the model indicates that any sustained rally would require a clear catalyst; otherwise, price action may continue to rise gradually within a defined range.
The forecast also factors in potential spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), improving regulatory clarity, and steady institutional demand.
Although these are more medium-term drivers, they provide a supportive backdrop for incremental gains through March.
XRP technical levels From a technical standpoint, ChatGPT identified resistance between $1.50 and $1.60, with support near $1.30 to $1.35.
A break above $1.50 could trigger momentum buying and lift XRP toward the upper end of its projected range, while a loss of support may open the door to renewed downside pressure.
In the near term, the AI model outlined mixed but slightly bullish scenarios. Neutral projections place XRP between $1.35 and $1.55 in early March, while stronger momentum could drive a move toward $1.70 to $1.90.
However, risks to the outlook include a broader cryptocurrency downturn, macroeconomic shocks, or a lack of new catalysts to sustain buying interest.
Featured image via Shutterstock
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:1613d ago
Vitalik Buterin embraces possibility of AI speeding up Ethereum's 2030 roadmap
Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, said AI assisted them in creating the 2030 roadmap in just two weeks, a process that would normally take years. On X, he called the experiment “impressive,” noting that the technology speeds up coding.
However, he cautioned that anything built within such a short period, without the Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), could have shortcomings, with some features existing only as incomplete stubs. Even with the mistakes, he said, the real takeaway should be in the AI trend itself.
Buterin’s remarks, though, come at a time when Ethereum (ETH) is roughly 60% below its 2025 high, with some analysts warning the asset could plummet to a level below the crucial $2,000 support this month.
Buterin says AI speeds things up Buterin explained in his post that he experimented with agentic coding on his blog software and completed it in only an hour, stressing that the best way to use AI is to balance its benefits, accelerating development while enhancing security through test-case generation, formal verification, and multiple implementations.
He also claimed that AI can help with formal verification and generate far more test cases. AI, he said, also speeds up coding, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to fix bugs and inconsistencies. But he expects that the Ethereum 2030 roadmap will be completed much faster with artificial intelligence, because those challenges can now be tackled more quickly.
He remarked, “People should be open to the possibility (not certainty! possibility) that the Ethereum roadmap will finish much faster than people expect, at a much higher standard of security than people expect.”
Buterin also contended that there is still the prospect of error-free software, something most people once saw as an unrealistic dream. He also emphasized that that type of software would be critical for trustless systems, though total security cannot exist because it would mean your code perfectly mirrors all the information in your mind.
Ethereum plans account abstraction in Hegota upgrade Meanwhile, Buterin also shared on Saturday that Ethereum would implement account abstraction in the Hegota upgrade within a year, recalling that the concept dated back to discussions in 2016. He explained that EIP-8141 is an all-encompassing proposal designed to resolve the remaining issues with account abstraction, with deployment scheduled for this year.
Additionally, he asserted they’ve been working on the project for over a decade, thus making implementation within a year realistic. He also assured the community that the core framework is deliberately simple and broadly functional and will be centered on frame transactions. That means smart accounts will work by separating signature approval and transaction execution into two frames.
He also pointed out that users could settle gas fees in other tokens through paymaster contracts or automated decentralized exchanges.
The Ethereum founder added, “Intermediary minimization is a core principle of non-ugly cypherpunk Ethereum: maximize what you can do even if all the world’s infrastructure except the Ethereum chain itself goes down.”
He also highlighted that privacy-focused platforms like Railgun and Tornado Cash could replace public broadcasters, which he described as a major source of user experience friction. Additionally, he noted that the new framework could be applied to existing Ethereum accounts, enabling them to perform batch transactions and support sponsored fees.
In another Thursday post, Buterin also outlined a roadmap to make Ethereum more resistant to quantum threats, highlighting four major focus areas: validator signatures, data storage, account signatures, and zero-knowledge proofs. He said he expects to observe gradual decreases in slot and finality times in the longer-term scaling plans.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:2313d ago
Bitcoin Q1 2026 Posts Third-Worst Quarterly Loss Since 2013 as Ethereum Slides 32%
TLDR: Bitcoin’s Q1 2026 return of -23.21% is the third-worst since 2013, trailing only Q1 2018 and Q1 2014 losses. Ethereum recorded a -32.17% Q1 2026 return, falling well below its historical quarterly average of +66.45%. Bitcoin’s Q1 average of +45.90% is heavily skewed by extreme years like 2013’s record gain of +539.96%. Around $1.8 billion in sell orders hit derivatives books in one hour, linked to rising US-Iran geopolitical tension. Bitcoin Q1 2026 return has dropped to -23.21%, marking one of the weakest first-quarter performances since 2013.
Ethereum also recorded a -32.17% decline during the same period. Data from CoinGlass shows both assets are trading well below their historical quarterly averages.
The numbers reflect broader stress across digital asset markets, driven by macro pressure and rising geopolitical tensions that have rattled investor confidence heading into the second quarter.
Bitcoin’s Q1 2026 return stands at -23.21%, placing it among the worst quarterly performances on record. Only Q1 2018 and Q1 2014 recorded steeper losses, at -49.7% and -37.42% respectively.
Both of those periods played out during confirmed bear-market cycles. The current result sits far below the historical Q1 average of +45.90%.
That average, however, is skewed by extreme years like 2013, when Bitcoin gained +539.96% in the first quarter. The 2021 Q1 also returned +103.17%, further pulling the average higher.
Source: Coinglass
The historical Q1 median sits at -2.26%, meaning negative quarters are not unusual. Still, a -23.21% return points to conditions well outside normal seasonal weakness.
The data suggests the market is dealing with more than routine volatility. Liquidity contraction and macro risk repricing appear to be key factors.
These are patterns typically seen during post-cycle deleveraging phases. Investors are not showing signs of early-cycle accumulation at this stage.
Ethereum’s Q1 performance tells a similar story, though the losses run deeper. Its -32.17% return is the third-worst Q1 since 2016. This is well below its historical Q1 average of +66.45% and median of +4.37%.
Derivatives Market Shows Signs of Forced Selling Ethereum’s higher beta relative to Bitcoin means it tends to fall harder during risk-off periods. The Q1 2026 data is consistent with that pattern.
Capital rotation away from higher-volatility assets has been visible across the market. Together, Bitcoin and Ethereum’s performance points to a defensive macro posture rather than recovery.
Market analyst CryptoTice flagged a sharp spike in selling pressure through derivatives. The analyst noted that roughly $1.8 billion in aggressive market sell orders hit the books within a single hour.
🚨 Panic is spilling into derivatives.
Amid rising US–Iran tensions, forced selling just hit hard:
In a single hour, ~$1.8B in aggressive market sell orders slammed the books.
That’s not “rotation.”
That’s urgency.
When derivatives lead the move:
• Leverage unwinds fast
•… pic.twitter.com/eMozyxTlTZ
— Crypto Tice (@CryptoTice_) March 1, 2026
Rising US-Iran tensions were cited as the catalyst behind the move. The analyst described it as urgency-driven selling rather than a rotation.
When derivatives lead price action, leverage tends to unwind quickly. Liquidations can cascade, and volatility expands rapidly as a result.
CryptoTice pointed to funding rates, open interest, and liquidity gaps as key areas to monitor. Stress in the derivatives market often shows up before spot prices fully react.
The combined picture across spot and derivatives markets reflects a cautious environment. Both retail and institutional participants appear to be reducing exposure rather than adding risk.
Geopolitical factors have added a layer of uncertainty that is difficult to price. Until clarity returns, volatility is likely to remain elevated across the crypto market.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:2613d ago
Solana Leads Top 10 With 11% Jump in Crypto Market Rebound
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Solana led major cryptocurrencies, especially those in the top 10 by market valuation, with an 11% bounce as the crypto market rebounded ahead of traditional futures opening on Sunday.
Crypto prices rebounded sharply on Sunday, as traders bought the dip following Saturday's crash, which saw over $500 million in liquidations. The market added $32 billion in market value by Sunday morning, after shedding about $128 billion the previous day, according to data from CoinGecko.
Solana led the recovery among majors, rising 11% to an intraday high of $88.89. At the time of writing, Solana was up 9.22% in the last 24 hours to $85.30 and down 0.41% weekly.
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SOL/USD Daily Chart, Courtesy: TradingViewDespite the rebound in the markets, weekly performance across most digital assets remains mixed, with thin liquidity and upcoming moves in the equities market likely to determine whether this bounce continues.
The market saw a sell-off toward the weekend as investors reacted to global headlines and hotter-than-expected U.S. producer price data.
The recent rebound looks convincing on a 24-hour chart but might be fragile. Saturday's market drop coincided with thin weekend liquidity, and the same with Sunday's rebound.
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Some observers believe Sunday’s mild bounce is a sign that crypto markets are looking past global headlines and traders are positioning for an extended recovery in prices.
Cryptocurrency traders, however, remain on the lookout for a bottom as a recovery in prices on Sunday remains limited.
Solana newsSolana reversed a two-day drop, rising from a low of $77.13 on Feb. 28. The rise reached an intraday high of $88.89 on Friday, with the next focus now on $105, which coincides with the daily MA 50.
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According to Alicharts, Solana appears to be forming a flag pattern, but it must stay above $76.
The past week was significant for Solana with the launch of payments.org, a key milestone for Solana as stablecoin payments move into the mainstream. SoFi announced support for Solana deposits, becoming the first U.S. chartered bank to do so. Tethergold (XAUT) volume on Solana rose to a new seven-day ATH of $78 million.
Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick recently stated that stablecoin micropayments could drive a longer-term surge as Solana moves beyond meme coins, but trimmed his 2026 SOL forecast to $250 from $310.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:3013d ago
Latam Insights: Brazil Introduces Crypto Tax Evasion Bill, El Salvador Finalizes New Bitcoin Diploma Program
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compilation of the most relevant crypto news from Latin America over the past week. In this edition, a bill to criminalize crypto-linked foreign currency tax evasion surges in Brazil, El Salvador finalizes its Bitcoin Diploma 2.0 educational program, and Engie mulls adding bitcoin mining to its operations in Brazil.
2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:4613d ago
Bitcoin Dev Embeds Image on Chain, Slams BIP-110 Rules
Bitcoin just got messy. A mystery developer shoved a 1.5 KB bitmap straight into the blockchain on February 28, basically giving the middle finger to BIP-110’s proposed data restrictions.
The whole thing’s pretty wild when you think about it. BIP-110 wants to block non-financial stuff from cluttering up Bitcoin’s ledger, but someone just proved how easy it is to slip past these rules. The anonymous coder used some clever trick to bypass the filters, and now everyone’s scrambling to figure out what this means for the proposal’s future. Alex Sins, who wrote BIP-110, probably didn’t see this coming. His idea was simple – keep Bitcoin lean and mean by limiting what kind of data people can stuff into transactions.
But here’s the kicker. The image went through like any normal transaction.
Critics have been saying BIP-110 kills innovation for months now. They think blocking different data types will stop creative blockchain uses that go beyond just sending money around. Lisa Huang, a blockchain researcher, keeps pushing this point – she thinks Bitcoin needs more variety in transactions to stay relevant. The community’s split right down the middle on this one.
Some folks want to protect Bitcoin’s original vision as digital cash. Others see the blockchain as a platform for all kinds of applications. And honestly, both sides have decent arguments. The purists worry about network speed and costs when blocks get stuffed with random data. The innovators think restrictions will make Bitcoin obsolete compared to more flexible networks.
The timing couldn’t be worse either. Bitcoin Core developers are meeting March 1 to hash this out, and everyone’s watching. No official word from the team yet, but sources say they’re pretty concerned about the whole situation. The embedded image basically exposed a massive hole in BIP-110’s enforcement mechanisms.
Tim Draper jumped on social media yesterday to slam the restrictions. “Limiting blockchain utility kills growth potential,” he posted. Draper’s been backing Bitcoin for years, so his opinion carries weight. He thinks BIP-110 needs major changes or it’ll hurt the network long-term. Related coverage: Dollar Gains Steam in February.
Alex Sins isn’t backing down though. Posted on his blog that the proposal’s still necessary to prevent “data bloat catastrophe.” His words, not mine. Sins keeps pushing the scalability angle – says Bitcoin can’t handle tons of random files without slowing to a crawl.
The technical details get murky fast. Bitcoin’s block size limits mean every byte counts, and cramming images or other files into transactions eats up space that could go to actual payments. But the recent hack shows current filtering methods don’t work. So what’s the point of BIP-110 if people can just work around it?
Security experts are split too. Some think diverse data creates new attack vectors. Others say innovation always involves risk, and Bitcoin needs to adapt or die. The decentralized nature makes everything harder – no single authority can just decide what happens next.
Things get interesting when you look at Bitcoin’s governance history. Previous upgrade battles dragged on for years, with different factions fighting over technical details. The BIP process lets anyone propose changes, but getting consensus is brutal. This image stunt might force faster decisions than usual.
Market reaction’s been muted so far. Bitcoin price barely moved after news broke, suggesting traders don’t see immediate impact. But longer-term implications could be huge depending on how this plays out. If BIP-110 gets scrapped, expect more creative blockchain uses. If it passes with stronger enforcement, innovation might move to other networks. This follows earlier reporting on Former Mt. Gox CEO Pushes Controversial.
The anonymous developer hasn’t revealed their identity or methods yet. Sources close to the Bitcoin development community think more demonstrations might be coming. “This won’t be the last time someone pokes holes in proposed restrictions,” one developer told me off the record.
Community forums are going crazy with technical discussions about the embedding technique. Some coders are trying to reverse-engineer the method, while others debate whether it should be patched immediately. The whole situation shows how hard it is to control decentralized networks.
Upcoming discussions will probably focus on enforcement mechanisms rather than the principle behind BIP-110. Even supporters admit the current proposal has flaws that need fixing. The question is whether those flaws are patchable or fundamental design problems.
Bitcoin’s identity crisis continues. The network started as peer-to-peer cash but keeps evolving into something more complex. Each technical decision shapes that evolution, making debates like this one crucial for Bitcoin’s future direction.
The March 1 meeting can’t come soon enough. Developers need to address this mess before more people start embedding random stuff into transactions.
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2026-03-01 11:3912d ago
2026-03-01 05:5713d ago
This ‘insanely profitable' Bitcoin strategy can earn you millions on Polymarket
Three cryptocurrency traders appear to have turned a simple directional Bitcoin (BTC) strategy into a multimillion-dollar windfall on Polymarket, generating a combined $2.35 million in profit within a single month.
On-chain data retrieved on March 1 from Lookonchain, from three linked wallets, suggests the accounts, all created in early January 2026, began actively trading on February 1.
Since then, they have focused almost entirely on betting whether Bitcoin would move up or down during specific short time windows.
In some instances, they also placed directional bets on Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), but Bitcoin price action dominated their activity.
Breakdown of winnings The largest wallet, 0x1979ae6B7E6534dE, has generated $1.13 million in all-time profit from more than 24,600 predictions, with a position value of $70,500 and a single biggest win of $33,900.
Crypto tarder transaction. Source: Polymarket Its activity shows a steady focus on high-conviction, short-duration intraday Bitcoin bets. On February 12 alone, it won $64,242, along with additional returns of $48,433 and $44,605.85 from separate time-slot trades.
Meanwhile, the second wallet, 0x1d0034134e, recorded $810,522 in profit after placing more than 23,000 predictions, with a position value of $206,200 and a biggest win of $21,400.
Concentrating on short-term Bitcoin direction markets, it secured $48,636 and $30,553 in two sessions on February 27.
Crypto tarder transaction. Source: Polymarket The third wallet, 0x1461cCe, earned $405,530.28 from just 775 predictions by deploying significantly larger capital, with a $2 million position value and the biggest win of $111,000.
Unlike the others, it targeted broader monthly Bitcoin price levels, winning $136,871.88 on a $75,000 February target and $84,365.78 on a $90,000 call, alongside additional gains of $90,174.75 and $79,052.03 tied to $55,000 and $50,000 thresholds.
Across all three wallets, the strategy remained consistent, with users repeatedly wagering on clearly defined Bitcoin price levels or short-term directional moves.
The winning strategy Rather than diversifying widely across topics, the traders concentrated liquidity on high-frequency or high-conviction Bitcoin markets, compounding gains as volatility unfolded throughout February.
Notably, this winning strategy came during a volatile phase for Bitcoin, with the asset struggling below the crucial $70,000 level as some analysts warn the cryptocurrency could face further losses before bottoming.
XRP is staging a resilient recovery, steadily forming higher highs and higher lows despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Source: ShutterstockXRP Shows Strong Bounce Amid Market TurmoilXRP has rebounded strongly from the $1.29 lows, forming higher highs and lows, signaling renewed bullish momentum. Analyst Zed notes that the minor resistance at $1.45 will be key for tracking the next move.
XRP dipped amid a $75B crypto market sell-off triggered by U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, yet buyers quickly defended key support levels, stabilizing the token. Therefore, the current swift rebound underscores XRP’s resilience amid intense geopolitical tension and market volatility.
Well, XRP rebounding to $1.38 from a $1.29 low, signals strong buying momentum. Higher lows show buyers regaining control, while rising highs indicate mounting bullish pressure with the $1.45 resistance being of the essence at the moment because breaking it could trigger a significant breakout.
Source: CoinCodexXRP Eyes $1.45 After Holding Key $1.37 PivotThe $1.37 level is now a key pivot for XRP. Holding above it could drive a move toward $1.45 and higher, while a loss of momentum may lead to a retest of lower support, a healthy consolidation rather than a full reversal.
Furthermore, maintaining the $1.30 support is crucial for sustaining bullish potential, highlighting the need for precise entries and disciplined risk management.
Why does this matter? Well, XRP’s recent rebound from $1.29 underscores the market’s resilience amid broader instability. Analysts like Zed highlight that the current setup presents opportunities for both short-term traders and long-term investors.
Key signals to watch include volume surges near support, bullish candlestick patterns, and overall market sentiment.
Additionally, holding the $1.37 pivot is critical, as sustained momentum could push XRP toward $1.45 and beyond.
Therefore, support at $1.37–$1.38 and resistance levels should be closely monitored, as the next sessions may define XRP’s near-term trajectory in a volatile crypto environment.
ConclusionXRP’s bounce from $1.29 highlights its resilience amid market volatility. With $1.37 as a key pivot, momentum could push the token toward $1.45, potentially signaling a breakout.
These critical levels should be watched keenly, as the next moves will determine whether XRP consolidates gains or retests support despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.
Market analyst MorenoDV_ reports a muted response by Bitcoin short-term holders (STH) to a combined attack by the US and Israel on Iran. The observation is important considering the previous sell-offs that have dominated the market in recent months.
Bitcoin STH Reaction To Geopolitical Conflict Signals Seller Exhaustion – What Next? The Bitcoin short-term holders refer to a cohort of investors who acquired Bitcoin over the last 155 days. They are described as the most reactive set of investors, and therefore, activity is often indicative of short-term volatility and price direction.
According to MorenoDV_ in a QuickTake post on February 27, these short-term holders are showing a moderate market response to the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran. Using data from the Bitcoin STH P&L to exchanges 24H, the renowned market analyst reports subdued inflows to exchanges, indicating no panic profit taking or loss capitulation, even despite an event that has historically triggered a mass sell-off.
Source: CryptoQuant MorenoDV_ explains that this shift in market behavior came after the major market capitulation between February 5-6, when Bitcoin short-term holders sent 89,000 BTC to exchanges at a loss within 24 hours. Following this event, loss-driven inflows appear to have steadily reduced, indicating sellers’ exhaustion, or a positive shift from panic to patience.
With respect to the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, there was no spike in STH exchange inflows even as prices dipped to around $63,000-$64,000. MorenoDV_ states that this important observation suggests a complete exit of weak hands from the market as well as significant absorption of recent liquidation pressure.
Looking ahead, if the STH holders maintain a muted response to other bearish triggers, it would suggest a market stabilization phase that has historically preceded a bullish market recovery arc. On the other hand, an increase in STH exchange inflows and realized losses would indicate market drawdown is incomplete, and investors still stand at risk of further decline.
Bitcoin Price Overview
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is valued at $67,007, reflecting a slight rebound of 4.41% in the last 24 hours. In tandem, daily trading volume is up by 0.81% and valued at $40.81 billion.
The premier cryptocurrency continues to move within a defined range of $60,000-$70,000 as seen for the majority of February. While analysts continue to speculate on the cycle bottom, the conditions for a bullish reversal, such as a recovery in ETF inflows, a spike in LTH demand, or a dovish Fed outlook, also remain absent.
BTC trading at $67,292 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on Tradingview.com Featured image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview