Market Signal Briefing

The Iran war could be one of the biggest Bitcoin (BTC) supply events in recent memory, one analyst argues. The under-attack Middle Eastern country has one of the largest crypto mining facilities, and its citizens hold substantial crypto holdings that could be dumped on the market.

However, Bitcoin’s spot price index shows no signs of an impending collapse, as it has recovered well from an earlier drop at the start of the conflict and is trading around the $66.4k valuation at press time.

The crypto analyst in question, Sweep, has over 200,000 followers on X, including Binance’s CZ himself. He tweeted:

Image Source: X Iran’s Bitcoin mining program is indeed among the largest in the world, but it accounts for only 2-5% of the decentralized ecosystem’s net hash rate. The overall semi-underground crypto economy is worth $7.7 billion, according to the latest calculations, while Iranians hold tens of billions of dollars’ worth of BTC in their wallets to circumvent crippling hyperinflation.

The main benefit for Iranian miners was the cost of electricity, given the country’s abundant, low-cost thermal energy. According to Sweep, American miners mine 1 BTC for $50,000, while Iranian miners mine it for $1,320, which gives them a significant edge. Now, with the country under attack, the massive reserves could be dumped in the market to help pay for the war expenses.

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Derivatives Selling Pressure Mounts On the derivatives side, sell volume spiked sharply due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Analytics firm CryptoQuant tweeted:

Image Source: X The post was followed by this graph:

Image Source: CryptoQuant The graph shows a $1.8 billion surge in Bitcoin derivatives sell volume within one hour on February 28, 2026, triggered by American strikes on Iran. However, the spot price has remained resilient despite the ongoing price squeeze in the derivatives market. In fact, the premier digital currency recovered to $68k earlier yesterday, highlighting rising demand despite the ongoing war and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Digitized Gold has also recorded a major price appreciation to $5.48k an ounce on online trading platforms, even as the traditional bullion sector remains closed. All eyes will be on the markets on Monday, with a major hit expected in stocks and bonds, while commodities like gold and oil are expected to surge.

The integrated infrastructure handles the complexity behind the scenes, while users enjoy a one-click experience through a single XRPL transaction.

The layer-1 decentralized finance (DeFi) applications platform Flare has taken another step toward enhancing the XRP DeFi (XRPFi) ecosystem. The blockchain’s latest partnership with the XRP Ledger (XRPL)- based self-custodial wallet Xaman unlocks a one-click DeFi vault experience for XRP holders.

According to a press release sent to CryptoPotato, the integration between Flare and Xaman scales XRPFi by reducing the complexity of cross-chain steps into a single transaction on the XRPL.

Flare Taps Xaman For XRPFI Vaults The alliance between Flare and Xaman allows XRP holders to access yield directly from their wallet. They can deposit XRP into a curated DeFi vault on Flare through a single transaction initiated on the XRPL. This one-click feature is enabled by a system that automatically handles cross-chain execution, asset representation, and vault allocation.

While the integrated infrastructure handles the complexity behind the scenes, users will not need to download new wallets, manually bridge assets, or manage multiple tokens on the front-end. This development introduces a smoother way for XRP to engage in programmable, yield-generating strategies.

The one-click vault system has three infrastructure layers, namely, FAssets, Flare Smart Accounts, and Xaman. FAssets are Flare’s representations of XRP across DeFi networks, like FXRP, while the smart accounts introduce chain abstraction while keeping user authorization on the XRPL.

Flare’s co-founder and CEO, Hugo Philion, commented on the alliance, saying:

“This integration represents an important step in positioning Flare as the execution layer for XRPFi. By combining trust-minimized asset representation, chain-abstracted execution, and wallet-native access, we are building infrastructure that supports both retail users and institutional strategies.”

Yield-Bearing Use Cases For XRP By introducing a more seamless model for XRP DeFi, users can access more productive use cases for XRP liquidity. The integration will remove technical barriers that have kept roughly 2 billion XRP outside the DeFi ecosystem, improving capital efficiency on the XRPL.

You may also like: The End of Step Finance: How a Wallet Compromise Killed the Solana DeFi Aggregator BTC, ETH, XRP Surge as On-Chain Data Shows ‘Explosive Buying’ From Whales 2.54 Billion XRP Moved to Binance: What Does This Mean “Xaman has always focused on giving XRP holders simple, secure tools. This integration lets our users explore new options directly from the wallet they already know, while keeping full control of their keys and decisions,” said Xaman’s founder, Wietse Wind.

Meanwhile, Xaman users can now access an XRP vault curated by Upshift, one of Flare’s ecosystem partners. The earnXRP vault facilitates FXRP minting, redemption, vault allocation, and yield claiming behind the scenes, while users deposit their holdings from the Xaman wallet interface.

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Ripple CEO Signals CLARITY Act Deal Highly Likely as Crypto Leaders Rally Around WittCrypto optimism surges as Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse signals a deal under the CLARITY Act is imminent. 

"The door to a deal is wide open," he said, urging banks to act in good faith. His remarks coincide with the March 1 deadline set by Patrick Witt, a key negotiator for crypto regulatory clarity.

Market analyst Diana calls this a milestone for the sector, as months of uncertainty over regulations may be ending. 

Interestingly, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently revealed that former SEC Chair Gary Gensler admitted he was wrong in a White House meeting, signaling unprecedented progress toward crypto regulation.

Landmark CLARITY Act Deal Nears as Regulators and Crypto Leaders AlignWhite House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks praised Witt for brokering a compromise, noting the crypto sector’s major concessions on stablecoin yields to meet regulatory standards. 

His remarks highlight a rare alignment between crypto advocates and regulators, signaling that a workable framework for digital assets could be near, despite CLARITY Act odds dropping over 30% last month as Senate talks stalled over stablecoin reward disputes.

Why does this matter? Well, the CLARITY Act aims at providing clear crypto rules while balancing innovation and financial safety, and has been a major focus for investors and institutions. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s optimism hinted at a near-term resolution that could reduce market uncertainty and boost institutional participation.

Last month, White House talks with banks and crypto firms stalled over stablecoin rewards, leaving the Act’s path in Congress uncertain. 

As a result, analysts say success will require banks to act in good faith, and that regulatory concessions, industry collaboration, and leadership from figures like Witt could still pave the way for a landmark U.S. crypto agreement.

With the door reportedly “wide open,” the coming weeks remain critical for Ripple, the broader crypto market, and the future of digital assets under clear regulatory guidance.

ConclusionThe CLARITY Act could be a game-changer for U.S. crypto, with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hinting at an imminent deal. 

Backed by influential figures like Patrick Witt and David Sacks, the legislation promises a landmark compromise, if banks cooperate in good faith, paving the way for innovation, trust, and growth under a clear regulatory framework.

On a recent podcast, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson declared that Cardano is still in the game and fighting for everything. 

Amid market volatility and a crowded blockchain space, he affirmed that ADA remains a major contender, highlighting the project’s ongoing development and long-term vision.

Therefore, Hoskinson remains confident even as skepticism around Cardano grows. 

In contrast, pseudonymous analyst Gnarleyquinn noted that ADA is now over 90% below its $3.10 all-time high from September 2021, dubbing the situation “past Midnight,” a nod to Cardano’s upcoming sidechain, the Midnight Network.

The analyst cautioned that post-2021 rallies have consistently stalled at lower Fibonacci levels.

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Source: Gnarleyquinn Despite this, whales and institutional investors are quietly ramping up ADA holdings, showing strong backing as Midnight prepares to launch.

Cardano Faces Technical Headwinds Amid Hoskinson’s Optimism The above chart highlights Cardano’s past rallies against key Fibonacci retracement levels.

After peaking in September 2021, ADA corrected and briefly recovered to $2.37 in November, failing to surpass the 0.618 Fibonacci resistance. Subsequent rallies have also fallen short, signaling weakening technical momentum.

At the time of this writing, Cardano was trading at $0.27 per CoinGecko data, reflecting broader market weakness and ADA’s long-term consolidation.

Nevertheless, Hoskinson remains bullish, pointing to upcoming upgrades, strategic partnerships, and the launch of the Midnight Network as key drivers of potential recovery, further fueled by Grayscale’s growing stake in the network.

Well, the split between Hoskinson’s optimism and Gnarleyquinn’s critique underscores the debate over Cardano’s future. 

Technical analysis cites persistent downtrends and Fibonacci resistance, while Cardano’s leadership highlights innovation, utility, and ecosystem growth as drivers of long-term strength.

How well Cardano balances market realities with ambitious development will determine if it can reclaim top-tier crypto status or remain in prolonged consolidation.

State Street Investment Management recently updated its global equities outlook. In the next five years, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.43%) is forecast to return 39%, while the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and S&P Small-Cap 600 are forecast to return 41% and 42%, respectively.

Investors can get exposure to those indexes by purchasing shares of the Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF (IVOO 0.81%) and the Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF (VIOO 1.34%). Here are the important details.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF The Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF measures the performance of 400 mid-cap stocks, defined as companies with market values between $8 billion and $22.7 billion. The fund has value stocks and growth stocks from every sector, but it is most heavily weighted toward three market sectors: industrials (24%), financials (15%), and technology (14%).

The top five holdings are listed below:

Ciena: 1% Coherent: 0.9% Lumentum: 0.8% Curtiss-Wright: 0.7% Flex: 0.7% The Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF returned 365% (10.8% annually) over the last 15 years, while the S&P 500 returned 591% (13.7% annually) over the same period. One reason the mid-cap fund underperformed is due to a lower relative exposure to the technology sector, which has consistently delivered strong results.

The Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF has an expense ratio of 0.07%, meaning shareholders will pay $7 per year on every $10,000 invested. This index fund is a good option for investors seeking exposure to mid-cap stocks, but I doubt it will outperform the S&P 500 in the next few years (I'll explain why in the last section).

2. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF The Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF tracks the performance of 600 small-cap stocks, defined as companies with market values between $1.2 billion and $8 billion. The index fund includes value stocks and growth stocks from every sector, but it is most heavily weighted toward three market sectors: financials (18%), industrials (18%), and consumer discretionary (13%).

The top five holdings are listed below:

Solstice Advanced Materials: 0.6% Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: 0.6% Moog: 0.5% LKQ: 0.5% InterDigital: 0.5% The Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF returned 360% (10.7% annually) in the last 15 years, underperforming the S&P 500 by 231 percentage points. But it beat the Russell 2000 (a benchmark for small-cap stocks) by 60 percentage points due to stricter eligibility criteria.

The Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF has an expense ratio of 0.07%. This fund is a good option for investors seeking exposure to small-cap stocks. I think it will beat the Russell 2000 in the next five years, but I doubt it will beat the S&P 500.

Why I think the S&P 500 will outperform in the next five years Index funds that track small-cap and mid-cap companies have a major drawback: The stocks that perform well are eventually removed because their market values top the prescribed thresholds. But the stocks that perform poorly remain put.

In that sense, small-cap and mid-cap index funds essentially sell winners and hold losers as time passes, and that is not a smart investment strategy. Famous fund manager Peter Lynch once warned, "Selling your winners and holding your losers is like cutting the flowers and watering the weeds."

The S&P 500 is a collection of winners that have already graduated from the S&P Small-Cap 600 and the S&P Mid-Cap 400. Additionally, the S&P 500 is reconstituted and rebalanced each quarter, which ensures it always tracks the most consequential U.S. stocks. That's why I'd rather own an S&P 500 index fund as compared to a small-cap or mid-cap fund.

Trevor Jennewine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ciena, Coherent, Curtiss-Wright, Lumentum, and Moog. The Motley Fool recommends Flex and LKQ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryThe SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF offers a low-cost, liquid option for long-term S&P 500 exposure, with a 0.02% expense ratio.The S&P 500 median company is currently overvalued by 13% relative to 11-year historical averages, with quality near baseline.Energy leads in both value and quality scores, while materials and industrials are notably overvalued and least compelling fundamentally.The mega-cap bias has reversed recently, resulting in balanced 12-month returns in cap-weighted and equal-weighted S&P 500.Nine stocks that are cheaper than their peers.Quantitative Risk & Value members get exclusive access to our real-world portfolio. See all our investments here » Igor Suka/E+ via Getty Images

About SPYM This article offers a top-down analysis of the S&P 500 Index based on valuation, quality, and momentum metrics in GICS sectors. It may also help analyze funds tracking the index, such as State Street

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.

The Campbell's Company faces deteriorating fundamentals, with recent declines in both revenue and profitability despite prior growth. CPB's cost-saving initiatives and asset sales have yet to yield margin improvements, as rising costs and interest expenses persist. Guidance for 2026 is weak, with organic revenue flat and adjusted net profits expected to decline 17% year over year.

I recently bought even more shares of the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD +0.83%). That was the latest in a string of buys as I build my position in this top dividend ETF.

Here are two reasons why I can't stop investing in the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF.

Image source: Getty Images.

A steadily rising stream of dividend income I love to collect dividend income. That recurring cash flow gives me more money to invest while also putting me on the path to financial freedom.

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF aligns with my strategy of generating more dividend income. The fund tracks an index (Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index) that measures the performance of 100 high-yielding dividend stocks selected based on several dividend quality characteristics, including dividend yield and five-year dividend growth rates.

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The ETF currently offers a 3.5% dividend yield based on its payments over the last 12 months. That's three times higher than the S&P 500's dividend yield (around 1.1%). As a result, the fund enables me to generate more passive income per dollar invested compared to lower-yielding alternatives.

Meanwhile, the fund's holdings steadily increased their dividends. Over the last five years, its current holdings have hiked their payouts by more than 8% annually. As a result, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has steadily distributed more income to investors:

SCHD Dividend data by YCharts

The fund's high current yield and steadily rising income distributions will enable me to collect more passive dividend income in the future.

Strong total returns Dividend income is only part of the draw. The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF also has a strong track record of delivering attractive total returns (dividend income plus price appreciation). Since its formation in October 2011, the fund has delivered an average annual return of 12.9%. It has also delivered an annualized return of more than 10% over the past five- and 10-year periods. Meanwhile, it's off to a strong start this year.

A major driver of those strong returns is the fund's strategy of investing in companies that grow their dividends. Over the last 50 years, the average dividend grower in the S&P 500 has delivered a 10.2% average annual return, according to data from Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds. That has outperformed companies with no change in their dividend policies (6.8% return), dividend cutters and eliminators (-0.9% return), and companies that don't pay dividends (4.3%).

Sustainable earnings growth is the primary factor enabling companies to steadily increase their dividends. Earnings growth tends to drive stock price appreciation over the long term. As a result, by tracking an index that screens companies for dividend growth, the fund's value should continue to rise as the underlying holdings grow their earnings, dividends, and stock prices.

A wealth-compounding machine The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF's simple strategy of investing in 100 of the top high-yielding dividend growth stocks perfectly aligns with my needs. It provides me with an above-average, steadily rising stream of dividend income. On top of that, the fund has a strong record of delivering double-digit total returns. These dual value drivers should enable me to reach financial freedom faster, which is why I continue loading up on this top ETF.

Darius Baruo Mar 01, 2026 08:41

XLM price prediction indicates potential bounce toward $0.18-$0.20 as Stellar recovers from recent lows, though bearish momentum signals suggest cautious approach needed for March targets.

XLM Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $0.18 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.18-$0.20 range
• Bullish breakout level: $0.17 • Critical support: $0.15

What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About Stellar While specific analyst predictions from major KOLs are currently limited, recent forecasts from crypto analysts provide insight into XLM's trajectory. According to Luisa Crawford's analysis from February 26, "XLM price prediction points to $0.28-$0.31 upside potential as technical indicators show early bullish momentum, with immediate resistance at $0.24 acting as key breakout level."

However, Alvin Lang's more recent assessment from February 27 offers a more conservative outlook: "XLM price prediction indicates potential bounce toward $0.18-$0.20 resistance levels, though bearish MACD and distance from key moving averages suggest cautious optimism needed."

According to on-chain data from major analytics platforms, Stellar's network fundamentals remain stable despite recent price volatility, with transaction volumes maintaining consistent patterns that could support a gradual recovery.

XLM Technical Analysis Breakdown Stellar's current technical setup presents a mixed picture for traders. With XLM trading at $0.16 after a notable 7.57% daily gain, the cryptocurrency is showing signs of life after recent consolidation.

The RSI reading of 44.30 places XLM in neutral territory, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions. This provides room for potential upward movement without immediate selling pressure from momentum indicators.

However, the MACD histogram at 0.0000 indicates bearish momentum is still present, though the convergence suggests this negative trend may be weakening. The MACD signal line at -0.0062 confirms the underlying bearish sentiment hasn't fully reversed.

Stellar's position within the Bollinger Bands at 0.49 shows the price is trading near the middle band, indicating balanced volatility. The tight band structure with an upper band at $0.17 and lower band at $0.15 suggests a potential breakout scenario developing.

Key moving averages tell a concerning story for the medium-term Stellar forecast. XLM trades significantly below its 50-day SMA at $0.18 and well beneath the 200-day SMA at $0.28, indicating the long-term trend remains bearish despite recent gains.

Stellar Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case Bullish Scenario In an optimistic scenario, XLM price prediction models point to initial resistance at $0.17, which aligns with the immediate resistance level and Bollinger Band upper boundary. A decisive break above this level could target the 50-day moving average at $0.18.

Should buying momentum accelerate, the next major target sits at $0.20, representing a 25% upside from current levels. This target aligns with recent analyst forecasts and would require sustained volume above the current $12 million daily average.

Technical confirmation for the bullish case would include RSI breaking above 50, MACD histogram turning positive, and price establishing support above the $0.17 resistance level.

Bearish Scenario The bearish case for this XLM price prediction centers on the immediate support at $0.15. A break below this level could trigger further selling toward the strong support at $0.14.

Given the distance from key moving averages and persistent bearish MACD readings, a deeper correction toward $0.12-$0.13 cannot be ruled out. This would represent a test of longer-term support levels established in previous market cycles.

Risk factors include broader cryptocurrency market weakness, continued institutional selling pressure, or failure to maintain current support levels amid low trading volume periods.

Should You Buy XLM? Entry Strategy For traders considering XLM positions, the current technical setup suggests a cautious approach. The optimal entry strategy would involve waiting for confirmation above the $0.17 resistance level before establishing long positions.

Conservative traders might consider dollar-cost averaging between $0.15-$0.16, using the strong support at $0.14 as a stop-loss level. This approach limits downside risk while allowing participation in potential upside moves.

Risk management remains crucial given the bearish medium-term indicators. Position sizing should account for the possibility of further downside, with stop-losses placed below $0.14 to protect against extended declines.

Conclusion This XLM price prediction suggests Stellar faces a critical juncture at current levels. While recent gains of 7.57% show positive momentum, the technical picture remains mixed with bearish underlying trends.

The most probable scenario points to XLM testing the $0.17-$0.18 range in the coming weeks, with potential for extension toward $0.20 if broader market conditions improve. However, failure to hold current support could lead to retests of $0.14-$0.15 levels.

Traders should exercise caution with this Stellar forecast, as cryptocurrency markets remain highly volatile and unpredictable. This analysis is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always conduct your own research and risk assessment before making investment decisions.

Image source: Shutterstock

xlm price analysis xlm price prediction

TLDR: A developer built an Ethereum 2030-aligned client prototype with 700,000 lines of code in two weeks using AI. Vitalik Buterin rebuilt his blog software in one hour using a 20B-parameter model running on his laptop. AI is accelerating formal verification efforts within the Lean Ethereum project, boosting protocol security. Buterin says bug-free code, once seen as unrealistic, could become achievable through AI-assisted verification.  Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating Ethereum development, pointing to a developer who built a full client prototype in just two weeks.

AI Speeds Up Ethereum Client Development A developer recently used agentic coding to build an Ethereum client prototype aligned with the 2030+ roadmap. The prototype contained roughly 700,000 lines of code and covered 65 roadmap items.

It also successfully synced with the Ethereum mainnet, a notable technical achievement. This was accomplished in only two weeks, without finalized Ethereum Improvement Proposals in place.

Buterin acknowledged the prototype carries serious caveats given how quickly it was built. He noted it almost certainly contains critical bugs throughout its codebase.

Some features are likely “stub” versions, where the AI did not attempt a full implementation. Still, he stressed that the trend itself is what matters most.

On X, Buterin shared his own experience testing AI-assisted coding tools. He wrote that he used a 20-billion-parameter model running locally on his laptop to rebuild his blog software in one hour.

This is quite an impressive experiment. Vibe-coding the entire 2030 roadmap within weeks.

Obviously such a thing built in two weeks without even having the EIPs has massive caveats: almost certainly lots of critical bugs, and probably in some cases "stub" versions of a thing… https://t.co/ZlTg0r2hvI

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 28, 2026

He added that a more powerful model like Kimi-2.5 would have likely completed the task in a single prompt. These results point to how fast AI coding tools are improving across different scales.

Buterin framed the speed gains not as a reason to rush, but as an opportunity to do more thorough work. He suggested developers split AI-driven gains equally between speed and security.

Faster development, in his view, should come alongside more rigorous testing and verification processes.

Formal Verification and Security Stand to Benefit Beyond raw speed, Buterin pointed to formal verification as a major area where AI can contribute to Ethereum’s security.

A collaborator working on the Lean Ethereum project used AI to produce a machine-verifiable proof of one of the most complex theorems underlying STARK security.

This kind of work was previously slow and required deep mathematical expertise to complete. AI tools are now making it more accessible and faster to produce.

The Lean Ethereum effort is centered on formally verifying every component of the protocol. AI is actively accelerating that process, according to Buterin.

More test cases can now be generated at a much higher volume than before. Even when bugs appear, the process of finding and resolving them can happen five times faster and ten times more thoroughly.

Buterin also raised the possibility that bug-free code, once considered unrealistic, could become achievable. He was careful to frame this as a possibility, not a certainty.

He noted that total security remains out of reach, since code can never fully capture everything in a developer’s mind. However, specific security claims can be verified in ways that remove over 99% of risks from broken code.

Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive officer at Ripple, has stated that banks need to act in "good faith" when it comes to the landmark cryptocurrency deal known as the Clarity Act. 

The door to the deal is currently "wide open," according to the Ripple boss, after weeks of back-and-forth. 

Earlier, there was some reporting that Patrick Witt, the White House digital asset advisor, was aiming to pass the legislation by March 1 (and failing to do so). The crypto legislation could be at risk of falling apart if Coinbase's Brian Armstrong does not change his mind.

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However, the American Bankers Association and the Bank Policy Institute are apparently still actively involved in the talks, and they are currently providing their input. 

Clarity is better than chaos As reported by U.Today, Armstrong vehemently rejected the Senate bill, arguing that it was even worse than the "status quo." He took issue with several provisions, especially the one that pertains to stablecoin rewards and yield. The legislation draft that was rejected by Armstrong would effectively prohibit several reward structures. 

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At the same time, Garlinghouse opted for a more pragmatic approach, noting that clarity is still better than chaos despite the fact that the bill was not perfect. He has warned the broader cryptocurrency industry not to let perfection get in the way of progress. 

Last week, the Ripple boss opined that the cryptocurrency legislation had an 80% chance of passing by the end of April. 

Earlier this month, Armstrong told CNBC that there was a "path forward" for the stablecoin bill. However, it remains to be seen whether the parties will be able to iron out their differences. 

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Over the weekend, the Bitcoin price and the crypto market witnessed significant pressure amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. After reports of Israeli strikes on Iran, the premier cryptocurrency dropped below $64,000 while dragging the rest of the market along with it.

While the price of BTC seems to have recovered from the conflict-induced slump, there is still the small issue of its broader structure. According to a market expert, Bitcoin may have avoided a negative outcome after holding above $60,000 over the weekend.

BTC Price Closes February Above Pivotal Support In a recent post on the X platform, Chartered Market Technician Tony Severino shared an insight into the current technical outlook of the Bitcoin price as February came to a close. According to the crypto market expert, the flagship cryptocurrency appears to have bounced back from a crucial support level around the $60,000.

Severino’s analysis is based on the ascending channel pattern on the Bitcoin price chart on the monthly timeframe. An ascending channel is a pattern in technical analysis marked by two major (upward-sloping) trendlines: the upper line connecting the swing highs and the lower line connecting the swing lows.

Source: @TonySeverinoCMT on X As seen in the chart above, the asset usually trades within an ascending channel, with the upper boundary line often functioning as a barrier to further growth and the lower trendline serving as a support cushion. Investors can trade between the pattern’s support and resistance levels or after price breaks out (bullish signal) or breaks down (bearish signal).

In the market leader’s case, the price has been approaching the lower trendline for the majority of February, implying that a major decision was imminent. According to Severino, the Bitcoin price has never closed beneath this lower boundary, even during the COVID crash in 2020.

Unsurprisingly, the premier cryptocurrency rebounded from the support cushion around $63,000, recovering from the early-weekend slump triggered by the ongoing clash between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Typically, the next target after this bounce-back is the channel’s midline, which could be as high as $475,000.

While historical data and patterns are often good ways to predict future market movements, Severino acknowledged that the chance of the Bitcoin price soaring to as high as $475,000 is indeed slim. Moreover, the current price structure is still bearish, meaning that the market conditions would need to improve for the flagship cryptocurrency to take advantage of this rebound.

Bitcoin Price At A Glance As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $67,919, reflecting an almost 3% increase in the past 24 hours.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView Featured image from iStock, 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.

Darius Baruo Mar 01, 2026 09:05

OP Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $0.13-$0.14 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.14-$0.16 range • Bullish breakout level: $0.14 (strong resistance) • Critic...

OP Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $0.13-$0.14 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $0.14-$0.16 range • Bullish breakout level: $0.14 (strong resistance) • Critical support: $0.10-$0.11

What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About Optimism While specific analyst predictions from major KOLs are limited in recent data, historical analysis from earlier this year provides context. Timothy Morano previously projected OP price targets of $0.37-$0.42 with potential 15-30% upside, though current market conditions have significantly shifted since those January forecasts.

According to on-chain data platforms, Optimism's current technical setup suggests the token has entered deeply oversold territory, which historically precedes bounce attempts. The lack of fresh analyst coverage may itself indicate capitulation levels that often mark intermediate bottoms in crypto markets.

OP Technical Analysis Breakdown The OP price prediction landscape is dominated by oversold conditions across multiple timeframes. With the RSI (14-period) sitting at just 26.00, Optimism has reached levels typically associated with selling exhaustion and potential reversal zones.

MACD Analysis: Currently at -0.0300 with minimal histogram divergence (-0.0000), suggesting bearish momentum may be stabilizing Bollinger Bands: OP trades at 0.27 position between bands, significantly closer to the lower band ($0.09) than upper resistance ($0.21) Moving Average Structure: Price trades well below all major MAs, with SMA 20 at $0.15 representing first recovery target The Stochastic oscillator shows %K at 17.45 and %D at 13.96, both in deeply oversold territory below the critical 20 level. This dual confirmation with RSI strengthens the case for an Optimism forecast favoring at least a technical bounce.

Optimism Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case Bullish Scenario The primary OP price prediction for bulls centers on reclaiming the $0.13 immediate resistance level, which would trigger momentum toward the $0.14 strong resistance zone. A sustained break above $0.14 could extend the recovery to test the Bollinger Band middle line at $0.15, representing a 25% gain from current levels.

Extended bullish targets reach the $0.16 zone, where the EMA 26 currently resides. This would require broader crypto market support and genuine fundamental catalysts for Optimism's Layer 2 ecosystem.

Bearish Scenario The bear case for this OP price prediction involves a breakdown below the $0.11 immediate support level. Such a move would likely target the $0.10 strong support zone, representing the psychological round number and potential demand area.

A more severe breakdown could see OP test the lower Bollinger Band at $0.09, which would represent a 25% decline from current levels. This scenario would require continued broader market weakness and potential fundamental concerns around Layer 2 adoption.

Should You Buy OP? Entry Strategy For traders considering OP positions, the current oversold setup presents both opportunity and risk. Conservative entry strategies should focus on the $0.11-$0.12 accumulation zone, with tight stop-losses below $0.10 to limit downside exposure.

More aggressive traders might consider dollar-cost averaging into positions, given the extreme RSI readings that historically precede rebounds. However, the broader moving average structure suggests any recovery may face significant resistance at multiple levels.

Position sizing should remain conservative given the bearish MA alignment Stop-losses below $0.10 are critical for capital preservation Partial profit-taking recommended at $0.14 resistance if reached Conclusion This OP price prediction suggests a high-probability technical bounce toward $0.14-$0.16 over the next 2-4 weeks, driven primarily by oversold RSI conditions and potential short-covering. However, the Optimism forecast remains cautiously optimistic given the challenging broader technical structure.

The 15-30% upside potential to resistance levels offers attractive risk-reward for tactical positions, though investors should remain prepared for continued volatility. Success of this prediction largely depends on broader crypto market stability and any fundamental developments in the Layer 2 ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This OP price prediction is based on technical analysis and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry substantial risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before investing.

Image source: Shutterstock

op price analysis op price prediction

ETH is still trading in a clear downtrend, and the market is reacting fast to both macro risk and geopolitics. With the war in the Middle East adding extra uncertainty, Ethereum is sitting near the 1,800 area on the chart, right on a key demand zone where buyers have tried to defend multiple times.

Ethereum Price Analysis: The Daily Chart The daily structure remains bearish inside a descending channel, and the price is still capped by the downtrend lines and the 100-day and 200-day moving averages overhead. Until ETH reclaims the major $2,400 and $2,800 resistance levels, rallies look more like relief bounces than a true reversal.

Meanwhile, the nearby support area is located at the $1,850–$1,700 demand zone, and if this level breaks down, the next downside levels to watch are around $1,600 and the $1,400 mark, just above the lower trendline of the descending channel.

ETH/USDT 4-Hour Chart On the 4-hour timeframe, ETH is behaving more like a range within the larger downtrend, with the price rotating between the support level near 1,800 and the resistance level near recent highs around $2,150. The last push into this level got rejected decisively, which keeps the short-term momentum tilted to the downside.

A bullish shift would require holding the $1,850 level and then reclaiming the $2,150 highs with follow-through, which could open a move back toward the $2,400 supply zone. But if the $1,850 support level fails and turns into resistance on a retest, the road toward the $1,600 mark and below will be cleared.

On-Chain Analysis The Ethereum Total Value Staked chart demonstrates an aggressive uptrend while the price trends down, which is a supportive long-term signal. It implies more ETH is being locked into staking rather than staying liquid, reducing the readily available supply over time. This behavior could be due to the long-term conviction of investors, as they are buying ETH at discounted prices and locking in for the long term.

However, this does not mean the bottom is guaranteed to be nearby, because the price can still drop if forced selling and deleveraging continue. But if the market reclaims the key resistance levels while staking keeps climbing, it strengthens the case for a more durable recovery later on.

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Bitcoin crashed through $60,000 Monday. Traders can’t figure out what’s next as market signals turn murky and economic pressures mount across global markets.

The weekend brought harsh reality checks for crypto bulls when Bitcoin smashed below the $65,000 support wall Sunday evening. A brutal 5% nosedive hit within just two hours, marking the first time in weeks that Bitcoin couldn’t hold above $65,000. Trading desks watched in real time as buy orders evaporated and selling pressure intensified without warning. The breakdown caught many off guard since no major news or events triggered the sudden move.

Market liquidity dried up fast.

Low volume trading made every move feel amplified as Bitcoin struggled to find stable ground in the low $60,000s. These price levels historically create wild swings and unpredictable action that keeps traders on edge. Monday and Tuesday saw Bitcoin’s daily range compress as fewer people wanted to make big bets either direction. Volume stayed weak across major exchanges, showing that most traders prefer sitting on the sidelines right now.

Derivatives markets paint a pretty grim picture too. Current volatility basically mirrors what’s happening in traditional markets where uncertainty rules everything. Timot Lamarre from Unchained put it bluntly: “Bitcoin is a global thermometer for events and liquidity. Its role as a reliable asset in chaos is undervalued.” But that reliability doesn’t mean much when chaos becomes the norm.

Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy bought another 592 BTC at an average price of $67,286 even as prices kept falling. The move shows institutional players still see value, but it also highlights how disconnected big money can be from short-term price action.

Technical analysts worry about what happens next. A failure to reclaim mid-$65,000s could send Bitcoin testing the $60,000 region hard, which might trigger panic selling from short-term holders who bought higher.

Bitfinex analysts see the derivatives market turning defensive. Per their latest report: “The derivatives market is now more defensive. Lacking crowded long positions, the risk of cascading liquidations is lower. But this also limits upside momentum, which needs stable funding and real demand.” Translation: fewer people betting big means less dramatic crashes but also less explosive rallies.

Nobody knows where Bitcoin heads from here. Market participants keep waiting for something concrete to happen, but catalysts remain scarce and trading conviction stays weak across the board. See also: Bitdeer Bitcoin Holdings Drop Below 1,000.

BitMEX data from February 24 showed open interest for Bitcoin futures dropped significantly. Fewer traders want to commit to long positions without clearer signals about market direction. The exchange’s numbers reveal a shift toward more conservative strategies as uncertainty grows. Traders basically don’t trust the current price action enough to make big bets.

Coinbase reported declining Bitcoin trading volume over the past week. When one of the biggest crypto exchanges sees less activity, it usually means retail traders are stepping back. People seem content to wait and see rather than chase moves in either direction right now.

Glassnode found more Bitcoin flowing onto exchanges, hitting levels not seen since early January. Coins moving to exchanges often signals potential selling pressure ahead. Holders might be positioning for exits if they expect further drops. The trend adds another layer of concern for bulls hoping for a quick recovery.

CryptoQuant analysts noted that whales haven’t moved much Bitcoin despite the recent volatility. Large holders typically either accumulate during dips or redistribute during rallies, but they’re doing neither right now. The lack of whale activity leaves smaller traders to navigate choppy waters without clear direction from the big players.

Binance saw stablecoin inflows increase on February 23. More stablecoins usually means traders are preparing to buy but waiting for better entry points. The exchange’s data suggests cautious optimism exists, but people want clearer signals before deploying capital. It’s basically a waiting game at this point.

Dan Held from Kraken called the current environment a “wait-and-see mode” for crypto markets. He pointed to subdued volumes and hesitant large holders as proof that conviction remains low. Held’s comments capture the mood pretty well – nobody wants to be wrong in either direction. For more details, see Anonymous 4chan User Drops Million.

February 25 brings major options expiration on Deribit that could inject volatility back into markets. Large contract expirations sometimes force position adjustments that move prices quickly. Traders are watching closely to see if expiration creates opportunities or just more confusion.

U.S. economic data due February 26 might influence Bitcoin’s next move. Macroeconomic shifts affect crypto markets more than ever as institutional involvement grows. Interest rate expectations and inflation data could shift investment flows significantly.

CME reported declining open interest for Bitcoin futures as of February 24. Institutional caution shows in the numbers as professional traders reduce exposure amid uncertainty. The Chicago exchange’s data reflects broader hesitation among sophisticated market participants.

The SEC expects to update several cryptocurrency proposals February 25. Regulatory developments remain crucial for market sentiment and could trigger immediate price reactions. Traders stay alert for any announcements that might clarify the regulatory landscape or create new uncertainty.

The Federal Reserve’s recent hawkish signals have crypto traders second-guessing their positions as rate cut expectations diminish. Jerome Powell’s comments last week about maintaining higher rates longer sent ripples through risk assets, with Bitcoin feeling the pressure alongside tech stocks.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s financial regulators announced stricter oversight measures for domestic crypto exchanges on February 23. The new compliance requirements could affect trading volumes from one of Bitcoin’s most active regional markets, adding another headwind for bulls hoping to reclaim higher levels.

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Joerg Hiller Mar 01, 2026 09:29

Toncoin shows oversold conditions at $1.25 with analyst targets of $1.36-$1.40 this week. Technical breakout above $1.33 resistance could trigger rally toward $1.50. TON Price Prediction Summary •...

Toncoin shows oversold conditions at $1.25 with analyst targets of $1.36-$1.40 this week. Technical breakout above $1.33 resistance could trigger rally toward $1.50.

TON Price Prediction Summary • Short-term target (1 week): $1.36-$1.40 • Medium-term forecast (1 month): $1.25-$1.50 range
• Bullish breakout level: $1.33 • Critical support: $1.22

What Crypto Analysts Are Saying About Toncoin Recent analyst coverage suggests cautious optimism for Toncoin's near-term prospects. According to Ted Hisokawa's February 27th analysis, TON price prediction indicates short-term targets of $1.36-$1.40 within the next week, with medium-term forecasts maintaining a $1.25-$1.50 range. The analyst identified $1.36 as the critical bullish breakout level and $1.24 as crucial support.

Alvin Lang's technical analysis from February 23rd highlighted TON trading at oversold levels with potential to test $1.43 resistance before a possible breakout toward $1.51 monthly targets. CoinCodex provided a more aggressive Toncoin forecast, projecting TON could reach $1.66 by March 3rd, 2026.

While specific institutional analyst predictions remain limited, on-chain metrics from major data platforms suggest accumulation patterns at current price levels, supporting the bullish technical outlook.

TON Technical Analysis Breakdown Toncoin's current technical picture presents a compelling oversold setup at $1.25. The RSI reading of 33.34 indicates neutral conditions with room for upward movement, while the token trades near the lower Bollinger Band at 0.10 position, historically a strong reversal zone.

The MACD histogram at 0.0000 shows bearish momentum has stalled, potentially signaling an inflection point. Key moving averages paint a mixed picture with the 7-day SMA at $1.29 providing immediate resistance, while the 20-day SMA at $1.36 aligns perfectly with analyst breakout targets.

Critical technical levels show strong resistance at $1.33 and immediate resistance at $1.29. The pivot point sits at $1.26, just above current prices, while immediate support holds at $1.22 with stronger support at $1.18. The daily ATR of $0.06 suggests moderate volatility, providing reasonable risk-reward ratios for position entries.

Toncoin Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case Bullish Scenario The bull case for TON price prediction centers on a breakout above $1.33 resistance, which could trigger momentum toward the $1.36-$1.40 target range within one week. Technical confirmation would require sustained volume above 7-day averages and RSI climbing above 40.

A successful retest of $1.36 support (previous resistance) could open the path to $1.43 and eventually the $1.50 upper Bollinger Band. The most optimistic Toncoin forecast suggests potential for $1.66 if broader crypto market sentiment improves and Telegram ecosystem developments provide fundamental catalysts.

Bearish Scenario The bear case involves a breakdown below $1.22 immediate support, which could expose the $1.18 strong support level. Technical deterioration would be confirmed by RSI dropping below 30 and trading volume declining significantly below the current $5.9 million daily average.

A failure to hold $1.18 support could trigger further selling toward the psychological $1.00 level. Risk factors include broader cryptocurrency market weakness, regulatory concerns around Telegram's blockchain initiatives, or technical selling pressure from overleveraged positions.

Should You Buy TON? Entry Strategy Based on current technical conditions, a staged entry approach appears optimal for TON price prediction strategies. Primary entry consideration around $1.25-$1.26 offers favorable risk-reward with tight stop-loss placement below $1.22 support.

For more conservative positioning, waiting for a breakout above $1.29 with volume confirmation provides better probability of success. Stop-loss orders should be placed below $1.18 to limit downside risk, representing approximately 6% maximum loss from current levels.

Risk management suggests position sizing should account for TON's moderate volatility profile. The $0.06 daily ATR indicates typical daily moves of 4-5%, making this suitable for both swing trading and longer-term accumulation strategies.

Conclusion The TON price prediction outlook remains cautiously bullish for the next 1-2 weeks, with technical indicators supporting analyst targets of $1.36-$1.40. Current oversold conditions at $1.25 present an attractive entry opportunity for traders willing to accept moderate risk.

The Toncoin forecast depends heavily on broader cryptocurrency market conditions and TON's ability to break above $1.33 resistance with conviction. While analyst projections suggest upside potential toward $1.50-$1.66, traders should maintain disciplined risk management given the volatile nature of cryptocurrency markets.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making investment decisions.

Image source: Shutterstock

ton price analysis ton price prediction

Cover image via www.freepik.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

During a recent appearance on the "What Bitcoin Did" podcast, Galaxy research Alex Thorn rejected the idea that the price of Bitcoin crashed due to the shenanigans of infamous quantitative trading firm Jane Street.

At the same time, he thinks that Wall Street negativity on Bitcoin is "real but wrong." 

"Twitter cope" Following the Terraform lawsuit, which accuses the New York-headquartered firm of insider trading, Bitcoiners found a new villain. 

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They started alleging that Jane Street was behind the 2022 cryptocurrency winter. Some even went as far as assuming that the trading giant is the reason why the price of Bitcoin is currently not at $150,000. 

Some alleged that the firm, which acts as an authorized participant for spot Bitcoin ETFs, was running an algorithm that would constantly suppress the price of Bitcoin. Some noticed that the price of BTC would constantly drop around 10 AM ET (U.S. stock market open).

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Bitwise advisor Jeff Park recently stated that a specific regulatory loophole would give Jane Street a unique advantage that would make it possible to manufacture short ETF shares at will. 

However, multiple theories dismissed the theory as unfounded, and Thorn is in their camp. 

Thorn has stated that the recent conspiracy theory is just "straight-up Twitter cope" and "a manufactured" controversy. 

"There's, you know, a market making firm, a quant trading firm, they're very often, you know, in a trade like this, most commonly they're probably trading it neutral, delta neutral. So they're doing the basis trade or some kind of arbitrage or hedge, right?... So, what is what do we think the actual incentive would be for them to suppress the price?" Thorn said during the podcast appearance.

Journalist

Posted: March 1, 2026

The final week of February 2026 saw renewed pressure across crypto markets. Rising geopolitical tensions weighed on global risk assets, including digital currencies.

However, ETF flow data painted a more nuanced picture.

Bitcoin ETF shows mixed signals The week began badly.

On the 23rd of February alone, $203.8 million flowed out of Bitcoin ETFs. The biggest shock came from BlackRock’s IBIT, which saw a sharp $116.4 million exit. But the story didn’t end there.

Source: Farside Investors

Over the next three days, sentiment flipped.

Bitcoin ETFs recorded a massive $1.1 billion in inflows. By the end of the week, however, momentum slowed again. The inflows cooled, and the market tone turned cautious.

While Bitcoin [BTC] grabbed most of the attention, the altcoin ETF market told a very different story.

Ethereum follows Bitcoin’s mood swings Ethereum ETFs mostly moved in the same unstable pattern as Bitcoin.

The week started with a sharp $49.5 million outflow on the 23rd of February. Almost all of it came from BlackRock’s ETHA, which alone saw $45.4 million leave the fund.

But that fear didn’t last long. Mid-week, buyers stepped in.

Fidelity’s FBTC saw $61.9 million in inflows, and even Grayscale’s ETHE, which rarely sees strong positive flows, recorded a $33.8 million inflow on the 25th of February.

This pushed Ethereum ETFs back into positive territory for the week.

However, the momentum faded again by the 27th of February, with $43 million flowing out. Just like Bitcoin, Ethereum [ETH] ended the week showing hesitation rather than confidence.

Solana and XRP ETFs show consistent flows On the other hand, Solana ETFs told a calmer story.

They recorded inflows for five straight days. Daily numbers were smaller, between $0.5 million and $8 million, but they stayed positive throughout the week.

On the 25th of February, inflows jumped to $30.9 million, suggesting that larger investors may be slowly building positions.

Not only Solana, but also Ripple ETFs showed resilience.

Source: SoSoValue

After a quiet 23rd of February, they recorded four consecutive days of inflows starting on the 24th of February. Total inflows crossed $9.5 million for the week.

While the numbers weren’t huge, the consistency stood out.

Needless to say, the winners of the past week were Solana [SOL] and Ripple [XRP]. Even when Bitcoin ETFs were losing hundreds of millions, these altcoin ETFs stayed positive. 

Unfortunately, the losers were BlackRock’s IBIT and ETHA. 

What’s more? Now, as we move into March, the crypto market feels confusing. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index is still stuck in “Extreme Fear.”

However, while retail investors hesitate, the online conversation is shifting.

According to LunarCrush data, social media dominance is no longer about memecoins or quick gains. Instead, traditional finance giants like Vanguard and BlackRock are leading the discussion, thanks to the ETFs. 

All in all, the steady inflows into Solana and XRP ETFs suggest that ETFs still run the game; it’s just that instead of focusing only on Bitcoin and Ethereum, investors are spreading exposure. 

Final Summary While sentiment screams “risk,” ETF flows suggest strategic repositioning. The quick rebound after heavy outflows proves liquidity remains strong.

JUP and HYPE are among the top performers in the past 24 hours, soaring by double digits.

Bitcoin’s price went through some intense volatility on Saturday after the attacks on Iran and the subsequent retaliation, but has returned to essentially its starting point.

Many altcoins plummeted hard yesterday but have followed BTC on the way up, with ETH trading close to $2,000 and XRP taking back the fourth spot in terms of market cap from BNB.

BTC Down and Up The previous business week began with a leg down, with bitcoin dropping from $68,000 to just over $64,000 after the most recent tariff developments. It dipped further on Tuesday to a multi-week low of $62,500 before it bounced off hard on Wednesday, tapping $70,000 for the first time in about eight days.

However, this rally seemed doomed, at least according to many analysts, and BTC indeed began to lose value almost immediately. The cryptocurrency fell by a few grand but remained sideways around $68,000 for the next few days. Saturday began with a bang (literally for several countries in the Middle East) when the US and Israel first attacked Iran, which retaliated against Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar.

BTC slumped from $67,000 to $63,000 within hours of the initial attacks. However, it rebounded hard to over $68,000 later during the day after reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed in the attacks. It was stopped there, though, and now trades below $67,000.

Its market cap has returned to $1.335 trillion, while its dominance over the alts stands inches above 56%.

BTCUSD Mar 1. Source: TradingView Alts Recover Most altcoins have reacted well to yesterday’s calamity. Ethereum is back to $2,000 after a 7.5% surge on a 24-hour scale. BNB is up to $622, but XRP has reclaimed the fourth spot in terms of market cap after an 8% surge to almost $1.40.

SOL, DOGE, ADA, and LINK are up by 7-9%, while HYPE has stolen the show from the larger caps with a 15% surge to $31. JUP, NEAR, and PUMP are the other double-digit gainers on a daily scale.

The total crypto market cap has recovered about $100 billion in a day and is close to $2.4 trillion on CG.

Cryptocurrency Market Overview Mar 1. Source: QuantifyCrypto

Moonpay and the universal stablecoin platform M0 have introduced PYUSDx, a framework that allows developers to launch their own branded stablecoins backed by Paypal USD (PYUSD). Announced on February 27, 2026, PYUSDx is designed to eliminate the months of technical and regulatory overhead usually required to bring a new stablecoin to market.

February was a wild month for the stock market as pressure built on software stocks over fears of AI disruption, and stocks fell in the last week of the month as President Trump said he would raise global tariffs to 15% after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier round of tariffs.

Market pullbacks can be painful, but they do set up buying opportunities. Let's take a look a few blue-chip dividend stocks worth buying right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Deere & Co. Deere & Co. (DE +1.60%) dominates the market for agricultural machinery and related tools including software, and the company has experienced something of a renaissance this year as it's rightfully being seen as a winner from AI.

Year-to-date, Deere & Co. stock is up 35% as the company is well positioned to capitalize on the AI boom. It's investing in areas like autonomous tractors, AI-powered cameras that can identify weeds and spray herbicide, and predictive maintenance to monitor machinery and reduce downtime.

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By doing so, Deere is pivoting to technology while leveraging its brand advantage in a way that a typical software company can't. Its reputation and reach with farmers also make it difficult to displace, as the technology comes with the equipment it sells.

Even after its strong performance this year, Deere & Co. still pulled back last week, losing 5% in part on tariff-related fears. Deere is expensive now at a price-to-earnings ratio of 34, but that valuation seems warranted given the company's potential in AI.

2. GE Vernova Energy consumption is expected to spike from the AI boom, which puts energy generators in a good position, and GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) is a leader in the industry.

Like Deere, GE Vernova (GEV 0.33%) has surged this year, up 34% so far. The company manufactures power turbines using a wide range of energy sources, including gas, nuclear, hydro, and wind, making it a valuable partner for data centers and increasing demand for energy from AI.

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GE Vernova shares actually rose last week as it seemed to benefit from a well-circulated AI doomsday blog post, as the company stands to benefit from growth in AI.

GE Vernova has delivered mid-teens growth and is premium-priced at a P/E ratio of 50, but it's in a unique position to capitalize on growing energy demand. The stock might not seem like a blue chip as it's only been public since 2024, but its assets were part of the GE conglomerate, and it's soared since GE broke up then.

3. Microsoft Microsoft (MSFT 2.17%) has been one of the biggest victims of the AI-driven software sell-off at least on a market-cap basis, and it pulled back last week as well, falling 1% in a volatile week.

However, Microsoft continues to deliver strong growth, and even if you buy into the AI disruption narrative, the company is much more than just a software business. It has a fast-growing cloud infrastructure business in Azure, Windows, gaming, LinkedIn, and other products, giving it a lot of ways to grow and capitalize on AI. It also owns 27% of OpenAI, giving it a major stake in the most valuable AI start-up.

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Microsoft is now down nearly 30% from its peak just a few months ago, setting up an attractive buying opportunity. Its P/E ratio has fallen to 24.5, making it both cheaper than the S&P 500 and one of the cheapest stocks in the "Magnificent Seven."

Microsoft looks poised to continue delivering mid-teens growth, making the stock a good bet to outperform at the current valuation.

News Summary:

Leading operators and infrastructure providers including Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, MITRE, Nokia, ODC, SK Telecom, SoftBank Corp. and T-Mobile will build on open and trusted software-defined wireless platforms.The commitment complements NVIDIA’s ongoing collaborations with industry and governments across Europe, Japan, Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. to advance AI-native 6G innovation. BARCELONA, Spain, March 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobile World Congress—NVIDIA today announced a commitment — together with Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, MITRE, Nokia, OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation, ODC, SK Telecom, SoftBank Corp. and T-Mobile — to build the world’s next generation of wireless networks on AI-native, open, secure and trustworthy platforms.

The initiative represents a shared commitment to ensure 6G infrastructure — the foundation for the world’s future connectivity — is open, intelligent, resilient and accelerates innovation and safeguards global trust.

Beyond traditional connectivity, 6G wireless networks will become the fabric for physical AI, enabling billions of autonomous machines, vehicles, sensors and robots and significantly increasing demands for security and trust. Legacy wireless architectures were not designed to meet these requirements, creating challenges as networks increase in complexity.

To address this, NVIDIA is bringing the industry together to advance AI-native, software-defined wireless platforms built on open and trusted principles. By embedding AI across the radio access network (RAN), edge and core, 6G networks must enable secure integrated sensing and communications, intelligence and decision-making while supporting interoperability, supply-chain resilience and faster innovation.

“AI is redefining computing and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history — and telecommunications is next,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with a global coalition of industry leaders, NVIDIA is building AI-RAN to transform the world’s telecom networks into AI infrastructure everywhere.”

Uniting on Openness and Trust for the AI-Native, Software-Defined Era of Connectivity
6G will be AI-native and software-defined, enabling wireless networks to advance at the pace of innovation. 6G networks, built on AI-RAN architecture, will continuously evolve through software, enabling real-time intelligence and rapid advancement. This transformation opens the door for a diverse ecosystem of participants — from global operators and technology providers to startups, researchers and developers — all contributing through open and programmable platforms.

Allison Kirkby, chief executive of BT Group, said: “Connectivity is the backbone of economic growth, and with this collaboration, we’re helping lay the foundations for a future ecosystem that is intelligent, sustainable and secure. By building on open and trustworthy AI native platforms, we can simplify future technologies like 6G, ensuring they build upon the strengths of today’s 5G networks while still unlocking powerful new capabilities at scale.”

Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom AG, said: “Best network, best customer experience — that remains our promise. With an open, intelligent and trusted 6G infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for the era of physical AI and unlocking new value for our customers, for industry and for society.”

Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said: “America’s 6G leadership will be critical to our nation’s economic prosperity, national security and global competitiveness. Today’s announcement demonstrates that the United States and our allies and partners around the world are leading in this next-generation technology. We look forward to the next steps from this international industry coalition as they advance and implement their shared 6G vision.”

Jung Jai-hun, president and CEO of SK Telecom, said: “SKT is evolving telco infrastructure to serve as the foundation for the AI era, where connectivity serves as a platform for intelligence and innovation. Together, we can build open, trusted infrastructure that drives a global ecosystem of AI innovation.”

Hideyuki Tsukuda, executive vice president and chief technology officer of SoftBank Corp., said: “Al-native 6G will transform wireless networks into secure, software-defined infrastructure that supports the next wave of global innovation. SoftBank Corp. is driving this innovation with NVIDIA by advancing open and trusted platforms that enable interoperability, resilience and continuous evolution at scale.”

Srini Gopalan, CEO of T-Mobile, said: “We’re at a pivotal moment. In the U.S., we’ve laid the foundation with 5G Advanced and AI-native networks where intelligence lives inside the network. As 6G becomes the backbone of the AI era, telecom will serve as the nervous system of the digital economy, enabling autonomous systems and intelligent industries at scale and unlocking new value for customers and businesses alike. T-Mobile is proud to help define what’s next through deep ecosystem collaboration and sustained innovation.”

A Shared Vision for 6G: Open, Software-Defined, AI-Native
NVIDIA participates in global private and public initiatives to advance 6G innovation, contributing open source software, accessible platforms and joint research and development projects:

In the United States, NVIDIA has joined the FutureG Office-led OCUDU Initiative, aligning with government and industry partners to accelerate open, software-defined and AI-native 6G architectures.NVIDIA is a founding member of the AI-RAN Alliance, which now has over 130 participating companies driving AI-RAN innovation.NVIDIA, along with Booz Allen, Cisco, T-Mobile, MITRE and ODC, in October launched the AI-Native Wireless Networks (AI-WIN) project, an all-American AI-RAN stack to accelerate the path to 6G.In Korea, NVIDIA is collaborating with an industry consortium to help shape intelligent, secure, programmable 6G networks from the ground up.In the U.K., NVIDIA is collaborating with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to advance applied research, ecosystem development and trusted AI-native network design.Across Europe and Japan, NVIDIA is actively engaged with public and industry programs aimed at strengthening open innovation, interoperability and trusted infrastructure. Together, these collaborations represent a unified commitment — supported by like‑minded governments, operators and technology partners — to shape secure, intelligent and trusted global connectivity for the next generation of wireless technology.

About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in AI and accelerated computing.

For further information, contact:
Kasia Johnston
Corporate Communications
NVIDIA Corporation
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Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: AI and telecommunications redefining computing and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history; Together with a global coalition of industry leaders, NVIDIA building AI-RAN to transform the world’s telecom networks into AI infrastructure everywhere; the benefits, impact, performance, and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

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NVIDIA 6G Commitment NVIDIA today announced a commitment — together with Booz Allen, BT Group, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, E...

I haven’t seen any reports of oil fields or facilities being targeted yet, but that could change fast. The big question remains, if and when will Iran threaten 20% of the world’s oil supply by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz?

Trump’s Deadline Ran Out, a Little Earlier Than Expected President Trump warned on February 19 that Iran had a 10-to-15-day window to make a deal to end its nuclear program, but after three rounds of talks ended on Thursday, time was up, a little earlier than expected, so now, according to Trump, “it’s going to be unfortunate for them.”

Oil Is the Central Barometer of This Crisis No one wants to downplay the loss of life or the destruction of another country’s infrastructure, but in my opinion, oil is the central barometer of the crisis. The facts are, Iran is a major oil producer, and the Strait of Hormuz, which lies off Iran’s coast, carries about a fifth of global oil supply.

If we try to forecast Iran’s next move, it’s likely to be more missile launches against neighboring Arab states, and if the new leadership believes its days are numbered, the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, the threat is so real that I’ve seen reports that several major oil companies and trading houses have already suspended crude oil and fuel shipments that use the Strait.

Brent at $80 If the Strait Closes, $100 If the Campaign Drags On

Welltower is a high-quality, A-rated healthcare REIT trading at historically elevated AFFO multiples over 44x, far above peers. WELL's premium valuation is driven by a shift to luxury senior housing and an active owner-operator model, leveraging demographic tailwinds and pricing power. The company is divesting its outpatient medical portfolio for $6.4B to recycle capital into senior housing, sacrificing diversification and defensive income.

Workday is trading at its historically low valuations while seeking to reaffirm its enterprise software leadership role in the AI era. The market's pessimism over AI risk is overdone; WDAY's trusted position in the ERP industry and its evolving AI strategy remain underappreciated. WDAY's status as a reputable ‘system of record' provides a level of security and accountability that AI agents alone cannot replicate.