A securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of ZoomInfo investors after its stock plummeted nearly 33% because ZoomInfo allegedly misled investors regarding its customer retention.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:GTM) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for securities fraud after its significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws.
A securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of ZoomInfo investors after its stock plummeted nearly 33% because ZoomInfo allegedly misled investors regarding its customer retention.
Share If you invested in ZoomInfo, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/zoominfo-class-action-lawsuit.
Key Details of the ZoomInfo ($GTM) Class Action:
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 24, 2026 Alleged Misconduct: Securities fraud alleging that ZoomInfo misled investors regarding the impact of ZoomInfo’s AI-integrated products on customer retention Stock Drop: May 12, 2026 2026 – 33% Stock Drop Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington Action: Contact BFA Law to discuss your rights Investors have until August 24, 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 ZoomInfo securities. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. It is captioned Tejeda v. ZoomInfo Technologies et al., No. 26-cv-05696.
Why is ZoomInfo Being Sued for Securities Fraud?
ZoomInfo has been sued for securities fraud following a significant stock drop resulting from potential violations of the federal securities laws. The decline in ZoomInfo’s stock price caused significant losses to investors.
ZoomInfo provides go-to-market (“GTM”) intelligence and a customer engagement platform for sales, marketing, operations, and recruiting professionals.
Throughout the relevant period, ZoomInfo allegedly stated that “the demand for AI for GTM is evident up and down our customer stack.” According to ZoomInfo, its “innovative go-to-market AI” was “driving stronger daily engagement from a diverse set of go-to-market personas.”
On February 9, 2026, ZoomInfo issued its 2026 revenue guidance “in the range of $1.247 billion to $1.267 billion,” because “in 2026, our focus is on bringing” ZoomInfo’s “all-in-one AI platform for go-to-market teams . . . to our customers at scale.”
In truth, as alleged, ZoomInfo’s customer retention declined as customers were rejecting ZoomInfo’s AI products.
Why did ZoomInfo’s Stock Drop?
On May 11, 2026, ZoomInfo announced its Q1 2026 results and slashed its 2026 revenue guidance from $1.247-$1.267 billion to $1.185-$1.205 billion. ZoomInfo revealed that its customer growth “regressed” due to “AI and agentic confusion” leading to “a pause in [customers’] purchasing decisions[.]”
This news caused the price of ZoomInfo stock to decline $1.98 per share, or 32.78%, from a closing price of $6.04 per share on May 11, 2026, to $4.06 per share on May 12, 2026.
Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/zoominfo-class-action-lawsuit.
What Can You Do?
If you invested in ZoomInfo, 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.
Most recently, The Legal 500 awarded BFA the most client satisfaction accolades of any plaintiff’s securities litigation law firm, with clients noting: “[t]here is no better service provider in the practice area,” “[t]he interest of the client is always front and center,” and “[t]here isn’t a better firm in this space.” One testimonial described the firm as “nimble and entrepreneurial,” with a “relentless focus on adding value for clients.”
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, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The following statement is being issued by Levi & Korsinsky, LLP: To: All persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired securities of ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. (“ZoomInfo” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GTM) between November 3, 2025 and May 11, 2026, inclusive. You are hereby notified that the class action lawsuit Ivan Tejada v.
Airline celebrates with new Independence One tracking, trading cards, and festive celebrations
, /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and FlightAware are making it easier for Customers and aviation fans to track Independence One, Southwest's specialty aircraft unveiled earlier this year in honor of America's 250th, as it flies high across America during the height of summer travel.
Starting today through Sept. 9, 2026, a custom Independence One icon will appear on FlightAware.com. The icon features thirteen stars that represent the nation's original thirteen colonies—a symbol that is also depicted in the aircraft's design.
Southwest Airlines celebrates America250 with Independence One livery unveiled in April
FlightAware icon features thirteen stars representing the nation's original thirteen colonies, also depicted on Independence One
Southwest and FlightAware partner to track Independence One from sea to shining sea this summer
Southwest introduces “America Trio” aircraft trading cards featuring Independence One, Liberty One, and Freedom One
Track Southwest aircraft N1776R on FlightAware now through Sept. 9 to see the celebratory icon in honor of America250 (flight number will vary)
"Southwest Airlines is proud to honor this incredible milestone for America with Independence One, and since we unveiled the new livery in April, we've seen a lot of Heart for the design and interest in where it is flying," said Whitney Eichinger, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer. "We are excited to partner with FlightAware to make tracking our new livery easier, whether you are flying Southwest or plane spotting from the ground."
In addition to tracking the high-flying salute to America's 250th anniversary, Southwest will celebrate with collector's items and festive moments.
Beginning July 1, Southwest Pilots can share the new "America Trio" aircraft trading cards featuring Independence One, Liberty One, and Freedom One. Customers can request the keepsake cards, if available, from a Pilot on their next flight.
Also, Customers traveling through the nation's capital will enjoy decorations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) starting July 1, and Southwest will participate in America's Block Party hosted by America250 in New York City on July 4.
For more than 55 years, Southwest Airlines® has given People the freedom to fly and now carries more travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline¹—connecting cities, states, and stories across the country.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 120 airports across 12 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. By empowering its more than 73,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 134 million Customers carried in 2025. Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.
Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey as of Q4 2025 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees as of March 31, 2026 SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
Key Takeaways LRCX edges ASML on price appreciation and positive analyst sentiment, despite higher valuation.ASML benefits from EUV leadership, a robust backlog and AI-driven demand for advanced chips.Lam Research sees AI fueling deposition, etch, memory, foundry and advanced packaging demand. ASML Holding (ASML - Free Report) and Lam Research (LRCX - Free Report) are two key players in the semiconductor equipment market serving chip manufacturers with widely different manufacturing systems.
ASML Holding has a solid dominance in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems. Lam Research supplies wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry.
Both these companies have become crucial to AI-chip makers. Let's delve deeper to find out which stock among ASML and LRCX is better positioned for sustainable growth.
The Case for ASMLASML continues to benefit from strong demand for wafer fabrication equipment, fueled by the rapid adoption of advanced semiconductors across AI data centers and hyperscale computing. Favorable end-market trends are expected to support a richer product mix, with increasing demand for advanced lithography systems and higher lithography intensity.
The company remains well-positioned to address evolving customer requirements through its broad product portfolio. Investments in holistic lithography solutions, support for advanced 3D integration technologies, continuous improvements in the performance and cost efficiency of both deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) systems, and the long-term scaling of EUV technology are expected to reinforce ASML's technological leadership.
Artificial intelligence continues to be a major long-term growth driver. As AI workloads become more computationally intensive, demand for advanced GPUs, high-bandwidth memory and other leading-edge chips is increasing. These semiconductors rely heavily on EUV lithography, creating a durable demand tailwind for ASML's systems.
The company's financial profile remains a key strength. Strong profitability, robust free cash flow, a large installed base and recurring service revenues provide stable margins and greater earnings visibility. In addition, its sizable order backlog offers solid revenue visibility for the coming years. ASML also remains committed to enhancing shareholder returns through consistent dividend growth and ongoing share repurchases.
However, competition remains a key risk. Increasing participation from semiconductor equipment manufacturers, particularly in segments such as etching, could intensify competitive pressures as rivals leverage specialized technologies to secure customer contracts.
The Case for LRCXLam Research is a leading provider of deposition and etch equipment, enabling several of the most critical steps in semiconductor manufacturing. Its technologies help customers reduce defects, improve yields, lower production costs and shorten processing times. The company’s expertise in nanoscale process enablement, plasma technology, advanced chemistry, fluidics and systems engineering positions it well to address the increasing complexity of semiconductor fabrication.
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), advanced memory and next-generation logic chips is driving higher semiconductor capital spending, creating a favorable demand environment for Lam Research.
Management noted that AI workloads are accelerating demand for higher-layer NAND and advanced DRAM nodes, where the company maintains strong technological leadership. It also expects advanced packaging revenues to increase more than 50% in calendar 2026. Meanwhile, the Customer Support Business surpassed $2 billion in quarterly revenues for the first time, strengthening recurring revenues and enhancing earnings stability.
Reflecting improving industry fundamentals, Lam raised its 2026 wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) spending outlook to $140 billion from $135 billion. Long-term industry trends remain favorable, with Fortune Business Insights projecting the global semiconductor foundry market to grow from $175.1 billion in 2025 to $263.1 billion by 2034. Lam Research is well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity through its differentiated product portfolio, including ALTUS, SABRE and Striker, along with an installed base of more than 35K process modules that provide significant upgrade and service opportunities.
The company's robust free cash flow supports continued investments in research and development while enabling consistent shareholder returns through dividends and share repurchases. However, near-term risks include weaker spending on mature-node technologies and ongoing U.S.-China trade and tariff tensions, which could weigh on customer investment and industry demand.
Estimates for ASML and LRCX The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ASML’s 2026 revenues implies a 22.7% increase and that for EPS suggests a 31.3% year-over-year increase. EPS estimates for 2026 have witnessed 1.1% southbound movement in the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LRCX’s fiscal 2026 revenues implies a 25.4% increase and that for EPS indicates a 37.2% increase. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings witnessed 0.5% northbound movement in the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance of ASML and LRCXASML shares have gained 76% year to date, while LRCX shares have gained 140% in the same time.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Are ASML and LRCX Shares Expensive?ASML is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple of 43.73, higher than its median of 31.19 over the past five years. LRCX’s forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple sits at 52.36, higher than its median of 21.22 over the past five years.
ASML is cheaper than LRCX presently.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionASML is well-positioned for sustained growth, driven by its leadership in EUV technology, robust order backlog, and long-term demand from AI, cloud computing, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Lam Research continues to benefit from AI-driven increases in demand for deposition and etch tools across memory, foundry and advanced packaging industries.
While LRCX carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), ASML carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Price appreciation and positive analyst sentiment give LRCX an edge over ASML. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +1.36%) index rose 1.1% by noon ET Tuesday as semiconductor stocks surged, lifting the broader market on the final trading day of June. The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.76%) gained 0.6%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI +0.27%) added a modest 0.2%.
Chip stocks dominated the session, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX +4.13%) climbing 3.6%. The Silicon Valley surge was broad rather than concentrated in a single name. Apple (AAPL +2.04%) led the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite higher, adding $110 billion in market capitalization on a fairly modest 2.6% gain.
^IXIC data by YCharts
The Dow's sluggish performance tells a misleading story, though. Honeywell International (HON 2.30%) dropped 8.1% after completing its aerospace spinoff on Monday. This mechanical adjustment subtracted 121 points from the index. That's not a vote of no confidence; it's just math reflecting a significant business unit becoming a separate stock.
Behind the rally: AI hype, SpaceX news, and Supreme Court drama The semiconductor sector's strength reflected continued optimism around artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure spending. Bullish analyst notes lifted chip equipment giant Applied Materials (AMAT +6.19%) by 5% and industry veteran Intel (INTC +6.99%) by 7%, respectively. These upgrades boosted the chip sector as a whole, with significant upside for the major market indexes, too.
Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +3.52%) jumped 4.1% on reports that the company is in talks to donate equity to Trump Accounts, a government-backed children's investment program set to launch next week. More than 6 million kids have already signed up for this children's investment program, with asset contributions from prominent figures including Michael Dell.
The Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF (ONEQ +1.31%) reflects the Nasdaq Composite index. It tracks everything on the Nasdaq exchange, SpaceX included. The popular Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ +1.69%) tracks the Nasdaq-100 index instead. That's a more exclusive club with about 100 components instead of thousands, and it hasn't added Elon Musk's rocket company yet.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Tuesday's 4% SpaceX gain narrowed the gap between ONEQ and QQQ, though QQQ's heavy mega-cap weighting still gave it a slight edge -- it gained 1.5% versus ONEQ's 1.1%.
Over in the Strait of Hormuz, 485 ships are stuck waiting to pass through, including 220 oil tankers. Actual shipping traffic remains minimal. The United States Oil Fund (USO 1.47%) dropped 1% anyway, suggesting traders are growing numb to the ongoing standoff. U.S. and Iranian negotiators continue talking in Qatar, exchanging messages through lower-level government representatives.
And the Supreme Court is ending its session with a bunch of important rulings. The big ones today involved upholding birthright citizenship and looser limits on the parties' political spending. Wall Street appreciated the rulings, with notable index gains seen around each announcement.
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What comes next And just like that, the first half of 2026 is in the books. Tech stocks are ending June on a high note, though the Nasdaq's path here involved plenty of drama.
Typical quarter-end dynamics likely contributed to Tuesday's moves, as institutional investors rebalanced portfolios and engaged in window dressing ahead of their mid-year reports. It's the financial equivalent of cleaning your apartment right before guests arrive. The buying is real, but the motivation is partly cosmetic.
For long-term investors, Tuesday's chip-driven rally reinforces the market's continued focus on AI-related infrastructure spending. Whether current valuations prove justified in the long run depends on how effectively that spending translates into corporate earnings growth.
Anders Bylund has positions in Intel. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Applied Materials, Honeywell Technologies, Intel, and iShares Semiconductor ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$55.10▼
$84.99Dividend Yield5.10%
P/E Ratio13.95
Price Target$79.50
Best Buy NYSE: BBY is accomplishing what many thought unlikely.
After a pandemic-fueled surge came and went, the company is showing signs of stabilizing sales and online momentum. Rather than another big-box victim, it is focused on improving its margins and expanding its business. And it is maintaining strong profitability despite sluggish consumer electronics demand.
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In fact, the most-recent three month results came in above what most analysts expected. Comparable store sales rose. And management reiterated full-year guidance with enough specifics to suggest the direction had changed.
Investors who had written off the company as too old-fashioned might be surprised by the evidence that arrived. Whether now is the time to jump into the stock depends a lot on what happens next.
Best Buy Delivers Better-Than-Expected ResultsBest Buy’s first fiscal quarter, which ended on May 2, tells a solid story of incremental progress across a number of key pursuits.
Revenue beat expectations and reached $8.94 billion in the quarter, up from $8.77 billion a year earlier, and reversing a fourth-quarter slide during the key holiday season. Adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed to $1.28 from $1.15, also above what analysts expected. Reported net earnings climbed more than one-third to $276 million from $202 million a year earlier.
Comparable sales rose 2%, more than the company had anticipated and in contrast to a drop of 0.7% in the year-ago period. Domestic revenue increased 1.5% to $8.25 billion, with domestic comparable sales up 1.8%.
Operational results were also encouraging. Operating income reached 4.1% of revenue, the company’s domestic gross margin expanded to 23.7% from 23.5%, and adjusted selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses as a share of domestic revenue edged down to 19.3% from 19.4%.
Those were not big changes, but in retail, those fractions of a percentage point matter. Extracting more margin from a little more revenue shows positive direction, even if the headline numbers don’t show a big change.
New Growth Businesses Are Gaining MomentumWhere the growth came from is perhaps more important than the growth itself. The company said its biggest contributors to comparable-sales gains were gaming, computing, mobile phones, and services, categories with momentum. In contrast, sales of consumer electronics slid slightly while appliances fell nearly 14%.
The recent numbers also gave proof that the company’s recent strategy is delivering. Best Buy Ads, which promotes brands and products through Best Buy’s customer base, and the company's online Marketplace, which hosts third-party sellers, also delivered strong performances. For lines of business that barely existed a few years ago, the company is nicely expanding its profile beyond TVs and computers.
Results from the company’s international operations were also encouraging. Revenue in that segment rose 7.3% to $687 million, led by 4.7% sales growth and the rest attributable to favorable foreign exchange rates.
Wall Street Remains CautiousBest Buy is also regaining investor attention. Shares are up more than 16% since the start of the year, but the stock still trades below $80, well under its level above $100 less than two years ago and below its 52-week high near $85.
Even with the recent results, analysts remain cautious. Of the 22 analysts following the company, the average rating is a Hold on the stock. Six analysts say Buy, 14 suggest Hold, and two recommend Sell.
With a 12-month average price target of $79.50 per share, analysts see only limited upside from recent trading levels.
Risks Continue to Limit the UpsideThe recommendation to Hold is also a reflection of other possible factors.
Best Buy Dividend PaymentsDividend Yield5.11%
Annual Dividend$3.84
Dividend Increase Track Record22 Years
Annualized 5-Year Dividend Growth11.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio71.11%
Next Dividend PaymentJul. 9
BBY Dividend History
Best Buy raised its quarterly payout by 1 cent to 96 cents per share in March and paid $202 million in dividends in the first quarter. That represents an over 5% yield based on current prices.
But the company’s guidance for 2027, though solid and suggesting that the improvement is durable, is roughly flat compared to the results reported last year.
The bear case has also not completely disappeared. The retail sector is notoriously volatile. And with the housing market not helping, the decline in appliance sales, which now represents 10% of its business, is not likely to recover anytime soon.
The broader competitive pressure from e-commerce, warehouse clubs, mobile carriers, and direct-to-consumer brands is also as real as it has ever been. Amazon NASDAQ: AMZN, Walmart NASDAQ: WMT, Costco NASDAQ: COST, and Apple NASDAQ: AAPL each compete for the same shoppers.
Another question hanging over the company is some recent changes in senior management. Best Buy changed both its future chief executive officer and its chief financial officer within a short span.
The company has announced that Jason Bonfig, who oversees merchandising, ecommerce, marketing, supply chain, Best Buy Canada, and Best Buy Ads, will succeed Corie Barry as CEO at the end of October. The company’s chief financial officer will also step down at the end of July.
Best Buy's Comeback Still Needs More ProofPatient investors attracted by high dividends and a leading brand retailer are likely paying attention. With execution improving and its expansion of profit pools, Best Buy is making a credible case. Profits are up, and its efficiency strategy appears to be working.
Other investors might want more proof. A leadership transition and a muted sales trajectory make a quick run-up unlikely in the near term. Waiting for results from another quarter or two might be the smart move to ensure the comeback is real.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Best Buy Right Now?Before you consider Best Buy, you'll want to hear this.
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Key Takeaways BE has outpaced BLDP year to date, gaining 216.5% versus Ballard Power's 46.9% rise.Bloom Energy benefits from AI data centers, grid constraints and demand for onsite clean power.Ballard Power remains tied to hydrogen adoption, with slower deployment and operating losses. Bloom Energy (BE - Free Report) and Ballard Power (BLDP - Free Report) are two fuel-cell and hydrogen power companies focused on clean energy applications, including distributed power and transportation/power-generation markets.
As clean energy gains importance and new technologies emerge to produce it, companies like Bloom Energy and Ballard Power Systems are attracting attention. Both companies are advancing clean energy generation through innovative technologies.
Bloom Energy is a global leader in onsite power generation, gaining from increasing demand for clean energy from AI-driven data centers, as well as from customers increasingly adopting distributed energy solutions to bypass transmission and distribution constraints. Ballard Power Systems engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products.
Let's delve deeper to find out which stock among BE and BLDP is better positioned for sustainable growth.
The Case for BEBloom Energy's investment thesis is centered on expanding its onsite power platform to meet growing demand for reliable, rapidly deployable and cost-efficient electricity. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on key structural trends, including the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers, persistent grid capacity constraints, rising demand for energy reliability and affordability, and government initiatives promoting energy security and domestic manufacturing.
Its proprietary Energy Server platform provides efficient, resilient and cleaner onsite power by generating electricity through a solid oxide fuel cell electrochemical process rather than combustion. Designed to operate alongside the grid and connect directly to customers' electrical systems, the platform reduces transmission inefficiencies while offering modular scalability from hundreds of kilowatts to several hundred megawatts. This makes it an attractive solution for AI data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations and other power-intensive industries.
Bloom Energy continues to invest in research and development to improve system efficiency, lower manufacturing costs and strengthen profitability. The company is also expected to benefit from supportive government policies and incentives aimed at accelerating clean energy deployment and technological innovation.
Over the long term, Bloom Energy aims to establish solid oxide fuel cells as the preferred onsite power solution for critical infrastructure and energy-intensive industries. As electricity demand continues to outpace grid expansion, the company's differentiated technology, scalable platform and exposure to high-growth end markets position it well to benefit from the global transition toward distributed, reliable and low-emission power generation.
The Case for BLDPBallard Power offers a compelling long-term investment opportunity as a leading developer of PEM fuel cell technology for decarbonization markets. Its high-performance, scalable fuel cell solutions are well-suited for heavy-duty transportation applications, including buses, trucks, rail and marine vessels. Strategic partnerships with leading vehicle manufacturers and system integrators across North America, Europe and Asia position the company to benefit as hydrogen infrastructure expands and fuel-cell adoption gains momentum.
The company is expected to benefit from global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation. Governments across Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea and China continue to support the hydrogen economy through subsidies, tax incentives and investments in hydrogen production, refueling infrastructure and fuel-cell deployment. These initiatives are expected to reduce adoption barriers and expand Ballard's long-term growth opportunities.
Ballard is also focused on strengthening relationships with bus OEMs in key markets, expanding its fleet service capabilities, and improving manufacturing efficiency through automation and advanced technologies to lower costs.
However, the investment story remains tied to the pace of hydrogen adoption. Commercial deployment has been slower than anticipated due to high infrastructure costs, limited hydrogen availability and elevated fuel prices. The company continues to report operating losses as it invests in research and development, production capacity and market expansion. Achieving sustainable profitability will require larger commercial orders, greater manufacturing scale and continued cost reductions. While Ballard's long-term prospects remain promising, a meaningful earnings recovery is unlikely in the near term.
Estimates for BE and BLDP The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BE’s 2026 revenues implies a 80.3% increase and that for EPS suggests a 151.3% year-over-year increase. EPS estimates for 2026 have witnessed no movement in the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLDP’s 2026 revenues implies a 32.9% increase and that for EPS indicates a 33.3% increase. The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings has moved south in the last 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Price Performance of BE and BLDPBE shares have gained 216.5% year to date, while BLDP shares have gained 46.9% in the same time.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Are BE and BLDP Shares Expensive?BE is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 16.18, higher than its median of 2.82 over the past five years. BLDP’s forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple sits at 8.16, lower than its median of 9.32 over the past five years.
BLDP is cheaper than BE presently.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionBloom Energy continues to demonstrate resilient performance, supported by rising demand for clean energy and its ability to provide rapid and dependable power solutions. Demand for the company’s offerings is expected to grow further as it delivers customized clean energy solutions directly to customers, reducing reliance on traditional transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Ballard Power Systems represents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity, with its future growth dependent on the successful commercialization of PEM fuel cell technology in heavy-duty transportation and stationary power markets.
BE and BLDP carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. Price appreciation and analyst sentiment give BE an edge over BLDP. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
PBF Energy (PBF - Free Report) appears an attractive pick given a noticeable improvement in the company's earnings outlook. The stock has been a strong performer lately, and the momentum might continue with analysts still raising their earnings estimates for the company.
The upward trend in estimate revisions for this refiner reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
For PBF Energy, there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising earnings estimates, which has helped push consensus estimates considerably higher for the next quarter and full year.
The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsFor the current quarter, the company is expected to earn $3.39 per share, which is a change of +429.1% from the year-ago reported number.
Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PBF Energy has increased 15.85% because one estimate has moved higher while one has gone lower.
Current-Year Estimate RevisionsFor the full year, the earnings estimate of $7.69 per share represents a change of +286.2% from the year-ago number.
The revisions trend for the current year also appears quite promising for PBF Energy, with two estimates moving higher over the past month compared to no negative revisions. The consensus estimate has also received a boost over this time frame, increasing 14.72%.
Favorable Zacks RankThanks to promising estimate revisions, PBF Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom LinePBF Energy shares have added 11% over the past four weeks, suggesting that investors are betting on its impressive estimate revisions. So, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away to benefit from its earnings growth prospects.
[url="]Keysight Technologies, Inc.[/url] (NYSE: KEYS) and WIN Semiconductors Corp. today announced a joint MMIC design workflow that enables GaN MMIC design ho
Shell (SHEL +0.95%) recently released its latest outlook for the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. The energy giant noted that while the war-driven closure of the Strait of Hormuz will cause LNG demand to flatten out this year, it expects growth to resume in 2027 and rise 65% by 2050.
Here’s a look at Shell’s latest outlook and some LNG stocks capitalizing on this growth trend.
Image source: Getty Images.
A war-driven speedbumpAbout 20% of global LNG volumes flowed through the Strait of Hormuz before the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran earlier this year. Iran has retaliated by attacking ships trying to exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a steep drop in LNG traffic. Iran also attacked LNG infrastructure in Qatar, causing damage that could knock out 17% of its capacity for up to five years. ExxonMobil (XOM +0.37%) owned minority interests in two of the damaged LNG trains, while Shell holds a stake in a damaged gas-to-liquids facility.
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U.S. LNG shippers have helped offset some of this supply disruption by ramping up exports, including a record 11.7 million metric tons (MT) in March. Meanwhile, U.S. export capacity got a boost in April when ExxonMobil and its partner QatarEnergy loaded the first cargo at their recently completed Golden Pass terminal.
Despite the surge in U.S. LNG exports, Shell expects that global LNG demand will be similar to last year’s level. That assumes shipping through the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal later this summer.
While Shell sees flat demand this year, it expects growth to return to normal in 2027. It foresees growth continuing through 2050, when demand is projected to reach 700 million tonnes, a 65% increase from 2025 levels. Asia will be the main driver of LNG demand growth. Emerging markets in South and Southeast Asia will increasingly adopt the cleaner-burning fuel in place of coal. Meanwhile, mature markets like Japan will need more LNG to help power data centers.
More LNG investment is neededSeveral energy companies are already building new LNG capacity to meet growing demand. However, Shell estimates that energy companies will need to build around an additional 200 million tonnes of new supply in the 2030s and 2040s to meet growing demand.
Shell is helping lead the charge to build more global LNG capacity. It has joint venture investments in two expansion projects in Qatar: North Field East (NFE) and North Field South (NFS). It also has a minority stake in the Ruwais LNG project in the UAE. Meanwhile, Shell is evaluating an expansion of the recently completed LNG Canada terminal, which it could approve by the end of this year. As an LNG leader, Shell will likely continue to pursue new investments to grow global LNG capacity.
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Meanwhile, LNG is one of ExxonMobil’s long-term growth catalysts. As noted, Exxon and QatarEnergy recently completed the Golden Pass LNG project. It’s also a partner with Shell on QatarEnergy’s NFE project. These projects are key drivers supporting its growth plan to 2030. Additionally, Exxon expects new LNG project start-ups in Papua New Guinea and Mozambique to fuel growth beyond 2030. Exxon is also reportedly evaluating a potential acquisition of Woodside Energy, which has leading LNG operations in Australia and a large-scale LNG development project in the U.S. (Louisiana LNG).
ConocoPhillips (COP +0.09%) is also expanding its global LNG platform. The U.S. oil and gas giant owns interests in the NFS and NFE projects. Additionally, it has an equity interest in Port Arthur LNG (phase 1) and an LNG supply contract for phase 2. The company also has an LNG supply agreement for Rio Grande LNG (Train 5). Those contracts are part of its aspiration to build a 10 to 15 MT per year portfolio of commercial LNG supply contracts from third-party facilities.
Capitalizing on growing global LNG demandWhile LNG demand will flatten out this year due to supply disruptions stemming from the Strait of Hormuz closure, growth should resume next year and continue through 2050. That’s providing Shell, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and other large energy companies with multiple LNG investment opportunities. These investments should help fuel their growth in the coming decades, making them compelling energy stocks to buy and hold for the long term.
Space economy stocks have been receiving greater attention lately as a result of the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) initial public offering (IPO) and the race to build infrastructure for sending, monitoring, and operating services in orbit (and possibly beyond).
One company nipping at SpaceX's heels is Rocket Lab (RKLB +2.90%). It has laid out an ambitious plan to build a vertically integrated space flight business, and it will report second-quarter earnings within the month.
Here's why I will be watching the fast-growing space stock this quarter, and what would make the stock a buy for my portfolio.
Image source: Getty Images.
Neutron progress and more contracts Rocket Lab built its reputation as a niche player in the rocket launch business with its small Electron rocket. It does not deliver massive payloads to orbit, but it can be a great solution for smaller projects, having made 82 orbital flights with 78 successful missions for customers.
Currently, Rocket Lab is developing a larger rocket, the Neutron, to directly compete with SpaceX, and it is close to making its debut. The maiden flight for the Neutron is planned for the fourth quarter of this year, and investors will likely ask for updates in the company's upcoming earnings report. Neutron signed five new launch orders just last quarter, showing the strong demand for what could be a huge revenue growth driver for Rocket Lab in the years ahead.
Outside of launches, Rocket Lab has built many other successful spaceflight business units, including satellite assembly, electric propulsion, and orbital communications. I hope to receive more updates on its business roadmap in the second quarter as the commercial space race heats up.
Rocket Lab's backlog is now $2.2 billion, up over 100% from a year ago. Investors should expect more growth in the metric this quarter, which will help set the foundation for a growing business in the years ahead.
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Should you buy Rocket Lab stock? There is no denying Rocket Lab's growth as a business. Along with SpaceX, it is one of the few companies that has successfully tackled the space economy, building a reliable launch-and-services business alongside it.
Over the past 12 months, Rocket Lab's revenue totaled $680 million, and it has grown by over 1,000% in the last five years. It wouldn't be surprising to see the business grow by more than 10 times again in the next five years, generating billions in annual revenue by 2030.
The problem is the stock's valuation today. Rocket Lab has a market capitalization of $50 billion and a trailing revenue of under $1 billion, and the business is capital-intensive and currently unprofitable. This creates a significant hurdle for Rocket Lab to deliver positive returns to shareholders going forward.
Despite the current fascination with the space economy, Rocket Lab stock is overvalued today. This is a stock to track closely, but keep on the watch list for now.
Capital markets rarely offer a clear view of a structural economic shift in real time. When SpaceX NASDAQ: SPCX crossed the $2.5 trillion market capitalization threshold following its recent public debut, investors witnessed a permanent shift in baseline valuation metrics for space names.
Pure-play launch providers are suddenly viewed as incomplete businesses. The real premium lies in vertical integration. Investors want to own the rocket that breaks the atmosphere, but they also want to own the satellite network that generates recurring cash flow once the payload reaches orbit.
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$100.69 +2.68 (+2.73%)
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52-Week Range$33.73▼
$151.00Price Target$108.24
Rocket Lab NASDAQ: RKLB just executed this exact playbook. By agreeing to acquire Iridium Communications NASDAQ: IRDM in an estimated $8 billion cash-and-stock deal, Rocket Lab is transforming from a speculative aerospace sector manufacturer into a telecommunications sector hybrid.
This marks the beginning of rapid consolidation in the space sector. Rocket Lab is actively building the premier public-market alternative to SpaceX, demanding a total rerating of its business.
Escaping the Margin Trap With Orbital Cash FlowLaunching hardware into low-Earth orbit is an incredibly difficult, capital-intensive endeavor. Rocket Lab has proven it can execute on the engineering front. The company recently completed its tenth consecutive successful orbital mission and secured a NASA contract for three dedicated Electron launches starting in 2027. The top-line numbers reflect this operational momentum, with Rocket Lab posting quarterly revenue that jumped 63.4% year over year.
Top-line velocity does not automatically translate to bottom-line stability in the aerospace sector. Launch economics are inherently cyclical and notoriously low-margin. Rocket Lab currently operates with a net margin of negative 26.87%, driven largely by aggressive capital expenditures to develop the upcoming medium-lift Neutron launch vehicle. Heavy capital expenditures create deep vulnerability during broader macroeconomic tightening cycles.
Iridium Communications completely changes Rocket Lab's financial profile. Iridium Communications operates a fully deployed 66-satellite constellation. More importantly, Iridium Communications generates highly predictable and high-margin subscription revenue. Operating with a 12.05% net margin and offering a 1.10% dividend yield prior to the acquisition announcement, Iridium Communications acts as a stabilizing financial engine. Rocket Lab is effectively buying a cash-flow machine to fund heavy aerospace ambitions.
Locking Down L-Band Spectrum and IoT DominanceUnderstanding the strategic value of Iridium Communications requires looking beyond the physical satellites to focus on the underlying assets. Iridium Communications controls globally coordinated L-band spectrum. Unlike higher-frequency Ku or Ka bands that suffer from severe weather interference, L-band provides highly reliable, weather-resilient connectivity, crucial for maritime, aviation, and defense communications.
Iridium Communications is aggressively expanding its footprint in the direct-to-device and Internet of Things (IoT) markets. The new MS150-IR IoT-NTN chipset, engineered by Iridium Communications, recently entered on-orbit testing and is targeting full commercialization by the end of 2026. Coupled with the recent commercial availability of the 9604 hybrid IoT module, which seamlessly integrates satellite, cellular, and GNSS capabilities, Iridium Communications provides Rocket Lab with a mature, immediately monetizable distribution channel.
Chasing the SpaceX Premium Through ConsolidationFor years, Wall Street treated space stocks as speculative growth plays. That narrative is rapidly shifting as institutional capital rotates into tangible infrastructure. The capital rotation we are witnessing right now is a search for the next vertically integrated space-as-a-service platform capable of competing directly with Starlink.
By bringing Iridium Communications in-house, Rocket Lab insulates itself from third-party launch friction. The firm no longer has to wait for external telecommunications providers to book space on its rockets to generate revenue. It can launch proprietary payloads, expand the integrated network, and capture the full lifecycle value of orbital real estate.
This dynamic fundamentally alters how analysts must model Rocket Lab. Financial models can no longer apply a standard aerospace manufacturing multiple to the firm. The market is being forced to price in telecom infrastructure premiums, directly causing the 16% upside re-rating seen in Rocket Lab shares immediately following the announcement, pushing the stock up to over $100.
Options Flow and Buybacks Light the FuseA look under the hood of the options chain and institutional order flow reveals the market was already positioning for a massive repricing event. Prior to the acquisition announcement, the board of directors at Iridium Communications authorized a massive $500 million share repurchase program, effectively signaling a willingness to buy back up to 14.2% of outstanding shares.
Aggressive buyback authorizations of that magnitude indicate that management and institutional stakeholders believe the equity is deeply undervalued relative to forward cash flows. The $27-per-share cash-and-stock buyout premium validates that internal assessment, driving a 25% surge in Iridium Communications shares to $54.59.
Technical mechanics are accelerating the upside price action for Rocket Lab. Options market data highlights heavy near-term bullish speculation, with elevated call volume highly concentrated on the July 17 $105 strike. When you combine this aggressive options flow with a structural short interest setup, where off-exchange short volume ratios for Rocket Lab frequently exceed 60%, you create the perfect environment for a rapid short-covering rally. Shorts are being squeezed by a fundamental catalyst that destroys their bearish thesis.
Clearing the Launchpad for Telecom IntegrationRocket Lab currently trades at a trailing price-to-sales ratio of about 95. Under standard market conditions, a multiple approaching triple digits on trailing sales would signal extreme overvaluation and high vulnerability to multiple compression. The market is clearly pricing in the immediate accretion of the $871 million in annual sales generated by Iridium Communications and the resulting margin expansion. The transition from a pure hardware model to a high-margin space-as-a-service hybrid provides the fundamental justification for these elevated growth metrics.
The primary variable moving forward is execution risk. An $8 billion transaction size introduces immediate structural complexities for both organizations. Rocket Lab is using a cash-and-stock structure, which inherently introduces near-term shareholder dilution while adding new leverage to the balance sheet. Rocket Lab management now faces the dual mandate of seamlessly integrating a mature telecommunications operator while simultaneously funding the heavy research and development cycles required to finalize the Neutron launch vehicle.
Investors observing this capital rotation should monitor how efficiently Rocket Lab transitions the recurring cash flows from Iridium Communications to support broader infrastructure buildouts. Those analyzing the space sector must recognize that the era of the pure-play launch provider is fading. The companies capturing the highest market premiums will be the ones that own the rocket, control the satellite, and monetize the bandwidth.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Rocket Lab Right Now?Before you consider Rocket Lab, you'll want to hear this.
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The space rally that kicked off yesterday is rolling straight into Tuesday’s session. Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) stock is up 8% to $33.65, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB | RKLB Price Prediction) stock is up 5% to $102.75, and SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX) stock is up 4% to $170.12 in midday trading.
This looks like a broad move across the sector. All three pure-play names are higher together, and the thematic space ETFs are following them up the tape. ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA:ARKX) shares are up 3%, and SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (NYSEARCA:ROKT) shares are up 2%.
The catalyst lighting the fuse came yesterday, when Rocket Lab announced its agreement to buy Iridium. Today, the enthusiasm is broadening across the entire space complex.
Iridium Deal Keeps Powering Rocket Lab Rocket Lab stock is extending Monday’s surge after the company agreed to acquire Iridium Communications (NASDAQ:IRDM) in a cash-and-stock transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $8 billion. The deal is designed to create a vertically integrated space company combining launch, spacecraft, and an operating satellite constellation.
The transaction is expected to close in mid-2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approval. That timeline matters. Deal risk is real, and the gap between announcement and close leaves room for headlines that could push Rocket Lab stock in either direction.
The fundamentals remain a tailwind. Rocket Lab posted Q1 2026 revenue of $200.35 million, growth of 64% year over year, and CEO Peter Beck flagged a $2.2 billion backlog alongside access to more than $2 billion in liquidity.
Planet Labs and SpaceX Ride the Sector Wave Planet Labs stock is the day’s biggest mover among the trio. There’s no fresh company-specific announcement driving the jump, so the gains read as sector participation and continued momentum after the satellite operator’s strong June 4 print. Planet Labs reported Q1 FY2027 revenue of $94.15 million, up 42% year over year, with backlog topping $906 million.
SpaceX stock is participating too, climbing alongside its smaller peers. The Polymarket prediction market currently assigns a 90% probability that SPCX finishes the week above $150, reflecting the bullish near-term tone around the name.
Year to date, the rally has been pronounced. Planet Labs stock is up 70% for the year, Rocket Lab stock is up 48%, the ARKX ETF is up 16%, and the ROKT ETF is up 38%.
Volatility Is the Price of Admission The ETFs offer a basket approach to the theme. ARKX holds a range of space, aerospace, and enabling-technology names, while ROKT leans into satellite operators and defense primes. Both give investors diversified exposure without picking a single winner.
However, thematic space ETFs and the underlying stocks remain volatile and speculative. Many of the pure-play space companies are early-stage and unprofitable, the sector can swing hard in both directions, and these funds concentrate exposure to that volatility.
What to Watch A single session doesn’t confirm a durable trend. Investors can watch for whether today’s bid holds into the close and whether the broader space complex follows through later this week.
The Iridium deal calendar will also matter. Any regulatory commentary or shareholder timeline updates from Rocket Lab could move the entire group, given how closely Planet Labs stock and the ARKX and ROKT ETFs have tracked the headlines. Overall, stock traders should consider keeping their position sizes modest given the sector’s swings.
In this video, I will cover a major acquisition that could completely reshape the growth trajectory for one of my favorite holdings, Rocket Lab (RKLB +2.69%). Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.
*Stock prices used were from the trading day of June. 30, 2026. The video was published on June. 30, 2026.
Neil Rozenbaum has positions in Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Neil is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Crypto whales are repositioning for July, and on-chain flows tell the story. Even as several large tokens slipped over the past 24 hours, BeInCrypto analysts tracking big wallets found three altcoins for July drawing fresh accumulation.
The selection rests on whale balance shifts paired with hard protocol data, not price guesses.
Aave (AAVE)Aave anchors this list of altcoins for July because its on-chain base keeps expanding. The whale bid here comes from mid-sized holders, not one large address.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
The 10,000 to 100,000 AAVE wallet cohort, the smaller whales, lifted holdings from 4.09 million to 4.27 million over the past 48 hours. That is roughly 180,000 AAVE added, worth about $16 million. The move reads as broad crypto whale accumulation rather than a single outlier trade.
AAVE Whale Cohort Accumulation: SantimentThis buying makes more sense alongside the protocol numbers. Aave TVL, or Total Value Locked, the value of assets deposited in a protocol, sits near $13.04 billion, with borrowers drawing about $10.25 billion in active loans, according to DeFiLlama. That activity throws off roughly $937 million in annualized fees. Set against AAVE’s market value near $1.4 billion, the protocol generates fees worth about two-thirds of the token’s entire market cap each year.
Aave Value Vs Market Cap: DeFiLlamaFor DeFi tokens, that cash base is what turns the smaller-whale bid into a fundamental call rather than a momentum guess.
AAVE eased about 1.6% over 24 hours to $90.49. Yet the soft session did not stop mid-tier whale wallets from adding. Their willingness to accumulate into weakness suggests they treated the dip as an entry rather than a warning, keeping AAVE among the firmer setups for July.
Uniswap (UNI)Uniswap earns a place among these altcoins for July, though the whale signal is steadier than aggressive. Large holders are adding, but only at the margin.
Supply held by whales, with exchanges excluded, edged up from 778.56 million to 778.94 million UNI just hours ago. The addition is modest, near 380,000 UNI, so this looks like careful on-chain whale activity rather than a rush to load up.
UNI Whale Supply: SantimentThe patient stance makes sense once the fee switch is followed through. Heavy Uniswap trading volume, near $2.2 billion a day on-chain in June, now feeds a mechanism that buys back and burns UNI.
Uniswap DEX Volume: DuneThat sink pulled roughly $22.5 million of UNI out of supply in H1 2026, according to DeFiLlama. So the float tightens as whales add. Their marginal buying lands on a shrinking supply, and that consequence gives the bid weight.
Uniswap Fee Switch UNI Burn: DeFiLlamaUNI slipped about 2.4% over 24 hours to $2.87 and has traded flat for weeks. With whales adding cautiously rather than chasing, the token sits among altcoins to watch where conviction is building slowly. For now the steady flows and heavy volume matter more than the quiet price, leaving UNI a slower-burn name for July.
Ethena (ENA)Ethena delivers the boldest whale move among these altcoins for July, and it arrives against a falling price. That tension makes it the most interesting setup in the group.
Over the past 24 hours, ENA whale balances jumped about 3,166%, climbing from near 0.63 million to 20.63 million ENA. That means whales scooped up roughly 20 million ENA in a single day, worth about $1.5 million. The one-day surge marks the most aggressive accumulation in this group, and it landed while broader sentiment stayed soft.
ENA Whale Accumulation: NansenThe timing tracks Ethena’s recovery. USDe supply on Ethereum, the protocol’s synthetic dollar in circulation, has climbed about 19% off its late-April deleveraging low and held near $4.5 billion for six weeks, according to Dune Analytics. Because USDe is Ethena’s fee base, a rebuilding supply points to returning yield demand and fees accruing to ENA. For whales, a stabilizing stablecoin signals the unwind has passed.
USDe Supply Recovery: DuneHere the signals clash. ENA fell about 4.4% over 24 hours, yet whales expanded holdings sharply. The split suggests large holders are buying the dip while price lags behind on-chain demand. When aggressive accumulation meets a soft tape, the gap usually resolves one way or the other, and for July the whale bid is the stronger signal on this token.
Survey: 88% of enterprises plan to adopt stablecoins within the next year, with cross-border payment costs reduced by an average of 35%.
Payment infrastructure company Cybrid has released a new survey report indicating stablecoins are rapidly gaining traction in enterprise payment scenarios. The survey found that 42% of participating enterprises already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, while 88% said they are likely or very likely to adopt stablecoins within the next 12 months—only 2% of firms stated they will continue to rely entirely on traditional payment systems. According to the report, enterprises using stablecoins save an average of 35% on cross-border payment costs, with firms processing over $100 million in monthly payments achieving an average cost reduction of 47%. Payroll and contractor payments represent the most prominent use case, followed by supplier payments, customer payments, investment and revenue management, and treasury management, among others. Additionally, 71% of respondents identified a clear regulatory framework as the primary factor driving further mainstream adoption of stablecoins, outranking considerations such as infrastructure provider credibility and system integration. The survey was conducted from April to May this year, covering 468 senior executives from tech, financial services, and e-commerce sectors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2 hours ago
FalconX secures EU MiCA license, allowing it to offer compliant crypto services to institutional clients in Europe.
Institutional digital asset broker FalconX announced it has obtained the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), enabling it to provide compliant digital asset trading, custody, liquidity and related institutional services across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). FalconX stated that this license allows it to operate across EU member states under a unified regulatory framework, eliminating the need for individual country-specific licenses. Currently, the firm serves over 2,000 institutional clients worldwide, including asset management firms, hedge funds, banks and family offices, with cumulative transaction volumes exceeding $2.5 trillion and over $8 billion in institutional financing disbursed. FalconX noted that as the MiCA regulatory framework is fully implemented, institutional clients’ demand for compliant trading, custody and liquidity services continues to grow, and regulatory credentials are becoming a key competitive advantage in Europe’s digital asset market.
2 hours ago
Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a fraud case involving over $1 billion.
A US court has sentenced Miles Guo (also known as Ho Wan Kwok) to 30 years in prison. In 2024, a jury convicted Guo on multiple charges including racketeering, fraud, and money laundering, with his formal sentencing now issued. Prosecutors stated that Guo defrauded over $1 billion from global victims through a series of related scam schemes spanning five years. Notably, in 2021, he promoted the cryptocurrency project Himalaya Coin (H-Coin), claiming the tokens were backed by 20% gold reserves and promising to cover all investors’ losses, raising approximately $500 million in total. Additionally, the court previously ordered the forfeiture of nearly $900 million in Guo’s illegal proceeds, as well as his luxury mansion in New Jersey and multiple high-end vehicles. Guo had close ties to Steve Bannon, a former senior advisor to US President Donald Trump; Bannon was arrested in 2020 aboard Guo’s yacht.
2 hours ago
The first-half 2026 funding rankings have been released, with Kalshi and Polymarket raising a combined $1.8 billion.
According to statistics, the 14 largest global funding rounds in the first half of 2026 raised a total of $4.3 billion, with prediction markets, AI, and payment sectors drawing the most investor interest. Specifically, prediction market platform Kalshi topped the list with a $1.2 billion funding round, while Polymarket secured $600 million—together, the two raised $1.8 billion, accounting for over 40% of the total capital of the top 14 rounds. In the AI space, Replit, Exa AI, and OpenRouter closed funding rounds of $400 million, $250 million, and $113 million respectively. For blockchain projects, Canton Network, Arc, and Morpho raised $355 million, $222 million, and $175 million respectively. Meanwhile, payment, RWA, infrastructure, and compliance projects including Rain, Slash, Goldcom, Alpaca, and Elliptic also featured on the list.
2 hours ago
Open Standard launches stablecoin Open USD, with over 140 institutions including Visa, BlackRock, and Coinbase participating.
Open Standard has announced the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a new stablecoin for global fund flows, noting that over 140 enterprises have joined its ecosystem, including financial, payment, and crypto industry players such as Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, American Express, BlackRock, BNY, DBS, Coinbase, OKX, MetaMask, Aave, Ripple, Fireblocks, Solana, and Polygon. According to the introduction, Open USD follows three core design principles: supporting zero-cost, large-scale minting and redemption for enterprises; returning all reserve asset yields to partners after deducting a small management fee; and being governed by a board of directors composed of independent firm Open Standard and its partners, rather than controlled by a single issuer. Open Standard states that Open USD will officially launch later this year, with the goal of building an open, low-cost, high-throughput stablecoin infrastructure with a sharing economy mechanism to meet the needs of the internet economy and global enterprise-level payments.
2 hours ago
Pump.fun is discontinuing support for its tokenized agent issuance feature, stating it will focus on optimizing retail user trading experience.
Pump.fun announced it will immediately cease support for its Tokenized Agent token issuance feature. The feature will no longer be available for new token launches, though projects that have already activated it will remain unaffected. The platform noted that over recent months, consistent community feedback has pointed out that excessive issuance options have sparked unnecessary user vs. user (PVP) competition. Moving forward, Pump.fun will prioritize issuance models and product features that explicitly enhance retail trading experiences.
Ondo Finance Brings 430+ Tokenized Equities to Uniswap@OndoFinance has officially integrated more than 430 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs into the @Uniswap ecosystem, making the assets accessible directly through the Uniswap frontend on both @Ethereum and @BNBChain. The move connects two of DeFi's most prominent platforms and opens up round-the-clock on-chain access to some of the world's most traded equities for eligible non-U.S. participants.
Ondo Finance expanded its Global Markets offering by adding 173 tokenized stocks and ETFs earlier this month, bringing the platform's total catalog to more than 430 assets spanning Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain. The Uniswap integration now routes those assets through the broader decentralized liquidity network.
Uniswap has integrated tokenized securities from issuers including Ondo, xStocks, and Backed, allowing users to trade on-chain versions of assets like SpaceX, Apple, Tesla, and NVIDIA that track underlying stock prices through the Uniswap web app, wallet, and API. The integration uses Uniswap v4 hooks for compliance features such as KYC and allowlists.
UniswapX Routing and 24/7 On-Chain TradingThe assets are routable through the UniswapX API, enabling efficient order execution and deep liquidity for continuous on-chain equity trading. This is a meaningful step beyond traditional market hours: Ondo is live with 24/7 instant minting and redemption on tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs, including on weekends, now across Ethereum and BNB Chain, with Solana coming soon.
Ondo Global Markets gives non-U.S. investors on-chain access to publicly traded U.S. stocks and ETFs, with each token backed 1:1 by the underlying security, purchased and held in custody by a U.S.-registered broker-dealer. The tokens provide holders with economic exposure to the value of the underlying publicly traded assets, including dividends, but are not themselves stocks or ETFs and do not provide rights to hold or receive the underlying assets.
Tokenized stocks have emerged as the fastest-growing asset class on Ethereum in 2026, with Ondo and xStocks leading the sector, according to Token Terminal data. Ondo Global Markets is also the primary issuer behind BNB Chain overtaking Solana in cumulative tokenized stock trading volume. The Uniswap integration adds another layer of distribution and liquidity to a product category that is growing rapidly across decentralized finance.
Sources:
Ondo Finance: Ondo Global Markets
The Defiant: Ondo Finance Adds 173 Tokenized Stocks and ETFs
BNB Chain Blog: Ondo Global Markets on BNB Chain
Ondo Finance (ONDO) is facing a pivotal moment as it attempts to hold above the $0.30 short-term support level on Tuesday. Since early June, ONDO has declined by more than 30%, putting significant pressure on the technical setup and reducing the probability of a sustained bullish reversal.
Uniswap lists Ondo Finance tokenized stocks and ETFsOndo Finance announced on Tuesday that more than 430 tokenized stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are now available for trading on the decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap.
Qualified participants on Ethereum (ETH) and BNB Chain can now gain exposure to leading equities such as SpaceX (SPCX), Tesla (TSLA), Nvidia (NVDA), and Apple (AAPL), along with major ETFs like QQQ and SPY, all seamlessly via the Uniswap platform.
Ondo Finance stated in the press release that protocols, wallets, or applications that have integrated UniswapX can link their users to Ondo tokenized stocks and ETFs without additional integration work.
Ondo Finance is a leading real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform, with a self-reported Total Value Locked (TVL) of $1.02 billion. The protocol boasts over 77,000 unique holders spread across over 430 assets.
Ondo Finance stats | Source: Ondo FinancePrice analysis: Ondo under pressure as bearish signals persistONDO trades around $0.31 as bulls aggressively defend the psychological $0.30 support level. Meanwhile, the token upholds a bearish bias, sitting decisively below the short and long-term Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs).
Momentum conditions reinforce the cautious tone, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering near 39 in weak territory on the daily chart and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram still negative, hinting at persistent downside pressure despite mild stabilization.
HYPE/USDT daily chartInitial resistance aligns with the 100-day EMA at $0.34, followed closely by the 50-day EMA at $0.34, forming a compact supply zone that bulls would need to reclaim to ease the current bearish structure. Above these barriers, the 200-day EMA at $0.39 marks a more significant hurdle within the broader downtrend, while the longer-term descending trendline, referenced around $0.52, defines the upper boundary. Looking down, ONDO bulls hold firmly to the immediate support at $0.30, where a deeper sell-off will likely open the door to losses targeting the demand area at $0.25.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.
Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.
Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.
Not financial or tax advice. Bankless content is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This newsletter is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.
Disclosure. From time-to-time we may add links in this newsletter to products we use. We may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless team hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here.
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How to Move from a Centralized Exchange to PancakeSwap
Ecosystem
Product
2026-06-30
Moving from a centralized exchange (CEX) to a decentralized exchange (DEX) doesn’t need to feel complicated. This guide is the quick version: get a wallet, add funds, connect to PancakeSwap, and make your first onchain swap with ease.
If you already know how to buy, sell, and withdraw on a centralized exchange (CEX), you're closer to using PancakeSwap than you think. The whole move comes down to four steps: get a wallet, send your funds over, connect, and swap. This guide walks through each one, plus what's worth knowing before you start.
Why Bother Moving at All
On a CEX, the exchange holds your crypto for you. That's simple, but it also means you're trusting someone else to hold your funds, follow your withdrawal request, and more.
On PancakeSwap, a DEX, you hold your own funds in your own wallet. You connect your wallet directly and trade, earn, or explore new tokens with nothing in between you and the chain. This is self-custody: you hold the keys, you hold the funds, and you hold the responsibility that comes with that.
Step 1: Set up a self custody wallet
Install a trusted wallet, create or import your wallet, and store your recovery phrase somewhere secure. PancakeSwap currently supports all the industry-leading wallets, includingMetaMask, Trust Wallet, Binance Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, OKX Wallet, and more so you can use what you already have or grab a new one in a couple of taps.
Your wallet is what you’ll use to hold funds and connect to PancakeSwap.
Step 2: Move funds from your CEX
Go to your exchange's Withdraw page, paste your wallet address, and select the matching network (e.g. BNB Smart Chain / BEP-20). Start with a small test transfer if you're new to moving funds onchain. Withdrawals usually land within a few minutes once the network confirms.
Always double check the network and the first few characters of your address before sending. Onchain transfers can't be reversed.
Step 3: Connect to PancakeSwap
Head to PancakeSwap (pancakeswap.finance), connect your wallet, and choose the network where your funds arrived. Once connected, you can swap tokens directly from your wallet - no account, no sign-up, no waiting
Step 4: Explore DeFi at your own pace
Once you're set up, there's a lot more than swapping on offer at PancakeSwap
Swap thousands of tokens directly onchain, with MEV protection available to guard your trades Earn by staking CAKE or providing liquidity to earn a share of trading fees and extra incentives Explore the wider menu - perpetuals, tokenized equities and new launches on CAKE.PAD A few habits worth keeping Self-custody puts you in control, and it's worth protecting that control with a few simple habits: never share your recovery phrase with anyone, reach PancakeSwap through the official address, or a saved a bookmark, or by typing the URL yourself rather than clicking links from DMs or ads, and test new addresses or apps with a small amount before committing more.
*A note for EU users: Under the EU’s MiCA framework, some centralized platforms are adjusting or pausing certain services for users in the region. As a non-custodial DEX, PancakeSwap lets you keep trading onchain from your own wallet — no regional account needed. The steps below work the same wherever you are.
Note: This guide is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Onchain activity carries risk, always do your own research. You are responsible for verifying every link, address, and contract you interact with.*
Thanks for reading! Follow us on X for the latest updates, and join the conversation on Telegram and Discord.
Enphase Energy (ENPH) rose 15.83% in premarket after Northland Capital named the company a preferred pick on rising electricity costs and El Niño-driven heat,
Closing slightly lower than its Friday close, Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (KTOS +5.88%) stock is flying higher today. In addition to a popular growth investor buying shares of the defense stock, investors are adding Kratos to their buy lists after learning that a U.S. ally is making a significant investment in drones to fortify its defenses.
As of 1:04 p.m. ET, shares of Kratos Defense are up 5.5%, after earlier rising 9.6%.
Image source: Getty Images.
Ark Invest increased its position to start the week After the market closed yesterday, Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, reported that it had bought 138,735 Kratos shares in its Ark Innovation ETF.
Today's Change
(
5.88
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2.76
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49.71
Currently, Kratos has a 0.85% weighting in the Ark Innovation ETF, which targets disruptive businesses such as drone developer Kratos.
The other catalyst for the drone stock rising today comes from across the pond. The United Kingdom announced yesterday that the Prime Minister would speak at a defense contractor today, where he would announce an investment of 5 billion British pounds (about $6.6 billion) in drones for the U.K. military over the next four years, making it the largest ever drone investment in U.K. Armed Forces."
While Kratos doesn't specify which nations are customers of its drones, the company does acknowledge that it supplies U.S. allies.
Should investors take flight with Kratos stock? Unsurprisingly, Kratos stock is flying higher today with Ark Invest increasing its position and the U.K. making a sizable investment in drones -- just the latest reminder of how the technology is playing an increasingly important role in the defense industry. For investors seeking a defense stock that has strong growth potential, Kratos is worth a closer look.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Woodward (WWD - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
The power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements makes the Zacks rating system highly useful for individual investors, since it can be difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts. These are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Woodward basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
Fundamentally speaking, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade for Woodward imply an improvement in the company's underlying business. Investors should show their appreciation for this improving business trend by pushing the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for WoodwardThis maker of cockpit controls and other equipment for the defense and aerospace markets is expected to earn $9.34 per share for the fiscal year ending September 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Woodward. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 9.7%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Woodward to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Survey: 88% of enterprises plan to adopt stablecoins within the next year, with cross-border payment costs reduced by an average of 35%.
Payment infrastructure company Cybrid has released a new survey report indicating stablecoins are rapidly gaining traction in enterprise payment scenarios. The survey found that 42% of participating enterprises already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, while 88% said they are likely or very likely to adopt stablecoins within the next 12 months—only 2% of firms stated they will continue to rely entirely on traditional payment systems. According to the report, enterprises using stablecoins save an average of 35% on cross-border payment costs, with firms processing over $100 million in monthly payments achieving an average cost reduction of 47%. Payroll and contractor payments represent the most prominent use case, followed by supplier payments, customer payments, investment and revenue management, and treasury management, among others. Additionally, 71% of respondents identified a clear regulatory framework as the primary factor driving further mainstream adoption of stablecoins, outranking considerations such as infrastructure provider credibility and system integration. The survey was conducted from April to May this year, covering 468 senior executives from tech, financial services, and e-commerce sectors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2 hours ago
FalconX secures EU MiCA license, allowing it to offer compliant crypto services to institutional clients in Europe.
Institutional digital asset broker FalconX announced it has obtained the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), enabling it to provide compliant digital asset trading, custody, liquidity and related institutional services across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). FalconX stated that this license allows it to operate across EU member states under a unified regulatory framework, eliminating the need for individual country-specific licenses. Currently, the firm serves over 2,000 institutional clients worldwide, including asset management firms, hedge funds, banks and family offices, with cumulative transaction volumes exceeding $2.5 trillion and over $8 billion in institutional financing disbursed. FalconX noted that as the MiCA regulatory framework is fully implemented, institutional clients’ demand for compliant trading, custody and liquidity services continues to grow, and regulatory credentials are becoming a key competitive advantage in Europe’s digital asset market.
2 hours ago
Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a fraud case involving over $1 billion.
A US court has sentenced Miles Guo (also known as Ho Wan Kwok) to 30 years in prison. In 2024, a jury convicted Guo on multiple charges including racketeering, fraud, and money laundering, with his formal sentencing now issued. Prosecutors stated that Guo defrauded over $1 billion from global victims through a series of related scam schemes spanning five years. Notably, in 2021, he promoted the cryptocurrency project Himalaya Coin (H-Coin), claiming the tokens were backed by 20% gold reserves and promising to cover all investors’ losses, raising approximately $500 million in total. Additionally, the court previously ordered the forfeiture of nearly $900 million in Guo’s illegal proceeds, as well as his luxury mansion in New Jersey and multiple high-end vehicles. Guo had close ties to Steve Bannon, a former senior advisor to US President Donald Trump; Bannon was arrested in 2020 aboard Guo’s yacht.
2 hours ago
The first-half 2026 funding rankings have been released, with Kalshi and Polymarket raising a combined $1.8 billion.
According to statistics, the 14 largest global funding rounds in the first half of 2026 raised a total of $4.3 billion, with prediction markets, AI, and payment sectors drawing the most investor interest. Specifically, prediction market platform Kalshi topped the list with a $1.2 billion funding round, while Polymarket secured $600 million—together, the two raised $1.8 billion, accounting for over 40% of the total capital of the top 14 rounds. In the AI space, Replit, Exa AI, and OpenRouter closed funding rounds of $400 million, $250 million, and $113 million respectively. For blockchain projects, Canton Network, Arc, and Morpho raised $355 million, $222 million, and $175 million respectively. Meanwhile, payment, RWA, infrastructure, and compliance projects including Rain, Slash, Goldcom, Alpaca, and Elliptic also featured on the list.
2 hours ago
Open Standard launches stablecoin Open USD, with over 140 institutions including Visa, BlackRock, and Coinbase participating.
Open Standard has announced the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a new stablecoin for global fund flows, noting that over 140 enterprises have joined its ecosystem, including financial, payment, and crypto industry players such as Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, American Express, BlackRock, BNY, DBS, Coinbase, OKX, MetaMask, Aave, Ripple, Fireblocks, Solana, and Polygon. According to the introduction, Open USD follows three core design principles: supporting zero-cost, large-scale minting and redemption for enterprises; returning all reserve asset yields to partners after deducting a small management fee; and being governed by a board of directors composed of independent firm Open Standard and its partners, rather than controlled by a single issuer. Open Standard states that Open USD will officially launch later this year, with the goal of building an open, low-cost, high-throughput stablecoin infrastructure with a sharing economy mechanism to meet the needs of the internet economy and global enterprise-level payments.
2 hours ago
Pump.fun is discontinuing support for its tokenized agent issuance feature, stating it will focus on optimizing retail user trading experience.
Pump.fun announced it will immediately cease support for its Tokenized Agent token issuance feature. The feature will no longer be available for new token launches, though projects that have already activated it will remain unaffected. The platform noted that over recent months, consistent community feedback has pointed out that excessive issuance options have sparked unnecessary user vs. user (PVP) competition. Moving forward, Pump.fun will prioritize issuance models and product features that explicitly enhance retail trading experiences.
Nasdaq-listed crypto treasury firm Solana Company has signed a significant cooperation agreement to aid the development of Alatau City, Kazakhstan’s planned, digital-focused megacity. The partnership was unveiled during the Alatau City Roadshow held this June in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, highlighting Solana Company’s ambition to support the region’s expansive digital infrastructure plans.
Agreement scope definedUnder the memorandum of understanding, both parties will work to advise on establishing blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure for Alatau City. The roadshow events in China also resulted in a total of 30 partnership agreements with a combined investment potential exceeding $6 billion.
Joseph Chee, Chairman and CEO of Solana Company, expressed his expectations to deepen the partnership and expand the Solana ecosystem’s presence across the region.
The collaboration between Solana Company and Alatau City will cover four main areas: digital asset treasury solutions, blockchain infrastructure deployment, accelerating institutional adoption of blockchain technology, and developing robust digital platforms for the city.
Alisher Abdykadyrov, CEO of the Alatau City Authority, specified that the agreement also includes Solana Company’s participation in the Alatau Crypto Cluster. This cluster is envisioned as a designated pilot zone and economic area within the new city, where the use of cryptocurrencies for daily transactions will be permitted.
Ties between Kazakhstan and Solana deepenThe agreement marks the latest move strengthening Kazakhstan’s relationship with the broader Solana ecosystem. Notably, last year saw the launch of Central Asia’s inaugural Solana Economic Zone in the nation’s capital of Astana, established in partnership with the Solana Foundation.
Just last week, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) introduced its first Solana ETF, providing investors access to regulated investment instruments linked to SOL price movements—making Central Asia’s major exchanges more accessible to digital asset investors.
Mini Glossary: An ETF is an exchange-traded fund tracking the performance of an asset or index. A Solana ETF allows investors regulated access to SOL’s price moves without direct token custody.
During the same roadshow, the Solana Foundation also signed a separate memorandum of understanding with Alatau City, pledging support to expand the city’s blockchain capacity and infrastructure.
Alatau City’s ambitious vision faces cautious realitiesKazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced the Alatau City project to the international community in May 2024. However, despite its global unveiling, the project remains in the early stages of planning and development, with many fundamentals still under consideration.
Plans envision Alatau City as an integrated smart city from the outset, anchored on artificial intelligence, digital identity, and blockchain technology. The project also foresees the use of low-altitude aerial vehicles, robotaxis, and autonomous drones for transportation and logistics, while proposing that the city’s economy be powered by hydrogen energy.
Nonetheless, the initiative faces significant hurdles. Independent assessment reports released in March highlighted concerns from both the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Financial Monitoring about the potential need for constitutional amendments to support a crypto-based economy.
Additional independent sources have pointed to ongoing fundamental infrastructure issues in Alatau City’s designated region, such as continued challenges in accessing basic utilities like natural gas, water, electricity, and internet. While the project’s vision remains compelling for the future, these obstacles suggest considerable implementation timelines ahead.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Bitcoin is trading at $59,101 on June 30, 2026 — the final day of the worst month of the current correction cycle — as the Fear & Greed Index reads 15, a marginal recovery from yesterday’s absolute cycle low of 12. Total crypto market cap holds near $2.07 trillion. The defining story of the day is the sharp divergence within the top 10: Solana and Hyperliquid are posting strong weekly gains while Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, BNB, and Dogecoin all remain in negative territory for the week, with Dogecoin down a brutal 9.43%.
Key Takeaways Bitcoin at $59,101, down 0.26% on the day and 5.33% on the week, closing out June’s worst monthly performance of the cycle Fear & Greed Index at 15 — up slightly from yesterday’s cycle-low 12, but still firmly in Extreme Fear; last month was 28 (Fear) Solana is the standout performer: +6.19% weekly, the only top-10 asset with strong positive momentum across both 24h and 7d Hyperliquid (+4.35% weekly) is the second-best performer, both assets benefiting from idiosyncratic strength rather than broad market recovery Dogecoin down 9.43% weekly — the worst performer in the top 10 by a wide margin Ethereum down just 0.46% on the day despite Foundation restructuring and ETF outflow headlines XRP down 6.27% weekly as CLARITY Act odds fell to 42% and Senate entered recess until July 13 TRON’s defensive characteristics weakened into month-end, down 3.74% weekly — still better than BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB AssetPrice24h7dMarket CapVolume (24h)Bitcoin (BTC)$59,101.69–0.26%–5.33%$1.18T$31.35BEthereum (ETH)$1,575.63–0.46%–4.98%$190.15B$11.72BTether (USDT)$0.9984–0.01%–0.03%$184.7B$70.52BBNB$547.09–0.29%–4.54%$73.73B$1.15BUSDC$0.99960.00%0.00%$73.61B$13.24BXRP$1.03–0.30%–6.27%$64.61B$1.58BSolana (SOL)$73.39–0.26%+6.19%$42.63B$3.85BTRON (TRX)$0.3171–0.10%–3.74%$30.08B$638.95MHyperliquid (HYPE)$65.83–0.12%+4.35%$16.65B$659.81MDogecoin (DOGE)$0.07192–0.67%–9.43%$12.26B$638.58M Fear & Greed at 15: Recovering From the Cycle’s Darkest Reading The Fear & Greed Index printed 15 on June 30, an improvement from yesterday’s reading of 12 — the deepest Extreme Fear of the entire 2026 correction cycle. The four-day trajectory tells the story: last month was 28 (Fear), last week 23 (Extreme Fear), yesterday 12 (cycle low), today 15. The slight uptick from 12 to 15 is the first sentiment improvement seen in over a week, though the index remains firmly in Extreme Fear territory.
This sentiment pattern — sustained readings below 20 for multiple consecutive days, including the deepest point of the entire cycle — has historically been associated with periods that precede meaningful relief rallies, though the timing and magnitude of any recovery remain uncertain. The next update arrives within 24 hours and will be the first reading of July, providing an early signal of whether the marginal improvement continues into the new month.
Bitcoin: Closing Out the Worst Month of the Cycle Bitcoin is trading at $59,101.69, down 0.26% on the day and 5.33% over the past week — a decline that caps what has been confirmed as the worst monthly performance of the entire 2026 correction. The 1-week chart shows BTC opened above $62,200 on June 24, dropped sharply to test the $59,000s through a volatile mid-week stretch, and has spent the final days of June grinding in a narrow range near $59,000–$60,000.
Volume at $31.35 billion is elevated (+44.14% versus the prior session per CoinMarketCap data), consistent with month-end institutional rebalancing rather than a fresh directional catalyst. With June closing near $59,000, the monthly candle confirms BTC’s deepest drawdown test of the year, though the price has avoided a clean breach of the May cycle low on a sustained closing basis. For the full BTC breakdown, see our Bitcoin news today page.
Solana: The Standout Performer of the Week Solana is the clear leader among major assets, up 6.19% over the past week to $73.39 even as it dipped slightly (–0.26%) on the day itself. The 1-week chart shows a powerful recovery structure: SOL bottomed near $66 around June 25–26 alongside the broader market selloff, then staged a sustained climb through $68, $70, and finally above $73 by June 30 — outperforming every other top-10 asset by a wide margin on the weekly timeframe.
Volume surged 54.41% to $3.85 billion, confirming institutional participation behind the move rather than thin, low-conviction trading. SOL’s relative strength reflects its faster recovery from the June 26 capitulation low compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum, combined with the ongoing Alpenglow upgrade narrative and continued real-world adoption momentum from partnerships announced earlier in the month.
Ethereum: Resilient Despite Foundation Restructuring Headlines Ethereum is down just 0.46% on the day to $1,575.63, holding up reasonably well despite a difficult news cycle that included the Ethereum Foundation’s confirmed 20% staff reduction and persistent spot ETF outflows. The 7-day loss of 4.98% is actually milder than Bitcoin’s 5.33% weekly decline — a notable shift after ETH had underperformed BTC for most of June.
Volume jumped 47.47% to $11.72 billion, the second-highest percentage volume increase in the top 10 after Solana. The relative stability suggests that the worst of the Foundation restructuring and ETF outflow narrative may already be priced in, with the market shifting attention toward whether ETH can build a base above $1,550 heading into July. For daily ETH coverage, see our Ethereum news today tracker.
XRP: Weakest Major Asset as CLARITY Act Odds Slide XRP is the weakest major asset on a weekly basis among BTC, ETH, BNB, and TRX, down 6.27% to $1.03 as CLARITY Act passage odds fell to 42% and the Senate entered recess until July 13. The 1-week chart shows the same pattern as Bitcoin and Ethereum — a sharp drop around June 25–26 followed by a choppy, directionless recovery attempt that has failed to reclaim the $1.06–$1.08 zone on a sustained basis.
Despite the price weakness, on-chain accumulation by large holders has continued throughout the drawdown, and some technical analysts have flagged early bullish reversal signals on the daily chart. Whether those signals translate into price action will likely depend heavily on developments around the CLARITY Act when the Senate returns from recess on July 13.
TRON: Defensive Edge Erodes Into Month-End TRON’s typically defensive profile weakened in the final week of June, with TRX down 3.74% to $0.3171 — still outperforming BTC, ETH, XRP, and BNB on the weekly timeframe, but a notably larger decline than the sub-1% losses TRX posted during earlier capitulation events in June. Volume rose 14.03% to $638.95 million.
The erosion in TRON’s relative strength suggests that sustained multi-week macro pressure is beginning to weigh on even utility-driven assets, though TRX’s structural demand base from USDT settlement remains intact heading into the MiCA enforcement window that opened July 1.
Hyperliquid: Quietly the Second-Best Performer Hyperliquid is up 4.35% over the past week to $65.83, the second-strongest performer in the top 10 after Solana. The 1-week chart shows a steady, low-volatility climb from the low $60s to nearly $66, with volume surging 72.35% to $659.69 million — the largest percentage volume increase of any asset in the top 10. HYPE’s continued strength reflects sustained demand for its on-chain perpetuals exchange, which has maintained robust trading volumes even as broader sentiment remained deeply negative.
Dogecoin: Worst Performer in the Top 10 Dogecoin is down 9.43% over the past week to $0.07192 — by far the weakest performer among major assets and nearly double the percentage decline of the next-worst performer, XRP. With no underlying utility catalyst, DOGE remains the purest sentiment proxy in the top 10, and its outsized weekly loss reflects just how compressed risk appetite has become during the depths of Extreme Fear.
What July Inherits From June June 2026 closes as the worst monthly stretch of the current crypto correction cycle, with Bitcoin down over 5% on the week and Ethereum facing both technical damage and structural organizational news from the Foundation restructuring. Yet the month also closes with two clear bright spots — Solana and Hyperliquid — both demonstrating that idiosyncratic strength is possible even within a broadly bearish macro environment.
The Fear & Greed Index’s modest recovery from 12 to 15 is the first sentiment improvement in over a week, and the path into July will be shaped by three factors: whether the CLARITY Act sees any progress when the Senate returns from recess on July 13, whether Bitcoin can hold the $59,000 zone on a sustained basis, and whether Ethereum’s relative stability this week marks a genuine bottoming process or merely a pause before further downside.
As Solana nears a critical resistance zone, market participants remain divided on the cryptocurrency’s next direction. While SOL has hovered between $75.50 and $75.66, some analysts suggest this could mark the start of a broader recovery, while others warn it may pose a risky trap for latecomers jumping in after the rally.
$78 emerges as a pivotal levelTechnical charts indicate that the $77 to $78 zone represents a key short-term area to watch. This band aligns with the lower boundary of the range where Solana traded in previous months. After a sharp pullback, SOL’s movement back up toward this level has brought the possibility of a new bottom into focus for traders.
According to Mercury, a stronger bullish signal would require SOL to reclaim its long-term trendline and re-enter the previous four-month trading range. Such a move could frame the recent plunge as a temporary deviation rather than a sign of deeper weakness.
Mercury emphasizes that regaining the $77 to $78 range is technically critical. If SOL sustains levels above this band, the odds for a robust recovery increase considerably.
If buyers manage to push the price decisively above $78, analysts believe bullish control could strengthen. In this scenario, the next major resistance would stand at $95. If upward momentum persists, the $122 level could also become a significant resistance to watch over a longer horizon.
Failure to break could increase pullback riskOn the other hand, market observers note that Solana’s current setup is still in its early stages. Over recent sessions, SOL has tested the upper boundary of its short-term $75 to $76 range and climbed beyond previous local highs. This movement suggests that liquidity above the range may have been absorbed.
TraderJqrit notes that this action might have drawn in investors chasing the breakout, but warns that if the price can’t sustain higher levels, late buyers could be at risk for rapid reversals. In such a case, momentum might shift back to the downside.
TraderJqrit anticipates that if the breakout fails to hold, late buyers could get trapped, exposing SOL to renewed declines toward the bottom of its recent range.
In the event of a downturn, market attention may also turn to Bitcoin’s short-term price action, which could impact Solana’s outlook. TraderJqrit suggests that a shift in Bitcoin’s lower timeframes could support a rebound in SOL, but highlights $63.33 as a major support level to watch closely on the charts.
Solana is known as a blockchain network focused on delivering high-speed, low-cost transactions. As a result, technical breakouts in its native token SOL are closely monitored not just for short-term trading, but also as a barometer of overall market appetite.
Currently, the market’s focus remains fixed on whether SOL can reclaim the crucial $77 to $78 zone and transform it into a sustainable rally. Failure to do so would leave open the risk of a renewed decline toward the $63 region.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
@Kucoincom has officially listed the $ANSEM token in its Alpha Zone, adding an ANSEM/USDT trading pair and opening a new centralized liquidity gateway for the Solana-based asset.
The listing arrives against a backdrop of sharp price momentum. KOL Ansem distributed 67.38 million tokens, worth approximately $9.43 million, to more than 700 addresses on June 30, pushing the market cap above $140 million and driving gains of over 20%. Over the prior seven days, $ANSEM posted a price increase of more than 26,000%, outperforming the broader cryptocurrency market.
What Is KuCoin Alpha?KuCoin Alpha is a platform within KuCoin Exchange designed to spotlight early-stage projects with growth potential across the Web3 ecosystem. Tokens highlighted there may be considered for full listings on KuCoin Exchange in the future, and are selected based on factors such as strong community interest, market traction, and observed trends.
By bridging the convenience of a centralized exchange with the opportunities of on-chain trading, KuCoin Alpha allows users to explore and trade promising Web3 assets within a secure infrastructure. Supported networks include Solana and Binance Smart Chain.
KuCoin Alpha is a dedicated zone for early-stage, high-volatility projects that are often community-driven or experimental, while the main market is reserved for established projects with proven utility, higher market caps, and deeper liquidity.
Risk ConsiderationsTokens listed on KuCoin Alpha may carry higher risks, including significant price volatility and potential loss of capital. KuCoin advises users to conduct independent research and ensure they fully understand the risks involved. KuCoin may continuously review and assess the development of KuCoin Alpha projects, and if a token no longer meets listing standards, KuCoin may, at its sole discretion, suspend or delist the token.
$ANSEM currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $56 million, with around 410 million tokens in circulation. According to Rugcheck.xyz, there is a risk of market manipulation due to a large concentration of tokens held in unidentified wallets, and traders are advised to exercise caution.
Sources:
KuCoin Alpha Zone, KuCoin
KuCoin Alpha Launch Announcement, PR Newswire
The Black Bull (ANSEM) Price and Market Data, CoinGecko
A community takeover, or CTO, is when the holders of an abandoned token band together and run it themselves after the original developer walks away. It is one of the defining rituals of Solana memecoin culture. Here is how a CTO works, why most fail, and what separates the rare survivor from the rest.
Summary
A community takeover (CTO) is when the holders or broader community of a token take over running it, marketing, socials, and coordination, after the original developers abandon the project, walk away, or lose credibility. CTOs are most common with Solana memecoins, where tokens are fully liquid from launch, so the token keeps trading on a decentralized exchange even after the creator leaves. The mechanics involve the community seizing the social accounts, organizing on Telegram and X, sometimes getting listing trackers to relabel the token as a CTO, and rallying new marketing and momentum. The appeal is an underdog, level-playing-field narrative: with the original developer gone and no insider advantage, holders feel they finally own the project outright. The hard reality is that most CTOs fail and the token stays near zero, because a new logo and a Telegram group do not create real demand, and the same speculative dynamics that sank the project remain. Table of Contents
What a CTO is and why it is possibleHow a CTO unfoldsWhy CTOs happen so often on SolanaA worked exampleWhat separates a rare success from the many failuresThe hard truth about CTOs and how to think about the riskFrequently Asked Questions A community takeover, almost always shortened to CTO, is what happens when the people who hold a token decide to take over and run the project themselves after its original developers abandon it, walk away, or lose the community’s trust. It is one of the most distinctive rituals of memecoin culture, particularly on Solana, where the fast, cheap, fully liquid nature of token launches makes both abandonment and revival routine events. In a typical CTO, the founding developer of a memecoin disappears, sells their holdings, or is exposed as untrustworthy, and the token, which would normally just collapse to nothing, instead gets a second life when a group of remaining holders bands together to keep it alive.
They take over the project’s social media accounts, organize themselves in group chats, raise money for marketing, and try to generate fresh momentum around a token that technically has no team behind it anymore. The contract on the blockchain stays the same; what changes is who is steering the narrative and the community around it. The holders, in effect, seize the wheel of a car the driver has jumped out of.
Understanding the CTO is essential to understanding how the memecoin trenches actually work, because abandonment and revival are not edge cases there but core features of the landscape. This guide explains what a community takeover is and why it is possible at all, the mechanics of how a CTO unfolds step by step, why these takeovers happen so often on Solana specifically, a worked example tracing a typical CTO from abandonment to revival attempt, what separates the rare CTO that succeeds from the many that fail, and an honest look at why most CTOs go to zero and how to think about the risks.
The aim is to give you a clear and unromantic picture of a phenomenon that memecoin culture often wraps in heroic, underdog language, because the narrative of a community heroically rescuing an abandoned token is emotionally powerful and frequently used to draw in buyers, and the reality is far more sobering than the story.
This is educational material, not investment advice, and the memecoin environment it describes is among the riskiest corners of crypto.
What a CTO is and why it is possible Start with why a community takeover can happen at all, because the answer reveals something fundamental about how memecoins are structured. When a memecoin launches on a platform like those common on Solana, the token is created with its liquidity placed in a pool on a decentralized exchange, which means the token can be bought and sold by anyone the moment it exists, with no central party required to keep the market running. The developer who launched it does not control the trading; the market lives on-chain, in a liquidity pool that functions independently of whether the creator is still involved.
This is the structural fact that makes a CTO possible. Even if the original developer completely abandons the project, sells everything, and deletes the social accounts, the token itself keeps existing on the blockchain and keeps trading on the exchange, because the liquidity pool and the contract do not depend on the creator’s presence. The project as a social and marketing entity may be dead, but the token as a tradable asset survives.
This separation between the token and its creator is what gives the community something to take over. In traditional contexts, if a company’s founders walk away, the company often simply ceases to function. But a memecoin is not a company; it is a freely trading token with a community attached, and the community can continue even when the founder does not. A community takeover is the act of that community formally adopting the orphaned token, declaring that they will now run the things the developer used to run, the social media presence, the marketing, the coordination, the narrative, and attempting to carry the project forward on collective effort alone.
Crucially, a CTO does not change the underlying token or its contract; the holders cannot rewrite the code or mint themselves new control. What they take over is everything around the token: the story, the channels, the momentum. The token is the same; the stewardship is new. This is why a CTO is sometimes described as the community inheriting a project rather than acquiring it, they take possession of an asset that was left behind, with all its existing properties intact, good and bad.
How a CTO unfolds The mechanics of a community takeover follow a recognizable sequence, even though the details vary from case to case. It begins with the trigger: the original developer abandons the project. This can take several forms. The developer might pull the liquidity or sell their entire holding in a rug pull, crashing the price and signaling they have given up; they might quietly disappear, going silent on social media and ceasing all activity; or they might be exposed as having acted in bad faith, destroying the community’s trust even if they have not formally left. Whatever the form, the result is a token with no active team, a collapsed or collapsing price, and a community of holders sitting on losses and a decision: walk away, or try to save it.
If enough holders choose to try, the takeover organizes itself. A core group, often the most committed remaining holders, coordinates through group chats on Telegram and through posts on X, rallying the community around the idea of continuing without the developer. They take over or recreate the social media accounts, establishing new official channels under community control, since the original accounts may have been deleted or abandoned.
They frequently seek to have the token’s listing on price-tracking sites relabeled to reflect the takeover, since major trackers have processes for marking a token as community-run when the original team is gone, which updates the project’s public information to point at the new community channels. The community then tries to do the work a team would normally do: organizing marketing pushes, raising funds for promotion, sometimes coordinating to provide or lock liquidity, and generating social momentum to attract new buyers.
In the best cases, the community also pushes for transparency about who is now leading and takes steps to reassure potential buyers, such as confirming that the liquidity is locked or burned so it cannot be pulled again. The whole effort is a bet that collective enthusiasm can substitute for a founding team and breathe new life into a token the market had written off.
Why CTOs happen so often on Solana Community takeovers are not unique to Solana, but they are far more common there than anywhere else, and the reasons are structural to how the Solana memecoin ecosystem works. The first reason is the sheer volume of memecoin launches. Solana’s low fees and fast transactions, combined with launch platforms that make creating a token nearly effortless, have produced an enormous number of memecoins, far more than could ever succeed, which means abandonment is constant and the raw material for CTOs, orphaned tokens, is abundant.
Where thousands of tokens launch and the overwhelming majority fail or are abandoned, there is a steady supply of projects a community could potentially take over. The second reason is that Solana memecoins are fully liquid from day one, trading freely on decentralized exchanges, so an abandoned token does not vanish; it keeps trading, which is the precondition for any takeover.
The third reason is cultural and narrative. The Solana memecoin scene has developed a powerful underdog mythology around the CTO, in which a community rescuing a token abandoned by a faithless developer is framed as a triumph of the people over insiders. This narrative has real emotional force in a market where traders are acutely aware that many tokens are stacked in favor of developers and early insiders. When the developer leaves, the community feels it is finally operating on a level playing field, with no insider dumping on them and no hidden team allocation, just the holders and the token.
That underdog framing, the sense of a genuine community reclaiming something and proving the doubters wrong, turns a failed launch into a movement, at least in the storytelling, and movements attract attention and buyers. The combination of constant abandonment, full liquidity, and a culture that celebrates the takeover as a heroic act makes Solana uniquely fertile ground for CTOs. It is worth being clear-eyed that this same narrative is also a marketing device, deployed precisely because it is effective at drawing in new money, which is part of why the romance of the CTO deserves scrutiny rather than acceptance.
A worked example Trace a representative case to see how a CTO actually plays out, using an illustrative example rather than any specific real token. Picture a memecoin that launches with an appealing theme and a charismatic developer who builds an early community. The token runs up quickly as buyers pile in, reaching a meaningful market value within days. Then the developer, having accumulated a large position at launch, sells their entire holding into the buying, crashing the price by most of its value in minutes, and goes silent, deleting the project’s social accounts. The remaining holders are left with a token that has lost the vast majority of its value, no team, and no official channels. By the normal logic of memecoins, this token is dead, and most would simply go to zero from here.
But a group of holders decides to attempt a community takeover. They form a new Telegram group, recreate the project’s presence on X under community control, and begin coordinating. They publicize that the original developer is gone and frame the situation as an opportunity: the insider who was dumping on everyone has left, the liquidity that remains is now locked so it cannot be pulled again, and the token is in the hands of the community. They petition the major price-tracking sites to relabel the token as a community takeover, updating its public listing to point at the new channels.
They organize a marketing push, pooling funds to pay for promotion and rallying members to post about the revival. For a while, this can work: the CTO narrative attracts fresh attention, new buyers come in drawn by the underdog story and the apparent absence of an insider threat, and the token’s price recovers some ground on the renewed momentum. Whether this recovery lasts is the crucial question, and in the great majority of cases it does not, because, as the next section explains, enthusiasm and a new logo do not generate the durable demand a token needs to hold value. The example shows the mechanism clearly; it does not imply the mechanism usually succeeds.
What separates a rare success from the many failures Among the flood of community takeovers, a small number achieve a real and lasting revival while most fade, and the differences between them, though they do not guarantee anything, are instructive. The first factor is transparent and credible new leadership. A CTO led by identifiable, communicative people who articulate a clear plan and follow through tends to fare better than one run anonymously with vague promises, because trust is the scarce resource in a project that has already betrayed its community once.
The second factor is the state of the liquidity. A takeover where the remaining liquidity is verifiably locked or burned, so it cannot be pulled out from under buyers again, removes one of the biggest risks and gives new participants a reason to believe the rug cannot happen twice. Checking whether liquidity-provider tokens have been burned or locked is one of the most important pieces of due diligence in any CTO.
The third factor is the distribution of holdings. A CTO where the token supply is spread across many holders is healthier than one where a few large wallets dominate, because concentrated holdings mean a small number of people can crash the price by selling, recreating the very dynamic the takeover was supposed to escape. A diversified holder base gives a revival a more stable foundation. The fourth factor, the hardest and least common, is genuine sustained effort and some reason for the token to attract ongoing attention, real marketing, real community activity, sometimes an attempt to build something beyond pure speculation.
Even with all of these factors present, success is rare, and it is essential to understand that these are markers that improve the odds at the margin, not formulas that produce a winner. The base rate is failure. The point of knowing the success factors is not to identify guaranteed revivals, which do not exist, but to recognize the warning signs in their absence: anonymous leadership, unlocked liquidity, and concentrated holdings are signals that a CTO is especially likely to fail, and their presence should make anyone considering participation far more cautious. The factors are a filter for avoiding the worst, not a recipe for finding the best.
The hard truth about CTOs and how to think about the risk The unromantic reality, which the heroic CTO narrative tends to obscure, is that the overwhelming majority of community takeovers fail, and the token settles at or near zero regardless of the community’s effort. This is not a cynical exaggeration but the base rate of the phenomenon, and understanding why is essential. A community takeover changes the stewardship of a token, but it does not change the fundamental problem that sank the project in the first place: a memecoin has no inherent product, revenue, or utility, and its price depends entirely on continued speculative demand.
A new Telegram group, a recovered social account, and a wave of marketing can generate a burst of renewed attention, but attention is not the same as durable demand, and once the initial CTO excitement fades, the token is left exactly where it was, a speculative asset with nothing underneath it, now without even the novelty of a fresh launch. The community can work tirelessly and still fail, because the thing they are trying to revive never had a foundation to stand on.
Compounding this, the same dynamics that make memecoins dangerous in the first place persist through a takeover. The people coordinating a CTO are often the same speculators who bought in originally, with the same incentives to sell into any strength, so a price recovery driven by the CTO narrative can itself become an exit opportunity for early holders at the expense of the new buyers the narrative attracted. The underdog story that draws fresh money into a CTO is, viewed coldly, sometimes a mechanism for transferring losses from the people who held through the crash to the people who buy the revival. There are also coordination and trust problems inherent in running anything by committee with anonymous participants and no formal structure.
For anyone weighing involvement in a CTO, the honest framework is this: treat it as among the highest-risk activities in crypto, assume the base rate is failure, do the specific due diligence that can at least rule out the worst cases, checking that liquidity is locked or burned, researching who is now leading, examining whether holdings are concentrated, and never commit money you cannot afford to lose entirely, because losing it entirely is the most common outcome. The CTO is a real and fascinating feature of memecoin culture, and it occasionally produces a genuine revival, but it is a casino bet dressed in the language of community heroism, and seeing it clearly means holding both the appeal and the brutal odds in view at once.
Frequently Asked Questions What does CTO mean in crypto? CTO stands for community takeover. It refers to a situation where the holders or broader community of a token take over running the project after its original developers abandon it, walk away, or lose the community’s trust. The community assumes the roles a team would normally fill, controlling the social media accounts, organizing marketing, coordinating through group chats, and trying to generate fresh momentum, even though there is no longer an official team behind the token. CTOs are most common with memecoins, especially on Solana, where tokens trade freely on decentralized exchanges and so keep existing even after the creator leaves. A CTO changes who steers the project’s narrative and community, but it does not change the underlying token or its contract.
How does a community takeover work? It usually starts when the original developer abandons the project, by selling out in a rug pull, going silent, or being exposed as untrustworthy, leaving a token with a collapsed price and no team. A core group of committed holders then coordinates, typically through Telegram and X, to keep the token alive. They take over or recreate the social accounts under community control, often get price-tracking sites to relabel the token as a community takeover, and organize marketing and fundraising to attract new attention. They may also confirm that the remaining liquidity is locked or burned to reassure buyers. The goal is to substitute collective community effort for the missing team and revive a token the market had written off. The token’s code itself does not change.
Why do community takeovers happen on Solana? Three structural reasons. First, Solana’s low fees and easy launch platforms have produced an enormous volume of memecoins, the vast majority of which fail or are abandoned, creating a constant supply of orphaned tokens that communities could take over. Second, Solana memecoins are fully liquid from launch, trading on decentralized exchanges, so an abandoned token keeps trading instead of vanishing, which is the precondition for any takeover. Third, the culture has built a powerful underdog narrative around the CTO, framing a community rescuing an abandoned token as a triumph over faithless insiders, which has emotional force and attracts attention. The combination of abundant abandonment, full liquidity, and a celebratory culture makes Solana uniquely fertile ground for community takeovers.
Do community takeovers succeed? Rarely. The overwhelming majority of CTOs fail, and the token settles at or near zero despite the community’s effort. The reason is that a takeover changes who runs the project but not the underlying problem: a memecoin has no inherent product, revenue, or utility, and depends entirely on speculative demand. A new social account and a marketing push can create a burst of attention, but attention is not durable demand, and once the excitement fades the token is left as a speculative asset with nothing underneath it. A small number of CTOs do achieve real revivals, usually those with transparent leadership, locked or burned liquidity, and a diversified holder base, but these are exceptions. The base rate is failure.
How can I tell if a CTO is legitimate? There is no way to be certain, but several checks can rule out the worst cases. First, examine the new leadership: transparent, identifiable, communicative people with a clear plan are a better sign than anonymous accounts making vague promises, because the project has already betrayed its community once. Second, verify the liquidity: check whether the liquidity-provider tokens have been burned or locked, which prevents another rug pull and is one of the most important pieces of due diligence. Third, look at the holder distribution: a supply spread across many wallets is healthier than one where a few large holders could crash the price. These checks improve your odds of avoiding disasters, but they cannot identify a guaranteed winner, because most CTOs fail regardless.
Is buying into a CTO a good investment? It is among the highest-risk activities in crypto, and this is not investment advice. The honest framework is to assume the base rate is failure, because most community takeovers end with the token near zero. The underdog narrative that draws money into a CTO can itself be a mechanism for early holders to exit at the expense of new buyers, transferring losses to the people the story attracted. The same speculative dynamics and trust problems that sank the original project usually persist. If you choose to participate anyway, do the due diligence that can rule out the worst cases, locked or burned liquidity, transparent leadership, diversified holdings, and never commit money you cannot afford to lose entirely, because total loss is the most common outcome.
This article is educational information, not financial or investment advice. Memecoins and community takeovers are among the highest-risk activities in crypto, and most result in total loss. Examples are illustrative and not references to specific tokens. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or participate in any project. Do your own research and never risk money you cannot afford to lose.
Kamino Finance just rolled out a new vault product that signals where Solana’s DeFi ecosystem is headed: toward the suits. The Hyperithm USDC Apex Vault, which went live on June 30, pairs Kamino’s lending infrastructure with yield strategies curated by Hyperithm, a regulated digital asset manager with roots in Tokyo and Seoul.
The vault is currently delivering approximately 6.77% yield on USDC deposits, with around $200K in total value locked. Those numbers are modest by DeFi standards, but the product itself tells a bigger story about institutional capital slowly finding its way onto Solana.
What the vault actually does Think of an Apex Vault as a managed fund that lives on-chain. Instead of depositors manually hunting for the best USDC lending rates across different pools, the vault’s curator, in this case Hyperithm, automatically allocates capital to optimize returns.
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Kamino has categorized this particular vault as “Balanced” risk. That sits somewhere between the conservative options that prioritize capital preservation and the aggressive strategies that chase higher returns with correspondingly higher exposure. Historically, Kamino’s USDC strategies have offered yields ranging from 4% to 9% APY, which puts the Hyperithm vault’s 6.77% right in the middle of the pack.
Who is Hyperithm Hyperithm isn’t some anonymous DeFi team with cartoon animal profile pictures. Founded in 2018 with offices in Tokyo and Seoul, the firm focuses on quantitative trading and venture investments in digital assets. The “regulated” part matters: operating across Japan and South Korea means navigating two of Asia’s more stringent crypto regulatory environments.
This isn’t Hyperithm’s first vault rodeo, either. The firm has been running similar USDC Apex vaults on Morpho, an Ethereum-based lending protocol, since around late October 2025. Those Ethereum vaults have attracted significantly more capital, pulling in millions in TVL. The strategies there focus on integrating collateral for high borrower yields while maintaining risk controls.
The bigger picture for Solana DeFi Kamino operates as Solana’s largest lending and liquidity protocol, with a multi-billion dollar TVL across its various markets. The platform has been actively pursuing a curator-led product strategy since 2025, essentially inviting professional asset managers to build structured yield products on top of Kamino’s infrastructure.
The risk side deserves honest discussion, though. Vaults like these carry multiple layers of exposure: smart contract risk on Kamino’s protocol, strategy risk from Hyperithm’s allocation decisions, and the ever-present systemic risks that come with DeFi composability. The “Balanced” risk label is Kamino’s own categorization, not an independent rating.
Investors watching this space should pay attention to whether Hyperithm’s Solana vault can replicate the traction its Ethereum counterpart achieved on Morpho. If the TVL grows meaningfully from its current $200K base, it validates the thesis that institutional-grade products can find product-market fit on Solana.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Survey: 88% of enterprises plan to adopt stablecoins within the next year, with cross-border payment costs reduced by an average of 35%.
Payment infrastructure company Cybrid has released a new survey report indicating stablecoins are rapidly gaining traction in enterprise payment scenarios. The survey found that 42% of participating enterprises already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, while 88% said they are likely or very likely to adopt stablecoins within the next 12 months—only 2% of firms stated they will continue to rely entirely on traditional payment systems. According to the report, enterprises using stablecoins save an average of 35% on cross-border payment costs, with firms processing over $100 million in monthly payments achieving an average cost reduction of 47%. Payroll and contractor payments represent the most prominent use case, followed by supplier payments, customer payments, investment and revenue management, and treasury management, among others. Additionally, 71% of respondents identified a clear regulatory framework as the primary factor driving further mainstream adoption of stablecoins, outranking considerations such as infrastructure provider credibility and system integration. The survey was conducted from April to May this year, covering 468 senior executives from tech, financial services, and e-commerce sectors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a fraud case involving over $1 billion.
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The first-half 2026 funding rankings have been released, with Kalshi and Polymarket raising a combined $1.8 billion.
According to statistics, the 14 largest global funding rounds in the first half of 2026 raised a total of $4.3 billion, with prediction markets, AI, and payment sectors drawing the most investor interest. Specifically, prediction market platform Kalshi topped the list with a $1.2 billion funding round, while Polymarket secured $600 million—together, the two raised $1.8 billion, accounting for over 40% of the total capital of the top 14 rounds. In the AI space, Replit, Exa AI, and OpenRouter closed funding rounds of $400 million, $250 million, and $113 million respectively. For blockchain projects, Canton Network, Arc, and Morpho raised $355 million, $222 million, and $175 million respectively. Meanwhile, payment, RWA, infrastructure, and compliance projects including Rain, Slash, Goldcom, Alpaca, and Elliptic also featured on the list.
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Open Standard launches stablecoin Open USD, with over 140 institutions including Visa, BlackRock, and Coinbase participating.
Open Standard has announced the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a new stablecoin for global fund flows, noting that over 140 enterprises have joined its ecosystem, including financial, payment, and crypto industry players such as Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, American Express, BlackRock, BNY, DBS, Coinbase, OKX, MetaMask, Aave, Ripple, Fireblocks, Solana, and Polygon. According to the introduction, Open USD follows three core design principles: supporting zero-cost, large-scale minting and redemption for enterprises; returning all reserve asset yields to partners after deducting a small management fee; and being governed by a board of directors composed of independent firm Open Standard and its partners, rather than controlled by a single issuer. Open Standard states that Open USD will officially launch later this year, with the goal of building an open, low-cost, high-throughput stablecoin infrastructure with a sharing economy mechanism to meet the needs of the internet economy and global enterprise-level payments.
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Pump.fun is discontinuing support for its tokenized agent issuance feature, stating it will focus on optimizing retail user trading experience.
Pump.fun announced it will immediately cease support for its Tokenized Agent token issuance feature. The feature will no longer be available for new token launches, though projects that have already activated it will remain unaffected. The platform noted that over recent months, consistent community feedback has pointed out that excessive issuance options have sparked unnecessary user vs. user (PVP) competition. Moving forward, Pump.fun will prioritize issuance models and product features that explicitly enhance retail trading experiences.
July 2026 features one of the largest token unlock schedules the Solana ecosystem has seen this year, led by a major vesting event for memecoin launchpad pump.fun and several sizeable releases across leading DeFi, infrastructure, and consumer-facing protocols.
Here is a breakdown of the most notable Solana ecosystem token unlocks scheduled for July 2026:
$PUMP Pump.fun is scheduled to unlock 86.65 billion $PUMP tokens in July, valued at approximately $123.65 million. The release represents 21.35% of the token's circulating supply and 10.14% of the total supply, making it the largest unlock of the month.
The majority of this release is due to the expiration of the project's original 12-month vesting cliff. 23% of the total $PUMP supply was allocated to team members and existing investors under a vesting schedule consisting of a 12-month cliff followed by 36 months of linear vesting. With that initial cliff now complete, approximately 82.5 billion $PUMP tokens will unlock immediately, while the remainder of the allocation will continue to vest over the following 36 months.
The unlock follows a period of aggressive supply reduction. Yesterday, June 29, pump.fun surpassed $400 million in cumulative $PUMP buybacks and burns, with a total of 146 billion $PUMP permanently removed from circulation. Those burns have effectively offset approximately 41.1% of the token's circulating supply.
The project previously committed to continuing programmatic buybacks for another year in April, allocating 50% of protocol revenue toward repurchasing $PUMP. As a result, July's vesting event coincides with an active supply-reduction strategy that market participants will do well to monitor closely. This will also serve as the first real price test for $PUMP since its TGE and will reveal how effective the buybacks are at absorbing selling pressure from the unlocks.
$JTO Jito will unlock 18.59 million $JTO tokens during July through linear vesting. The release is valued at approximately $14.11 million, representing 3.80% of the circulating supply and 1.85% of the total supply.
Beyond the monthly vesting schedule, July also marks an important milestone for the protocol's broader ecosystem. Jito recently teased the launch of JTX, its new trading app, in July.
Jito already generates revenue from several sources. JTX will introduce an additional revenue stream, with 80% of platform revenue accruing to $JTO holders, while the remaining 20% will support continued platform growth.
$GRASS Grass is scheduled to unlock 21.73 million $GRASS tokens through linear vesting during July. The release carries an estimated value of $10.25 million, representing 3.56% of circulating supply and 2.17% of total supply.
The unlock coincides with several anticipated ecosystem developments. Grass has announced that it will launch an in-app non-custodial wallet in July.
The wallet launch also carries additional significance for token holders. During the project's first Token Holder and Network Participant Call in November 2025, the team stated that full details regarding the second $GRASS airdrop would become available once the wallet goes live.
The upcoming Token Holder and Network Participant Call scheduled for July 7 is expected to provide further updates.
$ARX Arcium will unlock 5.86 million $ARX tokens on July 22, valued at approximately $1.53 million. The release represents 2.81% of circulating supply and 0.58% of total supply.
The unlock follows the launch of $ARX on June 22. Under the project's tokenomics, 185.2 million $ARX, or 18.5% of the total supply, was allocated to the community. At launch, 54.7% of that allocation became immediately available. The July 22 release unlocks an additional 3.164% of the community allocation, equivalent to 5.86 million tokens.
The remaining community allocation remains subject to a 12-month cliff followed by 42 months of linear vesting.
What to Watch July's schedule is dominated by the expiration of pump.fun's early investor and team vesting cliff. The release of more than 86 billion $PUMP tokens represents the largest unlock of the month by a considerable margin. Beyond $PUMP, projects such as $TRUMP and $DBR will introduce sizeable increases in circulating supply.
As always, token unlocks do not guarantee price movement. However, they remain an important metric for evaluating changing supply dynamics, liquidity conditions, and potential shifts in short-term market behavior across the Solana ecosystem.
Disclaimer: Solanafloor is a subsidiary of Jito Network.
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Celebrity-linked meme coin launches on Solana are drawing attention again after new tokens reached multimillion-dollar market caps.Solana’s low fees and fast settlement make it a natural home for rapid retail token launches.The same conditions that make these tokens move quickly also make them extremely risky. Solana’s meme coin machine appears to be waking up again. New celebrity-linked tokens have reportedly reached market caps in the millions after launching through Solana’s fast-moving retail token ecosystem, pushing traders back into a corner of the market that can feel euphoric one hour and brutal the next.
The activity can be tracked through public Solana infrastructure such as Solscan, where token creation, holder activity, transfers, and liquidity movements are visible on-chain. That transparency is useful, but it should not be confused with safety. In meme coin markets, seeing the activity does not mean the activity is healthy.
Why Solana Keeps Attracting These Launches There is a reason this keeps happening on Solana. The network is fast, cheap to use, and deeply wired into crypto’s retail trading culture. A new token can appear, pick up attention, migrate into a liquidity pool, and become the centre of a social-media trading rush before most people have even checked who controls the supply.
That speed is part of the appeal. For traders, Solana meme coins offer the possibility of early access, wild volatility, and a simple narrative that does not require reading a protocol whitepaper. For creators and promoters, the launch path is accessible and the attention cycle is immediate. Once a celebrity name, meme, or cultural reference catches on, liquidity can arrive very quickly.
The latest wave reportedly includes tokens reaching market caps around $13 million and $8 million during the early launch cycle. Those numbers are large enough to attract attention, but they are not proof of durable value. In this market segment, market capitalization can expand rapidly when liquidity is thin and early buying pressure is concentrated.
The Risk Is Not A Footnote Celebrity tokens have history, and much of it is ugly. The previous cycle produced launches that looked unstoppable for a few days, then faded as attention moved elsewhere. Some tokens lost the bulk of their value from peak levels, leaving late buyers holding assets that had very little support once the promotional moment passed.
That is the uncomfortable truth behind the current Solana resurgence. Traders may be watching for the next explosive move, but the same mechanics that create a sudden 10x can also create a collapse. Liquidity can disappear. Early wallets can sell. Narratives can expire. And celebrity association, even when genuine, does not automatically create a sustainable crypto project.
There is also a regulatory backdrop. U.S. regulators have repeatedly warned about celebrity promotion and speculative token marketing. Even where a token launch is presented as entertainment or community culture, traders should still ask who benefits, what disclosures exist, and whether the token has any purpose beyond being traded.
Solana will probably remain the leading venue for this kind of activity because the network fits the behaviour perfectly. It is quick, inexpensive, and culturally aligned with retail experimentation. But that is not the same as saying every trend built on top of it deserves trust.
The better read is this: Solana meme coin risk appetite is alive again. That may create opportunities for fast-moving traders, but it also increases the chance of painful exits for anyone confusing market-cap screenshots with fundamentals.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Solana is now processing roughly 100 million non-vote transactions per day, sustaining real-time throughput between 1,200 and 1,900 TPS, and pulling in $100 million in fees.
By June 2026, daily non-vote transactions averaged 102.7 million. Daily active addresses have ranged between 2 and 5 million throughout 2026, with peaks surpassing 4 million users on a single day.
What the numbers actually mean TPS figures can be misleading in crypto. Most chains inflate throughput by counting validator votes alongside real user transactions. Solana separates the two, which makes the 100 million daily non-vote figure the honest version of network activity.
The sustained TPS range sits between 1,000 and 4,000, with real-time snapshots consistently landing in the 1,200 to 1,900 band.
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Applications built on top of Solana generated $2.39 billion in revenue during 2025, a 46% year-over-year increase. Seven individual applications each crossed the $100 million revenue threshold.
The infrastructure behind the activity Solana’s development team has been incrementally raising block compute limits, with proposals targeting around 100 million compute units per block.
The demand driving these upgrades is not coming from one source. DeFi protocols, stablecoin transfers, and payment applications are all contributing to baseline network load.
The network has also weathered a broader industry-wide compression in fee revenue that hit most Layer-1 chains. Solana maintained $100 million in fees during a period when competitors were watching their fee income shrink.
What investors should be watching Seven Solana-based applications each generating over $100 million in revenue individually is the kind of ecosystem depth that took Ethereum years to develop.
The daily active address range of 2 to 5 million creates a volatile but high floor for network engagement. Sustained activity above 4 million daily addresses would signal the high-end numbers are becoming the baseline.
Solana has kept fees low by design, which drives adoption but also caps per-transaction revenue. The network’s ability to compensate through raw volume, 100 million transactions daily, is currently working.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
More than 140 companies—among them Visa, Stripe, Mastercard, American Express, Coinbase, Ripple, Bybit, and Solana—have joined forces to launch a new stablecoin called Open USD. Scheduled for native rollout on the Solana network in 2026, this collaborative project brings together leading payment networks, crypto exchanges, and blockchain developers for what could become a major development in the stablecoin arena.
According to the announcement on Tuesday, Open USD will be owned and operated collectively through an independent entity named Open Standard. This structure is designed to move away from a single issuer, enabling a broader, more inclusive management framework that opens the door for wide industry participation.
Zach Abrams, founding CEO of Open Standard, noted several fundamental challenges with current stablecoins at an enterprise level. He pointed out that companies today encounter various fees when minting and redeeming tokens, have restricted access to reserve yields, and rely heavily on the decisions of a single issuer when it comes to product direction.
Zach Abrams, CEO of Open Standard, highlighted that while existing stablecoins bring certain strengths, enterprise users need an open, low-cost, high-capacity, accessible solution with interests aligned across participants for large-scale adoption.
With the Open USD model, member companies will be able to mint and redeem tokens without paying any fees, and there will be no artificial volume caps. Moreover, all income derived from the Open USD reserves will be distributed among the partners rather than kept by a central entity.
Mini glossary: Reserve yield refers to the income generated through the management of cash and similar assets backing a stablecoin. In centralized models, this yield usually stays on one company’s balance sheet, whereas collaborative approaches distribute it among the participants.
Stripe’s backing draws industry attentionAmong the boldest demonstrations of support comes from Stripe, which plans to make Open USD its default stablecoin for businesses operating within its system. As a top-tier global digital payment infrastructure provider, Stripe’s endorsement signals a powerful use case for real-world payment applications.
Will Gaybrick, Head of Technology and Business at Stripe, remarked that companies require a stablecoin capable of operating at global and industrial scale, which is why Open USD will become the default stablecoin for businesses on the Stripe platform.
Gaybrick also emphasized that this need extends beyond today’s transaction volume, reflecting future growth in digital payment flows. This vision positions Open USD not merely as a payment tool but as a foundational infrastructure offering for enterprises worldwide.
The stablecoin market keeps expandingThe Open USD announcement comes at a time of rapid growth in the global stablecoin market. According to data from Messari, the total market capitalization of stablecoins has surged to 298 billion dollars.
Carolyn Weinberg, Director of Product and Innovation at BNY, forecasts that the stablecoin market could reach 1.5 trillion dollars by 2030. She argues that Open USD’s neutral governance and shared economics could unlock a new phase of growth for digital assets if the model succeeds.
CategoryDataNumber of participating companiesMore than 140NetworkSolanaPlanned launch year2026Stablecoin market cap298 billion dollars2030 projection1.5 trillion dollarsDisclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Survey: 88% of enterprises plan to adopt stablecoins within the next year, with cross-border payment costs reduced by an average of 35%.
Payment infrastructure company Cybrid has released a new survey report indicating stablecoins are rapidly gaining traction in enterprise payment scenarios. The survey found that 42% of participating enterprises already use stablecoins for cross-border payments, while 88% said they are likely or very likely to adopt stablecoins within the next 12 months—only 2% of firms stated they will continue to rely entirely on traditional payment systems. According to the report, enterprises using stablecoins save an average of 35% on cross-border payment costs, with firms processing over $100 million in monthly payments achieving an average cost reduction of 47%. Payroll and contractor payments represent the most prominent use case, followed by supplier payments, customer payments, investment and revenue management, and treasury management, among others. Additionally, 71% of respondents identified a clear regulatory framework as the primary factor driving further mainstream adoption of stablecoins, outranking considerations such as infrastructure provider credibility and system integration. The survey was conducted from April to May this year, covering 468 senior executives from tech, financial services, and e-commerce sectors in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2 hours ago
FalconX secures EU MiCA license, allowing it to offer compliant crypto services to institutional clients in Europe.
Institutional digital asset broker FalconX announced it has obtained the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), enabling it to provide compliant digital asset trading, custody, liquidity and related institutional services across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). FalconX stated that this license allows it to operate across EU member states under a unified regulatory framework, eliminating the need for individual country-specific licenses. Currently, the firm serves over 2,000 institutional clients worldwide, including asset management firms, hedge funds, banks and family offices, with cumulative transaction volumes exceeding $2.5 trillion and over $8 billion in institutional financing disbursed. FalconX noted that as the MiCA regulatory framework is fully implemented, institutional clients’ demand for compliant trading, custody and liquidity services continues to grow, and regulatory credentials are becoming a key competitive advantage in Europe’s digital asset market.
2 hours ago
Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a fraud case involving over $1 billion.
A US court has sentenced Miles Guo (also known as Ho Wan Kwok) to 30 years in prison. In 2024, a jury convicted Guo on multiple charges including racketeering, fraud, and money laundering, with his formal sentencing now issued. Prosecutors stated that Guo defrauded over $1 billion from global victims through a series of related scam schemes spanning five years. Notably, in 2021, he promoted the cryptocurrency project Himalaya Coin (H-Coin), claiming the tokens were backed by 20% gold reserves and promising to cover all investors’ losses, raising approximately $500 million in total. Additionally, the court previously ordered the forfeiture of nearly $900 million in Guo’s illegal proceeds, as well as his luxury mansion in New Jersey and multiple high-end vehicles. Guo had close ties to Steve Bannon, a former senior advisor to US President Donald Trump; Bannon was arrested in 2020 aboard Guo’s yacht.
2 hours ago
The first-half 2026 funding rankings have been released, with Kalshi and Polymarket raising a combined $1.8 billion.
According to statistics, the 14 largest global funding rounds in the first half of 2026 raised a total of $4.3 billion, with prediction markets, AI, and payment sectors drawing the most investor interest. Specifically, prediction market platform Kalshi topped the list with a $1.2 billion funding round, while Polymarket secured $600 million—together, the two raised $1.8 billion, accounting for over 40% of the total capital of the top 14 rounds. In the AI space, Replit, Exa AI, and OpenRouter closed funding rounds of $400 million, $250 million, and $113 million respectively. For blockchain projects, Canton Network, Arc, and Morpho raised $355 million, $222 million, and $175 million respectively. Meanwhile, payment, RWA, infrastructure, and compliance projects including Rain, Slash, Goldcom, Alpaca, and Elliptic also featured on the list.
2 hours ago
Pump.fun is discontinuing support for its tokenized agent issuance feature, stating it will focus on optimizing retail user trading experience.
Pump.fun announced it will immediately cease support for its Tokenized Agent token issuance feature. The feature will no longer be available for new token launches, though projects that have already activated it will remain unaffected. The platform noted that over recent months, consistent community feedback has pointed out that excessive issuance options have sparked unnecessary user vs. user (PVP) competition. Moving forward, Pump.fun will prioritize issuance models and product features that explicitly enhance retail trading experiences.
2 hours ago
Circle CEO: USDC remains the world's most trusted stablecoin, will continue to expand its ecosystem and welcome market competition.
Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that as the internet continues to reshape the global infrastructure for storing and transferring value, stablecoins will emerge as one of the world’s largest market opportunities — a core reason Circle was founded and has since built the world’s largest compliant stablecoin network. Allaire noted that USDC remains the world’s most trusted, widely adopted, and institutional-grade stablecoin, with thousands of partners across sectors including banking, payments, capital markets, and enterprises. Circle will continue expanding the USDC ecosystem, including supporting more blockchain networks, enhancing cross-chain interoperability, and enabling more partners to participate in the economic value generated by the USDC network. Additionally, Allaire said Circle welcomes ongoing innovation and competition in the stablecoin space, and will expand support for more U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar stablecoins across its products: Arc, CCTP, StableFX, Circle Wallets, and CPN, to advance the development of a stablecoin-centric internet financial system.
A recent analysis from CoinGecko reveals just how fleeting most meme coins launched on Pump.fun really are. The Solana-based platform has lowered the barrier to token creation dramatically, enabling anyone to mint a coin with minimal cost or technical skill. Since January 2024, this has resulted in a massive wave of launches, but the research findings from CoinGecko show the overwhelming majority fail to maintain any trading activity for long.
Researchers reviewed on-chain data for roughly 18.67 million tokens created between January 14, 2024, and June 18, 2026.
They measured lifespan as the number of calendar days from a token’s creation until its final trade on Pump.fun’s bonding curve.
Tokens with no trading activity at all were excluded from the study. The numbers paint a clear picture of rapid decline.
Nearly 68.7% of tokens — more than 12.8 million — recorded their last trade on the exact day they launched.
Adding those that survived only one additional day brings the total to over 80% that effectively disappeared within the first 48 hours.
Survival drops steeply from there: just 4.1% lasted two to three days, 3.4% made it four to seven days, and the percentages continue to shrink for longer periods.
Only 4.55% of tokens remained active beyond 90 days.
This steep drop-off means the average lifespan across the entire dataset falls well under a single day.
While a small percentage of tokens eventually “graduate” to external decentralized exchanges such as Raydium (roughly 1% of launches), the core finding holds: most projects never build lasting momentum.
The CoinGecko team links this extreme transience directly to the platform’s dynamics.
The same-day failure rate, they observe, reflects a pattern where creators launch large numbers of tokens in quick succession and move on to newer projects as soon as initial interest fades.
Low creation costs and easy access to trending feeds encourage this behavior, turning token launches into a high-volume, low-commitment activity driven primarily by short-term attention rather than any underlying utility or
In practice, this creates an environment saturated with speculative fervor.
Tokens often spike on initial hype from social media buzz or influencer mentions, only to lose liquidity and interest almost immediately if they fail to sustain that early momentum.
The data underscores how little substance many of these projects possess once the first wave of buyers exits.
For traders and investors, the report serves as a data-backed caution.
While a handful of meme coins achieve significant market caps and longevity, the vast majority do not.
The research findings illustrate a market segment where excessive enthusiasm frequently outpaces any realistic prospects for sustained value.
Most tokens are essentially experiments in attention economics — quick to appear, quick to be forgotten, and rarely justified by fundamentals.
CoinGecko’s analysis provides one of the clearest quantitative views yet of Pump.fun’s ecosystem.
It shows a landscape defined by high turnover and fleeting speculation, where the promise of overnight success rarely survives beyond the first trading session.
In such conditions, participants chasing the next viral launch face odds heavily stacked against long-term survival for the tokens they buy into. The research report from CoinGecko ultimately highlights why so much of the excitement around these coins remains rooted in temporary hype rather than enduring merit.
The cryptocurrency sector is observing a new phase of activity around Solana, as its network records unprecedented levels of use. The blockchain attracts more users thanks to the growth of decentralized exchanges and the arrival of digital financial assets. This dynamic follows a sharp increase in the token, driven by significant volumes and visible growth of its ecosystem. Recent data shows a change in usage, with a strengthened position in decentralized financial infrastructure. This evolution draws the attention of global market players amid current transformation.
In brief Solana gains 7% and exceeds 75 dollars thanks to record network activity. DEX volumes reach 7.2 billion dollars, surpassing several centralized platforms. Tokenized assets exceed 10 billion dollars, reinforcing institutional usage. Solana’s market capitalization reaches 44 billion dollars, confirming its place among major cryptos. Traders watch the 78-82 dollars resistance against upcoming market developments. Solana Benefits From Record Network Activity and Gains Ground Against Traditional Platforms The recent rise of Solana mainly rests on the intensification of transactions and exchanges carried out on its network. The weekly volume of operations, excluding validators’ votes, has reached an unprecedented level, confirming a larger participation of active users. This dynamic reflects a broader adoption of the ecosystem and a growing use of decentralized applications.
Here are the main indicators of this progress showing the extent of the recorded activity on the network:
Decentralized exchange (DEX) volume: 7.2 billion dollars recorded on Solana-based platforms. Market capitalization: 44 billion dollars after the token’s progress on the crypto market. The price of SOL jumped about 7% to cross the 75 $ mark. Technical resistance zone: 78 to 82 dollars, monitored by investors. Weekly transaction volume: a historic record reached excluding validators’ votes. This rise strengthens Solana’s position among the main blockchain infrastructures on the market. Decentralized exchanges now hold a more significant place in the digital ecosystem, while investors closely follow the network’s upcoming developments. Current technical levels remain a key element to assess the blockchain’s ability to maintain this momentum.
Tokenized Assets Strengthen the Utility of the Solana Blockchain Beyond traditional exchanges, the arrival of real-world assets represents a central element of this new dynamic. Tokenized stocks and traditional shares linked to the network have exceeded 10 billion dollars in cumulative volume. This growth shows increasing interest in the digital representation of existing financial assets. It also indicates that the blockchain is developing uses related to a broader financial infrastructure.
In this context, Solana benefits from the expansion of applications seeking to connect traditional finance to decentralized technologies. Institutions are observing the opportunities offered by asset tokenization. This trend changes the perception of blockchain networks, often associated with digital tokens. Now, decentralized infrastructures also host financial instruments linked to the real economy.
However, market players are also monitoring risks related to rapid price movements. Technical analysts identify several levels likely to trigger profit-taking. The coming months will allow to assess this growth.
Market Prospects Remain Linked to Technical Signals and Adoption Retail investors’ interest has also evolved thanks to analyses shared by some sector observers. The trader known under the pseudonym ” Ansem ” published technical charts accompanied by a long-term projection. This forecast mentions a price target that could reach 1,000 dollars for the digital asset.
On their side, quantitative traders maintain a more cautious approach to current movements. Order book data shows resistance located between 78 and 82 dollars. This zone could temporarily limit progress if sellers increase their presence. Markets analyze several indicators before anticipating a new stage.
Finally, the Solana network will need to maintain its activity pace to confirm lasting interest around its ecosystem. Decentralized exchange volumes, tokenization and daily usage will remain essential elements. The next evolution will depend on the balance between technical adoption and investors. The market will follow these indicators to measure this dynamic.
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Ghiles A.
Journaliste et rédacteur web passionné par l’univers des cryptomonnaies et des technologies Web3. J’y traite les dernières tendances et actualités afin de proposer un contenu de haute qualité à un large public du secteur.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Solana climbed nearly 18% over the past week, rising from a local low near $64 on June 25 to an intraday high of $75.80 on June 30. The rally came as tokenized stock activity on the network hit a record $1.36 billion in weekly volume, accounting for roughly 96% of all on-chain equity trading during the period.
SOL outperformed most large-cap tokens while Bitcoin remained below $60,000 following another failed breakout attempt.
Tokenized Assets and ETF Flows Fuel Demand The surge in real-world asset activity increased on-chain transactions and demand for SOL as the network’s native gas token, adding an organic source of spot buying beyond speculative trading. Spot Solana exchange-traded funds managed by firms including Bitwise and Fidelity surpassed $1.06 billion in combined assets under management.
Unlike spot Bitcoin ETFs, several Solana products distribute staking rewards to shareholders, giving investors an additional yield component alongside price exposure. Institutional participation continued to deepen beyond ETF flows.
MoneyGram joined the network as a validator, while Toss Bank expanded its use of Solana infrastructure for cross-border stablecoin remittances. These additions provide long-term network participation rather than short-term speculative interest, reinforcing the chain’s growing role in traditional financial services infrastructure.
Technical Indicators Show Momentum Shift The daily chart showed SOL reclaiming the 20-day simple moving average around $70.90 after defending support near $64. The Chaikin Money Flow indicator climbed back into positive territory at 0.17, suggesting capital returned to the token after weeks of persistent selling pressure.
Traders are watching resistance between $76 and $80, where liquidation clusters from leveraged positions could amplify price moves in either direction. A sustained close above $76 would mark the first higher high since SOL began declining from its 2026 range.
Analysis: Real-World Usage Now Drives Sol More Than Speculation Solana’s rally stands out because it coincides with verifiable on-chain activity rather than purely speculative flows. Processing 96% of all tokenized equity trading gives the network a functional revenue stream through gas fees that did not exist in prior market cycles.
The $1.06 billion ETF milestone also signals institutional capital entering through regulated vehicles rather than spot exchanges alone.
This combination of real usage, institutional access and staking yield represents a structural shift from the memecoin-driven rallies that previously defined Solana price action. The risk is that tokenized stock volumes prove cyclical rather than durable, leaving SOL exposed if activity normalizes.
Macro Headwinds Persist Despite the rally, macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on the broader crypto market. Bitcoin’s inability to reclaim $60,000 limits risk appetite across altcoins.
Fading confidence that the CLARITY Act will pass before the U.S. midterm elections adds regulatory uncertainty that could further pressure risk assets. Weaker support levels below $64 remain a concern if broader selling pressure returns across the sector.
What’s Next? Traders are focused on whether SOL can sustain a breakout above $80 resistance on continued volume. Ongoing tokenized asset activity and ETF inflows could support further upside, while a broader crypto selloff tied to legislative uncertainty would test the $64 support that held this week.
One of the best strategies for generating high returns over the past two years has been finding obscure AI stocks that are critical parts of relieving bottlenecks. For example, most investors didn't care about Micron or Nebius until mid-2025, and those two stocks have gone on to crush the S&P 500.
Investors who are looking for the next superstar may want to take a closer look at Rambus (RMBS +4.84%). It's only up by 25% year to date as I write this, and has a $13 billion market cap. That stock has more than quintupled over the past five years, so there is a history of strong momentum. A closer look reveals how the opportunity stacks up for long-term investors.
Image source: Getty Images.
Memory chip demand surges Rambus specializes in high-performance memory chipsets that are found in AI data centers. Memory chipsets essentially manage memory chips to ensure they perform optimally. Rambus has a few competitors, but broad tailwinds benefit the company greatly.
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If memory chips continue to fly off the shelves, memory chipsets will eventually follow. Micron has demonstrated that the first part of that equation is still strong. The company more than quadrupled its revenue year over year in its fiscal 2026 third quarter while delivering more than 70% sequential growth. Micron's current-quarter guidance implies more than 20% sequential growth.
Those results should translate into higher revenue growth rates for Rambus. Memory chips need memory chipsets like the ones Rambus provides, and this idea is starting to take shape in the company's finances. Overall revenue increased by 8% year over year in the most recent quarterly report, while product revenue was up by 15% year over year. The product segment includes Rambus' memory chipsets and is the fastest-growing part of the business.
AI inference and agentic workloads are in early innings Rambus CEO Luc Seraphin cited "the growth of AI inference and agentic workloads" when touting Rambus' long-term opportunities and ability to support next-generation AI platforms. Those products will require substantial amounts of memory chips and chipsets, and they are projected to grow meaningfully.
Grand View Research projects a 17.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the AI inference market and 46.2% CAGR for the agentic AI market through 2030.
Investors can already see the impact of these growing markets in Rambus' projections. Its product segment generated $88 million in Q1, and the company is forecasting $98 million at the midpoint for Q2. That target implies 11% sequential growth.
Rambus has demonstrated that it can meet memory performance requirements and gain market share in AI infrastructure. As its product revenue continues to grow sequentially, more investors will recognize the opportunity. The stock is well-positioned for a prolonged rally. I think it is one of the best AI stocks to buy right now.
Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Warren Buffett is delaying his midyear Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) donation to the Gates Foundation pending a review of its Epstein ties. Oppenheimer downgraded major banks including Goldman Sachs (GS) and Morgan Stanley (MS), citing late-cycle industry maturity and cyclicality.
Key Takeaways MCHP is seeing strong demand from aerospace and defense, which accounted for 16% of fiscal 2026 sales.Microchip Technology's PolarFire FPGA families continue to see solid demand in mission-critical applications.MCHP expects fiscal Q1 2027 net sales to increase 11% sequentially, plus or minus 1%. Microchip Technology (MCHP - Free Report) shares have gained 39.7% in the year-to-date period, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s return of 12.8%. The outperformance is being driven by improving demand trends across its end markets and growing exposure to data center, artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, and defense markets.
The company is benefiting from robust demand in the aerospace and defense (A&D) sector, which has emerged as one of the company’s strongest end markets in recent quarters. In fiscal 2026, the A&D segment accounted for 16% of total sales, making it one of the company’s key revenue contributors.
A key factor behind Microchip Technology’s success in A&D is its portfolio of high-reliability products, such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which are widely used in mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. The company’s PolarFire and PolarFire 2 FPGA families are recognized for their reliability and high performance, with demand remaining strong across both A&D and other end markets.
MCHP Benefits From Aerospace & Defense DemandMicrochip Technology’s expansion of its high-reliability semiconductor portfolio remains a key growth factor. The company continues to strengthen its presence across AI, data center, aerospace, and defense markets through innovations spanning FPGAs, microprocessors, connectivity solutions and timing devices.
Building on this momentum, Microchip Technology recently introduced the DSA504RT, a radiation-tolerant, six-output programmable clock generator designed for aerospace and defense applications. The new device streamlines spacecraft timing architectures by generating multiple precise frequencies from a single master source, reducing component count, power consumption, and system complexity.
The DSA504RT delivers ultra-low jitter performance and enhances reliability in harsh space environments. The new offering strengthens Microchip Technology's space-grade semiconductor portfolio and is expected to support growing demand for high-reliability timing solutions, supporting the company's long-term growth prospects.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Microchip guided net sales to $1.442-$1.469 billion. The company expects non-GAAP EPS in the range of $0.67-$0.71, supported by continued recovery across its end markets.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenues is pegged at $1.45 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 35.17%.
The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at 59 cents per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 30 days. The figure implies year-over-year growth of 246.08%.
MCHP’s Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to ConsiderCurrently, Microchip Technology sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Digital Turbine (APPS - Free Report) , Dell Technologies (DELL - Free Report) and Flex (FLEX - Free Report) are some other top-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. Digital Turbine, Dell Technologies and Flex sport a Zacks Rank #1 each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
APPS shares have rallied 158.2% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Digital Turbine is pegged at 18.98%.
DELL shares have surged 229.3% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Dell Technologies is pegged at 26.35%.
Shares of FLEX have gained 164.1% in the year-to-date period. The long-term earnings growth rate for Flex is pegged at 45.76%.
Key Takeaways CMS has an edge with 12.17% ROE, above PPL's 9.41% and the industry's 11.21%.CMS plans $24B in 2026-2030 capex, with 72% allocated to electric utility operations.CMS' shares gained 11.4% in six months, ahead of PPL's 4.9% rally over the same period. The companies operating in the Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry present an attractive investment opportunity, supported by stable cash flows and the predictable earnings profile of regulated business models. Long-term power purchase agreements provide revenue visibility and help insulate utilities from economic fluctuations. At the same time, rising electricity demand and sustained infrastructure investments are enhancing operational efficiency, supporting consistent earnings growth and reliable dividend payments.
The companies operating in this space are also accelerating their transition toward cleaner energy to meet the growing need for around-the-clock electricity driven by AI-powered data centers, industrial reshoring and increasing electric vehicle adoption. Utilities are retiring older fossil fuel assets, expanding renewable energy capacity and investing in low-emission technologies while maintaining grid reliability. Backed by robust capital investment and shareholder return programs, the industry remains well positioned to deliver steady income and long-term value as the clean energy transition continues. New technology adoptions are lowering the cost of development and maintenance of the utility-scale renewable plants.
Against this backdrop, let us compare PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) and CMS Energy Corporation (CMS - Free Report) , two regulated U.S. electric utilities that are investing heavily in grid modernization, renewable energy and infrastructure expansion to meet growing electricity demand.
PPL Corporation operates a fully regulated utility business, providing stable and predictable cash flows supported by constructive regulatory frameworks. The company continues to invest in grid modernization, renewable energy integration and decarbonization initiatives, while its strong balance sheet and dependable revenue base support steady earnings growth, reliable dividends and long-term shareholder value. The company is efficiently serving its customers in the Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Rhode Island region and has a goal of achieving net-zero operations by 2050.
CMS Energy is also well positioned for long-term growth through its robust capital investment program and focus on clean energy. The company is modernizing its grid, improving system reliability and expanding capacity to meet increasing electricity demand from data centers and industrial customers across Michigan. A supportive regulatory environment enables timely cost recovery and sustained rate-base growth, while continued investments in solar, wind and energy storage advance its goal of achieving net-zero operations by 2040. These initiatives are expected to support consistent earnings growth and stable dividend payments.
With electricity demand continuing to rise and the clean energy transition gaining momentum, comparing the fundamentals of PPL Corporation and CMS Energy can help determine which utility stock offers the stronger investment opportunity in 2026.
PPL & CMS’ Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PPL’s earnings per share in 2026 and 2027 has improved year over year by 7.73% and 8.08%, respectively. Long-term (three to five years) earnings growth per share is pegged at 7.52%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMS’ earnings per share in 2026 and 2027 has improved year over year by 7.2% and 7.63%, respectively. Long-term earnings growth per share is pegged at 7.14%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ValuationPPL Corporation currently appears to be trading at a discount compared with CMS Energy on a Price/Earnings Forward 12-month (P/E- F12M) basis.
CMS is currently trading at 19.41X, while PPL is trading at 18.13X.
Return on EquityReturn on Equity (“ROE”) is an essential financial indicator that evaluates a company’s efficiency in generating profits from the equity invested by its shareholders. It demonstrates how well management is utilizing the capital provided to increase earnings and deliver value.
PPL’s current ROE is 9.41% compared with CMS’ 12.17%. CMS also outperforms the industry’s ROE of 11.21%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Long-Term Capital Investment PlansThe Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry is a very capital-intensive industry and the companies operating in this industry need to make investments for maintenance, upgrade and expansion of their infrastructure to efficiently serve customers.
CMS plans to make capital expenditures worth $24 billion during 2026-2030. Out of this, 72% is allocated toward strengthening its electric utility operations.
PPL expects a regulated capital investment plan of $23 billion during 2026-2029 and to complete about $5.1 billion of planned investments in 2026. Its planned investment is aimed to add more renewable sources to the generation portfolio.
PPL & CMS’ Capital Return ProgramDividends are recurring payments made by companies to their shareholders, offering a direct source of investment returns. These payouts typically indicate solid financial performance, marked by stable earnings and healthy cash flow. Utility companies are especially known for their dependable and consistent dividend distributions.
Currently, the dividend yield for PPL Corporation is 3.08%, while the same for CMS Energy is 2.89%. The dividend yield of both companies is presently better than the S&P 500 composite’s 1.41%.
Debt to CapitalThe debt-to-capital ratio is a vital indicator of the financial position of a company. The indicator shows the amount of debt used to run a business.
PPL and CMS have a debt-to-capital of 57.4% and 65.18%, respectively, compared with the industry’s 61.05%. Both PPL and CMS have enough financial flexibility to meet their interest as shown in the times interest earned ratio of 2.8 and 2.5, respectively.
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Price PerformanceCMS Energy’s shares have gained 11.4% in the past six months compared with PPL’s rally of 4.9%.
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Wrapping UpPPL Corporation and CMS Energy are investing consistently in their infrastructure and efficiently providing reliable services to their customers.
Both companies discussed above are evenly matched in most of the metrics discussed above. Based on better ROE, a slightly elaborate capital investment plan and stronger price performance, CMS Energy has an edge over PPL Corporation.
Both companies currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways PPL benefits as data center, manufacturing and industrial investments lift demand across its territories. PPL plans $23B in investments through 2029, driving 10.3% annual rate base growth. PPL's 2026 and 2027 earnings estimates show year-over-year gains of 7.67% and 8.08%. PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) benefits from ongoing economic development across its service territories, driven by expanding data center, advanced manufacturing and industrial investments. Rising electricity demand supports higher infrastructure spending, expands the regulated rate base and strengthens long-term earnings visibility.
Pennsylvania has emerged as a key data-center growth market for PPL. During the first quarter of 2026, PPL disclosed that projects in advanced planning stages reached 28.3 gigawatts (GW), up 12% sequentially from 25.2 GW, with nearly 10 GW under signed Electric Service Agreements and about 5 GW already under construction. The company's reliable transmission network and fast interconnection capabilities continue to attract hyperscale customers.
In Kentucky, projected load growth increased to 12.9 GW through 2032 from the previously 8.5 GW, supported by interest from 13 new data center projects representing nearly 12 GW of potential demand. Global Laser Enrichment and Toyota Motor Manufacturing also announced combined investments of $2.6 billion in PPL's service territory, prompting management to raise its expected new load to 3.5 GW by 2032 from 1.8 GW.
To support this growth, PPL plans to invest about $23 billion through 2029, driving 10.3% annual rate base growth and upper-end 6-8% EPS growth.
Economic Development Drives Long-Term Utility GrowthUtilities benefit from economic development as new businesses, industries and data centers, and electric vehicle usage increases electricity demand. This drives infrastructure investments, expands the regulated rate base, supports earnings growth and enhances long-term shareholder value.
Alliant Energy (LNT - Free Report) is benefiting from ongoing economic development across its Iowa and Wisconsin service territories. The company is attracting data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities and other large industrial customers, increasing electricity demand while supporting regulated investments and long-term earnings growth.
Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) is benefiting from robust economic development across Kansas and Missouri, as growing investments in data centers, advanced manufacturing and commercial projects drive higher electricity demand. Its expanding large-customer pipeline supports long-term rate-base expansion and earnings growth.
PPL’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 7.67% and 8.08%, respectively.
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Debt to CapitalPPL's debt-to-capital ratio currently stands at 57.40%, lower than the electric power industry’s 60.71%.
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PPL’s Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have risen 6.2% compared with the industry’s 7.1% growth.
Key Takeaways TMDX is expanding its OCS platform and advancing kidney transplant development for long-term growth.TransMedics posted solid Q1 2026 results driven by strong OCS volume and logistics growth.TMDX gross margin fell 331 basis points as investments and logistics revenue weighed on results. TransMedics Group, Inc. (TMDX - Free Report) is well-poised for growth in the coming quarters, courtesy of its strength in Organ Care System (OCS) technology. The optimism, led by decent first-quarter 2026 results, is expected to contribute further. However, concerns due to gross margin pressure persist.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has lost 44.7% in the year-to-date compared with 14.2% decline in the industry. The S&P 500 has witnessed 7.4% growth in the said time frame.
The renowned organ transplant therapy provider has a market capitalization of $2.37 billion. TransMedics’ earnings yield of 2.73% compares favorably with the industry’s negative 3.1%. The company’s earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, missed once, with the average surprise being 39.37%.
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Factors Favoring TMDX’s GrowthStrength in OCS Technology Driving Adoption: TransMedics’ OCS revolutionizes organ transplantation by replacing passive cold storage with a dynamic, physiologic approach that perfuses donor organs with warm, oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood. This innovation minimizes ischemic injury, allows real-time organ assessment and significantly increases the viability of organs, especially hearts and lungs, donated after circulatory death, that would otherwise go unused.
As the only FDA-approved, portable platform offering warm perfusion for heart, lung and liver transplants, the OCS standardizes care, reduces post-transplant complications and sets a new clinical benchmark in organ preservation. This positions TransMedics as a leader in the multi-billion-dollar transplant market with limited competition.
Robust Pipeline Supporting Growth: TransMedics continues to advance its long-term growth strategy through the development of next-generation OCS systems and expansion into new organ markets. The company is progressing its Gen 3.0 multi-organ platform for heart, lung and liver, featuring upgraded hardware, software and a redesigned perfusion system aimed at improving usability, reliability and operational efficiency while reducing supply chain complexity.
Clinical expansion efforts remain focused on the ENHANCE Heart and DENOVO Lung programs, with the newly introduced CHOPS active cooling device expected to support trial execution and potentially broaden the company’s commercial product portfolio over time. Beyond cardiothoracic transplants, management continues to position the kidney as a major long-term opportunity, with the OCS Kidney platform under active development and a U.S. IDE submission targeted for early 2027. The company is also enhancing its broader NOP ecosystem and digital infrastructure to improve scalability, workflow efficiency and coordination across transplant centers.
Decent Q1 Results: TransMedics delivered solid first-quarter 2026 results, driven by strong OCS case volume growth, expanding clinical adoption and continued momentum in logistics services. Growth was supported by strong liver performance, steady heart adoption and higher aviation fleet utilization within the integrated National OCS Program (NOP).
While profitability remained pressured by elevated investments in expansion and clinical programs, the company continues to execute well on its long-term growth strategy. Management remains focused on advancing the ENHANCE Heart and DENOVO Lung programs, expanding internationally and developing the OCS Kidney platform, which represents a significant long-term growth opportunity.
A Factor That Can Offset TMDX’s GainsGross Margin Under Pressure: TransMedics’ gross margin remained under pressure in the first quarter of 2026 as the company continued scaling its integrated NOP infrastructure and investing aggressively in future growth initiatives. Gross margin came in at approximately 58%, down 331 basis points year over year, primarily driven by higher internal supply chain activity tied to NOP inventory replenishment, investments supporting the ENHANCE and DENOVO clinical programs and continued expansion of the NOP network.
The growing contribution from lower-margin logistics and service revenues also weighed on blended margin performance. Management noted that certain one-time items further pressured margins during the quarter. The company expects near-term gross margins to remain range-bound around current levels as it continues investing in international expansion, technology upgrades and logistics infrastructure before scale efficiencies and operating leverage more meaningfully materialize.
Estimate TrendTransMedics is witnessing a negative earnings estimate revision trend for 2026. In the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings has moved 3 cents south to $1.87 per share.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s second-quarter 2026 revenues is pegged at $184.2 million, indicating a 17% improvement from the year-ago quarter’s reported number.
Key PicksSome better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Globus Medical (GMED - Free Report) , West Pharmaceutical (WST - Free Report) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) .
Globus Medical, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.12 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.1%. Revenues of $759.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.0%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.2% compared with the industry’s 12.6% growth. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 26.3%.
West Pharmaceutical, currently flaunting a Zacks Rank #1, reported first-quarter 2026 EPS of $2.13, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.8%. Revenues of $844.9 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.5%.
WST has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 13.9% compared with the industry’s 9.5% growth. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 19.4%.
Intuitive Surgical, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.50, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 20.2%. Revenues of $2.77 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.2%.
ISRG has a long-term estimated growth rate of 14.6% compared with the industry’s 12.6% growth. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 16.8%.
