Market Signal Briefing

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.

That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

US Foods (USFD - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

While there are numerous reasons why the stock of this company is a great growth pick right now, we have highlighted three of the most important factors below:

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for US Foods is 72.3%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 23.9% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 5.3%.

Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for US Foods is 13.8%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 4.3%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 5.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 4.6%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsBeyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for US Foods. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.3% over the past month.

Bottom LineUS Foods has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination positions US Foods well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

Key Takeaways Pool Corp is set to report Q3 2024 results on Oct. 23, before the market opens.Consensus estimates call for EPS of $3.37 and revenues of $1.45B, both slightly above last year.Growth in private-label chemicals and the POOL360 WaterTest platform may aid quarterly performance.
Pool Corporation (POOL - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 23, before market open.

In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1%, but revenues missed the mark by 0.2%.

How Are Estimates Faring?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share is pegged at $3.37, indicating an increase of 3.4% from $3.26 reported in the year-ago quarter.

For revenues, the consensus mark is pegged at $1.45 billion. The metric suggests an increase of 1.1% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.

Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to have influenced the to-be-reported quarter’s results.

Factors at PlayPool Corp’s third-quarter 2025 performance is likely to have been aided by strong local presence, a robust distribution network and targeted marketing initiatives. Continued momentum in maintenance products, particularly the strong performance of private-label chemical offerings, should contribute positively to results. Furthermore, the expansion of the POOL360 WaterTest platform, ongoing franchise growth and the development of new builder partnerships are anticipated to have enhanced the company’s market position and support both near-term performance and long-term growth prospects.

POOL continues to expand through both organic and inorganic growth strategies, particularly in markets with higher pool densities. During the last quarter, the Pinch A Penny franchise network added five new stores, including its first location in North Carolina, bringing the total to 302 franchised stores.

Management remains confident that favorable demographic trends and increasing demand for at-home leisure — combined with ongoing needs for maintenance and renovation — will support continued demand.

However, macroeconomic uncertainty and evolving policy decisions that may weigh on consumer confidence, combined with persistent high interest rates, continue to place pressure on new pool construction and large-scale renovation projects. Despite these headwinds, POOL Corp’s focus on innovation, disciplined execution, a growing base of aging pools and a strong product sales mix are expected to help offset these challenges in the upcoming results.

What Our Model Says About POOL StockOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Pool Corp this time around. A stock needs to have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to beat estimates. But that is not the case here.

POOL’s Earnings ESP: Pool Corp has an Earnings ESP of -0.52%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

POOL’s Zacks Rank: The company has a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings EstimatesHere are some stocks from the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector that investors may consider, as our model indicates they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat.

Hasbro, Inc. (HAS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.93% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Hasbro is expected to register a 4.1% decrease in earnings for the to-be-reported quarter. Hasbro reported better-than-expected earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 43.8%.

Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN - Free Report) presently has an Earnings ESP of +16.91% and a Zacks Rank #2.

 Wynn Resorts’ earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 24.4%. Wynn Resorts reported better-than-expected earnings in one of the trailing four quarters and missed on three occasions, the average surprise being 11.5%.

PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +11.38% and a Zacks Rank of 3.

PENN Entertainment’s earnings for the to-be-reported quarter are expected to increase 58.3%. PENN reported better-than-expected earnings in three of the trailing four quarters and missed on one occasion, the average surprise being 92.7%.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) (“Teledyne”) announced today that Teledyne's Board of Directors appointed Laura Black, Managing Director of Needham & Company, LLC, and George C. Bobb III, Teledyne's President and Chief Executive Officer, to Teledyne's Board of Directors. These additions raise the number of Board members to 12. Ms. Black, age 64, has served as a Managing Director of Needham & Company, LLC, a full-service investment ba.

RLUSD launch & XRP's nomination for the USA Strategic Reserve is just the start: what are Ripple holders counting on now?

In brief
Ethereum was up slightly, even after ETFs lost $145 million on Monday.
The delayed U.S. CPI report, now set for October 24 due to the ongoing government shutdown, has become a key risk trigger.
Bitcoin ETFs have rebounded faster than Ethereum funds, with institutions showing stronger confidence in BTC as its dominance remains near 60%.
Ethereum was up 0.5% in the past day even as exchange-traded funds tracking ETH continued to shed assets amid investor nervousness about inflation and other macroeconomic uncertainties.

The second largest crypto by market value was recently changing hands for $3,973. ETH is now 2.3% higher than it was this time last week but trading 9.5% below its price as of a month ago, according to crypto markets aggregator CoinGecko.

Ethereum ETFs shed $145 million on Monday, after losing $311 million last week. However, Bitcoin funds have been faster to rebound from last week, when outflows totaled $1.2 billion, according to U.K. investment firm Farside Investors. BTC funds lost $40.4 million yesterday.

“Presistent redemptions in recent sessions indicate that passive institutional selling remains active, while shrinking leverage and forced liquidations have increased near-term fragility,” Bitunix analyst Dean Chen told Decrypt. “The delayed U.S. CPI release, now set for October 24 due to the government shutdown, has become the key systemic risk trigger of the week.”

Users on Myriad, a prediction market owned by Decrypt parent company Dastan, correctly predicted that the U.S. government shutdown would drag on past mid-October. There was some doubt among users initially that the current shutdown, which has now extended to 20 days, could become the longest in history. To do that, it would need to last 35 days to beat the 2018-2019 shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term.

But the odds flipped Monday and 60% of Myriad users now think the government will remain closed long enough to become the longest on record.

Meanwhile, institutions have felt more comfortable in BTC than ETH, Nic Puckrin, crypto analyst and co-founder of The Coin Bureau, told Decrypt.

“ETF flows suggest that Bitcoin remains the most trusted crypto asset for institutions, and its dominance remains close to 60%,” he said. “So it’s no surprise that Ethereum ETFs are suffering more.”

He added that although the crypto investors are showing signs of fatigue, “any positive news could reverse that quite sharply.”

Investors are now looking anxiously at  the Bureau of Labor Statistics September Consumer Price Index report set to be released on Friday. It would have been released last week if not for the shutdown, the BLS said.

“From a macro perspective, a stronger-than-expected CPI print could lift the U.S. dollar and real yields, putting renewed pressure on risk assets and potentially sending ETH toward the $3,700 zone,” Chen said. “Conversely, a softer inflation reading could trigger short covering and risk-on flows, helping normalize futures basis and drive a rapid rebound.”

The sentiment is echoed by Ethereum derivatives data, Jean-David Péquignot, chief commercial officer at Deribit by Coinbase, told Decrypt.

“Overall, ETH options point to elevated volatility expectations around CPI, with a defensive tilt short-term but more optimistic undertones,” he said. “A soft CPI could trigger bullish reactions by cooling yields and the dollar, supporting ETH retests of resistance. Stronger inflation data might extend consolidation or trigger downside.”

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

Tether, the world's leading stablecoin issuer, has officially surpassed 500 million users worldwide. 

CEO Paolo Ardoino has described this as the "biggest financial inclusion achievement" in history.

Retaining first-mover advantage The firm, which was founded back in 2014 by former child actor Brock Pierce and two other entrepreneurs, pioneered the stablecoin model, becoming a true trailblazer. 

HOT Stories

Despite various controversies, the stablecoin firm has managed to remain on top, and USDT is still the dominant stablecoin with a market cap of $182 billion. 

According to the Tether boss, 37% of USDT users are actually holders. "They are using USDT as their savings account because, you know, they don't have local banks," Ardoino said.

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He has noted that USDT protects holders from developing countries against currency debasement, given that it does not depreciate as their national currency. In such a way, people can become richer by simply parking their money in a safer fiat currency. 

Expanding the greenback's influence Ardoino has been vocal about USDT's role in expanding the role of the US dollar. 

In a February post, the Tether boss stated that the most widely used stablecoin is "the most successful" tool for maintaining the hegemony of the greenback. 

Polymarket has launched 15-minute cryptocurrency prediction markets powered by Chainlink's decentralized oracles.

This is a segment from the 0xResearch newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

Hi all, happy Tuesday. While Monday opened strong, weakness prevails broadly across the board. Under the surface, spot DEX volumes and active loans remain near highs. There’s a new token launching this week with Meteora’s MET: Where may fair value lie?

Indices
The week began with strength as BTC moved 7% higher from the low set this past Friday. Launchpads were the top performing sector on Monday’s trading session, while AI was the top loser, reversing some of the relative strength and weakness exhibited by each over the past week. 

Zooming out to the weekly, the recent strength in launchpads positions this sector as the relative winner, only outperformed by Gold, which closed Monday again near a record high. Broadly, most indices remain negative on the weekly following the historic liquidation event. Within the launchpad index, AUCTION, a launchpad on BSC, is the only ticker to show positive gains on the weekly, up 46%.

While shorter timeframes show some green, the monthly demonstrates that almost every crypto index is down over the trailing 30 days. The Oct. 10 liquidation has left broad weakness across the board, with Gold, Crypto Miners, AI and Equity indices being the only areas of strength.

The VIX has retraced significantly, down to 18 after Friday morning’s pop to 29. Both the S&P500 and the Nasdaq traded higher during Monday’s session, closing just a stone’s throw away from a new all-time high. 

Market Update
ETF flows remain muted and negative. Monday shows -$40 million from BTC, -$145 million from ETH, and +$27 million into SOL ETFs. Looking at the weekly, last week saw -$1.5 billion in net outflows across the ETFs, reversing some of the accumulation from a very strong open to October. SOL ETFs were the only product to show net inflows, adding +$14 million.

Within DATCOs, BMNR is running away with it. The vehicle now holds 3,236,014 ETH, more than the holdings of all other ETH DATCOs combined, and 2.67% of the total ETH supply. Notably, BMNR has continued to grow its stack of ETH nearly ~70% since the end of August, while most other ETH DATCOs have flatlined. In doing so, BMNR’s market share of the ETH held by DATCOs grew from 50% toward 65% now.

This story is mirrored in trading volumes of ETH DATCOs. BMNR has accounted for 60-85% of the trading volume of ETH DATCOs, allowing its stock to be the most liquid. This liquidity feature gives the vehicle preferential appetite from bigger allocators, and also reduces the marginal impact on price from ATM share offerings. BMNR seems to be the clear winner in this sector for ETH treasury companies.

Within SOL DATCOs, the picture is less clear. FORD remains the largest vehicle by holdings, with almost the entirety of this size acquired through the proceeds of the PIPE offering. The vehicle has yet to grow its stack meaningfully through ATM share offerings, despite a $4 billion ATM offering program having been authorized.

Going down the list, growth in holdings remains muted, with HSDT recently moving into second place.

Trading volumes for SOL DATCOs tell a similar story. While DFDV was once the majority of this sector’s volumes, the picture has moved towards more of an even split across the top names. While FORD accounts for ~43% of the SOL held by DATCOs, it only accounts ~10% of the sector’s trading volume, showing relatively little turnover in the stock. This data could be good grounds to justify why very little SOL has been stacked through FORD’s ATM offering. 

While BMNR is emerging as a clear winner for the ETH names, the leader in the SOL sector may still be up for grabs. Over the coming month, I would expect volumes to increasingly concentrate around the top names, and funnel the cream to the top.

Meteora’s TGE: What is fair value for MET?
Meteora’s (MET) highly anticipated TGE will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23. Unlike the recent trend of projects conducting an ICO sale, Meteora is not fundraising before TGE. Instead, it’s airdropping to eligible recipients, including Mercurial stakeholders, Meteora LPs, JUP stakers and launchpad partners. Airdrop recipients will receive unlocked MET by default or choose to provide liquidity at launch to earn trading fees (up to a limit of 10% of the total supply of 1 billion tokens).

As historical context, Meteora was launched in February 2023 by the team behind Jupiter, Solana’s largest DEX aggregator and perps trading platform. When Meteora launched, the previous iteration of the protocol, Mercurial Finance, was sunsetted. The reason for shutting down Mercurial, along with its governance token (MER), was that there were significant amounts of MER involved in FTX/Alameda, so the team decided that the best course of action was to rebuild the platform with a new token (MET).

Back in 2023, the team announced that 20% of MET tokens would be distributed to Mercurial stakeholders at TGE. As seen below, the team has kept its initial promise, with 15% allocated to Mercurial stakeholders and 5% to Mercurial Reserve (those directly affected by the FTX insolvency). In addition, the DEX has been running a points program since Jan. 31, 2024, for which a total of 15% of MET will be allocated. At launch, 48% of MET’s supply will be circulating, a high float compared to other notable token launches in the Solana ecosystem, such as JTO, KMNO, or JUP itself (13.5% float at launch).

Source: https://met.meteora.ag/

As mentioned previously, 10% of the total supply (100 million MET) will be used to bootstrap the initial liquidity via a dynamic AMM pool, with a starting price of $0.5 ($500 million valuation) and liquidity spread across to $7.5 billion valuation. Early on, the liquidity pool will be single-sided (MET only), and early buyers will swap their USDC for MET. Note that the pool fees start high and drastically decline over time through a fee scheduler.

Source: https://met.meteora.ag/

Napkin math valuation
DEXs, particularly on Solana, lack a significant moat since they historically do not own the frontend. The best example of this dynamic is Raydium losing millions of dollars in volume and revenue after Pump decided to redirect graduated coins to its own AMM, PumpSwap. Meteora has attempted to mitigate this issue by vertically integrating, expanding its distribution capabilities via Jupiter and select launchpad partners. 

As mentioned, the DEX is operated closely with the Jupiter team, which has become the gateway for less sophisticated retail users to trade onchain. In addition, Meteora partnered with Moonshot in August 2024 to introduce a launchpad and has onboarded new partners over time, including Believe, BAGS and Jup Studio. The chart below shows that launchpad activity has contributed between $200K-$800K in weekly revenue for Meteora in recent weeks, with most flows coming from Believe and BAGS.

Looking at overall financials, Meteora has generated $8.8 million in revenue in the past 30 days across all of its pools, with weekly revenue consistently nearing $1.5 million, even in periods of relatively low onchain activity. To note, over 90% of Meteora’s revenue comes from memecoin pools, which generally have higher fee tiers than SOL-stablecoin, project tokens, LST and stable-to-stable pools. 

Regarding valuation, we can look at Raydium and Orca as comps. The chart below shows RAY and ORCA’s price-to-sales ratio year to date on a 30-day annualized basis. We observe that both assets have been priced at relatively similar ratios up until September, when RAY began trading at a premium. Zooming out, both assets have seen a median P/S of 9x in 2025. 

The table below compares RAY and ORCA’s P/S ratios across various lookback periods. We observe that ORCA is trading very similarly across all annualized timeframes, at around a 6x P/S ratio. In contrast, RAY has become more expensive over recent months as revenues have declined. On its part, we see that Meteora’s annualized revenue falls between ~$75 and ~$115 million, depending on the lookback period. 

Finally, below we show MET’s potential valuation across various revenue and P/S ranges. In our view, a P/S between 6x and 10x is most likely based on how RAY and ORCA have been historically priced. As such, we could reasonably expect MET to trade between $450 million and $1.1 billion after launch (circulating market cap). Note that based on the figures below, valuation starts getting a bit expensive over $1 billion relative to comps, and over $2 billion MET would be almost definitely overvalued, unless it can increase its revenue run rate.

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Tether is focusing its half-billion-user influence on a critical pain point, with the Kotani Pay deal designed to empower African SMEs by slashing the cost and time of international money transfers.

Summary

Tether celebrates 500 million users as it invests in Kenya-based Kotani Pay to expand access to digital payments across Africa.
The deal aims to reduce cross-border transaction costs and integrate USDT with mobile money and banking networks.

According to a press release dated Oct. 21, Tether has made a strategic investment in Nairobi-based fintech Kotani Pay. The move positions the world’s largest stablecoin issuer to directly embed its USDT token within Africa’s burgeoning digital payments landscape.

Kotani Pay specializes in blockchain on- and off-ramps, building bridges between digital assets like USDT and local payment methods, including mobile money and bank transfers across the continent. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that the investment aligns with the company’s goal to “reduce friction in cross-border transactions” for both enterprises and individuals.

“Kotani Pay’s vision and strong regional presence make it the right fit to drive our shared goals in Africa and beyond. Together, we aim to empower enterprises and individuals to access digital assets for their global operations and build a more inclusive financial future while promoting the informed use of digital assets,” Ardoino said.

Tether’s milestone underscores a shift in stablecoin adoption
Tether is marking the investment alongside another milestone. The company now facilitates transactions for over half a billion people worldwide through its USDT stablecoin, cementing its role as the industry’s bedrock with a towering $182 billion market cap.

While Tether hasn’t broken down that figure by region, its gaze is fixed on Africa, where it sees its next chapter of growth unfolding. The firm points to a Chainalysis report revealing a 52% explosion in on-chain transaction volume across Sub-Saharan Africa, which rocketed past $205 billion in a single year.

Behind that surge are small business owners and individuals turning to digital assets as a lifeline. They’re navigating the same harsh realities the data confirms: soaring inflation, unpredictable local currencies, and banking systems that have left many behind.

To put faces to these numbers, Tether released a short documentary from Kenya. The film highlights local merchants using USDT to pay international suppliers and families relying on it to receive remittances from abroad. It’s a grassroots look at how a global digital dollar is providing a tangible anchor in economies often defined by their volatility.

Bitcoin Cash continues its mission to deliver fast, affordable, and scalable peer-to-peer payments. With the upcoming May 2026 network upgrade, the blockchain doubles down on usability. Bitcoin Cash Advances On-Chain Innovation With Four New CHIPs in 2026 Network Upgrade At Bitcoin.com, our mission is to make economic freedom accessible to everyone.

A US judge blocked a LIBRA crypto seizure, ruling no proof tied the funds to Argentina’s government.Evidence instead hinted that President Javier Milei, his sister Karina, and Hayden Mark Davis may control the assets.The decision deepens intrigue around Milei’s crypto links and derails creditors’ $1.5B recovery efforts.A US court rejected a seizure request by international investment funds that sought to link crypto funds linked to the LIBRA scandal to the Argentine State. 

Instead, a judge noted that the evidence pointed toward private individuals as the parties controlling the funds. The conclusion further complicated the involvement of Argentine President Javier Milei, his sister Karina, and LIBRA promoter Hayden Mark Davis.

Sponsored

Judge Points Finger at Milei InsidersThis week, Federal Judge Jennifer Rochon in the Southern District of New York denied a request by international investment funds that had attempted to seize LIBRA cryptocurrency assets by linking them to the Argentine State.

Rochon argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove state ownership. Instead, she suggested that the millions generated by LIBRA could belong to Milei, his sister and Secretary General Karina Milei, or Mark Hayden Davis, who helped launch and promote the meme coin.

$Libra: la jueza Rochon le negó la información de las ganancias de la estafa global a un fondo que litiga contra Argentina. Dijo que no afirma (ni niega) que los más de 100 millones de dólares que admitió tener Hayden Mark Davis puedan ser de él, Javier Gerardo y Karina Milei.👇 pic.twitter.com/4LRT8NNxU7

— Juan Alonso (@jotaalonso) October 21, 2025
The ruling frustrated the funds’ attempt to locate assets to recover a loan to Argentina after the country suffered an acute economic crisis in 2001.

The asset seizure case is legally distinct from the civil class-action lawsuit filed against Milei by retail investors over their $251 million in losses. Nonetheless, it still highlights and complicates his connection to the broader scandal.

Sponsored

Why Foreign Creditors Tried Seizing LIBRA AssetsThe request to Rochon represented a calculated move by four major investment funds seeking to get paid for a major debt.

Palladian Partners, HBK Master Fund, Hirsh Group, and Virtual Emerald International Limited comprise the four financial firms that own bonds that were part of the major debt restructuring following Argentina’s massive 2001 sovereign default. 

Specifically, they hold GDP-linked securities, which promise creditors a payout if Argentina’s economy grows above a certain threshold. In 2019, these funds sued Argentina in a UK court, arguing that the country had incorrectly calculated its GDP to avoid triggering the payment on these bonds.

In 2023, the court ruled in the funds’ favor, ordering that Argentina pay them over $1.5 billion in debt owed. However, since then, Argentina has failed to do so.

Sponsored

In light of this, the funds have launched a global campaign to locate and seize any assets belonging to the Argentine State that they could find in other countries.

Following the LIBRA scandal, the funds have sought to justify the seizure of millions of dollars generated by insiders due to the token launch.

Creditors’ Crypto Bid Backfires on MileiThe four international investment funds targeted the LIBRA scandal because it was a new, high-value asset that Milei strongly promoted.

In their latest appeal before the Southern District of New York, these funds needed to prove that the billions generated by the token belonged to the Argentine state, not to private individuals.

Sponsored

If they could prove this, they could legally try to seize the LIBRA profits to cover their debt. The funds requested extensive documentation from Meteora, the Solana platform that launched LIBRA. They also demanded testimony from several individuals to prove their cause.

However, the fruits of their efforts actually backfired.

Judge Rochon rejected the funds’ request because the creditors failed to provide enough credible information to justify involving the US court system in a dispute primarily concerning a foreign state and foreign creditors.

The funds were criticized for engaging in a “fishing excursion,” meaning they were not seeking specific, relevant evidence. Instead, they used the court’s power to conduct a speculative investigation into the entire cryptocurrency operation.

She noted specifically that their evidence pointed to private ownership, further complicating Milei’s participation in the scandal. 

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

TL;DR

Trezor launched Safe 7, a hardware wallet prepared for quantum attacks and designed to give users full control over their funds.
Its security relies on two auditable chips: TROPIC01 and Secure Element EAL 6+, protecting against physical access and PIN attacks.
The device offers Bluetooth connectivity, magnetic charging, a 2.5” touchscreen, and compatibility with thousands of crypto apps, including MetaMask.

Trezor introduced its new hardware wallet, Safe 7, designed for cryptocurrency custody and ready to face future quantum attacks.

The company’s CEO emphasized the importance of users having autonomous control over their funds, recalling historical episodes in which currency devaluations wiped out the savings of large parts of the population. Since 2013, Trezor has aimed to ensure assets are stored securely under the principle “not your keys, not your coins.”

What Trezor Safe 7 Offers
Safe 7 brings significant technical improvements. Its wireless Bluetooth connectivity and magnetic charging remove the need for cables, while the 330 mAh LiFePO₄ battery allows up to four times more charge cycles and can safely drain to 0% before recharging. The 2.5-inch color touchscreen is 62% larger than the previous model, and the device remains USB-C compatible. The wallet connects with thousands of crypto applications, including MetaMask, enabling users to store and trade assets in a single secure environment.

Security is reinforced with a dual-chip architecture. Trezor Safe 7 integrates the auditable TROPIC01 chip, developed with Tropic Square, alongside a Secure Element EAL 6+. This combination protects against physical access and brute-force PIN attacks, ensuring any attempt to manipulate assets faces two independent layers of defense. Both chips are fully auditable and transparent.

Quantum-Ready
The device is “quantum-ready,” meaning it is prepared for the day crypto transitions to quantum-resistant algorithms. CTO Tomáš Sušánka explained that this will allow the wallet to maintain security even when Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies adopt post-quantum standards.

The design is built for daily use. Its aluminum body, IP54 dust and water protection, Gorilla Glass screen, and glass backplate enhance durability without compromising the product’s aesthetic. All hardware and software are open-source, allowing the community to verify its functionality.

Trezor Safe 7 combines advanced security, modern connectivity, protection against future threats, and ease of use, making it one of the most complete and secure hardware wallets on the market

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) are up over 2% on Tuesday as a rotation out of metals may signal renewed institutional appetite for crypto markets.

Bitcoin Price Reclaims $113,000 As Outflows Ease

BTC Price Prediction (Source: TradingView)

Bitcoin is up 2.3% in the last 24 hours, reclaiming the $113,000 mark.

The rebound followed a defense of support around $109,500, aligned with the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement and the 100-day EMA, confirming near-term stability after last week's correction.

Exchange netflow data recorded a $75.6 million inflow on Oct. 21 as per Coinglass data, signaling a reversal from weeks of persistent outflows. 

Technically, BTC faces resistance around the 50-day EMA at $114,067, followed by the 0.382 retracement at $114,420. 

A sustained break above this zone may open the path toward $117,600–$121,400, while failure to hold could invite a retest of the $108,000 base. 

The RSI at 49 reflects neutral momentum.

Ethereum Gains 1.9% On Treasury Accumulation

ETH Netflows (Source: Coinglass)

Ethereum trades at $4,051, up 2.8% as buyers defend the $4,000 zone despite continued exchange withdrawals.

Spot data from Coinglass shows $161.9 million in net outflows on Oct. 21.

This indicates ETH are moving away from exchanges — a trend often linked to long-term accumulation. 

Further support comes from BitMine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BMNR), which recently confirmed holdings of 3.24 million ETH worth $13 billion, equivalent to 2.7% of total supply. 

Chairman Tom Lee described the buildup as a strategic position ahead of an anticipated "Ethereum supercycle."

XRP Price Today Rises On Evernorth Launch And $1B Liquidity PushXRP trades at $2.51, up 2.5%. 

The move follows confirmation that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen contributed 50 million XRP to Evernorth, a new Nasdaq-bound XRP treasury platform expected to raise $1 billion through a SPAC merger with Armada Acquisition Corp II.

Larsen said Evernorth "fills the missing link in XRP capital markets," positioning it as the largest public XRP treasury. 

Ripple also announced a $1 billion liquidity initiative with Absa Bank, DBS Bank, and Franklin Templeton, targeting institutional cross-border adoption and DeFi integration.

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Summary

ASTER price prediction: ASTER trades near $1.20, consolidating after steep post-hype losses.
Break above $1.50 could target $1.80–$2.00; drop below $1.00 risks $0.85–$0.90.
The ASTER forecast hinges on renewed DeFi liquidity and sustained interest in perpetual DEX tokens.

ASTER has cooled off from its explosive launch rally and now trades near $1.20. As HYPE dominates the perpetual DEX narrative with a much larger valuation, traders are asking whether ASTER can rebound and close the gap.

ASTER price market info
ASTER 1D chart | source: crypto.news
As of October 20, 2025, Aster (ASTER) trades around $1.21, down sharply from its early-October peak near $2.10.

The token has retraced alongside fading retail momentum and broader risk-off sentiment across DeFi markets. However, ASTER remains one of the top-trending small-cap tokens, with daily trading volume holding above $150 million.

Market sentiment is mixed. Some view the recent drop as a cooling-off phase before a potential reaccumulation, while others see it as a shift toward consolidation after speculative excess. Support lies near $1.00–$1.10, while resistance sits at $1.35–$1.50.

Upside outlook for ASTER price
A sustained rebound in perpetual DEX activity could lift ASTER toward the $1.80–$2.00 range, particularly if liquidity returns to smaller DeFi tokens. Renewed social momentum or listings on major exchanges would provide additional upside catalysts.

Technical strength above $1.50 could attract momentum traders eyeing parity with earlier highs. If HYPE’s ecosystem growth continues to validate the perpetual DEX sector, ASTER may benefit from a “second-wave” narrative as traders rotate into lower-priced alternatives.

Downside risks to ASTER
Failure to hold above $1.00 could expose ASTER to a correction toward $0.85–$0.90, especially if speculative flows dry up. Low liquidity magnifies volatility, and any broader DeFi market pullback could accelerate losses.

A lack of protocol updates or declining on-chain volumes would also undermine the recovery narrative. In short, ASTER remains vulnerable to sentiment swings and short-term traders exiting positions.

ASTER price prediction based on current levels
At its current level near $1.21, ASTER is consolidating well below prior highs, with upside capped until it can reclaim the $1.50 threshold. A breakout above $1.50 would open a path toward $1.80–$2.00, while failure to defend $1.00 could trigger a slide toward $0.90.

The ASTER outlook depends largely on whether the perpetual DEX narrative revives and if traders view ASTER as a viable challenger to HYPE’s dominance in the sector.

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

SOL/USD Daily Chart (Binance) – Source: TradingView

Trading volumes initially surpassed the average after this first bounce, but have been lower now that the asset retested that same area a couple of days ago. This increases the odds of a much stronger pullback as buying interest seems to be fading.

For now, as long as the price stays above this key level, the odds favor a bullish outlook for SOL that could once again push the token to $200 in the near term.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) seems poised to rise above the 14-day moving average, which is typically interpreted as a buy signal.

If altcoins continue to recover in the next few weeks, Solana should play catch-up with BNB Coin and Ethereum to reach a new all-time high. On-chain data shows that ecosystem growth has stalled lately, which is an important factor to consider and the one that probably explains why it has not yet reached $300 during this cycle.

Nonetheless, market conditions remain favorable for now, and, as long as the Fed comes through with the expected rate cut this month, this recent scare should turn out to be a good buying opportunity instead of a trend reversal, which is what most of the market seems to be thinking.

In brief
Ethereum treasury SharpLink Gaming had not bought ETH for over a month.
The Nasdaq-listed company added 19,271 ETH to its balance sheet last week, when the price of the asset dropped.
SharpLink Gaming now holds 859,853 ETH, now worth over $3.5 billion.
Ethereum treasury firm SharpLink Gaming announced Tuesday that it added nearly $79 million in ETH to its holdings in its first crypto buy in over a month. 

The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based firm now has 859,853 ETH, now worth over $3.5 billion, after it bought 19,271 ETH at a cost average of $3,892 per coin last week. Last week, the company announced that it had raised $76.5 million through a stock sale.

ETH's price has swung wildly this month after crypto markets took a hit following the latest trade tariff threat from President Trump. The price of the second-biggest coin recently stood at $4,098 per coin, up nearly 4% over the last day while still down about 11% over the last two weeks.

NEW: SharpLink acquired 19,271 ETH at an average price of $3,892, bringing total holdings to 859,853 ETH valued at $3.5B as of October 19, 2025.

Key highlights for the week ending October 19, 2025:

- Raised $76.5M at a 12% premium to market
- Added 19,271 ETH at $3,892 avg.… pic.twitter.com/Y4Ewu4EiuF

— SharpLink (SBET) (@SharpLinkGaming) October 21, 2025

"The capital raise completed last week was executed at a premium to NAV," SharpLink Co-CEO Joseph Chalom said in a statement. "Shortly thereafter, we took advantage of attractive market conditions to acquire ETH at prices lower than when we raised the capital."

Publicly traded SharpLink (SBET) was trading more than 1% higher on Tuesday at $15.01 per share. SharpLink's stock has shot up nearly 400% since mid-May, when it was trading for less than $3 per share. However, it’s down about 13% over the last month.

The company in May first announced it would buy ETH via a $425 million private investment in public equity (or PIPE) offering led by blockchain technology firm Consensys and with participation from Galaxy Digital, ParaFi Capital, Ondo, and Pantera Capital. (Disclosure: Consensys is one of 22 investors in an editorially independent Decrypt.)

SharpLink was an online gambling marketing company, but in May pivoted to become a crypto treasury, following the model of Strategy—formerly MicroStrategy—which shifted from software development to buying Bitcoin in 2020 after years of struggling and low share prices.

Instead of buying Bitcoin, SharpLink opted for the second-biggest digital coin by market cap, Ethereum.

It is now one of the biggest digital asset treasuries. A number of publicly-traded companies this year pivoted to buying cryptocurrencies to boost stock prices and make better use of their cash. In terms of Ethereum treasuries, SharpLink ranks second behind BitMine Immersion Technologies, led by Chairman Tom Lee, which holds $12 billion worth of ETH.

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SummaryMy last highest conviction buy - Gold, gold miners, and silver - has delivered phenomenal returns for me in recent months and years.I detail why midstream is now my highest conviction buy after the strong bull market in precious metals.I also share some of the best ways investors can gain exposure to midstream today.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of High Yield Investor get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More » Richard Drury/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Back in February of 2024, I highlighted gold (GLD) as my highest conviction pick.

Then back in January of this year, I highlighted how I was shifting a lot of my gold allocation from

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

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

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Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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

Key Takeaways Costco ended fiscal 2025 with $14,161M in cash, up from $9,906M a year earlier.Strong operating cash flow of $13,335M fueled investments and shareholder returns.COST's cash exceeds its $5,713M long-term debt, signaling robust financial flexibility.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) concluded fiscal 2025 with a healthy balance sheet, highlighted by an enhanced liquidity position. The company held $14,161 million in cash and cash equivalents as of Aug. 31, 2025, a significant rise from $9,906 million a year earlier. This increase was the key driver behind total current assets of $38,380 million and reflects Costco’s disciplined financial management.

The warehouse giant’s net cash position increased by nearly $4,255 million, given the company's aggressive capital deployment during the same period. The robust cash position was built while simultaneously funding significant investments and returning value to shareholders. This accumulation of cash stems from strong operational performance.

Costco generated an impressive $13,335 million in net cash from operating activities over the 52 weeks ended Aug. 31, driven by efficient working capital management. This massive operating cash flow allowed the company to reinvest in its business significantly. It spent just under $5.5 billion on capital expenditures, channeling investments into accelerated warehouse growth, remodels and new manufacturing facilities.

On the financing side, Costco allocated $2,183 million for dividend payments and another $903 million for stock repurchases.

The resulting $14,161 million cash buffer provides immense financial flexibility. It exceeds the company’s long-term debt (excluding current portion), which was reported at $5,713 million, underscoring a healthy liquidity status as it moves into fiscal 2026.

What the Latest Metrics Say About CostcoCostco, which competes with Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , has seen its share rise 4.7% in the past year, underperforming the industry’s growth of 6.7%. While Walmart shares have rallied 30.5%, Target has declined 38.7% in the aforementioned period.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 46.28, higher than the industry’s ratio of 30.12. COST carries a Value Score of D. Costco is trading at a premium to Target (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 11.58) and Walmart (37.74). 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 7.7% and 11.1%, respectively. 
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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

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

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 21, 2025 / SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:SMX; SMXWW) (the "Company"), today announced that the reverse stock split of the Company's ordinary shares will begin trading on an adjusted basis giving effect to the reverse stock split on October 23, 2025 under the existing ticker symbol "SMX". The new CUSIP number of the Company's ordinary shares will be G8267K182 and the new ISIN code will be IE000UPDVNX9.

Meta Platforms' CEO Mark Zuckerberg will need to testify at the first trial over the adverse effects of social media on younger users, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled Monday.

Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl also ordered Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Instagram's Adam Mosseri to testify at the "first bellweather trial" slated for January. It followed a hearing on Monday in which representatives attempted to prevent the CEOs from testifying.

"The testimony of a CEO is uniquely relevant, as that officer's knowledge of harms, and failure to take available steps to avoid such harms could establish negligence or ratification of negligent conduct," she wrote.

Kuhl ruled that their testimonies would be "unique," given the allegations that social media companies failed to warn users of features created to "be addictive" and "drive compulsive" behaviors in minors.

Law360 was first to report the judge's order.

Read more CNBC tech news$500 purple cables put this little-known company in the middle of the AI boomNearly half of Kalshi's users saw glitches, delays during Saturday college football gamesSalesforce CEO apologizes for saying Trump should send National Guard to San FranciscoProxy advisor ISS recommends Tesla shareholders oppose Musk's $1 trillion pay planMeta declined to comment. CNBC has reached out to Snap for comment.

The pending trial is one of many alleging that social media technology companies have deliberately created platforms and features that cause harm to younger users and damage their mental health.

Earlier this month, New York City filed a lawsuit against several companies, arguing that they created addictive platforms that contribute to mental health issues among children. Last January, CEOs, including Zuckerberg, testified at a Senate hearing on ways to protect children from the harms of social media.

Meta motioned to stop Zuckerberg and Mosseri from testifying at the trial and argued for plaintiffs to use previous trial testimony. The company said making both CEOs attend more in-person trials would interfere with business and "set a precedent" to appear at other related trials.

Snap argued that ordering Spiegel to testify would be an "abuse of discretion."

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Key Takeaways
Coca-Cola shares rose Tuesday after the company posted better-than-expected quarterly profits. The company plans to sell a majority stake in the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Africa.The stock's climb extends an upward move that started late last month and has the shares within view of 2025 highs and Wall Street's consensus target.

There's some fizz in Coca-Cola today.

Shares of Coca-Cola (KO) were recently up more than 3% after the beverage giant posted stronger-than-expected third-quarter profit. The shares rose even through revenue came up slightly short in what CEO James Quincey called a "challenging" environment.

The Atlanta-based company reported Q3 adjusted earnings of $0.82 per share on revenue that increased 5% year-over-year to $12.46 billion. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected $0.78 and $12.52 billion, respectively.

The morning's move higher has the shares extending an upward run that started late last month. The stock remains off 2025 highs, though those levels are back in view. (The stock recently traded near $71; Visible Alpha's analyst mean is around $79.)

Why This Is Significant
Coca-Cola’s strong earnings despite weaker volumes reflect how many global brands are relying on price increases and product shifts to offset slowing consumer demand. In Coca-Cola's case, that has executives confident that they can meet their targets despite what they call a "challenging" backdrop.

Unit case volumes were up 1% overall but flat in North America and Latin America, and fell 1% in the Asia Pacific region. Sparkling soft drink volumes were even, aided by 14% growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Water, sports, coffee, and tea grew 3%, but juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages declined 3%.

Quincey said that "the overall environment has continued to be challenging," but added that "we're confident we can deliver on our 2025 guidance while also working to achieve our longer-term objectives." For the full year, the company expects 5%–6% organic revenue growth.

The company also announced a $2.6 billion deal to sell a majority stake in the largest Coca-Cola bottler in Africa, following its move last year to sell a 40% ownership stake in a bottler in India.

With today's climb, shares are up about 13% since the start of the year.

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PYMNTS
 | 
October 21, 2025

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Specific-purpose payments solutions provider Edenred partnered with Visa.

“This collaboration strengthens Edenred’s platform through the certification of its in-house issuing and processing infrastructure with Visa Europe,” according to a Tuesday (Oct. 21) news release. It allows Edenred to issue Visa credentials across its activities like benefits, mobility and B2B payments.

The partnership melds Visa’s network and innovation engine with Edenred’s market expertise and proprietary technology, the release said. It gives Edenred access to Visa’s commercial payments and B2B payments capabilities for insurance payouts, travel supplier payments, and other uses in the embedded finance space.

“Our partnership with Visa is a clear proof point of Edenred’s technology leadership,” Edenred Chief Product Officer Clément Le Chatelier said in the release. “Integrating Visa’s network and innovations within our PayTech platform allows us to scale faster, offer more choice, and deliver unmatched value to our clients.”

The partnership allows Visa to offer more solutions for businesses and employees and further its goal of improving commercial payments, according to the release.

“By combining Visa’s global capabilities with Edenred’s platform, we’re unlocking exciting new possibilities for innovation and growth across their business lines,” Lucy Demery, head of Visa Commercial Solutions, Visa Europe, said in the release. “This collaboration is a powerful example of how we can work together to deliver seamless, secure and meaningful payment experiences that empower both businesses and their employees alike.”

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The two companies have already collaborated in Latin America and the United States, and they plan to introduce the first Visa-enabled Edenred virtual payment solutions at the start of next year, with additional programs launching across Europe, per the release.

Edenred and Visa are teaming at a time when embedded finance has shifted from being a trend to “the next competitive frontier,” PYMNTS wrote Tuesday.

“Embedded Finance as a Strategic Initiative,” a PYMNTS Intelligence and Green Dot collaboration, found that almost every major company has already embedded financial services into their platforms to increase customer engagement, bolster loyalty and speed growth.

But even as 93% of firms report that the payoff outweighs the pain, most are scrambling to upgrade within the year, turning embedded finance from a convenience into a strategic imperative.

For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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