Market Signal Briefing

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Baxter International, Inc. (NYSE: BAX) common stock between February 23, 2022 and July 30, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until December 15, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Baxter class action lawsuit. Captioned Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W. v. Baxter International, Inc., No. 25-cv-12672 (N.D. Ill.), the Baxter class action lawsuit charges Baxter and certain of Baxter’s top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Baxter class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-baxter-international-class-action-lawsuit-bax.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Baxter, through its subsidiaries, provides a portfolio of healthcare products.

The Baxter class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Baxter’s Novum IQ Large Volume Pump (“Novum LVP”) suffered systemic defects that caused widespread malfunctions, including underinfusion, overinfusion, and complete non-delivery of fluids, which exposed patients to risks of serious injury or death; (ii) Baxter was notified of multiple device malfunctions, injuries, and deaths from these defects; (iii) Baxter’s attempts to address these defects through customer alerts were inadequate remedial measures, when design flaws persisted and continued to cause serious harm to patients; and (iv) as a result, there was a heightened risk that customers would be instructed to take existing Novum LVPs out of service and that Baxter would completely pause all new sales of these pumps.

The Baxter class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 31, 2025, Baxter announced that it had decided to “voluntarily and temporarily pause shipments and planned installations of the Novum LVP” and that it was “unable to currently commit to an exact timing for resuming shipment and installation for Novum IQ LVPs.” Defendants further stated that they had offered “customers the option of our Spectrum infusion pump as an alternative” and that Baxter’s low-end guidance assumes that Baxter does not resume shipments for Novum LVPs before the end of the year, according to the complaint. The Baxter class action lawsuit alleges that on this news, the price of Baxter common stock fell more than 22%.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Baxter common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Baxter class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Baxter class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a firm of its choice to litigate the Baxter class action lawsuit. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Baxter class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world’s leading firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases – more than the next five firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 attorneys in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world, and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. 
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. 

Contact:
        Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
        J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal
        655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
        800-449-4900
        [email protected]

October 17, 2025 16:30 ET

 | Source:

Rivalry Corp.

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY) (OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for digital-first players, today announces that it has closed the second tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the “Private Placement”) previously announced on September 29, 2025. The Company issued 27,600,000 units (“Units”) at a price of C$0.05 per Unit, for gross proceeds of C$1,380,000. Each Unit consists of one (1) subordinate voting share in the capital of the Company (each, a "SV Share") and one (1) SV Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one (1) SV Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.10 per Warrant Share until October 8, 2027. The SV Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares are subject to a four-month statutory hold period, in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Private Placement for corporate development and general working capital purposes.

The Company expects to complete (i) additional closings of up to 55,200,000 Units, including the remainder of the securities pursuant to its previously announced initial subscription agreement with a strategic family office, and (ii) its previously announced debt restructuring pursuant to a debt settlement agreement entered into between the Company and its senior lender, on or prior to October 24, 2025.

About Rivalry

Rivalry Corp. wholly owns and operates Rivalry Limited, a leading sport betting and media company offering fully regulated online wagering on esports, traditional sports, and casino for the digital generation. Based in Toronto, Rivalry operates a global team in more than 20 countries and growing. Rivalry Limited has held an Isle of Man license since 2018, considered one of the premier online gambling jurisdictions, as well as an internet gaming registration in Ontario, and is currently in the process of obtaining additional country licenses. With world class creative execution and brand positioning in online culture, a native crypto token, and demonstrated market leadership among digital-first users, Rivalry is shaping the future of online gambling for a generation born on the internet.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Company Contact:
Steven Salz, Co-founder & CEO
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “achieve”, “could”, “believe”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”, “estimate”, “outlook”, “expect”, “project” and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and/or completion of the Private Placement and debt restructuring.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of the Company at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Company. Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown, variables, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company’s actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations; the ability to obtain and maintain required licenses; the esports and sports betting industry being a heavily regulated industry; the complex and evolving regulatory environment for the online gaming and online gambling industry; the success of esports and other betting products are not guaranteed; changes in public perception of the esports and online gambling industry; failure to retain or add customers; the Company having a limited operating history; negative cash flow from operations and the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern; operational risks; cybersecurity risks; reliance on management; reliance on third parties and third-party networks; exchange rate risks; risks related to cryptocurrency transactions; risk of intellectual property infringement or invalid claims; the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and general economic, market and business conditions. For additional risks, please see the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 under the heading “Risk Factors”, and other disclosure documents available on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Source: Rivalry Corp.

October 17, 2025 16:30 ET

 | Source:

Onex Canada Asset Management Inc.

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onex Canada Asset Management Inc. (the “Manager”) today announced it intends to terminate Onex Global Equity Fund (formerly, Onex International Fund) (the “Fund”) on or about December 29, 2025.

The Fund will be closed to purchases by new and existing investors effective as of the close of business today. Unitholders of the Fund can redeem their units until the close of business on December 24, 2025, the business day prior to the termination date, in accordance with the procedures set out in the simplified prospectus.

A notice will be mailed to unitholders of the Fund at least 60 days prior to the termination date.

On or before the termination date, the Manager will liquidate the assets of the Fund and, after paying or making adequate provision for the liabilities of the Fund, distribute the cash proceeds (including any final income or capital gains) on a pro rata basis to the Fund’s unitholders of record on the termination date. In anticipation of the termination, the Fund may make distributions to its unitholders prior to the termination date.

About Onex Canada Asset Management Inc.

Onex Canada Asset Management Inc. is a subsidiary of Onex Corporation (TSX: ONEX) and offers access to differentiated investment platforms including public mutual funds and a range of private investment strategies and opportunities. For more information, please visit https://www.onex.com/onex-private-wealth.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Please email: [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] for questions about the termination.

October 17, 2025 4:34 PM EDT | Source: Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.
MAVERIC Phase III pivotal trial of orphan drug candidate CardiolRx™ in recurrent pericarditis is fully funded through to a planned New Drug Application submission with the FDA.

New data from the ARCHER trial, highlighting the magnitude of reduction in left ventricular (LV) mass and the read through to heart failure, to be presented at a cardiology conference in November 2025.

Next-generation therapy CRD-38 for heart failure funded through to clinical development, with partnership discussions advancing with leading pharmaceutical companies.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 17, 2025) - Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company advancing late-stage, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for heart disease, today announced the successful completion of a private placement offering (the "Offering") of units ("Units") for net proceeds of US$11 million. The initial closing of US$10 million has been completed, with the remaining US$1 million to close on Monday, October 20, 2025.

"As recruitment in our pivotal Phase III MAVERIC trial gains momentum, with several prominent centers across the U.S. now enrolling patients, we are pleased to have secured a direct investment of US$11 million to strengthen our balance sheet and accelerate the development of our novel heart failure drug, CRD-38, based on the recently reported findings from our ARCHER trial," said David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. "Topline results from our ARCHER trial demonstrated a significant reduction in LV mass-marking the first evidence of structural and remodeling improvement in patients with myocarditis. This landmark finding represents our second clinical validation in inflammatory heart disease and establishes a key translational link to data published earlier this year in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which demonstrated the beneficial effects of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or API in CardiolRx on cardiac structure, inflammation, and fibrosis in a model of heart failure. The ARCHER findings support pursuing an additional Orphan Drug Designation for CardiolRx in myocarditis and advancing the development of our next-generation CRD-38 formulation, which delivers the same API via subcutaneous administration, to target the broader heart failure market. Notably, blockbuster drugs that reduce LV mass have been shown to lower heart failure-related death and hospitalization, underscoring the clinical potential of Cardiol's differentiated anti-inflammatory mechanism to address a large unmet need in heart failure, where five-year mortality rates still exceed 50%."

Under the Offering, the Company sold a total of 11 million Units at a price of US$1.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one Class A common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of US$1.35 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. The warrants include an acceleration provision, allowing the Company to advance their expiry to the 30th day following the issuance of a news release if the daily volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares exceeds US$2.00 for five consecutive trading days. Proceeds from the Offering provide cash resources that are anticipated to support operations into the third quarter of 2027.

The securities have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the "United States" or "U.S. persons" (as such terms are used in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws or in compliance with an exemption therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Certain insiders of the Company participated in the Offering. Such participation is considered to be a "related-party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of related-party participation in the Offering as the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the subject matter of, and the fair market value of the consideration for, the transaction, insofar as it involved interested parties, did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization (as determined under MI 61-101).

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company advancing late-stage, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for heart disease. The Company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx™, modulates inflammasome pathway activation, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with pericarditis, myocarditis, and heart failure.

The MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, comprises the completed Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788) and the ongoing pivotal Phase III MAVERIC trial (NCT06708299). The U.S. FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.

The ARCHER Program (NCT05180240) comprises the completed Phase II study in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age.

Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure-a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding US$30 billion annually.

For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the Company's focus on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, the Company's intended clinical studies and trial activities and timelines associated with such activities, including the Company's plan to complete the Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis with CardiolRx™, the Company's plan to advance the development of CRD-38, a novel subcutaneous formulation intended for use in heart failure, the Company's presentation and publication of the comprehensive ARCHER trial data, the Company's belief that results from the ARCHER trial provide compelling clinical proof of concept for CardiolRx™ and strongly support advancing the clinical development of CardiolRx™ and CRD-38 for the treatment of inflammatory cardiac disorders including cardiomyopathies, heart failure, and myocarditis, and statements regarding the expected length and scope of funding for the Company's development plans as a result of the Offering. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities administrators and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2025, available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at sec.gov, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/270946

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT) a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company, today announced that it will release its third quarter 2025 financial results after the market closes on Thursday, November 6th, 2025. Gajen Kandiah, Chief Executive Officer, and Mark Marino, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call on the day of the release (November 6, 2025) at 5:00 PM ET to discuss the Company’s financial results.

Interested parties may access the conference call as follows:

To listen to the live webcast or access the replay following the webcast, please visit our IR website at the following link: https://ir.rackspace.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations.

To obtain a dial-in number, please pre-register at the following link: 

Rackspace 3Q25 Earnings Webcast

Registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call.

About Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company. We can design, build, and operate our customers’ cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products and adopt innovative technologies.

Investor Relations Contact: Sagar Hebbar, [email protected]
Media Contact: Cheryl Amerine, [email protected]

Bitcoin is currently under free fall as short-term bears have completely overwhelmed the market and are looking increasingly menacing. The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is currently trading around the $105k support level, but it may not hold for long.

WLFI price continues in a bearish structure, with price action likely to extend lower toward the $0.10 support before any meaningful bullish rotation can develop.

Summary

WLF continues forming lower highs and lower lows.
$0.10 Fibonacci support is the next major target.
Reclaim and hold above $0.10 could trigger a bounce toward $0.19.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) remains entrenched in a bearish market structure, with consecutive lower highs and lower lows defining its current trajectory. Despite brief relief rallies, price action continues to favor sellers, indicating that the downtrend remains intact.

The next critical level to watch lies near $0.10, where the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level aligns with a potential high time frame support zone.

WLFI price key technical points

Bearish Market Structure: WLF continues to print lower highs and lower lows, confirming sustained downside momentum.
Key Support Zone: The 0.618 Fibonacci level at $0.10 acts as the next major support and potential pivot point.
Upside Objective: Holding the $0.10 region could enable a rebound toward the $0.19 high-timeframe resistance.

WLFI/USDT (4H) Chart, Source: TradingView
From a technical standpoint, the structure of World Liberty Financial remains clearly bearish. The asset has been unable to establish any convincing reversal pattern as the series of aggressive sell-offs persists. The market continues to distribute lower, forming successive lower highs while failing to reclaim any significant resistance levels on daily closes.

The $0.10 region, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, now stands as the next significant support. This area will likely determine whether a short-term base can form. For any reversal scenario to materialize, WLFI must test this level, attract sustained bullish volume inflows, and print a higher low on the lower time frames. Without this confirmation, the market structure will continue to lean bearish.

The broader outlook for WLFI suggests the market is still in the distribution phase, with momentum favoring the downside. The current price action sits in what can be described as “no-man’s-land,” between confirmed resistance and untested support. Until price reaches $0.10 and shows signs of stabilization, traders should expect continued volatility and potential weakness.

A structural break in the bearish pattern, supported by strong bullish engulfing candles and increasing volume, would be required to validate any shift in trend. If $0.10 holds and accumulation begins, a rotational move toward the $0.19 resistance becomes possible. However, failure to defend $0.10 would expose WLFI to deeper downside risk and potential continuation of the current downtrend.

What to expect in the coming price action
For now, World Liberty Financial remains bearish across all major time frames. Price action is expected to gravitate toward the $0.10 support zone as the next key test. Traders should watch for volume confirmation and structural stability at this level.

A successful defense of this zone could mark the start of an accumulation phase and potential recovery toward $0.19.

Bitcoin traded near the $110,000 support level on Thursday after experiencing notable volatility driven by large whale activity and a surge in put option demand. Following a roughly 12% decline from last week's record highs, the cryptocurrency appears to be balancing between short-term risk and long-term structural demand.

TLDR

BlackRock sold over $28 million worth of Bitcoin during a sharp decline in the crypto market.
The firm bought more than $45 million in Ethereum shortly after selling its Bitcoin holdings.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust recorded a $29.46 million outflow in a single day.
The iShares Ethereum Trust saw a $46.9 million inflow which was the highest among all Ethereum ETFs.
Grayscale and Fidelity funds reported outflows while BlackRock was the only major issuer with ETH inflows.

BlackRock sold a significant amount of Bitcoin (BTC) and increased its Ethereum holdings amid a sharp market downturn. The move involved liquidating over $28 million worth of Bitcoin and purchasing more than $45 million in Ethereum. Market volatility triggered this change, as institutional investors reacted swiftly to shifting dynamics.

BlackRock Reduces Bitcoin Exposure During High Volatility
BlackRock deposited 272.4 BTC, valued at $28.36 million, into Coinbase Prime just five hours ago. This action indicated an apparent reduction in the firm’s Bitcoin exposure amid heavy liquidations. The crypto market faced over $1 billion in forced shutdowns within 24 hours, increasing pressure on traders.

Bitcoin alone accounted for $369 million in total liquidations, highlighting the market’s fragile position. Consequently, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) reported a $29.46 million outflow in a single day. Other U.S. Bitcoin ETFs also recorded a combined $536.44 million outflow, confirming the sector-wide trend.

Although other funds showed weakness, BlackRock’s actions stood out due to its influence and timing. The shift echoed a similar move made last month, but in the opposite direction. Then, BlackRock had exited Ethereum to accumulate more Bitcoin, showing an ongoing strategy shift.

After selling Bitcoin, BlackRock withdrew 12,098 ETH from Coinbase Prime, valued at approximately $45.47 million. The iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) experienced a net inflow of $46.9 million, surpassing all other U.S. Ethereum ETFs. This indicates institutional interest in Ethereum, despite overall crypto sentiment remaining weak.

While Grayscale and Fidelity funds experienced outflows, BlackRock recorded the only inflow of ETH among major institutions. This divergence suggests a reallocation strategy favoring Ethereum amid broader asset rebalancing. It also hints at potential confidence in Ethereum’s medium-term prospects.

Despite Ethereum contributing $262 million to the total liquidations, sentiment is stabilizing. CryptoQuant noted that ETH open interest is decreasing, which often signals a reduction in speculative trading. Analysts view this as a possible sign of consolidation and a less volatile phase.

Market Conditions Favor Ethereum Setup for a Possible Rebound
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, called the Bitcoin dip a buying opportunity following its drop to a four-month low. However, focus shifted toward Ethereum, with traders eyeing possible bullish setups. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee described the ETH setup as “very constructive,” reflecting growing optimism.

Most leveraged ETH positions are now short, increasing chances of a short squeeze and a sharp price rebound. ETH traded around $3,800 after a 13% weekly decline, indicating strong resilience. BlackRock’s move aligns with these developments and could influence broader investor sentiment.

According to a leading on-chain analytics firm, Santiment, Chainlink (LINK) has reaffirmed its dominance in decentralized finance (DeFi) development, widening its lead over competitors.

Source: Santiment
In the past 30 days, Chainlink posted a development activity score of 491.67, more than double that of its closest rival, DeepBook Protocol (214.6), while DeFiChain trailed in third with 156.3.

The data highlights Chainlink’s sustained innovation and its strengthening position as DeFi’s top oracle network.

Santiment’s development activity metric measures the frequency of code commits, upgrades, and improvements across public GitHub repositories, serving as a strong indicator of a project’s long-term potential. 

Notably, sustained development signals active innovation and solid developer confidence in the network’s future.

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Chainlink’s continued dominance underscores its vital role at the heart of decentralized finance. Its oracle network powers hundreds of protocols across Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, and more, securely connecting real-world data to smart contracts. 

Over the past year, Chainlink has expanded its influence with the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), enabling seamless blockchain-to-blockchain communication, and Data Streams, a high-speed data delivery solution driving next-generation DeFi applications.

Chainlink Revisits Key Support Channel After Strong Rally
According to renowned market analyst Lingrid, Chainlink (LINK) is revisiting its ascending support channel after a measured pullback from the $26.00 region. 

Source: Lingrid
Following a robust rally that shattered multiple resistance levels, LINK now consolidates near key support, potentially building momentum for its next decisive breakout.

Lingrid noted that Chainlink recently formed distinct impulsive structures, breaking multiple triangle patterns that had constrained price action for weeks. 

This breakout confirmed robust bullish momentum, fueled by rising on-chain activity and increasing developer participation. Chainlink’s growing influence in DeFi infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization continues to draw strong institutional and retail interest.

At the time of this writing, Chainlink was trading at $16.48 per CoinGecko data.

Li Lin, the founder of crypto exchange Huobi, has set his sights on a $1 billion ETH treasury, a move that could make the initiative one of the largest accumulators of the cryptocurrency.

Summary

Huobi founder Li Lin plans to scoop $1 billion of Ether for digital asset treasury.
Lin’s Avenir Group is among Asia’s biggest spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds holder.
Ethereum continues to attract public companies eyeing ETH as a treasury bet.

Lin, who is also the chairman of Avenir Capital, a Hong Kong–based investment group focused on bridging traditional finance and digital assets, plans to launch a new Ethereum trust in collaboration with several prominent investors in Asia.

According to Bloomberg, Lin’s family office seeks to join forces with Fenbushi Capital co-founder Shen Bo, HashKey Group chief executive officer Xiao Feng, and Meitu founder Cai Wensheng. Together, the group of investors have formed a digital asset trust that will pursue an aggressive Ethereum (ETH) accumulation strategy.

The fund has reportedly netted $1 billion in commitments.

Li Lin is committing $200 million through his Avenir Capital. Meanwhile, multiple Asian institutional investors are reportedly ready to bet $500 million on this venture. HongShan Capital Group is among the top firms eyeing a foray into a venture that would count as one of the largest private accumulations of the world’s top altcoin.

ETH spot ETFs
Avenir Group is one of the top players when it comes to crypto spot exchange-traded funds in Asia. Indeed, since 2024, the Huobi co-founder’s firm has grown its spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs aggressively and ranks as one of the largest institutional holder of the asset. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs went live in early 2024 after the Securities and Exchange Commission’s nod. 

Asia’s first spot BTC and ETH ETFs launched in April 2024, with the assets’ debut in Hong Kong coming amid an unprecedented issuance by three Chinese firms. The ETFs, which trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, were issued by China Asset Management, Bosera Asset Management, and Harvest Global Investments.

SEC gave a greenlight to several spot Ethereum ETFs to start trading in July 2024.

Biggest ETH treasury companies
The inflows into spot crypto ETFs jumped in 2025, with Ethereum at one point outpacing Bitcoin amid a rapid increase in publicly-traded companies that launched ETH treasury strategies. 

According to CoinGecko data, there are currently 14 public companies holding over $16.9 billion in ETH as part of their treasury bets. With over 3 million ETH worth more than $11 billion, BitMine is the world’s largest corporate holder of Ethereum.

Others in the race to accumulate the altcoin are SharpLink, Bit Digital and ETHZilla.

Cardano (ADA) is showing signs of a bullish revival as buying pressure intensifies across the charts. 

Market analyst Emilio Bojan notes, “ADA momentum is back, and buyers are pushing hard,” suggesting the token may be gearing up for a new uptrend after weeks of consolidation.

ADA’s resurgence is gaining traction as trading volume rises and technical indicators strengthen. Holding firm above key support levels, ADA is forming higher lows, a classic sign of accumulation by confident traders.

According to Bojan, this trend reflects renewed investor confidence in Cardano’s fundamentals and its potential to outperform in the next phase of the altcoin cycle.

At the time of this writing, ADA was trading at $0.62, slightly below the psychological price of $0.70.

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Meanwhile, a decisive break above the $0.90 resistance could fuel a surge toward $1.10, reigniting bullish momentum and restoring confidence in the ADA ecosystem.

Charles Hoskinson Says Forget ‘Ethereum Killers’ 
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson says the crypto market is moving past the outdated “Ethereum killer” narrative. 

In a recent interview, he noted that the next altcoin season will be led not by rivals trying to outpace Ethereum, but by projects pioneering new frontiers, especially in blockchain privacy.

Hoskinson acknowledged that the ‘Ethereum killer’ narrative belongs to the past because this cycle will reward projects tackling real challenges, such as privacy, scalability, and interoperability.

As a result, he highlighted Midnight, Cardano’s privacy-focused blockchain, as a clear indicator of the industry’s new direction.

Midnight, developed on Cardano’s ecosystem, delivers zero-knowledge privacy with built-in compliance tools for businesses and regulators. 

Unlike traditional privacy coins like Monero or Zcash, often criticized for their opacity, Midnight strikes a balance between confidentiality and accountability, empowering developers to build decentralized apps that safeguard user data while maintaining regulatory transparency.

As a result, Hoskinson envisions a paradigm shift in the altcoin market, where innovation, not imitation, drives success. He believes the next cycle will reward projects solving real problems, with privacy-focused ecosystems poised to anchor the coming crypto rally.

New debt-fueled era for Bitcoin miners marked by 1 zetahash milestone – Report Liam 'Akiba' Wright · 54 seconds ago · 5 min read

Record difficulty and $0.06 power costs collide with a $90 billion debt-driven boom, testing whether miners’ AI pivots can outlast hashprice compression.

Oct. 17, 2025 at 8:00 pm UTC

5 min read

Updated: Oct. 17, 2025 at 3:51 pm UTC

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

Bitcoin mining crossed the zetahash threshold in September as the network averaged 1.034 ZH/s, and hashprice fell below $47 per PH per second.

According to a new report by The MinerMag, the step up in difficulty coincided with miners’ equity values nearly doubling since August to about $90 billion by October 15, while BTC fell 3.7 percent over the same period.

The sector’s center of gravity has shifted toward balance sheet capacity, convertible debt, and high-performance computing contracts. Record difficulty has squeezed operating margins, and power costs have remained pinned near fixed-rate agreements.

According to the report, listed operators’ combined market capitalization climbed from roughly $41 billion in August to $58 billion in September and then to $90 billion by mid-October, even as hashprice revisited levels last seen in May.

PeriodCombined Market CapNotesAugust$41BStart of rally windowSeptember$58BContinued outperformance vs. BTCOctober 15$90BMore than doubled since August; BTC −3.7% in same periodThe repricing tracks a narrative of digital-infrastructure exposure, where miners present contracted power, data-center buildouts, and AI colocation as incremental earnings streams that are less tethered to block rewards.

The MinerMag’s performance panel shows that leaders over the past month included Bitfarms, up 162 percent, Canaan, up 149 percent, and CleanSpark, up 125 percent. MARA rose 39 percent, Riot 32 percent, and BTC down 3.7 percent in the same window.

The production league table has reshuffled as fleets scale.Per MinerMag’s September snapshot, MARA realized 53.3 EH/s, about 88 percent of deployed capacity, and mined 736 BTC, selling roughly half. Bitdeer increased its realized hashrate by one-third to 32.7 EH/s and moved into the fifth slot, while HIVE reached 19.3 EH/s and Cipher 18.2 EH/s as both pushed toward the 20 EH/s threshold that now informally defines the upper mid-tier.

These levels set the backdrop for consolidation, site swaps, and power-density upgrades as operators seek to qualify for hyperscale AI leases that require long-term, low-interruption power.

Financing is the other pillar of the new regime. Miners raised more than $1 billion in the second quarter through convertibles and close to $3 billion already in the third quarter, with issuers spanning Cipher, MARA, and TeraWulf. IREN closed $1 billion, TeraWulf outlined plans for $3.2 billion in senior secured notes, and Bitfarms proposed $300 million in convertibles.

The structure of this cycle differs from 2021’s ASIC- and infrastructure-secured loans that later impaired, since today’s zero-coupon convertibles push cash interest out of the near term and leave the equity conversion path open.

The trade-off is clear, if equity momentum moderates, maturities twenty-four to thirty-six months out move into focus and the sector confronts either dilution through cashless conversions or cash settlement against lower share prices.

The economics at the rig level anchor the discussion.Using The MinerMag’s base case with power at $0.06 per kWh, revenue runs near $0.054 per TH per day. Payback periods span roughly 458 days for S19XP+ Hyd to about 900 days for S23 Hyd across efficiency bands from 9.5 to 19 J/TH, reinforcing the gap between fleets on the latest-generation curve and those further back.

The report’s rule-of-thumb elasticities imply that a 10 percent change in revenue per TH per day moves payback by roughly 10 to 15 percent, because opex tied to joules per terahash dominates while near-term capex per TH is fixed.

That sensitivity makes difficulty and BTC path the primary variables, with a potential four percent difficulty relief flagged for the next adjustment likely to be brief.

Miner HardwareCapex per TH/sRevenue per TH/sRevenue per kWhOpex per TH/sPayback (Days)S23 Hyd (9.5 J/TH)$30$0.054$0.237$13.68900S21XP Imm. (13.5 J/TH)$18$0.054$0.167$19.44653S21+ Hydro (15 J/TH)$21.5$0.054$0.150$21.60846S21 Pro (15 J/TH)$16$0.054$0.150$21.60630S21 Imm. (16 J/TH)$15.5$0.054$0.141$23.04647S21+ (16.5 J/TH)$15$0.054$0.136$23.76645S19XP+ Hyd (19 J/TH)$9$0.054$0.118$27.36458Operationally, the zetahash regime raises the bar for power procurement, curtailment strategy, and efficiency upgrades.

Operators without sub-$0.05 per kWh power or without enough latest-generation joules per terahash face compressed margins until BTC reprices or sustained difficulty relief arrives.

The MinerMag’s scenarios outline three near-term paths from today’s base: if difficulty grinds higher and BTC stays flat, hashprice drifts 10 to 20 percent lower and paybacks extend by two to six months for common air-cooled fleets; if the flagged difficulty relief arrives with only a modest BTC bounce, a five to ten percent tailwind appears and fades; if BTC rerates while difficulty is flat, a 15 to 25 percent hashprice lift pulls lower-efficiency rigs back toward mid-cycle paybacks using the base table as anchor.

The equity story now hinges on execution in non-mining revenue.The MinerMag’s recent pipeline items include a Google-backed $3 billion AI hosting initiative tied to Cipher, expanded credit support for CleanSpark’s high-performance computing push, Galaxy’s $460 million Texas site build framed as an AI hub, and the Microsoft-aligned Nscale and Ionic Digital agreement pegged at $14 billion.

These targets, while large, require interconnects, transformers, and compute tenants to arrive on time, and disclosures to translate headlines into run-rate revenue. If ramp schedules slip, equity narratives built on data-center optionality converge back toward BTC beta.

Jurisdiction adds dispersion. The MinerMag cites new capacity in Norway and Bhutan under hydro-rich frameworks, and Laos exploring dam-linked mining finance, each of which shifts the global cost curve by moving incremental exahash into lower-cost buckets.

At the same time, idiosyncratic risks, from U.S. state litigation such as cases in Kentucky to investigations around individual European operators, translate into a wider distribution of multiples as investors price regulatory and legal variance by geography and corporate governance.

A simple runway lens ties the pieces together.Map the third-quarter and fourth-quarter convertible issuers to an eighteen- to thirty-six-month refi clock.

In an up tape, equity sits above conversion prices and cashless conversions retire debt while funding capex for new sites and higher-efficiency rigs.

In a down tape, companies either issue shares into weakness or reserve cash for settlement, curbing growth capex.

Both paths feed back into network difficulty, because capacity additions today raise baseline difficulty three to six months out, which in turn lowers hashprice unless BTC outpaces the expansion.

The MinerMag’s cycle description captures this reflexivity: equity up, deal window open, capacity up, difficulty up, each turn pressuring margins until BTC or fees absorb the difference.

For operators racing toward or past 20 EH/s, scale and power quality provide optionality, including load-balancing across mining and AI tenants, treasury strategies around BTC holdings and sales, and the latitude to pause or accelerate expansions as power markets move.

The MinerMag’s September table shows MARA selling about half of its monthly BTC output, a stance that adds operating cash while keeping some BTC beta. Others have leaned more fully into issuances, site-level debt, or colocation prepayments. The dispersion in choices will define who can sustain paybacks within the 500- to 700-day band if hashprice remains under the present baseline.

The numbers, and the financing mix behind them, leave the industry priced as infrastructure with crypto torque.

Hashrate has moved into a higher-pressure zone, equities have rerated on capacity and AI pipelines, and the debt stack has shifted toward convertibles with a clear refi window.

The MinerMag posits that the immediate catalyst is limited to a possible single-digit difficulty relief, with economics still anchored by $0.06 per kWh power and revenue near $0.054 per TH per day.

The near-term task for miners is converting announced data-center projects and balance-sheet firepower into steady non-mining revenue while absorbing the zetahash baseline.

Mentioned in this article

Latest Bitcoin Stories Press Releases

Journalist

Posted: October 18, 2025

Key Takeaways
Why is OpenSea pivoting away from NFTs?
OpenSea has crossed $2.6 billion in trading volume this month, with over 90% coming from token trading rather than NFTs.

What’s the $SEA token launch about?
OpenSea will launch its $SEA token in Q1 2026, and the token will power staking, governance, and its upcoming mobile app.

OpenSea is no longer just an NFT marketplace; it’s turning into a full-on-chain trading hub.

In a post on 17 October, Devin Finzer, OpenSea’s co-founder and CEO, announced the platform’s pivot to token trading.

He stated that the platform has crossed $2.6 billion in trading volume this month, with more than 90% coming from token trading. 

The milestone signals OpenSea’s transformation “from an NFT marketplace to a place to trade everything.”

The once-dominant NFT marketplace is reinventing itself as a multi-asset trading hub, expanding beyond digital collectibles into tokens, perps, and even physical assets.

The development could be the clearest sign yet that the NFT sector’s 2022 boom is long over.

A pivot born from necessity for OpenSea?
Finzer described the rebrand as “the sequel” to OpenSea’s 2021 NFT wave, but the timing tells its own story. 

NFT market data from CoinMarketCap shows a stagnant recovery, with total sector market capitalization hovering below $1 billion. This represents a significant decline from its 2022 highs of nearly $ 1 trillion.

Source: CoinMarketCap

While NFT volumes on Ethereum and Solana have shown short bursts of activity, the broader picture remains subdued. 

Projects like Azuki and BAYC have lost more than 80% of their peak floor prices. Even Blur, OpenSea’s top rival, has seen its volume slide since mid-year, according to DappRadar data.

That makes OpenSea’s pivot look less like an optional expansion and more like a strategic survival move.

$SEA token: A fresh start for a fading era
To fuel the next phase, OpenSea will launch its $SEA token in Q1 2026. At launch, 50% of the allocation will be dedicated to the community, with the remaining half of OpenSea’s revenue dedicated to buying back the token. 

Finzer says the token will “shine a spotlight on everything we’re building,” including staking, governance, and a mobile app now in closed alpha.

The move echoes a broader shift toward tokenized ecosystems in Web3, but also marks a turning point for OpenSea’s identity. 

From pioneering digital ownership to now pursuing cross-chain liquidity, the company appears to be establishing itself in crypto’s financial layer, rather than its cultural one.

Is the NFT boom truly over?
OpenSea’s rebrand could be seen as both an evolution and a retreat — an evolution into onchain finance, and a retreat from an industry that failed to sustain mass interest.

If the largest NFT marketplace is betting on fungible tokens for growth, it may signal what many in the space quietly admit: the NFT comeback everyone expected after 2021 might never arrive.

TLDR

OpenSea has shifted from an NFT marketplace to a multi-chain crypto trading aggregator.
The platform now allows trading of tokens, NFTs, and memecoins across 22 different blockchains.
OpenSea uses decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Meteora to provide aggregated liquidity.
The company operates on a non-custodial model and does not require users to complete KYC checks.
It works with TRM Labs to monitor and flag sanctioned or suspicious wallet addresses.

OpenSea has transitioned from a leading NFT marketplace into a multi-chain crypto trading aggregator amid changing market conditions. The platform now supports trading of tokens, NFTs, and memecoins across 22 blockchains, marking a significant strategic shift. Monthly trading volume surged to $2.6 billion in October, with over 90% coming from tokens.

OpenSea expands beyond NFTs to full-spectrum crypto trading
OpenSea now enables users to trade various crypto assets beyond NFTs, including memecoins and tokens, across multiple chains. It aggregates liquidity from decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Meteora to power seamless trading. The platform charges a 0.9% fee but never holds user funds.

The new structure uses a non-custodial model and eliminates traditional Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks. OpenSea instead collaborates with TRM Labs to flag risky or sanctioned blockchain addresses. This approach supports privacy while enforcing basic compliance standards across supported assets.

Under CEO Devin Finzer’s leadership, OpenSea repositions itself for a broader crypto economy. “People want one place where every asset works,” Finzer posted on X, referring to unified trading functionality. He said the move follows growing demand for a single crypto trading platform.

NFT market crash forces platform reinvention
The NFT crash triggered major operational changes within OpenSea, including large-scale layoffs and a business model shift. The firm’s revenue collapsed from $125 million in January 2022 to $3 million by late 2023. Trading volumes dropped over 90% from 2021 peaks, heavily impacting OpenSea’s core business.

Prominent NFT collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club saw significant price declines during the downturn. This crash forced OpenSea to re-evaluate its focus, opting to build for a more dynamic crypto environment. Blur, a key rival, also experienced a 90% drop in activity.

In contrast, OpenSea reported $1.6 billion in crypto trades and $230 million in NFT volume during early October. This marked its strongest month in over three years and supported its new direction. The company now focuses on volume from tokens rather than speculative digital art.

New features and long-term roadmap
OpenSea now operates with around 60 employees from its base in Miami, aiming to grow within the broader crypto market. The company plans to launch a mobile app and introduce a token through an independent foundation. These moves are part of the firm’s rebranding as “OpenSea 2.0.”

Finzer stated that OpenSea will aim for an experience “as intuitive as Robinhood but fully self-custodial.” This model supports user control while enabling simple asset trades. OpenSea now positions itself as a platform where the modern crypto economy actively trades.

Bitcoin rebounded on Friday afternoon after setting an early intraday low below $104,000.

CryptocurrencyTickerPriceBitcoin(CRYPTO: BTC)$106,795.15Ethereum(CRYPTO: ETH)$3,837.38Solana(CRYPTO: SOL)$183.59XRP(CRYPTO: XRP)$2.30Dogecoin(CRYPTO: DOGE)$0.1850Shiba Inu(CRYPTO: SHIB)$0.059750Notable Statistics:

Coinglass data shows 255,556 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $985.30 million.        
In the past 24 hours, top losers include Aave (CRYPTO: AAVE), Aster (CRYPTO: ASTER) and Monero (CRYPTO: XMR).
Notable Developments:

Is Bitcoin At $106,000 ‘Cheap’? Here’s How You Can Tell
Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin, Ethereum Crash Is ‘Imminent’—But How Much Worse Can It Get?
Ripple Labs Is Leading A $1 Billion Fundraise To Establish XRP-Centered Treasury: Report
Bitfarms Stock Falls As Convertible Notes Swell To $500 Million
Anthony Scaramucci Was ‘Willing’ To Risk His Business For Bitcoin During The 2022 Crypto Winter
Trader Notes: MuroCrypto noted Bitcoin closing above $108,500 would signal a bullish setup, while staying below keeps the outlook bearish.

Current conditions, however, suggest that the bullish scenario remains possible.

Rekt Capital observed that Bitcoin has been oscillating within its macro range this month. The market experienced a fake breakout above the range high, followed by a fake breakdown below the range low, reflecting ongoing indecision.

Castillo Trading highlighted that Bitcoin's weekly chart remains fairly bullish, adding that it would be surprising if the current move marks a market top.

Crypto Tony suggested a long position could be considered if the $107,800 resistance zone flips into support but cautioned that it could also be a bearish retest, emphasizing the need for patience.

Read Next: 

Bitcoin Plunges To $105,000: Is This A Black Friday In The Making?
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TL;DR

Tether launched its open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), a modular toolkit that enables the creation of secure, self-custodial, and interoperable wallets.
The WDK supports Bitcoin, Lightning, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Solana, TON, and other networks, integrating DeFi functions, payments, lending, swaps, and cross-chain transfers.
The kit allows both humans and AI agents to manage funds independently, boosting global adoption of stablecoins and Bitcoin.

Tether has open-sourced its Wallet Development Kit (WDK), a modular toolkit that allows developers to build secure, self-custodial wallets across multiple blockchains.

WDK Advantages
The initiative aims to empower both human users and autonomous machines or AI agents to create, deploy, and use wallets independently, without relying on centralized providers. The WDK is fully open-source and ecosystem-agnostic, enabling auditing, contributions, and flexible, secure development of custom solutions.

The kit supports Bitcoin, Lightning Network, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Solana, TON, and other EVM and non-EVM networks. It enables integration of decentralized finance (DeFi) functions, payments, lending, swaps, cross-chain transfers, real-time balance updates, transaction tracking, and customizable user interfaces.

It is designed to run on any device, from mobile and desktop applications to embedded systems, IoT devices, and autonomous environments, ensuring compatibility with smartphones, trading bots, smart appliances, and more complex systems.

Tether’s AI Vision: Building the Future
Tether is increasingly focusing on artificial intelligence. Its open-source runtime, Tether AI, allows AI agents to send and receive payments in Bitcoin and USDT. Paolo Ardoino, the company’s CEO, anticipates that every AI agent will have its own wallet within the next 15 years, with the number of transacting agents potentially reaching one trillion. The goal is to create an open and resilient financial infrastructure where humans and machines have direct control over their funds, promoting the adoption of stablecoins and Bitcoin as means of payment and value storage.

The WDK incorporates USDT0 technology to ensure efficient liquidity and seamless cross-chain bridging, and it already serves as the foundation for projects like Rumble Wallet and Tether’s upcoming self-custodial wallet. End users benefit from an intuitive experience that simplifies complex crypto management, while developers gain a modular, scalable architecture for future innovation.

Tether continues to strengthen its financial infrastructure, promoting economic sovereignty and independence from centralized systems. Its WDK enables individuals, institutions, and even nations to create independent, secure, multi-chain wallets, expanding cryptocurrency adoption worldwide

By Reuters

October 17, 20255:56 PM UTCUpdated ago

Elon Musk attends the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. To match Special Report TESLA-PRIVACY/CAMERAS Patrick Pleul/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesOct 17 (Reuters) - Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) on Friday urged Tesla shareholders to vote against CEO Elon Musk's proposed $1 trillion performance award, citing concerns over excessive compensation and governance risks.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sign up here.

Last month, Tesla's board proposed a $1 trillion compensation plan for Musk in what it described as the largest corporate pay package in history, setting ambitious performance targets and aiming to address his push for greater control over the company.

The vote on Musk's pay package is scheduled for early November.

Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona

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Image source: Getty Images

On October 8, 2025, Sheets Smith Investment Management disclosed a new position in J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ 0.56%), acquiring 83,771 shares in an estimated $4.56 million trade.

What happenedAccording to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 8, 2025, Sheets Smith Investment Management initiated a new position in J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust - JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ 0.56%). The fund reported holding 83,771 shares, valued at $4.56 million. This marks the fund’s first reported ownership of the ETF.

What else to knowThis new position now represents 4.0% of Sheets Smith Investment Management’s reportable assets under management.

Top holdings after the filing:

VCSH: $8.05 million (7.1% of AUM)JEPQ: $4.56 million (4.0% of AUM)VCIT: $3.26 million (2.9% of AUM)CRS: $2.88 million (2.5% of AUM)NVDA: $2.84 million (2.5% of AUM)As of October 7, 2025, shares were priced at $57.32, up 6.0% over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by 0.9 percentage points

JEPQ’s indicated dividend yield is 10.4% as of October 8, 2025; the fund is 1.5% below its 52-week high as of October 7, 2025

Sheets Smith Investment Management reported $113.90 million in 13F assets across 71 positions for the period ended June 30, 2025.

Company overviewMetricValueAUM30.71 BPrice (as of market close October 7, 2025)$57.32Dividend yield10.4%One-year total return6.0%Company snapshotJPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) is a large-scale, income-focused ETF with a market capitalization of $31.11 billion as of October 8, 2025. The fund employs an active options-based strategy to enhance yield while maintaining exposure to leading Nasdaq-100 equities.

Investment strategy focuses on generating income and capital appreciation by actively managing a portfolio of equity securities, primarily those in the Nasdaq-100 Index, and selling call options through equity-linked notes (ELNs).

The portfolio composition reflects the Nasdaq-100 benchmark, with additional income generated from option premiums. It is structured as a non-diversified exchange-traded fund focused on income generation.

Foolish takeSheets Smith's new position in the JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ) signals a growing appetite among managers for income-focused equity exposure. JEPQ blends Nasdaq-100 stocks with an options overlay that converts volatility into cash flow. For investors navigating an uncertain rate path, the fund's double-digit yield offers a cushion against a uneven market climate.

JEPQ allows investors to stay in the tech-heavy part of Nasdaq while collecting option premiums that generate monthly income rather than chasing high growth names directly. This structure can appeal to investors prioritizing steady returns over full participation in market rallies. The trade off is that when stocks surge, its capped upside may limit gains. However, that is a fair exchange for steadier returns in a shifting market landscape. 

JEPQ has steadily gained tractions among portfolio managers who value consistent cash flow over chasing every market rally. Its blend of equity exposure and options income gives it power in a world where both growth and yield are hard to find simultaneously. Should markets stay volatile, JEPQ's steady strategy could prove less of a shield and more a path to long term compound growth.

GlossaryExchange-Traded Fund (ETF): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.

Assets Under Management (AUM): The total market value of investments that a fund or firm manages on behalf of clients.

13F Report: A quarterly filing by institutional investment managers disclosing their equity holdings to the SEC.

Dividend Yield: Annual dividends paid by a fund or stock divided by its current price, expressed as a percentage.

Equity-Linked Notes (ELNs): Structured financial products combining fixed-income and equity features, often used to generate income through options.

Call Options: Financial contracts giving the buyer the right to purchase an asset at a set price within a specific period.

Option Premiums: The income received by selling options contracts, often used to enhance yield in investment strategies.

Non-diversified Fund: A fund that invests in a limited number of securities or sectors, increasing potential risk and reward.

Income-Focused ETF: An ETF designed primarily to generate regular income, often through dividends or option strategies.

Active Management: An investment approach where managers make specific buy and sell decisions to outperform the market or benchmark.

Benchmark: A standard, usually an index, against which the performance of a security or fund is measured.

Total Return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.

Eric Trie has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Presentation on Tuesday, October 21st at 3:30PM PT
October 17, 2025 2:10 PM EDT | Source: LD Micro
Carlsbad, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 17, 2025) - Aptera Motors Corp. (NASDAQ: SEV), a solar mobility company pioneering ultra-efficient transportation, announced today that it will be presenting at the 19th annual Main Event on Tuesday, October 21st at 3:30PM PT at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. Chris Anthony, Co-CEO will be giving the presentation.

"The Main Event is a culmination of over 25 years of hard work and passion for small company investing. There is no organization on planet Earth that cares more about small companies succeeding than LD. To be able to connect with our community in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable brings me considerable joy. We look forward to welcoming all of our patrons and ensuring that they have a wonderful time," stated Chris Lahiji, Founder of LD Micro.

The event will provide an overview of Aptera’s business, mission, and strategy as a leader in the solar EV industry.

Event: LD Micro Main Event XIX
Date: Tuesday, October 21st
Time: 3:30PM

Register to watch the virtual presentation here.

Summary of LD Micro Main Event XIX

The 2025 LD Micro Main Event XIX will run from October 19th to the 21st at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California.

The first day will consist of registration, keynote speakers, and some gorgeous views of the Pacific. It will be followed by two full days of company presentations and one-on-one investor meetings concluded with a closing reception.

This three-day event will feature around 120 companies, presenting in half-hour increments, and attending private meetings with investors.

About Aptera Motors Corp.

Aptera Motors Corp. is a solar mobility company driven by a mission to advance the future of efficient transportation. Its flagship vehicle is a paradigm-shifting solar electric vehicle that leverages breakthroughs in aerodynamics, material science, and solar technology to pursue new levels of efficiency. As a public benefit corporation, Aptera is committed to building a sustainable business that positively impacts its stakeholders and the environment. Aptera is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.aptera.us.

About LD Micro

LD Micro is dedicated to being the definitive resource in the small-cap space. From its industry-recognized index and robust data to hosting some of the most influential events each year, LD Micro’s mission is to provide unparalleled access and insight for those seeking the next generation of great companies.

To learn more about LD Micro, visit:
http://www.ldmicro.com

To learn more about Freedom US Markets LLC, visit:
https://www.freedomcapmkts.com/

To present or register, please contact [email protected].

For further information on Aptera Motors Corp.:

Key Takeaways State Street posted Q3 EPS of $2.78, topping estimates and rising 23% from the prior year.Total revenues grew 8.8% y/y to $3.55B, driven by higher fee income and lower credit provisions.AUC/A hit $51.66T and AUM rose 15.1%, while higher expenses and weaker NII weighed on results.
State Street’s (STT - Free Report)  third-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.78 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.62. The bottom line increased 23% from the prior-year quarter.

Results have been aided by growth in fee revenues and lower provisions. Also, the company witnessed improvements in the total assets under custody and administration (AUC/A) and assets under management (AUM) balances. However, higher expenses and lower net interest income (NII) acted as spoilsports.

Net income available to common shareholders was $802 million, up 17.6% from the year-ago quarter. Our projection for the metric was $698.1 million.

STT’s Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseTotal revenues of $3.55 billion increased 8.8% year over year. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.47 billion.

NII was $715 million, down 1.1% year over year. The fall was due to lower average short-end rates and deposit mix shift, partially offset by securities portfolio repricing and continued loan growth. Our estimate for the metric was $738.2 million.

The net interest margin (NIM) contracted 11 basis points year over year to 0.96%. We expected NIM to be 0.99%.

Total fee revenues increased 8.1% year over year to $2.83 billion. The rise was driven by an increase in almost all the components, except for lending-related and other fees. We estimated the metric to be $2.70 billion.

Non-interest expenses were $2.43 billion, up 5.5% from the prior-year quarter. The rise was mainly due to an increase in all components, except for the amortization of other intangible assets. Our estimate for non-interest expenses was $2.43 billion.

Provision for credit losses was $9 million, down 65.4% from the prior-year quarter. We had projected the metric to be $20.4 million.

The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 11.3% as of Sept. 30, 2025, compared with 11.6% in the corresponding period of 2024. The return on average common equity was 13.4% compared with 12% in the year-ago quarter.

Asset Balances Increase for State StreetAs of Sept. 30, 2025, the total AUC/A was a record $51.66 trillion, up 10.5% year over year. The rise was driven by higher quarter-end equity market levels and client flows. We had projected the metric to be $52.04 trillion.

AUM was $5.45 trillion, up 15.1% year over year, led by higher quarter-end market levels and net inflows. Our estimate for the metric was $5.55 trillion.

STT’s Share Repurchase UpdateIn the reported quarter, State Street repurchased shares worth $400 million.

Our Take on STTRelatively higher interest rates, strategic buyouts, rising AUM and solid business servicing wins are expected to keep supporting STT’s financials. However, persistently rising expenses and concentrated fee-based revenues are concerning.

State Street currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performance of Other BanksImpressive trading and investment banking (IB) performance drove JPMorgan’s (JPM - Free Report) third-quarter 2025 earnings of $5.07 per share. The bottom line handily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.83.

JPM’s markets revenues exceeded management's expectations of growth in the high-teens percentage rate. The metric grew 25% year over year to $8.9 billion. Specifically, fixed-income markets’ revenues jumped 21% to $5.6 billion, while equity markets’ numbers increased 33% to $3.3 billion.

Also, the IB business performance was far stronger than that expected by management.

JPMorgan recorded an increase in NII, driven by higher yields and a 7% year-over-year jump in total loans.

Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted net income per share of $2.24, up 48.3% from the year-ago period. The metric also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 17.3%.

Citigroup’s results benefited from an increase in NII and non-interest revenues, alongside lower provisions. The company also registered a year-over-year increase of 17% in IB revenues, reflecting growth in advisory and equity capital markets. However, increased expenses and a weak capital position were the undermining factors for Citigroup.

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The adviser recommends investors reject moonshot pay deal and investment in XAI.

Key Takeaways Fifth Third's Q3 EPS of 93 cents beat estimates and rose from 85 cents a year earlier.
Higher net interest income and fees boosted total revenues 8% y/y.
FITB's loan and deposit balances grew, but credit quality and capital ratios weakened.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 93 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 87 cents. In the prior-year quarter, the company posted an EPS of 85 cents.

FITB shares rose 2.7% in the early-market trading on better-than-expected results. A full day’s trading session will depict a clearer picture.

Results have benefited from a rise in net interest income (NII), fee income and loan balances. However, higher expenses and weak asset quality were headwinds.

Results included a negative 2-cent impact of certain items. After considering this, the company has reported net income available to common shareholders (GAAP basis) of $608 million, up 14% year over year.

FITB’s Quarterly Revenues & Expenses RiseTotal quarterly revenues (FTE) in the reported quarter were $2.3 billion, which increased 8% year over year. Further, the top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5%.

Fifth Third’s NII (on an FTE basis) was $1.52 billion, up 7% year over year. Our estimate for NII was pegged at $1.51 billion. This improvement was driven by the benefits from proactive deposit and wholesale funding management, decreasing interest-bearing liabilities costs, an improved earning asset mix and the benefit of fixed-rate asset repricing.

The net interest margin (on an FTE basis) increased year over year to 3.13% from 29%. Our estimate for net interest margin was 3.05%.

Non-interest income rose 10% year over year to $781 million. This rise was primarily due to an increase in revenues from wealth and asset management revenues, capital markets fees, and consumer banking revenues. Our estimate for non-interest income was pinned at $769 million.

Non-interest expenses increased 2% year over year to $1.27 billion. The increase was primarily due to a rise in all cost components, except for compensation and benefits, and other non-interest income. Our estimate for the metric was the same as reported.

The efficiency ratio was 54.9%, lower than the year-ago quarter’s 58.2%. A decline in the ratio indicates an improvement in profitability.

FITB Loans & Deposits Balance Increase SequentiallyAs of Sept. 30, 2025, portfolio loans and leases rose slightly to $123.1 billion from the previous quarter. Total deposits inched up 1.4% from the previous quarter to $166.6 billion. Our estimates for portfolio loans and leases and deposits were $116.1 billion and $163.7 billion, respectively.

FITB’s Credit Quality DeterioratesThe company has reported a provision for credit losses of $197 million, up 23% from the year-ago quarter. Our estimate for the metric was pinned at $218 million.

Moreover, the total non-performing portfolio loans and leases were $801 million, up 10.5% year over year.

Net charge-offs in the third quarter increased to $339 million or 1.09% of average loans and leases (on an annualized basis) from $142 million or 0.48% in the prior-year quarter. Our estimate for net charge-offs was $144 million.

The total allowance for credit losses declined 1.1% to $2.42 billion year over year. Our estimate for allowance for credit losses was pinned at $2.63 billion.

Fifth Third’s Capital Position MixedThe Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.60% compared with 12.07% posted in the prior-year quarter. The CET1 capital ratio was 10.54%, down from 10.75% in the year-ago quarter. The leverage ratio was 9.24% compared with the year-earlier quarter’s 9.11%.

FITB’s Recent DevelopmentThis month, FITB entered a definitive merger agreement to acquire Comerica Incorporated (CMA - Free Report) . The impending acquisition serves as a strategic acceleration of Fifth Third’s long-term growth plan, enhancing scale, profitability and geographic reach.  

This transaction, expected to close at the end of the first quarter of 2026, will bring together two banking franchises to create the ninth-largest U.S. bank with nearly $288 billion in assets, $224 billion in deposits and $174 billion in loans.

Financially, the deal is projected to boost FITB’s earnings per share by 9% by 2027, while driving the combined efficiency ratio into the low-to-mid-50% range, roughly 200 basis points better than the current performance levels.

Our Viewpoint on Fifth ThirdA rise in NII, driven by loan growth, deposit rate management, and fixed-rate asset repricing, supported top-line growth. The company’s ongoing investments in growth priorities continue to drive robust results. However, higher expenses and weak asset quality remain near-term concerns.

Fifth Third Bancorp Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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

Performance of Other BankHancock Whitney Corp.’s (HWC - Free Report) third-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.49 exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41. Further, the bottom line rose 12% from the prior year quarter.

HWC’s results benefited from an increase in non-interest income and net interest income alongside lower provisions. Also, higher loans were another positive. However, higher adjusted expenses and lower deposit balances were headwinds. 

Q4: 2025-10-16 Earnings SummaryEPS of $0.72 misses by $0.05

 |

Revenue of

$188.30M

(-0.21% Y/Y)

misses by $2.27M

WaFd, Inc. (NASDAQ:WAFD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call October 17, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Brad Goode - Chief of Communications, Marketing & Community Relations and Senior VP
Brent Beardall - President, CEO & Vice Chairman
Kelli Holz - Executive VP & CFO
Ryan Mauer - Executive VP & Chief Credit Officer
Cathy Cooper - Executive VP, Chief Experience Officer & Corporate Secretary

Conference Call Participants

Jeff Rulis - D.A. Davidson & Co., Research Division
Matthew Clark - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Andrew Terrell - Stephens Inc., Research Division
Kelly Motta - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the WaFd Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 Results Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand this conference over to your speaker today, Brad Goode. Please go ahead.

Brad Goode
Chief of Communications, Marketing & Community Relations and Senior VP

Thank you, Kevin. Good morning, everybody. We are excited to have you all attending our first ever earnings conference call. We have listened to the feedback from many of you requesting that we hold a call like this, we've heard you, and so here we are. Let's dive into our 2025 fourth quarter and full year earnings report. You can find our earnings press release, along with our detailed fact sheet and investor scorecard on our website, I'm sure you all know where that is, wafdbank.com.

During today's call, we will make some forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of federal securities law. Information on risk factors that could cause actual results to differ are available from the earnings press release that was released yesterday and the recently filed Form 10-Q

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