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Real World Assets (RWA) News

UK Fintech MQube Makes History by Tokenizing £1.3 Billion ($1.7B) in Mortgage Debt Across Europe

TL;DR MQube becomes the first European fintech to tokenize £1.3 billion in mortgage debt on the blockchain. Tokenization allows lenders to ensure data integrity, enhance

Companies

Figment Strengthens Position With Acquisition of Staking Analytics Firm Rated

TL;DR Figment has acquired Rated Labs to enhance staking data capabilities and give institutional clients better insight into validator performance across networks like Ethereum, Solana,

Bitcoin News

Bitcoin Slips Under $110,000 as Markets Await Trump Speech

TL;DR Bitcoin is now trading near $108,569.36 after sliding 2.01% in the past 24 hours, bringing its market capitalization to roughly $2.16 trillion. Traders are

Technology

MoonPay Introduces MoonPay Commerce Driving Innovation in Digital Transactions

TL;DR MoonPay Commerce has been officially launched — a platform that allows businesses and developers to accept cryptocurrency payments. The platform combines MoonPay’s infrastructure with

CryptoCurrency News

BlackRock to Launch Money Market Fund Under GENIUS Act, Simplifying Stablecoin Reserve Custody

TL;DR: BlackRock will create a GENIUS Act-compliant money market fund for stablecoin reserves. It will enable institutions to manage tokenized liquidity within a regulated framework.

CryptoNews

Solana Staking Protocol Jito Secures $50 Million Backing From Andreessen Horowitz Crypto Arm

TL;DR Andreessen Horowitz invested $50 million in Jito, a liquid staking protocol essential to Solana, through its a16z crypto division. The deal includes a lock-up

Chainlink (LINK) is once again in the spotlight after launching its first native, real-time oracle integration with MegaETH — a high-speed Ethereum Layer 2 built for sub-millisecond execution. This move could redefine how DeFi handles live data, but the market doesn’t seem impressed just yet. LINK dropped 3.13% to around $17.9 despite the bullish fundamentals. Let’s break down what’s happening — on the chart and behind the scenes.

Chainlink News: What Does the MegaETH Integration Mean for Chainlink Price?This is not another routine integration. Chainlink Data Streams are now embedded directly into MegaETH’s protocol layer, letting smart contracts fetch live market data “just in time.” In simple terms, this means DeFi apps — like perpetuals and prediction markets — can now match centralized exchange speeds.

That’s a big deal. Oracle latency has long been DeFi’s Achilles’ heel. Delayed data leads to liquidations, missed arbitrage, and MEV exploits. Chainlink is effectively solving that by cutting redundant updates and only pulling new data when needed.

With MegaETH promising up to 100,000 transactions per second, this integration sets the stage for DeFi trading platforms that feel as fast as Binance or Coinbase but fully on-chain.

Still, investors are cautious. The question is: will this fundamental upgrade offset the current bearish price setup?

Chainlink Price Prediction: What Is the Chart Telling Us?LINK/USD Daily Chart- TradingViewThe LINK price daily chart (Heikin Ashi candles) shows a clear bearish structure after a steep correction from above $22 to the $17 zone. The Bollinger Bands (BB 20,2) reveal widening volatility, but the current price is hugging the lower band — a typical signal of continued selling pressure.

The 20-day SMA sits around $20.8, far above the current level, confirming that LINK remains below short-term resistance. If buyers can’t reclaim the mid-band soon, LINK could face another leg down toward the $15.8–$16 support range, where the previous wick (flash low) sits.

Volume profiles also suggest exhaustion — no strong reversal candles, no long wicks showing demand. Traders seem to be waiting for confirmation that the MegaETH hype translates into real on-chain usage.

Is a Bounce Coming or Just a Dead Cat Rally?Here’s where it gets tricky. While LINK price looks technically weak, the fundamentals suggest accumulation might follow once price stabilizes. Historically, Chainlink tends to consolidate after major integrations before a momentum surge.

If the price manages to close above $19.5 and hold that zone, we could see a short-term bounce toward $21–$22 — aligning with the upper Bollinger midline and Fibonacci retracement area. That’s where heavy resistance lies.

But failure to hold above $17 could drag LINK to test the psychological $15 support, possibly extending to $14.3 in a broader correction phase.

Momentum indicators (from the Heikin Ashi pattern) show continued bearish sentiment — with small-bodied candles and no clear trend reversal signal yet. Traders should wait for a bullish engulfing or strong green candle above $19 before confirming a turnaround.

Why the Market Isn’t Reacting to Good Chainlink News YetIt’s a classic case of fundamentals versus liquidity. Chainlink’s integration news is fundamentally bullish — it cements LINK as the go-to oracle for next-gen DeFi infrastructure. But in the short term, market sentiment is risk-off. Bitcoin dominance is rising, altcoins are bleeding, and DeFi tokens have underperformed as liquidity drains from speculative plays.

Institutional buyers will likely wait for stability before rotating back into oracle and infrastructure plays. LINK, despite its strong ecosystem presence ($100B+ secured value, 18B messages delivered), remains a long-term bet in a market still digesting macro and liquidity shifts.

Chainlink Price Prediction: What Happens Next?Chainlink’s MegaETH integration is a milestone that could unlock new DeFi architectures. But the chart says traders aren’t ready to price that in yet.

Bullish scenario: Break and close above $19.5 with strong volume — LINK rallies toward $21–$22, potentially starting a mid-term recovery.Bearish scenario: Failure to hold $17 leads to a drop toward $15.5 or even $14, where long-term buyers may re-enter. For now, $LINK sits in the “wait and see” zone — fundamentals screaming bullish, charts whispering caution.

Lombard is leveraging Bitcoin’s deep liquidity to act as a collateral layer for Story’s on-chain intellectual property, creating a new form of crypto-economic insurance for creators and rights holders.

Summary

Lombard partners with Story to integrate Bitcoin into programmable intellectual property.
The collaboration introduces Bitcoin Revenue Distribution for instant royalty payments.
The partnership targets South Korea’s $13.6 billion creative market, with Lombard’s $3 billion in Bitcoin liquidity and Story’s major IP partner

According to a press release shared with crypto.news on Oct. 16, the partnership will see Lombard’s Bitcoin (BTC) infrastructure integrated directly into the Story protocol. This integration is designed to tackle two core frustrations for creators: the slow pace of royalty payments and the weak enforcement of licensing agreements.

Lombard said the model proposes using Bitcoin not just for payment, but as a foundational collateral asset, creating a financial backstop that can automatically enforce IP rights on-chain.

Bitcoin for programmable intellectual property
Story is a layer-1 blockchain that transforms intellectual property into programmable on-chain assets. This means copyrights, character designs, and music compositions can be tokenized with embedded licensing terms, creating what the industry calls “on-chain primitives.”

These digital assets can then be automatically licensed and remixed without the constant need for intermediary lawyers or agents. The protocol has already attracted major players, onboarding Korean IP giants like the webtoon sensation Solo Leveling and Barunson Studio, the Oscar-winning producer behind Parasite.

For Story, the partnership with Lombard is the critical step that moves its protocol from a rights management system to a full-stack financial engine. The integration introduces two specific innovations.

The first is Bitcoin Revenue Distribution, which tackles the industry-wide problem of slow royalty payments. Instead of waiting months and losing a cut to intermediaries, creators on Story can now receive payments in Bitcoin instantly and borderlessly.

The second innovation is Crypto-Economic IP Security. This uses Bitcoin as collateral to backstop licensing agreements, creating an automated enforcement mechanism. If a licensee fails to pay, the smart contract can liquidate the Bitcoin collateral to cover the royalties, turning a potentially lengthy legal battle into an instantaneous settlement.

“By integrating Lombard’s Bitcoin infrastructure, Story enables creators and developers to license, settle, and secure IP value instantly and globally. With Lombard, that value can now flow across the world as Bitcoin, the most trusted and durable digital asset,” Story CEO and co-founder SY Lee said.

Targeting the South Korean market
Per the statement, the alliance finds a strategic testing ground in South Korea, a global creative powerhouse whose cultural IP exports hit $13.6 billion last year. Story’s existing relationships with top-tier Korean studios, combined with Lombard’s established traction in the region, position the partnership at the epicenter of a massive market eager for innovation.

Notably, Lombard’s BARD token is already one of the most actively traded BitcoinFi assets on major Korean exchanges Upbit and Bithumb, and its recent alliance with institutional custodian KODA provides a compliant on-ramp for traditional finance.

Lombard brings a proven track record to this ambitious venture. The protocol has already onboarded more than $3 billion of previously idle Bitcoin onto its platform, achieving a $1 billion total value locked in a mere 92 days. Its flagship LBTC is integrated across 14 chains and more than 75 DeFi protocols, with over 80% of its supply actively deployed.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding In LifeMD To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in LifeMD between May 7, 2025 and August 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against LifeMD, Inc. (“LifeMD” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LFMD) and reminds investors of the October 27, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially overstated LifeMD’s competitive position; (2) Defendants were reckless in raising LifeMD’s 2025 guidance, considering that they had not properly accounted for rising customer acquisition costs in LifeMD’s RexMD segment, as well as for customer acquisition costs related to the sale of drugs designed to treat obesity, including Wegovy and Zepbound; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ statements about LifeMD’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On August 5, 2025, after the market closed, LifeMD reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. In this announcement, LifeMD announced revised guidance. Among other metrics, LifeMD stated that it was expecting total revenue in the range of $250 to $255 million, compared with previous guidance of $268 to $275 million.

On this news, LifeMD's stock plummeted 44.8% on August 6, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.  

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding LifeMD’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the LifeMD class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/LFMD or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

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TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sintana Energy Inc. (TSX-V: SEI OTCQX: SEUSF) (“Sintana” or the “Company”) announces that effective September 30, 2025, Sintana has filed Forms 51-101F1 and 51-101F3 pursuant to National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, further to a continuous disclosure review by the Ontario Securities Commission (“OSC”) and request from OSC staff in connection therewith. These filings are each available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

As a result of providing the foregoing corrective disclosure, Sintana will be placed on the OSC’s public list of Refiling and Errors (the “List”) in accordance with OSC Staff Notice 51-711 (Revised) Refilings and Corrections of Errors and will remain on the List for a period of three years from the date of refiling the corrective disclosure.

ABOUT SINTANA ENERGY:
The Company is currently engaged in petroleum and natural gas exploration and development activities on five large, highly prospective, onshore and offshore petroleum exploration licenses in Namibia, and in Colombia’s Magdalena Basin.

On behalf of Sintana Energy Inc.,
“A. Robert Bose”
Chief Executive Officer

For additional information or to sign-up to receive periodic updates about Sintana’s projects, and corporate activities, please visit the Company’s website at www.sintanaenergy.com

Corporate Contacts: Investor Relations Advisor:Robert BoseSean J. AustinJonathan PatersonChief Executive OfficerVice-PresidentManaging Partner, Harbor Access212-201-4125713-825-9591475-477-9401    Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intensions for the future, and include, but not limited to, statements with respect to potential future farmout agreements on PEL 83 and/or PEL 87, and proposed future exploration and development activities on PEL 83 and/or PEL 90 and neighbouring properties, statements as to the future prospectivity of KON-16, the closing of the proposed transaction with Corcel as presently proposed or at all, the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, as well as the prospective nature of the Company’s property interests. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including, but not limited to risks relating to the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, results of exploration and development activities, the ability to source joint venture partners and fund exploration, permitting and government approvals, and other risks identified in the Company’s public disclosure documents from time to time. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update such information, except as may be required by law.

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 RELEASE.

Key Takeaways Core Laboratories will release Q3 2025 results on Oct. 22, after the closing bell.Earnings and revenues are forecast to drop year over year despite a recent estimate upgrade.CLB is likely to see a rebound in laboratory services tied to the assay of crude oil and derived products.
Core Laboratories Inc. (CLB - Free Report) is set to release third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 22, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at a profit of 19 cents per share on revenues of $127.5 million.

Let us delve into the factors that might have influenced CLB’s performance in the to-be-reported quarter. Before that, it is worth taking a look at the company’s performance in the last reported quarter.

Highlights of Q2 Earnings & Surprise HistoryIn the last reported quarter, the Houston, TX-based oil and gas equipment and services company’s adjusted earnings beat the consensus mark. CLB reported adjusted earnings of 19 cents per share, which was a cent higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Operating revenues of $130.2 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $128 million. This was attributed to the rebound of the maritime movement and trading of crude oil and the company’s associated laboratory assay services.

CLB’s earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, were in line in one quarter and beat the remaining one, delivering an average negative surprise of 1.4%.

This is depicted in the graph below:

CLB Stock’s Trend in Estimate RevisionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2025 earnings has been revised 5.5% upward in the past seven days. The estimated figure indicates a 24% year-over-year decline. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues also indicates a decline of about 5.1% from the year-ago period’s actual.

Factors to Consider Ahead of CLB’s Q3 ReleaseCore Laboratories is likely to see a rebound in laboratory services tied to the assay of crude oil and derived products as trading patterns partially reset after the disruptions caused by enhanced sanctions. Moreover, the company looks forward to executing on its key strategic objectives by introducing new products and service offerings in key geographic markets and by maintaining a lean and focused organization. Core Laboratories anticipates that outside the United States, large-scale international oil and gas projects will be less sensitive to near-term volatility of crude oil prices, leading to steady activity across its committed long-cycle investments in the South Atlantic margin, North and West Africa, Norway, the Middle East and certain areas of Asia Pacific.

On a bearish note, CLB's revenues are likely to have suffered in the quarter to be reported. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter revenues is down from the year-ago quarter’s $134.4 million. Moreover, Core Laboratories projected its Reservoir Description's revenues to be flat in the third quarter due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts, evolving trade and tariff dynamics and volatile commodity prices. In its Production Enhancement segment, the company projected a lower U.S. frac spread count and a soft market for the remainder of the year.

What Does Our Model Say About CLB Stock?Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for Core Laboratories this season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is exactly the case here.

CLB’s Earnings ESP: Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate, for this company is +5.26%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

CLB’s Zacks Rank: CLB currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

Other Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are some other firms from the energy space that you may want to consider, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.

TotalEnergies SE (TTE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.40% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

TTE is scheduled to release earnings on Oct. 30. Notably, TotalEnergies’ earnings missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and beat the remaining one, delivering a negative average surprise of 3.4%. Valued at around $140 billion, TTE’s shares have lost 6.6% in a year.

Transocean Ltd. (RIG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +18.42% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. RIG is slated to release earnings on Oct. 29.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RIG’s 2025 earnings indicates 107.7% year-over-year growth.Valued at around $3 billion, RIG’s shares have fallen 17.5% in a year.

Archrock, Inc. (AROC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +7.32% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. It is scheduled to release earnings on Oct. 28.

Archrock’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 6.5%. Valued at around $4.2 billion, AROC’s shares have gained 15.7% in a year.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of 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.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Tronox To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Tronox between February 2, 2025 and July 30, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

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NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Tronox Holdings plc (“Tronox” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TROX) and reminds investors of the November 3, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

According to the complaint, defendants provided overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Tronox’s ability to forecast the demand for its pigment and zircon products or otherwise the true state of its commercial division, despite making lofty long-term projections, Tronox’s forecasting processes fell short as sales continued to decline and costs increased, ultimately, derailing the Company’s revenue projections.

On July 30, 2025, Tronox announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, revealing a significant reduction in TiO2 sales for the quarter. The Company attributed the decline to “softer than anticipated coatings season and heightened competitive dynamics.” As a result of the setback in sales, defendants revised the Company’s 2025 financial outlook lowering its full-year revenue guidance and reducing its dividend by 60%.

Following this news, Tronox’s common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $5.14 per share on July 30, 2025, Tronox’s stock price fell to $3.19 per share on July 31, 2025, a decline of about 38% in the span of just a single day.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.  

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Tronox’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Tronox Holdings class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/TROX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d516bf4b-fab7-416f-a74a-ea4437d5b4b3

October 16, 2025 12:24 ET

 | Source:

Millicom International Cellular S.A.

Millicom (Tigo) notice of third quarter 2025 results and video conference

Luxembourg, October 16, 2025 – Millicom (NASDAQ: TIGO) expects to announce its third quarter 2025 results on November 6, 2025, via a press release.

Millicom is planning to host a video conference for the global financial community on November 6, 2025, at 08:00 (New York) / 13:00 (London).

Registration for the interactive event is required at the following link.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about joining the video conference.

Participants who wish to ask a question during the live event must notify the Investor Relations team via email to [email protected] after the start of the event.

Participants may also join the conference in listen-only mode by dialing any of the following numbers and entering the Webinar ID: 856 1232 5655

US: +1 929 205 6099                                                           Sweden: +46 850 539 728

UK: +44 330 088 5830                                                                      Luxembourg: +352 342 080 9265

Additional international numbers are available at the following link. Accompanying slides and a replay of the event will be available on the Millicom investors website.

For further information, please contact:

About Millicom

Millicom (NASDAQ: TIGO) is a leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Latin America. Through its TIGO® and Tigo Business® brands, the company provides a wide range of digital services and products, including TIGO Money for mobile financial services, TIGO Sports for local entertainment, TIGO ONEtv for pay TV, highspeed data, voice, and business-to-business solutions such as cloud and security. As of June 30, 2025, Millicom, including its Honduras Joint Venture, employed approximately 14,000 people and provided mobile and fiber-cable services through its digital highways to more than 46 million customers, with a fiber-cable footprint over 14 million homes passed. Founded in 1990, Millicom International Cellular S.A. is headquartered in Luxembourg with principal executive offices in Doral, Florida.

Key Takeaways Visa joins forces with SpotOn and Astra to power real-time digital tip payments via Visa Direct.The move eliminates cash handling, improving payout speed, accuracy and worker satisfaction.Visa expands Visa Direct adoption as its Q3 FY25 payment volume rises 8% year over year.
In a bold move toward reshaping how tipped employees are paid, Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) has teamed up with StopOn, along with Astra, which provides the payment technology infrastructure to power real-time, cashless payouts. By integrating Visa Direct into SpotOn Teamwork and DayCheck, the system allows employers to send tip earnings straight to employees’ bank accounts instantly and securely.

This collaboration aims to tackle a persistent challenge in the service industry — the delayed and manual process of distributing tips. By introducing real-time, cashless payouts, the system eliminates cash-handling hassle and ensures that employees can access their hard-earned money immediately, which can help boost employee satisfaction, gain better financial control and improve retention.

For restaurant owners, this innovation brings greater efficiency, enhanced payroll accuracy and reduced administrative tasks. Additionally, DayCheck’s no-prefunding requirement for qualified merchants not only boosts cash flow but also speeds up tip distribution, making it more straightforward and transparent.

By bringing together V’s extensive global payment network, SpotOn’s deep understanding of the service industry and Astra’s cutting-edge technology, this partnership sets an example for the future of digital tipping, making it faster, smarter and more empowering for today’s workforce. For Visa, this move expands the adoption of Visa Direct and also reinforces its position as a crucial player in facilitating real-time payments within the ever-changing economy, which in turn improves payment volume. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company’s payment volume rose 8% year over year.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of V’s competitors in the payments space include Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) and American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) .

Mastercard is stepping up its game in the world of instant tip payments by teaming up with various platforms to provide real-time, digital payouts. Mastercard’s payment network net revenues increased 13% year over year in the first half of 2025, along with 16% growth in net revenues.

By collaborating with various platforms, such as eTip, American Express offers digital tipping and reviews for hospitality businesses. Its total revenues (net of interest expense) rose 8% year over year in the first half of 2025. American Express reported 6% year-over-year growth in its network volumes in the same period.

Visa’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesOver the past year, shares of Visa have jumped 19% against the 0.4% fall of the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, V trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 26.76, above the industry average of 21.52. V carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa’s fiscal 2025 earnings implies a 13.7% jump from the year-ago period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For its work to bring innovation technology and programs to provide greater service to customers, ComEd programs were recently recognized by Gartner and Public Utilities Fortnightly. These programs focus on improving grid reliability and bringing greater electric vehicle accessibility to customers.

ComEd Pole Top Health AI Program – ComEd received a third-place award at the Gartner Eye on Innovation awards for Utilities and Power for its Pole Top Health AI program. Currently, the company utilizes periodic pole inspections to monitor the health of its fleet of 1.3 million wooden poles. These inspections focus on the health of the pole at the ground line. However, the top of the pole is where most of the utility’s equipment is attached. In order to better guide asset replacement programs, the ComEd Pole Top Health AI program takes a more holistic view of pole health, including a top-down visual inspection of the pole performed by drones and evaluated automatically by computer vision. The technology has shown to be 86 percent accurate in determining necessary pole replacement and has helped prevent nearly 3,000 customer interruptions.

ComEd EV Programs – ComEd was recognized by Public Utilities Fortnightly as a Top Innovator for 2025 for its electric vehicle programs. These include:

Residential and non-residential Rebates to incentivize public and private EV charging infrastructure and the purchase or lease of fleet electric vehicles of all weight classes.

Multiple tools and technical assistance to businesses and public entities looking to electrify their vehicles and/or install charging infrastructure. This includes free personalized Fleet Electrification Assessments (FEA), an interactive EV Load Capacity map to support early siting of charging infrastructure in areas with sufficient grid capacity, a EV toolkit with multiple educational resources for both residential and non-residential customers, and partnership with the Metropolitan’s Mayors’ Caucus to support municipalities looking to gain “EV Ready” status via an EV Readiness Program.

A network of Service Provider, Dealers, and EV Manufacturers to improve customer experience and offer upfront rebates at the point of purchase.

Community EV Ambassadors to connect with LI/EIEC customers

ComEd’s EV programs have provided $5 million in EV rebates, including 78 percent for low-income and economically-eligible communities, led to the energization of over 5,500 new public and private charging ports, which is equivalent to one new charging port being energized nearly every two hours in northern Illinois every day for the past 17 months and incentivized the purchase/lease of over 1,400 new or pre-owned fleet EVs.

“We are proud to be recognized for these program that put our customers first in both ensuring a safe reliable grid and increasing access to clean technology,” said David Perez, ComEd Executive Vice-President and COO. “Innovation is foundational to the work ComEd does to ensure we are meeting the needs of customers today and in the future.”

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.5 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Jim Wyckoff has spent over 25 years involved with the stock, financial and commodity markets. He was a financial journalist with the FWN newswire service for many years, including stints as a reporter on the rough-and-tumble commodity futures trading floors in Chicago and New York. As a journalist, he has covered every futures market traded in the U.S., at one time or another.

Jim is the proprietor of the "Jim Wyckoff on the Markets" analytical, educational and trading advisory service. Jim also worked as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as the senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com. Jim is also a consultant with the highly respected "Pro Farmer" agricultural advisory service. Jim was also the head equities analyst at CapitalistEdge.com. He received his degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he studied journalism and economics.

Follow Jim daily on Kitco.com as he provides both AM and PM roundups and a daily Technical Special.
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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Lantheus To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Lantheus between February 26, 2025 and August 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (“Lantheus” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LNTH) and reminds investors of the November 10, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

According to the complaint, defendants provided investors with misleading statements concerning the true state of Pylarify’s competitive position; notably, that Lantheus was not equipped to properly assess the pricing and competitive dynamics for Pylarify, risking Pylarify’s price point, revenue, and overall growth potential. These statements caused Plaintiff and other shareholders to purchase Lantheus’ securities at artificially inflated prices.

Investors began to question the veracity of Defendants’ public statements on May 7, 2025, when Lantheus reported its first quarter results below market expectations with Pylarify’s performance particularly falling short. Then, on August 6, 2025, Lantheus again announced disappointing results and significantly reduced growth expectations for Pylarify, which had fallen 8.3% year-over-year, and slashed fiscal year 2025 growth projections. Defendants attributed the losses to the ongoing competition, impacting Pylarify’s pricing dynamics.

Investors and analysts reacted promptly to Lantheus’ revelations. The price of Lantheus’ common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $72.83 per share on August 5, 2025, Lantheus’ stock price fell to $51.87 per share on August 6, 2025, a decline of about 28.8% in the span of one day.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.  

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Lantheus’ conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Lantheus Holdings, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/LNTH or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ba85b68-83af-4f6d-aa26-b92f72e78969

The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry has been bearing the brunt of the prolonged contraction in the manufacturing sector. Customer spending has been subdued due to the imposition of tariffs.

Despite this ongoing weakness, increased infrastructure investment in the United States and demand from the mining sector, driven by the energy transition trend, will buoy the industry. Terex Corporation (TEX - Free Report) and Hyster-Yale, Inc. HY are poised to benefit from these trends. These companies’ emphasis on introducing technologically advanced products, productivity and efficiency enhancements will aid growth.

Industry Description
The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry comprises companies that manufacture and sell construction, mining and utility equipment. They support customers using machinery in the construction of commercial, institutional and residential buildings, and infrastructure projects. Their equipment is also utilized in underground mining, drilling, mineral processing and surface mining to extract and haul copper, iron ore, coal, oil sands, aggregates, gold, and other minerals and ores. Their products are varied, including loaders, pavers, dozers, excavators, concrete mixer trucks, crushing, pulverizing and screening equipment, tractors and cranes. Industry participants support oil and gas, power generation, marine, rail and industrial applications through their reciprocating engines, generator sets, gas turbines and turbine-related services.

Trends Shaping the Future of the Manufacturing - Construction and Mining Industry
Prolonged Contraction in Manufacturing Activity Remains Worrisome: The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index had been in contraction for 26 consecutive months (below 50) until December 2024. The index showed expansion in January and February, but this recovery was short-lived, with the index slipping into contraction again in March with a reading of 49%. The index has been in contraction for the past seven months and registered 49.1% in September. The New Orders Index returned to contraction territory in September, with a 48.9% reading. It had shown expansion in August with a 51.4% reading, after six consecutive months of contraction. The index has not delivered consistent growth since the end of its 24-month expansion streak in May 2022. Customer spending remains subdued due to the impact of tariffs.

Energy Transition Trend, Construction Spending to Aid Industry: The intensifying global focus on shifting from fossil fuels to zero emissions will require a large number of commodities, which, in turn, will support mining equipment demand in the years to come. The U.S. government's plans to increase investment in infrastructure construction, particularly in critical subsectors, such as transportation, water and sewerage, and telecommunications, should support demand in the coming years.

Higher Pricing, Cost Cuts to Boost Margins: The industry is facing input cost inflation, and transport and logistic costs. Industry players are focusing on pricing and other actions to improve productivity and efficiency. They are constantly implementing cost-reduction actions, which are likely to help sustain margins in this scenario. The companies are focused on streamlining their operations and realigning around high-growth key markets or customer segments to enhance their performances.

Investments in Digital Initiatives Act as a Key Catalyst: Industry participants are investing in digital initiatives like AI, cloud computing, advanced analytics and robotics. Digital transformation aids organizations in boosting productivity and increasing efficiency, reliability and safety, thereby enriching customer satisfaction. With the pressing need to cut carbon emissions, companies worldwide are relying more on autonomous machinery. Thus, players in the industry are stepping up their research and technological capabilities to bring products equipped with the latest technology into the market.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Weak Prospects
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dim prospects in the near term. The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry, which is part of the broader Zacks Industrial Products Sector currently, carries a Zacks Industry Rank #200, which places it at the bottom 17% of 243 Zacks industries.

Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this group's earnings growth potential. Since the beginning of this year, the industry's earnings estimates for 2025 have moved down 22%.

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let us look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Versus Broader Market
The Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry has outperformed the sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

Over this period, the industry has grown 33.7% against the sector’s decline of 0.3%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has moved up 16.5%.

One-Year Price PerformanceIndustry's Current Valuation
The trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio, a commonly used multiple for valuing Manufacturing, Construction and Mining companies, shows that the industry is currently trading at 15.82X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.51X and the Industrial Products sector’s trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 24.36X. The charts below show this.

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) TTM Ratio

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) TTM Ratio

Over the last five years, the industry traded as high as 15.82 and as low as 13.52, with a median of 14.46.

Two Manufacturing - Construction & Mining Stocks to Watch
Terex: The company recently inked a deal to sell its Terex Tower and Rough Terrain Cranes businesses. This is in sync with its focus to reduce cyclicality while accelerating growth and further leveraging synergies across its three business segments - Materials Processing, Aerials, and Environmental Solutions. Notably, the last segment includes the Environmental Solutions Group that was acquired in October 2024. This will enhance its financial profile, including revenues, free cash flow, EBITDA margin and earnings per share. Following the acquisition, waste and recycling now account for roughly 30% of Terex’s global revenues, offering steady growth and low cyclicality. Utilities contribute about 10% of revenues, which is expected to rise due to growing demand to modernize and strengthen power grids. Meanwhile, around 15% of the company’s business is tied to Infrastructure, a sector benefiting from substantial ongoing investment in the United States and globally. Collectively, these three markets generate more than half of Terex’s revenues and are considered highly resilient, with limited exposure to broader macroeconomic or geopolitical volatility compared with other segments. Terex shares have gained 3.9% in the past month. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Terex’s 2025 earnings has moved north 0.2% over the past 60 days. TEX has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.3%, on average, and an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 2%. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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

Price & Consensus: TEX

Hyster-Yale: Despite the ongoing weakness in the lift truck market, the company noted sales quoting activity remained steady in the second quarter of 2025. This indicates a resilient underlying demand opportunity. The company remains focused on proactive customer engagement, closely monitoring demand trends and ensuring that it will respond quickly when order levels pick up as customer confidence picks up and industry headwinds abate. The company is executing key strategies to drive substantial, longer-term profitable growth, such as product development and process improvement efforts. In the meantime, actions to reduce costs, improve productivity and deliver high-quality, highly customizable products should enable the company to be more profitable in all phases of the business cycle.  Hyster-Yale continues to focus on cash generation and follows a disciplined capital allocation framework to reduce leverage, make strategic investments to support profitable business growth and generate strong returns for its shareholders. HY shares have gained 3% in the past month.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hyster-Yales’ 2025 earnings has been unchanged over the past 60 days. HY currently has a Zacks Rank of 3.

Price & Consensus: HY

Key Takeaways Mastercard partners with U.S. Bank to launch a subscription management tool for cardholders.The solution lets users view and manage recurring payments via the bank's app and online platform.Powered by Ethoca, it provides digital receipts and clearer spending insights to reduce subscription fatigue.
By partnering with U.S. Bank, Mastercard Incorporated (MA - Free Report) is strengthening its role as a digital partner for banks by launching a new subscription management tool for U.S. Bank credit cardholders. This solution enables customers to easily view and manage subscriptions and payments within the U.S. Bank Mobile App and online banking, addressing a growing consumer need for transparency in digital spending.

With the rise of subscription-based services, keeping track of recurring charges has turned into a major pain point for users and a potential reputational risk for financial institutions. MA’s innovative technology focuses on bridging this gap, offering real-time insights and better data visibility to help financial institutions create more tailored experiences for their customers.

Powered by MA’s subsidiary, Ethoca, this system offers detailed digital receipts for transactions from a wide range of merchants, giving consumers a better understanding of their spending. With the help of this smart innovation, U.S. Bank can boost customer loyalty and tackle subscription fatigue, where users pay for unwanted or unused services.

This partnership strengthens U.S. Bank’s role in the world of digital payments while deepening MA’s integration into everyday financial routines beyond transactions. If executed effectively, this initiative could serve as a model for how traditional banks can thrive in a subscription-based economy.

How Are Competitors Faring?Some of MA’s competitors in the fintech space include Visa Inc. (V - Free Report) and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL - Free Report) .

Visa is making significant moves in the fintech space by expanding Visa Direct and strengthening its partnerships with fintech companies and banks. By focusing on real-time payments, data intelligence and integrated financial tools, Visa is positioning itself as a comprehensive platform for digital transactions and analytics.

PayPal is boosting its ecosystem with AI-powered personalization and subscription management tools. By incorporating smarter spending insights and merchant analytics, PayPal aims to deepen user engagement, boost payment volume and solidify its role in the world of digital payments and financial services.

Mastercard’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesIn the year-to-date period, MA’s shares have gained 6.8% against the industry’s fall of 6.1%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 30.52, above the industry average of 21.31. MA carries a Value Score of D.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard’s 2025 earnings implies 11.8% growth from the year-ago period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

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

TL;DR

A Coinbase-linked user burned over 140 million Shiba Inu tokens in a single transaction, marking the largest individual SHIB burn in nearly three months.
The action boosted the daily burn rate by 222%, contributing to ongoing deflationary efforts for the cryptocurrency.
Despite the scale of the burn, the SHIB price remained largely stable, reflecting the broader cryptocurrency market trends.

A Coinbase user has executed a significant move in the Shiba Inu ecosystem by burning over 140 million SHIB tokens in a single transaction on October 15. This represents the largest individual SHIB burn in almost three months and immediately increased the daily burn rate, highlighting continued efforts to reduce SHIB’s circulating supply. The move also caught the attention of investors and analysts tracking deflationary activity, sparking discussions across several crypto-focused forums about long-term SHIB tokenomics and potential future burns.

Coinbase-Linked Wallet Executes Historic Burn
According to Shibburn, the transaction came from a newly created wallet identified as 0x27d…fe606, which received its tokens from a wallet linked to Coinbase. The full 140 million SHIB were sent to a dead wallet, permanently removing them from circulation. Blockchain data shows the wallet now holds only 0.002 ETH, about $9, indicating it was used solely for this burn. Additional analysis suggests that whales and institutional participants may continue experimenting with similar deflationary actions to influence supply gradually over time.

The single burn significantly impacted SHIB’s daily deflation metrics, with total burns across nine transactions reaching 140.39 million tokens in 24 hours. This represents a 222% increase in the daily burn rate, marking one of the most impactful individual burns in recent SHIB history. Past major burns, including Vitalik Buterin’s in 2021, have contributed to the 410.75 trillion SHIB permanently removed, but single-user burns of this magnitude are rare. Analysts note that smaller daily burns combined with occasional large burns are becoming an effective strategy to manage supply.

Market Response And Supply Dynamics
Despite this massive deflationary move, SHIB’s price remained largely unchanged, trading at $0.00001049 at the time of the burn, with only a minor decline of 0.15% in the past 24 hours. Bitcoin and Ethereum also recorded modest losses, reflecting broader market trends rather than reactions to the burn.

Shiba Inu’s total circulating supply still sits around 589.25 trillion tokens, showing that even large burns have limited impact on the overall supply. This event follows ongoing deflationary initiatives, including Shibarium Layer-2 burns via Bone ShibaSwap, which have collectively destroyed billions of SHIB tokens.

The global digital assets market printed red indexes all around as Bitcoin (BTC) hovered around $111,000. This looked like the new norm after another volatile stretch in global markets.

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is at the center of one of the biggest institutional bets in crypto history, with 13 ETF filings awaiting SEC review just as on-chain flows flatline and charts coil for a breakout. 

Wall Street Titans Line Up With 13 XRP ETF FilingsFilings span both spot and futures products. 

WisdomTree, Grayscale, and Franklin Templeton headline the list, with combined assets under management exceeding $1.6 trillion. 

Other entrants include Bitwise, Canary Capital, CoinShares, and 21Shares, whose ETF deadlines stretch through October and November.

If approved, the funds could mark a turning point for XRP's institutional adoption, mirroring the market impact seen after spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC)  and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) ETFs began trading earlier this year.

XRP Price Consolidates Within Long-Term Triangle

XRP Price Dynamics (Source: TradingView)

Technical Analysis: XRP trades near $2.4s after rebounding from a liquidity-driven dip earlier this week. 

The daily chart shows a symmetrical triangle pattern forming since April, bounded by descending resistance from the $3.8 peak and ascending support from the $1.7 base.

XRP has regained footing above the 200-day exponential moving average at $2.62 dollars but remains capped under the $2.8–2.81 zone. 

This is where the 50- and 100-day EMAs cluster with the Parabolic SAR.

A close above $2.81 could open a path toward $3 and $3.4, while a drop below $2.3 would expose the $2.00–$2.10 support region built earlier in the year.

Flat Netflows Suggest Traders Are Waiting on SEC Decision

XRP Netflows (Source: Coinglass)

According to Coinglass, exchange data shows minimal movement in recent sessions. 

Netflows totaled negative 3.2 million dollars on Thursday, down sharply from September's persistent outflows. 

Traders note that low inflows combined with tight price compression often precede sharp volatility expansions.

This stabilization phase suggests traders may be holding positions in anticipation of the SEC's ETF rulings or a decisive breakout on the charts.

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This partnership marks a major step in normalizing digital asset payments for merchants and payment service providers worldwide.

Photo: T. Schneider/ Shutterstock

Key Takeaways

ACI Worldwide has partnered with BitPay to expand digital currency payment options for merchants and payment service providers.
The integration enables both cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments for global merchants and payment service providers.

ACI Worldwide, a global payments software provider, today announced it is expanding its Payments Orchestration Platform through a partnership with BitPay, allowing merchants worldwide to accept and manage digital currencies alongside traditional payment methods.

Bitcoin acceptance has expanded among merchants in regions like France and Switzerland, with businesses including bars and optical stores integrating crypto payments through specialized gateways.

Payment companies are increasingly embracing Bitcoin amid broader cryptocurrency integration trends. Countries including the UAE and Russia have seen exchanges launch related trading services as digital asset adoption accelerates globally.

Disclaimer

Crypto for Advisors: Litecoin ExplainedLitecoin: A resilient digital asset. Explore its history, technical features, innovation, and why it endures as a key component of the crypto ecosystem. Oct 16, 2025, 3:00 p.m.

In today’s "Crypto for Advisors" newsletter, Josh Olszewicz from Canary Capital breaks down Litecoin from its history to its growth.

Then, in "Ask an Expert", Billy Luedtke of Institution, answers questions about decentralized finance and its growth.

Thank you to our sponsor of this week's newsletter, Grayscale. For financial advisors near Denver, Grayscale is hosting an exclusive event, Crypto Connect, on Thursday, October 23. Learn more.

– Sarah Morton

Litecoin: A Resilient Digital Asset for the Long TermLTC$95.11 is one of the oldest and most established cryptocurrencies still in active use. Created in October 2011 by former Google engineer Charlie Lee, Litecoin was launched as a source-code fork of Bitcoin. While Bitcoin pioneered decentralized digital money, Litecoin sought to improve on its design by offering faster settlement times, lower transaction costs, and a larger supply. For this reason, LTC$95.11 is often referred to as “the silver to bitcoin’s BTC$110,642.90 gold.”

Key Technical Features

Litecoin shares Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) foundation but differs in several critical areas. Its block time is 2.5 minutes, compared to Bitcoin’s 10 minutes, allowing for quicker transaction confirmations. The maximum supply is 84 million coins, four times larger than Bitcoin’s 21 million, which makes individual units more accessible. Instead of Bitcoin’s SHA-256 mining algorithm, Litecoin employs Scrypt, which was designed to make mining more broadly accessible before the advent of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Since its inception, Litecoin has maintained uninterrupted network uptime, a rarity in the blockchain sector. This reliability, paired with low transaction fees that average under 10 cents, has positioned litecoin as a practical medium of exchange rather than primarily a store of value.

Innovation and Adoption

Litecoin has also been an early testing ground for key blockchain innovations. In 2017, it became the first major network to activate Segregated Witness (SegWit), a scaling upgrade that optimizes block space and resolves transaction malleability. Shortly afterward, Litecoin helped pioneer the Lightning Network (LN), a second-layer protocol enabling instant, near-zero-cost payments. The first cross-chain Lightning transaction, routing LTC to BTC, took place shortly after SegWit activation.

Security has also been reinforced through a merged-mining arrangement with DOGE$0.1956 since 2014. By sharing hash power between the two Scrypt-based networks, both ecosystems benefit from stronger protection against potential 51% attacks.

Supply Dynamics and Network Health

Litecoin’s issuance schedule mirrors Bitcoin’s, with rewards halving every four years. Over 90% of the total 84 million LTC supply has already been mined, and annual inflation stands under 2%. The next halving, expected in July 2027, will reduce inflation below 1%, comparable to many traditional safe-haven assets.

On-chain activity reflects Litecoin’s steady use. Transaction counts have grown during periods of Bitcoin congestion and spikes in Dogecoin demand. Active addresses have shown resilience over time, highlighting relative utility compared with peer networks.

Hash rate, the measure of computing power securing the blockchain, has increased in recent years, supported by improved Scrypt ASIC efficiency and the incentive of combined litecoin-dogecoin mining rewards. Mining power remains concentrated among a handful of pools, but overall network security has never been higher.

Valuation Metrics

Two widely tracked crypto valuation tools, the network value to transactions (NVT) ratio and the market value to realized value (MVRV) ratio, provide context for Litecoin’s current standing. NVT, which measures market capitalization relative to on-chain activity, sits below bitcoin’s and dogecoin’s, suggesting litecoin may be more fairly valued relative to its utility. Meanwhile, MVRV, which compares market price to the average price at which coins last moved, remains below long-term bull market levels, signaling subdued speculative excess.

External sentiment indicators confirm this picture. Google Trends data for “Litecoin” has declined steadily since its 2021 peak, pointing to reduced retail enthusiasm. However, such conditions have historically aligned with undervalued entry points in previous market cycles.

Takeaways for Financial Advisors

For advisors evaluating the digital asset landscape, Litecoin represents a case study in durability. It has operated continuously for more than a decade, survived multiple market downturns, and consistently delivered on its value proposition: fast, low-cost, reliable transactions. While it does not command Bitcoin’s brand dominance or Ethereum’s smart contract ecosystem, Litecoin fills a complementary role within the broader digital asset market.

In portfolio construction, Litecoin can be considered as:

A diversification tool within a crypto allocation, offering exposure to a network distinct from Bitcoin but with a proven security model.A lower-beta play on transaction-focused cryptocurrencies, with relatively muted speculation compared to meme-driven assets like dogecoin.A long-term store of utility, benefiting from declining issuance and consistent adoption, even amid shifting market narratives.For clients exploring digital assets, Litecoin stands as one of the most tested and resilient networks in the space. Its combination of security, innovation, and practical utility underscores why it continues to endure as a key component of the crypto ecosystem.

- Josh Olszewicz, portfolio manager, Canary Capital

Ask an ExpertQ. Decentralized finance (DeFi) has experienced explosive growth, hype cycles, and is now pushing toward maturity. From your perspective, what’s the biggest gap still holding DeFi back from mainstream adoption?

A. DeFi has proven that trustless code can automate financial services at scale. But code alone isn’t enough. Even in a “trustless” system, participants constantly rely on trust: that smart contracts are secure, that oracle data is accurate, that a counterparty isn’t malicious, and that audits address the right risks. Because on-chain transactions are irreversible, failures in those trust assumptions can be catastrophic.

What DeFi lacks is a trustful interaction layer to complement trustless execution. Protocols are blind to who’s on the other side of a transaction and whether their information is credible. There’s no native way to verify identity, reputation, or track record in a structured, verifiable format. This leaves users vulnerable, prevents protocols from assessing creditworthiness, and deters institutions.

Closing this gap requires infrastructure that makes information itself verifiable and composable. At Intuition, we’re building exactly that: a trust and reputation layer for DeFiand the broader information economy.

Q. A lot of people talk about how DeFi needs better ways to handle reputation, creditworthiness, and trust. What do you see as the most promising approaches for solving those challenges?

Attestations have been part of Ethereum’s DNA from the start, the original white paper even highlighted identity as a core use case. For more than a decade, builders have experimented with attestations, or signed on-chain statements, to capture trust. Yet so far they’ve been limited to narrow flows: proving a single credential or verifying one fact at a time.

What’s missing is making attestations usable at scale in richer contexts. Instead of just asking, “does this address hold this credential?”, we should be able to analyze thousands or even millions of claims to understand an entity’s reputation. That’s the missing layer.

At Intuition, we’re building exactly that: an attestation graph that makes verifiable data portable and usable. By connecting attestations into a graph, smart contracts and AI agents can reason about history, context, and reputation, unlocking credit scores, undercollateralized lending, access control, and permissionless reputation markets.

Q. Looking ahead, what kinds of DeFi applications or innovations do you think will define the next wave of growth, and how might infrastructure like verifiable data or reputation systems play a role?

The next wave of DeFi won’t just be about moving capital faster; it will be about moving trust faster. Smart contracts gave us trustless execution, but the missing piece is verifiable context about who and what we’re dealing with.

When attestations and reputation can reliably exist on-chain, DeFi evolves beyond being purely collateral-based. Undercollateralized lending becomes possible, pool access can be gated by reputation rather than arbitrary whitelists, and governance can reward real contributions instead of idle token balances. Entire markets for reputation itself open up, where the credibility of an address or dataset can be priced, traded, or staked against outcomes.

This is also what AI agents will need as they move from executing swaps to making complex decisions under uncertainty. A verifiable trust and reputation graph provides the foundation.

- Billy Luedtke, CEO, Intuition

Keep ReadingMorgan Stanley’s 16,000 advisors cleared to offer solicited crypto investments to clients this week.JP Morgan plans to enable crypto access for clients but won’t initially offer custody.Citibank plans to launch crypto custody services in 2026.

SharpLink Gaming (SBET), the second-largest Ethereum (ETH) treasury firm, has raised an additional $75.6 million, according to a recent announcement. 

The fresh capital has been secured through immediate equity issuance. The company sold new shares at $17 each, which is 12% above the current market price. 

There is also a 90-day "premium purchase contract" that makes it possible for investors to buy more shares at $17.50 (a 19% premium). This marks the first time that such call options are used within the digital asset treasury (DAT) ecosystem. 

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Investors are willing to pay a premium because they are convinced that SBET will be worth more within the next 90 days. 

BitMine's insurmountable lead Meanwhile, Tom Lee's Bitmine Technologies, which remains the biggest Ethereum treasury firm, allegedly purchased another $417 million worth of ETH, according to on-chain data. 

According to CoinGecko data, BitMine owns $12.2 billion worth of ETH, dwarfing SharpLink's $3.4 billion. 

However, investment management firm Kerrisdale Capital recently announced that it had shorted BMNR, arguing that its copycat model was on its way to "extinction."

Caliber's stock has swung sharply since adopting its Chainlink-focused treasury strategy, soaring in August before falling back under $4.

The cryptocurrency market remains in the doldrums with bearish sentiment driving major tokens, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), into the red. The crypto market cap is down over 1% at $3.79 trillion, with selling pressure dominating market sentiment. Nearly all tokens traded deep in the red over the past 24 hours, with very few exceptions. BTC, which briefly reclaimed the $112,000 level, failed to maintain momentum, briefly plunging below $110,000 for the second time this week and dropping to a low of $109,819. However, it has recovered to reclaim $111,000 and is moving to its current level. Despite the recovery, BTC is down almost 1% over the past 24 hours, trading around $111,571. 

Meanwhile, ETH is struggling to stay above $4,000 and briefly fell below this level to a low of $3,942 before recovering. The altcoin is down nearly 2% over the past 24 hours, trading around $4,050, with sellers in control. Ripple (XRP) is down almost 2%, while Solana (SOL) is down nearly 4%, trading around $196. Dogecoin (DOGE) is down 2%, and Cardano (ADA) is down 2.30%, trading around $0.678. Chainlink (LINK) is trading around $18.39, while Stellar (XLM) is down 2.50% and Hedera (HBAR) is down over 3%, trading at around $0.181. Litecoin (LTC), Toncoin (TON), and Polkadot (DOT) also registered substantial declines over the past 24 hours. 

Glassnode analysts revealed that the latest market downtrend was largely due to trade tensions between the US and China. The analysts also noted that ETF inflows had weakened, indicating that institutional demand has been affected. 

Bitcoin Whale Transfers 2,000 BTC To 51 Wallets A long-dormant Bitcoin (BTC) whale has resurfaced to transfer 2,000 BTC, worth $222 million at current prices, into new wallets in what appears to be a carefully coordinated move. Blockchain data from Arkham Intelligence revealed that the coins were distributed across 51 new addresses. 50 wallet addresses received 37.576 BTC, while one wallet received 121.18 BTC. The transfers are the first significant movement of the funds in years, and originate from an address tied to Bitcoin’s early years. The structure distribution of the BTC indicates a deliberate, coordinated move rather than a spontaneous transaction. Analysts believe the whale is reorganizing or securing their holdings. However, the timing of the transfers has raised concerns as BTC struggles to regain momentum after Friday’s crash. 

Long-dormant whales from the flagship cryptocurrency’s early days generally awaken for profit-taking. BTC’s value has risen sharply since its early days, and such movements could mean the whale is preparing to offload a part of their holdings. 

Tether Settles With Celsius For $300M Tether, the entity behind the USDT stablecoin, has agreed to pay the Celsius Network Bankruptcy Estate $299.5 million to resolve claims associated with the crypto lender’s 2022 collapse. The settlement was announced on Tuesday by the Blockchain Recovery Investment Consortium (BRIC), a joint venture between VanEck and GXD Labs. The settlement concludes a years-long dispute over BTC collateral transfers and liquidations leading up to Celsius’s high-profile bankruptcy in 2022. 

Celsius has sued Tether, alleging that the stablecoin issuer improperly liquidated BTC collateral that secured loans in USDT. According to Celsius, Tether sold the collateral when the value of BTC closely matched the value of Celsius’s debt, wiping out its position and contributing to its insolvency. The settlement is only a fraction of the roughly $4 billion in claims that Celsius sought in court. The bankruptcy court approved a broader lawsuit against Tether in July 2025. However, it remains unclear how this settlement will impact those proceedings. 

Bank Of England Clarifies Plan Limiting Stablecoins Is Temporary Bank of England Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden has clarified that the central bank’s plan to restrict stablecoins is a temporary measure for financial stability. The proposed stablecoin limits were first mooted in a discussion paper as a means to ensure financial stability. However, industry groups opposed the measure, claiming it would stifle innovation and limit growth. However, Breeden clarified during a speech at the DC Fintech Week that the limits were a temporary measure and will eventually be removed. 

“So let me be clear. We would expect to remove the limits once we see that the transition no longer threatens the provision of finance to the real economy.”

Breeden also revealed that the Bank of England plans to launch a consultation paper before the end of the year, seeking feedback on the limit levels and a clear path for implementation. 

“We will be consulting in the coming weeks on the details of our proposed regime for sterling stablecoins used in systemic payment systems, and we’ll be open to feedback as we finalize our rules.”

BitMine Adds To Ethereum Treasury BitMine has added another $417 million worth of ETH to its corporate reserves. The latest purchase of 104,336 ETH takes the company’s total holdings to over 3 million ETH. The purchase was made over seven hours and distributed between three new wallets through transfers from Kraken and BitGo. BitMine now holds over 2.5% of the total ETH supply, and has accumulated 300,000 ETH over the past week alone. 

The latest acquisition is in line with the firm’s strategy of aggressive buying during market pullbacks. BitMine Chairman Tom Lee described the strategy as buying assets at a “substantial discount to the future.” The company hopes to position itself as a major force in the Ethereum ecosystem and views ETH as a crucial institutional asset. 

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis Bitcoin (BTC) is marginally up during the ongoing session but struggling to regain momentum and push above $112,000. The flagship cryptocurrency started the week with a marginal increase, but fell to an intraday low of $109,945 on Tuesday as selling pressure returned. It recovered from this level to reclaim $113,000 and settle at $113,068, ultimately dropping 1.91%. Selling pressure persisted on Wednesday as BTC fell 2% to $110,804. The price fell to an intraday low of $108,500 during the ongoing session, but has recovered to reclaim $111,000 and trade around $111,606. 

Despite the selling pressure, BTC maintained its position above $110,000 thanks to strong spot demand from US-based investors. The Coinbase Premium Index, which tracks the price difference between BTC on Coinbase and other global cryptocurrency exchanges, has also remained positive despite the recent sell-off. The index surged to 0.18, its highest level since March 2024, indicating that spot bids were being filed between $100,000 and $110,000 despite market panic and uncertainty. When the Coinbase Premium Index is positive, it indicates sustained buying interest, reinforcing near-term market resistance. 

Data from CryptoQuant supports the positive narrative, highlighting rapid accumulation among short-term holders (STHs), specifically among wallets holding BTC for less than a month. STH supply jumped from 1.6 million BTC to 1.89 million BTC following the market crash, indicating aggressive dip buying. However, older BTC holders have also started moving their assets. According to the available data, around 7,343 BTC that had been dormant for two to three years were reactivated and moved on-chain. Analysts believe these long-term holders could be taking profits or repositioning their holdings. 

Crypto analyst Maartunn highlighted that Binance’s net-taker volume indicated selling pressure, while the short-term holder Spent Output Profit Ratio (STH-SOPR), an indicator that measures if recent spenders are selling at a profit or a loss, remains at 1. This suggests that STHs are still taking profits. It is this dynamic that has prevented BTC’s recovery from gaining momentum. 

BTC traded in bullish territory last week, and began the previous week with a 1.41% increase to $122,318. The price registered a marginal rise on Saturday before reaching an intraday high of $125,750 on Sunday. BTC ultimately ended the weekend at $123,520, up 0.87%. Buyers retained control on Monday as the price rose 0.97% and settled at $124,720, but not before reaching an intraday high of $126.296. BTC lost momentum on Tuesday, falling almost 3% to $121,393. The price recovered on Wednesday, rising nearly 2% and settling at $123,343. Selling pressure returned on Thursday as BTC fell 1.32% to a low of $119,713 before settling at $121,714.

Source: TradingView

BTC and the crypto market crashed on Friday after President Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and new export controls for software. The announcement was made in retaliation for China's imposition of restrictions on rare earth mineral exports. As a result, BTC plunged to $102,000 on Binance before recovering and settling at $112,980. Selling pressure persisted on Saturday as the price fell almost 2% to $110,768. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, markets recovered on Sunday. As a result, BTC rose nearly 4% to reclaim $115,000 and settle at $115,067. The price faced selling pressure and volatility on Monday, ultimately registering a marginal increase and settling at $115,274. Selling pressure returned on Tuesday as BTC fell to an intraday low of $109,945. It recovered from this level to reclaim $113,000 and settle at $113,068, ultimately dropping 1.91%. Sellers retained control on Wednesday as the price fell 2% to $110,804. BTC fell to an intraday low of $108,500 during the ongoing session, but has rebounded to reclaim $111,000 and is currently trading around $111,290, up 0.44%. 

Ethereum (ETH) Price Analysis Ethereum (ETH) is struggling to stay above $4,000 despite being up almost 2% during the ongoing session. The altcoin started the week in positive territory, but lost momentum on Tuesday, dropping to a low of $3,894 before reclaiming $4,000 and settling at $4,129. Selling pressure persisted on Wednesday as the price fell over 3%, slipping below $4,000 and settling at $3,988. ETH is trading around $4,050 during the ongoing session. 

ETH experienced considerable selling pressure this week, recording $124.7 million in futures liquidations, of which $77.1 million was in long liquidations. CoinGlass analysts believe ETH could decline to $3,500 if selling pressure persists. However, while ETH remains stuck around $4,000, institutional interest is quietly building. Spot Ethereum ETFs registered $170 million in net inflows on October 15. The ETFs had recorded $236 million in inflows the previous day, according to data from SoSoValue. BlackRock’s ETHA led the inflow chart with $164 million, followed by Bitwise and Fidelity. The contrast between ETH’s price action and steady ETF inflows suggests institutional investors are quietly building their positions. 

Meanwhile, BitMine’s Tom Lee remains bullish about ETH, doubling down on his prediction that the altcoin could reach $10,000 by the end of the year. Lee reasoned that his outlook about ETH is driven by a convergence of corporate and sovereign adoption, a positive US regulatory environment, and growing institutional adoption. 

“Ethereum’s basically been basing for four years now, just broke out of the range, so to me, it wouldn’t be a blow off top, but rather seeking essentially price discovery at a new level.”

ETH started the previous weekend in positive territory, registering a marginal increase on Friday. However, it fell 0.55% on Saturday and settled at $4,487. Positive sentiment returned on Sunday as the price rose 0.62% to reclaim $4,500 and settle at $4,515. Buyers retained control on Monday as ETH rose almost 4% to cross $4,600 and settle at $4,685. Despite the positive sentiment, the price fell by over 5% on Tuesday, settling at $4,451. ETH recovered on Wednesday, rising 1.68%, but was back in the red on Thursday, dropping 3.47% and settling at $4,369.

Source: TradingView

ETH plunged to an intraday low of $3,444 on Friday after President Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and export controls on key software. It recovered from this level to settle at $3,836, ultimately dropping over 12%. Selling pressure persisted on Saturday as the fell 2.21% to $3,752. ETH recovered on Sunday, rising nearly 11% to reclaim $4,000 and settle at $4,158. Buyers retained control on Monday as the price rose over 2% and settled at $4,224. ETH plunged to an intraday low of $3,895 on Tuesday as selling pressure intensified. However, it recovered from this level to reclaim $4,000 and settle at $4,129, ultimately dropping $4,129. Sellers retained control on Wednesday as the price fell over 3%, slipping below $4,000 to $3,988. ETH is up almost 2% during the ongoing session, trading around $4,050.

Solana (SOL) Price AnalysisSolana (SOL) lost the $200 level again on Wednesday despite reaching an intraday high of $208. The altcoin started the week in bullish territory, rising nearly 6% on Monday. However, sentiment changed on Tuesday as the price fell to an intraday low of $191 before reclaiming $200 and settling at $202, ultimately dropping 2.99%. Selling pressure persisted on Wednesday as SOL fell over 4% to $193. SOL is up over 1% during the ongoing session, trading around $196.

SOL has taken a hit in recent sessions as investor sentiment turns cautious following Friday’s market crash, including a fresh wave of US tariffs on Chinese goods. However, market sentiment is gradually improving thanks to a dovish Fed, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted at two rate cuts before the end of the year. However, traders are likely to be cautious as they watch how the latest trade tensions between the US and China play out. SOL is currently testing the $190 support. A break below this level could drive it towards the $170 mark. However, if bullish sentiment returns, SOL could reclaim $200 and push back towards $240.

SOL started the previous weekend in the red, dropping nearly 1% on Friday and over 2% on Saturday to settle at $227. The price recovered on Sunday, reaching an intraday high of $237 before settling at $238. Buyers retained control on Monday, rising almost 2% and settling at $232. Despite the positive sentiment, SOL returned to bearish territory on Tuesday, dropping over 5% to $220. Despite the overwhelming selling pressure, the price recovered on Wednesday, rising over 4% to $229. Selling pressure returned on Thursday as SOL fell 3.52% to $221.

Source: TradingView

Selling pressure intensified on Friday as markets tanked. As a result, SOL plunged to an intraday low of $170 before settling at $188, ultimately dropping over 14%. Sellers retained control on Saturday as the price fell almost 6% to $177. SOL made a strong recovery on Sunday, rising nearly 11% and settling at $197. The price continued pushing higher on Monday, rising almost 6% to reclaim $200 and settle at $208. Despite the positive sentiment, SOL lost momentum on Tuesday, falling to an intraday low of $191 before recovering to reclaim $200 and settle at $202. Selling pressure persisted on Wednesday as SOL fell over 4%, slipping below $200 and settling at $192. SOL is marginally down during the ongoing session, trading around $191.

Celestia (TIA) Price AnalysisCelestia (TIA) started the previous week in positive territory, rising nearly 6% and settling at $1.565. However, it retreated on Tuesday, dropping over 7% to $1.451. Price action turned positive on Wednesday as TIA rose nearly 3% and settled at $1.491. Selling pressure returned on Thursday as the price fell almost 3% to $1.449. TIA plunged to an intraday low of $0.237 on Friday as markets crashed. However, it rebounded from this level and settled at $0.926, ultimately dropping a staggering 36%.

Source: TradingView

Price action was mixed over the weekend as TIA registered a marginal drop on Saturday before recovering on Sunday, rising over 15% to reclaim $1 and settle at $1.062. Buyers retained control on Monday as the price rose over 12% to $1.189. However, selling pressure returned on Tuesday as TIA fell nearly 2% to $1.167. Sellers retained control on Wednesday with the price dropping almost 8% to $1.075. TIA is marginally down during the ongoing session, trading around $1.071.

Optimism (OP) Price AnalysisOptimism (OP) rose 5.57% on Monday (October 7) and settled at $0.756. However, selling pressure returned on Tuesday as the price fell by over 5% to $0.717. OP recovered on Wednesday, rising over 2% to $0.732, but was back in the red on Thursday, dropping 3.43% to $0.707. OP tanked to an intraday low of $0.142 on Friday as markets crashed. It recovered from this level to settle at $0.498, ultimately dropping 29%.

Source: TradingView

Price action was mixed over the weekend as OP fell almost 9% on Saturday before rising 7.58% on Sunday and settling at $0.489. Buyers retained control on Monday as the price rose 2.63% to reclaim $0.50 and settle at $0.502. Selling pressure returned on Tuesday as the price fell by over 3% to $0.485. Bearish sentiment intensified on Wednesday as OP fell almost 7% and settled at $0.453. The price is marginally up during the ongoing session, trading around $0.457.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The total market cap of the 14 U.S.-listed bitcoin miners that the bank covers rose 41% from the end of last month to a record $79 billion. Oct 16, 2025, 3:14 p.m.

The Bitcoin network hashrate declined modestly in the first two weeks of October, dropping 5 exahashes per second (EH/s) to an average of 1,030 EH/s, Wall Street bank JPMorgan (JPM) said in a report Thursday.

The pullback in the hashrate follows the successive record highs seen in August and September.

U.S.-listed miners that the bank tracks now account for around 38% of the global network.

The hashrate refers to the total combined computational power used to mine and process transactions on a proof-of-work blockchain, and is a proxy for competition in the industry and mining difficulty.

"HPC enthusiasm continued over the first two weeks of October, as the 14 bitcoin miners and data center operators we follow reached a combined market cap of $79 billion," analysts Reginald Smith and Charles Pearce wrote.

Miners earned around $52,500 in daily block reward revenue per EH/s, an increase of 6% from the end of September, the report said, but the hashprice, a measure of daily mining profitability, fell 7%.

The total market cap of the 14 U.S.-listed bitcoin miners that the bank covers rose 41% from the end of last month to a record $79 billion. All these companies outperformed BTC over the period.

Bitfarms (BITF) outperformed with a 129% gain, and Cango (CANG) underperformed the group with a 3% rise, the report added.

Read more: Bitcoin Miners Emerge as Key AI Infrastructure Partners Amid Power Crunch: Bernstein

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What to know:

Trading activity falls 17.5% in September slowdown: Combined spot and derivatives volumes dropped to $8.12 trillion, marking the first decline after three months of growth. September has now seen reduced trading volume for the fourth consecutive year.Open interest reaches record high despite derivatives market share decline: Total open interest surged 3.2% to $204 billion and peaked at an all-time high of $230 billion during the month.Altcoins on CME outperform as Bitcoin and Ether futures decline: While CME's total derivatives volume stayed flat at $287 billion (-0.08%), SOL futures jumped 57.1% to $13.5 billion and XRP futures rose 7.19% to $7.84 billion. BTC and ETH futures fell 4.05% and 17.9% respectively.View Full Report

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Jito Foundation has raised $50 million from a16z crypto through a private token sale to fund its expansion.The investment will support the development of open-source infrastructure and new products aimed at increasing efficiency on Solana.The funding follows Jito’s recent BAM launch and ETF filing, signaling a broader push into both DeFi and traditional finance.Read full story

In Brief

Tether donates $250,000 to OpenSats to fund Bitcoin and privacy tech development.

OpenSats has issued over 300 grants for open-source and censorship-resistant projects.

Tether maintains USDT peg at $1.00 with $181B market cap and $164B daily trading volume.

Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, announced a $250,000 donation to OpenSats, a nonprofit dedicated to funding open-source Bitcoin initiatives. The contribution will strengthen OpenSats’ operations and grant-making programs focused on advancing censorship-resistant and privacy-enhancing technologies.

OpenSats, a 501(c)(3) public charity, directs 100% of grant funds to developers, researchers, and educators while funding its operations separately. The organisation’s nine-member board oversees grant allocations across high-impact projects in Bitcoin protocol development, privacy tools, and education.

Since its founding, OpenSats has issued over 300 grants supporting contributors building “freedom tech” projects within the Bitcoin and open-source ecosystem. The new funding from Tether will help scale these initiatives globally and sustain long-term development support.

The initiative reflects Tether’s commitment to Bitcoin and the broader open-source community. The company continues to back public goods that promote transparency, innovation, and financial independence across decentralized ecosystems.

Tether Strengthens Commitment to Bitcoin While Maintaining Market Leadership
Tether said the donation reinforces its goal of promoting open, censorship-resistant infrastructure that supports Bitcoin’s long-term sustainability. The company’s contribution will expand resources for developers and organisations advancing privacy and decentralisation in financial technology.

Industry analysts view this move as part of a broader trend of institutional support for open-source funding models. Transparent and consistent funding is increasingly recognised as vital for sustaining innovation across decentralised networks and maintaining ecosystem stability.

Meanwhile, Tether (USDT) remains firmly pegged at $1.00, maintaining price stability within its expected trading range. With a market capitalisation of $181.46 billion, USDT continues to dominate the global stablecoin market.

The stablecoin’s 24-hour trading volume of $164.27 billion underscores its deep liquidity and active use across exchanges, DeFi, and payments. With 181.32 billion USDT in circulation, Tether remains the backbone of crypto liquidity and settlement activity worldwide.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.