Market Signal Briefing

Stock market volatility will test even the most patient investors, and many growth stocks have been hit hard over the past year. Dutch Bros (BROS 1.81%) and Deckers Outdoor (DECK +0.22%) are two growing consumer brands that have seen their share prices fall 40% or more from their previous highs.

However, nothing has changed these companies' long-term prospects. Here's why these stocks should be rewarding long-term investments.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dutch Bros Dutch Bros is gradually expanding its drive-thru beverage shops across the U.S., giving investors the chance to profit from that growth curve. The stock is currently trading about 40% off its previous high, while its quarterly revenue has more than doubled since the end of 2022.

The stock's high price-to-earnings ratio of 81 might look expensive, but Dutch Bros is still expanding margins as the business grows. After the pullback, the price-to-sales ratio sits around 4 -- a reasonable price for a fast-growing restaurant concept.

The stock is down, yet the business continues to expand. The combination of new shop openings and solid same-store sales growth drove a 29% year-over-year increase in revenue during the fourth quarter. Profitability is moving in the right direction, with net income rising from $6.4 million in Q4 2024 to $29.2 million in Q4 2025.

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Dutch Bros is cultivating a loyal customer base that makes repeat visits. It now has more than 15 million members in its rewards program. Importantly, three-quarters of transactions are driven by these customers.

The company has more than 1,100 shops nationwide, leaving plenty of room for expansion. Management sees long-term potential for 7,000 locations. This is an opportunity to buy a proven growth story at a more reasonable price.

Deckers Outdoor Many investors thought Deckers' Ugg footwear line was a fad in the early 2000s, yet a $1,000 investment in 2006 would be worth $53,000 today -- and that's after the stock's recent 53% sell-off. Over that time, the stock has experienced four 60% drawdowns, and each time it has recovered. The current pullback could be another great buying opportunity.

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Uggs are still selling strong every year, but Hoka is emerging as the company's next growth engine. The strong growth for both brands has driven strong double-digit annual growth in recent years. Over the last three years, Deckers' revenue grew at a 16% annualized rate, with net income up nearly 29%.

Despite a choppy consumer spending environment, the company is still seeing sales and earnings grow. In the recent quarter, total net sales grew 7% year over year, and earnings per share increased 11%. Obviously, the lower growth rate explains why the stock has fallen, but it also explains why investors can buy shares at an attractive valuation.

The stock trades at just 15 times forward earnings estimates. With management still calling out "meaningful untapped global opportunities" for Hoka, this top shoe stock offers a compelling opportunity for new investors.

Amid the war in Iran and the virtual closing of the Strait of Hormuz, the focus has shifted back to oil prices and their effects on the economy. Oil prices have some impact on virtually all industries, but it is especially acute in the cruise line industry, as cruise ships depend on petroleum to operate.

Nonetheless, if these consumer discretionary stocks fall, now is probably a buying opportunity, and here's why.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Worries about high prices are likely overdone Cruise line stock investors are probably going to watch the oil market more carefully. The Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where tankers transport 20% of the world's crude oil, is virtually shut down amid the war. That caused oil prices to spike above $115 per barrel before pulling back a few hours later to the $88 per-barrel range as of the time of this writing.

The volatility in the price indicates that worries, rather than actual shortages, fueled the volatility. While the cruise industry's bottom lines could be significantly impacted if the high prices persist, for now, panicking is likely premature.

However, the run-up in oil prices may be overdone as the market continues to be well supplied.

Additionally, the economic worries in recent months have not dampened demand for cruise vacations if the financials of cruise lines like Royal Caribbean (RCL +2.22%) or Viking Holdings (VIK +0.71%) are any indication.

Amid record booking levels, demand has exceeded supply, meaning these companies have not had to discount much to fill ships. Amid such conditions, demand is less likely to fall if they have to pass on some of that cost to consumers.

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2. Valuations Furthermore, despite high occupancy levels, most cruise line stocks are not expensive, with all but Viking trading at price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios below the S&P 500 average of 29.

CCL PE Ratio data by YCharts.

This is particularly true of Royal Caribbean and market leader Carnival Corp (CCL +0.29%), whose P/E ratios are now in the teens, leaving little further downside for these stocks.

The low valuations have little to do with oil prices and are likely impacted by debt levels. Most of these companies ran up massive debts during the pandemic when governments barred them from sailing.

However, they have also reduced those debts significantly and steadily refinanced existing debt at lower rates. The only reason they are not falling faster is that the cruise lines continue to build ships to meet the high demand for cruises.

Cruise line stocks should continue to keep sailing Given the state of the industry, high oil prices should not derail cruise line stocks.

Admittedly, the blockage of a major shipping lane for the oil industry is concerning and certainly, rising prices and geopolitical tensions have pressured travel-related stocks. If prices stayed high for months or years, that could negatively impact these stocks.

Nonetheless, supplies have so far not been impacted, and the fact that cruise demand continues to exceed supply should make it easier for cruise lines to pass on costs. Moreover, since most of these stocks already traded at low valuations, the oil price scare likely amounts to a more lucrative buying opportunity rather than a reason to avoid these stocks.

Nuclear power plant upstart Oklo (OKLO 2.11%) is off to a slow start in 2026. Its shares are down more than 18% year to date compared to a decline of about 3% for the S&P 500. There are several scenarios, however, in which Oklo's shares could outperform the S&P 500 this year.

Oklo's Aurora powerhouses are small modular reactors (SMRs) that use recycled nuclear fuel and are designed to operate for up to 10 years before needing refueling. Demand for nuclear power is growing, thanks both to President Donald Trump's emphasis on the technology and the nation's rising power needs, which are largely being driven by the rapid buildout of electricity-hungry artificial intelligence data centers.

There are good reasons why investors may be wary about the stock. Oklo is a pre-revenue company, and as such, its volatility is through the roof. Its shares have ranged over the past two years between $17.42 and $193.84. However, here are four reasons why Oklo should outperform the S&P 500 this year.

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It should add more contracts to its deal with Meta On Jan. 9, Meta Platforms signed a deal with Oklo under which the tech giant will support the smaller company's effort to deploy a 1.2 gigawatt (GW) power campus in Pike County, Ohio. That campus will generate power for Meta's data centers in the region. By prepaying for that power, Meta will fund the project's progress. The day the deal was announced, Oklo's shares jumped by nearly $8 to close at $105.31.

Oklo has an 18 GW pipeline. If it can sign additional deals with hyperscalers or similar partners, analysts' and investors' opinions of the stock would rise considerably.

One possible customer is Oracle, which has stated its desire to build data center campuses with space for small nuclear reactors on site. Oracle's Stargate collaboration with OpenAI in Texas will require ample gigawatts, and Oklo's Aurora powerhouse would be a logical choice for the behind-the-meter SMR deployment Oracle would prefer. Oracle recently disputed reports that the project was stalled, but even if it is, Meta has shown an interest in stepping in and using the data center, and it already has a relationship with Oklo.

Image source: Getty Images.

It is in a strong financial position Oklo's war chest is quite impressive for a company that is currently pre-revenue. Its financial strategy has shifted from a lean start-up to a well-capitalized industrial player, largely thanks to successful capital raises throughout 2025, with a secondary public offering in June and an ATM equity program it rolled out in December.

The company ended the third quarter with $1.2 billion in cash and marketable securities on its books. It also has little long-term debt, which gives it a big advantage over its competitors in the current higher-interest-rate environment.

Based on management's guidance for an annual operating cash burn of $65 million to $80 million, the company has more than 10 years of runway if its spending remains stable. Now, Oklo will likely start to spend more money when it begins construction on its 1.2 GW power campus, but that will also be its first step toward developing long-term revenue streams. The company lost $29.7 million in the third quarter.

Oklo will deliver its fourth-quarter results on March 17, and any good news that report brings could help the stock as well.

The Aurora powerhouse could receive accelerated approval In November, the Department of Energy approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for Oklo's Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility at Idaho National Laboratory. That's a big step, and if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission grants accelerated approval for the Aurora powerhouse at the laboratory, it would signal to the markets that the company's technology is valid.

It has already broken ground on the Idaho site. Now, Oklo must wade through the regulatory process, including regulatory pre-application and licensing submissions.

The price of oil will likely remain high Higher oil prices will only accelerate the trend toward greater use of nuclear power. The volatility of fossil fuel prices helps support the business case for next-generation nuclear providers.

With Brent crude crossing the $100-per-barrel mark and West Texas Intermediate crude up by more than 80% since the start of 2026 due to the Iran war, the narrative around nuclear has shifted from green energy to energy stability. Hyperscalers that are relying heavily on natural gas generation to meet their electricity needs face financial risks.

Oklo's model is to own its reactors and sell the electricity they generate through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). That strategy gives their customers a fixed price for 20 years. It's a model that's looking increasingly attractive to clients as oil and natural gas prices rise.

Hyperscalers aren't the only potential clients for Oklo. Industrial companies that use oil or natural gas for "process heat" (such as chemical plants or refineries) are more likely to see the appeal in switching to Oklo's high-temperature fast reactors when their current fuel bills double.

Should income investors worry about the increased market volatility and uncertainty? Not if you own the stocks of companies that are built to last and offer dependable dividends.

If you're looking for such stocks, you have plenty of great alternatives. Some of them pay especially juicy dividends. Here are three magnificent high-yield dividend stocks to buy and hold.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Ares Capital Ares Capital (ARCC +1.42%) is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC). It provides financing to middle-market businesses and has generated total returns since its initial public offering in 2004 that are roughly 40% higher than those of the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.61%).

BDCs must return at least 90% of their profits to shareholders as dividends to be exempt from federal income taxes. Ares Capital's forward dividend yield is a lofty 10.5%. The company typically pays a high yield. It's even higher than normal, though, because BDC stocks are under significant pressure, in part because of concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) will disrupt the business models of software companies in its portfolio.

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Around 24% of Ares Capital's portfolio companies operate in the software and services industry. However, management remains confident that its clients are "highly resistant" to AI disruption. Ares Capital President Jim Miller stated in the fourth-quarter earnings call that "there really would have to be a whole lot of value destruction that would occur before we as a lender lose a dollar."

I think the sell-off of SaaS stocks is overdone. The good news, though, is that it has created a tremendous opportunity to buy Ares Capital at a discount and lock in a fantastic yield.

2. Enbridge Enbridge (ENB +0.87%) ranks among the most intriguing energy stocks, in my view. The company operates 18,085 miles of crude oil pipeline and 19,373 miles of natural gas pipeline. It's also the largest natural gas utility in North America by volume, serving around 7.1 million customers in five U.S. states.

Income investors should really like Enbridge's forward dividend yield of 5.3%. Even better, though, the company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years. That isn't the only impressive streak for Enbridge. The company has also met or exceeded its financial guidance for 20 consecutive years.

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Enbridge's management team describes the business as "low-risk" and "utility-like." I agree with that characterization. After all, we're talking about a company that transports 30% of the crude oil produced in North America and 20% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.

Will Enbridge deliver jaw-dropping growth? Probably not. However, management has identified roughly $50 billion of growth opportunities through 2030. That should translate to around 5% average annual earnings growth over the long term -- an attractive level factoring in Enbridge's high yield.

3. Realty Income Realty Income (O 0.91%) is the sixth-largest global real estate investment trust (REIT). It owns 15,511 properties spread across all 50 U.S. states, the U.K., and eight other European countries.

Like Enbridge, Realty Income has a sterling dividend track record. The REIT has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years. Its forward dividend yield tops 5%. One bonus of Realty Income is that it pays monthly dividends.

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This REIT stock is also remarkably resilient. Realty Income has outperformed the S&P 500 during 11 of the 13 drawdowns of 10% or more since its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1994. The company has delivered positive total operational returns (adjusted funds from operations growth plus dividend yield) for 30 years.

Want more good news? Realty Income's growth prospects are strong, especially in the U.K. and Europe, where the market is largely unpenetrated.

In case you haven't heard, NASA shook up its moon landing plans again last week. Some people think this is bad for the Artemis program -- and for the rocket companies working to make it happen -- while others think the news is good.

The people who think it's good news... are correct.

Image source: Getty Images.

Don't judge a book by its cover: Artemis III To understand why people might get this story wrong, consider the headline: On Feb. 27, newly appointed NASA administrator Jared Isaacman took to X to announce that the Artemis II mission, which has been repeatedly delayed already, will be delayed again until April. Over 10 days, Artemis II will sail around the moon and back again (and not land on the moon along the way).

Likewise, the following Artemis III mission will not land on the moon in 2028 as previously planned. Instead, it will merely travel to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), there to practice docking with various lunar landing vessels.

Taken together, these two revelations sure sound like bad news -- more delays at NASA and no moon landing for at least another couple of years.

President Trump gave the world the Artemis Program, and NASA and our partners have the plan to deliver. We will standardize architecture where possible, add missions and accelerate flight rate, execute in an evolutionary way, and safely return American astronauts to the Moon,... pic.twitter.com/Qjm6BD5Ipi

-- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) February 27, 2026 But here's the thing: We're still planning to land on the moon. It's just that the rocket that does that will be Artemis IV.

An Artemis by any other number So why the switcheroo? "Launching a lunar rocket every three years is not a strategy consistent with success. ... This is by far the lowest launch cadence in the history of America's space program," says Isaacman.

To rectify this, NASA wants to launch more frequently. Artemis III will be pulled forward one year to 2027, and astronauts will use it to practice docking procedures. (The moon landing, when it happens, will involve astronauts traveling to the moon on an Orion spacecraft, then transferring to a lunar lander for their descent to, and ascent from the moon, after which they will transfer back to Orion for return to Earth.)

One year later -- but still hitting the 2028 target date -- Artemis IV, not III, will conduct the actual landing. Indeed, because NASA is accelerating its launch cadence to once every 10 months (instead of once every three years), it may land on the moon twice in 2028: first with Artemis IV and then with Artemis V.

What else is up with Artemis? Now that we've established the new timeline, let's take a look at the hardware.

I've already described two elements of the Artemis missions: an Orion capsule to go to and from lunar orbit, and a lunar lander (SpaceX's "Human Landing System") to go to and from the moon's surface. Arguably, the biggest part of any Artemis launch, though, is the rocket they ride into space.

NASA calls this rocket the Space Launch System, or SLS. Boeing (BA +2.57%) builds it. Northrop Grumman (NOC 0.35%) adds solid rocket boosters to give it extra "oomph." Lockheed Martin (LMT 1.05%) then puts an Orion spacecraft on top of it.

The sum total of all these efforts comes to $4.1 billion in costs for each Artemis launch -- partly because the rockets launch so infrequently that there's very little economy of scale involved and partly because Boeing is still evolving SLS and has been spending money on developing a more powerful version.

That's going to stop.

To help control costs, Isaacman wants to "standardize" Boeing's SLS moon rocket so that NASA can build more of them, faster and cheaper. Instead of a planned capability upgrade to "Block II," NASA will instruct Boeing to create a "near-Block I" version of SLS that includes the proven Centaur 5 second stage that Boeing and Lockheed's United Launch Alliance uses on its Vulcan Centaur rocket, rather than the more powerful "Exploration Upper Stage" Boeing had been working on.

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What it means for space stocks Artemis IV will be the first SLS rocket to use the Centaur second stage. All subsequent launches will use it, too, thus "standardizing" the design. If this enables Boeing and its partners to cut costs, it could be very good news -- not just for NASA, but also for its contractors.

How?

Well, $4.1 billion is a very high price to pay for a rocket launch, especially when Elon Musk and SpaceX are not being shy about arguing their Starship rocket would be much cheaper. This has led to active calls in Congress to cancel SLS outright and replace it with a cheaper rocket -- if not Starship, then perhaps with Blue Origin's New Glen rocket.

In one fell swoop, though, Isaacman has proposed a plan that stands a decent chance of getting us back to the moon by 2028, and on schedule; cutting SLS per-launch costs to a level that makes launches more affordable; and thereby making SLS more palatable to Congress -- such that Boeing, Northrop, and Lockheed may be allowed to keep building SLS rockets and not hand the rocket contract to Elon Musk on a silver platter.

I call this a win-win-win for all concerned. Boeing should send Isaacman a thank-you note.

I'm tempted to suggest a high-growth exchange-traded fund (ETF) here, but instead I want to offer a top-flight dividend-oriented ETF. Why? Well, I'm considering that the world -- and our economy -- is a little less steady than usual these days, with a war afoot and tariffs and trade wars, too. On top of that, the stock market has delivered double-digit gains in six of the past seven full years (2019-2025). It could be smart to be a defensive investor.

So dividends. Healthy and growing dividend-paying stocks offer the potential for stock-price appreciation, just like any stock. And on top of that, they deliver regular income -- which tends to grow over time via dividend increases. It's a compelling proposition in any kind of economy, really.

Image source: Getty Images.

Meet the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF Consider the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD 0.07%). Here's how it has performed in recent years:

Period

Average annual gain

Past 1 year

15.67%

Past 3 years

12.66%

Past 5 years

11.03%

Past 10 years

13.37%

Since inception (10/20/2011)

13.30%

Source: SchwabAssetManagement.com, as of Feb. 28, 2026.

Clearly, it's a strong performer -- and it's also a solid dividend payer, recently yielding 3.3%. Most funds tend to deliver either strong returns or strong dividend income. This one offers both.

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If you invested $1,200 annually ($100 per month) in it, and you earned an annual return of, say, 10%, you'd end up with around $68,730 in 20 years.

So what's in this ETF? Here are the top 10 holdings as of March 13:

Stock

Weight in ETF

Recent yield

Lockheed Martin

4.94%

2.1%

ConocoPhillips

4.74%

2.8%

Chevron

4.70%

3.6%

Verizon Communications

4.50%

5.6%

Altria Group

4.19%

6.3%

Bristol Myers Squibb

4.18%

4.3%

Merck

4.19%

2.9%

Coca-Cola

3.96%

2.7%

PepsiCo

3.88%

3.6%

Amgen

3.85%

2.7%

Source: SchwabAssetManagement.com and Yahoo! Finance, as of May 8, 2025.

The ETF holds roughly 100 stocks, many of them blue chips. Invest in the ETF now and you'll own those same stocks -- and can expect significant dividend income.

Selena Maranjian has positions in Altria Group, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chevron, and Merck. The Motley Fool recommends ConocoPhillips, Lockheed Martin, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

With its more than 200 drink brands, Coca-Cola (KO +0.34%) has an unrivaled presence in its industry. Its reach is also hard to overstate, as its products are sold in more than 200 countries and territories.

In the past five years, this top-notch beverage stock produced a total return of 78% (as of March 10). Investors are hyperfocused on what the future will bring. Where will Coca-Cola shares be in five years?

Image source: Getty Images.

One of the most durable businesses on Earth Legendary investor Warren Buffett likes to hold businesses forever. Companies that have staying power are rare. But Coca-Cola falls into this bucket, which is probably why it's a large position in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio.

The most important factor in to Coca-Cola's lasting success is its brand. Supported by an incredibly long operating history that has offered consistency to its customers, the business has stood the test of time. There's certainly customer loyalty involved with consumer products. And that supports the argument that the company will be relevant decades from now, especially when you consider that there's almost zero risk of disruption.

Coca-Cola has been able to leverage this affinity with consistent pricing power. During the fourth quarter of 2025, favorable pricing of 4% benefited revenue. Because these are small and recurring purchases that consumers have built habits around, demand is steady in good and bad economic times. And it all leads to incredible profits, with a trailing five-year average operating margin of 28.3%.

Management has never been shy about returning capital to shareholders. Last month, the board of directors raised the quarterly dividend from $0.51 to $0.53. This was the 64th straight year a payout hike was introduced, making Coca-Cola the ultimate dividend stock.

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Things are poised to stay the same Five years from now, Coca-Cola's operations likely won't have undergone any change. That stability is precisely what certain investors appreciate. This is particularly true in today's economy, when technological change is occurring so rapidly that almost no business appears safe. That's not the case with Coca-Cola. Artificial intelligence isn't going to change how people quench their thirst.

But will this beverage stock outperform the market? That's not something I'm confident will happen between now and March 2031. At a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.6, shares aren't trading at a bargain valuation, eliminating the possibility of multiple upside. And given how mature the industry is, Coca-Cola will likely continue on its path of slow growth.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

According to Polymarket bettors, Ethereum (ETH) could be on the verge of losing its long-held status as the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. 

The latest data shows a 57% probability that the flagship will be "flipped" and lose its number two ranking by the end of the year. 

Just two months ago, in January, for comparison, the odds of Ethereum losing its spot sat at a mere 14%. 

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Currently, the stablecoin giant Tether (USDT) is the undisputed main candidate poised to overtake the smart contract platform.

Ethereum's number two spotEthereum has never successfully surpassed Bitcoin, but it came remarkably close during the ICO boom of 2017. In June 2017, Ethereum's market capitalization surged to represent approximately 30% of the entire cryptocurrency market, while Bitcoin's dominance briefly plummeted below 40%. At its peak, Ethereum's total value hovered around 80% to 83% of Bitcoin's, sparking immense "flippening" hype that ultimately faded.

Ethereum has maintained a near-ironclad grip on the second-largest market capitalization for most of its existence since launching in 2015. However, it has faced some challenges. 

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It has actually slipped below second place on a few rare occasions. During the massive altcoin volatility of 2018, XRP, the Ripple-affiliated token, briefly overtook Ethereum in market capitalization multiple times. 

XRP first pushed Ethereum down to third place in early January 2018, and then repeated the feat later that year. 

The looming USDT threat The current threat comes from the mushrooming growth of the Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency. 

The fiat-pegged stablecoin has ballooned to a massive $184.0 billion valuation.

A scenario where liquidity and stability outrank decentralized computation might end up materializing this year (especially if the current bear market continues to persist). 

The Ethereum Foundation has finalized an over-the-counter (OTC) sale of 5,000 Ether to BitMine Immersion Technologies, a transaction worth about $10.2 million based on the agreed price of $2,042.96 per ETH.

In a Saturday post on X, the foundation said proceeds from the sale will support core operations, including protocol research and development, ecosystem growth initiatives and community grant programs. The onchain transfer will originate from an Ethereum Foundation Safe multisignature wallet.

BitMine, a publicly traded company on the NYSE American under the ticker BMNR, has emerged as one of the largest corporate holders of Ether (ETH). Chaired by Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, the firm holds more than 4.5 million ETH worth roughly $9.3 billion, according to industry treasury trackers.

Top 6 Ether treasury firms. Source: Ethereum TreasuriesThe company has steadily accumulated Ether since mid-2025, following a strategy similar to Strategy’s Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation model.

EF conducts second corporate ETH OTC saleThe transaction marks the second time the Ethereum Foundation has sold ETH directly to a corporate treasury buyer via an OTC deal. In July 2025, the organization sold 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming at an average price of $2,572.37, a transaction valued at about $25.7 million.

These periodic sales are part of the Ethereum Foundation’s treasury management framework introduced in June 2025. Under that policy, the organization periodically converts a portion of its ETH holdings to maintain a fiat-based operating reserve. The framework targets annual spending equal to roughly 15% of treasury holdings while maintaining a multi-year operating runway.

The announcement comes shortly after the foundation began staking a portion of its treasury, with plans to deploy around 70,000 ETH into validators using open-source infrastructure.

EF publishes mandate outlining its roleThis week, the Ethereum Foundation released a new mandate outlining its role in stewarding the Ethereum ecosystem, emphasizing decentralization and user sovereignty over assets and data. The document states that Ethereum should remain censorship-resistant, open source and privacy-preserving while scaling to support global adoption.

The foundation said it will focus on core protocol upgrades, long-term research, cybersecurity and developer tools while gradually reducing its direct influence over the network.

Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum — BIP-360 co-author

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

TLDR: Vitalik Buterin says running two Ethereum daemons adds needless complexity for self-sovereign node operators.  Docker-based standardized wrappers could offer a short-term fix for easier Ethereum client deployment.  The Nimbus unified node project already merges both client types into one streamlined, manageable daemon.  Lean Ethereum consensus maturity may eventually enable a full architectural redesign of the node structure. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has publicly called for a review of the network’s current two-client node architecture.

He argued that the existing separation between beacon and execution clients creates unnecessary complexity for everyday users.

Buterin outlined short-term fixes and longer-term solutions to make running a personal node easier and more accessible.

His remarks add momentum to growing community discussions about improving how self-sovereign participation on the Ethereum network functions in practice.

Running Two Daemons Creates Friction for Node Operators The current Ethereum setup requires node operators to run two separate client daemons simultaneously. These clients, covering the beacon and execution layers, must also be configured to communicate with each other properly.

For many users, managing and coordinating both daemons is technically demanding and time-consuming. That added friction discourages people from opting to run their own independent nodes. Fewer everyday users follow this path, even when they have the hardware needed to do so.

Buterin laid out his position directly in a post shared on social media. He wrote that running two daemons and getting them to work together is far more difficult than managing one.

Buterin noted that making the self-sovereign way of using Ethereum genuinely easy is a core priority for the ecosystem. He further added that running a personal node is central to delivering that experience for users across the network.

We should be open to revisiting whole beacon/execution client separation thing.

Running two daemons and getting them to talk to each other is far more difficult than running one daemon.

Our goal is to make the self-sovereign way of using ethereum have good UX. In many cases…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) March 15, 2026

As a near-term measure, Buterin proposed introducing standardized deployment wrappers for client installation. These tools would allow users to install Docker-based clients more easily and without requiring deep technical expertise.

The wrappers would also automate client-to-client communication, eliminating the need for manual configuration. This type of solution could substantially reduce the entry barrier for independent node operators network-wide.

Lean Ethereum Consensus and the Path to Architectural Change Looking further ahead, Buterin raised the possibility of reconsidering the full beacon and execution client separation altogether. He tied this longer-term discussion directly to the maturity of the Lean Ethereum consensus model.

The Lean Ethereum initiative targets a simplified, more streamlined version of the core protocol. Its progress could open a viable path toward fundamentally restructuring how Ethereum nodes are designed and operated.

Buterin also acknowledged an existing project already advancing in the right direction. He pointed to the Nimbus unified node project from the Status-im team as a practical, real-world example.

Nimbus combines both client types into a single, easier-to-manage daemon for node operators. This integrated design is closely aligned with the architectural direction Buterin is now openly advocating for.

The broader discussion around Ethereum node complexity has been circulating in developer communities for some time now. Buterin’s direct public statement has given the topic renewed focus and a clearer sense of urgency.

Developers are now more actively exploring what a leaner, single-daemon node setup could realistically involve. The overarching aim remains reducing technical barriers for independent participants while preserving network decentralization and security throughout.

Key Takeaways BTC experienced an initial 8.5% decline at the onset of U.S.-Iran hostilities but has recovered approximately 11% from its nadir. Successive conflict escalations have prompted temporary selloffs, yet purchasing activity emerges at progressively elevated price points. Bitcoin’s performance has surpassed both gold and the S&P 500 during the identical fourteen-day timeframe. Major Bitcoin holders (whales) have resumed accumulation around the $71,000 mark, now possessing 68.17% of circulating supply. Blockchain analytics indicate minimal selling pressure between present levels and approximately $82,000. Bitcoin’s current market valuation stands at $71,500.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Hostilities between the U.S. and Iran commenced on Saturday, February 28. As the sole major trading market operating that day, Bitcoin experienced an 8.5% correction down to $64,000—marking its cycle bottom.

Fast forward fourteen days, and the landscape has transformed considerably.

BTC has surged approximately 11% from that trough, currently exchanging hands near $71,500. During this identical period, gold has exhibited extreme volatility, the S&P 500 has declined, and Asian stock markets endured their most severe weekly losses since 2020. Only crude oil—surging over 40%—and the greenback have exceeded Bitcoin’s gains. Both assets benefit directly from wartime conditions.

Progressive Support Levels Following Each Dip Each military escalation since late February has initiated a Bitcoin price retreat. However, purchasing power has consistently materialized at increasingly higher thresholds.

Following Iran’s counter-strike missile barrage on March 2, BTC stabilized at $66,000. After seven consecutive days of sustained military operations on March 7, the floor elevated to $68,000. In response to commercial tanker incidents on March 12, Bitcoin maintained $69,400. Post-Kharg Island offensive on March 14, support crystallized at $70,596.

This pattern reveals ascending support increments of approximately $1,000–$2,000 following each geopolitical development.

Simultaneously, Bitcoin has encountered resistance near the $73,000–$74,000 zone on four separate occasions. This upper boundary remains intact. Market dynamics suggest an impending resolution—either BTC penetrates the $74,000 threshold, or intensified conflict finally overwhelms demand.

Earlier in 2026, a rapid liquidation cascade eliminated $2.5 billion in leveraged positions during a single weekend session, forcing Bitcoin down to $77,000. That purge appears to have eliminated excessive leverage, creating a market structure better equipped to withstand repeated conflict-related news without comparable disruption.

Whale Accumulation Pattern Emerges, Blockchain Metrics Suggest $82K Target Analytics from cryptocurrency intelligence platform Santiment reveal substantial Bitcoin wallets—those containing 10 to 10,000 BTC—have reinitiated accumulation strategies around $71,000.

Source: Santiment These addresses now command 68.17% of Bitcoin’s aggregate supply, increasing from 68.07% seven days prior. Santiment characterized this movement as a “positive reversal.” The analytics firm monitors retail investor behavior, as historical patterns indicate their capitulation often coincides with cyclical bottoms.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered 16 on Sunday—deep within “Extreme Fear” territory.

U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their inaugural five-consecutive-day inflow sequence of 2026 this week, attracting approximately $767 million in fresh capital.

Blockchain analyst Ali Martinez, referencing the UTXO Realized Price Distribution framework, identified minimal resistance between current valuations and approximately $82,045. The $74,000 rejection area, he observed, demonstrates sparse investor cost-basis density, implying it may prove less formidable than technical charts suggest.

The subsequent major support beneath current trading ranges appears around $66,898.

Bitcoin has appreciated 7.55% across the trailing 30-day period. BTC presently trades at $71,500.

Dogecoin Price Eyes $0.10 Breakout as Active Addresses Spike 176%Dogecoin price holds near $0.095 as active addresses surge 176% to 114K. Rising network activity signals growing interest and potential volatility.

Dogecoin is trading around $0.09556, showing steady upward momentum after rebounding from the $0.094 zone. The price reflects growing buying pressure with a 1.04% gain in the last 24 hours, signaling improving short-term sentiment. The meme coin currently holds a market capitalization near $14.66 billion and records roughly $757 million in 24-hour trading volume, highlighting strong liquidity and active trader participation as bulls attempt to maintain control of the current trend.

Dogecoin Active Addresses Jump 176% to 114K in One WeekAccording to analyst Ali Martinez, on-chain activity on Dogecoin has surged significantly over the past week. Active addresses increased by 176%, from 41,557 to 114,662, according to the chart. The sharp rise shows a strong expansion in user participation across the network. During this period, DOGE traded around $0.09, reflecting steady market interest as more wallets interacted with the blockchain.

The chart highlights a clear upward trend in daily active users, with the latest bar marking the highest level in the dataset. Rising network activity often signals stronger transaction demand and growing community engagement. Increased address activity can also precede price volatility as trading interest grows. If participation remains elevated while Dogecoin holds near the $0.09 range, the market could see stronger liquidity and renewed bullish sentiment.

Dogecoin Price Tests Key Ascending Support Near $0.095Meanwhile, Dogecoin is testing its ascending support trendline on the 4-hour chart, according to analyst Trader Tardigrade. The price is hovering near $0.095 after a recent pullback from the $0.10 area. The chart shows several successful rebounds from this rising support line. Each bounce previously pushed DOGE higher, confirming the structure of a short-term uptrend.

If this support holds again, the bullish structure could remain intact. A strong reaction near $0.095 may trigger another upward move toward the $0.10–$0.11 region. However, losing this trendline could weaken momentum and invite further consolidation. For now, the ascending support remains a key pivot for Dogecoin’s next move.

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TLDR: Bitcoin MVRV Z-Score at −0.262 historically marks cycle bottoms and accumulation zones.  Current Z-Score recovery to 0.469 indicates early-to-mid phase of potential bull market.  Whale vs Retail Delta shows large holders reducing exposure while retail remains bullish.  Historical patterns suggest deep undervaluation often precedes multi-year Bitcoin price rallies. Bitcoin MVRV Z-Score measures market value versus realized value, highlighting extremes in price. Recent readings show recovery from deep undervaluation, suggesting early stages of a potential bull market while whales and retail traders display divergent behaviors.

Historical Significance of the MVRV Z-Score Bitcoin MVRV Z-Score tracks how market prices deviate from the network’s “fair value.” Deep negative readings indicate extreme undervaluation, often coinciding with market pessimism and maximum investor losses.

The last three bull cycles followed the same pattern. In 2015, the Z-Score hit roughly −0.262, signaling accumulation after a prolonged bear market. 

This preceded the 2017 bull market when BTC rose to nearly $20,000. After the 2018–2019 bear phase, the metric again reached −0.262. 

Long-term investors accumulated coins, leading to the 2021 cycle and all-time highs exceeding $60,000. A similar pattern appeared in 2022 during the crypto market collapse, marking the beginning of the current recovery.

The repeated interaction at −0.262 demonstrates its function as a cycle reset. At this level, weak hands have capitulated, and long-term investors dominate. 

Historically, this creates conditions for multi-year price expansion and structural market recovery.

Whale vs Retail Dynamics and Current Market Outlook The Whale vs Retail Delta measures the positioning of large holders versus retail traders. Recent readings show whales reducing long exposure while retail remains bullish, creating a divergence that signals caution.

Historically, red bars in the delta indicated either price corrections or local market bottoms. When selling pressure peaks and overshoots, the market stabilizes, forming a foundation for further upward movement.

🐳Whale vs Retail Delta shows that whales have been reducing their Long positions relative to retail.

When this metric moves toward the red zone, it means whales are becoming more inclined to take Short positions while retail traders tend to do the opposite.

Every time it… pic.twitter.com/CAzJ5COy7V

— Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) March 13, 2026

Currently, Bitcoin’s MVRV Z-Score has recovered to approximately 0.469, suggesting early-to-mid bull cycle conditions. The combination of a recovering Z-Score and cautious whale positioning points to a balanced market. 

If accumulation by long-term holders continues, the path may lead to sustained price growth. These on-chain indicators collectively highlight potential opportunities for investors. 

Deep negative MVRV readings align with historical bottoms, while the whale-retail divergence offers insight into market sentiment and positioning for the weeks ahead.

Macro pressure is building again, and Bitcoin is still standing.

Liquidity has quietly expanded, political pressure on the Fed has intensified, and rate-cut hopes remain nearly dead.

Meanwhile, the dollar is strengthening, stocks are slipping, and Bitcoin [BTC] is trying to stay firm through the noise. So, what exactly is shaping this clash between macro pressure and Bitcoin’s resilience?

Fed Balance Sheet Expands By Over $110B The Fed did not call it QE, but the balance sheet still moved higher.

Since the 1st of December 2025, the balance sheet had expanded by more than $110 billion through reserve management purchases. These were technical short-term Treasury buys meant to keep bank reserves ample as Treasury bill issuance stayed heavy and demand kept rising.

Source: X That support eased money market stress and helped prevent fresh funding pressure. Therefore, the move stayed neutral-to-positive for risk assets in the short term, even without looking like a full stimulus.

Trump Pressures Powell As Markets Price Near-Zero Odds Of A Cut Trump brought the pressure, but markets refused to flinch.

On the 12th of March, 2026, Trump said Powell should cut rates “IMMEDIATELY” instead of waiting for the next FOMC meeting that’s on the 17th and 18th of March, 2026. However, traders still priced only a 0.6% chance of a cut, showing an overwhelming expectation that rates would stay unchanged.

That gap exposed the real mood clearly. 

DXY climbs back above 100 as S&P 500 weakens The dollar strengthened again, and risk appetite looked shaky. The DXY climbed back above $100 and traded around $100.494 on the 14th of March.

Source: TradingView That move came as safe-haven demand rose, tightening financial conditions once again. At the same time, the S&P 500 weakened to $6,632.20.

Source: TradingView A stronger dollar usually hits crypto badly on paper. However, Bitcoin did not crack right away, and that made this setup more interesting.

Can Bitcoin hold firm after a second green weekly candle? Bitcoin had already bounced from the $60K dip and printed a second green weekly candle.

Source: TradingView After six straight red candles, that was not nothing. Price kept trading around $70K and held its ground while the broader macro backdrop stayed messy. 

Final Thoughts The Fed added support, but markets still priced only a 0.6% chance of a rate cut. If Bitcoin kept holding near $70K, bears would have a much harder time calling for weakness.

9h05 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

While stock markets waver under the impact of geopolitical tensions, bitcoin follows an opposite trajectory. The leading crypto shows a strong weekly performance, surpassing stock indices in a climate of global uncertainty. This divergence once again attracts the attention of institutional investors. Thus, Michael Saylor’s company Strategy could have a financial leverage of 776 million dollars to strengthen its BTC purchases. Between strategic accumulation and a tense macroeconomic context, several signals suggest that bitcoin could enter a new market phase.

In Brief Bitcoin outperforms stock markets in a context of uncertainty linked to international geopolitical tensions. Strategy could have $776 million to strengthen its bitcoin purchases thanks to its financial instrument STRC. The STRC mechanism allows raising capital on markets to finance new BTC acquisitions. Bitcoin confirms its status as an atypical asset, capable of evolving differently from traditional financial markets. Strategy has a financial leverage of $776 million to accumulate bitcoin Strategy could soon further increase its bitcoin exposure thanks to a financial mechanism already used for its recent purchases. According to reports, the company has a financing potential of up to 776 million dollars, made possible by the sale of its financial instrument STRC, a preference share allowing capital raising from investors.

This mechanism is based on a precise logic :

The STRC financial product is a preference share issued by Strategy to raise funds on the markets ; When its price remains above 100 dollars, the company can issue new shares ; The obtained capital can then be used to buy bitcoin on the market ; At the current BTC price, this capacity could represent more than 11,000 additional bitcoins. This accumulation strategy is not new for the company led by Michael Saylor. Strategy has acquired 17,994 bitcoins for approximately 1.28 billion dollars, confirming its commitment to an aggressive purchasing policy. According to shared information, nearly 30 % of this acquisition was financed by sales of the STRC product, illustrating the growing role of this instrument in the company’s investment strategy.

Bitcoin outperforms traditional markets in a climate of uncertainty While Strategy strengthens its position, bitcoin also stands out for its performance against traditional markets. Over the week, the crypto shows growth of about 7 %, reaching a level close to 70,625 dollars, while the S&P 500 falls by about 1.6 % over the same period. This divergence appears in a context of growing geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, a climate that often pushes investors to reduce exposure to risky assets.

At the same time, institutional demand continues to support the market. The Bitcoin ETFs listed in the United States recorded $767 million in net inflows over five days, signaling sustained interest in the asset. Historical analysis also shows that bitcoin has often bounced back after periods of international tensions. During the Ukrainian crisis in 2022 and the escalation between Israel and Iran in 2025, the asset saw significant increases in the months following the initial shocks.

In the short term, some analysts believe these dynamics could support a new bullish phase, with scenarios mentioning a return to $100,000. The market remains subject to volatility, which could open the way to a correction to $51,000 if it were to materialize. Between institutional accumulation and mixed technical signals, bitcoin’s trajectory now seems to depend as much on financial flows as on the global macroeconomic climate.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

TLDR: Table of Contents

TLDR:Token Launchpad and Protocol Upgrades Advance the EcosystemSecond Migrations, Validator Rewards, and Kraken Listing Expand ParticipationPi App Studio Reaches Mainnet and Launches Utility Challenge Pi Network launched its Token Launchpad MVP on Testnet, requiring projects to have working apps before issuing tokens. Protocol 20 upgrade gives the Pi blockchain the technical foundation needed to support smart contract functionality. The first KYC validator reward round distributed Pi at 0.0504 Pi per validation, 21 times the base mining rate. Kraken has officially integrated Pi Network after passing the platform’s required KYB verification process for exchanges. Pi Network celebrated its seventh official anniversary on Pi Day 2026 with a broad set of ecosystem releases. The announcements covered infrastructure upgrades, token launch capabilities, exchange listings, and validator rewards.

These updates expand how Pioneers and developers can contribute to and participate in the network. The releases also introduced a Pi Day Utility Challenge, encouraging community engagement across newly available features.

Together, they mark continued progress toward a utility-driven and widely accessible cryptocurrency platform.

Token Launchpad and Protocol Upgrades Advance the Ecosystem The Pi Launchpad MVP has launched on Testnet, introducing a structured mechanism for ecosystem token issuance.

Projects using the platform must have working applications before launching tokens, ensuring immediate utility at launch.

Pi proceeds from each token launch flow into liquidity pools rather than going to the issuing project directly. This approach supports healthy decentralized exchange activity within the Pi ecosystem.

All major Pi nodes have been upgraded to version 20.2, now supporting protocol 20. This upgrade provides the technical foundation required to enable smart contract capabilities on the blockchain.

Smart contract categories, including subscriptions, escrow, and NFT-related contracts, will be prioritized based on utility-driven product needs. Several contracts are currently undergoing external audits before progressing to Testnet deployment.

PiCoreTeam announced: “Happy Pi Day 2026, Pi Network’s 7th official anniversary! Today’s releases introduce new ecosystem capabilities and expand how Pioneers can build, participate, and engage with Pi.”

Happy Pi Day 2026, Pi Network’s 7th official anniversary! Today’s releases introduce new ecosystem capabilities and expand how Pioneers can build, participate, and engage with Pi.

New releases include the introduction of the Token Launchpad on Testnet, Node and protocol…

— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) March 14, 2026

Updates to the Pi Wallet and Pi SDK will also follow to support the new smart contract functionality. These changes aim to ensure seamless integration between on-chain logic and user-facing applications.

Mainnet deployment of smart contracts will occur after successful Testnet testing and community review. The pace of rollout will reflect real utility needs arising from the ecosystem.

Second Migrations, Validator Rewards, and Kraken Listing Expand Participation Second migrations have begun, allowing previously migrated Pioneers to bring additional Pi balances to Mainnet. Before migrating, Pioneers must complete two-factor authentication through Step 5 of the Mainnet Checklist.

This requirement exists because blockchain transactions are permanent and cannot be reversed. Referral mining bonuses tied to KYC-verified team members will also be included in second migrations.

Pi distributed the first round of KYC validator rewards, covering contributions recorded through March 5, 2026. The reward pool contained 16,568,774 Pi from migrated Pioneers, later supplemented by 10 million Pi from the Pi Foundation.

Dividing the total pool across 526,970,631 successful validations produced a price of approximately 0.0504 Pi per validation. That rate is 21 times the current base mining rate, reflecting the scale of the validation work done.

Over 1,094,680 human validators contributed to the KYC process, completing more than half a billion tasks collectively.

The Pi Foundation supplemented this round to account for early validations used to train the validator workforce.

Future reward rounds may incorporate additional criteria around validator accuracy and consistency. New Pi entering the pool and new validations will be factored into subsequent distributions.

Centralized exchange Kraken has integrated support for Pi following the network’s KYB verification process for external services.

This listing broadens access to Pi and connects the network with a wider segment of the crypto market. Third-party platforms that pass Pi’s verification requirements may also integrate in the future. This external connectivity supports the network’s goal of broader adoption.

Pi App Studio Reaches Mainnet and Launches Utility Challenge Pi App Studio now supports Mainnet apps and live Pi payment integration for select qualifying applications. Four apps have been invited to transition from Testnet to Mainnet based on quality, utility, and ecosystem compliance.

Creators whose apps meet eligibility criteria can now receive real Pi payments directly through the blockchain. This shift moves App Studio from experimentation toward generating sustainable creator income.

Persistent payment integration is also now available within App Studio on both Testnet and Mainnet. Previously, in-app purchases applied only during a single active session and expired when the user exited.

Now, purchases such as premium access or feature unlocks carry over across multiple future sessions. This enables creators to build longer-lasting, more engaging application experiences for Pioneers.

The Pi Day Utility Challenge launched alongside these releases, offering Pioneers a structured way to explore new features. The checklist guides users through ecosystem tools, newly released products, and Pi utility applications.

Completing all tasks earns a Pi Day badge visible on Pi Chats and Pi Social Profiles. This gamified approach encourages hands-on discovery of the ecosystem’s growing range of utilities.

The Open Network Anniversary raffle, which began with the community badge initiative, concluded on March 14. A total of 150 winners will be selected randomly and contacted through the official Pi support email.

Pioneers are advised to verify sender addresses carefully and consult the Pi Safety Center to avoid scams. Official communications will come only through verified Pi Network channels.

Amin Ayan

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Amin Ayan

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Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has...

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Large Bitcoin holders have started accumulating again as the cryptocurrency trades near the $71,000 level, according to new data from crypto analytics firm Santiment.

Key Takeaways:

Bitcoin whales holding 10–10,000 BTC have resumed accumulation as the price stabilizes near $71,000. These large wallets now control about 68.17% of Bitcoin’s total supply, signaling renewed confidence among major holders. Analysts warn a confirmed market bottom may depend on retail investors beginning to sell rather than continue buying. The platform reported that wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 Bitcoin have increased their share of the total supply over the past week, signaling renewed confidence among major investors.

These wallets now control about 68.17% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply, up slightly from 68.07% seven days earlier.

Bitcoin Whale Accumulation Signals ‘Positive Reversal’: SantimentSantiment described the shift as a “positive reversal,” suggesting that larger holders may be positioning for a potential rebound.

The accumulation trend comes as Bitcoin stabilizes near $71,000 following recent volatility in the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin was trading around $71,350 at the time of publication, up roughly 6% over the past week and more than 7% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Analysts are closely watching the behavior of both large holders and retail investors for signals about where the market could move next.

Santiment noted that Bitcoin has historically found local bottoms when coins flow from smaller retail wallets to larger long-term holders.

🤯 Based on available tracked wallets, the percentage of Bitcoin on exchanges has dropped to its lowest level since November, 2017. In the over eight years since, it's fair to say that quite a bit has changed in both crypto and the world. pic.twitter.com/Sb9psThlvW

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) March 14, 2026 “Ideally, we want to see small wallets drop while this group rises,” Santiment said, referring to the transfer of coins from short-term traders to larger, more patient investors.

However, the firm warned that the market may still face uncertainty if retail enthusiasm continues.

Historically, Bitcoin tends to bottom when retail investors become pessimistic and start selling, not when optimism remains widespread.

Sentiment indicators reflect that mixed outlook. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained in the “Extreme Fear” category at 16 on Sunday, showing that many investors are still cautious despite the recent price recovery.

The latest accumulation trend follows a period of heavy selling earlier in March.

On March 6, Santiment reported that large Bitcoin holders had sold about 66% of the BTC they accumulated between Feb. 23 and March 3 as prices surged past $70,000 and briefly touched $74,000.

Bitcoin May Still Be in Bear Market Phase: Willy WooSome analysts remain cautious about declaring a definitive market bottom.

Onchain analyst Willy Woo recently argued that Bitcoin may still be in the middle of a longer bear-market phase when viewed through the lens of long-term liquidity cycles.

Despite a local rejection of mid-70s, investor flows have been in consistent recovery since mid-Feb. Meanwhile expected volatility (VIX) on equities is hinting for a switch to "risk on" in coming weeks.

BTC sold off WAY TOO FAST in this early bear market and current conditions…

— Willy Woo (@willywoo) March 8, 2026 As reported, Bitcoin’s price is showing signs of stabilizing near the $70,000 level as fears of a broader conflict involving Iran begin to ease.

The recovery follows a sharp multi-week selloff that coincided with rising oil prices and worsening macro sentiment, which had pushed Bitcoin down toward the $63,000–$66,000 range during the peak of geopolitical tensions.

Markets have started to recover as energy prices cooled after comments suggesting the conflict could de-escalate. Risk assets responded quickly, with the S&P 500 gaining while Bitcoin rose about 4% on the daily chart.

Meanwhile, institutional flows appear to be strengthening. US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their first five-day inflow streak of 2026 this week, attracting about $767 million in fresh capital.

Nvidia (NVDA 1.58%) leads the pack in terms of data center computing hardware. Per IOT Analytics' estimates, Nvidia controls a 92% share of the market. That makes all the major artificial intelligence (AI) models dependent upon Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) to a high degree.

OpenAI, Anthropic, and more all need the company's products, and Nvidia has profited handsomely from it. Today, it's the world's most valuable company by market cap.

But, as the saying goes, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Nvidia has competitors like Alphabet with its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) or the subject of this article, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 2.33%), better known by its initials and symbol, AMD.

Image source: Getty Images.

Not looking to be an also-ran At present, AMD has a 4% share of the data center GPU market. That's not much, but it's double the next-largest company, which is Huawei, at 2%.

It's second only to Nvidia in the market, which means it's in arguably the best position to chip away at Nvidia's lead. And that seems to be exactly what AMD is trying to do.

Late last year, AMD signed an agreement with OpenAI that will see it supply the AI start-up with hundreds of thousands of chips and allow OpenAI to buy up to a 10% stake in AMD. AMD expects the agreement to generate more than $100 billion in revenue from OpenAI alone.

But the deals didn't stop there. In February of this year, AMD signed another agreement with Meta Platforms to provide it with 6 gigawatts of its Instinct GPUs.

Along with those two, Microsoft and Oracle have both announced that they will purchase AMD's hardware. It's far from exclusive, and both companies are likely to continue buying plenty from Nvidia, but it will help AMD gain market share.

All signs point to AMD gaining traction in the industry. It will likely be some time before AMD threatens Nvidia's dominance, if it can manage to do so in the first place. But an investment in AMD can help diversify your GPU investment portfolio, and with the company's latest results, it's looking like a serious growth prospect.

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For 2025, AMD brought in $34.6 billion, up 34% over 2024, and its diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew 26% over the same period. While AMD's net margin is lower than Nvidia's at 12.3% and 55.6%, respectively, AMD's is still solid, which likely has a lot to do with pricing.

The reason AMD is shaping up to be a competitor to Nvidia is that, at least on the consumer side, its GPUs offer comparable performance to their Nvidia counterparts while costing considerably less.

All other things being equal, lower prices generally equal lower margins. But if AMD's hardware is good enough, it can snatch some market share away from Nvidia even if Nvidia's hardware is superior in some ways.

That's AMD's avenue of attack to gain market share over Nvidia, and it seems to be working based on the deals the company is locking in. It could pay to have shares of both companies in your portfolio to hedge your AI hardware bet.

James Hires has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

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

Warren Buffett may have retired at the end of 2025 as Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKB 0.38%) CEO (he remains chairman), but the legendary investor built quite a reputation over the decades. After all, he's grown his net worth into the billions.

He's built this incredible wealth as the ultimate long-term investor, telling people that his favorite holding period is forever.Given the impossibility of knowing what will happen day-to-day, a long-term approach remains the wisest course.

Berkshire Hathaway's stock holdings aren't a secret. You can examine which equities the company owns via its quarterly SEC 13F filings. Perusing its latest filing, which details its Dec. 31, 2025, positions, these two stocks stand out as buying opportunities.

Certainly, simply following any investor, even one as accomplished as Buffett, is unwise. However, after digging further into the company's fundamentals, here's why these companies belong in your long-term portfolio.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Coca-Cola If you're looking for dividends, Coca-Cola (KO +0.28%) should certainly appeal to you given its consistently rising payments. In fact, last month, the company's board of directors announced that it approved a 4% increase in the quarterly rate to $0.53 a share.

That made it 64 straight years with a dividend increase, an impressive feat. The company has raised payments through all kinds of environments.

It puts Coca-Cola in the exclusive company of Dividend Kings. These are companies that have increased dividends for at least 50 consecutive years.

At the new dividend rate, Coca-Cola's shares have a 2.8% dividend yield, more than double the S&P 500 index's 1.2%.

Aside from dividends, the business remains sound. Although the beverage company sold its first soda in 1886, it's not a stale company with sliding revenue.

Coca-Cola's 2025 top line, adjusted to remove foreign-currency translation effects and the effect of acquisitions, grew 5%. Price/mix accounted for 4 percentage points of the increase, with volume adding 1 percentage point.

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While investors would undoubtedly like to see the company sell more product, this comes during a challenging economic environment in many regions, including the U.S. While the Iran war adds more uncertainty given spiking oil prices, it's noteworthy that Coca-Cola continues to gain market share.

This suggests that when the economic climate improves, and weary consumers start spending more on discretionary items, Coca-Cola's sales growth rate will increase.

2. Domino's Pizza Domino's Pizza's (DPZ +1.94%) inexpensive menu offerings combined with convenience (takeout and delivery) have long appealed to customers. Started in 1960, the chain continues to produce consistent sales growth.

Its fourth-quarter U.S. same-store sales (comps) grew 3.7%, and its international locations saw a 0.7% increase. That capped off a year of 3% and 1.9% comps growth, respectively.

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While Domino's had more than 22,000 restaurants in 90 countries, fortunately, it still has expansion opportunities. Last year, it opened 172 U.S. locations (167 franchised) and 604 international restaurants.

Aside from the expansion opportunity, with about 99% of its locations franchised, the company can open new locations in a capital-efficient manner. It also means that Domino's doesn't have to invest a lot of money to own assets. The business generates revenue by collecting royalties based on a percentage of sales.

That means Domino's produces plenty of free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures), which it uses partly to reward shareholders with dividends. That makes Domino's shares an attractive investment for those looking for capital appreciation and income.

The board of directors announced last month that it was boosting the quarterly dividend payment by a sharp 15% to $1.99 a share. That shows how much confidence the board and management have in Domino's prospects.

At the new rate, Domino's has a better-than-market dividend yield of 2%.

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

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An" or "the Group"; HKEX: 2318/82318; SSE: 601318) announced that PingAnGPT-Qwen3-32B, the Group's financial large language model (LLM), achieved the highest overall score on the CNFinBench leaderboard, an authoritative benchmarking system for large language models in the industry, as of March 15. 

The latest CNFinBench evaluation included a range of models representing the forefront of global artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, including GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet 4, as well as mainland Chinese open-source models such as DeepSeek-R1 (671B) and Qwen3-235B-A22B.

CNFinBench is an industry leading benchmark for evaluating financial LLM capabilities in Chinese mainland, jointly developed by Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and leading authorities in the financial industry. It assesses models across five dimensions: financial expertise, business understanding and analysis, reasoning and computation, compliance and risk control, and application security.

In the latest evaluation, PingAnGPT‑Qwen3‑32B demonstrated outstanding performance across multiple core metrics, including financial factual reasoning and computation, financial knowledge Q&A, and financial compliance and risk control. The model showcased high numerical accuracy and rigorous logical reasoning, especially in application scenarios such as financial investment research and risk measurement. These strengths highlight its significant practical value and advantages in safety and controllability.

PingAnGPT-Qwen3-32B has been deployed across the Group and supports 97 real‑world business scenarios, including auto insurance claims, customer service, expense auditing, and intelligent call operations. The model continues to empower the business, driving greater efficiency and service quality.

Through strengthening its AI capabilities, accelerating model optimization and iteration, and deepening scenario‑based deployment, Ping An continues to translate technological strengths into tangible customer value. The Group remains committed to meeting the evolving customer needs by focusing on worry‑free, time‑saving, and cost‑efficient services through high‑quality, digital financial offerings.

About Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEX:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services. Under the technology-enabled "integrated finance + health and senior care" dual-pronged strategy, the Group provides professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge" services to its nearly 250 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses' quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 27th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2025, 47th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2025, and ranked AAA in MSCI ESG Ratings in 2025.

For more information, please visit the www.group.pingan.com and follow our LinkedIn page - PING AN.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.

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SummaryAirbus maintains a massive 8,800-aircraft backlog, but production ramp-up challenges persist despite strong demand.February orders reached 28 aircraft, higher year-on-year, yet wide-body order momentum remains weak and order value has declined.Deliveries lag, with only 54 units in the first two months—down 17% year-on-year—casting doubt on the 2026 delivery target of 870.I maintain a buy rating, but Airbus must execute a robust delivery recovery to align targets with supply chain realities.Looking for more investing ideas like this one? Get them exclusively at The Aerospace Forum. Learn More » Oleh Yatskiv/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Airbus (EADSY) has a backlog of nearly 8,800 airplanes, and that paves the way for substantially higher production numbers to meet demand. However, Airbus has had significant challenges over the past year to increase production

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

The crypto AI sector has posted a stellar performance recently.

CoinMarketCap data showed that the sector has gained 16% in cumulative market capitalization over the past week. Some of the leading tokens in this category have also posted massive gains.

The most notable among them were Bittensor [TAO] and Render [RENDER], which were up 54% and 42% for the week, respectively. By comparison, Artificial Superintelligence Alliance [FET] has managed a respectable 35.8% rally.

In doing so, it has begun to shift its long-term trajectory bullishly and is challenging a key resistance level. These gains could continue if the crypto AI sector continues to outperform the market.

Assessing the potential for a FET trend shift Source: FET/USDT on TradingView From November to late January, the $0.195 level had been a support level. It was breached and at the time of writing, being tested as a resistance. FET’s reaction at the $0.185 local resistance was encouraging.

Over the past two days, bulls struggled to find a way above. In recent hours of trading, the selling pressure seems to have been exhausted. It has left the path free for FET bulls to reclaim the $0.195 resistance.

The moving averages outlined the bearish momentum that had been dominant till this week’s trading. The CMF has climbed past the zero line to show capital inflows to the FET market.

Rising demand can set up a strong rally for the AI altcoin. However, traders should note that the swing structure of FET remained bearish. The break of $0.185 was only an internal shift.

The $0.24 swing high precipitated February’s low at $0.134, marking it as the swing high for bulls to overcome to shift the long-term trend bullishly.

Short-term FET opportunity Source: CoinGlass The liquidation heatmap showed that the $0.195-$0.205 area was a local magnetic zone. The $0.240-$0.254 was the next liquidity cluster overhead.

In the coming days, if FET prices can push to $0.205 and stay there, it would be a good sign of a bullish continuation. On the other hand, a quick rejection from the liquidity cluster overhead would be indicative of seller dominance.

Traders would want to see prices accepted above $0.20 before they look to target the next move to $0.24, which aligns with the swing high on the daily chart.

Final Summary The crypto AI sector has been a runaway bullish one over the past week, with a clear lead over other sectors. FET has been one of the strong altcoins within the AI sector, and it could continue its bullish trajectory this week too.

TLDR: Bitcoin market divergence appears as crypto rises while stocks and metals fall simultaneously. U.S. equities lose around $2.4 trillion while Bitcoin climbs nearly 12.5% in the same period. Gold and silver briefly spike on conflict headlines before reversing sharply downward. Market behavior suggests liquidity pressures and capital rotation may drive crypto gains. Bitcoin market divergence is drawing attention after an unusual market reaction during recent geopolitical tensions.

Equities and precious metals declined sharply, yet the cryptocurrency market advanced, creating a rare pattern that differs from the typical risk-off behavior seen during global conflicts.

Traditional Safe Havens Fail to Follow the Usual Pattern Financial markets usually follow a predictable script during geopolitical crises. Investors tend to move capital into assets considered stable when global uncertainty rises.

Precious metals such as Gold and Silver often attract inflows during these periods. Government bonds and the U.S. dollar also benefit from defensive positioning.

Risk assets typically move in the opposite direction. Major equity indices like the S&P 500 and digital assets, including Bitcoin, usually decline when investors shift toward safety.

Comparable reactions appeared during the COVID-19 Market Crash and the Russia–Ukraine War. In both events, precious metals strengthened while equities and crypto weakened.

THIS IS VERY STRANGE.

Since the start of the US-Iran war 15 days ago

$2.4 trillion erased from the US stocks

$2.5 trillion wiped out from gold & Silver

Meanwhile, Bitcoin is up 12.5% and The total crypto market is up 10%, adding $240 billion.

This is not normal because… pic.twitter.com/ylKMLhT0Tu

— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) March 14, 2026

Recent price behavior differs from that historical template. Stocks declined sharply while gold and silver also moved lower after an initial spike.

Such a move is unusual because precious metals typically retain value during periods of geopolitical stress. Their decline alongside equities indicates an atypical market response.

At the same time, the cryptocurrency market moved higher. This created a divergence in the Bitcoin market that analysts are now discussing across financial platforms.

Liquidity Pressure and Capital Rotation in Markets One possible explanation centers on liquidity conditions rather than fear. Institutional investors sometimes sell liquid holdings when they need to raise cash quickly.

Precious metals markets provide deep liquidity. Large funds can exit positions rapidly, which sometimes leads to declines even during geopolitical uncertainty.

Another factor involves positioning before the conflict headlines appeared. If hedge funds already held large long positions in gold, the initial price spike may have triggered profit-taking.

This behavior often follows a “buy the rumor, sell the news” pattern. Prices rise before the event and decline after traders close positions.

During the same period, the cryptocurrency market moved in the opposite direction. Bitcoin advanced nearly 12.5 percent while the broader crypto market gained roughly ten percent.

Observers on social media documented the unusual divergence. Several posts noted that equities, gold, and silver fell simultaneously while crypto markets rallied.

Some investors also continue exploring the narrative of Bitcoin as digital gold. The fixed supply model of Bitcoin contributes to that perception among certain market participants.

The recent market configuration, therefore, appears rare. Stocks declined, metals weakened, yet crypto prices advanced during geopolitical tension.

For now, the Bitcoin market divergence remains an uncommon pattern that market participants continue monitoring closely.