Market Signal Briefing

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is asking a court to terminate its obligation to pay the legal bills of Charlie Javice, the founder of the college financial aid startup Frank, whose fees have ballooned to over $115 million since she was convicted of defrauding the bank.

Just because a business has a history of dominating its industry, it doesn't mean that it's always going to be a smooth ride. Nike (NKE 0.75%) provides a clear example of this. The global leader in sportswear has struggled mightily in recent years. And the leadership team is putting its best efforts forward to improve the situation.

The market isn't yet convinced. This consumer discretionary stock is trading 62% below its all-time high (as of Oct. 20), and it has fallen 11% in 2025 after a very volatile year thus far. In the midst of such a massive dip, can Nike shares be a millionaire maker?

Image source: Nike.

Nike's turnaround will take time
Nike is deep in the middle of a major turnaround. Its revenue and net income in fiscal 2025 (ended May 31) were down 10% and 44%, respectively, below the totals from the year before. This has helped drive the stock lower.

Nike's leading priorities are to rebalance its distribution strategy, focusing on wholesale accounts after the business leaned too heavily on its own digital channel. Product innovation must also be improved to drive customer excitement. Nike has altered its playbook, now putting the "athlete back at the center" in a sport-centric approach.

The good news is the company posted a 1% revenue gain in the latest fiscal quarter (Q1 2026, ended Aug. 31). However, this turnaround will take some time. Nike reported a 9% sales dip in China. And its gross margin is under pressure, from a combination of heightened discounting and promotional activity and tariff impacts in North America.

It doesn't seem like Nike's top line growing is the start of a sustainable trend. Management expects revenue to decline low single digits in the current quarter, which includes the early part of the critical holiday shopping period. Wall Street analysts forecast sales to rise 11% between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2028, which is an encouraging outlook.

Investors can focus on the bigger picture
Every business, no matter how successful it was at one point, will likely go through periods of turmoil. Nike's troubled situation isn't that surprising when you look at the retail and apparel industries. It's extremely difficult to consistently predict what products consumers will gravitate toward, as fashion tastes change all the time. It's also not easy to figure out how aggressively to lean on online channels, especially after the pandemic impacted consumer behavior.

Nike is in an advantageous position because it operates from a position of strength. Yes, some younger rivals are finding remarkable success, but this will always be the case. Nike's powerful brand reigns supreme. And given its long history of dominating the sportswear market, supported by emotional and effective marketing campaigns and high-profile athlete endorsements, Nike should remain on top of consumers' minds.

Nike's brand strength should allow it to continue flexing its pricing power over the long term. This is the sign of a competitively advantaged business.

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This is a risky bet due to high uncertainty
With shares trading 62% off their record, it's clear that the market has become extremely pessimistic. Investors want to see consistent growth when it comes to revenue and earnings. And Nike has seriously disappointed in this regard. It could be some time until things start to improve in a meaningful way.

The stock is cheap, for sure. Investors can add the company to their portfolios for a price-to-sales ratio of 2.2. This is about the cheapest valuation in the past decade, indicating very low expectations. This does add potential upside should the fundamentals strengthen.

Investors willing to take on more risk might like this stock. But it requires a lot of patience. For those looking to become millionaires, though, Nike isn't a good option. The business is mature these days, so it won't register monster growth.

SummaryThe Triple-Factor CEF Report screens over 400 funds for high yield (>6.5%), strong coverage (>90%), and discount to NAV, balancing yield, sustainability, and value.Top lists include funds with widest discounts, best z-scores, highest yields, and best combined metrics, offering potential for price appreciation and enhanced yields.Explore top lists for further research; these shortlists are not final buy/sell recommendations. Always verify coverage ratios with official fund documents. yaom/iStock via Getty Images

The "Triple-Factor" Closed-End Fund Report (This was formerly the "High-High-Low" CEF Report, now renamed to better reflect the systematic screening for three key attributes: high yield, strong coverage, and discount to NAV).

Our systematic approach

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

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

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Company: Fluor Corp (FLR)Business: Fluor is a holding company that provides engineering, procurement, construction, fabrication and modularization, and project management services. The company's segments include energy solutions, urban solutions and mission solutions. The energy solutions segment provides EPC services for traditional oil and gas markets, including the production and fuels, chemicals, LNG and power markets. The segment serves these industries with comprehensive project life-cycle services. The urban solutions segment provides EPC and project management services to the advanced technologies and manufacturing, life sciences, mining and metals, infrastructure industries and professional staffing services. The mission solutions segment provides high-end technical solutions to the United States and other governments. These include, among others, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and intelligence agencies. The segment also provides services to commercial nuclear clients.

Stock Market Value: $7.89 billion ($48.79 per share)

Activist: Starboard ValueOwnership: Starboard Value

Average Cost: n/a

Activist Commentary: Starboard is a very successful activist investor and has extensive experience helping companies focus on operational efficiency and margin improvement. They are known for their excellent diligence and for running many of the most successful campaigns. Starboard has initiated activist campaigns at 18 prior industrial companies and their average return on these situations is 50.55% versus an average of 11.73% for the Russell 2000 during the same time periods. Starboard has taken a total of 162 prior activist campaigns in their history and has an average return of 21.13% versus 14.24% for the Russell 2000 over the same period.

What's happeningOn Oct. 21, Starboard announced a nearly 5% position in Fluor and stated their intention to unlock value from the company's ~39% holding in NuScale Power, which represents more than 60% of the company's market capitalization, including through a potential separation.

Behind the scenesFluor delivers integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services, spanning a diversified set of end markets. Historically, the EPCM market was a highly competitive landscape that led to heavy risk taking, where growth was often prioritized over discipline and profitability. For Fluor, as well as much of the industry, this led to management aggressively increasing their backlog of higher-risk lump-sum and guaranteed minimum contracts, leading to execution risks, thin margins and cost overruns. Ultimately, this industry-wide shift caused many companies to scale back their construction efforts or even enter bankruptcy, and Fluor was no exception, with the company's share price falling below $4 in March 2020.

However, this started to change when the company appointed David Constable as CEO at the start of 2021. Under his leadership, Fluor immediately pivoted to lower-risk reimbursable projects, growing from 45% of its backlog to 80%, while exposure to loss-making legacy projects have declined from $1.8 billion to $558 million today, materially reducing its risk profile.

Additionally, while largely associated with legacy energy projects, the company has levered into faster growing markets within its urban solutions segment, now 73% of its backlog compared to 37% in fiscal year 2021. As a result, even with this derisking effort, Fluor was still able to maintain a steady backlog and achieve meaningful EBITDA growth, a 14% compound annual growth rate from fiscal year 2021 to fiscal 2024, with analysts projecting a ~9% CAGR from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2028.

With many of the large construction and EPCM players having exited the market, Fluor's operational turnaround has allowed it to come out the other side of this turmoil on top, now operating in a duopoly of global end-to-end EPCM players with Bechtel, while the construction market has grown rapidly, now over $918 billion.

As a result of this successful operational overhaul, the market currently values Fluor at 8.9 time its enterprise value to calendar year 2027 estimates for consensus EBITDA, in between its EPCM (13x) and legacy construction peers (6x). So, Fluor appears to be a great business with a great management team operating in a duopoly in a growing industry that is fairly valued with a $6.7 billion enterprise value. However, Fluor also owns a 39% stake in NuScale, a publicly traded small modular nuclear reactor company.

Fluor invested in NuScale more than a decade ago, and its $30 million early investment played a pivotal in NuScale becoming the first U.S.-listed SMR company, and the only company of its kind with U.S. Nuclear Reactor Commission design approval.

As global power demand continues to rise, particularly alongside the data center boom, nuclear generation will be vital, and SMRs will play an essential role in providing energy to meet this growth. As a result, Fluor's investment in NuScale has been highly lucrative – valued at approximately $4.3 billion ($3.4 billion post tax). That's more than half Fluor's current enterprise value.

If you were to back out the NuScale stake from Fluor's valuation, then Fluor's enterprise value would drop to $3.3 billion, implying an extremely depressed discount of just 4.6x, with peers trading from 6 to 13 times.

Starboard has amassed a nearly 5% position in Fluor and is urging management to unlock the value from its NuScale holdings. Starboard believes that Fluor has multiple paths to monetize its remaining NuScale stake. These options include simply selling their position through open-market sales, an exchange offer or a mandatory exchangeable bond, with proceeds potentially funding a large share buyback, which would be highly accretive to Fluor's EPS, especially at its currently depressed valuation.

Alternatively, Starboard has proposed a tax-free spinoff of Fluor's NuScale position, which could trigger a similar rerating of the core business while providing Fluor shareholders with the option to retain their exposure to NuScale's long-term potential.

Thus, assuming Fluor maintains an 8.9x EBITDA multiple, which still could be improved upon given its discount to EPCM peers, the rerating that could come from this separation could yield over 200% of upside.

Starboard is a very experienced activist and also has a history in this industry. In June 2019, Starboard engaged another construction player, AECOM, where over the ensuing multiyear engagement, AECOM refreshed its board, appointed a new CEO, exited self-perform construction, and divested management services. This became one of Starboard's most lucrative engagements in its history, returning 147% over its 13D filling versus 26% for the Russell 2000.

But more importantly, this is when they met David Constable for the first time. Constable is the executive chairman of Fluor, and until February, was its CEO. So, we expect that the mutual respect between Starboard and Constable will be conducive to an amicable, constructive relationship and beneficial to shareholders.

Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist investments.

This bellwether of the semiconductor market still has a bright future.

Over the past few years, the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has generated strong tailwinds for AI-focused chipmakers like Nvidia. Therefore, the most straightforward way to profit from that trend might be to simply invest in those top chipmakers.

Yet semiconductor equipment makers like Applied Materials (AMAT +0.12%) are also benefiting from the AI boom. It isn't a hypergrowth play like Nvidia, but Applied Materials' stock has risen nearly 270% over the past five years as the S&P 500 has nearly doubled. Let's see why it outperformed the market -- and if it's still worth buying.

Image source: Getty Images.

What does Applied Materials do?
Applied Materials is one of the world's top suppliers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. In fiscal 2024 (which ended last October), it generated 73% of its revenue from its semiconductor systems business, which produces a wide range of equipment for the foundry, logic, and memory chipmaking markets.

Another 23% came from its related services, while the remaining 4% came from its display and adjacent markets. Here's how its core businesses fared over the past five years.

YOY Growth 

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

9M 2025

Semiconductor systems revenue 

43%

15%

5%

1%

9%

Applied global services revenue 

21%

11%

3%

9%

4%

Display and adjacent markets revenue

2%

(19%)

9%

2%

5%

Total revenue

34%

12%

3%

2%

7%

Adjusted EPS 

64%

13%

5%

7%

14%

In fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023, growth decelerated as the semiconductor market lapped its pandemic-driven boom in 2020 and 2021. Many chipmakers expanded their capacity during the crisis to meet the soaring demand for new PCs and servers. But as that temporary growth spurt ended, rising chip inventories drove many producers to reduce their capital expenditures and purchase less equipment.

A supply glut in the memory chip market, tighter export curbs on chip sales to China, and supply chain bottlenecks exacerbated that pressure. To make matters worse, inflation drove up its operating costs while rising interest rates drove many chipmakers to rein in their expansion plans.

But in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025, Applied Materials' top- and bottom-line growth accelerated again, driven by four main catalysts: the growth of the AI market, the memory market's recovery, the stabilization of its supply chain, and lower interest rates.

Will Applied Materials keep outperforming the market?
The expansion of the semiconductor market helped Applied Materials outperform the S&P 500 over the past five years. Today, it hovers near its 52-week high because investors are likely impressed by its near-term tailwinds -- especially its exposure to the booming AI market.

During the company's latest conference call, CEO Gary Dickerson said its long-term thesis "remains unchanged as companies and countries compete to win the race for AI leadership" -- and that the business is "best positioned at the major device inflections that enable the AI road map."

However, it doesn't disclose exactly how much revenue it generates from AI-focused chipmakers. It's also growing much slower than its industry peer ASML, which dominates the high-growth niche of lithography systems.

Today's Change

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For fiscal 2025, analysts expect Applied Materials' revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to grow 4% and 8%, respectively. For fiscal 2026, they expect revenue and adjusted EPS to rise 3% and 1%, respectively. Those rates are stable, but they're not that impressive for a stock that trades at 23 times forward earnings. Its paltry forward dividend yield of 0.8% also won't attract any serious income investors.

So while Applied Materials can be strong long-term play on the semiconductor market, I wouldn't call it an AI stock yet. It would benefit from the expansion of the AI market, but it's also exposed to plenty of other markets. Tighter curbs against exports to China, which accounted for 30% of its revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2025, could generate even more unpredictable headwinds.

Therefore, Applied Materials' stock might still be worth buying (especially at a slightly lower valuation), but there are plenty of better ways to invest in the AI chipmaking boom. I personally think ASML -- which has monopolized the market for high-end lithography systems -- is a better play on that secular trend.

This ETF has lagged the S&P 500's performance over the past decade, but maybe the future will be different.

The S&P 500 deservedly gets all the attention, as the index has a total market capitalization of $57 trillion. However, investors need to realize that there is a sea of other companies on the other end of the spectrum that are much smaller than the businesses you're familiar with.

Here's where the Russell 2000 comes into the picture. Owning an exchange-traded fund (ETF), such as the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO +1.26%), could provide investors with adequate exposure in their portfolios to different areas of the stock market.

Should investors buy this ETF right now?

Image source: Getty Images.

Investors should understand where their money goes
The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index, a prominent index following small-cap stocks. The top sector by weighting is industrials at 18.9%. This is a major differentiator compared to funds that track the S&P 500, which has 34.8% of assets in the information technology sector. In fact, technology is only the fourth-largest sector in the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF.

The monster successes of businesses like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft have driven the overall stock market. The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF, unfortunately, doesn't own these companies. This means that investors don't get to benefit from the incredible artificial intelligence boom that started three years ago and is showing no signs of slowing down.

This ETF provides broad diversification, though. The largest holding, Credo Technology Group, accounts for only 0.74% of the portfolio's asset base. The top 10 positions make up less than 5% of the ETF. A single stock blowing up won't put a dent in the performance.

The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF has lagged the S&P 500
In the past decade, the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF has generated a total return of 148% (as of Oct. 21). Had you invested $10,000 in October 2015, you'd have $24,760 today. That's a respectable gain. However, this performance comes up significantly short of the S&P 500. This index has produced a total return of 295% over the last 10 years.

It's worth mentioning the cost of owning this ETF. The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF carries an expense ratio of 0.07%. That's a very low price, allowing investors to keep more of their capital over time.

Perhaps investors believe that now might be a good time to invest and that returns going forward will be better. One reason comes down to valuation. The weighted average price-to-earnings ratio of the S&P 500 was 28.9 as of Sept. 30. For the Russell 2000, it's only 18.3. To be fair, the bigger index has seen its companies grow their profits at a faster clip, but some investors might think the smaller index deserves a higher valuation.

Betting on small-cap companies means being bullish on the overall economy, particularly just in the U.S., as most of these businesses might not have an international presence. The start of ongoing interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve might be a catalyst for these kinds of stocks. Lower interest rates will not only help these companies raise debt financing on more favorable terms, but they could also lead to greater risk-taking by the investment community.

Today's Change

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1.26

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100.87

Investors should build a diversified portfolio
It's impossible to know when small-cap stocks will have their time to shine. The necessary tailwinds might be in place for stronger returns. But the trailing 10-year performance isn't encouraging.

That being said, owning the Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF might make sense as part of a well-diversified portfolio. Investors shouldn't allocate the bulk of their assets to this single investment vehicle because then they'd be missing out on the performance of the world's most dominant companies. However, it could be a good idea to have some exposure to small caps.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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.

HomeIndustriesAutomobilesTech StocksTech StocksA lot is happening with Tesla’s automotive and energy businesses. But the company used its earnings call to further hammer a future centered on AI.Published: Oct. 25, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET

Elon Musk loves to say that Tesla Inc. is more of an artificial-intelligence and robotics company than a traditional automaker. His company’s most recent earnings call emphasized that even further.

Despite record electric-vehicle sales and energy deployments in the latest quarter, Tesla TSLA executives spent most of the call focused on AI, which is at the core of several major products set to define the company’s future.

While insider buying is typically slower when markets are near all-time highs and when earnings-reporting season is in full swing, it never seems to dry up altogether.

SummarySuper Micro Computer, Inc. remains a leading contender in the multi-year AI infrastructure buildout despite what appears to be a disappointing preliminary earnings release.SMCI maintains confidence in its $33B full-year revenue outlook, supported by a robust $12B design win pipeline and strong secular AI CapEx demand cadence.Recent SMCI price action shows a resilient bullish narrative and robust dip-buying, with technicals indicating buyers are absorbing volatility rather than panicking.I show you why I believe that market pessimism is largely priced in, and SMCI's valuation is much more reasonable compared to its 2024 peak.The market is clearly not running way ahead of itself this time, as the stock is closing in to break out of the $60 level in due time.Looking for a helping hand in the market? Members of Ultimate Growth Investing get exclusive ideas and guidance to navigate any climate. Learn More » JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Supermicro: Not So Super, But Not A Reason To Fear Wow! Volatility doesn't seem to elude investors of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI), does it? Yet, should investors embrace or avoid investing in SMCI just

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

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

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PEPE whales added about $2.7 million, with price targeting a breakout above $0.0000072 as a golden EMA crossover nears.CAKE saw $27 million in whale accumulation; a close above $2.72 could confirm the hidden bullish RSI continuation setup.WLFI whale holdings rose 18.7% to 12.13 million tokens, with resistance at $0.14 marking the next key test for momentum.Crypto whales are ramping up the accumulation of several altcoins after the US September CPI data, released on October 24. It came in cooler than expected at 3.0% versus a 3.1% forecast. The softer inflation print has lifted rate-cut expectations and renewed confidence in risk assets.

As markets price in a potential dovish shift from the Fed, whales are quietly rotating into three altcoins they expect to lead the next rally. Or at least a rebound.

Pepe (PEPE)As markets lean toward a dovish Fed stance, whales appear to be rotating capital into select altcoins that could gain from easier liquidity — and Pepe (PEPE) is one of them. The token is up over 6%, week-on-week.

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Over the past 24 hours, Pepe whales increased their holdings from 155.75 trillion to 156.13 trillion tokens. This means adding about 0.38 trillion PEPE, worth roughly $2.7 million at the current PEPE price.

This quiet accumulation suggests that crypto whales are positioning early. More so as the probability of an October rate cut climbs above 98%, fueling expectations of broader market relief.

PEPE Whales: SantimentWant more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

On the 4-hour chart, the PEPE price has been consolidating inside a symmetrical triangle since October 13. It is a structure known to precede sharp breakouts.

A clean move above $0.0000072 could trigger a 12% rally toward $0.0000079. And that would put Pepe among the altcoins crypto whales are buying with technical conviction.

Another signal supporting this view is a possible golden crossover between the 20-period EMA (red line) and the 50-period EMA (orange line). The EMA, or exponential moving average, tracks recent price direction by giving more weight to recent candles.

When the short-term EMA crosses above the longer one, it shows momentum shifting toward buyers. It is something altcoin whales often look for when confirming trend reversals.

PEPE Price Analysis: TradingViewSponsored

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Still, PEPE remains a volatile trade. A drop below $0.0000069 could expose $0.0000064. But as long as whales are adding and price stays within the tightening pattern, Pepe remains one of the coins whales are buying into strength rather than fear.

PancakeSwap (CAKE)After PEPE, another token catching the attention of crypto whales is PancakeSwap (CAKE). It is a DeFi asset often favored during improving market sentiment.

Whales appear to have shifted positions shortly after the CPI-driven rebound in risk appetite, raising their holdings from 44.87 million CAKE on October 24 to 55.05 million, a net gain of over 10.18 million CAKE.

At the current price of $2.69, that adds up to roughly $27.3 million in new accumulation, suggesting growing conviction that the market’s softer tone may fuel further upside.

CAKE Whales: SantimentOn the technical side, CAKE’s structure reinforces this optimism. Between October 10 and 24, the token formed a higher low even as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) — which measures buying versus selling strength — made a lower low. This hidden bullish divergence often signals trend continuation, meaning the broader uptrend CAKE has maintained over the past year (up more than 50%) could still be intact.

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Currently trading near $2.69, CAKE faces stiff resistance at $2.72, a level that has capped every rally attempt since October 22. If buyers can close a candle above that threshold, momentum could extend toward $3.45, the next major resistance zone on the daily chart.

CAKE Price Analysis: TradingViewThe RSI trend backs this view, with readings curling upward as buying strength rebuilds.

However, if the token fails to stay above $2.27, the bullish setup weakens. Whale impatience or broader altcoin market pressure could then send CAKE sliding toward $1.54. That is a strong support area, last tested during the Black Friday crash.

For now, though, the combination of rising whale holdings, steady on-chain conviction, and technical stability keeps PancakeSwap on the shortlist of altcoins crypto whales are buying during this post-CPI cooling period.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI)The final name on whales’ radar appears to be World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a politically charged token often tied to Trump-linked market themes.

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Whales have sharply increased exposure to WLFI, raising their holdings by 18.78% in the past 24 hours to a total of 12.13 million WLFI. At the current price of $0.13, that’s roughly $1.57 million worth of tokens added to wallets in a single day.

WLFI Whales: NansenThe buying spree follows not only the cooler US CPI print but also the anticipation of a potential Trump–Xi Jinping meeting expected this week. That could further speculation around political and narrative-based altcoins. The timing of this accumulation suggests whales may be positioning for a sentiment rebound tied to these macro catalysts.

On the 4-hour chart, WLFI even shows early technical signs of recovery. Between October 13 and 25, the price formed a lower low. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) — which measures the balance between buying and selling momentum — made a higher low. This bullish divergence signals that sellers may be losing strength, and buyers are starting to step in.

Currently trading near $0.133, the WLFI price faces its first resistance at $0.14. A clean break above that could confirm momentum strength and send prices toward $0.15, implying a 15% near-term rally.

However, WLFI remains volatile. If the price fails to hold the $0.13 support, a drop toward $0.11 remains likely.

WLFI Price Analysis: TradingViewFor now, the combination of fresh whale buying, political event speculation, and an improving RSI trend makes WLFI one of the more intriguing altcoins crypto whales are buying after the CPI print — and potentially the most narrative-driven bet of the three.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

XRP has been making headlines after Ripple just announced the completion of a major milestone, sparking excitement in the crypto community. Traders are buzzing and analysts are paying attention to what’s next. 

Could XRP become a game-changer for institutional finance? Recent moves suggest it might.

Ripple Completes Hidden Road AcquisitionRipple has officially completed its acquisition of Hidden Road, which will now operate as Ripple Prime. This makes Ripple the first crypto company to run a global, multi-asset prime brokerage, bringing digital assets to institutional clients on a large scale.

This brings XRP closer to mainstream use in global payments. 

James Wynn Takes a Big Bet on XRPAmid the market excitement, crypto trader James Wynn has made a bold move, committing over $25,000 to a long position in XRP.

“I’ve spent the last 24 hours going down the rabbit hole of XRP. I have decided to invest a SIGNIFICANT portion into XRP ($25k+),” Wynn said.

I’ve spent the last 24hrs going down the rabbit hole of $XRP.

I have decided to invest a SIGNIFICANT portion into XRP. ($25..+)

I believe it could revolutionize the banking systems. It’s a gamble, as all investments are.

Whether you are Team XRP or not. I want everyone to…

— James Wynn (@JamesWynnReal) October 25, 2025 Wynn sees XRP as having the potential to significantly impact or improve global banking and payments. While he admits there is uncertainty around its future, he remains optimistic about its long-term prospects. He also welcomed opinions from everyone, seeking clear insights on XRP’s advantages and risks. 

Community Weighs In on XRP’s Strengths and PotentialThis sparked a lively response from the crypto community. Attorney Bill Morgan noted that over the past 13 years, XRP has consistently stayed in the top 10 by market cap, often ranking in the top 3 or 5.

Others pointed to the technical strengths and community support. Vet, an XRPL dUNL validator, praised the unique consensus model, its status as the second-oldest chain in the top 10, and the passionate “XRP Army.” He also highlighted the platform’s flexibility, supporting layer 1 features like AMM, CLOB, tokens, and NFTs, making it a place where builders have room to grow and bring liquidity.

Crypto influencer Crypto Eri posted a reminder to distinguish between Ripple the company and the XRP Ledger (XRPL), the decentralized open-source blockchain where XRP is the native asset. 

Analyst WrathofKahneman highlighted the strengths of the XRPL. He explained that it was designed for moving value, liquidity, and tokenization, with XRP serving as the network’s privileged token, with no counterparty. It can aggregate liquidity more efficiently than any other tokens issued on the ledger. Unlike other networks, it is a bearer instrument.

Some limitations were also noted. While smart contracts are still in development, retail adoption remains limited, which can frustrate investors. Additionally, some users criticized Ripple’s top executives for selling XRP whenever the price rises.

However, most of them appeared to support Wynn’s move, recognizing its technical strengths and growth potential.

What’s Next for XRP?XRP is currently trading at $2.53, up 3.5% in the last 24 hours. Analysts remain optimistic about XRP, predicting it could climb to $10 and beyond. Market activity is also heating up as daily trading volumes have jumped over 30% to over $4 billion. 

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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Analysts predict a strong Shiba Inu rebound as SHIB holds key support, targeting a 30% rise to retest its crucial 200-day EMA resistance.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

25 October 2025, 11:16 AM

Shiba Inu (SHIB) continues to hold its key support area, prompting renewed optimism among market watchers. An analyst now projects a strong rebound that could drive the token back toward a crucial daily exponential moving average (EMA), signaling potential recovery after recent consolidation.

Shiba Inu Maintains Key Support Amid Market UncertaintyShiba Inu has been fluctuating between $0.000010 and $0.0000099, reflecting the broader market’s indecision. This mirrors the trend seen in Bitcoin and other major altcoins. Despite the stagnant price action, the asset maintains a vital support level, which analysts view as the foundation for a possible upward move.

According to market analyst SwallowAcademy, SHIB’s ability to hold this critical demand zone indicates potential strength. The analyst noted that the recent dip formed a visible gap that prices could soon fill. A chart shared by SwallowAcademy highlighted that SHIB dropped below the former support range between $0.00001145 and $0.00001264. This green-marked zone had provided consistent support throughout the token’s multi-month consolidation.

Shiba Inu and the 200-day EMA, Source: TradingView

Now, with Shiba Inu trading near $0.000010, analysts believe it could bounce back toward that area, which has become resistance. SwallowAcademy previously identified the 200-day EMA as a persistent resistance barrier for SHIB. Since May, this indicator has rejected upward momentum on multiple occasions, halting rallies before they could extend.

200-Day EMA Holds the Key to Next Price DirectionHistorical price data shows that the 200-day EMA has repeatedly capped bullish runs. Shiba Inu faced rejection near this level during price peaks at $0.00001765 in May, $0.00001597 in July, and $0.00001484 in September. Each of these rejections occurred close to the EMA, reinforcing its role as a decisive technical level.

SwallowAcademy emphasized that a retest of this resistance would not only fill previous market gaps but also define SHIB’s next trajectory. If the token manages to break above the EMA, it could trigger a significant bullish shift. However, another rejection might extend the current consolidation phase.

At the time of writing, the 200-day EMA trends around $0.00001299. A move from the current price of $0.000010 toward this level represents an estimated 30% price increase.

Adding to the optimistic outlook, ForexDreamVantage echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Shiba Inu “is still alive.” The analyst argued that holding the present support could open the door for a rebound toward the “trend reversal zone” near $0.00001765. Reclaiming this area would likely transform market sentiment from bearish to bullish, potentially setting the stage for a broader rally.

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Newton Gitonga

Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

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Latest Shiba Inu News Today (SHIB)

Sat, 25/10/2025 - 11:27

Ethereum billionaire and Fundstrat’s Head of Research predicts massive Bitcoin rally by the end of 2025.

Fundstrat’s Head of Research, Tom Lee, told CNBC that he expects a significant rally in cryptocurrencies by the end of 2025, driven by improving technical indicators and easing market conditions following recent deleveraging events.

Lee noted that the crypto market faced its largest liquidation event in five years on October 10, triggered partly by escalating U.S.–China trade tensions. 

Despite this, Bitcoin and Ethereum have shown resilience, with open interest levels now at record lows while technical signals turn positive.

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“I think we’re almost through that,” Lee said. “You’re going to see a crypto rally into the end of the year. It really does help to see JPMorgan say they’re open to using crypto as collateral. That’s a pretty bullish signal.”

Bitcoin and Ethereum Open Interest hit historic lowsLee emphasized that Bitcoin’s limited downside, falling only about 3–4%. Despite the historic deleveraging, BTC demonstrates its growing strength as a store of value. 

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He compared this resilience to gold, noting that such stability would typically be seen as validation of an asset’s long-term reliability.

Source: CoinMarketCapHe also highlighted Ethereum’s underlying growth, citing rising activity on both its Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks due to stablecoin adoption, even though the price has yet to reflect this expansion.

Beyond crypto, Lee reiterated his optimistic view on broader markets, maintaining Fundstrat’s bullish stance on the S&P 500, which he expects could rise another 4–10% by year-end as the Federal Reserve resumes rate cuts and market skepticism fades.

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Bitcoin has swung wildly this month as Elon Musk suddenly sets alarm bells ringing and warnings of an an “imminent dollar and financial crisis" spook traders.

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The bitcoin price has surged back from a “flash crash” that sent it toward $100,000 per bitcoin, up almost 10% and topping $111,000 as Binance’s founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao issues a huge, $28 trillion bitcoin prediction.

Now, as U.S. president Donald Trump weighs a $2,000 Covid stimulus check-style tariff dividend, Wall Street giants are bracing for the Federal Reserve to end the reduction of its $6.6 trillion balance sheet, known as quantitative tightening—and predicted to unleash a fresh round of central bank money printing and send bitcoin to a $1 million price.

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Forbes‘It Will Happen’—Binance’s CZ Issues Massive $28 Trillion Bitcoin Prediction As Crypto Braces For ‘Inevitable’ Price Shock

U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has said he's looking to end the period of so-called quantitate tightening that's sucked liquidity from the market—something some expect to send the bitcoin price sharply higher.

Getty Images

“Starting in next year, we’re going to see an acceleration of money printing at least out of the out of the United States,” Arthur Hayes, the cofounder of crypto derivatives pioneer BitMex who went onto launch the Maelstrom investment company, said in a wide-ranging interview with crypto news outlet Milk Road, pointing to a speech earlier this month by Fed chair Jerome Powell.

“[Quantitative tightening] is over. They’re going to be releasing trillions of dollars into the mortgage markets. Rates are coming down and so the environment is ripe for appreciation of assets.”

The Fed’s quantitative tightening program, which began in 2022, has reduced the Fed’s balance sheet to $6.6 trillion, from around $9 trillion at its peak, putting pressure on risk assets such as bitcoin as the Fed tries to suck liquidity from the system.

“Our long-stated plan is to stop balance sheet runoff when reserves are somewhat above the level we judge consistent with ample reserve conditions,” Powell said in a speech, while also opening the door to further interest rate cuts.

This week, analysts with JPMorgan and Bank of America predicted the Fed will this month stop shrinking its $6.6 trillion balance sheet, in notes seen by Bloomberg, ending a process designed to remove liquidity from financial markets.

"Money markets at current or higher levels should signal to the Fed that reserves are no longer ‘abundant,," Bank of America’s Mark Cabana and Katie Craig wrote.

Meanwhile, the Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates again, shaving off another 25 basis points next week after resuming its rate cutting cycle in September—something that is also expected to fuel risk assets such as bitcoin as cash more easily flows around the system.

The delayed consumer price index (CPI) report for September on Friday showed U.S. inflation rose less than expected to 3% last month, below the expectations of 3.1% among economists polled by Bloomberg.

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Forbes‘It’s Game Over’—‘Imminent’ Fed U.S. Dollar ‘Crisis’ Predicted To Spark Bitcoin Price Tipping Point As Gold SoarsBy Billy Bambrough

The bitcoin price has dipped back from its all-time highs but some are predicting bitcoin and other risk assets are about to surge.

Forbes Digital Assets

“Given the latest news on layoffs, some analysts may be wondering if the central bank should go for a bigger cut, if not this month, then maybe in December,” David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation, said in emailed comments.

“The Federal Reserve has made it clear that it is far more worried about the labour market than it is about inflation.”

The bitcoin price has matched gold’s rally over the last 12 months, with the pair surging as part of the so-called "debasement trade” that’s seen traders turn to hard assets like gold, silver and bitcoin as hedges against money printing and inflation that reduces the dollar’s purchasing power.

“[Gold and silver are] really being purely valued on fiat debasement, whereas bitcoin and crypto still have this connection to to U.S. big tech, which I think they’ll shed at some point,” Hayes told Milk Road. "But in any event, we know which way the world is going. It’s more fiat debasement. Those who have the foresight, who are looking what’s going on, they are voting with their money and they’re saying, ‘I want gold. I want bitcoin. I want silver. I want stocks.’ I just think that crypto is the fastest horse.”

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Binance Coin (BNB) recorded an over $100 price gain after news of Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao’s pardon filtered into the crypto space. The presidential pardon shifted market sentiment for the majority of investors. BNB is now eyeing a new price rally as ecosystem bulls prepare for a possible golden cross flip on the hourly chart.

Trading volume dip is key obstacle to BNB's growthCoinMarketCap data reveals that Binance Coin has stabilized above $1,100 over the last 48 hours despite broader market fluctuations.

As of this writing, Binance Coin is trading at $1,112.23, representing a 1.07% increase over the last 24 hours. The coin reached a peak of $1,133.49 during the period, demonstrating its potential to test higher levels.

Binance Coin Chart | Source: TradingViewNotably, the price gains appear to reflect the emergence of a golden cross on the asset’s price chart. Binance Coin’s 9-day and 26-day moving averages indicate the emergence of a golden cross as the short-term MA is about to move above the long-term MA.

The formation of a golden cross is generally considered a bullish indicator for an asset. Binance Coin’s recent price outlook supports that the golden cross could trigger an upward movement for BNB. The coin had earlier hit an all-time high (ATH) of $1,370.55 on Oct. 13, 2025, before the broader market crash caused a dip in price.

With the market sentiment positively bullish, it appears the only thing holding BNB from reclaiming its $1,300 price level is the current low volume. The trading volume is still in the red zone, down by 44.02% at $2.84 billion after short-term traders went for profit.

These traders leveraged the over 5% surge in price following the pardon of CZ to rake in some profit, causing a sell-off. Once trading continues amid this bullish sentiment, more activities in the ecosystem could support a price spike.

Institutional adoption and expanding utility bolster BNB outlookInterestingly, before the great crypto market liquidation, Binance Coin's growth trajectory indicated that BNB was eyeing the $1,500 target. The optimism rested on the increased institutional adoption, such as Franklin Templeton’s tokenized securities development.

Additionally, Binance has been forming strong collaborations to increase the utility of BNB in the financial services sector. This has positioned it to compete against top U.S. banks in valuation.

Binance Coin is likely to record an upsurge once retail investors rekindle their interest amid the golden cross emergence. If this happens, breaking the $1,250 resistance level is critical toward its journey to the $1,500 target.

Ripple has finished its $1.25 billion purchase of Hidden Road and rebranded the firm as Ripple Prime, company leaders confirmed. According to executive remarks, the deal makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and run a global, multi-asset prime broker.

Ripple President Monica Long said on X that the “future ahead is mighty bright,” and reports show the company is already moving to use XRP in new ways inside the prime brokerage business.

Ripple Completes Hidden Road Deal
Based on reports, Ripple Prime began life on Hidden Road’s backbone, a platform known for fast growth among non-bank prime brokers. Since Ripple announced the acquisition in April, business at the unit has tripled in size.

Ripple Prime will offer services such as clearing, financing, and prime brokerage across asset classes, including FX, derivatives, swaps, and digital assets. Hidden Road’s founder, Marc Asch, will remain involved and work with CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other leaders as integration continues.

The opportunities now available to Ripple Prime (fka Hidden Road) are expansive. With $RLUSD already being used as collateral for a number of prime brokerage products, and Ripple Prime looking at a variety of ways to utilize XRP, the future ahead is mighty bright. https://t.co/YFSUQlyeOO

— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) October 24, 2025

RLUSD Gains Institutional Footing
RLUSD, Ripple’s institutional stablecoin, is already being used as collateral across several prime brokerage products. According to company statements, some derivatives clients have chosen to hold balances in RLUSD rather than other currencies.

Reports also note that BNY Mellon acts as the primary reserve custodian for RLUSD. Blockchain analytics firm Bluechip gave RLUSD an A rating for stability, governance, and asset backing, a ranking Ripple cites as evidence of institutional trust.

XRPUSD currently trading at $2.54. Chart: TradingView
Ripple’s Acquisition Push Strengthens Infrastructure
Ripple has completed five major acquisitions in roughly two years, adding Metaco, Standard Custody, Rail, and GTreasury to its growing list of companies now working under its umbrella.

The moves aim to expand custody, payments, liquidity, and treasury capabilities. Based on company comments, Ripple sees these buys as steps toward offering institutions a broader set of services tied to digital assets and traditional markets.

Prime Brokerage Ambitions Grow
Ripple has said it will use blockchain tools to streamline operations at Ripple Prime and reduce costs. According to executive remarks, the plan is to mesh payments, custody solutions, and stablecoin utility with prime brokerage functions to increase adoption among institutional clients.

With today’s close of Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), Ripple has announced 5 major acquisitions in ~2 years (GTreasury last week, Rail in August, Standard Custody in 2024, Metaco in 2023). As we continue to build solutions towards enabling an Internet of Value – I’m reminding you… https://t.co/O5Uub7ulw9

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) October 24, 2025

What This Means For XRP
Monica Long’s upbeat message came with concrete moves rather than just words. Reports show Ripple Prime’s expansion and RLUSD’s institutional traction could make XRP more useful to banks and asset managers.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has repeatedly emphasized the company’s commitment to XRP, and Ripple’s latest steps put the token inside a wider set of services aimed at professional users.

XRP Price Update
Analysts and market watchers will be watching how quickly institutions adopt these new tools and whether XRP finds a steady, functional place in that ecosystem.

XRP has been moving quietly within a tight range lately, holding between $2.30 and $2.50. The broader crypto market has stayed calm, and the token continues to trade comfortably above $2.20, showing resilience despite muted activity.

According to crypto analysts, XRP’s quiet phase might not last long, pointing to a potential setup for a massive rally that could lift the coin far beyond its current zone — possibly reaching above $27 in the long run.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The Chainlink price prediction 2025 has become a focal point as the token consolidates within a tight range between $16.5 and $18.5. Despite a quiet October, the broader technical setup and strengthening fundamentals suggest LINK could be preparing for a major bullish reversal heading into November.

LINK Trades in a Tight Range but Prepares for Reversal In NovemberAs of writing, Chainlink price today stands near $17.95, reflecting a modest 0.30% daily rise and a market cap of $12.17 billion. The Chainlink price chart (LINK) shows persistent sideways movement, yet analysts point toward an ascending wedge pattern that has been active since late 2023.

This wedge structure has repeatedly defined the asset’s trajectory, with a recent rejection near its mid-band in September leading to profit-taking and a gradual pullback. The current setup indicates the LINK price could break down from the symmetrical triangle and retest the $13.50–$14.50 support zone, aligning with the wedge’s lower boundary. Historically, such areas have triggered strong rebounds in Chainlink’s market cycles.

Chainlink Price Prediction November 2025 Outlook: Accumulation Before an UpswingIf Chainlink price forecast 2025 holds true, the upcoming November could be a turning point. Analysts expect that once LINK touches the key support area, it could initiate a recovery phase aiming for $27.86, the year’s high based on Coinbase chart, before potentially advancing toward $46 by the first half of 2026.

The pattern implies a period of accumulation through the end of October, followed by rising demand during the last two months of the year. This aligns with the typical market rotation observed when long-term holders begin accumulating during periods of low volatility.

Ecosystem Strength: Partnerships and Reserve ExpansionWhile Chainlink price USD has moved sideways, the ecosystem continues to gain traction. In October, Chainlink partnered with S&P Global to bring its Stablecoin Stability Assessments (SSAs) on-chain through Data Link, marking one of the month’s most significant collaborations.

Moreover, the Chainlink Reserve, a growing strategic pool funded via protocol revenues, has expanded notably since August. Recent data shows a total of 586,641 LINK worth approximately $10.5 million, highlighting growing confidence in the protocol’s financial foundation and sustainability.

Supply Metrics Indicate a Bullish Structural ShiftOn-chain indicators also support the bullish Chainlink price prediction 2025. The Exchange Supply Ratio has been declining steadily, signaling that long-term holders are removing their tokens from exchanges. This trend reduces potential sell pressure and raises the likelihood of a supply shock, where reduced availability drives prices higher.

If this metric continues dropping, Chainlink could experience accelerated upward momentum once demand resurfaces especially with ecosystem growth and strategic reserves backing its long-term outlook.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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REX-Osprey's XRPR, the first XRP spot ETF in the US, has surpassed $100 million in assets under management within a month of launch.The milestone comes amid SEC delays on pending XRP ETF applications caused by reduced operations after the US government shutdown.Despite the regulatory stagnation, institutional adoption is expanding through CME’s XRP derivatives and corporate treasury holdings.XRP’s first US exchange-traded fund (ETF) has crossed a significant milestone. It reached more than $100 million in assets under management (AUM) barely a month after launch.

On October 24, REX-Osprey confirmed that its XRPR product surpassed the mark, signaling strong institutional appetite for regulated exposure to the digital asset.

Sponsored

XRP ETF AUM Surpasses $100 MillionThe fund, launched in September, offers direct spot access to XRP and has quickly attracted investors seeking compliant avenues to diversify their portfolios.

Its growth highlights not just speculative enthusiasm but also a more profound structural shift, which shows that digital assets are becoming integrated into the core machinery of global finance.

Meanwhile, this milestone arrives at a delicate regulatory moment.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to rule on several pending spot XRP ETF applications.

At least six filings recently reached their review deadlines without updates, largely due to the agency’s reduced operations since the October 1 federal government shutdown.

Sponsored

This delay has effectively frozen progress on ETF approvals, leaving market participants to gauge institutional sentiment through existing products like XRPR.

Institutional Interest in XRP RisesHowever, even with regulatory inertia, institutional activity around XRP continues to expand.

CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, recently introduced XRP options after a strong uptake of its XRP futures contracts.

The exchange reported over 567,000 futures contracts traded to date. This is equivalent to roughly $26.9 billion in notional volume or about 9 billion XRP tokens.

Sponsored

CME said client demand for the new options product grew organically as traders sought to hedge volatility and broaden exposure.

Interestingly, that momentum extends beyond the derivatives market, with prominent crypto traders and institutions accumulating XRP.

Prominent crypto trader James Wynn recently disclosed plans to allocate a “significant portion” of his portfolio to XRP. He said the token has the potential to modernize global banking infrastructure.

“I believe it could revolutionize the banking systems. It’s a gamble, as all investments are,” he wrote.

Sponsored

Evernorth, a new treasury firm branded the “MicroStrategy of XRP,” has pledged to hold the token as a core balance-sheet asset. Its shares are expected to trade on Nasdaq, a move that underscores the tightening link between digital liquidity and traditional markets.

Meanwhile, other firms, including VivoPower International, Trident Digital Tech Holdings, and Webus, have also quietly accumulated XRP.

At the same time, Ripple continues to build aggressively around the token.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted the firm’s ongoing acquisition strategy, which includes GTreasury, Rail, Standard Custody, and Metaco. He stated that these efforts are designed to expand Ripple’s cross-border settlement and liquidity network.

“As we continue to build solutions towards enabling an Internet of Value – I’m reminding you all that XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does,” Garlinghouse said.

Collectively, these developments mark XRP’s transformation from a speculative trade to a maturing institutional asset that bridges traditional finance with blockchain-driven liquidity networks.

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12h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Fenelon L.

Summarize this article with:

Direct competitor to YouTube, Rumble is now betting on crypto to attract its content creators. In partnership with Tether, the video platform is about to launch a Bitcoin tipping system. A strategy that could reshuffle the cards in the creator economy. But will this initiative be enough to reverse the trend for a stock that has plummeted heavily since the beginning of the year?

In Brief

Rumble partners with Tether to deploy a Bitcoin tipping system by December 2025.
The platform has 51 million active users and is developing its own crypto wallet with MoonPay.
Rumble holds 25 million dollars in Bitcoin in its treasury after adopting an accumulation strategy in 2024.
RUM stock has lost more than 45% since the start of the year despite Tether’s 775 million dollars investment.

A strategic alliance to revolutionize creator compensation
Chris Pavloski, CEO of Rumble, unveiled this new feature at the Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland. The Bitcoin tipping feature is currently in the testing phase and will be gradually rolled out with Tether in the coming weeks. 

This integration aims to offer the platform’s 51 million active users a decentralized alternative to traditional payment systems.

Paolo Ardoino, head of Tether, does not hide his enthusiasm. “This is one of the largest user bases that would begin to adopt Bitcoin and stablecoins,” he says. 

This statement makes perfect sense when you know that Tether now claims over 500 million users for its USDT stablecoin worldwide. The stablecoin issuer sees Rumble as a major growth lever, especially in the US market.

Rumble’s anti-censorship positioning, which attracted many conservative creators, finds a natural echo in the philosophy of Bitcoin. 

We can find use cases for Bitcoin and stablecoins that will truly empower creators and provide them with the security of not being debanked for their opinions. 

Paolo Ardoino
The stated objective: to protect creators against the risk of debanking related to their stances.

To complete this ecosystem, Rumble is also developing its own crypto wallet in collaboration with MoonPay. This infrastructure aims to simplify the user experience and reduce friction during crypto transactions.

A double-edged Bitcoin bet for Rumble
Rumble’s crypto strategy is not new. In 2024, the company adopted an aggressive treasury strategy by investing up to 20 million dollars of its cash into crypto. 

In March 2025, it concretized this plan by adding 17.1 million dollars in BTC to its balance sheet. By the second quarter, its reserves reached around 25 million dollars.

This strategic conviction contrasts with the company’s stock market performance. Rumble stock, traded under the symbol RUM, closed Friday at 7.14 dollars, a slight increase of 0.56%. 

However, this occasional rebound does not mask the underlying trend: the stock has suffered a drop of more than 45% since the beginning of the year. A decline that reflects the challenges the platform faces in a market dominated by YouTube and against a user base that has contracted, dropping from 59 million in the first quarter to 51 million in the second.

Tether’s massive investment last December – 775 million dollars – nevertheless demonstrates strategic confidence. For Tether, Rumble represents a gateway to the primary US economy, beyond emerging markets where USDT has established itself.

The challenge remains considerable. Rumble must convince its community to adopt these new tools while improving its financial performance. The launch window – early or mid-December – will be crucial to assess the users’ real appetite for these innovations.

In short, Rumble is playing a bold card by simultaneously betting on technological innovation and a strategic Bitcoin reserve. While this dual approach is philosophically appealing, financial markets remain skeptical given the continuous decline in the stock price. The success of the Bitcoin tipping rollout will determine if Rumble can turn its crypto positioning into a sustainable competitive advantage against the giant YouTube.

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Fenelon L.

Passionné par le Bitcoin, j'aime explorer les méandres de la blockchain et des cryptos et je partage mes découvertes avec la communauté. Mon rêve est de vivre dans un monde où la vie privée et la liberté financière sont garanties pour tous, et je crois fermement que Bitcoin est l'outil qui peut rendre cela possible.

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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.

One analyst said $10,000 ETH is possible but not anytime soon.

After dumping over 1.3 million tokens in the span of 11 days, big Ethereum wallets —known as sharks and whales —have returned and started reaccumulating at an impressive pace.

At the same time, Tom Lee, who has been behind Bitmine’s sizeable ETH purchases over the past several months, remains highly bullish on the asset, indicating that leverage has been wiped out and it’s clear for takeoff.

Whales Are Back
Santiment reported that these wallets, holding between 100 and 10,000 ETH, had disposed of 1.36 million coins between October 5 and 16. At the time, ETH’s price was quite volatile, surging beyond $4,750 only to dump beneath $3,500 during the October 10 market-wide crash.

However, their behaviour has changed in the past week or so, and they are “finally showing some signs of confidence.” The analytics platform added that they have added back “close to 1/6th” of the sold-off stash since then and classified it as a “positive sign for crypto’s #2 market cap.”

Tom Lee also weighed in on the October 10 crash, which was primarily driven by excessive leverage used in futures trading. Recall that over $19 billion was wiped out, with more than 1.6 million traders wrecked in less than 24 hours. Lee, who spearheads the largest ETH treasury company and holds nearly $13 billion in the asset, recently noted that open interest for BTC and ETH has fallen to historic lows, which could open the door to a “crypto rally into the end of the year.”

ETH’s Price Meaning?
Large investors, such as sharks, whales, and corporations, buying substantial portions of a certain asset is typically regarded as a bullish development for it because they reduce the immediate selling pressure. The crypto community is also filled with big price predictions for ETH, with the most talked-about targets at $5,000 and $10,000.

While the first seems quite possible for the short-term, given the fact that ether came inches away from it a few months back, the second is a bit far-fetched at the moment. Ali Martinez also outlined it in a recent post and said ETH will eventually hit it, but “just not as soon as you think.”

You may also like:

Massive ETH Longs Signal Insider Confidence – Is a Mega Rally Brewing?

‘Insider’ OG Whale Back in Action: 3,003 BTC Transferred Amid Aggressive Shorting

110-Year-Old Retail Giant Bealls to Accept Meme Coins and Stablecoins in Stores

Ethereum $ETH will hit $10,000… Just not as soon as you think! pic.twitter.com/WVkjF8bKdl

— Ali (@ali_charts) October 25, 2025

It's getting harder and harder to make the case for investing in companies that do nothing except buy crypto.

Crypto treasury companies are starting to look like highly risky and speculative bets on crypto. Short-sellers are starting to actively target them, and prominent crypto companies are starting to openly debate the merits of the crypto treasury business model.

So, are there any crypto treasury companies worth buying right now? Or are the risks simply too great?

Look for "pure-play" crypto treasury companies
Broadly speaking, there are now dozens of publicly traded companies that purport to be crypto treasury companies. In some cases, these companies were specifically created to invest in a specific cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin (BTC +0.39%). These can be thought of as "pure-play" crypto treasury companies. The best example here is Strategy (MSTR +1.46%), the company formerly known as MicroStrategy that pioneered the concept of the Bitcoin treasury company.

In other cases, though, crypto treasury companies have rapidly transformed themselves from one business or industry to become a crypto-focused company within the past few months. For example, one of the top Ethereum (ETH 0.36%) treasury companies is SharpLink Gaming (SBET +3.07%), a company that once provided affiliate marketing services for online gambling sites.

There are now Bitcoin treasury companies that started off life in industries ranging from healthcare to media and entertainment. Notably, one of these companies now includes Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT 0.38%), which holds 15,000 BTC on its balance sheet and currently ranks among the top 10 Bitcoin treasury companies in the world. The overall mantra of these companies appears to be: "If you can't beat Bitcoin, then you have to buy it."

And that's what really concerns me. Many of these companies are attempting to shed money-losing or struggling businesses and reinvent themselves for the brave new world of crypto. Most of them have no experience buying and selling crypto, and they may not understand all the risks involved in the crypto treasury business model.

So, if you're thinking of investing in a crypto treasury company, I'd suggest sticking with a "pure-play" crypto treasury company. These are companies that have deep domain expertise and understand how cryptocurrency works. The best in class, of course, are those that only buy Bitcoin. But there are now "pure-play" crypto treasury companies for Ethereum, Solana, and XRP.

Look for companies trading above the value of their crypto holdings
A major complaint of short-sellers is that most -- if not all -- crypto treasury companies do not deserve to trade for more than the value of their crypto holdings. If a company like Strategy holds $71 billion worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, and it is now doing nothing else except accumulating Bitcoin, shouldn't the company be valued at $71 billion?

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So, not surprisingly, one notable trend over the past few months has been the tendency for crypto treasury companies to trade at or below the value of their crypto holdings. Only a handful of the top crypto treasury companies have been able to maintain their lofty premiums. The most notable here is Strategy, which is currently valued at $86 billion. Roughly speaking, it now trades at a multiple of 1.2 times its core Bitcoin holdings.

When choosing between different crypto treasury companies, it's important to understand which companies are still holding on to their premium. These are the companies worth investing in. But, alas, those companies are getting harder and harder to find. For example, K33 Research recently highlighted that 25% of Bitcoin treasury companies now trade below their net asset value (NAV).

A speculative bubble in crypto?
The recent flash crash in the crypto market highlights how risky these companies can be. Depending on the leverage being used, investors could really take a hit if a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or Ethereum falls 10% in one day.

Keep in mind: Most of these crypto treasury companies are not purchasing cryptocurrency with cash from ongoing operations. Instead, they are raising capital from outside investors to finance their crypto purchases. Often, this involves debt. And that creates the potential for a massive, debt-fueled speculative bubble.

That being said, my interest in crypto treasury companies is now limited to the best-in-class companies that are laser-focused on buying Bitcoin and using as little leverage as possible. But even then, prudent investors might be better served simply buying a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to get their exposure to crypto.

Unlike Bitcoin, the Ethereum price has struggled to hold up, and even after the crypto market recovery, the price remains below $4,000, which is a major psychological level. Given this, it seems that the cryptocurrency is set to close the month of October in the red, losing almost 5% of its value already this month. However, with the month of November quickly rolling by, the Ethereum price might be in for a bounce, as November has historically been green for the market.

November Could Hold The Key For Ethereum Price
Looking at the historical price data for Ethereum on the CryptoRank website, there seems to be a balance between years when the month was red and years when it was green. In a decade, there have been five years where the Ethereum price has seen gains in November and five years where there have been losses.

However, there seems to be a rather bullish pattern: the years when the month was green saw double-digit gains, eventually resulting in higher gains than losses. As a result, the average return for the month is 6.93%, and the median return, while low, also remains positive at 1.42%.

Given the fact that there is no clear trend to pinpoint where the price is headed, the bears and the bulls look to have equal chances. But if it does turn out to be in the green, it is likely that the Ethereum price will witness a double-digit surge. Such a move would help it clear the $4,000 resistance with momentum.

Source: CryptoRank
Q4 Still Has Potential
Quarterly returns for the Ethereum price have not exactly been the best in the last quarter of the year, but that has not changed the fact that the altcoin tends to perform quite well overall. There is also the trend of Q4 ending in the green if the previous Q2 and Q3 were in the green, which is the case right now.

In Q2 of 2025, the Ethereum price ended with an average positive return of 36.5% and in Q3, it followed with a 66.7% return, the highest so far. With October trending low, there is already a 4.83% decline this year, but with more than 2 months to go, there is still time for things to change.

Only one year in history has the Ethereum price closed Q4 in the red after Q2 and Q3 ended in the green, and that was nine years ago in 2016. Since then, the trend has always seen the ETH price continuing the rally. This was the case back in 2017, and then again in 2020 and 2021.

Since then, this trend has not returned, and 2025 is the first time in four years that the Ethereum price has ended both Q2 and Q3 in the green. If the historical performance holds, the Ethereum price could see an average of a 50% increase, or even double, like it did back in 2017 and 2020, before the year is over.

ETH faces pressure from the bears | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

Video-sharing platform Rumble is preparing to introduce Bitcoin tipping for its 51 million monthly users.

Sat, 25/10/2025 - 10:38

Ripple President Monica Long has weighed in on a major move expected to significantly boost XRP and RLUSD utility, saying that the future ahead is mighty bright.

Cover image via U.Today

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Ripple recently announced that its acquisition of Hidden Road has now been completed. This makes Hidden Road part of Ripple, officially now Ripple Prime. The move remains historic as it makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker, bringing the promise of digital assets to institutional customers at scale.

Earlier this year, Ripple announced its intent to acquire Hidden Road, a major non-bank prime broker, offering institutions a one-stop-shop for advanced services, including clearing, prime brokerage and financing across foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps and fixed income.

Ripple says the move marks an exciting new chapter, noting that since the time the initial announcement of the acquisition went out, Ripple Prime’s business has grown threefold, with further growth for new and existing customers expected.

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This marks the fifth major acquisition by Ripple in the last two years, including an announcement to acquire treasury management system provider GTreasury last week, stablecoin-powered payment platform Rail in August 2025, the acquisition of Standard Custody in June 2024 and Metaco in May 2023.

Ripple president breaks silenceIn a tweet, Ripple President Monica Long reacted to the recent announcement of the Ripple Prime platform, highlighting that it comes with expansive opportunities.

The opportunities now available to Ripple Prime (fka Hidden Road) are expansive. With $RLUSD already being used as collateral for a number of prime brokerage products, and Ripple Prime looking at a variety of ways to utilize XRP, the future ahead is mighty bright. https://t.co/YFSUQlyeOO

— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) October 24, 2025 As Ripple Prime is exploring a number of ways to utilize XRP and RLUSD already being used as collateral for prime brokerage products, Long stated that the future ahead is mighty bright.

Ripple’s payment infrastructure, crypto custody and stablecoin as well as the use of XRP are anticipated to complement the services offered within Ripple Prime.

Ripple Prime is also expected to boost the utility and expand the reach of the Ripple USD stablecoin, RLUSD. Certain derivatives customers have already opted to hold their balances in RLUSD, the number of which is expected to increase in the coming months.

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