Market Signal Briefing

TLDR:

Sygnum Bank and Debifi’s MultiSYG platform will let borrowers keep control of their BTC while securing loans.
MultiSYG uses a five-party wallet requiring three approvals to move Bitcoin collateral, ensuring transparency.
The platform targets institutional and high-net-worth users seeking safer, bank-grade crypto lending.
MultiSYG launches in early 2026, blending regulated finance with verifiable onchain Bitcoin control.

A new partnership is setting the stage for a different kind of Bitcoin lending. Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum Bank and fintech firm Debifi are developing MultiSYG, a Bitcoin-backed loan platform expected to launch in the first half of 2026. 

The project aims to give borrowers full control of their BTC while securing access to regulated, bank-grade loans. It’s being designed for institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals seeking transparency and safety in crypto lending.

Crypto analyst @CryptosR_Us highlighted the development on X, calling it “a new era of Bitcoin banking.” The idea is simple but powerful: users can borrow against their BTC without surrendering their keys to a custodian.

🚀 SWISS BANK SET TO LAUNCH BITCOIN-BACKED LENDING PLATFORM 🇨🇭

Debifi, a new fintech company, is partnering with Swiss bank Sygnum to build MultiSYG ; a first-of-its-kind platform that lets users borrow against their $BTC while keeping full control of their digital assets.… pic.twitter.com/QYsyZalcr9

— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) October 24, 2025

Bitcoin-Backed Loans Without Losing Custody
According to a report, Sygnum and Debifi plan to eliminate one of crypto lending’s biggest risks, loss of asset control. Traditional Bitcoin-backed loans often require full custody by the lender, meaning the borrower’s assets remain locked until repayment.

With MultiSYG, that changes. The system uses a multi-signature wallet shared among Sygnum, the borrower, and independent signers. Any movement of collateral requires three out of five approvals, allowing borrowers to keep verifiable, onchain control of their BTC.

Debifi CEO Max Kei said the model addresses a long-standing concern: trust in custodians. He explained that borrowers shouldn’t have to “trust blindly” when securing loans. This setup makes it harder for lenders to reuse collateral or engage in rehypothecation, a practice that contributed to failures in firms like BlockFi and Celsius.

Sygnum’s initiative lead Pascal Eberle described the model as combining “the best of both worlds,” regulated banking services and cryptographic proof of funds. Borrowers will have flexible terms, transparent drawdowns, and continued visibility into their holdings throughout the loan.

Institutional Demand for Safer Crypto Finance
The move comes as institutional investors look for secure ways to leverage digital assets. Traditional lenders left a gap in the market after the collapse of centralized crypto platforms in previous cycles. That vacuum opened space for regulated banks like Sygnum to introduce compliant, transparent lending structures.

Debifi’s involvement signals a shift in how crypto lending platforms are being built. By focusing on user control and blockchain verification, the partnership bridges the gap between traditional finance and decentralized ownership.

Sygnum, which already operates under Swiss banking regulations, aims to make MultiSYG a model for risk-managed crypto lending. The launch, set for early 2026, could mark a step toward bank-grade adoption of Bitcoin-backed financial products.

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The number 6 crypto asset  Solana (SOL) may be gathering plenty of institutional interest and regulatory tailwinds, but its price performance is telling a more cautious story.

Related Reading: Why This Crypto Analyst Now Believes XRP Price At $21 Is No Longer A Dream

While fundamentals are hitting new highs, SOL continues to languish below key resistance levels, suggesting a breakout may be further off than some expect.

Institutional Treasuries & Solana ETF Momentum Are Material
Solana’s infrastructure is drawing serious attention. Major firms now hold several millions of SOL tokens on their books, according to Coingecko data, institutional treasuries already control roughly 13.5 million SOL, valued at about US$2.56 billion (2.6 % of circulating supply).

At the same time, regulatory breakthroughs are shifting the backdrop for institutional capital. Hong Kong’s regulator has approved the first spot Solana ETF, set to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 27 in multiple currencies.

Such developments signal growing legitimacy for Solana’s ecosystem and may lay the groundwork for longer-term accumulation, yet they have not yet triggered the explosive price rally many are hoping for.

SOL Price Action: Solid Foundations, Weak Short-Term Breakout
Despite the strong narrative, SOL’s price is clearly struggling to stick above significant resistance zones. Current trading around the $185-190 range shows the token repeatedly rejected near the US$200 mark.

Analysts highlight that unless a decisive close above $195 occurs, the immediate upside remains constrained. Breakdown below $185 opens the door to near-term support tests around $175.

SOL's price shows small gains on the daily chart. Source: SOLUSD on Tradingview
Technical readings reinforce the caution. Momentum indicators remain muted and key moving averages sit above current levels, implying that for now the market is consolidating rather than charging ahead.

Given this dynamic, many analysts believe that while Solana’s eventual upside may be considerable, the timing of that move may be toward 2026 rather than immediate.

What Investors Should Take Away
For long-term investors, the setup for Solana remains promising. The combination of institutional treasuries, network throughput advantages, and regulatory advances all point to growing structural relevance for the token.

However, if you’re seeking a rapid breakout, the current chart suggests caution. Until SOL cracks above major resistance (roughly $195-200) with conviction, the price is likely to remain in consolidation mode.

Related Reading: Kraken Reports Q3 Revenue Surge To Nearly $650 Million Ahead Of Anticipated US IPO

Key levels to watch:

Support: $185 and US$175
Resistance: $196-200

Momentum is likely to pick up only when one of these thresholds is broken with strong volume and conviction.

Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

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Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum Bank has joined forces with Bitcoin lending startup Debifi to launch MultiSYG, a groundbreaking loan platform set to debut in the first half of 2026. Marketed as the first bank-backed non-custodial Bitcoin loan service, MultiSYG enables borrowers to maintain partial control of their BTC holdings while accessing regulated banking-grade loan products.

Targeting institutions and high-net-worth individuals, the initiative addresses long-standing concerns about rehypothecation, a common financial practice where lenders reuse client collateral for other trades. In contrast, MultiSYG’s structure offers a secure, transparent, and verifiable system designed to uphold on-chain proof of reserves and eliminate the risks of centralized custody seen in past crypto lending failures such as BlockFi and Celsius.

According to Debifi CEO Max Kei, borrowers should never have to “trust a custodian blindly,” emphasizing the growing demand for non-custodial lending solutions in the digital asset market. Through MultiSYG, BTC collateral is stored in a multi-signature wallet shared between Sygnum, the borrower, and independent signers, with any transaction requiring at least three approvals. This setup ensures borrowers can verify their holdings at all times while preventing asset misuse.

Pascal Eberle, Sygnum’s Bitcoin and MultiSYG initiative lead, described the platform as a fusion of security and accessibility: “Borrowers can hold their own keys and still benefit from regulated loan terms, flexible drawdowns, and competitive rates.”

As the global crypto finance landscape matures, Sygnum and Debifi’s partnership marks a pivotal step toward transparent, trust-minimized Bitcoin lending, offering a safer and more compliant bridge between traditional banking and decentralized finance (DeFi).

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21Shares has filed a second amended S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its spot Sui ETF, revealing key updates on staking and listing details. The revised filing, submitted after market close on October 23, outlines new information about the ETF’s structure but omits the ticker and management fees. This development comes amid growing anticipation in the crypto market as investors await the SEC’s decisions on multiple spot crypto ETF applications, with recent delays due to the U.S. government shutdown dampening sentiment.

According to the filing, 21Shares introduced a new section titled “Staking of Trust’s Assets,” detailing how the trust’s SUI holdings may be staked to earn rewards. The section specifies factors such as the unbonding period, redemption patterns, trust size and concentration, performance of staking service providers, and ongoing market condition monitoring. The document also confirms that 21Shares US LLC has signed a two-year staking services agreement with Coinbase Crypto Services, which will handle the validation and block approval process for the ETF’s assets.

Additionally, 21Shares announced that the Sui ETF will list and trade on Nasdaq, designating The Bank of New York Mellon as the cash custodian and Coinbase Custody as the digital asset custodian. However, details regarding the transfer agent and marketing partners are still pending. Once approved, the Sui ETF will mirror the performance of SUI based on the CME CF Sui Dollar Reference Rate.

Following the amended filing, SUI’s price surged 2.5% within an hour, reaching $2.47, while open interest in Sui futures climbed 3% to $823 million, reflecting renewed optimism among traders. The market reaction underscores growing enthusiasm surrounding crypto ETFs and the potential mainstream adoption of Sui through regulated investment vehicles.

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 BNB has seen a 5.5% price jump following the White House announcement that Binance co-founder has been pardoned by US President Donald Trump, leading some analysts to suggest that a new leg up might be around the corner.

US President Grants Pardon To Binance Founder
On Thursday, the White House revealed that US President Donald Trump had pardoned Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, two years after pleading guilty.

In an official statement, the White House’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said that the US President “exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency.”

Leavitt stated that “In their desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry, the Biden Administration pursued Mr. Zhao despite no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.”

In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) violations while being the CEO of Binance. As part of his plea deal, he stepped down from his position in the crypto exchange and served a four-month prison sentence last year. Additionally, Binance reached a $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The White House press secretary affirmed that “these actions by the Biden Administration severely damaged the United States’ reputation as a global leader in technology and innovation,” declaring that “the Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over.”

Notably, there have been rumors that President Trump could grant a pardon to Zhao after January’s pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that Zhao allegedly had been “pushing” a Binance US deal for a pardon since 2024. However, he quickly denied these claims.

In an X post, CZ thanked the Trump Administration, stating that he is “deeply grateful” for the long-awaited pardon and “to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice.” The Binance co-founder also pledged to “do everything we can to help make America the Capital of Crypto.”

CZ Pardon Pushes BNB To $1,100
Following the news, BNB saw a 5.5% jump to reclaim the $1,100 mark. The cryptocurrency has recorded a massive rally over the past few months, reaching a new all-time high (ATH) of $1,375 nearly two weeks ago.

Altcoin Sherpa highlighted the altcoin’s price action amid the recent market performance. However, he expressed doubt about whether BNB will “continue being the strongest major or not,” at least in the short term.

He suggested that Solana (SOL) could have a better performance in the coming weeks, arguing that “both ETH and BNB had incredible runs previously and probably need more time to chill out.”

Since last Friday’s correction, BNB has been trading within the $1,050-$1,125 range, failing to break out of the upper level for the past six days. Analyst Open4Profit noted that if the altcoin reclaims the range’s resistance, the price could rally toward its ATH levels and continue its price discovery uptrend toward the $1,500 target.

Market watcher CW pointed out that BNB has two key sell walls ahead, one at the $1,180-$1,190 area and another between the $1,200-$1,220 mark, suggesting that the altcoin could face resistance around these levels if the price breaks out.

As of this writing, BNB is trading at $1,116, a 10.5% increase in the monthly timeframe.

BNB’s performance in the one-week chart. Source: BNBUSDT on TradingView
Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Aster token price is on the rise as Trump’s pardon of Changpeng “CZ” Zhao and a new trading rewards campaign boosted investor confidence.

Summary

Aster price rose 15% to $1.14 amid Trump’s CZ pardon.
Trading volume and open interest surged, indicating renewed confidence.
A $200K incentive campaign added further momentum to the rally.

At press time, Aster was up 15% in the past 24 hours, trading at $1.14. The token remains down 10% over the past week and is still 52% below its all-time high of $2.41, recorded on Sept. 24. However, short-term sentiment appears to be turning positive

Aster’s (ASTER) 24-hour trading volume jumped 13% to $833.7 million. According to CoinGlass data, derivatives volume climbed 10.56% to $2.16 billion while open interest also increased 3.78% to $482 million. This indicates an uptick in speculative positioning and renewed trader confidence.

Trump’s CZ pardon, Aster incentive campaign spark rally
President Donald Trump fully pardoned CZ on Oct. 23,  reversing his 2023 conviction for anti-money laundering offenses and ending a period that had negatively affected market sentiment. The decision, according to the White House, puts an end to the “war on cryptocurrency by the Biden Administration.”

CZ, who served a four-month prison sentence in 2024, has since shifted his attention to Aster, a decentralized perpetual futures exchange backed by YZi Labs, his family office. While not affiliated with Binance, Aster has become CZ’s new flagship venture and his preferred trading platform.

Aster’s latest “Rocket Launch” campaign, announced the same day as the pardon, further boosted activity. The initiative rewards traders with $200,000 worth of ASTER and AT tokens for engaging in spot and perpetual markets. Its first campaign features APRO Oracle, an early-stage data provider for real-world assets, artificial intelligence, and decentralized finance projects.

Aster unveils Rocket Launch 🚀✨
Your gateway to early-stage crypto projects and trading rewards is here!

Aster is proud to introduce Rocket Launch, designed to provide liquidity support for early-stage projects while giving users early access to emerging on-chain opportunities.… pic.twitter.com/cfkPYC1DtY

— Aster (@Aster_DEX) October 23, 2025

Participants must trade at least $1,000 in AT/USDT volume and maintain a 100 ASTER balance throughout the event, which runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 6.

Aster token price technical analysis
ASTER has recovered from a weekly low of $0.95 and is now consolidating around $1.14 on the hourly chart. The price has reclaimed the middle Bollinger Band, indicatong stabilizing momentum. The upper band at $1.16 now acts as immediate resistance, while the lower band near $0.99 serves as support.

Aster 1-hour chart. Credit: crypto.news
Although it is approaching overbought conditions, the relative strength index at 65 shows increasing momentum. Short-term indicators like the MACD and EMA (10, 20, 30) are still in sell territory, suggesting that if volume declines, the rally may encounter resistance.

A bullish breakout with targets close to $1.25–$1.30 could be confirmed by a close above $1.16. On the other hand, a decline below $1.08 might signal a pullback toward $0.98.

49 minutes ago

Bitcoin remained red despite returning to the top of its local trading range, leading to warnings of the “worst Uptober ever” from disappointed bulls.

417

Key points:

Bitcoin is on track for one of its worst October performances since 2013.

Previous bull market years offered a minimum of 40% gains.

The Federal Reserve may offer a last-minute reprieve at next week’s meeting.

Bitcoin (BTC) “Uptober” hangs in the balance as price threatens to print the first “red” October since 2018.

Data from monitoring resource CoinGlass shows that at current prices, BTC/USD is 2.3% below its monthly starting level.

Bearish October hinges on 4% BTC price lossOctober 2025 has disappointed Bitcoin bulls so far, as an early surge to new all-time highs quickly turned into a liquidation nightmare.

Now acting in a narrow range between around $107,000 and $111,500, the BTC price has much ground to make up by the monthly candle close.

CoinGlass demonstrates just how far behind the market now is: The average upside for October since 2013 has been 20%, which would put Bitcoin at over $130,000.

BTC/USD monthly returns (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass
Alternatively, BTC/USD only needs to end October 4% lower to seal its worst performance in 12 years.

THIS IS THE WORST UPTOBER EVER.

The only worse one was 2014 (-13%).

2013: +60%
2017: +50%
2021: +40%
2025: -4%

Bad Uptober usually means one thing: MOONVEMBER. pic.twitter.com/6BMrNp4afD

— Rekt Fencer (@rektfencer) October 23, 2025
The picture is particularly bad for a bull market year; in 2017 and 2021, Bitcoin gained at least 40% in October.

Its weakest 10th month of the year was 2014, with a 13% downside. 

Now or never for “Uptober” reclaimMeanwhile, fresh data from network economist Timothy Peterson puts 2025 BTC price action into perspective.

The latest bull market stands out from the rest, charts uploaded to X this week show, but not in the way that bulls would like.

Bitcoin October performance comparison. Source: Timothy Peterson/XAt the start of the month, however, Peterson observed that the bulk of “Uptober” upside tends to occur in the second half.

“60% of Bitcoin's full-year performance occurs after October 3rd,” he added in prior research from September.

Bitcoin price seasonality. Source: Timothy Peterson/XNews that the US Federal Reserve could signal the end of quantitative tightening (QT) at its Oct. 29 meeting could provide a “huge signal” for markets, Peterson said.

As Cointelegraph reported, expectations are that the Fed will lower interest rates despite a lack of inflation data, pointing to more favorable conditions for crypto and risk assets going forward.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Traders are bracing for another crypto options expiry and US CPI inflation release today, with massive $5.1 billion in Bitcoin options to expire on the largest crypto exchange Deribit. An expert says multiple technical and structural indicators signal short-term exhaustion, despite conditions improving since the October 10 crypto market crash.

$6 Billion in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP Options Expiry
Traders are bracing for huge volatility due to crypto options expiry amid rising uncertainty. Markets became more dependent on derivatives amid massive trading volumes on CME, Deribit, and spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Bitcoin options open interest just hit an all-time high of $50 billion on Deribit, with puts at $100K gaining traction.

More than 46K Bitcoin options with a notional value of $5.15 billion to expire on the largest derivatives crypto exchange Deribit on October 24, with a put-call ratio of 0.91. This signals more call options bets as compared to puts by derivatives traders after the leverage reset in the recent $850 billion crypto market crash.

Moreover, the max pain price was at $113,000, significantly higher than the current market price of $111,400. This implies a high chance of BTC price reclaiming above the $112K support level, with significantly higher calls than puts at the $113,000 max pain level.

Options traders are hedging downside risk as put volume surpassed call volume in the past 24 hours. The put-call ratio was 1.12.

BTC Options Open Interest. Source: Deribit
Meanwhile, 192K Ethereum options with a notional value of almost $0.79 billion are set to expire today. The put-call ratio was bullish at 0.79.

Also, the max pain point is at $3,975, almost at the current market price. Moreover, the put open interests are higher at the $4,000 strike price, with traders opening more puts for options expiries in the coming days.

The put volume rose significantly in the last 24 hours, but is still below the call volume of 69,664. The put-call ratio is 0.92, indicating neutral sentiment among options traders.

ETH Options Open Interest. Source: Deribit
In addition, 1,775 XRP options worth over $4.33 million in notional value are set to expire today. The put-call ratio and max pain price of 0.90 and $2.50 suggest bias towards upside, but selling pressure prevails in the crypto market due to CPI inflation data release today and the Fed rate decision next Wednesday.

BTC Price to Remain Range-Bound Despite Support: Matrixport
Matrixport said BTC price action reflects that the crypto market is shifting from a bullish to a consolidation phase. Technical and structural indicators signal short-term weariness despite macro support, Fed rate cut, and stable liquidity conditions.

Bitcoin continues to trade below the 21-week moving average for two consecutive weeks, with Bitcoin options expiry putting more pressure. This is considered a reliable boundary wall between bear and bull phases historically. Meanwhile, on-chain realized cap metrics show waning inflows. The October 10 crypto market crash underscored these weaknesses amid Trump’s renewed tariff threats against China. He expects to meet Xi Jinping next week in South Korea.

Crypto open interest decline, long-term holders realizing profits, and compressed volatility are among the factors weighing on the market. Matrixport predicts Bitcoin to remain range-bound until confidence rebuilds among traders.

Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.

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Investor attention is returning to Bitcoin ETFs as market flows and price action begin showing signs of renewed strength.

Summary

Bitcoin ETFs record $20.3 million in inflows on October 23, following outflows from the previous day driven by volatile investor sentiment.
BlackRock’s IBIT leads with $107.8 million in gains, offsetting outflows from Grayscale and Ark 21Shares as overall demand recovers.
BTC trades around $111,478, with momentum building for a potential move towards  $115,000 while support holds near $110,000.

Bitcoin ETFs posted moderate net inflows of $20.3 million on October 23, according to data from SoSoValue. The return to inflows follows a $101.3 million outflow the previous day and a strong $477 million inflow on October 21, underscoring the volatile investor appetite seen this week.

Among issuers, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led with $107.8 million in net inflows, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC with $7.2 million and Bitwise’s BITB adding $17.4 million.

These gains offset notable redemptions from Grayscale’s GBTC and Ark 21Shares’ ARKB, which recorded $60.5 million and $55 million in outflows, respectively. The mixed performance shows that while demand is recovering, sentiment across issuers remains uneven.

Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs continued to post outflows, with a combined $127.5 million in redemptions on October 23. None of the issuers recorded net inflows, extending the sector’s week of outflows as investors remain hesitant to reenter amid subdued trading volumes.

Bitcoin ETFs recover as bulls aim for $115K
The recovery in the exchange-traded funds comes as Bitcoin (BTC) itself regains strength. The crypto market giant is currently trading around $111,203, up 1.24% over the past 24 hours, after reclaiming the $110,000 level that acted as resistance earlier this week. 

The token set a weekly high near $113,940 before facing rejection, briefly slipping to the $106,000 range. Now, with prices back above $110,000, Bitcoin looks poised to retest recent highs. 

BTC price chart as Bitcoin ETFs return to inflows | Source: crypto.news
On the bullish side, a clean break above $112,000 could open the path toward $115,800, which marks the next resistance zone. This move would confirm short-term momentum turning in favor of buyers. The RSI, currently rising from oversold levels near 43, reinforces the case for growing bullish pressure and hints at further recovery potential.

However, if BTC fails to hold above $110,000, the structure could weaken again, with potential downside targets at $105,000 and then $100,000. A rejection from current levels could see renewed selling pressure as traders lock in profits near resistance.

For now, Bitcoin’s price action shows signs of strength, but sustained buying volume will be key to confirming a breakout and pushing beyond $112,000.

BTC has stabilized at $111,000 as of press time, but more volatility is expected later today.

The United States government shutdown continues in full force, now in its 24th day. It became the second-longest in US history and is closing down the record of 35 days set during Trump’s first term in office in 2019. According to current data, about two million workers’ payments have been suspended, while 900,000 have been furloughed.

In addition, numerous government-related sectors have fallen behind on certain deadlines, such as the release of the Consumer Price Index data for the previous month, which is crucial in determining the Fed’s next move. After a major delay of over a week, the CPI numbers for September are scheduled to be released later today, which is expected to impact BTC as it has done countless times in the past. The question is, will the price slip from the previous announcement repeat?

Higher Than Expected?
The overall expectations in Washington are that consumer prices increased for a second consecutive month in September, which, experts believe, is related to tariff-sensitive goods.

“The government shutdown may have altered the September CPI release date, but it hasn’t changed the stubborn state of inflation. Beneath the surface, we expect goods inflation to stay elevated due to continued tariff pass-through, while an easing in primary shelter costs should help cool services inflation,” commented Sarah House, a senior economist at Wells Fargo.

In a statement to CryptoPotato, Bitfinex Analysts commented:

“We will be watching core CPI and the services ex housing split first because a monthly beat above roughly 0.35 percent or a core print drifting above 3.2 percent year on year will lift real yields, strengthen the dollar and cool risk appetite, while a softer print below about 2.8 percent year on year or a weaker monthly pace will revive rate cut expectations and spark a risk on move.”

Despite the substantial risk of rising inflation, the US Federal Reserve is still expected to lower the key interest rate later this month and possibly again in December.

Will BTC Dump Again?
As reported over a month ago, BTC’s price slipped immediately after the release of the US CPI data for August, which was rather surprising given that the numbers matched expectations. As such, many anticipate bitcoin heading south if September data comes in higher than expected.

$BTC bounced back from the $106,00-$107,000 support zone again.

Trump hinted towards a big deal with China, which is a good thing.

Also, CPI is coming tomorrow, and a lower-than-expected print will be bullish for Bitcoin.

If CPI comes higher than expected, expect more pain… pic.twitter.com/G0HeD763dz

— Ted (@TedPillows) October 23, 2025

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However, the cryptocurrency has proven in the past that it often moves in the opposite direction of what people expect. Nevertheless, volatility is most likely in BTC’s cards for the day due to the significance of the CPI numbers and the scheduled Fed meeting next week.

The feud between Fetch.ai and Ocean Protocol Foundation may be drawing to a close as the two sides look to reach a middle ground without escalating it into a full-blown legal battle.

On Thursday, Fetch.ai said it would cancel all pending legal claims against the Ocean Protocol Foundation if the latter returned the 286 million Fetch.ai (FET) tokens that were allegedly sold during their merger.

“They are expecting a legal proposal from us for the return of the tokens,” said Fetch.ai CEO Humayun Sheikh, during a Thursday X Spaces show, adding:

“You can have my letter tomorrow. The offer is simple: give my community back the tokens. I will drop every legal claim.”Sheik also offered to cover the legal costs of the pending contract, which would lead to the recovery of the tokens.

Source: Fetch.aiOcean Protocol would agree to return the tokens if the offer was officially put on paper, said FET-based validator node GeoStaking, the protocol that helped broker the deal.

The formal offer could be put on paper as soon as Friday, said Sheikh during the X Spaces show.

The agreement would enable the two parties to resolve these misunderstandings without the need for a lengthy lawsuit, which could be detrimental to the reputation and finances of both parties.

The latest proposal comes days after Sheikh offered a $250,000 reward for more information on the signatories of OceanDAO’s multisignature wallet and their connection to the Ocean Protocol Foundation.

Source: Humayun Sheikh A multisignature or multisig wallet is a cryptocurrency wallet that requires multiple signatures to execute and process a transaction.

Ocean Protocol faces $120 million token dump allegationsDespite Ocean Protocol denying the misappropriation allegations, blockchain data indicates that an Ocean Protocol-linked multisignature wallet converted approximately 661 million Ocean tokens into 286 million FET coins, worth around $120 million at the time, according to blockchain data platform Bubblemaps.

This included 160 million FET tokens transferred to Binance and 109 million transferred to GSR Markets.

Source: BubblemapsOcean Protocol withdrew from the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance on Oct. 9, with no mention of the token transfers.

Since the announcement of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI) in March 2024, the FET token has fallen by over 93%, from a peak of $3.22 to approximately $0.26 at the time of writing.

However, the price drop was not catalysed by Ocean Protocol leaving the ASI, according to Bruce Pon, the founder of Ocean Protocol. He wrote in a Thursday blog response:

“[The 93% drop] was due to the broader market sentiment and volatility, SingularityNet and Fetch’s draining of liquidity from the entire community by dumping upwards of $500 million worth of $FET tokens, a reckless TRNR deal that failed to anticipate crypto dropping more than 45% [...]”“Ocean decided that it could not in good conscience remain a part of the ASI Alliance,” added the founder, promising to publish a “claim-by-claim rebuttal” to all the recent allegations.

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ASTER price has witnessed a strong rally over the past 24 hours, climbing approximately 11–16% to trade around $1.12–$1.14. The surge comes amid renewed market interest and the launch of ASTER’s Rocket Launch campaign, a project-focused incentive program. While the campaign is generating buzz, the rally is supported by broader market sentiment and strategic on-chain activity. Investors and analysts note that this upward move is not merely speculative but reinforced by measurable trading volumes and whale participation. 

Despite remaining below previous highs, ASTER’s price action reflects growing confidence in the token and its ecosystem. This coordinated momentum indicates that both retail investors and large holders are positioning for potential short-term gains, with the broader crypto market providing a supportive backdrop for the token’s latest performance.

Rocket Launch Campaign Ignites DemandThe Rocket Launch campaign is designed to reward users with ASTER and partner project tokens for participating in early-stage listings and trading activity. The program has already boosted spot and DEX trading volumes, confirming that the rally is backed by real transactional activity rather than pure hype. Analysts highlight that campaigns like this effectively generate short-term demand while strengthening community engagement. They also provide incentives for both retail and institutional traders to participate in the ecosystem, increasing token utility and liquidity. 

If participation remains strong, ASTER could see continued support from both new and existing investors. The campaign’s success could also reinforce investor confidence, encouraging further accumulation by whales and traders looking to capitalize on momentum-driven price action. Overall, the Rocket Launch initiative acts as a tangible catalyst driving near-term interest in ASTER.

Whale Buying Adds Fuel to the BreakoutIn the past 24 hours, whale activity has significantly contributed to ASTER’s price surge. On-chain data reveals that the top 100 addresses, known as “mega whales,” have increased their holdings by approximately 11.7 million ASTER, bringing their total to around 7.82 billion ASTER. Additionally, smaller whales have added about 221,900 ASTER to their positions, marking a 2.3% increase in their collective holdings. These substantial purchases underscore the growing confidence among large investors in ASTER’s potential. This accumulation phase is particularly noteworthy given the current market dynamics, where strategic buying by whales can lead to reduced circulating supply and increased upward pressure on the token’s price.

Derivatives & Market Sentiment Boost ASTERASTER’s recent rally is supported by both derivatives market activity and broader crypto sentiment. Over the past 24 hours, futures open interest rose 13–14%, adding tens of millions of dollars in leveraged positions and reflecting bullish trader confidence. Funding rates remain slightly positive, signaling optimism, though higher leverage also increases short-term volatility risk. 

At the same time, macro crypto sentiment is favorable, with Bitcoin and major altcoins showing strength, encouraging capital inflows into high-potential tokens like ASTER. The combination of whale accumulation, rising OI, and supportive market conditions is creating strong short-term momentum, offering upside potential while highlighting the need for caution due to potential rapid price swings.

Can ASTER Price Sustain the Momentum?From a technical perspective, ASTER is showing strong short-term bullish signals, but key levels will determine whether the momentum can continue. The token is currently trading around $1.12–$1.14, with immediate resistance near $1.27 and support at $1.10–$1.12. A sustained move above $1.27 could confirm a breakout, potentially targeting $1.35–$1.40 as the next short-term upside zone. Conversely, a breach below $1.10 may trigger a consolidation or minor pullback, as it would signal weakening buying pressure.

As seen in the above chart, the ASTER price has broken above the falling wedge, and before heading towards the resistance, it is consolidating. This consolidation hints towards the beginning of an accumulation zone and as RSI has turned slightly negative, a drop to the upper resistance of the wedge could be possible. The volume remains within the lower range, validating the bearish claim. 

Therefore, the Aster price could probably plunge a little below $1 and drain all the selling pressure, followed by a massive rebound to the resistance zone between $1.2 and $1.3. 

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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Fidelity Investments has made $SOL available to all US brokerage clients. It is a big move for the crypto industry.

Bitcoin has clearly made its mark in recent years, catching the attention of governments, financial institutions, and investors all over the world. However, the mystery surrounding Bitcoin’s origin continues to fuel debate.

The question of who really invented Bitcoin remains one of the most intriguing topics in the world of technology and finance. One analyst has reignited this, hinting that it may have ties to a government agency.

Who Created Bitcoin?Analyst Plan C believes that there is a 50% chance Bitcoin was created by a government agency, although he hopes that it was born from an altruistic individual or group. 

To back up this idea, Plan C pointed to some historical links.

He mentioned LifeLog, a DARPA research project designed to record people’s daily lives, which was shut down on February 4, 2004, the exact same day Facebook launched. He also notes that the internet itself was born out of the U.S. Department of Defense–funded projects like ARPANET and TCP/IP, conducted by academics and contractors, before it was expanded and commercialized through civilian, international, and private networks.

According to Plan C, it’s common for government projects to have appealing origin stories to gain public trust, often fronted by a private company or individual. 

A Gateway to Government Control?Despite the doubts, the analyst admits that he is still a fan of Bitcoin’s core features: its limited supply, decentralization, and user control.

At the same time, he wonders if Bitcoin could be part of a bigger plan to ease the transition to government-backed digital currencies that might be linked to social credit scores, digital IDs, and programmable money, that would give authorities more power over how people spend and access their money.

He also drew a parallel to the internet, which once felt open and free but has gradually become more regulated, and is heading toward a future where digital IDs are required for access.

“Bitcoin, in its current form, seems great—but that might be a credibility effect, to instill confidence in a new digital money ecosystem,” he says. 

He remains skeptical and says that while Bitcoin may look great today, only time will tell what kind of ecosystem grows around it. 

The CIA Theory: Tucker Carlson’s Take Political commentator Tucker Carlson also recently claimed during a Turning Point USA event that the CIA may have created Bitcoin.

Although he loves the idea of Bitcoin and the blockchain because of the financial autonomy it offers, the mystery around Bitcoin’s anonymous founder, Satoshi Nakamoto, makes him wary of investing.

The mystery surrounding Bitcoin’s creator remains unsolved, and theories linking it to intelligence agencies keep cropping up. One thing remains clear – Bitcoin’s impact on global finance is real and growing. 

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.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

October 24, 2025 3:00 AM EDT | Source: Lake Victoria Gold Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 24, 2025) - Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF) (FSE: E1K) ("LVG" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Q2 2025 exploration activities conducted on the licenses LVG sold to Bulyanhulu Gold Mine Limited ("Buly") ("the Project"). Buly acquired six licences from LVG under an Asset Purchase Agreement in 2022. Buly is owned by Twiga Minerals Corporation, a joint venture between Barrick Mining Corporation ("Barrick") and the Government of Tanzania.

Exploration during Q2 2025 was focussed on testing with reverse circulation (RC) drilling the granite-greenstone contact in the northwest, interpreted to be prospective, and developing and planning an aircore (AC) drilling plan aimed at testing prospective areas considered to have a similar stratigraphic sequence to Bulyanhulu Mine, and a RC drilling program to test geochemical anomalies identified in previous AC drilling programs.

Q2 2025 Highlights

12 reverse-circulation (RC) holes drilled totaling 1,380 metres. Drilling tested the granite greenstone contact which had been identified in the previous AC drilling and was considered to be structurally favorable with possible dilation zones, and which returned anomalous Au in associated favorable geology.

Favourable geology confirmed - The drilling along the northwest trending contact intersected mafic metavolcanics (greenstone) and quartz porphyry dykes, which display weak to moderate deformation and have associated silica-sericite alteration, and localized disseminated pyrite and quartz veining, promising for gold mineralization.

Rock-chip samples from artisanal workings near zones of strong chlorite-sericite alteration, indicate the presence of potentially mineralized structures.

The results to date reinforce the geological continuity between the Bulyanhulu Mine and the Tembo Project area, validating LVG's long-standing interpretation of the belt's broader potential.

Strategic Context

Under the Asset Purchase Agreement executed in 2022, LVG may receive up to US $45 million in contingent payments from Barrick, subject to future discoveries or defined resource thresholds on these licences.

Management Comments

Simon Benstead, Executive Chairman & CFO, stated: "We are encouraged to see Barrick's sustained exploration momentum and technical validation across the Tembo-area licences. Their work continues to confirm the fertility of this part of the Lake Victoria Goldfields, where LVG remains a significant stakeholder through both our adjacent 100%-owned Tembo Project and the contingent upside tied to future discoveries."

Marc Cernovitch, President & CEO, added: "Barrick's methodical exploration is confirming the geological architecture we've interpreted on our licence area. As they advance, LVG benefits from both the direct geological insights and the potential for substantial contingent payments-creating a rare opportunity of value addition through a combination of near-term potential production development at Imwelo and the Tembo project, and discovery leverage through the Buly exploration."

Next Steps

Barrick's Q3 2025 program is focusing on ranking and prioritizing follow-up drill targets along the most prospective structural corridors defined by the Q2 results and earlier geochemical anomalies.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Scott, Pr. Sci. Nat., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Scott is a Director and Officer of the Company.

Investor Relations Agreements

As previously announced on October 9, 2025, the Company has engaged SIDIS & Market IQ for investor relations and capital market advisory services, and has made filings with the Exchange regarding its investor relations contracts with SIDIS and Market IQ. The SIDIS contract is for a term of six months with a fee of $100,000 to be paid $50,000 on TSX.V approval and $10,000 each month thereafter. This contract is not renewable. The Market IQ contract is for a term of six months and is renewable on a month to basis. The fee for this contract is $100,000 payable on TSX.V approval of the contract.

About Lake Victoria Gold (LVG):

Lake Victoria Gold is a rapidly growing gold exploration and development company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LVG. Leveraging our unique position and experience, the Company is principally focused on growth and consolidation in the highly prolific and prospective Lake Victoria Goldfield in Tanzania.

The Company has a 100% interest in the Tembo project which has over 50 thousand meters of drilling and is located adjacent to Barrick's Bulyanhulu Mine. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the Imwelo Project which is a fully permitted gold project west of AngloGold Ashanti's Geita Gold Mine. With historical resource estimates and a 2021 pre-feasibility study, the project is fully permitted for mine construction and production, positioning it as a near-term development opportunity.

LVG has assembled a highly experienced team with a track record of developing, financing, and operating mining projects in Africa with management, directors and partners owning more than 60% of the shares. Notably, the Company is grateful for the validation that comes with the support and equity investment from Barrick and recent strategic partnership with Taifa Group.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including: future exploration and development plans with respect to the Imwelo Project, contract work on the Imwelo Project by Taifa Mining, securing additional financing for the development costs of the Imwelo project, the closing of the acquisition of the Imwelo Project and the concurrent financing, including the satisfaction of the closing conditions thereunder, and receipt of all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange for the acquisition and financing. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond LVG's control, including risks associated with or related to: the completion of the acquisition of the Imwelo project, the concurrent financing and related transactions, including receipt of all regulatory approvals and third-party consents, the volatility of metal prices and LVG's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving development or production, cost or other estimates; actual exploration or development plans and costs differing materially from the Company's estimates; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Tanzania and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for LVG's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and LVG's reputation; and other risks disclosed in the Company's public filings.

LVG's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. LVG does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities LVG will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/271659

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO US PERSONS OR INTO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA OR JAPAN, OR ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA, OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM, TO DO SO MIGHT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OR BREACH OF ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Wall Street's most influential businesses bring early-stage promise and potential long-term peril to pure-play quantum computing stocks.

Since late 2022, no trend has caused investors to reach for their pocketbooks or click the buy button in their brokerage accounts quite like artificial intelligence (AI). But it's not the only technological advancement that's delivering eye-popping gains or promising a mouthwatering addressable opportunity.

The rise of quantum computing has investors very intrigued. Trailing-12-month returns (as of the closing bell on Oct. 21) of 347% for IonQ (IONQ +7.07%), 3,500% for Rigetti Computing (RGTI +9.80%), 2,650% for D-Wave Quantum (QBTS +13.81%), and 1,640% for Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT +7.20%) speak to the opportunity investors see in these pure-play quantum computing stocks.

Quantum computing relies on specialized computers and quantum mechanics to tackle complex problems that classical computers either can't do or wouldn't be capable of doing in our lifetime. The applications for this technology to hasten the drug-development process, make the internet and cloud more secure, improve weather modeling, tighten up financial risk management, and speed up the AI algorithm learning process can lead to big dollar figures.

Image source: Getty Images.

But in spite of this potential, meaningful headwinds exist for IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. While some of these hurdles are well-known, one, in particular, might be the biggest threat of all, and it's completely flying under the radar.

It's no secret that history and valuations are potential problems for quantum computing stocks
Perhaps the most readily known headwind for next-big-thing technologies is that history isn't their friend, at least in the early going.

Dating back to (and including) the advent and proliferation of the internet in the mid-1990s, every game-changing technology and hyped trend for more than three decades has eventually navigated its way through a bubble-bursting event. Although it's impossible to accurately predict when the music will stop, the one constant among these prior events is that investors overestimate the adoption rate and utility of a new technology or innovation, which eventually leads to lofty expectations not being met.

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While there are plenty of practical applications for quantum computers on paper, it's not clear that any broad commercialization of this technology is underway, or that any businesses are necessarily profiting from this technology in any meaningful way. Investors look to have, once again, overshot the mark.

The other well-known concern with quantum computing stocks is their valuations. Even though value is a somewhat subjective term that's going to differ from one investor to the next, the trailing-12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratios for the aforementioned quantum computing pure-plays leave little room for discussion that these stocks are, collectively, very pricey:

IonQ: P/S ratio of 259
Rigetti Computing: P/S ratio of 1,280
D-Wave Quantum: P/S ratio of 370
Quantum Computing Inc.: P/S ratio of 7,546

History tells us that businesses on the leading edge of game-changing technologies have never been able to sustain a P/S ratio above 30 for any extended period. Even with modest pullbacks in all four of these pure-play stocks over the last two weeks, these valuations don't appear sustainable.

Image source: Getty Images.

This is the threat to quantum computing stocks almost no one is talking about
However, not all threats stand out in plain view like historical precedent or unsightly valuations.

Arguably the biggest threat to the long-term success of IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave, and Quantum Computing Inc. is the deep-pocketed businesses responsible for moving the stock market, the "Magnificent Seven."

In one respect, some members of the Mag-7 have been a blessing for quantum computing's pure-play stocks.

For example, Amazon is giving subscribers of its quantum cloud computing service, known as Braket, access to quantum computers from IonQ and Rigetti. Braket offers clients the ability to accelerate scientific discovery and build or test quantum hardware. In other words, Amazon is providing a real-world stomping ground where IonQ's and Rigetti's quantum computers are getting their feet wet.

But things may look quite different quarters or years from now for Wall Street's quantum computing darlings.

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All four of these pure plays are losing a lot of money as they attempt to expand the availability and infrastructure needs of their quantum computers and offered solutions. With cash outflows expected to be persistent for years to come, IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. will almost certainly be reliant on dilutive share offerings and/or debt to keep things moving. The key point being that access to capital will remain challenging for these businesses.

Meanwhile, with the exception of electric-vehicle maker Tesla, which has had a few dicey quarters recently, with regard to cash flow from operations, the other six Magnificent Seven members have been generating cash from operations at a phenomenal pace. Most Mag-7 members are also sitting on mammoth treasure chests of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

When a new technology with a sizable addressable market ushers onto the scene, these industry leaders usually want their piece of the pie -- even if monetization is potentially years away. For instance, Meta Platforms has invested aggressively into the metaverse (the 3D virtual world where users can interact with each other and their surroundings), even though monetizing access to the metaverse still looks to be some time off.

In addition to Amazon offering a quantum computing service built atop its world-leading cloud service infrastructure platform, Amazon Web Services, Alphabet is developing a quantum computing chip known as Willow, and Microsoft has developed a novel quantum processing unit, Majorana 1, for its cloud-based Azure Quantum platform.

These early developments strongly suggest the cash-rich and well-partnered Mag-7 stocks could easily displace Wall Street's quantum computing pure-plays. Though time will tell the tale, the risk-versus-reward profiles for IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. look highly unfavorable for investors.

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.

If the AI bubble pops, it could take Nebius Group stock down with it.

Nebius Group (NBIS +7.50%) stock has been white-hot this year. But in this "what have you done for me lately?" world, there are questions about whether it rose too high, too fast.

While Nebius still is showing an extraordinary year-to-date gain of more than 300%, some of the air has come out of the stock as of late. It's down nearly 20% from the all-time high it hit earlier this month. Meanwhile, there are fears among some in the market that the artificial intelligence (AI) trend has created a bubble that's getting ready to pop.

Is Nebius still a buy, or is this the time to start taking profits?

Image source: Getty Images.

What is Nebius Group?
Nebius Group has been around for a while, but not in its current form. The company used to be part of the Dutch holding company Yandex N.V., which included a Russian internet company that was also named Yandex. That holding company traded on the Nasdaq exchange until Russian companies were hit with sanctions in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Yandex got rid of its Russian assets and renamed itself Nebius. Under the new configuration, it's a cloud infrastructure provider with a specialty in data centers designed to power AI technology. That's an important service considering how expensive it is for companies to stand up their own data centers powered by the latest graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs).

Nebius has thousands of Nvidia GPUs operating a full-stack AI cloud platform, meaning it includes hardware like chips and servers, infrastructure like storage and model training environments, and AI-powered applications like chatbots and generative AI systems. The company this week announced the launch of a new data center in Israel with servers that include Nvidia's top-of-the-line Blackwell chips.

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It also has a massive agreement with Microsoft under which Nebius' data center in Vineland, New Jersey, will provide dedicated GPU capacity to Microsoft's Azure. The five-year agreement is valued at up to $19.4 billion. That will provide a huge revenue stream to Nebius as it expands its footprint. Nebius stock jumped by 200% after the Microsoft deal was made public.

A look at Nebius stock
Nebius has lofty goals -- it wants to secure 1 gigawatt worth of cloud computing capacity by 2026. That's the equivalent of the amount of electricity generated by a nuclear reactor.Currently, its data centers use roughly 220 megawatts of power, and new projects are in the works in New Jersey, the U.K., Israel, and Finland.

But building out that much cloud infrastructure takes a lot of capital investment. That's why Nebius announced a new fundraising round that includes a private offering of $2 billion in convertible senior notes, as well as a public offering of $1 billion in common stock. And those funding moves come on top an offering of $1 billion in senior convertible notes that it completed in June.

That's a lot of capital to raise, but management says the Microsoft deal makes it possible.

"We believe this will enable us to aggressively grow our core business in 2026 and beyond as we aim to scale our global data center portfolio, including through new greenfield sites, and the expansion of our customer base, from AI native tech start-ups to larger enterprises," the company said in a statement.

The company posted a net loss of $91.5 million in the second quarter as its spending accelerated. But it's also important to recognize that its revenue for the quarter was $105.1 million, up 625% from a year earlier. It also increased its annual run rate revenue forecast for the end of this year from its prior range of $750 million to $1 billion to a range of $900 million to $1.1 billion.

"We are in the midst of a once-in-a-generation opportunity," CEO Arkady Volozh said in a letter to shareholders. "Demand for AI infrastructure -- compute, software and services -- is only going to get stronger."

The bottom line
Many AI stocks have slipped lately, and shares of unprofitable companies like Nebius naturally are going to be more volatile, particularly when there's talk of an AI bubble. So investors should understand there are risks to buying this stock.

But the company is making massive strides. The Microsoft deal is a game changer, and Nebius is providing a service that is in heavy demand. According to Yahoo! Finance, the analysts following Nebius have a consensus 12-month price target of $156.40 on the stock. That's about 40% higher than it trades now.

While Nebius isn't an appropriate pick for every investor, those who have strong tolerances for risk should feel comfortable adding it to their portfolios.

A Chevron gas station sign is pictured at one of their retain gas stations in Cardiff, California October 9, 2013. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesChevron, Helleniq Energy to explore for gas in four southern offshore blocksGreece aims to become key gas transit route as Europe cuts reliance on Russian energySeismic research expected to start in 2026, test drilling by 2030-2032ATHENS, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Greece has named a consortium of U.S. oil major Chevron

(CVX.N), opens new tab and Helleniq Energy, the country's biggest oil refiner, as preferred bidder for gas exploration in southern offshore blocks, the Greek energy ministry said on Friday.

The move comes after Chevron and Helleniq

(HEPr.AT), opens new tab submitted a joint in a Greek tender this year to look for gas in four deep-sea blocks off the Peloponnese peninsula and the island of Crete.

Sign up here.

Greece, which produces very small volumes of oil and relies on hefty gas imports for power generation and domestic consumption, has been keen to explore for gas and bolster its role as a gas transit route as the European Union aims to phase out Russian energy after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Greece was now expected to invite the two companies to work together to finalise the draft contracts, the energy ministry said in a statement.

The country has said that the contracts will then need approval from a Greek court of auditors and parliament before the consortium can start seismic research in 2026. It has up to five years to locate potential recoverable deposits and any eventual test drilling would not come before the 2030-2032 period.

Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou, Editing by Louise Heavens

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Meanwhile, Indian jewelry demand typically tapers off following the Diwali season, curbing one of gold’s key sources of physical support. “Seasonal buying tends to cool sharply after the festival, leaving gold more dependent on global macro flows,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation.

Markets Await U.S. CPI and Trade Talks Outcome
Investors are now focused on the delayed release of U.S. Consumer Price Index data, expected to show a 0.4% monthly and 3.1% annual increase.

A stronger reading could reinforce the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance, reducing the likelihood of aggressive rate cuts, while a softer figure may revive dovish sentiment and lift bullion.

Attention also turns to Malaysia, where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng are set to resume high-level trade talks. The outcome will set the tone ahead of next week’s Trump-Xi meeting at the APEC summit.

Safe-Haven Demand Offers Limited Cushion
Although economic optimism has capped safe-haven inflows, persistent global uncertainty continues to underpin gold’s longer-term outlook. The ongoing China’s Vice-Premier—now in its 24th day—has delayed economic data and dampened business confidence.Silver Tracks Gold’s Downtrend.

Although economic optimism has capped safe-haven inflows, persistent global uncertainty continues to underpin gold’s longer-term outlook. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown—now in its 24th day—has delayed economic data and dampened business confidence.

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.

The satellite radio operator has lost investors a lot of money in the past five years.

Warren Buffett-led Berkshire Hathaway is clearly bullish on Sirius XM (SIRI 2.00%). The conglomerate owns almost 125 million shares, giving it a 37.1% stake in the satellite radio operator. When an investing legend like Buffett owns a business, average investors take notice.

Sirius XM definitely has some attractive qualities. However, there are reasons to be bearish as well. Should investors forget about this company?

Here's why you might want to buy this unstoppable growth stock instead.

Image source: Amazon.

The good and the bad with Sirius XM
Sirius XM expects to generate $1.15 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in 2025, a figure that the leadership team believes will increase 30% to $1.5 billion in 2027. This is clearly an encouraging trend. That cash helps fund a sizable dividend yield of 4.96%, which can be very interesting to income investors.

As a subscription business, Sirius XM benefits from collecting a recurring revenue stream. Subscriptions, which are stable and predictable, make up about three-fourths of total revenue. Advertising is the bulk of the rest, but this can be somewhat cyclical.

Investors might struggle to ignore how cheap the valuation is. Shares trade at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.4 (as of Oct. 20). Should that FCF figure rise as hoped, the market could rerate the stock, leading to valuation expansion.

However, there's a reason the Sirius XM's stock price has tanked 62% in the past five years. From a fundamentals perspective, it's hard to be optimistic. Sirius XM is facing an uphill battle, as it's on the wrong side of technological change. Faster internet speeds and broader connectivity, coupled with how advanced smartphones are these days, has helped launch popular streaming services that are finding great success.

Sirius XM's subscriber and revenue bases are struggling mightily to grow. Investors might be better off forgetting about this business.

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This growth stock has generated monster wealth
In the past 10- and 20-year periods, Amazon (AMZN +1.41%) shares have produced huge gains of 651% and 9,290%, respectively. Berkshire has a position in the business, amounting to $2.2 billion of the tech giant's outstanding shares. Amazon is a fantastic business that is certainly more deserving of investor capital than Sirius XM is. There are important reasons why.

I view Amazon as the ultimate growth stock. It's not putting up the biggest gains, but the revenue growth is durable. It's still finding ways to increase the top line, even though it posted $638 billion in sales in 2024. While Sirius XM continues to be challenged by tech headwinds, Amazon is lifted by secular tailwinds. It benefits from online shopping and streaming entertainment, for instance, both expanding end markets.

Amazon is also the leader when it comes to cloud computing. Amazon Web Services (AWS) commands 30% of the industry's market share. Its growth fuels profitability for the overall business.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) once again shines the spotlight on AWS. Companies of all sizes and in all industries are looking to build with this technology. And AWS offers a wide range of AI-related products and services, making it a key partner for those leveraging the power of AI to become more efficient or find new ways to serve their end users.

Amazon stock trades for a reasonable valuation. The recent forward P/E multiple of 28.6 presents a good deal to buy one of the world's elite companies. That view is supported by Amazon's wide economic moat that stems from its sustainable competitive strengths, including its cost advantage and network effect.

According to Wall Street consensus analyst estimates, Amazon's earnings per share are projected to rise at a compound annual rate of 19% between 2024 and 2027. This forecast is yet another reason to buy Amazon and forget about Sirius XM.

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

NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) shares rose 3% early on Friday after the lender upgraded its forecasts for the year, reporting another quarter of higher income and profit driven by steady lending and strong customer activity.

The bank now expects 2025 income, excluding one-off items, to reach about £16.3 billion, with a return on tangible equity above 18%; both higher than previous guidance.

Chief executive Paul Thwaite said the performance reflected “consistent delivery and capital generation”, supported by stable deposits and continued lending growth across the group’s businesses.

For the three months to the end of September, total income excluding notable items climbed £200 million to £4.2 billion. Profit attributable to shareholders rose to £1.6 billion from £1.2 billion a year earlier, producing a 22.3% return on tangible equity.

Customer lending increased by £4.4 billion during the quarter, while deposits slipped by £1.1 billion, leaving the loan-to-deposit ratio at 88%. Liquidity remained solid, with an average coverage ratio of 148%, well above regulatory requirements.

NatWest said assets under management rose 8.1% to £56 billion, helped by strong client inflows. The cost-to-income ratio improved to 47.8% from 52.8% a year ago, reflecting progress in simplifying operations and cutting expenses.

The bank’s core equity tier one ratio strengthened to 14.2%, and it plans to outline new 2026 guidance and 2028 targets in February.