Singapore-based Bitcoin mining pool Poolin and two of its US affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a New Jersey court on Wednesday.
Poolin’s court filing shows that the mining pool operator has estimated liabilities of $100 million to $500 million, assets of $1 million to $10 million and 10,001 to 25,000 creditors.
Poolin and its affiliates are also seeking court approval to sell two West Texas mining sites to Thor CALAP LLC under a proposed $52 million stalking-horse bid. This includes $37 million for the Tarbush assets, including assumed liabilities, and $15 million for the Pyote site, including the power rights, equipment and all other assets tied to the mining facilities.
The proposed sale would be subject to a court-supervised auction, with a bid deadline of Sept. 8 under the proposed bidding procedures.
Poolin was once the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool in 2019. It now ranks as the 17th largest mining pool operator by hashrate, with a 0.2% market share, according to Hashrate Index.
Bitcoin miners increasingly turn to restructuring and AIBitcoin mining operations are facing growing financial constraints due to rising electricity costs, forcing some operations to shut down while others are seeking new revenue sources.
In February, NFN8 Group and two of its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Western District of Texas.
Other miners have sought to diversify into AI infrastructure. In November 2025, Bitfarms initiated a complete wind-down of its Bitcoin mining operations to pivot to AI and high-performance computing data centers.
On Monday, Bitcoin mining companies Hut 8 and IREN announced major AI infrastructure deals. Hut 8 announced a 15-year, $9.8 billion lease for its AI data center campus and IREN disclosed $2.8 billion in cloud services contracts with AI developers. Earlier in July, MARA Holdings announced plans to acquire a Texas site with up to 2 gigawatts of capacity to expand its AI and digital infrastructure business.
Wealth management company Bernstein said that deals with third-party providers, such as Bitcoin miners, will be necessary for AI companies seeking to address the computing power limits of AI data centers.
Magazine: Bitcoin nearing late stages of bear market: Jamie Coutts, Real Vision
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Singapore-based Bitcoin mining pool Poolin and two of its US affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a New Jersey court on Wednesday.
Poolin’s court filing shows that the mining pool operator has estimated liabilities of $100 million to $500 million, assets of $1 million to $10 million and 10,001 to 25,000 creditors.
Poolin and its affiliates are also seeking court approval to sell two West Texas mining sites to Thor CALAP LLC under a proposed $52 million stalking-horse bid. This includes $37 million for the Tarbush assets, including assumed liabilities, and $15 million for the Pyote site, including the power rights, equipment and all other assets tied to the mining facilities.
The proposed sale would be subject to a court-supervised auction, with a bid deadline of Sept. 8 under the proposed bidding procedures.
Poolin was once the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool in 2019. It now ranks as the 17th largest mining pool operator by hashrate, with a 0.2% market share, according to Hashrate Index.
Bitcoin miners increasingly turn to restructuring and AIBitcoin mining operations are facing growing financial constraints due to rising electricity costs, forcing some operations to shut down while others are seeking new revenue sources.
In February, NFN8 Group and two of its affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Western District of Texas.
Other miners have sought to diversify into AI infrastructure. In November 2025, Bitfarms initiated a complete wind-down of its Bitcoin mining operations to pivot to AI and high-performance computing data centers.
On Monday, Bitcoin mining companies Hut 8 and IREN announced major AI infrastructure deals. Hut 8 announced a 15-year, $9.8 billion lease for its AI data center campus and IREN disclosed $2.8 billion in cloud services contracts with AI developers. Earlier in July, MARA Holdings announced plans to acquire a Texas site with up to 2 gigawatts of capacity to expand its AI and digital infrastructure business.
Wealth management company Bernstein said that deals with third-party providers, such as Bitcoin miners, will be necessary for AI companies seeking to address the computing power limits of AI data centers.
Magazine: Bitcoin nearing late stages of bear market: Jamie Coutts, Real Vision
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
TL;DRPoolin Falls From Bitcoin Mining Leader to Bankruptcy ProtectionPoolin’s 2022 Liquidity Crisis Triggered Customer LossesWest Texas Mining Sites Put up For Sale Poolin filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy with approximately $173.1 million in debt. The amount includes $163.7 million owed through customer IOUs. The former top Bitcoin mining pool plans to sell two West Texas mining sites with a combined opening bid of $52 million. Poolin’s collapse follows its 2022 liquidity crisis when it suspended wallet withdrawals and issued IOUs to affected users. Poolin, once the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, marking another major collapse in the crypto mining sector following years of market pressure, liquidity challenges, and declining profitability.
The company, along with two U.S. affiliates, submitted bankruptcy filings in New Jersey and plans to auction two mining facilities in West Texas with a combined opening bid of approximately $52 million. Court documents show Poolin faces around $173.1 million in total liabilities, including roughly $163.7 million in IOUs issued to Poolin Wallet customers after withdrawals were suspended in 2022.
Former No. 1 Bitcoin Mining Pool Poolin Files for Chapter 11
Poolin and two U.S. affiliates have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey and plan to sell two West Texas mining sites with a combined opening bid of USD 52 million. Court filings show approximately… pic.twitter.com/e1nP49dZuE
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 24, 2026
The bankruptcy represents a dramatic reversal for a company that briefly controlled the largest share of Bitcoin mining pool activity in 2019 and became one of the most recognized names in the global mining industry.
Poolin Falls From Bitcoin Mining Leader to Bankruptcy Protection Founded in 2017, Poolin quickly became one of the most powerful Bitcoin mining pools by attracting miners with competitive payout structures and infrastructure designed for large-scale operations.
At its peak in 2019, Poolin ranked as the world’s largest Bitcoin mining pool, accounting for a significant portion of Bitcoin’s total network hashrate. Mining pools are essential in Bitcoin’s ecosystem because they allow individual miners to combine computing power and receive more consistent rewards compared with solo mining.
However, the company’s position weakened as the mining industry entered a period of intense financial pressure. Rising electricity costs, declining Bitcoin prices during bear markets, increasing mining difficulty, and the 2022 crypto downturn placed significant stress on mining companies worldwide.
The bankruptcy filing now puts Poolin’s remaining assets under court supervision as creditors await the outcome of the planned asset sale.
Poolin’s 2022 Liquidity Crisis Triggered Customer Losses Poolin’s financial troubles became public in September 2022 when the company suspended withdrawals from its Poolin Wallet service, citing liquidity issues.
At the time, Poolin said it was working to preserve assets and stabilize operations while developing solutions for affected users. The company later introduced IOU tokens representing outstanding balances owed to customers.
The withdrawal freeze affected miners and customers who held Bitcoin and other digital assets through Poolin’s custodial wallet platform. The incident became another reminder of the risks associated with storing crypto assets with centralized service providers.
The outstanding IOU obligations now represent the largest portion of Poolin’s reported debt, accounting for more than $160 million of the company’s liabilities.
West Texas Mining Sites Put up For Sale As part of the restructuring process, Poolin plans to sell two mining sites located in West Texas.
The facilities will be auctioned with a combined starting bid of $52 million, as the company attempts to generate funds for creditors and maximize recovery value through Chapter 11 proceedings.
Texas became one of the world’s biggest Bitcoin mining hubs after China’s 2021 mining crackdown forced many operators to relocate. The state attracted miners due to its abundant energy resources, deregulated electricity market, and crypto-friendly policies.
However, the region has also faced challenges, including grid reliability concerns, competition for power resources, and periods of reduced profitability during Bitcoin market downturns.
Poolin’s asset sale highlights the broader consolidation taking place across the mining industry, where smaller and financially weaker operators have struggled to survive against larger firms with cheaper energy access and stronger balance sheets.
Ripple has announced a strategic investment in Notabene, aiming to integrate its RLUSD stablecoin into Notabene’s enterprise transaction network. This collaboration is expected to enhance Ripple’s reach within the regulated on-chain transaction sphere and expand the utility of its stablecoin offerings. Notabene, known for its infrastructure supporting compliance with the Travel Rule, will work with Ripple to explore the integration of its payment authorization tools with Ripple’s payment solutions for institutional clients. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
This move by Ripple is seen as an effort to bolster its competitive position in the enterprise payments sector by leveraging Notabene’s extensive network. The strategic investment could potentially lead to increased adoption and utility for Ripple’s digital assets, including XRP. Currently, Ripple’s efforts to expand its ecosystem with RLUSD integration appear consistent with scenarios where XRP might see increased demand.
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Markets have reacted to the news with varied expectations regarding XRP’s price movement. Despite the strategic significance of Ripple’s investment, the impact on XRP’s price predictions for July remains subdued. As of now, pricing suggests a limited probability of reaching higher price targets, with only modest increases in probability for certain price points.
Key Takeaways Ripple’s investment in Notabene appears to support the integration of RLUSD into a major enterprise transaction network, suggesting enhanced utility for Ripple’s stablecoin. Pricing suggests that markets view the news as a positive development for Ripple, but the immediate impact on XRP price predictions is limited. The collaboration may indicate potential for increased adoption of Ripple’s payment solutions, particularly in regulated environments. What to Watch Observers will be interested in any further announcements from Ripple and Notabene regarding their collaborative efforts and potential clients in the institutional payments sector. The impact of this strategic investment on XRP’s price will depend on broader market conditions and any subsequent developments that could drive adoption. Markets will closely monitor Ripple’s progress in integrating RLUSD with Notabene’s payment authorization tools, which could influence XRP’s utility and market dynamics in the near term.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.6% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 2.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.7% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 30% — — View market → August 1 2026 20% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.5% — — View market →
Key Takeaways XRP currently sits at $1.13, representing a 69% decline from the $3.65 record high reached in January 2026 Large holders controlling 100K–100M XRP accumulated 600 million tokens (approximately $678M) during a five-week period CLARITY Act approval probability ranges from 39–43%, with Senate Republicans unveiling revised legislation on July 22 XRP exchange-traded funds recorded no activity on July 22, though year-to-date 2026 inflows exceed $200 million Technical analysis reveals a bullish flag formation suggesting potential upside to $1.24 upon breaking $1.16 resistance As of July 23, 2026, XRP maintains a price level of $1.13. This represents a significant 69% retracement from the token’s peak valuation of $3.65 achieved earlier this year in January.
XRP Price While prices have retreated substantially, institutional-sized wallets continue accumulating. According to Santiment analytics, addresses containing between 100,000 and 100 million XRP tokens increased their positions by 600 million coins throughout the five-week window ending July 22. At prevailing market rates, this accumulation represents approximately $678 million in capital deployment—marking a 2.8% expansion in their aggregate holdings.
🐋 XRP’s move back above $1.16 Tuesday looks very much justified based on recent wallet behavior. Whales & sharks holding 100K to 100M XRP have added +2.8% more coins to their bags in five weeks, showing whales and sharks are leaning in while the chart finally starts rewarding… pic.twitter.com/aFmRll4HKJ
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) July 21, 2026
Daily trading activity registers at $980 million according to CoinMarketCap figures. Futures open interest has contracted to $2.50 billion from the June 1 level of $2.96 billion, based on Coinglass tracking. Derivatives market activity has likewise declined from February 2026’s $15 billion peak to the current $1.91 billion level.
The XRP Ledger achieved a milestone this month by processing over 1 million agentic transactions. Additionally, the XRPL Lending Protocol went live, introducing institutional-grade credit infrastructure to the ecosystem.
CLARITY Act Becomes Central Catalyst The most significant near-term catalyst affecting XRP remains the CLARITY Act legislation. Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s chief executive, has openly called on lawmakers to approve the measure prior to the August Congressional recess. On July 22, Senate Republicans published revised bill language incorporating an ethics clause that prohibits presidential issuance of digital assets.
This amendment has failed to secure Democratic support. Legislative debate centers on whether state attorneys general should oversee ethics enforcement. Polymarket prediction markets currently price passage probability between 39% and 43%.
Exchange-traded fund activity for XRP recorded zero net flows on July 22, seemingly correlated with legislative uncertainty. Despite ongoing price weakness, cumulative 2026 net inflows surpass $200 million.
Critical Technical Thresholds Chart analysis on the 4-hour timeframe shows XRP developing a bull flag configuration. This pattern measures 7.25% in height, projecting an upside objective of $1.24 contingent on a confirmed breakout above $1.16 resistance.
Source: TradingView The Relative Strength Index registers 55, suggesting moderately bullish momentum conditions. XRP is currently trading above both its 50-day exponential moving average at $1.11 and 200-day exponential moving average at $1.12.
Should the price breach support at $1.11, downside pressure could drive the token toward the July 20 trough of $1.08.
Standard Chartered analysts maintain their $8 price forecast for XRP in 2026, extending to $28 by 2030. Larry Fink, BlackRock’s chief executive, commented that recent market liquidations eliminated excessive leverage positioning, stating he has turned “very bullish” on cryptocurrency price recovery prospects.
XRP exchange-traded products have attracted more than $200 million in net capital inflows during 2026, persisting despite sustained price depreciation.
Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)Summary
Ripple launched Ripple Mint, an automated platform for institutions to create, redeem, bridge and track its dollar-backed RLUSD stablecoin, and expanded the token to additional networks including the XRPL EVM sidechain, Base, Optimism, Ink and Unichain.The company also made a strategic investment in compliance network Notabene, integrating RLUSD into its business-payments platform to encourage institutional use of the token for real transaction volume.RLUSD now has a market value of about $1.5 billion with supply split between the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, but despite rising holder counts and active addresses, its market cap and monthly transfer volume have declined, suggesting it is being held more than used.Fintech firm Ripple made two moves on Thursday aimed at growing its dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, in a month when transfer volume across the token has dropped by 25%.
The first is Ripple Mint, a platform that lets institutional customers create, redeem, bridge and track RLUSD through a web dashboard or direct integration.
Until now, minting RLUSD — the process of issuing new tokens when a customer deposits dollars — generally meant arranging it directly with Ripple and waiting on a manual issuance process. The APIs let a firm trigger minting and redemption automatically from its own systems and track each transaction from dollar transfer to onchain settlement.
Ripple has also been extending RLUSD beyond the XRP Ledger and Ethereum onto the XRPL EVM sidechain, Base, Optimism, Ink and Unichain, widening the number of networks where the token can circulate.
Separately, Ripple announced late Thursday a strategic investment in Notabene. This compliance network places RLUSD inside its business-payments platform, putting the token in front of institutions positioned to send and receive it.
So, while Mint is designed to make RLUSD simple to create and manage, Notabene is built to get it moving through institutional payment rails.
That gap between issuance and actual usage is exactly the point, because of where RLUSD sits right now. The token has a market value of about $1.5 billion, according to data from RWA.xyz, making it one of the larger regulated stablecoins, though still a fraction of Tether and Circle's USDC.
Its supply is divided almost evenly between the XRP Ledger, which holds roughly $877 million, and Ethereum at about $643 million.
The trajectory is mixed. Data assessed by CoinDesk shows that RLUSD's holder count and active addresses have climbed sharply over the past month, up 6% and 70%, a sign the user base is broadening quickly.
But its market cap slipped almost 5% over the same 30 days, and monthly transfer volume fell about 25%, from roughly $14.6 billion to $11 billion. That shows more wallets are holding RLUSD while less money is moving across it. A stablecoin that is accumulating holders but not transactions is being treated more as something to own than something to use.
RLUSD is issued by Standard Custody & Trust, which holds a limited-purpose trust charter from New York's financial regulator, the compliance credential Ripple leans on to court banks in a market where regulatory clarity has become the main battleground.
Growing a stablecoin's supply is one challenge. Turning it into infrastructure that institutions run real volume through is the harder one, and Thursday's launches are Ripple's bet on the second.
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Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation
Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation
Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.
Jul 22, 2026
Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.
Why it matters:
Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.
XRP price today is down 2.39% to $1.11 today, underperforming a slightly negative market.XRP ETFs pulled in nearly $1.47 billion in cumulative inflows through late June. An estimated 200 million to 300 million XRP reach the market every single month. The CLARITY Act still lacks the 60 Senate votes needed to beat a filibuster now.XRP is down 2.39% to $1.11 today, underperforming a slightly negative market, in a session driven primarily by broader macro pressure rather than anything specific to the token itself.
The selloff isn’t isolated to crypto. Roughly $2.8 trillion was wiped out across stocks, gold, silver, and crypto in the past 24 hours, following a disappointing Alphabet earnings report that raised concerns about AI spending outpacing profits. Trump has also told Axios he is close to ordering a larger military strike on Iran, adding another layer of macro fear across risk assets.
Technical PictureXRP ran up to $1.16 earlier this week before flushing back down to $1.10 support. The broader trend remains down, with no evidence yet that a major low is in place. Important resistance sits between $1.19 and $1.42, a zone that hasn’t even been tested yet.
If the current bounce fails and price breaks below $1.14, the analyst sees a reasonable bear market target near $0.74 to $0.75, potentially aligned with Bitcoin forming its own cycle low around September or October.
CLARITY Act Remains Stuck
Crypto’s regulatory centerpiece, the CLARITY Act, is still short of the votes needed to pass. The bill needs 60 votes in the Senate, and Republicans currently don’t appear to have all 50 of their own members locked in, let alone the additional Democratic support required.
Senators from Utah and Texas have echoed bank concerns about deposit flight, a senator from Louisiana has voiced hesitation, and at least one Republican has flatly opposed the ethics provisions as written. Senator Elizabeth Warren has publicly urged colleagues to vote against the bill entirely.
Not everyone in finance opposes it. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has publicly called for advancing the legislation. Delays in releasing bill text have pushed negotiations dangerously close to the August 7 recess deadline, according to political reporting cited in recent coverage, leaving a shrinking window to get a vote scheduled at all.
What’s Actually Changed for XRP
Away from daily price swings, XRP’s underlying legal and market position has genuinely shifted over the past year:
The five-year SEC lawsuit is fully resolved, with both sides dropping appeals and the original $125 million penalty reduced to $50 million.Seven US spot XRP ETFs now exist, following Canary Capital’s XRPC launch in November 2025.XRP ETFs pulled in nearly $1.47 billion in cumulative inflows through late June, spanning seven to eight consecutive weeks of net buying before that streak broke with a $7.18 million outflow the week of July 6.Ripple’s own stablecoin, RLUSD, has grown to a $1.5 billion market cap, roughly tripling over the past year, with Mastercard piloting settlements on Ripple’s infrastructure.Why the Price Hasn’t FollowedDespite that progress, several structural factors continue to work against XRP specifically:
ETF funds hold only about 1% to 2% of XRP’s circulating supply, limiting their price impact even during strong inflow streaks.RLUSD may compete with XRP rather than support it, since a dollar-backed stablecoin can move money across borders without anyone ever holding XRP. More than 45% of RLUSD supply currently sits on Ethereum rather than the XRP Ledger.On-Demand Liquidity volume is real, but XRP is typically only held for a few seconds mid-transaction, generating volume without creating genuine demand to hold the coin long-term.Total value locked in XRP Ledger lending and trading apps has fallen roughly 70% from its 2025 peak.An estimated 200 million to 300 million XRP reach the market every single month from Ripple’s escrow releases, with roughly 38 billion XRP still locked and awaiting future release.A newly launched competing stablecoin consortium, Open USD, backed by more than 140 firms including Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase, and BlackRock, positions Ripple as just one participant rather than the center of the payments infrastructure XRP was built to support.A Possible Bottom SignalSome experts see recent industry stress as a sign the market may be nearing a cycle low. Crypto exchange BitMEX is shutting down effective September 23. Several digital asset treasury companies and at least one crypto-focused hedge fund have also wound down operations recently, following a broader wave of deleveraging across the sector.
Story Ends Here
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XRPL Commons Launches Three-Track Grants ProgramXRPL Commons, a nonprofit organization that helps grow the XRP Ledger through developer education, startup support, and community programs, unveiled a new grants structure for teams building on the blockchain. The program is structured across three distinct tracks, each designed to serve a different type of builder.
Early Stage Grants provide milestone-based funding, meaning money is released when teams meet agreed development or growth targets. Applicants need a working product on either testnet or mainnet. A second track targets startups at a more advanced stage, while the third track targets established products already operating on the network. The program combines grants with technical guidance, mentorship, and help bringing products to market.
RippleX amplified the initiative as the ecosystem expands its developer resources. The launch also includes incubator access and migration support for projects moving onto the XRP Ledger from other chains.
$550 Million Invested Since 2017Since 2017, more than $550 million has been deployed directly into XRPL ecosystem initiatives, including non-equity grants, builder incentives, strategic partnerships, and growth programs. Since 2021, these efforts have included hackathons, builder bounties, XRPL Grants, and the XRPL Accelerator, supporting nearly 200 projects worldwide across developer infrastructure, payments, DeFi, tokenization, AI, gaming, e-commerce, carbon markets, and enterprise financial applications.
As the ecosystem matures, the focus is shifting toward expanding access to funding through more distributed and independent pathways. Historically, much of the XRP Ledger ecosystem funding flowed through Ripple-supported initiatives such as XRPL Grants. While those programs remain important, 2026 marks a shift toward a more distributed model, where independent organizations, regional hubs, venture partners, and community-led initiatives play a larger role in supporting builders.
XRPL Commons will continue existing programs such as GLOW and The Aquarium, an incubator located in Paris. Partner organizations supporting ecosystem development include a100x Ventures, Superscrypt, Reforge, New Form Capital, Dragonfly, Pantera, Franklin Templeton, and Tenity.
Sources:
XRPL Commons Unveils New Grants Program to Accelerate XRP Ledger Builder Growth (Bitcoin.com)
Supporting Innovation on the XRP Ledger: What's Changing in 2026 (Ripple)
PANews July 24 news, according to Greeks.live, July 24 options expiry data shows that 19,000 BTC options will expire today, with a Put Call Ratio of 0.89, a max pain point of $64,500, and a notional value of $1.2 billion. 125,000 ETH options will expire today, with a Put Call Ratio of 1.25, a max pain point of $1,875, and a notional value of $230 million.
Analysis indicates that Bitcoin briefly broke through $66,000 this week, but upward resistance is strong — the $65,000 to $80,000 range was a dense trading area early this year, and it remains to be seen when capital will flow into the crypto market. U.S. stock SpaceX continues to decline, and the storage sector is experiencing sharp oscillations. In the options market, about 4% of options expire this week, with most indicators nearly flat compared to last week, and overall IV has fallen back to around 35%. BTC’s GEX is concentrated at $65,000 and $72,000, while ETH’s is concentrated between $1,900 and $2,200, with a more dispersed distribution than last week. Recently, some traders have attempted to bottom-fish using shallow out-of-the-money options. The ETH Put/Call Ratio has fallen back to 1.29, but the proportion of put options has exceeded 1 for six consecutive weeks, the longest stretch on record, reflecting strong demand for puts alongside active put-selling to bottom-fish. The crypto market has experienced an eight-month bear market, with scarce trading opportunities. From a cyclical perspective, there may be a rebound in the second half of the year.
Bitcoin (BTC) stalls near the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $65,145 after a mild correction earlier this week. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) face rejection at key resistance levels, keeping the short-term technical outlook bearish.
Bitcoin could recover if 50-day EMA holds as supportBitcoin price trades at $65,300 on Friday, with a neutral-to-slightly bullish near‑term tone as spot action holds just above the 50‑day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $65,145 while still trading beneath the 100‑day and 200‑day EMAs at $67,980 and $74,094, respectively. This configuration suggests the bounce from the recent base is gaining traction but remains a corrective move within a broader capped structure.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at around 54 points to steady, non‑overbought upside momentum, while the positive Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) reading above the zero line suggests bullish pressure is improving but not yet strong enough to challenge the higher daily trend barriers.
On the downside, immediate support is located at the reclaimed 50‑day EMA near $65,145, with a stronger demand zone emerging at the prior horizontal floor around $64,004 if sellers regain control.
On the topside, initial resistance is seen at the 100‑day EMA clustered near $67,980, ahead of the more decisive medium‑term hurdle at the 200‑day EMA around $74,094; a sustained break above these levels would be needed to reopen the path toward the distant horizontal resistance at $84,410.
Ethereum faces rejection from the 100-day EMAEthereum price trades at $1,875 on Friday and holds above the 50-day EMA at $1,831, hinting at a modestly constructive short-term tone, but remains capped beneath the 100-day EMA at $1,938 and the distant 200-day EMA at $2,187, which keep the broader recovery in check.
The RSI at 56 sits in positive but non-extreme territory. At the same time, the MACD remains in positive territory, together suggesting steady but not explosive bullish momentum as long as price holds above the 50-day EMA.
On the topside, immediate resistance is at the 100-day EMA near $1,938, with a break there exposing the psychological horizontal barrier at $2,000, then the 200-day EMA at $2,188.
On the downside, initial support is provided by the 50-day EMA around $1,831, ahead of a more distant structural floor at $1,385, where buyers would be expected to re-emerge on a deeper pullback.
XRP sits below key EMAsXRP price trades at $1.111 on Friday, holding a bearish near-term bias as it sits below the 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs clustered overhead. The 50-day EMA at $1.143 is the nearest dynamic cap, with the longer 100-day EMA at $1.232 and the 200-day EMA at $1.440 reinforcing a broader downside structure, even as the RSI hovers near a neutral 49, and the MACD remains marginally positive, hinting at only modest countertrend buying interest.
On the topside, initial resistance is at the 50-day EMA near $1.143, followed by the 100-day EMA near $1.232; a stronger recovery would face further hurdles at the $1.300 horizontal barrier, ahead of the 200-day EMA at $1.440 and the distant $1.900 resistance line.
On the downside, the first significant support emerges at the $1.000 psychological and horizontal level, where bulls would be expected to defend the broader range if selling pressure resumes.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Cryptocurrency metrics FAQs The developer or creator of each cryptocurrency decides on the total number of tokens that can be minted or issued. Only a certain number of these assets can be minted by mining, staking or other mechanisms. This is defined by the algorithm of the underlying blockchain technology. On the other hand, circulating supply can also be decreased via actions such as burning tokens, or mistakenly sending assets to addresses of other incompatible blockchains.
Market capitalization is the result of multiplying the circulating supply of a certain asset by the asset’s current market value.
Trading volume refers to the total number of tokens for a specific asset that has been transacted or exchanged between buyers and sellers within set trading hours, for example, 24 hours. It is used to gauge market sentiment, this metric combines all volumes on centralized exchanges and decentralized exchanges. Increasing trading volume often denotes the demand for a certain asset as more people are buying and selling the cryptocurrency.
Funding rates are a concept designed to encourage traders to take positions and ensure perpetual contract prices match spot markets. It defines a mechanism by exchanges to ensure that future prices and index prices periodic payments regularly converge. When the funding rate is positive, the price of the perpetual contract is higher than the mark price. This means traders who are bullish and have opened long positions pay traders who are in short positions. On the other hand, a negative funding rate means perpetual prices are below the mark price, and hence traders with short positions pay traders who have opened long positions.
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Ethereum [ETH] is currently seeing strong staking demand compared to the market distress in Q4 2025.
According to analytics platform Arkham, the Ethereum validator exit queue has dropped to zero with no waiting time, signaling that stakers have ‘long-term conviction.’
For comparison, during the market crash late last year, ETH queued for exit peaked at 2.6M ETH, and the waiting time was about 44 days. Now, it takes 0 minutes to withdraw staked ETH.
Source: Validator Queue Will Ethereum staking demand boost ETH value? In contrast, the entry queue is taking nearly 44 days to get into the staking ecosystem. About 2.5 million ETH is currently waiting to be staked, underscoring a massive divergence between demand and exit. For Arkham, this was a bullish signal.
This imbalance demonstrates robust demand to stake ETH. This development supports tighter ETH supply dynamics, as more capital flows into staking than leaves it.
Source: Validator Queue Worth noting that staked ETH has surged to 40.9 million ETH, marking a 14% year-on-year (YoY) increase. This translates to a record high of 33.97% in the staking ratio relative to the overall ETH supply.
But staking is just one side of the demand line. In fact, part of the staking demand comes from the U.S. spot ETH ETF and treasury firms like Bitmine.
Speaking of the U.S. Spot ETH ETF, the products have been positive in the past two weeks, lifting the price from below $1.8K to nearly $2K.
Source: Glassnode If the flows remain green, perhaps the $2K psychological level could be decisively reclaimed as support.
And institutional positioning in the Options market signaled a similar stance. In the past 24 hours, calls (bullish bets) were the most dominant trading volume for the September and early August option expiries, eyeing $2.4K and $2K targets, respectively.
Source: Arkham As of writing, the altcoin was valued at $1.926K as the market focused on the CLARITY Act passage ahead of Congress’ August recess. If the bill stalls, ETH price will likely slip lower.
However, any resolutions on key issues like ethics and subsequent passage of the bill would eventually lift the entire market. In other words, regulatory developments could remain a key catalyst in Q3.
Final Summary ETH validator exit queue has dropped to zero while the entry line hit 2.5M ETH with a 44-day waiting period. Option traders were betting on an ETH rally to $2K-$2.4K despite uncertainty on CLARITY Act passage.
Ethereum is trading at a discount to its realized price, but there could be a final capitulation, according to CryptoQuant.
“Ethereum is cheap, but the data says the bottom isn’t in yet,” said onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant on Thursday. ETH is trading around 17% below its realized price, “but only two of five signals have reached historical bottoming levels,” they added.
“Selling pressure is easing. Capitulation is still missing.”
ETH realized price – which is a measure of the average price at which every token currently in circulation last moved onchain – is currently at $2,300.
Historically, trading below the realized price signals holder losses that tend to exhaust sellers and mark bottoms.
ETH/BTC Metrics Still Not Bottoming The analysts said trading below the aggregate cost basis means the marginal holder is sitting on losses, “which historically exhausts sellers and compresses downside.”
However, cheapness alone has never been sufficient since the timing of a bottom has depended on Ethereum’s position relative to Bitcoin. This can be measured by the ETH/BTC MVRV ratio, which has fallen from “extreme overvaluation to neutral,” but not to extreme cheapness.
Additionally, the exchange inflow ratio has also dropped from over 1.5 to about 0.8 as selling pressure eased, but it hasn’t reached the ~0.4 low-pressure zone seen at past bottoms, they said.
Spot volume ratios have also collapsed to levels last seen in ETH/BTC bottoms, but the three other signals are not there yet.
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“ETH is approaching undervalued levels relative to Bitcoin, which points to lower downside pressure ahead.”
Fundamentally, Ethereum remains strong with growing real-world asset tokenization and agentic AI payment narratives.
“Ethereum has the characteristics that institutions need,” said Sharplink CEO Joseph Chalom on Thursday.
“I don’t know a lot for certain in life, but I spent 20 years at BlackRock. And I know for sure, before you move financial rails that are 40, 50, 60 years old, you want it to move to something that’s trusted, always on, secure, with the most liquidity.”
Sharplink resumed its Ethereum buying in late June, scooping up 10,000 ETH worth around $16 million.
ETH Price Outlook Despite the bullish fundamentals, ETH prices have retreated this week. The asset has fallen back from a seven-week high of $1,950 on Wednesday to $1,860 in early Asian trading on Friday morning.
ETH has lost almost 3% on the day but remains up 12% over the past 30 days. It needs to reclaim the $2,000 psychological barrier to measure any further momentum.
Key Takeaways Ethereum hovers around $1,927, unable to reclaim the critical $2,000 threshold despite climbing 27% from June’s bottom Surging crude oil costs are amplifying inflation concerns, driving September Federal Reserve rate hike probability to 79% Spot Ethereum ETFs in the United States registered $72.64 million in net inflows on July 22, with BlackRock contributing $53.47 million BitMEX’s September 23 closure introduces additional uncertainty regarding leverage trading and market liquidity for ETH Data from CryptoQuant indicates ETH is trading 17% under its realized price of approximately $2,300, a zone often associated with historical undervaluation Ethereum finds itself trapped in a consolidation zone beneath the psychologically important $2,000 mark. On July 23, the asset exchanged hands near $1,927 following an intraday peak of $1,941. While this represents a substantial 27% climb from the June nadir around $1,514, persistent rejections near $1,955 have blocked any meaningful push toward the $2,000 milestone.
Ethereum (ETH) Price The primary drag on price action stems from developments in energy markets. Escalating geopolitical tensions across the Middle East have propelled crude prices upward for five consecutive trading sessions. West Texas Intermediate crossed the $90 per barrel threshold after Houthi militants targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, sparking fresh supply disruption concerns. Elevated energy costs threaten to reignite inflationary pressures and constrain the Federal Reserve’s flexibility on monetary policy.
Market participants have already recalibrated their expectations. CME FedWatch data reveals the implied probability of a September interest rate increase has jumped from 68% to 79%. Such a tightening monetary backdrop typically creates headwinds for speculative assets including cryptocurrencies.
Institutional Flows Provide a Floor Even with challenging macroeconomic conditions, institutional capital continues entering the market. According to SoSoValue, U.S. spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds attracted $72.64 million in net inflows on July 22. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust dominated the flow, capturing $53.47 million of that figure.
According to SoSoValue, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded total net inflows of USD 68.99 million on July 23, led by BlackRock’s IBIT with USD 38.78 million. Spot Ethereum ETFs drew USD 72.64 million, with BlackRock’s ETHA posting the largest single-day inflow at USD 53.47 million.… pic.twitter.com/wHHDMkqnLj
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 23, 2026
Market analyst Ted Pillows highlighted the persistence of spot buying pressure. He stated: “Spot demand is strong and the key support zone hasn’t been lost. IMO, Ethereum could begin its next move up in a few days.” Pillows identified $2,030 as the initial upside objective, with more significant resistance concentrated around $2,400.
Independent trader Daan Crypto Trades observed that Ethereum has demonstrated relative strength versus Bitcoin. He suggested that ETH/BTC dominance could experience a rotation if Ethereum maintains its outperformance, although Bitcoin dominance has yet to exhibit signs of weakening.
Blockchain Metrics and Emerging Challenges A recent CryptoQuant analysis reveals ETH is trading approximately 17% beneath its realized price near $2,300. This valuation zone has historically aligned with long-term market bottoms. That said, only two out of CryptoQuant’s five bottom confirmation indicators have triggered thus far.
In separate developments, BitMEX declared it will cease operations on September 23. The platform has facilitated trading for more than 2 million users since its 2014 launch. Clients have been instructed to liquidate open positions and withdraw their assets before the shutdown date.
According to Staking Rewards, a record 34% of Ethereum’s circulating token supply is currently locked in staking contracts. Tom Lee’s Bitmine Immersion Technologies has accumulated 325,000 ETH within the past month and has stated its ambition to control 5% of total ETH supply.
For bullish momentum to resume, ETH requires a 4-hour candle close above $1,955, which would establish a pathway toward the $2,000–$2,030 range. A breakdown below $1,860 would compromise the current recovery pattern.
Ethereum traded at $1,927 on July 23, remaining below the key $2,000 level despite rebounding 27% from June’s low around $1,514. The asset reached an intraday high of $1,941, but repeated rejections near $1,955 have prevented any sustained move beyond the psychological threshold.
Inflation fears rise with energy costsRecent volatility in energy markets has exerted downward pressure on Ethereum’s price. Five consecutive sessions of rising crude oil prices followed attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure by Houthi militants, fueling concerns of supply disruptions in the Middle East. On the same day, West Texas Intermediate oil climbed above $90 per barrel, heightening global inflation risks.
Elevated energy prices have led market observers to expect tighter US monetary policy. Data from CME’s FedWatch tool indicated that the implied chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September climbed to 79%, up from 68%. Such an outlook generally weighs on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
ETF inflows provide support for EthereumDespite challenging macroeconomic signals, institutional capital continued to enter Ethereum. Analytics firm SoSoValue reported net inflows of $72.64 million into US spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on July 22. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust, one of the world’s largest asset managers, contributed $53.47 million of this total.
Spot demand for Ethereum remains strong, and the key support area has held. Some analysts noted that if this persists, the next upward move could start soon, with $2,030 as an initial target and further resistance around $2,400.
Independent market observers also highlighted Ethereum’s resilience. Trader Daan Crypto Trades pointed out that ETH has recently outperformed Bitcoin, suggesting a potential rotation in ETH/BTC market dominance if the trend continues.
ETF ProductNet Inflows (July 22)BlackRock iShares Ethereum Trust$53.47 millionAll US Spot Ethereum ETFs$72.64 millionOn-chain signals and upcoming challengesData from research platform CryptoQuant showed that ETH is trading 17% below its realized price of about $2,300, a zone historically aligned with periods of undervaluation. However, only two out of five on-chain bottom indicators tracked by CryptoQuant have confirmed a market bottom so far.
BitMEX, a major derivatives exchange that has served more than 2 million users since 2014, announced it will cease operations on September 23. The closure adds uncertainty for traders relying on leverage and affects overall market liquidity.
Figures from Staking Rewards indicated that 34% of Ethereum’s circulating supply is now locked in staking contracts. Bitmine Immersion Technologies, directed by Tom Lee, accumulated 325,000 ETH over the past month and aims to control 5% of the total ETH supply.
For Ethereum to regain bullish momentum, chart analysts point to a necessary close above $1,955 on the 4-hour chart, which could target the $2,000–$2,030 area. A drop below $1,860 may disrupt the ongoing recovery pattern.
Mini dictionary: Realized price, a metric defining the average price at which each coin in the network was last moved, helps gauge whether market participants are predominantly in profit or loss at current levels.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
The 'Big Short' Michael Burry warns to watch long-term US Treasuries, which are facing multiple pressures including surging AI-related debt and oil prices approaching $100.
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The 'Big Short' Michael Burry warns to watch long-term US Treasuries, which are facing multiple pressures including surging AI-related debt and oil prices approaching $100.
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Cover image via depositphotos.com 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.
Although Ethereum holders have gone through one of the worst times in the asset's history, the most recent on-chain data indicates that this protracted suffering might eventually serve as the basis for the upcoming bullish phase.
Ethereum's capitulation isn't criticalSwissblock's Supply in Profit/Loss model indicates that Ethereum has been in "capitulation" for almost six months running. The bulk of the ETH supply has been underwater since late January, which means that more coins were held at a loss than at a profit.
ETH/USDT Chart by TradingViewSellers swiftly regained control and forced another wave of unrealized losses across the network, even though the April–May recovery momentarily moved a sizable portion of supply back toward breakeven. The current figures continue to show high levels of stress. There are still about 45.7 million ETH in losses as opposed to just 31.6 million in gains.
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The market is only starting to recover from months of pressure, as evidenced by the average breakeven price rising back toward $1,880. Ironically, long-lasting market bottoms are frequently caused by these circumstances. Ethereum's price has made a remarkable comeback from its capitulation low in June, which was close to $1,500, according to the daily chart. After recovering the 26-day and 50-day moving averages, ETH is currently trading at about $1,890.
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These indicators of the shorter-term trend have become support, indicating that buyers have taken back control of the intermediate trend. The next challenge is right above. Around $1,935, Ethereum is testing the declining 100-day EMA, which has rejected multiple attempts to move higher. The recovery would be greatly strengthened by a decisive close above that level, which might also draw attention to the psychologically significant $2,000 level.
Momentum saves ETHDespite recent consolidation, momentum is still positive. The RSI is between 58 and 60, which shows strong buying pressure without going into overbought territory. This allows bulls to keep rising if general market conditions stay favorable. The current arrangement is especially intriguing because of the discrepancy between positioning and sentiment. Long stretches of time during which the majority of holders stay underwater have historically correlated with accumulation rather than distribution.
Longer-term investors absorb supply at reduced prices while weak hands gradually withdraw. It seems like that process is starting up again. The network is gradually recovering from the worst of the strain, despite the fact that Ethereum owners have gone through one of the longest capitulation phases in history.
Although the market seldom rewards investors when conditions are comfortable, the pain has not entirely subsided. The months of capitulation that deterred investors could instead serve as the starting point for the next significant increase if Ethereum manages to break through the $1,935 resistance level and more supply returns to profit.
Ethereum is showing signs of recovery after enduring nearly six months of intense selling pressure, according to recent on-chain data. Despite significant losses for many holders, the current market situation could potentially set the stage for a new bullish phase.
Six months of capitulationSwissblock, a blockchain analytics provider, reported that Ethereum’s supply in loss has dominated since late January, with the majority of tokens held at a loss rather than at a profit. The “Supply in Profit/Loss” model shows that this drawn-out period of capitulation has resulted in about 45.7 million ETH being underwater compared to 31.6 million ETH held at a gain.
A brief recovery between April and May did shift some of the supply back toward breakeven, but sellers quickly took control again, sparking another wave of unrealized losses across the network. Analysts note that the extended pressure is reflected in the average breakeven price, which has increased to $1,880. Market observers point out that such periods, where most investors are at a loss, often precede major market bottoms.
During the recent recovery, Ethereum’s average breakeven price rose to $1,880, marking a key shift after months of losses and indicating growing buyer support at these levels.
Mini dictionary: Swissblock is an analytics firm specializing in providing blockchain and cryptocurrency market data, including on-chain indicators and supply analytics for major assets like Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Technical resistance levels in focusEthereum’s price staged a strong comeback from its June low, rebounding from near $1,500 and reclaiming both the 26-day and 50-day moving averages. As of the latest data, ETH is trading close to $1,890, supported by these shorter-term trend indicators. This suggests that buyers have regained some control over the market’s intermediate trend.
However, Ethereum faces a significant technical barrier near $1,935, where the declining 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) has blocked several prior rally attempts. A decisive close above this level could not only reinforce the bullish trend but also refocus market attention on the psychological $2,000 mark.
Moving AverageStatusPrice Level26-day MASupport$1,89050-day MASupport$1,890100-day EMAResistance$1,935Investor sentiment and accumulationPositive momentum remains despite recent price consolidation. The relative strength index (RSI) currently ranges between 58 and 60, signaling steady buying demand without entering overbought conditions. Market watchers suggest that this leaves room for continued gains if broader conditions remain supportive.
Historically, extended periods in which most Ethereum holders are at a loss tend to lead to increased accumulation, as longer-term investors acquire more ETH at reduced prices. Meanwhile, short-term or weaker holders often exit the market. Data indicates this accumulation phase may be resuming as the network recovers from its prolonged slump.
Long-term investors appear to be absorbing available supply, while those unable to withstand recent losses are leaving the market.
If Ethereum successfully breaks above the $1,935 resistance and more of the circulating supply returns to profit, the prolonged period of capitulation could ultimately mark the onset of a significant upward move. However, the process is ongoing, and the full effects of the prior downturn have yet to fully dissipate.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Leading cryptocurrencies dived alongside stocks on Thursday as elevated Middle East tensions trimmed investors’ risk appetite.
Crypto Market in RedBitcoin fell back to the mid-$64,000s, while Ethereum dropped to around $1,800, reversing earlier weekly gains. XRP and Dogecoin also broke to the downside.
Over $250 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, with $188 million in bullish long positions alone wiped out, according to Coinglass data.
Bitcoin’s open interest fell 2.85% over the last 24 hours. A falling open interest with falling prices typically indicates that traders are exiting their long positions rather than new sellers taking over.
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The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.25 trillion, following a dip of 0.59% over the last 24 hours.
Stocks Edge LowerStocks extended the decline on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 506.93 points, or 0.97%, to end at 51,711.65. The S&P 500 slid 1.21% to 7,408.30, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 2.15% to close at 25,137.69
U.S. strikes on Iran entered their 13th consecutive day, while Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, raising fresh worries about oil exports transiting the Red Sea, another key oil shipping route
Time to Accumulate?Ali Martinez, a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader, noted that Bitcoin’s Sharpe ratio—which measures the reward per unit of risk—has dived into the negative territory, creating an “asymmetric” entry point for long-term investors.
“Past instances where the ratio compressed to these levels, such as during the 2015, 2019, and 2022 bear market bottoms, marked final capitulation phases,” the analyst added.
Michaël van de Poppe, another prominent cryptocurrency influencer, said that Ethereum’s $2,500 target remains intact, while admitting that the latest correction “isn’t great for the markets.”
Photo Courtesy: Marc Bruxelle on Shutterstock.com
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Bitcoin maintained stability near $65,400 during Friday’s Asian trading, even as U.S. technology companies faced their steepest collective loss in months. Despite a sharp sell-off in the stock market, the largest cryptocurrency moved less than 1% lower, signaling a rare moment of divergence from the equity rout.
U.S. tech stocks see dramatic lossesThe Magnificent Seven, referring to the group of leading U.S. megacap technology stocks that have driven much of Wall Street’s performance since 2022, lost approximately $797 billion in market value on Thursday. This plunge, reported by Bloomberg, marked their worst single-day loss since April 2025. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 declined by 1.9%. The tech group now sits 11% below its peak from late May, erasing nearly $2 trillion in value.
The Magnificent Seven dropped 4.8% on Thursday, their most severe session since the tariff-driven selloff of April 2025, highlighting the market’s heightened sensitivity to aggressive spending in AI infrastructure.
AI spending triggers market fearsA major driver behind the tech-sector selloff has been concern over capital expenditures on artificial intelligence. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, raised its annual spending target to as much as $205 billion. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla, described 2026 as “a massive capex year” after the company posted profits well below analysts’ expectations.
Investors have grown uneasy with the rapid pace at which technology companies are investing in AI infrastructure, fearing that profit growth may not keep up with such high outlays. This anxiety had been closely linked to performance in both technology stocks and Bitcoin over the past month: the cryptocurrency has tended to rise alongside chip stocks and fall when those shares weaken, moving as a proxy for the broader AI investment cycle.
Mini dictionary: The Magnificent Seven, a term widely used in financial media, refers to the group of the largest and most influential U.S. technology companies, typically including Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, and Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook).
Cryptocurrencies remain steady amid equity sell-offWhile the equities market experienced sharp losses, Bitcoin limited its decline to less than 1% for the day, staying within the $65,000 range, and was up 3% across the week. Ether retreated 3% to $1,879. Other leading cryptocurrencies also recorded losses, but their moves were notably small compared with the tech sector’s decline.
Dogecoin registered the steepest drop among the major cryptocurrencies, down 5% to $0.069 for the day and 4% over the week. XRP slipped 2% to $1.11, Solana lost 3% to $76, and Hyperliquid‘s HYPE token dropped to $58, falling 4% across seven days. Despite red numbers, the cryptocurrency market’s losses were mild relative to the technology sector.
AssetDaily ChangeWeekly ChangeCurrent PriceBitcoin-1%+3%$65,400Ether-3%—$1,879Dogecoin-5%-4%$0.069XRP-2%—$1.11Solana-3%—$76HYPE—-4%$58Potential decoupling from AI tradeThe synchronized movement between cryptocurrency prices and technology equities has been one of the defining market features in recent months. Bitcoin, in particular, often responded to swings in semiconductor and AI-related stocks. Some analysts cautioned that the trend might be changing after Bitcoin showed notable independence during the most recent rout in U.S. tech shares.
Whether this signals a longer-term decoupling between Bitcoin and the AI-driven tech cycle remains uncertain, but the divergence seen in the latest session is an important indicator for market watchers.
Bitcoin miners have increasingly diversified into operating AI data centers. Should major technology companies begin to scale back AI spending, the effects would eventually be felt in the cryptocurrency mining sector, though the lag may be longer than during market rallies.
Recent crypto market developmentsMarket composition has shifted since June, with Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, retaining around 55% of user funds and 24% of spot market activity. The exchange drew net inflows in early July, contrary to outflows seen elsewhere.
Among other recent developments: the Clarity Act, addressing crypto regulation, may miss legislative approval before Congress’ summer break; Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev’s X account was compromised in a token promotion scheme; and BlackRock, Coinbase, and Strategy formed a group pledging $15 million for Bitcoin’s quantum security efforts.
Crypto markets have paused for breath, with industry observers watching for signs of further divergence from traditional tech stock trajectories as July progresses.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Dogecoin (DOGE) price trades in the red below $0.0700 on Friday, following a 5% drop the previous day. DOGE loses retail strength as broader market speculative demand eases with elevated tensions between the US and Iran. The technical outlook for DOGE points to deeper losses below $0.065.
Dogecoin takes the fall as broader market risk appetite wanesDogecoin, the largest meme coin with a valuation of over $11 billion, shows strong correlation with broader market sentiment, with speculative demand as the key bullish catalyst. The ongoing US-Iran war and President Donald Trump’s threat of a “major military punishment” for Iran have elevated fear in the crypto market. CoinMarketCap’s Fear and Greed Index stands at 37 on Friday, down from 40 on Wednesday, reflecting sentiments returning to bearish levels.
Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCapCoinGlass data shows the DOGE futures Open Interest (OI) edges lower to $1.10 billion, reflecting a mild contraction in the notional value of existing perpetual contracts. However, the 76% increase in trading volume to $1.38 billion reflects rising retail activity.
The funding rate of -0.0016% reflects a bearish bias in the retail activity, as traders are willing to buy short positions at a premium. In addition, long liquidation of $8.19 million over the last 24 hours outpaced short liquidation of $552,490, reaffirming the sell-side dominance.
DOGE derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassWill Dogecoin extend its decline below $0.0700?Dogecoin hovers below $0.0700 at press time on Friday after a 5% decline the previous day broke below the $0.0700 threshold. The meme coin maintains a bearish near-term bias, with price holding below both the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $0.0788 and the 200-day EMA at $0.1032.
The pair remains vulnerable to more downside after a sustained decline, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering at 31, on the verge of signaling oversold conditions. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) tests the signal line, hinting at renewed bearish momentum.
On the downside, the next meaningful support comes in at $0.0641, where buyers would be expected to defend the recent range; a daily close below this floor would likely open the door to a deeper slide despite the nascent improvement in momentum indicators.
DOGE/USDT daily price chart.On the topside, immediate resistance appears at the horizontal barrier of $0.0700, followed by $0.0777, near the 50-day EMA at $0.0788, which together define a broader supply zone.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Dogecoin Price fell to $0.0690 after losing 4.75% during the latest 24-hour trading period. The fall was due to more general market deleveraging and the U.S.-Iran war crisis. The total crypto market value declined by 0.96% to reach $2.22 trillion as liquidations compounded the broader macro-sell off.
Bitcoin price hovered near mid $65,000 and Ethereum price fall to the 1,880 level after undoing previous weekly gains. XRP and Dogecoin also faltered, with the investors lessening their exposure to riskier digital assets. DOGE is currently in testing of support levels last observed in late 2024.
The token also remains close to its lowest trading range of 2025. Traders are monitoring whether new spot ETF inflows can help in promoting a rebound. Nevertheless, poor sentiment, mixed expectations of the Federal Reserve, and poor technical conditions are still constraining the short-term recovery. Long-term purchasing is required before the momentum can be determined.
Dogecoin ETFs Record First Inflows Since June 17 as DOGE Funds Recover Spot Dogecoin ETFs reported net inflows of $345,130 on July 21, the first day of inflows since June 17.
The inflow followed more than one month of flat activity and one outflow session on July 2. However, SoSoValue data showed daily net inflows returned to zero by July 23.
Source: SoSoValue data The cumulative net inflows were 12.12 million and the cumulative net assets were 9.88 million. The assets constituted approximately 0.09% of the market capitalization of Dogecoin.
This was a cumulative trading worth of 265,040 in the last reported session. The GDOG of Grayscale was the leader with cumulative inflows of $11.30 million and assets of $6.78 million.
TDOG managed by 21Shares was introduced to inflows and asset respectively with 2.19 million and 2.65 million. BWOW of Bitwise noted a cumulative outflow of 1.38 million and assets of some 453,880. The three funds all closed negative and had a daily loss of between 4.61% and 4.92%.
Dogecoin Price Falls Below $0.070—Is a Rebound Coming Next? At the time of writing, the DOGE price traded at $0.0693 after losing 1% on the four-hour chart. Dogecoin price slipped below the $0.07 support after heavy selling volume pushed prices toward the lower range.
Short-term support is now right around 0.0680, with buyers possibly making another attempt at recovery. The RSI dropped to 34.51 and has weak momentum, and it is tending towards an oversold state. However, the CMF remains positive at $0.08, suggesting some capital continues entering the market.
Source: Tradingview DOGE price must reclaim $0.070 to improve its short-term outlook and challenge resistance at $0.0720.
A confirmed move above $0.0720 could open targets near $0.0740 and $0.0760 as per the Future Dogecoin outlook. Loss of $0.0680 would undermine the framework and put DOGE at risk of falling to $0.0660.
Amid a broader crypto pullback, Dogecoin’s downward momentum strengthened significantly. The memecoin breached the $0.07 support and dropped to $0.068.
Dogecoin last touched these levels in November 2023. At press time, Dogecoin [DOGE] traded around $0.069 after falling 4.3% on the daily chart.
Over the same period, the memecoin’s Trading Volume climbed 57% to $866 million, reflecting increased market activity.
Source: CoinGlass The decline also triggered increased liquidations across Dogecoin’s leveraged positions.
According to CoinGlass, $8.20 million worth of long positions were liquidated over 24 hours. Short liquidations reached only $552,490, showing that the decline disproportionately affected bullish traders.
Why are Dogecoin traders exiting? As Dogecoin plummeted, rising liquidation risk prompted leveraged traders to reduce their exposure.
According to Coinalyze, Dogecoin’s Sell Perps Volume climbed to 493.04 million. Meanwhile, Buy Perps Volume stood at 426.535 million.
Source: Coinalyze As a result, the Buy-Sell Delta fell to -66.505 million. Net Buying also remained negative at -1.385 billion.
Both readings showed that selling activity outweighed buying across Dogecoin’s perpetual market. The Futures market recorded similar capital outflows.
Futures Outflows climbed to $520.41 million, while Futures Inflows stood at $425.94 million. Consequently, Futures Netflow declined 361.34% to -$94.46 million.
Source: CoinGlass This indicated that considerably more capital exited Dogecoin futures than entered during the measured period. These conditions intensified DOGE’s downward pressure and left traders watching whether $0.07 could be recovered.
Can DOGE avoid further losses? Amid heavy position reductions, Dogecoin’s downward pressure intensified.
The Relative Strength Index [RSI] reflected this weakness. The RSI fell to 31.34, placing DOGE close to oversold territory.
Source: TradingView This reflected intense bearish momentum, although the near-oversold reading could eventually attract dip buyers.
Therefore, if the current pressure persists, DOGE could remain below $0.07 and fall towards $0.065. However, Spot Netflow offered some relief from the derivatives’ weakness.
Source: CoinGlass Spot Netflow remained negative as Dogecoin declined on the 23rd and 24th of July. It stood at -$1.87 million at press time, showing that exchange outflows exceeded inflows.
Those withdrawals suggested reduced immediate selling availability and offered DOGE some support.
If demand holds, Dogecoin could reclaim $0.07 and target $0.075. Continued derivatives weakness may expose $0.065.
Final Summary Dogecoin [DOGE] dropped below the $0.07 support level and declined to 2023 lows of $0.068. Amid rising liquidation risk, traders panicked and exited their positions, further strengthening the downward momentum.
Cardano (ADA) is trading near a critical support zone as the community spotlights the network’s reliability ahead of its ninth anniversary. The cryptocurrency changed hands at $0.1694 on Wednesday, reflecting a 2.92% loss over the previous 24 hours.
Price action stalls near key EMA levelsCardano’s price has found some stability within the $0.167 to $0.170 range, with buyers stepping in throughout July to prevent deeper declines. Despite the support, ADA remains under its 20, 50, 100, and 200-day exponential moving averages (EMAs), signaling continued pressure from sellers and an overall bearish trend in the near term.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 50.73. This neutral reading comes after the indicator recovered from earlier oversold levels, indicating neither bullish nor bearish dominance at present. Cardano needs a close above the 50-day EMA, currently at $0.177, to indicate a potential shift to upward momentum. Conversely, a breakdown below $0.167 could accelerate further declines as sellers assert control.
IndicatorCurrent LevelBullish SignalBearish SignalPrice$0.1694Above $0.177Below $0.167RSI50.73Rises above 55-60Falls below 45Support zone$0.167–$0.170HoldsBreakdownOperating continuously for over eight years, Cardano has never experienced downtime, according to Cardanians (CRDN), a leading voice in the Cardano community. As the blockchain approaches its ninth year, CRDN emphasized the network’s long-standing stability and resilience, noting, “Reliability isn’t the most exciting metric, but it’s one of the most important. Reliability and security always come first.”
Reliability isn’t the most exciting metric, but it’s one of the most important. Strong foundations matter. Reliability and security always come first.
This uninterrupted uptime has reinforced trust among developers, institutional participants, and investors who place a premium on robust infrastructure. While the reliability milestone may not spark an immediate price rally for ADA, it serves to strengthen Cardano’s reputation for long-term operational stability within the competitive blockchain sector.
Mini dictionary: Cardanians (CRDN), an independent Cardano-focused community group known for sharing network developments and analytical insights about Cardano’s ecosystem.
Stable open interest and network activity signal cautious optimismMarket data from CoinGlass shows that open interest on Cardano has held steady in July, indicating traders are not significantly increasing leveraged bets but are instead maintaining existing positions. Meanwhile, DeFiLlama reports a recent uptick in active addresses, reflecting consistent network usage even as the token trades sideways.
If buyers can reclaim the $0.177 resistance area, short-term bullish sentiment could return and potentially push ADA higher. Until such a development materializes, analysts expect the price to remain stuck in its current range as participants await a technical breakout or major catalyst.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Cardano (ADA) extends its decline, trading below $0.168 on Friday after facing rejection at the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) earlier this week. Mixed derivatives metrics indicate traders' indecision, while neutral momentum indicators suggest ADA lacks a catalyst for a sustained move in either direction.
Mixed positioning clouds ADA outlookDerivatives data for Cardano show mixed sentiments among traders. CoinGlass’ long-to-short ratio for ADA read 1.07 on Friday. The ratio being above one, indicates bullish sentiment, as traders are betting the asset's price will rise.
Cardano long-to-short ratio chart. Source: CoinglassMeanwhile, the funding rates show a bearish bias. ADA funding rates flipped negative on Thursday, reading -0.014 on Friday, indicating that shorts are paying longs and signaling a negative outlook.
Cardano funding rate chart. Source: CoinglassSantiment chart below shows that Cardano’s whales holding between 1 to 10 million (yellow line) and 10 to 100 million (blue line) ADA tokens have added 120 million ADA tokens since Monday, while wallets holding 100,000 to 1 million ADA remained largely inactive. This modest accumulation by larger holders suggests underlying buying interest but is not yet strong enough to confirm a bullish shift in sentiment.
Cardano supply distribution chart. Source: SantimentCardano Price Forecast: Bears defend the 50-day EMACardano trades at $0.167 on Friday, holding in a bearish configuration as price remains below the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $0.176, $0.202 and $0.267 respectively.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 48 is neutral, hinting at a lack of strong directional momentum. At the same time, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line stays modestly positive, suggesting only mild recovery attempts within a broader capped structure defined by the reclaimed long-term downtrend line, whose break level now acts as resistance at $0.197.
On the topside, immediate resistance appears at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement at $0.173, closely followed by the 50-day EMA at $0.176; a sustained break above these would open the way toward the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $0.195, and the former trendline break around $0.197.
On the downside, initial support is seen at the horizontal level of $0.150 ahead of the Fibonacci anchor near $0.138, where failure to hold would expose fresh lower lows in the broader bearish cycle.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, believes the network methodical development strategy (criticized by many for taking ages) is beginning to gain recognition as the industry battles ongoing attacks and exploits.
In a recent interview, Hoskinson compared Cardano’s development trajectory to Anthropic’s path in the evolution of the artificial intelligence industry. He outlined that the firm is currently the leader of the pack despite entering the market later than existing powerhouses like Google and OpenAI.
Instead of chasing speed, he said that Anthropic is successful because it adopted a disciplined philosophy regarding its development practices from the get-go. He believes Cardano is now experiencing a very similar shift in perception. This comes as developers and investors are increasingly prioritizing security and governance over “speed to market.”
“Google initially had the big lead and then OpenAI had the big lead and then somehow this Anthropic thing came out and they were able to leapfrog everybody. […] They hadn’t fundamentally changed, they just had the right mindset,” Hoskinson said in the interview with CoinDesk.
He also added that the same principle could eventually benefit Cardano:
“People are starting to wake up, especially in the age of AI hacking, where everything is getting broken, where speed to market is not the most desirable way.”
.@IOHK_Charles compares Cardano’s strategy to Anthropic’s rise.
Google had the lead. Then OpenAI. Then Anthropic leapfrogged both, not by moving faster, but by building differently.
Hoskinson says the same lesson could apply to crypto in the latest episode of Markets Outlook… pic.twitter.com/h36GiShZYV
— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) July 23, 2026
You may also like: Cardano’s NIGHT Hits All-Time Low After 290M Token Dump Charles Hoskinson Says Ethereum Is Adopting Cardano Ideas Without Credit Charles Hoskinson Reveals What Happened to 1,096 BTC From Cardano’s Early Days Security Incidents Strengthen Cardano’s Case Hoskinson specifically referenced the most recent Kelp DAO exploit and the knock-on effects it had on Aave as examples of the risks, which are associated with prioritizing innovation over resilience.
In April, Kelp DAO suffered a massive exploit where $292 million was drained after attackers were able to forge cross-chain messages and withdraw unbacked rsETH through a misconfigured LayerZero bridge.
While Aave’s smart contracts were in no way compromised, the attacker deposited the fraudulent rsETH as collateral to borrow real assets. This essentially left the lending protocol with significant exposure to bad debt and triggered billions of dollars in TVL outflows before the team implemented recovery measures.
For Hoskinson, this particular episode demonstrated how vulnerabilities in one protocol can rapidly spread through the broader DeFi ecosystem and cause massive outflows and reputational damage:
“The recent AAVE thing and Kelp thing shows you how quickly you can lose your TVL (total value locked) and how uqickly you can lose your customer base. So, it works until it doesnt, and when it doesn’t, it’s catastrophic for the ecosystem.”
He argued that for stability to be lasting, this requires more than technically sound code:
“People want stability and it only comes from having a clear governance system, a clear software development system, and really goo dideas on how to develop a roadmap in a sustainable way.”
ADA’s Longstanding Underperformance Hoskinson’s comments also come after a long time of built-up criticism from parts of the crypto community about how Cardano has prioritized academic research (arguably one of the protocol’s standout differentiators) at the expense of ecosystem growth.
Cardano remains one of the largest protocols by market capitalization. At the time of this writing, it’s at $6.2 billion, ranking as the 20th largest project in the industry – but that’s a far cry from where it used to stand, let alone from where proponents were hoping it would be. ADA is one of the worst performers of the past year, down 80% in the past 365 days. Ethereum, the smart contract platform Hoskinson often compares Cardano to, including in this interview, is down 48% in contrast. Bitcoin, the industry’s benchmark, is down 44%.
Source: CoinGecko Hoskinson acknowledged that their decision-making hasn’t been flawless.
“It took us a long time to get here. A lot of mistakes were made, and I own the lion’s share of them as the leader.”
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the network is now positioned much better than in previous market cycles.
“Ultimately, I’m very happy with where wi sit, and I think we will grow very strongly over the next 12 to 24 months.”
Of course, it remains to be seen whether that prediction will come to fruition, but his broader argument also reflects an ongoing debate across industry proponents about whether the next phase of crypto adoption will come from protocols that come strong and move fast or those that prioritize security, governance, and long-term sustainability. Or perhaps both are not mutually exclusive?
Bitcoin hovered near the $65,000 mark on Friday as escalating Middle East tensions weighed on sentiment in the cryptocurrency market, while Ethereum also traded lower.
Bitcoin was trading at $65,345, while Ethereum was at $1,877.
Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin declined 0.43% and Ethereum fell 2.23%. Among major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Solana, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin and Cardano dropped by as much as 4.09%, while Tron edged up 0.05%.
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Nischal Shetty, founder of WazirX, said that Bitcoin remained under pressure as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East dampened investor sentiment, prompting a shift toward safer assets. Ethereum also weakened, with traders closely monitoring institutional positioning and broader market uncertainty.
“Bitcoin's daily technical indicators remain neutral, with immediate support around $64,200–$64,500, while Futures traders are watching whether BTC can sustain a move back toward $66,000. For Ethereum traders, $1,840–$1,860 remains the key support zone, while $1,900 is the next major resistance,” Shetty further said.
The global crypto market capitalisation went down 0.7% to $2.22 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Akshat Siddhant, Lead quant analyst, Mudrex said fresh attacks in the Middle East have pushed crude oil above $90 a barrel, while driving US bond yields to their highest levels in 18 months, weighing on risk assets.
Despite the weakness in price, US spot Bitcoin ETFs extended their inflow streak to seven consecutive sessions, attracting nearly $1 billion in total, Siddhant further said.
In the past week, Bitcoin and Ethereum were up 2.98% and 1.58% respectively. Among the major altcoins, BNB, Hyperliquid, and Dogecoin corrected upto 4.17% whereas XRP, Solana, Tron, and Cardano gained upto 4.47%.
Crypto markets are also facing pressure from tighter financial conditions. Bitcoin remains relatively stronger than Ethereum and major altcoins, with its four-hour structure constructive above $65,000, said Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst, Delta Exchange.
Here is what other analyst say
Vikram Subburaj, CEO, Giottus: Institutional demand has improved materially. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $999.3 million in inflows across seven consecutive positive sessions from July 14 to July 22. These inflows more than offset the $424.7 million outflow recorded on July 13. July 23 showed a preliminary $22.6 million outflow, although BlackRock’s IBIT figure remained unavailable.
Also Read | Dixon Technologies, Paras Defence among 14 new stocks added by this one-year topper mutual fund in June
Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder & CEO, Pi42: The latest correction across the crypto market reflects how quickly global geopolitical developments can influence investor sentiment across asset classes. Bitcoin’s pullback towards the mid $64,000 range, alongside weakness in Ethereum and other leading digital assets, comes amid heightened uncertainty following the escalation in the Iran conflict and a broader shift away from high-growth assets.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk: The July recovery could lose momentum if BTC fails to reclaim $65K, with the 21-day moving average near $64K acting as key support and $68K as the next major resistance. Investors may prefer disciplined positioning, limited leverage and gradual accumulation near support rather than chasing short-term rebounds.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
HomeTechnical AnalysisIntraday Analysis 24.07.2026 JPY remains under pressure
USDJPY hits multi-month high
The Japanese yen remains pressured after the pair broke to another fresh high. The bullish bias remains intact even though the pair has hit some resistance.
The bullish mood means that pullbacks have been opportunities for the buy side to stake in. The greenback is testing the next target at 163.30. Another breakout would cement the dollar’s supremacy and pave the way for a rally towards 164.00. On the downside, 162.60 is the first support, with 162.00 a critical bottom.
GBPUSD finds support
Cable was given a boost after the recent downward spiral lifted price action, after finding some support.
A fall below 1.3400 was a sign of profit-taking after bulls struggled to push back, putting a dent in the short-term mood. However, Sterling still has an edge from the intraday chart perspective. A recent bounce to prevent a test at 1.3320 has seen buyers re-enter the market with a slight uptick in bids. The brief support-turned-resistance of 1.3400 is the level to lift before cable can create an uptrend towards 1.3550. UK 100 falls from its peak
The FTSE is left licking its wounds after hitting a heavy rejection to prevent another move higher.
A push towards the previous swing high of 10760 put the bulls on the attack, before retracing. The latest downtick could continue towards 10625, should bears attract more sellers. 10550 is the next level lower should the sell-off continue.
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WisdomTree (NYSE:WT – Get Free Report) is projected to announce its Q2 2026 results before the market opens on Friday, July 31st. Analysts expect the company to post earnings of $0.26 per share and revenue of $170.62 million for the quarter. Interested persons can check the company’s upcoming Q2 2026 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Friday, July 31, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET.
WisdomTree (NYSE:WT – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 1st. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.25 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $159.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $156.96 million. WisdomTree had a net margin of 11.26% and a return on equity of 33.31%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 47.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.16 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect WisdomTree to post $1 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year.
WisdomTree Price Performance NYSE:WT opened at $19.76 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.20 and a beta of 1.18. WisdomTree has a 52-week low of $10.69 and a 52-week high of $21.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $18.66 and a 200 day moving average of $16.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.37, a quick ratio of 4.18 and a current ratio of 4.57.
WisdomTree Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 13th were paid a $0.03 dividend. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 13th. WisdomTree’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.27%.
Insider Transactions at WisdomTree In other news, COO R Jarrett Lilien sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.99, for a total transaction of $569,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 1,110,245 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,083,552.55. This represents a 2.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider David M. Yates sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.06, for a total value of $270,900.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 157,499 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,844,431.94. The trade was a 8.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 10.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On WisdomTree A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of WisdomTree by 15.7% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,196,229 shares of the company’s stock valued at $136,482,000 after acquiring an additional 1,521,599 shares during the last quarter. Simcoe Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of WisdomTree by 11.3% in the fourth quarter. Simcoe Capital Management LLC now owns 5,253,340 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,038,000 after purchasing an additional 535,015 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in WisdomTree by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,642,042 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,399,000 after purchasing an additional 61,699 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in WisdomTree by 116.5% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,389,653 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,823,777 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in WisdomTree by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,796,512 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,093,000 after purchasing an additional 26,776 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.64% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Raymond James Financial began coverage on WisdomTree in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $20.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of WisdomTree from $18.00 to $20.50 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of WisdomTree from a “buy (b)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Northland Securities set a $22.00 price target on shares of WisdomTree in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of WisdomTree from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, WisdomTree currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $20.06.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WisdomTree
WisdomTree Company Profile (Get Free Report)
WisdomTree Investments, Inc (NYSE: WT) is a U.S.-based asset management firm specializing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs). Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Steinberg and headquartered in New York City, WisdomTree has developed a reputation for pioneering smart-beta and fundamentally weighted indexing approaches. The company designs strategies that seek to enhance returns and reduce volatility by weighting constituents based on dividends, earnings or other financial metrics rather than relying solely on market capitalization.
WisdomTree offers a broad suite of investment products covering equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities and digital assets.
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Natural Gas (NG) Price Chart Natural Gas continues trading in a broad consolidation range after a break above $2.95 could not be sustained. Currently, the contract trades at $2.89, below the 50-day moving average ($3.03), an above the 100-day moving average ($2.88), suggesting a neutral medium-term outlook.
First, resistance is at $2.95, followed by $3.03 and $3.09. First, support is at $2.83, with further support at $2.78 and $2.73. RSI is at 41, suggesting weak buying pressure.
A break and close above $2.95 is needed to improve the outlook for the market and open $3.03 and $3.09. This market would remain range-bound. A break below $2.83 would improve selling pressure and support an advance to $2.78.
The FTSE 100 Index was little changed this week as investors assessed the escalating UK-Iran crisis, the ongoing US earnings season, and a series of key UK economic releases. Market participants digested the latest jobs, inflation, and retail sales data for July, all of which could influence the Bank of England's next policy decision.
This article highlights some of the top FTSE 100 stocks to watch next week, including Lloyds Bank, Barclays, NatWest, Unilever, Standard Chartered, GSK, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), IAG, British American Tobacco, and AstraZeneca.
Top UK banks have done well this year, with emerging-markets-focused ones like Standard Chartered and HSBC being the best gainers after rising by 15% and 28%, respectively. Lloyds, Barclays, and NatWest have jumped by 13%, 8.3%, and 2%, respectively, this year.
These gains will be put to the test next week as they publish their financial results. Barclays will go first on Tuesday, followed by Standard Chartered on Wednesday. Lloyds and NatWest will release the numbers on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Expectations are that these banks did well in the last quarter, helped by the elevated interest rates and muted delinquencies. Most of their peers like Goldman Sachs, Unicredit, BNP Paribas, and Morgan Stanley, released strong numbers recently.
Barclays' numbers will be the most watched because of its business model. In addition to operating a retail bank, it is one of the top players in the trading and investment banking industry. As a result, it is benefiting from the ongoing trends in M&A, IPOs, and debt.
These banks will also react to the upcoming Bank of England interest rate decision on Thursday.
British American Tobacco, one of the largest players in the industry, has slipped by nearly 10% from its highest level this year. This retreat accelerated after the company announced that it would lay off 9,000 employees in its pivot towards artificial intelligence tools.
5,500 of these jobs will be direct ones, while 3,500 will be in third-party firms like Accenture. It expects that these layoffs will save it $798 million by 2028.
The most recent trading statement showed that its combustibles business was doing well, led by the United States, Brazil, and Turkey. Velo’s volume rose by 5.7 points, while Vuse continued to gain market share. The upcoming results will provide more information about its performance and what to expect in the second half of the year as the volume of traditional cigarettes drop.
UK pharmaceutical stocks like AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline have underperformed the market this year. AZN dropped by 7.5% this year, and is up by 21% in the last 12 months. GSK has risen by 4.24% this year and 40% in the last 12 months.
These companies will release their numbers next week. AstraZeneca will publish on Monday, while GSK will release its report a day after that. For Astra, these numbers come a few days after the company received a EU approval for its breast cancer drug.
The drug, Etcamah, has already received approvals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Japan, and Saudi Arabia, with the company waiting for a US review to conclude.
Still, the company has suffered a major setback as Wainua, a rare disease drug, failed its trial in the third phase of trial. As a result, the company has little room for error as it aims to get to $30 billion in annual sales.
IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Aer Lingus, will be in the spotlight next week as the US-Iran war escalates and as it publishes its numbers. Its stock has plunged by 14% from its highest point this year as the war has pushed jet fuel prices higher. The upcoming numbers on Friday will provide more information on its business and the cost of fuel.
More FTSE 100 companies will publish their numbers next week. This includes popular names like Unilever, Haleon, London Stock Exchange, and Anglo American.
EQT (NYSE:EQT) executives said the company exceeded expectations across key operating and financial measures in the second quarter of 2026, citing stronger production, better price realizations, lower operating costs and reduced capital spending.
Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Knop said EQT generated $330 million of free cash flow attributable to the company during the quarter, despite natural gas prices averaging $2.89 per MMBtu. He said the result reflected EQT’s position “at the low end of the cost curve.”
The company raised its 2026 production guidance by roughly 90 billion cubic feet equivalent at the midpoint while lowering full-year capital expenditure guidance by $25 million. EQT also said it is pulling forward $85 million of capital contributions to equity method investments from 2027 into 2026 to accelerate construction timing for MVP Southgate.
Operational performance drives guidance increase President and Chief Executive Officer Toby Rice said EQT’s operating teams set multiple records during the quarter, including drilling what he described as “the longest lateral in the history of shale development” at more than 29,000 feet. Rice said the well was drilled 100% in-zone with no safety incidents. He also said EQT set a new basin 24-hour drilling record and a new company 48-hour drilling record.
Rice attributed the production outperformance partly to better-than-expected base production, including results from midstream compression projects that are extending flat production periods on new wells and reducing decline rates on older wells. He said those projects were part of the synergies projected when EQT acquired Equitrans and are continuing to exceed even the company’s upside forecasts.
During the question-and-answer session, Rice said compression projects are also benefiting new wells by allowing production into optimal gathering-system pressures. Knop added that EQT is recalibrating its models after the impact from lower pressures exceeded the company’s original expectations.
MVP Southgate construction accelerated Rice said EQT received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorization to begin construction activities on MVP Southgate and now has all key regulatory approvals in hand. The company elected to accelerate construction timing into 2026 to reduce execution risk.
Rice said the project will connect low-cost Appalachian natural gas supply with demand growth in the Carolinas, helping utilities meet energy needs and support reliability. He said MVP Southgate and the MVP Boost expansion were not included in EQT’s original Equitrans underwriting case.
In response to an analyst question, Rice said construction should be available by the end of the year, while the company is working on commercial arrangements tied to the accelerated project timeline. He said any benefit to 2027 plans would be upside.
New commercial agreements target power and LNG markets Knop said EQT recently signed a 10-year definitive agreement with Competitive Power Ventures to provide 325 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to a planned two-gigawatt power generation facility in Doddridge County, West Virginia. The facility is expected to enter service in early 2031.
Knop said the CPV contract is linked to PJM power pricing rather than a natural gas index, making it EQT’s second agreement using that structure. At the forward strip, he said EQT expects the agreement to provide a material premium to local index pricing. In response to an analyst question, Knop said that if the contract were online for a full year at full capacity, it would improve annual free cash flow by about $100 million and corporate differentials by $0.05, though actual utilization would be lower.
Knop said EQT can hedge the power-linked exposure but currently views the structure favorably because of the correlation between gas and power prices in PJM and the potential for spark spreads to widen as demand for generation grows.
EQT also updated investors on its LNG strategy. Knop said the company executed a five-year offtake agreement with a large Asian integrated energy company for approximately 500,000 tons per year of LNG beginning in 2028, sourced from Gulf Coast LNG facilities. At recent strip pricing, he said the agreement is expected to increase EQT’s 2028 free cash flow by about $45 million.
Blackline acquisition expands propane optionality Knop discussed EQT’s acquisition of Blackline Midstream for approximately $77 million. Blackline owns and operates two propane storage and distribution terminals in New England, including what Knop described as the largest propane storage facility in the region, with rail and waterborne access.
The assets provide 46 million gallons of storage capacity, and EQT currently supplies about 60% of Blackline’s propane volumes. Knop said the acquisition requires essentially no incremental capital investment and gives EQT additional flexibility for propane production, flow assurance, pricing optimization and commercial activity through domestic and international channels.
Knop said EQT projects a 20% free cash flow yield under its base case underwriting for Blackline, with upside that could roughly double that metric.
Management emphasizes balance sheet, buybacks and Appalachia demand Knop said EQT is close to reaching its long-term net debt target of $5 billion, which he described as a milestone in strengthening the balance sheet. He said the company plans to accumulate cash in the near term and deploy it into share repurchases during industry down cycles.
Asked how much cash EQT might hold, Knop said the company is “not opposed to accumulating at certain points in the cycle up to a few billion dollars of cash,” while adding that the company would look to be more aggressive with buybacks when it sees opportunities.
Management repeatedly highlighted Appalachian demand growth as a central theme. Rice said EQT’s analysis shows more than 45 Appalachian demand and pipeline takeaway projects under construction or in evaluation, representing nearly 20 billion cubic feet per day of potential demand. He said EQT would not grow “for growth’s sake” and would tie any upstream growth to demand supported by commercial agreements.
Knop said EQT internally estimates that high single-digit Bcf per day of growth, or roughly 40% of the identified potential, is realistic after risk-weighting the opportunity set. Executives said projects around the Clarington area in Ohio are a key focus for future pipeline takeaway opportunities.
Rice closed the call by calling the quarter “fantastic” and thanking shareholders and employees, saying the company is excited about its path forward.
About EQT (NYSE:EQT) EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) is a U.S.-based energy company focused on the exploration, development and production of natural gas. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company concentrates its upstream operations in the Appalachian Basin, producing from major shale formations including the Marcellus and Utica. EQT’s primary product is natural gas, with production activities supported by associated liquids and conventional gas assets where applicable.
In addition to drilling and well development, EQT operates and coordinates the infrastructure and commercial activities necessary to bring gas to market.
EQT Corporation advances growth with another small acquisition and progress on the Mountain Valley Pipeline expansion. I view the second quarter as a transitional period, with cash flow more indicative of performance than earnings due to noncash hedging impacts. Low storage levels entering summer and increasing export capacity position EQT and the industry for continued strength in natural gas prices.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.
Ethereum (ETH) Ethereum moved higher by 3% this week as buyers gained control of the price action since late June. This relief rally started once the support at $1,500 was tested and held.
At the time of this post, ETH is facing some resistance as the price approaches the key psychological level at $2,000. It is likely to bring back sellers and could send the price into a pullback.
Looking ahead, the cryptocurrency remains in a macro downtrend. While this rally is a positive change, sustaining it beyond $2,000 seems a big ask right now. Only if $2,000 turns into support does ETH have a good shot at breaking the prevailing downtrend.
Source: TradingView Ripple (XRP) XRP also managed to book a 3% gain this week as buyers have kept the price well above the key support at $1. The current resistance is at $1.2, and until it is broken, it is unlikely this cryptocurrency can make sustained gains.
With volume declining steadily month-over-month, XRP currently lacks the momentum for a major breakout. Market participants seem to have retreated since the drop in February and have not returned to date.
Looking ahead, the current consolidation above $1 is a positive development. However, it can equally be a pause taken by sellers before they attempt another go at the key support.
Source: TradingView Cardano (ADA) ADA had a positive week, closing 6% higher. This comes after the price made a head and shoulders reversal pattern with the key support around $0.15. As long as that level holds, buyers have the advantage.
Nevertheless, Cardano still has to make clear higher lows and higher highs before we can be confident in a reversal and end to the current macro downtrend. For that to happen, the price will have to move beyond $0.25.
Looking ahead, the weekly momentum indicators such as the MACD are giving a bullish bias. This is a promising sign that sellers could be exhausted here, which may allow buyers to take back control for a longer period.
Source: TradingView Binance Coin (BNB) Binance Coin looks weak throughout the past seven days and made no gains. The price still needs to break the resistance at $580, which has kept buyers in check over the past month. Without a clear breakout, BNB is forced to move sideways or even seek lower levels to find buyers.
The price also saw decreased volatility and volume. This could also be related to the recent regulatory changes that forced EU users to find a new exchange. That is bearish for the BNB price as it lowers demand for the token.
Looking ahead, this cryptocurrency is found in a downtrend with no signs that this will end any time soon. As such, watch the support at $500, which could be tested in the future before buyers return.
Source: TradingView Hype (HYPE) Surprisingly, HYPE was flat this week and lost 5% of its valuation in the past month. This highlights that the uptrend may be over. The price is also under $60 at the time of this post, which is concerning since it may encourage sellers to push even lower.
If this cryptocurrency loses its macro uptrend, then a larger and more significant correction could follow. Right now, the longer the price sits under $60, the higher the chance that HYPE will fall much lower. Key support levels are found at $56 and $52.
Looking ahead, HYPE had a fantastic rally in the first half of 2026, and it seems the second part of the year could end up in a major correction. That may see HYPE revisit previous levels under $50. If so, this can also be a key buying opportunity.
Stellar‘s native token XLM is trading around $0.1808, down 3.62% in the last 24 hours, as it clings to a critical support level amid expanded institutional participation on the network.
Price action remains range-boundDespite a recent decline, buyers have consistently defended the major support zone. The token has traded below the Bollinger Bands’ middle band at $0.1890 after failing to reclaim resistance at $0.1987. The lower Bollinger Band, near $0.1754, continues to act as a safety net, keeping XLM locked within a defined trading corridor.
Trading volume has tapered off since the strong rally seen at the end of May, highlighting waning short-term momentum. The narrowing of the Bollinger Bands on the daily chart signals reduced volatility, which may indicate that the market is consolidating before its next major move.
LevelPriceCurrent price$0.1808Immediate resistance$0.1890Next resistance$0.1987Key support$0.1754The Stellar Development Foundation has announced that MoneyGram, Figue, and Range.org have become Tier 1 validators on the network. The organization is a nonprofit dedicated to the development and expansion of the Stellar blockchain, focusing on global payments and financial access.
These new validators, which include global payment firm MoneyGram and industry partners, will contribute to network security and decentralization efforts. The Foundation is also set to open a discussion about institutions’ roles as active network participants.
By integrating organizations involved in payments and financial infrastructure, Stellar aims to boost its credibility and highlight its commitment to real-world blockchain adoption. Although the news has not triggered a sharp price change, some market participants believe it could reinforce Stellar’s long-term growth prospects.
Mini dictionary: Validator, a participant in blockchain networks responsible for verifying transactions and securing the integrity of the network. Tier 1 validators are typically the most trusted nodes and have a significant role in consensus and network operations.
Recent updates naming MoneyGram, Figue, and Range.org as Tier 1 validators on the Stellar network highlight the project’s ongoing efforts to strengthen security and expand institutional engagement.
Network fundamentals remain intactDespite the recent drop in price, on-chain metrics reveal that active user participation on the Stellar network remains at elevated levels. Data from DefiLlama indicates that user addresses are maintaining activity near recent highs, a sign that the network continues to attract engagement even during price corrections.
Open interest in XLM derivatives, tracked by CoinGlass, has stabilized after retreating from its late-May peak. This suggests that derivatives traders are largely staying in the market and awaiting new catalysts, rather than exiting positions.
The first key resistance for XLM is at $0.1890, followed by $0.1987, while buyers must defend support at $0.1754 to prevent further downside pressure.
Analysts note that a sustained breakout above both resistance levels could spark renewed buying momentum. On the other hand, a breach of the $0.1754 support may lead to increased selling and further market weakness.
For now, consistent on-chain activity, stabilized derivatives positioning, and the addition of institutional validators indicate that Stellar is maintaining a steady foundation. Many market participants appear to be waiting for a decisive signal before taking further action.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Key Highlights Second-quarter results showed earnings per share of $0.38 and revenue totaling $16.1 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s expectations of $0.21 EPS and $14.43 billion in sales Third-quarter revenue forecast of $15.8B–$16.8B exceeded analyst projections of $15.06B Data center segment generated $6.3 billion in revenue, beating the $5.54 billion consensus Shares have soared 178% this year following CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s transformation strategy Intel Foundry secured a contract from Google to manufacture 3 million custom Tensor Processing Units Shares of Intel (INTC) surged over 7% during extended trading hours on Thursday following the semiconductor giant’s impressive second-quarter financial results and encouraging third-quarter projections.
Intel Corp., INTC
The company delivered adjusted earnings of $0.38 per share on $16.1 billion in quarterly sales. Analysts had anticipated earnings of $0.21 per share with revenue reaching $14.43 billion. In the same period last year, Intel recorded a loss of $0.10 per share while generating $12.9 billion in revenue.
Year-to-date performance has been exceptional, with Intel shares gaining 178% since January 2026, although they still trade approximately 29% beneath their record closing price of $140.94 achieved on June 22.
For the upcoming third quarter, management forecasted revenue between $15.8 billion and $16.8 billion, significantly exceeding Wall Street’s $15.06 billion projection. The earnings per share outlook of $0.38 also surpassed the analyst consensus of $0.27.
The data center division posted $6.3 billion in sales, outperforming the $5.54 billion estimate. Meanwhile, client computing generated $8.9 billion in revenue, exceeding projections of $7.99 billion.
Intel Foundry reported quarterly revenue of $5.8 billion, representing a 31% year-over-year increase and beating the $5.6 billion forecast.
“AI is driving unprecedented demand for compute, and as we continue to execute, Intel is well-positioned to capture sustainable growth across our CPU franchise, ASICs, advanced packaging and vast wafer foundry network,” CEO Lip-Bu Tan said.
Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner highlighted improved manufacturing yields and accelerated production cycles as critical factors behind the quarter’s outperformance. Management announced plans to substantially expand capital expenditures on equipment, clean room facilities, and substrate materials.
CPU Market Experiences Resurgence The emergence of AI agents has sparked renewed interest in central processing units, as these applications depend on CPUs for executing functions such as database queries and document creation. This shift has provided a significant boost to Intel’s traditional chip operations following an extended period where GPUs dominated the market.
Just days ago, Intel announced workforce reductions within its Data Center Group as part of an organizational realignment. The company stated it is “aligning its organization to ensure it has the right roles and skills in place.”
Manufacturing Division Gains Momentum Intel’s chip fabrication business continues to attract prominent clients. Reports from The Information indicate that Google has contracted Intel to produce 3 million specialized Tensor Processing Units. Additionally, Nvidia is said to be considering Intel as a potential manufacturing partner.
These developments occur as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) faces challenges meeting robust demand from Nvidia, AMD, and Apple. Intel appears positioned to capitalize on opportunities as an alternative supplier.
In the consumer segment, escalating memory chip costs are prompting manufacturers to discontinue lower-margin laptop and desktop models while increasing prices on high-end offerings.
Intel earned recognition as a 2026 Barron’s stock selection and has garnered support from the Trump administration alongside receiving investment from Nvidia.
Brown-Forman Corporation (BF.B) Shareholder/Analyst Call July 23, 2026 9:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Susanne Perram - VP & Director of Investor Relations
Marshall Farrer - Executive Chairman
Michael Carr - Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Lawson Whiting - CEO, President & Director
Presentation
Susanne Perram
VP & Director of Investor Relations
Good morning, everyone. We have a packed house today. I see standing room only in the back, really impressive. I am Sue Perram. I'm Director of Investor Relations. I'd like to welcome you to Brown-Forman's 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. So thank you for joining us here in Louisville, a beautiful Churchill Downs. But also welcome to my fellow Brown-Forman colleagues that are joining us virtually from around the globe.
Before handing the meeting over to Marshall, I would like to remind all of you of the code of conduct for today's meeting, which is on the slide behind me, and it can also be found on the meeting website. I also need to make you aware that portions of today's meeting may contain forward-looking statements and certain non-GAAP financial measures as more fully described on the slide behind me. So I don't have to read this to all of you this time. It's also in the appendix of the presentation, which we will be posting later today on our website, www.brown-forman.com.
So with that, we appreciate your interest in and continued support of Brown-Forman. And with that, I would like to turn the stage over to Marshall Farrer, Chairman of the Board.
Marshall Farrer
Executive Chairman
Thank you, Sue, and good morning, everyone. I'm pleased to now call the Brown-Forman 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to order. To start, I would like to acknowledge certain individuals who are with us here today, our Board of Directors, former members of the Board of Directors, and I would ask that
First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP) reported higher second-quarter 2026 earnings and record pre-tax pre-provision income, with management citing stronger loan growth, expanding net interest income and stable credit trends across the franchise.
The Puerto Rico-based banking company earned $96.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the quarter, compared with $88 million, or $0.57 per share, in the prior quarter. President and Chief Executive Officer Aurelio Alemán said net income was up 24% from the same quarter last year.
Pre-tax pre-provision income reached an all-time high of $138 million, up 5% from the previous quarter and 11% from a year earlier. Return on average assets was 2.02%, compared with 1.89% in the first quarter. Alemán said it marked the company’s 18th consecutive quarter with ROA above 1.5%.
CFO Said Ortiz said quarterly results included approximately $3.4 million of additional interest income tied to two refinancings, one commercial loan and one municipal bond, which led to accelerated recognition of deferred fees or discounts. Excluding that impact, net income would have been about $93 million, or approximately $0.60 per diluted share.
Loan Growth Accelerates as Commercial Activity Strengthens Total loans reached $13.3 billion, up 5% on a linked-quarter annualized basis. Alemán said growth was driven primarily by commercial activity in Puerto Rico, while consumer portfolios showed better stability than expected.
Total loan originations were $1.7 billion during the quarter, a 21% increase from the prior year. Management said the pipeline supports continued activity through the remainder of 2026 and reaffirmed its full-year loan growth target of 3% to 5%.
During the question-and-answer session, Alemán said commercial originations reflected a mix of activity, including acquisitions, commercial real estate, construction, C&I, warehousing, hotels, healthcare and government-related refinancing. He also noted solid activity in Florida, including from the company’s Boca Raton office opened late last year.
Asked about business momentum in Puerto Rico, Alemán highlighted hospitality as a particularly strong sector, citing positive trends in average daily rates, occupancy and visitors, as well as ongoing hotel projects. He said investor confidence in the island remained strong despite broader political and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Net Interest Income Rises, Margin Guidance Moves Higher Net interest income increased 3.7% from the prior quarter to $229.1 million, compared with $221 million in the first quarter. Ortiz said the increase included the $3.4 million benefit from fee and discount acceleration. Excluding that impact, interest income on loans rose $1.7 million, while interest income on investments and cash increased $4.5 million.
The company continued to reinvest cash flows from maturing securities into higher-yielding instruments. Ortiz said the yield on the investment portfolio increased by 18 basis points, excluding the refinancing-related benefit.
Funding costs were managed lower overall, with total deposit costs declining by two basis points from the previous quarter. The cost of time deposits, excluding brokered deposits and public funds, decreased by eight basis points to 3.26%, while the cost of interest-bearing checking and savings accounts rose by five basis points to 1.26%, driven by higher rates on certain government accounts.
Ortiz said the company’s net interest margin, excluding the accelerated fee and discount recognition, would have been approximately 4.80%, up five basis points from the prior quarter. Management now expects margin expansion of three to five basis points per quarter for the rest of 2026, assuming no rate cuts in the second half of the year.
In response to an analyst question, Ortiz said approximately $400 million of securities are expected to reprice in the second half of 2026 at a current yield of about 1.92%, with about $1.2 billion of repricing expected over the next 18 months.
Deposits Increase, Expenses Stay Near Guidance Total deposits increased by $274 million during the quarter. Alemán said the increase was primarily driven by government deposits, with a slight rise in core customer deposits. He noted that government deposits can be volatile due to reconstruction-related funds moving in and out of accounts, but said liquidity remains solid.
Noninterest income was $35.7 million, down from $37.7 million in the prior quarter, mainly due to seasonal commissions typically received in the first quarter. Operating expenses were relatively flat at $127.3 million. Excluding gains from OREO operations, expenses were $128.2 million, which Ortiz said was at the lower end of guidance.
The efficiency ratio improved to 48.1% from 49.1% in the previous quarter. Management expects quarterly expenses for the remainder of 2026, excluding OREO gains or losses, to range from $128 million to $130 million, reflecting merit increases, business promotions and technology-related project expenses.
Alemán said the company continues to invest in technology, cloud transformation, artificial intelligence and branch expansion. He said AI efforts are focused on automating routine processes, improving customer service and shortening process life cycles.
Credit Trends Remain Stable Despite Higher Early Delinquencies Credit performance remained broadly sound, though early-stage delinquency rose during the quarter. Ortiz said early-stage delinquency increased by approximately $32.9 million from the prior quarter, mainly due to a $20.7 million increase in the auto finance leases portfolio. However, he said early delinquency in the consumer portfolio was still about $10.3 million lower than in December 2025.
Non-performing assets increased by $5.1 million from the previous quarter, primarily due to the inflow of a $14.8 million C&I loan in Florida. Ortiz said the loan is well collateralized. Excluding that relationship, non-performing assets declined by $9.7 million, with reductions in residential mortgages, consumer loans and repossessed autos.
The allowance for credit losses was $245 million, or 1.85% of total loans, relatively flat from the previous quarter. Ortiz said increases tied to loan growth and higher auto finance lease delinquencies were offset by improved macroeconomic projections and better delinquency in unsecured consumer loans.
Alemán said the increase in auto delinquencies appeared seasonal, following a first-quarter improvement attributed to consumer liquidity from tax refunds and other factors. He said delinquency levels were better than in December and in line with prior years.
Capital Remains Strong as Buybacks and Dividends Continue First BanCorp ended the quarter with a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 17%. The company completed $50 million of share repurchases and paid a $0.20 per-share dividend during the quarter, according to Alemán.
Ortiz said tangible book value per share rose to $12.68, while the tangible common equity ratio declined three basis points to 10.08% due mainly to growth in tangible assets. He said regulatory capital ratios remained well above required levels, with earnings offsetting capital deployment and risk-weighted asset growth.
Asked about potential M&A, Alemán said the company remains open to opportunities that would be a strategic fit and align with its operating model, but emphasized that organic growth remains the primary focus. He said management continues to evaluate capital deployment options and will provide more detail when it updates its capital plan later in the year.
About First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP) First BanCorp (NYSE: FBP) is a financial holding company headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Through its principal banking subsidiary, FirstBank Puerto Rico, the company offers a comprehensive range of banking services including commercial and consumer lending, deposit products, cash management solutions and treasury services. It also provides mortgage origination and servicing, equipment leasing, investment management, and insurance agency services.
In its commercial banking segment, First BanCorp serves small and midsize enterprises as well as large corporate clients, delivering tailored credit facilities, letters of credit, and foreign trade financing.
First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) reported record adjusted second-quarter earnings and outlined plans to expand further in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana markets through its planned acquisition of Finward Bancorp, executives said on the company’s earnings call.
President and Chief Executive Officer Archie Brown said the quarter was “another active quarter” as the company continued post-integration work related to the Westfield acquisition and completed the systems conversion for BankFinancial. He said operating results were strong, with adjusted net income of $83.9 million, or $0.80 per share.
Brown said adjusted earnings per share increased 8% from the second quarter of 2025, driven by higher earning assets from organic loan growth and recent acquisitions. Adjusted return on assets was 1.5%, while adjusted return on tangible common equity was 19.7%.
Loan Growth and Margin Remained Stable Chief Financial Officer Jamie Anderson said the quarter was highlighted by “strong earnings, 7% loan growth, a solid net interest margin, and positive credit trends.” Net interest margin was 3.98%, down one basis point from the linked quarter. Anderson said deposit costs declined six basis points, while asset yields fell seven basis points due to lower accretion income.
Loan balances rose $240 million, or 7% annualized, with growth across much of the portfolio. Management highlighted commercial and industrial lending, Summit and Agile as key contributors. Brown said loan originations increased 23% from the first quarter and that advanced-stage pipelines remained strong heading into the second half of the year.
Average deposits increased $41 million, which Anderson attributed mainly to a seasonal influx in public funds and growth in interest-bearing demand accounts. He said 21% of total deposit balances remained in non-interest-bearing accounts and that the company remains focused on growing lower-cost deposits.
Fee Income Fell From First Quarter, Expenses Declined Brown said adjusted fee income was below management’s expectations after a strong first quarter, with lower foreign exchange swap income and investment banking fees weighing on non-interest income. However, he said the company expects a rebound in the third quarter.
Anderson said adjusted fee income totaled $72 million, led by leasing and foreign exchange. Other non-interest income increased $3.6 million due to higher income from bank-owned life insurance and limited partnership investments.
Adjusted non-interest expenses declined from the linked quarter, which management attributed to lower commission expense, payroll taxes and acquisition-related synergies. Anderson said core expenses decreased $5.7 million, driven by lower compensation costs tied to lower fee income.
Brown said virtually all expected Westfield cost reductions had been realized by June 30, while BankFinancial-related savings are expected to phase in during the third quarter, with full savings anticipated by quarter-end.
Credit Trends Improved and Capital Levels Rose Asset quality trends were positive in the quarter. Net charge-offs declined 15 basis points to 0.20% of total loans on an annualized basis. Anderson said net charge-offs were down 42% from the first quarter, while non-performing assets and classified assets also declined.
The allowance for credit losses increased two basis points to 1.38% of total loans. The company recorded $8.2 million of provision expense, driven primarily by loan growth and net charge-offs.
Capital levels remained above internal and regulatory targets. Tangible book value increased to $16.64, and the tangible common equity ratio rose to 8.2%. Anderson said tangible book value now exceeds pre-Westfield and BankFinancial levels.
The company did not repurchase shares during the quarter as it focused on acquisitions and integration work. Anderson said 34% of second-quarter earnings were returned to shareholders through the common dividend, and the board voted to raise the common dividend to $0.26 per share.
Third-Quarter Outlook Calls for Steady Margin For the third quarter, Brown said management expects mid-single-digit annualized loan growth and low single-digit core deposit growth. The company expects net interest margin to remain in a range of 3.96% to 4.01%, assuming no changes in interest rates and purchase accounting accretion in line with the second quarter.
Management expects credit costs to approximate second-quarter levels and allowance coverage to remain relatively stable as a percentage of loans. Brown said net charge-offs are expected to approximate 25 to 30 basis points in the back half of the year.
The company projected total fee income of $74 million to $77 million in the third quarter, including $15 million to $17 million from foreign exchange and $22 million to $24 million from leasing business revenue. Non-interest expenses are expected to range from $149 million to $152 million.
Finward Deal Expands Chicago and Northwest Indiana Presence First Financial also discussed its agreement to acquire Finward Bancorp, the holding company for Peoples Bank. Finward is headquartered in Munster, Indiana, and has 24 banking locations. Brown said the transaction is expected to expand First Financial’s ability to serve consumers and businesses in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana markets.
Finward has approximately $2 billion in assets, $1.7 billion in deposits, $1.5 billion in loans and $412 million in wealth assets under management. Under the agreement, each outstanding Finward common share will be converted into the right to receive 1.35 shares of First Financial common stock. Brown said the transaction was valued at approximately $208 million based on First Financial’s July 20 closing price.
Brown said the deal is expected to be approximately 5% accretive to First Financial’s earnings per share, with tangible book value per share at closing estimated to be only slightly diluted and an anticipated earn-back period of just over half a year.
Including the BankFinancial acquisition, Brown said First Financial will have added $2.9 billion in lower-cost deposits to its Northwest Indiana operations and will have $4.1 billion in deposits in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. The combined branch network in the region is expected to exceed 40 offices.
During the question-and-answer session, Brown said the company does not expect to be on the sidelines for M&A permanently, but said management does not see anything in the near to intermediate term beyond closing and integrating Finward. He said the acquisition is strategic and incremental relative to First Financial’s size.
Anderson said First Financial expects to close the Finward transaction around year-end, with conversion anticipated sometime in the second quarter of next year. He said cost savings would likely phase in after conversion, with the first full quarter of all expected savings likely in the fourth quarter of next year.
Brown said First Financial is also committing $500,000 to its foundation for the benefit of organizations in communities served by Finward, in addition to the $1 million donation made when the company entered the Chicago market through BankFinancial.
About First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC) is a bank holding company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the parent of First Financial Bank. The company provides a comprehensive suite of commercial and consumer banking services through a network of more than 100 full-service banking centers and mortgage offices across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Its core mission centers on delivering personalized relationship banking to businesses, individuals and public sector clients.
First Financial Bank’s product portfolio includes deposit solutions such as checking, savings and money market accounts, alongside a range of lending offerings that cover commercial and industrial loans, real estate and construction financing, home mortgages and home equity lines of credit.
Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) executives used the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call to emphasize the bank’s ongoing shift toward a more diversified loan portfolio, with rapid growth in corporate and institutional banking helping offset elevated repayments in its real estate specialties group.
Chairman and CEO George Gleason said the corporate and institutional banking, or CIB, business is “a very important and rapidly growing and developing part” of the franchise. He said the bank is investing in the unit and hiring experienced leadership as it seeks to reduce concentration in commercial real estate and the real estate specialties group, or RESG.
“We want to make sure that we are not trading one concentration for another,” Gleason said, adding that diversification within CIB is important to long-term franchise value.
CIB Growth Adds Diversification Jake Munn, president of corporate and institutional banking, said CIB now includes more than seven major business lines, including corporate banking and sponsor finance, fund finance, lender finance, natural resources, franchise capital solutions, asset-based lending and equipment finance.
Munn also highlighted the bank’s emerging middle market group, which he said is intended to bridge the gap between the legacy community bank and the larger corporate banking and sponsor finance segment. The group will focus on family-owned businesses with roughly $15 million to $100 million in revenue, particularly within Bank OZK’s core footprint.
According to Munn, CIB currently represents more than 42 unique NAICS categories, giving the bank flexibility to adjust its emphasis across business lines as market conditions change. He said growth in the most recent quarter was led by corporate banking and sponsor finance, along with natural resources, while asset-based lending was less emphasized because of tighter pricing and more aggressive advance rates in that market.
Munn said the bank views CIB as more than a loan-growth engine, pointing to potential deposit opportunities and cross-selling in treasury management, private wealth management, commodity hedging, interest-rate hedging and capital markets services.
RESG Repayments Expected to Remain Elevated Executives said repayments in the RESG portfolio remained high in the second quarter and are expected to stay elevated through the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Gleason said repayments approached $3 billion in the second quarter and averaged about $2.5 billion per quarter over the trailing four quarters.
Gleason said the elevated repayment activity is tied to the natural cadence of loans originated during 2022, which he described as a record origination year. He said the bank expects repayments to taper somewhat in 2027 but remain elevated based on current projections.
President Brannon Hamblen said repayment timing can shift based on market conditions, sponsor strategies, refinancing activity, sales decisions and cap-rate changes. “A lot of it’s just the natural cadence of the portfolio moving through the pipe,” Hamblen said.
Despite the repayment headwind, Gleason said the bank continues to expect mid-single-digit loan growth for the full year. He said a wave of repayments early in the second quarter pressured average earning assets, making it difficult to catch up during the rest of the period.
“Hopefully those prepayments will be a little more levelized in Q3 and Q4,” Gleason said.
Net Interest Income Guidance Pressured by Average Earning Assets Asked about changes in net interest income commentary, Gleason said the principal factor was average earning assets rather than deposit competition or liability-side pressures. He said the bank had expected more linear growth during the year but experienced a pullback in the second quarter after early loan payoffs.
Gleason said Bank OZK had anticipated a competitive deposit environment at the start of the year, and that environment has continued. He said the bank’s view of net interest margin is broadly consistent with analyst consensus estimates and reiterated that management expects margin to be slightly below the first quarter’s 4.20% level.
On deposit costs, Gleason said the bank’s CD specials are roughly 10 basis points higher than their low point, reflecting expectations for more deposit growth in the third and fourth quarters to support loan growth. He said the second-quarter cost of interest-bearing deposits likely represented an inflection point and that modest increases are expected going forward.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Hicks said he expects average earning assets to increase in both the third and fourth quarters from the second-quarter level.
Credit Trends and Reserves Remain in Focus Credit quality was a major focus of the call, with analysts asking about special mention loans, life science exposure and charge-offs. Gleason said the increase in special mention loans should not be overinterpreted, noting that some loans enter the category while extension or recapitalization discussions are underway and later return to pass status.
“I think there are several of them that look like they’re going to work out favorably and be candidates for upgrade over the next couple of quarters, if not the next month or two,” Gleason said.
Hicks said Bank OZK had built its allowance for credit losses in recent years in anticipation of later charge-offs. As those charge-offs are realized, he said the bank has considered it appropriate to reduce the allowance over the last couple of quarters. He cited two Seattle buildings that moved into other real estate owned during the quarter, with charge-offs of $22 million on the office property and $3.7 million on the life science property, saying those amounts had already been reserved for in the prior quarter.
Hicks said provision expense has been below consensus estimates over the last several quarters and could continue to “drift down” if the economy maintains its resiliency and strength.
On life science, Gleason said the bank has a “pretty healthy” allowance for the portfolio given sector challenges. He said several life science assets are well leased, while one life science loan that was exited through a discounted payoff was, in his view, probably the least desirable single asset in the portfolio. Hamblen said tenant activity has improved in some markets, including interest from technology, AI and office users in addition to life science tenants.
Real Estate Concentration Continues to Decline Gleason said muted RESG origination volume and ongoing repayments will continue to reduce the bank’s real estate concentration. He said Bank OZK is now below the regulatory concentration guideline for total commercial real estate and expects to be below the 100% guideline for construction and development by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Management expects the CIB and RESG portfolios to become roughly equal in size at some point in 2027. Gleason said that implies continued strong growth in CIB and continued paydowns in RESG. He also said the community banking, indirect and RV portfolios could show more positive momentum through 2027, resulting in a more balanced portfolio across major segments.
Asked about share repurchases, Hicks said the bank used about $175 million of its prior $200 million authorization over the last four quarters at an average price below tangible book value. He said the board has approved a new $200 million authorization for the next four quarters, with actual usage dependent on the stock price.
Gleason closed the call by saying management looks forward to updating investors again next quarter.
About Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) Bank OZK, formerly known as Bank of the Ozarks, is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Established in 1903, the bank offers a full suite of banking products and services to both individual and corporate clients. Through a combination of organic growth and targeted acquisitions, Bank OZK has built a diversified lending portfolio and a strong deposit franchise.
The bank’s core operations focus on commercial real estate lending, including acquisition, development and construction financing.
Německému automobilovému koncernu Volkswagen se v prvním pololetí propadl zisk po zdanění o 30,7 procenta na 3,1 miliardy eur (zhruba 75 miliard Kč). Firma, jejíž součástí je i česká Škoda Auto, o tom informovala v dnešní výsledkové zprávě. Provozní zisk v pololetí klesl téměř o 12 procent na 5,9 miliardy eur, zatímco provozní zisk samotné Škody Auto zhruba o šest procent vzrostl a dosáhl téměř 1,4 miliardy eur.
Tržby koncernu Volkswagen v pololetí klesly o 0,2 procenta na 158,1 miliardy eur. Podnik dnes uvedl, že v celém letošním roce počítá s poklesem tržeb až o tři procenta. V předchozím výhledu přitom očekával až tříprocentní růst.
Volkswagen se v poslední době potýká s řadou problémů, včetně vysokých nákladů, nadbytečných kapacit, rostoucí čínské konkurence nebo amerických cel. "Podmínky v automobilovém průmyslu zůstávají mimořádně náročné: geopolitické krize, obchodní konflikty, vysoké regulační požadavky, výkyvy na trzích a rostoucí konkurence," uvedl koncernový šéf Oliver Blume
Volkswagen teď chystá rozsáhlou restrukturalizaci aktivit zahrnující drastické omezení výroby. Podle nedávné zprávy agentury Reuters by v koncernu mohlo v příštích letech zaniknout až 140 000 pracovních míst. Na konci loňského roku koncern podle výroční zprávy zaměstnával kolem 663 000 lidí.
Škoda Auto nicméně tento měsíc uvedla, že restrukturalizační plán koncernu nemá přímý dopad na její aktivity. Škoda Auto patří mezi největší zaměstnavatele v České republice, kde provozuje tři výrobní závody a má zhruba 36 500 zaměstnanců včetně agenturních.
Šéf koncernu Blume dnes v rozhovoru s agenturou DPA řekl, že chce plánovaný úsporný balík přijmout ještě do konce letošního roku. Návrhem se před dvěma týdny poprvé zabývala dozorčí rada. "Měli jsme tam konstruktivní, ale i kontroverzní diskusi," řekl Blume.
Podle DPA narazil plán na odpor především u zástupců zaměstnanců a spolkové země Dolní Sasko, v níž Volkswagen sídlí a která drží v koncernu pětinový podíl. Součástí plánu je mimo jiné zrušení dalších 50 000 pracovních míst nad už dohodnutých 50 000. Další zasedání dozorčí rady by se mělo uskutečnit v září. Podle Blumeho jsou ale navrhovaná opatření tak obsáhlá, že bude potřeba o nich jednat i na dalších zasedáních.
"Jsem ale pevně přesvědčen, že to budeme muset udělat ještě letos," dodal šéf koncernu.
