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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWV) between March 28, 2025 and December 15, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 13, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased CoreWeave securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the CoreWeave class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50571 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 13, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants had overstated CoreWeave's ability to meet customer demand for its service; (2) defendants materially understated the scope and severity of the risk that CoreWeave's reliance on a single third-party data center supplier presented for CoreWeave's ability to meet customer demand for its services; (3) the foregoing was reasonably likely to have a material negative impact on CoreWeave's revenue; (4) as a result, CoreWeave's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the CoreWeave class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50571 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/284899

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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February 23, 2026 17:05 ET  | Source: Clear Street, LLC

Unlocks Access to APAC Market

Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Appointed to Further Fuel Global Expansion

Clear Street to Relaunch IPO in Future

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clear Street (“Clear Street” or “the Company”), a cloud-native financial infrastructure technology firm on a mission to give sophisticated investors access to every asset in every market, today announced it has entered into an agreement on January 30, 2026 to acquire BOOM Securities (H.K.) Limited (“Boom” or “Boom Securities”), Hong Kong’s first licensed online brokerage. In connection with the acquisition, and acknowledging the firm’s continued prioritization of entering new markets through both organic and acquisition-led strategies, Clear Street appointed John Deters to the role of Chief Strategy and Growth Officer.

Ed Tilly, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Street, said, “This acquisition is a milestone in our global expansion and our first acquisition-led entry into the APAC region. Boom has built a trusted, proven franchise over nearly three decades, and we are excited to bring that franchise onto Clear Street as we continue expanding into high-growth markets.”

Tilly continued, “The Boom transaction illustrates our repeatable and scalable model: migrating a successful business onto Clear Street’s cloud-based data and technology infrastructure, while gaining access to compelling new markets. Our unified platform allows us to deliver speed, scale and transparency to clients across the Clear Street ecosystem, and the Boom acquisition is an exciting example of our global intentions.”

The strategic move provides Clear Street with immediate access to the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) market while securing key regulatory licenses and infrastructure needed to serve institutional and individual clients across 18 global markets. Founded in 1997, Boom Securities brings more than $2 billion in assets under management and thousands of active clients — all of which are expected to migrate over to Clear Street’s unified technology platform.

Boom’s clients gain access to Clear Street’s platform of expanding products and services, including enhanced cross-margining capabilities, multi-asset portfolio management and real-time data analytics while maintaining the personalized service and multi-lingual support that has defined Boom’s client relationships across the APAC region.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission, and is expected to close in mid -2026.

Executive Appointment

In tandem with the Boom transaction, Clear Street announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of John Deters to the role of Chief Strategy and Growth Officer. Deters’ mandate is to drive Clear Street’s long-term strategy and growth agenda, partnering with the executive team to identify and execute the highest-impact opportunities across products, partnerships, M&A, joint ventures and more. He will lead corporate development and strategic initiatives—bringing deep experience in global market infrastructure, M&A and multi-asset platform buildouts—to help further differentiate Clear Street’s capabilities and accelerate scalable revenue growth.

Most recently, Deters served as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Cboe Global Markets, where he helped shape corporate strategy, global expansion and acquisition activity across geographies and business lines. Earlier, he was a Vice President in Investment Banking at Barclays/Lehman Brothers, advising financial infrastructure and fintech clients on strategic reviews, financings and large-scale public M&A transactions. Deters also served as M&A lawyer at Skadden Arps in the U.S. and abroad and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Withdrawal of Form S-1, Company to Relaunch IPO in Future

Uriel Cohen, Founder and Executive Chairman of Clear Street said, “Our global build and product velocity continues at a rapid pace. We explored the opportunity to go public but ultimately decided not to proceed at this time due to market conditions. We are focused on what we do best, providing sophisticated investors the tools and access previously reserved for only the largest hedge funds and institutions, all through our unique technology platform.”

About Clear Street: 

Clear Street’s mission is to give every sophisticated investor access to every asset, in every market, through a unified platform built for speed, transparency and scale. We give our clients the technology, tools and service once reserved for the largest institutions, rebuilt with modern infrastructure. Our single, cloud-native, end-to-end capital markets platform powers investor growth today and transforms how they interact with markets tomorrow. For more information, visit https://clearstreet.io.

Investor Contact:

[email protected]

Media Contact: 

[email protected]

February 23, 2026 17:05 ET  | Source: Protara Therapeutics

Favorable safety and tolerability profile with no Grade 3 or greater treatment-related adverse events

Company expects to complete enrollment of the BCG-Unresponsive cohort of the ADVANCED-2 trial in 2H 2026

Company to host conference call and webcast tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: TARA), a clinical-stage company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases, today announced updated interim results from its ongoing Phase 2 open-label ADVANCED-2 trial assessing intravesical TARA-002, the Company’s investigational cell-based therapy, in patients with high-risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ or CIS (± Ta/T1) who are Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Unresponsive or BCG-Naïve. These results will be featured on Friday, February 27, 2026 during poster sessions at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

“These interim data are highly encouraging with respect to TARA-002’s efficacy and safety,” said Raj Satkunasivam, MD, MS, FRCSC, Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor at Houston Methodist Hospital and ADVANCED-2 study investigator. “The results in the BCG-Unresponsive cohort demonstrate compelling six-month response rates with maturing 12-month data showing promising signals of durability. These clinically meaningful response rates and favorable tolerability profile make TARA-002 a potentially promising treatment option.”

“TARA-002 continues to demonstrate impressive and durable response rates with excellent safety and tolerability,” said Neal Shore, MD, FACS, Medical Director of the START Carolinas/Carolina Urologic Research Center. “These results, coupled with a clean safety profile and a simple, streamlined administration for both physicians and patients, make TARA-002 a potentially innovative new therapy for urologists, particularly those in busy community practices.”

Updated Interim Results

BCG-Unresponsive Cohort

The interim analysis of the BCG-Unresponsive cohort includes 35 evaluable participants, of whom, 22 were evaluable at six months and 15 were evaluable at 12 months as of a January 28, 2026 data cutoff.

The CR rate at any time was 65.7% (23 of 35)The CR rate was 68.2% (15 of 22) at six months and 33.3% (5 of 15) at 12 monthsAmong responders: The Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimated probability of maintaining a CR for six months was 71.1% (95% CI: 46.7, 95.5)100% (5 of 5) maintained their CR from nine to 12 months 61.5% (8 of 13) of re-induced patients converted to a CR at six months BCG-Naïve Cohort

The interim analysis of the BCG-Naïve cohort includes 29 evaluable participants, 27 of whom, were evaluable at six months and 19 were evaluable at 12 months as of a January 28, 2026 data cutoff.

The CR rate at any time was 72.4% (21 of 29)The CR rate was 66.7% (18 of 27) at six months and 57.9% (11 of 19) at 12 monthsAmong responders: The KM estimated probability of maintaining a CR for six months was 73.1% (95% CI: 52.9, 93.4)100% (11 of 11) maintained their CR from nine to 12 months 66.7% (4 of 6) of re-induced patients converted to a CR at six months Safety and Tolerability

The majority of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were Grade 1 and transient with no Grade 3 or greater TRAEs and no related serious adverse events as assessed by study investigators. No patients discontinued treatment due to TRAEs. The most common TRAEs were dysuria, bladder spasm, fatigue and micturition urgency. Most bladder irritations resolved shortly after administration or within a few hours to a few days.

“The data generated to date in these high-risk NMIBC patient populations highlight TARA-002’s potential as a meaningful addition to the treatment landscape,” said Jesse Shefferman, Chief Executive Officer of Protara Therapeutics. “In addition to demonstrating impressive efficacy and safety, TARA-002 overcomes the limitations of existing NMIBC treatments that burden patients as well as urologists and their practices. We look forward to continuing to advance TARA-002’s clinical development as we work to bring this treatment to patients.”

Next Steps

Protara expects to complete enrollment of the BCG-Unresponsive registrational cohort of the ADVANCED-2 trial in the second half of 2026. Enrollment is complete in the BCG-Naïve cohort of the ADVANCED-2 trial with 31 patients, and the Company remains on track to initiate the ADVANCED-3 registrational trial in BCG-Naïve patients in the second half of 2026.

Conference Call and Webcast

Protara will host a conference call and webcast tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. ET to review the data reported this evening. Neal Shore, MD, FACS, Medical Director of the Carolina Urologic Research Center will join management for the discussion. The live event and accompanying slides can be accessed by visiting https://protara-therapeutics-asco-gu-update-call.open-exchange.net/, or via the Events and Presentations section of the Company’s website: https://ir.protaratx.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived for a limited time following the event.

About ADVANCED-2

ADVANCED-2 (NCT05951179) is a Phase 2 open-label trial assessing intravesical TARA-002 in NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ or CIS (± Ta/T1) who are Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-Unresponsive (Cohort B N=75-100) or BCG-Naïve (Cohort A N=31). Trial subjects receive an induction course, with or without a reinduction, of six weekly intravesical instillations of TARA-002, followed by a maintenance course of three weekly instillations every three months.

About TARA-002

TARA-002 is an investigational cell therapy in development for the treatment of NMIBC and of LMs, for which it has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease, Breakthrough and Fast Track Designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. TARA-002 is a first-in-class TLR2/NOD2 agonist and novel immunopotentiator derived from inactivated Streptococcus pyogenes with a mechanism of action that includes the activation of innate and adaptive immune pathways. When TARA-002 is administered, it is hypothesized that innate and adaptive immune cells within the cyst or tumor are activated and produce a pro-inflammatory response with release of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12. TARA-002 also directly kills tumor cells and triggers a host immune response by inducing immunogenic cell death, which further enhances the antitumor immune response.

TARA-002 was developed from the same master cell bank of genetically distinct group A Streptococcus pyogenes as OK-432, a broad immunopotentiator marketed as Picibanil® in Japan by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Protara has successfully shown manufacturing comparability between TARA-002 and OK-432.

About Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with NMIBC representing approximately 80% of bladder cancer diagnoses, representing approximately 65,000 patients in the U.S. each year. NMIBC is cancer found in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the bladder that has not spread into the bladder muscle.

About Protara Therapeutics, Inc.

Protara is a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to advancing transformative therapies for people with cancer and rare diseases. Protara’s portfolio includes its lead candidate, TARA-002, an investigational cell-based therapy in development for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and lymphatic malformations (LMs). The Company is evaluating TARA-002 in an ongoing Phase 2 trial in NMIBC patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) who are unresponsive or naïve to treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, as well as a Phase 2 trial in pediatric patients with LMs. Additionally, Protara is developing IV Choline Chloride, an investigational phospholipid substrate replacement for patients on parenteral nutrition who are otherwise unable to meet their choline needs via oral or enteral routes. For more information, visit www.protaratx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Protara may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “proposed,” “continue,” “designed,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding Protara’s intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things: Protara’s business strategy, including its development plans for its product candidates and plans regarding the timing or outcome of existing or future clinical trials (including the timing of any particular phases of such trials and the timing of the announcement of any data produced during such trials or phases thereof); statements related to expectations regarding interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Protara’s financial position; statements regarding the anticipated safety or efficacy of Protara’s product candidates; and Protara’s outlook for the remainder of the year and future periods. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: risks that Protara’s financial guidance may not be as expected, as well as risks and uncertainties associated with: Protara’s development programs, including the initiation and completion of non-clinical studies and clinical trials and the timing of required filings with the FDA and other regulatory agencies; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape; changes in Protara’s strategic and commercial plans; Protara’s ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund its strategic plans and commercialization efforts; having to use cash in ways or on timing other than expected; the impact of market volatility on cash reserves; failure to attract and retain management and key personnel; the impact of general U.S. and foreign, economic, industry, market, regulatory, political or public health conditions; and the risks and uncertainties associated with Protara’s business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Protara's filings and reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. Protara undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Company Contact:

Justine O'Malley
Protara Therapeutics
[email protected]
646-817-2836

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO, NYSE: ERO) ("Ero" or the “Company”) is pleased to announce results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Furnas Copper-Gold Project ("Furnas" or the "Project"), located in the Carajás Mineral Province in Pará State, Brazil.

The PEA outlines the potential for a large-scale, long-life copper-gold operation with a robust production profile and exceptional economics, reinforcing Furnas as a cornerstone asset within the Company's organic growth pipeline. Furnas is being advanced in partnership with Vale Base Metals ("VBM") pursuant to an earn-in agreement wherein the Company will earn a 60% interest upon completion of the prescribed work programs.(1)

HIGHLIGHTS

24-year initial mine life based on an updated mineral resource estimate that remains open to depth and laterally along strike.Average annual copper equivalent(2) production of approximately 108,000 tonnes over the first 15 years of operation, including approximately 70,000 tonnes of copper, 111,000 ounces of gold, and 532,000 ounces of silver per year.After-tax net present value ("NPV") (8%) of $2.0 billion and a 27.0% after-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") based on long-term copper, gold and silver prices of $4.60 per pound, $3,300 per ounce, and $40.00 per ounce, respectively. At $6.10 per pound copper and $5,550 per ounce gold, the Project's after-tax NPV (8%) more than doubles to $4.7 billion, with the after-tax IRR increasing to approximately 44.0%. Life-of-mine ("LOM") C1 cash costs(3) of approximately $0.30 per pound of copper produced, supported by significant gold and silver by-product credits.Initial capital expenditures of approximately $1.3 billion at low capital intensity of approximately $16,000 per copper equivalent(2) tonne.LOM production totaling over 1.2 million tonnes of copper and approximately 2.0 million and 9.0 million ounces of gold and silver, respectively.The Company is evaluating several opportunities with the potential to increase value, including ongoing exploration drilling, the addition of a magnetite recovery circuit to produce a high-grade magnetite concentrate as by-product, and a gravity pre-concentration stage to enhance gold recovery.
“The results of the PEA on Furnas, the first ever published on the Project, reinforce what an exceptional asset it is," said Makko DeFilippo, President & Chief Executive Officer. "The PEA outlines a large-scale, long-life copper-gold operation with strong underlying economics, supported by low capital intensity, first quartile operating costs and an attractive internal rate of return across a wide spectrum of commodity prices.

"The announcement today is the culmination of multiple exploration drilling campaigns and a strong foundation of engineering and technical studies that have been developed on Furnas over more than a decade. While already a unique asset in a class of its own, the deposit remains open, and we are excited by the potential we see to further increase the known extent of mineralization, adding incremental value and mine life. Ero's strategy has been centered upon responsible mine development, with a significant portion of the Furnas LOM production expected to be sourced from underground. This approach has resulted in a reduced footprint when compared to alternative, less-selective, scenarios and a design that aligns well with our operational strengths. We are thrilled to be working alongside such a strong partner in VBM to advance exploration, engineering and permitting workstreams to deliver value for all stakeholders of the Project."

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources, which are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Sensitivity of Economic Results to Copper and Gold Prices

(1) For more information on the Company's plans to earn a 60% interest in the Furnas Copper-Gold Project, please see its press releases dated October 30, 2023 and July 22, 2024.
(2) Copper equivalent based on long-term metal prices of $4.60/lb Cu, $3,300/oz Au, and $40.00/oz Ag.
(3) C1 Cash Cost is a non-IFRS Measure. Please refer to the Notes section of this press release for a discussion of non-IFRS Measures.

Preliminary Economic Assessment Summary

 Unit Long-Term PricesFinancial Highlights     Copper Price$/lb $4.60Gold Price$/oz $3,300Silver Price$/oz $40.00Foreign Exchange RateUSD:BRL 5.50Initial Capital$M $1,280Phased Expansion Capital(1)$M $287Sustaining Capital$M $1,230After-Tax NPV (8%)$M $2,040After-Tax IRR% 27.0%After-Tax Payback Periodyears 3.1       Unit First 15 Years Life of MineProcessing Operations     Mill Throughput CapacityMtpa 13.5 13.5Total Tonnes ProcessedMt 198 240Average Processed Grades     Copper% 0.59% 0.58%Goldg/t 0.35 0.35Silverg/t 1.77 1.64Copper Equivalent(2)% 0.91% 0.90%Metallurgical Recoveries     Copper% 90.3% 90.3%Gold% 74.6% 74.6%Silver% 71.0% 71.0%Average Annual Production     Copperkt 70 52Goldkoz 111 84Silverkoz 532 374Copper Equivalent(2)kt 108 81Copper C1 Cash Cost(3)$/lb produced $0.24 $0.30 (1) Expansion capital related to the Company's phased development strategy occurring after first production.
(2) Copper equivalent calculated using long-term metal prices of $4.60/lb Cu, $3,300/oz Au, and $40.00/oz Ag. Copper equivalent processed grade reflects relative recovery rate for each metal as outlined above.
(3) C1 Cash Cost is a non-IFRS Measure. Please refer to the Notes section of this press release for a discussion of non-IFRS Measures.

Recovered Copper Equivalent Production(1) (tonnes in thousands)

(1) Copper equivalent calculated using long-term metal prices of $4.60/lb Cu, $3,300/oz Au, and $40.00/oz Ag.

Exploration Strategy

The PEA and updated mineral resource estimate incorporate approximately 90,000 meters of historical drilling completed by Vale S.A. and Anglo American plc, together with 28,000 meters of Phase 1 drilling completed by the Company through July 2025. Subsequent drilling, including the 17,000-meter Phase 2 program, completed ahead of schedule in Q4 2025, and initial Phase 3 drilling, brings total drilling conducted by the Company to approximately 50,000 meters, with an additional 50,000 meters of drilling planned through the remainder of 2026. Results from the Phase 2 and Phase 3 programs are not included in the updated mineral resource estimate underpinning the PEA and will be reflected in subsequent resource updates and future engineering studies.

The Company's 2026 drilling strategy is focused on two primary objectives: (i) upgrading inferred mineral resources to higher confidence categories and (ii) extending mineralization along strike within the high-grade zones. The objective of targeted step-out drilling is to potentially expand the scale of the underground mining areas in both the Southeast and Northwest Zones adjacent to planned infrastructure to support higher sustained production volumes beyond year 16 of the current PEA mine plan.

Advancing Engineering, Permitting & Value-Enhancing Opportunities

With the completion of the Phase 2 drilling requirements in Q4 2025, the Company is advancing key workstreams to support future engineering studies in accordance with the Furnas earn-in agreement.

Over the next 12 to 24 months, activities on site will focus on continuing exploration drilling while advancing engineering, environmental and permitting work. Detailed geotechnical, hydrogeological and metallurgical studies are underway to optimize mine design, processing configuration and infrastructure layout. These studies are intended to further de-risk execution and refine capital and operating cost projections. Environmental Impact Assessment studies initiated in 2025 will continue through 2026, including baseline environmental work and engagement with regulatory authorities. Planning for public consultation and advancement of licensing processes at the local, state and federal levels are expected to progress during this period.

The Company is also evaluating several opportunities with the potential to enhance the value of the Project, including: (i) extending mineralization through ongoing exploration drilling, (ii) incorporating a magnetite recovery circuit to reduce tailings volumes and potentially generate additional by-product revenue through the production of a high-grade magnetite concentrate, and (iii) evaluating a gravity pre-concentration circuit to improve gold recoveries. These opportunities are in early stages of development and are not reflected in the economics presented in the PEA.

A Value-Driven Development and Operating Plan

The PEA contemplates the development of Furnas as a large-scale, long-life mining operation comprising four distinct operating areas, incorporating a series of selective open pits and two underground mines within the two primary high-grade zones of the deposit - the Southeast and Northwest Zones. Mine production from open pit and underground mines will feed a centralized processing facility with a design capacity of 13.5 million tonnes per annum. Conventional flotation will produce a copper concentrate with significant gold and silver by-product credits over an initial 24-year mine life.

Development and pre-stripping activities during the initial three-year construction period are planned to focus on the Southeast Zone, with production commencing from the open pit, followed shortly thereafter by the underground mine. Once steady-state production has been achieved in the Southeast Zone, development of the Northwest open pit is expected to begin, with first production from this area anticipated late in year four of operations. Underground mining in the Northwest Zone is planned to commence towards the middle of the 24-year mine life, supporting production levels in the later years of the mine life.

This phased development approach and design criteria is centered upon a responsible mine development framework to minimize surface footprint, de-risk the Project's development plan, and enable an efficient capital expenditure profile. The strategy will allow for capital deployment to align with the progression of mining activities and projected cash flow generation.

Integrated Mine Design with a Conventional Processing Flowsheet

Mining from the open pits will be conducted using conventional truck-and-shovel operations, with the Southeast and Northwest open pits projected to produce 36.6 million tonnes and 37.5 million tonnes of mill feed, respectively, over the life of mine. Development is planned to commence in the Southeast Zone open pit, supporting the early years of production, with a projected life-of-mine strip ratio of approximately 2.8. Open pit mining in the Northwest Zone will comprise two adjacent pits with a blended life-of-mine strip ratio of approximately 3.6.

Trade-off studies were performed for the PEA to optimize design criteria including desired selectivity within high-grade zones, total production volumes, vertical development requirements, operability and economic outcomes. The unique geometry and continuity of mineralized zones over considerable strike lengths and favorable thickness, paired with rock mass quality enable underground mining rates of approximately 20,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") in the Southeast Zone and 10,000 tpd in the Northwest Zone. Underground mining in both the Southeast and Northwest Zones will use sublevel stoping mining methods incorporating both waste rock and cemented paste backfill. Over the proposed life of mine, the Southeast and Northwest underground operations are projected to produce 114.0 million tonnes and 51.6 million tonnes of mill feed, respectively.

Mined tonnage will be processed through a centralized sulphide flotation plant with a design capacity of approximately 13.5 million tonnes per annum, or approximately 37,000 tpd. The processing plant is based on a conventional crushing, grinding and flotation flowsheet using proven technologies currently in place across the Company's operations, minimizing operational risk at the contemplated production scale. Approximately 30% of tailings generated over the mine life is expected to be used for underground backfill requirements. Thickened tailings not used for backfill requirements will be deposited in a surface tailings storage facility.

The proposed flowsheet incorporates conventional three-stage crushing and milling paired with a multi-stage copper flotation and re-grind circuit designed to maximize copper recovery while maintaining concentrate quality. Metallurgical testwork demonstrates strong and consistent performance across a large variability dataset, achieving average copper recoveries of approximately 90%, producing a copper concentrate grading over 30% copper. Gold and silver are expected to be recovered as payable by-products within the copper concentrate, with average recoveries of approximately 75% for gold and 71% for silver.

Figure 1: Cross-section view of the PEA mine plan, including four distinct and integrated operating zones (view looking Northeast).

Mill Feed Contribution by Mining Area (tonnes in millions)

Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

    Grade Contained Metal  Tonnes Cu Au Ag CuEq(2) Cu Au Ag CuEq(2)Category (Mt) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (kt) (koz) (koz) (kt)                   Open Pit                  Indicated 272.2 0.59 0.31 1.66 0.83 1,594 2,748 14,546 2,252Inferred 117.1 0.51 0.31 1.24 0.75 601 1,160 4,662 876                   Underground                  Indicated 3.4 0.57 0.23 1.44 0.75 19 25 156 25Inferred 78.8 0.53 0.31 1.50 0.77 418 791 3,809 607                   Total                  Indicated 275.6 0.59 0.31 1.66 0.83 1,613 2,773 14,702 2,277Inferred 195.9 0.52 0.31 1.34 0.76 1,020 1,952 8,470 1,483 Note: The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards (2014) were used for reporting Mineral Resources, which are effective as at November 30, 2025 and presented on a 100% ownership basis. The Mineral Resource estimate is reported on an in situ basis, with no operational, planned, or internal mining dilution, and no mining recovery factors applied. Minimum mining widths and/or geological constraints incorporated in the estimation methodology were applied to reflect reasonable mining selectivity and geological continuity and do not represent the application of operational dilution.

(1) All figures have been rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Summed amounts may not add due to rounding. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. See "Notes on Mineral Resources" below for additional technical and scientific information.
(2) CuEq grade for the updated mineral resource estimate calculated as Cu grade + ((Au grade x 0.03215 x $2,500 gold price x 74.6% gold metallurgical recovery) + (Ag grade x 0.03215 x $24.00 silver price x 71.0% silver metallurgical recovery)) / (0.01 x $9,039/tonne copper price x 90.3% copper metallurgical recovery).

Furnas is classified as an iron oxide copper-gold ("IOCG") deposit, characterized by copper and gold mineralization associated with iron oxide alternation. IOCG systems can be large and laterally continuous and therefore amenable to bulk mining methods, attributes that are consistent with the scale and development scenario contemplated in the PEA.

The updated mineral resource estimate incorporates approximately 90,000 meters of historical drilling completed by Vale S.A. and Anglo American plc, together with 28,000 meters of Phase 1 drilling completed by the Company through July 2025. The updated mineral resource estimate is based on integrated open pit and underground mining methods.

Results from the Phase 2 program (approximately 17,000 meters completed ahead of schedule in Q4 2025) and the ongoing Phase 3 program (approximately 50,000 meters planned in 2026) are not included in the mineral resource estimate and will be reflected in subsequent resource updates and future engineering studies.

Infrastructure Advantage in a World-Class Mining District

Furnas is located within the Carajás Mineral Province, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of VBM’s Salobo operations and approximately 190 kilometers northeast of the Company's Tucumã Operation. The Project covers roughly 2,400 hectares and benefits from close proximity to extensive regional infrastructure, including paved roads, an industrial-scale cement plant, a power substation, and Vale S.A.’s railroad loadout facility.

The region is a well-established mining hub with a deep network of suppliers, contractors, and technical service providers supporting both operating mines and development projects. The Project is situated less than 50 kilometers from Parauapebas, a mid-sized city with a population exceeding 250,000. Access to infrastructure, an experienced labor pool, suppliers and contracts is expected to support project execution and reduce the need for significant greenfield infrastructure investments associated with remote development projects.

Figure 2: Map of the Carajás Mineral Province, highlighting the location of Furnas in close proximity to extensive regional infrastructure.

Overview of Furnas Earn-In Agreement

In October 2023, the Company entered into a binding term sheet with Salobo Metais S.A., a subsidiary of VBM, providing Ero the right to earn a 60% interest in the Project upon completion of several exploration, engineering and development milestones over a period of five years from the execution of a definitive earn-in agreement, which occurred in July 2024.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ero may earn its 60% interest by completing three staged work programs, including prescribed drilling campaigns and the delivery of a preliminary economic analysis, pre-feasibility study, and definitive feasibility study over a five-year period. During the earn-in period, Ero will solely fund the required exploration and engineering work programs.

Upon completion of the earn-in requirements and a positive investment decision, the parties will form a joint venture, at which point VBM will retain a 40% interest and will receive a free carry of up to 11.0% on future Project construction capital expenditures, subject to defined thresholds.

For additional information regarding the earn-in structure and detailed terms, please refer to the Company’s press releases dated October 30, 2023 and July 22, 2024.

Capital Expenditure Breakdown

 Unit Initial Capital Phased Expansion
Capital(1)Underground Mines$M $179 $34Open Pit Mines$M $132 $138Processing Plant$M $410 —Tailings Management$M $48 —Infrastructure$M $139 $22Owners' Team$M $8 —Processing Plant indirect Expenditures$M $150 $46Direct & Indirect Capital Expenditures$M $1,066 $239Contingency$M $215 $48Total Capital Expenditures$M $1,280 $287 (1) Expansion capital related to the Company's phased development strategy occurring after first production. Please refer to the section entitled "A Value-Driven Development and Operating Plan" of this press release for additional information.

Operating Cost Breakdown

 Unit First 15 Years Life of MineUnderground Mining$M $2,664 $3,489Open Pit Mining$M $229 $229Open Pit Waste Mining$M $301 $301Processing$M $1,535 $1,857Tailings Management$M $231 $279Treatment & Refining$M $505 $602Concentrate Transportation$M $474 $565Gold Credit(1)$M ($5,091) ($6,162)Silver Credit(1)$M ($287) ($323)Total Operating Costs$M $559 $837Copper C1 Cash Cost(2)$/lb produced $0.24 $0.30 (1) Assumes long-term metal prices of $3,300/oz Au and $40.00/oz Ag.
(2) C1 Cash Cost is a non-IFRS Measure. Please refer to the Notes section of this press release for a discussion of non-IFRS Measures.

QUALIFIED PERSON AND THE NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT

Mr. Cid Gonçalves Monteiro Filho, SME RM (04317974), MAIG (No. 8444), FAusIMM (No. 329148) has reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Monteiro is Manager, Resources & Reserves of the Company and is a “qualified person” within the meanings of NI 43-101.

The Company will file the associated technical report on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca/landingpage/) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov), and publish this report on the Company's website (www.ero.com), within 45 days of this press release.

QUALITY ASSURANCE & QUALITY CONTROL

Current QA/QC Program

At the Project, the Company is currently drilling with third-party contracted core drill rigs, operated by Major Drilling Group International Inc. and Drillgeo Geologia e Sondagem Ltda. – independent contractors engaged since October 2024. Drill core is logged, photographed and split in half using a diamond core saw at the Company's core logging and storage facilities. Half of the drill core is retained on site and the other half-core is used for analysis, with samples collected at a minimum of 1.5 meters and a maximum of 2.5 meters with an average length of 2.0 meters. Sampling commences at least 3.0 meters before the start of the mineralized zone and continues at least 3.0 meters beyond the limit of the mineralized zone. Sample collection is performed at the Company's logging facilities with all sample preparation performed at ALS Brasil Ltda.'s laboratory, located in Parauapebas (PA), Brazil, who is independent of the Company. Samples are analyzed by the certified laboratory of ALS Peru S.A., who is independent of the Company. Copper content is determined by four-acid digestion followed by ICP-MS analysis, while gold content is analyzed using fire assay with ICP-AES. When copper grades exceed 1%, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy is used to determine it. All sample results from the Phase 1 drill program have been monitored through a quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") program that includes adherence to the internal operational procedures and the insertion of certified standards, blanks and duplicates at a rate of three standards, one coarse blank, one fine blank, one field duplicate, one coarse duplicate, and one pulp duplicate for every 50 total samples, yielding a blended QC rate of approximately 16%.

QA/QC Validation

The QA/QC validation process undertaken for the Phase 1 drill program of the Project is consistent with the process set out in the NI 43-101 technical report with respect to Furnas, titled “Furnas Copper Project – Para State, Brazil – NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate Technical Report”, dated November 18, 2024 with an effective date of June 30, 2024 (the "2024 Technical Report") and Ero’s internal guidelines and best practices.

For details on the post-mortem QA/QC program performed by the Company on historic drilling completed by Vale S.A. and Anglo American plc, please refer to the Company's press release dated October 2, 2024 and the 2024 Technical Report.

NOTES ON MINERAL RESOURCES

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards (2014) were used for reporting the Project's mineral resource estimate, which is effective as at November 30, 2025 and presented on a 100% ownership basis. All figures have been rounded to the relative accuracy of the estimates. Summed amounts may not add due to rounding. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have a demonstrated economic viability.

Mr. João Estevão Junior, MAIG, of SDPM, an independent qualified person within the meanings of NI 43-101, supervised the preparation and validation of the mineral resource estimate.

Mineral resources have been estimated using a copper price of US$9,039/tonne, a gold price of US$2,500/oz, a silver price of US$24.00/oz, a USD:BRL foreign exchange rate of 5.50, and copper, gold, and silver metallurgical recovery rates of 90.3%, 74.6%, and 71.0%, respectively. The estimation was constrained using Datamine’s MSO for underground and Studio NPVS for open pit optimization. The applied copper-equivalent cut-off grades were 0.45% (break-even) and 0.43% (marginal) for underground, and 0.20% (break-even) and 0.17% (marginal) for open pit. Mineral resources were estimated using ordinary kriging within a 25-meter by 25-meter by 4-meter block size (X, Y, Z), with a minimum sub-block size of 6.25 meters by 6.25 meters by 2.0 meters.

NOTES

Alternative Performance (Non-IFRS) Measures

The Company utilizes certain alternative performance (non-IFRS) measures to monitor its performance, including C1 cash cost of copper produced (per lb), C1 cash cost of gold produced (per ounce), and AISC of gold produced (per ounce). These performance measures have no standardized meaning prescribed within generally accepted accounting principles under IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other mining companies. These non-IFRS measures are intended to provide supplemental information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

C1 Cash Cost of Copper Produced (per lb)

C1 cash cost of copper produced (per lb) is a non-IFRS performance measure used by the Company to manage and evaluate the operating performance of its copper mining segment and is calculated as C1 cash costs divided by total pounds of copper produced during the period. C1 cash costs comprise the total cost of production, including expenses related to transportation, and treatment and refining charges. These costs are net of by-product credits and incentive payments.

While the C1 cash cost of copper produced per pound is widely reported in the mining industry as a performance benchmark, it does not have a standardized meaning and is disclosed as a supplement to IFRS measures.

ABOUT ERO

Ero is a Brazil-focused, growth-oriented mining company with a diversified portfolio of copper and gold assets. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates two copper mines – the Caraíba Operations in Bahia State and the Tucumã Operation in Pará State – as well as the Xavantina Operations, a producing gold mine in Mato Grosso State. In addition to its operating assets, Ero is advancing the Furnas Copper-Gold Project, located in the mineral-rich Carajás Province in Pará State, through a definitive earn-in agreement with Vale Base Metals to acquire a 60% interest in the project.

Ero’s operating philosophy is grounded in a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and the responsible production of minerals essential for a better tomorrow. The Company’s shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ERO.” Additional information, including technical reports on the Company’s operations and projects, is available on the Company’s website (www.ero.com), SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Farooq Hamed, VP, Investor Relations
[email protected]

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, “target”, “plan”, “expect”, “budget”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “schedule”, “anticipate”, “contemplate”, “believe”, “continue”, “potential”, “view” or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s plans, prospects and business strategies and strategic vision and aspirations and their achievement and timing; the results of the Furnas PEA, including but not limited to the mineral resource estimate and the parameters and assumptions used to estimate the mineral resources, future expansion of the mineral resource estimate and the Project, the strategy and objectives of the Company's drill programs, the life of mine, the life of mine plan, mining methods, production estimates and production profile, processing estimates, mining rates, metal grades and production and recovery rates, process flowsheet, costs and expenditures (including capital, sustaining and operating costs, and C1 cash costs) and the timing thereof, economic metrics and sensitivities, estimated economic results (including Project economics, economic metrics, NPV, IRR, and payback period) and the parameters and assumptions used to estimate the economic results, geological and mineralization interpretations, exploration and development activities, timelines and similar statements relating to the economic viability of the Project, tailings management, Project development and construction plans (including staged development, sequencing, timing, the effects and benefits), Project permitting and licensing efforts, community and social engagement; the filing of a technical report in connection with the PEA and the timing thereof; Project studies and their ability to enhance the Project's value (including technical, environmental and social studies); the size and scale of the Furnas Project; the Company’s ability to comply with contractual and permitting or other regulatory and/or earn-in agreement requirements; the results of any Preliminary Economic Assessment, Pre- Feasibility Study, Feasibility Study, or Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, and life of mine estimates; anticipated market prices of metals and currency exchange rates; anticipated exploration and development activities at Furnas; the anticipated project development and other plans and expectations with respect to a future 60/40 (Ero/VBM) joint venture; and any other statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future plans, intentions, levels of activity, results, performance or achievements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks discussed in this press release and in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form (“AIF”) under the heading “Risk Factors”. The risks discussed in this press release and in the AIF are not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company’s actual results, achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to herein and in the AIF under the heading “Risk Factors”.

The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, many of which may be difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in the AIF, the Company has made certain assumptions about, among other things: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the production, development and exploration of the Company’s properties and assets; future prices of copper, gold and other metal prices; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of any mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the geology of the Caraíba Operations, the Xavantina Operations, the Tucumã Operation and the Furnas Copper-Gold Project being as described in the respective technical report for each property; production costs; the accuracy of budgeted exploration, development and construction costs and expenditures; the price of other commodities such as fuel; future currency exchange rates, interest rates and tariff rates; operating conditions being favourable such that the Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; work force continuing to remain healthy in the face of prevailing epidemics, pandemics or other health risks, political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; obtaining required renewals for existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; requirements under applicable laws; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital goods markets; availability of equipment; positive relations with local groups and the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under its agreements with such groups; and satisfying the terms and conditions of the Company’s current loan arrangements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this press release, these assumptions are subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

CAUTIONARY NOTES REGARDING MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES

Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this press release and the documents incorporated by reference herein have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) — CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Standards”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and reserve and resource information included herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this press release and the documents incorporated by reference herein use the terms “measured resources,” “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.

Further to recent amendments, mineral property disclosure requirements in the United States (the “U.S. Rules”) are governed by subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) which differ from the CIM Standards. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system (the “MJDS”), Ero is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the U.S. Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. If Ero ceases to be a foreign private issuer or loses its eligibility to file its annual report on Form 40-F pursuant to the MJDS, then Ero will be subject to the U.S. Rules, which differ from the requirements of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.

Pursuant to the new U.S. Rules, the SEC recognizes estimates of “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources.” In addition, the definitions of “proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” under the U.S. Rules are now “substantially similar” to the corresponding standards under NI 43-101. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that Ero reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. While the above terms under the U.S. Rules are “substantially similar” to the standards under NI 43-101 and CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the U.S. Rules and CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that Ero may report as “proven mineral reserves”, “probable mineral reserves”, “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources” under NI 43-101 would be the same had Ero prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the U.S. Rules.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2af9e1d6-b439-4c25-bcab-524c43a77d7b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d923958-3ee8-4c79-8bbb-645b437bde72

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1419223-da67-47ee-b834-50c87c963256

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c76bc8a9-cb5a-43b0-9449-1ebf33a3cd71

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, /PRNewswire/ -- Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") (NYSE:LGI) is confirming today, pursuant to its Managed Distribution Policy, as previously authorized by its Board of Directors, a monthly distribution of $0.15340 per share on the Fund's outstanding common stock. The distribution is payable on March 23, 2026, to shareholders of record on March 10, 2026. The ex-dividend date is March 10, 2026.

The Fund will pay a previously declared distribution today, February 23, 2026. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current distribution and the cumulative distributions paid, including today's distribution, from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains (short-term and long-term), and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per share of common stock and are based on accounting principles generally accepted in the US, which may differ from federal income tax regulations.

Current Distribution

% of the Current Distribution

Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date

% of the Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date

Net Income

$0.00443

3 %

$0.00521

2 %

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains

$0.00000

0 %

$0.00000

0 %

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains

$0.04971

32 %

$0.04971

16 %

Return of Capital

$0.09926

65 %

$0.25188

82 %

Total

$0.15340

100 %

$0.30680

100 %

Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on January 31, 2026

8.46 %

Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of January 31, 2026     

9.76 %

Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through January 31, 2026                 

3.44 %

Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of January 31, 2026                       

0.81 %

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Policy.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its net investment income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income".

The amounts and sources of distributions reported above are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund provides financial intermediary firms the information necessary to produce the Form 1099-DIV, and then the relevant financial intermediary firm will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. If you have any questions, or need additional information, please call us at 1-800-823-6300.

Portfolio data as of January 31, 2026, including performance, asset allocation, top 10 holdings, sector weightings, regional exposure, and other Fund characteristics have been posted on Lazard Asset Management's ("LAM") website, www.LazardAssetManagement.com.

The Fund's investment objective is total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund's net assets are invested in a portfolio of approximately 60 to 80 US and non-US equity securities, including American Depository Receipts, generally of companies with market capitalizations greater than $2 billion, and may include investments in emerging markets. The Fund also invests in emerging market currencies (primarily by entry into forward currency contracts), or instruments whose value is derived from the performance of an underlying emerging market currency, and also may invest in debt obligations, including government, government agency and corporate obligations and structured notes denominated in emerging market currencies.

An indirect subsidiary of Lazard, Inc. (NYSE: LAZ), LAM, the Fund's investment manager, offers a range of equity, fixed-income, and alternative investment products worldwide. As of January 31, 2026, LAM and affiliated asset management companies in the Lazard Group managed $267.0 billion worth of client assets. For more information about LAM, please go to www.LazardAssetManagement.com.

SOURCE Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2026) - Visit T2 Metals (TSXV: TWO) (OTCQB: TWOSF) at Booth #2941 at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Convention at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from Sunday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

About T2 Metals

T2 Metals Corp is an emerging copper and precious metal company enhancing shareholder value through exploration and discovery. The Company continues to target under-explored areas, including the Sherridon, Lida, Cora and Copper Eagle mineral projects where post-mineralization cover masks areas of high geological prospectivity in the vicinity of major mines. T2 Metals is committed to engage with rights holders and stakeholders with the highest level of respect, ensuring that our exploration activities contribute positively to the communities in which we operate.

About PDAC

The World’s Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention is the leading convention for people, governments, companies and organizations connected to mineral exploration. In addition to meeting more than 1,100 exhibitors, 2,500 investors and 26,000 attendees in person in 2024, participants could also attend programming, courses and networking events.

The annual convention is held in Toronto, Canada. It has grown in size, stature and influence since it began in 1932 and today is the event of choice for the world’s mineral industry.

For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.pdac.ca/convention.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information:

Source: Newsfile Partner Event

Journalist

Posted: February 24, 2026

A few weeks ago, chains associated with the stablecoin narrative were thriving but have since lost the flair. Plasma [XPL] was one of them, with their focus on stablecoin payment, which also featured Tether’s USDT.

XPL lost more than 12% of its total market capitalization in only 24 hours. A spike in daily trading volume by 38% confirmed the selling pressure.

Additionally, the coin’s turnover ratio of 0.436 indicates a significant portion of the capitalization was being traded. Can bulls step in as they did previously as the price approached a key demand zone?

XPL approaches a key demand zone XPL price extended its decline for the second consecutive day to 18% following the day’s losses.

The current bear strength, as evident from the Bull Bear Power indicator whose bars were increasing in size, was pushing price toward the $0.08 zone.

As per the Market Structure Break and OB Probability indicator, the $0.08 was a key demand zone. Initially, XPL rebounded from this zone and pushed the price above $0.10.

Source: XPL/USDT on TradingView

While a decline to the $0.08 zone could trigger bulls into buying, bear strength was still very present. In fact, it increased with each candle close, with BBP at negative 0.0148.

This value was half of what the strongest bears in February had managed.

The decline made a potential rebound at $0.08 difficult with the current conditions. Probably, pessimism among traders and low chain activity amplified the losses.

XPL perpetual Futures traders at extreme pessimism Looking at the perpetual Futures data for XPL, traders showed pessimism. The OI-Weighted Funding Rate sharply dropped into the negative territory, hitting 0.0437%.

The data showed that the market was overly crowded on the short side, an indication of panic selling. Furthermore, these shorts were paying longs to keep their positions open as well as opening more sell orders.

Source: CoinGlass

This sharp decline could mean further downside risk, especially if bulls did not step in. Breaking below $0.08 would create a new low for the altcoin, surpassing the current one at $0.0709.

Activity falls sharply in two weeks XPL’s network activity was also following the price action. Over the past two weeks, the number of transactions dropped by more than 12%, from 416.5K to 365.9K.

But from a daily perspective, transactions rose by 4.28%, while total transaction fees were up 56%. This spike in activity was probably from the traders who were selling the token.

Source: Plasmascan

Meanwhile, its cumulative transaction count stood at 155.76 million at a speed of 4.5 TPS. Generally, most of XPL’s metrics were weak, including its price action, which was approaching a key demand zone.

Final Summary XPL loses 12% as the OI-Weighted Funding Rate turns red and activity drops sharply. XPL price was approaching the demand zone at $0.08, but the bearish strength was not relenting. 

3 mins mins

BitMine buys 51,162 ETH; total now ~4.42M (~3.66%)BitMine increased its Ethereum holdings by 51,162 ETH last week, according to Benzinga. As reported by CoinDesk, the purchase lifts the treasury to roughly 4.42 million ETH, or about 3.66% of supply. The report also notes unrealized losses exceeding $8 billion tied to the rapid accumulation strategy.

The addition continues a months‑long pivot toward ETH exposure and staking. Disclosures referenced in recent coverage indicate the company has been scaling a validator footprint while building an on‑platform staking offering.

Why Tom Lee remains bullish on Ethereum fundamentalstom lee has defended buying into weakness by pointing to three demand drivers: tokenization of real‑world assets, smart‑contract rails for AI agents, and verification rails for the creator economy. He argues these use cases are distinct from short‑term price moves.

“We remain bullish on Ethereum’s fundamentals,” said Tom Lee, Chairman of BitMine and co‑founder of Fundstrat. He has repeatedly framed ETH’s utility as underappreciated relative to its on‑chain activity and network effects.

These themes, if realized at scale, could sustain validator economics and support long‑term treasury returns. They also align with BitMine’s stated focus on staking infrastructure as a core operating capability.

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Immediate impact: staking revenue, treasury scale, market contextAs reported by CoinGape, BitMine’s holdings have been framed around staking‑driven revenue generation, with over three million ETH deployed and a MAVAN staking solution targeted for Q1 2026. The same coverage cited a total asset base near $9.6 billion alongside the enlarged ETH position.

At the time of this writing, Coinbase Global (COIN) traded near $159.59, down about 6.9% on the day, based on data from Yahoo Finance. Broader crypto equity softness underscores that treasury growth may not immediately translate into equity performance.

Risks, valuation, and what to watch nextBMNR stock weakness, drawdown, and concentration riskBMNR shares have remained weak despite ongoing eth accumulation, with charts suggesting institutional hesitation and rising breakdown risk, as per BeInCrypto. The strategy’s mark‑to‑market drawdown remains significant, and controlling roughly 3.66% of ETH supply concentrates exposure to a single asset and network.

Staking yield variability, liquidity, and regulatory considerationsValidator rewards vary with on‑chain activity and can decline if fee markets compress. Staking also introduces slashing and operational risks, while large positions may face liquidity frictions during stressed markets. Regulatory treatment of staking and tokenization remains fluid across jurisdictions and could affect economics or disclosures.

FAQ about BitMine buys 51,162 ETHWhy does Tom Lee remain bullish on Ethereum’s fundamentals despite recent price weakness?He cites tokenization, AI agent activity on smart contracts, and creator‑economy verification as long‑term demand drivers outweighing short‑term volatility.

What percentage of Ethereum’s total supply does BitMine control after the 51,162 ETH purchase?Approximately 3.66% of the total ETH supply, based on recent reported figures.

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

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Cardano (ADA) is showing signs of consolidation, stabilizing near recent highs within a tightening intraday range.

Trading at $0.26 per CoinGecko data, ADA is testing key technical levels that could dictate its next move, says analyst GainMuse.

She highlights that a sustained move above $0.29 could push ADA toward new local highs, while a drop below $0.278 risks reversing the current recovery.

Source: GainMuse Notably, Cardano’s short-term strength is essential, especially as CME futures may unlock significant institutional inflows, fueling bullish momentum toward $10.

Cardano and Solana Spark Cross-Chain Buzz After “Secret Dinner” Between Hoskinson and Liu A potential catalyst for renewed crypto interest has emerged. Crypto analyst Leader Alpha reports that Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson and Solana Foundation’s Lily Liu met for a private dinner, discussing their ecosystems and finding common ground, hinting at a possible easing of tensions between the two communities.

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Recently, Charles Hoskinson announced the launch date for the privacy-focused Midnight chain, as NIGHT tokens are airdropped to Solana wallets, suggesting cross-chain collaborations that could energize both Solana and Cardano communities.

Why does this matter? Cardano’s stability near recent highs, supported by emerging cross-chain collaborations, could fuel both technical momentum and investor interest. 

Maintaining $0.25 strengthens the bullish recovery, while a break below risks further declines. Cross-chain developments may further boost ADA’s trajectory, merging technical signals with ecosystem-driven optimism.

A $7.8 trillion cash pile sits in US money market funds, earning, rolling, waiting. The Federal Reserve began this easing cycle on Sept 18, 2024, and it's now been 522 days since that first cut.

Looking at historical market movements, we're entering a window whereby funds have typically started to rotate back into riskier assets. Bitcoin analyst Matthew Hyland made exactly this claim on X over the weekend.

Historically around 500-1000 days after the FED begins rate cuts the liquidity begins to leave the money market funds and flow out into the markets.

The calendar supports the setup, but the incentives will decide the outcome.

The latest weekly read from the Investment Company Institute puts total money market fund assets at $7.791T for the week ended Feb 18, 2026, with $6.405T in government funds, $1.242T in prime funds, and $0.144T in tax exempt funds, a distribution that tells you where the demand has preferred to sit, close to Treasurys and close to daily liquidity.

We can view this as “cash on the sidelines,” a reserve that can stampede into risk assets once the Fed turns the corner.

However, the cash is a yield product; it has incentives, mandates, a monthly statement, and a reason it accumulated here in the first place. Rates rose, yields followed, and cash found a home with fewer questions attached, and now rates are stepping down, and the question shifts from size to direction.

The effective federal funds rate sits at 3.64% in the January 2026 monthly print, down from 4.22% in September 2025, a simple compression of return that changes what “safe” pays.

You can see it in money fund yield tracking as well. Crane’s index sits around 3.58% for the week ended Jan 2, 2026, a quieter yield that narrows the gap between waiting and reaching. The cash pile still looks tall on a chart, and the path under it is a slope, and slopes create motion.

The easy reservoir that used to sit in the Fed’s overnight reverse repo facility has already drained down to almost nothing, $0.496B on Feb 20, 2026, so the next “liquidity story” lives in portfolio choices rather than a mechanical facility unwind.

The cash can stay where it is, roll into duration, move into credit, drift into equities, or leak into crypto rails, and each path has a different set of consequences.

The cash pile has a job, and the job shapes the exitMoney market funds hold more than one kind of money. ICI’s weekly split shows $3.082T in retail money market funds and $4.709T in institutional funds, and institutional cash carries a different posture, it pays vendors, it backs credit lines, it covers payroll cycles, it sits there as policy, and those policies move slower than memes.

That composition sets the baseline for the flow math. A 1% move in total money market assets equals about $78B, a 5% move equals about $390B, a 10% move equals about $779B, and those numbers get interesting even before you argue about where they land, since they tell you how large the gear is that the rate path is trying to turn.

The incentive lever is yield, which follows the Fed’s path.

Morgan Stanley frames it in the plain language investors actually live with, money market yields track the Fed, cuts compress returns, and investors reevaluate where they sit as the path evolves. The forward-looking part is simple: the more the path points down, the more the ledger begins to ask, “What else pays,” and the answer changes by risk tolerance and by mandate.

Macro liquidity watchers will also keep one eye on the Treasury’s own cash balance and the Fed’s balance sheet, since both shift the waterline in reserves and financing.

The Fed’s balance sheet, WALCL, stands at $6.613T, and the Treasury General Account weekly average sits around $912.7B for the same week, both series that traders read like gauges, each movement a reminder that cash is a system with valves.

Rotation paths, duration first, risk later, crypto as a thin railA rate-cutting cycle creates a menu, and the first courses look like duration and credit. Morgan Stanley points out that in prior easing windows, investment-grade bonds beat cash equivalents between the end of hikes and the end of cuts, providing a grounded alternative to the idea that money-market outflows automatically become equity or crypto inflows.

That detail is important for Bitcoin, since it depends on marginal flow, and marginal flow depends on which bucket investors choose first. In a world where cash rolls into bonds, the rotation still exists, and the risk bid looks more measured. Though when cash skips the bond aisle and reaches for risk, the rotation becomes a discontinuity.

Crypto has its own liquidity mirror. The stablecoin market stands at $308B, with USDT at $186B, a balance sheet for on-chain “cash” that can expand when risk appetite rises, and contract when the system tightens.

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Stablecoins carry a different role than money market funds, and the comparison helps; each is a wrapper for short-term value storage, and each wrapper moves when the opportunity cost shifts.

Bitcoin also has a relatively new intake pipe in US spot ETFs. Inflow and outflow totals become a ruler for the money market scenario math, since you can compare a hypothetical $39B shift to a realized $61.3B of ETF intake, and you can see how quickly the scale begins to matter.

Three scenarios, one cash pile, different consequencesSticky cash, cautious Fed, slow drift. Inflation progress stays uneven, and policy makers stay alert to upside inflation risks, an attitude reflected in the Financial Times' coverage that even included discussion of the possibility of hikes as a risk scenario.In this path, money market yields slide slowly, operational cash remains operational, and outflows run small, roughly 0 to 2% over 12 months, about $0 to $156B, with much of that moving into bond ladders and high-grade duration as return differentials shift.Bitcoin’s path in this scenario follows broader risk sentiment and the steady cadence of ETF demand, and the “cash wall” stays mostly a photograph.Soft landing, faster cuts, search for return. The Fed’s own projections provide a map for how that could look. The December 2025 Summary of Economic Projections shows a median federal funds rate at 3.4% by the end of 2026 and 3.1% by the end of 2027, a longer slope that compresses the yield earned by waiting.In this path, the trigger looks like another step down in money fund yields, and Crane’s index becomes a weekly gauge for how quickly the incentive changes.Outflows land in a wider set of buckets, and the range grows, 5 to 10% over 12 months, about $390B to $779B. A split that keeps faith with institutional behavior can still send the majority into bonds and credit, and a smaller slice into equities, and a thin slice into crypto rails, and even a 0.5% share of total money market assets translates to about $39B.In this scenario, Bitcoin becomes a flow instrument, and the story shifts toward market microstructure, incremental supply meets incremental demand, and price tends to respond in jumps rather than in steps.

Recession cut, flight to safety first, policy relief later. Rate cuts arrive with a darker macro soundtrack, and risk assets wobble, and cash demand rises as investors rebuild buffers.In that world, money market funds can grow, and a 3 to 8% increase in AUM becomes plausible, about +$234B to +$623B, and the rotation story flips into a hoarding story, at least for the first phase.Bitcoin’s response in this path looks like a whipsaw, drawdown risk first, recovery potential later, and the timing becomes the dominant variable.Across all three scenarios, the common denominator is incentive. The Fed began cutting on Sept 18, 2024, with a 50 basis point move to a 4.75 to 5.00% target range, and the calendar since then has moved faster than the cash has moved, which leaves the market watching the yield slope and the allocation choices.

The global backdrop, and what to watch each week, the gauges that move firstMacro stories age well when they rest on a durable context.

The IMF’s January 2026 update projects 3.3% global growth in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, a baseline that supports a soft-landing narrative even as regional risks remain, and that matters for risk assets, since growth expectations influence allocation behavior as much as yields do.

Meanwhile, the plumbing gauge that powered many liquidity stories earlier in the decade, the Fed’s ON RRP facility, has already drained close to zero, which shifts attention back to the slower gears, money market composition, institutional constraints, and the relative return of bonds, equities, and alternative assets.

It also explains why the “cash on the sidelines” framing feels both true and incomplete. The cash exists, but its exit is not mechanical. It requires decisions, and those decisions follow incentives.

To track that process, a small set of recurring gauges matters more than headlines:

Money market assets and composition: ICI’s weekly report provides the base map, total AUM, government vs. prime share, and the retail–institutional split.

Money fund yields: Crane’s index offers a compact read on the incentive to stay put.

The rate path: The effective federal funds rate shows what “cash” actually earns.

Forward guidance: The Fed’s projected destination in the SEP anchors expectations.

System plumbing: ON RRP, WALCL, and WTREGEN indicate how reserves and liquidity are shifting.

Crypto’s internal cash: Stablecoin supply, plus daily and cumulative Bitcoin ETF flows, show how much of that rotation is reaching digital rails.

Taken together, these gauges offer a cleaner way to talk about “liquidity,” and keep us anchored when the market tries to turn it into a slogan.

The market has a way of turning a calendar into destiny, and a cash pile into a prophecy.

The better read comes from the incentives and the pipes, yields that slide, wrappers that reprice, mandates that loosen or hold, and a set of flow rails that turn small percentages into large numbers when they meet an asset built for marginal demand.

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World Liberty Financial has accused critics of targeting a “coordinated attack” against its USD1 stablecoin. This news follows speculation that the Trump-backed crypto project could be the target of an upcoming insider trading investigation conducted by popular blockchain detective ZachXBT.

The allegations surfaced after ZachXBT posted on his X account that he would release a “major investigation dropping February 26 on one of crypto’s most profitable businesses where multiple employees abused internal data to insider trade over a prolonged period of time.” 

There was no mention of a name or company, but the crypto community immediately began speculating about who the potential target was.

World Liberty’s token (WLFI) has since steadied after dipping as low as $0.1088 today, while the USD1 stablecoin briefly fell under its $1 peg. 

The timing also coincided with other observations that Eric Trump had deleted a WLFI-related post, thus fueling even more speculation that the investigation might be aimed at WLFI.

WLFI claims hacked accounts and paid FUD campaign World Liberty Financial wasted no time in clearing up the rumors, posting an official statement today declaring that “a coordinated attack was launched against USD1 this morning.” 

The project also claimed that “attackers hacked several WLFI cofounder accounts, paid influencers to spread FUD, and opened massive $WLFI shorts to profit from the manufactured chaos.”

In its statement, WLFI emphasised that the attack “didn’t work,” noting that its token continues to trade smoothly thanks to its “sound mint-and-redeem mechanism and full 1:1 backing.”

However, World Liberty Financial did not provide any blockchain evidence for the alleged hacked accounts, and did not verify which influencers were paid. There is also no on-chain data to support the claim of coordinated short positions as well.

Eric Trump doubles down with Maldives project announcement Amid all the speculation about the Trump-backed project, Eric Trump posted on X about WLFI’s tokenized luxury resort project in the Maldives, which plans to build 100 beach and overwater villas that will be tokenized at the development level. 

“Extremely excited to bring The Trump Organization to the Maldives and combine these two incredible worlds – Hard Assets with Digital Assets,” Eric Trump stated. 

Earlier this month, Apex Group, a firm with $3.5 trillion in assets, also agreed to pilot the token. 

However, the activity on Eric Trump’s X profile appeared to have been enough of a smoking gun, as community members noticed that he had deleted an earlier WLFI message. 

Nonetheless, WLFI says the tokenization approach aims to unlock high-margin returns usually achieved by financial institutions.

World Liberty avoids major drama USD1 currently has about 4.8 billion tokens in circulation. It has since returned to its $1 peg after the brief fall during the speculation saga. 

USD1 market data. Source: CoinMarketCap However, despite weathering the storm from the “coordinated attack,” President Trump’s ties to the WLFI and its USD1 stablecoin remain a frequent target of opposition inquiries. Cryptopolitan reported this month that Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim called for Treasury head Bessent to review a $500 million stake in the Trump-linked crypto project by a UAE government-linked entity. 

As things stand, ZachXBT’s intended target remains unknown. All anyone has to go on is that it is “one of crypto’s most profitable businesses.” 

On the other hand, WLFI has not provided any updates since it claimed a coordinated attack involving hacked accounts and paid influencers targeted its tokens. 

In the meantime, speculation will continue to grow, and the focus may soon shift from World Liberty Financial if a new target gains traction on Crypto Twitter. 

Bitmine Immersion Technologies raised its Ethereum treasury to 4,422,659 million tokens in the week ending Feb. 22, giving the Las Vegas-based company control of 3.66% of all Ether in circulation despite the continued decline in ETH prices.

BitMine Deepens Ether Bet With 51,162 ETH Buy Ethereum, the world’s second-most valuable cryptocurrency, dropped roughly 5.6% over the past week, trading recently around $1,861. The token hit a more than two-week low earlier today, falling to $1,845 before slightly rebounding.

However, Ether remains over 62.4% down from its all-time high of $4,946 set in August 2025 and has plunged 37.1% in the past month alone in what Bitmine chairman Tom Lee describes as a “mini crypto winter.”

“In the midst of this ‘mini crypto winter,’ our focus continues to be on methodically executing our treasury strategy and steadily acquiring ETH and, in turn, optimizing the yield on our ETH holdings,” said BitMine Chairman Tom Lee, in a statement. 

BitMine’s recent acquisition adds 51,162 ETH over the past week, or roughly $98 million at current prices, bringing the company roughly 27% short of its target to hold 5% of Ethereum’s total supply. Despite the accumulation, BitMine is currently deeply underwater on its Ether stack.

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Why BitMine Continues Accumulating Ether Despite Market Drawdown BitMine’s Ethereum treasury is valued at approximately $8.5 billion based on current market prices. This strengthens Bitmine’s top spot among global Ethereum treasury firms, the company stated. Moreover, BitMine ranks as the second-largest publicly traded crypto treasury, trailing only Strategy, led by Bitcoin permabull Michael Saylor. Strategy holds 717,722 BTC, valued at $46 billion, representing roughly 3.4% of Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million coin supply.

Lee pointed to three key factors supporting Ethereum’s long-term potential amid the ongoing market slump: Wall Street’s push for tokenization, the use of smart blockchains in AI applications for execution and payments, and the creator economy’s shift toward blockchain-based verification.

Notably, despite the downturn, Bitmine Immersion Technologies continues to attract major Wall Street backing. Its 11 largest shareholders—including Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, ARK Investment Management, and BlackRock—added to their stakes during Q4 2025.

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Simon Gerovich, CEO of Metaplanet, states that Bitcoin will become the reserve asset adopted by major corporations as AI expands. Gerovich warns that AI-driven automation will erode governments’ tax base, which will respond with monetary expansion. The executive argues that AI agents will bypass banks and traditional payment networks to operate directly with digital assets. Simon Gerovich, CEO of Japanese investment firm Metaplanet, argued that Bitcoin will become the primary reserve asset for major corporations as artificial intelligence redefines the global economy. His statements came in response to a viral post projecting a 38% drop in the S&P 500 from its highs by June 2028, alongside an unemployment rate that could exceed 10% in the same period.

The Impact of AI on Economic Equilibrium Gerovich argued that the gains from the AI-driven productivity boom flow almost entirely to the owners of computing capacity and capital, rather than to labor or governments. In that regard, he warned that every company holding cash or bond reserves is maintaining a position in a system whose tax base is evaporating, and whose inevitable response will be monetary expansion.

This dynamic, according to the executive, accelerates the development of a transition that was already underway. Companies that fail to redirect their reserves toward Bitcoin will face growing exposure to the depreciation of traditional capital, with no instruments to offset the erosion of value.

Bitcoin as a Reserve for Machines Gerovich noted that AI agents have no bank accounts and no brand loyalty. As automatic optimization systems advance, financial transactions will migrate from card networks and banks toward blockchain technology, because that architecture is the one that is functional for a machine.

In that scenario, AI agents will not store the value they generate in money market funds. According to Gerovich, they will opt for digital capital, and Bitcoin in particular. For the Metaplanet CEO, major corporations will have few alternatives: as macroeconomic vulnerabilities deepen, accumulating Bitcoin will cease to be a strategic decision and become a structural necessity.

Matt Hougan framed volatility as a developmental phase, arguing immature assets shouldn’t be judged by mature standards yet.

Bitwise Asset Management Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan took to social media to defend Bitcoin (BTC) against a wave of criticism, arguing that skeptics judging the asset as a failed store of value are ignoring the volatile “teenage phase” necessary for any new monetary asset to mature.

His comments were a direct challenge to a growing narrative, amplified by a nearly 50% drawdown from its all-time high and recent headlines questioning the cryptocurrency’s purpose.

Bitcoin’s Volatility Meets Institutional Impatience The debate reignited after Bloomberg published a report framing the current market downturn as an “existential” struggle for Bitcoin, asking what the asset is actually for if it fails as a hedge, payment rail, or speculative vehicle.

Former Merrill Lynch trader Tom Essaye, quoted in the Bloomberg piece, added fuel to the fire, stating flatly that “Bitcoin is not replacing gold, it’s not digital gold” and dismissing its utility as an inflation or chaos hedge.

Hougan responded to these takes, rejecting the premise that Bitcoin must emerge from nothing as a fully formed, gold-like asset. He described Bitcoin in 2009 as “100% speculation,” projecting a future in 2050 where it is “0% speculation” and owned by central banks.

“You cannot travel from 100% speculation to 0% speculation without ticking every gradient in between,” Hougan posted. “The reason it doesn’t fit any individual box right now is it’s in the uncomfortable middle. But that’s a necessary part of the journey.”

His defense comes at a time when the price action of the king cryptocurrency is testing investor patience. The asset recently shed thousands of dollars off its value, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 10% temporary global tariff.

Meanwhile, Google searches for “Bitcoin is dead” have spiked to levels not seen since the FTX collapse in late 2022, a metric that some traders view as a contrarian signal that a bottom may be forming.

You may also like: Bitcoin ‘Death Cross’ Returns: Why BTC Could Tumble to $30,000 Next The Fastest Bitcoin (BTC) Crash Is Over, But the Worst Is Yet to Come BTC Flash Dump: Why Bitcoin Fell $4K in Hours and What Comes Next A Historical Precedent for Price Swings Hougan’s argument is rooted in a historical parallel he first detailed in a 2018 Forbes article, which he recirculated amid the current debate. At the time, he pointed to gold’s performance after the U.S. left the gold standard in 1971.

Following Nixon’s decision, gold was set loose from its moorings, experiencing massive volatility as it fought to establish itself as an independent store of wealth. Furthermore, in 1974, the precious metal rose 73%, only to fall 24% in 1975. In 1981, it lost 33% of its value after being up 121% just two years prior.

“If you had asked someone in 1975 if gold was a store of value, they’d have pointed to that 24% drop,” Hougan implied in his prior analysis. He argued that Bitcoin is following the same trajectory: a rapidly appreciating price that slows over time, accompanied by high-but-declining volatility.

“Either you believe it’s literally impossible to create a digital store of value, or you have to imagine it passing through exactly this teenage state,” insisted the Bitwise CIO.

His framework suggests the current drawdown, which has seen BTC fall roughly 50% from its October 2025 peak near $126,000, fits the pattern of an asset class maturing rather than failing.

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Bitcoin (BTC) slid to a weekly low of $64,111 during the New York trading session on Monday, taking out the range lows that were initially set on Sunday evening. Despite the weakness, the price action continues to rotate closely within the three-week range between $65,000 and $71,000.

Derivatives data outlines a clear lack of bearish follow-through for a deeper correction, while the liquidity positioning may frame the next move on the opposite side of the current trading range.

Bitcoin traders may target the upside liquidity nextThe recent price drop swept liquidity around $64,000 and liquidated roughly $240 million in long positions. Despite the sell-off, Bitcoin has remained within the established range that has been in place since Feb. 6. A sideways trend often builds pressure for an expansion, especially as the volatility compresses.

Bitcoin four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe Bollinger Bands have tightened, signaling reduced volatility and the potential for an expansive move.

The liquidity data shows a clear asymmetry. Roughly $1 billion in long positions face liquidation if the price tags $63,000. In contrast, more than $3.5 billion in short positions are vulnerable near a $70,000 retest. This creates a visible liquidity magnet on both ends of the range, though the concentration is notably denser on the upside.

Bitcoin exchange liquidation map. Source: CoinBitcoin open interest, which tracks the total value of outstanding futures contracts, has flattened near the local lows. Traders are not aggressively adding new exposure after the drop, possibly sidelined at the moment.

The funding rates have turned negative on the four-hour chart, meaning that the short sellers are paying the longs. This shift indicates that the positioning has tilted defensively while the price continues to hold the range support, opening the possibility of a short squeeze if the upside liquidity is targeted.

Bitcoin price, aggregated open interest, and funding rate. Source: Velo.chartTrader Lennaert Snyder noted that Bitcoin “finally grabbed the $64,500 liquidity,” adding that reclaiming the $67,751 high may open the door toward $76,971, with partial profit targets along the way. A rejection near that level invites short-term downside toward the range lows.

BTC may tag $63,000 before recoveryThe one-hour chart highlights the order block around $63,000, a zone where the large buyers previously stepped in. The order blocks mark areas of concentrated activity and can act as an inflection point on retests.

Bitcoin one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA brief sweep into the $63,000 region clears the remaining long liquidity and tests that demand zone. If the buyers defend it, the price may rotate back toward the mid-range and potentially the $70,000 resistance cluster.

Meanwhile, TexasWest Capital founder Christopher Inks pointed to the developing bullish relative strength index (RSI) divergence on the daily chart, alongside the rising volume and a wick below the range support.

A positive daily close above the reclaimed level may strengthen the case for another attempt at the range highs.

Bitcoin one-day chart RSI divergence analysis. Source: Christoper Inks/XThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Traders betting on a Bitcoin and crypto bounce are getting wrecked to start the week.

Bitcoin dropped from a 24-hour high of $67,695 to as low as $63,962, triggering a total of $616.41 million in liquidations, according to CoinGlass.

The vast majority of the liquidations hit traders going long, coming in at $524.28 million.

BTC has recorded five consecutive red monthly candles, marking one of the longest losing streaks in Bitcoin’s history.

Today’s plunge follows a broader market pullback, as markets assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling against Trump’s tariffs.

Zooming out, crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe say BTC remains locked in a major downtrend again gold.

“The answer is: not bueno. Bitcoin couldn’t hold above the $65,000 level and continues to fall.

On the flipside: Gold continues to rally. The inverse correlation remains to be happening. Well, we’ll see how that unfolds in the coming months, but it’s clear that the trend remains to be down.”

Generated Image: Midjourney

Bitcoin Magazine From 40 Meetups a Month to Nationwide Freedom: Bitcoin Indonesia's Real-Life Comeback Boasting 40 meetups a month and a broad estimated community of 55,000 bitcoiners, the Bitcoin Indonesia ecosystem might be one of the most active and successful Bitcoin adoption stories in the world today. Indonesia is a nation made up of 17,000 islands with over 380 different tribes and cultures.

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Solana has had the Solana Staking Index since February 2026, a transparent benchmark to measure staking performance on the network. The index is calculated each epoch using onchain data and excludes MEV tips to provide a consistent reference for the network’s base yield. Marinade Finance, Titan Analytics, stakefish, Layer33, and Chainflow are the organizations behind the development of the SSI. A group of staking protocols and analytics providers launched the Solana Staking Index (SSI), an open-source platform designed to establish a transparent and standardized reference for the base yield users should expect when staking SOL. The project involves five ecosystem organizations: Marinade Finance, Titan Analytics, stakefish, Layer33, and Chainflow.

The SSI draws inspiration from traditional financial system equivalents such as the SOFR rate and the Fed Funds Rate. The index is calculated each epoch from onchain RPC calls that allow SOL emissions and network block rewards to be derived. The methodology is public and built entirely on verifiable on-chain data. MEV tips are excluded from the calculation, as their distribution varies significantly across validators and would distort the base reference the index aims to provide.

Michael Repetný, co-founder and CEO of Marinade Finance, noted that the absence of a reference rate represented a critical barrier to institutional adoption. “Staking on Solana has grown into a multi-billion dollar economy, but until now there was no standardized way to measure what the network’s real base yield is,” Repetný stated.

A Structural Index for the Ecosystem Beyond its function as a reference for individual stakers, the SSI aims to become infrastructure for Solana‘s DeFi ecosystem. The tool allows protocol founders and operators to build applications on a standardized yield foundation. It also gives users the ability to compare the performance of their staking positions against the network benchmark and receive email alerts when their returns diverge from the index.

New Use Cases on the Solana Network Max Sherwood, founder of RevTec.fi, suggested that a widely accepted benchmark could unlock new use cases, including interest rate swaps, hedging tools for validators against drops in block rewards, and prediction markets on onchain activity. Sherwood emphasized that staking on Solana is the largest yield source in the crypto industry and that it deserves the reference instruments that exist in traditional finance.

The SSI also incorporates a historical mapping of Solana’s emissions and block rewards, enabling analysis of their evolution over time.

By PYMNTS  |  February 23, 2026

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Uber has debuted Autonomous Solutions, a suite of services and capabilities designed for autonomous vehicles.

These capabilities have already begun helping partners build and commercialize autonomous vehicles (AVs) in markets worldwide, Uber said in a Monday (Feb. 23) news release.

“Autonomous technology has remarkable potential to make transportation safer and more affordable,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in the release.

“Innovation in autonomy is moving quickly, but meaningful commercialization will take much longer. For more than a decade, Uber has helped set the standard for on-demand mobility and built the capabilities that make ‘push a button and get a ride’ work at global scale. With Uber Autonomous Solutions, we’re externalizing these hard-won competencies for our partners.”

Aside from getting access to Uber’s demand marketplace, the new services are designed to provide the capabilities required for end-to-end commercialization, lowering cost per mile while boosting speed to market.

“They also bring comprehensive product development and support capabilities, designed to make autonomous trips more reliable for users and more economical for operators,” the company said.

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The new offering is based around user experience, fleet operations and infrastructure, the news release added.

“Autonomous vehicles can’t hit the road without the right infrastructure. Uber provides the digital and physical foundations—combining data, mapping, regulatory access, and financing–to help partners deploy autonomy smoothly at scale,” Uber said.

As PYMNTS wrote earlier this month, Uber devoted unusual attention in its materials from its recent earnings report to autonomous vehicles.

For their part, the company’s executives did not promise imminent transformation but tried to curb expectations.

“The company’s argument was that autonomy will arrive unevenly, scale slowly and reward platforms capable of balancing fixed and flexible supply,” that report said.

Uber views itself as one of those platforms, with executives suggesting that the company’s early deployments in Austin and Atlanta demonstrating that adding autonomous vehicles to Uber’s network boosts total demand rather than cannibalizing human-driven trips. At the same time, Uber warned against extrapolating from San Francisco, which has atypical regulatory conditions and demographics.

“We enter 2026 with a rapidly growing topline, significant cash flow, and a clear path to becoming the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world,” Khosrowshahi said.

“Uber accelerated into another record-breaking quarter, with more than 200 million monthly users completing more than 40 million trips every day — our largest and most engaged consumer base ever,” the CEO added.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 23, 2026) - Visit Lode Gold Resources (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) at Booth #2519 at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Convention at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from Sunday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

About Lode Gold Resources

Exploring and Developing North American Gold Projects, Lode Gold has demonstrated success discovering, acquiring and developing exceptional, high-potential yet overlooked gold projects in premium North American mineral districts. It has assembled a pipeline of early-stage exploration assets in Yukon and New Brunswick and a past-producing high- grade gold mine in the Mother Lode Gold Belt of California.

About PDAC

The World’s Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention is the leading convention for people, governments, companies and organizations connected to mineral exploration. In addition to meeting more than 1,100 exhibitors, 2,500 investors and 26,000 attendees in person in 2024, participants could also attend programming, courses and networking events.

The annual convention is held in Toronto, Canada. It has grown in size, stature and influence since it began in 1932 and today is the event of choice for the world’s mineral industry.

For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.pdac.ca/convention.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Source: Newsfile Partner Event

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: KD) and seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Kyndryl securities between August 7, 2024 and February 9, 2026.

The lawsuit follows the sharp selloff in Kyndryl shares (-$12.90, -55%) on February 9, 2026, after the company announced that it would not timely file its quarterly report for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, material internal control weaknesses including “tone at the top” communications, senior executive departures, and an SEC document request.

These developments and severe market reaction have prompted national shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman to continue its investigation into whether Kyndryl may have violated the federal securities. The firm urges Kyndryl investors who suffered significant losses to contact the firm now to discuss their rights.

View our latest video summary of the allegations: youtu.be/yBLSIN6NeQ0

Class Period: Aug. 7, 2024 – Feb. 9, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 13, 2026
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/kd
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
844-916-0895

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (KD) Securities Class Action:

In the past, infrastructure services company Kyndryl has emphasized “strong conversion of our earnings to free cash flow” and assured investors that its internal control over financial reporting is effective.

The complaint alleges that Kyndryl made false and misleading statements while withholding crucial information from investors. More specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Kyndryl’s financial statements issued during the Class Period were materially misstated. In addition, it claims that the company lacked adequate internal controls and understated problems with its internal controls.

On February 9, 2026, Kyndryl made four startling disclosures.

First, the company notified investors that it would not timely file its quarterly report because Kyndryl’s Audit Committee “is reviewing its cash management practices, related disclosures (including the drivers of the Company’s free cash flow metric), [and] the efficacy of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting[.]”

Second, Kyndryl disclosed that it anticipated reporting material weaknesses in its “internal control over financial reporting for the period covered in the quarterly report, as well as for the full fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and the first two fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2026[.]” The company further specified that such weaknesses are expected to include controls related to information and communication and “tone at the top.”

Third, the company announced that Wyshner and Sebold departed on February 5, 2026, and its comptroller (Vineet Khurana) stepped down while assuming another position.

Fourth, Kyndryl revealed it received document requests from the Division of Enforcement of the SEC related to matters being reviewed by the Audit Committee.

The market’s reaction was severe, as the price of Kyndryl shares plunged nearly 55% during trading that day, wiping out over $3 billion of market capitalization in a single day.

“We’re investigating whether, having assured investors of the effectiveness of its internal controls and repeatedly touted free cash flow growth, Kyndryl may have intentionally misled investors about the propriety of its cash management practices in an industry that is keenly focused on free cash flow,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.

If you invested in Kyndryl and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »

If you’d like more information and answers to additional frequently asked questions about the firm’s Kyndryl investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Kyndryl should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

By PYMNTS  |  February 23, 2026

 | 

PayPal notified about 100 customers of PayPal Working Capital (PPWC) that their personally identifiable information (PII) was exposed to unauthorized individuals over a five-month period due to an error in its PPWC loan application.

The company identified the error on Dec. 12 and learned that the PII was exposed from July 1 to Dec. 13 it said in a Feb. 10 notice of data breach sent to customers in Massachusetts.

“We have not delayed this notification as a result of any law enforcement investigation,” PayPal said in the notice.

Reached by PYMNTS, a PayPal spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the company notified about 100 customers.

“When there is a potential exposure of customer information, PayPal is required to notify affected customers,” the statement said. “In this case, PayPal’s systems were not compromised. As such, we contacted the approximately 100 customers who were potentially impacted to provide awareness on this matter.”

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According to the notice of data breach, the customer PII that may have been exposed in the incident included business contact information such as name, email address, phone number and business address, as well as the customer’s Social Security number and data of birth.

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When PayPal discovered the cybersecurity incident, the company rolled back the code change that was responsible for the error, the notice said. It also terminated unauthorized access to PayPal’s systems, reset the passwords of the affected accounts, and implemented enhanced security controls, per the notice.

“A few customers experienced unauthorized transactions on their account and PayPal has issued refunds to those customers,” the company said in the notice.

In an earlier, separate incident, PayPal agreed in January 2025 to pay a $2 million penalty to New York state to settle the state’s allegations that the company had cybersecurity failures that led to a data breach.

New York alleged that PayPal violated the state’s Cybersecurity Regulation by failing to use qualified personnel to manage cybersecurity and by failing to provide adequate training around cybersecurity risks, the New York State Department of Financial Services said at the time in a press release.

A PayPal spokesperson said at the time in an emailed statement: “After self-reporting and disclosing this issue, we worked closely with the New York Department of Financial Services to resolve this matter, which occurred in December 2022.”

Uber has a pitch for autonomous vehicle makers: we got this.

The ride-hailing and food delivery company has launched a new division called Uber Autonomous Solutions designed to take on all the tasks associated with operating a robotaxi, self-driving truck, or sidewalk delivery robot business, including software and support services.

The initiative, announced Monday, formalizes what Uber has been not so quietly working on for several years now.

Uber has amassed partnerships with nearly two dozen autonomous vehicle technology companies across every use case from robotaxis and trucking to sidewalk delivery robots and drones. Uber has backed many of these companies — Lucid and Nuro, Waabi, and China’s WeRide — invested $100 million to build fast-charging, autonomous-vehicle charging stations, and even launched Uber AV Labs, a specialized engineering team that will gather data for robotaxi partners.

Uber has made the partnerships and investments; now it wants to make itself indispensable.

“AV tech teams should be able to focus on what they do best: building software that can safely power an autonomous world,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, who will be leading the initiative. The idea, he said, is to add “operational depth wherever they need it,” including demand generation, rider experience, customer support, or managing the day-to-day fleet operations.

The end goal is to help these companies reduce their costs per mile and increase the speed to market. Uber said it plans to help these partners scale robotaxi deployments to more than 15 cities by the end of this year. 

Techcrunch event

Boston, MA | June 9, 2026

“What’s going to determine the success or failure of autonomous in the world is whether it can be commercialized, and Uber is going to be the thing that makes autonomy commercially viable,” Uber President and COO Andrew MacDonald said.

For Uber that means handling infrastructure like training data and mapping, fleet financing, regulatory services, and managing how robotaxis and other AVs navigate complex events and venues. The company said it is using a fleet of specially equipped Lucid vehicles to collect data that can be shared with partners so they can train their AI systems.

The new division also plans to tackle user experience including customer support. Notably, Uber wants to take over fleet management, which would include remote assistance — an issue that recently received attention from federal lawmakers over concerns Waymo uses workers overseas. Fleet management would also cover insurance and employing the humans who might need to support these AVs when they’re out in the world.

Uber’s move is both existential and opportunistic. The company sold its in-house AV development unit known as Uber ATG in 2020, following two years of internal struggles and pressure after one of its test vehicles killed a pedestrian. (Uber sold off the division in a complex deal with Aurora.) 

It has tried to shore up its position through partnerships and investments. And there have been plenty. Uber and Waymo have a shared robotaxi service in Atlanta and Austin. The company has also locked up partnerships with Chinese firms Baidu, Momenta, and Pony.ai, sidewalk delivery bot companies Cartken, Starship, Serve, and the UK-based automated driving tech startup Wayve, as well as robotaxi developers AVride and Motional, to name a few. It has plans to launch a robotaxi service with Volkswagen in Los Angeles by the end of 2026 — although it won’t be driverless until 2027.

These do provide Uber with some protection, but it doesn’t provide a replacement to any revenue lost if these companies erode its own ride-hailing and food delivery business that is today powered by human drivers. Uber is hoping this new division will.

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Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.

You can contact or verify outreach from Kirsten by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at kkorosec.07 on Signal.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richtech Robotics (NASDAQ: RR) has been hit with a securities class action lawsuit after Hunterbrook Media reported on January 29, 2026 that Microsoft denied a commercial partnership with Richtech, sending the price of Richtech shares down over 20% that day. The lawsuit seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Richtech securities between January 27, 2026 and January 29, 2026.

The severe market reaction has prompted national shareholder rights law firm Hagens Berman to open an investigation into the complaint’s claims that Richtech violated the federal securities laws. The firm urges Richtech investors who suffered significant losses to contact the firm now to discuss their rights.

DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS: Visit Hagens Berman’s dedicated RR case page: www.hbsslaw.com/cases/richtech, or view our latest video summary of the allegations: https://youtu.be/AppqqsbKsCc

Class Period: Jan. 27, 2026 – Jan. 29, 2026
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Apr. 3, 2026
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/rr
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
                                             844-916-0895

Richtech Robotics (RR) Securities Class Action:

The lawsuit is focused on the propriety of Richtech’s statements concerning its AI-driven robot business.

More specifically, on January 27, 2026, Richtech issued a press release touting “a hands-on collaboration with Microsoft through the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Labs to jointly develop and deploy agentic artificial intelligence capabilities in real-world robotic systems.” CEO Wayne Huang emphasized, “[o]ur collaboration with Microsoft reflects a shared focus on applying advanced AI to practical, real-world use cases.”

This news implying a meaningful commercial relationship between the two companies sent the price of Richtech shares soaring 30% higher on huge volume that day.

Then, on January 28, 2026, the company announced a dilutive at-the-market private placement with an institutional investor of 8.5 million Class B common shares.

The complaint alleges that Richtech misled investors into believing that it had a meaningful collaborative and commercial relationship with Microsoft when it did not. Investors’ hopes related to Richtech’s January 27 announcement were dashed two days later. On January 29, 2026, Hunterbrook Media published “Breaking: Microsoft Denies Partnership With Richtech Robotics,” reporting that “Microsoft tells Hunterbrook Media the engagement was a ‘standard’ customer program with ‘no commercial element.’”

According to Hunterbrook’s reporting, a Microsoft representative said “‘[t]here is no commercial element in this lab engagement.’” The report also highlighted that “the ‘collaboration’ Richtech announced appears to be participation in a free prototyping program available to Microsoft customers – not a commercial partnership.”

The market swiftly reacted to this news, sending the price of Richtech shares spiraling over 20% lower on huge volume that day.

“We’re focused on whether Richtech may have intentionally misled investors in order to accomplish the dilutive equity raise and whether the developments are a new flavor of AI washing,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the firm’s investigation.

If you invested in Richtech and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »

If you’d like more information and answers to other frequently asked questions about the Richtech case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Richtech should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895