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SIGN just exploded past 100% gains this week while most markets tanked hard. Sign Global’s native token jumped from $0.02089 to $0.05278 in just days, pretty much doubling investor money when Bitcoin and traditional stocks were bleeding red. Right now it’s trading at $0.04729, pushing the market cap to around $77.56 million according to CoinMarketCap data.

Sign Global caught everyone’s attention with its decentralized infrastructure that’s basically designed to keep countries running when everything else falls apart. The company built blockchain solutions that help nations secure their governance data and identity systems, making them way more resilient against cyberattacks and other disruptions. While legacy systems crumble under pressure with their centralized weak points, Sign’s distributed approach keeps critical services online no matter what hits them. The timing couldn’t be better – geopolitical tensions are through the roof with conflicts involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran adding fuel to the fire that started with Russia-Ukraine. Supply chains are getting hammered and cybersecurity threats are everywhere, creating massive demand for systems that can’t be easily knocked offline.

Traditional infrastructures are sitting ducks. Too centralized, too slow.

Sign offers something completely different – a decentralized alternative that supports national operations through secure, distributed ledgers. Citizens and businesses keep access to essential services even when primary systems get hit by cyberattacks or natural disasters. The blockchain-backed infrastructure operates independently, which is exactly what governments need right now. And investors are clearly betting big on this approach, driving SIGN’s value up fast.

The company didn’t just build cool tech and hope for the best – they’ve been making strategic moves to get their technology into real-world applications. Sign Global partnered with the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Blockchain Centre Abu Dhabi, and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Tech, and Innovation. These collaborations focus on modernizing financial systems and expanding digital inclusion across different regions.

Sign doesn’t want to replace existing national systems.

Instead, it acts as a parallel layer that provides redundancy when primary systems fail. Government operations and essential services keep running no matter what happens to the main infrastructure. The surge in SIGN’s value shows investors get the strategic utility here – it’s not just another crypto token, it’s infrastructure that countries actually need.

On March 5, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communication, Tech, and Innovation announced they’re integrating Sign’s blockchain solutions into their national identity system. The move aims to boost data security and streamline access to government services, showing how Sign’s technology works in practice for safeguarding national records. It’s one thing to talk about blockchain solutions, but Sierra Leone is actually implementing them for critical government functions. This follows earlier reporting on Dubai Regulator Shuts Down KuCoins Unlicensed.

The Kyrgyzstan partnership with the National Bank is pretty noteworthy too. Since their collaboration started in late 2025, the bank reported better transparency and efficiency in financial transactions. The partnership shows growing trust in blockchain solutions for improving institutional operations and securing financial networks. Banks don’t usually jump into new tech without serious due diligence, so this endorsement carries weight.

Meanwhile, the Blockchain Centre Abu Dhabi revealed on March 3 that it plans to use Sign’s technology for secure data sharing among regional financial institutions. The initiative should create a more interconnected and transparent economic environment in the Middle East. These aren’t small pilot programs – they’re substantial implementations that could reshape how financial institutions operate in the region.

Other nations are watching these partnerships closely and considering similar tech upgrades. Private sector players are also exploring Sign’s decentralized systems to enhance their operational resilience. The interest reflects a broader shift toward adopting blockchain for critical infrastructure needs, not just speculative trading.

On March 4, the Central Bank of the UAE announced it’s evaluating Sign’s digital infrastructure for national payment systems. The move aims to enhance security and efficiency of cross-border transactions as part of UAE’s broader blockchain adoption strategy. When central banks start evaluating your technology, that’s serious validation.

FinTech firm DigitalGrid revealed on March 2 that it plans to integrate Sign’s blockchain framework into its operations. The company wants to leverage the technology for better transaction transparency and fraud reduction in digital payments. Private enterprises are recognizing Sign’s infrastructure can provide enhanced security measures they desperately need.

Investment firm Global Capital announced on March 6 it would include SIGN in its diversified portfolio, citing recent performance and strategic importance. The decision reflects growing confidence in Sign Global’s role in shaping future economic infrastructures. When institutional investors start adding tokens to their portfolios, it usually signals broader market acceptance. More on this topic: Bitcoin rises amid iranian tensions shaking.

Sign Global CEO Elena Koval addressed the recent market movements on March 7, emphasizing their infrastructure’s importance for reliable national economic systems. “Our mission is to ensure that countries have the technological tools to maintain sovereignty over their data and financial networks, especially in times of crisis,” Koval said. The statement highlights the company’s commitment to real-world impact rather than just token speculation.

The Kyrgyz Republic’s blockchain initiative already shows promising results. As of March 6, the National Bank reported a 30% increase in processing speed for cross-border transactions after adopting Sign’s decentralized infrastructure. That’s a concrete improvement in efficiency that demonstrates the technology’s practical benefits beyond theoretical advantages.

The Blockchain Centre Abu Dhabi plans to expand its collaboration with Sign Global further. On March 5, the Centre announced a regional conference for April focusing on blockchain’s role in economic stability. The event will bring together government officials and industry leaders to discuss integrating blockchain technology into national frameworks. These high-level discussions show the strategic importance of blockchain innovations for national infrastructure.

SIGN’s trading volume hit a new high on March 6, with analysts attributing the surge to confidence in Sign Global’s strategic partnerships and expanding technology applications. The heightened activity shows market recognition of the potential in blockchain-backed national infrastructure. Trading volume spikes usually indicate serious institutional interest, not just retail speculation.

As geopolitical tensions continue escalating and traditional systems show their vulnerabilities, Sign Global’s decentralized infrastructure becomes more valuable. Countries need backup systems that can’t be easily disrupted, and Sign provides exactly that capability. The 100% token surge reflects this growing recognition among both governments and investors.

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Quantum computing has the potential to be the big tech breakthrough that comes after artificial intelligence (AI). However, it is an emerging field that still has a lot of technological issues that need to be worked through before it can become useful and then commercialized. As such, stocks involved in the field tend to be speculative.

With that said, let's look at two quantum computing stocks that have a lot of potential.

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ The biggest issue currently facing quantum computing is that the technology is still error-prone. That's why IonQ (IONQ 0.80%) is one of my favorites in the space, because its trapped-ion technology has shown to be among the most accurate, with the company achieving 99.99% 2-gate fidelity. While 99.99% accuracy may sound like a lot, when you're doing billions or a trillion calculations per second, that still leads to a lot of errors. However, this is the threshold for the company to start using quantum error correction to create a fault-tolerant system.

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Meanwhile, the company has made a lot of smart acquisitions to help it solve pressing problems with scaling and to become a more complete quantum ecosystem player. One of its most important acquisitions was buying Oxford Ionics, which gave it the electronic qubit control technology to better stabilize its trapped-ion system and eventually shrink it. Meanwhile, its pending acquisition of SkyWater will give it control of a leading quantum foundry to help it scale and better incorporate its designs with the manufacturing process.

While quantum computing is still in its very early days, IonQ has seen its revenue skyrocket, as both the private and public sectors become more interested in the technology. In Q4, its revenue surged 429% to $61.9 million, coming in well above its guidance. Meanwhile, IonQ was recently selected for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD IDIQ program, which is the procurement backbone of the "Golden Dome" initiative. While the contract has a massive $151 billion ceiling, its true value to IonQ is that it gives the company a seat at the table to compete for specialized Pentagon task orders in quantum sensing, networking, and high-speed simulation.

D-Wave Quantum Another interesting stock in the quantum computing space is D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 1.17%). The company started out focusing on quantum annealing, which is a more specialized field within quantum computing that looks to solve optimization problems. Rather than trying to build a do-everything machine, its systems instead are trying to determine the ideal state for a particular problem by landing on the best possible solution.

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It's not as ambitious as a gate-based quantum system, and thus D-Wave is much further along in the commercialization process than companies focused on more universal gate-based systems. With its Advantage II system, it now has a machine that can help organizations solve optimization problems, which can be useful in industries like logistics, finance, and defense. The company is starting to see momentum in this area, announcing that its bookings in January have surpassed its bookings for its entire fiscal 2025. It noted it won a $20 million deal with Florida Atlantic University and that it entered a two-year, $10 million quantum-compute-as-a-service (QCAS) arrangement with a Fortune 100 company.

With the company seeing momentum in quantum annealing, it is also now working on a gate-based system. It will use fluxonium qubits with its gate-based systems, which it believes are comparable to the qubits it uses with quantum annealing. It also recently acquired Quantum Circuits and its dual rail technology. It says this technology combines the speed of superconducting qubits with the fidelity of trapped-ion technology. If true, that would be a game-changer, but at this point, that has not been independently verified. Still, its dual platform approach makes it an interesting option.

Plug Power (PLUG 6.99%) recently published its fourth-quarter results, and the report arrived with plenty for shareholders to be happy about. For starters, the hydrogen-energy-tech company posted a loss of $0.06 per share on sales of $225.2 million -- significantly better than the average analyst estimate's call for a per-share loss of $0.10 on revenue of $217 million.

In addition to posting a smaller-than-expected loss and sales that beat expectations, the company issued promising forward guidance. It also announced that Jose Luis Crespo had become its next CEO, succeeding Andrew Marsh in the role.

Image source: Getty Images.

Could Plug Power be on the verge of becoming an income-generating stock that delivers 10x or greater returns for investors who build positions at today's prices?

What's next for Plug Power? Plug Power saw a dramatic improvement in its gross margin in last year's fourth quarter, with its gross margin of 2.4% standing out against the gross margin of negative 122.5% that it recorded in the prior-year quarter. Sales growth of 17.6% in the fourth quarter also represented a significant acceleration of growth on a sequential quarterly basis.

While the company saw its Q4 loss per share decline to $0.63 from $1.48 in the prior-year period, Plug Power is still operating deep in the red. Additionally, it remains to be seen if the company's margin improvements are sustainable.

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Plug Power's revenue rose 12.9% on an annual basis to reach roughly $710 million last year. The company indicated that 2026's sales growth is expected to be "directionally comparable" to last year's level, with growth driven by the company's electrolyzer and material handling businesses. Meanwhile, management said that the business is expected to achieve positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in this year's fourth quarter.

Plug Power closed out 2025 by posting a net loss of approximately $1.69 billion. Meanwhile, the company has a market capitalization of approximately $3.1 billion and ended last year with a cash-and-equivalents and restricted-cash position of roughly $323.5 million against total liabilities of roughly $1.59 billion.

Plug Power is a long way away from generating the net income and free cash flow to support sustainable dividend payments. Companies typically pay dividends when they're generating reliable cash flow, and it makes sense to apportion some of that cash to be directly returned to shareholders. Paying dividends is unlikely to be a sensible move any time within the next five years, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that the company's stock could offer a meaningful payout sometime further down the line.

Plug Power stock continues to look like a very risky play, but the potential for explosive returns accompanies that risk if the company executes at a high level and capitalizes on demand for hydrogen fuel cells. Expecting the company to generate 10x returns and pay sizable dividends within the next five years may not be realistic, but its recent quarterly report points to performance improvements that could support capital appreciation.

Did you buy RARE common stock between August 3, 2023, and December 26, 2025?

Affected Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Investor Summary

Who: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE)What: Securities fraud class action lawsuit filedClass Period: August 3, 2023, through December 26, 2025Deadline to Seek Lead Plaintiff Status: April 6, 2026Key Lawsuit Allegations: Material misstatements and/or omissions concerning the company’s drug, setrusumabInvestor Action: Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) for recovery options at no cost to investor RADNOR, Pa., March 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (Ultragenyx) (NASDAQ: RARE) on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Ultragenyx common stock between August 3, 2023, and December 26, 2025, inclusive. The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Bailey v. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., et al, Case No. 3:26-cv-01097 (N.D. Cal.).   Investors have until April 6, 2026, to file for lead plaintiff status.  

CONTACT KTMC TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:
If you purchased or acquired Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. common stock and have lost money on your investment, you are encouraged to contact KTMC attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. at:

(484) 270-1453
[email protected]
https://www.ktmc.com/rare-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-inc-class-action-lawsuit?utm_source=Globe&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=rare&mktm=PR

There is no cost or obligation to speak with an attorney.

Learn more about Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. on YouTube:

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (long video)Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. Securities Class Action Lawsuit (short video) ULTRAGENYX PHARMACEUTICAL INC. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT - COMPLAINT ALLEGATION SUMMARY:
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Ultragenyx created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to the effects of the company’s drug, setrusumab, on patients with variable types of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, while also minimizing risk that patients in Ultragenyx’s Phase III Orbit study would fail to achieve a statistically significant reduction in annualized fracture rate (“AFR”), such that the second interim analysis could be performed and presented to the investing public; (2) in truth, Ultragenyx’s optimism in the Phase III Orbit study’s results and interim analysis benchmark were misplaced because Ultragenyx failed to convey the risk associated with basing such threshold figures on Phase II results that had no placebo control group for appropriate comparison and thus had not ruled out that the reduction in AFR from that study could merely be triggered by an increased standard of care and the placebo effect of being provided a novel treatment; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

Why did Ultragenyx’s Stock Drop?
On December 29, 2025, Ultragenyx shocked the market when it revealed that both its Phase III Orbit and Cosmic studies had not “achieved statistical significance against the primary endpoints of reduction in annualized clinical fracture rate compared to placebo or bisphosphonates, respectively.” On this news, Ultragenyx’s stock price fell over 42%, from a close of $34.19 per share on December 26, 2025, to close at $19.72 per share on December 29, 2025.

WHAT RARE INVESTORS CAN DO NOW:

File to be lead plaintiff by April 6, 2026.Contact KTMC for a free case evaluation.Retain counsel of choice or take no action. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS FOR ULTRAGENYX PHARMACEUTICAL INC. INVESTORS:
Ultragenyx investors may, no later than April 6, 2026, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Ultragenyx investors to contact the firm for more information.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP (KTMC):
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (KTMC) is a leading U.S. plaintiff-side law firm focused on securities-fraud class actions and global investor protection. The firm represents individual investors as well as institutions, such as major pension funds, asset managers, and international investors. KTMC has led some of the largest recoveries in securities litigation and has been recognized by peers and the legal media with numerous accolades, including The National Law Journal’s Plaintiff’s Hot List and Trailblazers in Plaintiffs' Law, BTI Consulting Group’s Honor Roll of Most Feared Law Firms, The Legal Intelligencer’s Class Action Firm of the Year, Lawdragon’s Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, and Law360’s Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar. The firm operates globally with offices in Pennsylvania and California.  KTMC has recovered over $25 billion for our clients and the classes they represent. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com. The complaint in this matter was not filed by KTMC.

CONTACT:

Jonathan Naji, Esq.
(484) 270-1453
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
[email protected]

        May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Since last October, when Microsoft (MSFT 0.43%) surged to an all-time high of $540 per share, the stock has been in free fall. As of March 3, shares are down some 24% from those October highs to $410 per share.

The drop is in part due to investors rotating out of overvalued tech stocks, but there are also Microsoft-specific concerns that have caused the price to tank. Most of the decline came after Microsoft's fiscal second-quarter earnings report for the period ended Dec. 31. Shares plummeted more than 17% to below $400 per share on several concerns.

Image source: Getty Images.

Part of it was high capital expenditures (capex) and artificial intelligence (AI) spending for 2026. Investors are concerned that while Microsoft's Azure AI cloud computing revenue has been strong, it grew at a slightly slower pace last quarter. And the expectation for next quarter is even a little bit slower. We're talking a 40% growth pace falling to 37% to 38% growth, so it's not like a massive drop-off.

However, it was enough to rattle some investors, particularly when combined with the fact that Microsoft had record capex spending last quarter and anticipates even higher capex spending this fiscal year.

OpenAI concentration risk The other concern is Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI. Much of its massive $625 billion in remaining performance obligations, or RPO -- AI contracts in the pipeline -- comes from OpenAI, about 45% to be exact, according to Microsoft CFO Amy Hood on the latest earnings call.

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There are worries about Microsoft stock because of fears that OpenAI won't be able to fulfill those contracts due to reports that OpenAI expects to lose money in 2026. Also, investors see the RPO numbers as perhaps inflated because some of the OpenAI RPO is from Microsoft's investments in the company.

Overall, it spells concentration risk for Microsoft as investors worry about the true value of the RPO.

Can Microsoft get to $500 per share this year? These are valid concerns, but perhaps a bit overblown. Microsoft Azure's growth rate is still incredibly strong, and it continues to grow faster than Amazon.

OpenAI concentration risk should be watched, but the same report that said it will lose money in 2026 said the company expects to be profitable by 2029. Plus, OpenAI has grown at a historically fast pace, with 233% run rate revenue growth in 2025, so it remains a long-term growth engine for AI.

And Microsoft is actively expanding its AI reach, signing deals with Anthropic as well as inking a $50 billion deal to bring AI to Southern Hemisphere nations as part of the Global South initiative.

The fact is, despite these concerns, some of which are speculative, Microsoft is trading at its lowest valuation in years at 24 times earnings and 20 times forward earnings. Some 92% of analysts rate it as a buy with a median price target of $600 per share, which suggests 48% upside.

The $600-per-share target is for 12 months out, so that would indicate Microsoft would hit $500 per share within a year. Whether or not this happens remains to be seen, but the stock certainly looks well-positioned to do so.

Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - Korean-inspired skincare brand SeoulCeuticals has launched the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum, becoming the first company to combine trending cosmetic ingredient Volufiline with Snail Mucin in a single serum formulated at the manufacturer-recommended 5% concentration. The new formula pairs the trending topical plumping ingredient with K-beauty's most trusted hydration staple.

OVERVIEW

Volufiline has emerged as one of the most talked-about skincare ingredients in 2025 and 2026, going viral on TikTok as a non-invasive topical option for consumers seeking plumper-looking skin. The ingredient is already available in standalone concentrates and peptide-paired formulas, but no brand had previously combined it with Snail Mucin, K-beauty's most recognized hydration ingredient.

SeoulCeuticals' Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum fills that gap. The four-ingredient formula pairs 5% Volufiline with Snail Mucin, Centella Asiatica, and Hyaluronic Acid to address volume, repair, barrier support, and hydration in a single step.

SeoulCeuticals is the first skincare brand to combine Volufiline and Snail Mucin in a single serum.

KEY RESULTS

Each ingredient in the Ultra Snail + Volufiline Serum is supported by clinical research:

Volufiline at 5% concentration produced a 2.2% increase in volume after 56 days in clinical testing conducted by SPINCONTROL on behalf of ingredient developer Sederma.Hyaluronic Acid demonstrated up to a 96% increase in skin hydration and up to a 40% decrease in wrinkle depth after 8 weeks in a 2014 clinical study.Snail Mucin showed significant improvement in fine lines, crow's feet, and skin luminance after 14 weeks of use in a 25-participant study referenced by the Mayo Clinic.Centella Asiatica is clinically confirmed to support anti-aging, skin barrier repair, and anti-inflammatory treatment, per published PubMed research.The global K-beauty market reached $118.28 billion in 2025, with North America accounting for approximately 25% of global market share.HOW IT WORKS

Volufiline is a patented ingredient developed by Sederma, now part of Croda International. Its active compound, sarsasapogenin, is derived from the root of Anemarrhena asphodeloides, a plant native to China and Mongolia and known in traditional Chinese medicine as Zhi Mu. Sarsasapogenin is a phytosterol that works through a non-hormonal pathway, making it suitable for topical cosmetic use.

Applied topically, sarsasapogenin activates the PPARgamma receptor pathway, the biological switch that governs fat cell maturation. It encourages immature fat cell precursors to develop into mature adipocytes and stimulates those cells to store more lipid, producing a visible volume effect beneath the skin's surface. Sederma's clinical testing used 5% Volufiline, exactly the concentration in SeoulCeuticals' formula.

Snail Mucin provides a complementary layer of benefit. The ingredient is a complex mixture containing hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, glycoproteins, allantoin, and antimicrobial peptides. While Volufiline works at the level of the hypodermis, Snail Mucin supports hydration, cell regeneration, collagen stimulation, and wound healing at the skin's upper layers.

Centella Asiatica rounds out the formula with four active triterpenoid compounds: asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and madecassoside. These compounds stimulate collagen synthesis, reduce inflammation, and reinforce the skin barrier. Hyaluronic Acid delivers surface hydration and contributes to the formula's lightweight plumping effect.

"The K-beauty movement has consistently introduced the world to new skincare ingredients years before they become mainstream," said Craig Romero, Founder of SeoulCeuticals. "Snail mucin is a perfect example. What once felt unfamiliar has become a global skincare staple. We believe Volufiline represents another exciting step forward in ingredient innovation."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SeoulCeuticals has published a detailed ingredient guide covering how Volufiline and Snail Mucin work together, the clinical research behind each ingredient, and a full breakdown of the four-ingredient formula.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286513

Source: Plentisoft

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Caterpillar (CAT 3.57%) is an iconic industrial company known for its yellow construction equipment. But as artificial intelligence (AI) spreads rapidly, you need to think about Caterpillar in a broader way. Here's how this industrial giant is adapting and evolving to support the AI revolution.

The old Caterpillar is well-positioned Caterpillar is historically known for making construction equipment, like backhoes and dump trucks. The industrial company's giant earth-moving machinery is used to build the world around us, from roads to buildings. The business is somewhat cyclical, as construction tends to ebb and flow with economic activity. However, some positive, big-picture trends are taking shape.

Image source: Getty Images.

For example, companies are increasingly reshoring production. That means new buildings and factories are needed. And artificial intelligence has led to a data center construction boom among companies that are trying to establish themselves as AI technology leaders. If there's a lot of building going on, there's likely to be a huge need for the earth-moving machines for which Caterpillar is best known.

There's more to Caterpillar than backhoes In addition to earth-moving equipment, Caterpillar also makes power equipment. It produces engines that can provide power in remote locations or act as backups when grid power goes down. One of the most important industries for Caterpillar's power products is energy. Extracting oil and natural gas, the latter fuel being integral to the proper functioning of the electric energy grid, will be a material market for years to come.

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But don't stop with oil and gas producers. The utility industry will need to spend heavily to keep up with rising electricity demand. Between 2023 and 2030, electricity demand worldwide is expected to increase by 43%. Demand from data centers is expected to jump 200%.

The grid investment needed will be another key support for Caterpillar's business. And Caterpillar's ability to provide dedicated power options before grid access is available could specifically help support faster data center buildouts. Meanwhile, its ability to provide backup power can help to keep data centers up and running during blackouts.

A lot of opportunities ahead for Caterpillar When you step back and look at the big picture, AI is a huge opportunity for Caterpillar, well beyond its historical construction focus. However, investors aren't exactly ignoring the opportunity, noting that the stock's price-to-sales and price-to-earnings ratios are well above their five-year averages. Still, Caterpillar probably deserves a spot on your AI wish list just the same, given the tendency for sizable drawdowns among cyclical stocks.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

© Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Jim Cramer made a pointed observation recently, and it’s worth unpacking for anyone watching the AI chip space. “While Broadcom has been a huge winner in the AI era, up nearly 500% since the beginning of 2023, Marvell has only rallied about 140% over the same period.” The data backs him up almost exactly: Broadcom is up 524% since January 2023, while Marvell has gained 152% over the same stretch. Same AI tailwind, dramatically different outcomes. So what happened, and is the gap finally closing?

Two Companies, One Thesis Both Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) and Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) sit at the center of the custom silicon boom. Hyperscalers don’t want to be entirely dependent on NVIDIA. They want chips designed specifically for their workloads, and these two companies are the architects helping them build it. Broadcom does it for Google. Marvell does it for Amazon Web Services.

The business models rhyme, but the scale doesn’t. Broadcom’s AI revenue alone hit $8.4 billion in a single quarter, while Marvell’s total Q3 FY2026 revenue came in at $2.07 billion. Broadcom’s AI segment is four times the size of everything Marvell sells combined.

Marvell’s Rocky Road Cramer laid out the story plainly. Marvell fell more than 50% in less than three months, largely thanks to a softer than expected quarter last March. That’s a gut-punch for any shareholder. But the company spent the rest of the year rebuilding, posting a series of strong quarters and peaking at $102 in early December before reports emerged that it might lose some Amazon business.

The recent numbers suggest the Amazon fears were overblown. Data center revenue grew 38% year-over-year to $1.52 billion in Q3, representing 73% of total revenue. CEO Matt Murphy didn’t hedge his language either:

“Our data center revenue growth forecast for next year is now higher than prior expectations.”

That’s not a company losing its anchor customer.

The Valuation Picture Here’s where it gets interesting for investors weighing the two. Broadcom trades at roughly 69x trailing earnings with a forward PE around 32x, with analysts targeting $467. Marvell looks cheaper at roughly 27x trailing earnings and 23x forward, with a consensus target of $118 against a current price of $89.57. Marvell also carries a beta of nearly 2.0, meaning it swings harder in both directions.

The gap between these two stocks since 2023 is real and large. Broadcom earned its premium through sheer scale and execution. Marvell’s data center momentum, custom silicon pipeline, and Amazon relationship will be key factors analysts watch to determine whether the performance gap between the two narrows going forward.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Smart Digital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: SDM) between May 5, 2025 and September 26, 2025 at 9:34 AM EST, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 16, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased SDM 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 SDM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50638 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 16, 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) Smart Digital was the subject of a market manipulation and fraudulent promotion scheme involving social-media based misinformation and impersonators posing as financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used and/or intended to use offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) Smart Digital's public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of realized risk of fraudulent trading or market manipulation used to drive Smart Digital's stock price; (4) as a result, Smart Digital securities were at unique risk of a sustained suspension in trading by either or both of the SEC and NASDAQ; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Smart Digital's business, operations and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the SDM class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50638 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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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds sellers of Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) Class A common stock between January 15, 2025 and March 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 18, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you sold Endeavor Class A common stock 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 Endeavor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51048 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 18, 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 litigate 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 achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. 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: The lawsuit seeks to recover damages on behalf of investors that were damaged as a result of allegedly false and misleading statements and omissions of material facts in the January 15, 2025 Information Statement (filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to the securities laws) and subsequent amendment issued by defendants, and related filings with the SEC. Among other things, the complaint alleges the Information Statement and other solicitation materials misled investors regarding the true value of Endeavor's shares, failed to adequately disclose the earnings of Endeavor's executives under the terms of the Merger (a take-private merger), and failed to disclose conflicts of interests with Endeavor's special committee and financial advisor.

To join the Endeavor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51048 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/.

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 7, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of REGENXBIO, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGNX) between February 9, 2022 and January 27, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 14, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased REGENXBIO 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 REGENXBIO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53421 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 April 14, 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 provided investors with material information concerning REGENXBIO's plan to develop and commercialize its product candidate RGX-111, a one-time gene therapy for the treatment of severe Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I, also known as Hurler syndrome. Defendants' statements included, among other things, REGENXBIO's positive assertions of RGX-111's future trial success based on continuing positive biomarker and safety data from the ongoing PhaseI/II study. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the efficacy and safety of its RGX-111 trial study. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the REGENXBIO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53421 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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The shift comes as stablecoins surge in popularity and competitors like Stripe and PayPal add stablecoin options, increasing market pressure. Mar 7, 2026, 5:24 p.m.

Block CEO Jack Dorsey says his company will support stablecoins, despite having long argued that Bitcoin should serve as the internet’s native money protocol.

In an interview with WIRED, Dorsey acknowledged the change while making clear it reflects customer demand rather than a shift in personal belief.

“I don’t like that we’re going to support stablecoins but our customers want to use them,” he said. “I don’t think it’s wise to go from one gatekeeper to another.”

The move marks a pragmatic turn for one of Silicon Valley’s most vocal Bitcoin advocates. For years, Dorsey framed Block’s crypto strategy around Bitcoin alone, backing mining hardware development and integrating the asset into products such as Cash App.

The company first introduced the option for users to buy and sell bitcoin on the Cash App, and the company received a BitLicense from New York regulators the following year.

Block started a Bitcoin development arm and funded Bitcoin and Lightning Network developers in 2019, and started accumulating bitcoin for its corporate treasury in 2020. It currently holds 8,888.3 BTC, worth more than $600 million.

Stablecoins have surged in the meantime. Fiat currency-pegged tokens now circulate widely across crypto markets and cross-border payments, with their total market capitalization reaching $318 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Competition is also intensifying. Payment companies, including Stripe and PayPal, have already integrated stablecoin infrastructure, increasing pressure on Block to offer similar options to avoid losing users, though Dorsey didn’t mention these during the interview.

This isn't the first time Dorsey's Block has reluctantly endorsed stablecoins.

In November last year, Block’s Cash App announced it was adding support for stablecoins, making them “interoperable with a customer’s USD cash balance.” Stablecoin deposits, the firm said, would instantly be converted into U.S. dollars in users’ balances.

That development was notable as back in 2024, when Facebook was working on its since-scrapped Libra stablecoin and the Libra Association behind it, Dorsey said with a definitive “Hell no,” that he would not be joining the crypto payments scheme.

At the time, Dorsey notably said the project “was born out of a company’s intention, and it’s not consistent with what I personally believe and what I want our company to stand for.”

In true bitcoin purist fashion, he continues to argue that Bitcoin’s decentralized design makes it the best candidate for an open financial protocol.

The comments come after the company cut its workforce by roughly 40%, citing structural changes driven by artificial intelligence. While the layoffs sparked controversy over whether the company had overhired, Dorsey brushed off the question during the WIRED interview and doubled down on the AI angle.

“These [AI] tools are presenting a future that entirely changes how a company is structured,” Dorsey said in the interview, noting that the layoffs weren't about fixing the company's cost and revenue per employee, because his firm was "already ahead" of all of its competitors on those metrics.

“I don't know what the ultimate outcome is, but I do know it's going to have a dramatic effect,” Dorsey added.

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Kalshi, approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was last valued at $11 billion, while Polymarket was valued at $9 billion.

What to know:

Kalshi and Polymarket are exploring fundraising rounds that could value each company at approximately $20 billion, doubling their valuations from late 2025. Kalshi, approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was last valued at $11 billion, while Polymarket was valued at $9 billion.Both platforms are leading the prediction markets sector, with Kalshi's open interest at over $400 million and Polymarket's at $360 million, alongside notable weekly volume figures.

Ripple’s XRP has entered what analyst EGRAG Crypto calls its “face melting phase,” a period he argues will test conviction before any meaningful upside expansion.

According to his latest outlook, even a continuation along a projected downside path could present a generational accumulation opportunity rather than structural failure. The analyst insists that the core principle is that meaningful gains require enduring discomfort first.

Egrag has consistently framed XRP’s current price action as a macro reset within a broader long-term expansion. In an earlier commentary, he maintained that the bullish structure and wave count are intact, identifying $0.85 as a wave two capitulation zone.

Under EGRAG’s framework, wave three usually delivers the strongest advance. The analyst initially outlines expansion targets of $11 to $13, followed by $23 to $27 as a high-probability range, with $100 as a tail-risk outcome if liquidity conditions shift toward risk assets. EGRAG says 2026 is a volatility-driven year designed to shake out weak hands rather than invalidate the broader structure.

However, data from CoinMarketCap show that short-term price action remains fragile. XRP recently dropped 9.1% from $1.42 to $1.30 after a high volume breakdown below $1.36 support, with selling activity surging more than 170% above average during the capitulation phase.

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Moreover, a brief rebound toward $1.33 was swiftly rejected, confirming lower highs and reinforcing that $1.36 to $1.37 now acts as resistance. Traders are monitoring $1.30 as immediate support, with a decisive loss exposing $1.20 to $1.22. XRP trades at $1.37 at press time, down 2.14% over 24 hours, in step with Bitcoin’s move.

Meanwhile, PNC Bank’s partnership with Coinbase to expand digital asset access to millions of users has been cited as evidence of growing institutional integration, reinforcing XRP’s place in global payments and liquidity infrastructure.

Journalist

Posted: March 7, 2026

The memecoin market has seen its collective market capitalization drop by 48% over the past year, and 6.9% over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap. According to Glassnode, the memecoin sector has only gained by 2.2% over the past week, compared to the 4.6% DeFi and L2 sectors managed.

Among memecoins, PEPE’s weakness can be highlighted as an outlier. At the time of writing, the short-term and long-term charts were bearish, and the $0.00000336 local lows were under pressure once again.

The Open Interest was in decline as the prices bled to show speculators were not willing to bet on a price recovery. Combined with Bitcoin’s [BTC] fall below $70k, it would seem that the next few days could see further drawdown for PEPE holders.

A short squeeze can materialize in the coming weeks Just like Bitcoin, PEPE also has a large number of short liquidation levels overhead. The 90-day liquidation map showed that the cumulative short liquidation leverage was much higher than the long liquidation leverage.

In other words, a price move higher would liquidate a lot more short positions than a price move of similar magnitude would wipe out long liquidations. This could be an attractive prospect for counter-trend traders, but they shouldn’t be in a hurry.

Bitcoin has a chance of dropping to $65.3k in the coming days. Whether it can defend the $63k-$65k area, or will plummet to $60k and below, will decide which way PEPE likely goes.

Traders’ call to action – Wait

Source: PEPE/USDT on TradingView

PEPE has not been trading in a feasible area for swing traders. At press time, it was just below the long-term support at $0.00000342. The downtrend could see it fall to the $0.00000303 extension level to the south just as easily as it could bounce to the $0.00000379 local highs.

What is more likely? It is hard to tell because PEPE will likely closely follow Bitcoin trends. As things stand, BTC looks poised for more downside over the weekend.

Swing traders should remember the magnetic zones above $0.0000038 are a valid target. Memecoins tend to rally quickly before retracing the move, like the mid-February rally to $0.000005 that appeared to break the downtrend but didn’t.

Final Summary PEPE traders should expect more losses since Bitcoin has a bearish short-term bias. Traders should respect the capability of memecoins to blast higher even during times of market stress. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

Published: Mar 07, 2026 at 18:04
Updated: Mar 07, 2026 at 18:11

Dogecoin's price has been moving sideways since its drop on February 5.

DOGE price long-term prediction: ranging The cryptocurrency continued to fall, reaching a low of $0.080, but bulls bought the dips. For the past three weeks, the price has been range-bound, remaining above the $0.088 support and below the moving average lines. Three times buyers attempted to push the price above the 21-day SMA but were repelled.

Today, the altcoin has fallen below the 21-day SMA support and reached a low of $0.090. The decline has stalled as the altcoin resumes its range-bound movement above the $0.088 support but below the moving average lines. DOGE is now at $0.090.

Technical indicators Resistance Levels $0.45 and $0.50

Support Levels – $0.30 and $0.25

Dogecoin indicator reading The price is stabilising below the horizontal moving averages. The 21-day SMA acts as a resistance line to the price bars, impeding upward movement. On the 4-hour chart, the moving average lines are horizontal, while the price moves both below and above them, indicating a sideways trend.

What is the next direction for Dogecoin? DOGE's price is consolidating near the bottom of its chart. The price is trading above the $0.080 support. In recent price action, the altcoin fell to a low of $0.079 but recovered.

On the 4-hour chart, the price has slipped below the moving average lines, continuing its sideways movement. The price movement has slowed due to Doji candlesticks.

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

Bitcoin price dropped below the $70,000 level as tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher and digital assets lower. At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $67,757, down 0.44% in the last hour and 1.66% over 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data. The decline comes as analysts flag technical risks, while Bitcoin ETFs recorded significant outflows during the same period.

Analysts Flag Bitcoin Price Risks as Middle East Tensions Drive Volatility Analysts now warn that the Bitcoin price could face deeper declines if key technical levels fail. Their outlook follows rising geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the United States.

According to analyst Captain Faibik on X, Bitcoin shows a bearish flag formation on the eight-hour timeframe. He explained that a confirmed breakdown could push the Bitcoin price toward a $55,000 target. 

The analyst advised the market to wait for a clear downside breakout before entering short positions. However, Ted Pillows offered a more cautious view of current price conditions. He noted that Bitcoin recently dropped below the $68,000 level during rising macroeconomic pressure. 

He noted that oil prices have surged amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Historically, higher inflation from energy price spikes tends to weaken risk-on assets such as cryptocurrencies. Because of this, Pillows said Bitcoin must reclaim the $70,000 level soon. 

Otherwise, the Bitcoin price could revisit the $65,000 to $66,000 support zone before a reversal attempt. The geopolitical pressure also intensified after reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard.” As CoinGape reported, those comments have led to additional selling pressure.

Bitcoin ETFs Record Outflows  Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs experienced notable capital outflows, adding pressure to the market. As per SosoValue data, investors pulled $348.83 million from Bitcoin spot ETFs on March 6.

Source: SosoValue

Fidelity’s FBTC recorded the largest single-day withdrawal during that session. The fund posted $159 million in net outflows, bringing its cumulative historical net outflow to $153 million. Meanwhile, BlackRock sold $143.5 million worth of Bitcoin yesterday, adding pressure to the Bitcoin price. This led to scrutiny and market fear.

However, analyst Crypto Patel pointed to a broader context behind the transaction. He said BlackRock purchased $1.163 billion worth of Bitcoin during the previous ten trading days. That buying included 17,645 BTC. The data show the scale of institutional accumulation compared with sales.

Analyst on Rising Whale Activity On-chain data also shows major investors increasing activity during the current market uncertainty. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost reported growing whale participation in Bitcoin transfers.

According to Darkfost, Middle East tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensified financial market uncertainty, affecting the Bitcoin price. Oil prices have risen more than 60% since the start of the year. That surge has increased global inflationary pressure and tempered expectations for monetary easing. Markets now estimate only a 4.4% probability of a Fed rate cut at the next meeting.

Earlier in the week, the total crypto market cap grew by roughly 11%, adding nearly $250 billion. However, the rally quickly reversed as liquidity left the market. Within days, approximately $175 billion disappeared from total market capitalization. Darkfost also tracked rising whale inflows to Binance during this volatile period. 

Source: Darkfost

Over several trading days, whale transactions accounted for more than 70% of total exchange inflows. Darkfost defined whales as transactions exceeding 100 BTC. Such activity suggests large holders actively adjusted exposure while volatility remained elevated.

Journalist

Posted: March 8, 2026

The crypto market is starting to price in the possibility of a ceasefire.

The Kobeissi Letter highlighted a key signal. U.S President Donald Trump recently posted on Truth Social that the U.S demands “unconditional surrender” from Iran, implying that any ceasefire could be delayed.

Looking at history, a similar statement by the President was followed six days later by an actual ceasefire. Based on this pattern, analysts are now speculating that a ceasefire could occur on 12 March this year.

Source: X

However, this isn’t just a theory. Market data seemed to support this trend too. 

Recently, the crypto market saw significant inflows while oil prices surged sharply. In fact, U.S. oil is on track for its largest weekly gains on record since 1982, climbing by +34.5% this week alone.

From an economic perspective, these rising oil prices add long-term inflationary pressure. Combined with mounting war-related expenses, the resulting fiscal strain could increase the urgency for a ceasefire.

So far, risk assets have acted as a hedge. The bigger question now is – If the ceasefire holds, will crypto lose that hedge status, or could it instead become the catalyst for the “much-needed” market momentum?

Ceasefire uncertainty tests crypto’s hedge status This week has been a textbook example of crypto volatility.

After nearly $150 billion flowed into the market during the first half of the week, inflows slowed down dramatically. We’re now set to close with only $50 billion, meaning 67% of the gains were wiped out in the second half.

The bigger story, however, lies in the macro context. Early inflows were largely driven by the Middle East conflict, which prompted investors to move capital into Bitcoin [BTC]. Notably, this reinforced its role as a hedge.

Source: TradingView (XAU/BTC)

Now, momentum has weakened, leaving investors to question whether BTC can maintain that status or not. Additionally, the XAU/BTC ratio was up 6% intraday, recovering 50% of the losses it faced earlier this week. 

From a rotational perspective, capital may be shifting away from crypto and back into legacy assets. This raises another key question – Was BTC’s breakout past $70k truly a reflection of its hedge appeal, or was it just another fakeout?

Given the volatility this week, the move feels more like speculation than real momentum. In this context, a ceasefire would be a clear bullish signal for the market, potentially reigniting confidence in crypto as a hedge.

Conversely, what happens if the ceasefire doesn’t hold and oil prices keep climbing? Capital could rotate further into gold, increasing the risk of crypto losing its status and making it harder for BTC to push past $70k.

Final Summary BTC’s breakout past $70k was driven by conflict-driven demand, but weak momentum has been threatening its hedge status. A successful ceasefire could stabilize markets, while a failed ceasefire and rising oil prices may push capital into legacy assets.

Headlines about Bitcoin ETF outflows often mix two things: Bitcoin's price move and actual share redemptions.

If BTC drops, ETF AUM drops in dollars even if nobody sells a single share. That mark-to-market drop gets read as money leaving, and it can look like an institutional exit when the wrapper's Bitcoin holdings and shares outstanding barely move.

To understand whether investors are actually leaving, you have to separate the USD thermometer from the BTC and share-count thermometer.

Two thermometers, two storiesStart with the USD thermometer. ETF assets-under-management (AUM) is a mark-to-market number. A 10% drop in BTC produces a 10% drop in AUM even with zero redemptions. Many dashboards put AUM and net flows side by side, but readers mentally treat both as money in or out. But AUM doesn't show investor behavior, just the asset price plus structure.

The BTC thermometer is closer to behavior. Total Bitcoin held by the complex, plus shares outstanding by fund, answers the real question: did the wrapper lose underlying exposure, or did the price do most of the work? Data from Glassnode puts the total US spot Bitcoin ETF balances at around 1.285 million BTC even after a long stretch of outflows, which is the sort of detail the dollar headlines tend to bury.

Graph showing the BTC-denominated balances of spot Bitcoin ETFs from Jan. 1 to Mar. 6, 2026 (Source: Glassnode)A simple example shows why the USD number misleads. If the complex holds 1.285 million BTC and BTC drops from $70,000 to $63,000, AUM falls from about $89.95 billion to about $70.95 billion.

That's a $19 billion drawdown with zero selling. The headlines would say that billions left, but the wrapper would remain unchanged in BTC terms.

So why do flow tables still feel violent in certain windows? Because a significant chunk of activity is tied to a trade that treats ETFs as a financing leg.

The trade that turns flows into plumbingIt's your run-of-the-mill cash-and-carry trade, or the basis trade.

The idea is straightforward: hold spot exposure and short futures, collecting the futures premium when it exists. When the premium is wide, the trade throws off yield-like returns. But when the premium compresses, the trade stops paying, and desks unwind it. It's attractive when spreads are wide, but that appeal fades quickly as the spread tightens.

For many institutions, the cleanest and easiest way to gain exposure to Bitcoin is through ETFs.

When the trade grows, it shows up as steady ETF demand. When the trade shrinks, it shows up as ETF selling or redemptions. The motivation behind the trade is just spreadsheet math and is rarely a result of a change in sentiment.

You can see the hedge leg in the data that has nothing to do with ETF narratives.

In the CFTC's CME Bitcoin futures positioning, leveraged funds often sit heavily net short, consistent with a hedge against spot exposure held elsewhere. A Jan. 6 report showed leveraged funds held 2,554 long contracts versus 14,294 short contracts in the CME “BITCOIN” futures contract. While that doesn't prove every short is a basis book, it shows how large the hedge constituency can be.

When basis compresses, the unwind starts to matter more than daily flows. One market note in February tied near-neutral futures premium conditions to weaker incentives for basis trades that rely on futures premia to generate carry. CF Benchmarks has also reported on the CME basis behavior, linking it to market structure and positioning rather than pure story-driven sentiment.

Now connect that back to the two thermometers. During a basis unwind, you can get a week where USD AUM drops hard, and dollar flow headlines look catastrophic, while BTC holdings and shares outstanding move less.

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It's the price that does most of the damage in dollar terms. At the same time, desks trim trades, which can create real redemptions in some products and plain secondary-market selling in others. Both can happen at the same time; the point is just that the driver can be structural rather than emotional.

ETFs further amplify the confusion because their creation/redemption mechanism is designed to keep the ETF price close to NAV. Authorized participants create or redeem shares in large blocks, swapping shares for the underlying basket or cash depending on the structure.

Crypto ETP plumbing has also been shifting toward a more commodity-ETF-like model. The SEC has allowed in-kind creations and redemptions for crypto ETFs, which can make the path between redeemed shares and Bitcoin moves more direct. That matters most during trade unwinds, when the exit route gets cleaner.

So how should readers interpret the next flow print?

Treat USD outflows as noise unless you pair them with the BTC and shares numbers. The dollar figure is a mix of mark-to-market and structure. The BTC holdings and shares outstanding are closer to whether the wrapper actually shrank.

A quick decoding framework helps:

Directional exits: BTC held by the complex trends down, and shares outstanding decline across the major products. That's investors leaving the wrapper.Rotation: flows shift between issuers. Aggregate BTC held stays flatter while the plumbing moves underneath.Carry unwind: basis compresses, hedge positioning shifts, and ETF prints show stress that maps to spread math and balance sheet limits more than sentiment.The real hinge for the next market phase isn't whether tomorrow's flows are deeply red, but whether the basis stabilizes at a level that makes carry viable again, or keeps sliding toward zero. The trade's appeal fades when spreads tighten, and other yields compete for capital.

That's a much better way to say what the viral headlines can't. Some of what looks like an $80 billion “exodus” is a unit problem, and some of what looks like panic is just a trade closing. Watch the BTC and shares thermometer for behavior.

Watch basis and futures positioning for plumbing. The rest is mostly the dollar lens doing what it always does when Bitcoin moves.

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The CRCL stock was one of the largest gainers in the stock market this week, even as the U.S.-Iran war put pressure on risk assets. The stock notably extended its gains from last week as USDC issuer Circle moves to dominate in AI agent payments.

CRCL Stock Gains 22% This Week as Circle Bets On AI Agent Payments TradingView data shows that the Circle stock climbed 22% this week, rising above $100 for the first time this year. The stock had climbed above $108 on March 5 before closing out the week at almost $102.

Source: TradingView; CRCL Weekly Chart With this weekly gain, the CRCL stock is now up 26% year-to-date (YTD). It is also notably one of the few crypto stocks in the green this year, as crypto stocks as a whole are facing downside pressure amid a bear market for crypto prices, led by Bitcoin, which is down from a yearly high above $97,000.

It is worth noting that the CRCL stock rally comes amid the U.S.-Iran war, which is also putting pressure on risk assets. Crypto prices had rallied earlier in the week but quickly corrected as the war sent oil prices above $90 yesterday, marking a multi-year high for the oil markets.

A recent CoinGape market analysis predicted that the Circle stock price could rally to $120 in the coming weeks if the bullish trend continues. A positive for the stock is that USDC continues to enjoy greater adoption.

Allium data, shared by Visa, showed that USDC topped USDT and other stablecoins in transaction volume last month. Stablecoins saw a record transaction volume of $1.78 trillion, with USDC accounting for $1.28 trillion of these transactions.

Source: Visa; Allium Move To Dominate In AI Agent Payments According to a Bloomberg report, USDC issuer Circle is betting big on AI agent payments as it looks to dominate other stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Ripple in this regard. The company’s CEO, Jeremy Allaire, had stated during the earnings call that they are building a new financial system and that he is optimistic that his company can play a key role in the “convergence between AI and stablecoins and blockchain.”

Stablecoins are expected to be the preferred currency for AI agents, as they are cheaper and faster than traditional payment systems. In a separate interview after Circle’s earnings call, Allaire described how stablecoins could also play a key role in AI commerce as agents move to secure the services of other agents.

USDC may already be leading in the AI agent payments space, which could provide a significant boost to the CRCL stock. In a recent X post, the Circle CEO noted that AI agents “overwhelmingly” prefer USDC, though he acknowledged it is still early days.

Allaire was commenting on data showing that AI agents have made 140 million payments among themselves over the last nine months, totaling $43 million in volume. 98.6% of these transactions have been settled in USDC.

AI agents have made 140 million payments to each other over the past nine months. Some stats:

• $43 million in volume (98.6% settled in USDC)
• $0.31 average transaction size
• 400k+ agents with buying abilities@USDC is the default currency agents have chosen. https://t.co/9cJLOzaMxt pic.twitter.com/Eb6QyDBFKy

— Peter Schroeder (@peterschroederr) March 5, 2026

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

The crypto market has grown increasingly cautious as Bitcoin and Ethereum prices have crashed to former lows amid growing concerns about institutional flows and network fundamentals. Bitcoin’s recent decline below $70,000 appears closely tied to shifts in the demand for its exchange-trading fund (ETF). Meanwhile, Ethereum’s price fell below $2,000 amid strong criticism over its token economics and long-term sustainability, with top market researchers shorting it as they forecast a potential collapse.  

Bitcoin Price Crashes As ETF Flows Reverse The Bitcoin price is currently trading near $67,000, after falling more than 3% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data. The latest drop comes after a sudden shift in institutional demand for Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which have been a major driver for market momentum since their launch in 2024.

Data from SoSo Value shows that Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded staggering outflows of roughly $228 million on Thursday, March 5, ending a three-day inflow streak that had brought roughly $1.1 billion into the funds earlier in the week. The reversal comes as sentiment flipped bearish despite the brief bounce above $73,000, underscoring broader market fear and uncertainty. 

Notably, ETF outflows carried over to the next day, with Friday alone seeing withdrawals of more than $348.8 million. While March 2 to 4 initially recorded total net assets of more than $94.57 billion, this figure has since declined to $87.07 billion.

Alongside outflows from Spot Bitcoin ETFs, broader market sell-offs have emerged as a key driver behind Bitcoin’s latest slump. On Friday, major holders sold BTC in large volumes. Additionally, reports reveal that top crypto exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase have been selling Bitcoin, further pressuring the leading cryptocurrency. 

As geopolitical tensions escalate and market volatility rises, Bitcoin’s next price direction remains uncertain. Consequently, analysts like Michael van de Poppe maintain a broadly bearish outlook, predicting steeper declines between $60,000 to $48,000 for BTC. 

Ethereum Price Weakens Amid Token Economics Backlash The Ethereum price has also slipped below the key psychological $2,000 level and is now trading slightly above $1,900. This decline comes as negative sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency and its network economic structure surges. 

A recent report from short-selling firm Culper Research warns that Ethereum may be entering “a death spiral” following its December 2025 Fusaka upgrade. According to the report, the upgrade expanded block capacity faster than actual demand, leading to blocks filled with low-value transactions and spam. The firm also criticized Ethereum’s founder, Vitalik Buterin, for selling ETH and dismissed Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee as “clueless” in the face of Ethereum’s new reality. 

BTCUSD now trading at $68,003. Chart: TradingView Culper Research emphasized that the Fusaka upgrade weakened Ethereum’s tokenomics by reducing transaction fees and lowering validator earnings and staking yields. The firm also highlighted a surge in address-poisoning attacks, in which attackers send tiny transactions to wallets to trick users into sending funds to fraudulent addresses. They estimate that victims lost at least $87 million just three months following Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade.

In light of these bearish developments, Culper Researchers have announced that they are “short Ether.” The firm has also labeled ETH a “broken token,” predicting that holders will be left with little economic value in the future. 

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

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It's obviously quite stimulating to place a $1,000 bet on a sporting event. The payoff could make you rich overnight, and the act of betting feels like putting some weight behind your hunch about which team is the more likely to win. In contrast, putting a $1,000 investment into an asset like Bitcoin (BTC 0.75%) feels like surrendering to time and uncertainty, and the payoff can often seem even more improbable than a sports bet.

So which of these two plays is the better option for building your wealth over the long term?

Image source: Getty Images.

The house always wins Let's start by evaluating the economic proposition of sports betting.

As you may know, sportsbooks track "hold," which is the share of total wagers they keep after paying winners. Sportsbooks would go out of business if they didn't retain more money than they pay out. This is important to understand, as it means the average bettor must lose more than they win over time. There simply wouldn't be so many sports betting companies if it weren't a profitable service to offer.

On that note, Motley Fool research found that during recent football seasons, bettors lost around 8% to 9% of their wagers, and sports bettors as a whole were expected to wager about $1.7 billion in February 2026. Of that sum, sportsbooks were expected to keep about $100 million, or a 6% hold. Put differently, that means with average results, gamblers will experience roughly $6 lost per $100 wagered.

So if you keep recycling $1,000 through bets, the expected outcome is that your bankroll will slowly shrink over time even if you get some wins along the way. And that's the opposite of building wealth.

Bitcoin isn't stacked against you As a volatile cryptocurrency, Bitcoin can and does experience ugly drawdowns of around 80%. With or without an investing strategy, there is absolutely no guarantee that you'll be able to take out more money than you put into it.

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But Bitcoin is not a negative-expectation use of your money in the same way that sports betting is. Buying it grants you control of an asset that will likely always have at least some value.

The asset's core propositions are its scarce supply, which can never surpass 21 million Bitcoins, and the difficulty of its mining, which increases dramatically every four years. Because of those supply constraints, and the population of people who are willing to buy it at any price, the chances of a $1,000 investment in it becoming $0 over the long term are fairly small.

Unless you click "sell," you'll even be able to hold your position underwater for as long as you have the fortitude, thereby granting you the possibility of eventually seeing its value recover. In fact, its price is up by more than 15,000% over the last 10 years.

So if you're trying to choose between putting $1,000 into sports bets, where you're guaranteed to lose money over time, or into Bitcoin, Bitcoin obviously has by far the better odds of building your wealth.

Vancouver city staff have recommended that council halt work on a motion exploring a municipal bitcoin reserve, concluding the cryptocurrency is not an allowable investment under the Vancouver Charter.

Journalist

Posted: March 8, 2026

Zcash faced rejection at $251 and lost the $250 support level shortly after. Since then, the altcoin has closed at lower lows for three consecutive days, touching a low of $205.

At the time of writing, Zcash [ZEC] was trading at $207, down 8.29% on the daily charts. Thanks to a sustained decline, ZEC fell further below its short-term and long-term moving averages, indicating intense downside pressure. 

Buy-side liquidity shrinks as sell pressure intensifies Following an extended bearish streak across the market, Zcash holders started to close their positions while speculators stepped back. In fact, the market saw higher sell-side volume, as evidenced by the Spot Taker CVD. 

The altcoin faced massive selling pressure below $250 as short-term holders capitulated and began closing positions.

In the last 2 days alone, downside pressure, as sellers defended $210, contributed to a significant decline and repelled any attempt to move above it.

Source: CryptoQuant

At the same time, Buy Sell Volume to Price Pressure has remained negative for two consecutive days. 

At press time, the VPO1 sat around -22, while VPO2 sat around -10. Here, a negative value means that pressure to price for both sellers and buyers is negative. As a result, even the net buy has been negative, suggesting that selling pressure was dominant over buying pressure. 

Source: Tradingview

Coupled with that, the Demand Index also fell into the negative zone. It had a reading of -25, hinting at a weaker demand relative to supply. With the index negative and trending downward, it further seemed to support the ongoing market decline. 

Traditionally, weak demand and a hike in supply have accelerated downside momentum, resulting in lower prices. In fact, the altcoin’s momentum indicator was indicative of this bearishness.

Source: Tradingview

For starters, the altcoin’s Stochastic Ergodic Indicator (SMII) made a bearish crossover, falling to -0.23. When this indicator falls into the negative zone, it alludes to strong downside risk, with sellers commanding total market control. 

Historically, such market conditions have preceded lower prices too. 

Retail attempts to absorb the rising pressure Despite the sustained market weakness, some investors on exchanges have taken the opportunity to accumulate at a discount.

In fact, CoinGlass revealed that over $48.3 million flowed out of exchanges compared to $43.9 million in inflows over the past 3 days. This period coincided with a significant drop in ZEC’s price charts, with the same highlighting greater dip buying.

Source: Coinglass

The hike in accumulation provides ZEC with much-needed relief and could help the altcoin avoid further declines. Often, higher buying pressure helps absorb market pressure, boosting asset’s upside potential.

Therefore, if demand becomes significant and finally manifests in the market, ZEC could see a trend reversal and reclaim its short-term resistance at $238.

However, if the prevailing trend continues, with sellers overwhelming the market, Zcash is likely to breach the $200-support and drop towards $185.

Final Summary Zcash’s [ZEC] bearish streak is persisting, with the memecoin dropping by 8.29% to a low of $205.  ZEC saw low buy-side liquidity and intense selling pressure, threatening a dip below $200. 

PayPal (PYPL 1.32%), one of the world's largest digital payment companies, was once a promising growth stock. Yet over the past five years, its stock has declined nearly 80% as intense competition, the loss of eBay (EBAY +0.07%) as a top customer, and a challenging macro environment throttled its growth in active accounts and revenues.

From 2021 to 2025, PayPal's year-end active accounts only grew from 426 million to 439 million. That was well below its original goal (which it later abandoned) of hitting 750 million active accounts by 2025. As its account growth stalls out, it's trying to drive more transactions through its branded checkout platform, Venmo peer-to-peer payments app, debit cards, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) services to offset that pressure.

Image source: PayPal.

At the same time, it's downsizing its higher-volume, lower-value platforms (including its backend platform Braintree) to stabilize its margins and transaction take rates. It's also cutting costs and aggressively repurchasing its shares to boost its EPS as its top-line growth cools.

But for 2026, it still expects EPS to decline by mid-single digits as its branded checkout platform struggles to stand out in a sea of similar services. So while PayPal's stock might seem cheap at nine times this year's earnings, it might deserve that discount valuation. Therefore, it might be smarter to invest in another financial giant with a wider moat: American Express (AXP 2.05%).

Why is American Express a better buy? American Express is often compared to Visa (V 0.68%) and Mastercard (MA 0.44%), but it operates a different business model. Visa and Mastercard don't issue their own cards -- they only partner with banks, which issue the cards and take on the debt. They generate most of their revenues by charging merchants "swipe fees" whenever those cards are used.

American Express is both a card-issuing bank and a payment network operator. Therefore, it backs its own cards with its own balance sheet and earns interest on those accounts. It's well insulated from interest rate swings: if interest rates rise, its net interest income rises; if interest rates decline, it earns higher card processing fees as consumer spending accelerates.

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American Express serves fewer cardholders than Visa or Mastercard, but its focus on more affluent, lower-risk customers enables it to grow steadily. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its EPS to grow at a 15% CAGR as its "closed-loop" system locks in more customers. That's a robust growth rate for a stock that trades at just 17 times this year's earnings -- and I believe it will continue to outperform PayPal and many of its financial peers for the foreseeable future.

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard, PayPal, Visa, and eBay. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short March 2026 $65 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Chili's is the main brand inside Brinker International (EAT 3.99%), and management has turned it into one of casual dining's strongest operators. More than 90% of Chili's restaurants in the U.S. are company-owned, which means management controls everything from menu changes to kitchen upgrades.

Before the turnaround, the average Chili's generated around $370,000 in restaurant-level profit. At the end of fiscal 2025, that figure stood at $790,000. Despite the underlying progress, the stock still trades at a below-market multiple.

Image source: Getty Images.

3 For Me Chili's was repositioned at exactly the right time. In recent years, quick-service and fast-casual chains pushed prices so high that consumers started looking elsewhere for value.

Chili's already had its 3 For Me menu in place, starting at $10.99 for a full-service meal at a discount to most fast-food joints. The result was traffic-led growth, with same-store visits (comps) up 16.3% in 2025.

That strength carried into the new fiscal year. Brinker reported second-quarter 2026 results on Jan. 28, with comps growing 8.6% and traffic up 2.7%. That's on top of 31% comps growth in the year-ago quarter.

When a sit-down meal at Chili's costs about the same as a Chipotle bowl, consumers are choosing table service. That's how Brinker fills the seats. The pricing strategy is disciplined, too. The $10.99 promotion accounts for under 8% of total sales.

Twice the profit, same discount The risk is straightforward. Chili's is now lapping comps growth of 31.6% from the year-ago quarter. The rate of increase is moderating, and that's what investors are worried about in the near term. Management guided for comps growth in each quarter of fiscal 2026 and has delivered through the second, but this quarter is the toughest comparison yet.

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Profitability tells a similar story. Restaurant-level margins have expanded from 11.9% in 2022 to 19.1% in the most recent quarter, but the gains are getting tougher to come by. Over the same period, free cash flow grew at an average annual rate of 60% (recalculated through the second quarter of 2026), even as management reinvested heavily in store redesigns and kitchen upgrades.

Brinker is refreshing about 10% of its restaurants each year with updated kitchens and dining rooms and plans to start growing Chili's net store count in fiscal 2027. With the higher restaurant-level profitability today, the return on those new builds should be greater than ever before.

At roughly 14 times forward earnings, Brinker trades at a significant discount to peers Darden Restaurants and Texas Roadhouse, which trade at 20 and 28 times, respectively. That looks reasonable for a business that keeps delivering. Comps could go flat tomorrow, and you would still own twice the restaurant.

Bryan White has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill and Texas Roadhouse. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short March 2026 $42.50 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.