Market Signal Briefing

Preliminary clinical evidence of Lisaftoclax overcoming venetoclax resistance in myeloid malignancies with a 31.8% overall response rate(ORR) in this subgroup of patients80% ORR achieved in newly diagnosed high-risk MDS/CMMLStrong safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities across all patient cohorts in 103-patient study
ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Dec. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascentage Pharma Group International (NASDAQ: AAPG; HKEX: 6855), a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer, announced that it presented the latest results from a Phase Ib/II study of Lisaftoclax (APG-2575), a key investigational drug candidate in the Company’s pipeline, in combination with azacitidine (AZA) in patients with newly diagnosed or prior venetoclax–exposed myeloid malignancies in a poster presentation at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, being held in Orlando, Florida.

The ASH Annual Meeting is one of the largest gatherings of the international hematology community, aggregating cutting-edge scientific research and the latest data on investigational therapies that represent leading scientific and clinical advances in the global hematology field. Once again, Ascentage Pharma’s innovative pipeline has garnered significant attention at this year’s conference, with results from multiple clinical and preclinical studies on three of the Company’s drug candidates (Olverembatinib, Lisaftoclax, and APG-5918) selected for presentations, including an oral report featuring a study on Lisaftoclax.

Data featured in the report further validated the therapeutic potential and favorable tolerability profile of Lisaftoclax in myeloid malignancies, including treatment responses from venetoclax–resistant patients. These results underscore Lisaftoclax’s distinct clinical value that is differentiated from other drugs in the same class.

Lisaftoclax is a novel, orally administered Bcl-2 selective inhibitor developed by Ascentage Pharma. It exerts antitumor effect by selectively blocking the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and restoring the normal apoptosis process in cancer cells. Lisaftoclax is approved in China for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have previously received at least one systemic therapy, including Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. Ascentage Pharma is currently conducting four global registrational Phase III studies to evaluate Lisaftoclax in multiple indications, including CLL/SLL, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Yifan Zhai, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma, said, “It is our great pleasure to present continued progress in the clinical development of Lisaftoclax in myeloid malignancies such as AML and MDS at the ASH Annual Meeting. These data suggest that this combination regimen has substantial therapeutic potential for the treatment of newly diagnosed or venetoclax–exposed patients. We hope that Lisaftoclax will bring a breakthrough to the clinical management of myeloid malignancies. Fulfilling our mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world, we will strive to accelerate our clinical programs to bring more safe and effective therapies to patients as soon as possible.”

Highlights of the data this study reported at ASH 2025 are as below:

Results of the APG2575AU101 study of lisaftoclax (APG-2575) combined with azacitidine (AZA) in patients with newly diagnosed (ND) or prior venetoclax–exposed myeloid malignancies
Format: Poster Presentation
Abstract#: 1641
Session: 616. Acute Myeloid Leukemias: Investigational Drug and Cellular Therapies: Poster I
Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025; 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM EST
First Author: Dr. Tapan Kadia, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Presenter: Dr. Tapan Kadia, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Highlights:
Background:

AML and MDS have poor prognoses. Venetoclax plus hypomethylating agent AZA is approved for certain patients with AML, but many patients are unable to benefit from treatment because of failure to respond or intolerance. Even patients who achieve complete responses (CRs) in early treatment eventually experience relapse.Lisaftoclax, a novel, oral small-molecular Bcl-2 inhibitor, has shown enhanced treatment responses when combined with AZA in preclinical and clinical studies. Introduction:

This was a phase Ib/II study (NCT04964518) designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lisaftoclax in combination with AZA in patients with ND or relapsed/refractory AML, mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), or higher-risk (HR) MDS. The first part of this study was the dose-escalation phase and the second part was the dose-expansion phase.As of July 1, 2025, 103 patients were enrolled, including 63 patients with AML/MPAL (of whom 56 had relapsed/refractory diseases) and 40 patients with HR MDS/CMML (of whom 25 had relapsed/refractory diseases). Efficacy Results:

In the 44 evaluable patients with R/R AML/MPAL, the ORR was 43.2%, and the CR rate was 31.8% (14/44). In the 22 evaluable patients with venetoclax–exposed R/R AML/MPAL, the ORR was 31.8% (7/22), and the CR rate was 22.7% (5/22).In the 15 evaluable patients with ND HR MDS/CMML, the ORR was 80.0%, including 6 (40.0%) patients who achieved a CR, and 6 (40.0%) who achieved a marrow CR (mCR).Median overall survival (OS) values for patients with R/R AML/MPAL or R/R HR MDS/CMML were 7.6 months and 11.3 months, respectively.The median OS was 6.3 months in patients with ND AML/MPAL and was not reached in patients with ND HR MDS/CMML. Safety Results: No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported in part one for dose-escalation or part two for dose-expansion. Common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) included neutropenia (41.7%), febrile neutropenia (35.0%), thrombocytopenia (26.2%), and anemia (17.5%).

Conclusion: These preliminary clinical data show that the combination regimen of lisaftoclax plus AZA holds promise in overcoming venetoclax resistance, therefore potentially offering a new treatment option to patients with AML/HR MDS.

* Lisaftoclax, Olverembatinib and APG-5918 are currently under investigation and have not yet been approved by the FDA in the U.S.

About Ascentage Pharma
Ascentage Pharma Group International (NASDAQ: AAPG; HKEX: 6855) (“Ascentage Pharma” or the “Company”) is a global, commercial stage, integrated biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, differentiated therapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer. The Company has built a rich pipeline of innovative drug products and candidates that includes inhibitors targeting key proteins in the apoptotic pathway, such as Bcl-2 and MDM2-p53, as well as next-generation kinase inhibitors.

The lead asset, Olverembatinib, is the first novel third-generation BCR-ABL1 inhibitor approved in China for the treatment of patients with CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) with T315I mutations, CML in accelerated phase (CML-AP) with T315I mutations, and CML-CP that is resistant or intolerant to first and second-generation TKIs. All indications are covered by the China National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). The Company is currently conducting an FDA-cleared, global registrational Phase III trial, or POLARIS-2, of Olverembatinib for CML, as well as global registrational Phase III trials for patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL and SDH-deficient GIST patients.

The Company’s second approved product, Lisaftoclax, is a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor for the treatment of various hematologic malignancies. Lisaftoclax is being commercialized in China following National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have previously received at least one systemic therapy including Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. The Company is currently conducting four global registrational Phase III trials: the FDA-cleared GLORA study of Lisaftoclax in combination with BTK inhibitors in patients with CLL/SLL previously treated with BTK inhibitors for more than 12 months with suboptimal response; the GLORA-2 study in patients with newly diagnosed CLL/SLL; the GLORA-3 study in newly diagnosed, elderly and unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia ( AML); and the GLORA-4 study in patients with newly diagnosed higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR MDS), a study that was simultaneously cleared by the U.S. FDA, the EMA of the EU, and China CDE.

Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships and other relationships with numerous leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, such as Takeda, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, and Innovent, in addition to research and development relationships with leading research institutions, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic, National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan. For more information, visit https://ascentage.com/

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements, including statements that express Ascentage Pharma’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results of operations or financial condition.

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties as discussed in Ascentage Pharma’s filings with the SEC, including those set forth in the sections titled “Risk factors” and “Special note regarding forward-looking statements and industry data” in its Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2025, and the Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 16, 2025, the sections headed “Forward-looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the prospectus of the Company for its Hong Kong initial public offering dated October 16, 2019, and other filings with the SEC and/or The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited we made or make from time to time that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this presentation do not constitute profit forecast by the Company’s management.

As a result of these factors, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on Ascentage Pharma’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statements. Ascentage Pharma does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Investor Relations:
Stella Yang
Ascentage Pharma
[email protected]
+1 (301) 792-6286

Stephanie Carrington
ICR Healthcare
[email protected]
+1 (646) 277-1282

Media Relations:
Sean Leous
ICR Healthcare
[email protected]
+1 (646) 866-4012

Oil held steady in the early Asian trade. This could be due to a possible oil supply glut and stalled Ukraine-Russia peace talks, said UOB.

Signed an exclusive business agreement with the Tamil Nadu state government to promote the establishment of a new shipyard
Tamil Nadu state assessed as the most optimal site with climate and rainfall similar to Ulsan, and is expected to have additional large-scale investments in port facilities
Will also be partnering with an Indian state-owned enterprise for port crane business to deliver goliath and jib cranes to local shipyards
"India is a market with strong growth potential, and we hope to expand cooperation and develop it into a new growth engine"
, /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai has initiated a review on the establishment of a new shipyard in India.

HD Hyundai announced on Sunday, December 7, that it signed a strategic and comprehensive partnership with the Tamil Nadu state government regarding the establishment of a new shipyard in India. The ceremony was held recently in Madurai, southern India, with the attendance of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, State Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, and Head of Corporate Planning at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Choi Hannae.

HD Hyundai signed an exclusive agreement with Guidance Tamil Nadu for the construction of a new shipyard. (From left in the front row: Darez Ahamed, Managing Director and CEO of Guidance Tamil Nadu; T.R.B Rajaa, Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries; M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; Choi Hannae, Head of Corporate Planning at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering)

The Indian government is strategically pursuing the "Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047" in an effort to become one of the world's top five shipbuilding and shipping nations. To achieve this goal, the government is actively reviewing not only the expansion of existing shipyards but also the establishment of new facilities.

In practice, the Indian government has shortlisted five states—including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh—as candidate sites for the construction of a new shipyard and is currently in the process of identifying the most suitable location. Seeking to revitalize the local economy, the Tamil Nadu state government has made the establishment of a shipyard its top priority and has expanded efforts to provide incentives and subsidies, enhance infrastructure, and secure skilled talent. As a result, the state has ultimately selected HD Hyundai as its project partner for the establishment of the new shipyard.

In particular, the Thoothukudi region of Tamil Nadu—cited as one of the candidate sites for the new shipyard—is regarded as an optimal location, with temperature and rainfall conditions similar to those of Ulsan, Korea, where HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is located. It already hosts major Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung Electronics, and large-scale investments are planned for nearby port facilities, further strengthening expectations for future business expansion.

Earlier this month, HD Hyundai also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the collaboration for maritime & port crane development in India with BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited), a state-owned enterprise under the Indian Ministry of Defence, in Bengaluru, southern India. Headquartered in Bengaluru, BEML operates in various sectors including defense and aerospace equipment, mining and construction equipment, and railway and metro vehicles. The company also has multiple manufacturing bases in southern India, including Bengaluru and Kolar.

Through this agreement, HD Hyundai plans to strengthen collaboration with BEML across the entire crane manufacturing process—including design, production, and quality assurance—aiming to gradually build port crane manufacturing capabilities within India. Looking ahead, the company also plans to expand its business by supplying goliath and jib cranes to local shipyards in India.

In relation to this, HD Hyundai Samho, a shipbuilding affiliate of HD Hyundai, successfully delivered a 600-ton Goliath crane to Cochin Shipyard, India's largest state-owned shipbuilder, in February of this year. In addition, in August, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the intermediary holding company for the shipbuilding division, announced it would acquire HD Hyundai Eco Vina from Doosan Enerbility to further reinforce HD Hyundai's ongoing expansion in the crane business.

An HD Hyundai official said, "India is a market with strong growth potential, backed by the government's robust commitment to fostering the shipbuilding industry," adding, "We will continue to expand cooperation with India in the shipbuilding and offshore sectors and develop it into a new growth engine."

Earlier in July this year, HD Hyundai signed an MOU with Cochin Shipyard to promote cooperation in a wide range of areas, including design and procurement support, productivity enhancement, and human capital development. More recently, the scope of this partnership has been expanded to include naval vessel projects, further strengthening HD Hyundai's presence in India.

SOURCE HD Hyundai

By

PYMNTS
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December 7, 2025

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A new artificial intelligence-powered tool that lets shoppers see how they would look in different outfits is resonating with clients, Stitch Fix CEO Matt Baer said Thursday (Dec. 4).

“We’re seeing engagement from our clients that far exceeded our expectations when we rolled out the beta just a couple of months ago,” Baer said during the company’s quarterly earnings call.

Stitch Fix announced the AI-powered visualization tool called Stitch Fix Vision on Oct. 6, saying it gives customers personalized imagery of their likeness in an array of shoppable outfit recommendations based on their style profile and the newest fashion trends.

Aside from seeing their likeness in a variety of styles, customers can see themselves in a range of locations, such as on a city street or at the beach, to help them visualize how outfits will look in different environments.

Baer said during Thursday’s call that the experience is “completely shoppable” and that the images can be shared across social media platforms.

Clients are using the tool in different ways, Baer said. Some purchase directly from the Stitch Fix Vision image, some share images with their Stitch Fix stylists to inform the next outfits they will receive, and some share images across social platforms.

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“They’re sharing it with friends and family, and it’s creating a bit of virality and organic growth for us from a client acquisition standpoint as well,” Baer said.

Stitch Fix Vision has joined several other AI-powered tools the company has deployed, including client-facing tools and behind-the-scenes ones.

Baer highlighted the company’s AI Style Assistant that uses generative AI to engage in dialogue with clients and help them articulate their preferences to their stylists.

He also pointed to gen AI tools that help different Stitch Fix teams with things like private-brand product development, inventory management, trend forecasting and pricing. For example, the product development tool enables the company to bring products to market faster, while the pricing tool helps it ensure prices are profitable for the company and satisfactory for the client.

“AI is not new to Stitch Fix,” Baer said. “When we launched nearly 15 years ago, we disrupted retail with a proprietary data-driven approach. Over time, we’ve amassed billions of insights on our clients’ fit, style and budget preferences that, combined with the human judgment of our stylists, enable us to uniquely deliver ultra personalization at scale.”

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LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immix Biopharma, Inc. (“ImmixBio”, “Company”, “We” or “Us” or ”IMMX”), a global leader in relapsed/refractory AL Amyloidosis, today announced the pricing of an underwritten registered offering of 19,117,646 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $5.10 per share, and to certain investors in lieu of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 490,196 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $5.09 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share public offering price for the common stock, less the $0.01 per share exercise price for each such pre-funded warrant. The gross proceeds to Immix from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses, are expected to be $100 million. The offering is expected to close on or about December 9, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Immix intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents to fund NXC-201 development and for working capital and general corporate purposes. Immix believes that the net proceeds from the offering, together with its existing cash and cash equivalents, and expected disbursements under the Company’s CIRM grant will be sufficient to meet the Company’s operational needs into mid-2027.

Morgan Stanley is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering.  Citizens Capital Markets and Mizuho are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The securities in the registered offering are being offered and sold pursuant to a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269100), including a base prospectus, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 3, 2023, and declared effective on January 11, 2023. A prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the registered offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on its website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may also be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, by phone: 1-866-718-1649 or by email: [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Immix Biopharma, Inc.
Immix Biopharma, Inc. (ImmixBio) (Nasdaq: IMMX) is a global leader in relapsed/refractory AL Amyloidosis. AL Amyloidosis is a devastating disease where the immune system, that’s supposed to protect, instead produces toxic light chains, clogging up the heart, kidney and liver, causing organ failure and death. Our lead candidate is sterically-optimized BCMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy NXC-201 with a “digital filter” that is designed to filter out non-specific activation. NXC-201 teaches the immune system to recognize and eliminate the source of the toxic light chains.  NXC-201 is being evaluated in the U.S. multi-center study for relapsed/refractory AL Amyloidosis NEXICART-2 (NCT06097832), with a registrational design.  NXC-201 has been awarded Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) by the US FDA and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by FDA and in the EU by the EMA.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Immix Biopharma, Inc., its results of operations, prospects, future business plans and operations and the matters discussed above, including, but not limited to, statements relating to the offering, including the timing of the closing of the offering, the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom, the Company’s cash runway, the potential benefits of our product candidate CAR-T NXC-201 and the timing and results related to clinical trials. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that contain words such as “expects”, “contemplates”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “intends”, “believes”, “estimates”, “potential”, and variations of such words or similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes, or that do not relate to historical matters. Those forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. Among those factors are: (i) the risk that the further data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trials for CAR-T NXC-201 will not be favorably consistent with the data readouts to date, (ii) the risk that the Company may not be able to continue the NEXICART-2 multi-site U.S. Phase 1/2 clinical trial; (iii) the risk that the Company may not be able to advance to registration-enabling studies for CAR-T NXC-201 or other product candidates, (iv) that success in early phases of pre-clinical and clinicals trials do not ensure later clinical trials will be successful; (v) that no drug product developed by the Company has received FDA pre-market approval or otherwise been incorporated into a commercial drug product, (vi) the risk that the Company may not be able to obtain additional working capital with which to continue the clinical trials for CAR-T NXC-201, or advance to the initiation of registration-enabling studies, for such product candidates as and when needed and (vii) those other risks disclosed in the section “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 25, 2025 and other periodic or current reports subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. Immix Biopharma cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete. Immix Biopharma cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Immix Biopharma does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur, except as required by law. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Contacts
Mike Moyer
LifeSci Advisors
[email protected]

Company Contact
[email protected]

The database specialist's stock appears positioned for an impressive run in the next few years.

Database specialist MongoDB (MDB +3.25%) gave investors plenty to be happy about on Dec. 1 when it delivered a stellar report for its fiscal 2026 third quarter. Share prices of the company are up by more than 23% since that report revealed surging revenue, robust cloud growth, expanding profitability, and an impressive increase in the full-year guidance.

Image source: Getty Images

Several prominent Wall Street analysts, including Hannah Rudolf of Piper Sandler, Mike Cikos of Needham, and Blair Abernethy of Rosenblatt, have also increased their price targets on the stock.

Financial performance and growth catalysts
In MongoDB's fiscal third quarter, which ended Oct. 31, revenue rose 19% year over year to $628.3 million, while non-GAAP net income per share was $1.32, a dramatic improvement from its net loss per share of $1.16 in Q3 2024.

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However, the bigger news regarded the growth of MongoDB's fully managed cloud database, Atlas. That segment's revenue soared 30% and now accounts for 75% of overall revenue. After a few quarters of slower expansion, Atlas saw accelerated usage among both self-serve and enterprise customers. Demand for deploying AI-related workloads such as Vector Search and Voyage embeddings on Atlas was also strong, as it has cut latency and operational spend for enterprise clients. This helped tilt MongoDB's sales mix toward higher-margin and recurring revenue streams.

MongoDB's profitability also improved: Non-GAAP operating margin rose 1 percentage point to 20% in the quarter. Free cash flow soared by 300% year over year to $140 million. The company also added 2,600 new customers, exiting the quarter with a customer count of 62,500. 

Management now expects fiscal 2026 revenue to land in the range of $2.434 billion to $2.439 billion, up from a prior guidance range of $2.34 billion to $2.36 billion, and non-GAAP operating income of $436.4 million to $440.4 million, up from previous guidance of $321 million to $331 million. Those boosts signal that the company experienced solid demand trends and has clearer revenue visibility, both of which are impressive in the current volatile macroeconomic environment.  

Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MongoDB. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The wave of executive departures hitting Apple recently may not yet have crested. Johny Srouji, senior vice president of hardware technologies, recently informed CEO Tim Cook that he is thinking seriously about stepping down in the near future, Bloomberg News reported Saturday (Dec. 6), citing sources familiar with the matter.

Netflix and Casey's General Stores stocks should perform well even if artificial intelligence (AI) stocks drop significantly, causing the market to decline.

Some investors are concerned that artificial intelligence (AI) stocks are overvalued and in a bubble similar to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, which burst in early 2000. I don't share the belief that all AI stocks are overvalued or in a bubble. That said, it's a good idea for all investors not to have too many of their eggs in one basket -- in this case, the "AI basket."

For investors seeking stocks that are likely to perform well even if AI stocks pull back significantly and cause a market decline, I have two recommendations: streaming giant Netflix (NFLX 2.99%) and convenience store owner and operator Casey's General Stores (CASY +0.69%).

Casey's seems to fly under the radar of many investors. So hopefully, I'm introducing some investors to a stock that's new to them. Both Netflix and Casey's stocks have performed extremely well over the long term.

Image source: Netflix.

2 Top non-AI growth stocks to buy
CompanyMarket CapForward P/E RatioWall Street's 5-Year Annualized EPS Growth EstimateYear-to-Date 2025 Stock Return10-Year Stock ReturnNetflix$426 billion32.725.6%12.5%666%Casey's General Stores$21.1 billion34.812.6%43.7%409%S&P 500 index N/AN/AN/A18.2%291%
Data sources: Yahoo! Finance and YCharts. Forward P/E = forward price to earnings. EPS = earnings per share. Data as of Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Netflix: The video streaming leader
Netflix is the world's largest video streaming service, boasting over 300 million paid memberships worldwide. Its offerings include TV series, films, and games. Moreover, it plans a major expansion in the video podcast space in early 2026 in the United States, following a partnership deal with Spotify announced in October.

On Friday, Netflix announced a $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's Warner Bros. TV and film studios, as well as the cable channel HBO and its streaming service, HBO Max. Among other benefits, this deal will bring Warner Bros.' extensive TV and film library, as well as two of the most popular film franchises, Harry Potter and Superman, into Netflix's fold. The deal is expected to close in 12 to 18 months, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

In both good and challenging economic times, people tend to seek entertainment. Many consumers consider a Netflix subscription to be a relatively inexpensive necessity rather than a "want" that they will forgo in tough economic climates.

Indeed, Netflix stock gained a whopping 70.7% during the Great Recession, a deep economic downturn that lasted from December 2007 through May 2009. The S&P 500 index plunged 35.6% during this one-and-a-half-year period.

Netflix has been using AI to enhance its service. However, if demand for AI capabilities were to slow down significantly (which I don't think will happen), Netflix's business should remain unscathed. So, while the company uses AI, as many companies do, it's not a so-called "AI stock," in my opinion.

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In the third quarter, Netflix's revenue increased 17% to $11.51 billion, and its earnings per share (EPS) rose 8.7% year over year. Earnings were hurt by an "expense related to an ongoing dispute with Brazilian tax authorities." Free cash flow (FCF) growth remains robust. FCF surged 21% year over year to $2.66 billion.

Consumer engagement remains strong. Netflix achieved its highest quarterly "view share" ever in the U.S. and U.K., which bodes well for its continued robust performance.

For the fourth quarter, Netflix guided for revenue growth of 17% and even better EPS growth of 28% year over year.

Image source: Casey's General Stores.

Casey's General Stores: A hybrid convenience store/gas station/pizzeria
In my area, the convenience store chain that dominates is Wawa. And numerous times over the years, I have heard many people say about its stores, "Those places are gold mines."

I've never been inside a Casey's General Stores location, but the company's growth and financial statistics suggest that its stores are also relatively lucrative. And the great thing for investors is that they can own a piece of the Casey's "gold mine." That's not the case with Wawa, which is privately held.

Based on store count, Casey's is the third-largest convenience store chain in the U.S., behind 7-Eleven, which is wholly owned by Japanese retailing company Seven & i Holdings, and Circle K, owned by Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard.

Casey's, based in Iowa, owns and operates 2,895 stores in 19 states across the Midwest and the Southeastern U.S. It was founded in 1968 and has seemingly perfected its recipe for successfully locating its stores -- about two-thirds of which are located in areas with populations of 20,000 or fewer -- and its offerings of products and services.

Casey's offers gasoline, and some locations feature charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). While it offers freshly prepared food and beverages commonly found in convenience stores (such as coffee, donuts, and sandwiches), it also has a rather unique and popular offering: pizza made from scratch on the premises. Indeed, the company ranks as the fifth-largest pizza chain in the U.S.

This winning recipe also includes the company actively fostering a sense of community in various ways, such as by offering a loyalty program that customers clearly love.

Casey's stock is probably as far removed from an AI company as is possible. A slowdown in AI demand, which would likely spark a decline in AI stocks and the overall market, should have no impact on the company's business and little to no effect on its share price.

Casey's stock pays a dividend, currently yielding 0.4%. While this is a modest dividend, it can make a significant difference over the long term.

In its fiscal Q1 of 2026 (ended July 31, 2025), Casey's revenue increased 11% to $4.57 billion. Gross profit was a slim 13.7% on gas, but a hefty 58% on prepared foods and dispensed beverages. It was a solid 35.9% on grocery and general store merchandise. Net income surged 20% year over year, translating to EPS growth of 20%.

Lastly, Casey's stock held up well during the Great Recession, which lasted from December 2007 through May 2009. It declined just 11.5%, while the S&P 500 plummeted 35.6% during this period.

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OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. (TSX-V: YFI) (OTC: KPIFF) (the “Company” or “Edgewater Wireless”) announces that it has settled its obligation to pay an aggregate of $18,047.12 in interest as of June 1, 2025 and $17,948.49 in interest as of September 1, 2025 to the holders of its unsecured debentures issued September 1, 2022 (the “Debentures”) through the issuance of an aggregate of 360,936 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.05 per share and 276,124 common shares of the Company at a deemed price of $0.065 per share (the “Shares”). The Shares are issued in full satisfaction of the June 1, 2025 and September 1, 2025 interest payment obligations in accordance with the terms of the Debentures. The debt settlement has been approved by the TSX Venture Exchange.

Certain directors of the Company received an aggregate of 121,559 Shares and therefore the share issuance constitutes a “related party transaction” as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). The Company will rely on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Shares nor the debt exceeds 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

About Edgewater Wireless

We make Wi-Fi. Better.

Edgewater Wireless delivers unmatched Wi-Fi QoS—bar none—by intelligently mitigating congestion, managing spectrum allocation in real-time, and autonomously reconfiguring channel and link density—driving economic gains for service providers and their customers through reduced churn, improved efficiency, and high-performance connectivity in dense environments.

Redefining Wi-Fi from the silicon up, Edgewater’s patented, AI-powered Spectrum Slicing platform—delivered through the PrismIQ™ product family—breaks the limits of legacy Wi-Fi by enabling multiple concurrent channels in a single band. Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing delivers 10x performance and up to 50% lower latency, even for legacy devices. With 26 patents and a fabless model, Edgewater is transforming the economics of Wi-Fi for service providers, OEMs, and enterprises—powering scalable, standards-aligned/leading connectivity across residential, enterprise, and Industrial IoT markets. A Silicon Catalyst portfolio company, Edgewater is building the intelligent wireless foundation for the next era of global connectivity.

Visit https://edgewaterwireless.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

More News From Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc.

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CNBC's Chery Kang and Mandy Drury discuss the implications of Netflix's bid for Warner Bros Discovery, examining how the move by the world's dominant streamer could reshape its international markets.

The consortium entered into a takeover agreement for the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand after almost two weeks of exclusive due diligence.

NEW YORK, Dec. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) resulting from allegations that Western Alliance Bancorporation may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Western Alliance Bancorporation securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46349 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 16, 2025, Western Alliance Bancorporation disclosed that it had initiated a lawsuit against a borrower, Cantor Group V LLC, alleging fraud related to collateral loans.

On this news, Western Alliance Bancorporation’s stock fell 10.88% on October 16, 2025.

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. 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.

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.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
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        www.rosenlegal.com

, /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies, announced that clinical data from its allogeneic BCMA-targeted CAR T-cell product candidate, CT0596, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) was presented in a poster at the 67th American Society of Hematology5 achieved PR or better. Six patients  (ASH) Annual Meeting. The poster was titled "A First-in-Human Study of CT0596, an Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy Targeting BCMA, in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma." The publication number was 2296.

This clinical trial (NCT06718270) enrolled 8 patients with R/R MM in the dose-escalation phase who received CT0596 infusion. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 4.5 (range: 3-9). Enrollment was not restricted by NKG2A expression levels. Regarding lymphodepletion, 6 patients received full-dose lymphodepletion with fludarabine (30 mg/m²/day) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m²/day) for 3 consecutive days, while 2 patients received reduced-dose lymphodepletion. CT0596 was administered at dose levels of 1.5×10⁸ (n=1), 3×10⁸ (n=5), and 4.5×10⁸ CAR-T cells (n=2), with one patient receiving two infusions.

As of August 31, 2025, all 8 infused patients were evaluable for efficacy, with a median follow-up of 4.14 months (range: 0.9-7.9 months). Six patients achieved a partial response (PR) or better: 3 achieved complete response/stringent complete response (CR/sCR) (all in the full-dose lymphodepletion group), 1 achieved very good partial response (VGPR), and 2 achieved PR. Among the 6 patients who received full-dose lymphodepletion, 5 achieved PR or better. Six patients  in the full-dose lymphodepletion group achieved minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity at Week 4. Patient 01 maintained ongoing sCR and MRD-negativity as of Month 8. Patient 04 achieved PR with resolution of extramedullary disease following the second infusion. CAR-T cell expansion was observed in all 8 patients. Among the two patients who received the 4.5×10⁸ dose, one achieved sCR, and the other exhibited deepening response to VGPR.

CT0596 demonstrated a manageable safety profile. Four patients experienced Grade 1 cytokine release syndrome (CRS); no Grade 2 or higher CRS was observed. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was reported. No dose-limiting toxicities, treatment discontinuations, or deaths were observed.

The study is still in the dose-exploration phase. The lymphodepletion regimen has been determined, and higher cell doses are being explored to further define the recommended dose (RD). The company plans to initiate a Phase 1b registrational study for CT0596 in 2026.

About CT0596

CT0596 is an allogeneic BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapy developed using CARsgen's proprietary THANK-u Plus™ platform. It is currently being evaluated in investigator-initiated trials for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) or plasma cell leukemia (PCL). CT0596 demonstrated preliminary favorable tolerability and encouraging efficacy signals. Further investigation is planned in additional plasma cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases mediated by autoreactive plasma cells. The company anticipates submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the second half of 2025.

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies to address the unmet clinical needs including but not limited to hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. CARsgen has established end-to-end capabilities for CAR T-cell research and development covering target discovery, preclinical research, product clinical development, and commercial-scale production. CARsgen has developed novel in-house technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs, etc. CARsgen's mission is to be a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for patients worldwide and makes cancer and other diseases curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group's current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group's control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics

The president said the $72 billion deal “could be a problem.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would have a say whether a proposed merger between Netflix and Warner Brothers should go forward, telling reporters the market share of a combined entity could raise concerns.

XRP price has returned to the critical $2 level after repeated failed breakout attempts, reflecting uncertainty across the market. 

Each attempt to rally above near-term resistance has been met with selling pressure, pulling the altcoin back toward this psychological floor.

XRP Holders Are In A Tug Of WarWhales have begun offloading substantial portions of their holdings. Over the past seven days, wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP have sold more than 390 million XRP, worth over $783 million at current prices. 

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This level of distribution shows clear frustration among high-value holders who expected a stronger recovery. Such selling typically weighs heavily on market sentiment, especially when driven by a cohort that can significantly influence liquidity.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

XRP Whale Holding. Source: SantimentDespite whale distribution, long-term holders are counteracting downward pressure. HODL Waves data shows that the share of XRP supply held by the 1-year to 2-year cohort increased from 8.58 percent to 9.81 percent in the past week. 

This signals growing conviction among maturing holders who acquired XRP less than a year ago and are now opting to retain their tokens through volatility. This steadiness is helping stabilize XRP at $2, softening the impact of whale selling.

XRP HODL Waves. Source: GlassnodeXRP Price Notes A DipXRP is trading at $2.00 at the time of writing, a crucial psychological and technical support level. In recent days, price movements have repeatedly gravitated back to this point, confirming its importance in maintaining market structure.

Given the opposing pressure from whale selling and long-term holder accumulation, XRP will likely remain rangebound between $2.00 and $2.20 until a clear directional catalyst emerges. A shift in sentiment or improved market conditions would be needed to break this consolidation pattern.

XRP Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewHowever, if bearish momentum strengthens and whale selling accelerates, XRP could fall through the $1.94 support. Such a breakdown would expose the price to a deeper decline toward $1.85, invalidating any near-term bullish expectations.

Is Ethereum losing its biggest catalyst?

Ethereum’s largest holders are redirecting their focus towards Remittix, a digital currency gaining momentum due to its recent advances and security credentials. As of early December, reports indicate that these investors, often referred to as “whales,” are making strategic changes in response to Remittix’s gains in the mobile wallet sphere and its top-tier security evaluation by CertiK.

Remittix has emerged as a promising player in the cryptocurrency landscape, particularly due to its innovative approach in mobile transactions. As Ethereum faces ongoing delays and technical challenges, Remittix’s successful deployment of a live wallet has captured attention. This development depicts a significant shift in investor confidence and strategy, highlighting the dynamic nature of the digital currency market.

Ethereum, known for its robust smart contract functionality, has been grappling with scaling issues and updates to its network. These technical hurdles have inadvertently opened the door for competitors like Remittix to showcase their solutions, particularly in mobile wallet integration—a crucial area for expanding user accessibility and adoption. The adoption of Remittix among everyday users has been growing, fueled by the seamless transaction capabilities it offers across various platforms.

Security remains a critical factor for cryptocurrencies, and the recent certification of Remittix by CertiK, a leader in blockchain security audits, further bolsters its credibility. CertiK’s rigorous evaluation process ensures that Remittix meets high standards of security, which is particularly appealing to large investors wary of potential vulnerabilities in digital currencies. This certification not only enhances investor confidence but also positions Remittix as a secure alternative to established cryptocurrencies.

Remittix’s strategic focus on mobile wallet systems has been a game-changer, enabling users to perform transactions with ease and reliability. Unlike Ethereum, which is still navigating through its transition to Ethereum 2.0—a process aimed at enhancing scalability and security—Remittix has swiftly capitalized on its ability to offer a functioning and secure wallet experience. This agility in execution has been instrumental in attracting interest from investors looking for immediate returns and reliable technology.

Furthermore, the shift in attention from Ethereum to Remittix by institutional investors, such as crypto whales, signifies a broader trend within the financial markets. These entities typically control substantial amounts of cryptocurrency and can influence market movements significantly. Their interest in Remittix underscores a growing recognition of the potential for diversification within the cryptocurrency portfolios, mitigating risks associated with relying too heavily on a single asset.

Historically, the cryptocurrency market has been dominated by Bitcoin and Ethereum, but the landscape is rapidly evolving. The rise of alternative cryptocurrencies, often referred to as altcoins, provides investors with opportunities to explore diverse functionalities and innovative features that these newer players bring to the table. Remittix’s focus on security and usability in mobile platforms aligns with the increasing demand for digital solutions that cater to everyday financial transactions.

The broader implications of this shift are significant for the cryptocurrency market. As more investors diversify their holdings, we could witness a redistribution of capital, leading to increased valuations for emerging cryptocurrencies. This trend may also encourage further innovation within the industry, as developers and companies strive to meet the evolving needs of both individual users and institutional investors.

However, the burgeoning interest in Remittix is not without risks. The volatility inherent in the cryptocurrency market poses challenges, particularly for newer entrants. While Remittix has made impressive strides, it must navigate the complexities of maintaining growth and ensuring its technology scales effectively to meet the demands of an expanding user base. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrencies continues to intensify globally, which could impact Remittix’s operations and adoption.

In the context of global financial trends, the rise of Remittix aligns with increased interest in digital solutions that offer convenience and security. Mobile payments have seen significant growth worldwide, driven by advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences. As traditional financial systems integrate more with digital currencies, the success of platforms like Remittix could mark a turning point in how financial transactions are conducted on a global scale.

The strategic shift by Ethereum whales towards Remittix is a testament to the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market, where innovation and security are paramount. As Remittix continues to gain traction, its impact on the market could be profound, influencing not just investor portfolios but also the future direction of digital currency development.

In summary, Remittix’s rise reflects an evolving landscape where security, ease of use, and technological innovation are increasingly prioritized. As Ethereum works through its challenges, Remittix stands as a formidable competitor, capturing the attention of investors ready to adapt to the ever-changing market conditions. The coming years will be pivotal for both Ethereum and Remittix as they vie for dominance in the rapidly transforming digital economy.

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Bitcoin (BTC +0.58%) and XRP (XRP +0.31%) are very different types of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the world's top cryptocurrency, is still actively mined and generally valued by its scarcity and mainstream adoption. XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger, was pre-mined prior to its launch and relies heavily on the fintech company Ripple Labs.

Since the start of this year, Bitcoin's price has fallen by 2% while XRP's price has dropped 8%. Both coins fizzled out as concerns about stickier inflation, elevated Treasury yields, and other unpredictable macro headwinds chilled the crypto market. But should you buy either of these tokens right now?

Image source: Getty Images.

The bull and bear case for Bitcoin
Bitcoin, which is mined with the energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, has a maximum supply of 21 million tokens. Some 19.9 million of those tokens have already been mined, but every four years, its mining rewards are cut in half. Those halvings make it increasingly difficult to mine, so its last token can't be mined until 2140.

Bitcoin's scarcity makes it more comparable to gold, silver, and other commodities. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved its first spot price exchange-traded funds (ETFs) last year, and they've attracted considerable attention from retail, institutional, corporate, and government investors as a hedge against inflation.

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All those catalysts could drive Bitcoin's price higher, but the bears believe it won't gain more traction in mainstream payments unless its price stabilizes. They'll also note that the growing power requirements for mining Bitcoin make it less environmentally friendly than proof-of-stake (PoS) tokens like Ether (ETH +0.17%), which can't be mined.

Unlike PoS blockchains, Bitcoin doesn't support smart contracts, which are used to develop decentralized applications (dApps) and other crypto assets. That lack of a developer ecosystem could make it less appealing than developer-oriented blockchains like Ethereum. Bitcoin could also be challenged by stablecoins -- which are mostly pinned to the U.S. dollar -- as a cheaper, faster, and more stable alternative for blockchain-based payments. Looking even further ahead, quantum computing systems could eventually crack Bitcoin's encryption and instantly solve its crypto puzzles. If that happens, Bitcoin's foundations could crumble, and its price would plummet.

The bull and bear cases for XRP
XRP isn't a PoW or PoS token. Its ledger was created by the founders of the fintech company Ripple Labs, who minted its entire supply of 100 billion tokens prior to its public debut. Ripple initially held 80 billion of those tokens, but it sold some of those tokens to fund its own expansion. That unusual capital-raising strategy sparked a lawsuit from the SEC -- which accused Ripple of selling its own XRP tokens as unlicensed securities -- in 2020.

As a result, Ripple lost several of its top fintech customers and the major crypto exchanges delisted XRP. But earlier this year, that closely watched lawsuit finally concluded with a lighter-than-expected fine for Ripple. The top crypto exchanges subsequently relisted XRP, several crypto firms submitted their applications for new ETFs, and its first spot price ETF was launched last month.

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XRP was also increasingly used as a "bridge currency" for fiat transactions on Ripple. By directly converting fiat currencies to XRP, Ripple made those transactions faster and cheaper than fiat-to-fiat conversions and cross-border transfers. Ripple's recent application for a U.S. bank charter could also support its expansion into a full-fledged bank and further stabilize XRP's value. To reach more developers, XRP plans to integrate more Ethereum-compatible "sidechains" for smart contracts into its ledger.

All of those tailwinds could drive XRP's price higher, but it could also face competition from newer stablecoins, such as Ripple's own Ripple USD. XRP also can't be valued by its scarcity, and it still has limited ways to reach new developers. It also isn't being as widely adopted as Bitcoin among smaller and larger investors.

The better buy: Bitcoin
XRP finally overcame some of its biggest challenges, but there simply aren't enough catalysts on the horizon. Meanwhile, the bull case for Bitcoin is much clearer: its supply is limited, it's getting harder to mine, and it's gaining traction as a potential reserve asset for the U.S. and other countries. Although stablecoins and quantum computing may pose long-term challenges for Bitcoin, I believe it will have more upside potential than XRP for the foreseeable future.

The leading meme coin is hanging around despite a difficult year.

Dogecoin (DOGE 0.88%) is the original meme coin, and it's the most successful. Even though the fun and friendly dog coin has seen better days, it's still worth about $25 billion as of Dec. 3.

After a brief post-election rally, Dogecoin has been in the red for most of 2025 and is down 53% year to date. If you were planning to invest while the price is low, you may want to reconsider.

Image source: Getty Images.

This probably isn't the bottom for Dogecoin
Outside a few spikes here and there, Dogecoin has largely been trending downward since hitting $0.48 in December 2024. Buying the dip is a popular investing strategy, but there has to be a good reason to expect that an asset will recover. Otherwise, you're just gambling.

Dogecoin doesn't offer any unique value as a cryptocurrency. It lacks the built-in scarcity and name value of Bitcoin, and it does not offer an extensive blockchain ecosystem like Ethereum. You can use Dogecoin as a digital currency, but the same is true of many other types of cryptocurrency, so that's far from a unique selling point.

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Meme coins tend to fall off quickly once the hype fades away. In Dogecoin's case, it reached an all-time high of $0.74 in May 2021, and then plummeted by over 90%, sinking as low as $0.05. With no real use case or growth catalysts on the horizon, Dogecoin could easily end up even lower within the next year.

Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A fierce debate is unfolding at the heart of Bitcoin’s intellectual core as industry veterans clash over the future of custody, sovereignty, and the role of ETFs in driving mainstream adoption.

The latest spark came from investor Fred Krueger, who endorsed Nick Szabo’s call for a dual strategy.

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ETFs Enter the Crossfire in Bitcoin’s Growing Self-Custody DebateKrueger urges followers to adopt institutional rails, such as banks and ETFs, while fiercely protecting the right to self-custody.

“Szabo is right,” Krueger wrote. “The answer is BOTH: welcome adoption by Banks, ETFs, and the greater establishment. And at the same time, encourage and practice self-custody. And defend the right to self-custody.”

His stance aims to bridge the widening divide between Bitcoin purists, who prize personal sovereignty, and ETF defenders, who argue that scale requires traditional infrastructure.

The discussion dates back to November 30, after Bram Kanstein argued that gold is so effective at serving as money that it has been replaced by paper notes created from nothing.

Szabo responded with a historical explanation: gold’s centralization in vaults and its poor resistance to theft made trust-based alternatives more practical for merchants and banks.

That centralization eventually led to gold being partially replaced by bills of exchange and telegraphic wire transfers.

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Szabo stressed that Bitcoin solves key weaknesses around speed and verification, but still lags in one critical dimension: theft resistance.

“Bitcoin is, without further work and as most commonly used, still below the best trust-based methods in its theft resistance,” wrote Szabo.

This contributes to Wall Street’s preference for third-party custody.

ETFs vs. Self-Custody: A Philosophical StandoffThat context fueled a wider ideological rift. Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas questioned why “snobby OGs” accept exchanges holding Bitcoin but oppose ETFs. Balchunas argues that both rely on outsourced custody and that ETFs are “waaay cheaper and safer.”

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That’s how i would view it. What I don’t understand is why the snobby OG’s were totally fine with crypto exchanges holding your bitcoin and not ETFs? It’s the same outsourced custody concept, except ETFs are waaay cheaper and safer.

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) December 7, 2025
Analyst Sam Wouters countered sharply, noting that users can withdraw to self-custody from an exchange at any time, unlike with an ETF.

“Snobby OGs love bitcoin as money that creates freedom. An ETF is a bird in a cage,” he wrote.  

He argued that the value of self-custody lies in the option to exit, even if many users do not exercise it today. With ETFs, he warned, that option disappears.

However, Balchunas maintained that ETFs accelerate adoption, spread ownership across millions, and help Bitcoin mature into a less volatile asset.

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Still, some push back that OGs do not accept coins being locked up under the control of corporations just because it increases the number. They also argue that ETFs risk giving institutions perceived influence over Bitcoin’s protocol direction.

As the debate escalated, Balchunas claimed self-custody is “a pain” and “very expensive” when bought through exchanges. However, left-wingers hold that many platforms offer free withdrawals, low spreads, and no annual fees, unlike ETFs.

Balchunas insisted ETF issuers “don’t want power of protocol,” despite general sentiment that corporations can always be pressured.

“All I know is I got a ledger thing, then the app went out to source BTC, and it was 1.4% minimum to convert my $. Some were 2-3%. For an ETF person, that’s really expensive, worse than the 1970s,” he noted.

Still some hold that Bitcoin exists because investors cannot trust corporations on their word.

With Bitcoin’s identity continually being tested between sovereignty and scalability, the ETF–self-custody debate has transcended into more than a disagreement. It is now a defining fault line for the asset’s next chapter.

ZKsync announced Sunday that it plans to deprecate ZKsync Lite, the original zero-knowledge rollup it launched on Ethereum in 2020, at some point next year.

"This is a planned, orderly sunset for a system that has served its purpose and does not affect any other ZKsync systems," ZKsync said in a post on X. The team said it would share concrete details, dates, and migration guidance in the coming year.

ZKsync Lite, originally called ZKsync 1.0, went live in June 2020 as a payments-focused Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution. The network supported token transfers, atomic swaps, and NFT minting, but lacked smart contract functionality, a limitation that constrained its utility compared to later rollup designs.

The protocol served as a proving ground for zero-knowledge technology on Ethereum. "ZKsync Lite was a ground breaking proof-of-concept and validated critical ideas related to building production ZK systems," ZKsync said. "It did its job: prove what's possible and pave the way for the next generation."

According to L2BEAT data, approximately $50 million in user funds remain bridged to ZKsync Lite, though the network now processes fewer than 200 daily operations. "Funds remain safe, and withdrawals to L1 will keep working through the process," ZKsync said. 

Matter Labs, the company behind ZKsync, halted active development on ZKsync Lite in March 2023 when it launched ZKsync Era, a full-featured zkEVM capable of running arbitrary smart contracts. The Block reported at the time that Era represented the "Holy Grail of scaling Ethereum" by enabling developers to port existing applications without sacrificing security.

ZKsync emphasized that the deprecation does not affect its other products. "The next steps belong to systems built with the ZK Stack, Prividiums, and the broader ZKsync network," the team said, referencing its modular blockchain framework and enterprise-focused privacy chains.

The announcement comes as ZKsync navigates a challenging period. The network recently sunset its Ignite liquidity rewards program citing bearish market conditions, and the Aave DAO is considering deprecating its deployment on ZKsync Era due to low revenue generation.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Lily Liu, the president of the Solana Foundation, has entered the growing feud between Kamino Finance, an established player in Solana’s lending market, and Jupiter Lend, a more recent entrant into the lending space. 

Jupiter launched Jupiter Lend in August, and it has already grown to $1 billion in TVL. The Solana lending market is currently valued at around $5 billion, a number that is significantly dwarfed by Ethereum’s $50 billion and the trillions in TradFi collateral markets.

Solana Foundation’s president does not mind the competition
Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, referenced the current valuation of Solana’s lending market in her post.

That gap is what is fueling the competitive landscape in Solana’s lending sector. While it has led to rapid innovation, tensions have been rising between protocols vying for dominance.

“Hey @kamino @jup_lend, Love you both,” she wrote. “…We can snipe at one another (one click lending position conversion; dunking on sloppy remarks; etc) or we can focus on capturing market share from all of crypto and then Tradfi beyond that.”

As the Solana Foundation executive is concerned, competition has always been healthy for the space, but it is crucial not to lose sight of the main goal, which is capturing more market share from Ethereum and TradFi.

Why are Kamino Finance and Jupiter Lend feuding?
Jupiter Lend had had to contend with accusations that the protocol misled users about the platform’s risk isolation and rehypothecation practices, with critics (mostly founders from rival protocols like Kamino and Fluid) claiming that Jupiter Lend falsely advertised its vaults as completely isolated, an act that could potentially expose the broader DeFi space to contagion during market stress.

While Kash Dhanda, Jupiter Lend’s co-founder, admitted that the initial “zero contagion” assertion was not 100% accurate, the executive insisted that rehypothecation occurs to generate yields on collateral, but the risk remains limited and contained at the asset level.

As far as Kamino’s founder, Marius is concerned, Jupiter Lend’s vaults enable full inter-asset exposure that could undermine confidence in the entire Solana DeFi ecosystem. The executive has publicly criticized Dhanda’s Jupiter Lend for “misleading users.”

Fluid’s founder Samyak Jain pointed out that the platform’s vaults actually reuse user collateral for yield optimization, contradicting the notion of full isolation.

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A delay in a medium‑lift rocket sent shares tumbling despite record revenue, huge backlog, and new defense contracts, hinting at durable growth.

Rocket Lab (RKLB 0.34%) had one of the most promising bull runs in 2025 -- until one announcement brought the stock crashing over 27% in a month.

Some investors think of Rocket Lab as "SpaceX-lite," noting that it operates in the same ring (reusable rockets) but in different weight classes (SpaceX mostly does medium- to heavy-lift and mega-constellation launches, while Rocket Lab focuses on small-satellite launches).

Rocket Lab's Neutron was set to change all that. The medium-lift rocket increases its payload mass to 13,000 kg for low Earth orbit (LEO), which makes it a viable alternative to SpaceX's medium-lift clients that don't necessarily need a full Falcon 9 experience.

Image source: Getty Images.

However, according to its third-quarter financials released on Nov. 10, Rocket Lab "updated" its Neutron launch schedule from the end of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026.

And I get it -- delays like this can spook investors and shatter market confidence. However, for those silver-lining types, this downtrend actually presents a great entry opportunity for this growth stock. Here's why.

Looking beyond the headlines
First, let's delve into the third-quarter financials. Rocket Lab secured 17 Electron launch contracts in just the third quarter, with the Electron being its small-lift rocket. For reference, Rocket Lab had only 12 Electron launches across the entire nine-month period of 2024, right around this time last year. That shows massive scaling.

The company also reported impressive 48% top-line growth to a record $155 million. Gross margin (on a GAAP basis) also improved to 37%. It did report higher revenue and R&D costs for this quarter, though it was mostly offset by certain tax benefits. As a result, net losses were lower at $0.03 per share.

CEO Sir Peter Beck also stated that the company has a "$1.05 billion backlog," which indicates strong demand and a solid foundation for future revenue growth. On top of that, it announced a new federal defense contract for its Neutron rocket and Archimedes reusable engine development with the U.S. Air Force's Research Laboratory.

Together with other previous agreements with the U.S. and U.K., this proves Rocket Lab has an increasingly viable on-ramp to bigger defense contracts.

The effects of the Neutron delay on price and valuation
As mentioned earlier, Rocket Lab announced a delay in the Neutron launch in its latest financials. And though the stock was already in a slight downturn by Nov. 10, the announcement sent it plummeting from around $52 to $39. That said, we're already seeing some recovery, with Rocket Lab stock trading at around the high end of $47 today.

Today's Change

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-0.34

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Current Price

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49.20

Still, at current prices, the stock trades at over 36 times revenue (price-to-sales ratio). That's quite a premium -- exceedingly and prohibitively so for some. However, this premium can be justified if Rocket Lab maintains its growth cadence, especially if it converts a good chunk of its backlog into recurring revenue. Fourth-quarter revenue is already expected to come in between $170 million and $180 million, representing notable sequential and annual growth.

And lastly, the company operates in a sector with a potential total addressable market of $10 billion by 2030. If it can capture and maintain a decent slice of that pie, we may be looking at a multibillion-dollar growth story in the making.

What does Wall Street think?
A consensus among 15 analysts rates Rocket Lab stock a moderate buy with an average score of 4.13, up from 4.07 two months ago. That means despite the Neutron delay, Wall Street is scoring Rocket Lab higher, highlighting its strong growth potential despite short-term headwinds. The high target price is $83, which suggests about 77% potential upside in the stock over the next year.

A fund just doubled down on a quiet industrial tech winner showing stronger numbers than its stock chart might imply.

New York-based Harvey Partners disclosed a buy of 41,763 shares in Littelfuse (LFUS +0.22%), increasing its position by an estimated $13 million during the third quarter, according to a November 14 SEC filing.

What HappenedAccording to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing released November 14, Harvey Partners increased its stake in Littelfuse (LFUS +0.22%) by 41,763 shares over the previous quarter. The post-trade position totals 108,700 shares valued at $28.2 million as of September 30. The fund reported 46 positions and $1.1 billion in 13F reportable U.S. equity assets.

What Else to KnowThe fund's purchase brought Littelfuse to 2.5% of 13F AUM, putting it outside the top five holdings.

Top holdings after the filing: 

NYSE: NPO: $56.3 million (5.1% of AUM)NYSE: BWXT: $53.4 million (4.9% of AUM)NYSE: AZZ: $53 million (4.8% of AUM)NASDAQ: GLDD: $44.4 million (4% of AUM)NASDAQ: ADEA: $43.9 million (4% of AUM)As of Friday, shares were priced at $259.55, up about 7% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500, which is up about 13%.

Company OverviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$2.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$118.6 millionDividend Yield1.2%Price (as of market close Friday)$259.55Company SnapshotLittelfuse manufactures and sells circuit protection, power control, and sensing products, including fuses, relays, sensors, and semiconductors, serving electronics, transportation, and industrial markets.The company operates a diversified business model with revenue generated through product sales to OEMs, distributors, and direct customers across global markets.Primary customers include original equipment manufacturers, Tier-I suppliers, parts distributors, and companies in the automotive, industrial, and electronics sectors.Littelfuse, Inc. is a global provider of critical circuit protection and power management solutions, with a broad portfolio supporting the electronics, transportation, and industrial end markets.

Foolish TakeFor long-term investors, the move into Littelfuse stands out because it ties directly to a business posting resilient fundamentals even as the stock remains well below its late-2021 highs. Harvey Partners’ increased exposure signals confidence in a company executing through mixed industrial and auto-related demand—and one that just delivered double-digit revenue and profit growth across several key segments.

Littelfuse reported 10% year-over-year revenue growth to $625 million in the third quarter, along with 19% GAAP EPS growth to $2.77 and a 21.5% adjusted EBITDA margin. Electronics was a standout, with 18% sales growth and a 24% adjusted EBITDA margin, driven by strong passive-component demand and contributions from the Dortmund Fab acquisition. Notably, free cash flow more than doubled year-over-year to $131 million.

Against that backdrop, Harvey Partners’ decision to expand its position—now 2.5% of 13F AUM—fits a pattern of targeting industrial technology names with durable secular demand but temporarily discounted valuations.

Glossary13F reportable assets: U.S. equity securities that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC.
Assets under management (AUM): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or firm on behalf of clients.
Stake: The ownership interest or amount of shares held in a company by an investor or fund.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a company divided by its share price, expressed as a percentage.
Forward price-to-earnings ratio: A valuation metric comparing a company's current share price to its expected future earnings per share.
EV/EBITDA ratio: Enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization; used to assess company valuation.
Trailing twelve months (TTM): The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM): A company that produces parts or equipment used in another company's end products.
Tier-I supplier: A company that supplies components directly to original equipment manufacturers, often as a primary vendor.
Distributors: Companies that purchase products from manufacturers to resell them to retailers or end customers.
Position: The amount of a particular security or asset held by an investor or fund.
Post-trade: The status or value of a holding after a new transaction has been completed.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Azz and BWX Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.