Market Signal Briefing

Paramount Skydance (PSKY) has won the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), but at a steep cost with significant regulatory risk.

Vertiv Holdings (NYSE: VRT), a provider of critical digital infrastructure for data centers, has surged this year amid booming demand for AI-related power and cooling solutions. 

Indeed, the stock’s momentum comes amid growing fundamentals, making the equity a possible buy for investors.

As of press time, VRT stock was trading at $241, reflecting a year-to-date gain of approximately 49% from its 2025 year-end level.

VRT YTD stock price chart. Source: Finbold The stock is also seeing renewed momentum after it was announced that Vertiv will join the S&P 500 index, effective before the opening of trading on March 23, as part of the quarterly rebalance.

The addition also includes Lumentum Holdings, Coherent, and EchoStar. 

Notably, index inclusion is expected to drive increased visibility and potential inflows from passive funds tracking the benchmark.

Vertiv fundamentals  Several factors position Vertiv as a compelling buy for growth-oriented investors. Foremost is its strategic exposure to the AI data center ecosystem, where it dominates in power management, liquid cooling, and thermal solutions essential for hyperscale computing.

Partnerships with industry leaders like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and recent collaborations with Generate Capital and Hut 8 point to its role in scaling AI deployments.

At the same time, the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results were exceptional, with net sales up 23% year over year, organic orders surging 252%, and a record backlog of $15 billion providing strong revenue visibility into 2026 and beyond.

Guidance for 2026 projects revenue of $13.25 billion to $13.75 billion, implying 27% to 29% organic growth, and adjusted EPS growth of about 43% at the midpoint.

Additionally, Vertiv’s upcoming inclusion in the S&P 500 index is expected to enhance liquidity, attract passive fund inflows, and increase institutional interest.

VRT stock risks  Despite these strengths, several risks could temper enthusiasm and potentially pressure the stock price. Valuation is a primary concern, with a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 70 to 74 times and a forward P/E in the mid-30s to mid-40s, significantly above peer averages in the electrical equipment sector and the broader U.S. market.

Meanwhile, Vertiv’s heavy reliance on AI and hyperscaler capex cycles introduces cyclical risk; any moderation in data center buildouts could impact order growth and backlog conversion.

Execution challenges, such as supply chain disruptions, capacity ramp-ups, or delays in new facilities, pose threats to meeting guidance. Competition in the data center infrastructure space is intensifying, with peers potentially eroding market share.

Meanwhile, insider selling, including a recent $51 million disposal by an independent director, may signal caution at current levels.

The stock’s high beta amplifies volatility, as seen in recent swings tied to AI market sentiment, while broader risks such as interest rate changes or energy policy shifts affecting data center power demand could also weigh on the stock.

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Published: Mar 8, 2026, 13:42 GMT+00:00

Key Points:Brent crude surged above $90 as Middle East conflict disrupted energy infrastructure and threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Production cuts across Gulf producers are tightening global supply while strong economic activity increases the risk of higher inflation.Technical analysis suggests WTI oil could target $110 first and potentially move toward $125–$150.

Oil prices surged as the conflict in the Middle East started to disrupt energy supply and shipping routes across the Gulf. Brent oil (BCO) surged above $90 a barrel after threats to energy infrastructure increased fears of supply shortages.

In my opinion, this change in the geopolitical and supply backdrop is the recipe for further crude oil price gains in the coming weeks. This article will discuss the key supply disruptions, production cuts, inflation risks and technical levels that may influence the next move in oil markets.

Middle East Conflict Triggers a Global Supply Shock Brent crude oil jumped above $90 a barrel as the war in the Middle East shifted from a geopolitical risk to a real supply disruption. Iranian attacks on energy facilities have already forced Qatar to shut down its liquefied natural gas production. They have also forced Saudi Arabia to suspend operations at its largest oil refinery.

These attacks have had people concerned that the conflict could physically damage energy facilities across the Gulf. When supply infrastructure is a target during war, energy markets typically respond very quickly. Because there is a greater risk of shocks in the form of sudden supply shortages.

Shipping risks have also been on the rise throughout the region. Charter rates are increasing dramatically as traders fear attacks on vessels by Iranian drones, missiles and fast attack boats. Higher freight costs raise the cost of transporting crude oil and refined products. They also discourage shipping companies from venturing into perilous waters.

This combination means there is less available shipping capacity. It becomes more difficult for producers to transport oil to global markets. As a result, supply disruptions can have a more immediate impact than production cuts alone.

The situation around the Strait of Hormuz is most important factor in supporting oil prices. The war has nearly blocked this narrow waterway to maritime traffic after Iranian threats against ships. The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to open seas and is the primary export route for the largest oil producing region in the world.

Once shipping slows down through this corridor there is an immediate tightening of global supply. This disruption sent crude prices to surge above $90 a barrel. This surge raises the risk of higher global inflation.

Forced Production Cuts Across the Gulf According to Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait had begun to curb oil production as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz affects the flow of supplies and fills storage facilities. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. said it is managing offshore production levels to deal with storage requirements. Kuwait Petroleum Corp. also cut output at oil fields and refineries after Iranian threats against safe passage through Hormuz.

Kuwait started to reduce output by some 100,000 barrels per day early Saturday. The reduction is nearly triple on Sunday. This implies that cuts may be up to around 300,000 barrels per day or higher depending on storage levels and the situation around Hormuz.

Kuwait produced about 2.57 million barrels per day in January and relies completely on the Strait of Hormuz for exports. This is a heavy dependence that makes the country vulnerable as there are not many alternative routes from where shipments can come.

The UAE is in a better position but is still facing pressure. The country produced more than 3.5 million barrels per day in January as OPEC’s third largest producer. It is able to bypass Hormuz via a 1.5 million barrel per day pipeline to Fujairah on the western coast and also take advantage of international storage facilities.

Disruptions are spreading in the region. Iraq has begun to withhold production for storage tank saturation. Saudi Arabia shut its largest refinery and Qatar closed the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export plant after drone attacks. Saudi Arabia has diversified some of its crude exports to Yanbu on the Red Sea but this route is not capable of completely replacing exports that usually pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Inflation Risks Rise as Oil Shock Hits the Global Economy The current supply shock is already having an impact on consumers all over the world. Asian refiners are beginning to report shortages as shipments from the Gulf slow down. When there are fewer cargoes available to the market, refiners must scale down operations or seek out other supplies. This situation makes energy more expensive not only for businesses but also for households.

Strong Economic Growth Increases Inflation Pressure At the same time, the global economy is still showing signs of growth. This causes inflationary effect of higher oil prices to be stronger as energy demand is still firm. The ISM Manufacturing PMI is 52.4% which signifies mild expansion of industrial sector.

However, pressures on costs are increasing rapidly. The manufacturing prices paid index has increased to 70.5% which reflects strong increases in production costs.

The services industry is also growing. The ISM Services PMI has increased to 56.1% which is the highest level since July 2022. This implies that economic activity is high despite rising energy prices.

When both manufacturing and services are still growing higher oil prices can be transmitted more easily through the economy.

Businesses are already being hit with higher costs. A survey conducted by the New York Fed finds that average health insurance costs for manufacturers rose 14.2% while service firms experienced a rise of 12.9%. When operating costs increase, companies will be even more sensitive to higher energy prices. This will further increase inflation.

History Shows Oil Wars Trigger Inflation Surges History shows that wars in key energy areas have frequently resulted in spikes in inflation. In 1973, Yom Kippur War and the Arab oil embargo resulted in a surge in CPI to 12.2% by November 1974.

The Iran-Iraq war in 1980 sent CPI to around 14.59%. During the 1990 Gulf War, CPI increased to more than 6.0%. In all cases, surging oil prices played a major role in spurring inflation.

Oil prices also surged strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 energy markets once again tightened and annual CPI rose to about 9.0%. These examples show that conflicts in energy regions result in broader inflation due to higher energy costs that impact nearly every sector of the economy.

Technical Structure Points to Oil Rally Toward $110 and Beyond The long-term picture for the WTI crude oil remains strongly bullish, as seen in the monthly chart below. It is observed that the WTI crude oil has been trading within the descending channel since July 2008 high at $147.27. However, the bottom in April 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis has produced a strong base, and the record high was marked at a strong resistance at $129.42 in March 2022.

The correction from 2022 has produced a bottom during the last quarter of 2025 at the midline of the descending channel pattern and initiated a strong rebound from this level. This strong rebound has taken WTI oil prices to $90, which is seen as resistance from September 2023.

The strong weekly close on Friday indicates that immediate target for oil remains $110, which is the resistance of the descending channel pattern. However, this resistance will likely be broken based on the ongoing supply shortages and production cuts which are unlikely to be resolved soon. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and physical supply disruptions will be reflected in oil during next few weeks.

A break above $110 will take oil prices towards $125 to $130, which is the resistance of the March 2022 highs. However, a break above the March 2022 highs will take the oil prices towards $150, which is the July 2008 highs.

Brent Oil also shows a strong breakout from the descending trendline at $72 and then the 200 SMA on the weekly chart at $80. This breakout points to an immediate target of $100 in Brent Oil. However, a break above $100 is likely and will take Brent prices towards $125 to $135. This is the minimum target of the supply shortage in the oil market.

In Closing The recent increase in oil prices is primarily caused by increasing conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to global energy supply. The attacks on energy facilities and production cuts by several Gulf producers are reducing the amount of supply available to global markets.

At the same time, economic activity is very strong and business costs are increasing. This indicates that higher oil prices could easily push inflation higher. These conditions provide conducive environment for oil prices to stay high in the near term.

The technical outlook is also pointing in the same direction. WTI crude oil has rallied strongly from the middle of its long-term descending channel. The price is moving towards the key resistance of $110. A break above this level could open the door to a move towards $125-$130. A break above $130 will take the prices towards $150, which is near the July 2008 highs.

Brent crude has also broken above its descending trendline and the 200 SMA, around $80. This breakout points to the next target around $100. If supply disruptions persist and tensions in the Middle East have not been resolved, oil prices may continue to move higher over the coming weeks. However, if conflict subsides or shipping through the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal, the current risk premium in oil could begin to drop.

Based on the above discussion, oil prices will likely be supported in the short term and will continue to move towards the $150 region in the next few weeks.

If you’d like to know more about how to trade crude oil, please visit our educational area.

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Ardent To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in Ardent between July 18, 2024 and November 12, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Ardent Health, Inc. ("Ardent" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARDT) and reminds investors of the March 9, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: During the Class Period, Defendants publicly reported the Company's accounts receivable on a quarterly basis. They further stated that Ardent Health employed an active monitoring process to determine the collectability of its accounts receivable, and that this process included "detailed reviews of historical collections" as a "primary source of information." Further, Defendants represented that Ardent Health considered "trends in federal and state governmental healthcare coverage" and that its "management determines [when an] account is uncollectible, at which time the account is written off

On November 12, 2025, after market hours, Ardent Health revealed a $43 million decrease in third quarter 2025 revenue. The decrease resulted from revised determinations of accounts receivable collectability after the Company transitioned to a new revenue accounting system and from purported "recently completed hindsight evaluations of historical collection trends." The new system—called the Kodiak RCA net revenue platform—provided management with "additional information to more precisely" determine accounts receivable collectability, including "more timely consideration of payor denial and payment trends." Defendant Lumsdaine revealed that the new system "recognizes reserves earlier in an account's life cycle" compared to the Company's prior -5- collectability framework, which "had utilized a 180-day cliff at which time an account became fully reserved."

Ardent Health also announced a cut to 2025 EBITDA guidance of $57.5 million at the midpoint, or about 9.6%, from $575 million – $625 million to $530 million – $555 million because of "persistent industry-wide cost pressures," including "payer denials." In addition, Ardent Health recorded a $54 million increase in professional liability reserves "with respect to recent settlements and ongoing litigation arising from a limited set of claims between 2019 and 2022 in New Mexico" as well as "consideration of broader industry trends, including social inflationary pressures."

On this news, the price of Ardent Health stock fell $4.75 per share, or nearly 34%, from $14.05 per share on November 12, 2025, to close at $9.30 per share on November 13, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Ardent's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Ardent Health class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ARDT or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286535

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In BellRing To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you purchased or acquired securities in BellRing between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 8, 2026) - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against BellRing Brands, Inc. ("BellRing" or the "Company") (NYSE: BRBR) and reminds investors of the March 23, 2026 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: the strength, sustainability, and drivers of BellRing's sales growth, as well as the impact of competition on the demand for the Company's products.

On May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2025, "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand," which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and "offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels."

On this news, the price of BellRing stock declined $14.88 per share, or 19%, from $78.43 per share on May 5, 2025, to close at $63.55 per share on May 6, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Then, on August 4, 2025, after market hours, BellRing announced disappointing quarterly consumption of Premier Protein RTD Shakes, which had been expected to outpace shipments by a wider margin given previously announced retailer destocking, but instead came "more in line" with shipments.

On this news, the price of BellRing Brands stock fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding BellRing's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the BellRing Brands class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/BRBR or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286533

Source: Faruqi & Faruqi LLP

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The analysis is provided exclusively for informational purposes and should not be considered professional investment advice. Before investing, please conduct personal in-depth research and utmost due diligence, as there are many risks associated with the trade, including capital loss.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOF, THW, PDI, UTG, DNP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

NEW YORK, March 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) between November 19, 2024 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important March 23, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased BellRing 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 BellRing class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51444 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 23, 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, BellRing develops, markets, and sells “convenient nutrition” products such as ready-to-drink (“RTD”) protein shakes primarily under the brand name Premier Protein. During the Class Period, defendants represented that sales growth reflected increased end-consumer demand, attributing results to “organic growth,” “distribution gains,” “incremental promotional activity,” and “[s]trong macro tailwinds around protein” among other factors. At the same time, defendants downplayed the impact of competition on demand, insisting BellRing was not experiencing any significant changes in competition, and that in the RTD category particularly, BellRing possessed a “competitive moat,” given that “the ready-to-drink category is just highly complex” and the products are “hard to formulate.” As alleged, in truth, BellRing’s reported sales during the Class Period were driven by its key customers stockpiling inventory and did not reflect increased end-consumer demand or brand momentum. Following the destocking, BellRing admitted that competitive pressures were materially weakening demand. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the BellRing class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51444 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/.

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Contact Information:

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The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
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Bond yields are one option for passive income investors, but they’re definitely not the only possibility. Sure, you can get a yield of around 4% from 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds, but you can probably achieve better returns with dividend-paying stocks.

Bear in mind, you can get both share-price gains and dividend payments from some stocks. Consequently, if you put your money in dividend stocks, you have a chance at beating the predictable returns from government bonds.

Besides, it’s very likely that government bond yields will get slashed this year and/or next year. So, if you’re willing to sacrifice predictability in a quest for superior returns, check out these four outstanding dividend stock picks with decent yields and powerful growth potential.

Lockheed Martin (LMT) Recent geopolitical events have put aerospace and defense contractors in the spotlight. A beneficiary of international conflicts is Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), a well-established defense contractor for public-sector and private clients.

Mind you, this list isn’t populated with stocks that pay yields exceeding 4% (which is what you might get from government bonds). Instead, we’re concentrating on stocks which could easily beat 4% yearly returns through dividend distributions and share-price appreciation.

Lockheed Martin stock is a perfect example of this. After holding LMT shares for a full year, you should expect to get a forward dividend yield of 2.06%.

Then, to outperform a 4% bond, Lockheed Martin stock would only need to rise more than 2%. That’s very likely since Lockheed Martin is a revenue-rich and profitable defense business.

Don’t just take my word for it, though. As the data will show, Lockheed Martin’s sales improved from $67.571 billion in 2023 to $71.043 billion in 2024, to $75.048 billion in 2025.

All told, Lockheed Martin reported $5.017 billion in net earnings for 2025. With cash and cash equivalents totaling $4.121 billion at the end of last year, it’s fair to say that Lockheed Martin should be able to pay out dividends for the foreseeable future.

Cisco Systems (CSCO) Next, we’re going to diversify into the technology sector with Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) stock. To give you some background info, Cisco Systems is a communications/networking products provider with a market capitalization exceeding $300 billion.

The company’s most recently released quarterly financial report indicates that Cisco Systems booked $14.883 billion in revenue for the three months ended October 25, 2025. That’s a notable improvement over the $13.841 billion that Cisco Systems generated in the year-earlier period.

Furthermore, Cisco Systems grew its net income from $2.711 billion in the year-earlier quarter to $2.86 billion in the three months ended October 25, 2025. That’s not blockbuster growth, but it is a positive sign that Cisco Systems is in stable financial condition.

In all likelihood, CSCO stock will gain value in the coming quarters. Along with that, investors can expect Cisco Systems to deliver an annualized dividend yield of 2.1%; this ought to make it easy to outperform bonds when all is said and done.

Bank of America (BAC) Switching over to the financial sector, another way to possibly beat government bonds is by investing in Bank of America (NYSE:BAC). Since BAC stock is already anticipated to provide a 2.25% annual dividend yield, you wouldn’t need much share-price growth to come out ahead.

Can investors feel secure with shares of a banking behemoth like Bank of America? The facts look favorable, as Bank of America’s revenue expanded its revenue from $26.5 billion in 2024’s fourth quarter to $28.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025.

During the same time frame, Bank of America’s net income increased from $6.8 billion to $7.6 billion. Suffice it to say, then, that Bank of America is flush with capital and sensible investors can hold BAC stock with confidence.

Yum! Brands (YUM) Even if you’re not familiar with Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM), you will surely know its famous fast-food brand names. These include Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC.

These brands have survived the ups and downs of America’s economy throughout the years. YUM stock might not be 100% recession-proof, but it’s less volatile than many other large-cap stocks out there.

Yum! Brands’ 2025 results drive home the point that this is a successful consumer-goods business. During that year, the company recorded GAAP-measured earnings of $1.91 per share, versus $1.49 per share in 2024.

In other words, YUM stock isn’t just a safety play; it’s also a possible vehicle for growth. Plus, Yum! Brands currently offers a 1.89% forward annual dividend yield, indicating an excellent chance for investors to achieve superior overall returns to a basic bonds buy-and-hold strategy.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NLCP either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Bitcoin price is approaching a critical decision zone. One analyst warns the market cannot afford to lose the $63,000 zone ($63,700 to be exact), a break that could trigger a deeper decline.

Yet at the same time, the daily chart is quietly forming a bullish cup-and-handle pattern that points to a rally toward $88,000. With bullish structure and rising risk levels colliding, the next move could define Bitcoin’s short-term trend.

Expert Flags $63,700 Risk Even as a Bullish Setup FormsThe warning comes from Alphractal founder Joao Wedson, who recently highlighted $63,700 as a critical on-chain structural level for Bitcoin. The analysis states that losing that level could trigger a broader redistribution phase in the market.

If the level breaks, Wedson identifies a few potential downside zones: $57,000 and $52,400 being the nearest ones. He also notes that these levels adjust daily based on investor activity across the blockchain, meaning these dynamic thresholds can move around a bit.

Bitcoin cannot lose $63,700 ⚠️

If this key on-chain level breaks, it could trigger a new downside move in the market.

The next risk levels would be:

• $57,000
• $52,400
• $48,700 (worst-case scenario)

It is important to note that these levels are dynamic and update daily,… pic.twitter.com/nnMojP9PqZ

— Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) March 7, 2026 However, the Bitcoin price chart currently tells a different story.

On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin appears to be shaping a cup-and-handle formation that began forming around February 8 and completed its cup phase near March 4. The market is now consolidating within the handle portion of the pattern.

If Bitcoin breaks the neckline near $74,500, the pattern projects a potential 18% rally toward the $88,100 region.

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Bullish BTC Pattern: TradingViewThis creates a key contradiction: the bullish breakout sits over 10% above current prices, while the critical support level flagged by the expert analyst lies only a few levels below

So while the chart structure looks constructive, the closer risk level could determine the market’s next move. To get a deeper sense of things, we now move on-chain.

Whales and Mid-Term Holders Are AccumulatingOn-chain activity currently leans bullish.

One of the strongest signals comes from Bitcoin’s Holder Net Position Change, which tracks accumulation by wallets holding coins for 155 days or longer. When this metric rises, it typically signals investors are choosing to hold rather than sell.

Since February 8, when the cup formation began developing, this metric has increased sharply. The 30-day net position change moved from roughly 5,434 BTC to more than 41,107 BTC by March 7. That’s a 650% rise, while the cup formed.

BTC Hodlers: GlassnodeThis sharp rise suggests that mid-to-long-term holders have been accumulating during Bitcoin’s consolidation, reinforcing the idea that investors are positioning for a potential breakout or at least a rebound.

Whale behavior also supports this view.

The number of Bitcoin entities holding at least 1,000 BTC has gradually increased since February 21. During that period, the count rose from 1,264 addresses to around 1,280, approaching the highest levels seen, month-on-month.

Despite the short-term pullback between March 4 and March 5 (where the whale address count dipped a bit), the overall trend in whale addresses continued rising.

BTC Whales: GlassnodeTaken together, both metrics suggest that larger investors and committed holders are quietly adding exposure, aligning with the bullish chart pattern. However, not every long-term cohort shares the same optimism.

Some Long-Term Bitcoin Holders Are Quietly Reducing ExposureWhile whales and mid-term holders are accumulating, another group appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

Data from Bitcoin HODL Waves, which track how long coins have remained dormant, shows that the 3-year to 5-year holder cohort has been declining.

This group held roughly 11.49% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply on February 5. By March 7, that share had fallen to about 10.94%

OG Holders Keep Dumping: GlassnodeAlthough the percentage change looks small, it represents a meaningful shift when applied to Bitcoin’s fixed supply. A decline in this cohort indicates that some older coins are re-entering circulation, suggesting that a portion of longer-term holders may be distributing.

This creates an unusual dynamic. While whales and mid-term holders are accumulating, older holders appear less convinced about adding further exposure, introducing a subtle source of supply pressure.

That divergence makes the key support levels highlighted by Wedson even more relevant.

Why the $63,000 Level Could Decide the Next Bitcoin Price MoveA broader Fibonacci retracement analysis from the late-January decline to the March rally also highlights the on-chain levels flagged by Wedson. These levels might not be evident at first glance, as the cup structure leans bullish. These levels become clearer when the broader 33% BTC decline between Jan. 28 and Feb. 6 is considered.

The chart reveals a support zone around $63,300. This closely aligns with the $63,700 level flagged by the Alphractal analysis (courtesy of the dynamic nature of the thresholds).

If those supports fail, the next Fibonacci levels appear near $56,700 (Wedson’s $57,000 level) and $52,000 (Wedson’s $52,400 zone), matching the downside zones highlighted in the expert’s warning.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: TradingViewIn other words, both the on-chain analysis and the broader technical structure converge around the same critical region. For Bitcoin to regain strong bullish momentum, the market would need to reclaim the neckline near $74,100. That move could confirm the cup-and-handle breakout and push the Bitcoin price toward the $88,100 target.

Until then, the Bitcoin price remains caught between accumulating whales, cautious long-term holders, and a weak support zone.

Whether the $63,000 support zone holds or breaks may determine whether the next move is a rally toward new highs—or a deeper correction first.

Journalist

Posted: March 8, 2026

Dogecoin has challenged the $0.1 technical and psychological resistance level twice since the 25th of February. On both occasions, the memecoin was unable to break this supply zone.

Dogecoin was down 1.24% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap, but the Open Interest has increased by 4.6%.

A closer look at the data showed that the Funding Rate has been negative since Friday, the 6th of March.

Additionally, the OI has been rising even as prices slipped lower. The Spot CVD was in a downtrend and neared the local lows.

Speculative and Spot market participants seemed convinced Dogecoin [DOGE] prices would go lower in the short-term.

The social media engagement has been relatively positive over the past month. The Weighted Sentiment saw sharp spikes in recent weeks, showing bullish online engagement.

In fact, the most recent spike in positive engagement and higher Social Volume came on the 4th of March, as the leading memecoin approached the pivotal $0.1 supply zone.

At the same time, the 30-day MVRV briefly rose to positive territory.

It appeared that the crowd was wrong to get excited. Short-term holders chose to take profits, and participants watched as prices fell back toward the $0.088 support zone.

What’s next for Dogecoin?

Source: DOGE/USDT on TradingView

The long-term swing structure was bearish. The Fibonacci retracement levels showed that $0.117, $0.109, and $0.103 were key retracements.

This meant that the recent attempts to reclaim $0.1 were signals to sell DOGE, not expect a breakout.

At the time of writing, the $0.088 support from February was under attack. The steady drop in OBV in recent weeks, the long-term bearish trend, and the RSI’s inability to climb above neutral 50 meant sellers were in control.

Further losses appear likely.

Traders’ call to action- Expect a drop below the local support The Liquidation Map highlighted the large cluster of long liquidations from $0.084-$0.088.

These high-leverage liquidations are likely to be swept in the coming days, especially if Bitcoin [BTC] continues its bearish momentum and falls to the $63k-$65k local support zone.

Final Summary Dogecoin speculators appeared increasingly willing to short the memecoin over the past 48 hours. Increase in social volume and positive engagement online did little to keep the short-term bullish momentum up last week. A drop below the $0.088 support appears imminent. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

US markets move in seconds when the jobs report hits. February payrolls fell by 92,000 jobs, the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, and prior months were revised down by 69,000.

Together, that's 161,000 fewer jobs than the numbers showed at the start of the year.

But the number traders react to first often isn't the one that lasts, because even bigger revisions can arrive months later.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has already marked down US job growth by 862,000 for the year through March 2025, raising the possibility that markets and the Federal Reserve are reacting to a labor market that looks stronger in headlines than it does in the final data.

The number markets trade isn't the final numberThat's the real story inside every monthly payroll release. Investors treat the jobs report as one of the most important macro prints, and for good reason.

The second a jobs report lands, treasury yields move, stock-index futures reprice, the dollar swings, and expectations for Fed cuts or delays get rewritten within minutes.

However, the number driving that first reaction is only an estimate. It's built from a survey, revised as more employer responses come in, and benchmarked later against a much broader set of payroll records.

That means the labor market that traders price in real time is often a draft. Sometimes the later edits are small, but sometimes they change the whole picture.

February was weak, even before the resetFebruary's report was soft on its own. BLS said total nonfarm payroll employment fell by 92,000 in the month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. Health care lost 28,000 jobs, partly because of strike activity, and physician offices alone lost 37,000. Information shed 11,000 jobs.

Federal government employment fell by 10,000 and is now down by 330,000 from its October 2024 peak. Transportation and warehousing lost 11,000 jobs, with couriers and messengers down 17,000.

There was still wage growth in the report. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% in February and 3.8% from a year earlier.

That matters because it keeps one part of the Fed's inflation problem alive even as hiring cools. A labor market can weaken and still produce wage pressure, especially when job growth is slowing from levels that had supported consumer spending for a long stretch.

However, revisions for previous months significantly weakened the report.

December was revised from a gain of 48,000 jobs to a loss of 17,000, and January was revised from 130,000 to 126,000.

Together, those changes subtracted 69,000 jobs from the earlier picture.

Investors are always trying to identify direction, and downward revisions tell them the labor market had already been losing momentum before the latest report landed.

The 862,000-job revision changes the storyThen comes the larger reset. In its annual benchmark process, BLS reduced the March 2025 level of total nonfarm payroll employment by 862,000 on a not seasonally adjusted basis. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the March 2025 revision was 898,000 lower.

This kind of technical distinction matters to only economists. But the broader takeaway is much simpler: the labor market looked materially stronger in real time than it did once BLS compared the survey estimate with fuller employment records.

That large a number is no minor statistical cleanup. It's a reminder that one of the most market-sensitive data releases in the world is not a direct count of every US job. The first number is a high-quality estimate built for speed; the latter benchmark is the one that's built for completeness.

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But when the gap between the two becomes this wide, it starts shaping the macro story.

The benchmark revision also changes how investors should think about the last year. A labor market that appeared resilient in real time helped support the case that the economy could live with restrictive rates.

A labor market that turns out to have created far fewer jobs makes that reading less secure. The data completely changed the balance of the argument.

Why does the data change so much?The monthly payroll figure comes from the Current Employment Statistics survey, which samples employers rather than counting every payroll in the country. While it's very large and incredibly useful, it's still just a sample.

Monthly revisions happen because additional employer reports arrive after the first release, and seasonal factors are recalculated.

The annual benchmark goes even further by aligning the survey with the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which is based largely on unemployment insurance tax records and covers most of the payroll universe.

That creates an unavoidable tension for markets. Traders need a number immediately, so they trade the estimate. The Fed has to work with the same real-time information even while knowing later revisions may reshape it.

There's no practical solution or alternative to this. Some of the biggest market moves each month are based on numbers that may look meaningfully different once the data is more complete.

This is why payroll revisions aren't an obscure technical issue. They affect the story investors tell themselves about growth, inflation, and rates. If the labor market looked stronger in the first print than it does in the benchmarked data, then yields, risk sentiment, and rate expectations may all have been set against an economy that was softer than it appeared.

Nonetheless, the initial payroll figure still matters because it's timely, and timeliness has value. But the benchmark exists because the first number is not the final number, and because speed and completeness are not the same thing.

February's payroll decline matters, the rise in unemployment to 4.4% matters, and the downward revisions to prior months matter. The 862,000-job benchmark cut may matter the most, because it says the labor market that shaped so much of last year's macro debate looked firmer in the headline data than it does in the fuller count.

In markets, the first number gets traded. In labor data, it's not always the one that lasts.

Posted in

Key Takeaways Jeffrey Wilcke, an Ethereum co-founder, deposited 79,258 ETH (approximately $157M) to Kraken on March 7 Co-founder Vitalik Buterin offloaded 17,196 ETH (around $35M) during February, contributing to insider selling concerns Since the beginning of 2026, ETH has declined 34%, currently hovering between $1,944 and $1,976 Spot Ethereum ETFs witnessed $82.85M in net outflows during one trading session, with Fidelity’s FETH responsible for $67.57M Market observers suggest ETH might decline to $1,800 or potentially $1,500 if critical support zones fail On March 7, Ethereum co-founder Jeffrey Wilcke deposited 79,258 ETH onto the Kraken trading platform. At the time of execution, this transaction represented roughly $157 million in value.

⚡️JUST IN: ETHEREUM CO-FOUNDER MOVES $157M IN ETH

LookOnChain flagged that Ethereum co-founder Jeffrey Wilcke deposited 79,176 $ETH ($157M) to Kraken in the past hour. pic.twitter.com/sacIBRDNYq

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 7, 2026

Blockchain monitoring service Lookonchain detected the activity spread across four separate wallet addresses. These addresses had remained dormant for approximately seven months prior to this movement.

Analysts from SpotOnChain observed a circular transaction pattern in the data. These identical wallets had previously withdrawn the exact same ETH quantity from Kraken around 10 months earlier, during a period when ETH traded near the $2,600 mark.

This pattern indicates the tokens were likely held in custodial storage and are now being returned to the exchange, presumably for liquidation. Wilcke maintains control of 27,241 ETH stored on-chain, currently valued at approximately $53.56 million.

In recent years, Wilcke has distanced himself from direct Ethereum development activities. His current focus centers on private gaming projects.

Vitalik Buterin’s Recent Sales During February, Vitalik Buterin liquidated 17,196 ETH, generating approximately $34.96 million. This volume surpassed his publicly announced intention to sell 16,384 ETH.

🚨 BREAKING

VITALIK BUTERIN JUST STARTED DUMPING ETHEREUM AGAIN.

AFTER YEARS OF HODLING, HE’S NONSTOP SELLING MILLIONS OF $ETH DIRECTLY FROM HIS MAIN WALLET.

WHAT’S GOING ON?? pic.twitter.com/IRrNGUuFek

— 0xNobler (@CryptoNobler) February 23, 2026

Buterin explained the proceeds would fund open-source initiatives spanning software and hardware development in sectors including finance, governance, and biotechnology. He began 2026 controlling more than 240,000 ETH and currently maintains approximately 224,000 ETH.

Additionally, a historic Ethereum ICO-era wallet became active after extended dormancy. This wallet, silent for 10.6 years, transferred 100.275 ETH. The original investment during the ICO amounted to merely $124.

Ethereum Price Struggles Continue Since the start of 2026, ETH has experienced a 34% decline. Recent trading has kept the asset confined between $1,944 and $1,990.

Ethereum (ETH) Price Earlier this week, ETH mounted a recovery from approximately $1,900, reaching a temporary peak around $2,180 on March 5. However, this upward momentum proved short-lived, with prices retreating beneath the $2,000 threshold.

$ETH – The price has rejected at the lost high-timeframe support range I marked in some of my prior PAT Updates, which also aligns with the 2D Bull Market Support Band sitting at $2.18K.

On the mid-term, it seems that since early February the price may be forming a rising wedge,… pic.twitter.com/D5RYDuXm5N

— Luca (@CrypticTrades_) March 6, 2026

Near-term support appears established around $1,960. The critical psychological barrier remains at $2,000, while a more substantial resistance zone exists between $2,040 and $2,080.

Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds experienced $82.85 million in net withdrawals during a single trading day. Fidelity’s FETH product accounted for $67.57 million of this exodus. FETH’s total cumulative outflows have now surpassed $218 million.

Polymarket analysts estimate a 67% likelihood that ETH will decline to $1,800. A technical market analyst identified an ascending wedge formation developing since early February, projecting $1,500 as the subsequent major support level should this pattern fail.

Corporate treasury buyers have also reduced their ETH accumulation activity as prices have deteriorated. The next significant support area is projected between $1,850 and $1,900.

TLDR: ZEC surged over 700% from sub-$50 levels, briefly hitting $750 and nearing a $10 billion market cap in 2025. Winklevoss Capital and Cypherpunk Technologies poured over $76 million into ZEC during the peak privacy narrative rally. Zcash DeFi TVL collapsed from $30 million to under $2 million weeks before the governance crisis became public news. ECC’s full leadership resigned in January 2026, triggering an instant 14–25% price drop and a $7 billion valuation loss.  ZEC, the native token of Zcash’s privacy protocol, experienced one of crypto’s sharpest reversals in recent memory.

Over just a few months, the asset gained over 700%, drew billions in institutional capital, then shed most of its value.

ZEC Rally Built on Privacy Narrative and Institutional Demand From sub-$50 levels in late summer 2025, ZEC surged more than 700% within a matter of weeks. The token climbed to $400 in October before briefly touching a peak near $750 in November.

That pace placed it among the top performers across the entire crypto market. It also briefly overtook Monero in market capitalization, pushing total valuation close to $10 billion.

The surge was not purely speculative. Privacy had returned as one of the most discussed themes in the industry. A report from a16z’s State of Crypto documented a notable rise in online searches around privacy-focused tools.

Remember when $ZEC was supposed to lead Privacy and be the next big thing?

> Currently under $200
> Trigger started by core team resignation
> Lost over $7 billion in valuation

But even before the big drop, there were signs 👀

Did we ignore them or the team made it smooth?

👉… pic.twitter.com/PHs7WeU78i

— Our Crypto Talk (@ourcryptotalk) March 8, 2026

Prominent figures like Arthur Hayes and Naval Ravikant backed the concept of privacy-first transactions, framing it as a natural evolution beyond standard crypto infrastructure.

Institutional capital moved in quickly after that narrative gained ground. Cypherpunk Technologies purchased $18 million in ZEC.

Winklevoss Capital added more than $58 million, while Grayscale reopened its Zcash Trust to buyers. These purchases collectively created a strong base and helped sustain upward momentum.

The November 2025 halving further shaped market conditions. Block rewards dropped from 3.125 to 1.5625 ZEC per block.

Separately, the ZIP-1015 lockbox mechanism redirected 12% of rewards going forward. Together, these supply-side changes reinforced the bullish case during that period.

TVL Collapse and Governance Crisis Erased $7 Billion in Value Even before any governance news emerged, early warning signs appeared within the ecosystem. At the rally’s peak, Zcash DeFi recorded over $30 million in total value locked.

That figure fell to under $2 million within weeks. Prices, however, remained elevated, creating a visible gap between on-chain activity and market valuation.

That kind of disconnect tends to precede broader corrections in crypto markets. When capital exits an ecosystem quietly, it often reflects weakened conviction among active participants. The token price held on sentiment alone, while actual on-chain usage told a different story.

The breaking point arrived in January 2026. The entire leadership team of the Electric Coin Company resigned following a governance conflict with the Zcash Bootstrap nonprofit board.

As @ourcryptotalk reported, prices fell between 14% and 25% almost immediately after the announcement surfaced.

Despite the resignations, Zcash’s core protocol continued operating without interruption. The departing developers formed a new independent company and resumed work on privacy tools, including continued development of the Zashi wallet.

However, market confidence had already shifted. ZEC’s valuation fell from nearly $10 billion to around $3 billion, erasing over $7 billion in total market value across the period.

A major Made In USA coin is flashing fresh downside risk even as activity across its network grows rapidly. The token is already down about 11% year-to-date and roughly 58% over the past year.

Now, a bearish chart pattern has appeared just as capital locked on the network jumps nearly 50%, creating a rare clash between improving fundamentals and weakening price action.

Bearish Breakdown Appears Even as Network Capital ExpandsThe project in question is Hedera, with a native token named HBAR.

Recently, HBAR slipped below the neckline of a head-and-shoulders pattern, a technical formation that often signals trend reversals. This breakdown occurred on March 7 and immediately exposed the asset to further downside risk.

What makes the move unusual is that the weakness appeared just as Hedera’s network metrics improved sharply.

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

HBAR Price Structure: TradingViewAccording to DeFiLlama data, the network’s Total Value Locked (TVL)—the total value of assets deposited in decentralized applications—has climbed from roughly $38.6 million on February 16 to about $60.4 million at press time. That represents over a 50% increase in just a few weeks for this Made in USA project.

Normally, rising TVL suggests growing network usage and stronger investor confidence. More capital entering decentralized applications usually supports the price of the underlying token.

Made In USA Project’s DeFi Outperformance: DefillamaBut HBAR’s chart is telling a different story.

Instead of strengthening alongside the rising TVL, the token is weakening technically. This divergence suggests the market is currently prioritizing technical structure over improving fundamentals, which often happens during broader bearish phases.

While the chart breakdown signals risk, momentum indicators show that some traders are still trying to buy the dip.

Dip Buyers Continue Accumulating HBARDespite the bearish pattern, retail traders linked to this Made in USA coin appear to be stepping into the market. One signal pointing to this behavior comes from the Money Flow Index (MFI). The MFI measures buying and selling pressure by combining price movement with trading volume. Traders often interpret it as a proxy for dip-buying activity, because rising MFI usually indicates buyers stepping in during pullbacks.

Between February 5 and March 7, HBAR’s price gradually trended higher. During the same period, the MFI also formed a rising trend, showing that traders were consistently buying the dips.

Dip Buyers In Play: TradingViewNear-term exchange flow data reinforces this signal. Since March 5 (despite price weakness), this Made in USA coin has recorded persistent exchange outflows, meaning tokens have been leaving exchanges rather than moving onto them.

Even after the head-and-shoulders breakdown on March 7, this pattern did not reverse. The latest recorded outflow shows roughly $526,770 worth of HBAR leaving exchanges, suggesting that some traders are still accumulating despite the weakening technical structure.

HBAR Buyers Active: CoinglassTaken together, the rising MFI and continued exchange outflows indicate that retail traders are still attempting to buy the dip or even guess the bottom for this Made in USA coin. However, retail buying alone does not necessarily stabilize a market. Larger capital flows often determine whether a trend ultimately reverses or continues downward.

That is where the next signal becomes critical.

Capital Outflows and Price Structure Now AlignThe Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator provides insight into how larger capital is behaving. CMF tracks whether capital is entering or leaving an asset by combining price movement with volume. Traders often use it as a proxy for large-investor activity.

Recently, CMF fell below the zero line, which signals that capital outflows have begun to outweigh retail inflows. At the same time, the indicator also broke below an ascending trendline that had supported the market since early February. That trendline previously represented steady inflows helping support HBAR’s price.

Once CMF breaks such a structure, it often suggests that larger capital is stepping away from the market, even if retail traders continue buying. However, CMF overall continues to rise with the price, which shows the big money outflows aren’t as aggressive, yet.

Big Money Flow Weakens: TradingViewYet, this creates a weak setup. Retail dip buyers remain active, but the broader flow of capital is weakening (already moving out), which increases the risk that the technical breakdown continues playing out.

The HBAR price structure reflects this risk clearly.

Following the neckline break, the head-and-shoulders pattern projects a potential move toward $0.079. From the neckline, this represents roughly an 18% downside move, while from current levels near $0.094, the remaining risk is about 15%.

For bullish momentum to return, HBAR would need to reclaim the $0.101 level, which has repeatedly rejected price advances since late February. A stronger recovery would require a break above $0.106, while the entire bearish pattern becomes invalid above $0.107.

HBAR Price Analysis: TradingViewIf the token fails to reclaim $0.095 quickly, the downside structure remains intact. In that case, the next support zones appear near $0.091 and $0.082, before the full head-and-shoulders target around $0.079 comes into focus.

TL;DR

Market Overview: The project’s mobile‑first design and real‑world focus continue to shape long‑term interest, setting the foundation for varied price expectations across multiple forecasting models. Yearly Outlook: Projections from 2026 to 2032 show wide disparities, with conservative models suggesting modest movement while technical analyses point to significantly higher valuations depending on liquidity, sentiment, and adoption trends. Key Takeaway: The asset’s future remains highly uncertain, with forecasts ranging from restrained trading ranges to aggressive upside scenarios, highlighting how shifting market conditions and ecosystem growth could influence performance.
Celo Blockchain has steadily carved out its place in the digital asset landscape by focusing on a mission that feels refreshingly practical: making blockchain tools accessible to anyone with a mobile phone. Instead of building yet another general‑purpose network, the blockchain was designed from the ground up to support fast, low‑cost transactions that work seamlessly on mobile devices.

This mobile‑first approach has helped the project stand out in a crowded market, especially in regions where smartphones are far more common than traditional computers. As the broader crypto ecosystem continues to evolve, the protocol’s emphasis on real‑world usability has become one of its most defining strengths.

Understanding the Role of CELO in the Ecosystem At the center of this ecosystem is the CELO token, which plays a crucial role in keeping the network running smoothly. The token is used for governance, allowing holders to vote on protocol upgrades and long‑term decisions that shape the future of the platform. It also supports the stability mechanisms behind Celo’s family of stable assets, helping maintain the reliability needed for everyday payments. Beyond governance and stability, CELO serves as the network’s primary staking and incentive asset, encouraging validators and users to contribute to the health and security of the chain.

All of these elements set the stage for a deeper look at the token’s long‑term market outlook. As adoption trends shift, mobile‑friendly solutions gain traction, and the network continues to expand its real‑world use cases, the token’s price trajectory between 2026 and 2032 becomes an increasingly relevant topic for investors and analysts. This article explores that future in detail.

Celo (CELO) 2026 to 2032 Price Prediction CELO 2026: Early Market Signals to Watch Forecasts from CoinDataFlow outline a wide trading range for 2026, with the asset potentially moving between $0.018684 on the low end and $0.080541 on the high end. This outlook suggests a modest upside of roughly 5.64% if the market reaches the upper boundary of the projection. The estimate reflects a cautious but constructive view, shaped by broader market sentiment.

A separate set of technical indicators paints a far more ambitious scenario for the same year. Based on historical performance and momentum‑driven metrics, analysts project an average value near $3.39, with potential movement spanning from $2.49 at the bottom of the range to $4.09 at the top. This outlook assumes stronger market confidence and a more favorable macro environment.

CELO 2027: Shifts in Network Activity and User Growth

Projections for 2027 from CoinCodex suggest a relatively narrow trading corridor, with values expected to move between $0.04831 and $0.07918 throughout the year. This range produces an estimated annual average near $0.06147, pointing to a modest potential return of roughly 3.75% if market conditions remain steady. The outlook reflects a scenario where gradual ecosystem activity and broader market sentiment help maintain a stable rhythm.

On the other hand, technical indicators present a far more optimistic picture for the same period. Based on historical behavior and other metrics, analysts outline a projected value of around $6.10, supported by a range that stretches from $4.82 at the low end to $7.86 at the high end.

CELO 2028: Ecosystem Developments That Could Influence Momentum DigitalCoinPrice outlines a conservative but notable shift for 2028, projecting that the asset could begin the year near $0.00707 before moving toward an average trading level around $0.0364. While these figures remain modest in absolute terms, the model frames this movement as a meaningful improvement compared to the previous year’s performance.

Technical indicators, however, paint a dramatically different picture for the same period. Based on trader sentiment and on-chain metrics, analysts estimate an average value near $10.85, supported by a projected range that stretches from $7.95 at the low end to $13.73 at the high end.

CELO 2029: Broader Market Conditions Shaping Long‑Term Behavior

Analysts at Changelly outline a relatively contained trading range for 2029, with expectations placing the asset between $0.673 and $0.8113. The projected annual average sits near $0.692, suggesting a year defined more by steady movement than dramatic swings. This outlook reflects a scenario where the market maintains a cautious but stable posture.

Technical readings for 2029 point toward a far more ambitious scenario, with projections centering around $10.40. Analysts outline a wide range for the year, starting near $6.39 and stretching up to $14.7, reflecting a market environment where stronger liquidity and renewed confidence could support a significant revaluation.

CELO 2030: Adoption Trends and Their Potential Impact Forecasts for 2030 point toward a notably tight trading range, with values expected to move between $0.01716 and $0.02445. The projected annual average sits near $0.02032, which represents a sharp decline compared to current levels and translates into an estimated return of ‑67.91%. This outlook reflects a scenario where the market leans toward caution, shaped by slower growth expectations and a more restrained trading environment.

A separate technical reading presents a dramatically different picture for the same year, outlining a projected value near $19.84. Analysts describe a wide range that stretches from $11.76 at the low end to $25.71 at the high end, suggesting a scenario where stronger liquidity, healthier participation, and a more favorable macro backdrop could support a substantial revaluation.

CELO 2031: Key Factors Driving Mid‑Cycle Performance

Analysts looking ahead to 2031 outline a scenario where the asset could surpass the $0.13 mark, supported by a projected floor near $0.0617 and a potential ceiling around $0.25. This range reflects a year where gradual improvements in market participation and ecosystem activity help support a more constructive trading environment.

A separate group of experts presents a more assertive outlook for the same year, estimating that trading could unfold between $1.33 and $1.65, with an average value hovering near $1.38. This perspective assumes a stronger backdrop, one where liquidity improves, and broader market sentiment turns more favorable.

CELO 2032: Long‑Range Considerations for a Maturing Network Experimental simulations for 2032 outline a wide performance range, suggesting the asset could climb as high as $0.429854 under the most optimistic conditions. Even in a less favorable environment, projections indicate the year may unfold within a band stretching from $0.119404 to the same upper target.

Another group of analysts presents a more assertive outlook for the same year, pointing to a potential peak near $2.35, with a projected floor around $1.89. Their estimates place the average trading level close to $1.94, suggesting a year shaped by stronger liquidity and a more confident trading environment.

Conclusion Across all forecasts, long‑term expectations for the asset vary widely, reflecting the uncertainty that defines the crypto market. From conservative projections to highly optimistic technical models, the outlook through 2032 highlights a landscape shaped by adoption trends, liquidity shifts, and evolving network activity.

The Price Predictions published in this article are based on estimates made by industry professionals; they are not investment recommendations, and it should be understood that these predictions may not occur as described.

The content of this article should only be taken as a guide, and you should always carry out your own analysis before making any investment.

After hitting a lifetime high of roughly $126,200 per token last year, the price of Bitcoin (BTC 0.18%) has seen a dramatic downward swing. Priced at roughly $69,400 per token as of this writing, the market-leading cryptocurrency is down 22% across 2026's trading and 45% from its lifetime high.

Amid these pressures, discussion about whether Bitcoin could actually be heading to a price of $0 per token has picked up again. Could this actually happen?

Image source: Getty Images.

Putting Bitcoin's bearish volatility in context On the heels of recent sell-offs, the thesis that Bitcoin is a hedge against inflation has been called into question. The rise of stablecoins that try to stay closely pegged to the U.S. dollar has also cast doubts about Bitcoin's viability as a medium of exchange. In light downward valuation pressures and overall pricing volatility for other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins have been seeing stronger demand when it comes to using digital tokens for the actual buying and selling of goods and services.

Increased integration of Bitcoin into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a favorable political backdrop have also failed to support sustained bullish pricing trends. With Bitcoin facing strong valuation pressures at the same time precious metals have soared to record highs, the thesis that the token is "digital gold" is also attracting scrutiny. On the other hand, volatility is nothing new in the crypto space.

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Since its inception, Bitcoin has seen multiple pricing downswings of 70% or greater after hitting a valuation peak. On the other hand, the token is still up 15,560% over the last decade and 11,160% since its inception. These powerful pricing gains over the long term don't necessarily mean that the token will rebound and go on to set new valuation highs -- or that more big sell-offs aren't on the way.

Conversely, claims that the token is rapidly heading to zero appear ill founded. The cryptocurrency retains a high level of support from both retail and institutional investors, and its leadership in the crypto space should ensure that buyers will come in and establish new support levels if more big pullbacks arrive. But while concerns about Bitcoin heading to $0 anytime in the near future are likely huge overblown, the risk can't be completely discounted.

There is one scenario that could rapidly send Bitcoin to $0 The evolution of quantum-computing technologies could pose the single-largest threat to Bitcoin. The value of the market-leading cryptocurrency hinges upon the security offered by its cryptography, but new quantum technologies could potentially crack Bitcoin's blockchain security. If that were to happen, the cryptocurrency's token price could quickly move to $0 -- and dramatic downward reappraisals would almost certainly take place across the broader crypto market.

On the other hand, the disruptive threats posed by quantum-computing technologies aren't limited to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Quantum tech capable of cracking Bitcoin's security would almost certainly be able to crack encryptions used across other areas of the financial world. Quantum encryption cracking on that level is likely at least a decade away, but its potentially transformative capabilities carry some big risks for investors.

US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their second consecutive week of net inflows, marking the first back-to-back weekly gains in five months.

Spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs attracted roughly $568.45 million in net inflows this week, according to data from SoSoValue. The products also posted positive flows of about $787.31 million the previous week, showing renewed investor appetite after several weeks of sustained outflows.

Before the recent turnaround, US spot Bitcoin ETFs endured a prolonged period of investor withdrawals, recording roughly $3.8 billion in cumulative outflows over a five-week streak.  The biggest weekly withdrawal during the streak occurred in the week ending Jan. 30, when spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded about $1.49 billion in net outflows.

Bitcoin ETFs see inflows for second consecutive week. Source: SoSoValueDaily flows were mixed during this week. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows of $458.19 million on Monday, followed by $225.15 million on Tuesday and a larger $461.77 million on Wednesday. The momentum reversed in the final sessions, with the funds seeing $227.83 million in outflows on Thursday and $348.83 million in redemptions on Friday.

US spot Ether (ETH) ETFs also recorded their second consecutive week of net inflows. The funds attracted roughly $23.56 million in net inflows for this week after posting $80.46 million in inflows the previous week, , marking their first back-to-back weekly gains since early October last year.

Before the rebound, spot Ether ETFs faced a sustained withdrawal streak, recording more than $1.38 billion in cumulative outflows across five consecutive weeks. The largest weekly outflow occurred during the week ending Jan. 23, when the funds recorded roughly $611 million in net redemptions.

Meanwhile, the funds saw mixed results throughout the latest reporting week. They recorded $38.69 million in inflows on Monday, followed by $10.75 million in outflows on Tuesday. Inflows returned on Wednesday with $169.41 million, but the momentum faded later in the week.

Bitcoin ETFs match 15 years of gold ETF inflows in 2 yearsIn a Saturday post on X, Fernando Nikolić, Blockstream’s director of marketing, noted that Bitcoin ETFs have already matched roughly 15 years of cumulative inflows seen by gold ETFs in less than two years, despite gold having a decade-and-a-half head start in the ETF market.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs vs gold ETFs. Source: Fernando NikolićNikolić added that the milestone occurred during a 46% Bitcoin drawdown and several months of negative price performance, arguing that institutional demand remained strong even amid market weakness.

“Anyone still arguing about whether bitcoin is ‘digital gold’ is wasting their breath,” he wrote. “Bitcoin isn't trying to be gold. Bitcoin is making gold look slow,” he added.

Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum — BIP-360 co-author

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

11h45 ▪ 5 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

At Strategy, the STRC stock is establishing itself as an increasingly scrutinized financing lever. The sudden surge in trading around this preferred stock launched in summer 2025 raises a specific question: Does Michael Saylor have new leeway to buy BTC ? The answer will depend on a very concrete appointment, with the next document expected by the SEC on March 9, 2026.

In brief The STRC stock from Strategy is attracting market attention, as its recent rise could open new financing capacity to buy bitcoin. Market estimates mention a potential of 302 million dollars, equivalent to about 4,334 BTC, although these projections are not yet confirmed by regulatory documents. The gap between market enthusiasm and official figures filed with the SEC places the next awaited document at the heart of the sequence. STRC is gradually establishing itself as a recurring financing cog at Strategy, after already being used in several operations related to Bitcoin purchases. The STRC market anticipates a new Strategy purchase Strategy could still buy bitcoin thanks to STRC sales, “the preferred stock” with variable yield. A sudden resurgence of activity on the stock could generate about 302 million dollars in net proceeds, enough to finance the purchase of about 4,334 BTC.

At this stage, it is a projection reported by the market, not an amount already validated by a regulatory document. While the market speculates on an acceleration of Strategy’s buying capacity via its STRC, the latest document submitted to the SEC remains much more measured.

This gap gives prominence to the news, as the observed dynamic on STRC could signal a new phase of bitcoin accumulation, but only the next regulatory publication will determine if this interpretation was well-founded.

The model reported is attributed to BitcoinQuant based on 777 million dollars of weekly volume on STRC ; Of this total, 97 %, or 755 million dollars, would have been traded above the nominal value of 100 dollars ; With a capture rate of 40 %, the estimate leads to about 302 million dollars of potential net proceeds ; Friday’s session alone would have concentrated 188 million dollars of volume, representing a purchase potential of about 1,097 BTC ; In contrast, the latest document filed with the SEC covering the period closed on March 1 mentions only 7.1 million dollars of net proceeds related to STRC ; This same document reports a total ATM financing of 237.1 million dollars, used to purchase 3,015 BTC ; The next document expected on March 9 should therefore verify if the observed surge on STRC has actually resulted in a new increase in bitcoin purchases. STRC settles at the heart of the financing machine To understand why this movement is closely watched, it is necessary to return to the very structure of STRC. Michael Saylor’s firm completed at the end of July 2025 an IPO of 28,011,111 shares of this preferred stock, at a price of 90 dollars per share, for 2.521 billion gross and 2.474 billion net dollars.

The group immediately allocated this product to the purchase of 21,021 BTC at an average price of 117,256 dollars. Two days later, the company extended the logic with an ATM program of 4.2 billion dollars. The mechanism relies on a variable monthly dividend, designed so that the stock can “trade at or near its nominal value of 100 dollars per share”. As of March 1, 2026, the annualized rate of STRC had been raised to 11.50%, or 0.958333333 dollars per share for the month of March.

Documents filed with the SEC also show that STRC is no longer just financial dressing. On January 12, 2026, Strategy declared the sale of 1,192,262 STRC shares for 119.1 million net dollars, alongside 1.1285 billion raised via MSTR, before buying 13,627 BTC for 1.2471 billion.

On February 17, 2026, the company again reported 78.4 million net dollars from STRC for an acquisition of 2,486 BTC. The regulatory comment is clear: “bitcoin purchases were funded by proceeds from stock sales under the ATM program”. This series of documents establishes STRC as a regular cog in Strategy’s bitcoin financing, not as an isolated experiment.

Behind the stir around STRC, one observation is clear: Strategy is still refining its bitcoin accumulation mechanism, under the watchful eyes of the market and regulator. Michael Saylor considers the quantum threat against Bitcoin still distant, but the immediate challenge remains elsewhere: to know if this sequence will result in new BTC purchases.

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Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

Yuval Rooz has a blunt message for the smart contract sector: If you claim to be the future plumbing of global finance, you’d better show the cash flow.

“People have assigned a lot of value to these networks based on what they say they’ll become,” said Rooz, CEO of Digital Asset and co-founder of the Canton Network. “But when you look at how much actual business they’re doing, there’s a massive disconnect.”

The Canton Network is a privacy-enabled blockchain infrastructure that aims to connect financial institutions and their tokenized assets across interoperable, permissioned applications.

“The issue isn’t about any single chain. Many smart contract networks were architected for retail speculation and token trading, not for regulated, institutional financial workflows," Rooz told CoinDesk in an interview.

"When you look at metrics like sustained economic throughput, recurring revenue, and real-world asset activity, there’s often a disconnect between valuation and actual financial usage. Building infrastructure for global institutions requires a very different design philosophy around privacy, compliance, and interoperability," he said.

Rooz, who previously worked at DRW and Citadel before founding Canton, said he isn’t anti-crypto. He drew a distinction between assets like bitcoin BTC$67,645.65, which the market values as a store of value or digital gold, and smart contract platforms that promise to transform financial infrastructure.

“Gold and silver have value because the market assigns it to them,” according to Rooz. “Bitcoin is an asset class. But smart contract networks pitch themselves as the next set of financial rails. If that’s the pitch, then financial institutions should be using them at scale.”

In his view, most aren’t.

“If you’re processing very small amounts of value on your network, how does the market assign you a $10 or $11 billion valuation?” he said, citing large-cap chains that see limited real-world financial throughput. “At the end of the day, it’s a memecoin. It’s not solving the problem it said it would solve.”

A speculative design flawRooz argued the gap stems partly from token design. Many networks copied bitcoin’s issuance model, minting tokens to reward validators, even though bitcoin is an asset secured by miners, not a programmable platform meant to host financial applications.

“Bitcoin is an asset class, not a platform,” he said. “People who secure the asset class get paid. Everyone copied that model for smart contract chains, and that was a mistake.”

On many networks, newly minted tokens flow primarily to validators, regardless of whether the chain is generating meaningful economic activity. If usage is thin, inflation dilutes holders while little value accrues back to the token.

By contrast, Rooz said Canton’s token is designed to reflect the dollar utility of the network itself. Every transaction burns tokens, and there are no priority or front-running fees. If usage grows in dollar terms, more tokens leave circulation.

“If you believe the USD utility of the network will continue to increase, more tokens will go out of circulation and the price should go up,” he said.

Canton also features a “mint curve,” with new tokens issued at regular intervals. But those tokens aren’t reserved only for validators. They’re distributed to users and applications that generate fees on the network.

“Compensating builders should be merit-based,” Rooz said. “Can you bring customers? Can you generate fees? That’s how you get paid.”

He pointed to Hyperliquid as an example of a model that resonates with investors: the trading platform generates revenue and uses it to buy back tokens. “When you do buybacks, price goes up. That’s a much more convincing reason to hold a token,” he said.

In other words, value must flow.

Digital Asset, the company behind Canton, said in December that it had secured strategic investments from four major traditional financial players. Investors in the round were BNY, a financial services firm overseeing $57 trillion in client assets, exchange operator Nasdaq, financial intelligence firm S&P Global and iCapital, a fintech firm backed by BlackRock, Blackstone and JP Morgan.

Bloomberg recently began publishing data related to activity on Canton, and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the industry-owned clearing and settlement market infrastructure, said in December that it had selected the network as its tokenization partner, in a sign of growing institutional traction.

The limits of TVLRooz is equally skeptical of total value locked (TVL) as a headline metric.

“TVL is a very bad metric in isolation,” he said. “What matters is usage.”

Canton’s design emphasizes configurable privacy for institutional participants, and in turn, much of the network activity isn't publicly broadcast. That makes traditional DeFi-style dashboards incomplete.

Because transactions can remain confidential, “we rely on participants to publish information about what they’re doing onchain,” Rooz said.

Still, some data points are emerging. Broadridge, a financial infrastructure provider, processes roughly $400 billion in repo transactions daily on Canton, according to Rooz. Other projects on the network handle comparable volumes, he said.

The network is now generating between $2.5 million and $3 million in daily fees, Rooz said, with ambitions to double that.

“If a company had bylaws saying any profit it makes will be used to buy back stock, and performance keeps going up, the share price should go up,” Rooz said. “A decentralized network should be treated the same way. Look at revenue. Look at growth.”

A coming reckoningThe broader market, he said, is starting to apply that lens.

“When the market is good, money flows into memes and speculative tokens,” Rooz said. “When the market turns, investors get much more demanding."

Many altcoins that marketed themselves as smart contract platforms have been eviscerated during recent downturns, he noted. Meanwhile, tokens tied to revenue-generating platforms have fared better.

For Rooz, this signals a shift toward what he calls a more “rational economic structure.”

“Crypto has defied the laws of gravity for some time,” he said. “But eventually gravity wins.”

Stablecoins and product-market fitEven stablecoins, often hailed as crypto’s breakout use case, haven’t fully crossed the chasm in Rooz’s view.

“Stablecoins haven’t hit product-market fit yet,” he said. “You can say stablecoins have product-market fit when more than 50% of usage is not crypto-related.”

Today, he argued, much of stablecoin demand is driven by crypto trading and onchain speculation. Real-world payments and non-crypto financial applications remain a minority of activity.

Canton’s strategy is to push deeper into traditional finance, bringing real-world assets and collateral onchain. The network recently announced gold-related initiatives and plans additional non-crypto collateral integrations.

The goal is straightforward: move beyond crypto-native assets and into mainstream financial workflows.

“If smart contract chains are the next set of financial rails, then financial companies should be using them for financial applications,” Rooz said. “Uptake, activity and usage; the value will follow.”

As for where Canton’s token price goes from here?

“If you’re chasing token price, you’re chasing the wrong thing. Focus on utility. Focus on building real financial infrastructure.”

The rest, he suggested, is gravity.

Canton coin (CC) was trading around $0.1538 at publication time. The token has risen about 2% year-to-date, outperforming wider crypto markets. The token currently has a market cap of roughly $6 billion.

Read more: From Wall Street to Web3: This is crypto’s year of integration, Silicon Valley Bank says

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Bitcoin purist Jack Dorsey says that his firm is reluctantly giving in to stablecoin craze

17 hours ago

The shift comes as stablecoins surge in popularity and competitors like Stripe and PayPal add stablecoin options, increasing market pressure.

What to know:

Block CEO Jack Dorsey says the company will support stablecoins due to customer demand, despite previously advocating for Bitcoin as the sole internet money protocol.The shift comes as stablecoins surge in popularity and competitors like Stripe and PayPal add stablecoin options, increasing market pressure.Dorsey maintains that Bitcoin's decentralized model remains his preferred choice for an open financial protocol.

Bitcoin's derivatives market gave us the best explanation of this week's macro stress.

Funding rates turned sharply negative, open interest stayed elevated, and then the US jobs report landed. Put together, that showed a market leaning hard into downside hedges just as a real macro catalyst arrived.

That sequence is worth understanding because it explains how macro volatility shows up in crypto.

It usually appears first in perpetual futures, where traders hedge fastest and use the most leverage.

Funding tells you which side is paying to stay in the trade, open interest tells you how much positioning is still in the system, and liquidations tell you when that positioning starts to break.

On Feb. 28, perpetual futures funding on Bitcoin fell to around -6%, one of the most negative readings in three months. BTC-denominated open interest rose from about 113,380 BTC to 120,260 BTC since the beginning of the year.

Graph showing the funding rate for Bitcoin perpetual futures from Feb. 22 to Mar. 7, 2026 (Source: CoinGlass)That combination mattered because it pointed to two things at once: traders were leaning heavily into downside bets, and they were doing it with more leverage entering the market. The market was both very nervous and very crowded.

That is the easiest way to understand how macro stress moves into crypto.

It appears in the derivatives book, not as a polished narrative on X or a clean economist note. Traders move there first because perpetual futures are liquid, cheap to use, and always available.

When they get nervous about growth, rates, or a broader risk-off move, they short perps; those contracts slip below spot, and funding turns negative because shorts have to pay longs to keep positions open.

Why negative funding stays negativeBut negative funding isn't a bottom signal in itself; it just tells you where the market is leaning.

This distinction matters because traders like turning every extreme reading into a prediction.

Deeply negative funding can precede a short squeeze, and last week's setup clearly created that possibility. It can also stay negative for longer than people expect when the hedging demand is real.

Extreme funding spikes and drops reflect one-sided positioning and can persist during strong directional moves.

That persistence usually comes from two places.

Some traders are hedging real spot exposure, which means they aren't trying to call the exact next move, just trying to protect a portfolio. Others are simple trend-followers willing to pay carry as long as the market keeps moving their way. Both groups can keep funding negative even when the first panic has already passed.

That's why the real tell is not that the funding is negative. The more interesting setup comes when funding stays meaningfully negative for a while and price stops making new lows. That's when the pressure starts to build under the surface. Shorts are still paying to stay in position, but the market is no longer rewarding them in the same way. That's how squeeze conditions form.

The jobs report gave the market a real macro inputThe macro catalyst this week came from the US labor market. On March 6, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 in February, and the unemployment rate was 4.4%.

That's the kind of report that forces a broad repricing because it pulls on more than one market theme at the same time. A softer labor market can push yields lower if traders think the Federal Reserve may need a gentler path. It can also hurt risk appetite if traders read the data as a sign of genuine economic weakness. (bls.gov)

Crypto tends to feel that debate more violently because leverage turns macro questions like these into positioning events.

If traders are already crowded into shorts and the macro release eases financial conditions, even briefly, price can snap higher because shorts have to cover.

If the release deepens the risk-off mood, the same crowded book can keep pressing lower because shorts stay comfortable and longs start to give up.

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Funding is the pressure gauge, open interest is the fuel, and liquidations are the moment that pressure starts breaking through the system.

Liquidations are the scoreboardLiquidations tell you whether the move is orderly or forced.

Short liquidations usually confirm a squeeze, and long liquidations usually confirm a flush lower. When both sides get liquidated within a short period, the market is telling you that volatility has taken over, and neither side had much room to hold.

This is why liquidation data works best as a confirmation layer. Funding sets the conditions, but liquidations tell you whether those conditions are actually being forced into price.

Open interest matters here, too. Price can fall, and funding can turn negative without saying much if participation is shrinking at the same time.

That can mean traders are simply stepping back. But when open interest rises alongside negative funding, it means new positions are being added into a bearish or defensive regime.

Tracking open interest in BTC terms removes some of the distortion created by price moves, so rising BTC-denominated open interest during a selloff gives a cleaner read on participation.

Seen this way, the past week was not really about whether Bitcoin was strong or weak, but about where the stress was building.

The derivatives market was already showing a heavy short or hedge regime before the labor data hit.

The jobs report then gave global markets a real macro input to process.

Once those two things met, crypto did what it usually does: it expressed the same macro uncertainty everyone else was dealing with in larger candles, faster reversals, and more violent position clearing.

Funding doesn't predict price, it just tells you where leverage is leaning. Open interest doesn't tell you who is right, just how much positioning is still on the field. Liquidations don't explain the whole move, just when the move stopped being optional.

That's why derivatives ended up being the best macro explainer of the week. Before the narrative settled, the book had already mapped the risk. Traders were leaning short, leverage was still in the system, and the jobs report gave the market something real to react to.

Everything that came after was price discovering how crowded the room had become.

Posted in

Long-term holders cut their selling over the past 30 days, with outflows falling to 276,000 BTC from 904,000 BTC in November.

Bitcoin moved higher this week, touching a one-month high at $74,000 as selling pressure across crypto markets eased. A report from the on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant said reduced supply from sellers and improving demand signals helped support the short-term rebound.

One indicator of the shift is the change in apparent spot demand for Bitcoin. According to the analytics firm, demand contraction stood at about -136,000 BTC at the start of 2026. It has since narrowed to around -25,000 BTC, signaling that selling pressure in spot markets has weakened.

Strong Support From Long-Term Holders Eases Market Pressure Another key signal came from the Coinbase Premium Index, which tracks price differences between Coinbase and offshore exchanges. The index moved into positive territory, often interpreted as stronger buying interest from United States-based market participants.

CryptoQuant also noted that many market participants now hold unrealized losses similar to levels seen in July 2022. At the same time, long-term holders sharply reduced their selling over the past thirty days. Their combined outflows dropped to about 276,000 BTC, far below the 904,000 BTC recorded in November.

The slowdown marks the lowest monthly outflow from long-term holders since June 2025 and helps ease supply pressure. Reduced selling from this group often limits immediate downward momentum in the market during uncertain periods.

Despite the rebound, analysts warn that Bitcoin could soon face resistance near the $79,000 level if momentum continues. A higher ceiling may exist around $90,000, corresponding to the broader realized price for active market participants and previously limiting gains earlier this year.

Market Optimism Remains Cautious Despite Recent Rebound Broader sentiment indicators remain weak despite the recent price move, as per CryptoQuant market data. Its Bull Score Index currently stands near 10 out of 100, reflecting limited bullish signals.

You may also like: ‘Iran Will Be Hit Very Hard Today,’ Warns Trump: How Will BTC’s Price React? Analysis: Bitcoin Exchange Outflows Signal Holder Conviction Amid Hormuz Crisis Bitcoin Adoption and Offline Storage on the Rise Despite Weak Market Conditions (Santiment) The analytics platform describes the move as a relief rally rather than a sustained upward cycle. It warns that macroeconomic pressure and cautious sentiment could still limit further advances in the near term.

CryptoQuant also notes that broader global liquidity conditions and interest rate expectations continue to shape digital asset demand worldwide. These factors may influence market behavior and determine whether the current rebound can persist over the coming months.

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SEI tests descending channel bottom at $0.06 as analysts outline targets reaching up to $5.05 by 2027

The world’s first XRP spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) has declined by approximately 45% since its launch, as the asset continues to struggle with significant volatility.

The fund, trading under the ticker XRPH11 on Brazil’s main stock exchange, closed at 11.19 BRL ($2.13) on Friday, down 3.7% for the day. It has posted a year-to-date loss of 30.5% and an all-time decline of 44%.

XRPH11 all-time price chart. Source: TradingView The ETF tracks the Nasdaq XRP Reference Price Index and holds direct exposure to the token, with its value eroding in line with XRP itself.

The Brazilian asset manager behind the product secured approval from the country’s securities regulator in February 2025, and the ETF began trading on April 25, 2025, becoming the world’s first spot XRP ETF. 

It provided retail and institutional investors in Brazil with regulated exposure to XRP through standard brokerage accounts, removing the need for personal wallets and private-key management.

Despite its historic debut, the ETF had little lasting impact on XRP’s global price. Limited to Brazil’s domestic market, it attracted modest inflows that were insufficient to create meaningful buying pressure on XRP’s large circulating supply. 

Additionally, traditional finance settlement delays meant ETF share purchases did not immediately translate into on-chain XRP buying, further muting any short-term price effect.

Ripple’s periodic escrow releases and broader macroeconomic headwinds dominated price action, preventing the kind of supply-constrained rally that has accompanied major ETF launches for other cryptocurrencies.

Other spot XRP ETF launches  Subsequent launches in North America have shown a markedly different scale and impact. In June 2025, Canada approved multiple spot XRP ETFs, including the Purpose XRP ETF (XRPP) from Purpose Investments and the 3iQ XRP ETF (XRPQ) on the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

These products quickly gathered meaningful assets under management, benefiting from Canada’s more mature regulatory pathway for crypto ETFs and attracting stronger institutional participation.

The United States joined the trend in late 2025, with Canary Capital’s XRPC ETF spearheading approvals for offerings from Bitwise, Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, 21Shares, and others.

 The U.S. products have recorded substantial and consistent inflows, reflecting the depth of capital and investor confidence available in the world’s largest financial market.

Meanwhile, over the same period, XRP’s price has suffered notable losses in line with broader cryptocurrency market sentiment. 

XRP price analysis  By press time, the asset was trading at $1.36, down about 0.3% in the last 24 hours, while on the weekly timeline, it was also in the red, falling 0.8%.

XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold From a technical perspective, XRP’s 50-day simple moving average (SMA) stands at $1.57, well above the current price. Trading below this level signals weakening short- to medium-term momentum. The roughly $0.21 gap indicates that recent price action has remained consistently weaker than its recent average, reinforcing the bearish sentiment.

The longer-term outlook appears even weaker, with the 200-day SMA at $2.20. XRP trading far below this level highlights a significant drop relative to its long-term trend. Remaining under the 200-day SMA typically signals a broader bearish market structure that would require sustained buying pressure to reverse.

Meanwhile, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 41.81, placing it in the neutral zone but closer to the lower end.