Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin held near $66,000 on Sunday, March 1, after a weekend geopolitical shock tied to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, setting up Monday’s U.S. reopen as the first major liquidity and spot ETF flow test of the rebound.

The diplomatic alarm bell rang alongside the price rebound. At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, the Secretary-General warned that the escalation risked widening into a broader conflict, while the U.S., Israel, and Iran traded legal and moral accusations, a public signal that the crisis is not contained and that headline risk can stay elevated into the reopen.

Bitcoin’s trading range stayed wide in thin conditions. After printing a Feb. 28 low of $63,068 and closing at $66,999, BTC opened Sunday at $66,990.

Bitcoin weekend price action over Iran-US-Israel warThe immediate question is whether that recovery holds once regulated U.S. venues reopen and spot ETF creations and redemptions resume.

The weekend also changed the macro backdrop that will greet U.S. markets. Reporting on Sunday described continued exchanges and escalation risk, while market attention shifted from the initial risk-off impulse to the energy and shipping transmission line.

There are now heightened risks around the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on vessels near the region, making crude pricing and shipping disruption the clearest mechanism for how geopolitics can tighten financial conditions into Monday.

Bitcoin trading has increasingly split into two liquidity regimes. Weekend trading can still absorb macro stress in real time, but the deepest marginal liquidity now concentrates in weekday U.S. hours, especially through ETF and institutional channels.

If the Monday open keeps a meaningful energy risk premium, Bitcoin may trade more like a high beta macro asset than a crypto-specific story. If energy fears fade and ETF flows resemble last week’s renewed inflows, the rebound can extend quickly.

The weekend shock turned into an energy and shipping tradeGeopolitical headlines did not stabilize after the first wave of strikes.

On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening attacks, and follow-on strikes continued. Iran’s retaliation widened beyond Israel to U.S. interests and regional targets. The U.S. confirmed three American service members were killed and others were wounded.

Those developments increased the odds that Monday’s open becomes a broader cross-asset repricing event rather than a contained weekend scare.

They also pushed the crisis into the formal U.N. arena. At the emergency Security Council session, U.N. officials warned escalation could spiral, while major powers split over legality, retaliation, and de-escalation, the sort of institutional “alarm” that tells markets we may have multiple chapters to this story rather than a one-weekend shock.

For traders, the key point is the transmission path. Energy pricing feeds inflation expectations, which feed rates and the dollar, which then shape risk appetite for Bitcoin and other high-beta assets.

Shipping risk is at the center of the weekend narrative. Business Insider described attacks affecting commercial vessels and tankers around the Strait of Hormuz area. That increases the probability of higher insurance costs, route disruptions, and a persistent crude risk premium.

For Bitcoin, the mechanism is visible in the last two days of price behavior.

BTC sold off hard during low-liquidity hours, then mean-reverted as immediate forced selling eased. But the market still faces another air pocket if fresh energy or escalation headlines hit while depth is thin.

The U.S. market opening tomorrow will add more volume and also change the type of liquidity available. Spot ETF flows, U.S. exchange depth, and futures basis adjustments tend to compress spreads and reduce the chance that one headline produces a $2,000 to $3,000 wick. They can also accelerate the next directional move if the market agrees on a macro narrative.

Traders should also watch whether producers respond in a way that caps the energy shock. Attention is on the oil price response and the role of producer decisions, while the broader market focuses on whether supply and transit can normalize quickly.

Bitcoin’s price action, the rebound held but the range stayed wide into MondayBitcoin’s price action fit a familiar weekend pattern: a sharp move during low-liquidity hours, followed by a fast recovery as panic selling fades. The data points define the levels traders will test when U.S. participants return.

Yesterday, BTC traded between $63,068 and $67,657. Today, has pushed to $68,159, then dipped to around $66,000.

Bitcoin recovered quickly from the crash phase, but volatility did not disappear. BTC is holding a rebound structure while still reacting to macro headlines. Monday matters because U.S. hours add deeper liquidity and shift price discovery toward regulated venues.

That can reduce weekend air pockets, but it can also speed up the next move if ETF flows and cross-asset pricing point in the same direction.

From a levels perspective, the market is trading between competing narratives. The rebound remains intact while BTC holds the mid-$64,000 area, but the market has not yet proven it can reclaim the next zone that turns a bounce into a renewed uptrend attempt.

This is where Monday’s ETF data becomes a practical catalyst. If flows are strong, the market can clear resistance with help from systematic allocation and hedging activity. If flows disappoint or turn negative, weekend strength can fade and push price back toward the lower band.

The clean setup is this: the weekend range created reference points, but U.S. markets will decide whether those points become a floor, a pivot, or a trap. Traders should treat Sunday’s high and the rebound support shelf as the two anchors for short-term positioning.

Date (UTC)OpenHighLowCloseWhy traders watch it into MondayFeb. 28, 2026$65,870$67,657$63,068$66,995Defines the weekend shock low and the rebound close U.S. flows will validate or reject.Mar. 1, 2026 (intraday)$66,990$68,159$65,755In rangeShows volatility persists, a break of the low can trigger a second leg lower if macro risk tightens.The Monday variable, spot ETF flows and the create-redeem channelMonday’s most important crypto-specific number is the direction and size of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF flows once the market reopens.

My core premise holds: weekend crypto markets can absorb stress in real time, but weekday U.S. venues still provide the deepest marginal liquidity.

CryptoSlate Daily Brief

Daily signals, zero noise.Market-moving headlines and context delivered every morning in one tight read.

5-minute digest 100k+ readers

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

You’re subscribed. Welcome aboard.

If authorized participants and end investors return with risk-on positioning, the rebound can harden into a trend attempt. If they return defensive, weekend strength can fade quickly.

The setup is clear because the market already has a recent example of strong flows supporting price in choppy conditions. Spot ETF flow tracking showed multiple positive inflow days ahead of the weekend, with roughly $1.1 billion in net inflows over three consecutive sessions.

Still, the most recent daily print in the Farside table showed a modest net outflow of about $27.5 million on Feb. 27. That mix matters for next week because it shows demand can reappear fast, but it can also stall quickly when risk sentiment shifts.

The short-term implication is that flows will likely matter more than commentary.

If ETFs print another large net inflow day early in the week, they can absorb spot selling tied to macro hedging and help price retest higher resistance. If flows weaken, the market can slip back into a sell-the-rally structure, especially if oil stays high and rates move up.

Traders should watch two signals in the first U.S. session. First, whether BTC holds above the rebound support shelf during U.S. morning liquidity. Second, whether flows confirm risk appetite rather than short covering.

Traders also enter the week with uneven positioning. Your earlier coverage noted year-to-date net outflows were still materially negative by mid-February even as multi-day inflow bursts returned.

That contrast helps explain why rebounds can be sharp but still capped when headline risk rises and liquidity thins. Next week will help answer whether the late-February inflow burst marked the start of a broader allocation phase or a tactical trade that fades when macro stress rises.

Flow windowNet flowWhat it suggestsSourceThree sessions ending Feb. 27~$1.1B net inflowRisk appetite returned quickly despite choppy price action.FarsideFeb. 27 daily print-$27.5M net outflowFlows can stall fast in uncertain macro conditions.FarsideKey levels and scenarios for the reopen, contained escalation vs. energy shockThe most useful way to close is to connect ETF flows and cross-asset repricing to a tight set of price levels. Your level map still fits the weekend move, as the market defended the mid-$64,000 region and then traded back into the mid-to-high $60,000s.

Next week, that defense either becomes a durable base or breaks under renewed macro pressure.

A contained escalation scenario looks like this.Energy fears cool, U.S. futures stabilize, and spot ETFs reopen with net inflows that resemble the late-February burst.

In that case, BTC can keep the rebound thesis intact as long as price holds the primary support zone and can reclaim the first trend attempt level. If that reclaim sticks during U.S. hours, the market can put the higher resistance band back in play, but it will still require sustained risk appetite and supportive flow prints.

An energy shock scenario looks different.Crude stays elevated, shipping risk persists, and markets price higher inflation expectations into rates.

That often strengthens the dollar and tightens financial conditions, which tends to pressure Bitcoin even if the initial selloff already happened. The first signal would be a loss of the breakdown shelf. That would shift attention to deeper support, and then to round-number support if selling continues.

Here is the same level framework I laid out yesterday, presented as a checklist for tomorrow. These levels show where flows and macro repricing will likely show up first.

LevelRoleHow traders use it on Monday$64,700Primary support zoneA hold keeps the rebound structure intact into the ETF reopen.$65,400First reclaimA reclaim during U.S. hours turns the bounce into a trend attempt.$63,800Breakdown shelfA loss raises odds of deeper stop-driven selling if macro tightens.$62,850Deeper supportFailure shifts focus toward broader round-number support.$69,270 to $70,730Resistance bandReaching it likely requires sustained risk-on tone and constructive ETF flows.Another variable is the futures reopen dynamic. Weekend spot moves can create gaps and basis shifts that prompt hedging adjustments once U.S. futures and institutional desks are fully active.

That can amplify the first directional move on Monday, especially if ETF flows and macro pricing point in the same direction. If they diverge, Bitcoin may chop inside the weekend range longer than traders expect.

Mentioned in this articlePosted in

Journalist

Posted: March 2, 2026

On the surface, the crypto market appears strong. Despite ongoing global tensions, Bitcoin has behaved like a safe-haven asset, with steady price action supporting confidence.

However, beneath that strength, something unusual is unfolding.

Data from Alphractal showed that while new retail and institutional capital are actively trading, coins held for more than three years have almost stopped moving.

The Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) metric has fallen to historic lows, even on a 90-day average, indicating that long-term holders are neither selling nor reacting to market swings.

If looked at deeply, this phase showed that Bitcoin had been going through supply exhaustion rather than simple hesitation.

What are other on-metrics hinting at? The Age Consumed metric shows that older holders were quiet, but as prices surged toward local highs in late November, that calm broke sharply.

Source: Santiment

Additionally, the 90-day Dormant Circulation also spiked sharply, showing that long-term holders used the rally to exit.

Data from Glassnode confirms that since December 2025, the 90-day Coin Days Destroyed (CDD-90) has dropped to very low levels.

In fact, as price drifted toward the $70,000 region in February 2026, there seems to be a strange divergence wherein price was weakening, but CDD-90 was not rising.

Source: Glassnode

Normally, older holders react during stress. This time, they are not.

That suggests most large-scale selling already happened in November, and the remaining holders are deeply committed and inactive. 

Still, low CDD-90 is not automatically bullish. If long-term holders are not selling, they are also not actively providing strong buy-side support. 

Mixed retail sentiments Yet despite this, the retail sentiment around Bitcoin [BTC] remains intact, as noted by Ex JP Morgan employee, Aditya Singhania, who said, 

“There is absolutely zero panic in Bitcoin! Every one is in panic and expecting major fall tomorrow. Market might positively surprise most people. If there was real panic it would have been first seen in crypto market.”

However, not everyone shares the same sentiment as noted by forever Bitcoin critic, Peter Schiff, who said,

Source: Peter Schiff/X

What’s ahead? Historically, Bitcoin often finds a true bottom near its Long-Term Holder (LTH) cost basis, now around $38,900. With price still roughly 66% above that level, the market has not seen the deep reset typical of past bear cycles.

Current selling appears to be driven mainly by short-term holders, while long-term investors remain steady, a sign of pressure, but not panic.

At the same time, an early whale tracked by Lookonchain recently sold 500 BTC worth about $47.77 million from a 5,000 BTC stash bought near $332 years ago.

Overall, Bitcoin in 2026 feels like two markets at once. On one side are long-term holders who remain inactive and unmoved by volatility.

On the other hand are early whales who are slowly turning paper gains into real-world wealth. All in all, unless global economic conditions worsen sharply, the most likely outcome is a long period of sideways movement rather than a dramatic crash or breakout. 

Final Summary The November spike in dormant circulation suggests major selling already happened during the rally. With OGs inactive, the market appears to be digesting prior distribution rather than entering fresh capitulation.

After clawing its way back above $67,000 on Saturday, bitcoin slipped 2.4% against the greenback on Sunday, gliding just north of the $65,000 mark. Data from crypto derivatives markets show roughly $415 million in positions have been liquidated.

How an Oil Shock Could Trigger Bitcoin’s Next Liquidity Selloff Prefer us on Google

Strait of Hormuz tensions threaten oil supply, lifting prices.Higher oil could boost inflation, delay rate cuts, raise yields.Rising yields risk crypto deleveraging and Bitcoin liquidity selloff.Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are once again forcing crypto traders to look beyond blockchain fundamentals and toward global macro risk.

Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes daily through the narrow maritime corridor between Iran and Oman. While no full closure has been confirmed, escalating military activity in the region has already pushed war-risk insurance premiums sharply higher.

Oil, Yields, and $2 Trillion in Liquidity: Why Crypto Could Be First to CrackPremiums on oil tankers have surged more than 50%. At the same time, insurance costs for a $100 million vessel jumped from approximately $250,000 to $375,000 per voyage.

The spike in shipping risk alone, even without a formal blockade, has been enough to raise fears of supply disruption. Several analysts have suggested that crude oil could surge to $120–$130 per barrel under a prolonged disruption scenario.

“Estimates suggest crude could jump to $120–$130 per barrel,” wrote analyst 0xNobler in a post.

For crypto markets, the implications go far beyond energy.

The Inflation-to-Liquidity TransmissionAn oil spike of that magnitude would likely reignite inflation expectations just as markets have been positioning for policy easing.

Higher crude prices feed directly into transportation, manufacturing, and consumer goods costs, putting upward pressure on CPI data globally.

“Wars are generally inflationary, driving up commodity prices and widening fiscal deficits, and despite an initial knee‑jerk selloff when the conflict began, it makes sense that we have subsequently seen Bitcoin prices recover over the weekend, given it also benefits from higher inflation expectations,” 21Shares Head of Macro Stephen Coltman told BeInCrypto in an email.

If inflation expectations rise, central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, may be forced to delay or scale back anticipated rate cuts. That repricing would likely push Treasury yields higher.

And yields are where crypto risk begins.

Rising yields tighten global liquidity conditions. When government bonds offer increasingly attractive returns, capital often rotates away from speculative assets. Trillions in rate-sensitive capital across bonds and equities could be repriced if yields rise materially amid renewed inflation fears.

🚨 THE BIGGEST MARKET CRASH IS COMING TOMORROW

Iran is closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Over 20% of global OIL SUPPLIES ARE HALTED.

And this is impacting other markets as well:

– Bonds
– Stocks
– Crypto
– US Dollar

If you are holding any assets YOU MUST READ THIS NOW:

Everyone… pic.twitter.com/m9FsAMlWCh

— ᴛʀᴀᴄᴇʀ (@DeFiTracer) March 1, 2026 Bitcoin has historically traded as a high-beta liquidity asset during tightening cycles. During prior periods of rising real yields, digital assets have tended to underperform as leverage unwinds and funding costs climb.

In other words, crypto does not need a geopolitical catastrophe to fall. It only needs liquidity to tighten.

Several prominent crypto commentators have warned of an imminent spike in volatility. Posts from accounts such as DeFiTracer and 0xNobler framed the Strait of Hormuz situation as a potential macro “turning point,” outlining a chain reaction:

“Higher oil → higher inflation → no rate cuts → rising yields → tightening liquidity.”

The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman represents a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies (CryptoRover)Meanwhile, Merlijn the Trader introduced a secondary risk. The analyst cites a potential hashrate shock if energy infrastructure in Iran, reportedly a hub for low-cost Bitcoin mining, were disrupted.

MASSIVE BITCOIN SUPPLY SHOCK RISK ⚠️

Ultra-cheap energy turned Iran into a hidden mining superpower.

If that infrastructure goes offline overnight:
– Large BTC holdings could hit the market or vanish
– Millions in rigs go dark
– Hashrate shock hits instantly
– Network… pic.twitter.com/YTc7eKvC2V

— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) March 1, 2026 While speculative, such narratives add to broader uncertainty around supply dynamics and network stability.

Still, not all political voices share the alarm. President Donald Trump publicly commented that he is “not concerned” about the Strait of Hormuz situation.

BREAKING: President Trump comments on the Strait of Hormuz and oil market situation:

"I'm not concerned about anything," he says. pic.twitter.com/scm46SSRM9

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 1, 2026 Markets, however, tend to respond more directly to bond yields than to political reassurance.

Crypto’s Deleveraging RiskThe structure of crypto derivatives markets adds another layer of fragility. Leverage tends to build during periods of calm, and sudden macro shocks can trigger cascading liquidations.

If Treasury yields spike alongside oil, leveraged positions across Bitcoin and altcoins could unwind quickly.

High-risk assets, including small-cap equities, high-growth tech stocks, and cryptocurrencies, are typically the first to feel pressure when liquidity tightens.

Unlike traditional markets, crypto trades 24/7, meaning reactions can be immediate and amplified.

It explains why traders are already watching crude futures and bond markets as leading indicators. A temporary de-escalation could stabilize oil and restore risk appetite.

A sustained disruption, however, could transform what begins as an energy shock into a broader liquidity event.

The coming sessions, starting Monday, may determine whether this remains geopolitical noise or becomes crypto’s next macro-driven selloff.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

The crypto market has recorded an upward trend over the last 24 hours with Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA recording increase in prices. The rally was accompanied by high macro correlation, increased derivatives open interest, and fresh ETF inflows.

Crypto Market Rebounds On Macro Correlation Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and ADA tracked the wider recovery in equity markets with TheBlock data showing an 81% 30-day correlation to the S&P 500. The rally indicated that broader risk sentiments affected price action.

At the time of writing, the overall valuation of the crypto market increased by 4% to $2.31 trillion, which broke the $2.30 trillion ceiling. The upward trend was also based on geopolitical developments as the U.S. President Donald Trump verified the death of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei. Following the announcement, there was stabilization in the global risk markets.

As CoinGape reported, the crypto market continued its sell-offs on Saturday as Bitcoin dropped to $63,000. The drop came after a combined U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

The coin has been trading at an above the $67,000 position for most periods of the week, but resumed its downward movement on Friday. The hopes of a renewed crypto market uptrend were also dampened by the economic changes in the United States.

Open Interest Rises Across BTC, ETH, XRP and ADA Open interest grew in these crypto assets, signifying new positioning. Bitcoin open interest increased by 1.6% to $44.27 billion and Ethereum rose by 6.44% to almost $26 billion, as Coinglass data showed.

XRP open interest stood at $2.24 billion with a 1.19% increase within 24 hours. The open interest in Cardano growth rose by 3.57% to reach $462 million dollars, which validated the growing participation in derivatives.

CoinMarketCap reveals that the Altcoin Season Index also rose in the past week, moving from 29 to 34, indicating that altcoin interest is rising. This trend is common during the early stages of crypto market recovery.

Source: CoinMarketCap ETF Flows Aligns With Rebound The chat in the market was centered on ETF flows and political endorsement of digital assets. No particular announcement was a motivating factor in the prices, but the institutional story elevated the risk.

Based on SoSoValue data, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs had ended the last week with a net inflow of $787 million dollars and Ethereum ETFs had $81 million in net inflows. XRP ETFs registered net inflows of $9.55 million for the same period.

At the time of writing, BTC price was trading in an upward direction after increasing by 4.48% to $67,102. Ethereum rose by 7% to $2,007, as major altcoins recorded higher gains than Bitcoin. XRP and Cardano gained 5% each to reach $1.38 and $0.28.

Meanwhile, Willy Woo, a popular analyst, had predicted a big Bitcoin price crash is coming. He stated that Bitcoin price can go as low as $45,000 and global macro events can extend the price downtrend.

TLDR: PENDLE has corrected 86% from its 2024 high of $7.53, with price now compressing near a key weekly demand zone. Analyst CryptoPatel projects targets of $3, $5, $15, and $30, citing a potential 5,330% move from accumulation range. The sPENDLE upgrade redirects 80% of protocol revenue to buybacks, creating roughly $32 million in annual buying pressure. New products Boros and Citadels target funding rate derivatives and a $4.5 trillion Islamic finance market in 2026. PENDLE, currently trading around $1.27, has drawn attention from crypto analysts after an 86% correction from its 2024 cycle high near $7.53.

The token operates as DeFi’s only yield tokenization protocol, splitting yield-bearing assets into Principal Tokens and Yield Tokens.

With a market cap of roughly $214 million against $3.44 billion in total value locked, some traders see an asymmetric setup forming on higher timeframe charts.

Technical Structure Points to Accumulation Phase Price action on the weekly chart shows PENDLE compressing inside a multi-year descending channel since its 2024 peak.

The 0.786 Fibonacci retracement sits near $0.844, aligning with what analysts describe as a high-probability accumulation zone.

Sell-side liquidity sweeps into this area have been absorbed, suggesting reduced selling pressure at current levels.

Crypto analyst CryptoPatel noted the setup on social media, pointing to a demand block between $0.84 and $0.60 as a key zone.

The analyst stated targets at $3, $5, $15, and $30, projecting a potential 1,684% to 5,330% move from the lower accumulation range.

$PENDLE: DeFi's Hidden Monopoly With Zero Competition | Crashed 86% | 5,000%+ Upside Potential | 10 Reasons Why $30 Is Coming#PENDLE Is Trading Inside A Multi Year Descending Channel On The Weekly Chart Since The 2024 Cycle High Near $7.53.
After A 86%+ Cycle Correction, Price… pic.twitter.com/IMcSF7mzI9

— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) March 1, 2026

The bullish structure holds as long as PENDLE stays above $0.60 on the weekly timeframe, with invalidation below $0.46.

Volatility contraction on the weekly chart is another factor analysts are watching. Historically, extended compression periods in crypto assets have preceded sharp directional moves.

A fractal comparison to a prior cycle shows PENDLE previously rallied 1,521% from a similar structure, though past performance does not guarantee future results.

Institutional activity adds context to the setup. Arthur Hayes reportedly accumulated $973,000 worth of PENDLE, while Binance Labs and Spartan Group are listed as investors in the project.

Fundamentals and New Products Support Long-Term Case PENDLE generates over $40 million in annual revenue from real trading activity, giving it a price-to-earnings ratio below 20x at current prices.

The protocol’s MC/TVL ratio stands at 0.06x, which analysts consider low relative to comparable DeFi infrastructure projects.

An 80% revenue buyback mechanism through sPENDLE creates roughly $32 million in annual buying pressure at current revenue levels.

The protocol is live on more than eight chains, with planned integration across Solana, TON, and Hyperliquid. Its new product, Boros, targets the funding rate derivatives market, which sees over $150 billion in daily volume.

Early testing of Boros recorded $5.5 billion in notional volume and $730,000 in early revenue.

Another product, Citadels, targets institutional and Shariah-compliant users, opening access to a $4.5 trillion Islamic finance market.

As tokenized bonds and real-world asset treasuries expand on-chain, PENDLE’s yield trading infrastructure positions it within that growing sector.

The protocol also cut emissions by 30% alongside the sPENDLE upgrade, reducing token supply pressure going forward.

Journalist

Posted: March 2, 2026

It was an intensely volatile week for crypto. Bitcoin [BTC] saw an 11.96% rally, a 9.94% drop, and another 8.19% rally, measured using the swing points made since Tuesday, the 24th of February.

This whipsaw price action can leave even seasoned veterans sidelined or stopped out. Despite the chaos, the altcoin market, excluding Ethereum [ETH], was down only 0.57% since last Sunday.

Some altcoins showed resilience, and some price charts were in down-only mode over the past week. Here are some of the notable performers over the past week.

Polkadot halving expectations sends prices higher

Source: DOT/USDT on TradingView

The 1-day chart showed an internal bullish structure shift (orange) that also left behind a sizeable imbalance (white) from $1.28 to $1.46. DOT has rallied 18.4% since last Sunday’s open at $1.36.

The short-term relative strength is commendable, but swing traders should remember that the longer-term trend remains bearish. The $1.80 supply zone overhead presented a credible threat to the bulls.

The Polkadot halving date is just 12 days away. Lately, some coins, such as Litecoin [LTC] and Bitcoin, tended to rally a month or two before the halving before consolidating or facing a sell-off during the halving.

NEAR and ICP record strong gains as AI tokens advance While most altcoins followed BTC’s volatility, large-cap crypto AI tokens NEAR Protocol [NEAR] and Internet Computer [ICP] posted weekly gains of 15.94% and 11.35%, respectively.

NVIDIA’s record revenue reports likely boosted the crypto AI sentiment. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has said that AI is only getting better. Yet, NVDA stock fell 9% in two days, after Wednesday’s close at $195.56.

NEAR had a CMF of +0.09 and an RSI of 55 signaled positive capital flows and bullish momentum that could be sustained in the coming week. ICP’s technical indicators were weaker, and it faces a local supply zone nearby at $2.8.

Other notable winners Running against the general memecoin trend, Memecore [M] has rallied 8.81% this past week, extending the previous week’s trend. Uniswap [UNI] and Monero [XMR] were up 6.54% and 8.22%, respectively.

Weekly losers Bitcoin Cash takes a sharp tumble, but this could be a red herring

Source: BCH/USDT on TradingView

BCH has fallen 21.1% in the past week. It was trading below the long-term range’s mid-range support at $480. The technical indicators were bearish, showing downward momentum and selling pressure.

Yet, this could be a buying opportunity. The $440-$460 zone has been a long-term demand zone, stretching back to June 2025.

Swing traders have a low-risk, high-reward buying opportunity targeting a rally back to the range highs, or at least the local swing high at $580.

A drop below the $423 swing low from the 6th of February would invalidate this idea, allowing for a clear trading plan.

Cosmos plummets to early February lows ATOM posted a 19.18% plunge after rallying as high as $2.5 almost two weeks ago. It was now back at $1.85, the same support it tested during the price crash in the first week of February.

ZCash slips below local support level ZCash [ZEC] was down 11.47% for the week since last Sunday. AMBCrypto had reported that a defense of the $250 support level could allow a rally to $320, but this idea has backfired.

A sustained fall below $225 and $205 could push prices as far south as $120.

Other notable losers Dogecoin [DOGE] and Shiba Inu [SHIB] registered losses of 2.74% and 7.29%, respectively, but it was Pepe [PEPE] that posted the largest losses among popular memes with an 11.43% slash in prices over the past week.

A hopeful week ahead AMBCrypto reported that the 4-hour timeframe saw a bullish BTC shift, accompanied by the defense of the $64k area on Sunday.

The week ahead could see multiple FUD developments, but the price action has shown us there’s bullish potential for crypto in the upcoming week.

Traders and investors should manage risk carefully and DYOR to dissect the next week’s runners and losers.

Final Summary Polkadot was one of the best-performing mid-cap tokens, accompanied by NEAR and ICP. Bitcoin Cash and ATOM bulls faced a week of misery, but they were both testing key demand zones at press time.

📊
No votes yet – Be the first to vote

Bitcoin ETFs just broke their losing streak. Investors dumped $787.31 million into these funds last week, ending five straight weeks of withdrawals that had pretty much everyone worried about crypto’s future.

The turnaround happened fast – three days of solid inflows hit Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, per SoSoValue data. But February still ended ugly for Bitcoin ETFs, with $206.52 million flowing out overall. Nate Geraci, who tracks crypto markets, said on X that the recent outflows weren’t that bad considering Bitcoin’s massive run since launch. Since Bitcoin hit its October peak, these ETFs lost about $6.5 billion – sounds big until you remember they’ve pulled in $55 billion total since January 2024. That’s still a win.

Ethereum ETFs also bounced back. Hard.

The Ethereum funds grabbed $80.46 million last week, snapping what could’ve been six weeks of straight outflows. Combined with Bitcoin’s surge, that’s nearly $870 million flowing back into crypto ETFs in just one week. Institutional money seems to be testing the waters again, though nobody’s calling this a full recovery yet.

Grayscale jumped on the news March 1st. The firm said the inflows “could signal renewed confidence among institutional investors” but warned that sustained buying would be needed to offset earlier damage. Bitcoin was trading around $42,000 by February’s end, according to CoinMarketCap – up from January’s dip but still pretty volatile.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw Bitcoin futures trading spike 15% last week compared to the week before, based on February 28th data. That suggests big traders are positioning for something.

CME’s numbers don’t lie.

JPMorgan stayed cautious in a February 29th research note, saying the inflows are “encouraging” but don’t represent a clear trend reversal yet. The bank thinks geopolitical stuff and macro signals will drive what happens next. They’re keeping their neutral stance on Bitcoin ETFs for now. More on this topic: Bitcoin ETFs Pull 7 Million as.

Binance reported spot Bitcoin trading jumped 20% from February 25th to March 1st. That’s retail investors probably following the institutional money, which could drive more activity if it keeps up. BlackRock called the inflow “a positive indicator” March 1st but said they’re staying careful given crypto’s wild swings.

The SEC noticed too. Their February 28th market analysis report mentioned the increased ETF activity, though they didn’t announce any policy changes. They’re just watching closely to make sure investors stay protected.

Ethereum hit around $2,800 by February’s end, per CoinGecko data. The price recovery lines up with the ETF inflows pretty well. Market analysts keep watching how ETF money affects price stability – it’s become a key relationship to track.

Fidelity highlighted the crypto ETF activity in their March 1st weekly commentary. They think the Bitcoin and Ethereum inflows might signal another wave of institutional interest coming. Fidelity’s been watching these moves as part of their bigger digital asset strategy.

Galaxy Digital’s Mike Novogratz warned about volatility at a February 29th media briefing. He said the inflows look promising but the market can still flip fast, especially with all the macro uncertainty floating around. “The market remains susceptible to rapid changes in sentiment,” Novogratz said.

Coinbase saw retail trading volumes jump 25% by March 1st compared to the previous week. Individual investors seem to be reacting to what the institutions are doing, which makes sense. When big money moves, small money usually follows. See also: Bitcoin ETFs Pull 4 Million as.

The Investment Company Institute weighed in February 28th too. They said ETFs give both institutional and retail investors easy crypto exposure, but the market’s volatility means everyone needs to think carefully about their investment strategies. ICI keeps monitoring these trends as part of their ongoing digital asset analysis.

Things are moving fast right now. The $787 million Bitcoin ETF inflow represents the biggest weekly gain since the funds launched, but February’s overall outflows show investors are still pretty nervous. Ethereum’s comeback from six weeks of outflows suggests maybe the worst is over, but nobody’s making big bets yet.

Market watchers are split on what comes next. Some see this as institutions dipping their toes back in the water. Others think it’s just a temporary bounce before more selling. The correlation between ETF flows and crypto prices keeps getting stronger, which means these weekly numbers matter more than ever. Bitcoin futures activity is up, retail trading is climbing, and even the SEC is paying attention. That’s a lot of moving pieces for a market that’s already pretty unpredictable.

The Federal Reserve’s recent dovish signals have created a backdrop that crypto analysts believe could support sustained inflows. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s February 28th comments about potential rate cuts later this year sent ripples through risk assets, with Bitcoin ETFs benefiting alongside tech stocks. Goldman Sachs noted in their March 1st commodities report that lower interest rate expectations typically boost alternative assets like crypto, since investors hunt for yield beyond traditional bonds.

International developments are adding another layer to the story. Hong Kong regulators approved their first Bitcoin ETFs on February 27th, opening Asia’s second-largest financial hub to institutional crypto investing. European asset managers are watching closely – Deutsche Bank mentioned in their February 29th digital assets briefing that successful U.S. ETF adoption could accelerate similar products across European markets. Meanwhile, pension funds in Canada and Australia have started small Bitcoin ETF allocations, according to Morningstar data from late February.

Post Views: 15

Canton, a public blockchain purpose-built for institutional finance, and Chainlink, an oracle platform, this week announced the live deployment of the Chainlink data standard across the Canton ecosystem. Chainlink Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) will also soon go live on Canton to enable secure cross-chain transfer of tokenized real-world assets.

Building on an existing strategic Scale partnership, Chainlink Data Streams, SmartData NAV and AUM feeds, and Proof of Reserve are now available to the Canton ecosystem, bringing oracle and data infrastructure to regulatory-grade real-world assets (RWA) on-chain, and institutional tokenization workflows at scale. This includes support for Chainlink’s recently launched 24/5 Equities Streams, which unlocks on-chain access to the ~$80 trillion U.S. stock market by providing fast, secure stock and ETF market data.

With these integrations, the Canton ecosystem gains access to on-chain data to enhance the security and reliability of applications that drive real-world financial activity on-chain. Canton ecosystem partners are now already using the Chainlink data standard in production, with apps like CBTC by BitSafe, Unhedged, and firms such as Thetanuts Finance,  Kairo  by  AngelHack and Temple combining privacy capabilities with Chainlink’s data to unlock high utility onchain collateral, decentralized options, privacy-preserving prediction markets, and more.

Since its mainnet launch in May 2024, Canton has underpinned more than $8 trillion in on-chain RWAs, processing approximately $350 billion in daily U.S. Treasury repo transactions.

Chainlink has enabled more than $28 trillion in transaction value and securing the majority of DeFi and institutional on-chain workflows.

Chainlink Labs is also a Canton Super Validator, contributing to essential network services including governance, transaction sequencing, and the Global Synchronizer interoperability layer that supports integration with traditional financial systems.

With Chainlink Data Streams, SmartData, and Proof of Reserve live on Canton, institutions now access the real-time pricing, valuation, collateral verification, and asset-backing assurances required to support lending, margining, settlement, and risk management across regulated markets.

“It’s been exciting to see how quickly the Canton ecosystem has embraced Chainlink’s data and interoperability standards in real-world production use cases. We’ve seen positive momentum and continue to expand the range of offerings available to the ecosystem to facilitate additional growth,” said Eric Saraniecki, co-founder and head of network strategy, at Digital Asset.

“We’re excited to see Canton adopt the Chainlink data and interoperability standards and unlock the massive opportunity of institutional tokenization. Together with Chainlink, (they’re) enabling regulated markets to move on-chain with the security and reliability needed to operate at scale. This is a defining step toward institutional finance operating fully on-chain, powered by the same Chainlink infrastructure that has already enabled tens of trillions in transaction value,” added Johann Eid, chief business officer at Chainlink Labs.

TLDR: Bitcoin fell to $63,000 on Saturday as Middle East tensions surged while all traditional markets remained fully closed. On-chain data recorded $100 million migrating from Bitcoin into USDT on the Tron network within a single 24-hour period. The USDT Flight Signal hit “1,” confirming a capital rotation from Bitcoin into stablecoins during the geopolitical panic weekend. Around $1.9 billion in put options at a $60,000 strike on Deribit revealed strong demand for downside protection among traders. Bitcoin proved itself a round-the-clock financial tool when Middle East tensions rattled global markets last weekend.

While traditional exchanges sat idle on Saturday, Bitcoin dropped to $63,000 and absorbed the immediate shock of the geopolitical event.

By Sunday, it recovered to $66,000. No bank, no stock exchange, and no traditional market was available. Bitcoin was the only ATM open worldwide, and it processed every transaction without interruption.

When Every Other Market Closed, Bitcoin Stayed Open Traditional financial systems operate on schedules. They close on weekends, on holidays, and during emergencies. Bitcoin does none of that. When panic spread across global markets on Saturday, investors had one liquid exit available — and they used it immediately.

Investors who sold did not lose faith in Bitcoin. They needed fast dollar liquidity to protect themselves against an unfolding geopolitical crisis.

Bitcoin gave them that access within seconds, at any hour, from any location around the world. No other financial instrument offered that during the same window.

As Cryptoquant analyst GugaOnChain noted , “Bitcoin operated as the only global ATM open during a weekend of panic.” That description is precise and accurate. It processed capital exits while every competing system was offline and unavailable to investors.

On-chain data backed this observation directly. The USDT Flight Signal, which tracks capital movement from Bitcoin into stablecoins on the Tron network, recorded approximately $100 million migrating into USDT within just 24 hours.

Bitcoin’s total market capitalization stood at $1.319 trillion during this period, reflecting the weight of capital that passed through it over the weekend.

On-Chain Data Confirms Bitcoin’s ATM Function in Real Time The Tron network currently holds between 42% and 50% of all circulating global USDT supply. That makes it the most reliable network for measuring capital behavior during stress events.

When the USDT Flight Signal reads “1,” money is moving out of Bitcoin and into stablecoins. Over this weekend, the signal confirmed that rotation in real time.

The USDT supply on the Tron network reached $84.72 billion during this period. That figure captures the scale of the digital dollar vault that investors ran toward. Bitcoin served as the withdrawal point that made accessing that vault possible on a weekend.

Derivatives markets further confirmed the demand for protection. Roughly $1.9 billion in put options were concentrated on Deribit, with a strike price at $60,000.

Traders had already positioned themselves for downside risk, treating Bitcoin as both an exposure and a hedging instrument simultaneously.

True price discovery, according to market expectations, will follow Monday’s reopening of U.S. markets. Bitcoin, however, had already completed its job.

It absorbed the initial tremor, provided emergency liquidity, and directed capital toward stablecoin shelter — all before traditional markets could open their doors.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of DNOW Inc. (“DNOW” or “the Company”) (NYSE: DNOW) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. DNOW released its Q4 and full year 2025 financial results on February 20, 2026. The Company told investors that “fourth quarter actuals declined due to persistent” Enterprise Resource (“ERP”) “challenges.” The Company added that its ERP “design architecture is resulting in inefficiencies for certain core processes, continuing negative operating and financial impacts.” The Company further admitted that it would “delay sequential and full year guidance,” due to these “persistent challenges related to our ERP implementation.” Based on this news, shares of DNOW fell by 19.1% on the same day.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

Mat Ishbia, President and CEO of UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC 3.08%), reported the indirect sale of 1,898,622 Class A Common shares via open-market transactions between February 13, 2026 and February 18, 2026, for a total consideration of approximately $9.28 million, as disclosed in the SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (indirect)1,898,622Transaction value$9.3 millionPost-transaction shares (direct)279,989Post-transaction shares (indirect)6,495,029Post-transaction value (direct ownership)~$1.35 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($4.89); post-transaction value reflects holdings after the transaction as of February 18, 2026.

Key questionsHow does the size of this sale compare to Mat Ishbia’s historical trading activity?
The 1,898,622-share sale is slightly above the recent median sell trade size of 1,789,068 shares and well above the early-period median of 1,200,108 shares. What is the mechanism underlying the shares disposed?
This transaction involved SFS Corp. converting UWM Paired Interests into Class A Common Stock, which was then sold. Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$3.46 billionNet income (TTM)$27.38 millionDividend yield9.07%Price (as of market close Feb. 28, 2026)$4.21Company snapshotUWM Holdings Corporation is a leading wholesale mortgage lender in the United States, focusing on residential loan origination, sale, and servicing mortgages. It serves independent mortgage brokers and correspondents, targeting a broad base of homebuyers and refinancing customers.

What this transaction means for investorsIshbia has been selling shares indirectly quite frequently since December 2025, when he started the month with 9.85 million indirect shares. However, after falling to just below 2 million indirect shares on February 12, he regained substantial ground throughout February, largely due to the vesting of stock units that can be converted into Class A shares.

While there is no clear reason for Ishbiai’s share sale, it should be noted that the stock has underperformed in the previous two years. UWM's stock has been operating at a year-over-year loss in recent months, and it fell approximately 25% for the entire year of 2025.

What UWM Holdings can look forward to is its recent strong Q4 FY 2025 earnings report on Feb. 25, 2026. After a rough Q3 earnings report, it bounced back with over a billion dollars in revenue, the first time it reached a billion since Q1 2021. The Q4 revenue was a 300% year-over-year (YoY) increase from the previous year’s quarter.

The company is also finalizing its acquisition of Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO 2.27%),  a real estate investment trust (REIT). The merger was announced on Dec. 17 and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2026. The merger helps grow UWM’s servicing portfolio and can be a significant factor for its efficiency in the real estate market.

With a recent strong earnings report and an ideal acquisition soon to be finalized, UWM’s share prices could make a turn for the better. But when looking at long-term performance, the stock still has a long way to go.

Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

TexBr/iStock via Getty Images

Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify

What’s next for oil and gold after Iran strikes. (0:17) February payrolls seen up 60K. (1:48) Berkshire Hathaway cash pile grows as Buffett exits. (2:50)

The U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other leadership figures

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Sunday "the most-intense offensive operation" ever is coming to target Israel and U.S. Mideast bases.

President Donald Trump responded with a warning of overwhelming retaliation if Iran strikes U.S. forces, but also told The Atlantic that he would be talking to Iran’s new leadership.

With markets closed over the weekend, Monday is likely to be hectic on Wall Street — and oil is the first place traders will look.

Polymarket has a 93% chance of WTI crude (CL1:COM) (USO) moving higher on Monday and a 77% chance oil will be above $80/barrel at the end of March. That's up 27 percentage points from before the weekend and would be a gain of more than 19% from where it sits now at $67.02.

There's also a 50% chance that crude is above $90/barrel on the final trading day of the month.

Separately, OPEC+ has agreed to raise output by 206K bpd in April. That’s larger than the 137K monthly boosts announced late last year, but small relative to potential disruptions in the Middle East.

Crypto markets also offered a weekend tell: gold-linked tokens implied gold would open higher, with prices up roughly 1%–2% versus Friday’s close.

And regional markets reacted quickly. Saudi Arabia dropped 2.2%, its steepest one-day fall since April, wiping out its gains for the year. Losses were tempered by a rise in Saudi Aramco, though. Egypt’s main stock gauge fell 2.5%.

Looking to the week ahead, the February jobs report is due Friday. Economists expect nonfarm payrolls rose by about 60K, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.3%.

Wells Fargo economists say that while “some stabilization in demand for workers is evident,” a range of indicators — including JOLTS and consumers’ perceptions of job availability — still point to a gradual loosening in labor market conditions rather than a renewed acceleration in hiring.

The earnings calendar is thinning out, with about 10 S&P 500 companies reporting this week.

Highlights include CrowdStrike (CRWD) on Tuesday, Broadcom (AVGO) on Wednesday, and Costco (COST) and Alibaba (BABA) on Thursday.

Also in the news this weekend, OpenAI (OPENAI) said it does not believe rival Anthropic (ANTHRO) should be designated a “supply chain risk” by the U.S. government — even as OpenAI announced its own agreement with the Pentagon to deploy advanced AI systems in classified environments.

On Friday, President Trump said government agencies should not use Anthropic amid a standoff between the company and the DOD over surveillance and the use of AI in fully autonomous weapons.

And Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) reported another surge in its cash pile in Q4, even as operating earnings fell amid insurance headwinds — in what was Warren Buffett’s last quarter as CEO.

In his first annual letter to shareholders, CEO Greg Abel signaled a more cautious posture: reining in growth in insurance underwriting to protect margins, and holding back on utility expansion to meet AI-related power demand unless returns are compelling for shareholders.

And for income investors. Allstate (ALL) goes ex-dividend Monday, paying out on April 1 — yes, April Fool’s Day.

Lam Research (LRCX) goes ex-dividend Wednesday, with an April 8 payout date.

And on Thursday, Cigna (CI) and Qualcomm (QCOM) go ex-dividend. Cigna pays out March 19, and Qualcomm pays out March 26.

HomeMarketsU.S. & CanadaMarket ExtraMarket ExtraTraffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped off amid warnings from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. What happens next could have major implications for the global economy.Published: March 1, 2026 at 1:18 p.m. ET

As investors wait for global futures markets to reopen on Sunday, all eyes are on the global market for crude oil.

The big question: Will this weekend’s attack on Iran — which the U.S. military has called Operation Epic Fury — result in an increase in oil prices that is only temporary and relatively measured? Or will energy prices surge, revitalizing inflation and spreading economic misery around the world?

Duolingo (DUOL 14.01%) built its business on a simple yet powerful idea: Give the product away, then convert a small percentage of engaged users into paying subscribers. For years, that formula worked.

Now, at scale, it faces another test. The question in 2026 isn't whether Duolingo can attract users. It's whether it can deepen subscriber economics without weakening engagement.

Image source: Getty Images.

Conversion matters more than downloads With more than 50 million daily active users, Duolingo no longer struggles for attention. The platform's global brand and habit-forming mechanics continue driving strong engagement across markets.

But raw user growth is no longer the key metric. At this size, incremental downloads don't automatically translate into durable revenue. What matters now is whether paid subscribers grow faster than total users. That signals improving monetization efficiency and a strengthening conversion engine.

If paid subscribers stop outpacing total user growth, revenue expansion will eventually compress, regardless of how impressive headline engagement appears. Scale without improving conversion ultimately limits earnings power. In 2025, paid subscriber penetration improved -- for instance, it grew from 8.5% to 9% in the third quarter. This trend needs to continue.

Today's Change

(

-14.01

%) $

-16.45

Current Price

$

101.00

ARPU and retention must move together Duolingo has introduced higher-priced subscription tiers offering advanced AI-powered features and enhanced learning tools. That supports average revenue per user (ARPU). But pricing power only strengthens the business model if retention holds steady. As such, investors should monitor these metrics in 2026 and beyond:

ARPU growth trends Churn rates across premium tiers Subscriber growth relative to free users If ARPU rises while churn remains stable, lifetime value expands. That improves customer acquisition economics and supports higher long-term margins. If churn rises alongside pricing, the math deteriorates. Short-term revenue gains can undermine long-term value if subscriber quality weakens.

The long-term math driving the multiple The most durable subscription platforms expand lifetime value (LTV) faster than acquisition costs. That dynamic supports premium valuation multiples. When LTV grows predictably, investors reward the business with patience. When churn creeps higher or conversion slows, that premium can disappear quickly.

And that's what Duolingo must demonstrate in 2026: that premium tiers enhance value rather than extract short-term revenue. If it does, it will translate into stronger, more durable earnings power, which, in turn, justifies high valuation metrics.

What does it mean for investors? Duolingo has already proven that the freemium model works. Now it must prove the economics strengthen at scale. If subscriber growth remains healthy, ARPU continues to expand responsibly, and churn stays under control, the long-term compounding story remains intact in 2026. If conversion slows or retention weakens, investors may reassess the model's durability.

In short, the most important number isn't the number of downloads. It's the durability of its paid subscriptions.

James P. Zallie, President and CEO of Ingredion (INGR +0.33%), reported the sale of 9,958 shares of common stock in an open-market transaction on Feb. 18, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (direct)9,958Transaction value$1.16 millionPost-transaction shares (direct)33,010Post-transaction value (direct ownership)$3.84 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 reported price ($116.55); post-transaction value based on Feb. 18, 2026 market close ($116.42).

Key questionsWhat is the impact on Zallie's direct ownership and broader insider exposure?
Zallie's direct holdings were reduced from 42,968 to 33,010 shares, representing 0.0520% of the company's outstanding shares as of the latest report, and he maintains no indirect or derivative positions reported in this filing.Is there any indication this transaction reflects a change in sentiment or is out of pattern?
The sale was executed pursuant to a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 plan and falls within the typical cadence and capacity-driven reduction observed in Zallie's recent trading history.Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$7.22BNet income (TTM)$729MDividend yield2.79%1-year price change (as of Feb. 28, 2026)-10.04%

Today's Change

(

0.33

%) $

0.39

Current Price

$

117.53

Company snapshotIngredion is a global ingredient solutions provider that produces and sells starches, sweeteners, corn oil, protein feeds, and specialty food ingredients derived from corn and other starch-based materials. It serves food and beverage manufacturers, animal nutrition producers, and industrial clients globally across North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and EMEA regions.

What this transaction means for investorsIn addition to serving as President and CEO, Zallie was appointed Chairman of the Board of Ingredion on Feb. 11, 2026. He was unanimously elected as Chair after former Chair Gregory Kenny announced his decision to step down.

This move and Zallie’s sale of shares shouldn’t concern investors. Board member reshuffling is common among businesses, and Zallie’s transaction was part of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows insiders to plan the purchase or sale of shares in advance. Last week, 33k of his direct shares were sold as part of the plan.

What may be of concern to investors though is that the company had a rather lackluster Q4 earnings report for its fiscal year 2025.

While net income and earnings per share (EPS) grew year-over-year, revenue declined during that period. In addition, the company posted its third consecutive quarter of decline in net income and EPS after starting the fiscal year strongly. The company is still recovering from global impacts on its production, so that is something investors may want to monitor.

Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ingredion. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Devon Energy (DVN +2.04%) shareholders will end up owning 54% of the overall company after its merger with Coterra Energy (CTRA +1.93%) is completed. While this is being billed as a merger, it is really more of an acquisition, with Coterra shareholders receiving 0.7 Devon shares for every Coterra share they own. That said, this pairing looks like a very attractive growth opportunity for Devon.

The quickest way to grow Devon Energy doesn't actually need to buy another company to grow its business. The U.S. onshore energy company can simply drill more wells. That, however, is a slow and tedious process, and it has to be juxtaposed against depletion. Every barrel of oil Devon pulls from the ground is one less barrel it has to produce in the future. A quicker way to grow is to buy another company, which also adds more developable land to support future growth.

Image source: Getty Images.

As a stand-alone business, Devon expects to produce around 850 million barrels of oil a day in 2026. The merger with Coterra will bump that figure up to around 1.6 million, effectively doubling the company's production capacity. This is clearly a very big deal for Devon Energy.

It's about more than just production In addition, bringing Devon and Coterra together will strengthen Devon's business in two regions, enabling material cost synergies. In total, Devon believes it has $1 billion in synergies to realize. But Coterra also brings with it exposure to the Marcellus shale region, which will expand Devon's reach from five key operating markets to six. So Devon is growing its scale in other ways, too.

Today's Change

(

2.04

%) $

0.87

Current Price

$

43.53

The tie-up also keeps Devon humming along. Following the merger, it will have over a decade of inventory to develop as it continues to grow its oil production the slow and steady way. Basically, buying Coterra is a quick way for Devon to get both bigger and better.

Keep your expectations in check Devon has a strong history of acquiring other energy companies, so this is likely to be a solid deal that proceeds quickly and efficiently. What it doesn't change is the nature of the company's oil and natural gas business. Volatile commodity prices will still play the biggest role in the company's performance. So while the merger is exciting and positive news, Devon is still appropriate only for more aggressive investors willing to take on the stock swings that usually accompany fast-changing oil and natural gas prices.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Like many people, I'm becoming increasingly anxious about the impact AI will have on my income. That's hastening my desire to achieve financial freedom. Doing so would ease the burden if my income from working took a big hit.

A key aspect of my strategy is to invest in high-quality, high-yielding dividend stocks. They supply me with growing streams of passive income, inching me closer to achieving financial freedom. Three high-yield dividend stocks I'm eager to buy this month are Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.45%), Invitation Homes (INVH +0.04%), and W.P. Carey (WPC +0.54%). Here's why I can't wait to add to my positions this March.

Image source: Getty Images.

27 years and counting Enterprise Products Partners is a leading energy midstream company. The master limited partnership (MLP) operates pipelines, processing plants, and export terminals crucial to the energy sector. Long-term, fixed-rate contracts and government-regulated rate structures underpin most of its assets, enabling the MLP to generate very durable cash flows.

The energy infrastructure giant currently has a distribution yield of more than 6%. That's several times higher than the S&P 500 (1.1% yield), enabling me to generate more income from every dollar I invest.

Today's Change

(

0.45

%) $

0.16

Current Price

$

36.14

The MLP's high-yielding payout is on a rock-solid foundation. It generated enough cash to cover its payout by a comfortable 1.7 times last year. Meanwhile, it has the best balance sheet in the energy midstream sector. That gives it ample financial flexibility to fund its continued growth.

Enterprise Products Partners currently has $4.8 billion in major capital projects under construction, which should enter commercial service through the end of next year. They'll give the MLP more fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding distribution, which it has done for 27 consecutive years.

My rental property replacement Investing in rental properties can be a great way to generate passive income. Invitation Homes makes it easy to invest in rental properties without the high upfront costs and hassles of managing tenants. The real estate investment trust (REIT) is a leader in owning and managing single-family rental homes. Its leased homes generate stable rental income while its property management business produces steady management fees. These income streams support its 4.5%-yielding dividend.

Today's Change

(

0.04

%) $

0.01

Current Price

$

26.31

The REIT has a conservative dividend payout ratio and balance sheet. That enables it to steadily expand its rental property portfolio. It will buy homes off the open market, from other investors, and directly from builders. Last year, nearly all of the more than 2,400 homes it bought were through builder relationships. It funded most of those new investments by selling existing homes to families who were purchasing them for their own use.

In addition to its growing rental property portfolio, Invitation Homes benefits from rising rental income as leases expire and it signs new ones at higher rates. Additionally, the company is expanding its property management business and recently bought leading build-to-rent developer ResiBuilt Homes to enhance its in-house development capabilities. The REIT's multiple growth drivers support its ability to increase its dividend. Invitation Homes has raised its payment every year since its IPO in 2017.

A steadily rising income stream W.P. Carey is also a REIT. It owns a diversified portfolio of mission-critical retail, warehouse, industrial, and other properties secured by long-term, net leases with built-in rent escalations. Net leases produce very stable rental income because tenants cover all property operating costs. That supports W.P. Carey's 4.9%-yielding dividend.

Today's Change

(

0.54

%) $

0.40

Current Price

$

74.65

The REIT has a conservative dividend payout ratio and a strong balance sheet. That enables it to expand its portfolio. W.P. Carey invested a record $2.1 billion last year and plans to invest between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion in 2026.

Rising rental income from existing leases and incremental income from new investments support the REIT's growing dividend. W.P. Carey has increased its dividend every quarter since resetting the payout in late 2023 following its strategic decision to exit the office sector. Before that, it had raised its dividend at least once a year for a quarter century.

Higher income now and even more in the future Enterprise Products Partners, Invitation Homes, and W.P. Carey are great fits for my passive-income investment strategy. They all pay high-yield dividends backed by stable cash flows and strong financial profiles. The trio also grow their payouts, which should continue. Their attractive and steadily rising income streams should help me reach financial freedom faster, which is why I can't wait to buy more shares of each one this March.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 1, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE) between August 3, 2023 and December 26, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 6, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Ultragenyx class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52472 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 6, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants provided investors with material information concerning Ultragenyx's expected results for its Phase III Orbit and Cosmic Studies, which tested setrusumab (UX 143) in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta ("OI"). Defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in setrusumab's ability to ultimately trigger a decrease in the OI patients' annualized fracture rate, alongside confidence in the study designs to demonstrate such ability and reduce testing variability that could interfere with such a result.

The lawsuit claims that defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while simultaneously disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of setrusumab's potential, as well as the true risk inherent in the study protocols put forth; notably, that while setrusumab does increase material bone density, this increase does not correlate to a decrease in annualized fracture rates or otherwise, that the Phase III Orbit and Cosmic studies were much less likely to be able to demonstrate such a link than management claimed. The lawsuit claims that such statements absent these material facts caused Ultragenyx shareholders to purchase Ultragenyx securities at artificially inflated prices. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Ultragenyx class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52472 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285712

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

Contact Us

Leading commercial real estate service company Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated contributed positively to performance during the fourth quarter. Best-in-class industrial REIT Prologis, Inc. contributed positively to performance during the fourth quarter, aided by the company's strong third quarter financial report, coupled with management's robust multi-year business outlook. Investors appear worried that CoStar's Apartments.com: Apartments and Homes for Rent business may face increased competition from Zillow Rentals due to its lower price point.

Shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.50%) (BRKB +0.45%) have been in focus as the conglomerate clarifies the future of its investment operations following a major leadership transition. For years, investors have wondered exactly how the company's massive equity portfolio would be handled once Warren Buffett stepped down and Greg Abel officially took the reins as chief executive officer. In Berkshire's recent annual update, the market finally got a clear answer.

The update confirmed that Abel will be the primary executive overseeing the Berkshire equity portfolio. For context, Berkshire executive Ted Weschler will manage just 6% of the holdings.

This leaves the lion's share firmly under Abel's control and continues the company's anti-bureaucratic culture, as it was championed by the famed investor Warren Buffett, enabling Berkshire to be nimble and quick when investment opportunities present themselves.

Image source: Getty Images.

A massive portfolio and plenty of dry powder This is a massive responsibility. Not only does Berkshire's equity portfolio currently sit at close to $320 billion, but the company has a massive war chest of cash that Abel has admitted in the company's 2025 annual update that he'd rather have invested in "productive businesses over U.S. Treasuries."

By keeping the vast majority of these investment decisions concentrated under Abel rather than outsourcing them, the company is signaling continuity. In addition, it shows that Abel recognizes the critical role equity selection plays in Berkshire's long-term value.

For context, Weschler managing 6% of the equity portfolio still represents a huge sum -- roughly $19 billion. But it still leaves the overwhelming majority of the public market investments firmly under Abel's direct supervision.

And Berkshire's cash balance is even bigger. The company's cash and short-term investments closed the year at a staggering $373.3 billion.

Investment decisions will be key The recent volatility in Berkshire's underlying business operations underscores the pressure on the conglomerate to make exceptional investment decisions.

Operating earnings for the fourth quarter fell roughly 30% year over year to $10.2 billion. That pace was a slowdown from the prior quarter, driven largely by the insurance underwriting segment, which generated $1.6 billion in operating earnings -- a decline of more than 54% year over year. But zooming out, full-year operating earnings came in at $44.5 billion. While that represents a 6% decline from 2024, it still sits comfortably above the company's five-year average, demonstrating the conglomerate's business strength and robust profitability.

But while Berkshire's operating performance is important, you could argue that what the company will do with its equity portfolio and its huge pile of cash could move the needle even more.

During the company's annual update, Abel acknowledged this massive cash position, noting that much of it serves as dry powder for future opportunities.

"Many times in Berkshire's history, some observers have suggested that our substantial cash position signals a retreat from investing," Abel wrote in the annual shareholder letter. "It does not. We continue to evaluate many opportunities and will remain patient and disciplined in pursuing the right ones for the benefit of our owners."

The repurchase constraint With all of this said, there is an interesting specific constraint when deploying that capital into Berkshire's own shares.

The latest letter to shareholders suggests that Abel will repurchase stock only after consulting with Berkshire's chairman, Warren Buffett.

Requiring consultation implies that the bar for buying back the stock remains tied to strict, conservative valuation limits that Abel outlined in the letter.

"We will buy back Berkshire shares when they trade below our estimate of intrinsic value, conservatively determined," Abel explained, "ensuring that repurchases enhance per-share value for continuing owners."

Today's Change

(

0.45

%) $

2.28

Current Price

$

504.95

Looking ahead Overall, I believe it's good news to see Abel managing nearly the entire portfolio. It's a good sign that the company's capital-allocation culture will remain similar to when Buffett was CEO.

Trading at about 1.6 times book value today, the market is implicitly pricing in that Abel's stewardship of the equity portfolio and the operating businesses will continue to generate steady, durable returns.

But I believe that's a reasonable expectation.

So, now that investors have a little more insight into how Berkshire will be managed, does the stock look compelling?

I think shares are worth holding onto for the long haul. In fact, I'd argue the valuation is quite attractive given the quality of the company's assets and Abel's potential to deploy more cash into productive assets over time. Additionally, Berkshire offers incredible resilience during a very uncertain time.

HomeStock IdeasQuick Picks & Lists

SummaryWe added to our senior housing investment theme by purchasing shares of Ventas, Inc. Ventas is an operator of senior housing, life science, and medical office buildings.We began acquiring shares of Champion Homes, Inc. during the quarter.During the quarter, we exited the Fund’s position in Vornado Realty Trust, an owner and developer of premier office and street retail properties concentrated in New York City and reallocated the capital to real estate companies that we believe have superior near-term growth.We trimmed the Fund’s positions in American Tower Corporation and Taylor Morrison Home Corporation but maintain ownership positions in both companies. Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision via Getty Images

The following segment was excerpted from the Baron Real Estate Fund Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter.

Recent Activity Top net purchases for the quarter

Quarter End Market Cap($B) Net Amount Purchased($M) Ventas, Inc. (

This week, NEAR Intents, the universal liquidity protocol for on-chain markets and tokenized assets, announced the launch of near.com, a new consumer super-app running on crypto rails. This announcement comes alongside the introduction of Confidential Intents, a confidentiality layer for cross-chain execution and the NEAR Intents fee switch, a programmatic revenue-sharing model that shares fees with partners routing transactions through NEAR Intents.

Built on NEAR Intents infrastructure, near.com unifies cross-chain activity into a single account, empowering users to swap assets, execute confidential transactions, and trade peer-to-peer across more than 35 blockchains. Built on infrastructure that has powered more than $13 billion in cross-chain volume for partners including Ledger, SwapKit, and RHEA Finance, near.com simplifies DeFi by eliminating manual gas management and bridging. Through intent-based execution, near.com allows users to define outcomes rather than transaction paths, delivering exchange-grade execution while maintaining user confidentiality and control.

As part of the near.com launch, NEAR Intents is also introducing Confidential Accounts, powered by a NEAR private shard and trusted execution environment (TEE) based architecture. Confidential Accounts provide restricted transaction visibility to help mitigate frontrunning and MEV while enabling compliance-aware execution for institutions.

This practical new confidentiality layer enables institutional players to manage cross-chain positions with control, allowing institutional capital to finally flow on-chain without sacrificing discretion. In addition, new Peer-to-Peer functionality allows users to negotiate and settle custom or large transactions directly with counterparties through smart contract enforcement, eliminating the need for intermediaries or escrow services.

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol said,

“For the first time, you can transact confidentially with any asset, across all chains, with one wallet. near.com removes the complexity and fragmentation from on-chain finance by empowering users to focus on outcomes rather than infrastructure.”

Alex Shevchenko, general manager of NEAR Intents, added,

“The crypto economy today is scattered across dozens of different blockchains, and the user experience is incredibly fragmented and complex. The next phase of on-chain finance requires infrastructure that hides complexity without sacrificing performance, confidentiality, and control.

“With near.com, we are bringing that capability into a unified experience where users can define what they want to achieve while the infrastructure handles execution behind the scenes. This is not just a cross-chain swapping frontend but a super-app on crypto rails that will give users a wide world of features all in a single account.”

Bitcoin and XRP price moved higher after a turbulent weekend marked by U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and rapid regional retaliation. Bitcoin price gained 3% as the market mood stabilized. The token was also indicating a rapid recovery after the sharp decline caused by the conflict.

XRP price also rose, gaining above $1.40 momentum in the last 24 hours. The wider crypto market also bounced back, and total value increased to $2.31 trillion. Ethereum was holding around the $2,000 mark. Solana, Dogecoin, and Cardano recorded small gains. The markets were still afraid during the entire session due to geopolitical uncertainty.

Joint U.S.–Israel Strike Reportedly Kills Iran’s Supreme Leader Iran’s political landscape shifted sharply on Saturday after reports claimed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei died during coordinated strikes conducted by U.S. and Israeli forces.

The news was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in his Truth Social account. He mentioned that Khamenei was a historic enemy and the strike was successful in its goal. His remarks came out soon after satellite pictures indicated visible destruction of a secured compound in the city of Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that there were early signs that the Supreme Leader was not able to withstand the impact. Hours of uncertainty in Iran were later ended by Iranian state media confirming his death.

U.S. military authorities in Washington confirmed that three of its military personnel had been killed on the second day of the operation. It was the first U.S. casualty to be reported since the war had commenced.

The Iranian retaliation consisted of a wide-range missile strike that covered local waters and various other states where American bases are located. Initial reports talked about explosions in and around various strategic locations in the Middle East.

Bitcoin and XRP Price Surges as Inflows Grow Across Major ETFs Bitcoin and XRP price momentum strengthened as easing geopolitical tension lifted overall crypto sentiment. The BTC price increased 3.21% to $67,040, driven by a relief rally and sustained demand by U.S. spot ETFs.

The BTC held above the $66,000 support level, which kept buying interest steady. A sustained inflow trend could help the future Bitcoin outlook approach the $70,000 ceiling in the near term.

During the trading week of Feb. 23–27 (ET), spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $787 million, led by BlackRock’s IBIT with $503 million in net inflows. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw $80.46 million in net inflows, while spot SOL ETFs attracted $44.44 million and spot XRP ETFs… pic.twitter.com/l4ZJfsntvd

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 1, 2026

Bitcoin ETFs saw net inflows of $787 million in the trading week of Feb. 23 through 27, and the largest gain was made by the BlackRock product.

There was also the XRP funds, which attracted attention and contributed to the addition of $9.55 million within the same period. XRP price gained 4.55% over 24 hours, trading at a range of $1.39 to $1.42.

A move above the $1.40 mark will clear the way to a push to $1.50. The inability to retain $1.30 can be an indicator of the retest of the recent lows.

Source: Tradingview To sum up,  Markets are very vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, and crypto volatility might swiftly resume in case tensions worsen. Despite the current inflows of ETFs and positive technical outcomes supporting the Bitcoin and XRP prices, the uncertainty remains.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

In February, XRP failed to deliver in any format. Against the U.S. dollar, XRP simply lost more than 16% in price. Another benchmark, namely its ratio against the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, saw XRP finish the month below the middle Bollinger Band level on the monthly time frame, the one represented by the 20-month moving average, as per TradingView.

Bitcoin to take upper hand against XRP, as per Bollinger BandsThe principal importance of this level, as of any Bollinger Band average on any time frame, is that it effectively separates trends for the token. If an asset falls below the midline band, the prevailing trend can be considered bearish, and the lower Bollinger Band becomes the primary price benchmark.

For XRP against Bitcoin, that lower band stands at 0.00009775 BTC per XRP, which is currently 52.91% below the present valuation of the ratio between the two cryptocurrencies.

HOT Stories

XRP/USD Monthly Chart with Bollinger Bands, Source: TradingViewFor comparison, more than a year ago, in January 2025, the XRP against Bitcoin ratio, after a three-month 380% rally, reached and even exceeded the upper Bollinger Band on the monthly time frame, peaking at 0.00003419 BTC per XRP.

Since then, XRP has not only declined by 40% from that level against its flagship counterpart, but, as stated at the beginning, has also fallen into the lower corridor drawn by the Bollinger Bands.

You Might Also Like

This hardly means that XRP will fall to the lower boundary in the near term, but until there is a confident close above the middle band, expectations of XRP outperforming Bitcoin, as it did over the previous two years, should remain limited.