Market Signal Briefing

Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB +0.45%)(BRKA +0.50%) just released its annual letter. And investors were watching closely, as this was the conglomerate's first annual letter from Berkshire CEO Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor, who took the helm at the start of 2026. Investors are keen to gauge what Berkshire will look like without Buffett running the show, and the letter gave them a glimpse.

Fortunately for Berkshire shareholders -- and investors in the publicly traded companies he called out by name -- Abel had a lot to say in his first shareholder update. While investors often scour the document for clues about what the conglomerate might buy next, the most telling takeaway this year was about what Berkshire won't be selling. Abel indicated investors should expect only "limited activity" in the company's biggest equity holdings, including American Express, Coca-Cola, Moody's, and iPhone maker Apple (AAPL 3.40%).

The underlying message was straightforward: Abel expects these businesses to "compound over decades," he said in the letter.

It is a testament to how exceptional Abel thinks these businesses are that he is talking about a decades-long time horizon. And combining Abel's confidence in and high praise of Apple with the fact that the tech company is Berkshire's largest equity holding is particularly comforting news for Apple investors specifically.

Image source: Apple.

High praise Abel had quite a bit to say about Apple and Berkshire's other three core holdings of its equity portfolio.

In addition to saying he believes they will "compound over decades," he insinuated that Berkshire's philosophy for selling its core holdings will rely less on valuation and more on the underlying business, as he said the conglomerate's criteria for any significant adjustments to its positions in its four largest equity holdings is to do so only if there is a fundamental change in the company's long-term economic prospects.

In addition, Abel gave Apple and these other three companies extremely high praise, not only saying they should compound over time, but also that they are businesses that Berkshire understands well and ones in which it has "a high regard for their leaders..."

Steady growth This focus on business fundamentals helps explain why Berkshire is content to sit on its massive Apple position. After all, the tech giant's underlying business has been putting up impressive numbers recently.

Apple's earnings per share rose 19% year over year in fiscal Q1.

A key driver of this profitability is the company's services segment. This segment commanded a gross profit margin of 75.4% for fiscal 2025. Accounting for about 26% of Apple's fiscal 2025 revenue, this high-margin revenue stream provides the exact kind of durable, long-term cash generation that supports a multi-decade holding period.

Further, Apple's fiscal first-quarter sales grew 16% year over year, while its earnings-per-share growth was even faster, highlighting impressive operating leverage.

And with services growing as a percentage of the total business in recent years, momentum from this high-margin segment could help lift Apple's overall gross margin over the long haul.

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Valuation still matters Of course, holding a stock for decades does not mean ignoring valuation entirely. At about 33 times earnings, the tech stock's valuation arguably already prices in continued robust services growth and strong pricing power for years to come. Still, given the company's exceptional customer loyalty and management's track record of good capital allocation, I think the stock is worth paying a fair price for.

Some key risks include an unexpected meaningful deceleration in its services revenue or the erosion of its pricing power over time. But there's also potential upside scenarios in which Apple's hardware sales benefit from an AI tailwind or Apple's services business actually accelerates.

Overall, I think Apple stock is a solid hold for long-term investors. Like Berkshire, I'd rather be patient and let the business compound.

What happenedA SEC filing dated February 13, 2026, shows Waterfall Asset Management, LLC initiated a new stake in National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA +1.74%), purchasing 297,700 shares. The quarter-end position value also rose by $8.42 million, a figure that includes both the new shares and any price movement over the period.

What else to knowThis is a new position for the fund, representing 4.53% of its 13F reportable AUM as of December 31, 2025

Top holdings after the filing:

NYSE: CPT: $11.80 million (12.1% of AUM)NYSE: AVB: $11.65 million (12.0% of AUM)NYSE: APLE: $10.49 million (10.8% of AUM)NYSE: RC: $8.48 million (8.7% of AUM)NYSE: AAT: $7.70 million (7.9% of AUM)As of February 12, 2026, shares of National Storage Affiliates Trust were priced at $33.05.

Company overviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$741.51 millionNet income (TTM)$47.12 millionDividend yield6.51%Price (as of market close February 12, 2026)$33.05Company snapshotNational Storage Affiliates Trust is a leading self-storage REIT with a substantial presence in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan markets. The company leverages a scalable operating platform and a broad geographic footprint to drive revenue growth and operational efficiency. Its focus on high-occupancy assets and consistent dividend payments positions it as a competitive player in the self-storage sector.

National Storage Affiliates Trust operates, owns, and acquires self-storage properties across major U.S. metropolitan areas, generating revenue primarily from rental income. It targets individuals and businesses seeking secure, flexible storage solutions in urban and suburban markets nationwide.

The company employs a real estate investment trust (REIT) model, aggregating a diversified portfolio of storage assets to deliver stable cash flows and regular dividends.

What this transaction means for investorsSelf-storage is no longer seeing the high demand that came after the pandemic, when many households moved or changed their living situations. Operators enjoyed strong pricing following the pandemic, and rents hit record highs.  As demand slowed and new supply entered some markets, those gains diminished. Current performance now depends on local competition and supply, with occupancy and rent growth varying by market.

National Storage Affiliates owns and buys self-storage properties in major U.S. markets, earning most of its revenue from month-to-month rental contracts. This setup lets them adjust prices often, but success depends on keeping properties full in competitive areas. Unlike some bigger companies, NSA uses a Participating Regional Operator model, where local operators keep equity and manage properties in their regions. This can help find deals and improve local management, but it also makes it harder to control spending when growth slows.

For investors, NSA’s value will depend on whether it can keep growing revenue at existing properties and acquire new ones at returns above its cost of capital. With higher interest rates, growth only adds value if acquisition prices and financing make sense. The strength of the PRO model will depend on how well it balances local control with capital discipline.

The $4 trillion club is a lonely place. Currently, only Nvidia (NVDA 4.17%) is a member. Former members Apple (AAPL 3.40%) and Alphabet (GOOG +1.39%) (GOOGL +1.50%) are knocking at the door again, though, and I see them as highly likely to rejoin it over the next few months. However, I've got my eye on a company that's worth less than $3 trillion as a potential entrant: Microsoft (MSFT 2.17%).

At its peak valuation, Microsoft was briefly a member of the $4 trillion club. Now, it's worth about $2.9 trillion. That's a 27% pullback for a strong and dominant company, and I think it could be a prime buying opportunity for investors (like me) who missed out on Microsoft's monster run-up in recent years.

Microsoft is selling off for no good reason Normally, when a megacap company sells off by such a large percentage, it's because something major has changed about its investment thesis, or its results weren't as good as expected. Neither of those things has occurred with Microsoft.

Image source: Getty Images.

The results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter (which ended Dec. 31, 2025) were strong, with revenue rising 17% year over year to $81.3 billion. During its fiscal Q1 conference call, Microsoft told investors to expect between $79.5 billion and $80.6 billion in Q2 revenue, so the actual top line was a positive surprise.

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Microsoft also didn't drop any bombshells suggesting that it was changing its AI strategy or that demand for its cloud infrastructure offerings was weakening. In fact, it let investors know that it has a $625 billion backlog related to its Azure cloud computing platform. AI is still a huge part of the Microsoft investing thesis, and it's doing everything that it has said it would do.

This is what makes the stock's recent steep sell-off such a surprise.

My preferred metric to assess Microsoft's valuation is its operating price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This strips out the effects of investment gains, which make up a decent chunk of Microsoft's earnings due to OpenAI's soaring valuation. Microsoft has rarely been so cheap by this metric in the past decade.

MSFT Operating PE Ratio data by YCharts.

This makes it the perfect time to scoop up shares, as it's cheap for hardly any good reason. Buying opportunities like this don't come around often, and now is the time to act on it.

Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of common stock of PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) between February 25, 2025 and February 2, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”). 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 20, 2026.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PayPal 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 PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 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 20, 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. 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 PayPal’s expected financial targets for 2027 alongside the growth trajectory for its core branded checkout segment (“Branded Checkout”). Defendants’ statements included, among other things, confidence in PayPal’s ability to capitalize on its growth potential through new initiatives to facilitate Branded Checkout growth both in the U.S. and internationally. According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of PayPal’s salesforce; notably, that it was not truly equipped to execute on PayPal’s perceived growth potential and were “too optimistic” as to how easily and expeditiously its staff could change customer adoption. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the PayPal class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=53653 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.

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

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

Growth-stock investors can often have extremely high expectations. Instead of looking for a 2x or 5x return, some want a 100-fold or more return that can turn an amount like $10,000 into $1 million.

For that to have a chance of happening, one has to find small-cap stocks in emerging industries that live up to the potential of becoming mega-cap stocks. Thus, it makes sense to evaluate whether quantum computing stock IonQ (IONQ 6.31%) can accomplish such a feat.

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ's path upward IonQ has a market cap of around $12 billion. This means a 100-fold gain would take its market cap to $1.2 trillion. So far, nine companies have higher market caps than that, making such a feat theoretically possible.

Quantum computing is a natural place for investors to seek such returns, as it stands out by running programs at an exponentially faster speed than traditional computers.

However, quantum computers also tend to have high error rates. Also, most of them do not operate at room temperature, making them impractical for average consumers and businesses.

IonQ also stands out for many reasons, one of which is producing quantum computers offering 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, which indicates a low error rate. That allows it to run more complex models. Additionally, IonQ's systems can operate close to room temperature, making its technology practical for data centers. Such innovations have made it a top quantum computing stock to buy right now.

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Can it stand up to the competition? Despite competition from heavyweights like Google parent Alphabet, many analysts perceive IonQ as the leading pure-play stock in the industry.

Still, it is unclear whether it can build a sustainable competitive advantage over a well-funded company like Alphabet. The Google parent pledged to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion on capital expenditures this year, though that won't all go to quantum computing. It also holds about $127 billion in liquidity, giving it tremendous optionality.

In comparison, IonQ lost more than $510 million in 2025. With around $2.4 billion in cash, the need to invest in its technology while covering losses puts pressure on its balance sheet.

Investors get excited because companies often become large because the incumbents miss the opportunity. For example, Amazon succeeded in e-commerce in part because traditional retailers did not see the potential for online sales.

Alphabet is likely not making this mistake. It has advanced its Willow chip, which can reduce errors as it becomes faster. Such advancements indicate that Alphabet's resources could enable it to out-innovate smaller competitors like IonQ, reducing the chances of 100-fold gains in the smaller stock.

Could buying IonQ stock today set you up for life? IonQ could theoretically set investors up for life, but shareholders should not expect such returns from the quantum computing stock.

Indeed, its error reduction and ability to operate a quantum computer at near-room temperature can be valuable to the marketplace. Unfortunately, the much wealthier Alphabet is making compelling advancements of its own. As a smaller, money-losing company, this will make it harder for IonQ to compete.

Hence, while a 100-fold gain is possible, IonQ's financial condition suggests that other outcomes are more likely for the company.

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Picard Medical, Inc. (NYSE American: PMI) between September 2, 2025 and October 31, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important April 13, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Picard Medical 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 Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 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 13, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about Picard’s business, operations, and the true nature of its securities trading throughout the Class Period. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Picard was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) Picard’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Picard’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 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.

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

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of PomDoctor Ltd. (NASDAQ: POM) between October 9, 2025 and December 11, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important April 7, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased PomDoctor 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 PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 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 7, 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 throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) PomDoctor was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) PomDoctor’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about PomDoctor’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the PomDoctor class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52621 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.

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

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
        Phillip Kim, Esq.
        The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
        275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
        New York, NY 10016
        Tel: (212) 686-1060
        Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
        Fax: (212) 202-3827
        [email protected]
        www.rosenlegal.com

For more than half a century, billionaire Warren Buffett manned the wheel at Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA +0.50%)(BRKB +0.45%), ultimately turning his conglomerate into a trillion-dollar business. During his tenure as CEO, the Oracle of Omaha oversaw a greater than 6,000,000% cumulative return in his company's Class A shares (BRK.A), which absolutely crushes the returns of the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.43%), ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 1.05%), and growth-fueled Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.92%).

But on Dec. 31, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway's pillar hung up his proverbial work coat for the final time and retired as CEO (though he remains chairman of Berkshire's board).

Warren Buffett retired as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO on Dec. 31, 2025. Image source: The Motley Fool.

Although Warren Buffett is no longer responsible for Berkshire's day-to-day operations or its $319 billion investment portfolio, we're still witnessing the lasting impact of his actions, as evidenced in his company's fourth-quarter operating results, released on Feb. 28.

While most investors tend to focus on headline figures, such as sales, profits, and margins, it's Warren Buffett's final $373 billion warning that's sending shockwaves through Wall Street.

The Oracle of Omaha enters retirement with a $373 billion warning for investors Although Berkshire Hathaway acquired roughly five dozen companies across a variety of sectors during Warren Buffett's tenure as CEO, it's the Oracle of Omaha's investing prowess that was most lauded.

Apple and Bank of America have been among Berkshire's biggest winners on a nominal-dollar basis, while Moody's, Coca-Cola, and American Express are some of Buffett's greatest long-term success stories. The Buffett name is practically synonymous with value-focused, long-term investing.

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But in all 13 quarters (Oct. 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2025) leading up to Warren Buffett's retirement as CEO, he was a net seller of stocks. Accounting for the $3.16 billion in net stock sales overseen during Buffett's final quarter, he sold an aggregate of $186.7 billion more in stocks than he purchased over a 39-month stretch.

Persistently selling stock, coupled with the operating profits that Berkshire's owned businesses have generated (e.g., BNSF and GEICO), has dramatically boosted his company's cash on hand (including cash equivalents and U.S. Treasuries). Since Buffett's selling streak began, Berkshire Hathaway's cash has more than tripled to a near-record $373.3 billion, as of Dec. 31, 2025.

If perennial value investor Warren Buffett is sitting on his hands and not putting his cash to work, this $373 billion serves as a warning to Wall Street.

The stock market is historically expensive -- and Berkshire's boss knew it! For years, the stock market has been relatively unstoppable. With the exception of the 2022 bear market, the S&P 500 has gained at least 16% in six of the last seven years. We've also witnessed the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 50,000 and the Nasdaq Composite briefly top 24,000.

Catalysts have been abundant for Wall Street, with the rise of artificial intelligence, the advent of quantum computing, a Federal Reserve rate-easing cycle, and better-than-expected corporate earnings fueling gains.

But the stock market is also historically expensive -- and the Oracle of Omaha knew it.

Warren Buffett Indicator hits an all-time high of 224%, the most expensive stock market valuation in history 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/BgIiOkFlfl

-- Barchart (@Barchart) January 11, 2026 Although value is subjective (i.e., there isn't a perfect blueprint to value all stocks), Warren Buffett's favorite valuation metric, the market cap-to-GDP ratio, now commonly known as the Buffett indicator, cuts through the heart of this subjectivity.

In a 2001 interview with Fortune magazine, Berkshire's boss referred to the market cap-to-GDP ratio as "probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment." This ratio, which has been back-tested to December 1970, has averaged approximately 87% over the last 56 years. In other words, the cumulative value of all publicly traded companies has averaged 87% of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) over the long term.

In January 2026, the Buffett indicator hit an all-time high of more than 221%! Historically, when the Buffett indicator has pushed well beyond its average, a significant decline in equities has eventually followed.

It's a similar story for the S&P 500's Shiller Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio, which is also known as the Cyclically Adjusted P/E Ratio (CAPE Ratio). Whereas the Shiller P/E has averaged roughly 17.3 when back-tested to January 1871, it's been vacillating between 39 and 41 over the last four months.

While Buffett was known to bend or break some of his unwritten investing rules on rare occasions, he was unwavering when it came to value and getting a good deal.

Image source: Getty Images.

Patience paid off handsomely for Warren Buffett and Berkshire's shareholders Although Buffett's $373 billion warning to Wall Street foreshadows significant corrections to come in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite, Buffett's long-term approach to investing has conclusively shown that patience can be highly rewarding.

As an investor of more than eight decades, Berkshire's boss fully understood that stock market corrections, bear markets, and elevator-down crashes are inevitable events and akin to the price of admission to the world's greatest wealth creator. But rather than try to time when these events would occur, Buffett always positioned Berkshire Hathaway for future success.

The reason? Warren Buffett was keenly aware of the disproportionate nature of stock market cycles. Whereas corrections, bear markets, and crashes tend to resolve quickly, bull markets commonly extend for years. Buffett knew that stock market downturns can lead to short-term price dislocations in great businesses, allowing him to take stakes in great companies at an attractive price point.

Long-winded bull markets have occasionally led Buffett to sit on his proverbial hands and wait for stock valuations to come back into his wheelhouse. This is what we witnessed in the 13 quarters leading up to the retirement of Berkshire's billionaire boss.

History teaches us that valuations are, eventually, going to become attractive again. When they do, Buffett's successor, Greg Abel, is going to have a treasure chest of capital to pounce on potential price dislocations.

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.

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.

G2 sold 215,929 shares of Tower Semiconductor; estimated transaction value of $20.80 million based on quarterly average price. Quarter-end position value decreased by $12.27 million, reflecting valuation shift including price movement.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors in KORE Group Holdings, Inc. (“KORE” or “the Company”) (NYSE: KORE) for potential breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of its directors and management.

The investigation focuses on determining if the KORE board breached its fiduciary duties to shareholders. KORE announced on February 27, 2026, that it has “entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the "Agreement") under which Searchlight and Abry will acquire all of the shares of KORE's issued and outstanding common stock that are not currently owned by them in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $726 million.” This agreement will pay shareholders $9.25 per share.

If you are a shareholder, 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.

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Conflicting claims about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s status followed U.S.-Israel strikes on iran, with verification pending as of March 1, 2026. Institutions and media outlets have issued assertions, denials, and calls for caution.

The absence of independently verified evidence has elevated the importance of primary sources and on-record communiqués. The risk of misinformation in a fast-evolving conflict environment remains significant.

Khamenei assassination status: claims, denials, and verification pendingIranian state-linked outlets have rejected reports of Khamenei’s death, stating he remains in command, as reported by Al Jazeera. These institutional denials are positioned against wartime narratives circulating internationally.

Iran has not independently confirmed the leader’s death, according to Axios. In this context, careful separation of on-record statements from unverified claims is necessary until authoritative confirmation emerges.

Why this matters for Iran, Israel, and global stabilityThe supreme leader has shaped Iran’s political and security trajectory through hardline policies under pressure for reform, as reported by the BBC. A sudden leadership shock would touch all tiers of the state, including the IRGC and clerical institutions.

The stakes extend beyond Iran’s borders; a confirmed assassination would be a turning point for Iran with uncertainty for Israel and Washington, as per Time. Signals from both sides may influence deterrence calculations and escalation thresholds.

Financial channels are also relevant to resilience and sanctions exposure: based on data from TRM Labs, roughly $10 billion of Iran‑linked crypto activity occurred in 2025; in separate estimates, Chainalysis placed Bitcoin mining at about $186 million for 2015–21. These figures contextualize potential liquidity and evasion risks if governance is stressed.

Amid heightened tensions, verification has become a de-escalation tool. “We are not in a position to confirm,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging restraint under international law.

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The first strikes in Israel’s attack on Iran began on Saturday alongside the United States, with a central goal to assassinate the regime’s top leaders, according to the New York Times. That reported objective raises the stakes of any casualty assessment while core details remain unverified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled there are indicators Khamenei is no longer alive, as reported by AP news; former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted the leader was killed in a joint operation, as reported by the Guardian. These statements have not been matched by confirmation from Iranian institutions.

At the time of this writing, the figures indicate Bitcoin (BTC) near $66,775, with volatility labeled high and sentiment flagged bearish. market data here is contextual and not indicative of investment guidance.

What to watch next: verification and succession contextVerification checkpoints: Iran’s state media, UN, and leaders’ communiquésKey checkpoints include formal bulletins from Iran’s state media, publicly released communiqués by national leaders, and statements from multilateral bodies. Cross-referencing these sources helps distinguish official positions from wartime claims.

Succession considerations highlighted in coverage and expert commentaryCoverage has emphasized succession uncertainty and institutional continuity. If the reports prove accurate, it would be a major development, and some analysts note expectations that a successor would already be identified, as reported by Newsweek.

FAQ about Ayatollah Ali KhameneiWhat evidence exists for or against the reported assassination of Khamenei?Evidence is mixed: leadership-targeted strikes were reported, while Iranian state-linked outlets denied his death. A top multilateral official said confirmation was not yet possible.

How has Iran’s government and state media responded to claims of Khamenei’s death?State-linked agencies have rejected the death reports and asserted continuity of leadership. Independent confirmation has not been provided by Iranian authorities.

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

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Martin Habovštiak, a Slovak Bitcoin developer who maintains the Rust Bitcoin library, has embedded a 66-kilobyte image file directly in the Bitcoin blockchain as a single contiguous transaction, challenging several foundational claims made by proponents of the "anti-spam" BIP-110 proposal and the Bitcoin Knots node implementation.

The transaction, which is publicly verifiable on the blockchain, can be decoded from its raw hex into a valid TIFF image file viewable by standard image software. The image depicts Knots developer Luke Dashjr, a central proponent of BIP-110 (formerly BIP-444), crying. Habovštiak announced the project on X on Thursday, linking to a detailed write-up that includes step-by-step instructions for independent verification using any Bitcoin full node.

The demonstration is notable for what it did not use: the transaction contains no OP_RETURN opcodes, does not rely on Taproot (using SegWit v0 instead), and contains no OP_IF instructions. These are among the primary vectors that BIP-110 targets for restriction, and Habovštiak argues their absence proves that the proposal's restrictions can be circumvented without relying on any of them.

The embedded image The proof-of-concept arrives amid an ongoing and at times bitter dispute between Bitcoin Core and Bitcoin Knots camps over what types of data should be permitted on the Bitcoin network. BIP-110, originally introduced as BIP-444 in October 2025, proposes a temporary one-year soft fork that would cap OP_RETURN outputs at 83 bytes, limit individual data pushes to 256 bytes, and restrict other scripting features that enable large data storage. It was introduced after Bitcoin Core's v30 release effectively uncapped OP_RETURN data limits earlier that year.

Luke Dashjr, the Bitcoin Core developer who maintains Bitcoin Knots and serves as CTO of Ocean mining pool, has been a vocal proponent of limiting arbitrary data on Bitcoin, calling inscriptions "spam" since 2023. BIP-110 proponents have argued that contiguous data storage creates legal risks for node operators and diverts Bitcoin from its core purpose as money.

In his own posts on X, Dashjr contested the characterization of Habovštiak's transaction as "contiguous," writing in one such post, "His spam isn't and doesn't contain contiguous images." 

About 8.8% of the network is made up of nodes with BIP-110 support, according to data published by The Bitcoin Portal. The proposal is implemented exclusively through Bitcoin Knots, which has seen its node count grow roughly tenfold since the start of 2025.

Habovštiak, a prolific open-source contributor, also produced a BIP-110-compliant version of the image transaction, tested against Bitcoin Knots' own regtest environment. The compliant version was reportedly larger than the original, which he argued demonstrates that BIP-110's restrictions would actually increase the total amount of data stored on the blockchain rather than reduce it.

Habovštiak said the project was a one-time effort and that he would not be publishing his code, explicitly to avoid enabling a new wave of NFT-like activity on Bitcoin. He described himself as an opponent of blockchain spam who was motivated by what he considered "untruths" from the Knots camp.

"There's something I hate much more than spam: Untruths," Habovštiak wrote. "I tried arguing about this in the past, showed a contiguous image encoded to fit into witness, and yet, the Knots supporters are still saying the same stuff over and over." The Block could not reach Habovštiak or Dashjr for comment. 

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

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Ethereum Holder Retention Rebounds From a 4-Year Low Prefer us on Google

Ethereum holder retention rebounds after hitting 4.5-year low reading.Daily new addresses dropped 36%, weakening network growth momentum.ETH holds $1,816 support as capital inflows gradually improve.Ethereum price continues to trade in a sideways structure that reflects a gradual decline rather than stability. ETH has struggled to generate sustained upside momentum. The exit of new participants has weighed on sentiment, even as some long-term metrics show early signs of improvement.

This divergence creates a mixed outlook for Ethereum. While network growth has weakened, improving holder retention offers a counterbalance.

Ethereum New Holders DipEthereum has seen a sharp decline in new addresses over the past several days. Daily new addresses fell nearly 36% within 48 hours, dropping from 298,000 to 191,000. This contraction pushed Ethereum’s Network Growth metric to a two-month low.

The slowdown has persisted since the beginning of the month. Fewer new participants reduce organic demand. Weak onboarding also signals hesitation among retail investors. This trend has added pressure to ETH price performance and contributed to cautious market sentiment.

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Ethereum New Addresses. Source: SantimentThe Ethereum Holder Retention Rate provides deeper context that even though new holders are declining, the ones that are staying are staying for good. This metric tracks the percentage of addresses maintaining a balance across consecutive 30-day periods. It measures whether holders continue to retain ETH rather than exit positions.

The retention rate recently fell to 92.4%, marking a 4.5-year low and the weakest reading since September 2021. This decline confirmed wavering conviction among newer holders.

However, the metric has begun to improve modestly, suggesting renewed stability among participants. Rising retention can strengthen structural support if sustained.

Ethereum Holder Retention Rate. Source: GlassnodeETH Price Shows Potential To Bounce BackEthereum is trading at $1,904 at the time of writing, holding above the $1,816 support level. While price action appears flat, a descending resistance line indicates a slow downtrend. Without stronger demand, ETH remains vulnerable to continued weakness.

The Chaikin Money Flow indicator offers cautious optimism. CMF has shifted into positive territory after a gradual uptrend. This movement signals improving capital inflows. Transitioning from outflows to inflows is essential for any sustained Ethereum price recovery.

ETH CMF. Source: TradingViewIf inflows continue and support holds, Ethereum could rebound from $1,816 and attempt a move toward $2,165. A breakout above this resistance would invalidate the current downtrend line. Such a shift would likely restore investor confidence and reinforce bullish momentum.

ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewHowever, failure to maintain positive capital flow would undermine this outlook. A breakdown below $1,816 would invalidate the recovery thesis. In that scenario, Ethereum price could slide toward $1,600, increasing downside risk and reinforcing bearish control across the broader crypto market.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Crypto analyst Javon Marks remains bullish on XRP even after its recent price crash below $1.3. The analyst argued that the cryptocurrency’s long-term technical picture points to a potential surge well into the double-digit territory. According to Marks, XRP’s bullish roadmap toward $15 remains unchanged, underscoring his strong confidence in the altcoin’s ability to push past prevailing bearish trends.

XRP Double-Digit Price Target Remains Unchanged Sharing his outlook on X, Marks told followers that XRP’s measured move target about $15 remains firmly intact, dismissing recent price weakness as a temporary setback within a much larger bullish structure. His accompanying chart spans over a decade of XRP’s price history, stretching from roughly 2014 through a projected timeline extending well into 2026. 

Marks’ analysis highlights a recurring pattern that has played out across multiple market cycles. In each instance, XRP formed a descending triangle or wedge formation and then experienced a downturn below a key support level, which the analyst labeled a “false breakdown.” Following this, XRP launched into a powerful parabolic rally to new all-time highs. 

This sequence of wedge formation and a subsequent false breakdown occurred notably in 2017 and again heading into 2021, each time producing extraordinary gains in the price of XRP. According to Marks, the breakout that materialized in late 2024, when XRP rose from around $0.55 to over $2.2, mirrors the jump in 2017 that preceded a final bull rally to $3.84 in 2018. 

XRPUSD now trading at $1.28. Chart: TradingView He argues that this development hints at another tenfold move in this cycle, representing a more than 900% increase in the XRP price. The chart also projects a peak target somewhere between $15 and $18, with a vertical measurement bar illustrating a potential surge of approximately 2,872.31%. 

Analysts Stay Bullish On XRP As Whales Go Long Analysts’ confidence in the XRP price remains strong despite broader market volatility and recent price dips. Notably, market expert Steph is Crypto has identified a multi-year Cup and Handle pattern on its chart that could trigger a historic surge in XRP’s price. 

According to the analyst, the upward trendline above the pattern points to a projected rally to the $4 level. This price zone is highlighted as a key resistance area, and a decisive move above it could push XRP to its next target above $30. 

Interestingly, Steph’s bullish outlook for XRP comes as whales continue to go long on the cryptocurrency. Recent reports from market expert Xaif Crypto reveal that a whale opened a massive $3.34 million long position on XRP. He noted that the whale held $193,000 equity with a 104% margin, essentially going all in with no safety net. 

This move underscores the whale’s strong confidence in XRP’s bullish potential. However, Xaif Crypto has cautioned that if XRP drops to $1.37, then the whale could lose everything. It’s important to note that the XRP price has already declined below $1.3 and now sits near $1.28 at the time of writing. 

Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView

Journalist

Posted: March 1, 2026

Macro FUD is ramping up, and the market is starting to get tested.

On the charts, holding key levels is crucial to keep FOMO alive, especially as geopolitical tensions are already sparking pockets of panic across global markets. Ethereum [ETH] clearly isn’t immune to this pressure.

Since mid-January, ETH has closed every weekly candle lower than the last, showing a clear bearish bias as bulls failed to defend key zones. Still, the debate continues: Has Ethereum bottomed, or is more pain ahead?

Source: TradingView (ETH/USDT)

Notably, on-chain data offers some insight.

Historically, Ethereum’s MVRV ratio dropping below 0.80 has often signaled a market bottom. Currently, it sits at 0.78, suggesting that ETH may be undervalued, a view further reinforced by its deeply oversold RSI.

Against this setup, Tom Lee’s Ethereum bottom thesis starts to make sense. He highlights six on-chain indicators that, historically, have lined up with price levels where bulls step in, often triggering significant rebounds.

Taken together, these signals suggest that a bottom could be forming for Ethereum, likely somewhere around the $1.8k-$2k range. The big question now is: Are bulls actually noticing these signals and stepping back in?

Ethereum staking cuts supply, but is the shock overstated? For Ethereum to form a bottom, the order book needs to lean toward bids. 

That said, there are some encouraging signs. Despite the risk-off mood, staked ETH just hit a record 37.1 million (about 31% of the total supply), showing that validators are keeping their coins locked up for the long haul. 

On top of that, nearly 190,000 ETH moved off exchanges this week alone, pushing the total available Ethereum on exchanges down to a two-week low of 16 million. Taken together, it looks like a supply squeeze could be starting to take shape, which could give bulls some room to step in.

Source: CryptoQuant

However, it may still be too early to call a confirmed bottom. 

From a statistical perspective, Ethereum selling has been substantial. Ethereum ETFs have offloaded 563,600 ETH over the past five weeks. On top of that, a single whale recently sold $47.77 million worth of ETH. That’s a significant amount of selling, well in excess of the current demand.

Against this backdrop, calling a bottom based on a supply squeeze feels premature. With weak technicals, persistent selling, and ongoing macro FUD, it’s hard to see ETH holding above $1.8k right now.

In this context, the bottom thesis reads like a classic “sell-the-news” setup.

Final Summary On-chain metrics and Tom Lee’s six indicators suggest Ethereum could be forming a bottom around $1.8k–$2k. Staking and withdrawals from exchanges hint at a supply squeeze, yet heavy outflows make a confirmed bottom unlikely.

Journalist

Posted: March 1, 2026

As tensions between the United States and Iran escalate, the broader crypto market has come under significant pressure. Amid this uncertainty, Stellar (XLM) seems to be opening the door for further downside momentum.

However, XLM is not being driven by geopolitical tensions alone. Instead, they’ve been accompanied by the formation of a bearish price pattern on the chart.

On 28 February, XLM fell by over 9.95% in just 24 hours, with the altcoin valued at $0.1486 on the charts. Despite the price drop though, trader and investor participation increased notably. This was reflected in the trading volume which jumped by 17% to $125.89 million.

XLM price action and key levels to watch Despite market uncertainty, popular crypto analyst Ali Martinez recently shared a post on X highlighting key support levels for XLM. In the post, the expert noted that $0.147, $0.078, and $0.041 are key levels for the altcoin.

Source: X/alicharts

Additionallt, if we look at the daily chart, it would seem that XLM’s price has formed a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern below the key support level of $0.158.

Based on the price action, if XLM’s downside momentum continues and it closes a daily candle below the $0.145-level, it could see a further price decline of 28% and may reach the $0.105-level in the coming days.

However, XLM’s bearish thesis would only be validated if it closes below the $0.145-level. Otherwise, it would be invalidated.

Source: TradingView

At press time, the Average Directional Index (ADX), an indicator that measures the strength of a trend, had hit 30.40.

It was above the key threshold of 25 – Indicative of strong momentum in the altcoin’s market. 

Derivatives tool flashes mixed sentiments A look at the market structure also suggested that long-term holders may be seizing this dip as an opportunity. Short-term participants may be following the market trend by betting heavily on short positions too.

According to the derivatives tool Coinglass, intraday traders are strongly betting on $0.149 on the lower side (support) and $0.1619 on the upper side (resistance). They have built $296k worth of long-leveraged positions and $1.49 million worth of short-leveraged positions.

These bets revealed that traders with a bearish view are dominating the current market, believing that XLM’s price will not cross the $0.1619-level anytime soon.

Source: Coinglass

On the other hand, the XLM spot inflow/outflow metric found that a modest $319.79k worth of the asset flowed out of exchanges over the last 24 hours – A sign of potential accumulation.

Source: Coinglass

When combining these metrics, it would seem that XLM is bearish in the short term. In the long term though, an ideal buying opportunity could be on the horizon. 

Final Summary Stellar (XLM) is poised for a massive downside move because of escalating geopolitical tensions and formation of a bearish price pattern. XLM could fall another 28% if it fails to hold the $0.145-support level.

Fresh U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have renewed focus on a parallel financial system Tehran has built around bitcoin mining and stablecoins to bypass sanctions and reduce reliance on the dollar. As Iran’s traditional banking system remains constrained by international restrictions, cryptocurrency has emerged as a strategic economic tool for both the state and its citizens.

Iran legalized bitcoin mining in 2019, allowing licensed operators to use subsidized electricity in exchange for selling mined BTC to the central bank. This model effectively converts cheap domestic energy into digital assets that can be transferred across borders. The government can then use bitcoin to pay for imports, settle trade, and finance overseas transactions without relying on U.S.-controlled financial institutions. Estimates suggest Iran accounts for between 2% and 5% of global bitcoin mining hash rate, although much of the activity remains opaque.

According to Chainalysis, Iran’s crypto ecosystem reached $7.78 billion in 2025, marking accelerated growth compared to the previous year. Inflows to wallets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly exceeded $3 billion in 2025, accounting for more than half of total Iranian crypto inflows in the fourth quarter. These figures reflect only publicly sanctioned addresses, indicating the real scale could be significantly larger.

Stablecoins, particularly USDT, play a critical role. Elliptic estimates Iran’s central bank accumulated at least $507 million in USDT in 2025, likely in an effort to stabilize the collapsing rial and facilitate trade. However, the rial has lost over 96% of its value against the U.S. dollar, pushing ordinary Iranians toward bitcoin as a hedge during protests and internet shutdowns.

While blockchain transactions are transparent, counterparties can remain hidden, complicating enforcement. Exchanges such as Binance have faced scrutiny over alleged exposure to sanctioned Iranian entities, prompting calls for investigation by U.S. lawmakers.

Ongoing military conflict poses risks to Iran’s crypto mining infrastructure, which depends on stable electricity supplies. Seasonal mining bans have previously been imposed to protect the power grid. Any sustained damage could temporarily reduce Iran’s mining output, though the global bitcoin network would likely rebalance as miners elsewhere increase capacity.

As geopolitical tensions intensify, Iran’s expanding crypto economy underscores how bitcoin mining and stablecoins are reshaping financial resilience in sanctioned economies.

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Bitcoin’s future in an artificial intelligence-driven world may depend less on technological upgrades and more on central bank policy, interest rates, and global liquidity. According to Greg Cipolaro, global head of research at NYDIG, artificial intelligence will influence bitcoin primarily through macroeconomic forces such as economic growth, employment trends, real yields, and money supply.

If AI-driven automation leads to widespread job losses and wage pressure, consumer demand could weaken. Lower incomes may strain debt payments, trigger asset price declines, and slow economic activity. Recent workforce reductions, including staff cuts linked to AI efficiency initiatives, have intensified concerns about labor market disruption. In such a deflationary scenario, policymakers could respond with lower interest rates or fiscal stimulus to stabilize the economy. Historically, bitcoin price movements have tracked global liquidity cycles, meaning renewed monetary easing could benefit the cryptocurrency market.

However, the opposite outcome is also possible. If artificial intelligence boosts productivity and accelerates economic growth without causing major unemployment, real interest rates could rise. Central banks may maintain tighter monetary policy, increasing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like bitcoin. Higher real yields have historically pressured bitcoin and other risk assets, making capital allocation toward fixed-income investments more attractive.

History shows that technological revolutions—from the steam engine to electrification, personal computers, and the internet—initially sparked fears of job displacement. Yet over time, productivity gains and new industries expanded economic output. AI may follow a similar trajectory, integrating into workflows and enhancing long-term growth rather than permanently shrinking demand.

Beyond macroeconomics, AI could also support bitcoin adoption through machine-to-machine payments, reviving early visions of automated digital transactions. Still, widespread adoption faces hurdles, as traditional payment systems offer rewards and credit benefits not yet matched by crypto alternatives.

Ultimately, bitcoin’s trajectory in the AI era will reflect how central banks respond to economic disruption. Whether AI triggers monetary easing or higher real yields, macroeconomic policy will remain the dominant force shaping bitcoin’s price and adoption.

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Mark Karpelès wants another shot. The former Mt. Gox CEO just dropped a bombshell proposal that’s got the entire crypto world buzzing and pretty much everyone picking sides.

Mt. Gox used to be the king of Bitcoin exchanges back in the day, handling roughly 70% of all Bitcoin trades worldwide before everything went sideways in 2014. The exchange got hammered by hackers in 2011, losing around 850,000 Bitcoins that basically vanished into thin air. Only a tiny fraction of those coins ever surfaced again, leaving thousands of users holding empty bags and Karpelès facing serious legal heat in Japan.

Now he’s back with a wild idea.

Karpelès wants to create a completely new version of Bitcoin’s blockchain through what’s called a hard fork. The plan would basically rewrite history by going back and changing transaction records to recover those stolen coins. It’s never been done before at this scale, and the technical challenges are massive. The whole Bitcoin network would need to upgrade, and miners plus developers would have to agree on the changes.

The crypto community is split down the middle. Many old-school Bitcoin supporters think the idea is crazy and goes against everything Bitcoin stands for. “You can’t just rewrite the blockchain because you lost some coins,” said prominent Bitcoin developer Sarah Mitchell on February 26, 2026. “That’s not how this works.”

But some former Mt. Gox users are cautiously hopeful.

A group representing Mt. Gox creditors put out a statement on February 26, 2026, asking the community to at least consider the proposal. They know it’s complicated but see it as maybe their only shot at getting their money back after more than a decade of waiting.

The technical hurdles are pretty intense. Implementing this kind of fork means completely overhauling huge chunks of Bitcoin’s core protocol. Developers would need to write code that effectively erases parts of Bitcoin’s transaction history and replaces them with new records. One wrong move could introduce security holes or crash the entire network.

Leading Bitcoin developers aren’t buying it. Several core team members have already voiced serious concerns about both the technical feasibility and the ethical implications. Some have flat-out rejected the idea, worried it could destabilize Bitcoin’s entire ecosystem and set a dangerous precedent for future interventions. See also: SEC Chairman Pushes Hard for Crypto.

Karpelès isn’t backing down though. He’s actively courting major mining pools and influential crypto figures to build support for his plan. In a recent interview, he said the timeline remains flexible but hopes to gather enough backing by the end of 2026.

And the market is already reacting. Bitcoin’s price has been jumpy since news of the proposal started circulating. On February 25, 2026, Bitcoin was trading around $45,000, with traders clearly nervous about what might happen next. Historically, major fork announcements have led to wild price swings and market chaos.

The biggest risk? A contentious chain split that creates two separate Bitcoin networks, just like what happened with Bitcoin Cash in 2017. If Karpelès pushes ahead without broad consensus, Bitcoin could end up fragmented, confusing investors and potentially weakening its market dominance.

Major exchanges are watching closely. Binance released a statement on February 28, 2026, saying they’re evaluating the potential impact on their operations. The exchange stressed the need to maintain market stability and protect user funds if any network changes happen.

Legal experts are raising red flags too. Cryptocurrency lawyer Thomas Grant warned on February 27, 2026, that a fork aimed at recovering stolen assets could attract regulatory scrutiny from authorities worldwide. “This could open a can of worms that the crypto industry isn’t prepared for,” Grant said.

Blockchain analyst Alice Chen thinks the whole thing is a long shot. She noted on February 27, 2026, that even the Bitcoin Cash split took months of planning and still caused major market disruption. “The current Bitcoin network is way more complex than it was back then,” Chen said. “This would require unprecedented coordination.”

The next big test comes in March 2026 at an upcoming industry conference. Karpelès plans to present detailed technical specs and address community concerns. Industry insiders expect his presentation will be make-or-break for the proposal. This follows earlier reporting on Bitcoin Miners Eye Grid Partnership as.

Karpelès has baggage that’s hard to ignore. His time running Mt. Gox ended in scandal, and he was convicted of data manipulation and embezzlement in Japan. Critics question whether someone with his track record should be trusted with such a massive undertaking.

The proposal hasn’t gone through formal review by Bitcoin’s core development team yet. Several developers have said they’re interested in examining the technical details, but their feedback will be crucial in determining whether the plan has any real chance of success.

Bitcoin’s price sensitivity to fork news isn’t new. Past events like this have triggered massive volatility as traders try to position themselves for potential outcomes. The uncertainty alone could keep markets on edge for months.

No timeline details have been released yet, and key implementation questions remain unanswered. The crypto community is basically holding its breath, waiting to see if Karpelès can build enough support to make his controversial vision a reality.

The proposal has already drawn comparisons to Ethereum’s controversial 2016 hard fork following the DAO hack, where the network split transaction history to recover $50 million in stolen funds. That decision created Ethereum Classic as a competing blockchain and sparked years of debate about immutable ledgers. Bitcoin’s situation would be exponentially more complex, involving a much larger network with significantly more economic activity and stakeholder interests.

Mining pool operators control the real power here, since they’d need to upgrade their hardware and software to support any new protocol rules. Three of the largest pools – Foundry USA, AntPool, and F2Pool – collectively control over 60% of Bitcoin’s hash rate. Their participation would be essential for any fork to succeed, but none have publicly endorsed Karpelès’s plan yet. Without mining support, the proposal remains purely theoretical regardless of community sentiment.

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After exploring fundraising and acquisition options, the teams concluded that no sustainable recovery path existed following the breach.

Solana-based DeFi aggregator, Step Finance, along with two other affiliate projects, SolanaFloor and Remora Markets, announced plans to shut down all operations with immediate effect.

The decision follows the aftermath of a major security incident earlier this year.

Hack, Halt, Shutdown In a statement shared on X, the teams said the decision came after exploring multiple paths forward, including fundraising and acquisition discussions. However, none resulted in a viable solution after the hack that occurred in late January.

The incident involved an estimated $30 million in assets being drained from Step Finance’s wallets on the Solana network. Subsequent disclosures indicated that the breach stemmed from compromised devices belonging to members of the project’s executive team.

Access to these devices likely exposed private keys or enabled malware that interfered with internal transaction approval processes, which allowed attackers to initiate and approve malicious on-chain transactions. Once access was obtained, the attackers unstaked roughly 261,854 SOL and transferred the funds out of project-controlled wallets. This triggered an immediate market reaction that saw the STEP token fall by more than 80%.

Following detection of the exploit, the team halted certain components of the platform to limit further damage and later reported that approximately $4.7 million in Remora-related assets and other holdings were recovered. As part of the shutdown process, Step Finance said it is working on a buyback program for STEP token holders based on a snapshot taken prior to the incident, while Remora Markets is preparing a redemption process for rToken holders.

Over 200 Hack Incidents in 2025 The hack involving Step Finance ranked among the most expensive DeFi incidents in January 2026, amidst a broader rise in crypto-related losses over the past year. According to data from blockchain security firm PeckShield, scams and hacks drained more than $4.04 billion from users and platforms in 2025, which is an increase of almost 34% compared to 2024.

You may also like: How Aave Could Help End Crypto Winter, According to Bitwise Hayden Davis Resurfaces After LIBRA Crash, But His Latest Trades Are Deep in the Red Crypto Funds See 4th Week of Outflows, but XRP and SOL Shine: CoinShares Report Of that total, $2.67 billion was attributed to hacks, while $1.37 billion originated from scams, as scam-related losses rose about 64% year-on-year.

PeckShield found a pivot from purely technical exploits toward targeted social engineering, often aimed at centralized entities and high-value individuals, thereby resulting in higher losses per incident. More than 200 hack cases were recorded during the year, excluding scams.

February stood out as the costliest month, driven by a $1.51 billion breach at Bybit.

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Arbitrum Price Under Pressure: 60 Million ARB Whale Sale Sparks ATL Fear Prefer us on Google

ARB price slides toward all-time low amid sustained weakness and selling.Whales sold over 60 million ARB within three weeks, adding supply.Chaikin Money Flow signals persistent capital outflows, weakening demand and momentum.Arbitrum price continues to weaken as ARB struggles to attract sustained investor demand. The token has failed to align with broader crypto market recoveries. Instead, it remains under pressure, extending a prolonged decline that has brought it dangerously close to its all-time low.

Investor support appears limited despite occasional short-lived rebounds. Broader market improvements have not translated into lasting gains for ARB. This divergence highlights fading conviction across multiple participant groups within the Arbitrum ecosystem.

Arbitrum Is Dominated By Volatile HoldersThe Chaikin Money Flow indicator has dropped below the zero line, signaling net capital outflows. This reading reflects sustained selling pressure rather than healthy accumulation. Weak inflows suggest buyers lack confidence at current price levels.

ARB briefly spiked after forming a new all-time high earlier in the cycle. That move was largely driven by bottom buying activity. However, short-term holders quickly sold into strength. Their rapid distribution capped upside momentum and reinforced downside volatility.

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

ARB CMF. Source: TradingViewThe MVRV Long/Short Difference metric shows that short-term holders currently dominate realized profits. This imbalance creates vulnerability for Arbitrum’s price stability. Short-term holders often exit positions quickly once profitability appears.

This behavior increases the risk of abrupt corrections. Today’s 8% drop reflects that dynamic. When profit-taking from short-term participants intensifies, the price can fall sharply without warning. Until long-term conviction strengthens, ARB remains exposed to sudden declines.

ARB MVRV Long/Short Difference. Source: SantimentARB Whales Aren’t Holding Back EitherWhale activity adds further pressure to the outlook. Addresses holding between 1 million and 10 million ARB have sold more than 60 million tokens over the past three weeks. This distribution has been gradual rather than panic-driven.

Slow and consistent whale selling often signals waning confidence. Unlike emotional capitulation, steady distribution can suppress recovery attempts. Persistent supply entering the market reduces the probability of a strong rebound in the near term.

ARB Whale Selling. Source: SantimentARB Price Faces New All-Time LowArbitrum price is down 8% today, trading at $0.0921 at the time of writing. ARB failed to defend the $0.0994 support level. The breakdown triggered additional selling, accelerating downside momentum.

The next support lies at $0.0887, just above the all-time low of $0.0883. Given current indicators, a retest appears likely. A decisive break below this threshold could push ARB toward $0.0821, establishing a new cycle low.

ARB Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewInvalidating this bearish thesis requires a structural shift in sentiment. Investors must slow distribution and restore inflows. ARB needs to reclaim $0.0947 to stabilize short-term momentum. Flipping $0.0994 back into support would open a path toward $0.1060, signaling recovery strength.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Shiba Inu's open interest has dropped by over 8% in the last 24 hours following a sudden shift in investor sentiment that saw the market flip bearish after a brief price breakout.

As momentum continues to weaken, the sharp decline witnessed in the SHIB trading price earlier today has extended to its derivatives market, with futures traders increasingly closing active positions.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, data from CoinGlass showed a notable decline of 8.59% in the Shiba Inu open interest over the last 24 hours.

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As such, about 10.59 trillion SHIB tokens have been committed to its futures market over the period, marking a significant downturn from recent levels as sell pressure mounts.

Shiba Inu price flips negativeDespite the recent breakout seen across the broad crypto market, Shiba Inu has suddenly flipped negative, with its price showing a notable decline over the last day.

Notably, the negative trend seen in the SHIB derivatives market has extended to its trading price, which has declined by 5.28% over the last 24 hours. The asset is trading at $0.000005536 as of writing time, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

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With such a big price decline, crypto futures bets worth over $503 million have been liquidated in the last 24 hours. This marks a massive 84% increase over the period, with about $362 million of it being suffered by long traders who opened positions in anticipation of further price increases.

Nonetheless, Coinbase traders showed the least interest as the looming U.S. tensions appear to have further cooled their optimism amid the broad market downturn. Only 15.46 million SHIB have been staked on the Shiba Inu futures market on Coinbase.

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Posted: March 1, 2026

Solana [SOL] recorded a strong rally earlier in the week. The move from $75.6 to $92.1 was a 21.78% bounce made in just 32 hours of trading. Unfortunately for the bulls, Solana has been trading within a range for most of February.

The rally stalled out just past the range highs, and at the time of writing, was back near the range lows once again.

The market sentiment after Bitcoin’s [BTC] sell-off was extremely fearful. Panic selling was rampant due to fears of war escalation too. Solana buyers likely won’t be benefiting from this development.

The falling Open Interest and negative funding rates showed bearish SOL derivatives traders. The falling spot CVD confirmed the short-term selling pressure.

Selling has been prevalent throughout February

Source: Glassnode

Solana‘s Coin Days Destroyed metric trended higher towards the beginning of February. Compared to the spike in CDD that accompanied the price drop from $128 to $67.5, the recent hike in CDD appeared more measured.

The metric served to warn that sellers were eager to use any price bounce to exit the market.

Source: SOL/USDT on TradingView

Swing traders should not be fooled by the range formation mentioned earlier. Yes, the price was approaching the local floor. The CMF was at +0.06 to signal capital inflows, and the MFI dived into oversold territory.

At the same time, the market might be in a more precarious spot overall.

Traders’ call to action – Expect a breakout below the short-term range

Source: SOL/USDT on TradingView

The weekly swing structure was bearish, and the March 2025 low at $95 has been decisively breached. The next long-term price target, according to the extension level, would be $47.93.

Therefore, traders should remain bearishly biased. A risky move would be to wait for the range lows to be retested as resistance before going short.

Bitcoin’s defense of the $64k-level and recovery above $66k would be an early sign that momentum was favoring the bulls. SOL traders should keep an eye on the $76 range lows, as well as on BTC’s short-term momentum.

Final Summary 7-day moving average of the Coin Days Destroyed metric climbed higher over the past week, signaling a hike in selling on-chain. Short-term range formation is likely to be breached by selling pressure next week. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

The SEC is signaling a shift towards a more supportive regulatory approach for crypto after Chair Paul Atkins acknowledged past missed opportunities. At the same time, Bitcoin is trading near $67,000, highlighting how shifting U.S. policy sentiment could strengthen market confidence and accelerate institutional adoption.

Speaking at recent policy discussions and briefings, Atkins criticized the regulatory approach taken under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler during a fireside chat, noting that the agency previously relied heavily on enforcement-driven oversight.

The agency said that much of the crypto should be treated as securities. It brought several cases against crypto companies, most of which were for failing to register their products or platforms. That approach created friction between regulators and industry.

Many crypto firms said they believed regulations were unclear and that the SEC was regulating mainly through lawsuits rather than issuing guidance. Atkins said that his agency needed to respond quickly to innovate. He said the last few years had given the United States a lost opportunity, especially as other nations tried to entice crypto entrepreneurs to invest amid clearer regulatory frameworks. 

The SEC has made moves that now seem closer to support since President Trump took office. The agency has also formed a dedicated crypto task force and has withdrawn multiple enforcement cases against prominent industry players. 

It has also recently announced “Project Crypto,” an effort to modernize its rules to better reflect digital asset technologies. Those details aren’t fully developed yet, but the tone from the agency’s leadership has noticeably changed.

Bitcoin steadies as policy outlook brightens Meanwhile, Bitcoin has hovered around $67,000. While Bitcoin may be volatile, the market doesn’t seem to be panicking too much over regulatory changes. Rather, many people are assessing whether a predictable U.S. approach could boost confidence. 

Regulatory clarity is often cited as a crucial factor for institutional adoption. Big asset managers, pension funds, and banks avoid markets with ambiguous rules. When regulators offer more precise instructions, it mitigates legal risk and helps institutions get in on the action to a greater extent. 

The SEC’s recent actions are an effort to offer that clarity. For example, earlier this week, the agency granted exemptive relief to WisdomTree for its WisdomTree Treasury Money Market Digital Fund. 

The approval enables 24/7 trading and instant settlement—the first of its kind in the United States for a tokenized money market product.

SEC turns attention to tokenization and financial infrastructure While the public is focused on Bitcoin’s price in particular, Atkins sees more potential in distributed ledger technology. He said he was particularly excited about blockchain systems and the way they might expedite payment clearing and settlement. 

In traditional markets, clearing and settlement, the final step in completing a financial transaction, can take days. Blockchain technology, by contrast, can settle transactions almost instantly. This productivity could cut costs and risks to financial firms.

Atkins described tokenization as the process of turning stocks, bonds, and funds into programmable tokens on distributed ledgers. He also said the SEC has sanctioned tokenized money market mutual funds and suggested that tokenized bank deposits could be next. If that does happen, it would mark a seismic change in how traditional financial products are created, bought, and sold. Bitcoin’s near $67,000 market price so far reflects a broadly positive market.