Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin (BTC) rewards investors the most who hold it for at least three years, according to data shared by André Dragosch, head of research at Bitwise Europe.

Key takeaways:

Holding BTC for at least three years has historically slashed losses to just 0.70%.

Bitcoin price predictions for 2026–2027 cluster around $100,000–$150,000 in bullish scenarios.

Long-term Bitcoin holders rarely loseA Bitwise analysis reviewed Bitcoin’s price history between July 17, 2010, and Feb. 11, 2026, concluding that the probability of being in the red drops to just 0.70% when BTC is held for at least three years.

Bitcoin investors’ probability of loss per holding period. Source: BitwiseIn other words, nearly all rolling three-year entry points in Bitcoin’s history ended up profitable. Beyond three years, the risk of loss fell even further: 0.2% over five years and 0% over ten years.

Traders holding Bitcoin for less than three years faced a much higher risk of loss.

Intraday buyers, for instance, had a 47.1% chance of being underwater. That probability stayed elevated at 44.7% over one week, 43.2% over one month, and 24.3% over a one-year holding period.

Stronger hands are 90% in profit alreadyThe realized price metric also shows declines in holders’ losses over multi-year windows.

As of Saturday, Bitcoin was down by roughly 50% from its October 2025 high, trading for around $65,000.

That was way above its three-to-five-year realized price of $34,780, meaning investors who bought and held through that window were still sitting on an approximately 90% profit.

BTC realized price by age. Source: GlassnodeMeanwhile, some traders argue the ongoing Bitcoin price correction could extend toward $30,000.

A move to that level would wipe out much of the cohort’s cushion, pushing the three–five year band closer to breakeven. That would further test whether these holders start adding to sell pressure or sit tight.

Conversely, most traders who bought Bitcoin in the past two years were underwater.

BTC realized price by age. Source: GlassnodeThe cost basis of the 6m–12m cohort, entities that have been holding BTC for up to a year, was around $101,250, leaving them with roughly a 35% in unrealized loss as of Saturday.

However, the 1y–2y cohort’s cost basis was lower, around $78,150, translating into about a 15% unrealized loss.

The gap reinforced the same pattern seen in the holding-period data: the longer the holding window, the smaller the drawdown tends to be during corrections.

How high can BTC price go?Longer-term forecasts still cluster around a handful of upside targets for 2026–2027.

For instance, global brokerage firm Bernstein maintained its $150,000 BTC price call for 2026, pointing to relatively modest net outflows of about 7% from spot Bitcoin ETFs, even as BTC’s price fell by 50%.

“The current Bitcoin price action is a mere crisis of confidence,” Bernstein analysts led by Gautam Chhugani said.

Standard Chartered, meanwhile, warned of a potential “final capitulation” phase that could drag BTC toward $50,000 amid weak ETF flows and a tougher macro backdrop, before recovering toward $100,000 by the end of 2026.

Looking into 2027, Timothy Peterson’s historical “average return” framework points to $122,000 by early 2027, with high odds that BTC trades above that figure.

Trailing positive BTC price months with put option payoff data. Source: Timothy Peterson/XThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Bitcoin is facing panic selling as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate, with both countries launching airstrikes, a move that has sparked fears of a full-blown war. Expert Colin has warned of a BTC crash as the leading crypto risks losing key support levels.

Bitcoin Faces Panic Selling, Raising Concerns Of A BTC Crash A CryptoQuant analysis revealed that Bitcoin’s sell volume surged by almost $1.8 billion on the derivatives market, reflecting aggressive market sell orders hitting the books amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Notably, the derivatives pressure index dropped sharply from 30% to 18% amid this development, signaling a shift towards a strong bearish sentiment.

Source: CryptoQuant As CoinGape reported, the crypto market crashed as the U.S. and Israel carried out joint attacks against Iran, while Iran also retaliated with its own targeted airstrikes. Amid these airstrikes, there was a BTC crash to around $63,000, although the leading crypto has now rebounded above $64,000.

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant noted that the imbalance in the Bitcoin derivatives market reflects clear seller dominance and rising short-term risk aversion. During such a period, market conditions typically become more volatile and less predictable, the platform stated.

Furthermore, market participants typically take a cautious approach during this period as flows are driven more by emotion and risk management than by structural dynamics. While there is undoubtedly the risk of a deeper BTC crash, the CryptoQuant analysis explained why the leading crypto could still see a bounce amid the U.S.-Iran tensions.

The analysis noted that when consensus becomes too one-sided or positioning reaches an extreme, markets often tend to move against that excess. “Panic-driven phases can therefore create the conditions for technical rebounds, even if timing remains difficult to assess,” CryptoQuant added.

A Drop Below $60,000 On The Cards In an X post, analyst Colin warned of a deeper BTC crash if the leading crypto doesn’t hold $62,600. If Bitcoin drops below this level, the analyst stated that a retest or a breakdown below the $60,000 lows is likely to happen.

It is worth noting that crypto traders are currently betting on Bitcoin’s price falling below $60,000. There is currently a 79% chance that BTC will crash to $55,000, and a 65% chance it will crash to $50,000.

Source: Polymarket However, crypto analyst Ted Pillows provided a bullish outlook for Bitcoin. He noted that on February 22, when Russia first attacked Ukraine, there was a BTC crash before the leading crypto then rallied 40%. In June 2025, when Israel attacked Iran, Bitcoin dumped first and then rallied 25%. As such, the analyst indicated that there is the possibility of a similar pattern playing out again.

Some observers noted that even if Iran controlled 5% of global hashrate, the network would continue functioning without disruption.

Bitcoin mining in Iran is back in the spotlight after a viral X post on February 27 claimed the country runs a $1 billion operation that could be wiped out.

The debate has split crypto observers, with some warning of a temporary hashrate shock and others dismissing the claims as exaggerated fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD).

Iran’s Mining Footprint and the Strike Scenario The discussion began when independent analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera posted that Iran mines Bitcoin at a theoretical cost of $1,320 per BTC using heavily subsidized electricity and then selling it at the current price near $68,000 to extract what he described as a 50x gross margin.

He alleged that around 700,000 mining rigs consume roughly 2,000 megawatts daily, much of it tied to operations linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.

Perera tied the argument to sanctions, saying Bitcoin allows Iran to convert restricted energy resources into liquid capital beyond the reach of SWIFT prohibitions.

A January 16 report by Chainalysis found that Iran’s total crypto activity exceeded $7.78 billion in 2025. Furthermore, the report said addresses linked to IRGC facilitation networks received more than $3 billion last year, up from just over $2 billion in 2024, and that activity often spiked during military or political crises.

Nonetheless, critics quickly challenged the mining cost assumptions, with analyst Dasha calling the $1,320 figure “100% fake news,” arguing it relies on household electricity rates that cannot be achieved in practice due to blackouts and shortages.

You may also like: Zero Bitcoin: Why This Miner Is Selling Everything It Produces Binance Rejects Sanctions Evasion Claims, Reports 97% Drop Bitcoin Miners Withdraw 36K BTC as Bullish Signals Grow Hashrate Shocks Are Not New The objections did not stop there, as miner ZynxBTC dismissed the concern entirely:

“Even if Iran controlled 5% of global hashrate (it doesn’t), and it went offline, the network would continue functioning normally.”

Recent U.S. events support that argument. Earlier in the year, the network continued operating even after a severe winter storm forced major Texas miners offline, pushing the hashrate down from 1.133 ZH/s to 690 EH/s in just a couple of days.

However, Perera argued that grid failure differs from voluntary shutdown. According to his analysis, with tensions brewing in the Middle East, a 7-to-10-day air campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure would likely collapse electricity generation by an estimated 30% to 50%.

He insisted that mining rigs require continuous power, and even brief outages could destroy active operations. As such, he postulated that a strike on Iran’s already fragile grid could see the country’s estimated 2% to 5% share of the global hashrate drop to zero within days, triggering a difficulty adjustment that would extend block times and temporarily spike transaction fees. As CryptoPotato reported, the US and Israel have already launched strikes on Iran earlier today.

Still, others argued that the Bitcoin network has withstood even larger shocks, with researcher Furkan Yildirim noting that China removed more than half of the global hashrate in 2021, yet the network soon adjusted as miners relocated.

“An Iranian grid failure would be a rounding error by comparison,” he tweeted.

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Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO) Stuart Alderoty has taken a swipe at The New York Times’ bias against cryptocurrency. Speaking in his capacity as the president of the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), Alderoty claims he has written to the news outlet over a report that referred to crypto as "pointless and full of scammers."

Stuart Alderoty frames crypto as everyday economic infrastructureAlderoty described The New York Times article as a "lazy and outdated" view about cryptocurrency. In defense of the sector, he argued that crypto has been supporting millions of Americans to improve their financial situation. He also stated that millions rely on crypto to run their businesses and pay for goods and services conveniently.

He emphasized his point by sharing a video of everyday users sharing their experiences with crypto and how they use the technology for positive impacts.

Alderoty challenged The New York Times to get the facts right by accessing needed information from the NCA. He expressed willingness to furnish the media outlet with whatever information about crypto that is unclear to it.

The NCA president is effectively positioning crypto as economically useful and not just for speculative trading. Alderoty has always been a strong advocate for the crypto community, particularly in his role as Ripple CLO.

As President of @NatCryptoAssoc I have submitted numerous letters and opinion pieces to the NYT to counter their lazy and outdated narrative that crypto is useless. All have been ignored.
It’s dangerously irresponsible to dismiss the millions of real Americans relying on crypto… https://t.co/rsJGHbrmz3?from=article-links

— Stuart Alderoty (@s_alderoty) February 27, 2026 He was particularly vocal during the five-year legal battle between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple. Alderoty consistently challenged the categorization of XRP as a security until it resulted in a legal win for Ripple.

Hence, it is not surprising to see him take on a mainstream media giant such as The New York Times. Alderoty’s bold confrontation of the renowned traditional media outlet as out of touch is likely to prompt a rethink and possibly a second critical look at the impact of crypto to everyday citizens in America.

He has also positioned the NCA as an authority that should be consulted if the media organization desires to redo a more balanced reportage of crypto.

Ripple CLO's policy push extends to stablecoin and yield debate You Might Also Like

It is worth mentioning that Stuart Alderoty's influence extends beyond just Ripple. Recently, he joined forces with other critical stakeholders from Wall Street and notable crypto leaders to attend a meeting at the U.S. White House.

The goal of that meeting was to resolve issues surrounding stablecoin yields and break the deadlock stalling progress on crypto legislation.

Alderoty was there to advance the course of crypto and point out that restricting yields was an unfair advantage to traditional banks.

Mark Karpelès submitted a pull request to Bitcoin Core that would redirect coins that have remained untouched since 2011 to a recovery address controlled by the MtGox trustee, reigniting the oldest debate in Bitcoin.

The missiles started flying, and so did the sell orders. Within hours of the US and Israel launching coordinated strikes on Iran, Bitcoin had dropped as much as 3.8% to $63,038, Ethereum had fallen nearly 9%, and more than 152,000 traders had been liquidated across crypto markets. With traditional stock and bond markets closed for the weekend, digital assets absorbed the full force of the panic — alone.

US And Israel Hit Iran’s Military And Nuclear Sites US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the US had begun what he described as “major combat operations” against Iran, with strikes aimed at the country’s missile systems, naval assets, and nuclear infrastructure.

Reports say Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a preemptive move, with both governments coordinating the assault. The scale and speed of the attack caught many off guard, and Iran’s response came quickly.

The US is carrying out strikes on Iran, two US officials tell CNN. Follow live updates: https://t.co/pG6pfrPwlm pic.twitter.com/vPGeQ9ILHp

— CNN (@CNN) February 28, 2026

According to reports, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones targeting not just Israel but American military installations across the Gulf region. A US base in Bahrain was reportedly struck. Qatar and the UAE said their defense systems intercepted projectiles flying over their territory.

Explosions were heard in Dubai. Bahrain shut its airspace entirely. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency declared that all US bases and interests across the region would be considered legitimate targets.

The conflict, by Saturday morning, had spread well beyond Iranian and Israeli borders.

BTCUSD now trading at $64,779. Chart: TradingView Crypto Markets Take The Hit Traditional Markets Cannot Yet Feel Stocks, bonds, and commodities markets were closed. Crypto was not. Bitcoin trades around the clock, every day of the week, which made it the only major financial market available to absorb the weekend’s fear.

The selling was fast and broad. Reports say roughly $128 billion in total market value was wiped across digital assets in the hours following the strike confirmation.

Bitcoin fell from around $66,000 to as low as $63,038 before settling near $64,000. Ethereum dropped below $1,850. XRP slid 8% to trade near $1.29. Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Chainlink each recorded losses of between 8% and 12%.

According to CoinGlass data, Bitcoin futures liquidations reached approximately $192 million, with futures trading volume surging to around $68.27 billion — a sign that derivatives markets were amplifying the move rather than spot sellers driving it alone. Total liquidations across all crypto assets hit $515 million within 24 hours.

The Fear and Greed Index, a widely watched measure of market sentiment, fell to 14 — deep inside extreme fear territory.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

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The Bitcoin price performance was quite disappointing over the past month. The flagship cryptocurrency has struggled to break sustainably above $70,000 throughout February, with prices only reaching $71,000 before facing sharp reversals.

It, then, becomes intuitively evident that this price region might be a key level acting as resistance to Bitcoin’s bullish attempts. Below are some other crucial levels to watch for in March and what they could potentially mean for the Bitcoin price.

BTC Realized Price Sits At $54,600 – What This Means  In a Quicktake post on the CryptoQuant platform, market analyst Burak Kesmeci highlighted five “cost clusters” that might reveal the next move for the Bitcoin price. For context, Cost clusters are essentially price levels that represent the average acquisition price of an asset (Bitcoin, in this case) by different investor cohorts

To start with, Kesmeci immediately revealed Bitcoin’s surest support price — the realized price — to be around the $54,600 mark. The realized price is a strong support region because it reflects the average cost basis of all the BTC in circulation.

Source: CryptoQuant Also, realized prices have historically served as long-term price support during bear phases. As a result, when the Bitcoin price trades above this level, it is often a sign of extant structural strength, while a break beneath the realized price is usually a sign of impending doom.

Bitcoin Could Switch Bullish In March — But On This Condition While the Bitcoin price may be displaying its higher timeframe backing, it is also true that the world’s leading cryptocurrency has a series of battles to fight as it ascends. According to the crypto pundit, four resistance zones lie in wait to reject possible upward recovery. 

The first of these zones is the 1 – 4-Week Realized Price, which reveals the average price at which recent buyers entered the BTC market. According to the highlighted CryptoQuant data, this cost basis stands at around the $71,600 level. 

When the Bitcoin price trades beneath this level, it signals that the latest participants are under severe heat. Hence, recovery attempts towards this price level would typically be met with significant resistance, as this cohort would want to exit at break-even.

The analyst further highlighted that the Short-Term Holder Realized Price (STH RP) is around $90,800; this concerns investors who have held BTC for less than 155 days. If the Bitcoin price manages to overcome the evident resistance at this level, it could signal a change in Bitcoin’s trend from bearish to bullish. 

Beyond the STH RP, the 365-day Simple Moving Average sits, occupying the $98,900 price level; then, a little more up North, the 3–6 Month Realized Price stands around $100,800. These metrics reflect the activity of Bitcoin’s medium-term holders, showing their realized price and average closing prices over the past year.

In the grand scheme, Bitcoin is clearly in a bearish phase. Thus, before March can stand as the pivotal month for market participants, BTC has to overcome those critical resistance levels. As of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at around $63,696, reflecting an over 5% decline in the past 24 hours.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

While bitcoin has been idling well beneath the $70,000 threshold, onchain metrics reveal that long-dormant wallets established between 2010 and 2017 have stirred to life in February, shifting 1,908.21 BTC value at just over $125 million through 69 separate transactions.

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Iran launches new missile attacks on U.S. military basesIran has begun a new round of missile attacks against U.S. military bases in the region. The strikes follow joint U.S.–Israel operations against Iran and mark a sharp escalation.

The salvo targeted U.S. positions in at least four countries on Saturday, according to El País. Early accounts point to a coordinated, multi-country response; independent damage and casualty assessments are still pending.

Why it matters: escalation after U.S.–Israel strikes on IranIsrael launched preemptive strikes and Washington announced major combat operations against Iran, after which Tehran fired missiles at Israel and multiple locations, as reported by DW. The current Iranian barrage against U.S. bases is framed as retaliation within this sequence.

Heightened military activity raises the risk of miscalculation and spillover across host nations. Energy routes, air defenses, and diplomatic channels may all face additional strain if the tempo continues.

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In Bahrain, plumes of smoke were seen rising from a U.S. base after Iranian forces said they targeted the headquarters there, as reported by Stars and Stripes. Authorities have not released confirmed casualty figures, and full damage assessments remain underway.

Regional governments hosting U.S. assets face elevated security risks due to their proximity to Iranian launch areas. Analysts caution that base-hardening and missile-defense capacity could be tested by additional salvos.

Official responses and regional escalation risksU.S., Israel, Iran statements and Operation Epic Fury goalsU.S. officials describe the current campaign as intended to degrade Iran’s offensive capabilities. “We have launched ‘major combat operations’ under ‘Operation Epic Fury,’” said U.S. President Donald Trump, outlining goals to cripple missile, naval, and nuclear programs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has characterized the joint strikes as preemptive in response to what he calls an existential threat. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S.–Israel action as unlawful and framed its missile response as self-defense without red lines.

UN and European calls for restraint; allies’ vulnerability concernsThe United Nations leadership urged maximum restraint and adherence to international law, warning that further escalation could destabilize the region. Calls emphasized protecting civilians and preventing a broader conflict.

European leaders pushed for a return to diplomacy and de-escalation, according to the Associated Press. Separately, senior U.S. officials have warned of escalation risks and the strain on missile-defense stocks in sustained operations, as reported by The Washington post.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin (BTC) trades near 64,431 with high volatility around 7.94% and an RSI near 39.37, based on provided market data. This market snapshot is contextual and not investment advice.

FAQ about Iran missile attacksWhich countries and U.S. bases were hit, and what casualties or damage are confirmed so far?Reports indicate U.S. bases were struck in at least four countries. Specific sites and casualty figures were not independently confirmed at publication.

How are the U.S., Israel, and Iran framing their operations, including Operation Epic Fury?Washington frames “Operation Epic Fury” as degrading Iranian capabilities. Israel cites preemption against existential threats. Tehran calls its response lawful self-defense after U.S.–Israel strikes.

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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The giddy days of free cloud storage enticed many to upload photos, documents, and other virtual mementos without a thought about all the space it was taking up. Those days, however, are now in the past for many Americans as people find themselves having to shell out increasing monthly amounts to maintain access to their virtual valuables.

From Snap's recent decision to cap free Snapchat Memories storage to the last of the lingering freebie deals going away — Alphabet's Google Photos ended unlimited free backups for T-Mobile account holders — to more Alphabet and Apple device users finding themselves pushing up against the limits of free cloud storage, a quiet but significant shift is underway. The storage that once felt like a gift is now likely to be a subscription, or what once felt like pocket change is now a pinch. 

Experts say it all adds up to a good time for customers to rein in their freewheeling photography and hoarding of personal memories.

"It is basic supply and demand in the face of scarcity," said Devon Hawkins, who teaches economics at Elon University. "For years, tech companies gave away free cloud storage to attract users and grow quickly," Hawkins said, but storing billions of photos and videos is not free. "It requires massive data centers, electricity, cybersecurity, and constant upgrades," she added.    

The cash needs of the tech giants are greater than ever before as they race to build out expensive data centers. Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon's capital expenditures could hit $700 billion this year. Amazon alone said it expects to spend $200 billion this year, a nearly 60% annual increase, and well ahead of the $50 billion Wall Street forecast. It's a pace of spending that is expected to push Amazon's free cash flow into negative territory in 2026. Meanwhile, Alphabet, which raised $25 billion in a bond sale in November, quadrupled its long-term debt in 2025.

Hawkins says that at the same time, we are creating more digital content than ever before. "When demand keeps rising and resources are limited, prices tend to follow. What felt free was really part of a long-term growth strategy," she said. 

Consumer complaints are on the riseComplaints from consumers are on the rise, according to Michael Podolsky, who finds himself in the eye of the storm. The CEO and co-founder of PissedConsumer.com, Podolsky says his firm is fielding complaints every day, and says cloud storage issues and photo deletions began really ramping up in December and have continued unabated into this year.   

"From what we see in reviews posted on our platform, consumers are frustrated as cloud storage shifts from 'free extras' to subscriptions," Podolsky said. Users often describe feeling like they have no choice but to pay to keep access to photos, documents and other personal files. 

Although companies say they provide advance notice of pricing changes — Google Cloud commits to notifying customers at least 30 days ahead — many consumers report feeling blindsided by deletion warnings and payment demands, according to Podolsky. 

Google Cloud receives the most consumer complaints related to cloud storage issues, according to his platform's data.  "Many report being locked out after paying, struggling to update payment methods, and receiving confusing 'deletion' notices that are hard to verify. For some users, these messages look like scams designed to push quick payment. So it's not only about storage getting more expensive, but also about unclear rules and billing risks," Podolsky said. 

Google Cloud did not respond to a request for comment. But price tiers rose last year for some Google storage services tiers. For instance, before the increase in February 2025, the 200 GB plan was $2.99 month. The same plan is now  $4.99 a month.

A spokesperson for Snap, which just started charging for storage, pointed out that the company still offers free storage for most users and that only Snapchatters who exceed 5 gigabytes of Memories — which, the spokesperson says, amounts to thousands and thousands of Snaps — are required to upgrade to gain access to additional storage. The spokesperson says the extra revenue generated is reinvested in the platform. 

Consumers are storing more photos now than ever before, according to Andrew Laffoon, CEO and founder of Mixbook, a Redwood City, California-based photo book and personalized printing company, but the traditional systems for holding these memories are becoming increasingly restrictive. 

"As platforms reduce their free storage tiers, everyday memories are getting pushed behind a paywall," Laffoon says. 

Shutterfly isn't walling people off from their photos if they don't pay, but the service is restricted for inactive users. A Shutterfly spokeswoman said the photo storage policy provides unlimited free photo storage, sharing, and downloading for active accounts with at least one order placed every 18 months. 

"Photos from accounts without an order within that time will be archived, not deleted," the spokeswoman said. The archived status allows access and viewing, but not downloading or sharing. She says photos that are archived will remain safe and preserved in their original quality. And once someone orders something, that reinstates the account to a fully active status. 

Managing personal history, and emotions, behind a paywallIn some ways, what companies from Google to Snap to Shutterfly are doing is similar to the model of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, which used low prices and free trials to reel people in — and once the service became part of daily life, pricing adjusted. 

"The difference now is that this feels personal. We are emotionally attached to our data. These are not just files. They are baby photos, school projects, and family milestones," Hawkins said, and she added that makes the emotional impact of these changes real. 

"I will be honest. I sometimes worry that losing access to an account would feel like losing a digital history book for my family. That emotional connection makes the shift away from free storage feel bigger than just another subscription," she said. And while the consumer may feel it is unfair, economically it is predictable. "When something becomes essential and demand is steady, companies eventually charge for it," Hawkins said. 

The shift is contributing to some of the strongest revenue gains for big technology companies. Apple doesn't break out iCloud storage revenue specifically, but its services segment — which bundles iCloud alongside the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Pay — hit an all-time high over $30 billion in its most recent quarterly earnings report, with 14 percent year-over-year growth and a forecast that it will continue to grow at the same level in the first quarter of 2026. Services generated nearly $100 billion in revenue in 2024.

According to recent data from analytics firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners(CIRP), 70 percent of Apple customers use iCloud storage, with Apple Music coming in second at 50 percent. Subscription bundle AppleOne comes in third at 48 percent.  A host of other Apple services also capture significant, but lesser percentages of their customers.

Hawkins says the transformation has reduced costs in other areas. While people bristle at a monthly storage bill, spending in other areas of the personal memory ecosystem has shifted, with the days of buying cannisters of film, taking photos to the one-hour lab, buying photo albums, and printing doubles now in the past for many consumers. 

"Most families are not printing albums like they used to. We are not developing film, buying DVDs, or filling filing cabinets with paper. Those industries have shrunk as we store, share, and stream digitally," Hawkins said. "Some producers benefit from this shift, while others are left behind. That is how markets evolve," she added. 

Laffoon says consumers also bear some responsibility for the situation, and managing it into the future. Mixbook's recent survey of more than 2,400 Americans found that 48% have more than 1,000 photos saved on their phones and one in five feel overwhelmed by the number of images they store. "With this trend, we're witnessing two things happen simultaneously: cloud platforms are giving consumers less space while consumers are generating more content than ever before. This combination is creating a pivotal moment around how people manage their digital memories," Laffoon said. 

In many cases, consumers are finding that the era of free storage led them to leave a wider trail of personal memories online than was likely in their long-term interest. 

"Consumers are realizing that their memories feel 'trapped' on platforms they rarely visit. When your photos live in the cloud, it makes it harder to find, enjoy, or share memories that should be sparking joy rather than creating overwhelm," Laffoon said. The real question, he says, isn't "Where do I store more?" It's "Why don't I ever look at these?" 

"People don't need more storage. They need a reason to revisit what they already have. A place where photos feel like actual memories again," Laffoon said. 

Berkshire Hathaway reported a big decline in its operating earnings for the fourth quarter, due in large part to weakness in the conglomerate's insurance business.

Earnings from operations totaled $10.2 billion in Q4. That's down more than 29% from $14.56 billion in the year-earlier period.

This was the final quarter under Warren Buffett as CEO, who announced he was stepping down at the annual shareholders meeting last May. Greg Abel took the reins to start 2026 and vowed in Berkshire's annual letter accompanying Saturday's results to continue the culture Buffett built of financial strength and capital discipline. Buffett remains chairman.

Insurance underwriting profits dropped 54% to $1.56 billion from $3.41 billion a year prior. Insurance investment income slid nearly 25% from to $3.1 billion from $4.088 billion.

For the full-year 2025, operating earnings totaled $44.49 billion. That's down from $47.44 billion in the year prior.

Profits from insurance underwriting came in at $7.26 billion, down from $9 billion in 2024. Insurance investment income for the year eased to $12.5 billion from $13.6 billion a year prior.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

The December quarter marked Warren Buffett's last as CEO, a role now occupied by longtime deputy Greg Abel.

DiamondRock Hospitality offers a compelling investment with a strong, flexible balance sheet and consistent dividend growth, currently rated as a 'Buy.' DRH's diversified, predominantly third-party managed hotel portfolio enhances operational flexibility and has outperformed brand-managed peers, reducing concentration and supply risks. The company's recent refinancing, elimination of preferred stock, and low net debt/EBITDA (3.7x) bolster liquidity and support ongoing capital returns.

The U.S. attack on Iran will have implications for defense and energy stocks.

With the Supreme Court overturning the current administration’s tariffs and the subsequent hasty implementation of a different set of tariffs, uncertainty has boosted the appeal of gold. This week, significant assets poured into physical gold ETFs.

The $3 billion Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) has a number of advantages that could appeal to investors. The most obvious is the fund’s expense ratio of 0.18%, at the lower end of the fees charged by competitors. When gold goes up, investors keep more of their gains than if they were in a pricier fund.

Get a Grip on Gold AAAU also has a smaller handle than many competing physical gold ETFs. It buys exposure to 1/100 of an ounce of gold. Some other funds offer per-share exposure to 1/10 of an ounce of gold. Those shares providing greater per-share exposure are proportionally more expensive.

For investors who are deploying less money or new to investing, the lower barrier to entry can have significant appeal, as can the greater precision that can be achieved when rebalancing a portfolio. Near the end of February, AAAU had a price of roughly $51 per share, while shares of other competing funds cost significantly more.

See More: Gold ETF AAAU Offers Exposure to Record Highs for Key Metal

Gold is off its highs after a historic runup in 2025 that lasted into January 2026, before a sharp dip in February. However, as uncertainty around the global economy has increased in recent days, it has seen investors make an about-face.

Investors seem to be very interested in the “haven” aspect of gold investing. In late January, Goldman raised its gold price forecast by $500 to $5,400/toz for the end of 2026 based on a range of expectations, including for continued buying by central banks. AAAU could be a useful tool for investors looking for lower-cost and more precise exposure to that potential upside.

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Acadia Pharmaceuticals' two approved drugs, NUPLAZID and DAYBUE, are guided to continue their strong growth trajectories. These two drugs alone support a "buy" thesis for Acadia. Learning from previously rejected drugs adds to the value of its strong late-stage pipeline.

Robinhood (HOOD 4.61%) has gone through a lot over the years. The company rebuilt profitability in 2025, diversified revenue streams, and earned a place in the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.43%). Those milestones marked maturity. But maturity is not the same as durability.

In 2026, the central question shifts from performance to identity: Can Robinhood evolve into a true long-term compounder, or will it remain tied to market cycles?

Image source: Getty Images.

From trading app to financial platform Robinhood's future depends on whether it can move beyond transactional revenue and deepen financial relationships.

The company now operates across trading, subscriptions, credit cards, cash management, crypto infrastructure, and tokenized assets. That breadth gives it optionality.

But optionality alone does not create compounding.

Compounding requires predictable engagement -- customers who rely on the platform for multiple aspects of their financial lives, not just trades during bull markets.

If Robinhood can meaningfully increase multi-product adoption and grow assets per funded account, its business model changes fundamentally. It becomes relationship-driven rather than transaction-driven.

That distinction will define the coming years, starting from 2026.

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The demographic advantage must convert into customer lifetime value Robinhood's relatively young customer base remains one of its most powerful structural advantages. A platform that acquires investors early in their financial journey gains time. And time is the raw material of compounding. But youth alone does not guarantee durability.

In 2026, investors should look for evidence that users are progressing along the financial life cycle within the ecosystem. Are they adopting savings tools? Using the Gold Card? Holding larger balances? Maintaining accounts through quieter markets?

If Robinhood grows alongside its users as their financial needs expand, lifetime value increases dramatically. If engagement fades when trading slows, the demographic edge weakens.

Innovation must strengthen trust Robinhood continues to push into frontier areas like tokenization, crypto expansion, and prediction markets. These initiatives create upside. They also introduce regulatory and reputational complexity.

For Robinhood to become a compounder, innovation must coexist with discipline. The company must show it can experiment without reigniting volatility or regulatory backlash. In addition, innovation must go hand in hand with smart capital allocation.

In short, stability and credibility are now strategic assets, and Robinhood should focus on defending them (or, better still, improving them) over time.

Is Robinhood a buy? 2026 will not be about explosive growth. It will be about proof of consistency.

If recurring revenue expands, volatility declines, and ecosystem depth strengthens, Robinhood can transition from a high-beta growth story to an emerging fintech compounder. If not, it risks remaining a platform whose fortunes rise and fall with market enthusiasm.

The transformation has begun. Now the company must prove that it can keep it up in 2026 and beyond.

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

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

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the BellRing class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51444 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 23, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

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

To join the BellRing class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=51444 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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
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HomeDividends AnalysisDividend Quick Picks

SummaryThe business development company, or BDC, sector faces aggressive bearish sentiment, with the market pricing in severe SaaS credit risks.Currently, we are definitely in a cyclical low, which could be the right time to buy for patient and long-term investors.However, many investors (especially conservative ones and retirees) want to remain on the sidelines and jump in back when things become less volatile.In this context, I share two resilient BDCs, which are structurally protected from the SaaS risks are are positioned to deliver truly durable dividend going forward. Pla2na/iStock via Getty Images

The private credit space (BIZD) has been completely obliviated by the bears and market participants, who believe that the current headlines around SaaS and liquidity squeeze a) will translate into actual consequences and b) these consequences will

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.

Strike Energy Limited (STKKF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call February 25, 2026 8:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Emma Alexander - Investor Relations & Corporate Manager
Peter Stokes - MD, CEO & Director
Tim Cooper - CFO & Company Secretary

Presentation

Emma Alexander
Investor Relations & Corporate Manager

Welcome to Strike Energy's First Half Financial Year 2026 webinar. We've got Peter Stokes, our Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer; and Tim Cooper, our Chief Financial Officer, joining us today. I'll hand over to Peter for an introduction, and Tim will take us through the financials -- the financial results before I hand back to Peter for an operations review, and then we'll do some Q&A at the end with the time remaining. Peter, over to you.

Peter Stokes
MD, CEO & Director

Thank you, Emma. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining the call this morning for the first half results. I'm really happy to have you join us, and we're happy to take questions at the end. There have been a number of questions that have come through the hub and online, and via text over the last couple of days. So we'll address as many of those as we can. And if -- and those that we're not able to, we'll certainly provide some additional responses to as well.

I recognize and this has come through a couple of the questions that we haven't provided a lot of communications over the last couple of months other than more of the sort of regulatory updates and certainly announcing [indiscernible] West spud due in early April. Part of the reason and the key part of that is that the -- a number of the discussions we're having, particularly around a couple of our major projects are commercially sensitive. As soon as we have further information that we can share, we will

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.

Jane Street becoming a scapegoat for Bitcoin and crypto market crash is the highlight in the crypto weekly wrap from February 23-27. BTC, ETH, and XRP prices remained range-bound this week ahead of the monthly crypto options expiry and macro headwinds.

Regulatory developments picked up pace this week, with traders becoming cautious amid headwinds such as ETH selling spree by Vitalik Buterin. Here’s a breakdown of the key developments this week.

Crypto Weekly Wrap: Jane Street Conspiracy Theory As Bitcoin and major crypto assets failed to rebound despite institutional buying, the community targets Jane Street in the latest conspiracy theory. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said:

The conspiracy theories are wild. First it was Binance and then it was Wintermute and then it was an unknown offshore macro hedge fund and then it was paper bitcoin and. today it is Jane Street and next week it will be someone else.

It follows a lawsuit by Terraform Labs bankruptcy administrator against Jane Street, along with individuals, including co-founder Robert Granieri and employees Bryce Pratt and Michael Huang. The suit alleges insider trading and front-running that accelerated UST depeg and caused the Terra-LUNA crisis.

Vitalik Buterin Sold Massive ETH Holdings Leading digital asset treasuries (DATs) Strategy and Bitmine continued to accumulate BTC and ETH, respectively. However, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s ETH selloff spree and institutions have turned traders cautious.

According to Lookonchain data, Vitalik has likely completed his selling plan. He sold 19,318 ETH for $38.7 million at $2,004. Vitalik Buterin earlier announced to sell 16,384 ETH, but he’s sold more than planned.

ETH prices jumped above $2,000 after the Ethereum Foundation started its 70,000 ETH staking plan as part of its treasury policy. This sparked massive buying in the derivatives markets as open interest bounced.

Crypto Weekly Wrap: Deeper BTC Crash Risks amid Macro Jitters Bitcoin climbed 5% above $68,000 after Nvidia earnings and the United States’ plan not to hike tariffs on China. Also, multiple positive developments, such as Citibank’s plans to offer Bitcoin services, fueled gains toward $70,000.

However, weekly initial job openings and hotter PPI inflation data spoiled the market’s mood as the week came to an end. US PPI rose 0.5% in January, its biggest monthly gain in four months, beating expectations of 0.3% after a 0.4% increase in December. This caused headline PPI inflation increase to 2.9% YoY.

Meanwhile, Core PPI jumped 0.8%, the most in six months and well above forecasts of 0.3%. Core Producer Prices YoY came in above expectations at 3.6% in January from 3.30% in December of 2025.

Popular analyst Willy Woo predicted Bitcoin price crash in the coming weeks. BTC may typically drop to $45K. He expects bearish pressure to start subsiding in Q4 2026 and the bear market bottom in Q1 2027.

Focus on Crypto Policies and Regulations In this week’s crypto weekly wrap, the focus shifted to crypto policies and regulations. The global crypto market saw progress towards industry and regulators’ requirements for clear crypto rules and regulations. The discussions on the CLARITY Act continued as the White House’s March 1 deadline approached. JPMorgan anticipated a bullish second half for the crypto market following the approval of the CLARITY Act.

Also, the US Federal Reserve opened a 60-day public comment period on a proposal to end crypto debanking. Senator Cynthia Lummis praised the proposal, calling it a long-overdue correction to Fed policy.

The OCC issues proposed rulemaking to implement the GENIUS Act for the issuance of stablecoins. However, the regulator proposes a rebuttable presumption to prohibit stablecoin yields.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin signed a new law granting courts the power to seize or confiscate crypto assets such as Bitcoin. It comes as Russia pushes for crypto regulations and crackdown foreign crypto exchanges.

3 mins mins

Key Insights:

Ethereum Foundation stakes 2,016 ETH today, aiming for 70,000 ETH to fund network development. USD1 faces coordinated attack; WLFI co-founders’ accounts hacked, token briefly depegged below 0.981 USDT. Uniswap launches seven AI agent Skills; TRUMP token, x402, UniSat, and Magic Eden report updates. Weekly Crypto Highlights: Binance Stock Tokens, USD1 Attack, Ethereum Staking The Ethereum Foundation has begun staking a portion of its treasury funds, depositing 2,016 ETH today. The foundation plans to stake about 70,000 ETH in total, with all rewards returned to its treasury. The staking uses software called Dirk and Vouch. Dirk allows signing across multiple locations without a single point of failure. Vouch helps reduce risks by pairing multiple clients.

The foundation uses a limited number of clients, combined with custodial infrastructure and self-managed hardware. These operations are spread across several locations. The initiative supports network security and provides funds for research, ecosystem development, and community grants.

USD1 Experiences Coordinated Attack World Liberty Financial reported that USD1 faced a “coordinated attack.” Several co-founders’ accounts were hacked, and large-scale short-selling affected the token. USD1 briefly dropped to 0.9802 USDT, and WLFI lost over 8% of its value.

Eric Trump removed some posts on social media during the incident. The team stated that no wallets or contracts were compromised, and the attack only involved unauthorized access to co-founders’ accounts.

Updates on Uniswap, TRUMP Token, and zkSync Uniswap Labs launched seven new agent functions to support on-chain workflows. These include v4-security-foundations, configurator, deployer, viem-integration, swap-integration, liquidity-planner, and swap-planner. Developers can use them through the open-source uniswap-ai repository.

The TRUMP token team said it will use up to 5% of tokens to fund ecosystem projects. This includes boosting liquidity, partnerships, acquisitions, and developing the Web3 game TRUMP Billionaires Club.

zkSync will stop supporting its Lite version on May 4 and focus on the Era ecosystem. Migration guides will be shared to help Lite users transition.

Market Movements and Platform Announcements x402 trading volume reached nearly $400,000, a two-month high. UniSat announced a 90-day fee-free policy for its Bitcoin marketplaces and plans a phased buyback of FB tokens. Magic Eden will close Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces and stop supporting its multi-chain wallet in early April.

Binance relaunched tokenized U.S. stock trading with Ondo Finance, offering ten tokenized stocks and ETFs. Terraform Labs’ liquidator filed a lawsuit against Jane Street, claiming insider trading accelerated Terraform’s collapse.

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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Tokenized Gold Safe Haven 2026 isn’t just a catchy phrase infact it’s the plot twist in a brutal weekend for crypto especially. When news of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran broke on a Saturday, traditional markets were closed. Stocks? Shut. Bonds? Offline. Crypto? Wide awake and blinking red. And so it became the global pressure outlet.

Weekend Panic UnleashedHere’s how it played out. With no access to equities or Treasuries, investors needing instant safety dumped the most liquid assets available, yes that cryptocurrencies for you. It wasn’t philosophical. It was practical. Sell first, ask questions later.

In just few hours, coinglass shows over $460 million in intraday liquidation and coinmarketcap showed total market cap dropping from $2.26 trillion to $2.21 trillion vanished. That’s not a dip. That’s a trapdoor.

Bitcoin fell roughly 3.8%, tagging a local low near $63,308. Ethereum dropped harder, down between 4.5% and 6.5%, trading near $1,835. Higher-beta names like Solana and XRP slid even deeper, with some declines stretching past 10% as traders fled risk.

Leverage Domino EffectBut the selling wasn’t purely emotional. It was mechanical. Many traders were leaning long. When prices dipped, exchanges started liquidating those leveraged bets. Forced selling triggered more forced selling. The classic cascade. Within minutes, what began as caution morphed into a full-blown leverage flush.

And despite the “digital gold” narrative, institutional players treated crypto like a tech stock under fire. They sold it and rotated into the U.S. dollar and physical gold both of which surged.

Tokenized Gold Takes StageThis is where Tokenized Gold Safe Haven 2026 becomes more than a headline. As volatility ripped through altcoins, capital rotated into tokenized metals. By late February 2026, tokenized gold’s market cap alone surged. That’s not theoretical demand. That’s actual repositioning.

On centralized exchanges like Binance, leading gold-backed tokens such as PAX Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUt) saw sharp volume activity. PAXG trading volume on OKX spiked dramatically during a recent 24-hour window as tensions intensified.

Critical Levels AheadNow attention shifts to structural support. The $60,000–$63,000 range is seen as critical for Bitcoin. If it holds, recovery isn’t off the table. If it cracks, things could snowball.

Historically, war-driven flash crashes in crypto often form local bottoms once the shock fades. There’s also the so-called “springboard effect,” where markets rebound hard after forced liquidations exhaust sellers.

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The debate between Gold ETF and tokenized Gold has heated up further as experts and investors speculate on which asset could bring better returns in this market cycle. The assets both provide access to gold but differ in their operational approaches, as capital looks to shift more into the tokenization sector.

Tokenized Gold vs Gold ETF: Where is Capital Flowing? Tokenized gold markets witnessed explosive growth in the last year. In 2025, its market cap increased its net value by almost $2.8 billion. Its market cap rose from $1.6 billion to $4.4 billion. Tether Gold especially grew by 6% to $3.7 billion according to DefiLlama data.

Source: DeFiLlama data This implies that the market absorbed almost a quarter of the net RWA increase in the last year. Its net inflows are also greater than the net inflows in tokenized stocks, corporate bonds, and non-US treasuries.

The number of tokenized gold holders increased by more than 115,000 in the last year. Its increase was 14 times faster than in 2024. Compared to the other major RWA markets, the tokenized gold market increased its holders by more than the tokenized US treasuries and other tokenized bonds.

Meanwhile, large gold ETFs reported substantial asset flows, which doubled their asset size. However, even in this context, tokenized gold has turned out to be a standout.

Source: CEX Tokenized gold grew 2.6 times faster than the physical asset. This outperformed most of the top 7 spot ETFs. Among the major ETFs, only iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) reported a growth of more than 300% in asset size this year.

Trading Volume Shows Where Adoption Is Accelerating Trading volumes of gold-related assets witnessed a dramatic acceleration during 2025, with volumes increasing quarter by quarter. By Q4, the trading volumes of the tokenized asset surpassed an impressive figure of over $126 billion.

To put it into perspective, the trading volumes of tokenized gold during Q4 were slightly higher than those of five major ETFs. However, there is one ETF that stands out from the rest , SPDR Gold Shares, or GLD, with its massive trading volumes of $375 billion during Q4.

Source: CEX In comparison with gold ETFs, tokenized gold would rank preciousbymetals’g volumes, ahead of all the precious metal’s ETFs except GLD. Trading volume in gold tokens in 2025 grew by more than 1,550% compared to 2024, a rate that was almost ten times faster compared to that of the largest ETFs, which registered a growth rate of between 100% to 150%.