Market Signal Briefing

TL;DR

The Ripple CEO and the Solana president will participate in a panel at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai to discuss the evolution of the crypto ecosystem.
Brad Garlinghouse, Lily Liu, and Richard Teng will debate the future of blockchain payment systems and global financial infrastructure.
There will be a face-off between Peter Schiff and CZ on Bitcoin versus tokenized gold.

Ripple and Solana leaders are preparing to take the spotlight in a key panel at the upcoming Binance Blockchain Week, which will take place on December 3 and 4 in Dubai.

Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, will share the stage with Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, and Richard Teng, Binance’s CEO, in a segment titled “The Path Ahead / Moving Forward,” scheduled for December 3 from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. (UTC+4).

Debating the Future of the Crypto Ecosystem
The panel will focus on the evolution of the crypto ecosystem and the opportunities emerging in a context of greater regulatory clarity. Garlinghouse stated in a tweet that “Moving forward is the only path worth considering,” expressing his enthusiasm for discussing the future of blockchain payment systems and the modernization of financial networks on a global scale alongside other industry leaders.

Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, will take part in a panel titled “The Next Era of Payment Rails.” The discussion will focus on how blockchain-powered payment systems accelerate international settlement, improve transaction speed, and strengthen financial connectivity across regions, a key topic for companies seeking efficiency and security in international payments.

The event will also feature other prominent speakers, including Michael Saylor of Strategy and Raoul Pal, cofounder and CEO of Real Vision. One of the most anticipated moments will be the debate on Bitcoin versus tokenized gold between Peter Schiff, a well-known Bitcoin critic, and Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, founder of Binance, as both sides attempt to define which asset could dominate the financial future.

The year 2025 has been decisive for Ripple and the crypto market as a whole. The company achieved the closure of the SEC lawsuit filed against it. The agency also dismissed several cases, including those against Binance and its founder, marking a symbolic end to a phase of aggressive regulatory crackdowns.

Ripple Targets a $40 Billion Valuation
Ripple announced a $500 million investment led by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group and Citi Securities, aiming to reach a valuation of $40 billion. Garlinghouse viewed this investment not only as validation of the company’s growth strategy, but also as a clear vote of confidence in its vision for the future of the crypto market.

Binance Blockchain Week will bring together leading industry voices to discuss trends, opportunities, and challenges. The event serves as a platform to outline the future of the crypto ecosystem at a moment of expansion and consolidation.

People rarely buy Bitcoin with perfect clarity. They enter the market with confidence, excitement, fear, or frustration. They act on instinct before they act on information. Behavioural biases shape most decisions long before logic even shows up.

Bitcoin remains appealing because of the speed of its moves and the constant debate surrounding it. It pulls in buyers who feel ready for the challenge. The current Bitcoin price has become a symbol of opportunity and risk. That same price movement also makes investors vulnerable to mistakes that feel small in the moment and significant soon after.

The Invisible Puppeteers That Shape Investor Behaviour

Overconfidence shows up first. Many investors believe they can predict Bitcoin price trends. They assume a strong entry or a lucky gain proves skill. They trade too often and push too hard. Research on crypto investors shows this clearly. Retail traders regularly attribute short-term success to talent rather than chance. This leads them into rapid trading patterns that hurt long-term results.

Anchoring is quieter but just as damaging. A buyer remembers the first price they ever saw and stays attached to it. That number becomes a personal benchmark. It shapes every later choice. Academic research shows that anchoring influences many crypto investors. They struggle to adjust their expectations even when new data contradicts the numbers they cling to. 

Loss aversion sits close behind. Investors dislike losses more than they enjoy gains. That drives the disposition effect. People hold losing Bitcoin for too long and sell winning Bitcoin too early. This is not unique to crypto. It appears in wider financial studies. Yet in Bitcoin the swings intensify the effect. One study confirmed that crypto traders show the disposition effect in a consistent pattern.

Herding is the easiest trap to fall into. A wave of enthusiasm pushes people to buy because others are buying. Friends talk. Social feeds fill with excitement. The fear of missing out takes shape. A review of investor behaviour across crypto markets found that herding appears frequently among both new and experienced buyers.

Confirmation bias ties it all together. Once someone builds a belief about Bitcoin, they hunt for information that matches it. They avoid any source that disagrees with them. Research in behavioural economics shows that crypto traders fall into confirmation cycles that distort judgement. This keeps them inside narrow views and blocks better decision making.

Why These Biases Hit Bitcoin Buyers Hard

Bitcoin gives few natural reference points for valuation. Stocks have earnings. Bonds have yields. Property has rental income. Bitcoin does not provide comparable anchors. Information gaps allow emotions to fill the space. Volatility takes advantage of those gaps. Biases slip in. A trader starts trusting instinct rather than evidence.

Public conversation amplifies every pressure point. The market reacts to headlines fast. Social sentiment moves even faster. One study linked extreme optimism and pessimism within online conversations to price anomalies. These conversations did not simply reflect price movements. They preceded them.

This means collective behaviour influences the market. Individual biases become crowd biases. Crowd biases become price action. That circular pattern can punish anyone who does not recognise it early.

Practical Ways To Avoid These Biases

Clear habits help. A trading journal forces structure. Writing down the reason for a decision keeps emotions visible instead of hidden. Over time the pattern becomes clear. If the pattern shows impulsive buying or panic selling, the investor sees it plainly.

Pre-commitment rules reduce emotional instincts. A buyer can decide on risk limits before entering a position. When price swings arrive, the rules take priority over instinct. This keeps loss aversion from taking control.

A broader range of information sources slows confirmation bias. Reading research along with general commentary opens up weaker assumptions and encourages better thinking. It also reduces the influence of hype.

A pause before reacting to social excitement helps avoid herding. A moment of distance allows an investor to check motive. If the choice comes from pressure rather than conviction, the pause reveals it.

Reflection after each decision sharpens awareness. It builds a link between behaviour and outcome. It turns bias into something visible instead of something hidden in the background.

Why Understanding These Biases Matters

Understanding how your mind behaves does not eliminate mistakes. It reduces their frequency. It creates more consistent reasoning. Overconfidence becomes easier to spot. Anchoring becomes easier to challenge. Loss aversion becomes a factor to monitor rather than a silent threat. Herding becomes easier to resist. Confirmation bias becomes something you question regularly.

Bitcoin will always move fast. It will always attract attention. It will always create strong reactions. Recognising your own psychological patterns gives you a small edge. That edge is often worth more than any single trade.

When you manage your thinking with intention, you lower the chances that emotion will guide your decisions. You do not need to predict the future. You need to keep your judgement clear. That is the part you control. That is the part that makes a difference.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about GigaCloud Technology Inc. (GCT - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

GigaCloud Technology Inc. currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.80, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by five brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.80 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the five recommendations that derive the current ABR, three are Strong Buy, representing 60% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for GCT

Check price target & stock forecast for GigaCloud Technology Inc. here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying GigaCloud Technology Inc., it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in GCT?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for GigaCloud Technology Inc., the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 7.7% over the past month to $3.2.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for GigaCloud Technology Inc. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for GigaCloud Technology Inc may serve as a useful guide for investors.

Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.

One of our most popular services, Zacks Premium offers daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter. All are useful tools to find what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.

The service also includes the Focus List, which is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that boast a winning, market-beating combination of growth and momentum qualities.

Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?

Enter the Zacks Focus List. It's a portfolio made up of 50 stocks that are set to beat the market over the next 12 months; each company selected serves as a foundation for long-term investors looking to create an individual portfolio.

What makes the Focus List even more helpful is that each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, which explains the reasoning behind every stock's selection and why we believe it's a good pick for the long-term.

The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.

Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Earnings estimates, or expectations of growth and profitability, come from brokerage analysts who track publicly traded companies; these analysts work together with company management to analyze every aspect that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.

Earnings estimate revisions are very important, since investors also need to take into consideration what a company will earn in the future.

Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.

Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model that utilizes changes to a company's quarterly earnings expectations to help investors build a winning portfolio.

There are four main factors behind the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each one of these features is then given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank. Using this data, stocks are classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."

The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.

Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.

Focus List Spotlight: Broadridge Financial Solutions (BR - Free Report) Based in Lake Success, NY, Broadridge is a global financial technology company that offers investor communications and technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset managers and corporate issuers. The company is a leading producer and distributor of a variety of documents, widely used in the financial industry, including proxies, annual reports, prospectuses and trade confirmations.

On August 29, 2017, BR was added to the Focus List at $76.91 per share. Shares have increased 195.31% to $227.12 since then, and the company is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $9.38. BR boasts an average earnings surprise of 10.6%.

Additionally, BR's earnings are expected to grow 9.7% for the current fiscal year.

Reveal Winning StocksUnlock all of our powerful research, tools and analysis, including the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research Reports, Zacks Earnings ESP Filter, Premium Screener and more, as part of Zacks Premium. You'll quickly identify which stocks to buy, hold and sell, and target today's hottest industries, to help improve the performance of your portfolio. Gain full access now >>

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Bitfarms Ltd. (BITF - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Bitfarms currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.30, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 10 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.30 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 10 recommendations that derive the current ABR, eight are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 80% and 10% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BITF

Check price target & stock forecast for Bitfarms here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Bitfarms, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.

Is BITF a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Bitfarms, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 95.8% over the past month to -$0.28.

Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Bitfarms. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for Bitfarms with a grain of salt.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Western Digital (WDC - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Western Digital currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.35, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 24 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.35 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 24 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 19 are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 79.2% and 4.2% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for WDC

Check price target & stock forecast for Western Digital here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Western Digital, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

Broker recommendations are the sole basis for calculating the ABR, which is typically displayed in decimals (such as 1.28). The Zacks Rank, on the other hand, is a quantitative model designed to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is WDC a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Western Digital, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 9% over the past month to $7.38.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) for Western Digital. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Western Digital may serve as a useful guide for investors.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about SkyWest (SKYW - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

SkyWest currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.00, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by six brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.00 indicates Strong Buy.

Of the six recommendations that derive the current ABR, six are Strong Buy, representing 100% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for SKYW

Check price target & stock forecast for SkyWest here>>>

The ABR suggests buying SkyWest, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in SKYW?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for SkyWest, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 3.9% over the past month to $10.33.

Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for SkyWest. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for SkyWest may serve as a useful guide for investors.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about MercadoLibre (MELI - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

MercadoLibre currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.58, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.58 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 15 are Strong Buy, representing 75% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for MELI

Check price target & stock forecast for MercadoLibre here>>>

The ABR suggests buying MercadoLibre, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.

This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.

Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.

ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankAlthough both Zacks Rank and ABR are displayed in a range of 1--5, they are different measures altogether.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Should You Invest in MELI?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for MercadoLibre, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 5.9% over the past month to $40.27.

Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for MercadoLibre. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for MercadoLibre with a grain of salt.

BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ - Free Report) reported $5.35 billion in revenue for the quarter ended October 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.9%. EPS of $1.16 for the same period compares to $1.18 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.35 billion, representing a surprise of -0.08%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +5.45%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.10.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how BJ's performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Comparable club sales, excluding gasoline sales: 1.8% versus the six-analyst average estimate of 2.5%.Warehouse Club: 257 versus 258 estimated by five analysts on average.Comparable club sales: 1.1% versus 2.1% estimated by four analysts on average.Gas Stations: 194 versus 192 estimated by two analysts on average.Revenues- Net sales: $5.22 billion compared to the $5.22 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.8% year over year.Revenues- Membership fee income: $126.3 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $128.12 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.8%.View all Key Company Metrics for BJ's here>>>

Shares of BJ's have returned -3.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -2.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Key Takeaways EIA projects higher natural gas prices, boosting prospects for WMB, AR and CRK.Growing LNG export volumes are driving expected gains in natural gas pricing.Softening oil prices highlight stronger outlooks for natural-gas-focused companies.
The world is pushing for cleaner-burning fuel to fight climate change. In this scenario, natural gas with lower carbon emissions beats oil. With fewer harmful pollutants and fewer environmental risks during transport, natural gas should be on the radar of energy investors. Also, analysts expect the pricing environment for natural gas to be favorable in the coming days, creating better prospects for Williams (WMB - Free Report) , Antero Resources (AR - Free Report) , and Comstock Resources Inc. (CRK - Free Report) .

Natural Gas Price to Go NorthIn its latest short-term energy outlook, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) projects the natural gas spot price at $3.50 per million BTU for 2025, higher than $2.20 last year. In fact, next year, the commodity price will likely be $4.00 per million BTU, according to data from EIA. Increasing export volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are primarily aiding the rising price of the commodity, reflecting growing demand for cleaner energy across the globe.

Oil Price to Get SofterIn its outlook, the EIA also projected a 2025 spot average price of West Texas Intermediate at $65.15 per barrel, down from $76.60 in 2024. EIA expects the price of the commodity to decline further to $51.26 per barrel next year. Rising oil inventories worldwide are primarily responsible for the softening of crude prices, as mentioned in the outlook.

Time to Keep an Eye on Natural Gas Explorers & Transporters?The projected data of EIA clearly reflects that good days are ahead for natural gas explorers and producers, and companies involved in transporting and storing the commodity. On the other hand, upstream players, who primarily deal with oil, will likely take a hit from softening crude prices.

Thus, investors interested in the broader energy sector may keep an eye on companies generating revenues, mainly from upstream and midstream businesses associated with natural gas.

3 Stocks to Gain: WMB, AR, CRKWilliams is a leading midstream energy player and is well-positioned to capitalize on clean energy demand. This is because, with its pipeline network spanning 33,000 miles, WMB is responsible for the transportation of significant natural gas volumes produced in the United States. Thus, the company, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), generates stable cash flows for shareholders.

Antero Resources is primarily a natural gas explorer and producer, having a solid footprint in the prolific Appalachian play. AR, with a Zacks Rank of 3, has sufficient premium drilling inventories in the key resource, which can aid the upstream player to keep its drilling operations for more than two decades at the current pace. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Comstock Resources is also an upstream energy player with prime operations in the natural gas-rich Haynesville Shale play. In the third quarter of 2025, #3 Ranked CRK’s adjusted net income was $28 million, reversing from a loss of $48.5 million in the prior-year period.

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A downtrend has been apparent in StoneCo Ltd. (STNE - Free Report) lately with too much selling pressure. The stock has declined 22.3% over the past four weeks. However, given the fact that it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts are majorly in agreement about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier, the stock could be due for a turnaround.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Why STNE Could Bounce Back Before LongThe heavy selling of STNE shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 25.65. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

The RSI value is not the only factor that indicates a potential turnaround for the stock in the near term. On the fundamental side, there has been strong agreement among the sell-side analysts covering the stock in raising earnings estimates for the current year. Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for STNE has increased 1%. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, STNE currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

A downtrend has been apparent in Telefonica (TEF - Free Report) lately with too much selling pressure. The stock has declined 22% over the past four weeks. However, given the fact that it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts are majorly in agreement about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier, the stock could be due for a turnaround.

We use Relative Strength Index (RSI), one of the most commonly used technical indicators, for spotting whether a stock is oversold. This is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements.

RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Usually, a stock is considered oversold when its RSI reading falls below 30.

Technically, every stock oscillates between being overbought and oversold irrespective of the quality of their fundamentals. And the beauty of RSI is that it helps you quickly and easily check if a stock's price is reaching a point of reversal.

So, by this measure, if a stock has gotten too far below its fair value just because of unwarranted selling pressure, investors may start looking for entry opportunities in the stock for benefiting from the inevitable rebound.

However, like every investing tool, RSI has its limitations, and should not be used alone for making an investment decision.

Why a Trend Reversal is Due for TEFThe heavy selling of TEF shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 27.29. So, the trend for the stock could reverse soon for reaching the old equilibrium of supply and demand.

The RSI value is not the only factor that indicates a potential turnaround for the stock in the near term. On the fundamental side, there has been strong agreement among the sell-side analysts covering the stock in raising earnings estimates for the current year. Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for TEF has increased 17.7%. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, TEF currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. This is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential turnaround in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

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

If you purchased or acquired securities in Marex between May 16, 2024 and August 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]

, /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Marex Group plc ("Marex" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: MRX) and reminds investors of the December 8, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

James (Josh) Wilson, Faruqi & Faruqi Senior Partner (PRNewsfoto/Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP)

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

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Company sold over-the-counter financial instruments to itself; (2) Marex had inconsistencies in its financial statements between its subsidiaries and related parties, including as to intercompany receivables and loans; (3) as a result of the foregoing, Marex's financial statements could not be relied upon; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On August 5, 2025, NINGI Research released a report accusing Marex of a multi-year accounting scheme involving off-balance-sheet entities, fictitious transactions, and misleading disclosures to hide losses and inflate profits. The report cited examples such as a $17 million fabricated receivable, inflated subsidiary profits, and undervalued asset sales. It also alleged that Marex concealed nearly $1 billion in derivatives exposure through a Luxembourg fund used to create fake profits and boost cash flow.

Following the report, Marex's stock dropped 6.2%, closing at $35.31 on heavy trading volume.

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

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

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

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

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IRVING, Texas, Nov. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XBP Global Holdings, Inc. (“XBP Global” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: XBP),  a workflow automation leader that leverages decades of industry experience, global footprint, and agentic AI to rethink business process automation and digital transformation, announced that its European subsidiary, XBP Europe, has been awarded a digital transformation contract by Saarland State Administration Office.

This win marks a significant expansion of XBP Europe’s leadership in secure public-sector digitization and highlights XBP Global’s role in shaping next-generation digital infrastructure for government institutions across Europe. The engagement strengthens the customer’s long-term strategy of enabling digitally sovereign, compliant, and resilient administrative ecosystems as it will also include the delivery by XBP Europe of a government-grade digital chain of custody, enabling secure access, consistent data quality, and a scalable foundation for future automation and AI-enabled services.

“This is a strategic milestone that reinforces XBP Europe’s position as a trusted modernization partner for high-security public-sector environments,” said Vitalie Robu, President, XBP Europe. “Our TR-Resiscan ‘Very High’ certification, combined with our proprietary BoxOffice platform and XBP Logistics Manager, provides a compliant, audit-proof and transparent digital framework that meets the stringent requirements of German authorities. We are proud to support this state in advancing its digital transformation with responsibility, precision, and long-term value.”

Services are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 following a short mobilization phase, with the full transformation delivered within a structured and transparent project governance model jointly overseen by the authority and XBP Europe.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements include financial forecasts, projections, and other statements about future operations, financial position, business strategy, market opportunities, and trends. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by terms such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast,” or similar expressions. This press release includes forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, such as projected Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and certain non-recurring items, while Net Debt is total debt minus cash and cash equivalents. The Company cannot reconcile these measures to their most comparable GAAP metrics — net income and total debt — without unreasonable effort, due to challenges in forecasting future interest, taxes, depreciation, and non-recurring items. These measures are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered substitutes for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates, forecasts, and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and subject to risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. These include, but are not limited to: (1) risks related to the acquisition, including the inability to realize anticipated benefits, disruptions to operations, and costs associated with the transaction; (2) legal proceedings; (3) failure to meet Nasdaq listing standards; (4) competition and market conditions; (5) economic, geopolitical, and regulatory changes; (6) challenges in retaining clients, employees, and suppliers; and (7) other risks detailed in XBP Europe’s filings with the SEC, including the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2025, filed on March 19, 2025, and the proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. XBP Global undertakes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law. There is no assurance that XBP Global or its subsidiaries will achieve the results projected in these statements.

About XBP Global

XBP Global is a multinational technology and services company powering intelligent workflows for organizations worldwide. With a presence in 20 countries and approximately 11,000 professionals, XBP Global partners with over 2,500 clients, including many of the Fortune 100, to orchestrate mission-critical systems that enable hyper-automation.

Our proprietary platforms, agentic AI-driven automation, and deep domain expertise across industries and the public and private sectors enable our clients to entrust us with their most impactful digital transformations and workflows. By combining innovation with execution excellence, XBP Global helps businesses reimagine how they work, transact, and unlock value.

For more news, commentary, and industry perspectives, visit: https://www.xbpglobal.com/

And please follow us on social:

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The information posted on XBP Global’s website and/or via its social media accounts may be deemed material to investors. Accordingly, investors, media and others interested in XBP Global should monitor XBP Global’s website and its social media accounts in addition to XBP Global’s press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Investor Relations: David Shamis, [email protected] | Media Queries: Srushti Rao, [email protected]

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In a recent tweet, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse shares his excitement about the upcoming Binance event, Binance Blockchain Week, scheduled for Dec. 3 to 4 in Dubai.

The Ripple CEO will be on stage for a panel with the theme "the path ahead/moving forward" alongside Lily Liu, Solana Foundation president, and Binance CEO Richard Teng. The timing of this segment will be Dec. 3, 2025, from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. (UTC+4).

"Moving forward is the only path worth considering," the Ripple CEO said in a recent post, revealing his excitement at joining other top industry leaders at the Binance event.

HOT Stories

As a more welcoming crypto landscape evolves, allowing increased clarity defined by clear guidelines, the discussion is expected to dive into the opportunities and challenges ahead.

To take the stage at the Binance event is Reece Merrick, Ripple's Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, to discuss "the next era of payment rails," which will delve into how blockchain-enhanced payment networks are modernizing global settlement, speed and financial connectivity.

The upcoming Binance event will also feature speakers, including Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor, cofounder and CEO of Real Vision Raoul Pal, among other top industry leaders. A highlight of the event will be the major debate over Bitcoin vs. tokenized gold between gold bug and Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff and Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao.

The big showdown will see the two heavyweight voices go head-to-head on whether the future will be dominated by Bitcoin or tokenized gold.

Moving forward?The year 2025, without a doubt, has been an incredible year for Ripple, and a record year for crypto as a whole. It has seen the end of the Ripple lawsuit filed by the SEC, with the agency also dismissing a number of cases, including that which it filed against Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao, marking a symbolic end to an era of aggressive crypto crackdowns.

Ripple, at its recently concluded Swell event, announced a $500 million investment led by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group and Citi Securities to reach a $40 billion valuation.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse referred to the investment as not just a validation of Ripple’s growth strategy and business built on the foundation of XRP but also a clear bet on what the future of crypto will look like. 

TL;DR

Bitcoin dropped to a seven-month low of $80,000, losing more than $27,000 from its November 11 peak.
BlackRock IBIT recorded withdrawals of $355.5 million, pushing weekly outflows to $1,455.2 million.
Owen Gunden liquidated $1.3 billion in BTC since October, including $230 million transferred to Kraken yesterday, increasing downward pressure on the market.

Bitcoin plunged again this morning, hitting a floor of $80,000 on most exchanges, its lowest level in seven months.

In just ten days, BTC lost more than $27,000 from its $107,000 high on November 11. This decline has left the average BTC ETF investor in the red, according to data from Bianco Research.

ETFs reflect the market pressure. BlackRock (IBIT) recorded withdrawals of $355.5 million yesterday, while net daily flows across all ETFs reached $903.2 million, according to FarSide.

ETFs and Japan Drive Bitcoin’s Drop
After a brief pause on Wednesday with net inflows of only $75.4 million, withdrawals resumed at full speed, bringing total weekly outflows to $1,455.2 million. IBIT set a record for outflows over the past four trading days, with $1.09 billion withdrawn, and JPMorgan noted that this exodus is directly contributing to BTC’s price decline.

This morning’s pullback may also be linked to macroeconomic news from Japan. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved a $135 billion stimulus package to ease the impact of inflation on households and boost economic growth. Shortly after the announcement, BTC fell again, suggesting that investors are adjusting their positions in response to shifts in monetary and fiscal policy.

Whales Add Pressure to the Market
Whale activity is also evident on-chain. Arkham Intelligence reported that Owen Gunden sold all of their BTC holdings since October, valued at approximately $1.3 billion. The last transaction occurred yesterday, when $230 million was transferred to Kraken. These moves indicate that some long-standing market participants are liquidating significant positions amid the ongoing price decline.

The outlook for Bitcoin remains challenging amid persistent volatility. The combination of massive ETF withdrawals, unexpected macroeconomic developments, and large-holder liquidations is increasing downward pressure on the price. Analysts debate whether bears now fully control the market, while retail and ETF investors adjust strategies to limit losses

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is hanging by a thread at critical support as Ripple floats a sweeping staking overhaul that could reshape the entire XRP Ledger.

Ripple Engineers Map Early Staking ConceptsRippleX head of engineering J. Ayo Akinyele published early ideas on Wednesday, outlining how staking could fit into the XRP Ledger's core design. 

His proposal focuses on creating a source of staking rewards and a fair way to distribute them. Doing this would require changes to the ledger's core design.

Akinyele said staking could strengthen long-term participation by rewarding users who help maintain the network.

He noted that XRPL currently burns transaction fees to control supply, so adding staking would change one of the ledger's original design choices.

Ripple executives have discussed staking more openly in recent months, while stressing that the feature remains a long-term idea rather than an imminent upgrade.

Schwartz Sees Two Pathways But Warns Of ComplexityRipple CTO David Schwartz added two high-level models in a separate post. 

The first introduces a dual-layer system in which an incentivized "inner" layer of roughly 16 validators advances the ledger, overseen by a broader "outer" layer that manages amendments and fees.

The second concept maintains the current validator structure but redirects fees toward zero-knowledge proof verification instead of burning them. 

Schwartz called both models technically viable but said they are not practical in the near term due to engineering risks and design trade-offs.

The ideas come as Ripple continues expanding its ecosystem, including a recent announcement involving Mastercard (NYSE:MA) and Gemini to explore using its dollar-backed RLUSD stablecoin for settlement.

Heavy Outflows Hit XRP As Technical Compression Tightens

XRP Netflows (Source: Coinglass)

XRP is under heavy pressure after traders pulled $181.53 million from exchanges yesterday — the largest single-day outflow of 2025.

Another $59.3 million left early today, signaling that confidence is falling and that larger holders are exiting.

Price has dropped to about $1.90, a level that protected XRP several times this year.

When outflows spike while price sits on support, it often means that support is weakening.

Buyers Struggle To Hold Support

XRP Price Action (Source: TradingView)

XRP has been trading below a falling trendline that started in August, and every bounce has been rejected at the same line near $2.20.

The token also sits under all key moving averages.

The Parabolic SAR continues to print above price, which confirms the trend is still down.

Each rebound has been weaker than the last, creating a simple staircase of lower highs: $2.45 → $2.32 → $2.18 → $1.98.

If XRP fails to hold the $1.85–$1.90 support area, the next major demand zone sits near $1.60.

That region supported two rallies this year, in March and May, making it the next logical spot where buyers may try to step in again.

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Jefferies has warned that recent technical signals in Bitcoin warrant caution, trimming its exposure to the cryptocurrency in favour of gold equities as momentum indicators turn negative.

The broker, in the latest update from its 'GREED & fear', said it remained a long-term believer in Bitcoin as a store of value, but asserted that the digital asset may already have peaked (in its current 'post-halving' cycle), having reached around US$126,000 in early October.

Analysts at Jeffs have, as such, cut their weighting by one percentage point, citing Bitcoin’s breakdown against "the True Strength Index", described as a long-term momentum gauge that has only flashed similar warnings twice since 2015.

Jefferies noted that both previous breakdowns (in early 2018 and late 2021, respectively) were followed by price declines of roughly 70% over the subsequent year.

The latest reversal, therefore, “has not been encouraging,” Jefferies analysts said in a note, prompting a tactical pivot into gold miners.

If their assessment proves correct, the much-anticipated “alt season” may not materialise at all in this cycle, Jefferies added.

And, if that's the case, there will be a number of disappointed crypto traders who may be made to wait longer for the next broad-based crypto rally, potentially until after the next 'halving' event in 2028.

Moreover, analysts cautioned that Bitcoin’s failure to set new highs could be an early warning sign of tightening liquidity conditions, which piles on negative implications for riskier assets (like digital currencies).

Bitcoin’s recent decline below key technical levels has fueled an intense debate among market analysts, with opinions split on whether the asset has entered a full bear market or is simply experiencing a deep mid-cycle correction. The drop below the 365-day moving average and a collapse in market sentiment have raised concerns, even as whale accumulation and strong liquidity conditions offer a conflicting narrative.

Bitcoin has traded under its 365-day moving average at $102,000 since last week, a threshold that has historically marked major trend shifts. At the same time, the Fear & Greed Index plunged to 10—levels not seen since 2022—reflecting widespread investor anxiety. In just one month, over $700 billion has been wiped from the crypto market, underscoring the severity of the pullback.

Technical Breakdown Fuels Bear Market Concerns
Bitcoin’s second dip below the $100,000 mark within a week intensified fears of a deeper correction. Analysts often view the 365-day moving average as a long-term boundary between bullish and bearish market phases. Notably, similar breakdowns in 2018 and 2021 preceded extended bearish periods, making the latest move a worrying signal for traders.

On-chain metrics add to the caution. Bitcoin is now trading under the realized price for coins held between six and twelve months, currently around $94,600. This price represents the average cost basis for mid-term holders who typically buy during bullish phases. If Bitcoin remains below this level, many of these investors face losses, potentially increasing sell-side pressure across the market.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin perpetual futures have recorded a sharp jump in open interest—rising over $3.3 billion in a single week, the largest increase since April. A significant number of traders placed buy-the-dip orders near $98,000, expecting a quick rebound. Instead, continued downside movement activated these orders, adding leveraged exposure during a declining market and amplifying volatility.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt added to the cautious sentiment. He pointed to a sweeping reversal on November 11, followed by eight consecutive sessions of lower highs—an early sign of weakening momentum. Brandt also highlighted a broadening top formation, offering downside targets of $81,000 and $58,000 if selling pressure accelerates.

Still, not all analysts agree that the current phase qualifies as a bear market. Some call it a “mid-cycle breakdown,” a period of turbulence that occurs within broader bullish cycles. According to this view, more evidence is needed to confirm a bear market, including:

Bitcoin remaining below the 365-day moving average for 4–6 weeks

Long-term holders selling over 1 million BTC within 60 days

A negative market-wide MACD indicator

Until these conditions are met, analysts argue that Bitcoin may still recover without entering a prolonged downturn.

Whale Accumulation Counters Bearish Sentiment
Despite rising fear among retail traders, on-chain data shows that Bitcoin whales are accumulating. Addresses holding at least 1,000 BTC have increased their positions during the decline, suggesting that large investors view current prices as an opportunity rather than a danger.

Historically, whale accumulation during periods of panic has often signaled confidence in long-term value. This buying activity stands in stark contrast to the behavior of smaller investors, many of whom have exited positions in recent weeks.

Global Liquidity Supports a Bullish Outlook
The strongest argument against a bear market comes from global macro conditions. Over 80% of central banks are easing monetary policy, pushing global liquidity to record highs. For risk assets like Bitcoin, abundant liquidity has historically provided strong upward support.

According to recent data, central banks are cutting rates and increasing liquidity injections across major economies. The Bank for International Settlements noted that US-dollar credit expanded by 6% and euro-denominated credit grew 13% year-over-year through Q2 2025. Rising credit availability tends to benefit speculative and growth-oriented markets, including digital assets.

Analysts also point out that past bull cycles often began during periods of expanding liquidity. Even short-term corrections occurred before broader rallies took hold. As long as liquidity continues rising—and central banks show no signs of tightening—Bitcoin’s structural outlook remains supported.

Economic Headwinds Create Uncertainty
However, not all macro data is optimistic. The IMF’s April 2025 Global Financial Stability Report warned of stretched valuations in technology sectors, while the OECD expects global GDP growth to slow from 3.3% in 2024 to 2.9% in 2025. These headwinds could limit the positive effects of liquidity on risk assets.

Conclusion
Bitcoin sits at a crossroads, with technical indicators pointing toward potential weakness while whale accumulation and global liquidity bolster the bullish case. With analysts divided, the coming weeks—especially Bitcoin’s ability to reclaim the 365-day moving average—will determine whether this downturn becomes a deeper market reversal or simply another mid-cycle shakeout.

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A surprise appearance by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the opening of a Bitcoin-themed bar in Washington, DC, has drawn sharp attention from both crypto supporters and cautious observers.

According to reports, Bessent stopped by Pubkey during its launch event, a move that many in the Bitcoin community read as a visible sign of warmer relations between parts of government and the crypto sector.

Pubkey Visit Raises Eyebrows And Cheers
Pubkey, a venue that bills itself as Bitcoin-friendly, has grown from a New York outpost into a small chain. Reports have disclosed that the New York location once hosted US President Donald Trump, who reportedly paid in Bitcoin during a previous visit.

The Washington opening, where Bessent appeared unannounced, triggered a flurry of online reaction. Some community figures called the moment historic. Others urged caution, saying public appearances do not automatically translate into policy shifts.

Had to do a second buy today using my “it was so obvious” framework.

Having the Secretary of the Treasury at the Pubkey DC launch seems like a moment I could easily look back on and say “wow, it was all so obvious”.

Stack Sats and chill. https://t.co/8uPWEqLJ9y pic.twitter.com/Dew1A4gkFZ

— Ben Werkman (@BenWerkman) November 21, 2025

Policy Signals And Concrete Talk
Based on reports, Bessent has been public about ideas that place Bitcoin on the government agenda. He has spoken about the GENIUS Act and has discussed ways the Treasury could use seized Bitcoin to seed a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in a budget-neutral manner.

In an interview dated March 7, 2025, he suggested the Treasury was exploring options that would avoid immediate sales of seized crypto and instead look for ways to keep BTC on the books. That shift in tone is being watched closely by traders and policy watchers alike.

Community Reaction Was Fast
Ben Werkman, a crypto fund CIO, said the event felt like a “moment” for the industry. Another industry figure, Steven Lubka, called it the sign many had been waiting for.

At the same time, analysts warned about reading too much into a single photo op. One trader noted that market moves are driven by many forces, and that symbolic gestures often take time to matter for prices. Short-term traders may ignore signals like this, while longer-term holders may file them away.

BTCUSD currently trading at $82,385. Chart: TradingView
What This Means For Markets And Lawmakers
If the Treasury takes steps to pause sales of seized BTC and to test ways of holding coins, the move could change how institutional players view the asset class.

But reports also remind readers that policy ideas meet legal and budget tests before they become real. Lawmakers and regulators will have to weigh the proposal. The public nature of Bessent’s visit, though, makes the discussion harder to treat as private or theoretical.

A Moment, Not A Promise
The image of a cabinet official mingling at a Bitcoin bar is powerful. It gives the community talking points. Yet, officials and experts say more formal steps are required before the visit becomes policy.

For now, the appearance stands as a public sign of interest, backed by statements and proposals that are still in play. Bitcoin’s supporters will note the visibility. Critics will watch for the paperwork.

Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by [email protected]/Flickr and Wavebreakmedia/iStock/Getty Images Plus, chart from TradingView

TLDR:

Hedera integrates Axelar, connecting its network with 60+ major blockchains for asset transfers.
SaucerSwap becomes first DEX on Hedera to integrate Axelar for user-friendly cross-chain transfers.
Axelar enables programmable cross-chain communication, allowing developers to build multi-chain applications.
Hedera’s interoperability strategy grows with CORAL and SquidRouter expanding ecosystem connectivity.

Hedera has officially integrated Axelar, a cross-chain protocol linking more than 60 major blockchains, including Solana, Arbitrum, and XRPL. The integration allows users to transfer assets directly to Hedera through Axelar’s infrastructure. 

Developers can now build applications that operate across multiple networks using Hedera’s ecosystem. This expansion marks a significant step in improving Hedera’s interoperability for both retail users and developers.

Hedera’s New Cross-Chain Capabilities With Axelar
Axelar’s bridge connects Hedera to a broad network of blockchain ecosystems, streamlining asset transfers. Users can move tokens from supported chains to Hedera without relying on third-party solutions. 

The integration provides a direct channel for cross-chain interactions and reduces friction in decentralized finance workflows. Hedera’s ecosystem projects are beginning to incorporate Axelar, enhancing functionality across platforms.

SaucerSwap, a decentralized exchange on Hedera, has integrated Axelar into its user interface. This allows users to execute cross-chain transfers more easily than before. 

Axelar’s infrastructure also supports programmable cross-chain communication for developers. The addition strengthens Hedera’s network and broadens opportunities for multi-chain application development.

Axelar’s integration is part of Hedera’s broader interoperability strategy. CORAL and SquidRouter are upcoming projects aimed at further expanding cross-chain capabilities. 

These initiatives aim to make Hedera a more accessible ecosystem for retail and institutional participants. The protocol’s infrastructure supports both asset transfers and smart contract interactions across multiple networks.

Developers now have additional tools for building multi-chain applications within Hedera’s ecosystem. Cross-chain functionality can improve liquidity and user adoption for decentralized applications. 

Hedera’s integration with Axelar aligns with growing demand for interconnected blockchain solutions. The move also positions Hedera as a viable option for scalable, interoperable retail applications.

Expanding Hedera’s Ecosystem Reach
The Axelar bridge enhances Hedera’s appeal to both users and developers seeking cross-chain solutions. More ecosystem projects are expected to integrate Axelar in the coming months. 

This connectivity increases Hedera’s accessibility to assets and markets across different blockchains. The expansion demonstrates Hedera’s commitment to creating a cohesive multi-chain environment.

Retail users gain simplified access to cross-chain transfers, increasing flexibility in trading and asset management. Hedera’s ecosystem can now support more complex DeFi operations without requiring multiple intermediaries. 

Integration with major blockchains provides a foundation for growth in decentralized finance. Hedera’s retail ecosystem continues to expand with each new cross-chain initiative.

The protocol’s interoperability also enables more sophisticated decentralized applications. Developers can leverage cross-chain interactions to create novel services. 

Hedera’s collaboration with Axelar reflects a strategic push toward interconnected blockchain infrastructure. Users and developers benefit from a more seamless, multi-chain environment for daily operations.

Cross-chain bridges like Axelar are becoming essential for blockchain scalability and adoption. Hedera’s ecosystem now has a direct path to over 60 blockchains, enhancing asset mobility. 

These developments may accelerate Hedera’s adoption in both retail and developer communities. Integration milestones such as this highlight the network’s focus on utility and interoperability.

Starknet price prediction 2025 has become an increasingly discussed topic as STRK shows unusual strength against a broadly bearish crypto market. Despite heavy volatility across major cryptos, Starknet price today reflects meaningful resilience supported by rising fundamentals, stronger activity metrics, and technical improvements that hint at a potential long-term shift.

STRK’s Unexpected Comeback: Market Defies the TrendAfter months of stagnant performance, STRK price USD surged once Starknet confirmed the Stwo prover upgrade went live on November 5. The announcement triggered a powerful rally from $0.10 to $0.218 within five days marking a dramatic 110% move. Even though many investors booked early profits, causing a brief dip to $0.132, the token regained momentum in mid-November.

Notably, STRK bounced off its 20-day EMA and later broke above the 200-day EMA, officially flipping Starknet crypto’s long-term trend from bearish to bullish. From November 13 to November 21, STRK has managed to climb another 110% rally extension to reach $0.280, significantly outperforming the broader market even as major assets declined amid geopolitical tensions, especially Russia and Ukraine are once again grabbing each other’s collars.

Despite Market Stress, STRK Maintains Strong StructureUnlike many altcoins that saw deep corrections, the Starknet price chart shows only a modest 17% pullback from its November high. This stability, during a period when BTC and ETH experienced sharper declines, suggests underlying confidence in Starknet’s evolving fundamentals.

However, STRK/USD still trades over 90% below its 2024 all-time high of $2.78. As a result, while the recent rally is encouraging, long-term investors view it as only an early stage of potential recovery rather than a complete turnaround.

On-Chain Fundamentals Strengthen Quietly but SignificantlyStarknet’s fundamentals have accelerated. For instance, STRK crypto’s total value locked (TVL) has climbed to $235.88 million on DeFiLlama, nearing its 2024 peak of $317 million. 

Meanwhile, StarkScan official website reports an even higher figure of $942 million which is up 90% in three months indicating deeper capital participation within the ecosystem.

Similarly, trading activity is surging. Perpetual volume reached $22 billion in October, while November already shows $18 billion in monthly volume. 

Coinglass confirms this momentum, with daily perpetual activity surpassing $1.5–$2.2 billion. Futures open interest has hit an all-time high of $255.80 million, reinforcing elevated trader engagement.

On the stablecoin market cap it has soared to $156.76 million, up from just $1.98 million in January 2024. Network activity is also improving, with Starknet TPS rising from 23 in early October to 163 on November 13 and still holding above 100 TPS.

Technical Outlook: What STRK Must Break to Signal RecoveryBased on current conditions, the critical level for the Starknet price forecast is $0.63. A year-end close above this barrier would shift STRK from survival mode into recovery mode. Successfully flipping this zone could open the path toward $1.36 by early 2026 and potentially a full retest of $2.78 if momentum aligns.

As November progresses, the Starknet price prediction 2025 outlook will depend on whether these strengthening fundamentals can sustain investor confidence.

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BTC Traders Brace for Price Crash to $75K; No Bottom Seen: Research FirmPut options have dominated trading activity over the past week. Nov 21, 2025, 2:29 p.m.

Bitcoin BTC$84,003.00 has fallen sharply, dropping over 25% to $83,700 this month, and data suggests some traders are bracing for a further decline.

According to blockchain analytics firm Glassnode, traders have been heavily buying short-term BTC put options at the $75,000 strike price on Deribit since bitcoin’s spot price slipped below $94,000 earlier this week.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The $75K put option reflects a bet that Bitcoin's price will fall below that level, echoing the early April dip that bottomed around $74,000.

Glassnode commented on X, "The options market isn’t signaling a bottom yet and is leaning toward the risk of a deeper move."

CoinDesk recently highlighted a clear bearish shift in the Bitcoin options market, with the $85,000 put option becoming the dominant trade, replacing the previously popular $140,000 call option.

Put options have comprised over 65% of all options activity in the past week, indicating aggressive downside hedging by traders. Glassnode noted this also reflects traders exploiting volatility spreads by selling high short-dated volatility and buying longer-dated contracts to capitalize on market dislocations.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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