Market Signal Briefing

FXRP on Flare: XRP’s Gateway to DeFi GrowthXRP is making a decisive move into DeFi with FXRP on the Flare Network. As highlighted by on-chain metrics provider BankXRP, FXRP is fast becoming the benchmark for XRP on smart contract chains, soaring over 600% year-on-year — and experts say this is just the beginning.

Flare, an EVM-compatible blockchain, launched FXRP to bring XRP into DeFi. Unlike the XRP Ledger, FXRP enables holders to participate in lending, borrowing, trading, and yield farming.

Adoption is surging, with over 107 million FXRP now locked on Flare, signaling rising demand and active network participation.

Why FXRP MattersFXRP brings XRP into decentralized finance. By converting XRP into a smart contract-compatible token, holders can tap into Flare’s DeFi ecosystem, enabling lending, borrowing, liquidity provision, and yield generation, while staying fully connected to their XRP assets.

Key Features of FXRP:

Smart Contract Ready: Fully compatible with Flare wallets, DeFi protocols, and EVM-based dApps.

Secure & Transparent: On-chain collateral and oracle-backed, no third-party custodians required.

Redeemable for XRP: FXRP can be burned to retrieve the same amount of XRP on the original ledger.

DeFi-Enabled: Use FXRP in lending, liquidity pools, and yield vaults to unlock full asset potential.

Beyond its DeFi potential, XRP’s market position is increasingly strategic. With over $100 trillion in assets under DTCC custody, XRP offers a pathway to tap into this enormous institutional liquidity. 

Coupled with market dynamics, like potential rallies triggered by over-leveraged positions, XRP presents both short-term trading opportunities and long-term growth prospects.

 As adoption expands and smart contract integration deepens, FXRP is set to redefine XRP’s role, bridging legacy finance, blockchain innovation, and real-world utility.

ConclusionAs FXRP adoption surges and Flare’s DeFi ecosystem grows, XRP is stepping beyond payments into full-fledged decentralized finance.

By bridging the XRP Ledger with smart contract capabilities, FXRP lets holders earn yield, provide liquidity, and engage in DeFi, all trustlessly and securely. 

Backed by robust on-chain collateral and connected to vast institutional liquidity, FXRP transforms XRP from a simple currency into a versatile financial asset with both immediate utility and long-term market impact.

Ahmed Balaha

Author

Ahmed Balaha

Part of the Team Since

Aug 2025

About Author

Ahmed Balaha is a journalist and copywriter based in Georgia with a growing focus on blockchain technology, DeFi, AI, privacy, digital assets, and fintech innovation.

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Bernstein has called a Bitcoin bottom and set a $450 price target on Strategy stock, 226% above Monday’s closing price of $138.20. The call comes from analyst Gautam Chhugani at a firm managing nearly $880 billion in assets, which means this is not a retail sentiment spike. It is institutional research drawing a line in the sand on the BTC-equity trade.

Key Takeaways:

Bitcoin Bottom Call: Bernstein’s Gautam Chhugani identifies the current drawdown — 44% from Bitcoin’s $126,210 all-time high — as a cycle bottom supported by ETF inflows and corporate treasury buying. Strategy Upside Target: Bernstein sets a $450 price target on Strategy stock, implying 226% upside from $138.20, backed by $56 billion in Bitcoin and cash against $18 billion in total debt. Institutional Signal: Bitcoin ETFs absorbed $2.2 billion in net inflows over four weeks, flipping year-to-date flows positive; FMR, BlackRock, Capital Group, and VanEck now hold 23% of Strategy’s STRC preferred shares. Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

Bernstein Bitcoin Bottom Case: What the Data ShowsBitcoin peaked at $126,210 on October 6, 2025. A flash crash on October 10, triggered by leveraged liquidations, initiated the correction, compounded by late February 2026 U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and Bitcoin still held a floor near $71,000.

Chhugani frames the 44% drawdown as evidence of maturation, not breakdown: institutional demand absorbed the selling pressure that, in prior cycles, would have driven 70–80% wipeouts.

🚨BERNSTEIN: MARKET MISREADING CLARITY ACT

Circle shares plunged nearly 21% over the last five days, dragging down broader crypto stocks.

The drop followed investor fears around a proposed ban on stablecoin yield. The concern stems from new language in the Clarity Act bill.… pic.twitter.com/qXkglh9Gi5

— BSCN (@BSCNews) March 26, 2026 The ETF data reinforces the case. Bitcoin ETFs recorded $2.2 billion in net inflows over the four weeks preceding Bernstein’s note, reversing year-to-date outflows and pushing the net 2026 figure to positive $364 million against a $90 billion asset base.

ETFs now hold 6.1% of the total Bitcoin supply. That is a structural bid, not a momentum trade, and it is exactly the kind of price floor institutional demand analysis has pointed toward throughout this correction cycle.

Bernstein’s year-end Bitcoin target is $150,000, contingent on sustained institutional buying through mid-2026 amid geopolitical headwinds. The bottom call is not a chart pattern. It is a capital flows argument.

Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with

Strategy’s Bitcoin Treasury: The Math Behind 226% UpsideStrategy holds 762,099 BTC, acquired most recently with a 1,031 BTC purchase last week, valued at approximately $51.43 billion.

(Source – StrategyTracker)Total balance sheet Bitcoin and cash stands at $56 billion against $18 billion in total debt, per Bernstein. Cash reserves alone cover annual dividend and interest obligations for 25 months. The Bitcoin position covers annual financing costs for approximately 50 years.

The leverage mechanism is straightforward: Strategy stock amplifies Bitcoin moves because each share represents a claim on a BTC treasury that grows as the company raises capital and buys more coin.

At $138.20, Bernstein’s $450 target prices in a Bitcoin recovery toward the $150,000 level while assigning value to the capital-raising machine itself — the $42 billion raise split between Class A common stock and perpetual preferred shares, with $6.24 billion in ATM program capacity still available across a 19-agent sales syndicate.

The STRC preferred share launched in July 2025, paying an 11.5% annual dividend monthly. Thirty-day average daily STRC volume hit $220 million, up 65% over three months, making it the most liquid preferred product in its category. Strategy is down 57% over six months and 59% over twelve months, reflecting dilution concerns from ongoing equity raises.

The stock has recovered 10.9% over the past month. Bernstein is betting the dilution discount is already priced in.

Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

Add ZyCrypto News On Google

Bitcoin (BTC) traded sideways on Thursday, stalling after a volatile week as attempts to push higher ran into heavy resistance.

Notably, over the past seven days, the world’s largest cryptocurrency surged by roughly 1%, while other leading cryptocurrencies faced notable selling pressure.

However, despite the slight uptick, traders are keeping a cautious eye on the $72,000 level, where large-scale sell orders are shaping the near-term market outlook.

According to data from the analytics platform Coinglass, the BTC order book shows a concentration of heavy sell orders between $71,200 and $72,000, acting as a ceiling that prevents the market from pushing higher.

Bids are clustered at lower levels, including $70,400, $70,000, and $69,600, suggesting that while some buyers remain active, supply above is keeping the rally contained.

 

“As long as $71,800–$72,000 remains uncleared, this looks more like consolidation below resistance than a clean continuation higher,” the platform noted.

Meanwhile, analyst Crypto Tony assessed Bitcoin’s recent swings, noting the moves from $67,700 to $68,900 and the subsequent rebound. 

He outlined two potential scenarios: a rejection near $72,000 could push BTC to lower lows, while a successful breakout might extend the rally toward $78,000–$80,000.

“If we test $72,000 and reclaim, BTC could push higher; otherwise, a drop is likely,” he wrote, emphasizing the importance of this key level in determining near-term direction.

Additionally, analysts from Glassnode offered a tempered perspective, focusing on liquidity and market depth. They observed that Bitcoin has stabilized around the $70,000 mark, aided in part by improved flows from exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

However, muted spot trading volumes and substantial overhead supply indicate that demand remains insufficient to fuel a broad recovery. 

“Stronger demand is still needed to turn this consolidation into a sustainable uptrend,” they stated.

Notably, analyst Ted introduced the concept of Bitcoin’s “electrical cost,” a measure of the break-even price for miners.

The analyst noted that this cost has dropped below $50,000, down from roughly $70,000 just a few months ago.

He suggested that as miners adjust to lower break-even thresholds, BTC could see a deeper correction, potentially revisiting levels between $46,000 and $48,000, coinciding with August 2024 lows.

Moreover, analyst Crypto Patel highlighted that Bitcoin is still consolidating within a broad range of $62,000–$74,000 and that liquidity below $60,000 remains largely untouched.

Volume continues to decline, suggesting that traders should wait for a decisive breakout rather than attempting to predict the next move prematurely.

“The market is trying to make you impatient. Don’t let it. I’ll open my swing position when the range breaks, not before,” he warned.

At press time, BTC was trading at $68,902, reflecting a 2.67% decline in the past 24 hours.

XDC price is consolidating just above $0.03 as tokenized debt deals, trade-finance pilots and an Ethereum-aligned upgrade deepen its role in enterprise RWA infrastructure.

Summary

XDC Network is trading around $0.032 per token, with a market cap near $640 million and 24-hour volume in the mid-teens of millions. Price has inched higher by roughly 2–3% over the last day, but remains down on the week, reflecting a slow grind after a broader altcoin pullback. Recent upgrades, tokenized debt deals and trade-finance pilots signal growing real-world asset usage even as speculative flows stay modest compared with higher-beta altcoins. XDC Network (XDC), a hybrid Layer-1 focused on enterprise and trade-finance applications, is currently changing hands at about $0.032 per coin, according to both Binance and third-party price aggregators. Binance lists the live XDC price at $0.03206, with a market capitalization of roughly $639.15 million and 24-hour trading volume of $16.29 million, based on a circulating supply of 19.94 billion XDC. A parallel snapshot from 3Commas shows XDC at $0.03214, a 2.8% gain over the last 24 hours, on a $14.73 million trading volume and market cap of $640.9 million.

Historical data from Yahoo Finance place XDC’s recent trading range between $0.0304 and $0.0324 over the past several sessions, underscoring how the token has been consolidating just above $0.03 after earlier weakness in March. CoinMarketCap’s price-history table likewise records daily closes clustered in the $0.031–$0.034 band throughout early March 2026, with no single breakout day but a sequence of tight ranges. That pattern contrasts with the sharp spikes seen in high-volatility memecoins, and instead reflects more measured spot flows into and out of a large-cap infrastructure asset.

Network fundamentals and institutional traction Under the hood, XDC Network markets itself as an EVM-compatible, enterprise-grade blockchain for real-world asset tokenization, cross-border payments and trade-finance settlement, placing XDC in the RWA and L1 categories rather than pure DeFi or meme segments. CoinGecko reports a circulating supply of 16 billion XDC in another widely used dataset, with a fully diluted valuation of roughly $3.49 billion assuming a maximum supply of 38 billion tokens. That configuration gives XDC one of the larger RWA/L1 market caps, even if daily volume remains below the most aggressively traded smart-contract platforms.

February’s XDC Network update outlined several major developments that help explain why institutions are watching the chain even as price moves remain subdued. The network completed its v2.6.8 “Cancun” upgrade at block 98,800,200, aligning with Ethereum’s Cancun standard and introducing EIP-1559-style fee mechanics, improved EVM efficiency, and stronger consensus performance on mainnet. Separate to the protocol changes, XDC supported a $75 million tokenized debt issuance in Brazil, expanding its Latin American footprint and positioning the chain as a settlement layer for structured credit in emerging markets.

XDC within the RWA and hybrid-L1 landscape The combination of hybrid architecture, compliance-by-design tooling and EVM compatibility has led some industry observers to describe XDC as part of a blueprint for institutional-grade blockchain adoption in 2026. At the same time, market data from CoinGecko show 24-hour XDC trading volume around $46.1 million on certain days, a figure that has recently risen by over 11% in a single session, signalling that liquidity is gradually deepening as more venues list the token.

Agreement Enables HIPAA-Compliant Exchange of EVV Transactions with Company Processing Billions of Dollars in Homecare Services Billed Annually Agreement Enables HIPAA-Compliant Exchange of EVV Transactions with Company Processing Billions of Dollars in Homecare Services Billed Annually

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?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about ATI (ATI - Free Report) .

ATI 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 10 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.00 indicates Strong Buy.

Of the 10 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 10 are Strong Buy, representing 100% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ATI

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

The ABR suggests buying ATI, 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 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.

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.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

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.

Should You Invest in ATI?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for ATI, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.3% over the past month to $4.18.

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 ATI. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for ATI 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?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about AppFolio (APPF - Free Report) .

AppFolio currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.38, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by eight brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.38 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the eight recommendations that derive the current ABR, six are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 12.5% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for APPF

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

While the ABR calls for buying AppFolio, 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.

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.

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.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

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.

Should You Invest in APPF?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for AppFolio, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $6.43.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market 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 #3 (Hold) for AppFolio. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for AppFolio.

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 Powell Industries (POWL - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Powell Industries currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by four brokerage firms. An ABR of 2.00 indicates Buy.

Of the four recommendations that derive the current ABR, two are Strong Buy, representing 50% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for POWL

Check price target & stock forecast for Powell Industries here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Powell Industries, 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.

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.

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.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

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.

Should You Invest in POWL?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Powell Industries, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 3% over the past month to $16.45.

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 Powell Industries. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Powell Industries 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 Blue Bird (BLBD - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Blue Bird currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.38, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by eight brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.38 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the eight recommendations that derive the current ABR, six are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 12.5% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for BLBD

Check price target & stock forecast for Blue Bird here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Blue Bird, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

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 BLBD Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Blue Bird, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 7.7% over the past month to $4.56.

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 Blue Bird. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Blue Bird 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?

Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) .

Coca-Cola currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.32, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 25 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.32 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 25 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 20 are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 80% and 8% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for KO

Check price target & stock forecast for Coca-Cola here>>>

While the ABR calls for buying Coca-Cola, 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.

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.

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.

On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.

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 KO a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Coca-Cola, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 0.3% over the past month to $3.24.

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 Coca-Cola. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

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

Commercial Metals (CMC - Free Report) reported $2.13 billion in revenue for the quarter ended February 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 21.5%. EPS of $1.16 for the same period compares to $0.26 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98 billion, representing a surprise of +7.58%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -9.14%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.28.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

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 Commercial Metals performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Raw materials: $985.00 versus $939.87 estimated by three analysts on average.Europe - Steel products metal margin per ton: $316.00 versus $290.50 estimated by three analysts on average.North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Downstream products: $1,242.00 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1,243.79.North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Steel products: $974.00 versus the three-analyst average estimate of $926.49.North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Cost of ferrous scrap utilized per ton: $351.00 compared to the $330.65 average estimate based on three analysts.North America - Average selling price (per ton) - Steel products metal margin per ton: $623.00 versus $595.84 estimated by three analysts on average.Europe - Steel products (External tons shipped): 284 thousand compared to the 343.02 thousand average estimate based on three analysts.Europe - Steel products - Rebar: 69 thousand versus the three-analyst average estimate of 114.63 thousand.Europe - Steel products - Merchant and other: 215 thousand versus the three-analyst average estimate of 228.39 thousand.Net sales from external customers- Corporate and Other: $9.26 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $10.78 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -13%.Net sales from external customers- Europe: $200.01 million compared to the $234.14 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1% year over year.Net sales from external customers- North America: $1.61 billion compared to the $1.5 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +16% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Commercial Metals here>>>

Shares of Commercial Metals have returned -16.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -5% 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 CMP will fully redeem $150M of 6.750% Senior Notes due 2027 at 100% plus accrued interest.The move is part of a broader plan to deleverage and improve its maturity profile.Compass Minerals reported $341.7M liquidity; net debt rose to $883.6M in Q1 2026. Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP - Free Report) has made an announcement to fully redeem the $150 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 6.750% Senior Notes due 2027 in an attempt to deleverage and strengthen its balance sheet.

This is a part of the company’s broader balance sheet transformation plan. It will redeem the notes on March 30, 2026, using cash on hand. The redemption price will be set at 100% of the principal amount, along with any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date. This redemption highlights Compass Minerals’ focus on improving the maturity profile to benefit the company’s overall financial position.

The deleveraging plan remains a top priority for the company’s fiscal 2026 goal. It was facilitated by the company’s strong liquidity position. While the company has issued a notice of redemption through the trustee to current registered holders, the announcement does not constitute a notice under the indenture governing the 2027 Notes.

At the end of the first quarter of 2026 (its last reported quarter), the company reported a $341.7 million in liquidity, comprising of $46.7 million in cash and cash equivalents and $295.0 million of availability under its $325 million revolving credit facility. Its net debt stood at $883.6 million at the quarter’s end, up from $832.2 million at the end of the prior-year quarter.

CMP stock has rallied 157.7% over the past year against the industry’s 1.2% decline.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CMP’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksCMP currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Some other top-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM - Free Report) , Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (BVN - Free Report) and Balchem Corporation (BCPC - Free Report) .

While AEM and BVN sport a Zacks Rank #1 each at present, BCPC carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEM’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.28 per share, indicating a rise of 60.39% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 10.77%. AEM’s shares have soared 78.2% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BVN’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $3.88 per share, indicating a 17.58% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 80.4%. BVN’s shares have jumped 109% over the past year.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BCPC’s 2026 earnings is pinned at $5.47 per share, indicating a 6.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the four trailing quarters, while missing it in the remaining two.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announces that a lawsuit is currently pending for certain investors in Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE: OWL) shares.

Investors who purchased shares of Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE: OWL) prior to February 2025, and continue to hold any of thoseNYSE: OWL shares have also certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation at [email protected] or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.

On December 3, 2025, an investor inNYSE: OWL shares over alleged securities laws violations by Blue Owl Capital Inc. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants failed to disclose that Blue Owl was experiencing a meaningful pressure on its asset base from business development company ("BDC") redemptions, that as a result, Blue Owl was facing undisclosed liquidity issues, and that consequently, Blue Owl would be likely to limit or halt redemptions of certain BDCs.

Those who purchased shares of Blue Owl Capital Inc. (NYSE: OWL) should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc.

CONTACT:
Shareholders Foundation, Inc. 
Michael Daniels 
+1 (858) 779-1554 
[email protected] 
3111 Camino Del Rio North 
Suite 423 
San Diego, CA 92108

The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon.

SOURCE Shareholders Foundation, Inc.

SS&C Technologies (SSNC - Free Report) has been beaten down lately with too much selling pressure. While the stock has lost 7.5% over the past four weeks, there is light at the end of the tunnel as it is now in oversold territory and Wall Street analysts expect the company to report better earnings than they predicted earlier.

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 SSNCThe heavy selling of SSNC shares appears to be in the process of exhausting itself, as indicated by its RSI reading of 27.97. 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 SSNC has increased 0.6%. And an upward trend in earnings estimate revisions usually translates into price appreciation in the near term.

Moreover, SSNC 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 >>>> .

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

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.

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE (PBSFY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 26, 2026 4:00 AM EDT

Company Participants

Dirk Voigtländer - Head of Investor Relations & Senior Vice President
Marco Giordani - Chairman of Executive Board & CEO
Bob Rajan - CFO & Member of Executive Board

Conference Call Participants

Annick Maas - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Conor O'Shea - Kepler Cheuvreux, Research Division
Fathima-Nizla Naizer - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Fabio Pavan - Mediobanca - Banca di credito finanziario S.p.A., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our full year 2025 Results Conference Call of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. This conference is being recorded.

Today's call is hosted by Mr. Dirk Voigtländer. Please go ahead, sir.

Dirk Voigtländer
Head of Investor Relations & Senior Vice President

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to ProSiebenSat.1 Investor and Analyst Conference Call on the occasion of our full year 2025 results published today.

The call will be hosted by our CEO, Marco Giordani; and our CFO, Bob Rajan. Marco will begin with an overview of the key developments in 2025. Bob will then take you through the group's financial performance and present our dividend proposal for the past financial year. After that, Marco will return to discuss ProSiebenSat.1's new strategic direction and share the outlook for 2026. Following the presentation, we will open the floor for your questions.

Before we start, allow me a brief personal note. Today's call marks my last one as IR at ProSiebenSat.1. As you might be aware of, I will be taking a new role within our parent company, MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE, in which I will be responsible for digital innovation strategy, a position focused on accelerating digital transformation and advancing the use of latest technologies and AI across MFE's broadcasting companies, Mediaset, Mediaset España and ProSiebenSat.1.

The company announced it would use the proceeds to repurchase $1 billion worth of 0.00% convertible senior notes.

The cryptocurrency technology and mining company headquartered in Ford Lauderdale, Florida, has disposed of a significant chunk of its bitcoin holdings in the past few weeks.

The firm, founded in 2010, justified the decision by indicating that it has to “strengthen” its balance sheet as its leaders are trying to position it for “long-term growth.”

MARA Sells $1.1B in Bitcoin In a press release shared earlier today, Fred Thiel, MARA Holdings’ chairman and chief executive officer, noted that the firm had sold 15,133 BTC for “an aggregate sale price of approximately $1.1 billion.” This significant bitcoin liquidation took place between March 4 and March 25, 2026.

The firm wants to use the proceeds to fund the notes repurchase transactions, with the remainder available for “general corporate purposes.”

“Our decision to sell a portion of our bitcoin holdings reflects a strategic capital allocation move designed to strengthen our balance sheet and position the company for long-term growth. By retiring over $1 billion of face value debt at a discount, we captured approximately $88 million in value that would otherwise have been lost, reduced potential shareholder dilution, and leveraged our bitcoin holdings to meaningfully de-lever the balance sheet on our terms,” said Thiel.

The exec added that this transaction improves the company’s financial flexibility and “increases strategic optionality as we expand beyond pure-play bitcoin mining into digital energy and AI/HPC infrastructure.”

$1B Senior Note Repurchase As mentioned above, MARA used the proceeds from its BTC sale to repurchase 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2030 and 2031. More specifically, it repurchased $367.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2030 notes for an aggregate cash price of approximately $322.9 million and $633.4 million in APA of the 2031 notes for a cash price of $589.9 million.

The transactions are expected to be completed by the end of the month, as they are still “subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.” The company will “capture approximately $88.1 million in value through cash savings” after the notes are officially repurchased.

You may also like: Google Sets 2029 Target to Migrate to Post-Quantum Cryptography Analyst: Bitcoin Could Bottom at $46K as ‘Electric Cost’ Falls Gold Crashes While Bitcoin Holds $71K: What This Rare Market Shift Means for BTC It also expects to reduce its outstanding convertible indebtedness by up to 30%. Once the aforementioned transactions are completed, MARA’s outstanding 2030 and 2031 notes will remain at a face value of $632.5 million and $291.6 million, respectively.

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3 minutes ago

Solana (SOL) is trading at $87, still down 69% from its January 2025 peak near $295.91. The long-short ratio has skewed above 3:1 on some platforms with retail sitting 65.5% long. That is not a normal reading for an asset trading below every major moving average.

(Source – Coinalyze)

The open interest tells the real story. OI sits at roughly $2.2billion and is contracting, down, even as the long bias intensifies. Price moving up while open interest shrinks is a textbook squeeze signature. Not accumulation. Not conviction.

The math does not support a real rally here.

Discover: The best pre-launch token sales

SOL Derivatives Setup: Squeeze Risk or Breakout Fuel?The long-short ratio is being misread by most traders watching it. It measures position count distribution, not capital weight. Longs and shorts are always structurally matched 1:1 in notional size on derivatives markets. A 3:1 long-short ratio means three times as many traders are positioned long, not that three times as much capital is long. That distinction is critical to understanding the actual risk here.

What makes the current setup unstable is the divergence between that bullish tilt and the absence of fresh capital. Sustained long bias with expanding open interest signals conviction. Sustained long bias with shrinking open interest signals a squeeze in progress, shorts being forced out, not bulls stepping in. The neutral funding rate of 0.0038% per 4-hour period confirms it: this is short covering, not new long entries.

On February 28, the largest single liquidation event pushed SOL to a 52-week low of $77.91, per exchange data. Short liquidations on March 5 totaled $2.58M, 75.6% of total liquidations, against just $0.83M in long liquidations. That 3:1 liquidation skew mirrors the ratio skew almost exactly. The squeeze mechanics are already running.

(Source – SOLUSD, TradingView)

Key technical levels define the binary. The 200-day moving average sits near $150 , structurally far above the current price and representing the ceiling of any meaningful recovery. Near-term, the Changelly model places April channel resistance at $102.51, with $100.37 as the lower bound of that zone. Below current price, the $77.91 February low is the last structural floor before open air.

The bull scenario: price clears $90–$92 with expanding open interest, funding rates tick positive, and the long bias becomes self-fulfilling as momentum traders pile in. SOL’s high-beta profile means a confirmed breakout accelerates fast, similar derivatives setups in other L1s have produced 20–30% moves within days once squeeze momentum flips to genuine accumulation.

The bear scenario: price stalls at resistance, overleveraged longs begin unwinding, and the same reflexivity that would accelerate upside now cascades downside. The Fear & Greed Index at 9, Extreme Fear, alongside a 65.5% long reading, puts the current positioning in the warning zone for pullbacks, as analysts describe it. A breach of $80 triggers the next liquidation cluster.

The long-short ratio is a pressure gauge. Right now it is elevated. That pressure resolves through continuation or liquidation, and without open interest expansion, the liquidation path carries a higher probability. Regulatory developments in crypto derivatives oversight also remain a macro overhang for leveraged positioning across the sector.

Discover: The best pre-launch token sales

Bitcoin Hyper Targets Early Mover Upside as Solana Tests Key Levels

While Solana navigates an unstable derivatives setup with no structural confirmation of reversal, smart money is rotating into Bitcoin Hyper, a Bitcoin-native L2 infrastructure project designed to bring EVM-compatible execution speed to BTC liquidity without wrapped token exposure.

The project differentiates itself through sub-second finality on a Bitcoin-settled chain, targeting the DeFi and perpetuals market currently dominated by Solana and Ethereum L2s. Its presale has raised $5.9M to date, with the current token price at $0.0115 and staking APY locked at 108% for early participants.

The presale window closes before the public DEX listing, which historically represents the highest-risk, highest-return entry point for infrastructure plays. Year-end SOL forecasts ranging from $250–$300 reflect broader L1 recovery expectations — but early-stage infrastructure projects with fixed presale pricing offer asymmetric upside independent of SOL’s near-term squeeze resolution.

Join the Bitcoin Hyper Presale Now

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, including total loss of capital. Always conduct your own research before making any financial decisions.

Inside Wall Street’s Plumbing: How XRP Is Positioning for a Slice of DTCC’s $100 Trillion MachineA major shift is quietly taking shape at the core of global finance, and most investors still don’t appreciate its scale, according to renowned market analyst X Finance Bull.

At the center is the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the engine room of U.S. securities markets. It’s more than just a support system for Wall Street, it’s the infrastructure everything runs on. 

DTCC processes an eye-watering $3.7 quadrillion in transactions each year and safeguards around $100 trillion in assets across 130+ jurisdictions. From clearinghouses to prime brokers, virtually every major financial institution depends on its rails.

Well, the backbone of traditional finance is now crossing paths with blockchain in a tangible way.

In 2025, Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation filed patents that explicitly referenced Ripple and the XRP Ledger as compatible infrastructure for tokenized assets. This wasn’t a generic nod to innovation, it was a clear signal that established market plumbing is actively evaluating specific blockchain rails for the next generation of finance.

Around the same time, Ripple made a calculated move that caught institutional attention. It acquired Hidden Road, a prime brokerage clearing over $3 trillion annually for 300+ institutional clients, and rebranded it as Ripple Prime.

But the real story is in the integration. By March 2026, Ripple Prime surfaced in DTCC’s NSCC directory, placing it inside the same clearing infrastructure used by firms like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase.

That level of access is unprecedented for a crypto-native player. As DTCC accelerates toward tokenizing markets, potentially within 50 weeks, Ripple Prime is already positioned inside the system, not outside it.

From Wall Street’s Core to Blockchain RailsBehind the scenes, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation is advancing a much bigger play: the full tokenization of global finance. Industry estimates already project tokenized assets could swell to $16–$30 trillion by 2030, with internal ambitions reaching as high as $100 trillion. 

Backing that vision, newly surfaced patents outline a system where XRP and Stellar (XLM) act as digital liquidity layers, enabling seamless value transfer and settlement across fragmented, cross-ledger financial networks.

Meanwhile, the global payments giant SWIFT is rolling out a new retail payments framework, one that notably overlaps with banks already integrated into Ripple’s ecosystem.

Even if there is no certainty that XRP will secure a meaningful share of that $100 trillion opportunity. Markets rarely move in straight lines, and institutional adoption is deliberate by design. Still, the alignment is becoming harder to dismiss.

For the first time, a blockchain firm isn’t operating at the edge of the financial system, it’s being built into its core infrastructure.

ConclusionRipple’s integration into DTCC’s infrastructure is a landmark moment for blockchain in traditional finance. With Ripple Prime operating within the same systems that power Wall Street and XRP positioned as a digital liquidity token, Ripple is moving from participant to core infrastructure. 

While adoption is never guaranteed, the scale, timing, and strategy suggest XRP is uniquely positioned to capture a role in the emerging $100 trillion tokenized market. The financial system is quietly evolving, and Ripple is already inside the engine driving that change.

Nexo has more than doubled its private client base since the start of 2025, citing rising demand among high-net-worth individuals and family offices for tailored digital asset solutions.

Zero-Interest Crypto Credit and Custom Borrowing Fuel Nexo Private Expansion Nexo, the digital asset wealth platform, which manages over $8 billion in assets, reported a 136% increase in Nexo Private clients year-over-year. The expansion pushed language support from 9 to 17, extending the service’s reach across global markets.

Nexo Private targets clients with portfolios of $100,000 or more. The platform pairs relationship managers with individual clients and offers priority access, personalized onboarding, and custom borrowing terms.

The growth reflects a broader shift among wealthy investors. Recent data indicates up to 74% of high-net-worth individuals and family offices are already invested in crypto or actively evaluating allocations. That figure has climbed alongside the post-exchange-traded fund (ETF) environment, which pulled in over $30 billion in inflows during its first year.

Elevated borrowing costs in traditional finance are also reshaping how private investors manage liquidity. Rather than selling appreciating holdings, clients are increasingly turning to crypto-backed credit lines to access cash. Nexo Private positions its credit products directly within that demand.

The platform’s flagship offering is its Zero-interest Credit (ZiC) strategy, which allows eligible clients to borrow up to $100 million at zero interest, secured by bitcoin or ether. The product was named “Consumer Lending Product of the Year” at the 2026 FinTech Breakthrough Awards.

Beyond ZiC, Nexo Private offers custom credit lines with up to 65% loan-to-value ratios across a collateral base of more than 40 digital assets. Clients also have access to over-the-counter trading with deep liquidity and minimal slippage.

Octavian Dinca, Nexo’s Head of Private Client Services, said clients are moving past simple exposure and toward more structured strategies. “Products like our Zero-interest Credit give clients both the flexibility and the liquidity access they need to make their holdings work harder without giving them up,” Dinca said.

As part of the expansion, Nexo introduced in-app private chat, giving eligible clients a direct, secure line to their relationship manager without leaving the platform. The feature runs within Nexo’s existing security infrastructure, which includes a real-time Anti-Scam Engine and SOC-certified controls.

Portfolio tools have been expanded as well. Clients now have access to collateral optimization mechanisms and exposure expansion tools designed for high- volume, actively managed positions. Nexo Private also includes access to curated client experiences — sporting events, industry gatherings, and private engagements — each handled by the client’s dedicated relationship manager.

The platform has operated since 2018 and currently serves clients across 199 jurisdictions. Nexo reports it has processed more than $400 billion in transactions.

FAQ 🔎 What is Nexo Private? Nexo Private is a high-touch digital asset wealth service for clients with portfolios of $100,000 or more, offering dedicated relationship managers, custom credit lines, and OTC trading. How fast has Nexo Private grown? Nexo Private’s client base grew 136% since the start of 2025, more than doubling from the prior year. What is Nexo’s Zero-interest Credit strategy? It allows eligible clients to borrow up to $100 million at zero interest, secured by bitcoin or ether, and was named Consumer Lending Product of the Year at the 2026 FinTech Breakthrough Awards. Who is Nexo Private designed for? The service targets high-net-worth individuals and family offices globally, with portfolios starting at $100,000 and access across 199 jurisdictions.

Bitcoin (BTC) miners came under renewed pressure in late 2025 and early 2026 as weaker bitcoin prices, near-record network competition, and falling hashprice compressed margins across the sector, according to digital asset manager CoinShares.

In a new report, Head of Research James Butterfill said the weighted average cash cost to produce one bitcoin among publicly listed miners rose to approximately $79,995 during the fourth quarter of 2025. 

Bitcoin mining cost per BTC, excluding depreciation and stock-based compensation. Image: CoinShares. At the same time, hashprice, a measure of bitcoin miners' revenue per unit of hashing power per day, fell to around $36-$38 per petahash per second per day and then dropped further to roughly $28-$30 in the first quarter of 2026, a level he said implied more pain ahead for miners.

Expand Chart

Butterfill said the pressure follows what he described as the most challenging quarter for bitcoin miners since the April 2024 halving. The report pointed to a roughly 31% drop in bitcoin from an all-time high of around $125,000 in early October to around $86,000 by late December, alongside near-record hashrate that pushed many operators close to or below breakeven.

Expand Chart

CoinShares stated the worsening economics have already contributed to capitulation in parts of the sector, with three consecutive negative difficulty adjustments in late 2025 marking the first such streak since July 2022. The firm also said publicly listed miners have collectively reduced their bitcoin treasuries by more than 15,000 BTC from peak levels, citing sales by companies including Core Scientific, Bitdeer, and Riot, with MARA announcing on Thursday it has sold another 15,133 BTC alone.

Expand Chart

Going forward, CoinShares outlined a range of potential outcomes for mining economics depending on bitcoin's price trajectory. Butterfill said it is "not an unrealistic assumption to see bitcoin prices recover to $100,000," which would likely lift hashprice to around $37 per PH/s/day, while a move toward prior highs near $126,000 could push it to roughly $59.

Conversely, the firm said that if bitcoin remains below $80,000 for an extended period, hashprice could continue to decline alongside rising difficulty, though further miner shutdowns in that scenario could stabilize returns as unprofitable capacity comes offline.

AI pivot gathers pace as mining margins tighten Against that backdrop, Butterfill said the migration of listed miners toward AI and high-performance computing is accelerating rapidly, driven by higher and more stable returns than bitcoin mining. Listed miners could derive as much as 70% of their revenues from AI by the end of this year, up from roughly 30% today, he added, while more than $70 billion in cumulative AI and high-performance computing contracts have now been announced across the public mining sector.

The report noted that the shift is widening the gap between pure-play bitcoin miners and infrastructure companies that are increasingly functioning as data center operators. CoinShares identified firms such as IREN, TeraWulf, Core Scientific, Cipher, and Hut 8 as moving further in that direction, while highlighting other operators like MARA remain focused on mining or on lower-cost, more intermittent energy sources better suited to bitcoin workloads than AI applications.

Mining data centre revenue breakdown. Image: CoinShares. CoinShares also said the push into AI is reshaping the sector's balance sheets. Butterfill noted that several miners have taken on large debt loads to fund buildouts, including IREN with $3.7 billion in convertible notes, TeraWulf with $5.7 billion in total debt, and Cipher with $1.7 billion in senior secured notes, fundamentally changing the industry's risk profile.

Still, CoinShares said the recent decline in hashrate was modest relative to earlier industry shocks and does not point to a broader collapse in mining. The network peaked at about 1,160 EH/s in early October, fell to around 850 EH/s by early February, and has since recovered to roughly where it ended 2025, at around 1,020 EH/s, with the firm projecting that hashrate could reach 1.8 zetahash by the end of 2026.

CoinShares also pointed to shifting geographic dynamics, with the U.S., China, and Russia controlling about 68% of global hashrate. The U.S. gained roughly two percentage points of market share quarter-over-quarter, while emerging markets, including Paraguay, Ethiopia, and Oman, entered the top 10 as miners sought lower-cost power.

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

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

Hashdex has widened the scope of its flagship crypto exchange-traded fund, signaling growing confidence in diversified digital asset exposure. The firm’s latest annual filing reveals a strategic shift that reflects both investor demand and evolving regulatory clarity. Consequently, the Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto Index ETF now tracks a broader basket of cryptocurrencies, positioning itself more competitively in a rapidly expanding ETF market.

Broader Portfolio Signals Strategic ShiftHashdex launched the ETF in late 2025 with five core digital assets. These included Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and Stellar. However, the latest filing confirms the addition of Cardano and Chainlink before year-end. As a result, the fund now tracks seven major cryptocurrencies.

Moreover, this expansion highlights a deliberate move toward diversification. Investors increasingly seek exposure beyond Bitcoin and Ether. Hence, including Cardano and Chainlink strengthens the ETF’s appeal to a wider audience. The updated structure also aligns with broader market trends favoring multi-asset crypto products.

The filing further reports total net assets of $1.213 billion by December 31. Additionally, the ETF recorded a net asset value of $22.71 per share. Its market price closely matched that figure, indicating efficient price tracking.

Competitive Landscape Heats UpThe ETF’s expansion comes amid rising competition in the crypto investment space. Significantly, regulatory approval in late 2025 opened doors for multiple asset managers. Consequently, firms rushed to launch or convert products into ETF structures.

Moreover, established players have already secured strong positions. Bitwise converted its flagship fund into an ETF and now leads the segment by assets. Similarly, Grayscale transitioned its large-cap crypto fund into an ETF format earlier in 2025. Additionally, Franklin Templeton entered the market with a Bitcoin and Ether-focused offering.

Therefore, Hashdex’s move reflects both opportunity and pressure. The firm must innovate to remain competitive in a crowded field.

Solana Price Faces Technical PressureMeanwhile, Solana has experienced short-term price weakness despite broader ETF developments. The asset as of press time trades at $87.54, marking a daily decline of over 5%. It also slipped more than 2% over the past week.

According to ChiefraT, Solana continues to form a rising wedge pattern. This structure often signals weakening upward momentum. However, buyers still defend support near the $86 to $88 range.

Additionally, the $90 to $92 zone now acts as a key pivot level. If the price holds above this range, it may test resistance between $96 and $98. However, failure near resistance could trigger a decline toward $84.

Bitcoin [BTC] hovered around the $70,000 region at press time, which frames the current imbalance without anchoring to a fixed level.

As price stabilizes in this range, short-term holder cost clusters concentrate between $75,000 and $90,000, showing heavy overhead pressure. At the same time, the prior decline from above $110,000 toward the mid-$60,000s shifted a large share of supply into loss.

Source: Glassnode Meanwhile, heatmap intensity highlighted a dense supply near $85,000, reinforcing a key resistance zone where sellers may re-emerge.

As price attempts a recovery, these holders approach breakeven, which increases the likelihood of distribution. On the downside, support forms near the $65,000–$70,000 band, where accumulation previously occurred.

However, Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) around 0.23 signals limited profitability across the network, which keeps sentiment restrained.

As this structure persists, Bitcoin holds support, yet repeated rejection near a higher cost basis continues capping sustained upside momentum.

STH overhang caps Bitcoin’s upside momentum Short-term holder positioning now defines Bitcoin’s upside constraints within the current range. As price holds near support zones, STH-MVRV at 0.84 shows recent buyers remain about 16% underwater.

At the same time, STH-SOPR at 0.9 confirms coins still move at a loss, reinforcing weak conviction.

Source: Glassnode As these sell orders cluster near prior cost bases, resistance strengthens and slows continuation. Until a meaningful share of this supply returns to profit, Bitcoin holds support, yet upside remains tightly capped by persistent sell-side pressure.

ETF inflows stabilize Bitcoin, but weak Spot demand caps breakout This supply overhang continues to shape Bitcoin’s demand structure, where inflows struggle to translate into expansion. While ETF inflows exceed $56 billion cumulatively, they act more as a stabilizing force than a growth catalyst.

Meanwhile, daily Spot volumes around $7 billion signal subdued participation compared to prior expansion phases.

As the Coinbase Premium Index stays neutral to slightly negative, institutional Spot demand lacks urgency. During rallies, STH-MVRV near 0.84 keeps holders in loss, which sustains exit flows near breakeven levels.

As this dynamic persists, ETF demand absorbs distribution without driving continuation, leaving Bitcoin stable yet unable to sustain momentum beyond resistance zones.

Final Summary Bitcoin maintains support near the $65,000–$70,000 range, yet dense short-term holder supply between $75,000 and $90,000 continues capping upside momentum. Bitcoin ETF inflows exceeding $56 billion stabilize price action, yet weak Spot demand and negative CVD limit breakout potential beyond key resistance zones.

Cardano price may be flashing one of its strongest reversal signals in months, and most of the market is still looking the other way. As sentiment sinks deeper into fear, on-chain data shows holders sitting on heavy losses, while smart money quietly flips bullish. At the same time, derivatives positioning is shifting fast, with top traders aggressively building long exposure. Historically, this combination has marked key turning points, not continuation phases.

With price compressing and pressure building, the setup is clear, Is ADA price about to catch the market off guard with a sharp breakout?

On-Chain Data Signals Deep UndervaluationRecent on-chain data highlight a critical development: Cardano’s MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) has dropped sharply into negative territory, with average wallets sitting at significant unrealized losses. Historically, such extreme negative MVRV levels have aligned with accumulation phases, where long-term investors begin to step in as risk-reward improves. The logic is straightforward, when the majority of holders are at a loss, selling pressure tends to exhaust, creating conditions for a potential trend reversal.

In previous market cycles, similar setups have often marked macro bottoms or early-stage recovery zones, making the current structure particularly noteworthy from a risk-adjusted perspective.

Binance Traders Flip Bullish on ADAAdding to the bullish narrative, derivatives data from Binance reveals a clear shift in positioning among top traders. Long positions in ADA have increased sharply, rising by nearly 10% within just a few days, signaling growing confidence among experienced market participants. At the same time, broader funding rate data shows an unusually high concentration of short positions in the market. This imbalance creates conditions for a potential short squeeze, where any upward price movement could force short sellers to cover positions, accelerating upside momentum.

This divergence between retail pessimism and smart money positioning often acts as an early signal of trend shifts, particularly when combined with supportive on-chain metrics.

Cardano Price Analysis: ADA Coils at Key Breakout Zone as Pressure BuildsCardano’s price structure is now entering a decisive phase, where compression is nearing its resolution point. After a prolonged downtrend, ADA has transitioned into a tight symmetrical consolidation, reflecting a balance between buyers stepping in and sellers gradually losing control.

The $0.25–$0.26 support level has acted as a strong base, absorbing selling pressure despite broader market weakness. On the upside, ADA continues to face a firm supply barrier around $0.33–$0.34, a level that has rejected multiple breakout attempts. This repeated rejection confirms it as a critical liquidity zone where sellers remain active. 

However, the narrowing price action suggests that this resistance is being tested under increasing pressure. A decisive move above this region could trigger a shift in market structure, opening the path toward $0.42–$0.45, where the next major resistance cluster lies. If ADA fails to hold above the $0.25 support, the bullish thesis weakens, potentially exposing downside toward lower liquidity zones. However, as long as price continues to hold and compress within this range, the probability of an upside breakout gradually increases.

FAQsWhy is Cardano (ADA) showing a potential reversal signal?

ADA’s MVRV is deeply negative, signaling holders’ losses may exhaust selling pressure and smart money is starting to accumulate.

What is Cardano (ADA) price prediction for 2026?

ADA may rise if $0.25 support holds and buyers push past $0.34 resistance, potentially targeting $0.42–$0.45 in the near term.

Is Cardano a good buy during the current market dip?

With negative MVRV and smart money accumulating, ADA shows strong risk-reward potential for buyers seeking early-stage recovery opportunities.

What technical levels should traders watch for Cardano?

Key levels: support $0.25–$0.26, resistance $0.33–$0.34. Breaking resistance may open the path to $0.42–$0.45, confirming bullish momentum.

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Paolo Ardoino, the chief executive officer (CEO) at Tether, has taken to his X account to give an official comment on the upcoming listing of the recently launched stablecoin XAUT by the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance.

Binance to list XAUT but here's a catchXAUT is a ticker for Tether Gold, and as is clear from the title, this stablecoin is backed with the world’s most precious metal and the oldest store of value and inflation hedge – gold. However, Binance will list it with a seed tag, meaning that this asset is new and could show high volatility.

XAUT will be paired with several major cryptocurrencies for trading. The new spot pairs are XAUT/USDT, XAUT/BTC, XAUT/U, XAUT/USDC, and XAUT/TRY.

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Ardoino expressed satisfaction and joy at this news, commenting it with a “handshake” emoji.

According to the post by Binance, users can already start depositing XAUT to start trading later. Withdrawals will be open on March 27 at 13:30 (UTC).

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Tether hires Big Four firm for first full auditAs reported by U.Today earlier, the leading player in the stablecoin market, Tether, with a huge $184 billion market capitalization value and a global user base of more than 550 million, has engaged a “Big Four” accounting firm to conduct its first full independent financial statement audit.

It will be “the biggest ever inaugural audit in the history of financial markets,” Tether claims. The intention to conduct this audit underscores Tether’s dedication to show the financial and crypto worlds that its main product, USDT, is fully backed, highly liquid and has world-class risk management behind it.

Besides, Tether comments: “The audit engagement reflects the company’s longstanding dedication to global accessibility, financial empowerment, and the unrestricted movement of value across borders, contributing to a more stable society globally.”