Market Signal Briefing

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PHX:CA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

Item 1 of 2 A view inside the lobby of the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square in New York City, U.S., November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

[1/2]A view inside the lobby of the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square in New York City, U.S., November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Hotel operator Marriott International

(MAR.O), opens new tab on Sunday said its licensing agreement with lodging rentals company Sonder

(SOND.O), opens new tab has been terminated due to a default from Sonder.

Sonder, which provides apartment-style accommodations, signed an agreement with Marriott in 2024 that sent its shares skyrocketing.

Sign up here.

Under the deal, Sonder enhanced its liquidity profile by about $146 million, with over 9,000 units expected to join the Marriott system by the end of 2024.

As a result of the termination, Marriott said Sonder is no longer affiliated with Marriott Bonvoy, adding that Sonder properties are not available for new bookings on Marriott's channels.

Marriott, in a separate statement, said that it now expects its full-year net rooms growth to be 4.5%, because of the termination, a dip from last week, when the company said it saw yearly net rooms growth approaching 5%.

Sonder did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

The company, which offers refurbished properties for short-term rentals, agreed to go public at a valuation of around $2.2 billion in 2021. It now has market value of around $6.79 million, according to data from LSEG.

Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A pending class-action lawsuit targeting KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) alleges that the company made misleading statements to investors in the weeks leading up to the abrupt cancellation of a major military contract which negatively impacted the company’s business prospects. The lawsuit seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired KBR securities between May 6, 2025 and June 19, 2025.

National shareholders rights firm Hagens Berman urges KBR investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys.

Class Period: May 6, 2025 – June 19, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Nov. 18, 2025
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/kbr
Contact the Firm Now: [email protected]
                                       844-916-0895

KBR, Inc. (KBR) Securities Class Action:

The legal action claims that KBR executives provided a falsely optimistic outlook on a crucial partnership just as it was on the verge of collapse.

The litigation stems from the Department of Defense U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) canceling its global household goods contract with HomeSafe Alliance LLC, a joint venture led by KBR. The decision, announced on June 20, 2025, caused KBR shares to fall over 7% as investors reacted to the loss of a contract valued at up to $20 billion over a potential nine-year term.

The suit highlights a key discrepancy: on May 6, 2025, during its Q1 earnings call, KBR assured investors that the HomeSafe partnership was "strong" and "excellent" and that the company was "very confident in the future of this program." Importantly, the company also assured investors that the HomeSafe JV would contribute a mid-point revenue contribution of about $400 million for 2025.

However, just weeks later, on June 19, 2025, HomeSafe disclosed that TRANSCOM had terminated the contract for cause. The termination reportedly came after months of operational issues, including chronic delays, missed pickups, and a rise in complaints about damaged goods. The complaint alleges that KBR was aware of TRANSCOM’s material concerns but chose to conceal them from investors. The lawsuit argues that this misrepresentation led to the significant financial losses suffered by shareholders.

KBR Revises Revenue Guidance Downward After TRANSCOM Partnership Termination

The adverse financial impact of TRANSCOM’s termination of the “strong” and “excellent” partnership became clear after the class period, when on July 31, 2025, KBR reported its Q2 2025 financial results. The company officially revised its low-end 2025 revenue guidance downward by about $900 million (-9%), in large part due to removal of the HomeSafe JV revenue contribution. During the earnings call that day, KBR management said, "we acknowledge there were operational challenges."

“We’re focused on whether KBR may have intentionally misled investors about the true status of the relationship with TRANSCOM and the contract,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in KBR and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »

If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the KBR case and our investigation, read more »

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding KBR should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. 

Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

Shares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been making up for lost time in the year's second half, now up more than 26% in the last three months, putting the iPhone maker up just shy of 11% year to date.

If any investor has stood the test of time, it is Warren Buffett, and with good reason.

November 09, 2025 9:14 AM EST | Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 9, 2025) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) resulting from allegations that Western Alliance Bancorporation may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Western Alliance Bancorporation securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46349 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 16, 2025, Western Alliance Bancorporation disclosed that it had initiated a lawsuit against a borrower, Cantor Group V LLC, alleging fraud related to collateral loans.

On this news, Western Alliance Bancorporation's stock fell 10.88% on October 16, 2025.

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

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

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/273733

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.

NEW YORK, Nov. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers and acquirers of Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) securities between December 4, 2024 and September 9, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 30, 2025.

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

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Synopsys class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44981 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 30, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) the extent to which Synopsys’ increased focus on artificial intelligence customers, which require additional customization, was deteriorating the economics of its Design IP business; (2) that, as a result, “certain road map and resource decisions” were unlikely to “yield their intended results,”; (3) that the foregoing had a material negative impact on financial results; and (4) as  a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Synopsys’ business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Synopsys class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=44981 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

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

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

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

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

Contact Information:

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

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

If you purchased or acquired securities in Cytokinetics between December 27, 2023 and May 6, 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]

NEW YORK, Nov. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Cytokinetics, Incorporated (“Cytokinetics” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CYTK) and reminds investors of the November 17, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

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.

According to the complaint, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the timeline for the New Drug Application (“NDA”) submission and approval process for aficamten. Specifically, defendants represented that the Company expected approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for its NDA for aficamten in the second half of 2025, based on a September 26, 2025 PDUFA date, and failed to disclose material risks related to the Company’s failure to submit a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) that could delay the regulatory process.

On May 6, 2025, during an earnings call, it was revealed that the Company had multiple pre-NDA meetings with the FDA discussing safety monitoring and risk mitigation but chose to submit the NDA without a REMS, relying on labeling and voluntary education materials. This confirmed defendants’ awareness of potential REMS requirements and their reckless decision to omit it from the initial submission, misleading investors about the regulatory timeline.

As a result of defendants’ false and misleading statements, class members purchased Cytokinetics’ common stock at artificially inflated prices and suffered significant losses when the truth was revealed.

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 Cytokinetics’ conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

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

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

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.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c84fcf7-a77f-4c3f-a1dd-153f7bf3d4ac

The data analytics company has been growing at a faster rate than Nvidia.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR +1.65%) is coming off yet another strong quarterly result, where it not only beat expectations with ease, but also raised its guidance. And this time around, it was a substantial increase to the data analytics company's forecast for the year.

The growth rate for Palantir has been accelerating, and that has enabled it to generate incredible 152% returns this year. It has leveraged artificial intelligence (AI) to its advantage, providing its customers with more effective and efficient solutions. Palantir has undoubtedly been the hottest AI stock to own this year, but has it also become a better overall AI investment than the juggernaut that is Nvidia (NVDA +0.03%)?

Image source: Getty Images.

Palantir's growth has been more impressive than Nvidia's of late
Palantir has been a growth machine for several quarters. Every time doubters may think the business might be due for a slowdown, it manages to pump out strong results as it continues to prove them wrong.

On Nov. 3, the tech company did it yet again. Its reported third-quarter revenue of $1.18 billion for the period ended Sept. 30, which was more than the $1.09 billion that analysts were expecting. And its adjusted per-share earnings of $0.21 was also better than estimates of $0.17.

Not only was it a solid beat, but the company raised its revenue guidance for the full year to around $4.4 billion. That's a sizable increase from its full-year guidance back in August, when it was projecting sales to be around $4.1 billion. This past quarter, Palantir's top line rose by 63% year over year, which was an acceleration from the 48% growth it posted back in the second quarter.

By comparison, Nvidia's growth rate when it last reported earnings in August was 56% (for the period ended July 27). And a quarter earlier, it was 69%. While Nvidia has been slowing, Palantir's growth has been ramping up.

Today's Change

(

1.65

%) $

2.88

Current Price

$

177.93

Where Palantir trails Nvidia is in valuation
In terms of sheer growth, Palantir looks superior to the top chipmaker today. But a key advantage for Nvidia is on the bottom line. Its per-share profit is far higher, which is why, even though Nvidia is the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap of $4.8 trillion, its price-to-earnings multiple of 56, is far lower than the mammoth 430 times earnings that Palantir trades at (its market cap is around $450 billion). Valuation is important, because it more effectively puts how expensive a stock truly is into context, rather than just looking at share price or market cap alone.

A recent filing revealed that prominent hedge fund manager Michael Burry has put options on Palantir's stock, indicating he may be worried that it is overpriced and due for a decline. Palantir CEO Alex Karp was perplexed by the news and that people would take short positions on the stock.

"I do think this behavior is egregious and I'm going to be dancing around when it's proven wrong," Karp said on CNBC.

The bearish position on Palantir by Burry and other skeptics may explain why despite the company's seemingly strong results, the AI stock has been falling rather than rising in value.

Today's Change

(

0.03

%) $

0.05

Current Price

$

188.13

Palantir is hot, but Nvidia is still the safer long-term buy
There's no doubt that Palantir has been the better buy this year, but it has become a highly speculative stock to own. Although Nvidia isn't a cheap-looking stock based on earnings, at least its valuation is somewhat justifiable.

With Palantir, the premium is so incredibly high that it becomes a far riskier investment to be holding. That's why despite its impressive results, I'm still not convinced that Palantir's rally can continue. Investors are better off going with more of a sure thing in Nvidia.

SummaryAdvanced Micro Devices (AMD) delivered strong Q3’25 results, with 36% YoY revenue growth and robust performance in Data Center, Client, and Gaming segments.
AMD’s Data Center segment remains the primary growth driver, while ROCm 7 software and partnerships with OpenAI and Oracle position AMD to narrow the gap with NVIDIA (NVDA).
Despite appearing overvalued on traditional metrics, AMD’s long-term growth potential is underappreciated as it evolves into a full AI systems provider with Helios and next-gen GPUs.
I maintain a bullish rating on AMD, recommending a buy for long-term investors, while advising caution regarding short-term volatility and execution risks.
Jonathan Kitchen/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Introduction Since my last coverage, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) has risen approximately 46%. In this article, I aim to analyze the company’s Q3’25 results and share my thoughts on why AMD

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AMD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

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Super Micro Computer is misunderstood by the market after earnings, despite strong FY26 revenue guidance and robust AI infrastructure demand. SMCI's order book is expanding, with over $13 billion in Blackwell Ultra orders and FY26 revenue guidance raised to at least $36 billion, up from $33 billion. The company faces short-term margin pressure due to high-volume deals and new product ramps, but new products like DCBBS could boost margins longer-term.

Top U.S. Marijuana Stocks to Watch in November 2025
The U.S. cannabis industry continues to develop rapidly as state-level legalization expands and federal reform remains a possibility. Investors are watching closely as more states shift to adult-use markets, which creates opportunities for multi-state operators with established infrastructure. Although the sector has faced challenges, including pricing pressure and limited access to traditional financing, the strongest companies have found ways to adapt. They are focusing on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding into higher-margin markets. In addition, many operators have strengthened their balance sheets and worked toward sustainable profitability.

As we move into November 2025, several key players have positioned themselves to benefit from increased demand and market maturity. These companies stand out due to their scale, strategic geographic footprints, and recognized consumer brands. They also continue to improve operational performance while navigating regulatory uncertainty. While volatility may remain, disciplined investors are evaluating companies with stable revenue streams, effective management, and the ability to expand their retail presence when new markets open.

This article highlights three U.S. marijuana stocks that merit attention: Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (TCNNF), Cresco Labs Inc. (CRLBF), and Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTBIF). Each of these companies operates extensive networks across multiple states and maintains strong brand recognition. Together, they reflect the evolving landscape of the American cannabis market. Though the sector still depends on policy developments, these companies are already building foundations designed to thrive long-term.

Before investing in any cannabis stock, traders should consider risk management, market timing, and broader economic conditions. However, with thoughtful analysis and strategic positioning, opportunities may arise in the months ahead. Now, let’s examine each company in more detail.

[Read More] Cannabis REITs and Financing Firms to Consider in November 2025

Cannabis Investing 2025: Top Multi-State Operators Building Long-Term Market Strength

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (OTC: TCNNF)
Cresco Labs Inc. (OTC: CRLBF)
Green Thumb Industries Inc. (OTC: GTBIF)

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (TCNNF)
Trulieve is one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis operators in the United States. The company is headquartered in Florida and has built its dominance by establishing a strong presence in the state’s medical cannabis market. It operates more than 190 dispensaries across the country, with the majority located in Florida. This extensive retail network allows Trulieve to maintain strong customer loyalty and efficient distribution. The company has also expanded into states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia, increasing its national reach. Its cultivation and production facilities are designed to support consistent product quality and availability. As a result, Trulieve has positioned itself to capture further market share as states transition to adult-use programs. The company continues to emphasize customer experience, brand familiarity, and efficient supply chains.

Turning to its financial performance, Trulieve has reported steady revenue growth driven primarily by its retail operations. The company has improved gross margins through efficiency efforts, cost reductions, and cultivation optimization. Operating expenses have been tightened to align with revenue levels, helping Trulieve move closer to sustainable profitability. Additionally, the company has worked to strengthen its balance sheet by managing debt levels and prioritizing cash flow. While the company has faced pressures similar to others in the industry, including pricing competition and regulatory costs, its scale has allowed it to adapt effectively. The combination of a large retail network, an established customer base, and improving margins makes Trulieve a compelling stock to watch as we enter November 2025.

[Read More] 3 Top Marijuana Stocks For Better Investing And Larger Profits In 2026

Cresco Labs Inc. (CRLBF)
Cresco Labs is a major multi-state cannabis operator known for its focus on branded products and national distribution. To begin with, the company operates cultivation, processing, and dispensary facilities across several states. In particular, it is recognized for its Sunnyside retail brand, which emphasizes a welcoming and educational consumer experience. Moreover, Cresco has built a strong wholesale business, supplying branded cannabis products to retailers in multiple markets. As a result, this strategy allows the company to maintain a presence even in states where it operates fewer storefronts. Furthermore, Cresco has prioritized major population centers and high-value markets to maximize growth potential. In addition, the company continues to focus on strategic expansion, operational efficiency, and product consistency across state lines. Altogether, these efforts support Cresco’s goal of strengthening brand awareness and improving long-term market positioning.

From a financial standpoint, Cresco has shown solid operating discipline. The company has worked to stabilize revenue while improving its gross margins. It has also placed significant emphasis on generating positive operating cash flow, which supports ongoing investments and debt management. Operating expenses have been monitored closely to maintain cost efficiency. Although the company has experienced periods of revenue fluctuation, it has consistently demonstrated the ability to manage expenses effectively. Cresco has focused on strengthening its balance sheet and positioning itself for long-term stability. The company’s commitment to building strong national cannabis brands remains a key differentiator. As the U.S. cannabis market matures, Cresco is well-positioned to benefit from increased demand for recognizable, high-quality products.

[Read More] 3 Marijuana Stocks To Watch With Key Trends and Investor Insights

Green Thumb Industries Inc. (GTBIF)
Green Thumb Industries, commonly known as GTI, is a leading U.S. cannabis company with a strong consumer-focused approach. The company operates the RISE Dispensaries retail chain and has cultivated several successful product brands. GTI maintains a presence in multiple states, including Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada. It has developed a retail and wholesale model that allows it to serve customers directly while also distributing across the broader market. The company emphasizes brand development, product quality and consumer loyalty. GTI’s focus on both cultivation and retail operations has supported steady expansion and market influence.

Financially, Green Thumb has demonstrated one of the strongest performance profiles in the cannabis sector. The company has consistently generated positive operating income and maintained healthy gross margins. It has also managed expenses carefully, supporting profitability and cash flow generation. GTI’s disciplined financial strategy has allowed it to reinvest in new markets, improve production efficiency, and maintain product consistency. The company has worked to maintain a solid balance sheet with manageable debt levels. This stability provides an advantage during periods of industry volatility. As legalization momentum continues across the country, Green Thumb is positioned to capture additional consumer demand and expand its market footprint. Going into November 2025, GTI remains a compelling stock due to its profitable operations, strong brands, and disciplined growth strategy.

MAPH Enterprises, LLC | (305) 414-0128 | 1501 Venera Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | [email protected]

NEW YORK, Nov. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (NASDAQ: ZION, ZIONP) resulting from allegations that Zions Bancorporation may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Zions Bancorporation, N.A. securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=46354 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 15, 2025, Zions Bancorporation, N.A. announced that it would be taking a $50 million charge-off for a loan underwritten by its wholly-owned subsidiary, California Bank & Trust, in light of “apparent misrepresentations and contractual defaults by the Borrowers and Obligors and other irregularities with respect to the Loans and collateral.” Zions Bancorporation, N.A. further disclosed that it would be engaging counsel to coordinate an independent review of the matter.

On this news, Zions Bancorporation, N.A. common stock fell 13.14% on October 16, 2025.

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

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

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

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

Contact Information:

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

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13h05 ▪
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Ifeoluwa O.

Summarize this article with:

While stablecoins aim to keep their value steady by being tied to fiat currencies, their expanding presence in digital finance has made them central to the movement of funds within blockchain networks. They play a vital role in decentralized finance (DeFi), aid cross-border payments, and help sustain liquidity. Yet, as their circulation widens, these same advantages have also drawn the attention of criminal networks, with stablecoins now beginning to replace Bitcoin as the favored option for money laundering and related illegal transfers.

In Brief

The Financial Action Task Force reported in June 2025 that the use of stablecoins by various illicit actors has continued to rise and most on-chain illegal activity now involves these assets.
In 2024 stablecoins accounted for about 63% of illicit cryptocurrency activity, surpassing Bitcoin as the preferred option for criminal transactions.
Criminal networks exploit stablecoins for cross-border transfers and scams, often using unregulated exchanges or over-the-counter markets to avoid scrutiny.

The Rising Role of Stablecoins in Illicit Transactions
An analysis by Chainalysis, a blockchain data firm, found that although Bitcoin previously accounted for most illicit cryptocurrency activity, stablecoins have now taken the lead. The firm noted that these assets made up about 63% of illegal crypto transactions in 2024, marking a significant shift in how digital currencies are being used for unlawful financial movements.

Criminal networks are increasingly turning to stablecoins because they allow funds to be moved quietly across borders without the logistical challenges and oversight common in traditional banking. These transactions often occur through unregulated foreign exchanges or private over-the-counter (OTC) markets where identity checks are minimal.

At the local level, stablecoins have also been exploited in scams. In Korea, they have been tied to a scheme known as “Oda Jangjip,” in which scammers create false listings on e-commerce and secondhand platforms to trick buyers and steal their funds.

Stablecoins in Global Financial Crime
International watchdogs have expressed growing concern about the rising misuse of stablecoins. In its June 2025 report, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) stated that “the use of stablecoins by various illicit actors, including Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) actors, terrorist financiers, and drug traffickers, has continued to increase since the 2024 Targeted Update, and most on-chain illicit activity now involves stablecoins.” The organization added that broader adoption of virtual assets could further amplify the risks of financial crime on a global scale.

Similarly, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) observed in January 2024 that the Tether (USDT) token on the TRON blockchain has become a favored instrument for Southeast Asian bad actors involved in online fraud and laundering operations, largely due to its reliability and ease of movement.

This widespread criminal use is facilitated by the underlying design of blockchain networks. While transactions are recorded on public ledgers, they are tied to anonymous digital addresses rather than real identities, making it difficult to identify who controls the funds. 

The use of mixers or tumblers, which blend transactions from multiple users to obscure their origins, further complicates tracking. These pseudonymous and decentralized features significantly weaken the oversight mechanisms that traditional financial systems rely on.

Strengthening Protection and Oversight
To reduce exposure to these risks, Chainalysis has issued several recommendations for both individual users and institutions handling stablecoins

Individual users should always verify token contracts through official channels before making any transfers, ensuring the funds are sent to legitimate addresses.
Building on this, users are advised to strengthen wallet security by using hardware wallets for larger balances and enabling multi-factor authentication to protect against unauthorized access.
It is also important for users to stay alert to phishing schemes that try to steal private keys or trick them into approving transactions, as these attacks exploit lapses in security.
For organizations, effective risk management involves auditing smart contracts before adoption, monitoring transactions continuously for unusual activity, and maintaining systems that comply with anti–money-laundering standards, including real-time screening and identification of suspicious transfers.

Regulation and Market Outlook
Stablecoins are expanding rapidly across global markets, even as countries refine regulations to address digital asset activity. Their market capitalization has now surpassed $313 billion, reflecting strong and sustained demand.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent noted the sector’s significant growth potential, projecting that stablecoins could reach a total market value of $2 trillion within the next three years.

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Ifeoluwa O.

Ifeoluwa specializes in Web3 writing and marketing, with over 5 years of experience creating insightful and strategic content. Beyond this, he trades crypto and is skilled at conducting technical, fundamental, and on-chain analyses.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

The Ethereum (ETH) Rainbow Chart is suggesting that the second-ranked cryptocurrency is likely to trade across a diverse range of prices by the end of the month. 

Notably, the outlook comes as Ethereum continues to be weighed down by broader market sentiment, which has seen increased selling pressure. 

By press time, ETH was trading at $3,425, up almost 0.5% in the past 24 hours, while on the weekly timeline, the asset is down 12%.

ETH seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold
ETH price prediction 
Now, the Ethereum Rainbow Chart, a long-term valuation model using a color-coded logarithmic curve, projects potential price levels for November 2025. 

At the top of the spectrum, the “Maximum Bubble Territory” is projected between $15,286.39 and $21,767.19, indicating extreme overvaluation and speculative exuberance. Just below this, the “But have we earned it?” band spans $10,701.94 to $15,286.39, typically representing a heated but not yet euphoric market.

ETH Rainbow Chart. Source: Blockchain Center
The “Is this the Flippening?” level ranges from $7,367.2 to $10,701.94, marking strong bullish momentum where investors might speculate on Ethereum surpassing Bitcoin’s dominance. The “HODL!” zone, between $5,078.4 and $7,367.2, reflects healthy growth and sustained optimism among long-term holders.

Further down, the “Steady…” band lies between $3,529.58 and $5,078.4, pointing to a market in equilibrium where Ethereum is fairly valued. The “Still cheap” ($2,486.81–$3,529.58) and “Undervalued” ($1,775.54–$2,486.81) ranges suggest the asset remains attractively priced for accumulation. 

Finally, the lowest bands, “Accumulate” ($1,289.28–$1,775.54) and “Fire Sale” ($954.68–$1,289.28), reflect periods of excessive pessimism, offering potentially undervalued entry points.

ETH’s ideal price for November 30
With Ethereum trading around $3,400, it sits at the lower edge of the “Steady…” band, just above the “Still cheap” zone. This placement suggests the asset remains moderately undervalued relative to the chart’s growth trajectory. 

If market sentiment stays stable and follows its historical logarithmic path, Ethereum’s equilibrium price by November 30 could fall between $3,500 and $5,000, aligning with the midpoint of the “Steady…” band.

While not a scientific forecast or investment advice, the Rainbow Chart contextualizes Ethereum’s cyclical valuation trends within its historical performance.

Featured image via Shutterstock

XRP consolidates at $2.32 following whale sales of 500,000 tokens, testing critical $2.00 support as 21Shares files for spot ETF approval and Ripple's acquisition strategy positions the protocol for institutional-scale transaction volume.

Solana [SOL] is once again in the spotlight as institutional investors pile in through the newly launched Solana spot ETFs. Over the past 24 hours, Solana ETFs have attracted a combined $9.7 million in inflows, suggesting growing confidence among institutions in the network's long-term potential.

Key points:

Bitcoin faces an important weekly close with several key price levels on the line.

The bull market’s future is still at stake, a trader says, amid ongoing whale selling.

Risk assets should gain from a reduction in US trade tariffs or the end of the government shutdown.

Bitcoin (BTC) wedged itself in a narrow range ahead of a key weekly close with $100,000 support at stake.

BTC price counts down to major weekly closeData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC price inertia characterizing weekend trading.

Volatility was lacking, but market participants were keen to see how the weekly candle would close.

Source: Caleb Franzen
“Key level of the week: $103.5K,” trader Titan of Crypto wrote in a post on X.

Titan of Crypto based the significance of that price point on Fibonacci retracement levels, with the bull market potentially at stake.

“A weekly close below isn’t dramatic, but a confirmed breakdown next week would signal the bull market is likely over. Not there yet,” he added.

BTC/USD one-week chart. Source: Titan of Crypto/X
Others eyed a close above the 50-week exponential moving average (EMA), currently at $100,940, as a sign of strength.

“We don’t want a weekly close below this at any cost,” trader Max Crypto warned.

BTC/USD one-week chart with 50EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
The risk of a “death cross” involving simple moving averages (SMAs) on the daily chart, meanwhile, was of interest to trader SuperBro.

Such a scenario occurs when the 50-period SMA crosses below the 200-period equivalent.

“The 4th ‘death cross’ of the bull cycle is approaching. Each time we’ve seen reversion to the mean and a sustained bottom,” he told X followers on the day. 

“But so far, a lukewarm reaction at the 365 SMA. Let's see if bulls can get it together and reclaim the Q3 low for the weekly close.”BTC/USD one-day chart. Source: SuperBro/XBitcoin analyst sees “expansion” if US gov’t shutdown endsBeyond chart signals, crypto markets hoped for positive news on the US government shutdown.

Anticipation that lawmakers would take steps to end the impasse was increasing, as its effects became more problematic for the US economy. 

Additionally, expectations were that the US Supreme Court striking down international trade tariffs — a decision due soon — would provide an instant boost to stocks.

“If the US government shutdown ends, we could see an expansion soon,” Cas Abbe, a contributor to onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, summarized.

Abbe uploaded a chart to X, which suggested that the end of the shutdown could also mark the end of a “manipulation” phase for BTC price action.

BTC/USDT one-day chart. Source: Case Abbe/X
Crypto investor and entrepreneur Ted Pillows was cautious, predicting that BTC price could suffer if market expectations were not satisfied soon enough.

“BTC is still consolidating around the $102,000 level. The markets were expecting the end of the government shutdown this weekend, but it didn’t happen,” he stated. 

“I still think Bitcoin could go a bit lower, given that institutional demand has gone and OG whales are selling.”BTC/USDT one-day chart. Source: Ted Pillows/X
Bitcoin whales, Cointelegraph reported, have produced sustained selling pressure throughout 2025.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Journalist

Posted: November 9, 2025

Key Takeaways
Is an altcoin season incoming?
Not likely in the coming weeks. Rising Bitcoin Dominance shows that higher Altcoin Volume alone doesn’t reflect strong market confidence.

How should investors and traders navigate the rest of 2025?
For BTC and alts, a bearish phase is ongoing, so participants must reassess their biases accordingly.

In a recent report, AMBCrypto reported how a rebound in demand for Bitcoin [BTC] could catch the bears unawares. Long-term holders were selling Bitcoin, as shown by the increased long-term holder spending in recent weeks.

Onchain BTC movements supported the idea of selling pressure.

Yet, BTC continued to trade above $100k. The convergence of rising network activity, strong miner participation, and low MVRV meant Bitcoin could be forming a strong base ahead of its next move upward.

If this is not the beginning of a bear market, but instead was a bull market reset, what does it mean for altcoins?

Tackling the altcoin season mirage
In a post on X, analyst Maartun observed that the Altcoin Volume was 51% of all trading volume.

For the uninitiated, this was a sign of market participation, but not necessarily indicative of an altseason. Altcoin volume of over 50% happened in the final week of September, and for most of February as well.

Source: TOTAL3 on TradingView

In these periods, the trend of altcoins was mainly downward, with brief bounces.

Therefore, the trading volume was likely a heap of selling pressure, with some respite in between. This alone is not an indicator of an altseason.

Market cap faces a heavy ceiling
Also, another point worth mentioning is that the Altcoin Market Cap is struggling to breach and stay above the $1.13 trillion mark. This was the market top in the 2021 cycle, and hasn’t convincingly been breached yet.

It is time to turn to one of the strongest indicators of an altseason.

Source: BTC.D on TradingView

On the 1-day chart, the Bitcoin Dominance was trending higher over the past two months. It was challenging the resistance zone at 60.5%.

This left traders focused on the likelihood that Bitcoin could outperform most altcoins in the short term.

Moreover, the swing points from the weekly timeframe (orange) showed that the higher timeframe outlook was bullish for BTC.D. This meant that Bitcoin is likely to outperform the majority of the altcoin market in the coming weeks.

Investors and altcoin traders should be prepared for further price drops.

Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories.
His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity.
Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution.
As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

Real world applications could drive XRP's price higher during the next market cycle.

Ripple (XRP 0.07%) was one of the earliest adopters of the blockchain idea outlined in the Bitcoin (BTC +0.28%) whitepaper. But instead of just building a digital currency, the founders sought to use the technology to support faster and cheaper cross-border transactions.

Unfortunately, Ripple faced some major headwinds since its founding, which kept the value of its cryptocurrency, XRP, from keeping up with the soaring prices of Bitcoin. But it got a major boost over the past year with a friendly administration and a positive court ruling. That has sent the price of XRP up roughly 340% since last year's election (as of this writing).

But there are several reasons to think XRP will continue to climb through the end of the decade, and it could surge in price during the next market cycle (which occurs about every four years).

Image source: Getty Images.

Ripple's big overhang has been lifted
Ripple has been battling a lawsuit brought by the SEC since late 2020, when it was accused of selling XRP as an unregistered security. Ultimately, the courts determined that only sales of XRP to institutional investors violated the law and ordered Ripple to pay a $125 million fine and issued a permanent injunction against institutional XRP sales. While both sides filed appeals, they finally withdrew them in August of this year, ending a nearly 5-year overhang that weighed heavily on XRP.

On top of that, the current administration has been quite friendly toward cryptocurrency, providing new laws and regulations that should support its adoption. Congress passed the GENIUS Act, providing a regulatory framework for stablecoins. It also repealed laws barring commercial banks from developing digital asset custody services.

The current SEC is also much friendlier toward crypto. Chairman Paul Atkins wants to develop clear guidelines that determine whether a crypto asset is a security (preventing another years-long case like Ripple's). He also wants to provide a framework for using blockchain technology in financial markets, which could be very beneficial for Ripple and XRP.

The path is clear for institutional adoption
Ripple cannot sell XRP directly to institutions, but institutional investors can still buy the cryptocurrency on the open market. And it's about to get a lot easier. Another friendly SEC policy has been the approval of new exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of cryptocurrencies, including XRP.

The SEC is currently reviewing XRP ETF applications from seven institutions. The first group is expected to launch in mid-November.

Widely available XRP ETFs should fuel adoption among institutional investors looking for exposure to the crypto asset class. The XRP futures contracts launched by CME Group have seen significant trading volume since launching in May, suggesting the demand is there. While XRP doesn't have the same supply-side forces as Bitcoin, the surge in demand should prop up the price of the cryptocurrency.

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An asset with real world use cases
The thing that separates XRP from Bitcoin is that Ripple is building financial technology with real world use cases. Its RippleNet aims to take on the SWIFT network for international money transfers. A SWIFT transfer often involves multiple intermediaries for sending payments, which can cause the cost of the transaction to increase while slowing it down. RippleNet uses its own blockchain-based ledger to confirm transactions in seconds.

What's more, RippleNet uses XRP as a bridge currency to convert one currency to another with a feature called On-Demand Liquidity. While a sender doesn't need to hold XRP, there does need to be ample liquidity available from somewhere. If transaction volume on RippleNet increases, the market cap of XRP will necessarily grow to support it. Several financial institutions have already started testing using RippleNet, including Santander, PNC, and American Express.

Other use cases for the XRP ledger exist as well. Real-world asset tokenization, which allows people to easily move asset ownership on the blockchain, could be backed by XRP. Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin transactions settle on the XRP ledger, requiring gas payments in XRP. Ripple is also seeing momentum in its efforts to bring more decentralized finance services to its blockchain.

Ultimately, however, XRP's price is heavily dependent on the adoption and use of RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity. Combined with growing adoption of XRP as an investment holding, which may not be held on chain (reducing liquidity), the price of XRP should climb considerably during the next market cycle now that the big regulatory overhang is out of the way and the government is actively pushing more blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption.

As a result, it's not unreasonable to expect XRP to climb past $10 by 2029, near the height of the next cryptocurrency market cycle. Granted, that requires broad adoption by both financial institutions and investors, and that's far from guaranteed. But it might be worth taking a chance on XRP, as one of a handful of cryptocurrencies with real traction in building practical blockchain technology. As always, keep your own risk tolerance in mind.

The world's top cryptocurrency just posted its first negative October since 2018.

October is usually a great month for Bitcoin (BTC +0.60%). The world's top cryptocurrency delivered an average gain of 20% during that month from 2013 to 2024. That's why October is often known as "Uptober" for Bitcoin investors.

But this year's "Uptober" was a bust as Bitcoin's price declined 5%. That marked Bitcoin's first negative October since 2018, when it dropped 2% amid the broader crypto crash. Let's see why Bitcoin slipped this October, and what that decline might mean for its future.

Image source: Getty Images.

What happened before October?
Up until October, Bitcoin was having a strong year. It was up 22% year to date through Sept. 30, compared with the S&P 500's 14% gain and the Nasdaq's 17% gain. Bitcoin's price was driven higher by four main catalysts.

First, declining interest rates drove investors toward cryptocurrencies, higher-growth stocks, and other speculative investments again. The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate three times in 2024 and executed its first rate cut of 2025 in September. Those lower rates also weakened the U.S. dollar and made Bitcoin a more appealing safe haven asset.

Second, Bitcoin underwent its latest "halving," which occurs every four years, last April. That process cuts its mining rewards in half and makes it harder to mine the token for a profit. That scarcity, which is capped at a maximum supply of 21 million tokens, makes it even more comparable to gold, silver, and other hard commodities.

Third, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Bitcoin's first spot price exchange-traded funds (ETFs) last January. Those approvals made Bitcoin more accessible to retail and institutional investors.

Lastly, Bitcoin was more widely adopted by companies including Strategy, institutional investors including BlackRock, and national governments including El Salvador and the Central African Republic. The U.S. also launched its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile in March to store its accumulated cryptocurrencies. That support made it a more stable investment than other smaller cryptocurrencies.

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Why was this year's "Uptober" a bust?
Several near-term challenges likely caused Bitcoin's price to pull back this October. Even though the Fed executed its second rate cut of 2025 at the end of October, the 10-Year Treasury yields still stayed above 4% throughout most of the month.

While it might seem like the Fed's rate cuts should immediately reduce those yields, those reductions were already largely priced in before the actual announcements. At the same time, the market's expectations for sticky inflation and the issuance of even more government debt (to cover fiscal deficits, refinance existing debt, and pay off interest) are still driving yields higher. Those elevated yields could curb the market's appetite for cryptocurrencies and other riskier investments.

More investors are also taking profits in cryptocurrencies as the market hovers near its record highs. The S&P 500 looks historically expensive at nearly 31 times earnings, and a steep pullback would likely drag down Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. That's probably why Bitcoin's spot price ETF inflows declined in October, and why Strategy -- the biggest corporate holder of Bitcoin -- bought fewer tokens during the month. Without the constant support from its top investors, Bitcoin's rally stalled out.

Does that pullback represent a buying opportunity?
Bitcoin is still a volatile investment, but I expect it to soar higher over the next 12 months. Its near-term headwinds should dissipate as Treasury yields decline, its top investors start accumulating the token again, and the market focuses on its long-term catalysts -- including its increased acceptance as a currency and its next halving in 2028.

While this "Uptober" was clearly a bust, that pullback represents a good buying opportunity for investors who can tune out the near-term noise. After all, those patient investors who bought Bitcoin at the end of its last "Downtober" in October in 2018 are now sitting on a hefty 1,470% gain. While Bitcoin might not replicate those massive gains over the next seven years, it could still have plenty of room to run as it cements its reputation as the market's "digital gold."

SharpLink Gaming, a Joe Lubin-backed Ethereum treasury company, has reportedly started unloading part of its ETH reserves, triggering speculation among investors and renewed volatility in both the cryptocurrency and equity markets. The sale coincided with another sharp decline in SharpLink's stock price (NASDAQ: SBET), which fell nearly 8% on Thursday, extending its weekly slump to over 12%.

Crypto fans have high hopes for XRP, but it still will have to deliver on its potential.

It has been quite the year for XRP (XRP 0.09%). The token hit a five-year high of over $3.50 in July as optimism surged about the end of the long legal battle that its developer, Ripple Labs, had been engaged in with the Securities and Exchange Commission, among other things. However, since then, the crypto's price has trended downwards.

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XRP acts as a financial bridge and is the native asset of the XRP Ledger. It excels in making cross-border international payments easier. Let's say a U.S. company wants to pay a supplier in Europe. Rather than converting dollars into euros, it might put the dollars into XRP and then transfer the crypto to the supplier's wallet. The recipient could then convert that XRP into their own currency.

XRP plays a key role in Ripple Lab's operations. But that role may diminish if the business shifts its focus. That and other headwinds might make it difficult for XRP to regain its summer highs.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Ripple's CTO is stepping down
On Sept. 30, Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz announced that he would step away from his day-to-day duties with the company by the end of the year. Schwartz has been involved with XRP for 13 years and was one of the architects of the XRP Ledger, its underlying blockchain.

While he will join the board of directors and stay involved as CTO emeritus, his departure will leave a void. Schwartz is a respected voice in the cryptocurrency world, and he has played an important role in the evolution of XRP. Ripple has not yet announced who will replace him.

2. SWIFT is adopting blockchain technology
SWIFT is the dominant global payment messaging cooperative,  comprised of 11,500 banks and institutions in over 220 countries. If you transfer money internationally, your bank probably uses the SWIFT network to do it. However, that process can be slow and relatively expensive, which makes SWIFT ripe for disruption.

Indeed, earlier this year, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicted that XRP would take about 14% of SWIFT's market share by 2030. Sounds great, right? Not so fast.

The challenge for XRP and many other crypto projects is that established players in the finance space won't just sit back and wait for blockchain upstarts to dethrone them. They're looking for ways to integrate blockchain into their operations, particularly now that some of the regulatory roadblocks have been removed.

For example, SWIFT is working with blockchain software specialist Consensys and 30 financial institutions to develop its own payments ledger. It has explored blockchain solutions through several pilot projects. At the cooperative's annual conference in September, SWIFT CEO Javier Perez-Tasso told members that it was ready to take the next step with a prototype blockchain.

SWIFT already has a huge network of banks as well as infrastructure to support the necessary compliance and security features. If it can incorporate the benefits of blockchain, there will be less need for XRP. That said, frictionless payments are only one part of Ripple's business. It also offers custody and stablecoin solutions. However, the growth of Ripple's dollar stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD +0.01%), may not necessarily translate into success for XRP.

3. Ripple Labs and XRP... It's complicated
Ripple Labs is a private company that created XRP and the XRP Ledger blockchain. If Ripple moves away from the global money transfer space or if companies prefer to use Ripple USD, it would erode XRP's main use case. There may be XRP fees for some Ripple custody and Ripple USD transactions, but it won't be central to the business.

Back in 2012 and 2013, the XRP Ledger founders pre-mined and launched 100 billion XRP tokens. Of that volume, 80% went to Ripple, which later locked 55 billion of them in escrow with a monthly release schedule. Today, Ripple controls 40% to 45% of the XRP in circulation, much of which is in escrow. Sales of XRP are a key source of revenue for the company.

For holders of XRP, the danger is that Ripple may shift in a direction that results in XRP ceasing to play a major role in its ecosystem. Its XRP sales would become a way to fund its new business avenues without necessarily contributing to the token's long-term future.

An uphill road ahead
XRP is one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, and it has a lot going for it. Not only has it weathered years in regulatory limbo, but it has also built a business around a real-world use case for cryptocurrency. That sets it apart from tens of thousands of other crypto projects.

Even so, as big financial institutions turn their attention to the blockchain, there is a risk that XRP will get squeezed out. It isn't a certainty -- and this is not necessarily a winner-takes-all game. XRP will only need to take a small percentage of the global payments market to grow, so it could still be a profitable asset to hold from here. Just don't let the hype about the token blind you to what are also its very real challenges.