Market Signal Briefing

Jim Wyckoff has spent over 25 years involved with the stock, financial and commodity markets. He was a financial journalist with the FWN newswire service for many years, including stints as a reporter on the rough-and-tumble commodity futures trading floors in Chicago and New York. As a journalist, he has covered every futures market traded in the U.S., at one time or another.

Jim is the proprietor of the "Jim Wyckoff on the Markets" analytical, educational and trading advisory service. Jim also worked as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as the senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com. Jim is also a consultant with the highly respected "Pro Farmer" agricultural advisory service. Jim was also the head equities analyst at CapitalistEdge.com. He received his degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he studied journalism and economics.

Follow Jim daily on Kitco.com as he provides both AM and PM roundups and a daily Technical Special. 1 877 963-NEWS jwyckoff at kitco.com

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AGNC, NLY 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.

Beyond Saving, Philip Mause, and Hidden Opportunities, all are supporting contributors for High Dividend Opportunities. Any recommendation posted in this article is not indefinite. We closely monitor all of our positions. We issue Buy and Sell alerts on our recommendations, which are exclusive to our members.

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A model of an oil pump is seen in front of a Russian flag in this illustration taken January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesFeb 4 (Reuters) - India's Russian oil imports slipped in January, continuing a downturn that began in December as refiners sought more alternative barrels under Western sanctions pressure and ongoing U.S.–India trade talks, Reuters sources said and data showed.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India to cut tariffs to 18% from 50% in exchange for New Delhi halting Russian oil purchases and lowering trade barriers.

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Indian refiners have been redrawing crude import strategies in recent months to shift away from top supplier Russia and boost imports from the Middle East.

In January, India imported 1.215 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, of which the Nayara refinery accounted for 0.41 million bpd, IOC took 0.58 million bpd, and BPCL took 0.19 million bpd, while Reliance imported no Russian crude last month, according to provisional data from analytics firm Kpler.

India's Russian oil imports in January were down by some 9% on a daily basis from last December, Reuters calculations showed. December oil imports dropped about 22% from November to 1.38 million barrels per day.

While it remains unclear to what extent India may ultimately have to scale back its imports of Russian oil, any further reductions would make it increasingly difficult and costly for Moscow to secure alternative buyers for its crude, Reuters sources said.

Indian refiners have not been told by the government to stop buying Russian oil and would need a wind-down period to complete purchases already in process, two refining sources said on Tuesday, following the trade deal with Washington.

Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world's largest refining complex, will buy up to 150,000 barrels per day of Russian oil from February for its domestic market-focused refinery, a company executive said last week.

The country's largest refiner overall, Indian Oil Corp, has committed to buying more Brazilian crude in the fiscal year starting April, after reducing Russian oil imports.

India’s reduction in purchases of Russian oil is affecting the freight market for its grades, as traders are increasingly using tankers to store Russia's Urals crude at seas.

Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Hugh Lawson

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 4, 2026) - Delta Resources Limited (TSXV: DLTA) (OTC Pink: DTARF) (FSE: 6GO1) ("Delta" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the discovery of a potential new gold zone in the Wedge area approximately 4 kilometres west of the Eureka Gold Deposit in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Assay results are from an additional two (2) drill holes completed as part of its recent 26-hole, 5,237-metre Fall 2025 diamond drill program. Delta is also pleased to announce the commencement of a 1,400-metre follow-up drill program at the Company's flagship Delta-1 Property, located approximately 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Highlights:

New gold intercept in hole D1-25-153 at the Nova target (Wedge area), located approximately 450 metres east of the Wedge Zone and 4 km west of the Eureka Gold Deposit, returning 1.11 g/t Au over 10.3 metres.Confirmation of gold mineralization at the Wedge Zone in hole D1-25-152.Follow-up drilling underway at Wedge Zone, Nova Target, and Kaspar Target, supported by enhanced geophysical targeting based on results from a recently completed 194.6 line-kilometre high-resolution, drone-based magnetic survey.Table-1: Reported assay results at the Delta-1 Gold Project

Target ZoneDrill Hole No.Easting NorthingElevation (m)AzimuthIncl.Length (m)From (m)To (m)Au Grade (g/t)Core Length (m)(UTM Zone 16)WedgeD1-25-152284719.79045385829.726433.0359180-45249.0108.00115.000.237.00

* Broad low grade 96.1135.500.1539.40D1-25-153285169.39775385861.747395.6588180-45246.056.2066.501.1110.30

inc.62.0066.502.034.50Ron Kopas, Chief Executive Officer (Interim) of Delta, commented:

"The discovery of a potential new gold zone at Nova Target in the Wedge area highlights the exceptional upside for additional significant discoveries across our extensive Delta-1 property. This is particularly encouraging given our success at the Shabaqua Target (see Delta's January 12, 2026 press release), where autumn drilling returned 4.25 grams over 11.8 metres. As we continue to advance the Eureka Gold Deposit through infill and metallurgical work, we believe the ongoing discoveries of additional gold sources on the Delta-1 property, that could be developed synergistically with the Eureka Deposit, continue to strengthen the project economics in this low-cost jurisdiction. This opportunity is further strengthened by our strategic location just 50 km from Thunder Bay, which is an established hub for mining operations in Northern Ontario where we are seeing increasing positive results from neighbouring projects (see recent Goldx2 press release).

In addition, we are pleased to announce a follow-up drill program on the heels of this new discovery. With the recent announcement of the $8,250,000 option agreement to monetize our Delta-2 property in Québec, we are well positioned to continue funding our exploration and project development activities. to advance the Delta-1 property."

Drill Program Stats:

Total number of holes drilled: 26
Metres drilled: 5,237
Number of holes reported here: 2

Shabaqua Target: 14 holes (2,474 m) Eureka South: 3 holes (888 m) Eureka West: 4 holes (894 m) Eureka Infill/Met work: 2 holes (285 m) - assays pendingSouth Till Anomaly: 1 hole (201 m) Wedge: 2 holes (495 m)

Figure-1: Drill hole location map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8482/282665_delta1en.jpg

The Company is reporting results from two of the four remaining drill holes from the 26-hole Fall 2025 program that have not previously been reported. Review and interpretation of the remaining two infill and metallurgical testing drill holes is currently underway, with results expected to be released shortly.

Wedge Area

Glacial till sampling conducted by Delta across multiple programs on the Delta-1 property has identified a strong gold anomaly originating from the Wedge area, located approximately 4 km west of the Eureka Gold Deposit. The Wedge area includes the Wedge Zone, the new Nova Target, and the Kaspar Target spanning a distance of almost 1.5 km. The Kaspar Target has the highest single gold grain count in till recorded across the entire area. To date, mineralization within the Wedge area appears to occur in at least two distinct styles, highlighting the strength and complexity of the gold system.

Wedge Zone

The previously identified Wedge Zone mineralization had minimal drill testing in 2003 and has since been verified by Delta Resources through multiple surface sampling programs conducted in recent years. The zone is characterized by pervasively ankerite-sericite-silica altered felsic to intermediate intrusive rocks with quartz-carbonate veinlets and disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite. This zone was intersected across 27.3 m in D1-25-152 yielding 0.23 g/t Au over 7 m. D1-25-153, drilled 450 m to the east, also intersected the Wedge zone with isolated grades of up to 0.73 g/t Au. This demonstrates the significant potential for this zone to continue to extend along-strike.

Nova Target

A second, and new, style of mineralization, associated with a series of massive pyrite lenses, was observed in drill hole D1-25-153 which yielded a grade of 1.11 g/t Au over 10.3 m. The location of the gold-bearing massive pyrite lenses corresponds with a 500 m long VTEM anomaly running parallel to the regional foliation.

The two holes completed in the Wedge Area during the latest program successfully expanded the known extent of the Wedge Zone by almost 400 m to the east, and identified a new style of mineralization, providing an exciting new target to follow up on and further expanding the mineralized footprint in the Wedge area.

Kaspar Target

The Kaspar target is located over 900 m from the original Wedge Zone discovery area and hole D1-25-152. Multiple gold-bearing samples were collected by Delta in one specific area with results including 8.72 g/t Au, 4.01 g/t Au and 1.75 g/t Au. Mineralization is associated with quartz-carbonate veins and disseminated and bands of pyrite in iron formation, chert, and bedded sedimentary rocks

Follow-Up Drill Program

Further drilling in the Wedge area will focus on, 1) continuing to expand the footprint of the Wedge Zone, 2) testing the extent of the gold-bearing massive pyrite lenses and their association with the strong VTEM anomalies in the area (Nova Target), and 3) drill testing the Kaspar Target.

Table-2: Fall-2025 assay results at the Delta-1 Gold Project

Target ZoneDrill Hole No.Easting NorthingElevation (m)AzimuthIncl.Length (m)From (m)To (m)Au Grade (g/t)Core Length (m)(UTM Zone 16)ShabaquaD1-25-128287738.25385623.933440.1469180-45252.0NSR

D1-25-129287736.95385496.724449.0089180-45261.0240.50247.000.396.50D1-25-1302877395385335.39456.2452180-45238.779.5097.300.4117.80D1-25-131287862.45385505.991449.30150-45102.03.509.800.676.30

33.5035.001.171.50

59.0066.500.367.50

82.20101.000.4018.80D1-25-132287960.45385500.086449.05350-45105.039.0045.100.336.10

96.20103.000.536.80D1-25-133288028.15385594.391440.3793180-45150.046.5057.000.2110.50D1-25-134288023.95385507.833445.6189180-45252.015.5026.001.3710.50

inc.23.0026.004.173.00D1-25-143288147.75385355.827461.2507278-4599.0NSR

D1-25-144287581.15385370.227457.6094180-45249.0236.00240.302.404.30D1-25-147288062.25385522.08445.7838180-4581.07.5016.500.239.00

25.5034.500.309.00D1-25-148287855.85385675.954440.9112180-45201.0119.00146.000.2927.00

* Broad low grade69.00201.000.16132.00D1-25-149286928.75385709.793409.2799180-45210.0NSR

D1-25-150287024.55385740.618408.0964180-45210.045.2057.004.2511.80

inc.45.2046.402.551.20

inc.49.5051.004.061.50

inc.55.0056.0039.301.00

inc.56.0057.001.491.00D1-25-151287362.15385754.002410.6361180-45177.081.7092.000.2310.30Eureka SouthD1-25-135289334.75385198.418453.8116180-45276.021.0026.000.455.00

101.50103.001.401.50D1-25-136288894.45385225.728461.1087180-45231.03.0010.001.327.00

inc.7.709.205.361.50D1-25-137288890.45385078.245457.6307180-45381.0264.50266.005.551.50Southwest Till AnomalyD1-25-138288113.25384511.365459.6469200-45201.0NSR

Eureka WestD1-25-139288901.85385603.262421.3391170-5223186.5094.000.627.50

98.00108.200.2210.20

157.00164.000.277.00

176.00180.100.404.10D1-25-140288369.15385772.332422.4023180-45282.0NSR

D1-25-141288374.45385604.651436.8608180-45174.041.5058.000.2716.50D1-25-142288366.35385504.322442.6626180-45207.058.5070.500.3212.00

108.00118.200.6910.20

149.00152.003.833.00

inc.149.80150.808.081.00Eureka Infill/ MetallurgyD1-25-145290211.55385351.937447.6477180-45150.0(Pending)D1-25-146290303.55385331.213451.3481180-45135.0(Pending)WedgeD1-25-152284719.85385829.726433.0359180-45249.0108.00115.000.237.00

* Broad low grade96.1135.500.1539.40D1-25-153285169.45385861.747395.6588180-45246.056.2066.501.1110.30

inc.62.0066.502.034.50Analytical Protocol and QA/QC

Chemical analyses reported in this news release were performed by AGAT Laboratories, an independent analytical laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). Sample preparation was completed at AGAT's facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario. All sampling and analytical procedures were conducted under a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program, including the insertion and monitoring of certified reference materials (standards), blanks, and duplicate samples.

To minimize assay variability associated with the nugget effect from coarse and/or visible gold, the Company implemented the following assaying protocol at Delta-1:

Where visible gold is observed in the sample or where the sample is derived from an interpreted mineralized zone, the assay is performed by Metallic Screening. In this procedure, the entire sample is crushed, and a 1 kg split is pulverized and screened to 106 µm. Both the coarse and fine fractions are analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish at AGAT Laboratories in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Where visible gold is not observed, or where samples are outside of interpreted mineralized zones, an initial assay is performed by 50 g Fire Assay with ICP-OES finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario. If the assay result exceeds 2.0 g/t gold, remaining rejects are pulverized, a 1 kg portion is screened to 106 µm and analyzed by 50 g fire assay with gravimetric finish at the AGAT Laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

NQ-size drill core was sawn lengthwise in half using a diamond blade saw. One half of the core was sampled, placed in sealed and labelled plastic bags, and shipped to AGAT Laboratories for preparation and analysis. The remaining half core was returned to core boxes and retained for reference at Delta's secure core storage facilities. QA/QC materials including blanks and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream at the project site. In addition, routine insertion of accredited blank, duplicate, and certified reference samples was conducted during the analytical process by AGAT Laboratories, providing further independent QA/QC monitoring.

Mineralized intervals are calculated using a 0.2 g/t Au cut-off grade. Reported intercepts are constrained to intervals where internal dilution does not exceed 5 metres or more of continuous core returning grades below the cut-off.

Qualified Person

Daniel Boudreau, P.Geo., Exploration Manager at Delta Resources Limited, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Delta Resources Limited

Delta Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration and project development company focused on its Delta-1 project in Ontario, where it has discovered a large, near-surface gold deposit located 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, directly adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway. The Eureka Gold Deposit extends 2.5 km in strike length, from surface to over 300 metres in depth.

Highlights include drill intercepts such as 5.92 g/t Au over 31 metres (including 14.8 g/t Au over 11.9 metres), and 1.79 g/t Au over 128.5 metres. Mineralization has been observed up to 600 metres vertical depth and remains open in all directions. The property covers 297 square kilometres containing multiple corridors of intense alteration and deformation on strike with, and to the south of, the Eureka Gold Zone, many of which remain under-explored.

Shabaqua Target

Delta's initial phase of drilling at the Shabaqua Target demonstrates the potential for higher-grade gold mineralization beyond the currently defined Eureka footprint. Multiple higher-grade intervals were intersected in sulphide-rich chert and iron formation, including 4.25 g/t Au over 11.8 m in hole D1-25-150, 2.40 g/t Au over 4.30 m in D1-25-144 and 1.37 g/t Au over 10.50 m in D1-25-134. In addition, very broad intervals of low-grade, Eureka-style mineralization remain present in the sedimentary rocks, including hole D1-25-148, which returned 0.16 g/t Au over 132 metres.

I-Zone Target

The I-Zone sector is located approximately 18 kilometres southwest of the Eureka Gold Deposit and hosts several high-grade gold showings, including historical (non-NI 43-101 compliant) drill intercepts of 4.32 g/t Au over 41.0 metres, 4.53 g/t Au over 14.4 metres, and 4.36 g/t Au over 20.4 metres (Landore Resources, 1995-1997), as well as a 1,000-kilogram mini-bulk sample (Mengold Resources, 2008) that returned an average grade of 9.9 g/t Au.

We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any event.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282665

Source: Delta Resources Limited

Ready to Announce with Confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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The logo of Equinor is set up at the entrance of a building at Western Europe's largest liquefied natural gas plant Hammerfest LNG in Hammerfest, Norway, March 14, 2024. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesOSLO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Norway's Equinor (EQNR.OL), opens new tab sold around 30% of volumes from its U.S. onshore natural gas assets on a spot basis in January, capitalising on a cold snap that sharply lifted demand and prices, its chief financial officer said on Wednesday.

An Arctic blast sent U.S. heating demand soaring in January and froze oil and gas wells, cutting gas output to a two-year low and pushing some northeast gas hub prices to record highs.

The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.

Equinor owns stakes in onshore gas production in the U.S., with the Marcellus position in the Appalachian Basin on the U.S. northeast coast its largest natural gas asset outside Norway.

While the field is operated by a partner, Equinor takes delivery of its share of the gas and transports and markets the volumes itself, CFO Torgrim Reitan told Reuters following the company's fourth-quarter earnings presentation.

The trading business usually leaves some volumes exposed to volatility by selling them on the spot market, he said.

"That was also the case during January. We held around 30% of our exposure to cash prices or spot prices," Reitan said.

This meant that when Equinor sold some of its gas towards the New York region it achieved prices of "more than $100 per MMBtu (million British thermal units)", he said.

Equinor's marginal cost of U.S. production was $1 per MMBtu, Reitan said.

Prices have since fallen, with the benchmark Henry Hub month-ahead contract trading at $3.33 per MMBtu on February 4, after peaking at $7.46 per MMBtu on January 28.

In 2025, Equinor's U.S. natural gas production rose by 27% to 809 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

The increase was mainly due to higher Appalachia output following the acquisition of additional interests in late 2024 and increased operational activity throughout 2025, Equinor said in its earnings report.

Reporting by Nora Buli. Editing by Terje Solsvik and Mark Potter

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

Wärtsilä Oyj Abp (WRTBY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call February 4, 2026 3:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Hanna-Maria Heikkinen - Vice President of Investor Relations
Håkan Agnevall - President, CEO & Member of Management Board
Arjen Berends - CFO, Executive VP & Member of the Board of Management

Conference Call Participants

Daniela Costa - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Akash Gupta - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Uma Samlin - BofA Securities, Research Division
Vladimir Sergievskiy - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
John-B Kim - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Sven Weier - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Max Yates - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Panu Laitinmaki - Danske Bank A/S, Research Division

Presentation

Hanna-Maria Heikkinen
Vice President of Investor Relations

Hi all, and welcome to this news conference for Wartsila Q4 '25 results. My name is Hanna-Maria Heikkinen, and I'm in charge of Investor Relations.

Today, our CEO, Hakan Agnevall, will start with the group highlights. He will continue with the business performance. And after that, our CFO, Arjen Berends, will continue with key financials. After that, we will discuss the dividend proposal and also the outlook. After the presentation, there is a good opportunity to ask questions.

Time to start, Hakan.

Håkan Agnevall
President, CEO & Member of Management Board

Thank you, Hanna-Maria, and before you leave, congratulations. You were voted to the most popular investor relations professional in Finland.

Hanna-Maria Heikkinen
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you, Hakan. And thank you, first of all, to Hakan, Arjen and all of the Wartsila management, but also all of the analysts and investors who have been engaging in our dialogue and providing very inspiring questions. Thank you.

Håkan Agnevall
President, CEO & Member of Management Board

Yes. Thank you. Thank you. So Q4 and 2025, I think this has been a great year and we are on a great

HomeIndustriesTransportation/ShippingEarnings ResultsEarnings ResultsEarnings outlook for current quarter also missed Wall Street forecasts, even as gross booking guidance beatPublished: Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:44 a.m. ET

Uber’s stock drops toward a 10-month low as a quarterly profit miss offsets record user results. Photo: Getty ImagesShares of Uber Technologies sank toward a 10-month low in early trading Wednesday after the ride-hailing and food-delivery service missed fourth-quarter profit expectations and provided a downbeat outlook.

The disappointing earnings came despite revenue rising above forecasts, and another record quarter for monthly users and trips completed.

How a Bearish XRP Price Metric Is Now Fueling Bullish Hopes — $1.70 Reclaim Possible?XRP price holds $1.48 as 396 million exchange inflows clash with long-term holder accumulation Short-term holders cut supply from 16.8% to 12.9%, signaling weak-hand distribution.CMF divergence and $520 million cost-basis cluster support rebound toward $1.70 resistance.The XRP price remains under pressure in early February as broader market weakness continues to weigh on altcoins. The token is still down nearly 25% on a monthly basis and remains locked inside a long-term falling channel.

Recent rebounds have failed to shift the broader trend. Exchange flows and price structure continue to reflect elevated risk. However, deeper on-chain data suggests that recent selling pressure may be coming mainly from short-term holders rather than long-term investors. This divergence is creating a growing conflict between surface-level weakness and early signs of accumulation.

Falling Channel and Rising Exchange Inflows Signal Ongoing RiskXRP continues to trade inside a descending channel that has guided the price lower since mid-2025. Each recovery attempt has been capped near the upper trend line, while lower highs keep forming. The token is now drifting closer to the lower boundary, increasing the 25%+ breakdown risk.

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At the same time, exchange flow data is flashing caution.

The exchange net position change tracks the net amount of XRP entering or leaving exchanges over a rolling 30-day period. When the indicator turns positive, it means more tokens have moved onto exchanges than off them, typically signaling rising sell-side pressure.

On February 3, this 30-day metric flipped back into positive territory, showing a net increase of nearly 396 million XRP on exchanges. This shift suggests that selling activity has started to outweigh accumulation again.

Selling Pressure Rises: GlassnodeTogether, the falling channel and rising exchange inflows indicate that sellers still retain short-term control.

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HODL Waves and Long-Term Buyers Show Selling Is Concentrated in Weak HandsWhile exchange inflows look bearish at first glance, holder behavior reveals that selling is possibly concentrated among speculative traders.

HODL Waves tracks how long XRP has been held in wallets, grouping supply by holding periods. This helps identify whether short-term traders or long-term investors are driving market activity.

Recent data shows that the one-week to one-month cohort reduced its share of supply from 5.27% to 3.6% since February 1. At the same time, the one-to-three-month cohort cut exposure from 11.53% to 9.29%. These groups represent the most reactive and speculative holders in the market.

Weak Hands Dumping: GlassnodeTheir exit explains much of the recent rise in XRP exchange balances. And that’s not necessarily bad in the mid-term as speculative money can cut rallies and bounces short.

In contrast, long-term holders continue to accumulate. Hodler net position change, which tracks wallets holding XRP for more than 155 days, remains in positive territory. This indicates that experienced investors are still adding, even though buying momentum slowed slightly in early February.

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This pattern suggests that weak hands are distributing supply while stronger holders absorb it.

XRP’s cost basis data reinforces this view. The cost basis heatmap maps where large portions of XRP last changed hands. Recent data shows a fresh accumulation cluster forming between $1.57 and $1.58, where more than 520 million XRP have shifted ownership in recent sessions.

Cost Basis Levels: GlassnodeThis level now represents a growing support zone, as a large volume of buyers entered at these prices. When substantial supply builds at one level, it often acts as a cushion during pullbacks.

Taken together, HODL Waves, long-term accumulation, and cost basis data point to redistribution rather than broad capitulation.

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Key XRP Price Levels Shape the Rebound ScenarioMomentum indicators provide another layer of confirmation.

Between late January and early February, XRP’s price trended lower while the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator trended higher. This bullish divergence shows that capital inflows increased even as prices declined, suggesting growing institutional-style accumulation.

CMF is now approaching the neutral zero line. A sustained move above this level would confirm improving capital participation and strengthen the rebound thesis.

From a technical perspective, several price levels will determine the next major move.

On the downside, $1.48 remains the most important support. A decisive break below this level would invalidate the base structure and expose $1.25. If that zone fails, XRP risks a deeper decline toward $0.94, nearly matching the projected breakdown from the falling channel.

XRP Price Analysis: TradingViewOn the upside, the first recovery barrier stands near $1.70. If confirmed, a move above $1.97 could open the path toward $2.42. Breaking $1.97 can turn the XRP price structure back to neutral from bearish, via the trendline break.

For now, XRP remains technically weak. However, rising capital inflows, steady long-term accumulation, and developing support suggest that downside pressure may be stabilizing. As long as $1.48 holds and CMF continues to strengthen, a gradual push toward $1.70 remains possible.

Disclaimer

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

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Elon Musk on Tuesday reignited a long-running narrative linking Dogecoin to space exploration, telling a fan on X (that SpaceX “maybe next year” could send Dogecoin to the Moon — a phrase interpreted by many in the crypto community as a timeline for fulfilling the long-teased DOGE-1 lunar mission. The brief exchange with a supporter has lifted investor interest and triggered a modest price response in DOGE.

Dogecoin To The Moon, Literally? Musk’s latest comment came in reply to a repost of his own old pledge that SpaceX would put a “literal Dogecoin on the literal Moon,” a promise dating back to 2021 and tied to the DOGE-1 lunar project. With “Maybe next year”, he signaled that the long-delayed mission might materialize as soon as 2027, reviving a narrative that has periodically surfaced over the past few years.

Maybe next year

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 3, 2026

The DOGE-1 mission is a commercial cubesat funded entirely in Dogecoin, booked as a rideshare aboard a Falcon 9 rocket with the objective of reaching lunar orbit and collecting basic imagery and data, marking one of the first attempts to use cryptocurrency as the payment medium for a space mission.

Originally announced in 2021, the launch has been postponed multiple times, and as of the latest filings and reporting, it remains on track for a launch window in the next year or so.

Such Rocket 😳🪭 https://t.co/OnK0vYmyG8 pic.twitter.com/otr48qALK9

— Dogecoin (@dogecoin) February 3, 2026

Market reaction to Musk’s retweet has been measurable but subdued compared with previous comment-driven pumps. Prices for DOGE rose roughly 4–5 percent on the day of the remark, with the token reclaiming the $0.10 mark. The gain slightly outpaced broader crypto markets on the session, positioning DOGE among the better performing large cap assets in the short term after the post.

Although Musk’s social influence on meme coins is well documented, the tone this time appeared more cautious. DOGE remains more than 77 percent below the 2024 high and orders of magnitude beneath its 2021 peak. Previous Musk-linked tweets have historically triggered more pronounced rallies, including sharp single-day surges when he first reignited interest in the space mission concept.

Musk’s post also landed in an unfriendly tape. Since October, the market’s mood has shifted sharply risk-off, with many experts now treating the move as a bear-market regime rather than a routine pullback. Bitcoin has slid roughly 20% over the past two weeks alone, and DOGE has largely tracked the same drawdown, a backdrop that helps explain why the reaction to the tweet looked more like a brief headline bid than the kind of sustained momentum meme coins sometimes get in cleaner conditions.

The broader status of DOGE-1 remains that of a mission expected but not yet executed. Geometric Energy Corporation, the entity behind the payload, has partnered with SpaceX to book the flight, and the satellite is designed to demonstrate blockchain technology beyond low Earth orbit. The exact timeline for launch is still evolving, and Musk’s prompt “maybe next year” implicitly extends prior schedules into 2027.

At press time, DOGE traded at $0.10832.

DOGE sweeps the Oct.10 low, 1-week chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Jake Simmons has been a Bitcoin enthusiast since 2016. Ever since he heard about Bitcoin, he has been studying the topic every day and trying to share his knowledge with others. His goal is to contribute to Bitcoin's financial revolution, which will replace the fiat money system. Besides BTC and crypto, Jake studied Business Informatics at a university. After graduation in 2017, he has been working in the blockchain and crypto sector. You can follow Jake on Twitter at @realJakeSimmons.

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The world’s largest cryptocurrency trading venue, Binance, has announced another large transfer of Bitcoin to its SAFU fund, created to ensure the safety of user crypto.

This is the second tranche after the platform announced the initiative last Friday.

Binance keeps buying BitcoinThe official Binance account on the X social media giant has published an update on the conversion of crypto assets in the company’s SAFU fund. Binance has moved the second batch of stablecoins into the fund, converting them to Bitcoin — 100 million USD-backed stablecoins.

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“Binance has completed the second batch of Bitcoin conversion for the SAFU Fund, amounting to 100M USD stablecoins,” the tweet proudly stated, sharing the address from which the transfer was made, as well as the target wallet address.

The transaction was also spotted by Whale Alert — Binance bought 1,315 Bitcoins with $100,548,147.

On Friday, Jan. 30, Binance announced its determination to accumulate Bitcoin for the SAFU fund, “aiming to complete conversion of the fund within 30 days of our original announcement.”

As reported by U.Today, the first conversion was conducted on Feb. 2, three days after the announcement was made to the public. Overall, Binance’s SAFU fund contains $1 billion, and Binance plans to convert all of it into the world’s pioneer cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.

On the same day, as Binance tweets its intention, the founder of the TRON blockchain, Justin Sun, tweeted that TRON would follow suit and start accumulating Bitcoin.

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Bitcoin briefly touches $73,000On Feb. 3, Bitcoin touched a low of $73,000, a level close to which Bitcoin was last seen in early April 2025 ($76,000). The bottom was reached as a result of a tremendous 18.8% price crash from the $90,000 zone, which started on Jan. 28. Overall, $2.55 billion worth of crypto was wiped out from the market.

Following that plunge, on Jan. 30, BTC rivals gold and silver saw an unprecedented collapse of roughly 30% after soaring to new all-time highs above $5,000 and $100, respectively. By now, Bitcoin has managed to regain some of its losses and is changing hands at $76,248 per coin.

Analysts believe there are three main reasons for that: the aforementioned gold crash, tech giants’ (The Magnificent 7) poor reports and the nomination of Kevin Warsh to the position of future Federal Reserve chairman. He is known for his rigidly hawkish stance on monetary policy.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has strongly denied claims that Binance manipulated Bitcoin prices during the October 10 market crash, which led to $20 billion in market liquidation. 

He said the fall was caused by global tariff announcements, not by Binance systems or trading activity.

Speaking during a recent AMA session, CZ addressed concerns from users who blamed Binance for the sudden market drop on October 10.

However, CZ called those accusations misleading and incorrect. He explained that the sudden fall in crypto prices came immediately after major tariff announcements, which triggered fear across global financial markets.

CZ made it clear that Binance had nothing to do with the fall in Bitcoin prices. He said the timing of the crash proves it was linked to economic news and not to any technical issue on the exchange.

CZ: No One in the World Is Crazy Enough to Manipulate Bitcoin

On January 31, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated in an AMA that the October 10 market crash was triggered by a tariff announcement, not Binance system error or price manipulation. He emphasized neither he nor… pic.twitter.com/ZFPtdGEkU0

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) February 4, 2026 Binance Does Not Trade to Influence PricesCZ also made it clear that Binance does not trade cryptocurrencies to profit from price movements. He said the company’s role is to provide a trading platform, not to speculate or control markets.

“We don’t buy or sell crypto to make money from price changes,” CZ said, pushing back against claims that Binance benefits from market swings.

He also rejected rumors that Binance or he personally profited from trading during the crash. 

CZ stated clearly that Binance does not trade crypto to make profits from price movements. The platform only provides services for users to buy and sell.

Bitcoin Is Too Big, “No One Can Manipulate It”Addressing rumors of price manipulation, CZ said the idea is unrealistic. He pointed out that Bitcoin is now a nearly $2 trillion market.

To significantly move Bitcoin’s price, someone would need to risk hundreds of billions of dollars. “No one in their right mind would do that.” 

He said, “I don’t know anyone on the planet who is crazy enough to try to manipulate Bitcoin.”

Lastly, CZ also highlighted that Binance is now a regulated company under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The exchange is closely monitored by regulators, and even U.S. compliance teams oversee its operations.

Because of this strict oversight, he said Binance cannot engage in any unfair activity. All trades on the platform are reviewed by regulators, making manipulation impossible.

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TLDR: gRPC streaming delivers finalized checkpoints instantly, eliminating polling delays and artificial latency intervals.  Hybrid architecture pairs streaming with polling fallbacks to ensure historical data access and failure recovery.  Custom Indexing Framework enables incremental streaming adoption without modifying existing checkpoint processing logic.  General-Purpose Indexer uses streaming as primary path while maintaining polling sources as safety mechanisms. Sui has implemented gRPC streaming as a primary data source for its indexing infrastructure, enabling real-time checkpoint ingestion with minimal latency.

The blockchain platform combines streaming capabilities with traditional polling methods to ensure data accuracy and system resilience.

This hybrid approach allows developers to access finalized checkpoints immediately while maintaining backward compatibility with existing custom indexers.

The Custom Indexing Framework supports this streaming-first architecture without requiring modifications to checkpoint processing logic.

Streaming Eliminates Polling Delays in Data Access The new gRPC streaming capability fundamentally changes how indexers receive blockchain data on Sui. Full nodes now push checkpoint data directly to indexers as soon as finalization occurs.

This eliminates the repeated polling cycles that traditionally introduce delays between checkpoint creation and downstream processing.

According to the announcement, the system delivers “real-time checkpoints as soon as they’re finalized” with “faster data, resilient pipelines, less infra work on Sui.”

The streaming mechanism operates through a straightforward configuration where developers add a streaming-url argument pointing to a full node endpoint. The system then receives checkpoints as events rather than fetching them at predetermined intervals.

This event-driven model proves particularly valuable for latency-sensitive applications including monitoring systems and real-time analytics platforms.

Sui pairs streaming with mandatory polling-based fallback sources to address inherent limitations. Streaming connections only deliver data from the moment of establishment forward.

Streaming-first indexing with gRPC is here ⚡

→ Real-time checkpoints as soon as they’re finalized
→ Polling fallback for backfill + recovery
→ Compatible with existing custom indexers

Faster data. Resilient pipelines. Less infra work on Sui.

Learn more 👇… pic.twitter.com/jaLzxAySKi

— Sui (@SuiNetwork) February 4, 2026

The General-Purpose Indexer demonstrates this hybrid model in production environments. It uses streaming as the primary ingestion path while maintaining polling sources as safety mechanisms.

This configuration keeps indexed data current while ensuring clean restarts and seamless recovery from failures.

Framework Design Supports Incremental Adoption The Custom Indexing Framework separates checkpoint processing from data ingestion entirely. Indexers consume and transform checkpoints without coupling to specific data sources.

This abstraction allows teams to modify ingestion strategies as requirements evolve without rewriting processing logic.

The documentation notes that with gRPC streaming, “there is no need to poll, no guesswork around timing, and no artificial delay introduced by fetch intervals.”

Developers can implement streaming gradually based on workload characteristics. Applications prioritizing data freshness benefit from immediate streaming adoption.

Systems handling offline processing or simpler workflows can continue using polling-only configurations. The framework accommodates both approaches within the same processing model. Existing custom indexers built on the official framework require minimal changes to adopt streaming.

Adding gRPC capability involves including a streaming-url parameter alongside the existing remote-store-url configuration.

The checkpoint processing logic remains unchanged throughout this transition. The framework automatically manages source switching during operation, preventing common failure modes of systems that either lose data or lag behind network state.

Tether is pulling back from its plans to raise $20 billion as it faces opposition from its investors regarding its valuation, reported Financial Times.

The stablecoin issuer, which sits at the core of global digital asset trading, has been sounding out backers for fresh capital over the past year.

What began as discussions around a very large raise has since shifted toward a more cautious approach, highlighting the gap between Tether’s internal confidence and investor unease over pricing, regulation, and risk.

Registered in El Salvador, Tether entered talks last year about raising between $15 billion and $20 billion in new funding.

That range would have implied a valuation of roughly $500 billion, placing the company among the most valuable private groups in the world.

The sources cited in the report said advisers are now exploring a raise closer to $5 billion, after encountering reluctance from potential investors unwilling to endorse such a high benchmark.

A rethink on capital needs Copy link to section

Tether’s leadership has played down the significance of earlier figures, arguing that the larger sum represented a maximum rather than a target.

The company has not committed to selling a fixed stake and has indicated it could proceed with a much smaller raise or none at all.

This stance reflects its financial position.

Tether has reported about $10 billion in profit last year, largely generated from interest earned on the assets backing its USDT stablecoin.

That profitability reduces the urgency for external capital.

Insiders are also said to be cautious about selling shares, further limiting the size of any deal.

The fundraising talks were partly intended to bring in high-profile investors and reinforce Tether’s standing.

Valuation under scrutiny Copy link to section

Investor hesitation has centred on the proposed valuation.

At around $500 billion, Tether would sit alongside leading private technology groups such as OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and ByteDance.

Some investors have privately questioned whether those comparisons hold, despite Tether’s earnings strength.

The debate has been sharpened by broader market conditions.

Digital assets initially rallied in 2025 on expectations of more supportive US regulation following Donald Trump’s election.

Since then, crypto markets have retreated as traders moved away from speculative assets.

That pullback has made investors more sensitive to pricing and less inclined to back large private deals at peak valuations.

Regulation and transparency concerns Copy link to section

Regulation has added another layer of complexity. Tether has pointed to recent US legislation governing stablecoins, signed by Trump, as a positive shift for the sector.

The company has also launched a new US-compliant token, signalling an effort to align more closely with American rules.

Circle’s public listing last year has been cited as further evidence of growing acceptance for regulated stablecoin issuers.

Even so, some potential backers remain wary.

Since its launch in 2014, Tether has faced repeated scrutiny over the transparency and quality of its reserves, as well as concerns about illicit activity linked to USDT usage.

The company publishes quarterly reserve attestations from BDO Italia but has not produced a full audit.

Late last year, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Tether’s reserves to its weakest assessment, citing increased exposure to higher-risk assets such as bitcoin and gold.

Profits and market influence Copy link to section

USDT’s rapid expansion since 2020 has reshaped parts of global finance.

Tether has become one of the largest buyers of US Treasuries and, more recently, a significant player in the gold market.

That scale has made it a key link between traditional financial markets and the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Tether’s profits declined by about a quarter in 2025 compared with the previous year, a drop attributed to falling bitcoin prices.

Gains of roughly $8 billion to $10 billion from gold holdings helped cushion the impact following a strong rally in the metal.

Fundraising discussions remain ongoing, and people close to the talks caution that terms could still change.

A renewed rally in crypto markets could soften investor resistance. For now, valuation remains the central obstacle.

Tether, the issuer of USDt — the largest stablecoin by market capitalization — has reportedly scaled back an ambitious $20 billion funding plan announced last fall amid investor skepticism.

The company’s advisers have suggested reducing the raise to as little as $5 billion, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino downplayed earlier reports that the company aimed to raise between $15 and 20 billion, calling them a “misconception.”

“That number is not our goal. It’s our maximum we were ready to sell,” Ardoino said, according to the Financial Times. “If we were selling zero, we would be very happy as well.”

Ardoino defends $500 billion valuation by comparing Tether to AI companiesWhile stepping back from the $20 billion raise, Tether has not abandoned its $500 billion valuation target, though the report said investors privately raised concerns about the figure.

Ardoino defended the figure by comparing the company’s profits to AI platforms such as OpenAI, which reportedly reached a $500 billion valuation after a SoftBank share sale last October.

“The AI companies are making the same amount of profits we’re making, except with a minus sign in the front,” Ardoino said, adding:

“If you believe that some AI company is worth $800 billion, with a huge minus in front, be my guest.”Ardoino’s comments came shortly after Tether said it posted a $10 billion profit in 2025, down 23% from the previous year.

Tether’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDt (USDT), is the largest in the world by market capitalization, currently totaling $185 billion.

In addition to USDt, the company operates the $3.6 billion gold-backed stablecoin XAUt and has been actively accumulating gold for its reserves, reporting holdings of 130 metric tons of physical gold to Cointelegraph in late January.

Tether CEO highlighted the growth of the USDT-based stablecoin USDT0 on Wednesday. Source: Paolo ArdoinoLast week, Tether officially launched USAt, a stablecoin designed specifically for the US market under the GENIUS Act. Issued through Anchorage Digital Bank, USAt had a market capitalization of $20 million at the time of publication, doubling in value since its launch, according to CoinGecko data.

Cointelegraph reached out to Tether for comment on the revised funding plans but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘miner exodus,’ UK bans some Coinbase crypto ads: Hodler’s Digest, Jan. 25 – 31

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

Bitcoin is trading near $76,000 as market sentiment deteriorates further into extreme fear. U.S. Spot Bitcoin ETF assets under management have fallen below $100 billion for the first time since April 2025; liquidations stand at $682.58 million over the past 24 hours.

Dogecoin creator Billy Markus disputes Michael Saylor's claim that Bitcoin price volatility is a "gift" as cryptocurrency markets lose $2.55B.

Newton Gitonga2 min read

4 February 2026, 11:22 AM

Billy Markus, co-founder of Dogecoin, has publicly disputed comments made by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor regarding recent market turbulence. The disagreement highlights contrasting perspectives on cryptocurrency volatility as Bitcoin continues to experience significant price fluctuations.

Saylor, who serves as executive chairman of Strategy, characterized Bitcoin's recent volatility as "Satoshi's gift to the faithful" in a social media post on February 3. The statement came as Bitcoin faced substantial losses, dropping over 18% from $90,000 to an intraday low of $73,000 between January 28 and February 3. The cryptocurrency has since recovered modestly, trading around $75,796 at the time of writing.

Markus Responds With SkepticismMarkus, who operates on social media under the pseudonym Shibetoshi Nakamoto, offered a sharp rebuttal to Saylor's optimistic framing. His response dripped with sarcasm: "Satoshi is rewarding believers with a shitty, annoying market. This is a good post."

The creator of Dogecoin has maintained a consistently skeptical stance toward cryptocurrency trading and investment strategies. He has previously compared trading activities to mental illness in multiple posts. His pessimism about market conditions extends into 2026, as evidenced by a recent tweet suggesting this year might prompt investors to seek "new hobbies." The post included a declining Bitcoin chart to emphasize his bearish outlook.

Markus created Dogecoin in 2013 alongside Jackson Palmer. The cryptocurrency was built on Bitcoin's code. Despite this technical connection to Bitcoin, Markus has never shared Saylor's unwavering enthusiasm for crypto markets.

Strategy Continues Bitcoin AccumulationWhile critics question market conditions, Saylor's company has maintained its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy. Strategy announced on February 2 that it purchased 855 BTC during the recent price decline. The company spent approximately $75.3 million on this transaction.

This purchase followed an earlier acquisition in late January, when Strategy bought 2,932 BTC for $264.1 million. The company's total Bitcoin holdings now stand at 713,502 coins, valued at approximately $54.3 billion at current prices.

Strategy operates the largest corporate Bitcoin treasury. Saylor has consistently advocated for Bitcoin as a superior store of value compared to traditional assets. His company's continued buying during market downturns reflects his conviction that volatility presents buying opportunities rather than warning signs.

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Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

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BitcoinDogecoin (DOGE) NewsMicroStrategy

Mastercard Moves From Crypto Concept to Real-World Execution Mastercard is accelerating its push into digital assets and AI-powered payments, signaling a strategic shift from experimentation to real-world deployment. 

During a recent earnings call, CEO Michael Miebach confirmed the company is moving from concept to execution in its partnership with Ripple, using blockchain to broaden settlement capabilities and modernize how money moves across borders.

Well, this signals Mastercard’s rising confidence in blockchain as real payment infrastructure. Instead of treating digital assets as experimental, the company is integrating them into its core network. 

Stablecoins are central to this shift, with CEO Michael Miebach describing them as “just another currency” on Mastercard’s rails. That framing positions stablecoins as a normalized tool for everyday commerce, from cross-border transfers to B2B settlements.

Meanwhile, market chatter claims Ripple could deploy up to $11B to acquire Circle, the issuer of USDC, in a strategic move that could counter Coinbase’s ambitions and reshape the stablecoin landscape.

Mastercard Stakes Its Claim in the Future of Digital Payments with AI, Stablecoins, and RippleMastercard enters this shift from a position of strength. It ended 2025 with 15% Q4 net revenue growth and a 22% surge in value-added services (currency-neutral), fueled by solid card spending and services demand. 

That performance gives the payments giant both the capital and confidence to double down on emerging technologies shaping the future of payments.

On the other hand, Mastercard is pushing into agentic commerce, where AI agents can autonomously make and complete purchases for people and businesses. Its solution, Agent Pay, is a secure framework for AI-powered transactions already being piloted in Asia, the UK, and the UAE. 

The vision is trusted AI systems that can manage routine spending, like subscriptions, everyday purchases, and supply-chain payments, within user-set limits and controls.

Notably, Mastercard’s 10-year journey in digital assets has progressed from crypto-linked cards and trading tools to stablecoin settlements, co-branded programs, and major partnerships like Ripple. Leadership signals a clear shift: digital assets and AI are moving from experimentation to core drivers of digital commerce.

“It’s still early, but we’re ready,” Miebach pointed out, a stance that could be decisive as fintechs and blockchain-native players compete to define the future of money. Strong execution would position Mastercard as a key bridge between traditional finance and next-gen, blockchain-powered payments at global scale.

ConclusionMastercard is boldly redefining digital payments by embracing blockchain, stablecoins, and AI-driven commerce. 

Through Ripple-powered settlements, native stablecoin integration, and AI-assisted transactions, the company is staking its claim at the forefront of the next era in finance. Early as it is, Mastercard’s vision signals one thing clearly: the future of money is digital, intelligent, and automated, and Mastercard aims to lead it.

Standard Chartered has lowered its end-2026 price target for Solana to $250, down from $310, while leaving its longer-dated trajectory intact. The bank’s roadmap still points to $2,000 by 2030 as the bank argues the chain’s activity mix is rotating away from memecoin-led trading toward stablecoin-based micropayments.

The revised forecast comes as the bank’s digital assets research team frames the current drawdown as a period when “performance differentiation” across crypto should become more visible, rather than a tape where everything trades as a single risk bucket.

Why Standard Chartered Lowers The 2026 Solana Target, Boosts Long View Behind the 2026 haircut is a more skeptical view on how quickly Solana can convert its cost and throughput advantages into sustained, fee-generating economic activity beyond speculative bursts. In Standard Chartered’s telling, Solana is in the middle of a narrative transition that is strategically attractive but not instantaneous in market terms.

Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of global digital assets research, anchored the shift in decentralized exchange (DEX) flow composition. “When we initiated coverage of Solana in May 2025, we observed that activity on the network was largely concentrated in memecoin trading on DEXs.” “Composition of DEX flows has shifted from memecoin trading toward SOL–stablecoin pairs.”

That rotation, Kendrick argued, accelerated over 2025 as capital moved away from meme-focused activity which he said peaked in mid-January around the launch of the Trump token and toward tokenized dollars. The implication is that Solana’s DEX activity is beginning to resemble a payments-adjacent rail more than a single-cycle casino, even if overall volumes have cooled.

Standard Chartered also flagged Solana’s ultra-low transaction costs as a key enabler for “micropayment” use cases, including AI-driven payments, where even modest fee overhead can break unit economics.

One of the more striking metrics in the report is stablecoin turnover: Kendrick said stablecoin velocity on Solana is already two to three times higher than on Ethereum, suggesting Solana may be carving out a distinct role for high-frequency, low-value transfers.

The bank tied that possibility to “internet-native” payment protocols such as Coinbase-backed x402, while cautioning that the repositioning will take time to translate into market leadership.

That slower timeline is part of why Standard Chartered expects Solana to lag Ethereum in the 2026–2027 window, even as the bank becomes more constructive on Solana’s longer-run upside if micropayment demand compounds.

Despite trimming the 2026 target, Standard Chartered’s longer-term schedule remains aggressive: $400 in 2027, $700 in 2028, $1,200 in 2029, and $2,000 by end-2030, according to reporting by The Block. The bank’s framework implies that Solana’s “micropayments” phase is expected to matter more as the cycle matures, with Kendrick also projecting Solana to outperform Bitcoin over 2027–2030.

At press time, SOL traded at $96.93.

SOL trades below the 200-week EMA, 1-week chart | Source: SOLUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

TL;DR

BTC Slide: Bitcoin briefly crashed to $73,000 before rebounding near $76,000, extending a multi‑day decline driven by Fed policy and geopolitical tension. Altcoin Pressure: SOL fell below $100, HYPE dropped 11% to $33, and CC continued sliding, while updated data shows ETH at $2,250 and BNB at $755 amid broad market weakness. Market Impact: Over $70 billion was wiped from the total crypto market cap, now at $2.65 trillion, with mixed performance across XRP, TRX, DOGE, and ADA as volatility remains elevated.
Bitcoin’s market turbulence deepened this week as the asset briefly plunged to $73,000, marking its lowest level since early November 2024 before rebounding. The downturn triggered sharp volatility across major altcoins, with SOL, HYPE, and CC absorbing some of the heaviest losses. Updated figures now place Bitcoin near $76,000 as the market attempts to stabilize.

BTC Extends Multi‑Day Declines After Repeated Rejections Just a week ago, Bitcoin was challenging the $90,000 resistance ahead of the year’s first FOMC meeting. Once the Federal Reserve confirmed it would not cut rates again, BTC stalled and began sliding. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East added pressure, contributing to a drop on Thursday to $81,000. A brief bounce to $84,000 on Friday was followed by another decline to under $75,000 on Saturday. Monday’s recovery attempt was rejected at $79,000, setting the stage for the deeper Tuesday crash.

Tuesday’s decline pushed Bitcoin to a 15‑month low before it recovered to just above $76,000. Despite the rebound, BTC remains down nearly 3% on the day and has lost 14% over the week. Its monthly performance shows an 18% slide. Market capitalization has fallen to $1.525 trillion on CG, while dominance has slipped to 57.3%. Updated readings indicate that BTC is trading around $76,000, with volatility persisting.

Altcoins Absorb Heavy Losses Led by SOL, HYPE, and CC The rest of the crypto market mirrored Bitcoin’s turbulence. Ethereum fell from over $3,000 to $2,100 before recovering to around $2,250. In the early hours of trading, BNB dropped to around $760 and is now situated at $755. SOL has fallen below $100 after a 7% daily decline, currently near $96. HYPE has tumbled 11% to $33, while CC and ZEC remain deep in the red. XMR stands out as the strongest performer among larger caps.

The cumulative crypto market cap has erased more than $70 billion in a day, falling to $2.65 trillion on CG. Updated figures show XRP at $1.59, TRX at $0.28, DOGE at $0.10, and ADA at $0.29, reflecting a mixed landscape as traders navigate heightened volatility.

Borregaard ASA (BRGAY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Shares of Chinese solar panel makers surged Wednesday after local media reported that staff linked to Elon Musk had recently visited several photovoltaic suppliers in China, sparking speculation that a high-profile customer could boost demand for advanced products.

The reports fueled talk of a potential business partnership and came days after Musk said he planned to build large-scale solar cell production capacity in the U.S.

Shares of China-based JinkoSolar, one of the world's largest panel producers, jumped as much as 20% in early trade, hitting their daily limit, according to LSEG data.

Jolywood Suzhou Sunwatt, which makes photovoltaic auxiliary materials, also saw its shares jump 20%.

Other solar panel makers, including Trina Solar and Shenzhen Topraysolar, gained 8.9% and 10%, respectively. The CSI All Share Solar Power Equipment Sub-Industry Index rose 6.8%.

According to local media reports, a team sent by Musk recently visited several photovoltaic companies in China, including those involved in equipment manufacturing, silicon wafers, battery modules and perovskite technology.

The visitors appeared most interested in suppliers developing heterojunction and perovskite technologies — next-generation approaches that aim at improving cell efficiency. Perovskites could eventually lower costs if manufacturing challenges are resolved.

State-backed outlet Cailianshe reported that the visitors were from SpaceX and Tesla. Separately, another state-run outlet, 21st Century Business Herald, reported that JinkoSolar confirmed a visit from a team sent by Musk, but did not elaborate on potential business plans.

CNBC could not independently verify the reports. SpaceX, Tesla and JinkoSolar did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Wednesday's rally was driven by a narrative that energy remains the key bottleneck for AI, rather than any change in the companies' fundamentals, said Ke Zong, a portfolio manager at Shanghai-based quant fund Minghong Investment.

"Musk's apparent interest in solar has been read as a signal that tech giants are moving upstream into power," Zong said. "But there hasn't been an immediate shift in fundamentals such as order books — the move was largely momentum trading and short-covering."

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Musk said during a Tesla earnings call last week that he planned to build 100 gigawatts of solar cell capacity in the U.S. "The solar opportunity is underestimated," he said.

China dominates global solar manufacturing, but large state-funded investment has fueled a supply glut, pushing module prices sharply lower and accelerating consolidation across the sector.

The solar sector has been grappling with a prolonged price slump and oversupply, squeezing margins even as leading producers continue to add capacity.

Against that backdrop, some manufacturers have expanded production overseas, including in the U.S., where tariffs protect domestic producers from low-cost imports from China and Southeast Asia.

JinkoSolar aims to build more than 12 gigawatts of solar wafer, cell, and module capacity in Southeast Asia by the end of 2030 and operates a factory in Florida capable of producing about 1.2 million solar panels annually.

Following the latest rally, many solar stocks are now "fully valued or overvalued," said Cheng Wang, equity analyst at Morningstar, while maintaining a positive long-term outlook for the sector.

Even if Chinese suppliers do, in the slight chance, secure contracts linked to SpaceX, they are unlikely to generate a meaningful revenue boost, Wang said, noting that space-based solar remains economically marginal.

"While the concept is fascinating, the scale of space-based solar PV is likely to remain negligible compared with terrestrial installations until the cost of deploying panels into space becomes economically viable."

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A day after President Donald Trump said India agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil as part of a new U.S.-India trade deal, the Kremlin said it has heard nothing from New Delhi to suggest those flows are stopping.

"We haven't heard any statements from Delhi on this matter yet," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, in comments reported by news agency RIA Novosti.

"We respect bilateral U.S,-Indian relations," Peskov told reporters. "But we attach no less importance to the development of an advanced strategic partnership between Russia and India."

"This is the most important thing for us, and we intend to further develop our bilateral relations with Delhi," he said.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, a former oil minister, downplayed any potential loss of Indian custom, telling reporters Tuesday: "We're only seeing public statements. We'll see how the situation develops."

"But overall, our energy resource is in demand; we see this often. Supply will always find demand, because the balance is maintained," he said in comments reported by TASS.

Skepticism rifeTrump announced that a trade deal had been reached with India in a post on Truth Social on Monday, saying an agreement had been reached during a call with Modi.

"We spoke about many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine," Trump said, adding: "He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela."

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Trump said the U.S. would cut the main tariff on India from 25% to 18%, and would remove an additional 25% penalty tariff it had imposed on New Delhi last summer in retaliation for its Russian oil purchases.

Modi confirmed the latest deal with the U.S. had been done, posting on X Monday that he was "delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%." 

India is certainly seen to have curbed its Russian oil purchases as a result of Washington's punitive 25% duty, but analysts are skeptical that the country, which became a top buyer of discounted Russian crude following the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, is about to completely end these purchases given its need for cheap oil, a desire to its foreign policy autonomy, and to maintain close geopolitical and defense ties with Russia.

"I have a hard time believing the government of India will make any Russian oil-related commitment explicit," Evan A. Feigenbaum, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said in analysis Tuesday.

"After all, India has deep historical and sentimental ties to Russia that it will not simply ditch under American pressure," he noted, adding: "Maintaining the symbolic hedge that it can purchase Russian oil if it so chooses speaks both to Indian foreign policy autonomy and to its ability to resist American coercion, both of which are important factors in India's domestic politics."

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Feigenbaum noted that while there were signs suggesting that New Delhi had already been incrementally reducing its imports of Russian crude, publicly rebuking Russia was always a "nonstarter" for Modi who, he said, "can ill afford to humiliate one of India's most important defense partners."

Balancing actFarwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, agreed that New Delhi would be reluctant to dump a trading partner with whom it has deepened relations in recent years. Still, India would also be keen to not scupper its rapprochement with the States after months of trade tensions.

"For India, the Russia question remains," he said in emailed comments Tuesday.

"Even though it has and will change its oil import structure away from Russia, India would still want to keep relations steady. It will be a balancing act for sure as India navigates these two crucial relationships simultaneously," he added.

Moodys Ratings agency said India was unlikely to turn away from Russian oil completely, given the potential economic impact of doing so, including increased manufacturing costs and higher consumer prices.

"Even though India has reduced its purchase of crude oil from Russia in recent months, it is unlikely to cease all purchases immediately which could be disruptive to India's economic growth," Moody's Ratings agency commented Tuesday.

"A complete shift toward non-Russian oil could also tighten supply elsewhere, raise prices and pass through to higher inflation given that India is one of the world's largest oil importers."

Rolls-Royce share price rose by over 1% on Wednesday as investors bought the dip as the management entered a sales mode to win back Boeing. It jumped to 1,247p, a few points below the all-time high of 1,327p.

Rolls-Royce Holdings is aiming to woo Boeing  Copy link to section

Rolls-Royce Royce stock has been on a strong upward trend in the past few years, making it one of the best-performing companies in the FTSE 100 Index.

The company’s rally happened as demand for its engines and services have continued rising in the past few years. It has moved from being a “burning machine” into one of the most profitable companies in the UK. It also achieved its mid-term targets two years ahead of schedule.

Rolls-Royce’s share price jumped on Wednesday after the company announced that it will focus on growing its business by partnering with Boeing, a top aircraft manufacturer.

The company aims to win against Boeing with its newly upgraded Trent 1000 XE engine, which promises more durability and fuel consumption. It hopes to win orders for Boeing 787 and Boeing 777, which mostly use engines from General Electric Aerospace.

Rolls-Royce Holdings hopes to win orders from companies like Malaysia Airlines and British Airways, which opted for General Electric engines.

Most importantly, the company confirmed that it is aiming to re-enter the narrow-body segment that has boomed in the past few years. The company abandoned its role on the International Aero Engines consortium in 2012 that built the V2500 engine for the original Airbus A320. 

Rolls-Royce Royce is aiming to re-enter the business through partnerships, possibly using a modified version of the Ultrafan engine platform.

The next important catalyst for the Rolls-Royce share price is the upcoming financial results, which will come out later this month. In its recent trading statement, the company said that it will make an operating profit of between £3.1 billion and £3.2 billion, while its free cash flow will move to between £3.0 billion and £3.1 billion.

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RR stock price chart | Source: TradingView The daily timeframe chart shows that the Rolls-Royce stock price has pulled back in the past few weeks, moving from the all-time high of 1,320p to the current 1,250p.

A closer look shows that the stock has remained above the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA). It has formed a bullish flag pattern, which is made up of a vertical line and a descending channel.

Therefore, the most likely scenario is where it continues rising as bulls target the year-to-date high of 1,320p. A move above that level will point to more gains, potentially to the psychological level at 1,500p, which is about 20% above the current level.

SMCI shares have been struggling, but the onetime artificial-intelligence darling's latest results could ease some concerns.

BTBT is transitioning from volatile mining to high-margin AI infrastructure. Its $1.1B+ backlog and WhiteFiber subsidiary provide predictable, contractual revenue, driving a potential valuation rerating. Holding 150,000+ ETH makes BTBT a premier on-chain yield play. This shift toward staking rewards offers stable, institutional-grade cash flow that offsets legacy mining hardware risks. Success hinges on converting the HPC backlog into earnings, while execution delays or crypto bear markets remain primary risks.