Market Signal Briefing

Key Takeaways Disney CEO & President Replacements Announced JOLTS Numbers Kick Off "Jobs Week" for FebruaryPYPL, PFE, MRK and MPC Report Q4 Earnings, with Various SuccessAMD, AMGN and CMG Report Q4 Earnings After the Close Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026

Kicking off another day of trading, the Dow is flat but other indexes are up: the S&P 500 +0.23%, the Nasdaq +0.51% and the small-cap Russell 2000 +0.32%. The rebound off Friday’s near-term lows continues at a somewhat measured pace, with an apparent bullish signal for tech stocks at this hour.

Bob Iger’s Replacements at Disney Announced
A day after The Walt Disney Co. (DIS - Free Report) reported encouraging quarterly earnings, bolstered largely due to outperformance at the company’s theme parks, has announced changes to the front office. CEO Bob Iger will step down next month — not the end of the year, as earlier surmised — and will be replaced by Josh D’Amaro, currently the Chairman of Disney Experiences, where he has served since 2020. Disney Experiences includes Parks, Cruises and Consumer Products.

Meanwhile, Dana Walden, currently head of Disney Entertainment Media — including news and content — will take over as both Disney President and Chief Creative Officer (a newly- minted role at the company) on March 18th. This will effectively give the entertainment behemoth two heads for leadership going forward. Shares of DIS are up +1.4% on the news at this hour.

JOLTS Jobs Numbers Out After the Open
The December report for Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) comes out this morning at 10am ET, with expectations for the lowest number of the year for the second-straight month: 7.1 million. The last print came in at 7.14 million, which amounted to the fewest job openings since September of 2024.

This is the first set of numbers addressing “Jobs Week” this week, and reports a month in arrears from Wednesday’s ADP (ADP - Free Report) private-sector payrolls and Friday’s Employment Situation from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Last report, more than -100K job openings in both Accommodation/Food Services and Trade/Transportation/Utilities sank results, with all four regions posting negative job openings. We’ll see how December numbers compare.

Q4 Earnings Roundup Ahead of the Bell
Zacks Rank #4 (Sell)-rated PayPal (PYPL - Free Report) missed estimates on both top and bottom lines this morning, posting earnings of $1.23 per share which came 6 cents shy of the Zacks consensus. Revenues of $8.68 billion were -1.07% below expectations. Shares are down -18% in today’s pre-market trading, after shedding -10% already year to date. For more on PYPL’s earnings, click here.

Big Pharma staples Pfizer (PFE - Free Report) and Merck (MRK - Free Report) both outperformed estimates this morning in their respective Q4 reports: Pfizer posted a +15.8% earnings surprise to $0.66 per share on a +4.26% outperformance on revenues to $17.56 billion, while Merck beat on earnings by a penny to $2.04 per share on a +1.33% revenue surprise to $16.4 billion. But investors are selling the news on lukewarm outlooks for both major drugmakers.

Marathon Petroleum (MPC - Free Report) had perhaps the strongest quarterly beat of the morning, logging earnings of $4.07 per share versus expectations of $2.73, for a +49% positive surprise. Revenues of $33.42 billion were also strongly ahead of estimates, by +12.9%. Shares are up +3.4% at this hour, +8.8% year to date. For more on MPC’s earnings, click here.

What to Expect During Today’s Stock MarketEarnings, earnings and more earnings! Once the closing bell sounds, we’ll prepare for Q4 earnings from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)-rated chipmaker expected to bring +21% earnings growth year over year on +26% revenue growth. We’ll also see results for Amgen (AMGN - Free Report) , Skyworks Solutions (SWKS - Free Report) and Chipotle (CMG - Free Report) , all of which carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating into the prints.

Questions or comments about this article and/or author? Click here>>

The Zacks Schools industry enters 2026 facing notable headwinds, including a shrinking traditional student base, intensifying competition from public and nonprofit institutions and continued affordability pressures. Regulatory oversight around student outcomes, financial transparency and federal aid eligibility is tightening, increasing compliance costs and execution risk, particularly for career-focused providers. At the same time, rising marketing, labor and technology expenses are weighing on margins, while uncertainty around student-aid processes and loan policies continues to influence enrollment trends and pricing flexibility.

Despite these challenges, the industry’s medium-term outlook is improving, supported by steady demand for applied and career-oriented education in healthcare, skilled trades, cybersecurity and IT. Labor-market needs increasingly favor job-ready training models, positioning schools with strong employer alignment to benefit. Technology adoption is becoming a key differentiator, with data-driven instruction, adaptive learning and scalable online platforms enhancing engagement, outcomes and cost efficiency. Industry consolidation is also accelerating, enabling scale advantages and program expansion. Recent policy signals, including expanded Workforce Pell access and supportive veteran benefits, appear constructive, supporting affordability and enrollment visibility. Key beneficiaries include Adtalem Global Education Inc. (ATGE - Free Report) , Stride, Inc. (LRN - Free Report) and American Public Education, Inc. (APEI - Free Report) .

Industry Description The Zacks Schools industry comprises for-profit education companies that offer undergraduate, graduate and specialized programs in finance, accounting, analytics, marketing, healthcare, business and technology. They are engaged in offering career-oriented programs in the fields of business and management, nursing, computer science, engineering, information systems and technology, project management, cybersecurity and criminal justice. The industry players also offer child-care services and career-oriented post-secondary courses. Some companies within the industry also provide yoga classes and yoga-related retail merchandise-integrated fitness classes, along with conducting workshops and teacher training programs.

4 Trends Shaping the Future of the School Industry Financial & Competitive Pressures: Looking ahead to 2026, margin pressure is set to intensify for for-profit education providers as rising costs and tougher competition collide. Faculty, support services, marketing and technology expenses are outpacing revenue growth, while aggressive enrollment competition is driving up lead-generation costs. At the same time, stricter regulatory and outcomes requirements demand higher spending. With tuition pricing constrained by affordability and student-aid sensitivity, profitability will depend increasingly on efficiency, scale and disciplined capital allocation.

Operational Challenges: For-profit educators face several operational and financial headwinds. Most of their revenues come from tuition and federal aid, so they are vulnerable to any enrollment swings or cuts in government funding. Any dip in student numbers (due to competition, demographic trends or economic cycles) can quickly hit operating income. Compliance and administrative costs are also high, as schools must meet strict reporting and quality standards under Title IV. FAFSA processing challenges continue, prompting late disbursement flexibilities and straining working capital for institutions reliant on Title IV funding cycles. Ongoing operational delays early in the year disrupted receivables timing, while new FVT/GE reporting requirements add compliance burdens and may drive adjustments to program portfolios.

Industry players also often spend heavily on recruitment and advertising to attract students, squeezing margins. Again, macroeconomic factors (like rising interest rates or budget cuts at the state/local level) can constrain school and district purchasing of edtech products, indirectly pressuring vendors’ top lines.

Rising Demand for Workforce-Oriented Programs: After years of enrollment declines, the U.S. for-profit education sector is seeing renewed demand for programs with clear employment outcomes. Providers are leveraging flexible models to expand short-term credentials in healthcare, cybersecurity, skilled trades and IT. As employers prioritize job-ready skills over traditional degrees, adult learners and career changers are driving interest. Government reskilling initiatives and workforce partnerships, along with ongoing digital transformation, are further supporting demand for tech-aligned and non-degree programs.

Meanwhile, healthcare and global institutions have been making substantial contributions to the companies' financial success. The U.S. healthcare sector is presently grappling with a pronounced shortage of skilled professionals. The companies have designed their programs to be rigorous and well-suited to address the workforce needs of the healthcare industry. Industry stakeholders also anticipate a future where the demand for healthcare professionals will outstrip the available supply.

Amid the pressures of regulation and shifting demographics, the sector is witnessing consolidation. Larger, better-capitalized players are acquiring niche or financially weaker institutions to expand program offerings or gain regional accreditation. Strategic Education’s (STRA - Free Report) acquisition of tech bootcamps and Adtalem’s continued integration of Walden University highlight ongoing M&A activity aimed at diversification and scale. Private equity interest in edtech and career-aligned training platforms also signals long-term confidence in segments of the for-profit education market that can prove ROI for students and employers alike.

Meanwhile, Congress passed “Workforce Pell” in July 2025, expanding Pell eligibility to high-quality, short-term programs beginning July 1, 2026. For providers with accredited, outcomes-verified certificates in healthcare, IT, and skilled trades, this expands the addressable market and could structurally lift enrollment and pricing power, subject to program-quality metrics.

Online Education and Tech Integration Drive Market Differentiation: The acceleration of digital learning continues to be a critical differentiator for for-profit colleges. Institutions like Grand Canyon Education, Strategic Education, and Adtalem have invested heavily in learning management systems, data analytics and adaptive learning tools to personalize instruction and enhance student engagement. The shift toward hybrid and asynchronous formats has allowed for-profit players to serve non-traditional and working students more effectively than many public institutions. Scalable digital platforms have also helped manage operating costs, enabling some companies to maintain or improve margins despite enrollment challenges.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects The Zacks Schools industry is an 18-stock group within the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #153, which places it in the bottom 37% of more than 250 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bleak near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a lower earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential. Since November 2025, the industry’s earnings estimates for 2026 have decreased to $1.86 per share (from $1.87).

Despite limited near-term visibility, we highlight a few stocks that investors may consider adding to their portfolios. First, we examine the industry’s shareholder returns and current valuation backdrop.

Industry Outperforms Sector, Lags S&P 500 The Zacks Schools industry has lagged the Zacks S&P 500 Composite but performed better than the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector over the past year.

The stocks in this industry have collectively lost 4.5% compared with the broader sector’s 5.5% decline. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has increased 17.3% in the said period.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of the forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing for-profit education stocks, the industry is currently trading at 13.68X versus the S&P 500’s 23.24X and the sector’s 17.66X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 290.25X, as low as 12.68X and at a median of 19.78X, as the chart below shows.

Industry’s P/E Ratio (Forward 12-Month) Versus S&P 500

Industry’s P/E Ratio (Forward 12-Month) Versus Sector

3 School Stocks to Keep an Eye On Below, we have discussed three stocks from the industry that have solid growth potential.

American Public Education: Based in Charles Town, WV, American Public Education delivers online and campus-based postsecondary education and career-focused learning across the United States. American Public Education’s growth prospects are anchored in durable demand across military, nursing and healthcare education, supported by a simplified, more focused operating model. The company is benefiting from sustained enrollment momentum at Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing, driven by workforce shortages, attractive career ROI and limited AI disruption in frontline healthcare roles. At APUS, steady demand from active-duty military, veterans and affiliated populations underscores the resilience of its mission-aligned student base. Ongoing operational streamlining, improved capital flexibility and plans to integrate its core institutions position APEI to scale programs, expand margins and compound growth over the medium term.

APEI stock — currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) — surged 94.5% in the past year. APEI has seen an upward estimate revision for 2026 earnings to $2.23 per share from $2.22 over the past 30 days. This company’s earnings for 2026 are expected to grow 106.5% on 7.1% higher revenues. APEI’s earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 173.7%. Moreover, APEI’s three-to-five-year expected earnings per share growth rate is currently pegged at 15%. It also has a VGM Score of A. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Price and Consensus: APEI

Adtalem: The company provides healthcare-focused education in the United States and across Barbados, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten, and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Adtalem has been gaining from sustained enrollment momentum across all three segments, particularly Walden and the Medical/Veterinary schools, its differentiated position as the largest healthcare-focused educator addressing structural talent shortages and expansion of programs and modalities such as Chamberlain’s growing pre-licensure online BSN. Also, strategic partnerships that enhance access and career relevance (e.g., with Google Cloud, American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing, ScribeAmerica), improved digital platform, student experience and retention initiatives, disciplined marketing and operational excellence, global and direct-admit pathways that broaden the recruitment funnel, and strong financial flexibility enabling continued capacity expansion, technology investment, and selective M&A bode well.

Adtalem stock — currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) — gained 0.9% in the past year. Adtalem has seen an upward estimate revision for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings to $7.87 per share from $7.85 and $9.05 per share from $8.92 over the past seven days, respectively. This company’s earnings for fiscal 2026 and 2027 are expected to grow 18% and 14.9%, respectively. ATGE’s earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 12.5%. Moreover, ATGE’s three-to-five-year expected earnings per share growth rate is currently pegged at 15%. It has a VGM Score of B.

Price and Consensus: ATGE

Stride: Based in Reston, VA, Stride provides technology-driven online curriculum, software and education services that support student enrollment, learning and progress tracking in the United States and internationally. Durable structural demand for alternative K-12 education bodes well for Stride, as families increasingly seek flexible, personalized learning models beyond traditional classrooms. Management highlights consistently strong application volumes and resilient enrollments, underscoring the essential nature of its offerings and the depth of unmet demand. Growth is further driven by the expanding Career Learning portfolio, which aligns education with workforce readiness and appeals to students seeking practical, skills-based pathways. Platform stabilization and ongoing technology enhancements are improving the user experience, strengthening retention and partner confidence. A favorable state funding backdrop, disciplined cost structure and a strong balance sheet provide flexibility to invest in curriculum, technology and partnerships, positioning Stride to return to sustained, long-term growth as demand continues to outstrip capacity.

LRN stock — currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) — lost 37.1% in the past year. LRN has seen an upward estimate revision for fiscal 2026 earnings to $8.36 per share from $8.35 over the past seven days. This company’s earnings for fiscal 2026 are expected to grow 3.2% on 5.1% higher revenues. LRN’s earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four trailing quarters and missed on one occasion, with the average surprise being 13.2%. Moreover, LRN’s three-to-five-year expected earnings per share growth rate is currently pegged at 20%. It has a VGM Score of A.

Price and Consensus: LRN

Key Takeaways KKR is slated to report Q4 results Feb. 5, with revenues expected to rise but earnings to fall year over year.Management fees may rise 20.4%, and total AUM is projected to be up 16.1% in Q4 2025.Divestiture of Janney units allows KKR to monetize assets and focus on core alternative investments. KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR - Free Report) is slated to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 5, 2026, before the opening bell. Its earnings in the quarter are expected to have decreased year over year, while revenues are projected to increase.

In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Its results have primarily reflected impressive growth in assets under management (AUM) and transaction fees for the capital markets business. However, an increase in expenses acted as a headwind.

The company boasts an impressive earnings surprise history. Its earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average beat being 3.97%.

Earnings & Sales Estimates for KKRThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025 is pegged at $1.21 per share, which has been revised downward over the past week. The figure indicates a decrease of 8.3% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number.

The consensus estimate for sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 is pegged at $1.44 billion, reflecting a 15.1% year-over-year increase.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for full-year 2025 earnings is pegged at $4.95 per share, which has also been revised downward over the past week. The estimate indicates a 5.3% increase from the prior year’s reported figure.

The consensus estimate for full-year 2025 sales is pegged at $5.39 billion, reflecting a 13.1% year-over-year increase.

KKR’s Recent DevelopmentsIn January 2026, KKR & Co. divested several business units of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a financial services firm in which it holds a majority stake, to Huntington Bancshares (HBAN - Free Report) . The transaction, agreed upon in November 2025, included Janney’s merger and acquisition advisory, public finance and fixed-income sales and trading units. The divestiture allows KKR to monetize non-core assets and sharpen its focus on its core alternative investment and asset management businesses.

Now, let us discuss the factors that are likely to have influenced KKR’s fourth-quarter performance.

Key Factors & Estimates for KKR in Q4KKR has been witnessing increases in fee-earning AUM and total AUM, driven by its diversified product and revenue mix, superior position in the alternative investments space and net inflows. Given the increased client activity in the fourth quarter, KKR is expected to have recorded a rise in AUM balance as inflows strengthened.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AUM is pegged at $740 billion, suggesting a rise of 16.1% from the prior-year quarter. Likewise, the consensus estimate for fee-paying AUM is pegged at $598.5 billion, indicating a 16.9% year-over-year increase.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for management fees (segment revenues) for the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at $1.09 billion, suggesting growth of 20.4% from the prior-year quarter. The consensus estimate for fee-related performance revenues (segment revenues) of $31.7 million implies an increase of 26.3% on a year-over-year basis.

Additionally, KKR expects profits from deal exits to have been limited in the to-be-reported quarter. The company’s preliminary estimate, between Oct. 1 and Dec. 19, 2025, for total realized performance income and net realized investment income is more than $525 million, implying a decrease from $725 million in the prior-year quarter.

Talking about expenses, KKR is likely to have reported elevated expenses in the to-be-reported quarter, driven by higher employee compensation, commission and reinsurance expenses. The company anticipates the expense to be elevated due to higher placement fees and growing fundraising activities.

What Our Model Predicts for KKROur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for KKR this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you can see below.

You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for KKR is -4.08%.

Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Performance of KKR's PeersInvesco’s (IVZ - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 62 cents per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 57 cents. The bottom line increased 19.2% from the prior-year quarter.

IVZ’s results have been primarily aided by an increase in adjusted revenues. Moreover, growth in the AUM balance to record levels supported the results to an extent. However, an increase in adjusted operating expenses was a headwind.

Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN - Free Report) reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Dec. 31, 2025) adjusted earnings of 70 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 55 cents per share. Also, the bottom line compared favorably with 59 cents reported in the year-ago quarter.

The results benefited from higher revenues and an improved AUM balance. However, higher expenses remained a headwind for BEN.

The Federal Reserve disappointed many market participants when it didn’t lower interest rates last month and President Trump recently named a successor to Jerome Powell. Suffice to say, there’s a lot going on at the central bank. Indeed, there may be more headline risk in the bond market than investors are comfortable with. However, avenues to survive and thrive during potentially tumultuous times exist. Those including putting active management to work. Enter the ALPS/SMITH Core Plus Bond ETF (SMTH), one of the fastest-growing ETFs in the active fixed income category.

The $2.45 billion SMTH turned two years old in December. It’s clear the ETF came to market at the right time; adoption of bond ETFs, including the actively managed variety, is on the rise.

“The number of bond ETFs available to investors has steadily increased since 2019,” noted Morningstar’s Daniel Sotiroff. “And a lot of investors are taking interest in them. Almost $430 billion flowed into bond ETFs in 2025, or about 30% of all ETF inflows for the year. Bond ETFs are a big component of the ETF ecosystem, and there are no signs of that trend slowing down.”

SMTH in the Right Place at the Right Time Undoubtedly, SMTH is a success story. Understanding that success boils down to a few key factors, including advisors’ increasing demand for better bond mousetraps.

“One reason is that stock ETFs are heavily picked over,” added Sotiroff. “Just about every stock strategy has been attempted at this point: broad market indexes, strategic-beta/risk factors, sustainability and values-based strategies, and thematic ETFs, along with active and passive approaches to many of them. The best stuff is already out there, it’s fairly inexpensive, and it’s difficult to compete with.”

It’s hard for even the most inventive issuers to develop captivating equity ETF ideas, but there’s ample room for innovation in the fixed income space. SMTH is arguably innovative because, while it’s not an “exotic” bond fund, it does things a little bit differently than standard passive aggregate bond ETFs — and those differences may work in long-term investors’ favor. On that note, it’s worth examining some of the advantages offered by ETFs like SMTH relative to passively managed rivals.

“In some instances, active managers can invest in bonds that are off-limits to the indexes tracked by the three ETFs mentioned here because they’re too small or too complicated to fit neatly into an index’s rules. For those reasons, active managers have some levers to pull to improve upon a broad market, index-tracking ETF,” concluded Sotiroff.

For more news, information, and analysis, visit the ETF Building Blocks Content Hub.

Earn free CE credits and discover new strategies

The momentum accrued last year by European equities and the related ETFs is carrying over to 2026, indicating the still young rally could be durable.

Take the case of the WisdomTree European Opportunities Fund (OPPE), which is higher by more than 6% year-to-date. OPPE came to life last June. At that time, WisdomTree converted an ETF that was born in March 2015 to the European opportunities strategy. That move is paying dividends, because OPPE has outpaced the MSCI Europe Index since its debut.

Advisors and investors looking for unique approaches to resurgent European stocks may find a lot to like with OPPE. For example, the ETF damps currency risk with a dynamic currency hedging methodology. Its perks don’t end there.

“OPPE deliberately allocates two-thirds of the portfolio to companies returning capital through dividends and buybacks, while reserving one-third for forward-looking thematic opportunities tied to geopolitics, technology shifts, and macroeconomic change,” noted WisdomTree’s Christopher Gannatti.

Shareholder Yield Matters As noted above, OPPE leans into the concept of shareholder yield. That three-pronged approach includes buybacks, dividends and debt reduction. Alone, each of those factors can be beneficial to investors. In unison, the trio signals clear quality. It also suggests that OPPE may merit attention as a long-term core holding for European exposure.

“That mindset is evident in the portfolio’s emphasis on total shareholder yield. Rather than relying solely on price appreciation from Europe’s largest growth franchises, OPPE leans into companies that actively return capital through dividends and buybacks, reflecting management confidence and cash-flow durability,” added Gannatti. “This creates a return profile that is grounded not just in economic growth, but in how that growth is shared with investors.”

As a result of its emphasis on shareholders, OPPE’s sector exposures differ from rival pure beta Europe ETFs. The methodology is rooted in sound reasoning. For example, there are positive reasons that industrial and financial services stocks combine for nearly half of OPPE’s portfolio.

“Banks, industrial firms, and energy companies appear not because they are large, but because they demonstrate tangible capital return and resilience across cycles,” observed Gannatti. “At the same time, exposure to globally competitive companies in areas like automation, infrastructure, and select technology adds a forward-looking dimension that extends beyond traditional income strategies.”

Bottom line: OPPE does things differently than old guard Europe ETFs. The fund’s early results indicate it could be onto something that could reward long-term investors.

This article was prepared as part of WisdomTree’s general paid sponsorship of VettaFi | ETF Trends. This specific content within and any opinions expressed therein belong solely to VettaFi and do not reflect the opinion or analysis of WisdomTree, its employees, or its affiliates. Content published on VettaFi | ETF Trends is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment or tax advice. For investment or tax advice, please consult a financial professional. 

WisdomTree is an independent company, unaffiliated with VettaFi | ETF Trends. WisdomTree has not been involved with the preparation of the content supplied by VettaFi | ETF Trends. It does not guarantee or assume any responsibility for its content.

For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Modern Alpha Content Hub.

Earn free CE credits and discover new strategies

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

Explore the new plush collection gift sets on the brand's 18+ Bear Cave microsite, tapping into BookTok romantasy and modern charm culture

, /PRNewswire/ -- This Valentine's Day, age isn't just a number — it's an asset, especially when it comes with silver fur. Build-A-Bear Workshop, the iconic retail brand known for "adding a little more heart to life," is debuting the Silver Fox plush as the newest addition to its After Dark collection, available exclusively online through the brand's popular 18+ Bear Cave microsite.

Build-A-Bear "After Dark" Debuts Silver Fox Plush for Valentine's Day Sleek, salt-and-pepper furred, and full of undeniable allure, Silver Fox embodies the confident, grown-up energy that defines After Dark. From his sharp tuxedo styling to his martini-in-hand attitude, every detail sets the tone and makes him impossible to resist.

The collection knows exactly who it's for — "kidults," adults who grew up with Build-A-Bear and now enjoy the brand through a more grown-up, playful lens. Silver Fox leads the lineup alongside fan favorites like the Lovable Lion, whose Rizzler Gift Set delivers king-of-the-jungle confidence with a tongue-in-cheek tee, jeans, black glasses, and white shoes. Cuddly Cougar returns this year as a new Romantasy Gift Set, inspired by BookTok favorites and complete with a plush book wristie and genre-nodding details.

Additional furry friends and Valentine's Day gift sets available in the 18+ Bear Cave include:

Barkleigh™ Dog Stuffed Animal Rosé Over Roses Gift Set — Includes a "Rosé Over Roses" tee, black skirt, matching boots, and a plush "Pawfectly Pink Rosé" accessory Silver Fox Stuffed Animal Martini Gift Set — Includes a tuxedo, plush martini wristie, and champagne-scented paws Silver Fox Stuffed Animal Shadow Daddy Gift Set — A tongue-in-cheek nod to romantasy fandom, complete with shadowy accessories and brooding vibes Happy Hugs Teddy Bear Wingspan Matters Gift Set — Includes a "Wingspan Matters" tee with dragon-wing sleeves For an extra-personal touch, guests can add a Record Your Voice sound chip, allowing them to include a custom message — sizzling or sweet — and turn each gift into something uniquely memorable.

Since launching the Bear Cave in 2019, Build-A-Bear has used the 18+ microsite to explore how nostalgia evolves as its audience does. The After Dark Valentine's collection continues that approach, blending the brand's signature heart with pop-culture fluency that feels timely, intentional, and unmistakably grown up. To shop the After Dark collection, visit buildabear.com/the-bear-cave/after-dark.

For more information about Build-A-Bear's broader Valentine's Day collection, #StuffYouLove, deals and same-day Uber deliveries of select furry friends and gifts visit www.buildabear.com or follow @buildabear on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop

Q4: 2026-02-02 Earnings SummaryEPS of $0.26 misses by $0.11

 |

Revenue of

-$15.49M

(-55.61% Y/Y)

misses by $608.00K

Two Harbors Investment Corp. (TWO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call February 3, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Company Participants

Margaret Field - Head of Investor Relations
William Greenberg - President & CEO
William Dellal - VP & Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas Letica - VP & Chief Investment Officer

Conference Call Participants

Richard Shane - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Douglas Harter - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Bose George - Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc., Research Division
Trevor Cranston - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division
Harsh Hemnani - Green Street Advisors, LLC, Research Division
Eric Hagen - BTIG, LLC, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good morning. My name is Ruth, and I will be your conference facilitator. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to TWO's Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to turn the call over to Maggie Karr.

Margaret Field
Head of Investor Relations

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our call to discuss TWO's fourth quarter 2025 financial results. With me on the call this morning are Bill Greenberg, our President and Chief Executive Officer; Nick Letica, our Chief Investment Officer; and William Dellal, our Chief Financial Officer.

The earnings press release and presentation associated with today's call have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC's website as well as the Investor Relations page of our website at twoinv.com.

In our earnings release and presentation, we have provided reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, and we urge you to review this information in conjunction with today's call. As a reminder, our comments today will include forward-looking statements which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our results to differ materially from expectations. These are described on Page 2 of the presentation and in our Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Except as

J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways MCHP is set to report fiscal Q3 2026 results on Feb. 5, with sales guided between $1.109B and $1.149B.MCHP continues to cut inventory and factory underutilization, while scaling back capex to support productionStrong demand for Gen 4 and Gen 5 data center products and AI build-outs is expected to aid Q3 performance. Microchip Technology (MCHP - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Feb. 5, 2026.

Microchip expects net sales to be in the range of $1.109-$1.149 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, implying roughly 1% sequential decline in the midpoint. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues is pegged at $1.19 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 15.5%.

Non-GAAP earnings per share are anticipated to be between 34 cents and 40 cents. The consensus mark for fiscal third-quarter earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share, revised upward over the past seven days, suggesting 115% year-over-year growth.

Microchip’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, delivering an average surprise of 0.00%.

Let us see how things might have shaped up for MCHP prior to the announcement:

Key Factors to Note for MCHP’s Q3 ResultsMicrochip has been going through a transitional phase where the company has been able to reduce its inventory levels from its peak of 266 days to 199 days in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, in a span of three quarters. This inventory correction is likely to have persisted in the to-be-reported quarter, bringing the inventory to healthy levels. MCHP’s focus on reducing factory underutilization is expected to have remained a tailwind for the to-be-reported quarter.

MCHP’s distributor inventory level was reduced by two days to 27 days in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. In the previous quarters, MCHP had increased its capital expenditure to expand its production capabilities for a selective ramp-up. Now the company has reduced its planned capital investments, keeping sufficient manufacturing capacity to support the growth of its production capabilities. This is expected to have proved to be a tailwind in the third quarter of fiscal 2026.

Strong traction in Gen 4 and Gen 5 data center products, as MCHP’s customers are going through inventory correction, is likely to have reflected positively in the to-be-reported quarter. Strength in AI data center build-out, propelled by rising demand from hyperscalers committing to large-scale deployment, is likely to drive MCHP’s third-quarter fiscal 2026 results.

Microchip benefits from strong design wins, particularly in the industrial, aerospace, and automotive sectors, which is noteworthy. The company’s focus on high-growth areas like aerospace, defence, and AI, with innovations in microcontrollers, PCIe switches, and AI tools, is boosting adoption across automotive, industrial, and AI/ML markets. This is expected to have boosted revenues in the to-be-reported quarter.

Earnings Whispers for MCHP StockOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for MCHP Holding this earnings season. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat, which is the case here.

Earnings ESP, which represents the difference between the Most Accurate Estimate ($0.43 per share) and the Zacks Consensus Estimate ($0.43 per share), is +1.34%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: MCHP sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Other Stocks With Favorable CombinationHere are some stocks you may want to consider in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, as our model shows that these, too, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:

IPG Photonics (IPGP - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +15.08% and sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present. IPG Photonics shares have surged 22.1% in the trailing six-month period. IPG Photonics is set to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 12.

Lattice Semiconductor (LSCC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +3.67% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. Shares of Lattice Semiconductor have gained 70.1% in the trailing six-month period. Lattice Semiconductor is set to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 10.

Cloudflare Inc. (NET - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.20% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. Shares of Cloudflare have lost 12.6% in the trailing six-month period. Cloudflare is slated to report fourth-quarter 2025 results on Feb. 10.

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

Cardano price continues to trade under pressure as ADA price stabilizes just below the $0.30 region after a prolonged decline. The price action indicates compression instead of new weakness, the selling force is subdued towards a historically responsive area. 

Against this backdrop, attention has shifted to a derivatives catalyst following CME Group’s earlier announcement. With the regulated access of futures coming towards, the emphasis now is on the interaction between this structural change and the existing price behavior.

CME’s ADA Futures Launch Brings Timing Into Focus Following an earlier announcement, CME Group is set to launch Cardano-linked futures contracts on February 9. The launch introduces a defined timeline for regulated exposure to Cardano price movements. This launch puts Cardano on par with already existing assets available to institutional investors via the crypto derivatives offering of CME. 

The announcement itself did not trigger immediate price expansion. This, therefore, suggests the market has treated the development as structural rather than speculative.  

The access to futures enables institutions to hedge, give directional expression as well as allocate capital at compression periods. For Cardano price, this dynamic tends to deepen liquidity around established levels rather than force immediate direction. 

Hence, the effects of the launch will be determined by the spot demand, which is likely to protect the support when the derivatives participation will rise. It is this interaction that redefines the conditions of participation but leaves price to work out structurally.

Cardano Price Structure Points to Range-Bound Resolution At the time of press, Cardano market value sits around $0.298, placing price near the upper boundary of the descending channel. The Cardano price has now established an immediate structural support at the level of $0.282, after a recent crypto market decline. 

This level is also at the center of the next directional stage. This is so since further defense would mean that the pressure of selling has not been reinforced but has been diluted. 

In case buyers stand their ground at this base, the price action might change to the upwards direction to the $0.500 level. This resistance area has in the past limited recovery efforts. A persistent movement above the $0.500 would, in its turn, represent an opportunity to reach the $0.700 level.

Quite on the contrary, a failure to defend the $0.282 support would change the outlook materially. A decisive breakdown below this would probably result in Cardano price rotating down to the $0.098 area. The zone is where historical demand last took in prolonged selling. 

Notably, this positioning is in line with the RSI at 33, where the recovery of momentum helps stabilize around the support. A break below support would invalidate this structure. However a continued defense will sustain the long-term Cardano price forecast centered on balance rather than forced direction.

ADA/USD 1D Chart (Source: TradingView) Summary  Cardano price currently reflects structural balance rather than directional conviction. The prevailing result is consolidation between $0.282 and $0.400 since futures expand participation without determining bias. 

This outlook remains the dominant outcome as long as spot demand keeps absorbing the pressure around support.  Until then, ADA price behavior remains governed by structure, not narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) It provides regulated institutional access to Cardano exposure without requiring direct token custody.

They deepen liquidity, enable hedging, and often stabilize price action around key structural levels.

No. It expands participation options, but price direction still depends on spot market behavior.

Bitcoin crashed below $78,000 in February 2026, shedding 22% of its value in brutal fashion.

The broader crypto market followed suit, with Ethereum and major altcoins bleeding double-digit losses.

Yet in the wreckage, stablecoin volumes hit $33 trillion. That’s a 72% surge, driven by USDC moving $18.3 trillion and USDT handling $13.3 trillion.

The contrast is stark as Bitcoin tumbled while stablecoins soared. It signals something the industry hasn’t fully reckoned with: crypto may have already moved beyond Bitcoin as its primary engine.

Institutions pulled $1.7 billion out of crypto funds as volatility spiked. But retail traders didn’t flee to dollars.

Instead, they rotated into stablecoins and stayed.

This shift transformed stablecoins from simple entry-exit ramps into something far more fundamental: the settlement infrastructure holding the entire market together when things get messy.

Invezz spoke with Paybis co-founder Konstantins Vasilenko about what’s actually driving this shift and what it means when stablecoins become bigger than Bitcoin itself.

Excerpts:

Konstantins Vasilenko

Invezz: Bitcoin’s down 22%, but stablecoin volumes hit $33 trillion last year. Are stablecoins becoming the actual backbone of crypto?

Konstantins Vasilenko: While Bitcoin dominated headlines in 2025, the fastest-growing assets on Paybis were stablecoins.

USDT volumes grew 423% year-over-year. USDC surged 6,772% from a smaller base.

Even during market drawdowns, crypto users didn’t exit to fiat. They rotated capital into stablecoins to manage liquidity, reduce risk, and wait for better conditions.

Our user poll confirms this. Stablecoins have become a tool for risk avoidance and capital preservation.

Stablecoins used to be entry and exit points, nothing more. Now they’re the infrastructure that holds the market together and keeps capital moving when volatility goes up.

When $33 trillion flows through stablecoins in a single year, you’re not looking at a niche product anymore.

Invezz: USDC moved $18.3 trillion in 2025, more than USDT’s $13.3 trillion, despite being half the size. Why are people choosing it over Tether?

Konstantins Vasilenko: USDC owns DeFi and high-frequency settlement, where the same dollar gets moved dozens of times a day. That inflates transaction volume relative to market cap.

USDT still leads in real-world payments, store of value, and emerging market use. If you run a business or send remittances, you probably use Tether. If you trade on-chain, you probably use USDC.

Institutional money gravitates toward USDC for obvious reasons.

Circle publishes monthly attestations, holds reserves with regulated banks, and secured MiCA approval in Europe. For compliance-heavy players, it’s simply the easier choice.

USDT has deeper liquidity across exchanges and wider availability in markets where people actually need dollar exposure.

They don’t compete for the same users, which is why both can grow without cannibalizing one another.

Invezz: Institutions just yanked $1.7 billion out of crypto funds. Is stablecoin growth real adoption, or are people just looking for the exit?

Konstantins Vasilenko: The $1.7 billion came out of Bitcoin and Ethereum funds, which is institutional money reducing exposure because the macro picture got murky. Stablecoins are a different story, though.

On Paybis, users didn’t exit to fiat when prices dropped. They moved into stablecoins and stayed. USDT volumes on our platform grew 423% year-over-year.

People treat stablecoins as a place to wait now: they reduce risk, stay liquid, and keep their options open.

Institutional fund managers have risk committees and reporting requirements, so when things get volatile, they trim positions. Retail users don’t have those constraints; they can just park in stablecoins until conditions settle.

The outflows and the stablecoin growth aren’t at odds with each other. Different players, different rules, different responses to the same market.

Kevin Warsh and the liquidity question Copy link to section

Invezz: Kevin Warsh is likely the next Fed Chair, and he’s a known hawk. If cheap liquidity dries up, do stablecoins still work?

Konstantins Vasilenko: The Fed held rates steady at 3.5% to 3.75% last week, which keeps macro conditions stable for now.

Cheap liquidity continues to flow to risk assets, and institutions still lean on stablecoins for fast global payments over traditional rails.

Warsh has a hawkish reputation, but he’s also signaled support for rate cuts in the near term. His real focus seems to be shrinking the Fed’s balance sheet, which could tighten liquidity over time, but that’s a gradual process.

I think his appointment could have a positive impact on the crypto industry.

The Federal Reserve is an independent institution, and its primary mandate is to support US monetary policy, so I wouldn’t expect dramatic or immediate results.

Still, Warsh has shown support for crypto, and that could play an important role over the next couple of years.

Stablecoin adoption has more to do with dollar demand than interest-rate policy.

People use them because they want dollar exposure and because traditional banking is slow and expensive. Neither of those factors will change based on what the Fed does.

Invezz: SWIFT is rolling out instant cross-border payments. If banks solve the speed problem, what’s the actual use case for stablecoins outside of trading?

Konstantins Vasilenko: At Sibos 2025, SWIFT unveiled a blockchain-based ledger and announced plans for instant consumer payments by mid-2026.

They clearly see the threat, and they’re responding, which makes sense.

But speed was never the only problem with traditional rails.

SWIFT still needs bank accounts on both ends, still runs through correspondent banks that add fees at each step, and still doesn’t work on weekends or holidays in many corridors.

Stablecoins let you move value peer-to-peer without a bank account, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That matters for the 1.4 billion unbanked people in the world.

It’s also a big deal for businesses that want instant settlement, and for remittance corridors where traditional fees eat 6% or more of every transfer.

Even if SWIFT matches stablecoin speed, the two systems work differently at a fundamental level. One moves messages between banks. The other moves value directly on-chain.

On Europe’s stablecoin power shift Copy link to section

Invezz: Europe banned USDT but greenlit USDC. Does regulatory fragmentation kill stablecoins, or just pick winners and losers?

Konstantins Vasilenko: Fragmentation doesn’t kill stablecoins; it just decides who gets to operate where. Tether looked at MiCA’s requirements and decided Europe wasn’t worth the compliance burden.

Circle took the opposite approach, got a French e-money license, and now has the European market largely to itself.

Both companies made rational calls based on their own priorities.

Tether has deep liquidity in Asia, Latin America, and emerging markets where people actually need dollar exposure and where regulation is lighter.

Circle bets on institutional credibility and regulatory access in the US and Europe.

European users now have fewer stablecoin options, which is the obvious short-term cost. The longer-term question is whether MiCA’s high bar pushes activity to friendlier jurisdictions.

If the US and Asia end up with lighter frameworks, liquidity follows. We’ve seen that pattern play out in other parts of crypto, and there’s no reason stablecoins would be any different.

Invezz: Bloomberg says stablecoin volumes could hit $56 trillion by 2030. What needs to happen for that to actually play out?

Konstantins Vasilenko: The $56 trillion projection assumes around 80% annual growth from where we are now.

That might sound aggressive to some, but volumes hit $33 trillion last year with 72% growth from the year before, so the trajectory is already pointing in that direction.

For the projection to hold, regulatory frameworks and payment infrastructure both need to keep advancing.

The GENIUS Act and MiCA gave the US and Europe their frameworks, and the UK and Canada are working on theirs.

Each jurisdiction that settles its rules brings institutional capital off the sidelines because funds and corporations don’t move until they know what the rules are.

Meanwhile, traditional finance keeps laying more tracks.

Western Union plans to launch stablecoin settlement on Solana this year, MoneyGram and Zelle are adding stablecoin options, and Visa and Mastercard already handle billions in stablecoin-linked card spend.

The more on-ramps that exist, the more volume flows through.

The other factor is demand from markets with inflation, capital controls, or unstable local currencies. People in those places want dollar access, and stablecoins deliver it faster and cheaper than anything else available to them.

So the $56 trillion number is ambitious, but it’s not a fantasy. The regulation, the infrastructure, and the demand are all moving in the same direction.

Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

Gold and silver prices experienced a powerful bounce-back on Tuesday, following a tumultuous period marked by a significant selloff. After suffering major losses in recent days, the precious metals staged an impressive recovery.  Will the Bitcoin price follow the recovery?

Both prices shot up, with gold increasing by 7% and silver by 13% in a day. The sudden increase in the prices has restored investor confidence and dragged world stocks and funds invested in these metals back into the positive.

Gold is now trading at 4,913.97 an ounce, and silver has recovered to 86.89 an ounce, regaining its lost ground after a drastic drop that took both metals to multi-week lows. Gold was down nearly 10% on Friday, and silver was down 30%, which was the worst in over 40 years.

Nevertheless, purchasing moved back on Tuesday due to investors taking the chance to purchase the metals at more favorable rates

BREAKING: Gold prices extend gains to +7% on the day and silver prices extend gains to +13% on the day.

Gold is back above $4,950/oz and silver is back above $87/oz. pic.twitter.com/6FAPHEfSsg

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) February 3, 2026

Gold and Silver Prices: A Rebound Amid Market Uncertainty The sharp reversal in gold and silver prices followed a period of heavy market volatility. The reason was the news that Kevin Warsh was nominated as the new chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, which was a contributing factor to the downturn.

His possible appointment was a cause of fear of stricter financial conditions, and people feared that interest rates would rise. This uncertainty put strain on prices of precious metals, especially with margin increases by CME Group, leading to forced selling in futures markets.

Nevertheless, Gold and Silver remained strong. Gold recorded its biggest monthly increase in a decade, increasing by 13% in January, and silver surged by 19%. However, both metals were able to recover some of their losses on Tuesday, supported by the reappearance of buying power.

Spot silver reached $81.61 per ounce, still below its record high of $121.64 set last Thursday, but significantly higher than the lows it had touched in recent days.

Will Bitcoin Price Recover After Recent Decline? As gold and silver reconsider their position, the cryptocurrency market is recovering as well. Bitcoin, which has been fluctuating in the recent past, gained 3% on Tuesday, but it stabilized at $78,000.

This is an increase following a significant fall of 12% in the past week, and many wonder whether Bitcoin will rebound further.

There is also a slight increase in the wider cryptocurrency market, which stands at $2.63 trillion. Mainly due to a relief rally following recent oversold conditions and favorable institutional implications. On Monday, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) received a large inflow amounting to $561.89 million, leading to a series of outflows that had been pressing the market over the past few days.

Source: Sosovalue data Technical analysts suggest that if Long-term Bitcoin forecast continues to show strength, it may push towards the critical $80,000 level. A consolidated rise above this could see a further rise to $90,600.

Source by Tradingview A failure to sustain momentum, however, may lead to a further decline with pressure at about $73,000.

MetaMask, the self-custodial crypto wallet developed by Ethereum software company Consensys, is rolling out access to tokenized US stocks, exchange-traded funds and commodities through Ondo Global Markets.

Starting Tuesday, eligible MetaMask users in non-US countries will be able to access 200 tokenized US stocks, ETFs and commodities such as gold and silver on Ethereum network, the company said in a statement shared with Cointelegraph.

The offering allows users to acquire tokenized assets via MetaMask Swaps by swapping Circle’s USDC (USDC) stablecoin into Ondo Global Markets (GM) tokens, which are designed to track the value of their underlying assets on a 1:1 basis.

Ondo Finance has previously drawn attention for its collaboration with World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a crypto project backed by US President Donald Trump. Ondo’s native token, ONDO, has fallen about 80% over the past year, according to CoinGecko data.

Desktop support expected in late FebruaryMetaMask’s tokenized assets offering will be initially available exclusively on MetaMask mobile, with desktop integration coming by the end of February with a browser extension, a spokesperson for Consensys told Cointelegraph.

“Access to US markets still runs through legacy rails,” said Joe Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and Consensys CEO, highlighting fragmented apps and rigid trading windows in traditional markets.

“Bringing Ondo’s tokenized US stocks and ETFs directly into MetaMask shows what a better model looks like,” Lubin said, adding:

“A single, self-custodial wallet where people can move between crypto and traditional assets without intermediaries and without giving up control. That’s the future we’re actively building toward at MetaMask.”30 jurisdictions excluded from rolloutIn line with Ondo’s stated focus on offering tokenized assets primarily to non-US investors, MetaMask’s rollout will exclude users in the US as well as a number of other markets.

The offering will be inaccessible in 30 countries and regions, including Canada, the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom.

Countries excluded from MetaMask’s tokenized asset rollout with Ondo. Source: MetaMask“MetaMask uses a number of methods to ensure geographical restrictions are enforced, including geographical restrictions based on the user’s IP address,” a spokesperson for Consensys told Cointelegraph.

If a user is detected to be in a restricted region, they will receive an error message indicating that the trade route is unavailable, the representative said, adding:

“MetaMask is continuing to explore compliant ways to expand global access to tokenized real‑world assets in line with evolving regulatory frameworks.”Growing trend of RWA and prediction market integrationMetaMask’s move into real-world assets (RWAs) underscores the industry’s broader push toward the “everything app” vision, with exchanges and self‑custodial wallets increasingly integrating tokenized assets and prediction markets.

Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange by trading volume, announced late last year it was developing its own RWA platform, Coinbase Tokenize.

Trust Wallet, the self-custodial crypto wallet backed by Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, integrated tokenized assets by Ondo in September 2025.

Both companies have also expanded into prediction markets, with Coinbase integrating Kalshi and Trust Wallet tapping Myriad for the initial launch.

In October 2025, MetaMask partnered with Polymarket to provide access to prediction markets directly on MetaMask’s mobile app.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

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

Journalist

Posted: February 3, 2026

Hyperliquid’s HYPE has been the most resilient altcoin amid the broader crypto decline, thanks to its strong traction. 

The perpetual DEX’s equity perps via HIP-3 have become a massive success, lifting the platform’s market dominance to 33% – A whopping 15% increase in weeks. 

Now, the platform plans to activate Hyperliquid Improvement Proposal-4 (HIP-4), allowing native prediction markets and Options trading. These are among the hottest narratives in the space after stablecoins and tokenization. 

The twist?

These offerings will be strictly denominated in USDH, Hyperliquid’s native stablecoin, to keep generated fees within the ecosystem. The fees are used to support the HYPE buyback program and other initiatives. 

Source: X/Hyperliquid

Hyperliquid’s key drivers Commenting on the update, Ryan Watkins, Founder of crypto VC firm Syncracy Capital, billed the move as a push towards the platform’s vision of ‘everything exchange.’

“The ‘everything exchange’ thesis for Hyperliquid is only getting clearer by the day. Polymarket and Kalshi are both decacorns by the way.”

At press time, the exact timeline for the debut of the prediction markets was not yet made public. But the platform said the offering was currently on the testnet and could be available soon. 

Meanwhile, equity perps and trading in broader leveraged tokenized stocks and ETFs, collectively under the RWA category, have risen from zero to 10% of overall Hyperliquid’s Open Interest (OI) in about a month.

According to Blockwork’s Research Analyst, Dan Smith, RWA’s share could hit 50% soon. 

Source: Blockworks

Will HYPE’s price recovery extend? If prediction markets also pick up momentum like RWA, then HYPE may benefit more from the tailwind. 

In fact, the altcoin rallied 9% after the HIP-4 update and added another 11% at the time of writing.

This brought its second leg of recovery to 30% from the $28 support zone. 

The rally cooled near the 200-day moving average, a key level that often signals an extended uptrend when reclaimed as support. A hold above it would put the $35–$38 zone in focus for bulls.

Source: HYPE/USDT, TradingView 

Should bulls succeed, the third leg of the rally may likely push the altcoin to the $50 psychological level, effectively cutting its late 2025 losses by half. 

However, if market sentiment sours again at the 200-Day MA, sellers could retest the $28 support. 

Final Thoughts  Hyperliquid plans to roll out native prediction markets and Options trading, but the pairs will be strictly denominated in its USDH stablecoin. Analysts view the update as a move towards the ‘everything exchange’ after the platform’s RWA success.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is in crisis and, as one of the best-known crypto technical analysts declares, the meme coin could lose a lot of value once the current price support gives way.

According to a new weekly chart posted by analyst Ali Martinez, SHIB is holding onto the $0.0000066721 support level — a threshold it has not reached since mid-2023, and the current structure looks fragile, with consistent lower highs and thin liquidity on the bounce attempts. If this level gives out, Martinez points to two possible crash zones: $0.0000029954 and $0.0000013522.

Source: Ali MartinezThis is not just another case of "buy the dip," as hitting the second target would mean a 81% drop from the current price point, basically erasing almost three years of the Shiba Inu support structure in one big plunge. 

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For a token that is already down 92% from its 2021 high, a crash like this could totally reset it from the surface of the crypto market.

How low?It is interesting that this is similar to what happened in 2022, when the SHIB price consolidated for weeks before falling into a multimonth bear flag. Volume is drying up again, sentiment is collapsing and social media interest in the project has cratered to 2021 prehype levels. 

SHIB's last pump in the middle of 2025 barely broke past $0.0000148062 — a level that is now acting as heavy overhead resistance.

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Ali's chart does not show things looking super bad, but it does make us remember that meme tokens cannot hold their value when the crowd disappears. The 81% wipeout is not a forecast; it is a possible outcome.

Until SHIB bounces back or recaptures its midrange structure, any price action below $0.0000066721 is at risk. If that line breaks, the SHIB army will be asking "Who's still here to care?" instead of "How low?"

In brief Standard Chartered has cut its end-2026 Solana price target to $250 from $310. The bank raised its long-term forecast, projecting that SOL will reach $2,000 by end-2030. Solana's DEX activity is shifting from meme coins to SOL-stablecoin pairs as micropayments emerge. Standard Chartered has slashed its 2026 Solana price target while raising long-term forecasts, saying the blockchain will dominate micropayments and stablecoin transactions as it moves beyond its meme coin-dominated past.

The international banking group cut its year-end SOL forecast to $250 from $310, but raised projections for subsequent years, estimating the token could reach $2,000 by end-2030, according to a research note from Global Head of Digital Assets Research Geoff Kendrick shared with Decrypt.

The revised outlook comes as Solana trades at $101, down 18% over the past week and over 48% year-to-date, according to CoinGecko data, a steep decline from its all-time high of $293 hit last January following the launch of President Donald Trump's Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin on the network.

"Flows on Solana's decentralised exchanges are starting to shift from memecoins towards SOL-stablecoin pairs," Kendrick wrote in the note, adding that these stablecoins "are turning over two to three times faster than stablecoins on ETH, demonstrating a different use case."

The bank now forecasts that SOL will reach $400 by end-2027 (up from a prior $350 target), $700 by end-2028 (up from $475), and $1,200 by end-2029 (up from $500).

The new end-2030 target marks the first time Standard Chartered has published a Solana price projection that far out in its research coverage.

Kendrick explained that Solana's "ultra-low-cost, fast and reliable transaction model" positions it to dominate sectors requiring high-volume, low-transaction-cost solutions—particularly micropayments enabled by AI-driven protocols like x402, where average transaction sizes are just $0.06.

When asked what key indicators he will track to confirm that micropayments are becoming Solana’s next dominant use case, Kendrick told Decrypt he is watching two primary metrics: “Volume of stablecoin transfers on Solana” and “Velocity of stablecoins on Solana.”

With Solana's median gas fee at $0.0007 compared to Base's $0.015, the network can economically process transactions too small for traditional finance systems or even most other blockchains to handle profitably, the analyst said.

“AI-driven micropayments using stablecoins are starting to demonstrate that the ‘order of magnitude’ cost reduction on Solana can enable entirely new markets to develop,” Kendrick wrote in the note, but he cautioned that achieving scale in these emerging sectors “may take time.”

Solana's long-term forecastStandard Chartered expects Solana to underperform Ethereum through 2027 before catching up as micropayment markets mature.

The analyst maintained the view that Solana will outperform Bitcoin throughout the forecast horizon through 2030, though the token faces a challenging near-term outlook as new use cases develop at scale.

The bank said 47% of Solana’s 2025 “GDP”—fees paid to on-chain apps—came from DEXs dominated by meme coin trading, but that share has been falling through 2025 after peaking around the Trump meme coin launch, citing Token Terminal data.

Kendrick noted that Solana is "no longer trading as cheap" on Standard Chartered's market cap-to-GDP valuation metric, which the bank likens to a price-to-earnings ratio for digital assets.

"We suspect this reflects the shift in Solana's DEX activity mix from a memecoin focus to SOL-stablecoin pairs," he wrote, adding that "if more SOL-stablecoin activity takes place on Solana via micropayments, this will result in a higher SOL price."

On Myriad, a prediction market owned by Decrypt’s parent company Dastan, users point to a greater than 90% chance that Solana does not reach a new price peak before July 1.

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Shiba Inu's marketing lead says SHIB will recover as community strength, exchange outflows, and ecosystem updates shape market outlook.

Canton network price today is trading near $0.189 as fresh institutional infrastructure developments reshape its market context. The catalyst comes from Fireblocks’ integration with the Canton Network, a move that strengthens regulated settlement access while drawing attention to CC/USD at a critical technical juncture.

Fireblocks Integration Alters Canton’s Institutional NarrativeMeanwhile, Fireblocks, which is known and trusted by more than 2,400 enterprises and securing over $5 trillion in annual digital asset transfers has announced a new integration with the Canton Network. The move expands Fireblocks’ regulated infrastructure offerings for tokenization, settlement, and institutional digital asset flows.

The @CantonNetwork is now supported on Fireblocks.

Financial institutions can custody Canton Coin and build on Canton's privacy-enabled infrastructure with the same security and policy controls they use across our platform.

Private settlement. Governed flows. Institutional… pic.twitter.com/uGwvVQXZNa

— Fireblocks (@FireblocksHQ) February 3, 2026 At the same time, the integration introduces custody and operational support for Canton Coin (CC) directly within Fireblocks’ platform. This gives financial institutions a governed and privacy-enabled environment to begin settling assets on Canton using Fireblocks’ enterprise-grade policy controls and workflow automation.

Interest from traditional financial institutions has already been accelerating Canton’s momentum. The network is increasingly being viewed as a preferred infrastructure layer for regulated tokenization, including tokenized securities, deposits, and settlement workflows. That shift places Canton network crypto closer to institutional deployment rather than speculative experimentation.

Regulated Custody Strengthens Market ConfidenceThat said, custody for Canton Coin will be provided through Fireblocks Trust Company, a qualified custodian chartered by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This structure provides a regulatory-compliant custody framework designed to meet fiduciary and risk management standards expected by large financial firms.

Still, the update also leverages Fireblocks’ MPC security architecture and governance controls. Institutions operating on Canton now gain protections suited for institutional-scale adoption, including key management safeguards and operational oversight. These features are increasingly seen as prerequisites for regulated digital finance participation.

From a market perspective, such developments often influence how participants assess network credibility, even when broader crypto conditions remain uncertain.

Canton Network Price Chart Shows Improving StructureFrom a technical perspective, the Canton network price chart suggests that CC/USD has been trending upward from a key support zone. On the daily timeframe, $0.177 has established itself as immediate support after the price flipped the $0.160 level.

Price structure aligns with both an ascending parallel wedge and a developing cup-and-handle formation. The current rally remains contained within the ascending channel, suggesting controlled momentum rather than volatility-driven expansion.

If price continues to respect this structure, the upper boundary of the wedge near $0.220 becomes a level of interest. That zone may act as resistance and could invite a pullback toward the lower channel boundary near $0.140, which would still preserve a constructive longer-term setup. However, a sustained move beyond $0.220 would open the possibility of a broader reassessment in the Canton network price forecast.

Derivatives and Sentiment Data Add ContextAdditionally, derivatives data shows total open interest for CC/USD reaching an all-time high of $37.61 million. This indicates increasing participation, even as price action remains technically structured.

Social volume has also been building into Q1 2026, pointing to rising discussion around Canton network crypto. Weighted sentiment metrics suggest that commentary has skewed more positive than negative, reinforcing engagement without signaling speculative crowd behavior.

Taken together, these metrics suggest that the Canton network price is increasingly reflecting infrastructure-driven interest rather than short-term momentum trading, and that the price may tilt on the higher side for a longer span.

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Even with bears dominating, HBAR tops bigger competition as the most actively-developing RWA chain.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: February 3, 2026 │ 3:15 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

Bursting out with developer activity, the Real World Asset (RWA) section of crypto is actively developing. Santiment, the social blockchain data firm, just released a list of TOP 10 most active blockchains in the field, crowning Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) the front-runner so far.

HBAR’s ‘Show & Prove’ Approach Edges RWA OppsListing the most promising RWA crypto currencies, Santiment has rated Hedera (HBAR) at 278.17 by this metric, edging the developers on Chainlink (LINK), Avalanche (AVAX), Stellar Lumens (XLM), IOTA & several others. Despite soaring in dev action, Hedera’s native token HBAR traded sideways for the past 7 days, unable to reclaim the $0.10 threshold.

Just short of a $4 billion market cap, HBAR tops bigger utility altcoin counterparts. Since hitting the $0.56 all-time high in 2021, HBAR has pulled back beyond 84%, falling deeply into the oversold area on a daily time-frame. On the technical side, Hedera’s HBAR can handle up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), having room for spacious dApp activity.

Sponsored

The promising $24 billion RWA market seems like a perfect match for that, as already seen in numerous partnerships including Archax’s tokenized exchange & the real-estate broker Gilmore Estates. HBARians are clinging on utility rather than speculation, as most of the community awaits results from SWIFT’s testing of HBAR on the traditional payment rails.

Big HBAR Leap On Futures Hint At Bearish DominanceAs of press time, the 31st crypto by market capitalization is trading at $0.091, with a backdrop of 0.8% in 24 hours. Just breaching $111 million in trading volume, the stagnant trading action on Spot is overshadowed by the $201 million on futures markets. The long versus short position ratio is now flipped back to bearish, flashing 0.92, according to CoinGlass.

Moreover, short-sellers are not paying for Hedera’s (HBAR) bulls positions. The Open Interest (OI) weighted funding rate is dwelling in negative territory. With the next major demand zone around $0.059, HBAR’s bulls ought to reclaim the $0.10 psychological resistance level to take back the steering wheel.

Delve into DailyCoin’s popular crypto scoops today:
Bitcoin Near $79K as ETF Inflows Return, Risks Remain
Hyperliquid to Roll Out Outcome Trading, HYPE Soars

People Also Ask:What does the Santiment GitHub activity ranking show?

It tracks non-bot developer commits over 30 days for RWA projects. HBAR leads at 278.17, followed by LINK (215.37), AVAX (135.13), XLM (110.9), and IOTA (79.1). This highlights real coding progress, not hype—key for RWA tokenization of assets like bonds or real estate.

Why is HBAR topping the list?

Hedera’s enterprise focus (council members like Google, IBM) drives RWA dev work—e.g., tokenized bonds, supply chain pilots. High activity signals strong ecosystem buildout, positioning HBAR as a RWA leader amid trillions in market potential.

What’s driving the RWA market growth?

Tokenization of real assets (stocks, real estate, art) hits $10B+ in 2026, up from $2B in 2025. Chains like these enable cheap, compliant on-chain transfers—dev activity predicts winners as institutions (BlackRock, JPMorgan) pile in.

Is this bullish for prices?

Potentially—high dev activity correlates with adoption/price gains (e.g., HBAR +2.7% daily at $0.093). But short-term dips possible; RWA leaders like HBAR could see 20–50% upside if market expands to $10T+ tokenized value.

How can investors track this?

Use Santiment for dev metrics, CoinGecko/MarketCap for prices, or RWA trackers like RWA.xyz. Watch for partnerships (e.g., Hedera’s Repsol join) as prime catalysts.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

100% Bullish

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

contributor

Posted: February 3, 2026

Bitcoin [BTC] faces one of its worst pullbacks at the end of January 2026, dropping. The price has fallen sharply since October 2026, completing a 40% drop from its ATH.

After shaking off excess leverage in January, the market begins stabilizing in early February, offering optimism for a rally.

Bitcoin’s aggregated Futures Open Interest fully reset, clearing out weak hands and setting the stage for recovery.

Notably, the Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index surged, indicating a recovery in U.S. spot demand, a key precursor for rallies. This technical reset cleared the path for a potential bullish continuation.

Bitcoin has a CME gap at $84K BTC was inching closer to the $84K CME gap, with many eyes on this critical level. Historically, CME gaps have been magnets for price movement, often pulling Bitcoin higher to close them.

Source: TradingView

As the king coin traded near $78,000, it was clear the $84K gap was drawing attention. Traders were eager to see whether the gap would fill, as a move towards $84,500 could trigger fresh buying interest and a larger rally.

Fibonacci—The new resistance: Will it break? At press time, BTC was testing the crucial 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level around $79,000, acting as strong resistance.

Source: TradingView

A break above this level, however, could have paved the way for Bitcoin to push higher, targeting the 50% Fibonacci level, around $90,000 to $95,000.

With the RSI nearing oversold territory, the conditions resembled past market bottoms where BTC staged strong recoveries.

If Bitcoin had broken through the 61.8% level, the $90K+ range could have been next, driven by fresh buying interest.

What’s next for Bitcoin? Bitcoin’s future hinges on institutional momentum and breaking resistance. However, failing to break $79K might have led to a pullback, with support around $63K–$67K.

The Coinbase Bitcoin Premium recovery suggested growing U.S. demand and potential upside.

Final Thoughts BTC gained strength, approaching the $79K resistance, but needed to hold above the $74K level for momentum. Institutional interest and Coinbase premium recovery signaled a potential bull run, but Bitcoin had to maintain upward pressure.

Bitcoin’s recent sell-off has stalled after reaching a critical demand zone around $74K, opening the door for short-term consolidation. While downside pressure has eased for now, the broader structure suggests that a corrective rebound followed by a pullback into internal supply zones remains likely, allowing the market to cool off before its next decisive move.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin remains under notable selling pressure after a sharp decline into the $74K demand zone. This area coincides with a major weekly swing low, reinforcing its importance as a key defensive level for buyers.

Just below this support lies a significant liquidity cluster composed largely of long liquidation levels. The price behavior around this region is critical in defining the next market phase. A decisive bearish breakdown would likely trigger another wave of sell-side expansion, sweeping additional long positions.

However, from a short-term perspective, consolidation followed by a bullish retracement toward the lower boundary of the previously broken wedge, around the $90K region, appears to be the more probable scenario.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart A closer look at the 4-hour chart indicates that BTC has likely entered a consolidation phase around the $73K area. Following strong impulsive declines, markets typically transition into a corrective range to absorb selling pressure and rebuild momentum.

In this context, Bitcoin appears positioned for a short-term range-bound move, with a potential pullback toward the internal supply zones located around $83K and $89K. Until a clear breakout occurs, price action is expected to remain confined within the $73K–$89K range, with the next directional move hinging on how the market reacts at these key levels.

Sentiment Analysis The liquidation heatmap reveals a well-defined liquidity cluster below the recent market low, with the densest concentration extending toward the $70K region. This zone represents a large pocket of resting leverage, primarily tied to vulnerable long positions. In bearish or risk-off environments, such liquidity pools often act as magnetic targets, as price tends to seek areas where forced liquidations can provide the necessary liquidity for larger market participants.

Although the recent decline has already triggered a long liquidation cascade, the heatmap suggests that downside liquidity has not yet been fully cleared. After a brief thinning of liquidity below current price levels, leverage builds significantly closer to $70K, increasing the probability of a deeper sweep in the mid-term. Should price remain weak and fail to reclaim higher liquidity zones above, this lower cluster may ultimately act as an absorption area, where sell-side pressure is met by stronger bid interest, potentially stabilizing price following the drawdown.

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The crypto selloff has been deeper than anticipated, but Tom Lee sees price and timing align for a potential bottom.

The digital asset market has experienced one of its most volatile periods in early 2026. On Sunday, February 1, a massive liquidation cascade totaling $2.58 billion swept through the ecosystem, primarily affecting long positions as Bitcoin and other major assets breached critical support levels. Amid this turbulence, XRP recorded a significant 74% surge in trading volume, reaching $6.49 billion in 24 hours.

Analysis of the Liquidation Cascade Data from CoinGlass indicates that over 414,491 market participants were liquidated during this event. The flush was largely driven by a mechanical unwind of high-leverage positions:

Long Liquidations: Approximately $2.27 billion of the total wipeout originated from bullish bets. Exchange Impact: Hyperliquid and Bybit recorded the heaviest damage, with over $1 billion in positions erased on certain venues. Market Catalyst: Analysts point to a combination of geopolitical tensions and a “risk-off” sentiment following shifts in U.S. monetary policy expectations, which pressured both crypto and traditional safe-haven assets. XRP Price Action and Realized Price Support XRP’s recent trajectory has seen it test critical technical levels. Between late January and early February, the asset hit a local low near $1.50, a level that closely aligns with its realized price of $1.48, according to Glassnode.

The realized price represents the average cost basis of all tokens in circulation. Historically, when the spot price nears this metric, the market enters a “reset” phase. While current indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) show oversold conditions below 30, the asset remains in a delicate position. A failure to hold the $1.48 support could mirror structures seen in previous cycles, while a successful defense may provide a foundation for stabilization.

Emerging Trends in the GameFi Sector As volatility impacts high-leverage major assets, capital flows have shown interest in utility-based projects with structured release schedules. Minotaurus (MTAUR) is one such GameFi asset currently in its presale phase.

The project operates on a fixed-schedule tier model, currently priced at 0.00012654 USDT. Unlike assets traded on high-leverage derivatives platforms, Minotaurus (MTAUR) follows a stage-based pricing structure:

Current Status: The presale has raised approximately 3.08 million USDT, reaching nearly 47.87% of its $6.44 million target. Technical Security: The protocol has completed audits by Coinsult and SolidProof, establishing a framework for its blockchain-integrated gaming ecosystem. Utility: The token is designed for in-game customization, avatar upgrades, and unlocking specific zones within the Minotaurus mobile game. Comparative Outlook for February 2026 The contrast between large-cap volatility and presale-stage utility tokens highlights different market strategies. While XRP bulls focus on defending the $1.48 cost basis amid broader market bleeding, emerging projects like Minotaurus (MTAUR) rely on hard-coded milestones and ecosystem utility rather than speculative derivatives flow. Analysts suggest that the remainder of February will be decisive in determining whether the majors can reclaim momentum or if the rotation into low-float utility assets will accelerate.

The information presented in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Crypto Economy is not affiliated with the project. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and can involve significant risks. We recommend that you conduct your own analysis.

ING Deutschland, one of Germany’s largest retail banks, has begun offering retail clients access to cryptocurrency-linked exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and products, allowing customers to gain exposure to bitcoin and other crypto directly through their existing securities accounts.

According to information published on ING’s website, the products are physically backed exchange-traded instruments issued by established asset managers including 21Shares, Bitwise, and VanEck. 

The instruments track the performance of individual cryptocurrencies and trade on regulated exchanges via ING’s Direct Depot platform, which is typically used for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.

The bank said the bitcoin offering is intended to lower barriers to entry for crypto investing by integrating digital asset exposure into familiar banking infrastructure. 

Clients do not need to set up third-party crypto exchanges, manage private keys, or operate self-custody wallets, as custody and execution are handled within the securities account framework.

“This creates another particularly low-threshold access to crypto investments via exchange-traded products,” said Martijn Rozemuller, CEO of VanEck Europe, in a translated press release. “Many investors want a solution that fits into existing depot structures and at the same time convinces them with transparent costs. That’s exactly what this partnership stands for.”

ING noted that the bitcoin and crypto ETNs receive the same tax treatment in Germany as directly held cryptocurrencies. Under current German tax rules, capital gains on crypto assets may be exempt if the position is held for more than one year, potentially making the products attractive to long-term investors.

Despite the expanded access, the bank emphasized that the products carry substantial risks. ING warned of “extreme” price volatility, the possibility of total loss in the event of issuer insolvency, liquidity risks, market manipulation, and ongoing regulatory uncertainty surrounding digital assets.

In educational materials published alongside the launch, ING took a notably cautious stance on the asset class itself.

 “Cryptocurrencies are speculative products that have no intrinsic value,” the bank stated, adding that crypto prices are “strongly dependent on psychological effects,” which also influence exchange-traded crypto products.

German banks are embracing bitcoin Germany’s major banking groups are moving to bring crypto trading into the regulated retail banking system. DZ Bank has secured MiCAR approval and will roll out its “meinKrypto” platform across cooperative banks, allowing customers to trade and custody Bitcoin and other digital assets directly within existing banking apps, while also joining a consortium developing a regulated euro stablecoin. 

In parallel, the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe plans to launch Bitcoin and crypto trading for private customers by summer 2026, with technical support from DekaBank, marking a reversal from its earlier skepticism toward digital assets. 

Micah Zimmerman

Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.