Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies staged a notable rebound over the past 24 hours following a brutal weekend sell-off that dragged prices to multi-month lows and wiped out billions of dollars across crypto derivatives markets. While the recovery offered short-term relief, overall market sentiment remains cautious as large-cap tokens are still sharply lower on a weekly basis.

During Asian trading hours, Bitcoin hovered just under $79,000, according to CoinDesk market data, recovering from weekend lows near $74,000. Ethereum also bounced, climbing above $2,340, while major altcoins including Solana, BNB, XRP, and Cardano posted gains ranging between 3% and 6% in the past day. Despite these gains, most leading cryptocurrencies remain down as much as 20% over the last seven days, underscoring the depth of the recent correction.

The sharp downturn over the weekend was driven by widespread capitulation, characterized by thin liquidity and heavy long liquidations across derivatives markets. Analysts suggest the sell-off may mark a critical turning point in the broader crypto market cycle. According to CF Benchmarks, Bitcoin may have completed a bearish sequence that began with the October 10, 2025 deleveraging event. The recent washout briefly pushed prices below the April 2025 “Liberation Day” lows around $74,000, triggering what analysts described as massive forced liquidations.

However, Bitcoin now sits at a key inflection point. Market experts note that aggressive, high-volume buying will be required to establish a new bullish market structure. Failure to hold above recent support levels could leave Bitcoin vulnerable to further downside, with potential liquidation clusters forming below $70,000.

Broader macro factors continue to weigh on crypto markets. Regulatory uncertainty in the United States, including stalled crypto market structure legislation, remains a headwind. At the same time, early signs of hawkish repricing around Federal Reserve policy have added pressure to risk assets.

Elsewhere, traditional markets showed signs of stabilization. Asian equities rebounded strongly after their sharpest sell-off in over two months, supported by a recovery in gold and silver prices that helped improve overall risk sentiment. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index surged 2.4%, while South Korean stocks jumped more than 5%. U.S. equity futures also edged higher following upbeat corporate guidance, even as uncertainty around Federal Reserve leadership and policy direction persists.

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Bitcoin steadies after $2.5B in liquidations shook the market. Is a recovery rally forming, or will BTC face another wave of selling pressure?

Emir Abyazov2 min read

3 February 2026, 06:13 AM

Edited 3 February 2026, 06:13 AM

Bitcoin price today (BTC) is approximately $78,940 with a 24-hour range from about $74,550 to $79,258 and a market cap near $1.57 trillion. BTC remains down sharply from its October 2025 all-time high of $126,198.

Recent price action has been dominated by heavy sell-offs and forced liquidations across derivatives markets. Data from CoinGlass and market reports show that over $2.56 billion in Bitcoin positions were liquidated in recent days, reflecting broad deleveraging in crypto as BTC slid below key support levels around $80,000.

In separate reports, Bitcoin’s drop below $85,000 triggered at least $320 million in liquidations in a 24-hour period, with long bets—traders betting on higher prices, making up more than 80% of the forced closures.

During weekend trading, BTC briefly dipped toward $75,000–$76,000, driven by cascading liquidations and thin market liquidity, signaling intense short-term pressure.

These events mark some of the most significant liquidation episodes in recent months, adding to earlier waves that erased more than $1.7 billion in leveraged crypto positions when BTC fell to around $81,000.

Key News and Recent DevelopmentsMarket observers have linked the recent volatility partly to macro factors that have spooked risk assets broadly. A Reuters report highlighted that sharp selling in equities and precious metals contributed to crypto stress, amplifying Bitcoin’s downturn and liquidation pressure.

Another narrative from crypto news outlets emphasizes broader deleveraging following extended rallies, with traders flushing excessive long positions. This dynamic increases volatility as margin calls trigger automatic position closures that feed back into price declines.

Bitcoin’s decline has parallels with weakness in other markets during the same period, including precious metals and tech stocks, underscoring how interconnected risk sentiment has become.

Despite the turmoil, some analysts argue forced liquidations can reset market positioning and create conditions for rebound if BTC holds key technical levels. Traders and investors are watching psychological and technical support zones near $75,000–$80,000 to assess whether selling pressure eases or extends.

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Ethereum faces heavy pressure as $1.15B in leveraged positions liquidate, pushing ETH below $2,200 and increasing short-term market volatility.

Emir Abyazov2 min read

3 February 2026, 06:17 AM

Edited 3 February 2026, 06:19 AM

Ethereum price today (ETH) is trading near $2,302, reflecting a 10.22% single-day decline, the largest drop since October 2025. ETH has fallen more than 22% over the past week and is significantly lower than its 2025 highs. Current trading ranges show heavy volatility and weak short-term trend momentum.

The sharp sell-off has triggered significant liquidation events across crypto derivatives markets. Over $1.15 billion in Ethereum positions were liquidated as ETH plunged, contributing to more than $2.5 billion in market-wide forced liquidations that also affected Bitcoin and other major tokens. The largest single liquidation was a $222.65 million trade on Hyperliquid, underscoring intense leverage unwinding.

LookOnChain data also shows that falling below $2,300 triggered around $737 million in long liquidations on centralized exchanges, as leveraged traders were forced out of positions amid thin liquidity.

Market stress has attracted broader concern, with analysts warning that a break below key support zones like $2,000 and $1,950 could accelerate further downside risks. Bloomberg analysts have noted that continued weakness could push ETH toward lower levels if selling pressure persists.

Recent News and Key DevelopmentsA trader reportedly lost $220 million on a leveraged ETH position during recent market moves, illustrating the magnitude of risk when leverage is high in volatile conditions. ETH was among the hardest-hit assets during this crypto downturn, with derivative liquidations far outpacing many altcoins.

Price action this week also saw Ethereum break below the $2,300 psychological level, widely watched by traders as a critical support area. Rising exchange inflows suggest distribution rather than accumulation, implying that selling pressure remains elevated.

Whale activity has been notable as some large holders accumulate on dips while others face potential liquidation risk should ETH continue lower. Market analysts are watching whether ETH can reclaim resistance levels near $2,300–$2,500 or if further downside opens up.

Overall, Ethereum’s price today reflects intense derivative market dynamics, significant forced liquidations, and heightened bearish sentiment, with key technical levels likely determining near-term direction.

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US spot Bitcoin ETF investors, once viewed as a stable source of long-term demand for Bitcoin, are increasingly under pressure as prices continue to drift lower. Recent on-chain data suggests that these investors are now sitting on notable unrealized losses, highlighting a key vulnerability in Bitcoin’s post-ETF market structure.

According to Glassnode data, the average cost basis for US spot Bitcoin ETF buyers is around $84,100 per BTC. With Bitcoin currently trading near $78,600 after briefly falling below $75,000, ETF holders are facing paper losses of roughly 8% to 9%. For many mainstream investors who entered the crypto market through regulated ETF products, this drawdown represents an ongoing test of conviction rather than a short-term shock.

These losses are already reflected in ETF flow data. After strong inflows at the start of January, sentiment shifted sharply. Over the past two weeks, US spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded between $2.8 billion and $3 billion in net outflows. Weekly redemptions exceeding $1.3 billion have pushed cumulative flows back into negative territory, erasing much of the early-year optimism.

Selling pressure has been especially heavy in major funds such as BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC, signaling that even the largest and most liquid products are not immune. Although there was a brief single-day inflow in early February, it failed to reverse the broader downtrend. Analysts note that ETF flows are not meaningfully “buying the dip,” with institutional demand increasingly concentrated among a shrinking group of balance-sheet-driven buyers.

At the same time, Bitcoin is trading more than 35% below its 2025 peak near $126,000, while macro narratives that once supported higher prices have weakened. Tight liquidity, restrictive financial conditions, and Bitcoin’s failure to respond to dollar weakness or geopolitical risk have left the market directionless. Unlike previous cycles, the current environment is marked less by panic and more by apathy, with investors choosing to wait rather than aggressively buy or sell.

Without a clear catalyst such as renewed ETF inflows, easing liquidity, or a fresh narrative, this feedback loop may persist. Still, with US spot Bitcoin ETFs holding over $100 billion in assets, they remain a significant pillar of long-term capital in the crypto market.

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Story HighlightsThe live price of the Zilliqa crypto token is  $ 0.00721882.ZIL price could claim its potential high of $0.0350 in 2026.By 2030, Zilliqa could revisit the $0.18 range if its sharding-based infrastructure regains relevance in Web3.Zilliqa is one of the first blockchains to use sharding as a built-in solution to handle more transactions at the same time. By processing transactions in parallel, it aimed to reduce network congestion long before scalability became a major topic in crypto.

However, despite being an early innovator, Zilliqa lost attention as newer Layer-1 blockchains entered the market with bigger ecosystems and stronger funding.

Recently, interest in Zilliqa returned after the Cancun hard fork went live. Following this upgrade, the ZIL token surged nearly 70%, now trading around $0.00670.

So, let’s dive into Coinpedia’s Zilliqa (ZIL) price predictions for 2026, 2027, and 2030.

Zilliqa Price TodayCryptocurrencyZilliqaTokenZILPrice$0.0072 80.76% Market Cap$ 143,699,629.0224h Volume$ 330,298,186.2809Circulating Supply19,906,242,845.6875Total Supply20,349,398,271.3975All-Time High$ 0.2563 on 06 May 2021All-Time Low$ 0.0025 on 13 March 2020Zilliqa Price Targets For February 2026Zilliqa (ZIL) is now working on a major upgrade called Zilliqa 2.0, which will bring big changes to the network. As part of this update, the blockchain is moving from the older Proof-of-Work system to a faster and more efficient Proof-of-Stake model. 

An important technical upgrade is set for February 5, 2026, aimed at improving network speed, scalability, and performance. 

The update will also add Cancun-compatible Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) features to make Zilliqa more developer-friendly and better connected with the wider crypto ecosystem.

Ahead of the major upgrade, the ZIL token has already seen a strong price pump and is now trading around $0.0066. 

Coinpedia experts believe this momentum could continue, with the token potentially rising to around $0.0130 by the end of February.

Technical AnalysisLooking at the ZIL/USDT 1-day price chart, ZIL was moving inside a clear downward channel for many weeks, showing strong bearish control. Price kept forming lower highs and lower lows. 

Recently, ZIL broke above the upper trendline of this channel with a sharp bullish candle and high volume, which signals a potential trend reversal. 

However, the immediate resistance is near $0.007, a breakout above this level could push the price toward $0.010, and if momentum stays strong, ZIL may reach up to $0.013.

Meanwhile, the RSI has also jumped above neutral levels, confirming rising momentum.

MonthPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)ZIL Crypto Price Prediction February 2026$0.0042$0.0077$0.0130The year 2026 will test whether Zilliqa can convert technical upgrades into ecosystem growth. Beyond the Cancun hard fork, Zilliqa’s plan focuses on performance optimization, developer tooling, and real-world use cases.

Zilliqa has continued to position itself in gaming, payments, and enterprise blockchain solutions, areas where low fees and high throughput matter. If the network attracts new projects or revives existing dApps post-upgrade, demand for ZIL staking and transactions could rise.

However, competition from newer high-performance chains remains intense. To keep growing, the network will need to stand out and offer clear advantages over its rivals.

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)Zilliqa Price Prediction 2026$0.0026$0.0155$0.0350Zilliqa (ZIL) Price Prediction 2026 – 2030YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)2026$0.0026$0.0155$0.03502027$0.0671$0.0280$0.0600202$0.0107$0.0514$0.09532029$0.0336$0.0750$0.13012030$0.0550$0.115$0.180Zilliqa (ZIL) Price Prediction 2026In 2026, ZIL may stabilize after the Cancun-driven rally. A push toward $0.035 is possible if network usage grows meaningfully.

Zilliqa Price Prediction 2027By 2027, broader adoption of scalable Layer 1s could support ZIL near $0.06, assuming Zilliqa maintains developer engagement.

Zilliqa Price Forecast 2028In 2028, if Zilliqa secures long-term partnerships in gaming or payments, prices could approach $0.095.

Zilliqa Coin Price Prediction 2029As Web3 infrastructure matures, Zilliqa’s early sharding advantage may regain attention, lifting ZIL toward $0.13.

Zilliqa Price Prediction 2030By 2030, Zilliqa’s valuation will depend on sustained relevance. Under favorable conditions, ZIL could test $0.18.

What Does The Market Say?Year202620272030Coincodex$0.005158$0.0049$0.0022Changelly$0.00743966$0.01033266$0.00523643DigitalCoinprice$0.00826$0.0108$0.0181CoinPedia’s Zilliqa Price PredictionFrom a CoinPedia perspective, Zilliqa represents an early scalability pioneer attempting to regain relevance in a crowded Layer 1 market. The Cancun hard fork has improved sentiment, but sustained growth depends on real usage.

CoinPedia expects ZIL to see a gradual recovery in 2026, with a potential high near $0.035 if post-upgrade adoption improves. 

YearPotential Low ($)Potential Average ($)Potential High ($)2026$0.0026$0.0155$0.0350Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQsWhat is the price prediction for Zilliqa (ZIL) in 2026?

Zilliqa’s 2026 price is projected to range between $0.0026 and $0.035, with upside depending on post-upgrade adoption and network activity.

What is the Zilliqa price prediction for 2028?

In 2028, Zilliqa may trade between $0.010 and $0.095 if gaming, payments, and enterprise use cases gain traction.

What is the Zilliqa coin price prediction for 2030?

ZIL’s 2030 forecast ranges from $0.055 to $0.18, depending on long-term relevance, adoption, and broader crypto market growth.

What is the Zilliqa (ZIL) price prediction for 2040?

By 2040, Zilliqa’s price will depend on sustained relevance; optimistic scenarios suggest higher valuations if adoption continues.

What role does Zilliqa 2.0 play in ZIL’s future price?

Zilliqa 2.0 shifts the network to Proof-of-Stake, improving speed and efficiency, which could support long-term value if adoption rises.

Is Zilliqa (ZIL) a good investment?

Zilliqa may appeal to long-term investors if upgrades translate into real usage, but it carries risk due to strong Layer-1 competition.

Disclaimer and Risk WarningThe price predictions in this article are based on the author's personal analysis and opinions. CoinPedia does not endorse or guarantee these views. Investors should conduct independent research before making any financial decisions.

Now is a perfect time to increase your holdings in these five genius investments.

Although the stock market is near all-time highs, there are plenty of stocks to double up on. These have massive potential to continue thriving over the next few years, and buying them now ensures you have the best potential to participate in their rises.

I've got five stocks that look like great buys right now, and I think investors should consider starting or adding to their positions this month.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Nvidia Nvidia (NVDA 2.84%) has been among the top-performing stocks in the market over the past few years, and it's far from done posting excellent results. There is still a ton of spending going on in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, and the buildout of data centers needed is far from complete.

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Wall Street analysts expect huge growth again in fiscal 2027 (which ends January 2027), with revenue expected to rise over 50% year over year. Combine that with the fact that Nvidia's stock trades for just 25 times full-year 2027 earnings, and it looks like a steal.

2. The Trade Desk Speaking stocks that look like a steal, The Trade Desk (TTD 1.91%) trades for just 15 times forward earnings. Despite that cheap valuation, the stock is growing at a healthy rate, and in in the third quarter of 2025, its revenue rose 18% year over year.

The market has grown pessimistic about the stock amid slowing growth and rising competition. The Trade Desk remains a best-in-class advertising platform and a top partner in the space. However, that price tag is just too good to ignore, and investors should take advantage of it while it's low.

3. MercadoLibre MercadoLibre (MELI 0.03%) gives investors exposure to Latin America. This e-commerce and fintech giant has recorded stellar results for over a decade, including the most recent quarter.

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Still, the stock is well off its all-time high, down around 13% from July 2025. It's not often that MercadoLibre's stock goes on sale, and with its near monopoly on two important segments in Latin America, it's a no-brainer buy right now.

4. Nebius Group Switching back to AI, Nebius Group (NBIS +3.58%) is an exciting stock to watch. It provides full-stack AI computing solutions for clients to rent, enabling anyone to train AI models or develop AI applications. This is similar to a cloud computing approach already successfully deployed by many tech giants. Management expects significant growth this year, with its annual run rate expected to reach $7 billion to $9 billion by year-end.

For reference, at the end of the most recent quarter, Nebius's annual run rate was a mere $551 million. It appears 2026 will be a record year for revenue for Nebius, making the stock very appealing right now.

5. Broadcom Circling back around to AI computing units, Broadcom (AVGO 0.07%) is an excellent option. Nvidia's management has estimated that the market opportunity for AI will be $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030, but Broadcom's approach is distinctly different. Instead of making a broad-purpose graphics processing unit (GPU) like Nvidia, it's partnering directly with AI hyperscalers to design computing units specifically tailored for their process. This can yield superior results at a lower cost than a GPU, but it limits flexibility.

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There is plenty of room for both Broadcom and Nvidia to excel in this space, and I think each warrants an investment. I don't know which will be the better performer over the next five years, but I believe that both will beat the market.

Keithen Drury has positions in Broadcom, MercadoLibre, Nebius Group, Nvidia, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MercadoLibre, Nvidia, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Lemonade stock surged in January on a new car insurance plan. Here's what Tesla owners and Lemonade investors need to know.

Shares of Lemonade (LMND 7.21%) rose 21.9% in January 2026, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The highly computerized insurance company launched a very specific car insurance plan last month. Lemonade had signaled this move earlier, but investors still acted as if it were an unexpected announcement.

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Lemonade's new plan rewards hands-free driving Lemonade started January on a high note. The stock had been on a rampage for several months. By the end of January 19, it had gained 138.3% in 52 weeks. The earnings reports in August and November showed strong sales and positive earnings surprises, along with improved figures in industry-specific metrics such as loss ratios and gross earned premium. Market momentum from those reports carried Lemonade's stock higher in early January, too. Just before the new insurance plan launch, that was good for a 9.9% gain month-to-date.

On January 21, Lemonade unveiled a new car insurance plan, specifically designed for Tesla (TSLA 1.85%) vehicles. The Lemonade Autonomous Car plan charges insurance premiums per mile, like some of Lemonade's existing offerings. Electric vehicles also enjoy lower rates than gas-powered cars, so discounts for Tesla drivers already existed.

But the new insurance plan cuts the mileage fee in half when the car's full self-driving (FSD) feature is active. In other words, handing the wheel over to Tesla's FSD results in much lower insurance premiums.

Lemonade CEO Shai Wininger had hinted at this idea in October 2025, tagging Tesla CEO Elon Musk in X posts on that theme. But those posts didn't light a fire under Lemonade's stock at the time. Investors seemed to think that it was a long-term strategy, or maybe just an academic possibility with no real-world value.

Well, Lemonade made it happen in January. Investors embraced the news in a hurry.

Image source: Getty Images.

The fine print on self-driving savings There are many limits to the half-cost mileage. The coverage relies on a direct data feed from Lemonade's recently launched integration with the data sensor system in Tesla cars. The new plan became available to properly equipped Tesla vehicles in Arizona on Jan. 26, to be followed by Oregon "a month later." Another eight states currently have Lemonade car insurance access today and should join the Tesla-specific program over time.

In the long run, Lemonade hopes to expand this rebate to other self-driving vehicles, but only Tesla has enough safety data and a direct data-streaming link to Lemonade today.

In the grand scheme of things, the self-driving discounts are part of Lemonade's data-driven growth plan. The thesis here is that robo-cars will be significantly safer than vehicles driven by humans, resulting in fewer accidents and claims. It remains to be seen whether real-world data actually points in that direction or not.

But if it does, and is followed by wider availability across many car brands and a wider geographic map, this discounted coverage plan could emerge as a turning point for Lemonade's financials.

Hitachi: Buy Reiterated On This Potential SaaS Opportunity

Nvidia can pleasantly surprise investors in 2026.

Nvidia (NVDA 2.84%) continues to dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in 2026. With dramatic demand for its Blackwell systems and increasing AI data center spending, the company appears to have several growth catalysts working in its favor.

Image source: Getty Images.

Against this backdrop, here are my top three predictions for Nvidia in 2026.

Nvidia can surpass consensus revenue estimates in fiscal 2027 I believe Nvidia could surpass average consensus revenue estimates of $323.3 billion for fiscal 2027 (ending Jan. 31, 2027), thanks to multiple tailwinds.

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The company is benefiting from hyperscalers increasingly shifting to rack-scale solutions that bundle cutting-edge GPUs, CPUs, high-speed networking, and software instead of purchasing just hardware chips. Coupled with the exceptional demand for Blackwell systems, Nvidia appears positioned to sustain strong pricing power throughout 2026. The company has revenue visibility of over $500 billion for its Blackwell and next-generation Rubin systems from the start of 2025 through 2026.

Hyperscalers are also increasingly shifting from less frequent training workloads to repetitive inference workloads (deployment of AI models in real-time production environments). The industry's increasing focus on power efficiency and costs can spur a hardware upgrade cycle, as data centers look to newer platforms like Nvidia's Vera Rubin systems (expected to be launched in the second half of 2026)to lower the total cost of ownership for AI deployments at scale. This can drive additional demand for Nvidia in the coming years.

Hence, even without depending on any single big assumption, revenue can exceed expectations with higher-than-anticipated large customer deployments and repeat orders. Overall, Nvidia has a credible path to exceeding Wall Street revenue estimates in fiscal 2027, provided shipments remain on track and AI infrastructure spending remains resilient.

Gross margins can remain around 75%, despite competition Nvidia can also sustain gross margins of roughly 75% in fiscal 2027, in line with the company's mid-70s guidance. The company's revenue mix is heavily skewed toward high-margin data center GPUs and networking products. The company is also witnessing growth in its high-margin software and services business.

With Blackwell and Rubin systems further strengthening Nvidia's pricing power, Nvidia is all set to maintain its profitability despite increasing competition from Advanced Micro Devices and other players.

Nvidia can sustain its discrete GPU market share in 2026 Nvidia exited the third quarter of fiscal 2025 with a 92% share of the global GPU market, which was two percentage points down sequentially. However, despite intensifying competition from Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm, the company's chances of reversing the market share decline remain high.

Nvidia's competitive moat goes beyond chips and extends to its CUDA software ecosystem, mature developer tools, and AI frameworks. This ecosystem enables faster deployments for customers while making switching to competing platforms significantly costly. Hence, the ecosystem advantage can help Nvidia sustain its market dominance even as competitors ramp up their AI hardware offerings.

Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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ASML is the closest thing to a monopoly you're likely to find today, and it is absolutely vital to the semiconductor industry.

I just covered ASML (ASML +1.29%) recently, but the company released its Q4 2025 earnings a few days after I wrote that piece, and, well, they were pretty great, to say the very least. They've solidified my prediction that this company might be the best semiconductor play for 2026.

ASML is a unique company for many reasons, but most notably is its monopoly on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, of which it is the only provider.

Those lithography machines are absolutely essential for producing advanced semiconductors (anything 3 nanometer or smaller). Each machine is about the size of a bus and costs almost half a billion dollars.

The company's latest earnings report show that ASML's monopoly is extremely lucrative, and as it still has no competitors, it's one that's likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Let's take a deeper look at its incredible end to 2025.

Image source: Getty Images.

Banner year for ASML I'll start with the most staggering number. In Q4 2024, the company received 7 billion euros' worth of new bookings. For Q4 2025, ASML received 13.15 billion euros' worth of bookings. That's an almost 88% increase year over year, and it shows that demand for ASML's products is growing at a blistering pace. Sales of EUV lithography machines grew 39% and totaled 11.6 billion euros, or just over one-third of the company's entire revenue for the year.

On top of that, ASML recorded net sales of 32.6 billion euros for 2025, a 15.5% increase over 2024. Net income topped 9.6 billion euros on the back of that, a 27% increase over 2024. And the company's earnings per share (EPS) shot up 28%.

To highlight how critical ASML's EUV machines are, both to its business and the global semiconductor market, it saw a 6% decrease in sales of its older deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines to 12 billion euros for 2025. Yet despite that decrease, ASML still saw growth in just about every other financial metric.

ASML is also sitting on a gross margin of 52% and an operating margin of 35%. It grew its net cash position to $15.17 billion and reduced its total debt 21.5% to $3.18 billion, so it could pay all that remains off almost five times over.

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ASML grew its free cash flow 29% to $12.42 billion and its operating cash flow 24.5% to $12.93 billion. And the company raised its dividend slightly, but it still yields a fairly low 0.52%.

That's not what you hold this stock for, though. For those holding ASML for appreciation, the 12 billion euro share buyback program the company announced in its Q4 results (to be executed by Dec. 31, 2028) is a much more enticing prospect than the dividend.

For 2026, ASML's domination looks set to continue. It's anticipating net sales to land between 34 billion and 39 billion euros and to maintain its impressive growth margin, holding between 51% and 53%.

By my math, ASML is worth looking at. With no competitors in sight either, ASML is set to continue enjoying the fruits of its effective monopoly on the EUV lithography machine market through this year and beyond. So too will its shareholders, especially with the prospect of a major share buyback scheme over the next two years.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in BWXT over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

THD: Equity Appeal Still Intact

TL;DR:

Smarter Web Company maintains a position of 2,674 BTC despite an unrealized loss of approximately $98 million. CEO Andrew Webley reaffirms his aggressive accumulation strategy to lower the firm’s average entry cost. The company is preparing its move to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) main market to attract new institutional capital. The institutional landscape in the United Kingdom faces a major challenge following the recent crypto market correction. Despite this scenario, the leading UK corporate Bitcoin holder has ratified its firm intention to expand its current reserves, turning its back on the volatility that has affected the value of its assets over the last 90 days.

Smarter Web Company CEO, Andrew Webley, assured that the firm will not alter its long-term investment thesis. While Bitcoin’s price has indeed retreated to $74,500, the company’s conviction remains intact, focusing on the digital currency’s intrinsic value over temporary fluctuations.

It is worth noting that the company holds a treasury of 2,674 BTC, acquired for approximately $276 million. However, because its average purchase price stands at $111,232, the firm faces a 33% drawdown, representing considerable pressure on its financial statements.

Growth Strategy and Migration to the London Stock Exchange To address this situation, they plan to transfer their listing to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) main market this Tuesday. This strategic move aims to “unlock more funding from large investors,” allowing the company to acquire more BTC and optimize its average acquisition price.

On the other hand, the adoption of the “Bitcoin treasury” model is currently undergoing a severe stress test globally. While Smarter Web Company is doubling down, other entities such as Trump Media and Technology Group have reported millions in losses from similar accumulation strategies during the current cycle.

In summary, the migration to the LSE represents a critical step for the survival and expansion of Webley’s business model. Although the firm’s shares have suffered drastic falls, management is confident that increasing Bitcoin-per-share will consolidate its leading position in the British market.

Bitcoin slid hard over the weekend and stayed low into Monday, leaving traders on edge and pushing many to reduce risk.

Prices slipped from roughly $84,000 to about $74,600 in a matter of days, a drop that erased a chunk of recent gains and forced quick reassessments across markets.

Nervousness around Federal Reserve leadership, rising job worries, and fresh geopolitical flashpoints all piled up at once.

Average ETF Price Above Market According to Coinglass, the combined assets of US spot Bitcoin ETFs sit near $113 billion, while reports note they hold around 1.28 million BTC.

Based on those figures, the typical ETF buying price works out to an average of roughly $87,830 per coin — well above current trading levels.

That gap means many ETF positions are showing losses on paper right now. Some funds kept buying earlier and are holding positions that are underwater.

BTC is trading below the U.S. ETFs avg cost basis after the 2nd & 3rd biggest outflow weeks ever (last week and week before)

(and last week’s outflow will increase after IBIT reports friday’s numbers tomorrow)

this means the average bitcoin ETF purchase is underwater pic.twitter.com/XowzrnBaSM

— Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins) February 2, 2026

Outflows Pick Up Over the last two weeks, investors pulled close to $3 billion from the 11 spot ETFs, with one week seeing $1.50 billion leave and the prior week $1.30 billion, according to CoinGlass.

Those moves suggest some market participants are locking in gains or cutting exposure after the recent run-up.

At the same time, cumulative ETF inflows remain materially lower than earlier peaks; buying has not fully come back even as some holders remain steady.

Technical Signals And Bear Fears Reports note that spot BTC is down roughly 40% from its October peak while ETF AUM has fallen by about 31%. That divergence has analysts warning that sustained weak demand could push Bitcoin into a deeper downtrend.

Technical charts show longer-term sell pressure building in certain measures. If demand fails to reappear, momentum could carry prices lower and extend selling across crypto markets.

BTCUSD currently trading at $77,948. Chart: TradingView Policy, Politics, And Market Mood Market watchers point to extra uncertainty around monetary policy and geopolitics as fuel for the recent moves. Reports have disclosed that the proposed US Clarity Act stalled in Washington.

At the same time, headlines about tensions in the Middle East and trade friction added to a rush for traditional safe havens like gold and the dollar.

Even a hint of policy change matters: US President Donald Trump’s choice for the next Fed chair was discussed by investors as another factor shaping expectations.

Liquidity And The Road Ahead Institutional holders have not all capitulated. Many have been described as holding on, which can cushion sharp drops.

But when the average cost basis for major ETF holders is above the current market price, confidence can be fragile.

Liquidity has thinned in certain windows, and that makes price swings larger. A recovery requires renewed buying from both retail and big investors, otherwise sellers may dictate direction for longer.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Ethereum price extended its decline below $2,420 and $2,300. ETH is now attempting to recover from $2,150 but faces many hurdles near $2,365.

Ethereum failed to stay above $2,350 and started a fresh decline. The price is trading below $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a major bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,350 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh decline if it stays below the $2,400 zone. Ethereum Price Eyes Another Decline Ethereum price failed to remain stable above $2,500 and extended losses, like Bitcoin. ETH price traded below $2,420 to enter a bearish zone.

The bears even pushed the price below $2,200. A low was formed at $2,155 and the price is now attempting to recover. There was a move above $2,250. The price tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,040 swing high to the $2,155 low.

However, the bears are active near $2,365. There is also a major bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,350 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. Ethereum price is now trading below $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.

If the bulls remain in action above $2,250, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,350 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,365 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,450 level. A clear move above the $2,450 resistance might send the price toward the $2,600 resistance or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,040 swing high to the $2,155 low.

Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com An upside break above the $2,600 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,700 resistance zone or even $2,720 in the near term.

Another Decline In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,365 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,250 level. The first major support sits near the $2,220 zone.

A clear move below the $2,220 support might push the price toward the $2,150 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,120 region. The main support could be $2,000.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone.

Major Support Level – $2,220

Major Resistance Level – $2,365

The intersection of geopolitical finance and decentralized technology has reached a flashpoint as President Donald Trump denies personal knowledge of a massive $500 million capital infusion into World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

The investment, reportedly sourced from a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, places a significant portion of a presidential family business under foreign ownership just days after the inauguration.

According to reports first surfaced by The Wall Street Journal, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired a 49% stake in the protocol through Aryam Investment 1.

The deal allegedly funneled $187 million directly to Trump-family entities, marking a historic tie between a sitting U.S. President’s private crypto venture and UAE sovereign interests.

When questioned about the transaction on Monday, Trump shifted responsibility to his children. “I don’t know about it,” he stated, noting that Donald Trump Jr., Eric, and Barron manage the platform’s operations. “I guess they get investments from different people.”

For the broader crypto market, this development highlights the growing appetite of Gulf-state capital for U.S.-based digital asset infrastructure.

Sheikh Tahnoon is not a passive investor; he chairs Group 42, an AI powerhouse that recently secured U.S. Department of Commerce approval to acquire high-end chips from Nvidia and AMD.

Market analysts view the lack of an immediate price reaction in related DeFi sectors as a sign that traders are currently prioritizing regulatory optics over protocol utility.

However, the optics are increasingly complex. The deal makes Aryam the largest shareholder in WLFI, a project co-founded by Zak Folkman and Chase Herro, further blurring the lines between private enterprise and executive diplomacy.

Investor psychology currently reflects a “wait-and-see” approach. While the $500 million valuation signals high-level confidence in the project’s longevity, the political baggage creates a unique risk profile. Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have already leveraged the news to demand that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) freeze WLFI’s bid for a bank charter until divestment occurs.

Looking ahead, the scrutiny on WLFI will likely serve as a litmus test for how the U.S. government handles “Conflict of Interest” claims within the burgeoning Web3 space.

If the OCC maintains its stance that the application will undergo a “rigorous review” independent of political ties, it could set a precedent for crypto-native firms seeking traditional banking licenses.

Ultimately, this saga underscores the arrival of “State-Level DeFi.” Whether WLFI remains a private family business or becomes a proxy for international relations, the flow of $500 million into a protocol linked to the Oval Office ensures that the sitemap of American crypto regulation is being rewritten in real-time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and risky. Always conduct your research before making any investment decisions

Our Team is seasoned financial journalist and crypto enthusiast. With a keen eye for market trends and regulatory developments, John brings insightful and well-researched news articles to the readers. Stay informed with his expertise in the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies.

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On-chain data shows the Bitcoin spot price is now below the cost basis of nearly two-thirds of inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

62% Of US Bitcoin Spot ETF Inflows Now In Loss In a new X post, on-chain analyst Checkmate has shared a chart discussing the latest situation related to the Bitcoin spot ETFs. Spot ETFs are investment vehicles that allow investors to gain indirect exposure to an underlying asset. Such funds are available for Bitcoin and other digital assets in many parts of the world, but the ones of interest here are those based in the United States. First approved back in January 2024, US BTC spot ETFs have been in operation for more than two years now, and in that time, they have witnessed significant growth.

Lately, however, the trend related to these funds has been one of net outflows as the wider cryptocurrency sector has gone through a bearish shift. Outflows in the last two weeks, in particular, have been quite intense.

Below is the chart posted by the analyst that shows the trend in the weekly netflow related to the Bitcoin spot ETFs, among other metrics:

Looks like inflows made since late 2024 are in loss | Source: @_Checkmatey_ on X From the graph, it’s visible that the Bitcoin spot ETFs have witnessed net outflow spikes of $1.33 billion and $1.49 billion during the last two weeks, representing the third and second largest outflow sprees in the history of these funds. Alongside the negative netflows, Bitcoin has plunged under the $80,000 level. The asset is now trading under the average cost basis of the spot ETFs (marked in the chart using the dashed line), meaning that the majority of capital stored in these funds is now being held at a loss.

In the netflow graph, Checkmate has highlighted which of the weekly inflow spikes are part of this loss of supply. It would appear that the last green inflows are now sitting all the way back in late 2024, with all spikes since then underwater. “If you assume a cost basis of inflows on the day they occurred, 62% of ETF inflows are now underwater,” noted the analyst.

So far in the history of BTC spot ETFs, holders haven’t been underwater to a significant degree as BTC has generally gone up since their launch. During a phase in mid-2024, the cryptocurrency did dip below the cost basis of these traders, but even then, it never went too far below the line.

Given this, the latest breach of the Bitcoin spot ETF break-even level could end up being the first time that these investors would have to deal with the pain of a bear phase. It now remains to be seen how the netflow related to these investment vehicles will develop in the coming weeks.

BTC Price Bitcoin fell to $75,000 on Sunday, but the asset has rebounded a bit to start the new week as its price is now floating around $77,800.

The trend in the price of the coin over the last five days | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com

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Keshav is a Physics graduate who has been employed as a writer with Bitcoinist since June 2021. He is passionate about writing and through the years, he has gained experience working in a variety of niches. Keshav holds an active interest in the cryptocurrency market, with on-chain analysis being an area he particularly likes to research and write about.

New York's leading prosecutors raised concerns about the new stablecoin legislation, citing weaker safeguards for fraud victims, according to a Monday report. Legal Backlash Against Stablecoin Bill?

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Crypto prices today saw modest gains after a violent weekend sell-off cooled, offering the first signs of stabilization following days of forced deleveraging.

Summary

Bitcoin and large-cap altcoins staged a relief rebound after forced selling slowed. Liquidations dropped sharply, easing pressure across derivatives markets. Analysts say downside risks remain despite early signs of stabilization. Bitcoin was trading at $78,465 at press time, up 5.2% over the past 24 hours. The broader crypto market also gained ground, with total market capitalization rising 2.8% to $2.7 trillion.

Several large-cap tokens followed BTC higher. BNB climbed 5.3% to $769, Cardano rose 7.2% to $0.2975, and Avalanche gained 5.3% to $10.09. The market is still in extreme fear despite the rebound, as evidenced by the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which rose three points to 17.

Trading activity showed early signs of recovery. With total crypto open interest rising 4% to $110 billion, traders appear to be gradually re-entering the market following last week’s leverage flush.

Leverage unwind eases after weekend capitulation The rebound comes after one of the most aggressive liquidation events since late 2025. Thin weekend liquidity amplified selling pressure as over-leveraged long positions were forced out across the market.

Between Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, total liquidations repeatedly topped $2 billion in single sessions, with one peak reaching roughly $2.5 billion on Feb. 1. Long positions accounted for the vast majority of losses, wiping out thousands of traders and triggering a self-reinforcing cycle of margin calls and forced selling.

That pressure has eased. CoinGlass data shows 24-hour liquidations fell 44% to about $401 million, a sharp drop from weekend extremes. With much of the excess leverage cleared, selling linked to liquidations has slowed, allowing dip buyers and longer-term investors to step in without immediate counter-pressure.

Additionally, the larger background has somewhat stabilized. Risk assets had sold off alongside equities and precious metals amid macro uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and policy jitters. As those pressures cooled slightly, crypto followed suit, catching a relief bounce after reaching deeply oversold levels.

Analysts warn downside risks are not gone Even though prices have recovered, experts are still hesitant to declare a long-term bottom. Bitcoin is still down roughly 12% on the week and about 40% from its October peak near $126,000, keeping the market in a corrective phase.

Views on what comes next remain split, with some watching for consolidation and others warning of another leg lower if macro stress returns. In a commentary shared with crypto.news, Ray Youssef, CEO of NoOnes, said bearish sentiment is likely to dominate the first half of the year as capital continues rotating into traditional safe havens.

“The latest crypto market sell-off occurred amidst capital outflows into precious metals, whose prices are rising amid geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty,” Youssef said, adding that political risks and policy instability are weighing heavily on investor confidence.

Youssef flagged the $73,000 area as a critical support zone for Bitcoin, warning that sustained geopolitical pressure or renewed liquidation waves could drag prices lower if buyers fail to defend it. He also pointed to Japan’s economic risks and global policy uncertainty as factors that could spill into crypto markets.

For now, traders appear focused on whether this rebound can extend beyond a short-term relief move. Much will depend on whether spot demand continues to absorb supply, and whether leverage stays in check after one of the most punishing shakeouts of the cycle so far.

By Reuters

February 3, 20261:49 AM UTCUpdated 5 mins ago

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With big tech earnings in focus, smart investors are looking at who the hyperscalers are partnering with.

As earnings season comes into focus, growth investors are paying close attention to artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in particular. Among the most scrutinized names are the hyperscalers: Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Amazon (AMZN +1.53%).

On Feb. 5, Amazon will report earnings for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. While investors anxiously await updates regarding the company's performance during the holiday season and where management's forward guidance falls, I'll be on the lookout for something else entirely.

Listen closely during Amazon's earnings call My hunch is that Wall Street is going to dial in on one specific number during Amazon's earnings call: capital expenditures (capex). Over the last three years, big tech has collectively spent hundreds of billions of dollars buying GPUs and building data centers. If current spending trends tell us anything, it's that the hyperscalers are doubling down on AI infrastructure.

When Amazon CEO Andy Jassy talks to analysts during the earnings call, I'm going to be listening for one particular word: capacity. As the largest cloud computing platform in the world, Amazon Web Services (AWS) plays a monumental role in servicing AI workloads.

However, the pace at which workloads are expanding relative to the time it takes to build and equip an AI data center are at odds with one another. Moreover, procuring sufficient volumes of chips to service capacity needs adds another variable to the infrastructure equation.

To complement its data center build-outs, AWS signed a $5.5 billion multiyear deal with neocloud Cipher Mining back in November.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why Iren stock might go parabolic in 2026 Neoclouds partner with chip designers and outfit data centers with clusters of GPUs. From there, companies that are capacity-constrained rent access to these GPUs through the cloud.

In addition to Cipher, other leading neoclouds include CoreWeave and Iren (IREN 1.27%). Just days ago, Nvidia invested $2 billion into CoreWeave. This deal was strategic in nature as it validates the GPU-as-a-service business model, as well as underscores Nvidia's commitment to CoreWeave as an existing backer.

Nvidia and AWS are not the only ones taking advantage of neoclouds, either. Around the same time as Cipher's partnership formed with AWS, Microsoft announced a $9.7 billion agreement with Iren.

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Given AWS is already leveraging neoclouds as part of its infrastructure playbook, in combination with the timing of Nvidia's recent deal with CoreWeave, I think Iren could be in position to win over another hyperscaler sooner rather than later.

In the grand scheme of things, whether or not a deal is announced on the earnings call is moot. The broader takeaway here is that complementing your core AI positions with neoclouds could prove wise in the long run. For this reason, I see Iren as a top neocloud stock to own and would not worry about timing my buys around a particular earnings announcement.

Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Wall Street is getting more bullish about the flash storage leader's growth prospects.

Shares of Sandisk (SNDK +15.44%) popped on Monday, following positive analyst commentary.

By the close of trading, Sandisk's stock price was up more than 15%.

Image source: Sandisk.

Sandisk is a prime beneficiary of the AI megatrend The rapid buildout of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is creating an urgent need for high-performance storage solutions. This powerful trend plays right into Sandisk's wheelhouse.

Sandisk's sales leaped 61% year over year to $3 billion in its most recent quarter. Hyperscalers and other large tech companies are rushing to lock in their storage requirements.

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Unable to satisfy this nearly insatiable demand, Sandisk has been hiking prices. Its profit margins, in turn, are surging.

Sandisk's operating profits leaped a staggering 505% to $1.1 billion in the quarter ended Jan. 2.

This Wall Street analyst sees more gains ahead for Sandisk's shareholders Due in part to these encouraging results, Bernstein analyst Mark Newman boosted his price target on Sandisk's stock from $580 to $1,000. Newman's new share price prediction implies potential gains of roughly 50% from today's prices.

Newman highlighted Sandisk's strengthening pricing power amid the AI-driven demand boom. He believes that the storage leader's ability to command higher prices for its products will enable it to generate per-share profits of $90.96 in fiscal 2027.

Notably, Newman's new earnings-per-share forecast is nearly 30% above consensus estimates.

Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.