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SummaryEarlier today, Apple Inc. delivered record quarterly results for Q1 FY2026, with healthy growth in revenues and EPS.Strong double-digit growth across all geographies, especially Greater China (+38% y/y), signals an iPhone 17 upgrade supercycle.AAPL's gross margin expanded to 48.1%, and FCF reached $51.5B, fueling robust shareholder returns via buybacks and dividends.Despite enhanced future growth and margin assumptions, AAPL stock remains overvalued; rating shifts from tactical Sell to Hold/Neutral. Read on to learn more.Looking for a helping hand in the market? Members of The Quantamental Investor get exclusive ideas and guidance to navigate any climate. Learn More » ozgurdonmaz/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Brief Review of Apple's Q1 FY2026 Report Apple, Inc. (AAPL) stock is edging higher in the post-market session after the big tech giant unveiled record-breaking results for Q1 FY2026, wherein revenues rose +15.65% y/y

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

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (NYSE: SABA) (the “Fund”), a registered closed-end management investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is notifying shareholders, prospective shareholders, and third parties of the sources of distributions pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION

Distribution Notice. Pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act, the Fund is providing its shareholders with an estimate of the source of the Fund's monthly distribution as required by current securities laws.

The Fund’s estimated sources of the distributions to be paid on (a) January 16, 2026 and (b) January 30, 2026 for the fiscal year 2026 year-to-date are as follows:

Estimated Allocations for the distributions to be paid on (a) January 16, 2026 and (b) January 30, 2026 (estimated as of January 23, 2026):

Distribution Per Share

Net Investment Income Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Return of Capital Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

January 16, 2026

$0.10000

$0.10000 (100.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

January 30, 2026

$0.05800

$0.05800 (100.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

Cumulative Estimated Allocations fiscal year-to-date as of December 31, 2025, for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026:

Distribution Per Share

Net Investment Income Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Return of Capital Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

$0.11600

$0.11600 (100.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

Shareholders, prospective shareholders, and third parties should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan (as defined below). The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distribution to shareholders may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that a shareholder invested in a Fund is paid back to them. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send a Form 1099-DIV to shareholders for the calendar year that will describe how to report the Fund’s distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The determination of the actual source of distributions can only be made at year-end. The actual source amounts of all Fund distributions will be included in the Fund’s annual or semi-annual reports. In addition, the tax treatment may differ from the accounting treatment used to calculate the source of the Fund’s distributions as shown on shareholders’ statements. Shareholders should refer to their Form 1099-DIV for the character and amount of distributions for income tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31, 2026 and reported to you on Form 1099-DIV early in 2027. Since each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, it may be advisable to consult a tax advisor as to the appropriate treatment of Fund distributions.

Effective on January 1, 2024, Saba Capital Management, L.P. replaced Franklin Templeton Advisers, Inc. as the investment adviser to Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II (formerly known as the Templeton Global Income Fund). Performance of the Fund prior to January 1, 2024 is not attributable to Saba Capital Management, L.P.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:

1Average Annual Total Return in relation to NAV represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five-year period ended through December 31, 2025. Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV over a year, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid.

2The Annualized Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the current fiscal period November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 annualized as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of December 31, 2025. The level of distribution amount shown is not guaranteed and special dividends may or may not be paid in the future. Further, no conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount or rate of distribution shown.

3Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV from October 31, 2025 through December 31, 2025, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid.

4The Cumulative Fiscal Year-To-Date Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the current fiscal period November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of December 31, 2025. The level of distribution amount shown is not guaranteed and special dividends may or may not be paid in the future. Further, no conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount or rate of distribution shown.

Managed Distribution Plan. The above distribution was declared in accordance with the Fund’s currently effective managed distribution plan (the “Plan”), whereby the Fund will make monthly distributions to shareholders at a fixed amount of $0.058 per share. Thus, the distribution amount shown excludes special dividends (which are not paid pursuant to the plan). The Fund will generally distribute amounts necessary to satisfy the Fund’s Plan and the requirements prescribed by excise tax rules and Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is intended to provide shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month and is intended to narrow the discount between the market price and the net asset value of the Fund’s common shares, but there is no assurance that the Plan will be successful in doing so.

Under the Plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital in order to maintain its managed distribution rate. As a result, long-term capital gains and/or return of capital may be a material source of any distribution. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may amend the terms of the Plan or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders. No level of distribution can be guaranteed. The amendment or termination of the Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Plan is subject to the periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual minimum fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made.

Past Performance is No Assurance of Future Results. Investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Investors should consider the investment objective, risks and expenses carefully. You can obtain the Fund’s most recent periodic reports and filings by visiting https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=828803&owner=exclude.

Other Information and Certain Risk Factors: The Fund’s investment objective is to provide investors with high current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation. There can be no assurance that the Fund will meet its investment objective. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by investing globally in debt and equity securities of public and private companies, which includes, among other things, investments in closed‐end funds, special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”), reinsurance, and public and private debt instruments. The Fund also may utilize derivatives including but not limited to total return swaps, credit default swaps, options and futures, in seeking to enhance returns and/or to reduce portfolio risk.

The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities of public and private, listed and unlisted companies and equity derivatives generally varies with the performance of the issuer and movements in the equity markets more generally. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses if it invests in equity instruments of issuers whose performance diverges from the Fund’s investment manager’s expectations or if equity markets generally move in a single direction and the Fund has not hedged against such a general move. The Fund invests in closed-end funds and SPACs, which are subject to additional risks and considerations. The performance of reinsurance-related securities and the reinsurance industry itself are tied to the occurrence of various triggering events, including but not limited to weather, natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), non-natural large catastrophes and other specified events causing physical and/or economic loss. To the extent the Fund invests in reinsurance-related securities for which a triggering event occurs, losses associated with such event could result in losses to the Fund’s investment, and a series of major triggering events affecting a large portion of the reinsurance- related securities held by the Fund could result in substantial losses to the Fund’s investment. The Fund may invest in high yield securities, which are speculative in nature and are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default, illiquidity of the security, and changes in value based on changes in interest rates. Changes in short-term market interest rates may directly affect the yield on the Fund’s common shares. If such rates fall, the Fund’s yield may also fall. If interest rate spreads on bonds and loans owned by the Fund decline in general, the yield on the bonds and loans will likely fall and the value of such bonds and loans may decrease. When short-term market interest rates rise, because of the lag between changes in such short-term rates and the resetting of the floating rates on bonds and loans in the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of rising rates will be delayed to the extent of such lag. Because of the limited secondary market for certain bonds and loans, the Fund’s ability to sell such securities in a timely fashion and/or at a favorable price may be limited. An increase in the demand for bonds and loans may adversely affect the rate of interest payable on new bonds and loans acquired by the Fund, and it may also increase the price of bonds and loans purchased by the Fund in the secondary market. A decrease in the demand for bonds and loans may adversely affect the price of bonds and loans in the Fund’s portfolio, which would cause the Fund’s net asset value to decrease. Investment in foreign borrowers involves special risks, including but not limited to potentially less rigorous accounting requirements, differing legal systems and potential political, social and economic adversity. The Fund may engage in currency exchange transactions to seek to hedge, as closely as practicable, all of the economic impact to the Fund arising from foreign currency fluctuations. Other risks include, but are not limited to, the use of derivatives, the potential lack of diversification in the Fund’s portfolio, and the fact that the Fund’s portfolio may be concentrated in a small group of industries or industry sectors from time to time. Investors should consult the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the materials on the Fund’s website for a more detailed discussion of these or other risk factors that affect the Fund.

About Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II. Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II is a publicly-traded registered closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “SABA”. The Fund is managed by Saba Capital Management, L.P.

Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including but not limited to statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors, including but not limited to the “Certain Risk Factors” noted above, are identified from time to time in the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the materials on the Fund’s website. The Fund undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.

For further information on Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund II, please visit our website at: www.sabacef.com.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (NYSE: BRW) (the “Fund”), a registered closed-end management investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is notifying shareholders, prospective shareholders, and third parties of the sources of distributions pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION

Distribution Notice. Pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Investment Company Act, the Fund is providing its shareholders with an estimate of the source of the Fund's monthly distribution as required by current securities laws.

The Fund’s estimated sources of the distribution to be paid on January 30, 2026 and for the fiscal year 2026 year-to-date are as follows:

Estimated Allocations for the distribution to be paid on January 30, 2026 (estimated as of January 23, 2026):

Distribution Per Share

Net Investment Income Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Return of Capital Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

$0.08500

$0.08500 (100.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

Cumulative Estimated Allocations fiscal year-to-date as of December 31, 2025, for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026:

Distribution Per Share

Net Investment Income Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

Return of Capital Per Share and Percentage of Such Distribution Amount

$0.17000

$0.17000 (100.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

$0.00000 (0.00%)

Shareholders, prospective shareholders, and third parties should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan (as defined below). The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of the Fund’s distribution to shareholders may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that a shareholder invested in a Fund is paid back to them. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with “yield” or “income.” The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this 19(a) Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send a Form 1099-DIV to shareholders for the calendar year that will describe how to report the Fund’s distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The determination of the actual source of distributions can only be made at year-end. The actual source amounts of all Fund distributions will be included in the Fund’s annual or semi-annual reports. In addition, the tax treatment may differ from the accounting treatment used to calculate the source of the Fund’s distributions as shown on shareholders’ statements. Shareholders should refer to their Form 1099-DIV for the character and amount of distributions for income tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions will be made after December 31, 2026 and reported to you on Form 1099-DIV early in 2027. Since each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, it may be advisable to consult a tax advisor as to the appropriate treatment of Fund distributions.

Effective after the close of business on June 4, 2021, Saba Capital Management, L.P. replaced Voya Financial as the investment adviser to Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (formerly known as the Voya Prime Rate Trust). Performance of the Fund prior to the close of business on June 4, 2021 is not attributable to Saba Capital Management, L.P.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information:

1Average Annual Total Return in relation to NAV represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five-year period ended through December 31, 2025. Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV over a year, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid.

2The Annualized Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the current fiscal period November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 annualized as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of December 31, 2025. The level of distribution amount shown is not guaranteed and special dividends may or may not be paid in the future. Further, no conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount or rate of distribution shown.

3Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV from October 31, 2025 through December 31, 2025, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid.

4The Cumulative Fiscal Year-To-Date Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the current fiscal period November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of December 31, 2025. The level of distribution amount shown is not guaranteed and special dividends may or may not be paid in the future. Further, no conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount or rate of distribution shown.

Managed Distribution Plan. The above distribution was declared in accordance with the Fund’s currently effective managed distribution plan (the “Plan”), whereby the Fund will make monthly distributions to shareholders at a fixed amount of $0.085 per share. Thus, the distribution amount shown excludes special dividends (which are not paid pursuant to the plan). The Fund will generally distribute amounts necessary to satisfy the Fund’s Plan and the requirements prescribed by excise tax rules and Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is intended to provide shareholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each month and is intended to narrow the discount between the market price and the net asset value of the Fund’s common shares, but there is no assurance that the Plan will be successful in doing so.

Under the Plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital in order to maintain its managed distribution rate. As a result, long-term capital gains and/or return of capital may be a material source of any distribution. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the Fund’s Plan. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may amend the terms of the Plan or terminate the Plan at any time without prior notice to Fund shareholders. No level of distribution can be guaranteed. The amendment or termination of the Plan could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The Plan is subject to the periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual minimum fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made.

Past Performance is No Assurance of Future Results. Investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Investors should consider the investment objective, risks and expenses carefully. You can obtain the Fund’s most recent periodic reports and filings by visiting https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=826020&owner=exclude.

Other Information and Certain Risk Factors: The Fund’s investment objective is to provide investors with a high level of current income, with a secondary goal of capital appreciation. There can be no assurance that the Fund will meet its investment objective. The Fund seeks to achieve this objective by investing globally in debt and equity securities of public and private companies, which includes, among other things, investments in closed‐end funds, special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”), reinsurance, and public and private debt instruments. The Fund also may utilize derivatives including but not limited to total return swaps, credit default swaps, options and futures, in seeking to enhance returns and/or to reduce portfolio risk.

The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities of public and private, listed and unlisted companies and equity derivatives generally varies with the performance of the issuer and movements in the equity markets more generally. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses if it invests in equity instruments of issuers whose performance diverges from the Fund’s investment manager’s expectations or if equity markets generally move in a single direction and the Fund has not hedged against such a general move. The Fund invests in closed-end funds and SPACs, which are subject to additional risks and considerations. The performance of reinsurance-related securities and the reinsurance industry itself are tied to the occurrence of various triggering events, including but not limited to weather, natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.), non-natural large catastrophes and other specified events causing physical and/or economic loss. To the extent the Fund invests in reinsurance-related securities for which a triggering event occurs, losses associated with such event could result in losses to the Fund’s investment, and a series of major triggering events affecting a large portion of the reinsurance- related securities held by the Fund could result in substantial losses to the Fund’s investment. The Fund may invest in high yield securities, which are speculative in nature and are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default, illiquidity of the security, and changes in value based on changes in interest rates. Changes in short-term market interest rates may directly affect the yield on the Fund’s common shares. If such rates fall, the Fund’s yield may also fall. If interest rate spreads on bonds and loans owned by the Fund decline in general, the yield on the bonds and loans will likely fall and the value of such bonds and loans may decrease. When short-term market interest rates rise, because of the lag between changes in such short-term rates and the resetting of the floating rates on bonds and loans in the Fund’s portfolio, the impact of rising rates will be delayed to the extent of such lag. Because of the limited secondary market for certain bonds and loans, the Fund’s ability to sell such securities in a timely fashion and/or at a favorable price may be limited. An increase in the demand for bonds and loans may adversely affect the rate of interest payable on new bonds and loans acquired by the Fund, and it may also increase the price of bonds and loans purchased by the Fund in the secondary market. A decrease in the demand for bonds and loans may adversely affect the price of bonds and loans in the Fund’s portfolio, which would cause the Fund’s net asset value to decrease. The Fund’s use of leverage, if any, through borrowings or issuance of preferred shares can adversely affect the yield on the Fund’s common shares. Investment in foreign borrowers involves special risks, including but not limited to potentially less rigorous accounting requirements, differing legal systems and potential political, social and economic adversity. The Fund may engage in currency exchange transactions to seek to hedge, as closely as practicable, all of the economic impact to the Fund arising from foreign currency fluctuations. Other risks include, but are not limited to, the use of derivatives, the potential lack of diversification in the Fund’s portfolio, and the fact that the Fund’s portfolio may be concentrated in a small group of industries or industry sectors from time to time. Investors should consult the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the materials on the Fund’s website for a more detailed discussion of these or other risk factors that affect the Fund.

About Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund. Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund is a publicly-traded registered closed-end management investment company. The Fund’s common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BRW”. The Fund is managed by Saba Capital Management, L.P.

Forward-Looking Statements. This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including but not limited to statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors could cause actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These factors, including but not limited to the “Certain Risk Factors” noted above, are identified from time to time in the Fund’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the materials on the Fund’s website. The Fund undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect subsequent events, except as may be required by law.

For further information on Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund, please visit our website at: www.sabacef.com.

Ameris Bancorp (ABCB - Free Report) reported $308.11 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 6%. EPS of $1.59 for the same period compares to $1.38 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $308.67 million, representing a surprise of -0.18%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.25%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.56.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Ameris Bancorp performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Net interest margin (TE): 3.9% compared to the 3.8% average estimate based on three analysts.Efficiency ratio: 46.6% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 50.5%.Book value per share (period end): $59.92 versus $59.68 estimated by three analysts on average.Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans (annualized): 0.3% compared to the 0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.Total non-performing assets: $120.47 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $114.45 million.Average Balances - Total Earning Assets: $25.4 billion compared to the $25.37 billion average estimate based on two analysts.Net Interest Income (TE): $246.29 million versus $239.71 million estimated by three analysts on average.Total Non-Interest Income: $61.83 million compared to the $68.95 million average estimate based on three analysts.Net Interest Income: $245.31 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $239.84 million.View all Key Company Metrics for Ameris Bancorp here>>>

Shares of Ameris Bancorp have returned +7.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

AppFolio (APPF - Free Report) reported $248.19 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 21.9%. EPS of $1.39 for the same period compares to $0.92 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $246.09 million, representing a surprise of +0.86%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +13.93%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.22.

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

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how AppFolio performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Revenue- Other: $7.87 million compared to the $2.9 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +191.5% year over year.Revenue- Value Added Services: $184.61 million compared to the $186.84 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +20.4% year over year.Revenue- Core solutions: $55.72 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $56.01 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +17%.View all Key Company Metrics for AppFolio here>>>

Shares of AppFolio have returned -6.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

For the quarter ended December 2025, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA - Free Report) reported revenue of $4.91 billion, up 39.7% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $5.23, compared to $4.25 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +2.19% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.81 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $4.82, the EPS surprise was +8.62%.

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

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how LPL Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Total Advisory and Brokerage Assets - Brokerage Assets: $977.90 billion compared to the $984.04 billion average estimate based on four analysts.Total Advisory and Brokerage Assets: $2,370.50 billion versus $2,341.72 billion estimated by four analysts on average.Total Advisory and Brokerage Assets - Advisory Assets: $1,392.70 billion compared to the $1,357.69 billion average estimate based on four analysts.Number of advisors: 32,178 versus 32,753 estimated by four analysts on average.Revenue- Commission: $1.23 billion compared to the $1.22 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +27.6% year over year.Revenue- Service and fee: $180.64 million compared to the $170.29 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +29.9% year over year.Revenue- Asset-based fees: $816.07 million versus $833.46 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +21.8% change.Revenue- Advisory: $2.54 billion versus $2.47 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +59.4% change.Revenue- Transaction: $75.15 million compared to the $76.18 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +22.1% year over year.Revenue- Asset-based - Other asset-based: $375.81 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $382.4 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +29.2%.Revenue- Asset-based - Client cash: $440.25 million compared to the $457.44 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +16.2% year over year.Revenue- Commission- Trailing: $510.72 million compared to the $521.52 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +16.2% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for LPL Financial here>>>

Shares of LPL Financial have returned +2.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Minerals Technologies (MTX - Free Report) reported $519.5 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.3%. EPS of $1.27 for the same period compares to $1.50 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $516.95 million, representing a surprise of +0.49%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -1.04%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.28.

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

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Minerals Technologies performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Net Sales- Engineered Solutions: $245.2 million versus $241.5 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +2.4% change.Net Sales- Consumer & Specialties: $274.3 million versus $275.45 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -1.6% change.Operating Income- Engineered Solutions Segment: $44.5 million versus $38.25 million estimated by two analysts on average.Operating Income- Consumer & Specialties: $25.3 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $34.4 million.View all Key Company Metrics for Minerals Technologies here>>>

Shares of Minerals Technologies have returned +8.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG - Free Report) reported $3.59 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 34%. EPS of $2.38 for the same period compares to $2.13 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.58 billion, representing a surprise of +0.31%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.28%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.35.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Arthur J. Gallagher performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Brokerage - Compensation expense ratio: 59% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 55.9%.Brokerage - Operating expense ratio: 16.6% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 14.7%.Risk Management Segment - Compensation expense ratio: 61.2% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 58.8%.Risk Management Segment - Operating expense ratio: 18.7% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 17.8%.Revenues- Total Company- Fees: $1.19 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $1.03 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +34.7%.Revenues- Total Company- Commissions: $2.06 billion versus $2.24 billion estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +37.2% change.Revenues- Risk Management Segment- Revenues before reimbursements: $417 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $397.56 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +12.9%.Revenues- Total Company- Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income: $122 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $94.72 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -16.4%.Revenues- Brokerage Segment- Supplemental and contingent revenues(Supplemental revenues+Contingent revenues): $215 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $181.74 million.Revenues- Risk Management Segment- Reimbursements: $42 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $39.8 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +16.7%.Total revenues- Risk Management: $459 million versus $438.37 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13.2% change.Revenues- Brokerage, as adjusted: $3.15 billion versus $3.17 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +37.1% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Arthur J. Gallagher here>>>

Shares of Arthur J. Gallagher have returned -6.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

For the quarter ended December 2025, Schneider National (SNDR - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.4 billion, up 4.5% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.13, compared to $0.20 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -3.78% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.21, the EPS surprise was -37.68%.

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

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Schneider National performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Operating Ratio - Consolidated: 97.4% versus the five-analyst average estimate of 95.9%.Intermodal - Operating Ratio: 93.3% versus the four-analyst average estimate of 93.4%.Truckload - Operating Ratio: 96.2% versus 94.6% estimated by four analysts on average.Logistics - Operating Ratio: 99.2% versus 97.5% estimated by four analysts on average.Revenues- Fuel surcharge: $145.7 million compared to the $138.43 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +9.2% year over year.Revenues- Intermodal: $268.2 million versus $288.24 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -2.9% change.Revenues- Logistics: $329.3 million versus $339.54 million estimated by four analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +1.7% change.Revenues- Truckload: $610 million compared to the $637.21 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8.9% year over year.Revenues- Other: $89.3 million compared to the $93.53 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.6% year over year.Revenues- Inter-segment eliminations: $-42.9 million compared to the $-48.85 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.9% year over year.Revenues (Excluding fuel surcharge)- Dedicated: $425.7 million versus $443.15 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +13.4% change.Revenues (Excluding fuel surcharge)- Network: $183.9 million compared to the $195.07 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.7% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Schneider National here>>>

Shares of Schneider National have returned +13.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

Tesla, Inc. is downgraded from Buy to Hold due to weak automotive performance and uncertainty around Robotaxi and Optimus execution. Q4 2025 saw revenue and EPS beats, but both declined year-over-year; automotive sales fell 11%, while gross margin improved to 20.1%. TSLA's future hinges on Robotaxi and Optimus, with $20B CapEx planned for ambitious growth, but near-term financials remain challenged.

SWIFT Adopts Ripple’s Playbook — But Without Replacing BanksSWIFT unveiled a new retail payments scheme to make cross-border transfers faster, clearer, and more predictable.The design echoes Ripple’s long-standing critique of opaque fees and slow settlements.Ripple still targets liquidity efficiency, an area SWIFT’s scheme does not address.SWIFT has announced a new global payments scheme to make cross-border transfers for consumers and small businesses as fast and predictable as domestic payments.

The initiative, revealed on January 29, will launch in phases in 2026, with a minimum viable product planned for the first half of the year. More than 40 banks are already involved in developing the framework.

Rewriting the rules: How Swift’s payments scheme will transform cross‑border payments

With the programme gaining further momentum, we're now working with over 40 banks from across the world. Together, we're setting a new global benchmark for predictable, transparent and reliable… pic.twitter.com/7iclI20ZhS

— Swift (@swiftcommunity) January 29, 2026 At first glance, the announcement reads like a routine infrastructure upgrade. In reality, it signals a strategic shift — and one that mirrors many of the problems Ripple has spent years highlighting.

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SWIFT International Payments To Change DramaticallySWIFT’s new Payments Scheme targets consumer and SME-originated cross-border payments, an area traditionally plagued by slow delivery, unclear fees, and unpredictable exchange rates.

Under the scheme, participating banks will commit to a strict rulebook. These rules include upfront disclosure of fees and foreign exchange rates, guaranteed full-value delivery, and end-to-end visibility on payment status.

In simple terms, customers should know how much they are paying, how much the recipient will receive, and when the payment will arrive, before sending money.

At Swift, we continue to evolve the cross border payments experience – and adding a blockchain based ledger to our infrastructure stack marks an important step forward in that journey.

Why does embedding a shared ledger matter?

Thierry Chilosi , our Chief Business Officer,… pic.twitter.com/xzSXnNhZ0D

— Swift (@swiftcommunity) January 29, 2026 Is SWIFT Realizing the Blockchain Threat?Cross-border retail payments have become a weak spot for banks.

Domestic payments in many countries now settle in seconds. International transfers still take days, pass through multiple intermediaries, and often lose value along the way.

Fintech firms and blockchain-based networks have exploited this gap. Ripple, in particular, has long argued that the existing correspondent banking model no longer meets modern expectations.

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SWIFT’s announcement reflects growing pressure to close that gap.

SWIFT is working with 40+ banks on real-time cross-border settlement.

Their MVP launches H1 2026.

The irony? That's the exact promise crypto made years ago. SWIFT isn't replacing crypto — it's admitting the old model failed. Any asset that can't integrate with modern rails… pic.twitter.com/HgGNc3reci

— Ripple Bull Winkle | Crypto Researcher 🚀🚨 (@RipBullWinkle) January 29, 2026 The Same Problems Ripple Identified Now Acknowledged by SWIFTFor years, Ripple has framed cross-border payments as broken for three core reasons.

Senders rarely know the full cost upfront.  Payments move slowly and unpredictably. Banks must pre-fund accounts across borders, tying up capital. SWIFT’s new scheme directly tackles the first two issues: transparency and predictability.

That alignment is not accidental. It shows that the pain points Ripple highlighted were real — even if SWIFT is choosing a different solution.

⚠️ REMEMBER THIS MOMENT ⚠️

Live on CNBC they said it out loud

“Ripple is going after SWIFT.” 🌐

That wasn’t marketing.
That was reality leaking early.

XRP isn’t trying to compete. It’s trying to replace. pic.twitter.com/V971nACvC0

— John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) January 28, 2026 Sponsored

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Despite the improvements, SWIFT’s model does not change how money is actually settled between banks.

Funds will still move through correspondent banking chains. Banks will still rely on pre-funded accounts in foreign currencies. Capital will remain locked to support cross-border flows.

The scheme improves how payments feel for customers. It does not change how banks manage liquidity behind the scenes.

This limitation defines where SWIFT’s solution ends.

Ripple’s Banking Pilots are Worth WatchingRipple’s recent banking partnerships take a different approach.

Instead of focusing on messaging standards and rule enforcement, Ripple targets settlement mechanics. Through blockchain-based rails and regulated stablecoins, it aims to reduce the need for pre-funded accounts.

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Banks in regions such as Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Japan are testing this model in controlled environments. These pilots are not about replacing SWIFT. They are about lowering capital costs in specific corridors.

Ripple’s value proposition centers on the balance sheet, not the interface.

A Narrowing Lane for RippleSWIFT’s move raises expectations across the industry. Transparency and delivery certainty will now be baseline requirements.

That reduces Ripple’s ability to differentiate purely on speed and visibility. At the same time, it does not eliminate the demand for alternative settlement models.

In capital-intensive or emerging-market corridors, liquidity efficiency remains unresolved. This is where Ripple’s approach continues to appeal to banks.

Overall, SWIFT is not adopting blockchain. It is not integrating XRP. And it is not abandoning correspondent banking.

Instead, it is acknowledging the same structural issues Ripple has pointed out for years — while choosing to solve them in a way that preserves the existing system.

Disclaimer

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TLDR: Bitcoin’s 5% correction outperformed gold’s 8% and silver’s 12% drops during the Microsoft-triggered sell-off. Hyperliquid recorded $87.1M in liquidations, nearly three times Binance’s $30M despite lower trading volumes. Binance open interest reached 123,500 BTC, surpassing pre-October levels and marking 31% growth since the crash. Leveraged trading appetite persists as traders rebuild positions despite $300M in liquidations within hours. Bitcoin weathered a 5% decline during a broader market correction that saw gold drop 8% and silver plummet 12%.

The cryptocurrency demonstrated relative stability compared to traditional assets as Microsoft’s AI investment announcements sparked a global sell-off.

Equity markets suffered substantial losses, with the tech giant’s shares falling over 12% and creating ripple effects across major indices including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

Liquidation Cascade Reveals Persistent Leverage Appetite The modest Bitcoin correction proved sufficient to eliminate nearly $300 million in leveraged long positions within hours.

Hyperliquid dominated the liquidation landscape with $87.1 million in wiped-out positions. Binance recorded approximately $30 million in liquidations despite maintaining some of the highest trading volumes globally. The disparity between platforms underscores varying leverage practices across different exchanges.

Market participants continue pursuing exposure through high-leverage positions, generating sudden volatility spikes. These movements often amplify through liquidation cascades that compound initial price pressures.

The pattern persists despite the October 10 event that previously destroyed substantial liquidity and capital. Traders appear undeterred by past liquidation episodes.

Risk appetite remains elevated among cryptocurrency investors seeking amplified returns. According to @Darkfost_Coc on X, the recent turbulence emerged within a context where traditional safe havens also faced pressure.

The synchronized decline across asset classes marked an unusual period of correlation between crypto and conventional markets.

🗞️ Global Sell Off : -8% Gold, -12% Silver, -5% BTC, while Binance Open Interest back up to Pre-October 10 Levels

In a context where gold recorded a sudden correction of around 8% and silver roughly 12%, Bitcoin experienced a more moderate pullback of about 5% 📉

This move… pic.twitter.com/OUied1BkNU

— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) January 29, 2026

The speed of liquidations highlights the fragility embedded in overleveraged positions during volatile periods. Even moderate price movements can trigger significant forced selling when leverage ratios reach extremes.

Market infrastructure must absorb these shocks repeatedly as participants rebuild positions after each washout.

Binance Open Interest Surges 31% Since October Event Current open interest on Binance has climbed to 123,500 BTC, surpassing pre-October 10 levels. The metric is measured in Bitcoin terms rather than notional value to eliminate price fluctuation distortions.

This methodology provides clearer insight into actual investor exposure trends.

Open interest had collapsed to 93,600 BTC immediately following the October event. The subsequent recovery represents roughly 31% growth over the intervening period.

The rebound signals renewed confidence among derivatives traders despite recent volatility.

The measurement approach neutralizes impacts from Bitcoin’s price movements on notional open interest calculations.

Tracking positions in BTC terms reveals underlying behavioral patterns more accurately. Investors have steadily rebuilt their market exposure through futures and perpetual contracts.

The data indicates that lessons from the October liquidation event have not significantly dampened leveraged trading activity.

Participants appear willing to accept similar risk profiles despite recent capital destruction. The cycle of leverage buildup and violent unwinding continues with remarkable consistency across multiple episodes.

While much of the crypto industry’s attention over the past year has centered on stablecoins, tokenized U.S. Treasuries and institutional onramps, Dromos Labs believes the most important battle in crypto is happening at a different layer: decentralized exchanges. According to Alex Cutler, CEO of Dromos Labs, the exchange layer is now the “second most important layer” in the onchain economy, right after blockchains themselves.

That conviction is driving Dromos Labs’ boldest move yet. The company is preparing to launch Aero, a unified decentralized exchange that will merge its two flagship protocols, Aerodrome and Velodrome, into a single operating system. The launch, targeted for the second quarter of 2026, will also mark Dromos Labs’ expansion to Ethereum mainnet, placing it in direct competition with dominant DEXs like Uniswap and Curve.

Today, Aerodrome commands a major share of trading activity on Coinbase’s Base network, while Velodrome plays a similar role across Optimism’s Superchain. Aerodrome currently holds nearly $500 million in total value locked and crossed $1 billion in December 2025, accounting for roughly 25% of Base’s total TVL at its peak. Dromos Labs believes this level of dominance can be replicated on Ethereum.

Cutler argues that decentralized finance is not stagnating but consolidating. Nearly every major crypto narrative, from institutional foreign exchange to memecoins, still relies on deep liquidity and efficient token exchange. In his view, exchanges, not blockchains, will ultimately become the primary centers of value as more real-world and financial assets move onchain.

This philosophy also explains Dromos Labs’ increasingly direct criticism of Uniswap. Earlier this year, Uniswap governance advanced a proposal to share protocol revenue with UNI token holders. Cutler publicly opposed the move, arguing it weakens incentives for liquidity providers, which he sees as the backbone of any decentralized exchange.

With Aero, Dromos Labs aims to serve both retail users and institutions. The protocol is being designed with onchain automation, reduced operational risk and built-in compliance tooling to meet institutional standards. As capital markets continue to migrate onchain, Cutler believes the fight to “own the exchange layer” will define the next chapter of crypto’s evolution.

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Stocks tied to the cryptocurrency sector extended their sharp January losses on Thursday as bitcoin dropped nearly 6%, slipping below the $84,000 level. The decline in bitcoin price has weighed heavily on publicly traded crypto companies, reinforcing a cautious tone across digital asset markets amid broader macroeconomic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions.

Coinbase (COIN), the largest publicly traded crypto exchange by market capitalization, fell another 7% in Thursday’s session. The stock is now down 17% year-to-date and is on pace for its longest losing streak since September 2024, marking eight consecutive sessions of declines. Trading around $195, Coinbase shares have retraced to levels last seen in May 2025, reflecting persistent pressure on crypto equities as investor sentiment weakens.

Other major crypto-related stocks are facing similar headwinds. Shares of rival exchange Gemini (GEMI) dropped 8% on Thursday and are down 21% so far this year. Crypto platform Bullish (BLSH) and stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) have also struggled, posting year-to-date declines of 16% and 20%, respectively. These losses come as the broader crypto bear market continues to suppress investor confidence.

Beyond falling crypto prices, trading activity has slowed significantly. According to data from TheTie, spot trading volume across crypto exchanges totaled roughly $900 billion in January, a steep decline compared with approximately $1.7 trillion recorded during the same period last year. Lower volumes suggest reduced risk appetite and hesitation among market participants.

Market observers note that bitcoin’s prolonged consolidation around the $85,000 range has contributed to the sense of uncertainty. With geopolitical risks rising and macroeconomic signals remaining mixed, investors appear reluctant to increase exposure to digital assets, even as stocks and commodities show relative strength.

Despite the broader downturn, some crypto companies are finding stability by diversifying beyond traditional mining. Bitcoin miners that have pivoted toward artificial intelligence infrastructure and data center services have emerged as relative outperformers. Firms such as Hut 8 (HUT), IREN (IREN), CleanSpark (CLSK), and Cipher Mining (CIFR) remain up year-to-date, even after Thursday’s pullback.

Galaxy Digital (GLXY), led by Mike Novogratz, is another standout, posting strong gains in 2026 thanks to its expansion into data centers and recent approval from Texas grid operator ERCOT. As February approaches, analysts will closely watch trading volumes, bitcoin price action, and macroeconomic data for signs of a potential rebound in crypto markets.

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Circle (CRCL), the stablecoin issuer behind USDC, received its second Wall Street analyst upgrade in a single week, signaling a notable shift in sentiment toward the stock. This time, the upgrade came from Compass Point analyst Ed Engel, previously Circle’s most bearish voice. Engel raised his rating from Sell to Neutral, just one day after Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev also softened his negative stance on the stock.

Despite the upgrade, Engel maintained the lowest price target among analysts covering Circle, lowering it to $60 from $75. He cited Circle’s premium valuation and ongoing exposure to crypto market cycles as key reasons for caution. Circle shares fell 7.3% during regular trading on Thursday to $67.55, before recovering slightly with a roughly 1% gain in after-hours trading.

Engel’s revised outlook reflects what he describes as a changing narrative around Circle stock. Rather than trading like a traditional fintech company, Circle increasingly behaves as a proxy for the broader crypto market. Engel originally downgraded Circle to Sell in July, pointing to rising competition in the stablecoin market. However, he now believes many of those risks have already been priced into the stock.

Regulatory developments could play a role in Circle’s future performance. Engel assigns a 60% probability to the passage of the CLARITY Act in 2026, legislation that could provide clearer regulatory guidelines for stablecoins in the U.S. Such clarity could support growth in USDC supply. Additionally, the tokenization of U.S. stocks and ETFs in decentralized finance markets, even without formal regulatory approval, may eventually help reduce Circle’s reliance on broader crypto sentiment.

Still, risks remain. Since December, USDC supply has declined by 9%, while competitors such as USDH, CASH, and PayPal’s PYUSD are gaining traction, particularly on networks like Solana and Hyperliquid. Engel also warned that Circle may guide 2026 operating expenses above current Wall Street expectations, as many investments are unlikely to generate near-term revenue.

Competition from traditional financial institutions is intensifying as well, with JPMorgan, State Street, and BNY Mellon advancing their own “deposit coins” that could challenge USDC in developed markets. While Circle could benefit from a crypto market rebound or favorable regulation, Engel concludes that its revenue remains closely tied to speculative crypto activity, making true decoupling from crypto cycles a longer-term challenge.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

Journalist

Posted: January 30, 2026

Bitcoin’s slide below $85,000 has triggered broad weakness across major altcoins, with market data showing losses extending beyond BTC into the broader market. 

While short-term price action has stabilized in pockets, aggregate figures suggest risk appetite has cooled rather than rotated.

Major altcoins follow Bitcoin lower Among the top ten crypto assets excluding Bitcoin and stablecoins, losses were widespread over the past 24 hours.

Ethereum traded around $2,818, down 6.38% on the day, while BNB slipped 4.06% to roughly $865. XRP fell 5.79% to $1.80, extending its weekly decline to more than 6%. 

Source: CoinMarketCap

Solana posted one of the sharpest pullbacks among large caps, down 6.26% on the day and over 8.5% across seven days.

Memecoins and high-beta assets also struggled. Dogecoin dropped 6.69% in 24 hours, while Cardano fell 7.17%, underscoring the lack of defensive positioning within the altcoin complex.

Volume data suggests the moves were not isolated. Ethereum recorded more than $36 billion in 24-hour trading volume. At the same time, Solana exceeded $6 billion, indicating that selling pressure was broadly distributed rather than confined to thin liquidity conditions.

Altcoin market cap drifts lower Total altcoin market capitalization declined to around $1.18 trillion, continuing a downtrend that has been in place since early December.

While short-lived rebounds appeared earlier in the month, the broader trajectory shows lower highs and lower lows, pointing to sustained capital outflows rather than temporary volatility. 

The contraction coincides with Bitcoin’s failure to reclaim higher resistance levels, reinforcing the market’s current risk-off posture.

Notably, the data does not show meaningful divergence between large-cap and mid-cap altcoins. The decline appears systemic, with most sectors moving in tandem rather than investors reallocating into select narratives.

No clear signs of altcoin rotation Despite Bitcoin’s pullback, there is limited evidence of a classic rotation into altcoins. The absence of relative strength among major tokens suggests traders are reducing exposure rather than shifting risk within the crypto market.

This dynamic aligns with recent derivatives and liquidation data, which showed elevated leverage being unwound earlier in the week. As leverage resets, spot markets have followed with subdued demand and weaker follow-through on rebounds.

Unless Bitcoin regains traction above recent breakdown levels, altcoins are likely to remain sensitive to further downside or extended consolidation.

Final Thoughts Altcoin losses reflect broad de-risking rather than selective rotation, with market cap data suggesting sustained capital outflows. A shift in altcoin momentum likely depends on Bitcoin reclaiming key levels rather than standalone strength among majors.

TLDR: Progmat Coin consortium unites 200+ Japanese banks for ¥1 trillion three-year stablecoin issuance plan. Project Pax integrates Swift API with IBC protocol to preserve banking workflows while modernizing settlement. Cosmos architecture enables ledger-level compliance controls and permissioned issuance for regulated assets. IBC interoperability protocol maintains zero security exploits since 2021 launch across 200+ blockchains. Tokenized deposits and stablecoins continue to reshape institutional settlement systems as major financial players adopt blockchain infrastructure.

Japan’s banking consortium, backed by over 200 institutions, plans to issue approximately ¥1 trillion in stablecoins over three years using Cosmos technology.

The initiative demonstrates how traditional finance integrates programmable money while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational control.

Banking Consortium Leverages Cosmos for Cross-Border Settlement Progmat Coin represents a significant development in institutional blockchain adoption. The platform, co-developed by Datachain, brings together Japan’s largest banks and financial institutions. The consortium selected Cosmos infrastructure to address persistent inefficiencies in cross-border payments.

Project Pax, launched by Progmat and Datachain, uses the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol as its core interoperability layer.

The architecture preserves existing banking workflows while modernizing settlement infrastructure. Banks initiate payments through Swift’s API, maintaining familiar compliance controls throughout the process.

The settlement layer operates across both public and private blockchains. Progmat issues regulated stablecoins that move via IBC connections. Datachain’s multi-prover security model meets Japanese regulatory requirements while enabling cross-chain transfers.

This design targets the G20’s identified weaknesses in cross-border payments. The system eliminates correspondent banking chains and enables real-time settlement.

It decouples payment reach from correspondent relationships and provides immutable records for regulatory reporting.

Compliance Controls and Network Connectivity Drive Institutional Adoption Cosmos-based chains allow institutions to embed compliance logic at the ledger level. Issuers configure permissioned issuance, whitelisted participants, and transaction limits directly into chain architecture. This approach shifts enforcement closer to the point of issuance rather than relying on external controls.

The technology stack powers over 200 independent blockchains. The interoperability protocol has remained free of security exploits since launching in 2021.

This track record addresses threshold concerns about whether underlying technology can operate at scale.

Institutions retain control over validator selection and governance processes. Compliance logic, redemption workflows, and access controls embed at the ledger level.

Issuers can restrict IBC connections to approved counterparty chains that implement compatible compliance standards.

Cosmos supports EVM compatibility through its framework, enabling interaction with existing treasury and payment applications.

Institutions can restrict connectivity to approved networks while maintaining access to broader liquidity ecosystems.

This connectivity allows tokenized deposits to operate within purpose-built chains without sacrificing interoperability.

The Progmat initiative illustrates how regulated stablecoin infrastructure can scale while preserving predictability. Financial institutions require control, compliance, and integration with existing banking systems.

Tokenized deposits extend bank money into programmable environments without replacing central bank-issued currencies or disrupting core banking operations.

XRP's on-chain data is signaling renewed confidence as wealthy holders quietly return despite sluggish prices, with blockchain analytics highlighting early accumulation trends that could reshape longer-term market sentiment. XRP Millionaire Wallets Expand — A Subtle Whale Signal Beneath the Surface XRP market signals can shift even during periods of muted price action.

Glassnode data reveals that Bitcoin selling by long-term holders (LTH) reached a massive scale, surpassing 370,000 BTC in the last month. This figure, equivalent to approximately 12,000 BTC liquidated daily, suggests a far more aggressive profit-taking strategy than traditional Net Position Change indicators reflect.

LONG-TERM HOLDERS SPENT >370K BTC / MONTH

Many observers point to ~144K BTC of net LTH distribution over the past 30 days using Net Position Change.
However, gross on-chain data shows that >360K BTC was actually spent by LTHs.

🧵 Let’s break down why these numbers differ and… pic.twitter.com/A94Y3bsLxZ

— glassnode (@glassnode) January 29, 2026 The impact of this sell-off was camouflaged by the “graduation” of roughly 226,000 coins that shifted into long-term status during the same period. This inflow partially offset the sales in the records, causing the actual pressure from veteran sellers to appear significantly lower than the real gross execution in the market.

In the coming weeks, attention will be focused on gross spent volume rather than net balances to assess true market sentiment. A continued increase in capital outflows by historical holders could intensify resistance at current price levels and delay the continuation of the bullish trend.

Source:https://x.com/glassnode/status/2016881054842302807

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News is prepared from official and public sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to provide rapid information on relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations. We recommend always verifying the official channels of each project before making related decisions.

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Harvey Hunter

Content Writer

Harvey Hunter

Part of the Team Since

Apr 2024

About Author

Harvey Hunter is a Content Writer at Cryptonews.com. With a background in Computer Science, IT, and Mathematics, he seamlessly transitioned from tech geek to crypto journalist.

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Worldcoin may have just taken its biggest step towards mainstream adoption, as OpenAI eyes its tech for biometric identity verification in a bullish turn for Worldcoin price predictions.

Market participants are buying the rumour on a potential partnership, sending the altcoin up 25% over during Wednesday trading as they position ahead of potential mainstream adoption.

According to Forbes reporting, the AI giant is building its own social network that will require users to provide “proof of personhood“ via Apple’s Face ID or Worldcoin’s iris scans.

JUST IN: OpenAI is quietly building a social network and considering using biometric verification like World’s eyeball scanning orb or Apple’s Face ID to ensure its users are people, not bots.

Full story: https://t.co/ZFujshtUws (Photo: Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty… pic.twitter.com/Q82LMFdjWv

— Forbes (@Forbes) January 28, 2026 The effort comes to combat the bot problem seen on current social media platforms, and could be the real-world use case that bridges Web2 and Web3.

The initiative aims to tackle the growing bot problem across social media platforms, and could represent a potential real-world use case capable of bridging Web2 and Web3.

If realised, it would position Worldcoin as a frontrunner in the digital identity narrative, with demand flowing to WLD as the token powering its Layer 2 network.

Worldcoin Price Prediction: 10x Move Brewing?A potential outlet for real-world adoption could be what Worldcoin needs for a decisive breakout of the descending channel it has consolidated in over the past 5-months.

The initial reaction was enough to trigger a retest, though it ended in rejection. If the rumours turn out to be true and Worldcoin has a part to play, a breakout could unfold.

WLD USDT 1-day chart – descending channel consolidation. Source: TradingView.Momentum indicators remain stagnant without a push. The RSI is returning below the signal line as buyers couldn’t find the strength to hold an uptrend.

While the MACD did form a golden cross with the push, it stands to be short-lived, though its previous slow uptrend towards the signal line shows that strength was already building.

The $0.60 level is the immediate resistance to watch for a confirmed breakout push.

If it can find firmer and higher support here, a fresh uptrend could reclaim a historically decisive level at $160, marking a 240% move.

But with confirmation that its technology has real demand, upside could credibly extend towards past support at $5, marking a potential 10x move.

New Bitcoin Hyper Presale Brings Solana Tech to Bitcoin’s BlockchainThose backing Layer 2 solutions that provide real utility should look this way, as the Bitcoin ecosystem finally tackles its biggest limitation: scalability.

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is bridging Bitcoin’s security with Solana tech, creating a new Layer-2 network that unlocks scalable, efficient use cases Bitcoin couldn’t support on its own.

It opens the door for Bitcoin to play a larger role in top-performing narratives like DeFi and real-world assets – where speed and efficiency matter most.

The project has already raised over $31 million in presale, and post-launch, even a small fraction of Bitcoin’s massive trading volume could send its valuation significantly higher.

Bitcoin Hyper is fixing the slow transactions, high fees, and limited programmability that have long capped Bitcoin’s potential – just as the market turns bullish.

Visit the Official Bitcoin Hyper Website Here

Bitcoin holds $84,000 — for now — but analysts warn of drop to $70,000 if support failsThursday's decline showed that, despite hopes for being a macro hedge, bitcoin continues to trade like the riskiest of risk assets when markets turn lower. Jan 29, 2026, 10:03 p.m.

Amid broad traditional market declines, crypto once again was the standout underperformer on Thursday.

Modest overnight declines in crypto turned into a major rout in the U.S. morning as the Nasdaq shed more than 2% and gold tumbled nearly 10% from an overnight record. But while both of those markets managed sizable afternoon bounces — the Nasdaq closing with a decline of just 0.7% and gold reclaiming the $5,400 per ounce level — bitcoin and the rest of crypto held not far from session lows. Bitcoin was trading just above $84,000 at press time. Losing almost 6% over the past 24 hours, bitcoin is on the brink of breaking below its two-month range, which could be a prelude to an even deeper pullback.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Other cryptos and related assets were showing similar declines. Ethereum ETH$2,815.68, solana SOL$117.48, XRP XRP$1.8152 and DOGE$0.1171, were all roughly 7% lower over the last 24-hour period, while crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN), stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL) and bitcoin treasury firm Strategy (MSTR) suffered 5%-10% losses.

What's next for bitcoinMatt Mena, crypto research strategist at 21Shares, said that holding above the $84,000 support level is "critical" for bitcoin. If that fails, he said, the next target is $80,000, where buyers stepped in in November, and below that comes the $75,000 lows hut during the April 2025 tariff tantrum.

Still, the current prices offer a "compelling entry point," Mena said. He still expects bitcoin to hit $100,000 by the end of the first quarter, or even push to a new record of $128,000 if macroeconomic conditions allow it.

Other analysts warned of a deeper pullback on the horizon.

John Glover, CIO of bitcoin lender Ledn, argued that today’s selloff is part of bitcoin's broader correction from the October record highs. The move could ultimately drag BTC to $71,000, a 43% decline from the early October level of $126,000.

With the U.S. being a key source of current market uncertainty, Glover argued, investors are favoring alternative havens like gold and the Swiss franc over traditional safe assets like the U.S. dollar and Treasuries. While many expected bitcoin to act as "digital gold," it is still being treated as a risk asset and selling off with equities, he said.

Like Mena, Glover believes the current difficulties won't last. “I do believe this is a somewhat temporary situation and we will see a rebound in BTC prices in the coming quarters," he concluded.

"The technical levels have all been taken out on the downside, and I don’t see much support here for bitcoin," Russell Thompson, chief investment officer at Hilbert Group, said. He also believes bitcoin could drop as low as $70,000. "The Clarity markup coming out of the committee is bullish, but there is really just a general risk move here."

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Pudgy Penguins: A New Blueprint for Tokenized Culture

Dec 30, 2025

Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.

What to know:

Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.

The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.

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Circle’s biggest bear just threw in the towel, but warns the stock is still a crypto roller coaster

5 minutes ago

Circle’s rising correlation with ether and DeFi exposure drives the re-rating, despite valuation and competition concerns.

What to know:

Compass Point’s Ed Engel upgraded Circle (CRCL) to Neutral from Sell and cut his price target to $60, arguing the stock now trades more as a proxy for crypto markets than as a standalone fintech.Engel notes that CRCL’s performance is increasingly tied to the ether and broader crypto cycles, with more than 75% of USDC supply used in DeFi or on exchanges, and the stock is still trading at a rich premium.Potential catalysts such as the CLARITY Act and tokenization of U.S. assets could support USDC growth, but Circle faces mounting competition from new stablecoins and bank-issued “deposit coins,” and its revenue may remain closely linked to speculative crypto activity for years.

The crypto market suffered a severe setback this Thursday. Bitcoin plunged to $84,250, triggering massive liquidations exceeding $800 million within 24 hours. Data from Coinglass revealed that the majority of losses impacted long positions, with Bitcoin accounting for over $332 million in forced liquidations after failing in its attempt to reclaim the $90,000 support level.

$BTC is now back into its strong support zone.

Nearly $140,000,000 in spot bids have been placed between the $80,000-$84,000 level.

If this zone is lost, Bitcoin will go straight to April 2025 lows. pic.twitter.com/QBbW294Rc0

— Ted (@TedPillows) January 29, 2026 As the market moved lower, an unexpected reversal in gold prices occurred. Additionally, the Federal Reserve maintained a restrictive stance, suggesting that rate cuts could be delayed until late 2026. This impact extended to major altcoins such as Ethereum and Solana, while rising tensions between the United States and Iran pushed investors toward short-term cash positions, abandoning risk assets.

In the coming sessions, traders must monitor whether Bitcoin can stabilize above the critical $84,000 level to avoid a deeper correction toward lows not seen since 2025. Market attention will remain focused on trading volume and the evolution of the geopolitical conflict—factors that will determine if this episode of technical fragility turns into a prolonged bearish trend.

Source:https://x.com/TedPillows/status/2016906991281852580

Source:https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News is prepared from official and public sources verified by our editorial team. Its purpose is to provide rapid information on relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendations. We recommend always verifying the official channels of each project before making related decisions.

Price Prediction SHIB Shibarium

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Harvey Hunter

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Harvey Hunter

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Apr 2024

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Harvey Hunter is a Content Writer at Cryptonews.com. With a background in Computer Science, IT, and Mathematics, he seamlessly transitioned from tech geek to crypto journalist.

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15 minutes ago

Shiba Inu lead ambassador Shytoshi Kusama has revealed that the key components for a thriving ecosystem may already be in place, giving credit to bullish Shiba Inu price predictions.

Speaking metaphorically about the current state of the ecosystem in an X thread, Kusama likened the meme coin to a “crazy hard puzzle that took years.”

You ever start a huge puzzle, like one of those 1000 piece ones? You know what to do first right, the corners- that's Shib… the rest of the outline— thats Shib Bone Leash Treat Bad Shy Shifu etc. Okay in place. Then comes the hard part, the inside. That's the ecosystem…

— Shytoshi Kusama™ (@ShytoshiKusama) January 28, 2026 He described tokens like SHIB, BONE, LEASH, and TREAT as the first stage of that puzzle: the outline. The structure exists, but it has yet to be fully filled in.

According to the dev, this is the hard part, but he may have found a solution in AI, hinting at a way to “build it faster, more efficiently.”

This mirrors recent commentary, where, after a month-long silence, Kusama urged the Shiba Inu community to reread an AI paper he published in July 2025.

In it, Shytoshi Kusama gave a breakdown of AI’s role in the ecosystem and asked for patience for an upcoming “reveal” which could outline its application.

To the wise and the patient, I advise you re-read my Ai paper and understand where we are in the evolution of Ai since I wrote that back in July. This reveal will take many days, there is much to discuss when talking about technology that is beyond crypto & designed to help 🌎

— Shytoshi Kusama™ (@ShytoshiKusama) January 26, 2026 The Shibarium ecosystem has remained quiet in recent months, with no major partnerships or announcements leaving SHIB sidelined from the ongoing meme coin narrative.

This potential pivot could be what the Shiba Inu price needs to give it the fundamental rails for long-term appreciation instead of the current social-driven short-term speculative trading.

Shiba Inu Price Predicition: AI Pivot Could Trigger Price BoomA stronger fundamental footing could give Shiba Inu the foundation it needs to finally escape the ten-month consolidation that has held it in a descending channel pattern.

Pressure has been building towards a breakout for weeks, and momentum indicators show it.

Source: TradingViewThe RSI continues to compress against the 50 neutral line with a series of higher lows forming an uptrend. This bullish pressure could soon slip into an explosive move.

The MACD suggests this could come soon, showing the early signs of a fresh uptrend as it closes in on a potential golden cross above the signal line.

A sustained breakout push likely hinges on key psychological resistance around $0.00001. If it can once again flip to support, it would represent a higher and firmer footing for a pattern retest.

If fully realised, the pattern eyes a potential return to early 2025 bull run highs around $0.000024, marking a 215% rise.

However, with meaningful ecosystem expansion, a real use case that attracts sticky addition could pave the way for a much higher 560% move to the $0.00005 milestone.

Maxi Doge: A Play For When Bullishness Returns When meme coins reach Shiba Inu’s size, social momentum just doesn’t cut it anymore. Fundamentals are needed to carry price action.

It’s no surprise that capital always finds its way to a new Doge meme token instead.

History makes the pattern clear: Dogecoin ran first, Shiba Inu was next in 2021, followed by Floki, Bonk, Dogwifhat, and Neiro. Every bull cycle, capital eventually rotates into a new Doge-inspired frontrunner.

This time around, Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is tapping into that same playbook with a community built around sharing early alpha, trading ideas, and competitive engagement.

Participation is at its core. Weekly Maxi Ripped and Maxi Pump competitions reward top performers with leaderboard recognition, incentives, and bragging rights.

The hype is already showing in the numbers. The $MAXI presale has raised almost $4.5 million, while early backers are earning up to 69% APY through staking rewards.

For those who missed the Doge wave before, Maxi Doge could be the next chance to catch a meme coin before it enters the mainstream.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

Ethereum trades near $2,950 as charts mirror 2024 patterns, with analysts watching a possible move to $4K and a longer-term $10K target.

Ethereum (ETH) is trading around $2,850 after a failed attempt to reclaim the $3,000 level. The asset is down almost 5% over the past 24 hours and nearly 4% over the last week.

ETH Mirrors 2024 Structure, $4K in Sight? Analyst Heisenberg shared a chart that compares the current ETH move to a similar setup seen in 2024. Back then, it fell 47%, moved sideways for about 92 days, and then rallied 47%—topping near $4,000. The current chart shows the same 47% drop, followed by a 33% bounce, and now entering another period of consolidation.

Heisenberg said the base could last until February 21, 2026, if it follows the same timeline. A similar move would put $4,000 back in focus. RSI is also starting to strengthen, matching conditions seen ahead of the 2024 rally.

$ETH Tossing the Ethereum bulls a de ja vu bone here.

I mean why not? For fun. Could work. Might not. But we gotta try.

See you back at $4,000. pic.twitter.com/OSn3dCiNvE

— Heisenberg (@Mr_Derivatives) January 29, 2026

Moreover, another chart, shared by Sykodelic, indicates a potential cup-and-handle formation on the monthly timeframe. This pattern began forming after the 2021 peak and has developed over the last four years. Ethereum is now in what looks like the handle phase of the structure.

Sykodelic sees $10,000 as a reasonable minimum target. That would be about twice ETH’s all-time high of around $4,950. “It makes me laugh when people scoff at a $10K target,” they said, noting that it’s only a 2x move from the previous top. The setup suggests a long-term breakout may be building if the price clears previous highs.

Wedge Formation Could Push Price Higher Another setup shared by Dami-Defi shows ETH forming a falling wedge on the 3-day chart. This pattern often leads to an upward breakout when it forms after a decline. ETH is currently near the top of the wedge and approaching a key decision point.

You may also like: Ethereum Wallet Count Surges Past 175.5M as Staking Drains Exchange Supply Ethereum Price Reclaims $3K in ‘Quick Turnaround’ Amid Solid Fundamentals Ripple (XRP) and Cardano (ADA) Show Deeper Undervaluation Than Bitcoin (BTC) Indicators are starting to shift. RSI is moving up from 43, and MACD is flattening out. Both suggest momentum could be changing. “We’re near that breakout point,” Dami-Defi said, adding that traders are waiting for a confirmed move above the wedge to trigger potential upside toward the $3,900–$4,300 range.

We’re seeing is $ETH forming a wedge on the 3D

Right now, we’re near that breakout point, so we’re watching for a decisive move above or below the wedge.

If we break above that upper trendline and hold, you’re looking at a potential upside pic.twitter.com/U39LzqGOIM

— Dami-Defi (@DamiDefi) January 29, 2026

Despite recent price volatility, Ethereum’s network growth continues. As CryptoPotato reported yesterday, the number of non-empty ETH wallets has surpassed 175.5 million, the highest among all cryptocurrencies. Over 5.1 million wallets were added in 2026 alone, showing steady user participation.

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TLDR:Physical Gold Tracking With Blockchain IntegrationHong Kong’s Digital Asset Development StrategyGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Hang Seng Gold ETF (03170.HK) launched with Ethereum tokenization, gaining 9% in early trading hours.  HSBC serves as tokenization agent while physical gold remains stored in designated Hong Kong vaults.  Tokenized units require qualified distributors for subscription; secondary market trading remains restricted.  Launch aligns with Hong Kong’s strategy to bridge traditional finance with regulated blockchain technology.  Hang Seng Investment has introduced a physically backed gold exchange-traded fund featuring tokenized share classes on Ethereum. 

The Hang Seng Gold ETF began trading on Thursday on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under ticker 03170. Early trading saw the fund climb approximately 9% during Asian morning hours. 

This launch represents a notable integration of traditional commodity investment products with blockchain technology infrastructure.

Physical Gold Tracking With Blockchain Integration The fund tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM and maintains physical bullion in designated Hong Kong vaults. 

According to product disclosures, the fund “closely tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM and holds bullion stored in designated vaults in Hong Kong.” 

Beyond conventional ETF operations, the product offers tokenized units initially issued on Ethereum’s blockchain network. 

Future expansion to additional public blockchains remains possible according to the fund’s prospectus documentation. HSBC serves as the tokenization agent for these digital units.

However, these tokenized shares operate under strict distribution controls rather than open market trading. Investors can only subscribe to or redeem tokenized units through qualified distributors approved by the fund. 

The product cannot be freely traded on secondary markets despite existing on a public blockchain. Hang Seng’s official materials indicate the tokenized units are not yet available for subscription. The company will release these units only after securing all necessary regulatory approvals.

The structure provides institutional-grade custody while leveraging blockchain rails for settlement and record-keeping. 

This approach balances innovation with regulatory compliance in Hong Kong’s evolving digital asset framework. 

Physical gold backing ensures the fund maintains tangible value independent of tokenization features. Storage in Hong Kong vaults provides transparency and accessibility for auditing purposes.

Hong Kong’s Digital Asset Development Strategy This launch aligns with Hong Kong’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a regulated crypto asset center. Authorities have actively encouraged projects bridging traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure under proper oversight. 

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority launched a pilot program in November, testing real-value transactions using tokenized deposits. That initiative demonstrated the jurisdiction’s commitment to controlled experimentation with digital financial products.

The timing coincides with gold reaching fresh record highs near $5,600 per ounce on Thursday. Strong precious metals performance provides favorable conditions for new gold investment products to attract capital. 

Hong Kong’s regulatory environment permits such hybrid structures that would face obstacles in many other jurisdictions. The approval process reflects careful balance between innovation and investor protection standards.

Market participants will monitor subscription uptake once tokenized units become available through authorized channels. The product represents a test case for blockchain integration in mainstream investment vehicles. 

Success could prompt additional asset managers to explore similar tokenized fund structures. Hang Seng has not yet provided detailed timelines for when tokenized unit subscriptions will open to qualified investors.