Market Signal Briefing

S&P Global gave Strategy (MSTR) a B- credit rating, citing high financial risk from its bitcoin-heavy business model and limited dollar liquidity.

Key NotesCrypNuevo identifies $121,000 as Bitcoin's primary target, formed by two liquidity pools created during the October 10-11 market crash.Trader has hedged positions with limit buy orders at $111,000-$112,000 levels, anticipating potential retracement before upside moves.Corporate adoption accelerates as MicroStrategy and American Corporation collectively added over 1,800 BTC amid $400 million weekend inflows.
Bitcoin

BTC
$115 392

24h volatility:
1.5%

Market cap:
$2.30 T

Vol. 24h:
$65.50 B

and crypto experienced one of the worst crashes on Oct. 10-11, with unprecedented $19.35 billion liquidations. Two weeks later, the leading cryptocurrency could be getting ready to revisit the price levels pre-crash, according to a renowned analyst and professional trader.

In his Bitcoin Monday Update, CrypNuevo posted a roadmap to BTC this week, looking at liquidity spots that can act as a magnet to Bitcoin price. According to his analysis, Bitcoin could target the $121,000 level that is made of two liquidity pools created after Oct. 10-11’s market crash and liquidations.

$BTC Monday update:

As you know from my last tweet, I managed to fill all my orders after we filled the CME gap at $107k.

Therefore, I'm in a full size trade and I believe that we're going to retrace the LP imbalances at $121k.

Now, the question is whether we're going to fill… pic.twitter.com/3ynPiuDQxv

— CrypNuevo 🔨 (@CrypNuevo) October 27, 2025

Nevertheless, BTC is not out of the woods yet, and CrypNuevo warns that the cryptocurrency could first clear the “CME gap” from this weekend. The trader explained he has already taken profit in one-third of his long positions, hedging for the potential retracement by setting limit buy orders around the $111,000 and $112,000 price levels.

These long positions were built by following a similar strategy and making planned purchases at the previous “CME gap” at $107,000, according to a previous post covering this possibility.

$BTC update:

Not sure if price will ignore the new small CME gap or if we'll hit it next – that's the importance of splitting entries (DCA in position).

But seems clear that the trend is to the upside.

Once $116k-$117k short liquidations hit, it can force a move higher +$120k. https://t.co/hVaaHY7P29 pic.twitter.com/VYQdejT0SZ

— CrypNuevo 🔨 (@CrypNuevo) October 20, 2025

Notably, CrypNuevo is a high-accuracy trader and analyst, sharing his moves and insights publicly for years. According to a post from Oct. 9, he had a 100% win rate in 13 trades in the 30 days prior to the post, achieving 103% in profit.

+103% in 30 days.
13 trades, 0 losses.

Proof > words

Logic, patience, and risk control – that’s the formula. pic.twitter.com/ni7E3j2Qr6

— CrypNuevo 🔨 (@CrypNuevo) October 9, 2025

Week Starts Strong for Bitcoin Price
Interestingly, this week has had a strong start for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, marking an overall positive day for the crypto market, as Coinspeaker reported.

During the weekend, investors staked $400 million in Bitcoin, rotating from gold, an analysis suggested. In this context, Strategy and American Corporation both added more Bitcoin to their reserves.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy acquired 390 BTC for $43.4 million, totaling 640,808 BTC owned by the company. Meanwhile, American Corporation added 1,414 BTC, becoming the 26th largest corporate Bitcoin holder, according to Coinspeaker coverage.

Ethereum

ETH
$4 217

24h volatility:
3.5%

Market cap:
$509.41 B

Vol. 24h:
$37.65 B

, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is also making moves, breaking out of the $4,200 price resistance zone, following Bitcoin’s leadership.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Cryptocurrency News, News

Vini Barbosa has covered the crypto industry professionally since 2020, summing up to over 10,000 hours of research, writing, and editing related content for media outlets and key industry players. Vini is an active commentator and a heavy user of the technology, truly believing in its revolutionary potential. Topics of interest include blockchain, open-source software, decentralized finance, and real-world utility.

Vini Barbosa on X

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is trading near $115,500 on Monday, stabilizing ahead of two pivotal macro events that could shape global liquidity and risk sentiment this week.

Fed's QT Decision Could Shift Liquidity FlowsMarkets are positioning for Wednesday's Federal Reserve meeting, where policymakers will decide on interest rates and the balance-sheet runoff known as quantitative tightening (QT).

Most traders expect the Fed to signal or announce an end to QT after recent comments from Chair Jerome Powell suggested the central bank is "ready" to halt balance-sheet reduction.

A pause would inject dollar liquidity into the financial system and typically supports risk assets such as Bitcoin.

Conversely, if the Fed keeps QT running and tones down rate-cut expectations, conditions may tighten and weigh on crypto markets.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:GS) now expect the Fed to formally end QT this week.

Such a shift would immediately alter liquidity conditions across global markets and could spark renewed momentum in digital assets.

Trump–Xi Summit Adds Geopolitical LayerPresident Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet Thursday.

U.S. Treasury officials described the tone as "very positive," with both sides reportedly close to extending the current trade truce.

A de-escalation would generally lift risk appetite, support equities, and ease dollar strength — all factors that favor Bitcoin.

A breakdown, however, could revive tariff threats and push investors back toward the dollar, creating near-term pressure on crypto assets.

BTC Technical Structure Nears Key Breakout

BTC Price Analysis (Source: TradingView)

Technical Analysis: Bitcoin is testing a descending trendline drawn from the September peak, currently near the $116,300 area.

A daily close above this level would mark the first confirmed breakout since early October.

Such a move could extend toward the $119,000 to $120,000 region, where supertrend resistance is concentrated.

A sustained rally beyond that range would place the prior $124,000 high back in view.

Support remains clustered between $108,000 and $112,000, reinforced by the 20-, 50-, and 100-day exponential moving averages.

A breakdown below that band would expose the rising trendline from April, which runs near $100,000 to $104,000.

Momentum readings continue to improve, though confirmation still depends on a decisive move above the $116,300 resistance.

Volatility Looms as Macro Meets Technicals

BTC Uptober Returns (Source: Coinglass)

Bitcoin's "Uptober" pattern remains intact, with the token finally gaining 0.86% this month after several volatile sessions.

Price behavior around Federal Open Market Committee decisions is typically volatile, and traders expect a repeat this week.

Analysts point out that Bitcoin often mirrors shifts in global and U.S. liquidity conditions, including movements in M2 money supply.

Periods of easier policy and expanding liquidity have historically supported Bitcoin, while tighter financial settings tend to cap performance.

Read Next:

Bitcoin Back To $115,000: Why Is It Suddenly Going Up?
Image: Shutterstock

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This follows earlier SEC guidance allowing firms to go public by filing an S-1 without a delaying amendment, enabling a launch after 20 days.

Ethereum (ETH) is showing signs of renewed strength, following a brief recovery above the $4,000 level. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has attracted renewed buying interest, signaling growing optimism among traders after weeks of consolidation.

Journalist

Posted: October 28, 2025

Key Takeaways 
Did Bitwise’s Solana ETF just get approved in the U.S.?
Bitwise’s Solana Staking ETF received listing certification from NYSE Arca, but trading cannot begin until the U.S. government shutdown ends.

Who launched the first Solana spot ETF?
Hong Kong moved first. ChinaAMC listed the world’s first spot Solana ETF this morning, showing Asia’s fast-moving regulatory lead while the U.S. remains paused.

NYSE Arca certified approval for Bitwise’s Solana Staking ETF on 27 October, marking another step toward U.S. launch.

However, Hong Kong’s ChinaAMC already began trading the world’s first spot Solana ETF this morning, beating American rivals by weeks.

The New York Stock Exchange’s official certification, as seen on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] website, confirms Bitwise secured listing approval under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

Source: X

Trading remains frozen until the U.S. government shutdown ends and final SEC reviews are complete.

Hong Kong seizes first-mover advantage
ChinaAMC’s Solana ETF was launched on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. local time, offering three currency options: HKD, RMB, and USD. The fund charges an annual management fee of 0.99%.

The approval highlights Asia’s rapidly evolving crypto regulatory framework. Hong Kong has previously approved Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs, establishing itself as a hub for digital assets.

Smart money positioned early
Digital asset treasuries loaded up before ETF approvals. Forward Industries and Solana Company accumulated over $2 billion in SOL during September alone.

Treasury balances jumped by over 260% in a single month, according to Coingecko data.

Solana trades at $202.26, up 1.09% today. The price climbed from $177.67 as ETF news spread and could reach as high as $300-$400 once U.S. products are launched.

October’s ETF wave builds
Over ninety spot ETFs covering 24 coins now queue at the SEC, and most decision deadlines fall in October 2025. The SEC approved new rules in September that allow for faster ETF listings.

Multiple asset managers have filed for Solana ETFs, including VanEck, Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, Fidelity, and others. 21Shares also secured provisional approval for its product on Cboe BZX Exchange.

Prediction markets show 100% odds for U.S. Solana ETF approval before year-end. XRP and Litecoin are at over 90%, while Dogecoin is over 80%.

Solana staking makes a difference
Bitwise set its fee at 0.20% with a three-month waiver for early investors. The fund plans to stake its SOL holdings, potentially generating an annual yield of 7.3%—a feature absent from most Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

U.S. approval is pending the resumption of SEC operations after the shutdown. The government closure has entered its third week.

Senate votes to end it have failed nearly a dozen times. Once resolved, exchanges may proceed independently.

Bitwise switched its listing from Cboe BZX to NYSE Arca—the exchange hosting major Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. The move positions the product alongside the industry’s highest-liquidity offerings.

The NYSE certification clears the final hurdle before American investors gain regulated access to Solana through traditional brokerage accounts.

Japan has officially stepped into the regulated stablecoin era with the launch of JPYC EX, the country’s first fully licensed digital yen under the revised Payment Services Act. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for Japan’s financial sector, bridging traditional banking infrastructure with the Web3 ecosystem.

Building on earlier versions of JPYC, the new JPYC EX is designed to serve as a compliant, yen-backed stablecoin connecting the nation’s banking system to blockchain-based commerce, DeFi applications, and cross-border payments. With full legal authorization and asset backing, it positions the yen as a future cornerstone in global digital finance.

According to CryptoQuant, the total stablecoin market capitalization has now surpassed $150 billion, forming the backbone of liquidity for crypto markets, DeFi protocols, and global payments. Analysts from Citi and Bloomberg project that this figure could expand to between $1.6 and $4 trillion by 2030. Within that rapid growth, JPYC is forecasted to capture roughly 2% of the market, reaching a valuation of around $70 billion.

Stablecoins vs JPYC (revised projections 2020-2030) | Source: CryptoQuant
A Fully Regulated Digital Yen Bridging Japan’s Finance and Web3
What distinguishes JPYC EX from other stablecoins is its combination of regulatory clarity, asset backing, and technical versatility. Domestic bank deposits and Japanese government bonds fully collateralize each token, ensuring complete transparency and stability. This structure makes JPYC EX one of the world’s most legally robust stablecoins. A benchmark for compliance-driven innovation in digital finance.

Built on Ethereum, Polygon, and Avalanche, JPYC EX provides instant yen transfers with near-zero fees. Making it a practical tool for businesses and individuals alike. It supports commerce, payroll, peer-to-peer payments, and DeFi applications, offering the efficiency of blockchain without sacrificing legal or operational safeguards.

JPYC EX also aligns closely with Japan’s digital transformation strategy, which aims to merge traditional finance with emerging Web3 systems. By serving as a settlement layer for e-commerce platforms, NFT marketplaces, and cross-border transactions, the stablecoin enables instant yen transfers across Asia, lowering costs and increasing accessibility for international trade.

Looking ahead, analysts forecast JPYC’s market capitalization could reach $70 billion by 2030. It represents roughly 2% of the global stablecoin market. This growth potential underscores Japan’s ambition to establish the digital yen as a key pillar of the decentralized global economy. With its blend of regulatory trust, technological precision, and global reach, JPYC EX may redefine how national currencies operate in the Web3 era.

Stablecoin Dominance Shows a Cooling Phase After Recent Surge
The chart shows that stablecoin market dominance currently sits around 8.31%, following a sharp rise earlier in October that pushed the ratio above 9%. This level often signals heightened demand for liquidity and safety, as traders move capital into stable assets amid market uncertainty.

Over the past few months, dominance has steadily climbed from the 7.3%–7.5% range, reflecting a cautious sentiment as Bitcoin and major altcoins face selling pressure. However, the recent pullback suggests that some funds are beginning to rotate back into risk assets, a potential early sign of market stabilization.

Crypto Stablecoin Dominance % | Source: STABLE.C.D
Technically, the dominance remains above both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a broader uptrend in liquidity positioning. If this level holds, it may serve as a buffer during continued volatility. Conversely, a sustained drop below 8% could signal that traders are redeploying capital into crypto assets, possibly fueling short-term rallies.

Stablecoin dominance remains elevated — a sign that market participants still prefer holding dry powder. Until dominance begins a more decisive decline, this cautious stance will likely persist, underscoring the market’s fragile balance between risk-off sentiment and the readiness for re-entry into volatile assets.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

20h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Ifeoluwa O.

Summarize this article with:

Ripple’s XRP continues to strengthen its foothold in traditional finance as the first U.S. exchange-traded fund linked to the token surpasses $100 million in assets under management (AUM). This milestone reflects a growing appetite among institutional investors for regulated digital asset products, marking a clear shift toward compliance-oriented crypto investments.

In brief

REX Shares’ XRP ETF XRPR has surpassed $100 million in assets under management within six weeks of its launch.
While XRPR performs strongly, approvals for other spot XRP ETFs remain on hold as the SEC is temporarily operating at reduced capacity due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

ETF Performance and Portfolio Composition
On October 24, asset management firm REX Shares announced via X that its REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR) had surpassed $100 million in assets under management as of October 23, 2025, just six weeks after its launch. XRPR is the first U.S.-listed ETF to provide investors with regulated, spot exposure to XRP, aiming to replicate the cryptocurrency’s market performance before fees and expenses.

Data from REX Shares shows the following:

XRP dominates the ETF, comprising 59.38% of the portfolio, equivalent to approximately $61.6 million across 25,620,301 units.
CoinShares Physical XRP accounts for 40.35% of the holdings, valued at $41.8 million across 464,080 shares.
First American Government Obligations Class X represents 0.31% of the portfolio, worth about $321,738.
The fund maintains a minor negative cash and other balance of $47,143, completing the portfolio composition.

SEC Delays and Positive Outlook for XRP Spot ETFs
While XRPR continues to perform strongly, the approval of spot XRP ETFs remains on hold as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is temporarily functioning at reduced capacity due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This pause has affected all pending ETF applications. Despite the delay, industry experts remain optimistic that approvals will move forward once normal operations resume.

Andrew Jacobson, general counsel at Halliday and former global head of legal at 21Shares, explained to DL News that the pause is only temporary and that a new round of approvals is expected once the SEC resumes normal activity. 

Supporting this sentiment, data from forecasting platform Polymarket indicates a probability above 99% for XRP ETF approval this year, reflecting strong market confidence that regulators will deliver a favorable outcome once the evaluation process continues.

Meanwhile, back in August, Canary Capital’s CEO projected that an approved XRP spot ETF could attract around $5 billion in inflows during its first month. He also suggested that XRP might outperform Ethereum (ETH) within the financial services sector.

XRP Sees Increased Futures Trading and Price Uptick
Beyond ETFs, institutional involvement with XRP continues to grow. A sharp increase in trading activity was reported for CME Group’s XRP and Micro XRP futures, which have recorded more than 567,000 contracts, representing a notional value of $26.9 billion since their launch in May 2025. 

At the same time, XRP’s market price has shown notable upward movement. Over the past week, the token has risen by more than 8%, with an additional 2% increase recorded within the last 24 hours. This recent momentum aligns with the growing excitement surrounding institutional participation and the successful launch of XRPR.

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Ifeoluwa O.

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

DISCLAIMER

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

Vitalik Buterin and Anatoly Yakovenko debate whether Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks truly ensure security and decentralization.

A public exchange between Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has gotten attention in the X crypto community.

The debate centered on the level of security that Ethereum’s Layer 2 (L2) networks offer.

Security and Centralization Risks
Buterin recently defended Ethereum’s L2 architecture on X, saying that even if 51% of validators collude or suffer a software bug, they cannot steal user assets. However, he acknowledged that there are limitations if the validator set is trusted with tasks outside the chain’s control. He explained that in such a scenario, more than half of them could then collude and provide a false answer with no recourse.

Yakovenko challenged this view, arguing that the claim that L2s inherit Ethereum’s security is incorrect. “The promise of L2s != the reality of L2s,” he wrote. He pointed out that five years into the L2 roadmap, Wormhole ETH on Solana faces the same worst-case risks as ETH on Base while generating comparable revenue for ETH L1 stakers.

The Solana co-founder suggested that there is an inherent flaw in the networks that makes achieving the desired security difficult. He highlighted several major issues with how L2s function today. Their complex codebases create broad attack surfaces that are difficult to audit thoroughly.

Multisig custody setups can also allow funds to be moved without user approval when signers collude or are compromised. Additionally, off-chain execution systems concentrate too much control in a few hands, undermining the decentralization that blockchain is meant to uphold.

Yakovenko Proposes Ethereum as a Solana Layer-2
Yakovenko has proposed creating a dedicated bridge that would let Ethereum operate as a layer-2 on Solana to enable smooth asset movement between the two. He noted that this approach would not require any changes to the blockchain itself, and as zero-knowledge proving on the chain continues to evolve, the process will become even easier.

You may also like:

Ethereum Sharks and Whales Are Back: What Does it Mean for ETH’s Price?

110-Year-Old Retail Giant Bealls to Accept Meme Coins and Stablecoins in Stores

Spot Solana (SOL) ETF Gets Regulatory Green Light in Hong Kong

Ethereum currently supports more than one million active validators, far exceeding Solana’s estimated 2,000. Supporters like crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro believe that this wide validator base strengthens protection against coordinated attacks.

He explained that many critics either misunderstand or intentionally ignore that L2s are not simple servers running a blockchain. Since they are linked to Ethereum, specific transactions can be enforced within blocks, meaning decentralization on their level is unnecessary because the network itself provides that security.

TL;DR

South Korea has become the epicenter of a new XRP rally as Upbit leads the world in XRP trading volume, surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Analysts highlight a bullish pattern forming, suggesting a possible breakout toward the $4.50–$5.00 range.
Market experts point to Ripple’s growing adoption in Asian financial systems as a major factor strengthening investor conviction and institutional demand.

South Korean investors are showing a renewed appetite for XRP, turning the asset into the nation’s most actively traded cryptocurrency. Data from Upbit, South Korea’s leading exchange, reveals that XRP has overtaken Bitcoin and Ethereum in daily volume, signaling a strong resurgence of retail interest. Market watchers believe this momentum could pave the way for a sustained price expansion over the coming weeks.

South Korean Traders Drive Explosive XRP Momentum
According to crypto strategist X Finance Bull, Korean traders are buying XRP at an accelerating pace, driven by a mix of technical optimism and confidence in Ripple’s expanding real-world use cases. The surge coincides with Ripple’s continued growth in Asia’s cross-border payments sector, where the company has secured new banking partnerships and strengthened its regulatory standing.

Experts note that South Korean markets often act as a catalyst for broader crypto rallies. Upbit’s high retail participation and rapid transaction environment have historically played a key role in sparking major altcoin runs. XRP’s current trajectory reflects both speculative enthusiasm and a deeper shift toward blockchain-based settlement solutions.

Analysts emphasize that XRP’s liquidity and improving fundamentals make it particularly attractive to fast-moving traders. As momentum builds, trading volume continues to rise sharply, reinforcing confidence that the asset could soon test new highs.

XRP Builds Toward $5 As Technical Indicators Align
Market analyst Tektonic observes that XRP’s chart structure is displaying consistent higher lows, signaling sustained upward strength. With price consolidating above key support at the $2.63–$2.65 level, traders are watching closely for confirmation of a breakout.

If XRP maintains this pattern and volume remains elevated, technical models indicate a clear path toward the $4.50–$5.00 target range. This projection aligns with historical Fibonacci extensions and previous resistance points, reinforcing bullish sentiment across major trading desks.

XRP’s dominance on Upbit underscores a powerful convergence between market fundamentals and Korean retail enthusiasm. With volume at record levels and sentiment shifting decisively upward, the stage appears set for XRP to attempt its most significant price breakout in years.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE American: BMNR) just dropped a big number on Monday: $14.2 billion. That's the combined total of its crypto, cash, and what it calls “moonshots,” now anchored by a hefty 3.31 million ethereum ( ETH) stash — enough to give it the crown as the world's largest ETH treasury.

New crypto ETFs, once approved, would provide institutional investors with direct exposure to digital assets and innovative features like staking.

Photo: Traxer via Unsplash

Key Takeaways

Spot ETF filings for XRP, SOL, and LTC may be approved once the US government shutdown is resolved.
The SEC has acknowledged spot ETF filings for XRP from firms like Bitwise, 21Shares, and CoinShares, suggesting imminent decisions.

Spot exchange-traded funds tied to XRP, Solana (SOL), and Litecoin (LTC) may launch within the next two weeks, ETF Store President Nate Geraci speculated.

According to Geraci’s recent post, the only remaining obstacle to launching spot crypto ETFs is the US government shutdown, which, once resolved, could clear the way for swift approval.

The SEC has acknowledged recent spot ETF filings for XRP from firms like Bitwise, signaling ongoing reviews that could enable US market launches. Spot ETF applications for XRP from entities like 21Shares and CoinShares have reached final SEC deadlines, paving the way for potential approvals and institutional adoption.

A spot Solana ETF has already launched in the US under a ’40 Act structure by REX-Osprey, incorporating staking for on-chain yield to attract investors. The product demonstrates how newer crypto ETFs are integrating innovative features beyond simple price exposure.

The potential crypto ETF launch would represent the latest wave of spot ETF applications following the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum products. These exchange-traded funds provide direct exposure to cryptocurrencies without futures contracts, offering institutional investors regulated access to digital assets.

Disclaimer

Ethereum’s bullish momentum has intensified throughout the weekend, with the price climbing above $4,100. This steady recovery follows a strong rebound from the $3,500 region after a crash earlier in the month. 

Investor sentiment, as shown by trading volume and flows on exchanges, has turned optimistic amidst the recovery. Now that Ethereum’s price action is starting to turn bullish again, a new technical analysis shared by crypto analyst Freedomby40 on the social media platform X suggests that the current rally could be far from over, projecting a possible long-term climb to $16,000.

Wave Count Structure Points To A Continuation Phase
Freedomby40’s analysis, which is based on the Elliott Wave structure, presents Ethereum as currently positioned in an extended bullish sequence that began forming in late 2022. Posting the technical analysis on X, the analyst noted that Ethereum’s price action looks great for a continuation. 

His chart shows that the asset has just completed a corrective phase and is entering a renewed impulse wave, with support established between $3,225 and $3,563 at the 0.5 and 0.382 Fibonacci retracement zones, respectively. The analyst labels this zone as the ideal accumulation area for the next leg up, consistent with previous cycle structures seen in 2017 and 2021.

The Elliott Wave projection in his analysis presents a multi-layered confluence of impulse waves extending to the third degree. It illustrates that Ethereum is currently unfolding its fifth major impulse wave in a structure that traces back to mid-2022. 

The internal structure of this wave sequence also reveals a C wave in motion, which itself contains smaller sub-impulse waves. Within that C wave, Ethereum appears to be entering its own fifth sub-wave, which is known to be a decisively bullish wave.

Source: Chart from Freedomby40 on X
Based on this setup, the analyst outlined two potential target zones on the chart: a green box representing the realistic price range for this wave cycle and a red box depicting the higher, more extended scenario that could push Ethereum’s market cap into the trillion-dollar level.

Fibonacci Extensions Predict Targets Of $9,000, $11,000, And $16,000
Freedomby40’s analysis identifies multiple price levels based on Fibonacci extensions from the current price action. The first price target is at $6,303, which is based on the 1.0 Fibonacci extension. This initial price target will see the Ethereum price break above its current all-time high, but this is the first of many.

The next target, the 1.236 extension, is positioned around $9,013. These two price targets ($6,303 and $9,013) were described by the analyst as very realistic. Possible extensions are at the 1.382 and 1.618 Fibonacci extension levels, corresponding to $11,210 and $16,077, respectively.

At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading at $4,160, up by 5.2% in the past 24 hours. Freedomby40’s outlook joins a growing list of ultra-bullish Ethereum price forecasts from institutional research desks and top analysts. Standard Chartered Bank recently raised its 2025 price target for Ethereum to $7,500, while projecting a potential long-term path to $25,000 by 2028.

ETH trading at $4,165 on the 1D chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

BTC expanded against gold, as the precious metal broke down under $4,000, expecting further corrections in the coming weeks.

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In a fresh development, a newly registered claim domain has led to speculations that the Metamask airdrop could begin soon. This comes after the launch of the rewards point system initiative.

Metamask Rolls Out Token Claim Page, Signaling Airdrop Imminent
Reports have been circulating about the potential launch of the wallet’s airdrop after users discovered a newly registered domain, “claim.metamask.io.” Many claim that this is linked to an upcoming token claim portal. 

The page currently prompts investors for authentication. This has fueled talk that the wallet may soon open claims for its rumored MASK token distribution.

Earlier this month, Metamask unveiled plans for a $30 million rewards program tied to Consensys’ Ethereum Layer-2 network, Linea. The wallet activated a new rewards section, signaling that the points-based system is nearing launch. 

Users will earn points for on-chain activities such as swapping tokens or bridging assets between networks. Experts suggest these reward points may be needed to claim MASK tokens in the upcoming airdrop.

The company says the program is designed to reward existing user activity while re-engaging inactive wallets.

Consensys CEO Joe Lubin emphasized that the upcoming token airdrop and reward structure is “a bridge between the wallet’s DeFi utility and its next stage of decentralization.”

This development follows Lubin’s September announcement. He confirmed that the MASK token would arrive “sooner than many expect.” This reinforced expectations that the wallet’s long-awaited token debut is imminent.

Metamask Builds on Previous Ecosystem Developments
Beyond the token speculation, the Web3 wallet rolled out major new features earlier this month. Users can now trade derivatives directly from any network that is compatible with EVM. This comes as the wallet rolled out support for Hyperliquid-powered perpetual futures trading. Plans to integrate Polymarket later this year were also confirmed by the team.

In other developments, Polymarket’s CMO Matthew Modabber revealed that the platform is preparing to launch its own POLY token with a retroactive airdrop, further aligning its roadmap with the Metamask ecosystem. 

Despite the excitement, reactions within the community have been mixed. Some long-time users have praised the wallet’s move toward decentralization. Others feel overlooked after years of supporting the network during the costly DeFi and NFT surges of 2020 and 2021.

In response, the wallet’s developers clarified that the rewards program is not a one-time mining or airdrop event. In order to identify consistent user activity across several DeFi interactions, they agreed on a sustainable framework.

Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.

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In brief
American Bitcoin has acquired 1,414 Bitcoin, the company said Monday.
Bitcoin was trading above $115,500, its highest level in two weeks.
More than 200 companies have built Bitcoin treasuries.
American Bitcoin (ABTC), the publicly traded Bitcoin treasury and mining company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has added 1,414 Bitcoin currently worth $163 million to its holdings, according to an announcement on Monday.

Miami, Florida-based American Bitcoin, a subsidiary of Hut 8 Corp. that debuted in April, now has 3,865 Bitcoin worth about $446 million based on BTC's present price above $115,200. The latest accumulations resulted from strategic purchases and mining, the company said.

ABTC continued its aggressive treasury approach, even as Bitcoin has sagged well below its all-time high above $125,000, set in August, and as some market observers have raised doubts about treasury strategies' sustainability if the asset price drops below companies' acquisiton prices.

ABTC was up more than 11% on the day to trade above $6.20, according to Yahoo Finance. Shares have languished below $6 for the last two weeks amid a wider crypto market swoon.

The largest cryptocurrency by market value has been buffetted by macroeconomic uncertainties, although a lessening of U.S.-China trade tensions seemed to buoy the asset and other cryptos on Monday.

In its announcement, ABTC said it would provide periodic updates on Satoshis per share (SPS), a measure of the volume of Bitcoin "attributable to each outstanding share of the Company's stock." The company said it would caculate the SPS by multiplying its total holdings by the Satoshi conversion rate of 100,000,000 per Bitcoin and then divide the total by the number of shares of common stock outstanding.

The company's executive chairman, Asher Genoot said in a statement that ABTC's mining operations separated it from other treasury companies. "By producing Bitcoin directly, we can reduce our average cost per Bitcoin to drive a cost advantage over vehicles that buy exclusively on the open market," Genoot said.

American Bitcoin formed when the Trump brothers merged their own business entity earlier this year with Hut 8, a Canada-headquartered miner. The joint venture then went on to combine with Gryphon Digital Mining via a stock-for-stock merger. Gryphon was already publicly traded.

The number of mining companies has mushroomed to over 200 this year, according to bitcointreasuries.net as institutions have looked to benefit from gains in crypto markets and address investors' growing appetite for digital assets.

They have followed the lead of Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, which pivoted from software development to BTC acquisition in 2020, and now holds more than $73 billion in Bitcoin. On Monday, Strategy said that it had added 390 Bitcoin worth $43 million to its coffers.

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Yellow Network, a blockchain network backed by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, has integrated with XRPL EVM Sidechain to advance its real-world assets trading system.

Summary

Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen-backed project Yellow Network has announced integration with XRP Ledger.
The collaboration involves Yellow Network’s proprietary layer-3 clearing network dubbed Yellow Clearnet.
Integration with the XRPL EVM Sidechain aims to help Clearnet power liquidity for real-world assets trading

Yellow Network’s proprietary layer-3 clearing network will leverage the XRPL EVM Sidechain to ramp up its liquidity and traceability of RWAs, the platform said. 

In the crypto ecosystem, state channels are the private off-chain transaction channels that allow for low-fee and trustless trading.

Yellow Network and XRPL integration
An engine that offers Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible environment will see Yellow Network benefit from fast settlement and off-chain learning.

The Yellow Clearnet is a solution that allows users to tap into off-chain liquidity. Its real-time, non-custodial and cross-chain trading happens off-chain, with this occurring on isolated exchanges and brokerages. Clearnet uses state channels to achieve this, only enabling final settlement of trades to record on-chain.

The Yellow Network team says access to a global, unified pool of liquidity is the main goal of this integration.

“This is an incredibly exciting development for both Yellow Network and the XRPL EVM Sidechain” said Louis Bellet, co-founder of Yellow Network.

According to Bellet, the XRPL EVM Sidechain offers the foundational rails key to the next level of RWA tokenization. Meanwhile , Yellow Network provides the blockchain ecosystem that makes real-world assets truly liquid and tradable.

Why is this good for XRP?
The XRPL EVM Sidechain allows Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible applications to launch on the XRP Ledger.

The sidechain, developed by Peersyst, allows apps to connect to the XRPL Ledger. XRPL is a decentralized blockchain powered by XRP (XRP). With Ethereum compatibility, XRP becomes interoperable with more than 80 blockchains.

XRP is the native gas token of this ecosystem.

Growth for Ripple co-founder backed project 
Yellow Network, which launched in 2018 and looks to bring on-chain solutions to the problem of liquidity fragmentation in crypto, secured a $10 million seed round backing from Larsen in 2024.

Yellow Clearnet now boasts integration with several top blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Polygon and Binance Smart Chain. Following rollout of XRPL support, the next steps on the roadmap include connection to Solana, Bitcoin and Polkadot.

In brief
MegaETH has attracted $350 million in pre-deposits at a “hypothetical” fully diluted valuation of $7 billion, just hours after opening its initial coin offering.
The “hypothetical” fully diluted valuation is only the result of the ICO’s oversubscription. Once allocations have been determined, MEGA will have an FDV of $999 million.
The Ethereum layer-2 scaling network gained significant hype this year, thanks to a buzzy testnet that received broadly positive performance reviews.
Ethereum layer-2 network MegaETH started its initial coin offering auction on Monday—and it became oversubscribed in just five minutes. Now, approximately five hours later, it has attracted $350 million in pre-deposits at a “hypothetical” fully diluted valuation of $7 billion.

MegaETH has gained significant hype over the past year, following the launch of its testnet in March. Its primary selling point, especially as an Ethereum scaling network, is its fast transaction execution speed—with some users reporting that it makes Ethereum feel “instant.”

As a result, over 100,000 users completed know-your-customer procedures ahead of the MegaETH initial coin offering, also referred to as an ICO. Those users now have 72 hours to place a bid, and allocations will be revealed next week. Now several times oversubscribed, allocations will be determined by assessing past engagement with MegaETH and Ethereum communities, both via “social and on-chain” methods. 

The “hypothetical” $7 billion fully diluted valuation is only the result of the ICO’s oversubscription. Once allocations have been determined, MEGA will have an FDV of $999 million.

In the first two hours of the ICO, according to Arkham Intelligence, 819 addresses committed a maximum of $186,282 in USDT apiece to the MegaETH sale address.

$285 MILLION COMMITTED TO MEGAETH IN ONLY 2 HOURS

The MegaETH public sale has been open for 2 hours so far - it is already oversubscribed by more than 5x.

819 addresses committed the max amount, sending $186,282 USDT to MegaETH’s sale address. pic.twitter.com/4KCcRhLDtH

— Arkham (@arkham) October 27, 2025

Predictors on Polymarket believe there is a 27% chance that there will be up to $1.8 billion worth of commitments to the public sale. Meanwhile, others on the platform predict an 84% likelihood that it raises less than $1 billion.  

The ICO is selling 5% of the total 10 billion token supply. Those based in the United States will be required to lock up their funds for a year; this was also seen during the ICO for stablecoin blockchain Plasma due to U.S. regulations. The lock-up is optional for non-U.S. participants, but it may help gain allocation.

According to the MegaETH MiCA whitepaper, the token generation event will take place at least 40 days after the public sale concludes, which would be mid-December at the earliest. That said, the whitepaper also estimates the token will launch in January 2026.

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Ripple’s rapid expansion across the global finance space, along with the continued growth of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), has drawn significant attention from the broader market. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently spotlighted the company’s top five strategic acquisitions, emphasizing how these deals are shaping the crypto payment firm’s future and reinforcing XRP’s central role within the evolving ecosystem. 

Ripple and XRP Ledger Solidify Global Position Through Acquisitions
In an X social media post on Friday, Garlinghouse confirmed that with the complete acquisition of Hidden Road, now rebranded as Ripple Prime, the crypto payments company has finalized five key takeovers in roughly two years. These include GTreasury, Rail, Standard Custody, Metaco, and now Ripple Prime. Each acquisition strengthens the company’s position in the global finance ecosystem and aligns with its vision to create what Garlinghouse calls an “internet of value,” where one moves as easily as information does online.

Garlinghouse emphasized in his post that XRP sits “at the center of everything Ripple does,” underscoring its vital role in the company’s growing range of financial products. Every acquisition, whether focused on liquidity management, custody, or settlement, aims to enhance how institutions leverage Ripple’s payment technology and, ultimately, the XRP Ledger to transfer value globally with greater efficiency and security. 

Following Garlinghouse’s post, crypto market expert Crypto Sensei raised an important question about how the company’s new integration would handle settlement. He also asked whether the company’s stablecoin, RLUSD, which already lives on Ethereum, would also operate on the XRP Ledger. While the Ripple CEO has not confirmed the specifics, the community chimed in, suggesting that the payments firm plans to roll out RLUSD on XRPL soon. This would allow the recently acquired brokerage platform, Ripple Prime, to handle both liquidity and settlement natively on the ledger. 

If this happens, the company could soon control everything from trade execution to settlement, with XRP acting as the core bridge asset. It’s a move that could help the company achieve its clear goals of integrating traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain-based liquidity.  

The Firm Uses XRP In Landmark Equity Deal
In another major development, crypto enthusiast Diana announced that Ripple has confirmed through a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it paid for a corporate acquisition using XRP as the payment currency. The filing by Armada Acquisition Corp II revealed that Ripple contributed 126,791,458 XRP, approximately $305 million, in exchange for equity units that would convert into PubCo Class A shares upon closing.

The transaction marks one of the first instances where XRP has been used directly as a financial instrument in a regulated equity deal. This move signifies a milestone for Ripple, especially since it officially concluded a 7-year lawsuit with the SEC earlier this year, which had alleged that XRP was a security. 

According to Diana, the purchase will effectively transform XRP from a utility token into a form of institutional capital. The payment firm’s use of XRP as payment also comes on the heels of its GTreasury acquisition and its inclusion in the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payments Task Force Steering Committee, further embedding XRP into mainstream financial operations.

XRP trading at $2.61 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

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It was a split week for crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as bitcoin funds stormed back into positive territory with a combined $446 million in net inflows for the week. On the other hand, ether products extended their losing streak with $244 million in net outflows, as investor sentiment remained cautious.

ALTAVISTA, Va., Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net income for Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation (OTCQX:PPBN), the one-bank holding company (the “Company” or “Pinnacle”) for First National Bank (the “Bank”), was $2,992,000, or $1.34 per basic and diluted share, for the third quarter of 2025, while net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $7,943,000, or $3.58 per basic and diluted share. In comparison, net income was $2,085,000, or $0.94 per basic and diluted share, and $6,377,000, or $2.88 per basic and diluted share, respectively, for the same periods of 2024. Consolidated results for the quarter and the nine-month periods are unaudited.

Third Quarter & 2025 Year-to-Date Highlights

Income Statement (Comparisons are to the third quarter and first nine months of 2024)

Third Quarter 2025 Net Income increased 44% to $2,992,000.Year-to-Date Net Income increased 25% to $7,943,000, while Return on Assets improved 17 basis points to 1.03%. Net Interest Income increased 14% primarily due to higher loan volume and yields on earning assets along with lower cost of funds. Net Interest Margin expanded 40 basis points to 4.08%. Provision for Credit Losses was only $139,000 due to lower loan growth this year and continued strong Asset Quality.Noninterest Income improved 13% primarily due to increased income generated from sales of investment and insurance products as well as mortgage loans. Noninterest Expense increased 12% primarily due to higher salaries and benefits and occupancy expense to include software and platforms. Balance Sheet (Comparisons are to December 31, 2024)

Total Assets have decreased $13.6 million, or 1%, due primarily to a $13 million decrease in Deposits and $10 million in cash utilized to pay off outstanding subordinated debt and a promissory note set to reprice at higher interest rates. Securities decreased $30.5 million, or 17%, due to maturities, which have been used to fund an increase in Loans of $18.4 million, or 2.6%, and help the Bank maintain cash and cash equivalent balances above $100,000 million.Our Liquidity Ratio remained strong at 28.3% (11.9% excluding Available for Sale Securities).

Capital Ratios and Stock Price (Comparisons are to December 31, 2024)

The Bank’s Leverage Ratio and Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio decreased to 8.82% and 12.91%, respectively, due to paying off the subordinated debt and promissory note. Our Stock Price ended the quarter at $37.58 per share, based on the last trade, which is an increase of $6.38, or 20.4%. Net Income and Profitability

Net income generated during the third quarter of 2025 represents a $907,000, or 44%, increase as compared to the third quarter of 2024, while net income generated through nine months of 2025 represents a $1,566,000, or 25%, increase as compared to the same period of the prior year. The increase in net income for the third quarter and year-to-date 2025 was driven by higher net interest income, higher noninterest income, and lower provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher noninterest expense. 

Profitability as measured by the Company’s return on average assets (“ROA”) increased to 1.03% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to 0.86% for the same time period of 2024. Correspondingly, return on average equity (“ROE”) increased to 12.76% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to 11.76% for the same time period of 2024. 

“We are pleased with Pinnacle’s performance thus far in 2025,” stated Aubrey H. Hall, III, President and Chief Executive Officer for both the Company and the Bank. Mr. Hall further commented, “Increased net interest income driven by higher yields on interest earning assets and lower cost of funds has offset rising overhead expense as we continue to invest in personnel and infrastructure to facilitate growth. Our Company remains in a solid position with ample funding, strong asset quality, and an expanding net interest margin.”  

Early Payoff of Subordinated Debt and Note

During September 2025, the Company paid off $8,000,000 in subordinated debt and a $2,000,000 promissory note that were set to reprice at higher interest rates. The early retirement of this debt was made possible by Pinnacle’s continued financial strength and prudent balance sheet management. Pinnacle may explore opportunities to reissue debt in the future based on market conditions and the Bank’s current and projected capital needs.

Net Interest Income and Margin

For the third quarter of 2025, the Company generated $10,227,000 in net interest income, which represents a $1,286,000, or 14%, increase as compared to $8,941,000 for the third quarter of 2024. Interest income increased $741,000, or 6%, due to higher yields on earning assets and increased loan volume, while interest expense decreased $545,000, or 16%, due to lower interest rates paid on deposits and an overall decrease in interest earning deposits.

Through nine months of 2025, the Company has generated $29,773,000 in net interest income, which represents a $3,604,000, or 14%, increase as compared to $26,169,000 for the same time period of 2024. Interest income increased $2,933,000, or 8%, due to higher loan volume and interest rates, which resulted in yield on earning assets increasing 28 basis points to 5.22%. Interest expense decreased $671,000, or 7%, due to lower interest rates paid on deposits with cost to fund earning assets decreasing 12 basis points to 1.14%. Net interest margin increased to 4.08% through nine months of 2025 compared to 3.68% for the same time period of 2024. 

Reserves for Credit Losses and Asset Quality

The provision for credit losses was $29,000 in the third quarter of 2025 as compared to $136,000 in the third quarter of 2024. Through nine months of 2025, the provision for credit losses was $139,000 as compared to $396,000 for the same time period of 2024. Provision expense has decreased as a result of a decline in the pace of loan volume growth and lower net charge offs through the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same time period in 2024.

The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $5,178,000 or 0.71% of total loans outstanding as of September 30, 2025. In comparison, the ACL was $5,084,000 or 0.71% of total loans outstanding as of December 31, 2024. Non-performing loans to total loans decreased to 0.18% as of September 30, 2025, compared to 0.22% as of year-end 2024, while ACL coverage of non-performing loans increased to 397% as of September 30, 2025, compared to 321% as of year-end 2024. Management views the allowance balance as being sufficient to offset potential future losses in the loan portfolio.

Noninterest Income and Expense

For the third quarter of 2025, noninterest income increased $281,000, or 16%, to $2,044,000 as compared to $1,763,000 for the third quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $118,000 increase in commissions and fees from sales of investment and insurance products, a $41,000 increase in service charges on deposit accounts, and a $24,000 increase in fees generated from the sales of mortgage loans.

Through nine months of 2025 noninterest income increased $676,000, or 13%, to $5,874,000 as compared to $5,198,000 for the same time period in 2024. The increase was mainly due to a $255,000 increase in commissions and fees from sales of investment and insurance products, a $125,000 increase in fees generated from sales of mortgage loans, a $71,000 increase in BOLI income, and a $55,000 increase in service charges on deposit accounts along with increases in wire transfer and merchant card fees.

For the third quarter of 2025, noninterest expense increased $606,000, or 8%, to $8,567,000 as compared to $7,961,000 for the third quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $343,000 increase in salary and benefits and a $158,000 increase in occupancy expenses, to include software and platforms, along with a $82,000 increase in dealer loan expenses and a $50,000 increase in capital stock taxes.

Through nine months of 2025, noninterest expense increased $2,678,000, or 12%, to $25,722,000 as compared to $23,044,000 for the same time period of 2024. The increase was mainly due to a $1,696,000 increase in salaries and benefits and a $539,000 increase in occupancy expense, both associated with current and planned future growth, as well as a $99,000 increase in core processing expense, a $80,000 increase in office supplies, and a $78,000 increase in capital stock taxes.

The Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total assets as of September 30, 2025, were $1,030,398,000, down 1% from $1,043,994,000 as of December 31, 2024. The principal components of the Company’s assets as of September 30, 2025, were $730,297,000 in total loans, $145,363,000 in securities, and $105,302,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Through nine months of 2025, total loans have increased $18,379,000, or 2.6%, from $711,918,000 and securities have decreased $30,454,000, or 17%, from $175,816,000.

The majority of the Company’s securities portfolio is relatively short-term in nature. Forty-one percent (41%) of the Company’s securities portfolio is invested in U.S. Treasury Notes having an average maturity of 1.05 years with $25,000,000 maturing during the next six months. The Company’s entire securities portfolio was classified as available for sale on September 30, 2025, which provides transparency regarding unrealized losses. Unrealized losses associated within the available for sale securities portfolio were $8,229,000 as of September 30, 2025, or five percent (5%) of book value, an improvement from $11,817,000 as of December 31, 2024.

The Company had a strong liquidity ratio of 28% as of September 30, 2025. The liquidity ratio excluding the available for sale securities portfolio was 12% providing the opportunity to sell excess funds at an attractive federal funds rate. The Company has access to multiple liquidity lines of credit through its correspondent banking relationships and the Federal Home Loan Bank. None of these contingency funding sources have been utilized.

Total liabilities as of September 30, 2025, were $942,706,000, down $22,902,000, or 2%, from $965,608,000 as of December 31, 2024, as deposits have decreased $12,880,000, or 1%, through nine months of 2025 to $938,039,000 from $950,919,000 and, as referenced earlier, $10,000,000 in subordinated debt and a promissory note were paid off. First National Bank’s number of deposit accounts increased 1.2% during the same time period as the Bank has benefited from the closures of large national bank branches and bank mergers within markets served combined with its reputation for providing extraordinary customer service.

Total stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2025, was $87,692,000 and consisted primarily of $75,244,000 in retained earnings. In comparison, as of December 31, 2024, total stockholders’ equity was $78,386,000. Stockholders’ equity increased primarily due to 2025 year to date profitability and an increase in the market value of the securities portfolio. Both the Company and Bank remain “well capitalized” per all regulatory definitions.

Company Information

Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation is a locally managed community banking organization serving Central and Southern Virginia. The one-bank holding company of First National Bank serves market areas consisting primarily of all or portions of the Counties of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, Halifax, and Pittsylvania, and the Cities of Charlottesville, Danville, and Lynchburg. The Company has a total of nineteen branches with one branch in Amherst County within the Town of Amherst, two branches in Bedford County; five branches in Campbell County, including two within the Town of Altavista, where the Bank was founded; one branch in the City of Charlottesville, three branches in the City of Danville; three branches in the City of Lynchburg; and three branches in Pittsylvania County, including one within the Town of Chatham. The Bank opened a full-service branch in the South Boston area of Halifax County in January of this year, where it also continues to operate a commercial loan production office. First National Bank is in its 117th year of operation.         

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking and are based on current assumptions and analysis by the Company. These forward-looking statements, including statements made in Mr. Hall’s quotes may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the credit quality of our asset portfolio in future periods, the expected losses of nonperforming loans in future periods, returns and capital accretion during future periods, our cost of funds, the maintenance of our net interest margin, future operating results and business performance and our growth initiatives. Although we believe our plans and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain, and we can give no assurance that these plans or expectations will be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations include, but are not limited to: changes in consumer spending and saving habits that may occur, including increased inflation; changes in general business, economic and market conditions; attracting, hiring, training, motivating, and retaining qualified employees; changes in fiscal and monetary policies, and laws and regulations; changes in interest rates, inflation rates, deposit flows, loan demand and real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loan portfolio and the value of the collateral securing loans; changes in macroeconomic trends and uncertainty, including liquidity concerns at other financial institutions, and the potential for local and/or global economic recession; changes in demand for financial services in Pinnacle’s market areas; increased competition from both banks and non-banks in Pinnacle’s market areas; a deterioration in credit quality and/or a reduced demand for, or supply of, credit; increased information security risk, including cyber security risk, which may lead to potential business disruptions or financial losses; volatility in the securities markets generally, including in the value of securities in the Company’s securities portfolio or in the market price of Pinnacle common stock specifically; and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements, which reflect our views as of the date of this release.

Selected Financial Highlights are shown on the next page.
 Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation
Selected Financial Highlights
(9/30/25, 6/30/25, and 9/30/24 results unaudited)
(In thousands, except rations, share, and per share data)
  3 Months Ended3 Months Ended3 Months EndedIncome Statement Highlights9/30/20256/30/20259/30/2024Interest Income$13,003 $12,755 $12,262Interest Expense 2,776 2,688 3,321Net Interest Income 10,227 10,067 8,941Provision for Credit Losses 29 73 136Noninterest Income 2,044 2,085 1,763Noninterest Expense 8,567 8,795 7,961Net Income 2,992 2,690 2,085Earnings Per Share (Basic) 1.34 1.21 0.94Earnings Per Share (Diluted) 1.34 1.21 0.94     9 Months EndedYear Ended9 Months EndedIncome Statement Highlights9/30/202512/31/20249/30/2024Interest Income$38,133$47,743$35,200Interest Expense 8,360 12,295 9,031Net Interest Income 29,773 35,448 26,169Provision for Credit Losses 139 752 396Noninterest Income 5,874 7,879 5,198Noninterest Expense 25,722 31,417 23,044Net Income 7,943 9,178 6,377Earnings Per Share (Basic) 3.58 4.15 2.88Earnings Per Share (Diluted) 3.58 4.15 2.88    Balance Sheet Highlights9/30/202512/31/20249/30/2024Cash and Cash Equivalents$105,302$108,213$106,009Total Loans 730,297 711,918 678,893Total Securities 145,363 175,816 182,010Total Assets 1,030,398 1,043,994 1,015,994Total Deposits 938,039 950,919 921,363Total Liabilities 942,706 965,608 938,622Stockholders' Equity 87,692 78,386 77,372Shares Outstanding 2,225,727 2,212,270 2,215,020    Ratios and Stock Price9/30/202512/31/20249/30/2024Gross Loan-to-Deposit Ratio 77.85% 74.87% 73.68%Net Interest Margin (Year-to-date) 4.08% 3.70% 3.68%Liquidity 28.33% 32.60% 33.61%Efficiency Ratio 72.13% 72.49% 73.47%Return on Average Assets (ROA) 1.03% 0.92% 0.86%Return on Average Equity (ROE) 12.76% 12.49% 11.76%Leverage Ratio (Bank) 8.82% 9.21% 9.21%Tier 1 Capital Ratio (Bank) 12.19% 12.81% 12.84%Total Capital Ratio (Bank) 12.91% 13.52% 13.53%Stock Price$37.58$31.20$29.73Book Value$39.40$35.43$34.93        Asset Quality Highlights9/30/202512/31/20249/30/2024Nonaccruing Loans$1,261$1,582$956Loans 90 Days or More Past Due and Accruing 42 0 0Total Nonperforming Loans 1,303 1,582 956Loan Modifications 106 109 340Loans Individually Evaluated 1,409 2,010 1,296Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) (Foreclosed Assets) 0 0 0Total Nonperforming Assets 1,303 1,582 956Nonperforming Loans to Total Loans 0.18% 0.22% 0.14%Nonperforming Assets to Total Assets 0.13% 0.15% 0.09%Allowance for Credit Losses$5,178$5,084$4,795Allowance for Credit Losses to Total Loans 0.71% 0.71% 0.71%Allowance for Credit Losses to Nonperforming Loans 397% 321% 502%     CONTACT: Pinnacle Bankshares Corporation, Bryan M. Lemley, 434-477-5882 or [email protected]

New York, NY, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following a challenge from GuruNanda LLC, BBB National Programs National Advertising Division determined that The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) provided a reasonable basis for quantified express claims that its Crest 3D Whitestrips remove years of stains.

P&G and GuruNanda are competitors in the oral care market. P&G’s Crest 3D Whitestrips come in multiple versions each with a different concentration of hydrogen peroxide, application duration, and number of treatments to allow consumers to choose how fast they want to whiten their teeth. Product labels state the time required to remove a specified number of years of stains, such as “Removes Years of Stains in Just 1 Hour” and “Removes 10 Years of Tough Set-In Stains.”

P&G explained that Crest 3D Whitestrips work by using hydrogen peroxide to remove intrinsic yellowing from teeth, which generally cannot be removed by brushing or by routine dental cleaning. P&G submitted four meta-analyses that determined the rate at which teeth yellow over time. These studies concluded that intrinsic yellowing is affected only by age, and that all teeth yellow at the same rate every year, called the Yellow Slope Value. P&G also submitted four clinical studies testing its products’ efficacy to determine how much less yellow the teeth became after treatment. Finally, knowing the change in yellowness and the rate at which teeth yellow per year, P&G calculated years of stain removal by dividing the product efficacy by the Yellow Slope Value.

Based on the evidence, NAD concluded that P&G’s “Years of Stains” claims for Crest 3D Whitestrips were substantiated.

In its advertiser statement, P&G stated that it “appreciates NAD’s clear reasoning and consistent application of its standards.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB Procedures, this release may not be used for promotional purposes.

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Stellar Bancorp (STEL - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for Stellar Bancorp basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, and the near-term price movement of its stock are proven to be strongly correlated. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Stellar Bancorp, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for Stellar BancorpThis bank holding company is expected to earn $1.97 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Stellar Bancorp. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 5.5%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Stellar Bancorp to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

Origin Bancorp (OBK - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.

Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.

As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Origin Bancorp is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.

For Origin Bancorp, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for Origin BancorpThis bank holding company is expected to earn $3.23 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, which represents no year-over-year change.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Origin Bancorp. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 2.7%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of Origin Bancorp to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.

United Bankshares (UBSI - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.

The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.

Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.

Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for United Bankshares basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.

Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.

For United Bankshares, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.

Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.

The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

Earnings Estimate Revisions for United BanksharesFor the fiscal year ending December 2025, this holding company for United Bank is expected to earn $3.15 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.

Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for United Bankshares. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 4.6%.

Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.

You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>

The upgrade of United Bankshares to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.