Market Signal Briefing

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) have surged to an all-time high as the company continues to benefit from its role in the booming artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

St. Louis-area machinists have been on strike since early August.

On Friday, Pennsylvania-based Conestoga Capital Advisors disclosed selling 855,435 shares of Vertex (VERX +0.51%), an estimated $24.8 million transaction based on average prices in the third quarter.

What HappenedAccording to an SEC filing released Friday, Conestoga Capital Advisors reduced its position in Vertex by 855,435 shares during the quarter ended September 30. The estimated value of the shares sold was approximately $24.8 million, calculated using the average closing price from July 1 to September 30. At the end of the quarter, the fund reported holding 2.5 million shares of Vertex.

What Else to KnowThis was a reduction, not a full exit; Vertex now represents 1.0% of Conestoga’s 13F reportable AUM.

Top holdings after the quarter:

NASDAQ:CWST: $272.9 million (4.4% of AUM)NASDAQ:ROAD: $270.8 million (4.3% of AUM)NASDAQ:DSGX: $248.3 million (4% of AUM)NYSE:RBC: $244.3 million (3.9% of AUM)NASDAQ:FSV: $233 million (3.7% of AUM)As of Friday's market close, Vertex shares were priced at $25.41, down 39.5% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500's nearly 17% gain over the same period.

Company OverviewMetricValueRevenue (TTM)$710.5 millionNet Income (TTM)($50.4 million)Market Capitalization$4.1 billionPrice (as of market close Friday)$25.41Company SnapshotVertex provides tax technology solutions, including tax determination, compliance and reporting, tax data management, and industry-specific software for corporations.The company generates revenue primarily through software licenses, software-as-a-service subscriptions, and related implementation, training, and outsourcing services.It targets enterprise clients in retail, communications, leasing, and manufacturing sectors across the United States and international markets.Vertex provides tax technology software and services for corporations. The company leverages a combination of software licensing and cloud-based subscription models to deliver scalable tax compliance solutions. Its focus on automation and integration positions Vertex as a strategic partner for organizations seeking to streamline complex tax processes in multiple industries.

Foolish TakeConestoga’s decision to pare back its Vertex stake reflects a broader retreat from underperforming software names that weighed on the fund’s returns last quarter. The Pennsylvania-based growth manager sold roughly 855,000 shares—a $24.8 million trade—leaving Vertex at just 1% of its reportable assets. In its third-quarter investor letter, Conestoga singled out Vertex as one of its “biggest detractors,” noting the tax software provider struggled with revenue growth amid elongated enterprise sales cycles.

That weakness showed up in the company’s latest earnings: Vertex’s second-quarter revenue rose 15% year over year to $184.6 million, but the company posted a net loss of $961,000, compared to a $5.2 million profit one year prior.

Conestoga, which manages about $7.5 billion in assets, remains heavily weighted toward quality-growth holdings such as Casella Waste and Descartes Systems. For long-term investors, the Vertex pullback likely reflects short-term performance management, not a rejection of its business model. The company’s recurring revenue and deep enterprise footprint still give it a durable growth runway if margins stabilize.

Glossary13F reportable assets under management (AUM): The value of securities a fund manager must disclose quarterly to the SEC on Form 13F.
Reduction (in position): When an investor decreases, but does not fully sell, their holdings in a particular security.
Top holdings: The largest investments held by a fund, ranked by their value as a percentage of total assets.
Transaction value: The total dollar amount received or paid in a specific trade, often based on average share price.
Form 13F: A quarterly SEC filing by institutional investment managers listing their equity holdings.
Software-as-a-service (SaaS): A software delivery model where applications are accessed online by subscription, rather than purchased and installed.
Implementation services: Assistance provided to help clients set up and integrate new software or systems.
Outsourcing services: Contracting external providers to handle certain business functions or processes.
TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.
Tax determination: The process of calculating the correct tax amount for transactions based on current laws and regulations.
Tax compliance: Ensuring all tax filings and payments meet legal requirements.
Industry-specific software: Technology solutions tailored to the unique needs of particular business sectors.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Descartes Systems Group. The Motley Fool recommends FirstService. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Quantum computing might be the next big technology megatrend.

Technology is one of the most exciting (and lucrative) sectors in the stock market because of its disruptive potential and scalability. Most recently, hype from generative artificial intelligence (AI) seems to have bled into another subset of computer science called quantum computing -- a technology that promises to dramatically expand computers' problem-solving capabilities.

With shares up by an eye-watering 3,000% over the last 12 months, Rigetti Computing (RGTI 1.91%) is a clear winner in this hype cycle. That said, with a potentially transformational technology like quantum computing, investors should be looking at the long-term story instead of short-term fluctuations.

Let's dig deeper into Rigetti's fundamentals to see how it might hold up over the next decade and beyond.

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What is Rigetti Computing?
Analysts at McKinsey & Company don't think scalable, useful quantum computers will be available until 2040, if not longer. But that extended timeline isn't stopping early movers like Rigetti from diving headfirst into the opportunity. Since its founding in 2013, the company has focused on building the infrastructure needed to support the future industry.

Rigetti runs a full-stack strategy, where it designs and fabricates quantum processing units (QPUs), which are used to create upgradable devices. The company has even made its own programming language called QUIL, designed to help developers write algorithms and interact with its systems through traditional computer hardware via the cloud. Its systems are already available through mainstream cloud computing providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.

Rigetti's picks-and-shovels business model will give it exposure to the quantum industry's expansion while avoiding the risks associated with consumer-facing applications. And so far, things seem to be moving in the right direction. In September, the company announced purchase orders for two of its Novera quantum computing systems in a deal worth roughly $5.7 million, with delivery expected in the first half of 2026.

However, these sales are likely experimental. And investors shouldn't take this as a sign that the quantum industry is ready for mainstream adoption. In the meantime, Rigetti's operational health remains lackluster.

Rigetti is burning through cash

Image source: Getty Images.

Rigetti will need much more than a few one-off sales to generate real value for its shareholders. Top-line growth remains choppy to nonexistent, with second-quarter sales actually dropping 42% year over year to $1.8 million. Meanwhile, operating losses are growing consistently (driven by rising research and development costs) and now stand at $19.9 million.

The good news is that with $425.7 million in cash and short-term investments, Rigetti can sustain its losses for years into the future. Furthermore, the stock's recent rally has given it a market cap of $13 billion, which will give management the opportunity to sell more stock at these unusually high prices, reducing the level of equity dilution relative to the amount of cash raised. Rigetti's most recent capital raise was in June and netted the company a whopping $350 million.

What does the next 10 years have in store?
Investors who want to bet on quantum computing should have a 10-to-20-year time frame because the technology is still very far from mainstream acceptance. That timeline puts Rigetti Computing's stock in a challenging position because of its significant and growing operational losses.

Current investors will likely experience immense equity dilution as Rigetti uses the current hype as an opportunity to maximize the cash on its balance sheet. Fundamentals-focused investors should remain patient and wait for the dust to settle before considering a long-term position.

Will Ebiefung has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

CoreWeave is still down 25% from its all-time high.

Nvidia (NVDA +2.26%) has been one of the undisputed winners of the artificial intelligence (AI) investing trend. It's a critical supplier of high-powered computing software, and it knows where the money is flowing in the AI race. So, if Nvidia takes a stake in a company, investors should pay attention.

According to Nvidia's latest 13-F filing, it only holds shares of six stocks. Its largest investment by far is CoreWeave (CRWV +7.47%). Nvidia's stake in CoreWeave totals over 24 million shares, worth over $3 billion. CoreWeave's stock has more than tripled since going public earlier this year, but is still about 25% off its all-time high set in July.

With CoreWeave being backed by one of the most successful companies in the world, is it worth buying right now?

Image source: Getty Images.

CoreWeave is an AI-first cloud computing business
Not every company competing in the artificial intelligence race has the capabilities to build a giant data center filled with the most cutting-edge chips from Nvidia. They need to rent compute from another company that does. This isn't a new business model; cloud computing companies have been doing this for years. However, only CoreWeave's platform is specifically marketed and designed to fulfill AI needs.

This has caused rapid growth in CoreWeave's business. In Q2, revenue rose 207% year over year to $1.2 billion, with its revenue backlog (deals that it has signed and has yet to realize revenue on) rising 86% year over year to a jaw-dropping $30.1 billion. Few companies have that level of revenue visibility, but CoreWeave has already locked up several years' worth of business.

CRWV Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts.

After seeing numbers like that, it's no wonder the stock has been popular with investors and that Nvidia is a major investor in this business.

At the same time, why is CoreWeave's stock down from its high if it's seeing that kind of success? It all comes down to CoreWeave's profits (or lack thereof).

CoreWeave is operating at a loss
CoreWeave isn't producing any net income. Most of the time, I'm OK with emerging and growing businesses operating at a loss as they capture market share. However, it doesn't make as much sense for CoreWeave to do so.

Graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia have a relatively short lifespan. There are some estimates that GPUs last in Google Cloud's cloud platform for anywhere from one to three years. With that short a lifespan, CoreWeave will need to swap out GPUs quite often. As a result, it's not going to be a business that benefits from scale. A significant portion of its expenses will recur every couple of years when its computing units burn out.

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The question becomes: If CoreWeave can't become profitable, now during the massive wave of AI spending, when will it ever be profitable? This is investors' primary concern, and it could also explain why CoreWeave has signed massive deals with AI hyperscalers like Meta Platforms. Although Meta is building out a lot of its own AI infrastructure, if CoreWeave is willing to put up a data center, equip it with short-lived GPUs, and run it at a loss, it likely makes financial sense for Meta to rent from it.

Given all this, I'm going to steer clear of investing in CoreWeave until it can prove that it's a feasible business model. There are plenty of examples of successful cloud computing businesses, so CoreWeave isn't trying to pioneer a new business model. It just needs to use what has already been proven out, and it could transform into a successful company. But the way it is being run now is concerning.

I think investors should buy the GPU supplier, Nvidia, instead, as it's slated to continue selling a massive number of GPUs for years to come.

On Thursday, B&D White Capital Company, LLC, disclosed it sold out its entire stake in the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (GPIQ +0.81%) for an estimated $17.5 million.

What HappenedAccording to a filing disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Texas-based B&D White Capital Company, which does business as Coyle Capital, sold its entire holding of 351,699 shares in the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (GPIQ +0.81%). The estimated transaction value based on average quarterly pricing was $17.5 million. The fund reported no remaining shares in GPIQ as of September 30.

What Else to KnowTop holdings after the filing:

NASDAQ:AMZN: $136 million (17.4% of AUM)NYSEMKT:AVUS: $60.2 million (7.7% of AUM)NYSEMKT:ILCG: $50.7 million (6.5% of AUM)NYSEMKT:VTI: $38.5 million (4.9% of AUM)NYSEMKT:IWF: $35.2 million (4.5% of AUM)As of Friday's market close, GPIQ shares were priced at $53.32, up 10.5% over the past year.

ETF OverviewMetricValueAUM$1.9 billionDividend Yield (TTM)9.6%Price (as of market close Friday)$53.321-Year Total Return21.8%ETF SnapshotGPIQ invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities from the Nasdaq-100 Index.The fund's underlying holdings seek to maintain style, capitalization, and industry characteristics similar to the Nasdaq-100, while maintaining a non-diversified portfolio structure.It delivers attractive distributions to investors through a high dividend yield.The Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF (GPIQ) offers investors targeted exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index. With a dividend yield of 9.6%, GPIQ provides scale and liquidity for institutional portfolios. The fund delivers attractive distributions to investors.

Foolish TakeB&D White Capital’s full exit from the Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Premium Income ETF seemingly signals a decisive shift away from high-yield, options-based equity strategies that dominated flows in early 2025. The move came alongside a similar liquidation of its stake in GPIX, Goldman’s S&P 500 Premium Income ETF, suggesting a broader pullback from covered-call funds after strong short-term gains.

Coyle’s disciplined, evidence-based philosophy emphasizes market efficiency and long-term diversification, discouraging market timing or yield chasing. Given GPIQ’s 9.6% trailing distribution rate, the exit likely reflects portfolio rebalancing rather than a bearish view on the ETF itself. GPIQ remains a relatively new fund—launched in October 2023—with assets nearing $1.9 billion and exposure to top Nasdaq names like NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Apple.

For long-term investors, the shift highlights a key takeaway from Coyle’s playbook: favoring steady global diversification and avoiding overreliance on income-driven products that may lag in rising markets.

GlossaryETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.

13F reportable assets: Assets that institutional investment managers must disclose quarterly to the SEC if above a certain threshold.

AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of investments managed by a fund or firm on behalf of clients.

Dividend yield: The annual dividend income expressed as a percentage of the investment's current price.

Premium Income ETF: An ETF strategy focused on generating income by selling options or similar techniques, often boosting yield.

Fully exited: When an investor sells all shares of a particular investment, leaving no remaining position.

Non-diversified portfolio: A portfolio that invests in fewer securities, increasing exposure to specific sectors or companies.

Underlying holdings: The individual securities or assets that make up a fund or ETF.

Distribution: Payments made by a fund to investors, typically from income or capital gains.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

Institutional portfolios: Investment portfolios managed on behalf of organizations such as pension funds, endowments, or large asset managers.

Nasdaq-100 Index: A stock market index of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange.

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Expanded cohort reiterates strong adherence rate of over 90% for Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening testSurvey findings show eligible individuals prefer a blood test for colorectal cancer and lung cancer compared with traditional screening methods
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leading precision oncology company, today announced the company and its research collaborators will present data showing the critical role of blood-based testing in increasing cancer screening adherence at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona taking place Friday, October 24 – Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

Building off findings from Guardant Health’s 2023 ACG abstract, a study of an expanded cohort of 20,000 patients confirmed findings from earlier reports on the effectiveness of the Shield blood-based screening test in improving adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Shield is the first and only blood test to receive FDA approval as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults aged 45 and older. The findings demonstrated an over 90% adherence rate for Shield, tracking well above average screening adherence for overall CRC testing which ranges from 28-71%. 1-4

A separate study led by researchers at Cedars Sinai found that individuals prefer a blood test for colorectal cancer and lung cancer over other methods, showing the potential for an innovative blood test like Shield to increase the overall screening rate in lung cancer screening. The survey found that more screening-eligible individuals (43.9%) prefer to do a blood test for colorectal cancer and lung cancer compared to traditional screenings.

“Today’s research reinforces what Guardant has long believed: blood-based cancer screening is the future,” said Dr. Craig Eagle, Chief Medical Officer at Guardant Health. “These studies highlight the power of a simple blood test in addressing today’s gaps in colorectal cancer screening adherence and potential to expand to an even broader population looking for a more pleasant option for their regular lung cancer screening. We’re eager to present these findings along with our research collaborators at the ACG meeting and proud to offer Shield, an FDA-approved test, as an accessible and convenient alternative to traditional screening methods.”

Guardant Health and collaborator presentations at ACG 2025

Presentation

Title

Time / Location

Sunday, October 26

P0302

Implementation of Blood-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Demonstrates High Adherence: Real-World Clinical Experience

3:30-7:00pm PDT / Exhibit Hall

P1515

Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Blood-Based Testing in High-Risk Individuals

3:00-3:30pm PDT / Exhibit Hall

Tuesday, October 28

P4744

Assessing Patient Preferences for Blood-Based Lung Cancer and Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests: Insights from a Conjoint Analysis with over 1,700 People in the US

10:30am-4:00pm ET / Exhibit Hall

The full abstracts for Guardant Health and a list of all abstracts being presented at the ACG Annual Meeting can be found here.

About Shield

Shield is a non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood. It is intended as a screening test for individuals at average risk for the disease, age 45 or older, and is not intended for individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. The Shield test can be considered in a manner similar to guideline-recommended non-invasive CRC screening options and can be completed during any healthcare visit. A positive Shield result raises concern for the presence of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma and the patient should be referred for colonoscopy evaluation.

About Guardant Health

Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer. For more information, visit guardanthealth.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and Facebook.

Guardant Health Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding the potential utilities, values, benefits and advantages of Guardant Health’s liquid biopsy tests or assays, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and actual outcomes and results could differ materially from these statements due to a number of factors. These and additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Guardant Health’s financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include those discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” and elsewhere in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in its other reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Guardant Health as of the date hereof, and Guardant Health disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Guardant Health’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

1 Denberg TD, Melhado TV, Coombes JM, et al. Predictors of nonadherence to screening colonoscopy. J Gen Intern Med. 2005;20(11):989-995.

2 Gellad ZF, Stechuchak KM, Fisher DA, et al. Longitudinal adherence to fecal occult blood testing impacts colorectal cancer screening quality. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(6):1125-1134.

3 Inadomi JM, Vijan S, Janz NK, et al. Adherence to colorectal cancer screening: a randomized clinical trial of competing strategies. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(7):575-582.

4 Exact Sciences. Third quarter 2019 webcast and conference call. Updated October 29, 2019. https:/ investor.exactsciences.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations/event-details/2019/Third-Quarter-2019-Webcast-Conference-Call/default.aspx

More News From Guardant Health, Inc.

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FRIENDSWOOD, Texas, Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Castle Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTL), a company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care, today announced new data demonstrating that its TissueCypher® Barrett’s Esophagus test can provide risk insights beyond pathology alone, influencing clinical management to support earlier intervention for those at higher risk of progression to esophageal cancer and potentially reducing unnecessary procedures for those at lower risk. The research will be presented in three posters at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place Oct. 27–29, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona, including one selected for a Presidential Poster Award.

“Our findings being presented at ACG highlight how difficult it can be to accurately assess progression risk in patients with Barrett’s esophagus when relying on pathology alone,” said Edward Horvath, M.D., board-certified gastroenterologist at Gastro Health West Boynton in Boynton Beach, Florida. “By identifying patients at higher risk who may otherwise be missed, the TissueCypher test provides objective, individualized risk information that supports more personalized decisions around surveillance and intervention, helping clinicians act sooner to potentially reduce the risk of progression to esophageal cancer.”

More than 6,400 scientific abstracts will be presented during ACG 2025. Only a small percentage of these received a Presidential Poster Award, recognizing high quality, novel, unique or interesting research, including the abstract by Horvath et al. highlighted below.* Two additional posters on TissueCypher will also be presented (all times Pacific Daylight Time).

P0689: The Tissue Systems Pathology Test (TSP-9) Informs Management of Patients That Are Indefinite for Dysplasia to Predict Missed Prevalent Neoplasia

Presenting Author: Ronen Arai, M.D., Gastro Health North Broward, Coral Springs, FloridaDate: Sunday, Oct. 26Time: 3:30-7:00 p.m.; author available to answer questions from 5:15-6:30 p.m.Summary: Pathologists may issue a finding of indefinite for dysplasia (IND) when active inflammation makes it unclear whether dysplasia or early neoplasia is present. Although guidelines recommend repeat endoscopy in three to six months after high-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, patients with IND remain at increased risk of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). New data from two case studies show that TissueCypher returned high-risk results corresponding to five-year probabilities of progression to HGD/EAC of 34% and 62%, respectively, exceeding the published rates of progression from HGD to EAC (33% over five years). These results prompted the use of advanced imaging and/or earlier follow-up, leading to detection of HGD in one patient and HGD and intramucosal cancer in another, enabling timely and more aggressive intervention. These findings illustrate how TissueCypher can deliver clinically valuable insights that support more risk-aligned management of patients with IND to reduce the risk of mortality from EAC. ACG Presidential Poster Award Winner*
P4977: High-risk Tissue Systems Pathology Test (TSP-9) Results Enable Risk-aligned Management of Patients With Presumed Clinically Low-Risk Non-Dysplastic Barrett’s Esophagus

Presenting Author: Edward Horvath, M.D., Gastro Health West Boynton, Boynton Beach, FloridaDate: Tuesday, Oct. 28Time: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; author available to answer questions from 1-2:15 p.m.Summary: Patients with non-dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (NDBE) are considered at low risk for progression to HGD/EAC under current guidelines, which recommend surveillance every three to five years. Despite this classification, patients with NDBE can still progress to HGD or EAC within that interval. New data from two case studies show that TissueCypher identified patients with NDBE at high-risk of progression to HGD/EAC, with five-year probabilities of 43% and 45%, respectively, exceeding the published rates of progression from HGD to EAC (33% over five years). Guided by these results, clinicians recommended earlier intervention with endoscopic eradication therapy, and both patients were subsequently confirmed to have progressed to low grade dysplasia (LGD). These findings support the role of TissueCypher in providing individualized risk stratification to help inform more risk-aligned decision making and potentially earlier interventions to help prevent disease progression at an early, treatable stage. P4930: Impact of Spatialomics Utilization on the Management of Non-Dysplastic Barrett's Esophagus in a Rural Community

Presenting Author: Stephen Thai, M.S., Texas Medical Center, The Colony, TexasDate: Tuesday, Oct. 28Time: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; author available to answer questions from 1-2:15 p.m.Summary: In a rural Texas study of 114 patients with NDBE, TissueCypher stratified patients into low, intermediate and high-risk groups. Seven patients identified as intermediate- or high-risk by the TissueCypher test received ablation therapy, while 99 low-risk patients had their surveillance interval safely extended from two to three years to five years. Overall, the test influenced clinical management in 93% of cases, supporting its potential to help ensure timely intervention for higher-risk patients while reducing unnecessary procedures and burden for lower-risk patients. All posters are available on the ACG 2025 website and in an online issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology. For more information on TissueCypher, visit Castle at booth 358.

About TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus Test
The TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus test is Castle’s precision medicine test designed to predict future development of HGD and/or EAC in patients with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). The TissueCypher Barrett’s Esophagus test is indicated for use in patients with endoscopic biopsy confirmed BE that is graded NDBE, IND, or LGD; its clinical performance has been supported by 14 peer-reviewed publications of BE progressor patients with leading clinical centers around the world. The test received Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) status from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in March 2022.

About Castle Biosciences
Castle Biosciences (Nasdaq: CSTL) is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. The Company aims to transform disease management by keeping people first: patients, clinicians, employees and investors.

Castle’s current portfolio consists of tests for skin cancers, Barrett’s esophagus and uveal melanoma. Additionally, the Company has active research and development programs for tests in these and other diseases with high clinical need, including its test in development to help guide treatment decisions for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. To learn more, please visit www.CastleBiosciences.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. 

DecisionDx-Melanoma, DecisionDx-CMSeq, i31-SLNB, i31-ROR, DecisionDx-SCC, MyPath Melanoma, TissueCypher, DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME and DecisionDx-UMSeq are trademarks of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: TissueCypher’s ability to provide risk insights beyond pathology alone and enable more personalized surveillance and treatment strategies for BE patients that may help prevent cancer including , supporting earlier intervention for those at higher risk for progression to esophageal cancer, reducing unnecessary procedures for those at lower risk of progression, and supporting risk-aligned management of patients with a finding of indefinite for dysplasia. The words “believe,” “can” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: subsequent study or trial results and findings may contradict earlier study or trial results and findings or may not support the results obtained in these studies, including with respect to the discussion of our tests in this press release; actual application of our tests may not provide the aforementioned benefits to patients; and the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, each as filed with the SEC, and in our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Investor Contact:
Camilla Zuckero
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Allison Marshall
[email protected]

Source: Castle Biosciences, Inc.

UPS offers a very enticing dividend yield.

Shares of UPS (UPS +0.20%) have been on a downward spiral, losing nearly a third of their value in the last year and over 60% from their early 2022 peak. The sharp decline has driven up its dividend yield to 7.5%, far above the S&P 500's 1.2% and rival FedEx's 2.4%.

Here's a look at whether UPS's alluring payout is a dividend yield trap or an unbelievable income opportunity.

Image source: Getty Images.

A look at what's driving the downdraft in UPS' stock price
UPS has been battling a couple of notable headwinds over the past few years. It's dealing with a challenging global economic environment due to ever-evolving trade policies. Tariffs are increasing international shipping costs, impacting the company's volumes. Additionally, the company is scaling back its relationship with its top customer, Amazon, to focus on more profitable business segments. The e-commerce giant provided 11% of the company's revenue in 2024 and around a quarter of its volumes. UPS wants to reduce its Amazon-related shipping volumes by more than 50% by the second half of next year.

These headwinds have weakened UPS's recent financial performance. Second-quarter revenue fell by nearly 3% to $21.2 billion, while adjusted earnings dropped 13% to $1.55 per share. This hit its cash flow. UPS generated $2.7 billion in cash flow from operations and $742 million in free cash flow in the first half of this year, both notably lower than last year's figures ($5.3 billion in operating cash flows and nearly $3.4 billion in free cash flow).

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The drop in free cash flow threatens the sustainability of the dividend. UPS has paid $2.7 billion in dividends in the first six months of this year, $2 billion more than its free cash flow over the period. The company also repurchased $1 billion of stock earlier this year. It made up for the shortfall by taking on additional debt. Long-term debt and finance leases rose from $19.5 billion at last year's end to $23.8 billion. While the company has a more than $6 billion cash balance and strong A2/A bond ratings, funding the dividend with debt is unsustainable over the long term.

The turnaround plan
UPS has launched a two-pronged strategy to reconfigure its business to better align with its future Amazon volumes while growing higher-margin operations, such as healthcare logistics. As part of that plan, UPS aims to deliver $3.5 billion of annual cost savings by the end of this year. It has closed several buildings, reduced its headcount, and launched other cost-saving initiatives. The company expects to achieve the bulk of those cost savings during the second half of this year, positioning it to produce stronger earnings and cash flow in 2026.

Additionally, the company is investing capital to grow its higher-margin operations, notably healthcare logistics. UPS has accelerated the expansion of this platform through acquisitions. Last year, it acquired Frigo-Trans and BPL to bolster its cold-chain logistics capabilities in Europe. Meanwhile, it agreed to buy Andlauer Healthcare Group earlier this year for $1.6 billion to bolster its North American healthcare logistics platform.

These moves to reduce costs and grow its higher-margin businesses position UPS to become a more profitable company in the future. That would seemingly enhance its ability to continue paying the dividend.

What does all this mean for the dividend?
The key concern is whether UPS can maintain its current dividend during its ongoing transformation. On the one hand, the company has regularly reaffirmed its commitment to the dividend. Its most recent quarterly dividend announcement press release, UPS stated: "Commitment to the dividend is one of UPS's core principles and a hallmark of the company's financial strength. UPS has either maintained or increased its dividend each year since going public in 1999." It further reinforced its commitment to the payout earlier this year by increasing the quarterly payment by $0.01 per share to $1.64 per share.

However, relying on the balance sheet to fund dividends is not a viable long-term solution. If UPS's turnaround plan drags on or is less effective than expected, management may need to reduce the dividend to align the payout with available free cash flow and protect the company's financial health. This makes the current dividend vulnerable if the company doesn't show financial improvements soon.

The dividend might be too good to be true
UPS continues to prioritize its dividend while navigating operational challenges. While its strong balance sheet allows it to do so, the wide gap between free cash flow and its dividend outlay poses a considerable risk. If its turnaround efforts fail to deliver, a dividend cut becomes increasingly likely. Given this risk, income-focused investors should view the current yield with caution, as the payout may not be sustainable throughout the company's turnaround. The stock is best suited for those comfortable with more risk, given the uncertainty surrounding the dividend.

The stock is up more than 300% this year -- and it may still be worth buying.

With Applied Digital's (APLD +0.15%) stock having surged  326% so far this year as of market close Oct. 21, does it make sense to invest in it now? I think the answer can be yes for some of us -- but not for all.

After all, each of us is in a different situation, with different investing horizons and risk tolerances. And the stock doesn't exactly look cheap. Its price-to-sales ratio was around 5 in 2024, and now it's 45.

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What Applied Digital does will explain why its stock has seen such demand from investors, driving up its share price. It's in the business of designing, building, and even operating data centers "for artificial intelligence, cloud, networking, and blockchain workloads." Between AI, cloud computing, and other technologies, data centers are booming. Research from McKinsey suggests that demand for data center capacity could more than triple worldwide by 2030.

Image source: Getty Images.

That's not just theoretical, either. Applied Digital has been inking deals to build data centers, including some $11 billion worth for CoreWeave to provide hundreds of megawatts worth of data center capacity over 15 years.

Considering that Applied Digital's market value was recently about $9 billion, you might ask yourself whether you see that value being higher in five or 10 years. If so, then buying seemingly costly shares now may prove to be a smart move. Do note, though, that the company isn't profitable yet, and it does carry a lot of debt. So weigh the pros and cons.

It's reasonable to pass on the stock now, if you're not comfortable with it due to its price or some other reason, but you might still add it to your watch list, as I have, hoping for a pullback.

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

Gold "doesn't seem like it has any chance of slowing down," says Will Rhind. He points a likely run-up to several factors, from a weakening dollar, to persistent inflation, to central banks around the global loading up on the rare metal.

Ripple's annual Swell conference has taken on an unprecedented level of significance this year after it was revealed that a senior Tether White House representative will be among the featured speakers. The event, set for November 4–5, 2025, in New York City, is expected to attract attention from global policymakers, institutional investors, and blockchain innovators eager to explore the evolving landscape of digital assets.

Key NotesBitcoin's price rose 10% over 10 days, reclaiming the $113,800 level as investor sentiment improved.Gold’s rally paused at $4,400, prompting $200 million in new Bitcoin deposits across DeFi platforms.Investors are rotating from Gold to yield-bearing BTC positions amid ongoing U.S.–China trade tussle.
Bitcoin price opened trading at $111,200 on Sunday, October before moving up 2% to hit $113,800. Since Gold’s historic price discovery phase paused at $4,380 on October 18, Bitcoin-Defi protocols have seen $400 million in fresh TVL deposits. Increased long-term exposure to BTC suggests investors are now rotating towards yield-bearing BTC positions.

Bitcoin Recovers as Trump Meets Xi Jinping
Bitcoin recovered to 10-day peaks near $114,000 on Sunday, as President Trump prepares to meet China’s Xi Jinping in Korea to discuss trade relations. The meeting is scheduled as the climax to Trump’s week-long visit to Asia, which included stops in Japan and Malaysia, where he oversaw peace pact signing between Cambodia and Thailand, stirring optimism across global markets over the weekend.

In the past ten days, Bitcoin has clawed back nearly 10% of its mid-October losses, rising from $103,500 on October 17 to $113,800 at press time on Sunday, October 26.

Meanwhile, Gold, which hit a record high of $4,381 per ounce on October 18, has experienced a 6% decline from its peak, trading at $4,103 at press time.

Bitcoin price action and correlation to Gold (XAU), October 26, 2025 | Source: TradingView

Bitcoin’s weekend recovery follows a period of intense volatility in mid-October. The crypto market was rattled by President Trump’s now-deferred tariff call on China on October 10 and the prolonged U.S. government shutdown that began on October 1.

Together, these events triggered a sharp capital flight toward traditional safe-haven assets, leading to a $19.4 billion liquidation wave in cryptocurrency derivatives markets — the largest single-day blowout on record.

Between October 10 and October 17, Bitcoin fell 16% from $123,800 to lows of $103,500, while Gold rallied 12% from $3,900 to $4,381 per ounce. According to TradingView data, Bitcoin’s correlation with Gold sank to -0.84, its lowest level since February 2025, when tensions surrounding Trump’s tariffs on its North American neighbors, Mexico and Canada, disrupted global market stability.

BTC TVL Rises $400M in 10 Days: Is Gold Ceding Ground to Bitcoin?
Since Gold’s record-breaking rally stalled on October 17, investors have begun reallocating capital toward Bitcoin and other yield-generating digital assets. On-chain data shows that the total value of Bitcoin locked (TVL) in decentralized finance protocols climbed from $7.8 billion to $8.2 billion between October 17 and October 26,  an increase of roughly $400 million in ten days.

Bitcoin TVL rises $400 million from $7.8 billion to $8.2 billion between Oct 17 – Oct 26 | Source: Artemis

When investors move BTC into staking and lending protocols to capture on-chain yields, it signals renewed long-term confidence in Bitcoin, particularly as Gold’s rally shows signs of exhaustion.

LYN ALDEN: "Bitcoin is gold combined with a tech stock." pic.twitter.com/fF7zEYmgN8

— Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) October 25, 2025

Meanwhile, prominent macro analyst Lyn Alden played down the influence on Gold on Bitcoin’s near-term price outlook, during an interview with Youtuber David Lin. When quizzed on both assets’ prospects, Alden noted that Bitcoin is now competing more directly with equities than with Gold

Alden added that Bitcoin’s risk-adjusted yield potential and its adjacency to tech make it more attractive to portfolio managers than static hedging instruments like Gold.

Bitcoin Price Outlook: Markets Await Trump–Xi Meeting and Fed Policy Decision
Looking ahead, global markets remain tense as the U.S. government shutdown enters its fourth week with little political resolution in sight. Investor sentiment is likely to hinge on two key events this week: the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on October 29 and the Trump–Xi Jinping summit scheduled for October 30.

US Fed Rate probabilities for October 29, FOMC meeting | Source: CME Fedwatch

Investors are currently pricing in a 96.2% chance of another rate cut of 375 to 400 basis points, according to CME FedWatch.

If the talks yield positive trade signals or the Fed’s decision leans dovish as widely expected, Bitcoin could extend its upward trajectory toward the $115,000 to $118,000 range. However, renewed geopolitical friction or hawkish monetary tightening could trigger a near-term pullback toward $109,000 support.

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.

Bitcoin News, Cryptocurrency News, News

Ibrahim Ajibade is a seasoned research analyst with a background in supporting various Web3 startups and financial organizations. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and is currently studying for a Master’s in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies at the University of Malta.

Ibrahim Ajibade on LinkedIn

Wall Street is discreetly gearing up for a significant alteration in the Federal Reserve’s $6.6 trillion balance sheet, coinciding with a sudden rise in Bitcoin‘s (CRYPTO: BTC) price.

According to a report, Bitcoin’s price has recovered from a recent “flash crash,” soaring nearly 10% and surpassing $111,000.

This development occurs as the Wall Street heavyweights prepare for the Federal Reserve to halt the reduction of its $6.6 trillion balance sheet, a process known as quantitative tightening, reports Forbes.

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of crypto derivatives pioneer BitMex, foresees a spike in money printing from the United States starting next year. He has predicted that it will trigger an increase in asset appreciation, with Bitcoin potentially hitting a $1 million price.

Launched in 2022, the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening program has trimmed its balance sheet from around $9 trillion to $6.6 trillion, draining liquidity from the financial system and putting pressure on risk assets such as Bitcoin.

Also Read: Elon Musk’s SpaceX Shakes Up Bitcoin Market With $133 Million Transfer

Analysts from JPMorgan and Bank of America anticipate the Fed will stop the contraction of its $6.6 trillion balance sheet this month. This action is projected to stimulate risk assets like Bitcoin as cash circulates more freely, reports the outlet.

Over the past year, Bitcoin’s price has mirrored gold’s rally, with traders gravitating towards hard assets like gold, silver, and Bitcoin as safeguards against money printing and inflation that erode the dollar’s purchasing power.

The anticipated halt in the Federal Reserve’s quantitative tightening could have significant implications for Bitcoin and other risk assets.

If the Fed ceases to reduce its balance sheet, it could lead to an increase in liquidity and stimulate the appreciation of these assets. Furthermore, the potential surge in money printing predicted by Arthur Hayes could further boost Bitcoin’s price, potentially reaching unprecedented levels.

This comes as traders increasingly turn to hard assets as a hedge against inflation and the diminishing purchasing power of the dollar.

Read Next

Bitcoin’s Odds Of Dipping Below $100,000 This Month Stand At 52%, Says Polymarket

Image: Shutterstock/Peshkova

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Jake Molter, the founder of Molt Media, has become the latest prominent figure in the XRP community to express unwavering confidence in the cryptocurrency's long-term potential. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Molter made his stance crystal clear, declaring that there is “no way” he will sell his XRP holdings for less than $100 per token.

Evernorth, a newly formed XRP treasury firm, has rapidly gained attention in the crypto industry after securing a massive 261 million XRP—valued at over $639 million—as part of its broader plan to establish the world's largest XRP-focused treasury. Founded by former Ripple executive Asheesh Birla and supported by Ripple itself, the company's strategy represents a major milestone for the XRP ecosystem, signaling renewed confidence among institutional players.

The competition seems to be outmatching XRP in DeFi, and its position looks bleak. But that's not the whole story.

XRP (XRP +1.03%) is nowhere near competitors like Solana (SOL +3.49%) and Ethereum (ETH +3.34%) in decentralized finance (DeFi). The recent launch of its new Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain hasn't made much of a dent, either. It seems to have close to no chance to catch up.

Is that a reason to sell this coin? In fact, the picture is a bit more complicated, so let's take a closer look.

Image source: Getty Images.

The data look unambiguously bad
Today, the XRP Ledger's (XRPL's) total value locked (TVL) in its DeFi ecosystem amounts to just over $82 million. Its new EVM sidechain has just $48,989 in TVL. For context, Ethereum has nearly $83 billion in TVL, and Solana has close to $11 billion. So even as XRP's market cap is bigger than Solana's and roughly 33% of Ethereum's, its DeFi segment is microscopic in comparison.

But let's step back and take a look at what the XRPL was actually designed for before declaring its lack of DeFi value to be a dealbreaker that justifies selling the coin.

The original point of XRP was for making international payments and money transfers, with native features for fast transaction settlement, currency bridging, and regulation-compliant capital flows rather than a sprawling smart contract DeFi ecosystem. XRP itself is the bridge asset the network uses to transfer value efficiently across currencies and venues, and it's in use for that purpose today.

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And that was just the start of what Ripple, XRP's issuer, did with the coin. It's being built out into an entire fintech stack targeted at institutional investors, which now includes RLUSD (RLUSD +0.10%), Ripple's native fiat currency-backed stablecoin.

RLUSD is a key piece of the puzzle because payments, settlement, and on/off-ramps are where XRPL competes; stable, regulated rails for value are essential for banks and fintechs that do not want to assemble a DIY regulatory compliance stack from DeFi parts like they'd need to do on either Ethereum or Solana. Right now, RLUSD has a market cap of $898 million, so it's already big enough for financial institutions to use as a meaningful component of their on-chain fiat value.

In other words, a low DeFi TVL tells you XRPL is not a hotbed of yield farming, bespoke lending services, or staking activity. It isn't trying to be a platform for those things anyway. The more important factor is its toolbox of institution-targeted features, which is big, and growing.

It probably makes more sense to buy this coin
As XRP's value accrues from making the backend of institutional finance more efficient, investors should be looking for signs that banks, payment companies, and other clients are plugging into the XRPL or running pilot programs to test it. And they are.

Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) work since 2021 with the SBI Remit bank in Japan is a representative example of cross-border remittances using XRP to reduce the need for pre-funding accounts with multiple currencies and thus unlocking working capital. The XRPL has also been involved in central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots, such as with Bhutan's recent tests using Ripple's technology. Beyond that, it's also collaborating with banks in Africa and the Middle East as of this year, increasing its global footprint even further.

Therefore, investors should not anchor on the DeFi TVL leaderboard to judge XRP's merits. It's aiming to win in centralized finance, not DeFi. The better things to focus on are is its growing list of new clients, its payments volume, stablecoin adoption on XRPL, and other signs that pilot programs are becoming real traffic. On those metrics, the investment thesis for buying it is strong, so don't sell it -- consider buying it instead.

XRP price continued its strong comeback this weekend as institutional demand for the token and its futures contracts jumped. 

Summary

XRP price has jumped by over 88% from its lowest level this month. 
The recently launched XRP ETF has gained $100 million in assets.
CME XRP futures open interest has continued its strong uptrend this month.

Ripple (XRP) token rose to $2.6197, its highest point since Oct. 11, and 88% from its lowest point this month. 

Ripple ETF inflows and futures demand
XRP price continued its strong rally this month, with data showing robust institutional demand for the coin. 

One sign of this is that the CME Futures products launched in May have already crossed the $66 billion mark in open interest. This makes them among the most actively traded contracts for the company. 

Data on CME’s website shows that open interest has continued rising this month. On Friday, open interest jumped to $9.9 billion, the highest level since Sept. 24. It has been in a strong rebound since bottoming earlier this month. 

As the chart below shows, the volume of XRP futures on CME has been in a strong uptrend over the past few weeks, a sign of institutional and retail demand.

XRP open interest and volume | Source: CME
The XRP price has also jumped as futures open interest in crypto exchanges continues rising. This interest jumped to $4.39 billion on Oct. 26, up from this week’s low of $3.4 billion. 

Meanwhile, institutional investors continue allocating money to the XRP ETF this month. Data shows that the recently launched spot XRP ETF by REX-Ospey has achieved over $100 million in assets within the first month. 

This surge is notable because it occurred during a period when the XRP price plunged to the year-to-date low of $1.3790 earlier this month. 

Similarly, the Teucrium Leveraged XRP ETF has gained over $366 million in assets, a trend that may continue.

This growth happened after some notable XRP news. For example, Ripple Labs launched Ripple Prime after closing the Hidden Road buyout. The Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin is also approaching the $1 billion asset mark, nearly a year after its launch. 

XRP price technical analysis
XRP price chart | Source: crypto.news
The daily timeframe chart shows that the XRP price bottomed at $1.3790 earlier this month. It has now bounced back by about 88% to $2.62, its highest point since Oct. 10.

The coin is now attempting to move above the 200-day moving average, which will confirm the bullish breakout. It has also formed a small inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. 

Therefore, the most likely XRP price forecast is for it to continue rising as bulls target the psychological $3 level, about 14% above the current level. 

Cover image via U.Today

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

Michael Selig has been picked as the 16th chairman of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a move that has sparked reactions from the crypto community.

Selig was chief counsel for the CFTC’s crypto task force and has worked with Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins. Both Selig and David Sacks, the White House artificial intelligence and crypto czar, confirmed the selection in separate posts on X.

Selig, in his X post, said he will work tirelessly to facilitate well-functioning commodity markets, promote freedom, competition and innovation and also help make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.

HOT Stories

In a recent tweet, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson reacted to the recent nomination of Selig, a known crypto supporter, as CFTC chair.

"Chairman Selig is going to do a great job at the CFTC. I have full confidence in his ability and leadership," Hoskinson wrote.

Bullish for crypto?Selig's pick as CFTC chair comes as the digital assets industry, which had earlier faced regulatory pressures, takes center stage under the new administration with legislation that boosts regulatory clarity.

The GENIUS Act, passed earlier in the year, and the CLARITY Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, have been received well by investors in the sector.

Under the leadership of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the agency has shifted away from enforcement and toward engagement and regulatory rollback. It has held a series of roundtables led by SEC Commissioner Heister Peirce and Chair Paul Atkins.

The SEC has also dismantled key rules that once kept Wall Street on the sidelines, with several high profile lawsuits, including Ripple, Binance, Coinbase, dismissed by the agency.

Solana has been one of the most successful cryptocurrencies since launching in 2020, and its price has just come down from recent highs.

Most of the crypto market has been in the red lately, and Solana (SOL +3.82%) is no exception. In September, it was approaching $250, its best run since hitting an all-time high of $294 at the start of the year. It's now worth about $180 (as of Oct. 22).

Dips can be a good opportunity to buy a quality investment at a discount. With cryptocurrency, it's a little trickier, considering the risk involved. If you're wondering whether to buy Solana while it's under $200, here's how it currently looks as a crypto investment.

Image source: Getty Images.

The fundamentals haven't changed
While Solana's price has changed, its fundamental value hasn't. What makes Solana special is its speed and ultra-low costs. It uses a combination of a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and its own unique proof-of-history system to validate transactions, delivering efficiency few blockchains can match.

Solana regularly processes about 1,000 transactions per second (tps), according to data from Chainspect, and it has a theoretical maximum of 65,000 tps. It's the second-fastest blockchain in terms of tps, behind only Internet Computer and far ahead of competitors like Ethereum, which processes about 20 tps. Transaction fees on Solana are typically well under $0.01.

Crypto's recent flash crash provided a stress test for Solana, as users scrambled to sell positions. While some other blockchains crashed, Solana showed that it can maintain high performance during periods of high activity. It continued to process thousands of transactions per second without a spike in fees.

Solana is still well behind Ethereum for DeFi
As a smart contract blockchain, Solana provides a platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) services, just like Ethereum. It was even one of several blockchains referred to as an "Ethereum killer." But in more than five years since launching, Solana hasn't come close to catching its biggest rival in this area.

There's $11 billion of total value locked (TVL) in DeFi applications on Solana, according to DeFiLlama. That number is moving in the right direction -- it was about $6 billion a year ago -- but Ethereum has $83 billion of TVL, 63% of the entire DeFi market.

The same is true if you look at the growing stablecoin market. Once again, Ethereum is the clear leader, with $165 million in stablecoin value. Solana has $15 billion.

This doesn't mean Ethereum is the better investment. Solana, as mentioned, is a much more efficient blockchain with faster transactions and lower fees. However, Ethereum has a tremendous first mover advantage. Solana's growth will likely depend on its ability to take a larger chunk of the DeFi market.

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ETF approval should attract institutional investors
Several fund managers have filed applications for the first spot Solana ETFs, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has already given a provisional approval to one from 21Shares. There's still a final review needed, which can only happen once the government shutdown ends and the SEC reopens. Still, it's looking like Solana ETFs could receive approval before the end of the year.

ETFs provide an alternative way to invest in cryptocurrency, and crucially, an option that's available to institutional investors that can't buy coins directly. Bitcoin and Ethereum, the first two cryptocurrencies that received spot ETF approval, have both seen sizable investments in their ETFs. Bitcoin ETFs have received inflows of $62 billion, and Ethereum ETFs have received $14 billion.

A risky buy with substantial growth potential
There are several things to like about Solana as a cryptocurrency investment. Its method of validating transactions gives it a significant performance edge over most other blockchains. That helps attract more users and developers. In fact, Solana was the top blockchain ecosystem for new developers in 2024.

If Solana ETFs get SEC approval, it will mean more money flowing into this cryptocurrency. Even though Ethereum has much more DeFi TVL, Solana has been making progress in this area.

While Bitcoin and Ethereum seem likely to continue leading the crypto market, I think Solana has plenty of space to grow. The current price is a solid buying opportunity, keeping in mind that this is a volatile asset and could continue to fall in the near future. Cryptocurrency, Solana included, is also high-risk. I wouldn't overcommit, but this could be a good time to pick up a few SOL tokens.

Cover image via U.Today

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

The last day of the week is bullish, according to CoinMarketCap.

Top coins by CoinMarketCapBNB/USDThe rate of Binance Coin (BNB) has risen by 2% over the last day.

Image by TradingViewOn the daily chart, the price of BNB is rising after yesterday's bullish closure. Traders should focus on the interim zone of $1,160.

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If a breakout happens, the accumulated energy might be enough for a test of the $1,200 mark.

BNB is trading at $1,131 at press time.

ADA/USDThe price of Cardano (ADA) has gone up by 3.74% over the last 24 hours.

Image by TradingViewThe rate of ADA is approaching the resistance of $0.6847. If the daily bar closes above that mark, there is a high chance to witness a price blast to the $0.75 area.

ADA is trading at $0.6746 at press time.

SOL/USDThe rate of Solana (SOL) has risen by 3.46% since yesterday.

Image by TradingViewFrom the technical point of view, the price of SOL is going up against the falling volume. As the rate is far from the main levels, one should focus on the interim zone of $200. If the bar fixes above it, the growth is likely to continue to $209.

SOL is trading at $198.85 at press time.

Why Trust CoinGape

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

Bitcoin (BTC) has climbed above $113,000 as optimism grew ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The rally coincided with remarks from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the two leaders now have “the framework” for a productive discussion.

Optimism Ahead of Trump–Xi Meeting Fuels Bitcoin Rally
Bessent told NBC’s Meet the Press that the talks will be “fantastic for U.S. citizens, for U.S. farmers, and for our country in general.” His statement came just hours before the meeting, which investors see as a key step toward easing global trade tensions.

.@SecScottBessent on President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping: “I believe that we have the framework for the two leaders to have a very productive meeting for both sides — and I think it will be fantastic for U.S. citizens, for U.S. farmers, and for our country in general.” pic.twitter.com/0DpRyk45Js

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 26, 2025

The upbeat tone helped strengthen broader market sentiment, with BTC price gaining 1.62% over the last 24 hours, according to TradingView. The leading cryptocurrency traded around $113,479 after surging from its previous close of $111,668.

Bitcoin rose above $113,000 as optimism surrounding the Trump–Xi talks and easing-rate expectations lifted market sentiment.
Traders Bet on Fed Rate Cuts as Liquidity Expectations Rise
This improving sentiment coincides with rising expectations of monetary easing. According to CME Group’s FedWatch data, markets now assign a 98.3% probability of another Federal Reserve rate cut. The move is expected to take place by the October 2025 meeting.

The information indicates that many now believe that U.S. interest rates will be lowered further than the current 400-425 basis points. This will also indicate that the market has turned towards easing. These expectations are considered a liquidity force for risk assets, especially Bitcoin.

CME Group data reveals near certainty of a rate cut, boosting liquidity hopes support inflows into Bitcoin and other risk assets.
Fresh Trade Momentum Adds to Bitcoin’s Bullish Boost
According to a Bloomberg report, top U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators reached a preliminary consensus on a wide range of economic issues. This clears the way for Presidents Trump and Xi to finalize a sweeping trade deal later this week.

The two sides reportedly agreed on contentious points such as export controls, fentanyl regulation, and shipping levies. The move marks the most significant progress since tensions peaked earlier this month.

Bessent said he expects Trump’s earlier threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods was “effectively off the table.” These developments helped stabilize market expectations that had been rattled by the prospect of another tariff escalation.

Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang also confirmed both sides reached consensus on fentanyl and port service fees. This signals a softening tone from Beijing after weeks of heated exchanges.

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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Active Currencies 19344

Market Cap $3,931,044,820,622.00

Bitcoin Share 57.70%

24h Market Cap Change $2.48

AMBCrypto

$10B in crypto deals, powered by record-low rates and Bitcoin frenzy – Details

Key Takeaways
How big was the crypto M&A boom in Q3 2025?
Crypto mergers and acquisitions hit a record $10 billion, nearly matching the combined deal value of the prior three years.

Why are investors turning to gold and Bitcoin now?
Aggressive global easing — 312 rate cuts in 24 months — is driving demand for alternative stores of value.

Crypto mergers and acquisitions went up to a record $10 billion in the third quarter of 2025!

This rise comes as global central banks slash interest rates in one of the most aggressive easing cycles in recent years, with investors increasingly turning to gold and Bitcoin [BTC] as alternative stores of value.

Crypto M&As are back!

Samyukhtha L KM is a Financial Journalist and Market Analyst at AMBCrypto whose work is defined by one central question: Is the latest trend in blockchain hype, or history in the making?
Her expertise is built on a strong academic foundation, with a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Madras. This dual qualification equips her with a unique skill set: the financial acumen to dissect market mechanics and the journalistic rigor to investigate and communicate complex subjects with clarity.
Samyukhtha specializes in analyzing the socio-economic impact of blockchain adoption and assessing the viability of new market narratives. This includes a focus on high-velocity, community-driven assets such as memecoins, where she evaluates sentiment and fundamentals. She is dedicated to providing readers with insightful, well-researched commentary that looks beyond immediate market moves to understand the long-term implications of decentralized technology.

Sun, 26/10/2025 - 15:20

Michael Saylor dropped another "Orange Dot Day" on Sunday, teasing that Strategy kept buying Bitcoin last week, even after already sitting on 640,418 BTC worth about $72 billion.

Cover image via U.Today

As usual on Sundays, Michael Saylor has hinted at fresh Bitcoin (BTC) purchases. On Oct. 26, the most vocal cryptocurrency bull from the corporate side posted a chart marking Strategy’s growing stack with a teasing caption, "It’s Orange Dot Day."

Saylor’s chart highlights each purchase as an orange circle plotted against Bitcoin’s price, with the latest dots suggesting that October’s run of smaller weekly allocations is continuing.

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While the size of any new Bitcoin purchases by Strategy remains undisclosed, the post signals the buying campaign for Saylor & Co. has not paused even amid fear, uncertainty and doubts currently reigning the sentiment on the market.

While the market awaits confirmation, the company’s last disclosed buys came between Oct. 13-20, when Strategy added 387 BTC. That lifted its total holdings to 640,418 BTC, acquired at an average price of $74,010.

The allocation was modest compared to September, when the firm absorbed more than 7,000 BTC in several large moves.

Strategy "doing numbers" with BitcoinAt current prices near $114,000, Strategy’s Bitcoin portfolio is valued at around $72 billion, showing a paper profit above $25 billion and a gain of more than 53% with a total cost basis to $47.4 billion since the program began in 2020.

Despite the market uncertainty, Strategy shares (MSTR) are trading above the net asset value, reflecting investor confidence in the company. With 83 separate purchase events now logged, its approach remains predictable: buy on schedule, disclose later and let Bitcoin’s trajectory carry the balance sheet.

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The Chainlink (LINK) market has experienced a significant uplift in the last week as prices grew by 7.64%. In line with the general crypto market, the altcoin produced a modest rebound from the deep correction levels seen in mid-October. Amid this price action, renowned market analyst Ali Martinez has shared a developing bullish pattern that suggests more profits ahead.

Buy The Dip At $15 – Here’s Why
In a recent X post on October 25, Martinez postulated that LINK could be gearing up for a major rally, with technical indicators hinting at an incoming bullish opportunity.  In analyzing the LINKUSDT daily chart, investors may have a chance to notch a 300% gain in the coming months.

Based on the chart analysis presented by Martinez, LINK is trading within a broad ascending parallel channel that has defined its market behavior since mid-2023. Notably, the altcoin last bounced off the lower boundary of this channel in June 2025 to trade as high as $28.00, before descending to current market prices around $18.00.

Source: @ali_charts on X
Martinez anticipates that LINK will complete its ongoing decline by revisiting the channel’s lower boundary, with the $15.00 zone, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, serving as the key area of interest. The analyst identifies $15.00  as a strong accumulation zone, advising investors to consider buying at that level. From there, LINK is expected to stage a recovery toward the upper boundary of the channel. 

However, Martinez cautions that the token could face interim resistance around $20.04, corresponding to the 0.786 Fibonacci level, which may trigger a brief pullback to $18.00  before a potential breakout rally. If this setup unfolds as projected, LINK could surge toward the $46.31  mark, matching the 1.272 Fibonacci extension, representing an upside of roughly 300% gain from the expected accumulation point.

LINK Market Overview 
At the time of writing, LINK trades at $18.21, reflecting a slight 2.41% gain in the past day. Meanwhile, the token’s daily trading volume has declined by 43.38% and is valuedat around $366 million. 

Looking at its monthly chart, LINK remains down by 11.05% despite the modest recovery seen in the last week, signaling that the token still needs further upside to fully reverse its recent losses and bring most new investors back into profit. With a market cap of $12.35 billion, LINK continues to hold its position as the twelfth largest cryptocurrency in the market. 

LINK trading at $18.17 on the daily chart | Source: LINKUSDT chart on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview