Market Signal Briefing

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Klarna's September 2025 initial public offering (the "IPO"), of the important February 20, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Klarna securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 20, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that Klarna's loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna's buy now, pay later ("BNPL") loans; and (2); as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Klarna class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=48971 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281976

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Savita Subramanian, Bank of America Securities, joins 'Fast Money' talks her outlook for the S&P 500, her reaction to today's Fed meeting, and more.

By PYMNTS  |  January 28, 2026

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On its fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday (Jan. 28), Tesla said its capital expenditures will exceed $20 billion in 2026, more than double prior guidance, as it accelerates investment in humanoid robotics, autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI). The spending increase comes as Tesla winds down Model S and Model X production and reallocates manufacturing capacity toward Optimus robots, deepening its reliance on businesses that are still pre-revenue or early in deployment.

The company said it will convert the Fremont, California, factory space used for Model S and Model X into a dedicated Optimus facility, targeting long-term capacity of 1 million robots per year. Elon Musk said the move reflects a broader transition toward autonomy and robotics as Tesla’s next growth engines.

“It is time to bring the S and X programs to an end and shift to an autonomous future,” he said.

Tesla did not provide a detailed timeline for reaching meaningful Optimus volumes, beyond indicating that material production is unlikely before the end of the year.

Optimus: Growth Driver With Long Timelines Optimus featured prominently throughout the call, positioned as a general-purpose humanoid robot designed to perform physical tasks across factories, logistics and service environments. Tesla expects to unveil Optimus Gen 3 in the coming months, which Musk described as a significant leap in capability.

At the same time, the company acknowledged that Optimus remains in the research and development phase. Limited deployments inside Tesla factories are used to test basic tasks, with older versions retired as designs evolve. “We wouldn’t expect to have any kind of significant Optimus production volume until probably the end of this year,” Musk said.

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Musk framed Optimus as a product with macroeconomic implications, saying it could “move the needle on U.S. GDP significantly.” Tesla, however, did not outline expected unit economics, pricing, or margins, leaving open questions around how quickly technical progress can translate into financial returns.

The company also cautioned that Optimus faces a slower manufacturing ramp than vehicle programs because its supply chain is largely new. Musk said production will follow a “stretched-out” curve, constrained by the weakest links in a complex, first-principles manufacturing process.

Focus on Autonomy Expands Tesla said unsupervised autonomous driving is operating in Austin, Texas, where vehicles are completing paid rides without a safety driver, chase vehicle or human inside the car. Musk emphasized that expansion is proceeding cautiously, with safety prioritized over speed.

Tesla expects unsupervised autonomy to reach dozens of major U.S. cities by year-end, pending regulatory approval. Musk said coverage could extend to between one-quarter and one-half of the U.S., though the lack of federal preemption continues to require a city-by-city and state-by-state rollout.

The company reiterated plans to allow vehicle owners to add their cars to an autonomous fleet and earn income when not in personal use. Tesla did not provide updated assumptions around utilization, pricing or revenue sharing, making the near-term financial impact difficult to quantify.

What Else Stood Out on the Call Automotive margins excluding regulatory credits improved sequentially to 17.9% from 15.4%, despite lower deliveries, supported by a regional mix shift toward APAC and EMEA. The improvement comes as Tesla transitions to a subscription-based full self-driving model, which is expected to pressure margins in the near term. Full self-driving adoption reached nearly 1.1 million paid customers globally, with about 70% opting for upfront purchases. Future net additions will primarily come via subscriptions. Energy revenue reached $12.8 billion for the year, up 26.6% year over year. Tesla warned of potential margin pressure from tariffs, policy uncertainty, and rising low-cost competition. Chip supply was identified as a medium-term constraint, particularly for Optimus. Musk said Tesla may pursue a large-scale U.S. semiconductor fabrication facility, adding further capital intensity and execution risk. Topline Results Tesla ended the quarter with total gross margin of 20.1%, its highest level in more than two years, despite lower fixed-cost absorption and more than $500 million in tariff impacts. Free cash flow totaled $1.4 billion.

Capital expenditures came in slightly below prior guidance at $9 billion for 2025, before rising sharply in 2026 as spending accelerates across robotics, autonomy, AI compute, and manufacturing infrastructure. The scale of planned investment points to a multiyear period of elevated spending before newer initiatives materially contribute to cash flow.

Musk closed the call by underscoring Tesla’s willingness to take on long-term risk. “I don’t know how you create value by solving easy problems,” he said.

Q4: 2026-01-28 Earnings SummaryEPS of $0.97 beats by $0.03

 |

Revenue of

$6.44B

(49.12% Y/Y)

beats by $213.12M

Amphenol Corporation (APH) Q4 2025 Earnings Call January 28, 2026 1:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Craig Lampo - Executive VP & CFO
R. Norwitt - President, CEO & Director

Conference Call Participants

William Stein - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Amit Daryanani - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Luke Junk - Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Research Division
Wamsi Mohan - BofA Securities, Research Division
Samik Chatterjee - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Andrew Buscaglia - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Steven Fox - Fox Advisors LLC
Mark Delaney - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Asiya Merchant - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Joseph Spak - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Guy Drummond Hardwick - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Scott Graham - Seaport Research Partners
Joseph Giordano - TD Cowen, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Hello, and welcome to the Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call for Amphenol Corporation. [Operator Instructions] At the request of the company, today's conference is being recorded. If anyone has any objections, you may disconnect at this time. I would now like to introduce today's conference host, Mr. Craig Lampo. Sir, you may begin.

Craig Lampo
Executive VP & CFO

Great. Thank you so much. Good afternoon, everyone. This is Craig Lampo, Amphenol's CFO, and I'm here together with Adam Norwitt, our CEO. We would like to wish everyone a happy New Year and welcome you to our fourth quarter of 2025 conference call. Our fourth quarter 2025 results were released this morning. I will provide some financial commentary, and then Adam will give an overview of the business and current market trends. Then we will take your questions. As a reminder, during the call, we may refer to certain non-GAAP financial measures and make certain forward-looking statements. Please refer to the relevant disclosures in our press release for further information.

The company closed

Item 1 of 2 People take images of Tesla Cybercab at the company’s booth at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2025.REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

[1/2]People take images of Tesla Cybercab at the company’s booth at the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2025.REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesSpending will go to factories for Cybercab autonomous vehicles, Optimus robots, semi-trucks, batteries and lithium productionPlanned investments would more than double last year's capital spendingSome analysts view record spending as necessary for pivot to autonomous driving and roboticsLOS ANGELES, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab plans to more than double capital spending to a record high of more than $20 billion this year - but little of it will go to its traditional business of selling electric vehicles to human drivers.

The company, which last year lost its global EV sales crown to China's BYD (002594.SZ), opens new tab, is instead shifting investment to yet-unproven business lines such as fully autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots, based on executive comments on Wednesday's earnings call.

Sign up here.

Highlighting the change, CEO Elon Musk said Tesla would end production of its Model X SUV and Model S sedans and instead use the space in its California factory to make humanoid robots.

"This is going to be a very big capex year," he said. "We're making big investments for an epic future."

Most of the record investment will be spent on production lines for the Cybercab, a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel and pedals, the long-promised Tesla semi-truck, Optimus robots and plants for battery and lithium production, Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said.

Tesla is still reliant on human-driven EVs for most of its sales, but its valuation far exceeds any other automaker, putting it more in league with major tech companies. Much of that value hangs on investors' beliefs that Musk will deliver on lofty promises of delivering robotaxis and humanoid robots backed by the company's investment in artificial intelligence.

It joins Facebook-parent Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab, Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab and Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab in planning sharp increases in capital spending this year, as those companies invest heavily in hardware and data centers to support AI model training and customer demand.

Scott Acheychek, chief operating officer of REX Financial, which manages ETFs with exposure to Tesla stock, argued that Tesla's car business was no longer the main focus. "The bigger story," he said, "is the business model transition now underway" as Tesla focuses on autonomous driving.

The EV maker's CFO says spending of over $20 billion will be focused on AI-related investments'NECESSARY SPENDING'Andrew Rocco, stock strategist at Zacks Investment Research, said he viewed the $20 billion as "necessary spending."

"If Optimus is going to be a best-selling product, the AI must be trained as well as possible," he said, adding the planned spending gives him confidence that Musk's "sometimes loose timelines will actually be honored."

The $20 billion is more than double the $8.5 billion in capital spending last year, and significantly above the prior record of $11.3 billion in 2024.

Taneja said on the call that Tesla has more than $44 billion in cash and investments on the books that it can use to fund the investments. He signaled this year was not likely to be the end of increased spending, adding the company could look to pay for the investments "through more debt or other means."

Musk said Tesla was embarking on some of the spending projects not for fun, but rather "out of desperation".

"Can other people, please, for the love of God, in the name of all that is holy, can others please build this stuff?" Musk said, referring to spending on cathode and lithium refining. "It's very hard to build these things."

Reporting by Chris Kirkham in Los Angeles and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Chris Kirkham is a business reporter in Los Angeles who writes about Tesla, electric vehicles and the wider automotive industry. He previously worked at The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times, and has covered topics including tobacco, worker safety, gambling, and the economy over a two-decade career. Contact him at [email protected] or on Signal at chris_kirkham.51

Akash reports on technology companies in the United States, electric vehicle companies, and the space industry. His reporting usually appears in the Autos & Transportation and Technology sections. He has a postgraduate degree in Conflict, Development, and Security from the University of Leeds. Akash's interests include music, football (soccer), and Formula 1.

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

The article is for informational purposes only (not a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell stocks). David is not a registered investment adviser. Investors should do their own research or consult a financial adviser to determine what investments are appropriate for their individual situation. This article expresses my opinions and I cannot guarantee that the information/results will be accurate. Investing in stocks involves risk and could result in losses.

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

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisClosed End Funds Analysis

SummaryBlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust offers an 'enhanced utilities' strategy, blending defensive utilities with infrastructure and power sector exposure.BUI's portfolio is over 50% utilities, with significant allocations to energy, capital goods, and transportation, providing inflation passthrough and global diversification.Large-cap focus and moderate covered call writing maintain defensive traits while providing consistent, reliable income—yielding over 6% annually.Despite strong income delivery, BUI has underperformed pure utilities in total returns and experienced sharper drawdowns than infrastructure peers. MarioGuti/iStock via Getty Images

The BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) is an active hybrid portfolio, combining defensive utilities exposure with infra and power themes. Although the hybrid methodology implies greater growth than utilities and lower volatility than

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

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

Ripple sees regulated stablecoins anchoring trillion-dollar digital asset markets as institutions accelerate adoption, pushing crypto from speculation into core financial infrastructure and setting the stage for widespread enterprise integration. Ripple Anticipates Trillion-Dollar Digital Asset Markets Anchored by Regulated Stablecoins Momentum across digital assets is intensifying as institutions rush toward full-scale deployment.

TL;DR

La participación en Ethereum crece: 175,5 millones de carteras activas y un suministro en exchanges en baja. El mayor poseedor corporativo, BitMine, compra 40,302 ETH y aumenta su participación en staking. Las empresas acumularon 1 millón de ETH en 2026, representando ya el 5% del suministro circulante. Ethereum (ETH) fell to nearly $2,800 over the weekend as rising geopolitical tensions pressured risk assets. The pullback, however, was followed by a modest rebound that lifted the crypto asset back above $3,000 on Wednesday.

Despite volatility, the network continues growing, with record wallet numbers and reduced exchange supply.

Ethereum’s number of non-empty wallets surpassed 175.5 million, a figure that, according to the latest findings by Santiment, represents the highest among all cryptocurrencies. In fact, 5.16 million wallets were recorded in 2026 alone. The data indicates consistent user participation, even amid sideways market conditions.

The analytics firm added that continued interest in staking contributes to a steady decline in ETH held on centralized exchanges. The trends can reduce selling pressure and support prices over time, even if short-term movements remain muted.

In the current context, network fundamentals suggest strong underlying support. Glassnode analyst Chris Beamish found Ethereum currently trades around a dense cost basis cluster. The situation means many holders are near their breakeven levels. Beamish explained holding the zone would indicate absorption and base-building, while a breakdown could push ETH toward weaker support areas where holders might look to reduce exposure.

Largest Corporate ETH Holder Increases Staking Positions On the corporate treasury side, BitMine Immersion Technologies, the largest corporate ETH holder, expanded its Ethereum treasury by 40,302 ETH on Monday, worth approximately $117 million. Its total holdings now exceed 4.24 million ETH and account for 3.52% of all ETH in circulation.

The firm also revealed staking over 2 million ETH, almost half of its Ethereum holdings, converting a significant share of its treasury into yield-earning assets. BitMine’s accelerated staking pace has added pressure to the Ethereum network, pushing the waiting period to become a new validator to 54 days as staking popularity on the blockchain grows.

Corporate interest in Ethereum, in general, has been trending upward. Bitwise observed companies purchased over 1 million ETH, valued at approximately $3.5 billion. The number of publicly disclosed firms holding ETH rose 40%, and together, corporate holdings now account for roughly 5% of all Ethereum in circulation.

Santiment data shows new wallet creation remains robust even during price consolidation periods. The metric suggests organic adoption rather than hype-driven speculation. The exchange supply reduction occurs as more holders move ETH toward self-custody solutions and staking contracts. The pattern historically precedes periods of lower volatility and potential accumulation.

Chris Beamish emphasized the current cost basis cluster functions as a decision zone for the market. Buyers who entered near current levels will defend positions, while sellers pressure to exit without losses. BitMine converts its passive treasury into productive assets through staking, generating yields while maintaining ETH exposure. The strategy contrasts with corporate holders who simply store assets without utilizing them.

The 54-day waiting period for new validators reflects saturation in the staking activation queue. Demand exceeds the network’s processing capacity to onboard new validators immediately. Corporate purchases of $3.5 billion in 2026 demonstrate institutional appetite for Ethereum despite regulatory uncertainty. Companies continue accumulating ETH as part of diversified treasury strategies.

The 40% increase in companies disclosing holdings signals normalization of Ethereum as a corporate balance sheet asset. More public companies report ETH positions in quarterly financial statements.

The 5% circulation share in corporate hands provides a base of long-term holders less prone to selling during short-term volatility. Corporate treasuries typically maintain investment horizons measured in years. The drop to $2,800 over the weekend represented a technical support test amid adverse macro factors. The quick rebound to $3,000 validated demand at lower levels. Holders near breakeven levels face decisions about whether to maintain positions or take small losses. Resolution of the zone will determine medium-term direction.

Network Growth Metrics The 175.5 million wallet milestone occurred during a period of sideways price action, suggesting genuine network expansion rather than speculative bubble formation. Staking withdrawals from exchanges accelerated in recent weeks as more holders commit ETH to validator contracts. The shift removes supply from available trading inventory.

BitMine’s $117 million purchase represents one of the largest single corporate acquisitions of ETH in 2026. The size demonstrates conviction in Ethereum’s long-term value proposition. The dense cost basis cluster identified by Glassnode indicates a large cohort of holders entered positions near current prices. Their behavior will influence near-term price stability.

Exchange-held ETH continues declining as staking rewards incentivize moving tokens off trading platforms. The trend reduces immediately available sell-side liquidity. Corporate adoption of staking strategies transforms idle treasury assets into income-generating positions. The approach maximizes returns while maintaining digital asset exposure.

The validator queue backlog demonstrates strong demand for participation in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus. Network security benefits from broad validator distribution. Institutional accumulation through 2026 contrasts with retail sentiment during the same period. Corporate buyers maintained purchasing programs despite price volatility.

Ethereum is attempting to reclaim the $3,000 level as the broader crypto market remains trapped in a phase of uncertainty and uneven conviction. Price action suggests buyers are willing to defend key support zones, yet momentum remains fragile, with rallies struggling to extend meaningfully. This hesitation is occurring against a backdrop of elevated leverage and unstable derivatives behavior, which continues to shape short-term market dynamics.

A recent report from CryptoQuant highlights a growing source of risk beneath the surface. Ethereum’s Estimated Leverage Ratio on Binance remains at a record high, with the 7-day simple moving average holding around 0.632.

This indicates a heavy concentration of leveraged positions, leaving the market increasingly sensitive to sudden price swings and liquidation events. In parallel, order-flow data points to erratic trader behavior, reinforcing the view that the current structure lacks balance.

The Taker Buy Sell Ratio illustrates this instability clearly. On January 25, the metric fell to 0.86, its lowest reading since September, signaling strong taker sell dominance. Shortly after, it rebounded sharply to 1.16, the highest daily level since February 2021, reflecting aggressive market buying. Such abrupt reversals underscore a market driven more by short-term positioning than by sustained directional confidence.

Ethereum Taker Buy Sell Ratio | Source: CryptoQuant The report explains that this abrupt shift in taker behavior is unfolding while Ethereum price action remains structurally weak. After failing to break above the $4,800 all-time high, ETH entered a prolonged corrective phase and is now consolidating near the $2,800 support zone.

This level has become a short-term pivot, repeatedly absorbing selling pressure but failing to generate sustained upside momentum. The lack of follow-through highlights a market caught between defensive buyers and aggressive short-term traders.

What makes this phase particularly sensitive is the interaction between price compression and elevated leverage. With Ethereum’s Estimated Leverage Ratio still near record highs, even modest price moves can trigger outsized reactions in the derivatives market.

Ethereum Estimated Leverage Ratio | Source: CryptoQuant Rapid reversals in the Taker Buy Sell Ratio reinforce this fragility, signaling that positioning is flipping quickly rather than building in a stable, directional manner. Such conditions often precede sharp expansions in volatility rather than orderly trends.

Under this setup, Ethereum appears highly dependent on a clear external or internal catalyst. Without a decisive shift in macro conditions, spot demand, or network-specific developments, price action is likely to remain reactive. Until conviction emerges on either side, the combination of high leverage and unstable order flow keeps the risk of sudden liquidations elevated, increasing the probability of abrupt and disorderly price movements around key technical levels.

Price Action Details: Testing Critical Resistance Ethereum’s price action reflects a market caught between stabilization and unresolved downside risk. On the daily chart, ETH is trading near $3,000 after several failed attempts to reclaim higher levels, highlighting this zone as a key psychological and technical pivot.

ETH consolidates below key MAs | Source: ETHUSDT chart on TradingView Price remains below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, both of which are sloping downward, reinforcing the idea that short- to medium-term momentum is still fragile. The 200-day moving average sits higher, near the mid-$3,500 area, acting as a clear marker of the broader trend deterioration since ETH failed to hold above $4,000.

ETH has transitioned from a strong impulsive uptrend into a wide consolidation range, bounded roughly between $2,800 and $3,400. The recent bounce from the lower end of this range suggests that buyers are still defending the $2,800 support zone, but volume remains muted compared to prior selloffs, indicating a lack of strong conviction on either side. Each rally attempt has so far produced lower highs, consistent with a corrective or distributional phase rather than a renewed trend.

As long as ETH holds above $2,800, the market can argue for consolidation and base-building. However, a sustained break below that level would expose the downside toward the $2,500–$2,600 region. Conversely, reclaiming the $3,300–$3,400 area would be required to meaningfully improve the technical outlook.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

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On-chain data shows non-empty addresses on the Ethereum network have set a new record of 175.5 million, the highest among all digital assets.

Ethereum Has Seen A New Record In Total Amount Of Holders According to data from on-chain analytics firm Santiment, the Total Amount of Holders has hit a new milestone for Ethereum recently. This indicator tracks the total number of wallets on the network carrying a non-zero balance. When the value of this metric rises, it means new users are joining the network, and/or old users who had sold earlier are investing back into the asset.

The trend can also arise due to existing users distributing their holdings across multiple wallets. In general, all three of these can be assumed to simultaneously be at play to some degree, meaning that whenever the Total Amount of Holders goes up, some net adoption of the network is taking place.

On the other hand, the indicator witnessing a decline suggests some investors are clearing out their wallets, potentially because they have decided to exit from the cryptocurrency.

Now, here is the chart shared by Santiment that shows the trend in the Ethereum Total Amount of Holders over the last few months:

The growth in the metric seems to have accelerated in recent weeks | Source: Santiment on X As displayed in the above graph, the Ethereum Total Amount of Holders was rising during the second half of 2025, but since mid-December, growth in the indicator has gone up a gear. In January alone, 5.16 million more addresses have joined the network, representing a jump of 3.03%. The metric’s value is now at 175.5 million, a new all-time high for ETH and a record among all digital assets.

Growth in the Total Amount of Holders isn’t the only on-chain development that Ethereum has observed recently. In the same chart, the analytics firm has also attached the data for another indicator: the Supply on Exchanges. This metric measures the total amount of ETH that’s currently sitting in wallets associated with centralized exchanges.

From the graph, it’s visible that the Ethereum Supply on Exchanges has continued to go down, a sign that investors have been taking their Ethereum off these platforms. The push toward exchange withdrawals has come as staking interest has been rising on the network.

“As staking continues to be of strong interest, especially while markets move sideways, exchange supply will continue to shrink as well,” explained Santiment.

ETH Price Ethereum has been making its way back up since its Sunday low under $2,800, as the asset’s price is now back above $3,000.

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

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

A fresh debate in the XRP Ledger (XRPL) community is converging on a specific “golden ticket” thesis: XRP’s breakout utility case won’t come from narratives, but from plumbing: Ripple’s regulated payments stack sourcing liquidity directly from the on-chain XRPL DEX, and Ripple Prime settling institutional flow on-ledger.

The XRP Golden Ticket Theory The idea surfaced in an exchange on X after one user, Alex Cobb, a well-known commentator within the XRP community, argued that US market-structure legislation, the CLARITY Act, is “XRPs golden ticket.” Another renowned community member, Krippenreiter, pushed the focus back on product rails rather than policy catalysts: “Personally I think Ripple Payments sourcing liquidity from the onchain XRPL DEX and Ripple Prime settling post trade on the XRP Ledger are XRPs golden tickets.”

Personally I think Ripple Payments sourcing liquidity from the onchain XRPL DEX and Ripple Prime settling post trade on the XRP Ledger are XRPs golden tickets.

(Long-term view 🫡) https://t.co/DOkLdsH1oo

— Krippenreiter (@krippenreiter) January 27, 2026

Krippenreiter clarified that the phrasing tracks what Ripple has previously messaged about how it intends to use the XRPL in institutional contexts. “The ideal is to do everything on-chain, so yes. Anything happening on-chain settles on XRPL,” they wrote, adding: “I said ‘post-trade settlement’ because that’s what Ripple initially publicly stated for what they plan on using XRPL for.”

That distinction matters because routing liquidity through a public DEX, especially for regulated entities, creates a different compliance surface than using a ledger as a settlement layer after execution happens elsewhere. In the thread, attorney Bill Morgan framed the gating issue bluntly: “Eventually, once it can source liquidity from the XRPL DEX without risk of regulatory non-compliance.”

Others pointed to Permissioned Domains and a permissioned DEX construct as the major blocker for regulated liquidity sourcing, with Krippenreiter describing “credentials,” “permissioned domain,” and “permissioned dex” as the solution set. Morgan noted the implication extends beyond Ripple: if that’s a blocker for Ripple, “it will be a block for any other institution that may wish to use the XRPL DEX.”

Notably, the Permissioned Domains amendment is on track to go live next week, XRPScan shows 27 of 34 validator votes (88.24% consensus) and an estimated activation time of Feb. 4, 2026 at 09:57:51 UTC, provided it remains above the required threshold through the enablement window.

Source: XRPScan The same thread pulled Ripple Prime into the picture. Luke Judges (middle management at Ripple) said, “Prime underrated, we need more CEXs to support XRPL inventory. Working on it.”

Krippenreiter suggested that, beyond exchange inventory, privacy could be the other hard prerequisite for Prime’s deeper XRPL integration, calling it “the blocker” in circulating rumors.

That maps onto Ripple’s own public framing: in an October 2 post, Ripple engineering leader J. Ayo Akinyele argued that “finance cannot function without confidentiality, yet blockchains are built on transparency,” and that institutional-grade adoption requires privacy that still supports compliance.

Akinyele put the institutional constraint in plain terms: “Without privacy, financial institutions cannot safely use public ledgers for core workflows. Without accountability, regulators cannot sign off. With programmable privacy, we can have both.”

The discussion landed just as Ripple and GTreasury rolled out “Ripple Treasury,” positioning it as enterprise treasury infrastructure that blends traditional cash operations with digital-asset rails.

At press time, XRP traded at $1.9256.

XRP trades below the key support zone, 1-week chart | Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Journalist

Posted: January 29, 2026

As stablecoin use case matures, analysts believe the next unlock, especially for institutions, could be privacy-focused transfers. 

And Circle is betting big on this.

The world’s second-largest stablecoin issuer unveiled USDCx, a USDC-backed stablecoin for the privacy-first blockchain platform Aleo. It added, 

“With USDCx on Aleo, businesses and users unlock privacy-preserving payments, interoperable onchain dollars, and confidential multi-party workflows.”

New payment-focused blockchains have doubled down on “selective disclosure” features to enable private transfers and meet regulatory requirements and auditors’ expectations when dealing with institutions.

From Coinbase-backed Base to Stripe’s Tempo, the new chains and protocols are betting big on privacy features. 

Reacting to the update, crypto payment platform Zebec Network said, 

“Privacy is a feature, not a tradeoff. USDCx on Aleo is a meaningful step toward confidential, compliant on-chain dollars.”

But why now, and how big is the market that privacy-focused transfers are trying to support? 

Public vs private stablecoin growth According to the Aleo report, institutional stablecoin transfers totaled $1.22 trillion over the past 24 months. This translates to $50.8 billion per month.  

“Private settlement is still a small slice in that context, with $624.4M in measured stablecoin edge flows over the same period, including $593.4M attributable to Railgun and $120.5k to Oxbow’s early privacy pools activity.”

Source: Aleo 

For Aleo, this meant “slow privacy adoption” at the moment for institutions, implying a massive upside potential due to several reasons. 

Drivers for privacy transfers The fact that these transfers are public means constant monitoring and actionable intelligence for both competitors and adversaries. 

Perhaps, one of the most concerning trends is the kidnapping of crypto founders, investors, and influencers for perceived on-chain wealth.

Ledger’s Co-Founder, David Balland, was abducted and mutilated alongside his wife in France, underscoring the physical risk of crypto wealth. 

Additionally, the transparent transfers can also be used by bad actors to distort markets and narratives. 

For example, crypto market maker Wintermute has been in the news so many times for alleged market manipulation, just because its on-chain moves are publicly visible for anyone to track.

That said, early adoption of existing privacy-focused platforms like Ethereum-based EY Nightfall reinforces the potential. Aleo noted that the adoption has been 2-5%, underscoring growing demand for institutional privacy. 

Source: Aleo

Final Thoughts  Circle has rolled out a USDC-backed stablecoin, USDCx, on Aleo to drive privacy-focused transfers. According to Aleo, private stablecoin settlements accounted for less than 1% of overall institutional transfers.

WisdomTree rolled out tokenized funds on Solana today. The asset manager picked the high-speed blockchain for what executives called one of their biggest non-Ethereum deployments yet, signaling a major bet on crypto’s future in traditional finance.

The firm ditched slower networks for Solana’s lightning-fast transaction speeds and rock-bottom costs. Jeremy Schwartz, WisdomTree’s Global Chief Investment Officer, said on January 28 that “the integration with Solana aligns with WisdomTree’s mission to innovate within the digital asset space.” He pointed out that Solana’s infrastructure allows for seamless implementation of tokenized funds, which he called crucial for meeting investor demands. The move comes as institutional money keeps flooding into digital assets, with firms racing to grab market share in the $2 trillion crypto space.

Solana processes thousands of transactions per second. That’s way faster than most competitors.

WisdomTree isn’t new to crypto games – the company’s been building its digital presence for years through various blockchain projects. Tokenized funds basically let investors buy digital versions of traditional assets, kind of like getting a Bitcoin receipt for your stock portfolio. CEO Jonathan Steinberg previously said integrating advanced blockchain solutions was key to boosting investor access and engagement. And Solana’s architecture seems built for exactly that kind of scalability that financial products need.

Anatoly Yakovenko, Solana’s co-founder, said he’s pretty optimistic about the WisdomTree partnership. Per Yakovenko, “collaborations like this could drive mainstream acceptance of decentralized finance solutions.” The guy thinks traditional finance firms moving onto blockchain could be a game-changer for the whole sector. Solana Labs didn’t specify how many other asset managers they’re talking to, but sources suggest more deals are probably coming.

Competition’s getting wild in blockchain land.

But WisdomTree’s Solana choice sets them apart from firms still stuck on Ethereum’s slower, pricier network. Institutional investors seem drawn to Solana’s performance metrics – the blockchain handles high-frequency trading and complex financial operations without breaking a sweat. That’s exactly what big money managers need when they’re moving millions of dollars around every day. The deployment could reshape how the entire industry thinks about tokenized funds.

SOL token’s been holding steady around $25 as of January 2026, showing investor confidence hasn’t wavered much despite broader market swings. Analysts are watching closely to see if WisdomTree’s integration drives more demand for Solana’s native token. More usage typically means higher prices, though crypto markets don’t always follow logical patterns.

WisdomTree won’t say which specific assets they’re tokenizing on Solana. The firm confirmed on January 28 that details about fund composition will stay under wraps for now, leaving investors guessing about what’s actually inside these digital packages. Company reps said more info will come “in due course as the deployment progresses,” which doesn’t really tell anyone much.

The regulatory landscape remains murky for blockchain-based financial products. WisdomTree hasn’t commented on potential compliance challenges, though industry watchers expect scrutiny from regulators as more traditional firms jump into crypto. The company’s navigating complex rules while trying to stay ahead of competitors who are also eyeing blockchain opportunities.

Financial services firms are scrambling to stay relevant as crypto adoption accelerates. WisdomTree’s Solana bet represents a broader strategy shift toward digital assets becoming core business components rather than side experiments. The firm sees blockchain technology as essential for future growth, not just a trendy add-on.

No timeline exists for additional blockchain expansions beyond Solana. WisdomTree hasn’t disclosed whether other networks are in the pipeline, though the success of this deployment will likely influence future decisions. The financial community’s waiting for any updates that might follow this significant Solana launch.

Industry insiders are closely watching how this move impacts Solana’s market position against Ethereum and other blockchain competitors. More institutional adoption could cement Solana’s reputation as a serious alternative for financial applications. The partnership marks a pivotal moment for both companies as they try to capture growing demand for blockchain-based investment products.

Sources suggest other asset managers are evaluating similar moves onto faster, cheaper networks. The success or failure of WisdomTree’s Solana deployment could influence whether more firms follow suit or stick with established platforms. Early results will probably determine if this becomes an industry trend or remains an isolated experiment.

WisdomTree reached for additional comment but didn’t respond by deadline. SOL trading volume spiked 15% following the announcement.

The broader institutional shift toward alternative blockchains has accelerated dramatically over the past year. Major firms like Franklin Templeton and Fidelity have quietly explored multi-chain strategies, though most still favor Ethereum for primary deployments. WisdomTree’s bold Solana move puts them ahead of competitors who remain cautious about network diversification. Industry data shows tokenized fund assets under management hit $2.1 billion globally in late 2025, with growth rates exceeding 300% year-over-year.

Solana’s ecosystem has matured significantly since its early technical hiccups in 2022 and 2023. The network now boasts over 400 active projects, including major DeFi protocols like Jupiter and Drift that handle billions in daily volume. Recent infrastructure upgrades pushed transaction capacity beyond 65,000 TPS during peak testing periods. Financial institutions particularly value Solana’s deterministic transaction ordering and low latency – features that matter when milliseconds can mean millions in trading profits.

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MegaETH announced that its public Ethereum L2 mainnet will launch on February 9, 2026, following a week-long stress test designed to process 11 billion transactions at a sustained 15–35K TPS.

So far, the network has processed approximately 10.3 billion transactions, with a TPS ranging from 10 to 22K. Frontend load during the tests came from applications such as Showdown TCG, Stomp GG, and Smasher, while backend load was generated using tools like Kumbaya, with ETH transfers and V3-style AMM swaps.

MegaETH raised $30 million in seed funding from DragonFly Capital, Robot Ventures, and Vitalik Buterin, as well as through an Echo round, and secured an additional $50 million through a token sale with a fully diluted valuation of $999 million.

The $MEGA token trades pre-market at around $0.20, with a fully diluted valuation of $2 billion on Hyperliquid. The network will be available for applications from launch, including those requiring high performance, such as games.

The mainnet will have scheduled network maintenance after launch and will continue to evaluate infrastructure performance based on user demand.

Source: https://x.com/megaeth/status/2016511667644064164

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News are based on verified public and official sources. Their purpose is to provide fast, factual updates about relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendation. Readers are encouraged to verify all details through official project channels before making any related decisions

Bitcoin's meteoric rise has delivered huge returns for holders. Even small investments have turned into tens of thousands of dollars.

In 2016, Bitcoin (BTC 0.30%) was still an emerging technology. Trading at around $400, it was still fighting for acceptance as a legitimate alternative to fiat currency.

Fast forward 10 years, Bitcoin has arrived. Institutions own it. Financial advisors are putting it in model portfolios and client accounts. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved ETFs for it. And it's paved the way for other cryptos, such as Ethereum (ETH 0.46%), Solana (SOL 1.55%), and XRP (XRP 0.35%), to emerge themselves.

Source: Getty Images.

Bitcoin remains highly volatile as an investment, but it's also produced huge returns for investors over the years. It's still down about 30% from its all-time highs, but long-term holders still have plenty of reason to be pleased.

Today's Change

(

-0.30

%) $

-270.46

Current Price

$

88979.00

Over the past decade (as of 1/26/26), Bitcoin has risen by roughly 21,900%!

That means a $100 investment made into Bitcoin 10 years ago and held for the duration would have turned into $21,900.

Bitcoin Price data by YCharts

For many, Bitcoin is still more of a speculative growth asset that belongs in a diversified portfolio. It's been a reasonable diversifier when paired with both the U.S. dollar and the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.01%). Its real potential, however, remains as a fiat currency alternative.

With the AI revolution still in its early innings and the global monetary system evolving, the time for Bitcoin may still be ahead.

David Dierking has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Robert Kiyosaki expressed regret over selling bitcoin, calling it a mistake as he reaffirmed plans to accumulate more BTC and hard assets amid currency debasement concerns and long-term distrust of fiat money.

Within the XRP Ledger community, debate has emerged over whether the cryptocurrency’s utility will be driven primarily by regulatory changes or infrastructure developments within Ripple’s systems.

Summary

Routing liquidity through public decentralized exchanges raises compliance challenges for regulated institutions, while permissioned domains, credentialing, and privacy features in Ripple Prime could address these obstacles. The upcoming Permissioned Domains amendment is expected to activate on Feb. 4, 2026, following strong validator consensus. The debate coincides with Ripple and GTreasury’s launch of Ripple Treasury, an enterprise solution integrating traditional cash operations with digital-asset systems. According to NewsBTC, Community member Alex Cobb highlighted the potential of U.S. market-structure legislation, specifically the CLARITY Act, to enhance XRP’s use.

In contrast, another participant, Krippenreiter, argued that Ripple’s payment infrastructure—including Ripple Payments’ on-chain XRPL decentralized exchange liquidity and Ripple Prime’s institutional on-ledger settlement—offers greater practical utility.

Krippenreiter emphasized that this aligns with Ripple’s prior statements about institutional use of the XRP Ledger, noting that on-chain settlement ensures full transparency and efficiency.

The discussion highlighted regulatory considerations: routing liquidity through a public decentralized exchange creates compliance challenges for regulated entities, whereas using a ledger as a post-trade settlement layer presents fewer risks.

Attorney Bill Morgan commented that regulated institutions must eventually access XRPL liquidity without running afoul of compliance rules, identifying permissioned domains and DEX structures as potential obstacles. Krippenreiter proposed credentialing and permissioned solutions as remedies.

The community is watching the upcoming activation of the Permissioned Domains amendment, which has secured 88.24% validator consensus, with estimated activation on February 4.

Discussions also touched on Ripple Prime, with suggestions that privacy features may be needed to enable deeper integration with XRPL inventory on centralized exchanges.

Ripple engineering lead J. Ayo Akinyele highlighted the balance between transparency and confidentiality, stressing that institutional adoption depends on privacy mechanisms that maintain regulatory compliance.

These debates coincide with Ripple and GTreasury’s announcement of Ripple Treasury, an enterprise treasury infrastructure combining traditional cash operations with digital asset systems.

Together, the discussions reflect an ongoing community focus on how both policy and infrastructure will shape XRP’s practical and regulatory utility in the financial ecosystem.

TL;DR:

ZRO’s perpetual market liquidity reached $96 million, boosting optimism among traders. The asset faces critical resistance at $2.28 after bouncing strongly from its primary demand zone. Community sentiment is mostly bullish, with 65% of voters expecting further price increases. On Wednesday, the digital asset market witnessed a rally in the price of LayerZero ZRO, positioning it as one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies. This advance is accompanied by a trading volume exceeding $130 million.

The current momentum is based on a massive increase in perpetual contract liquidity, which climbed to $96 million. Furthermore, the positive funding rate of 0.0191% confirms that long-position traders remain in control of the market.

Key Resistances and Technical Market Structure Technically speaking, the asset managed to stay above a previous descending channel, reinforcing the validity of its bullish breakout. The recent rebound occurred after touching a solid demand zone established between $1.81 and $1.88.

However, for the upward trend to last over time, the asset must overcome the psychological and technical barrier of $2.28. If successful, the path would be cleared to seek more ambitious targets located at $2.59 and, eventually, $3.67.

On the other hand, community sentiment on platforms like CoinMarketCap reflects optimism, with thousands of participants betting on a continuation of the rally. This collective conviction adds a layer of emotional support to the movement driven by liquidity data.

In summary, the outlook for ZRO is encouraging, as long as volume supports the attempt to overcome the aforementioned resistance levels. Investors should closely monitor price action at $2.28, as this level will determine the asset’s direction in the short term.

Crypto investors are increasingly turning to tokenized gold as digital asset markets remain sluggish, driving record inflows into Paxos Gold (PAXG) in January. As volatility and uncertainty weigh on cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, blockchain-based gold tokens are emerging as a popular alternative for investors seeking stability and protection.

According to data from DefiLlama, Paxos Gold attracted more than $248 million in new capital during January alone, marking its highest monthly inflow on record. This surge pushed PAXG’s market capitalization above $2.2 billion, making it the second-largest tokenized gold asset in the market, behind only Tether Gold (XAUT). Paxos Gold is fully backed by physical gold stored in London vaults that meet London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) standards, giving investors confidence in its underlying value.

The strong demand for tokenized gold aligns with a powerful rally in the gold market itself. Gold prices surged past $5,300 per ounce in January, rising roughly 22% during the month and gaining more than 90% over the past year. In contrast, bitcoin has declined by over 10% year-on-year, while the broader cryptocurrency market has struggled to regain momentum. This divergence has prompted many crypto investors to reassess their portfolios.

Market participants say tokenized gold offers a unique blend of traditional safe-haven appeal and modern blockchain functionality. James Harris, CEO of crypto yield platform Tesseract Group, noted that tokenized gold has become more attractive due to its improved transferability and divisibility. Unlike physical bullion, tokens such as PAXG and XAUT can be easily transferred, traded, or held in crypto wallets, while still representing fractional ownership of real gold.

Tokenized gold allows investors to access a centuries-old store of value without the logistical challenges of storage, insurance, or transportation. This convenience, combined with growing macroeconomic uncertainty, is fueling adoption across both crypto-native and traditional investor segments.

The broader tokenized gold market has now surpassed $5.5 billion in total value, according to CoinGecko, reaching an all-time high. As gold prices climb and digital asset markets tread water, tokenized gold is increasingly positioned as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain technology, offering stability, accessibility, and liquidity in uncertain times.

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Tesla (TSLA) maintained its bitcoin holdings unchanged during the fourth quarter of 2025, keeping a total of 11,509 BTC on its balance sheet. While the number of coins remained steady, the value of Tesla’s bitcoin investment dropped sharply as the cryptocurrency market weakened toward the end of the year. Bitcoin’s price fell from around $114,000 at the start of the quarter to approximately $88,000 by year-end, significantly reducing the market value of Tesla’s digital asset holdings.

As a result of the bitcoin price decline, Tesla recorded an after-tax impairment loss of roughly $239 million related to its digital assets. The loss was disclosed in the company’s recently released fourth-quarter earnings report and reflects accounting rules that require companies to mark down the value of crypto holdings when prices fall, even if those assets are not sold. This impairment had no impact on Tesla’s bitcoin balance, but it did weigh on reported earnings for the quarter.

Tesla’s relationship with bitcoin dates back to early 2021, when the Elon Musk-led company revealed it had purchased 43,200 BTC for about $1.7 billion. At the time, the move was seen as a major endorsement of bitcoin by a large publicly traded company. Shortly after the initial purchase, Tesla sold a small portion of its holdings to test market liquidity. However, in 2022, amid a broader crypto bear market, Tesla sold approximately 75% of its bitcoin near market lows, significantly reducing its exposure.

Since that large sale, Tesla’s bitcoin holdings have remained relatively stable, with no major buying or selling activity reported. Despite the impairment charge, Tesla’s core business performance showed mixed results in the fourth quarter. The company reported revenue of $24.9 billion, slightly below market expectations of $25.1 billion. However, adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.50, beating the consensus estimate of $0.45.

Investors appeared to focus on the earnings beat, sending TSLA shares up 3.4% in after-hours trading. Tesla’s experience highlights both the potential and the volatility of holding bitcoin on corporate balance sheets, especially during periods of sharp price swings in the cryptocurrency market.

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World Network, formerly known as Worldcoin, saw its native WLD token surge more than 27% on Wednesday following a Forbes report that linked the controversial crypto project to OpenAI’s broader strategy to combat bots and AI-generated accounts online. The sudden price spike pushed WLD into the spotlight, briefly allowing it to outperform many major cryptocurrencies, according to CoinDesk data.

The report revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is exploring the idea of building a “biometric social network” aimed at helping digital platforms verify real human users and reduce the spread of automated or AI-driven accounts. Sources familiar with the discussions told Forbes that OpenAI has considered leveraging biometric technologies such as Apple’s Face ID or World Network’s Orb device, which scans an individual’s iris to create a unique digital identity. While the report did not confirm a formal partnership between OpenAI and World Network, the market reacted strongly to the potential connection.

World Network is a crypto project co-founded by Sam Altman and is best known for its World ID system, a decentralized and privacy-focused digital identity solution. The project raised $135 million in a token sale last year, with backing from prominent investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Bain Capital Crypto. Its core technology relies on the Orb, a custom-built biometric device that scans users’ irises and converts that data into unique identifiers designed to comply with privacy standards.

Since its launch, World Network has attracted both interest and controversy. The project claims to have verified millions of users globally, positioning itself as a solution to the growing problem of fake accounts and online misinformation fueled by generative AI. However, it has also faced regulatory scrutiny, including a temporary suspension of operations in Kenya and investigations in the United Kingdom over how it collects and processes biometric data.

Despite ongoing criticism, the concept of biometric verification continues to gain traction as governments, tech companies, and crypto projects search for ways to distinguish humans from bots online. The recent WLD price surge highlights how closely investors are watching any potential overlap between World Network, OpenAI, and the future of digital identity in an AI-dominated internet.

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Ethereum (ETH) is showing clear signs of stabilization after weeks of volatile and erratic price action, suggesting an early-stage recovery may be underway. Following multiple defensive rebounds from the critical $2,800 support zone, Ethereum has begun forming higher lows and reclaiming short-term momentum. While the broader trend is still in a recovery phase rather than a full reversal, the near-term market structure has turned cautiously bullish.

One of the most notable shifts in Ethereum price behavior is the change in seller dynamics. Previous relief rallies were aggressively sold, often leading to sharp pullbacks. That pattern has weakened significantly. Sellers are no longer able to force steep declines after minor rejections, indicating reduced downside pressure. Buyers are stepping in faster on pullbacks, allowing ETH to grind higher rather than rely on speculative spikes. This is further supported by steady volume, which favors gradual upside continuation instead of short-lived volatility.

Ethereum is now steadily pressing toward key resistance levels, with the 50-day exponential moving average acting as the main technical barrier. This moving average previously capped multiple recovery attempts during the broader decline and now serves as a gatekeeper for trend confirmation. A clean breakout and sustained hold above the 50 EMA could confirm a structural shift, opening the door for accelerated upside momentum. If that occurs, Ethereum price could advance toward the $3,300 to $3,450 range, where stronger resistance and longer-term moving averages align.

Momentum indicators also support the bullish case. The Relative Strength Index has lifted out of weak territory without entering overbought conditions, a setup commonly seen during sustainable recoveries. This suggests Ethereum is regaining strength in a healthy manner rather than overheating.

Downside risk remains. Failure to break above the 50 EMA could result in renewed consolidation, with $2,800 continuing to act as the primary support level. A decisive breakdown below that zone would invalidate the bullish outlook. For now, Ethereum is holding structure, building momentum, and applying consistent pressure on resistance, keeping ETH firmly back on course in the near term.

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C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW - Free Report) reported $3.91 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 6.5%. EPS of $1.23 for the same period compares to $1.21 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.96 billion, representing a surprise of -1.18%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +9.73%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.12.

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

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

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

Average employee headcount: 12,085 compared to the 12,245 average estimate based on three analysts.Total Revenues- NAST: $2.81 billion compared to the $2.86 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.3% year over year.Total Revenues- All Other and Corporate: $371.28 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $366.74 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -25.4%.Total Revenues- Global Forwarding: $730.98 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $736.12 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -17.3%.Adjusted Gross Profit- NAST: $411.62 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $416.05 million.Adjusted Gross Profit- All Other & Corporate: $67.44 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $66.29 million.Adjusted Gross Profit- Global Forwarding: $177.96 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $179.64 million.View all Key Company Metrics for C.H. Robinson here>>>

Shares of C.H. Robinson have returned +11.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Fair Isaac (FICO - Free Report) reported $511.96 million in revenue for the quarter ended December 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 16.4%. EPS of $7.33 for the same period compares to $5.79 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +2.76% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $498.23 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $6.95, the EPS surprise was +5.54%.

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

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

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

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) - Platform: $302.6 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $272.35 million.Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) - Total: $766 million versus $763.13 million estimated by two analysts on average.Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) - Non-Platform: $463.4 million versus $491.29 million estimated by two analysts on average.Revenues- On-premises and SaaS software: $188.22 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $192.15 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +1.2%.Revenues- Professional services: $19.2 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $17.82 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5%.Revenues- Scores: $304.53 million compared to the $290.07 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +29.2% year over year.Revenues- Software: $207.43 million compared to the $211.03 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.5% year over year.Revenues- Scores- Business-to-business: $248.61 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $230.6 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +36.3%.Revenues- Scores- Business-to-consumer: $55.92 million versus $56.51 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +5% change.View all Key Company Metrics for Fair Isaac here>>>

Shares of Fair Isaac have returned -11.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.