Market Signal Briefing

The Chainlink price prediction January 2026 remains a hot topic, despite half the month having passed, due to the increasingly clear alignment of on-chain accumulation, institutional participation, and even long-term technical price structures. While short-term volatility persists across crypto markets, hurting investor sentiment, but beyond this LINK’s underlying data suggests demand is building quietly, that is setting the stage for a potentially decisive move as liquidity dynamics tighten.

Spot and Futures Markets Signal Aggressive DemandOne of the most notable developments influencing the Chainlink price prediction January 2026 is the behavior of both spot and futures markets, per CryptoQuant’s insights. Currently, both are firmly in a Taker Buy Dominant phase, meaning buyers are executing at market prices rather than waiting for pullbacks. This behavior typically reflects urgency and conviction rather than speculative positioning.

Furthermore, the Average Order Size across spot and futures has shifted into a “Big Whale” zone. This confirms that institutional-scale participants are present that are driving LINK’s current market structure, rather than retail flows. 

As a result, selling pressure is being absorbed more efficiently, altering the short-term supply-demand balance that’s visible to some extent on the Chainlink price chart, as well.

Volume Cooling Phase Hints at Silent AccumulationAt the same time, volume dynamics provide additional context. The Volume Bubble Map for LINK indicates that both spot and futures markets have entered a cooling phase. 

Historically, such conditions have preceded strong directional moves, especially when accompanied by aggressive taker buying.

In prior cycles, similar cooling periods masked quiet accumulation before sharp upside expansions. 

Therefore, this combination of lower visible volume and high-conviction buying suggests that smart money may be positioning ahead of a liquidity inflection point, influencing the broader Chainlink price forecast narrative more clearly then ever.

Chainlink Reserve Growth Reinforces Long-Term ConfidenceBeyond trading activity, ecosystem-level fundamentals continue to strengthen, as well. The Chainlink Reserve funded by on-chain and off-chain revenue sources, has grown to 1.59 million tokens. This size keeps growing, and the latest inflow was over 82,000 LINK, while this accumulation trend has been ongoing since August 2025, reflecting a more strategic approach to long-term ecosystem sustainability.

Similarly, its adoption data further reinforces this narrative. As of January 2026, Chainlink’s Transaction Value Enabled has reached approximately $27.75 trillion, while Total Value Secured stands near $83.27 billion. Additionally, Total Verified Messages have crossed 19 billion, highlighting sustained oracle usage across decentralized applications.

#LINK's strong adoption data shows good oracle usage across dApps.
As of Jan'26, #Chainlink Transaction Value Enabled has hit apprx. $27.75 trillion, while Total Value Secured stands near $83.27billion. Addnlly, Total Verified Mssgz crossed 19 billion. Reserve hit 1.59 Million. pic.twitter.com/FEi4vX91sE

— Yash Jain (@yash717jain) January 19, 2026 These metrics underline Chainlink’s role as core infrastructure, providing fundamental support beyond speculative price movement.

ETF Inflows and Technical Structure Add ConvictionAs per sosovalue’s data, the institutional exposure via the Chainlink ETF has also improved bullish sentiment. Weekly inflows have remained consistently positive, lifting total net assets close to $92.6 million, nearly 1% of LINK’s market capitalization. This steady accumulation contrasts with broader market hesitation.

From a technical perspective, LINK price continues to consolidate along a multi-year ascending trendline that has historically preceded strong rallies. 

Meanwhile, the broader structure resembles a long-term cup-and-handle formation, with price trading near the upper boundary of the handle. Once it breaks, a rise to $28.69 could be the next target, representing over 120% upside.

That said, if this structure resolves upward, projections onthe Chainlink price prediction January 2026 mostly tilt on the upside, once momentum confirms the price action will follow.

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TL;DR

Hyperliquid led the seven-day perp DEX leaderboard with about $40.7B volume, beating Aster’s $31.7B and Lighter’s $25.3B over the past week, widening its gap at the top. Open interest is even more concentrated: Hyperliquid near $9.57B versus Aster $2.73B, Lighter $1.42B, Variational $1.32B, edgeX $1.2B, Paradex $0.67B. With scale reinforcing tighter spreads and deeper books, competition may pivot from incentive programs to differentiated execution, reliability, capital efficiency, and risk infrastructure. Hyperliquid is widening its lead in decentralized perpetuals, and the numbers suggest traders are quietly choosing a main venue. Over the last seven days, it processed about $40.7B in perpetual futures volume, ahead of Aster at $31.7B and Lighter at $25.3B, based on CryptoRank data. Liquidity that used to feel scattered is starting to look concentrated. The market is signaling that one dominant perp DEX is becoming the default risk venue. That change is still unfolding, but it already hints at a winner-takes-most phase for onchain leverage. In practice, deeper books can mean tighter spreads.

Open Interest Concentration Signals Structural Advantage Open interest makes the divergence even harder to ignore. Hyperliquid holds around $9.57B in open interest, a figure that exceeds the combined open interest of several major decentralized perp exchanges. Aster sits near $2.73B, Lighter about $1.42B, Variational $1.32B, edgeX $1.2B, and Paradex $0.67B. Those gaps are not just vanity metrics; they show where traders are parking leveraged exposure. Open interest concentration is acting like proof that scale has become a structural advantage. It suggests users are not just chasing incentives; they trust liquidity depth, execution quality, and the risk infrastructure behind the venue overall.

Volumes alone can be noisy, but taken with open interest they tell a cleaner story about habit formation. The data highlights a decisive shift in trader preference toward one dominant venue rather than fragmented liquidity across multiple platforms. Aster and Lighter are still posting substantial activity, yet Hyperliquid increasingly functions as the primary place to hold onchain leveraged positions. Traders appear to be optimizing for reliability, not just rewards, as they choose where to take risk. High open interest typically maps to deeper order books and tighter spreads, reinforcing the lead once scale is reached.

If the current pattern holds, the perp DEX playbook may get rewritten. Instead of competing mainly through incentive programs, challengers may have to win on differentiated execution, reliability, and capital efficiency, the areas where Hyperliquid is described as having a measurable lead. That is how winner-takes-most markets tend to crystallize: more positions create more depth, which attracts more positions. For the sector, the real question is whether dominance becomes durable once traders treat Hyperliquid as the default venue. The next leg of competition looks less like marketing and more like infrastructure built to manage risk.

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

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

A view shows oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryOil and gas revenue make up 25% of federal budget proceedsRussia's oil price in roubles down 53% in December on yearFinance ministry will release January data on February 4MOSCOW, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Russia's federal budget proceeds from taxes on oil and gas are expected to drop by 46% in January from the same month in 2025 due to a weaker oil price and a stronger rouble, Reuters calculations showed on Monday.

The share of oil and gas revenue accounts for around a quarter of the Russia's federal budget proceeds and are an important part of the funds for Kremlin's military campaign in Ukraine.

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The revenue will likely to fall to around 420 billion roubles ($5.41 billion) in the first month of the year, the lowest since August 2020 when the COVID pandemic crippled global demand for fuel.

Reuters calculations are based on oil and gas production data, refining, and supplies on domestic and international markets.

Russia's indicative rouble-denominated price of oil for tax purposes collapsed in December by 53% year-on-year to 3,073 roubles per barrel as the rouble exchange rate jumped 30.6% from the same month in 2024.

The finance ministry will publish its data on the budget's oil and gas revenue on February 4.

The federal budget is assumed to collect 8.957 trillion roubles from oil and gas sales this year. Total budget revenues for 2026 are seen at 40.283 trillion roubles.

Last year, Russia's federal budget revenues from oil and gas dropped 24% to 8.48 trillion roubles, the lowest level since 2020.

($1 = 77.6500 roubles)

Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Bernadette Baum

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

Key Takeaways MU is favored over NVDA as surging AI demand highlights stronger near-term growth and a cheaper valuation.MU posted triple-digit EPS growth, sold-out HBM3E supply and strong revenue gains.NVDA's results are driven by data center GPUs, with the segment generating nearly 90% of total sales. NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA - Free Report) and Micron Technology, Inc. (MU - Free Report) are key players in the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor ecosystem, benefiting from surging demand for data center and AI-driven computing. NVIDIA builds the graphics processing units (GPUs) that perform heavy computing tasks, while Micron provides the advanced memory chips that store and move the massive amounts of data required for AI.

Though the two companies are well-positioned to benefit from surging demand for AI and high-performance computing, their financial performance, growth strategies and valuations offer different risk-reward profiles for investors considering semiconductor exposure. Let’s see which stock is a better investment option right now.

The Case for NVIDIA StockNVIDIA remains the backbone of the AI boom, with its GPUs powering everything from cloud data centers to self-driving vehicles. The company continues to dominate the AI infrastructure market, driven by explosive demand from cloud providers and enterprises. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, NVIDIA’s revenues surged 62% year over year to $57 billion, while non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) jumped 60% to $1.30.

The company’s new GPU architectures, Hopper 300 and Blackwell, are rapidly gaining adoption as customers race to expand AI capabilities. The Blackwell Ultra and upcoming Vera Rubin platforms could further cement NVIDIA’s leadership as the AI hardware race intensifies.

NVIDIA’s most powerful growth engine continues to be its Data Center business. In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, the segment generated $51.22 billion in revenues, representing 89.8% of total sales. This marked a staggering 66% year-over-year increase and 25% sequential growth.

The robust performance was mainly driven by higher shipments of the Blackwell GPU computing platforms that are used for the training and inference of large language models, recommendation engines and generative AI applications.

NVIDIA’s partnership with OpenAI, which involves the construction of massive AI data centers powered by NVIDIA systems, is expected to boost long-term demand for its GPUs. The deal reinforces NVIDIA’s position as the dominant supplier of AI chips worldwide.

The Case for Micron StockMicron Technology sits at the heart of several transformative tech trends. Its exposure to AI, high-performance data centers, autonomous vehicles and industrial IoT uniquely positions the company for sustainable long-term growth. As AI adoption accelerates, the demand for advanced memory solutions like DRAM and NAND is soaring. Micron Technology’s investments in next-generation DRAM and 3D NAND ensure it remains competitive in delivering the performance needed for modern computing.

The company’s diversification strategy is also yielding positive results. Micron Technology has created a more stable revenue base by shifting its focus away from the more volatile consumer electronics market and toward resilient verticals, such as automotive and enterprise IT. This balance enhances its ability to weather cyclical downturns, a critical trait in the semiconductor space. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, its revenues and non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) soared 46% and 157%, respectively, year over year.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Micron Technology’s revenues jumped 57% year over year to $13.64 billion, while non-GAAP EPS rose 167% to $4.78. The top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.26% and 22.25%, respectively.

Micron Technology is also riding on a strong wave in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand. Its HBM3E products are attracting significant interest for their superior energy efficiency and bandwidth, which are ideal for AI workloads. The company has noted that its supply of HBM3E and next-generation HBM4 chips for the calendar year 2026 has already been sold out.

Micron Technology is a core HBM supplier for NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Blackwell GPUs, signaling deep integration in the AI supply chain. Its under-construction HBM advanced packaging facility in Singapore, set to launch this year with further expansion in 2027, underscores the company’s commitment to scaling production for AI-driven markets.

NVDA vs. MU: Which Has the Stronger Growth Outlook?Both companies will benefit from the surging demand for AI chips, but Micron Technology’s growth profile appears stronger in the near term. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MU’s current fiscal-year 2026 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year surge of 94.7% and 297.5%, respectively. On the other hand, NVIDIA’s fiscal 2026 estimates imply 92.9% revenue growth and a 55.9% EPS increase.

Moreover, the earnings estimate revision trend for the two companies reflects that analysts are turning more bullish toward MU.

MU Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NVDA Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

NVDA vs. MU: Price Performance and ValuationComparing the two stocks’ price performance, Micron Technology has surged 243% over the past year, outperforming NVIDIA’s gain of 35.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

When comparing valuations, NVIDIA currently trades at a higher forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 25.78 compared to Micron Technology’s 9.84. This suggests investors are paying a larger premium for NVDA stock, even though its forward earnings growth profile is significantly lower than MU’s.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: Micron Is the Better Investment OptionBoth Micron Technology and NVIDIA are positioned to gain from AI. However, MU’s higher EPS growth projection and lower valuation P/E multiple than NVDA make it a better investment choice right now.

Currently, Micron sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), making the stock a must-pick compared with NVIDIA, which has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Smartsheet, Inc., (“Smartsheet” or the "Company") (NYSE: SMAR) investors of a class action on behalf of investors that bought securities as of October 25, 2024. Smartsheet investors have until February 24, 2026 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: [email protected], to discuss their legal rights, or join the case via https://portnoylaw.com/smartsheet-inc. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

Smartsheet is an enterprise software company providing software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) work management solutions. As a SaaS company, Smartsheet tracked its Annual Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) metric, which normalized contracted recurring revenue components of its subscription services to a one-year period.

The Smartsheet class action lawsuit alleges that in connection with Smartsheet’s solicitation of stockholder approval of the Merger, defendants issued and filed with the SEC a false and misleading Schedule 14A Proxy statement, as amended (“Proxy”). And as a direct result of the misleading Proxy, Smartsheet’s former shareholders approved the Merger and received the unfair price of $56.50 in cash for each share of Smartsheet common stock they owned, the complaint alleges.

Moreover, the Smartsheet class action lawsuit alleges among other things that every press release published and every associated earnings call during the period covered by the narrative in the Proxy touted Smartsheet’s increasing ARR metric, which management, after re-evaluating its business metrics, guided the market to rely on as the best indicator of Smartsheet’s future financial performance. Nevertheless, despite the clear materiality of this financial metric, the Proxy did not disclose this positive metric in the narrative, the complaint alleges. Nor did the Proxy disclose the January 2024 Forecasts prepared in the ordinary course of business – and not in the midst of negotiations – thereby preventing shareholders from comparing and fully assessing Smartsheet’s financial prospects, including any changes between the two sets of projections versus Smartsheet’s actual results and guidance, the Smartsheet shareholder class action alleges.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.
Admitted CA, NY and TX Bar
[email protected]
310-692-8883
www.portnoylaw.com

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Key Takeaways TDG agreed to buy Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation for about $2.2B in cash.TDG expects proprietary OEM-alternative and PMA parts to expand its portfolio and commercial presence. TDG expects the acquisition to enhance revenues, strengthen cash flow and support its margin profile. TransDigm Group, Inc. (TDG - Free Report) recently revealed that it has inked an agreement to acquire Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings, portfolio companies of Vance Street Capital, for nearly $2.2 billion in cash, including certain tax benefits.

How Will the Buyout Benefit TransDigm Stock?Jet Parts Engineering’s proprietary original equipment manufacturer-alternative components and Victor Sierra Aviation’s highly engineered parts manufacturer approval (PMA) and aftermarket parts are expected to help TransDigm expand its portfolio and deepen its presence across the commercial aviation ecosystem. Their highly engineered, proprietary offerings support a wide range of commercial, regional, cargo, business and general aviation platforms, reinforcing TransDigm’s position as a key supplier of mission-critical aftermarket solutions that offer performance, reliability and cost advantages.

The acquisition aligns well with TransDigm’s long-term strategy of acquiring proprietary aerospace businesses with strong aftermarket exposure. Nearly all of the companies’ revenues come from the commercial aftermarket. The acquisition is likely to enhance TransDigm’s revenue base, strengthen cash flow generation and support its margin profile while broadening exposure across major aviation end markets.

With aging aircraft fleets and rising maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activity sustaining demand for cost-efficient aftermarket components, original equipment manufacturer-alternative and PMA products remain in high demand. This will support long-term revenue growth by offering airlines, operators and MRO providers specialized, high-value aftermarket solutions that lower ownership costs and improve operational efficiency, benefiting TransDigm stock.

Acquisition Spree Among Aerospace Defense PlayersThe aerospace and defense sector has seen a surge in merger and acquisition activity in recent times, fueled by a greater emphasis on cost optimization and the need to diversify product portfolios amid intensifying competition. Such deals are increasingly vital for strategic growth, allowing companies to scale operations, gain specialized capabilities, advance technologies, and deliver higher-value products and services to strengthen their competitive positioning and expand market share.

TransDigm has also been engaged in a valuable acquisition, like the latest one. In December 2025, the company inked an agreement to acquire Stellant Systems, Inc., a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, for nearly $960 million.

Other aerospace defense companies that have recently indulged in valuable acquisition deals are as follows:

On Jan. 14, 2026, Teledyne Technologies, Inc. (TDY - Free Report) stated that it has acquired DD-Scientific Holdings Limited and its subsidiary DD-Scientific Limited. The buyout fits well with Teledyne’s long-term strategy of adding differentiated sensing and electronics businesses with strong technology content.

TDY has a long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate of 9.85%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 sales stands at $6.34 billion, which indicates a rise of 4.5%.

In December 2025, HEICO Corporation’s (HEI - Free Report) Flight Support Group subsidiary, Wencor Group, LLC, signed an agreement to acquire EthosEnergy Accessories and Components Limited and EthosEnergy Accessories and Components, LLC.

HEI has a long-term earnings growth rate of 16.50%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 sales is pegged at $4.96 billion, which suggests an increase of 10.6%.

In December 2025, AAR Corp. (AIR - Free Report) secured a deal to acquire Aircraft Reconfig Technologies from ZIM Aircraft Cabin Solutions for $35 million. The acquisition is expected to expand AAR’s engineering and certification capabilities in its Repair & Engineering segment.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $4.85, which calls for a jump of 24%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 sales stands at $3.20 billion, which indicates a rise of 15.2%.

TDG Stock Price MovementIn the past three months, shares of TransDigm have gained 11.4% compared with the industry’s 18.2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

TransDigm’s Zacks RankTDG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

LCI Industries: Massive Upside Is Possible

Key Takeaways FICO, TDC, FFIV, SPGI and MCO are highlighted as big data players tied to the Wall Street rally.Big data powers predictive analytics, AI and IoT, improving decisions-making, risk management and efficiency.TDC is expanding AI platforms, analytics fabrics and vector processing to support Agentic AI workloads. Big Data refers to a vast and diverse collection of structured, unstructured and semi-structured data that inundates businesses on a day-to-day basis. The big data space focuses on companies that process, store and analyze data, and provide data mining, transformation, visualization and predictive analytics tools.

Here, we have selected five such companies — Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO - Free Report) , Teradata Corp. (TDC - Free Report) , F5 Inc. (FFIV - Free Report) , S&P Global Inc. (SPGI - Free Report) and Moody's Corp. (MCO - Free Report) .  Each of our picks currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Utility of Big DataBig Data is utilized in advanced analytics applications like predictive modeling and machine learning to solve business problems and make informed decisions. The latest high-end digital mobility advancements, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), have led to rapid growth in data. Consequently, new big data tools have emerged to collect, process, and analyze data to derive maximum value out of it.

Big data offers corporations better decision-making and risk-management abilities. It has also increased agility and innovation, making operations more efficient and effective in improving customer experiences. 

The chart below shows the price performance of our five picks in the past three months.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Fair Isaac Corp.Fair Isaac is benefiting from strong financial performance driven by robust growth in its Scores and Software segments. FICO has expanded its scoring models to incorporate ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ loan data, enhancing the predictive accuracy of FICO scores. 

Advancements in credit modeling, including the development of FICO Score 10T for non-GSE mortgages, present significant growth opportunities. The Software segment has demonstrated strength, with increased adoption of SaaS and license revenues indicating strong platform engagement. FICO's Lenders Leading Inclusion Program supports lenders in making better decisions.

Fair Isaac has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 21.1% and 34.6%, respectively, for the current year (ending September 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 1.2% in the last seven days. 

Teradata Corp.Teradata’s prospects are expected to benefit from an improvement in ARR growth rate, cost savings, and productivity measures. These factors are expected to drive meaningful free cash flow. Growing workloads on data platforms due to Agentic AI’s 24/7, always-on query potential bodes well for TDC’s prospects as it not only manages the critical enterprise data that powers these AI systems but is also well positioned to deliver the performance required by these AI systems. 

TDC believes that it offers the best autonomous AI and knowledge platform for Agentic workloads at the best price performance, whether on-premises or in the cloud. An innovative portfolio, which includes QueryGrid data analytics fabric, Enterprise Vector Store, AgentBuilder, and ClearScape Analytics with unified ModelOps capabilities is expected to drive top-line growth.

Acquisitions, such as Stemma, enhance Teradata’s capabilities in data search and exploration, providing added value to its analytics offerings. TDC has introduced innovative AI capabilities like ask.ai, which are designed to simplify natural language interactions. 

TDC has also introduced enhanced ModelOps features in ClearScape Analytics, aiming to provide no-code functionalities that empower customers to expand AI rapidly and advanced analytics while ensuring compliance with enterprise governance standards. 

New product rollouts like Enterprise Vector Store bring vector-based processing to the core analytics layer, enabling Retrieval-Augmented Generation and Agentic AI capabilities for real-time decisions. These developments are expected to drive TDC’s clientele and top-line growth over the long haul.

Teradata has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of -0.6% and 3.6%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 8.3% over the last 60 days. 

F5 Inc.F5 is gaining traction from strong software growth, backed by a solid uptick in public cloud and security offerings. FFIV is benefiting from the growing demand for application security across multi-cloud environments. Acceleration in BIG-IP, NGINX, ELA and Virtual Edition subscription software deals is an upside. 

FFIV has resorted to acquisitions to boost its network security capabilities and tap the solid growth prospects in the market. Over the past five years, it has acquired six businesses. The buyouts have helped it enhance its security capabilities, enabling it to pick up market share.

FFIV is uniquely positioned in the application networking market due to its strong presence in Layer 4-7 content switching, critical for managing the increasing capacity and security demands of modern applications. Unlike its competitors, F5 has established itself as a leader in the data center space, offering tailored solutions that seamlessly integrate with data applications.

F5 has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 1.8% and -5.2%, respectively, for the current year (ending September 2026). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings remained flat over the last 60 days. 

S&P Global Inc.S&P Global remains well-positioned to gain from the growing demand for business information services. Buyouts help innovate, increase differentiated content and develop products. The latest service launches have been aiding SPGI’s growth and enhancing its market reach. 

SPGI completed the acquisition of ProntoNLP in January 2025. This buyout strengthened S&P Global’s textual data analytics capabilities and is anticipated to fuel broader enterprise-wide AI applications. 

SPGI has recently acquired ORBCOMM and TeraHelix. ORBCOMM strengthens SPGI’s supply chain and maritime offerings by providing important insights for vessel tracking and monitoring. TeraHelix aids SPGI’s advanced data modeling and linking abilities, improving dataset integration capabilities across platforms, and advancing its AI and GenAI path.

S&P Global has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 7.2% and 11.6%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.3% in the last seven days. 

Moody's Corp.Moody's dominant position in the credit rating industry, along with opportunistic acquisitions and restructuring efforts to diversify revenues and footprint, will support top-line expansion. MCO has been meaningfully growing through strategic acquisitions, increasing scale and cross-selling opportunities across products and vertical markets. 

In August 2025, MCO announced plans to secure a majority equity ownership in Middle East Rating & Investors Service. In June 2025, MCO fully acquired ICR Chile, solidifying its presence in Latin America’s domestic credit markets.

A solid rebound in bond issuance volume is expected to drive MCO’s growth. A strong balance sheet position and earnings strength are likely to keep MCO’s capital distributions sustainable.

Moody's has an expected revenue and earnings growth rate of 7.8% and 11.9%, respectively, for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has improved 0.5% in the last seven days.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Jayud Global Logistics Limited, (“Jayud” or the "Company") (NASDAQ: JYD) investors of a class action on behalf of investors that bought securities between April 21, 2023 and April 30, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Jayud investors have until January 20, 2026 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: [email protected], to discuss their legal rights, or join the case via https://portnoylaw.com/jayud-global-logistics-limited. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors’ options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

According to the lawsuit, Defendants made misrepresentations concerning the Company’s business and were involved in an illicit “pump-and-dump” promotion scheme where impersonators touted Jayud in online forums, chat groups, and social media posts with sensational but baseless claims to create a buying frenzy among retail investors.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firm’s founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.
Admitted CA, NY and TX Bar
[email protected]
310-692-8883
www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising

Key Takeaways PANW remains a security leader, but revenue growth has slowed to the mid-teen range entering fiscal 2026.ALLT's SECaaS ARR jumped about 60% in Q3 2025, lifting recurring revenue and earnings visibility.Allot trades at a much lower P/S than PANW, making ALLT more attractive on growth and valuation. Palo Alto Networks (PANW - Free Report) and Allot Ltd. (ALLT - Free Report) are both at the forefront of the network security space, playing key roles in guarding organizations from extensive cyberattacks. While Palo Alto Networks focuses broadly on next-generation firewalls, cloud security and AI-driven threat detection, Allot specializes in network intelligence for Service Providers and Enterprises. 

Palo Alto Networks and Allot are riding the key industry trends, fueled by the rise of complex attacks, including credential theft and abuse and social engineering-based strikes by malicious actors. Per a Mordor Intelligence report, the network security space is expected to witness a CAGR of 11.47% from 2025 to 2030.

With this strong growth forecast for the network security market, the question remains: Which stock has more upside potential? Let’s break down their fundamentals, growth prospects, market challenges and valuation to determine which offers a more compelling investment case.

The Case for PANW StockPalo Alto Networks remains a cybersecurity leader, offering solutions for network security, cloud security and endpoint solutions for customers who need full enterprise security support. Its next-generation firewalls and advanced threat detection technologies are widely recognized and adopted globally.

Palo Alto Networks’ wide range of innovative products, strong customer base and growing opportunities in areas like Zero Trust, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and private 5G security continue to support its long-term growth potential.

For example, in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, SASE was Palo Alto Networks’ fastest-growing segment, with SASE Annual recurring revenues (ARR) increasing 34% year over year. Growth is mainly coming from customers who want to reduce the number of security tools they use. Many organizations are moving away from older SASE products that do not provide a full view of their networks, cloud workloads, and remote users. A notable example during the first quarter is where a large U.S. cabinet agency signed a $33 million SASE deal covering 60,000 seats after replacing its existing provider.

However, Palo Alto Networks is experiencing a slowdown in its sales growth. Notably, the company’s revenue growth rate has been decelerating over the past two fiscal years. Over the past year, the revenue growth rate has slowed down to a mid-teen percentage range, a sharp contrast from the mid-20s percentage in fiscal 2023. This deceleration is expected to continue into fiscal 2026, with the company forecasting full-year revenue growth in the range of 14-15%. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, its sales and non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) grew 16% and 19.2%, respectively, year over year. 

The Case for ALLT StockAllot provides network-based cybersecurity and network intelligence solutions, mainly for telecom operators and service providers. The company is witnessing strong growth in its Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (SECaaS) business. In the third quarter of 2025, SECaaS’ ARR increased about 60% year over year. Growth was primarily driven by higher adoption from telecom partners and more end users signing up for Allot's security services.

SECaaS made up around 28% of Allot’s total revenues in the third quarter, and looking ahead, management expects this share to move closer to 30%. This is crucial because SECaaS is a subscription-based offering, which offers more predictable revenues. Recurring revenues accounted for 63% of total revenues in the third quarter compared with 58% a year ago, showing a gradual improvement in revenue quality.

During the third quarter earnings call, management outlined a few clear drivers behind SECaaS growth. Large Tier-1 telecom customers that launched services in recent quarters are continuing to add new subscribers, which is driving demand for Allot’s solutions. Existing customers are also buying additional services over time, which supports upselling. Newer offerings, such as OffNetSecure, allow the company to offer protection even when users are off the operator’s network.

In the third quarter of 2025, its sales and non-GAAP EPS grew 14% and 233.3%, respectively, year over year. Considering a strong demand for its solutions and a better-than-expected third-quarter performance, Allot raised its guidance for 2025. The company now expects 2025 revenues to be in the range of $100-$103 million, up from its previous guidance of $98-$102 million. SECaaS ARR growth is now expected to exceed 60% on a year-over-year basis, up from its prior guidance of 55-60%. The above-mentioned factors demonstrate that steady user adoption and strong SECaaS momentum should continue to support Allot’s overall growth in the coming quarters.

PANW vs. ALLT: Earnings Estimate TrendThe earnings estimate revision trend for the two companies reflects that analysts are turning more bullish toward Allot.

ALLT Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PANW Earnings Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PANW vs. ALLT: Price Performance and ValuationIn the past six months, Allot shares have surged 33.8%, while shares of Palo Alto Networks have lost 6.1%.

PANW vs. ALLT: 6-Month Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Currently, Allot is trading at a forward sales multiple of 4.37X, lower than Palo Alto Networks’ forward sales multiple of 11.71X. Palo Alto Networks does seem pricey compared with Allot. In contrast, Allot’s reasonable valuation makes it more attractive for investors looking for value and stability.

PANW vs. ALLT: Forward 12-Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: Buy ALLT, Sell PANW Right NowBoth Allot and Palo Alto Networks are key players in the Network Security space, but Palo Alto Networks is witnessing a slowdown in its sales growth. In contrast, Allot is seeing strong growth in its SECaaS business, which is driving higher revenues, rising recurring income, and better earnings visibility.

Allot’s reasonable valuation offers some downside protection as well, making the stock an attractive buy, particularly for investors seeking exposure to network security growth at a fair price.

Currently, Allot sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), making the stock a clear winner over Palo Alto Networks, which carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

January 19, 2025 – TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia - Gold Basin Resources Corporation (the "Company" , "Gold Basin") – (TSX-V GXX, OTCQB: GXXFF) announces an update to terms on a loan by Charrua Capital LLC. (“Charrua”).   Gold Basin Resources obtained an unsecured loan with Charrua Capital LLC. (USA) in 2024 for Five Hundred Thousand US dollars (USD $500,000) at an interest rate of 15% per annum to provide short-term working capital. The loan was provided on an arm's length basis.

BERKELEY, CA / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / Helio Corporation (OTC:HLEO) an aerospace and space-based energy company focused on developing scalable space-based solar power systems that deliver continuous, clean energy from orbit to Earth using validated power-beaming technologies, supported by a proven track record in space systems engineering and mission execution, today announced that it will participate in the DealFlow Discovery Conference, taking place January 28-29, 2026.

Ed Cabrera, Chairman and CEO, and Gregory Delory, CTO, of Helio Corporation, will deliver a company presentation and be available for one-on-one investor meetings throughout the event. Learn more about Helio Corporation at www.helio.space.

Event Details:

3rd Annual DealFlow Discovery Conference

The Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

Atlantic City, NJ

January 28-29, 2026

Investors interested in scheduling a meeting with the Helio Corporation management team should request an investor pass to attend the conference (no cost to attend).

About Helio Corporation:

Helio is pioneering a new class of energy infrastructure-space-based power systems aka "Power plants in space" that captures solar energy beyond Earth's atmosphere and beams it safely and efficiently to the surface. Our vision is to establish orbital energy platforms as a foundational layer of the global power grid, delivering uninterrupted, carbon-free electricity at scale and reshaping how nations power cities, industries, and critical systems. Founded in 2018 as the ‘problem solvers to the space industry,' Helio designs and delivers world-class space mechanisms, advanced antenna systems, and space design solutions; supporting NASA, private companies, universities, and global space agencies across missions ranging from small-scale programs to flagship space initiatives. We are proud to be a trusted partner to over a dozen space agencies, organizations, and companies across the globe. Our products can be found operating from the Sun to Jupiter. From NASA and European Space Agency to emerging private aerospace firms and academic institutions, we collaborate with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking players in the space industry.

For more information on the new strategic direction, financing initiatives and management additions, please visit www.helio.space to be added to our email list.

Media Contact:

Ed Cabrera
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Helio Corporation
(956) 225-9639
[email protected]

SOURCE: DealFlow Events

Leonardo logo is seen in this illustration taken July 26, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

MILAN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The chairman of Italy's Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens new tab on Monday floated the idea of a future combination between the defence and aerospace group and state‑controlled shipbuilder Fincantieri (FCT.MI), opens new tab.

Speaking at a conference at Milan's Bocconi University, Stefano Pontecorvo told an audience that he hoped the two groups could one day merge, addressing his remark to Claudio Cisilino, Fincantieri’s executive vice‑president for operations, who was sitting in the audience.

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“I hope that one day a merger between us might be possible," said Pontecorvo, without elaborating.

Fincantieri and Leonardo, both controlled by the Italian state, already cooperate on several programmes, but past discussions over deeper industrial integration have stalled amid political issues and diverging business priorities.

Fincantieri has targeted the expansion of its defence business in its latest five-year plan.

Reporting by Elvira Pollina, editing by Keith Weir

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

Investors in Union Pacific Corporation (UNP - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Feb 20, 2026 $150 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Union Pacific shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Union Pacific is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Transportation – Rail industry that ranks in the Bottom 9% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimate for the current quarter, while three analysts have revised their estimates downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $2.92 per share to $2.89 in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Union Pacific right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

3 mins mins

Key Points:

Ethiopia seeks investment partners for Bitcoin mining, led by PM Abiy Ahmed.Increased interest aligns with economic diversification goals.No immediate market shifts noted following the announcement. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on January 19 that the government seeks investment partners for Bitcoin mining, aligning with Ethiopia’s economic reform strategy “Digital Ethiopia 2030.”

This initiative highlights Ethiopia’s commitment to integrating digital technologies for economic growth, potentially increasing Bitcoin’s market influence and attracting global interest in Ethiopia’s emerging investment landscape.

Ethiopia Targets 20% GDP Boost from Bitcoin Mining Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed unveiled plans to welcome investments in Bitcoin mining, aiming to integrate cryptocurrency into the national economic landscape. The initiative is part of a broader effort to bolster the country’s technological and economic infrastructure through collaborative partnerships. EIH, managing 8.20 trillion birr in assets, oversees these engagements, indicating a significant thrust towards modernization.

The inclusion of Bitcoin mining in Ethiopia’s economic strategy could bring swift changes in technological capabilities and contribute to the national GDP. With projections set at a 20% GDP contribution by 2030, these mining operations could significantly impact Ethiopia’s financial system and global positioning in technology adoption.

“The collaboration with cryptocurrency mining firms is expected to yield returns that benefit the country’s economy in the coming years.” – Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister, EthiopiaMarket and community reactions have been muted thus far, with no immediate changes in Bitcoin’s trading patterns or regulatory challenges noted. The focus remains on observing how Ethiopia’s announcement might draw international investment and collaboration, potentially influencing regional crypto adoption trends.

Bitcoin Trading Analysis as Ethiopia Eyes Crypto Growth Did you know? Ethiopia’s move to integrate cryptocurrency marks it as one of the few African nations explicitly supporting Bitcoin mining, contrasting with historical regulatory hesitance on the continent.

Bitcoin (BTC) currently trades at $93,144.15, reflecting a market cap of 1.86 trillion USD, with a 59.21% market dominance. Despite a recent 2.05% decrease over 24 hours, BTC has seen a 5.64% rise in the past month, as reported by CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 12:37 UTC on January 19, 2026. Source: CoinMarketCap Forecasts by the Coincu research team suggest Ethiopia’s engagement in digital currencies could foster enhanced financial inflows and technological developments. The introduction of blockchain into national policies might set a precedent for regulatory frameworks and adoption across Africa, reflecting broader technological trends.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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The long-running legal dispute between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple Labs cannot be reopened on the same core issues, according to an Australian-based lawyer closely following the case.

Lawyer Bill Morgan explained that the doctrine of res judicata now bars any additional litigation on whether XRP itself is a security, as well as any further discussion of the historical sales of XRP by Ripple between 2013 and 2020.

His statement follows the criticism of the SEC by U.S. legislators over the agency’s decision to forego various crypto-related enforcement actions, such as the one against Ripple.

Morgan stated that res judicata includes claim preclusion and issue preclusion, i.e. once a court has delivered a final verdict on a matter, then the same parties cannot re-litigate the matter in the future. He stated that the very litigation strategy of the SEC in the Ripple case caused such wide judicial review that in the future, it would limit the choices of the agency.

How the SEC’s strategy shaped the court’s ruling According to Morgan, the SEC framed its lawsuit by dividing Ripple’s XRP activity into multiple broad categories. These included institutional sales, programmatic sales on secondary markets, and other forms of XRP distribution. At the same time, the regulator advanced the theory that XRP itself constituted a security.

Because of this framing, the court was required to analyze the legal status of XRP itself before examining the different categories of sales. Morgan described this approach as a high-risk strategy, noting that if the court had determined that XRP itself was an investment contract, it would not have needed to assess the facts and circumstances of each category separately.

In that scenario, any offer or sale of XRP by Ripple would have been treated as a securities transaction.

The SEC lost big time on this issue and it allowed the court to distinguish between institutional sales and programmatic sales and other types of distributions of XRP by Ripple and make seperate findings for each category.

The SEC cannot in any future claim relitigate the issue…

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) January 18, 2026

Instead, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled in July 2023 that XRP, in and of itself, is not an investment contract. This finding enabled the court to distinguish between institutional sales and programmatic or secondary-market sales, leading to separate legal conclusions for each category. As a result, the SEC lost key claims tied to XRP transactions outside of direct institutional sales.

Morgan noted that the SEC did not challenge the specific finding that XRP itself is not an investment contract when it appealed parts of Judge Torres’ decision. He said that omission further solidified the issue for purposes of future litigation.

Res judicata limits any revival of past claims In his argument, Morgan held that, since the court has already decided the merits of these issues, the SEC cannot relitigate them. This would encompass any assertions by Ripple regarding XRP sales made between 2013 and 2020. By the principle of res judicata, such cases are deemed closed.

This came after House Democrats criticized SEC Chair Paul Atkins over abandoning over a dozen crypto enforcement cases, including those concerning Ripple and Binance. Legislators had asked the agency to keep up litigation against other actors, including Justin Sun.

Morgan responded to such criticism by saying that closed cases cannot be reactivated after a final judgment has been passed.

He further stated that the SEC undercut itself by contending in general that XRP itself and several groups of XRP sales by Ripple were securities. This method enabled the court to issue detailed decisions, resulting in binding determinations that limit the regulator’s legal discretion.

What the SEC can still do Although Morgan asserts that the Ripple case is legally complete, he added that the SEC can do nothing in the future. The agency had the option to continue claiming sales of XRP made after 2020, as well as any subsequent distribution by Ripple.

Any new litigation would be limited by issue preclusion arising from Judge Torres’s 2023 ruling, especially the conclusion that XRP itself is not a security. Morgan added that this limits the arguments the SEC has.

Other critics have suggested that the SEC could reopen the case if the law changes. Morgan replied that this would involve, at least, action by a direct congressional decision, such as the enactment of new laws, and presidential consent.

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As the cryptocurrency market moves deeper into 2026, volatility has increased across digital assets. This environment has brought renewed focus to tokens that offer the potential for significant long-term returns.

While the largest cryptocurrencies already command massive valuations, investor attention is shifting elsewhere. 

In this line, established but still expanding networks are drawing interest, particularly those seeing accelerating adoption, growing institutional involvement, and strengthening structural demand. 

Together, these factors could position such assets for outsized gains in the next market cycle.

Solana (SOL) Solana (SOL) has become one of the most active blockchain ecosystems, with network usage surging and transaction volumes hitting multi-month highs, signaling rising demand from both users and developers. 

This momentum is reinforced by the rapid growth of real-world asset tokenization on the network, with tokenized assets surpassing $1 billion in value, bringing traditional finance use cases on-chain and grounding activity in real economic demand.

Institutional involvement is further strengthening Solana’s outlook, as major asset managers and crypto firms roll out Solana-linked funds, lifting assets tied to the network beyond $1 billion. 

Alongside improving infrastructure and expanding cross-chain interoperability, these trends are positioning Solana as an emerging core settlement layer rather than a high-beta altcoin, with substantial upside potential still ahead.

By press time, SOL was trading at $133, having plunged nearly 6% over the past 24 hours. On a weekly basis, the asset was down about 4%.

SOL seven-day price chart. Finbold Chainlink (LINK) Chainlink (LINK) is increasingly viewed as a long-term growth asset due to its critical role in the blockchain ecosystem. In price terms, LINK was down more than 7% over the past 24 hours, trading at $12 as of press time.

LINK seven-day price chart. Finbold As the leading decentralized oracle network, Chainlink supplies secure real-world data to smart contracts, underpinning much of decentralized finance and becoming essential for real-world asset tokenization. 

With more institutions exploring blockchain-based financial products, demand for reliable and tamper-resistant data feeds continues to rise, reinforcing Chainlink’s core relevance.

On-chain trends suggest this growing importance is translating into market positioning. Activity among large holders has increased, a pattern that has historically preceded stronger price performance, while tightening supply dynamics could amplify future moves if demand accelerates. 

At the same time, institutional adoption of Chainlink’s infrastructure for compliance, settlement, and cross-chain connectivity is expanding, cementing its role as a key bridge between traditional finance and blockchain networks.

Featured image via Shutterstock

Bitcoin mining difficulty set for a 4% decline, the seventh negative adjustment in the past eight.

Fresh forensic work on the $282 million wallet hack has uncovered extensive tornado cash laundering activity that continued well after the initial theft.

Summary

CertiK links mixer flows to $282 million wallet compromiseCross-chain movements and structured batch transfersTracing limitations once funds hit Tornado CashSocial engineering attack triggered full wallet compromise CertiK links mixer flows to $282 million wallet compromise Blockchain security firm CertiK has traced $63 million in Tornado Cash flows to the January 10 crypto wallet breach that drained $282 million. The team identified new laundering activity and confirmed recent movements of funds tied to the original compromise. Moreover, the fresh link significantly extends the known timeline of activity following the theft.

According to CertiK, the attacker routed stolen assets across multiple blockchains before sending them through the privacy protocol. The firm detected structured transfers that pushed Ether (ETH) through a sequence of addresses ahead of deposits into Tornado Cash. That said, the pattern closely mirrored laundering methods seen in earlier large-scale crypto thefts.

Cross-chain movements and structured batch transfers The investigation found that a substantial portion of the stolen Bitcoin (BTC) was first bridged to Ethereum and then converted into ETH. CertiK highlighted one receiving address that accumulated 19,600 ETH following this cross-chain bridge operation. However, these holdings were quickly fragmented into smaller tranches, then moved again, before being dispatched to Tornado Cash.

The $63 million figure reflects only part of the overall stolen value but illustrates the methodical design of the operation. Analysts observed repeated batch transfers, deliberately staged to lower on-chain scrutiny and lengthen the laundering chain. Moreover, the steady, phased use of Tornado Cash emphasized the attacker's sustained intent to complicate any crypto wallet breach tracing.

Specialists noted that these batch transfer laundering patterns are increasingly common in sophisticated thefts. The attacker repeatedly shifted funds through new addresses and across chains, using time gaps and varied amounts to avoid obvious clustering. Consequently, each additional hop before the mixer further weakened direct attribution to the original hacked wallet.

Tracing limitations once funds hit Tornado Cash Crypto security teams stressed that Tornado Cash deposits sharply reduce crypto fund recovery chances once mixing cycles are completed. Mixers break visible links between sending and receiving addresses, undermining conventional on-chain analytics. Likewise, tracing the full set of exits becomes far harder after funds leave the pool.

The January 10 incident followed the same pattern, with additional wallet hops executed shortly before every mixer deposit. Investigators confirmed that these last-minute jumps created extra distance from the source wallet. Furthermore, the moment funds crossed into Tornado Cash marked a decisive barrier for most follow-up tracking efforts.

Security firms also reported very limited mitigation options after tornado cash laundering steps had begun. Some centralized platforms managed to flag and freeze small fragments that touched their services. However, those blocks covered only a minor fraction of the overall volume, and the majority of assets moved beyond reach during the early mixer stages.

Social engineering attack triggered full wallet compromise Background checks into the breach revealed that the operation began with a targeted social engineering wallet compromise. The attacker posed as legitimate support staff and convinced the victim to reveal a critical seed phrase securing access to the wallet. As a result, the intruder obtained direct control over significant Bitcoin and Litecoin (LTC) reserves held in the compromised account.

The wallet contained more than 1,459 BTC and over 2 million LTC prior to the theft, according to CertiK's reconstruction. Parts of these holdings were converted into other digital assets during the early phases of the laundering process. Moreover, sections of the funds were shifted across various networks, employing cross chain laundering tactics before the final transfers into the Tornado Cash mixer.

Security analysts continue to monitor fresh movements from any addresses linked to the hack, though they now anticipate only incremental progress. The repeated use of the Tornado Cash protocol underscores a deliberate plan to erase transaction traces and exploit mixer design. Overall, the case illustrates how coordinated social engineering, cross-chain transfers, and mixer deposits can severely limit recovery prospects in major crypto thefts.

Amelia Tomasicchiohttps://cryptonomist.ch

As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder of The Cryptonomist. She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.

Journalist

Posted: January 19, 2026

Ripple [XRP] fell 4.62% in the past 24 hours, following Bitcoin’s price drop below the $94.5k local support. This dip resulted in $40.74 million in liquidations, with $39.50 million being long liquidations.

In a recent report, AMBCrypto showed that the $1.96-$2.0 was a key support zone for the bulls.

This was due to the Cost Basis Distribution Heatmap, as well as the technical importance of this area in the past two months.

The volatility of the past few hours saw XRP retest this area. Should traders expect a strong rally from here?

XRP price prediction – THIS chart gives a warning

Source: XRP/USDT on TradingView

On the weekly timeframe, XRP has a bullish swing structure but a bearish internal one.

Additionally, it was below the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level as well. The OBV has been trending lower since September, and the MACD was below the zero line to show momentum was firmly downward on this timeframe.

Together, it signaled that the bears had the upper hand.

At the same time, XRP was trading within a demand zone that it has defended since December 2024. This fact made it an attractive prospect for buyers, with relatively low risk and higher rewards in case of a market rebound.

The flurry of liquidations might have served as a liquidity sweep, setting up conditions for a local bottom.

Traders’ call to action- Buy the sell-off

Source: XRP/USDT on TradingView

The breakout past $2.28 (cyan line) marked a bullish flip in the structures on the 4-hour and 1-day timeframes. The Fibonacci retracement levels showed that $2.01 and $1.90 were local supports, and within the year-long demand zone that XRP bulls have defended so far.

Therefore, traders can look to buy XRP between $1.90-$2.01.

A price drop below $1.81 would be an early sign that bulls were in trouble, and a session close below $1.77 would invalidate the idea.

The take-profit targets were $2.30-$2.40 and $2.55-$2.60. Bitcoin’s reaction at $101k and $107.5k would also influence XRP sentiment.

In other news, Ripple announced it received licensing approval from Luxembourg’s financial regulator. This is a key step toward scaling Ripple Payments across the EU.

Final Thoughts The short-term XRP volatility could see the price remain below $2 over the next 24 hours. This was a buying opportunity for bulls, and the $1.81 and $1.77 swing lows can be used to inform bulls if their setup is invalidated. Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice and is solely the writer’s opinion.

Akashnath S is a Senior Journalist and Technical Analysis expert at AMBCrypto. He specializes in dissecting price action, identifying key market trends through advanced chart patterns, and forecasting both short-term and long-term asset trajectories. His distinct analytical method is grounded in his academic training as a Chemical Engineer. This background provides him with a systematic, process-oriented approach to market data, enabling him to analyze the complex dynamics of financial markets with precision and objectivity. Having actively covered the cryptocurrency space since the landmark 2017 market cycle, Akashnath possesses years of experience navigating both bull and bear markets. This seasoned perspective is critical to his insightful reporting on market volatility and evolution. As an active market participant, Akashnath enhances his analysis with crucial, hands-on experience. This practical application of his technical skills ensures his insights are not merely theoretical, but are also relevant and actionable for an audience looking to understand and navigate trading opportunities. He is dedicated to educating readers on the nuances of technical analysis, empowering them with the knowledge to make more informed financial decisions.

14h05 ▪ 3 min read ▪ by James G.

Summarize this article with:

Steak ’n Shake is positioning Bitcoin as both a customer payment option and a long-term treasury asset, signaling a deeper integration of cryptocurrency into its business model. The fast-food chain reported that its corporate Bitcoin holdings increased by $10 million in notional value, fueled by customer payments and rising same-store sales.

In brief Steak ’n Shake adds all customer Bitcoin payments to its treasury, turning everyday transactions into a growing non-cash reserve asset. Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network cut transaction costs nearly 50%, improving margins in the highly competitive fast-food industry. Same-store sales rose sharply in 2025, with Steak ’n Shake outperforming major rivals after rolling out Bitcoin payments worldwide. After years of store closures, Steak ’n Shake is using Bitcoin adoption to stabilize operations and strengthen long-term resilience. Bitcoin Payments Help Steak ’n Shake Outperform Fast-Food Rivals Company executives stated that every Bitcoin payment received from customers is added directly to Steak ’n Shake’s strategic Bitcoin reserve. According to management, accepting BTC has increased customer engagement, driving stronger in-store performance and accelerating the accumulation of Bitcoin on the balance sheet.

The company began rolling out Bitcoin payments globally in May 2025, eventually enabling BTC transactions at all Steak ’n Shake locations worldwide. The launch generated immediate attention, with Bitcoin users widely sharing payment receipts on social media. That momentum continued later in the year when the company announced plans to expand into El Salvador, a country known for its supportive stance on BTC adoption.

Steak ’n Shake processes BTC payments using the Lightning Network, a scaling solution associated with long-time Bitcoin advocate Jack Dorsey. Within two weeks of launch, the company posted transaction costs nearly 50% lower than those of traditional card payments—an improvement that meaningfully boosted margins in a low-margin industry.

Same-store sales rose 11% quarter over quarter in Q2 2025 and accelerated to 15% in Q3 2025. According to company statements, these results exceeded those of major competitors, including McDonald’s, Domino’s, and Taco Bell.

BTC Adoption Emerges as Key Pillar in Turnaround Strategy Steak ’n Shake attributed several operational benefits directly to its Bitcoin strategy:

Reduced payment processing fees. Faster transaction settlement. Higher customer traffic from Bitcoin users. Improved same-store sales performance. Expansion of a non-cash treasury reserve. BTC investor and accountant Rajat Soni argued that the strategy illustrates how Bitcoin can function as a financial buffer for businesses. He maintained that holding Bitcoin reserves can extend a company’s financial runway and improve resilience during prolonged downturns.

The company’s recent history explains the reason for this approach. Steak ’n Shake’s U.S. footprint peaked at 628 locations in 2018 but declined to 394 by 2026 after 230 stores closed between 2018 and 2025. Today, the chain operates hundreds of locations across the U.S., France, Italy, Portugal, and Monaco, as it seeks to stabilize and rebuild using a BTC-centered strategy.

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James G.

James Godstime is a crypto journalist and market analyst with over three years of experience in crypto, Web3, and finance. He simplifies complex and technical ideas to engage readers. Outside of work, he enjoys football and tennis, which he follows passionately.

DISCLAIMER

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

Liquidations in the crypto market in the past 24 hours surged past $800 million following a steep drop in crypto prices heading into the new week.

According to data from CoinGlass, about $874.79 million was liquidated. Bullish bets that prices would rise took the biggest hit, accounting for over $788 million of the amount liquidated in the market throughout the past 24-hour cycle.

Long positions for crypto market leaders Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) made up the lion’s share of the amount. More than $233 million was wiped out from bullish bets for Bitcoin, while another $155.82 million was liquidated from ETH longs.

The balance between long and short positions has seemingly levelled off in the past hour. In the last 60 minutes, $1.01 million was liquidated from long positions. Meanwhile, liquidations tied to shorts came in slightly higher at around $1.94 million.

Crypto Market Cap Sheds Over $100BBTC experienced a fair amount of volatility in the past 24 hours. After reaching an intraday high of $95,491.51, the largest crypto by market cap plummeted to as low as $92,089.25. It has since recovered to trade at $93,137 at the time of writing. 

BTC price (Source: CoinCodex)

Even with that recovery, the price of Bitcoin is down more than 2% in the past 24 hours.

The rest of the top 10 largest digital assets followed BTC’s lead. Leading the 24-hour losses among the crypto majors are Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and Solana (SOL). 

Meme coin DOGE suffered a more than 6% correction, while ADA and SOL both saw their prices drop over 5% during the same period. 

Following the recent downturn, the digital asset market’s capitalization has fallen over 2% to stand at around $3.14 trillion. This marks around a $100 billion drop from yesterday.

Risk-Off Sentiment Deepens as Geopolitical Tensions RiseThe broader crypto market downturn comes amid fresh macro uncertainty following a sharp escalation in US–Europe trade tensions. 

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 10% tariffs starting Feb. 1 on imports from several European countries, including France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland as part of a wider dispute tied to Greenland negotiations. The rate is set to rise to 25% by June if no agreement is reached.

Trump’s tariff threat also explicitly included the United Kingdom and Norway among countries that could face higher US levies.

European officials responded swiftly. French President Emmanuel Macron called for the activation of the EU’s “anti-coercion instrument,” often described as a “trade bazooka,” which could restrict US access to European markets. The bloc is also weighing up €93 billion (about $108 billion) in previously delayed retaliatory tariffs.

The renewed trade tensions have added to the risk-off tone in global markets, amplifying volatility across equities and digital assets as investors weigh the potential fallout from a prolonged US-EU tariff confrontation.

For the digital asset market specifically, sentiment has been fearful for the past couple of weeks as cryptos struggle to recover from the Oct. 10 liquidation event. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index shows sentiment is in “Fear” territory of 44/100. While this is an improvement from the mid-20 scores seen in recent weeks, it is a 5-point drop from yesterday’s reading. 

The growing macroeconomic uncertainty and increased fears of a global trade war saw the prices of gold and silver soar to record highs. 

Bitcoin investors may be watching CPI prints, but the real inflation stress is showing up in stranger places.

Inflation looks like it’s easing, until you zoom in. Beef prices are up sharply, fertilizer costs are reaccelerating, and several niche input series are diverging in ways that don’t fit the clean “cooling” narrative.

For Bitcoin, that kind of messy micro-inflation tape can keep markets whipsawing between rate-cut optimism and sticky-price anxiety.

Beef vs. chicken prices are splitting, and a “protein stress ratio” is flashing inflation riskSeveral price series on the Federal Reserve’s FRED database are diverging across food, farm inputs, and industrial materials.

That pattern can complicate the inflation and growth debate that frames Bitcoin’s trade.

On the consumer side, the gap between two staple proteins has widened.

According to FRED, the average retail price for ground beef rose from $5.497 per pound in July 2024 to $6.687 in December 2025.

Over the same window, whole chicken moved from $1.988 to $2.020.

The retail series pages show some missing monthly observations.

Put together, the implied “protein stress ratio” (beef divided by chicken) moved from about 2.77 to 3.31.

That shift can pressure household budgets even when the broader food basket looks calmer, because substitution away from beef does not erase the higher beef benchmark for mixed diets.

USDA’s Economic Research Service is already pointing in the same direction.

According to USDA ERS Food Price Outlook summary findings, beef and veal prices are forecast up 11.6% in 2025 (prediction interval 9.5–13.8%).

Poultry is forecast up 1.9% (0.9–3.0%).

For macro positioning, that matters because “sticky essentials” can keep inflation anxiety alive even if other parts of the pipeline cool.

That mix often feeds directly into real-yield expectations and liquidity conditions that Bitcoin traders watch.

Fertilizer prices are reaccelerating, and the inflation tape is getting messy againUpstream, the tape is also split.

Fertilizer manufacturing prices have reaccelerated, with the PPI for fertilizer manufacturing up about 17.2% from July 2024 to November 2025.

Fertilizer tends to pass through farm-gate costs with a lag, so a renewed climb can reintroduce food-input pressure even when headline inflation prints are easing.

The World Bank has also framed fertilizer as an outlier within commodities in its 2025 outlook.

It projects its fertilizer price index to increase about 7% in 2025 and references a 2025 urea gain of about 15%.

Academic work has similarly documented how fertilizer-market shocks can transmit into broader price pressure and farm profitability constraints.

At the same time, parts of the food and inputs complex are moving the other way.

Producer prices for rendering and meat byproduct processing fell about 21.8% from July 2024 to November 2025.

Meanwhile, lard, inedible tallow, and grease rose about 8.9% over that same window.

Industrial “plumbing” is firming up, even as chemicals and discretionary inputs roll overThe divergence can reflect stress inside supply chains where some outputs are clearing at lower prices while certain feedstocks pick up a policy-linked bid.

That includes renewable diesel channels that increasingly treat animal fats as fuel inputs.

Outside food, “plumbing” series tied to physical goods flows are firming even as broad industrial inputs cool.

Corrugated shipping containers are up about 9.35% from July 2024 to November 2025.

That can come from steadier goods volumes, higher packaging costs, or both, and it can show up before consumer narratives adjust.

Copper scrap is also higher, up about 9.0% from July 2024 to November 2025.

The series can track shifts in construction and manufacturing demand and electrification-linked buildouts.

In contrast, industrial chemicals are down about 6.1% over the same period.

That is consistent with pipeline disinflation pressure and/or softer intermediate demand.

Discretionary-linked micro-prices are also soft.

Hides, skins, and pelts made in slaughtering plants fell about 26.5% from July 2024 to November 2025 .

This niche series is tied to end markets such as autos and leather goods.

It can weaken when discretionary demand cools or when substitution toward synthetics accelerates.

Three macro paths are emerging, and Bitcoin may trade liquidity over narrativeFor macro watchers, it is another data point that growth can slow even when select necessities and inputs refuse to roll over.

Taken together, the setup creates three plausible paths for the next two to three quarters that matter for Bitcoin through real rates and liquidity.

If protein and fertilizer keep pressure on inflation expectations while chemicals remain soft, markets can swing between inflation risk and growth risk.

That leaves Bitcoin more dependent on liquidity conditions than on any single narrative.

If the growth side dominates, evidenced by continued weakness in chemicals, hides, and packaging prices rolling over, rate-cut expectations can firm, and financial conditions can loosen.

That backdrop has historically been more supportive for BTC than for many high-beta assets when liquidity expands.

If input inflation reasserts through fertilizer, packaging, and metals while protein stays expensive, the inflation-hedge narrative can return.

Higher real yields would still act as a constraint on risk positioning.

Below is a snapshot of the key “micro-price” moves referenced in the series:

Series (FRED)WindowChangeSourceGround beef retail price (APU0000703112)Jul 2024 to Dec 2025$5.497 to $6.687 (+21.6%)FREDWhole chicken retail price (APU0000706111)Jul 2024 to Dec 2025$1.988 to $2.020 (+1.6%)FREDFertilizer manufacturing PPI (PCU3253132531)Jul 2024 to Nov 2025+17.2%FREDIndustrial chemicals PPI (WPU061)Jul 2024 to Nov 2025-6.1%FREDCorrugated containers PPI (WPU09150301)Jul 2024 to Nov 2025+9.35%FREDHides/skins/pelts PPI (WPS041901)Jul 2024 to Nov 2025-26.5%FREDA final complication is that the data itself is becoming part of the macro story.

FRED retail food series pages show missing observations in late 2025 for some items.

USDA ERS has said its Food Price Outlook Oct–Dec estimates will not be released, with updates resuming Jan. 23, 2026, after December CPI and PPI data are published in January 2026.

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Arslan Butt

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

Part of the Team Since

Sep 2022

About Author

Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis...

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Bitcoin is trading at $93,000, down nearly 2% in the past 24 hours, with a market cap of $1.85 trillion and daily volume exceeding $38 billion. While price action has stalled in a narrow range since January 16, on‑chain data suggests a pivotal moment may be approaching.

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