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Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets has been building a bull case on Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO) since the company posted record refining throughput, hiked its dividend, and announced a full exit from California, with shares up about 47% year to date and trading near $239. The catalyst: record refining throughput of 3.1 million barrels per day in Q4 2025, a 6% dividend hike to $1.20 per quarter, and a strategic California exit reshaping how investors think about the business.

The good news is that the Q4 2025 numbers were hard to ignore, as Valero posted adjusted EPS of $3.82 against a $3.27 estimate, with refining segment operating income surging to $1.69 billion from $437 million a year earlier. Behind those numbers: 98% throughput capacity utilization across the full year 2025, a figure CFO Homer Bhullar called out explicitly on the earnings call. For the full year, Valero returned $4 billion to shareholders and reduced its share count by 42% since 2014.

What the Reddit Bulls Are Actually Arguing Over the past 48 hours, sentiment on Reddit has been predominantly bullish, with scores ranging from 76 to 78 across four of five tracked periods, and an average sentiment score of 72 out of 100. The primary thread, posted by u/StoopSign on r/wallstreetbets, frames the bull case around geopolitical feedstock advantages rather than the earnings beat.

This infographic presents Valero Energy’s (VLO) social sentiment score of 72, signaling a bullish outlook driven by factors like Venezuelan crude advantage, record refining throughput, and a dividend hike coupled with a California exit. Valero Energy (VLO) is a good oil stock because they refine PDVSA Venezuelan Crude-Benefitted from closure of of the Strait Of Hormuz
by u/StoopSign in wallstreetbets The author, a former Venezuela journalist, writes: “Valero has performed well during the Maduro regime and after the shift towards the Rodriguez administration and its efforts in liberalizing the oil sector. Equally or potentially more importantly, the tensions involving the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have benefited Valero’s stock price.” The post has accumulated 132 upvotes and 62 comments. The thesis has merit: Valero’s Gulf Coast configuration is purpose-built for heavy crude, and the company has historically been the largest U.S. purchaser of Venezuelan heavy crude, processing as much as 240,000 barrels per day before capacity expansions at Port Arthur raised that ceiling further.

Three reasons Reddit bulls are leaning in:

Valero’s coker infrastructure gives it a structural cost advantage in processing discounted Venezuelan and Canadian heavy crude, with heavy Canadian grades trading around $11 to $11.50 under Brent heading into 2026 Valero has taken the $1.1 billion Benicia impairment charge, and the California exit is expected to save roughly $150 million annually in sustaining capital Valero’s capital allocation framework targets a minimum 40% to 50% payout ratio with share repurchases filling the gap, a decade-long program generating mid-teens returns on buybacks per management The Real 2026 Risk Is Margins On the one hand, the California exit is largely priced in, but the more pressing question is whether refining margins can hold as WTI crude has jumped from around $76 in early 2025 to roughly $92 more recently. Tighter crack spreads pose a structural threat to earnings power, and the forward P/E of 31x sits above the industry average of 16x, implying the market is pricing in continued execution at near-record utilization. COO Gary Simmons offered a constructive read on the call: “demand is outpacing additional supply” heading into 2026, with net capacity additions of roughly 400,000 barrels per day against 500,000 barrels per day of light product demand growth. Crack spread data and Venezuelan crude import volumes will determine whether the 98% machine keeps running.

Bloomberg's Bruce Douglas discusses the recent move by private credit fund managers, including Ares and Apollo, to enforce a cap on redemptions. He speaks on "Bloomberg Open Interest.

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WisdomTree Cybersecurity Fund (NASDAQ:WCBR) is down about 5% year-to-date while the agentic AI buildout it was designed to benefit from is accelerating faster than almost anyone anticipated. That gap between thesis and performance is exactly why this fund is worth understanding right now.

WCBR holds 24 positions with 100% of assets in information technology, charging 0.45% annually for exposure to pure-play cybersecurity names. With around $83 million in net assets, it is a small, focused fund.

The top holding is Fastly (NYSE:FSLY) at 11.12%, followed by Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) at about 9% and Akamai (NASDAQ:AKAM) Akamai at about 7%. Fastly has surged 182% year-to-date, which partially explains why the fund has recovered nearly 7% over the past month even as the YTD figure remains negative. That single holding is moving the whole fund.

The Rate Environment Is the Macro Factor That Matters Most WCBR’s holdings are high-multiple growth stocks. Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) trades at a forward P/E of 41x. CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) carries a forward P/E of 67x. Valuations like these are acutely sensitive to real interest rates. When rates rise or stay elevated, the present value of future earnings compresses, and high-multiple stocks absorb the most pain.

The VIX currently sits near 26.8, in the elevated uncertainty zone, and has climbed roughly 37% over the past month. That reading puts it in the 93rd percentile relative to the past year. Elevated volatility and rate uncertainty compress growth stock multiples in tandem. If the Federal Reserve signals rate cuts, WCBR’s holdings would likely reprice upward quickly. The Fed’s dot plot, published after each FOMC meeting, is the most direct signal to watch.

Federal spending uncertainty adds a second layer of macro risk. SentinelOne (NYSE:S) explicitly flagged changes in U.S. federal spending as a risk to its business. DOGE-related cuts to civilian agency budgets could reduce government cybersecurity contract renewals, a headwind that would hit smaller pure-plays harder than enterprise-focused platforms.

The Holdings Concentration Problem Is the Micro Factor to Watch WCBR’s index methodology creates a structural quirk worth understanding. Fastly, a content delivery network with cybersecurity features, holds the fund’s top weight at over 11%. Its 182% year-to-date gain has made it the single biggest driver of recent fund performance. But Fastly is not a core cybersecurity platform in the way that CrowdStrike or Palo Alto Networks are. Its weight reflects index construction rules, not its centrality to the agentic AI security thesis.

CrowdStrike, by contrast, posted $5.25 billion in ending ARR, up 24% year-over-year, and recorded its first-ever positive GAAP net income of $39 million in its most recent quarter. CEO George Kurtz described the company as “mission-critical infrastructure — securing AI across every layer: from GPU to agent to prompt.” Yet CrowdStrike sits at only about 6% of WCBR, well below Fastly.

Palo Alto Networks grew its Next-Generation Security ARR to $6.30 billion, up 33% year-over-year, and has held non-GAAP operating margins above 30% for three consecutive quarters.

Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT) generated $2.21 billion in free cash flow in FY25, a record. These are the companies generating durable cash flows from AI-era security demand. Their combined weight in WCBR is meaningful, but Fastly’s outsize position means the fund’s short-term returns can diverge from the underlying security-for-AI story.

WisdomTree publishes quarterly reconstitution details through its issuer fact sheet. If Fastly’s weight is trimmed and redistributed toward AI-native security platforms, the fund’s composition would more closely reflect the agentic AI thesis it aims to capture. Whether the fund’s composition shifts closer to the agentic AI security story it was built around depends on how WisdomTree’s next reconstitution weights the pure-play platforms against names like Fastly.

Key Takeaways Circle leads with 77% revenue growth and rising USDC adoption, driving strong transaction volume gains.CRCL benefits from Arc Network traction, enterprise integrations and expanding payments activity.IREN faces revenue pressure as it shifts from bitcoin mining to AI cloud, with estimates trending lower. IREN Limited (IREN - Free Report) and Circle Internet (CRCL - Free Report) are both cryptocurrency-exposed stocks that have been gaining traction in recent times. Circle offers USDC stablecoin, which is redeemable on a one-for-one basis for U.S. dollars and is backed by reserves consisting of highly liquid, price-stable cash and cash equivalents. IREN Limited is one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost bitcoin miners.

Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, peaked in value at the beginning of October 2025, and since then, it has been nosediving. The question remains: amid the price volatility, which bitcoin mining stock has more upside potential? Let us break down their fundamentals, growth prospects, market challenges, future strategy and valuation to determine which offers a more compelling investment case.

The Case for IREN StockIREN’s focus on no longer being a pure-play crypto-mining company while evolving into an AI Cloud Service Provider seems to bode well for the company’s prospects. IREN is aiming to reach $3.7 billion in annualized run-rate revenues (ARR) by the end of 2026, mainly from its AI cloud business. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN reported around $2.3 billion of ARR under contract, which includes its large AI cloud agreement with Microsoft and about $0.4-$0.5 billion of ARR from the Prince George site.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN secured $3.6 billion in GPU financing and received $1.9 billion from Microsoft in customer prepayments, which together cover about 95% of the GPU-related capital spending tied to the Microsoft contract. Management said this reduces risk and allows the company to focus on adding more customers.

Another positive is power availability. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, IREN stated that it has more than 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of secured power, which management said is hard to find in the current data center market and reaching its $3.4 billion ARR target by the end of 2026 would use only about 10% of this power. This means most of the power capacity is still available for future growth, which should support the company’s plans to deploy around 140,000 GPUs by the end of 2026.

However, IREN is seeing short-term pressure on revenues as it moves away from Bitcoin mining and focuses more on AI cloud services. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, total revenues fell 23% from the previous quarter. Management said this drop was mainly due to lower Bitcoin mining revenues.

IREN is shifting power and infrastructure away from mining and toward AI workloads. AI cloud revenues are increasing, but they are not yet large enough to fully make up for the drop in mining revenues. Management said this pressure should be temporary. As more GPUs are installed and AI cloud contracts ramp up, AI revenues are expected to become the main source of revenue. Until then, quarter-over-quarter results may remain uneven.

The Case for CRCL StockCircle is expected to benefit from the growing demand for the USDC stablecoin. USDC in circulation grew 72% year over year to $75.3 billion at the fourth-quarter end. In the fourth quarter of 2025, USDC onchain transaction volume grew 247% year over year to nearly $11.9 trillion, reflecting growing usage. Meaningful wallets, defined as wallets holding more than $10 of USDC, surged 59% year over year, indicating growing USDC adoption globally.

The launch of its Arc Network is helping Circle move closer to its goal of building a full-scale Internet-based financial platform. Arc Network is a distributed economic operating system designed to support financial activity on the Internet. It is being built to handle payments, tokenized assets and other onchain use cases, including AI-driven transactions.

Currently, Arc Networks is in the test phase and is showing early traction. In the fourth quarter, more than 100 companies were testing the platform. The network processed more than 166 million transactions, with around 2.3 million daily transactions and close to 100% uptime. Settlement time is around 0.5 seconds. Arc is also expected to work closely with existing products. It will support Circle Payments Network for payments, StableFX for foreign exchange and USDC for liquidity.

Circle is seeing continued adoption across enterprises and financial institutions. Circle highlighted integrations with companies such as Visa and Intuit in the fourth quarter, and management noted that more firms are building products using USDC. In payments, Circle Payments Network reached 55 financial institutions and $5.7 billion in annualized volume, with activity focused on cross-border and B2B transactions.

These factors are expected to drive Circle’s top-line growth. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Circle reported total revenues and reserve income of $770 million, up 77% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter 2026 and full-year 2026 revenues is pegged at $714.4 million and $3.14 billion, respectively.

IREN vs. CRCL: Earnings Estimate TrendThe earnings estimate revision trend for the two companies reflects that analysts are turning more bullish toward Circle.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IREN’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at 54 cents per share, revised down by a penny over the past 30 days. The company reported earnings of 4 cents per share in fiscal 2025.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRCL’s 2026 earnings is pegged at 85 cents per share, revised up by 7 cents over the past 30 days. The company reported a loss of 44 cents per share in 2025.

IREN vs. CRCL: Price Performance and ValuationOver the past three months, IREN shares have jumped 0.1%, while CRCL shares have surged 53%.

3-Month Price Return Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CRCL is trading at a forward sales multiple of 9.26X, higher than IREN’s 5.86X. CRCL’s higher premium seems justified, given its earnings have been revised upward, reflecting analysts’ high growth expectations.

IREN vs. CRCL: Forward 12 Month P/S Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Conclusion: CRCL Has an Edge Over IRENBoth IREN and CRCL offer exposure to Bitcoin, but their current risk and return profiles are very different. However, IREN’s shift away from Bitcoin mining is creating short-term revenue pressure, and earnings estimates are moving down. While the AI pivot could pay off over time, near-term results may remain uneven.

CRCL appears to have an edge right now. The company is seeing strong growth in USDC usage, with rising transaction volumes and increasing adoption by businesses and financial institutions. Further, earnings estimates are moving higher, which shows an improving outlook.

Currently, IREN and Circle carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Shares of Jefferies Financial Group surged on Tuesday after reports suggested Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) is exploring a potential takeover of the US investment bank, even as conflicting signals emerged over the likelihood of a deal.

Takeover report lifts Jefferies sharesJefferies stock rose as much as 14% in premarket trading following a report by the Financial Times that SMFG is working on plans for a possible acquisition. 

However, it pared most of the gains after the market opened and traded 3% up at the time of writing.

According to the report, the Japanese lender has assembled a small internal team to prepare for a potential move if Jefferies’ share price presents an attractive entry point.

The report said SMFG, whose banking subsidiary already holds a minority stake in Jefferies, is positioning itself to act opportunistically rather than pursuing an immediate transaction.

The market reaction was swift, with investors pushing Jefferies shares higher after months of declines. 

The stock has fallen 34% this year and is down 39% over the past six months.

SMFG downplays immediate deal prospectsDespite the initial optimism, a separate report from Bloomberg indicated that SMFG has no immediate plans to pursue a takeover. 

People familiar with the matter said the Japanese bank is not currently engaged in active discussions with Jefferies regarding an acquisition.

Executives at SMFG are also said to be mindful of several challenges that could complicate any deeper integration, including regulatory hurdles and structural constraints.

A spokesperson for SMFG described Jefferies as an “important partner,” adding that the bank would not comment on “hypothetical assumptions or rumors.”

Longstanding partnership underpins strategic tiesThe speculation builds on an existing relationship between the two firms that has deepened in recent years. 

SMFG initially acquired a stake of nearly 5% in Jefferies in 2021 and later agreed to increase its holding to as much as 20%.

Under the terms of a deal reached last year, SMFG can build its economic stake while remaining below a 5% regulatory threshold for voting rights. 

The partnership has allowed Jefferies to access additional capital while helping SMFG expand its global investment banking footprint.

The potential for a takeover aligns with a broader trend among Japan’s largest financial institutions to strengthen ties with US firms. 

Peers such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group have pursued similar strategies to diversify revenue streams and expand internationally.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group acquired a stake in Morgan Stanley during the 2008 global financial crisis and remains its largest shareholder. 

Meanwhile, Mizuho Financial Group purchased boutique investment bank Greenhill & Co. to strengthen its capabilities in advising on global mergers.

Meanwhile, Jefferies continues to navigate a challenging environment, with its share price weighed down by exposures to troubled firms, including First Brands Group and Market Financial Solutions Ltd.

Senior executives from Jefferies, including CEO Rich Handler and President Brian Friedman, are expected to visit Tokyo this week to further strengthen ties with SMFG. 

The firm is also scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday and hold a board meeting in Japan.

Super Micro Computer stock faces a challenge after one of its co-founders was indicted on a charge of alleged export-control violations.

Bloomberg's Katherine Doherty reacts to the reports about Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group potentially taking over Jefferies Financial Group. While there have been denials of any immediate takeover plans, SMFG has been gradually increasing its stake in Jefferies, currently disclosed at around 20%.

Image: Bigstock

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Key Takeaways Toyota Motor is investing $1B to expand production capacity in Kentucky and Indiana facilities.$800M will boost Camry and RAV4 output in Kentucky, while $200M supports Grand Highlander in Indiana.The move aligns with Toyota's broader $10B U.S. plan amid tariffs and evolving trade regulations. Toyota Motor Corporation (TM - Free Report) announced a $1 billion investment in its manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Indiana to better serve the diverse needs of U.S. customers.

This funding is part of Toyota’s broader plan to invest up to $10 billion in the United States over the next five years, which was revealed in November 2025. Of the new investment, $800 million will go toward expanding production capacity at the Georgetown, KY, plant for the Camry sedan and RAV4 crossover, while the remaining $200 million will be used to boost output of the Toyota Grand Highlander SUV at the Princeton, IN, facility.

The move aligns with Toyota’s best-company-in-town philosophy, which emphasizes local investment, domestic production, community engagement and offering a wide range of products tailored to regional preferences through a multi-pathway approach. In the United States, Toyota employs nearly 50,000 people and has produced more than 35 million vehicles across 11 manufacturing plants.

Toyota and the wider auto industry continue to adjust their production strategies in response to tariffs and evolving regulations. Shifting trade policies during the Trump administration have created major challenges for automakers, leading to billions of dollars in additional annual costs. Toyota has previously estimated that U.S. tariffs alone could cost the company about 1.4 trillion yen for its fiscal year ending later this month.

Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksTM stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Some other top-ranked stocks in the auto space are Renault SA (RNLSY - Free Report) , Blue Bird Corporation (BLBD - Free Report) and Modine Manufacturing Company (MOD - Free Report) , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RNLSY’s 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 12.1% and 169.5%, respectively. The EPS estimates for 2026 and 2027 have improved 30 cents and 14 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLBD’s fiscal 2026 sales implies year-over-year growth of 4.1%. The EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 has improved 16 cents in the past 30 days. The EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 has improved 26 cents in the past 60 days.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MOD’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 21.3% and 19%, respectively. The EPS estimate for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 has improved 19 cents and 89 cents, respectively, in the past 60 days.

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Key Takeaways Innodata & Snowflake benefit from rising enterprise AI demand but offer distinct data services and platforms.INOD posted 48% revenue growth & expects more than 35% growth, driven by AI lifecycle services expansion.SNOW shows strong earnings momentum, 30% product revenue growth and a 125% net retention rate. The artificial intelligence (AI) boom is increasingly being shaped not just by models but by the data ecosystems that power them. As enterprises move from experimentation to production-scale AI deployments, demand is rising for both high-quality data engineering services and scalable cloud data platforms. This shift brings two distinct yet complementary players into focus — Innodata (INOD - Free Report) and Snowflake (SNOW - Free Report) .

Innodata operates at the data layer, enabling AI development through data annotation, engineering, evaluation and optimization. Snowflake, on the other hand, provides the cloud-native data platform where enterprises store, process and deploy AI workloads at scale. While their roles differ, both are tightly linked to the same secular trend — enterprise AI adoption.

With both stocks pulling back recently and investors reassessing AI valuations, comparing Innodata and Snowflake offers a timely opportunity to identify which business model is better positioned for long-term upside. Let’s dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now.

The Case for Innodata StockInnodata is emerging as a key enabler of the generative AI ecosystem, particularly in areas where data quality, model training and evaluation are critical. The company delivered strong momentum in 2025, with revenues growing 48% year over year to $251.7 million, supported by rising demand for AI data services.

A major strength lies in Innodata’s positioning across the full AI lifecycle. The company is no longer just a data provider but is evolving into a strategic partner for AI developers. Management highlighted growing traction in generative AI training, agentic AI systems and even physical AI applications such as robotics.

The company’s innovation focus is also notable. It is developing platforms for AI agent evaluation, adversarial testing and dataset optimization — areas that are becoming increasingly important as enterprises deploy AI in real-world environments. These capabilities allow Innodata to move up the value chain, improving pricing power and margins over time.

Another key growth driver is strong demand visibility. The company expects approximately 35% or more revenue growth in 2026, supported by expanding engagements with hyperscalers, AI labs and enterprise customers. This reflects increasing reliance on high-quality data pipelines as AI models become more complex.

However, Innodata also faces challenges. The business remains relatively small and project-based, which introduces revenue volatility depending on customer ramp schedules. Management itself acknowledged that timing variability in large AI programs and budget approvals could affect revenue realization.

Customer concentration is another risk, as large contracts can materially influence results. Competition is intensifying in AI data services, with both specialized firms and large tech players entering the space.

Despite these risks, Innodata’s high growth profile, expanding capabilities and strong alignment with AI infrastructure trends make it an attractive emerging player.

The Case for Snowflake StockSnowflake represents a more mature and scaled play on enterprise AI and data infrastructure. The company sits at the center of the AI data stack, providing a unified platform for data storage, processing and AI application development.

The company delivered strong fiscal 2026 results, with product revenues reaching $1.23 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, up 30% year over year. Growth is increasingly driven by AI workloads, as enterprises use Snowflake to build and deploy AI-powered applications.

A key strength is Snowflake’s platform model. Its AI Data Cloud integrates data, analytics and AI capabilities in a single environment, enabling enterprises to scale AI securely and efficiently. The company has rapidly expanded its AI offerings, including Snowflake Intelligence and Cortex Code, which support agentic AI development and automation.

Customer metrics remain robust. Snowflake now serves more than 13,300 customers, with strong expansion trends reflected in a 125% net revenue retention rate. This highlights the platform’s stickiness and its ability to grow within existing accounts.

The company is also benefiting from strong ecosystem partnerships with major AI players such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google Cloud, enhancing its position as a central hub for enterprise AI workloads.

However, Snowflake is not without challenges. Its consumption-based model introduces some revenue variability, particularly during periods of macro uncertainty when customers optimize spending. Competition from hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft and Google remains intense.

Valuation is another concern. Despite recent pullbacks, Snowflake still trades at a premium relative to many peers, reflecting high growth expectations that may be difficult to sustain at scale. Still, Snowflake’s scale, strong customer base and platform leadership position it as a foundational player in the AI economy.

Recent Market Performance of INOD & SNOW StocksBoth stocks have faced pressure in recent months, reflecting broader market volatility and investor rotation within AI names. Innodata shares have declined 16% over the past three months, outperforming Snowflake, which fell 21.5% during the same period. Both, however, underperformed the S&P 500’s 6.2% decline.

The sharper plunge in Snowflake suggests higher sensitivity to valuation compression, while Innodata’s relatively smaller drop reflects its emerging growth profile and lower starting valuation.

INOD vs. SNOW Price Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Valuation Levels Indicate Different Risk-Reward ProfilesA key differentiator between the two stocks is valuation. Innodata currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 4.1, significantly lower than Snowflake’s 9.8.

This valuation gap reflects Snowflake’s premium positioning as a large-scale platform company, but it also suggests that much of its growth is already priced in. In contrast, Innodata offers a more attractive entry point, especially given its faster near-term growth expectations.

INOD & SNOW Valuation

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

INOD vs. SNOW: Earnings Outlook & Estimate RevisionsEarnings estimate trends present a mixed picture. For Innodata, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS has declined over the past 30 days to $1.01 from $1.12, indicating some near-term caution. However, the estimate still implies 9.8% year-over-year growth, with revenues expected to rise 36%.
 

INOD EPS Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Snowflake, on the other hand, has seen positive estimate revisions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 EPS has increased to $1.80 from $1.61 over the past month, reflecting improving confidence in its earnings trajectory. This represents strong 44% expected growth, with revenues projected to increase 25.7%.

This divergence suggests that while Innodata offers stronger revenue growth, Snowflake currently has better earnings momentum.

SNOW EPS Estimates

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

INOD vs. SNOW: Which Stock Has the Edge?Both Innodata and Snowflake, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), are well-positioned to benefit from the AI data boom, but they offer different investment profiles. Snowflake provides scale, stability and a comprehensive platform that is deeply embedded in enterprise workflows. Innodata offers higher growth exposure to a critical and rapidly evolving segment of the AI value chain. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

At current levels, Innodata appears to have the edge in terms of upside potential. Its lower valuation, stronger revenue growth outlook and expanding role in AI lifecycle services create a more favorable risk-reward balance. As enterprises increasingly recognize the importance of high-quality data in AI performance, Innodata’s specialized capabilities could drive outsized gains.

Snowflake remains a high-quality long-term investment with strong fundamentals and improving earnings momentum. However, its premium valuation and already large scale may limit near-term upside compared to Innodata’s earlier-stage growth opportunity.

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

XRP has recorded a 6% price increase and soared past the $1.40 key resistance level in the last 24 hours. However, crypto analyst CasiTrades believes this could be a "dead cat bounce" that will get bulls trapped, as nothing has really changed with the asset aside from breaking its negative monthly streak.

XRP Elliott Wave analysis points to possible retracementAccording to CasiTrades, although the recent XRP price jump looks bullish, the coin is likely to suffer another price drop. The analyst cites XRP’s indicators, like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), as providing a warning of this possible decline.

Notably, XRP’s RSI is at 50.04, which suggests a neutral position. This implies that it could swing in either direction depending on investor sentiment. The immediate short-term bias suggests that traders are cautiously bullish, but any shock on the broader market could trigger a downward movement.

XRP might have climbed above the consolidation trend line, but this same level is acting as a resistance, which signals bearish momentum. If sellers overwhelm the market, CasiTrades opines that the price could dip.

🚨Don’t Get Tricked by This Bounce on XRP! 🚨

Quick chart update…

We’re breaking below that consolidation trendline we’ve been watching for weeks and starting to see it act as resistance. Exactly what we talked about in Friday’s livestream. That’s a pretty strong sign we’re… pic.twitter.com/N0FECyEsEF

— CasiTrades 🔥 (@CasiTrades) March 23, 2026 The analyst also used the Elliot Wave structure to analyze the price outlook of XRP. She believes that XRP is in Wave 2 of "temporary recovery." If the asset is unable to climb and break above between $1.51 and $1.55, it might suffer a retracement.

A reversal of the current bounce, if severe, could see the price crash to a low of $0.87, which is the next crucial support. The only way for the coin to void this bearish wave theory is for XRP to break and hold above $1.65.

As of this writing, XRP exchanged hands at $1.44, which is a 6.06% increase in the last 24 hours. The coin earlier soared to $1.46 before a slight dip. However, its trading volume remains high, as it is up by 83.77% at $3.3 billion within the same time frame.

XRP breaks five-month losing streakThe staggering volume and slight climb in price have helped XRP break out of its five-month negative streak. 

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Since October 2025, XRP has closed in the red in double digits. In October, XRP closed down by 11.9% and stayed bearish in November and December, with -13.8% and -14.8%, respectively.

In 2026, it continued on its bearish path as January and February recorded 10.6% and 16.2% drawdowns, respectively. However, with the current bullish outlook, March has eased into the green and is up by 2.74%.

Meanwhile, XRP has outperformed Ethereum in funds flows as institutional investors moved in on the Ripple asset. These developments could support XRP’s quest to break out.

XRP (XRP) stayed under pressure as traders watched resistance near the upper end of its recent range. 

Summary

XRP traded near $1.40 as a supply wall between $1.57 and $1.59 capped recovery attempts. Binance whale outflows fell to the lowest level since February, pointing to slower large-holder activity. Analysts tracked breakout retest signals, while exchange reserve trends continued showing unusual XRP behavior patterns. The token traded at about $1.40, while market data showed a supply wall between $1.57 and $1.59. That zone has limited the pace of recovery after the losses seen in February.

XRP traded near $1.42 at the time of reporting, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $2.46 billion. The token posted a small daily gain of 0.42%, but it remained down 5.95% over the last seven days. Its market cap stood at about $87.09 billion, based on a circulating supply of 61 billion XRP.

Price action has stayed weak as XRP struggles to move back above nearby resistance. Market data points to heavy supply between $1.57 and $1.59, and that area has capped recent upside attempts. As long as XRP stays below that band, traders may keep watching for more range-bound movement.

Analyst points to breakout retest setup Crypto analyst Javon Marks said XRP is showing strength on lower time frames after “what looks to be a macro breakout retest.” He added that this retest could support a continuation move if buyers keep defending the current zone.

Marks also repeated his long-term target of $15 or higher for XRP. That call remains far above the current market price, but his view has added to the debate around whether XRP is forming a base after the recent pullback. For now, the chart still shows a market trying to stabilize below a major supply zone.

Exchange reserve data shows unusual pattern CryptoQuant analyst APTRekt said XRP has shown a different pattern from many other crypto assets. In many markets, price gains often come with falling exchange reserves as investors move coins off exchanges. In XRP’s case, reserve balances on Binance have often risen alongside price increases.

The analyst also said exchange inflows and outflows tend to rise before strong price moves, with inflows usually higher than outflows. That pattern suggests that selling activity remains active even before rallies begin. It also shows that XRP’s price behavior may not follow the usual spot accumulation model seen in other assets.

In addition, another CryptoQuant analyst, Arab Chain, said Binance whale outflows for XRP over 30 days dropped to about 1.285 billion XRP, the lowest level since early February. The reading points to slower withdrawal activity from large holders.

Lower whale outflows may mean more XRP is staying on exchanges instead of moving into long-term storage. That could reflect a cautious stance among large investors as they wait for a clearer market direction. If this trend continues, traders may keep watching exchange activity closely for signs of renewed demand or added selling pressure.

Financial technology company Omnes and financial services provider Apex Group said on Tuesday that they plan to issue a tokenized secured debt note backed by Bitcoin hashrate on Base.

The two companies announced that they would tokenize the Omnes Mining Note (OMN), an institutional-grade structured note backed by the Bitcoin (BTC) hashrate. The companies said it will be issued and managed on the Base blockchain, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network.

Apex said the note is designed to give institutional investors “direct economic exposure to new Bitcoin production measured in hashrate” without the operational burden of managing mining hardware, energy procurement and facilities.

The launch adds a new type of crypto-linked security to the tokenization market by packaging mining output into a regulated investment product that can be transferred onchain between approved investors.

Omnes CEO Emmanuel Montero said the OMN is intended to convert Bitcoin mining output into a structured financial instrument backed by large-scale mining operations. “Bitcoin mining is the only mechanism that creates new Bitcoin through protocol issuance. This is economically distinct from yield strategies that rely on redistributing existing Bitcoin,” he said. 

Bitcoin mining exposure packaged into a tokenized debt noteAccording to the announcement, the OMN is designed to give professional investors outside of the United States economic exposure linked to mining production, using hashrate as its underlying metric. The Bitcoin hashrate is the computational power that secures the network and produces new coins. 

The product essentially lets investors benefit from Bitcoin mining activity without running mining operations themselves.

Issued as a secured debt note, the product applies a traditional financial structure with blockchain-based features, including onchain transfers between approved investors.

While the product expands access to mining exposure, details on how hashrate translates into investor returns, as well as the note’s liquidity and risk profile, were not fully disclosed.

Cointelegraph reached out to Omnes and Apex Group for more information, but had not received a response by publication. 

Tokenized assets climb to over $23 billion in MarchThe plans to tokenize Bitcoin mining exposure come amid a rise in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) in 2026. 

On March 11, DefiLlama data showed that the value of tokenized RWAs on public blockchains reached roughly $23.6 billion, up 66% year-to-date. 

Onchain market cap for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Source: DefiLlamaAt the time of writing, the onchain market capitalization for tokenized RWAs stood at around at $23 billion, according to DefiLlama. 

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The broker sees bitcoin rebounding from its recent lows, supported by ETF flows and expanding corporate treasury demand. Mar 24, 2026, 12:43 p.m.

Bitcoin BTC$70,940.93 has likely found its bottom and is primed for further gains, Wall Street broker Bernstein said in a Tuesday note to clients, reiterating its $150,000 year-end price target.

"We believe Bitcoin has found its trough and is now heading higher," wrote analysts led by Gautam Chhugani. The world's largest cryptocurrency was trading around $71,000 at publication time.

The broker also maintained its bullish view on bitcoin treasury company Strategy (MSTR), calling it a high-beta proxy for bitcoin with a “resilient, liquid and pressure-tested” balance sheet. The firm, led by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, holds roughly 3.6% of the total bitcoin supply, worth about $53.5 billion.

Bernstein has an outperform rating on Strategy with a $450 price target. The shares were unchanged in early trading, around $138.10.

The analysts also highlighted growing demand for Strategy’s preferred instrument, STRC, which offers an 11.5% monthly dividend with low volatility.

STRC’s perpetual structure helps reduce equity dilution while providing long-term capital, with trading volumes rising 65% over the past three months, the report noted.

Bitcoin’s recent pullback comes after a sharp run-up to record highs in late 2025, with prices falling as much as 45% from the peak amid a mix of macro and market-driven pressures. Analysts point to a higher-for-longer interest rate backdrop, geopolitical risk tied to the Middle East and intermittent exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows weighing on risk appetite.

The unwind of leveraged positions and profit-taking by long-term holders accelerated the decline, triggering bouts of forced liquidations and adding to volatility.

Despite the scale of the correction, Bernstein analysts characterized the move as a temporary reset in sentiment rather than a breakdown in fundamentals, noting the absence of systemic stress typically seen in prior crypto downturns.

On the macro side, the analysts noted bitcoin has outperformed gold by 25% since the onset of the Iran conflict at the end of February, underscoring the cryptocurrency's appeal as a portable, censorship-resistant asset during periods of geopolitical stress.

Institutional demand remains a key driver. The broker pointed to resilient ETF flows and increasing participation from banks offering bitcoin-related financial services.

Read more: Bitcoin’s quantum threat is real, but far from an existential crisis, Galaxy says

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Bitcoin finds stability at 2023 investor cost basis, echoing past cycle

45 minutes ago

Onchain cost basis data suggests $60,000 is a critical support, with deeper historical support near $54,000.

What to know:

Bitcoin recently held the 2023 realized price around $63,700 as support, echoing similar behavior seen during multiple corrections in 2023. The broader realized price sits near $54,300, a level historically breached in bear markets, making it the next major downside support if $60,000 fails.

Bitcoin and crypto have exploded onto Wall Street since BlackRock led the campaign to get a long-awaited, fully-fledged bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) approved (fueling wild predictions bitcoin could eventually replace the U.S. dollar).

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The bitcoin price has bounced back from the depths of a crash that’s wiped more than $2 trillion worth of value from the combined crypto market since October last year, adding 20% to climb above $71,000 per bitcoin, though some fear a fresh bitcoin price crash could be about to hit.

Now, as traders brace for an imminent Elon Musk crypto game-changer, the chief executive of BlackRock has predicted bitcoin and crypto could become a $500 million revenue generator for the company by 2030.

Sign up now for the free CryptoCodex—A daily five-minute newsletter for traders, investors and the crypto-curious that will get you up to date and keep you ahead of the bitcoin price and crypto market swings

ForbesWhite House Quietly Confirms A ‘Major’ Crypto Milestone As Bitcoin Braces For A Huge Price EarthquakeBy Billy Bambrough

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BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink has predicted bitcoin and crypto could be making the company $500 million per year by 2030 even as the bitcoin price struggles to recover from a bitcoin price crash.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

In his annual 2026 shareholders’ letter, BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink, one of the most bullish bitcoin and crypto supporters on Wall Street, predicted that crypto, along with BlackRock’s other high-growth markets, could become $500 million revenue generators "in the next five years."

BlackRock, which manages almost 800,000 bitcoin worth $55 billion on behalf of clients via its market-leading spot bitcoin ETF, currently makes around an estimated $250 million in annual fees from its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, according to a November Coindesk report.

Meanwhile, BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (Buidl) has become the world’s largest tokenized fund, last year topping $2 billion in assets under management.

“BlackRock has already established early leadership in bringing institutional-quality products to the digital markets at scale, with nearly $150 billion in assets under management connected to digital assets,” Fink wrote.

“Our tokenized treasury fund has grown into the largest tokenized fund in the world, and we manage $65 billion of stablecoin reserves, alongside nearly $80 billion of digital asset exchange-traded products. We’ve built all of these franchises in just the last few years, and we’re studying opportunities to grow our position even further.”

Fink, who described capitalism as "working—just not for enough people,” has again predicted blockchain-based tokenisation—the idea that traditional assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate can be converted into onchain, crypto-based, tradable tokens—will fling open the doors to vast, untapped markets that crypto companies and banks are racing to reach first.

Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the market

Forbes‘We’re Doing Everything We Can To Destroy It’—Legendary Billionaire Predicts U.S. Dollar Collapse Amid Bitcoin Price RallyBy Billy Bambrough

The bitcoin price has bounced back from its recent lows, with continued support from the likes of Wall Street giant BlackRock helping to reassure traders.

Forbes Digital Assets

Fink said tokenization could “update the plumbing of the financial system” by making access to investments easier and comparing the adoption of blockchain-based tokenization to the rapid development of the internet in the 1990s.

“Half the world’s population carries a digital wallet on their phone,” Fink wrote, pointing to research from Juniper. “Imagine if that same digital wallet could also let you invest in a broad mix of companies for the long term—as easily as sending a payment.”

Last year, Fink, speaking alongside Coinbase chief executive Brian Armstrong and New York Times journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin at a DealBook event, warned that the U.S. risks falling behind other governments if it fails to embrace the trends of tokenization and artificial intelligence.

“If we don’t spend enough faster on digitization and tokenization, other countries will beat us,” Fink said, echoing a November warning from U.S. president Donald Trump that China is trying to take on the U.S. as the world’s “capital of crypto.”

Fink also dismissed the idea espoused by the likes of Warren Buffett that bitcoin is fundamentally worthless, calling it an "asset of fear" that falls when people are less “fearful.”

"You own bitcoin because you’re frightened of your physical security. You own it because you’re frightened of your financial security. The long-term fundamental reason you own it because the debasement of financial assets, because of deficits," Fink said.

Mastercard, Western Union, and Worldpay are all joining as early users of the Solana Foundation's new enterprise development platform, an AI-powered toolbox to help institutions build on the smart contract-friendly blockchain.

According to an announcement on Tuesday, the Solana Developer Platform (SDP) gathers together "best-in-class infrastructure across the Solana ecosystem into a single, unified interface," including tools for launching real-world assets, payments technologies, and other onchain products.

Mastercard, for instance, is tapping SDP to help expand its stablecoin operations, according to Executive Vice President, Blockchain & Digital Assets Raj Dhamodharan.

"The next phase of digital asset innovation will be defined by practical use cases that integrate seamlessly with existing financial systems," Dhamodharan said. "As an early user of Solana Developer Platform, we're helping enable direct stablecoin settlement for customers on select blockchain networks — beginning with Solana — combining the speed and programmability of blockchain with the reliability, security and global reach of the Mastercard network."

SDP will feature three core API modules, including an “Issuance module” for launching onchain tokenized deposits like GENIUS-compliant stablecoins, a “Payments module” for orchestrating fiat and stablecoin flows — including on- and off-ramping, and B2B transactions — as well as a “Trading module” that supports features like atomic swaps, vaults, and foreign exchange.

The move comes amid rising institutional interest in tokenization and stablecoin use cases, broadly understood as “real-world assets.” While Solana today captures just a fraction of the total onchain RWA market, the entire sector is continuing to grow month after month, according to The Block’s data.

Further, new offerings that were hardly conceivable just years ago — like onchain equities, including stock perpetual futures — are coming online, often on Solana first.

Other companies, like Western Union, are turning to blockchains like Solana not to reinvent the wheel but to modernize their operations.

"Solana Developer Platform lets us extend what Western Union already does best — moving money reliably across borders — by adding an API‑driven, on‑chain layer that can orchestrate fiat and stablecoin flows end‑to‑end," Western Union VP Digital Assets Malcolm Clarke said. "It’s not a replacement for our network; it’s a modern extension that helps us innovate faster, expand new use cases, and bring more cross‑border activity on‑chain in a scalable, compliant way."

According to the announcement, AI coding platforms like Claude Code by Anthropic and Codex by OpenAI will be able to use SDP “out of the box.”

The SDP platform is supported by over 20 infrastructure partners at launch to help with node and wallet infrastructure setups, as well as compliance and onramping needs. The 11 initial wallet service providers include major custodians like Anchorage Digital, BitGo, and Coinbase, as well as non-custodial providers like Fireblocks.

Major analytics firms Chainalysis, Elliptic, Range, and TRM Labs will offer compliance assistance across know-your-customer, know-your-business, and FATF’s Travel Rule requirements, while top fiat-to-crypto links like Bridge, BVNK, Lightspark, Modern Treasury, and MoonPay will power the SDP’s payments module.

Last week, Mastercard said it would acquire BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, while Stripe acquired Bridge in 2024.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The Solana Foundation has revealed it has secured Mastercard, Worldpay, and Western Union as early users of its newly launched developer platform, as part of ongoing efforts to attract enterprises to build on its blockchain. 

The Solana Developer Platform (SDP) was announced on Tuesday to enable enterprise developers to build on the blockchain using a unified interface. 

Much of the focus is on real-world asset tokenization, including stablecoins, which is currently a $328 billion market, according to rwa.xyz. More than half of the total value is held on Ethereum; however, with Solana holding 6.3% share of the tokenized real-world asset market.

“The early interest we’ve seen from enterprises and institutions signals strong demand,” said Catherine Gu, the head of product at the Solana Foundation. 

The SDP will initially have three core modules: an issuance module to deploy tokenized real-world assets, a payments module to facilitate fiat and stablecoin flows, and a trading module due later this year that will support atomic swaps, vaults, and onchain forex.

Early users of the SDP include Mastercard for stablecoin settlement, Worldpay for merchant payments and settlement, and Western Union for cross-border payments, said the Solana Foundation. 

Solana's efforts to attract institutionsSolana invested in making the network enterprise-ready on a technical level with the Alpenglow upgrade in 2025, boosting transaction throughput. Meanwhile, in December, Visa launched USDC (USDC) settlement for US banks on the Solana blockchain.

“The next phase of digital asset innovation will be defined by practical use cases that integrate seamlessly with existing financial systems,” said Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president, blockchain and digital assets, at Mastercard. 

Meanwhile, Malcolm Clarke, vice president of digital assets at Western Union, said the SDP is “not a replacement for our network,” but allows it to expand use cases and bring more cross-border activity.

Solana enters a crowded enterprise blockchain space Enterprise-grade blockchain solutions are not new, and Solana’s latest platform enters a crowded market. 

The Ethereum ecosystem has several strong offerings targeting the same enterprise audience, including Consensys’ Infura, a scalable API infrastructure powering thousands of decentralized applications.

Consensys also has the Linea layer-2, which is positioning itself as an institutional on-ramp to crypto.  

Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 platform Base has modular components for checkout, APIs, and commerce payments that directly compete with SDP's payments module.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s blockchain offerings, such as XRP Ledger, also primarily target enterprise and financial institutions, as it aims to become the standard for cross-border payments. 

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Virtuals Protocol [VIRTUAL] witnessed an 83% boost in daily trading volume and saw a 3% price gain in the past 24 hours. Its Open Interest [OI] was only up 1.75%, which suggested speculative conviction behind the AI token was relatively weak.

Source: Coinalyze Coinalyze data showed that the Funding Rate was predominantly negative over the past week.

At the same time, the Spot CVD has been flat. Combined with the weak increase in OI, it showed that the VIRTUAL market sentiment remained bearish.

Let’s break it down from the higher timeframes.

Source: VIRTUAL/USDT on TradingView On the 1-day chart, the trend was bearish. The swing structure was bearish, and a set of Fibonacci retracement levels (white) was plotted using this.

At the same time, the internal structure was bullish.

The price faced rejection from the $0.82 level, the 50% retracement (white), but the $0.68 local support zone was defended.

This meant that further gains were likely. With Bitcoin [BTC] also back above $70k, the next week or two could see the bulls in control.

Virtuals Protocol token has completed its retracement A week ago, AMBCrypto pointed out that downside risks were present for the popular AI token. This warning has been proven right, with VIRTUAL retracing from $0.82 to $0.64, a 22% move at its zenith.

This retracement was a healthy one for the bulls in the short-term. At the same time, the long-term structure was bearish. Traders can wait for a move toward $1 before they can begin to anticipate a bearish reaction.

Source: VIRTUAL/USDT on TradingView The 4-hour timeframe showed that the $0.665 level was the 78.6% retracement (light blue) of the previous impulse move VIRTUAL made, from $0.62 to $0.82. A bullish reaction at this key retracement level confirmed this bias.

Therefore, it is highly likely that Virtuals Protocol token prices would rally toward $0.875-$0.955 levels next. These were the 23.6% and 61.8% extension levels of this timeframe’s swing structure.

Final Summary Virtuals Protocol exhibited a negative Funding Rate and low Open Interest despite its gains in the past 24 hours. The defense of the $0.66-$0.68 zone confirmed bullish strength and VIRTUAL could rally to $0.95-$1.04 in the coming weeks.

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Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson sparked curiosity by posting a short question hinting that the privacy-focused blockchain Midnight may be ready to launch.

In a recent post on the X platform, Charles Hoskinson asked his over one million followers, “Who is ready for Midnight?” His post included a five-minute-plus compilation of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s legendary performance aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013.

The use of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” adds symbolic resonance, evoking exploration, transition, and the journey into uncharted territory—reflecting Midnight’s role as Cardano’s move into programmable privacy. Paired with the minimalist phrasing, it urges the community to brace for a major milestone, turning a simple question into a deliberate signal of what’s coming next.

Hoskinson’s post has heightened anticipation, with the Midnight mainnet launch expected later this month, though the date has yet to be announced.

Notably, the post quickly went viral, racking up over 42,000 views and more than 1,500 likes at press time. Meanwhile, members of the Cardano community, including Input Output Global, have expressed their readiness, further fueling momentum around the anticipated launch.

 

Midnight Scores Major Strategic Partnerships As previously covered by ZyCrypto, Midnight leverages zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to enable selective data disclosure. Functioning as a partner chain to the Cardano smart contract platform, it delivers privacy and regulatory compliance for decentralized applications.

The project has also formed partnerships with major tech platforms, including Google and Telegram, underscoring its potential for widespread adoption.

Meanwhile, Midnight’s native token, NIGHT, is now available for trading on major cryptocurrency exchanges. Additionally, the Midnight Foundation recently revealed that Worldpay and Bullish will run federated nodes for the Midnight network.

In the lead-up to its expected mainnet launch, the NIGHT token climbed to $0.04768 within the last 24 hours. Despite this uptick, its market value—once above $1 billion shortly after its December debut—has declined to roughly $789 million, according to CoinGecko.

Strategy (MSTR) has formally outlined a plan to raise $44.1 billion in fresh capital to accelerate its Bitcoin acquisition program, signaling an aggressive counter-cyclical expansion despite the asset’s recent 40% correction from its late 2025 highs.

The initiative marks a massive escalation in the firm’s corporate treasury operations, aiming to leverage the disconnect between equity capital markets and spot asset prices to absorb floating supply at depressed valuations.

The proposed financing follows a period of heightened volatility for the asset class, yet corporate conviction appears unshaken.

By utilizing the company’s equity premium to fund spot purchases, the firm intends to continue its mandate of accreting Bitcoin per share, effectively transforming the stock into an active accumulating mechanism rather than a passive holding vehicle.

🚨NEW: STRATEGY ANNOUNCES $42B ATM PROGRAMS FOR MORE $BTC PURCHASES@Strategy has filed an 8-K announcing two simultaneous At-The-Market equity programs:

– $21 billion $MSTR ATM
– $21 billion $STRC ATM

…giving the firm a combined $42 billion in fresh capital raise capacity.… pic.twitter.com/rQoaZeOjjX

— BSCN (@BSCNews) March 23, 2026

EXPLORE: MicroStrategy Eyes 1 Million BTC: Inside the Saylor Plan

Strategy Bitcoin Capital Raise Mechanics: The Premium Engine The core of the $44.1 billion strategy relies on the company’s ability to issue equity and convertible debt at valuations that exceed the market price of its underlying Bitcoin holdings. This Net Asset Value (NAV) premium allows Strategy to raise cash from institutional investors and deploy it into Bitcoin accretively. As long as the market values the company’s future accumulation capability higher than its current book value, the mathematical engine of the treasury strategy remains solvent.

Market observers note that this specific raise size is calibrated to maximize acquisition speed before the anticipated volatility of the mid-2026 cycle. With the capital markets remaining open to convertible offerings despite the broader crypto market downturn, the firm is effectively securing long-term funding to buy a distressed asset. This approach mirrors the “intelligent leverage” model deployment seen in previous cycles, but the scale has now shifted from mere billions to tens of billions.

The mechanism functions as a programmatic bid in the market. Every dollar raised is destined for the order book.

With $STRC under par for the whole week, the focus shifts back to $MSTR for Strategy to raise capital to buy Bitcoin.

I fully expect to see that Strategy have purchased more Bitcoin this week, but it'll be a much smaller amount compared to recent weeks.

Any purchases at these… pic.twitter.com/sLj0Do1PZc

— David Lawrence (@d_1awrence) March 21, 2026

The sheer magnitude of a $44.1 billion buy wall alters the supply dynamics of the spot market. At current market prices—hovering near $75,000 following the retrace from the $126,200 peak—capital of this size could theoretically remove over 580,000 Bitcoin from circulation. This represents a significant percentage of the liquid tradable supply, creating a scarcity shock potential that goes beyond standard ETF inflows.

Data from Capriole Investments indicates that institutional Bitcoin purchases in early 2026 have already exceeded newly mined supply by 76%. This metric aggregates corporate treasury buying with spot ETF flows, highlighting a net deficit in available coins even before Strategy deploys this fresh capital. When a single corporate entity executes purchases that outpace the daily production of the entire mining network, the programmable scarcity of the protocol is put to a stress test.

The impact is further compounded by the programmable halving cycles, which continue to reduce issuance rates every four years. With the firm recently executing a $1.57 billion Bitcoin purchase in a single week earlier this year, the pace of supply removal is accelerating toward a mathematical squeeze.

EXPLORE: Best DeFi Coins to Buy in 2025

Market Implications and Risk Factors While the accumulation strategy provides a floor for demand, it introduces concentrated risk. Strategy’s aggressive use of leverage means its balance sheet is inextricably tied to Bitcoin’s price performance. A prolonged deepened bear market could theoretically pressure the convertible note obligations, though the firm has historically structured these debts with maturities far into the future to avoid liquidation cascades.

Short sellers have frequently targeted the stock during downturns, betting that the premium to NAV will collapse. However, these trades often face asymmetric risk. When Bitcoin prices reverse, the subsequent short squeeze on the equity can drive the stock price up faster than the underlying asset, fueling the premium cycle anew.

Investors should note that this $44.1 billion plan effectively leverages the entire company on a directional bet: that Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation will outpace the cost of capital required to acquire it. The infinite money glitch only works while the premium holds.

I'm struggling to wrap my head around #STRC's potential.

I know it's huge. I know it's going to continue to get bigger.

I know that for every STRC share sold, Strategy sells 3 shares of MSTR.

I know that as their balance sheet increases, their ability to raise credit… https://t.co/LaCpYb4PeE

— David Lawrence (@d_1awrence) March 10, 2026

This capital raise occurs against a backdrop of widening institutional adoption. The U.S. Bitcoin ETF market has seen assets under management grow 45% to $103 billion, with institutional ownership of the asset class rising to 24.5%. While retail sentiment often sours during 40% corrections, professional allocators appear to be using the weakness to build positions through regulated vehicles.

Global legitimacy continues to solidify, with reports that the Czech National Bank is evaluating Bitcoin as a reserve asset and merchant acceptance surpassing 22,200 locations worldwide. CoinEx analysts have forecasted a base-case price target of $180,000 by the end of 2026, driven by this convergence of corporate treasury expansion and sovereign interest.

By securing $44.1 billion now, Strategy is positioning itself to be the dominant liquidity sink for Bitcoin during the next leg of the cycle, effectively front-running the very scrutiny it helped normalize.

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

Bitcoin News

Daniel Frances is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. A crypto native since 2017, Daniel leverages his background in on-chain analytics to author evidence-based reports and deep-dive guides. He holds certifications from The Blockchain Council, and is dedicated to providing "information gain" that cuts through market hype to find real-world blockchain utility.

TAO soared to a four-month peak and flipped WLFI.

The cryptocurrency market registered a slight rebound over the past 24 hours, with Bittensor (TAO) being the best performer (at least among the top 100 club) today.

Market experts expect the bullish momentum to continue, projecting more substantial gains in the near future.

TAO Jumps High Earlier on March 24, the cryptocurrency’s price pumped to almost $320, the highest point in the past four months. It later lost some steam and currently trades at around $310, representing a 10% daily increase.

TAO Price, Source: CoinGecko TAO’s market capitalization has surged to $3 billion, making it the 35th-largest digital asset and flipping World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a token directly related to Donald Trump and his family.

The renowned analyst Ali Martinez claimed that Bittensor’s native cryptocurrency might be on the verge of breaking out of a “right-angled descending broadening wedge,” which could be a precursor to a major rally to $580.

Other analysts also made optimistic predictions, albeit setting lower targets than Martinez. Crypto Tony believes a $310 reclaim could lead to a spike to at least $350, whereas Rendoshi expects a pump to $400 in the short term.

Last week, TAO experienced another double-digit daily gain after NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and the well-known entrepreneur Chamath Palihapitiya highlighted Bittensor’s potential. Their discussion caught the eye of many analysts, including Andrew Crypto and Altcoin Sherpa. The former envisioned a volatile climb toward $500 later this year, while the latter thinks the shout-out from NVIDIA’s boss may have solidified the asset as a solid investment.

You may also like: Pierre Rochard Slams Altcoins, Says They Ride Bitcoin’s Coattails Wintermute Calls End of Four-Year Crypto Cycle, Flags 2026 Triggers Crypto Markets Hit Holiday Slump: Trading Volumes Plunge to Lowest Levels of 2025 Correction on the Way? TAO’s price has rallied by almost 75% over the past month, but that impressive upswing coincides with interesting investor activity typically associated with pre-sale positioning. Specifically, exchange inflows have surpassed outflows on most days in March. While this doesn’t guarantee a price pullback, it definitely increases immediate selling pressure.

TAO Exchange Netflow, Source: CoinGlass The next worrying factor is TAO’s Relative Strength Index. The technical analysis tool measures the speed and magnitude of the latest price changes and indicates when a possible reversal might occur.

It ranges from 0 to 100, with readings above 70 signaling that the valuation has increased too much in a short period, suggesting it might be due for correction. Conversely, ratios below 30 reflect oversold conditions and a potential rebound. Currently, TAO’s RSI stands at approximately 70.

TAO RSI, Source: RSI Hunter Tags:

Bitcoin may have already bottomed out near $60,000. Here’s why.Implied volatility indicators DVOL and BVIV suggest peak fear has passed, with crypto leading traditional markets in pricing risk. Mar 24, 2026, 1:18 p.m.

Some worry bitcoin BTC$70,583.23 could still see a deeper sell-off, but one key indicator suggests the bottom may already be behind us.

That indicator is the 30-day implied volatility, which is an options-based measure of expected price turbulence over four weeks.

The widely-tracked 30-day implied volatility indices like Deribit's DVOL and Volmex's BVIV surged to 90% in early February when bitcoin crashed to almost $60,000. Historically, similar spikes in volatility have coincided with peak panic and capitulation, marking price bottoms.

VIX-like contrary signalBitcoin's market structure has increasingly mirrored Wall Street since the introduction of spot BTC ETFs in the U.S. in early 2024.

In this context, implied volatility has emerged as a “fear gauge” and a contrary indicator similar to the VIX, a real-time indicator measuring expected 30-day volatility of the S&P 500: It typically trends downward in stable markets but spikes sharply during moments of extreme fear that mark major market bottoms.

This dynamic was on evident early last month when bitcoin tanked. The resulting panic demand for options, mostly puts, drove DVOL and BVIV skyward to 90% and above in a manner consistent with prior capitulation events, such as August 2024, when prices tanked to and bottomed near $50,000.

The same thing in November 2022 when FTX collapsed, resulting in peak fear, sending implied volatility to 90%. At that time, bitcoin bottomed out below $20,000.

So, if history is a guide, the bitcoin downtrend that began in October at highs above $126,000 has already ended.

DVOL (TradingView)Some might argue that one indicator doesn’t prove much and that’s logical. But what makes it noteworthy is it's established role in traditional markets as a contrary indicator.

A super high VIX, well above its long-term average, is generally considered a strong contrarian buy signal for long-term investors, as it represents peak market fear and "panic".

In fact, many Wall Street strategies use the VIX as a "background indicator" to trigger systematic equity purchases. For instance, quantitative mean reversion funds use models where a ViX deviating higher significantly from its long-term average triggers an automated increase in equity leverage.

Speaking of the VIX, it reached a one-year high of 35% on March 9, nearly a month after the explosion in bitcoin volatility,. The VIX has been elevated throughout 2026 but has held below prior dislocation peaks above 60, seen during Liberation Day in April 2025.

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Coinbase says the 'second wave' of institutional money for crypto is here and it is all about yield

46 minutes ago

Coinbase’s head of institutional, Brett Tejpaul, says institutional priorities in crypto are evolving, and investors are increasingly hunting for yield.

What to know:

Institutional investors are shifting from pure price speculation in crypto toward strategies that generate steady income from assets they already hold.New products such as Coinbase’s tokenized Bitcoin Yield Fund and BlackRock’s staked-ether ETF reflect growing demand for yield-bearing, onchain vehicles that resemble traditional cash and bond strategies.As interest in stablecoins, tokenization and 24/7, near-instant settlement grows, large financial firms are exploring how blockchain infrastructure can cut costs, speed cross-border payments, and improve capital efficiency.

Tether hires a 'Big Four' firm for a full audit of USDT reservesThe audit aims to address long-standing questions over USDT reserves and push new disclosure standards. Mar 24, 2026, 1:24 p.m.

Tether, the crypto company behind the most popular stablecoin USDT, said Tuesday it has selected a "Big Four" auditing firm to conduct its first full financial statement audit.

"The Big Four Firm was selected through a competitive process because the organisation is already operating at Big Four audit standard," said Simon McWilliams, Chief Financial Officer of Tether. "The audit will be delivered."

The company has long published periodic attestations of the assets backing the value of its $184 billion U.S. dollar stablecoin USDT. A full audit goes further: It requires a detailed review of assets, liabilities, controls and reporting systems.

Tether did not name the firm that will complete the audit. The Big Four term is used for top accounting firms Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC.

The move follows years of criticism over whether Tether has fully demonstrated that USDT is fully backed by reserves. The company says its holdings consist largely of U.S. Treasury bills, along with smaller allocations to gold, bitcoin and a range of loans. That mix has drawn scrutiny from critics who question the liquidity and risk profile of some assets, especially during periods of market stress.

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ParaFi defies crypto market downturn with $125 million raise for new fund: Bloomberg

53 minutes ago

The firm now manages about $2 billion, having already raised an additional $325 million for existing crypto investment strategies since last year.

What to know:

ParaFi raised $125 million for a new venture fund focused on stablecoins, tokenization and onchain financial products for institutions.The firm now manages about $2 billion, having already raised $325 million for existing crypto investment strategies since 2025, and has backed companies including Polymarket, Bitwise and Anchorage.While the fundraise comes during a challenging period for the industry, with bitcoin down 26% from this year's high, investors appear to be increasingly focused on the long-term potential of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

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RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today that it has been awarded a five-year expertise task order valued at up to $85 million to continue providing critical engineering and technical support to ships, submarines, and other naval vehicles for the U.S. Navy Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division's Naval Architecture and Engineering Department.

“CACI is committed to ensuring the U.S. fleet maintains superior capabilities to stay ahead of our adversaries as new threats are always emerging,” said John Mengucci, CACI President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through our advanced technical support, robust cybersecurity measures, and innovative software-defined solutions, CACI is not only enhancing the Navy's operational resources but also setting new standards for efficiency and security in naval engineering.”

Under the U.S. Navy SeaPort Next Generation (NxG) contract vehicle, CACI will offer data analysis, software development, and control system enhancements to improve the design and operation of naval vessels. CACI’s robust cybersecurity expertise protects critical naval systems and information, safeguarding the integrity and security of sensitive data. Through innovative software solutions for ship design and automatic control systems, CACI is enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in developing and maintaining advanced naval capacities.

About CACI

CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) is a national security company with 27,000 talented employees who are Ever Vigilant in expanding the limits of national security. We ensure our customers’ success by delivering differentiated technology and distinctive expertise to accelerate innovation, drive speed and efficiency, and rapidly anticipate and eliminate threats. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. We are members of the Fortune 500™, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof.

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Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong value characteristics for investors to consider today, March 24th:  

OptimizeRx (OPRX - Free Report) : This company, which provides consumer and physician platforms to help patients better afford and comply with their medicines and healthcare products, carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 12.6% over the last 60 days.

OptimizeRx has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 6.11 compared with 20.40 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.

Mercury General (MCY - Free Report) : This insurance holding company, which is primarily engaged in writing personal automobile lines of business and provides related property and casualty insurance products, carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 7.1% over the last 60 days.

Mercury General has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.73 compared with 12 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of A.

Strategic Education (STRA - Free Report) : This company, which provides a range of post-secondary education and other academic programs in the United States, carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8% over the last 60 days.

Strategic Education’s has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 11.58 compared with 15.60 for the industry. The company possesses a Value Score of B.

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Learn more about the Value score and how it is calculated here.

TURIN, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sytel Reply, the Reply Group company specialized in subscription management, billing transformation and revenue management platforms, has been recognized by Zuora as its 2025 EMEA RSI Partner of the Year for its expertise in Zuora implementation and strategic consulting in monetization across the EMEA region. The recognition highlights more than a decade of experience on the Zuora platform and a dedicated center of excellence comprising certified specialists in su.