CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has pledged to help reshape regulations for onchain finance during Chainlink’s Link:NYC event, as the agency develops a federal registration pathway for crypto trading platforms.
Summary
Selig pledged regulatory work supporting onchain finance at Link:NYC.
The CFTC’s crypto exchange registration framework remains under consultation.
Existing plans distinguish ordinary spot trading from leveraged retail transactions.
SEC cooperation and prediction-market oversight form separate parts of the agency’s agenda.
Chainlink’s official event updates attributed the remarks to Selig at the Oct. 29 gathering, where he praised companies working on blockchain-based financial markets.
CFTC Chair Selig promises work on onchain finance
In the statement published by the event organizer, Selig said the future of onchain finance could be determined by discussions taking place at the conference. He expressed the agency’s support for companies developing the sector and its willingness to help reshape the applicable regulations.
“We’re excited to play a role in reshaping regulations for this ecosystem,” Selig said.
His appearance follows an October consultation on how crypto platforms could operate within a federal framework. As crypto.news previously reported, the agency is developing a voluntary registration pathway using its existing statutory authority while Congress has yet to enact a crypto market-structure law.
The Oct. 26 report described plans for exchanges offering leveraged, margined or financed retail crypto transactions. It identified customer funds, token listings, conflicts of interest and proof of reserves among the safeguards being considered for participating venues.
Published as an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the consultation seeks public input before possible future rules. The agency opened the process on Oct. 5, and the notice’s Federal Register publication sets Dec. 14, 2026, as the comment deadline.
Crypto exchange plans distinguish spot trading from leverage
During his Oct. 5 Fordham remarks, Selig described three categories of exchanges with different regulatory obligations. Ordinary spot venues generally operate under state money-transmission laws, while remaining subject to the CFTC’s anti-fraud and anti-manipulation authority.
Platforms offering retail customers margined, leveraged or financed crypto transactions fall into a separate category requiring CFTC registration, he said. Exchanges offering perpetual contracts and other derivatives occupy a third category under the agency’s jurisdiction.
Selig acknowledged that only Congress can require all crypto exchanges to register with the commission. His proposed approach would give qualifying platforms a federal route based on the services they offer.
The contemplated crypto asset market designation, known as CAM, would be a subcategory of designated contract market. Selig said platforms offering futures, options or swaps would remain subject to the existing designated contract market framework.
His speech separately described work on a policy for software developers who do not solicit orders, control execution or hold customer assets. Staff was directed to examine how onchain venues operate and where control resides.
The agency’s October consultation announcement seeks feedback on Regulation Crypto Asset Transactions, or CTX, and Regulation Crypto Asset Markets. Earlier coverage of the federal crypto trading proposals distinguished the consultation from an adopted market-wide framework.
The release grounds the planned rules in Section 2(c)(2)(D) of the Commodity Exchange Act. It asks how a national regime could prevent abusive practices, explain crypto-specific compliance expectations, and establish the CAM registration category through rulemaking.
In his statement accompanying the consultation, Selig said the commission wanted regulations capable of preventing fraudulent schemes before customers suffered losses. The agency said information received during the consultation would inform potential future action.
Written submissions would be publicly posted, giving market participants an opportunity to comment on both the transaction rules and the proposed platform designation.
SEC cooperation includes guidance on crypto asset status
Cooperation with the SEC predates the October exchange consultation. In a March 17 announcement, the securities regulator published an interpretation addressing how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and transactions.
The CFTC joined that interpretation with guidance that it and its staff would administer the Commodity Exchange Act consistently with the SEC’s interpretation. Both agencies described the action as part of their work to give market participants clearer treatment under existing law.
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said the interpretation recognized that most crypto assets are not themselves securities and that investment contracts can come to an end. He described the guidance as a bridge while Congress worked on market-structure legislation.
Selig’s accompanying statement committed the two regulators to workable, harmonized regulations. The announcement addressed asset and transaction classifications without presenting the October CAM registration framework as an already available license.
Prediction markets remain subject to manipulation scrutiny
Separate prediction market oversight coverage published Oct. 24 described Selig’s monitoring of possible manipulation ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, drawing on reporting about his Bloomberg interview.
The report detailed completed CFTC settlements involving Gabriel Perez and former Rep. George Santos. Perez was ordered to return $107,539.02 in trading profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty after the agency found that he used advance access to presidential speeches to trade related contracts.
Santos’s settlement required the return of $17,569.98 in profits and a $17,500 civil penalty over trading tied to his attendance at the 2026 State of the Union address. Both settlements imposed three-year trading bans.
Building on the more than $11 billion in trading volume already powered by Chainlink, Polymarket is now expanding its 15-minute markets to commodities, equities, and forex.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Polymarket, the world's global prediction market, has deepened its strategic partnership with Chainlink, the standard for onchain finance, as its official oracle for high-speed up/down markets. 15-minute gold and silver markets are now live on Polymarket as it expands its offerings beyond crypto and into the world's most widely traded assets across equities, commodities, and forex.
This expands Polymarket’s existing partnership with Chainlink, which has driven more than $11 billion in trading volume around 5- and 15-minute crypto price markets.
This expands Polymarket's existing partnership with Chainlink, which has driven more than $11 billion in trading volume around 5- and 15-minute crypto price markets. Built on Chainlink's industry-standard decentralized oracle infrastructure, which has proven secure and reliable through extreme market volatility, blockchain network congestion, and major cloud infrastructure outages, Chainlink provides Polymarket with high-speed, accurate pricing at any hour through Data Streams and the Chainlink Runtime Environment.
"Polymarket traders are some of the most connected in the world. With Chainlink 24/7, they can now take positions in a growing number of equity, commodity, and FX markets at all times. Chainlink gives us the reliable, high-speed data to launch new markets at scale, and gives our users the confidence that they will resolve accurately." — Neal Kumar, Chief Legal Officer, Polymarket
Polymarket's market makers and algo traders can now receive the same low-latency Chainlink Data Streams powering these markets through self-serve access, equipping them with the accurate data they need to price new markets the moment they go live. With its market participant ecosystem ready, Polymarket can now launch new offerings at scale as it expands across asset classes.
"Prediction markets have become one of the most powerful ways to forecast the outcomes of global events, and Polymarket is a leading platform in the category. We're excited to see Polymarket expand into traditional assets with Chainlink as its official oracle infrastructure. Our high-speed pricing data enables Polymarket to resolve these markets with the accuracy and efficiency its users expect. " — Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer, Chainlink Labs
About Polymarket
Polymarket is the world's global prediction market platform, where participants trade on the outcomes of real-world events. By harnessing the wisdom of the crowd and the efficiency of markets, Polymarket generates real-time probability estimates that have proven to be among the most accurate forecasting tools available. Polymarket's markets span global politics, economics, science, technology, sports, culture, and more, attracting hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide. Polymarket US operates as a CFTC-regulated designated contract market under the Commodity Exchange Act. For more information, visit polymarket.com.
About Chainlink
Chainlink is the standard for onchain finance, enabling high-quality data, secure cross-chain interoperability, and compliant connectivity across global markets. Chainlink powers leading tokenized assets, financial institutions, market infrastructures, and decentralized applications by providing secure access to real-world data, cross-chain messaging, and blockchain connectivity across any network. The Chainlink standard has enabled tens of trillions of dollars in transaction value and is helping unify global markets onchain.
Many of the world's largest financial services institutions have also adopted Chainlink's standards and infrastructure, including Swift, Euroclear, Mastercard, Fidelity International, UBS, S&P Dow Jones Indices, FTSE Russell, WisdomTree, ANZ, and top protocols such as Aave, Polymarket, Lido, Lighter, and many others. Chainlink leverages a novel fee model where offchain and onchain revenue from enterprise adoption is converted to LINK tokens and stored in a strategic Chainlink Reserve. Learn more at chain.link.
The Singapore Police Force has warned that some Ledger hardware wallets sold through local retailers contained malicious components, resulting in approximately S$3.5 million, or $2.7 million, in stolen digital assets. Police said that at least two cases have been reported since September 10, and urged users to take immediate precautions if they suspect their device may have been compromised.
Alleged hardware tampering and wallet drainsAccording to the advisory issued on October 28, investigators discovered that unauthorized components inside the affected Ledger wallets were capable of harvesting users’ recovery phrases or private keys. This type of hardware manipulation allowed attackers to remotely access and siphon funds from targeted wallets without owners’ knowledge.
Police authorities stated that they are coordinating with Ledger, which is currently reviewing the cases to determine the extent and method of compromise. The advisory did not specify which wallet models were affected, nor did it disclose which retail stores sold the tampered devices or identify any suspects in the case.
In a previous update released on October 13, Ledger said its team found an unauthorized hardware modification in a device purchased from CryptoBilis, a reseller based in Southeast Asia. The altered component reportedly intercepted the recovery phrase during the wallet’s initial setup and transmitted this sensitive data over LTE networks. That same day, Ledger asked sellers in Singapore and six other Asian markets to temporarily halt sales while investigations were underway.
User safety guidance and industry responseThe police advisory instructed anyone who believes their hardware wallet may have been tampered with to immediately stop entering recovery phrases and refrain from sending transactions. Users are advised to reach out directly to Ledger’s official support channels if they suspect their device has been compromised. Police also recommended transferring any remaining funds to a new hardware wallet, set up from scratch with a fresh recovery phrase on a secure device.
Police stressed that users should never share seed phrases—not even with individuals claiming to represent wallet providers, cryptocurrency exchanges, or law enforcement agencies—and encouraged vigilance when handling recovery credentials.
Ledger described the incident as a “localized distribution attack,” differentiating it from large-scale systemic supply chain threats. The company did not specify whether the cases reported in Singapore are directly connected to previously identified wallet drains tied to regional resellers.
In response to recent supply-chain vulnerabilities, rival hardware manufacturer Trezor stated on October 13 that it would reduce its roster of authorized resellers in an effort to minimize similar risks. Austin Campbell, founder of Zero Knowledge Group, also cited these incidents as evidence that self-custody solutions may require greater simplicity to prevent technical end-user errors or supply chain breaches.
Amid heightened concern about compromised wallet hardware and rapid changes in wallet security protocols, ongoing fund drains and related advisories create a pressing need for up-to-date monitoring. With real-time coin-specific news updates, CryptoAppsy enables users to stay informed about critical hardware vulnerabilities and emerging self-custody risks as they develop, helping wallet holders protect their crypto assets during periods of uncertainty.
Ongoing investigationThe Singapore Police stated that investigations are ongoing and urged anyone with relevant information to contact the Police Hotline directly by phone. The advisory did not clarify if the stolen funds were definitively linked to other regional incidents or if the affected victims’ recovery phrases had been circulated online.
The advisory emphasized that individuals who believe their device or credentials may have been compromised should act without delay and transfer their assets to a new, clean wallet environment.
No further details about the stores involved, specific devices, or additional victims have been released as of publication. The ongoing developments have drawn attention to the security practices of hardware wallet vendors and the need for stricter oversight along distribution chains.
Chainlink (LINK) is facing a wide gap between its adoption in financial infrastructure and its current market performance. On October 29, 2026, LINK traded at $10.66, reflecting a 27% decline over the past 30 days. Despite the downtrend, major institutions including Swift, Citi, and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) have deepened their engagement with Chainlink technology, as highlighted at the Link:NYC event held the same day.
Current Market OverviewLINK is currently valued about 80% below its all-time high of $52.70 set in May 2021. As of October 29, its market capitalization stands at $8.17 billion, placing it 17th among cryptocurrencies by size, with daily trading volume reaching $491.8 million. Over the last year, LINK has recorded a 42% drop in price. The Fear and Greed Index reading of 51 signals a neutral sentiment in the market.
Earlier in the year, LINK rebounded from a July 4 close of $8 to a high near $14.41 by early October, marking an 80% rally. During that period, LINK outperformed Bitcoin, which remained down approximately 3% for the year. However, resistance emerged around the $12 level, and recent price declines have brought the $8 mark back into focus as a potential floor.
Institutional Adoption and New ProductsA notable catalyst for LINK’s prior momentum was the rollout of a Chainlink framework linking 17 major banks, such as HSBC and Citi, to Swift’s blockchain ledger. October saw several major launches, including the unveiling of Chainlink’s CCIP Vault Adapters on October 8, enabling DeFi vaults to accept deposits from over 80 blockchains. CustodySync, an institutional custody solution with Anchorage Digital, was introduced on October 26. On October 29, the Chainlink 24/7 service began providing continuous price feeds for tokenized assets, with Aave’s Horizon as an early partner. DTCC’s own tokenization service went live a day prior.
LINK’s demand may also benefit from the arrival of spot ETFs. Bitwise launched its Chainlink ETF (CLNK) on NYSE Arca in January 2026, while Grayscale’s GLNK joined the exchange as well. Grayscale’s Chainlink Reserve initiative, which uses revenue to buy back LINK, acquired more than 431,000 tokens in a month, according to CryptoTicker.
LINK sits around 80% below its $52.70 all-time high from May 2021.ETF products and token buyback reserves are emerging as potential new demand sources, but LINK remains susceptible to volatile swings, having dropped 42% over the last year.
With the recent institutional launches and rising product complexity for LINK, traders tracking sudden price swings or ETF flows may benefit from quickly setting custom price alerts. CryptoAppsy‘s real-time charting and alert features can provide immediate notifications whenever LINK price or trading volume crosses a level set by the user, ensuring that significant movements are never missed amid fast-changing market conditions.
Risks and UncertaintiesDespite expanding utility and partnerships, LINK’s token price has not kept pace. Banks can access Chainlink’s infrastructure without necessarily driving up demand for the token. Recent stretches of product launches have still coincided with falling prices. Inflows to LINK ETFs have fluctuated, with zero net inflows reported on October 26 and an 18-day period of net outflows recorded on Binance.
The asset remains volatile and exposed to broader crypto market downturns. Regulatory changes affecting ETFs or tokenized assets, as well as risks from custody and smart contract failures, present ongoing threats. Holders have also been warned to remain vigilant against phishing attempts and fraudulent promotional schemes.
Chainlink Price Scenarios to 2030Price forecasts for LINK between 2026 and 2030 vary significantly. For 2030, predictions range from a low of $9.32 (LiteFinance) to an average of $22.28 (Changelly), $48 (Gartner), and a high target of $200 set by Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, Geoff Kendrick. Most analysts remain cautious about LINK surpassing its previous all-time high, noting that such outcomes would depend on accelerating adoption of tokenized assets and steady ETF demand.
Scenario ranges for LINK in 2030 show bearish estimates between $7 and $12, a base case from $16 to $32, and a bullish outlook from $48 to $80. Only the upper end of this spectrum would see LINK reach or exceed its former record.
Published estimates for 2030 LINK outcomes range from $9.32 models to Standard Chartered’s $200 target, highlighting the uncertainty in forecasting future prices. These scenarios reflect varying assumptions about tokenization growth, ETF inflows, and product adoption.
Key Issues for InvestorsAnalysts emphasize that adoption of Chainlink’s technology by financial institutions does not guarantee positive price performance for LINK. Recent fluctuations and ETF flow data reinforce the challenge of making precise predictions in the current environment. Regulatory risks and technical vulnerabilities remain important considerations for anyone holding or considering acquiring LINK.
Hanwha Investment & Securities adopts the Chainlink data standard and CCIP as the official oracle infrastructure powering its global RWA tokenization platformJoint working group formed to explore institutional use cases for secure onchain execution, standards for using RWAs as collateral, and Korea's tokenized securities marketChainlink to advance the platform with dedicated technical support and connections to its global network of financial institutions, /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha Investment & Securities, a financial affiliate of Hanwha, a Fortune Global 500 company, today announced a strategic partnership with Chainlink, the standard for onchain finance, as it builds a global real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform.
Within the global tokenization platform Hanwha Investment & Securities is building, Chainlink is providing trusted pricing and net asset value (NAV) data for the assets it issues, while CCIP enables those assets and liquidity to move securely across public and private blockchains. Hanwha Investment & Securities is adopting the Chainlink data standard and Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) as the official data and interoperability infrastructure of its platform, and, building on them, the two firms are working together to shape the criteria and use cases for tokenizing quality real-world assets, distributing them globally and putting them to work as collateral.
Within the global tokenization platform Hanwha Investment & Securities is building, Chainlink is providing trusted pricing and net asset value (NAV) data for the assets it issues, while CCIP enables those assets and liquidity to move securely across public and private blockchains. Assets can be issued on the chain best suited to their characteristics and, through a single integration, reach more investors and liquidity across global markets without building a custom integration for every new network.
The partnership spans the full path from tokenizing real-world assets to the markets where they are distributed and put to work, including as collateral. Hanwha Investment & Securities brings quality assets from global asset managers, structuring expertise and institutional-grade market infrastructure, while Chainlink brings the data and interoperability standards that connect them across networks.
Hanwha Investment & Securities is in discussions with global asset managers and issuers on tokenizing and distributing a range of RWA products, and plans to bring these assets to institutional investors and onchain markets via Chainlink.
To that end, the two firms are forming a joint working group to explore together: institutional use cases for executing securely into onchain finance while meeting compliance and custody requirements; the valuation and reserve verification methods, use cases and standards needed to use a wide range of RWAs as collateral; and technology and compliance aligned with the institutionalization of tokenized securities in Korea. Chainlink and Hanwha Investment & Securities are building what they learn into standards that institutions can adopt and, through Chainlink's global network of financial institutions and protocols, plan to widen the circle of institutions taking part. Chainlink is providing dedicated technical support for the Hanwha Investment & Securities platform and priority access to new solutions.
Tokenization is increasingly becoming foundational to global finance, and South Korea, one of Asia's leading digital asset hubs, is set to introduce its tokenized securities framework in February 2027. As part of Fortune Global 500 company Hanwha, Hanwha Investment & Securities is preparing for both Korea's tokenized securities market and the global digital asset market, building the platform to lead that shift in Korea, across Asia and in global markets.
"Our goal is to tokenize quality assets that clients have wanted but found difficult to access, and to open a new financial market where they are issued, distributed, and used as collateral across global markets," said Insung An, Chief Digital Officer at Hanwha Investment & Securities. "Chainlink is our key global strategic partner in realizing this vision, and with Chainlink's standards at the core of our platform, we can build it on a stable and trusted technology foundation." He added, "Going beyond technology adoption, the two firms will work together to set the valuation and usage criteria tokenized assets need to be put to work, including as collateral, and build a real-world asset market that connects Korea and global markets."
"Tokenizing assets is the first step, but connecting them across public and private blockchains is what unlocks access to users, markets, and liquidity worldwide," said Johann Eid, Chief Business Officer at Chainlink Labs. "Hanwha Investment & Securities, one of our key global strategic partners, brings quality real-world assets and institutional market expertise. By adopting the Chainlink data standard and CCIP as its official oracle infrastructure, Hanwha Investment & Securities is putting institutional-grade security at the center of its global tokenization strategy." He added, "Together, we will build the standards for markets where tokenized assets are actually put to work, including as collateral, and Chainlink is supporting this with dedicated resources and connections across our global network. This is the model for bringing global finance onchain, connect once and scale globally."
About Hanwha Investment & Securities
Hanwha Investment & Securities is a Korean securities affiliate of Hanwha, a Fortune Global 500 company. Through its global digital asset business based in Seoul and Abu Dhabi, Hanwha Investment & Securities is building at the frontier of Asia's real-world asset (RWA) markets, connecting tokenized assets from global asset managers with onchain markets and putting them to work, including as collateral.
About Chainlink
Chainlink is the standard for onchain finance, enabling high-quality data, secure cross-chain interoperability, and compliant connectivity across global markets. Chainlink powers leading tokenized assets, financial institutions, market infrastructures, and decentralized applications by providing secure access to real-world data, cross-chain messaging, and blockchain connectivity across any network. The Chainlink standard has enabled tens of trillions of dollars in transaction value and is helping unify global markets onchain.
Many of the world's largest financial services institutions have also adopted Chainlink's standards and infrastructure, including Swift, Euroclear, Mastercard, Fidelity International, UBS, S&P Dow Jones Indices, FTSE Russell, WisdomTree, ANZ, and top protocols such as Aave, Polymarket, Lido, Lighter, and many others. Chainlink leverages a novel fee model where offchain and onchain revenue from enterprise adoption is converted to LINK tokens and stored in a strategic Chainlink Reserve. Learn more at chain.link.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Binance says a security incident involving unauthorized withdrawals has caused an estimated $6.3 billion in total impact, with about $3 billion frozen on-chain so far.
The exchange says it will cover all losses and that user funds are safe, and it has suspended deposits and withdrawals while it investigates. Circle and Tether froze stablecoins tied to the incident.
Update: Binance Points to Compromised DevOps Laptop, Puts Total Impact at $6.3 BillionBinance says its initial investigation points to a compromised DevOps engineer’s laptop, which allowed an attacker to access a service container and submit unauthorized withdrawals.
It found no evidence of a private key leak.
The exchange estimates total impact at around $6.3 billion, with about $3 billion frozen on-chain so far. Binance said it will cover all losses from its SAFU fund and company funds, and that user funds are safe. It also plans to publish an updated Proof of Reserves once remediation is complete.
Binance's initial investigation suggests that the security incident may involve a compromised DevOps engineer’s laptop, which allowed an attacker to gain access to a service container and submit unauthorized withdrawal transactions. We have found no evidence of any wallet private… pic.twitter.com/5REncAI77y
— Binance (@binance) October 30, 2026 How the Incident First Surfaced On-ChainEarly on-chain activity centered on an Ethereum address that appeared to hold more than $2.3 billion in tokens. Etherscan screenshots reviewed by BeInCrypto show it received 28,005.6 ETH from a Binance-labelled wallet, then sent 195,460 ETH, worth roughly $440 million, to another address.
Those movements initially prompted claims of a roughly $2 billion hack. Binance has since put the total estimated impact at around $6.3 billion. The on-chain figures above reflect a single address, not the exchange-wide total.
In an initial statement, a Binance spokesperson told BeInCrypto
“We are aware of reports of a potential security issue and we are actively investigating. At this stage, we have not confirmed any impact to user funds.”
The spokesperson said security teams were reviewing the activity and urged users to avoid unofficial links and requests for account information.
User funds are safe!
It does look like a hack on Binance. Appreciate the quick freeze from Tether (~$971m) and Circle (~$823m).
I don't manage Binance (.com) anymore, but as a shareholder, I expect all user funds will be fully covered. https://t.co/oufpyNChxI
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) October 29, 2026 Binance Suspends Deposits and WithdrawalsAs a precaution, Binance has temporarily suspended all deposits and withdrawals while security checks are completed. It has also revoked the affected address authorization and engaged law enforcement and blockchain intelligence partners to trace and recover funds.
Binance said its team is working around the clock, will share a detailed post-mortem once the investigation is complete, and will publish only confirmed figures. It urged users to rely only on official Binance channels for updates.
Binance will cover all losses.
As a precaution, all deposits and withdrawals are temporarily suspended while our team conducts security checks, freezes funds, and works with law enforcement.
We are working around the clock and will share a full post-mortem once the… pic.twitter.com/3LxFFRiomJ
— Binance (@binance) October 30, 2026 Tether and Circle Freeze StablecoinsTether and Circle froze stablecoins tied to the incident. Binance co-founder CZ thanked Tether for about $971 million and Circle for about $823 million, which together come to roughly $1.8 billion. Binance’s figure of about $3 billion frozen is higher than those two amounts alone, and the exchange has not broken down the total.
A separate on-chain blacklist registry shows Tether initiated a freeze request targeting approximately $971.1 million in USDT at the same address. Its last recorded status was pending execution, meaning those tokens were not yet frozen.
USDT also slipped roughly 0.1% below $1 on some exchange quotes, while one decentralized swap screenshot showed a much deeper discount. That isolated quote does not establish a market-wide depeg.
The crypto selloff was already underway before the wallet alerts, so a direct causal link remains unproven.
Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol handled $3.33 billion over seven days, more than double LayerZero's $1.52 billion, as USDT0, Hyperliquid and Chainlink trailed.
Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), which moves $USDC between 17 blockchains, handled $3.33 billion over the past seven days. That is more than twice the $1.52 billion processed by @LayerZero_Core, according to bridge volume rankings from DeFiLlama.
Stablecoin Bridges Take the Top Spots$USDT0, the cross-chain version of @Tether's dollar coin, ranked third at $631 million. It was followed by the bridge run by @HyperliquidX at $385 million and @chainlink at $307 million. DeFiLlama's rankings categorise all of these as bridges, and the figures are consistent with its bridge volume table, which tracks 24-hour, seven-day and 30-day flows.
The ranking shows that stablecoin-focused routes account for much of the activity at the top of the table. CCTP and USDT0 are both built around a single issuer's dollar token, while LayerZero is a general messaging network that supports many assets across a far larger number of chains. DeFiLlama lists LayerZero as covering 113 chains, against 17 for Circle's protocol.
How CCTP Moves USDCCCTP works differently from traditional bridges that lock tokens in a vault and issue a wrapped version on the destination chain. According to Circle's developer documentation, the protocol transfers USDC across blockchains using a burn-and-mint process, without traditional bridge liquidity pools. The USDC is destroyed on the source chain and an equivalent amount of native USDC is issued on the destination chain, so the user receives the canonical Circle-issued token rather than a wrapped copy.
That design is one reason the protocol has become a default route for moving dollar liquidity between networks. Circle's documentation lists support across a growing set of chains, including Arbitrum, Avalanche and Base, and says CCTP can also be used for EURC and registered third-party assets.
Bridge rankings shift quickly, and DeFiLlama's figures are revised as new transfers are indexed, so the numbers for individual protocols can differ depending on when the data is pulled. The gap between CCTP and the next-largest bridge has nonetheless been wide in recent DeFiLlama snapshots.
Sources:
DeFiLlama: Bridge Volume RankingsCircle Developers: Cross-Chain Transfer ProtocolCircle Developers: Supported Blockchains and Domains
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
MetaMask, which counts more than 30 million monthly active users, has made Stellar a default blockchain across both its mobile app and browser extension, beginning October 29. This update allows users to access Stellar’s payments infrastructure with a single tap and expands MetaMask’s multichain strategy.
Automatic XLM Account IntegrationMetaMask’s integration with Stellar means eligible users now automatically receive an XLM address in their existing multichain wallets, generated from their current recovery phrase. Both new and existing MetaMask users can access, hold, send, receive, and swap XLM, USDC on Stellar, and Soroban-based tokens, along with their assets on Ethereum. There is no need for a separate account setup or remembering additional seed phrases. Users can also import legacy XLM accounts if desired.
This marks a turning point for Stellar, which until now was only accessible through MetaMask via third-party Snaps. The default inclusion now brings Stellar’s functionality directly into the MetaMask core wallet experience. According to Gal Eldar, Chief Product Officer at MetaMask, reducing barriers to entry aligns with the wallet’s broader vision of Open Money. Eldar noted, “Where you are born should not dictate what money you can hold or what it costs to move it. XLM has spent a decade building infrastructure at scale.”
Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, commented that users now gain access to a network facilitating billions in real-world payment value through instant transactions and minimal network fees.
XLM’s blockchain differs from Ethereum-based networks, relying on accounts and trustlines to move assets with three-to-five second finality and transaction fees substantially below one cent. Data from Circle indicates over $650 million in USDC is currently issued on Stellar, reflecting its reach in cross-border payments and stablecoin activity.
Mini dictionary: Soroban — Soroban is the smart contracts platform on Stellar, designed to enable advanced decentralized applications and drive interoperability, supporting new use cases beyond payments.
Expanding Institutional and Developer MomentumSeveral major financial and DeFi institutions have recently advanced their involvement with Stellar. Curve Finance unveiled its first non-EVM deployment on Stellar’s Soroban, broadening access to decentralized exchange liquidity. Securitize also plans to issue tokenized securities on Stellar, leveraging its significant experience with over $5 billion in assets across clients such as BlackRock, BNY, Apollo, and Hamilton Lane.
The network is at the center of Bermuda’s fully on-chain economic plan, and U.S. Bank recently launched a US Dollar-based digital currency pilot (USBDC) using Stellar. Asset managers Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree already offer tokenized money-market investments natively on Stellar, indicating institutional adoption is building alongside technical integration.
InstitutionStellar Use CaseAsset VolumeCircleUSDC on Stellar$650 million+SecuritizeTokenized securities infrastructure$5 billion+Franklin Templeton, WisdomTreeTokenized money-market fundsN/AMarket Impact and Next StepsFor developers, the update grants direct access to Stellar’s Soroban contracts via MetaMask, while eliminating friction associated with seed phrase management and onboarding. On the user side, it signals MetaMask’s commitment to supporting non-EVM chains alongside Ethereum, with Solana already available and Stellar now joining as the second major default chain outside the EVM ecosystem.
Future trends to monitor include the number of XLM accounts funded via MetaMask, swap volumes between Stellar and EVM networks, as well as USDC transaction flow, which can be tracked through Artemis and DefiLlama data. DeFi total value locked (TVL) on Stellar is still modest, standing below $150 million, keeping near-term upside focused on payment flows and real-world asset (RWA) integrations.
Potential milestones ahead could be the introduction of MetaMask Card spending in XLM or USDC, closer integration of Soroban-based dApps, and broader fiat on- and off-ramp coverage through Stellar’s 80+ supported endpoints. Stellar processed over $18 billion in payment volume in the third quarter of 2025 according to the Stellar Development Foundation, signaling the network’s shift from speculation to real-world utility at scale.
The Stellar Development Foundation emphasized that default integration with MetaMask is expected to make Stellar’s rails even more seamless and accessible for global users and institutions.
Coinbase Q3 financial results: Revenue reached approximately $1.216 billion, down 35% year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA stood at around $333 million.
TL;DR: ACI Worldwide and Circle announced a collaboration on October 27 to demonstrate how USDC settlement can fit into payment systems that banks already operate. The announcement reinforces an important shift in the stablecoin story: issuance alone is insufficient if enterprises cannot access tokens from the software they already use.
ACI Worldwide and Circle announced a collaboration on October 27 to demonstrate how USDC settlement can fit into payment systems that banks already operate. Their pilot in Colombia uses ACI Connetic, the payments company’s cloud-native orchestration platform, alongside Circle’s infrastructure. The emphasis is on connecting a dollar stablecoin with established account-to-account and institutional payment processes. The parties described a demonstration and collaboration, not a continent-wide production rollout or a guarantee that all transactions will shift to USDC.
The event and the market response
Payments orchestration software connects instructions, processing routes and settlement services. Adding a stablecoin as one settlement option could help institutions evaluate faster cross-border movement or extended operating hours without replacing every other part of their banking stack. ACI positions Connetic as a platform that can accommodate cards, traditional bank payments and digital assets in one environment. Circle supplies infrastructure for USDC, which aims to maintain a dollar value. The experiment therefore focuses as much on operational integration as on the blockchain transfer itself.
Why the development matters to the crypto market
The announcement reinforces an important shift in the stablecoin story: issuance alone is insufficient if enterprises cannot access tokens from the software they already use. ACI’s platform may help USDC move from crypto venues into bank payment operations, but that depends on institutions adopting the workflows and on recipients receiving usable funds. For markets, this is a gradual infrastructure development, not a direct forecast for any cryptocurrency. Track actual corridor usage rather than extrapolating from the size of Latin America’s payments industry.
Settlement networks have different strengths, from established bank accounts to cards and digital tokens. A multi-rail approach can be sensible if software chooses the appropriate method for each obligation while preserving controls and consistent reporting. But offering more rails also adds complexity to pricing, liquidity and risk management. Business customers will not adopt a new option merely because it is technically interesting. They need dependable cost, transparent foreign-exchange treatment and accurate delivery times. That is the benchmark for judging payments announcements.
A cross-border payment has at least two meanings of speed: how quickly value moves between institutions, and how quickly the recipient can spend it. Stablecoin settlement can improve the first without necessarily solving the second. Real-world payouts require local networks, liquidity, compliance screening and customer support. The strongest payment partnerships join those pieces rather than attempting to replace everything with one blockchain. Readers should look for end-to-end performance data and distinguish existing network size from transaction volume that actually uses a newly announced digital rail.
What the headline does not establish
A successful pilot must still confront local regulation, the treatment of dollar balances, liquidity provision and how financial institutions reconcile stablecoin settlement with their books. An onchain transfer that completes quickly is only one stage of a bank payment. Currency conversion, compliance checks, beneficiary access and final accounting can still introduce delay or cost. ACI and Circle have not presented comprehensive live-market data proving savings across Latin America. The confirmed development is a practical test of whether old and new rails can work together.
What to watch next
Look for pilot performance results, additional bank participants and clarity about which payment corridors move into production. A real-world expansion should be measured by settled transaction value and operational outcomes, not announcement count.
Primary source: Official statement / source documentation.
written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Whales Buy 1,900 $BTC ($148M) From Galaxy Digital Amid Market Drop
Despite the market drop, whales are still buying $BTC! Over the past 4 hours, 9 newly created wallets received 1,900 $BTC ($148M) from #GalaxyDigital.
17 minutes ago
Deribit: 134,000 Bitcoin options and 346,000 Ethereum options are set to expire.
According to Deribit data, 134,000 Bitcoin options and 346,000 Ethereum options are set to expire soon, with respective notional values of $10.48 billion and $750 million. The put-call ratio for Bitcoin options stands at 0.53, with a max pain point of $78,000. For Ethereum options, the put-call ratio is 0.73, and its max pain point is $2,400.
17 minutes ago
Bitcoin rebounds to break through $78,000
According to HTX market data, Bitcoin has rebounded to break through $78,000, currently trading at $78,003, with its 24-hour decline narrowed to 4.5%.
17 minutes ago
Whales Buying the Dip on Bitcoin? 9 Newly Created Addresses Accumulate 1,900 BTC in Nearly Four Hours.
According to Lookonchain's monitoring, despite the market downturn, whales are still buying BTC. Over the past four hours, nine newly created wallets have received 1,900 BTC from Galaxy Digital, valued at roughly $148 million.
17 minutes ago
Following the hacker’s sell-off, seven altcoins have rallied, with two whales buying the dip in ENA and PEPE during the same period.
According to TradingBeats monitoring, as of press time, all tokens involved in the Binance hacker sell-off—UNI, ENA, PEPE, LINK, AAVE, ONDO, and WLD—have rebounded from their lows during this morning’s sell-off. PEPE has rallied roughly 12%, while ENA is up around 10%. After 9 AM this morning, two whales opened long positions worth approximately $3.09 million in PEPE and $4.01 million in ENA on Hyperliquid, totaling $7.1 million. They currently hold an unrealized profit of around $250,000 (wallet addresses: 0xb122, 0xedc0). Over the same period, PEPE’s nominal open interest (OI) rose roughly 23%, while ENA’s OI edged down about 1%. UNI has rebounded roughly 7%, with its nominal OI increasing by around 7%. Two accounts that opened short positions around 6 AM this morning still hold a combined short position worth approximately $2.83 million, currently facing an unrealized loss of about $90,000 (wallet addresses: 0x60a8, 0x2de3). For the remaining four tokens: AAVE rallied roughly 7% with nominal OI up ~1%; LINK gained ~5% with OI down ~4%; ONDO rose ~6% with OI down ~6%; WLD rallied ~7% with OI down ~13%.
17 minutes ago
Viewpoint: Binance’s roughly $3 billion in stolen funds could be recouped within one year.
Crypto KOL 加密无畏 (@cryptobraveHQ) estimates that Binance’s recent hack loss is around $3 billion, and the exchange could recoup the stolen funds in less than a year. Third-party estimates from outlets including Forbes put Binance’s 2024 and 2025 annual revenue at roughly $16–17 billion each. Assuming a 50% profit margin (Coinbase’s latest figure is around 59%), Binance’s annual profit would be approximately $8–8.5 billion, meaning the $3 billion loss equals roughly half a year’s worth of profit. Calculations based on 2025 BNB burn volumes of around $4.4–4.5 billion show the $3 billion loss equals about 8–9 months of BNB burn value.
A Fool since 2019, and a graduate of Cal State LA with a B.S. in Finance and M.A. in Economics. Parkev is an adjunct professor of Finance and enjoys reading about financial and economic history. You'll often find him writing about stocks in the consumer goods and technology sectors.
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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 29, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) between May 19, 2026 and July 16, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 1, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Alphabet securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Alphabet Inc. class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/alphabet-inc-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 1, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered billions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Gemini 3.5 Pro was delivering disappointing training results; (2) as a result, the launch of Gemini 3.5 Pro would be significantly delayed; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Alphabet's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Alphabet Inc. class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/cases/alphabet-inc-2026/join or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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Just a week after Meta Platforms tumbled on its third-quarter earnings report, as otherwise strong results were overshadowed by negative free cash flow, investors wiped $500 billion in value from Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOG) (Nasdaq: GOOGL) after the company disappointed in its earnings report, with the stock falling 12%.
The Google parent posted 25% revenue growth to $127.6 billion, but it wasn't enough to meet expectations at $127.9 billion. Still, 25% growth for a company of this size is impressive. Operating income rose from $31.2 billion to $40.6 billion, with operating margin ticking up from 31% to 32%. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) earnings per share fell from $2.87 to $2.12 as the company reported other expenses of $8.2 billion, including a $12.4 billion loss on equity securities, primarily due to its investment in SpaceX, whose stock fell in the third quarter.
As a result, earnings per share missed the analyst consensus at $3.01, though investors should focus on the operating income figure.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why Alphabet stock tankedGoogle Cloud posted its fastest growth on record, with revenue jumping 103% to $30.7 billion, but the gains were overshadowed by weakness in the core search business.
Revenue growth at Google Search rose 12% to $63.4 billion, marking its slowest growth rate since 2023, when digital advertising growth across the industry slowed amid a post-pandemic slump. However, this time around, macro factors don't seem to be a problem as Meta just reported 26% revenue growth to $63.1 billion, nearly equaling Alphabet's search revenue.
Instead, Alphabet seems to be struggling to continue growing search monetization at a time when queries are converting to AI mode, or users are going to other chatbot platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.
Management noted that queries experienced their fastest growth rate in five years, indicating the company is retaining adequate market share, and argued in favor of a holistic approach to search that connects AI mode and traditional search. It also said that AI mode would "create more monetization opportunities over time," indicating the company will likely increase ad load on AI mode. On the call, the company announced the expansion of ads in AI mode to international markets, as well as sponsored placements on follow-up questions in the U.S.
Management portrayed the slowdown in search as transitional as it ramps up ads in AI mode, and it also noted headwinds from foreign exchange. However, that was not enough to placate investors.
GOOGL Alphabet$283.82-$41.07 (-12.64%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/29/26
What's next for AlphabetA 12% sell-off in Alphabet stock seems excessive given the strong growth on the top and bottom lines, but investors also seem to be reacting to the company's free cash flow going deeper into the red. Alphabet reported a $9 billion free cash flow loss in the quarter, reflecting the $195 billion-$205 billion it plans to spend on capex.
If search growth continues to slow, then today's sell-off seems justified, but I think it's too early to say that. Queries are growing rapidly, showing the company is in a strong position at the top of the funnel, and it knows how to make a digital advertising business work. Over time, the company should figure out how to make advertising work with AI mode as well.
In the meantime, 12% growth isn't a crisis, though investors are understandably worried about the trend. Alphabet doesn't give quarterly guidance, so we don't have a clear insight into the company's forecast, but the cloud business is delivering blistering growth.
If the company can stabilize search growth in the next few quarters, the stock is a good candidate for a rebound. I think that's more likely than not.
Item 1 of 3 Nvidia logo is seen in this illustration created on June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
[1/3]Nvidia logo is seen in this illustration created on June 11, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Oct 29 (Reuters) - Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab is in talks to offer AI cloud provider Nscale billions of dollars in credit guarantees to support debt funding for a data center earmarked for Anthropic, The Information reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the talks.
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The credit support would help fund power infrastructure and construction of Nscale's AI data centre in West Virginia, which Anthropic plans to use, according to the report. Nvidia is an investor in the UK-based cloud provider
The deal has not been signed and terms could still change, the report said
Nvidia, Nscale and Anthropic did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment
Claude maker Anthropic struck a deal in August to spend $45 billion to rent computing power from Nscale's West Virginia data center campus
Nscale is also in talks to sell about 460 megawatts of AI computing power to Anthropic in another deal that could also be worth about $45 billion
The report comes as companies such as Coreweave (CRWV.O), opens new tab and Firmus, which are both backed by Nvidia, have been hit by concerns about debt financing behind the AI build-out
Reporting by Rodrigo Ramirez in Mexico City; Editing by Maju Samuel and Brijesh Patel
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
ASML (ASML +0.77%) makes the machines that make the world's most advanced chips, yet Nvidia(NVDA -0.80%) brings in nearly 10 times as much revenue -- here's why that gap exists, and why it doesn't make ASML the weaker business.
ASML: Steady Growth From the Sole EUV SupplierASML Holding primarily generates revenue by designing, manufacturing, and selling advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and deep ultraviolet lithography systems that global semiconductor manufacturers require to produce highly complex integrated circuits for modern electronic devices.
It recently initiated construction of a major new Eindhoven manufacturing campus to systematically expand its operational footprint, and it concurrently faced ongoing geopolitical discussions about potential United States export restrictions affecting its older equipment lines.
Nvidia: The Company Capturing the AI SpendingNvidia primarily earns its revenue by developing the advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), specialized computational platforms, and high-performance networking solutions widely utilized across enterprise data centers, global gaming platforms, and emerging automotive systems worldwide.
It recently introduced several new modular infrastructure designs to drastically reduce data center deployment times across Europe. At the same time, the United States Department of Justice formally opened an antitrust investigation into the licensing agreement between the United States Department of Justice and Groq.
Why Revenue Matters for InvestorsRevenue here refers to the income statement revenue line item, which helps investors gauge a company's ability to sustain consistent customer demand over time.
ASML Holding vs. Nvidia Revenue over the last 8 quarters. Figures: ASML Holding shown in U.S. dollars, converted from euros.
Quarterly Revenue for ASML Holding and NvidiaCalendar quarterASML Holding RevenueNvidia RevenueQ4 2024$9.9 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2024)$39.3 billion (quarter ended Jan. 26, 2025)Q1 2025$8.2 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2025)$44.1 billion (quarter ended April 27, 2025)Q2 2025$8.7 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2025)$46.7 billion (quarter ended July 27, 2025)Q3 2025$8.8 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025)$57.0 billion (quarter ended Oct. 26, 2025)Q4 2025$11.4 billion (quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025)$68.1 billion (quarter ended Jan. 25, 2026)Q1 2026$10.1 billion (quarter ended March 31, 2026)$81.6 billion (quarter ended April 26, 2026)Q2 2026$10.6 billion (quarter ended June 30, 2026)$96.2 billion (quarter ended July 26, 2026)Q3 2026$13.3 billion (quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026)Not yet reportedData source: Financial Modeling Prep. ASML Holding's figures are converted from euros to U.S. dollars. Data as of Oct. 22, 2026.
Foolish TakeThe first thing that jumps out between these two top semiconductor stocks is their revenue gap. Despite ASML's dominant position supplying the chipmaking equipment that is used to make Nvidia and a host of other companies' chips, Nvidia generates nearly 10 times as much revenue.
The main reason for this is that Nvidia's chips are the tools that convert AI compute into revenue, which is extremely valuable for data centers. ASML merely supplies the equipment to chipmakers like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to build chips, but Nvidia is the one capturing the most value in the AI supply chain.
This shows up in their margins, too. Nvidia keeps 74 cents of every dollar of revenue as pre-tax profit, while ASML keeps only 49 cents, as of their recent quarters.
Still, it's important to keep in mind that relative revenue and margins don't measure importance. ASML is arguably the more important company in the AI supply chain, since it's the sole supplier of EUV machines used to print the intricate circuit patterns on the silicon wafers. Without ASML, the economy would be starved of chips, and Nvidia would have no chips to sell.
ASML may never catch Nvidia in revenue, but that doesn't mean ASML is an inferior business. Given the competition Nvidia faces from other chip designers like Broadcom, ASML may be the safer stock for investors to profit from the AI chip boom. However, Nvidia's faster growth rate may offer more long-term upside potential.
On its third quarter of 2026 earnings conference call, held on Oct. 29, 2026, Mastercard (MA +4.16%) announced 14% year-over-year net revenue growth and an 18% increase in net income on a currency-neutral basis. The performance highlights how the company expands beyond traditional payment processing into high-margin security, analytics, and emerging payment technologies. Three key takeaways stand out for long-term investors.
1. Value-Added Services Drive Margin Expansion and Business DifferentiationValue-added services and solutions, including cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and analytics, grew 19% year-over-year on a currency-neutral basis. These non-network offerings create higher customer retention while enhancing payment volume across the network.
So that ability to have payment volume where we can then apply services, and the services then create the differentiation, that's the flywheel effect, and we're very proud of this business model.
-- Ling Hai, Chief Financial Officer2. Security Architecture Positions the Network for Artificial Intelligence TransactionsArtificial intelligence, or AI, enables software agents to autonomously discover and purchase products for consumers. Mastercard builds verified tokenization tools to protect these automated payments rather than relying on temporary virtual card numbers.
For this type of agentic commerce to function at scale, we need four things. Trust in the payment, the agent, the ecosystem, and ubiquitous reach.
-- Michael Miebach, Chief Executive Officer3. Infrastructure Acquisition Connects Traditional Fiat Currencies With Digital AssetsThe acquisition of the corporate digital asset platform BVNK enables financial institutions to bridge fiat currencies and stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to traditional currencies. The combined platform integrates with Mastercard Move, a money transfer service that reaches 17 billion endpoints.
Through BVNK, we are expanding the infrastructure that connects stablecoins with traditional payment and money movement experiences.
-- Michael Miebach, Chief Executive OfficerLooking AheadConsumer spending and transaction volumes remain stable across global markets. Strategic expansion into global merchant acceptance points, embedded mobile wallets, and enterprise security platforms reinforces network effects and switching costs. Management tracks international spend trajectories and project delivery timelines to ensure consistent revenue growth.
Our business fundamentals are strong, and we continue to deliver solid growth across both our payment network and value-added services and solutions.
-- Ling Hai, Chief Financial OfficerExpanding physical and digital access points while embedding artificial intelligence fraud protections secures long-term market leadership.
We are expanding the reach and utility of our network, solidifying differentiation.
-- Michael Miebach, Chief Executive OfficerThe Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
A Fool since 2019, and a graduate of Cal State LA with a B.S. in Finance and M.A. in Economics. Parkev is an adjunct professor of Finance and enjoys reading about financial and economic history. You'll often find him writing about stocks in the consumer goods and technology sectors.
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MarketBeat Week in Review – 09/28 - 10/02Starbucks NASDAQ: SBUX reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results marked by higher comparable sales, expanded operating margins and a sharp increase in earnings per share, while outlining fiscal 2027 targets that call for continued earnings growth despite lower consolidated revenue tied largely to changes in its China reporting structure.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol said the company’s “Back to Starbucks” effort has progressed from a turnaround plan into a growth strategy. “Our plan is working,” Niccol said, citing stronger coffeehouse execution, customer engagement, menu innovation and a more disciplined store portfolio.
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Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results Brewing Trouble? Starbucks Spills the Beans on 250 Store ClosuresFourth-quarter consolidated net revenue was $9.1 billion, down 3.9% from a year earlier. Chief Financial Officer Cathy Smith said the decline primarily reflected the midyear transition of Starbucks China from company-operated retail operations to a licensed joint venture. China’s retail operations are now deconsolidated, with Starbucks reporting its 40% joint-venture economics through income from equity investees.
Global comparable sales rose 7.2% during the quarter, representing Starbucks’ fifth consecutive quarter of positive comparable-sales growth. U.S. comparable sales increased 7.7%, including a 2.4% rise in transactions and a 5.2% increase in average ticket. North America revenue rose 6.3% to $7.3 billion.
3 Stocks Built for Higher Rates—And 2 That Could BreakFourth-quarter consolidated operating margin expanded 450 basis points year over year to about 14%, while North America operating margin expanded 440 basis points to approximately 16%. Smith attributed the improvement principally to sales leverage, disciplined execution, cost savings and the anniversary of Green Apron Service labor investments made in the prior year. Higher product and distribution costs, primarily related to product mix, partially offset those benefits.
Fourth-quarter earnings per share increased about 54% to $0.80. Interest and other income totaled $59.2 million, benefiting from net gains on certain investments, while the effective tax rate was 24.7%.
For fiscal 2026, Starbucks reported consolidated revenue of $37.9 billion, up 2.1%. Global company-operated comparable sales increased 6.2%, including 6.5% growth in the U.S. and 3.7% internationally. Consolidated operating margin expanded 200 basis points to 11.9%, and annual earnings per share rose approximately 27% to $2.72, exceeding the high end of the company’s guidance.
Operations, Loyalty and Store Portfolio Niccol said more than 80% of North America company-operated coffeehouses posted positive comparable sales during the quarter, compared with fewer than 50% a year earlier. Inventory availability reached an all-time high, with daily delivery serving nearly 90% of North American company-operated locations.
The company completed more than 1,700 coffeehouse “uplifts” across North America by fiscal year-end. These remodels are intended to restore warmer interiors, seating and the company’s “third place” experience. Niccol said uplifted stores have continued to show transaction gains across access points, dayparts, formats and loyalty groups.
Starbucks Rewards reached a record 36 million 90-day active members, with members moving into higher-frequency tiers. Smith said Rewards members led the company’s transaction and sales growth in the quarter. The company also said U.S. delivery revenue has more than tripled over the last five years, with delivery transactions viewed as largely incremental.
Starbucks ended fiscal 2026 with 41,607 global coffeehouses, following 617 net new openings for the year. North America ended the quarter with 18,176 locations, reflecting 247 company-operated net closures, mostly tied to recent portfolio actions, partially offset by 52 net licensed openings. International ended the quarter with 23,431 coffeehouses, including 498 net new openings during the fourth quarter.
Fiscal 2027 Outlook For fiscal 2027, a 53-week year, Starbucks expects consolidated net revenue to decline approximately 1% year over year. The outlook includes roughly $700 million of revenue from the 53rd week, but the expected revenue decline is driven primarily by the comparison with China retail revenue included in the prior year’s first half.
North America comparable-sales growth of approximately 4%. Consolidated operating margin of 13.5% to 14%. Earnings per share of $3.15 to $3.25, representing growth of nearly 18% at the midpoint. Approximately 1,200 net new coffeehouses globally, including about 1,100 international openings. Capital expenditures of approximately 5% of net revenue. About $1 billion in planned share repurchases. Smith said the earnings outlook includes a benefit of slightly more than $0.10 from the 53rd week. Starbucks expects North America revenue growth to slightly exceed comparable-sales growth for the full year due to that additional week, although revenue growth is expected to trail comparable sales during the first three quarters because of recent company-operated store closures.
The company expects international to account for the bulk of new unit growth, with China contributing about half of international openings. North America is expected to add 90 to 100 net new locations, about half of which will come from licensed stores. Niccol said the company expects fewer company-operated openings in fiscal 2027 while it rebuilds its development pipeline, but aims to return to more than 300 annual U.S. new units in fiscal 2028.
Growth Priorities Management identified five fiscal 2027 priorities: improving coffeehouse fundamentals through Green Apron Service; increasing brand and menu relevance; building digital and operational capabilities; expanding with greater discipline; and creating more advancement opportunities for employees.
Starbucks plans to modernize staffing, scheduling and point-of-sale systems, begin integrating delivery directly into its app in the second quarter, and allow customers to earn and redeem Stars on delivery orders. The company also plans to test artificial-intelligence tools in drive-thrus to help baristas input orders more accurately and efficiently.
Menu plans include functional and zero-sugar beverages, bakery products, portable items and protein-focused offerings. Niccol cited protein beverages, Energy Refreshers and food products built around the company’s bites business as examples of platforms intended to support growth beyond limited-time offers.
Starbucks also expects to complete more than 2,000 North American coffeehouse uplifts in fiscal 2027. Smith said the company has realized more than half of its previously identified $2 billion gross savings program, with additional savings expected increasingly in cost of goods sold and operating expenses through fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028.
The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.63 per share, marking its 16th consecutive annual dividend increase.
About Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)Starbucks Corporation is a global specialty coffee company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1971, the company operates and licenses coffeehouses under the Starbucks brand, serving brewed coffee, espresso beverages, teas, cold drinks, food, and other ready-to-consume products.
In addition to its company-operated and licensed stores, Starbucks sells packaged coffee, tea, and single-serve products through grocery retailers, convenience stores, and other distribution channels.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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2 former tech trailblazers rising like a phoenix Xerox NASDAQ: XRX lowered its full-year adjusted operating income and free-cash-flow outlook, suspended its common and preferred dividends and announced a debt exchange after higher input costs, unfavorable equipment mix and slower IT Solutions performance overshadowed improving trends in its core print business during the third quarter.
Chief Executive Officer Louis Pastor said the company’s rebuilt business areas showed progress, including better print revenue trends and year-over-year equipment revenue growth. However, rising memory and oil costs, a weaker print-market outlook, the shift toward lower-margin entry-level devices and IT Solutions underperformance created pressures that Xerox said it could not fully offset in the fourth quarter.
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Third-Quarter Results Show Equipment Growth, Margin Improvement
MarketBeat: Week in Review 4/25 – 4/29Third-quarter revenue totaled $1.87 billion, down less than 5% from a year earlier on both a reported and constant-currency basis. The decline represented a sequential improvement from the prior quarter’s 7% pro forma revenue decline, according to Chief Financial Officer Chuck Butler.
Adjusted operating margin was 6.6%, improving 330 basis points year over year, while adjusted gross margin rose 60 basis points to 29.5%. The gross-margin result included $20 million of intellectual-property licensing income, which added about 70 basis points. Excluding that income, gross margin was slightly lower as higher memory and oil prices, product mix, lower managed print volumes and lower financing fees outweighed transformation benefits and favorable supplies mix and pricing.
Xerox Holdings Stock is a Value PlayXerox reported a GAAP loss per share of $7.73, including a $959 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge in its Print and Other reporting unit. Butler said the impairment reflected a lower long-term forecast based on current input-cost and market conditions and did not affect cash, liquidity or debt covenants. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.02.
The company’s Print and Other equipment revenue increased 3% to $393 million, marking the first year-over-year organic equipment-sales growth since the second quarter of 2023. Entry-level equipment revenue rose 21% and production equipment revenue grew 14%, more than offsetting a 15% decline in mid-range equipment revenue.
Pastor said Xerox expects industry data to show it gained share during the quarter. Production installs increased 13%, while production equipment revenue rose 14%. The company also said its entry equipment revenue exceeded mid-range equipment revenue for the first time since Xerox began separately reporting the categories.
Input Costs and Mix Shift Pressure Outlook
Xerox cited four primary headwinds behind its reduced outlook: higher input costs, a shift in equipment mix toward entry devices, softer print-market conditions and weaker IT Solutions results.
The company now expects memory and oil costs to reduce 2026 adjusted operating income by about $60 million, with most of the impact occurring in the fourth quarter as higher-cost inventory moves through cost of goods sold. Pastor said memory represented about 2% of the cost of a machine entering 2026, has increased to 10%, and is expected to reach 15% in 2027. Xerox is also experiencing inflation in electrical components, parts, freight and tariff-affected costs.
While entry-level equipment installations rose 16% and revenue increased 21%, Pastor said entry devices are unprofitable at the hardware level. The margin gap between an entry-level device and a mid-range device can exceed 30 percentage points, although Xerox expects lifetime profitability to be similar because supplies and service margins are higher for entry devices.
IDC now forecasts just over 1% second-half unit growth for 2026, compared with typical second-half-over-first-half growth of about 11% in 2024 and 7% in 2025, according to Pastor. He cited higher costs, geopolitical uncertainty and competing IT priorities as factors affecting demand.
IT Solutions revenue fell 17% to $187 million, as product revenue declined 23% and services revenue decreased 7%. Gross billings fell 14% to $226 million, though they remained up 1% year to date. Xerox said the business faces slower-than-expected ramping by newly rebuilt sales teams, longer customer decision cycles and tighter supplier and distributor terms. The company said IT Solutions backlog increased 24% and its fourth-quarter pipeline is larger than it was in the prior-year period.
Guidance Cut; Dividends Suspended to Preserve Cash
Xerox maintained its full-year revenue outlook of approximately $7.6 billion but reduced expected adjusted operating income to $450 million to $475 million, from prior guidance of $555 million to $605 million.
The company also cut its free-cash-flow forecast to $50 million to $100 million from approximately $250 million. Butler attributed the reduction primarily to lower operating income, reduced expected proceeds from finance receivable sales and the timing of tariff refunds. Xerox now expects $300 million of cash from finance receivable sales in 2026, versus a prior expectation of $335 million, and expects about $30 million of tariff refunds this year rather than $80 million.
The board suspended common and preferred dividends effective immediately, a move expected to preserve approximately $28 million in annual cash. The company said reducing debt remains its top capital-allocation priority.
Xerox ended the quarter with approximately $726 million of total liquidity, including $412 million of unrestricted cash and about $314 million of available asset-based lending borrowing capacity, net of letters of credit. Total debt was $4.2 billion, including $2.9 billion of core debt attributable to the non-financing business.
The company announced an agreement to exchange approximately $174 million of August 2028 senior notes for first-lien senior secured notes due in October 2030 and common equity. Xerox said the transaction reduces total debt principal by approximately $53 million and leaves about $382 million of the August 2028 notes outstanding, compared with $750 million at the start of the year.
2027 Actions Focus on Pricing, Costs and Service Model
For 2027, Xerox plans to implement pricing actions across its portfolio beginning in the first quarter, tighten placement requirements for entry devices and expand cost-reduction measures. The company expects approximately $100 million of additional year-over-year savings in 2027 from its Lexmark Synergy program.
Additional initiatives include simplifying the management structure, expanding global capability centers, consolidating distribution centers and real estate, renegotiating vendor contracts and aligning the IT Solutions cost base with current operating levels. Xerox said it will provide the full size of its 2027 cost program and outlook on its fourth-quarter call.
Pastor also emphasized service as a long-term margin opportunity. Xerox has nearly 9 million devices in the field and generates more than $3 billion annually from service, maintenance and rentals. More than half of service calls reaching its client experience center are currently resolved remotely, and the company is targeting a 70% remote-resolution rate. Pastor said the Xerox 9-Series has generated about 50% fewer service calls than the prior generation.
“Our print business is gaining momentum,” Pastor said in closing remarks. “At the same time, the external environment is getting tougher, and we’ve reset our expectations to reflect that.”
About Xerox (NASDAQ:XRX)Xerox Holdings Corporation NASDAQ: XRX is a technology and workplace solutions company that provides printing, document management and digital services to businesses and other organizations. The company serves customers across a range of industries, including government, education, healthcare, financial services and professional services.
Xerox offers office printers, multifunction devices, production printers and related supplies, software and support services. Its portfolio also includes document workflow and content-management solutions designed to help organizations digitize, automate and manage business processes.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Ready or not, humanoid robots are coming. There could be as many as 1 billion of them on the planet by 2050, in fact, according to Morgan Stanley, when this market could be worth as much as $7.5 trillion. And that's just humanoid robots with two arms, two legs, and something like a head, capable of doing physical work originally designed for an actual human in a human environment. There will be lots more autonomously operating equipment making decisions within warehouses, factories, distribution centers, and even on job sites by that point, making the market far larger.
The advent of humanoid robots will easily be the technology industry's biggest and most world-changing development during this stretch, though, as well as the biggest opportunity for investors.
To this end, here are three top stocks to consider owning if you're looking for a way of plugging into the humanoid robotics revolution.
Mobileye Global
You probably know Mobileye Global (MBLY -9.21%) as a maker of advanced driver assistance systems (or ADAS) that are becoming standard safety features on more and more automobiles. Its Mobileye Drive platform, meanwhile, is being tested as tech that will steer fully autonomous vehicles. These clearly aren't robotics-related solutions, however.
Except that the company is now in the robotics business, through its $900 million acquisition of humanoid robot developer Mentee, announced early this year.
MBLY Mobileye Global$6.41-$0.65 (-9.21%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/29/26
At first blush, it seems like a pairing of two entirely unrelated organizations. That's not quite the case, though. One of Mentee's AI-enabled MenteeBots' biggest claims to fame is its 3D-mapping capability, which enables navigation in complex environments. And as January's press release explains "the evolution of Mobileye's autonomy stack over the last few years beyond goal-driven navigation toward holistic, context-aware and intent-aware reasoning, provides a natural foundation for general-purpose robots designed to operate productively alongside humans." Specifically, this combination will facilitate the development of "systems designed to understand context, infer intent, interact naturally with humans and act safely and effectively in the physical world."
It still remains to be seen exactly how the two organizations will meld their technologies into one single autonomous platform. It shouldn't be much longer, though. Mentee was already in the process of providing proof-of-concept equipment to potential customers when Mobileye made its offer, with mass production and commercialization expected to begin in 2028. That's still likely to happen on schedule, with any Mobileye-provided upgrades likely to begin materializing shortly thereafter, if not during this initial deployment.
Qualcomm
Much like Mobileye, Qualcomm (QCOM +1.33%) isn't seen as much of a robotics name. You likely know it as a maker of mobile phone chipsets, including smartphone processors. You can still find a few phones bearing its name, though these are just devices made by companies that license the use of its brand name.
Dig deeper, though, and you'll find that Qualcomm's compute/processing solutions have been dramatically elevated over the course of the past several years. Its so-called Snapdragon processors are found onboard AI-capable laptops and smartphones, and now, the same power-efficient computing tech is being embraced by AI data center owners/operators. Qualcomm's competitive computing edge, however, is (literally) the "edge" computing that occurs between a device and a remote data center, enabling both autonomous and controlled functions simultaneously. This is ideal in scenarios where multiple robots must work together in order to perform complex tasks.
Image source: Getty Images.
And yes, the company is adapting its existing know-how specifically for humanoid robots. In January of this year, Qualcomm unveiled its Dragonwing IQ10 chipset, purpose-built for general-purpose robotics, which is already being utilized by up-and-coming humanoid robot developer Figure.
There's still work to be done. A lot of it, in fact. Qualcomm's got the size, reputation, and existing robotics relationships with names like Advantech, Kuka Robotics, Robotec.ai, and VinMotion, though, to position it as a leading name once humanoid robots enter the mainstream.
Tesla
Last but certainly not least, although it's predominantly an electric vehicle manufacturer right now, is Tesla (TSLA -0.23%). Co-founder and CEO Elon Musk believes the company's Optimus humanoid robot could become the company's best-selling product, and maybe even "the biggest product on Earth."
If you can look past the colorful theatrics, you can sort of understand Musk's optimism.
TSLA Tesla$403.30-$0.92 (-0.23%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/29/26
Although he's got a penchant for overpromising and underdelivering on timeframes, there's no denying he's eventually changed the world in many of the ways he said he would; the electric vehicle industry largely exists today because Musk propelled it into the mainstream. He's apt to do something similar on the humanoid robotics front.
The company's competitive strength? It's not necessarily the development of the world's very best autonomous android -- even Musk himself acknowledges that China is home to a handful of robotics developers coming up with some jaw-dropping tech. Rather, Tesla's clear edge is its production capacity. Leveraging its current size as well as some of its factory space originally intended to make electric vehicles, Musk expects to be manufacturing 20,000 humanoid robots per week by the end of next year. That's annualized output of one million units.
They may not be the very best in terms of functionality, but for customers who need identical robot workers in the thousands, Tesla can deliver them. This grander production scale should also mean the company's per-unit production costs will be measurably lower than those of its competitors.
Just remember that for all three of these stocks, it's a very long-term opportunity. Morgan Stanley's $7.5 trillion target is also for 2050. That's 24 years into the future. Taking your shot on any of these names for this reason now will require incredible patience.
The exchange becomes the third major platform this month to pull back from the region, following Bitget and MEXC
KuCoin is shutting the door on users in Russia and Belarus. The exchange announced on October 29, 2026, that it is ending all products and services for customers located in both countries, effective immediately.
Affected users will get instructions on closing their positions and pulling their assets off the platform.
What KuCoin announced
The decision covers the full range of KuCoin’s offerings for users in the two countries. This isn’t a partial restriction on certain products or a freeze on new signups. It is a complete exit.
Users will receive notifications tied to their specific accounts. Those messages will explain how to wind down positions and withdraw funds.
What KuCoin has not published is a universal withdrawal deadline. That leaves some users without clear guidance on how long they have to act.
KuCoin explained the move by pointing to “applicable legal and regulatory requirements.” It did not name the specific regulations or legal frameworks that triggered the decision.
A pattern forming in October
KuCoin is not acting alone. It is the third major exchange this month to restrict services in the region, following Bitget and MEXC, both of which imposed similar limits earlier in October 2026.
The scale matters here. KuCoin ranks eighth on CoinMarketCap, serves approximately 45 million users worldwide, and handles nearly $1.2 billion in daily trading volume.
The sanctions backdrop
The broader context stretches back to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, Western governments have layered on sanctions aimed at cutting off Russian access to the global financial system.
The European Union has committed to tightening crypto-specific restrictions to keep sanctioned parties from using digital currencies to dodge penalties.
KuCoin also carries its own regulatory history. In January 2025, the exchange reached a $300 million settlement with US authorities over unlicensed money transmission.
What this means for users and the market
The most immediate impact falls on users in Russia and Belarus who hold funds or open positions on KuCoin. Without a published universal deadline, the safest assumption is that delay carries risk.
Account-specific notifications put the burden on each user to read and act on their own instructions.
Disclosure: This article was edited by John Chen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
KuCoin has announced an immediate end to services for users in Russia and Belarus, with affected customers set to receive individual deadlines for closing positions and withdrawing their assets.
Summary
KuCoin’s withdrawal covers all products, services, and features available to users in both countries. Affected customers will receive account notifications explaining their closure and withdrawal deadlines. MEXC and Bitget announced service restrictions involving the same markets earlier in October. KuCoin cites legal and regulatory requirements without identifying a specific order behind its decision. KuCoin’s official announcement, dated Oct. 29, says the decision takes effect immediately and covers its entire offering in the two countries. The exchange has committed to allowing customers to wind down their accounts through an orderly termination process.
The notice does not publish a single withdrawal deadline or disclose the number of affected accounts and the value of their holdings.
KuCoin will send account-specific withdrawal instructions Customers whose accounts fall within the restrictions will receive notifications setting out the relevant deadlines and instructions. KuCoin says users who have not received a notification need to take no action, although their accounts remain subject to its terms and applicable restrictions.
The exchange directs customers with questions about their account status to customer support and warns them to communicate only through official channels because of phishing risks.
Its explanation is limited to compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The announcement does not identify a sanctions designation, licensing condition, or regulator’s instruction as the trigger.
MEXC and Bitget announced restrictions earlier in October Nine days before KuCoin’s announcement, MEXC said it would end services in Russia and Belarus as part of its global compliance efforts.
In its Oct. 20 service update, MEXC said affected customers would receive individual notifications explaining how and when to close positions and withdraw assets. Customers who had not received a notice could continue using the exchange under its terms of service.
MEXC said customer assets remained safe and directed questions about account eligibility and withdrawal procedures to its support team. Its announcement did not identify a particular regulatory order requiring the departure.
The exchange warned that its representatives would never request payments, account credentials, seed phrases or asset transfers through private messages. Customers were told to rely on its website, application, announcement center and verified social channels.
Earlier in the month, Bitget updated its access rules to list Russia and Belarus among prohibited jurisdictions, as crypto.news reported. The revised terms were dated Oct. 16.
In an Oct. 17 statement, Bitget described the account closures as “a one-off exercise for certain users only” and said its platform would continue operating. Affected customers would receive their own deadlines and instructions.
Bitget’s terms define restricted users to include people and entities residing, established or operating in prohibited jurisdictions. Its public statement did not establish one withdrawal timetable for every affected account.
EU sanctions have expanded restrictions on crypto providers The departures follow European measures targeting cryptocurrency services connected to Russian sanctions evasion.
On July 23, the Council of the European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package, extending transaction bans to 14 crypto-related service platforms based in Georgia, Panama, the United Arab Emirates, the Marshall Islands, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus.
The Council said the package introduced the possibility of a full third-country ban on crypto-asset services. It described the measure as a way to deter countries from hosting platforms that help Russia evade EU sanctions.
According to the Council, the instrument allows restrictions on transactions between EU operators and crypto providers used by Russia. The package included four designations connected to the cross-border A7 network, including links to Africa.
Separate measures involving Belarus were intended to mirror restrictions imposed on Russia, particularly trade measures and legal protections. KuCoin’s notice does not cite the July package as the basis for its withdrawal.
KuCoin previously agreed to leave the US market KuCoin’s earlier US settlement required another market exit after its operating company, Peken Global Limited, pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2025, to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
The US Justice Department said Peken agreed to pay more than $297 million and withdraw KuCoin from the US market for at least two years.
Prosecutors said the exchange failed to maintain adequate anti-money laundering and customer-identification programs, register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and file required suspicious activity reports.
The resolution included $184.5 million in criminal forfeiture and a criminal fine of approximately $112.9 million. Co-founders Chun Gan and Ke Tang agreed to have no further role in KuCoin’s management or operations.
Viewpoint: Binance’s roughly $3 billion in stolen funds could be recouped within one year.
Crypto KOL 加密无畏 (@cryptobraveHQ) estimates that Binance’s recent hack loss is around $3 billion, and the exchange could recoup the stolen funds in less than a year. Third-party estimates from outlets including Forbes put Binance’s 2024 and 2025 annual revenue at roughly $16–17 billion each. Assuming a 50% profit margin (Coinbase’s latest figure is around 59%), Binance’s annual profit would be approximately $8–8.5 billion, meaning the $3 billion loss equals roughly half a year’s worth of profit. Calculations based on 2025 BNB burn volumes of around $4.4–4.5 billion show the $3 billion loss equals about 8–9 months of BNB burn value.
9 minutes ago
Addresses linked to Kanye West offloaded 1,390 ETH to reduce liquidation risk, incurring a loss of approximately $317,000.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa), an address linked to Kanye West began selling ETH in batches six hours after the disclosure of Binance's hack. The address sold 1,390 ETH at an average price of $2,275.6, totaling around $3.163 million, with a loss of approximately $317,000. Currently, the address still holds 19,506.17 ETH as collateral, has borrowed $27.67 million in stablecoins, with a health ratio of 1.31. A liquidation will be triggered if ETH falls to $1,689.59.
9 minutes ago
Du Jun: Due to frequent security incidents, many family offices have converted their Bitcoin (BTC) to IBIT, and even reallocated their positions to physical gold.
Du Jun posted on X, stating: "Family offices I enthusiastically recommended allocating BTC and ETH to in earlier years, after experiencing CEX hacks and cold wallet supply chain security incidents, have mostly converted their BTC to IBIT, while some have even sold their crypto to purchase physical gold and other traditional assets. I don’t know how to advise them anymore—it seems there’s no solution."
9 minutes ago
Buy orders for HYPE on Hyperliquid are overwhelmingly dominant, with net buys totaling approximately $3.73 million across both futures and spot TWAPs.
According to TradingBeats’ monitoring, calculations based on current market Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP) orders show that over the next 24 hours, Hyperliquid’s HYPE token is projected to have roughly $5.33 million in buy orders and $1.6 million in sell orders, resulting in a net planned purchase of approximately $3.73 million.
Breakdown: Spot HYPE is expected to see about $2.37 million in buys and $143,200 in sells, for a net planned purchase of ~$2.23 million—nearly 60% of the total net buy volume. The contract segment is projected to have a net planned purchase of $1.5 million, with buy orders dominating both segments.
Over the next hour, HYPE’s combined spot and contract net planned purchase stands at roughly $901,100, including $767,500 in spot and $133,600 in contracts.
Most altcoins fell more than BNB, with major tokens including LDO, CRV, YFI, and IMX declining by 13% to 20% on average.
After today’s security incident at Binance, BNB briefly dropped below $700 and is now trading at $712, marking a roughly 5.2% 24-hour decline. However, most major altcoins saw steeper drops than BNB, with large and mid-cap altcoins under notable pressure. Per HTX market data, SUPER fell ~22.06%, RSR ~21%, PHA ~20.59%, GTC ~19.92%, CVX ~19.87%, IMX ~17.89%, YFI ~15.53%, EIGEN ~15.43%, PYTH ~15.38%, CRV ~15.29%, LDO ~13.97%, W ~13.95%, and ZK ~13.51%.
Grok AI Predicts a Big Zcash Move: What is the Landmark Catalyst in Question?Technical Analysis: Can ZEC Price Breach $1,500 to Kickstart Grok's Prediction?Five Catalysts that Could Supercharge the ZEC Crypto RallyGrok AI Predicts the Final ZEC Price
What if one of crypto’s oldest privacy projects suddenly became one of the most important assets in the digital economy? Elon Musk’s Grok AI predicts that a monster move could be on the cards for Zcash (ZEC) if certain events play out.
Imagine a world where AI-powered financial surveillance, geopolitical instability, and institutional demand for confidential transactions converge, turning Zcash into a must-own cryptocurrency.
It sounds far-fetched, but the ingredients for a spectacular rally aren’t entirely imaginary, and with ZEC currently trading around $1,250, holders will want to stick around to see how high Grok believes it can go.
(SOURCE: Grok AI Predicts an Explosive Zcash Move)
Grok AI Predicts a Big Zcash Move: What is the Landmark Catalyst in Question?
In this bullish scenario, imagine a major global payments company announcing it will integrate Zcash’s shielded transaction technology into a new digital payments platform, along with a meaningful investment in ZEC.
Such an announcement could transform Zcash’s reputation from a niche privacy coin into a serious contender for institutional financial infrastructure. Its zero-knowledge cryptography already enables shielded transactions, while growing interest in financial privacy provides a compelling narrative for investors.
The real game-changer would be evidence that institutional adoption translates into actual demand for ZEC. If that coincided with more holders locking away coins long term, reduced liquidity could amplify buying pressure and potentially trigger a short squeeze.
DISCOVER: Bitcoin ETFs Own Just 8.5% of BTC as IBIT Ends a Two-Day Outflow Run: Can BTC USD Hold $79,200?
Technical Analysis: Can ZEC Price Breach $1,500 to Kickstart Grok’s Prediction?
Recent technical coverage on October 29, 2026, placed ZEC around $1,272, with resistance near $1,356 and support near $1,266. These levels are indicative and can change quickly.
A convincing breakout above $1,356, supported by rising spot trading volume and sustained bullish momentum, could open the door to a move towards $1,500. A follow-through above that psychological milestone could attract momentum traders and accelerate the rally.
However, reaching $3,000 within two months would require far more than a technical breakout. Zcash would need a major fundamental catalyst, substantial new demand, and an exceptionally favorable crypto market. Previous security concerns and potential regulatory restrictions remain important risks.
Five Catalysts that Could Supercharge the ZEC Crypto Rally
AI surveillance: More sophisticated blockchain analytics could increase demand for financial privacy, making shielded transactions increasingly attractive.
Geopolitical instability: Sanctions, capital controls, and banking restrictions could encourage interest in censorship-resistant digital assets.
Interest-rate cuts: A dovish shift by central banks, a weaker dollar, and improved global liquidity could encourage investors to take greater risks.
Bitcoin’s next rally: A renewed crypto bull market could eventually trigger capital rotation into smaller sectors, including privacy coins.
Institutional investment: Growing demand for regulated investment products could improve access to ZEC and strengthen its investment narrative.
These catalysts are hypothetical possibilities, not guaranteed developments. Regulatory crackdowns on privacy coins could equally undermine the thesis.
Grok AI Predicts the Final ZEC Price
If institutional adoption, geopolitical uncertainty, favorable monetary conditions, and a speculative altcoin rally all converge, Zcash could experience an extraordinary repricing.
The timeframe is extremely ambitious, and security, regulatory, and market risks remain significant. Nevertheless, for this deliberately over-the-top scenario, Grok AI predicts Zcash will trade at $5,000 per ZEC on January 1, 2027.
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Alex Ioannou
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Alex is a seasoned cryptocurrency trader and market analyst with over seven years of active experience in the digital asset space. Since entering the markets in 2017, Alex has specialized in identifying emerging "meta" trends and high-volatility narratives. Notably, Alex...
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In BriefHyperliquid (HYPE): Trading at $90.36, HYPE is rebounding strongly and targets $100 if it clears resistance at $92.50 to $95.XRP: Trading near $1.2904, XRP remains below key moving averages and needs a break above $1.40 to confirm a reversal.Cardano (ADA): Trading near $0.2015, ADA remains under heavy bearish pressure and is approaching support between $0.195 and $0.20.Zcash (ZEC): Trading near $1,282.41, ZEC keeps a bullish structure and needs to hold $1,200 to support further consolidation.Hyperliquid (HYPE) Buyers Regain Control Hyperliquid (HYPE) momentum is bullish again, trading at $90.36 following a recovery from its October correction. The latest price movement indicates buyers are regaining control, with HYPE breaking above several key moving averages and approaching crucial resistance levels.
HYPE/USDT Chart by TradingViewAfter reaching approximately $97.50 in late September, HYPE experienced a correction toward the $75–$77 support zone. Buyers successfully defended this region, establishing a potential higher low within the broader bullish trend. The subsequent recovery has pushed prices above the $82–$85 resistance area, reinforcing the possibility of further upside continuation.
Technical indicators support the improving outlook. HYPE is trading above its short- and medium-term moving averages, while longer-term averages maintain an upward trajectory. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has recovered toward 60–65, indicating strengthening buying pressure without signaling extreme overbought conditions.
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Immediate resistance is located between $92.50 and $95, followed by the previous high near $97.50. A sustained breakout above these levels could open the path toward the psychological $100 milestone. On the downside, initial support stands around $85–$87, with additional demand expected near $80–$82.50.
The overall technical structure remains constructive, especially as HYPE continues to outperform its recent consolidation range. However, confirmation through sustained trading volume and daily closes above resistance will be essential. As long as HYPE maintains support above $85, the short-term outlook favors recovery. A rejection near $95 could trigger temporary profit-taking, but the broader bullish structure would remain intact unless prices fall decisively below $80.
XRP Consolidation Near $1.25 XRP continues to experience technical weakness, trading near $1.2904 as the asset struggles to recover from its recent decline. Despite several attempts to establish bullish momentum, XRP remains below crucial moving averages, suggesting sellers continue to dominate the broader market structure.
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewFollowing a strong rally in late August that briefly pushed prices toward $1.70, XRP entered a corrective phase characterized by progressively lower highs. September and October trading activity revealed repeated failures to sustain upward momentum, with the latest rejection near $1.55 reinforcing the prevailing bearish structure.
The current price consolidation around $1.25–$1.30 represents a critical technical area. Buyers have repeatedly defended this region, but their inability to reclaim overhead resistance suggests limited conviction.
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Technical indicators reflect this uncertainty. XRP trades below several important moving averages clustered around $1.34–$1.40, creating a significant resistance barrier. Meanwhile, the RSI remains near 40, indicating subdued momentum and relatively weak buying pressure. Trading volume has also declined compared with previous breakout periods, suggesting reduced participation.
Immediate resistance stands near $1.32–$1.35, followed by stronger resistance around $1.38–$1.42. A decisive breakout above these levels could improve market sentiment and potentially support a recovery toward $1.48–$1.55. However, losing the $1.25 support level would increase downside risks, exposing XRP to potential declines toward $1.20 and eventually $1.10.
The short-term outlook remains neutral to bearish until XRP successfully reclaims its major moving averages. While the current consolidation could provide a foundation for recovery, stronger buying volume and a confirmed breakout above $1.40 are vital to establish a more convincing bullish reversal.
Cardano (ADA) Bearish Pressure is ThereCardano remains under considerable bearish pressure, trading near $0.2015 following a sustained decline throughout October. The latest price action shows weakening buyer participation, with ADA approaching a critical support area after failing to hold its September recovery.
ADA/USDT Chart by TradingViewFollowing an extended downtrend during the first half of 2026, ADA established a local bottom near $0.14 in June before recovering toward $0.27 in early October. However, this bullish momentum proved unsustainable, as sellers regained control and pushed prices below several critical moving averages.
ADA currently trades below its major moving averages, with immediate resistance centered around $0.22–$0.23. The longer-term moving average near $0.24 reinforces the bearish structure, suggesting that any recovery could encounter significant selling pressure.
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The RSI has declined toward the 30–35 area, approaching oversold territory. While this may create conditions for a short-term technical rebound, the indicator has yet to confirm a meaningful reversal. Meanwhile, declining trading volume indicates limited buying interest at current levels.
The immediate support zone stands between $0.195 and $0.20. A decisive breakdown below this area could expose ADA to further downside toward $0.18, followed by stronger historical support around $0.16–$0.17. Conversely, reclaiming $0.22 would represent an initial improvement in short-term momentum, while a sustained breakout above $0.24 would be necessary to challenge the prevailing bearish trend.
Overall, ADA maintains a cautious technical outlook. Although oversold conditions may encourage short-term recovery attempts, the wider market structure remains bearish until buyers establish higher lows and reclaim key resistance levels.
Zcash (ZEC) Correction Fails Zcash (ZEC) continues to demonstrate a relatively strong bullish market structure, trading near $1,282.41 following an extended rally during August and September. Despiёte experiencing a significant correction from its October top, ZEC remains above its major long-term moving averages, suggesting the wider upward trend has not yet been invalidated.
ZEC/USDT Chart by TradingViewAfter consolidating around $450–$500 during the summer, ZEC experienced an explosive breakout in late August, accelerating toward $1,700 by early October. This rally established a powerful bullish trend, supported by increasing trading volume and growing market participation.
However, the subsequent correction toward $1,100 highlighted increased volatility and considerable profit-taking. Since then, ZEC has entered a consolidation phase, fluctuating mostly between $1,150 and $1,350 as buyers and sellers try to establish a new equilibrium.
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The current price structure shows that ZEC is holding above its medium-term moving averages near $1,200, while the longer-term averages continue trending upward. This positioning indicates that the recent correction may represent consolidation within a broader bullish cycle rather than a full trend reversal. The RSI has stabilized around the neutral 50 level, reflecting balanced momentum and providing room for another potential upward movement.
Immediate resistance is centered around $1,300–$1,350. A sustained breakout above this area could open the path toward $1,400–$1,500, with stronger resistance near the previous top around $1,700. On the downside, initial support stands near $1,200, followed by the $1,100–$1,150 demand zone. A breakdown below these levels could trigger a deeper correction toward $1,000.
Overall, ZEC maintains a cautiously bullish technical outlook. Holding above $1,200 would support further consolidation and potential recovery, while reclaiming $1,350 would provide stronger confirmation that buyers are regaining control.
Viewpoint: Binance’s roughly $3 billion in stolen funds could be recouped within one year.
Crypto KOL 加密无畏 (@cryptobraveHQ) estimates that Binance’s recent hack loss is around $3 billion, and the exchange could recoup the stolen funds in less than a year. Third-party estimates from outlets including Forbes put Binance’s 2024 and 2025 annual revenue at roughly $16–17 billion each. Assuming a 50% profit margin (Coinbase’s latest figure is around 59%), Binance’s annual profit would be approximately $8–8.5 billion, meaning the $3 billion loss equals roughly half a year’s worth of profit. Calculations based on 2025 BNB burn volumes of around $4.4–4.5 billion show the $3 billion loss equals about 8–9 months of BNB burn value.
9 minutes ago
Addresses linked to Kanye West offloaded 1,390 ETH to reduce liquidation risk, incurring a loss of approximately $317,000.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa), an address linked to Kanye West began selling ETH in batches six hours after the disclosure of Binance's hack. The address sold 1,390 ETH at an average price of $2,275.6, totaling around $3.163 million, with a loss of approximately $317,000. Currently, the address still holds 19,506.17 ETH as collateral, has borrowed $27.67 million in stablecoins, with a health ratio of 1.31. A liquidation will be triggered if ETH falls to $1,689.59.
9 minutes ago
Du Jun: Due to frequent security incidents, many family offices have converted their Bitcoin (BTC) to IBIT, and even reallocated their positions to physical gold.
Du Jun posted on X, stating: "Family offices I enthusiastically recommended allocating BTC and ETH to in earlier years, after experiencing CEX hacks and cold wallet supply chain security incidents, have mostly converted their BTC to IBIT, while some have even sold their crypto to purchase physical gold and other traditional assets. I don’t know how to advise them anymore—it seems there’s no solution."
9 minutes ago
Buy orders for HYPE on Hyperliquid are overwhelmingly dominant, with net buys totaling approximately $3.73 million across both futures and spot TWAPs.
According to TradingBeats’ monitoring, calculations based on current market Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP) orders show that over the next 24 hours, Hyperliquid’s HYPE token is projected to have roughly $5.33 million in buy orders and $1.6 million in sell orders, resulting in a net planned purchase of approximately $3.73 million. Breakdown: Spot HYPE is expected to see about $2.37 million in buys and $143,200 in sells, for a net planned purchase of ~$2.23 million—nearly 60% of the total net buy volume. The contract segment is projected to have a net planned purchase of $1.5 million, with buy orders dominating both segments. Over the next hour, HYPE’s combined spot and contract net planned purchase stands at roughly $901,100, including $767,500 in spot and $133,600 in contracts.
Most altcoins fell more than BNB, with major tokens including LDO, CRV, YFI, and IMX declining by 13% to 20% on average.
After today’s security incident at Binance, BNB briefly dropped below $700 and is now trading at $712, marking a roughly 5.2% 24-hour decline. However, most major altcoins saw steeper drops than BNB, with large and mid-cap altcoins under notable pressure. Per HTX market data, SUPER fell ~22.06%, RSR ~21%, PHA ~20.59%, GTC ~19.92%, CVX ~19.87%, IMX ~17.89%, YFI ~15.53%, EIGEN ~15.43%, PYTH ~15.38%, CRV ~15.29%, LDO ~13.97%, W ~13.95%, and ZK ~13.51%.
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) Q3 2026 Earnings Call October 29, 2026 4:30 PM EDT
Company Participants
Byron Jeffers - VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations
Mark Widmar - CEO & Director
Alexander Bradley - Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
Moses Sutton - BNP Paribas, Research Division
Joseph Osha - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division
Philip Shen - ROTH Capital Partners, LLC, Research Division
Brian Lee - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Jonathan Windham - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
David Arcaro - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Vikram Bagri - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Dimple Gosai - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good afternoon, and welcome to First Solar's Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. This call is being webcast live on the Investors section of First Solar's website at investor.firstsolar.com. [Operator Instructions] And please note that today's call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to your host, Byron Jeffers, Head of Investor Relations.
Byron Jeffers
VP, Treasurer & Head of Investor Relations
Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us. With me today are Mark Widmar, Chief Executive Officer; and Alex Bradley, Chief Financial Officer. Mark will begin with an update on the business, followed by Alex with our financial results and outlook.
Before we begin, today's discussion will include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties can be found in our earnings press release, other SEC filings and the earnings material available on our Investor Relations website at investor.firstsolar.com. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.
During today's call, we will also discuss certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in our earnings press
Bristol Myers Squibb's Cancer Breakthrough Could Have Implications Beyond Its Own StockBristol Myers Squibb NYSE: BMY raised its full-year 2026 outlook after reporting third-quarter revenue growth supported by its growth portfolio and continued strength in ELIQUIS, while outlining a series of clinical readouts and manufacturing investments intended to support its next generation of launches.
Total third-quarter revenue increased 7% year over year to approximately $13.1 billion, Chief Financial Officer David Elkins said. Revenue from the company’s growth portfolio rose 12% to $7.7 billion, while legacy portfolio revenue increased 1% as ELIQUIS growth more than offset declines associated with generic competition in other products.
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2 Buffett Stocks to Load Up On—And 1 to DitchThe company reported non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.35. Results included a $0.58-per-share impact from acquired in-process research and development charges and licensing income, Elkins said.
Guidance Raised Following Third-Quarter Results
Bristol Myers raised its full-year revenue guidance based on year-to-date performance and its outlook for the remainder of 2026. The company now expects 2026 non-GAAP earnings per share of $6.35 to $6.55, including the third-quarter acquired in-process R&D and licensing impact.
Why GRAIL Stock Could Be Biotech’s Next Big BreakoutThe company maintained its projections for gross margin, operating expenses and tax rate, while slightly lowering expected other income and expense. Bristol Myers now expects legacy portfolio revenue to decline between 3% and 5% for the full year and continues to forecast ELIQUIS revenue growth of 20% to 25%.
ELIQUIS revenue rose 26% to approximately $4.7 billion during the quarter, driven by net price, demand and market-share gains. Elkins said ELIQUIS sales in the fourth quarter will be affected by an upcoming loss of exclusivity in Europe, partially offset by continued U.S. growth.
Looking ahead to 2027, Elkins said the company expects a $1.5 billion to $2 billion step-down related to ELIQUIS. He also said Bristol Myers remains on track to deliver $2 billion in efficiencies through its strategic productivity initiative by the end of 2027.
The company ended the quarter with approximately $13 billion in cash equivalents and marketable securities and generated roughly $4.2 billion in operating cash flow.
Growth Portfolio Performance
Chief Executive Officer Chris Boerner said eight growth portfolio medicines are now annualizing at more than $1 billion each based on third-quarter sales, providing the company with a broader base of growth drivers.
QVANTIG: Revenue totaled $334 million, up 28% sequentially, and the product is annualizing at more than $1.3 billion. Bristol Myers said approximately 17% of its intravenous business has converted to the subcutaneous formulation and that it is tracking toward the high end of its goal to convert 30% to 40% of IV business.
OPDIVO: Revenue declined 6% to approximately $2.4 billion, primarily due to conversion to QVANTIG in the U.S. and Europe.
BREYANZI: Revenue increased 48% to $526 million, supported by demand in the U.S. and international markets.
REVLIMID: Revenue rose 22% to $750 million, reflecting uptake in first-line MDS-associated anemia.
CAMZYOS: Revenue climbed 42% to $420 million, driven by demand, new patient starts and expansion in community settings. Third-quarter revenue was affected by a typical inventory drawdown that the company expects to normalize in the fourth quarter.
SOTYKTU: Global revenue increased 25%, as the company supports its adult psoriatic arthritis indication and awaits phase III lupus results expected by year-end.
COBENFY: Revenue grew 33% to $57 million. Bristol Myers said inventory destocking offset increased demand and expects revenue to more closely track prescription volume going forward.
Adam Lenkowsky, chief commercialization officer, said Cobenfy’s prescription volume increased about 3% to 4% sequentially and its number of prescribers has doubled from the prior year. He said the company is working to accelerate new patient starts and repeat prescribing, including educating physicians about titrating patients to the 125-milligram effective dose and managing early nausea and vomiting when needed.
Pipeline Readouts and New Launches
Bristol Myers highlighted the FDA accelerated approval of Zenbexus, its first approved CELMoD, for multiple myeloma. Boerner said early launch feedback has been positive, with use emerging in both community and hospital settings. The company plans to present phase III progression-free survival data at the American Society of Hematology meeting in December.
Mezigdomide, a second CELMoD, has a May 13, 2027, PDUFA date, while the company expects to present initial phase II data for golcadomide in frontline follicular lymphoma at ASH.
The company also disclosed several recent positive registrational study results. Admilparant met its primary endpoint at the 60-milligram dose in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, showing a statistically significant improvement in forced vital capacity, according to Chief Medical Officer Cristian Massacesi. The 120-milligram dose showed improvement in FVC but did not achieve statistical significance. Bristol Myers plans to discuss results with regulators and expects phase III data in progressive pulmonary fibrosis during the first quarter of 2027.
Interim phase III results for radiopharmaceutical RYZ101 showed a clinically meaningful progression-free survival improvement among patients with GEP-NETs whose disease progressed following lutetium-based therapy. Bristol Myers said it is engaging with the FDA on next steps toward a regulatory submission. Lenkowsky characterized the commercial opportunity as relatively modest, citing an estimated 18,000 annual U.S. diagnoses of GEP-NETs, but said the program validates the company’s broader radiopharmaceutical platform.
Arlo-cel, a GPRC5D-directed CAR T therapy, produced positive results in the registrational phase II QUINTESSENTIAL study in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma following BCMA treatment.
Upcoming Data and Investment Plans
Before year-end, Bristol Myers expects phase III data for milvexian in secondary stroke prevention and SOTYKTU in lupus. The company also plans to present open-label data from the ADEPT 1 and ADEPT 3 Cobenfy studies in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease conference.
In 2027, the company expects results for milvexian in atrial fibrillation in the first quarter, additional ADEPT program data, bipolar I data from the Cobenfy BALSAM studies and the first registrational golcadomide data in high-risk first-line large B-cell lymphoma.
Bristol Myers also announced plans for a roughly $2.3 billion manufacturing campus in Houston that is expected to create nearly 500 skilled jobs and provide capacity across small molecules, biologics and antibody-drug conjugates. RayzeBio is separately investing more than $170 million in an Indiana radiopharmaceutical manufacturing site expected to create up to 100 jobs by the end of 2029.
Boerner said business development remains a top capital-allocation priority. He said the company is evaluating partnerships, licensing opportunities and acquisitions, while remaining focused on scientific fit, strategic alignment and financial discipline.
About Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY)Bristol Myers Squibb NYSE: BMY is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing medicines for serious diseases. Its research and development activities span oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience and other specialty areas.
The company's portfolio includes oncology medicines such as Opdivo, Yervoy, Abraxane, Sprycel and Pomalyst, as well as Eliquis, an anticoagulant developed in partnership with Pfizer. Bristol Myers Squibb also markets immunology and neuroscience products, including Orencia and Sotyktu, and continues to invest in therapies based on biologics, cell therapy and other advanced treatment approaches.
Bristol Myers Squibb traces its roots to pharmaceutical businesses founded by Bristol-Myers in 1881 and E.R.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Eli Lilly and Company ( LLY ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call October 29, 2026 10:00 AM EDT Company Participants Mike Czapar - Senior Vice President of Investor Relations David Ricks - Chairman, President & CEO Lucas Montarce - Executive VP & CFO Daniel Skovronsky - Chief Scientific & Product Officer and President of Lilly Research Laboratories Ilya Yuffa - Executive VP and President of Lilly USA & Global Customer Capabilities Carole Ho - Executive VP & President of Lilly Neuroscience Patrik Jonsson - Executive VP & President of Lilly International Kenneth Custer - Executive VP & President of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health Jacob Van Naarden - Executive VP, President of Lilly Oncology & Head of Corporate Business Development Conference Call Participants Christopher Schott - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Geoffrey Meacham - Citigroup Inc., Research Division Seamus Fernandez - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division Evan Seigerman - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research Kerry Holford - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division Asad Haider - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division Steve Scala - TD Cowen, Research Division Terence Flynn - Morgan Stanley, Research Division Trung Huynh - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Akash Tewari - Jefferies LLC, Research Division Umer Raffat - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division Carter Gould - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division Michael Yee - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Courtney Breen - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division Presentation Operator Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Eli Lilly Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call.
On its third quarter of 2026 earnings call, held on Oct. 22, 2026, Lockheed Martin (LMT +2.20%) raised its full-year sales guidance after sales grew 11% year over year to $20.7 billion. Multiyear government defense commitments provide durable revenue visibility that insulates the business from short-term budget shifts.
Three takeaways from management's remarks explain how this execution secures future growth.
1. Record Backlog Reaches $292 Billion as Demand ScalesThe defense contractor expanded its backlog, or the total value of signed contracts waiting to be fulfilled, to $292 billion. Book-to-bill, the ratio of new orders received to products delivered, reached 4x, showing that demand for military hardware is outpacing current factory output.
We ended the quarter with a record backlog of $292 billion, up $113 billion when compared to the third quarter of 2025, and a book-to-bill of 4x.
-- Evan Scott, Chief Financial Officer2. Long-Term F-35 Agreement Guarantees Decade-Long Production StabilityA landmark framework agreement for the F-35, the company's main stealth fighter aircraft, secures delivery schedules for 850 jets to the U.S. military over 10 years. This multiyear arrangement gives suppliers the confidence to invest in automated production without fear of unexpected budget cuts.
This agreement solidifies the path to 850 U.S. aircraft over a 10-year span, which will be further augmented by sales to our allies, achieving a total production at 156 aircraft per year for 10 years.
-- Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer3. Munitions Expansion Receives $8 Billion Capital Commitment Through 2030To meet surging global demand for missile defense, Lockheed Martin is expanding 20 manufacturing facilities and hiring 3,000 workers at Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), its precision weapons unit. Long-term customer contracts protect these capital investments against cash flow risk.
All of this is part of more than the $8 billion investment we are making through 2030 to modernize more than 20 facilities, expand our supply chain, and grow our workforce.
-- Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive OfficerLooking AheadProduction momentum across all four business segments is converting unprecedented order volume into steady cash flow. Long-term multiyear contracts, deep supply-chain integration, and specialized missile manufacturing facilities give the company an operational moat that rivals can't easily replicate as management prioritizes execution and pricing discipline.
A backlog of this size and duration gives us substantial visibility into our future performance, with much of next year's work already under contract and in progress.
-- Evan Scott, Chief Financial OfficerSustained global defense demand positions the business to compound value well into the future.
Our focus remains on execution at Lockheed Martin, delivering advanced, reliable capabilities at the speed and scales needed.
-- Jim Taiclet, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive OfficerThe Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The semiconductor sell-off is a chance for investors to buy into the artificial intelligence (AI) boom at a discount, but not every chip stock is worth picking up. Broadcom (AVGO -1.94%) and Intel (INTC -3.62%) are two AI chip stocks worth looking into, but here's why investors might buy one and avoid the other.
Image source: Getty Images.
Why Broadcom is the AI chip stock investors could buy One of Broadcom's biggest advantages is its ability to help major tech companies develop custom chips designed for specific workloads. For example, instead of relying on general-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs), hyperscalers are increasingly using these specialized chips to enhance performance and reduce power consumption.
Broadcom is already benefiting from this shift.
In its fiscal third quarter of 2026, its AI semiconductor revenue surged 221% year over year, driven by demand for custom accelerators and AI networking. And management expects that momentum to continue, projecting further revenue growth in the following quarter.
AVGO Broadcom$345.00-$6.81 (-1.94%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/29/26
Plus, the company's opportunity extends beyond individual chips. AI data centers require high-speed networking to move massive amounts of data between chips, servers, and storage systems. And Broadcom's networking products help address this challenge, giving it more ways to benefit as hyperscalers expand AI capacity.
But it doesn't end there.
Broadcom's acquisition of VMware expanded its presence in enterprise software, giving investors exposure to both the AI infrastructure boom and the recurring demand for software that helps businesses manage their IT environments.
Of course, Broadcom isn't without risks. Its growth depends a lot on continued spending by a small group of large customers, and any slowdown in their investment could quickly affect revenue growth.
That said, Broadcom's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 18 looks attractive given its history of growing sales tied to the lucrative AI space. Looking ahead, if it continues to benefit from demand for custom AI chips and networking, investors could participate in that growth at a reasonable price.
But not every chip company is well-positioned to benefit from AI. The next company has its own opportunity, but the bull case hinges heavily on a turnaround in its business.
Why investors could be cautious about Intel's turnaround Intel is an interesting chip company to watch. That said, investors might be more cautious about buying the stock today because its long-term potential depends on successfully executing its turnaround.
The company is investing heavily in advanced processing technology, including its Intel 18A process, while strengthening its manufacturing capabilities through Intel Foundry.
Still, improving its existing chip business is one challenge, but building a successful foundry operation that can compete with established manufacturing leaders is another. Manufacturing semiconductors requires substantial capital, solid execution, and customers willing to commit their chip designs to the platform.
INTC Intel$92.07-$3.46 (-3.62%)
NASDAQ · As of 4:00 PM ET 10/29/26
Any delays, manufacturing yield problems, or weaker customer adoption could undermine Intel's turnaround.
Plus, competition is another concern. Intel faces established rivals as it tries to build its presence in a foundry market where customers already have solid alternatives.
Not only that, Intel's forward P/E of about 51 looks much harder to justify given the uncertainty surrounding its turnaround. The premium suggests investors are counting on strong earnings improvement, leaving less room for disappointment if its manufacturing ambitions fall short.
But if it can manufacture competitive chips and consistently win business from customers, its investments just might pay off.
Which of the two AI chip stocks comes out ahead?
Broadcom looks like the stronger AI chip choice The semiconductor sell-off is creating opportunities for investors willing to look beyond short-term volatility.
Broadcom stands out as the better pick for investors seeking AI growth at a reasonable price, thanks to its established AI chip business, networking expertise, and attractive valuation. Intel has turnaround potential, but its execution challenges and premium valuation make this semiconductor veteran the higher-risk choice.
Kevin Lobo - Chairman & CEO
Nick Mead - Vice President of Investor Relations
Preston Wells - VP & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Robert Marcus - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Larry Biegelsen - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Joanne Wuensch - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Ryan Zimmerman - BTIG, LLC, Research Division
Travis Steed - BofA Securities, Research Division
Matthew O'Brien - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Matthew Taylor - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Vijay Kumar - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Christopher Pasquale - Barclays PLC
Patrick Andrew Wood - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Michael Matson - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
Elaine Cui - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Richard Newitter - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division
Andrew Ranieri - TD Cowen, Research Division
Vikramjeet Chopra - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research
Presentation
Operator
Welcome to the Third Quarter 2026 Stryker Earnings Call. My name is Leila, and I'll be your conference operator for today's call. [Operator Instructions] This conference call is being recorded for replay purposes. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that the discussions during this conference call will include forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the company's most recent filings with the SEC.
Also, the discussions will include certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in today's press release that is an exhibit to Stryker's current report on Form 8-K filed today with the SEC.
I will now turn the call over to Mr. Kevin Lobo, Chair and Chief Executive Officer. You may proceed, sir.
Kevin Lobo
Chairman & CEO
Welcome to Stryker's third quarter earnings call. Joining me today are Preston Wells, CFO; and Nick Mead, Vice President
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
