Market Signal Briefing

Vitalik Buterin said he no longer agrees with his 2017 tweet that downplayed the need for users to personally verify Ethereum end-to-end.

This week, he argued the network should treat self-hosted verification as a non-negotiable escape hatch as its architecture gets lighter and more modular.

Buterin’s original position grew out of a design debate over whether a blockchain should commit to state on chain or treat state as “implied,” reconstructable only by replaying ordered transactions.

Ethereum’s approach, putting a state root in each block header and supporting Merkle-style proofs, lets a user prove a specific balance, contract code, or storage value without re-executing all history, as long as the user accepts the chain’s consensus validity under an honest-majority assumption.

The idea of average users personally validating the entire history of the system is a weird mountain man fantasy. There, I said it. (2017)

In his new post, Buterin reframed that tradeoff as incomplete in practice because it can still corner users into choosing between replaying the full chain or trusting an intermediary such as an RPC operator, an archival data host, or a proof service.

I no longer agree with this previous tweet of mine – since 2017, I have become a much more willing connoisseur of mountains[…] We do not need to start living every day in the Mountain Man's cabin. But part of maintaining the infinite garden of Ethereum is certainly keeping the cabin well-maintained. (2026)

Vitalik's U-turn on personal verification of blockchain historyHe anchored the change in two shifts: feasibility and fragility.

On feasibility, Buterin wrote that zero-knowledge proofs now offer a path to check correctness without “literally re-executing every transaction.”

In 2017, he argued this would have pushed Ethereum toward lower capacity to keep verification within reach.

The shift matters because Ethereum’s public roadmap increasingly treats ZK as a verifiability primitive, with ethereum.org framing zero-knowledge proofs as a way to preserve security properties while reducing what a verifier must compute.

Work on “ZK-light-client” directions also points toward a model where a device can sync using compact proofs rather than trusting an always-online gateway.

On fragility, Buterin listed failure modes that sit outside clean threat models: degraded p2p networking, long-lived services shutting down, validator concentration that changes the practical meaning of “honest majority,” and informal governance pressure that turns “call the devs” into the backstop.

He cited censorship pressure around Tornado Cash as an example of how intermediaries can narrow access, arguing that a user’s last-resort option should be to “directly use the chain.”

That framing tracks with broader discussion about hardening Ethereum’s base layer and limiting churn, amid a push toward protocol “ossification.”

In Buterin’s telling, the “mountain cabin” is not a default lifestyle.

It is a credible fallback that changes incentives, because the knowledge that users can exit reduces the leverage of any single service layer.

That argument lands as Ethereum reduces what ordinary nodes are expected to store, while the network’s verification story has to keep pace.

Ethereum client usage and historyExecution clients are moving toward partial history expiry, and the Ethereum Foundation said users can cut disk usage by about 300–500 GB by removing pre-Merge block data, putting a node within reach on a 2 TB disk.

At the same time, light clients already reflect a formalized trust model optimized for low-resource devices, relying on a sync committee of 512 validators selected about every 1.1 days.

Those parameters make light-client verification workable at scale.

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However, they also concentrate user experience around the availability of correct data and well-behaved relays when conditions deteriorate.

Ethereum’s longer-term “statelessness” work aims to reduce the need for nodes to hold large state while keeping block validation intact.

Ethereum.org cautions that “statelessness” is a misnomer, distinguishing weaker forms from stronger designs that remain research, including state expiry.

Verkle trees sit inside that plan because they reduce proof sizes and are positioned as a key enabling step toward validating without storing large state locally.

As more of the storage burden shifts outward, either to specialized history hosts or other data networks, the security story becomes less about who can store everything and more about who can independently check correctness and retrieve what they need when a default path fails.

What is changingWhy it matters for verificationConcrete parameter or figurePartial history expiry support in execution clientsLess local storage can raise reliance on external history availability unless retrieval and verification paths stay open~300–500 GB disk reduction, “comfortable” on a 2 TB diskPoS light client trust modelLow-resource verification relies on committee signatures and data availability through peers or servicesSync committee of 512 validators, rotates about every 1.1 daysVerkle trees as a stateless-client enablerSmaller proofs can make validation with less stored state more practicalRoadmap framing ties Verkle trees to stateless validation goalsStatelessness roadmap distinctionsSeparates near-term approaches from research items such as state expiryWeak vs. strong statelessness terminologyEF work on L1 zkEVM security foundationsProof-system rigor and stability becomes part of Ethereum’s base security storyEmphasis on stabilization and formal verification readinessWhat this means going forwardOver the next 12–36 months, the practical question is whether verification spreads outward as Ethereum externalizes more storage burdens, or whether trust clusters around new service chokepoints.

One path is that wallets and infrastructure shift from “trust the RPC” to “verify the proof,” while proof production consolidates into a small set of optimized stacks that are difficult to replicate, moving dependency from one class of provider to another.

Another path is that proof-based verification becomes ordinary, with redundant proving implementations and tooling that lets users switch providers or verify locally when an endpoint censors, degrades, or disappears, aligning with efforts aimed at lightweight verification flows.

A third path is that pruning and modularity progress faster than verification UX, leaving users with fewer workable options during outages or censorship events.

That would make the “mountain cabin” operationally real for only a narrow slice of the network.

Buterin framed the cabin as Ethereum’s BATNA, rarely used but always available, because the existence of a self-reliant option constrains the terms imposed by intermediaries.

He closed by arguing that maintaining that fallback is part of maintaining Ethereum itself.

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U.S. spot crypto exchange-traded funds showed mixed but improving trends, as fresh inflows ended a recent streak of capital outflows. Data from SoSoValue showed that Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP products all attracted new funds, signaling a cautious shift in market sentiment.

ETF Inflows Signal Cautious Risk AppetiteU.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $6.84 million, ending five straight sessions of outflows. Hence, the reversal suggested that some investors started to reenter positions after recent weakness. 

Spot Ethereum ETFs delivered a stronger response, with $117 million in net inflows following four consecutive days of redemptions. Consequently, capital rotation appeared to favor Ethereum as traders adjusted exposure across major assets.

Additionally, smaller but notable inflows reached alternative products. Solana spot ETFs posted $2.46 million in net inflows, while XRP spot ETFs added $7.76 million. Significantly, the broad-based improvement across multiple funds hinted at stabilizing risk appetite rather than a single-asset reaction.

Solana Price Action Reflects Stabilization EffortsSolana traded at $124.33, posting a 0.44% daily gain despite a 2.48% decline over the past week. Moreover, trading volume reached $3.68 billion, showing active participation as price tested key levels. With roughly 570 million SOL in circulation, Solana’s market value stood near $70.5 billion.

However, analysts remained divided on the short-term outlook. According to CryptoJobs3, daily and weekly charts continued to flash bearish signals. The analyst warned that a breakdown could push SOL toward the $98–$102 demand zone. Upper resistance levels remained concentrated at $128–$132 and $145, which could cap any recovery attempts.

Key Demand Zone Draws Buyer InterestIn contrast, BitGuru pointed to early signs of stabilization. The analyst noted that SOL recently flushed into the $118–$121 demand region after a sharp sell-off. Consequently, selling pressure began to ease as buyers defended prior consolidation support.

Recent price action showed tighter candles and slower downside momentum. As long as SOL holds above $118, analysts see scope for a relief bounce. The first area to watch remains $126–$130, which previously served as structural support. Moreover, a decisive reclaim of that range could improve short-term momentum.

If buyers regain control, upside targets extend toward $138–$145. However, failure to hold the current base could revive downside risks.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / January 27, 2026 / Inventus Mining Corp. (TSXV:IVS) ("Inventus" or the "Company")is pleased announce that processing of the Trench 1 bulk sample is underway at its 100%-owned Pardo "River of Gold" Project, located 65 km northeast of Sudbury, Ontario. Highlights Trench 1bulk sample processing is currently underway at McEwen Inc.'s Stock Mill An additional seven (7) drill holes have been completed subsequent to the Company's January 22, 2026 news release, for a total of 47 drill holes with assay results pending Trench 1 Northbulk sample advancing, with waste successfully blasted and removed and extract of the gold mineralization expected to commence shortly Bulk sampling and drilling continue to advance in parallel, supporting grade validation, metallurgical performance, and near-surface continuity Bulk Sampling Update The Company confirms that processing of 5,000 tonnes of the 10,128-tonne Trench 1 bulk sample is currently underway at McEwen Inc.'s Stock Mill.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Smart Digital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: SDM) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired SDM securities between May 5, 2025 and September 26, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/SDM.

SDM Case Details

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that:

 
(1) SDM was the subject of a market manipulation and fraudulent promotion scheme involving social-media based misinformation and impersonators posing as financial professionals; 
(2)  insiders and/or affiliates used and/or intended to use offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign;
(3)  SDM’s public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of realized risk of fraudulent trading or market manipulation used to drive the Company’s stock price; and
(4)  as a result, SDM securities were at unique risk of a sustained suspension in trading by either or both of the SEC and NASDAQ.

What's Next for SDM Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/SDM or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in SDM you have until March 16, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to SDM Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for SDM Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) certain of Endeavor’s directors, Silver Lake Group, L.L.C. (“Silver Lake”) and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Defendants”).

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Endeavor Class A common stock between January 15, 2025 and March 24, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/EDR.

Endeavor Case Details

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

(1) Defendants represented to unaffiliated public shareholders of Endeavor Class A common stock that the take‑private merger (the “Merger”) and the $27.50‑per‑share Merger Consideration were “fair to and in the best interests” of public shareholders;

(2) In reality, Defendants orchestrated a unified scheme—led by Silver Lake and Endeavor insiders—to depress minority bargaining power and the value realizable by unaffiliated public shareholders, while insiders captured future upside through rollovers and other separate benefits;

(3) Defendants structured the Merger to disadvantage minority shareholders by, among other things:

Rejecting a “majority‑of‑the‑minority” vote and instead closing the transaction through controller written consent;Locking in a fixed $27.50 cash‑out Merger Consideration without any collar or contingent value right, and offering only a de minimis dividend that insiders shared with themselves; andDisseminating a misleading Information Statement on January 15, 2025, which spoke in present tense about “fairness” and serving the “best interests” of unaffiliated shareholders, while relying on a Centerview Partners LLC (“Centerview”) fairness opinion frozen “as of” March 2024 and omitting material contemporaneous information necessary to render those assertions not misleading.As a result, Defendants’ statements about the Merger’s fairness, process, and benefits were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. What's Next for Endeavor Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/EDR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in Endeavor you have until March 18, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to Endeavor Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Endeavor Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized investor-rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against agilon health, inc. (NYSE: AGL) and certain of its officers.

This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired agilon securities between February 26, 2025 and August 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm’s site: bgandg.com/AGL.

agilon Case Details

According to the Complaint, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

(1) Defendants recklessly issued guidance for 2026 that they knew or should have known was not going to be achieved, given material industry headwinds of which they were aware; 
(2) Defendants materially overstated the immediate positive financial impact from “strategic actions” taken by agilon to reduce risk; and 
(3) as a result, defendants’ statements about agilon’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading at all times.

What's Next for agilon Investors?

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm’s site: bgandg.com/AGL or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 917-590-0911. If you suffered a loss in agilon you have until March 2, 2026, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.

No Cost to agilon Investors

We, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.

Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for agilon Securities Class Action?

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. More at www.bgandg.com.

"Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact Info

Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan Miller
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
917-590-0911 | [email protected]

Attorney advertising.
Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Key Takeaways BRK.B may divest its 27.5% Kraft Heinz stake, ending Buffett's role in the 2015 mega-merger.Kraft Heinz's planned spin-off and strategic review triggered a $3.76B write-down by BRK.B.If this happens, it will mark Greg Abel's first strategic decision as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B - Free Report) might exit its position in Kraft Heinz. In that case, this will be Greg Abel’s first strategic move after he became the new CEO. If this happens, it would mark an end to Buffett's investment in the entity. Buffett and 3G Capital had joined forces to craft the high-profile merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz, creating Kraft Heinz back in 2015.

BRK.B currently has a 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz, making it the company’s largest shareholder. BRK.B’s earnings from non-controlled businesses include earnings from its investments in Kraft Heinz. Buffett’s investment in Kraft Heinz was worth $8.6 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025.

Last September, to increase strategic focus and lower complexity, Kraft Heinz decided to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off.  In fact, Berkshire wrote down $3.76 billion against its Kraft Heinz stake, following the latter’s announcement that it was evaluating potential strategic transactions on May 20, 2025.

Berkshire boasts an impressive inorganic story as well as an equity investment portfolio. This conglomerate targets businesses with durable earnings power, strong returns on equity, modest debt and skilled management—acquired only at sensible valuations. Other than Kraft Heinz, Berkshire’s other equity investments include Occidental and Berkadia. These have collectively fueled Berkshire’s growth by adding resilient cash-generating businesses, diversifying income streams and expanding its investment base.

Impressive Inorganic Profile of BRK.B’s CompetitorsProgressive Corporation’s (PGR - Free Report) acquisition strategy focuses on building scale, technology and distribution while reinforcing its insurance portfolio. Progressive pursues disciplined, selective deals that deliver strategic value and complement its core strengths. Through targeted acquisitions, Progressive enhances efficiency and customer reach, ensuring long-term competitiveness in a dynamic insurance landscape.

Travelers Companies’ (TRV - Free Report) acquisition strategy emphasizes reinforcing core insurance strengths while expanding into complementary markets. Travelers seeks disciplined acquisitions that enhance underwriting, technology and distribution capabilities. With a focus on sustainable shareholder value, Travelers carefully evaluates opportunities that bolster its competitive edge while maintaining a conservative balance sheet.

BRK.B’s Price PerformanceShares of BRK.B have gained 1.8% in a year, outperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BRK.B’s Expensive ValuationBRK.B trades at a price-to-book value ratio of 1.49, above the industry average of 1.42. It carries a Value Score of C.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for BRK.BThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for BRK.B’s first-quarter 2026 EPS witnessed no movement in the past seven days. The same for 2026 has moved 22% north in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus estimate for BRK.B’s 2026 revenues indicates year-over-year increase, while the same for EPS suggests a decline.

BRK.B stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

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

American Airlines projected Tuesday that its focus on premium will “begin delivering results in 2026” as the carrier races to catch up to its far more profitable rivals and capitalize on strong demand from high-spending customers. American posted net income of $99 million, or 15 cents per share, on revenue of $14 billion.

Cornerstone Bancorp Earns $3.1 Million for the Fourth Quarter, and $10.8 Million for the Year 2025

, /PRNewswire/ -- Cornerstone Bancorp, Inc. (OTCID: CNBP), the bank holding company for Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Company (collectively "Cornerstone"), today reported net income of $3.1 million, or $3.14 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $3.0 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, net income increased 10.9% to $10.8 million, or $11.00 per diluted share, compared to 2024's earnings of $9.8 million, or $9.95 per diluted share.  All 2025 results are unaudited.

"Cornerstone's investment portfolio continues its very short duration and provides high levels of liquidity to take advantage of credit opportunities," stated Gerald F. Fitzgerald, Jr., Chairman of Cornerstone Bancorp, Inc.

"We were very pleased with the growth of Cornerstone's loan portfolio in 2025 which exceeded $99 million, 15%.  Asset quality still remains very high with only two individual credits on nonaccrual status totaling less than $422,000," Fitzgerald continued.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Highlights:

Consolidated net income was $3.1 million, or $3.14 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $3.0 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. For 2025, net income increased 10.9%, to $10.8 million, or $11.00 per diluted share compared to $9.8 million, or $9.95 per diluted share, in 2024. The net interest margin (NIM) was 3.77% in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 3.30% in the fourth quarter of 2024.  For the full year 2025, the NIM was 3.66% compared to 3.32% in 2024. Total assets increased 5.8% to $1.03 billion at year-end, compared to $976.9 million a year earlier. Tangible shareholders' equity improved 13.2% to $91.7 million at December 31, 2025, compared to $81.0 million a year earlier. Interest-bearing deposits at correspondent banks totaled $65.6 million on December 31, 2025 (6.3% of total assets) compared to $86.1 million a year earlier (8.9% of total assets). The securities portfolio totaled $198.0 million on December 31, 2025, compared to $218.9 million a year earlier. The weighted average remaining life approximates 1 year. The loan portfolio totaled $749.3 million on December 31, 2025, an increase of $101.7 million, or 15.7%, from a year earlier. Deposits totaled $924.9 million on December 31, 2025, an increase of $53.6 million, or 6.2%, from a year earlier. Trust and wealth management assets totaled $1.16 billion on December 31, 2025, compared to $1.02 billion a year earlier. Dividends to shareholders were $2.50 per share in 2025. The Bank continues to be well-capitalized, with a Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio of 9.86% at December 31, 2025 compared to 10.00% at December 31, 2024. About Cornerstone Bancorp, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Cornerstone Bancorp, Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Company (collectively "Cornerstone") is committed to serving the commercial banking and investment needs of families and family-owned businesses. Cornerstone serves its clients by investing heavily in people and technology, providing an uncommon relationship experience. Cornerstone has been successful in attracting new clients and talent as the Chicago market consolidates and large banks deemphasize relationships in favor of an institutional approach.

Cornerstone is a leader in commercial lending services including equipment, real estate and construction loans and operating lines of credit as well as business treasury management services.

For individuals and families, wealth management services are offered, including investment management, trust and custody services, retirement plans, and estate and guardianship administration.

Headquartered in Palatine, Illinois, Cornerstone maintains offices in Crystal Lake, Deer Park, Naperville and Schaumburg.  Visit us on the web at www.cnbtc.bank. 

Forward Looking Statement
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding our financial position, business strategy and management's plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," and "intend" and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to Cornerstone or management, are intended to help identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although we believe that management's expectations as reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure readers that those expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from our expectations as indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include our ability to maintain or expand our market share or net interest margins, and to implement our marketing and growth strategies. Further, actual results may be affected by our ability to compete on price and other factors with other financial institutions; customer acceptance of new products and services; the regulatory environment in which we operate; and general trends in the local, regional and national banking industry and economy, as those factors relate to our cost of funds and return on assets. In addition, there are risks inherent in the banking industry relating to collectability of loans and changes in interest rates. Many of these risks, as well as other risks may have a material adverse impact on our operations and business.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

 ($ in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)

For the Quarter Ending

Year To Date

Income Statement

12-31-2025
(Unaudited)

31-Dec-24

% Change

12-31-2025
(Unaudited)

31-Dec-24

Net Interest Income

$           9,776

$           8,320

17.5 %

$         36,528

$         32,780

Provision for Credit Losses

320

25

1180.0 %

520

325

Noninterest Income

1,577

1,365

15.5 %

5,810

5,473

Noninterest Expense

7,304

6,154

18.7 %

27,464

25,161

Provision for Income Taxes

640

535

19.7 %

3,532

3,008

Net Income

$           3,088

$           2,972

3.9 %

$         10,821

$           9,760

Ratios

Return on Average Assets *

1.17 %

1.16 %

0.9 %

1.07 %

0.98 %

Return on Average Stockholders' Equity*

13.34 %

13.49 %

-1.1 %

12.35 %

12.02 %

Net Interest Margin

3.77 %

3.30 %

14.3 %

3.66 %

3.32 %

Allowance for Loan Losses to Gross Loans **

1.23 %

1.35 %

-8.4 %

1.23 %

1.35 %

Dividends Per Share

$                   -

$                   -

N\A

$             2.50

$             2.50

Earnings Per Share

$             3.14

$             3.02

3.8 %

$           11.00

$             9.95

End of Period

End of Period

Balance Sheet Data

12-31-2025
(Unaudited)

31-Dec-24

% Change

31-Dec-23

31-Dec-22

Total Assets

$    1,033,575

$       976,886

5.8 %

$       958,795

$       989,110

Loans, Net of Allowance for Loan Losses

$       740,017

$       638,832

15.8 %

$       639,509

$       600,999

Deposits and Repurchase Agreements

$       924,870

$       871,306

6.1 %

$       861,203

$       899,327

Trust Preferred Securities

$         10,310

$         10,310

0.0 %

$         10,310

$         10,310

Other Borrowings

$                   -

$           7,763

-100.0 %

$           7,763

$         12,763

Tangible Stockholders' Equity

$         91,695

$         81,003

13.2 %

$         73,246

$         61,364

Trust Assets

$    1,156,692

$    1,019,951

13.4 %

$       954,480

$       848,711

Stock Value Per Common Share Data

Price-To-Earnings Ratio *

13.64

8.30

64.3 %

6.31

6.10

Price-To-Tangible Book Value Ratio

1.61

1.00

60.6 %

0.93

1.04

Tangible Book Value Per Share

$           93.12

$           82.33

13.1 %

$           74.36

$           61.73

Number of Shares Outstanding

984,735

983,905

985,039

994,088

Average Number of Shares Outstanding

983,973

980,623

988,096

994,088

Stock Price - High

$         150.00

$           82.59

$           70.00

$           64.80

                       Low

$           81.25

$           69.00

$           64.10

$           63.10

                       Ending

$         150.00

$           82.59

$           69.50

$           64.30

SOURCE Cornerstone Bancorp, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of shareholders of the following publicly-traded companies.  Investors have until the deadlines listed below to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors suffering losses on their investments are encouraged to contact The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz to discuss their legal rights in these class actions at 310-914-5007 or by email to [email protected].

Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE: ITGR)
Class Period: July 25, 2024 – October 22, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 9, 2026

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Integer materially overstated its competitive position within the growing EP manufacturing market; (2) despite Integer’s claims of strong visibility into customer demand, the Company was experiencing a sustained deterioration in sales relating to two of its EP devices; (3) in turn, Integer mischaracterized its EP devices as a long-term growth driver for the Company’s C&V segment; and (4) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you are an Integer shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV)
Class Period: October 28, 2024 – October 27, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 17, 2026

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) F5 was the subject of a significant security incident, placing its clientele’s security and the Company’s future prospects at significant risk; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you are a F5 shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

SLM Corporation a/k/a Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM)
Class Period: July 25, 2025 – August 14, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 17, 2026

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) SLM was experiencing a significant increase in early stage delinquencies; (2) accordingly, Defendants overstated the effectiveness of SLM’s loss mitigation and/or loan modification programs, as well as the overall stability of the Company’s PEL delinquency rates; and (3) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you are a SLM Corporation shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

Klarna Group plc (NYSE: KLAR)
Class Period: September 7, 2025 – December 22, 2025
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: February 20, 2026

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Defendants materially understated the risk that its loss reserves would materially go up within a few months of the IPO, which they either knew of or should have known of given the risk profile of many individuals agreeing to Klarna's buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans; and (2) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you are a Klarna shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

To be a member of these class actions, you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about these class actions, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com.   If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Contacts

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
Frank R. Cruz, 310-914-5007
[email protected]
www.frankcruzlaw.com

Thousands of electric vehicles from Chinese automakers can enter Canada this year at new low tariff rate

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryPalantir Technologies Inc. retains a Strong Buy rating, driven by robust growth in both government and commercial segments and a fortress-like balance sheet.PLTR’s Q3 2025 revenue surged 63% to $1.18B, with U.S. commercial revenue up 121% and operating leverage driving outsized profit growth.Despite a forward P/E of ~292x and PEG of 5.12x, PLTR’s premium valuation is underpinned by record contract wins and a unique dual-market position.Key upside drivers include sustained U.S. commercial momentum, potential large government contracts, and untapped international growth, though government budget risk remains. hapabapa/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) is down about 7% since I last covered it, lagging behind the S&P 500’s (SP500) 3% gain over the same stretch. The decline appears tied to broader worries

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.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ADDYY either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

While this article may sound like financial advice, please observe that the author is not a CFA or in any way licensed to give financial advice. It may be structured as such, but it is not financial advice. Investors are required and expected to do their own due diligence and research prior to any investment. Short-term trading, options trading/investment and futures trading are potentially extremely risky investment styles. They generally are not appropriate for someone with limited capital, limited investment experience, or a lack of understanding for the necessary risk tolerance involved. I own the European/Scandinavian tickers (not the ADRs) of all European/Scandinavian companies listed in my articles. I own the Canadian tickers of all Canadian stocks I write about. Please note that investing in European/Non-US stocks comes with withholding tax risks specific to the company's domicile as well as your personal situation. Investors should always consult a tax professional as to the overall impact of dividend withholding taxes and ways to mitigate these. Please note that my position in Adidas at this time is a watchlist position, but i may increase it going forward.

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.

Zacks Investment Research recently initiated coverage of Stran & Company, Inc. (SWAG - Free Report) with a “Neutral” recommendation, reflecting a balance between the company’s accelerating growth profile and ongoing challenges in profitability, margins and cash flow.

Stran operates as an outsourced marketing solutions provider, offering promotional products, branded merchandise, and loyalty and incentive programs to more than 2,000 active clients across a wide range of industries. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Quincy, MA, the company has steadily expanded its capabilities through organic growth and acquisitions, positioning itself as a scaled platform in a highly fragmented promotional products industry.

A central theme is Stran’s rapid revenue expansion and the early signs of operating leverage. Revenue growth has significantly outpaced expense growth, allowing operating costs to decline as a percentage of sales and driving a sharp improvement in EBITDA toward breakeven levels. This trend suggests that incremental revenues are increasingly being absorbed by a largely fixed cost structure, creating potential for margin expansion as scale continues to build.

The company’s August 2024 acquisition of Gander Group stands out as a transformative development. The transaction meaningfully expanded Stran’s presence in loyalty, casino and continuity programs, which have become a major contributor to consolidated revenues. The company has completed integration within roughly a year and highlighted cross-selling opportunities, new vertical exposure and a repeatable consolidation strategy that could support long-term growth in a fragmented market.

The research report highlights several key factors that could drive SWAG's growth. Stran’s solid balance sheet is also highlighted as a key source of financial flexibility. With no traditional debt and nearly $12 million in cash and investments, the company has supported growth initiatives while opportunistically repurchasing shares. SWAG's decision to buy back shares, even while the company remains unprofitable, signals confidence in long-term value creation.

However, potential investors should consider certain risks outlined in the report. Stran continues to report net losses and negative operating cash flow, with working capital demands and inventory growth weighing on liquidity. The gross margin has come under pressure from acquisition mix, tariffs and limited pricing power, while exposure to discretionary marketing budgets introduces sensitivity to broader economic conditions. Potential equity dilution from outstanding warrants and options, along with rising fixed lease obligations, adds complexity.

From a valuation perspective, Stran shares trade at a substantial discount to industry and market benchmarks on an EV-to-sales basis, even after a strong run over the past year. The “Neutral” recommendation suggests that, while the company’s growth story is compelling, shares are expected to perform in line with the broader market until profitability and cash flow trends become more firmly established.

For a comprehensive analysis of Stran's financial health, strategic initiatives and market positioning, you are encouraged to view the full Zacks research report. This in-depth report provides a detailed discussion of the company's operational strategies, financial performance, and the potential risks and opportunities that lie ahead.

Read the full Research Report on Stran & Company here>>>

Note: Our initiation of coverage on Stran & Company, which has a modest market capitalization of $38 million, aims to equip investors with the information needed to make informed decisions in this promising but inherently risky segment of the market.

Tether (CRYPTO: USDT) has launched USA₮, a federally regulated stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, but Standard Chartered warns stablecoins could drain $100 billion from U.S. bank deposits with the market reaching $301.4 billion.

USA₮: Built For The GENIUS ActTether launched USA₮ on Monday to comply with the GENIUS Act, the first nationwide framework governing stablecoins sold to U.S. users.

The law requires stablecoins offered to Americans to be issued by federally or state-qualified entities. That locked out USDT, Tether’s flagship token, forcing the company to create a separate U.S.-compliant version.

Bo Hines, former White House Crypto Council Executive Director, leads the project as CEO of Tether USA₮.

USA₮ is now available on Bybit, Crypto.com, Kraken, OKX, and MoonPay. Cantor Fitzgerald serves as reserve custodian, ensuring transparency from day one.

This move puts Tether back in direct competition with Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) USDC, which has dominated the U.S. institutional market due to early regulatory compliance. 

Meanwhile, USDT continues operating globally with $143 billion in circulation.

Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, called USA₮ “a dollar-backed token made in America” designed for institutions that need federal oversight.

Standard Chartered: Stablecoins Are A “Real Threat”The same day Tether launched USA₮, Standard Chartered published a report warning that stablecoins pose a serious threat to bank deposits.

Geoff Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, estimates U.S. bank deposits will shrink by one-third of the total stablecoin market cap—currently $301.4 billion. 

That translates to roughly $100 billion leaving U.S. banks as stablecoins grow.

The problem is simple: when customers move money from banks into stablecoins, that money doesn’t come back as stablecoin issuers don’t redeposit the cash into the banking system.

Tether holds just 0.02% of reserves in bank deposits. Circle holds 14.5%. The rest sits in Treasury bills and other instruments outside the traditional banking system.

That means every dollar flowing into stablecoins is a dollar permanently leaving bank balance sheets—reducing deposits that banks use to make loans and generate revenue.

Regional Banks Face The Biggest HitKendrick’s analysis shows regional banks are most exposed because they rely heavily on deposits for profitability. 

He specifically flagged Huntington Bancshares, M&T Bank, Truist Financial, and CFG Bank as facing the highest risk.

Larger investment banks are less exposed because they generate revenue from multiple sources beyond deposit-driven lending.

Looking ahead, Kendrick projects the stablecoin market will reach $2 trillion by end-2028. 

At that scale, about $500 billion could leave developed-market banks, with another $1 trillion exiting emerging-market banks.

Circle (NASDAQ:CRCL) CEO Jeremy Allaire has called fears of stablecoin-driven bank runs “totally absurd,” but Standard Chartered’s numbers suggest the threat is real for banks that depend on deposits.

What Happens NextTether’s USA₮ launch legitimizes stablecoins in the U.S. regulatory framework, potentially accelerating adoption among institutions previously blocked from using USDT.

For banks, the expansion of federally regulated stablecoins like USA₮ and USDC increases competitive pressure. 

As stablecoins scale toward $2 trillion, regional banks face structural threats to deposit bases.

Standard Chartered expects the CLARITY Act to pass by the end of Q1 2026, which could limit stablecoin yields. But even without yields, stablecoins offer instant settlement and 24/7 availability—features traditional bank deposits can’t match.

Image: Shutterstock

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© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

XRP is trading at $1.89, down 1.2% today, which caps off a rather gloomy week of 2.4% losses and a two-week tumble totaling 8.4%. With a market cap holding steady at $114 billion, XRP clings to the fifth spot among cryptocurrencies by size—but don't expect a celebratory confetti cannon just yet.

Rick Rieder, a rising favorite for Trump's Fed chair pick, sees bitcoin as new goldAs Trump mulls the next leader of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the BlackRock executive has caught a surge of online wagers, and he'd bring a pro-crypto view. Jan 27, 2026, 3:15 p.m.

A rotating cast of top candidates has roiled Polymarket betting on the next chair of the Federal Reserve, but the new favorite, BlackRock's Rick Rieder, has argued that bitcoin will replace gold and has recommended people should have it in their portfolios.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Rieder, BlackRock's chief investment officer for global fixed income, has rocketed to the top of the list of President Donald Trump's likely picks in the prediction markets, and he's frequently waxed supportive of cryptocurrencies.

He said as far back as 2020 — in much earlier days of digital assets — that bitcoin would take over for gold as a store of value, "because it’s so much more functional than passing a bar of gold around," he said in a CNBC interview. And more recently, he told the same outlet that bitcoin should be part of a smart investment mix, saying that the leading digital token and gold were "things that give you a little bit of ballast in the portfolio."

In that September interview, when bitcoin was still above $112,000, he predicted "it's going to go up." The cryptocurrency is currently trading around $88,000, having fallen recently on possible tariffs and other geopolitical turmoil.

Trump has a choice to make before the term of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell — who the president has framed as his economic nemesis — is set to expire on May 15. It was Trump who originally placed Powell, a Republican, in that pivotal role, but the president has since routinely lamented his performance, calling him "dumb" and "stupid" and nicknames such as "Mr. Too Late."

Meanwhile, Trump has often teased about frontrunners for his replacement, making for a volatile prediction market. Rieder has said it's "an unbelievably honor to even be mentioned in that list."

Rieder vocally shares Trump's frustrations at the sedate pace at which the Fed has cut interest rates. In a recent interview during the president's trip to Davos in Switzerland, Trump called Rieder "very impressive," and his odds on Polymarket have climbed from under 3% to almost 53% at their height, before settling at a current 48%.

For the crypto sector, a Fed chair can pull multiple levers. Apart from a heavy influence in the group that sets the federal funds rate, the chair controls the board's regulatory agenda. However, Powell has deferred to the vice chair for supervision, Michelle Bowman, on the Fed's supervisory work.

So Rieder's crypto enthusiasm may not have a significant play in the rules the regulatory side of the Fed writes for such things as stablecoins or central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

More than as a mechanic of policy, a Fed chair has a softer role as an outsized voice on the health and direction of the U.S. economy, and a staunch bitcoin advocate in that position would be a first.

Though Powell is departing soon as chairman, his term as a regular governor on the Fed board continues, leaving some question about whether he'll take the traditional route and exit after his leadership expires or stay on another two years. Every member of the board has an automatic seat on the Federal Open Market Committee that decides U.S. interest rates, meaning a Powell decision to stay would keep his generally centrist position in place in that group and would fail to open another seat for a Trump appointee.

Trump's relentless criticism of Powell escalated last month when his Department of Justice said it's investigating the central bank chairman for his public descriptions of renovations at the Federal Reserve buildings in Washington. Powell released an unusual, direct response.

"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president," Powell said.

More For You

Pudgy Penguins: A New Blueprint for Tokenized Culture

Dec 30, 2025

Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.

What to know:

Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.

The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.

More For You

WH advisor Patrick Witt: Davos 2026 was ‘turning point’ for global crypto normalization

46 minutes ago

White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt said stablecoins are the “gateway drug” for global finance and that Washington is racing to deliver regulatory clarity.

What to know:

The Context: The Executive Director of the President’s Council for Advisors for Digital Assets sat down for an interview with CoinDesk where he said the recent World Economic Forum in Davos served as a stage for the Trump administration to signal its commitment to normalizing digital assets as a permanent asset class. He said:

The administration aims to strike a balance between traditional financial incumbents and new crypto entrants through a "symbiosis" where they can coexist and compete.Consumers benefit from this competition, positioning the current administration as firmly on the side of technological innovation.The President renewed a pledge at the event to establish the United States as the undisputed "crypto capital of the world".Latest Developments: Regulatory movement is accelerating in Washington with key committee markups scheduled for major digital asset legislation.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is set to mark up its portion of the market structure bill on Thursday, January 29th at 10:30 AM.The Senate Banking Committee has postponed its markup, requiring further mediation on issues like stablecoin rewards and ethics.Witt expressed confidence that despite these delays, the legislation will eventually be reconciled and brought to the Senate floor.Reading Between the Lines: Stablecoins are acting as a "gateway drug" for global business leaders who are beginning to grasp the technology's potential—and its threat.

Witt observed a cycle where traditional players move from a lack of understanding to fear, and finally to incorporating crypto into their own product offerings.While some Senate Republicans worry about stablecoins causing deposit flight from community banks, Witt believes a "smooth glide path" into these future technologies is possible with patience and cooperation.“Consumers win when there’s choice,” he said, while also acknowledging concerns from Senate Republicans about community banks and financial stability. The administration, he suggested, sees convergence between crypto and traditional finance as inevitable but wants the transition to be smooth rather than destabilizing to all parties.U.S. regulators intend to lead the global regulatory conversation, even if the domestic legislative process results in imperfect "directionally accurate" rules.What Comes Next: Once the primary market structure bill passes, the administration plans to pivot toward a major crypto tax package.

Witt suggested there is still a window of opportunity to pass additional digital asset legislation this year before midterms dominate the congressional calendar.The administration is also monitoring "developing situations" regarding digital assets potentially seized in national security actions abroad, such as in Venezuela.Finally, Witt declined to specifically comment on speculation that Venezuelan enforcement actions may have involved seized digital assets, citing national security sensitivities and an evolving situation, but did add, “There’s a number of folks in the national security apparatus engaged,” in regards to how the Maduro regime was financed.

Spot XRP ETF volume has surpassed $2B, highlighting strong demand and rising institutional interest.

Brian Njuguna2 min read

27 January 2026, 03:19 PM

Source: ShutterstockSpot XRP ETF Volume Surpasses $2 Billion Amid Growing Institutional DemandXRP Update reports spot XRP ETFs have surpassed $2B in cumulative trading volume, signaling strong, sustained demand from both retail and institutional investors.

Since October, steady trading activity reveals a quiet but growing surge of institutional investment in XRP. 

Unlike retail-driven volatility, this strategic inflow signals confidence in XRP as a maturing, credible asset, marking a decisive shift toward intentional, long-term market participation.

Spot ETFs, enabling direct XRP ownership without intermediaries or futures, are gaining favor among professional investors. Offering simplicity, transparency, and regulatory clarity, they reduce counterparty risk while providing seamless exposure, making them ideal for institutions seeking diversified crypto portfolios.

Therefore, XRP’s $2 billion milestone signals more than a headline, it underscores the token’s market utility, liquidity, and rising institutional trust. Steady ETF volume amid broader crypto volatility highlights XRP’s resilience and growing market confidence.

Continued inflows signal a shift toward long-term digital asset adoption. Institutions now view XRP not as a speculative play, but as a strategic complement to traditional portfolios. This steady demand supports price stability and drives further crypto product innovation.

As spot XRP ETFs gain momentum, regulatory clarity and new institutional entrants are expected to accelerate adoption. Surpassing $2 billion in cumulative volume marks more than a milestone, it reflects growing legitimacy, strategic allocation, and the rising influence of institutional capital in crypto.

Why does this matter? Well, the XRP ETF market has evolved from niche to mainstream, steadily redefining how institutions approach cryptocurrency exposure.

ConclusionSpot XRP ETFs hitting $2 billion highlights rising institutional confidence, steady demand, and market maturity, positioning XRP as a strategic digital asset in mainstream finance.

ENRICH your inbox with our best storiesDon’t miss out and join our newsletter to get the latest,
well-curated news from the crypto world!

Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

Read more about

Latest Cryptocurrencies News TodayXRP (Ripple) News

In early 2026, gold and Bitcoin are moving in opposite directions. Bitcoin is struggling to bounce back from its January $98,000 peak, while gold climbs past $5,000, led by tokenized markets.

Table of Contents

Tokenized gold breaks out above $5,000Gold price prediction: Why the rally looks durableWhy Bitcoin is going downBitcoin price prediction: Key downside levelsBTC-to-Gold ratio signals defensive capital shiftFinal outlook The takeaway: investors are playing it safe rather than chasing risky gains.

Summary

Gold is climbing while Bitcoin faces downside pressure, with potential drops to $74,000, $68,000, or even $53,000 in extreme scenarios. The BTC-to-Gold ratio near 17.3 signals a defensive capital shift, favoring gold over Bitcoin until market risk appetite improves. Tokenized gold, like Pax Gold and Tether Gold, trades 24/7, accelerating price discovery and reflecting real-time macro demand. Tokenized gold breaks out above $5,000 Pax Gold and Tether Gold broke above $5,000 this week, rising from the mid-$4,600s and holding support near $4,900 as gold rallied.

Because tokenized gold trades 24/7, macro demand showed up instantly, accelerating price discovery and highlighting tokenization’s edge over traditional markets.

Gold price prediction: Why the rally looks durable This gold rally isn’t driven by speculation — it’s fundamentals at work. Central banks are buying more gold than they have in decades, and worries about geopolitics, debt, and currencies keep demand strong.

Gold 1-day chart, January 2026 | Source: TradingView With gold near $5,080, banks are raising long-term forecasts, and tokenized gold reflects these expectations in real time, giving a sneak peek at how markets could trade 24/7.

Why Bitcoin is going down Bitcoin (BTC) has come under pressure as investors shift toward safer assets.

Weakening global risk sentiment, U.S. policy uncertainty, and fears of a yen carry-trade unwind are weighing on prices.

BTC 1-day chart, January 2026 | Source: crypto.news Trading around $87,967, Bitcoin has fallen more than 10% from its January peak.

Bitcoin price prediction: Key downside levels On the technical side, Bitcoin looks at risk of testing the $82,000–$85,000 support area.

If macro conditions continue to deteriorate and the Fed stays hawkish, the next downside levels sit around $74,000 and $68,000. 

In a more extreme sell-off, Fibonacci extensions point to a possible move toward $53,000 — near the psychologically important $50,000 mark.

It’s not the main scenario, but it’s a risk if markets stay in risk-off mode.

BTC-to-Gold ratio signals defensive capital shift The BTC-to-Gold ratio is around 17.3, close to the lower end of its usual range.

It shows how much gold one Bitcoin can buy and gives a sense of whether investors are taking risks or playing it safe.

In past Bitcoin bull runs, this ratio often went above 30–35. Right now, tight liquidity and muted speculation leave gold as the clear winner.

Final outlook Gold’s outlook remains positive thanks to strong institutional buying, while Bitcoin forecasts point to continued volatility and potential downside. Gold is likely to keep its edge over Bitcoin until investors grow more confident.

Tue, 27/01/2026 - 15:36

Corporate treasury giant BitMine Immersion has officially staked more than half of its total Ethereum reserves.

Cover image via U.Today Corporate treasury giant BitMine has managed to stake more than half of its total Ethereum reserves. 

According to on-chain data from Arkham Intelligence, the firm, which is chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, moved an additional 209,504 ETH into staking contracts earlier today. The sum is currently valued at approximately $610 million.

BitMine’s total staked value now stands at a staggering 2,218,771 ETH ($6.52 billion). This represents over 52% of its total ETH holdings. 

HOT Stories

How Bitmine's staking worksBitMine is utilizing an institutional solo staking model. The firm is leveraging its proprietary infrastructure known as MAVAN (Made in America Validator Network). 

For every 32 ETH they lock up, they activate one unique validator software instance on the network. With over 2.2 million ETH staked, BitMine is operating nearly 70,000 individual validators.

BitMine's $6.52B stake is projected to generate roughly $190 million – $200 million in annual recurring revenue.

Lee previously claimed that BitMine will be able to turn ETH into a productive asset in such a way.  

Bitmine's dominance 

According to the data provided by CoinGecko, BitMine holds 4,243,338 ETH, valued at approximately $12.4 billion.

The company holds nearly 5x more Ethereum than the second-largest holder, SharpLink. 

For context, owning 3.5% of a major asset class is virtually unheard of for a single corporation when it comes to traditional equities. 

Related articles

Artificial intelligence model ChatGPT has projected that XRP could register a new all-time high in 2026, with price targets suggesting a meaningful but measured upside compared to previous crypto market cycles.

Indeed, the model’s outlook comes as the token continues to languish below the crucial $2 support after being weighed down by broader market sentiment. 

As of press time, XRP was trading at $1.88, having plunged over 2.6% in the past 24 hours, while on the weekly timeline, the asset is down about 1.6%.

XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold XRP price 2026 outlook  When consulted for insights on a possible XRP 2026 record high, ChatGPT’s assessment noted that the most likely peak stands at around $6.20. 

XRP 2026 price prediction. Source: ChatGPT Under more favorable market conditions, the AI model sees scope for a brief bullish overshoot toward $8.50, while a weaker momentum scenario could cap gains near $4.20. This outlook places XRP firmly above its previous peak of roughly $3.84.

ChatGPT’s projection is based on a structural comparison between past and future market cycles. The model noted that XRP’s prior all-time high occurred in an environment characterized by thinner liquidity and limited institutional participation. 

By contrast, a 2026 cycle is expected to be more capital-intensive, with stronger institutional involvement but tighter valuation discipline, reducing the likelihood of extreme price multiples.

The AI tool also applied historical market cycle behavior, observing that large-cap cryptocurrencies that survive multiple cycles typically achieve gains of about 1.5 to 2.5 times their prior peaks during strong bull phases. 

Using this framework, XRP’s potential valuation range clusters between roughly $5.75 and $9.60, with the midpoint forming the core of ChatGPT’s base-case outlook.

XRP circulating supply impact  ChatGPT also highlighted XRP’s large circulating supply as a structural constraint on upside, arguing that liquidity depth naturally limits exponential price expansion compared with lower-supply digital assets. 

In addition, the model emphasized that XRP’s strongest rallies tend to occur when speculative momentum aligns with a clear adoption narrative, such as cross-border payments or institutional liquidity use cases, a convergence that historically proves difficult to sustain for extended periods.

Finally, the AI pointed to XRP’s continued correlation with major cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Unless XRP achieves a meaningful decoupling, ChatGPT expects it to peak later in the cycle and at a lower multiple than the market leaders.

Featured image via Shutterstock

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

BlackRock appears to have hit the pause button on its recent massive Bitcoin sell-off after four consecutive days of outflows. Farside Investor data reveals that BlackRock’s IBIT recorded an inflow of $15.9 million, the highest by any asset manager on the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) market.

Bitcoin ETFs turn green on BlackRock inflowsNotably, BlackRock’s inflow contributed largely to the ETF market closing in the green after five straight days of outflows. Besides BlackRock, two other asset managers, WisdomTree’s BTCW and Grayscale’s BTC, both registered $2.8 million and $7.7 million inflows, respectively.

Fidelity’s FBTC recorded $5.7 million in outflows, while Bitwise’s BITB and Ark Invest’s ARKB offloaded $11.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively. The remaining five asset managers registered zero flow.

However, it was BlackRock’s $15.9 million that helped offset the difference between inflows and outflows. The cumulative inflows at the end of the trading day stood at $6.8 million.

It is unclear if BlackRock will continue its selling spree after this given that it is the leading asset manager with the highest dump in the last five days of sales. The asset manager’s move has remained of interest and concern to market watchers.

BlackRock kicked off Bitcoin (BTC) sales in 2026 with the deposit of 1,134 BTC valued at $101.4 million on the Binance exchange. At the time, there were concerns that the move could trigger selling pressure — not only on Binance but across the broader market.

This has largely been true as Bitcoin has continued to face volatility on the crypto market. In the last 30 days, the flagship crypto asset has only managed to climb by 0.09%. The coin has not been able to reclaim six-figure prices within this period. The highest it hit was the $97,000 zone before it faced rejection.

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Bitcoin price in consolidation modeAs of press time, Bitcoin is exchanginge hands at $88,034.51, which reflects a 0.46% increase in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume remains in the red zone, having dropped by 25.9% to $35.87 billion within the same time frame.

As U.Today reported, the continued price consolidation of Bitcoin has led to one of the highest weekly withdrawals of January 2026. A total of $1.46 billion or 16,300 BTC exited the combined Bitcoin funds as spotted by onchain crypto analyst, Ali Martinez.

Interestingly, amid these high outflows, business intelligence firm, Strategy within the last 48 hours, announced the purchase of an additional 2,932 BTC valued at over $264 million. The development offers hope to a segment of the market that not all institutional holders are dumping the coin.

Tue, 27/01/2026 - 15:58

Solana is leading most layer-1 networks in raw on-chain activity, but a bigger question appears for the SOL price as 2026 progresses.

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

Asset manager 21shares has revealed its outlook for the seventh largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Solana (SOL).

In an X post, 21shares outlined its Solana predictions for 2026. In a base case scenario, it predicts Solana reaching $150, which is a 21% increase from current prices. In a bull case scenario, Solana is predicted to reach $197, a 57% increase, while in a bear case scenario, Solana might drop 23% to $95.

At press time, Solana was trading at $123, down 58.18% from an all time high of $294.33 reached on Jan. 19, 2025.

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The base and bull case targets highlighted by 21shares remain minimal and bar an explosive surge in the magnitude of hundreds of percent for Solana.

In a blog post, 21shares indicated doubts about Solana capturing value despite its scaling potential being proven. It was noted that SOL’s price will ultimately reflect not raw network performance, but the quality, durability and value capture of that performance.

Solana's scaling potential highlightedAccording to 21Shares, Solana is surpassing most layer-1 networks in raw on-chain activity. The Solana network processes about 2.2 billion transactions per week, second only to Internet Computer (ICP) at 2.6 billion, and far ahead of other major chains such as BNB Chain and Tron (108 million and 62 million, respectively).

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Solana is also seeing increasing U.S. dollar payments and meaningful institutional experimentation as 2026 progresses. Thus, the debate is no longer whether Solana can scale usage, as this has been resolved. The unresolved question now is whether this economic activity can translate into durable value capture for SOL investors.

Short-term SOL outlookSOL rebounded from a low of $118 on Monday, indicating that the bulls are defending the level.

The relief rally is expected to face immediate resistance at $131. If the Solana price turns down from here, the risk of a drop below the $117 level increases. Solana may then head toward solid support at $95.

On the other hand, if the Solana price turns up and breaks above the moving averages, it might continue sideways trading inside the $117 to $147 range for a little while.

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Bitcoin has reaffirmed its bearish structure after strong rejection near $98,000, signaling that sellers remain firmly in control. With key resistance holding and momentum tilting lower, traders are now shifting focus to where the price could head next if the downside continues to unfold.

Neckline Rejection Locks In A Bearish Bias Crypto analyst Crypto Patel, in a recent post on X, pointed out that Bitcoin has firmly rejected the $94,000–$98,000 neckline resistance, a move that reinforces a bearish market structure. The rejection signals that sellers remain firmly in control, with the failure to reclaim this zone preventing any meaningful shift in momentum.

From a technical standpoint, Patel noted that Bitcoin has confirmed a failed Head and Shoulders pattern, followed by a bear-flag breakdown. This sequence strengthens the bearish outlook, as the price action continues to respect lower highs while struggling beneath key resistance. As long as BTC remains capped below the neckline, the broader trend remains decisively bearish.

Source: Chart from Crypto Patel on X Looking ahead, Patel emphasized that price action below the $90,000 level favors further downside continuation. Based on the measured move from the breakdown, Bitcoin could slide toward the $75,000–$70,000 support region, representing a potential decline of around 22% from current levels.

On the flip side, Patel stressed that a bullish bias would only return if Bitcoin manages a strong reclaim and acceptance above $92,000. Until that happens, any upside attempts are likely to be short-lived, making rallies opportunities for selling rather than signs of a trend reversal.

$89,000: The Fuse For A Potential Bitcoin Short Squeeze According to another Bitcoin post shared by Ardi, the $89,000 level stands out as a critical threshold for any potential shift in momentum. A decisive break above this zone could begin to trigger short-squeeze conditions, as bearish positions that entered lower start to feel pressure and cover.

He further emphasized that $90,300 remains the primary gatekeeper for the market. A strong reclaim and sustained acceptance above this level would signal improving bullish control, allowing price to move higher in search of the $92,000 liquidity band, where a concentration of stops and resting orders is likely positioned.

On the downside, Ardi noted that liquidity near $86,000 has already been taken, suggesting that immediate downside targets have been largely satisfied. With that sweep complete, attention now shifts to whether bulls can push through overhead resistance and force late bears to exit, setting the stage for a sharper upside reaction.

BTC trading at $87,878 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Crypto ETFs opened the week with a much-needed rebound as ether snapped a four-day outflow streak and bitcoin finally edged back into positive territory. XRP and solana also closed green, signaling a tentative shift in market sentiment.