Market Signal Briefing

CorMedix Inc. (CRMD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

The US government drafted a rule requiring export licenses for AI chip shipments, including those from major companies like Nvidia and AMD, to all countries worldwide. Ed Ludlow has more on "Bloomberg Markets.

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Roundhill Innovation-100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF (CBOE:QDTE) was built for a specific type of investor: someone who wants meaningful income from tech exposure without simply riding the Nasdaq up and down. The fund sells zero-days-to-expiration covered calls on the Innovation-100 Index each morning, collects the premium, and distributes it weekly. With roughly $927 million in assets and a strategy that has attracted a devoted income-seeking following, QDTE has delivered. But the architecture of the fund creates a specific landmine that most holders are not thinking about clearly.

The covered call premium cushions losses slightly on bad days. It does not stop them. And the holdings underneath this fund are not your average blue chips sitting quietly in a portfolio. They are some of the most volatile, highest-multiple, binary-outcome names in the market.

The Upside Cap Does Not Come With a Downside Floor The primary risk facing QDTE is straightforward but easy to underestimate: the fund’s underlying holdings can fall sharply, and the daily options premium collected does almost nothing to offset a serious drawdown. Selling a 0DTE covered call generates a small amount of daily income. It does not generate a hedge. If a core holding drops sharply in a week, a few days of premium income will not make a dent.

Strategy / MicroStrategy (MSTR) Consider what is actually sitting in this fund. Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), formerly MicroStrategy, is essentially a leveraged bitcoin vehicle. In Q4 2025, the company reported a net loss of $12.44 billion, driven almost entirely by a $17.44 billion unrealized loss on its bitcoin holdings. The company holds 713,502 bitcoins, and every meaningful move in bitcoin price flows directly into the stock. MSTR has already fallen 46.78% over the past year, and bitcoin itself has traded as low as $65,769 in early March 2026 after touching nearly its recent highs in late 2025. Polymarket traders currently price a 65.5% probability that bitcoin dips to $55,000 before year end. If that happens, MSTR would almost certainly crater, and QDTE’s daily call premium would be irrelevant noise against the NAV destruction.

Palantir (PLTR) Then there is Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction). The company posted genuinely strong Q4 2025 results, with revenue growing 70% year-over-year to $1.41 billion and a Rule of 40 score of 127%. But the stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of around 234x and a price-to-sales ratio of nearly 79x. At that valuation, the margin for error is essentially zero. Any guidance miss, government contract reduction, or macro sentiment shift can trigger a violent repricing. Palantir’s own insiders have been selling aggressively, with CEO Alexander Karp and multiple other executives liquidating large positions on February 20, 2026, at prices between $132 and $136, well below where the stock had been trading just weeks earlier. Palantir is down 13.82% year-to-date through March 4.

Tesla (TSLA) Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) adds a different flavor of risk. Vehicle deliveries fell 16% year-over-year in Q4 2025 to 418,227 units, and automotive revenue declined 11%. The stock sits at a trailing P/E of 370x, which requires an enormous amount of future growth to justify. Kalshi prediction markets currently place only a 20% probability on Tesla delivering more than 500,000 vehicles in any single quarter before 2027, suggesting the crowd is skeptical of the exponential delivery growth the valuation demands. The stock is already down 9.73% year-to-date.

NVIDIA (NVDA) NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) is the fund’s most credible holding from a fundamental standpoint, with Q4 FY2026 revenue of $68.13 billion, up 73% year-over-year. But even NVIDIA carries a specific landmine: its Q1 FY2027 guidance explicitly excludes any Data Center compute revenue from China, a market where the company previously generated meaningful revenue. NVIDIA is down 6.4% over the past week as of March 4.

QDTE Fund Overview The transmission mechanism is simple. When any of these names gaps down sharply on a binary event, whether that is a bitcoin crash, a Palantir valuation reset, a Tesla delivery miss, or an escalation in China export restrictions, QDTE’s NAV drops with it. The daily premium from selling a covered call might represent a fraction of a percent of NAV. A significant drawdown in a major holding is not offset by a week’s worth of income distributions.

The Volatility Regime Can Work Against the Fund in Two Directions The secondary risk is subtler but equally real. QDTE’s income depends entirely on implied volatility in its underlying index. Higher volatility means fatter option premiums and bigger weekly distributions. Lower volatility means the opposite. The current environment creates a two-sided trap.

The VIX currently sits at 23.57, up 35.1% over the past month and sitting at roughly the 87th percentile of observations over the past year. That elevated reading is temporarily supportive of premium income. But it also reflects genuine market stress, which is precisely the environment where QDTE’s underlying holdings tend to suffer most. Innovation-oriented, high-multiple growth stocks are the first to be sold when fear rises.

The VIX reached a peak of 52.33 on April 8, 2025, during a period of extreme market panic. During that kind of event, QDTE would be collecting elevated premiums while simultaneously watching its NAV erode as holdings like MSTR, PLTR, and TSLA sold off hard. The premium income is procyclical with the fear that causes the damage.

If volatility instead normalizes back toward the 12-month average of around 19 or lower, premium income compresses and the fund’s headline yield shrinks. Investors who bought in for the distribution may find themselves holding a lower-yielding fund while the underlying holdings remain fully exposed to any future shock. The VIX touched 13.47 as recently as December 24, 2025, demonstrating how quickly the environment can shift.

What to Watch Before the Landmine Goes Off For the concentration and drawdown risk, the most actionable signal is bitcoin’s price. MSTR’s stock moves in tight correlation with bitcoin, and a break below the $65,769 support level seen on March 1 would likely accelerate selling pressure in MSTR and drag on QDTE’s NAV. Track bitcoin daily on any major exchange or financial data platform. The $60,000 level is the next meaningful floor to watch.

For Palantir specifically, monitor the company’s government contract pipeline. A meaningful reduction in U.S. government spending, or any high-profile contract termination, would hit a stock already priced for perfection. The company’s own SEC filings note that contracts are subject to termination for convenience provisions. Check Palantir’s quarterly filings for any changes in total contract value or government revenue trajectory.

For the volatility premium risk, the CBOE’s VIX index is the right instrument to monitor weekly. The critical threshold is sustained movement below 15, which historically signals a low-volatility regime where 0DTE premium income compresses significantly. The FRED VIX data series updates daily and provides the historical context needed to assess where current readings sit relative to recent norms.

QDTE has gained 23.52% over the past year, which is a respectable result for an income-oriented strategy. But that performance came during a period of generally rising tech stocks and elevated volatility. The fund’s architecture rewards exactly those conditions. What it does not do is protect investors when those conditions reverse. Anyone holding QDTE for income should understand that the weekly distribution is not a cushion against a serious drawdown in its underlying holdings. It is simply what the fund pays while it waits to see whether the landmine gets stepped on.

March 05, 2026 13:52 ET  | Source: Hanmi Bank

LOS ANGELES, March 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC, or “Hanmi”), the parent company of Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), today announced the release of its 2025 annual letter to shareholders entitled “Consistent Performance Through Strong Execution” authored by President and Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Lee. To view the letter please visit Hanmi Financial Corporation (HAFC).

About Hanmi Financial Corporation
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Hanmi Financial Corporation owns Hanmi Bank, which serves multi-ethnic communities through its network of 32 full-service branches, five loan production offices and three loan centers in California, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Washington, and Georgia. Hanmi Bank specializes in real estate, commercial, SBA and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses. Additional information is available at www.hanmi.com.

Investor Contacts:
Romolo (Ron) Santarosa
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
213-427-5636

Lisa Fortuna
Investor Relations
Financial Profiles, Inc.
[email protected]
310-622-8251

Source: Hanmi Bank

Key Takeaways Western Union partners Crossmint to launch USDPT stablecoin on Solana via its new Digital Asset Network.WU's network links stablecoins to 360,000 payout locations for local-cash pickup in 200 countries.WU sees blockchain settlements reducing intermediaries and delays, helping protect margins in remittances. The Western Union Company (WU - Free Report) is expanding its presence in the digital asset ecosystem through a partnership with Crossmint. The collaboration will support the launch of WU’s U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin, USDPT, which will be issued on the Solana blockchain and integrated into the company’s newly introduced Digital Asset Network.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between digital assets and real-world money movement. WU’s Digital Asset Network is designed to connect stablecoins with its extensive physical payout infrastructure, allowing users to convert digital dollars into local currency through over 360,000 collection locations worldwide. This network could make stablecoin transactions much more convenient for everyday cross-border transfers, particularly in areas where traditional banking options are hard to come by.

Under this partnership, Crossmint will integrate USDPT into its wallet and payment APIs, enabling fintech developers and enterprises to build applications that support instant transfers, stablecoin holdings and seamless connections to Western Union’s global payout network. Over time, this infrastructure could allow digital wallets and fintech platforms to move funds across borders almost instantly while still offering reliable cash pickup options in more than 200 countries.

Strategically, stablecoins could offer WU an opportunity to improve transaction efficiency and potentially lower the cost of cross-border settlements. Traditional remittance systems often get bogged down with multiple intermediaries, currency conversion fees and delays in settlement. By leveraging blockchain infrastructure, transfers can settle nearly instantly while maintaining a dollar-denominated value through the stablecoin. This approach could help Western Union safeguard its profit margins and stay competitive against fintech and crypto-based remittance services.

If adoption scales, USDPT could unlock new revenue streams tied to digital payments infrastructure while preserving Western Union’s powerful global payout network. In a payments market increasingly shaped by blockchain efficiency, integrating stablecoins might help the company defend its market share while gradually improving operating leverage through faster and cheaper settlement systems.

WU’s Price PerformanceOver the past year, WU shares have fallen 13.4% compared with the industry’s decline of 19.3%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

WU’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksWU currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the business services space are Remitly Global, Inc. (RELY - Free Report) , Sezzle Inc. (SEZL - Free Report) and Dave Inc. (DAVE - Free Report) . While Remitly Global and Sezzle sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, Dave carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Remitly Global’s current-year earnings of 51 cents per share has remained stable over the past seven days. Remitly Global beat earnings estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $2 billion, implying 19.5% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle’s current-year earnings of $4.69 per share has witnessed four upward revisions in the past seven days against no movement in the opposite direction. Sezzle beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 66.7%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $576.9 million, implying 28.1% year-over-year growth.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAVE’s current-year earnings of $14.07 per share has witnessed one upward revision in the past 30 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Dave beat earnings estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 54.2%. The consensus estimate for current-year revenues is pegged at $692.5 million, implying 25% year-over-year growth.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of VET 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.

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.

Q4: 2026-03-04 Earnings SummaryEPS of -$0.03 beats by $0.00

 |

Revenue of

$1.87M

(-17.85% Y/Y)

misses by $458.58K

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 4, 2026 5:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Subodh Kulkarni - CEO, President & Director
Jeffrey Bertelsen - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Kevin Garrigan - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Troy Jensen - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division
Quinn Bolton - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
David Williams
Sreekrishnan Sankarnarayanan - TD Cowen, Research Division
Craig Ellis - B. Riley Securities, Inc., Research Division
Tyler Perry Anderson - Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, Research Division
John McPeake - Rosenblatt Securities Inc., Research Division
Brian Kinstlinger - Alliance Global Partners, Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Rigetti Computing Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions]. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. [Operator Instructions]. I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, CEO, Dr. Subodh Kulkarni.

Subodh Kulkarni
CEO, President & Director

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining us for Rigetti's Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. I'm pleased to be joined today by our Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Bertelsen, who will walk you through our financial results in more detail following my overview. Also with us is our Chief Technology Officer, David Rivas, who will be available to participate in the Q&A session following our prepared remarks. We appreciate your continued interest in Rigetti, and we look forward to answering your questions at the conclusion of our remarks.

Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone that today's call along with our fourth quarter and full year 2025 press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations, objectives and underlying assumptions regarding our outlook and future operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could

Teads Holding Co. (TEAD) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 5, 2026 8:30 AM EST

Company Participants

David Kostman - CEO & Director
Jason Kiviat - Chief Financial Officer

Conference Call Participants

Laura Martin - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
Matthew Condon - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division
James Heaney - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Zach Cummins - B. Riley Securities, Inc., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good day. Welcome to Teads' Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference is being recorded.

I would now like to turn the call over to Teads Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Unknown Executive

Good morning, and thank you for joining us on today's conference call to discuss Teads fourth quarter and full year 2025 results. Joining me on the call today, we have David Kostman and Jason Kiviat, the CEO and CFO of Teads.

During this conference call, management will make forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions, including statements regarding our business outlook and prospects. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. These risk factors are discussed in detail in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated in our subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the call's original date, and we do not undertake any duty to update any such statements. Today's presentation also includes references to non-GAAP financial measures. You should refer to the information contained in the company's fourth quarter and full year 2025 results announcement for definitional information and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures. Our earnings release can be found on our IR website, investors.teads.com, under News and Events. With that, let me

Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (BBAR) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

The logo of Swiss drugmaker Roche is seen at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland February 1, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

March 5 (Reuters) - Genentech, ​part of Roche (ROG.S), opens new tab, said ‌on Thursday that its experimental obesity drug helped ​people lose up to ​10.7% of their body ⁠weight in a ​mid-stage study.

In the 493-patient trial, ​the drug, petrelintide, helped people lose up to 10.7% ​of their body ​weight over 42 weeks, far more ‌than ⁠the 1.7% seen with a placebo.

Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.

Roche gained access to petrelintide through ​a ​collaboration ⁠and licensing deal signed with Denmark's ​Zealand Pharma last ​year, ⁠giving the Swiss drugmaker shared development rights to ⁠the ​amylin‑based obesity ​therapy.

Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; ​Editing by Alan Barona

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

March 05, 2026 13:59 ET  | Source: Diversified Energy PLC

TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings

1. Issuer Details

ISINUS25520W1071 Issuer Name Diversified Energy Company  UK or Non-UK Issuer Non-UK  2. Reason for Notification 

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments  3. Details of person subject to the notification obligation 

NameBarclays PLC  City of registered office (if applicable) London Country of registered office (if applicable) United Kingdom  4. Details of the shareholder 

Full name of shareholder(s) if different from the person(s) subject to the notification obligation, above   City of registered office (if applicable)   Country of registered office (if applicable)   5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reached 

03-Mar-2026  6. Date on which Issuer notified 

05-Mar-2026  7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation 

.% of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8.A) % of voting rights through financial instruments (total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2) Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B) Total number of voting rights held in issuer Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reachedBelow notifiable ThresholdBelow notifiable ThresholdBelow notifiable ThresholdBelow notifiable ThresholdPosition of previous notification (if applicable)2.4600002.8000005.260000 
8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reached

8A. Voting rights attached to shares 

Class/Type of shares ISIN code(if possible)Number of direct voting rights (DTR5.1)Number of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1)% of direct voting rights (DTR5.1)% of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1)US25520W1071 Below notifiable Threshold Below notifiable ThresholdSub Total 8.ABelow notifiable ThresholdBelow notifiable Threshold
8B1. Financial Instruments according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (a))

Type of financial instrumentExpiration dateExercise/conversion periodNumber of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/converted% of voting rights     Sub Total 8.B1   
8B2. Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (b))

Type of financial instrument Expiration date Exercise/conversion period Physical or cash settlement Number of voting rights % of voting rights       Sub Total 8.B2   
9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation

2. Full chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entities (please add additional rows as necessary)

Ultimate controlling personName of controlled undertaking% of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold% of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable thresholdTotal of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable thresholdBarclays PLCBarclays Bank PLC   Barclays PLCBarclays Capital Inc.   Barclays PLCBarclays Capital Securities Limited   
10. In case of proxy voting

Name of the proxy holder   The number and % of voting rights held   The date until which the voting rights will be held   11. Additional Information

Full chain of controlled undertaking:
Barclays PLC
Barclays Bank PLC (100%)
Barclays Capital Securities Limited (100%) Barclays PLC
Barclays Bank PLC (100%)
Barclays US Holdings Limited (100%)
Barclays US LLC (100%)
Barclays Group US Inc. (100%)
Barclays Capital Inc. (100%)

Trading book exemption applied

  12. Date of Completion 

05-Mar-2026   13. Place Of Completion 

London

- Published today in Science, the discovery marks the creation and observation of the first molecule with a half-Möbius electronic topology.
- It shows how quantum computers can directly contribute to understanding complex molecular behavior.

, /PRNewswire/ -- An international team of scientists from IBM (NYSE: IBM), The University of Manchester, Oxford University, ETH Zurich, EPFL and the University of Regensburg have created and characterized a molecule unlike any previously known — one whose electrons travel through its structure in a corkscrew-like pattern that fundamentally alters its chemical behavior. Published today in Science, it is the first experimental observation of a half-Möbius electronic topology in a single molecule.

Dyson orbital for electron attachment, calculated using quantum hardware. Credit: IBM and the University of Manchester

Left, a scanning tunneling microscopy image of the new half-Möbius molecule's electron orbital density; right, a simulated STM image of the molecule's orbital density, which was made using an IBM quantum computer. To the scientists' knowledge, a molecule with such topology has never before been synthesized, observed, or even formally predicted. Understanding this molecule's behavior at the electronic structure level required something equally fundamental: a high fidelity quantum computing simulation.

The discovery advances science on two fronts. For chemistry, it demonstrates that electronic topology — the property governing how electrons move through a molecule — can be deliberately engineered, not merely found in nature. For quantum computing, it is a concrete demonstration of a quantum simulation doing what it was designed to do: representing quantum mechanical behavior directly, at the molecular scale, to produce scientific insight that would otherwise have remained out of reach. 

"First, we designed a molecule we thought could be created, then we built it, and then we validated it and its exotic properties with a quantum computer," said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow, Vice President, Europe and Africa, and Director of IBM Research Zurich. "This is a leap towards the dream laid out by renowned physicist Richard Feynman decades ago to build a computer that can best simulate quantum physics and a demonstration where, as he said, 'There's plenty of room at the bottom.' The success of this research signals a step towards this vision, opening the door for new ways to explore our world and the matter within it."

A Never-Before-Seen Molecule

The molecule, with the formula C₁₃Cl₂, was assembled atom-by-atom at IBM from a custom precursor synthesized at Oxford University, with individual atoms removed one at a time using precisely calibrated voltage pulses under ultra-high vacuum at near-absolute-zero temperatures.

Experiments with scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy, both techniques pioneered at IBM, combined with quantum computing to reveal an electronic configuration with no counterpart in chemistry's existing record: an electronic structure that undergoes a 90-degree twist with each circuit, requiring four complete loops to return to the starting phase.

This half-Möbius topology is qualitatively distinct from any previously known molecule and can be reversibly switched between clockwise-twisted, counterclockwise-twisted and untwisted states — demonstrating that electronic topology is not a property to be discovered, but one that can now be deliberately engineered under specific conditions.

A Disruptive Scientific Tool: Quantum-Centric Supercomputing

The scientists in this experiment created a molecule that had never existed. Now they had to figure out why it worked, a task which challenged conventional computers. The electrons within C₁₃Cl₂ interact in deeply entangled ways — each influencing all the others simultaneously. Modeling that behavior requires tracking every possible configuration of those interactions at once, requiring computational demands that grow exponentially and can quickly overwhelm classical machines.

Quantum computers are different by nature because they operate according to the same quantum mechanical laws that govern electrons in molecules, and they can represent these systems directly rather than approximate them. They "speak" the same fundamental language as the matter they are built to study and that distinction, once largely theoretical, can now contribute to concrete scientific results.

This capability offers tremendous potential for quantum computers to support real-world experimentation with quantum-centric supercomputing workflows. By integrating quantum processing units (QPUs), CPUs, and GPUs, quantum-centric supercomputing allows complex problems to be broken into parts that are orchestrated and solved according to each system's strengths — achieving what no single compute paradigm can deliver alone.

Utilizing an IBM quantum computer within such a workflow, the team found helical molecular orbitals for electron attachment, a fingerprint of the half-Möbius topology. Moreover, simulation via quantum computing helped reveal the mechanism behind the formation of the unusual topology: a helical pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect.

This achievement builds on IBM's long legacy in nanoscale science. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was invented at IBM in 1981, for which IBM scientists Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1986. Its creation enabled researchers to image surfaces atom by atom. In 1989, IBM scientists developed the first reliable method for manipulating individual atoms. Over the past decades, the IBM team has extended these techniques to build and control increasingly exotic molecular structures.

RESEARCHER QUOTES

Dr. Igor Rončević, paper co-author, Lecturer in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry at Manchester University:
"Chemistry and solid-state physics advance by finding new ways to control matter. In the second half of the 20th century, substituent effects were very popular. For example, researchers explored how the potency of a drug or the elasticity of a material changes if, for example, a methyl is replaced with chlorine. The turn of the century brought us spintronics, introducing electron spin as a new degree of freedom to play with, and transforming data storage. Today, our work shows that topology can also serve as a switchable degree of freedom, opening a new powerful route for controlling material properties.

"The non-trivial topology of this molecule, and the exotic behavior of many other systems, arises from interactions between their electrons. Simulating electrons with classical computers is very hard – a decade ago we could exactly model 16 electrons, and today we can go up to 18. Quantum computers are naturally well-suited for this problem because their building blocks – qubits – are quantum objects, which mirror electrons. Using IBM's quantum computer, we were able to explore 32 electrons. However, the most exciting part is this is just the start. Quantum hardware is advancing rapidly, and the future is quantum."

Dr. Harry Anderson, paper co-author, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University:
"It is remarkable that the Lewis structure of C₁₃Cl₂ already indicates it is chiral, as confirmed by the experiment and quantum chemical calculations. It is also amazing that the enantiomers can be interconverted by applying voltage pulses from the probe tip."

Dr. Jascha Repp, paper co-author, Professor of Physics at the University of Regensburg:
"I'm really excited to be part of a project where quantum hardware does real science, not just demos. It's fascinating that a tiny molecule can have such a complex electronic structure that is challenging to simulate classically, and is so twisted and strange that it almost twists your mind."

For more about this research, please read the blog: Quantum simulates properties of the first-ever half-Möbius molecule, designed by IBM and researchers

About IBM

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

For more information, visit https://research.ibm.com.

Media Contact:

Erin Angelini
IBM Communications
[email protected]

Dave Mosher
IBM Research
[email protected]

SOURCE IBM

Key Takeaways Veeva Systems' Q4 FY26 EPS of $2.06 beat estimates and revenues rose 16% y/y to $836M.VEEV's subscription revenues climbed 16% to $707.7M, driven by demand for established and newer solutions.VEEV expects FY27 revenues of $3.59B and EPS around $8.85 while expanding AI agents across platforms. Veeva Systems, Inc. (VEEV - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.06 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, which increased 18.4% from the year-ago figure of $1.74. Adjusted EPS beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.3%.

GAAP EPS in the fiscal fourth quarter was $1.45, up 22.9% from the year-ago period’s $1.18.

VEEV’s Q4 Revenue DetailsIn the quarter under review, the company’s revenues totaled $836 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.4%. On a year-over-year basis, the top line improved 16%.

Shares of the company gained 11.3% in yesterday’s after-market trading. The stock lost 31% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline of 34.8%. However, the S&P 500 Index has increased 6.4% in the same time frame.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The fiscal fourth-quarter top line was driven by Veeva Systems’ robust segmental performance.

VEEV’s FY26 ResultsFor fiscal 2026, VEEV registered total sales of $3.19 billion, up 16% year over year.

The company reported adjusted EPS of $8.10 for fiscal 2026, up 22.7% compared with fiscal 2025.

Segmental Analysis of VEEVVeeva Systems derives revenues from two operating segments: Subscription services, and Professional services and other.

In the fiscal fourth quarter, Subscription services revenues improved 16% from the year-ago quarter to $707.7 million. Per management, this uptick was driven by both its established and newer solutions.

Professional services and other revenues increased 14.1% year over year to $128.2 million.

Q4 Margin Performance by VEEVIn the quarter under review, Veeva Systems’ gross profit improved 15.3% year over year to $622.5 million. The gross margin contracted 40 basis points (bps) to 74.5%.

Sales and marketing expenses increased 11.1% year over year to $110.2 million. Research and development (R&D) expenses rose 9.5% year over year to $198.8 million, while general and administrative expenses decreased 4.4% year over year to $67.6 million. Total operating expenses of $376.6 million increased 7.1% year over year.

Operating profit totaled $245.9 million, which increased 30.5% from the prior-year quarter. The operating margin in the fiscal fourth quarter expanded 330 bps to 29.4%.

VEEV’s Financial PositionThe company exited fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 with cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $6.56 billion compared with $6.64 billion at the fiscal third-quarter end.

Cumulative net cash provided by operating activities at the end of the quarter was $1.42 billion compared with $1.09 billion a year ago.

Q1 & FY27 Guidance Provided by VEEVVeeva Systems has issued its financial outlook for the first quarter and full-year fiscal 2027.

For the fiscal first quarter, the company expects total revenues between $855 million and $858 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $845.4 million.

Subscription revenues are estimated to be approximately $720 million, and the same for Professional services and other is expected to be in the range of $135-$138 million for the fiscal first quarter.

For the fiscal first quarter, adjusted EPS is anticipated between $2.13 and $2.14. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.03.

Veeva Systems expects revenues for fiscal 2027 between $3,585 million and $3,600 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is currently pegged at $3.54 billion.

For fiscal 2027, Subscription revenues are expected to be approximately $3,040 million. This consists of Commercial Solutions’ subscription revenues of around $1,380 million and R&D Solutions’ subscription revenues of approximately $1,660 million.

Professional services and other revenues for fiscal 2027 are expected to be between $545 million and $560 million.

Adjusted EPS for fiscal 2027 is expected to be approximately $8.85. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $8.50.

Our Take on Veeva Systems’ Q4 ResultsVeeva Systems exited the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 with better-than-expected results, wherein both earnings and revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The uptick in both top and bottom lines and robust performance by the Subscription services segment during the quarter were impressive. The uptick in Professional services and others’ revenues also bodes well.

Veeva Systems closed fiscal 2026 with strong momentum, delivering fourth-quarter results ahead of expectations marked by deepening partnerships and expansion with both new and existing customers. The company ended the year with a total of 1,552 customers, including 1,196 in Veeva R&D and Quality Solutions and 767 in Veeva Commercial Solutions. Strong customer success and product innovation helped VEEV achieve a $3 billion revenue run rate in early 2025. Looking forward, solid business momentum and continued operational discipline reinforce management’s confidence in achieving the company’s $6 billion revenue run-rate objective by 2030.

During the quarter, VEEV built deeply integrated, industry-specific AI capabilities across its platforms. With core systems of record embedded in critical life sciences workflows, the company believes it is uniquely positioned to deliver high-value AI that combines specialized datasets, sophisticated logic, deep process integration and safeguards while maintaining compliance and strong data integrity. Following the December launch of its first Veeva AI Agents supporting CRM and commercial content, several customers have gone live, while additional projects are underway. Management noted that more AI agents across its key application areas remain on track for release throughout 2026.

Veeva Development Cloud and Quality Cloud secured several top-20 biopharma wins during the quarter, including a major selection of Veeva RTSM as an enterprise standard. Safety momentum continued to gain traction with the sixth top-20 customer win and the first top-20 biopharma going live on Workbench and Signal. Veeva LIMS advanced toward its first top-20 biopharma go-live across two manufacturing sites expected in 2026.

The company continued to expand the adoption of its next-generation Vault CRM. More than 125 customers are now live, including two top-20 biopharmas across major markets, while 10 of the top-20 global biopharma companies have already committed to the platform. Management expects this number to rise by advancing its commercial strategy. Crossix also delivered strong momentum during the year across its Measurement and Audience solutions, further strengthening Veeva Systems’ commercial data and analytics capabilities.

VEEV’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderVEEV carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present.

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) , AngioDynamics (ANGO - Free Report) and Phibro Animal Health (PAHC - Free Report) .

Intuitive Surgical, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.53, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12.4%. Revenues of $2.87 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.7%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

ISRG has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 15.7% compared with the industry’s 14% rise. The company beat earnings estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 13.2%.

AngioDynamics, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 at present, reported breakeven adjusted EPS for second-quarter fiscal 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 100%. Revenues of $79.4 million topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.5%.

ANGO has an estimated earnings growth rate of 59.3% for 2027 compared with the industry’s 17.1% rise. ANGO’s earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 82.1%.

Phibro Animal Health, currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1, reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of 87 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 26.1%. Revenues of $373.9 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.7%.

PAHC has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 21.5% compared with the industry’s 12.6% rise. The company beat earnings estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 20.1%.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 08: A view of the interior as Target opens "Target SoHo" - a design-forward shoppable concept store in SoHo, New York on December 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Target)

Getty Images for Target

Target just released another dismal earnings report, then leadership took to the stage for its annual Community Meeting to outline plans for a 2026 turnaround. What followed sounded awfully familiar—more promises of change, only this time it’s going to cost more to fix what ails the struggling retailer.

Nonetheless, investors bought into the narrative. Stock prices have climbed over 6% since the beginning of the week, currently trading around $120 per share, up from about $113. Investors are betting that new CEO Michael Fiddelke can spark a revival that his predecessor, Brian Cornell, couldn’t over the past couple of years.

The company expects net sales growth in the 2% range during 2026, with a small increase in comparable sales. Target plans to invest $5 billion in capital —$1 billion more than announced in November— to open 30 new stores and remodel 130+ stores. Over $1 billion of the capital investment will fund food and beverage expansion. It will also reset beauty and baby departments, reinvent home and pivot toward wellness. In addition, $1 billion in operational investment will be directed toward increased store staffing and training, brand marketing, and new technologies, including AI.

On the surface, the plan sounds promising and doable. Fiddelke responded that the company is playing the long game and reiterated the company’s North Star remains knowing exactly who Target is, adding, “We’re gonna come back to knowing who we are in the years to come.”

That last statement leaves a bigger question that the two-hour presentation didn’t answer: How did Target lose sight of its North Star in the first place? And can the new plan—that sounds a lot like the old plan—pull the company out of the hole that it has dug over the last few years?

MORE FOR YOU

GlobalData’s managing director, Neil Saunders, gives Target’s leadership team an A for effort, but stresses that the problems Target faces today are longstanding and little has been done to fix them.

“The hesitation comes not from whether these things are right—after all, they fix many of the things customers have been complaining about for years—it comes from whether Target can execute. Target’s track record has been poor,” he shared.

Fourth Quarter And Year End 2025In opening the fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2025 earnings report, the company congratulated itself for delivering results “in line with company expectations,” which, to be frank, were uninspiring.

Fourth quarter net sales were off 1.5% to $30.5 billion and the year ended on January 31 with sales down 1.7% to $104.8 billion. Operating income for the year dropped 8.1% to $5.1 billion and net earnings declined 9.4% to $4.8 billion.

While the company reported sales picked up in January and in February to start fiscal 2026—“serving as an important milestone on our path back to growth this year,” Fiddelke said in a statement— same-store-sales (SSS) declined 3.9% in fourth quarter, though comparable digital sales ticked up 1.9%, to bring overall comparable sales off by 2.5%.

It was an exceedingly poor showing for the holiday season after the company did so much to bolster sales, including price reductions on 3,000 food, beverage and essential items, activating an AI-powered gift finder and personal shopping assistant, integrating ChatGPT into the Target app and extreme Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

“There is no way to sugarcoat it: Target underperformed over the holiday quarter,” Saunders stated. “While expected, this continues a long-established pattern: in a tough trading environment, Target is struggling to show up for customers in a consistent and compelling way. There are too many out of stocks, too little inspiration in ranges, too much muddle and mess in stores.”

Habits Are Hard To BreakThese are going to be hard patterns to break, even with the renewed energy and commitment from Target leadership. One problem is that the people now promising change were in key positions when the bad patterns got started. CEO Feddelke has been with the company for over 20 years and chief merchandising officer Cara Sylvester, chief stores officer Adrienne Costanzo and chief operating officer Lisa Roath for nearly as long.

When Mike Baker, D.A. Davidson analyst, asked the obvious question—“One criticism may be that it’s the same management team. It’s the same faces, new strategies. What happened to all of a sudden realize we need to do something different?”—Feddelke was ready, saying that over half his leadership team is either in a new role or new to Target in the last 18 months.

He also stressed the value of his team’s long tenure and grounding in the corporate culture and said the team has candidly assessed where the company has been and what needs to change to move forward.

However, the challenges Target faces in the current moment didn’t happen overnight. These 20-year veterans were there when the company began its slide. And the leader who oversaw Target’s recent fall from grace, Brian Cornell, sits in the executive chair of the board.

Three-Year LookbackImmediately after the Covid pandemic, Target enjoyed two years of dynamic growth— advancing from $94 billion in 2020 to $106 billion in 2021 and $109 billion in 2022. But then, it started to flounder.

Over the three-year period between 2023 and 2025, net sales dropped 2.4%—not huge by bad enough. Worse, operating income and net earnings declined by about 10%. Diluted earnings per share slipped 9%, from $8.94 to $8.13.

Target net sales, operating income, net earnings 2023-2025

Table by Pamela Danziger from Target earnings reports

And over those three years, it opened nearly 50 new stores—starting fiscal 2023 with 1,948 stores and ending 2025 with 1,995. This challenges the assumption that 30 new stores this year will make a significant difference in sales. Seven of the 30 new stores will open this March.

Even more telling was comparable sales performance. Annual comparable sales slipped 4% in 2023, was basically flat in 2024 and dropped nearly 3% in 2025. Here’s a quarter-by-quarter replay.

Target quarterly net sales and comp sales change 2023-2025

Table by Pamela Danziger from Target earnings reports

Target MisstepsTarget’s missteps played a major role in its fall from 2023 to 2025. In 2023, its June Pride Month display caused outrage among more conservative customers, and when the company pulled Pride merchandise from some stores, it triggered a backlash from the other side.

Target managed to make amends with both constituencies in 2024, but it was the calm before the storm. In early 2025, the company’s decision to roll back its DEI program reignited customer anger, prompting widespread calls for boycotts and frustration among many Target employees who felt the decision was not aligned with corporate values.

Even after a year, concerns about the DEI decision persist. Reuters reported that a group of 27 investors just asked the company to reconsider the change.

“We are concerned that a series of recent public-facing decisions and communications by the company may have introduced reputational, operational and financial risks at a moment when Target is already navigating a challenging competitive and macroeconomic environment,” they wrote in a letter to the board and executive leadership.

Target did not address the DEI issue in its latest Community Meeting. However, Feddelke talked to the company’s philanthropic efforts, including a $1 million donation to its Bullseye Builds community project, one million staff volunteer hours devoted to local communities and its longstanding commitment to give 5% of profits to communities through products, cash and the Target Foundation.

Turning The PageFiddelke presented Target’s turnaround as a “new chapter of growth,” defined by four priorities for growth:

Merchandising authority through trendsetting, culturally relevant assortments that lead in style, design and value.Elevated guest experience across digital discovery and in-store experiences.Accelerated technology for greater efficiency, speed and more personalized customer engagement.Stronger teams and communities through investments in staff training, career growth and ongoing philanthropic efforts.There’s nothing to argue with in that plan—it’s all retail 101 and core to Target’s brand identity. The issue is whether the company has finally turned the page.

“We’ve heard some of this before so I’m skeptical whether this is going to be effective,” observed retail analyst Warren Shoulberg.

“The crazy part is that Wall Street has bought into these promises that things are going to get better when they’ve been saying it for the last eight quarters. Even with a new guy in there, I think Wall Street needs to be far more skeptical of whether this is actually going to work,” he concluded.

See also:

ForbesHow Target Will Restore Its ‘Tarzhay’ Image And Grow Sales By $15 Billion By 2030By Pamela N. DanzigerForbesTarget Withstood DEI Boycotts To Show Signs Of Reputation RecoveryBy Pamela N. DanzigerForbesAre Target Boycotts Starting To Take Their Toll?By Pamela N. Danziger

Mantle’s ecosystem stablecoin has added roughly 375 million dollars in market value over the past month, climbing from about 494 million to nearly 870 million and cementing the network’s push to become a full‑stack on‑chain liquidity and banking layer built around ETH staking and restaking primitives.

Summary

Stablecoin market cap jumps 75% in 30 days, approaching 870 million dollars as Mantle’s liquidity products gain traction across DeFi. Growth rides on Mantle’s mETH staking and cmETH restaking stack, which channels yield and demand back into the broader ecosystem. Mantle’s deep treasury and “fortress” balance sheet reinforce confidence in its stablecoin and DeFi rails despite wider market volatility.
Mantle’s stablecoin engine is firing on all cylinders. Over the past 30 days, the total market value of the Mantle ecosystem stablecoin has risen from roughly 494 million dollars to around 870 million, a gain of more than 75% that sharply outperforms the broader market and highlights the chain’s emerging role as an on‑chain liquidity hub.

The move comes as Mantle doubles down on an integrated strategy: pair an Ethereum Layer 2 with native liquid staking and restaking, then plug that liquidity into DeFi. At the base layer sits mETH, Mantle’s liquid staking token for Ethereum, which has already attracted more than 1 billion dollars in total value locked by letting users earn staking rewards while keeping their assets liquid. On top of that, cmETH extends those positions into restaking, unlocking additional yield and incentives without forcing users to unwind core ETH exposure.

This composable stack is now bleeding directly into stablecoin demand. As traders and protocols seek dollar liquidity backed by yield‑bearing collateral, Mantle’s stablecoin becomes a natural settlement and liquidity layer inside the ecosystem, tightening the feedback loop between ETH staking flows, DeFi usage and dollar‑denominated volume. Campaigns such as “Methamorphosis” and ecosystem incentive seasons have further accelerated user onboarding and capital rotation into Mantle’s products.

Underpinning the growth is a balance sheet that rivals mid‑tier centralized players. Mantle controls a multi‑billion‑dollar treasury, including more than 270,000 ETH, giving the DAO ample capacity to backstop liquidity, co‑invest in protocols and defend key pegs or markets when needed. Research firms have already labeled Mantle a “fortress” protocol for its ability to withstand severe price shocks in its native token while maintaining solvency. If current growth persists, Mantle’s stablecoin could become one of the core dollar rails for restaking‑centric DeFi over the coming cycle.

A prominent whale wallet sold 650 Ethereum [ETH] worth $1.4 million and redirected the capital into Aster [ASTER] purchases, raising attention across the market. 

On-chain tracking shows the address swapped the funds into 1.88 million ASTER worth roughly $1.4 million, indicating a deliberate capital rotation rather than random trading activity. This move follows a sequence of transfers recorded on-chain within the same timeframe. 

As a result, the whale now controls 4.45 million ASTER valued at nearly $3.18 million, placing the address among notable holders. Such repositioning often reflects shifting conviction between assets. 

In this case, the whale reduced exposure to ETH while expanding ASTER holdings significantly. As a result, the transaction introduces a strong accumulation narrative.

Inverse pattern forms near the key neckline At press time, ASTER was trading near $0.72, with the daily chart showing a developing inverse head‑and‑shoulders pattern in its price structure.

The left shoulder formed near $0.68, followed by a deeper decline toward $0.50, which established the head. Soon after, the price recovered and formed the right shoulder near $0.68, reinforcing the structure. 

Notably, ASTER traded just beneath the neckline resistance between $0.72 and $0.80. This region has repeatedly rejected upside attempts. 

However, price stabilization within this zone suggests growing buying pressure. Support levels remain clearly defined at $0.68 and $0.60, which previously halted declines. 

Since this pattern typically signals reversal conditions, traders now focus on the neckline zone. A sustained push above $0.80 could strengthen the broader recovery narrative.

Source: TradingView

Momentum indicators now reveal improving buyer activity after months of pressure. The Relative Strength Index sat near 56.85, while its Moving Average tracked close to 54.93. 

This shift places RSI above the neutral 50 threshold, which often signals strengthening market participation. Earlier in the downtrend, the indicator repeatedly struggled below the midline. 

However, recent recovery shows improving demand as ASTER stabilizes near resistance. In addition, the RSI trend now slopes upward, which reflects strengthening market conviction. 

Buyers appear increasingly willing to defend higher price zones. As a result, the indicator supports the developing reversal structure visible on the price chart. 

ASTER exchange flows hint at accumulation shifts Spot exchange activity now reveals shifting supply dynamics surrounding ASTER. Historical data shows several periods of large negative netflows, which indicate tokens leaving exchanges. 

Such outflows often suggest accumulation as investors move assets into private wallets. Notably, the latest reading shows a netflow near -$300.81K, which reflects a relatively balanced short-term environment. 

Selling pressure, therefore, appears limited at the moment. At the same time, the absence of large inflows reduces immediate distribution risk. 

Combined with the whale accumulation observed earlier, these flows support the idea that some investors continue positioning quietly. 

Source: CoinGlass

Derivatives traders lean strongly long on ASTER Derivatives positioning as of writing revealed a strong bullish tilt among experienced traders. Data from Binance showed 62.96% of accounts were positioned long, while 37.04% remained short.

This distribution produced a 1.70 Long/Short Ratio, indicating that bullish bets dominate. The ratio has gradually recovered after a brief drop earlier in the week. 

As a result, sentiment among top traders increasingly favors upside positioning. When professional traders maintain long exposure during consolidation, markets often anticipate volatility expansion. 

However, traders also monitor leverage concentration closely because aggressive positioning can amplify liquidations. 

Even so, the current bias clearly favors buyers. Combined with whale accumulation and improving technical structure, derivatives sentiment now aligns with the broader recovery narrative surrounding ASTER.

Source: CoinGlass

Conclusively, ASTER now sits at a critical inflection point as whale accumulation, improving technical structure, and bullish derivatives positioning converge simultaneously.

 The developing inverse head and shoulders pattern places $0.80 resistance at the center of attention.

If buyers sustain pressure above this zone, ASTER could extend recovery toward higher resistance levels. 

However, failure to break the neckline may prolong consolidation near $0.72. Traders, therefore, watch whether demand continues strengthening around current levels.

Final Summary Whale capital rotation into ASTER suggests growing conviction as traders quietly reposition ahead of potential structural breakout opportunities. Technical structure now aligns with improving sentiment, placing ASTER near a pivotal zone where demand could accelerate rapidly. 

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRSOL Strategies Stock Jumps as Liquid Staking Gains TractionRevenue Growth Expands Across Staking OperationsGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks SOL Strategies stock rose 20.97% to $1.50 after the company released its February business update. The STKESOL liquid staking platform surpassed 691,000 SOL staked within weeks of launch. The platform attracted 1,034 holders shortly after its rollout. The validator network expanded to 33,568 unique wallets in February. Total assets under delegation reached 3.87 million SOL, including treasury and third-party stakes. SOL Strategies stock climbed 20.97% to $1.50 on Nasdaq after a strong February update. The company reported rapid growth in staking operations and liquid staking adoption. The update showed rising validator activity and expanding assets under delegation.

SOL Strategies Stock Jumps as Liquid Staking Gains Traction The company said its STKESOL liquid staking platform surpassed 691,000 SOL staked within weeks of launch. It also confirmed that 1,034 holders joined the platform during the initial rollout. The figures came from its February business update, which highlighted expanding validator activity and rising delegated assets.

SOL Strategies stated that its validator network reached 33,568 unique wallets in February. That figure increased from about 31,000 wallets at the start of the month. The company said STKESOL growth supported higher validator participation and stronger network engagement.

The firm reported total assets under delegation of 3.87 million SOL in February. This total included treasury holdings and tokens delegated by third parties. Proprietary validators generated about 1,276 SOL in rewards during the month.

The company confirmed that users, delegated assets, and staking rewards all increased during February. These metrics reflect performance across validator and staking services. The company linked this expansion directly to the rollout of liquid staking services.

SOL Strategies said liquid staking allows users to earn rewards while keeping tokens liquid. It issues tokenized staking positions that users can trade or deploy elsewhere. The company described this product as an added revenue channel beyond validator services.

Revenue Growth Expands Across Staking Operations Interim CEO Michael Hubbard said the company continues scaling infrastructure despite crypto market volatility. He stated, “The staking platform now has four revenue streams running simultaneously.” These include treasury staking, third-party delegated staking, liquid staking, and institutional staking services.

Hubbard confirmed partnerships form part of the institutional staking strategy. He cited a partnership with global asset manager VanEck as an example. The company reported that quarterly results rose 69% year on year.

Staking and validator rewards totaled 9,787 SOL during the quarter. This figure marked a 120% increase from the same quarter last year. The company linked this rise to expanded Solana-focused infrastructure operations.

SOL Strategies also reported growth in its Solana portfolio holdings. The portfolio increased to about 529,000 SOL from 139,726 previously recorded. The company attributed the rise to balance sheet growth and higher Solana exposure.

The February update included governance changes before the annual shareholder meeting on March 31. The company confirmed that Michael Hubbard will transition from interim to permanent CEO. SOL Strategies previously operated as Cypherpunk Holdings before rebranding in September 2024.

The company acquired SOL during the second quarter of 2024. It later rebranded to reflect its focus on Solana validators and staking services. SOL Strategies stock has declined 75.81% over the past six months despite the recent 21% rise.

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has surged 7% since the start of the month as macro analyst Benjamin Cowen warned this mirrors the “bull trap” pattern that preceded massive sell-offs in every prior midterm cycle. The Midterm Bear Market Playbook Bitcoin is trading roughly 15% below its $87,500 yearly open, hitting the exact mathematical target for an early March relief rally.

XRP price is facing renewed selling pressure after a brief recovery attempt toward $1.45, with the price slipping back below $1.40 as broader crypto markets weaken. The pullback follows mild declines in major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have slightly cooled the recent market momentum.

From a broader perspective, XRP has repeatedly failed to sustain moves above $1.48, keeping the critical $1.50 resistance level out of reach. With the token now trading below $1.40, the key question is whether XRP will continue consolidating under $1.45 or gather enough strength to challenge the $1.50 barrier in the coming sessions.

As seen in the chart, XRP continues to trade below the local resistance at $1.48, which has emerged as a key barrier for the bulls. The price is currently consolidating near $1.41 while the broader trend remains confined within a descending parallel channel, indicating that the overall market structure is still bearish.

Within this structure, the $1.33 level acts as immediate support. A breakdown below this zone could accelerate the downside move, potentially dragging the price toward the lower boundary of the channel near $1.20–$1.15. 

From a momentum perspective, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is gradually forming higher highs and higher lows, suggesting that buying pressure is slowly building. However, this momentum has not yet translated into a decisive price breakout. At the same time, the Accumulation/Distribution indicator continues to trend downward, signaling that capital inflows remain weak and that distribution pressure is still dominating the market.

For now, XRP remains at a critical technical junction.

A break and close above $1.48 could invalidate the short-term resistance and push the price toward $1.60, followed by $1.75 near the mid-channel resistance.
However, if the price loses the $1.33 support, XRP may extend the correction toward $1.20, with deeper support resting around $1.10–$1.05 near the lower trendline of the channel.
Until either level is decisively broken, XRP is likely to continue consolidating within the descending channel structure.

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TLDR: Table of Contents

TLDR:How xChange Bridges Traditional Markets and DeFixStocks Records Strong Growth Metrics Since June 2025Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks xChange is the first unified execution layer trading over 70 tokenized stocks across Ethereum and Solana onchain. Every xStock is backed 1:1 by underlying shares in custody, ensuring real equity exposure on the blockchain. Atomic settlement guarantees trades execute fully at the quoted price or not at all, eliminating partial fills. xStocks has surpassed $3.5 billion in onchain volume and 80,000 unique holders since launching in June 2025. xChange, the new unified execution layer from xStocks, is now live on Ethereum and Solana. The platform enables trading of more than 70 tokenized stocks directly onchain.

Pricing is anchored to real-world public market data, while atomic settlement ensures each trade completes fully or not at all.

Since its June 2025 launch, xStocks has recorded over $3.5 billion in onchain transaction volume, marking rapid adoption of tokenized equities.

How xChange Bridges Traditional Markets and DeFi xChange connects traditional market depth with decentralized finance infrastructure in one unified system. The platform does not rely on third-party intermediaries to process trades.

Instead, it executes transactions directly onchain across both Ethereum and Solana. This setup preserves the transparency and composability that DeFi participants expect.

Each xStock is fully collateralized and backed 1:1 by underlying shares held in custody. This structure means every onchain transaction reflects genuine equity exposure.

Atomic settlement removes the risk of partial fills entirely from the process. Trades either execute in full at the quoted price or do not go through.

Kraken announced the launch through its official X account, describing it as “the first unified execution layer for tokenized equities.” The exchange added that xChange delivers “TradFi liquidity. DeFi infrastructure. Always on.”

The platform operates 24/5, extending equity trading well beyond standard exchange hours. As a result, tokenized stocks function as always-on, programmable financial assets.

Introducing xChange from @xStocksfi — the first unified execution layer for tokenized equities ⚡️

Trade 70+ tokenized stocks onchain across Ethereum and Solana, with pricing anchored to real-world markets and atomic settlement.

TradFi liquidity. DeFi infrastructure. Always on.…

— Kraken (@krakenfx) March 5, 2026

Val Gui, General Manager of xStocks, described the platform’s purpose directly. “xChange is about redefining how equities trade in a digital-first world,” Gui stated.

He added that it “brings real-world market liquidity onchain and turns tokenized stocks into fully programmable, always-on assets.” Gui noted these assets are built to “power the next generation of global financial applications.”

xStocks Records Strong Growth Metrics Since June 2025 Since launching in June 2025, xStocks has surpassed $3.5 billion in total onchain transaction volume. The platform has also crossed $25 billion in total trading volume across exchanges.

These figures reflect growing demand for tokenized equities among DeFi users and traditional finance participants. The pace of growth points to measurable market adoption across both audiences.

Over $225 million in tokenized assets are currently held onchain. More than 80,000 unique onchain holders have participated in the broader ecosystem.

Tokenized equities are gaining traction as a distinct and recognized asset class. Adoption has continued expanding across multiple chains, platforms, and applications.

xChange builds on this momentum by introducing a unified execution layer across networks. The platform connects liquidity across Ethereum and Solana while tying pricing to traditional equity markets.

This connection supports tighter spreads and improved execution quality throughout the system. Onchain settlement and transferability remain fully intact at every step.

Rather than replacing existing DeFi liquidity models, xChange functions as an added layer. It improves price alignment and execution reliability across the broader ecosystem.

The outcome is a hybrid model that combines real-world equity market depth with blockchain-based trading infrastructure. xChange positions tokenized stocks as a functional bridge connecting two distinct financial worlds.

TL;DR:

Polygon launched the Agent CLI, an onchain toolkit for AI agents that includes wallets, payments, identity, and bridging in a single installation. Agents operate entirely in stablecoins, with no need to manage native gas tokens. Private keys remain outside the LLM context. The CLI includes native support for ERC-8004 and the x402 protocol. Polygon launched the Agent CLI, a command-line tool that unifies in a single installation everything an artificial intelligence agent needs to operate onchain: wallet creation, token sending and swapping, cross-chain bridging, identity registration, and stablecoin payments. The initiative aims to eliminate the infrastructure fragmentation that development teams face when trying to equip their agents with autonomous financial capabilities.

Until now, integrating an agent with the chain required assembling separately a wallet library, a gas abstraction layer, a swap API, a bridge API, and an identity system, each component coming from a different provider with no specific design for the threat models unique to agents. Polygon’s CLI replaces that fragmented stack with an integrated system that installs with a single npm command.

Polygon Proposes an Agent Economy on Onchain Rails The architecture is built on three layers. The first consists of smart contract wallets with session scope, per-token configurable spending limits, and a 24-hour expiration. Private keys never enter the language model’s context, which neutralizes prompt injection attack vectors aimed at extracting them.

The second is transaction orchestration through Polygon Trails, which handles routing, price discovery, and execution without the agent needing to know which DEX it uses in each operation. The third is native support for ERC-8004, an Ethereum standard for agent identity, co-authored by MetaMask, the Ethereum Foundation, Google, and Coinbase.

ERC-8004 and x402: The Standards Defining Agent-to-Agent Commerce The ERC-8004 standard allows each agent to register its identity onchain, accumulate portable reputation, and become discoverable by other agents and services. Complementarily, support for the x402 protocol enables micropayments per HTTP request to be executed directly in stablecoins, with no need to manage API keys or subscriptions. Agents pay exclusively for what they consume in each interaction.

Another important security element is the dry run mode enabled by default: before any transaction is broadcast to the network, Polygon presents a full preview of what will occur. In contexts where an agent can make thousands of decisions, that confirmation step keeps humans in control over what actually touches the chain. The toolkit is compatible with Claude, Openclaw, LangChain, and CrewAI, among other frameworks that support the use of this type of tool.

Journalist

Posted: March 5, 2026

Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps says it has identified a network of connected wallets that profited from betting on military strikes involving Iran on the crypto prediction market Polymarket.

In a thread published on X, Bubblemaps said it traced funds between several Polymarket accounts that placed highly accurate bets on U.S. and Israeli strikes. This raises questions about whether traders may have had advance knowledge of geopolitical events.

The findings follow earlier reports that six wallets collectively earned about $1.2 million by betting that the United States would strike Iran on 28 February, with many of the positions reportedly opened only hours before the attack.

Wallet tracing links Polymarket accounts According to Bubblemaps, a wallet identified as 0xa4eb, operating under the Polymarket username “nothingeverhappens911,” recently moved profits off the platform.

Tracing those funds led to another Polymarket account called “Skoobidoobnj,” with the connection established through a shared Binance deposit address.

Source: X

The second account allegedly made about $100,000 betting “yes” shortly before two separate military developments involving Iran in 2025.

Those events included:

13 June 2025: Israel launched an operation targeting Iranian assets. 21 June 2025: The United States reportedly joined the conflict with strikes on nuclear facilities at Fordow. Bubblemaps said the on-chain links suggest the accounts may be part of a broader cluster of traders using connected wallets.

Additional accounts identified The analytics firm said the Polymarket account “Skoobidoobnj” is also linked on-chain to two additional accounts suspected of placing trades at similarly timed intervals.

According to Bubblemaps:

One account allegedly earned about $65,000 betting on a U.S. strike on 28 February. Another reportedly made around $10,000 on predictions related to the 13 June Israeli strike. In total, the firm said four connected Polymarket accounts generated about $240,000 from bets predicting U.S. and Israeli military actions involving Iran.

Earlier $1.2M betting activity raised scrutiny The latest findings build on the earlier discovery that six recently funded wallets made roughly $1.2 million from the 28 February U.S. strike market.

Many of those wallets were reportedly funded within 24 hours of the event. They placed bets specifically on a strike occurring on that date.

The timing of the trades drew scrutiny from analysts and policymakers, with critics suggesting the activity could indicate traders acting on privileged information.

Prediction markets face growing attention Crypto-based prediction platforms such as Polymarket allow users to trade on the likelihood of real-world events ranging from elections to geopolitical conflicts.

While supporters argue that prediction markets can aggregate information efficiently, critics warn that they may create incentives for trading on sensitive or nonpublic information.

The Bubblemaps findings add to the ongoing debate over whether blockchain analytics could help identify suspicious trading behavior in decentralized prediction markets.

Final Summary Bubblemaps says on-chain tracing linked several Polymarket accounts that profited from betting on U.S. and Israeli strikes involving Iran. The findings follow earlier reports that six wallets earned about $1.2M from bets predicting a 28 February U.S. strike on Iran.

Hyperliquid price is approaching a key resistance level, and shrinking volatility suggests a possible breakout toward $35.

Summary

HYPE trades near $31 after slipping 5.7% in 24 hours but remains up 80% over the past year. Bollinger Bands are tightening, signaling a volatility squeeze that often precedes a major move. A breakout above $34 could push price toward $35, while losing $29 may expose the $26 support zone. At press time, Hyperliquid (HYPE) was trading at $31.24, down 5.7% in the past 24 hours. Over the last week, it moved between $26.22 and $33.33, ending roughly 7% higher. However, the token has decreased by roughly 10% per month.

HYPE continues to be one of the better-performing altcoins despite the recent decline. Over the past year, the token has increased by about 80%, despite difficulties in the larger cryptocurrency market.

Derivatives activity has cooled slightly. CoinGlass data shows that trading volume dropped 18% to about $1.25 billion, while open interest fell 7.5% to $1.21 billion, showing some traders closing their positions.

HYPE token fundamentals HYPE’s price is influenced by several structural factors.  The core of Hyperliquid’s ecosystem is perpetual futures trading, and the Assistance Fund for token buybacks receives about 97% of platform fees.

Increases in trading are directly correlated with increases in buybacks. For example, when trading volumes averaged $29 billion daily, $5.82 million in buybacks were generated, demonstrating a direct correlation between trading demand and token support.

Market sentiment has also been influenced by protocol upgrades. Permissionless perpetual markets were introduced by HIP-3, which produced a total volume of about $83 billion. 

HIP-4 proposal aims to launch outcome trading products, combining prediction markets, options, and binary-style contracts. These additions could expand platform activity if more retail or institutional traders participate.

Hyperliquid price technical analysis HYPE appears to be entering a compressed volatility phase. Bollinger Bands have tightened on the daily chart, which is frequently an indication of an impending big move.

The upper band, which has caused pullbacks in recent sessions, is being tested by the price.

Hyperliquid daily chart. Credit: crypto.news The structure of the market has improved. HYPE has formed a string of higher lows around $26 and $29 since late January, indicating that buyers are intervening earlier on dips. This outlook is also supported by momentum indicators. 

There is potential for more gains as the relative strength index is in the mid-50s and trending upward. Meanwhile, the mid-Bollinger Band has been offering dynamic support around $29.

A move toward $35 could ensue if HYPE breaks above $33–$34, with a possible extension to $38 if buying pressure increases. Deeper losses could retest the $26 base, and rejection at resistance could push the token back toward $29 on the downside.

The OKB token exploded over 41% to $120 just hours after the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced an investment in OKX at a $25 billion valuation today, March 5. 

The news sent the exchange token vertical as both institutional and retail traders rush to ready themselves before the New York Stock Exchange possibly launches tokenized stock trading later this year.

The token’s price increase drove a 24-hour trading volume to over $470 million, which is approximately 1,657% more than the usual daily volume of around $44 million.

OKX’s OKB token has cooled off since its initial vertical surge on the news of the ICE announcement. Source: CoinMarketCap ICE, which is also the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, will get a board seat at OKX as part of the investment.

The specific details of the investment are yet to be revealed, but Halder Rafique, OKX’s global managing partner, said it’s not just a “very casual investment”.

Token explosion signals market conviction OKB was trading around $77 before the announcement, running as high as $120, although the price has since cooled. A surge like that reflects a market conviction that ICE’s backing will make OKX a legitimate traditional finance (TradFi) to crypto bridge.

According to Fortune, this deal will allow OKX to enable users to trade tokenized stocks and derivatives listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which will most likely begin in the latter part of 2026. OKX will also provide live price feeds of crypto assets tradeable on its exchange to ICE as well.

The price action is also a recovery from OKB’s recent trading range, although it is still a fair way from its all-time high price above $220 in 2025.

While ICE has declined to specify investment terms or the exact stake acquired, the deal’s structure reveals strategic priorities beyond regular venture capital.

OKX will provide ICE with real-time crypto feeds (competing with data from Coinbase and Binance), while developing the infrastructure for OKX users to trade blockchain-wrapped NYSE stocks with benefits like lower gas fees and 24/7 trading.

OKX positioning for US expansion post-settlement The ICE partnership comes as part of OKX’s aggressive US market entry, following a troubling compliance history.

In February 2025, OKX reached a $500 million settlement with the Department of Justice after pleading guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Two months after that, OKX relaunched US operations in California with a new CEO and compliance framework.

The timing of the ICE announcement also contrasts with Binance drawing renewed compliance scrutiny.

“We are the sober ones in the industry in many ways,” Rafique claimed, positioning OKX as the compliance-focused alternative to offshore competitors.

The OKX investment also represents ICE’s third major crypto move in four months, following a $2 billion Polymarket investment in October 2025, and a January announcement of tokenized securities trading infrastructure.

Nonetheless, with 21 million tokens in fixed supply and nearly a $2 billion market cap, OKB is now trading at a small fraction of the $88 billion valuation of BNB, the token of the world’s largest exchange.

That gap represents either a massive upside and market share capture if OKX delivers, or a sore reminder that announcements don’t guarantee growth.

OKX’s ability to convert the DOJ settlement stigma into trust and deliver on its second half of 2026 timeline will determine whether the surge was the beginning of consistent growth or just a temporary, speculative spike.

TLDR CleanSpark mined 568 BTC in February, bringing its year-to-date total to 1,141 BTC. CleanSpark sold 553.02 BTC during February at an average price of $66,279. The company increased its total Bitcoin holdings to 13,363 BTC by month-end. CleanSpark generated liquidity from sales while maintaining overall treasury growth. The February update detailed production, sales, and total Bitcoin reserves. CleanSpark expanded its Bitcoin treasury in February even as it sold most of its monthly production. The company reported 568 BTC mined and 553.02 BTC sold during the month. As a result, CleanSpark increased total holdings to 13,363 BTC by month-end.

CleanSpark Reports Higher Bitcoin Production and Sales CleanSpark mined 568 BTC in February, according to figures highlighted by ChainCatcher. This output lifted its year-to-date production to 1,141 BTC. The company disclosed these figures in its latest monthly update.

At the same time, CleanSpark sold 553.02 BTC during February. The company achieved an average sale price of $66,279 per BTC. Consequently, it generated cash while maintaining exposure to Bitcoin price movements.

CleanSpark confirmed that its treasury reached 13,363 BTC at the end of February. The company increased its holdings despite selling most of its newly mined coins. Therefore, net holdings rose during the reporting period.

The company balanced production, sales, and treasury growth within the same month. It used market strength to monetize output and support operations. Meanwhile, it preserved a large Bitcoin reserve on its balance sheet.

CleanSpark did not disclose any change in its mining capacity in the update. However, it focused on reporting production totals and treasury figures. The company maintained a clear breakdown of mined and sold amounts.

Bitcoin Treasury Strategy and February Figures Bitcoin traded near cycle highs during February. CleanSpark sold coins into this strength while continuing to mine new supply. This approach allowed the company to raise funds without reducing total holdings.

The company’s February sales totaled 553.02 BTC at an average price of $66,279. These transactions occurred during a period of elevated Bitcoin prices. As a result, CleanSpark converted a large share of production into liquidity.

Despite those sales, the company reported 13,363 BTC in treasury at month-end. This figure reflects an increase compared to prior holdings. CleanSpark confirmed the updated total in its production statement.

The company’s year-to-date mining output reached 1,141 BTC after February. February accounted for 568 BTC of that total. Therefore, the month represented roughly half of the year’s production so far.

CleanSpark structured its February activity around both cash generation and asset retention. It sold nearly all monthly output yet still expanded overall reserves. The company published these details as part of its routine operational reporting.

The update did not include commentary on future sales plans. Instead, CleanSpark presented production, sales, and treasury figures in a factual format. The company closed February with 13,363 BTC held on its balance sheet.