Market Signal Briefing

Analysts highlighted several key developments bitcoin traders should monitor as the new month begins.

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Bitcoin adoption and ongoing regulatory developments in the crypto space will play key roles in how markets for the world’s largest digital currency fare as October unfolds, according to multiple analysts.

The cryptocurrency has been fluctuating between $110,000 and $120,000 since late September, according to Coinbase data from TradingView.

Regulatory reform affecting the crypto space has been a big concern of the current regime, where republicans control The White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Working together, U.S. lawmakers managed to enact the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, also known as the GENIUS Act, which provides comprehensive stablecoin regulation.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken multiple steps to make the regulatory environment less restrictive, including providing generic requirements for exchange-traded products (ETPs) that will make it easier for financial institutions to list such securities.

Some analysts have predicted that this development will result in a deluge of applications for crypto-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

In July, SEC released a statement related to tokenized securities inviting those interested in holding sales of such financial instruments to meet with the government regulator and its staff. Many interpreted this as a signal that the government agency wants to work with crypto industry participants.

While this may all sound promising, these developments may have encountered a snag in the form of the recently imposed U.S. government shutdown.

On Tuesday, September 30, Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, sent a memorandum stating that federal government “employees should report to work for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake orderly shutdown activities.”

The YouTuber who goes by Wendy O emphasized the impact this situation could have on the crypto industry, stating via email that “Usually, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the shutdown, but we are waiting for various regulatory updates from the Senate, SEC, CFTC, and other entities."

“I wouldn’t equate market volatility with Bitcoin and crypto, as they are decentralized and operate globally 24/7/365,” she continued.

“Still, regulation is essential during this time as Q4 2025 is expected to be big in crypto due to the pending regulatory outcomes of Crypto Spot ETF approval, Clarity Act, Banks pushing back on stablecoin yield and the SEC discussing tokenized stocks and financial instruments,” the analyst noted.

Other market observers chose to focus on other developments such as user adoption.

Mike Maloney, CEO and Founder of Incyt, commented on such subjects, focusing on the influx of capital that crypto ETFs, as well as companies placing digital assets on their balance sheets, will create.

“With ETFs and DATs expanding to lesser known crypto assets, a lot of new capital will accumulate behind these,” he stated via email.

“With Bitcoin as a proven reserve asset, I expect to see its price remain strong - poised to pop - when investors move from risk to relief,” Maloney indicated.

Tim Enneking, managing partner of Psalion, also weighed in.

“With ETF listing rules easing markedly in the US (resulting in ever more attention to the space), more and more countries, companies and other players moving into BTC, once the upward movement starts, it seems quite clear that a new ATH is in the cards before the end of 2025,” he specified through emailed comments.

Brett Sifling, wealth manager for Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, also offered his perspective on such developments. He stated that going forward, a handful of “catalysts” will drive bitcoin’s price movements.

“First would be to keep an eye on ETF momentum and approvals," he stated. “We’re already seeing new SEC rules making it easier for new crypto funds/ETFs, and that flood of potential new filings is going to test whether institutional flows can sustain a continued bull run.”

“Second would be the macro and liquidity backdrop,” Sifling continued. “A pivot into more hawkish Fed policy or a liquidity squeeze in markets could drag Bitcoin down, even if fundamentals look strong.”

He also spoke to the government shutdown, stating that “I could see this being a positive for Bitcoin if the government can’t come up with a resolution to reopen soon after. After all, Bitcoin was originally created in the depths of the financial crisis and was meant to thrive during political instability."

“Lastly, I would say to continue to watch real adoption with companies and sovereign wealth funds,” he continued. “That means banks offering direct crypto services, major firms or countries putting Bitcoin on the balance sheet, and further integration of crypto into payment rails of our economy or treasury operations.”

A memecoin based on the iconic “Courage the Cowardly Dog” cartoon figure soared Wednesday after being promoted by the Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) ecosystem.

‘Courageous’ RallyCourage The Dog (CCDOG) skyrocketed 86% in the last 24 hours, dwarfing returns from several large-cap cryptocurrencies. The Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)-based memecoin experienced a 10% increase in trading volume in the 24-hour period.

The latest spike pushed the token to a three-week high of $0.002133

See Also: Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Dumps Memecoin Holdings He Received For Free, Crypto Community Left Wondering Why

SHIB ‘Joins Forces’ With CourageThe sudden burst came after Shiba Inu's official X account shared a cartoon-style depiction featuring the Shiba Inu dog alongside Courage the Cowardly Dog.

"When SHIB joins forces with CCDOG… The run isn't bullish. It's feral," the post read. "Watch the energy when these two hit full speed!"

The post piqued the interest of the community, with many wondering whether it's a Shiba Inu ecosystem token.

However, Shiba Inu cleared the air, stating, "This post is from a partner project, not an official SHIB token. Always DYOR, frens."

Price Action: At the time of writing, CCDOG was exchanging hands at $0.001924, up 86% in the last 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap. SHIB traded up 5.27% at $0.00001251 at last check.

Benzinga Note: Investing in meme coins is highly speculative and involves significant risk. Meme coins often lack intrinsic value and are driven by market sentiment, social media trends and speculative trading.

Photo Courtesy: vlastas on Shutterstock.com

Read Next: 

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, XRP Shrug Off Shutdown Concerns: Analytics Firm Projects BTC’s Q4 Surge to $160,000–$200,000
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The Trump family’s decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), is poised to introduce two new products aimed at investors, capitalizing on the fast-growing sector of tokenization and a new debit card solution. 

World Liberty Financial To Launch Debit Card Pilot Program 
During a presentation at the Token 2049 conference in Singapore, World Liberty Financial’s CEO, Zach Witkoff, shared these developments alongside co-founder Donald Trump Jr., highlighting the company’s commitment to bridging cryptocurrency with everyday transactions.

Witkoff revealed that the forthcoming debit card, designed to facilitate crypto asset spending in daily life, is set to enter a pilot program in the next quarter, with a launch anticipated either in the fourth quarter of this year or the first quarter of 2026. 

This announcement follows previous hints from Zak Folkman, World Liberty Financial’s co-founder, about a debit card and retail application during Korea Blockchain Week 2025, although the details of the consumer app remain under wraps for now.

In addition to the debit card, Witkoff emphasized the company’s focus on the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). “We’ve not only thought about it, we’re actively working on it,” he stated, noting that assets such as oil, gas, cotton, and timber could benefit from being traded on-chain. 

As part of its roadmap, the firm also introduced a stablecoin called USD1. Since its launch, USD1 has rapidly ascended to become the fifth-largest stablecoin globally, boasting a market capitalization of approximately $2.7 billion.

USD1’s Role Amid Political Scrutiny
In response to President Donald Trump being scrutinized by Democratic lawmakers in the US, Donald Trump Jr. emphasized the venture and USD1’s role in supporting US treasuries and maintaining the dollar’s global dominance. He stated:

We’re flying to every single corner of this globe, convincing people to onboard to USD1, which, in effect, convinces those people to go buy US Treasuries, and it’s great for the US dollar.

WLFI also announced plans to expand the USD1 stablecoin onto the Aptos (APT) blockchain. Despite facing challenges, including subdued demand on centralized exchanges (CEXs), the stablecoin has gained traction on decentralized platforms, although concerns remain regarding liquidity concentration among a few major wallets.

In August of this year, World Liberty Financial revealed a partnership with the technology firm ALT5 Sigma. As part of a treasury strategy, ALT5 Sigma will acquire substantial amounts of WLFI tokens, following Strategy’s (formerly MicroStrategy) acquisition of Bitcoin. 

The 1-hour chart shows WLFI’s struggle to surpass the $0.20 resistance wall. Source: WLFIUSDT on TradingView.com
On Wednesday, WLFI posted gains of 2%, reaching the $0.200 mark, which has proven to be a major obstacle for the token’s price, as it has been unable to surpass this level for several days. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

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A broad altcoin rally is unlikely, as crypto projects haven't generated enough excitement to stir traders into action, Bitget operating chief Vugar Usi Zade tells Cointelegraph.

Institutional investment and bullish sentiment drive Bitcoin’s surge as analysts predict continued momentum in coming months.

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin reached $119,000 today, extending its recent rally.
Analysts note that a green (positive) September close often leads to a strong October rally for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin reached the $119,000 milestone today, marking a major price milestone for the flagship cryptocurrency.

The digital asset is showing patterns similar to previous cycles, with analysts noting that a green September close historically signals a strong October rally. Bitcoin has been in a sustained bull run with forecasters predicting significant upward momentum through October and beyond, based on historical post-halving cycles and recent market breakouts.

Institutions and sovereign wealth funds are increasingly rotating capital into Bitcoin, marking a shift toward mainstream financial integration. Prediction markets have aligned on optimistic outlooks for Bitcoin’s performance by year-end, reflecting broader bullish sentiment amid global economic rotations.

Disclaimer

XRP rallies as U.S. government shutdown lifts demand for risk assets, but ETF launch delays loom with SEC approvals on hold.

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In a wide-ranging September interview with Bitcoin Magazine, MicroStrategy executive chairman Michael Saylor condensed five years of corporate experimentation into a stark, almost mechanical blueprint for what he calls Bitcoin’s “endgame”: accumulate an unprecedented stockpile of the asset as digital capital, then manufacture a new tier of credit markets on top of it.

“The endgame is we accumulate a trillion dollars worth of BTC and then we grow that capital by issuing more credit,” Saylor said. He cast the maneuver not as a speculative side bet but as the next logical phase of corporate finance, with Bitcoin reconstituted as “digital energy” and balance sheets reimagined as engines that spin yield from over-collateralized, Bitcoin-backed instruments.

Saylor’s framing is deliberately elemental. He stitched BTC into a centuries-long lineage of civilization-scale energy breakthroughs—from fire and steel to petroleum and electricity—arguing that the asset’s monetary properties are best understood as a way to move economic “energy” across time and space at light speed.

“Bitcoin is hope because Bitcoin represents digital energy,” he said. “A way to convey energy through time, through space… the next paradigm shift.” To Saylor, the institutional misunderstanding of that shift is not a bug but the core of the opportunity. “I would say 95% of the decision makers in the finance world still don’t really embrace or understand the idea of digital energy,” he argued, adding that society’s digestion lag is typical of paradigm shifts: “Bitcoin is evolving faster than society can digest it.”

At the heart of the playbook is a simple balance-sheet identity, scaled. Treat Bitcoin as the monetary base—“digital gold”—then securitize it as “digital credit” in forms familiar to capital markets: converts, preferreds, money-market-like paper, longer-duration bonds. “If I create a company that buys Bitcoin and I accumulate a billion dollars of Bitcoin, I have a billion dollars of digital capital. What can I do with it? I can issue digital credit,” he said.

In Saylor’s model, the equity of a firm that repeatedly performs this cycle becomes “digital equity,” engineered to outperform the underlying asset through conservative leverage and tenor management: “If I want to create a company that’s going to perform 2x Bitcoin, I take the Bitcoin, I issue Bitcoin-backed credit… I create digital equity and the digital equity outperforms the underlying capital asset.”

He insists the competitive set is not other Bitcoin treasuries but the vast inventory of 20th-century credit—mortgage, corporate, and sovereign—priced off low or repressed yields and often secured by depreciating or illiquid collateral. “What they’re competing against is the existing credit instruments in the capital market,” Saylor said.

The pitch to savers is equally blunt: the “better bank” is one that strips out duration and pays a spread over the fiat status quo, funded by over-collateralized Bitcoin. He sketched it in operational terms: raise equity, buy Bitcoin, then sell short-duration, BTC-secured credit “that just strips the duration to one month… and give people 500 basis points more yield than the risk-free rate in the capital market where you’re selling the credit.”

The scale he envisions is not modest. Saylor walked through jurisdictions where financial repression or chronically low policy rates amplify the spread, arguing that mature markets with suppressed yields are the ripest soil for “pure-play digital credit issuers.” Switzerland and Japan were his canonical examples.

The aspiration, however, is global. “What if there’s a hundred trillion dollars of digital credit and… 200 trillion worth of digital capital,” he asked, emphasizing that such a structure could remain over-collateralized rather than drift into fractional banking. He also pressed the geopolitical logic: corporate treasuries and well-capitalized exchanges, miners, and custodians become the “first line of economic defense,” lobbying and normalizing Bitcoin within domestic rule-sets the way incumbent industries do. “If you want to win the monetary war you need the institutions that control all the capital and… the support of the government,” he said.

Bitcoin Treasury Companies Will Be Banks
Saylor was explicit that corporate adoption is already compounding. He traced the cohort of publicly traded balance sheets holding BTC from a single firm in 2020—MicroStrategy—to “two or three… then 10… then 20… then 40… about a year ago there were 60… three months ago there were 120 and right now there’s more than 180,” with the target trajectory moving from “100 to a thousand to 10,000 to 100,000.” He blended that diffusion story with the platform thesis—Bitcoin built natively into iOS, Android, Windows, and consumer hardware—arguing that operating-system-level support is the other clear signal that “digital energy” has fused with the fabric of commerce.

Asked about the distributional critique—that corporations crowd out individuals—Saylor inverted the premise, claiming institutional flows have largely accrued to early holders. “When we got involved, Bitcoin was trading $9,000 a coin… today Bitcoin’s $115,000,” he said, attributing much of the appreciation to corporate and ETF demand. “That means that 93% of the gain… went to the individuals that owned the Bitcoin before the corporations got involved.”

The rhetoric can be martial—Saylor calls it a “protocol war”—but his operational discipline hinges on avoiding the traps that wrecked miners in the last cycle. Short and expensive liabilities layered onto depreciating hardware was, in his view, the fatal mismatch. The treasury archetype he champions favors mid-to-longer duration capital structures tied to an appreciating base asset. “If you take a mid-duration or long-duration loan and buy an asset appreciating 30 to 60% a year, you’ll probably be fine,” he said, dismissing M&A diversification as value-destructive opacity compared to the “perfect partner” of simply buying more BTC at “one times revenue.”

Saylor On US Policy
Saylor also pushed the policy and infrastructure horizon, predicting a phased legitimization of tokenized assets while stressing that the “greatest regulatory clarity” remains BTC’s status as a digital commodity that can sit on balance sheets and collateralize credit. He summarized the new political posture in Washington as supportive of making the US a “global Bitcoin superpower”—not by nationalizing miners or acquiring equity stakes, but by mainstreaming custody, collateralization, lending, operating-system integration, and tax treatment. “They want the finance companies in the United States to lead the way… and the finance companies in the United States to lead the way in digital assets and digital capital and Bitcoin adoption,” he said.

For a community accustomed to debating halvings, hash rate, or on-chain heuristics, Saylor’s endgame centers elsewhere: indexes, coupons, tenors, and yield curves—all re-denominated atop a new monetary base. It is a corporate finance thesis at Bitcoin’s core. And it doubles as a provocation to boards and CFOs in every currency regime: “For every company in the world in any capital market, they’re always better off to buy Bitcoin as their capital asset,” he said. The rest is execution at scale. “Get to a trillion dollars of collateral growing 30% a year, be issuing $100 billion of credit a year, growing 20, 30% a year,” Saylor concluded. “We’re building a better bank.”

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $116,492.

BTC rises back above $116,000, 1-day chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Leading cryptocurrencies jumped alongside stocks on Wednesday, as investors looked past government shutdown concerns. Cryptocurrency Gains +/- Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m.

Jessie A Ellis
Oct 02, 2025 00:22

GalaSwap introduces a trading competition featuring the WTRX/GALA pair, offering exclusive NFTs to top traders and boosting liquidity within the GalaChain ecosystem.

GalaSwap has announced an exciting new trading competition focused on the WTRX/GALA trading pair, marking a significant move to enhance trader engagement and liquidity within the GalaChain ecosystem. According to Gala News, this competition, which began on October 1st and will run until October 8th, 2025, invites traders to compete by executing swaps on the platform.

Competition Details
The competition ranks traders based on their total trading volume in the WTRX/GALA pair on swap.gala.com. Participants have the opportunity to win exclusive NFTs, specifically crafted for this event. The top traders will receive 'Vampire Boxing Facility Worker' NFTs in various rarities, including Legendary, Epic, and Rare.

Exclusive NFT Prizes
The prize structure is designed to reward the top ten traders with unique NFTs, each offering different levels of in-game utility within the Town Star game. For example, the Legendary Vampire Boxing Facility Worker boosts all Boxing Facility Crafts' speed by 30%, while the Epic version offers a 20% increase. Additionally, from the 11th place onward, all participants who execute at least one trade will receive an Uncommon Vampire Boxing Facility Worker NFT.

Why Participate?
This event is more than just a competition; it provides an opportunity for traders to demonstrate their skills and contribute to the liquidity and growth of the GalaChain decentralized ecosystem. The competition also highlights GalaSwap's commitment to transparency and engagement among its user base.

Getting Started
To participate, traders need to connect their wallets on GalaSwap and begin trading the WTRX/GALA pair. It's important for participants to review the competition's terms and conditions, available here, to ensure compliance and eligibility for the rewards.

Prize Box Odds
As part of the rewards, winners will also receive special prize boxes containing various items with different probabilities. Notably, the Memorial Day Box Mystery Pack, the Vending Machine Mystery Pack, and the Garden Gnomes Blind Collectors Sale offer a range of collectibles, each with its own set of odds for obtaining rare items.

GalaSwap's innovative approach to trading competitions not only incentivizes participation but also strengthens the platform's ecosystem by offering unique and valuable rewards to its community.

Image source: Shutterstock

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nft
wtrx
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The Japanese loans provider MBK says it has bought over $2 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and struck a partnership deal with a domestic crypto exchange.

Bitcoin price prediction: BTC breaks $118K with Metaplanet's $600M buy, Alvara's tokenization push, and U.S. tax relief fueling confidence for $124K.

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The adoption of blockchain technology across Asia continues to accelerate, with Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) once again at the center of innovation. A new collaboration between Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd. and SBI Ripple Asia Co., Ltd. aims to reshape digital transactions by combining blockchain technology with real-world commerce. The initiative could create new waves of opportunities for businesses, travelers, and communities.

Ripple And XRP Strengthen Payments In Japan
A recent press release by Tobu Top Tours reports that the Japanese travel MICE agency has partnered with SBI Ripple Asia to launch a new payment platform built on the XRP Ledger. The agreement, signed on September 30, marks a significant step toward integrating blockchain into mainstream industries, with tourism and commerce set to benefit the most. 

The initiative is designed to issue unique tokens by SBI Ripple Asia for partner companies and organizations. Tobu Top Tours will integrate these tokens into its ecosystem, linking them with Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) that the company manages and plans to launch in 2026. The goal of the payments platform is to help businesses and organizations strengthen their fan economies, while also providing users with new ways to pay for services such as lodging, dining, and shopping.

As part of the collaboration, Toby Top Tours will take the lead in securing partnerships, building a wide user and merchant network, and developing marketing strategies based on NFTs. Meanwhile, SBI Ripple Asia will handle the technical infrastructure by leveraging the XRP Ledger to issue secure, reliable tokens. With this blockchain foundation, customers can easily make payments using their tokens seamlessly in everyday situations.

XRP Utility Expand Into Tourism And Fan Economies
Beyond developing innovative payment systems, the Tobu Top Tours and SBI Ripple Asia alliance is aiming to have a broader societal and cultural impact. Several envisioned use cases for the new platform aim to address social challenges while simultaneously opening up new markets. 

In the tourism industry, companies plan to issue unique tokens restricted to specific regions or tourist hubs. This localized currency will enable travelers to enjoy seamless, cashless transactions across destinations, thereby stimulating spending and circulating money within the local economies. By pairing token usage with NFTs, such as digital souvenirs or future discount vouchers, the system is expected to foster lasting engagement even after the traveler has left.

Another major application lies in disaster relief and reconstruction efforts. Instead of distributing traditional aid, funds could be provided as unique tokens that are redeemable only in the affected region. This ensures that financial assistance is spent locally, directly supporting shops, hotels, and restaurants. 

According to the press release, the upcoming payments platform could also have transformative potential for the entertainment industry, particularly in areas of culture, music, and sports. Professional teams, musicians, and cultural organizations can create tokens for exclusive use within their respective communities, thereby enhancing fan engagement.

XRP trading at $2.92 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

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Bitcoin, Shiba Inu and XRP are all showing bullish momentum: BTC has reclaimed key EMAs and targets $125,000-$130,000 if it holds above support; SHIB has broken $0.000012 with volume but must maintain strength to avoid retracing; and XRP has reset its outlook by clearing all major EMAs with resistance ahead at $3.00-$3.20.  

Bitcoin is backA recent strong rally that drove the price of Bitcoin (BTC) to $116,800 has put the cryptocurrency back in the public eye and sparked speculation about a possible breakout toward the $130,000 mark. Exponential moving averages (EMAs), which are frequently a sign of increased volatility and decisive actions, are convergent toward the current price, and the recent surge coincides with rapidly aligning technical indicators.

Bitcoin has reclaimed the 100 and 200 EMAs on the four-hour chart, breaking above significant short-term resistance with robust bullish momentum. An impending breakout is indicated by the 20 EMA and 50 EMA aligning near the price level, which further narrows the range. As the market builds pressure before releasing into a new trend, this compression of moving averages usually occurs before explosive moves.

HOT Stories

Growing buyer conviction is reflected in the spike in trading volume, which supports the breakout potential. Additionally, momentum indicators show growing strength, and the RSI is above 68 and is approaching overbought territory without exhibiting any overt signs of exhaustion just yet. Bulls continue to hold a firm grip on the market as long as Bitcoin consolidates above $115,000.

If Bitcoin sustains its momentum and breaks through the $118,000 resistance level, the trajectory toward $125,000-$130,000 becomes more feasible. Nevertheless, traders should continue to exercise caution. Even though the technical picture is in favor of bulls, short-term pullbacks could be caused by overextended conditions.

The breakout attempt could be deemed invalid, and sellers could be invited back to the market if the price fails to hold above $113,000. For the time being, it is evident where Bitcoin is headed: EMAs are convergent, volatility is increasing and the stage is set for a possible skyrocketing that could push the price closer to $130,000.

Shiba Inu momentum backIn the short term, Shiba Inu has recovered its momentum, breaking through the $0.000012 level and displaying a robust green candle that suggests fresh buyer interest. The action follows SHIB’s successful break through the 50 EMA on the four-hour chart, a crucial dynamic resistance level that had been limiting price action for the previous two weeks. This technical milestone raises the possibility of an impending breakout.

Volume has increased significantly during the most recent push, suggesting that the rally is supported by real participation rather than just low liquidity. With an RSI of 66, the market is getting close to overbought but still has some upside potential before showing signs of exhaustion.

SHIB’s next obstacle, which is located close to the 100 and 200 EMA levels and grouped around $0.0000125-$0.0000130, is the break above short-term resistance. Still, prudence is necessary. Even with the breakout, SHIB is still trading inside a larger descending structure, and unless higher highs are set, the long-term trend is still bearish.

If momentum is not maintained above $0.0000120, SHIB may retrace and return to support in the range of $0.0000114-$0.0000118. Recent on-chain data, indicating notable declines in exchange reserves — a bullish signal that lessens possible selling pressure — has also influenced market sentiment regarding Shiba Inu.

But as previous rallies have shown, SHIB is still susceptible to steep declines if buyers are unable to maintain pressure.

XRP breaking throughIn a single move, XRP broke through several resistance levels on the four-hour chart, putting on one of its best technical performances in weeks. The descending trendline that had restrained the token’s price action since mid-September was bypassed, along with the 20 EMA, 50 EMA, 100 EMA and 200 EMA. A wider recovery was made possible by this single decisive breakout, which broke through almost all of the short-term obstacles in its path.

With its current price around $2.95, XRP has essentially reset its technical outlook. The emphasis now moves to higher time frames, where the next significant obstacle is located between $3.00 and $3.05, since there are no significant obstacles remaining on shorter time frames. With momentum, XRP may move toward the larger descending channel resistance near $3.20 if bulls are able to secure a close above that zone.

This spike occurs at the beginning of Uptober, which is known for producing significant gains on the cryptocurrency market. With both Bitcoin and altcoins achieving above-average returns in previous cycles, October has frequently signaled the start of fourth-quarter rallies. The combination of XRP’s strong breakout and the seasonal effect raises the possibility that market sentiment is shifting in favor of additional upside.

Additionally, volume spikes on the breakout point to real market activity as opposed to a feeble short squeeze. With the four-hour chart’s RSI at 66, it is getting close to being overbought, but not yet overheated, allowing for further short-term momentum.

XRP is now poised for a possible trend reversal after overcoming weeks of consolidation. In keeping with October's bullish undertones, the asset’s renewed strength is demonstrated by a clean break of five resistances in a single move. XRP might be about to embark on its next phase of recovery if Uptober goes as history predicts.

Pi Network arms its testnet with a DEX and AMM for DeFi innovation Oluwapelumi Adejumo · 53 seconds ago · 1 min read

Pi Network's testnet update opens new opportunities for structured DeFi education and innovation.

Oct. 2, 2025 at 1:30 am UTC

1 min read

Updated: Oct. 2, 2025 at 1:18 am UTC

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

Pi Network has rolled out two new capabilities on its testnet, including a decentralized exchange (DEX) and an automated market maker (AMM), according to a Sept. 30 statement.

These additions create a sandbox for token swaps, liquidity pools, and other DeFi experiments without putting the mainnet at risk. The update arrives as the Pi Coin faces significant market challenges since its launch earlier in the year.

According to CryptoSlate’s data, the token recently dropped to an all-time low of $0.2234 at the end of September but has since recovered modestly to $0.27 as of press time.

Boosting PI’s ecosystemFor Pi’s DEX and AMM to operate, token creation is essential. According to the project’s team, developers on the network can now mint test tokens directly on the Testnet, though Mainnet creation will remain restricted until formal guidelines are published.

The Pi Core Team noted that future rules will align with ecosystem goals, ensuring token issuance supports real-world applications, reasonable supply plans, and long-term sustainability. Fan emphasized the importance of building utility-driven products rather than speculative tokens during TOKEN2049.

That distinction matters. While memecoins have demonstrated how online communities can rally around digital assets, they often lack meaningful use cases, which limits their durability. Pi Network is taking the opposite approach by focusing on tokens that power apps, services, and community participation rather than short-lived hype.

Meanwhile, the network developers can integrate these features with Pi App Studio, Pi Wallet, and Pi KYC, which verifies user authenticity to ensure fair distribution. wwww

Additionally, these testnet tools also strengthen Pi’s broader Web3 vision by opening pathways for developers and users to learn DeFi in a structured, utility-focused way.

Pi concluded that it aims to build a more resilient ecosystem by fostering financial literacy and gradual onboarding while enhancing transparency and decentralization.

Japan is taking a significant step forward in blockchain adoption, and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is poised to play a central role. A new agreement between SBI Ripple Asia and Tobu Top Tours, a major travel group, is laying the foundation for a platform that integrates tokens with NFTs, extending blockchain technology far beyond digital art.

US broker-dealer Alpaca has launched an Instant Tokenization Network (ITN) that allows institutions to mint and redeem tokenized US stocks directly, a move that could help boost onchain liquidity in a segment of the tokenization market still constrained by structural barriers.

The ITN enables institutions to tokenize portfolios with a single API call and redeem tokens in-kind for the underlying shares without settlement delays, Alpaca disclosed Wednesday. The service operates beyond traditional market hours, offering 24/7 access. 

By allowing in-kind redemptions — directly exchanging tokens for their underlying assets rather than settling in cash first — the network aims to make tokenized stocks more liquid and efficient.

Alpaca said the feature builds on the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) recent efforts to address similar inefficiencies in the crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) market, notably through its approval of in-kind creation and redemption for spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) ETFs.

The ITN is available to US-regulated financial institutions, Alpaca told Cointelegraph.

The tokenized stock market is currently valued at more than $700 million. Source: RWA.xyz“ITN’s process is best understood as a single API that enables two functions,” Arush Sehgal, Alpaca’s head of crypto, told Cointelegraph. 

“The first is the journaling of securities to and from brokerage accounts. This applies to US-regulated financial institutions,” he said. “The second is delivery of tokens by the issuer to their Authorized Participant, which is typically a non-US entity affiliated with the US institution that initiated the journaling of shares in step one.”

Alpaca has provided underlying infrastructure for recent tokenization initiatives, including Ondo Finance’s platform for tokenizing stocks and ETFs and xStocks’ platform for tokenized equities.

Wall Street, SEC converge on tokenizationThe tokenization of real-world assets has emerged as one of the most prominent blockchain investment trends of 2025, with more than $31 billion in assets now represented onchain, according to industry data. 

In the United States, the movement is gaining traction with support from regulators: SEC Chair Paul Atkins described tokenization as an “innovation” in remarks delivered in July.

After US Treasury bonds and private credit led the early wave of tokenization, tokenized stocks appear to be the next frontier.

“There’s no doubt it has a big effect on TradFi,” said Rob Hadick, general partner at crypto venture capital firm Dragonfly, speaking with Cointelegraph at the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore. He noted that traditional finance is increasingly drawn to features such as 24/7 trading.

Rob Hadick speaking to Cointelegraph on the sidelines of the TOKEN 2049 conference. Source: Andrew Fenton/CointelegraphHowever, Hadick cautioned that institutional players are wary of sharing blockchain infrastructure with retail-focused projects.

“They want to be able to control things like privacy [and] who the validator set is, they want to be able to control what is happening in their execution environment,” he said.

The shift comes amid reports that the SEC is considering a framework that could allow traditional equities to trade on blockchain networks in a manner similar to cryptocurrencies.

Magazine: Robinhood’s tokenized stocks have stirred up a legal hornet’s nest

The new offering comes as there is an increasing demand for hedging instruments across the full spectrum of crypto products. Oct 2, 2025, 1:00 a.m.

Bullish (BLSH), the NYSE-listed digital assets platform focused on institutional investors and parent company of CoinDesk, will tentatively launch crypto options trading from Oct. 8.

These bitcoin BTC$118,638.42 options will be margined and settled in the regulated, dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC, which boasts a market cap of $73.85 billion at press time, the second-largest in the stablecoin industry. Additionally, they will be European-style options with expiries ranging from three weeks to three months. The contract multiplier will be 1, meaning one contract represents one full BTC.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

The exchange plans to list options tied to ether, as well as other single assets and multi-asset indices, such as the CoinDesk 20 and CoinDesk 5, in the future.

Bullish's decision to launch options is part of a broader industry trend marked by increasing demand for hedging instruments across the full spectrum of crypto products. This growing appetite is exemplified by the rising popularity of options tied to BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF, which now rivals Deribit's BTC options.

"Bullish is investing significantly in its institutional offering,” said Chris Tyrer, President of Bullish Exchange. “Our journey began with spot trading, expanded to include margin, then perpetual and dated futures, and now reaches a new milestone with the introduction of options."

He added that the new product aims to deliver a complete derivatives product suite with capital efficiency and risk mitigation, all accessible through a single, unified trading account.

Options are derivative contracts that grant the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a specific asset, such as bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, at a predetermined price within a set time frame. A call option gives the right to buy, representing a bullish bet on the market, while a put protects against potential price losses.

The special thing about options is that they facilitate three-dimensional trading, allowing traders to bet on the price direction, the degree of price volatility and leverage time to expiration. This multi-faceted nature enables traders to create synthetic positions by combining spot, futures, and options markets, allowing them to manage risk with more tailored and flexible strategies.

Consortium of day-one trading partnersBullish's new options have been designed in close collaboration with leading options market makers, technology providers, and brokers to ensure they are specifically tailored to meet the needs of institutional investors.

More importantly, from day one, these options will be supported by a range of confirmed industry heavyweights as trading partners, including Abraxas Capital Management, Ampersan, B2C2, BlockTech, Cumberland, FalconX, Fig Markets, Flow Traders, Galaxy Digital, Monarq Asset Management, Pulsar, SignalPlus, Wintermute, and Qube Research & Technologies.

“Galaxy is excited to support the next chapter of Bullish’s journey,” said Jason Urban, Global Head of Trading at Galaxy. “The addition of options to its product suite is a strong step forward – enhancing liquidity, deepening price discovery, and strengthening the overall maturity of the crypto derivatives market.”

Unified margin systemThe global crypto options market is valued at over $50 billion in notional open interest, with Deribit alone accounting for more than 80% of the activity. In other words, the exchange has a massive head start compared to the impending Bullish options contracts.

Still, Bullish's announcement stands out due to the platform's unified margin system, according to Tyrer.

"Bullish clients access all products via our unified account structure, allowing them to trade spot, perps, dated futures and now options with risk offsets and portfolio collateralization. This setup is designed for maximum capital efficiency, which is of paramount importance to our institutional client base," Chris Tyrer, President of Bullish Exchange, said.

On Deribit, Segregated Standard Margin is the default margin system, which means that standard margin, the initial margin and maintenance margin (MM) requirements are calculated separately for each position in the account. These requirements are then summed together to generate the total margin requirements for the account.

Lastly, Bullish already has vibrant futures and spot markets, which are often seen as a prerequisite for a successful options product.

Since its launch in November 2021, Bullish has surpassed $1.5 trillion in cumulative trading volume. This year, the platform has executed over $2 billion in average daily volume and ranks in the top ten exchanges by spot volume for bitcoin and ether.

The business is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services, German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.

More For You

Sui Blockchain to Host Native Stablecoins Backed by Ethena and BlackRock's Tokenized Fund

2 hours ago

Digital asset treasury firm SUIG, the Sui Foundation and Ethena teamed up to create two proprietary stablecoins for the network.

What to know:

The Sui blockchain is set to introduce its first native stablecoins, USDi and suiUSDe, through a collaboration with digital asset treasury firm SUI Group, Ethena and the Sui Foundation.USDi will be backed by BlackRock’s tokenized money market fund BUIDL, while suiUSDe will be a synthetic dollar backed by digital assets and derivatives similarly to Ethena's $14 billion USDe token.The initiative aims to enhance liquidity and utility on the Sui blockchain, marking a shift towards proprietary stablecoins in the crypto ecosystem.Read full story

M/I Homes (MHO - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $147.22, demonstrating a +1.92% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.34%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.09%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.42%.

Heading into today, shares of the homebuilder had lost 1.55% over the past month, lagging the Construction sector's gain of 0.71% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.54%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of M/I Homes in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on October 22, 2025. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $4.37, reflecting a 14.31% decrease from the same quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $1.12 billion, indicating a 2.27% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $17.25 per share and a revenue of $4.39 billion, signifying shifts of -12.48% and -2.57%, respectively, from the last year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for M/I Homes. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. M/I Homes presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

Investors should also note M/I Homes's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 8.37. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 11.82, so one might conclude that M/I Homes is trading at a discount comparatively.

The Building Products - Home Builders industry is part of the Construction sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 234, which puts it in the bottom 6% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

Lucid Group (LCID - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $24.30, demonstrating a +2.12% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.34%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.09%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.42%.

Heading into today, shares of the an electric vehicle automaker had gained 34.71% over the past month, outpacing the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector's gain of 18.23% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.54%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Lucid Group in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is expected to report EPS of -$2.33, up 43.17% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $325.59 million, indicating a 62.76% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of -$8.89 per share and a revenue of $1.26 billion, demonstrating changes of +28.88% and +55.98%, respectively, from the preceding year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Lucid Group. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 2.27% higher. Lucid Group presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Automotive - Domestic industry is part of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 147, placing it within the bottom 41% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

Copa Holdings (CPA - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $117.59, moving -1.04% from the previous trading session. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.34% for the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.09%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.42%.

Coming into today, shares of the holding company for Panama's national airline had gained 2.19% in the past month. In that same time, the Transportation sector lost 0.18%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.54%.

The upcoming earnings release of Copa Holdings will be of great interest to investors. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $4.04, showcasing a 15.43% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $916.67 million, up 7.25% from the year-ago period.

CPA's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $16.53 per share and revenue of $3.61 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +13.53% and +4.73%, respectively.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Copa Holdings. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.

Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. As of now, Copa Holdings holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

In the context of valuation, Copa Holdings is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 7.19. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 10.11.

One should further note that CPA currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.04. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Transportation - Airline industry was having an average PEG ratio of 0.81.

The Transportation - Airline industry is part of the Transportation sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 81, putting it in the top 33% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

BlackRock (BLK - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $1,141.07, demonstrating a -2.13% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.34%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.42%.

Shares of the investment firm have appreciated by 4.58% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Finance sector's gain of 1.52%, and the S&P 500's gain of 3.54%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of BlackRock in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on October 14, 2025. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $11.78, indicating a 2.79% growth compared to the equivalent quarter last year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $6.26 billion, reflecting a 20.45% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.

For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $47.57 per share and revenue of $23.47 billion, which would represent changes of +9.08% and +15.02%, respectively, from the prior year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for BlackRock. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 0.01% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. BlackRock is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

In terms of valuation, BlackRock is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 24.51. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.07.

It's also important to note that BLK currently trades at a PEG ratio of 2.23. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Financial - Investment Management industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.26.

The Financial - Investment Management industry is part of the Finance sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 77, putting it in the top 32% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

Adecoagro (AGRO - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $7.68, moving -2.04% from the previous trading session. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.34%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.09%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 0.42%.

Shares of the producer of agricultural products and renewable energy witnessed a loss of 6.33% over the previous month, trailing the performance of the Consumer Staples sector with its loss of 3.82%, and the S&P 500's gain of 3.54%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Adecoagro in its forthcoming earnings report.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $0.4 per share and a revenue of $1.35 billion, indicating changes of -80.2% and -11.27%, respectively, from the former year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Adecoagro. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Currently, Adecoagro is carrying a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

Investors should also note Adecoagro's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 19.85. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.07.

The Agriculture - Operations industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 163, putting it in the bottom 35% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.

October 01, 2025 7:20 PM EDT | Source: Kobrea Exploration Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 1, 2025) - Kobrea Exploration Corp. (CSE: KBX) (FSE: F3I) (OTCQB: KBXFF) ("Kobrea" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated September 17, 2025 and September 23, 2025, it expects to close its previously announced best efforts private placement (the "Brokered Offering") and concurrent non-brokered private placement (the "Non-Brokered Offering" and, together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offering") on October 3, 2025 for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $8,500,000.

The Brokered Offering will consist of the issuance and sale of 7,753,000 Units at a price of $0.50 per Unit for gross proceeds of $3,876,500, and the Non-Brokered Offering will consist of 9,247,000 Units at a price of $0.50 per Unit offered for gross proceeds of $4,623,500, for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $8,500,000.

An amended offering document dated October 1, 2025 related to the Offering can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.kobreaexploration.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the "United States" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The closing of the Offering is subject to the Company receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Kobrea

Kobrea Exploration Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on the acquisition and exploration of base metal projects. Kobrea holds the right to earn a 100% interest in 7 projects totaling 733 km2 in southwestern Mendoza Province, Argentina (see the Company's August 19, 2024 news release for details). The properties are considered highly prospective for porphyry copper and porphyry copper-gold deposits. Numerous porphyry copper targets have been outlined to date exhibiting multi-kilometre hydrothermal alteration footprints, anomalous copper ± gold ± molybdenum geochemistry, quartz stockwork veining, localized hydrothermal breccias and Pliocene to Miocene aged granodioritic to dioritic porphyry intrusions. Kobrea also holds a 100% interest in the Upland Copper Project in British Columbia, Canada.

For more information, please consult the Company's filings, available at www.sedarplus.ca.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "James Hedalen"
James Hedalen
CEO & Director

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws with respect to the Company, and the implications of results from recent magnetometry analysis at the Property. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "aim," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions and in this news release include statements respecting: the Offering and the expected timing and use of proceeds therefrom and the receipt of all necessary approvals in respect of the Offering. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR
FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268828

SoundHound AI stock gained 23.5% last month despite mixed reactions to company news. Is it time to jump aboard this AI bandwagon?

Shares of SoundHound AI (SOUN 0.31%) rose 23.5% in September 2025, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. It wasn't a smooth ride for the artificial intelligence (AI) expert, with several big jumps and a couple of painful drops along the way -- but it's hard to complain about a monthly gain of more than 20%.

The meme stock crowd is back in action
Unfortunately, it looks like SoundHound AI is sliding back into the meme stock phenomenon again.

The big swings in September's stock chart seem more closely correlated to online discussion volumes than to broader stock market trends -- and the spikes didn't really line up with SoundHound AI's handful of business-related announcements. It's an "all talk and no action" sort of thing.

I mean, the company isn't sitting on its hands. Its business moves just aren't inspiring bullish price moves. Social media posts are doing more of that work.

Let's look at the three press releases SoundHound AI shared last month:

On Sept. 4, the company released a custom AI agent for Primary Health Solutions, a regional healthcare network near Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. The Denise agent delivers quick answers to common questions, online or over the phone. SoundHound AI's stock rose 7% that day -- not too shabby!

Sept. 9 saw a 5.4% stock price drop as SoundHound AI acquired Interactions, an agentic AI specialist. This deal should boost the company's operating profits from the get-go and expand its market reach into new sectors such as retail management and insurance. For what it's worth, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.34%) index rose 0.3% the same day.

Finally, Red Lobster ordered a systemwide SoundHound AI solution for its phone ordering services on Sept. 23. This announcement should have started a victory march at SoundHound AI's headquarters, but the stock didn't move at all on the news. Instead, a 13% price drop followed over the next two market days. The S&P 500 held steady across this period.

The market reaction on Sept. 4 made sense, but I see the opposite effect around the (arguably more significant) announcements that followed.

Image source: Getty Images.

Great company, but the stock valuation is getting silly again
The meme stock action kind of makes sense. I understand that investors are getting excited about SoundHound AI's high-quality voice controls and related AI tools. I'm convinced that the company has a bright future, and the shares I've been holding since the spring of 2024 should serve me well in the long run.

But the recent market action is too optimistic. People are jumping to conclusions, long before SoundHound AI gets a chance to prove its actual market value. On Oct. 1, the stock is up 238% over the last year and 424% in three years. It's also trading at the nosebleed-inducing valuation of 50 times trailing sales. Profit-based metrics don't make sense, because the company is deeply unprofitable so far.

So I'm holding on to my existing SoundHound AI shares for the long haul, but I'm not tempted to buy any more at these lofty prices. Check again when this meme-stock rally fades out. It's too early to ask for stronger sales or positive profit margins.

Anders Bylund has positions in SoundHound AI. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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