Market Signal Briefing

CNBC's Becky Quick reports on the latest news.

It seems the AI boom has shifted up another gear. Citi reckons the surge in announcements from big tech firms over the past fortnight, covering new partnerships, product launches and spending plans, marks a step change in the race to build the digital plumbing behind artificial intelligence.

The bank has lifted its forecasts for AI-related capital spending by the so-called hyperscalers, the likes of Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Google, to $490 billion in 2026, up from a previous $420 billion.

Looking further out, Citi now expects total spend to hit $2.8 trillion by 2029, half a trillion dollars more than it had projected before.

That wall of money will not just go into servers and data centres.

The beneficiaries stretch across the supply chain, from semiconductor makers and networking firms to hardware and infrastructure providers.

Citi notes that much of this investment is being pushed through even before enterprise demand for AI is fully visible, a sign of how keen hyperscalers are to stay ahead of the curve.

For UK investors, the implications are clear enough. The rally in US-listed chipmakers has grabbed the headlines, but London-listed firms with exposure to data centre build-out, whether in power equipment, cooling technology or specialist engineering, are likely to see more interest as the spending cycle gathers pace.

This is, after all, the information era’s latest land grab.

Awarded contract base period of US$3.6 million to fund vaccine manufacturing with additional option periods to advance development through Phase 1 trials

Submitted up to US$97 million in additional U.S. government funding proposals

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Oct. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Appili Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: APLI; OTCPink: APLIF) (the “Company” or “Appili”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on drug development for infectious diseases, and its partner Vitalex Biosciences (“Vitalex”) today announced that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded up to US$40 million in funding to support the development of VXV-01, a vaccine aimed at protecting against invasive fungal infections.

The five-year contract (number 75N93025C00033) consists of a 22-month base period of performance totalling US$3.6 million, with twelve additional option periods valued at approximately US$36.3 million for a total contract value of approximately US$40 million. Under the terms of the contract, Appili will partner with Vitalex to oversee a comprehensive development program for a Vitalex vaccine, VXV-01 that includes manufacturing, nonclinical studies, clinical and regulatory activities. The NIAID funds are expected to support the development of VXV-01 through Investigational New Drug (“IND”) submission and completion of Phase 1 clinical trials.

“VXV-01 has the potential to significantly reduce serious invasive infections caused by Candida albicans, Candida auris, and other related healthcare-associated infections,” said Don Cilla, Pharm.D., M.B.A., President and Chief Executive Officer of Appili. “We are excited to bring Appili’s expertise in vaccine development and government contracting to our collaboration with the Vitalex team who have deep knowledge in this field of research to move their promising vaccine candidate forward.”

“Vitalex’s second generation VXV-01 vaccine shows impressive protection against lethal invasive and mucosal Candida infections,” said Dr. Ashraf S. Ibrahim, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vitalex. “The vaccine is expected to reduce mortality rates of lethal multidrug Candida infections and reduce occurrence of mucosal Candida infections such as recurrent yeast infections.”

Recent global estimates indicate that invasive fungal infections affect nearly 6.5 million people annually and are associated with approximately 3.8 million deaths, with Candida species being a major cause of these infections. Despite this significant health burden, there are currently no fungal vaccines approved for use in humans. VXV-01 is a novel dual-antigen vaccine designed to target antigens present on the surface of broad-spectrum pathogenic fungi. This innovative approach has the potential to provide robust immunity against these challenging pathogens, representing a major advance in the prevention of serious fungal diseases.

“Invasive Candida infections are life-threatening, and the current standard of care drug treatments are not highly effective,” said Dr Gary Nabors, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer at Appili and Principal Investigator on the contract. “The VXV-01 vaccine has the potential to reduce the suffering and death that is often seen in those vulnerable people who are at risk of acquiring severe Candida fungal infections.”

Vitalex is the current owner of VXV-01, and as a condition to advancing the program, Appili and Vitalex expect to enter into an agreement for the development of VXV-01.

About NIAID Contract

Under the terms of the agreement, Appili will serve as the prime contractor and will manage an array of subcontractors performing technical tasks associated with product development. Appili will be responsible for generating the data necessary to file an IND with FDA which allows for the performance of Phase 1 clinical trials.

Update on U.S. Federal Government Funding Proposals

Not including the awarded NIAID contract described above, Appili has submitted four other funding proposals to the U.S. government representing a combined potential award value of up to US$97 million. If awarded, these funds would support the advanced development of critical infectious disease products aligned with public health and biodefense priorities.

“Having successfully raised US$34.9 million in prior government funds, Appili has built a strong track record in government contracting, and we are well-positioned to execute on innovative programs aligned with public health agencies,” said Don Cilla, Pharm.D., M.B.A., President and Chief Executive Officer of Appili. “Securing additional non-dilutive funding remains key to Appili’s strategy, enabling us to advance high-priority infectious disease products while maximizing shareholder value.”

About Appili Therapeutics 

Appili Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that is purposefully built, portfolio-driven, and people-focused to fulfill its mission of solving life-threatening infections. By systematically identifying urgent infections with unmet needs, Appili’s goal is to strategically develop a pipeline of novel therapies to prevent deaths and improve lives. The Company is currently advancing a diverse range of anti-infectives, including an FDA-approved ready-made suspension of metronidazole for the treatment of antimicrobial resistant infections, a vaccine candidate to prevent tularemia, a serious biological weapon threat, and a topical antiparasitic for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis, a disfiguring disease. Led by a proven management team, Appili is at the center of the global fight against infection. For more information, visit www.AppiliTherapeutics.com

About Vitalex 

Vitalex is a start-up company created to further the development of technologies discovered in the laboratory of its founder, Dr Ashraf S. Ibrahim, a senior investigator at The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Vitalex has obtained >$10 million in non-dilutive funding from the NIAID to further the development of a dual antigen vaccine that targets hospital-acquired infections caused by multidrug resistant Candida albicans, Candida auris, and Gram-negative bacteria including those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Vitalex is also developing a humanized monoclonal antibody against the lethal and rare fungal infection, mucormycosis. For more infection, visit https://www.vitalexbiosciences.com/

Forward Looking Statements 

This news release contains “forward-looking statements”, including with respect to the potential for partnered projects to be developed, the potential that Appili will receive government awards and / or contracts related to its proposal submissions. Wherever possible, words such as “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “potential for” and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company’s management for future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, (i) the risk that the Company may not be able to access all of the funding awarded with respect to the development of VXV-01, (ii) the risk that that Company may not secure any government funding in respect of any proposal submitted prior to the date hereof, (iii) risks relating to the Company’s ability to reach agreement and/or secure favourable terms with respect to the partnership with Vitalex regarding the development of VXV-01, and (iv) those listed in the annual information form of the Company dated June 25, 2025, and the other filings made by the Company with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities (which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. 

Media Contact: 

Jenna McNeil, Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager 
Appili Therapeutics 
E: [email protected]  

Investor Relations Contact: 

Don Cilla, Pharm.D. M.B.A. 
Appili Therapeutics 
E: [email protected] 

Third quarter deliveries at Li Auto, NIO, and XPeng are within management's guidance ranges.

A smart beta exchange traded fund, the SPDR S&P Insurance ETF (KIE - Free Report) debuted on 11/08/2005, and offers broad exposure to the Financials ETFs category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Market cap weighted indexes were created to reflect the market, or a specific segment of the market, and the ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on this strategy.

A good option for investors who believe in market efficiency, market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns.

However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta.

This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.

Even though this space provides many choices to investors--think one of the simplest methodologies like equal-weighting and more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting--not all have been able to deliver first-rate results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is managed by State Street Investment Management, and has been able to amass over $838.81 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Financials ETFs. This particular fund, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the S&P Insurance Select Industry Index.

The S&P Insurance Select Industry Index represents the insurance segment of the S&P Total Market Index.

Cost & Other ExpensesCost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins if all other fundamentals are the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.35%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

KIE's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.56%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk, but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

For KIE, it has heaviest allocation in the Financials sector --about 100% of the portfolio.

Looking at individual holdings, Oscar Health Inc Class A (OSCR) accounts for about 2.53% of total assets, followed by Lincoln National Corp (LNC) and Genworth Financial Inc (GNW).

KIE's top 10 holdings account for about 22.41% of its total assets under management.

Performance and RiskSo far this year, KIE return is roughly 6.07%, and was up about 6.16% in the last one year (as of 10/01/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $53.63 and $62.03.

The fund has a beta of 0.76 and standard deviation of 17.69% for the trailing three-year period, which makes KIE a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 54 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .

AlternativesSPDR S&P Insurance ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Financials ETFs segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.

Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF (KBWP) tracks KBW Nasdaq Property & Casualty Index and the iShares U.S. Insurance ETF (IAK) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Insurance Index. Invesco KBW Property & Casualty Insurance ETF has $443.98 million in assets, iShares U.S. Insurance ETF has $703.32 million. KBWP has an expense ratio of 0.35% and IAK changes 0.38%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Financials ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX - Free Report) was launched on 07/10/2001, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Technology ETFs category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.

A good option for investors who believe in market efficiency, market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns.

There are some investors, though, who think it's possible to beat the market with great stock selection; this group likely invests in another class of funds known as smart beta, which track non-cap weighted strategies.

Non-cap weighted indexes try to choose stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance, which is based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a mix of other such characteristics.

While this space offers a number of choices to investors, including simplest equal-weighting, fundamental weighting and volatility/momentum based weighting methodologies, not all these strategies have been able to deliver superior results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is managed by Blackrock, and has been able to amass over $14.68 billion, which makes it one of the largest ETFs in the Technology ETFs. SOXX, before fees and expenses, seeks to match the performance of the PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index.

The ICE Semiconductor Index measures the performance of U.S. traded securities of companies engaged in the semiconductor business.

Cost & Other ExpensesInvestors should also pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.34%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

SOXX's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 0.61%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsMost ETFs are very transparent products, and disclose their holdings on a daily basis. ETFs also offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, though it's still important for investors to research a fund's holdings.

This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Information Technology sector - about 100% of the portfolio.

When you look at individual holdings, Broadcom Inc (AVGO) accounts for about 9.36% of the fund's total assets, followed by Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) and Nvidia Corp (NVDA).

Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 59.43% of SOXX's total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has added roughly 26.41% so far this year and it's up approximately 18.29% in the last one year (as of 10/01/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $154.86 and $271.12

The fund has a beta of 1.48 and standard deviation of 34.90% for the trailing three-year period, which makes SOXX a high risk choice in this particular space. With about 35 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers .

AlternativesiShares Semiconductor ETF is an excellent option for investors seeking to outperform the Technology ETFs segment of the market. There are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider as well.

SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) tracks S&P Semiconductor Select Industry Index and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) tracks MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index. SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF has $1.6 billion in assets, VanEck Semiconductor ETF has $31.02 billion. XSD has an expense ratio of 0.35% and SMH changes 0.35%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Technology ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the Global X Russell 2000 ETF (RSSL - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on June 4, 2024.

The fund is sponsored by Global X Management. It has amassed assets over $1.32 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Small Cap BlendWith more potential comes more risk, and small cap companies, with market capitalization below $2 billion, epitomizes this way of thinking.

Typically holding a combination of both growth and value stocks, blend ETFs also demonstrate qualities seen in value and growth investments.

CostsCost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.08%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.34%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Financials sector -- about 17.8% of the portfolio. Industrials and Information Technology round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Credo Technology (CRDO) accounts for about 0.87% of total assets, followed by Fabrinet (FN) and Bloom Energy Corp- A (BE).

The top 10 holdings account for about 4.37% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskRSSL seeks to match the performance of the RUSSELL 2000 RIC CAPPED INDEX before fees and expenses. The Russell 2000 RIC Capped Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market.

The ETF has gained about 10.24% so far this year and was up about 10.43% in the last one year (as of 10/01/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $68.51 and $96.48.

The ETF has a beta of 1.42 and standard deviation of 23.28% for the trailing three-year period. With about 1961 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesGlobal X Russell 2000 ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, RSSL is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $71.23 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $85.53 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.

Bottom-LineRetail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Financials - Brokers/ Capital markets segment of the equity market, the iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF (IAI - Free Report) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on May 1, 2006.

Retail and institutional investors increasingly turn to passively managed ETFs because they offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; these kind of funds are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

Additionally, sector ETFs offer convenient ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Financials - Brokers/ Capital markets is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 4, placing it in top 25%.

Index DetailsThe fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $1.57 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Financials - Brokers/ Capital markets segment of the equity market. IAI seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Investment Services Index before fees and expenses.

The Dow Jones U.S. Select Investment Services Index measures the performance of the investment services sector of the U.S. equity market.

CostsExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.38%, making it on par with most peer products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.96%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Financials sector -- about 100% of the portfolio.

Looking at individual holdings, Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS) accounts for about 15.46% of total assets, followed by Morgan Stanley (MS) and S&p Global Inc (SPGI).

The top 10 holdings account for about 72.75% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has gained about 23.62% and is up about 38.9% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 10/01/2025), respectively. IAI has traded between $122.04 and $178.7 during this last 52-week period.

The ETF has a beta of 1.18 and standard deviation of 20.25% for the trailing three-year period, making it a high risk choice in the space. With about 37 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.

AlternativesiShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF sports a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. IAI, then, is not a great choice for investors seeking exposure to the Financials ETFs segment of the market. Instead, there are better ETFs in the space to consider.

SPDR S&P Capital Markets ETF (KCE) tracks S&P Capital Markets Select Industry Index. The fund has $629.14 million in assets. KCE has an expense ratio of 0.35%.

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

The Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (KBWY - Free Report) made its debut on 12/02/2010, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund that provides broad exposure to the Real Estate ETFs category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.

Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.

There are some investors, though, who think it's possible to beat the market with great stock selection; this group likely invests in another class of funds known as smart beta, which track non-cap weighted strategies.

These indexes attempt to select stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance, based on certain fundamental characteristics or a combination of such characteristics.

While this space offers a number of choices to investors, including simplest equal-weighting, fundamental weighting and volatility/momentum based weighting methodologies, not all these strategies have been able to deliver superior results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexThe fund is sponsored by Invesco. It has amassed assets over $250.43 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs in the Real Estate ETFs. KBWY seeks to match the performance of the KBW Nasdaq Premium Yield Equity REIT Index before fees and expenses.

The KBW Nasdaq Premium Yield Equity REIT Index is a dividend weighted index seeking to reflect the performance of approximately 24 to 40 small- and mid-cap equity REITs in the US.

Cost & Other ExpensesSince cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.

Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.35% for this ETF, which makes it on par with most peer products in the space.

It's 12-month trailing dividend yield comes in at 9.50%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsIt is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

KBWY's heaviest allocation is in the Real Estate sector, which is about 100% of the portfolio.

When you look at individual holdings, Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) accounts for about 6.17% of the fund's total assets, followed by Innovative Industrial Properties Inc (IIPR) and Community Healthcare Trust Inc (CHCT).

KBWY's top 10 holdings account for about 46.85% of its total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has lost about -4.61% and is down about -17.23% so far this year and in the past one year (as of 10/01/2025), respectively. KBWY has traded between $14.41 and $21.18 during this last 52-week period.

The fund has a beta of 1.14 and standard deviation of 22.67% for the trailing three-year period, which makes KBWY a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 28 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers .

AlternativesInvesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF is not a suitable option for investors seeking to outperform the Real Estate ETFs segment of the market. Instead, there are other ETFs in the space which investors should consider.

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) tracks Real Estate Select Sector Index and the Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index. Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF has $7.88 billion in assets, Schwab U.S. REIT ETF has $8.37 billion. XLRE has an expense ratio of 0.08% and SCHH changes 0.07%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Real Estate ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

Looking for broad exposure to the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the Inspire 500 ETF (PTL - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on March 25, 2024.

The fund is sponsored by Inspire. It has amassed assets over $492.47 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.

Why Large Cap BlendLarge cap companies typically have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Considered a more stable option, large cap companies boast more predictable cash flows and are less volatile than their mid and small cap counterparts.

Typically holding a combination of both growth and value stocks, blend ETFs also demonstrate qualities seen in value and growth investments.

CostsCost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.09%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.23%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Information Technology sector -- about 28.9% of the portfolio. Industrials and Financials round out the top three.

Looking at individual holdings, Broadcom Inc (AVGO) accounts for about 8.83% of total assets, followed by Palantir Techn-A (PLTR) and Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM).

The top 10 holdings account for about 28.99% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskPTL seeks to match the performance of the INSPIRE 500 INDEX before fees and expenses. The Inspire 500 Index is a market cap weighted, annually reconstituted index comprised of the stock of the 500 largest United States companies with Inspire Impact Scores greater than or equal to zero.

The ETF has added about 17.95% so far this year and it's up approximately 18.16% in the last one year (as of 10/01/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $181.36 and $249.75.

The ETF has a beta of 1.05 and standard deviation of 17.96% for the trailing three-year period. With about 448 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.

AlternativesInspire 500 ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, PTL is a good option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.

The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) track a similar index. While iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has $699.40 billion in assets, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has $757.35 billion. IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% and VOO charges 0.03%.

Bottom-LineAn increasingly popular option among retail and institutional investors, passively managed ETFs offer low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency; they are also excellent vehicles for long term investors.

To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

The WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ETF (DNL - Free Report) was launched on 06/16/2006, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the World ETFs category of the market.

What Are Smart Beta ETFs?Market cap weighted indexes were created to reflect the market, or a specific segment of the market, and the ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on this strategy.

Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.

If you're the kind of investor who would rather try and beat the market through good stock selection, then smart beta funds are your best choice; this fund class is known for tracking non-cap weighted strategies.

This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.

While this space offers a number of choices to investors, including simplest equal-weighting, fundamental weighting and volatility/momentum based weighting methodologies, not all these strategies have been able to deliver superior results.

Fund Sponsor & IndexDNL is managed by Wisdomtree, and this fund has amassed over $497.08 million, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the World ETFs. Before fees and expenses, DNL seeks to match the performance of the WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index.

The WisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Index is a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of dividend paying stocks with growth characteristics in the developed and emerging markets outside of the United States.

Cost & Other ExpensesExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long-term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins, other things remaining the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.42%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.

DNL's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 2.07%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsWhile ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

Taking into account individual holdings, Us Dollaraccounts for about 78.74% of the fund's total assets, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd and Dreyfus Trsy Oblig Cash Mgmt Cl Ins.

Its top 10 holdings account for approximately 120.93% of DNL's total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF return is roughly 14.24% so far this year and is up about 4.9% in the last one year (as of 10/01/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $32.16 and $41.06

The fund has a beta of 0.96 and standard deviation of 16.16% for the trailing three-year period, which makes DNL a medium risk choice in this particular space. With about 316 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .

AlternativesWisdomTree Global ex-U.S. Quality Dividend Growth ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the World ETFs segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) tracks Morningstar US Dividend Growth Index and the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) tracks NASDAQ US Dividend Achievers Select Index. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF has $34.43 billion in assets, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF has $97.82 billion. DGRO has an expense ratio of 0.08% and VIG changes 0.05%.

Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the World ETFs

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.

TLDR:

Bitcoin trades at $116,243 after three months of sideways action between $115,954 and $107,017.
Uptober has historically delivered an average 20.23% gain for Bitcoin since 2013, fueling breakout expectations.
Analysts highlight $118K-$119K as the key liquidity cluster Bitcoin must clear to regain upside momentum.
Downside support sits at $107K-$108K, with bulls urged to hold the zone if October is to stay bullish.

Bitcoin opened October with traders closely watching whether the trend will finally shift. The last three months have seen sideways movement that has tested investor patience. Price swings have stayed locked between tight ranges as sentiment cooled. 

Some traders believe the pattern is temporary consolidation before the next push higher. The new month, often called “Uptober,” now carries heightened expectations.

Bitcoin Price Eyes Range Breakout in October
Analyst Mags, posting on X, said Bitcoin has moved sideways between $115,954 and $107,017 across July, August, and September.

He described the move as a normal monthly range that often forms before larger rallies. He noted that higher timeframe ranges can act as continuation patterns in ongoing uptrends.

#Bitcoin – Uptober is here.

A new Monthly candle just opened, but what’s next?

If you look at the monthly candles over the past few months, it seems like we’ve just been moving sideways.

july, aug, sept for the past 3 months price have been ranging between $115,954 – 107,017.… pic.twitter.com/B9JVs1DPcl

— Mags (@thescalpingpro) October 1, 2025

Looking ahead, he outlined two paths for October. The first is a clean breakout, as October has historically posted an average return of 20.23% since 2013. That would place BTC well above recent levels if the trend holds. 

The second is a breakout followed by a retreat back into the current range, which could extend sideways trading.

Mags added that such false breakouts have already appeared in July and August. In those cases, new highs were tested but closed back within the existing monthly boundaries. For traders, this suggests more waiting before a decisive trend is confirmed.

Key Levels Set Between $118K Resistance and $107K Support
Analyst Daan Crypto Trades highlighted the short-term liquidity map, pointing to $118K–$119K as the key resistance area. 

$BTC The picture is clear from a liquidity perspective.

The $118K-$119K region has a big liquidity cluster and also corresponds with the previous area where most volume has been traded. I also think that area is the most important level in the short term to clear to get the… pic.twitter.com/WNeVxI01TM

— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) October 1, 2025

He explained that this region has held the most traded volume and must be cleared to break the current slump. Clearing it, he said, would restore bullish momentum and confirm strength into the fourth quarter.

On the downside, he identified $107K–$108K as critical support. This zone marked the lows of August and September and provided a buffer for bulls last month. He suggested that if Bitcoin revisits the level again, it would weaken the bullish outlook. 

Holding above remains important for Uptober to sustain a positive trajectory.

Data from CoinGecko showed Bitcoin trading at $116,243 at press time. The 24-hour volume reached $61.4 billion, reflecting a 2.63% daily increase. Over the past week, Bitcoin gained 3.28%, signaling modest momentum ahead of October’s full run.

Today, the process is slow, expensive, and often messy. According to Citi's 2025 Asset Servicing report, each corporate action event touches more than 110,000 firm interactions and costs an average of $34 million to process.

Key NotesWorld Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., will launch its USD1 stablecoin on the Aptos network.The integration will receive support from major wallets, exchanges, and DeFi protocols on the network.Aptos highlights its speed and low fees as key factors for the partnership, expanding its $1 billion stablecoin ecosystem.
World Liberty Financial, the crypto project co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., is expanding its reach by launching its USD1 stablecoin on the Aptos

APT
$4.58

24h volatility:
8.9%

Market cap:
$3.22 B

Vol. 24h:
$795.22 M

blockchain. The move marks a significant step for both the high-profile venture and the Aptos network as it continues to attract new assets.

The integration was confirmed in an announcement shared by the Aptos Foundation on Oct. 1. According to the details, the launch makes USD1 the first stablecoin with a Move-based integration, connecting it to the programming language that powers the Aptos network. This partnership aims to leverage Aptos’s infrastructure, which the foundation describes as one of the fastest and most efficient in the industry.

HUGE: @DonaldJTrumpJr & @ZachWitkoff announce LIVE that @worldlibertyfi's USD1 is coming to Aptos 🦅

Aptos is USD1's first Move-based integration. The list grows of those choosing the fastest, cheapest, & most efficient rails in the world.

Welcome to the United States of Aptos. pic.twitter.com/SiV8VcCDxQ

— Aptos (@Aptos) October 1, 2025

The USD1 stablecoin is backed by US Treasuries, dollars, and other cash equivalents, according to a recent report from Reuters. The project is part of World Liberty Financial’s broader ambition to bridge digital assets with traditional finance, which also includes plans to introduce a debit card by early 2026.

Broad Ecosystem Support for USD1
The rollout is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6, and is expected to have immediate support from a wide range of applications within the Aptos ecosystem. Several major decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols have already committed to integrating USD1 from day one. These include Echelon Market, Hyperion, Thala Labs, and Panora Exchange.

To ensure broad accessibility for both individual and institutional users, the stablecoin will also be supported by numerous wallets and exchanges. Notable platforms include Petra Wallet, Backpack, OKX, Bitget Wallet, and Gate.io. This widespread support is designed to facilitate smooth onboarding and usage across the network from the moment of launch.

The Aptos network, which originated from Meta’s discontinued Libra project, has steadily built its presence in the financial sector. It currently holds over $720 million in real-world assets (RWAs) and more than $1 billion in stablecoins, including established names like USDC

USDC
$1.00

24h volatility:
0.0%

Market cap:
$73.82 B

Vol. 24h:
$13.95 B

, USDT

USDT
$1.00

24h volatility:
0.0%

Market cap:
$174.96 B

Vol. 24h:
$116.14 B

, and PayPal’s PYUSD. The network is known for its low latency, enabling sub-second transactions with fees averaging around $0.00055.

World Liberty Financial has attracted considerable attention, not just for its connection to the Trump family but also for the volatile launch of its native token, WLFI. The project faced controversy and scam allegations by Elon Musk shortly after its debut, leading to sharp price fluctuations.

Despite the initial turbulence, the token later secured a listing on Robinhood, and the project initiated several WLFI token burn events to help manage its supply. The expansion of its USD1 stablecoin to a new blockchain signals a continued push for legitimacy and wider adoption in the competitive digital asset market.

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

Cryptocurrency News, News

As a Web3 marketing strategist and former CMO of DuckDAO, Zoran Spirkovski translates complex crypto concepts into compelling narratives that drive growth. With a background in crypto journalism, he excels in developing go-to-market strategies for DeFi, L2, and GameFi projects.

Zoran Spirkovski on X

TLDR

Ethereum has received $547 million in inflows to spot Ether ETFs, showing strong institutional demand
Companies like BitMine Immersion have purchased over $10.6 billion worth of ETH as a reserve asset
ETH price currently around $4,107.20 with predictions of reaching $4,527.07 by October 5, 2025
Technical indicators show mixed signals with RSI at 39.46 indicating oversold territory
Price is trading above $4,160 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average with key resistance at $4,240

Ethereum’s price has been gaining momentum in recent days despite broader market hesitation. Currently, the second-largest cryptocurrency is seeing major institutional investment flowing into the market, helping to stabilize its value during general market uncertainty.

Spot Ether ETFs have attracted approximately $547 million in inflows. This substantial investment indicates strong confidence from institutional investors who appear to be positioning themselves for long-term gains in the Ethereum ecosystem.

The price currently sits around $4,107, showing resilience in a fluctuating market. Though down slightly by 0.19%, ETH has maintained its position above the crucial $4,100 support level.

Ethereum Price on CoinGecko
On-chain activity shows interesting developments in ETH reserves. According to data from StrategicETHreserve.xyz, Staking Ether Reserve (SER) entities currently hold 5.49 million ETH across 68 participants, representing about 4.54% of the total supply.

ETF reserves contain even more of the cryptocurrency, with approximately 6.62 million ETH and daily flows of 5.47% of the supply. This distribution highlights the growing institutional presence in the Ethereum market.

Corporate Accumulation Strategy
Corporate interest in Ethereum continues to grow substantially. BitMine Immersion recently purchased 234,800 ETH, worth approximately $10.6 billion. This massive acquisition represents a clear trend of companies using Ethereum as a reserve asset in their corporate treasuries.

This type of corporate accumulation suggests that businesses are diversifying their portfolios and see long-term value in holding ETH rather than traditional assets. The move mirrors similar strategies previously seen with Bitcoin adoption by major corporations.

Trading data reveals mixed technical indicators. The RSI (Relative Strength Index) stands at 39.46, placing ETH in somewhat oversold territory. Other metrics like Fisher (-2.16/-2.43) and Momentum (10, close) at -32.00 point toward current bearish pressure.

However, price chart analysis shows ETH is trading above both $4,160 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A bullish trend line has formed with support near $4,120 on the hourly chart.

Price Predictions and Resistance Levels
Short-term price projections appear optimistic. While ETH traded at $4,107.20 on October 1, analysts predict it could reach $4,527.07 by October 5, 2025, representing a potential return on investment of 9.96%.

The path upward faces resistance at several key levels. The $4,200 mark represents the first hurdle, followed by stronger resistance at $4,240. Breaking through these levels could open the door to the $4,280 region.

If ETH successfully breaks above $4,320, traders believe it could continue climbing toward $4,450 or even $4,500 in the near term. This would represent a substantial recovery from recent price action.

On the downside, support levels are established at $4,120, aligned with the current trend line. If this level fails to hold, the next major support sits near $4,095, with further support at $4,020 if selling pressure increases.

Hourly MACD indicators show growing momentum in the bullish zone, while the hourly RSI remains above 50, providing some confidence for short-term traders looking for upward movement.

The current market dynamics also feature significant short positions. Nearly $1 billion in short positions could face liquidation if ETH reaches $4,480, potentially triggering a sharp upward price movement due to short squeeze dynamics.

For investors watching the market, ETH’s price consolidation above $4,160 presents an opportunity as it prepares for a potential move higher. The key will be whether bulls can push past the $4,240 resistance level in the coming days.

Trading volume remains healthy at $36.96 billion, providing adequate liquidity for price movements in either direction as market participants position themselves for ETH’s next move.

The most recent data shows Ethereum continuing its recovery wave, having bounced from the $4,095 level. With institutional investment providing a solid foundation, the short-term outlook remains cautiously positive as ETH approaches key resistance levels.

TLDR

XRP currently trading at $2.87, with a 1.13% 24-hour decline but 0.69% weekly gain
Consolidating between support at $2.82 and resistance at $2.94
Increasing exchange reserves signal bullish sentiment and potential breakout
Analysts compare current pattern to 2017 bull run before parabolic movement
Critical resistance level identified at $3.65, with $4.50+ marking entry to price discovery

XRP, the digital asset associated with Ripple, is currently trading at $2.87. The price represents a 1.13% decrease over the past 24 hours, though it maintains a modest 0.69% gain for the week. Trading volume has declined by 8.53% to $4.89 billion, suggesting a period of consolidation before a potential breakout.

The cryptocurrency is trading within a narrow range between $2.82 and $2.94. The lower boundary aligns with the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), providing strong support. Meanwhile, the upper resistance coincides with the 50-day EMA at $2.94.

Market watchers have noted an increase in exchange reserves for XRP. This typically indicates bullish sentiment as traders prepare for potential upward movement.

The broader crypto market context appears favorable for XRP. Bitcoin and Ethereum have been gaining momentum since last Friday, creating a supportive environment for altcoins like XRP.

Crypto analyst CryptoWZRD has drawn attention to similarities between XRP’s current chart pattern and its behavior during the 2017 bull run. The comparison suggests XRP may be preparing for its final parabolic move into price discovery territory.

⚠️ XRP’S TIME SOON 👩🏻‍🚀

It is identical to 2017, don’t fade it..

🔮 $XRP is mirroring the 2017 Bull Run, it’s getting ready for its final parabolic move into price discovery.. it’s a question of when, not if 🚀

The key is $3.65, above $4.50 comes 🤩 pic.twitter.com/L0xErVo9Aw

— CRYPTOWZRD (@cryptoWZRD_) September 30, 2025

Key Technical Levels
Analysts have identified $3.65 as a critical resistance level for XRP. Breaking through this price point could trigger a rapid acceleration toward $4.50 and beyond, potentially entering uncharted territory in terms of price discovery.

The weekly timeframe chart tells a compelling story. XRP has been moving sideways in what appears to be an accumulation phase, much like it did before its explosive move in 2017.

CoinGlass data shows some decline in market activity. Trading volume has dropped by 17.35% to $4.91 billion, while open interest has fallen by $2.34 billion to a total of $7.46 billion.

The OI-Weighted Funding rate for XRP stands at 0.0060%. Recent liquidations total $6.63 million, with $4.01 million in long positions and $2.61 million in short positions being cleared.

Despite these short-term fluctuations, the technical indicators suggest the market is approaching a breakout point. The increased exchange reserves and improving overall market conditions create an opportunity for upward momentum.

XRP Price on CoinGecko
Catalysts for Movement
The confidence in XRP has been restored following Ripple’s partial victory in its legal battle with the SEC. This legal clarity has removed a significant obstacle that had been weighing on the asset’s price.

Ripple continues to expand its cross-border payment solutions, creating real-world demand for XRP. This utility differentiates XRP from many other cryptocurrencies that lack practical applications.

The position of XRP within the broader crypto market cycle is also noteworthy. Historically, altcoins tend to experience their strongest movements after Bitcoin establishes stability and strength.

Traders are now watching for a decisive move above the $2.94 resistance. Such a breakthrough could confirm the start of a new bullish phase, with sights set on the $3.65 and $4.50 targets.

For now, XRP remains in its consolidation pattern at $2.87, with bulls and bears engaged in a tug-of-war that will determine its next major move.

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) was trading higher early Wednesday after DogeHash Technologies, a DOGE-focused mining firm, secured a $2.5 million loan from a Donald Trump Jr.-backed company.

Dog-Themed Crypto Shoots UpThe world's largest meme coin was up over 6% over the last 24 hours, outgaining market heavyweights such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH).

Speculative interest in the coin spiked, with open interest in DOGE futures surging 4.66% in the last 24 hours to $4.02 billion, according to Coinglass.

Additionally, over 80% of top traders on Binance, i.e, the top 20% users with the highest margin balance, were betting on DOGE’s price increase.

Meanwhile, the Bull Bear Power indicator, which measures the strength of buyers and sellers, flashed a “Buy” signal for DOGE, according to TradingView. In contrast, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator, which compares two exponential moving averages of an asset’s price, gave a bearish reading.

See Also: Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2025, 2026, 2030

Thumzup Infuses Capital Into DOGE MiningThe spike comes after Thumzup Media Corp. (NASDAQ:TZUP) extended a $2.5 million loan to DogeHash Technologies. The funds are intended to help DogeHash increase its Dogecoin mining capacity and accelerate the deployment of next-generation Application-Specific Integrated Circuit mining machines.

The financing comes ahead of Thumzup’s pending acquisition of DogeHash. The new company will trade on the Nasdaq under the symbol “XDOG” upon closing, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Thumzup, which expanded its cryptocurrency treasury strategy beyond BTC to include DOGE, ETH and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), has backing from Trump Jr., who holds roughly 350,000 shares of the company.

Price Action: At the time of writing, DOGE was exchanging hands at $0.2439, up 6.07% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Read Next: 

‘Dr. Doom’ Nouriel Roubini Doesn’t See A ‘Radical’ Crypto Revolution Coming, Believes Money Systems Will Remain Within State’s Purview
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

By Reuters

October 1, 202510:01 AM UTCUpdated ago

OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SEOUL, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics

(005930.KS), opens new tab and SK Hynix

(000660.KS), opens new tab have signed letters of intent to supply memory chips for OpenAI's data centers, they said on Wednesday, as South Korean chipmakers join forces with the ChatGPT maker to meet rising demand from its Stargate project.

The announcements were made on Wednesday after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and the chairmen of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix at the presidential office in central Seoul.

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Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Hyunjoo Jin. Editing by Mark Potter and Jan Harvey

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Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Stay Ahead with Our Immediate Analysis of Today’s Bitcoin & Bitcoin Hyper Insights
Check out our Live Bitcoin Hyper Updates for October 1, 2025!

In 2010, Bitcoin was worth a few cents. One year later, it hit $20. In six years, it was $17,000, and now it’s sitting at over $110K, after hitting an ATH of $123K in July.

Historically, if you’d invested in Bitcoin at launch, you’d have an ROI of 188,643,000%. The likes of Mastercard, JP Morgan, and scores of S&P 500 companies are buying Bitcoin in droves. There’s never been anything like Bitcoin before, and investors are waking up to that reality.

However, Bitcoin is getting old for modern standards. No dApps, no smart contracts, and almost non-existent DeFi scalability. It needs an upgrade. And that’s what Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is here to do with Layer-2 technology.

Click to learn more about Bitcoin Hyper

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is a crypto project planning to launch the fastest Layer-2 chain for Bitcoin. Its goal – to bring Bitcoin’s blockchain to modern standards. This means compatibility with dApps, smart contracts, and seamless DeFi programmability for developers.

The L2 will run on a Canonical Bridge, combined with the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), for native compatibility with Solana. You’ll be able to build token programs, LP logic, oracles, games, NFT infrastructure, DAOs, and much more. All without reinventing the wheel.

To engage with the L2, you’ll deposit $BTC to a designated address monitored by the Canonical Bridge. The Relay Program verifies the details, and then mints an equivalent number of wrapped $BTC on the L2. You can also withdraw your original $BTC at any time.

If you’re looking for the newest insights on Bitcoin and Bitcoin Hyper, you’re in the right place.

We update this page regularly throughout the day with the latest insider insights for Bitcoin maxis and Bitcoin Hyper fans. Keep refreshing to stay ahead of the pack!

Disclaimer: No crypto investment comes without risk. Our content is for informational purposes, not financial advice. We may earn affiliate commissions at no extra cost to you.

HOW TO BUY $HYPER

Today’s Bitcoin Technical Analysis

Bitcoin has kicked off ‘Uptober’ in the best possible fashion. The token has gained 1.9% today, adding up to nearly a 7% rise over the past six days.

Having reclaimed all of its important short-term moving averages – the 10, 20, 50, and 100 EMA on the daily chart – Bitcoin is now fast approaching the key resistance level of $117-$118K.

This particular resistance level caused a sharp 7% downward correction just a couple of weeks ago, so it’s crucial for digital gold to reclaim this level quickly if it wants to repeat its historical October trend – an average monthly return of 29.23%.

It’s also worth noting that the current bounce comes off a weekly Fibonacci retracement at the 0.5 level.

According to this technical setup, the token should at least retest its Fibonacci swing high, which coincides with BTC’s current all-time high of $124.5K.

That said, with both fundamental and technical tailwinds, Bitcoin appears well-positioned not only to retest but to push well past its previous highs in the upcoming cycle.

CZ Sparks Uptober Buzz With Bitcoin Rally Hints — Can Bitcoin Hyper Capitalize?
October 1, 2025 • 10:00 UTC

Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, has hinted at a potential October rally for Bitcoin based on the currency’s historical performance. His prediction is backed by data showing that $BTC surged 4072% from mid-2015 to late-2017. CZ believes BTC’s past trends point to the possibility of another ‘Uptober’ rally.

Historical data support CZ’s outlook, showing that $BTC has averaged gains of around 22% in October over the past few years.

In light of CZ’s prediction, investors are closely monitoring seasonal patterns, rising ETF flows, gold price correlation, the Fed’s rate cut, and US crypto regulatory clarity, as these factors could play a significant role in driving $BTC’s price up this October.

When influential figures like CZ shed light on past runs in the crypto space, it often uplifts investor sentiment and redirects capital flows. This momentum not only benefits $BTC but has also spilled over into upcoming layer-2 Bitcoin-based projects, such as the Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER).

Currently in presale, $HYPER has already raised $19.4M, creating waves across the market.

Discover how to purchase Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) in our comprehensive guide.

Michael Saylor Rubs $1T-Worth of Bitcoin in the Face of Critics, As Bitcoin Hyper Explodes
October 1, 2025 • 10:00 UTC

Michael Saylor ignores critics and discloses his plan to accumulate over $1T in Bitcoin, which has voices like Jim Chanos call Strategy’s Bitcoin hoarding ‘financial gibberish’.

Saylor discussed his company’s strategy in detail in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, where he explained that his Bitcoin-centric model has just started to take shape.

He also said that he expects Bitcoin to evaluate by 29% on average per year for the next 21 years.

Saylor’s Strategy currently holds 640,031 $BTC, valued at almost $74B.

The news brings Bitcoin Hyper’s ($HYPER) $19.5M presale into the spotlight. Hyper is the Layer 2 solution to Bitcoin’s core problems, which include subpar performance, expensive transactions, and long confirmation times.

Learn more about what Bitcoin Hyper is right here.

Authored by Leah Waters, Bitcoinist — https://bitcoinist.com/bitcoin-hyper-live-news-october-1-2025/

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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Leah is a British journalist with a BA in Journalism, Media, and Communications and nearly a decade of content writing experience.
Over the last four years, her focus has primarily been on Web3 technologies, driven by her genuine enthusiasm for decentralization and the latest technological advancements.
She has contributed to leading crypto and NFT publications – Cointelegraph, Coinbound, Crypto News, NFT Plazas, Bitcolumnist, Techreport, and NFT Lately – which has elevated her to a senior role in crypto journalism.
Whether crafting breaking news or in-depth reviews, she strives to engage her readers with the latest insights and information. Her articles often span the hottest cryptos, exchanges, and evolving regulations.
As part of her ploy to attract crypto newbies into Web3, she explains even the most complex topics in an easily understandable and engaging way.
Further underscoring her dynamic journalism background, she has written for various sectors, including software testing (TEST Magazine), travel (Travel Off Path), and music (Mixmag).
When she's not deep into a crypto rabbit hole, she's probably island-hopping (with the Galapagos and Hainan being her go-to's). Or perhaps sketching chalk pencil drawings while listening to the Pixies, her all-time favorite band.

GLEIF and Chainlink have partnered to provide a trusted on-chain solution for verifying the legal identities behind digital assets and smart contracts.

Summary

GLEIF and Chainlink will combine vLEI with Chainlink’s CCID and ACE to provide automated, verifiable, and privacy-preserving identity verification for digital assets and smart contracts.
The solution enables asset issuers, stablecoin providers, and financial institutions to meet global regulatory standards, verify counterparties, and secure tokenized transactions at scale.

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and Chainlink (LINK) have announced a strategic partnership to develop an institutional-grade identity solution for the blockchain industry. The initiative combines GLEIF’s verifiable Legal Entity Identifier (vLEI) with Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Identity (CCID) infrastructure and Automated Compliance Engine (ACE) to provide verifiable, compliant, and privacy-preserving identity verification for digital asset transactions.

The solution embeds verifiable identity information directly into on-chain assets and smart contracts. This allows institutions and tokenization platforms to automatically verify the origin of assets, enforce compliance policies, and maintain control of assets even in the event of compromised cryptographic keys.

“I think their [GLEIF’s] widely used identity standard will also become widely used in the onchain finance world,” said Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink.

What Chainlink-GLEIF partnership means for tokenized finance
The partnership unlocks several groundbreaking capabilities for tokenized finance. Most notably, asset issuers and smart contract applications can seamlessly comply with regulations across multiple jurisdictions, including Europe’s MiCA, the U.S. FDTA, and FATF standards. Stablecoin issuers can now prove their legal identity directly at the contract level, providing transparency for regulators, markets, and users while preventing fraudulent imitations.

Other use cases include enabling custodians and VASPs to verify counterparties in line with FATF Travel Rule requirements without exposing sensitive customer data, allowing banks and asset managers to issue tokenized assets with verifiable provenance, and giving enterprises the ability to restore control over compromised contracts using role-based recovery mechanisms.

“Leveraging the LEI and vLEI, this turns duplicative and manual compliance checks into automated, on-chain workflows. The result is greater efficiency, reliability, and scalability for digital assets compliance,” said Alexandre Kech, CEO of GLEIF.

The announcement comes on the heels of another major move by Chainlink. The company recently integrated its execution layer, the Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE), with the global financial messaging network SWIFT, enabling banks to trigger on-chain transactions using their existing infrastructure.

Buoyed by these developments, LINK price is up 4% in the past 24 hours, currently trading at $22.13, as it attempts to reclaim the recently broken ascending trendline as support.

Metaplanet is cementing its position as one of the most aggressive corporate adopters of Bitcoin, steadily expanding its treasury strategy.

Summary

Metaplanet confirmed the acquisition of 5,268 BTC on Oct. 1, worth $615.7 million at an average price of $116,870 per coin.
Its total Bitcoin holdings now stand at 30,823 BTC, acquired at a cumulative cost of $3.33 billion.
The firm now ranks fourth among corporate Bitcoin holders worldwide, while remaining the largest listed holder in Asia.
Metaplanet recently expanded operations with new subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan.

Metaplanet’s Bitcoin holdings have officially reached the 30,000 BTC milestone. The Tokyo-listed firm confirmed the acquisition of 5,268 BTC on October 1, worth about $615.7 million at an average price of $116,870 per coin. 

With this purchase, Metaplanet’s total holdings now stand at 30,823 BTC (BTC), acquired at a cumulative cost of $3.33 billion, about $107,912 per bitcoin. The company also reported a 497.1% year-to-date yield in 2025, reflecting the strength of its accumulation strategy, particularly after Bitcoin’s strong rally a few months ago.

Metaplanet has acquired 5268 BTC for ~$615.67 million at ~$116,870 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 497.1% YTD 2025. As of 10/1/2025, we hold 30,823 $BTC acquired for ~$3.33 billion at ~$107,912 per bitcoin. $MTPLF pic.twitter.com/fZ6nzJ8QGC

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) October 1, 2025

According to data compiled by crypto.news, the current holdings place the Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm fourth among the largest corporate Bitcoin holders. It also remains the largest holder among listed companies in Asia.

Metaplanet’s accumulation through the year has been funded mainly via international share offerings and reinvested revenue. The firm also recently secured additional capital through an overseas share offering to channel fresh funds directly into Bitcoin purchases, suggesting that further acquisitions may soon follow.

Alongside building one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries, the company has also begun broadening its business structure.

Metaplanet advances Bitcoin treasury strategy with business expansion
In September, Metaplanet announced the establishment of two subsidiaries in the United States and Japan, marking the first major expansion of its business since adopting its BTC-focused treasury strategy in 2024.

The company said the U.S. subsidiary will handle income generation through derivatives trading and related services, while the Japan-based unit will focus on media, events, and other Bitcoin-related services. CEO Simon Gerovich has regularly indicated that the company’s dual-phase strategy is driven by the belief in Bitcoin as a strategic hedge and growth engine, emphasizing the long-term bet on the asset.

With its 30,000 BTC milestone, Metaplanet has now achieved its year-end target set earlier in May. It remains to be seen whether the company can maintain its current pace of accumulation to meet its longer-term goals of 100,000 BTC by 2026 and 210,000 BTC by 2027.

Japanese investment company Metaplanet has acquired an additional 5,268 Bitcoin, worth roughly $600 million at current market prices. 

Metaplanet announced on Wednesday that its latest purchase has brought its total Bitcoin (BTC) holdings to 30,823 BTC. The move catapulted the Tokyo-listed company to the fourth spot among corporate Bitcoin holders, overtaking the Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET data. 

The latest purchase was made at an average price of 17.39 million Japanese yen (about $116,000), with an aggregate total of $600 million. With the latest purchase, its total holdings ballooned to $3.6 billion, acquired at an average price of around $108,000 per coin. 

BitcoinTreasuries.NET data shows that the company’s Bitcoin strategy has already generated an unrealized profit of over 7.5%. 

Source: MetaplanetMetaplanet’s Bitcoin Yield ballooned to 300% late 2024Metaplanet started adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet in April 2024 and scaled faster than nearly every other corporate Bitcoin holder. 

The filing shows that its BTC Yield rose as high as 309.8% in late 2024 before stabilizing to 33% this year. BTC Yield tracks the percentage change in the ratio of total Bitcoin holdings to fully diluted shares. This gives investors a clearer view of how much Bitcoin backs each share. 

Metaplanet’s Bitcoin Yield jumped to over 300% late 2024. Source: MetaplanetA 309% BTC Yield shows that the speed of Metaplanet’s Bitcoin accumulation far outpaced its share dilution. At the time, each share had more than three times the Bitcoin exposure than when it started.  

Despite the rapid accumulation speed in late 2024, the metric stabilized at 33% in 2025, suggesting that while the company is still acquiring Bitcoin, the growth in per-share exposure has slowed. 

Public companies hold 1 million BitcoinBitcoinTreasuries.NET data shows that public companies hold over 1 million Bitcoin, worth about $116 billion. This accounts for about 4.7% of the asset’s total supply.

Overall, Bitcoin in treasuries, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), governments, exchanges and private companies has reached 3.8 million BTC, worth $442 billion. 

Altcoin-based treasuries have also gained traction. Ether (ETH)-based treasuries, including reserve entities and ETFs, hold 12.14 million ETH, worth $52 billion, according to data tracker Strategic ETH Reserve. 

On the other hand, Solana (SOL)-based treasuries have reached 20.92 million SOL, worth about $4.55 billion, according to Strategic SOL Reserve data. 

Magazine: Quitting Trump’s top crypto job wasn’t easy: Bo Hines

TLDR

SOL experienced a flash crash to $205 following US government shutdown concerns
Institutional investors bought the dip while retail leveraged longs were flushed out
Traders remain focused on the October 10 SEC ETF decision deadline
Similar to Ethereum’s pattern before breaking $4,000, SOL shows potential to surge past $270
Market sentiment remains bullish despite short-term volatility

Solana (SOL) has demonstrated remarkable resilience in recent trading sessions, bouncing back from a sudden flash crash that briefly sent its price plummeting to $205. The temporary downturn occurred on Tuesday amid broader market jitters related to a potential US government shutdown, yet failed to dampen the overall bullish sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency.

The flash crash primarily impacted retail traders with leveraged positions who had entered at Monday’s range high. According to data from Hyblock, these smaller players bore the brunt of the selloff, while institutional-sized investors (in the 1-10 million anchored CVD range) viewed the dip as a buying opportunity.

By late Tuesday, SOL had already recovered much of its losses, trading above $209.50 and recapturing its median range from the weekly open. This swift recovery came despite the token still being down 1.38% for the day.

The market reaction followed a pattern frequently seen in crypto markets, with digital assets initially following traditional markets downward before quickly rebounding. US stock markets finished Tuesday’s session in positive territory after an early selloff, with the Dow Jones even reaching another record high.

Bitcoin similarly recovered from an intraday low of $112,656 to reach $114,400, helping to arrest the decline across the broader cryptocurrency market.

Key Factors Driving SOL’s Price Action
Data suggests that the negative funding rate resulting from the flash crash created an opportunity that both retail and professional day traders quickly seized. Many opened fresh spot and leveraged long positions, indicating strong confidence in SOL’s short-term prospects.

The primary catalyst for this optimism appears to be the approaching October 10 deadline for the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to render a decision on several spot Solana ETF applications.

While recent reports indicate the SEC has asked some asset managers to withdraw their ETF applications for several altcoins including Solana, market experts see this as a potential strategic move rather than a rejection.

Eric Balchunas, an ETF expert from Bloomberg, suggested that October could become “Cointober” – a month when many pending crypto ETF applications might receive regulatory approval. This perspective has helped maintain bullish sentiment despite the withdrawal requests.

Technical Analysis Points to Potential Breakout
From a technical perspective, Solana has formed a pattern similar to what Ethereum displayed before its breakthrough above the $4,000 level. For SOL, the key resistance to watch sits at $270.

Solana Price on CoinGecko
The token has consistently respected its trendline support in recent sessions, potentially setting the stage for a strong move above this resistance level if positive momentum continues to build.

Chart analysis indicates that SOL has already recaptured its median trading range following the flash crash. This quick recovery demonstrates underlying strength and suggests buyers remain eager to accumulate at lower prices.

Traders appear to be looking past the immediate volatility and focusing instead on fundamental factors that could drive SOL higher in the coming weeks. The combination of ETF speculation and technical patterns has created a cautiously optimistic outlook despite recent price swings.

The situation mirrors what occurred with Ethereum earlier this year, where institutional interest drove significant price appreciation following ETF approvals. Market participants seem to be anticipating a similar outcome for Solana.

The current SOL price at $216.82 represents a strong recovery from the flash crash low, reflecting continued market confidence in the asset’s prospects heading into October.

This price action comes against the backdrop of an overall crypto market that continues to show strength, with Bitcoin maintaining positions above $110,000 despite periodic volatility.

The next key date for SOL traders remains October 10, when the SEC’s decision on Solana ETFs could potentially trigger the next major price movement for the token.

TLDR

Cardano (ADA) is trading around $0.80, stuck in a narrow range between $0.75-$0.85
SEC has requested ETF issuers to withdraw 19b-4 applications, including Grayscale’s Cardano ETF
A major withdrawal of 67.8 million ADA ($54.3M) from Coinbase was recorded on September 29
New Generic Listing Standards could potentially speed up crypto ETF approvals
Cardano Foundation released a new roadmap focusing on stablecoins, DeFi growth, and governance

Cardano’s price has been hovering around the $0.80 mark in recent weeks, causing speculation among traders about whether a breakout is imminent or if the market is setting a trap. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at $0.7884, down 0.59% at the time of writing, as various factors influence its price movement.

The digital asset has been confined to a tight trading range for several weeks now. Support levels around $0.75-$0.80 have been tested multiple times but have held firm, suggesting ongoing buying interest at these levels. Resistance sits between $0.85 and $0.95, where previous attempts to break out have stalled.

Trading volume has been relatively low during this consolidation phase. This lack of conviction in upward movements could indicate quiet accumulation happening behind the scenes, or it might suggest that buyers are still hesitant to commit fully to the asset.

Cardano Price on CoinGecko
A significant development affecting Cardano’s market dynamics is the recent request from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for ETF issuers to withdraw their 19b-4 applications. This includes Grayscale Investments’ Cardano ETF filing.

The SEC’s request comes after the introduction of new Generic Listing Standards designed to replace individual reviews. Under the previous system, the deadline for the ADA ETF approval was October 26, but with the new framework in place, approval could potentially come sooner.

Market analysts have been optimistic about the chances of approval. Bloomberg analysts have suggested approval odds as high as 100%, while prediction market Polymarket places the probability at 95%.

CARDANO ETF UPDATE 🇺🇸

The SEC is reportedly asking ETF issuers, including Grayscale's Cardano $ADA ETF, to withdraw their 19b-4 applications.

This comes after the SEC released the new Generic Listing Standards, which replace individual application reviews and make approvals… pic.twitter.com/4jTfwV2mjk

— Cardanians (CRDN) (@Cardanians_io) September 30, 2025

Market Movements and Whale Activity
On September 29, blockchain tracker Whale Alert recorded a substantial withdrawal of 67,810,471 Cardano from Coinbase. This transfer, valued at approximately $54.3 million, was split between two addresses—one receiving 67.8 million ADA and the other receiving 2.2 million ADA.

Large withdrawals from exchanges to private wallets often reduce the immediate supply available for trading. This move to self-custody could reflect changing investor sentiment or portfolio adjustments by large holders.

Such movements don’t always impact liquidity immediately but are closely watched by market participants as potential signals of future price action. Combined with the ETF updates and ongoing technical activity, these factors have market observers watching carefully for Cardano’s next move as Q4 begins.

Some traders have expressed concerns about potential market manipulation. A post from TapTools trader suggested that ADA’s price action looks suspicious, noting how the cryptocurrency keeps getting pushed down despite seemingly bullish patterns forming on the charts.

This sentiment echoes what many retail traders are feeling—that larger market players might be deliberately shaking out weaker holders before allowing any serious upside to begin. Whether this represents intentional manipulation or simply normal market dynamics remains open to interpretation.

Cardano’s Expanding Ecosystem
Despite the relatively stagnant price action, Cardano’s ecosystem continues to develop. At TOKEN2049 in Singapore, Nikhil Joshi, Chief Operating Officer of EMURGO, highlighted Cardano’s reliability as a blockchain platform, noting that it has operated for eight years without any downtime while maintaining its position in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

The Cardano Foundation has also unveiled a new roadmap outlining six main objectives that extend beyond short-term price movements. These goals include providing funds to increase liquidity for stablecoins, encouraging broader participation in decentralized finance, and strengthening governance structures.

This roadmap aims to enhance ADA’s competitiveness with platforms like Ethereum and Tron, which currently lead the stablecoin market. By allocating funding and focusing on new areas of development, the foundation hopes to build stronger use cases and attract more participants to the ecosystem.

Cardano has a history of extended consolidation periods followed by sudden explosive rallies. If this pattern continues, the current tight range might be setting the stage for a larger move in the future.

For now, Cardano at $0.80 represents a decision point for the market. If buyers can push through and maintain levels above $0.85-$0.90 with increased volume, a run toward $0.95 and beyond becomes possible. Conversely, if the price drops below $0.75, it would signal that bearish sentiment still dominates the market.

As the final quarter of 2024 unfolds, the combination of regulatory changes, large investor movements, and long-term development plans places Cardano at a critical juncture in determining its future price trajectory.

Which one of these two artificial intelligence (AI) companies should you consider buying right now?

As their names suggest, BigBear.ai (BBAI 0.93%) and SoundHound AI (SOUN 2.65%) are two companies trying to capitalize on the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

However, their fortunes on the stock market have been quite contrasting in 2025. While BigBear.ai's stock price has jumped an impressive 47% as of this writing, SoundHound has lost more than 21% of its value. Let's look at the reasons why one of these AI stocks has made investors richer this year and the other one has struggled.

Image source: Getty Images.

BigBear.ai stock may struggle to deliver more gains
BigBear.ai provides AI software solutions to help improve the decision-making processes of both commercial and government customers. It applies AI and machine learning (ML) tools to clients' data for applications such as predictive analytics, threat detection, facial recognition, and biometrics, among others.

Though the company points out that it is present in multiple areas such as defense, intelligence, border security, travel, hospitality, manufacturing, and supply chain, the bulk of its revenue comes from government contracts. The similarity that BigBear.ai's business has to that of Palantir's explains why investors have been buying this stock hand over fist.

But then, a closer look will tell us that BigBear.ai's stock price surge isn't justified by its poor financial performance. The company reported an 18% year-over-year decline in its revenue in Q2 to just under $40 million. Management attributed this sharp drop to "lower volume on certain Army programs," which tells us that its reliance on federal contracts for a big chunk of its revenue isn't paying off.

Moreover, BigBear.ai's margins shrank, and its losses increased on a year-over-year basis. Meanwhile, Palantir is enjoying outstanding growth in its business by attracting both commercial and government customers. This clearly suggests that BigBear.ai isn't finding much traction in the fast-growing AI software market.

Additionally, the company's revenue backlog indicates that it doesn't have much visibility going forward as well. That's because only a small portion of its backlog is funded. Almost 95% of the $380 million backlog it reported at the end of Q2 is either unfunded or unexercised, which means it will only be recognized as actual revenue if its customers decide to buy its solutions.

We have already seen that BigBear.ai struggled last quarter thanks to lower demand from a key government customer, which also forced it to lower its 2025 guidance. In fact, BigBear.ai's top line is set to drop by double-digit percentages this year, suggesting that it may find it difficult to deliver more upside to investors, especially considering that its price-to-sales ratio of 12 is on the expensive side.

SoundHound AI's drop in 2025 doesn't seem justified
While Bigbear.ai is finding it difficult to grow its business despite operating in a lucrative market, SoundHound AI isn't facing any such problem. The company's revenue in the second quarter was up by a whopping 217% from the year-ago period to $43 million.

The good part is that SoundHound AI's growth trajectory has been picking up in recent quarters.

Data by YCharts.

The pick-up in the company's growth isn't surprising, considering that it has been quick to build a solid customer base through its product development moves and acquisitions. SoundHound AI's voice AI solutions are used by customers in the automotive, hospitality, restaurant, financial services, retail, and healthcare industries.

What's more, it was sitting on a much bigger potential revenue backlog of $1.2 billion at the end of 2024. The fact that it has been growing at an outstanding pace clearly tells us that it has been successfully converting that massive backlog into revenue. That's also the reason why the company has raised its revenue guidance for 2025. Its top line is on track to double this year to $169 million, which is the midpoint of its guidance range.

Another thing worth noting is that SoundHound is growing at a faster pace than the 23% annual growth rate of the conversational AI market, which means it's winning a bigger share of this lucrative space that's expected to generate over $79 billion in annual revenue by 2033.

As a result, there is a good chance that SoundHound will be able to sustain its remarkable growth rate in the long run and eventually become a much bigger company. That's why investors would do well to buy it following its slide this year. Of course, the stock is expensive right now at 47 times sales, but that seems justified, considering how fast it is growing and its solid prospects.

As such, buying SoundHound AI over BigBear.ai seems like the smart thing to do for anyone looking to choose from one of these two AI stocks right now.

Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.