Market Signal Briefing

TLDR: Rain partners on Plasma can now issue cards that convert stablecoins into spending power at 150 million merchants. Plasma’s zero-fee USDT transfers eliminate transaction costs, addressing a major barrier in crypto payment adoption. Rain is the only Visa Principal Member supporting simultaneous card program management across multiple blockchains. External auditors review all blockchain integrations before launch, with regular audits maintaining security standards. Rain has announced integration with Plasma, a Layer 1 blockchain designed for global payments. 

The partnership enables Rain partners building on Plasma to launch card programs that convert stablecoins into real-world spending capabilities. 

This expansion reflects Rain’s strategy to support partners across multiple blockchain networks as the crypto ecosystem becomes increasingly multichain.

Plasma Network Brings Zero-Fee Transfers to Rain Platform The integration allows Rain partners on Plasma to issue cards that connect stablecoins to everyday purchases. Plasma offers zero-fee USDT transfers, enabling users to move value instantly without incurring transaction costs. 

Rain partners are building across blockchains, and we’re committed to meeting them where they are.

That’s why Rain now supports teams building on @Plasma, a Layer 1 purpose-built for global payments.

With this new integration, Rain partners built on Plasma can now launch card… pic.twitter.com/UN5zVvb7TK

— Rain (@raincards) January 8, 2026

This feature addresses a key friction point in crypto payments where network fees often discourage small transactions.

According to Paul Faecks, CEO of Plasma, the collaboration aims to build a more open financial system. “Our goal is a more open financial system where stablecoins work in real life,” Faecks said. “Adding Rain increases the card issuance options available to partners on Plasma.” 

Plasma’s infrastructure connects traditional banking and payment systems with stablecoin-native rails through vertically-integrated solutions.

Rain announced the partnership through its official account @raincards, noting that partners are building across various blockchains. 

The company emphasizes its commitment to meeting partners wherever they choose to build. This approach recognizes that developers and businesses increasingly operate across multiple chains rather than committing to a single network.

Multi-Chain Strategy Strengthens Rain’s Market Position The company focuses on creating financial infrastructure that is global, open, and efficient. “Rain is committed to creating financial infrastructure that is more global, open, and efficient,” Charles Yoo-Naut, CTO and Co-founder of Rain said. “A big part of that is quickly developing solutions that meet our partners’ needs.” 

The Plasma integration follows growing demand from partners seeking to expand card access across different blockchain ecosystems.

Rain maintains rigorous security standards when adding new chain support. Protocol engineers design custom smart contracts for each integration. 

External auditors review all implementations before launch to ensure systems operate correctly. Regular audits continue after deployment to maintain security and trust.

The company holds the distinction of being the only Visa Principal Member enabling partners to launch and manage programs across multiple blockchains simultaneously. 

This capability simplifies the process of issuing global cards accepted at over 150 million merchants worldwide. The multi-chain approach positions Rain to serve partners regardless of their blockchain preferences.

The Plasma integration represents another step in Rain’s expansion strategy. As blockchain technology matures, interoperability and multi-chain support become increasingly important for payment infrastructure providers.

Journalist

Posted: January 9, 2026

Electric Coin Company (ECC), one of the key developer teams behind the Zcash network, has called it quits over a governance dispute with Bootstrap, a nonprofit that governs it. 

According to ECC CEO Josh Swihart, the nonprofit moved into a “clear misalignment” with Zcash’s mission. Swihart added that the Bootstrap board made it impossible to work “effectively and with integrity.”

He said that they’ll form a new company with the same team, reiterating that the Zcash protocol remains unaffected. 

“The Zcash protocol is unaffected. This decision is simply about protecting our team’s work from malicious governance actions that have made it impossible to honor ECC’s original mission.”

Source: X

All about Bootstrap’s position In response, the Bootstrap board defended itself, stating that the disagreement is instead due to compliance issues. The contentious plan reportedly involves the privatization of the Zcash-based Zashi wallet via alternative structures. 

As a nonprofit organization, the board believes the plan to privatize Zashi could attract lawsuits from its donors. Bootstrap also believes that the legal limitations can’t be overlooked, despite the proposed Zashi plan being apt. 

“Their (ECC) commitment to the project is real, and their frustration with the constraints of nonprofit governance is understandable. But good intentions do not satisfy legal requirements, and urgency does not excuse a flawed process.”

According to the board, its stance is not a disagreement with the Zcash mission, adding that a hurried restructuring would dent the protocol’s trust. 

“A restructuring done in a way that invites scrutiny, even if well-intentioned, would damage that credibility and set back the cause of privacy and financial freedom.”

Here, it’s worth pointing out that a few hours later, former ECC CEO Josh Swihart announced CashZ – A new Zcash wallet to scale the protocol to mass adoption. 

Source: Josh Swihart/X

For his part, Dragonfly Managing Partner Hasseb Qureshi billed the Swihart-led team as “true believers” and an overall bullish rating for ZEC coin. He said, 

“Say what you will about them, the Zcash team are true believers and cypherpunks. When a project is driven by conviction, it survives where others would wither.”

ZEC sees mixed results Initially, the ZEC coin dumped by 22% from $490 to a low of $381 as the market wrongfully interpreted the update as core developers abandoning the protocol entirely.

However, it was just an organizational change. In fact, at press time, ZEC had rallied by 10% to a high of $438 after the team unveiled a new wallet and reinforced long-term conviction. 

Source: ZEC/USDT, TradingView 

Meanwhile, the number of traders bullish on ZEC jumped to 61% on Binance at the time of writing, underscoring renewed positive sentiment. 

Final Thoughts Electric Coin Company CEO blamed Bootstrap nonprofit for “clear misalignment” with the Zcash mission.  However, the nonprofit maintains that the ECC disagreement is only based on legal and compliance issues. 

Bitcoin Cryptocurrency

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Arslan Butt

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Arslan Butt

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Sep 2022

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Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis...

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Last updated: 

6 minutes ago

Bitcoin is facing a rare structural debate that goes beyond price cycles and macro liquidity. According to David Duong, Global Head of Investment Research at Coinbase, quantum computing presents two specific pathways that could eventually compromise Bitcoin’s cryptographic security. While the risk is not immediate, Duong warns that investor timelines for quantum readiness are shortening, forcing markets to consider long-dated downside scenarios that were previously ignored.

The discussion has already reached institutional levels, with BlackRock flagging quantum risk in a May 2025 amendment to its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) prospectus.

Coinbase Flags Two Quantum Attack Vectors on BitcoinDuong’s analysis, published by Coinbase, centers on a hypothetical “Q-day” when cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) could run Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms efficiently enough to weaken existing encryption standards.

Bitcoin relies on two core systems:

ECDSA for transaction signatures SHA-256 for proof-of-work mining According to Coinbase, signature compromise is the primary concern, not quantum mining. While quantum-accelerated mining faces scaling limits, breaking ECDSA could allow attackers to derive private keys from exposed public keys, enabling unauthorized transfers.

6.51 Million BTC Already Exposed On-ChainCoinbase estimates that 6.51 million BTC, or 32.7% of total supply, is currently vulnerable to long-range quantum attacks due to address reuse and legacy script types.

These include:

Pay-to-Public-Key (P2PK) Bare multisig (P2MS) Certain Taproot (P2TR) outputs Satoshi-era coins represent a known subset of this exposure. In addition, every Bitcoin transaction faces short-range risk at the moment of spending, when public keys briefly appear in the mempool. While exploitation probability remains low today, Coinbase argues this risk profile makes post-quantum migration unavoidable.

Governments Target 2035 as Crypto Migration DeadlineUS and EU agencies have already instructed critical infrastructure providers to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by 2035, according to public policy guidance. Bitcoin developers and research groups such as Chaincode Labs are evaluating similar timelines.

Chaincode outlines two possible scenarios:

A rapid quantum breakthrough, forcing migration within two years A gradual transition, allowing upgrades over five to seven years Potential solutions include quantum-resistant signature schemes such as CRYSTALS-Dilithium and SPHINCS+, likely introduced via soft forks to preserve network continuity.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Triple Top Meets Fibonacci Support as BTC Nears Breakout PointOn the daily chart, Bitcoin price prediction has turned bearish as BTC is consolidating below $94,100, where a triple top pattern has formed. This level aligns with the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the decline from $107,700, reinforcing supply pressure.

Price remains supported by a rising trendline from November, with the 38.2% retracement near $90,900 acting as a key pivot.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: TradingviewCandlestick structure shows small bodies and frequent wicks, signaling indecision rather than distribution. RSI has cooled toward neutral, suggesting momentum reset rather than trend failure.
As long as Bitcoin holds higher lows above $86,900, the broader structure remains constructive.

A sustained break above $92,000–$94,100 would reopen upside toward $100,000, with the prior high near $107,000 back in focus.

For markets, the message is clear: quantum risk is not a zero-day threat, but it is now a priced-in, long-dated variable shaping Bitcoin’s evolution, custody models, and valuation frameworks as the asset matures.

Maxi Doge: A Meme Coin Built Around Community and CompetitionMaxi Doge is gaining traction as one of the more active meme coin presales this year, combining bold branding with community-driven incentives. The project has already raised more than $4.4 million, placing it among the stronger early performers in the meme token category.

Unlike typical dog-themed tokens that rely purely on social buzz, Maxi Doge leans into engagement. The project runs regular ROI competitions, community challenges, and events designed to keep participation high throughout the presale phase. Its leverage-inspired mascot and fitness-themed branding have helped it stand out in a crowded meme market.

The $MAXI token also includes a staking mechanism that allows holders to earn daily smart-contract rewards. Stakers gain access to exclusive competitions and partner events, adding a passive earning component while encouraging long-term participation rather than short-term speculation.

Currently priced at $0.000277, $MAXI is approaching its next scheduled presale increase. With momentum building and community activity remaining strong, Maxi Doge is positioning itself as a meme coin focused on sustained engagement rather than one-off hype.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

Traders absorbed a two-step liquidation reset that left price trapped between $2.07 support and $2.17 resistance.

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On-chain data shows whales have ramped up their memecoin activity as Floki, Pepe, and Shiba Inu have all seen a spike in large transactions.

Memecoins Among The Coins With The Largest Whale Activity Growths In a new post on X, on-chain analytics firm Santiment has shared the list of cryptocurrencies with a market cap of at least $500 million that have seen the largest weekly jumps in the Whale Transaction Count.

The “Whale Transaction Count” is an indicator that measures the total number of transfers occurring on a given network involving a value of more than $100,000. Transactions of this size are generally considered to reflect the activity of the whales, humongous entities who carry large amounts in their wallets.

When the value of the Whale Transaction Count rises, it means that the whales are ramping up their transfer activity. Such a trend can be a sign that interest in the asset is going up among the big-money traders. On the other hand, the indicator going down implies that the influential members of the market may be shifting their attention away from the cryptocurrency as they have reduced their on-chain participation.

Now, here is a table that shows how the major assets in the cryptocurrency sector rank against each other in terms of the percentage change in their Whale Transaction Count over the past week:

Looks like Floki on the ETH blockchain has topped the list | Source: Santiment on X As is visible above, four tokens from the top 10 happen to be memecoins, assets that are tied to an online meme. Two of these are versions of Floki (FLOKI), with the Ethereum blockchain version topping the list with a weekly Whale Transaction Count increase of a whopping 950%, while the BNB Chain version is third with the metric sitting at 550%.

Pepe (PEPE) has come second on the ranking, with whales on the network increasing their activity by 620%. The other memecoin on the list is Shiba Inu (SHIB), ranked tenth with an indicator jump of over 111%. Given that all of these memecoins have seen a substantial increase in the Whale Transaction Count during the past week, it would appear that big-money interest in these assets has reignited.

As for what a strong rise in the metric means, it’s usually hard to say anything for certain, as the Whale Transaction Count only includes the absolute number of whale-sized moves and contains no information about whether buying or selling is dominant. In general, though, volatility can be likely to follow spikes in whale activity.

In the case of the memecoins, the jump in the indicator has coincided with sharp price surges, pointing to accumulation being dominant.

Pepe Price Pepe has enjoyed the strongest rally out of the memecoins that have seen an uptick in whale transfers, as its price has shot up by more than 47% in the past week.

The trend in the price of the coin over the last month | Source: PEPEUSDT on TradingView Featured image from Dall-E, Santiment.net, chart from TradingView.com

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Keshav is a Physics graduate who has been employed as a writer with Bitcoinist since June 2021. He is passionate about writing and through the years, he has gained experience working in a variety of niches. Keshav holds an active interest in the cryptocurrency market, with on-chain analysis being an area he particularly likes to research and write about.

TLDR

The PI token is trading near $0.20, following a massive collapse from its all-time high of $3. The lack of an “Open Mainnet” and high centralization raise doubts about the project’s long-term viability. Over 130 million tokens will be released in the next 30 days, potentially increasing selling pressure. At the beginning of 2026, the future of Pi Network appears to be under intense bearish pressure. While assets like Bitcoin have shown significant rebounds, Pi’s native token has only increased by 2% this week, hovering around $0.20.

https://twitter.com/pinetworkmember/status/2009171312086757616

This figure is alarming when compared to its all-time high of $3 recorded in February last year, representing a staggering 93% drop.

Due to this bleak outlook, community criticism has surfaced quickly. Analysts and social media users point out that it is “hard to stay bullish” while the project continues to face structural obstacles. 

Among the primary barriers overshadowing the future of Pi Network are the lack of support from top-tier exchanges, the absence of a truly open mainnet, unclear supply metrics, and excessively centralized control over users’ locked balances.

Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals for the Future of Pi Network Despite the negative sentiment, not all observers are ready to give up. Some analysts suggest that PI is attempting to break an eight-month downtrend, with potential recovery targets toward $0.57 if it manages to clear the key resistance at $0.215. 

However, on-chain reality tells a different story: in the last 24 hours, nearly 1.8 million tokens have been transferred to centralized platforms like Gate.io and Bitget, raising the exchange supply to over 425 million PI.

The future of Pi Network will also depend on upcoming token unlocks. Thursday, January 8, marked a significant milestone with the release of 5.3 million coins, part of a schedule that will free up 130 million PI over the next month. 

Although the daily unlock rate is less aggressive than in previous periods, the constant entry of new tokens into the circulating market will test the project’s ability to retain value and the patience of its investors.

TLDR: Bitcoin mining difficulty decreased 2.6% with another 1.88% downward adjustment projected in next cycle. Block times exceeded 10 minutes 30 seconds, signaling excessive difficulty relative to current conditions. Declining hashrate shows miners reducing operations as rising costs and falling prices squeeze margins. Lower difficulty eases miner selling pressure by reducing resources needed for profitable operations. Bitcoin mining difficulty has decreased by approximately 2.6 percent, with another downward adjustment of 1.88 percent expected in the next cycle. 

The reduction comes as miners face mounting pressure from rising operational costs and declining Bitcoin prices. 

This adjustment marks a turning point for mining operations that have struggled with profitability. The network’s hashrate has been declining, prompting miners to reduce their activity by shutting down machines.

Mining Dynamics Shift as Network Adjusts Bitcoin mining activity operates on a self-regulating mechanism designed to maintain consistent block production. 

The network targets one block every 10 minutes through automatic difficulty adjustments every 2016 blocks. When block times deviate from this target, the protocol responds accordingly.

Recent data shows block times extending beyond 10 minutes and 30 seconds. This increase indicates that mining difficulty had climbed too high relative to current market conditions. 

Miners found themselves expending excessive computational resources while facing rising costs and falling Bitcoin valuations.

The declining hashrate reflects this challenging environment for mining operations. Crypto analyst Darkfost_Coc noted that tracking these metrics provides valuable insights into miner behavior. 

I don’t expect this post to interest many people, as very few actually follow what’s happening on the Bitcoin mining side unless they mine themselves.

But this is a mistake.

— What’s the point of tracking the evolution of the time between each block ?
⁰— Or knowing whether… pic.twitter.com/W8p9hs2XJj

— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) January 8, 2026

The combination of extended block times and reduced hashrate clearly demonstrates the pressure facing the industry.

Reduced Selling Pressure Expected as Conditions Stabilize Miners represent a major source of selling pressure in Bitcoin markets due to operational expenses. When profitability declines, mining operations typically respond through two primary methods. 

They either liquidate Bitcoin holdings to cover costs or reduce capacity by powering down equipment.

The current difficulty adjustment helps alleviate this pressure on mining operations. Lower difficulty requirements mean miners can generate blocks using fewer resources. 

This improved efficiency reduces the immediate need to sell Bitcoin reserves for operational survival.

The Hash Ribbons indicator currently displays a buy signal, though this signal shows signs of fading. This technical indicator tracks the relationship between short-term and long-term hashrate moving averages. 

As mining conditions stabilize, operations will gradually restore full capacity. The hashrate will consequently trend upward as more machines come back online. 

This recovery pattern aligns with historical mining cycles where difficulty adjustments restore equilibrium to the network.

Hat stays on if buyers defend these Fib levels, otherwise a quick dip to back to yearly lows might follow.

Bitcoin price started a downside correction below $92,500. BTC is now struggling and might face barriers for a fresh increase near $92,000.

Bitcoin started a downside correction and traded below the $91,200 zone. The price is trading below $91,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $92,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might continue to move down if it stays below the $92,000 zone. Bitcoin Price Attempts Recovery Bitcoin price failed to stay above $93,500 and started a downside correction. BTC dipped below $93,000 and $92,000 to enter a short-term bearish zone.

The price even dipped below $91,200 and tested $90,000. A low was formed at $89,225 and the price is now attempting a fresh increase. There was a move above $90,500. The price climbed higher to test the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $93,770 swing high to the $89,225 low.

Bitcoin is now trading below $92,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. Besides, there is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $92,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.

If the price remains stable above $90,300, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $91,500 level. The first key resistance is near the $92,000 level, the trend line, and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $93,771 swing high to the $89,225 low.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com The next resistance could be $92,800. A close above the $92,800 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $93,200 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $93,500 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $94,000 and $94,500.

Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $92,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $90,650 level. The first major support is near the $90,300 level.

The next support is now near the $89,250 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $88,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $87,250, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $90,650, followed by $90,300.

Major Resistance Levels – $91,500 and $92,000.

The Optimism Foundation has announced a proposal to allocate 50% of the revenue generated by Superchain towards monthly over-the-counter buybacks of its OP tokens. This announcement was made on January 8, 2026, and aims to support the token’s market price and liquidity. The foundation’s plan highlights a common practice among blockchain projects seeking to maintain or increase the value of their native tokens.

Superchain, a technology built on the Optimism network, is central to this proposal. The network, which facilitates scalable transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, earns revenue by providing services to developers and users. By using half of these earnings for buybacks, the foundation intends to create a consistent demand for OP tokens, potentially stabilizing their market price and offering liquidity support.

Token buybacks are often employed by blockchain organizations to manage the supply and demand dynamics of their tokens. In an over-the-counter setting, such transactions occur privately between buyers and sellers, allowing the foundation greater control over the purchase process and helping to minimize market volatility.

The Optimism Foundation’s strategy also reflects broader industry trends. In the crypto space, token buybacks can act as a mechanism for price support, providing reassurance to investors. These actions are typically aimed at counteracting the impact of market fluctuations and enhancing token stability.

This proposal comes at a time when regulatory scrutiny over cryptocurrency practices continues to intensify. Regulatory bodies worldwide are focusing on ensuring market integrity and protecting investors, with measures that address token management practices being a key area of interest. The foundation’s plan will likely be observed closely by regulators to ensure compliance with existing frameworks.

Institutional interest in cryptocurrencies has been growing, with asset managers and banks exploring various crypto-related products to meet client demand and generate additional revenue streams. The inclusion of cryptocurrency products, such as tokens like OP, into mainstream financial portfolios is seen as a way to diversify offerings and attract a broader client base.

Bitcoin, as the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, often sets the tone for market trends. However, other digital assets like OP tokens also hold significant roles within their respective ecosystems, such as facilitating transactions or powering smart contracts. Solana, another prominent blockchain network, is an example of a platform using smart contracts for decentralized applications.

The proposed buyback strategy by the Optimism Foundation is not without risks. Cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility, which can affect both market prices and liquidity conditions. Operational risks, regulatory uncertainty, and potential tracking errors are additional factors that could impact the effectiveness of the buyback program.

The competitive landscape within the cryptocurrency market is dynamic, with multiple issuers often submitting similar proposals or products. This can lead to uncertainty in timelines and frequent amendments to initial plans. Market participants typically monitor such developments to gauge potential impacts on their investments.

Looking ahead, the foundation’s proposal will undergo a review process, during which stakeholders may be invited to provide comments or feedback. The outcomes of this review will influence the final decision on implementation, and market participants will be watching closely for any updates.

As the review process unfolds, the Optimism Foundation is likely to face scrutiny from both the market and regulatory bodies. Pending approvals or denials will determine the next steps, shaping the future of OP token management and setting a precedent for similar initiatives in the industry.

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Shalini Nagarajan

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Shalini Nagarajan

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Jan 2024

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Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.

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Last updated: 

7 minutes ago

Bitcoin eased to around $91,000 on Friday, as Asian markets opened slightly higher and traders lined up the next catalysts, the US nonfarm payrolls report and a possible Supreme Court ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Early moves in the region stayed measured. Shanghai rose 0.58%, the SZSE Component added 0.36%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.40% to 26,254.50.

The China A50 slipped 0.16%, showing a more cautious tone in large-caps.

Investors treated crypto the same way. Prices moved in a tight band after a volatile start to the year, with positioning leaning toward a wait-and-see stance ahead of macro headlines.

Market snapshot Bitcoin: $91,102, up 0.3% Ether: $3,111, down 1.3% XRP: $2.12, down 1.8% Total crypto market cap: $3.19 trillion, down 0.2% Bitcoin Rangebound As Payrolls And Rate Outlook Shape Market ToneLinh Tran, senior market analyst at XS.com, said current data leans toward a scenario in which Bitcoin consolidates with a cautiously upward bias, rather than entering a deep bearish reversal.

“Bitcoin’s consolidation range for the remainder of January is likely to fluctuate between $88,000 and $95,000,” she said.

Across broader markets, Japan and Australia opened higher, and South Korea lagged. Trading stayed sensitive to any clue on global growth and US rates, since payrolls could reset expectations for how quickly the Federal Reserve cuts borrowing costs.

Wall Street sent a mixed signal overnight. The S&P 500 finished essentially flat on Thursday, and selling hit big technology names such as Nvidia, even as defence stocks advanced after Trump called for an enlarged $1.5 trillion military budget.

Dollar Holds Firm As Risk Appetite Stays In CheckRates markets also reacted to a separate Trump remark. Treasury futures inched up and mortgage-backed securities rallied after he said he was directing the purchase of $200B of mortgage bonds.

The tariff story also sat near the top of the risk calendar. The Supreme Court could decide the fate of most of Trump’s tariffs as soon as Friday, and hundreds of companies have lined up hoping to recoup a share of the billions of dollars in duties paid so far.

In the background, money markets priced in at least two quarter-point Fed cuts in 2026, keeping the dollar supported and leaving risky assets trading with a tighter leash.

Elsewhere, the dollar held on to gains from the prior session, oil extended its advance as investors monitored developments in Venezuela and Iran, silver pulled back further from this week’s record, and gold stayed steady.

Fitch raised its US growth outlook, estimating GDP expanded 2.1% in 2025 and forecasting 2.0% growth in 2026, after incorporating economic data that arrived late following last year’s government shutdown.

The Optimism Foundation has floated a major shakeup to the dynamics of the layer 2’s OP token, proposing to allocate 50% of its Superchain revenue to regular buybacks of the asset. 

Optimism Grants council member Michael Vander Meiden shared the proposal via X on Thursday, highlighting that “after many years of being a ‘useless gov token’ the value of the OP token will finally be tied to network activity.”

The proposal was initially submitted in the Optimism governance forum on Wednesday. It outlines a plan to direct 50% of incoming Superchain revenue to monthly Optimism (OP) buybacks that will flow back into the token treasury. 

“These tokens can then be burned or distributed as staking rewards as the platform evolves. Governance will retain oversight over parameters that control the buyback and the token treasury,” the Optimism Foundation said. 

OP buyback proposal. Source: Optimism Optimism wants to grow OP utility beyond governanceThe move is part of a push to expand OP utility beyond primarily governance into something that is “tightly aligned with the growth of the Superchain,” and could provide a major boost to OP holders and builders within the ecosystem. 

“As the Superchain evolves, the token may take on additional functionality aligned with the network’s long-term decentralization and resilience, including roles in securing shared infrastructure, coordinating sequencer rotation, and enabling collective governance over core protocol functions,” the Optimism Foundation said. 

The proposal outlined the importance of relativizing OP to reflect the growth of Optimism from being an “experiment” in Ethereum scaling to an ecosystem hosting a significant amount of total layer 2 activity. 

“The Superchain captured 61.4% L2 fee market share and processes 13% of all crypto transactions, and that share continues to rise. The OP token should be aligned with that momentum and growth,” the team said. 

Optimism’s Superchain was launched back in February 2023 and consists of a network of layer-2 (L2) chains built with the project's open-source OP stack. The ecosystem hosts chains such as Unichain, Ink and Coinbase’s L2 Base. 

The OP token saw a tough 2025, with the price declining by nearly 83% over the past 12 months. The price has yet to bounce this week on the news of the proposal.

 Magazine: China’s Ethereum’ in civil war, Japan to embrace Bitcoin ETFs: Asia Express

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World Liberty Financial (WLFI), closely associated with President Donald Trump and his son Eric, is making significant strides to align itself with major players in the cryptocurrency industry, including Ripple, and Fidelity Digital Assets. 

The company aims to secure a national trust charter in the United States, a strategic move designed to facilitate the issuance of its USD1 stablecoin, and to streamline the process for customers looking to utilize and convert the firm’s cryptocurrency.

World Liberty Financial Aims For Regulatory Approval Zach Witkoff, proposed president and chair of World Liberty Trust Company—a subsidiary that has applied for the charter—described this initiative as a pivotal evolution of the World Liberty Financial ecosystem. 

Securing a national trust charter would enable World Liberty Financial to provide custodial banking services and gain access to national payment networks while operating under the supervision of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). 

However, this regulatory framework differs significantly from a national bank charter, which subjects a firm to stricter oversight due to its ability to offer consumer banking services.

Last year, the OCC granted conditional national trust charters to several cryptocurrency firms, allowing these companies to manage digital assets and other financial instruments without the need to obtain state-by-state approvals. 

This development was hailed as a historic move by the regulatory body and a substantial win for the digital asset sector, although it faced criticism from traditional banking institutions.

Traditional Banks Voice Concerns World Liberty Financial is joining a growing list of digital asset businesses seeking regulatory approval, with the eventual goal of accessing “skinny” master accounts at the Federal Reserve (Fed). Such accounts would grant limited use of the Fed’s payments system, a critical asset in modern financial operations. 

Recently, the Federal Reserve sought public feedback on the potential establishment of these accounts, marking a significant step toward greater acceptance of digital assets in the mainstream financial ecosystem. 

Yet, Bitcoinist has reported for the past months that traditional banks have expressed apprehension that allowing crypto companies access to such facilities could compromise financial stability.

Among the companies previously awarded a charter are BitGo, which has acted as the custodian for World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin. The approval of World Liberty Financial’s application would enable the Trump-backed firm to manage its stablecoin more actively. 

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe lauded USD1’s growth, reporting that it surpassed $3.3 billion in its first year. He expressed enthusiasm for continuing their strategic partnership as World Liberty Trust Company becomes operational and USD1 embarks on its next growth phase.

The daily chart shows WLFI’s surge following the company’s application. Source: WLFIUSDT on TradingView.com At the time of writing, World Liberty Financial’s native token, WLFI, is trading at $0.18. This represents a significant 10% increase following the announcement, as well as substantial gains of 37% over the past fourteen days. 

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

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Ethereum price failed to clear the $3,220 resistance and dipped. ETH is now attempting to recover and faces an uphill task near the $3,150 level.

Ethereum started a downside correction below $3,220 and $3,200. The price is trading below $3,180 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break above a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $3,100 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it stays above the $3,050 zone. Ethereum Price Attempts Fresh Increase Ethereum price failed to remain stable above $3,220 and dipped further, like Bitcoin. ETH price declined below $3,200 and $3,120 to enter a short-term bearish zone.

The price even dipped below $3,120. A low was formed at $3,050, and the price is now consolidating losses. It tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,308 swing high to the $3,050 low. Besides, there was a break above a connecting bearish trend line with resistance at $3,100 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.

Ethereum price is now trading below $3,180 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If the bulls can protect more losses below $3,050, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $3,150 level.

The first key resistance is near the $3,180 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $3,308 swing high to the $3,050 low. The next major resistance is near the $3,210 level.

Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com A clear move above the $3,210 resistance might send the price toward the $3,250 resistance. An upside break above the $3,250 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,300 resistance zone or even $3,320 in the near term.

Another Decline In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,180 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,080 level. The first major support sits near the $3,050 zone.

A clear move below the $3,050 support might push the price toward the $3,020 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,000 region.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone.

Major Support Level – $3,050

Major Resistance Level – $3,180

TLDR: Sei Giga implements parallel block production achieving 50x throughput and 70x faster block times. The rebuilt EVM execution client delivers 40x efficiency gains with parallelized execution by default. Network targets 200,000 TPS and 5 gigagas throughput while maintaining sub-400ms finality at scale. Bounded MEV design keeps fees and latency stable during volume spikes for institutional applications. Sei giga represents a fundamental infrastructure overhaul scheduled for deployment in 2026. The upgrade introduces multi-proposer block production and a rebuilt execution layer. 

Network performance targets include 200,000 transactions per second and sub-400 millisecond finality. 

These technical advancements address scalability bottlenecks that currently limit blockchain adoption for institutional applications. 

The Sei Network community views this release as a catalyst for ecosystem growth and market positioning.

Multi-Proposer Architecture Transforms Consensus Model Sei giga implements parallel block production through multiple concurrent proposers. Traditional blockchain architectures process blocks sequentially with single proposers creating bottlenecks. 

The new autobahn consensus mechanism allows simultaneous block proposals across the network.

This architectural shift delivers approximately 50 times greater throughput compared to existing standards. Block production speed increases by roughly 70 times under the updated framework. 

The parallel structure removes serialization constraints that previously limited network capacity during peak demand.

According to analyst commentary shared by user Tanaka_L2 on social media, the upgrade marks the fifth generation of blockchain consensus evolution. The multi-proposer system maintains network security while distributing validation responsibilities. 

This design choice enables the network to scale without compromising decentralization principles that define blockchain infrastructure.

Execution Layer Redesign Enhances Transaction Processing The upgrade features a newly developed EVM execution client built specifically for Sei giga requirements. Engineers designed the client from scratch rather than modifying existing implementations. 

This approach achieves approximately 40 times better execution efficiency compared to standard EVM environments.

Parallelized execution operates by default within the new framework. The system optimizes for constant transaction repricing instead of batch settlement models. 

State commitments generate asynchronously and remain separate from critical throughput pathways. This separation preserves security guarantees without introducing processing delays.

Performance metrics remain stable under increasing network activity. The protocol achieves 5 gigagas throughput capacity alongside the 200,000 transactions per second target. 

Bounded MEV design prevents extraction strategies from destabilizing fee markets. Transaction costs and latency measurements stay consistent during volume surges. 

These characteristics address institutional requirements for predictable infrastructure costs and execution guarantees. 

Market observers anticipate the technical specifications will drive developer activity and application deployment within the Sei ecosystem following the 2026 launch.

In brief Spot Bitcoin ETFs have clocked nearly $1 billion in outflows over the past three days. Bitcoin’s recovery is likely to face overhead resistance between $92,100 and $117,400, where top buyers are likely to break even. Options market data signals the end of the January momentum chase, with call skew turning negative and expectations shifting toward a period of sideways consolidation. U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds clocked a three-day streak in outflows on Thursday, as new year optimism fades and traders reprice risk.

Bitcoin ETFs recorded $205.5 million in outflows for the day, bringing the three-day cumulative netflow to $934.8 million, according to Farside data. 

Inflows have outpaced outflows on just two days since the year began. Still, the 7-day net flow—calculated as the sum of all flows over a given period—remains positive at $240.7 million.

Although a lagging indicator, ETF flows often reflect crypto market sentiment. They also help reinforce the direction of an asset’s underlying price.

Bitcoin’s year-to-date gains have halved from 8% on Wednesday to 4% on Thursday. The top cryptocurrency is trading flat over the last 24 hours at $91,100 after briefly dipping below $90,000 yesterday, according to CoinGecko data.

“It’s not surprising to see ETF investors doing a bit of de-risking,” Sean Dawson, head of research at on-chain options platform Derive, told Decrypt. “The current flows are more reflective of tactical positioning and sentiment shifts than a sudden collapse in underlying demand.”

He cited a combination of factors for the ongoing outflow: capital reallocation after year-end, Bitcoin's failure to break resistance at approximately $92,000, increased macroeconomic uncertainty following the U.S. operation in Venezuela, and worsening U.S. economic indicators, such as rising jobless claims.

What’s stopping Bitcoin’s recovery?The retreat in ETF demand aligns with a significant on-chain supply wall. 

The start-of-year rally pushed Bitcoin above $94,000, into a zone dominated by recent top buyers, whose cost basis is tightly clustered between $92,100 and $117,400, according to Glassnode’s Wednesday report.

“The market now faces rising breakeven sell-side pressure, as these investors regain the opportunity to exit positions without realizing losses,” Glassnode analysts noted.  “Consequently, any attempt to revive a sustained bull phase will likely require time and resilience to absorb this overhead supply.”

Pointing to the options market, Dawson noted a signal to the end of the “early-January upside chase,” with short-dated call skew flipping negative again as momentum failed.

“Overall, upside looks capped, and the market expects consolidation over the next few weeks,” he said.

If Bitcoin stabilizes and re-tries a recovery rally, the short-term holder cost basis of $98,900 will be the next significant level to watch.

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Weebit Nano Limited (WBTNF) Discusses Commercial Progress and Key Licensing Agreement in Next-Generation Memory Technology January 5, 2026 7:00 PM EST

Company Participants

Jacob Hanoch - CEO, MD & Executive Director

Presentation

Unknown Attendee

Let's now turn to a small cap. And the next company is next-generation memory, is a real-world momentum semiconductor developer. Weebit Nano recently published its 2025 reports detailing its commercial and technical targets. Let's take a look and what's ahead for 2026, joining us Chief Executive, Coby Hanoch.

Question-and-Answer Session

Unknown Attendee

Coby, welcome back to Ausbiz. It's good to have you on the show again. How would you sum up 2025 then for Weebit Nano?

Jacob Hanoch
CEO, MD & Executive Director

Well, 2025 was an amazing year for us. We're really moving now from developing a technology to being a commercial company. Over the last few years, we started licensing our technology to several important customers. And, I guess, 2025 ended up with the grand finale of signing an agreement with Texas Instruments, which is one of the top players in our field. So we're feeling very bullish. The company has really been focused on setting up now the infrastructure for massive growth for multiple customers in parallel. And it was a great year, and 2026 is looking as if it's going to be even a better year.

Unknown Attendee

Can you give us a little more detail on that agreement you have with Texas Instruments in terms of supplying Resistive Random-Access Memory?

Jacob Hanoch
CEO, MD & Executive Director

Weebit is a supplier of technology. We develop what's called a nonvolatile memory technology, and we license this technology to manufacturers. So Weebit doesn't have a product of its own. It actually has a technology. And we have 2 types of customers in the semiconductor world, because

Oil rose in the morning Asian session amid prospects of Russia-related sanctions that could lead to supply disruptions.

Investors are always looking for stocks that deliver robust gains, trying to squeeze the most out of their buck. Of course, finding big-time winners is much easier said than done, but investors can still deploy a basic framework that puts them on the path to reaping outsized gains.

But what drives market outperformance?

Let’s take a closer look at a few common traits among companies delivering outsized gains.

Sales Growth Remains KeySales growth is vital, as it’s the foundation of generating profits. Strong revenue generation allows companies to achieve scaling efficiencies, generate continuous shareholder value, and many other clear benefits.

A clear-cut example of this has been Nvidia (NVDA - Free Report) over the last year, whose shares have soared on the back of rock-solid sales growth within its Data Center. Below is a chart illustrating NVDA’s sales on a quarterly basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Margins Are CriticalMargin performance reveals how efficiently a company operates, showing whether it’s extracting more profit from each dollar of sales. Expansion indicates that a company is operating more efficiently, with better cost controls and other operational processes driving improved financial health.

Over the last several years, we’ve seen many companies flex their pricing power, namely subscription services such as Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) , without experiencing a notable drop in subscriptions. The result has been a nice boost across their margins, with shares climbing as a result.

Below is a chart illustrating NFLX’s margins on a quarterly basis. Please note that the chart tracks values on a trailing twelve-month basis.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Innovation Keeps You Ahead of the CompetitionInnovation is crucial for a company to stay relevant, helping it maintain and expand its current market share. Nvidia is again a clear-cut example of this favorable development, whose innovation within artificial intelligence (AI) has launched shares and put it at the forefront of market headlines.  

Earnings Estimates Drive Near-Term PerformanceFavorable earnings estimate revisions are key for a stock to move higher, precisely where the Zacks Rank comes into play.

The Zacks Rank uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from ‘Strong Buy’ to ‘Strong Sell.’ Importantly, it allows individual investors to take advantage of trends in earnings estimate revisions and benefit from the power of institutional investors.

The Zacks Rank can be seen in action below, capturing the bulk of the recent charge higher we’ve seen within Micron Technology (MU - Free Report) . The stock became a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) in roughly of August of last year, holding the rank since.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

All investors look to reap outsized gains.

When it comes to outperformance, several factors, including robust sales growth, margin expansion, innovation, and favorable earnings estimate revisions, are all contributing factors.

NEWTOWN, Pa., Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws involving Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. ("Ventyx") (NASDAQ: VTYX), resulting from allegations of providing potentially misleading business information to the investing public.

A Johnson & Johnson banner is displayed on the front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, in New York City, U.S., December 5, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJan 8 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), opens new tab said on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to cut drug prices for Americans in exchange for exemptions from U.S. tariffs.

"The joint agreement meets the requests laid out by President Trump to the industry and provides the company's pharmaceutical products an exemption from tariffs," J&J said in a statement.

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Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Trump administration announced in December that it had reached agreements with nine major pharmaceutical companies to cut the prices of their medicines for the government's Medicaid program and for cash-paying consumers, aiming to bring U.S. drug costs in line with those in other wealthy countries.

J&J said on Thursday that it will build two new manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Reporting by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips

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

January 08, 2026 20:48 ET  | Source: Aktis Oncology Inc.

BOSTON, Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aktis Oncology, Inc. (“Aktis”), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on expanding the breakthrough potential of targeted radiopharmaceuticals to large patient populations, including those not addressed by existing platform technologies, today announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 17,650,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $18.00 per share. In addition, Aktis has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,647,500 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by Aktis, are expected to be approximately $318.0 million, excluding any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by Aktis. Aktis’ common stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “AKTS” on January 9, 2026. The offering is expected to close on January 12, 2026, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, Leerink Partners and TD Cowen are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-292283), as amended, relating to the offering has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and was declared effective on January 8, 2026. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]; BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by email at [email protected]; Leerink Partners LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 53 State Street, 40th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, by telephone at (800) 808-7525 ext. 6105, or by email at [email protected]; or TD Securities (USA) LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by email at [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Aktis Oncology

Aktis Oncology, Inc. is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on expanding the breakthrough potential of targeted radiopharmaceuticals to large patient populations, including those not addressed by existing platform technologies. Aktis’ most advanced pipeline program targets Nectin-4, a miniprotein radioconjugate with multi-indication potential across multiple tumor types. Founded and incubated by MPM BioImpact, Aktis has developed its proprietary miniprotein radioconjugate platform to selectively deliver the tumor-killing properties of radioisotopes to targeted tumors. Designed to maximize tumor killing through high penetration followed by internalization and retention in cancer cells, Aktis’ miniprotein radioconjugates are designed to quickly clear from normal organs and tissues, thereby maximizing anticancer activity while minimizing side effects of treatment. The Aktis platform is isotope-agnostic and further enables clinicians to visualize and verify target engagement with imaging isotopes prior to exposure to therapeutic radioisotopes. Aktis also has a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to leverage its miniprotein platform to develop novel radioconjugates outside of Aktis’ proprietary pipeline.

Media Contact:
Sean Leous
ICR Healthcare
(646) 866-4012
[email protected]

Investor Contact:
Peter Vozzo 
ICR Healthcare
(443) 213-0505
[email protected]

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Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images 2026-01-09T02:02:48.208Z

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth is holding a meeting he called the "most important" of the year. Managers are urging staff to attend in person, an unusual push for Reality Labs. The meeting follows repeated cuts at Reality Labs as Meta shifts its focus toward AI. Meta's Chief Technology Officer and head of Reality Labs, Andrew Bosworth, has called an all-hands meeting for January 14, describing it as the "most important" of the year.

Bosworth is also strongly recommending that Reality Labs employees attend the division's meeting in person, two Meta employees told Business Insider.

The emphasis on in-person attendance is unusual for the division, which oversees the company's wearables, virtual and augmented reality initiatives, and a nascent robotics unit, these employees said. Some managers have told employees to "drop what they're doing" to attend the all-hands in person, one employee told Business Insider.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the meeting.

While the division has seen some success, such as its Ray-Ban smart glasses, Reality Labs has been a costly venture for Meta, incurring losses of more than $70 billion since 2020.

Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shifted the company's strategic focus toward AI and away from the metaverse. In 2025, Meta invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI and hired its CEO, Alexandr Wang, as part of the major reset of the company's AI efforts. Meta then embarked on a multibillion-dollar hiring spree, poaching top-tier AI researchers and engineers from rivals such as OpenAI and Google DeepMind.

Reality Labs has faced repeated rounds of cuts over the past year. In December, Business Insider reported that Meta was planning budget cuts up to 30% and considering job cuts in Reality Labs.

Last April, Meta laid off employees in Oculus Studios, its in-house gaming division, and the team behind Supernatural, the VR fitness app Meta acquired for over $400 million. Those cuts followed Meta's broader January 2025 layoffs that eliminated nearly 4,000 roles companywide, with at least 560 affecting Reality Labs employees.

In a memo obtained by Business Insider earlier last year, Bosworth referred to 2025 as "the most critical" year in his eight-year tenure at Reality Labs.

"This year likely determines whether this entire effort will go down as the work of visionaries or a legendary misadventure," he wrote.

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Meta Mark Zuckerberg Layoffs More Technology AI Business Virtual reality Social Media Exclusive

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ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance speaks on stage as top energy executives and ministers meet for the annual Gastech conference, in Houston, Texas, U.S., September 17, 2024. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesJan 8 (Reuters) - ConocoPhillips (COP.N), opens new tab said on Thursday its Chairman and CEO Ryan Lance will attend a White House meeting on Friday and that it was monitoring developments in Venezuela and their "potential implications for global energy supply and stability."

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with the heads of major oil companies at the White House on Friday to discuss ways of raising Venezuela's oil production.

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Representatives from Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), opens new tab, ConocoPhillips and Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab - the top three U.S. oil companies - would be present at the meeting, a source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Chevron is the only major U.S. oil company currently operating in Venezuela's oil fields, although Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips were major producers before their projects were nationalized two decades ago.

Reporting by Chris Thomas in Mexico City; Editing by Himani Sarkar

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Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.