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Over the past two months, the Bitcoin (BTC) price has tried in vain to reclaim an $80,000 valuation, with prices in this period peaking at approximately $76,000. Interestingly, a market analyst has recently explained that this is due to a significant price level acting as resistance.

Adjusted Realized Price Poses Resistance To Recovery Attempts  In an X post on March 28, On-chain analyst Darkfost highlighted the underlying dynamics behind Bitcoin’s recent troubles. This analysis is based on readings from the BTC Realized Price Excluding >7Y Supply, a metric that reflects the cost basis of circulating supply,  but with the exclusion of those aged seven years or older, aimed at filtering out diamond hands (that is, both lost and unmoving BTC).

❌ BTC is still unable to move back above the realized price that excludes inactive supply.

This chart presents a cost basis that excludes supply aged more than 7 years in order to better reflect the supply that is actually circulating.
⁰— 💡This approach filters out both lost… pic.twitter.com/RZ6vH1oSLA

— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) March 28, 2026

Presently, this adjusted realized price sits at around $72,500, a level above which Bitcoin has struggled to see sustained price action for the past two months. Citing previous historical cycles, Darkfost asserts that similar conditions have often coincided with extended bearish phases.

According to the market quant, Bitcoin has previously spent between six and 10 months below this investor cost basis during extended bear markets without a decisive reclaim. This indicates that a repeat of historical patterns could cause the Bitcoin market to experience additional months of negative price growth, despite the bear market that has already lasted six months.

BTC Market Overview As of press time, Bitcoin trades for $66,629, reflecting a gain of almost 1% in the past day. Interestingly, CoinMarketCap data show that the BTC market has barely moved over the past month, with a 1.27% downside deviation. According to renowned market analyst Ali Martinez, the premier cryptocurrency has gained more attention from traders in the last month, likely driven by observed high price volatility.

Based on data from CryptoQuant, Bitcoin Open Interest, i.e., outstanding trade contracts, reached around $30 billion in mid-March, marking the highest level seen in 2026. Notably, most of these transactions are occurring on the Binance exchange, where traders have recently initiated an additional $829 million in Open Interest.

Following the Bitcoin price struggles since October 2025, the market requires a bullish flip in defining factors such as macroeconomics, liquidity availability, and demand presence to initiate a recovery. However, until the market conditions become more indicative of an optimistic future, the Bitcoin market might indeed be in for a rough period in the months to come.

BTC trading at $66,771 on the daily chart | Source: BTCUSDT chart on  Tradingview.com Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview

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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Semilore Faleti works as a crypto-journalist at Bitconist, providing the latest updates on blockchain developments, crypto regulations, and the DeFi ecosystem. He is a strong crypto enthusiast passionate about covering the growing footprint of blockchain technology in the financial world.

Congress has introduced the Digital Asset PARITY Act, a bipartisan discussion draft introduced by Reps. Steven Horsford and Max Miller, who would rewrite Section 1091 to cover “specified assets.”

The category explicitly includes actively traded digital assets and their derivatives, and carves out a narrow class of regulated payment stablecoins from routine gain-or-loss recognition.

The draft lands harder on the crackdown side than on the relief side, and that asymmetry is what gives the proposal its sharpest edge.

For years, crypto traders have exploited a gap that stock investors cannot touch. Under current law, wash-sale rules apply to “stock or securities,” a definition that excludes digital assets.

A trader could sell Bitcoin at a loss, buy back in the next day, and still claim the tax deduction, a maneuver the IRS explicitly bars in equity markets.

The PARITY Act draft closes that gap by rewriting Section 1091 to cover actively traded digital assets, notional principal contracts tied to them, and related derivatives, including options, forward contracts, futures contracts, and short positions.

The familiar 30-day-before-and-after replacement window applies, and the wash-sale changes take effect upon enactment.

TopicCurrent lawPARITY Act draftSection 1091 applies toStock or securities“Specified assets”Digital assets covered?NoYes, if actively tradedDerivatives covered?Not as crypto assetsYes: options, forwards, futures, shorts, related contractsReplacement window30 days before / afterSameEffective dateAlready in force for stocksAfter enactmentThe stablecoin carveoutOn the other side of the ledger, the draft says sellers recognize no gain or loss on the sale of a “Regulated Payment Stablecoin,” provided the transaction stays within a $0.99-$1.01 per-unit band.

When the exception applies, the taxpayer's basis in the stablecoin is deemed to be $1.00 per unit for calculating any residual gain or loss.

The carveout does not extend to brokers or dealers in securities or commodities, and related-party transactions carry explicit anti-abuse flags, though those guardrails sit under technical drafting review.

A stablecoin must be a payment stablecoin under the GENIUS framework, a permitted issuer must issue it, it must peg solely to the US dollar, it must trade within 1% of $1.00 on at least 95% of trading days in the preceding 12 months, and the taxpayer must acquire it within 1% of $1.00.

The stablecoin section takes effect for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2025, and the draft's explanatory notes say that Congress is still working on whether to include a $200-per-transaction threshold and an aggregate annual limit in the final text.

That internal candor separates the stablecoin side from the wash-sale side, making the latter read like policy Congress has already decided.

The stablecoin carveout reflects the policy Congress wants, with Congress expecting Treasury to supply anti-abuse rules for coordinated arrangements but not yet embedding those guardrails in the black-letter text.

Qualification factorDraft requirement / treatmentAsset typeMust be a Regulated Payment StablecoinRegulatory statusMust qualify as a payment stablecoin under the GENIUS frameworkIssuerMust be issued by a permitted issuerPegMust be pegged solely to the U.S. dollarTrading stability testMust trade within 1% of $1.00 on at least 95% of trading days in the prior 12 monthsAcquisition testTaxpayer must acquire it within 1% of $1.00Transaction price bandSale/exchange must remain within $0.99–$1.01 per unitTax result if exception appliesNo gain or loss recognized on saleBasis treatmentTaxpayer’s basis is deemed to be $1.00 per unit for any residual gain/loss calculationExcluded partiesDoes not apply to brokers or dealers in securities or commoditiesAnti-abuse guardrailsRelated-party / coordinated-arrangement rules are flagged, but still under technical drafting reviewEffective dateApplies to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2025Open issue in draftCongress is still considering a $200 per-transaction threshold and a possible annual aggregate limitThe policy designCongress is using the tax code to distinguish between “crypto as payment” and “crypto as trading.”

The stablecoin market now sits at roughly $316 billion, with transaction volume exceeding $34 trillion last year, and a Wharton/WEF analysis found that roughly 99% of stablecoin activity still involves digital asset trading rather than payments.

Congress is offering tax relief to the use case it wants to encourage, and writing new costs into the one it wants to constrain.

The wash-sale rule does not apply where the taxpayer applies mark-to-market accounting to the specified asset, and the draft separately creates a mark-to-market election for dealers and traders in digital assets.

The political loser, more specifically, is the ordinary taxpayer using spot crypto for tax-loss harvesting.

Sophisticated trading businesses may access a cleaner elections framework than the current law provides.

The IRS finalized broker reporting rules for digital asset sales, requiring Form 1099-DA for transactions from Jan. 1, 2025, onward, with brokers furnishing taxpayer copies by Feb. 17, 2026.

Most 2025 statements will not include cost basis, leaving taxpayers to calculate it themselves. This means Congress is debating anti-abuse reform at the exact moment retail crypto holders are experiencing standardized reporting for the first time.

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The policy direction also reflects a broader consensus that predates the draft. The 2025 White House digital assets report recommended extending wash-sale rules to digital assets, while explicitly stating that those rules should not apply to payment stablecoins.

The 2025 Joint Committee on Taxation report identified the current wash-sale gap and the absence of any de minimis rule for routine digital asset spending.

The PARITY Act is Congress trying to codify a split that tax policy had already mapped.

Where it landsIn an optimistic outcome, lawmakers finalize the stablecoin language cleanly, align it closely with GENIUS definitions, and pair the wash-sale crackdown with a clear $ 200-per-transaction threshold that makes small payments genuinely friction-free.

In that outcome, the tax code accelerates the adoption of on-chain regulated dollars. Visa data show that more than 99% of the stablecoin supply is dollar-denominated, and leading issuers earned more than $7 billion in reserve interest.

If the OCC's projected issuer base under GENIUS fills out, the carveout covers a material share of dollar stablecoin volume. Crypto gains a cleaner payment rail and a more level trading framework at the same time.

For the worst-case scenario, the wash-sale, short-sale, and derivative coverage survive with little dilution while the stablecoin section stalls in technical review, never reaching a final clean text before the legislative calendar tightens.

The mark-to-market election benefits professionals who can navigate an elections framework, and retail investors lose the loophole fastest, with no offsetting simplification on the payments side.

The broader crypto legislation had hit a new impasse, with banks and crypto firms still fighting over stablecoin economics.

The PARITY Act, as a discussion draft with multiple sections explicitly flagged for ongoing technical work, sits directly inside that gridlock. Taxpayers enter the 2026 filing season under new 1099-DA reporting obligations, with Congress pointing toward reform without yet enacting it.

ScenarioWash-sale rulesStablecoin carveoutMain winnersMain losersOptimisticEnacted largely as draftedFinalized cleanly, possibly with clear $200 thresholdRegulated stablecoin users, compliant firmsTax-loss harvestersWorst caseCrackdown survivesRelief stalls in technical reviewProfessional traders using MTM electionsRetail crypto holdersCongress is more certain about closing the loophole than about the final contours of the stablecoin carveout.

The wash-sale rewrite is the harder edge of the draft, as it is concrete, broadly scoped, and ready to move. The stablecoin relief is the softer edge, presenting itself as directionally clear, mechanically unfinished, and dependent on a regulated-issuer framework that the OCC is still building out.

The version of the bill that actually reaches a vote will reveal which coalition Congress found less uncomfortable to disappoint.

Mentioned in this articlePosted in

TLDR: Visa joins Canton Network as the first major payments company to serve as a Super Validator among 40 nodes. Canton’s configurable privacy model lets banks adopt blockchain without exposing salaries, positions, or sensitive data. Visa’s stablecoin settlement has hit a $4.6B annualized run rate across 130-plus programs in over 50 countries. JPMorgan, Franklin Templeton, and the DTCC have all expanded onto Canton, signaling strong institutional blockchain adoption. Visa has officially joined Canton Network as the first major global payments company to serve as a Super Validator.

The move places Visa among 40 validators responsible for running the layer-1 blockchain. Banks and financial institutions can now access privacy-preserving infrastructure for on-chain payments.

The decision builds on Visa’s growing digital asset portfolio, which already spans stablecoin settlement and card programs across more than 50 countries globally.

Visa Brings Institutional-Grade Trust to Canton Network Canton Network was built to solve a specific problem that has kept banks away from public blockchains. Many institutions have long cited privacy as a major barrier to moving financial activity on-chain.

The network uses a configurable privacy model that keeps transaction details confidential between parties. This design allows banks to participate in blockchain infrastructure without exposing sensitive data to the broader network.

ICYMI: Visa will help banks bring stablecoin payments and settlement on-chain while preserving privacy on Canton.https://t.co/x8WIxgTAUw

— Canton Network (@CantonNetwork) March 29, 2026

As a Super Validator, Visa will carry voting powers that shape key decisions on the Canton Network. The company has committed to applying the same operational standards it uses in its global payment systems.

Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s global head of growth products and strategic partnerships, spoke directly to the issue. He stated that “many banks see the lack of privacy as a dealbreaker for moving meaningful activity on-chain.”

Birwadker further added that Visa is “bringing Visa-grade trust, governance and operational rigor” to privacy-preserving blockchain infrastructure.

He noted that regulated institutions can now bring payments on-chain without rethinking their existing risk and compliance frameworks.

The statement reflects how seriously Visa views its governance role on the network. It also signals a long-term commitment to institutional blockchain infrastructure beyond just payments processing.

Visa’s stablecoin settlement activity has already reached an annualized run rate of $4.6 billion globally. The company also operates stablecoin-linked card programs spanning more than 130 programs in over 50 countries.

This existing foundation made Canton a practical next step in its digital asset strategy. The Super Validator role extends that work into blockchain governance and infrastructure management.

Major Financial Institutions Are Expanding on Canton Network Visa is not alone in bringing institutional credibility to the Canton Network. JPMorgan’s Kinexys unit announced plans to launch its JPM Coin on Canton the same day Visa made its move.

JPM Coin is a USD-denominated deposit token that enables institutional clients to make payments digitally. The token was initially launched on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, before expanding to Canton.

Franklin Templeton has also expanded its tokenized fund platform, Benji, to the Canton Network. In December, the Depository Trust & Clearing Company said it would issue tokenized securities on Canton as well.

The DTCC processes quadrillions of dollars in transactions annually, making its participation particularly noteworthy. Each of these moves adds further weight to Canton’s position in institutional blockchain infrastructure.

Canton’s native CC token has responded positively to the wave of institutional announcements. The token is up more than 3% over the past day, trading at a recent price of $0.145.

Its market capitalization now stands above $5.5 billion, placing it 21st among all cryptocurrencies by that metric. Data from CoinGecko confirmed the ranking, reflecting growing market confidence in the network.

The concentration of major financial players on Canton reflects a broader shift in how institutions approach blockchain. Banks are moving from observation to active participation, with privacy as the primary enabler.

Visa’s Super Validator role adds another layer of operational credibility to the network. Canton appears to be emerging as the preferred infrastructure layer for regulated, on-chain financial activity.

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Ethereum’s liquidity exploded this week. Trading volumes surged across major exchanges while the cryptocurrency’s price stayed pretty much flat around $1,800, creating what analysts see as a classic accumulation pattern that often comes before big price moves.

Data from blockchain analytics firms on Tuesday showed massive upticks in token movements and trading activity. More than 15 million Ethereum tokens moved across exchanges in just the past week – a clear sign that traders are getting ready for something. Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Sushiswap saw transaction counts jump hard, with Uniswap hitting an all-time high in daily volume on March 27.

But prices didn’t budge much.

That’s actually pretty normal for Ethereum before major rallies, according to market watchers. The crypto often sees this kind of quiet accumulation phase where smart money builds positions while retail investors aren’t paying attention. “We’re seeing classic pre-breakout behavior,” said one trader who didn’t want to be named. “Volume’s there, movement’s there, but price action stays boring.”

DeFi Platforms See Major Activity Surge The liquidity boost hit DeFi protocols hard too. Aave and Compound both reported big jumps in borrowing and lending activity over the past week. More liquid Ethereum means these platforms can deploy capital way more efficiently, which brings in more users and more fees.

Staking numbers tell the same story. Over 15% of Ethereum’s total supply now sits locked in staking contracts – that’s a new record. And it’s not slowing down. Every day more tokens get staked, which takes them out of circulation and could create supply pressure down the road.

The proof-of-stake transition keeps driving this trend. As more people stake their tokens for rewards, liquid supply shrinks. Basic economics says that’s bullish if demand stays strong or grows.

Shanghai Upgrade Creates Buzz Ethereum developers are pushing hard toward the Shanghai upgrade, set for April 2026. The update promises better scalability and cheaper transaction costs – two things the network desperately needs. Gas fees currently hover around $15 per transaction according to Etherscan, which prices out smaller users. Analysts have drawn connections to Ethereum Preps Two Major Network Overhauls amid evolving conditions.

Institutional money keeps flowing in too. Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust added 10% to its holdings last month. When the big funds start buying, retail usually follows. Investment firms see something they like in Ethereum’s long-term prospects, especially with the network upgrades coming.

The Ethereum Foundation’s March report showed active addresses up 20% year-over-year. That’s real adoption growth, not just speculation. More people actually using the network means more demand for the underlying token.

Derivatives markets are heating up as well. CME data shows Ethereum futures open interest jumped 25% since early March. Traders are positioning for volatility, probably betting on the Shanghai upgrade or other catalysts to move prices.

Exchange reserves dropped 12% over the past month per Glassnode. When people pull tokens off exchanges, they’re usually planning to hold long-term or use them in DeFi. Either way, it reduces selling pressure.

Vitalik Buterin talked about community-driven development in a March 26 interview. He stressed that Ethereum’s improvements come from its global developer network, not just the core team. The co-founder said upcoming changes would focus on scalability and security – two areas where Ethereum still faces challenges. This echoes themes explored in Blockchain Commodity Trading Surges Despite Liquidity, underscoring the shifting landscape.

Things could move fast once they start moving. Ethereum’s current setup looks similar to patterns before previous major rallies, but timing remains unclear. Macroeconomic factors, regulatory news, and technical developments could all trigger the next big move. Market participants are watching closely, waiting for the catalyst that breaks the current stalemate.

Several major cryptocurrency exchanges reported record-breaking Ethereum trading volumes during this period. Binance processed over $2.8 billion in ETH trades on March 28 alone, while Coinbase saw a 40% week-over-week increase in Ethereum transactions. Korean exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb also contributed significantly to the global volume surge, with combined daily volumes reaching $800 million. These numbers dwarf typical trading activity and suggest coordinated positioning by large-scale investors.

The accumulation pattern extends beyond just exchange activity. Whale addresses – those holding more than 10,000 ETH – increased their combined holdings by 3.2% last week according to Santiment data. Meanwhile, smaller retail addresses actually decreased their holdings slightly, indicating a clear transfer of tokens from weak hands to strong ones. This redistribution often precedes major price movements, as institutional players typically have longer investment horizons and stronger conviction in their positions.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat’s driving Ethereum’s increased trading volume?Higher activity on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Sushiswap, plus over 15 million tokens moving across exchanges in the past week.

When is the Shanghai upgrade happening?The Shanghai upgrade is scheduled for April 2026 and aims to improve network scalability and reduce transaction costs.

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Bitcoin long positions on Bitfinex have surged to roughly 79,343 BTC, the highest level since November 2023. Analysts view this spike as a warning signal. 

Historically, similar buildups in leveraged longs have coincided with local price tops or sharp declines.

Bitcoin Long Positions on Bitfinex Against Price Chart. Source: X/Wu BlockchainThis metric reflects margin traders betting on higher prices. However, when positioning becomes crowded, the market often turns fragile. 

Is Bitcoin Price About to Crash Hard?With many traders already long, fewer buyers remain to sustain upward momentum. As a result, price rallies tend to stall.

Moreover, these positions are typically leveraged. If Bitcoin drops even slightly, forced liquidations can trigger rapid selling. This creates a cascade effect, where falling prices lead to more liquidations and deeper declines. 

Past cycles have shown this pattern repeatedly during periods of excessive long exposure.

At the same time, broader macro conditions remain uncertain. Equity markets have weakened, and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on risk assets. 

Bitcoin has recently traded in a tight range, struggling to break resistance. In such an environment, crowded long positioning increases vulnerability to downside moves.

Large market participants also monitor these imbalances. When positioning becomes one-sided, they may push prices lower to trigger liquidations and accumulate at cheaper levels. 

This dynamic is common in derivatives-driven markets.

Bitcoin Is Cooling Internally: Active Addresses Have Fallen by More Than 30%

“To validate a convincing structural recovery, it will not be enough to see price move higher; network activity will also need to return.” – By @oro_crypto pic.twitter.com/eBMkEcCut5

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) March 27, 2026 Bitcoin’s current structure remains range-bound. However, the surge in Bitfinex longs suggests the market is overextended on the bullish side. 

Unless strong spot demand emerges, the risk of a sharp correction remains elevated.

TLDR: Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, and Solana each fell 6–8% this week, wiping over $80 billion from the crypto market. A $14.16B Bitcoin options expiry on March 27 liquidated 122,000 traders and triggered $451M in total losses. Iran’s threat to block a second oil chokepoint pushed crude above $103, accelerating the crypto selloff sharply. Stablecoin supply near a record $316B signals parked capital ready to return once market conditions stabilize. Crypto markets are facing one of their roughest stretches of 2026. Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, and Solana have each dropped between 6% and 8% over the past seven days.

The selloff has erased more than $80 billion in total market value since March 24. A record-breaking options expiry, rising geopolitical tension, and heavy ETF outflows all hit at once. The Fear & Greed Index now sits at 23, deep in extreme fear territory.

Three Reasons Crypto Is Crashing This Week The single biggest catalyst was the March 27 Bitcoin options expiry on Deribit. It was the largest quarterly expiry of 2026, settling $14.16 billion in contracts.

The max pain level sat at $75,000, far above where Bitcoin was actually trading. That gap triggered forced selling across the board, liquidating over 122,000 traders. Total liquidation losses reached $451 million within 24 hours.

Iran’s threat to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait made things significantly worse. That strait carries 12% of global seaborne oil and sits alongside the already-closed Strait of Hormuz.

Oil crossed $103 per barrel on the news, pushing investors away from risk assets. The gold-to-crypto rotation that had helped Bitcoin recover in early March reversed sharply. Crypto sold off alongside equities as fear spread through financial markets.

ETF outflows added further weight to an already struggling market. Bitcoin ETFs bled $171 million on March 26, while Ethereum ETFs shed $92.5 million the same day.

That marked Ethereum’s seventh consecutive session of net outflows. It was also the first time in 2026 that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana spot ETFs all posted outflows on the same day. Institutional selling pressure is now visible across all three major ETF categories.

The macro environment was already working against crypto before this week. The Federal Reserve revised its 2026 PCE inflation forecast upward from 2.4% to 2.7% at its March 18 meeting.

That pushed rate cut expectations further out into the year. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed near 4.5%, and the dollar index gained 0.57% in seven days. When yields rise and the dollar strengthens, capital tends to rotate out of crypto and into bonds.

A 15% global tariff overhang has been adding pressure to risk assets since early 2026. That backdrop gave investors little reason to buy the dip when options mechanics and geopolitical risk hit simultaneously.

There was no cushion underneath the market when the selling accelerated. Each external factor compounded the next, making the crash broader and faster than it might have been otherwise.

Where Prices Stand and What a Recovery Requires Bitcoin dropped from $71,000 at the start of the week to $66,457 as of March 28. That puts it 47% below its October 2025 all-time high of $126,080.

The $66,000 level is now the key support to watch. A daily close below it would be the first time Bitcoin has lost that floor since February’s crash. If that happens, analysts warn a move toward $50,000 could follow.

Ethereum broke below $2,000 for the first time since mid-2024, falling 7.24% on the week. It is now 60% below its August 2025 peak of $4,953. XRP dropped to $1.33, down 7.03%, despite the SEC recently classifying it as a digital commodity.

Solana fell the hardest of the four, losing 7.62% to trade at $83.10. SOL is now 72% below its cycle high, with on-chain activity also declining alongside price.

A ceasefire or de-escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict remains the fastest path to a recovery. When ceasefire reports emerged in early March, Bitcoin gained 16% in just five days.

Oil falling back below $90 would ease inflation pressure and bring risk appetite back to markets. The CLARITY Act is also moving toward a Senate Banking Committee markup in late April. If passed, it would give institutions the legal framework they need to increase crypto exposure.

Stablecoin supply is sitting near a record $316 billion, showing that capital has not fully left the crypto ecosystem. That liquidity could flow back into Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana once conditions improve.

Consecutive days of positive ETF inflows across multiple assets would signal that a recovery is beginning. Until then, the $66,000 Bitcoin level remains the market’s clearest indicator of what comes next.

In a seemingly concerning development that has rattled investors and cybersecurity professionals, Anthropic’s highly anticipated AI model, internally referred to as Claude Mythos, has apparently been leaked to the public. The unauthorized release triggered an immediate sell-off, with shares of major software companies tumbling and cryptocurrency values sliding sharply in the hours that followed.

Analysts point to growing fears that the model’s advanced capabilities could fundamentally alter the balance of power in digital defense and offense.

The leak, which surfaced late last week, appears to have caught both the market and regulators off guard.

Software stocks, already sensitive to any news involving artificial intelligence breakthroughs, dropped across the board.

Giants in enterprise security and application development saw their valuations erode as traders priced in the possibility of rapid disruption.

At the same time, Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies experienced synchronized declines, reflecting broader unease about how next-generation AI might reshape entire sectors reliant on secure code and blockchain infrastructure.

At the core of the concern is the model’s demonstrated ability to scan complex software systems with unprecedented speed and precision.

According to those familiar with the leaked version, Claude Mythos can detect subtle weaknesses in codebases that would typically require teams of human analysts weeks or even months to uncover.

Once identified, the system can then outline targeted strategies to exploit those flaws, effectively turning theoretical vulnerabilities into actionable threats within minutes.

This dual capacity—spotting problems and immediately suggesting exploits—marks a significant leap beyond earlier AI tools, which were largely limited to advisory roles.

Industry observers warn that such power could dramatically heighten risks across the digital landscape.

Organizations that depend on legacy systems or hastily written applications may suddenly find themselves exposed to attacks that are faster, smarter, and harder to anticipate.

Governments and private firms could face a surge in sophisticated intrusions, ranging from data breaches to infrastructure sabotage.

The speed at which the model operates raises the stakes: what once served as a defensive buffer for security teams may soon evaporate.

The potential for escalation has prompted talk of an emerging cyber arms race. Nations and corporations might feel compelled to accelerate their own AI development programs, not merely for innovation but for survival.

Defensive tools could evolve into offensive weapons, and vice versa, creating a high-stakes cycle where each breakthrough prompts an even more powerful countermeasure.

Some experts worry that this dynamic could outpace current regulatory frameworks, leaving critical systems vulnerable before safeguards are properly established.

Anthropic has yet to issue a formal statement on the leak, though sources close to the company suggest internal investigations are underway.

In the meantime, the incident serves as a reminder of how quickly AI can move from controlled research environments into the wild. As markets continue to digest the news, one thing is now apparent: the arrival of Claude Mythos, whether intentional or not, has already begun reshaping conversations around technology, security, and economic stability.

A massive token unlock scheduled for late July could make things worse.

Thailand authorities raided an iris-scanning site tied to Sam Altman’s World project last October. That was trouble enough.

Now the foundation behind the biometric identity platform is selling its own token at a fraction of what investors paid less than a year ago — and the market is not taking it well.

World Foundation disclosed Saturday that its token issuance arm, World Assets, completed an over-the-counter sale of WLD tokens worth $65 million, spread across four buyers over the past week.

The first batch settled on March 20. Based on an average sale price of roughly $0.27 per token, the deal involved around 239 million WLD changing hands.

A 76% Drop From Last Year’s Deal Price The numbers tell the story. In May 2024, World raised $135 million at approximately $1.13 per token from backers including Andreessen Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto.

1/ World Assets, Ltd. has now closed a series of OTC sales for a total of $65,000,000 with four counterparties over the past week, the first of which settled on March 20, 2026.

— World Foundation (@worldcoinfnd) March 28, 2026

This latest sale went out the door at $0.27 — a 76% drop from that round. The foundation said the proceeds will fund core operations, research and development, orb manufacturing, and ecosystem work.

2/ The sale was conducted at an average price of ~$0.2719/WLD. $25,000,000 worth of the tokens sold are subject to a 6-month lockup period.

— World Foundation (@worldcoinfnd) March 28, 2026

Not all the tokens sold are locked up. Of the $65 million total, only $25 million worth carry a six-month lockup period. The rest were immediately available to trade, meaning buyers could move those tokens on the open market right away.

3/ This sale funds the project’s core operations and activities, R&D, orb manufacturing, ecosystem development, and more.

— World Foundation (@worldcoinfnd) March 28, 2026

WLD briefly touched an all-time low of $0.24 after the sale was announced before clawing back to around $0.27. At that price, the token sits roughly 97% below its peak of $11.82 recorded in March 2024.

According to Coingecko data, WLD was trading at $0.2725 as of the latest reading, up just 0.27% over a 24-hour period.

WLDUSDT now trading at $0.27. Chart: TradingView Another Wave Of Supply Approaching The pain may not be over. Data from DefiLlama shows a major community token unlock is set for July 23, covering about 52% of WLD’s total supply of 10 billion tokens. That kind of release typically adds selling pressure — and it arrives at a time when the token is already near its lowest point ever.

World’s regulatory problems have also followed the project across borders. Authorities in Indonesia suspended World ID registration over compliance concerns. Brazil banned the platform’s eye-scanning operation. Germany opened its own inquiry. Kenya pushed back hard on data privacy grounds.

Regulatory Heat Keeps Building The Thailand raid added another entry to that list. Officials there, working through the Securities and Exchange Commission alongside the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, said the iris-scanning service may have operated without the required license. Arrests were made and an investigation remains open.

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView

YoungHoon Kim, a South Korean figure who claims to hold the world’s highest IQ at 276, posted five bold crypto predictions on X (Twitter), with XRP (XRP) at the center.

Kim has built a large social media following and regularly posts about Bitcoin (BTC), XRP, and broader market trends.

Kim Declares Himself the “Son of XRP”In a rapid-fire string of posts on X, Kim called himself the “Son of XRP,” claiming he was “born to send XRP to $100” and that “no one can stop” him. He also declared that “crypto is about to explode.”

These posts follow a pattern of increasingly aggressive XRP advocacy from Kim. He previously predicted XRP price could hit $100 within five years and has argued that Ripple token is superior to BTC.

As of this writing, the XRP price was $1.32, down by 1.67% in the last 24 hours. Notably, a move to $100 for the XRP price would constitute a 7,475% increase above current levels.

XRP Price Performance. Source: BeInCryptoKim did not stop at XRP. He stated that altseason had arrived “100%,” predicted meme coins would pump first, and called BTC “basically a meme coin.”

I think BTC is basically a memecoin.

— YoungHoon Kim (@yhbryankimiq) March 29, 2026 Bold Claims Meet SkepticismKim’s crypto predictions draw amplified attention because of his claimed IQ of 276, which he uses to brand himself as the world’s smartest person. However, that claim has faced sustained pushback.

For starters, his January 6 prediction, forecasting a $100,000 target for the Bitcoin price within 48 hours or by January 8, fell falt as BTC dropped from $93,747 to close at $91,099.

Bitcoin Price Performance. Source: TradingViewHis prior crypto forecasts have also missed targets. Kim predicted XRP would reach a new all-time high by late 2025. That did not happen. He also projected BTC would hit $300,000 in early 2026, a level it has not approached.

Similarly, a VICE investigation published in July 2025 reported that high-IQ experts could not reproduce his claimed score from his test data.

Chris Leek of Mensa called attempts to extrapolate 276 “a nonsense.” Australian psychometrician Jason Betts estimated Kim’s actual score did not exceed 175.

Kim’s supporters, including the GIGA Society Professional, have countered that the 276 figure uses a standard deviation of 24, equivalent to 210 on the more common SD15 scale. A supporting pre-print released in August 2025 was later withdrawn.

Wall Street analysts and forecasters have offered mixed projections for Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock at the end of 2026.

Notably, most forecasts center on continued expansion in artificial intelligence infrastructure and the rollout of next-generation platforms such as Blackwell and Rubin. 

Nvidia’s accelerating data center revenue and leadership in parallel computing also underpin the outlook of most experts. 

Despite broadly bullish projections, NVDA shares have recently moved in line with broader market sentiment, which has remained bearish, triggered by the accelerating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. 

As of press time, Nvidia stock was valued at $167, down more than 11% year to date.

NVDA one-week stock price chart. Source: Finbold Nvidia stock price outlook Among the forecasts, Evercore ISI analyst Mark Lipacis maintains the highest target at $352 by the end of 2026. The firm has reaffirmed an ‘Outperform’ rating, citing potential revenue growth of up to 79% by mid-2026, strong demand for AI accelerators, and expansion across software, networking, and enterprise adoption.

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities outlined a $250 base case for December 2026 in late 2025, assuming steady annual gains of 15% to 20% during the AI buildout. Following stronger earnings and GTC updates, he has raised his broader target toward $300, pointing to Nvidia’s technological lead and expanding AI use cases.

Major banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase, also project Nvidia to be around $300 by the end of 2026. These estimates reflect expectations of more than $1 trillion in cumulative data center spending through 2027, faster enterprise AI adoption, and additional upside from newer platforms.

Independent analysis adds similar estimates. In this line, Keithen Drury projects a $309 price based on fiscal 2027 earnings per share of $7.74 and a 40x forward price-to-earnings multiple.

Nvidia stock tailwinds  Across forecasts, analysts highlight key tailwinds such as hyperscaler capital spending, the shift from training to inference workloads, sovereign AI initiatives, emerging market demand, and Nvidia’s ability to command premium pricing through its full-stack ecosystem. 

At the same time, revenue growth for the semiconductor giant is expected to slow from recent peaks but remain strong, with fiscal 2027 estimates around 60% to 65% year-over-year.

Risks include a potential slowdown in AI spending, rising competition in custom silicon, supply normalization, geopolitical pressure on China sales, and possible valuation compression if growth fails to meet expectations.

Featured image via Shutterstock

Amazon's (AMZN 3.89%) autonomous vehicle company, Zoox, recently announced a major expansion, with plans to launch its robotaxi service in Austin and Miami later this year. The company is also quadrupling its San Francisco service area and expanding further into Las Vegas.

Zoox is clearly a company on the move. The problem is that it doesn't make a dime from its services just yet.

Image source: Zoox.

Zoox is gaining momentum The Austin and Miami launches follow a familiar playbook for Zoox: offer rides to employees and their families, then open a public waitlist via its Explorer program, and, ultimately, expand to general access.

Less than a year after launching in Las Vegas, the company says it has logged nearly 2 million autonomous miles and carried over 350,000 riders, with more than 500,000 people already on its waitlist.

That's impressive growth. But one major detail missing from Zoox's press release is that all of the company's rides to date have been free. That's because Zoox still lacks federal approval to charge for rides. The company is waiting on a decision from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to operate up to 2,500 of its vehicles commercially. That decision could come soon, though, with the agency expected to publish its decision sometime in April.

Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said recently that the company is "ready to charge" for rides once approval comes.

This is our year of growth. We are actively implementing learnings to confidently and safely scale our robotaxi service across the country and bring our differentiated experience to even more riders.

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Way behind Waymo To put Zoox's position into context, consider that Alphabet's (GOOG 2.49%)(GOOGL 2.30%) robotaxi company, Waymo, recently announced plans to launch commercial services in 10 new U.S. cities this year -- reaching at least 20 total -- as well as international expansion to London and Tokyo.

And, most importantly, Waymo already has $350 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), according to the Financial Times. Waymo also recently raised $16 billion in its latest funding round, valuing the company at $126 billion.

Just as impressive are Waymo's ridership numbers. Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in February that his company is on track to serve "over 1 million rides per week by the end of the year."

Pedal to the metal for robotaxi services While Zoox is behind Waymo, Amazon knows what's at stake in the robotaxi market. Autonomous vehicle services will generate $7 billion in annual sales by 2030 and take about 8% of the U.S. rideshare market, according to Goldman Sachs.

Zoox's expansion into Austin and Miami shows the company is serious about scaling as the self-driving industry takes shape. But it will face stiff competition from Waymo and will need to prove that it can start generating significant revenue quickly. Once it's allowed to start charging for rides, that is.

Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Aldeyra Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALDX) resulting from allegations that Aldeyra may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Aldeyra securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=38697 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 17, 2026, Aldeyra filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K, in which it announced its receipt from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") a Complete Response Letter ("CRL") regarding its New Drug Application ("NDA") of reproxalap. The report stated that the "CRL stated that there is "a lack of substantial evidence consisting of adequate and well-controlled investigations … that the drug product will have the effect it purports or is represented to have under the conditions of use prescribed, recommended, or suggested in its proposed labeling" and that "the application has failed to demonstrate efficacy in adequate and well controlled studies in the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease." The letter also stated that the "inconsistency of study results raises serious concerns about the reliability and meaningfulness of the positive findings" and that the "totality of evidence from the completed clinical trials does not support the effectiveness of the product.""

On this news, Aldeyra's stock price fell $2.99 per share, or 70.7% to close at $1.24 per share on March 17, 2026.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
[email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290370

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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SAN DIEGO, March 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces purchasers or acquirers of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE) common stock between August 3, 2023 and December 26, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until Monday, April 6, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Ultragenyx class action lawsuit. Captioned Bailey v. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc., No. 26-cv-01097 (N.D. Cal.), the Ultragenyx class action lawsuit charges Ultragenyx as well as certain of Ultragenyx’ executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Ultragenyx class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-inc-class-action-lawsuit-rare.html

You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Ultragenyx is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the identification, acquisition, development, and commercialization of novel products for the treatment of rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases.

The Ultragenyx class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) defendants created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to the effects of setrusumab on patients with variable types of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (“OI”), while also minimizing risk that patients in Ultragenyx’ Phase III Orbit study would fail to achieve a statistically significant reduction in annualized fracture rate (“AFR”), such that the second interim analysis could be performed and presented to the investing public; and (ii) in truth, Ultragenyx’ optimism in the Phase III Orbit study’s results and interim analysis benchmark were misplaced because Ultragenyx failed to convey the risk associated with basing such threshold figures on Phase II results that had no placebo control group for appropriate comparison and thus had not ruled out that the reduction in AFR from that study could merely be triggered by an increased standard of care and the placebo effect of being provided a novel treatment.

The Ultragenyx class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 9, 2025, Ultragenyx revealed that the Phase III Orbit study failed to achieve statistical significance for the second interim analysis and that Phase III Orbit and Cosmic studies would now be “progressing toward final analysis.” On this news, the price of Ultragenyx stock fell more than 25%, according to the complaint.

Then, on December 29, 2025, Ultragenyx announced that both its Phase III Orbit and Cosmic Studies had not “achieved statistical significance against the primary endpoints of reduction in annualized clinical fracture rate compared to placebo or bisphosphonates, respectively.” Ultragenyx allegedly attributed the study failure to a “low fracture rate in the placebo group” of Orbit and a trend that fell shy of statistical significance in Cosmic. On this news, the price of Ultragenyx stock fell more than 42%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Ultragenyx common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Ultragenyx class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Ultragenyx investor class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Ultragenyx shareholder class action lawsuit. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Ultragenyx class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world’s leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors – $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world, and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. 
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. 

Contact:
        Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
        J.C. Sanchez
        655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
        800-449-4900
        [email protected]

, /PRNewswire/ -- PetroChina Company Limited ["PetroChina" or the "Company", (HKSE: 00857; SSE: 601857)] announced that in 2025, the Company proactively responded to changes in the external environment, continuously intensified exploration and development, further propelled the transformation and upgrading of refining and chemicals, focused on improving marketing quality. The Company  deeply promoted quality and efficiency improvement, steadily advanced green and low-carbon transformation, accelerated the layout of emerging industries, distinctively strengthened innovation-driven development, led the development of new quality productive forces, and continuously improved ESG performance, further enhancing the value creation capability of the oil and gas industry chains. Despite a 14.6% year-on-year decrease in Brent crude oil prices, the Company maintained high operating results. In 2025, the Company achieved revenue of RMB 2,864.47 billion and profit attributable to owners of the Company of RMB 157.32 billion. Free cash flows reached RMB 120.19 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 15.2%. The Debt-to-Asset ratio and the Debt-to-Capital ratio stood at 36.4% and 11.2% respectively, the assets and liabilities structure was further optimized, and the financial position remained sound.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the Company recorded cumulative profit attributable to owners of the Company exceeding RMB 700 billion, with cumulative dividend per share of RMB 2.03 and an average annual dividend payout ratio of 51%, significantly exceeding the 30% standard stipulated in the Articles of Association. In return for shareholders, the Board recommends the distribution of a final dividend of RMB 0.25 per share (inclusive of applicable taxes) for 2025, bringing the full-year dividend to RMB 0.47 per share (inclusive of applicable taxes), representing a dividend payout ratio of 54.7% and the total dividend payout of RMB 86.02 billion. Both the final and full-year dividends per share maintained the best level for the same period in history, while the payout ratio also reached its highest level in the past five years.

Results Review

Oil and gas supply capability was continuously strengthened, with new energy business accelerating development. The Company vigorously implemented advanced effective development, actively promoted a virtuous cycle of increasing reserves and production, and achieved multiple major breakthroughs and significant discoveries in Sichuan Basin, Junggar Basin, Qaidam Basin, Ordos Basin, and Songliao Basin. The Company fully tapped the potential of mature oil and gas fields, strived to improve recovery rates, and efficiently advanced the construction of key production capacity projects including Tarim Fuman and Sichuan Tianfu tight gas, completed the construction of two national-level shale oil demonstration zones in Jimsar and Daqing Gulong as well as the Qingcheng production base. Oil and gas output reached new record highs, with shale oil and coalbed methane output increasing substantially. The Company strengthened operation management of existing overseas oil and gas projects, achieving stable operation and profitable development. In 2025, the Company recorded oil and gas output of 1,841.9 MM boe, year-on-year up by 2.5%. The Company continued to refine its new energy business layout, successively completed a batch of wind and solar power key projects in Tarim Shangku and Xinjiang Altay, acquired equity in State Grid Xinyuan Company to deploy pumped storage, and established CNPC Electric Power Company to specialize in and optimize power purchase and sales business. In 2025, the Company generated 7.93 billion kWh of wind and solar power, year-on-year up by 68.0%, signed new geothermal heating contracts covering an area exceeding 100 million square meters, and completed CO2 utilization of 2.66 million tons, year-on-year up by 40.3%. The oil, gas and new energies business achieved an operating profit of RMB 136.07 billion.

Refining transformation advanced toward innovation and demonstrated positive momentum, with prominent highlights in the new materials business. The Company continuously advanced the transformation, upgrading and structural adjustment of refining and chemical operations, driving the business toward the mid-to-high end of the industry value chain. The ethylene projects at Jilin Petrochemical and Guangxi Petrochemical were completed and brought into operation, with volume of ethylene output exceeding 10 million tons for the first time. In response to market demand, the Company continuously optimized production operations and product structure, endeavored to raise the proportion of high value-added products, achieving notable results in reducing oil and increasing chemicals and specialties. By integrating customer resources, strengthening channel development, and intensifying marketing efforts for chemical products and refining specialty products, the Company strove to increase sales volumes and market shares, chemical product sales maintained rapid growth. Domestic market shares of paraffin, bonded marine fuel oil, specialty asphalt and other products remained in leading positions. In 2025, the Company processed 1.38 billion barrels of crude oil and produced 117 million tons of refined products, and the chemical commodity products reached 40.03 million tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, the chemical new materials reached 3.33 million tons, up year-on-year by 62.7%. The refining, chemicals and new materials business realized an operating profit of RMB 24.25 billion.

Marketing achieved remarkable results, with continuously improving value creation capability across the entire industry chain. Taking the marketing enhancement initiative as a key lever, the Company coordinated to optimize market layout and resource allocation, strengthened the integration of production and sales, vigorously expanded sales and reduced inventory, and ensured smooth operation of the industry chain. The Company continuously optimized marketing strategies, implemented personalized and differentiated marketing based on different regions and petroleum products, appropriately captured the timing of LNG spot procurement and gas storage injection-withdrawal operations, and implemented multiple measures to control natural gas procurement costs. Overseas market expansion and trading operations were actively pursued to enlarge the scale of oil and gas product trading and contribute to cost reduction and efficiency improvement across the industry chain. New energy services including vehicle LNG refueling, charging and battery swapping, and integrated energy solutions were also developed, with 1,525 integrated energy stations established, 450 LNG refueling stations put into operation, and 37,600 charging guns added. In 2025, the Company achieved sales volumes of 160.81 million tons of gasoline, kerosene and diesel, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.1%; and a total of 314.71 billion cubic meters of natural gas, up year-on-year by 7.0%, of which domestic natural gas sales reached 247.53 billion cubic meters, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.6% . The refined products marketing business achieved an operating profit of RMB 17.55 billion, while the natural gas marketing business achieved an operating profit of RMB 60.80 billion.

Technological innovation delivered abundant achievements, with core competitiveness steadily enhanced. Taking innovation as the primary development strategy, the Company continuously strengthened the scientific and technological innovation system, achieved a number of landmark results in energy and chemical technology innovation, and strongly supported the development of the businesses. Shendi Take-1 Well was successfully completed, setting multiple world records, while Shendi Chuanke-1 Well broke through the 10,000-meter threshold. 100,000 ton-level gas-phase POE complete technology was put into application, and a solution-polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber unit with proprietary technology was completed and brought into operation. The "Digital‑Intelligent Transformation" strategic initiative has been vigorously implemented to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence with the energy and chemical industry, and significantly improved digital and intelligent industrialization across the entire industry chain, with production and operation efficiency and refined management capabilities continuously strengthened. In 2025, the Company recorded R&D expenditure of RMB 27.25 billion, accounting for 1.0% of revenue, with the proportion of capitalized R&D expenditure at 13.6%, and obtained 2,042 domestic patents. As of December 31, 2025, the Company held a total of 23,075 patents domestically and overseas.

2026 marks the beginning of "the 15th Five-Year Plan". The Company will remain anchored on the goal of building itself into a world-class integrated energy and chemical company built to last, proactively adapt to the global energy transition and evolving market landscape, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, and vigorously implement its five major strategies: innovation, resources, market, internationalization, and green & low-carbon development. The Company will actively enhance market analysis and judgment, proactively respond to market changes, continuously optimize production and operations, strengthen cost and expense management, and constantly enhance the operational quality and efficiency of its oil and gas industry chains. By fully leveraging its competitive advantages, the Company will develop new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, accelerate the development of emerging industries including new energies and new materials, strive to enhance its capabilities in value creation, risk response and sustainable development, and continuously create greater value for shareholders and society.

Additional information on PetroChina is available at the Company's website: http://www.petrochina.com.cn

Issued by PetroChina Company Limited

For further information, please contact:
PetroChina Company Limited

PR Agency (Overseas media):

Ever Bloom (HK) Communications Consultants

Fax: (852) 2111 1103

Group Limited

Tel: (852) 3468 8640

Yao Cheng

Email: [email protected]

PR Agency (Domestic media):

EverBloom Investment Consulting Co., Ltd

Fax: (852) 8562 3181

Tianyu Hong

Tel: (852) 5166 3828

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE PetroChina Company Limited

Like many stocks these days, Celsius Holdings (CELH 4.41%) has gone worse than flat. Shares of the company gaining market share in the functional sparkling beverage market have fallen for six consecutive trading days, a 21% plunge in that time.

A couple of factors have weighed on Celsius stock. Costco (COST +0.45%) introduced a line of energy drinks under its Kirkland Signature label last week, and rising gas prices could make consumers less likely to spring for unnecessary indulgences. The market itself has been weak, declining for the fourth straight week.

Still, the pullback still feels overdone. Celsius stock hit a new 10-month low on Friday, but zoom out, and the shares have fallen 66% from their all-time high set two years ago. Let's go over some of the reasons Celsius shares can bounce back next month.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Costco? Really? As a shareholder, fan, and card-carrying member of Costco, I know all about the allure of the warehouse retailer. Kirkland Signature brand is a juggernaut that generates roughly $90 billion a year across its growing product line.

I also realize Celsius is in the crosshairs of Costco's launch for a new line of energy drinks. Its initial flavors -- orange, peach, and tropical -- aren't gunning for Red Bull or Monster. They're in the flavor profile for Celsius' namesake brand and its Alani Nu platform. The cans have the same form factor and even contain the same amount of caffeine.

They differ in that Costco's entry lacks Celsius's thermogenesis weight-loss hook. They will also differ in distribution. Kirkland Signature cans will cost about half as much, but they're sold through Costco. Folks won't get them at the gym, supermarket, convenience store, or restaurant where Celsius is sold. The move will eat into the Celsius that sells at the warehouse club, but it might also expand the market for the functional energy drink category.

But do you think PepsiCo (PEP +1.47%) -- Celsius' stateside distributor and minority shareholder -- cares about the impact of warehouse clubs for its namesake soft drinks? It's not losing any sleep about Sam's Cola. It's also not going to bat an eye at Kirkland Signature Cola sales, because they no longer exist. Costco left the soft drink market a decade ago. The folks at LaCroix may not even know that there's a Kirkland Signature line of flavored sparkling water.

Costco's entry into the market isn't a positive development. It's just not as problematic as the market believes, especially given the warehouse club operator's misses when it took on beverage stocks in the past. I'm not alone in this view. Analysts at Roth Capital, Citi, and TD Cowen all issued notes late last week, arguing that the shares are oversold on the Costco news.

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2. Celsius is cheaper than you may think After three consecutive years of triple-digit sales growth, Celsius hit some serious growing pains in 2024. It didn't take long to get back on track after acquiring the smaller but fast-growing Alani Nu in a deal valued at an accretive $1.65 billion. Celsius has returned to strong growth after the deal closed in March of last year. Most of the heady gains are not organic, but the flagship brand has also started to grow again.

Revenue has soared 85%, 173%, and 117%, respectively, since the deal closed. Analysts are modeling a top-line jump of 132% in the current quarter, which ends this week and will be announced in early May. Growth will moderate after that, with the lapping of the transformative Alani Nu deal. Wall Street pros still see a respectable 24% jump in organic revenue for the second quarter.

With two brands now topping $1 billion in annual sales -- and PepsiCo handing Celsius its Rockstar energy drinks brand in the U.S. and Canada en route to boosting its ownership stake -- Celsius is now a rock star itself. Despite the strong and nearly perfect growth trajectory over the past decade, it's surprisingly cheap. You can buy Celsus for 21 times this year's earnings and a multiple of just 16 based on next year's analyst profit target.

3. Don't bet against a beater Celsius has delivered impressive revenue growth since closing on its Alani Nu deal. The performance has been even better on the bottom line. Celsius has easily beaten analyst earnings estimates in the last three quarters. 

QuarterEPS EstimateEPS ActualSurpriseQ1 2025$0.24$0.4793%Q2 2025$0.28$0.4252%Q3 2025$0.19$0.2637% Data source: Yahoo! Finance.

It's not lost on me that the degree of the beat has narrowed with every quarter. Analysts are starting to catch up to reality, but they're still vastly underestimating the earnings power here. In the meantime, estimates will keep pushing higher. The forward earnings multiple will keep moving lower. Today's discounted shares appear to be a bargain.

General Mills (GIS +1.19%) hit a 52-week low on March 24 in lockstep with a broader stock market sell-off. But zoom out, and the pain extended far beyond the last 12 months, as General Mills is around its lowest level in 15 years, while the S&P 500 has increased severalfold.

The sell-off has pushed General Mills' dividend yield up to 6.6%, making it one of the higher-yielding S&P 500 components. But a dividend is only as reliable as the company paying it. And although General Mills has paid a dividend without interruption for 127 years, some investors may view its rising yield as a red flag that the payout is becoming unsustainable.

With that, let's determine if the value stock is too cheap to ignore or has more room to fall.

Image source: Getty Images.

Addressing challenges With one quarter left to report in fiscal 2026, General Mills forecasts a 1.5% to 2% decline in full-year organic net sales and a 16% to 20% decline in adjusted earnings per share -- which is a bit inflated because General Mills sold some yogurt and pet food brands that are no longer contributing to earnings.

On March 17, General Mills announced it was selling its business in Brazil. The following day, on its third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, General Mills discussed its goal to improve margins by focusing on its best brands and regions.

GIS data by YCharts

While management didn't provide guidance on product volume or specific margin improvements, it did say its multiyear transformation is boosting productivity and that it expects to return to price-mix growth, indicating that shifting sales to higher-margin items is paying off.

It's not just new premium products that are contributing to growth. General Mills remains confident in its core products, marketing, innovation, media spending, and price competition -- saying that the renovation of its core products is probably better than pre-COVID but that consumers are under more pressure than in 2019.

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A deep-value stock for patient investors to buy Despite lower sales and earnings, General Mills is still generating plenty of free cash flow to cover its dividend. And the stock is dirt cheap with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of just 10.7. But an affordable dividend and inexpensive valuations don't matter if General Mills fails to return to growth. Ultimately, that task falls on the company's brand portfolio, market position, and its execution.

Despite its recent struggles, General Mills doesn't strike me as a value trap because it isn't borrowing money to support its dividend, and its path to recovery is fairly achievable. In fact, if inflationary pressures ease, General Mills could be better positioned for long-term earnings and dividend growth than it was pre-pandemic -- making the stock a steal at current levels.

That said, it's understandable if some investors prefer to wait for General Mills to show measurable signs of a recovery before buying the stock -- especially considering the price has been falling with seemingly no end in sight.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Picard Medical, Inc. (NYSE American: PMI) between September 2, 2025 and October 31, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 13, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Picard Medical securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 13, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about Picard's business, operations, and the true nature of its securities trading throughout the Class Period. Specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Picard was the subject of a fraudulent stock promotion scheme involving social media-based misinformation and impersonated financial professionals; (2) insiders and/or affiliates used offshore or nominee accounts to facilitate the coordinated dumping of shares during a price inflation campaign; (3) Picard's public statements and risk disclosures omitted any mention of the false rumors and artificial trading activity driving the stock price; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about Picard's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

To join the Picard Medical class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=52263 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290300

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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There is a heightened level of economic uncertainty these days. It can stem from geopolitical conflict, inflationary concerns, and fears about artificial intelligence disruption. For investors, the goal is to find companies that can weather any storms that might be brewing.

Here's one consumer staples stock that benefits no matter which way the economy goes in 2026 and beyond.

Image source: Getty Images.

Procter & Gamble (PG +0.20%) sells household essentials, from Tide laundry detergent and Head & Shoulders shampoo to Luvs diapers and Vicks medicine. It's uniquely positioned since it doesn't face demand that fluctuates as much as other economically sensitive businesses.

During the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Procter & Gamble posted revenue growth in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021.

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Investors that decide to buy this stock can immediately gain a nice foundational holding for their portfolios. This doesn't mean you'll get market-beating performance, though, as shares have produced a total return of 126% in the past decade (as of March 26), which trails the S&P 500 index (277%).

But this is an extremely profitable business, with a fiscal 2025 net profit margin of 19%. And it has a stellar 69-year streak of raising the dividend payout. The current dividend yield of nearly 3% provides a valuable income stream regardless of the direction the economy takes.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

It may seem hard to believe, but the COVID-19 pandemic was six years ago, and one of its biggest victims on Wall Street is yet to recover. Peloton Interactive's (PTON +8.85%) shares are still down by an eye-popping 97% from their all-time high of $167 reached in early 2021.

The fitness company's near-penny stock status is sure to attract deal-hungry investors looking to bet on a turnaround. And management has a few bold strategies to try and make that happen.

Let's discuss the pros and cons of Peloton to decide if it is a potential millionaire-maker stock or if its value could crash even further over the long term.

Why Peloton? At first glance, Peloton's business model looks like a winning formula. The company sells high-end exercise bikes and treadmills alongside a subscription service where customers pay a fee ($49.99 monthly for the all-access membership) for live fitness classes, performance tracking, and other features to help them get the most out of their equipment.

This benefits customers by allowing them to get the perks of a personal trainer and coach from the comfort of their own homes. And despite being a premium service, it could actually lead to cost savings compared to real-world personal training, which can cost $25 to $100 per hour, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

For Peloton and its investors, the business model allows the company to translate one-off equipment sales into sources of long-term, potentially higher-margin revenue. Historically, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) strategy has allowed businesses to ensure their long-term profitability and strengthen their economic moats by making it harder for customers to switch to rivals. However, after initial success during the pandemic's stay-at-home boom, Peloton is struggling to capture these benefits.

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Second-quarter earnings were lackluster. Peloton's second-quarter earnings show the limitations of its business model. Revenue fell 3% year over year to $656.5 million, driven by drops in the number of members and subscriptions and a slight increase in the churn rate (the percentage of members who canceled in the period), although it remains modest at 1.9%.

Peloton's growth seems to have plateaued. And even though it maintains a core base of very committed customers, it struggles to attract new people to the platform.

It's very hard to reignite a business that has peaked. But that isn't stopping Peloton's management from trying anyway. The first step has been aggressive cost-cutting. In February, the company announced its decision to lay off around 11% of its global workforce as part of a restructuring plan that aims to save $100 million by the end of the year.

Image source: Getty Images.

The company's focus on financial discipline is already showing results, with the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 cost of revenue declining 9% to 325.2 million and operating losses plummeting roughly 69% to $14.3 million.

Peloton is also looking for new growth drivers. In late 2025, the company revealed a revamp of its software and hardware offerings, which include artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personal coaching, and Peloton IQ, a computer-vision system designed to further enhance personalization through real-time movement tracking and other features.

That said, AI can come across as gimmicky in consumer products. And it remains to be seen if these new features will be enough to reignite excitement for Peloton's struggling brand.

Is Peloton a millionaire-maker stock? With a market cap of $1.75 billion and a stock price of just $4.10, Peloton would have all the ingredients of a millionaire maker if it could successfully execute its turnaround strategy. In fact, returning to its previous peak of $167 would represent a gain of almost 4,000% -- easily a life-changing return in the market.

That said, the company seems to be in managed decline. Instead of seeking growth, Peloton is trying to downsize its way into profitability by cutting costs and refocusing on a smaller but highly committed user base. Investors should probably avoid the stock for now or wait for the company to reach consistent profitability before considering a position.

The Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH +0.10%) and VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB +0.06%) differ most in yield, portfolio focus, and fund size, with VCSH delivering higher income, and SMB targeting tax-exempt municipal bonds in a smaller, more diversified package.

Both VCSH and SMB aim for steady income with limited price swings, but their approaches diverge: VCSH sticks to high-grade, short-term corporate bonds, while SMB tracks short-duration municipal bonds exempt from federal taxes. This comparison unpacks their key differences to help investors weigh cost, income, risk, and portfolio makeup.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricVCSHSMBIssuerVanguardVanEckExpense ratio0.03%0.07%1-yr return (as of 2026-03-27)4.7%3.9%Dividend yield4.3%2.6%Beta0.410.34AUM$48.3 billion$303.7 millionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

VCSH is more affordable on fees with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared to SMB’s 0.07%, and also delivers a higher yield, making it attractive to those prioritizing income over tax benefits.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricVCSHSMBMax drawdown (5 y)(9.46%)(7.46%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$958$959What's insideSMB invests in over 300 short-term municipal bonds, spanning states and localities, with top holdings like California Community Choice Financing A, New York City Transitional Finance Authority, and State Of California. Its portfolio is designed to generate federally tax-exempt income, which may appeal to those in higher tax brackets. The fund has an 18-year track record and focuses on cash and other municipal securities, maintaining broad diversification across the muni market.

VCSH, by contrast, concentrates on high-quality, short-term corporate bonds, holding just 12 positions. Its top allocations include the U.S. Dollar, and the United States Treasury Note/Bond. While both funds are classified under "Cash & Others," VCSH’s lineup is far more concentrated, and its yield comes from taxable corporate debt rather than tax-exempt municipal bonds.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investorsBonds are a key way to add stability and capital preservation to a portfolio, acting as a counter-balance to stocks. Many ETFs offer bond exposure, and the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) and VanEck Short Muni ETF (SMB) are two to consider.

They are both designed to provide income with low interest-rate risk. Choosing between them comes down to individual investor preferences and goals.

VCSH is for investors who prioritize a low cost and high dividend yield. It also offers far greater liquidity given its substantial assets under management of $48.3 billion. The trade off is that the income is taxable, and VCSH exposes you to corporate credit risk and more volatility, as evidenced by its higher beta and max drawdown over the last five years.

SMB is great for investors in higher tax brackets who seek tax-free income. Moreover, it provides lower risk and volatility compared to VCSH. The fund’s downsides are the higher expense ratio, as well as lower liquidity and yield. So deciding to go with SMB depends on whether the tax benefits can outweigh these drawbacks.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) between February 26, 2025 and December 15, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 5, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Nektar securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Nektar class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55599 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 5, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) enrollment in the REZOLVE-AA trial had not followed applicable instructions and protocol standards; (2) the foregoing was likely to have a significant negative impact on the REZOLVE-AA trial's results; (3) accordingly, the REZOLVE-AA trial's overall integrity and prospects were overstated; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Nektar class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55599 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290297

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 29, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Lakeland Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAKE) between December 1, 2023 and December 9, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 24, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Lakeland securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Lakeland class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50020 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 24, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Lakeland was experiencing significant, sustained issues with its Pacific Helmets and Jolly businesses, including, inter alia, shipping-related delays, production issues, and slower than expected rollout of new products; (2) accordingly, defendants overstated the anticipated and actual positive impact of these businesses on Lakeland's financial results, as well as the overall strength and quality of Pacific Helmets' and Jolly's respective operations; (3) Lakeland's business and financial results were significantly deteriorating because of, inter alia, tariff-related headwinds and timing, certification delays, and material flow issues in its acquired businesses; (4) accordingly, defendants overstated the strength of their tariff mitigation measures and "small, strategic, and quick" ("SSQ") M&A strategy; (5) as a result of all the foregoing issues, defendants' financial guidance was unreliable; and (6) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Lakeland class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=50020 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/290255

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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TLDR: Pendle’s TN Lee represented DeFi alongside Wall Street giants at Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister meeting in New York. Vietnam is building sandbox models for both permissioned and permissionless tokenized assets to attract global capital. Tokenized bonds, ETFs, and private credit were central to discussions about Vietnam’s emerging financial infrastructure. Pendle’s inclusion signals DeFi protocols now hold a credible seat at the highest institutional financial policy tables. Pendle joined some of Wall Street’s most powerful institutions to shape Vietnam’s financial future. TN Lee represented the protocol in New York alongside Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Anchorage Digital.

The delegation met with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the country’s ambitions for an International Financial Center. The meeting positioned Pendle as a credible voice for decentralized finance at the highest institutional levels.

Wall Street and DeFi Unite Around Vietnam’s Tokenization Potential Pendle’s inclusion in the New York delegation alongside Wall Street’s biggest names was far from accidental. Vietnam’s leadership deliberately assembled a group spanning both traditional finance and emerging digital asset sectors.

The goal was to build a comprehensive case for Vietnam as a next-generation financial hub. That mix of institutions signals a broad and serious commitment to the country’s financial development.

TN Lee spoke directly to Vietnam’s potential as a market for tokenized bonds, ETFs, and private credit. As noted by @pendle_fi, Lee also made a strong case for the depth of talent Vietnam has to offer.

Last week, @tn_pendle met with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister in New York, alongside Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Anchorage Digital, to make the case for Vietnam's International Financial Center.

Among a delegation of global financial… pic.twitter.com/mOknZ0BRgE

— Pendle (@pendle_fi) March 29, 2026

These points landed before an audience of institutional heavyweights rarely found in the same room as DeFi protocols. The moment reflected how significantly the tokenization conversation has shifted within mainstream finance.

Vietnam’s government is actively constructing the regulatory infrastructure to match its ambitions. Sandbox models covering both permissioned and permissionless assets are currently on the table.

That dual approach reflects a measured yet forward-thinking posture toward digital financial markets. Wall Street institutions present in the room clearly responded to this structured regulatory direction.

The meeting also reinforced that Vietnam is not simply watching the tokenization trend from a distance. Its leadership is making deliberate and targeted moves to attract global financial partners.

Bringing together Deutsche Bank, BlackRock, and Pendle under one policy conversation shows the breadth of that strategy. Each institution brings a different layer to what Vietnam is trying to build.

Pendle Positions Itself as DeFi’s Voice in Institutional Finance Discussions Pendle’s seat at the table alongside Wall Street giants marked a turning point for DeFi’s role in formal financial policy. Traditional institutions have long dominated these high-level government discussions, without representation from blockchain.

That dynamic shifted visibly in New York when TN Lee addressed Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister directly. It established Pendle not just as a participant but as an advocate for the entire DeFi sector.

According to @pendle_fi, the protocol views Vietnam’s brightest days in decentralized finance as still ahead. That long-term perspective aligns with how Wall Street institutions typically approach emerging market opportunities.

Pendle is not entering Vietnam for short-term positioning but for sustained strategic involvement. This approach mirrors the patient capital mindset that major financial institutions bring to frontier markets.

Vietnam’s talent base emerged as a recurring point throughout the delegation’s discussions in New York. Skilled professionals across blockchain, finance, and technology are already driving adoption within the country.

That human capital argument carries significant weight with institutions assessing long-term market viability. Wall Street partners look beyond regulation to the people who will ultimately build and operate these systems.

Moving forward, the sandbox frameworks Vietnam develops will determine how quickly tokenized products reach the market. Pendle is already embedded in that process as an early and active participant.

Its presence alongside Morgan Stanley, Franklin Templeton, and Anchorage Digital has set a clear precedent. DeFi protocols can and will play a role in shaping the financial infrastructure of tomorrow’s emerging markets.

Ethereum’s [ETH] price appears subdued, yet liquidity tells a different story as a structural shift toward infrastructure unfolds beneath the surface.

Stablecoin supply rises sharply, with nearly $5.8 billion added in a month, pushing total liquidity toward $163.3–$163.4 billion.

Source: Artemis While HyperEVM adds about $1.7 billion, capital clearly concentrates on Ethereum. This divergence shows participants favor deep liquidity and established settlement layers over fragmented ecosystems.

Meanwhile, DeFi TVL stabilizes near $53 billion, indicating capital is consolidating into proven protocols. However, rising transaction counts and transfer volumes signal real usage is building beneath weak price action.

This matters because liquidity is accumulating, yet until deployed, Ethereum likely remains range-bound before a broader expansion phase.

Rising activity confirms real demand Transaction data now confirms that liquidity is not just building on Ethereum; it is actively being deployed across the network.

Activity rises sharply, with counts exceeding 2.6 to 2.8 million, even while price remains capped between $2,000 and $4,000.

Source: CryptoQuant This shift validates real usage, as stablecoin transfers, lending flows, and DEX activity drive consistent throughput rather than speculative spikes. Capital is clearly circulating, which confirms that earlier inflows are translating into measurable engagement.

Regulatory clarity further supports this trend, as reduced uncertainty encourages sustained participation and protocol-level interaction. This reinforces the idea that activity growth is structural, not temporary.

The signal is clear. Deployment is now visible, and with usage leading price, Ethereum is building demand that can eventually translate into stronger price expansion.

Institutional entry reinforces Ethereum’s financial rails Activity is no longer the only signal strengthening Ethereum; the type of capital entering the network is also changing. What was once retail-driven is now increasingly shaped by institutions moving into tokenized finance.

Major firms like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton are pushing products beyond pilots into real deployment, which shows growing confidence in Ethereum’s infrastructure.

This shift happens because regulatory clarity is improving, reducing legal risk and making on-chain finance more accessible.

Meanwhile, tokenized RWAs expand into the tens of billions, while stablecoins continue to power payments, lending, and treasury flows. This indicates capital is not only entering but also integrating into real financial use cases.

The implication is clear. Capital quality is improving, and as institutions build exposure, Ethereum strengthens its role as financial rails, positioning price to follow utility once deployment accelerates.

Final Summary Ethereum shows rising stablecoin liquidity and transaction activity, confirming real demand. Ethereum attracts institutional capital and expanding RWAs, reinforcing its role as financial infrastructure, with price likely to follow sustained utility growth.

TLDR: Gnosis and Zisk launched the EEZ at EthCC Cannes, co-funded by the Ethereum Foundation in March 2026. The EEZ framework enables synchronous composability between Ethereum mainnet and connected L2 rollups. Zisk’s real-time ZKVM can prove Ethereum blocks instantly, making cross-rollup composability technically viable. Founding members include Aave, Titan, Beaver Build, Centrifuge, and xStocks under a Swiss non-profit structure. Gnosis co-founder Friederike Ernst and Zisk founder Jordi Baylina unveiled the Ethereum Economic Zone (EEZ) at EthCC in Cannes on Sunday.

The initiative, co-funded by the Ethereum Foundation, introduces a rollup framework enabling synchronous composability between Ethereum’s mainnet and connected Layer 2 networks.

Founding members include Aave, block builders Titan and Beaver Build, real-world asset platform Centrifuge, and tokenized equities project xStocks.

EEZ Targets Ethereum’s Growing Fragmentation Problem The Ethereum Economic Zone is built to solve a persistent issue in the ecosystem. Each new L2 chain that launches creates its own liquidity pool and bridge, effectively walling off users and assets. Ernst addressed this directly during the announcement in Cannes.

“Ethereum doesn’t have a scaling problem. It has a fragmentation problem,” Ernst said. “Every new L2 that launches with its own liquidity pool and its own bridge is another walled garden.”

The EEZ framework allows smart contracts on connected rollups to call contracts on mainnet. These calls carry the same guarantees as if they were deployed on Ethereum itself. ETH serves as the default gas token, and no additional bridging infrastructure is required.

As reported by The Block in 2024, a new Ethereum L2 was appearing roughly every 19 days. The Block’s 2026 L2 outlook further noted that most new chains became ghost towns after incentive cycles ended. Activity concentrated around a small number of ecosystems, while fragmentation deepened.

The EEZ enters a competitive field of interoperability efforts. Optimism’s Superchain, Polygon’s AggLayer, and the Ethereum Foundation’s own Interop Layer — unveiled in November 2025 — are all pursuing similar goals. The =nil; Foundation is also working on a zkSharding-based approach to chain coordination.

Real-Time ZK Proving Powers the Technical Case What sets the EEZ apart, according to its founders, is real-time zero-knowledge proving. Baylina created the Circom programming language and co-founded Polygon zkEVM before spinning off his team into Zisk last June. His proving stack is the core enabling technology behind the framework.

Baylina made a direct case for the technology’s maturity during the EthCC presentation. “We spent two years building a ZKVM that can prove Ethereum blocks in real time,” he said.

“Synchronous composability between rollups isn’t theoretical anymore.” This positions the EEZ as technically distinct from competing interoperability proposals.

GnosisDAO governance records from February 2026 show the community had already been debating a six-month R&D collaboration with Baylina.

The goal was to explore converting Gnosis Chain into a natively integrated Ethereum L2. The EEZ appears to be the direct product of that process.

The Ethereum Foundation’s decision to co-fund the project is notable given its recent spending cuts. The Foundation paused its open grants program in mid-2025 and trimmed its burn rate to around 5% per year.

Co-executive directors Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz K. Stańczak have named L2 interoperability as a priority, making the EEZ a natural fit. The project will be structured as a Swiss non-profit, with all software released as free and open-source.