Market Signal Briefing

A security failure at Resolv Labs has allowed an attacker to mint more than $80 million in unbacked USR stablecoins. This caused the token to violently lose its dollar peg and crash to 25 cents.

According to Blockchain Security analysts at Cyvers, this exploit happened due to a flaw in the minting logic. The contracts were audited, but the issue still allowed unauthorized minting without proper validation.

🚨 $80M Stablecoin Exploit, and a reminder of how fragile this model really is

Stablecoins don’t fail gradually, they fail all at once.

Today, Cyvers detected a major incident at @ResolvLabs, where an attacker minted ~80M unbacked $USR. No collateral was drained, this was pure…

— 🚨 Cyvers Alerts 🚨 (@CyversAlerts) March 22, 2026 The exploit follows a period of massive, unexplained capital flight for the protocol. BeInCrypto data shows USR’s total capitalization plummeted from approximately $400 million in early February to just $100 million weeks before the attack.

Resolv Pauses Protocol After USR Crashes to 25 CentsThis rapid 75% contraction in liquidity raises critical questions about whether insiders or large investors were quietly unwinding their positions ahead of the collapse.

Resolv USR Stablecoin Price Chart. Source: CoinGeckoAccording to on-chain data, the attacker utilized an initial $100,000 in USD Coin to trigger the vulnerability.

Blockchain security firm PeckShield estimates the total amount of artificially generated USR at $80 million. According to the firm, the attack was executed across an initial $50 million mint and a subsequent $30 million mint.

The exploiter immediately dumped the unbacked tokens into decentralized exchange liquidity pools, successfully extracting more than $24 million in Ethereum.

Despite the severe market impact, Resolv Labs claimed that its collateral pool “remains fully intact” and that it lost no underlying assets. The company claimed its immediate priority is to protect legitimate users from the fallout.

We are currently investigating a security incident involving unauthorized minting of USR.

At this stage:

The collateral pool remains fully intact. No underlying assets have been lost.

The issue appears isolated to USR issuance mechanics.

Our immediate priority is to:

1)…

— Resolv Labs (@ResolvLabs) March 22, 2026 This corporate messaging drastically contrasts with market reality, as retail investors holding USR are currently nursing heavy losses following the 74% collapse. Resolv has indefinitely paused all protocol functions.

Security researchers suggested that the incident stems from gross architectural negligence rather than advanced cryptographic warfare.

“This is exactly where stablecoin risk becomes real. Audits alone are not enough, if you’re not monitoring minting and supply in real time, you’re blind when it matters most. Every protocol interaction must be continuously monitored, and anomalies in minting, pricing, or liquidity must be stopped before they propagate. That’s the only way to contain events like this before they cascade,” Cyvers CEO & Co-founder Deddy Lavid told BeInCrypto.

Blockchain analyst Andrew Hong reported that a basic Externally Owned Address (EOA) controlled a critical “service role” within the protocol.

Instead of relying on a secure multisignature contract, the protocol allowed a single private key to secure this standard crypto wallet.

USR hack due to SERVICE_ROLE completing the requested swap for an inflated amount

The service role has always just been an EOA address (while the admin is a multisig). There were no oracle or bound/max mint checks on TheCounter or the SimpleToken contract pic.twitter.com/n8gySqkrXh

— ilemi (@andrewhong5297) March 22, 2026 Adding to the scrutiny, the DeFi platform YieldsAndMore noted that this specific administrative role lacked fundamental security guardrails, including maximum mint limits and price-oracle checks.

As a result, analysts suggest the incident heavily signals a compromised private key or a potential insider operation.

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The XRP market has entered a sensitive phase, with a large portion of holders now underwater, raising questions about whether the asset is approaching capitulation or preparing for its next cycle.

On-chain data from Glassnode shows that roughly 36.8 billion XRP are currently held at a loss. Measured in dollar terms, those unrealized losses amount to approximately $50.8 billion at current prices.

Glassnode analysts say the situation reflects a broader shift in market sentiment. XRP recently lost its aggregate holder cost basis, a key psychological level that often triggers stronger selling pressure.

The network’s Spent Output Profit Ratio indicator, measured using a seven-day exponential moving average, has dropped from 1.16 in July 2025 to around 0.96 today. That reading indicates that many investors are now selling their coins at a loss rather than profit, flipping overall on-chain profitability into negative territory.

That said, market commentator EGRAG says previous cycles have typically ended through either price-based or time-based capitulation. Price-based capitulation involves a sharp and rapid percentage drop that quickly flushes out weak holders. By contrast, time-based capitulation unfolds through prolonged sideways consolidation, gradually draining market momentum before the next upward move.

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Despite recent weakness, one market watcher revealed that the largest XRP exchange-traded fund in the United States now leads a market with total ETF assets tied to the token that have surpassed $1 billion. Meanwhile, Ripple has expanded its institutional infrastructure, as Ripple Prime recently joined the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) clearing system.

Some industry projections envision cross-border payment flows on XRP infrastructure reaching $10 trillion by 2030. But for now, the market is focused on whether current losses trigger deeper capitulation or mark the final stages of consolidation before the next expansion cycle.

TL;DR

Ecosystem Overview: XDC supports global trade and enterprise‑grade applications, with its token powering transactions, smart contracts, and settlement across a hybrid blockchain infrastructure. Market Trajectory: From 2026 to 2032, forecasts show a mix of conservative and ambitious scenarios, shaped by regulation, adoption, and maturing technology. Long‑Term Outlook: Analysts highlight steady growth potential as real‑world integration expands, with XDC navigating a clearer market structure and increasing utility across financial sectors.
The XDC Network has emerged as a blockchain ecosystem designed to support global trade, tokenization, and enterprise‑grade financial applications. Built as a hybrid chain, it combines public transparency with private‑network flexibility, allowing institutions to operate securely while still benefiting from decentralized infrastructure. Its architecture is optimized for fast settlement, low fees, and interoperability with existing financial systems, making it a compelling foundation for real‑world use cases.

As blockchain adoption accelerates across supply chains, banking, and digital asset markets, the XDC Network positions itself as a practical solution for organizations seeking efficiency and compliance‑friendly innovation. This growing relevance naturally fuels interest in how its native token may evolve in value over the coming years.

The Role of the XDC Token At the center of the ecosystem lies the XDC token, the utility asset that powers network operations. It is used to pay transaction fees, support smart contract execution, and maintain the overall security of the chain through its delegated proof‑of‑stake model. Beyond its technical function, XDC also acts as a bridge asset within tokenized trade finance, enabling seamless settlement across digital and traditional systems. As more institutions explore blockchain‑based financial instruments, the token’s role becomes increasingly important in sustaining network activity and incentivizing participation.

Why XDC Price Predictions Matter Price forecasts for XDC play a crucial role for traders, long‑term investors, and businesses evaluating blockchain‑based solutions. Understanding potential value trajectories helps market participants assess risk, anticipate adoption trends, and plan strategic decisions. With the XDC Network expanding its presence in global finance, analyzing its future price becomes an essential part of navigating the evolving digital asset landscape.

XDC Network 2026 to 2032 Price Prediction XDC Network Price Outlook for 2026 In 2026, projections from CoinDataFlow outline a potential trading corridor for XDC that spans from $0.010232 on the conservative end to $0.033437 under more favorable market conditions. When compared with its current average value, this range implies that the asset could experience a modest decline of -2.16% if it gravitates toward the lower boundary of the forecast.

A more optimistic scenario for 2026 emerges from expectations tied to global regulatory progress and the expansion of digital‑asset infrastructure. The environment for blockchain‑based applications becomes increasingly supportive. Under these conditions, XDC could see its average price climb toward $1.01, with the possibility of reaching $1.45 if dApps achieve wider integration.

Paul O’Gorman, a well-known crypto expert, shared a video on his YouTube channel discussing the XDC Network and its native token. Among other things, he made his price predictions about XDC.

How XDC Network Could Perform in 2027

Forecasts for 2027 from CoinCodex outline a trading window in which XDC may fluctuate between $0.05088 and $0.09654, producing an estimated yearly average near $0.07641. If the token were to follow this trajectory, the implied return on investment could reach 180.99%, reflecting a strong shift in market sentiment compared with earlier years.

Additional analysis for 2027 presents a similar but slightly narrower valuation band, suggesting that the token could stabilize somewhere between $0.07 and $0.1, with an expected midpoint around $0.087. This scenario points to a year marked by steady demand and improving liquidity, supported by broader adoption of decentralized tools and more mature trading infrastructure.

XDC Network Market Expectations for 2028 Analysts at DigitalCoinPrice outline a scenario in which XDC begins 2028 near $0.0360 and gradually moves toward $0.0458 as the year progresses. This projected climb represents a noticeable improvement compared with the prior year’s performance, signaling renewed confidence in the asset’s market position.

A different perspective anticipates that 2028 may still be shaped by a lingering correction phase, keeping the broader market in a restrained state. Under this outlook, XDC could revisit a lower threshold around $0.35, while its average value may hover near $0.51 throughout the year. Should market conditions stabilize, the asset might reach a ceiling close to $0.69.

Projected XDC Network Valuation in 2029

Changelly’s outlook for 2029 places XDC within a relatively narrow valuation band, suggesting that the token could fluctuate between $0.218 and $0.250, with an estimated yearly midpoint of $0.226. This range reflects a measured view of the asset’s potential performance, shaped by ongoing market maturation.

A separate analysis presents a more conservative scenario, proposing that XDC may trade between $0.094 and $0.14 throughout 2029, with an average value near $0.11. This perspective highlights the possibility of a slower growth phase, influenced by broader market corrections or reduced speculative activity. Even within this restrained environment, the token maintains a defined structure.

XDC Network Trend Analysis for 2030 Experimental modeling for 2030 suggests that XDC could experience a notable upswing, with simulations pointing to a potential increase of 330.05% under the most favorable conditions. These projections outline a price spectrum that stretches from $0.030146 at the lower end to $0.137932 at the highest.

A separate long‑range outlook envisions 2030 as a pivotal year in which the broader ecosystem surrounding the XDC network strengthens its position within enterprise‑focused blockchain solutions. Experts and Analysts anticipate a potential floor near $0.80, with the average price settling around $1.24 and an upper target reaching $1.75.

What Analysts Anticipate for XDC Network in 2031

Market projections for 2031 indicate that XDC could move into a relatively stable valuation range as technical indicators and broader sentiment begin to align. Analysts suggest that the token may surpass $0.0805, supported by a minimum expectation near $0.0673 and an upper boundary around $0.0865.

A separate assessment presents a slightly more ambitious scenario, proposing that XDC could trade between $0.11 and $0.17 throughout 2031, with an estimated average near $0.14. This perspective suggests that expanding real‑world use cases and maturing infrastructure may contribute to stronger demand for the token.

XDC Network Long‑Term Price Scenario for 2032 A refreshed outlook for 2032 paints a far more fluid picture for XDC, with projections hinting at a year where the token could gain meaningful traction if conditions line up in its favor. Some models suggest the asset has room to climb by 446.9%, potentially reaching $0.1754077 at the top of its range. Even so, movement throughout the year may unfold between $0.054071 and that upper boundary.

A separate long‑term assessment presents a slightly different valuation range, suggesting that XDC could trade between $0.13 and $0.19 during 2032, with an estimated average of around $0.16. This outlook points to a more balanced environment in which steady adoption and maturing technology support gradual appreciation rather than extreme volatility.

Conclusion XDC’s long‑term outlook reflects a blend of cautious forecasts and ambitious scenarios, shaped by regulation, adoption, and expanding utility. Across 2026–2032, projections highlight steady maturation, clearer market structure, and growing real‑world integration, positioning the token as a developing contender within enterprise‑focused blockchain ecosystems.

The Price Predictions published in this article are based on estimates made by industry professionals; they are not investment recommendations, and it should be understood that these predictions may not occur as described.

The content of this article should only be taken as a guide, and you should always carry out your own analysis before making any investment.

Most Wall Street analysts believe semiconductor companies Micron Technology (MU 4.89%) and Intel (INTC 5.00%) are undervalued, but some think the stocks could drop sharply in the next year.

Joseph Moore at Morgan Stanley has set Micron with a bear-case target price of $240 per share. That implies 43% downside from its current share price of $423. Kevin Cassidy at Rosenblatt Securities has set Intel with a target price of $30 per share. That implies 32% downside from its current share price of $44. The forecasts quoted above suggest Micron and Intel are worth selling at their current prices. Here's why I agree.

Image source: Getty Images.

Micron Technology: 43% downside implied by Morgan Stanley's bear-case target price Micron is a semiconductor company that develops memory and storage solutions for personal computers, mobile devices, data center servers, and automotive systems. The company manufactures DRAM memory products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and NAND flash memory products.

Micron reported financial results that crushed estimates in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (ended Feb. 26). Revenue increased 196% to $23.8 billion, driven by record sales in DRAM, HBM, and NAND memory products. Non-GAAP net income increased 682% to $12.20 per diluted share.

"Micron set new records across revenue, gross margin, earnings per share (EPS), and free cash flow in fiscal Q2, driven by a strong demand environment, tight industry supply, and our strong execution. And we expect significant records again in fiscal Q3," said CEO Sanjay Mehrotra.

However, investors have reason to be nervous. Memory chips are commodities, which means suppliers like Micron compete primarily on price, which itself is controlled by supply and demand. Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure has led to a critical memory chip supply shortage, causing prices to triple or even quadruple in recent months.

Yet, history says the supply shortage will eventually become a supply glut as companies race to increase manufacturing capacity. That will cause prices to decrease. "There is very positive sentiment on near-term results, and very low conviction about the durability of that strength," according to Joseph Moore at Morgan Stanley.

Wall Street expects Micron's earnings to peak in fiscal 2027, then fall sharply through fiscal 2029. Admittedly, the current valuation of 19 times adjusted earnings is cheap for a company whose adjusted earnings increased 682% in the most recent quarter. However, the market may afford Micron a much lower multiple once the memory chip cycle has clearly peaked.

Consider the supply shortage that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic: Supply was on the upswing by late 2022, and Micron shares traded at 6 times adjusted earnings after the company reported financial results for fiscal 2022. If Micron drops to the same valuation as the current supply shortage is resolved, the stock could lose more than half of its value.

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Intel: 32% downside implied by Rosenblatt Securities' target price Intel is the market leader in central processing units (CPUs) for personal computers and data center servers, but it has lost substantial market share over the last decade due to execution missteps. The company delayed several process nodes (i.e., generations of chip manufacturing technology) during that period, allowing Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) to become the market leader.

Meanwhile, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has gained market share because it outsources manufacturing to TSMC. That means its chips have been made on more advanced nodes, which itself means greater performance and power efficiency. Similarly, Arm Holdings has also gained share because its licensing model allows clients to customize chip design based on their specific needs.

Intel bulls have been forecasting a turnaround for years, but the company's dismal financial results speak for themselves. Since the artificial intelligence boom started in early 2023 -- creating a golden opportunity for semiconductor companies -- Intel's sales have declined 16%, its gross margin has contracted 7 percentage points, and its net income has dropped 99%.

Intel's turnaround strategy centers on gaining share in chip manufacturing (foundry) services. Theoretically, making chips for companies like Nvidia could be a lucrative venture due to the demand for AI infrastructure. Furthermore, the U.S. government may offer incentives to companies that use American foundries because it would align with President Donald Trump's goal of revitalizing domestic manufacturing.

However, I doubt Intel will succeed. More than 90% of the world's most advanced chips are made in Taiwan because TSMC has a reputation for operational excellence. Meanwhile, Intel has a track record that does not inspire confidence. Why should customers switch from the top foundry to a fledgling foundry owned by a company that made countless technical missteps in the last decade?

Wall Street estimates Intel's earnings will grow 20% in 2026. But even if the consensus forecast is accurate, the current valuation of 110 times earnings is still absurdly expensive. Investors have already priced in a turnaround that seems more fiction than fact. I don't know whether Intel shares will decline 32%, but the stock is certainly vulnerable to a steep drawdown.

Does your portfolio need dividend income right now more than it needs growth? And for that matter, does it need durable dividend growth more than it needs a fantastic starting yield?

If the answer to both questions is yes, here's an idea for you: McDonald's (MCD +0.03%).

Image source: Getty Images.

McDonald's isn't what you might think it is You know it as the planet's biggest fast-food chain, made up of more than 45,000 restaurants peppered across the world. And ostensibly, that's what it is.

If you dig deeper into the details, though, you'll see McDonald's is something else. It's also the world's biggest franchiser (as measured by revenue).

But even that's not the most curious and compelling aspect of this publicly traded outfit. What makes this name such an attractive income investment is the fact that it's ultimately a massive real estate operation. It just so happens that it rents out about 80% of its locations to franchised store operators that run 95% of its locations.

OK, that slightly downplays the partnership/relationship that this company's franchisees and the parent organization actually have. They all do work together, with McDonald's itself also receiving a percentage of the revenue each locale produces. Franchisees are also required to purchase supplies from the parent, although the parent offers them at a reasonable cost. McDonald's and its independent restaurateurs also typically share the cost of store remodels, and sometimes even advertising.

Franchisees' single-biggest monthly expense, however, is the rent they must pay to do business from real estate owned by the parent.

And this is where things can and do get a bit tense between the franchisor and its store operators. See, these rent payments are market-based, meaning they go up over time and must be paid regardless of how that particular location is performing.

Fair? Unfair? It depends who you ask. The argument that McDonald's is the most marketable brand name in the fast-food business, however, isn't insignificant. Although this particular arrangement may be unusual within the fast-food industry (where most franchisees own the building they operate from), being able to do business under the Golden Arches is a sizable advantage.

What you're getting for your money Perhaps more important to interested income-minded investors, this rental real estate-focused business model is a recipe for incredibly reliable dividend growth. It's upped its quarterly per-share payout for 49 consecutive years, in fact, leaving it one year away from becoming a Dividend King.

And it's raised it by more than a little. Last quarter's 5% improvement caps off a 10-year increase of nearly 100%, which translates into an annualized growth rate of just over 7%, handily outpacing inflation during this stretch.

No, you'll never achieve any great growth or capital appreciation as a McDonald's shareholder. That's just not the nature of this highly saturated business.

You're certainly likely to experience above-average dividend growth with a stake in the fast-food chain, though, starting out with a respectable forward-looking yield of just over 2.3%. That's not a bad entry point for a quality long-term holding like this one.

Wall Street analysts continue to have some huge price targets on leading artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. Let's look at two AI stocks that have huge potential if these analysts are right.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Nvidia Raymond James analyst Simon Leopold recently raised his price target on Nvidia (NVDA 3.17%) to $323, which would be more than 80% upside, as of this writing. Leopold sees inference as being a catalyst for the stock, and with the additions of Groq LPX and Vera Rubin Ultra, he believes the company could hit $1.3 trillion in data center revenue in fiscal 2027.

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Nvidia's licensing of Groq's technology and acquisition of the bulk of its employees could be one of the smartest moves the company has made. Nvidia already has a dominant position in large language model (LLM) training that is protected by its highly ingrained CUDA software platform. By incorporating Groq's language processing units, which are designed for inference, into its platform, the company has strengthened its overall ecosystem.

Not to be overlooked is Nvidia's acquisition of SchedMD, which has helped it introduce its new NemoClaw agentic AI platform.

Nvidia is becoming much more than a chipmaker, transitioning into an AI systems architect whose platform is designed for the age of inference and AI agents. With the stock trading at a forward P/E of 16 times based on fiscal 2028 estimates and potential upside to those numbers, that $323 target may not be too far-fetched.

2. Micron Technology Another stock that recently got a price target boost is Micron Technology (MU 4.89%), with Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley taking his target to $675, which is more than 50% upside, as of this writing.

O'Malley was impressed by Micron's recent quarterly earnings results while noting that most of Micron's customers still aren't even close to getting the memory supply they require. The analyst also pointed to the company signing its first long-term agreement, which will span five years. These types of deals could reduce the cyclicality of Micron's business and provide it with more visibility.

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Micron is seeing incredible growth and robust gross margins as memory prices continue to climb due to supply constraints and demand for high bandwidth memory continues to surge with the AI data center buildout.

Meanwhile, the stock is cheap, trading at a forward P/E of less than 8 times based on fiscal year 2027 estimates. If Micron can sign more long-term strategic customer agreements to lessen the cyclical nature of its business, the stock could still have big upside from here.

Geoffrey Seiler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Micron Technology and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Investing in some stocks can be somewhat nerve-racking. Your hand hovers over the keyboard as your mind goes back and forth on whether or not to actually press the "buy" button on your online brokerage's website.

This can happen even with stocks that pay juicy dividends. Sometimes, the fact that the dividend yield is exceptionally high only increases the anxiety.

I've felt this kind of trepidation before, but not with some stocks. Here are three high-yield dividend stocks I'd buy right now with no hesitation.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Brookfield Infrastructure Technically, Brookfield Infrastructure is two stocks. For years, only Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP +0.17%) was listed publicly. To attract investors who didn't like the tax hassles associated with limited partnerships (LP), though, the company established Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (BIPC 1.45%) in 2020.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) and Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (BIPC) are the same business under the hood. They also both offer great dividends. BIP's forward distribution yield is nearly 5%, while BIPC's dividend yield tops 4.2%.

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I'm confident that Brookfield Infrastructure's distribution is sustainable. The infrastructure stock has increased its distribution for 17 consecutive years. Brookfield Infrastructure targets average annual distribution growth between 5% and 9%, with a payout ratio of 60% to 70%.

Those goals seem quite attainable, thanks to the strength of Brookfield Infrastructure's underlying business. The company's diversified global infrastructure portfolio includes cell towers, data centers, electricity transmission lines, fiber optic cable, pipelines, rail, semiconductor foundries, toll roads, and more.

2. Enbridge Enbridge (ENB 1.00%) is one of my favorite pipeline stocks. The company operates 18,085 miles of pipeline that transport 30% of the crude oil produced in North America. Its 70,273 miles of natural gas pipeline (including pipe owned by its DCP Midstream joint venture) transport around 20% of the natural gas consumed in the U.S.

But Enbridge is also a utility stock. The company ranks as the largest natural gas utility in North America by volume. It delivers roughly 9.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to over 7 million customers.

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Stability is the operative word for Enbridge. The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with its dividend yield currently at 5.3%. It has also met or beaten financial guidance for 20 consecutive years. With this impressive track record, Enbridge is the kind of stock that you can buy and sleep well at night knowing that your investment should generate steady income.

As icing on the cake, Enbridge also offers growth potential. Management has identified around $50 billion in visible growth opportunities through the rest of this decade, with potential growth investments of $10 billion to $20 billion over the next 24 months.

3. Realty Income Not all of my favorite high-yield dividend stocks are in the energy sector. Realty Income (O 2.70%) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns over 15,500 properties in the U.S., U.K., and eight continental European countries.

Like Enbridge, Realty Income has been remarkably stable. Its property portfolio is highly diversified, with a focus on tenants in relatively low drama industries such as grocery stores, convenience stores, home improvement, and dollar stores. Its leases are structured to be long-term and shift costs, including property taxes, insurance, and maintenance, to tenants. This stability has enabled Realty Income to outperform the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) in 11 of the 13 drawdowns of 10% or more since 1994.

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REIT stocks typically pay juicy dividends. Realty Income is no exception. Its forward dividend yield tops 5.1%. The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years and 113 consecutive quarters. Even better, Realty Income pays its dividend monthly.

Adding to my warm-and-fuzzy feeling about this stock is its growth prospects. Realty Income has particularly attractive opportunities in Europe, where the total addressable market is larger than in the U.S., and there are few large competitors.

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© Manu M Nair / Shutterstock.com

Growing significantly in 2026, ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil 2x (NYSEARCA:UCO) has become one of the most talked-about tickers on Reddit this month, and the catalyst arrived at full force: UCO is up 73% over the past month as the geopolitical shock retail traders had been positioning for took hold. The catalyst is the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that triggered retaliatory attacks on merchant shipping and sent crude surging to levels not seen in years. UCO, which delivers 2x the daily return of WTI crude, amplified every move.

As a result of world events, WTI climbed from roughly $22 to nearly $43, pushing UCO sharply higher. The ETF now sits at $43.52, up 125% year to date. That is the war windfall in plain numbers.

r/WallStreetBets Is Long Hormuz and Holding Reddit’s r/wallstreetbets has driven UCO discussion, with sentiment scores ranging from 66 to 78 across the past two weeks, consistently bullish. Two posts dominated the conversation.

“$UCO – Strait of Hormuz Gains” peaked at 308 upvotes and 36 comments on March 8. “Long Oil into the Weekend on Continued Shipping Chaos OSINT” grew from 61 upvotes on March 14 to 212 upvotes and 148 comments by March 16, a sign the thesis kept resonating as disruptions continued.

$UCO – Strait of Hormuz Gains
by u/wallstreetbets in wallstreetbets Long Oil into the Weekend on Continued Shipping Chaos OSINT
by u/wallstreetbets in wallstreetbets The bullish case rests on three points:

Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped approximately 70% after Iran launched 21 confirmed attacks on merchant ships, disrupting global seaborne oil supply WTI at $93.39 sits at the 98.4th percentile of its 12-month range, meaning supply shock pricing is already embedded in the market The composite sentiment score for UCO sits at 64.76 with a “medium confidence” bullish reading, suggesting conviction without full consensus The Contango Trap Waiting on the Other Side The structural risk for UCO holders is not geopolitical reversal, but that it resets its 2x leverage every trading day, which means in choppy or sideways markets, volatility decay quietly erodes value even when crude goes nowhere. Over the past decade, UCO has lost 67% to 70% of its value despite crude oil remaining a commodity throughout, a direct consequence of that daily reset mechanism.

The VIX adds another layer: after spiking to 29.49 on March 6, it has since fallen to 22.37, a decline that historically signals the environment in which leveraged ETFs bleed most. If the Hormuz situation de-escalates on any ceasefire or diplomatic front, March 16 already demonstrated how quickly the reversal can unfold. At 2x leverage, UCO holders feel that twice.

In many ways, Tesla (TSLA 3.33%) has faced limited competition over the last decade. Limited competition is a big reason why the company still commands a U.S. market share of more than 50%.

Sure, other carmakers have electric vehicles (EVs) on the market. But many of those EVs are priced over $50,000, have relatively limited ranges, and lack the brand prestige of a Tesla. But there's one emerging competitor that will give Tesla a run for its money in 2026. By 2029, Tesla could lose one of its most valuable crowns.

Tesla's biggest moneymaker is its Model Y On the surface, Tesla is a fairly diversified company when it comes to existing revenue streams. Roughly one-quarter of the company's revenue comes from sources like energy storage and generation -- which includes revenue from its solar and battery storage businesses -- as well as a variety of revenue streams that Tesla classifies as "services and other." And while around 75% of the company's revenue does come from its automotive business, Tesla has many models to thank for this income stream, including the Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, Model 3, and Model Y.

Digging a bit deeper, however, reveals a more concentrated story. That portion of revenue Tesla calls "services and other" actually deals almost strictly with its automotive segment. That bucket accounts for used car sales, supercharging network fees, repairs, insurance, and other charges Tesla's automotive customers rack up. Combined with the "automotive" revenue bucket, around 86% of revenue is tied to its vehicle sales efforts.

But the story doesn't end there. Last quarter, Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles to customers. More than 400,000 of those deliveries consisted of just two models: the Model 3 and Model Y. And according to most estimates, Model Y deliveries far outpaced Model 3 deliveries. Most of Tesla's total revenue, therefore, could reasonably consist of Model Y sales, as well as services and other revenue streams related to Model Y deployments.

Now the bad news for Tesla shareholders: Next month, the Model Y will face growing competition from a rapidly expanding EV competitor.

Image source: Rivian.

Rivian's R2 SUV could unseat Tesla's Model Y I recently said Rivian (RIVN 7.44%) was my top growth stock for 2026 in large part because of a major catalyst that should arrive next month: the first deliveries of Rivian's R2 SUV. That SUV model is Rivian's first vehicle priced under $50,000. And in many ways, the R2 looks like the stiffest competition to Tesla's Model Y in years.

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The R2 SUV is a direct competitor to Tesla's Model Y for two main reasons. First, SUVs are one of the most popular vehicle form factors. Globally, more than 50% of all vehicles sold are SUVs. Tesla's only SUV is its luxury priced Model X, which CEO Elon Musk warns will soon be discontinued. Second, the R2 will be priced very competitively to the Model Y. The Model Y starts at $41,630, but can be priced as high as $61,630 depending on options. The R2, meanwhile, will start at $45,000, with options scaling that purchase price up to $57,990. Those are very competitive prices considering SUVs typically offer more room, and a greater bill of materials, than crossovers like the Model Y.

When Tesla began Model Y sales in 2020, its first annual sales totaled 40,001 units. Sales peaked in 2023 at 385,897 units. And while estimates vary, unit sales likely fell to roughly 250,000 units in 2025. It's a big if, but if Rivian's R2 launch follows Tesla's Model Y sales ramp-up, it could reasonably exceed Model Y sales by 2029. Risks abound. Scaling production facilities and meeting sales growth targets will be challenging. But there's already a precedent set by Tesla itself for how Rivian can overtake Tesla's biggest moneymaker by 2029.

James S. Mahan III, Chief Executive Officer of Live Oak Bancshares (LOB +0.22%), reported the indirect sale of 20,000 shares of Common Stock for a transaction value of approximately $653,000 across multiple transactions on March 11 and March 12, 2026, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (indirect)20,000Transaction value$653,321Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($32.67).

Key questionsHow does the size of this transaction compare to Mahan’s historical trading activity?
This sale matched the recent median trade size of 20,000 shares for Mahan’s sell transactions since December of last year. What portion of Mahan’s ownership base was affected?
The transaction amounted to 0.31% of his indirect Common Stock holdings, leaving 6,374,875 shares held through indirect vehicles.Company overviewMetricValuePrice (as of 3/21/26)$31.85Market capitalization$1.47 billionRevenue (TTM)$480.78 millionNet income (TTM)$102.82 million

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Company snapshotLive Oak Bancshares is a Wilmington, North Carolina-based regional bank holding company that offers commercial banking products and services, including deposit accounts, commercial and industrial loans, construction and real estate loans, and government-guaranteed loan services. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on loans and deposits, as well as fees from wealth management and investment advisory accounts.

What this transaction means for investorsAlthough Live Oak Banking Company, the bank that Live Oak Bancshares owns, may be one of the lesser-known banks compared to larger global banks, it’s still widely popular among businesses.

In October 2025, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named it the most active SBA 7(a) lender in the nation by dollar volume. A 7(a) loan is the SBA’s primary business loan program that offers financial assistance to small businesses. The bank secured 2,280 SBA loan approvals in FY 2025, providing small business owners with over $2.8 billion in funding.

Live Oak Bancshares had its Q4 earnings report for fiscal year 2025 on Jan 21, 2026, posting its fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, generating $150.93 million in revenue, a 61.75% increase from the previous year. The holding company also posted growth in net income and earnings per share (EPS).

While the Q4 results were an improvement over recent quarters, the company has still posted better numbers in previous fiscal years, which contributed to the company’s stock falling over the previous two years. The stock is down 7.29% year to date (YTD), with four consecutive weeks of price declines (as of March 21, 2026). With such a niche operational focus, LOB is less ideal a stock to invest in than other banking competitors.

Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Live Oak Bancshares. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The S&P 500 soared over the past three years -- but since the start of this year, the benchmark has lost some of the positive momentum. This is for a variety of reasons. The possibility that the long-term revenue opportunity in the artificial intelligence (AI) market could disappoint has weighed on investors' minds. Uncertainty about the state of the economy and the pace of interest rate cuts also has prompted concern -- and the war in Iran added to this difficult picture.

With this in mind, now is a fantastic time to add a couple of defensive stocks to your portfolio -- these are companies that tend to deliver solid earnings performance even through difficult environments. Here are two such healthcare players to buy now and hold onto for the long term.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Abbott Laboratories I like Abbott Laboratories (ABT 1.21%) for two key reasons. First, it's a well-diversified healthcare business, meaning that if one part faces headwinds, other areas may compensate. The company has four units: medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals. During the early days of the pandemic, diagnostics revenue soared, and now that this is no longer the case, the medical device business is driving growth.

And since Abbott's products are essentials, economic shifts aren't likely to affect the company's revenue much.

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Abbott also makes a top buy because it's a Dividend King, meaning it's increased its dividend payments for more than 50 consecutive years. This commitment to dividend growth suggests you can count on the company to continue along this path. This passive income should limit the impact of tough market times on your portfolio.

2. Intuitive Surgical Intuitive Surgical (ISRG 0.41%) is the global leader in robotic surgery. The company makes the Da Vinci line of surgical robots, and this portfolio has helped it deliver a solid track record of earnings growth over time.

ISRG Revenue (Annual) data by YCharts

What I like most about Intuitive Surgical is the company's solid moat, or competitive advantage. This is the fact that most surgeons train on Da Vinci systems, so it's likely they will opt to work on this platform they know well. And the second part of this moat is the following: The million-dollar price tag of these robots means the hospitals and healthcare systems that invest in them probably will stick with these devices in order to amortize the cost.

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Intuitive Surgical also offers another advantage: It makes most of its revenue through the sales of accessories and instruments needed to perform surgeries on the Da Vinci -- and this is recurring revenue. All of this makes Intuitive Surgical a solid stock to own during any market downturn.

Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Abbott Laboratories and Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Alkami Technology (ALKT 0.83%), a cloud-based digital banking platform, has seen its share price plummet since the end of 2024. A combination of factors, including three earnings misses last year, contributed to the downturn.

Wall Street insiders haven't given up on Alkami, though. Earlier this month, the fintech stock saw notable insider buying, including a major investment from General Atlantic, its largest institutional shareholder.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

General Atlantic owns 11% of Alkami and has a board seat. On March 11 and 12, it bought about $60 million worth of shares. Director Joseph P. Payne also purchased shares on March 11, investing approximately $100,000.

Now, just because insiders are buying doesn't necessarily mean you should, too. But it can be an indicator of an undervalued stock.

Alkami's most recent earnings report, which covers its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, provides some potential reasons why insiders are bullish. Annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased 35% year over year to $480 million. Alkami also has a sticky product, providing digital banking platforms to banks and credit unions, and its 2025 digital banking ARR churn was less than 1%.

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Alkami also sets itself apart from other banking platforms by providing what it calls anticipatory banking. The company uses predictive artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to predict and meet accountholders' needs. It's an example of Alkami's forward-thinking approach that will likely help it continue to grow its list of banking clients.

While there's plenty to like about Alkami, it's still somewhat risky. It's not profitable yet, reporting a net loss of $48 million in 2025. Still, the recent insider buying and the ARR growth are good signs.

If you're looking for small-cap stocks with growth potential, Alkama is one to watch.

Lyle Daly 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.

FBRT is a CRE REIT created in 2021 following the merger between Capstead Mortgage and Benefit Street Partners Realty. Unlike peers like KREF, only 32% of FBRT's loan book was originated before the 2022 interest rate hikes. The 44% cut to the common dividend (to $0.20/share) was a necessary move to align payouts with actual earnings ($0.12/share in Q4 2025). For FBRT.PR.E, this is a positive.

Every fintech is not the same. Even if you narrow your focus to Latin America, MercadoLibre (MELI 1.85%), DLocal (DLO 3.03%), and Nu Holdings (NU 1.52%) are three very different companies. There may be some overlap in offerings, but they have unique specialties as well as territorial ambitions.

One thing they all have in common is spectacular growth. MercadoLibre, DLocal, and Nu grew their revenue by 45%, 65%, and 57%, respectively, in their latest quarters. This isn't a race, but consider that the two U.S. companies many investors think of in the world of fintech both grew their top lines by roughly 4% over the same three months. There's also the bonus of opportunity with Mercado Libre, DLocal, and Nu trading at 38%, 28%, and 27%, respectively, off their recent highs. Let's travel south to check out three companies with businesses heading north as their stocks go south.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. MercadoLibre As one of Latin America's largest companies by market cap, MercadoLibre doesn't need much of an introduction. Typically labeled as an e-commerce business -- because that's where it started -- its biggest gains these days are coming from the financial front.

The $83.4 billion that its Mercado Pago subsidiary helped facilitate in payment volume during its latest quarter was 4 times higher than the gross merchandise value on the e-commerce front. The business is also growing faster than its online retail sales volume.

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MercadoLibre stock is the hardest hit of the three stocks on this list. The shares are down almost 40% from the all-time highs they notched last summer. This doesn't mean it's also the cheapest of the three names. MercadoLibre is trading at a beefy 30 times this year's projected earnings. Thankfully, the multiple drops below 22 if we look out to next year.

Margins are currently being pressured. Competitive challenges in Brazil -- its largest market -- find it taking a hit by lowering the order size requirement for free shipping.

Latin American fintech stocks are still worth your due diligence. Superior growth, historically potent net margins, and serving a region still early in the online migration make MercadoLibre and its peers worth watching.

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2. DLocal Uruguay-based DLocal is laser-focused on processing payments. It was one of Thursday's biggest gainers, rising nearly 10% in an otherwise down day for the market following blowout results. Revenue rose 65% for the quarter, fueled by a 70% surge in total payment volume.

It's currently the most geographically diversified player of the three. No single country accounts for more than 19% of its revenue. A little over 20% of its business last year came from outside of Latin America (primarily Egypt, as well as other countries in Africa and Asia). It helps that the tech-first platform is a rising star in managing cross-border payments, accounting for half of its payment volume in 2025.

Net income rose 63%, and adjusted free cash flow more than doubled. That last point is particularly noteworthy for income investors, since DLocal aims to distribute 30% of its free cash flow to shareholders in the form of a springtime dividend. DLocal's distribution of $0.19 a share in June translates into a 1.5% yield, a decent payout for a stock investors are buying for its high-octane growth.

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3. Nu Holdings There is a lot that is new with Nu Holdings these days. Earlier this month, the parent company of Brazil's Nubank announced that it secured naming rights for the new stadium in Miami, where Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will kick off their new home season. It may seem like an odd choice for a company with 131 million accounts in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, in that order. There is a method to the brand-ness.

Nu Holdings stock received conditional approval for its U.S. national bank charter in January. Is Nu ready to cash in on both this country's growing Latin American population and the region's infatuation with soccer to ramp up stateside operations?

As we wait for that chess move to play out, Nu keeps growing. Revenue climbed 57% in its latest quarter, with net income jumping 62% higher. A whopping 62% of Brazilian adults now have a Nubank account. That explosive growth and the stock's recent retreat make it the cheapest of the three stocks on a price-to-earnings (P/E) basis. It's trading for less than 13 times next year's profit target. With strong account growth and engagement, Nu should be turning heads for its high-margin business.

The world's first nuclear power plant opened in 1951. But despite the potential of the technology to deliver large quantities of clean energy, it remained less popular than oil, natural gas, and coal in all but one country: France.

Today however, it seems the world is finally waking up to the possibilities of a nuclear-powered energy grid. France generates 70% of its electricity from its nuclear reactor fleet and has doubled down on the technology, approving life extension measures for 20 of its reactors last year.

Japan is resurrecting its nuclear grid after a decade of relative inactivity with the goal of generating 20% of its power from nuclear energy. South Korea has announced plans for two large nuclear reactors to be completed by 2038.

Image source: Getty Images.

And right here in America, the U.S. Department of Energy has set a long-term goal to triple America's nuclear energy capacity by the middle of the century.

Around the world there are 75 new nuclear reactors under construction with another 120 planned in countries like Russia, Hungary, India, China, and Turkey.

The interest in nuclear power has seen the spot price of uranium, the one mineral all the world's reactors need to function, grow by almost 35% over the past year.

In fact, prior to the current conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, uranium was the only energy resource that had gone up in value over that time.

And as luck would have it, there is a fantastic one-ticker way to play the nuclear renaissance in Saskatoon, Canada's Cameco (CCJ 4.46%).

Hot rocks Last year, Cameco produced 15% of all uranium produced globally, which made it the second largest uranium miner in the world behind only Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom.

What's particularly impressive about that is the fact that Cameco only holds three producing mines. The secret sauce for the company is the high-grade uranium ore its mines produce.

McArthur River, the world's largest high-grade uranium mine, has an average grade of 6.48% and has enough uranium in it to keep producing through 2044.

Cigar Lake is one of the highest-grade uranium mines in the world. However, its reserves are much smaller so it is only projected to last through 2036.

The third mine is Inkai, in Kazakhstan. It has about the same lifespan as McArthur River but the average grade of its ore is only 0.03%. That means it takes a whole lot more ore from that mine to create usable fuel.

And that's how Canada (and Cameco) can compete with Kazakhstan, which has some of the largest uranium reserves in the world, a full 14% of all the world's uranium resources. It has a lot of uranium but it's not highly concentrated and you need a lot of ore to make fuel.

However, Cameco does far more than just mine uranium.

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The whole nine yards Cameco is present in almost every link of the nuclear supply chain.

It produces uranium ore from mining, which can then be refined at Cameco's Blind River Refinery, converted at the company's Port Hope Conversion Facility, and turned into finished nuclear fuel rods through Cameco Fuel Manufacturing.

Beyond that, Cameco even has a hand in the reactors that use the fuel it produces to generate power. It holds 49% of engineering company Westinghouse as a joint venture with Brookfield Renewable Partners.

Westinghouse currently manufactures the most advanced commercially available nuclear reactor in the world, the AP1000.  And it's working on its own small modular reactor (SMR), the AP300, which it plans to have ready for construction by 2030.

The United States has two AP1000 reactors in operation, while China has four with another 14 under construction. Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and India have all contracted or selected the AP1000 in various numbers.

And speaking of India, Cameco uranium will likely be going into those reactors if they're contracted and completed because in early March it signed a 22 million pound uranium ore concentrate supply agreement worth $1.9 billion with the country.

All that is working out pretty well for Cameco so far based on its latest results.

Big money in splitting atoms For its full-year 2025, Cameco generated revenue of $3.48 billion, up 11% over 2024. Its adjusted and diluted earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 grew 114.9%.

And that's in spite of the fact that Cameco produced 10% less uranium in 2025 as it did in 2024.

The boost came from the 6% increase in average realized price in uranium sold, from $58.34 per pound to $62.11.

It's also worth noting that, in an industry as capital intensive as mining, Cameco maintains a net profit margin of 16.93% and has a very healthy balance sheet with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14%.

So, Cameco is a growing and financially stable company with world-class assets operating in an industry set to grow for the next several decades. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a winner to me.

Building wealth in the stock market is fairly simple if you maintain a long-term mindset and focus on stocks of competitively positioned businesses. Investing in innovative companies with substantial growth potential is key. Historically, the tech sector has been an excellent place to find such businesses.

The Trade Desk (TTD +2.47%) and Axon Enterprise (AXON 1.28%) are well positioned to gain market share in the fast-growing markets of digital advertising and public safety. These stocks are trading well off their highs, and the discounts could set the stage for excellent returns over the next decade and beyond.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. The Trade Desk The digital advertising market is expected to exceed $950 billion in 2026, according to Statista, providing a massive opportunity for The Trade Desk. Its platform helps ad buyers gain exposure across online content, streaming platforms, and more. Despite continued business growth, the stock is trading well off its highs, offering investors a chance to buy it at a discount.

The company generates revenue from taking a cut of the total ad spending on its platform. Last year, it generated $13 billion in gross spending and earned nearly $3 billion in revenue. That represented an increase of 18% over 2024. Given the size of the digital ad market, there is ample room for The Trade Desk to continue growing and deliver wealth-building returns to investors.

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The Trade Desk's competitive advantage is rooted in an ad-buying experience that puts its customers first, as it doesn't sell its own ad inventory, unlike some competitors. It helps clients find the best options for their needs. This has resulted in The Trade Desk retaining more than 95% of its customers over the last 12 years.

Slowing growth has weighed on the stock over the past year. Management cited weakness in consumer goods and auto, which make up a quarter of its business. However, this could turn into a tailwind when economic conditions improve and ad spending returns in these industries.

Patient investors could be getting a steal, as The Trade Desk is still working toward capturing a $1 trillion addressable market. Analysts forecast the company's earnings to grow at double-digit rates going forward, yet the stock is trading at just 11 times this year's earnings estimate.

2. Axon Enterprise Axon is tapping into a massive growth opportunity by building a modern tech stack for law enforcement and public safety. What started primarily as a company selling Taser energy devices has evolved into a platform that combines data from body cameras, in-car cameras, and drones with cloud software and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

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This platform approach is a powerful growth engine. Axon can land customers with hardware devices and then expand those relationships with high-margin software and services. In the fourth quarter, total revenue surged 39% year over year to $797 million, with software revenue up 40%. The company's annual recurring revenue also grew 35% to $1.3 billion.

Axon shares are trading below their previous peak amid concerns that AI could disrupt its cloud software offering. But that fear might be overlooking Axon's data moat. Axon's devices collect real-world data at scale, which can be used to train and improve AI products that solve specific problems for agencies.

Bookings from AI-powered products nearly tripled last year to more than $1 billion, and it's just getting started. Axon has clear visibility into long-term growth, with future contracted bookings topping $14 billion. Management expects annual revenue to reach $6 billion by 2028 while achieving an adjusted operating margin of 28%.

Axon has a bright future as it aims to expand into enterprise, corrections, federal, and international markets. The stock trades at a high forward earnings multiple of 64, supported by recurring revenue from its software platform and high earnings growth expectations. Analysts forecast the company's earnings to grow at an annualized rate of 38% in the coming years, which could fuel excellent returns over the long term.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 22, 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.

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

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/289468

Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA

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Tencent's logo is displayed at its booth at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China, September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

BEIJING, March 22 (Reuters) - Tencent(0700.HK), opens new tab launched a tool on Sunday to integrate its WeChat messaging platform with the OpenClaw ​agent, deepening its push into AI agents ‌that have become a key battleground among China's technology companies.

The software, called ClawBot, will appear as a contact within WeChat, ​allowing users of China's most popular app ​with over 1 billion monthly active users to ⁠connect directly with OpenClaw.

Learn about the latest breakthroughs in AI and tech with the Reuters Artificial Intelligencer newsletter. Sign up here.

Users can send and receive ​commands to interact with the AI agent through the ​messaging interface.

The integration comes as OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent that can perform tasks such as transferring files and sending ​emails on users' behalf, has gained traction in recent ​weeks.

Users have rushed to install and experiment with agent products, prompting ‌tech ⁠firms to explore business opportunities even as authorities warn of security risks.

Tencent's WeChat integration follows the company's launch earlier this month of its own AI agent ​suite, comprising QClaw ​for individual ⁠users, Lighthouse for developers and WorkBuddy for enterprises.

Last week, Alibaba(9988.HK), opens new tab launched Wukong, an artificial ​intelligence platform for enterprises that coordinates multiple ​AI ⁠agents to handle complex business tasks including document editing and meeting transcription within a single interface.

Baidu(9888.HK), opens new tab quickly followed with ⁠a ​series of AI agents built on ​OpenClaw, spanning desktop software, cloud services, mobile tools and smart-home devices.

)

Reporting ​by Liam Mo and Ryan; Editing by Michael Perry

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

Amazon's (AMZN 1.66%) stock performance hasn't been inspiring lately. Its gains have lagged well behind those of the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.51%) over the last 12 months. Amazon remains in correction territory, with its shares around 16% below their fourth-quarter 2025 peak.

Should investors stay away from this lackluster stock? I don't think so. Amazon has survived and thrived despite adversity, from the dot-com bubble to recessions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Every pullback has created a tremendous buying opportunity. Will history repeat itself?

Image source: Amazon.

E-commerce and beyond Amazon ranks as the world's largest consumer discretionary company by market cap. It continues to dominate the e-commerce market but still has room to grow.

One reason why no e-commerce rival can keep up with Amazon is its relentless focus on improving operations. The company has consistently increased delivery speeds in recent years and delivered almost 70% more items on the same day in the U.S. in 2025 than it did in 2024.

Amazon has harnessed technology to improve service and efficiency. For example, over 300 million customers used its Rufus agentic AI shopping assistant last year. The company believes that Rufus helped boost annual sales by nearly $12 billion.

The e-commerce platform also serves as a core foundation for one of Amazon's most important new growth areas -- advertising. Sponsored products advertising on Amazon.com generates the greatest ad revenue. Amazon's Prime Video ad sales are also increasing robustly, with millions of viewers tuning into the streaming service for programs such as Thursday Night Football and NBA on Prime.

Overall, Amazon Ads now has an annual revenue run rate of $85 billion. Ad sales jumped 22% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025.

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A key backbone of the AI boom However, Amazon isn't only a consumer discretionary stock; it's also one of the top AI stocks. Amazon Web Services (AWS) remains the No. 1 cloud service provider with a global market share of 28% to 30%.

In Q4, AWS' revenue soared 24% year over year to $35.6 billion. Sure, other cloud platforms are growing even faster. But Amazon CEO Andy Jassy correctly observed in the Q4 earnings call that "it's very different having 24% year-over-year growth on a $142 billion annualized run rate than to have a higher percentage growth on a meaningfully smaller base, which is the case with our competitors."

AWS is addressing the greatest obstacle to sustained AI growth by developing its own chips. Its Trainium 2 chips offer 30% to 40% better price performance than comparable GPUs. The recently launched Trainium 3 chips are up to 40% more cost-effective than Trainium 2 chips. And the company is hard at work developing even more powerful Trainium 4 technology.

Perhaps the best indication of AWS' continued growth prospects is its backlog. Jassy revealed in the Q4 call that the backlog totaled $244 billion at the end of 2025, up 40% year over year and around 22% sequentially. He also recently told employees that AWS could generate annual sales of $600 billion within the next 10 years. That amount is roughly 83% of Amazon's total revenue in 2025.

Is this time different for Amazon? Amazon's double-digit percentage pullbacks have always been great buying opportunities. Is this time different? I don't think so.

Granted, Amazon's e-commerce business is more mature than it was 10 years ago. However, the company believes that it's only in the early innings of capitalizing on the massive AI opportunity. New initiatives, such as the satellite internet service planned to launch later this year, should provide additional growth.

History says you'll regret buying Amazon stock. I think history is right.

📊
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The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday. But the central bank’s new inflation forecast for 2026 jumped to 4.1%, sparking fresh debate about Bitcoin’s role as an inflation hedge.

The Federal Open Market Committee held the federal funds rate at 5.25% to 5.50%, pretty much what markets expected. The real surprise came in their economic projections – inflation could stay higher for longer than anyone thought. Stagflation fears are creeping back into Wall Street conversations, and that’s got investors scrambling to rethink their playbooks. The Fed’s shift didn’t come out of nowhere – recent data shows sticky price pressures across multiple sectors, from housing to services.

Bitcoin trades around $27,000 right now.

The crypto crowd sees this as validation for their digital gold thesis. Bitcoin bulls argue the Fed’s inflation worries prove why you need assets outside government control. “Bitcoin’s limited supply could make it an attractive option for investors seeking alternatives to fiat currencies in inflationary environments,” crypto analyst Alex Thorn said on March 22. He’s been tracking institutional flows into Bitcoin, which have picked up steam lately.

Big Money Makes Moves Cathie Wood from ARK Invest doubled down on her Bitcoin bet after the Fed announcement. Her fund keeps buying more Bitcoin, betting on its role as a hedge against traditional financial chaos. Wood thinks the decentralized nature of Bitcoin gives it an edge when central banks lose credibility.

JPMorgan Chase told clients this week that institutional interest in Bitcoin as an inflation hedge is real. The bank’s note from March 20 said volatility remains a problem, but long-term potential can’t be ignored anymore.

MicroStrategy bought another 1,500 Bitcoins on March 22. That brings their total stash to over 150,000 BTC. CEO Michael Saylor keeps preaching that Bitcoin beats traditional assets when economic uncertainty hits.

Reality Check on Hedge Claims Not everyone’s convinced Bitcoin actually works as an inflation hedge. The Bank for International Settlements dropped a report March 21 showing Bitcoin increasingly moves with stocks and commodities. So much for being independent.

The European Central Bank stayed skeptical too. ECB President Christine Lagarde said at a Frankfurt conference that regulatory gaps remain a huge barrier. She’s not buying the hedge narrative until clearer rules exist. Industry observers have noted parallels with Dormant Bitcoin Wallet Wakes Up After in recent weeks.

Fidelity Investments expanded its crypto services March 22, citing demand from big clients. Tom Jessop, who runs Fidelity Digital Assets, said inflation hedge inquiries have surged. But he admits the volatility issue hasn’t gone away.

The SEC still hasn’t given new guidance on crypto regulations as of March 2026. That regulatory vacuum keeps many traditional investors on the sidelines, even as inflation fears mount.

Bitcoin’s track record during past inflationary periods shows mixed results. The 2021-2022 period saw Bitcoin fall alongside tech stocks when the Fed started hiking rates. But supporters point to longer time horizons and Bitcoin’s fixed supply cap.

Traditional hedge fund managers remain split on Bitcoin’s inflation hedge credentials. Some see it as portfolio insurance, others call it speculative gambling. The debate probably won’t end until Bitcoin faces a real sustained inflation cycle.

Market dynamics keep shifting as more institutions explore crypto. But regulatory uncertainty from agencies like the SEC creates headwinds that could limit Bitcoin’s mainstream adoption as an inflation hedge.

The Blockchain Association urged clearer policies to support market stability. Without regulatory clarity, Bitcoin’s role as an institutional inflation hedge remains murky. Industry observers have noted parallels with Bitcoin Options Hit Record Fear Levels in recent weeks.

**Market Volatility Clouds the Picture**

Bitcoin’s price swings tell a complicated story about its hedge potential. Over the past 30 days, Bitcoin has fluctuated between $24,500 and $29,800 – hardly the stable store of value that inflation hedge advocates promote. Goldman Sachs commodity strategists noted in their March 21 research that Bitcoin’s 90-day realized volatility sits at 65%, compared to gold’s 12% during the same period. Traditional inflation hedges like Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and real estate investment trusts have shown steadier performance patterns. Even silver, often considered volatile among precious metals, registers volatility levels far below Bitcoin’s current readings.

**Global Central Bank Policies Add Complexity**

The Bank of Japan’s recent policy shifts compound the inflation hedge debate. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda hinted at potential rate adjustments during Tokyo meetings this week, while the European Central Bank maintains its restrictive stance through 2026. These divergent monetary policies create currency fluctuations that impact Bitcoin’s global appeal. Australia’s Reserve Bank kept rates steady at 4.35% Tuesday, but their March policy statement warned about persistent service sector inflation. Central bank coordination – or lack thereof – influences how digital assets perform across different economic zones, making Bitcoin’s hedge effectiveness harder to measure consistently.

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat interest rate did the Fed set this week?The Federal Reserve kept the federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50% on Wednesday.

How much Bitcoin does MicroStrategy own now?MicroStrategy owns over 150,000 Bitcoin after purchasing an additional 1,500 BTC on March 22, 2026.

Post Views: 11

Ripple (XRP) is slipping back into a consolidation phase after a brief rebound, with major AI models broadly agreeing the token is stuck in a 'bearish-to-neutral balance'—but diverging on what comes next in the near term.

XRP was trading around $1.41 on Saturday ET, recovering in a sharp V-shaped move from a recent low near $1.34. The bounce, however, has struggled to build sustained momentum. From a higher-timeframe perspective, the structure remains heavy: XRP is still well below its 200-day moving average at roughly $2.10, keeping the broader downtrend intact.

Momentum indicators reflect that hesitation. The relative strength index (RSI) sits near 47.7, hovering just below neutral and signaling a market that is neither oversold nor convincingly recovering. In other words, sellers appear to retain a modest edge, even as dip-buying has emerged around the same levels repeatedly.

Despite differing probability-weighted forecasts, the AI models converge on one key point: the recent lift looks more like a 'technical rebound' than a definitive trend reversal. That distinction matters for traders watching whether XRP can turn short-term strength into a sustained move—or whether it remains a rally that fades into resistance.

Technically, the battleground is well defined. Around $1.34 has acted as a repeat support zone; a clean break below it could reopen downside toward the low $1.30s. On the upside, $1.45 is viewed as a near-term ceiling, and the market’s response around that level is likely to determine whether XRP can extend the rebound or stalls again.

In one assessment, GPT-5.2 framed the outlook with conditional probabilities: if the $1.34 floor holds, it sees the odds of a continued short-term rebound in the mid-50% range. A breakout above $1.45 could open room toward roughly $1.48–$1.52, it suggested, while cautioning that a failed attempt could trigger a quick pullback as momentum traders exit.

Claude Sonnet 4.6 struck a more conservative tone, pointing to sharply declining volume and XRP’s wide gap from the 200-day average as signals of a market tilted toward 'wait-and-see.' It assigned the highest likelihood—about 47%—to sideways trading over the next 24 hours. Even if XRP pushes above roughly $1.43, the model emphasized that a move lacking volume would be difficult to interpret as a credible trend-change signal.

xAI 4.1 leaned more bearish, focusing on order-flow and short-term momentum. It argued that selling pressure has remained persistent even alongside pockets of higher volume, and that the widening distance to the 200-day average is dampening sentiment. Under its base case, a slip below $1.39 raises the probability of a retest of $1.34, which it pegged as the single most likely near-term path at around 45%.

Taken together, the models describe a market still trapped within a broader downtrend, attempting to stabilize after a reflexive bounce. In practical terms, the $1.38–$1.45 range has become the key 'price discovery' zone. A breakout above $1.45 could extend the rebound toward $1.48–$1.54, potentially aided by 'short-covering' if bearish positioning is forced to unwind. A breakdown below $1.38 would increase the risk of revisiting $1.34, with the low $1.30s coming into view if support fails decisively. If volume continues to thin out, the most probable outcome may simply be continued range-bound trading.

For now, the market appears less focused on immediate direction than on confirmation—specifically whether XRP can clear $1.45 with meaningful volume. Without that, upside attempts may remain limited and vulnerable to quick reversals, reinforcing the view that the move off $1.34 has yet to shift the underlying structure.

Article Summary by TokenPost.ai

🔎 Market Interpretation

Current regime: XRP is in a consolidation phase after a sharp rebound from ~$1.34 to ~$1.41, but price action still reflects a bearish-to-neutral balance.

Trend context: The broader structure remains bearish because XRP trades well below the 200-day moving average (~$2.10), keeping the higher-timeframe downtrend intact.

Momentum read: RSI ~47.7 signals hesitation—neither oversold nor strongly recovering—suggesting sellers retain a slight edge despite repeated dip-buying near support.

Key framing from models: All models broadly agree the recent move looks like a technical rebound rather than a confirmed trend reversal; conviction depends on whether price can break resistance with volume.

Decision zone: The market’s near-term "price discovery" is concentrated in $1.38–$1.45, where either a breakout or breakdown is likely to define the next swing.

💡 Strategic Points

Support to watch: $1.34 is the repeat floor. A clean breakdown increases odds of downside continuation toward the low $1.30s.

Resistance to clear: $1.45 is the near-term ceiling. Acceptance above this level improves the chance of an extension toward $1.48–$1.52 (and potentially ~$1.54 per range projection).

Volume is the tiebreaker: A push above ~$1.43–$1.45 without rising volume is less reliable and may be prone to fading; thinning volume favors range-bound trade.

Model scenario map:

GPT-5.2: If $1.34 holds, assigns mid-50% odds to continued rebound; warns a failed $1.45 attempt could cause a quick pullback as momentum buyers exit.

Claude Sonnet 4.6: Most likely outcome (~47%) is sideways over the next 24 hours; emphasizes that a rally without volume is not a credible trend-change signal.

xAI 4.1: More bearish; a slip below $1.39 increases the likelihood of a retest of $1.34, pegged as the most likely near-term path (~45%).

Practical trade logic (non-advisory): Bulls generally need a break/hold above $1.45 with participation; bears gain leverage on loss of $1.38–$1.39 with follow-through toward $1.34.

Risk catalyst: If $1.45 breaks, short-covering could accelerate upside; if $1.34 fails decisively, downside targets shift into the low $1.30s.

📘 Glossary

Consolidation: A period of sideways trading where price moves within a range as buyers and sellers reach temporary balance.

V-shaped rebound: A rapid drop followed by a sharp recovery, often driven by short-term positioning rather than structural trend change.

200-day moving average (200-DMA): A long-term trend indicator; price below the 200-DMA is commonly interpreted as a bearish higher-timeframe condition.

Relative Strength Index (RSI): Momentum oscillator (0–100). Around 50 is neutral; below 50 can imply weaker momentum.

Technical rebound: A bounce driven by price levels/positioning (e.g., support) rather than improved fundamentals or a confirmed trend reversal.

Support / Resistance: Price zones where buying (support) or selling (resistance) has repeatedly appeared, often guiding near-term market behavior.

Order flow: The real-time mix of buy and sell activity that can reveal whether pressure is accumulating in one direction.

Short-covering: When traders who were betting against the asset (short) buy back to close positions, potentially amplifying upward moves.

Range-bound trading: Market behavior where price oscillates between defined support and resistance without a sustained breakout.

<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>

An amendment to Kentucky's House Bill 380 has sparked controversy for proposing to impose strict requirements on hardware wallet providers.

XRP falls 3% as breakdown below $1.44 and bitcoin weakness caps recoveryTraders are watching support near $1.40 as repeated failures below $1.60 reinforce broader downtrend. Mar 22, 2026, 6:47 a.m.

What to know: XRP fell about 2.6 percent to roughly $1.41 after a late-session break below $1.44 support, with selling volume more than triple the daily average.The token remains locked in a broader downtrend marked by lower highs since mid-2025, with recent rebound attempts failing below the $1.55 to $1.60 area.Traders are watching whether XRP can hold the $1.40 support zone, as a breakdown could expose downside toward $1.30 to $1.32, while stability may allow a consolidation and retest of $1.44 to $1.45.XRP slipped lower after another failed recovery attempt, with high-volume selling pushing the token back toward key support near $1.40.

News BackgroundXRP remains stuck in a broader corrective phase that has persisted since its mid-2025 peak, with rallies consistently failing to build follow-through. The latest pullback comes after a brief mid-March rebound stalled below $1.60, reinforcing the pattern of lower highs that has defined price action in recent months.Macro conditions continue to weigh on sentiment, with crypto markets trading cautiously following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy stance. XRP’s structure remains largely technical, with traders focused on whether the token can stabilize or continue drifting lower within its established range.Price Action SummaryXRP fell from $1.4457 to $1.4079, down roughly 2.6%Price traded near $1.44–$1.45 before breaking down late in the sessionSelling accelerated on a volume spike more than 3x the daily averageThe token stabilized near $1.40 after setting a low around $1.4018Technical AnalysisThe key move was the late-session break below $1.44 support, which triggered a sharp drop on elevated volume — a sign of active selling rather than passive drift.Short-term structure remains weak. XRP continues to form lower highs, and recent recovery attempts have stalled below $1.60, keeping the broader downtrend intact.The $1.40 area is now acting as immediate support, with buyers stepping in after the breakdown. A minor bounce has formed, but price remains below prior support levels that have now turned into resistance.On higher timeframes, XRP is still trading within a descending channel that has guided price since mid-2025, reinforcing the idea that rallies are corrective unless key resistance levels are reclaimed.What traders say is next?Traders are focused on whether XRP can hold above $1.40.If support stabilizes, the token may consolidate before attempting another move toward $1.44–$1.45, with a broader test near $1.55–$1.60 needed to shift momentum.If $1.40 breaks, downside risk opens toward the $1.30–$1.32 zone, where weaker support lies and previous moves have lacked strong buyer interest.More For You

Bitcoin miners are losing $19,000 on every BTC produced as difficulty drops 7.8%

24 minutes ago

The average production cost was sitting at $88,000 per bitcoin in mid-March, according to Checkonchain's difficulty regression model.

What to know:

Bitcoin miners are operating at steep losses, with average production costs around $88,000 per coin versus a market price near $69,200, as rising energy prices and war-related disruptions squeeze margins.Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including oil above $100 and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are driving up electricity costs and contributing to falling hashrate, slower block times, and sharp drops in network difficulty.Strained mining economics are forcing miners to sell more bitcoin and push into AI and high-performance computing for steadier revenue, adding pressure to a market already weighed down by underwater holders and heavy leverage.Top Stories

8h05 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Fenelon L.

Summarize this article with:

Nothing seems to stop Strategy. Despite Bitcoin falling more than 20% this quarter, Michael Saylor’s company continues to buy massively. Nearly 90,000 BTC accumulated since January, a total now approaching 762,000 units. The symbolic milestone of one million bitcoins has never seemed closer.

In brief Strategy has already acquired 89,618 BTC this quarter, a record level since late 2024. Its reserves now reach 761,068 bitcoins, consolidating its global leadership. Bitcoin remains under pressure, down about 20% in the recent period. Strategy accumulates Bitcoin against the market trend Strategy once again confirms its strategy: buy Bitcoin regardless of market conditions. Since January 2026, the company has acquired 89,618 BTC, bringing its total to 761,068 bitcoins. And the quarter isn’t over. Two new buying windows could further strengthen this already impressive record.

This accumulation level places this quarter as the company’s second largest in history, behind the record of the fourth quarter of 2024. At that time, Strategy benefited from a bullish market, marked by Bitcoin soaring towards $100,000 in a favorable post-election context in the United States.

But today, the context is radically different. Bitcoin is trading under pressure, penalized by a tense geopolitical climate and increased risk aversion. Outflows from crypto ETFs and stock markets reflect a flight of capital to assets deemed safer.

Despite this, Strategy does not slow down. This stance reflects a strong conviction: Bitcoin remains a strategic long-term asset, regardless of its short-term volatility. A clear vision, contrasting with that of more opportunistic investors.

A strategy financed by the markets… and exposed to risks What distinguishes Strategy is the financing mechanism behind its purchases. The company does not just use its cash: it actively mobilizes the markets by issuing shares and preferred securities to finance its Bitcoin purchases.

Its STRC program, structured around a perpetual offer with a nominal value of 100 dollars, has thus enabled financing up to 15,000 BTC in the last two weeks. However, this leverage is not without constraints. This week, the security did not reach its target price, rendering the mechanism temporarily inoperative. A clear reminder: this strategy remains dependent on market conditions.

Ultimately, one reality emerges. Strategy’s accumulation is not directly based on the price of Bitcoin, but on its ability to raise capital. An essential nuance, often underestimated, that profoundly changes the interpretation of its moves.

At the same time, the macroeconomic environment remains tense. The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has weighed on markets since late February, fuels strong risk aversion. Massive outflows from Bitcoin spot ETFs increase this pressure, limiting the market’s ability to absorb sales. Some analysts now mention a potential threshold around $55,000 before a true rebound.

Despite this uncertain context, Strategy shows a rare conviction. With 761,068 BTC in reserve, the company led by Michael Saylor is quickly approaching the symbolic threshold of one million bitcoins. At this pace, this milestone could be reached much sooner than expected. 

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Fenelon L.

Passionné par le Bitcoin, j'aime explorer les méandres de la blockchain et des cryptos et je partage mes découvertes avec la communauté. Mon rêve est de vivre dans un monde où la vie privée et la liberté financière sont garanties pour tous, et je crois fermement que Bitcoin est l'outil qui peut rendre cela possible.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

TLDR: Resolv Labs’ USR minting contract was exploited, allowing 50M USR to be minted with only 100K USDC in a 500x flaw. USR dropped 74.2% to $0.257 before partially recovering to $0.85, leaving liquidity providers with heavy losses. PeckShield confirmed $80M worth of USR was minted, with over $4.55M already converted into approximately 9,100 ETH. Resolv Labs had not issued any official response as the DeFi community called for stronger minting contract audits. Resolv Labs’ USR stablecoin faced a suspected exploit on Sunday around 2:21 AM UTC. An attacker reportedly minted 50 million USR using only about 100,000 USDC.

This caused USR to lose 74.2% of its value, dropping to $0.257. The token later recovered to approximately $0.85. Blockchain security firm PeckShield confirmed that roughly $80 million worth of USR was minted during the attack. Resolv Labs had not responded publicly as of the time of reporting.

Attacker Exploits Minting Contract to Drain Liquidity The attack was carried out through the USR Counter contract. The attacker executed two swaps to mint approximately 80 million USR tokens.

This was done using only around $200,000 in total funding. Experts suspect a flaw in the minting logic or a compromised signer was responsible.

After minting the tokens, the attacker then dumped them across decentralized exchanges. KyberSwap and Velora were among the platforms used for the selloff.

Through those sales, the attacker collected over $17 million in USDC and USDT. Those proceeds were then swapped into approximately 9,100 ETH.

Crypto analyst @ai_9684xtpa flagged the incident on social media shortly after. The post noted that 100,000 USDC produced 50 million USR, a 500-times discrepancy.

The Resolv team had yet to respond at the time. That ratio pointed to a serious breakdown in the protocol’s minting mechanism.

Liquidity providers suffered heavy losses from the sudden price collapse. Warnings were also issued for related vaults connected to the protocol.

USR is a yield-bearing stablecoin backed by crypto money markets. Before the incident, the protocol held over $500 million in total value locked.

Market Response and Community Reaction USR’s price fell sharply following the exploit. From its near-$1.00 peg, the token dropped to $0.257 within a short time. It then recovered to trade between $0.85 and $0.86. However, the recovery remained partial and did not restore the full peg.

PeckShield reported that about $80 million worth of USR had been minted through the attack. The attacker had also converted funds into roughly $4.55 million worth of ETH by early reports.

Blockchain trackers continued monitoring the associated wallet activity throughout. The pace of fund conversion pointed to a coordinated and deliberate effort.

As of the time of writing, Resolv Labs had not issued any official statement. Users were watching closely for potential refunds or an emergency protocol response.

The DeFi community raised questions about the minting contract’s audit history. Past incidents of a similar nature have triggered protocol shutdowns and governance votes.

USR’s exploit adds to a growing list of stablecoin-related security failures across DeFi. Protocols carrying large total value locked have repeatedly drawn targeting from bad actors.

The community continued calling for stronger safeguards around minting contracts. Real-time monitoring and thorough audits remain critical priorities for user protection.