Market Signal Briefing

, /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that members of the senior management team will participate in various investor meetings throughout January. They plan to discuss, among other things, long-term growth rate expectations for NextEra Energy.

NextEra Energy, Inc.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is one of the largest electric power and energy infrastructure companies in North America and is a leading provider of electricity to American homes and businesses. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy is a Fortune 200 company that owns Florida Power & Light Company, America's largest electric utility, which provides reliable electricity to approximately 12 million people across Florida. NextEra Energy also owns one of the largest energy infrastructure development companies in the U.S., NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. NextEra Energy and its affiliated entities are meeting America's growing energy needs with a diverse mix of energy sources, including natural gas, nuclear, renewable energy and battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

Cautionary Statements and Risk Factors That May Affect Future Results for NextEra Energy, Inc.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but instead represent the current expectations of NextEra Energy, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy) regarding future operating results and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of NextEra Energy's control. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements concerning long-term growth-rate expectations. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "will," "may result," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "seek," "potential," "projection," "forecast," "predict," "goals," "target," "outlook," "should," "would" or similar words or expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance. The future results of NextEra Energy and its business and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, or may require it to limit or eliminate certain operations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this news release and the following: effects of extensive regulation of NextEra Energy's business operations; inability of NextEra Energy to recover in a timely manner any significant amount of costs, a return on certain assets or a reasonable return on invested capital through base rates, cost recovery clauses, other regulatory mechanisms or otherwise; impact of political, regulatory, operational and economic factors on regulatory decisions important to NextEra Energy; effect of any reductions or modifications to, or elimination of, governmental incentives or policies that support clean energy projects or the imposition of additional tax laws, tariffs, duties, policies or other costs or assessments on clean energy or equipment necessary to generate, store or deliver it; impact of new or revised laws, regulations, executive orders, interpretations or constitutional ballot and regulatory initiatives on NextEra Energy; capital expenditures, increased operating costs and various liabilities attributable to environmental laws, regulations and other standards applicable to NextEra Energy; effects on NextEra Energy of federal or state laws or regulations mandating new or additional limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions; exposure of NextEra Energy to significant and increasing compliance costs and substantial monetary penalties and other sanctions as a result of extensive federal, state and local government regulation of its operations and businesses; effect on NextEra Energy of changes in tax laws, guidance or policies as well as in judgments and estimates used to determine tax-related asset and liability amounts; impact on NextEra Energy of adverse results of litigation; impacts of NextEra Energy of allegations of violations of law; effect on NextEra Energy of failure to proceed with projects under development or inability to complete the construction of (or capital improvements to) electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities or other facilities on schedule or within budget; impact on development and operating activities of NextEra Energy resulting from risks related to project siting, planning, financing, construction, permitting, governmental approvals and the negotiation of project development agreements, as well as supply chain disruptions; risks involved in the operation and maintenance of electric generation, storage, transmission and distribution facilities, natural gas and oil production and transportation facilities, and other facilities; effect on NextEra Energy of a lack of growth, slower growth or a decline in the number of customers or in customer usage; impact on NextEra Energy of severe weather and other weather conditions; threats of terrorism and catastrophic events that could result from geopolitical factors, terrorism, cyberattacks or other attempts to disrupt NextEra Energy's business or the businesses of third parties; inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage for protection of NextEra Energy against significant losses and risk that insurance coverage does not provide protection against all significant losses; a prolonged period of low natural gas and oil prices, disrupted production or unsuccessful drilling efforts could impact NextEra Energy's natural gas and oil production and transportation operations and cause NextEra Energy to delay or cancel certain natural gas and oil production projects and could result in certain assets becoming impaired; risk of increased operating costs resulting from unfavorable supply costs necessary to provide full energy and capacity requirements services; inability or failure to manage properly or hedge effectively the commodity risk within its portfolio; effect of reductions in the liquidity of energy markets on NextEra Energy's ability to manage operational risks; effectiveness of NextEra Energy's risk management tools associated with its hedging and trading procedures to protect against significant losses, including the effect of unforeseen price variances from historical behavior; impact of unavailability or disruption of power transmission or commodity transportation operations on sale and delivery of power or natural gas; exposure of NextEra Energy to credit and performance risk from customers, hedging counterparties and vendors; failure of counterparties to perform under derivative contracts or of requirement for NextEra Energy to post margin cash collateral under derivative contracts; failure or breach of NextEra Energy's information technology systems; risks to NextEra Energy's retail businesses from compromise of sensitive customer data; losses from volatility in the market values of derivative instruments and limited liquidity in over-the-counter markets; impact of negative publicity; inability to maintain, negotiate or renegotiate acceptable franchise agreements; occurrence of work strikes or stoppages and increasing personnel costs; NextEra Energy's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, including the effect of increased competition for acquisitions; environmental, health and financial risks associated with ownership and operation of nuclear generation facilities; liability of NextEra Energy for significant retrospective assessments and/or retrospective insurance premiums in the event of an incident at certain nuclear generation facilities; increased operating and capital expenditures and/or reduced revenues at nuclear generation facilities resulting from orders or new regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; inability to operate any of NextEra Energy's owned nuclear generation units through the end of their respective operating licenses or planned license extensions; effect of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets or actions by third parties in connection with project-specific or other financing arrangements on NextEra Energy's ability to fund its liquidity and capital needs and meet its growth objectives; defaults or noncompliance related to project-specific, limited-recourse financing agreements; inability to maintain current credit ratings; impairment of liquidity from inability of credit providers to fund their credit commitments or to maintain their current credit ratings; poor market performance and other economic factors that could affect NextEra Energy's defined benefit pension plan's funded status; poor market performance and other risks to the asset values of nuclear decommissioning funds; changes in market value and other risks to certain of NextEra Energy's assets and investments; effect of inability of NextEra Energy subsidiaries to pay upstream dividends or repay funds to NextEra Energy or of NextEra Energy's performance under guarantees of subsidiary obligations on NextEra Energy's ability to meet its financial obligations and to pay dividends on its common stock; the fact that the amount and timing of dividends payable on NextEra Energy's common stock, as well as the dividend policy approved by NextEra Energy's board of directors from time to time, and changes to that policy, are within the sole discretion of NextEra Energy's board of directors and, if declared and paid, dividends may be in amounts that are less than might be expected by shareholders; XPLR Infrastructure, LP's inability to access sources of capital on commercially reasonable terms could have an effect on its ability to consummate future acquisitions and on the value of NextEra Energy's limited partner interest in XPLR Operating Partners, LP; effects of disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit and capital markets on the market price of NextEra Energy's common stock; and the ultimate severity and duration of public health crises, epidemics and pandemics, and its effects on NextEra Energy's business. NextEra Energy discusses these and other risks and uncertainties in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and this news release should be read in conjunction with such SEC filings. The forward-looking statements made in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and NextEra Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.

CHICAGO, Jan. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (the “Trust”) has declared its regular monthly distribution of $0.060 per share on the Trust’s common shares (NYSE: XFLT), payable on January 30, 2026, to common shareholders of record as of January 15, 2026, as noted below. The distribution amount represents a 14.29% decrease from the previous month's $0.070 per share.

The Trust’s investment objective is to seek attractive total return with an emphasis on income generation across multiple stages of the credit cycle. The Trust’s investment portfolio is primarily comprised of floating-rate credit instruments. The Federal Reserve’s recent reductions of the federal funds rate, along with continued interest rate spread compression, have negatively impacted income generation within the Trust’s portfolio. With the new distribution amount of $0.060 per share, the Trust’s annualized distribution rate on market price is 15.00%, and the annualized distribution rate on NAV is 13.48% as of market close on December 31, 2025.

The following dates apply to the declaration:

  Ex-Dividend DateJanuary 15, 2026  Record DateJanuary 15, 2026  Payable DateJanuary 30, 2026  Amount$0.060 per common share  Change from Previous Month            14.29% decrease   Common share distributions may be paid from net investment income (regular interest and dividends), capital gains and/or a return of capital. The specific tax characteristics of the distributions will be reported to the Trust’s common shareholders on Form 1099 after the end of the 2026 calendar year. Shareholders should not assume that the source of a distribution from the Trust is net income or profit. For further information regarding the Trust’s distributions, please visit www.xainvestments.com.

The Trust’s net investment income and capital gain can vary significantly over time; however, the Trust seeks to maintain more stable common share monthly distributions over time. The Trust’s investments in CLOs are subject to complex tax rules and the calculation of taxable income attributed to an investment in CLO subordinated notes can be dramatically different from the calculation of income for financial reporting purposes under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), and, as a result, there may be significant differences between the Trust’s GAAP income and its taxable income. The Trust’s final taxable income for the current fiscal year will not be known until the Trust’s tax returns are filed.

As a registered investment company, the Trust is subject to a 4% excise tax that is imposed if the Trust does not distribute to common shareholders by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gain or loss) for the calendar year and (ii) 98.2% of its capital gain in excess of its capital loss (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31 of the calendar year (unless an election is made to use the Trust’s fiscal year). In certain circumstances, the Trust may elect to retain income or capital gain to the extent that the Board of Trustees, in consultation with Trust management, determines it to be in the interest of shareholders to do so.

The common share distributions paid by the Trust for any particular period may be more than the amount of net investment income from that period. As a result, all or a portion of a distribution may be a return of capital, which is in effect a partial return of the amount a common shareholder invested in the Trust, up to the amount of the common shareholder’s tax basis in their common shares, which would reduce such tax basis. Although a return of capital may not be taxable, it will generally increase the common shareholder’s potential gain, or reduce the common shareholder’s potential loss, on any subsequent sale or other disposition of common shares.

The distribution shall be paid on the Payment Date unless the payment of such distribution is deferred by the Board of Trustees upon a determination that such deferral is required in order to comply with applicable law to ensure that the Trust remains solvent and able to pay its debts as they become due and continue as a going concern, or to comply with the applicable terms or financial covenants of the Trust’s senior securities.

Future common share distributions will be made if and when declared by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, based on a consideration of number of factors, including the Trust’s continued compliance with terms and financial covenants of its senior securities, the Trust’s net investment income, financial performance and available cash. There can be no assurance that the amount or timing of common share distributions in the future will be equal or similar to that described herein or that the Board of Trustees will not decide to suspend or discontinue the payment of common share distributions in the future.

The investment objective of the Trust is to seek attractive total return with an emphasis on income generation across multiple stages of the credit cycle. The Trust seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a dynamically managed portfolio of opportunities primarily within the private credit markets. Under normal market conditions, the Trust will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in floating rate credit instruments and other structured credit investments. There can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective.

The Trust’s common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “XFLT”.

About XA Investments

XA Investments LLC (“XAI”) serves as the Trust’s investment adviser. XAI is a Chicago-based firm founded by XMS Capital Partners in 2016. XAI serves as the investment adviser for two listed closed-end funds and an interval closed-end fund. The listed closed-end funds, the XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust and XAI Madison Equity Premium Income Fund both trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the interval fund, Octagon XAI CLO Income Fund is available via direct subscription and through select broker/dealers and wealth management platforms.

In addition to investment advisory services, the firm also provides investment fund structuring and consulting services focused on registered closed-end funds to meet institutional client needs. XAI offers custom product build and consulting services, including development and market research, sales, marketing, and fund management.

XAI believes that the investing public can benefit from new vehicles to access a broad range of alternative investment strategies and managers. XAI provides individual investors with access to institutional-caliber alternative managers. For more information, please visit www.xainvestments.com.

About XMS Capital Partners
XMS Capital Partners, LLC, established in 2006, is a global, independent, financial services firm providing M&A, corporate advisory and asset management services to clients. It has offices in Chicago, Boston and London. For more information, please visit www.xmscapital.com.

About Octagon Credit Investors
Octagon Credit Investors, LLC (“Octagon”) serves as the Trust’s investment sub-adviser. Octagon is a 30+ year old, $33.8B below-investment grade corporate credit investment adviser focused on leveraged loan, high yield bond and structured credit (CLO debt and equity) investments. Through fundamental credit analysis and active portfolio management, Octagon’s investment team identifies attractive relative value opportunities across below-investment grade asset classes, sectors and issuers. Octagon’s investment philosophy and methodology encourage and rely upon dynamic internal communication to manage portfolio risk. Over its history, the firm has applied a disciplined, repeatable and scalable approach in its effort to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors. For more information, please visit www.octagoncredit.com.

XAI does not provide tax advice; please consult a professional tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. Income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as the federal alternative minimum tax.

Investors should consider the investment objectives and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the Trust carefully before investing. For more information on the Trust, please visit the Trust’s webpage at www.xainvestments.com.

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

     NOT FDIC INSURED      NO BANK GUARANTEE  MAY LOSE VALUE Paralel Distributors, LLC - Distributor

January 02, 2026 16:16 ET

 | Source:

High Income Securities Fund

NEW YORK, Jan. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Income Securities Fund (NYSE: PCF) (the “Fund”) today announced that the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has declared the next three monthly distributions under the Fund’s managed distribution plan.

Under the Fund’s managed distribution plan, the Fund intends to make monthly distributions to common stockholders at an annual rate of 10% (or 0.8333% per month) for 2026, based on the net asset value of $6.96 of the Fund’s common shares as of December 31, 2025.

The next three distributions declared under the managed distribution plan are as follows:

MonthAmountRecord DatePayable DateJanuary$0.0580
January 20, 2026January 30, 2026February$0.0580
February 17, 2026February 27, 2026March$0.0580
March 17, 2026March 31, 2026     Under the managed distribution plan, to the extent that sufficient investment income is not available on a monthly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return of capital. To the extent that the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains exceed the aggregate amount distributed pursuant to the managed distribution plan, the Fund may make an additional year-end distribution. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the distributions. The Board may amend the terms of the managed distribution plan or terminate the plan at any time without prior notice to stockholders, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s common shares. The plan will be subject to periodic review by the Board, including a yearly review of the annual fixed rate to determine if an adjustment should be made.

The Fund will issue a notice to common stockholders that will provide an estimate of the composition of each distribution. For tax reporting purposes the actual composition of the total amount of distributions for each year will continue to be provided on a Form 1099-DIV issued after the end of the year.

For information, please contact: Thomas Antonucci at [email protected].

Palantir is off to a slow start in 2026, after appreciating by 138% in 2025.

Shares of AI software giant Palantir (PLTR 5.24%) plunged on Friday, falling 5.9% as of 1:41 PM EDT.

There wasn't any company-specific news for Palantir today, but a combination of related factors led to the stock's big slump to start the new year.

Today's Change

(

-5.24

%) $

-9.31

Current Price

$

168.44

Software rotation, profit-taking, and Elon Musk may be culprits
The overall software sector fell on Friday, so Palantir certainly wasn't alone in its decline. The across-the-board declines in software stocks, combined with an unusually strong day for semiconductor stocks, point to a big rotation among technology investors today.

In addition to that apparent rotation, Palantir may also be seeing a round of profit-taking on the first trading day of the new year. The stock was up 138% in 2025, as the company delivered a series of earnings reports that consistently exceeded expectations, with quarterly growth accelerating between 40% and 60% every quarter.

Investors may have been waiting to sell the stock until the new year in order to defer capital gains tax payments until April of 2027. So, that mere technical factor could be playing a part in the sell-off today.

Meanwhile, Palantir may be suffering somewhat from its association with Elon Musk. Musk and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel are close friends, dating back to their days as early founders of PayPal.

Elon Musk's Tesla (TSLA 1.99%) reported fourth quarter deliveries of 418,227 vehicles today, which was well short of the 440,907 vehicle count that Wall Street investors had estimated for the quarter. The miss brought Tesla's vehicle deliveries to a second straight year of declines.

While there isn't really any tangible connection between Palantir and Tesla, the two stocks may be linked for some investors, who may group all of the "PayPal Mafia" stocks associated with Musk and Thiel together in the same group of stocks.

Image source: Getty Images.

Where will Palantir go after a blockbuster 2025?
After its monster year last year, Palantir's stock still looks quite frothy at 390 times trailing earnings, even after today's decline.

But the seemingly insane valuation might not be as crazy as it seems if Palantir can continue to deliver the blockbuster growth it did in 2025, as the company became the go-to platform for harnessing generative AI into tangible business outcomes. Only time will tell if the AI revolution can continue propelling Palantir to new heights, or if the company's growth will inevitably stall out.

Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies, PayPal, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short December 2025 $75 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

CNBC's "The Exchange" team discusses investment strategy for 2026 with Victoria Greene of G Squared Private Wealth.

The battle between crypto platforms is no longer about one blockchain winning everything. Instead, different networks are claiming dominance in specialized verticals, with Ethereum cementing its role as institutional infrastructure while Solana captures the consumer payments layer, according to CoinShares’ 2026 outlook.

The shift represents a change in how investors should think about blockchain exposure. Rather than betting on a single winner, the market is splitting into distinct use cases where multiple platforms can thrive simultaneously, the report argues.

This changing landscape shaped the strategy behind CoinShares Altcoins ETF (DIME), which holds a diversified basket of Layer-1 blockchains. The fund launched in October and manages $1.76 million across 10 different cryptocurrencies, according to ETF Database.

Ethereum’s institutional momentum shows clearly in recent adoption metrics. BlackRock’s (BLK) BUIDL tokenized fund has grown to over $550 million, while J.P. Morgan (JPM) is piloting tokenized deposits on Base, an Ethereum Layer-2 network, according to the outlook. These moves signal traditional finance is building on Ethereum’s settlement layer rather than competing chains.

The network processed roughly $40 billion in lending activity through AAVE, one of crypto’s largest lending platforms, placing it among the top 50 U.S. banks by that measure, the report notes. Ethereum’s rollup-centric development strategy has pushed Layer-2 throughput from 200 transactions per second a year ago to nearly 4,800 today.

Solana’s Consumer Dominance
Meanwhile, Solana has captured the retail and high-frequency application market through dramatically different means. Stablecoin supply on Solana exploded from $1.8 billion to $12 billion in 2025, a 567% increase that reflects its emergence as a payments-focused blockchain, according to the outlook.

PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin now operates primarily on Solana rather than Ethereum. The network’s parallel transaction processing and sub-second finality make it better suited for consumer applications requiring speed over maximum decentralization, the report explains.

This vertical specialization creates a compelling case for basket exposure rather than concentrated bets. DIME’s portfolio includes Solana positions totaling roughly 8.8% of assets, while also holding exposure to other specialized platforms like Sui, Aptos, and Avalanche, according to ETF Database.

The fund’s structure reflects CoinShares’ view that no single blockchain will dominate every use case. DIME holds positions across different Layer-1 platforms, allowing it to capture growth regardless of which specific vertical expands fastest in coming years.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the CoinShares Crypto ETF Hub.

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Nvidia (NVDA) stock is this week's featured company on Investor's Business Daily's Sector Leaders column as shares recently retook their 50-day moving average, thanks to renewed promise for sales in the massive China market. Nvidia hit an all-time high in October, becoming the first company to reach $5 trillion in market capitalization. But that high valuation took a dent as…

CNBC's Kristina Partsinevelos reports on Nvidia's massive spending spree.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of O, BNL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

A Buy, Sell, or Hold rating in this article does not constitute a Buy, Sell, or Hold recommendation. All investors should exercise their own due diligence, before investing in any stock.

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

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

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

CNBC's "Power Lunch" team discusses oil markets and geopolitics amid unrest in Iran with Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy Group.

The lesson Austin Lyons says he will take away from 2025 is the deep ties AI has to the CapEx story. Companies like Nvidia (NVDA) and TSMC (TSM) are juggernauts he expects to benefit as AI spending accelerates in 2026.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang talks about his company's latest innovations at CES 2026 About Yahoo Finance: Yahoo Finance provides free stock ticker data, up-to-date news, portfolio management resources, comprehensive market data, advanced tools, and more information to help you manage your financial life. - Get the latest news and data at finance.yahoo.com - Download the Yahoo Finance app on Apple (https://apple.co/3Rten0R) or Android (https://bit.ly/3t8UnXO) - Follow Yahoo Finance on social: X: http://twitter.com/YahooFinance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yahoofinance/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yahoofinance?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yahoofinance/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yahoo-finance

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of StubHub Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: STUB) common stock pursuant and/or traceable to StubHub’s offering documents issued in connection with StubHub’s September 17, 2025 initial public offering (“IPO”), have until Friday, January 23, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the StubHub class action lawsuit. Captioned Salabaj v. StubHub Holdings, Inc., No. 25-cv-09776 (S.D.N.Y.), the StubHub class action lawsuit charges StubHub and certain of StubHub’s top executives and directors and underwriters of the IPO with violations of the Securities Act of 1933.

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

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-stubhub-holdings-inc-class-action-lawsuit-stub.html

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

CASE ALLEGATIONS: StubHub operates a ticketing marketplace for live event tickets worldwide. According to the StubHub class action lawsuit, on or about September 17, 2025, StubHub conducted its IPO, issuing approximately 34 million shares of common stock to the public at the offering price of $23.50 per share.

The StubHub class action lawsuit alleges that the IPO’s offering documents were materially false and/or misleading and/or omitted to state that: (i) StubHub was experiencing changes in the timing of payments to vendors; (ii) those changes had a significant adverse impact on free cash flow, including trailing 12 months free cash flow; and (iii) as a result, StubHub’s free cash flow reports were materially misleading. The quarterly report allegedly revealed that this year-over-year decrease “primarily reflects changes in the timing of payments to vendors.”

The StubHub class action lawsuit further alleges that on November 13, 2025, StubHub issued a press release announcing financial results for the third quarter of 2025, which ended September 30, 2025, revealing free cash flow of negative $4.6 million in the quarter, a 143% decrease. StubHub further revealed its net cash provided by operating activities was only $3.8 million, a 69.3% decrease, the complaint alleges. On this news, StubHub’s stock price fell by nearly 21%, according to the StubHub investor class action.

By the commencement of the StubHub shareholder class action lawsuit, StubHub’s stock price was trading as low as $10.31 per share, a nearly 56% decline from the $23.50 per share IPO price, the complaint alleges.

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

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world’s leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder litigation. Our Firm has been ranked #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for four out of the last five years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. In 2024, we recovered over $2.5 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases – more than the next five law firms combined, according to ISS. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world, and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

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

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

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

Commerce Bancshares, the parent company of Commerce Bank, has completed its previously announced acquisition of FineMark Holdings, the parent company of FineMark National Bank & Trust.

This merger makes Kansas City, Missouri-based Commerce the 15th largest bank-managed trust company based on assets under management, the company said in a Thursday (Jan. 1) press release. It has $36 billionof assets and $90 billion of assets under administration.

The transaction also gives Commerce’s private banking and wealth management business new locations in Arizona and South Carolina, adding to its existing presence in Florida, according to the release.

“FineMark is a natural culture fit, with a history of strong asset quality, a shared client-centric approach to wealth management and banking, and a commitment to building strong communities,” Commerce President and CEO John Kemper said in the release. “Together, we are positioned to accelerate growth, expand our reach, and deliver even greater value to clients, shareholders and our communities for many years to come.”

Following the closing of the transaction, FineMark National Bank & Trust was merged with and into Commerce Bank, and it will now operate as FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank, according to the release.

In its own announcement of the completion of the transaction, FineMark said: “This partnership brings together two organizations rooted in personalized service, trusted relationships and a shared commitment to our clients and communities. Together with Commerce, we’re expanding our capabilities while remaining grounded in the service and trust our clients know us for.”

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Commerce announced its plans to acquire FineMark in June, saying in a press release that the acquisition would bolster Commerce’s wealth management business in high-growth markets.

In a presentation released the same day, Commerce said FineMark offers “concierge wealth management and banking” at 13 locations, including 10 in Florida, two in Scottsdale, Arizona, and one in Charleston, South Carolina.

Commerce said in an earnings highlights presentation released in July that the acquisition would add these locations to the wealth management services it already provides in its core banking footprint in the Midwest and through offices in Dallas, Houston and Naples.

The company added that it would also gain niche wealth expertise that includes the services FineMark provides to sports professionals.

Commerce added that there is an opportunity to grow the FineMark business by adding Commerce’s broader product suite.

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Key Takeaways BFH expects credit sales growth from strong consumer spending, new partners and holiday demand.
Average loans are set to rise alongside higher credit sales.
Strategic investments in digital innovation, technology and marketing aim to drive growth.

Shares of Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. (BFH - Free Report) have gained 22.6% in the last six-month period, outperforming the Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s growth of 5.9% and 11.8%, respectively. However, the Zacks Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry has lost 12% in the said time frame.

Shares of Bread Financial closed at $74.03 on Tuesday, near its 52-week high of $78.98. This proximity underscores investor confidence. It has the ingredients for further price appreciation.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The insurer has a market capitalization of $3.37 billion. The average volume of shares traded in the last three months was 0.7 million.

The stock has a solid track record of beating earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average of 55.17%.

BFH Trading Above 50-Day and 200-Day Moving AveragesThe stock is trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMA) of $68.29 and $58.93, respectively, indicating solid upward momentum. The SMA is a widely used technical analysis tool to predict future price trends by analyzing historical price data.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BFH Shares Are AffordableBread Financial shares are trading at a discount compared with the industry. Its forward price-to-earnings multiple of 7.27X is significantly lower than the industry average of 32.48X, the Finance sector’s 19.17X and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s 26.1X. The insurer has a Value Score of A.

Shares of Virtu Financial, Inc. (VIRT - Free Report) , American Express Company (AXP - Free Report) and LendingClub Corporation (LC - Free Report) are also trading at a discount to the industry average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

BFH’s Encouraging Growth ProjectionThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bread Financial’s 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 34%. The consensus estimate for 2026 revenues indicates an increase of 3.3% from the corresponding 2025 estimates.

BFH has an impressive Growth Score of B. This style score helps analyze the growth prospects of a company.

Optimistic Analyst Sentiment on BFHEach of the three analysts covering the stock has raised estimates for 2025, and two of the six analysts have raised the same for 2026 over the past 30 days. Thus, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 earnings has moved up 0.4% and 0.1%, respectively, in the past 30 days.

Factors Acting in Favor of BFH StockThe credit sales performance is expected to improve on the back of solid consumer spending. With the continued growth in credit sales, average loans are likely to increase. With new partner additions and holiday spending, BFH continues to expect strong credit sales.

Credit metrics should remain strong, with delinquency and net loss rates remaining below the historical averages. Given disciplined, proactive risk management and strong consumer payment behavior, net loss rates are expected to remain low.

BFH is prudently investing in strategic growth areas and ramping up marketing spending across growth verticals, digital innovation and technology enhancements. The company stated that ramping up its digital and technology capabilities remains a top priority this year. It has strategic relationships leveraging BFH’s versatile mono platform, including RBC, Fiserv and Sezzle.

The company has been strengthening its balance sheet and lowering debt. Notably, its free cash flow conversion has been impressive over the last several quarters, reflecting its solid earnings. Bread Financial also intends to pay down $100 million in 2026 bonds by this year to further improve leverage.

BFH remains focused on returning value to its shareholders. It uses share repurchases as a tool to mitigate the adverse impact of foreign exchange and intends to focus more on share buybacks, mergers and acquisitions.

ConclusionRobust credit sales, higher retained earnings, active risk management, solid consumer spending and capital deployment should continue to favor Bread Financial over the long term.

BFH also has a VGM Score of A. Stocks with a favorable VGM Score are those with the most attractive value, best growth and most promising momentum compared with peers.

Higher return on capital, favorable growth estimates and attractive valuations should continue to benefit Bread Financial over the long term. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Author

David Pokima

Author

David Pokima

Part of the Team Since

Jun 2023

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David is a finance journalist and a contributor to Cryptonews.com with a keen interest in breaking comprehensive, accurate, and reliable blockchain news.

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Last updated: 

January 2, 2026

Bitcoin broke the psychological $90,000 barrier on Friday, trading at $90,742 (+3.2%) during the New York session, effectively snapping a Q4 2025 trend where U.S. trading hours were dominated by selling pressure.

The reversal reflects the end of end-of-year tax-loss harvesting that drove Bitcoin down 23% in Q4.

Buying volume accelerated at 09:30 ET, contrasting sharply with the “4 p.m. sell-off” pattern observed throughout December. CoinGlass data show futures open interest jumped 2.16% to $130 billion in the last 24 hours, indicating renewed leverage appetite.

The Floor & The FlowsMicroStrategy (MSTR) likely established the local floor. The firm disclosed on Dec. 29 that it had purchased 1,229 BTC at an average price of $88,568, defending the range ahead of the New Year.

Miners are front-running the risk-on shift. Hut 8 outperformed the spot market, rallying nearly 15% to $50.73.

“The crypto market opens 2026 on a balanced note, driven by renewed institutional interest, clearer regulations, faster ETF approvals by the SEC, and the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin framework, which have boosted confidence, even as most inflows remain concentrated in Bitcoin and Ethereum,” Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst at Delta Exchange, noted in an article from The Economic Times.

That dynamic flipped on Friday as U.S. spot ETFs and proxies, such as Coinbase (+3%), caught a bid.

Market OutlookDespite the rally, prediction markets remain cautious. Polymarket bettors currently assign only 26% odds to Bitcoin exceeding $150,000 in 2026, favoring a consolidation year.

Immediate resistance sits at the Q4 2025 breakdown level of $92,500.

The headline isn’t the price; it’s the timing. Throughout Q4 2025, U.S. liquidity was the exit liquidity—consistent selling during NY hours to harvest losses.

Friday’s price action confirms that the “tax drag” is gone. Desks should monitor the ETH/BTC ratio ($0.034); if U.S. institutions are truly risk-on, expect rotation into high-beta alts and miner equity to outpace spot BTC in the short term.

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Altcoins closed 2025 weaker versus Bitcoin, marking a fourth consecutive year of underperformance. According to market data that tracks the TOTAL3/BTC ratio — which measures all altcoins excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum against Bitcoin — the ratio finished lower for calendar years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. That streak has left traders and fund managers rethinking the old pattern where smaller tokens would often surge after Bitcoin rallies.

Altcoins Underperform Bitcoin
Market watchers say Bitcoin’s share of the overall crypto market has grown. Bitcoin dominance was reported at roughly 59–60% during the late 2025 selloff, a level that squeezed room for other tokens.

Based on reports, small-cap tokens hit their lowest point in four years as money flowed into larger, more liquid assets. Bitcoin itself slipped from an October peak and ended the year in negative territory, a development covered by major outlets that noted it was the first yearly loss for Bitcoin since 2022.

Altcoins have now dropped against Bitcoin for 4 years in a row pic.twitter.com/K3rJhSh1tM

— Benjamin Cowen (@intocryptoverse) January 1, 2026

Widespread Losses And Heavy Market Moves
Several data providers found the median performance among the top 30 altcoins was negative for the year. Market value across the crypto sector fell sharply in late 2025, with some estimates saying more than $1 trillion was erased from total market capitalization during the downturn.

Traders described 2025 as a year that began with optimism but closed with broad losses, and many small tokens that rose earlier in the year gave those gains back when risk appetite faded.

Bitcoin Dominance. Source: CoinMarketCap
What Analysts Are Saying
Some analysts argue that institutional flows and investor preference for liquidity were important drivers of this trend. Others point to macro pressures in the US and global markets that reduced appetite for speculative positions.

Reports note that for an altcoin rebound to beat Bitcoin again, fresh capital would need to rotate specifically into smaller tokens, rather than simply following Bitcoin’s moves. That shift has not been evident so far as 2026 unfurls.

BTCUSD currently trading at $89,333. Chart: TradingView
The TOTAL3/BTC measure is being used by many traders to gauge altcoin strength versus Bitcoin. When that ratio falls year after year, it means a unit of Bitcoin buys more altcoin market cap than before.

Market trackers used by exchanges and analytics firms flagged the persistent downward trend across the last four calendar years, which is an unusual run relative to prior cycles when altcoins sometimes outpaced Bitcoin for parts of a market cycle.

Cautious Stance
Investors are staying cautious. Volatility remains high and liquidity can dry up fast in smaller tokens, which makes large moves possible both ways. Based on reports, any meaningful restoration of altcoin gains will likely require clear, sustained capital flows and improved market sentiment.

Until that happens, Bitcoin’s share of market capital will probably remain elevated, keeping pressure on smaller tokens.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Most of the cryptocurrencies have returned to the green zone, according to CoinStats.

SHIB chart by CoinStatsSHIB/USDThe price of SHIB has increased by almost 10% over the last 24 hours.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the rate of SHIB has made a false breakout of the local resistance at $0.00000779.

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However, if buyers can hold the gained initiative and the daily candle closes near that mark or above, there is a chance to see a test of the $0.0000080 zone soon.

Image by TradingViewOn the bigger time frame, traders should focus on the nearest level of $0.00000766. If the candle closes with a short wick and above that mark, the energy might be enough for a further upward move to $0.0000080.

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, the price of SHIB has once again bounced off the support at $0.00000678. If the weekly bar closes far from that mark, there is a possibility to witness growth to the $0.0000080-$0.0000090 range by mid-January.

SHIB is trading at $0.00000779 at press time.

Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) executive chairman Michael Saylor says Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) makes the stock “interesting,” but Polymarket traders bet 76% the company gets booted from MSCI by March 31.

Options Activity Dwarfs Mega-Cap PeersSaylor on Frida pointed to MSTR’s options interest-to-market cap ratio, which now sits at 86.2%—far exceeding derivatives exposure at Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) at 22%, Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) at 10.4%, and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) at 7.2%.

Tech giants like Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Amazon Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) cluster much lower around 3-4%, highlighting how extreme MSTR’s derivatives positioning is relative to its market size.

A large Jan. 2 options expiry could heighten short-term volatility, though MSTR’s returns over the past year have lagged behind its mega-cap peers despite the elevated options activity.

Polymarket Sees Structural Pressure BuildingPolymarket traders are positioning for stress around Strategy’s equity narrative as 2026 approaches. 

The 76% probability of MSCI index removal by March 31 reflects sustained concern over classification and index eligibility rather than a fleeting headline risk.

At the same time, confidence in another aggressive Bitcoin disclosure has softened. 

The odds that MicroStrategy announces holdings above 680,000 BTC by Jan. 31 sit at 64%, down from recent highs.

Together, the pricing suggests traders expect structural pressure on the stock to materialize sooner than any near-term upside catalyst tied to fresh Bitcoin accumulation.

Chart Shows $148 Is Last Line Of Defense

MSTR Price Action By TradingView

MSTR is up 3.70% today, but remains in a clear downtrend after the 66% decline from late July’s peak near $460.

The 20 EMA at $167.67 represents the nearest overhead resistance, followed by the 50 EMA at $202.78.

The Supertrend indicator at $181.47 has flipped bearish, reinforcing the current downtrend. 

The descending trendline from the November peak continues to cap upside attempts.

Recent price action shows consolidation in the $150-$160 range with diminishing volatility, which could precede a directional move. 

The overall technical structure remains negative until the stock can reclaim key moving averages.

Key Levels To Watch
Immediate support: $148-$150 (recent lows)
Key resistance: $167-$170 (20 EMA), $180-$185 (Supertrend + psychological level)
Major resistance: $200+ (50 EMA zone)
A break below $148 opens the door to further downside with no clear support until $120-$130. 

Reclaiming $180 and holding it as support would be the first sign of a trend reversal.

Read Next:

Why Is ParaZero Stock Gaining Today?
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The idea that holding a certain amount of XRP and waiting for an explosive price surge could one day guarantee financial freedom has long been a common belief in the crypto community. However, a crypto analyst has pushed back against this assumption, sharing reasons why he believes investors cannot retire comfortably by holding just 20,000 XRP.

Why 20,000 XRP Cannot Bring Financial Freedom
An avid XRP supporter who goes by the name ‘XRP_OG’ has challenged common assumptions among retail investors about wealth creation and expectations for the altcoin. His post on X focused on why holding 20,000 XRP is unlikely to deliver long-term financial freedom or allow someone to retire comfortably. 

XRP_OG argued that many investors believe that financial freedom begins once XRP reaches a high valuation. He revealed that this mindset ignores basic financial realities, especially in a first-world country. The analyst used a hypothetical scenario in which the XRP price rises from under $2 to $100 to illustrate his point.

At $100 per XRP, XRP_OG notes that one coin would be worth a staggering $2,000,000 before any deductions. While the figure may sound life-changing, the analyst stressed that it does not account for real-world financial pressures and cannot guarantee lasting security. 

The analyst pointed out that taxes would quickly eat into gains. After federal and state obligations, a substantial portion of the investment revenue would be reduced, and what remains would still need to cover housing, food, insurance, and other daily living expenses in the long term. He also emphasized that rising inflation could steadily reduce purchasing power over time. Without growth or a steady income stream, money’s ability to sustain a household over the long run diminishes. 

The analyst warned that sudden lifestyle upgrades can also quickly drain wealth. He explained that spending habits tend to change rapidly after a major wealth transformation, leading to faster resource depletion if finances are not carefully managed. 

Family responsibilities were another primary concern raised by the analyst. For parents with three children, paying for college alone can exceed $500,000. That single expense could consume a large portion of a $2,000,000 portfolio, which taxes would have significantly reduced. 

The analyst also touched on cultural spending behaviors. According to him, many people tend to prioritize luxury items like cars and jewelry after achieving financial success. He stressed the importance of putting the money to work immediately, pointing out that idle wealth does not generate income and can disappear faster than expected. 

How Much Investors Need To Be Financially Free
In his post, XRP_OG acknowledged that while gaining $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 are significant amounts, they are not enough to achieve true financial freedom. He noted that most people need between $5,000,000 to $7,000,000, or more, to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without financial stress for the long term.

According to the analyst, the exact amount a person requires will depend on critical factors like age and how long the money must support an individual’s lifestyle. 

Price moves up again | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

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

Bitcoin spiked above $90,000 heading into the first weekend of 2026, even as spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded net outflows this week.

CryptocurrencyTickerPriceBitcoin(CRYPTO: BTC)$89,771.74Ethereum(CRYPTO: ETH)$3,104.24Solana(CRYPTO: SOL)$130.98XRP(CRYPTO: XRP)$1.98Dogecoin(CRYPTO: DOGE)$0.1386Shiba Inu(CRYPTO: SHIB)$0.058101Notable Statistics:

Coinglass data shows 105,578 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $381.05 million.        
SoSoValue data shows net outflows of $348.1 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Wednesday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net outflows of $72 million.
In the past 24 hours, top losers include Pepe, Floki and Pudgy Penguins.
Notable Developments:

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP To Surge 20% In January? Unlikely, Polymarket Says
XRP Flashes Buy Signal As Ripple Executive Hints At 2026 Upside
Iran Taps Into Cryptocurrency Payments For Advanced Weapons Trade Amid Sanctions, Economic Crisis: Report
Trump Pardoned 3 Crypto Felons In 10 Months—Here’s What Each One Cost
Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks Cleared Of Lawsuit Linked To Promotion Of Bankrupt Crypto Company
Anthony Scaramucci Places His 2026 Altcoin Bets On Solana, Avalanche, Plus This Token He Got ‘Wrong’ Last Year — Here’s Why
Trader Notes: CryptoCon said Bitcoin has opened the year with a Pi Cycle "death cross," a signal that historically gains relevance later in the cycle.

According to halving-cycle theory, 2026 is shaping up as a bear-market year, but that is not necessarily negative.

Bear markets often create the best long-term opportunities through prolonged downside and accumulation.

Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez pointed to a familiar historical setup.

In early 2022, Bitcoin lost the 50-week simple moving average, briefly rebounded to retest it as resistance, and then sold off sharply.

A similar structure today could allow for a bounce toward roughly $103,000 before a deeper decline, potentially toward the $42,000 area.

Crypto GodJohn noted that one of his preferred strength-versus-weakness indicators is close to flipping from negative to neutral-positive for the first time in more than a month.

At the same time, the Coinbase premium is nearing a return to positive territory after heavy selling through December, signaling a pickup in U.S.-based spot demand and improving near-term sentiment.

Read Next:

Bitcoin Stuck At $90,000: 3 Scenarios To Watch In 2026
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Fri, 2/01/2026 - 19:09

Cardano is off to a strong start in 2026 with a 37,851% activity surge as traders position ahead of the next big move in the markets.

Cover image via U.Today

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Cardano is off to a solid start in 2026; the 10th largest cryptocurrency is seeing a price rise, up 7% on a 24-hour basis to outperform major cryptos.

At the time of writing, ADA was up 7.34% in the last 24 hours to $0.368 and up 5.66% weekly.

Cardano is showing steady gains at 2026's start as traders return from the holiday break. Aside from Dogecoin, which was up 11% in the last 24 hours, ADA led gains among the top 10 cryptocurrencies as risk appetite improved across markets.

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Coinciding with the surge in the ADA price in the last 24 hours is a wild surge in futures activity as derivatives traders adjust positioning.

According to CoinGlass data, Cardano surged 37,851% in futures volume on the Bitmex crypto exchange to reach $255.52 million.

Across the crypto market, the setup remains supportive with a weaker dollar and improving equity sentiment supporting this, yet traders remain cautious after a late-2025 period marked by thin liquidity and quick profit-taking.

Cardano price targetsCardano reversed a four-day drop, which took place from Dec. 28 to 31, recovering from a low of $0.3297.

Cardano rebounded from a Jan. 1 low of $0.331, reaching an intraday high of $0.37. Despite this recovery, ADA has stayed in a range between $0.33 and $0.40 since mid-December.

The first sign of strength would be a break and close above the $0.3842 high. ADA could then rise to the 50-day SMA at $0.407, where sellers might mount a strong defense. If buyers overcome the barrier, Cardano's price could reach the $0.50 target.

On the other hand, bears will try to strengthen their position by pulling ADA's price below the $0.33 level. If they succeed, ADA could plummet to $0.30 and later to the Oct. 10 low of $0.27.

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Bitwise Asset Management just filed registration statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for 11 new cryptocurrency strategy exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The filings would trade on NYSE Arca if approved, expanding regulated access to major altcoins.

The proposed funds include individual strategy ETFs tracking Aave (AAVE), Zcash (ZEC), Sui (SUI), Uniswap (UNI), Starknet (STRK), Near (NEAR), Bitensor (TAO), Hyperliquid (HYPE), Ethena (ENA), Canton (CC) and Tron (TRX).

Each fund is designed to invest a significant portion of assets in the underlying token, while using related exchange-traded products and derivatives to provide regulated exposure.

Bitwise positions the filings as part of broader efforts to widen institutional and retail access to digital assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, which already have US spot ETF products.

The filings arrive amid forecasts from Bitwise leadership that 2026 will see a significant wave of new crypto ETF launches.

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan tells CNBC he expects more than 100 crypto ETFs and exchange-traded products could launch in the United States next year as regulatory clarity improves and index-based products gain traction.

Generated Image: Midjourney

Altcoins, particularly perennial memecoins, are among the biggest winners in crypto markets on Friday amid a post-holiday rally. 

PEPE, the $2.5 billion market cap asset named after a cartoon frog, is the biggest memecoin gainer with over 32% gains on the day, according to The Block’s price data. This is followed by the so-called rival “cat coins,” POPCAT, based on Solana, and its Ethereum-based counterpart, MOG, both of which are up nearly 20%. FLOKI, Dogwifhat, and fartcoin are not far behind.

Dogecoin, the oldest and largest memecoin by market cap, is up about 12%, while the well-established dog-themed tokens it inspired, Shiba Inu and BONK, are up about 13%.

Research shows that assets that “underperform late in the year (especially small and illiquid ones) tend to bounce more in January on average,” according to VanEck Head of Research Matt Sigel. 

Despite multiple tailwinds, from President Donald Trump’s open embrace of bitcoin and crypto coupled with positive regulatory momentum in the U.S., as well as the rise of digital asset treasuries and the growing success of crypto exchange-traded funds, crypto markets significantly underperformed in 2025, trailing traditional assets like the S&P 500 and gold. 

“In 2025, money that typically would find its way into Bitcoin found its way into other assets,” Director of Market Research at Unchained Timot Lamarre told The Block. “Money seeking risk found its way into Bitcoin treasury companies or the AI industry, and money trying to avoid debasement continued piling into precious metals.”

According to Jake Kennis, senior research analyst at Nansen, memecoins “have been some of the hardest hit post the 10/10 liquidation in terms of downside volatility,” with large cap assets like PEPE and DOGE down “79.8% and 81% from their ATHs respectively.”

“This early-year rotation into large cap memes may suggest traders are positioning for upside after months of consolidation.” Kennis said, noting that the “upward trends would have to be confirmed on higher timeframes.”

Additionally, it's common for crypto to experience an early-year bump. Sigel pointed to Hong Kong IPO momentum and other AI advancements, like China adding AI glasses to the nationwide subsidy list, buoying “tech sentiment ... that helps crypto and especially bitcoin miners which are outperforming.” 

Other sectors
Indeed, AI is another big category in crypto seeing meaningful gains, with the ElizaOS token (formerly AI16Z) , leading the pack with an over 50% jump. Render, Virtuals, and Bittensor — some of the blue chip AI tokens — are also up between 8% and 13%, while Goatseus Maximus, a token associated with a brusk-speaking AI bot, is up over 12%. 

Other altcoins connected to recently launched protocols, like Monad’s MON and Plasma’s XPL, are up 15.3% and 13.3%, respectively. 

The largest tokens by market cap have seen more modest gains, with Bitcoin up 2.4%, Ethereum 4.5%, and Solana 4.9%. Crypto stocks have also risen, with digital asset infrastructure company leading with 20% gains. Treasury companies Semler Scientific, which invests in Bitcoin, and BitMine, the largest ETH holder, are up a respective 13.8% and 12.5%. 

Bitcoin miners like Cleanspark, IREN, and Riot all up over 11% as the biggest gainers, with Core Scientific, Cipher Mining, MARA, Terawolf, and others boosted by less than 10%. 

“There's also research that positive January returns correlate with higher average returns over the next 11 months,” Sigel said. “So, it's not surprising to see some hope that today sets the tone for the month, and thus the year.”

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.