Market Signal Briefing

, /PRNewswire/ - Russel Metals Inc. (TSX: RUS) announces that it has closed its acquisition of seven service centers in the US from Kloeckner Metals Corporation ("Kloeckner") for US$102 million, subject to normal-course working capital adjustments. The seven metals service centers are located in Dubuque (Iowa), Charlotte (North Carolina), Suwanee (Georgia), Houston (Texas), Austin (Texas), Jacksonville (Florida) and Pompano Beach (Florida).

John Reid, President and CEO of Russel Metals commented, "We look forward to expanding our US footprint in key geographic areas.  We welcome the Kloeckner employees to the Russel family."

About Russel Metals Inc.
Russel Metals is one of the largest metals distribution companies in North America with a growing focus on value-added processing.  It carries on business in three segments: metals service centers, energy field stores and steel distributors.  Its network of metals service centers carries an extensive line of metal products in a wide range of sizes, shapes and specifications, including carbon hot rolled and cold finished steel, pipe and tubular products, stainless steel, aluminum and other non-ferrous specialty metals.  Its energy field stores carry a specialized product line focused on the needs of energy industry customers.  Its steel distributors operations act as master distributors selling steel in large volumes to other steel service centers and large equipment manufacturers mainly on an "as is" basis.

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Website:  www.russelmetals.com

SOURCE Russel Metals Inc.

Bentsur Joseph Steps Down as Director and Chairman; CEO Gadi Graus Appointed Interim Chairman

, /PRNewswire/ - A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: AZ), a global leader in smart retail technology, today announces that Mr. Bentsur Joseph has stepped down from his role as Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company and all its subsidiaries, effective December 31, 2025.

Following Mr. Joseph's resignation, Mr. Gadi Graus, Chief Executive Officer of A2Z Cust2Mate, has been appointed Interim Chairman of the Board, in addition to his role as CEO.

The Company has initiated a structured process to identify and appoint a highly experienced Chairperson, with a proven track record in leading large, global companies, to support A2Z Cust2Mate's next phase of growth and global scale.

"I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished at A2Z Cust2Mate," said Bentsur Joseph, outgoing Chairman. "Together with an exceptional team, we built the Company from an idea into a strong, growing organization with a leading product, marquis customers, and a clear global opportunity. I firmly believe A2Z Cust2Mate has the potential to reach a multi-billion-dollar valuation. At this stage, the Company is ready for a chairperson with deep experience in scaling and leading large global businesses, someone who can help take it to the next level, expand internationally, penetrate new markets, and accelerate growth."

"I would like to sincerely thank Bentsur for his vision, leadership, and enormous contribution to A2Z Cust2Mate," said Gadi Graus, CEO and Interim Chairman. "Bentsur is the visionary who founded the Company and successfully turned his vision into a strong and growing reality. On behalf of the Board, management, and employees, I thank Bentsur for the partnership and dedication that brought A2Z Cust2Mate to where it is today. We remain focused on executing our strategy and building on the solid foundation he helped establish."

About A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp.
A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp. (NASDAQ: AZ) creates innovative solutions for complex challenges that bring innovation, ease, excitement and value to retailers and shoppers. The company's flagship innovative smart cart solutions are transforming brick-and-mortar retail, bridging online and in-store shopping through interactive technology that guides and informs customers. Cust2Mate's AI-driven smart carts personalize every in-store journey, turning routine trips into engaging, rewarding experiences. They enable seamless in-cart scanning and payment, allowing shoppers to bypass checkout lines while receiving real-time customized offers and product recommendations. This enhanced customer experience boosts satisfaction and loyalty while helping retailers streamline operations and optimize merchandising through data-driven insights. The carts are equipped with multiple layers of security for accurate recognition and transaction integrity. Its modular, all-in-one detachable panels transform legacy shopping cart fleets into intelligent platforms that deliver a range of benefits.

For more information on A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp. and its subsidiary, Cust2Mate Ltd., please visit: www.cust2mate.com. 

Forward Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "will", "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the market for our products, the impact of geopolitical, economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, and other matters detailed in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions Corp.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") announces that its Board of Directors have agreed to receive their quarterly director fees in the form of stock options in lieu of cash for the fourth quarter of 2025. For more information, see press releases dated March 31, 2025, July 1, 2025 and October 1, 2025.

On December 31, 2025, each director was granted 34,500 stock options at an exercise price of $0.175 in lieu of their director fees for the fourth quarter of 2025. An aggregate of 138,000 stock options was granted. All such stock options will be exercisable for a period of three years from the date of grant and vested immediately upon grant. In the event a director intends to exercise such stock options, such director shall be solely responsible for paying the entirety of the exercise price.

About Aurania
Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and critical energy in Europe and abroad.

Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-.

For further information, please contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279350

Source: Aurania Resources Ltd.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 2, 2026) - Tier One Silver Inc. (TSXV: TSLV) (OTCQB: TSLVF) (FSE: TOV0) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a recap of the Company's achievements in 2025 and to share its positive outlook as it advances toward key catalysts in 2026, including the recommencement of drilling at its flagship Curibaya project, in Southern Peru and the evaluation of targeted project acquisition opportunities to strengthen the Company's portfolio.

"2025 was a foundational year for Tier One Silver — we strengthened our financial position, deepened community partnerships, and set the stage for further exploration at our flagship, Curibaya project. With positive momentum in the silver market, with prices recently hitting all time highs and a clear roadmap for drilling in early 2026, we are energized by the opportunity ahead. Our team remains committed to unlocking the full potential of Curibaya as well as expanding and diversifying our project pipeline to deliver long-term success," commented Peter Dembicki, President & CEO of Tier One Silver.

2025 HIGHLIGHTS

Strengthened Financial Position

Tier One successfully closed a small but crucial private placement financing in January, with insiders accounting for approximately 38.5%, securing capital to support continued community engagement and allowing the Company to navigate through a difficult time in the junior mining markets early in the year. In the third quarter, the Company closed an oversubscribed equity financing totaling $6.5 million, significantly enhancing Tier One's treasury to fund exploration at Curibaya and investigate additional project opportunities. 

Community Partnerships Secured

Tier One continued to build strong, sustainable relationships with local stakeholders in southern Peru and extended its community agreement with the local Chipispaya community, ensuring uninterrupted access to advance exploration activities at Curibaya. The extension of this partnership, now in effect into mid-2026 with an option for further renewal, reinforces Tier One's commitment to responsible exploration and long-term community collaboration.

Operational Focus and Project Definition

Tier One has focused its exploration efforts on refining and prioritizing targets at its Curibaya project — leveraging existing surface data and historical drill results — positioning the Company to recommence drilling to test priority targets in Q1 2026.

OUTLOOK FOR 2026

Looking forward into 2026, Tier One Silver is well-positioned to deliver multiple value drivers:

Commencement of Drilling at Curibaya

Following a year of preparation, community engagement, and financing, Tier One plans to launch its next phase of drilling at Curibaya in Q1 2026, targeting priority high-grade silver, gold and base metal corridors — including the highly prospective Cambaya structural target. The technical team will also be undergoing a channel and rock sampling campaign to further explore untested corridors of interest, focused in the Cambaya area.Expansion and Diversification of Project Pipeline

With a strengthened balance sheet and an experienced technical team, Tier One continues to advance a pipeline of prospective project opportunities across South America. The Company remains disciplined in evaluating accretive acquisitions and partnerships to grow shareholder value.Potential Discovery and Catalysts

Tier One aims to drive news flow, media engagement and exploration catalysts throughout 2026, including drill results, target generation work, and continued stakeholder engagement.Current Precious Metals Market

The silver market is currently in a highly dynamic and structurally bullish phase, underpinned by a widening supply-demand imbalance and prices that reached record nominal highs in late 2025. This strength is being driven by a powerful convergence of factors, including a multi-year global supply deficit, constrained new mine development, and accelerating demand from industrial applications tied to electrification, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. At the same time, silver continues to benefit from its dual role as both a critical industrial metal and a monetary safe haven, attracting increased investor interest amid persistent inflationary pressures, elevated geopolitical risk, and growing concerns around global fiscal stability. Broader commodity markets have also strengthened as years of under investment in mining and resource development collide with rising global consumption, creating a favorable pricing environment for high-quality assets. Against this backdrop, silver's fundamental outlook remains exceptionally strong, reinforcing its strategic importance and highlighting the significant long-term value potential for well-positioned exploration companies like Tier One.

The precious metals markets delivered strong fundamentals throughout 2025, with ongoing positive momentum in both silver and gold prices. Continued investor interest in hard assets, supply-deficit dynamics in silver, and gold's role as a store of value have contributed to strengthening sentiment among exploration and resource equities heading into 2026.

Favourable Jurisdiction

Peru is one of the world's most important silver jurisdictions, consistently ranking among the top three global producers alongside Mexico and China, with annual output of approximately 100-120 million ounces.1 Located along the prolific Andean metallogenic belt, Peru hosts some of the world's highest-grade silver and polymetallic deposits, supported by established infrastructure, a skilled mining workforce, and decades of production history. As global silver demand accelerates and supply remains constrained, Peru's role in the global silver market becomes increasingly strategic. For investors, high-quality Peruvian silver assets offer meaningful leverage to rising silver prices, particularly through high-grade discoveries in proven mining districts.

QP Statement

Christian Rios (SVP of Exploration), P.Geo, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the technical contents of this press release.

About Tier One Silver

Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and copper deposits in South America. The Company is focused on its flagship exploration project, Curibaya, but continues to investigate other potential projects of merit. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success.

Forward-Looking Information and General Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and therefore may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be heavily relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements in regard to the size, closing and use of proceeds of the Offering.

Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2025/mcs2025-silver.pdf

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279356

Source: Tier One Silver Inc.

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MONTRÉAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (“NMG” or the “Company”) (NYSE: NMG, TSX: NOU) announces the payment of accrued interests as part of a previously announced private placement.

Settlement of Accrued Interests

Upon the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchanges”), the accrued interests owed to Investissement Québec (“Holder”) for the fourth quarter of 2025 under the unsecured convertible note, as amended and restated on October 27, 2025, (the “Note”) issued in connection with the private placement announced by press release dated November 8, 2022, will be deemed paid.

131,659 common shares at a price of US$2.44 (each, a “Common Share”) representing an aggregate amount of US$321,248 will be issued and share certificates will be delivered to the Holder at the maturity, conversion or redemption of the Note in payment of the accrued interests due on December 31, 2025, for the fourth quarter of the year. The issuance of Common Shares is subject to the approval of the Exchanges and, when issued, will be subject to a hold period of four (4) months and one day.

The payment of interest in the form of Common Shares of the Corporation takes place in favor of Investissement Québec, a holder of more than 10% of the securities of the Company, which constitutes a “transaction with a related party” within the meaning of Regulation 61-101 on measures to protect minority holders during specific transactions (“Regulation 61-101”). However, the directors of the Company, who voted, have determined that the exemptions from the official valuation obligation and the approval of minority holders, provided for in sections 5.5 a) and 5.7 1) a) of Regulation 61-101 respectively, may be invoked as neither the fair market value of the shares issued to this insider nor the fair market value of the consideration paid does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company. No director of the Company has expressed a contrary opinion or disagreement in connection with the foregoing.

About Nouveau Monde Graphite

Nouveau Monde Graphite is an integrated company developing responsible mining and advanced processing operations to supply the global economy with carbon-neutral advanced graphite materials. The Company is developing in Québec, Canada, a fully integrated ore-to-processed-graphite value chain to serve tomorrow’s industries in energy, defense, technology, and manufacturing. With recognized ESG standards and structuring partnerships with major customers, NMG is set to become a strategic supplier of advanced materials to leading specialized manufacturers while promoting sustainability, innovation, and supply chain traceability. www.NMG.com

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to those describing the potential conversion of the Notes, the issuance of the Common Shares and those statements which are discussed under the “About Nouveau Monde Graphite” paragraph and elsewhere in the press release which essentially describe the Company’s outlook and objectives, constitute “forward- looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Moreover, these forward-looking statements were based upon various underlying factors and assumptions, including the current technological trends, the business relationship between the Company and its stakeholders, the ability to operate in a safe and effective manner, the timely delivery and installation of the equipment supporting the production, the Company’s business prospects and opportunities and estimates of the operational performance of the equipment, and are not guarantees of future performance.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, delays in the scheduled delivery times of the equipment, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the availability of financing or financing on favorable terms for the Company, the dependence on commodity prices, the impact of inflation on costs, the risks of obtaining the necessary permits, the operating performance of the Company’s assets and businesses, competitive factors in the graphite mining and production industry, changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s businesses, political and social acceptability risk, environmental regulation risk, currency and exchange rate risk, technological developments, the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the governments’ responses thereto, and general economic conditions, as well as earnings, capital expenditure, cash flow and capital structure risks and general business risks. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in NMG’s Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2025, including in the section thereof captioned “Risk Factors”, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this Cautionary Note could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Further information regarding the Company is available in the SEDAR+ database (www.sedarplus.ca), and for United States readers on EDGAR (www.sec.gov), and on the Company’s website at: www.NMG.com

More News From Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IRWD), a biotechnology company developing and commercializing life-changing therapies for people living with gastrointestinal (GI) and rare diseases, today announced financial guidance for full year 2026.

“Throughout 2025, we made significant progress in maximizing LINZESS while delivering sustained profits and cash flows in an effort to strengthen our financial position and maintain compliance with debt covenants over the coming quarters,” said Tom McCourt, chief executive officer of Ironwood. “As we close 2025, we are on track to achieve the low-end of our full-year LINZESS U.S. net sales and total revenue guidance ranges and ended the fourth quarter with greater than $200 million in cash and cash equivalents. Also, in the fourth quarter we met with the FDA to align on a confirmatory Phase 3 trial design of apraglutide for the treatment of short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF). Based on this meeting, we are on track to initiate a confirmatory trial in the first half of 2026 and expect to provide details on the trial design in our fourth quarter and full-year 2025 update later this quarter.”

“In 2026, we remain focused on our core priorities of maximizing LINZESS, advancing apraglutide and delivering sustained profits and cash flows. We believe our full-year 2026 guidance demonstrates the significant progress we’ve made to deliver on these priorities to help drive value for shareholders moving forward. Effective January 1, 2026, the LINZESS list price has been lowered in response to evolving health care dynamics and to support ongoing patient access. In turn, we expect higher net sales in 2026 for LINZESS year-over-year, specifically driven by the elimination of the inflationary component of statutory required rebates across channels, including Medicaid, due to the decrease in list price. In conjunction with the anticipated increased net sales, we expect our continued focus on disciplined expense management to result in greater than $300 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2026. Finally, we continue to progress our previously announced strategic alternatives review in an effort to maximize shareholder value and look forward to providing further updates as appropriate,” added Tom McCourt.

Financial Guidance

Ironwood is maintaining its previous FY 2025 financial guidance and is providing FY 2026 financial guidance.

FY 2025 Guidance

(November 2025)

FY 2026 Guidance

(January 2026)

LINZESS U.S. net sales

$860 - $890 million

$1.125 - $1.175 billion

Driven by improved net price and low-single digit percentage demand growth

Total revenue1

$290 - $310 million

$450 - $475 million

Adjusted EBITDA2

>$135 million

>$300 million

1 Ironwood’s U.S. collaborative arrangements revenue includes reimbursement from AbbVie for a portion of Ironwood’s commercial expenses related to sales of LINZESS in the U.S. The FY2025 total revenue guidance accounts for the impact of the reduction to Ironwood’s commercial expenses and corresponding reimbursement from AbbVie due to Ironwood’s strategic reorganization announced in January 2025.

2 Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by subtracting restructuring expenses, net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation, from GAAP net income. The exclusion of stock-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA represents an update to our definition of Adjusted EBITDA, effective in the first quarter of 2025. For purposes of this guidance, we have assumed that Ironwood will not incur material expenses related to business development activities in 2025 and 2026. Ironwood does not provide guidance on GAAP net income or a reconciliation of expected adjusted EBITDA to expected GAAP net income because, without unreasonable efforts, it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the non-GAAP adjustments used to calculate adjusted EBITDA. These adjustments are uncertain, depend on various factors and could have a material impact on GAAP net income for the guidance period. Management believes this non-GAAP information is useful for investors, taken in conjunction with Ironwood’s GAAP financial statements, because it provides greater transparency and period-over-period comparability with respect to Ironwood’s operating performance. These measures are also used by management to assess the performance of the business. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures only as a supplement to, not as a substitute for or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are unlikely to be comparable with non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

About Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IRWD) is a biotechnology company developing and commercializing life-changing therapies for people living with gastrointestinal (GI) and rare diseases. Ironwood is advancing apraglutide, a next-generation, long-acting synthetic GLP-2 analog being developed for short bowel syndrome patients who are dependent on parenteral support. In addition, Ironwood has been a pioneer in the development of LINZESS® (linaclotide), the U.S. branded prescription market leader for adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Building upon our history of innovation, we keep patients at the heart of our R&D and commercialization efforts to reduce the burden of diseases and address significant unmet needs.

Founded in 1998, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a site in Basel, Switzerland.

We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.ironwoodpharma.com. In addition, follow us on X and on LinkedIn.

About LINZESS (Linaclotide)

LINZESS® is the #1 prescribed brand in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (“IBS-C”) or chronic idiopathic constipation (“CIC”), based on IQVIA data.

LINZESS is a once-daily capsule that helps relieve the abdominal pain and constipation, associated with IBS-C in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. LINZESS has also been shown to relieve constipation, infrequent stools, hard stools, straining, and incomplete evacuation associated with CIC in adult patients. LINZESS relieves constipation in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with functional constipation.

LINZESS is not a laxative; it is the first medicine approved by the FDA in a class called GC-C agonists. LINZESS contains a peptide called linaclotide that activates the GC-C receptor in the intestine. Activation of GC-C is thought to result in increased intestinal fluid secretion and accelerated transit and a decrease in the activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestine. The clinical relevance of the effect on pain fibers, which is based on nonclinical studies, has not been established.

In the United States, Ironwood and AbbVie co-develop and co-commercialize LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. In Europe, AbbVie markets linaclotide under the brand name CONSTELLA® for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe IBS-C. In Japan, Ironwood's partner, Astellas, markets linaclotide under the brand name LINZESS for the treatment of adults with IBS-C or CIC. Ironwood also has partnered with AstraZeneca for development and commercialization of LINZESS in China, and with AbbVie for development and commercialization of linaclotide in all other territories worldwide.

LINZESS Important Safety Information

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

LINZESS® (linaclotide) is indicated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older and for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults and for the treatment of functional constipation (FC) in children and adolescents 6 to 17 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age due to the risk of serious dehydration.

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction.

Warnings and Precautions

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of age-dependent elevated guanylate cyclase (GC-C) agonism, which was associated with increased mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. There was no age dependent trend in GC-C intestinal expression in a clinical study of children 2 to less than 18 years of age; however, there are insufficient data available on GC-C intestinal expression in children less than 2 years of age to assess the risk of developing diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences in these patients.

Diarrhea

In adults, diarrhea was the most common adverse reaction in LINZESS-treated patients in the pooled IBS-C and CIC double-blind placebo-controlled trials. The incidence of diarrhea was similar in the IBS-C and CIC populations. Severe diarrhea was reported in 2% of 145 mcg and 290 mcg LINZESS-treated patients and in <1% of 72 mcg LINZESS-treated CIC patients.

In pediatric patients, diarrhea was also the most common adverse reaction of LINZESS-treated patients in IBS-C and FC clinical trials. In two double-blind trials, diarrhea was reported in 4% of pediatric patients 6 to 17 years of age with FC treated with LINZESS 72 mcg once daily, and 7% and 8% of pediatric patients 7 to 17 years of age with IBS-C treated with LINZESS 145 mcg and 290 mcg once daily, respectively. In clinical trials, severe diarrhea was reported in one pediatric patient with FC treated with LINZESS 72 mcg once daily and in one pediatric patient with IBS-C treated with LINZESS at a dosage higher than the recommended 145 mcg once daily dosage for IBS-C.

Common Adverse Reactions (incidence ≥2% and greater than placebo)

In IBS-C or CIC adult patients: diarrhea, abdominal pain, flatulence, and abdominal distension.

Most common adverse reaction reported in pediatric patients with FC or IBS-C is diarrhea.

Please see full Prescribing Information including Boxed Warning:

https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/linzess_pi.pdf

LINZESS® and CONSTELLA® are registered trademarks of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Any other trademarks referred to in this press release are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including statements about Ironwood’s ability to execute on its mission; Ironwood’s strategy, business, financial position and operations; Ironwood’s ability to drive growth and profitability; the commercial potential of LINZESS; Ironwood’s financial performance and results, and guidance and expectations related thereto; LINZESS prescription demand growth, LINZESS U.S. net sales growth, total revenue and adjusted EBITDA in 2025 and 2026; our belief that the 2026 financial guidance demonstrates a significant progress made to help drive value for shareholders; our plan to continue to progress apraglutide and initiate a confirmatory Phase 3 trial and our expectation and timing to provide additional details on the trial design and to initiate such trial; and the status of the strategic alternatives review and timing to provide an update. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Ironwood undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Applicable risks and uncertainties include those related to the effectiveness of development and commercialization efforts by us and our partners; preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and formulation development of linaclotide, apraglutide, and our other product candidates; the risk of uncertainty relating to pricing and reimbursement policies in the U.S., which, if not favorable for our products, could hinder or prevent our products’ commercial success; the risk that clinical programs and studies, including for linaclotide pediatric programs and apraglutide, may not progress or develop as anticipated, including that studies are delayed or discontinued for any reason, such as safety, tolerability, enrollment, manufacturing, economic or other reasons; the risk that findings from our completed nonclinical studies and clinical trials may not be replicated in later trials and earlier-stage clinical trials may not be predictive of the results we may obtain in later-stage clinical trials or of the likelihood of regulatory approval; the risk that apraglutide will not be approved by the FDA or other regulatory agencies; the risk of competition or that new products may emerge that provide different or better alternatives for treatment of the conditions that our products are approved to treat; the risk that we are unable to execute on our strategy to in-license externally developed products or product candidates; the risk that we are unable to successfully partner with other companies to develop and commercialize products or product candidates; the risk that healthcare reform and other governmental and private payor initiatives may have an adverse effect upon or prevent our products’ or product candidates’ commercial success; the efficacy, safety and tolerability of linaclotide and our product candidates; the risk that the commercial and therapeutic opportunities for LINZESS, apraglutide or our other product candidates are not as we expect; decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities; the risk we may never get additional patent protection for linaclotide, apraglutide and other product candidates, that patents for linaclotide, apraglutide or other products may not provide adequate protection from competition, or that we are not able to successfully protect such patents; the risk that we are unable to manage our expenses or cash use, or are unable to commercialize our products as expected; the risk that the development of any of our linaclotide pediatric programs and/or apraglutide is not successful or that any of our product candidates does not receive regulatory approval or is not successfully commercialized; outcomes in legal proceedings to protect or enforce the patents relating to our products and product candidates, including abbreviated new drug application litigation; the risk that financial and operating results may differ from our projections; developments in the intellectual property landscape; challenges from and rights of competitors or potential competitors; the risk that our planned investments do not have the anticipated effect on our company revenues; developments in accounting guidance or practice; Ironwood’s or AbbVie’s accounting practices, including reporting and settlement practices as between Ironwood and AbbVie; the risk that our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition or restrict our future operations; the risk that our activities to explore potential strategic alternatives may not result in any transaction or maximize shareholder value; and the risks listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

More News From Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States.

VANCOUVER, BC AND BREDA, THE NETHERLANDS / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO)(OTCQX:OGOFF)(FSE:OGF0), ("Organto" or the "Company") today announced that it intends to implement an early exercise incentive program (the "Incentive Program") relating to an aggregate of 8,000,000 warrants (the "Warrants"), subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

The Warrants were issued on September 10, 2025, in connection with the completion of a non-brokered private placement of units (the "Private Placement"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") at an exercise price of C$0.75 until March 10, 2027, subject to acceleration in accordance with its terms.

Under the proposed Incentive Program and subject to TSXV approval, holders of Warrants who voluntarily exercise their Warrants during a 30-day period (the "Incentive Period") commencing on the date on which TSXV conditional approval is obtained in respect of the Incentive Program] and expiring at [4:30 pm (Vancouver time)] on the date that is 30 days thereafter] (the "Incentive Program Expiry Time"), will be entitled to receive one additional common share purchase warrant for every three (3) Warrants exercised (the "Incentive Warrants"). Each Incentive Warrant would entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of C$1.00 for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance. The Incentive Warrants will not be subject to acceleration.

The Incentive Program is intended to encourage the early exercise of the Warrants during the Incentive Period. Any Warrants that are not exercised prior to the Incentive Program Expiry Time will continue to be exercisable on their original terms until their original expiry date.

If all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to the Private Placement are exercised prior to the Incentive Program Expiry Time, a maximum of up to 2,666,666 Incentive Warrants could be issued pursuant to the Incentive Program for gross proceeds of up to $6,000,000. No fractional Incentive Warrants will be issued, and any fractional entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number in the event of that the number of Warrants exercised by a holder is not a multiple of three.

Any Common Shares issued upon exercise of Warrants will be subject to the original statutory hold period applicable to such Warrants and the Common Shares issuable thereunder, and any Incentive Warrants issued pursuant to the Incentive Program (including any Common Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise thereof), will be subject to applicable statutory hold periods under Canadian securities laws. No insiders of the Company are expected to participate in the Incentive Program.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons ("U.S. Persons"), as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

The Incentive Program, including the issuance of the Incentive Warrants, remains subject to acceptance by the TSXV. There is no assurance that the Incentive Program will be implemented as proposed or at all.

Issuance of Shares

As announced in the Company's July 18, 2025, news release, the Company recently issued 1,475,385 shares in December 2025 to management and employees to settle $575,400 of bonuses granted in 2024.

In November and December 2025, 90,000 shares were issued upon the conversion of restricted share units, and 50,000 shares were issued upon the exercise of stock options.

On Behalf of the Board

Steve Bromley
Co-Chair and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release.

Investor & Media Contact:

John Rathwell
SVP, Corporate Development
[email protected]
www.organto.com

About Organto Foods

Organto Foods Inc. (TSX-V:OGO | OTCQX:OGOFF | FSE:OGF0) is a Canadian-headquartered company supplying certified organic and fairtrade produce to leading international retailers. Organto manages global sourcing, logistics and distribution through an integrated, capital-efficient model that connects growers and consumers with transparency, sustainability and operational excellence.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may include certain forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("forward-looking statements"). In particular, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements respecting Organto's plans to provide an early Warrant exercise incentive program to holders of Warrants; management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations; and general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about the following: that TSXV acceptance of the proposed Incentive Program will be obtained in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; all conditions precedent to the issuance of the Incentive Warrants will be satisfied in a timely manner and on acceptable terms. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Organto undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.

SOURCE: Organto Foods, Inc.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of SOFI 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.

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.

Key Takeaways The home remodeling industry continues to struggle to start 2026. After Trex gave weak Fourth Quarter guidance, analysts cut full year earnings estimates. While Trex was at a 5-year low in 2025, it's not cheap. Trex has a forward P/E of 19.4.
Trex Company (TREX - Free Report) is not expecting a revenue turnaround in 2025 as remodeling demand remains tepid. Analysts are forecasting this Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) to see earnings decline again in 2026.

Trex makes wood-alternative decking and railing as well as high performance, low maintenance outdoor living products such as pergolas, spiral stairs, fencing, lattice, cornhole and outdoor furniture. It sells through more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents.

Trex Missed on Earnings in the Third Quarter of 2025On Nov 4, 2025, Trex reported its third quarter 2025 earnings and missed on earnings. It reported $0.51 versus the Zacks Consensus of $0.56.

It was the first earnings miss in three years. Trex has an excellent earnings surprise track record. It has only missed twice in the last five years.

Sales rose 22.1% to $285 million on the back of strong railing sales, which are tracking to be up double digits on the year. However, decking continues to struggle.

“While we saw signs of improvement in Repair and Remodel spending as the season began, the second half of the season reflected the weaker market conditions that the industry has experienced in the past two years,” said Bryan Fairbanks, President and CEO.

“This resulted in lower-than-anticipated third quarter sales, and we expect this trend to continue in the seasonally slower fourth quarter,” he added.

Analysts Slash Trex’s Full Year 2025 and 2026 Earnings EstimatesWith such a bearish outlook, it’s not a surprise that the analysts cut their estimates for both 2025 and 2026.

Seven estimates were cut in the last 60 days for 2025, pushing the Zacks Consensus down to $1.83 from $2.21. That’s an earnings decline of 12.4%.

Eight estimates were also cut in the prior 2 months for 2026. The Zacks Consensus fell to $1.66 from $2.51 in that time. That’s another 9% decline.

These are steep, and sudden, earnings cuts. This is what it looks like on the price and consensus chart.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

You can see why it has the Zacks Rank of #5, which is a Strong Sell. No analyst has raised their estimate in the last 60 days.

Trex Shares Sink in 2025Trex shares plunged after the company gave its lower guidance in Nov 2025.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Is it a deal?

Trex now trades with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19.4. A P/E ratio under 15 usually indicates value. Trex is not that cheap at 19.4x.

With strong free cash flows, Trex’s board has authorized a $50 million share repurchase program. It doesn’t pay dividends.

Investors interested in the home remodeling industry might want to wait on the sidelines to start 2026 to see if there is any recovery. For now, market conditions remain challenging.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

After AppLovin Corp.’s (NASDAQ: APP) share price tumbled more than 35% early last year due to a pending class action lawsuit and to short seller reports, the software company’s better-than-expected quarterly reports helped the stock recover. Shares hit a new high of $745.61 a piece in September and took another run at that high in late December. AppLovin stock easily outperformed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq last year.

Since the company went public in 2021, its share price is 1,096% higher. This has clearly been a top growth stock that investors have benefited from owning in recent years. AppLovin has been among the top tech stocks seeing a lot of love from the market, but is that still true?

These days, the company focuses on providing software solutions that enhance the marketing and monetization of online advertisers. With AppLovin, there are certainly catalysts worth considering, and we’ll get to those shortly. It continues to benefit from the strong secular growth trends that investors are seeking increased exposure to. As investors continue to pile into such stocks, retail investors appear eager to gain outsized exposure in anticipation of a continued boom.

It is worth remembering that AppLovin experienced a drawdown of more than 90% from its post-pandemic high in 2021. So, is this stock headed for further declines, or is its momentum sustainable? Let’s dive into some catalysts and price predictions around where this stock could go for the rest of 2025 through to the end of this decade.

Three Key Drivers for AppLovin

As mentioned, AppLovin investors have to contend with plenty of news. For instance, analysts covering AppLovin have not been as bullish on the company as many may think, having issued warnings about the stock in the past year due to concerns about the company’s fundamentals. However, Benchmark and Jefferies maintained their Buy ratings on the shares last month.

Nonetheless, we see these key drivers propelling AppLovin going forward.

1. AI-Powered Advertising Enhancements 
AppLovin’s Axon AI engine has been a game-changer, optimizing ad targeting and expanding beyond gaming into new categories like e-commerce, fintech, and automotive advertising. During the Q4 2024 earnings call, CEO Adam Foroughi highlighted that for the first time, AppLovin captured a significant share of holiday shopping ad spend—validating that its AI models are effective outside gaming.

Scaling AI Beyond Gaming: The company initially focused on direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, but early pilots have shown AI-driven success across multiple verticals. This means that any business in any industry could potentially tap into AppLovin’s advertising platform.
Personalized Advertising With Generative AI: The company is developing automated tools and AI-generated ad creatives to improve engagement. AppLovin’s self-service platform (currently in development) will eventually allow businesses to run ads autonomously with AI-optimized targeting, a major step toward scaling its reach.

AppLovin’s AI capabilities are proving to be industry-agnostic, opening the door for millions of global advertisers.

2. Expansion Into E-commerce Advertising
Foroughi described the fourth quarter of 2024 as a major milestone, marking AppLovin’s first significant penetration into e-commerce advertising. Historically, the company primarily monetized mobile gaming ads, but now retail and consumer brands are joining the platform in large numbers.

Surging Demand From E-commerce Brands: Advertisers saw strong return on investment during the holiday season, prompting continued demand for the platform in 2025.
Pilot Program Scaling Up: While AppLovin hasn’t disclosed the number of e-commerce advertisers, industry checks suggest a significant influx of brands seeking access.
Self-Service Expansion Is the Next Big Growth Driver: Currently, the company manually onboards advertisers, but the launch of automated tools and a self-serve platform will allow thousands of new businesses to join.

E-commerce advertising is set to be a major revenue contributor. Once self-serve tools become operational, adoption could scale exponentially.

3. Strategic Divestment of Mobile Gaming Unit
AppLovin is officially exiting game development—a move that frees up resources to focus entirely on advertising technology.

$900 Million Sale of Apps Business: AppLovin announced that it has signed an exclusive term sheet to sell its mobile gaming division, with $500 million in cash and $400 million in equity in a private company.
Why This Matters: The company originally acquired gaming studios to train its AI models, but it was never meant to be a core business. Now that AI is self-sufficient, AppLovin no longer needs to develop its own games.
Shifting to a Pure Ad-Tech Model: With gaming divested, the company can fully concentrate on expanding its advertising ecosystem, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Google and Meta in the ad tech space.

Divesting from mobile games is a significant pivot for the company, as it paves the way for AppLovin to become a pure advertising technology company.

Stock Price Prediction for 2025
There are clearly strong reasons why AppLovin’s stock rose so much this past year. Simply put, investors have been betting on AppLovin as a potential AI winner, as its AI advancements have driven customer success and accelerated the company’s growth. If the company can continue to prioritize generating outsized free cash flow and return capital to shareholders to a greater degree, this multiple could be warranted. Here’s where the stock could be headed, assuming the company’s multiple stays the same and earnings grow according to analyst estimates.

Wall Street’s consensus one-year price target for AppLovin is $739.96, which is 9.8% higher than the current share price. On average, 27 analysts covering AppLovin recommend buying shares, six of them with Strong Buy ratings.

24/7 Wall St.’s forecast projects AppLovin’s stock price to be $774.58 by year’s end 2026, which suggests about 15% gain in the coming year. We expect the stock to resume its strong growth rate and outperform analysts’ expectations going forward.

AppLovin Price Target for 2030

By the end of the decade, we estimate AppLovin’s stock price will be $910.70 per share, with less than 10% year-over-year revenue growth. Our estimated stock price is over 35% higher than the current stock price. Here’s how it gets there:

Year
Price Target
Upside Potential

2026
$774.58
15.0%

2027
$803.83
19.3%

2028
$785.59
16.6%

2029
$870.65
29.2%

2030
$910.70
35.2%

Palantir Technologies Price Prediction and Forecast 2025–2030

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.

Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum’s 2025 upgrades only matter if the network doubles down on its “world computer” mission: scalable, truly decentralized, walkaway-proof apps.

Summary

Buterin says 2025 brought major gains in speed, reliability, and node usability, laying groundwork for long-term Ethereum growth.​
He warns against chasing short-term metas like political meme coins or activity theater that dilute Ethereum’s core “world computer” mission.​
Ethereum must prove it can scale while staying decentralized across both base layer and apps, passing a “walkaway test” for censorship-resistant infra.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the blockchain platform made significant technical progress in 2025 but cautioned that its long-term success depends on adhering to its original mission rather than pursuing short-term market trends.

Ethereum on the crypto push with Buterin leading the way
In a post shared Thursday on X, Buterin stated that Ethereum became faster, more reliable, and better able to scale while maintaining its decentralized foundations during the past year, according to the message. The improvements reduced bottlenecks, increased capacity, and simplified operation of the network’s underlying software, he said.

Buterin characterized 2025 as a year in which Ethereum’s core infrastructure matured. He stated that work focused on improving performance, stability, and usability was critical to preparing the network for long-term growth, according to the post. These efforts aimed to enable Ethereum to handle increased activity while preserving properties that distinguish it from centralized systems, he said.

The co-founder emphasized that lower barriers to running nodes and maintaining the network are important for keeping Ethereum open and resilient as usage expands, according to the message.

Despite the progress, Buterin stated that technical milestones are not the end goal. He warned that Ethereum risks losing focus if it concentrates too heavily on short-term trends designed to boost activity or market attention.

“Ethereum needs to do more to meet its own stated goals,” Buterin wrote, cautioning against efforts to “win the next meta.” He cited examples including tokenized dollars, political meme coins, and activity engineered primarily to signal economic relevance rather than deliver lasting utility. Such narratives may generate temporary momentum but do little to advance Ethereum’s deeper purpose, he stated.

Buterin returned to the concept of the network as a “world computer,” a vision that has shaped Ethereum since its inception. That concept centers on the blockchain as a neutral, shared platform where applications can run without reliance on centralized intermediaries, according to the post.

He stated that such applications should be capable of operating without fraud, censorship, or third-party control, even if their original developers disappear. Buterin highlighted the “walkaway test” as a key benchmark, meaning systems should continue functioning regardless of who maintains them, according to the message.

The co-founder also stressed the importance of resilience, stating that in a truly decentralized system, users should not be affected if major infrastructure providers go offline or are compromised. No single entity should be able to disrupt access or functionality for the broader network, he said.

Buterin contrasted that model with the modern internet, where many tools have become subscription-based services that lock users into centralized platforms. Ethereum represents an alternative by aiming to restore user autonomy and long-term reliability, he stated.

To succeed, Ethereum must satisfy two requirements simultaneously: it must be usable on a global scale and remain genuinely decentralized, Buterin said. Achieving one without the other would undermine the network’s purpose, according to the post.

The challenge extends beyond the blockchain’s base layer, he stated. Many applications built on Ethereum rely on centralized infrastructure such as hosted servers or proprietary interfaces despite using decentralized protocols. Addressing that dependency is essential to fulfilling Ethereum’s promise, Buterin said.

Buterin stated that tools now exist to advance Ethereum closer to its ideals, thanks to technical groundwork laid over the past year. The message served as an explanation of why recent engineering work matters: to position Ethereum as durable infrastructure for finance, identity, governance, and other foundational internet services, according to the post.

Whether Ethereum can meet those objectives will become clearer as the network’s next phase shifts from upgrades to real-world use, testing how its principles hold up under scale, Buterin said.

TLDR

The crypto market today displays steady movement with BTC at $89,028.32, gaining 1.61% over the past 24 hours.
Ethereum reached $3,028.37 with a 1.69% gain, while Solana and BNB rose 2.55% and 0.82%, respectively.
The Altcoin Season Index reads 21/100, keeping the cycle in “Bitcoin Season,” reflecting altcoin underperformance.
The Fear and Greed Index remains at 34, signaling ongoing investor caution and reduced risk appetite across assets.
Market cap volatility peaked around Dec 10 and 26, followed by a recovery into January 2026, supported by minor price increases.

The cryptocurrency market ushered in the new year in a consolidation zone, with many digital assets reporting limited gains. Today, the market is green, with fewer changes recorded since January 1st.

BTC, ETH, SOL, BNB, and XRP Price Action
At the time of press, a crypto market today overview by CoinMarketCap reveals a positive trend across many assets. The global cryptocurrency market shows a market cap of $3.02 trillion, with a 24-hour trading volume of $67.46 billion. Over the past 30 days, market cap fluctuations have ranged between $2.8 trillion and $3.2 trillion.

Source: CoinMarketCap (Market Overview)
Bitcoin currently trades at $89,028.32, reflecting a 1.61% increase in one day. Ethereum follows with a price of $3,028.37, gaining 1.69% within the same timeframe. BNB stands at $866.69, up 0.82%, while Solana has risen 2.55% to $127.72. XRP trades at $1.8770, registering a 1.55% increase in its market price. The CoinMarketCap 20 Index is at $187.59, marking a 1.65% rise over recent trading sessions.

Bitcoin Dominance Continues as Altcoin Season Index Holds at 21
The Altcoin Season Index is at 21 out of 100, placing current conditions in “Bitcoin Season.” The Fear and Greed Index sits at 34, placing overall sentiment in the “Fear” range. This value reflects investor uncertainty or risk aversion within current market conditions. The reading has remained within similar range before 2026 kicked in.

The graph for the crypto market cap shows alternating green and red segments, indicating minor gains followed by declines. Volatility increased around December 10 and December 26, reflecting abrupt price swings in both directions. A gradual recovery appears toward the end of the period, approaching January 1.

Overall, all major assets displayed small upward trends. Bitcoin dominance persists, supported by both pricing and Altcoin Season Index data. Ethereum maintains strength in second place with steady gains.

Pepe coin price has begun the new year with a bang as it rose nearly 30% on Dec. 2 after a well-followed trader made a bullish prediction for the Pepe the Frog-inspired meme coin.

Summary

Pepe coin’s price rallied 30% just a day after the New Year.
A popular Hyperliquid trader predicted PEPE’s market cap to go up to $69 billion by year’s end.
A bullish reversal pattern was confirmed on the daily chart.

According to data from crypto.news, Pepe (PEPE) coin shot up 30% to an intraday high of $0.0000052 on Friday, Dec. 2, before stabilizing at around $0.0000051. At this price, the 2nd largest meme coin by market cap stood nearly 45% above last year’s low.

Since July of last year, Pepecoin price has remained in a steady decline, primarily driven by a sector-wide retreat in meme coin valuations. The situation was further complicated by trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which effectively sidelined investor interest in speculative trades.

As crypto.news reported earlier, traders also rotated away from the meme coin after it confirmed a multi-year head and shoulders pattern, which is viewed as a bearish indicator.

Moving on to today, Pepe coin’s stark gains were likely triggered by a very bullish prediction for the meme coin by James Wynn, a well-followed Hyperliquid trader with over 484,000 followers on X.

In his recent forecast, he noted that PEPE could reach a market cap of up to $69 billion by the end of 2026. 

For the uninitiated, Wynn previously predicted that PEPE’s market cap would go to billions when it was at just $600k. Reports show he earned as much as $25 million from his bet on the meme coin.

In a series of X posts, he reinforced his outlook as he compared PEPE to another well-known meme coin, Shiba Inu (SHIB), which surged 11.7x from nearly $3.5 billion to over $41 billion within a month during the previous altcoin cycle. 

As per the trader, PEPE’s social strength stands much stronger than other leading meme tokens like SHIB and could therefore achieve a similar performance this year.

“If Shib can do $41bn, PEPE can do much higher. Keep in mind $DOGE did $88bn. So my target for PEPE is $69bn,” Wynn wrote on X.

Following his prediction, Pepe coin’s market cap rose from $1.72 billion to $2.2 billion within 24 hours, as it sparked heavy buying from community members.

At press time, Pepe coin’s market cap was hovering around $2.15 billion. Based on Wynn’s prediction, it could rise nearly 32 times.

Pepe coin price analysis
Moving on to the daily chart, Pepe coin price has broken out of an decending parallel channel pattern, which often tends to be a precursor to further upside.

Pepe coin price has broken out of a descending parallel channel pattern on the daily chart — Jan. 2 | Source: crypto.news
At the same time, momentum indicators also showed that bulls are at an advantage. Notably, the MACD lines have pointed upwards while still staying below the zero line. Meanwhile, the RSI had formed a bullish divergence.

For now, $0.0000056 appears to be the next key resistance level that traders should be keeping an eye on. It aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level and has served as a strong barrier multiple times during Q3 2025. 

A decisive breakout from that level could push the price towards $0.0000074, the next retracement level in the series. The target lies nearly 45% above current price levels.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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.

Dogecoin (DOGE), the leading market meme coin, is showing signs of a rebound after weeks of experiencing a downtrend. The two key major rebound signals currently at play include a spike in trading volume and the emergence of a golden cross pattern.

DOGE trading volume spikes above 40%Data from CoinMarketCap revealed that the DOGE trading volume has surged 41.53% over the past 24 hours to $1.55 billion. Within this period, Dogecoin's price increased by 7.8% to trade at $0.1279.

Higher volume validates Dogecoin’s potential to hit $0.2 in 2026. It often precedes stronger trends, as it reflects increased participation from retail traders, institutions, or even whale activity.

For a meme coin like Dogecoin, which thrives on community hype, this could amplify momentum.

In addition to the rising volume, the Dogecoin hourly chart shows the formation of a golden cross. In technical analysis, a golden cross is formed when a shorter-term simple moving average (SMA) crosses above a longer-term SMA.

The shorter SMA is usually the 50-period, while the longer one is typically the 200-period. However, the DOGE hourly chart showed the 9-period SMA crossed above the 26-period.

Dogecoin Price Chart | Source: TradingView/CoinMarketCapThis is a bullish signal, indicating short-term momentum is overtaking long-term trends. It potentially marks the start of an uptrend and the ability to reach $0.2, especially with supporting volume.

Dogecoin investors bet on price rallyAnother metric that has contributed to the positive momentum in the DOGE market is the open interest. Recently, open interest increased by 7% to $1.52 billion as investors committed 12.25 billion DOGE to the coin’s futures market.

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The spike in open interest suggests positive anticipation of a major price rebound. Open interest generally provides insight into the demand for the meme coin. Thus, the 7% surge suggests that investors are betting on an uptick that could see the meme coin hit new levels.

Before this open interest rally, traders committed 12,140,000,000 DOGE in 24 hours despite the meme coin’s price volatility.

Overall, trading volume, golden cross and open interest combined paint a bullish picture for Dogecoin. These factors suggest a shift from bearish consolidation to upward momentum.

These updates come shortly after the Dogecoin team celebrated a major adoption milestone. The team wrote, "Dogecoin is everywhere," after reports that Buenos Aires allows residents and businesses to settle city taxes and administrative fees using DOGE.

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CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

PEPE Coin price enters the new year with visible strength after surging over 25%, as PEPE price stabilizes above reclaimed structure. The action reflects improving market behavior rather than short-term speculation. Buyers have started to absorb supply after weeks of compression, which has enabled price to hold above a previous resistance zone. 

This change is accompanied by the increase in the involvement in both derivatives and retail locations. The following analysis assesses the validity of this strength as a long-term structural shift or a step that can be exploited by failure.

PEPE Coin price confirms Adam and Eve breakout
PEPE Coin price has moved out of late-2024 accumulation into early expansion following a decisive break above the base established during November and December. This reversal became structurally valid when PEPE price recovered the level of $0.0000050. This level served as consistent supply before reversing to functional support.

The reclaim coincided with a change of direction in momentum, with the DMI structure becoming constructive when the +DI crossed over the -DI on December 31, triggering a 25% daily rally.

Around the same area, price action also indicates an Adam and Eve recovery. A rounded bottom of the demand area shifted to a steeper extension leg, which indicated growing buyer confidence. 

At the time of writing, PEPE market value sits around $0.00000507, holding above reclaimed support, which keeps the bullish structure intact. If acceptance above $0.0000050 persists, PEPE Coin price remains positioned to challenge resistance near $0.00000623. 

Any sustained break above that level would lead to the way to $0.0000075, supported by ADX strength near 28.  The metric value is indication of trend persistence and not exhaustion, strengthening the future Pepe Coin price outlook. However, any loss of 0.0000050 would nullify this structure and put downside back in the previous demand range.

PEPE/USDT Daily Chart (Source: TradingView)
Participation broadens as leverage and retail align
Open Interest expansion continues to reinforce the PEPE Coin price structure, particularly among top meme coins showing synchronized participation. 

The metric has climbed by roughly 82% to about $446.5 million, and importantly, this increase followed PEPE price reclaiming the $0.0000050 level rather than preceding it. That sequencing demonstrates leverage responding to confirmation, rather than anticipation, which continues to position it in line with structure.

Meanwhile, retail demand has been reinforced on a material basis. Robinhood-related wallets are estimated to hold approximately 8.3% of PEPE total supply. Besides the 24-hours trading volume increased by 419% to approximately 932.6 million. This activity indicates that there is strong buy-side interest as opposed to thin-liquidity volatility. 

Meanwhile, improving U.S. regulatory clarity heading into 2026 has raised risk tolerance across crypto markets, adding contextual support without driving the move itself. This combination helps in price acceptance on higher levels rather than reactionary spikes.

As long as the open interest expands alongside price acceptance, PEPE Coin price remains structurally supported. However, leverage growth without follow-through above $0.00000623 would raise the risk of volatility-driven pullbacks.

PEPE Open Interest Chart (Source: CoinGlass)
Summary 
PEPE Coin price currently reflects a controlled transition from accumulation into trend continuation. The reclaimed structure, expanding participation, and aligned leverage behavior, support this action 

The overall trend is positive as long as price is above $0.0000050 and the upside pressure is maintained towards higher resistance levels.

This outlook is invalidated if price loses acceptance below that level. This would signal that recent strength was reactive rather than structural. Until then, PEPE price maintains a favorable, trend-aligned bias.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Rising derivatives participation, strong retail demand, and clearer market structure are attracting renewed attention.

It shows whether traders are committing capital in alignment with trend strength or merely reacting to volatility.

Clearer regulation improves risk tolerance, encouraging broader participation across crypto markets.

The battle for leadership in the DeFi space is becoming increasingly clear as two major contenders trade very differently heading into 2026. Chainlink price and HYPE have both delivered strong performances over the past year, but recent price action suggests the balance may be shifting again.

HYPE price dominated much of 2025, briefly flipping LINK in market momentum as speculative interest surged across newer DeFi narratives. However, as market conditions tighten, it would be interesting to watch whether Hyperliquid sustains itself as the leader of the DeFi space or Chainlink regains its dominance. 

Chainlink Holds Firm as the Market Tests ConvictionChainlink has quietly delivered one of the cleaner defensive structures among large-cap DeFi tokens. Despite the broader downtrend, LINK bounced decisively from the $10 zone and printed a strong green candle, signaling sustained buyer interest at long-term trendline support. Since then, the bulls have been holding firmly above the support, hinting towards a bigger move to be on the horizon. 

The recent downturn had dragged the LINK price below the rising parallel channel, but the bulls held the 200-day MA strongly, which is expected to revive a strong bullish momentum. The weekly RSI displays strength as it attempts a recovery before hitting the lower threshold. All these indicators signal a bullish move, but only the LINK price manages to break the support of the rising parallel channel. Once the token enters the pattern, a rise beyond $20 could be imminent. 

HYPE Price Faces Its First Real Structural TestHYPE’s rise in 2025 was undeniable. The token delivered a sharp expansion phase, outperforming many peers even as competition intensified following strong entries from emerging DeFi players like ASTER. That move firmly established HYPE as a serious large-cap contender. However, current price action shows rejection at the golden pocket resistance, with bulls still struggling to flip this zone into durable support. While the broader trend remains constructive, the inability to reclaim this level cleanly suggests hesitation rather than acceleration at this stage.

Unlike LINK, HYPE seems to have been stuck under a strong bearish influence. The token is constantly printing lower highs and lows, while the current price action suggests a drop to 0.236 FIB at $20 could be on the horizon. The RSI is unable to break the descending trend line, which is acting as a resistance; besides, the draining OBV substantiates the bearish claim. Therefore, Hyperliquid appears to be poised for a continued pullback, while a rebound can be expected at the local support at $20. 

What the Charts Are Telling TradersThe contrast between the two setups is clear:

LINK is defending a multi-year trendline and showing strength during market weakness.HYPE is consolidating after a strong run but still needs confirmation above key resistance.This does not invalidate HYPE’s longer-term potential. Instead, it highlights a short-term rotation in relative strength, where capital favors assets showing stability over those still resolving resistance.

Conclusion: Which Looks Better Right Now?Both LINK and HYPE are likely to remain relevant throughout 2026, given their large-cap status and deep integration within DeFi. However, based on current price action alone, Chainlink presents the cleaner setup. Holding long-term support while printing higher-timeframe strength gives LINK a tactical edge for traders looking for asymmetric positioning.

HYPE’s 2025 rally was a major win, but until resistance flips into support, LINK appears better positioned for the next leg—not because of hype, but because the charts are doing the talking.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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Fri, 2/01/2026 - 10:38

XRP just hit an enormous 140% spike on the network that can change the sentiment around the asset for January.

Cover image via U.Today

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Even though price action is still under pressure, XRP is starting early 2026 with a discernible shift on the fundamentals side. The most significant change is a dramatic increase in on-ledger activity, with payment volume rising by about 140% in a brief amount of time. Such a move is typically not the result of speculative noise but rather a genuine rise in network usage.

Fundamental metric riseXRP Ledger's payment volume has exceeded recent averages, momentarily surpassing the 1-billion-unit mark. A similar upward trend was seen in the quantity of payments made between accounts at the same time. The combination is important. A few large transfers can distort volume in the absence of transaction growth, but an increase in the number of payments indicates wider network participation.

XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewFrom a structural standpoint, this is taking place as the price of XRP continues to stabilize around long-term support levels. XRP is still below important moving averages on the chart and is part of a larger decline. By itself, that is not bullish. It does, however, cause the price and fundamentals to diverge. In the past, especially during accumulation phases, consistent growth in ledger activity has tended to lead rather than follow the price.

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A long way to goAdditionally, the recent spike fits the normal transition from the end of the year to the beginning of the year. There is less liquidity, uneven volatility and rapid flow changes. These metrics should be handled as such because they are extremely time-sensitive. At the time of the observation, a 140% increase in volume is noteworthy, but it does not ensure persistence.

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If demand is not steady, XRP metrics have a tendency to cool off rapidly. However, the overall view is positive. The usage of XRP has not collapsed despite the downward trend. Rather, as the price moves sideways to downward, activity is growing. Typically, that indicates positioning rather than desertion.

It implies that larger players might be moving value and rebalancing exposure by using lower prices rather than chasing the market higher. The important lesson for investors is not that XRP will blow up tomorrow.

It is that the network is working harder than the price would indicate. The likelihood of a recovery phase developing later would be greatly increased if payment volume and transaction count continued to be high into the first quarter of 2026.

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Published
2 minutes ago on
January 02, 2026

While still chopping sideways, the $BTC price is also continuing to edge up. Could a definitive breakout take place as early as next week? Or is Bitcoin still traversing within its bear flag before the next big leg down?

Can this upside push retest the $90,000 resistance?

Source: TradingView

As can be seen in the 4-hour chart, the $BTC price is in an up phase at the moment. This has taken the price clear of the major ascending trendline, but the bulls are having some trouble with resistance at $89,000 while the Stochastic RSI indicator lines on this time frame are becoming overbought.

There is still probably room for the price to head up to the crucial $90,500 horizontal resistance level, but if it did get there, it is likely that it will be rejected once again.

In fact, it might be argued that the $BTC price could be forming an ascending triangle, with $90,500 as the top, and with the major trendline ascending towards it. 

Is an ascending triangle forming?

Source: TradingView

The daily chart shows the potential ascending triangle. It may be a bit on the early side to call this, but as long as the $BTC price comes up to the resistance of the top of the triangle, and is rejected, this would probably confirm the pattern. It must however also be borne in mind that the price is in a bear flag (dashed mauve lines), so even if the $BTC price does break out of the ascending triangle, it would still be in that bear flag, potentially until well over $100,000.

Strong breakout of the downtrend - bulls in control for now

Source: TradingView

The weekly view shows a strong breakout of the downtrend line and the falling wedge pattern. It can be seen that if the $BTC price can break through the $93,000 to $94,000 area, this would turn into major horizontal support, potentially setting the price for a big rally higher.

At the bottom of the chart, the indicator lines are posturing for a cross back to the upside of the blue fast line over the orange slow line. If this is the case at the end of this week, next week could be a good one for the bulls.

It just needs to be kept in mind that the price has been hammered down every time it looks as though it might escape the shackles of the resistances. Who knows if the market makers are ready to let the price fly just yet? One thing does look likely though, and that is the eventual big move will be to the upside. 

Disclaimer: 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.

Crypto analyst Crypto Whale has explained why the Bitcoin price could still crash to as low as $25,000. The analyst also stated this would form the macro bottom for the leading crypto, as it recovers from this bear market. 

Why The Bitcoin Price Could Drop To As Low As $25,000
In an X post, Crypto Whale stated that the monthly chart suggested that the Bitcoin price could form a macro bottom near $25,000 sometime in 2026. The analyst further remarked that if history rhymes, these deep retracements tend to mark long-term accumulation zones. He added that this doesn’t signify the end of the cycle but the reset before the next expansion. 

Source: Chart from Crypto Whale on X
However, in another X post, Crypto Whale suggested that the Bitcoin price isn’t yet in a bear market, highlighting how the 2026 bull run is likely to unfold. He stated that this month, the crypto market will see a Bitcoin-led rally, while there will be a broad altcoin expansion in February. The analyst expects the bull trap to set in in March, which he predicts would lead to volatility and panic selling. 

Related Reading: Analyst Reveals Why The Bitcoin Price Is Extremely Bearish Right Now

Once that happens, Crypto Whale predicts that May will usher in the capitulation phase, while a full bear market confirmation will happen in June. This outlook for the Bitcoin price comes as research firm XWIN Research noted that BTC has not clearly entered a new bullish trend. The firm further stated that the crypto market remains in a high-volatility range environment, which is neither decisively bullish nor bearish. 

Meanwhile, XWIN Research raised the possibility that the Bitcoin price could drop to as low as $50,000. They stated that this could happen if recession risks intensify, with deleveraging and ETF outflows pushing the leading crypto below $80,000 and making $50,000 a possibility. 

BTC Death Cross Signals Drop To $38,000
In an X post, crypto analyst Ali Martinez drew attention to a death cross, which has been recurring on the BTC weekly chart. The analyst noted that if history repeats itself, the Bitcoin price could record a similar 50% to 60% correction, dropping to as low as $38,000 in the process. 

This death cross between the 10-week and 50-week simple moving averages is said to have occurred in September 2014, leading to a Bitcoin price correction of 67%. It also occurred in June 2018, March 2020, and January 2022, resulting in price corrections of 54%, 53%, and 64%, respectively. 

Martinez opined that the zone between $50,000 and $38,000 is starting to become interesting from a long-term spot accumulation standpoint. He added that the market will confirm the next move for the Bitcoin price in its own time. 

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $88,700, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

BTC trading at $89,038 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

12h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
James G.

Summarize this article with:

Crypto veteran and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has adjusted his portfolio, selling a significant amount of Ether and reallocating funds into decentralized finance projects. The move comes as Ethereum faces weak price momentum while network activity continues to grow steadily. Hayes’ actions have drawn mixed reactions across the crypto community, particularly as DeFi tokens remain under pressure.

In brief

Arthur Hayes sold 1,871 ETH, worth $5.53M, and rotated funds into DeFi tokens as Ethereum price action remained weak in recent days.
Over 60% of his portfolio now sits in DeFi assets and stablecoins, while his Ethereum exposure has been significantly reduced.
Portfolio allocation is heavily tilted toward PENDLE, LDO, and ETHFI, despite all three tokens trending lower this quarter.
Ethereum activity remains strong, with daily transactions hitting records and fees far below 2022 peak levels globally this week.

Over 60% of Arthur Hayes’ Portfolio Now Held in DeFi Assets and Stablecoins
Over the past two weeks, Hayes reportedly sold 1,871 ETH, valued at approximately $5.53 million. The proceeds were redirected into several DeFi tokens, with the largest allocation going to PENDLE. Blockchain data shows that he purchased nearly 1 million PENDLE tokens worth about $1.75 million. Additional purchases included 2.3 million LDO valued at $1.29 million, 6.05 million ENA worth roughly $1.24 million, and 491,000 ETHFI valued at close to $343,000.

Earlier transactions observed by market watchers point to a similar trend. Hayes transferred roughly $2 million in ETH, or 682 tokens, to Binance. He also moved around $2.52 million from exchanges directly into DeFi positions. Following these transactions, more than 60% of his portfolio is now composed of DeFi assets and stablecoins, while Ethereum accounts for a smaller share.

Portfolio data show a strong concentration in PENDLE, which accounts for nearly half of his holdings. LDO and ETHFI also account for notable portions of the portfolio. All three tokens remain in a downtrend, though Hayes appears willing to hold despite current weakness.

Details of Hayes’ recent strategy include:

The sale of 1,871 ETH over a two-week period, valued at about $5.53 million.
A primary DeFi allocation to PENDLE totaling roughly $1.75 million.
Additional positions added in LDO, ENA, and ETHFI.
More than 60% of total assets now held in DeFi tokens and stablecoins.
Reduced exposure to ETH despite longstanding involvement with Ethereum.

Mixed Reaction on X Follows Hayes’ Shift From Ethereum Toward DeFi
Reaction on X has been mixed, with some users supporting the move into DeFi and arguing that it aligns with the current market environment. One post suggested the decision was reasonable given delays related to Ethereum upgrades. Others warned that DeFi yields often involve higher risk. Some critics also suggested that Hayes may be acting on market information that is not widely available.

Ethereum’s price has struggled to regain the $3,000 level, weighing on market sentiment. Network data, however, continues to show resilience. Etherscan reported 2.2 million transactions processed in a single day this week, setting a new weekly record. Transaction fees remain far below their May 2022 highs, when costs exceeded $200 per transaction.

Lower fees previously encouraged users to migrate to layer-2 networks. Recent increases in mainnet activity may point to renewed interest in layer-1 usage. Developer activity also remains strong. Token Terminal data indicates that 8.7 million smart contracts were created during the fourth quarter, driven by real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, and infrastructure development.

Ethereum continues to play a central role in the stablecoin market, hosting more than half of the $307 billion total supply. Researchers at RedStone have described the network as an institutional standard, citing its security and liquidity. Despite increased competition from Solana, Avalanche, and BNB Chain, Ethereum remains a key part of the broader digital asset ecosystem.

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James Godstime is a crypto journalist and market analyst with over three years of experience in crypto, Web3, and finance. He simplifies complex and technical ideas to engage readers. Outside of work, he enjoys football and tennis, which he follows passionately.

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Sun has around 5.32% of the circulating supply and 1.33% of the total supply in LIT.
After the launch, LIT is under the pressure because of liquidity withdrawals and post-airdrop profit-taking. 

A number of wallets associated with Just Sun have silently made a quite large place in the newly launched LIT token by Lighter. The on-chain data has revealed that the purchases were linked to liquidity provisioning instead of airdrop farming. 

The on-chain researcher MLM released its analysis on Jan 1, revealing that 4 wallets linked with Justin Sun accumulated 1.6 million LIT soon after the token generation event, taking the amount to about 6.4 million LIT, whose value is said to be around $17 million as per the current market rate. 

The wallets’ funding took place 34 and 50 minutes after the closing of the Lighter airdrop allocation form. However, there is no proof that the wallets also participated in earlier points farming. 

Adding more to this, the activity deposits around $200 million into the Lighter’s Liquidity Provider Program. Further, he took out about $38 million, using around $33 million to buy an extra 13.25 million LIT on the market. Totalling this, the wallets now have 14.89 million LIT, sitting at $39.8 million. 

A Dig Into LIT
With this, Sun has around 5.32% of the circulating supply and 1.33% of the total supply. About $5.5 million stays in spot balances associated with the same group of wallets. The data has also dropped hints that similar arrangements may persist for other big LLP participants. A wallet deposited $50 million USDC in the programme and, after around a month, got 874,875 LIT via attribution. 

Lighter rolled out LIT on December 30, an efficient, long-lasting futures DEX made as an Ethereum zk-rollup. With the launch, 25% was launched to early users and liquidity providers, quickly taking the circulating supply to around 250 million tokens. 

After the launch, LIT is under the pressure because of liquidity withdrawals and post-airdrop profit-taking, which usually can be seen for new tokens having wide distributions. The debut price stood at around $3.40 at the time of initial trading but soon experienced volatility, falling around 30% to $2.45-$2.80. 

Highlighted Crypto News Today: 

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A passionate journalist with a strong foundation in content writing and an experience in the crypto industry. With a commitment to self-growth, Sharmistha aims to make a meaningful impact in the media and communications landscape.

TLDR:

Short-term holder profitability deteriorates to -12% loss margin despite Bitcoin maintaining elevated prices.

Bitcoin price trades near STH realized price level, creating critical behavioral support testing ground.

Current loss levels remain contained compared to 2018 and 2022 extremes, limiting structural damage.

Rising sell-side pressure from underwater positions increases market sensitivity to price fluctuations.

Bitcoin short-term holders have returned to negative profitability territory as aggregate losses reach approximately -12%. 

The current market structure shows newer participants facing renewed pressure despite Bitcoin maintaining relatively elevated price levels. On-chain data reveals that the short-term holder realized profit and loss margin continues to deteriorate. 

This development marks a critical juncture for market participants who acquired Bitcoin at higher price points. The price remains near the short-term holder realized price, testing a key behavioral support zone that could determine the next directional move.

STH Profitability Tests Critical Support Zone
The aggregate short-term holder position has shifted back into loss territory after a period of relative stability. 

Current data shows newer market entrants operating at a -12% loss margin. This metric captures the financial position of investors who purchased Bitcoin within recent months.

Bitcoin price continues trading close to the short-term holder realized price level. This proximity creates a crucial testing ground for market sentiment and participant behavior. 

Source: Cryptoquant

Historical patterns show that such price-to-cost basis convergence often precedes heightened volatility.

Rising sell-side pressure emerges from participants who entered positions at elevated levels. These newer holders demonstrate increased sensitivity to short-term price movements. Their underwater positions create potential for accelerated selling if prices decline further.

Limited Structural Damage Maintains Broader Market Stability
The current loss levels remain contained compared to previous cycle extremes seen in 2018 and mid-2022. 

This distinction suggests that structural market damage has not reached critical levels. However, the persistence of negative margins indicates vulnerability in near-term demand dynamics.

Sustained periods of short-term holder losses typically coincide with late-stage corrections or consolidation phases. 

These periods can either flush out weak positions or mark transitional phases before trend continuation. Market observers note that the absence of extreme loss levels provides some stability.

The next directional move depends on whether short-term holder profitability recovers or continues deteriorating. 

A deepening of losses could amplify downside volatility and selling pressure. Conversely, a recovery in profitability metrics might stabilize market conditions and reduce immediate downside risks facing newer participants.

Cardano (ADA) has started 2026 on a positive note, rising nearly 8% today, moving above the $0.36 level and ranking among the day’s top altcoin gainers. This rise comes after a rough December, when ADA fell nearly 20%, leaving many investors cautious.

So, what’s driving Cardano’s price higher today?

CryptoQuant Data Shows Whale BuyingOne of the clearest signals behind ADA’s rise comes from CryptoQuant data. Recent on-chain numbers show an increase in activity from large holders, often called whales. Both spot and futures data point to bigger orders entering the market.

When whales begin to buy again, it often signals growing confidence. According to CryptoQuant, market conditions are easing, and buy-side pressure is slowly increasing. This supports the idea that the current move is more than just a random bounce.

Beyond trading data, Cardano’s network is showing real signs of use. Transaction activity and wallet interactions have increased over recent days. This means users are actively using the blockchain, not just holding ADA.

Cardano DeFi TVL Shows Signs of RecoveryAnother positive signal comes from Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem. According to DefiLlama, Cardano’s TVL increased by 4% in the last 24 hours, reaching about $178.9 million. This means more users are putting their funds into Cardano-based DeFi platforms.

When more money flows into DeFi, it usually shows growing trust in the network, which can also increase demand for the ADA token.

Cardano Price AnalysisFor several months, ADA has been moving inside a falling wedge pattern. This happens when the price keeps going down, but selling slowly becomes weaker. As the range gets tighter, it often means a big move is getting close.

Right now, ADA is holding near the $0.35 support level. This area is helping the price stay stable, and buyers are slowly stepping in, showing that selling pressure is easing.

Crypto trader Captain Faibik shared a chart showing ADA near the end of this falling wedge. He believes a breakout could happen if the price moves above the upper trendline.

As long as ADA stays above support, the setup remains healthy. If the breakout happens, the price could move toward the $0.52–$0.55 zone, which would mean nearly a 50% rise from current levels.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

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Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD saw its sales growth slow markedly in 2025 as competition in its home market intensified, even as it remained on track to overtake Tesla as the world’s largest EV company by volume.

The company said it sold 420,398 vehicles in December, down 18% from a year earlier and marking its fourth consecutive month of declining monthly sales.

For the full year, BYD’s sales rose 7.7% to 4.60 million vehicles, a sharp deceleration from the 41% growth recorded in 2024.

The slowdown underscores mounting pressure in China’s fiercely competitive EV market, where price wars and rapid product launches have eroded margins and weakened the dominance of early leaders.

Despite slowing growth, BYD is still set to surpass Tesla in global EV sales.

Tesla likely delivered about 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, according to market consensus compiled by the company, The Wall Street Journal reported, as its chief executive, Elon Musk, pivots focus toward artificial intelligence and robotaxi development rather than lower-priced mass-market models.

Tesla’s electric vehicles sit at a higher price point than BYD’s Ocean and Dynasty ranges.

In 2024, chief executive Elon Musk shelved plans for a $25,000 mass-market EV, choosing instead to focus on artificial intelligence and robotaxi projects that he says could transform the auto industry.

Competition erodes technological edge
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BYD’s domestic sales were hit by what its management described as a deterioration in its technological advantage.

Chinese media reported that chairman and chief executive Wang Chuanfu told an investor conference in December that the company’s edge built over previous years had weakened, weighing on sales at home.

Wang said BYD would unveil major innovations in 2026, though he did not provide details.

He expressed confidence that the company could reclaim its advantages, citing its 120,000-strong technical workforce.

Rivals have been gaining ground quickly.

Geely delivered 3.02 million vehicles in 2025, up 38.5% from a year earlier, while Leapmotor reached its 500,000-unit target ahead of schedule and raised its 2025 goal to more than 600,000 vehicles.

Leapmotor has also set an ambitious target of 1 million vehicles for 2026.

Overseas markets shine for BYD
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While domestic momentum cooled, BYD’s overseas business emerged as a bright spot.

The company delivered about 1.05 million vehicles outside China in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of exports and international expansion to offset softer conditions at home.

In December, premium EV makers NIO and Li Auto also posted strong sales, delivering 48,135 and 44,246 vehicles, respectively.

Nomura auto analyst Joel Ying said their performance was likely driven largely by a final push to deliver existing order backlogs before year-end.

Price wars and policy headwinds
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BYD’s aggressive price cuts on more than 20 models in May triggered a selloff in Chinese auto stocks and prompted a rare public warning from Great Wall Motor’s chairman, who said the industry had entered an unhealthy phase.

The company later slowed production and delayed capacity expansion plans, Reuters reported.

Looking ahead, analysts expect further challenges in 2026 as China scales back trade-in subsidies for mid to lower-priced vehicles to encourage technological innovation.

Deutsche Bank analyst Bin Wang said China’s retail passenger vehicle sales could fall 5% in 2026 as policy support eases.

Still, some analysts see a potential rebound.

Nomura’s Ying said BYD could regain momentum in 2026 in both domestic and overseas markets, with the company expected to outline its strategy and model upgrades after the Lunar New Year.