Market Signal Briefing

TLDR

Pump.fun restarted large USDC transfers to Kraken after nearly a month of inactivity, renewing market scrutiny.

Since November 15, on-chain data confirms $605M USDC moved from ICO proceeds into centralized exchanges.

Institutional investors bought PUMP at $0.004, while the token now trades near $0.0018, down 55%.

Short-term charts show price compression and bearish momentum as repeated exchange deposits cap upside moves.

According to data, pump. Fun moved another $50 million USDC to Kraken after nearly a month of limited transfers. The latest transfer brings cumulative USDC deposits to approximately $605 million since November 15. 

All funds trace back to ICO-related inflows rather than secondary market activity. The consistency of these movements has shaped trader expectations around near-term supply conditions.

Wu Blockchain referenced EmberCN’s tracking, noting the return of large, round-number transfers. These added visibility to what on-chain analysts already observed through wallet monitoring tools.

Treasury Flows Signal Structured Liquidity Management
Pump. Fun USDC Transfers have followed a measured cadence rather than reactive execution. Transfers are typically clustered between $25 million and $50 million, suggesting scheduled treasury actions. 

This structure reduces uncertainty around operational liquidity but maintains a steady exchange-side supply. Routing funds to Kraken provides immediate conversion flexibility. 

Centralized exchange deposits allow stable reserve management without interacting directly with decentralized markets. As a result, on-chain liquidity exits without visible recycling into protocol incentives or token support.

On-chain dashboards, including Arkham Intelligence, show pump. fun controlling an estimated $1.84 billion in assets. Over $617 million sits in USDC and USDT, while SOL holdings exceed $210 million. These balances point to realized revenue rather than unrealized token appreciation.

Price Structure Reflects Persistent Distribution
Pump.fun USDC Transfers coincide with continued weakness in PUMP market structure. Institutional investors purchased PUMP at $0.004 during the June ICO. The token now trades near $0.0018, representing a decline of roughly 55% from issuance pricing.

Short-term charts show price compression rather than recovery. On a three-minute PUMP/USDT chart, the price remains range-bound near $0.00185. Repeated intraday highs fail to hold, while volume spikes align with rejection candles rather than expansion.

Momentum indicators support this view. MACD readings have rolled into negative territory, while RSI holds near 42, below neutral levels. Without renewed volume or momentum, price action remains constrained as treasury flows continue toward exchanges.

Pump.fun USDC Transfers, as documented through on-chain records and widely shared tweets, remain a defining factor in PUMP’s current trading environment. The data reflects ongoing capital realization by the issuer, while secondary market participants adjust to sustained liquidity routing.

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.

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AVGO, GOOG, ALAB 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.

All of these stocks have excellent chances in 2026 and beyond.

As the year comes to a close, it's been another double-digit gain for the S&P 500, which is up almost 18% in 2025. The index is up about 80% during the past three years alone, demonstrating why investing in the S&P 500 is such a compelling thesis.

However, you can bring it up a notch by investing in top growth stocks in 2026. There's no way to know whether the market can keep climbing this year and next, but over time, it grows much more often than it contracts. SoFi Technologies (SOFI 1.49%), MercadoLibre (MELI +0.50%), On Holding (ONON +0.62%), Lemonade (LMND 6.40%), and Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM +1.35%) can supercharge your portfolio this year, but more importantly, they all have incredible long-term opportunities.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. SoFi: Disruptive banking
SoFi is a digital bank that's attracting new customers at a fast pace. Not only is it growing quickly, but revenue growth accelerated in the 2025 third quarter to 38% year over year. That's a phenomenal rate for any company, especially a bank, which is typically slow-growing as an industry.

It's a classic fintech company, combining traditional financial services with technology. These are the kinds of services that used to take up a lot of time and visits to bank branches that are now doable with the swipe of a finger. SoFi's niche is its simple-to-use app that's a game changer, and it's one-stop shop approach that makes total financial management available in one place.

SoFi stock is up 79% this year (as of Dec. 26), and it could soar higher in 2026 and beyond.

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2. MercadoLibre: Tech powerhouse
MercadoLibre is the leading e-commerce company in Latin America, holding its own against direct competition from Amazon and other global names. Its region is notably underpenetrated, giving it a long runway as it changes the retail narrative. It has also launched complementary fintech services that serve to create a diversified ecosystem of products. That gives it a dominant position and an edge in a growing market.

It's still in high-growth mode, with a 49% year-over-year sales increase (currency neutral) in the third quarter. It's balancing investments in its future with staying comfortably profitable, and it's constantly rolling out new features to attract customers and simplify the buying process. It has a huge growth runway for the foreseeable future.

3. On: The new name in premium activewear
On is a fast-growing activewear brand that's gaining a loyal following. It sells premium products and competes with companies like Nike and Lululemon Athletica, and it's growing much faster than either of them. Its premium pricing leads to high gross margins, and its affluent consumer base is more resilient when under economic pressure.

The brand is still working its way around the world, developing brand awareness, and it's fairly small as compared with its peers. That gives it more room to expand as it builds its business, and it could skyrocket in 2026 and much longer.

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4. Lemonade: Insurance technology
Lemonade is a disruptive insurance powerhouse, offering digital services and using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to offer a better product. It has been attracting customers at a rapid pace since launching, but its algorithms are finally working well enough to move toward profitability. From here, management envisions the model becoming extremely efficient and profitable as the company continues to increase revenue.

After years of investor disappointment, Lemonade stock is up nearly 450% during the past three years. However, it's expecting to become profitable on an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) basis in 2026, and it could climb even higher.

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5. Taiwan Semiconductor: Underpinning AI development
Nvidia and hyperscalers like Amazon and Alphabet may get the most attention for their developments in AI, but Taiwan Semiconductor plays a key role in making it happen. It manufactures the chips that are used for AI production, and it's the largest company of its kind. Since it makes chips for all kinds of applications, it's not limited by whatever the trend of the day is, and it can drive tech development in any area, giving it continued growth opportunities.

However, for the sake of a 2026 discussion, it has potent tailwinds as hyperscalers increase AI spend and demand picks up for chips from many of its clients. Expect Taiwan Semi to enjoy more high gains in the coming year and longer.

Jennifer Saibil has positions in Lemonade, MercadoLibre, On Holding, SoFi Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Lemonade, Lululemon Athletica Inc., MercadoLibre, Nike, Nvidia, On Holding, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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

Shares of the fast-growing voice AI company look overheated.

The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) has not just fueled share price gains for the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, but also for a group of smaller, pure-play AI stocks. Some of these have generated excellent returns in a short time for investors -- among them, conversational AI company SoundHound AI (SOUN 1.83%). Its share price is up by around 45% from where it traded when it went public through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in August 2022.

That's actually well behind the 70% total return that the broad S&P 500 index delivered over that period. However, shareholders who bought the stock between late 2022 and early 2024 are sitting on much higher returns. It's up by about 1,000% from where it sat three years ago, in December 2022.

Image source: Getty Images.

What does SoundHound AI do?
SoundHound AI provides intelligent voice recognition and conversational capabilities for use cases such as customer service, in-vehicle voice assistants, and food ordering and delivery. Its newer systems also boast agentic AI capabilities that can create what it describes as a "more natural voice experiences for customers."

SoundHound AI is now working with a (thus far unrevealed) sports car company to create a "personality" for its in-vehicle AI voice assistant.

While SoundHound AI has immense potential, investors shouldn't buy the stock -- at least, not until they read this warning.

It's a big bet
SoundHound AI shares today are clearly overvalued based on its price-to-sales ratio. The company has a $4.7 billion market cap and is projecting about $173 million of revenue this year, giving it a forward P/S ratio of about 27. And one can't measure it all on a price-to-earnings basis because it's losing money, although through the first nine months of 2025, the company did manage to cut its losses in half year over year.

Now, on its own, a high valuation may not be enough of a reason for investors to shun a stock. SoundHound AI is growing its revenues rapidly. In fact, many younger tech companies that are expected to be disruptive are rewarded with high sales multiples even while they are losing money to focus on rapid growth. But this also means investors who buy those stocks are in a high-risk, high-potential-reward situation.

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While the market is betting that SoundHound AI's early mover advantages in the conversational AI arena will position it to quickly gobble up market share, investors still have questions regarding the extent of AI's capabilities.

There are also questions about how effective SoundHound AI will be at warding off competition. Just because a company is first to market doesn't automatically mean it will be a long-term winner. If its products don't live up to the hype or if rivals roll out better options, this stock could have a long way to fall from its current lofty valuation.

Ultimately, there may be a compelling case to be made for investing in this stock, but it carries significant risks. In a few years, investors could look back on this stock as having been very cheap today... or very expensive.

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.

AI chips defined the AI stock rally, but the next trend may be even bigger.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the best investing opportunities in recent decades. It combines the excitement of the dot-com bubble with real revenue growth. AI models showed investors how quickly people would adopt AI products and services that could compete with established options like search engines. Now, with humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, and other innovations on the horizon, AI stocks look poised for another rally.

Semiconductor stocks were the defining group of investments during the first stage of the AI boom, but another group of stocks will be the next winners. Energy is at a premium for AI workloads, and few companies look as compelling as IREN (IREN 3.90%) as the next AI rally takes shape.

Energy is the new bottleneck

Image source: Getty Images.

Solving any AI bottleneck can result in billions of dollars in annual revenue with skyrocketing prospects. Nvidia continues to prove this truth with impressive revenue growth while becoming the first company to reach a $5 trillion valuation.

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Nvidia's AI chips solved a critical part of the AI bottleneck, and energy is next. Nvidia and other tech companies are actively seeking solutions to the power supply gap. Since AI apps require significant energy, there's an energy shortage that few companies can solve. Traditional data centers don't even get the job done, since their infrastructure isn't set up to handle the complex workload of AI software.

That's why tech giants have turned to AI data center providers that have sufficient energy to meet the demands of AI tools. Some tech leaders are acquiring AI data companies before their value is fully realized. For instance, Alphabet just bought AI data center company Intersect for $4.75 billion. The acquisition demonstrates how much capital Alphabet and its competitors are willing to put into AI data centers like IREN.

Each contract offers annual recurring revenue
IREN's biggest contract came in November, when Microsoft received 200 megawatts of critical IT load. It's a five-year deal that comes to $9.7 billion, or almost $2 billion in annual recurring revenue. IREN also received a 20% prepayment, which will help it fund additional AI data centers.

IREN has a multi-gigawatt pipeline that can support additional deals. It's reasonable to assume that IREN will secure additional gigawatts in 2026 and build additional sites. IREN co-CEO Dan Roberts said in September that IREN can't meet demand fast enough, which suggests that more sites will be announced in the future.

Each AI data center can provide multiple deals like the Microsoft one. Billions of dollars in annual recurring revenue make it easier for the company to scale its revenue growth, especially as AI demand continues to grow. IREN can announce another contract like the Microsoft deal and immediately see its annual revenue go up by more than $1 billion per year. Few companies have that type of opportunity to scale quickly.

AI cloud annualized revenue growth is astronomical
IREN still makes most of its revenue from crypto mining, but AI infrastructure is the future. That future is coming quite soon, based on IREN's goal of reaching $3.4 billion in AI cloud annualized run-rate revenue by the end of 2026.

That's a sizable jump, since AI cloud revenue only came to $16.4 million in fiscal 2025, which ended on June 30. IREN also reported $7.5 million in AI cloud revenue in first-quarter fiscal year 2026, which ended on Sept. 30. A jump to more than $3 billion in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2026 is a massive jump that suggests a high growth rate is still possible in 2027 and beyond.

IREN has a lot of room to expand its annual recurring revenue based on its multi-gigawatt pipeline. The company's ability to build AI data centers on time without missing deadlines will help the company scale its services into additional locations. Chips were the major bottleneck a few years ago, and they're still doing well. Some investors are starting to realize that energy is the new bottleneck, and stocks like IREN can take off as more people recognize that fact.

Marc Guberti has positions in Iren. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryPure Storage (PSTG) is undervalued after a 30%+ share price decline, despite strong recent results and raised guidance.Concerns about margin compression are overstated; PSTG's operating and gross margins are expanding, driven by high-margin hyperscaler royalties.PSTG continues to gain market share in all-flash storage, with competitive advantages in energy efficiency, density, and technology.Significant upside exists from potential new hyperscaler agreements and the EXA offering, neither of which are priced into current valuations. PM Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Pure Storage: Sitting in the penalty box-the refs got the call wrong I am a long time investor in and recommender of Pure Storage (PSTG) shares. I have owned a position of various sizes for literally 7 years at this

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

Comcast is among the S&P 500's 10 cheapest stocks based on projected 2026 earnings.

AI-powered cardiac diagnostics firm HeartFlow reported a recent insider buy, as disclosed in the latest SEC filing.

Jeffrey Lightcap, a member of the Board of Directors of HeartFlow (HTFL 2.00%), acquired 40,000 common shares in an open-market transaction valued at $1,053,680 on Dec. 16, 2025; see SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares traded40,000Transaction value$1.1 millionPost-transaction shares (direct)40,000Post-transaction shares (indirect)6,697,556Post-transaction value (direct ownership)$1.1 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 reported price ($26.34); post-transaction value based on Dec. 16, 2025 market close price.

Key questionsHow does this transaction affect Mr. Lightcap’s insider ownership structure?
This is the first reported direct holding by Mr. Lightcap, establishing a 40,000-share direct position while his substantial indirect exposure, managed via three investment vehicles, remains unchanged at 6,697,556 shares.What is the relative size of this purchase versus Mr. Lightcap’s total HeartFlow holdings?
The new direct stake represents approximately 0.59% of Mr. Lightcap’s combined direct and indirect HeartFlow holdings, underscoring that the majority of his exposure continues to be fund-based.Are there derivative or administrative elements to this transaction?
This transaction is a straightforward open-market purchase with no derivative or option exercise component, and there are no shares reported as sold, gifted, or withheld.What is the significance of the transaction in the context of available capacity?
Given Mr. Lightcap’s prior absence of direct shares and the persistence of large indirect holdings, the 40,000-share direct buy marks a shift in form rather than a material increase in overall HeartFlow exposure.Company overviewMetricValuePrice (as of market close 12/16/25)$26.34Market capitalization$2.5 billionRevenue (TTM)$161.88 millionNet income (TTM)($125.37 million)Company snapshotHeartFlow develops AI-driven, non-invasive diagnostic solutions for coronary artery disease, including the HeartFlow Platform for 3D heart modeling and blood flow analysis.It operates a platform-based business model, providing software and analytics services to healthcare providers and institutions.The company serves hospitals, cardiology clinics, and healthcare systems focused on cardiovascular care and patient management.HeartFlow leverages advanced artificial intelligence and computational fluid dynamics to deliver precise, non-invasive cardiac diagnostics at scale. Its technology-driven approach addresses key limitations of traditional imaging, supporting improved patient outcomes and operational efficiencies for healthcare providers.

What this transaction means for investorsThe purchase of direct shares in HeartFlow by Board of Directors member Jeffrey Lightcap suggests he has a bullish outlook towards the company. The buy came a day after shares hit a 52-week low of $25.38 on Dec. 15. This indicates Mr. Lightcap felt the stock was at a compelling price, and added directly-held shares to his substantial indirect holdings of 6.7 million shares.

HeartFlow went public on Aug. 8, and the share price climbed to a 52-week high of $41.22 in October. The company's revenue is growing rapidly. In the third quarter, sales rose 41% year over year to $46.3 million. HeartFlow forecasted 2025 full-year revenue to see around a 38% year-over-year increase to about $173 million.

While this performance is excellent, its Q3 net loss was $50.9 million compared to a loss of $19.1 million in the prior year. The substantial increase contributed to Wall Street's concerns about HeartFlow's financial health, causing shares to fall.

Mr. Lightcap's purchase suggests he feels confident in the company's future, and that may be warranted. However, since HeartFlow has only a short history as a public company, and therefore, limited financial performance to evaluate, investing in its stock at this time is risky, and only for investors who have a high risk tolerance. 

GlossaryOpen-market transaction: A purchase or sale of securities on a public exchange, not through private negotiation or pre-arranged deals.

SEC Form 4: A required filing that discloses insider trades of company stock by officers, directors, or major shareholders.

Direct holdings: Shares owned personally and registered in the individual's name, not through intermediaries or funds.

Indirect holdings: Shares owned through investment vehicles, funds, or entities rather than directly by the individual.

Affiliated entities: Organizations or funds with a formal relationship to an individual, often used for investment or management purposes.

Insider ownership: The total shares held by a company's executives, directors, or major shareholders, both directly and indirectly.

Derivative: A financial contract whose value is based on the performance of an underlying asset, such as options or futures.

Option exercise: The act of using the right to buy or sell shares at a set price under an options contract.

Withheld shares: Shares retained by a company or entity, often for tax or administrative purposes, instead of being delivered to the individual.

Computational fluid dynamics: The use of computer simulations to analyze and predict fluid flow, often applied in engineering and medical contexts.

Coronary artery disease: A condition where the heart's arteries become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

TTM: The 12-month period ending with the most recent quarterly report.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummaryMicrosoft (MSFT) is rated a buy, driven by a 112% Y/Y surge in commercial bookings and a $392B RPO backlog, signaling structural AI demand.MSFT's AI Factory strategy and Copilot integration underpin margin resilience, with Azure revenue growth accelerating to 40% Y/Y in Q1-FY2026.Despite a forward P/E near 30x and heavy CapEx, blended valuation models indicate 113% mid-to-long-term price upside, targeting $608–$722.Key risks include capacity caps, rapid AI hardware depreciation, and regulatory scrutiny, but technical support at $470.7–$498.1 offers strategic entry points. lcva2/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

My investment thesis for Microsoft stock (MSFT) is based on its sharp transition from AI experimentation (with OpenAI) to hyper-scale commercialization. This can be in the huge 112% Y/Y increase in commercial bookings in Q1-FY2026. Microsoft has now put

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.

Exxon Mobil has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years, and the payout looks safe even if crude falls to $40 a barrel.

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.

Sun, 28/12/2025 - 6:49

With just four days to the end of 2025, Shiba Inu remains in the spotlight of the markets, with last-minute movements being watched.

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.

According to CoinGlass data, Shiba Inu saw $6.71 million in futures outflows in the last 24 hours, which translates to 933,890,048,712 SHIB.

Outflows remain significant as it suggests buying on the part of derivatives traders even as Shiba Inu attempts year end recovery.

Following days of drop toward the Christmas holiday, Shiba Inu reversed at a low of $0.00000698; however, bulls were unable to make a definitive move.

HOT Stories

Shiba Inu resorted to range trading between $0.00000698 and $0.00000729, where it still remains even at the time of writing.

Shiba Inu was trading up 0.05% in the last 24 hours to $0.000007224 but down 2.83% in the last seven days. The current price action in the markets suggests investors are reassessing risk appetite in year-end positioning.

SHIB has spent weeks trending downward, frustrating bulls. On the other hand, it seems the forces shaping the next move are quietly shifting beneath the surface. Some analysts believe that the market may be far closer to an inflection point than price action alone suggests.

2026 presents optimism2025 may end with prices in the red, the year saw real institutional adoption, setting the groundwork for 2026’s next phase of real activation.

In a recent report, Galaxy revealed 26 crypto, Bitcoin, DeFi and AI predictions for 2026.

Among such predictions that might benefit Shiba Inu is that of potential ETFs in the year 2026. Shiba Inu saw an inclusion in legacy asset manager T.Rowe crypto ETF filing, a remarkable milestone for the dog coin, signifying institutional interest.

Galaxy predicts more than 50 spot altcoin ETFs and another 50 crypto ETFs (excluding spot single-coin products) will launch in the U.S. Following the SEC’s approval of generic listing standards, Galaxy expects the pace of spot altcoin ETF launches to accelerate in 2026.

2025 saw more than 15 Solana, XRP, Hedera, Dogecoin, Litecoin and Chainlink spot ETFs coming to the market. Galaxy expects other major assets to follow with their own spot ETF filings. In addition to single-asset products, multi-asset crypto ETFs and leveraged crypto ETFs are predicted to launch.

Related articles

8h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Eddy S.

Summarize this article with:

The company Bitmine has just made crypto history by depositing 219 million dollars in ETH into Ethereum’s proof-of-stake contract. A bold strategy that is part of a massive accumulation of over 540 million dollars in one month. Decoding a move that could redefine the future of crypto treasuries.

In brief

Bitmine injects 219 million dollars in ETH into staking, potentially generating 371 million in annual revenue.
Bitmine accumulates over 4 million ETH, representing 3.37% of the total supply, with 540 million dollars invested in one month.
Bitmine and the double strategy of accumulation and staking that raises questions: winning bet or calculated risk for Ethereum?

Ethereum: Bitmine enters the staking era with a $219 million deposit
Bitmine has taken a major step by depositing 74,880 ETH, equivalent to 219 million dollars, into Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system. This move marks the company’s first foray into staking, a strategic transition towards generating passive income. With an estimated annual yield of 3.12%, Bitmine could generate over 126,000 ETH in rewards each year, roughly 371 million dollars.

This operation strengthens Bitmine’s position as one of the largest holders of Ethereum, with 4.066 million ETH in treasury, representing 3.37% of the total supply. Such a commitment could boost institutional investor confidence. Moreover, it could increase the TVL on the Ethereum network, thereby consolidating its dominance in the crypto ecosystem.

Bitmine and its Ethereum treasury: +$540 million in one month
Bitmine has accelerated its Ethereum accumulation with spectacular purchases. After a 199 million dollar investment in early December, the company injected an additional 320 million dollars of ETH! Raising its monthly commitment to over 540 million dollars. An aggressive strategy that has allowed Bitmine to exceed 4 million ETH in treasury, valued at over 11.9 billion dollars.

This record accumulation fits into a long-term vision. Indeed, Bitmine aims to hold 5% of the total ETH supply… An ambitious goal that reinforces its position as a leader among crypto treasuries. With an average purchase price around 2,991 dollars per ETH, the company is positioned to benefit from a potential price rise, anticipated by experts like Tom Lee, who predicts ETH between 7,000 and 9,000 dollars in 2026.

ETH staking and accumulation: a dual strategy for Bitmine
Bitmine is betting on a dual strategy: massively accumulating ETH while staking it to generate passive income. An approach that offers major advantages but also significant risks. On one hand, staking provides an annual yield of 3.12%, secures the Ethereum network, and positions Bitmine as a key player in the ecosystem. On the other hand, aggressive accumulation allows capitalizing on a possible price increase, as predicted by Tom Lee.

However, this strategy is not without challenges. Crypto market volatility can impact treasury value, while staking imposes a lock-up period on funds, limiting liquidity. In cases of urgent liquidity needs, Bitmine could find itself constrained, especially if the market were to drop. Some experts see this approach as a catalyst for an “institutional squeeze” on ETH. Others highlight risks related to managing such a large treasury, especially in such an unpredictable market.

Bitmine has chosen an ambitious path by combining staking and massive ETH accumulation. A strategy that could prove extremely lucrative if Ethereum reaches its anticipated price targets. But what will happen if the market does not follow? This approach raises a crucial question: should crypto treasuries prioritize security or bet on bold moves to maximize their returns?

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Eddy S.

The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.

DISCLAIMER

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

Bitcoin entered 2025 with high expectations and delivered a mix of progress, setbacks, and market turbulence that reshaped sentiment around the asset.

2025 has been a very eventful year for the Bitcoin network and BTC as an asset. The ecosystem recorded notable growth and expansion, alongside rising adoption from traditional finance entities.

But it hasn’t been a smooth ride. As the year unfolded, Bitcoin experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly, from major wins and institutional adoption to setbacks, controversies, and unresolved challenges.

The Good
Shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump took office, he approved the creation of a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a digital asset stockpile. This development set the stage for increased BTC adoption, with institutions and U.S. states opening their doors to the leading cryptocurrency.

Flows into the U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market rose and remained elevated. Several countries also enacted laws that comprehensively regulated Bitcoin and other digital assets.

Most firms gained exposure to BTC via ETFs, while others became Bitcoin Treasury companies and acquired the digital asset directly. This consistent demand from institutions and retail investors fueled the momentum that drove BTC to multiple all-time highs (ATHs) this year. Between July and August, BTC went on a roll, becoming the fifth-largest asset by market cap in the world and surpassing Google. Before the market turned for the worse in October, BTC rallied to an ATH above $126,000.

The Bad
On the network front, the Bitcoin mainnet saw no major developments, aside from the adoption and scaling of layer-2 chains like the Lightning Network. Although developers are keen on expanding Bitcoin’s utility, the network’s programmability is somewhat limited. Bitcoin’s unique dynamics have made the network a bit distinct from the broader crypto ecosystem.

In 2025, BTC’s correlation with the traditional finance sector increased, and the asset became more sensitive to macroeconomic catalysts. This growing correlation came from rising institutional investment as capital from corporate entities linked the crypto asset to traditional finance.

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Additionally, the Bitcoin network saw increased mining difficulty and expanded hardware. While this strengthened security, it also triggered miner capitulation, which forced some miners off the network.

The Ugly
Demand stopped growing after a major liquidation event that wiped out $19 billion in market value in early October. It marked the first negative October returns since 2018, and the big BTC buyers ghosted the market. BTC has dropped to prices below psychological levels and is currently struggling to stay above $90,000.

With the bears dominating in recent months, the state of the market has dashed investor hopes of another rally before the bull phase ends. Currently, all technical indicators suggest the market is at the onset of a bear cycle, which has significantly impacted profitability for both miners and investors. Investors are shifting to traditional assets like gold.

Interestingly, the four-year Bitcoin cycle may have died in 2025 – experts now insist that subsequent BTC rallies will be driven by demand waves, rather than the quadrennial halving events.

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Bitmine, an Ethereum treasury company, has initiated Ethereum staking, allocating approximately $219 million of its ETH holdings to the network’s proof-of-stake (PoS) system. According to Arkham, various Bitmine-linked wallets paid a large amount of Ether into a contract known as “BatchDeposit” on Sunday, approximately 74,880 ETH.

Before this, though, the company had never staked its holdings, despite owning one of the largest ETH treasuries in the market. It recently reached a 4 million token count, having purchased close to 100,000 ETH in the past week at an average cost of $2,991 per token, bringing its holdings back into profit as ETH moved above $3,000 over the weekend. 

Bitmine intends to hold 5% of Ethereum’s total supply
On-chain analyst EmberCN commented on Bitmine’s staking, saying, “The largest Ethereum treasury company BitMNR (BMNR) has finally started attempting to stake its held ETH to earn interest income. […] This is their first time staking, and they now hold 4.066 million ETH, with an approximate APY of 3.12%. If all of it were staked, they could earn about 126,800 ETH in interest over a year, which at the current price of $2,927 would be worth $371 million.”

Since June, the firm has been performing exceptionally well, with shares surging 606%, as investors back the company’s concentrated exposure to Ethereum’s long-term value. The firm’s chairman, Tom Lee, affirmed their success, noting that the firm is consistently increasing its Ethereum exposure, reaching 4 million tokens just five and a half months after rolling out the plan. 

The company still plans to hold 5% of all Ether in circulation. Currently, it holds about 3.37% of Ethereum’s total supply. Even in November, the company announced that it would start Ether staking in Q1 2026 on its own Made-in-America Validator Network, beginning with an initial pilot effort involving three institutional staking partners. Under the program, the goal would be to create more customer-generated investment value through staking, all in concert with the company’s fundamental accumulation plan.

Tom Lee estimates that Ethereum will reach $7,000 by early 2026
As year-end trading slows, ETH has remained between $2,900 and $3,000. Nonetheless, Lee is hopeful that by early 2026, Ethereum could reach $7,000–$9,000 through tokenization. Ethereum now has a market capitalization of $354 billion and is valued at $2,928, down approximately 1% over the previous 24 hours.

Joseph Chalom, co-CEO of Sharplink Gaming, also expects Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL) to grow tenfold by 2026 as institutions become more committed and new on-chain applications enter the market. Stablecoins are also fueling growth, he said, and he anticipated the market could grow to $500 billion by the end of next year, a 62% bump. With over half of stablecoin transactions hosted on Ethereum, constant issuance and activity could significantly drive its TVL higher. 

He also predicts that the stakes of sovereign wealth funds will rise five to ten times as tokenization expands, while Ethereum remains at the center (or basis) of blockchain development. He also noted that RWAs could surpass $300 billion by 2026, reflecting the increased participation of large financial institutions, including JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Franklin Templeton, and BlackRock.

He added, “Ethereum’s stronghold on stablecoins, RWAs, and the future of tokenized equities make it a core technology asset. It’s not only a bet on the future, it’s a hedge against globalization and technological shifts happening, and ensuring their principals stay involved in the economic upside.”

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Robinhood's festive giveaway strategy could boost engagement and attract new users during the holiday season.

Key Takeaways

Robinhood distributed $750,000 in Bitcoin to its users taking part in the holiday event.
The giveaway marks day two of the promotional campaign from the commission-free trading platform.

Robinhood handed out $750,000 worth of Bitcoin to users on the second day of its holiday countdown event. The campaign launched on Friday with Dogecoin prizes and high-quality item giveaways.

Robinhood $HOOD just announced their prizes for HOOD Holidays Day 2:

– 5 people will win a trip to Hawaii for 2
– 1000 people will win Away suitcases
– Everyone else will split $750K of Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/eMqvGcvgMg

— WOLF (@WOLF_Financial) December 28, 2025

The company appeared to have resolved the app glitches that frustrated users on the first day, when many reported being unable to redeem rewards.

In addition to Bitcoin, the company offered Hawaii vacation packages and Away suitcases on the second day.

Robinhood offers stocks, options, and crypto trading through its mobile app. The company has used giveaways to drive user engagement and platform activity.

Disclaimer

The UNI price held steady at $6 on Sunday as investors reacted to the latest token burn after the recent token burn. Uniswap’s token was up by 25% from its lowest point this year. This article explores what to expect with the UNI token in the coming days.

Uniswap burns 100 million tokens
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One of the top crypto news stories during the weekend was that the Uniswap team incinerated 100 million UNI tokens worth over $591 million.

The token burn was because of the recent Unification vote by the Uniswap community that introduced more features to boost its tokenomics. This vote passed overwhelmingly, with 125.3 million UNI tokens voting in favor against 742 who opposed it. 

The UNIfication proposal sought to do a few things. First, and most important, it unified the fees made hy the Uniswap exchange and Unichain, its layer-2 network. These fees will now be burned, improving its tokenomics by making it deflationary.

Second, the proposal suggested that Uniswap should burn 100 million tokens that were in its treasury. These tokens came from the network fees it collected in the past few years as it handled over $1 trillion in trade volumes. 

Third, the proposal called for the activation of the protocol fee switch for Uniswap v2 and select v3 pools. These fees will route automatically and burn UNI tokens.

Uniswap is facing headwinds
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The proposal came at a time when Uniswap is facing major headwinds as the crypto market crash continues. One of the top challenges is that the volume in its platform is falling as many investors stay away from the market.

Data compiled by DeFi Llama shows that the network handled $53 billion in December, much lower than the $80 billion it handled in November this year.

Uniswap’s DEX volume has been in a strong downtrend after it peaked at $123 billion in October this year. As a result, its fees has also been falling in the past few months, moving from a high of $132 million in October to $43 million this month.

Uniswap volume and fees | Source: DeFi LlamaUniswap’s challenges are mostly because many crypto investors have opted to stay away as prices have dropped. Also, there are competition concerns as companies like PancakeSwap and Raydium have gained market share.

Most of the competition is coming from perpetual DEX companies like Aster, Lighter, and Hyperliquid that are handling billions of dollars worth of tokens a month.

UNI price technical analysis 
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Uniswap token chart | Source: TradingViewThe daily chart shows that the UNI price has rebounded in the past few days, moving from a low of $4.85 earlier this month to the current $6. 

UNI token formed a double-bottom pattern, one of the most common bullish reversal signs in technical analysis. It is now attempting to move above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA).

Therefore, the most likely UNI price prediction is bullish, with the next key target to watch being the psychological point at $10, which is ~70% above the current level. This price aligns with the neckline of the double-bottom pattern.

Progress toward crypto-friendly legislation and XRP-spot ETF inflows contributed to the recovery from sub-$1.80 levels.

Strong demand for XRP-spot ETFs, regulator-related developments, and a potential iShares XRP Trust launch support a bullish price outlook for XRP.

Below, I will explore the key drivers behind recent price trends, the medium-term (4-8 weeks) outlook, and the key technical levels traders should watch.

BlackRock in the Spotlight Amid XRP-Spot ETF Launch Chatter
BlackRock’s absence from the US XRP-spot ETF market raised concerns about a lack of institutional demand. However, US XRP-spot ETF issuers have reported total net inflows of $1.14 billion since their launch, indicating robust institutional demand.

Notably, there’s no single dominant ETF issuer in the US XRP-spot ETF market, opening the door for BlackRock to launch an iShares XRP Trust.

Crypto commentator Chad Steingraber, with almost 70,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), fueled speculation about BlackRock launching an XRP-spot ETF, stating:

“BlackRock is aggressively staffing up its crypto ETF division to expand its product suite right now. Not later… NOW. They will launch their XRP, SOL ETFs in 2026 as the next set. BlackRock’s goal is to have $100Billion AUM’s per fund.”

XRP would likely target a new all-time high if demand for an iShares XRP Trust mirrors the substantial inflows into the iShares Bitcoin Trust. For context, the iShares Bitcoin Trust reported total net inflows of $62.25 billion since launching on January 11, 2024.

IBIT ranked #6 on the US ETF leaderboard by year-to-date flows. Notably, IBIT ranked above the GLD ETF and was the only crypto-spot ETF in the top 25.

The SEC facilitated the launch of crypto-spot ETFs in the third quarter, allowing ETF issuers to assess the demand backdrop. The SEC approved the Generic Listing Standards (GLS) for Commodity-Based trust shares in September. Under the GLS, ETF issuers no longer need to file 19b-4s, removing the SEC review process, typically the full 240 days.

Crypto Legislation Sets the Stage for a Breakout 2026
In addition to the SEC’s shift in stance toward crypto, progress toward a crypto-friendly regulatory environment would incentivize BlackRock to launch an XRP-spot ETF.

Analysts expect the passing of the Market Structure Bill to boost demand for crypto. XRP is likely to be a key beneficiary given the end of the SEC vs. Ripple case and the token’s increased sensitivity to legislative developments. Clear rules of the road would alleviate concerns about a shift in policy toward crypto and risks of further enforcement action.

For context, XRP rallied 14.69% on July 17, as investors reacted to the US House of Representatives passing the Market Structure Bill to the Senate. In contrast, BTC rose by just 0.39% on the day.

XRPUSD – Daily Chart – 281225 – H2 2025 Market Events
Medium- and Long-Term Outlook Remains Constructive
Legislative developments, XRP-spot ETF inflows, and a potential iShares XRP ETF suggest a bullish short- to medium-term price outlook.

Considering H2 2025 price trends and the current market dynamics, the short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook remains cautiously bullish, despite the current pullback, with a $2.0 price target. The medium-term (4-8 weeks) and longer-term (8-12 weeks) outlooks remain bullish, with price targets of $2.5 and $3.0, respectively.

Key Downside Risks That Could Alter the Outlook
Several scenarios could unravel the positive outlook. These include:

The Bank of Japan announces a neutral interest rate of between 1.5% and 2.5%, signaling multiple rate hikes.
US economic data and the Fed temper bets on a March rate cut.
The MSCI delists digital asset treasury companies (DATs). Delistings would likely reduce interest in XRP as a treasury reserve asset.
Partisan opposition to the Market Structure Bill.
BlackRock stays silent on plans for an iShares XRP Trust.
XRP-spot ETFs report outflows.

These scenarios would likely send XRP toward $1.75, indicating a bearish trend reversal.

In summary, the short-term outlook remains cautiously bullish as fundamentals offset the bearish technicals. Meanwhile, the medium- to longer-term outlooks are constructive.

Technical Indicators Continue to Signal Caution
XRP climbed 1.56% on Saturday, December 27, following the previous day’s 0.61% gain, closing at $1.8725. The token outperformed the broader crypto market, which advanced 0.85%.

Despite Saturday’s gain, XRP traded below the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), suggesting a bearish bias. While technicals remain bearish, bullish fundamentals are building, countering the technical structure.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $1.75, and then $1.50.
50-day EMA resistance: $2.0750.
200-day EMA resistance: $2.3776.
Resistance levels: $2, $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66.

Looking at the daily chart, a break above the $2.0 psychological level would enable the bulls to target the 50-day EMA. A sustained move through the 50-day EMA would signal a near-term bullish trend reversal, paving the way toward the 200-day EMA and the $2.5 resistance level.

A sustained breakout above the EMAs would reinforce the constructive medium-term outlook and the longer-term (8-12 weeks) $3.0 price target.

Many AI stocks are driving the market these days.

The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution contains a wealth of investment opportunities, not to mention the potential for massive economic transformation and productivity enhancements. Companies ranging from small start-ups to the world's largest corporate giants are investing heavily in AI research and infrastructure in a bid to keep up in the global technology race.

This strong institutional support is expected to accelerate development and adoption and create a favorable and stable environment for AI-focused businesses over the long run. While not all AI stocks will be winners, focusing on quality companies with robust competitive advantages and strong financial foundations can allow you to capitalize on the future of this industry in its still relatively nascent stages.

On that note, if you have $2,000 to invest, here are three AI stocks to buy and hold for at least a decade.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Alphabet
Alphabet's (GOOGL 0.20%) (GOOG 0.24%) full-stack AI ecosystem, vast data moat, dominant market positions in search and cloud, and substantial financial strength continue to pose enviable tailwinds for this behemoth business. Alphabet boasts end-to-end AI infrastructure, including its in-house AI chips (Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs), the Gemini foundational models, the Google Cloud platform, and a massive array of user-facing products, including Search, YouTube, and Android.

TPUs are application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) designed specifically for neural network math, which makes them efficient for AI training and inference, unlike more general-purpose graphics processing units (GPUs). Not only are TPUs the backbone of Google's AI, running core products like Google Search and training massive models like Gemini, but they also provide notable cost savings and boost internal performance.

By developing its own silicon, Alphabet is able to decouple from external chip supply chains and pricing to achieve greater control and scale for AI development. Google Cloud now offers TPUs as a service, which also positions Alphabet as a major force in the lucrative AI hardware market beyond just being a consumer of chips.

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User interaction data from Search and YouTube is used to train and refine AI models, providing another durable competitive advantage for the broader business ecosystem. Importantly, AI is boosting Google Search traffic and optimizing ad placements. Search is the company's core cash engine and still represents more than half of the company's overall revenue.

Google is the default search engine on most devices, which gives Alphabet a vast distribution network to deploy and refine new AI features. Other ventures, like Waymo (autonomous driving) and AI-powered healthcare research through its subsidiary Verily, are more nascent sources of long-term growth potential and demonstrate Alphabet's commitment to AI innovation.

Alphabet remains consistently profitable (net income increased 33% in the third quarter alone) and generates significant cash flow, which it habitually invests in AI infrastructure, data centers, and research. The company remains a compelling and stalwart play in the AI space that long-term investors can buy, hold, and add to for years to come.

2. SoundHound
SoundHound (SOUN 1.83%) specializes in developing and providing independent voice and conversational artificial intelligence solutions for businesses across various industries. This enables companies to integrate customized, natural-sounding voice assistants into their products, services, and apps. Instead of a two-step process of transcribing speech to text and then processing it, SoundHound's technology understands both speech and intent in one step, allowing for faster and more accurate responses.

These solutions are used in multiple sectors. SoundHound has moved beyond its initial focus on the automotive sector (e.g., its partnership with Stellantis) into areas such as restaurants (e.g., Chipotle Mexican Grill, Five Guys, White Castle, Jersey Mike's) to reduce its dependency on any single customer. For example, restaurants utilize SoundHound's platform to automate phone and drive-thru orders, manage complex menu modifications, and address customer inquiries about business hours.

SoundHound also provides AI agents for customer service in various industries, including healthcare, financial services, and insurance. The company generates revenue through subscription fees for its software solutions, commissions from voice-enabled commerce interactions, and by licensing its technology to partners.

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SoundHound's Q3 2025 revenue of $42 million represented a 68% increase from a year ago. However, SoundHound has never posted an annual profit, continues to report substantial GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) net losses, and its core operations are still bleeding cash. That's why the stock has been hit so hard of late.

Still, SoundHound's collaborations with major brands and the acquisition of companies like Amelia (an enterprise agentic AI platform) and Interactions (a customer service AI platform) have strengthened its market position, expanded its customer base, and added new capabilities that could prove to be generous growth tailwinds. SoundHound reported a significant contractual backlog of approximately $1.2 billion at the end of 2024.

And unlike big tech competitors (Amazon, Google, and Apple) whose voice AI solutions are tied to their ecosystems, SoundHound offers white-label, customizable solutions that allow businesses to maintain full brand control and data privacy and provide a key selling point for these enterprises. If you believe in that value proposition and have the risk tolerance to invest in a more pure-play, AI-driven business, SoundHound could be worth considering for at least a small position over the next decade.

3. Amplitude
Amplitude (AMPL 0.08%) is a digital analytics platform that helps businesses understand how customers use their digital products to improve user experiences and drive revenue growth. The company has fully embraced AI by launching a suite of AI agents and features that automate data analysis and generate actionable insights for customers.

Amplitude's AI agents are autonomous AI tools that monitor user behavior, detect issues (like falling conversion rates), form hypotheses, and suggest or even implement optimizations for things like checkout flow or feature adoption. Its AI feedback solution is an AI-native tool that synthesizes customer feedback from various sources (e.g., calls, reviews, tickets) to instantly develop themes, connect them to user behavior, and help companies build better features.

After some post-pandemic headwinds, Amplitude's growth has started to accelerate again, with recent quarters showing solid increases in revenue and annual recurring revenue (ARR). Amplitude reported excellent Q3 2025 results, with ARR of $347 million, up 16% year over year, and remaining performance obligations (RPO) of $391.9 million, up 37% year over year.

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Amplitude's business model is a freemium tiered software-as-a-service framework centered on product analytics. It employs a land-and-expand strategy, where it acquires customers through a robust free tier and scales revenue as they grow and adopt more advanced platform capabilities. Companies across various industries, including prominent names such as Walmart, Atlassian, and Shopify, as well as growth-stage disruptors like DoorDash and Coinbase, utilize Amplitude to gain insights into their users' behavior and enhance their digital products.

The company has a diverse base of over 4,500 customers and a growing number of large enterprise customers. Its cohort of customers with $100,000 or more in ARR rose 15% year over year in Q3. Overall revenue grew 18% year over year in Q3 2025.

While still posting a GAAP net loss, Amplitude is cash-flow positive and expects to achieve non-GAAP operating income for the full year 2025. It generated free cash flow of $3.4 million in Q3. If the company's AI platform continues to gain headway, this business could have a significant role to play in the evolving AI revolution. That's a value proposition that some long-term investors might want to capitalize on.

D-Wave Quantum could make a small, speculative position in a large and diversified investment portfolio.

Quantum computing is gradually transitioning from research to commercialization. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 8.10%) stands out as it is already running quantum-annealing-based production workloads for business and government customers.

By focusing on solving optimization problems rather than pursuing general-purpose quantum computing from the outset, D-Wave is already experiencing robust adoption.

Image source: Getty Images

Commercial traction
D-Wave's revenue rose nearly 100% in its recent quarter,  to $3.7 million, while GAAP gross margin exceeded 70%.

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The company's Advantage2 annealing platform is now in full production, enabling the optimization of larger and more complex problems than prior generations. D-Wave says more than 20.6 million customer problems have already been run on Advantage2 prototypes.

D-Wave now serves over 100 revenue-generating customers, including two dozen Forbes Global 2000 companies. The company has also signed a 10 million-euro, five-year contract with Swiss Quantum Technology, , providing multiyear revenue visibility.

At the same time, D-Wave is also working on developing its own fault-tolerant gate-model-based quantum system (a design approach to develop a general-purpose quantum computer). With $836 million in cash on its balance sheet, the company has the financial flexibility to pursue near-term commercialization as well as the development of this computer.

10-bagger potential
Still, becoming a 10-bagger stock appears to be a low-probability outcome for D-Wave Quantum, especially in the absence of a commercially viable fault-tolerant gate-model-based quantum system needed for broad-based enterprise adoption.

D-Wave is already trading at 423 times sales, a valuation that incorporates a significant portion of the future growth. Even assuming analysts' aggressive fiscal 2030 revenue estimate of $590 million and a more reasonable price-to-sales multiple of 30 (in line with the top-performing artificial intelligence companies in 2025), the resulting market capitalization would still fall well short of a 10-times increase from its current market cap.

Yet, the stock may still appeal as an attractive niche addition to a diversified and large investment portfolio for investors seeking upside.

Manali Pradhan, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryDirexion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X Shares ETF (NUGT) earns a reiterated buy rating, supported by explosive returns and strong gold miner fundamentals.NUGT's 2x leverage amplifies both upside and risk, with a 77% historical standard deviation and a technical setup targeting 10% further upside.Gold miners benefit from high gold prices, moderate labor costs, and low energy prices, yielding a 41% EPS growth rate and a 13.1x forward P/E.Seasonal strength favors gold miners through April, but prudent investors should consider small position sizing due to high implied volatility. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

Gold is now more than 10 years removed from its cycle low back in December 2015. Since then, the yellow metal has gone up by about fourfold. Still, it feels like the rally only began in earnest a few

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

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