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Aave founder Stani Kulechov has committed to ensuring a clear economic alignment between his company and AAVE token holders moving forward. His comment follows the DAO vote on the token alignment proposal, in which most token holders rejected the proposal to transfer the brand assets. Meanwhile, the AAVE token has rebounded today as the DAO saga cools off.

Aave Founder Pledges Commitment To The DeFi Giant’s Ecosystem
In an X post, Kulechov assured that he is committed to making the economic alignment between Labs and token holders clearer. He admitted that they haven’t done a great job explaining this and that they will do better going forward.

The Aave founder also pointed out that the DAO has earned $140 million this year, which is more than the past three years combined, and that token holders have control over this treasury. He further remarked that in the future, they will be more explicit about how the products the Labs team builds create value for the DAO and token holders.

Kulechov made these remarks after the token alignment proposal vote ended. CoinGape reported yesterday that the AAVE token alignment proposal was unlikely to pass, as most DAO members had either voted against it or abstained. The vote ended today with 55.29% voting against the proposal, 41.21% abstaining, and 3.5% voting in favor.

The Aave founder stated that the DAO vote raised important questions about the leadership between Labs and token holders. He further remarked that the whole process is a productive discussion that is essential for the long-term health of the top DeFi protocol. “While it’s been a bit hectic, debate and disagreement are features of decentralized governance,” he added.

Kulechov Addresses $15 Million Purchase
Kulechov also addressed his $15 million AAVE purchase over the last week, stating that he didn’t use these tokens to vote on the recent proposal and that was never his intention. “This is my life’s work, and I am putting my own capital behind my conviction,” he said.

The Aave founder had purchased these tokens at an average price of $176, even as the AAVE token price declined amid the Labs vs. DAO saga. However, the DeFi token has rebounded by 5% today as the dispute between Labs and the DAO has cooled.

Source: Yahoo Finance; AAVE Daily Chart
Meanwhile, Kulechov stated that the Aave ecosystem is large enough for many service providers to succeed. He assured that Labs will continue to support and collaborate with teams building on the protocol, and he is confident that, by working together, they will build a stronger and more aligned future. “AAVE will win,” he concluded.

Wintermute founder Evgeny Gaevoy had also commented on the Aave DAO vs. Labs saga, revealing that his firm had voted against the proposal. Following the end of the voting period, he stated that he would like to see a concrete proposal from Kulechov next year on AAVE vs Labs value capture.

what I’d like to see from Stani next year: concrete proposal on AAVE vs labs value capture

what I’d like to see from Ernesto and Marc next year: no more phase1/phase2 stuff. Skip right to phase 2 proposal https://t.co/zUfUuzcJlq

— wishful_cynic (@EvgenyGaevoy) December 26, 2025

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) is exhibiting mixed sentiment on the market with its daily trading volume in the green. Despite this impressive uptick, the hourly DOGE chart shows that the meme coin is maintaining a death cross, a sign of massive selling pressure on-chain.

Dogecoin volume might mean nothingAccording to data from CoinMarketCap, Dogecoin volume has jumped by 76% to $1.01 billion. This metric is unusual, as most altcoins in the top 10 are facing a negative drawdown. 

The volume uptick has not yet translated into a definitive price increase for Dogecoin. In the past 24 hours, the price of DOGE has shed 0.5% of its market value and was trading at $0.1254.

Altcoin price action appears similar across the board, a sign that the Dogecoin trading volume might be passive in buying terms. Nonetheless, it offers a good spotlight for engagement in the meme coin ecosystem.

Not shocking is the fact that Dogecoin is showcasing a death cross on the hourly chart. This death cross is formed when a short-term moving average crosses below a longer-term average. 

DOGE Price Chart | Source: TradingView/CoinMarketCapNotably, this death cross flipover is not new for DOGE and related altcoins, and it offers a clear overview for when the market will improve. The good news for investors comes from the accompanying Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading of 35.

This shows oversold conditions on Dogecoin, and despite the consolidation, the coin will eventually record a price breakout.

Dogecoin rebound fundamentals to watchWith the year coming to an end, Dogecoin has now achieved negative 61% growth year-to-date (YTD).

This sell-off comes despite the launch of the spot Dogecoin ETF in the United States and the inclusion of the meme coin on corporate firms’ balance sheets.

Although the Wall Street exposure has not yielded much of a result for Dogecoin in the past few months, it may make a difference in the coming year. As an altcoin largely correlated with Bitcoin, DOGE's rebound factors appear multifaceted.

In all, the Dogecoin whales, treasury firms and Bitcoin resurgence are all to watch in pulling DOGE back into the bull cycle.

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Ongoing volatility across the cryptocurrency market continues to hamper XRP from posting a rally, as recent upward attempts face significant resistance at the $2 price level. However, this persistent downward trend has not entirely crushed the sentiment of investors, especially whale holders.

Large Holders Of XRP Are Stepping Back In
XRP has been in a downward trend for the past few weeks due to a market drawdown in October. After several weeks of subdued price performance and failed upward attempts, key investors are beginning to exhibit positive sentiment towards the leading altcoin.

As observed in the report from Steph is Crypto, a market expert and trader, large investors, also known as whale holders, are making their presence felt once again. Despite the ongoing bearish action of the XRP’s price, there is a steady resurgence in accumulation among the cohort.

While this shift signals growing confidence of deep-pocket investors, it also suggests that they are likely repositioning themselves in anticipation of a broader market move upward. When whale investors start to buy again, it often precedes upward spikes, which raises the question of whether the accumulation could serve as the foundation for the altcoin’s next major direction.

Large investors are returning | Source: Chart from Steph is Crypto on X
According to the expert, the renewed buying pressure is triggered by large investors holding between 100 million XRP and 1 billion XRP. After days of significant adoption from the group, the total number of coins held by them grew from 8.11 billion to 8.23 billion XRP, valued at approximately $150 million.

A similar resurgence in sentiment and investor activity is also observed among those holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP. Data from the chart shows that these investors now hold about 10.90 billion compared to the 10.88 billion a few days ago. 

Despite large investors buying again, Steph is Crypto believes that the renewed accumulation is more of a cautious move than a bullish move. However, should the trend continue over the following days or weeks, the altcoin may attract enough momentum for an upward move.

Nearly Half Of The Supply In Loss
With XRP’s price declining and trading below the $2 mark, a lot of coins are starting to show major losses. According to on-chain data, the profitability of holders has sharply declined amid the ongoing bearish phase. In a previous post, Steph is Crypto highlighted that nearly 50% of the altcoin’s total supply is now underwater, suggesting a shift in attitude where patience and selectivity are replacing optimism.

The chart shared by the expert shows that the share of XRP supply currently in profit has dropped to 52% following weeks of consistent declines. While nearly half of the total supply held by investors is sitting at a loss, this development increases the risk of panic-driven selling pressure during periods of weakness, as seen in the past. 

However, this cooling in profitability often marks a pivotal phase, as it could still act as a trigger for a notable rally in the upcoming days or weeks. According to the expert, the last time profitability dropped to this level was in November 2024, just before a major upside expansion.

XRP trading at $1.86 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

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Godspower Owie is my name, and I work for the news platforms NewsBTC and Bitcoinist. I sometimes like to think of myself as an explorer since I enjoy exploring new places, learning new things, especially valuable ones, and meeting new people who have an impact on my life, no matter how small. I value my family, friends, career, and time. Really, those are most likely the most significant aspects of every person's existence. Not illusions, but dreams are what I pursue.

In brief
Ripple Labs ended a yearslong court battle with the SEC in 2025, giving way to new growth for the firm.
That helped fuel the Ripple-linked XRP's surge to a new all-time high of $3.65.
The firm's stablecoin also blossomed to more than a $1 billion market cap, and it made four major acquisitions, helping its valuation grow to $40 billion.
Crypto’s biggest wins are often tightly connected to the rise in asset prices, but Ripple’s 2025 successes extend far beyond the price of XRP—the Ripple-linked asset that sits inside the top five crypto assets by market capitalization. 

Instead, most of the biggest headlines attached to the financial services organization were irrelevant to trading screens, most notably the conclusion to its years-long battle with the SEC, major acquisitions to propel its future growth, and the launch of a billion-dollar stablecoin product—RLUSD.

Below we’ll look back at the biggest highlights for XRP and Ripple in 2025. 

Ripple, SEC saga comes to an endMore than four years after it began, the legal dispute between Ripple Labs Inc. and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially came to a close in August.

The landmark case, which investigated whether or not sales of XRP violated securities laws, extended back to December 2020. In 2023, a partial ruling favored Ripple Labs, but appeals and counter-appeals extended the saga into 2025.

However, with the election of President Donald Trump and a crypto-friendlier regulatory administration, the pair opted to find a jointly negotiated resolution in early 2025. 

That negotiated resolution was later denied by a U.S. district judge, and then by the courts, so eventually the pair agreed to drop their respective appeals—ending the affair for good and cementing the 2023 ruling in Ripple’s favor as a precedent for future crypto classifications. 

XRP marks a new all-time highPrior to 2025, XRP had last traded above $3.00 in 2018. 

Seven years later, and around a month before the conclusion to Ripple Labs’ yearslong legal battle with the SEC, the Ripple-linked XRP made a new all-time high of $3.65, according to data from CoinGecko, surging beyond its previous high mark of $3.40 from 2018. 

That made XRP the third-largest crypto asset by market capitalization at the time, trailing just Bitcoin and Ethereum. With regulatory scrutiny waning, analysts at the time told Decrypt that investors “believed in Ripple's vision for a regulatory-compliant blockchain for institutions.”

Though its rapid rise placed the token in a range it had not seen since 2018, investment firms like Standard Chartered maintained even higher end-of-year price targets for XRP during the summer—expecting a move to $5.50 by the end of year. 

That mark seems unlikely now though, despite the acceleration of the tokenization trend that Standard Chartered highlighted as a potential catalyst for the price of XRP. 

XRP, now the fourth-largest asset by market capitalization, was changing hands at $1.90 as of December 15, around 48% off its July all-time high.

XRP joins ETF partyAfter the approval and ensuing success of ETFs for crypto majors Bitcoin and Ethereum, both investors and fund issuers were eager to get altcoin ETFs—like those for XRP, Solana, and Dogecoin—to market. 

As a result, applications for altcoin ETFs flooded the SEC, and by June, expert opinions predicted the likelihood of their approvals as a “near lock” for 2025. Those opinions were further validated in September when the SEC cleared a path to approval for new ETFs by signing off on new generic listing standards.

Around that time, Rex Shares and Osprey Funds got their joint XRP ETF to market—an Act 40 ETF that follows different listing standards than other crypto ETFs. Demand for the product was shown immediately, grabbing $38 million in day one volume, good enough to mark the year’s biggest debut up until that point. 

Shortly thereafter, though, more traditional spot ETF products from Canary Capital, Grayscale, Bitwise, and Franklin Templeton hit the market. In December, leveraged products hit the market as well, allowing investors to double their exposure to XRP’s gains.

Since their launch, the spot ETFs have generated nearly $1 billion in net inflows without a single day of outflows, according to data from CoinGlass, as of December 15.

RLUSD becomes a billion-dollar stablecoinXRP eclipsed a major milestone in 2025, but so did Ripple Labs’ stablecoin, RLUSD. 

First launched in December 2024, the dollar-backed stablecoin frontran the growing trend of stablecoin products from other financial giants like Western Union and JP Morgan, and the passing of the GENIUS Act, which provided regulatory clarity on the issuance and trading of the fiat-backed tokens. 

In the year since its launch, functionality for RLUSD has expanded. In September it was added to Securitize’s tokenization platform, a BlackRock-backed platform that now allows users to exchange shares of tokenized money market funds for RLUSD. In December the firm earned approval to broaden payment services, including RLUSD, in Singapore as well.

It's being used for credit card settlements too, thanks to a partnership with Mastercard and WebBank, the issuer of crypto exchange Gemini’s credit card products. 

While RLUSD is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services, Ripple applied for a National Bank Charter in July, following the lead of USDC issuer Circle, as it aims to become the “benchmark for trust” in the stablecoin market. And it received conditional approval in December, alongside other stablecoin issuers.

At the time of writing, the stablecoin has reached a $1.3 billion market cap, making it the 11th largest stablecoin in less than a year since its launch, according to data from DefiLlama. 

Ripple’s shopping spreeThough closely linked to XRP, Ripple is much larger and more expansive than a single crypto token, and its footprint grew considerably throughout 2025 thanks to major acquisitions. 

In April, the firm forked over $1.25 billion to acquire primer brokerage Hidden Road as it aimed to better serve institutional clients on a larger scale. 

It then spent another $1 billion to acquire treasury asset management firm GTreasury in October, in a play that will reduce friction and costs associated with legacy financial systems, according to CEO Brad Garlinghouse. 

It surrounded that acquisition with two others, paying $200 million to add Toronto-based stablecoin platform Rail, and an undisclosed amount on wallet-as-a-service provider Palisade.

All told, Ripple's acquisitions in 2025 maintain a similar theme, improving payment efficiencies while expanding its financial services offerings. 

Those moves helped the firm notch a $500 million investment in November, valuing it at $40 billion and cementing its place among the current and future leaders of the crypto industry. 

"This investment isn’t just validation of Ripple’s growth strategy and business built on the foundation of XRP, but also a clear bet on what the future of crypto will look like," Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse wrote on X. "I’m very proud of what we’ve built, and all that’s to come."

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Fri, 26/12/2025 - 14:06

If the market starts creating the lies or the reality (hyperstition), it destroys the very specific "truth-seeking" value Buterin cherishes.

Cover image via U.Today

In a recent social media post, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin poured cold water on the idea of romanticizing "hyperstition," which is the concept of a prediction market actually forcing reality to happen.  

This comes after Charlotte Fang stated that prediction markets with sufficient liquidity could end up programming reality. 

Buterin, however, would view this as a highly negative outcome, viewing this as a failure mode. 

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"One of the danger cases" When people with huge amounts of money bet on a certain event happening, the odds shoot up close to 99%. 

Since the market is stating that something is likely, the real world could create the event that could match the market. 

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For instance, if there is a market about a certain company failing, investors might pul funding or so on. Hence, the market is causing the future. 

The Ethereum co-founder claims that this actually could be one of the danger cases. If prediction markets gain the ability to manufacture the truth, they will lose their fairness. 

The Canadian prodigy has specifically singled out two issues with such markets. First of all, there is a danger of a whale monopoly being established, which will lead to a hyperstition being created exclusively by large actors. Hence, the reality could be engineered by whales. There is also the so-called "hitman" problem, meaning that a prediction market could actually incentivize people to cause harm. Bad actors could potentially make bad outcomes materialize after making massive bets. 

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TL;DR:

Doctor Profit expects a prolonged bear market for Bitcoin and sees a potential bottom in September to October 2026 this cycle.
He moved remaining USDT to banking, holds no liquid crypto, and runs a BTC short at $115,000 to $125,000.
BTC traded near $89,259; he targets a $107,000 bounce before a February to March down leg. CryptoQuant points to $100,000 resistance and $56,000 support; losing the 50-week SMA implies ~$40,000.

Bitcoin spent Christmas trading largely flat amid cautious sentiment and reduced institutional participation, but one analyst says the stress test may be ahead.

In the last three months I have moved all the remaining USDT back into the bank system and bought Gold & Silver! Im absolutely not liquid at all as of now in crypto assets as the only remaining USDT assets are in the big short from 115-125k that is still open.

I see no reason at…

— Doctor Profit 🇨🇭 (@DrProfitCrypto) December 25, 2025

Doctor Profit argued the bear phase could run for months and may not bottom until September or October 2026. He said he moved all remaining USDT back into the banking system and now holds no liquid crypto. His disclosed positioning includes a BTC short initiated between $115,000 and $125,000 and a medium BTC holding bought around $85,000. He is treating any bounce as tactical, not a regime change.

Signals desks are watching as 2026 risk gets priced
Bitcoin was trading near $89,259 after a 2% daily gain, yet it remained below key resistance levels. CryptoQuant cited $100,000 as a major short-term ceiling, driven by clustered cost bases among recent whale investors and Binance users. New whales, holding BTC for under 155 days, have an average cost basis around $100,500, making the area a break-even zone where profit-taking or fresh accumulation can tilt the tape.

Binance spot users average roughly $56,000, while long-term whales over 155 days sit near $40,000. Those cost bases often map where conviction may flip into supply or support.

Every time Bitcoin $BTC has lost the 50-week SMA, it’s dropped an average of 60%.

Today, that points to around $40,000. https://t.co/rNcFLH0a5P pic.twitter.com/zXAX4aemw1

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) December 24, 2025

A second bearish signal comes from Bitcoin’s relationship with the 50-week simple moving average. Analyst Ali Martinez noted that in prior cycles, losing that level typically preceded an average decline of about 54%. Applied to current prices, the math implies a potential move toward $40,000. He did not call for an immediate flush, but warned that failure to reclaim the 50-week SMA could open the door to extended downside pressure. It is less about one session and more about weak weekly closes. For risk managers, the 50-week line is a governance checkpoint for exposure limits.

Doctor Profit’s roadmap leaves room for volatility without shifting the broader thesis. He said he plans to ride a short-term upswing toward $107,000, then expects the next downward leg in February or March. That stance pairs a tactical target with a longer timeline that stretches into late 2026, and it explains why he moved USDT back into banking and keeps no liquid crypto despite holding a medium BTC position. With $100,000 framed as resistance and $56,000 as a support base, the market’s next decision point is whether buyers can absorb supply at key cost levels.

Bitcoin

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Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis...

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Last updated: 

December 26, 2025

Bitcoin’s price is hovering near $88,898, up 1.43% in the past 24 hours, with a market cap of $1.77 trillion. But behind the price action, something bigger is brewing: a record surge in institutional interest. In 2025, mentions of blockchain in SEC filings skyrocketed, hitting around 8,000 by August and staying elevated through November.

Bitcoin dominated these filings, thanks to the rollout of spot Bitcoin ETFs and amendments from major asset managers expanding their crypto offerings.

Unlike past cycles where ICOs and altcoins grabbed headlines, this time the focus is squarely on Bitcoin. It’s become the go-to entry point for traditional finance, signaling a shift in how institutions view digital assets.

New Laws Bring Regulatory ClarityThis filing frenzy didn’t happen in a vacuum. It coincided with major legislative wins in the U.S. The GENIUS Act, passed in early 2025, laid out strict rules for stablecoins: 100% reserve backing, monthly disclosures, and AML compliance. It also created dual pathways, federal oversight for large issuers and state-level options for smaller ones.

Then in July, the House passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, building on the FIT21 framework. Together, these laws gave firms a clearer roadmap for compliance, encouraging more formal participation in crypto markets.

Bitcoin (BTC/USD) Technical Breakout Signals MomentumBitcoin price prediction seems slightly bullish as on the 4-hour chart shows, BTC shows a breakout above a descending channel, with price reclaiming the 50 EMA ($88,061) and hovering above the 100 EMA ($88,570). RSI is climbing at 57.54, and candlestick patterns suggest accumulation.

Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: TradingviewThe breakout resembles a flag continuation pattern. If BTC holds above $88,319, resistance at $90,500 and $92,650 could be next. A clean move through those levels may push price toward $94,675.

Trade setup: Enter above $88,900, stop below $88,061, target $92,650–$94,675.

2026 Outlook: Supercycle or Setup?With macro sentiment stabilizing and crypto options expiry injecting fresh liquidity, Bitcoin’s technical and regulatory posture is aligning for a potential supercycle. For presale participants and long-term holders, this could be the start of something much bigger.

Maxi Doge: The Meme Coin Built for Maximum HypeMaxi Doge is exploding in popularity as traders rush toward its high-energy meme identity and fast-growing presale. With over $4.36 million raised, it’s quickly becoming one of the standout meme tokens of the year.

The project mixes bold branding with real engagement features, from ROI contests to nonstop community events, giving it more personality and momentum than typical dog coins. Its shredded, leverage-obsessed mascot has already turned Maxi Doge into a recognizable culture coin.

Holders can also stake $MAXI for daily smart-contract rewards and unlock access to exclusive competitions and partner events. The staking utility adds a passive-earning layer that keeps users active and invested in the ecosystem.

With $MAXI priced at $0.000275 and the next increase approaching, the presale continues to gain speed. If you’re looking for a meme coin built on hype, personality, and real community energy, Maxi Doge is shaping up to be one worth watching.

Click Here to Participate in the Presale

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Gnosis Chain, a blockchain network focused on decentralized infrastructure, has taken direct action to recover funds lost in the Balancer exploit.
On December 23, Gnosis confirmed that its validator community approved a hard fork to move the stolen funds out of the hacker’s control. According to the team, the funds are now safe and no longer accessible to the attacker.

What Happened Before the Hard Fork
In early November, a Balancer-related exploit affected contracts running on Gnosis Chain. In response, most validators quickly adopted a soft fork to limit further damage. Since then, developers, validators, and other contributors have worked together to design a stronger solution. That solution came in the form of a hard fork, which changes the chain’s rules at the protocol level.

Yesterday, our community of operators decided to execute a hard fork to recover the funds lost in Balancer hack. The funds are now out of the hacker’s control.

All remaining node operators should take action to avoid penalties.

— Gnosis Chain (@gnosischain) December 23, 2025

Why the Hard Fork Matters
A hard fork only works if most validators upgrade their software. Gnosis released new client versions and gave node operators 10 days to update. Validators who fail to upgrade risk penalties and falling out of sync with the network. The fork activated on December 22 at 16:11:40 UTC, once enough validators agreed to the change.

The main goal is simple. Recover the stolen funds and place them under community control. Gnosis aims to move the funds into a DAO-controlled wallet before Christmas. The community will later decide how users can claim their funds and how contributors may receive recognition or compensation.

⚠️ Important

Reminder for node operators who elect to execute a hard fork that could enable a return of funds to those affected by the Balancer exploit.

The deadline is set as 16:11:40 UTC on 22nd December 2025. Nodes that do not follow the chain with a majority of stake will…

— Gnosis Chain (@gnosischain) December 19, 2025

What Comes Next for Gnosis?
This recovery effort delayed the planned Fusaka hard fork. Gnosis now plans to test Fusaka on Chiado before Christmas and deploy it on mainnet in the new year. The team also plans to publish a full technical post-mortem explaining what went wrong and how the recovery worked.

The Bigger Debate
The incident has reopened a key question in crypto. When should validators step in? Gnosis says it wants a future where validators cannot censor transactions. For now, it encourages open discussion on how the community should use this power responsibly.

Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. It is intended solely for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not liable for any losses you may incur from investments related to the information given. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, conduct thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

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Home Altcoins News Bitcoin’s Recent Activity Poses Questions for Aptos Market Dynamics

Bitcoin’s Recent Activity Poses Questions for Aptos Market Dynamics

Bruce Buterin

December 26, 2025

Bitcoin’s recent price activity has raised questions about its impact on the altcoin Aptos (APT). As traders and investors observe the fluctuations, there remains a predominantly bearish sentiment towards APT. This sentiment persists despite the possibility of a short-term price rebound. The situation reflects ongoing volatility in the cryptocurrency market, where Bitcoin’s movements can influence other digital assets. Market analysts have suggested that while Bitcoin has been experiencing shifts, Aptos has not yet demonstrated significant upward momentum.

Bitcoin’s role as a leading cryptocurrency often sets the tone for the broader market. As such, changes in its price can have diverse effects on altcoins, which may either follow Bitcoin’s trends or react independently based on other market factors. In this context, Aptos has been closely monitored for potential price adjustments. However, the current sentiment suggests that traders remain cautious, maintaining a bearish outlook due to a combination of market dynamics and APT’s specific performance.

The broader cryptocurrency market has been characterized by considerable fluctuations over recent months, influenced by macroeconomic factors, regulatory developments, and investor sentiment. Bitcoin’s price movements, in particular, have been closely scrutinized as they often portend shifts in the market landscape. Despite moments of volatility, Bitcoin has managed to maintain a relatively robust position, although not without its challenges.

Aptos, as an altcoin, has been navigating these market dynamics, with its performance influenced by both Bitcoin’s activity and its unique market characteristics. The current bearish sentiment towards APT suggests that investors are exercising caution, potentially due to recent market trends or lack of compelling indicators for sustained growth. This cautious stance aligns with a broader market view where many investors are wary of making significant commitments amidst unpredictable conditions.

While a short-term bounce in APT’s price remains a possibility, possibly driven by temporary market conditions or speculative trading, the overall outlook remains subdued. This cautious approach is informed by the current state of the market, where volatility can quickly alter the trajectory of any given cryptocurrency. Investors and traders are therefore advised to closely monitor the market conditions, particularly Bitcoin’s movements, which could provide insights into potential changes in Aptos’ price dynamics.

The potential impact of regulatory policies also looms over the cryptocurrency market. As governments and financial authorities worldwide continue to develop frameworks for digital assets, any new regulations could significantly influence market sentiment and dynamics. Investors should be cognizant of such developments, as they may alter the landscape and affect the performance of cryptocurrencies like Aptos.

In conclusion, while Aptos faces a challenging environment with a predominantly bearish sentiment, the possibility of short-term price rebounds cannot be dismissed. Traders and investors must remain vigilant, considering both Bitcoin’s movements and broader market conditions. The current market dynamics highlight the importance of strategic planning and risk management in navigating the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies. As the market progresses, ongoing monitoring and analysis of regulatory developments will be crucial in shaping the future trajectory of Aptos and its standing in the cryptocurrency market.

Looking ahead, market participants will continue to focus on Bitcoin’s performance as a bellwether, while also keeping an eye on any regulatory announcements or significant market events that could impact the trajectory of Aptos. The coming months may provide further clarity on whether APT can shift away from its current bearish sentiment and achieve a more stable position within the highly dynamic cryptocurrency space.

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Bruce Buterin

Bruce Buterin is an American crypto analyst passionate about the evolution of Web3, crypto ETFs, and Ethereum innovations. Based in Miami, he closely follows market movements and regularly publishes in-depth insights on DeFi trends, emerging altcoins, and asset tokenization. With a mix of technical expertise and accessible language, Bruce makes the blockchain ecosystem clear and engaging for both enthusiasts and investors.
Specialties: Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, U.S. regulation, Layer 2 innovations.

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Key NotesThe rally is not yet confirmed, noting Bitcoin price must reclaim and hold above $90,500.In Q1 2026, BTC might break out of the compression phase, triggering 5-10% swings.The upside target remains $100,000 if resistance breaks, and the downside risk is toward $80,000.
.
Bitcoin price is once again showing volatility. On December 26, it spiked 1.63% to more than $89,100, only to hover around $88,500 later.

The latest bounce comes ahead of the $28 billion Friday options expiry. Experts believe that investors should stay vigilant at this point and watch for proper breakout signals before making a fresh entry.

Bitcoin Price Shows Strength Ahead of Options Expiry
Popular crypto analyst Ardi noted that the Bitcoin price move to $89,100 comes amid a major short-covering ahead of the Dec. 26 weekly and monthly options expiry. As per the analyst, the first leg of the upside was due to the closing of short positions.

$BTC with a god candle to $89.5K.

The first portion of this pump was mostly shorts covering their positions, but the second part was driven by legitimate high-volume breakout buyers stepping in once price cleared the local overhead.

Just don't get married to the upside yet.… https://t.co/wVvnZo5185 pic.twitter.com/4P4rBi8URD

— Ardi (@ArdiNSC) December 26, 2025

However, the second leg of the upside shows strength and reflects genuine demand, with high-volume buyers stepping in. The daily trading volume for

BTC
$88 611

24h volatility:
1.3%

Market cap:
$1.77 T

Vol. 24h:
$37.73 B

has surged 36% to $30 billion, indicating bullish trader sentiment.

Bitcoin price surge | Source: TradingView

Despite the strong Bitcoin price action, Ardi cautioned that the move does not yet confirm a sustained bullish reversal. He noted that Bitcoin needs to reclaim and hold above the $90,500 level for a short-term upside.

From a broader technical perspective, Ardi believes the recent momentum would turn bullish only if Bitcoin regains the $94,000 level. Until then, he warned that the market remains vulnerable to a short-term rollover.

The analyst also highlighted elevated near-term volatility risks, noting that a record $23.7 billion (later corrected by media to $28 billion) in Bitcoin options is set to expire imminently. Large options expiries often lead to sharp price swings as traders reposition. This increases the chances of sharp moves in either direction.

Bitcoin options expiry | Source: Deribit

Bitcoin Price Prediction Today
Against investors’ expectations, 2025 has been disappointing, especially in Q4, with Bitcoin likely to end the year with negative returns. Market experts are now looking to BTC’s performance in Q1 2026 while hoping for a bounce back.

Crypto market analyst Daan Crypto Trades said the Bitcoin price is entering a compression phase that could lead to a decisive move in the coming weeks. According to the analyst, the ongoing compression increases the likelihood of a larger directional move.

$BTC Marginally higher lows while the 4H 200MA/EMA act as resistance.

Price compressing more and more so expecting a larger 5-10% move to come from this at some point.

Pretty sure in January we'll see where this wants to go. Above that $94K resistance, I think this is heading… pic.twitter.com/OSDvemAyQC

— Daan Crypto Trades (@DaanCrypto) December 25, 2025

He added that January could be a key period in determining Bitcoin’s next major trend. Daan highlighted $94,000 as a critical resistance level. A sustained breakout above this zone, he said, would likely open the door for a move back toward $100,000 and higher.

On the downside, the analyst warned that a breakdown below $80,000 would shift the outlook.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Bitcoin News, News

Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair in understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draw his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In free time he reads thriller fictions novels and sometimes explore his culinary skills.

Bhushan Akolkar on X

The majority of the Uniswap community has backed a major fee switch proposal, a part of which would see millions of UNI tokens taken out of circulation.

According to Uniswap Founder Hayden Adams, the proposal, dubbed “UNIfication,” jointly introduced by Uniswap Labs and the Uniswap Foundation back in November, has officially passed with 99.9% support.

Voting has concluded on Unification 🦄
125,342,017 YES
742 NO
Unified, true to the name
After a ~2day vote timelock, 100m UNI will be burned, fee switches will be flipped, labs will turn off frontend fees and focus on the protocol, and more
Merry Christmas everyone 🎄

What is the UNIfication proposal?
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UNIfication marks one of the biggest overhauls in the decentralised exchange protocol’s seven-year history and has garnered strong support right from the moment voting went live on Dec. 20.

Within just two days, the proposal surpassed nearly 70 million votes, far exceeding the 40 million quorum that was required for it to pass.

This goes to show that the initiative was highly anticipated by the community.

The proposal aims to activate the long-awaited fee switch, as part of which a portion of swap fees will now be redirected directly to the protocol in order to continually burn UNI tokens.

The goal is to create a deflationary loop where more UNI will be burned as trading activity on the protocol continues to grow.

Community members expect this to support UNI’s price appreciation over the long term by tightening supply.

Further, to account for the years during which the fee switch remained inactive, a total of 100 million UNI will be burned from the treasury to make up for the tokens that would have been burned if the system had been in place from the beginning.

Other key changes in the proposal include the rollout of a new incentive system called Protocol Fee Discount Auctions, which aims to improve liquidity provider returns by allowing traders to bid for temporary fee exemptions. The winning bids will be used to burn even more UNI.

Uniswap Labs to take the lead
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There are also several important structural changes that will be implemented. Uniswap Labs will now assume core responsibilities instead of the Uniswap Foundation.

In effect, most of the operational teams from the Uniswap Foundation will transition to Uniswap Labs to bring research, development, and ecosystem growth under a unified strategy.

Uniswap will also be setting its interface, wallet, and API fees to zero as part of this alignment.

Lastly, a growth budget of 20 million UNI per year will be established, beginning in 2026, to support protocol development, integrations, and long-term ecosystem expansion.

With the passage of the proposal, it has now entered a two-day time lock period, which was part of the execution timeline laid out in the governance process.

UNI, the native token of Uniswap, has been rallying since voting initially went live late last week. At press time, the token is up over 13% in the past 7 days after surging over 2% in the past 24 hours.

TLDR:

Record $28B options expiry: December 26 marked history’s largest crypto options settlement event.BTC’s

Bullish skew persists: 0.35 put-call ratio shows traders favor calls despite price weakness.

March contracts dominate: Q1 2026 options hold 30% of open interest with OTM calls leading positions.

Moderate volatility aids sellers: BTC IV at 40% and ETH at 60% create premium collection opportunities.

The cryptocurrency derivatives market witnessed its largest options expiry on December 26, with nearly $28 billion in notional value settling across major digital assets.  

Bitcoin options accounted for $23.6 billion of this total, while Ethereum contributed $3.71 billion. The settlement data reflects a market grappling with four consecutive months of declining prices, though trading activity suggests continued institutional participation through rollover strategies and block trades.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Options Show Bullish Positioning Despite Price Weakness
Market data from Greeks.live shows 267,000 Bitcoin options contracts expired with a put-call ratio of 0.35. 

This ratio indicates stronger demand for call options compared to puts, suggesting traders maintained bullish positioning despite recent price weakness. The maximum pain point settled at $95,000, well above current trading levels.

Ethereum’s expiry involved 1.28 million contracts with a put-call ratio of 0.45 and maximum pain at $3,100. Both assets have traded below key psychological levels, with Bitcoin falling under $90,000 and Ethereum breaking below $3,000. The fourth quarter marked a particularly challenging period for crypto markets.

Open interest distribution data reveals that 541,500 contracts expired on December 26, with calls representing 66% of the total. Following this settlement, March 2026 quarterly options now hold the largest open interest, comprising over 30% of total positions. 

These contracts consist primarily of out-of-the-money call options, indicating traders are positioning for potential price recovery in the first quarter.

Implied Volatility Levels and Trading Patterns Signal Market Conditions
Implied volatility metrics provide insight into current market expectations and risk pricing. Bitcoin’s main tenor implied volatility averaged approximately 40%, while Ethereum’s stood at 60%. 

Both readings fall within moderate ranges compared to historical levels throughout the year. Multiple factors influenced these volatility readings, including reduced price fluctuations and the Christmas holiday period.

Block trade activity increased notably in both volume and proportion ahead of the settlement date. This pattern typically reflects rollover demand as institutional participants reposition their hedges and speculative positions. 

The elevated block trade activity continued through the settlement process, suggesting sustained institutional engagement despite broader market headwinds.

The current market environment appears favorable for option sellers based on prevailing conditions. Moderate volatility levels combined with subdued price action create opportunities for premium collection strategies. 

However, market sentiment remains cautious following four consecutive monthly declines in both major cryptocurrencies. Post-settlement positioning toward March quarterly options suggests participants anticipate potential market stabilization in early 2026.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Developers on Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) have revealed progress on making the network quantum-resistant. This comes as some Bitcoin advocates and developers downplay the imminent risk posed by quantum computing, stating that it is unlikely to be a concern anytime soon. 

Ripple’s XRP Ledger Works On Quantum-Resistant Code
In an X post, Ripple’s XRP Ledger validator Vet revealed that developers are already working on quantum-resistant code on the network. This came as he drew attention to a fully quantum-proof XRPL, including consensus, which is currently in testnet. This marks progress for the network, even as it achieves something that networks like Bitcoin still lag on. 

Vet indicated that creating a quantum-proof XRP Ledger is likely to come with some disadvantages for the network. He stated that one of the downsides of these encryptions is the size of the signatures. He shared a video showing that transaction signatures for payment on the quantum XRPL are much longer than on the XRPL mainnet. 

Vet’s post followed the revelation by XRPL Labs engineer Dennis Angell that the AlphaNet, the developer network for XRPL, is now fully quantum-secure. Angell mentioned that the testnet now has quantum consensus, quantum accounts, quantum transactions, and dilithium cryptography. He further remarked that they had added native smart contracts while declaring that the quantum-resistant future of blockchain is live. 

Notably, this move comes as Ripple and the XRP Ledger look to onboard more institutions onto the network. Concerns about quantum computing are on the rise, with Bitcoin in the spotlight at the moment, as developers have yet to make meaningful progress on making the flagship crypto quantum-resistant. 

Following the XRP Ledger’s progress on making the network quantum-resistant, crypto pundit Jenna questioned the possibility of Bitcoin investors selling their BTC because it’s not quantum-resistant and then buying XRP because it is safer. Another pundit, Mickle, also noted how the XRP Ledger is already pretty much quantum-proof while Bitcoiners argue over whether quantum computing is real or not. 

Why Working Towards Quantum-Resistant Transactions Matters
In an X post, crypto pundit Sandip noted that blockchains such as Bitcoin, XRP Ledger, and Ethereum rely on ECDSA cryptography. This puts them at risk, as a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically break them in the future. He then remarked that testing this early ensures the network is future-proofed against the time when quantum computers become powerful enough to break these networks.

Meanwhile, Sandip explained that these XRP Ledger developers are testing optional and upgradeable signature schemes. This will ensure that wallets and validators can later support post-quantum keys. It also enables a smooth migration before quantum risk becomes real. The pundit added that this is long-term infrastructure planning, not price manipulation, as it puts the XRPL ahead of many competitors, including Bitcoin. 

Venture capitalist Nic Carter, who has been very vocal about the quantum risk to Bitcoin, has explained why it is important to start preparing against this risk from now. He highlighted how there are several decisions to be made and processes to be taken if developers are to successfully make the flagship crypto quantum-resistant. 

XRP trading at $1.86 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

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Scott Matherson is a leading crypto writer at Bitcoinist, who possesses a sharp analytical mind and a deep understanding of the digital currency landscape. Scott has earned a reputation for delivering thought-provoking and well-researched articles that resonate with both newcomers and seasoned crypto enthusiasts.
Outside of his writing, Scott is passionate about promoting crypto literacy and often works to educate the public on the potential of blockchain.

Bitcoin has rebounded above $88,000 as liquidations tally at $195.55 million over the past 24 hours. 

Bitcoin ETFs saw $175.3 million in net outflows on Wednesday, while Ethereum ETFs reported $52.7 million in net outflows.

BTC ‘Going Nowhere Over Past Months'

Crypto Tony said Bitcoin's sideways price action reflects an ongoing X wave, a corrective phase typically marked by erratic and disruptive movement.

He expects another leg lower, either immediately or after a brief bounce, and advised traders to be prepared for both scenarios.

CryptosBatman attributed recent sideways trading to low holiday volume rather than structural weakness.

He noted Bitcoin consolidating into a classic pennant pattern, suggesting a breakout could follow once normal market participation returns.

Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez said Ethereum is approaching the $1,700 level, which he identified as a strong buy zone offering favourable risk-reward if support holds.

DonWedge noted Solana is breaking out of a falling wedge pattern, signalling a potential trend reversal. A reclaim of $133 would confirm the move, with $206 as the next liquidity target and $300 as a higher upside objective.

CryptocurrencyTickerPriceBitcoin(CRYPTO: BTC)$88,552.65Ethereum(CRYPTO: ETH)$2,965.31Solana(CRYPTO: SOL)$123.51              XRP(CRYPTO: XRP)$1.87The broader memecoin market fell 5.7% over the past 24 hours to a total market value of $40.5 billion.

BitGuru said Dogecoin has completed a deep correction and is now hovering near a key demand zone between $0.12 and $0.13, where liquidity has already been swept.

A break above $0.15–$0.16 could open the door to a recovery toward $0.18 or higher, while failure to hold support may lead to prolonged consolidation.

Read Next:

Bitcoin Failed As ‘Store Of Value’ In 2025, But These Crypto Derivatives Of Gold, Silver Delivered Sharp Returns — Check Them Out

Image: Shutterstock

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Universal exchange Bitget has partnered with UNICEF to support an initiative that empowers youth to thrive in the digital economy. The initiative has helped these youths gain hands-on experience, with plans to reach over a million people by 2027.

Bitget Partners with UNICEF To Drive Youth Empowerment
In a press release, UNICEF revealed that it had received support from the universal exchange to scale its inclusive, youth-centred digital learning programs, which it has designed to build confidence, capability, and long-term economic resilience. This came as UNICEF highlighted how adolescent girls in Cambodia were gaining empowerment to thrive in the digital economy through video game development.

The UNICEF Office of Innovation, with support from Bitget, has developed the Game Changers Coalition. This initiative helps girls and youths across the country gain hands-on experience in coding, storytelling, and financial literacy. The UN agency noted how these skills are critical for success in Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Despite the rising demand for digital talent, UNICEF stated that girls and women remain underrepresented in technology fields. The organization added that structural barriers restrict access to gaining digital skills, professional networks, and emerging technology tools. However, UNICEF and its partners, such as Bitget, are working to change this.

This comes as the universal exchange continues to make an impact beyond the financial landscape. As CoinGape reported last month, Bitget had donated $1.54 million to victims of the Hong Kong fire.

The Exchange’s Involvement In The Initiative
According to the release, Bitget Chief Marketing Officer Ignacio Aguirre visited Cambodia to relate with teachers and students participating in the Coalition. The visit is said to have included dedicated time with one of Cambodia’s winning teams from the first global UNICEF Game Jam, which is a virtual hackathon that connected young creators from the eight participating countries of the Coalition.

UNICEF revealed that Cambodia emerged as one of the strongest participants, securing four of the seven global award categories. Commenting on the whole experience, Aguirre stated that he is inspired by the determination and talent that he has seen from the young people in Cambodia.

Furthermore, he remarked that Bitget, one of the top crypto exchanges, believes everyone should be able to participate in the digital world, from coding and design to emerging fields like blockchain. “I am excited to see this generation of young digital creatives sharpening their skills to help shape an inclusive, equitable, and prosperous digital future,” Aguirre added.

With support from the exchange, UNICEF stated that the Coalition aims to reach 1.1 million people across 12 countries by 2027. This will contribute to the organization’s global ambition to expand learning and skills-building opportunities for girls. Meanwhile, UNICEF noted that the initiative continues to grow with support from governments, civil society, and private-sector partners such as Bitget.

TL;DR

The crypto market is up for a second straight day. Total market capitalization stands around $2.98 trillion, while trading volume remains low, signaling caution and activity driven mainly by technical adjustments.
Bitcoin is holding near $88,600, capped below $90,000, with support in the $86,000–$87,000 range and downside risk toward $84,000 and $82,000.
Ethereum is trading near $2,970 and needs to hold above $3,000 to attempt a move toward $3,150–$3,300.

The crypto market extends its gains for a second consecutive session, but does so calmly and with clear signs of caution. Total market capitalization rose by roughly 1.1% to $2.98 trillion, while daily trading volume remains subdued at $85.1 billion. This year-end period shows reduced participation, with prices moving more on technical adjustments than on fresh capital inflows.

Bitcoin is trading near $88,600 and is holding the $88,000 level after several failed attempts to break higher. BTC remains stuck below the $90,000 zone, an area that concentrates supply and caps any acceleration attempt. The current structure reflects a tight range, with immediate support between $86,000 and $87,000. A sustained move above $89,000 would open the door for a test of $90,500, while a loss of support would expose the price to a drop toward $84,000 and then the $82,000 area.

Ethereum is showing a somewhat firmer short-term recovery and is trading near $2,970. Even so, the price has been unable to hold above $3,000, a key near-term level. A clean break above that zone would clear the path toward $3,150 and $3,300. If selling pressure regains control, the market would likely revisit $2,850, with a deeper pullback toward the $2,700–$2,750 range.

The Market Could Enter a New Bullish Phase
The rest of the market has followed the trend with moderate gains. Nine of the top ten cryptocurrencies posted gains over the past 24 hours, some barely unchanged and others rising by as much as 1.7%. The biggest surprises are coming from smaller-cap tokens, which have posted sharp, isolated rallies that do not alter the broader picture.

In derivatives analysis, 10x Research highlights an unusual combination of compressed volatility, technical exhaustion, and options positioning that has historically preceded more durable moves. Capital stayed on the sidelines after the October correction and the ETF outflows that followed the FOMC meeting. If the current breakout attempt holds, the market could enter a multi-week bullish phase.

Market sentiment remains fragile. The Fear and Greed Index sits at 27, well below neutral territory. Recent outflows from spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs reinforce the lack of conviction and the absence of sustained institutional capital inflows

$Ethereum has followed a very different path from Bitcoin — more volatile, more narrative-driven, and often more aggressive on both the upside and downside. As 2026 approaches, $ETH is once again sitting at a technically important area, raising a familiar question: is Ethereum setting up for another major cycle move, or entering a longer consolidation phase?

To answer that, we need to look at Ethereum’s long-term price behavior, not just short-term noise.

Ethereum’s Long-Term Price Structure: Respecting the TrendOn the weekly ETH chart, one thing stands out clearly: Ethereum continues to respect its long-term ascending trendline, despite multiple major crashes over the years.

Historically:

ETH rallies tend to be sharper than Bitcoin’sCorrections are also deeper and fasterLong-term trendlines have repeatedly acted as accumulation zones

ETH/USDT 1W - TradingView

Every time Ethereum has revisited its long-term support structure, it has either bounced strongly or entered a prolonged consolidation before the next expansion phase.

Ethereum Through Bull and Bear CyclesEthereum’s cycle behavior shows a clear pattern:

Explosive upside during bull markets, often outperforming BitcoinHeavy drawdowns during bear markets, sometimes exceeding 70 percentLong recovery phases where ETH builds structure before breaking out againThis makes Ethereum more sensitive to market sentiment, liquidity, and narrative shifts — especially around upgrades, scaling, and ecosystem growth.

Where Ethereum Stands Heading Into 2026Technically, Ethereum is approaching 2026 while sitting:

Near a long-term rising support lineBelow major historical resistance zonesIn a cooling momentum environment after a strong expansion phaseThis combination often signals a decision zone, where price either reclaims higher levels or drifts into a broader range.

Volatility compression at these levels has historically preceded large ETH moves.

Ethereum Price Prediction for 2026: Bullish vs Bearish ScenariosBullish ScenarioIf liquidity improves and risk appetite returns:

Ethereum could reclaim key resistance levelsA breakout above long-term ranges could trigger renewed upsideETH may once again outperform Bitcoin in a risk-on environmentIn this scenario, 2026 would resemble a continuation year within a larger cycle rather than a market top.

Bearish ScenarioIf macro pressure and tightening liquidity persist:

Ethereum could remain range-bound for most of the yearLong-term support zones would be tested more frequentlySideways price action could dominate before a later breakoutHistorically, Ethereum has spent entire years consolidating before major upside moves.

What History Suggests About Ethereum in 2026Looking back at previous cycles:

Ethereum rarely collapses without first breaking long-term structureMost major ETH rallies started after long periods of frustrationLong-term holders typically accumulate during boring, sideways phasesThis suggests that 2026 may be less about chasing hype and more about positioning ahead of the next structural move.

14h05 ▪
3
min read ▪ by
Fenelon L.

Summarize this article with:

As 2025 ends on a bitter note for SHIB holders, could the most famous memecoin after Dogecoin finally regain its colors next year? Between encouraging technical signals and structural changes in the crypto market, several elements suggest a possible revival.

In brief

Shiba Inu suffered a particularly difficult year in 2025, penalized by capital flight to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The tokenization of assets and the rise of Ethereum could create a favorable environment for SHIB in 2026.
Some analysts anticipate a technical rebound of more than 200%, with an ambitious target of $0.000032.
Forecasts remain cautious, betting on a moderate increase rather than a spectacular explosion.

The crypto market penalized Shiba Inu in 2025 according to several analysts
The vintage 2025 will be remembered as the year of great concentration. While Bitcoin crossed the symbolic threshold of $120,000 before retreating to around $80,000, Ethereum captured the majority of alternative investment flows. This brutal redistribution of the cards left many altcoins on the sidelines, including Shiba Inu.

SHIB now trades near its multi-month lows. Investors have massively abandoned projects perceived as more speculative to take refuge in the “safe values” of the crypto ecosystem.

This capital rotation, although painful, is not unusual in market cycles. It often precedes phases of redistribution towards abandoned assets.

The absence of a major catalyst for SHIB has worsened the situation. Without a blockbuster announcement or strategic partnership, the token struggled to capture attention in an environment where the attention war rages. Result: a prolonged downward trend that eroded retail investor confidence.

Foundations that discreetly strengthen
Yet, optimism is not entirely unreasonable. The growing interest of US authorities in the tokenization of traditional assets and stablecoins places Ethereum at the center of the scene. 

Moreover, the Shiba Inu ecosystem operates within Ethereum’s orbit. A gradual normalization of the blockchain in traditional financial circuits could indirectly benefit SHIB.

Lucie, the project’s marketing manager, recently called the community to patience. Development continues behind the scenes, she emphasized, suggesting that the current consolidation phase does not reflect inactivity but rather methodical construction. This communication, though discreet, indicates a long-term strategic vision.

Technically, some signals intrigue chartists. Analyst Javon Marks identified a significant bullish divergence on SHIB charts. According to him, this setup could trigger an explosive move of more than 200%, potentially bringing the token back to $0.000032. 

An audacious forecast, certainly, but it reminds us that price compression periods often precede violent movements.

CoinCodex projections adopt a more measured tone, anticipating modest progress with a high target around $0.00008624 for 2026. This caution reflects currently bearish technical indicators and historically low volatility.

Shiba Inu enters 2026 as an asset to watch rather than blindly accumulate. Its rebound potential will essentially depend on the return of risk appetite and a rotation of capital towards abandoned altcoins. Structural fundamentals are slowly improving, but with no guarantee of immediate success.

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Fenelon L.

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

DISCLAIMER

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

Key NotesThe recent proposal failed with 55% “NO” and 41.21% “ABSTAIN” votes for the 1.8 million AAVE record participation.Expected turnout was low given “conditions that objectively reduce participation.” Zeller, Aave Labs CEO Stani, and Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy participated in the debate, too.
The Aave DAO and community recently voted against a proposal to transfer brand ownership from Aave Labs to the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governing the leading DeFi protocol. Prominent leaders like Aave Labs founder and CEO Stani and Marc Zeller, founder of the Aavechan Initiative, commented on the outcome, noting that voting achieved a record turnout.

What Did Aave Users Vote Against?
According to on-chain data, Coinspeaker retrieved from Snapshot, the “[ARFC] $AAVE token alignment. Phase 1 – Ownership” proposal closed on December 25. The Christmas vote saw a record 1.8 million AAVE users participate. 994,800 AAVE (55.29%) voted “NAY”, 741,600 AAVE (41.21%) chose to abstain, and only 63,000 (3.5%) voted in favor of the proposal.

“[ARFC] $AAVE token alignment. Phase 1 – Ownership” proposal | Source: Snapshot

Essentially, the proposal suggested that AAVE token holders should seek to take control of Aave’s brand assets. In this case, domains, social media accounts, and naming rights would be placed under a DAO‑controlled structure to be defined later, with safeguards to prevent misuse or takeover. It called on whoever currently controls those assets to transfer them in both principle and practice, regardless of their identity.

Many investors criticized the proposal for being made “in a rush” during ongoing discussions about Aave Labs’ actions and communication strategy, close to popular international holidays. This governance dispute has now consolidated as one of the most significant for a DeFi protocol, offering long-term lessons and setting relevant precedents for DAO voting going forward.

Notably, the proposal stemmed from escalating tensions over revenue distribution and control of

AAVE
$156.2

24h volatility:
2.9%

Market cap:
$2.37 B

Vol. 24h:
$315.01 M

off-chain assets. The controversy ignited earlier in December when governance delegates discovered that Aave Labs’ integration of CoW Swap into the official app.aave.com frontend had redirected swap fees (estimated at up to $10 million annually) from the DAO treasury to a wallet controlled by Aave Labs.

Previously, the ParaSwap integration shared such revenues with the DAO, fueling accusations of “stealth privatization” and misalignment between the private development entity and token holders.

Aave-Related Leaderships Comment on Recent DAO Record Vote
As the vote wrapped up, Aave Labs founder and CEO Stani Kulechov commented on it on X. He said it was “a productive discussion that’s essential for the long-term health of Aave.” In the post, Stani pledged commitment to making the economic alignment between Aave Labs and $AAVE token holders clearer.

Additionally, he expanded on his recently disclosed $15 million AAVE purchase, as Coinspeaker reported pre-holidays. He explained the amount was not used for this recent vote. “This is my life’s work,” Stani said, “I am putting my own capital behind my conviction.”

Stani was the leader behind this proposal and a “YES” advocate.

The recent DAO vote has wrapped up, and it has raised important questions about the relationship between Aave Labs and $AAVE token holders. This is a productive discussion that’s essential for the long-term health of Aave.

While it's been a bit hectic, debate and disagreement…

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) December 26, 2025

Aavechan Initiative founder Marc “Billy” Zeller was one of the leading advocates for “ABSTAIN” votes in public discussions. He suggested that token holders abstain because the conditions were not ideal for making such an essential decision while discussions were still ongoing. He pointed out “a compressed timeline, a holiday period, and a debate that was still actively evolving.”

Yet, in an X article published just a few minutes before Stani’s post above, Zeller highlighted the “massive” turnout of 1.8 million AAVE used by voters, claiming “DeFi will win.”

“Despite an unfair timeline and every practical disadvantage stacked against the DAO, participation broke records, with 1,8M total voting power expressed. That is not a defeat for decentralization. It is the opposite of apathy, and that is exactly what a healthy DAO should look like,” he said.

https://t.co/yKegmUERIn

— Marc ”七十 Billy” Zeller (@Marczeller) December 26, 2025

Another prominent figure who commented on this governance proposal was Wintermute’s co-founder and CEO, Evgeny Gaevoy, a disclosed AAVE investor. Gaevoy highlighted “a clear expectation mismatch between AAVE Labs and a significant number of AAVE token holders” in many areas.

Also, he disagreed with the forum proposal “as it stands now,” explaining it requires further elaboration to become feasible. Therefore, Wintermute and Evgeny Gaevoy voted and advocated for “NO,” the winning outcome.

“It makes no sense to commit to a course of action without knowing the specifics. It’s far from obvious how the entity owning the front end and brand would be governed, whether it would be for profit or not, and whether it would actually guarantee value accrual to token holders.”

Disclosures first (as should be customary). Wintermute (ventures) has been an investor in AAVE since 2022. We also have participated in governance and it is a decent part of our venture portfolio. I personally hold AAVE as well. Neither me personally, nor Wintermute have exposure…

— wishful_cynic (@EvgenyGaevoy) December 25, 2025

Interestingly, on the same day of this reported proposal being refused, another relevant Ethereum DeFi protocol, Uniswap, approved a long-awaited governance proposal. On Dec. 25, the DAO voted in favor of the UNIfication overhaul, approving 100 million UNI Burn and activating the fee switch.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Aave News, Altcoin News, News

Vini Barbosa has covered the crypto industry professionally since 2020, summing up to over 10,000 hours of research, writing, and editing related content for media outlets and key industry players. Vini is an active commentator and a heavy user of the technology, truly believing in its revolutionary potential. Topics of interest include blockchain, open-source software, decentralized finance, and real-world utility.

Vini Barbosa on X

Key NotesBinance Coin (BNB) is now listed on the US exchange Gemini for trading and custody.BNB is used for network fees, apps, and Binance promotions.Listing highlights BNB’s strength amid weak altcoin markets.
.
Binance Coin (BNB) is now available on the US crypto exchange Gemini, giving users another option to trade and store the altcoin. Notably, the update allows Gemini customers to access

BNB
$841.9

24h volatility:
0.8%

Market cap:
$115.94 B

Vol. 24h:
$988.81 M

directly on a regulated American platform.

According to a recent Gemini announcement, the exchange now supports

BNB
$841.9

24h volatility:
0.8%

Market cap:
$115.94 B

Vol. 24h:
$988.81 M

, which can be traded and held on its platform. Users can buy, sell, and keep the token using Gemini’s custody services. This is an essential milestone for BNB because Gemini is known for taking a careful approach when adding new assets, especially in the United States.

BNB was created in 2017 by Binance and later became the main asset of the BNB Chain. At first, it was mainly used to get lower trading fees on the Binance exchange. Today, BNB is used to pay network fees and support activity across many apps built on the BNB Chain.

Gemini pointed out that BNB has long been tied to fee discounts and promotions on Binance, depending on certain conditions. While Gemini and Binance are separate companies, the listing allows US users to access BNB without relying on overseas platforms.

This follows other notable developments Gemini has introduced in recent weeks. Gemini recently launched a new prediction market platform known as Gemini Predictions, now accessible in all 50 US states via its website and iOS app.

Binance Coin (BNB) Amid Altcoin Drawdown
The listing comes during a difficult period for most altcoins. Data shows that interest in smaller cryptocurrencies has remained low for much of the year. Many popular tokens have seen sharp price drops.

ADA
$0.36

24h volatility:
1.8%

Market cap:
$13.09 B

Vol. 24h:
$645.55 M

has fallen well below past levels (-60% this year), and

XRP
$1.87

24h volatility:
0.5%

Market cap:
$113.51 B

Vol. 24h:
$1.97 B

has also lost much of its earlier gains (-14%).

Despite this trend, Binance Coin (BNB) has held up better than many other altcoins. As of writing, BNB is trading at $841.63, after reaching an all-time high on October 6.

Some industry leaders have questioned whether many altcoins can survive long-term. This has pushed more investors toward

BTC
$88 747

24h volatility:
1.5%

Market cap:
$1.77 T

Vol. 24h:
$38.19 B

, which is still seen as the safest option in crypto. In this climate, Gemini’s decision to list Binance Coin (BNB) shows that the coin continues to meet exchange standards. The move places BNB among a small group of altcoins now gaining access to major US platforms.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Altcoin News, News

Yana Khlebnikova joined CoinSpeaker as an editor in January 2025, after previous stints at Techopedia, crypto.news, Cointelegraph, and CoinMarketCap, where she honed her expertise in cryptocurrency journalism.

Yana Khlebnikova on LinkedIn

Robinhood's revenue doubled in the third quarter, and its stock has made significant gains during the past few years. However, Robinhood is highly dependent on an active trading market, particularly in riskier options and cryptocurrencies.

baona/iStock via Getty Images

Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Consumer sentiment revised lower for December as year-ahead inflation expectation revised up a tick. Tech giants brace to spend billions more in CapEx as AI race heats up. 2026 S&P 500 Outlook: I'm The Lone Bull In The China Shop.

This is an abridged transcript.

2025….has been a year.

But don’t we say the same thing at the end of every year?

Well, today we’re looking at the year as a whole and remembering three big topics that shaped 2025 and we’re peaking into 2026.

Of course, this is a countdown so we’re starting off with number three.

Vibecession…

There’s this disconnect between the average person and how they feel about the economy and what the economic data says about the economy.

That’s Jack Bowman with Bowman Capital Management on Seeking Alpha.

One of the big major players in consumer sentiment, which is at an all time low and largely driven by this feeling that the economy is not as good as the data says it is.

The most recent data shows The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% Y/Y in November.

Although it's very regionally dependent, right? Where I live in southern California our Y/Y inflation was 4.5% but someone in Dallas saw a 1.1%, way far off.

According to the latest data, December consumer sentiment was revised down to 52.9 from the University of Michigan’s initial estimate of 53.3, though it improved from 51.0 in November.

Gains in sentiment were concentrated among lower-income consumers, while sentiment among higher-income consumers remained steady. Meanwhile, year-ahead inflation expectations declined for a fourth straight month to 4.2%—the lowest level in 11 months—though still above the 3.3% recorded in January.

So, what could potentially turn things around?

One of the things I think will help is time, unfortunately.

Number two is the one that you can probably count on being on everyone’s list.

It has to be tariffs and liberation day was the most watched day in market history for the recent years.

April 2, 2025

So, the rates we saw that day no longer matter. That famous image of President Trump with the big board with all the numbers on it, none of those are accurate to what it is now.

But Jack admits sometimes things don’t play out the way you expect them to.

Some of these were geopolitically useful but some of these I think were taken at face value right away. And I’m guilty of that too. When those numbers came out I said, “Oh no this is going to be really bad.” And since then I've tapered back a lot of my expectations about how bad it's actually going to be.

It’s December, where are we now? Well this act is still going…

The only thing I think that could be unpredictable for 2026 is how the China situation is going to unfold. We’re currently in a trade truce for the next year so most of 2026 will be spent on negotiating what that end result will be and I have no idea where that’s going to go.

If you’re searching for the latest news and analysis on tariffs. Just put the word tariffs in the search bar on Seeking Alpha and it comes right up.

The biggest one to me was AI capex spending.

Big tech companies including Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META) are investing billions in AI infrastructure as the race to lead in AI accelerates.

I kind of make this joke that 2025 was the year where we went from covering the planet in solar panels to covering the planet in data centers. We made the switch really fast.

Let’s consider a few of these: Meta (META) expects 2025 capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, to be in the range of $70B to $72B, increased from its prior outlook of $66B to $72B.

Meta said it will "spend aggressively" next year, warning its capital expenditures will be "notably larger" in 2026 and total expenses will grow at a "significantly faster percentage rate."

Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) raised its forecast for capital expenditure for 2025 and 2026.

"We're continuing to invest aggressively due to the demand we're experiencing from Cloud customers as well as the growth opportunities we see across the company. We now expect CapEx to be in the range of $91 billion to $93 billion in 2025, up from our previous estimate of $85 billion," said Alphabet's Senior Vice President and CFO Anat Ashkenazi during the third quarter earnings call.

Amazon (AMZN) said its cash CapEx was $34.2B in the third quarter and the company has spent $89.9B so far this year. The e-commerce giant noted that it will continue to make significant investments, especially in AI.

So I’ve been happy with how much is being spent because it means we’re getting to that phase where we don’t have to spend as much anymore sooner.

Meta Platforms (META) has a Quant rating of HOLD on Seeking Alpha. Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) has the same rating though Seeking Alpha analysts say it’s a buy and Wall Street says it’s a strong buy. Amazon’s (AMZN) Quant rating on Seeking Alpha is Strong Buy.

Enough about 2025, what about next year?

I’m calling that I think the S&P is gonna rise another 10-15%.

But why?

I mostly give that bullish take because I don't see a lot of the tailwinds behind technology stocks like their big spending. The fact that most of them are insulated and immune from tariffs, at least the big 10 companies that make up half of the S&P. And they seem to continuously be expanding their profit margins even as they get into what I assume will be a very low margin business, AI.

So there you have it, a broad look at 2025 and a prediction for 2026.

By the way, if you’re interested in the Top Stocks of 2026. I’ll leave a link so that you can register for our webinar coming up on the 6th of January with our VP of Quantitative Strategy Steven Cress. This is a hot ticket every year.

No special hours for the market today.

Thanks for listening to part 1 of our year-in-review. I’ll have part 2 on New Year's Eve. It’s all about the headlines that you were most interested in.

Enjoy your weekend. I’ll see you back here on Monday.

(All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated)

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 26, 2025) - American Pacific Mining Corp. (CSE: USGD) (OTCQX: USGDF) (FSE: 1QC1) ("American Pacific" or the "Company") announces that, pursuant to the terms of employment with three of its former employees (collectively, the "Employment Agreements"), the Company will be issuing an aggregate of 1,281,722 common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") at a deemed price of $0.175 per Common Share to such former employees on or about January 5, 2026, subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, in full satisfaction of employment-related liabilities totaling $224,301.35 (the "Employee Issuance"). The Employee Issuance is expected to close on or about January 5, 2026.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company's flagship asset is the 100%-owned past-producing Madison Copper-Gold Project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for 'Deal of the Year' at the S&P Global Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Through a 2025 transaction with Vizsla Copper, American Pacific has established a major equity position and secured $15M in aggregate milestone upside exposure to the advanced exploration stage Palmer Copper-Zinc VMS Project in Alaska. Also, in American Pacific's portfolio are several high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts in Nevada, on which the Company intends to transact. The Company's mission is to provide shareholders discovery and exploration upside exposure across its portfolio through partnerships, spin-outs and direct exploration.

American Pacific is incorporated pursuant to the laws of British Columbia and its head office is located at Suite 910 - 510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8.

On behalf of the American Pacific Mining Corp Board of Directors: 

Warwick Smith, CEO & Director
Corporate Office: Suite 910 - 510 Burrard Street 
Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Canada

Full disclosure can be found in our NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project at www.americanpacificmining.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of the Acquisition and the concurrent financing, and timely receipt of all necessary approvals.

Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include but are not limited to information with respect to, the Employee Share Issuance, and receipt of all necessary approvals therefor. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/279068

Source: American Pacific Mining Corp.

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Three months ago Oracle named Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia as its new CEOs. They're off to a rough start.

Oracle shares have plummeted 30% so far this quarter. With four trading days remaining in the period, the stock is on pace for its sharpest decline since 2001 and the dot-com bust.

Investors have grown skeptical about the database software vendor's ability to open more server farms for ChatGPT operator OpenAI, which agreed in September to spend over $300 billion with Oracle.

Earlier this month, Oracle reported weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue and free cash flow. On the earnings call, newly appointed finance leader Doug Kehring called for $50 billion in fiscal 2026 capital expenditures, 43% higher than the plan in September and double the total from a year earlier. Additionally, Oracle is plotting $248 billion in leases to boost cloud capacity, on top of building data centers.

Such growth will require boatloads of debt. In September, Oracle raised $18 billion in a jumbo bond sale, one of the largest debt issuances on record in the tech industry. Kehring committed on the earnings call to keeping Oracle's investment-grade debt rating. But some skeptical investors are betting otherwise, pushing up the prices of Oracle's credit default swaps.

"Considering Oracle is already barely hanging on to an investment grade rating, we would be concerned about Oracle's ability to live up to these obligations without restructuring its OpenAI contract," analysts at DA Davidson wrote in a note to clients on Dec. 12. They have the equivalent of a hold rating on the stock.

Oracle declined to comment.

watch now

Magouyrk and Sicilia's tenure began at a time of historic optimism.

About two weeks before they took the reins from Safra Catz, Oracle reported a 359% revenue backlog tied heavily to OpenAI's commitment. The deal that represented a major endorsement for Oracle, which was left off Gartner's list of top five cloud infrastructure providers by revenue for 2024.

Following reports about the OpenAI agreement on Sept. 10, Oracle's stock shot up almost 36%, the third-sharpest rally since the company's 1986 IPO. Shares reached an intraday record of $345.72.

"We think $340 was terrifying," said Zachary Lountzis, vice president at Lountzis Asset Management, in an interview. Lountzis held $25 million in Oracle shares as of Sept. 30, according to a filing.

The stock has since lost 43% of its value, closing on Wednesday at $197.49, though it got a bump last Friday after TikTok said it had agreed to sell part of its U.S. business to Oracle and other investors. Oracle has for years delivered cloud services to TikTok.

Not 'betting against Larry'Lountzis said his team first bought Oracle shares in 2020, when the stock was below $60. It's held onto it stake through the recent highs and lows, picking up another roughly 30,000 shares in the first quarter of this year.

"Our philosophy is that we're OK with short-term over-valuation if the economics of the business have not changed, and that was the case with Oracle," Lountzis said. "We didn't feel the economics of the business changed with all the largely positive news that came out. And I think what we've seen from $340 down to $180 is actually a very healthy correction." 

For Lountzis, much of his trust in the company comes down to Larry Ellison, who founded Oracle in 1977 and is now the world's second-richest person, according to Bloomberg.

"You would have gone bankrupt 40 times betting against Larry over the last 50 years," Lountzis said. "He sees the future."

watch now

In October, Sicilia, Magouyrk and Kehring laid out a vision for a much faster-growing Oracle, with revenue set to step up to $225 billion in the 2030 fiscal year from $57 billion in fiscal 2025. Most of that growth will come from AI infrastructure, with Nvidia's graphics processing units at the center of it.

But while Magouryk was telling analysts to prepare for "hypergrowth," such expansion would come at the expense of profitability, because Oracle's core software business commands much higher margins.

In fiscal 2021, Oracle's gross margin was 77%. Analysts polled by FactSet see it falling to about 49% in 2030, with about $34 billion in total negative free cash flow over the next five years before that figure turns positive in 2029.

Eric Lynch, managing director at Florida's Suncoast Equity Management, said it's hard as an investor to get comfortable with Oracle's plans.

"Four or five years is a long time," Lynch said. "That's just not within our investment discipline."

Lynch also said he's worried about such heavy dependance on OpenAI, which is burning cash at a rapid rate and has committed to over $1.4 trillion in total AI buildouts and investments.

"Will the demand be there from OpenAI?" Lynch said.

Wells Fargo analyst Michael Turrin launched coverage of Oracle earlier this month with the equivalent of a buy rating and a $280 price target. He said the industry's perception will likely improve if Oracle follows through with OpenAI, which could could account for over one-third of the company's revenue by 2029, according to Turrin's estimate.

"They're kind of shifting away from more of a value-oriented business to a more growth-oriented business," Turrin said.

A big challenge for Oracle remains picking up market share in cloud infrastructure, where the company badly trails Amazon, Microsoft and Google even though its customer roster includes names like Meta, Uber and Elon Musk's xAI.

Databricks, which was just valued at $134 billion in a funding round, doesn't make its popular data processing software available on Oracle's cloud.

That will happen "when customers start banging on my door, saying, 'You need to run on Oracle,'" Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi said in an interview. "Maybe it's getting there, but we just haven't heard that."

Databricks rival Snowflake hasn't brought its services to Oracle either.

Turrin said that Oracle's credibility in the market will hinge on the success of its AI buildout.

"Then customers start to look at this and say, wow, this company was trusted to build some of the largest training clusters in the world, and they're delivering on them," Turrin said. "We should take a look at that too and figure out what's happening here."

watch now

Key Takeaways ILIT surged to a 52-week high, up 151.5% from its $6.46 low over the past year.ILIT received a lift by rising EV and energy storage demand.ILIT shows a positive weighted alpha of 106.47, pointing to continued momentum.
For investors seeking momentum, iShares Lithium Miners and Producers ETF (ILIT - Free Report) is probably on the radar. The fund just hit a 52-week high and is up 151.5% from its 52-week low price of $6.46/share.

But are more gains in store for this ETF? Let’s take a quick look at the fund and the near-term outlook on it to get a better idea of where it might be headed:

ILIT in FocusThe underlying STOXX Global Lithium Miners and Producers Index comprises of U.S. and non-U.S. equities of companies primarily engaged in lithium ore mining and lithium compounds manufacturing. The product charges 47 bps in annual fees and yields 2.19% annually (see: all materials ETFs here).

Why the Move?Rising global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage is driving the space. China commands over half of the world’s lithium refining capacity, putting Western economies in a vulnerable position. The U.S. government is striving to reduce dependency.  Also, Beijing indicated that it would double EV charging capacity to 180 gigawatts by 2027, boosting lithium-rich energy storage systems, as quoted on Trading Economics.

More Gains Ahead?ILIT might continue its strong performance given a positive weighted alpha of 106.47 (as per Barchart.com).