Market Signal Briefing

Bitcoin News

Bitcoin Faces Harsh Rejection as Altcoins Struggle

TL;DR Bitcoin rejection: BTC failed to sustain momentum above $90,000, tumbling to $87,000 after losing over $3,000 in value. Its market capitalization now stands at

Companies

Coinbase Stunned by $513M Bitcoin Move: What Happened?

TL;DR Massive Transfer: Coinbase witnessed 5,869 BTC worth $513,836,820 exit to an unlabeled wallet, routed through multiple addresses before settling. Muted Price: Bitcoin hovered near

flash news

Bitcoin Holds Range Ahead Of Record Options Expiry

Bitcoin hovered near $87,400 as Deribit data pointed to a record options expiry on Friday, with about 300,000 BTC options worth $23.7 billion set to

Shiba Inu News

Shiba Inu Faces Historic Death Cross in 2025 as Token Burns Flatline

TL;DR Technical Signal: Shiba Inu has recorded its first-ever weekly death cross in 2025, where the 50-week moving average slipped beneath the 200-week line. Burn

Bitcoin News

Corporate Buyers Step In as VanEck Sees Hashrate Decline Boosting BTC

TL;DR Corporate Buying: DATs added 42,000 BTC in December, marking their strongest accumulation since July 2025 and signaling renewed confidence from institutional treasuries. Market Weakness:

Companies

Polymarket Volumes Surge Amid Layer 2 Speculation Boom

TL;DR Volume Surge: Polymarket recorded $91.7M, $92.7M, and $85.6M in three consecutive record trading days, marking its strongest streak since the 2024 U.S. election and

Key NotesXRP price continues to be under selling pressure by whales and long-term holders while extending its six-month downtrend.XRP realized profit and loss metrics show aggressive Q4 selling at a loss by big players, while active XRP Ledger addresses have fallen to a monthly low.On the other hand, US spot XRP ETFs have recorded no outflows since launch, attracting $1.13 billion in net inflows and $1.25 billion in AUM.
Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, XRP

XRP
$1.87

24h volatility:
1.0%

Market cap:
$113.02 B

Vol. 24h:
$2.04 B

, continues to be under strong selling pressure and is already trading 7% down since the beginning of 2025. Amid the strong selling pressure coming from whales and long-term holders, the XRP price is on a 6-month downtrend. This comes despite the continuous positive inflows into spot XRP ETFs.

XRP Price May See End of Two-Year Bull Run
The ongoing market cycle risks breaking a two-year run of positive annual returns XRP. XRP price gained 81% in 2023 and surged 238% in 2024, supported by improving regulatory clarity and strong speculative interest. In contrast, this time the altcoin has shown negative returns, in tune with the Bitcoin performance.

On-chain realized profit and loss data indicate that selling activity in the fourth quarter was very high. XRP holders exited positions at a loss, triggering a major drop in investor confidence.

Historically, large-cap token investors have tended to hold through drawdowns in anticipation of a recovery rather than locking in losses. However, the investor behaviour has shifted during this cycle.

The willingness to sell at a loss reflects growing uncertainty around XRP’s near-term outlook. Moreover, the risk aversion sentiment has outweighed long-term conviction, thereby leading to continuous downside pressure.

XRP Realized Profit Loss | Source: Glassnode

Furthermore, the trading activity on the XRP Ledger has also declined by the end. Network data shows that the number of active transacting addresses fell to a monthly low of 34,005. The decline in participation suggests the absence of active participation from both retail and institutional players.

Spot XRP ETF Inflows Remain Strong
US-based spot XRP ETFs have so far avoided any outflows since their launch last month. Total net inflows have reached $1.13 billion, pushing combined assets under management (AUM) to approximately $1.25 billion.

On Dec. 23 alone, XRP ETFs recorded net inflows of $8.19 million. Data from SoSoValue shows that Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ led yesterday’s inflows, while other products reported flat flows amid subdued holiday-period trading activity.

XRP ETF Inflows | Source: SoSoValue

Canary Capital’s spot XRP ETF (XRPC) continues to lead the group, with cumulative net inflows of $384 million, followed by the XRP ETF offerings from Bitwise and Grayscale.

At the same time, institutional investors are rotating capital into XRP ETFs from Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. This reflects improving sentiment around XRP and more favorable market developments.

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.

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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

Zcash has shown mixed price action in recent sessions, alternating between short pullbacks and brief recoveries. Volatility remains elevated, yet the broader technical structure continues to lean bullish. 

Despite hesitation in the spot market, ZEC’s macro trend suggests the potential for a sustained rally if key conditions align.

Zcash Holders To The RescueOn-chain data indicates growing confidence among Zcash’s largest holders. Wallets ranked within the top 100 addresses increased their combined ZEC holdings by 2.7% over the past 24 hours. This accumulation occurred while the price declined nearly 6%, signaling strategic buying rather than reactive selling.

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Such behavior reflects long-term optimism. Large holders often accumulate during drawdowns when they anticipate higher future prices. Their actions suggest expectations of recovery remain intact, providing a supportive demand base that could stabilize ZEC during periods of broader market uncertainty.

Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

Zcash Top 100 Holder Balance. Source: NansenTechnical indicators support this constructive outlook. The Squeeze Momentum Indicator is currently signaling the formation of a squeeze. This setup often precedes sharp price movement when volatility expands after a period of compression.

Importantly, the histogram shows bullish momentum remains active. If the squeeze releases while momentum stays positive, the resulting volatility could favor an upside move for ZEC. Broader market stability will play a crucial role in determining whether this breakout materializes.

ZEC Squeeze Momentum Indicator. Source: TradingViewZEC Price Is Looking At A RallyZEC is forming an ascending triangle, a bullish continuation pattern that often resolves higher. The structure suggests growing buying pressure against a horizontal resistance. Based on the pattern’s measured move, a breakout could deliver a 50% rally, targeting the $670 level.

A rebound from the $403 support would strengthen this setup. Holding this level could allow Zcash to breach the $442 resistance. A successful move above $442 would likely trigger a breakout from the triangle, opening the path toward the $500 resistance. Clearing that level would confirm a broader bullish rally.

ZEC Price Analysis. Source: TradingViewDownside risks remain if momentum fails. A breakdown below the $403 support would invalidate the ascending triangle. In that scenario, ZEC could fall toward the $340 level, erasing much of this month’s gains and negating the bullish thesis.

Journalist

Posted: December 24, 2025

Since falling below the $2 mark, Ripple’s XRP has remained under this key level for over a week, signaling persistent downward pressure.

As the bearish trend drags on, holders, particularly treasury firms, have seen their portfolios suffer significant losses.

Evernorth’s unrealized loss hit $225M
Between the 22nd of October to the 24th of December, Evernorth acquired 388.7 million XRP tokens worth about $947.1 million. These purchases made Evernorth the largest publicly traded company focused exclusively on accumulating XRP.

However, during the broader crypto market downturn, XRP’s price dropped from $2.60 to $1.80.

Source: CryptoQuant

The price decline has pushed these holdings into the red, turning a $71 million unrealized profit into a $225 million unrealized loss, according to analyst Maartunn. Such steep paper losses reflect fragile market conditions and raise the risk of capitulation.

While long‑term investors like Evernorth are expected to hold in anticipation of a rebound, weaker hands may panic and sell.

Spot ETFs continue accumulating
Interestingly, while Evernorth, an XRP Treasury company, has recorded massive losses, XRP Spot ETFs have ignored it and continued accumulating. 

In fact, since their launch more than a month ago, XRP ETFs have recorded Net Inflows for all these days. As a result, the Total Net Assets surpassed the billion mark, hitting $1.25 billion, at press time.

Source: Sosovalue

The disconnection between rising losses and ETF inflows reflects strong institutional demand for XRP despite prevailing conditions. Thus, large entities still view XRP’s long-term outlook positively and expect a trend reversal soon.

Why is XRP showing weakness?
Despite institutional demand, XRP has faced intense selling pressure from small-scale and whale investors, thus leaving ETF demand inadequate.

Accordingly, Capital Flow Strength has shown much more substantial outflows than inflows. Both Capital Flow and Capital Flow Strength have remained negative since late November, holding at -42 and -14, respectively, as of writing.

Source: TradingView

With more money leaving the market, bearish pressure has intensified. The Accumulation/Distribution Money Flow (ADMF) also remained negative, underscoring sellers’ dominance.

As a result, most participants continue to sell, while institutional demand has been too weak to offset the pressure, leaving XRP’s structure fragile and vulnerable to further losses.

If selling persists, the altcoin could fall toward $1.50. For a reversal, buyers, particularly institutions, must drive XRP back above $2 and establish it as support.

Final Thoughts

Evernorth’s unrealized losses on XRP holdings surged to $225 million, down from $71 million in unrealized profit in October. 
The altcoin is under intense selling pressure, from retail and whales, leaving institutional demand inadequate. 

In brief
Solana had an up and down year, highlighted by early all-time highs followed by relative underperformance.
Highlights include the launch of President Trump's meme coin, formation of Solana digital asset treasuries, and the rollout of SOL ETFs.
The network is expected to get faster and cheaper with the implementation of Alpenglow.
Solana’s native token surged to a new all-time high shortly after the year began, but the 2025 story of the speedy layer-1 network was not all up and to the right: SOL has finished the year in a serious slump, down substantially since this time last year.

Nevertheless, the network made big headlines, notched major technical improvements, launched another mobile phone, and found a way to better intertwine with traditional financial markets. 

Here’s a look back at how 2025 shaped up for Solana. 

Trump launches a meme coinThe election of President Donald Trump sent a shockwave of positivity into the crypto markets in November 2024. And while speculators may have forecasted eased regulations and favorable market conditions, they could not have foreseen that the president would eventually launch his own meme coin—TRUMP—on the Solana blockchain.

But that’s exactly what happened on the evening of January 17, just days before the inauguration of Trump. That night, Solana meme coin traders were greeted with the launch and social media promotion of the official TRUMP token. After the initial shock and skepticism surrounding the validity of the token, it quickly jumped to a multi-billion-dollar fully diluted valuation amid billions in trading volume. 

The frenzy of the moment also impacted SOL, which matched TRUMP in creating its latest all-time high on January 19, when the network’s native token changed hands for $293.31. 

But the momentum soon after faded, sending TRUMP and SOL both down from their peaks—gradually at first, and more swiftly on the back of the Trump trade wars and tariff announcements. On April 6, Solana had fallen nearly 64% from its top to change hands at $105.77, according to CoinGecko, the token’s low mark for the year.

SOL recently traded at $127.70 as of December 15, more than 56% off its all-time high mark. TRUMP holders have fared far worse with the President’s meme coin down nearly 93% from its peak, changing hands at $5.33 as of December 15. 

Alpenglow incomingWhile the SOL token price has underperformed since its January burst, the underlying Solana network has been steadily improving throughout the year. In May, developers introduced Alpenglow—a new consensus protocol that could reshape the performance of the network, improving transaction finality by at least 5x in the process. 

In September, Solana validators officially voted to implement the network upgrade, with 98% of votes in favor. After its passing, Anza lead economist and co-author of the Alpenglow white paper, Max Resnick, told Decrypt, “Apps are going to feel a lot snappier and exchanges will be able to safely credit deposits much faster.”

The upgrade is just one of a handful of key updates planned as its builders and developers race to make the layer-1 network home to the “world’s most liquid markets.”

Alpenglow is expected to be implemented on testnet by December, with a mainnet rollout in Q1 2026.

Solana treasuries emergeDespite growing to become the sixth-largest crypto asset by market cap, Solana may still feel like a lesser sibling to traditional investors that have had much more brand exposure to majors like Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

But the layer-1 network’s SOL token made a major debut in traditional equities markets this year as a wave of publicly traded digital asset treasuries (DATs) began to accumulate the token for their balance sheets. Such firms followed in the footsteps of Bitcoin behemoth Strategy, which pioneered the crypto treasury wave.

In early April, real-estate technology firm Janover—now known as DeFi Development Corp.—implemented a strategy to build its treasury with a focus on Solana. Upexi, a consumer products firm, created a similar strategy in the same month.

Throughout the year, the two collectively raised hundreds of millions and accumulated more than 4 million SOL in total—about 2 million SOL each, now valued around $284 million for each respective treasury.

For a time, that was good enough to place them at the top of the list for publicly traded Solana treasury firms—until September, when medical design firm Forward Industries acquired nearly 7 million SOL using nearly all the proceeds from a $1.65 billion PIPE. 

But while initial excitement surrounded their creation, leading to share price spikes, the DAT trade began to unwind as the year went on and crypto asset prices fell. Once trading as high as $22.70, UPXI shares had fallen to $2.04 by early December—a drop of 91%. Shares in DFDV fell around the same, with Forward Industries (FWDI) dropping around 84% from its peak. 

Will they ever recover? 

There’s growing doubt. The interim CEO of Solana treasury firm SOL Strategies Michael Hubbard, which calls itself a DAT++ because of its focus on its core Solana infrastructure business, told Decrypt in November that he believes there’s no sustainable model for DATs, adding that the approval of staking ETFs will “eat their lunch.” 

Wall Street joins the partyOne of the last remaining traditional markets dominoes fell for Solana with the approval of spot and staking ETFs, allowing a broader spectrum of investors to gain access to the token. 

Long anticipated, the Solana funds were granted a “near lock” label earlier this year from ETF analysts but the government shutdown delayed their arrival until the final week of October. 

Nevertheless, the launch of Bitwise’s BSOL ETF attracted more than $69 million in inflows upon its debut. Other ETFs like TSOL from 21Shares, Grayscale’s GSOL, FSOL from Fidelity, and VSOL from VanEck also earned approval. Shortly thereafter, Solana even got its own 2x levered ETF, allowing riskier investors to seek double the return of the asset.

Overall, ETF launches were greeted well by investors, leading to a 21-day streak of net inflows after first approval. As of December 15, SOL ETFs have generated more than $600 million in net inflows according to data from SoSoValue. 

And while some predicted that their launch, and the respective buy pressure of digital asset treasuries (DAT), would lead to an “epic end of year” run for the asset, it has yet to come.

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

As investors look ahead to 2026, many are asking a basic question: Which altcoins have the best chance to perform well over the next cycle? One expert has grouped the strongest opportunities into four big narratives. Each category includes two altcoins, making a total of eight coins to watch for 2026.

Compliance-Ready Crypto ProjectsRegulation is expected to improve over the next year, especially in the United States. Clear rules can reduce legal risks, attract big investors, and bring more money into crypto markets.

Chainlink (LINK)Chainlink stands out for its strong connections with policymakers and financial institutions. Its founder has spoken with U.S. lawmakers, attended Federal Reserve events, and met key political figures.

Chainlink plays a major role in connecting traditional finance with blockchain systems. Many investors believe it could benefit once regulation becomes clearer.

Aave (AAVE)Aave is a leading DeFi lending platform. Its founder has met with officials from the White House, the SEC, and the Federal Reserve.

While Aave is currently facing internal governance issues, the platform still generates strong revenue. Its token price has fallen sharply, which some investors see as a long-term opportunity if the project stabilizes.

Artificial Intelligence CoinsAI is becoming one of the most important sectors in technology. Governments and institutions are investing heavily, and crypto projects linked to AI are gaining attention.

Bittensor (TAO)Bittensor combines AI with Bitcoin-like token economics. It has a fixed supply and recently completed its first halving event, which reduces new token issuance.

Bitcoin halvings have historically been followed by strong price moves. Supporters say TAO could benefit from a similar narrative, especially with AI demand growing.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)Virtuals focuses on AI agents and currently leads its category in revenue. According to DeFi data, it has little competition in its niche.

Its price is near crucial support levels, and the project already generates real income. This makes it one of the most talked-about AI-focused crypto projects for 2026.

Revenue-Generating Crypto ProjectsInvestors are paying more attention to crypto projects that earn real money from users. Revenue adds stability, especially during market downturns.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)Hyperliquid is a decentralized trading platform that has become one of the top revenue generators in crypto. It directs most of its earnings toward buying back its own token.

Despite strong fundamentals, its price has pulled back recently. Some analysts believe this could offer a good entry point if trading activity continues to grow.

Jupiter (JUP)Jupiter is a major decentralized exchange aggregator on Solana. It earns millions of dollars each month but has seen its token price fall sharply.

Token unlocks have added selling pressure, but upcoming upgrades and a planned stablecoin launch could help improve sentiment over time.

DePIN and Infrastructure ProjectsDePIN stands for decentralized physical infrastructure networks. These projects support real-world services like wireless networks, computing power, and data storage.

As AI infrastructure expands, demand for these networks could rise.

Helium (HNT)Helium focuses on decentralized wireless connectivity. Its revenue has grown over the past year, and the token has become deflationary.

The network is also expanding into new markets like Brazil, which could boost adoption and usage.

Solana (SOL)Solana is not a DePIN project itself, but it hosts many of the largest DePIN platforms. It remains the leading blockchain for infrastructure-based crypto projects.

After a long correction, experts say Solana is closer to the end of its downturn and could benefit from its ecosystem growth.

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

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XRP price reaction muted even as new income-generation opportunity appearsXRP's price action aligns with broader market trends, but, contrarily, negative social sentiment may signal a potential rebound. Dec 24, 2025, 2:25 p.m.

Payments-focused cryptocurrency XRP$1.8763 is little changed in 24 hours, in line with the broader crypto market, even after the introduction of a new product that allows holders to earn extra money without selling their tokens.

On Tuesday, Upshift, Clearstar and Flare unveiled earnXRP, a vault designed to make it easier for XRP holders to generate returns on top of their spot market holdings. The new offering helps XRP holders bypass the complexities of managing DeFi strategies and pays out yield denominated in XRP.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Upshift is a platform dedicated to providing toolkitx to protocols and wallets to develop DeFi earn vaults. Clearstar is an on-chain risk curator that designs institutional-grade DeFi vaults and Flare is a layer 1 blockchain designed for data intensive use cases. Fintech firm Ripple uses XRP to facilitate cross-border transactions.

How earnXRP Works Users deposit Flare's FXRP, a 1:1, over-collateralized representation of XRP that conforms to Ethereum's ERC-20 token standard on Flare, into a vault that deploys capital across varied strategies. In return, users receive earnXRP, a receipt token representing their share in the vault and the accumulated XRP-denominated yield.

This time of year typically sees low investor participation and thin liquidity, leading to erratic price moves.

XRP could see a year-end bounce as social sentiment turns decisively negative — a contrarian signal that has historically preceded recoveries, according to Santiment.

"XRP is seeing far more negative social media commentary than average. Historically, this setup leads to price rises. When retail has doubts about a coin's ability to rise, the rise becomes significantly more likely," analytics firm Santiment said on X.

As the poet Charles Bukowski said, the masses are always wrong.

More For You

State of the Blockchain 2025

Dec 19, 2025

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.

What to know:

2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.

This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.

View Full Report

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Aptos' APT drops as token tracks broader crypto market weakness

38 minutes ago

APT has support at $1.56 and resistance at $1.63, per CoinDesk technical models.

What to know:

Aptos' APT slipped 1% to $1.56 on Wednesday.Trading activity fell 11% under the 30-day average amid holiday market conditions.Read full story

Key Takeaways QUBT posted Q3 revenues of $384,000, driven by R&D and custom hardware contracts plus DIRAC-3 cloud access.
QUBT is deploying DIRAC-3 to develop quantum methods to mitigate solar noise in space-based LiDAR data.
QUBT secured its first U.S. commercial sale as a top 5 bank ordered its quantum security solutions.

Quantum Computing, Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) , or QCi, reported third-quarter results that highlight growing real-world adoption of its photonic and quantum computing systems. Revenues increased to $384,000, driven by higher R&D and custom hardware contracts, as well as initial revenues from DIRAC-3 cloud access. 

QCi is deploying its DIRAC-3 quantum optimization machine to develop quantum-based methods for mitigating solar noise in space-based LiDAR data, a persistent challenge in achieving accurate daytime atmospheric sensing. This collaboration reinforces QCi’s emergence as a trusted government partner and demonstrates the practical relevance of its quantum computing solutions in scientific and environmental research. 

In addition, the company announced a purchase order from a top-five U.S. bank for its quantum security solutions — the first U.S. commercial sale of its quantum cybersecurity offerings — marking a key milestone in validating its platform for real-world use cases.

Meanwhile, as manufacturing workflows continue to mature, QCi remains engaged in discussions with commercial and academic partners while advancing plans for Fab 2, a larger facility than Fab 1 designed to support higher-volume production over the longer term. During the quarter, the company also maintained an active presence at key conferences and industry events, expanding awareness of its technology across both academic and commercial audiences.

Peer UpdateRigetti’s (RGTI - Free Report) roadmap reflects a practical approach to quantum adoption, centered on modular scaling and close alignment with government, academic, and early enterprise environments. Recent momentum includes $5.7 million in purchase orders for two 9-qubit Novera systems, a $5.8 million three-year AFRL contract to advance superconducting quantum networking, and continued engagement with DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. With deep ownership of its hardware stack, Rigetti retains the flexibility to adapt its architecture as commercial needs evolve.

Arqit Quantum (ARQQ - Free Report) sets itself apart by focusing on quantum cybersecurity through its QuantumCloud platform. The company has recently strengthened its positioning with expanded customer contracts and updated revenue guidance pointing to meaningful growth, helping it stand out in a crowded quantum ecosystem. Supporting this momentum, ARQQ secured seven contracts — two with telecom network operators and five with government, defense, and enterprise organizations.

QUBT’s Price PerformanceYear to date, QCi’s shares have dipped 29%, underperforming the industry’s 10.6% growth. The S&P 500 composite has grown 19.1% in the same period.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) of 878.62X compared with the industry average of 5.55X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QUBT Stock Estimate TrendOver the past 30 days, its loss per share estimate for 2025 has narrowed 1 cent to 18 cents.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

QUBT stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

U.S. stock futures were mostly lower this morning, with the Nasdaq 100 futures slipping around 0.1% on Wednesday.

Shares of SeaStar Medical Holding Corp (NASDAQ:ICU) fell sharply in pre-market trading after the company announced a 1-for-10 reverse split.

SeaStar Medical Holding shares dipped 9.5% to $0.21 in pre-market trading.

Here are some other stocks moving lower in pre-market trading.

Coincheck Group NV (NASDAQ:CNCK) dipped 11% to $2.28 in pre-market trading.
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) dipped 7.6% to $4.67 in pre-market trading after jumping 30% on Tuesday.
Jet.AI Inc (NASDAQ:JTAI) fell 5.3% to $0.82 in pre-market trading after declining 28% on Tuesday. The company announced a planned joint venture with Choo Choo Express to develop 50-mw data center campus in Nevada.
Lifestance Health Group Inc (NASDAQ:LFST) declined 3.7% to $6.80 in pre-market trading.
Precision Drilling Corp (NYSE:PDS) fell 3.3% to $66.96 in pre-market trading.
Vasta Platform Ltd (NASDAQ:VSTA) declined 3.1% to $4.80 in pre-market trading.
Now Read This:

Jim Cramer Is Bullish On This Tech Stock: ‘Continue To Own It’
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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2025) - Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: INSP) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Inspire, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/inspire-medical-systems-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until January 5, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Inspire stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and is captioned City of Pontiac Reestablished General Employees' Retirement System v. Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., et al., No. 0:25-cv-04247.

Why is Inspire Being Sued For Securities Fraud?

Inspire develops and manufactures an implantable medical device for the treatment of sleep apnea. The latest version of the device is the Inspire V. The company announced FDA approval of Inspire V on August 2, 2024.

During the relevant period, Inspire repeatedly assured investors that it had taken all necessary steps to facilitate the launch of Inspire V and that it would launch the device as soon as sufficient inventory was available to meet supposedly high demand.

As alleged, in truth, Inspire failed to take basic steps to prepare clinicians and payors for the rollout, resulting in significant delays in adoption of the device. Moreover, the launch suffered from weak demand, as many customers already had excess inventory of the company's older devices.

Why did Inspire's Stock Drop?

On August 4, 2025, Inspire disclosed that the Inspire V launch was facing an "elongated timeframe" and as a result, it was reducing its 2025 earnings per share guidance by more than 80%. The company attributed the longer timeframe to a number of previously undisclosed factors including that many implanting centers "did not complete the training, contracting and onboarding required prior to the purchase and implant of Inspire V," that certain "software updates for claims submissions and processing did not take effect until July 1, [2025]" which meant implanting centers could not bill for procedures until that date, and that demand for the Inspire V was poor because Inspire's customers had a backlog of older versions of the company's device.

On this news, the price of Inspire stock dropped $42.04 per share, or more than 32%, from $129.95 per share on August 4, 2025, to $87.91 per share on August 5, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/inspire-medical-systems-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Inspire you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/inspire-medical-systems-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/inspire-medical-systems-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278242

Source: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2025) - Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Synopsys, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Investors have until December 30, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Synopsys securities. The class action is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is captioned Kim v. Synopsys, Inc., et al., No. 3:25-cv-09410.

Why Was Synopsys Sued for Securities Fraud?

Synopsys provides design automation software products used to design and test integrated circuits. The Company's Design IP segment, which provides pre-designed silicon components to semiconductor companies, has been the Company's fastest-growing segment, growing from 25% of its revenue in 2022, to 31% in 2024.

During the relevant period, Synopsys told investors that its customers "rely on Synopsys IP to minimize integration risk and speed time to market" and that it was seeing "strength in Europe and South Korea." Synopsys also stated it was "continuing to develop and deploy[] AI into our products and the operations of our business."

As alleged, in truth, the Company's Design IP customers began to require additional customization for IP components, which was deteriorating the economics of its Design IP business and jeopardizing its business model.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On September 9, 2025, Synopsys released its Q3 2025 financial results, revealing its "IP business underperformed expectations." The Company reported revenue for its Design IP segment of $425.9 million, a 7.7% decline year-over-year and net income of $242.5 million, a 43% year-over-year decline. The Company revealed that its Design IP customers require "more and more customization," which "takes longer" and requires "more resources." As a result, the Company stated it was having "an ongoing dialogue with our customers" regarding changing its business model. This news caused the price of Synopsys stock to fall $217.59 per share, or nearly 36%, from $604.37 per share on September 9, 2025, to $387.78 per share on September 10, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Synopsys you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/synopsys-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278247

Source: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2025) - Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in BellRing, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Why is BellRing Being Investigated?

BellRing Brands operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Company's primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink ("RTD") protein shakes and powders. During the relevant period, the Company stated that Premier Protein "hit an all-time high in household penetration" and that "demand remains strong." The Company also stated that its growth was "strong in all channels," driven by "distribution expansion, accelerating velocities and incremental promotional activity."

In truth, the Company's sales growth during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary trade inventory loading at several key retailers, not sustainable end-consumer demand.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2023, "several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand," which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and "offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels." On this news, the price of BellRing stock fell $13.96 per share, or more than 18%, from $77.34 per share on May 5, 2025, to $63.38 per share on May 6, 2025.

Then, on August 4, 2025, after market hours, BellRing announced disappointing quarterly consumption of Premier Protein RTD Shakes, which had been expected to outpace shipments by a wider margin given previously announced retailer destocking, but instead came "more in line" with shipments. On this news, the price of BellRing Brands stock fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in BellRing you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278241

Source: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2025) - Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) and Point Bonita Capital for potential violations of the federal securities laws after SEC probe is revealed.

If you invested in Jefferies or Point Bonita, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/jefferies-financial-group-inc-class-action.

Why are Jefferies and Point Bonita being Investigated?

Jefferies is an investment banking and capital markets firm. Its trade finance arm is named Point Bonita Capital. Jefferies and Point Bonita were two of the closest banking and financing partners of First Brands Group, LLC, an auto parts supplier which collapsed into bankruptcy in September 2025.

On October 8, 2025, Jefferies announced that it and Point Bonita had approximately $715 million in exposure to First Brands' receivables, which represents roughly 25% of Point Bonita's trade finance portfolio. On this news, the price of Jefferies stock fell $4.66 per share, or about 8%, from $59.10 per share on October 7, 2025, to $54.44 per share on October 8, 2025. Investors are reportedly currently seeking redemptions from Point Bonita as well.

On November 27, 2025, it was reported that the SEC is seeking information about whether Jefferies gave investors in its Point Bonita fund enough information about their exposure to the auto business, which filed for bankruptcy in September with $12bn in debt. It was also reported that the SEC is also looking into internal controls and potential conflicts within and between different parts of the bank.

BFA is currently investigating whether Jefferies and/or Point Bonita made materially false and misleading statements to investors in connection with this significant exposure to First Brands and the subsequent SEC probe into the company.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/jefferies-financial-group-inc-class-action.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Jefferies or Point Bonita you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/jefferies-financial-group-inc-class-action

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/jefferies-financial-group-inc-class-action

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278244

Source: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld

Ready to Announce with Confidence?
Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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Barring a miracle, bitcoin will end 2025 in the red, marking just the fourth time the largest cryptocurrency has done so in its history.

Investors are right to be frustrated by Bitcoin’s 2025 showing. There was no major scandal to rock the cryptocurrency space this year. In fact, the Trump administration has unveiled a slew of policies conducive to crypto expansion and U.S. leadership on that front. Some say the president delivered as promised, except for his inability to steer a bitcoin bull market.

So while investors are understandably vexed, 2026 may not be the time to abandon bitcoin and ETFs such as the Coinshares Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund (BRRR). In fact, there’s a strong “why” that supports the case for these assets as 2026 rebound candidates.

Bitcoin, BRRR Can Get it Together in 2026
On the more speculative side of the ledger, some crypto market observers are urging HODLers to, well, hold on, noting that selling Bitcoin today is foolhardy because the digital currency is in the early innings of institutional and mainstream adoption.

If that outlook is validated, it would be meaningful to ETFs like BRRR. On the more fundamental side of the equation, some experts believe sovereign buying of bitcoin will increase next year. That could boost prices along the way. Phone Le, chief executive of Strategy — the largest corporate owner of bitcoin — told Fox Business on Monday that countries could increase bitcoin buying next year. He also called the digital currency “a generational technology invention.”

“That makes it a singular asset class,” Le said in the interview. “If I look at 2026, I’m pretty excited. I think we’re going to see more risk-on buying as we enter the mid-term election period. I think bank adoption, nation state adoption, is going to increase.”

The U.S. and China combine to hold about 520,000 bitcoin, but after that pair, sovereign ownership declines in significant fashion. However, that implies room for growth. Some countries are already buyers, albeit incrementally, of bitcoin. As just one example, the Czech National Bank (CNB) last month bought $1 million worth of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as part of an experimental portfolio.

Coinbase Head of Institutional John D’Agostino recently said that more European countries are likely to consider some exposure to bitcoin at the sovereign level. Add to that, El Salvador, already a devoted bitcoin adopter, made its largest single-day purchase of bitcoin in November. Put it all together, and BRRR could get a 2026 lift from nations boosting bitcoin exposure.

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

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It's a historic year for precious metals amid muted Treasury market volatility.

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

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

Following the global launch event earlier this month, investors in Vertical Aerospace NYSE: EVTL were left with one lingering question: When would the critical piloted transition flight occur? In late December, Vertical delivered investors an early Christmas present by providing a transparent answer.

Vertical Aerospace Today

EVTL

Vertical Aerospace

$5.44 -0.26 (-4.61%)

As of 12/23/2025 03:59 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$2.76▼

$15.99Price Target$11.80

While the full transition flight has been rescheduled for early 2026 due to limited weather windows and testing availability, this update was accompanied by a far more significant development. Vertical Aerospace announced the completion of its third full-scale prototype aircraft.

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The market’s reaction to this news was telling. Rather than punishing the stock for a minor timeline slip, shares rebounded to trade around $5.69. This resilience suggests that investors who are in the know are looking past the tactical delay and focusing on the strategic game-changer: Vertical has transformed from a single-prototype tester into a fleet operator. By trading a few weeks of delay for a doubling of testing capacity, the company has positioned itself for a year of rapid execution, potentially widening the disconnect between its operational reality and its current market valuation.

Strategic Acceleration: The Power of a Multi-Aircraft Fleet
In the world of aerospace certification, data is the most valuable currency. The speed at which a company can gather, analyze, and validate flight data directly correlates to how quickly it can achieve certification and begin generating revenue. This is why the completion of Aircraft 3 is a material event that outweighs the short postponement of a single test maneuver.

The new aircraft is identical to the current full-scale prototype. Its introduction into the program creates a force multiplier effect for the engineering team. Starting in January 2026, Vertical Aerospace will be able to conduct flight tests on two fronts simultaneously. This effectively doubles the rate at which the company can accumulate flight hours and validate critical systems.

However, the benefits extend beyond simple speed. Operating a multi-aircraft fleet introduces vital operational redundancy. In a single-aircraft program, any requirement for maintenance, software updates, or minor repairs brings the entire testing campaign to a halt. With two aircraft, the program can continue moving forward even if one unit is in the hangar for scheduled work. This continuity is essential for maintaining momentum during the rigorous certification phase.

Furthermore, this fleet expansion allows for parallel workstreams. The company plans to utilize the new capacity to manage different testing objectives simultaneously. While one aircraft focuses on the immediate all-electric certification requirements, the other can be prepared for the upcoming integration of the hybrid-electric powertrain later in 2026. This ability to parallel-process complex engineering tasks is one that many competitors, who are often reliant on a single conforming prototype, simply do not possess. It allows Vertical to catch up to, and potentially surpass, peers by running multiple development timelines in parallel.

The Regulatory Unlock: Speeding Up by Cutting Red Tape
Buried within the recent updates was a detail that may be the most significant indicator of Vertical’s maturity: the expansion of its regulatory privileges. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted the company the authority to approve its own Flight Conditions and issue its own Permits to Fly under defined circumstances.

For investors, it is crucial to understand the economic implications of this privilege. In a typical development program, every change to the flight envelope, flying slightly faster, banking slightly steeper, or operating in different wind conditions, often requires a new sign-off from the regulator. This bureaucratic process can add days or weeks of downtime between flights, burning cash without generating data.

By granting these privileges, the CAA has effectively removed these bottlenecks. Vertical Aerospace can now move at the speed of business by authorizing its own tests within an agreed-upon framework. This trust from a top-tier global regulator is an efficiency boost, allowing the company to maximize flight days and reduce cash burn per test hour. It validates the company's certification moat, demonstrating that its internal engineering processes meet the UK government's highest standards of safety and reliability.

The Valuation Disconnect: Why Wall Street Is Watching
Despite operational strides and a regulatory vote of confidence, Vertical Aerospace’s market capitalization stands at approximately $560 million. This valuation stands in stark contrast to key competitors in the sector, many of whom command multi-billion-dollar valuations despite facing similar certification challenges in addition to capital-intensive operational challenges that Vertical has chosen to avoid. This discrepancy suggests that the market is currently pricing in a high degree of execution risk for Vertical, a risk that the company is actively mitigating through its hardware expansion and regulatory achievements.

Vertical Aerospace Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$11.80
117.03% Upside

Moderate Buy
Based on 6 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$5.44High Forecast$15.00Average Forecast$11.80Low Forecast$8.00Vertical Aerospace Stock Forecast Details

Wall Street analysts are beginning to recognize this disconnect. On Dec. 16, Needham & Company raised its price target for Vertical Aerospace to $11.00, up from $9.00. In their note, analysts specifically cited improved execution following a visit to the company's facilities. With the stock trading around $5.70, this revised target implies nearly 100% upside potential.

The thesis from the analyst community is clear: Vertical is checking the right boxes. The Unwarranted Valuation Gap that the company highlighted in its third-quarter presentation is becoming harder to ignore as tangible assets, like the new Aircraft 3, roll off the assembly line. 

Furthermore, the company’s specific design advantages, such as the six-passenger configuration, which offers superior operator economics compared to four-passenger competitors, provide fundamental reasons for a higher valuation. While the broader market may be hesitating due to the transition timeline slip, institutional observers appear to be focusing on the company’s strengthened fundamentals and the massive potential for a re-rating as milestones are met in 2026.

Window of Opportunity: The 2026 Catalyst Calendar
As the calendar turns to 2026, the narrative for Vertical Aerospace shifts from anticipating a single event to managing a continuous campaign of high-velocity milestones. The quiet period of late 2025 is expected to give way to a steady stream of data and achievements.

Investors have a clear catalyst calendar to watch. The first flight of the new Aircraft 3 is scheduled for January 2026, which will serve as immediate visual proof of the fleet expansion. Following closely will be the full piloted transition flight in early 2026, the milestone the market has been waiting for. Beyond that, the middle of the year brings the retrofit of the hybrid powertrain, unlocking the lucrative defense and logistics markets.

Vertical Aerospace enters the new year with more hardware, more regulatory privileges, and a clearer financial picture than ever before. The current share price, depressed by a minor timeline shift, may represent a window of opportunity for investors before the full impact of the doubled testing capacity becomes apparent to the broader market.

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Shares of Agios Pharmaceuticals jumped nearly 12% premarket on Wednesday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of its drug for the treatment of a type of blood disorder.

Jim Wyckoff has spent over 25 years involved with the stock, financial and commodity markets. He was a financial journalist with the FWN newswire service for many years, including stints as a reporter on the rough-and-tumble commodity futures trading floors in Chicago and New York. As a journalist, he has covered every futures market traded in the U.S., at one time or another.

Jim is the proprietor of the "Jim Wyckoff on the Markets" analytical, educational and trading advisory service. Jim also worked as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as the senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com. Jim is also a consultant with the highly respected "Pro Farmer" agricultural advisory service. Jim was also the head equities analyst at CapitalistEdge.com. He received his degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he studied journalism and economics.

Follow Jim daily on Kitco.com as he provides both AM and PM roundups and a daily Technical Special.
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$41 Million USD Transaction Reinforces PowerBank's Growth Model; Seven-Year Strategic Alliance Expands with Three Additional Community Solar Facilities 
PowerBank Strengthens New York Market Position with 11th Solar Advocate Development Partnership Project
16.87 MW of Total Projects Included in Transaction including Elmira, Jordan Road 1, and Jordan Road 2 Projects; Partnership Since 2018 Validates PowerBank's Development Excellence

, /PRNewswire/ - PowerBank Corporation (NASDAQ: SUUN) (Cboe CA: SUNN) (FSE: 103) ("PowerBank" or the "Company"), a leader in North American energy infrastructure development and asset ownership, today announced that further to its press release of December 22, 2025, the Company has received the first $4 million USD payment from Solar Advocate Development LLC (the "Owner") for the development of these projects.

The latest collaboration encompasses three Community Solar facilities—Elmira, Jordan Road 1, and Jordan Road 2 (collectively, the "Projects")—in a transaction valued at approximately $41 million USD that includes full engineering, procurement, and construction services through commercial operation. PowerBank expects to receive the full transaction value over the development and construction period as project milestones are achieved. This milestone underscores the strength of a strategic partnership that has consistently delivered permitted, interconnected solar assets since 2018. The Projects represent a combined 16.87 MW of clean energy generation capacity.

Dr. Richard Lu, CEO of PowerBank, commented: "Reaching our 11th project with Solar Advocate Development isn't just a transaction milestone—it's a testament to PowerBank's ability to consistently deliver permitted, interconnected assets that meet the highest quality standards. This seven-year partnership validates our development expertise and reputation in the New York market. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has created urgent conditions to monetize select development projects while maintaining our IPP growth focus. These proceeds enable PowerBank to deliver the Projects in a timely manner for Solar Advocate Development."

Transaction Progress Demonstrates Execution Strength

PowerBank has already received $4 million USD in initial payments for the Elmira, Jordan Road 1, and Jordan Road 2 projects, with the remaining balance of the $41 million transaction value expected to be realized as construction milestones are achieved throughout the development period. This payment structure reflects standard industry practice for solar EPC contracts, where revenue recognition aligns with project advancement and de-risking activities.

The receipt of initial payments validates PowerBank's successful completion of critical early-stage development work, including:

Utility interconnection agreements securing grid connection rights
Comprehensive permitting from local authorities having jurisdiction
NYSERDA program qualification positioning Projects for state incentives
Site control, environmental assessments, and engineering designs

These development capabilities—transforming non-argriculture raw land into construction-ready solar projects—represent PowerBank's core competitive advantage and the foundation of the Company's relationships with repeat customers like Solar Advocate Development.

Eight Years of New York Community Solar Excellence

Since entering the New York Community Solar market in 2017, PowerBank has established itself as a leading developer of distributed solar projects across the State. The 11 completed or under development projects with Solar Advocate Development represent a multi-year strategic relationship built on consistent execution and quality delivery.

PowerBank's New York operations have demonstrated strong financial performance, with project-level margins and profitability metrics detailed in the Company's publicly available financial statements on the PowerBank Investors page. The Company's community solar development business has contributed to PowerBank's return to profitability, as detailed in recent quarterly reporting.

In Q1 2025, PowerBank returned to profitability with 106% year-over-year gross profit growth, demonstrating the financial strength of the Company's development and construction business model. These results, available in detail on the Company's investor relations page, validate PowerBank's ability to generate attractive margins on community solar development projects while building long-term customer relationships.

The New York State solar market represents one of the most sophisticated regulatory environments in North America, with complex interconnection requirements, local permitting processes, and state incentive programs. PowerBank's proven ability to navigate this landscape—demonstrated through 11 projects delivered or under development with a single repeat customer—positions the Company as a trusted partner for solar asset buyers seeking de-risked, construction-ready projects.

Capitalizing on Policy-Driven Market Acceleration

PowerBank's decision to monetize these development-stage assets reflects the Company's agile response to  market dynamics created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation has compressed construction timelines industry-wide, creating an opportune window for strategic project sales that can generate immediate capital returns while maintaining PowerBank's construction management revenue stream through the EPC phase.

Community solar projects like Elmira, Jordan Road 1, and Jordan Road 2 represent a high-growth market segment. These facilities enable residential and commercial customers without suitable rooftop space to access clean energy benefits through subscription models. By serving multiple off-takers from a single ground-mount installation, community solar projects achieve economies of scale while expanding renewable energy access to underserved market segments.

PowerBank's dual-track growth strategy, building a portfolio of long-term IPP assets while selectively monetizing development projects to accelerate capital deployment demonstrates the business acumen available through PowerBank's vertically integrated business model and experienced leadership team, supports win-win transactions for PowerBank partners.

There are several risks associated with the development of the Projects. The development of any project is subject to the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements for the Owner and the risks associated with the construction of a solar power project. Each EPC agreement includes a corresponding guarantee agreement entered into between Owner and the Company that provides that the Owner shall have, if it is not satisfied with its due diligence, the absolute and unconditional right to sell, transfer, convey or assign the Project back to the Company ("Sell-Back Right") without incurring any further liabilities by providing written notice to Company at any time within 60 days of December 19, 2025. If any EPC agreement is terminated, the Company will not achieve the transaction value and will required to return any funds that have been received associated with the terminated Project. In addition, governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar power, which could result in future projects no longer being economic. Please refer to "Forward-Looking Statements" for additional discussion of the assumptions and risk factors associated with the statements in this press release.

About PowerBank Corporation

PowerBank Corporation is a North American renewable energy developer and independent power producer specializing in distributed solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across Canada and the United States. The Company's integrated business model encompasses project development, construction management, and long-term asset ownership, serving utility, commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential off-takers.

PowerBank's diversified portfolio strategy spans multiple leading North American markets and includes utility-scale projects, host off-taker arrangements, community solar installations, and virtual net metering programs. The Company has successfully developed and constructed renewable energy projects exceeding 100 megawatts of combined capacity and maintains a robust development pipeline of over one gigawatt of potential future projects.

To learn more about PowerBank Corporation and its commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition, please visit www.powerbankcorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information ‎within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking ‎statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. ‎Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, ‎objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the ‎use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will ‎continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", ‎‎"projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be ‎forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties ‎which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in ‎such forward-looking statements. In particular and without limitation, this news release ‎contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's expectations regarding its industry trends and overall market growth; the Company's growth strategies the expected energy production from the solar power projects mentioned in this press release; the expected value of the EPC agreements; the reduction of carbon emissions; and the Company's development pipeline. No assurance ‎can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking ‎statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These ‎statements speak only as of the date of this news release.‎

Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. In making the forward looking statements included in this news release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including but not limited to: that the Owner will not exercise the Sell-Back Right; obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; that regulatory requirements will be maintained; general business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to successfully execute its plans and intentions; the availability of financing on reasonable terms; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled staff; market competition; the products and services offered by the Company's competitors; that the Company's current good relationships with its service providers and other third parties will be maintained; and government subsidies and funding for renewable energy will continue as currently contemplated. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including those listed under "Forward-‎Looking Statements" and "Risk ‎Factors" in the Company's most recently completed Annual Information Form, and other public filings of the Company, which include: the Owner may exercise the Sell-Back Right and require the Company to reacquire any of the Projects and return the related funds received; the Company may be adversely affected by volatile solar power market and industry conditions; the execution of the Company's growth strategy depends upon the continued availability of third-party financing arrangements; the Company's future success depends partly on its ability to expand the pipeline of its energy business in several key markets; governments may revise, reduce or eliminate incentives and policy support schemes for solar and battery storage power; general global economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our operating performance and results of operations; the Company's project development and construction activities may not be successful; developing and operating solar Project exposes the Company to various risks; the Company faces a number of risks involving Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") and project-level financing arrangements; any changes to the laws, regulations and policies that the Company is subject to may present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to the purchase and use of solar power; the markets in which the Company competes are highly competitive and evolving quickly; an anti-circumvention investigation could adversely affect the Company by potentially raising the prices of key supplies for the construction of solar power projects; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; a change in the Company's effective tax rate can have a significant adverse impact on its business; seasonal variations in demand linked to construction cycles and weather conditions may influence the Company's results of operations; the Company may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or have access to external financing; the Company may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future; the Company is subject to risks from supply chain issues; risks related to inflation and tariffs; unexpected warranty expenses that may not be adequately covered by the Company's insurance policies; if the Company is unable to attract and retain key personnel, it may not be able to compete effectively in the renewable energy market; there are a limited number of purchasers of utility-scale quantities of electricity; compliance with environmental laws and regulations can be expensive; corporate responsibility may adversely impose additional costs; the future impact of any global pandemic on the Company is unknown at this time; the Company has limited insurance coverage; the Company will be reliant on information technology systems and may be subject to damaging cyberattacks; the Company may become subject to litigation; there is no guarantee on how the Company will use its available funds; the Company will continue to sell securities for cash to fund operations, capital expansion, mergers and acquisitions that will dilute the current shareholders; and future dilution as a result of financings.

The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any ‎forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or ‎otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it ‎is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such ‎factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to ‎differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-‎looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by ‎this cautionary statement.‎

SOURCE PowerBank Corporation

HomeEarnings AnalysisConsumer 

SummaryMonarch Casino & Resort remains a top regional casino play, maintaining a 'Buy' rating despite a modest revenue miss and slower growth.MCRI's properties in Reno and Black Hawk continue to outperform peers, with strong market share gains and resilient margins across segments.FCF surged to $53.5 million as renovation capex tapered; significant cash reserves and shareholder returns position MCRI for buybacks or further expansion.Valuation now implies mid-single-digit price returns, but buybacks and dividends could push total returns into double digits. GemStocks/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Here we are again. Another quarter from what I still consider one of the best plays among regional casinos and smaller operators.

This time around, Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. (MCRI) finally

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

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

Alphabet Today

$314.35 +4.57 (+1.48%)

As of 12/23/2025 04:00 PM Eastern

52-Week Range$140.53▼

$328.83Dividend Yield0.27%

P/E Ratio31.00

Price Target$315.90

Alphabet NASDAQ: GOOGL has quietly put together one of its strongest years in recent memory.

Shares are up roughly 64% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the broader market and reaffirming the company’s status as a core leader within the Magnificent Seven.

Yet despite that strength, the stock has recently pulled back close to 6% from its 52-week and all-time highs, prompting a familiar question for investors heading into the new year: Is this a healthy pause within a larger uptrend, or a warning sign that momentum is fading?

Get Alphabet alerts:

So far, the evidence points firmly toward the former.

A Banner Year Driven by Scale and Execution
2025 has been a breakout year for Alphabet, fundamentally. The company delivered multiple blockbuster earnings reports, including a quarter that topped $100 billion in revenue, a milestone that underscores just how massive and diversified the business has become. Growth has not been confined to advertising either. Google Cloud has emerged as a central pillar of the Alphabet story, transitioning from a long-term investment into a meaningful profit and growth engine.

That momentum was just reinforced days ago when Alphabet announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Palo Alto Networks NASDAQ: PANW. According to reports, the deal represents Google Cloud’s largest security services agreement to date, with Palo Alto committing to pay nearly $10 billion over several years. Beyond the headline number, the deal highlights Google Cloud’s growing credibility in enterprise security, one of the most competitive and sticky segments of the cloud market.

Just days later, Alphabet announced another strategic move, agreeing to acquire Intersect for $4.75 billion plus assumed debt. The acquisition is aimed squarely at accelerating U.S. data center and power capacity to meet surging AI and cloud demand. Taken together, these developments reinforce a clear theme: Alphabet is aggressively investing to stay ahead of exponential demand for compute, data, and AI infrastructure.

Technical Reset, Not Trend Breakdown
From a technical perspective, the recent pullback looks far more like consolidation than distribution. After rallying sharply through much of the second half of the year, GOOGL has retraced modestly and is now holding above the psychologically important $300 level. More importantly, that area aligns closely with prior resistance, which has now flipped into support.

The stock has also confirmed a higher low within its broader uptrend, a classic technical characteristic of leadership names during healthy pauses. Rather than breaking structure, Alphabet is resetting momentum as it digests gains heading into the new year.

Institutional Conviction Remains Strong
Institutional behavior supports that interpretation. Over the past twelve months, Alphabet has seen $141.7 billion in institutional inflows versus $74.6 billion in outflows, a powerful signal of sustained accumulation rather than distribution. That kind of net buying typically reflects long-term positioning rather than short-term trading.

Alphabet Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$315.90
0.49% Upside

Moderate Buy
Based on 51 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$314.35High Forecast$385.00Average Forecast$315.90Low Forecast$198.00Alphabet Stock Forecast Details

Sentiment from Wall Street remains constructive as well. Alphabet carries a consensus Moderate Buy rating, with its average price target now sitting at a record high of $315.90.

That upward revision trend reflects growing confidence not only in earnings durability but also in Alphabet’s expanding role across AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

It’s also worth revisiting the Buffett angle. Berkshire Hathaway’s exposure to Alphabet has been widely viewed as a vote of confidence in the company’s ability to compound value through multiple cycles.

When combined with Alphabet’s balance sheet strength, dominant market positions, and disciplined capital allocation, that long-term endorsement continues to resonate with investors.

The Bigger Picture Into the New Year
Stepping back, the recent pullback does little to change the bigger picture. Alphabet has delivered exceptional relative strength, executed across multiple growth vectors, and continues to invest aggressively in the technologies shaping the next decade.

While short-term pauses are inevitable after a run like this, the underlying trend remains intact. For investors evaluating quality technology leadership names into the new year, Alphabet’s combination of scale, growth, and strategic execution remains difficult to ignore.

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Chip companies have been testing Intel's production process, known as 18A.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 24, 2025) - Renegade Gold Inc. (TSXV: RAGE) (OTCQB: TGLDF) (FSE: 0700) ("Renegade" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") for aggregate gross proceeds of $4,664,270, consisting of non flow-through units ("NFT Units") at $0.23 per NFT Unit for gross proceeds of $4,364,270 and flow-through units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.23 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $300,000.

Each NFT Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Share") and one transferable share purchase warrant, each warrant (a "NFT Warrant") exercisable into one Share for a period of three years from the date of issue at a price of $0.30 per Share. Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through Share and one-half of one transferrable share purchase warrant, each whole warrant (a "FT Warrant") exercisable into one non flow-through Share for three years from the date of issue at a price of $0.30 per Share.

The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the NFT Units to extinguish debt, for exploration expenditures and for general working capital. The Company will use the gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Units to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) related to the Company's projects in Ontario.

The Company issued an aggregate of 1,212,756 non-transferable share purchase warrants (the "Finders Warrants") in payment of finders' fees under the Placement. Each Finders Warrant is exercisable into one Share for a period of two years from the date of issue at a price of $0.30 per Share.

All securities issued under the Placement are subject to applicable regulatory holds expiring on April 24, 2026. Additionally, the Shares underlying the NFT Units and FT Units (but excluding the Shares underlying the NFT Warrants and FT Warrants) are subject to a 12-month contractual hold period expiring December 23, 2026.

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

About Renegade Gold Inc.

Renegade Gold Inc. is a growth focused company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties located in the Red Lake Mining District of Northern Ontario. As part of its regional-scale consolidation strategy, the Company has assembled one of the largest prospective land packages in and around the Red Lake mining district in proximity to major mines and deposits, as well as along the Confederation Lake and Birch-Uchi greenstone belts. The 1,320 km2 prospective and diversified exploration portfolio has significant potential for gold and critical minerals on trend with the major structures hosting known gold occurrences in the Red Lake mining district today, though mineralization elsewhere in the Red Lake mining district is not necessarily indicative of the mineral potential at the Company's properties.

For further information, please contact:

Renegade Gold Inc.
Devin Pickell
President, CEO and Director

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

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "significant," "expect," "may," "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; that all requisite approvals will be received, and all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, risks related to unforeseen delays; general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes; timeliness of regulatory approvals, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this Forward-Looking Information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this Forward-Looking Information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES
OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/278998

Source: Renegade Gold Inc.

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Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.

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If you're interested in broad exposure to the Industrials - Engineering and Construction segment of the equity market, look no further than the State Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB - Free Report) , a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on January 31, 2006.

Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.

Sector ETFs also provide investors access to a broad group of companies in particular sectors that offer low risk and diversified exposure. Industrials - Engineering and Construction is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 15, placing it in bottom 6%.

Index DetailsThe fund is sponsored by State Street Investment Management. It has amassed assets over $1.66 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Industrials - Engineering and Construction segment of the equity market. XHB seeks to match the performance of the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index before fees and expenses.

The S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index represents the homebuilding sub-industry portion of the S&P Total Markets Index. The S&P TMI tracks all the U.S. common stocks listed on the NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ National Market and NASDAQ Small Cap exchanges. The Homebuilders Index is a modified equal weight index.

CostsExpense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.

Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.35%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.

It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.77%.

Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsEven though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.

This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Consumer Discretionary sector -- about 67.1% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials.

Looking at individual holdings, Champion Homes Inc (SKY) accounts for about 4.1% of total assets, followed by Somnigroup International Inc (SGI) and Cavco Industries Inc (CVCO).

The top 10 holdings account for about 36.92% of total assets under management.

Performance and RiskThe ETF has added about 0.39% so far this year and is down about 0.64% in the last one year (as of 12/24/2025). In that past 52-week period, it has traded between $86.79 and $119.58.

The ETF has a beta of 1.31 and standard deviation of 25.29% for the trailing three-year period, making it a high risk choice in the space. With about 37 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.

AlternativesState Street SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF sports a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. XHB, then, is not a suitable option for investors seeking exposure to the Industrials ETFs segment of the market. However, there are better ETFs in the space to consider.

Invesco Building & Construction ETF (PKB) tracks Dynamic Building & Construction Intellidex Index. The fund has $289.00 million in assets. PKB has an expense ratio of 0.57%.

Bottom LineTo learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.