Market Signal Briefing

// Price

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Published: Dec 21, 2025 at 09:41

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has resumed its upward trend, breaking above the 21-day SMA and the $600 resistance level.

Bitcoin Cash price long-term analysis: bullish

BCH has climbed to a high of $630. Previously, the altcoin reached $650 before being rejected. The cryptocurrency then fell below the moving average lines and entered a sideways pattern around these lines.

Today, buyers have maintained momentum above the $600 resistance. On the upside, the current bullish trend may face resistance at $650. At the time of writing, BCH is trading at $630.

Technical Indicators

Key Resistance Zones: $600, $650, $700

Key Support Zones: $500, $450, $400

Bitcoin Cash indicator reading

The moving average lines are horizontal but show an upward inclination. The 21-day SMA is above the 50-day SMA, indicating bullish momentum. On the 4-hour chart, the price bars are above the upward-sloping moving average lines. The extended candlestick wicks indicate significant selling pressure at the recent peak.

What is the next direction for BCH/USD?

The BCH price is rising after breaking above the $600 resistance. The upward trend has stalled at the $630 high. The price is currently oscillating above the moving average lines and the $630 level. BCH will continue to rise if it breaks through the current barrier. However, the altcoin has reached an overbought level and may decline.

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author. The data provided is collected by the author and is not sponsored by any company or token developer. This is not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coinidol.com. Readers should do their research before investing in funds.

Sun, 21/12/2025 - 9:59

Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox has riled up Bitcoiners by claiming that he is bearish on the leading cryptocurrency.

Cover image via U.Today

Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox appears to be confident that Bitcoin’s closed-minded community culture will eventually cause its downfall.

In a recent social media post, he cited the famous business adage, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."

Even if Bitcoin has a superior technical strategy or market position, a dysfunctional community ("culture") will ultimately undermine it, which is why Wilcox is bearish on the leading coin.  

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Zooko believes the Bitcoin community has become hostile toward innovation and developers. He contrasts this with his desire for Zcash to maintain "high openness" and allow for evolution.

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"I guess we just do our best to retain high openness as a personality trait/practice. Maybe we can engineer Zcash so that a minority of users who want to evolve it can do so successfully against the wishes of the majority," he said. 

The feud with a Bitcoin maximalist Zooko’s comment was a reaction to a recent feud between Alex Pruden (CEO of Aleo) and a Bitcoin maximalist "Coinjoined Chris," who is also known as the co-founder and CEO of Seedor.

Pruden claimed his team released a tool to help protect Bitcoin against future quantum computing threats.

However, "Coinjoined Chris" mocked the effort, calling it a "scam," and acting dismissive. 

Pruden lamented that the "Bitcoin high priest community" is toxic and scares away serious developers who actually want to fix Bitcoin's problems.

If the culture rejects developers and new solutions (like post-quantum security), Bitcoin will eventually fail to adapt to existential threats, regardless of how strong its current price or strategy is.

However, as reported by U.Today, Strategy's Saylor recently opined that Bitcoin developers would eventually adopt a fix for countering the quantum threats, dismissing the concerns about the high level of decentralization within the community potentially making the process too protracted. 

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TL;DR

HumidiFi Overview: Built on Solana, HumidiFi operates as a liquidity-optimizing AMM, integrating with major platforms to reduce slippage and enhance trade execution.
WET Token Utility: WET powers governance, liquidity incentives, and ecosystem rewards, ensuring sustainability and long-term growth within HumidiFi’s DeFi framework.
Price Predictions 2026–2032: Forecasts highlight volatility yet strong growth potential, with WET ranging from sub‑$0.20 levels to above $3.00, reflecting diverse market scenarios.

HumidiFi is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol built on the Solana blockchain, designed to optimize liquidity and trade execution across the ecosystem. Unlike traditional decentralized exchanges, HumidiFi functions as a proprietary automated market maker (AMM) that integrates with platforms such as Jupiter, DFlow, and OKX Router.

This positioning allows it to serve as a critical liquidity layer, facilitating efficient routing of trades and reducing slippage for users. By handling significant daily trading volumes, HumidiFi has established itself as one of Solana’s largest decentralized exchanges, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone in the network’s infrastructure.

The Role of the WET Token
At the heart of HumidiFi lies the WET token, its native digital asset. WET is more than a tradable cryptocurrency; it underpins the protocol’s governance, incentivization, and utility functions. Token holders can participate in governance decisions, contribute to liquidity pools, and benefit from ecosystem rewards. The tokenomics of WET are structured to balance long-term development, community incentives, and ecosystem growth, ensuring that the asset remains central to HumidiFi’s sustainability.

Market Dynamics and Long-Term Considerations
The cryptocurrency sector is shaped by a combination of technological innovation, regulatory developments, and evolving investor sentiment. For projects like HumidiFi, these dynamics play a crucial role in determining how the ecosystem adapts to new challenges and opportunities. The WET token, as the protocol’s native asset, is directly influenced by liquidity trends, governance participation, and the overall growth of decentralized finance.

Examining long-term horizons such as 2026–2032 highlights the importance of structural factors rather than short-term volatility. Elements like blockchain scalability, institutional adoption, and global economic conditions can significantly impact the relevance of HumidiFi within the digital asset landscape.

2026: HumidiFi Early Market Signals and Emerging Trends
In 2026, analysis from CoinCodex suggests that WET could trade within a broad channel ranging between $0.1419 and $0.5502, with an average annualized price positioned at $0.2442. This projection highlights the potential for significant volatility, yet also points to the possibility of notable returns, with estimates indicating a potential 172.07% ROI.

Complementary forecasts based on technical analysis present a narrower outlook, anticipating WET to reach a minimum of $0.3254 and a maximum of $0.3614, with an average trading price around $0.3362. This perspective emphasizes a more stable trading environment, suggesting that WET could maintain consistency within a tighter price band.

Youtubers Price Prediction
YouTube channel, Honest Crypto Insights, recently shared a video predicting potential price predictions for WET for the final weeks of 2025 and early 2026.

2027: HumidiFi Consolidation and Ecosystem Growth

By 2027, projections from DigitalCoinPrice indicate that WET could begin the year at $0.52 and trade near $0.72. This anticipated movement represents a notable increase compared to the previous year, signaling stronger momentum within the market.

Technical analysis provides another perspective, suggesting that WET may reach a minimum of $0.26152 and a maximum of $0.44964, with an average trading price around $0.33485. This outlook underscores the possibility of steady growth while highlighting the importance of market conditions in shaping performance.

2028: HumidiFi Shifts in Investor Sentiment
According to CoinDataFlow’s experimental forecast model, WET could experience growth of approximately 53.12% in 2028, potentially reaching $0.238473 under optimal conditions. The model outlines a trading range between $0.12376 and $0.238473, reflecting the possibility of notable fluctuations within the year.

Another analysis envisions a more optimistic scenario, projecting that WET could attain a minimum of $0.651 and climb to a maximum of $0.7831, with an average trading price around $0.6696 throughout 2028. This outlook highlights the potential for sustained appreciation, pointing to conditions where WET maintains stability while achieving incremental growth.

2029: HumidiFi Technological Advancements and Network Expansion

In 2029, projections suggest that WET could trade within a channel ranging from $0.2067 to $0.4082, with an average annualized price positioned at $0.2840. This scenario points to the potential for a 102.60% return on investment. Such figures emphasize the influence of liquidity, adoption, and investor sentiment.

Analysts also envision a more optimistic outlook, indicating that WET is unlikely to fall below $0.4218, while the maximum peak could reach $0.83165, with an average trading value around $0.57464. This perspective underscores the possibility of stronger upward momentum.

2030: HumidiFi Regulatory Influence and Global Adoption
According to deep technical analysis of past price data, WET is projected to reach a minimum of $1.32 in 2030, with the potential to climb to a maximum of $1.65. The average trading price is expected to hover around $1.37, suggesting a relatively strong performance compared to earlier years.

Additional projections, building on prior analyses, envision a different scenario where WET could record a minimum of $0.53991 and a maximum of $1.131, with an average trading price near $0.75278. This outlook provides a more conservative range.

2031: HumidiFi Strategic Positioning in DeFi Markets

By the beginning of 2031, forecasts and technical analysis suggest that WET could reach $1.77, maintaining this level toward the end of the year. In addition, the token may climb to around $1.63 during certain periods. The span from 2025 to 2031 is expected to be a pivotal stage for WET’s growth.

Another experimental prediction model outlines a different scenario, indicating that WET could rise by approximately 57.95%, reaching $0.607391 under the most positive conditions. The price is expected to remain within a range of $0.248161 to $0.607391 throughout the year.

2032: HumidiFi Long-Term Sustainability and Future Outlook
According to experimental forecast models, WET is anticipated to rise by approximately 63.55% in 2032, with the highest potential price reaching $1.03. Throughout the year, the token’s value could fluctuate within a range of $0.417267 to $1.03, reflecting the possibility of moderate volatility.

Other analyses present a more bullish scenario, forecasting that WET could reach a minimum of $2.79 and climb to a maximum of $3.27, with an average trading price around $2.87 during 2032. This outlook underscores the potential for sustained appreciation, pointing to conditions where WET maintains stability while achieving significant growth.

Conclusion
HumidiFi’s WET token demonstrates strong potential as a cornerstone of Solana’s DeFi ecosystem. Forecasts from 2026 to 2032 highlight both volatility and growth opportunities, shaped by liquidity, adoption, and regulation. Long-term sustainability depends on scalability, institutional participation, and investor sentiment, positioning WET for meaningful relevance in decentralized finance’s future.

The Price Predictions published in this article are based on estimates made by industry professionals; they are not investment recommendations, and it should be understood that these predictions may not occur as described.

The content of this article should only be taken as a guide, and you should always carry out your own analysis before making any investment.

ETH struggles below $3,000 - is another pullback on its way?

2025 has been a rollercoaster of a year for the second-largest cryptocurrency. It began on a high note, alongside the rest of the market, but slumped after the first Trump-induced tariffs to under $1,500 in April. It went on a massive run in the following months and broke its 2021 all-time high by coming inches away from the $5,000 mark.

The trend since then has been precisely the opposite, as it plunged by almost 50% to bottom out at $2,600 in late November. Despite a few price jumps above $3,000, it has been unable to reclaim that level decisively and now sits inches below it. But there are additional warning shots for its future price performance.

Investors Selling Off
Data shared by Ali Martinez shows that Ethereum whales had disposed of $360 million worth of ETH in the past week alone. Their total holdings have been declining ever since the early October run-up from more than 5.73 million tokens to 5.61 million as of press time.

$360 million in Ethereum $ETH sold by whales in just one week! pic.twitter.com/wUNcGoJi5r

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) December 20, 2025

Another worrying trend on the sell side is the recent behavior of investors using the spot Ethereum ETFs to gain exposure to the asset. Farside data paints a clear picture, as the funds have been in the red for seven consecutive trading days since December 11. They have lost almost $650 million in the past week alone, and over $700 million since December 11.

The total net inflows into the ETH-based exchange-traded funds stood at over $15 billion in early October but have declined to under $12.5 billion as of Friday’s close.

The Flipside
Unlike the aforementioned selling spree by different cohorts of investors, on-chain data suggests that retail has been returning. Santiment presented evidence that the number of newly created ETH addresses has seen a few impressive spikes to well over 190,000 daily in December, which are levels even higher than those seen in July, right before the underlying asset started to gain traction.

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New Ethereum Wallets Surge as Analysts Eye a Major ETH Price Move

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BitMine Continues to Buy The Dip, Scooping 100M ETH in a Week

Additionally, some analysts, such as Merlijn The Trader, believe ETH could be on the verge of a breakout. He compared the current setup to the 2015-2018 parabolic rally in terms of accumulation that could open the door for the asset to surge by triple-digits against BTC.

“This Ethereum Move Will Catch Everyone Off Guard,” he concluded.

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Amin Ayan

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

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Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has...

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December 21, 2025

Bitcoin may still have further downside ahead, as crypto traders have yet to display the level of fear typically associated with a market bottom, according to Santiment founder Maksim Balashevich.

Key Takeaways:

Bitcoin could still fall toward $75,000 as social media sentiment remains too optimistic, according to Santiment’s Maksim Balashevich.
The analyst says market bottoms usually form during fear and pessimism, not confidence in a quick rebound.
Japan’s rate hike adds downside risk, though a deeper pullback could create a better long-term setup.

Speaking in a YouTube video published Friday, Balashevich said Bitcoin could still fall toward the $75,000 level, arguing that sentiment across social media remains too optimistic for a durable bottom to form.

A move to that level would represent a drop of roughly 15% from Bitcoin’s current price near $88,000, based on CoinMarketCap data.

Bitcoin’s $75K Zone ‘Tempting’ as Trader Optimism Clouds Market Bottom“It looks very tempting to come even closer to it,” Balashevich said, referring to the $75,000 zone.

His caution stems from what he described as persistent confidence among traders that the recent pullback will quickly reverse.

According to Balashevich, true market bottoms are usually marked by widespread pessimism, frustration and fear, rather than hope.

“The crowd isn’t scared enough for a bottom,” Santiment said in a separate report released the same day.

He pointed to retail-focused online discussions where traders are already calling for a renewed rally, citing macro developments such as interest rate moves in Japan.

“They’re mostly discussing that bears got caught and now we’ll continue up from here,” Balashevich said. “These kinds of statements are not what I want to see.”

Japan’s central bank raised interest rates to a 30-year high of 0.75% on Friday, a decision that has historically coincided with sharp corrections in Bitcoin.

Previous rate hikes in Japan have been followed by drawdowns of around 20% in the cryptocurrency, adding to concerns that more downside could still materialize.

Despite his near-term caution, Balashevich said a deeper pullback could create a more attractive setup for traders.

A move lower, he argued, would flush out remaining optimism and potentially reset sentiment to levels more consistent with a sustainable recovery.

Analysts Split on Bitcoin’s 2026 Outlook as Market Signals DivergeNot all analysts share that view. On Thursday, Fidelity’s director of global macro research, Jurrien Timmer, suggested Bitcoin could “take a year off” in 2026, with prices potentially falling as low as $65,000.

Others are more constructive. Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan has said he expects 2026 to be an “up year” for Bitcoin, citing longer-term adoption trends.

Katherine Dowling, president of Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, recently forecast that Bitcoin would reach $150,000 by the end of 2026, citing “the trifecta of a positive regulatory environment, quantitative easing, and institutional inflows.”

Market indicators paint a mixed picture. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has remained in “Extreme Fear” territory since mid-December, posting a score of 20 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Altcoin Season Index recently showed a strong “Bitcoin Season” reading, suggesting traders are rotating into Bitcoin and away from higher-risk altcoins.

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A structured roadmap aims to elevate Ethereum’s security standards and enforce stricter benchmarks for zkEVM solutions by 2026.

Photo: Shubham Dhage

Key Takeaways

The Ethereum Foundation is prioritizing security over speed, aiming for 128-bit provable security by the end of 2026.
A three-stage roadmap was outlined, requiring zkEVM teams to use official tools and meet incremental security thresholds.

The Ethereum Foundation is shifting focus from performance to security, setting a target of 128-bit provable security for L1 zkEVMs by the end of 2026. It requires participating zkEVM teams to adopt a standardized security measurement tool and has laid out a three-phase roadmap to reach the goal.

The first phase focuses on a unified security assessment in early 2026. The second phase targets at least 100-bit provable security by mid-2026, alongside defined proof-size limits. The final phase requires full 128-bit provable security with smaller proofs and formal soundness arguments by the end of 2026.

With recent cryptographic advances making these targets feasible, the authors emphasize that stabilizing zkEVM architectures now is essential to enable formal verification and long-term security, marking a transition from performance experimentation to foundational robustness.

Disclaimer

Robust demand for spot ETFs, a cautious BoJ policy stance, and progress toward crypto-friendly legislation support a bullish price outlook.

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

BoJ Policy Outlook: Inflation and Market Disruption
The BoJ ensured there was no market disruption on Friday, December 19, delivering a highly anticipated 25-basis-point rate hike. BoJ Governor Ueda referenced the Bank’s neutral rate, highlighting that the rate hike lifted interest rates to 0.75%, still below the lower band of the neutral rate.

Notably, the BoJ Governor did not offer a narrower neutral rate range, leaving uncertainty about the number of potential rate hikes through 2026. A 1% neutral rate would signal one rate hike to reach monetary policy normalization, neither accommodative nor restrictive. Crucially, a 1% neutral rate would leave US-Japan rate differentials in favor of the US dollar, boosting yen carry trades into risk assets.

Japan’s recent inflation data suggests that a 1% neutral rate may be too low, raising the risk of a neutral rate of between 1.5% and 2%. There is also Fed Chair Powell’s replacement to consider. A dovish Fed Chair, pushing for aggressive rate cuts, would also hit yen carry trade profitability.

However, a 2% neutral rate would narrow the rate differential sharply, drive yen demand, and send Japanese Government Bond (JGB) yields higher. These events would likely trigger a yen carry trade unwind, similar to the mid-2024 unwind.

SoSoValue – XRP Spot ETF Flows – 211225
Medium- and Long-Term Outlook Remains Constructive
Robust demand for XRP-spot ETFs, coupled with the BoJ’s policy stance, reinforces the bullish short- to medium-term price outlook.

Meanwhile, updates on the Market Structure Bill’s progress on Capitol Hill were also positive, raising hopes that crypto-friendly legislation would become effective in Q1 2026.

While the BoJ and the Fed’s policy stances remain key, legislative developments, rising institutional demand, and increased adoption are tailwinds for XRP.

Considering the current market dynamics, the short-term (1-4 weeks) outlook has turned bullish, with a $2 price target. The medium-term (4-8 weeks) and longer-term (8-12 weeks) outlooks remain bullish, with price targets of $2.5 and $3.0, respectively.

Downside Risks to the Bullish Scenario
Several scenarios could derail the bullish outlooks. These include:

The Bank of Japan declares a neutral interest rate of between 1.5% and 2.5% and the need to combat inflation aggressively.
US economic data and Fed speakers support a hawkish Fed policy stance.
The MSCI delists digital asset treasury companies (DATs). Delistings would likely reduce interest in XRP as a treasury reserve asset.
US Senate challenges the Market Structure Bill.
XRP-spot ETFs report outflows.

These events would likely push XRP toward $1.75, signaling a bearish trend reversal.

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

Financial Analysis
Technical Outlook: EMAs Signal Caution
XRP gained 1.29% on Saturday, December 20, following the previous day’s 5.6% rally, closing at $1.9336. The token outperformed the broader crypto market, which gained 0.24%.

Despite Saturday’s gain, XRP remained well below the 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), signaling a bearish bias. While technicals remain bearish, fundamentals are increasingly outweighing the technical structure.

Key technical levels to watch include:

Support levels: $1.75, and then $1.50.
50-day EMA resistance: $2.1434.
200-day EMA resistance: $2.4148.
Resistance levels: $2, $2.5, $3.0, and $3.66.

Looking at the daily chart, a breakout above the $2 psychological level would bring the 50-day EMA into play. A sustained move through the 50-day EMA would indicate a near-term bullish trend reversal, paving the way toward the 200-day EMA and the $2.5 resistance level.

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

TLDR:

Phong Le says Bitcoin should be judged as a product, similar to early Apple, Netflix, and the internet era
Strategy’s 2020 Bitcoin purchase focused on long-term treasury preservation, not speculative price appreciation
Preferred stocks like Strike and Strife were created to access liquid capital without heavy common equity dilution
Dividend sustainability relies on NAV strength, with Bitcoin sales considered only if NAV falls below one

Strategy CEO Bitcoin comparisons to early Apple and Netflix framed key remarks made by Phong Le during an interview with What Bitcoin Did.

In the interview, Strategy CEO Phong Le reflected on how his understanding of Bitcoin evolved after the company’s first purchase in 2020. 

He compared Bitcoin’s early phase to formative technologies like the internet, the iPhone, and Netflix’s DVD-by-mail model. “You don’t win by forecasting returns,” Le said. “You win by recognizing a good product early.” 

He described Bitcoin as a product whose value becomes clear through usage, not conventional valuation models.

Le emphasized that Bitcoin’s long-term relevance comes from its design and global accessibility. “Great products are hard to price at the beginning,” he said, adding that intuition often precedes data. 

His remarks positioned Bitcoin as a technology-driven asset rather than a speculative trade.

Bitcoin as a Product and Corporate Reserve
Le explained that Strategy’s initial Bitcoin purchase was a conservative treasury decision, not a directional market bet. “We were looking for something better than holding cash,” he said. 

The company viewed Bitcoin as a long-term store of value rather than a short-term balance sheet trade. Tweets circulating after the interview echoed this framing, quoting Le’s focus on product quality.

He also addressed why other corporations hesitated to adopt Bitcoin. “Boards have different levels of change tolerance,” Le noted. 

He explained that many companies lacked familiarity with digital assets, leading to slower decision-making. According to Le, Bitcoin adoption often depends on governance comfort rather than market timing.

Le further stated that Bitcoin’s appeal lies in its neutrality and durability. “It works the same everywhere,” he said, referencing its global network and predictable supply.

 This consistency, he argued, aligns with how enduring products gain trust over time.

Capital Markets Strategy and Preferred Equity
The discussion then shifted to Strategy’s evolving capital structure. Le described the company’s use of convertible bonds to expand its Bitcoin holdings. 

“The convertible market looked attractive at first,” he said. Over time, liquidity constraints and hedge fund strategies changed its effectiveness.

In response, Strategy introduced preferred equity instruments such as Strike, Strife, and Stride. “These are equities that behave like bonds,” Le explained. 

He differentiated each product by risk profile, noting that Strife resembles investment-grade exposure, while Stride aligns with higher-yield demand. Quotes from this segment were widely shared across financial social media.

Dividend sustainability was another focus. Strategy’s preferred payouts total roughly $750–800 million annually.

 “Preferred stock is less dilutive than issuing common shares,” Le said, particularly when trading above net asset value. He acknowledged that selling Bitcoin to fund dividends would be considered only if NAV dropped below one.

Le also discussed accounting standards and index inclusion. He criticized legacy accounting rules for distorting quarterly earnings. 

On S&P 500 eligibility, he stated, “The decision rests with large asset managers.” He added that consistent retail support remains influential in shaping institutional outcomes.

Cardano price remained on edge near its year-to-date low on Sunday, Dec. 21, even as the recently launched Midnight token continued its momentum.

Summary

Cardano price has formed a falling wedge pattern on the daily chart.
The token may rebound by ~40% from the current level.
Cardano will benefit from the ongoing Midnight token boom.

Cardano (ADA) token was trading at $0.3680, a few points above this year’s low of $0.3476. It remains ~70% below its highest point this year, with its market capitalization falling from over $25 billion to $13 billion. 

Cardano price could be on the verge of a strong bullish breakout as its fundamentals improve. One of the core catalysts is that Midnight (NIGHT), the recently launched Cardano Native Asset, is thriving. 

The NIGHT token jumped to $0.082, up by 135% from its lowest level this month. Most importantly, this surge is happening in a high-volume environment, with the 24-hour figure crossing the $5 billion milestone for the first time. 

Its 24-hour volume was the fourth largest in the crypto industry after Tether,  Bitcoin, and Ethereum. It was also much higher than Cardano’s $307 million, and is a sign that there is robust demand among investors. 

NIGHT’s performance is also notable because most newly launched tokens often crash as insiders dump. Also, their volumes tend to peak on the first few days and then plunge as the momentum wanes.

Midnight has gained traction as demand for privacy tokens gain steam. A closer look at the top forecasts for 2026 by top companies like Coinbase and Grayscale shows that it will be one of the main themes in the crypto industry. This also explains why the Zcash price has jumped this weekend.

Midnight’s success will help to boost Cardano’s ecosystem over time, solving one of the biggest challenges. 

At the same time, Cardano is working on the Pentad proposal that will boost its ecosystem by introducing tier-1 stablecoins and oracle networks.

Cardano price technical analysis 
ADA price chart | Source: crypto.news
The daily timeframe chart shows that the ADA price has dropped to $0.3680, down sharply from the September high of $1.017. It has formed a falling wedge pattern, which is made of two descending and converging trendlines. 

The coin’s Relative Strength Index and the MACD indicators have formed a bullish divergence pattern. Therefore, the token may rebound to the key resistance level at $0.5147, its lowest point in April and June this year. This price is about 40% above the current level. 

Journalist

Posted: December 21, 2025

Uniswap emerged among the top gainers over the past 24 hours, posting an intraday rise of over 11%.

The move came as governance activity returned to focus and UNI’s chart structure showed early signs of reversal. Market participants tracked both developments closely as the price attempted to reclaim key levels.

With momentum building, traders began questioning whether UNI’s rally had room to extend or if resistance would cap the move.

Three major events for Uniswap crypto 
Three important things that happened in the last 24 hours for Uniswap [UNI]. They include the Unification Proposal Vote, the AI Agent-to-Agent Payment, and the KuCoin Listing.

The Unification Proposal Vote from Uniswap’s Founder Hayden Adams was at the top of the list. The governance vote, which runs from the 19th to the 25th of December, suggested burning 100 million UNI tokens after a two-day timelock if it passes.

It turned on the v2 and v3 fee switches on the mainnet, sending fees to burn UNI along with Unichain’s income. Its revenue aligned as 0.05% of swap fees would fund further burns, linking protocol usage to token value.

Furthermore, Uniswap Labs works with governance through a Wyoming DUNA-recognized contract. This makes the protocol more decentralized and efficient.

Source: Uniswap Labs

Thus, it could make up for missed fees from the cumulative volume, increase LP returns through PFDA, and bring all of the Foundation’s work under Uniswap Labs with a $20 million annual budget.

Along with this, AI Agent-to-Agent Payment was moving forward with Coinbase’s x402 V2. This unified stablecoin-based protocol lets AI agents make transactions on multiple chains without any problems.

More fees from such transactions would increase the amount of burned tokens, thus reducing the supply further.

KuCoin’s listing of UnifAI Network (UAI) gives independent AI agents the power to trade and lend without having to write code.

Will the price breakout hold?
While these factors were sparking a bullish outlook for the market, Uniswap price action was breaking out. UNI was breaching a month’s bear structure but was facing a challenge at the $7 zone.

The sell wall at $6 was critical.

For UNI to trend higher, price action needs to flip the current movement. In fact price had declined since the start of August, as per the data.

Source: TradingView

Upon breaching this sell wall, the next key targets were at $7, $10 and $12 respectively. The ultimate target for price was above the $12 level.

Conversely, failure to breach the sell wall at $6 would mean that bulls are yet to take control of the price. That way, the UNI price would negate the bullish outlook that has made UNI rise past the descending trendline resistance.

Final Thoughts

Uniswap rallies 11% due to three major events for the blockchain including Unification Proposal Vote, AI Agent-to-agent Payment and KuCoin Listing
Uniswap price action looked primed from more upside potential but needed to breach the sell wall at $7.

The exchange-traded fund playbook that powered Bitcoin and, later, Ethereum into institutional portfolios may not apply neatly to XRP. According to asset managers behind the new XRP ETF launches, the product is carving out what one executive called a “third path” — one that may be less dependent on crypto’s traditional boom-and-bust cycle and more anchored in adoption and infrastructure.

As of mid-month, XRP-linked ETFs have gathered roughly $1.12 billion in net assets, a figure that stands out not because it rivals Bitcoin’s record-breaking debut, but because it has arrived amid a weakening crypto market. That contrast is shaping a new narrative around XRP’s role in institutional portfolios.

“I think it’s sort of this third path which is really interesting,” said Matt Hougan, referring to the divergence between XRP’s rollout and earlier ETF launches.

Not Bitcoin. Not Ethereum.Bitcoin’s ETF debut was a singular event, executives say — the culmination of nearly a decade of regulatory battles, pent-up institutional demand, and perfect timing during a bull cycle. Ethereum’s experience was almost the opposite: a quieter launch that struggled for attention before finding momentum much later.

XRP’s reception has landed somewhere else entirely.

“XRP has been much better received than Ethereum was,” Hougan said, saying that Ethereum ETFs initially “quietly moved out of the gate.” By contrast, XRP funds crossed the billion-dollar mark quickly despite unfavorable market conditions.

“To see a billion dollars in a down market is really exceptional,” Hougan said. “If this were a strong crypto market that number would be significantly higher.”

A Willingness to Compete — and a Bet on StrengthSteven McClurg, whose firm has launched multiple digital-asset ETFs, said XRP stood out well before trading began.

“I knew it was going to be strong out of the gate based on the conversations we had,” McClurg said, contrasting it with Ethereum, where he previously opted not to launch a spot product because of crowded competition and weaker early demand.

Bitcoin, McClurg acknowledged, benefited from every possible tailwind: market leadership, a long track record, and a bull cycle already in motion. XRP, by comparison, is emerging as what he called a “divergent asset”,  one that may decouple from Bitcoin’s familiar four-year rhythm.

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A cryptocurrency trader has lost nearly $50 million in USDT after falling victim to an address poisoning scam, a technique that exploits transaction history rather than smart contract flaws. Blockchain security firms said the incident highlights how routine wallet habits can expose users to large-scale losses.

In an X post, on-chain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that the victim transferred 49,999,950 USDT to an attacker-controlled wallet on Dec. 20. The funds had just been withdrawn from Binance and were intended for the trader’s own address. Instead, they were redirected to a visually similar address created by the attacker.

Address Poisoning Scam Exploits Spoofed Addresses
The incident began with a test transaction. The trader sent a 50 USDT test transaction to confirm the destination address. Shortly after, an automated script generated a spoofed wallet designed to resemble the legitimate address.This step marked the start of the address poisoning scam. 

Source: X
The fraudulent address shared the same opening and closing characters as the intended wallet, with differences confined to the center of the string. Many wallet interfaces shorten these middle characters, reducing visibility during routine checks.

By exploiting this display behavior, the attacker sent small transactions from the lookalike address to the victim’s wallet. This inserted the fake address into the transaction history, causing it to appear legitimate during later transfers.

When the trader later copied an address from their history to complete the full transfer, the lookalike address was likely selected by mistake. Etherscan data shows the test payment was sent at 3:06 UTC. The erroneous $50 million transaction followed roughly 26 minutes later, at 3:32 UTC.

Stolen Funds Moved Through DAI, ETH, and Tornado Cash
Blockchain security company SlowMist reported that the attacker moved quickly in order to minimize recovery risk. In 30 minutes, the $50 USDT was exchanged for DAI by via MetaMask Swap. The decision was strategic because Tether can freeze USDT if it’s associated with illicit activity, but DAI doesn’t come with any centralized freezes.

The DAI was then converted by the attacker to approximately 16,690 ETH. Approximately 16,680 ETH was deposited into Tornado Cash. The mixer was an attempt to obfuscate the transaction trails, the usual step subsequent to an address poisoning scam.

Upon executing the transaction, the victim sent an on-chain message to the attacker by a $1 million white-hat bounty. The offer demanded the repayment of 98% of the stolen money. There has been no public acknowledgement or reply. The security companies remain active monitoring the address poisoning scam.

According to Chainalysis, the incident contributes to a year of rising crypto thefts. Losses in crypo hacks 2025 exceeded $3.4 billion, more than the previous year. One of those, a February breach of Bybit by North Korea-linked actors, totaled about $1.4 billion and was the largest crypto theft ever.

Billionaire crypto entrepreneur Arthur Hayes just initiated a new crypto purchase.

Analysts at Lookonchain say Hayes moved $3.53 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) in just over 24 hours.

Approximately $1.5 million of the ETH was sent to the institutional crypto asset firm Galaxy, suggesting Hayes may be looking to sell.

Meanwhile, Hayes used a portion of the $2.03 million in ETH that was not sent to Galaxy to purchase 1.22 million Ethena (ENA) tokens worth about $257,000 at time of publishing.

Amid the shuffle, Hayes noted he’s executing a rotation out of ETH on X.

“We are rotating out of ETH and into high-quality DeFi names, which we believe can outperform as fiat liquidity improves.”

Ethena’s ENA is the governance token for the Ethena protocol, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform built on Ethereum that provides a crypto-native synthetic dollar called USDe.

Hayes has since been an investor in and promoter of the protocol since 2023, when he became a founding advisor through his family office Maelstrom and received ENA tokens in exchange.

Generated Image: Midjourney

Shutterstock/Tomasz Makowski

Explore how sector balance, yield, and risk profiles set these two Vanguard ETFs apart for investors seeking different strategies.

Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG +1.38%) emphasizes large-cap growth stocks with a tech tilt, while Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.89%) delivers broader, more diversified U.S. equity exposure, a higher yield, and a marginally lower expense ratio.

Both VUG and VOO are passively managed by Vanguard, but they serve distinct purposes: VUG targets large-cap growth stocks, concentrating on technology and related sectors, while VOO tracks the S&P 500 Index, representing the 500 largest U.S. companies across a wider sector spectrum. This comparison looks at their cost, returns, risk, composition, and practical differences to help investors decide which may suit their strategy.

Snapshot (Cost & Size)MetricVUGVOOIssuerVanguardVanguardExpense ratio0.04%0.03%1-yr return (as of Dec. 16, 2025)13.1%11.9%Dividend yield0.4%1.1%Beta1.171.00AUM$207.2 billion$861.9 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

VOO looks marginally more affordable on fees, charging 0.03% compared to VUG’s 0.04%, and it also delivers a notably higher dividend yield at 1.1% versus 0.4%, which may appeal to income-focused investors.

Performance & Risk ComparisonMetricVUGVOOMax drawdown (5 y)(35.62%)(24.52%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$1,923$1,825What's InsideVOO holds 505 companies, tracking the S&P 500 Index for over 15 years. Its portfolio spans technology (37%), financial services (12%), and consumer cyclicals (11%). The top holdings are NVIDIA (NVDA +3.80%) at 7.38%, Apple (AAPL +0.54%) at 7.08%, and Microsoft (MSFT +0.40%) at 6.25%, reflecting a still-prominent but less concentrated tech focus than growth-specific funds.

VUG, by contrast, is much more growth-focused, with 52% in technology, 14% in communication services, and 14% in consumer cyclicals. Its top positions are Apple at 11.22%, NVIDIA at 11.15%, and Microsoft at 9.94%, creating a higher concentration in these names. VUG holds 166 stocks, so its sector and stock tilts are more pronounced than VOO’s broader diversification.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What This Means For InvestorsThe Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG +1.38%) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.89%) are two of the most well-known and well-respected ETFs around, thanks to their low risk profiles, solid performance histories, and low fee structures. And while there is nothing wrong with owning both ETFs, let's compare them head-to-head to see which one comes out on top.

To start, let's note each fund's performance history. Over the last ten years, the VOO has generated a total return of 289%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.5% -- directly in line with the benchmark S&P 500 index. The VUG, by contrast, has outperformed the VOO and S&P 500. With its higher concentration of big tech stocks, the VUG has generated a total return of 389%, with a CAGR of 17.2%.

Turning to yield, the VOO offers a more generous income stream, with a dividend yield of 1.1%, as opposed to 0.4% for the VUG. As for fees, both funds are extremely affordable, but VOO is marginally cheaper, with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.04% for VUG. Finally, both funds are extremely liquid, with AUM of over $200 billion for VUG and more than $800 billion for VOO.

To sum up, VUG's focus on growth stocks means that it is slightly more volatile, but it has produced higher returns as ample compensation. VOO, by mirroring the S&P 500 index, is less volatile and has produced returns that directly mirror the benchmark index. In addition, VOO's higher dividend yield and lower fees may appeal to income-oriented or cost-conscious investors.

The bottom line: Both ETFs are worthy of consideration for most investors.

GlossaryETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): A pooled investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.
Expense ratio: The annual fee, as a percentage of assets, that an ETF or mutual fund charges its shareholders.
Dividend yield: The annual dividends paid by an investment, expressed as a percentage of its current price.
Beta: A measure of an investment's volatility compared to the overall market; higher beta means higher risk.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of assets that an investment fund manages on behalf of investors.
Max drawdown: The largest percentage drop from a fund’s peak value to its lowest point over a specific period.
Growth stock: A company stock expected to grow earnings or revenue faster than the market average.
Large-cap: Refers to companies with a large market capitalization, typically over $10 billion.
S&P 500 Index: A stock market index tracking the performance of 500 large U.S. companies.
Sector: A group of companies in the same industry or market segment, such as technology or financial services.
Portfolio diversification: Spreading investments across various assets or sectors to reduce risk.

In the quantum computing space, D-Wave Quantum has an advantage.

D-Wave Quantum (QBTS +7.63%) has been one of several big stock movers in the quantum computing sector this year. But while its share price has tripled year to date, it hasn't been a smooth ride for shareholders.

D-Wave's stock has also been cut nearly in half since it peaked in October, and in the wake of that slump, some Wall Street firms have initiated coverage of the company and rated the shares a buy. D-Wave's sixth-generation Advantage2 is one of the leading quantum computing systems, and it could be what gives D-Wave an edge over its rivals.

Image source: Getty Images.

Is explosive growth imminent?
D-Wave's Advantage2 quantum annealing system is now commercially available either through a cloud service or for on-site installation. According to the company, the energy-efficient system "is designed to help businesses accelerate decision-making, streamline operations, and respond to disruptions with greater agility."

D-Wave's quantum annealing systems differ from the types of quantum computers that most other players in the sector are working on. They are suitable for a narrower range of use cases. But they look extremely promising for optimization and sampling problems -- categories that include complex problems faced in logistics, finance, materials science, and AI development.

Wall Street analysts see D-Wave's differentiation as a key reason why it could outperform. Jefferies projects a 73% compound annual revenue growth for the company for the remainder of the decade. 

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What remains in question is whether companies and institutions will adopt the new technology. There's a real risk they won't come around to it rapidly. But D-Wave has more than $800 million in cash on its balance sheet and only about $35 million in long-term debt. That should allow it bridge any gap associated with slow customer uptake, which adds to the argument that it's a good choice for investors seeking exposure to the quantum computing space.

Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Explore how differences in leverage, risk, and cost between SPXL and SSO can impact your approach to S&P 500 trading strategies.

The ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF (SSO +1.77%) and the Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares ETF (SPXL +2.61%) are both designed for traders and investors seeking magnified returns from daily moves in the S&P 500, but they differ in their leverage factor and risk profile.

SPXL targets triple the daily move of the S&P 500, resulting in greater potential upside and downside, while SSO aims for double. This comparison weighs their costs, performance, portfolio makeup, and unique risks for anyone considering a leveraged S&P 500 play.

Snapshot (cost & size)MetricSSOSPXLIssuerProSharesDirexionExpense ratio0.87%0.87%1-yr return (as of Dec. 16, 2025)16.54%17.10%Dividend yield0.69%0.75%Beta (5Y monthly)2.023.07AUM$7.3 billion$6.2 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

SSO and SPXL charge the same amount in fees, but SPXL offers a slightly higher dividend yield. Because both of these ETFs perform best as short-term investments, however, fees and yield likely won't be significant factors for investors to consider.

Performance & risk comparisonMetricSSOSPXLMax drawdown (5 y)-46.73%-63.80%Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$2,588$3,144SPXL's triple leverage has resulted in both higher five-year gains and much steeper historical declines compared to SSO, highlighting the increased risk and reward potential. The deeper max drawdown for SPXL signals a bumpier ride during market corrections.

What's insideSPXL tracks the S&P 500 with triple daily leverage, holding just over 500 stocks and leaning heavily into technology (35% of total assets), financial services (14%), and consumer cyclical (11%). Its largest allocations are to Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, each making up less than 10% of the fund's total assets.

SSO also seeks leveraged S&P 500 exposure, but at 2x daily leverage, with a similar sector profile and top holdings. Like SPXL, SSO employs a daily leverage reset, which can cause performance to diverge from expectations if held long term or during volatile markets.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What this means for investorsLeveraged ETFs are higher-risk investments, but they also have the potential for more significant earnings. Both SSO and SPXL track the S&P 500, but the primary difference between them is their leverage factor.

SSO aims to earn 2x the daily returns of the S&P 500, while SPXL targets 3x daily returns. Of the two, SPXL has higher earning potential, but that increases its risk and volatility, too.

SPXL's total returns have only marginally surpassed SSO's over the last 12 months, but it has performed well over the past five years -- more than tripling in that time and earning substantially higher returns than SSO.

What investors will need to decide, then, is whether those potential returns are worth the volatility. SPXL's max drawdown is much higher than SSO's, indicating severe price swings over the last five years. Its higher beta also demonstrates higher levels of volatility.

Volatility isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as you're prepared for it. If you're willing to risk the significant price swings, SPXL could be the more lucrative of these two leveraged ETFs.

GlossaryLeverage: Using borrowed funds or derivatives to amplify investment returns, increasing both potential gains and losses.
Expense ratio: The annual fee, expressed as a percentage of assets, that a fund charges its shareholders.
Beta: A measure of an investment's volatility compared to the overall market; higher beta means more price swings.
Drawdown: The percentage decline from a fund's peak value to its lowest point over a specific period.
Dividend yield: Annual dividends paid by a fund or stock, shown as a percentage of its current price.
Daily leverage reset: The process where leveraged funds adjust their exposure each day to maintain a set leverage ratio.
Path-dependent results: Outcomes that depend on the sequence of returns, not just the overall return, often affecting leveraged funds.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of assets that a fund manages on behalf of investors.
Sector profile: The breakdown of a fund's investments by industry sectors, showing where its assets are concentrated.
Max drawdown: The largest observed loss from a fund's peak to its trough during a specific period.
Total return: The investment's price change plus all dividends and distributions, assuming those payouts are reinvested.

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

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

Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have 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.

The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this article should be taken as a solicitation to purchase or sell securities. Before buying or selling shares, you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion or consult a financial advisor. Investing includes risks, including loss of principal.

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.

HomeMarket OutlookToday's Market

SummaryThe S&P 500 had a rough start to the week but finished on solid footing, ultimately finishing up 0.1% from last Friday.The 50-day moving average has been above the 200-day moving average since July 1st.The S&P 500 is currently up 16.46% year-to-date, while the S&P Equal Weight is up 10.04% year-to-date. AlexSecret/iStock via Getty Images

By Jennifer Nash

The S&P 500 had a rough start to the week but finished on solid footing, ultimately finishing up 0.1% from last Friday. Here is a snapshot of the index from the past week:

Revenue and profits are soaring, but so are the social media company's capital expenditures.

Meta Platforms (META 0.78%) stock has lagged in 2025. Shares of the Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads parent are up about 13% for the year, while the S&P 500 has climbed about 17%.

The gap looks odd given how the business has performed. The company has kept pushing faster growth out of its ad platform across its social media properties -- and it has continued to invest aggressively in AI (artificial intelligence). If that spending does what management hopes, 2026 could be the year the stock rerates higher.

On the other hand, the same investment plan that could power the next leg of growth also raises the stock's risk profile. Any slowdown in revenue growth rates next year could derail investor confidence in Meta's plan to invest aggressively in long-term growth opportunities.

Image source: Getty Images.

Strong business momentum
2025 has been a standout year for the social media company's business.

Meta's second-quarter revenue rose an impressive 22%. This was a significant acceleration from 16% growth in Q1. But Meta didn't stop there. The third quarter pushed that pace to 26%, with quarterly revenue reaching more than $51 billion.

This growth was fueled by impressive advertising performance. In Q3, Meta's ad impressions rose 14% year over year. Additionally, average price per ad increased 10%.

And it looks like the company will likely wrap up the year on a high note. For the fourth quarter of 2025, Meta expects revenue to be between $56 billion and $59 billion. The midpoint of this guidance range implies 19% growth. But the high end would translate to 22% growth. Both of these figures are well ahead of the 16% growth the company started the year with.

Meta's biggest risk
The biggest risk for the stock is not hard to name. Meta is building an enormous amount of AI capacity, and the bill is rising quickly. The company told investors it expects 2025 capital expenditures, including principal payments on finance leases, to come in at $70 billion to $72 billion.

Then it raised the bar for 2026. Meta chief financial officer Susan Li said in Meta's third-quarter update that the company expects "capital expenditures dollar growth will be notably larger in 2026 than 2025."

She also warned that total expenses should grow faster in 2026, driven mainly by infrastructure costs, including higher depreciation and cloud spend.

This investment plan can work. Meta ended the third quarter with about $44.5 billion in cash and marketable securities. Additionally, it generated $10.6 billion of free cash flow (cash from regular operations less capital expenditures), even as its capital expenditures ramped up. And the company still managed to return cash to shareholders in the quarter. Specifically, it spent about $3.2 billion on repurchases and $1.3 billion on dividends.

But given the company's expectations for continued growth in capital expenditures, free cash flow will likely come down next year and possibly even turn negative, requiring the company to tap into its massive cash hoard.

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So, given this combination of powerful business momentum and soaring spending, is Meta a buy going into 2026? With a price-to-earnings ratio of 29, the stock isn't cheap. But it may be worth paying up for. The stock's performance will likely boil down to whether Meta's big spending helps the company sustain its rapid top-line growth rates next year -- and given Meta's long history of strong execution, I think this is plausible.

While I ultimately like the stock headed into 2026, investors should keep in mind the risks and watch the company closely. In addition, any position in the stock should probably be kept small. Any signs that Meta's AI spending isn't going to help the business materially could be a reason to revisit the bull case.

This streaming giant is making big-time moves, which could propel the stock over the coming years.

From DVD rental service to global streaming giant, Netflix (NFLX +0.35%) has arguably been the biggest success story in the media industry over the past two decades, and the stock has generated life-changing returns for those who have held the stock along the way.

The journey continues, though. Netflix is attempting to dominate a competitive streaming landscape, having announced some blockbuster moves over the past few weeks.

All of the drama and commotion have weighed on the stock. Shares are nearly 30% off their all-time high. Make no mistake, long-term investors should thank the market for offering such a proven winner at a discount, its steepest decline since early 2024.

Here is what makes Netflix one of the best tech stocks to own for the next 10 years.

Image source: Netflix.

Netflix's content could soon go to the next level
Netflix has steadily built a portfolio of strong intellectual property over the years, including Stranger Things, Wednesday, Bridgerton, and KPop Demon Hunters, among other notable shows and movies.

Additionally, Netflix continues to branch out into new types of media. It has steadily introduced mobile games, live sports, and events to its platform, and Netflix just announced a new deal to bring video podcasts from Barstool Sports, a popular sports and entertainment brand, exclusively to Netflix starting next year.

However, developing all that content takes time and a significant amount of money.

The company is attempting a major power play, announcing a $82.7 billion deal to acquire the Warner Bros. film and television studios, HBO, and the HBO Max streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery. Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, the DC Universe, and the Harry Potter franchise are among the top-tier content that Netflix would absorb.

After Warner Bros. Discovery rejected a hostile bid from Paramount Skydance, the merger now faces potential regulatory scrutiny as its primary obstacle to close. If the acquisition ultimately goes through, Netflix's content portfolio would vault to the top of the streaming industry.

An exciting blockbuster deal that comes at a steep cost
With over 300 million paid subscribers, Netflix has grown large enough to become a cash-flow machine. It currently generates more than $0.20 of free cash flow from every revenue dollar. Part of the reason why Netflix's stock has dipped is the concern for the company's balance sheet, should the Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition close.

Netflix would fund the deal primarily with debt. Estimates peg the new debt at about $50 billion, plus an additional $11 billion assumed from Warner Bros. Discovery in the agreement. A post-acquisition debt load totaling $77 billion would leverage Netflix to around 3 times its trailing-12-month EBITDA.

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That's not catastrophic, but it definitely ties up Netflix's financial flexibility for a while. Management would have to focus a significant portion of the company's cash flow on paying that down, and the interest expenses would eat into profits.

Netflix has generated $9 billion in free cash flow over the past year. Assuming cash flow increases from its newly acquired assets, Netflix would still need at least a few years to put a good dent in that debt.

An eventual return to cash cow glory
The fun would come later in the latter half of the next decade, when Netflix finishes paying down its debt and emerges as a cash cow -- a business gushing more cash than it knows what to do with.

Excluding the potential acquisition, analysts see annualized earnings growth of 24% over the long term for Netflix, meaning its bottom line doubles every three years. The company is a global streaming giant, so there is still considerable room to expand its 300 million subscriber base.

Both broadband internet connections and reliable digital payment options are becoming more available around the world, fulfilling the prerequisites for a successful media-streaming business.

Netflix has also found clever ways to further monetize its business, like ad-supported membership tiers, password-sharing enforcement, and its ventures into new media frontiers, such as live sports and video podcasts.

The stock currently trades at 37 times its full-year earnings estimates. That's not cheap, but with Netflix's growth outlook and potential sky-high ceiling if this merger closes, it's hard not to like the tech stock over a 10-year holding period.

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

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

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasReal Estate Analysis

SummaryInnovative Industrial Properties remains a Strong Buy due to its deeply discounted valuation and resilient balance sheet, despite sector headwinds.IIPR trades at just 0.74x tangible book and 7.4x AFFO, with a robust 14.3% dividend yield, though the payout exceeds current cash flow.Analyst projections show moderate revenue and FFO growth through 2026–2027, but dividend sustainability and tenant risk remain key concerns.Diversification into IQHQ preferred stock and loans provides credit protection, while potential 280E tax reform could unlock significant upside. Sandwish/iStock via Getty Images

I have followed Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) for many years. I thought it was very overpriced several years ago, above $200, but I have been liking it a lot since the plunge in Q4. I last wrote about it

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.

Explore how differences in cost, yield, and sector focus may impact your choice between these two leading tech ETFs.

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK +2.16%) stands out for its lower costs and slightly higher yield, while the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW +1.91%) offers broader exposure across more holdings and a minor sector tilt.

Both XLK and IYW aim to capture the performance of U.S. technology stocks, but they take slightly different approaches. XLK focuses on the S&P 500's technology sector, offering a highly liquid, streamlined portfolio, while IYW casts a slightly wider net with additional exposure to communication services and a greater number of holdings. Here is a side-by-side look at how they compare.

Snapshot (Cost & Size)MetricIYWXLKIssueriSharesSPDRExpense ratio0.38%0.08%1-yr return (as of Dec. 12, 2025)20.8%20.7%Dividend yield0.1%0.5%Beta1.231.21AUM$21.4 billion$95.6 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

XLK looks more affordable for long-term investors, with an expense ratio just 0.08% compared to IYW’s 0.38%. XLK also offers a modestly higher dividend yield, which may appeal to those seeking some income from tech holdings.

Performance & Risk ComparisonMetricIYWXLKMax drawdown (5 y)(39.43%)(33.55%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years$2,413$2,303What's InsideXLK delivers targeted exposure to the S&P 500’s technology sector, holding 72 stocks with a heavy emphasis on industry giants. As of its 27th year, top positions include Nvidia (NVDA +3.80%) at 13.71%, Apple (AAPL +0.17%) at 12.82%, and Microsoft (MSFT +0.40%) at 11.16%. The fund is tightly focused on technology (99%) and excludes meaningful allocations to other sectors.

IYW, by contrast, holds 142 stocks and introduces a slight tilt toward communication services and industrials alongside its core technology exposure. Its top holdings are Nvidia at 15.46%, Apple at 15.42%, and Microsoft at 13.44%, but its broader roster may appeal to those seeking a bit more diversification within tech. Neither fund layers in leverage, currency hedging, or ESG screens.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

What This Means For InvestorsTo begin, it's important to note how similar these two funds are. Both the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) focus on the same sector and have many of the same holdings. Moreover, their respective performance over the last five years is nearly identical.

Yet, there are some key differences between these two funds. For example, when it comes to fees, the XLK boasts a lower expense ratio of 0.08%, while the IYW's expense ratio is 0.38%. For someone who invests $10,000 in each fund, the IYW will cost about $38 per year in fees, while the XLK will cost only $8. Granted, that's not a huge amount, but it does add up.

In addition, the XLK has a higher dividend yield of 0.5%, as opposed to only 0.1% for the IYW. Neither yield is all that attractive for income-seeking investors, but, once again, dividend yield is another point in the column for XLK.

Finally, there's Assets Under Management (AUM). AUM matters for ETF investors because it's a key measure of liquidity -- demonstrating how easy it is for an investor to liquidate their shares. Both funds have ample AUM of $21 billion and $96 billion, respectively. In turn, investors shouldn't have any concerns with liquidity.

To sum up, these two funds have more similarities than differences, and tech-focused investors would be wise to consider both funds. That said, XLK's lower expense ratio and higher dividend yield may tip the scales in its favor for cost-conscious investors.

GlossaryExpense ratio: The annual fee, as a percentage of assets, that an ETF charges to cover operating costs.
Dividend yield: The annual dividends paid by an ETF, expressed as a percentage of its share price.
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund): An investment fund traded on stock exchanges, holding a basket of assets like stocks or bonds.
Drawdown: The maximum decline from a fund’s peak value to its lowest point over a specific period.
Beta: A measure of an investment’s volatility compared to the overall market, typically the S&P 500.
AUM (Assets Under Management): The total market value of assets that a fund manages on behalf of investors.
S&P 500: A stock market index tracking the 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies.
Sector tilt: An ETF’s intentional overweight or underweight exposure to specific industry sectors compared to a benchmark.
Leverage: The use of borrowed money to increase the potential return of an investment.
Currency hedging: A strategy to reduce the impact of currency fluctuations on investment returns.
ESG screens: Criteria used to include or exclude investments based on environmental, social, and governance factors.

Beyond Meat's product has become less desirable due to its high prices and changing consumer sentiment.

Beyond Meat (BYND +6.73%) is a meme stock that has crashed by more than 70% year to date. A brief one-week burst from $0.50 per share to $7.69 per share in mid-October shows what this meme stock can do once enough investors pile into it. However, the stock fell below $1 per share less than one month later, demonstrating the risk of buying and holding the stock.

This stock has plenty of attention, but that doesn't mean you should buy shares. These are some of the headwinds to monitor if you want to give Beyond Meat stock a closer look.

Sales are shrinking across the board

Image source: Getty Images.

Beyond Meat's third-quarter earnings results don't have a silver lining. Every segment except international foodservice was down year over year, and that part of the business was only up by 2.4%. The U.S. segment was a disaster, with revenue down by 21% year over year. International revenue has become the larger slice of the pie, but that part of the business dropped by 13.3% year over year.

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Downward pressure on revenue and volume of products sold has been a common theme for Beyond Meat. It's continuing to lose market share at a time when plant-based meat demand continues to cool off. The industry is removed from its peak success in 2021 and 2022, which is also when Beyond Meat stock was at its highest.

Net operating losses have also increased year over year, and that's excluding Beyond Meat's $77.4 million loss from a one-time impairment of long-lived assets. Getting rid of this figure still results in a net operating loss of $34.9 million, which is higher than the $30.9 million loss from the same quarter last year.

Shrinking sales and rising losses are not a good formula for long-term growth and sustainability, especially since Beyond Meat is in a declining industry.

ESG is fading
Consumer sentiment has changed significantly over the past few years, and there aren't many changes that are more significant than ESG fading away. It's a crucial development for Beyond Meat, which touts itself as an environmental champion for offering an alternative to animal-based meat.

The World Economic Forum cited political backlash, regulatory complexities, and fears of greenwashing as key contributors to the fall of ESG. Changing sentiment toward being stewards of the environment has hurt Beyond Meat, as criticisms of animal-based meat have waned. Plant-based meat is also two to four times more expensive per pound than traditional meat, casting more doubt on the company's long-term viability.

Rising living costs and the reduction of virtue signaling have made Beyond Meat's products less practical. Beyond Meat may have another short squeeze in the future, but it doesn't look good as a long-term investment.

Marc Guberti has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Beyond Meat. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.