Market Signal Briefing

Crypto investors are closely watching Japan this week, as the Bank of Japan prepares for a major policy decision that could impact Bitcoin, XRP and the broader digital asset market.

Japan is expected to raise interest rates again, a move that has historically triggered volatility across risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Why Japan’s Decision Matters for CryptoJapan plays an important role in global liquidity through the yen carry trade. For years, investors borrowed cheap money from Japan and invested it in higher-risk assets such as stocks, Bitcoin and altcoins.

When Japan raises interest rates, borrowing becomes more expensive. This often forces investors to unwind positions and move money out of riskier markets, putting pressure on crypto prices.

What Happened to Bitcoin After Past Japan Rate HikesHistory shows a clear pattern. In March 2024, the Bank of Japan ended its negative interest rate policy for the first time in 17 years. Bitcoin held steady initially but dropped sharply in the following month, losing nearly $20,000 from its peak.

Similar moves were seen after rate hikes in July 2024 and January 2025. In each case, Bitcoin fell between 10% and 30% in the weeks after the policy decision before finding a bottom.

XRP Also in Focus as Volatility LoomsXRP is drawing attention as traders look for assets that could hold up better during periods of tightening liquidity. Supporters point to XRP’s role in cross-border payments and its relatively stable supply structure as potential strengths during macro-driven sell-offs.

While XRP is not immune to broader market pressure, some analysts say it could recover faster if liquidity conditions improve.

Could This Time Be Different?Market indicators say the setup is not as overheated as in previous cycles. Bitcoin is not showing extreme overbought signals, which may limit the size of any sell-off following Japan’s decision.

Past rate hikes were followed by recoveries within 30 to 60 days, even after sharp declines.

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BitMine Immersion Technologies, the NYSE-listed treasury firm co-founded by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, has added approximately 48,049 ETH (approximately $140 million) to its corporate holdings as prices weaken across the crypto market.

This news was initially reported by Onchain analysts EmberCN and Lookonchain, who alerted users that BitMine had made the purchase from a hot wallet on FalconX, citing data from Arkham. 

BitMine demonstrates a strong commitment to increasing its  ETH holdings
In an official statement, BitMine revealed that the firm, listed on the NYSE American stock exchange under the ticker symbol BMNR, currently holds approximately 3,967,210 Ethereum at an average price of around $3,074 per Ether. This figure boosts the total value of their treasury to approximately $11.6 billion, based on current prices. 

As a key corporate Ethereum holder globally, reports from reliable sources indicate that BitMine has strictly adhered to its aggressive acquisition strategy, frequently purchasing ETH throughout the year. 

Its recent purchases have drawn the attention of many individuals, as the firm is making significant purchases at a time when the market is experiencing significant declines, sparking heated debates in the ecosystem. 

In an attempt to address this controversy, BitMine asserted that the company remains devoted to Ethereum’s increasing importance in global finance. According to them, their primary goal is to acquire 5% of the total amount in circulation over the long term.

To demonstrate this commitment, sources close to the situation highlighted that BitMine recently bought more Ethereum, acquiring approximately 240,711 ETH in just the first half of December.

Lee, the Chairman of BitMine, weighed in on the topic of discussion. He urged crypto investors to stay positive as the best days for crypto are yet to come. The Chairman further outlined some examples of positive trends that have been experienced this year. This included legislative advancements in Washington and heightened support from Wall Street.

He made these remarks intentionally to explain further the company’s decision to purchase more Ethereum, as it had dropped drastically below the $3,000 level.

Interestingly, the cryptocurrency is still facing a decline in its price. Data from CoinMarketCap indicate that Ethereum is currently trading at $2,928.11, reflecting a decline of about 0.96% in the past 24 hours.

BitMine solidifies its position as a leading firm with significant ETH holdings globally 
On Tuesday, December 16, BitMine’s stock increased by 1.42%, reaching an all-time high of approximately $31.39. Notably, the stock has surged by 551.24% over the previous six months.

Meanwhile, apart from BitMine’s recent purchase, reports noted that several other publicly traded firms hold substantial amounts of Ethereum, illustrating a growing trend among institutions to acquire more of the cryptocurrency.

Even with this stiff competition in place, BitMine has managed to solidify its position as a leader in Ethereum holding. This claim was confirmed by CoinGecko’s Ethereum Treasury Tracker, which showed that BitMine Immersion is the largest corporate holder, holding nearly 3.97 million ETH, equivalent to approximately 3.29% of the cryptocurrency’s total supply. 

The second-ranked in terms of ETH holding is SharpLink Gaming. The publicly traded company holds approximately 859,853 ETH, which is equivalent to 0.71% of the total cryptocurrency supply. The next in the ranking list after SharpLink Gaming is The Ether Machine, an institutional-focused company with approximately 496,712 ETH, which is equivalent to 0.41%.

Other leading holders include Bit Digital, with approximately 153,546 ETH; Coinbase Global, with roughly 148,715 ETH; ETHZilla, holding approximately 94,030 ETH; and BTCS, with about 70,140 ETH. 

Crypto investors exercise a cautious approach to trading ETH due to its recent price declines 
Reports indicate that before Ethereum’s price recently began trading below $3,000, the cryptocurrency had earlier encountered a brief rebound in price; however, this situation did not last. Following this observation, the market has implemented cautious measures as ETH trades within a narrow range.

Even with this anxiety in the market, crypto investors remain optimistic, aiming to push Ethereum above $3,050, signalling a positive outlook in the market.

Nonetheless, this goal might not be achieved if key players in the market begin to sell their holdings. This is because their decision might significantly impact the price of ETH, causing it to decrease to about $2,800.

Another reason is that the market’s overall sentiment has increasingly relied on these large investors, and whether buyers can assume control above the $3,000 mark. 

Considering the intense nature of the situation, sources suggest that the activity of Ethereum whales indicates firm backing at the cryptocurrency’s current price levels. This finding followed data from on-chain analysis, which demonstrated that these significant holders have been consistently accumulating since June of this year, despite Ethereum experiencing price fluctuations.

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TL;DR

BNB Chain will launch a new stablecoin designed for large-scale applications, with the goal of unifying liquidity and avoiding fragmentation across payments, trading, and dApps.
The new token will function as core infrastructure for on-chain financial services, enabling deep and continuous liquidity flows for platforms, users, and developers.
The U project will debut on December 18, with a reserve model focused on security and liquidity.

BNB Chain announced the upcoming launch of a new stablecoin designed for large-scale, high-volume applications. The central objective is to integrate and unify liquidity across different use cases, avoiding the fragmentation that currently exists among payments, trading, dApps, and on-chain financial services.

Unlike traditional stablecoins, which are primarily focused on payments and secondary markets, the new token is intended to operate as foundational infrastructure for financial platforms, decentralized applications, and blockchain-connected systems that require constant, deep liquidity flows.

BNB Chain stated that the stablecoin will allow users and developers to interact with multiple financial services without friction between applications. This strategy aims to strengthen the network’s competitiveness amid growing demand for scalability and interoperability.

The announcement triggered a strong reaction across the crypto community, especially after Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance’s founder, began following a project called “U” on X. That gesture fueled speculation about a potential future integration within the Binance ecosystem, although no official confirmation has been provided.

The U stablecoin positions itself as an asset specifically designed for the next stage of on-chain finance. It is built around three core principles: Unified, Inclusive, and Fluid, which aim to unify liquidity, enable large-scale adoption, and ensure seamless integration across platforms.

The U Stablecoin Will Launch on December 18
According to its official communications, U will feature a comprehensive reserve management framework focused on security and liquidity, with the goal of providing stability for individual users, institutions, and developers alike. Its launch is scheduled for December 18.

Throughout 2025, stablecoins evolved toward models with greater transparency, a stronger institutional focus, and yield generation. Synthetic stablecoins gained traction and outperformed USDT and USDC on metrics such as weekly trading volume.

Grayscale projects strong growth for the sector following the 2025 inflection point. This year, total supply reached $300 billion, while average monthly transaction volume climbed to $1.1 trillion. By 2026, Grayscale expects stablecoins to be integrated into cross-border payments, derivatives exchanges, corporate balance sheets, and online consumer payments

Ethereum’s weekly active addresses have climbed back near historic highs, signaling renewed onchain engagement across the network. At the same time, multiple analysts point to long-term and monthly chart levels that are now in focus as December progresses.

Ethereum Weekly Active Addresses Near Record LevelsEthereum’s weekly active user count has climbed back near prior peaks, according to a Token Terminal chart shared on X by analyst Joseph Young. The chart showed about 2.4 million weekly active addresses for Ethereum, which puts activity close to the highest levels seen on the long-term series.

Ethereum Weekly Active Users Chart. Source: Token Terminal, X

Token Terminal defines weekly active users as the number of unique addresses that send at least one transaction during any rolling seven day period. The chart’s line also showed steady growth over time, with recent readings holding above the mid range that followed earlier cycle spikes.

Young linked the rise in active addresses to expanding use cases on Ethereum, including tokenization, stablecoins, and privacy-focused infrastructure. He added that the combination of these categories is driving renewed network engagement, based on the activity trend shown in the chart.

Ethereum Tests Long-Term Trendline, Analyst Notes Repeating StructureEthereum is again testing a long-term rising trendline that has guided price action since 2016, according to a weekly chart shared by market analyst Merlijn The Trader. The chart highlights a recurring structure marked by a market bottom, followed by a retest of trend support, and then a broader expansion phase.

Ethereum U.S. Dollar Weekly Price Chart. Source: Kraken / X

The visual history shows several instances where Ethereum pulled back to this rising support band before resuming a larger upward move. Similar retests appeared in earlier cycles, including the period leading into the 2020 market recovery, when price held the trendline before moving higher.

On the current weekly setup, Ethereum is once again hovering near the same support zone, with prior retests labeled along the trend. The analyst said the structure remains consistent with past cycles, noting that previous retests preceded extended bullish phases, while adding that the current move mirrors earlier historical behavior rather than a short-term fluctuation.

Analyst Flags Key Monthly Close Level for EthereumMeanwhile, Crypto analyst Ali Charts said Ethereum could face deeper downside if it ends December below a key level, according to an X post published about 16 hours ago alongside a monthly candlestick chart.

Ethereum Monthly Price Chart. Source: Ali Charts, X

Ali Charts pointed to $2,930 as the level to watch on the monthly close. He wrote that a December close below that mark could push Ethereum toward $2,000, and then potentially $1,100, framing the levels as the next major areas on the chart.

The image also marked $4,770 as a higher reference level on the monthly structure, while the candles showed Ethereum pulling back after a sharp run-up and rejection from the upper zone. The post did not cite a catalyst and focused on the chart-based close level and the mapped supports.

A pet wellness penny stock, SRXH, has entered into an agreement to buy out EMJX, making it go public as a digital assets treasury (DAT) company.

Yearn Finance, one of the leading decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols, has suffered a significant setback as its legacy TUSD vault fell victim to a sophisticated exploit.

According to security firm PeckShield, attackers managed to extract approximately $300,000, converting the stolen assets into 103 Ether now held at the address 0x0F21…4066.

#PeckShieldAlert YearnFinanceV1 @yearnfi has suffered an exploit, resulting in a total loss of ~$300K.
The exploiter has swapped the stolen funds for 103 $ETH, which now sit in the address: 0x0F21…4066.

Notably, the incident has reignited concerns about the vulnerabilities of outdated and immutable smart contracts that remain active on Ethereum years after their deployment.

Misconfigured TUSD vault
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According to analysis by William Li, the breach targeted a legacy Yearn TUSD vault, known as the “iearn TUSD vault,” which had long been superseded by newer iterations.

Researchers identified a misconfiguration in the vault’s strategy setup, which used a Fulcrum sUSD vault for calculations while considering only sUSD balances deposited into the vault.

This flawed design created a pathway for a so-called “donation attack,” allowing the perpetrators to artificially manipulate the vault’s share price.

The attackers leveraged this weakness with a series of flash loans, borrowing significant amounts of TUSD and sUSD without any upfront collateral.

They deposited sUSD to mint Fulcrum sUSD tokens before placing TUSD into the vault.

Because the vault’s share price ignored sUSD assets, the subsequent rebalance function, which withdrew all underlying sUSD, caused the vault’s accounting metrics to collapse.

This artificial “price shock” allowed the attackers to mint vast quantities of Yearn TUSD tokens at minimal cost and ultimately sell them on Curve pools, extracting value from liquidity providers before repaying the flash loans.

A pattern of legacy vulnerabilities
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Security analysts have noted that this exploit mirrors a similar attack in 2023, when a misconfigured yUSDT contract resulted in losses exceeding $10 million.

That incident stemmed from a copy-and-paste error referencing the wrong Fulcrum contract, allowing hackers to mint unprecedented amounts of yUSDT from small initial deposits.

Despite warnings from pessimistic observers on social media, the immutable nature of smart contracts rendered such vulnerabilities unavoidable once deployed.

The Yearn TUSD vault exploit adds to a growing list of attacks targeting old, unmaintained DeFi contracts.

A comparable incident recently hit Ribbon Finance, formerly known as Aevo, where an outdated deployment allowed attackers to manipulate proxy admin contracts and drain $2.7 million.

Both events highlight the ongoing risks associated with legacy protocols that continue to hold significant funds on-chain long after they have been deprecated.

Yearn Finance’s response
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In response to the incident, a Yearn team member under the handle storming0x confirmed that the current contracts remain secure.

The team reassured users that only the outdated V1 TUSD vault was affected and emphasised that newer deployments incorporate lessons learned from past vulnerabilities.

Nevertheless, the attack underscores the importance of actively auditing and deprecating legacy contracts to prevent the exploitation of similar flaws in the future.

Backed by fresh capital and major validator support, ETHGas is redesigning how ethereum blockspace is priced and traded across the network.

Summary

ETHGas secures $12 million and $800 million in commitmentsValidator liquidity commitments and incentivesHow the ETHGas blockspace futures market worksTypes of blockspace commitments on ETHGasImpact on users, applications, and institutionsRevenue model and long-term positioningToward real-time Ethereum and MEV reductionDual models and real-time sequencing rolloutTeam, origins, and strategic context
ETHGas secures $12 million and $800 million in commitments
ETHGas has raised $12 million and lined up $800 million in validator commitments to launch Ethereum’s first blockspace futures market. The team wants to turn blockspace from a frantic fee auction into a predictable, tradable commodity for users, apps, and institutions.

The $12 million seed round was led by Polychain Capital, with participation from Stake Capital, BlueYard Capital, Lafayette Macro Advisors, SIG DT, and Amber Group. According to founder Kevin Lepsoe, the round began in July and closed last month, adding to earlier backing.

Moreover, the funding was structured entirely as a token round using a Simple Agreement for Future Tokens. ETHGas had already raised an unannounced pre-seed of around $5 million in mid-2024 with the same structure. Lepsoe declined to reveal the project’s valuation and confirmed that no board or advisory seats were offered.

What makes this raise distinctive is not only the capital, but the scale of onchain commitments that accompany it. Validators, block builders, and relays have collectively pledged roughly $800 million in liquidity to the ETHGas marketplace, signalling deep supply-side alignment.

Validator liquidity commitments and incentives
The $800 million in support is not cash invested into the company. Instead, it represents blockspace supplied directly into the platform by Ethereum validators, builders, and relays. However, this structure is designed to give network participants new ways to monetize their role.

In exchange for supplying blockspace, participants seek higher and more predictable yields. By selling blockspace ahead of time instead of only at the instant of block production, validators gain more certainty over revenue and a larger share of MEV capture.

According to Lepsoe, this alignment of incentives is central to why validators are willing to participate at scale. Moreover, it may gradually shift the economics of staking, as operators reprice the value of predictable future blockspace versus volatile spot fees.

How the ETHGas blockspace futures market works
At its core, ETHGas allows future blocks on Ethereum to be bought and sold in advance. Blockspace is the capacity within each block that dictates which transactions are included, in what order, and at what price point they clear.

Traditionally, this capacity is auctioned every 12 seconds when a block is produced, forcing users to bid in real time. ETHGas shifts the process upstream. The protocol plugs into Ethereum’s existing proposer-builder separation model instead of replacing it, preserving current infrastructure while adding a new layer of pricing.

Validators can sell blockspace futures up to 64 blocks ahead of time, equivalent to roughly 12.8 minutes. That said, Lepsoe compares the model to energy or commodities markets, where producers sell capacity in advance and buyers lock in delivery to manage risk and volatility.

The same logic applies here: less uncertainty, more transparency, and fewer openings for manipulation in the fee market. Over time, a deep blockspace futures market could smooth gas price spikes that currently emerge without warning.

Types of blockspace commitments on ETHGas
ETHGas supports multiple forms of blockspace commitments, offering flexibility for both validators and buyers. Validators can sell entire blocks in advance, creating fully reserved capacity for sophisticated users who need priority execution.

Alternatively, they can sell inclusion guarantees that ensure a specific transaction lands in a chosen block. There are also execution guarantees that lock in both inclusion and price conditions, which can be crucial for complex trading or institutional workflows.

Moreover, the platform supports multi-block commitments, such as consecutive blocks or fixed windows of Ethereum time. According to Lepsoe, these structures help validators extract significantly more MEV than traditional spot auctions, which directly boosts staking yields.

That economic upside is a primary driver behind validator participation. By channeling future blockspace into structured contracts, the marketplace aims to turn a volatile revenue stream into something closer to a fixed-income profile for operators.

Impact on users, applications, and institutions
From the buyer side, ETHGas introduces tools Ethereum has never had at scale. Traders, decentralized applications, and institutions can hedge gas costs, prepay for execution, and avoid sudden fee spikes that previously forced last-second bidding wars.

Instead of reacting to congestion, market participants can plan around it. Moreover, this opens the door for more sophisticated strategies that rely on known execution timing and cost, such as arbitrage, liquidations, or large asset transfers.

Lepsoe says ETHGas has already drawn interest from traditional finance firms, sovereign funds, and real-world asset issuers exploring Ethereum. As trillions of dollars in assets move onchain, understanding and controlling access to ethereum blockspace becomes a strategic priority rather than a minor operational detail.

He also hinted at larger commitments from digital asset treasury companies, with more details expected in January. If that demand crystallizes, futures-style blockspace contracts could become standard tooling for institutional risk management.

Revenue model and long-term positioning
ETHGas currently earns revenue by taking a 5 percent fee on blockspace futures trades conducted on its marketplace. Over time, the team plans to introduce additional fees for applications that require real-time settlement and more complex execution guarantees.

This approach positions ETHGas not just as a trading venue, but as core infrastructure for execution certainty on Ethereum. Moreover, it aligns the company’s upside with network usage, since higher activity and more sophisticated demand translate directly into greater fee volume.

Toward real-time Ethereum and MEV reduction
Beyond futures, ETHGas is also advancing a more radical idea: making Ethereum effectively real time. The protocol introduces a system that breaks a single block into hundreds of sequential slices, each lasting 50 to 100 milliseconds.

This design could make Ethereum 100 to 200 times faster in terms of perceived responsiveness, while significantly reducing exploitable MEV opportunities. However, it also requires careful coordination between validators, builders, and applications.

Lepsoe argues that this real-time sequencing model redirects value away from pure MEV extractors and toward applications, liquidity providers, and end users. Automated market makers, for example, could earn billions more annually through near-instant arbitrage without consistently being front-run.

This vision closely aligns with public remarks from Ethereum researchers. Justin Drake has argued that pre-confirmations and real-time execution are essential to improving user experience, while Vitalik Buterin has previously called for a trustless onchain gas futures market as part of Ethereum’s evolution.

Dual models and real-time sequencing rollout
ETHGas now operates two parallel models. One allows traditional MEV players to continue operating, but at higher costs that ultimately benefit validators. The other aims to eliminate MEV altogether through real-time sequencing.

Moreover, this dual approach gives the ecosystem a migration path rather than a sudden break from existing infrastructure. Market makers and searchers can still function in the familiar framework while the real-time system gains adoption.

The real-time sequencing system has already run successfully on Ethereum mainnet. A broader rollout is targeted for the first quarter of next year, marking a key milestone in the project’s attempt to deliver real time sequencing at scale.

Team, origins, and strategic context
ETHGas has 18 contributors spread across Asia, Europe, and the United States, with roughly half of the team based in Hong Kong. There are currently no immediate plans to expand headcount, signaling a focus on shipping rather than rapid hiring.

The project is a spinout from Infinity Exchange, Lepsoe’s earlier fixed-income protocol that is currently paused. Work on ETHGas began as the team tried to address MEV and liquidation risks that have historically discouraged institutional investors from onchain markets.

What this implies is that ETHGas is not merely another Ethereum tooling startup. Instead, it is challenging how blockspace is priced, allocated, and controlled at a structural level across the network.

If it succeeds, Ethereum could shift from a reactive fee auction toward a predictable execution layer. Moreover, such a transition could redefine how serious capital, from sovereign funds to asset managers, chooses to use the network and manage validator liquidity commitments.

In summary, ETHGas combines ethgas seed funding, large validator commitments, and novel mev reduction strategies to reshape how blockspace is traded and executed, potentially ushering in a more transparent and institution-ready Ethereum.

16h05 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
Eddy S.

Summarize this article with:

While the crypto market is going through a phase of uncertainty, BitMine, one of the largest institutional holders of Ethereum, has just made a massive purchase of 48,049 ETH, approximately $140 million. This operation, confirmed by on-chain data, comes after a recent investment of $320 million in ETH and highlights a clear strategy: accumulate despite the falling prices.

In brief

BitMine strengthens its treasury with $140 million in ETH, despite a drastic price drop.
BlackRock also transfers $140 million in ETH, suggesting an institutional trend towards increased confidence in Ethereum.
ETH remains under pressure with key supports at $2,800 and $2,500, but moves by BitMine and BlackRock could indicate a future rebound.

BitMine Adds $140 Million of ETH to Its Treasury
BitMine does not hide its ambitions on Ethereum. After recently investing $320 million in ETH, Tom Lee’s company has just added 48,049 ETH to its crypto treasury, for an estimated amount of $140 million, thus bringing its treasury to $11.6 billion. This purchase, made through FalconX, has been confirmed by sources such as Arkham Intelligence and relayed by accounts on X (formerly Twitter).

This accumulation strategy is part of a long-term vision. Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, has often stated that ETH is a strategic asset, particularly for its role in decentralized finance and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. Despite the current crypto market downturn, BitMine seems more convinced than ever of Ethereum’s potential. A conviction that could inspire other institutional players to follow the movement.

BlackRock Transfers $140 Million of ETH: Coincidence or a Trend?
While BitMine accumulates an additional $140 million of ETH, another giant, BlackRock, recently transferred $140 million of Ethereum to Coinbase Prime, according to recent information. This move raises questions: is it simple portfolio management or anticipation of a crypto market rebound?

BlackRock, the global leader in asset management, is known for its strategic investments. This transfer could therefore be linked to preparing its crypto ETFs or anticipating the growing adoption of Ethereum by institutions. Like BitMine, BlackRock seems to see ETH as a promising asset despite current fluctuations. These simultaneous moves could indicate a broader trend: crypto whales betting on Ethereum, even in times of doubt.

Crypto: Ethereum Down 25% from Its Peak, How Far Can It Still Fall?
Ethereum is currently going through a difficult period. Indeed, with a 25% drop from its recent peak and a slight fall of 0.87% in the last 24 hours, crypto investors wonder: how far can ETH still go down? According to data, key supports are at $2,800, then $2,500. A break below these levels could lead to a drop toward $2,200.

Analysts are divided. Some predict a rebound to $7,500 in 2026, while others fear a tough year-end if institutional volumes do not follow. Macro-economic factors, such as the recent Fed rate cut, could play a key role. One thing is certain: Ethereum remains under watch, caught between hopes for a rebound and fears of another fall.

BitMine and BlackRock, despite their different profiles, send a clear message: Ethereum remains an attractive asset, even in a downturn. Their massive purchases raise one question: is this an opportunistic “buy the dip” or a deep conviction in the Ethereum crypto ecosystem? The answer likely lies in the coming days. But according to you, will ETH manage to rebound, or does this massive accumulation precede another drop? 

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Eddy S.

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

DISCLAIMER

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

Ethereum researchers are advancing an encrypted mempool eip proposal that would harden the protocol against MEV-related abuse while keeping block production efficient and permissionless.

Summary

Overview of the proposed encrypted mempoolMotivation and role in Ethereum’s roadmapKey provider registry contract and trust graphTransaction format and ordering rulesEnvelope execution and decryption workflowKey revelation process and the role of the PTCUser trust assumptions and security implicationsMitigating reorgs and decryption key front runningIncentives, collusion risks and future extensionsExecution payload encryption and backwards compatibilitySummary
Overview of the proposed encrypted mempool
The new Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) introduces an enshrined encrypted mempool directly at the protocol level. It allows users to submit encrypted transactions that remain hidden until included in a block, mitigating front running and sandwich attacks while improving censorship resistance. However, the upgrade does not target long-term privacy, as every transaction is eventually decrypted and revealed on-chain.

The design is explicitly encryption-scheme agnostic. It supports arbitrary decryption key providers using threshold encryption, MPC committees, TEEs, delay encryption, or FHE-based systems. Moreover, traditional plaintext transactions remain fully supported, and the chain is guaranteed to keep progressing even if specific key providers fail to supply keys.

The proposal builds on prior initiatives such as the Shutterized Beacon Chain and a live, out-of-protocol encrypted mempool deployed on Gnosis Chain. That said, by moving this functionality in-protocol, the EIP aims to address long-standing MEV issues and to reduce harmful second-order effects such as builder centralization.

Motivation and role in Ethereum’s roadmap
The primary motivation is to defend users against malicious transaction reordering, including front running and sandwiching. By temporarily blinding builders and other market participants, the mechanism also seeks to increase the protocol’s real-time, or so-called “weak”, censorship resistance. Moreover, it aims to lower regulatory risks for block builders by limiting their visibility into user intent during block construction.

The EIP is not designed as a privacy upgrade in the classic sense. Instead, it acts as a MEV mitigation and fairness layer, ensuring that user transactions are not exploited during the critical pre-inclusion window. The design fits naturally with enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS), making it a logical extension of Ethereum’s long-term roadmap.

Key provider registry contract and trust graph
On the execution layer, the proposal deploys a key provider registry contract. Any account can register as a key provider and receives a unique ID. Registration requires specifying a contract with both a decryption function and a key validation function, each accepting a key ID and a key message as byte strings. Additionally, key providers may designate other providers as directly trusted, forming a directed trust graph.

Under this model, a key provider A is considered to trust a provider B if and only if there is a directed path from A to B in that graph. The beacon chain mirrors the state of the registry, using a mechanism analogous to how beacon chain deposits are handled today. This ensures that both the execution and consensus layers have a consistent view of registered key providers.

Registration is explicitly technology neutral, minimizing barriers to entry and enabling users to select preferred schemes. However, many advanced encryption systems are inefficient to express in the EVM, which would require dedicated precompiles. Strategy and implementers note that such precompiles are out of scope for this EIP.

Transaction format and ordering rules
The EIP introduces a new encrypted transaction type made of two components: an envelope and an encrypted payload. The envelope specifies an envelope nonce, gas amount, gas price parameters, key provider ID, key ID, and the envelope signature. The encrypted payload contains its own payload nonce, value, calldata, and payload signature, which collectively represent the actual transaction logic.

In a valid block, the protocol enforces strict ordering rules. Any transaction encrypted with a key from provider A may only be preceded by plaintext transactions, encrypted transactions using keys from provider A, or encrypted transactions using keys from providers that A trusts. This ordering binds encrypted inclusion to the trust graph and thereby reflects user preferences indirectly via their chosen providers.

This structure effectively splits every block into two sections: a plaintext segment followed by an encrypted segment. Builders can fully simulate the plaintext section and apply existing block building and MEV strategies. Moreover, they can then append encrypted transactions to the end of the block without significant opportunity cost, preserving competitiveness in PBS auctions.

Envelope execution and decryption workflow
During execution payload processing, once all plaintext transactions are handled, the envelopes of encrypted transactions are executed in a batch. This updates the nonces of the envelope signers and charges gas fees from the corresponding accounts. The fee is designed to cover block space used by the envelope, decrypted payload, and decryption key, as well as computation associated with decryption and key validation.

Subsequently, the protocol attempts to decrypt each payload using the decryption function specified by the relevant key provider. If decryption succeeds, the resulting payload transaction is executed, bounded by both the gas limit on the envelope and the overall block gas limit. However, if decryption or execution fails, or if the decryption key is attested as missing, the protocol simply skips the transaction without reverting the already executed envelope.

The inclusion of the signature inside the encrypted payload is chosen for simplicity. A less private but more efficient approach would be to treat the envelope signer as the ultimate sender of the payload. That said, the current design prioritizes flexibility and clear separation between envelope metadata and underlying transaction logic.

Key revelation process and the role of the PTC
In each slot, once a key provider sees the execution payload published by the builder, it collects all key IDs referenced in the envelopes addressed to it. For every such key ID, the provider must publish either the corresponding decryption key or a key withhold notice. The decryption key message references the relevant beacon block hash, preventing replays in future slots. Providers may publish immediately or delay release until later in the same slot.

Members of the Payload Timeliness Committee (PTC) are required to listen for all such decryption keys. They then validate each key using the validation function defined in the registry, subject to a small, hardcoded gas limit per key. Finally, the PTC attests to the presence or absence of a valid decryption key for each encrypted transaction through an extended payload attestation message with a dedicated bitfield.

This mechanism introduces an additional layer of cryptographic accountability for key providers. Moreover, it creates in-protocol data that can be consumed by off-chain monitoring or custom slashing schemes, enabling the market to reward reliable providers and penalize poor performance.

User trust assumptions and security implications
Users must trust their chosen key providers not to release decryption keys prematurely, which would expose them to classic MEV tactics, or too late, which would cause their transactions to fail while still paying the envelope fee. Providers can build this trust through cryptographic guarantees such as threshold encryption, hardware-based protection, economic penalties like slashing, or governance-driven reputation.

To a lesser extent, users also have to trust all key providers used for encrypted transactions that appear before theirs in a block. These providers can decide to publish or withhold keys after observing keys for subsequent transactions, granting them one bit of influence over the pre-state of later transactions. Maliciously designed “decryption” schemes could abuse this to manipulate specific parts of the decrypted state and perform a more powerful front running sandwiching mitigation bypass.

Importantly, users do not have to trust any key provider used for encrypted transactions included after theirs, as later payloads do not affect the pre-state of their own transaction. Similarly, users who submit plaintext transactions do not need to trust key providers, although they continue to rely on honest behavior from builders.

Mitigating reorgs and decryption key front running
Because decryption keys are published before the underlying encrypted transactions are finalized, a chain reorg can lead to situations where a transaction becomes public even if it ultimately is not included. However, the decryption key messages reference the beacon block hash, enabling the validation function to invalidate keys when the underlying block is not part of the canonical chain. This prevents execution of the payload and limits front running opportunities.

A separate risk involves attackers exploiting shared key IDs. When a user encrypts with a specific key ID, an attacker could observe that transaction in-flight and craft another encrypted transaction using the same key provider and key ID. If the second transaction lands first, a naive provider might reveal the key, unintentionally exposing the original transaction. This is one form of decryption key withholding attack pressure.

Key providers can mitigate such scenarios by “namespacing” key IDs. For example, they may only release keys where the key ID is prefixed with the envelope signer’s address and withhold all others. Since the attacker typically lacks control over the victim’s signing account, they cannot generate a valid transaction with the correctly namespaced key ID, preserving the original user’s confidentiality window.

Incentives, collusion risks and future extensions
The current EIP deliberately avoids defining in-protocol rewards or penalties for key providers. Instead, it leaves room for diverse incentive models to develop off-chain. Key providers may charge users on a per-transaction basis, make bespoke agreements with builders, or even operate as public goods, possibly backed by external funding. Moreover, providers can voluntarily adopt slashing rules for unjustified key withholding to enhance their credibility.

A potential collusion vector involves key providers and builders. To build a new block, builders must know the full post-state of the previous block, including which keys were revealed or withheld. While this information becomes public once PTC attestations are broadcast, a malicious provider could privately inform a favored builder earlier, granting a small head start in block construction.

The impact of such collusion is considered limited. The interval between PTC attestations and slot end is typically long enough for competitive block building, and the critical moment remains near the end of the slot when the full transaction set is known. Additionally, delaying key publication to favor one builder risks missing PTC attestation, negating any advantage. If few encrypted transactions rely on the colluding provider, optimistic strategies that approximate state without full decryption may also mitigate the edge.

Execution payload encryption and backwards compatibility
The authors outline a possible future evolution in which builders use the same key providers to encrypt the entire execution payload. This would allow builders to publish payloads immediately after construction, instead of waiting until around the 50% slot mark. Such a change could improve peer-to-peer efficiency and reduce missed slots due to crashes, especially if combined with zero-knowledge proofs attesting to which keys are used in a block.

In that scenario, attaching a zero-knowledge proof would allow the decryption window to start earlier and last longer, providing more flexibility for key providers. However, this functionality is explicitly left for a future EIP to avoid overcomplicating the current design. The present proposal still introduces backwards-incompatible changes to both the execution layer and consensus layer, as it alters transaction types, block structure, and the rules for payload timeliness committee attestation.

Overall, the encrypted mempool eip proposal represents a substantial step toward protocol-level MEV mitigation, aligning closely with Ethereum’s long-term push toward robust proposer-builder separation epbs and fairer transaction ordering.

Summary
The encrypted mempool aims to embed encrypted transactions envelope execution, key provider coordination, and structured decryption into Ethereum’s core protocol. By doing so, it strengthens user protection against MEV, enhances censorship resistance, and opens the door to future upgrades such as full execution payload encryption, all while preserving optionality for users and builders.

Published
44 minutes ago on
December 17, 2025

Decentralized AMM protocol SMARDEX has unveiled Everything, a unified protocol that combines features of a DEX, lending market, and perpetual style trading system. According to founder Jean Rausis, the new protocol will “redefine how teams build financial infrastructure on-chain.”

A One-Stop Shop for DeFiSlated for a February release, the Everything protocol layers permissionless lending and borrowing atop the classic AMM xy = k model, with the goal of transforming fragmented DeFi interactions into a capital-efficient structure. With one smart contract and a single unified liquidity pool, it will offer support for AMM swaps, borrowing, and leveraged trading, utilizing an oracle-less leverage engine to execute trades atomically.

“We designed this protocol so new projects can launch markets, liquidity layers, and financial primitives without relying on fragile and fragmented integrations,” explained Rausis. “This shift from SMARDEX to Everything provides a foundation that supports real scale, long-term stability, and products the previous architecture could not support.”

Launched in December 2024 after two years of development, the AI-driven SMARTDEX quickly attracted $4.5m in TVL and is notable for its low fees, staking opportunities, and synthetic dollar token, $USDN. The pivot to Everything has been described as an “evolution of the SMARDEX infrastructure” and a means of advancing liquidity efficiency throughout the entire DeFi ecosystem. In short, a one-stop shop for DeFi power users.

Among other features, Everything’s tick-based borrowing model is said to limit bad debt via defined collateral requirements, support borrowing from any pair available on the platform, and offer LPs an additional source of returns through $USDNr, a decentralized synthetic stable asset with a sustainable yield of approximately 16% APR.

First Everything, Then GeneveEverything’s planned February launch will be followed in summer by a Geneve upgrade and its addition of yield-bearing collateral and native limit and take profit order liquidity, which will further integrate yield into the system’s core. According to Rausis, Geneve will also enable idle waiting orders to generate yield to further boost capital efficiency.

2025 has proven to be a banner year for DeFi, with Total Value Locked (TVL) hitting a record $237 billion in Q3 amid growth in RWAs, stablecoins, and perp DEXs. The builders of Everything will be hoping 2026 is even better, and that their shiny new protocol quickly finds favor among the industry’s traders and market makers.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Bitcoin re-takes $90,000 as price spikes early in U.S. sessionSurging metals prices and dovish comments from leading Fed chair contender Chris Waller were among the news items possibly boosting crypto prices.Updated Dec 17, 2025, 3:29 p.m. Published Dec 17, 2025, 3:19 p.m.

Crypto prices experienced a rare spike higher just after U.S. stocks opened for trade on Wednesday, taking bitcoin BTC$87,018.43 back above the $90,000 level for the first time since last weekend.

Among possible bullish catalysts were continued big gains in metals prices, with silver ahead about 5% to a new record above $66 per ounce. Gold and copper were also each higher by more than 1%.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Now leading in prediction markets to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, current Fed Governor Chris Waller was on the tape with dovish remarks, suggesting the neutral fed funds rate was 50-100 basis points below the level. He added that the U.S. now is close to zero jobs growth and that he doesn't expect a rebound in inflation.

According to Coinglass data, open interest fell from 669k BTC to 665k BTC while the price moved higher. This suggests shorts are covering rather than new leverage entering the market. The move looks like a delveraging rally, driven by shorts closing positions instead of fresh longs piling in.

All told, bitcoin is now ahead about 3% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin bulls could be forgiven for any excitement over what isn't that large of a move. Muscle memory over the past several weeks, however, has trained crypto fans to brace for sizable drawdowns during the U.S. market day, particularly around the open. Any sustainable change to that pattern would surely be notable.

The major U.S. stock market averages are little-changed early in their session and the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield is lower by two basis points to 4.15%.

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Nov 14, 2025

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As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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Hut 8 stock surges 20% on Fluidstack AI data center deal

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The bitcoin miner deepened its pivot into AI infrastructure with a $7 billion long term lease backed by Google.

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Hut 8 (HUT) signed a 15 year, $7 billion lease with Fluidstack for 245 MW of IT capacity at its River Bend campus, with three 5 year renewal options lifting potential contract value to about $17.7 billion.Google is providing a financial backstop for the base lease term, while JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are expected to lead up to 85% project level financing.Hut 8 shares are up around 20% in pre-market trading. Read full story

Bitcoin hovered between $87,477 to $90,317 on Dec. 17, 2025, as derivatives data shows futures traders holding their nerve while options markets quietly leaned defensive. Bitcoin Derivatives Data Signals Tactical Pullback Risk According to coinglass.com stats on Wednesday, bitcoin futures open interest (OI) remains elevated, with total OI sitting near $58.

Hut 8 and Coinbase outperform as Crypto stocks jump on bitcoin's sudden rallyMining stocks, trading platforms, and cryptocurrency infrastructure firms saw significant gains, including Hut 8, Riot Platforms, and Coinbase. Dec 17, 2025, 3:36 p.m.

Shares of crypto-linked companies are rallying after the price of bitcoin BTC$87,018.43 surged more than 2.8% in an hour to rise above $90,000, marking a fresh high and reigniting interest across the sector.

The price jump triggered gains across mining stocks, trading platforms and cryptocurrency infrastructure firms. Bitcoin miner Hut 8 (HUT) outperformed the wider sector, rising 14.4% to $42, while rival CleanSpark (CLSK) saw a 5.1% rise after the opening bell to top $12, and Riot Platform (RIOT) rose 3.5% to near $14.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

These mining firms depend heavily on bitcoin’s price for revenue, with rising BTC prices often meaning fatter mining margins and a more sustainable environment. However, HUT had surged 20% in early trading after announcing a 15-year, $7 billion lease agreement with AI infrastructure firm Fluidstack.

Potential catalysts for the broader rally include traders weighing the possibility of Fed Governor Chris Waller as the frontrunner to succeed Jerome Powell as the next Federal Reserve Chair. Waller has made dovish comments, saying the neutral fed funds rate may be 50 to 100 basis points below previous expectations.

Coinbase (COIN), the largest publicly traded crypto exchange in the U.S., also posted solid gains, up 2.27% to $258. The company earns a cut of trading volume, which typically spikes during volatile periods, as December has been proving to be.

The company is also set to unveil a series of upgrades later in the day, which are expected to include tokenized assets, onchain AI agents, and additional Base features.

Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy (MSTR), which holds 671,268 BTC worth $60.3 billion, rose 1.6% to $170. While bitcoin rose to surpass the $3,000 mark, several other cryptocurrencies saw similar performance, with ether increasing 2.3% in an hour to surpass $3,000 and XRP rising 2.5% to near $2.

The broader crypto market is showing signs of renewed momentum after weeks of consolidation.

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Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

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As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.View Full Report

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Bitcoin re-takes $90,000 as price spikes early in U.S. session

20 minutes ago

Surging metals prices and dovish comments from leading Fed chair contender Chris Waller were among the news items possibly boosting crypto prices.

What to know:

Crypto prices surged higher early in the U.S. trading day, sending bitcoin (BTC) back above $90,000.Silver was ahead by nearly 5%, moving to a new record above $66 per ounce; gold and copper were gaining as well.Now the leading contender to be the next Fed chairman, Fed Governor Chris Waller suggested rates are 50-100 basis points above the neutral level.Read full story

Key Takeaways EL is showing early recovery signs as Beauty Reimagined fuels innovation, efficiency and market-share gains.TPB blends stable cash flows from legacy brands with growth from modern oral nicotine products.MNST gains from global energy drink demand, strong brand loyalty and an asset-light, margin-focused model.
Talks of a possible recession in 2026 are increasing as the economy shows signs of slowing after a long expansion. While growth has not collapsed, momentum has clearly cooled. Consumers are becoming more cautious, borrowing costs remain elevated, and companies are showing greater curbs on spending and hiring. Together, these trends have pushed investors to reassess risk as the cycle matures.

The current state of the U.S. economy can best be described as stable but uneven. Household spending is still holding up, but it is increasingly focused on essentials rather than discretionary purchases. At the same time, businesses are facing margin pressure from higher costs and a more selective behavior from consumers. This backdrop does not signal an immediate recession, but it does increase the risk of slower growth heading into 2026.

Why 2026 Could Favor Consumer-Staple StocksIn periods of uncertainty or low growth, investors often rotate away from cyclical sectors and toward companies with steady demand and predictable cash flows. That is where consumer -staple stocks tend to stand out.

Staple companies sell everyday products such as food, beverages, cleaning supplies and personal-care items — categories consumers continue to buy regardless of economic conditions. These companies typically benefit from strong brands, large scale and the ability to manage pricing and costs more effectively than discretionary peers. As a result, earnings tend to be more resilient, making the sector a traditional defensive choice.

On that note, we have picked three standout names from the Zacks Consumer Staples sector that combine defensive strength with compelling growth potential. Each of these companies sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), reflecting favorable earnings trends and strong fundamentals. Supported by resilient business models and clear strategic drivers, all three stocks have gained more than 35% over the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

3 Consumer-Staple Stocks to ConsiderThe Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL - Free Report) , a global leader in prestige beauty across skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care, offers a strong defensive investment case amid economic uncertainty. Its diversified brand portfolio and global reach provide stability, while management’s Beauty Reimagined strategy is helping reset the business for sustainable growth. The company is prioritizing innovation, digital expansion and sharper consumer targeting, alongside tighter cost discipline.

Early signs of recovery are visible in market-share gains and improving profitability. With solid pricing power, disciplined execution and a renewed focus on efficiency, Estee Lauder is positioned to deliver more resilient earnings through a slower economic cycle.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EL’s current and next fiscal-year earnings per share (EPS) suggests growth of 41.7% and nearly 36%, respectively. Estee Lauder has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 82.6%, on average. Shares of this cosmetics giant have rallied 39.2% in the past year.

Turning Point Brands, Inc. (TPB - Free Report) has soared a whopping 87.3% over the past year. This U.S.-based consumer product company, with a mix of legacy tobacco-related brands and a fast-growing modern oral nicotine portfolio, offers a unique blend of stability and growth. The company generates strong cash flows from established businesses while reinvesting aggressively in higher-growth, reduced-risk nicotine products.

Turning Point Brands is focused on expanding distribution, strengthening manufacturing capabilities and building brand equity, all while maintaining cost discipline. This balanced strategy supports margin durability and long-term earnings visibility, positioning the company as a resilient investment choice in an increasingly dynamic economic landscape.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPB’s current and next fiscal-year EPS suggests growth of 50.6% and 7.1%, respectively. Turning Point Brands has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 17%, on average.

Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) , one of the world’s leading energy drink companies, continues to stand out for its ability to pair steady demand with strong profitability. The company, which has gained 46.2% in a year, benefits from a growing global energy drink category and deep brand loyalty, supported by consistent innovation and high-impact marketing.

International markets remain a key growth driver, helping diversify revenue streams. Monster Beverage’s asset-light operating model, localized production and disciplined pricing approach support margin strength, even amid cost pressures. With a robust product pipeline and expanding global footprint, MNST is well-positioned to sustain earnings growth while offering relative stability in a volatile macro environment.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MNST’s current and next fiscal-year EPS suggests growth of 22.2% and 13.2%, respectively. Monster Beverage has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.5%, on average.

Bottom LineIf economic growth slows in 2026, consumer-staple stocks could provide relative stability. While no stock is immune to downturns, companies with essential products, strong brands and disciplined execution — such as EL, TPB and MNST — are often better positioned to navigate periods of economic stress. 

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 17, 2025) - Banxa Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BNXA) (OTC Pink: BNXAF) (FSE: AC00) ("Banxa" or the "Company"), a leading infrastructure provider for enabling embedded crypto within payment platforms, is pleased to provide an update with respect to the required regulatory approvals and the other conditions precedent to the completion of the Company's previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") involving OSL Group Limited and OSL BNXA Acquisition Inc. (collectively, the "OSL Group"). As of the date hereof, the Company has received: (a) change of control approvals for its money-transmitter licenses in 36 out of 37 designated U.S. states, with the last such approval expected to be received (or waived by the OSL Group) over the coming days; (b) a Declaration of No Objection from the De Nederlandsche Bank in the Netherlands in respect of the change of control; and (c) approval from the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom in respect of the change of control.

Steelmakers Nucor and Steel Dynamics warned that their fourth-quarter earnings would fall well short of Wall Street's expectations.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Integer Holdings Corporation (“Integer” or “the Company”) (NYSE: ITGR) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investors who purchased the Company’s securities between July 25, 2024 and October 22, 2025, inclusive (the “Class Period”), are encouraged to contact the firm before February 9, 2026.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Integer exaggerated its competitive positioning in the electrophysiology (“EP”) market. The Company suffered a weakening in sales of several different EP devices. The Company falsely claimed EP devices would be a long-term growth driver within the cardio and vascular (“C&V”) segment. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Integer, investors suffered damages.

Join the case to recover your losses

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
Office: 310-301-3335
[email protected]

SOURCE:

The Schall Law Firm

December 17, 2025 09:30 ET

 | Source:

YXT.COM GROUP HOLDING LIMITED

SUZHOU, China, Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- YXT.com Group Holding Limited (NASDAQ: YXT) (“YXT.com” or the “Company”), a provider of AI-enabled enterprise productivity solutions, today announced the filing of a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the "Registration Statement") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

The Registration Statement is intended to provide the Company with the flexibility to offer and sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate amount of US$100,000,000 of its securities, once the filing is declared effective by the SEC. The securities covered by the Registration Statement include Class A ordinary shares (including American depositary shares, or ADSs), preferred shares, warrants, subscription rights, and units. The Company intends to use any net proceeds from sales it makes under the Registration Statement as set forth in future prospectus supplement(s).  The Company is not required to offer or sell securities under the shelf registration statement.

The Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. The securities covered by the registration may not be sold, nor may offer to buy the securities be accepted prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. The terms of any such offerings under the registration statement will be established at the time of such offering, will be subject to market conditions, and will be described in detail in a supplement to the prospectus filed with the SEC relating to such offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, nor will there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to”, or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About YXT.com

YXT.com (NASDAQ: YXT) is a technology company focusing on enterprise productivity solutions. With a mission to "Empower people and organization development through technology," The Company strives to become the supreme provider in building and boosting enterprise productivity by combining over a decade of experience in tech-enabled talent learning and development and with AI-augmented task copilots and unleashing the power of knowledge and synergy. Since its inception, YXT.com has supported and received recognition from numerous Global and China Fortune 500 companies.

Contact
Investor Relations
YXT.com
E-mail: [email protected]

Serena Huang
Octans Capital Group
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +86-10-6580-0653

, /PRNewswire/ -- Datasea (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. ("Datasea"), a subsidiary of Datasea Inc. (NASDAQ: DTSS), today announced a strategic partnership with Shenzhen Yizhimei Technology Co., Ltd. ("Yizhimei"). Datasea will empower Yizhimei with its Acoustics + AI technologies to develop a next-generation Acoustics Digital AI Shampooing Robot and Beauty & Health Intelligence System, supporting the accelerated digital transformation of China's beauty and health industry.

Leveraging Datasea's capabilities in acoustic high-tech innovation, AI algorithms, intelligent hardware integration, and digital service platforms, the collaboration will deploy a full-stack system covering user operations, health detection, multimodal data intelligence, and AI-enhanced robotics, enabling agent-based intelligent service capabilities across operational and service scenarios. The initiative is designed to elevate the industry from traditional, experience-driven operating models to data-driven and intelligent service paradigms.

Comprehensive System & Service Capabilities: Building Industry-Level Digital Infrastructure

Under this collaboration, Datasea will integrate the complete Acoustics Digital AI • Beauty & Health System into Yizhimei's operational framework, enabling its existing and future nationwide store network to operate with unified, scalable, and replicable digital capabilities.

1. Intelligent User & Operations Management

Powered by Datasea's proprietary AI engine—including user profiling, behavioral analytics, service matching, and repurchase prediction—stores can transition from manual, offline operations to data-driven intelligent management. This transformation improves service efficiency and customer retention, while simultaneously reducing expansion and management costs and establishing a scalable, replicable, and sustainably profitable store model.

2. Acoustics + AI Hardware Empowerment

Datasea will embed its acoustic algorithms, sensing technologies, and AI recognition models into Yizhimei's intelligent robotics products, enabling:

High-precision health and condition assessments
Sleep analysis and improvement
Sound-wave–based intervention functions
Environmental cleansing and air purification through acoustic sterilization

With these capabilities, the hardware evolves from a single-function device into an intelligent health-service terminal, significantly enhancing product competitiveness and differentiation, while establishing a reinforced technological barrier that supports long-term competitive advantages.

Through its full-stack capabilities spanning users → stores → headquarters → hardware → cloud, Datasea's intelligent system enables partners to accelerate the transition from basic service productization to comprehensive service intelligence, providing a holistic digital foundation that supports both current operations and long-term network expansion.

Collaboration Revenue Model: Scalable, Predictable, and Linked to Real Transactions

Datasea will generate multiple long-term revenue streams directly tied to the actual operating performance of the cooperative store network, including:

System Settlement Service Fees

Datasea will retain no less than 0.1% of all online transaction flows processed through the system, including transactions generated by more than 3,000 designated stores.

Technology Service Fees

From the first cohort of 3,000 designated stores, Datasea will receive 3% of total online and offline gross sales, reflecting the long-term value contribution of Datasea's system and technologies.

E-Commerce Platform Service Fees

Datasea will receive 0.5% of all revenue generated from Yizhimei's online mall.

To ensure stable project execution, the parties have agreed that Datasea will receive a minimum annual revenue guarantee of RMB 1.2 million. If actual revenues fall below this threshold, Yizhimei will make up the difference. This mechanism provides predictable investment returns and reflects both parties' confidence in the long-term value of the collaboration.

Expanding Market Opportunity: China's Beauty & Health Industry Entering a Multi-Billion-Dollar Growth Phase

According to industry research reports published by Grand View Research (2024), and Fortune Business Insights (2024):

China's beauty and wellness ("Beauty & Health") market is estimated to exceed RMB 1.5 trillion (approximately USD 210 billion) in total size, with sustained high single-digit to double-digit annual growth driven by consumption upgrading and technological innovation;
The digital beauty, smart health management, and non-invasive wellness technology segments are among the fastest-growing sub-sectors, benefiting from increasing demand for personalized services, data-driven operations, and intelligent devices;
AI-enabled systems, intelligent hardware, and integrated digital platforms are expected to become core infrastructure supporting the next phase of industry standardization, scalability, and chain expansion.

Datasea's Acoustics + AI technology roadmap aligns closely with these structural growth trends, positioning the Company to capture emerging opportunities at the intersection of beauty services, health management, intelligent hardware, and digital platforms in China's rapidly expanding Beauty & Health ecosystem.

CEO Statement

The CEO, Ms. Zhixin liu, commented:

"The beauty and wellness industry is entering a phase of deep digital and intelligent transformation. This collaboration is far more than a system deployment or product upgrade—it represents the introduction of Datasea's core strengths in acoustic technology, AI algorithms, platform architecture, and intelligent hardware into a high-potential industry scenario.

By combining the Acoustics Digital AI • Beauty & Health System with AI-powered acoustic devices, we aim to help every partner store achieve replicable, manageable, and sustainable growth. We believe this collaboration will not only reshape operating models and user experiences, but also create long-term structural value for the entire industry."

About Datasea Inc.

Datasea Inc. ("Datasea") is a leading provider of products, services, and solutions for enterprise and retail customers in two innovative industries, acoustic high tech and 5G-AI multimodal digitalization. The Company's advanced R&D technology serves as the core infrastructure and backbone for its products. Its 5G multimodal digital segment operates on a cloud platform based on AI. Datasea leverages cutting-edge technologies, precision manufacturing, and ultrasonic, infrasound and directional sound technology in its acoustics business to combat viruses and prevent human infections, and it is also developing applications in medical ultrasonic cosmetology. In July 2023, Datasea established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Datasea Acoustics LLC, in Delaware, in a strategic move to enter the U.S. markets and to mark its global expansion plan. For additional information, please visit www.dataseainc.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook," "objective" and similar terms. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and which are beyond Datasea's control, which may cause Datasea's actual results, performance or achievements (including the RMB/USD value of its anticipated benefit to Datasea as described herein) to differ materially and in an adverse manner from anticipated results contained or implied in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Datasea's filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. Datasea does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

Investor and Media Contact: 

Datasea Investor Relations
Email:  [email protected]
            [email protected] 

Precept Investor Relations LLC
David Rudnick
+1 646-694-8538
[email protected]

SOURCE Datasea Inc.

The skilled trades workforce, critical to keeping the country's infrastructure and economy running, is rapidly declining.

While many companies are working to address the shortage, General Motors has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build its own pipeline of future workers.

Over the past five years alone, the automaker has invested more than $242 million in its skilled trades apprenticeship program, which is geared toward training the next generation of skilled trade professionals with a combination of classroom instruction and thousands of hours of hands-on experience at a GM facility, Michael Trevorrow, GM's senior vice president of global manufacturing, told FOX Business.

Apprentices will go through up to 672 hours of related technical instruction in a classroom setting and approximately 7,920 hours of on-the-job training with an assigned qualified skilled trades person. Focus areas of the program include a diemaker, electrician, experimental assembler inspector, experimental laboratory paint technician, millwright, metal model maker, wood model maker, pattern maker, pipefitter, toolmaker and machine repairer.   

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In fact, the apprenticeship program is where Trevorrow got his start in the industry. The executive worked his way from a diemaker apprentice to overseeing all of GM’s manufacturing operations worldwide. Many others are following in his footsteps, with 600 apprentices graduating from the program each year, according to Trevorrow.

At the end of the course, participants will earn a journeyperson card, which is an official credential that proves someone has completed an apprenticeship and is now fully qualified to work in a skilled trade without direct supervision. Veterans who enter the program may be able to complete the program in a shorter amount of time given their prior knowledge. 

Michael Trevorrow, GM's senior vice president of global manufacturing, is adjusting part of a metal mold so it fits exactly with the matching top piece. (General Motors)

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Not only are participants starting with hands-on and schooling simultaneously, but they're also getting paid, Trevorrow said. 

"It's an investment in the future," Trevorrow said. "It isn't what you need tomorrow. It's kind of what you forecast you're going to need over the next 10 years." 

It comes at a time when the U.S. is struggling to build up the skilled labor workforce. Part of the problem is that there is a surge of workers set to retire and not enough young workers are replacing them.

Georgetown University in September published a report, "Falling Behind: How Skills Shortages Threaten Future Jobs," highlighting the persistent skills shortages in critical occupations across the U.S. economy due to an unmet demand for workers with the postsecondary credentials associated with the necessary skills. 

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From 2024 through 2032, about 18.4 million experienced workers with postsecondary education are projected to retire. This outpaces the 13.8 million younger workers who will enter the labor market with equivalent educational qualifications, according to the report. 

The U.S. economy is expected to add 685,000 new jobs requiring postsecondary education and training over the same period. 

The National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte estimated in a 2021 report that the country's manufacturing skills gap could lead to 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, costing the economy potentially $1 trillion.

Over the past five years alone, General Motors has invested over $242 million in its skilled trades apprenticeship program. (General Motors)

"Given the foundational role the manufacturing sector plays in our nation’s economy, it is deeply concerning that at a time when jobs are in such high demand nationwide, the number of vacant entry-level manufacturing positions continues to grow," Paul Wellener, then-Deloitte vice chairman and U.S. industrial products and construction leader, said in the 2021 study. 

But General Motors isn't just targeting adults or veterans leaving the armed forces. A big part of its effort is exposing younger generations to this type of work. Volunteers with General Motors will go into their communities and introduce kids between the ages of kindergarten and 12th grade to the wide range of career paths available in automotive manufacturing.

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This includes bringing groups of students through its plants to show them what modern manufacturing looks like or, as Trevorrow describes it, thousands of robots "working like a symphony." GM employees also visit schools to help students with engineering projects, including building model cars.

The goal is to teach them about quality, standardized work, standardized processes and problem-solving, according to Trevorrow.

Workers assemble chassis parts for vehicle frames at the General Motors assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. ( Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

General Motors is also upskilling its current workforce through its Technical Learning University. It trains about 2,500 employees per year. 

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Ticker Security Last Change Change % GM GENERAL MOTORS CO. 81.46 -0.29
-0.35%
The Technical Learning University is set up so that workers can try out new technologies in a hands-on way. The training center includes real systems that match what employees use in plants, so they can practice in a safe learning environment. GM brings people from plants all over North America to a facility with a subject-matter expert, who will walk through the process.

"As technology improves, we try to upscale everybody to that new technology so that we can take advantage of it and use it to build more quality in our vehicles, do it more efficiently, which ends up good for the customer," Trevorrow said. 

Key Takeaways DLTR, TECK, ALL, CIEN and HOOD passed a strict screen for strong and consistent earnings surprise.The strategy favors stocks with double-digit recent EPS surprises and solid average beats.High liquidity, positive earnings outlooks and strong analyst rankings boost the odds of another upside.
It is not surprising that before an earnings season, every investor looks for stocks that can beat market expectations. This is because investors always try to position themselves ahead of time and look to tap stocks that are high-quality in nature.

In this regard, we ran a screener that yielded stocks Dollar Tree (DLTR - Free Report) , Teck Resources (TECK - Free Report) , Allstate (ALL - Free Report) , Ciena (CIEN - Free Report) and Robinhood Markets (HOOD - Free Report) as the likely winners on the earnings beat potential.

Why Is a Positive Earnings Surprise So Important?Historically, stocks of companies with solid quarterly earnings (on a nominal basis) tank if they miss or merely meet market expectations. After all, a 20% earnings rise (though apparently looks good) doesn’t tell you if earnings growth has been exhibiting a decelerating trend.

Also, seasonal fluctuations come into play sometimes. If a company’s Q1 is seasonally weak and Q4 strong, then it is likely to report a sequential earnings decline. In such cases, growth rates are misleading while judging the true health of a company.

On the other hand, after much brainstorming and analysis of companies’ financials and initiatives, Wall Street analysts project the earnings of companies. They, in fact, club their insights and a company’s guidance when deriving an earnings estimate.

Thus, outperforming that estimate is almost equivalent to beating the company’s own expectation as well as the market perception. And if the margin of earnings surprise is big, it typically drives the stock higher right after the release. Thus, more than anything else, an earnings surprise can push a stock higher.

How to Find Stocks that Can Beat?Now, finding stocks that have the potential to beat on the bottom line may be investors’ dream but not an easy job. One way to do this is to look at the earnings surprise history of the company.

An impressive track in this regard generally acts as a catalyst in sending a stock higher. It indicates the company’s ability to surpass estimates. And investors generally believe that the company will apply the same secret sauce to execute yet another earnings beat in its next release.

The Winning StrategyIn order to shortlist stocks that are likely to come up with an earnings surprise, we chose the following as our primary screening parameters.

Last EPS Surprise greater than or equal to 10%: Stocks delivering positive surprise in the last quarter tend to surprise again.

Average EPS Surprise in the last four quarters greater than 20%: We lifted the bar for outperformance slight higher by setting the average earnings surprise for the last four quarters at 20%.

Average EPS Surprise in the last two quarters greater than 20%: This points to a more consistent surprise history and makes the case for another surprise even stronger.

In addition, we place a few other criteria that push up the chance of a positive surprise.

Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Only companies with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) rating can get through.

Earnings ESP greater than zero: A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of #1, 2 or 3 for an earnings beat to happen, as per our proven model.

In order to zero in on those that have long-term growth potential and high trading liquidity we have added the following parameters too:

Next 3–5 Years Estimated EPS Growth (Per Year) greater than 10%: Solid expected earnings growth exhibits the stock’s long-term growth prospects.

Average 20-day Volume greater than 100,000: High trading volume implies that the stocks have adequate liquidity.

A handful of criteria has narrowed down the universe from over 7,700 stocks to only 11.

Here are five out of 11 stocks:

Dollar Tree: The Zacks Rank #2 company is an operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise and other assortments. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The average earnings surprise of DLTR for the past four quarters is 29.08%.

Teck Resources: The Zacks Rank #2 company is committed to mining and mineral development with business units focused on copper and zinc. The TECK stock has a Zacks Rank #2.

The average earnings surprise of TECK for the past four quarters is 50.26%.

Allstate: The Zacks Rank #1 company is the third-largest property-casualty insurer and the largest publicly held personal lines carrier in the United States.

The average earnings surprise of ALL for the past four quarters is 47.29%.

Ciena: Ciena Corporation is a leading provider of optical networking equipment, software and services. The stock has a Zacks Rank #1.

The average earnings surprise of CIEN for the past four quarters is 22.98%.

Robinhood Markets: The company is a financial services company. It offers trading services in crypto, stocks, options, exchange-traded funds, cash management, margin and securities lending, and Robinhood Gold.The stock has a Zacks Rank #1.

The average earnings surprise of HOOD for the past four quarters is 25.75%.

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks’ portfolios and strategies are available at: http://www.zacks.com/performance.

About Emily Jarvie
Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The Canberra Times, and... Read more

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Long-time healthcare operations leader brings strategic insight, client-first vision, and operational excellence to board role

December 17, 2025 09:33 ET

 | Source:

Acentra Health LLC

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acentra Health, a technology and health solutions company dedicated to accelerating better health outcomes for government and commercial clients and the populations they serve, today announced the appointment of Meghan Harris, President and Chief Operations Officer (COO), to its board of directors.

Harris brings over two decades of healthcare quality improvement, strategic operations, and client-focused innovation to the board. As President and COO, she oversees all public and commercial operations, solution development and quality, and contract implementations.

“Meghan’s appointment to the board reflects the significant impact of her strategic insight, strong operational leadership, and deep commitment to our mission,” said Todd Stottlemyer, CEO of Acentra Health. “Her experience, particularly in integrating clinical and technical services to deliver value for our clients, will continue to strengthen our long-term strategy.”

Throughout her career, Harris has been instrumental in the design and development of client-centric solutions tailored to the unique needs of healthcare clients. Her strong analytical background and commitment to operational excellence have enabled the company to streamline processes and enhance service delivery across its growing portfolio.

Under Harris’ leadership, Acentra Health has retained contracts and experienced year-over-year contract growth. Known for her accessibility to clients, Harris has championed the development of integrated solutions that address emerging healthcare delivery needs and policy priorities.

“It is an honor to join Acentra Health’s board of directors and help guide the company’s continued growth and impact,” said Harris. “I look forward to working closely with my fellow board members to ensure we remain agile, client-focused, and aligned with our mission to improve health outcomes for those we serve.”

Harris earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Malone College and her Master of Science degree in statistics from the University of Akron.

About Acentra Health
Acentra Health combines public sector knowledge, clinical expertise, and technological ingenuity to modernize the healthcare experience for state, federal, and commercial partners, and their priority populations. From designing and developing advanced claims, encounter, and provider solutions that drive efficiency and cost savings to delivering clinically focused solution models for care management, clinical assessments, and quality oversight, Acentra Health is accelerating better health outcomes. Acentra Health is backed by Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), a global investment firm. Learn more at acentra.com.  

Media Contact:

Marnie Keogh
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Acentra Health
703-214-3666
[email protected] 

Janice Moore
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Acentra Health
703-214-3552
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6480f568-e91c-43a9-9228-3ed93e4de516

Meghan Harris Appointed to Acentra Health Board of Directors
Meghan Harris Appointed to Acentra Health Board of Directors

Paramount Skydance's hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery appeared to be on shakier ground Wednesday, after the Warner Bros.

Key Takeaways PNR recently declared a 27-cent dividend, marking its fifth increase in five years with a payout ratio of 21%.CNP announced a 23-cent dividend and has raised payouts eight times in five years, yielding 2.3%.VAC declared an 80-cent dividend, offering a 5.5% yield with a payout ratio of 44%.
The U.S. market remains fraught with volatility, but investors are better off with nearly 19.2%, 15.8%, and 13.7% returns from the Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, respectively, over the past year. Currently, concerns are moderating pace of the economy, led by the gradual cooling of the labor market and stretched valuations in the technology sector.

The Federal Reserve, in its last Federal Open Market Committee meeting in December, delivered a quarter-percentage-point cut in its key interest rate to support the job market and stimulate growth since inflation is trending downward and hovering near 2% target. The Fed has lowered borrowing costs three times this year to bring down the overnight borrowing rate in the range of 3.50-3.75%.

The job market is showing signs of cooling due to softer hiring, rising unemployment and narrowing job-opening gaps. Lower supply and demand for workers caused by reduced immigration and higher import tariffs are the primary causes of easing. According to a report from the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payrolls increased by 64,000 jobs in November, after the economy shed 105,000 jobs in October, the biggest decline since December 2020, due to federal government job losses. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest level in more than four years. Market expectations that the Fed will hold off on a rate cut in January remained largely the same.

Amid such market conditions, investors who wish to diversify their portfolios can pick dividend-paying stocks. Some of the prominent names are: Pentair (PNR - Free Report) , nVent Electric (NVT - Free Report) , CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) , Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (VAC - Free Report)  and PG&E (PCG - Free Report) . Companies that pay out dividends consistently indicate a healthy business model. Stocks that have raised dividends recently exhibit a sound financial structure and can counter market upheavals. Moreover, stocks that tend to reward investors with a high dividend payout outperform non-dividend-paying entities in a highly volatile market.

Pentair

Pentair delivers a comprehensive range of smart, sustainable water solutions to homes, businesses and industry globally. This London, UK-based company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

On Dec. 15, PNR declared that its shareholders would receive a dividend of 27 cents a share on Feb. 6, 2026. PNR has a dividend yield of 1%.

Over the past five years, PNR has increased its dividend five times, and its payout ratio presently sits at 21% of earnings. Check Pentair’s dividend history here.

nVent Electric

nVent Electric is headquartered in London. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is a provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. It also designs, manufactures, markets, installs and services that connect and protect equipment in buildings and critical processes.

On Dec. 15, NVT declared that its shareholders would receive a dividend of 21 cents a share on Feb. 6, 2026. NVT has a dividend yield of 0.8%.

In the past five years, NVT has increased its dividend twice. Its payout ratio is currently 26% of earnings. Check nVent Electric’s dividend history here.

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy is a domestic energy delivery company that provides electric transmission and distribution, power generation, and natural gas distribution operations to more than 7 million metered customers across six states — Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas. The Zacks Rank #2 company is headquartered in Houston, TX.

On Dec. 12, CNP declared that its shareholders would receive a dividend of 23 cents a share on March 12, 2026. CNP has a dividend yield of 2.3%.

Over the past five years, CNP has increased its dividend eight times, and its payout ratio presently sits at 51% of earnings. Check CenterPoint Energy's dividend history here.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide

Marriott Vacations Worldwideis a leading global vacation company, which offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental, resort and property management services. This Orlando, FL-based company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3.

On Dec. 12, VAC announced that its shareholders would receive a dividend of 80 cents a share on Jan. 7, 2026. VAC has a dividend yield of 5.5%.

Over the past five years, VAC has increased its dividend five times. Its payout ratio now sits at 44% of earnings. Check Marriott Vacations Worldwide's dividend history here.

PG&E

PG&E is engaged in the sale and delivery of electricity and natural gas to customers in northern and central California. The Zacks Rank #2 company is headquartered in Oakland, CA.

On Dec. 12, PCG announced that its shareholders would receive a dividend of 5 cents a share on Jan. 15, 2026. PCG has a dividend yield of 0.7%.

Over the past five years, PCG has increased its dividend three times. Its payout ratio now sits at 7% of earnings. Check PG&E's dividend history here.