Strive Inc. (NASDAQ:ASST) is one of the best fast growing penny stocks to buy according to analysts. On January 21, Maxim Group reiterated a Buy rating for Strive. The firm also maintained a price target of $1.50 on the company’s shares. In other news, on January 16, Strive announced the acquisition of Semler Scientific, which is a move that establishes Strive as the 11th largest public corporate holder of Bitcoin globally with a treasury of approximately 12,797.9 BTC. Alongside the acquisition, Strive ex ...

Athena to host an onsite Bitcoin kiosk experience at MARTE Museum, highlighting regulated, user-friendly access to Bitcoin across Latin America (LATAM) SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR / ACCESS Newswire / January 30, 2026 / Athena Bitcoin announced today it will attend Plan Forum El Salvador, taking place January 30-31, 2026 at the MARTE Museum (Museo de Arte de El Salvador) in San Salvador, El Salvador. Athena Bitcoin's Country Manager for El Salvador, Fernando Córdova, who oversees regional expansion across Lati ...

Core Insights - BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) is recognized as one of the most profitable stocks over the last 20 years, with a recent upgrade from Hold to Buy by Freedom Capital, setting a new price target of $1,364, up from $1,255, indicating strong long-term earnings potential driven by growth in base fees, performance fees, and technology services [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings and Financial Performance - BlackRock's Q4 results have reinforced its long-term earnings potential, supported by growth across various revenue streams including base fees, performance fees, and technology services [1]. - The recent upgrade by Freedom Capital reflects confidence in BlackRock's financial performance and future growth prospects [1][2]. Group 2: New Product Launch - On January 26, BlackRock filed with the SEC to launch the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, aimed at providing bitcoin exposure while generating income through a covered-call strategy [2]. - This new fund is designed to target investors looking for income-focused strategies within the cryptocurrency market, enhancing BlackRock's presence in the spot bitcoin ETF sector [2]. Group 3: Company Overview - BlackRock, Inc. is a global investment management firm that offers a wide range of financial services, including asset management, risk advisory, and technology solutions, serving both institutional and individual clients worldwide [3].

Core Insights - Fold Holdings, Inc. aims to position bitcoin as a foundational financial tool for American families, emphasizing ownership, agency, and freedom through its services [1][16][21] Company Overview - Fold is a Bitcoin financial services company that simplifies earning, saving, and spending bitcoin through everyday financial tools [1][23] - The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker FLD and holds over 1,500 BTC in its treasury [23] Achievements in 2025 - In 2025, Fold launched more products than ever and improved execution velocity, including a complete rebuild of its credit card program in partnership with Stripe and Visa [3] - The company successfully integrated bitcoin into mainstream American life, achieving visibility through various activations, including billboards in Times Square and partnerships with major retailers like Kroger and Steak 'n Shake [3] - Fold expanded its services to all 50 states and became the only public bitcoin financial services company with a federal trust bank charter through BitGo, enhancing its regulatory compliance [3] Goals for 2026 - Fold plans to simplify its offerings by eliminating Fold+ subscriptions, ensuring all customers have access to an upgraded experience [5] - The company will implement clear and transparent pricing, with zero fees for recurring buys and paycheck conversions, aiming to build trust with customers [6] - Fold is enhancing its custody standards by partnering with a federally regulated national bank, ensuring customer assets are protected by a $250 million insurance policy [7][8] - An upgraded app experience will be rolled out to focus on accumulation rather than distractions [9] - The company will launch a no-annual-fee credit card that offers up to 4% back in bitcoin, designed specifically for bitcoin savers [10] - Fold aims to improve dollar banking services to match the management experience of bitcoin, enhancing accessibility and transfer speed [11] - The company plans to expand partnerships with retailers to integrate bitcoin into everyday life [12] - Fold is committed to supporting families and households, focusing on long-term financial goals [13] - The company will utilize its treasury strategically to align with shareholders and enhance customer rewards [14] - Fold is fostering a high-performance culture to accelerate product development and delivery [15] Market Positioning - Fold is positioning itself to benefit from a generational wealth transition, as younger households increasingly view bitcoin as a foundational asset for their financial future [18][19] - The company is building infrastructure to support this shift, aiming to make bitcoin a trusted and practical financial tool for everyday use [20]

The US Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market remained under pressure through January 28, recording a second consecutive day of net outflows and underscoring persistent caution among institutional ... ...

Core Insights - Jacob & Co. has launched a limited edition Bitcoin-themed watch, Epic X GoMining, in collaboration with GoMining, which is limited to 100 pieces and retails for $40,000 [1][2] - The watch provides owners with 1,000 terahashes of Bitcoin mining power, allowing them to earn Bitcoin rewards [2][4] - GoMining's platform values 1 terahash at $23, with an expected monthly return of $1.20, suggesting that the mining power associated with the watch could yield approximately $1,200 monthly at current Bitcoin prices [3] Company and Industry Summary - The Epic X GoMining watch combines luxury craftsmanship with digital mining capabilities, appealing to collectors seeking multifunctional luxury items [4] - The watch will be officially introduced at the Consensus cryptocurrency conference and will be available at Jacob & Co. showrooms in Miami and New York, as well as online [4]

Company Overview - LQWD Technologies Corp. is a Canadian-based company focused on providing enterprise-grade infrastructure for the Bitcoin Lightning Network, with offices in Vancouver, Canada, and Lugano, Switzerland [4] - The company has approximately 31.9 million shares outstanding and 42.7 million shares fully diluted, maintaining a strong balance sheet with no outstanding debt [4] Event Announcement - Shone Anstey, the CEO of LQWD Technologies, will present live at the Digital Asset Treasury Virtual Investor Conference on January 27, 2026, at 12:30 PM ET [1][2] - The event will allow real-time interaction with investors, and an archived webcast will be available for those unable to attend live [2] Business Model and Strategy - LQWD is advancing Bitcoin adoption through the Lightning Network, which enables instant, low-cost transactions at a global scale [6] - The company operates a network of enterprise-grade nodes and network liquidity, earning transaction fees, and is positioned for unlimited scalability [6][7] - LQWD offers investors exposure to both the long-term appreciation of Bitcoin and the emergence of Lightning-based payment technology [7]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock has filed an S-1 application with the SEC to launch an iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to provide a yield-bearing investment strategy based on Bitcoin [1][2]. Group 1: ETF Structure and Strategy - The proposed ETF will primarily consist of Bitcoin, shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), and cash premiums, functioning as a yield-bearing product [2]. - The ETF's performance will be linked to Bitcoin's price while generating premium income through an actively managed strategy of writing call options on IBIT shares [2][4]. - The S-1 filing is dated January 23, and while there is no clear timeline for approval, SEC approvals for such filings can take months [2]. Group 2: Market Context and Comparison - BlackRock's ETF represents the largest product of its kind to date, indicating a shift in the perception of Bitcoin from a passive store of value to an active investment vehicle [3]. - Similar products include the Grayscale Bitcoin Premium Income ETF and the YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF, launched in April 2025 and April 2024 respectively [3]. Group 3: Investment Implications - The ETF allows investors to treat Bitcoin as both a store of value and a yield-bearing asset, potentially providing monthly income [5]. - This strategy could mitigate cryptocurrency volatility, although it may cap income for investors if Bitcoin experiences significant price increases [5].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is preparing to launch its iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to track Bitcoin's price while generating income through an actively managed strategy of writing call options on IBIT shares and related indices [1]. Group 1: ETF Structure and Strategy - The new ETF will sell options that grant other investors the right to purchase its IBIT shares at a predetermined price, collecting option premiums as income [2]. - Shares in the ETF will represent fractional beneficial interests in the fund's income, Bitcoin, IBIT shares, and cash [2]. - The fund's structure indicates a higher-risk, higher-fee strategy that has the potential for greater income compared to a passive spot Bitcoin ETF [6]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The NEOS Bitcoin High Income ETF, launched in October 2024, has $1.09 billion in assets under management and an expense ratio of approximately 0.99% [4]. - The new BlackRock ETF will compete with the Roundhill Bitcoin Covered Call Strategy ETF (YBTC) and YieldMax Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF (YBIT), which have $225 million and $74 million in assets under management, respectively [5]. - Actively managed ETFs like BTCI and the new iShares offering typically charge higher fees to cover the costs associated with their option-writing strategies, unlike passive spot Bitcoin ETFs that maintain lower operating costs [5].

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock is expanding its presence in the cryptocurrency ETF market by planning to launch the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which aims to provide income from bitcoin exposure [1]. Group 1: Fund Structure and Strategy - The proposed fund will actively manage bitcoin exposure, either directly or through shares of BlackRock's existing iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), and will generate income by selling call options on that exposure [2]. - This fund will utilize a "covered-call" strategy, which is common in stock-based income funds, allowing it to generate income by selling the right to purchase its underlying assets at a fixed price [2][3]. - The fund will distribute the premiums generated from the covered-call strategy to investors as income, trading potential upside for income [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Performance - BlackRock's entry into the market is notable due to its scale and the success of IBIT, which has over $69.7 billion in assets, making it the dominant spot bitcoin ETF [4]. - BlackRock's bitcoin funds have become the firm's top revenue source, indicating strong market demand and performance [4]. - Other covered-call ETFs, such as YBTC, BTCI, and BAGY, have shown high distribution rates, but they may dilute net asset value (NAV) due to higher yields offered [5]. Group 3: Performance Comparison - Bitcoin-focused income ETFs have underperformed BTC, with BTCI down approximately 31.3% and YBTC losing 45% over the last 12 months, compared to a 14% drawdown in bitcoin [6]. - BAGY, which launched in late April 2025, has also seen a decline of 25% since its debut [6].