Core Insights - SoFi Technologies is transforming the perception of financial services by demonstrating significant growth and customer resonance, particularly through its aggressive expansion into the cryptocurrency market [1][2] Group 1: Company Developments - In the last six months of 2025, SoFi has made substantial moves to enhance its focus on blockchain technology [2] - A partnership with Lightspark was announced in August, enabling SoFi Pay customers to conduct fast and inexpensive cross-border payments to over 30 countries using the Bitcoin Lightning network [3] - The launch of SoFi Crypto in November allows members to buy, sell, and hold certain digital assets, marking a significant step as the first nationally chartered, federally insured bank to do so [3] Group 2: Product Innovations - In December, SoFi introduced SoFiUSD, a fully reserved stablecoin, positioning itself as a stablecoin infrastructure provider for banks, fintechs, and enterprise platforms [4] - The CEO, Anthony Noto, emphasized that blockchain technology will fundamentally transform finance across various sectors, not just payments [4] Group 3: Future Focus Areas - Future initiatives for SoFi include crypto-backed lending, institutional trading and custody, and business banking [5] - There is potential for long-term growth for investors, despite criticisms regarding the focus on unproven technology [6] Group 4: Market Context - The current crypto market is experiencing a downturn, with a market cap of $2.4 trillion, which is 44% below its peak from October [7] - Despite the downturn, the trailing five-year gain of 104% in the crypto market remains significant [7] - If the crypto market continues to grow over the next five to ten years, SoFi is well-positioned for sustainable growth, reinforcing the belief in the viability of blockchain technology within financial services [8]

Group 1 - AlloyX Group (AXG) announced USD 100 million in equity financing aimed at expanding its stablecoin and asset tokenization businesses, R&D in AI and blockchain security, and global market expansion [1][2] - The financing round reflects strong market confidence in AXG's long-term value and growth potential, providing capital momentum for enhancing the global stablecoin ecosystem and advancing asset tokenization innovation [2] - AXG operates as a comprehensive digital asset service platform, integrating traditional finance with digital assets, and focuses on secure and efficient digital financial solutions for institutions [3] Group 2 - AlloyX Group is recognized for its compliant operation system, clear global strategy, and sustainable growth potential, which have contributed to its strong market recognition [2] - The company is backed by leading international investors and aims to build the next generation of digital financial infrastructure to support the transition to a regulated digital economy [3]

The crypto wipeout that vaporized $1 trillion in market value over the past three months has afflicted all corners of the industry—including the numerous crypto ventures tied to President Donald Trump’s family. But while the family’s portfolio is down across the board, some assets have been hit harder than others. Since Oct. 10, when the crypto market witnessed what’s since been dubbed the “flash crash,” the worst-performing crypto asset tied to the Trump family has been American Bitcoin’s stock. The Bi ...

Core Insights - Visa Inc. opened fiscal 2026 with a resilient quarter, showcasing its status as a dependable compounder in the payments technology market [1] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $3.17 per share, a 15% year-over-year increase, and revenue of $10.9 billion, also up 15% [3] - Visa's Value-Added Services segment saw a significant revenue increase of 28%, reaching $3.2 billion, driven by demand for various services [5] Financial Performance - Visa's adjusted earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3 cents, while revenue exceeded expectations by 1.9% [3] - Cross-border volumes grew by 12% on a constant-currency basis, and payment volumes increased by 8% [3] - Processed transactions reached 69.4 billion, marking a 9% year-over-year increase, although slightly below the consensus estimate [3] Value-Added Services - The expansion of Visa's Value-Added Services (VAS) segment is a key growth driver, with revenues surging 28% [5] - The upcoming FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games are expected to further accelerate marketing and analytics services [5] Stablecoins and Digital Infrastructure - Visa is enhancing its role in blockchain-based infrastructure, enabling banks to issue and manage stablecoins [6] - Annualized settlement volumes for stablecoins reached $4.6 billion, indicating growing adoption in cross-border transactions [6] - Management has tempered expectations for stablecoins as mainstream consumer payment tools in developed markets, citing a lack of compelling product-market fit [7] Shareholder Returns - During the quarter, Visa returned $5.1 billion to shareholders, including $3.8 billion in buybacks and $1.3 billion in dividends [11] - The company's dividend yield of 0.81% exceeds that of Mastercard and the industry average [11] Analyst Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Visa's fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 EPS suggests increases of 11.9% and 13.3%, respectively [12] - The consensus for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 revenues indicates growth of 11.3% and 10.2% [12] Valuation and Market Performance - Visa's stock is trading at 24.65X forward price/earnings, above the industry average of 19.28X [16] - Over the past three months, Visa shares declined 1%, outperforming the industry's 3.4% drop [13] Conclusion - Visa's strong fiscal Q1 performance highlights the durability of its transaction-led business model, supported by steady payment growth and robust cross-border volumes [21] - Strategic investments in digital infrastructure and stablecoin settlement enhance its long-term positioning [21]

Core Insights - Dan Romero and Varun Srinivasan have joined Tempo, a blockchain focused on stablecoins, after their previous venture Farcaster was acquired [1][3] - Romero views stablecoins as a generational opportunity and aims to make them mainstream, while Srinivasan emphasizes the importance of building a global payments network that is fast, inexpensive, and transparent [2] Company Developments - Farcaster was acquired by Neynar, which will take over its smart contracts, code repositories, and other assets, as the platform struggled to gain user traction [3] - Romero plans to return all $180 million raised by Farcaster to its investors following the acquisition [4] Talent Acquisition - The move to Tempo positions Romero and Srinivasan at the forefront of the crypto industry, building on their previous experience at Coinbase [5] - Tempo has been enhancing its team, recently adding notable figures such as Dankrad Feist, Liam Horne, and Mallesh Pai [6] Project Progress - Tempo launched its testnet in December, with a full launch planned for later this year [7]

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axe Compute (or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: AGPU) today announced the appointment of Christopher Miglino as Chief Executive Officer, marking a pivotal development in the company’s commitment to decentralized compute and digital infrastructure, operating at the intersection of blockchain, AI, and capital markets. Mr. Miglino transitions into the CEO role following his involvement in the structuring of Axe Compute’s digital asset treasury and the transaction resulting ...

Core Viewpoint - Metalpha Technology Holding Limited has adopted a BTC allocation plan that allows for up to 20% of the company's annual net profit to be allocated towards Bitcoin investments, indicating a strong belief in the cryptocurrency's potential to enhance long-term shareholder value [1][3]. Financial Summary - The authorized allocation for the current period is approximately US$3.2 million, which represents 20% of the company's reported net profit of US$15.9 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 [2]. - The company executed an initial purchase of Bitcoin on February 9, 2026, with a total notional investment of around US$1 million, purchasing at an average price of approximately US$54,000 per Bitcoin [2]. Company Overview - Metalpha Technology Holding Limited is recognized as a global leader in providing blockchain and trading technology solutions, focusing on delivering advanced technological solutions for digital asset management, hedging infrastructures, and liquidity solutions [3]. - The company aims to strengthen its position as a major gateway to digital assets in Asia, leveraging its extensive expertise in both blockchain and traditional fintech [3].

Executives from Bitpanda, Dune, and Libertex identify AI agents and demographic shifts as defining forces for 2026 More than fifteen years after the Bitcoin white paper sparked a revolution in how we think about money, the cryptocurrency industry is entering a period of rapid transformation. It now sits at the intersection of three powerful forces: co-option by incumbent financial institutions, the rise of AI agents, and the shifting demographics that come with mainstream adoption. What started as a fri ...

Group 1 - XRP provides exposure to the trend of capital moving to blockchain-based management and the growth of fintech in crypto [1] - Ripple has secured a Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license, allowing it to provide regulated crypto stablecoin payments in a key global financial hub [3] - Ripple is one of only three stablecoin providers allowed to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) [3] Group 2 - XRP transactions settle in three to five seconds, with extremely low transaction fees, making it suitable for high-throughput use cases [5] - Compared to legacy systems like SWIFT, XRP reduces the number of intermediaries and delays, resulting in lower costs for cross-border money transfers [6] - XRP's design supports regulatory compliance features, facilitating token management for real-world asset tokenization [7]

Core Viewpoint - Analysts at Bernstein maintain a bullish long-term outlook for bitcoin, asserting that the current drawdown represents the weakest bear case in its history and does not undermine its broader adoption or investment thesis [2][3]. Group 1: Current Market Conditions - The analysts describe the recent price weakness as a crisis of confidence rather than a failure of the underlying system, maintaining a price target of $150,000 for bitcoin by the end of 2026 [3]. - Bernstein notes that typical catalysts associated with past bitcoin downturns, such as major failures or systemic breakdowns, have not materialized, indicating a different cycle compared to previous bear markets [4]. Group 2: Institutional Support and Market Dynamics - Strong institutional alignment is highlighted, including a pro-bitcoin U.S. president, spot bitcoin ETF adoption, and growing corporate treasury participation, which support the argument that the current market differs from past downturns [4]. - The analysts argue that bitcoin is still trading as a liquidity-sensitive risk asset rather than a mature safe haven, with tighter financial conditions benefiting select assets like precious metals and AI-linked equities [6]. Group 3: Relevance in an AI-Driven Economy - Bernstein counters claims that bitcoin is losing relevance in an AI-driven economy, suggesting that blockchain and programmable wallets are well-suited for an emerging digital environment requiring global financial rails [7]. - The advantages of blockchain systems over traditional banking infrastructure are emphasized, particularly in the context of closed APIs and legacy integration challenges [7].