In late 2024, I said in a short video that Sea Limited (NYSE: SE) was the best-performing stock in my portfolio that year, and it wasn't even close. In fact, Sea shares had nearly tripled over the course of the year, fueled by strong revenue growth and a rapid return to profitability. Although I didn't think the stock was as much of a bargain as it once was, I said it still looked attractively valued relative to its growth. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe ...

Core Viewpoint - Metroblox has launched Ride USD, a stablecoin backed by USDC, aimed at facilitating low-cost, real-time transportation payments [1][2] Group 1: Product Overview - Ride USD is a digital token issued on the Solana blockchain, backed 1:1 by USDC reserves, and is designed for routine mobility spending [1] - The stablecoin serves as a transactional layer for the Ride Ecosystem, which Metroblox describes as a financial operating system for the transport sector [2] Group 2: Benefits and Functionality - Transport operators can utilize Ride USD to reduce processing expenses while maintaining their existing hardware and point-of-sale systems [2] - The platform enables instant revenue settlement between different operators and supports various mobility programs and subsidy schemes [3] Group 3: Market Context and Expansion - Metroblox highlights the growing significance of stablecoins in digital finance, with global transaction flows projected to exceed $30 trillion by 2025 [3] - The company notes that everyday consumer expenditures, particularly in transport, have yet to fully benefit from stablecoin adoption [3] Group 4: Regulatory Framework - Recent US legislative developments, including the GENIUS Act, establish standards for stablecoin reserve backing and custody, providing a compliant structure for Ride USD's use in transport systems [4] - This regulatory framework aims to enhance confidence among operators, public agencies, and commercial partners in adopting stablecoin-based payment solutions [5] Group 5: Cost Efficiency - Ride USD leverages Solana's high-speed, low-cost settlement capabilities, allowing for the processing of everyday mobility payments at significantly reduced costs while ensuring instant and transparent transactions [6]

Group 1: Core Announcement - Coinbase Global Inc. supports Bermuda's initiative to become the world's first "fully on-chain national economy" [1] - The announcement was made at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, highlighting collaboration with Circle Internet Group Inc. [1][2] - The initiative aims to transform Bermuda's economy using digital asset infrastructure and enterprise tools across various sectors [1] Group 2: Educational and Technical Support - The initiative includes nationwide digital finance education and technical onboarding to facilitate the transition [2] - Bermuda Premier E. David Burt emphasized the acceleration of digital finance at the national level with support from trusted companies [2] Group 3: Leadership Perspectives - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed excitement about empowering local businesses and institutions through an open financial system [3] - Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire also expressed enthusiasm for participating in this ambitious project [3] Group 4: Regulatory Framework - Bermuda established a clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies with the Digital Asset Business Act in 2018 [4] - Coinbase obtained a license to operate in Bermuda in 2023, indicating regulatory compliance [4] Group 5: U.S. Regulatory Efforts - Armstrong is engaging with U.S. lawmakers to establish a federal regulatory framework for digital assets [5] - He aims to discuss the benefits of cryptocurrency with world leaders and continue efforts on the cryptocurrency market structure bill [5] Group 6: Market Reactions - Coinbase withdrew support for the cryptocurrency market structure bill, leading to an indefinite postponement of the legislation [6] - Following this, Coinbase shares closed 0.78% higher at $241.15, while Circle shares rose 2.62% to $78.61 [6]

百慕大政府宣布与 Coinbase 和 Circle 合作，推动建设以区块链为基础的"全链上"经济体系，计划在政 府部门试点稳定币支付、推动 USDC 在本地商户中的使用，并支持金融机构引入代币化等数字金融工 具。相关计划于 World Economic Forum 年会期间公布，合作方将为政府、银行、保险机构、中小企业 及消费者提供基础设施与技术支持，并开展数字金融教育与技术接入。(TheBlcok) （来源：吴说） ...

Core Insights - AlloyX Group is actively engaging with Bahrain's government officials to enhance the country's digital asset and stablecoin infrastructure [1][2] - The company aims to position Bahrain as a globally trusted hub for digital assets and family office businesses, emphasizing innovation and regulation [2] - The meetings have strengthened AlloyX Group's confidence in Bahrain as a strategic location for its global stablecoin initiatives [3] Group Meetings - High-level meetings were held with key Bahraini officials, including the Minister of Finance and National Economy and the Governor of the Central Bank [1] - Discussions focused on fostering a well-regulated financial ecosystem that supports innovation in digital finance [2] Strategic Vision - AlloyX Group's vision includes supporting Bahrain's development in the digital finance landscape, highlighting the country's growing importance [2] - The company is committed to advancing its global stablecoin initiatives from Bahrain, reinforcing its strategic positioning [3]

Core Insights - Pakistan's stance on cryptocurrency has shifted from opposition to integration, reflecting a broader global trend towards acceptance of digital assets [1][2] Group 1: Agreement and Integration - Pakistan signed an agreement with a company affiliated with World Liberty Financial (WLFI) to integrate its USD1 stablecoin into the regulated payments system [2][3] - The deal, executed through SC Financial Technologies, represents a significant partnership between a decentralized finance firm and a sovereign state [3][4] Group 2: Regulatory Oversight and Objectives - The USD1 stablecoin is expected to operate under regulatory oversight, coexisting with Pakistan's emerging digital finance infrastructure [4] - The initiative aims to enhance cross-border payments, particularly remittances, which are crucial for Pakistan's economy [5][6] Group 3: Economic Impact - Overseas Pakistanis send over $30 billion annually, and the integration of a regulated stablecoin is anticipated to lower fees, accelerate settlement times, and improve transparency in these transactions [6][7] - Pakistan is also pursuing broader reforms, including drafting comprehensive virtual asset regulations and preparing for its own central bank digital currency (CBDC) [6]

Company Overview - Stewards Inc. (OTC: SWRD) is a diversified platform focusing on private credit, real assets, and digital finance, aiming for responsible growth through disciplined underwriting and technology-driven analytics [5] - The company provides scalable financing and structured credit solutions to small and mid-sized businesses across the United States, while also building a portfolio of income-producing real estate and digital treasury assets [5] Event Participation - Stewards Inc. will present at the Sequire Investor Summit 2026, scheduled for January 22-23, 2026, at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico [1] - The summit aims to connect funds, public companies, and investors for presentations and one-on-one meetings, facilitating direct engagement with the investment community [1][4] Strategic Insights - At the summit, Stewards Inc. plans to share insights into its strategy, governance framework, and long-term growth objectives, particularly in relation to its planned uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market [3] - The company emphasizes building a disciplined and resilient financial platform through its participation in the summit [4] Industry Context - Puerto Rico is becoming increasingly attractive for family offices, investment funds, and high-net-worth investors due to its favorable tax environment, which supports capital and investment activity [2]

Core Insights - The digital finance landscape is competitive, with NerdWallet, Inc. (NRDS) and LendingTree, Inc. (TREE) as key players, each with distinct business models and growth strategies [1][2] Group 1: NerdWallet (NRDS) - NRDS operates primarily as an affiliate marketing provider, generating revenue through partnerships when users engage with financial products [3] - The company has a strong market position, offering resources that empower individuals and small to medium businesses (SMBs) to make informed financial decisions [4] - NRDS's platform covers a wide range of financial products, including credit cards, mortgages, and personal loans [5] - The user base has significantly grown, aided by collaborations with financial institutions and a recent acquisition of Next Door Lending to enhance mortgage offerings [6] - NRDS is expanding internationally, with growth opportunities in the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and is well-positioned for sustained growth [7] - Projected adjusted EBITDA for 2025 is between $141 million and $145 million, an increase from the previous estimate of $106 million to $116 million [7] Group 2: LendingTree (TREE) - TREE functions as an online marketplace connecting consumers with financial service providers, focusing on diversifying its offerings beyond mortgages [8] - The company has expanded its services to include credit cards and various loan types, launching its first consumer credit product, WinCard, in 2023 [9] - TREE's adjusted EBITDA increased by 48% year over year in the third quarter of 2025, with projections for 2025 adjusted EBITDA between $126 million and $128 million [12] - The company is leveraging data and technology to enhance user experience and expand its marketplace offerings [11] Group 3: Earnings Estimates and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NRDS indicates a year-over-year earnings increase of 720% for 2025 and 49.6% for 2026 [13] - In contrast, TREE's earnings growth is projected at 50.2% for 2025 and 5.7% for 2026 [16] - NRDS shares have gained 29.1% over the past three months, while TREE shares have declined by 10.1%, indicating stronger investor sentiment towards NRDS [19] - Valuation metrics show TREE trading at a forward price-to-book (P/B) multiple of 5.5X, while NRDS is at 2.5X, suggesting NRDS is currently undervalued [21] Group 4: Investment Outlook - NRDS's scalable affiliate model, strong brand, and user growth position it favorably for long-term growth, supported by strategic acquisitions and international expansion [23] - Financially, NRDS presents a more attractive growth profile with higher projected earnings and lower valuation compared to TREE, which faces slower earnings growth and a richer valuation [24] - NRDS holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), while TREE has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), reflecting differing investor confidence levels [27]

Investment Themes for 2026 - The market is shifting towards four promising investment themes: Green energy, AI and automation, digital finance, and data analytics [1] Green Energy and Sustainable Investing - Renewable power capacity increased by 50% globally, driven by cheaper solar panels [2] - In 2023, companies invested $1.7 trillion in clean energy projects, supported by government initiatives like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act [4] - Companies are focusing on upgrading power grids and building battery factories to meet the growing demand for renewable energy [5] - Smart investments are being made in companies that control their supply chains, particularly in lithium and rare metals [6] Expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation - AI is expected to add $2.6–$4.4 trillion annually to the global economy by 2026, as companies leverage it to reduce costs and enhance customer service [7] - AI applications are being utilized across various sectors, including healthcare and banking, for tasks like X-ray analysis and fraud detection [10] - The infrastructure for AI, including chip production and data centers, is seeing significant investment from tech giants [11] Digital Transformation of Financial Services - Banks are evolving into tech companies, with open banking and real-time payments becoming standard [12] - The market for tokenized assets could reach $16 trillion by 2030, indicating a significant shift in financial services [12] - Financial institutions are encouraged to adopt digital banking practices to meet customer expectations for convenience and security [16] Increasing Value of Data Analytics - The global market for data analytics is projected to grow from $85.50 billion in 2025 to $302.01 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 28.7% [18] - Companies that effectively utilize data analytics can outperform competitors by launching products faster and addressing issues proactively [20] - Investment in data platforms and governance tools is essential for businesses to democratize analytics and make informed decisions [20]

Core Viewpoint - Mogo Inc. has rebranded as Orion Digital Corp., reflecting its transformation into a multi-engine digital finance platform focused on wealth, payments, and digital assets [1][8] Group 1: Company Overview - Orion Digital operates on a foundation of recurring platform revenues and a capital framework emphasizing disciplined capital allocation [2] - The company is structured around three integrated engines: Intelligent Investing, Carta Worldwide, and a Bitcoin treasury strategy [8] - The name change was approved by the board and became effective on December 29, 2025, with trading under the new ticker symbol ORIO starting on January 2, 2026 [7] Group 2: Business Strategy - The Intelligent Investing platform aims to promote durable long-term investing practices through behavioral design, education, and automation [2] - Carta Worldwide supports billions in annual processing volume and is designed to scale with customer demand, reaching approximately 7 million end consumers [3] - The company has a structured treasury strategy for expanding its Bitcoin reserves, demonstrating early conviction in digital assets [4] Group 3: Leadership and Shareholder Alignment - The founders of Orion Digital have not sold any shares since the company's inception, indicating strong alignment with shareholders [6] - The company emphasizes founder-led stewardship and a disciplined approach to capital allocation to compound value over time [6]