Crypto World
Agentic AI Elevates CISOs in Digital Resilience
Editor’s note: Splunk’s new CISO Report highlights a shifting security landscape where CISOs are expanding AI governance and risk management as a core mandate. The study surveys 650 CISOs globally and underscores AI’s role in speeding threat detection, improving data correlation, and shaping security strategy—while leaders weigh social engineering risks and deployment pace in an era of rising threat sophistication. The findings emphasize that AI is a business enablement tool and that talent remains essential to translating technology into resilient outcomes.
Key points
- 95% cite threat actor sophistication as the greatest risk; 92% prioritize threat detection and response; 78% strengthen identity and access management; 68% invest in AI cybersecurity capabilities.
- 92% say AI enables reviewing more security events.
- 89% report improved data correlation with AI.
- 39% of CISOs who have partially or fully adopted agentic AI say it has increased their teams’ reporting speed by more than double.
- 82% believe agentic AI will increase the amount of data reviewed and speed up correlation and response.
Why this matters
AI is a strategic driver of resilience as CISOs take broader AI governance and risk duties while balancing speed and security. Talent, collaboration, and business-focused metrics will shape outcomes in an AI-enabled era.
What to watch next
- Adoption of agentic AI and its impact on detection speed and decision-making.
- Expansion of AI governance and DevSecOps responsibilities within security leadership.
- Ongoing concerns about social engineering and the need for robust threat models.
- Workforce burnout and data-sharing challenges as CISOs consolidate data and seek cross-department insights.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
Splunk Report: Agentic AI Takes Center Stage in CISOs’ Path to Digital Resilience
- Nearly all CISOs Report They Are Now Responsible for AI Governance and Risk Management, Cite the Growing Sophistication of Threat Actor Capabilities as Their Greatest Risk
- Vast Majority Say AI Enables More Security Events to be Reviewed
SAN JOSE, Calif. – February 25, 2026 – Cisco today announced the release of Splunk’s annual report, The CISO Report: From Risk to Resilience in the AI Era, surveying 650 global Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). The report highlights CISOs’ rapidly expanding role, their strategic approach to AI adoption, and a steadfast commitment to human talent as they confront an increasingly complex landscape.
“CISOs operate in the eye of the storm, at the center of constant transformation. Role responsibilities expand, threats evolve, and AI accelerates everything,” said Michael Fanning, CISO, Splunk. “This expanded mandate brings an exceptional level of pressure and personal accountability. We are not just managing technology. We are managing risk, talent, and the digital resilience that drives critical business outcomes.”
The AI Imperative
AI is recognized as a powerful business imperative and productivity powerhouse for security teams, including agentic AI. The survey highlights:
- 95% of CISOs cite the growing sophistication of threat actor capabilities as their greatest risk. Ninety-two percent of CISOs say that improving threat detection and response capabilities is a top priority, followed by strengthening identity and access management (78%), and investing in AI cybersecurity capabilities (68%).
- 92% of CISOs say AI enables their teams to review more security events.
- 89% report improved data correlation with AI.
- 39% of CISOs who have partially or fully adopted agentic AI strongly agree it has increased their teams’ reporting speed by more than double the rate of those who are still exploring (18%).
- 82% of CISOs believe agentic AI will increase the amount of data reviewed and 82% say it will increase correlation and response speeds.
While CISOs’ approach AI with cautious optimism, 86% fear agentic AI will increase the sophistication of social engineering attacks, and 82% worry it will increase deployment speed and complexity of persistence mechanisms. Ultimately, AI is seen as essential for combating advanced threats and delivering significant business advantages.
Expanded Mandate and Personal Stakes
CISOs are operating at the leading edge of digital transformation, with nearly four out of five reporting their role has become significantly more complex. More than three quarters of CISOs are now worried about personal liability for security incidents, a sharp jump from last year, when just over half expressed similar fears, underscoring the high stakes involved. Nearly all respondents now report that CISOs responsibilities include AI governance and risk management, with more than four out of five also overseeing secure software development (DevSecOps).
Talent Over Tech in Closing Gaps
Despite the rise of AI, CISOs are prioritizing human capital to address critical skills gaps. Their main strategies include upskilling current workforces, hiring new full-time employees, and engaging contractors. This reflects a belief that human intelligence and creativity remain security’s most powerful tools, especially for nuanced tasks like threat hunting.
Security is a Team Sport
Shared ownership is proving critical for stronger cybersecurity outcomes. Joint accountability drives the most value for key security initiatives (62%), security budget and funding (55%), and access to security-relevant data (49%), indicating that collaboration across the C-suite is a force multiplier for resilience.
Burnout and the Quest for Clarity
The report reveals a significant challenge in workforce retention, with nearly two-thirds of security teams experiencing moderate to significant burnout. Leading stressors include:
- High alert volumes (98%)
- False alerts (94%)
- Tool fatigue (79%)
To address these issues, CISOs are consolidating security data into a single view and using data-driven narratives to translate technical nuances into clear business imperatives for non-technical leadership. However, challenges to improving cross-departmental data sharing persist, such as:
- Data privacy concerns (91%)
- High storage costs (76%)
- Lack of shared data views (70%)
Reframing Security as a Business Enabler
CISOs are increasingly focused on translating cybersecurity’s value into clear business outcomes. Incident reduction, improved Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) are the top metrics used to communicate ROI to leadership. Collaboration with C-suite peers, especially on budgeting and key initiatives, is crucial for success.
The CISO Report highlights the transformation of the CISO role into a strategic leader. The report demonstrates how these executives are effectively navigating complex challenges by championing data-driven strategies, fostering human-centric leadership, and thoughtfully integrating AI. Through these approaches, CISOs are strengthening digital resilience and empowering their organizations to thrive in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
To download the 2026 CISO Report, please visit the Splunk website.
Methodology
Oxford Economics researchers surveyed 650 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in July and August of 2025. Respondents resided in Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They represented nine industry groups: manufacturing, telecommunications, media and communications, financial services, public sector, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, retail and consumer goods, healthcare and life sciences, and information services and technology.
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks“>http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word ‘partner’ does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
Media Contact
Gabrielle Jasinski
Splunk LLC
Crypto World
U.S. spot BTC ETFs see $1.1 billion in 3-day inflows, set for biggest week since mid-January
U.S. bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are on track to snap a streak of five consecutive weeks of net outflows with their strongest performance since mid-January.
The funds recorded net inflows of $1.1 billion in three straight days, according to data from SoSoValue, leaving them roughly $815 million ahead after Monday’s net outflow is taken into account, the most since adding $1.4 billion in the week ended Jan. 16.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) accounted for more than half of the three-day flow, drawing in roughly $652 million. On Wednesday, Grayscale’s GBTC, which carries the highest fee among the funds, posted its largest single-day inflow since converting from a trust structure to an ETF.
The renewed inflows suggest U.S. demand is returning, an conclusion reinforced by the Coinbase Premium Index turning positive after 40 days in negative territory. The index tracks the price difference between bitcoin on Coinbase (COIN), which is accessible to firms in the world’s largest economy, and the broader global market. It is widely used as a gauge of U.S. institutional flows and sentiment.
Data from Checkonchain shows total bitcoin holdings across U.S. spot ETFs climbed to 1.29 million BTC, putting assets under management (AUM) less than 10% below their October peak.
This comes despite the spot price of bitcoin remaining 45% below its October record. The largest cryptocurrency has continued to consolidate around the mid $60,000 range this week.
Meanwhile, open interest on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has continued to decline, falling to 107,780 BTC, according to Glassnode data. Because CME allows institutions to simultaneously take a long position in spot bitcoin and a short position in futures — a strategy known as a basis trade — the drop in futures can be seen as indicating the ETF inflows are outright long positions.
Crypto World
VOdds Introduces Advanced Odds Checker Tool to Help Bettors Find the Best Odds
[PRESS RELEASE – Willemstad, Curaçao, February 27th, 2026]
Bookmaker & casino broker VOdds unveiled a new feature, Odds Scanner, a betting intelligence tool designed to compare bookmaker prices across multiple sports markets. The platform puts all the odds data in one place, so users don’t have to search for it manually, and so prices are easier to see. VOdds covers a wide range of sports, including football and other popular sports, and supports major events like the Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup. Vodds’ odds checker is an informational tool that focuses on speed, accuracy, and making it easy to compare markets.
Key Features of VOdds Scanner
According to the company, the VOdds scanner is made with precision, making complicated odds data in a simple, easy-to-read way. It is said that users can quickly find the right markets thanks to filters, sorting options, and easy-to-use navigation. In short words, the odds scanner is good for both new and experienced bettors, simply because it’s focused on the user.
Additionally, the VOdds scanner works in a lot of different sports betting markets, from football and basketball to less popular sports and other types of markets. This wide range of coverage lets people look at odds for different leagues, tournaments, and types of bets all in one place. The tool makes sure that data is always available, whether users are following big international events or smaller regional matches.
Odds Comparison
With the odds scanner by VOdds, users can compare prices for the same outcome from different bookmakers all in one place. This lets users find options with higher prices for the same event. For instance, VOdds might show different odds for a Premier League home win and highlight the best one that is available. This structured comparison strengthens the platform’s position as a best odds checker without any bias from advertising.
Real-Time Odds Collection
As a live odds checker, VOdds collects data from multiple bookmakers at the same time and updates prices in real time. This makes sure that people can get up-to-date market information during big events like the Champions League and the World Cup. Real-time updates lower the risk of using old prices and help Vodds users make smart decisions when using the odds checker.
Alerts and Trends
The VOdds platform keeps an eye on changes in odds and market trends. Users can set up alerts for big changes, like when odds drop, which could mean that the market is changing. These tools help users respond quickly and cut down on the need to constantly check the odds scanner by Vodds.
Sports Coverage
Undoubtedly, VOdds has a lot of sports markets, so bettors can see the odds for all the big global competitions in one place. The odds checker on the platform is set up so that the data is always shown in the same way for all sports. This makes it easy to move between markets without losing clarity or accuracy.
Football Odds Checker
VOdds’s football odds checker covers a lot of football, including both domestic leagues and international tournaments. Users can bet on the Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup, among other competitions, using the same odds checker framework. These markets include 1X2, handicaps, and totals.
Tennis Odds Checker
VOdds’s tennis odds checker covers the ATP and WTA tours, Grand Slams, and Challenger events. Vodds’ odds scanner lets users compare match winners, set handicaps, and game totals, and it sends updates in real time.
Basketball Odds Checker
VOdds also lets users bet on basketball games, like the NBA and EuroLeague. The odds checker app shows bet types like moneylines, spreads, and totals in a standard way, which makes it easier to compare them.
How to Start Using the Best Odds Checker by VOdds
Users first sign up for the VOdds platform and then use the odds checker by Vodds from the dashboard. Users can choose which events to see by sport, competition, and market type using filters. This process makes it easy for Vodds to get to the odds scanner.
“We wanted to make a tool that gives bettors clear access to real-time market data without making things too complicated,” Zak Richardson, VOdds spokesperson. The platform makes it easier for users to find good deals on major sporting events by bringing together all the prices from different bookmakers and updating them right away.
Benefits of Using Odds Scanner by VOdds
VOdds points out some important functional benefits, such as:
- Finding the Best Odds: Centralised comparison makes it easier to see the best prices for events like Champions League matches because users don’t have to check multiple bookmakers by hand.
- Making Strategies Work Better: Real-time updates help users quickly react to changes in the market and find arbitrage opportunities with Vodds’ odds scanner.
- Supporting Bigger Bets: Users can better judge markets before placing bigger bets when they can see liquidity and price stability.
How to Use the VOdds Odds Checker
According to VOdds, the main purpose of the VOdds Odds Checker is to compare bookmaker odds in real time so players always place bets at the most profitable price.
For example, users want to bet on Manchester City to win:
- Bookmaker A: 1.72
- Bookmaker B: 1.80
- Bookmaker C: 1.75
VOdds instantly highlights 1.80 as the best available price.
About VOdds
VOdds is a crypto gambling site where people can place bets with cryptocurrency and use a set of data-driven betting tools. VOdds wants to make sports betting more open, efficient, and available to people all over the world by combining digital asset payments with advanced analytics. By collecting and displaying bookmaker data in a clear, easy-to-use way, the platform helps bettors compare prices across different markets, which helps open up the market. VOdds helps users find value opportunities, compare odds in real time, and make better betting decisions while fully participating in the crypto betting ecosystem. It does this with its own odds checker tools.
For more information about the company, users can visit VOdds website or reach out to their contact info below.
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Crypto World
Hedera price eyes bullish crossover as stablecoin activity fires up, will it break out?
Hedera price rallied over 8% this week amid a notable jump in the stablecoin supply held on the network.
Summary
- Hedera price rebounded 8% this week amid an uptick in network activity.
- HBAR price action is close to confirming a bullish crossover on the daily chart.
According to data from crypto.news, Hedera (HBAR) price rallied 8.7% over this week amid a broader crypto market rebound largely fueled by Bitcoin reclaiming key support levels and improved investor appetite for risk assets amid a surge in tech stocks.
The token’s rally also gained support from a jump in stablecoin supply held on the network. Data from DeFiLlama show that its stablecoin supply has surged nearly 17% over the past seven days, driven largely by USDC, which accounts for about 99.8% of the total supply.
A surge in stablecoin means more users are transacting, deploying capital, or seeking yield on the network. Such activities tend to support retail sentiment.
Demand from derivative traders also provided an impetus to HBAR’s rally. Notably, Hedera futures open interest has increased by 3% in the past 24 hours, while its weighted funding rate has also turned positive.
A positive funding rate means more traders are entering the market with bullish bets, which in turn is improving overall market sentiment.
On the daily chart, Hedera price has broken above a descending trendline that had been acting as a dynamic resistance, capping price movement since late October last year. When an asset breaks out of such a descending trendline resistance, it is typically a sign of a trend reversal, with dominance shifting to the hands of bulls.

The 20-day SMA appears close to moving above the 50-day SMA, forming what traders term a short-term bullish crossover. When such crossovers are confirmed, cryptocurrencies have often sparked sharp rallies.
Adding to the bullish outlook, the MACD lines have also pointed upwards and are close to moving above the zero line.
Hence, the price outlook for Hedera appears to be bullish for now, with the token most likely to target $0.12 next, which aligns with the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level.
On the contrary, if bears can push the price below the 20-day SMA of $0.097, Hedera could enter a downtrend.
However, the lackluster demand for Hedera spot ETFs could become a bottleneck for any upside move, especially since other assets like XRP and Solana ETFs have continued to outpace HBAR in both net daily inflows and total assets under management (AUM).
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Crypto World
ETH, XRP, ADA, BNB, and HYPE
This Friday, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid in greater detail.
Ethereum (ETH)
After weeks of bearish price action, Ethereum has finally found support at the $1,800 level, where buyers have shown interest. This allowed ETH to close the week 5% higher, reaching $2,000, which is currently being contested.
If the bulls manage to hold the price above $2,000 and turn this level into a key support, then the cryptocurrency has a good shot at moving much higher and towards $2,400, which is the next resistance on the chart.
Looking ahead, ETH may be entering a relief rally that could take it as high as $2,800. Once there, sellers could step up the pressure again.
Ripple (XRP)
XRP has been flat over the past week and has not made any gains. Nevertheless, there are signs the price wants to move higher since sellers have failed to make lower lows.
This pause in price action could be interpreted as bullish because sellers have lost the initiative, which opens the door for buyers to return and push XRP to the next key level at $1.6. This becomes likely if the current support at $1.4 continues to hold.
Looking ahead, a bounce higher can be expected, but sellers could return at $1.6. Only if that level is broken can bulls hope to reclaim $2 or higher.
Cardano (ADA)
ADA had a good week, closing with a 7% gain. This is the first time in months that ADA is managing to look bullish after a prolonged correction. To consolidate the current gains, buyers will have to push this cryptocurrency above 30 cents, which acts as a resistance.
If 30 cents falls, then the next key target will be found at 36 cents, which is likely to be defended by sellers quite aggressively based on the past price action.
Looking ahead, Cardano may be forming a bottom here, which would be in line with the past. If so, this is an attractive area for buyers, especially since this downtrend lasted for over a year and a reversal is overdue.
Binance Coin (BNB)
Binance Coin closed the week 4% higher and found strong support around $600. It seems sellers ran out of steam and were unable to break lower and hold the price there. Because of this a bounce here is likely.
Should buyers become more active in the days to come, their first target is found at $690. If that level is reclaimed, then they will look at $900 next.
Looking ahead, BNB wants to recover some of the recent losses, and considering most altcoins are turning bullish, it would not be surprising to see this cryptocurrency also make steady gains in the coming days and weeks.
Hype (HYPE)
HYPE is flat on the weekly chart and is trying to return above $30. So far, buyers will need at least one more push to be successful, but sellers may be waiting for that move before they return.
With momentum building up behind bulls across the market, HYPE has a good shot at a breakout beyond $30, especially if the recent test of the $26 support is confirmed as a higher low.
Looking ahead, HYPE has a real chance to rally if the $30 is turned into support. Watch the price action in the next few days, as it will be decisive to where this cryptocurrency goes next.
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Crypto World
MARA Bitcoin miner posts $1.7B quarterly loss as BTC slumps
In its latest quarterly update, MARA Holdings confronted a stark reality: even as its bitcoin mining fleet generated fewer coins, the company’s balance sheet was weighed down by falling crypto valuations and a strategic pivot away from pure mining. MARA reported a fourth-quarter 2025 net loss of $1.71 billion, or $4.52 per diluted share, compared with a year-earlier net income of $528.3 million. Revenue slipped 6% year over year to $202.3 million, as a softer Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) price offset a higher hashrate. For the full year, the firm posted a net loss of $1.31 billion on revenue of $907.1 million, reversing 2024’s $541 million profit.
Key takeaways
- MARA’s Q4 2025 net loss was $1.71 billion and revenue was $202.3 million, with earnings pressured by the decline in BTC prices despite a higher mining hashrate.
- For the full year 2025, the company recorded a net loss of $1.31 billion on $907.1 million in revenue, reversing 2024’s profit as crypto prices remained volatile.
- A $1.5 billion negative adjustment to the fair value of digital assets and receivables contributed to the quarterly loss, reflecting BTC price declines from around $114,300 on Sept. 30 to $88,800 on Dec. 31 (per CoinGecko).
- MAR A’s BTC holdings at year-end totaled 53,822, with 15,315 pledged or loaned, and the balance-sheet BTC carried a roughly $4.7 billion value at quarter-end prices.
- The company unveiled a strategic pivot into AI and high-performance compute, including a joint venture with Starwood Digital Ventures to build data centers at power-rich sites, initially targeting more than 1 GW of IT capacity and potentially expanding to 2.5 GW.
- In February, MARA acquired a 64% stake in Exaion to pursue sovereign-grade and enterprise AI deployments as part of the broader diversification plan.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $MARA
Sentiment: Bearish
Price impact: Negative. MARA’s stock has fallen about 46% over the past six months as results and strategic pivots weigh on investor sentiment.
Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. While the transition toward AI/HPC is notable, near-term investors should watch project execution and BTC price stability before reassessing risk/reward.
Market context: The results come amid a broader crypto downturn where mining economics remain sensitive to BTC price swings, regulator signals, and capital allocation shifts among miners pursuing diversified revenue streams rather than pure hodling or mining.
Why it matters
The quarterly and annual figures underscore a pivotal moment for MARA as it moves beyond a pure-play bitcoin miner toward an energy and digital infrastructure company. The heavy accounting hit from the fair value of digital assets illustrates how price volatility can disproportionately affect mining-focused models, even when production levels hold steady or improve. By contrast, the balance sheet remains robust in crypto terms, with a substantial BTC stash that, on paper, still carries significant value given the ongoing, albeit uneven, interest in asset-backed mining operations.
Beyond the numbers, the strategic pivot is the centerpiece. MARA’s collaboration with Starwood Digital Ventures aims to unlock a significant AI/HPC footprint on existing energy-rich sites, a move that could open new revenue channels independent of BTC cycles. The plan envisions more than 1 gigawatt of IT capacity in the initial phase, with a roadmap to exceed 2.5 GW over time. Crucially, MARA retains the option to invest up to 50% in individual projects, while continuing to mine where power remains economical. This hybrid model reflects a broader industry trend: miners seeking to hedge against crypto price volatility by anchoring operations in data centers and AI workloads that can generate steady, long-term demand.
Additionally, the February acquisition of a 64% stake in Exaion signals a concrete push into AI deployments that could leverage MARA’s grid-scale energy footprint. Exaion’s focus on sovereign-grade and enterprise AI deployments aligns with the growing demand for specialized compute resources, particularly at the intersection of crypto mining infrastructure and high-performance compute networks. As more miners explore blended business models, MARA’s approach stands out for attempting to formalize AI-centric data center capacity alongside mining operations.
In comparison, peers are testing similar pivots with varying degrees of commitment. Some miners are leaning into large AI data-center leases, while others continue to emphasize a combined strategy of mining and hoarding BTC to preserve, and potentially grow, crypto exposure. The sector’s direction remains dependent on macro conditions, including BTC price trajectories, energy costs, and regulatory developments that could influence the economics of large-scale mining and data-center deployments alike.
The financials also hint at the balancing act between growth investments and shareholder value. If the Starwood joint venture and Exaion initiatives deliver on capacity and utilization, MARA could unlock a multi-year path toward diversified cash flows. Yet the immediate picture is clouded by historical volatility in the crypto markets and the challenge of turning large capex programs into near-term profits. Investors will be watching how the company manages capital deployment, debt, and any potential tranche financing to accelerate its AI/HPC push while supporting ongoing mining operations.
The company’s overall strategy, while ambitious, mirrors a broader move within the crypto hardware space toward building resilient, diversified platforms. As data centers become a more common anchor for crypto firms, MARA’s ability to translate capacity into meaningful revenue streams will be a key test for the model’s sustainability in a market where price signals for BTC remain bifurcated and often unpredictable.
What to watch next
- Progress updates on the Starwood Digital Ventures AI/HPC data-center partnership, including projected milestones for the initial >1 GW capacity and any expansions toward 2.5 GW.
- Operational and financial details on Exaion deployments and contracts, particularly any sovereign-grade AI projects and enterprise compute commitments.
- Bitcoin price movements and realized/batched mining yields as MARA advances its hybrid strategy, plus any changes to the company’s balance-sheet BTC position or collateral arrangements.
- Any capital-raising efforts, debt restructurings, or financing agreements tied to the new AI/HPC initiatives and data-center builds.
- Regulatory developments affecting crypto mining, energy use, and AI infrastructure deployments that could impact project economics or timelines.
Sources & verification
- MARA Holdings Q4 2025 shareholder letter filed with the SEC (SEC: q425shareholderletter.htm).
- Bitcoin price data used for the fair value discussion (CoinGecko: bitcoin).
- Company updates and stock performance coverage (Yahoo Finance: MARA).
- Exaion stake and AI/HPC deployments referenced in MARA communications (Cointelegraph article on Exaion stake).
Key figures and next steps
What the announcement changes
The fourth quarter reports reveal a company navigating a difficult macro environment for mining while actively pursuing a structural shift toward AI-enabled data centers. If successful, the Starwood JV and Exaion partnerships could provide MARA with nonmining revenue streams that weather BTC price cycles. The path forward will hinge on project execution, the pace of capacity buildup, and the ability to translate compute demand into sustained profitability.
Sources & verification
- SEC filing: q425shareholderletter.htm
- CoinGecko data: bitcoin
- Yahoo Finance: MARA
- Exaion stake coverage: Cointelegraph
Crypto World
Ethereum price outlook as foundation unveils “Strawmap” for network upgrades
Ethereum is attempting to stabilize above the $2,000 level as fresh details around the network’s long-term scaling roadmap, dubbed the “Strawmap,” inject renewed fundamental optimism into the market.
Summary
- Ethereum is holding above $2,000 as the Ethereum Foundation unveils its “Strawmap,” a roadmap aimed at faster slot times and improved transaction finality.
- ETH is consolidating between $1,900 and $2,100 after a sharp January–February sell-off, with $2,100 acting as key breakout resistance.
- Momentum indicators, including the Aroon Oscillator and Bull-Bear Power, are turning positive, suggesting early-stage accumulation but confirmation requires a decisive move above range highs.
The proposal, outlined by Vitalik Buterin and backed by the Ethereum Foundation, sketches a path toward significantly faster slot times and improved transaction finality.
The plan envisions reducing block times and tightening confirmation latency, a move that could materially enhance user experience, rollup efficiency, and DeFi execution speeds.
While the Strawmap remains a directional framework rather than a finalized upgrade schedule, its focus on faster slots and stronger finality reinforces Ethereum’s commitment to long-term scalability, a narrative that may help underpin price recovery after weeks of heavy selling pressure.
Ethereum price analysis: Can bulls reclaim $2,100?
On the daily ETH/USDT chart, Ethereum is trading around $2,035 after rebounding from a sharp early-February sell-off that briefly pushed the price below $1,900.
The broader structure shows that ETH fell aggressively from the $3,200–$3,300 region in January before finding demand near the $1,850 zone. Since that capitulation-style move, price action has shifted into consolidation, forming a range between approximately $1,900 and $2,100.

This sideways structure suggests the market is attempting to build a base following weeks of heavy distribution.
The $2,100 level now stands as immediate resistance and represents the upper boundary of the current range. A decisive daily close above this area would mark the first meaningful higher high on the daily timeframe and could open the path toward $2,300, where prior breakdown momentum accelerated.
Beyond that, $2,500 remains a major resistance zone, having previously acted as structural support before the January collapse.
On the downside, $1,900 continues to serve as critical short-term support. A break below that level would expose the $1,800 area, the site of the February wick low, as the next major demand zone.
Momentum indicators are beginning to show early signs of improvement. The Aroon Oscillator has flipped back into positive territory after an extended period of negative readings, indicating that bearish dominance is weakening.
Meanwhile, Bull-Bear Power has shifted from deeply negative levels to printing green histogram bars above the zero line, suggesting that buying pressure is gradually returning.
Together, these signals point to a transition from capitulation to accumulation. However, confirmation of a trend reversal requires a clean breakout above $2,100 and sustained follow-through. Until then, Ethereum remains in a consolidation phase, balancing improving technical momentum against overhead resistance.
Crypto World
TeraWulf Reports $35.8M Q4 Revenue Amid Mining Losses
TeraWulf, a publicly listed US digital infrastructure company, missed fourth-quarter earnings estimates as its mining revenue dropped amid falling Bitcoin prices in late 2025.
TeraWulf (WULF) released 2025 earnings on Thursday, reporting a fourth-quarter loss of $1.66 per share, compared with a loss of $0.21 per share a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Yahoo Finance had expected a $0.16 loss.
Revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 totaled $35.8 million, including $26.1 million from digital assets and $9.7 million from high-performance computing (HPC), down from $50.6 million in the third quarter. Analysts had expected an average of $44.1 million.
For the full year, Terawulf’s revenue rose from $140.1 million in 2024 to $168.5 million, expecting further growth in 2026 with $12.8 billion in signed AI and HPC contracts.
“We are advancing build schedules and optimizing design to support next‑generation AI workloads at scale,” TeraWulf’s chief technology officer Nazar Khan said.
TeraWulf plans to double total capacity with Kentucky and Maryland sites
TeraWulf plans to expand its infrastructure in 2026 with the acquisition of a site in Kentucky (MISO) and a planned acquisition in Maryland (PJM).
The company expects these acquisitions to add 1.5 gigawatts (GW) to its platform, more than doubling its current capacity and bringing total owned platform capacity to approximately 2.8 GW across five sites.

Together, the sites form a multi-year development path capable of supporting 250-500 megawatts (MW) of critical IT capacity annually, allowing TeraWulf to scale with growing AI demand while maintaining disciplined capital deployment and credit-backed contracts.
“We enter 2026 with 522 critical IT MW of contracted HPC capacity and a gross 2.9-GW multi-regional platform designed for long-term expansion,” CEO Paul Prager said.
Related: Bitcoin miner MARA posts $1.7B quarterly loss on BTC slump
Bitcoin mining companies have struggled as the cryptocurrency’s price fell from around $125,000 in early October to nearly $60,000 by February 2026, according to TradingView.
At $67,982 at the time of publication, Bitcoin is trading well below the estimated average cost to mine one coin, $87,310, according to MacroMicro.
The decline has intensified pressure on miners to pivot into AI and HPC, fueling a broader rush into data center operations.
Magazine: Bitdeer sells all Bitcoin, Metaplanet rejects misconduct claims: Asia Express
Crypto World
Meta Expands AI Chip Strategy with Google TPU Partnership Following Nvidia and AMD Deals
Key Highlights
- Meta Platforms has finalized a multi-year, billion-dollar agreement with Google to lease Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for artificial intelligence development.
- The social media giant is negotiating to acquire Google TPUs directly for deployment in its proprietary data centers beginning next year.
- This partnership comes on the heels of Meta announcing separate long-term chip agreements with both Nvidia and AMD earlier this week.
- Meta’s agreement with Nvidia encompasses millions of Blackwell and Rubin GPU units, while its AMD contract totals approximately $100 billion across five years.
- Wall Street analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating on META stock, projecting an average target price of $864.62—representing potential upside of around 31.6%.
Meta Platforms has concluded a remarkably active week in the semiconductor industry, finalizing significant chip procurement agreements with three major players in AI computing: Nvidia, AMD, and most recently, Google.
The most recent arrangement involves Meta leasing Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), specialized chips designed for artificial intelligence workloads. According to The Information’s initial coverage, this multi-year commitment represents a financial commitment in the billions.
Beyond simply renting cloud capacity, Meta is reportedly discussing purchasing Google TPUs outright for installation within its own infrastructure, with deployment potentially beginning as early as next year.
Developed by Google’s parent corporation, Alphabet, TPUs represent a strategic alternative to Nvidia’s dominant GPU offerings. The chips have increasingly contributed to Google Cloud’s revenue stream, and securing Meta as a customer provides Alphabet with a prestigious reference account.
Alphabet has additionally established a joint venture with a major institutional investor (name undisclosed) focused on TPU leasing arrangements—indicating the tech giant’s commitment to expanding its chip business beyond internal applications.
Meta’s Massive Chip Investment Wave
Just days ago, Meta unveiled an AMD partnership covering 6 gigawatts of computational capacity. Industry analysts estimate this five-year deal at approximately $100 billion in total value.
Under the AMD terms, Meta will become the inaugural recipient of custom-designed MI450 GPUs alongside Venice CPU processors in late 2026. The agreement includes warrants allowing Meta to acquire up to 160 million AMD shares, creating aligned financial incentives between the partners.
The Nvidia partnership matches this scale of ambition. Meta intends to roll out millions of Nvidia’s next-generation Blackwell and Rubin GPU architectures, complemented by Grace and Vera central processing units, plus Spectrum-X networking infrastructure. Notably, this represents Nvidia’s first major standalone deployment of Grace CPUs with any client.
Collectively, these three partnerships demonstrate Meta’s aggressive capital deployment strategy aimed at narrowing the competitive gap in artificial intelligence capabilities.
Google Challenges Nvidia’s Market Position
For Google, securing Meta as a TPU client represents a significant milestone in its campaign to challenge Nvidia’s overwhelming market leadership in AI accelerators.
Nvidia shares declined more than 5% following the announcement, while AMD fell over 3%. Alphabet stock dropped approximately 1.76%. Meta, conversely, posted gains of 0.51%.
Previous reporting this week suggested Google has been actively pursuing strategies to broaden TPU adoption, with several startups already onboard. Nevertheless, the company has encountered manufacturing constraints and tepid interest from major cloud service providers.
Meta’s participation offers Google an opportunity to showcase TPU performance on enterprise-scale, computationally intensive AI applications.
Alphabet’s joint venture with an unnamed institutional partner aims to facilitate TPU leasing operations—a framework that could provide the capital necessary to expand production capacity in response to rising demand.
From an investment perspective, META currently carries a Strong Buy consensus rating on TipRanks, supported by 39 Buy recommendations against 4 Hold ratings. The consensus price target of $864.62 suggests approximately 31.6% appreciation potential from present trading levels.
Crypto World
Intel (INTC) Shares Slide 3% Following Foundry Leader’s Move to Qualcomm
TLDR
- Intel (INTC) declined approximately 3% on Thursday, closing at $45.46 with volume 41% below average
- Kevin O’Buckley, the SVP and general manager of Intel Foundry Services, departed to join Qualcomm as VP of global operations and supply chain
- The company revealed a partnership with AI chip startup SambaNova focused on the SN50 inference chip
- Wall Street consensus remains at “Hold/Reduce” with price targets ranging from $45.74 to $48.21
- Q4 earnings showed EPS of $0.15, surpassing expectations, though margins remain negative with cautious forward outlook
Shares of Intel (INTC) slipped nearly 3% during Thursday’s session, settling at $45.46 compared to the prior close of $46.88. Volume registered approximately 71 million shares, representing a 41% decline from typical daily levels.
The decline was primarily attributed to a significant personnel change: Kevin O’Buckley, who served as senior vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Services, has exited the company.
O’Buckley is transitioning to Qualcomm, where he’ll assume the position of vice president of global operations and supply chain. The lateral move between two semiconductor powerhouses triggered immediate market reaction.
Intel acted swiftly to calm investor concerns. The chipmaker emphasized that Intel Foundry continues to be “one of Intel’s highest strategic priorities” and will operate under Naga Chandrasekaran’s leadership, who assumed the top foundry position last year.
The company publicly acknowledged O’Buckley’s contributions and extended best wishes. Official reasons behind his departure remain undisclosed.
Speculation suggests O’Buckley may have previously held a direct reporting relationship with CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Following Intel Foundry’s reorganization, his reporting structure shifted to Chandrasekaran. Whether this organizational change influenced his decision remains unclear.
Intel’s AI Inference Push
The week brought positive developments as well. Intel unveiled a partnership with AI chip startup SambaNova centered on the company’s latest SN50 inference chip. Intel is also contributing to SambaNova’s current funding round.
This collaboration positions Intel more competitively in the AI inference space, which industry analysts identify as a rapidly expanding, higher-margin segment. The partnership demonstrates Intel’s strategic efforts to establish stronger positioning in AI hardware beyond its core CPU operations.
Regarding financial performance, Intel delivered Q4 EPS of $0.15, exceeding the consensus forecast of $0.08. Revenue reached $13.67 billion, topping analyst projections of $13.37 billion. However, revenue declined 4.2% compared to the previous year.
The forward outlook presents challenges. Intel projected Q1 2026 EPS at zero, while analysts anticipate -$0.11 EPS for the complete fiscal year. The company continues facing negative net margins and negative return on equity.
Nvidia Eyes Intel’s Turf
Additional competitive dynamics are emerging. Nvidia, following its $5 billion Intel investment in December, is now advancing into the CPU sector — territory Intel has traditionally dominated.
As artificial intelligence firms transition from model training to deployment phases, CPU requirements are increasing. Nvidia aims to capture market share in this segment.
Analyst opinions show divergence. Tigress Financial maintains a Buy rating with a $66 price objective. Conversely, Wedbush holds a Neutral stance with a $30 target. UBS established a $51 target. MarketBeat’s consensus stands at “Reduce” with a $45.74 price target, while TipRanks reports an average of $48.21 based on recent analyst coverage.
Insider transactions show mixed signals. EVP David Zinsner acquired approximately $250,000 in stock during late January. EVP April Miller disposed of $981,000 worth of shares in early February.
Institutional ownership accounts for 64.53% of INTC shares. The stock’s 50-day moving average stands at $44.26, while the 200-day moving average registers at $37.07.
The consensus analyst price target of $48.21 suggests approximately 6.67% potential upside from current trading levels.
Crypto World
What Really Happened Before Jack Dorsey Cut 40% of Block?
Reports reveal that Jack Dorsey’s September 2025 in-person company event cost a staggering $68.1 million, roughly equivalent to the annual payroll for 200 employees, only to be followed five months later by layoffs slashing 40% of Block’s workforce.
The sequence of events draws criticism, sparking a broader conversation about AI, corporate culture, and fiscal responsibility. The Twitter co-founder turned Block CEO remains in the headlines over corporate strategy in Silicon Valley.
Block’s $68 Million Party, 4,000 Layoffs, and the AI Excuse: Did Jack Dorsey Just Redraw Silicon Valley’s Playbook?
According to Dorsey, the choice was between a gradual reduction that could undermine morale and a decisive, single cut that would position Block to grow “on our own terms.”
He framed the layoffs as a forward-looking pivot toward AI and agentic workflows, claiming in a company-wide note: “100 people + AI = 1,000 people.” According to the Twitter co-founder, intelligence tools paired with smaller, flatter teams enable a new, accelerated model of operations.
Wall Street responded with immediate approval, with Block’s XYZ stock surging 20–23% within an hour, adding approximately $6 billion in market capitalization. This translates to roughly $1.5 million in enterprise value per eliminated role.
Block’s $68 Million Party Draws Criticism
Meanwhile, Jack Dorsey has sparked outrage and debate with a spectacle that many critics say redefines corporate norms.
In September 2025, the former Twitter CEO reportedly spent $68.1 million on a Block in-person event, an amount roughly equal to the annual payroll of 200 employees.
The three-day festival in downtown Oakland featured performances by Jay-Z, Anderson .Paak, T-Pain, and Soulja Boy, and brought 8,000 employees from around the globe.
The party, recorded in Block’s own earnings as a $68.1 million increase in general and administrative expenses, has drawn widespread criticism.
Social media users described it as “psycho” and “crazy,” with some pointing to the stark contrast between celebration and accountability, particularly in light of the layoffs that followed.
To some, the spectacle of the $68 million party followed by mass layoffs sends a troubling message about priorities and managerial judgment.
It highlights the dangers of pandemic-era overexpansion and executive indulgence, with some critics arguing that the layoffs were a correction of years of overhiring and mismanagement.
“Yes, we over-hired during COVID because I incorrectly built 2 separate company structures (Square & Cash App) rather than 1, which we corrected mid-2024. But this misses all the complexity we took on through lending, banking, and BNPL. And that we’re now targeting $2M+ gross profit per person, 4x our pre-COVID efficiency, which stayed flat at ~$500k from 2019 until 2024. We have and do run an efficient company… better than most,” Dorsey responded.
Meanwhile, others see the layoffs as AI-washing, a convenient cover for structural inefficiencies.
“Sam Altman previously stated that ‘some firms are attributing job cuts to AI, when in reality, those layoffs were already planned or would have occurred regardless.’ He describes this, along with other exaggerations of AI capabilities, as “AI washing”… a tactic aimed at masking business issues. Just saying,” noted Graham Stephan.
Notwithstanding, Coinbase’s first CTO, Balaji Srinivasan, suggests that it signals a broader shift in tech toward AI-driven productivity and smaller teams.
Block’s severance packages, including 20 weeks’ pay, six months of healthcare, equity, and $5,000 in transition support, were generous by tech standards.
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