Crypto World
Ethereum Struggles Below $2K as Derivatives Markets Shed 80M ETH in Open Interest
TLDR:
- Ethereum rejected at $2.1K resistance after breaking support, confirming bearish structure remains intact
- Open interest declined 80M+ ETH across exchanges in 30 days, with Binance leading at 40M reduction
- Technical framework requires sustained reclaim of $2.1K-$2.15K range to shift bias back to bullish
- Derivatives market cleanup reduces leverage risk and may establish foundation for price stability
Ethereum continues to trade below critical support levels while derivatives markets show widespread deleveraging.
The asset sits at $1,958.53 as of this writing after failing to hold the $2.1k threshold. Meanwhile, open interest across major exchanges has contracted by more than 80 million ETH over the past month.
This dual pressure from spot price weakness and futures market retreat signals a period of market recalibration.
Technical Breakdown Points to Further Downside Risk
Ethereum’s price structure has followed a textbook pattern of support failure and failed reclaim attempts. The rising trendline near $2.8k marked the initial breakpoint in this sequence. Once that level gave way, the asset moved swiftly toward $2.1k support.
Market participants initially viewed the $2.1k zone as a potential floor for consolidation. However, that expectation proved premature as the level failed to contain selling pressure.
The subsequent drop carried ETH down to $1.7k before any meaningful bounce materialized.
Analyst Dami-Defi noted on X that the asset “bounced just enough to suck in hope” before retesting the broken $2.1k support.
That retest resulted in a clear rejection, confirming the zone had flipped from support to resistance. This behavior typically indicates continued weakness rather than bullish recovery.
The current technical framework suggests limited upside potential while ETH trades below $2.1k. A sustained reclaim of the $2.1k-$2.15k range would be required to shift the bias.
Until such a development occurs, counter-trend rallies represent selling opportunities rather than the start of new uptrends.
Futures Market Contraction Reflects Cautious Positioning
Cryptoquant analyst Arab Chain reported that derivatives markets have undergone substantial position reduction across multiple platforms.
Binance recorded the largest decline with approximately 40 million ETH in open interest exiting over 30 days. Gate.io followed with more than 20 million ETH in reduced exposure.
Additional platforms showed similar trends with OKX declining by 6.8 million ETH and Bybit by 8.5 million ETH. These four venues alone account for roughly 75 million ETH in reduced open interest.
Source: Cryptoquant
When smaller exchanges are included, the total contraction exceeds 80 million ETH across the ecosystem.
This pattern indicates traders are closing positions rather than establishing new leveraged bets. The move reflects either profit-taking after extended positioning or risk reduction in response to volatile conditions.
High-leverage participants appear particularly active in unwinding exposure during this phase.
The derivatives market reset may ultimately create healthier conditions for future price discovery. Reduced leverage decreases the risk of cascading liquidations that amplify volatility.
This cleanup process often precedes periods of greater stability and can establish a firmer foundation for subsequent moves.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against prediction market Kalshi, alleging that the death carveout in the “Ali Khamenei out as Supreme Leader” market was not properly disclosed to users and that the platform failed to pay out winning trades.
The plaintiffs said that the death carveout policy was “not incorporated into the user-facing rules summary,” and was not displayed in a way that would notify a “reasonable consumer” of the policy or its effects.
“Defendants, themselves, later acknowledged that their prior disclosures were ‘grammatically ambiguous,’” the lawsuit filing said.
Kalshi voided trading positions for the market after the death of Khamenei, the former Iranian Supreme Leader, was confirmed, meaning the market did not resolve to a “yes.”
“We don’t list markets directly tied to death. When there are markets where potential outcomes involve death, we design the rules to prevent people from profiting from death,” Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour said.
The plaintiffs characterized the carveout policy as “predatory” and an “unfair” business practice for this specific market. The lawsuit said:
“With an American naval armada amassed on Iran’s doorstep and military conflict not merely foreseeable but widely anticipated, consumers understood that the most likely, and in many cases the only realistic, mechanism by which an 85-year-old autocratic leader would ‘leave office’ was through his death. Defendants understood this as well.”
Mansour also announced reimbursements for users affected by the carveout policy, calculated using the “last traded price” for the market before the death of Khamenei was confirmed. The reimbursement policy also drew significant pushback from users.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that the methodology and precise timestamps used to calculate the “last traded price” for the prediction market were not disclosed or transparent.
Related: Kalshi bans US politician over alleged insider trading violation
Kalshi co-founder fires back against lawsuit claims
Mansour maintained that Kalshi was simply adhering to its policy of not allowing “death markets” and said the policy was clearly stated in the market rules.
“Kalshi made no money here and even reimbursed all losses out of pocket. Not a single user walked away losing money from this market,” he said.
The incident came amid trading volumes on prediction markets surging to record highs in 2026, as the platforms gain popularity.
Magazine: IronClaw rivals OpenClaw, Olas launches bots for Polymarket — AI Eye
Michael Saylor’s Strategy, linked to MSTR (EXCHANGE: MSTR), continues to funnel capital into Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) via its STRC (EXCHANGE: STRC) stock program, with the potential for further purchases in the coming weeks. The publicly traded vehicle has built a BTC position that some estimates place near $50 billion across its corporate footprint—an all-time high among listed entities. STRC, launched in July 2025 as an income-focused preferred stock, powers an ATM-like mechanism designed to fund incremental BTC buys as demand for yield supports its price and par value. Investors will be watching the next SEC filing, due March 9, for signs of whether another wave of BTC acquisitions is materializing as Bitcoin trades against macro headwinds.
Key takeaways
- STRC (EXCHANGE: STRC) launched in July 2025 as an income-focused preferred stock to raise capital for Strategy’s Bitcoin accumulation plan and later expanded with an at-the-market program.
- In January 2026, STRC sold about 1.19 million shares for $119.1 million in net proceeds, complementing $1.12 billion raised through MSTR sales to fund BTC purchases totaling 13,627 BTC at roughly $1.25 billion.
- In February 2026, STRC proceeds of about $78.4 million were used to acquire 2,486 BTC net, underscoring the ongoing role of STRC in financing additional BTC accumulation.
- BitcoinQuant’s model suggests STRC could raise over $300 million in net proceeds this week, potentially funding about 4,334 BTC at prevailing prices; a Friday trading volume of $188 million implies substantial near-term capacity to finance BTC buys.
- Market observers note that the SEC filings—due March 9—will be a key data point to confirm whether the surge in STRC activity translates into a materially larger BTC purchase by Strategy.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $STRC, $MSTR
Sentiment: Neutral
Market context: The episode sits within a broader environment where institutional BTC programs coexist with ongoing regulatory scrutiny and fluctuating liquidity. STRC’s ATM-driven funding mechanism ties yield-seeking demand to active BTC accumulation, while public disclosures and SEC filings shape how much and how quickly Strategy can scale its purchases.
Why it matters
Strategy’s use of STRC to finance Bitcoin accumulation exemplifies a corporate approach to expanding a bitcoin treasury outside traditional balance-sheet buys. The IPO in mid-2025 laid the groundwork for a scalable, market-driven funding model: STRC’s initial proceeds enabled a sizable BTC accumulation, demonstrating how investor yield appetite can be monetized to propel crypto exposure at a scale uncommon for corporate treasuries. The strategy aligns with long-standing commitments by Saylor to increase the company’s BTC holdings, a stance that has helped position Bitcoin as a core reserve asset in some of the most visible corporate crypto bets.
From a market perspective, the unfolding STRC dynamic contributes to a broader dialogue about how public entities can leverage structured equity instruments to participate in crypto markets. The ATM program provides a controllable mechanism for deploying capital, which can help smooth BTC purchases over time and mitigate price impact when demand surges. If the next SEC filing confirms a larger tranche of BTC buys funded by STRC, it could reinforce a perception that corporate entities are leveraging public markets to sustain crypto accumulation even as online sentiment and macro conditions shift.
For investors, the STORY underscores the importance of following official disclosures and model-based analyses that attempt to quantify the potential BTC purchase power embedded in such programs. While the exact figure depends on STRC’s trading dynamics and market conditions, BitcoinQuant’s projection of hundreds of millions in possible proceeds highlights the scale at which STRC could influence short-term BTC demand if the firm chooses to monetize a sizable portion of its listed equity issuance in the near term. This balance between capital markets mechanics and crypto exposure is a focal point for traders watching the BTC market’s next phase of volatility and institutional participation.
What to watch next
- March 9, 2026: The next SEC filing from Strategy will shed light on STRC proceeds and BTC purchases that may have occurred since the last report.
- Any new STRC ATM activity or share sales that would indicate a ramp-up or moderation of BTC accumulation.
- Bitcoin price action and volatility surrounding the STRC-driven flow, as liquidity and macro sentiment evolve.
- Updates from BitcoinQuant on STRC’s ATM contributions and potential BTC purchase capacity under current market conditions.
Sources & verification
- SEC filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050446/000119312526009811/mstr-20260105.htm
- SEC filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050446/000119312526053105/mstr-20260105.htm
- SEC filing: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050446/000119312526084264
- BitcoinQuant STRC analysis: https://bitcoinquant.co/strc
- STRC IPO overview: STRC IPO
- Strategy expands STRC ATM program: ATM expansion
- Previous BTC buy references: Michael Saylor’s BTC purchases
Market reaction and key details
The ongoing STRC-driven BTC accumulation framework illustrates how publicly listed entities can leverage structured equity to expand crypto exposure. While the exact BTC total remains fluid, the combination of STRC sales, MSTR stock activity, and at-the-market issuance has created a measurable funding stream for BTC purchases. As the March 9 filing approaches, market participants will look for clarity on whether the most recent surge in STRC activity translates into a materially larger BTC allocation, and how this aligns with broader bitcoin-market liquidity and regulatory developments.
Key figures and next steps
Summary figures from the latest reporting cycles indicate a pattern: STRC proceeds are being deployed toward BTC purchases, with January and February activities showing multi-hundred-million-dollar movements and multi-thousand BTC acquisitions. If the trend continues, Strategy could edge closer to deploying hundreds of millions more into BTC over the next reporting window, potentially impacting micro- and macro-price dynamics depending on the pace and scale of new buys.
What this means for the crypto market
Beyond Strategy, the STRC mechanism may set a precedent for how other corporate holders approach crypto treasury expansion using equity-linked instruments. The transparency of SEC filings and the availability of market data will continue to influence investor expectations regarding the sustainability and pace of such programs. As Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains a central reference point for institutional crypto exposure, the outcomes of STRC’s ongoing program could inform both treasury-management strategies and the wider discourse on corporate-level crypto adoption.
Bitcoin remains trapped in a broader corrective structure, but the price action is starting to stabilize after defending the $60,000 demand region. The daily chart still leans cautiously as BTC trades below the major moving averages and beneath the descending resistance trendline.
That leaves the cryptocurrency at an important crossroads, where a push higher could extend the recovery toward overhead supply, while failure would keep the broader downtrend intact.
Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart
On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin is still trading inside a well-defined bearish structure, with the price capped below both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages. The 100-day MA is now trending lower near the mid $80,000 region, while the 200-day MA sits even higher around the mid $90,000s, showing that the broader trend remains under pressure.
In addition, BTC is still moving beneath the descending trendline that has guided the correction for months, which means the buyers have not yet delivered a convincing structural reversal.
That said, the reaction from the blue support zone around $60,000 was technically important. Buyers stepped in aggressively after the sharp flush below $60,000, and BTC has since rebounded toward the $68,000 area. The first major resistance remains around $76,000 to $80,000, where previous horizontal support turned into supply. As long as Bitcoin stays below that region, rebounds are likely to be viewed as corrective.
BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart
On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin is consolidating inside a rising channel, suggesting that the recent move off the lows is more of a recovery phase than a full bullish reversal. The asset is currently hovering around $68,000 after rejecting from the upper boundary of the channel near the $72,000 to $75,000 resistance area. This rejection confirms that sellers are still active on rallies, especially when BTC approaches confluence resistance, where the channel top overlaps with horizontal supply.
Momentum has also cooled noticeably. The RSI pushed into overbought territory during the recent rally, but has since rolled over and dropped back toward neutral, showing fading upside strength in the short term.
For buyers, holding above the mid-channel area and continuing to defend the $64,000 to $65,000 region would keep the structure constructive for another attempt higher. On the downside, a breakdown below the lower boundary of the channel could send Bitcoin back toward the $60,000 support zone and potentially even lower.
On-Chain Analysis
From an on-chain perspective, Bitcoin’s Net Unrealized Profit and Loss, or NUPL, has fallen sharply and is now sitting around 0.20. That is a major reset compared to the euphoric readings seen during the rally toward the cycle highs.
In simple terms, the market has flushed out a large portion of paper profits, which usually reflects a substantial reduction in speculative excess. While this does not guarantee an immediate trend reversal, it often creates a healthier backdrop than the overheated conditions seen near major tops.
Historically, a NUPL reading around this zone points to a market that is no longer in euphoria and is instead moving closer to the kind of sentiment reset that can support medium term base building. That fits well with the current price structure, where Bitcoin is trying to stabilize after a heavy correction rather than accelerate into a fresh expansion leg.
So, on-chain data suggests downside risk may be more limited than it was near the highs, but for a stronger bullish case, that improving on-chain backdrop still needs confirmation from price through a reclaim of higher resistance levels on both the daily and 4-hour charts.
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Latin America’s crypto market is expanding far faster than that of the United States as users increasingly rely on cryptocurrencies for payments and cross-border transfers rather than speculation. a new report claims.
The region, according to a report from Argentinian crypto firm Lemon, received more than $730 billion in cryptocurrency transaction volume in 2025, a 60% increase from the previous year, representing roughly 10% of global crypto activity.
Growth was not only measured in transaction volume. Monthly active crypto app users in Latin America rose about 18% year over year, roughly three times faster than growth in the United States, the report said.
Brazil dominates the region by transaction size.
The country received $318.8 billion in crypto value with growth approaching 250% year over year, driven largely by institutional trading and expanding regulatory clarity for financial institutions.
Argentina shows a different pattern. Despite inflation falling to about 32% in 2025, crypto adoption continued to rise. Average monthly users were four times higher than during the 2021 bull market, according to the report.
One driver is cross-border payments. Argentine fintech companies linked crypto rails to Brazil’s PIX instant payment system, allowing users to pay Brazilian merchants using pesos while stablecoins such as USDT settle the transaction behind the scenes.
The integration led to 5.4 million crypto app downloads in Argentina during 2025, with January downloads hitting a record level.
Peru, which back in January saw Bybit Pay integrate with digital wallets Yape and Plin, emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets. Crypto app users doubled as interoperability rules allowed banks and digital wallets to connect. Transfers between banks and wallets surpassed 540 million transactions, up 120% year over year.
Stablecoins are playing a central role in the shift toward practical use cases. Across the region, users rely on digital dollars to send money abroad, receive funds from platforms like PayPal and bypass traditional banking networks, the report points out.
Michael Saylor’s Strategy may purchase more Bitcoin (BTC) in the coming weeks through the proceeds from its STRC stock sales.
Key takeaways:
What is STRC stock?
Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR) owns about $50 billion in Bitcoin, the highest by any public company on record.
Stretch (STRC) is Strategy’s income-focused preferred stock launched in July 2025 to raise capital for its Bitcoin accumulation strategy.
In its IPO, the company raised about $2.521 billion gross and $2.474 billion net. It then used those proceeds to acquire 21,021 BTC at an average price of about $117,256.
Strategy later expanded that model by launching a $4.2 billion STRC at-the-market (ATM) program on July 31, 2025, allowing it to sell preferred shares gradually into market demand rather than all at once.
How does STRC work?
The mechanism works best when STRC trades near or above its $100 target. For that, Strategy pays a variable monthly yield to investors, adjusting it to keep the stock close to its par value.
Higher yield can support the price when it falls below par, while a lower yield can cool demand when it rises too far above it. For March 2026, the annualized STRC rate is 11.50%, or about $0.958 per share monthly.
In short, STRC turns investor demand for yield into funding for more BTC purchases.
For example, in January, Strategy sold about 1.19 million STRC shares for $119.1 million in net proceeds, alongside $1.12 billion raised through MSTR sales.
It used the combined capital to purchase 13,627 BTC for roughly $1.25 billion.
In February, STRC proceeds worth $78.4 million were used in the purchase of 2,486 BTC net.
Saylor may have $302 million in STRC proceeds
Strategy may soon raise over $300 million through sales of its STRC preferred stock, potentially giving Michael Saylor enough firepower to buy roughly 4,300 Bitcoin, according to estimates from BitcoinQuant.
The projection is based on STRC’s trading activity this week. BitcoinQuant’s model shows about $777 million in total volume, with roughly 97%, or $755 million, traded above the stock’s $100 par value.
Using a 40% capture rate, the model estimates around $302 million in net proceeds, enough to purchase about 4,334 BTC, based on average Bitcoin prices of $68,000 to $73,000 during market hours.
Friday alone saw a record $188 million in STRC trading volume, implying enough potential proceeds to fund the purchase of around 1,097 BTC, based on the same model.
Related: Michael Saylor’s Strategy buys $204M of Bitcoin in 101st purchase
The figures remain speculative for now, however. Strategy’s latest filing showed only $7.1 million in STRC sales contributing to a broader 3,015 BTC purchase.
Whether this week’s trading surge translates into a much larger Bitcoin buy should become clearer in the company’s next SEC filing, releasing on March 9.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Introduction
For decades, Zacks Investment Research has maintained its position as a leading authority in stock analysis. The company established its credibility through earnings estimate tracking, analyst revision monitoring, and its celebrated Zacks Rank methodology that evaluates stocks using earnings momentum indicators.
KnockoutStocks represents a fresh generation of AI-driven investment platforms that employs a more comprehensive methodology. It merges fundamental metrics, market indicators, and artificial intelligence capabilities within a unified system centered on the KO Score. While both services aim to guide investors toward superior stock selections, their approaches differ substantially.
Platform Overview
What Is KnockoutStocks?
[[LINK_START_4]]KnockoutStocks[[LINK_END_4]] operates as an artificial intelligence-enhanced stock analysis platform organized around the KO Score — a specialized ranking methodology that assigns stocks numerical ratings from 0 through 100. The scoring mechanism assesses every publicly traded company using five distinct categories: profitability metrics, balance sheet strength, expansion potential, price momentum, and analyst sentiment.
The service provides an AI-powered investment advisor, immediate AI-generated equity reports, sophisticated stock filtering tools, portfolio monitoring capabilities, and customized market intelligence. The platform delivers rapid, transparent, evidence-based investment guidance without requiring users to maintain multiple tool subscriptions or services.
What Is Zacks Investment Research?
Established in 1978, Zacks Investment Research ranks among the industry’s most enduring stock analysis organizations. The company’s primary offering is the Zacks Rank — an equity evaluation framework that assigns ratings from 1 through 5 determined by earnings projection modifications and analyst perspectives.
The service additionally features stock filtering utilities, investment research publications, portfolio management instruments, and numerous premium subscription offerings. Zacks maintains particular appeal among investors who prioritize earnings trajectory analysis and incorporate earnings revision data as a fundamental component of their investment methodology.
Feature Comparison
Stock Rankings and Ratings
The Zacks Rank forms the cornerstone of the company’s entire business model. This framework assigns scores from 1 (Strong Buy) through 5 (Strong Sell) based predominantly on earnings estimate revision patterns. The underlying principle suggests that upward analyst earnings revisions typically precede positive stock performance. This concentrated, extensively validated methodology carries substantial historical documentation.
The KO Score from KnockoutStocks adopts a more expansive evaluation framework. It synthesizes five weighted components — profitability, financial stability, growth trajectory, momentum indicators, and analyst consensus — into a single numerical rating spanning 0 to 100. Instead of concentrating exclusively on earnings revisions, it assesses overall business quality across multiple parameters. This methodology delivers a more comprehensive evaluation of a company’s fundamental strength.
AI Tools and Insights
Artificial intelligence serves as a foundational element throughout the KnockoutStocks platform. The AI advisory feature enables users to pose questions regarding specific securities, portfolio holdings, or market conditions on demand. Subscription tiers provide voice-activated AI functionality and unrestricted daily query volumes at premium levels.
Zacks has not integrated artificial intelligence capabilities into its primary platform infrastructure in any substantial capacity. The service continues operating as a data and research-focused offering built upon human analyst contributions and quantitative earnings frameworks. For investors who value AI-assisted research capabilities, KnockoutStocks maintains a decisive edge in this category.
AI-Generated Stock Reports
KnockoutStocks produces immediate AI-powered equity reports for any publicly traded security upon request. Each analysis encompasses company background, financial condition assessment, critical performance indicators, market behavior patterns, current developments, and analyst perspectives — compiled within seconds.
Zacks releases investment research documents on covered securities, authored by its analytical personnel. These publications offer thorough detail with substantial emphasis on earnings information. However, availability is restricted to stocks within Zacks’ coverage universe and reports are not produced instantaneously on demand.
Earnings Research
This category represents Zacks’ primary competitive advantage. The platform’s earnings projection data, earnings surprise historical records, and analyst revision monitoring rank among the finest resources accessible to individual investors. For those who construct investment decisions predominantly around earnings momentum and require comprehensive earnings intelligence, Zacks has constructed its complete infrastructure around this specialization.
KnockoutStocks incorporates analyst sentiment as one component within its five-pillar KO Score framework, which encompasses certain earnings and analyst perspective data. However, it does not provide the same depth of earnings estimate revision analysis and surprise history that characterizes the Zacks platform.
Stock Screener
KnockoutStocks provides an advanced filtering system featuring more than 20 criteria spanning KO Score metrics, market capitalization, price ranges, trading volume, fundamental indicators, and technical analysis parameters. Complete screener functionality is accessible through the no-cost subscription tier.
Zacks similarly offers a robust stock screening tool. The platform’s screener maintains strong industry recognition and permits filtering by Zacks Rank, earnings metrics, valuation multiples, and fundamental characteristics. However, comprehensive screener access requires premium membership, with the most sophisticated filtering capabilities reserved for higher-tier subscription packages.
Stock Picks and Investment Services
Zacks provides an extensive portfolio of premium investment advisory offerings beyond the foundational platform. These encompass curated equity recommendation portfolios, industry-specific investment ideas, and options strategy suggestions. Investors seeking a comprehensive menu of advisory services will discover abundant options.
KnockoutStocks features its proprietary Stock Picks collection — a concentrated portfolio carefully selected based on fundamental quality, competitive positioning, and sustainable growth prospects. This offering is available to Middleweight and Heavyweight subscribers. While more focused than Zacks’ extensive service range, it follows the same evidence-driven KO Score methodology.
Portfolio Tracking
KnockoutStocks delivers comprehensive portfolio monitoring with live performance metrics, profit and loss calculation, and AI-enhanced portfolio evaluation. The Heavyweight subscription accommodates up to 100 securities per portfolio with unlimited portfolio creation and AI-generated portfolio assessment reports.
Zacks offers portfolio tracking functionality that overlays Zacks Rank information and earnings data onto user holdings. The tool proves valuable for monitoring earnings-related indicators across portfolio positions but lacks AI-driven portfolio analysis capabilities or the tracking depth provided by KnockoutStocks.
Alerts and Updates
KnockoutStocks transmits customized daily or weekly email notifications covering watchlist activity, leading KO Score changes, earnings releases, analyst rating adjustments, and breaking developments customized to user holdings.
Zacks maintains a comprehensive alert infrastructure emphasizing earnings estimate modifications, Zacks Rank transitions, and analyst upgrade and downgrade activity. For investors who monitor earnings momentum closely, these notifications deliver authentic value and timeliness.
Pricing
KnockoutStocks presents three tiers. The complimentary plan includes complete screener access, single portfolio capability, five watchlist positions, one AI consultation weekly, and one AI equity report weekly. The Middleweight tier costs $19.99 monthly with 10 AI inquiries daily and 10 AI reports weekly. The Heavyweight tier runs $59.99 monthly with unlimited AI access, voice advisory services, PDF report exports, and CSV data downloads.
Zacks pricing commences with a no-cost tier providing limited Zacks Rank data access. The Zacks Premium subscription runs approximately $249 annually. Supplementary advisory services and premium portfolio offerings can substantially increase total subscription costs, positioning a comprehensive Zacks subscription among the market’s more expensive alternatives.
Pros and Cons
KnockoutStocks
Pros
- KO Score provides rapid, comprehensive quality assessment across thousands of publicly traded companies
- Integrated AI advisor for on-demand equity and portfolio inquiries
- Instantaneous AI equity reports accessible for any security at any moment
- Complete screener functionality on the complimentary subscription tier
- Robust portfolio monitoring with live data and AI evaluation
- Greater affordability across all subscription levels
- Voice-activated AI advisor accessible on premium subscription
- Comprehensive market coverage beyond earnings-focused securities
Cons
- Less comprehensive earnings estimate revision analysis compared to Zacks
- Emerging platform continuing to establish long-term performance history
- Limited premium advisory service offerings relative to Zacks
- Reduced historical earnings data comprehensiveness
Zacks Investment Research
Pros
- Zacks Rank maintains extensively documented long-term performance history
- Industry-leading earnings projection and revision intelligence
- Extensive selection of premium advisory offerings and equity recommendations
- Superior earnings surprise and estimate historical records
- Established platform with multi-decade research heritage
- Capable screener with comprehensive earnings-oriented filtering options
Cons
- Absence of dedicated AI investment advisory functionality
- No on-demand AI equity report generation
- Premium service costs can escalate rapidly
- Platform interface appears outdated relative to contemporary research tools
- Concentrated earnings emphasis results in diminished attention to other fundamentals
- Complimentary tier offers restricted meaningful functionality
Which Platform Is Best for Different Investors?
Use KnockoutStocks if you:
Prefer a rapid, comprehensive assessment of equity quality across thousands of companies utilizing one transparent scoring system. The KO Score evaluates profitability, balance sheet health, growth potential, momentum characteristics, and analyst sentiment — not merely earnings revision patterns.
Desire AI-enhanced capabilities on demand — submitting questions about securities, obtaining instant analytical reports, or evaluating your portfolio without awaiting analyst publications. KnockoutStocks incorporates this functionality throughout its core architecture.
Seek a contemporary, intuitive platform with superior portfolio monitoring and personalized notification systems at competitive pricing. The complimentary subscription tier alone delivers more functionality than Zacks’ free offering.
Aim to identify investment opportunities independently using sophisticated screening tools without encountering subscription barriers. Complete screener access on the free plan represents a meaningful competitive advantage.
Use Zacks if you:
Monitor earnings estimate revisions intensively and require the most comprehensive earnings momentum intelligence available to individual investors. Zacks has constructed decades of infrastructure around this particular data specialty.
Desire access to an extensive portfolio of premium advisory offerings, curated equity portfolios, and sector-focused recommendations beyond basic research platform functionality.
Operate as an earnings-focused investor who considers analyst estimate revisions the most reliable indicator of near-term equity performance. The Zacks Rank methodology is engineered specifically for this investment approach.
Require extensive historical earnings information and surprise history to guide your security selection methodology.
Final Verdict
Both Zacks and KnockoutStocks provide genuine investment value, though they reflect fundamentally different investing philosophies.
Zacks represents the superior solution if earnings momentum forms the central pillar of your stock selection methodology. The platform’s earnings projection data, revision monitoring, and Zacks Rank framework possess extensive historical validation and remain difficult to replicate for this particular application.
KnockoutStocks functions as the superior comprehensive platform. The KO Score methodology encompasses broader territory than the Zacks Rank, the AI capabilities introduce an on-demand intelligence dimension that Zacks completely lacks, and the portfolio tracking functionality extends considerably deeper. These advantages arrive at reduced pricing with a more accessible complimentary subscription tier.
For investors seeking a complete, contemporary research infrastructure that addresses fundamentals, market indicators, and AI-enhanced intelligence — KnockoutStocks delivers superior value in 2026. Zacks continues as a capable specialized instrument for earnings-focused investors, though as a comprehensive research platform it demonstrates its age against newer AI-powered alternatives.
Block CEO Jack Dorsey says his company will support stablecoins, despite having long argued that Bitcoin should serve as the internet’s native money protocol.
In an interview with WIRED, Dorsey acknowledged the change while making clear it reflects customer demand rather than a shift in personal belief.
“I don’t like that we’re going to support stablecoins but our customers want to use them,” he said. “I don’t think it’s wise to go from one gatekeeper to another.”
The move marks a pragmatic turn for one of Silicon Valley’s most vocal Bitcoin advocates. For years, Dorsey framed Block’s crypto strategy around Bitcoin alone, backing mining hardware development and integrating the asset into products such as Cash App.
The company first introduced the option for users to buy and sell bitcoin on the Cash App, and the company received a BitLicense from New York regulators the following year.
Block started a Bitcoin development arm and funded Bitcoin and Lightning Network developers in 2019, and started accumulating bitcoin for its corporate treasury in 2020. It currently holds 8,888.3 BTC, worth more than $600 million.
Stablecoins have surged in the meantime. Fiat currency-pegged tokens now circulate widely across crypto markets and cross-border payments, with their total market capitalization reaching $318 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Competition is also intensifying. Payment companies, including Stripe and PayPal, have already integrated stablecoin infrastructure, increasing pressure on Block to offer similar options to avoid losing users, though Dorsey didn’t mention these during the interview.
This isn’t the first time Dorsey’s Block has reluctantly endorsed stablecoins.
In November last year, Block’s Cash App announced it was adding support for stablecoins, making them “interoperable with a customer’s USD cash balance.” Stablecoin deposits, the firm said, would instantly be converted into U.S. dollars in users’ balances.
That development was notable as back in 2024, when Facebook was working on its since-scrapped Libra stablecoin and the Libra Association behind it, Dorsey said with a definitive “Hell no,” that he would not be joining the crypto payments scheme.
At the time, Dorsey notably said the project “was born out of a company’s intention, and it’s not consistent with what I personally believe and what I want our company to stand for.”
In true bitcoin purist fashion, he continues to argue that Bitcoin’s decentralized design makes it the best candidate for an open financial protocol.
The comments come after the company cut its workforce by roughly 40%, citing structural changes driven by artificial intelligence. While the layoffs sparked controversy over whether the company had overhired, Dorsey brushed off the question during the WIRED interview and doubled down on the AI angle.
“These [AI] tools are presenting a future that entirely changes how a company is structured,” Dorsey said in the interview, noting that the layoffs weren’t about fixing the company’s cost and revenue per employee, because his firm was “already ahead” of all of its competitors on those metrics.
“I don’t know what the ultimate outcome is, but I do know it’s going to have a dramatic effect,” Dorsey added.
“The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists,” commented the exchange’s General Counsel.
In a press release shared on March 7, Binance announced that a US Federal Court in the Southern District of New York had dismissed all claims brought against it under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Eleanor Hughes, the company’s General Counsel and spokesperson on the matter, indicated that this dismissal is a “complete vindication of all false allegations.”
The case was brought up by 535 plaintiffs who alleged that the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange had provided material support connected to 64 terrorist attacks, citing provisions under the ATA.
However, the 62-page ruling provided by the Court and Judge Jeannette Vargas officially dismissed the civil lawsuit targeting the exchange and its former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, after finding that the plaintiffs failed to establish any of their central allegations.
“The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists. We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that. We will continue to defend ourselves aggressively against any litigation or reporting that misrepresents who we are and how we operate,” also commented Hughes.
The plaintiffs have 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of the recent appellate decision. However, the exchange said it’s confident that no amended pleading will be “able to cure the fundamental deficiencies the Court identified as the “underlying claims have been thoroughly examined and rejected.”
In a separate but slightly related note, 11 US Democratic Senators, led by Richard Blumenthal, urged the US DOJ and Treasury to investigate Binance for allegedly facilitating $1.7 billion in transactions to Iran-linked entities.
The exchange “strongly rejected” the allegations, indicating that it has more than 1,500 specialists worldwide to strengthen its robust compliance program.
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XRP continues to trade under pressure on both its USDT and BTC pairs, with the broader structure still favoring sellers despite some short-term stabilization near key support levels.
The charts suggest that buyers are trying to defend important demand zones, but the token still needs a convincing breakout above major moving averages and overhead resistance areas before any stronger recovery narrative can take shape.
Ripple Price Analysis: The USDT Pair
On the XRP/USDT chart, the asset remains trapped within a clear descending channel that has been in place for months, keeping the overall daily trend bearish. The price is currently hovering around $1.36 after failing to reclaim the mid-channel resistance and both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, which are now acting as dynamic resistance around the $1.80 and $2.20 regions. As long as XRP stays below those levels, the structure points to continued weakness rather than a confirmed reversal.
From a support perspective, the $1.10 to $1.20 zone is the key area to watch in the short term, as it lines up with the lower boundary of the channel and has already attracted demand. If that region breaks decisively, the market could open the door for a much deeper decline.
On the upside, bulls would first need to recover the $1.80 zone before even thinking about a push toward the broader $2.40 to $2.50 resistance band. The RSI has also improved slightly and is no longer deeply oversold, but it still does not show the kind of momentum strength that would confirm a sustained bullish shift.
The BTC Pair
Against Bitcoin, XRP is also in a weak position and continues to trend lower while trading below both major moving averages. The pair is trading around 2,000 sats, with the price recently slipping back under the 2,200 to 2,400 sats resistance cluster created by the confluence of the 100-day and 200-day moving averages.
This makes the mentioned area a strong barrier for any bullish recovery attempt. The fact that XRP has failed multiple times to break and hold above that range shows that buyers still lack control.
The key support on this chart sits around 2,000 sats, and XRP is now testing that zone once again. A clean breakdown below it could expose the lower support areas around 1,500 sats and possibly even the 1,200 sats zone over time.
On the other hand, if buyers manage to defend current levels and push the pair back above 2,400 sats, the next upside target would likely be the 2,700 to 2,800 sats region, followed by the major resistance level near 3,000 sats. For now, though, the trend remains tilted to the downside, and XRP needs a clear reclaim of lost ground before the BTC pair can start looking structurally constructive again.
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BlackRock’s Rick Rieder, UBS’s Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, and hedge fund manager Daniel Loeb see a 2026 economy that may keep growing even as the market’s center of gravity shifts.
The broad message from their separate appearances at a conference in Miami last week was not that the AI boom is ending. Instead, they said, the easy phase may be over. As capital spreads beyond a handful of giant U.S. technology stocks, investors may need to think less about riding one theme and more about where growth, pricing power and disruption show up next.
That view could matter for crypto markets, particularly bitcoin . If investors move away from the crowded trades that defined the last few years, some may look harder at assets outside traditional equity sectors. Bitcoin has often traded like a high-beta technology proxy during risk-on periods, but it can also attract demand when investors seek diversification from dollar assets, long-duration growth stocks, or amid policy uncertainty.
In practice, however, bitcoin has not consistently behaved like the main hedge against dollar weakness, especially in recent months, when gold has been the dominant asset when investors move away from the dollar. But as bitcoin matures — many argue it is still a young asset compared to gold — that could change.
Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer of global fixed income, said he has been broadening portfolios away from concentrated technology bets. He said he still likes parts of tech, but called the investment landscape different from last year as any he can remember in some time.
His outlook rests in part on the idea that U.S. growth could surprise to the upside even as rates move lower. Rieder said AI-driven productivity could help the economy expand while a still-soft labor market keeps inflation contained. He also argued that tariffs may matter for certain industries but have less impact at the economy-wide level because the U.S. is more dependent on services than on goods.
For bitcoin, that mix cuts both ways. Stronger growth and lower rates would usually support risk assets, including crypto. But if inflation stays contained and real economic activity improves, investors may feel less urgency to seek out alternative stores of value. In that setup, bitcoin’s case may lean less on macro fear and more on portfolio diversification and institutional adoption.
Hoffmann-Burchardi, UBS Global Wealth Management’s chief investment officer for the Americas and global head of equities, also said the macro backdrop should improve this year, pointing to fiscal stimulus in major economies and more room for U.S. rate cuts. Her bigger point, though, was that the AI trade is changing.
After three years in which markets rewarded companies enabling the AI buildout, she said investors are entering a phase in which winners and losers will separate more sharply. UBS has responded by cutting its overweight rating on technology and communication services and shifting toward industrials, electrification, and healthcare.
That rotation could also affect crypto. If equity investors become more selective on AI and digital business models, tokens tied to broad AI narratives may face more scrutiny. Bitcoin may be better placed than smaller crypto assets in that environment because its investment case is simpler. It does not depend on proving a software revenue model or winning a race for AI market share.
Loeb, founder of hedge fund Third Point, said the market is already rewarding investors who do deeper stock picking and more short selling. He described a shift away from crowded mega-cap trades toward smaller niche companies, including firms in Europe, Japan and South Korea supplying key parts of the AI buildout.
On the economy, Loeb said the U.S. is in a good place for the next six months, though he was less certain about the outlook beyond that. He also said stress in private credit, especially in loans tied to software companies, is likely to produce losses over time but not a systemic shock.
Taken together, the three investors outlined a year in which growth holds up, AI remains the dominant force, and markets become harder to navigate. For bitcoin, that may mean fewer tailwinds from simple momentum trades and a greater need to stand on its own as either a hedge, a diversifier or a liquid alternative in a more fragmented market.
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