Blockonomi

TLDR:
TRX price holds near $0.33 after reclaiming short-term moving averages, while buyers continue defending support inside the ascending channel structure.
Parabolic SAR at $0.3623 and a negative MACD histogram show that momentum has weakened, despite the token holding above the proposed $0.3297 stop.
Tron Inc. added 150,742 TRX at an average of $0.3317, lifting its reported treasury beyond 706.9 million tokens under a daily accumulation plan.
CryptoQuant estimates that TRON hosts about $90 billion in USDT and processes roughly $24 billion through 2.2 million daily stablecoin transactions.
The TRX price is holding near $0.33 as buyers defend support within an ascending channel. The token trades around $0.3317 after recovering from a 16% slide from its May high. Recent gains also pushed TRX above its 7-day and 30-day moving averages. However, TRX faces nearby resistance before a broader recovery can develop.
Treasury buying from Tron Inc. and heavy USDT activity provide additional underlying support. Bitcoin’s position near $64,640 may shape whether TRX extends its rebound or revisits support during the next market move.
TRX Price Tests Momentum Near Ascending Channel Support
Analyst Blockchain Rex identifies $0.3320 to $0.3330 as an entry zone. The analyst places upside targets at $0.3345, $0.3355, and $0.3364. A stop at $0.3297 marks the level where the short-term setup would fail. That range sits close to the quoted TRX price, leaving little space between support and the first target.
Source: Blockchain Rex
The TRX/USD weekly chart analysis reveals a less decisive momentum picture. MACD stands at 0.006649, below its 0.008517 signal line. The histogram reads negative 0.001868, showing that recent bullish pressure has cooled. Trading volume is about 3.103 billion tokens, without a clear surge beside the latest candles. A stronger TRX breakout would likely need expanding volume and a positive MACD crossover.
Parabolic SAR also signals caution. Its latest reading of $0.3623 sits above the TRX price, which often reflects bearish short-term control. Yet buyers have prevented a deeper drop below the rising channel area. Holding $0.3297 keeps the immediate recovery structure intact. Losing that level could expose the token to the $0.30 region shown on the chart.
Source: TradingView
TRX has gained about 2.2% over seven days and recovered roughly 6% from its late-June lows. Even so, it trades around 11% below its May peak. TRX price also sits nearly 23% under its record high of $0.4313. Those gaps leave room for recovery, but they also show the resistance still facing buyers.
Treasury Buying and USDT Activity Support TRON Demand
Tron Inc. continues adding TRX to its digital asset treasury. Its latest disclosed purchase covered 150,742 tokens at an average price of $0.3317. That transaction lifted reported holdings beyond 706.9 million TRX. The company follows a 360-day accumulation plan involving roughly $50,000 in daily purchases.
Tron Inc. (NASDAQ: TRON) acquired 150,742 TRX tokens today at an average price of $0.3317, further increasing its TRX treasury holdings to more than 706.9 million TRX in total. The company aims to further grow its Tron DAT holdings to enhance long term shareholder value. For live…
— Tron Inc. (@TRON_INC) July 26, 2026
Management says the strategy supports long-term shareholder value and reflects confidence in TRON’s utility. The company also publishes its treasury wallet for public monitoring. That transparency allows investors to verify transfers and track future additions directly on-chain. Continued purchases can support sentiment, although their daily size stays modest beside overall market volume.
Network activity provides a broader demand signal. CryptoQuant estimates that the TRON network hosts about $90 billion in circulating USDT. Roughly $24 billion moves across the blockchain each day through around 2.2 million USDT transactions. This level of settlement activity strengthens TRON’s role in retail payments and stablecoin transfers.
Lower costs have also supported usage. Average transaction fees have fallen about 65% year over year to nearly $0.49. Cheaper transfers may help the TRON network retain users across regions where small payments require low fees. Stablecoin demand does not guarantee a TRX breakout, but it gives the token measurable network utility.
Broader market conditions still matter. Bitcoin trades near $64,640 after a 0.51% daily gain, slightly trailing the wider market. Short liquidations reached $5.49 million, suggesting part of Bitcoin’s rise came from bearish positions closing.
Holding $63,800 could support a move toward $65,500, while a break may expose $60,000. The Federal Reserve decision on July 29 represents the next immediate market trigger. TRX price action may stay sensitive to that outcome this week, especially while technical momentum stays soft.
The post TRX Price Stabilizes Near $0.33 as Network Activity Strengthens appeared first on Blockonomi.

CFTC guidance limits broad template filings that combine contracts with different settlement methods or risks.
Regulation 40.2 still permits self-certification, but exchanges must submit detailed terms and legal analysis.
Related contracts may share one filing only when pricing sources, formulas, procedures and payouts match.
Monthly prediction-market volume rose from below $5 billion to about $24 billion in only seven months.
TheCommodity Futures Trading Commission tightened filing expectations as prediction markets expand across sports, elections, economics and public affairs. The July 24 advisory targets template certifications combining products with different settlement sources, formulas, procedures or underlying events.
Regulators said such filings can hinder reviews of manipulation, contract terms and federal derivatives compliance. Under Regulation 40.2, a designated contract market may list a product without prior approval after certifying it by the preceding business day.
Each submission must include terms, documents and an analysis of compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and core principles. However, the guidance does not prohibit event contracts or remove self-certification.
Instead, it warns against vague filings covering unidentified economic indicators, recurring data releases, central-bank decisions or international agreements.
Strict Conditions Govern Shared Event Contract Filings
According to the advisory, closely related products may qualify for class certification under Regulation 40.2(d), but they must use identical pricing sources, formulas, procedures and payment methods. Each filing must also reference a contract previously certified or approved by the same exchange.
That requirement gives regulators a benchmark for comparison. The CFTC used the 2026 FIFA World Cup to explain the distinction. One certification could cover every match when settlement rules and procedures remain identical.
The same filing should not cover another competition, such as the MLS Leagues Cup, when its rules or settlement structure differ. However, comparable products may qualify when they follow one consistent framework. These could include matches within a single tennis tournament or election outcomes appearing on the same ballot.
Awards selected through one process could also share a certification. Likewise, daily rainfall contracts may qualify when they rely on data from one official weather station. These limits remain important as cash-settled products can create incentives to influence the information determining payouts.
Therefore, exchanges must assess whether settlement data are reliable, timely, publicly available and resistant to manipulation. When submissions lack sufficient detail, staff may recommend delaying the listing or requiring separate filings. The advisory consequently requires exchanges to explain how each contract series will operate and settle.
Broader Prediction Market Regulations Begin Taking Shape
The notice arrived before the July 27 comment deadline for proposed amendments governing public-interest reviews under the Commodity Exchange Act. Under the proposal, regulators would apply a three-step framework when evaluating products connected with specified activities.
Those categories include terrorism, assassination, gaming, war and unlawful conduct. The proposal also follows a March staff notice that urged exchanges to explain settlement methods and examine heightened risks. Sports products received particular attention, given that injuries, officiating decisions, and actions controlled by small groups can influence outcomes.
Meanwhile, the wider rulemaking followed an advance notice that attracted about 3,500 comments. The response reflects growing regulatory scrutiny as prediction market activity expands beyond a narrow financial niche.
Pew Research Center estimated that global monthly volume increased from below $5 billion in September 2025 to about $24 billion in April 2026. As activity expanded, disputes intensified over insider information, market integrity, and the authority of state gambling regulators over federally regulated products.
However, the latest CFTC action focuses on filing quality rather than resolving those broader legal disputes. Exchanges may continue listing eligible products under existing procedures. Nevertheless, each series must provide enough detail for regulators and market participants to understand its pricing, settlement process, legal compliance, and manipulation risks.
The post CFTC Tightens Event Contract Filing Rules as Prediction Markets Expand appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Tom Lee says Ethereum’s 2.0 phase mirrors past re-ratings at Amazon and Nvidia stocks.
AI-driven “uncanny valley of wealth” thesis positions Ethereum as a necessary trust layer.
BitMine holds 5.74 million ETH, 4.8% of supply, and plans to stay below 5%.
Technical analysts project near-term ETH targets between $2,200 and $2,239 per token.
Ethereum could reach $250,000 per token over the long term, according to BitMine Chairman Tom Lee. He shared this outlook during WebX 2026 in Tokyo on July 13.
Lee described Ethereum’s shift into a “2.0” phase, comparing it to past re-ratings at Amazon and Nvidia. His thesis centers on Ethereum becoming “productive money” within an AI-driven economy.
Why Tom Lee Sees Ethereum Reaching $250,000
Lee’s price target stems from Ethereum’s potential role as global settlement money. He argued ETH could function similarly to how JPMorgan re-rated as a financial platform.
This “2.0” framing suggests Ethereum moves beyond a simple crypto asset. Instead, it becomes core infrastructure for an economy shaped by artificial intelligence.
Central to Lee’s argument is what he calls the “uncanny valley of wealth.” Agentic AI systems could soon generate income exceeding human capacity, he explained.
Blockchain, in this view, becomes a necessary trust layer. It separates human economic activity from autonomous AI-driven transactions.
Ethereum increasingly functions as “money” through its use in transaction fees, Lee wrote. Robinhood Chain, for example, now uses ETH as its native gas token.
This utility reinforces demand beyond simple price speculation, he said. Growing developer activity on Ethereum further strengthens this settlement-layer thesis.
Lee tied his long-term valuation to BitMine’s own stock performance. The company’s share price has closely tracked Ethereum’s market price.
If Ethereum fulfills its potential as “productive money,” he suggested, both assets benefit substantially. That correlation forms a key pillar of his $250,000 projection.
BitMine’s Position Behind the Long-Term Ethereum Thesis
BitMine has built the largest corporate Ethereum treasury to support this outlook. The company currently holds 5.74 million ETH, or 4.8% of supply.
BitMine intends to stay below a 5% concentration threshold going forward. This approach reflects a long-term accumulation strategy rather than short-term trading.
BitMine’s first year included launching the MAVAN validator network. It also led investment rounds in Ethereum Foundation spin-offs ETH Labs and Ethereum Institutional.
These initiatives position BitMine at the center of Ethereum’s institutional buildout. Lee frames this involvement as necessary for reaching his $250,000 target.
Near-term technical signals add support to the broader long-term view. Analysts at DeMark Analytics and Steve Suttmeier project Ethereum reaching $2,200 to $2,239 soon.
They compared current conditions to the 1987 S&P 500 pattern. Lee sees this near-term move as an early step toward his larger thesis.
Recent corporate milestones reinforce BitMine’s role in this narrative. The company completed a preferred stock offering and uplisted to the NYSE.
It also gained inclusion in the Russell 1000 index this year. Lee titled his July message “Ethereum is the Cure for the Uncanny Valley of Wealth,” urging investor patience.
The post Tom Lee: Ethereum 2.0 Could Push ETH Toward a $250,000 Long-Term Target appeared first on Blockonomi.

AlienWP, an established digital platform launched in 2013, has announced a significant expansion into comprehensive daily coverage of the casino and iGaming sectors. The website now delivers regular editorial content focused on online casino developments, industry reviews, regulatory updates, promotional offerings, and player protection initiatives, complementing its traditional digital resources portfolio.
Editorial Expansion Details
The transition to daily publication schedules enables the platform to provide consistent updates regarding the rapidly evolving online casino landscape. Coverage areas include regulatory framework modifications, licensing announcements, promotional term analyses, and comprehensive player safety resources. According to AlienWP, this enhanced publishing frequency addresses the dynamic nature of the iGaming marketplace and serves the growing demand for current, reliable industry intelligence.
This strategic pivot leverages AlienWP’s decade-long history as a digital information resource, now channeling substantial editorial capacity toward specialized iGaming sector reporting.
Parallel Platform Development
Concurrent with its expanded news operations, AlienWP maintains active development of Alien Wise Play, an independent web application engineered to assist players in evaluating online casino operators, bookmarking preferred platforms, monitoring promotional opportunities, and accessing licensing transparency. The dashboard functions strictly as an informational resource—it neither operates gaming services, handles financial transactions, nor dispenses gambling counsel.
Revenue generation for Alien Wise Play derives from affiliate marketing relationships, though the company emphasizes its player-centric design philosophy over conventional affiliate models, prioritizing transparency and responsible gaming principles throughout its architecture.
Central to the Alien Wise Play infrastructure is the proprietary Wise Play Score, an objective evaluation framework measuring casino operators across multiple dimensions including regulatory compliance, trustworthiness, payment system reliability, operational transparency, customer service quality, and player safeguarding measures. AlienWP has indicated that forthcoming iterations will integrate aggregated user feedback mechanisms and artificial intelligence-powered analytical tools while preserving editorial autonomy.
Additional details are accessible at Alien Wise Play.
Official Statement
Oliver Dale, representing AlienWP, commented: “Transitioning to a daily publication model for casino and iGaming content provides both players and industry professionals with a dependable source for current information. This editorial evolution aligns naturally with our Alien Wise Play development objectives, which center on delivering transparent, independent intelligence precisely when users require it.”
Development Roadmap
Looking ahead, AlienWP intends to sustain its daily editorial calendar while advancing Alien Wise Play functionality and refining the Wise Play Score methodology. Upcoming enhancements encompass player feedback integration systems and AI-augmented analytical capabilities, with unwavering commitment to editorial independence guiding all initiatives.
Company Background
Established in 2013, AlienWP operates as an iGaming news platform and casino information resource delivering comprehensive coverage of online casino developments, operator evaluations, regulatory frameworks, promotional offerings, responsible gaming advocacy, and sector-wide developments. The organization simultaneously advances Alien Wise Play, a user-focused comparison dashboard enabling players to evaluate casino operators, monitor promotional opportunities, and access transparent licensing and safety intelligence. Further information is available at alienwp.com.
Press Inquiries
Oliver Dale
AlienWP
Website: https://alienwp.com
The post AlienWP Launches Comprehensive Daily Coverage of Casino and iGaming Industry appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Binance’s red team runs simulated phishing attacks on employees every month to test awareness.
Scenarios include fake recruiter outreach and free conference invites to gather personal data.
Employees who fail must complete remedial training, and repeated failures affect their ratings.
Binance has run the phishing program for three to four years, improving staff security habits.
Binance phishing tests now run every month across the exchange’s global workforce, according to chief security officer Jimmy Su.
The internal red team designs fake attacks that mimic real threats, including recruiter outreach and free conference invitations.
Employees who fail face mandatory remedial training, while repeated serious failures can affect performance ratings. Su said the program has operated for three to four years and has improved staff security habits over time.
How Binance Phishing Tests Work
The Binance phishing tests are run by the company’s red team, an internal ethical hacking unit. Their job involves breaking into systems to find weak points before outside attackers do.
Su told Cointelegraph the tests happen monthly to track improvements in staff behavior over time. “We do phishing attacks on our own employees on a monthly basis just so we understand if our security hygiene is improving,” Su said.
Scenarios vary widely and change to match current attacker methods. One simulation has red team members pose as job recruiters reaching out to employees.
Another involves offering a free conference invitation to collect personal details from unsuspecting staff members. “It could be that we are offering some kind of free conference invite just to try to collect personal information,” Su explained.
These scenarios echo real attack methods seen across the crypto industry in recent years. A well-known example is the fake Zoom update, where hackers disguise malware as a video app patch. Many of these campaigns start with a fake job offer or a partnership proposal as bait.
Su said the program began with mixed results among employees. “In the beginning, the security hygiene left a lot to be desired,” he said. After three to four years of testing, staff habits have improved across the company, he added.
Consequences And Wider Industry Context
Employees who fail Binance phishing tests must complete remedial training sessions afterward. Su said results are tied directly to performance reviews, giving staff a reason to stay alert.
“If someone repeatedly fails the phishing-simulation attack, that will negatively impact their rating,” Su said. “That’s the incentive to be vigilant.”
Repeated, serious failures can cause a rating to drop sharply over time. Such drops could eventually lead to dismissal, according to Su. The exchange treats consistent failure as a genuine security risk rather than a minor lapse.
Binance reports 323 million registered users and holds an estimated $137.7 billion in assets, per DefiLlama data. That scale makes staff-level security failures a potential entry point for major breaches. Testing employees regularly is one way the exchange tries to close that gap.
Social engineering has become a leading cause of crypto losses industry-wide. AMLBot estimated in February that 65% of 2025 security incidents stemmed from social engineering tactics. In April, Drift Protocol lost $285 million following a long-term social engineering campaign against its systems.
A separate case saw a Venus Protocol user lose roughly $13 million in September 2025 after a fake Zoom client compromised his device, though Venus later recovered $11.4 million of the stolen funds through an emergency governance vote.
The post Binance Phishing Tests Run Monthly as Exchange Targets Staff Security Awareness appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
The Fed’s rate announcement, quarterly GDP figures, and PCE inflation data converge this week
Five major corporations—Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Visa—release quarterly earnings with AI expenditures under intense scrutiny
Recent reports from Alphabet and Tesla demonstrated that surpassing analyst expectations no longer satisfies the market
Visa’s financial performance will provide crucial insights into consumer spending patterns
Wall Street seeks concrete proof that artificial intelligence capital allocation is yielding measurable profit expansion
Wall Street is bracing for what may become one of the most consequential weeks of the summer trading season. A densely packed schedule awaits investors, featuring the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy announcement, second-quarter gross domestic product figures, and the PCE inflation metric—the central bank’s favored inflation indicator.
Adding to the intensity, four technology behemoths will unveil their quarterly results within days: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta Platforms. Payment processing leader Visa will also disclose its financial performance.
The market has demonstrated heightened sensitivity regarding corporate artificial intelligence expenditures. Recent investor responses to Alphabet and Tesla earnings calls illustrated this shift unmistakably. Simply exceeding Wall Street forecasts proved insufficient. The market demanded tangible evidence that AI capital deployment was generating returns. When companies couldn’t demonstrate this, share prices declined.
Microsoft’s Azure Under the Microscope
Microsoft is positioned to deliver perhaps the most scrutinized earnings release of the week. Azure cloud platform revenue expansion and enterprise artificial intelligence integration will dominate analyst attention. The market is demanding clarity on whether the company’s substantial AI infrastructure investments, including its strategic OpenAI collaboration, are yielding measurable financial returns.
Should leadership demonstrate that capital expenditures are converting into profitability, it could provide momentum across the technology sector. However, if operational costs continue escalating without corresponding revenue acceleration, large-cap technology equities could face widespread pressure.
Market participants will also closely monitor Microsoft 365 Copilot penetration rates and future infrastructure investment guidance.
Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Visa: Critical Metrics to Monitor
Apple enters its earnings announcement from a comparatively stable position. Unlike several competitors, the company hasn’t dramatically expanded AI infrastructure capital allocation. Analysts will concentrate on iPhone sales momentum, services segment performance, gross profit margins, and Apple Intelligence feature updates. The central question: are AI capabilities beginning to stimulate device replacement cycles?
Given Apple’s substantial index weighting, its quarterly performance could influence broader market direction.
Amazon’s results will offer among the clearest windows into both cloud computing momentum and consumer spending behavior. AWS represents one of the largest platforms enabling AI development. Its expansion rate serves as a barometer for enterprise willingness to sustain AI investment. Retail division profitability and advertising segment growth will receive equal scrutiny.
Meta Platforms ranks among the market’s most aggressive AI investors. The social media giant is channeling billions into AI model development, infrastructure expansion, and advertising technology enhancement. Advertising revenue performance will command attention, alongside management’s strategy for monetizing AI capabilities across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Following Alphabet’s lukewarm market reception, Meta’s report may signal how much tolerance investors retain for substantial AI spending without immediate returns.
Visa provides a contrasting perspective. Its results offer direct visibility into consumer financial health. Transaction volume trends, travel-related spending, and cross-border payment activity will be focal points. With inflation concerns and elevated interest rates persisting, Visa’s data could reveal whether consumer resilience remains intact or is beginning to deteriorate.
The post Tech Giants Face Critical Earnings Week: Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Visa (V) Under Scrutiny appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
SoFi Technologies (SOFI) stock has declined 37% year-to-date despite Q1 2026 net income surging 134% compared to last year
The fintech company reports Q2 2026 results on July 29; consensus estimates call for $0.11 EPS and approximately $1.11 billion in revenue
The options market is anticipating a volatile reaction, with implied movement exceeding 10% following the earnings announcement
Truist’s Matthew Coad maintains a Hold rating with an $18 target, citing worries about loan platform momentum and competitive headwinds
Analyst consensus remains at Hold, though the average target of $21.20 suggests roughly 29% potential upside from present levels
SoFi Technologies (SOFI) is set to release its second-quarter 2026 financial results on July 29, with shares currently changing hands at $16.46 — reflecting a steep 37% decline since the start of the year and approximately 50% below the company’s 2026 peak.
The disconnect between share performance and operational results remains substantial.
First-quarter 2026 results featured all-time high loan originations totaling $12.18 billion, marking a 68% year-over-year increase. The company posted GAAP net income of $166.73 million, representing a 134% surge compared to the prior-year period. Operating income climbed more than 150%.
The member base expanded 35% year-over-year, while 43% of newly acquired products went to current customers — evidence that the company’s cross-selling strategy is gaining traction.
Management’s full-year outlook calls for adjusted net revenue of $4.655 billion, representing approximately 30% growth, alongside adjusted EPS of $0.60. Longer-term projections indicate a 38% to 42% compound annual growth rate in adjusted EPS through 2028.
Metrics Suggest Undervaluation
Trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28 with a PEG ratio of 0.81, SOFI’s current valuation appears compelling given its expansion trajectory. PEG ratios under 1.0 typically indicate undervaluation relative to earnings growth potential.
Street consensus targets range from $20.58 to $21.20 across various platforms — each suggesting substantial appreciation opportunity from today’s levels. The company has surpassed analyst expectations for seven straight quarters.
By way of comparison, LendingClub commands a forward P/E of 12 while posting just 12.5% year-over-year revenue growth. Upstart holds a forward P/E of 36 alongside a 4.21% profit margin and 0.9% operating margin. Neither competitor possesses a banking charter or deposit franchise.
SoFi’s 14.8% profit margin and 18.3% operating margin demonstrate superior profitability versus both competitors.
Street Sentiment Remains Measured
The prevailing Wall Street view entering the earnings release is Hold — with nine Hold ratings, six Buy recommendations, and three Sell calls.
Matthew Coad from Truist maintained his Hold stance prior to the Q2 report while lifting his price target to $18 from $17. He characterized his near-term outlook as “tactically more bearish” heading into the announcement.
Coad’s reservations encompass net interest margin compression, escalating customer acquisition expenses stemming from neobank rivalry, and possible deceleration in the Loan Platform Business given challenging year-over-year comparisons.
He additionally noted that achieving full-year guidance requires significant acceleration in the second half. Any revenue miss or spending increase could jeopardize the $0.60 EPS projection.
The options market tells a different story. The implied volatility for SOFI surrounding earnings stands at 10.45%, exceeding the stock’s typical post-earnings movement of approximately 8.5% over the previous four quarters.
Consensus estimates for Q2 call for EPS of $0.11, representing 37.5% year-over-year growth, on revenue of roughly $1.11 billion, approximately 30% higher than last year.
SoFi Technologies will announce Q2 2026 earnings before the opening bell on July 29.
The post SoFi Technologies (SOFI) Stock: Q2 Earnings Preview and What Analysts Are Watching appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Nvidia has forged a strategic alliance with SK Group worth more than $500 billion focused on AI infrastructure development.
SK Telecom plans to construct a massive 2-gigawatt AI facility utilizing Nvidia’s Vera Rubin systems equipped with SK Hynix HBM4 memory.
The initial data center facility is slated to become operational in 2027.
Nvidia has committed $1 billion in funding to Korean cloud provider Naver to support data center growth.
Samsung separately inked a $200 billion memorandum with Broadcom focusing on memory chips and foundry services.
In a strategic move to ensure stable access to critical AI components, Nvidia has finalized an extensive memory supply arrangement with SK Hynix of South Korea. This agreement forms part of a comprehensive collaboration with SK Group exceeding $500 billion in total value. The landmark announcement came late Friday during an artificial intelligence conference in San Francisco, with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung among the attending dignitaries.
Shares of NVDA finished Friday’s session at $206.84, reflecting a 0.92% decline, while after-hours activity remained relatively flat.
This comprehensive partnership encompasses both AI infrastructure development and specialized memory chip procurement. SK Telecom, operating under the SK Group umbrella, has committed to developing a substantial 2-gigawatt AI cloud infrastructure leveraging Nvidia’s DSX platform alongside Vera Rubin accelerated computing technology. Operations at this facility are projected to commence in 2027.
SK Hynix currently dominates the high-bandwidth memory manufacturing sector, prompting Nvidia to aggressively secure supply chains amid an AI-driven global shortage of HBM components.
SK Group and NVIDIA today announced a $500 billion-plus initiative spanning AI factories and next-generation memory.
@SKtelecom is building a 2-gigawatt NVIDIA Vera Rubin DSX AI Factory in Korea to serve global compute demand.
@SKhynix and NVIDIA will codevelop… pic.twitter.com/WHf2JtV8Z8
— NVIDIA (@nvidia) July 25, 2026
“The expansion will include a co-develop opportunity for us on the next-generation SK Hynix AI memory, and this will help us secure a stable supply of HBM memory,” said Raj Mirpuri, Nvidia’s enterprise vice president.
Both organizations will collaborate on developing and refining cutting-edge AI memory technologies, extending beyond HBM4 to future high-bandwidth memory iterations.
Expanding AI Infrastructure Footprint Across Asia-Pacific
This collaboration demonstrates that massive AI infrastructure projects are expanding beyond traditional hyperscale cloud providers. National governments and international conglomerates are increasingly becoming major players in this evolving landscape.
CEO Jensen Huang highlighted South Korea’s potential to emerge as a dominant force in artificial intelligence, citing the nation’s advanced telecommunications networks, robust data center ecosystem, semiconductor expertise, and industrial manufacturing capabilities.
SK Group’s Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasized that success in the AI-driven era hinges not merely on application usage, but fundamentally on the capacity to generate intelligence at scale.
Nvidia further revealed a $1 billion capital injection into Naver, a Korean cloud infrastructure provider constructing data centers centered on Nvidia GPU technology. This initiative aims to deliver 200 megawatts of computing capacity, providing Korean and international clients with expedited access to advanced AI computational resources.
Samsung Joins Forces with Broadcom in Parallel Agreement
In concurrent developments, Samsung Electronics formalized a $200 billion memorandum of understanding with Broadcom to deepen cooperation spanning memory production and foundry services. Samsung characterized this arrangement as essential infrastructure for powering next-generation AI systems.
SK Hynix commenced trading on the Nasdaq exchange earlier this month as part of its strategy to fund ambitious infrastructure expansion initiatives.
SK Group ranks as South Korea’s second-largest business conglomerate, encompassing more than 175 affiliated enterprises and employing over 100,000 people globally. The organization maintains diverse operations spanning artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, energy production, and life sciences research.
The post Nvidia (NVDA) Secures $500B SK Hynix Partnership to Lock Down HBM Memory Supply appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
DOGE approaches $0.056 support as TD Sequential flashes monthly buy signal.
Analyst eyes $0.16 rebound target, with $0.45 as broader channel resistance.
Triangle pattern forms on DOGE chart, contingent on holding invalidation level.
Spot Dogecoin ETFs post first inflows since June 17, breaking month-long drought.
Dogecoin is showing early signs of a technical reversal as the meme coin trades near $0.07. A closely watched indicator has flashed a buy signal on the monthly chart. Analysts are now watching a key support zone that could determine the next major move for the token.
Technical Setup Points To Possible Rebound
The TD Sequential indicator has triggered a buy signal on Dogecoin’s monthly timeframe. This development comes as the token approaches a support level near $0.056. Chart analyst Ali Charts shared the setup, noting that a hold above this zone could open the door for upside.
DOGECOIN: BUY SIGNAL
The TD Sequential has flashed a buy signal on the monthly chart just as $DOGE approaches a major support level around $0.056.
If that support holds, I'm watching for a rebound toward $0.16, with the top of the channel near $0.45 as the broader upside… https://t.co/uKD8zVWVj3 pic.twitter.com/pOqAAe2VWY
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 25, 2026
According to the analysis, a successful defense of support could send Dogecoin toward $0.16 first. That level marks an initial rebound target based on prior price structure. A move beyond that point could then bring the broader channel resistance into focus.
The upper boundary of the wider price channel sits near $0.45. This figure represents the more ambitious target if buying pressure builds steadily. Traders following this setup are watching the $0.056 zone closely for confirmation of a bottom.
Triangle Pattern Adds To Bullish Case
A separate analysis from XForceGlobal points to a potential triangle formation building on the Dogecoin chart. The trader described the setup as one worth monitoring closely in the coming weeks. Price action staying above a defined invalidation level is central to the thesis.
dogecoin:native
Don't sleep on #DOGE, this could be a massive triangle in the making
If we stay above the invalidation level, could be a conservative 10-20x just based on accumulation dynamics and cycle rotation.
Last stand for the bulls pic.twitter.com/nOcnvQPygg
— XForceGlobal (@XForceGlobal) July 25, 2026
XForceGlobal suggested that holding above this line could support a substantial move higher. The estimate cited ranges as high as ten to twenty times current levels. This outlook rests on accumulation patterns and broader cycle rotation dynamics playing out.
The post described the current phase as a last stand for bulls defending the pattern. Should the invalidation level break, the triangle thesis would no longer hold. Market participants are tracking price behavior around this boundary for further direction.
Spot ETF Flows Show Early Signs Of Life
Spot Dogecoin ETFs recorded their first inflows since June 17 this week. The funds took in 345,130 dollars in net inflows on July 21. While modest in size, the figure breaks a lengthy stretch without fresh capital entering these products.
Before this inflow, spot Dogecoin ETFs had gone more than a month without any net additions. That period also included a single day of outflows recorded on July 2. The recent figure marks a shift after weeks of stagnant or negative flow data.
The timing coincides with renewed attention on meme coins across the broader crypto market. Whether this inflow signals a lasting trend remains unclear at this stage. Investors are watching upcoming ETF data to see if the pattern continues building momentum.
The post Dogecoin Flashes Buy Signal Near Support as ETF Inflows Return appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Overview
PLTR shares gained approximately 1% Friday following the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s decision to cancel a solicitation after Palantir filed a protest
Shares have declined roughly 30% year-to-date in 2026 but posted a ~5% gain over the trailing month, demonstrating relative strength versus AI sector peers
First quarter 2026 adjusted free cash flow reached $925M, representing 150% year-over-year expansion; adjusted earnings per share climbed ~150% as well
CEO Alex Karp projects the company will deliver $15B–$18B in free cash flow over a two-year horizon; 2026 full-year FCF outlook increased to $4.2B–$4.4B
Second quarter 2026 results arrive August 3; shares currently hover around $122, significantly beneath the 200-day moving average of approximately $154
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) experienced modest upward movement on Friday, climbing roughly 1% following news that the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency canceled a procurement request that the company had formally contested.
According to the agency’s statement, the solicitation was withdrawn voluntarily. The contract in question centered on an artificial intelligence-powered intelligence platform designed to facilitate military operations, including target acquisition capabilities.
Palantir submitted its bid protest in May, contending that the government was attempting to develop proprietary systems despite the availability of suitable commercial solutions. The cancellation indicates the agency will need to reassess its procurement strategy.
While this represents a tactical victory for Palantir, it simultaneously postpones the deployment timeline for the intelligence platform.
Shares currently trade around $122.92, reflecting an approximately 30% decline since the start of 2026. After reaching heights above $200 in November 2025, the stock has been trending downward. Nevertheless, PLTR has posted gains of about 5% during the most recent 30-day period, demonstrating greater stability compared to numerous artificial intelligence stocks experiencing pronounced volatility.
The Valuation Controversy
The disagreement surrounding Palantir fundamentally revolves around one central issue: which growth trajectory accurately represents the company’s future?
Skeptical analysts generally incorporate 20%–30% annual expansion assumptions when constructing discounted cash flow valuations. Under such parameters, PLTR’s present valuation — exceeding 100x forward earnings with a trailing price-to-sales multiple approaching 65x — appears difficult to rationalize.
However, first quarter 2026 performance challenged those conservative projections. Adjusted free cash flow reached $925 million, advancing 150% compared to the prior year. Adjusted earnings per share totaled 33 cents, likewise climbing approximately 150%. These metrics represent five to seven times the expansion rates embedded in cautious financial models.
Additionally, CEO Alex Karp’s public statements warrant consideration. He informed CNBC that Palantir anticipates generating $15B–$18B in free cash flow over a two-year window. Full-year 2026 revenue projections stand at $7.65B–$7.66B, suggesting 71% growth. The company’s U.S. commercial revenue forecast calls for expansion of at least 120%.
Karp’s forecasting credibility merits attention. In 2022, he predicted $4.5B in 2025 revenue. Actual 2025 results came in at $4.475B — virtually precise.
August 3 Results Approach
Palantir’s concentration within government contracts has provided some protection from broader artificial intelligence sector turbulence linked to inflation reports and geopolitical tensions.
Nonetheless, recent quarterly reports have delivered impressive financial performance without catalyzing significant stock appreciation. This disconnect has created frustration among bullish investors who emphasize the fundamental data.
The company’s full-year 2026 adjusted free cash flow guidance was elevated to $4.2B–$4.4B, already surpassing projections derived from 20%–30% growth assumptions.
Technical Picture
From a technical perspective, PLTR remains in a downward trajectory. The stock trades in the lower $120 range, substantially below the 200-day moving average positioned near $154. A decline on July 22 confirmed persistent selling momentum.
Second quarter 2026 earnings are scheduled for release on August 3. Free cash flow generation will be the critical metric for market participants to evaluate.
The post Palantir (PLTR) Stock: Q2 Earnings Set to Test Bulls’ Confidence on August 3 appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Summary
Q1 2026 revenue for Ondas reached $50.1 million, exceeding the prior year’s quarter by more than tenfold
Annual revenue outlook increased to a minimum of $390 million, indicating approximately 670% year-over-year expansion from 2025
Pro forma order backlog climbed to $457 million from $68.3 million at the previous year-end, with an additional $110 million in Q2 contracts
Cash reserves total approximately $1.48 billion, although this was primarily accumulated through equity offerings
Analyst consensus stands at Moderate Buy with a mean price target of $16.75 over the next twelve months
Ondas Holdings has undergone a significant strategic pivot, evolving from a modest industrial communications provider into a comprehensive defense-oriented drone and autonomous technology platform. The company’s current portfolio spans counter-unmanned aircraft systems, autonomous aerial vehicles, robotic ground units, loitering munitions and critical infrastructure monitoring solutions.
First-quarter 2026 revenues totalled $50.1 million, exceeding the upper boundary of company projections by 25%. The year-ago period bore little resemblance to these figures.
Following these results, executive leadership upgraded its annual revenue forecast to a floor of $390 million. This projection represents approximately 670% expansion versus 2025 performance.
The pro forma backlog reached $457 million by the conclusion of Q1, marking a substantial increase from the $68.3 million recorded at 2025 year-end. Additionally, the firm secured over $110 million in fresh contracts during merely the initial two months of the second quarter.
While the backlog figure commands attention, it’s essential to recognize that backlog doesn’t equal immediate revenue. Governmental approvals, fulfillment timelines and budgetary cycles all influence when these commitments translate into actual earnings.
Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Represent the Primary Growth Driver
The counter-drone technology sector presents Ondas with its most substantial market opportunity.
Operating unit Sentrycs employs cyber-over-radio-frequency capabilities to locate drones, recognize operator controllers and potentially assume command of unauthorized aircraft. This represents a more measured response compared to conventional jamming techniques or kinetic solutions, making it particularly suitable for populated or restricted zones.
Sentrycs’ proprietary technology has already been incorporated into a Lockheed Martin counter-drone system, lending credibility to the commercial proposition.
Defense spending is rapidly flowing into this sector. Compact, affordable drones have emerged as a legitimate security concern across both military operations and civilian infrastructure, fueling accelerated procurement activity.
Profitability Remains Elusive Despite Strong Cash Position
Ondas continues to operate at a loss. Adjusted EBITDA registered negative $10.9 million during Q1. Operational expenditures increased due to expanded headcount, professional advisory fees and acquisition integration costs.
Leadership anticipates losses will reach their apex in Q2 before trending positively. The roadmap calls for the autonomous-systems segment to achieve profitability by early 2027, with company-wide adjusted EBITDA profitability targeted for early 2028.
These remain objectives rather than certainties.
The organization finished Q1 holding approximately $1.48 billion across cash, restricted cash balances and short-duration investments. This liquidity cushion provides Ondas flexibility to continue capital deployment without immediate funding pressure.
Nevertheless, the majority of this capital originated from equity and warrant issuances, creating dilution for current shareholders. Outstanding share count has expanded considerably.
Revenue concentration presents an additional risk factor. Three customers accounted for nearly 70% of first-quarter revenue. A single program postponement could materially impact financial performance.
Street Sentiment on Ondas Stock
Ondas currently attracts coverage from nine Wall Street analysts. MarketBeat data indicates a Moderate Buy consensus rating, comprising one Strong Buy, six Buy ratings and two Hold recommendations. Zero analysts rate it a Sell.
The consensus twelve-month price objective sits at $16.75, spanning a range between $10 and $19.
The post Ondas (ONDS) Stock: Is This Defense Drone Play Worth Buying After 10x Revenue Surge? appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
The athletic giant shuttered approximately twelve retail locations across the United States during July 2026 as part of its broader Global Operations Changes initiative.
Beginning in January, Nike will discontinue online sales partnerships with Chinese retail partners Topsports and Pou Sheng, concentrating instead on proprietary channels and major platforms including Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin.
Fourth quarter fiscal 2026 sales declined 1.1% compared to the previous year, while earnings per share of $0.20 surpassed analyst expectations of $0.11.
The Nike Direct segment saw revenue contract 9%, digital sales decreased 12%, and the Converse brand experienced a steep 32% revenue drop in the fourth quarter.
Equity analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” recommendation with a mean price target of $53.86, representing significant upside from the current trading price around $41.85.
Shares of Nike (NKE) began trading at $41.85 on Friday, hovering dangerously close to the 52-week low of $40.00. The athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer has experienced a dramatic decline from its 52-week peak of $80.17 and currently trades beneath both its 50-day moving average at $43.68 and its 200-day moving average at $51.15.
The sportswear behemoth finds itself amid an extensive reorganization initiative that simultaneously impacts its physical retail presence, e-commerce operations, and employee base.
During July 2026 alone, Nike shuttered approximately twelve retail stores throughout the United States. The closure wave affected locations spanning California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Texas.
Nike has remained tight-lipped regarding additional planned closures for the remainder of the fiscal year.
These retail shutdowns represent one component of Nike’s Global Operations Changes initiative, unveiled in April 2026. The strategic overhaul aims to enhance competitive positioning and facilitate sustainable profitable expansion through supply chain optimization, technology advancement, and enhanced workforce development programs. The reorganization is projected to eliminate approximately 1,400 positions within Global Operations.
Additionally, Nike has terminated its Nike Fitness Studios initiative and consolidated technology operations by closing facilities in three locations, streamlining operations into two centralized technology hubs.
Chinese Market Reorganization Sparks Investor Anxiety
On July 22, Nike revealed plans to terminate online sales relationships with Chinese distribution partners Topsports and Pou Sheng effective January. The company intends to channel digital sales through its proprietary website and mobile application, alongside established platforms Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin.
Shares declined 2% following the announcement. Wall Street observers have expressed reservations, with financial analysts cautioning that this strategic pivot may negatively impact short-term revenue performance and potentially accelerate market share erosion in the crucial Chinese market.
Fourth quarter fiscal 2026 financial results underscored mounting operational challenges. Total revenue contracted 1.1% year-over-year to $10.97 billion. The Nike Direct segment experienced a 9% revenue decline, Nike Digital sales plummeted 12%, company-operated retail stores posted a 7% decrease, and the Converse subsidiary suffered a dramatic 32% revenue contraction.
In a bright spot, Nike exceeded earnings projections. Earnings per share reached $0.20, comfortably beating the consensus forecast of $0.11.
Wall Street Maintains Cautious Outlook
During the fourth quarter earnings conference call, CEO Elliot Hill candidly addressed current headwinds. “We know we’re not living up to our full potential,” Hill stated, citing challenging macroeconomic conditions and weakening consumer discretionary spending patterns.
Morningstar Investment Management substantially reduced its Nike holdings during the first quarter, decreasing its position by 32.1% through the sale of 48,855 shares. Company insiders have also been divesting stock, with Executive Vice President Philip Mccartney selling 17,398 shares in June at $46.18 per share.
Analyst price targets have trended downward across major research firms. Wells Fargo reduced its target from $45 to $40. Piper Sandler lowered its target from $50 to $45. China Renaissance decreased its target from $50.30 to $47.30.
Robert W. Baird maintained its outperform rating while setting a $70 price target. The consensus analyst target among Wall Street firms stands at $53.86, with 19 analysts assigning a Hold rating to the stock.
Nike’s quarterly dividend distribution remains at $0.41 per share, translating to a 3.9% dividend yield based on current market prices.
The post Nike (NKE) Stock Slides Toward 52-Week Low Amid Store Closures and Revenue Decline appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Alphabet posted Q2 revenue of $119.80 billion, representing a 24.2% annual increase and surpassing Wall Street’s $116.53 billion projection
Search revenue reached an unprecedented $63.3 billion in the quarter, climbing 17%, while Cloud division revenue exploded 82% to $24.8 billion
The company increased its 2026 capital expenditure outlook to a range of $195B–$205B, exceeding previous projections of $180B–$190B
Shares of GOOGL plummeted approximately 7% following the earnings release and currently trade 20% beneath their peak valuation
European regulators imposed a roughly $1 billion antitrust penalty on the tech giant
When Alphabet (GOOGL) unveiled its Q2 2026 financial results Wednesday evening, the numbers appeared exceptional at first glance. The company delivered $119.80 billion in total revenue, comfortably exceeding the Street’s $116.53 billion expectation. Earnings per share reached $9.11, dramatically outperforming the $2.87 consensus forecast.
Yet investors responded with disappointment. GOOGL shares plummeted approximately 7% in after-hours trading, leaving the stock trading about 20% off its recent peak.
The primary catalyst for the decline? Escalating investment requirements. The company announced an upward revision to its 2026 capital spending projection, now targeting $195 billion to $205 billion compared to the previously communicated range of $180 billion to $190 billion. This follows $91 billion deployed in the previous year.
Google Search delivered its strongest quarterly performance ever, generating $63.3 billion in revenue—a 17% year-over-year expansion. Artificial intelligence capabilities such as AI Overviews and AI Mode are fueling increased user engagement. AI Mode alone has attracted 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
The Cloud division emerged as the performance leader, skyrocketing 82% to produce $24.8 billion in revenue. The segment’s order backlog reached $514 billion at the close of June, representing a $50 billion sequential increase from the first quarter.
Massive Investment Plans Eclipse Revenue Success
The core issue troubling market participants centers on the accounting treatment of infrastructure assets. Data centers and semiconductor equipment are depreciated gradually rather than expensed upfront, meaning current massive outlays will compress profit margins for multiple years ahead.
Compounding investor concerns, Alphabet actually generated negative free cash flow of $5.8 billion during Q2 when excluding a $98 billion mark-to-market appreciation in its equity stakes in ventures like Anthropic and SpaceX.
This investment portfolio gain artificially inflated the reported earnings per share metric. Stripping out this component reveals a considerably weaker operational cash generation profile.
Wall Street Maintains Optimistic Stance
Notwithstanding the share price decline, most analysts remain constructive on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada maintained its buy recommendation with a $475 price objective. Cantor Fitzgerald affirmed its overweight rating while adjusting its target downward from $435 to $420. Freedom Capital elevated its recommendation to strong buy.
The consensus analyst price target stands at $410.09, with the stock receiving 30 buy ratings, 6 strong buy ratings, and only 3 hold recommendations.
The company also declared a $0.22 per share quarterly dividend, scheduled for distribution on September 14 to stockholders registered as of September 7.
From a regulatory perspective, European Union authorities levied an antitrust fine of approximately $1 billion against Alphabet, introducing another challenge during an already turbulent period.
Company insiders have divested $7.67 million in equity over the trailing 90 days, including transactions by CAO Marsida Saraci and Director John L. Hennessy.
GOOGL commenced Friday’s session at $319.09, positioned beneath both its 50-day moving average of $360.63 and its 200-day moving average of $337.38.
The post Alphabet (GOOGL) Plunges 7% Despite Strong Earnings as AI Infrastructure Costs Balloon to $205B appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
3M revealed a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to integrate its Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology within Azure AI infrastructure
The company will simultaneously implement Microsoft’s AI solutions across internal operations including credit assessment, customer support, and sales workflows
MMM shares finished at $172.62, registering an 8.0% weekly gain and 16.2% annual increase
Second-quarter 2026 results surpassed projections: EPS reached $2.40 versus $2.25 forecast; sales hit $6.50B compared to $6.40B estimate
JPMorgan elevated MMM rating to “overweight” with $180 price objective; overall analyst consensus stands at “Hold” with $177.21 average target
Shares of 3M (MMM) finished the week at $172.62, marking an impressive 8.0% weekly advance following the disclosure of a significant collaboration with Microsoft to integrate its Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) connectivity solutions within Azure AI infrastructure facilities.
This agreement embeds 3M’s advanced material science expertise into the foundational architecture supporting one of the world’s most expansive cloud computing ecosystems.
The collaboration represents a reciprocal arrangement. 3M will provide its EBO optical connectivity platform for Microsoft’s Azure expansion initiatives, while simultaneously integrating Microsoft’s artificial intelligence capabilities throughout its internal business processes — spanning credit verification, delinquency management, and client engagement functions.
This bidirectional dynamic deserves consideration. It establishes 3M simultaneously as a critical supplier to hyperscale cloud operators and an enterprise adopter of AI technology — two narratives generating substantial investor interest currently.
The EBO platform is being advanced as an industry benchmark through a Multi-Source Agreement framework, enabling multiple vendors to manufacture interoperable components. Should this initiative succeed, it could significantly broaden the addressable market far beyond the Microsoft relationship alone.
Second Quarter Performance Reinforces Momentum
The Microsoft announcement coincided with impressive quarterly financial results. 3M delivered Q2 2026 earnings per share of $2.40, surpassing the Wall Street consensus of $2.25. Quarterly revenue reached $6.50 billion, exceeding the $6.40 billion projection and representing a 2.5% year-over-year improvement.
Quarterly net income totaled $933 million. The company’s return on equity registered 115.87%.
Management established full-year 2026 earnings guidance between $8.80 and $8.95 per share. The analyst community currently projects $8.93 EPS for the complete fiscal period.
3M distributed a quarterly cash dividend of $0.78 per share in June, annualizing to $3.12 and yielding approximately 1.8%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 55.42%.
The organization executed share repurchases totaling 36,390,756 shares for approximately $5.73 billion, demonstrating robust capital allocation alongside strategic expansion initiatives.
Wall Street Perspectives and Ownership Trends
JPMorgan elevated its MMM recommendation from “neutral” to “overweight” on July 17th, advancing its price objective from $178 to $180. Goldman Sachs maintained its “buy” stance. Wells Fargo confirmed its “overweight” rating with a $165 valuation.
Conversely, Sanford C. Bernstein and Royal Bank of Canada maintain “underperform” assessments, with respective price targets of $145 and $132.
The aggregate Wall Street consensus registers as “Hold” with a $177.21 mean price objective, derived from 8 buy recommendations, 5 hold ratings, and 2 sell opinions.
Institutional accumulation has accelerated. Entropy Technologies LP established a fresh position valued at approximately $10.9 million during Q1. SG Americas Securities expanded its holdings by 653.6%, currently maintaining over 2.3 million shares worth $344 million. Institutional stakeholders collectively control 65.25% of outstanding shares.
MMM trades within a 52-week bandwidth of $139.34 to $177.41 with an $88.93 billion market capitalization. The 50-day moving average registers at $158.49, while the 200-day average stands at $156.42.
Current trading levels exceed both technical indicators substantially, with the 52-week peak of $177.41 positioned within striking distance.
The post 3M (MMM) Stock Surges 8% Following Microsoft Azure Partnership and Strong Q2 Earnings appeared first on Blockonomi.

Executive Summary
Both Alphabet and Tesla reported negative free cash flow during Q2 2026 earnings
Alphabet’s market capitalization declined 8%, erasing approximately $330 billion in value
Tesla plummeted 18%, wiping out roughly $250 billion — the steepest weekly decline since 2022
Infrastructure providers including Supermicro and Digital Realty rallied as technology giants ramped up capital expenditures
The Magnificent Seven collectively shed approximately $880 billion while the S&P 500 remained essentially unchanged
Alphabet, Google’s parent corporation, and electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla both disclosed negative free cash flow figures in their most recent quarterly financial reports, triggering significant stock price declines and prompting investor concerns regarding artificial intelligence capital allocation strategies.
Alphabet announced quarterly revenue reaching $119.8 billion, representing a 23% year-over-year increase. The company’s cloud computing division expanded by an impressive 82%. Yet despite these robust financial metrics, shares declined approximately 8%.
The primary concern centered on cash generation. Alphabet deployed $45 billion during the second quarter exclusively — $27 billion allocated to server infrastructure and $18 billion directed toward data center construction. This massive outlay resulted in negative free cash flow of $5.9 billion, marking the first negative quarterly result since the company’s 2004 initial public offering.
The search giant now projects total capital expenditures reaching $205 billion throughout this fiscal year, representing a $15 billion increase from guidance provided merely one quarter earlier. Company leadership refused to establish any spending cap for 2027.
Tesla confronted challenges from a different perspective. While revenue exceeded analyst projections, earnings fell significantly short. Operating margins compressed to just 1.4%, down sharply from 4.1% during the comparable period last year. Free cash flow registered at negative $1.1 billion.
Tesla anticipates capital spending reaching $25 billion this year, more than doubling its 2024 investment levels. The company’s chief financial officer indicated spending would probably escalate further throughout the subsequent three-year period.
Infrastructure Providers Rally on Technology Sector Capital Deployment
As companies deploying capital faced punishment from investors, their equipment suppliers experienced substantial gains.
Supermicro, specializing in AI server manufacturing, surged 25% following disclosure of over $60 billion in fresh orders received within a single quarter. Data center real estate investment trust Digital Realty advanced nearly 15% on unprecedented leasing commitments.
Nvidia also participated in the rally, climbing approximately 2% and contributing roughly $100 billion in additional market capitalization.
A composite index tracking AI infrastructure suppliers advanced an average of 11% throughout the week. Meanwhile, the five largest AI capital deployers — Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Tesla — declined an average of 9%.
Market Outlook and Upcoming Catalysts
The Magnificent Seven technology stocks eliminated approximately $880 billion in combined market value this week. The remaining constituents of the S&P 500 added roughly $165 billion. The benchmark index concluded the week essentially unchanged.
Semiconductor equities remain nearly 20% beneath their June peak levels despite experiencing a modest recovery that brought the PHLX Semiconductor Index back to the 12,000 threshold.
Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Apple are scheduled to release quarterly results next week. Microsoft currently trades 29% below its record high, Meta has retreated 25%, and Amazon stands 16% off its peak.
Apple represents the outlier. Without massive AI infrastructure investments to justify, the company recently achieved a new all-time high closing price.
Investors are paying particular attention to whether these upcoming reports trigger similar negative reactions to Alphabet’s — particularly regarding capital expenditure guidance and projections.
The post Alphabet (GOOGL) and Tesla (TSLA) Plunge as Record AI Spending Sparks Investor Alarm appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Central forecast projects SOL between $350–$550 by 2031, powered by network expansion and institutional adoption
Optimistic scenario forecasts $900–$1,500 should Solana dominate stablecoin infrastructure and asset tokenization
Conservative outlook places SOL at $80–$150 if competitive pressures intensify or adoption disappoints
Weighted average across all scenarios indicates approximately $525 price target for 2031
High throughput and minimal transaction costs give Solana advantages in consumer applications, decentralized finance, and payment systems
Over recent years, Solana has evolved from being viewed as an Ethereum alternative to establishing itself as a leading blockchain platform. The network’s reputation rests on its ability to process transactions rapidly while maintaining remarkably low costs, supporting diverse applications spanning payment systems, decentralized finance, digital collectibles, and gaming platforms.
Solana (SOL) Price
Investors increasingly want to understand where SOL might trade by 2031—five years from today.
Analysis suggests three distinct scenarios depending on how network adoption and competitive dynamics unfold during this timeframe.
The central scenario forecasts SOL trading between $350 and $550. This projection assumes Solana maintains growth momentum parallel to the wider cryptocurrency market, continues attracting development talent, experiences expanding stablecoin adoption, and gains broader institutional participation through vehicles like spot exchange-traded funds. This valuation band would translate to a network market capitalization ranging from approximately $240 billion to $380 billion.
$SOL Is Sitting At The Most Important Level Of This Cycle#SOL is trading inside a high-confluence HTF demand zone where the previous breakout base, weekly support, and the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement all intersect.
This is the market's decision point.
Hold $73 → Bullish… pic.twitter.com/3yJsuPBj1B
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) July 25, 2026
Optimistic And Conservative Projections
Under bullish conditions, SOL could reach $900 to $1,500. This scenario depends on stablecoins achieving mainstream payment adoption, real-world asset tokenization migrating to public blockchain infrastructure, and institutional capital flowing through approved investment vehicles. Such pricing would position Solana’s market capitalization between $620 billion and $1 trillion.
Conversely, the bearish scenario sees SOL trading at $80 to $150 by 2031. This outcome materializes if blockchain technology adoption proceeds slower than anticipated, or Solana faces intensified competition from Ethereum or emerging Layer 1 platforms. Network stability remains a consideration requiring continued monitoring, despite recent technical enhancements.
What distinguishes Solana from numerous blockchain projects searching for practical use cases is its already substantial on-chain activity volume.
Competitive Advantages Supporting Future Growth
Solana processes transactions within seconds. Transaction costs remain exceptionally minimal. Developer activity persists across payment infrastructure, decentralized finance protocols, gaming ecosystems, and consumer-facing products.
These characteristics position Solana favorably for applications requiring both high transaction throughput and economic efficiency.
Institutional participation continues expanding, with spot ETF offerings providing regulated investment channels for SOL exposure.
When all three scenarios are weighted by probability, the resulting 5-year price target centers around approximately $525 by 2031.
This median projection incorporates expectations of sustained ecosystem development, increasing developer engagement, and general cryptocurrency market maturation throughout the coming five years.
The post Solana (SOL) Price Forecast: Projecting SOL’s Value Through 2031 appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
Pyongyang authorities detained ex-military cyber specialists for allegedly stealing from state financial institutions
The suspects reportedly breached the DPRK Central Bank and Foreign Trade Bank systems
Stolen assets were reportedly converted into cryptocurrency and laundered via China-based intermediaries
The operation used fragmented transfers and encrypted communication tools to evade surveillance
Detentions occurred on July 12 at a secure location in Pyongyang following detection of irregular activity
Authorities in North Korea have reportedly detained a cell of former military cyber operatives and technology experts on allegations of embezzling government funds from two state-owned financial institutions and laundering proceeds via cryptocurrency channels.
JUST IN: North Korea reportedly arrests its own hackers for stealing state funds and laundering them through crypto, per CoinDesk.
The group allegedly breached the Central Bank of the DPRK and Foreign Trade Bank, moved funds into overseas crypto wallets, and used Chinese… pic.twitter.com/i0haiwNsHb
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) July 25, 2026
The report emerged Thursday from Daily NK, a South Korean media outlet, which cited an unnamed source based in Pyongyang. Neither Cointelegraph nor other independent media organizations have been able to authenticate these allegations.
The report indicates that the operatives infiltrated internal networks of both the Central Bank of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Foreign Trade Bank. They allegedly siphoned foreign currency reserves and trade-related funds into cryptocurrency wallets located overseas.
The purported operation depended on a web of intermediaries stationed in Chinese cities along the border. Cryptocurrency brokers operating in Sinuiju and Hyesan allegedly facilitated immediate conversion of digital assets into United States dollars and Chinese yuan.
To circumvent monitoring systems, the cell reportedly fragmented transactions into smaller increments. The operation also allegedly utilized encrypted messaging platforms, unregistered mobile devices, and Chinese wireless infrastructure.
How the Arrests Happened
North Korea’s National Intelligence Agency apprehended the individuals on July 12 at a covert residence in Pyongyang. Authorities reportedly identified irregularities in foreign currency transaction authorizations and traced suspicious internet protocol activity originating from foreign locations.
Should these reports prove accurate, this would represent an unusual instance of North Korean cyber personnel targeting domestic government assets rather than international entities.
The regime is internationally recognized for orchestrating state-sponsored hacking operations against foreign cryptocurrency platforms. These activities serve as revenue generation mechanisms and circumvent economic sanctions.
North Korea’s Crypto Hacking Record
The laundering techniques outlined in the Daily NK account closely resemble operational methods employed by established North Korean hacking collectives targeting international targets.
A multinational sanctions enforcement assessment has previously documented that Chinese over-the-counter cryptocurrency traders serve a crucial function in transforming stolen digital currency into traditional money for Pyongyang-affiliated operations.
Hackers linked to North Korea stole an unprecedented $2 billion in cryptocurrency during 2025, based on data from blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis.
TRM Labs calculated that actors connected to North Korea accounted for 76% of total cryptocurrency theft and fraud losses through April 2026.
Daily NK operates from Seoul and maintains a network of informants within North Korea. Information originating from the country remains challenging to independently authenticate given severe limitations on external access and information dissemination.
As of this publication, no official government authority or international organization has corroborated the report.
The post Former Military Hackers Detained in North Korea for Stealing State Funds via Crypto appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Robinhood is negotiating with Crypto.com to integrate event contracts into its prediction markets platform
The partnership would enable users to access Crypto.com’s yes-or-no contracts directly through Robinhood’s interface
Robinhood’s prediction markets currently aggregate contracts from Kalshi, ForecastEx, and affiliated platform Rothera
Bernstein raised its Robinhood price target to $160, projecting prediction market revenue at $1.7 billion by 2028
Crypto.com debuted its OG prediction market platform in February 2026
Robinhood is pursuing negotiations with Crypto.com to incorporate the digital asset exchange’s prediction market offerings into its trading application, according to a Friday report from The Wall Street Journal citing informed sources.
ROBINHOOD IN TALKS TO BRING https://t.co/r7EBeyBvxg PREDICTION MARKETS IN-HOUSE!
The brokerage is negotiating a deal that would let users trade https://t.co/OK8VJ6dYpf’s event contracts directly inside the Robinhood app.
Robinhood already routes prediction volume through… pic.twitter.com/ULRY0OQu4A
— Crypto Banter (@crypto_banter) July 25, 2026
Under the proposed agreement, Robinhood’s user base would gain access to binary event contracts from Crypto.com’s prediction markets division directly within the Robinhood ecosystem. Sources cautioned that finalizing the deal remains uncertain.
Multi-Exchange Aggregation Strategy Takes Shape
Robinhood introduced its prediction markets aggregation platform in March 2025, partnering initially with Kalshi to comply with US Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations. The platform subsequently incorporated ForecastEx and Rothera as additional contract providers.
Rothera operates as a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange and clearinghouse, with Robinhood participating in its 2025 funding round alongside Susquehanna International Group. Bringing Crypto.com into the fold would demonstrate a diversified strategy — leveraging proprietary infrastructure through Rothera while simultaneously aggregating third-party platforms to expand market selection.
A Robinhood spokesperson informed the Journal that the company intends to maintain partnerships with various exchanges to provide customers with comprehensive market access.
According to company figures, over 16 billion event contracts have been executed on Robinhood’s platform through 2026 to date, representing a significant increase from the 12 billion contracts traded throughout the previous year.
Competitive Dynamics Shift for Kalshi
Kalshi maintains a dominant position among US-regulated prediction market operators. The platform’s World Cup-related contracts alone recorded approximately $27 billion in trading activity.
However, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour acknowledged to the Journal in June that Robinhood now represents a primary competitive threat — despite Kalshi’s ongoing role as a contract supplier to the brokerage platform.
Market observers indicate that Robinhood users have constituted a declining portion of Kalshi’s overall trading volume following Rothera’s market entry.
Crypto.com unveiled OG, its prediction market offering, in February 2026. The platform operates through Crypto.com Derivatives North America, which holds CFTC registration as both an exchange and clearinghouse. According to company disclosures, weekly user engagement expanded approximately 40-fold during the six-month period preceding the official launch.
Beyond its proprietary platform, Crypto.com has provided white-label prediction market infrastructure to external brands, including sports retailer Fanatics. A previously announced integration with Trump Media’s Truth Social platform has not yet materialized.
Bernstein equity analysts upgraded Robinhood’s price target last month to $160 per share from a previous $130 estimate. The revision reflects optimistic projections for the company’s prediction markets and tokenized securities businesses, with forecasts indicating prediction market revenues could climb to $1.7 billion by 2028.
Competition throughout the prediction markets sector continues intensifying. Cboe Global Markets introduced binary options linked to S&P 500 performance, which Charles Schwab intends to distribute to its client base. Meanwhile, Coinbase and DraftKings have pursued their own regulated exchange infrastructure.
The prediction markets industry navigates ongoing regulatory ambiguity in the United States, where the CFTC asserts exclusive regulatory authority over event-based contracts while certain state gaming regulators have initiated legal challenges to limit these trading activities.
The post Robinhood Eyes Crypto.com Partnership to Expand Prediction Markets Offering appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
U.S. Bitcoin ETFs experienced $225.2M in net withdrawals on Thursday, breaking a seven-consecutive-day positive flow pattern
BlackRock’s IBIT dominated the exodus with $202.5M in single-day outflows
Bitcoin momentarily traded below $65,000, reaching a low of $64,600, while forming a death cross technical pattern
Market sentiment plunged as the Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to 28, marking the month’s most bearish reading
Following Trump’s directive to halt U.S.-Iran military operations, Bitcoin remains range-bound near $64,300
On Thursday, July 24, U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds witnessed $225.2 million in net withdrawals, bringing an end to seven consecutive trading sessions of positive flows that had totaled nearly $1 billion.
Source: SoSoValue
This marked the first session of negative flows for the asset class since July 13. Nevertheless, the weekly performance remained strong, with the funds closing the five-trading-day period approximately $274 million in the green.
BlackRock’s flagship IBIT bore the brunt of the withdrawals, hemorrhaging $202.5 million. Fidelity’s FBTC, Bitwise’s BITB, ARK 21Shares’ ARKB, Franklin Templeton’s EZBC, and WisdomTree’s BTCW each recorded modest outflows. Morgan Stanley’s MSBT stood as the sole exception, attracting $5 million in fresh capital.
Middle East Conflict Weighs on Digital Assets
The capital flight coincided with a broader selloff in U.S. equities on Thursday, triggered by escalating U.S.-Iran military confrontations entering their fifth month. Crude oil prices have surged, intensifying inflation anxieties and prompting market discussions about potential Federal Reserve rate increases.
Bitcoin momentarily breached the $65,000 threshold, declining to $64,600. The cryptocurrency is currently positioned beneath a death cross formation — a technical indicator occurring when the short-term moving average crosses below the long-term moving average, typically interpreted as a bearish market signal.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index declined three points to settle at 28, representing the month’s most pessimistic sentiment reading.
Market analyst Ali Charts highlighted a crucial support threshold. He emphasized that maintaining $63,800 as a floor could trigger a rally toward $67,000. However, a breakdown below this level would likely send Bitcoin toward $60,000.
Keep an eye on Bitcoin $BTC at $63,800.
If this level holds as support, I'm watching for a rebound toward $67,000. But if it breaks, the next downside target sits around $60,000. pic.twitter.com/kAn0hDIEmc
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 25, 2026
Federal Reserve Meeting Takes Center Stage
President Trump allegedly instructed U.S. military forces to suspend strikes against Iran following 13 straight days of military operations. The cessation emerged as Omani diplomats engaged with Iranian counterparts in Tehran to negotiate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
BREAKING: Trump has cancelled plans to sharply escalate the war on Iran over concerns that Iranian attacks could dangerously drain the Pentagon's already diminished stockpile of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defense munitions in the Middle East close to zero, per…
— The Hormuz Letter (@HormuzLetter) July 25, 2026
Despite the temporary ceasefire, geopolitical uncertainty persists. Houthi militant activity in the Bab al-Mandab Strait continues to create obstacles for international maritime commerce.
Bitcoin is currently trading near $64,300, registering a marginal increase of less than 1% for the session.
Ethereum ETFs demonstrated contrasting momentum, accumulating $26.3 million in inflows on Thursday, marking their fifth consecutive day of positive flows.
Market participants are now focused on the Federal Reserve’s upcoming July 28-29 policy meeting. While CME FedWatch projections indicate expectations for unchanged interest rates, Polymarket participants are pricing in a 72% probability of at least one rate increase before year-end.
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Key Takeaways
Russia’s largest financial institution aims to deploy crypto trading systems and digital custody services by December 1, 2026
The country’s digital asset regulatory structure becomes operational on September 1, 2026, with licensing deadlines set for July 2027
Retail investors must complete education requirements and face annual purchase caps of 300,000 rubles
Only digital assets meeting strict liquidity and capitalization criteria will be available for public exchange
Domestic crypto transactions for commercial purposes will continue to be banned
Russia’s dominant banking institution is making a strategic push into digital assets with a firm launch date on the horizon.
Sberbank has revealed its intentions to establish cryptocurrency exchange capabilities and introduce digital custody infrastructure by the end of 2026. This initiative aligns with Russia’s broader effort to establish comprehensive oversight of crypto trading, storage, and transaction settlement.
Russia’s Largest Bank Sberbank Plans Crypto Trading Infrastructure
Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, plans to build cryptocurrency trading infrastructure and launch a digital custody system by Dec. 1 to support regulated crypto trading, custody and settlement. The system will… pic.twitter.com/ZMMCxIfmag
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 25, 2026
The planned digital custody system will maintain records of client cryptocurrency holdings and process numerous transactions off-chain, away from public distributed ledgers. Additionally, Sberbank will operate hot wallets to facilitate customer deposits, withdrawals, and external transfers.
Alexander Vedyakhin, serving as the bank’s first deputy chairman, has validated the proposed schedule. According to Vedyakhin, the institution expects to finalize all necessary technological infrastructure and activate its digital depository ahead of the year-end target.
Overview of Russia’s Emerging Digital Asset Regulations
Russia’s comprehensive regulatory structure for cryptocurrency will become enforceable on September 1, 2026. The framework encompasses trading platforms, intermediaries, financial institutions, and digital custody providers. Organizations will have a ten-month window until July 1, 2027 to secure appropriate licenses.
The updated regulations will permit both accredited and non-accredited market participants to acquire cryptocurrencies via authorized intermediaries. Investment rules vary based on participant classification.
Retail participants without accreditation must successfully complete educational assessments. Following certification, these investors can purchase approved digital assets worth up to 300,000 rubles annually through one designated intermediary.
Accredited participants will also undergo mandatory testing but gain access to expanded asset categories without comparable yearly purchasing restrictions.
Exchange-listed trading will be restricted to cryptocurrencies satisfying defined benchmarks. These criteria include maintaining an average market capitalization exceeding 5 trillion rubles and average daily transaction volumes surpassing 1 trillion rubles across a two-year period.
The Bank of Russia will exercise oversight authority over the marketplace. The central bank will establish protocols for asset custody, record-keeping, and investor safeguards.
Sberbank’s Track Record With Blockchain Technology
Sberbank has previous experience in the digital asset sector. The institution registered as an information system operator in Russia during 2022 and has subsequently created digital financial instruments and investment products connected to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In the previous year, the bank introduced structured bonds indexed to bitcoin for accredited clients. During December 2025, Sberbank executed a cryptocurrency-collateralized lending trial in partnership with Russian mining operation Intelion Data, utilizing mined digital assets as security.
The financial institution has additionally presented recommendations to Russia’s monetary authority regarding customer cryptocurrency storage through regulated banking channels.
Additional Russian banks are pursuing similar strategies. VTB and T-Bank have been building digital custody platforms. Moscow Exchange has explored regulated cryptocurrency offerings. Alfa-Bank has experimented with restricted crypto services and storage solutions.
Sberbank has not publicly identified which digital currencies will be accessible on its platform. Transaction fees, customer qualification standards, and withdrawal parameters remain undisclosed. These specifications likely await final regulatory guidance from Russian government agencies.
Cryptocurrency usage for domestic commercial transactions within Russia will stay prohibited. International settlements employing cryptocurrencies will be authorized for designated scenarios.
The post Sberbank Sets December 2026 Target for Crypto Trading Launch in Russia appeared first on Blockonomi.