Lead – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Fri, 12 Sep 2025 01:15:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Lead – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Which Tokens Are Traders Talking About? GME, SOL Lead the Buzz https://earlybirdsinvest.com/which-tokens-are-traders-talking-about-gme-sol-lead-the-buzz/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/which-tokens-are-traders-talking-about-gme-sol-lead-the-buzz/#respond Fri, 12 Sep 2025 01:15:33 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/which-tokens-are-traders-talking-about-gme-sol-lead-the-buzz/

Global markets are on edge as traders weigh geopolitical risks, easing inflation signals, and possible U.S. interest rate cuts next week.

The turbulence has spilled into crypto, where GameStop’s pivot, Linea’s dramatic price drop, and Solana’s technical momentum are dominating discussion across trading desks and social media.

Breaking Down the Social Buzz

The resurgence of GameStop in crypto conversations is particularly noteworthy. According to data from market intelligence provider Santiment, the buzz stems from the company’s recent special dividend issuance through warrants and a stronger-than-anticipated Q2 2025 earnings report.

Earlier in the year, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen confirmed the retailer is exploring crypto payments for trading cards and collectibles following a substantial $500 million Bitcoin (BTC) acquisition.

Cohen characterized the BTC purchase as a hedge against inflation, signaling a cautious but serious corporate interest in digital assets. This pivot follows the company’s earlier, less successful forays into NFTs and wallets, which were shuttered due to a challenging regulatory environment.

Meanwhile, the Ethereum layer-2 project Linea is facing its own drama. In the spotlight following the launch of its native LINEA token and listings on Binance and CoinEx, among other major exchanges, it plunged nearly 35% in the past week, hitting a new all-time low of $0.02265 on September 10.

Altcoin Performance and Market Outlook

Solana (SOL) is also making waves on the back of its frequent appearance “in the context of liquidity and market cap values” of various assets on the network. In the market, it has demonstrated notable stability, consolidating around the $222 mark with a 24-hour trading volume exceeding $9.4 billion, and a nearly 8% jump in price in the last seven days.

However, there’s a stark difference in the social sentiment and on-chain performance of another trending asset, ApeCoin (APE). While it has caught a buzz following its launch and expansion onto the Solana blockchain, APE has struggled in the market, slipping 7.4% in the past week to $0.606. It also remains down 24% over the past year and almost 98% below its 2022 peak.

In contrast, Avalanche (AVAX) is attempting to build headway. The world’s 21st-largest crypto by market cap is a hot topic due to its “bullish momentum, breakout price activity, and strong technical indicators.” Priced at $28.80 at the time of this writing, it has oscillated between $23.93 and $29.45 in the last week, and is up almost 17% in that period.

Over the past 24 hours, the asset gained 7.3% on its price, with analysts suggesting that since it has now broken above $27, the door could be open for a run to $40, with rising network activity, amounting to 35.8 million transactions on its C-Chain last month, providing a favorable backdrop.

SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored)

Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).

LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/which-tokens-are-traders-talking-about-gme-sol-lead-the-buzz/feed/ 0 57989 $513M in Major Token Unlocks Coming This Week: APT, SOL, TRUMP Lead the Pack https://earlybirdsinvest.com/513m-in-major-token-unlocks-coming-this-week-apt-sol-trump-lead-the-pack/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/513m-in-major-token-unlocks-coming-this-week-apt-sol-trump-lead-the-pack/#respond Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:32:15 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/513m-in-major-token-unlocks-coming-this-week-apt-sol-trump-lead-the-pack/

A wave of digital asset supply is set to enter the market, potentially testing buyer appetite across the crypto landscape.

According to the Tokenomist website, major projects will unlock more than $513 million in tokens between September 8 and 15.

Key Unlocks and Market Backdrop

Solana (SOL) will release 502,930 SOL worth almost $104 million. It’s only 0.09% of the supply, but it comes at a time when the asset is trying to stay near $210 after rising more than 15% since early August.

The recently approved Alpenglow upgrade, which cuts transaction finality from 12.8 seconds to less than 200 milliseconds, has also gotten developers interested and made people feel more positive about the SOL market.

Traders should also keep an eye on Aptos, which is set to deploy 11.31 million of its native APT token, worth just over $48 million. The #51-ranked cryptocurrency has been slowly rising, adding 3.1% to its value in the past week to reach $4.33. However, it is still down almost 10% in the past month.

Connex (CONX), on the other hand, has to unlock $38.76 million in the middle of recent market problems. In the past week, the token lost almost 5% of its value, while in the last month, it dipped by more than 30%.

At the same time, Starknet will also distribute 127 million of its STRK tokens. At the time of this writing, the Layer 2 validity rollup had a market cap of about $513 million and was down 3.4% over the week. It is also 97% below its all-time high achieved in 2024.

While some market watchers think that these weaker performers may be especially sensitive to sudden supply increases, Story Protocol’s IP token has gone against the trend. It went up more than 10% in the last week, reaching a new all-time high of $8.88 a few hours ago, just in time for the injection of 2.32 million tokens worth more than $20 million into the market.

Dogecoin and Official Trump

Unlock dynamics often connect with bigger stories in the crypto world. For example, Dogecoin (DOGE) is about to release $21.82 million worth of tokens over the next several days, with the prospect of a new investment product tied to the OG meme coin drawing ever nearer.

Eric Balchunas, an analyst at Bloomberg, says that ETF issuer REX Shares will launch the first DOGE exchange-traded fund as soon as next week. The asset has also risen by more than 8% in the last month, thanks in part to an announcement by Nebraska-based CleanCore of a $175 million private placement to build a DOGE treasury.

The Official Trump (TRUMP) token is also scheduled to drop coins worth $41.37 million over the next seven days. This latest allocation coincides with a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, which said that the Trump family’s investments in World Liberty Financial (WLFI) and TRUMP now make up the biggest part of their paper net worth after briefly reaching $6 billion.

SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored)

Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).

LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/513m-in-major-token-unlocks-coming-this-week-apt-sol-trump-lead-the-pack/feed/ 0 57490 [LIVE] Crypto News Today: Latest Updates for Sept. 8, 2025 –Crypto Market Rebounds as AI, Meme Coins Lead; Worldcoin Jumps 20% https://earlybirdsinvest.com/live-crypto-news-today-latest-updates-for-sept-8-2025-crypto-market-rebounds-as-ai-meme-coins-lead-worldcoin-jumps-20/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/live-crypto-news-today-latest-updates-for-sept-8-2025-crypto-market-rebounds-as-ai-meme-coins-lead-worldcoin-jumps-20/#respond Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:21:56 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/live-crypto-news-today-latest-updates-for-sept-8-2025-crypto-market-rebounds-as-ai-meme-coins-lead-worldcoin-jumps-20/

‘;
publishBtn.before(backupField);
}
}
}

// Check for React editor on load and with a delay
setTimeout(ensureReactHeadlineField, 100);
setTimeout(ensureReactHeadlineField, 500);
setTimeout(ensureReactHeadlineField, 1000);

// Watch for React editor to appear
var observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutations) {
ensureReactHeadlineField();
});
observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true });

// Legacy editor – modify form template
var formTemplate = $(‘#liveblog-form-template’).html();
if (formTemplate && formTemplate.indexOf(‘liveblog-headline-field’) === -1) {
var headlineField = ‘

‘, headlineField + ‘

‘);
$(‘#liveblog-form-template’).html(formTemplate);
}

// Function to get headline value
function getHeadlineValue() {
var headline=””;
// Look for various possible headline input selectors
var headlineInputs = $(‘.liveblog-headline-input, #liveblog-headline, .backup-headline, input[placeholder*=”headline” i], input[placeholder*=”Headline” i]’);

console.log(‘Searching for headline inputs with selectors…’);
headlineInputs.each(function() {
var val = $(this).val();
console.log(‘Headline input found:’, this, ‘value:’, val);
if (val && val.trim()) {
headline = val.trim();
return false; // break loop
}
});

// Also check all text inputs in the liveblog editor for debugging
$(‘.liveblog-editor-container input[type=”text”]’).each(function() {
console.log(‘Text input in editor:’, this, ‘placeholder:’, $(this).attr(‘placeholder’), ‘value:’, $(this).val());
});

return headline;
}

// Function to get author name value
function getAuthorNameValue() {
var authorName=””;
var authorInputs = $(‘.liveblog-author-input’);
authorInputs.each(function() {
var val = $(this).val();
if (val && val.trim()) {
authorName = val.trim();
return false; // break loop
}
});
return authorName;
}

// Override XMLHttpRequest to add headline parameter to liveblog requests
var originalXHRSend = XMLHttpRequest.prototype.send;

XMLHttpRequest.prototype.send = function(data) {
if (this._url && (this._url.indexOf(‘liveblog’) > -1 || this._url.indexOf(‘crud’) > -1) && data) {
try {
var parsedData = JSON.parse(data);
if (parsedData && (parsedData.crud_action === ‘insert’ || parsedData.crud_action === ‘update’)) {
var headline = getHeadlineValue();
var authorName = getAuthorNameValue();

// Debug logging
console.log(‘=== Liveblog Form Submission Debug ===’);
console.log(‘Found headline inputs:’, $(‘.liveblog-headline-input, #liveblog-headline, .backup-headline’).length);
console.log(‘Headline value:’, headline);
console.log(‘Author name value:’, authorName);
console.log(‘Original data:’, parsedData);

parsedData.headline = headline || ”;
parsedData.author_name = authorName || ”;

console.log(‘Modified data:’, parsedData);
data = JSON.stringify(parsedData);
}
} catch(e) {
// Ignore JSON parse errors
}
}

return originalXHRSend.call(this, data);
};

// Track XHR URLs
var originalXHROpen = XMLHttpRequest.prototype.open;
XMLHttpRequest.prototype.open = function(method, url, async, user, password) {
this._url = url;
return originalXHROpen.apply(this, arguments);
};

// Hook into jQuery AJAX for legacy editor
$(document).ajaxSend(function(event, xhr, settings) {
// Get headline and author name values
var headline = getHeadlineValue();
var authorName = getAuthorNameValue();

// For REST API requests that contain crud_action or liveblog in URL
if (settings.url && (settings.url.indexOf(‘liveblog/v1/’) > -1 || settings.url.indexOf(‘crud’) > -1)) {
if (settings.contentType && settings.contentType.indexOf(‘application/json’) > -1 && settings.data) {
try {
var data = JSON.parse(settings.data);
if (data && (data.crud_action === ‘insert’ || data.crud_action === ‘update’)) {
data.headline = headline || ”;
data.author_name = authorName || ”;
settings.data = JSON.stringify(data);
}
} catch(e) {
// Ignore JSON parse errors
}
}
}

// For legacy form data requests
if (settings.data && typeof settings.data === ‘string’ && settings.data.indexOf(‘liveblog_’) !== -1) {
if (headline) {
settings.data += ‘&headline=” + encodeURIComponent(headline);
}
if (authorName) {
settings.data += “&author_name=” + encodeURIComponent(authorName);
}
}
});
});

‘;
$latestEntry.append(badge);
// Add class to the entry for targeted CSS styling
$latestEntry.addClass(‘has-latest-badge’);
}
}

// Process all entries
function processAllEntries() {
$(‘.liveblog-entry’).each(function() {
enhanceEntry($(this));
});
addLatestUpdateBadge();
}

// Watch for new entries
const observer = new MutationObserver(function(mutations) {
mutations.forEach(function(mutation) {
if (mutation.type === ‘childList’) {
mutation.addedNodes.forEach(function(node) {
if (node.nodeType === 1 && node.classList && node.classList.contains(‘liveblog-entry’)) {
enhanceEntry($(node));
}
});
}
});
});

// Start observing
const feedElement = document.querySelector(‘.liveblog-feed’);
if (feedElement) {
observer.observe(feedElement, { childList: true, subtree: true });
}

// Process existing entries
processAllEntries();

// Expose function for manual triggering
window.processLiveblogEnhancements = processAllEntries;

// Debug function to check entry data
window.debugLiveblogHeadlines = function() {
console.log(‘=== Liveblog Headlines Debug ===’);
$(‘.liveblog-entry’).each(function() {
const $entry = $(this);
const entryId = $entry.attr(‘id’);
const numericId = entryId ? entryId.replace(‘id_’, ”) : ‘unknown’;

console.log(‘Entry ID:’, entryId);
console.log(‘Has headline element:’, $entry.find(‘.liveblog-headline’).length > 0);
console.log(‘Data attributes:’, $entry.data());

// Check for script data
const $script = $entry.find(‘script[type=”application/json”]’);
if ($script.length) {
try {
const data = JSON.parse($script.text());
console.log(‘Script data:’, data);
} catch(e) {
console.log(‘Script data parse error:’, e);
}
}

// Check React store
if (window.liveblogEntries && window.liveblogEntries[entryId]) {
console.log(‘React store data:’, window.liveblogEntries[entryId]);
}

console.log(‘—‘);
});
};

// Debug function to inspect the editor form
window.debugLiveblogEditor = function() {
console.log(‘=== Liveblog Editor Debug ===’);
console.log(‘Editor container exists:’, $(‘.liveblog-editor-container’).length);
console.log(‘All text inputs in editor:’);
$(‘.liveblog-editor-container input[type=”text”]’).each(function(i) {
console.log(‘Input ‘ + i + ‘:’, this);
console.log(‘ – Class:’, $(this).attr(‘class’));
console.log(‘ – Placeholder:’, $(this).attr(‘placeholder’));
console.log(‘ – Value:’, $(this).val());
console.log(‘ – Parent:’, $(this).parent().get(0));
});

console.log(‘All inputs in editor (any type):’);
$(‘.liveblog-editor-container input’).each(function(i) {
console.log(‘Input ‘ + i + ‘:’, this.type, $(this).attr(‘class’), $(this).attr(‘placeholder’));
});

console.log(‘Headline-related elements:’);
$(‘*’).filter(function() {
return $(this).text().toLowerCase().includes(‘headline’) ||
$(this).attr(‘placeholder’) && $(this).attr(‘placeholder’).toLowerCase().includes(‘headline’) ||
$(this).attr(‘class’) && $(this).attr(‘class’).toLowerCase().includes(‘headline’);
}).each(function() {
console.log(‘Headline element:’, this);
});
};
});

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/live-crypto-news-today-latest-updates-for-sept-8-2025-crypto-market-rebounds-as-ai-meme-coins-lead-worldcoin-jumps-20/feed/ 0 57339 Binance has appointed SB Seker to lead the operation of the Asia-Pacific region https://earlybirdsinvest.com/binance-has-appointed-sb-seker-to-lead-the-operation-of-the-asia-pacific-region/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/binance-has-appointed-sb-seker-to-lead-the-operation-of-the-asia-pacific-region/#respond Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:43:17 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/binance-has-appointed-sb-seker-to-lead-the-operation-of-the-asia-pacific-region/

Binance has appointed SB Seker as the new regional chief of the Asia-Pacific region. He brings 20 years of experience in legal, compliance and monetary policy roles, including his past work as an Australian litigant and as a lawyer for the Singapore Monetary Authority. His background fits well with the Binance of the environment.

The appointment is made during a critical review

Binance Australia is currently undergoing independent audits requested by the country’s financial intelligence agencies. The audit focuses on money laundering and counter-terrorism funding policies. The Saker’s Arrival Come inside This review period and his expertise I’ll add it Weight into future Binance approaches.

Seker’s experience is consistent with the previous task

Before joining Binance, Seker played a senior role at Crypto.com, where he helped lead products and regulatory development. His work I touched it Several areas of financial compliance and technology policy; give He has a strong understanding of how global crypto companies operate under pressure. He works both internal With the government Inside Fast companies. That blending of experiences could help his new role.

Discover: 9+ Best High Risk, High Reward Crypto Buy in September 2025

Industry leaders are paying attention

James Volpe, director of UCubed, said Seker has built a reputation know method Working inside A complex regulatory framework. His appointment gives regulators and business partners a clearer signal that Binance is taking oversight seriously. It also sends a message to local users that leadership changes are happening with long-term growth in mind.

Binance Coin

price

Market capitalization

24 hours7d30D1Yeverytime

The role of a community with broad responsibility

Seker currently oversees Binance’s operations Asia Pacific. This includes direct involvement with regulators, policy teams and market partners. He will help shape how Binance deploys its products across regions where the pace of policy development changes across countries. That’s a big role in big moments.

Discovery: Next 1000x Ciphers: 10+ Ciphers tokens that could hit 1000X in 2025

Addresses structural and staffing gaps

The audit process in Australia identified areas where Binance could improve. Especially around Staff stability and governance practices. Binance is already there It’s been built Large global compliance team, and Over 1,200 employees I work in this field. Seker’s leadership brings Sharpter We will focus on how these resources are used in the Asia-Pacific region.

A step towards greater adjustments

This is not just one office or one country. The company is clearly making moves to ensure local branches work closely with regulators rather than simply responding to investigations and enforcement actions. Such employment gives the company people who understand how to have those conversations without any friction.

Where does things go from here?

SB Seker is currently in the process of becoming more important. His work will help shape the way Binance meets local expectations, balances innovation and regulations and maintains momentum in key markets. Asia Pacific. That’s its role You will need it Patience, accuracy and a clear understanding of both Crypto Space and traditional finance.

Discover: 20+ Next Cryptocurrency to Explode in 2025

For the latest market updates, please join us in the discrepancy in 99bitcoins news here

Key takeout

  • Binance has appointed SB Seker as the new Asia-Pacific Head, bringing deep experience from both the government and the crypto sector.

  • Seker’s arrival comes as Australia undergoes an independent audit focused on money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.

  • He previously took on senior compliance roles at crypto.com and at Singapore’s monetary authorities, giving him a strong policy and regulatory background.

  • His appointment shows Binance’s intention to strengthen the operation of the region and improve engagement with regulators and partners.

  • Seker plays a key role in coordinating Binance’s compliance efforts across the diverse Asia-Pacific market where regulations are evolving rapidly.

Why you can trust 99 Bitcoin?

Over 10 years

Founded in 2013, 99 Bitcoin team members have been experts in crypto since the early days of Bitcoin.

90 hours+

Weekly research

100k+

Monthly Readers

50+

Expert Contributors

2000+

Crypto project reviewed

Google News Icon

Follow 99 Bitcoin on Google News Feed

Provide the latest updates, trends and insights directly to your fingertips. Subscribe now!

Subscribe now

Anthony Clark

Cryptowriter

Anthony Clark’s crypto journey began in 2017 and was triggered by the discovery of Quora. After purchasing Bitcoin and Verge as his first cryptocurrency, he became deeply interested in the emerging world of blockchain technology. This made him start writing…Read more

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/binance-has-appointed-sb-seker-to-lead-the-operation-of-the-asia-pacific-region/feed/ 0 56345 Is TON’s DeFi ready to lead a true financial revolution? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/is-tons-defi-ready-to-lead-a-true-financial-revolution/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/is-tons-defi-ready-to-lead-a-true-financial-revolution/#respond Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:16:59 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/is-tons-defi-ready-to-lead-a-true-financial-revolution/

The following is a guest post and opinion from Slavik Baranov, CEO at STON.fi Dev.

From Gaming Phenomenon to Financial Ambition

In 2024, the TON blockchain became one of the most talked-about ecosystems in crypto — not because of a groundbreaking DeFi protocol, but thanks to the meteoric rise of viral tap-to-earn games on Telegram. Titles like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin drew millions virtually overnight, pushing daily active wallets to nearly 2 million by September.

Telegram Active Daily Wallets
Telegram Active Daily Wallets (source: Tonstat).

The surge proved TON can onboard users at a pace few blockchains can match. But it also exposed the fragility of hype-driven adoption: many players came for quick rewards and left when incentives ended. Speculative capital — fluid and opportunistic by nature — followed the same path.

Games showed TON’s reach. But they were never meant to be the foundation of a financial revolution.

The Lasting Impact of the Hype Cycle

The post-game cooldown wasn’t a collapse; it was a reset. In January 2024, before the gaming boom, TON averaged 26,000 daily active wallets. After the dust settled, activity stabilized at 100,000–200,000 — a multiple of its pre-hype base.

Even more importantly, developer and user inflows seeded growth across the ecosystem. The number of DeFi protocols on TON rose from 35 to 67 in 2024 — a 91% increase. This expansion reflects a gradual shift in focus from short-lived promotions to enduring financial infrastructure.

Building TON’s DeFi Landscape

TON’s DeFi sector now spans token swaps, staking, and lending. In early 2024, EVAA launched as the first lending protocol. By late summer, AMM protocol STON.fi had reached nearly $400 million in liquidity. Today, the leaders by total value locked (TVL) are the liquid staking protocol Tonstakers and the swap protocol STON.fi, reflecting user preference for core, high-liquidity services.

Fueled by gaming-related excitement, total value locked (TVL) across the network peaked at $1.1 billion in July 2024. But as incentive programs ended, TVL declined to around $600 million by early 2025 and now stands near $400 million.

DeFi TVL
DeFi TVL (source: DefiLlama)

These movements suggest that part of TON’s liquidity was influenced by short-term market dynamics. Funds tended to flow in during periods of attractive yields and gradually taper off as those opportunities diminished.

By the end of 2024, TON had nearly 38 million addresses, yet new wallet creation fell sharply — from 724,000 daily in autumn to just 33,000 in early 2025. Meanwhile, staking emerged as a safe haven: around 790 million TON are currently staked, concentrating liquidity in lower-risk, base-layer protocols.

Why the Revolution Hasn’t Happened Yet

Compared with Ethereum or Solana, TON’s liquidity depth and range of products are still developing. Part of this difference stems from its underlying design. TON’s architecture was created with massive scalability in mind, leading to technically elegant but more complex infrastructure for developers.

Smart contracts on TON use a low-level language, and many core components require building from the ground up, which may have contributed to a more gradual pace of DeFi development in its early years.

The trade-off? Low-level development can produce more efficient, resilient solutions over time. TON’s core team is actively reducing friction for builders, paving the way for faster growth.

Another factor is ecosystem dependence on Telegram. On one hand, this integration gives TON direct access to over 1 billion users and tangible utility — since 2024, Telegram channel owners have been able to receive ad revenue payouts in TON. On the other hand, it creates a single point of exposure: any disruption in Telegram instantly impacts TON.

For now, many average users still see Telegram mini-apps as casual games rather than financial tools. Without broadening beyond entertainment use cases, TON’s appeal to institutional capital remains constrained.

Unlocking TON’s DeFi Potential

The path forward is clear: expand beyond hype cycles and deliver mass-market financial services seamlessly integrated into the Telegram experience.

This could mean:

  • Frictionless payments — sending crypto in a Telegram chat as easily as a text message.
  • Everyday utility — paying for goods, services, or restaurant bills in TON-based tokens.
  • Accessible lending — offering microloans and credit solutions in regions underserved by banks.

If executed well, these use cases could transform TON from a viral gaming phenomenon into a primary interface for global crypto adoption.

Signals of Institutional Confidence

Institutional investment is already validating TON’s potential. In March 2024, major players including Sequoia Capital, Draper Associates, Kingsway, CoinFund, Ribbit, and Skybridge invested in Toncoin.

In January 2025, Zodia Custody (a subsidiary of Standard Chartered) announced support for TON’s Jetton token standard, enabling banks and large investors to securely hold and manage TON assets. And in July 2025, The Open Platform — a developer of Telegram-based protocols and apps built on TON — secured $28.5 million at a $1 billion valuation from leading funds Ribbit Capital and Pantera Capital.

Conclusion: From Potential to Reality

The explosive growth of 2024 proved that pairing Telegram’s reach with blockchain’s capabilities can move markets. But true transformation will come only when TON evolves from a hype-fueled onramp into a robust financial ecosystem.

The fundamentals are in place: a growing developer base, improving infrastructure, and unprecedented distribution through Telegram. If TON’s DeFi sector can simplify the user experience and deliver essential, in-demand services where users already are, it won’t just participate in the future of digital finance — it could help define it.

Mentioned in this article
]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/is-tons-defi-ready-to-lead-a-true-financial-revolution/feed/ 0 55961 Warren Buffett Is Selling Apple Stock Again. Should You Follow His Lead? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffett-is-selling-apple-stock-again-should-you-follow-his-lead/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffett-is-selling-apple-stock-again-should-you-follow-his-lead/#respond Sat, 23 Aug 2025 09:58:18 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffett-is-selling-apple-stock-again-should-you-follow-his-lead/ Buffett hadn’t sold Apple stock in nearly a year.

One of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -0.13%) (BRK.B -0.06%) CEO Warren Buffett’s best investments of all time was Apple (AAPL 1.21%). At one point, Apple stock made up about 50% of Berkshire’s investment portfolio. However, Buffett started selling off Apple stock in fourth-quarter 2023, and he has steadily decreased his position ever since.

He didn’t sell any from third-quarter 2024 until now, so this further selling is noteworthy for Berkshire and Buffett. The question is, does Buffett know something that we don’t, or is there something else going on here?

Warren Buffett.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Apple’s stock is no longer cheap

Apple is the leading consumer tech brand in the U.S., and it has a strong customer base outside the U.S. as well. When Buffett first took a position in first-quarter 2016, Apple was an undervalued company despite its broad audience. That call turned out to be one of the best investments of Buffett’s career, but to label Apple undervalued now is ignorant.

Apple’s trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has climbed steadily over the past decade and is currently near its highest level.

AAPL PE Ratio Chart

AAPL PE Ratio data by YCharts.

Over that same timeframe, Apple experienced some healthy growth, but it’s currently growing at the same pace it was when it had a far more reasonable valuation.

AAPL EPS Diluted (Quarterly YoY Growth) Chart

AAPL EPS Diluted (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts.

Apple’s stock is trading at a premium without the growth to back it up, and this is likely part of the reason Buffett is selling Apple stock. It’s also telling that Buffett hasn’t made any big purchases with the proceeds of his Apple stock sales, as it indicates that he likely sees most stocks trading at too expensive a premium to warrant buying now.

But there’s also the thought that Buffett is setting up the portfolio for his successor.

Buffett may be freeing up more cash for the incoming CEO

At the end of the year, Warren Buffett will step down as Berkshire’s CEO, and Greg Abel will succeed him. If Buffett gets the investment portfolio to a more balanced position and leaves him with a ton of cash, Abel will be able to run things as he sees fit without needing to undo a bunch of decisions that he may not have agreed with.

With Berkshire’s cash and short-term investments totaling $344 billion, Abel will have a massive cash pile to use to make investments.

Time will tell whether Abel follows in Buffett’s footsteps or makes more aggressive or conservative decisions, but it’s hard to imagine being more conservative than Buffett is with how much cash is on the balance sheet.

Apple is still a massive chunk of Berkshire’s portfolio, making up about 22% of the total value. But its second-largest holding, American Express, makes up 19% of the total value, and it’s not far off from overtaking Apple as Berkshire’s largest investment.

Considering how expensive Apple is for its relatively slow growth, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few more sales announced in the coming quarter. But we’ll have to wait for another three months to find out about that. If you’re an Apple investor sitting on huge gains, I think taking heed of Buffett’s action is a smart idea, as there are far more attractive investment opportunities out there than Apple.

Keithen Drury has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/warren-buffett-is-selling-apple-stock-again-should-you-follow-his-lead/feed/ 0 54704 Cardano Closes 264 Million ADA Budget Cycle, IOG Takes Lead https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cardano-closes-264-million-ada-budget-cycle-iog-takes-lead/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cardano-closes-264-million-ada-budget-cycle-iog-takes-lead/#respond Tue, 19 Aug 2025 22:55:19 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cardano-closes-264-million-ada-budget-cycle-iog-takes-lead/

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Cardano’s first full‐cycle ecosystem budget has reached its finish line. On August 19, 2025, Intersect—Cardano’s member-based organization that facilitated the process—announced: “Our ecosystem budget and withdrawal process has now reached its conclusion… DReps have approved ₳264m in ecosystem funding.” In the same statement, Intersect said the pipeline began with 194 proposals submitted through GovTool and the Ekklesia poll, was refined off-chain to 40, and ultimately produced 39 on-chain treasury withdrawals—37 of which cleared the required thresholds.

First Cardano Budget Cycle Closes

Intersect added that “more than 30 vendors have now signed contracts,” with those agreements being published for public review. The live “Intersect Administered Contracts” ledger confirms a growing roster of counterparties and amounts—ranging from the ₳64.3 million “Catalyst 2025” program to infrastructure and tooling efforts such as a ZK bridge and maintenance of key developer libraries. Intersect says additional contracts will be posted in the days ahead “together with the funding of related smart contracts.”

The conclusion caps a months-long governance sequence that combined off-chain deliberation and on-chain ratification. In July, Intersect submitted 39 Treasury Withdrawal governance actions for DRep and Constitutional Committee scrutiny; throughout late July and early August, proposals began surpassing the 67% DRep supermajority threshold that marks passage under CIP-1694’s current regime. Intersect’s development updates documented the first wave of supermajorities and directed participants to follow each proposal’s progression epoch by epoch.

With votes cast and thresholds met, Intersect has outlined what happens next. After a proposal passes, it is ratified at the epoch boundary, then enacted one epoch later, moving funds from the Treasury to designated smart-contract holding addresses. Intersect’s administration team finalizes legal agreements, deploys vendor-specific contracts with milestone schedules, and co-signs them alongside an oversight committee. Intersect’s August guidance emphasized the three-stage sequence—ratification, enactment, administration—and pledged status updates as each vendor’s contract goes live on-chain.

The mechanics behind those disbursements have been built for transparency. Intersect’s knowledge base details an end-to-end flow: withdrawals fund partitioned “Treasury Contracts”; vendors sign written agreements; “Vendor Contracts” encode milestones and payment dates; the oversight committee holds keys to provide checks and balances; and vendors withdraw only as milestones mature. Funds sit effectively in escrow, are auditable on-chain, and unclaimed balances time out back to the Treasury.

To monitor the delivery phase, Intersect points the community to two public dashboards. A Smart Contract dashboard exposes milestone breakdowns, dates, and payment events for each funded project, while a Cardano Treasury dashboard tracks flows from the Treasury into the reserve and project contracts.

The now-published contract catalog provides a first look at how the approved ₳264 million will be administered across core infrastructure, governance tooling, developer experience, and ecosystem programs. Entries include continued development for the AdaStat explorer, ongoing maintenance of PyCardano, and a ZK bridge prototype—illustrating the mix of large-scale programs and targeted technical workstreams that made it through the final on-chain filters.

IOG Takes The Lead

Cardano’s single largest allocation goes to Input Output’s core protocol program. Intersect’s contract ledger lists ₳96,817,080 for the “2025 Input Output Engineering Core Development” proposal, dedicated to “engineering, maintenance, and development services to enhance and secure the Cardano protocol and its core infrastructure,” explicitly framed as delivery of the community-endorsed technical roadmap. A companion research track, “Input Output Research (IOR): Cardano Vision – Work Program 2025,” adds ₳26,840,000 for multi-year research and technology validation.

Intersect also shows two further IOG-administered items—₳5,159,000 to overhaul Project Catalyst’s technical stack and ₳1,300,000 to decentralize the Blockfrost API via a gateway and “Icebreaker” network—bringing Input Output–family contracts to roughly ₳130.1 million, just under half of the approved ₳264 million budget.

Input Output characterizes the engineering mandate as the first community-authorized core development program in Cardano’s history, approved with 73.93% support. In its newsroom statement, IOE says the funded roadmap will advance scalability, developer experience, and interoperability through initiatives including Ouroboros Leios, Hydra, Mithril enhancements, nested transactions, and Project Acropolis—a modular re-architecture of the node—with “faster sync times, lower RAM usage, and reduced operational costs for stake pool operators.”

At press time, ADA traded at $0.92.

Cardano price
ADA retests key support, 1-week chart | Source: ADAUSDT on TradingView.com

Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/cardano-closes-264-million-ada-budget-cycle-iog-takes-lead/feed/ 0 54077 XRP’s Toughest Bull Run Could Lead To Big Gains, Analyst Claims https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrps-toughest-bull-run-could-lead-to-big-gains-analyst-claims/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrps-toughest-bull-run-could-lead-to-big-gains-analyst-claims/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:33:36 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrps-toughest-bull-run-could-lead-to-big-gains-analyst-claims/ Bitcoin’s smaller cousin, XRP, has drawn fresh bullish bets after it held above the $3 mark in July. According to trading charts and public commentary, the token first pierced $3 in January 2025 — its highest point in seven years — then pulled back before reclaiming that level in mid-July.

The comeback has some analysts reading the move as a change in market structure, and price sits near $3.12 as momentum checks continue.

Trendline Breakouts And Support Flip

According to analyst Steph, a breakout above a long-running descending trendline on the weekly XRP chart is what matters now.

Steph points to the flip of $3 from resistance into support as a classic technical cue. He used historical weekly charts to argue that past breakouts from similar trendlines often led to strong rallies, and he highlighted that pattern going back to 2022 when price action began to shift more visibly.

A Pattern Seen Several Times Since 2022

Reports have traced the same setup across multiple cycles. After the Terra collapse in May 2022, XRP fell and formed a descending trendline that broke in September 2022, sending price to a high near $0.55.

Later, a new trendline formed and then broke around the SEC vs. Ripple ruling in July 2023, which preceded a move toward $0.94.

The most recent big run took XRP to about $3.4 in January 2025, after a breakout following the November 2024 US elections. Those episodes form the backbone of the “repeat pattern” case.


Analyst Targets And Differing Calls

Steph projects a potential rise to $14 from roughly $3.12 now, which would equal about a 340% gain. According to his messaging, some traders who sold early took profits, while others who held could see larger returns if the thesis plays out.

Based on reports, some commentators have voiced similar targets, saying when XRP traded near $2, that the token was poised for a major breakout and pointed to Fibonacci levels toward $14, while others put a $14 minimum target on the table last March.

What To Watch Going Forward

Volume on any push above recent highs will tell the story. Keep an eye on whether $3 stays as support and whether the weekly breakout holds as price moves higher.

Also watch how long consolidation around $2 lasted — more than five months — because long flat bases can precede sharp moves if buyers return in force. Derivatives flows and where large holders place sell orders will matter too.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrps-toughest-bull-run-could-lead-to-big-gains-analyst-claims/feed/ 0 53720 Brevan Howard, Goldman Sachs and Harvard lead billions of dollars when purchasing Bitcoin ETFs https://earlybirdsinvest.com/brevan-howard-goldman-sachs-and-harvard-lead-billions-of-dollars-when-purchasing-bitcoin-etfs/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/brevan-howard-goldman-sachs-and-harvard-lead-billions-of-dollars-when-purchasing-bitcoin-etfs/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:16:49 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/brevan-howard-goldman-sachs-and-harvard-lead-billions-of-dollars-when-purchasing-bitcoin-etfs/

Wall Street increased its Bitcoin exposure in the second quarter, adding positions as well as spot Bitcoin exchange sales funds (ETF) Also, new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission say that US stocks are closely tied to cryptocurrency prices. (seconds).

Brevan Howard almost doubles BlackRock’s position on iShares Bitcoin Trust (go) According to the securities application, in the second quarter. The macro-focused hedge fund held 37.9 million shares at the end of June, at the end of March, with approximately 21.5 million shares in March.

The shares are worth more than $2.6 billion based on IBit’s closing price on June 28th, and Brevan Howard became one of IBIT’s biggest institutional owners, increasing its position to $3.3 billion in Ibit and Fidelity’s wise origin Bitcoin Trust. (FBTC). The banking giant also owned an iShares Ethereum Trust worth $489 million (Eta)according to the submission.

Ownership of Goldman’s ETF is not a direct bet by the trading desk at the price of Bitcoin. Rather, it is more likely to represent the position held by Goldman Sachs Asset Management on behalf of the client.

However, Brevan Howard, best known for his macro trading, has been active in the Crypto space for a long time, running a dedicated digital asset division called BH Digital. The unit manages billions of assets and invests in blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance and related technologies.

Harvard, Wells Fargo, etc.

Other major IBIT investors include Harvard University, which reported $1.9 billion in ETF shares, and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadara Investment Company, which continues to hold $681 million.

When it comes to US banks, Wells Fargo almost quadrupled its IBIT holdings to $160 million from $26 million in the last quarter, maintaining a $200,000 stake in the grayscale Bitcoin fund. (GBTC).

Canter Fitzgerald also increased its holdings to more than $250 million, increasing its shares in crypto-related stocks, including its strategy. (MSTR)Coinbase (coin) And Robin Hood (Food)especially.

Trading company Jane Street has revealed that it holds $1.46 billion in stake in IBIT. (TSLA) $1.4 billion. We increased our MSTR stake while reducing our FBTC holdings.

Spotting Bitcoin ETFs like IBIT, which launched in January, allows investors to get in touch with the price of Bitcoin without directly holding cryptocurrency. Its structure provides traditional institutions with the means to participate in the crypto market through familiar securities and custody arrangements.

Norway buys more

For some overseas entities, it is easier to be exposed to Bitcoin through US listed companies that have a large amount of BTC on their balance sheets.

This is an approach that Norwegian sovereign wealth funds are being tackled with investors backed by several other European states, choosing to stocks in crypto adjacent companies rather than directly retaining the crypto.

Norges Bank Investment Management (nbim)According to a new memo from the K33 survey, the entities that manage the investment sector of the Norwegian Central Bank and the country’s $2 trillion pension funds currently hold 7,161 BTC indirectly. That figure is up 192% from 2,446 BTC a year ago and 87% from 3,821 BTC held at the end of 2024.

(Source: NBIM, K33 x-mediated research)

The biggest part of the exposure, 3,005 BTC, comes through strategic stocks. The rest spreads to companies like Marathon Digital, Coinbase, Block and Metaplanet. K33 also counted GME (GameStop) And some small holdings that contribute to the total.

Still, exposure remains small in context. Norwegian funds own stocks in thousands of companies across the global market, and the value of their Bitcoin-related investments is only a small fraction of their total holdings. At its current market price of $117,502 per BTC, the fund’s 7,161 BTC is approximately $841 million, or less than 0.05% of its $2 trillion portfolio.

The sudden increase over the past year could indicate an increased institutional amenity with the asset class, but that is not a major strategic change.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/brevan-howard-goldman-sachs-and-harvard-lead-billions-of-dollars-when-purchasing-bitcoin-etfs/feed/ 0 53711 Gemini Hires Goldmans, Citi, Morgan Stanley and Cantor as Lead Bookrunners For its IPO https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gemini-hires-goldmans-citi-morgan-stanley-and-cantor-as-lead-bookrunners-for-its-ipo/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gemini-hires-goldmans-citi-morgan-stanley-and-cantor-as-lead-bookrunners-for-its-ipo/#respond Sun, 17 Aug 2025 01:47:44 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gemini-hires-goldmans-citi-morgan-stanley-and-cantor-as-lead-bookrunners-for-its-ipo/

Crypto exchange Gemini filed an updated registration statement for its initial public offering effort, sharing a few more details in its push to become a publicly traded firm.

Goldman Sachs (GS), Citigroup (C), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Cantor acting as lead bookrunners on the IPO, Gemini said in a press release Friday.

Evercore ISI, Mizuho, Truist Securities, Cohen & Company Capital Markets, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Needham & Company and Rosenblatt are also acting as bookrunners, the company said. Academy Securities and AmeriVet Securities are acting as co-managers.

The S-1 published on Friday follows a confidential filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission back in June, and confirms “Gemini Space Station,” co-founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, intends to sell an undisclosed number of Class A shares.

Gemini’s filing indicated that it had generated total revenue of $142.2 million in 2024, up from $98.1 million the prior year. For the six months ending on June 30, 2025, the total revenue was $68.6 million, down from $74.3 million in the first six months of 2024.

Its net loss in 2024 stood at $158.6 million, compared to $319.7 million in 2023. That figure stood at $282.5 million for the first six months of 2025.

Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2024 stood at a loss of $13.2 million, and a loss of $113.5 million for the first half of 2025.

Like other crypto firms, Gemini pointed to standard risks in the risk portion of the filing, including the general nature of blockchain networks and how banks and regulators view the industry.

“Key factors influencing the further development of blockchain networks and digital assets include the global adoption of digital assets and blockchain technology; regulatory and quasi-government restrictions on access to and operation of blockchain networks; and the maintenance of open source protocols that support blockchain networks,” the filing said.

Gemini is only the latest crypto company to try and go public this year, following Circle (CRCL), eToro (ETOR) and CoinDesk parent company Bullish (BLSH). BitGo has filed for paperwork to go public as well.

Gemini plans to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GEMI.

Read more: Billionaire Winklevoss Twins-Backed Exchange Gemini Files With SEC For Planned IPO

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/gemini-hires-goldmans-citi-morgan-stanley-and-cantor-as-lead-bookrunners-for-its-ipo/feed/ 0 53586