SampP – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:23:03 +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 SampP – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Bull Trap Warning for Bitcoin, Dogecoin, XRP Emerges as S&P 500 Prints Rising Wedge; U.S. Inflation Eyed https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bull-trap-warning-for-bitcoin-dogecoin-xrp-emerges-as-sp-500-prints-rising-wedge-u-s-inflation-eyed/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bull-trap-warning-for-bitcoin-dogecoin-xrp-emerges-as-sp-500-prints-rising-wedge-u-s-inflation-eyed/#respond Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:23:03 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bull-trap-warning-for-bitcoin-dogecoin-xrp-emerges-as-sp-500-prints-rising-wedge-u-s-inflation-eyed/

This is a daily analysis by CoinDesk analyst and Chartered Market Technician Omkar Godbole.

Major cryptocurrencies are looking bullish, with market leader bitcoin exhibiting a classic inverse head-and-shoulders breakout that could propel it toward $120,000.

But there’s a catch. The daily chart for the S&P 500 E-Mini futures is displaying a bearish pattern, indicating a potential sell-off that could weigh on the cryptocurrency market and trap bulls on the wrong side of the market.

S&P 500 hits record high with rising wedge

The E-mini futures have risen nearly 5% to a record high of $6,542 since Aug. 1. The slow ascent has taken the shape of a rising wedge pattern identified by converging trendlines connecting July 31 and Aug. 15 highs and lows reached on Aug. 1 and Aug. 22.

The converging trendlines indicate that bullish momentum is waning, increasing the likelihood of a sell-off.

When asked to identify and analyze the pattern on the S&P 500 futures, Google Gemini replied, “When a rising wedge, which is a bearish reversal pattern, appears after an extended rally to record highs, it significantly increases the probability of a sharp downside move. It suggests that buyers are exhausted and that the rally is running on fumes. The pattern indicates that the market is setting up for a major trend reversal rather than a simple pullback.”

Cryptocurrencies are known to closely track Wall Street sentiment, which means that a potential decline in the S&P 500 could weigh on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

S&P 500 e-mini futures' daily chart shows a rising wedge pattern.

S&P 500 e-mini futures have risen to record highs with a rising wedge. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

Inflation eyed

The odds of a breakdown in the S&P 500 could rise sharply if Thursday’s U.S. consumer price index (CPI) prints hotter than expected. Such a result, combined with the recent labor market weakness, may rekindle fears of stagflation—the worst-case scenario for risk assets—putting additional pressure on equities and cryptocurrencies alike.

The median forecast for the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August 2025 is a 2.9% year-over-year increase (not seasonally adjusted), according to FactSet. If this estimate holds true, it will be the highest annual rise since January 2025, when the CPI reached 3.0% and well above the Fed’s 2% target. Additionally, this 2.9% figure would surpass the trailing twelve-month average inflation rate of 2.6%.

More importantly, the median estimate (year-over-year, not seasonally adjusted) for the core CPI, which excludes food and energy, is 3.1%.

BTC, ETH options are already biased bearish

The 25-delta risk reversals tied to Deribit-lited bitcoin and ether options were negative out to December expiry, according to data source Amberdata. In other words, short and near-dated BTC and ETH puts traded at a premium to calls, reflecting a bias for downside protection.

A put option protects the buyer from a decline in the value of the underlying asset. A call provides an asymmetric bullish exposure. The 25-delta risk reversal involves the simultaneous purchase of a put option and sale of a call, or vice versa.

According to Options Insights’ Founder, Imran Lakha, the put bias in BTC is likely due to institutions placing long-term hedges. Flows have continued to trend lower on the over-the-counter tech platform Paradigm.

“Flows again featured the [ETH] 26 Sep 4k put, lifted up to 73v,” Paradigm noted.

XRP is indecisive, DOGE looks north

While BTC’s inverse head-and-shoulders breakout suggests a strong bullish direction, XRP’s price action appears indecisive.

The payments-focused cryptocurrency remains locked in a descending triangle and continues to trade within the Ichimoku cloud. Together, these indicators suggest a period of consolidation and uncertainty.

XRP's price chart with key indicators. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

XRP remains trapped in the descending triangle and cloud indicator. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

A breakout from the triangle might invite stronger buying pressure, potentially leading to a re-test of $3.38, the swing high from Aug. 8. That said, the descending triangle, by itself, is generally considered a bearish pattern. That’s because the downward-sloping trendline connecting lower highs indicates that sellers are progressively getting stronger and could soon penetrate the horizontal support level.

Speaking of DOGE, it has retaken the bullish trendline from June lows, trapping sellers on the wrong side of the market. Additionally, prices have crossed into bullish territory above the Ichimoku cloud, which suggests scope for a test of the July high of 28.76 cents.

DOGE's daily price chart. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

DOGE has retaken the bullish trendline. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

However, traders still need to watch out for a potential rising wedge breakdown in S&P 500 futures, as a reversal there could cap gains in DOGE and weigh on its price momentum.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bull-trap-warning-for-bitcoin-dogecoin-xrp-emerges-as-sp-500-prints-rising-wedge-u-s-inflation-eyed/feed/ 0 57860
Why was Michael Saylor’s Strategy snubbed by a S&P 500 secret committee? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-was-michael-saylors-strategy-snubbed-by-a-sp-500-secret-committee/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-was-michael-saylors-strategy-snubbed-by-a-sp-500-secret-committee/#respond Sun, 07 Sep 2025 08:24:11 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-was-michael-saylors-strategy-snubbed-by-a-sp-500-secret-committee/

Michael Saylor’s Strategy missed out on inclusion in the S&P 500 this Friday, sending MSTR tumbling almost 3% despite meeting every published criterion. Unexpectedly, commission-free trading app Robinhood was included, sending its stock soaring by 7%, and exposing how discretionary and secretive the selection process really is.

The SPX is run by a ‘secret committee’

The S&P 500 is often seen as the gold standard of U.S. corporate prestige, a club that companies fight hard to join.

Strategy comfortably checked all the boxes: strong market cap, liquidity, and four consecutive quarters of positive earnings. Many investors expected the company’s Bitcoin-heavy balance sheet (now over 636,000 BTC) would finally land it a coveted spot.

But as Boomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas pointed out on X, meeting the criteria isn’t enough:

“Why wasn’t $MSTR allowed into the S&P 500 Index despite meeting all the criteria? Because the ‘Committee’ said no. You have to realize SPX is essentially an active fund run by a secret committee.”

This “Committee” is not public. Its members are senior analysts from S&P Dow Jones Indices, but their identities are withheld to avoid lobbying and outside influence. The reality is that even after meeting strict metrics, final entry is a matter of human discretion, not a rules-based process. The Bitcoin Therapist said it best:

“Reminder that a company that literally sells a shitcoin called ‘Fartcoin’ with a treasury of 11,776 BTC was included in the S&P 500 but Strategy, a Bitcoin only company with a treasury of 636,505 BTC and the largest fixed income IPOs of the year was not included.”

Strategy is the largest corporate Bitcoin holder and has become a proxy for BTC exposure on U.S. financial markets. Its omission has sparked frustration among crypto advocates and traditional investors alike, who believe old-guard prejudice is still alive and well inside the committee room.

Why was Strategy blocked?

There is no published reasoning for S&P 500 exclusions, just as Tesla saw unexplained delays years before its own eventual inclusion. As Eric Balchunas posted:

“Would be interesting to see a list of all the stocks that were delayed entrance to SPX by The Committee, I know it would include some real studs, eg Microsoft, Tesla. Would be interesting to see a basket of those stocks vs SPX itself historically.’

Strategy’s unique reliance on Bitcoin for corporate treasury and market value is unprecedented. Traditional committee members may be wary of this new type of public equity.

Moreover, volatility concerns persist. MSTR moves with Bitcoin, which exposes the index to greater swings than most conventional stocks.

Strategy’s exclusion means S&P 500 index funds won’t be forced to buy its shares, limiting automatic passive flows and keeping BTC exposure out of the default retirement portfolios of millions.

The case lifts the veil on the S&P 500’s true nature, which is more actively curated than most investors realize, and far less transparent than its reputation suggests.

Mentioned in this article
]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-was-michael-saylors-strategy-snubbed-by-a-sp-500-secret-committee/feed/ 0 57199
Robinhood Soars on S&P 500 Inclusion as Strategy Gets Snubbed https://earlybirdsinvest.com/robinhood-soars-on-sp-500-inclusion-as-strategy-gets-snubbed/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/robinhood-soars-on-sp-500-inclusion-as-strategy-gets-snubbed/#respond Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:08:52 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/robinhood-soars-on-sp-500-inclusion-as-strategy-gets-snubbed/

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

About Author

Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has…

Last updated: 

Shares of Robinhood jumped 7% in after-hours trading Friday after the retail brokerage was named to the S&P 500.

Key Takeaways:

  • Robinhood shares jumped 7% after being added to the S&P 500, joining the index on September 22.
  • Strategy, despite a $95B valuation and $70B in Bitcoin holdings, was left out of the reshuffle.
  • Robinhood posted strong Q2 earnings, with $989M in revenue and $386M in profit.

Robinhood (HOOD) closed just above $101 and soared past $108 in extended trading following the announcement.

The company’s share price has climbed over 150% year-to-date, driven by strong earnings and growing retail interest in stocks and crypto.

Robinhood to Join S&P 500 on September 22

Robinhood will officially join the index on September 22, alongside ad-tech firm AppLovin, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

While Robinhood celebrates its inclusion, Strategy, the Bitcoin treasury firm formerly known as MicroStrategy, was left off the list, despite meeting S&P’s $20 billion market cap requirement.

Strategy, which now holds more than $70 billion in Bitcoin, saw its shares fall 3% in after-hours trading following the announcement.

The omission surprised some observers, given Strategy’s $95 billion valuation and its pioneering role in bringing Bitcoin to public balance sheets.

Based in Tysons Corner, Virginia, the company has become synonymous with corporate crypto adoption.

The S&P reshuffle comes amid rising institutional interest in digital assets and a more favorable political environment.

Earlier this year, Coinbase was added to the S&P index, signaling growing recognition of crypto-native companies in traditional financial markets.

Robinhood’s strong fundamentals further fueled its rally. In Q2, the company posted $989 million in revenue, up 45% year-over-year, beating Wall Street estimates.

Net income hit $386 million, with earnings per share of $0.42, well above analyst forecasts.

Crypto trading revenue came in at $160 million, nearly doubling year-over-year but down from the previous quarter’s $252 million.

Meanwhile, income from options trading and equities reached $265 million and $66 million, respectively, making options Robinhood’s top revenue stream once again.

Robinhood Sues Nevada, New Jersey Regulators Over Event Contracts

Last month, Robinhood Derivatives took legal action against regulators in Nevada and New Jersey, accusing the states of unfairly blocking its entry into the sports event contracts market, despite recent federal court rulings in favor of rival platform Kalshi.

The firm said it began offering event contracts in both states after federal judges ruled earlier this year that Nevada and New Jersey gaming regulators could not enforce their bans against Kalshi, which offers contracts regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Robinhood argued that regulators have ignored those rulings and continued to threaten enforcement action, creating an uneven playing field.

“If state regulators are permitted to act against Robinhood but not Kalshi, then Robinhood will lose out in the sports event contracts space,” the company said in its filings.

Meanwhile, Robinhood has come under regulatory fire in the EU after launching tokenized stock products linked to private companies like OpenAI and SpaceX.

The Bank of Lithuania confirmed it is investigating the legality and investor disclosures related to these blockchain-based “Stock Tokens,” which launched on June 30.

OpenAI publicly disavowed any connection, stating it never approved the tokens and warning investors to be cautious.


]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/robinhood-soars-on-sp-500-inclusion-as-strategy-gets-snubbed/feed/ 0 57062
These Were the 3 Worst-Performing Stocks in the S&P 500 in August 2025 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/these-were-the-3-worst-performing-stocks-in-the-sp-500-in-august-2025/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/these-were-the-3-worst-performing-stocks-in-the-sp-500-in-august-2025/#respond Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:28:59 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/these-were-the-3-worst-performing-stocks-in-the-sp-500-in-august-2025/ Key Points
  • There are concerns that stricter privacy rules could hurt The Trade Desk’s main business.

  • Super Micro Computer cut its fiscal 2026 guidance by $7 billion, sending its shares south.

  • Gartner’s total contract value increased year over year, but not by as much as investors hoped.

  • 10 stocks we like better than The Trade Desk ›

August was a good month for the S&P 500. The stock market’s most-followed index finished the period up 1.91%, marking its fourth consecutive month of positive returns and fifth overall positive month of 2025. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good month for all stocks in the index.

Three stocks in particular had a really bad month: The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD), Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI), and Gartner (NYSE: IT). These stocks lost between 25% to 37% of their value in the month.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »

^SPX Chart

^SPX data by YCharts

The reason for the disappointing month varies. The Trade Desk’s revenue growth has slowed (up 19% year over year to $694 million), and its new chief financial officer took over on Aug. 21 after its previous one stepped down after almost 12 years with the company. There are also concerns that stricter privacy rules will hurt the company’s ability to use targeted advertising, its main business proposition.

Super Micro Computer’s fiscal fourth-quarter results weren’t very encouraging, with the company missing both revenue and adjusted earnings per share estimates. It also cut its fiscal 2026 guidance from $40 billion to $33 billion, which discouraged investors, as the company was already trading at a premium.

Gartner met analysts’ estimates for the second quarter, but its total contract value (a key part of its business) increased by a light 4.9% year over year. This led the company to cut its 2025 revenue guidance and note that its business demand could slow down.

Should you invest $1,000 in The Trade Desk right now?

Before you buy stock in The Trade Desk, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and The Trade Desk wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $661,268!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,045,818!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,048% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of August 25, 2025

Stefon Walters has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/these-were-the-3-worst-performing-stocks-in-the-sp-500-in-august-2025/feed/ 0 56734
Meet the Magnificent "Ten Titans" Growth Stock With a 7.5% Weighting in the S&P 500 That Could Single-Handedly Move the Stock Market on Aug. 28 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/meet-the-magnificent-ten-titans-growth-stock-with-a-7-5-weighting-in-the-sp-500-that-could-single-handedly-move-the-stock-market-on-aug-28/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/meet-the-magnificent-ten-titans-growth-stock-with-a-7-5-weighting-in-the-sp-500-that-could-single-handedly-move-the-stock-market-on-aug-28/#respond Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:01:18 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/meet-the-magnificent-ten-titans-growth-stock-with-a-7-5-weighting-in-the-sp-500-that-could-single-handedly-move-the-stock-market-on-aug-28/ In just a few years, Nvidia has become the most valuable company in the world, and also one of the most profitable.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are hovering around all-time highs. A big part of the rally is investor excitement for sustained artificial intelligence (AI)-driven growth and adjustments to Federal Reserve policy that open the door to interest rate cuts.

While investor sentiment and macroeconomic factors undoubtedly influence short-term price action, the stock market’s long-term performance ultimately boils down to earnings.

Nvidia (NVDA 1.10%) will report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Aug. 27 after market close. Here’s why expectations are high, and why the “Ten Titans” stock could single-handedly move the S&P 500.

A person tipping a scale that holds coins on one side and nothing on the other.

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia’s profound impact on the S&P 500

The Ten Titans are the largest growth stocks by market cap — making up a staggering 38% of the S&P 500.

Nvidia is the largest — with a 7.5% weighting in the index.

The other Titans are Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Broadcom, Tesla, Oracle, and Netflix.

Aside from its value, Nvidia is also a major contributor to S&P 500 earnings growth.

NVDA Market Cap Chart

NVDA Market Cap data by YCharts

Megacap tech companies influence the value of the S&P 500 and its earnings. And since many of the top earners are growing quickly, the market arguably deserves to have a premium valuation.

Since the start of 2023, Nvidia added roughly $4 trillion in market cap to the S&P 500. But it also added over $70 billion in net income — as its trailing-12-month earnings went from just $5.96 billion at the end of 2022 to $76.8 billion today. That’s like creating the combined earnings contribution of Bank of America, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Costco Wholesale in the span of less than three years.

Nvidia’s value creation for its shareholders, and the scale of just how big the business is from an earnings standpoint, is unlike anything the market has ever seen. But investors care more about where a company is going than where it has been.

Nvidia’s unprecedented profit growth

Expectations are high for Nvidia to continue blowing expectations out of the water. Over the last three years, Nvidia’s stock price rose after its quarterly earnings report 75% of the time. Analysts have spent the last few years flat-footed and scrambling to raise their price targets as Nvidia keeps raising the bar. It looks like they aren’t making that mistake any longer — as near-term forecasts are incredibly ambitious.

As mentioned, Nvidia’s trailing-12-month net income is $76.8 billion, which translates to $3.10 in diluted earnings per share (EPS). Consensus analyst estimates have Nvidia bringing in $1 per share in earnings for the quarter it reports on Wednesday and $4.35 for fiscal 2026. Going out further, analyst consensus estimates call for 37.8% in earnings growth in fiscal 2027, which would bring Nvidia’s diluted EPS to $6 per share.

NVDA Net Income (TTM) Chart

NVDA Net Income (TTM) data by YCharts

Based on Nvidia’s current outstanding share count, that would translate to net income of $107.7 billion in fiscal 2026 and $148.5 billion in fiscal 2027. Unless other leaders like Alphabet, Microsoft, or Apple accelerate their earnings growth rates, Nvidia could become the most profitable U.S. company by the time it closes out fiscal 2027 in January of calendar year 2027. These projections strike at the core of why some investors are willing to pay so much for shares in the business today.

The key to Nvidia’s lasting success

Nvidia can single-handedly move the stock market due to its high weighting in the S&P 500. However, its influence goes beyond its own stock, as strong earnings from Nvidia could also be a boon for other semiconductor stocks, like Broadcom. But the ripple effect is even more impactful.

In Nvidia’s first quarter of fiscal 2026, four customers made up 54% of total revenue. Although not directly named by Nvidia, those four customers are almost certainly Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms. So strong earnings from Nvidia would basically mean that these hyperscalers continue to spend big on AI — a positive sign for the overall AI investment thesis.

However, Nvidia’s long-term growth and the stickiness of its earnings ultimately depend on its customers translating AI capital expenditures (capex) into earnings — which hasn’t really happened yet.

ORCL CAPEX To Revenue (TTM) Chart

ORCL CAPEX To Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

Cloud computing hyperscalers are spending a lot on capital expenditures (capex) as a percentage of revenue — showcasing accelerated investment in AI. But eventually, the ratio should decrease if investments translate to higher revenue.

Investors may want to keep an eye on the capex-to-revenue metric because it provides a reading on where we are in the AI spending cycle. Today, it’s all about expansion. But soon, the page will turn, and investors will pressure companies to prove that the outsize spending was worth it.

The right way to approach Nvidia

Almost all of Nvidia’s revenue comes from selling graphics processing units, software, and associated infrastructure to data centers. And most of that revenue comes from just a handful of customers. It doesn’t take a lot to connect the dots and figure out just how dependent Nvidia is on sustained AI investment.

If the investments pay off, the Ten Titans could continue making up a larger share of the S&P 500, both in terms of market cap and earnings. But if there’s a cooldown in spending, a downturn in the business cycle, or increased competition, Nvidia could also sell off considerably. So it’s best only to approach Nvidia with a long-term investment time horizon, so you aren’t banking on everything going right over the next year and a half.

All told, investors should be aware of potentially market-moving events but not overhaul their portfolio or make emotional decisions based on quarterly earnings.

Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Oracle, Tesla, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/meet-the-magnificent-ten-titans-growth-stock-with-a-7-5-weighting-in-the-sp-500-that-could-single-handedly-move-the-stock-market-on-aug-28/feed/ 0 55264
S&P Global Assigns First-Ever B- Credit Rating to DeFi Platform Sky Protocol https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sp-global-assigns-first-ever-b-credit-rating-to-defi-platform-sky-protocol/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sp-global-assigns-first-ever-b-credit-rating-to-defi-platform-sky-protocol/#respond Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:50:47 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sp-global-assigns-first-ever-b-credit-rating-to-defi-platform-sky-protocol/

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

Crypto Journalist

Amin Ayan

About Author

Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24/7 Wall St. He has…

Last updated: 


Why Trust Cryptonews

Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas – from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews

S&P Global Ratings has issued a B- issuer credit rating to Sky Protocol, formerly known as Maker Protocol, in the first-ever rating by a major credit agency for a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform.

Key Takeaways:

  • S&P Global gave Sky Protocol a first-ever B- credit rating for a DeFi platform.
  • The agency flagged risks including high depositor concentration, centralized governance, and weak capitalization.
  • S&P said the protocol can meet obligations but is vulnerable in adverse conditions.

The rating forms part of S&P’s ongoing stablecoin issuer assessments, launched in 2023 to evaluate their ability to maintain a peg to fiat currencies.

The review covered the creditworthiness of Sky’s USDS and DAI stablecoins, along with its sUSDS and sDAI savings tokens.

S&P Rates USDS ‘Constrained’ With Score of 4 in First Evaluation

In its first evaluation, S&P gave USDS a “4” on its stability scale — labeled “constrained” — for maintaining its dollar peg.

Sky Protocol, a decentralized lending platform, facilitates crypto-backed loans and uses USDS to support lending and borrowing activity.

USDS ranks as the fourth-largest stablecoin by market cap, with $5.36 billion in circulation, according to CoinMarketCap.

S&P defines a default in this context as a “haircut imposed on token holders.”

The agency highlighted potential triggers, such as mass withdrawals exceeding available liquidity or credit losses outpacing capital reserves.

Weaknesses flagged include high depositor concentration, centralized governance, reliance on founder Rune Christensen, regulatory uncertainty, and limited capitalization, its risk-adjusted capital ratio was just 0.4% as of July 27.

Andrew O’Neil, S&P’s digital assets analytical lead, told Cointelegraph that a B- rating indicates the protocol “can meet its financial obligations” but remains “vulnerable in adverse business, financial and economic conditions.”

The governance issue was underscored by S&P’s observation that decision-making remains highly centralized, partly due to low voter participation, despite Christensen holding nearly 9% of governance tokens.

Sky’s Asset-Liability Committee said the review allowed it to re-examine traditional counterparty risk models and assess DeFi-specific risks such as smart contract vulnerabilities, oracle dependencies, bridge security, and governance issues.

These were identified as areas requiring ongoing monitoring and mitigation.

The rating also lowered Sky’s anchor score to “bb,” four notches below the U.S. banking anchor of “bbb+,” citing the broader regulatory uncertainty facing DeFi.

S&P Ranks USDC Strong, Puts USDT and USDS in ‘Constrained’ Category

S&P’s stablecoin assessment ranked Circle’s USDC at 2 (strong), Tether’s USDT at 4 (constrained), and USDS also at 4, with O’Neil noting that Tether’s main issue is transparency while USDS faces complexity in its asset base and weaker capital reserves.

S&P launched its stablecoin stability framework in December 2023, and in June, awarded its first blockchain-based mortgage securitization, by Figure Technology Solutions, an AAA rating for a $355 million pool of mortgage assets.

Globally, stablecoin regulation is accelerating. In the US, President Donald Trump signed the first federal stablecoin bill on July 18, calling it a “giant step” toward securing American dominance in global finance and crypto technology.

As reproted, Western Union is positioning itself for a new phase of digital transformation, signaling strong interest in using stablecoins to modernize its global remittance operations.


]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sp-global-assigns-first-ever-b-credit-rating-to-defi-platform-sky-protocol/feed/ 0 52630
Here Are 3 Bullish Reasons Why JPMorgan Sees S&P 500 Rallying Much Higher https://earlybirdsinvest.com/here-are-3-bullish-reasons-why-jpmorgan-sees-sp-500-rallying-much-higher/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/here-are-3-bullish-reasons-why-jpmorgan-sees-sp-500-rallying-much-higher/#respond Sun, 10 Aug 2025 19:09:14 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/here-are-3-bullish-reasons-why-jpmorgan-sees-sp-500-rallying-much-higher/

JPMorgan remains bullish on U.S. stocks even as some observers warn that the economy is beginning to pay the price for President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The investment banking giant forecasts that the S&P 500, Wall Street’s benchmark index, will yield a “high single-digit return over the next 12 months,” driven by three key factors.

jwp-player-placeholder

One of the main reasons for optimism is that markets don’t care about signs of an economic slowdown. Instead, traders are focused on resilient corporate earnings and the subsequent economic recovery.

Since President Trump fired the first tariff salvo on April 2, economists have downgraded full-year U.S. growth forecasts from 2.3% to 1.5%. Still, the S&P 500 has gained over 28% in the four months. The index has held steady despite recent economic data revealing softness in the labour market and consumption, as well as stickiness in manufacturing and service sector inflation.

While the macro analysts’ warning is concerning and likely playing out in the background, corporate earnings in the U.S. are ignoring the slowdown risks, at least in the short term, making it the second catalyst for JPMorgan’s bullish thesis.

Over 80% of S&P 500 companies have recently reported their Q2 earnings, with 82% surpassing earnings expectations and 79% beating revenue forecasts—the strongest performance since the second quarter of 2021.

The winners and losers

According to JPMorgan, while Wall Street analysts initially projected earnings growth below 5%, the index is now on pace for an impressive 11% growth rate. This robust showing supports the ongoing bullish trend in the stock market.

“The full-year earnings expectations for both this year and next have already started to turn higher,” analysts at JPMorgan’s wealth management said in a market note on Friday, adding that the market is increasingly differentiating between the winners and losers of the Trump trade war.

Additionally, the market is now figuring out and pricing in which companies are getting hit most by U.S. tariffs. So far, it looks like mega corporations will be just fine. This could bolster the case for further positive sentiment in the markets.

JPMorgan analysts explained that consumer-facing and smaller companies with restrained bargaining power against their trading partners and rigid supply chains are facing a stagnant earnings outlook.

This ties to JPMorgan’s last catalyst: Trump’s tariff bark is proving worse than its bite for large firms, which are managing to secure exemptions and even turn the tariff policies, aimed at sparking a manufacturing boom, into a tailwind.

“The latest example is President Donald Trump’s suggestion that imported semiconductors would be taxed at a 100% rate unless the companies commit to relocating production to the United States. Another sign? Apple products are exempted from the latest tariff rates on Indian goods. Indeed, the company also announced an additional $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing facilities. The stock gained almost 9% this week. Tariffs are not happening in a vacuum,” analysts explained.

Big firms gain an additional advantage from the One Big Beautiful Act (OBBA), under which firms can claim 100% bonus depreciation for purchases of qualified business property and immediate expense of domestic research and development costs. According to some analysts, the depreciation policy could increase free cash flow for some by over 30%, which could incentivize more investment.

The bank added that its investment strategy remains focused on large-cap equities, particularly in the technology, financials, and utilities sectors, which it believes are best positioned to navigate this new economic environment.

The crypto angle

JPMorgan’s positive outlook for stocks could bode well for cryptocurrencies, as both tend to move in tandem. The digital assets market has plenty going on for itself, with the Trump administration appointing pro-crypto officials to key regulatory positions.

Recently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ruled that liquid staking, under certain conditions, falls outside the purview of Securities Law. The ruling has raised hopes for staking spot ether ETFs winning regulatory approval.

Ether has rallied over 13% to over $4,200, reaching levels last seen in 2021. Prices surged nearly 50% last month, CoinDesk data show.

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/here-are-3-bullish-reasons-why-jpmorgan-sees-sp-500-rallying-much-higher/feed/ 0 52531
FOMO Phase for Bitcoin and S&P 500 Could Be Approaching if This Happens, According to Analyst Jason Pizzino https://earlybirdsinvest.com/fomo-phase-for-bitcoin-and-sp-500-could-be-approaching-if-this-happens-according-to-analyst-jason-pizzino/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/fomo-phase-for-bitcoin-and-sp-500-could-be-approaching-if-this-happens-according-to-analyst-jason-pizzino/#respond Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:06:56 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/fomo-phase-for-bitcoin-and-sp-500-could-be-approaching-if-this-happens-according-to-analyst-jason-pizzino/

A popular crypto analyst thinks that Bitcoin (BTC) and stocks may skyrocket if one event occurs.

In a new YouTube video, Jason Pizzino tells his 353,000 subscribers that if the S&P 500 (SPX) breaks out past a key resistance level, it may trigger FOMO (fear of missing out), driving Bitcoin and stocks even higher as people with cash on the sidelines rush in.

“If the S&P is able to break out of this zone, break past the logarithmic resistance that spans back from the peak of 2007 – and 2009 being that low – I think we could go on a pretty significant run to the upside. And I could even say it’s severe for the bears or anyone sitting on the sideline with too much cash… Institutions, retail, no matter who it is… if they have too much still sitting on the sidelines, I think that’s where the FOMO would really kick in if we’re able to break out of this high that’s just been put in at around 6,400 points on the S&P 500.”

Source: Jason Pizzino/YouTube

Pizzino also shares a weekly chart showing Bitcoin’s historical price correlation with the S&P 500, suggesting the flagship crypto asset will likely print new all-time highs if the SPX logarithmic resistance level is breached.

“If that occurs, Bitcoin’s price … would probably follow suit into that period.”

Source: Jason Pizzino/YouTube

As of Monday’s close, the SPX is trading for 6,329. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is trading for $115,026 at time of writing, up marginally in the last 24 hours.

 

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/fomo-phase-for-bitcoin-and-sp-500-could-be-approaching-if-this-happens-according-to-analyst-jason-pizzino/feed/ 0 51723
US Crypto Exchange-Traded Funds Beat Out Vanguard’s Legendary S&P 500 ETF in Record-Setting Month of Inflows: Analyst https://earlybirdsinvest.com/us-crypto-exchange-traded-funds-beat-out-vanguards-legendary-sp-500-etf-in-record-setting-month-of-inflows-analyst/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/us-crypto-exchange-traded-funds-beat-out-vanguards-legendary-sp-500-etf-in-record-setting-month-of-inflows-analyst/#respond Sat, 02 Aug 2025 17:20:36 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/us-crypto-exchange-traded-funds-beat-out-vanguards-legendary-sp-500-etf-in-record-setting-month-of-inflows-analyst/

New data from senior Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas reveals that US crypto ETFs (exchange-traded funds) beat out Vanguard’s renowned S&P 500 ETF (VOO) in July.

In a new thread on the social media platform X, Balchunas notes that US crypto ETFs had a staggering $12.8 billion worth of inflows in July, outpacing all other ETFs, including VOO, which currently has $713.13 billion in assets under its management.

“US Crypto ETFs took in $12.8 billion in July, the best month ever, [at] a $600m/day pace, about double [the] average. As a group, that’s more than any single ETF did, including the Mighty VOO.

Further, every ETF in [the] category took in cash (ex the converted trusts) w/ Bitcoin and Ether making equal contributions. Most all-around dominant performance since the Eagles ended the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Will be hard to top.”

GxQ8uuRWcAIIB8o
Source: Eric Balchunas/X

The analyst goes on to say that asset management titan BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is doing well and drawing in new customers.

“Amazing stat: 75% of the investors who bought IBIT ($87 billion via one million people) were first-time customers of BlackRock. And 27% of them went on to buy another iShares ETF. Just a total coup for BLK all around.”

According to Balchunas, IBIT – which launched in January 2024 – had a significant hand in Bitcoin’s (BTC) massive price growth over the last two years.

“1) ETFs hold BTC at a 1:1 ratio. There is no lending, there is no paper IOUs. ETFs are clean and above board and every dime of AUM is connected to the proportional Bitcoin.

2) Zoom out: Bitcoin is up nearly 300%(!) since the infamous BlackRock filing two years ago. ETF flows big part of that.

3) From what I am hearing on here, the selling is annoyed OGs who don’t like that Wall St. and the government has adopted BTC. I guess they prefer BTC to have intermediaries like Sam Bankman-Fraud instead.”

Bitcoin is trading for $113,763 at time of writing, a 3.2% decrease on the day while IBIT and VOO are valued at $64.27 and $572, respectively.

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/us-crypto-exchange-traded-funds-beat-out-vanguards-legendary-sp-500-etf-in-record-setting-month-of-inflows-analyst/feed/ 0 51088
$48,000,000,000 Wealth Management Firm Sees S&P 500 Heading to Massive Price Target Triggered by AI Adoption, Disinflation and More https://earlybirdsinvest.com/48000000000-wealth-management-firm-sees-sp-500-heading-to-massive-price-target-triggered-by-ai-adoption-disinflation-and-more/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/48000000000-wealth-management-firm-sees-sp-500-heading-to-massive-price-target-triggered-by-ai-adoption-disinflation-and-more/#respond Sun, 20 Jul 2025 15:30:38 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/48000000000-wealth-management-firm-sees-sp-500-heading-to-massive-price-target-triggered-by-ai-adoption-disinflation-and-more/

A wealth management firm overseeing $48 billion in assets believes that the S&P 500 will end the year at a much higher level.

In a new CNBC interview, the Indianapolis-based Sanctuary Wealth says conditions are conspiring to push risk assets such as the stock market to new record-high levels by the end of the year.

Mary Ann Bartels, the firm’s chief investment strategist, says investors are not prepared for a huge upside burst for the S&P 500.

“We need growth and AI (artificial intelligence), and I think it’s coming. I think it’s going to significantly impact corporate earnings, productivity, and it’s going to show up in the equity markets. 

It’s not just a bull market here. It’s a bull market globally. You’re seeing European markets break out. I think you’re going to get the Japanese market to break out. It’s a global secular bull market driven by all this new innovation from AI, to blockchain, to crypto, to Web3. 

And I don’t think all of this is yet priced in to the market, and you can see, we’re already in a summer melt-up. The market is not positioned for this yet.”

Bartels says she agrees with the sentiment that technological advancements in AI and Web3 will usher in a disinflationary trend, forcing the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy.

“I do think rates are trending down, and can go much lower than people expect. Right now, we’re in heightened fear that tariffs are going to bring inflation, and I think over time, especially trending into next year, we can get rates down.

And that’s going to be another stimulus for risk assets, for the equity market, for the crypto market.”

As for her price targets for the S&P 500, Bartels says,

“I’m comfortable getting to year-end at 7,000, and I think in the first quarter of next year, we might even be at 7,200.”

Sanctuary Wealth is an independent wealth management platform that works with 495 licensed professionals and 120 partner firms across 30 states.

As of Friday’s close, the S&P 500 is trading at 6,296 points.

 

Follow us on X, Facebook and Telegram

Don’t Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox

Check Price Action

Surf The Daily Hodl Mix

&nbsp

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing.

Generated Image: Midjourney

]]>
https://earlybirdsinvest.com/48000000000-wealth-management-firm-sees-sp-500-heading-to-massive-price-target-triggered-by-ai-adoption-disinflation-and-more/feed/ 0 48723