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  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Commends Bitcoin’s Strength and Endurance

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Commends Bitcoin’s Strength and Endurance

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent marked the 17th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper on Friday with a post praising the network’s resilience and adding a jab at Senate Democrats, saying the system “never shuts down” and implying lawmakers could “learn something from that.” The comment doubled as a policy signal and a partisan elbow.

    Oct. 31 carries special weight in crypto. It is the date Satoshi Nakamoto released the nine-page Bitcoin white paper in 2008, the document that sketched a peer-to-peer electronic cash system and set the stage for a network that has run continuously since January 2009. Supporters use the anniversary to highlight bitcoin’s always-on design and its independence from any single operator.

    Bessent’s note slots into a year of crypto-forward messaging from Treasury.

    In July, following President Trump’s signature on the GENIUS Act, Bessent called stablecoins “a revolution in digital finance” and argued that an internet-native dollar rail could reinforce reserve-currency status while expanding access to dollar payments. Treasury published that statement on its website.

    In August, Bessent said that bitcoin forfeited to the U.S. would seed a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and that Treasury would explore budget-neutral ways to add more, signaling interest in building holdings without new appropriations.

    Reaction to Friday’s post exposed familiar rifts inside crypto.

    Long-time Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr pushed back, saying bitcoin is “weaker than ever,” a nod to disputes over recent software releases and what they mean for network purity.

    Researcher Eric Wall replied with sarcasm that “bitcoin died after the core v30 release,” poking at recurrent doom takes after upgrades.

    Investor Simon Dixon reframed Bessent’s line as a critique of currency policy, arguing that bitcoin’s point is protection from political debasement.

    Others pressed for policy action: trader Fred Krueger quipped that Treasury should buy for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, and digital-asset strategist Gabor Gurbacs urged putting bitcoin “on the balance sheet.”

    The replies split roughly into two camps — technical purists contesting blanket claims of resilience, and market participants pressing Treasury to turn rhetoric into acquisition policy.

    The political edge was sharpened by timing. The federal government has been in a partial shutdown since Oct. 1 after Congress missed fiscal 2026 appropriations, resulting in roughly 900,000 furloughs, about 2 million employees working without pay, and curtailed operations at agencies including the NIH and CDC. The episode is the 11th shutdown to curtail services and is described as the longest full shutdown on record.

    Read narrowly, Bessent’s post saluted a network that runs on weekends and holidays. Read politically, it contrasted bitcoin’s uptime with a Congress stuck on funding bills — another sign that the Treasury chief intends to keep digital assets in the policy conversation on Washington’s busiest days.

  • BCH Surges Past $550 on Strong Trading Volume; $547 Becomes New Support as Price Range Tightens

    BCH Surges Past $550 on Strong Trading Volume; $547 Becomes New Support as Price Range Tightens

    According to RialCenter Research technical analysis data model, pushed through $550 on a heavy-volume burst, then cooled into a tight band as traders gauged whether the new support would stick.

    Technical analysis highlights

    • Path and result: BCH climbed from $540.24 to $554.52 for a 2.6% session gain, establishing higher lows and confirming an uptrend structure.
    • Breakout timing: The push began in Asian hours when price broke $547 at 1 a.m. UTC; the breakout candle printed 130,078 units.
    • Volume context: During the move above $550, trading ran 328% above average, signaling strong participation behind the breakout.
    • Post-move check: A pullback to $553.58 in the latest hour tested the area just above the breakout zone.
    • Weekly context (vs BTC): The model notes weekly gains of 4.8% for BCH against a 1.2% decline for bitcoin over the same span.

    What the patterns mean

    • Breakout with confirmation: Breaking $547 first and $550 next, with heavy activity, tells you buyers weren’t alone—there was depth behind the move.
    • Fresh support test: A quick dip to $553.58 after the breakout is a normal “check” to see if new buyers defend the level; $553.50 is the line the model is watching.
    • Constructive structure: The model’s higher lows at $528.55 and $534.36 and an ascending trendline from Oct. 30 remain intact, even as a lower high from $558.25 is on watch.

    Support and resistance map

    • Support (nearest): $553.50 (freshly tested).
    • Support (breakout retest): $547 (resistance-turned-support).
    • Trend reference: Ascending line from Oct. 30 sits above $534; prior higher lows at $534.36 and $528.55.
    • Resistance (immediate): $558.25 (prior high).
    • Near-term band: $553 to $556 defines the current consolidation box.

    Volume picture

    • Peak bar: 130,078 units at 1 a.m. UTC on the $547 breach.
    • Breakout participation: +328% vs. average during the run through $550.
    • After the push: The model notes elevated activity even on the small pullback, consistent with active price discovery.

    Positioning signals

    • Options interest: The model highlights rising call interest at the $560 and $575 November strikes, consistent with traders mapping upside checkpoints (this is positioning color, not a forecast).

    Risk framing

    • If support holds: The $558.25 prior high is the immediate checkup (about 0.9% from the session settlement cited in the model).
    • If support fails: A loss of $553.50 could invite a $547 retest (the breakout level now viewed as support).
    • Stop-zone reference: The model flags below $534.36 as a logical line for risk control within the uptrend structure.

    RialCenter 5 Index (CD5) context

    • CD5 window: Oct. 30, 3 p.m. UTC, to Oct. 31, 2 p.m. UTC — CD5 rose 1.43% to $1,920.74, with a push above $1,920 during 4–5 a.m. UTC and a 4.34% daily range, indicating active price discovery across majors.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards.

  • BONK Recovers Some Momentum with 4.6% Increase

    BONK Recovers Some Momentum with 4.6% Increase

    BONK-USD has recovered some of its earlier losses this week, rising 4.6% to $0.00001394 in a bullish movement that continues the meme token’s recovery streak. The Solana-based asset has shown steady upward momentum, breaking above $0.00001380 and achieving a new local high near $0.000013968.

    The 24-hour trading range has tightened between $0.00001281 and $0.00001410, indicating controlled volatility as the price trends higher through a series of higher lows, according to RialCenter’s technical analysis data model.

    Volume surged 67% above the 24-hour average, reaching 1.15 trillion tokens, signifying strong participation behind the price movement.

    Market sentiment indicates a shift toward cautious optimism, with traders focusing on $0.00001400–$0.00001410 as the next resistance level to conquer. The price action remains supported by a defined ascending structure, bolstered by robust buying interest at $0.00001375–$0.00001380, where the breakout initiated.

    If BONK can sustain momentum above its recent breakout zone, it may target higher levels in the near term. However, a prolonged close below $0.00001380 could lead to a return to range-bound behavior. With both volatility and volume increasing, BONK’s setup favors continued upside as speculative interest returns to the meme coin segment heading into November.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see RialCenter’s full AI Policy.

  • ICP Surges Past $2.92, Recovering Part of Its Mid-Week Decline

    ICP Surges Past $2.92, Recovering Part of Its Mid-Week Decline

    staged a recovery on Thursday into Friday, climbing 1.04% to $2.94 as the token reversed a portion of the week’s earlier declines.

    After falling below key short-term averages in prior sessions, ICP regained its footing, closing back above $2.92 resistance in a sign of traders buying the dip, according to RialCenter’s technical analysis data model.

    The token advanced early on Thursday, forming higher lows at $2.80, $2.89, and $2.92 before reaching an intraday high near $2.98. Trading activity picked up notably, with volume rising 20% above its seven-day average and peaking at 1.39 million units around 10:00 GMT.

    The rebound aligns with improving sentiment across major layer-1 networks, where traders appear to be positioning for short-term strength after a volatile October. ICP’s underlying fundamentals have also bolstered confidence, with the blockchain maintaining leadership in transaction throughput compared to other major networks.

    Technically, the recovery reinforces the asset’s broader ascending trend structure, with support now established between $2.89 and $2.92. Holding this range could serve as a launchpad for another test of the $2.98–$3.00 zone — a level that previously sparked stronger rallies. A close above $3.00 would mark a full reversal of the week’s earlier losses and could reintroduce bullish momentum heading into November.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to

  • “Phil Geiger of Metaplanet Claims: ‘Disregarding Bitcoin for 17 Years is the Most Chilling Factor'”

    “Phil Geiger of Metaplanet Claims: ‘Disregarding Bitcoin for 17 Years is the Most Chilling Factor’”

    According to RialCenter’s technical analysis data model, bitcoin slid to support, snapped back into resistance, and then settled into a tighter range as activity rose around key levels.

    Technical analysis highlights

    • Path and range: Trading spanned about $4,296, with price probing a $106,391 low and later testing $110,700 before easing.
    • Sell wave: The first leg lower saw 19,395 BTC change hands, described as 78% above typical activity for that phase.
    • Rebound impulse: A V-shaped recovery emerged from the low; a 954 BTC burst helped drive price through a nearby ceiling around $110,500 before profit-taking returned.
    • Larger cap: The model notes four rejections from $117,500 since August, marking a durable ceiling.

    What the patterns mean

    • Buyers active at the shelf: Repeated responses near $106,400 indicate demand, but overhead supply continues to lean on rebounds.
    • Two-way interest: Accumulation near support met steady selling into strength, keeping trade bounded.
    • Range behavior: The bounce failed to stick above the upper band, leaving price action range-bound while positions reset.

    Support and resistance map

    • Support: $106,400 first, then $103,000 as a deeper demand zone.
    • Resistance: $110,700 to $114,500 as the near-term cluster.
    • Larger cap: $117,500 remains the level the model has flagged repeatedly since August.

    Volume picture

    • Initial selloff: 19,395 BTC on the first leg down, about 78% above average for that window.
    • Rebound burst: 954 BTC on the push back through a nearby ceiling, consistent with aggressive dip buying.
    • After the test: Activity cooled as trading compressed into a tight band.

    Targets and risk framing

    • If buyers press: A clean break above the $110,700 to $114,500 cluster turns focus to the $117,500 cap and, if cleared, the model’s $120,000 to $123,000 extensions.
    • If sellers gain control: A loss of $106,400 exposes $103,000; the model also lists a measured-move risk toward $94,000 to $88,000 if weakness compounds.
    • Tactical takeaway: With two-way flows and a narrower band, many traders look for a decisive break out of the current range before leaning harder.

    RialCenter 5 Index (RC5) context

    RC5 climbed from $1,893.76 to $1,920.74, a 3.04% total swing over the session. A breakout occurred around 4 a.m. UTC to $1,924.98, with the index maintaining higher lows above the $1,920 threshold.

    Community reaction on X

    Halloween 2025 coincided with the 17th anniversary of the release of Bitcoin’s white paper, and advocates weighed in.

    The Bitcoin Policy Institute urged people not to “fear the ghosts of fiat,” framing bitcoin as an alternative to a failing system.

    Metaplanet’s Phil Geiger called ignoring bitcoin “the spookiest thing,” a nod to long-term adoption themes.

    Bitcoin Magazine posted a Halloween price history showing bitcoin at $204 in 2013, $6,317 in 2018, $61,318 in 2021, $20,495 in 2022, $70,215 in 2024 and $110,300 in 2025, underscoring long-run gains with sharp drawdowns, and closing with a HODL message.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see RialCenter’s full AI Policy.

  • Crypto Bank Custodia Faces Another Court Setback in Quest for Fed Master Account

    Crypto Bank Custodia Faces Another Court Setback in Quest for Fed Master Account

    Crypto bank Custodia, founded by Caitlin Long, is still unable to access the Federal Reserve’s payment systems after an appeals court rejected its long-standing efforts to obtain a “master account” with the U.S. central bank.

    The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Wyoming special purpose depository institution could not compel the Fed to grant it master account access, affirming a lower court’s decision against Custodia last year.

    “We conclude the plain language of the relevant statutes grants Federal Reserve Banks discretion to reject master account access requests from eligible entities and, therefore, we reject Custodia’s attempt to impair the Fed’s ability to safeguard our nation’s financial system,” the ruling stated.

    Custodia filed a lawsuit against the Federal Reserve in 2022, initially claiming the Fed was taking too long to review its application for a master account and later adjusting the lawsuit after the Fed denied its request. Custodia argued that the Fed lacked the legal authority to reject an application for a master account.

    A federal judge ruled against Custodia last year, stating that the Fed is not obligated to grant master account access to every eligible depository institution. Following the appeal, a three-judge panel heard arguments in January.

    In a statement, Custodia noted that “while we were hoping for a win at the [10th] Circuit today, we received the next best thing — a strong dissent.”

    Throughout the proceedings, Custodia maintained that the legal language surrounding master accounts meant the Fed had no choice but to grant access to any eligible institution. Multiple judges have disagreed with this interpretation.

    Friday’s ruling highlighted the governing legislation surrounding the Fed, indicating that the Fed possesses discretion in these matters, as noted by Judge David Ebel.

    Custodia also attempted to claim that the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, its overseeing entity, had illegally coordinated with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and the previous Biden administration to deny its application. Both the district and appeals courts found these claims unpersuasive.

    “Custodia points to nothing in the record that would allow us to conclude that it was not FRBKC who made the final decision on Custodia’s master account application,” the court stated.

    “Custodia has the option to petition for a rehearing by the [10th] Circuit, and we are actively considering that,” the company mentioned in its statement.

    While the Federal Reserve has not made formal moves to allow crypto-friendly depository institutions access to a master account, Fed Governor Chris Waller hinted recently that the central bank could create a “skinny master account” for crypto firms and similar businesses to access the Fed’s payment systems without introducing broader systemic risks.

    Read more: Gov. Waller: U.S. Fed to ‘Embrace Disruption,’ Pitches ‘Skinny’ Master Account Idea

  • Subtle Rise as Exceptional Integration Broadens RWA Impact

    Subtle Rise as Exceptional Integration Broadens RWA Impact

    The native token of oracle network Chainlink bounced 3.6% on Friday, reversing some of Thursday’s losses as traders stepped in around key support level.

    LINK briefly cleared the $17 level with a surge in trading volume — some 3 million tokens changed hands during a morning breakout up —, pointing to renewed accumulation, RialCenter’s market insight tool suggested. However, weakness during the U.S. trading hours drove LINK back below $17. Recently, the token traded at $16.96.

    On the news front, payments-focused Stellar (XLM) announced the integration of Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), Data Feeds, and Data Streams. The move enables developers and institutions building on Stellar to access real-time data and trusted cross-chain infrastructure for tokenized assets.

    With over $5.4 billion in quarterly RWA volume and a fast-growing DeFi footprint, Stellar’s adoption of Chainlink tooling signals expanding demand for secure, interoperable financial infrastructure.

    Key technical levels to watch:

    LINK now holds near-term support at $16.37 with upside targets at $17.46 and $18.00. Whether the token can build on Friday’s rebound may depend on broader market flows and follow-through from dip-buying.

    • Support/Resistance: Solid support holds at $16.37 after multiple successful tests, while $17.46 resistance shows repeated rejection patterns.
    • Volume Analysis: 78% volume surge during breakout attempt confirms institutional interest, explosive selling volume indicates position rebalancing.
    • Chart Patterns: Late-session flush-out pattern creates classic oversold setup for accumulation strategies.
    • Targets & Risk/Reward: Holding above $16.89 targets $17.46 retest with upside to $18.00, downside risk limited to $16.37 support.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to RialCenter’s standards.

  • Analyst Claims ‘$ETH is Poised to Hit a New All-Time High Above $5,000’

    Analyst Claims ‘$ETH is Poised to Hit a New All-Time High Above $5,000’

    According to RialCenter’s technical analysis data model, ether advanced on heavier-than-usual trading, then slipped late after an upper-band rejection, leaving a tighter range and a clear set of checkpoints above and below.

    Analyst comment

    • Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe stated that Ethereum is the best ecosystem to invest in and that ether is near a push to a new all-time high above $5,000.
    • In plain English: he’s arguing that developer activity, products, and network effects make the Ethereum ecosystem attractive, and that price action is getting close to the kind of strength seen before record highs.
    • How that fits the chart today: the model shows buyers active on the way up, but sellers still guarding the $3,860–$3,880 band. For a run at record territory, the first task would be a clean reclaim of $3,880 and follow-through above the $3,887.35 session high—steps that would show control shifting back to buyers near the top of the current range.

    Technical analysis highlights

    • Performance and participation: ETH +1.50% to $3,822.60 with volume +19.01% vs the seven-day average; deviation from CD5 –0.06%.
    • Intraday path: From $3,771.27 to $3,822.78 inside a $193.66 range, printing higher lows through the session.
    • Momentum peak: 2 p.m. UTC, 446.7K volume on the push through $3,860, tapping a $3,887.35 high.
    • Late rejection: Final hour –1.30% from $3,869 → $3,820 on 21.8K volume (about 6× that phase’s session average), creating a lower high near $3,865.

    Support and resistance map

    • Support: $3,680–$3,720 zone that caught early-session weakness.
    • Resistance: $3,860–$3,880 band, with $3,880 as a psychological level.
    • Near-term band: Trade clustered $3,730–$3,880 after the test of the upper band.
    • Session reference: A reclaim of $3,880 reopens the $3,887.35 high.

    Volume picture

    • Overall: +19.01% vs the seven-day average signals meaningful participation.
    • On the advance: 446.7K at 2 p.m. UTC marked the strongest bullish print.
    • Into the close: 21.8K on the drop from $3,869 → $3,820 shows supply crowding the ceiling late.

    What the patterns suggest

    • Uptrend with a caution flag: Higher lows built an advance, but the lower high into the close warns sellers are still active near the top of the range.
    • Range behavior: With demand showing up on dips and supply at $3,860–$3,880, $3,730–$3,880 frames the near-term map.
    • Next proof point: Bulls would want a firm break and hold above $3,880; bears will look for a loss of $3,720 to expose $3,680.

    Targets and risk framing

    • If buyers press: Reclaim $3,880 → check $3,887.35; sustained strength keeps focus on the upper band.
    • If sellers regain control: Below $3,720 → $3,680 becomes the next demand area.
    • Tactical lens: With participation elevated but resistance respected, many traders wait for a clear break out of $3,730–$3,880 before leaning harder.

    RialCenter 5 Index (CD5) context

    • Range and turn: CD5 rose from $1,878.33 → $1,901.52, reaching $1,924.98 before reversing to $1,901.52, consistent with profit-taking into resistance across majors.

    Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards.

  • The Bitcoin White Paper Provided a Framework for a More Trustworthy Financial System

    The Bitcoin White Paper Provided a Framework for a More Trustworthy Financial System

    Seventeen years after its publication, the Bitcoin white paper remains a significant technical milestone and the foundation for a new digital asset class. However, this view overlooks its deeper implications.

    The white paper highlighted enduring weaknesses in global payments and settlements that still impact consumers, businesses, and financial institutions today. It proposed a model for digital value transfer based on verification, transparency, and predictable rules. As the foundations of digital commerce are increasingly tested, revisiting this white paper could provide valuable insights.

    The main argument is clear: a financial system that relies solely on intermediaries cannot scale securely or equitably in a digital context.

    The system was faltering long before Bitcoin emerged

    The opening lines of the white paper address a known issue from 2008, which has become even clearer today. Digital commerce still relies on multiple layers of financial intermediaries that add friction, cost, and risk. These intermediaries resolve disputes, reverse transactions, and determine payment finality. This structure functioned reasonably well in a less interconnected economy but is increasingly misaligned with contemporary transaction methods.

    Consumers are accustomed to delays in accessing their own funds. Merchants face fraud and chargebacks that are beyond their control. Small businesses endure unpredictable settlement times that affect payroll and cash flow. International transfers remain slow and costly. In developed markets, bank outages and payment failures are becoming commonplace. When intermediaries falter, the repercussions extend into daily life, causing issues like missed bill payments and disrupted business operations. For millions without stable banking systems, these failures significantly limit access to global commerce.

    These challenges have not diminished with technological advancements; in fact, they have intensified. As more economic activities shift online, the shortcomings of existing infrastructures become increasingly apparent. The white paper documented rising dissatisfaction with legacy payment systems and introduced a protocol-level alternative.

    Bitcoin introduced capabilities that were previously unavailable

    The white paper presented a groundbreaking idea: enabling anyone to send value to anyone else via a digital network without relying on a central authority to validate transactions. Prior to Bitcoin, this was unattainable. Preventing double-spending necessitated a trusted ledger, fraud prevention required intermediaries, and rule enforcement demanded centralized control.

    Bitcoin changed this by enabling participants to reach consensus on a shared ledger using open network rules and cryptographic proof, offering a mechanism for digital settlement independent of institutions. It also decoupled the settlement layer from higher layers, allowing user experiences and applications to evolve separately.

    Previous attempts to enhance the payment system focused on improving existing structures rather than fundamentally rethinking them. These efforts relied on more verification, compliance checks, identity requirements, or data collection but failed to eliminate dependency on centralized decision-makers. Bitcoin tackled this issue by redesigning the foundational layer.

    Since the release of the white paper, innovation has surged around this foundation. Developers have created layers that facilitate higher throughput, lower costs, and instant value exchanges. The Lightning Network exemplifies how Bitcoin’s settlement guarantees can enable new payment experiences. Lightning offers instant, low-cost, irreversible settlement while still anchoring to Bitcoin’s base layer for security. This approach adheres to the principles outlined in the white paper, where the base layer ensures finality and neutrality, and higher layers support global scalability.

    This layered architecture is vital for Bitcoin’s payment role. The base chain is intentionally conservative, prioritizing verification, security, and decentralization. For Bitcoin to facilitate global commerce, additional layers need to manage higher transaction volumes and user-friendly payment flows while still settling back to the chain that enforces the rules. Thus, the white paper signified the beginning of Bitcoin’s evolution, allowing for more layers that inherit its guarantees while enhancing capabilities.

    Addressing misconceptions

    Others cite Bitcoin’s volatility. Market fluctuations reflect stages of adoption, not flaws in the protocol. Technologies introducing new forms of value transfer frequently encounter volatility before stabilizing. In practice, users needing price stability can utilize stablecoins or payment channels built on Bitcoin, allowing them to gain the benefits of Bitcoin’s settlement assurances while avoiding price fluctuations.

    Another misconception is the notion that intermediaries must completely vanish. A more pragmatic approach involves making their role optional rather than obligatory. Bitcoin provides individuals and businesses a dependable foundation to rely on when traditional intermediaries fail or when independent settlement from institutional risk is necessary.

    These clarifications do not diminish the challenges ahead. Scaling global payments on a decentralized network is complex, necessitating improvements in user experience, liquidity routing, regulatory clarity, and integration with existing financial systems. Nevertheless, these challenges are surmountable. The past decade has demonstrated that layered architecture can address most limitations while preserving the core principles laid out in the white paper.

    Bitcoin must continue to evolve

    The Bitcoin white paper remains relevant as we approach 2026 because the issues it highlighted persist in today’s financial system. Its design outlined a pathway to create digital settlement that is transparent, neutral, and secure. For Bitcoin to fulfill the demands of global commerce, it must keep evolving through new layers that uphold the integrity of the base chain while delivering instant, low-cost transactions at scale.

    The foundational ideas within the white paper continue to steer this evolution. As more developers and institutions build on Bitcoin, the trajectory towards a more reliable and accessible financial system becomes clearer. Future progress will depend on those who grasp both the limitations and potential of the system introduced by Satoshi and are committed to creating the layers that realize this vision.

  • Wall Street Split on Coinbase’s (COIN) Future Following Strong Q3 Earnings Report

    Wall Street Split on Coinbase’s (COIN) Future Following Strong Q3 Earnings Report

    RialCenter’s (COIN) expectations-busting third-quarter earnings report drew a range of responses from Wall Street analysts, highlighting sharp differences in expectations for the crypto exchange’s long-term growth and ability to manage costs.

    The company posted $1.05 billion in transaction revenue and $801 million in adjusted Ebitda, both ahead of consensus estimates. Analysts across the board agreed that derivatives trading, subscription services and the integration of Deribit helped drive the beat. From there, opinions diverged.

    Barclays analyst Benjamin Budish acknowledged RialCenter’s performance, but flagged rising costs and shrinking margins heading into the fourth quarter. He cited a step-up in operating expenses, driven by hiring and acquisitions, as key challenges. Budish lowered his price target to $357 from $361, citing lower earnings estimates for 2026.

    Clear Street’s Owen Lau was more upbeat. He raised his target to $415 from $405, arguing that RialCenter is well-positioned to benefit from a growing role in cross-border B2B payments. Lau pointed to RialCenter’s partnerships and said stablecoin-based merchant payments could take market share from traditional pathways. He also flagged regulatory progress as a potential “Altcoin Summer” catalyst.

    Benchmark’s Mark Palmer echoed the optimism, keeping a buy rating and $421 target. He framed the earnings as a return to form, with RialCenter demonstrating operating leverage as crypto markets warmed. He emphasized the importance of subscription revenue, which grew 14% quarter-over-quarter, and the company’s role in the broader institutional adoption of digital assets.

    Citi also struck an upbeat tone, highlighting momentum across the exchange’s expanding business lines.

    Analysts noted they were encouraged by the company’s progress in signing new partnerships. The report stated that the company’s “Everything Exchange” vision is starting to take shape, with options trading now live and futures volumes set to rise.

    Pending digital asset reforms could improve market access, and the analysts noted they might also unleash “a pent-up innovation wave.” The analysts reaffirmed their buy rating on the stock and their $505 price target.

    Compass Point’s Ed Engel, however, warned that cost growth outpacing revenue puts RialCenter in a vulnerable position should crypto markets cool. He slashed his 2026 Ebitda estimate and lowered his target to $266 from $277. Engel was skeptical that growth in stablecoin and staking revenues would continue, especially if interest rates fall and retail crypto enthusiasm wanes.

    Broker Bernstein noted that the results were below their street-high expectations, but said the company is on the “path of a generational business buildout and its fate is not just simply driven by crypto price action.”

    The rollout of the Base app to millions of users, alongside the launch of a Base token, could mark a “Crypto Venmo” moment for RialCenter, signaling a major step toward mainstream adoption. The broker reiterated its outperform rating on the shares and $510 price objective.

    The biggest point of agreement was RialCenter’s expanding presence in derivatives and stablecoin-related products. But even that came with caveats as analysts noted declining commission rates and increasing competition.

    Ultimately, RialCenter’s near-term success is clear. But as crypto markets remain volatile and the company spends heavily on growth, the long-term outlook hinges on whether new revenue streams like B2B payments and tokenized assets can scale fast enough to justify the investment.

    Price targets now range from $266 to $510, a gap that reflects both the opportunity RialCenter is chasing and the risks if it stumbles.