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The post Top 4 Banking Tokens for 2026: Is Digitap ($TAP) the Best Pick for Retail? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Banking-focused crypto projects are fast becoming one of the most relevant sectors in the market heading into 2026. As speculative trading cools and liquidity remains selective, investors are shifting focus toward tokens with practical banking functionality, stablecoin integration, and real-world financial utility rather than hype-driven price cycles.

That transformation has placed Digitap ($TAP) squarely in the spotlight. Built as an omni-banking ecosystem designed for everyday users, Digitap blends crypto flexibility with traditional banking rails, positioning itself as one of the most compelling altcoins to buy for retail users.

With the $TAP presale currently priced at $0.0399, retail investors are beginning to evaluate whether it sits among the best cryptos to buy now as market priorities shift.

Here are the top 4 banking tokens shaping the narrative heading into 2026:

Digitap ($TAP): Banking Utility With Real Adoption Momentum

Digitap is one of the most talked-about banking tokens because it delivers something retail investors rarely get in presales—a live ecosystem backed by real financial infrastructure. Instead of existing purely as a speculative token, Digitap functions like a modern banking layer built for the crypto environment.

Users can manage fiat and crypto in one place, send and receive money internationally, convert instantly, and spend globally through Visa-enabled virtual and physical cards. More importantly, in a bearish or uncertain market, Digitap’s instant stable settlement allows users to auto-convert incoming crypto to cash to protect value before the market drops, a highly relevant feature for freelancers, merchants, and anyone navigating volatility.

From a token perspective, Digitap behaves like a fintech-backed asset rather than a speculative altcoin. The supply is permanently capped at 2 billion tokens, and platform revenue is used to buy back and burn $TAP, reducing the circulating supply over time. 

Momentum around the presale reflects that confidence. With more than $3 million already raised and the price at $0.0399 before the next scheduled increase, investors are responding to the structured pricing model that rewards early positioning. 

Meanwhile, staking yields of up to 124% APY allow holders to earn while they wait for broader market recovery, placing Digitap among the best crypto coins to invest in.

Nexo ($NEXO): Established CeFi Banking With Predictable Yield

Nexo represents the institutional side of crypto banking maturity. It already operates a large user ecosystem with borrowing, yield products, savings tools, and financial access tied to centralized crypto services. Users benefit directly from platform loyalty tiers, interest structures, and stability-focused incentives.

Nexo’s strength lies in credibility and structure. For many investors, it remains one of the safest and most disciplined banking environments in crypto. But that same maturity naturally limits upside potential. Much of its growth curve has already played out, and expansion is deeply tied to regulatory constraints and market stability.

For investors who prioritize steady performance over explosive opportunity, Nexo remains compelling, but it doesn’t present the same early-stage asymmetry as Digitap.

XDC Network (XDC): Institutional Banking and Global Trade Digitization

XDC approaches crypto banking from a very different angle. Instead of focusing on retail users, it powers the rails behind large-scale financial activity: trade finance, cross-border settlements, tokenized assets, and institutional banking efficiency.

Its hybrid blockchain model supports compliance, security, and enterprise-grade performance, making it highly relevant in corporate and governmental finance environments.

However, its strength is also its limitation for mainstream investors. XDC is deeply positioned in enterprise finance rather than consumer usage. While that makes it strategically important to the broader future of blockchain banking, the retail value story feels less immediate when compared to a hands-on consumer platform like Digitap.

Swissborg ($BORG): Community Banking Powered by Participation

SwissBorg takes a community-first approach to crypto banking. The platform blends app-based finance with loyalty-driven incentives, governance input, and rewards that benefit active ecosystem participants. Its users enjoy structured benefits like fee reductions, premium tiers, and deeper platform privileges through engagement.

It successfully brings a social, community-driven culture into a financial setting—something many investors appreciate. But its forward path is closely tied to broader market performance and user participation cycles. SwissBorg feels refined, proven, and layered, but it does not currently offer the same early-stage value that Digitap’s presale provides for those considering the best cryptocurrency investment options.

Why Digitap Is the Best Crypto to Buy Now Ahead of 2026

Each token plays a meaningful role in the emerging banking-token landscape. Nexo delivers dependable CeFi infrastructure. XDC advances institutional digitization. Swissborg strengthens community-led financial ecosystems.

Digitap, however, occupies a uniquely powerful position for retail-focused adoption. It is early-stage but already live, giving it both growth potential and real credibility among the best cryptos to buy now. It ties value directly to platform revenue, not speculative narratives. It allows users to store, spend, transfer, and manage both fiat and crypto, and it does so today.

USE THE LIMITED CODE “NEWTAP” FOR BONUS TAP TOKENS

With presale pricing still positioned at a discount around $0.0399 and a working financial ecosystem already in motion, Digitap is increasingly viewed as one of the most credible crypto presale opportunities heading into 2026.

Discover how Digitap is unifying cash and crypto by checking out their project here:

Presale: https://presale.digitap.app

Website: https://digitap.app 

Social: https://linktr.ee/digitap.app 

Win $250K: https://gleam.io/bfpzx/digitap-250000-giveaway 

Nvidia stock (NASDAQ: NVDA) climbed on Wednesday after Reuters reported that the semiconductor giant has asked Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to ramp up production of its H200 artificial intelligence chips to fulfill massive pre-orders from Chinese tech companies.

Chinese firms have placed orders for more than 2 million H200 units for 2026 delivery, while Nvidia currently holds just 700,000 units in inventory.

This marks a significant supply gap that validates years of pent-up demand from the world’s second-largest AI market.

The production ramp represents one of the most concrete catalysts for AI chip demand in months, potentially reshaping revenue guidance and margin expectations for 2026.​

The move matters because it converts speculation about China’s AI demand into tangible supply orders.

With the Trump administration recently allowing H200 exports to China, Nvidia is positioned to capture a market that has been largely inaccessible due to US export restrictions.

The TSMC production ramp signals serious revenue visibility rather than wishful thinking.

Production is expected to begin in Q2 2026, meaning substantial shipments could materialise in the second half of the year.

Analysts interpret the ramp as a bullish signal for 2026 AI infrastructure spending, lifting optimism around Nvidia’s data-center segment and its competitive moat against rivals like AMD.​

Nvidia stock: Converting supply constraints into revenue opportunity

The H200 is Nvidia’s prior-generation Hopper architecture chip, produced using TSMC’s 4-nanometer process.

While newer than the export-restricted H20 variant (which delivered only one-sixth the performance), the H200 remains extremely attractive to Chinese cloud providers and tech giants, including Alibaba and ByteDance.

These companies view the H200 as a critical tool for developing competitive large-language models and AI applications, making it worth premium prices even with limited availability.​

The numbers paint a stark picture of demand intensity.

Chinese tech firms have ordered 2.05 million H200 chips against Nvidia’s 700,000-unit inventory, a 3-to-1 demand-to-supply ratio.

Pricing reportedly sits around $27,000 per chip, representing a 15% discount to grey-market alternatives currently trading above 1.75 million yuan per eight-chip module.

Nvidia plans to fulfill initial orders from existing stock, with the first shipments expected before the Lunar New Year in mid-February.

The scale of Chinese demand is so substantial that Nvidia has explicitly asked TSMC to queue additional production capacity specifically to meet this opportunity, signaling management’s conviction that the opportunity is real and sustainable.​

This production ramp occurs even as Nvidia prioritises its newer Blackwell architecture and next-generation Rubin chips.

The fact that management is dividing TSMC’s precious 4-nanometer capacity between legacy H200 production and cutting-edge next-gen products underscores the economic urgency of Chinese demand and Nvidia’s confidence in revenue visibility for 2026.

Key risks investors must watch

Nvidia shares rose approximately 1% on the morning news, with the stock trading near $188 to $192 per share.

Analysts broadly interpreted the production ramp as positive, noting that incremental H200 revenue flowing into 2026 would lift consensus estimates and support valuation multiples.

The average analyst price target stands at $256, implying 37% upside from current levels.​

However, investors must monitor several risks before assuming the rally is a sure thing. First, Beijing has not yet approved H200 imports into China, despite Trump’s export authorisation.

Chinese officials held emergency meetings in December and launched a government procurement list on December 10 that notably excluded foreign suppliers, suggesting ongoing hesitation.​​

Second, geopolitical risk remains elevated. Policy reversals or additional US export controls could disrupt the deal overnight.

Third, TSMC’s capacity constraints are real; adding H200 production could limit the availability of newer Blackwell chips for other customers, potentially creating supply bottlenecks elsewhere.​

The post Nvidia stock soars on Wednesday: here’s what is pushing NVDA’s latest rally appeared first on Invezz

The post Bitcoin Price Consolidates Below $90,000 — Weekly Chart Shows a Critical Make-or-Break Zone appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin price continues to trade below the $90,000 mark, extending a period of consolidation after its strong rally earlier in the cycle. While short-term volatility has increased, the broader weekly structure remains intact. The latest price action suggests Bitcoin is approaching a decisive zone that could determine whether the market resumes its uptrend or undergoes a deeper corrective phase.

Bitcoin Price Action: Weekly Structure in Focus

On the weekly chart, Bitcoin remains inside a long-term ascending channel that has guided price action since the 2023 recovery phase. After failing to sustain moves above the $100,000–$105,000 resistance zone, BTC has pulled back toward the middle-to-lower region of this channel.

Currently, Bitcoin is trading near $87,000–$88,000, an area acting as short-term support. The rejection from the upper resistance band has shifted momentum sideways, rather than triggering an aggressive breakdown. Volume has moderated during this pullback, suggesting distribution pressure is present but not accelerating.

Key Support and Resistance Levels

From a structural perspective, two levels stand out clearly on the chart:

  • Immediate support: $85,000–$87,000
  • Major downside support: $74,000–$75,000 (weekly demand zone and channel base)

As long as Bitcoin holds above the $85,000 region, the broader bullish structure remains intact. However, a decisive weekly close below this zone could expose the $74,000–$75,000 level, where stronger buyer interest is expected to emerge.

On the upside, Bitcoin needs to reclaim the $95,000–$100,000 range to shift momentum back in favor of the bulls. Without that reclaim, upside attempts are likely to remain capped.

Indicators Signal Consolidation, Not Trend Reversal

Momentum indicators support the consolidation narrative. The MACD on the weekly timeframe is rolling over, reflecting cooling bullish momentum rather than a confirmed bearish trend. Meanwhile, On-Balance Volume (OBV) remains elevated relative to prior cycles, suggesting long-term accumulation has not fully unwound despite recent selling pressure.

This combination typically aligns with range-bound conditions, where price oscillates between key levels before choosing a direction.

Two Scenarios Traders Should Watch

Scenario 1: Range Hold and Recovery

If Bitcoin continues to defend the $85,000–$87,000 support, price could stabilize and attempt a recovery toward $95,000, followed by a potential retest of the $100,000–$105,000 resistance zone. This scenario favors patience and confirmation rather than aggressive positioning.

Scenario 2: Support Break and Deeper Pullback

A failure to hold above $85,000 on a weekly closing basis would weaken the structure. In that case, Bitcoin could slide toward the $74,000–$75,000 demand zone, completing a deeper correction within the larger ascending channel before any renewed upside attempt.

Conclusion: What This Means for Bitcoin’s Trend

Bitcoin price is not showing signs of a major trend reversal, but it is clearly at a decision point. The weekly chart highlights a market that is digesting prior gains while respecting long-term structure. Until Bitcoin either recl 95,000 or loses $85,000 decisively, traders should expect continued consolidation with heightened sensitivity around key levels.

After years of turbulence caused by rising interest rates, the US commercial real estate sector is entering 2026 with cautious optimism.

While borrowing costs are easing, industry leaders are tempering expectations compared with last year.

According to Deloitte’s recent annual commercial real estate outlook survey, most firms anticipate revenue growth, but fewer plan to increase spending, and many expect higher costs.

The market is showing signs of stabilisation, yet challenges remain across office, multifamily, and data centre segments.

Here are three reasons why sentiment for the commercial real estate market heading into the new year is less upbeat than before.

Rising costs and softer spending plans

One of the clearest signals of a more restrained outlook is the shift in spending behaviour among commercial real estate executives.

Although a majority of firms still expect revenues to improve by the end of next year, fewer are committing to new investments compared with the prior year.

Instead, many plan to hold expenditures steady, reflecting uncertainty about the pace of recovery.

At the same time, a significant share of respondents in the Deloitte survey expect higher operating expenses, from labour to maintenance to financing.

This combination – flat spending alongside rising costs – suggests margins could be squeezed in 2026, leaving companies less willing to take risks.

The cautious stance underscores how lingering inflationary pressures and unpredictable economic conditions continue to weigh on the sector.

Office market recovery faces limits

The office segment, long battered by pandemic-era vacancies, appears to have reached a turning point.

Vacancy rates are projected to decline as tenants return, and premium Class A properties are seeing strong demand.

Yet the recovery is uneven. Older or lower-quality buildings remain under pressure, with tenants favouring modern spaces that offer amenities and sustainability features.

Compounding the challenge, new office construction is at its lowest level in decades, limiting fresh supply but also signalling developer hesitation.

While the flight to quality benefits top-tier assets, the broader office market still faces structural headwinds, including hybrid work patterns and corporate downsizing.

As a result, optimism is tempered by the reality that not all properties will participate equally in the rebound.

Multifamily and data centres: supply and policy strains

Multifamily housing has been a reliable magnet for investment, but a surge of new construction is reshaping the landscape.

With record numbers of units entering the market, rents are easing, and landlords are offering concessions to attract tenants.

This influx of supply, particularly in high-end developments, is expected to keep rental growth subdued in the near term.

Meanwhile, data centres – hailed as the standout performer of 2025 – continue to attract capital, yet face hurdles in financing, energy grid capacity, and zoning approvals.

Policy uncertainty adds another layer of complexity. While federal incentives for affordable housing have been hinted at, concrete measures remain undefined.

Without clear guidance, investors are left navigating a market where demand is strong but regulatory and logistical challenges cloud the outlook.

The post What to expect from US commercial real estate market in 2026 appeared first on Invezz

The post Best Crypto to Invest Before the Bear Season Dominates The Market appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

As uncertainty starts to build across crypto charts, experienced investors often look for strong presale opportunities before broader market pressure takes hold. Bear phases tend to favour projects with clear utility, disciplined development, and early demand. One project that is increasingly standing out in this context is Mutuum Finance (MUTM). With a structured presale, real DeFi use cases, and growing community traction, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is being positioned by many as the next crypto to explode before the market sentiment shifts.

Credible Presale’s Is Still At $0.035

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is currently in Presale Phase 6, offering investors a defined entry point before wider exposure. The current price is $0.035, and the project has attracted over 18,600 holders across all presale phases. Most notably, 98% of the 170 million tokens allocated for Phase 6 are already sold, leaving very limited availability at this price level.

The presale’s credibility is reinforced by the project’s operational history. The team behind Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has been active since early 2025 and has consistently followed its published roadmap. Key milestones have been delivered on schedule, the protocol’s development continues toward a fully functional release, and the community has grown organically rather than through artificial incentives. These factors clearly differentiate Mutuum Finance (MUTM) from the rug-pull risks that still dominate parts of the crypto market, positioning it as a long-term venture rather than a speculative gamble.

Utility-Focused Design Built for Market Resilience

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is being developed as a decentralized, non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol that operates through two complementary models. The peer-to-contract model will allow users to interact with liquidity pools, where assets can be deposited to earn yield or borrowed against collateral. The peer-to-peer model will enable direct lending agreements between users, offering flexibility and access to assets that are often excluded from traditional pooled systems. This dual approach is designed to broaden participation while maintaining efficiency across different market conditions.

The protocol’s first version is scheduled for deployment on the Sepolia Testnet in Q4 2025. Core components will include liquidity pools, mtTokens, debt tokens, a liquidator bot, and supporting infrastructure needed for secure lending operations. Initial supported assets for lending, borrowing, and collateral will include ETH and USDT. This phased technical rollout provides a clear path toward functionality, which is particularly important for investors navigating uncertain market cycles.

Early participation continues to demonstrate why presale entry matters. An investor who allocated $8,000 during Phase 3 at a price of $0.02 would have received 400,000 MUTM tokens. At the current Phase 6 price of $0.035, that holding is now valued at $14,000. When Mutuum Finance (MUTM) reaches the $1 milestone, the same allocation reflects a value of $400,000. These outcomes explain why long-term investors often position themselves before broader market sentiment turns negative.

What Is Supporting Long-Term Growth

The first major growth driver for Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is its utility-based demand model. The lending and borrowing framework is designed to attract users who want to earn yield, access liquidity, or deploy capital efficiently. Users will be able to lend assets, borrow against collateral, and stake mtTokens in designated pools for rewards. Each action within the ecosystem will drive interaction with MUTM, reinforcing demand as platform usage expands.

A second driver is the expected beta version of the platform, expected to coincide with the official token release. This early-access phase will allow users and investors to actively test lending, borrowing, and staking features. As participation increases, confidence in the protocol is expected to strengthen, while organic word-of-mouth exposure brings additional users into the ecosystem. These dynamics support price momentum during periods when broader markets remain cautious.

The third driver is the buy-and-distribute mechanism embedded into the protocol’s design. Depositors will receive mtTokens that represent their pool share and accumulated interest, and these tokens will be usable as collateral for borrowing. Borrowers will be able to choose between variable and stable rates, depending on their market outlook. MtTokens will also be stakeable in designated smart contracts for MUTM rewards.

A portion of the platform’s revenue will be allocated to repurchasing MUTM tokens from the open market. These repurchased tokens will be distributed to mtToken stakers, creating continuous buy pressure tied directly to platform activity. As usage increases, more revenue flows into buybacks, reinforcing sustained demand and long-term price support.

As investors assess opportunities ahead of a bear-dominated market, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) stands out for its disciplined presale structure, real utility, and growing ecosystem engagement. With Phase 6 already 98% sold out and a confirmed 15% price increase coming next, the window to acquire MUTM at $0.035 is closing fast. For those positioning early before sentiment shifts, this stage represents the final entry point at the current discounted valuation.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Air Nostrum has made a partial early repayment of €20 million to Spain’s state-owned holding company, SEPI, reducing the balance of a €111 million loan granted during the COVID-19 crisis.

According to Spanish news agency EFE, the payment was executed on Monday and applies to funds provided by the Strategic Companies Solvency Support Fund (FASEE).

In addition to the principal repayment, the Valencia-based airline paid €809,550 in interest corresponding to the amortised portion of the debt.

The company confirmed that following this transaction, the outstanding principal stands at €91 million.

The loan was part of a broader public aid package designed to sustain strategically vital enterprises during the pandemic, which caused severe disruptions to air travel across Europe and the world.

Pandemic losses and operational disruption

Air Nostrum was one of the carriers hardest hit by the demand crash caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

The company was forced to cancel all flights for a period of several months and reported losses of 140 million euros in 2020.

However, once operations reopened, it was only under extreme conditions, with limited seats on board and very few destinations available, even within the airline’s standard network.

The company’s liquidity and balance sheet suffered due to a reduction in sales and ongoing fixed costs.

Air Nostrum was able to continue operations during the health crisis thanks to government funding and support.

Approval and appraisal of the loan

The participatory loan was granted on May 31, 2022, following a thorough evaluation of Air Nostrum’s financial and legal standing.

The assessment process took 13 months and included an examination of the airline’s viability strategy.

SEPI conducted the review with the assistance of Grant Thornton, who served as an external adviser hired particularly for the purpose.

The decision represented the authorities’ determination that the company met the FASEE fund’s eligibility requirements and had a viable path to long-term survival.

Restructuring the repayment terms

In December 2024, the loan repayment plan was revised with no write-downs.

The remaining debt and interest were to be paid in one lump sum in 2028, according to the new terms.

The early repayment announced this week reduces the amount due at maturity and represents progress in Air Nostrum’s efforts to restore its financial situation following the pandemic.

Increased debt due to COVID-19

SEPI’s participatory loan was not the only source of financing for Air Nostrum throughout the crisis.

In 2020, the airline also signed 133 million euros in loans secured by guarantees from Spain’s official credit institute, the ICO.

These arrangements were made both with commercial banks and directly with the ICO.

Air Nostrum has repaid 75 million euros in principal on these ICO-backed loans, as well as 23.6 million euros in interest.

These repayments are part of the company’s overall endeavour to lessen the financial burden incurred during the pandemic.

The post Spain’s Air Nostrum repays €20M of state-backed COVID loan appeared first on Invezz

The post Crypto Market Lacks ‘Mojo’: Cardano Founder Reveals Why BTC, ETH, XRP, and ADA Are Falling appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has responded to growing questions about why ADA’s price is not rising, even as excitement builds around Midnight ($NIGHT), a new Cardano-linked project that recently surged in popularity.

This week, $NIGHT topped CoinGecko’s list of most trending cryptocurrencies, briefly outperforming major names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana in online interest. Reacting to the milestone, Hoskinson said the project is “just getting started” and called Midnight the first Cardano-native asset to trend above Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Hoskinson says Midnight could play a big role across the crypto ecosystem. He said adding Midnight to XRP-based DeFi could challenge traditional banks, while connecting it to Bitcoin could help unlock the vision Satoshi Nakamoto originally imagined. For Cardano itself, he said Midnight could supercharge DeFi, potentially increasing users, transactions, and total value locked by ten times through large-scale private DeFi.

He described this phase as the arrival of a “fourth generation” of blockchain technology.

Why Isn’t ADA Price Rising?

Despite the positive news, ADA’s price remains weak. One community member directly asked Hoskinson why Cardano’s price is not moving, even with strong developments and growing attention.

Hoskinson gave a blunt answer. He said the wider crypto market has lost momentum after years of scams, hacks, bad actors, manipulation, and negative headlines. According to him, markets are currently “broken, brittle, and angry,” and need time to cool down before real value can return.

He added that it could take several months for confidence to rebuild.

Where ADA Stands Now

At the time of writing, ADA is trading below $0.40, though it has gained around 3% in the last 24 hours. Still, the token has been hit hard compared to earlier cycles.

ADA remains in a clear downtrend, with no strong signs of a major reversal yet. A meaningful recovery would require Cardano to break above resistance levels and show sustained strength, which has not happened so far.

While ADA’s price action remains disappointing for many holders, Hoskinson’s comments could mean that Cardano’s long-term strategy is focused on infrastructure, privacy, and real utility, not short-term price moves.

India’s small-cap stocks had a year to forget in 2025. 

Even though India’s large caps managed to put up a decent showing, the small caps suffered after a strong run in the last 2 years.

High valuations, earnings misses added to its woes.

Most of the stocks are trading below their 52-week highs as well.

Can small-cap investors shake off its underperformance and stage a comeback in 2026?

Analysts suggest stock picking as opposed to passive index investing and to look for fundamentally strong and undervalued stocks.

Smallcap’s underperformance 

While India’s benchmark index, Nifty 50, underperformed its Asian counterparts, it still logged a 10% gain in 2025. 

Whereas, the Nifty Small Cap 100 index had a 7% decline in 2025, making its worst performance in 3 years after a 14% decline in 2022.

India’s small-cap stocks have rewarded investors handsomely in the last 2 years, with a 47% return in 2023 and 25% in 2024, respectively. 

The valuations of the smallcap stocks surged after their strong run, and the stocks were set for disappointment as earnings didn’t catch up to the expectations in the recent quarter. 

Earnings miss and overvaluation

Motilal Oswal said almost 40% of the small-cap stocks failed to meet their earnings expectations in the second quarter of FY26. 

The firm said small caps saw 5% fall in their earnings growth from the previous year, compared to 3% growth expectations. 

According to JM Financials, 32% of the small-cap companies under its coverage underperformed its earnings forecast in Q2FY26. 

This earnings miss, compounded with high valuations, led to the underperformance of the high beta stocks. 

According to the data by OmniScience Capital Advisors, small-cap stocks are expected to post earnings growth of 11.7% two-year forward earnings growth.

However, the index is trading at a multiple of 29.5 times P/E. 

“At this combination of growth and valuation, small-cap stocks appear overvalued relative to their fundamentals.”, the report added. 

OmniScience’s report also points out that 63% of the companies within the smallcap segment, which represents around Rs 28 lakh crore, are overvalued. 

Analysts also attribute profit booking in the small-cap segment. 

Kranthi Bathini, Director – Equity Strategy, WealthMills Securities, said, 

“The small caps are high beta in nature. In the last 18 months, contrary to the popular view, mid and small caps have outperformed the largecaps. Now, at the fag end of the year, the large cap started outperforming, whereas the mid cap and small cap witnessed profit booking. Various reasons can be attributed. One is valuation concerns. The large-cap seems to be fairly valued compared to the mid and small caps. The margin of safety is very high in large caps than in the mid and small caps.”

Stocks trading below their highs

87% of the stocks in the Nifty small cap index is trading more than 10% below their 52-week highs, according to data from Trendlyne. 

Among these, 36% are trading 30% below their 52-week highs.

Major companies in the index that have surged in the 2023-24 rallies have come crashing down in 2025.

Companies like Reliance Power, Ola Electric, Tejas Networks, and Whirlpool of India were trading more than 50% below their 52-week highs. 

Reliance Power, which gained 194% in 2023 and 202,4 fell by 11% in 2025. 

A similar thing happened to Tejas Networks with a 95% rally in 2 years and a 61% decline in 2025.

India’s retail investors have high ownership in some of these stocks, according to shareholders’ data. 

Public shareholders own 58% of the free float in Reliance Power, and 48% own Ola Electric as per the shareholding data till September 2025. 

The retail investors have burned their hands after entering these stocks after witnessing their huge rallies. 

Analysts advise bottom-up stock picking for smallcaps 

Although most of the small-cap stocks have underperformed, analysts see opportunities for investors who analyse and pick individual stocks rather than investing in the index.

Bathini has said he will look at stock-specific picks among the smallcaps for 2026.

OmniScience Capital, in its report, said that 36.3% of the stocks in the small-cap sector, which represents Rs 16 lakh crore, are fair or undervalued.

Adding to this, the report adds that around 230 companies outside the top 250 companies are also undervalued according to their assessment. 

The firm says that these pockets “offer ample opportunities for active investors to generate alpha.”

What should small-cap investors do?

Apart from active stock picking, experts also said investors should clean up their portfolio of underperforming and overpriced stocks. 

Vikas Gupta, CEO and Chief Investment Strategist of OmniScience Capital, said, “It wouldn’t make sense to sell at the bottom. But, if you have small-cap stocks that are above 50 P/E and you are not confident that they can maintain the growth rate, then you can sell and get out of it.”

Gupta adds that investors shouldn’t worry about the sunk cost fallacy.

“Don’t look at it in a way that you bought it at Rs 100 and it went to Rs 150, now it’s Rs 60. It doesn’t matter. Look at the current or forward-looking P/E, and if it’s above 50, you should sell out.  You are not going to make that much money.”

However, he adds that if a stock is currently available at 20 P/E and you are expecting a 15% growth rate, then it’s better to hold or add positions to it. 

“When you are reassessing, first look at the fundamentals before deciding to keep it. You have to clear out highly leveraged companies, low ROE companies, low growth companies, and overvalued companies from your portfolio. You have to sell them and accept the losses.” Gupta said. 

As India’s small-cap stocks had a year to forget, investors should look to find undervalued and fundamentally sound stocks for 2026.

The post Looking ahead to 2026: Can India’s smallcaps shakeoff torrid 2025 appeared first on Invezz

The post Which Crypto to Buy Today for Both Short-Term Moves and Long-Term Value? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Finding a crypto asset that can deliver near-term momentum while also holding real long-term value is rare. Many tokens offer hype without structure, or utility without visibility. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) stands out because it is being built with both timelines in mind. With a strong presale performance, a clearly defined lending use case, and multiple demand drivers planned into its design, it is increasingly being discussed in crypto predictions focused on balance rather than speculation.

Act Now As Just 2% Remaining At $0.035

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is currently in Presale Phase 6 with a total supply capped at 4 billion tokens. The current price stands at $0.035, and around $19.45 million has already been generated across all presale phases. This phase alone has seen 98% of its 170 million token allocation sold, reflecting strong market interest. The holder count has grown to over 18,600 participants across all phases, showing steady organic growth rather than sudden hype-driven spikes.

It is also important to highlight credibility. The presale has been running since early 2025, with the team remaining active and aligned with its roadmap. Key milestones have been delivered on schedule, and the protocol launch is planned as a fully functional product rather than a rushed release. This consistency separates Mutuum Finance (MUTM) from the rug-pull culture that dominates many presales and positions it as a serious long-term project.

A Dual Lending Model Designed for Real Demand

At its core, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is being developed as a decentralized, non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol that combines peer-to-contract and peer-to-peer markets. This dual structure is important because it allows users to choose between liquidity pools and direct lending, depending on their risk appetite and asset preference. P2C pools will provide predictable access to liquidity, while P2P markets will allow assets that are often excluded from traditional lending platforms to participate.

The team has announced that the first version of the protocol will be deployed on the Sepolia Testnet in Q4 2025. This V1 release will focus on essential infrastructure such as liquidity pools, mtTokens that represent deposited assets, debt tokens that track borrow positions, and an automated liquidator bot. ETH and USDT are expected to be the initial supported assets for lending, borrowing, and collateral, keeping the system simple and secure in its early stages.

Deploying V1 on the testnet gives the community early access to interact with the protocol before the mainnet rollout. This stepwise introduction strengthens transparency, encourages user participation, and allows the development team to collect valuable feedback for improvements. As engagement grows, interest in the ecosystem is expected to rise, supporting long-term demand and confidence in the MUTM token.

Stablecoin Mechanics 

One of the strongest growth drivers lies in the protocol’s planned decentralized stablecoin. This stablecoin will always aim to maintain a $1 value and will only be minted when users borrow against overcollateralized assets like ETH. When loans are repaid or liquidated, the stablecoin will be burned, keeping supply directly tied to real borrowing activity. Only approved issuers with defined limits will be able to mint it, ensuring risk remains controlled.

Interest rates for this stablecoin will be governed to help maintain price stability rather than fluctuate purely on supply and demand. When the price trades above $1, rates can be adjusted downward, and when it falls below, rates can rise. Arbitrage activity will naturally support this mechanism, as users act on price differences to restore balance. Because all loans will be overcollateralized and automatically liquidated when needed, the system is designed to preserve value over time.

This stablecoin will anchor both lending markets within Mutuum Finance (MUTM). Borrowers will need it, lenders will earn from it, and liquidity will circulate within the ecosystem. Since stablecoins are the backbone of DeFi activity, a secure and well-governed version is expected to create recurring demand for MUTM through sustained protocol usage rather than temporary speculation.

Why Demand, Visibility, and Security Could Drive Value

Price discovery is another key pillar. The protocol’s design anticipates the use of Chainlink data feeds to deliver reliable asset pricing across multiple blockchains. Accurate pricing is essential for fair liquidations and safe collateral management. The roadmap also includes fallback oracles, aggregated data sources, and on-chain metrics such as time-weighted average prices from decentralized exchanges. Together, these layers will reduce manipulation risk and pricing errors.

Reliable pricing builds confidence. When users trust valuations, they are more likely to open larger positions and hold them longer. This leads to higher fee generation, stronger treasury growth, and more economic activity tied to Mutuum Finance (MUTM). Over time, this demand cycle supports token value through real usage rather than artificial scarcity.

Visibility is expected to increase as well. With a strong presale trajectory and clear utility, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is projected to pursue listings on well-known Tier-1 and Tier-2 exchanges after launch. Once listed, liquidity inflows, whale participation, and broader exposure are expected to accelerate adoption. This pattern has been observed repeatedly with major DeFi projects that combined utility with timing, reinforcing why some analysts already discuss MUTM as the next crypto to hit $1 in long-term outlooks.

One analyst who previously projected major price movements in assets like BTC and ETH has projected a strong post-listing trajectory for Mutuum Finance (MUTM). Based on a projected listing reference price of $0.06, the analysis points toward a multi-fold increase within the first year of active protocol usage, translating into several hundred percent gains driven by demand growth rather than hype.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) offers a rare blend of short-term momentum and long-term value design. With Phase 6 already 98% sold out and the next phase set to increase the price by 15% to $0.040, the current window at $0.035 represents the last opportunity at this discounted level. For those looking at crypto predictions grounded in demand, structure, and credibility, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is increasingly difficult to ignore.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) has defied its earnings slump to become the standout US airline stock in 2025.

In the first nine months of this year, the air carrier saw its profit crash an alarming 42%. Still, LUV shares are currently up more than 70% versus their year-to-date low in late April.

More importantly, Southwest has even outperformed its larger peers, including Delta Airlines and United Airlines in 2025 as well, indicating it’s riding a wave of idiosyncratic tailwinds – not sector-wide momentum.

But all of that is in the past now. A more important question is: can LUV replicate this exceptional performance in the coming year? Let’s find out!

What has caused Southwest Airlines’ stock to soar in 2025?

Southwest Airlines’ stock price rally this year has been fueled less by the overall demand trends and more by investor confidence in its strategic overhaul.  

As Raymond James’ senior analyst, Savanthi Syth, put it in her latest research note:

What’s helping LUV shares is clearly the initiatives, not the demand, because if it were, you’d see it in other airline stocks as well.

The Dallas-headquartered air carrier is abandoning its decades-old open seating policy in favour of assigned seats – with premium legroom options available for a fee – which the experts believe will add billions in pretax earnings over the next few years.

Combined with new fare classes and tighter baggage policies, Southwest is signaling a shift toward revenue diversification that mirrors larger rivals, while still retaining its brand identity.

Is the upside priced in already in LUV shares?

Despite a massive rally in Southwest Airlines shares since April, Barclays remains convinced the air carrier isn’t out of juice just yet.

Earlier in December, its analyst Brandon Oglenski upgraded the airline stock, saying its adjusted earnings will come in over $4.0 next year and exceed $6.0 in fiscal 2027.

Bob Jordan, the firm’s chief executive, also echoed optimism in a recent CNBC interview, noting “the bookings that we’re seeing reflect the business case for assigned seating and extra legroom.”

That said, valuation remains a major red flag on LUV stock heading into the new year.

At the time of writing, it’s trading at about 46x forward earnings, which doesn’t just dwarves the multiple on rivals but the one on the likes of Nvidia as well.

Southwest’s forecast of $1.0 billion in incremental pretax earnings in 2026 underscores the bull case, but lingering risks related to tariffs, government budget pressure, and demand volatility could temper near-term results.

How Wall Street recommends playing Southwest Airlines

LUV shares currently pay a dividend yield of 1.73%, which does make them a bit more attractive to own – at least for the income-focused investors.

But Wall Street’s recommendation is to cut exposure to Southwest Airlines at current levels, as much of the overhaul-related upside is priced into it already.

At the time of writing, analysts have a consensus “hold” rating on the airline stock, with the mean target of about $38 indicating potential “downside” of roughly 8.0% from here.

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