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Lunate Expands Thematic ETF Offerings With Dual Listings on ADX and Xetra

Market Movers: The Opening Bell

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January 28, 2026

Lunate Expands Thematic ETF Offerings With Dual Listings on ADX and Xetra

Sherif Salem, partner and head of markets at Lunate, joins Remy Blaire to discuss the launch of Boreas thematic UCITS ETFs and their dual listings on ADX and Deutsche Börse Xetra.

Remy: Welcome to FINTECH.TV. I’m Remy Blaire. This January, Abu Dhabi investment firm Lunate launched its Boreas range of UCITS compliant thematic ETFs on ADX. They also sit on the Deutsche Börse Xetra exchange, marking the first such listing from a Middle East provider in Europe. Now these include the Boreas S&P AI Data Power and Infrastructure UCITS ETF launch on ADX in mid-January and the S&P Absolute Luxury UCITS ETF launch on ADX on January 27th. They are dual listing on Europe’s Xetra exchange, along with Abu Dhabi’s ADX hints at a growing environment for innovative trading funds in those regions.

Joining me to tell us more about this launch is Sherif Salem, partner and head of markets for Lunate. So thank you so much for joining us. Tell us about the January ETF launches on the ADX.

Sherif: Thanks for having me. We launched, today, actually, the 27th. We launched a luxury ETF that we listed on the same day, in the morning at ADX. And it was followed closely, a few hours later with a cross listing on the Xetra in Frankfurt. This is the first time that a Middle Eastern asset manager has listed an ETF on a European exchange. Um, this follows our previous cross listing. So the quantum ETF, sorry, the AI Data Power ETF was cross listed into Xetra earlier this month. But the actual launch and listing on ADX was towards the end of last year. So now we have two ETFs that are listed on Xetra. They’re both UCITS compliant and accessible now to investors in Europe as well as, of course, here in the UAE.

Remy: And for our audience, can you tell us what themes your funds are exploring?

Sherif: So our range is quite diversified in terms of, we started our first launch back in 2020. All our launches, other than the two that I mentioned that we’ve crossed listed on Xetra recently are listed in the UAE – 18 of which, listed on ADX. The ETFs are basically – what we’ve tried to do is to enable investors to be able to invest, across different markets across the world in equity as well as fixed income. So we have a number of equity stock markets covered such as the U.S., China, Turkey, Pakistan, as well as, of course, the regional markets. We followed that up with the fixed income. We focus a lot on providing investors because actually something that’s missing globally is Sharia-compliant ETFs. So a lot of the ETFs that we’ve launched, ten of them, are Sharia-compliant. And of the three fixed income, one of them invests in global sukuk. Then more recently we’ve been launching the thematics, the AI data power, quantum computing, and more recently, luxury.

So we sort of started with the next generation technology. A lot of interest in AI data power, a lot of interest in quantum computing, a lot of growth happening there. And it adds a bit of, we’ve added to the portfolio of ETFs that we’re offering, a type of investment that adds a bit of risk versus the the more plain vanilla equity and fixed income markets. And we plan to expand on that going forward. As you and I have mentioned, luxury was the more recent one. It’s really trying to capture industries that are both growing, have resilience to downturns, or capturing new opportunities and new technologies.

Remy: Sharif, can you explain how Boreas and Northwind are involved here?

Sherif: Yeah. So, Northwind is a JV with Lunate, and Northwind is made up of Geir Espeskog, as well as Christopher Vass. And they bring a lot of value in terms of their experience in thematics. So they’ve helped us develop these thematic ETFs because a lot research goes into coming up with these indices with the index provider. So we’ve worked on, for example, on quantum, we’ve worked with selective on the fashion or, sorry, on the absolute luxury. We’ve worked with S&P. And it’s really trying to come up with some uniqueness to the index and how it filters the companies. So they’ve helped us with that. We’ve sort of built the, you know, first stage, second stage, in terms of equity, fixed income. And they’re helping us with the thematics and building out the thematic range of of ETFs.

Remy: Expanding on thematics., what does the environment for thematic ETFs look like in Europe as well as the Middle East?

Sherif: The Middle East is a very nascent market in terms of ETFs, in terms of technology, and in terms of the thematics themselves, in terms of industries, as you may be aware, the UAE, Saudi Arabia are investing a lot in in quantum computing and AI data power. Luxury is obviously a big sale and attraction here in the Middle East. Not just for the region, but for a lot of the tourism that comes into the region, as industries continue to grow and they continue to be invested in. In terms of ETFs, it’s still a very nascent market in the Middle East. We are the only provider currently of local providers, of ETFs. There are a couple of cross-listed now on ADX. There are a few ETF providers in Saudi Arabia, a couple in Qatar. But they’re all equity giving exposure to sort of well known indices – S&P 500, MSCI world indices – that sort of thing. But thematics is something new, and we’re the first to do that. We’re the first to offer that. We’ve seen a lot of interest on our quantum and our

AI data power. And I think a lot of that is coming from younger generation that is starting to discover the benefits, the younger generation here that’s starting to discover the benefits of investing and saving through ETF and trading ETFs.

Remy: And finally, what are your future plans at your organization?

Sherif: Well, we continue to grow. We’re fully invested in terms of time and money and effort, in building out the ETF and not just the ETFs themselves, but the ETF ecosystem. We’re building out the AP network, the market maker network. As you may have heard, we’ve signed up with Jane Street to be an authorized participant on Xetra. So, we’re making a lot of progress in that because we realize that it’s not just about launching ETFs, it’s about building the ecosystem that will drive the demand and drive the market of ETFs. And that’s what’s important. At the end of the day, it’s not only the type of ETFs that you have, but investors need to see that they’re easily traded, that they’re easily accessible. And we realize that. And that’s why we’ve also invested a lot of time in trying to build out the ecosystem around the ETFs, as well as, of course, continuing to offer more ETFs in the future.

Remy: Sherif, thank you so much for your time today. We appreciate it. And we appreciate all of your insights.

Sherif: Thank you very much. Thanks for having me.

S&P 500 Hits 7,000 as Investors Await Fed Signals on Rates

Market Movers: The Opening Bell

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January 28, 2026

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S&P 500 Hits 7,000 as Investors Await Fed Signals on Rates

Jonathan Corpina, senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners, joins Remy Blaire to break down markets as the S&P 500 crosses 7,000 and investors await key signals from the Federal Reserve.

Remy: It is finally Fed Day and after a volatile start to the new year, the S&P 500 hitting new record highs and breaking 7000 for the first time ever this morning after three straight years of double digit gains. Meanwhile, the US dollar is fairly stable after extending losses. This came after Trump said he’s not concerned about the recent decline in the US currency. Joining me this morning is Jonathan Corpina, a senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners. Jonathan, thank you so much for joining me on S&P 500 7,000.

Jonathan: Yes. Special day.

Remy: Yeah. And so we’ve hit that level. But we are looking at mixed trading now for the major U.S. stock averages with the Dow coming below flat. So what do you make of what we’ve seen so far in 2026?

Jonathan: Right. So you know coming into 2026 high expectations to continue the follow through that we saw in 2025 I think, you know, you and I have had this conversation many times. There’s the same headwinds that are in front of us that we discussed at 2025 are still here. Clearly today we’re going to we’re going to hear a little bit more from the fed about interest rates.

We’re all planning that there’s going to be no cut, which is fine, but it’s going to be the reasoning why there was no cut. We want to hear that in the Q&A. We want to hear that in the statement and some insight moving forward. We all, we all feel and know that rates are going to come lower at some point. They moved high very fast.

It’s not it’s going to take some time for them to come back in, but hearing from the fed today is going to be very important. We still have our geopolitical risks, as we hear from President Trump today of our ships moving closer to Iran, and that slowly is starting to escalate. We’re going to continue to watch the headlines here. But as of now, yes, a little bit disconnect between the Dow and the other indices. But overall, good to see that the market is trending higher.

Remy: You bring up an important point because there’s a lot of noise out there, isn’t there? Whether we’re talking about politics or geopolitics.

Here on Wall Street, we do pay attention to what’s happening outside these walls, obviously, but we do keep an eye on those numbers. So when we break down the gains in the S&P 500, we are seeing that energy materials as well as industrials, consumer staples even are leading the way higher for the S&P 500.

So do you expect more of the same? And tell us a little bit about what you’re seeing when it comes to rotation.

Jonathan: I think we’re going to continue to see the rotation right. We’ve talked about tech stocks and the Mag 7 before. And this week is going to kick off some important earnings in that area. That will continue through next week. So for now they’ll be in the forefront. They’ll be the favorite. But we will see that rotation. I think investors are kind of trying to enjoy the best of both worlds. They want their yield. They want their return.

While this market is moving higher and don’t want to miss out on it, but they do want to protect themselves in case we do have a pullback. So you see that rotation into some of the safer sectors or the ones that can provide some of that shielding and shelter, whether that’s energy whether that’s the higher dividend stocks that are that are yielding good numbers out there.

So we will continue to see this rotation. And that’s natural as this market moves higher. Let’s just all keep in mind that as this market moves higher we are going to have some bumps in the road. We are going to have some catalysts that will cause investors to take some fear, take some risk off the table and take some of their short term profits off the table. So the volatility that we’ve seen in our markets, if you go back towards last week, the Greenland headlines hit on markets down 1.5% -almost 2% – and then bounce back the next day. We’re going to see a lot of that volatility. I would I would advise investors out there to be patient. You will see these swings, but it’s kind of a two step forward one step back mentality. We’re going to continue to tick higher.

Remy: I think that’s important as we go through earnings season to keep that in mind, especially with all of the political geopolitical headlines that are coming through. But one clear winner so far when it comes to asset classes is precious metals. We’ve seen gold and silver rally to new highs. And of course, gold may be coming off all time highs, but it is still elevated above 50 to 70. So do you expect more of the same?

Jonathan: I do. I can’t think of a headline that’s going to stop our gold and silver press higher. We’re going to still have these uncertainties in our markets, these uncertainty in our economy. Think investors have felt much more comfortable diversifying their portfolios into areas that could provide some safety.

That has been gold and now most recently silver. We’re going to continue to see that. And again, I don’t think that there’s a headline out there that’s really going to spook that market that’s there. A good sign to me is that investors are, in fact, diversifying their portfolios and are looking for safe havens there. Gold has always been that safe haven – not always traded in the same correlation of our volatility on all markets. but nice to see now that it is in the mix. It will be interesting to see if we have a 2%, 3% pullback on any headline, whether it warrants it or not. The impact of investing in gold, we’re going to probably continue to see that. So I don’t see that slowdown anywhere in sight anytime soon.

Remy: When we talk about diversification as well as volatility, we also pay attention to what’s happening in bonds, not just yields here in the US but also overseas. And of course, the FX markets, especially given what we’re seeing with the U.S. currency. So what is the key takeaway and what is the signal that you’re watching?

Jonathan: Key takeaways is that there’s a massive disconnect going on right now. We normally see this inverse relations in trading and equities and bonds. And at this point, we’re not we’re not seeing that direct correlation.

Yes. We continue to watch yields in the short term and long term bonds that that in the US and internationally. But at this point we’ll go back to the uncertainty in our markets. We’ll go back to the uncertainty in the fed. All of this changes what we were taught in the textbooks. This is kind of unchartered territory.

So I think we have to be patient. I think we we can’t be over reactionary. We have to kind of wait to see if and when dust settles, and those opportunities there. And then again, you know, coupling these geopolitical risks. The Venezuela headline went away very quickly. The Greenland headline went away very quickly.

We still have the current headlines of Iran, a few weeks ago. We saw some plans for what’s going to happen in Gaza. You and I have spoken about China, Taiwan, and that headline just always pops its head up and then goes away very quietly. So when you have these geopolitical risks that are out there, it’s going to continue to cause this uncertainty, which will cause a disconnect or fluctuation between the equity markets and the bond markets.

Remy: Finally, Jonathan, before I let you go, I do want to round out this conversation by focusing on the nation’s capital. So as you mentioned earlier, Trump will be speaking later. And later on we’ll be focusing on the Federal Reserve, not just the FOMC, but what Powell will be saying. And there are also concerns about a partial government shutdown coming down the pike. This would come on the heels of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. So what do you think we need to be paying attention to?

Jonathan: Remy, that’s a great point. That’s another headline that’s out there that can definitely put some pressure on our markets. Of the government shutdown that’s looming at this point right now. Based off of what happens before we can see this going down a certain path that we might not want it to go down to. Listen, I think we need to get some clear messages out of DC. That might be wishful thinking, but it’s not always what we get from Powell. Today we’re going to have to get some insight, some information as to what their thought process is. I’m not saying that a pause is incorrect, but it’s always good to understand why they have that on the table.

And we can then take that information and see how that’s going to play into the next round of fed decisions. And then as far as our president is concerned, we need to we need to continue to work with this this message of working with other countries and working on tariffs and the implications of tariffs and how that all plays out. So I think we’re going to need some clear messages out of Washington. Not always what we get, but certainly on my wishlist early in the year now.

Remy: Jonathan, always great talking to you. Thank you so much for joining me on this Wednesday and I appreciate all of your insights. Thank you.

Jonathan: Have a great day. Thank you.

AI Adoption Accelerates Across Financial Services as Firms Scale Deployment

Market Movers: The Opening Bell

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January 28, 2026

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AI Adoption Accelerates Across Financial Services as Firms Scale Deployment

Kevin Levitt, director of global business development for financial services at Nvidia, joins Remy Blaire to discuss new survey data showing how AI adoption is driving revenue, efficiency, and operational scale across financial services.

Remy: Artificial intelligence is no longer a future bet for financial services. It is already a core driver of how money moves. It is rapidly reshaping how the industry operates and according to a new industry survey of more than 800 financial professionals, does show AI adoption at record levels. And firms are not just testing the tech, they are scaling it across core functions like fraud prevention, customer service and risk management to drive real returns.

Joining me with the insights into the sixth annual Nvidia State of AI and Financial Services report is Kevin Levitt, director of global business development for financial services at Nvidia. Good morning and thank you so much for joining me. The 2026 survey was just released, and nearly 90% of respondents say AI is boosting revenue or cutting costs.

So where is the payoff biggest right now and where is the hype ahead of reality?

Kevin: I think that was one of the most exciting aspects of this report is when we asked these respondents around where they’re generating ROI from their investments in AI. It’s on both sides of the coin, so to speak. It’s both generating new revenue and reducing their annual costs. And that’s driving this near 100% response rate. we asked the same group of individuals, you know, will your financial services firm increase your spending and at least maintain budgets for AI in 2026?

And it was a resounding almost 100% that said they would. And so we’re really excited to see the continued momentum for AI and financial services. And as you said, it’s not about testing or pilots and POCs. It’s about actually deploying AI enabled applications into production and financial services.

Remy: Building on that, open source models are becoming core to strategy when it comes to AI. So can you walk us through how they change the competitive balance for financial institutions?

Kevin: Yeah. Happy to. You know, 84% of respondents said that open source software is moderately to extremely important to their organization in financial services and their AI strategy. The reason for that, and this is one of the biggest swings of the pendulum, that we’ve seen over the last few years is this migration away from off the shelf, proprietary AI solutions to leveraging open source models. Because what the banks want to do is take open source models and marry that with their proprietary data to build more accurate outcomes from generative AI and energetic AI capabilities. The other benefit that they’re seeing is that by using open source foundation models, the banks are able to keep their proprietary data in-house.

They don’t need to export it to a third party. So really, the intelligence of the enterprise and financial services stays within the bank’s data center within their four walls, and they’re able to deliver more accurate, AI enabled applications to either internal employees and or their external customers.

Remy: You just mentioned agentic AI, AI agents, it goes without saying or moving from theory to deployment. So for the layperson out there, can you tell us what tasks they’re handling today and how fast they’re actually scaling?

Kevin: Yeah. Happy to. I mean, they’re handling everything from knowledge management and retrieval of information. Uh, they’re helping with internal process automation. They’re engaging customers through support channels. And, you know, the real power of agentic AI now is all the sophisticated reasoning models that these agentic AI are powered by. And we used to use large language models, and they would generate sort of a one shot response just immediately give us the answer to the question. Now with the agentic AI, these models are actually reasoning, and that long thinking requires 100 times the amount of compute than traditional LLMs. Now, the benefit of that long thinking in that compute is that you’re able to get more accurate answers. that’s why banks are investing at scale in Nvidia’s accelerated computing platform, because it’s powering not just the training of these models and financial services, but also their deployment inference, because you need accurate outcomes and low latency that our platform enables.

Remy: Before I let you go, 2026 is well underway and we’re hearing from companies, given the fact that it is earnings season. In addition, there are plenty of IPOs that we’re closely watching. But with AI budgets rising across the board, what gets priority next based on your perspective, is it more use cases, better execution or the infrastructure to support it?

Kevin: That’s exactly where we’re seeing companies say they’re going to invest in 2026. They want to, of course, identify additional use cases, optimize their existing workflows, and importantly, continue to build and provide access to AI infrastructure. What we’re seeing is banks investing at scale in AI factories, and this is a foundational platform that sits across the enterprise, because AI is going to touch every function, every line of business within the bank. You need an accelerated computing platform to deliver these AI enabled applications at scale reliably, to enable all of these functions that are supporting not just hundreds of use cases today, but it will be thousands into the future of financial services.

Remy: Well, Kevin, we will have to leave it there. But thank you so much for sharing the findings from the latest report. I appreciate your time and all of your insights.

Kevin: My pleasure. Thank you.

Venture Debt Gains Traction as Fintech Startups Face Tighter Markets

Market Movers: The Opening Bell

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January 28, 2026

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Venture Debt Gains Traction as Fintech Startups Face Tighter Markets

Kyle Brown, CEO of Trinity Capital, joins FINTECH.TV’s Remy Blaire to discuss how venture debt is playing a growing role for fintech startups navigating tighter valuations, longer fundraising timelines, and evolving capital markets in 2026.

Holocaust Remembrance Day Message Echoes at NYSE

Taking Stock

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January 27, 2026

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Holocaust Remembrance Day Message Echoes at NYSE

Holocaust survivor and educator Nate Leipciger shared his life story and reflections with J.D. Durkin at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. His testimony offered a sobering reminder of the responsibility carried by individuals, institutions, and societies to remember history and to actively uphold justice, equality, and human dignity every day of the year.

Leipciger spoke about the defining moment of his life, recalling how, 82 years ago, he stood before the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau and witnessed flames consuming the lives of countless people, including members of his own family. That memory, he explained, is not only a personal tragedy but a historical warning. Remembrance and education, he stressed, are essential tools to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

He emphasized that Holocaust Remembrance Day represents a commitment to honor those who were murdered simply for being Jewish. Remembering is not an abstract exercise, but a moral obligation. Leipciger warned that denial or minimization of the Holocaust amounts to erasing victims a second time, reinforcing why historical truth must be protected and taught across generations.

During the conversation, Leipciger connected remembrance to the modern world, including the responsibility carried by industries shaping the future, such as technology and artificial intelligence. As innovation accelerates, he argued, values must keep pace. Tools that influence society at scale must be guided by conscience, empathy, and respect for human life rather than division or hatred.

Leipciger highlighted his work with March of the Living, alongside partnerships with companies such as Pfizer, as examples of how remembrance, education, and corporate responsibility can intersect. These collaborations demonstrate how businesses and institutions can honor history while contributing positively to society.

A central theme of Leipciger’s message was that remembrance cannot be confined to a single day. He called for year-round commitment to reflection and moral responsibility, urging individuals and organizations alike to act in ways that promote justice and equality. Hope, he shared, was essential to survival during the darkest moments of his life, and it remains essential today.

Looking forward, Leipciger expressed cautious optimism. Through education, dialogue, and intentional action, he believes societies can learn from history and choose a better path. His message serves as both a warning and an invitation: to remember the past honestly, to confront hatred wherever it appears, and to ensure that compassion and responsibility guide the future.

As his remarks made clear, honoring the victims of the Holocaust is not only about memory, but about action. By choosing empathy, truth, and accountability in daily life and professional decisions, individuals and institutions alike help ensure that history is not repeated and that humanity moves forward with purpose and integrity.

Theo Outlines NYSE Push for 24/7 Tokenized Markets

Taking Stock

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January 27, 2026

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Theo Outlines NYSE Push for 24/7 Tokenized Markets

Iggy Ioppe, chief investment officer at Theo, joined J.D. Durkin on Taking Stock to discuss where tokenized markets are headed and why the next phase of financial innovation may arrive sooner than many expect. The conversation centered on the New York Stock Exchange’s ambitions to build a 24/7 tokenized trading ecosystem and what that could mean for investors, liquidity, and the structure of global markets.

Ioppe described the NYSE’s vision as a decisive break from incremental modernization. Rather than simply upgrading legacy systems, the exchange is exploring an on-chain, decentralized trading environment designed to support atomic settlement. That means transactions could settle instantly, without intermediaries or delays, across blockchain networks. In contrast, Ioppe noted that other exchanges appear focused on improving existing infrastructure without fully embracing blockchain-native architecture.

The move toward continuous trading is one of the most consequential shifts under discussion. A 24/7 market would give investors flexibility well beyond traditional trading hours, while tokenized stocks would allow fractional ownership based on dollar amounts rather than whole shares. Together, these features could dramatically lower barriers to entry, opening markets to a broader global audience and increasing overall participation.

At Theo, Ioppe outlined plans to bring tokenized equities to market, starting with gold. With gold recently trading above $5,000, he described it as a logical foundation for tokenization. Gold has functioned as a store of value and medium of exchange for thousands of years, yet historically it has carried costs tied to storage, insurance, and security. Theo’s approach aims to remove those frictions while introducing yield-generating mechanisms, transforming gold from a static asset into a productive one.

Looking ahead, Ioppe highlighted regulation and liquidity as the two defining challenges for tokenized markets. Regulatory frameworks around tokenized assets continue to evolve, and while approval processes may take time, he argued that institutional involvement, particularly from exchanges like the NYSE, will accelerate acceptance and legitimacy. Clear rules, in his view, are essential to scaling decentralized trading safely.

Liquidity is the other critical piece. For 24/7 markets to function effectively, deep and reliable liquidity must exist beyond traditional trading windows. Ioppe stressed that building these mechanisms is central to Theo’s mission and to the broader success of tokenized markets worldwide.

Beyond efficiency and access, Ioppe framed tokenization as part of a broader shift toward responsible and sustainable investing. Blockchain-based systems can increase transparency, reduce operational waste, and support financial structures aligned with long-term economic and societal goals. In that sense, tokenization is not just a technical upgrade, but a rethinking of how capital markets operate.

Ioppe’s perspective reflects a financial system in transition. As institutions like the NYSE explore decentralized, always-on markets and firms like Theo develop tokenized assets with real-world utility, the boundaries between traditional finance and blockchain continue to dissolve. The result may be a faster, more inclusive, and more resilient global trading ecosystem, reshaping how investors engage with markets in the years ahead.

Investor Sentiment Signals Strength Beneath Market Volatility

Taking Stock

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January 27, 2026

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Investor Sentiment Signals Strength Beneath Market Volatility

Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief at Investopedia, joined J.D. Durkin on Taking Stock to break down market conditions during a volatile trading week marked by sharp swings in sentiment and headline-driven risk. Drawing on fresh data from Investopedia, Silver outlined how optimism remains intact beneath the surface, even as investors navigate an unusually dense news cycle.

According to Silver, investor sentiment started the week on strong footing but was quickly tested by a wave of geopolitical and economic headlines. In just a few days, markets absorbed what felt like a year’s worth of news. Even so, optimism has been persistent. Investopedia data shows bullish sentiment in 8 of the past 11 weeks, while global fund managers’ cash positions have fallen to record lows. At the same time, hedging activity against market declines is near multi-year lows, signaling continued confidence despite elevated uncertainty.

Silver also pointed to signs of broad-based momentum across key market segments. He highlighted what he described as a potential Dow Theory trifecta, with Dow Transports, Dow Industrials, and semiconductor stocks all reaching 52-week highs last week. That strength was reinforced by a growing share of stocks trading above their 50-day moving averages, a technical signal that suggested healthy market breadth before headline risks temporarily disrupted momentum.

Another notable factor is the large pool of capital still sitting on the sidelines. Silver estimated that roughly $7 to $8 trillion remains parked in money market funds. If earnings growth continues and market conditions stabilize, that capital could begin flowing back into equities, providing additional fuel for upside, particularly in sectors benefiting from government spending and long-term policy support.

On the retail side, Silver noted that Nvidia remains one of the most widely held stocks among individual investors, reflecting continued enthusiasm for AI-related exposure. At the same time, retail investors appear to be rotating into more defensive positions, particularly defense stocks, as expectations build around increased military and security spending under the current administration. This shift suggests a more cautious but still engaged retail investor base.

Demand for precious metals has also accelerated. Gold and silver are trading at record highs in the U.S., reinforcing their role as hedges during periods of market stress. Silver emphasized that metals are increasingly being viewed not just as safe havens, but as core components of diversified portfolios, particularly as investors weigh inflation, geopolitical risk, and equity volatility.

Looking ahead, Silver stressed the importance of the upcoming earnings season and key macro events, including the Federal Reserve’s press conference and new economic data releases. These developments are likely to shape near-term direction across equities, cryptocurrencies, and emerging areas such as blockchain and AI-driven investments.

As markets continue to balance optimism with uncertainty, Silver’s insights underscore the importance of understanding investor behavior beneath the headlines. By tracking sentiment, capital flows, and sector-level trends, investors and entrepreneurs can better position themselves to take advantage of opportunities while remaining prepared for potential volatility.

Coinbase Backs Push for Clear Crypto Market Structure

Taking Stock

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January 27, 2026

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Coinbase Backs Push for Clear Crypto Market Structure

Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at Coinbase, recently joined J.D. Durkin on Taking Stock to discuss the evolving state of cryptocurrency regulation in Washington, with particular focus on the Clarity Act. As legislative momentum builds, Grewal outlined why this moment represents a turning point for both the crypto industry and the broader financial system.

Grewal explained that Coinbase has been deeply engaged in policy discussions over the past year, especially around stablecoins and market structure. He pointed to the passage of the GENIUS Act as a meaningful milestone, noting that it delivered long-needed clarity around a core segment of the crypto ecosystem. According to Grewal, these developments signal that lawmakers are beginning to understand the importance of establishing clear and durable rules for digital assets.

A central theme of the discussion was the unusually strong bipartisan support surrounding crypto legislation. Grewal highlighted that both Democrats and Republicans now broadly agree on the need for regulatory clarity. He noted that the House’s recent passage of a market structure bill reflected cooperation rarely seen in Washington, underscoring that crypto policy has moved beyond partisan lines and into the realm of mainstream financial reform.

Despite this progress, Grewal acknowledged that politics can still slow the legislative process. With midterm elections approaching, competing priorities and political strategy could influence timing. Even so, he emphasized that the scale of crypto adoption in the United States makes inaction increasingly difficult. More than 52 million Americans now participate in the crypto economy, making digital asset policy a voter issue as much as a financial one.

Several unresolved issues remain on the table, including how stablecoin rewards should be treated and how tokenized equities fit into existing regulatory frameworks. Grewal expressed optimism that these topics can be resolved through continued bipartisan cooperation. He argued that a well-structured regulatory environment would benefit all participants, from institutional investors to individual users, by promoting innovation while protecting consumers.

The conversation underscored how far crypto regulation has come in a relatively short period of time. What was once viewed as a fringe issue is now a central focus of financial policy discussions in Washington. Grewal emphasized that this shift reflects a growing recognition of crypto’s role in economic growth, financial inclusion, and market modernization.

As lawmakers continue to debate the Clarity Act and related proposals, Grewal made clear that collaboration will be essential. Establishing transparent, consistent rules is critical to ensuring the long-term stability of the crypto market. With bipartisan alignment gaining strength, the regulatory framework taking shape could define the next phase of digital finance in the United States.

Hearing delayed, Bitmine Ethereum, Mining curtailed, BlackRock ETF

Daily Headlines

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January 27, 2026

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Hearing delayed, Bitmine Ethereum, Mining curtailed, BlackRock ETF

In today’s episode of the Crypto Daily Download, we highlight several key developments in the cryptocurrency market. First, we highlight that the Senate Agriculture Committee has postponed its crypto market structure markup hearing to Thursday due to a winter storm affecting much of the U.S. This hearing will include debates and votes on proposed amendments to the bill, alongside a joint appearance by the SEC and CFTC chiefs, also rescheduled for Thursday.

We highlight Bitmine Immersion’s significant move last week, where they made their largest Ethereum purchase of the year, acquiring 40,000 Ethereum for nearly $117 million. This brings their total holdings to over 4.24 million tokens, representing about 3.5% of Ether’s total supply, with their overall crypto and cash assets now totaling $12.8 billion.

Additionally, we discuss the impact of the Arctic blast on Bitcoin mining operations in the U.S., where rising electricity costs have led some large-scale mining companies, like Riot Platforms, to shut down parts of their operations. This situation may benefit Bitcoin miners outside the U.S. due to reduced competition.

Lastly, we cover BlackRock’s recent filing of an S-1 for an iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF. This product aims to track Bitcoin’s price while generating income through options trading, which could introduce new dynamics in the BTC-linked derivatives markets. Jane King with the latest from the NYSE.

Enterprise AI Shifts From Pilots to Operational Scale

Market Movers: The Opening Bell

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January 27, 2026

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Enterprise AI Shifts From Pilots to Operational Scale

As 2026 unfolds, artificial intelligence is entering a decisive phase inside enterprise environments. The conversation is no longer about experimentation or proof-of-concept tools, but about operational scale, governance, and measurable value. In a recent discussion with Pavlé Sabic, senior director of Generative AI Solutions and Strategy at Moody’s, the focus turned to how AI is reshaping enterprise decision-making, efficiency, and competitive positioning.

A central theme of the discussion was the rise of Agentic AI. Unlike earlier generations of automation, Agentic AI systems are designed to operate autonomously within defined guardrails, supporting complex workflows rather than executing isolated tasks. Sabic explained that many enterprises have moved beyond the innovation phase, but full operational adoption remains uneven. The next stage of AI maturity will emphasize multitasking capabilities, allowing AI systems to simultaneously support risk assessment, operational analytics, and supply chain optimization within core business processes.

Market expectations are also evolving. With a wave of anticipated AI-focused IPOs expected in 2026, including firms such as Databricks, Anthropic, and CoreWeave, investor scrutiny is sharpening. Sabic noted that markets are shifting away from aspirational narratives toward tangible performance metrics. Revenue growth, customer adoption, margin expansion, and demonstrable operational integration will matter more than vision alone. Companies that cannot clearly articulate how AI drives sustainable value may find public markets less forgiving.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in regulated sectors like financial services and healthcare, governance and compliance are emerging as non-negotiable priorities. Sabic stressed that successful deployment of Agentic AI begins with clear standards around data interoperability, auditability, and regulatory alignment. Enterprises that build governance into their AI foundations from the outset are more likely to scale responsibly and avoid costly setbacks as regulatory scrutiny increases.

The widening gap between AI leaders and laggards is becoming increasingly visible. According to Sabic, organizations that excel are those that integrate AI directly into business workflows rather than treating it as a standalone tool. These firms use AI to enhance critical functions such as risk management, client onboarding, and decision support. By contrast, companies that delay integration or struggle with fragmented data systems risk falling behind. Talent development also plays a decisive role, as enterprises must ensure their workforce is trained to collaborate effectively with AI-driven systems.

Concerns about AI-driven job displacement remain part of the broader conversation, but Sabic offered a more nuanced view. Rather than eliminating workforces, AI is reshaping them. Routine and repetitive tasks are increasingly automated, while demand grows for roles centered on judgment, oversight, and strategic decision-making. Enterprises that adopt an AI-first mindset and invest in reskilling their employees are better positioned to unlock productivity gains without eroding institutional knowledge.

As enterprises move deeper into 2026, AI integration represents both a major opportunity and a structural challenge. Agentic AI, when deployed with strong governance and workforce alignment, has the potential to redefine how organizations operate at scale. The coming year is likely to set lasting standards for enterprise AI adoption, shaping not only technology strategy but also the future intersection of finance, data, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

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Enterprise AI Shifts From Pilots to Operational Scale

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