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BlockDAG Draws $0.30–$0.40 Market Buzz as Presale Nears Its January 26 Finish! AVAX Stays Under Pressure & ETH Stabilises

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Crypto market signals are beginning to adjust, though not all projects are moving in the same direction. Ethereum is showing early signs that selling pressure is slowing after several weeks of decline. This change has led traders to watch closely to see if support levels can stay firm and help bring steadier sentiment back into the market.

Avalanche is moving on a separate path. Even with fresh expansion updates in the background, its charts still suggest caution. The main question now is whether long-term fundamentals can eventually overcome the current technical weakness showing on price charts.

Alongside these moves, BlockDAG (BDAG) is gaining attention for reasons not linked to short-term chart action. As its presale moves closer to ending, discussions are already forming around how its first trading phase could shape up once the presale finishes.

Ethereum Update: Signs of Balance After Heavy Selling

Focus has returned to the Ethereum price prediction as new market data points to early stabilisation. Binance Net Taker Volume has shifted notably, moving away from strong selling pressure toward a more even setup. This change suggests buyers are slowly stepping back in instead of rushing to exit positions. Several large holders have shared similar views, noting that Ethereum may have already set a base after weeks of steady accumulation.

From a chart view, ETH continues to trade near the $3,100 range after failing to break resistance close to $3,470. This price behaviour keeps the Ethereum price prediction neutral rather than clearly positive. Momentum tools are no longer deeply oversold, but they also lack the strength needed to confirm a clear upward move.

At present, Ethereum remains one of the top crypto coins under close watch. Holding key support levels could help calm market sentiment, but until resistance is regained, the Ethereum price prediction still points toward sideways movement instead of a sharp breakout.

Avalanche Update: Growth Efforts Face Short-Term Pressure

Recent headlines placed Avalanche in focus after it announced a new DLT Foundation in Abu Dhabi, aimed at building stronger regional ties and wider adoption. This step adds long-term credibility to the network. However, the Avalanche price continues to reflect near-term caution rather than optimism. AVAX is trading well below earlier highs, and indicators suggest cooling momentum instead of a confirmed reversal.

Weekly charts show higher volatility, with Bollinger Bands widening and support forming toward the lower range. The RSI sits close to oversold levels but has yet to signal a clear bounce. Market analysts point out that the Avalanche price remains locked in a broader downward channel, meaning any recovery attempt would need a strong breakout to change the trend.

Despite current weakness, Avalanche still ranks among the top crypto coins linked to wider ecosystem growth stories. For now, price action suggests patience, as the market waits for stronger confirmation before shifting direction.

BlockDAG Signals Strong Opening Range as Presale Ends Jan 26

Market participants are closely watching BlockDAG as its presale approaches its January 26 finish. Unlike short-term chart moves, interest here is centred on supply structure, demand levels, and how early trading conditions may unfold once the presale ends. Current projections suggest strong early activity once trading begins.

For a limited time, BlockDAG coins are available at a special presale price of $0.003 per coin. This price level represents a final entry window before pricing changes. If BlockDAG reaches a $0.05 level after presale completion, this reflects a 16.67× difference from the current price, translating to a +1,566% upside. Once this stage ends, this price is gone with no extensions or resets.

The numbers behind the presale help explain growing attention. BlockDAG has raised over $441 million so far, with roughly 3.5 billion coins remaining. The presale is now in Batch 34, and urgency has increased as the final days approach. Demand has remained strong while available supply continues to narrow.

Market makers note that opening price levels are shaped by real buy and sell activity rather than reference figures. With limited supply available at the start and liquidity already prepared, early pricing could reflect strong demand conditions. These factors together are driving continued focus on BlockDAG as the presale clock runs down.

How Top Crypto Coins Shape the Week Ahead

Ethereum and Avalanche continue to reflect different stages of market adjustment. The Ethereum price prediction now leans toward consolidation, with buyers returning just enough to ease selling pressure but not yet strong enough to reclaim major resistance zones.

Avalanche remains limited by technical weakness, as recent expansion efforts have not yet translated into a clear shift in the Avalanche price trend. For both assets, near-term movement still depends more on price structure than on headlines alone.

BlockDAG stands apart as its presale moves into its final stretch, backed by over $441 million raised and a clearly defined closing date of January 26. With a special price of $0.003 and a projected +1,566% upside to $0.05, attention remains firmly on how demand and supply may interact once the presale ends.

As Ethereum and Avalanche work through their consolidation phases, BlockDAG’s current setup places it among the top crypto coins being closely watched ahead of their next major move.

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

Comcast Spin-Off Versant Enters Public Markets as Investors Weigh Cable TV’s Future

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Versant Media Group, the newly independent portfolio of cable television networks and digital assets carved out of Comcast, officially joins the public markets on Monday, stepping into an industry still grappling with structural disruption and shifting viewer habits.

The debut is seen as a live stress test of whether legacy cable television assets, repackaged with selective digital bets and lighter leverage, can still command investor confidence in an industry undergoing one of the most disruptive transitions in its history.

When Versant begins trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker “VSNT,” it enters a market that has become deeply skeptical of traditional media. The slide in its “when-issued” shares from $55 in mid-December to $46.65 by Friday’s close underscores that skepticism. Investors are clearly demanding proof, not promises, that cable-heavy portfolios can stabilize revenues and generate durable cash flows in an era defined by cord-cutting, streaming fragmentation, and volatile advertising markets.

At a valuation of roughly $6.8 billion, Versant sits in an awkward middle ground. It is neither a high-growth streaming pure play nor a deeply distressed asset trading at fire-sale multiples. Instead, it is being positioned as a cash-generative, operationally disciplined media company that can slowly pivot toward digital while extracting value from still-profitable linear networks. That framing will likely define how the market judges the company over the next 12 to 24 months.

The composition of Versant’s assets matters. Networks like CNBC, USA, Golf Channel, and MS Now anchor the portfolio in news and sports-adjacent content — two areas that continue to draw live audiences and premium advertising dollars even as entertainment viewing shifts on demand. Live programming remains harder to replicate or fully displace with streaming, giving Versant some insulation compared with general entertainment-focused cable groups.

Still, the numbers reveal the scale of the challenge. Revenue has declined steadily from $7.8 billion in 2022 to $7.1 billion in 2024, a trajectory that mirrors the broader contraction of the U.S. pay-TV ecosystem. Net income has followed the same downward slope. While profitability remains intact, the trend highlights how much pressure management faces to arrest decline rather than simply manage it.

Debt, however, is where Versant tries to differentiate itself. Ratings agencies flagged the company’s BB credit rating, but they also emphasized its relatively conservative leverage compared with peers. In a sector where companies like Warner Bros. Discovery continue to wrestle with heavy debt loads inherited from mega-mergers, Versant’s balance sheet is being pitched as a strategic advantage. Management believes this flexibility will allow the company to pursue targeted acquisitions in digital media, ticketing, sports technology, and data-driven platforms without jeopardizing financial stability.

The one-time $2.25 billion cash distribution to Comcast, funded through new debt issuance, has drawn scrutiny. For some investors, it reinforces the perception that the spin-off primarily served Comcast’s balance sheet rather than Versant’s long-term growth. For others, the remaining liquidity and manageable leverage provide a clearer runway than that available to more encumbered rivals.

Strategically, Versant’s future hinges on execution rather than scale. Unlike Netflix or Disney, it is not trying to win the streaming arms race outright. Instead, it is betting on incremental digital expansion layered onto legacy strengths. Properties like Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes already provide touchpoints with digitally native audiences, while platforms such as GolfNow and Sports Engine offer data, community, and transactional revenue streams that extend beyond traditional advertising.

The broader industry context also shapes Versant’s prospects. Media consolidation has accelerated as companies search for scale, cost savings, and negotiating power with advertisers and distributors. Versant’s independence could make it both a consolidator and a target. Its focused asset base, predictable cash flows, and lighter debt profile may appeal to private equity firms or strategic buyers seeking exposure to news and sports without the complexity of sprawling entertainment studios.

Investor sentiment toward the sector remains fragile. Newsmax’s volatile post-IPO performance serves as a cautionary tale, reinforcing how quickly enthusiasm can fade when growth narratives collide with structural decline. Versant’s early share-price weakness suggests markets are reserving judgment until management demonstrates credible progress on digital growth, cost control, and revenue stabilization.

However, the company stands as a bellwether for traditional media’s next phase. Its public-market journey will help answer a central question facing the industry: can cable-era assets, reorganized and financially disciplined, still generate sustainable shareholder value — or are they destined to be harvested for cash while audiences and advertisers continue to migrate elsewhere?

The answer will not emerge in a single quarter. But as one of the few media companies brave enough to test the IPO waters amid ongoing disruption, Versant’s performance will be closely watched as a proxy for the sector’s long-term investability.

Markets Shrug Off Venezuela Shock as Investors Bet Trump’s Move Won’t Spiral — and May Reset the Oil Equation

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Global markets barely flinched after President Donald Trump ordered a dramatic military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, underscoring a familiar pattern in modern financial markets: even extraordinary geopolitical shocks struggle to derail investor confidence unless they threaten to metastasize into wider conflict.

By early Monday trading, U.S. equity futures were firmly in positive territory. S&P 500 futures rose about 0.3%, Nasdaq 100 futures gained roughly 0.7%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were broadly flat. The muted response denoted a prevailing investor belief that the Venezuela operation, while historic in scale and symbolism, is unlikely to trigger a broader regional or global confrontation.

Instead, markets appear to be framing the event through two lenses: limited near-term geopolitical risk, and a longer-term recalibration of the global oil market.

Energy stocks were among the clearest beneficiaries. Shares of Chevron surged more than 7%, buoyed by expectations that its long-standing footprint in Venezuela could position it to benefit disproportionately if the country’s oil sector is reopened to Western capital. Exxon Mobil also climbed more than 4%, as investors began to price in the possibility that U.S. and allied oil majors could eventually gain access to Venezuela’s vast but long-neglected reserves.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, yet years of sanctions, underinvestment, and infrastructure decay have reduced its output to a fraction of its potential. For markets, the prospect of a political reset in Caracas is less about immediate barrels hitting the market and more about what could unfold over the years rather than weeks.

That long-term framing helps explain the calm. Historically, geopolitical shocks — even wars, regime changes, and major military escalations — have tended to cause only short-lived volatility in equity markets unless they directly disrupt global trade routes or trigger sustained spikes in energy prices. Investors appear to be betting that this episode will follow that script.

“While volatility is expected as the Venezuelan headlines will dominate the landscape, the overall market seems relatively unfazed by events so far,” said Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. “A quick resolution with little escalation threat has calmed any investor jitters for now.”

Trump’s own track record is part of that calculation. Despite his willingness to use force, he has repeatedly criticized prolonged foreign conflicts, particularly in Iran and Afghanistan. That history has reinforced market expectations that Washington will seek leverage and rapid outcomes rather than open-ended military entanglements. In that context, investors are interpreting the Venezuela operation as a high-impact, contained intervention rather than the opening act of a broader regional war.

Analysts also note that Venezuela’s current oil exports are relatively small in global terms, limiting any immediate supply shock. Matthew Aks of Evercore ISI said over the weekend that even a best-case scenario for Venezuela’s oil sector would unfold slowly, constrained by damaged infrastructure, capital requirements, and regulatory uncertainty.

“Venezuela’s current oil exports are modest, and any effort to rebuild production capacity will be a multi-year process,” Aks said.

He added that Trump’s rhetoric, including comments about the U.S. “running” Venezuela, should be viewed less as a literal blueprint and more as a pressure tactic.

“Trump’s statement about the U.S. running Venezuela is getting a lot of attention, but we do not expect any immediate large-scale U.S. military action,” Aks said. “Rather, we interpret it as a colorful metaphor and negotiating tactic intended to maintain pressure on the remnants of the Maduro regime to cede power voluntarily.”

That interpretation aligns with how fixed-income and currency markets have behaved. There has been no meaningful flight to safety into U.S. Treasuries, no sharp spike in the dollar, and no surge in volatility gauges — all signals that investors see limited contagion risk.

Still, the geopolitical reverberations are being felt beyond markets. Several countries are on heightened alert, wary of what the precedent might mean for international norms. One analyst noted that Denmark has entered what was described as “full crisis mode” after Trump renewed focus on Greenland in the aftermath of the Venezuela operation, while Russia’s response to Maduro’s removal has been cautious and measured rather than confrontational.

For energy markets, however, the implications could be profound — even if delayed. A Venezuela reset has the potential to reshape oil flows in the Western Hemisphere, reduce reliance on Middle Eastern supply over time, and alter OPEC dynamics if Venezuelan production is eventually restored at scale. That prospect is already being quietly absorbed into longer-dated oil price expectations, even as spot prices remain relatively stable.

In the near term, investors appear comfortable with uncertainty. The consensus view is that Venezuela’s oil story is a long game, one that will be influenced as much by diplomacy, sanctions policy, and corporate risk appetite as by military outcomes.

Unless the situation escalates sharply or spills into a broader confrontation involving major powers, Wall Street seems content to treat Venezuela as a strategic, long-term energy story — not an immediate reason to hit the panic button.

OPEC+ Holds Output Steady as Geopolitics Eclipse Market Fundamentals and Oil Prices Sink

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OPEC+ opted for caution on Sunday, keeping its oil output policy unchanged after a short, tightly focused meeting that deliberately avoided the mounting political crises involving several of its members.

The decision points to how the alliance is navigating one of its most complex operating environments in years, with geopolitics increasingly overshadowing traditional supply-and-demand calculations.

The meeting brought together eight core OPEC+ producers — Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Oman — a bloc that collectively pumps about half of the world’s oil. Their choice to stand pat comes as crude prices fell more than 18% in 2025, the steepest annual decline since the pandemic-driven collapse of 2020, driven by oversupply concerns, uneven global demand, and a series of geopolitical shocks.

Rather than revisiting output targets, the group reaffirmed a decision taken in November to pause further production increases through January, February, and March. That pause follows a year in which the same eight countries raised output targets by roughly 2.9 million barrels per day, close to 3% of global demand, as OPEC+ sought to regain market share after prolonged supply curbs.

The timing of the meeting was striking as political tensions are flaring on multiple fronts, each carrying potential implications for oil supply, yet none were formally addressed. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE — long seen as the strategic anchor of OPEC+ — deteriorated sharply last month following renewed fighting in Yemen, where a UAE-aligned group seized territory from the Saudi-backed government.

The episode marked the most serious strain between the two allies in decades and revived concerns about internal cohesion within the producer alliance.

Even more dramatic was the shock from Venezuela. On Saturday, the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with President Donald Trump saying Washington would take control of the country until a transition to a new administration becomes possible, without spelling out how that would unfold. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, surpassing even Saudi Arabia’s, yet years of sanctions, mismanagement, and underinvestment have reduced its production to a fraction of past levels.

Despite the gravity of these events, OPEC+ delegates said Venezuela was not discussed. The omission was telling. By avoiding politically charged topics, the group signaled a determination to insulate oil policy from geopolitical fallout, at least for now.

“Right now, oil markets are being driven less by supply–demand fundamentals and more by political uncertainty,” said Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy and a former OPEC official. “And OPEC+ is clearly prioritizing stability over action.”

That approach reflects both experience and constraint. OPEC has historically managed to function through wars, sanctions, and internal disputes by focusing narrowly on market management. But today’s challenges are unusually layered. Russian oil exports are under pressure from U.S. sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine. Iran is facing domestic unrest alongside renewed U.S. threats.

Venezuela’s political upheaval adds another layer of uncertainty, with analysts cautioning that even a change in government would not translate into a quick rebound in oil output, given the scale of investment required to revive the sector.

At the same time, the global demand picture offers little incentive for bold moves. Consumption growth remains sluggish in key economies, winter demand in the northern hemisphere is seasonally weak, and inventories are relatively comfortable. Cutting output further could support prices but risks ceding market share to U.S. shale producers and other non-OPEC suppliers. Raising output, on the other hand, could deepen the price slump and strain the finances of several member states.

Internal dynamics also matter. While some producers favor tighter supply to shore up revenues, others — particularly those with capacity to grow — are reluctant to hold back barrels in a competitive global market. The current pause offers a compromise, buying time while keeping the alliance intact.

Analysts see the decision as a holding pattern rather than a long-term signal. With oil prices under pressure and geopolitical risks multiplying, OPEC+ is effectively betting that inaction is safer than miscalculation. The group said the eight members will meet again on February 1, a gathering that could prove more consequential if prices continue to slide or if political disruptions begin to materially affect supply.

‘You Cannot Tax Your Way Out of Poverty’: CPPE, Peter Obi Warn of Economic Risks in Nigeria’s Tax Reform Push

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As Nigeria presses ahead with one of the most far-reaching tax overhauls in decades, concerns are mounting that the reforms, if poorly sequenced and aggressively enforced, could end up weakening the economy they are meant to strengthen.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) is now joined by a growing chorus of critics, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, who argue that taxing an economy dominated by the informal sector and hardship risks deepening poverty rather than unlocking growth.

In a statement issued on Sunday, CPPE’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muda Yusuf, warned that Nigeria’s tax reform drive could undermine the informal sector if it fails to reflect the realities of how most Nigerians earn a living. While acknowledging that reform is necessary to shore up government revenue and improve fiscal sustainability, Yusuf stressed that Nigeria’s economic structure demands caution, inclusiveness, and careful sequencing.

Nigeria’s informal economy is not a fringe segment; it is the backbone of employment and income generation. Yusuf pointed out that the country has an estimated 40 million micro, small, and nano enterprises, with more than 80 percent operating outside the formal system. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Survey show that over 90 percent of jobs are in the informal economy, underscoring its centrality to social stability and household survival.

Against this backdrop, CPPE argues that reforms built around mandatory filing, defined record-keeping standards, strict penalties, and presumptive taxation risk alienating the very businesses policymakers hope to formalize. Most informal operators, Yusuf said, lack structured accounting systems and have a limited understanding of tax concepts such as company income tax, value-added tax, personal income tax, and withholding tax. Many operate largely in cash, on thin margins, with limited literacy and digital capacity, making compliance with technically complex tax rules both costly and intimidating.

The organization warned that without deliberate sequencing, taxpayer education, and transitional support, these measures could discourage voluntary compliance and push businesses further into the shadows. Instead of widening the tax net sustainably, the reforms could shrink it by driving economic activity away from visibility.

One provision that has triggered particular anxiety among small and medium-sized enterprises is the requirement for banks to report quarterly transactions of N25 million and above to tax authorities. CPPE noted that many SMEs handle pass-through or custodial funds that do not represent actual income. In such cases, high turnover does not equate to high profitability, yet these firms could be subjected to audits, disputes, and compliance costs that overwhelm their capacity.

Beyond SMEs, CPPE highlighted broader macroeconomic risks. The proposed increase in capital gains tax from 10 percent to 30 percent has unsettled investors in the stock market and real estate sector, even with assurances around thresholds. At a time when confidence remains fragile, Yusuf warned that such a sharp increase could dampen investment appetite and slow capital formation.

The organization also questioned the adequacy of the N500,000 annual rent relief cap, arguing that it no longer reflects the reality of housing costs in major urban centers. With rents surging across cities, CPPE said the cap offers limited relief and could further squeeze middle-class disposable income, with negative implications for consumption and economic momentum.

Concerns also extend to the wide enforcement powers granted to tax authorities and the severity of penalties embedded in the new tax laws. CPPE cautioned that excessive enforcement in an economy dominated by small and informal businesses could stifle enterprise growth and deepen distrust between taxpayers and the state. Yusuf argued that trust-building, clarity, and gradual integration into the formal economy should take precedence over punitive enforcement.

These concerns are not limited to the private sector advocacy community. Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi has also decried the direction of Nigeria’s tax reforms, framing the debate in stark moral and economic terms.

“Prosperity cannot come by taxing poverty,” Obi said, urging the government to rethink its approach if it is serious about economic growth, national unity, and shared prosperity. He argued that taxation without growth risks turning fiscal policy into a tool that punishes survival rather than rewards productivity.

“The purpose of sound fiscal policy is not merely to raise revenue; it is to make the people wealthier so that the nation itself becomes stronger,” Obi said. “Yet today, Nigerians are asked to pay taxes without clarity, explanation, or visible benefit.”

Obi’s critique goes to the heart of a broader concern: that revenue mobilization is being prioritized over wealth creation. He argued that the foundation of a sustainable tax system lies in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises across communities. When businesses thrive, he said, jobs are created, incomes rise, and the tax base expands naturally.

“You cannot tax your way out of poverty — you must produce your way out of it,” Obi said, warning that overburdening struggling businesses and households could weaken social cohesion and undermine long-term growth.

The warnings come even as President Bola Tinubu has made clear that the reforms will proceed as planned. In December, the president reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the new tax laws, despite calls for suspension or review. He said the reforms, signed into law on June 26, 2025, and taking effect from January 1, 2026, are central to rebuilding Nigeria’s fiscal framework and reducing reliance on borrowing.

The tax acts represent one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s tax system in decades, aimed at boosting non-oil revenue and improving compliance. However, critics argue that ambition alone will not guarantee success. Without sensitivity to Nigeria’s economic realities, clearer communication, and policies that prioritize growth and productivity, the reforms risk widening the gap between fiscal intent and economic outcome.

The message, which has been chorused by economists, is that a tax system divorced from the lived realities of citizens, especially those in the informal economy, may raise short-term revenue but undermine the long-term goal of economic growth.