Oracle’s AI Bubble Bursts: Peak Glory at $345, Now a $217 Hangover

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

ORCL ended the week at $217.58, up 1.52 percent, but it still had a 37 percent hangover from its 52-week high of $345.72. This is a microcosm of growing concerns about debt loads, AI infrastructure spending, and whether the “infinite demand” narrative for AI compute can withstand real-world economics.

AI Hype Causes a 36 percent Single-Day Surge. Oracle’s best day since 1992 occurred in September 2025, when shares surged 36 percent in a single session, increasing the company’s market value by an astounding $244 billion and moving it closer to a $1 trillion cap. Blowout cloud demand figures and announcements of multi-billion-dollar AI contracts, such as an eye-catching $300 billion, five-year infrastructure agreement with OpenAI to construct enormous data centers for training and inference, were the catalyst.

Oracle’s recent decline in stock value reflects broader market concerns regarding the high valuations of AI-related companies, as its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio exceeds 33. The company projects revenues of $166 billion from cloud infrastructure and $20 billion. Investors adopted a “sell the news” mentality, raising questions about the sustainability of these forecasts.

Oracle’s fundamentals remain solid. The company experienced 52% growth in cloud infrastructure and has $455 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPO), largely due to its partnership with OpenAI. Currently, the stock is trading at 13.9 times projected earnings for the end of this decade, leading some investors to view the decline as a potential buying opportunity.

Analysts predict an average stock price of $253 for November 2025, with a possible low of $212 if enthusiasm for AI diminishes. The stock’s price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) ratio of 15.44 suggests it may be undervalued compared to historical averages. Overall, the recent drop indicates that investors are reassessing the profit growth expectations to justify current valuations.

Oracle has significantly benefited from the surge in AI infrastructure. The company recently announced a five-year deal worth over $300 billion with OpenAI for access to AI chips. After reporting $455 billion in remaining performance obligations—a 359% increase from the previous year—Oracle’s stock enjoyed its best day since 1992 following its September earnings report.

Additionally, Oracle confirmed a cloud agreement with Meta and disclosed a commitment of $65 billion in cloud infrastructure during the current quarter.

From SWIFT to XRP: ISO 20022’s 90% Mandate Ushers in Ripple’s Revolution

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

SWIFT anticipates that by the beginning of 2026, 90% of all transactions will transition to ISO 20022.

The organisation responsible for overseeing ISO 20022 compliance is the Registration Management Group (RMG), which includes a range of members or parent companies associated with well-known Layer 1 blockchains. Notable members include Algorand (ALGO), Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR), Stellar Lumens (XLM), and Ripple (XRP), the latter two of which joined in 2020.

Stellar’s participation has provided both original altcoins with an opportunity to improve interoperability with SWIFT and other major financial institutions.

Financial giants like BlackRock and JPMorgan are actively acquiring ISO 20022-compliant coins. Stellar (XLM) has notable partnerships with companies like MoneyGram and IBM World Wire; however, its trading volume is lower than XRP’s. Ripple has established active partnerships with over 300 banks and financial payment solutions, including Santander and SEB, and is working on integrating its own RLUSD stablecoin.

Ripple’s (XRP) spot market volume consistently exceeds $2 billion, making it reasonable for the altcoin to grow with relatively low transaction fees. However, this $2 billion in spot trading is quadrupled by its futures market volume. XRP’s demand in perpetual contracts has hit $8 billion in a single day, highlighting a new trend among traders seeking larger gains.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) generally maintains a daily trading volume between $100 million and $200 million, even though both Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) chains process a block on average every five seconds. XRP’s ledger handles about 40 million transactions daily, significantly surpassing Stellar’s average of 7 million transactions daily

Bitwise Explains How XRP’s Battle-Tested Ledger Fuels Their Latest ETF

Posted on December 7, 2025December 7, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise, recently explained why the company just introduced an XRP ETF. He discussed the significance of the launch time in an interview.

His remarks come at a time when investors want clarity on XRP’s long-term trajectory, and the cryptocurrency wants to play a bigger part in global finance.

Hougan gave a straightforward explanation of Bitwise’s choice. He then addressed the main issue: during the SEC’s lawsuit, XRP faced an “existential regulatory threat.” He emphasized that no significant organization wanted to develop practical products on a network associated with such risk. This lawsuit, he argued, halted adoption. He made it clear that the obstacle was uncertainty, not technology.

Hougan claimed that this situation changed when the legal battle concluded in August. He stated that the blockchain now has “a chance” to compete on an even playing field. It does, nonetheless, allow XRP to pursue the use cases that its advocates have long discussed.

Hougan highlighted the ETF structure as a crucial step. He mentioned that Bitwise had reserved the ticker XRP and launched the product to provide the community with “high-quality exposure” through a simple ticker.

The company made this move as soon as the regulatory environment allowed it. This decision has given institutions a clear pathway to allocate capital.

Moreover, it has enhanced XRP’s standing in relation to other authorized digital asset funds. Investor interest in the Bitwise XRP ETF was strong upon its debut. On the first day, it recorded $25.7 million in trading volume and $107.6 million in assets under management.

Traditional businesses that require exposure that is ready for compliance are frequently drawn to ETFs. Institutions are interested in XRP, as evidenced by Bitwise’s ETF launch.

Long-term confidence is typically supported by greater regulatory clarity. Now that the lawsuit is over, access via an ETF deepens the market. Once excluded from institutional flow, XRP is now competing for it. XRP may become more prominent in international finance if new alliances and business applications emerge

SpaceX Insider Sale Could Value Rocket Giant at $800 Billion

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

SpaceX is preparing to sell insider shares in a deal that could value Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite manufacturer at up to $800 billion, reinstating its position as the most valuable private company in the world.

The details that SpaceX’s board of directors discussed on Thursday at its Starbase hub in Texas could change depending on interest from insider sellers and buyers or other factors.

SpaceX is also considering a potential IPO as early as late next year. The price under discussion for selling some employees’ and investors’ shares is more than $400 per share, according to another person familiar with the situation. This would put SpaceX’s valuation between $750 billion and $800 billion.

Although a successful offering at these levels would break records, the company would not raise any money through this planned sale.

In a post on his social media platform X, Musk stated, “SpaceX has been cash flow positive for many years and does periodic stock buybacks twice a year to provide liquidity for employees and investors.” When the company raised funds and sold shares at a valuation of $400 billion, the share price under discussion would be a significant increase compared to the $212 per share set in July.

EchoStar Corp.’s stock rose after learning of SpaceX’s valuation, 18% for a satellite TV and wireless company. In addition to an earlier deal to sell roughly $17 billion in wireless spectrum to Musk’s business, EchoStar agreed last month to sell spectrum licenses to SpaceX for $2.6 billion

Gold Rush : Goldman Sachs Eyes $5K Breakthrough – Is Your Portfolio Ready?

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

According to a Goldman Sachs survey, many investors believe that gold will reach a new all-time high of $5,000 by the end of 2026.

The bullion metal has increased by 58.6 percent so far this year, and on October 8, it broke through the historic $4,000 mark for the first time. In a survey of over 900 institutional investor clients on Goldman Sachs’ Marquee platform, 36 percent believe that gold will continue to rise and surpass $5,000 per troy ounce by the end of next year.

An additional 33% of respondents to the November survey predict that the commodity will hit between $4,500 and $5,000. Goldman Sachs reports that more than 70% of institutional investors expect gold prices to rise in the upcoming year.

On the other hand, slightly more than 5% of those surveyed believe that prices will decline to between $3,500 and $4,000 in the upcoming year. According to the survey, 27% of participants cited fiscal concerns as the primary cause of gold’s price increase, while 38% cited central bank purchases.

This year, a wide range of investors, including hedge funds and retail buyers, have turned to the commodity, which is typically viewed as a safe-haven asset during turbulent times, as a hedge against inflation risk, geopolitical unrest, and a declining dollar. Central banks have also invested in the precious metal because of gold’s high liquidity, low default risk, and generally neutral status as a reserve asset.

Silver’s 2025 Rampage to Historic Tops – Why This ‘Devil’ Still On

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Silver, often called the “Devil’s metal” because of its volatility, has reached record highs this year and still has potential for further gains amid a supply shortage. The price of an ounce of gold has exceeded $4,000 this year, and silver’s value has been rising in tandem with gold.

Silver prices hit a record high of $54.47 per troy ounce in mid-October, up 71% from the previous year. They have since somewhat retreated but are now increasing again despite limited supply.

Over the past fifty years, silver prices have peaked in October only three times, including January 1980, when the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market by acquiring a third of the global supply, and 2011, when U.S. gold and silver were seen as safe-haven assets during the debt ceiling crisis.

This year, silver’s rise—driven by a short squeeze—caught many investors off guard. Unlike earlier investment waves, the 2025 silver boom relied on a mix of low supply, high demand from India, industrial demand, and tariffs. Silver’s market is only about a tenth the size of gold’s. It saw a slight decline after Liberation Day, while gold prices surged.

The gold-silver ratio—which indicates how many ounces of silver are needed to buy one ounce of gold—spiked above 100, indicating that many ounces of silver are required to buy one ounce of gold. A low ratio means gold is relatively cheap, while a high ratio suggests silver is undervalued and likely to increase.

This ratio hit a record high in April. This year, silver proved to be an attractive, low-cost investment, especially in a country where roughly 55% of the population depends on agriculture. Silver prices in India surged dramatically on October 17, reaching a record high of 170,415 rupees per kilogram, an 85% increase since the start of the year.

However, 80% of India’s silver supply is imported. Historically, the UK has been India’s main silver supplier, but increasingly, the UAE and China are filling that demand. Over recent years, London’s vaults have been rapidly depleting: the London Bullion Market Association held 31,023 metric tons of silver in June 2022, but by March 2025, that volume had fallen to about 22,126 metric tons—its lowest level in many years.

Crude Oil Surges above $60 a Barrel on Hopes of Ukraine Peace Breakthrough

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Crude oil rose and ended the week on a positive note as investors assessed uncertain prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine and as the commodity crossed a key technical level.

West Texas Intermediate rose 0.7 percent to close above $60 per barrel, suggesting a risk premium persists. Russia objected to some parts of a plan supported by the US because a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine remains elusive.

The market is watching developments on a settlement that could lower prices by easing sanctions and increasing Russian oil flows, especially as an expected oversupply begins to appear.

Ukraine claimed responsibility for an overnight attack on the Temryuk seaport and Russia’s Syzran refinery. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Washington lobbied European nations to block a plan to use Moscow’s frozen assets to support a large loan for Ukraine. On Friday, WTI settled above its 50-day moving average, a crucial support level for the commodity, boosting bullish momentum.

Algorithmic traders covering some of their bearish positions in recent sessions also helped push prices higher, and analysts forecast more buying activity in the coming weeks. According to Dan Ghali, a commodity strategist at TD Securities, “this session should be the first significant short covering program since algo selling activity exhausted itself, and the bar is low for subsequent CTA buying activity to hit the tapes over the coming week.”

Worldwide oversupply is exerting downward pressure on prices amid geopolitical risks. While Canadian oil prices have fallen sharply, Saudi Aramco will cut the price of its flagship Arab Light crude grade to the lowest level since 2021 for January. Additionally, Baker Hughes reports that the number of US crude oil rigs increased by six over the previous week.

Breakup Bonanza: Netflix’s $5.8 Billion Warner Penalty Tops M&A History

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Netflix acquired Warner Bros. for $72 billion. One of the largest breakup fees ever included in a deal is a $5.8 billion penalty that Netflix has agreed to pay if the deal collapses or isn’t approved by regulators.

The fee, which is 8% of the deal’s equity value, is much higher than the typical amount even in large transactions, showing Netflix executives’ confidence in their ability to persuade international antitrust authorities.

According to a Houlihan Lokey report, the average breakup fee in 2024 was 2.4 per cent of the total transaction value.
Netflix’s multibillion-dollar commitment highlights the intense competition to take over the famous Hollywood studio.

Earlier this week, rival Paramount Skydance Corp. made a more substantial offer, increasing its proposed breakup fee to $5 billion—more than doubling it. Meanwhile, if Warner Bros. shareholders reject the deal, the company would have to pay a $2.8 billion reverse breakup fee. If Warner Bros. accepts a competing offer, the new buyer would be responsible for that cost.

XRP’s BlackRock Moment: The Silent Takeover That Changes Crypto Wealth

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Maxwell Stein, the Director of Digital Assets at BlackRock, caused a stir in the crypto market.

“Trillions of dollars are poised to enter the blockchain ecosystem, but in the short term, we need to demonstrate the technology’s utility,” stated Maxwell Stein. Meanwhile, Adena Friedman, President and CEO of NASDAQ, elaborated on how banks have begun tokenizing bonds, fixed income assets, and stablecoins, particularly Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Ripple’s annual Swell conference is one of the most anticipated events in the cryptocurrency community. However, renowned analyst Digital Asset Investor recently noted that while the Swell conference may not directly impact prices, an announcement regarding an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) backed by BlackRock could have a significantly different effect. This comment reignited discussions about the factors that truly influence XRP’s market fluctuations and whether Swell WAS a meaningful price catalyst.

The consensus among digital asset investors is clear: the Swell conference typically does not lead to immediate changes in XRP’s value. The conference mainly focuses on cross-border payment innovations, blockchain integration, and industry collaboration—topics that support long-term fundamentals but rarely trigger short-term price spikes. Conversely, the analyst suggested that a formal XRP ETF, especially one backed by a major international investment firm like BlackRock, would dramatically transform the market landscape. Such an event would signify institutional support and regulatory recognition, potentially attracting significant capital inflows and influencing the token’s price.

Reactions on X varied among users. While some see potential, one user noted that the current market trend indicates weakness and consolidation, suggesting that broader declines may overshadow any positive developments. They also mentioned that retail traders might react emotionally in the short term.

The overarching conclusion is that traders differentiate between significant financial advancements and mere symbolic events. Although Swell’s global reach and institutional partnerships are noteworthy, they rarely generate headlines that impact the market. In contrast, the possibility of a BlackRock XRP ETF would have much larger implications for investor accessibility, liquidity, and long-term valuation.

Market participants will likely continue to look for signs of progress in institutional integration as Ripple’s Swell 2025 conference in New York approaches. However, until an ETF or regulatory milestone is officially announced, expectations for substantial price movements remain low.

Hewlett-Packard: HPE Tumbles on Gloomy Sales Forecast Amid AI Server Delays

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise shares fell after the company’s sales forecast for the current quarter did not meet high expectations for its AI server business.

According to a statement released by HPE on Thursday, the company’s revenue for the period ending in January is projected to be between $9 billion and $9.4 billion, with profits, excluding certain items, expected to range from 57 to 61 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted sales of $9.88 billion and an average profit of 53 cents per share.

The decline in sales for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, which ended in October, was attributed to Chief Executive Officer Antonio Neri, who noted in an interview that their results also fell short of analysts’ projections. He explained that several agreements for servers designed to support AI workloads were postponed until 2026.

Specifically, some agreements with the U.S. government were delayed because of the federal government shutdown, and one transaction in Europe has been held up due to issues with a data center that is not yet ready.

Chief Financial Officer Marie Myers mentioned during a conference call with analysts that HPE is experiencing “substantial interest” in its AI servers, particularly from government and business clients. She noted, “We anticipate that demand will continue to be uneven because some of our largest sovereign clients are placing orders with long lead times, which may delay shipments to later dates.”

The Texas-based company is making a significant investment in networking as a key driver of future growth following the acquisition of Juniper Networks Inc. in July for approximately $13 billion.