Alaska Airlines has launched a new fare sale, offering a 30% discount on base fare for select flights. You must book today for travel between March 10 and May 21. There are some important restrictions, so take a look at the details below.
Offer Details
Use code SAVE30 to save 30% on select Alaska Airlines flights. Discount applies to base fare only and does not apply to taxes, fees, or surcharges.
Purchase By: 11:59 p.m. PST on February 25, 2026.
Travel Dates Restrictions: Travel is valid from March 10, 2026, through May 21, 2026.
Travel to Hawaii, Florida, or Latin America is valid only on departures Sunday through Wednesday.
Travel from Hawaii, Florida, or Latin America is valid only on departures Tuesday through Friday.
For all other travel within the continental United States, state of Alaska, and Canada, travel is valid only on departures Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Blackout Dates: Per fare rules, travel is not valid on March 21, 2026; March 28, 2026; April 4, 2026; April 11, 2026; and April 18, 2026.
Flights: Valid only on flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and flights operated on behalf of Alaska Airlines by Horizon Air and SkyWest. Not valid on codeshare flights.
First Class fares and some economy fares are not eligible.
Offer is valid for one person or up to 8 people per discount code, traveling together and booked and ticketed at the same time in the same reservation and at the same fare.
One discount allowed per reservation.
Discount not valid on all fares, including but not limited to Atmos Rewards Award Reservations, tour or contract fares, and many privately filed fares.
Guru’s Wrap-up
While a 30% discount sounds generous, it only applies to the base fare, meaning your total out-of-pocket savings will likely be much lower once taxes and fees are factored in. When you add in the heavy day-of-the-week restrictions and the lengthy list of Saturday blackout dates throughout March and April, finding a flight that actually fits your schedule could be a bit of a challenge.
If you have a specific mid-week trip in mind for the spring, it is worth checking to see if your route qualifies. However, for most travelers, the limited travel windows and excluded fare classes make this promotion almost worthless.
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been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
ClearOne Advantage is a debt settlement company that negotiates on behalf of consumers to lower how much debt they owe to their creditors.
In this review, I’m going to cover how the settlement process works with ClearOne Advantage, what pros and cons to consider and how to qualify.
But first I want to be clear: Debt settlement is risky. There’s no guarantee of success, and it can seriously damage your credit.
Debt settlement may be an option for those severely overwhelmed by debt. Before opting into a program, NerdWallet recommends exploring other ways to get out of debt, like enrolling in a debt management plan or applying for a debt consolidation loan.
ClearOne Advantage debt settlement at a glance
Minimum debt required to enroll:
$10,000.
Types of debt eligible for enrollment:
Unsecured debt, including credit cards, personal loans, private student loans and unsecured lines of credit.
When you sign up for debt settlement with ClearOne Advantage, you’ll stop making payments on your enrolled debts, if you haven’t already.
You’ll instead make a monthly payment into a dedicated “savings account.” This account is FDIC-insured, and you can monitor it 24/7 via an online portal. ClearOne will work with you to determine the payment amount that’s best for your budget.
As money accumulates in the savings account, ClearOne begins negotiating with your creditors to get them to accept a smaller amount. The idea is that by not paying your creditors at all, they’re more likely to accept some payment instead of risking no payment at all.
If a creditor agrees to the settlement offer proposed by ClearOne, you’ll pay the creditor from the funds in the savings account, and the debt is then considered settled. You repeat this process until all your enrolled debts are settled.
It takes 24 to 51 months, on average, for customers to complete the program, ClearOne says.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Debt settlement companies often list projected savings on their website. These percentages vary significantly and may not include fees, so take them with a grain of salt. ClearOne told NerdWallet that customers can expect to save up to 30% of their enrolled debt after fees. That means if your enrolled debt is $15,000, you could save up to $4,500. Projected savings are never a guarantee.
How much does ClearOne Advantage cost?
The biggest cost of debt settlement is the settlement fee. ClearOne Advantage’s settlement fee is 18% to 29% of the total enrolled debt. This percentage is based on multiple factors, including your state of residence.
Here’s how the settlement fee works: Let’s say you enroll with $20,000 in credit card debt, and you’re able to settle that debt for $9,000. You might pay a settlement fee of up to $5,800 (29% of $20,000). This is in addition to the $9,000 you pay to your creditors. Altogether you’d pay $14,800.
A debt settlement company cannot collect a debt settlement fee until it successfully settles a debt .
Other costs to using ClearOne Advantage include a recurring monthly fee of $17 for the savings account.
Is ClearOne Advantage legit?
ClearOne Advantage is a legitimate debt settlement company founded in 2008. It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating and holds an accreditation from the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR) .
It’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to work with ClearOne.
Cons
Risky way to get out of debt
Pros of ClearOne Advantage
Free consultation: ClearOne Advantage offers a free no-obligation phone call, so you can get familiar with its debt settlement service. During this call, a debt specialist will analyze your debts and budget and propose a settlement plan, including a monthly payment amount. The specialist may also refer you to other services, like credit counseling or debt consolidation loans, if those are a better fit.
Multiple accreditations: ClearOne is accredited by multiple institutions, like the BBB and ACDR, which help give prospective customers peace of mind. ClearOne also requires its debt specialists to be accredited through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA), a nonprofit organization that helps both consumers and debt settlement companies assess debt relief options.
Wide state availability: ClearOne’s debt settlement program is available in 48 states. This is a larger footprint than most debt settlement companies, which may only offer debt settlement in 40 states or less. Residents in Illinois and Oregon aren’t eligible for ClearOne debt settlement.
Cons of ClearOne Advantage
Higher fees: ClearOne Advantage’s debt settlement fee — 18% to 29% of the total enrolled debt — is higher than other companies, which tend to charge a settlement fee of 15% to 25%. Some companies, like Ascend Debt Relief, may charge a fee as low as 10% for larger debts. A higher settlement fee increases the cost of the program and reduces the amount of savings you’ll see from settlement.
The savings account also comes with a higher maintenance fee of $17. Most account providers charge a maximum fee of $10. However, there’s no one-time enrollment fee for the account, which is unusual.
A risky way to get out of debt: There are risks in working with ClearOne Advantage, including a major hit to your credit, falling deeper into debt as you await a successful settlement negotiation and even the possibility of being sued by a creditor. Learn more about debt settlement risks lower down.
No guarantee of success: Like all debt settlement companies, ClearOne Advantage may not be able to settle all your debts even if you follow the program perfectly. This is because not all creditors accept settlement offers.
Costs add up: When working with a debt settlement company like ClearOne Advantage, you’re charged multiple fees. These fees are in addition to any charges you accumulate from your creditors, like late fees or interest. Consider alternative ways to get out of debt (listed below) that may have fewer fees and cost less overall.
How to qualify for ClearOne Advantage
ClearOne Advantage works with consumers who have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt. This may include credit cards, store cards, personal loans, private student loans and unsecured lines of credit.
It doesn’t settle secured debts, meaning any debt tied to collateral, like an auto loan or mortgage. It also doesn’t settle select federal student loans and some medical debts.
ClearOne says its average customer enrolls with $15,000 to $30,000 in debt.
During the application process, you’ll undergo a soft credit pull, which won’t hurt your credit score. There’s no hard credit check.
Know the risks of debt settlement
It’s important to understand the overall risks of debt settlement before deciding whether to work with ClearOne Advantage.
Organizations like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission urge consumers interested in debt settlement to consider these risks:
It will hurt your credit: Because you’re required to stop making payments on enrolled debts, those accounts will be marked delinquent on your credit reports. Your credit score will take a significant hit, especially if you weren’t already delinquent on those accounts. Delinquencies and settled accounts stay on your credit reports for seven years .
Interest and fees continue to accrue: Until you enter a settlement agreement, you’ll accrue additional interest and late fees on your debt . If you don’t stick with the program to completion, or if the debt settlement company can’t negotiate a settlement, you may end up with an overall higher balance.
You may still hear from creditors or debt collectors: There’s no guarantee your creditors will want to work with a debt settlement company, and you may be contacted by debt collectors or sued by creditors during the process .
Forgiven debt may be considered taxable income: Forgiven debts over $600 may be counted as income on your taxes . Creditors may send a 1099-C form to you in the mail and to the IRS. One exception is if you are insolvent (your liabilities exceed your total assets) at the time the company settles with your creditors.
Freedom Debt Relief vs ClearOne Advantage
Freedom Debt Relief and ClearOne Advantage are two large debt settlement companies that help negotiate with your creditors.
Freedom accepts smaller debts, starting at $7,500, and it charges a smaller settlement fee (15% to 25% of the total debt enrolled). It also comes with unique perks for customers, including free access to a network of attorneys, in case you’re sued by a creditor, and a program guarantee that refunds fees if you don’t save money with settlement.
However, Freedom is only available in 39 states. ClearOne’s program may also lead to higher savings at 30% of enrolled debt, compared to Freedom’s average of 28%.
Alternatives to hiring a debt settlement company
Do-it-yourself debt settlement
Though it may seem easier to have a third party, like a debt settlement company, intervene on your behalf, you could have just as much success calling your creditors and negotiating with them yourself — and you can save thousands by not having to pay a settlement fee.
Same as with using a debt settlement company, success isn’t guaranteed, but if you owe only a few creditors, it’s worth a try.
With a debt management plan, you’ll work with a nonprofit credit counseling agency to consolidate your debts into one monthly payment, while also reducing the interest rate.
This is a good option for consumers with credit card debt who have a steady income to repay the debt within three to five years.
Unlike debt settlement, a debt management plan should help build your credit score.
By taking out a debt consolidation loan, you can pay off multiple debts at once, so you’re left with only one payment on your new loan.
These loans are available to borrowers across the credit spectrum, and you can often pre-qualify with lenders to see your rates with a soft credit check.
A debt consolidation loan should have a lower interest rate than your current debts, which saves money and helps you get out of debt faster.
Bankruptcy lets you resolve your debt under protection from a federal court.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the most common form, erases most unsecured debts in four to six months. It’ll also stop calls from collectors and prevent lawsuits against you.
Like with debt settlement, your credit will suffer, so consult a bankruptcy attorney first.
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Morgan Stanley wants to expand its digital asset offerings, including a native custody and exchange solution for crypto, the firm said during a conversation at Strategy World.
Phong Le, President and CEO of Strategy, spoke with Amy Oldenburg, Head of Digital Asset Strategy at Morgan Stanley, about the firm’s upcoming products.
Morgan Stanley will first allow clients on its E-Trade platform to buy and sell spot cryptocurrencies through a partnership. Last year, the bank said it was pursuing a spot Bitcoin ETF and planning to enable direct trading for clients via E*Trade.
Over the next year, the bank intends to develop a fully integrated custody and exchange platform.
“This is a natural progression,” the executive said. “We can’t just primarily rent the technology to do this. People expect Morgan Stanley – they trust our brand – to be no fail.
JUST IN: Morgan Stanley’s Amy Oldenburg confirms the bank has plans to offer Bitcoin trading, lending, yield, and custody in the future 👀 pic.twitter.com/WUZVbtH3wZ
The planned solution would give clients legal custody of their digital assets under Morgan Stanley’s oversight. The firm acknowledged that some clients will continue to prefer self-custody, particularly in Bitcoin.
Oldenburg outlined their experience in emerging markets as a driver for the firm’s approach to digital assets.
Over 26 years at Morgan Stanley, including 13 years running the firm’s emerging market investing business, Oldenburg has observed early adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 17 of the top 20 markets globally.
“As this space continues to institutionalize, we aim to provide comprehensive services to our clients,” Oldenburg said.
The bank is also exploring additional services, including yield and lending products against crypto holdings.
“It’s a natural part of the roadmap to continue to explore,” the executive said. She said they are in the early stages but are tracking momentum in decentralized finance lending and other crypto products.
Oldenburg noted that the bank manages $8 trillion in assets on its platform, and a significant portion of clients currently hold crypto off-platform.
Bringing those assets onto the platform would allow the firm to offer custody, trading, and potential yield or lending services.
No specific timeline was announced for the launch of yield or lending products, though the firm indicated these would follow the rollout of the custody and exchange platform.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is up 8% on the day and trading near $69,000. Other related equities and crypto are up as well.
He’s promising accounts with up to a $1,000 match for private-sector workers, but legal limits and income restrictions could narrow who actually benefits.
Currently pricing split into 3 levels per tier (off peak, standard and peak). Under the new system it will be: Lowest, Low, Moderate, Upper and Top. They said that a limited number of hotels and a limited number of nights will move into the upper and top categories in 2026 with more to follow in later years. Some categories will have as much as 40,000 points per night difference between lowest and top pricing. The old and new charts can be seen below:
Award Changes Every April
Hyatt has committed to making changes to the category a property sits in every April. But some properties are changing category effective immediately: “five hotels will shift up one category (Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach, Hyatt Centric Malta, Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort, Hyatt Place San Antonio-Northwest/Medical Center and Grand Hyatt Incheon), one hotel with shift up two categories (Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa, opening in 2026) and one hotel will shift down one category (The Barnett, which is part of the JdV by Hyatt brand)”
F.A.Q’s
What will happen to free night certificates?
According to FM they will remain the same for now, for example you’ll still be able to use the category 1-4 certificates from the current credit card sign up bonus at all category 1-4 properties even if it falls under upper and top.
Hyatt has said sometime in May, when pressed they said ‘sometime before the end of May’. I’d bank on May 1 and then it’s a happy accident if it happens later in the month.
Our Verdict
This is a huge devaluation with the standard pricing increasing by 20%-37.5% and a lot more room to move for properties without having to change category. Honestly this seems like they want to stick with their commitment to having award charts but also have the ability to still do dynamic pricing.
As my parents aged, my sister and I talked a lot about where Mom would go when Dad passed away. My sister’s house? My house? Assisted living?
We only discussed Mom because my father would obviously go first. He was not only older, but not nearly as healthy. He was legally blind; Mom had to drive him around and take care of him. It wasn’t a problem; she was healthy, happy and in great shape.
Then one Monday morning, Mom took a nap in her favorite chair, and she didn’t wake up.
We’d never considered that scenario as remotely possible. And that’s the thing about life: Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, you find out you don’t.
As they say, people plan and God laughs.
I’ve talked to a lot of people about their retirement plans over the years. Most tell me they’ll keep working until they hit 65 or 67. Many have a spreadsheet mapping it all out. They figure they’ll max out their Social Security benefits and build a massive portfolio before finally calling it quits.
And often it works out that way. Other times, not so much.
The gap between when we expect to retire and when we actually do is one of the most consistent findings in financial research. If you’re building your entire financial future on the assumption that you’ll work into your late 60s, you need a backup plan.
The numbers don’t lie, and they tell a story you need to hear.
The gap between expectation and reality
There isn’t a single official retirement age tracked by the government, but the major surveys all point to the same truth. According to a Gallup poll on retirement timing, the average age when Americans retire is 61 or 62. Meanwhile, non-retired folks expect to keep working until they’re 66.
That’s a massive disconnect.
The 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey summarized by Kiplinger from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) paints a similar picture. Workers reported a median expected retirement age of 65. But when you ask actual retirees, the median age they left the workforce was 62.
Even more telling is what happens at the extremes. In that same EBRI survey, 30% of workers said they expect to retire at 70 or later or simply never stop working. Yet only 9% of actual retirees did that.
Conversely, just 12% of workers plan to retire before 60, but 27% of retirees said that’s exactly what happened to them.
Why we leave the workforce early
You might think retiring early sounds like a dream. For some, it is. The EBRI data shows that among those who retired earlier than planned, 44% did so because they could afford to. That’s the ideal scenario.
But for the rest, early retirement wasn’t a choice. It was forced on them.
Health problems: According to the survey, 31% of early retirees pointed to a health problem or disability as the reason they had to stop working. You can’t plan for a sudden illness, but it happens all the time.
Company changes: Another 31% cited changes at their employer. That means layoffs, downsizing or a business closing its doors. If you lose your job in your early 60s, finding another one that pays the same isn’t easy. Many older workers eventually give up the job hunt and simply declare themselves retired.
This destroys the popular strategy of planning to work a few extra years to make up for a lack of savings. You can’t just assume your employer will keep you around or your body will cooperate.
The myth of working in retirement
Here’s another assumption that gets people in trouble. A massive 75% of workers in the EBRI survey said they plan to work for pay in retirement. They think they’ll pick up a fun part-time job or consult on the side to bring in some extra cash.
The reality? Only 29% of retirees actually do it.
If your financial plan relies on earning a paycheck after you officially retire, you’re taking a massive gamble. When health issues pop up or those part-time jobs don’t materialize, you’ll be left with a serious hole in your budget.
How to protect yourself
The takeaway here isn’t to panic. It’s to be realistic. You need to stress-test your financial plan for an early exit.
1. Save more right now: Don’t assume you have another decade to catch up. Push as much cash into your investment accounts as you can stomach while you’re still earning a steady paycheck.
2. Understand Social Security: You need to know what happens if you’re forced to claim early. Taking benefits at 62 permanently reduces your monthly check compared to waiting until your full retirement age. (You can read more about the impact of claiming early in “4 Dave Ramsey Rules for Claiming Social Security at 62.”)
3. Plan for the health care gap: If you retire at 62, you still have three years before Medicare kicks in at 65. Finding private health insurance to bridge that gap can be brutally expensive, though there are ways to cover health care costs for an early retirement. Factor those costs into your projections.
4. Build flexibility: The people who survive an unexpected early retirement are the ones who didn’t pin all their hopes on a single target date. Keep your debts low and your options open.
You can now move Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Wyndham Rewards — but it’s generally not a good option.
Beginning Feb. 25, 2026, eligible Chase cardholders can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Wyndham at a 1:1 ratio. This addition makes Wyndham the 14th transfer partner for Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and the first new partner since Chase added Air Canada Aeroplan in 2021.
Why it’s generally not the best use of points
While more options are always good, transferring Chase points to Wyndham likely only makes sense in a few cases.
NerdWallet values Wyndham Rewards at 0.7 cent per point. That’s much lower than most of Chase’s other transfer partners, including World of Hyatt, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, meaning you’ll usually get better value by transferring points to those programs.
If you only get 0.7 cent per point with Wyndham, you’d be better off redeeming your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for cash back at 1 cent per point and using those funds to pay for your stay. In addition to being a better value for your points, this will also let you earn more points when you use your credit card to book.
But transferring Chase points to Wyndham can make sense if:
You can find a redemption that gets you more than 1 cent per point. While high-value redemptions in excess of 1 cent per point do exist, they’re rare. Only 15% of Wyndham Rewards redemption options in the past year have delivered that value, according to February 2026 data from Gondola shared with NerdWallet.
Despite the low average valuation, the Wyndham Rewards program does have some notable features. My personal favorite is the simple three-tier award chart, where you’ll pay either 7,500 points, 15,000 points or 30,000 points per bedroom per night. There’s no dynamic pricing, making it easy to plan a future redemption. Wyndham also generally doesn’t charge those pesky resort fees on free nights, which can lead to some real savings.
Additionally, points can be redeemed at over 9,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and rentals worldwide, providing a broad footprint to book award stays. While most of Wyndham’s portfolio includes budget hotels like Days Inn and Super 8, that’s substantially more options than the approximately 1,400 properties you’ll find with World of Hyatt, Chase’s most valuable transfer partner.
You need to top off your account. Transferring Chase points to Wyndham could also make sense if you need to top off your account for an award stay. For example, if you already have 10,000 Wyndham points and you’re looking at a stay that costs 15,000 points, that could be a good time to transfer 5,000 Chase points to Wyndham.
How to access Chase’s transfer partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards® was named NerdWallet’s best credit card points program for travel in 2026. That’s largely due to the ability to get outsized value for your points through Chase’s transfer partners.
Full list of Chase transfer partners Full list of Chase transfer partners
Airlines
Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio).
Air Canada (1:1 ratio).
Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio).
British Airways (1:1 ratio).
Iberia (1:1 ratio).
JetBlue (1:1 ratio).
Singapore (1:1 ratio).
Southwest (1:1 ratio).
United (1:1 ratio).
Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio).
Hotels
Hyatt (1:1 ratio).
IHG (1:1 ratio).
Marriott (1:1 ratio).
Wyndham (1:1 ratio).
To access Chase’s transfer partners, you’ll need one of these cards:
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 5x points on all Chase Travel℠ purchases (exclusions apply).
• 5x on Lyft rides and Peloton equipment (for a limited time; terms apply).
• 2x points on all other travel.
• 3x points on dining, takeout and eligible delivery worldwide.
• 3x points for online grocery purchases (exclusions apply).
• 3x points on some streaming services.
• 1x point on all other purchases.
• 8 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase.
• 4 points per $1 spent on bookings directly through an airline or hotel.
• 3 points per $1 spent on dining, takeout and eligible delivery worldwide.
• 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
8 points per $1 on all purchases booked through Chase, including The Edit.
5 points per $1 on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
4 points per $1 spent on flights and hotels booked direct.
3 points per $1 on social media and search engine advertising.
1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
• 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel, shipping, select advertising, internet, cable and phone services business categories each account anniversary year.
• 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027.
If you missed out on FinovateEurope earlier this month, you don’t have to feel left out any longer. The 22 demo videos are now live (and free to watch!) on the Finovate website and on Finovate’s YouTube channel.
Each seven-minute video offers a fast and efficient way to catch up on the latest new launches in fintech. We’ve highlighted the three Best of Show-winning demos below to get you started.
For more coverage of on-stage content at FinovateEurope, check out our post-show analysis. And if you don’t want to miss out on the live action next time around, be sure to register for FinovateSpring, taking place on May 5 through 7 in San Diego, California. We’ll see you there!
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After several attempts, the Bitcoin price finally reclaimed the $65,000 mark, but ongoing volatility and uncertainty across the cryptocurrency market still linger. With BTC falling below this support level, pressure on investors appears to have increased significantly, as evidenced by the number of BTC supply now in loss.
Record Levels of Bitcoin Now Sitting At A Loss
The pressure on the market and investors has increased following the recent pullback in Bitcoin’s price. Given the price pullback, the BTC supply that is positioned at a loss has spiked sharply, indicating a bearish outlook for the market and the flagship asset.
A recent data reading is showing that Bitcoin is coming into a critical stress point, with the percentage of supply held at a loss rising to one of the highest levels ever seen. This dramatic increase, which reflects the severity of the recent price downturn, indicates that an increasing proportion of owners are now underwater.
As seen in the chart shared by James Van Straten, an advisor and senior analyst at the popular CoinDesk news outlet, the number of BTC supply now caught in the loss side just rose to 10 million BTC. It is worth noting that this figure marks the fourth-highest reading ever since its existence.
According to the reading, an additional 70,000 BTC from those purchased between February 6 and 24 are in loss. As a result of this, the circulating supply is believed to hit 20 million BTC next week, which represents a 50% in loss. Given the massive supply loss, the potential of a market bottom already taking place is high. This is because history suggests that it would be sufficient capital destruction for a bear market bottom.
BTC’s Investors’ Action In The Current Market State
Darkfost highlighted that it is crucial to continue examining the actions of the various investor cohorts in the market as long as the BTC situation does not improve. BTC Long-Term Holders are the primary investors in the framework, known to be less sensitive to short-term price fluctuations.
The average profit of the long-term holders is currently positioned at 74%, but this is steadily dropping as prices move closer to the LTH cost basis estimated at around $38,900. However, this cost base is static and continues to increase over time as STHs that purchased Bitcoin at higher prices move into the LTH category.
Historic data reveal that a final capitulation phase defined by realized losses of about 20% has been triggered by price breaching below this cost basis in every bear market. Meanwhile, the market tends to rebuild the necessary foundations for a trend reversal after this phase has concluded.
Darfost noted that this should be viewed as an observation based on a small number of instances rather than a rule. However, it remains a scenario worth considering and preparing for. Given how this cycle has evolved, with the arrival of institutions, corporate entities, and even sovereign actors, the possibility of these structural changes being sufficient to shift the outcome becomes high.
Darkfost has warned against following those claiming uncertainty on this matter. “Nothing is predictable, and the market ultimately dictates the outcome,” the expert added.
BTC trading at $65,055 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
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NEW YORK — The World Trade Center’s final office tower will start construction as soon as this spring and become American Express ‘ new headquarters, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the company said Wednesday, marking a milestone nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks destroyed the site.
The 2 World Trade Center building will round out the long, tortuous redevelopment of the original 16-acre trade center property. There remains no construction date for a neighboring apartment building to replace another 9/11-damaged skyscraper.
But the 2 World Trade Center announcement represents a big step, physically and symbolically, in fulfilling a pledge of renewal at ground zero. Hochul and other officials also trumpeted the project as a sign of New York’s continued vitality as a business hub. It comes as Florida and other states have been trying to woo companies from New York.
“Building 2 World Trade Center will bring another iconic skyscraper to Lower Manhattan, create thousands of good-paying union jobs and provide billions in economic benefits to New Yorkers,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement.
American Express CEO Stephen Squeri called the skyscraper “an investment in our company’s future, our colleagues and the Lower Manhattan community,” where the credit card giant has been based for nearly 200 years. Its current headquarters is just west of the trade center.
The trade center was decimated when al-Qaida hijackers crashed jets into its twin towers, part of a coordinated attack that also sent planes into the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, mainly at the trade center.
Fraught with physical, financial and political complexities and public debate over what to build, redevelopment unfolded gradually and hit numerous roadblocks. But over time, the signature 1 World Trade Center skyscraper, other towers, the Sept. 11 memorial and museum, a transit hub -cum-shopping center and a performing arts center were built on the property, owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The 55-story, roughly two-million-square-foot (186,000-square-meter) 2 World Trade Center building is planned at the site’s northeastern corner. The spot is currently occupied by a low placeholder building, covered with colorful graffiti-style murals, and a beer garden.
American Express declined to discuss the cost of the new building — which the company will own, leasing the underlying land — but said it doesn’t involve any tax incentives. Messages seeking further information about the costs and financing of the project were sent to officials.
Plans once envisioned a skyscraper soaring as high as 80 stories, and News Corp. and the former Twenty-First Century Fox were among companies that at points eyed moving there. Like some other trade center components, the project labored for years to secure financing and an anchor tenant. The task grew tougher when the coronavirus pandemic emptied offices in 2020 and raised questions about companies’ future space needs.
Silverstein Properties CEO Lisa Silverstein, who is the 94-year-old developer’s daughter, hailed American Express as “an iconic institution embodying the strength, resilience, and global significance of the project.”
The company plans to occupy the entire Norman Foster -designed building, a sleek structure of glassy sections interspersed with landscaped terraces and gardens. It’s expected to accommodate up to 10,000 workers; American Express declined to say how that compares to its current headquarters.
There will be 175 apartments in the second phase of The Core and pre-leasing for those units begins on Saturday, March 14 during the St. Patrick’s Day event at Station Yards.
Leasing staff from the property management firm Greystar will be on-site from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to provide information and give prospective residents guided tours of the newest residences in Tritec Real Estate’s Station Yards mixed-use development.
Amenities will include a test kitchen, resident lounge, fitness area, bike repair and storage room, and a basketball court inside, while outside amenities feature a heated saltwater pool with lounge seating, fire pits, barbecue stations, a hammock farm, electric vehicle charging stations, and a rooftop terrace, according to Tritec.
Monthly rents for currently available apartments in The Core’s first phase are priced at $3,762 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit; $3,952 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit; and $5,152 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, according to the company’s website. The prices include base rent, all mandatory monthly fees and any user-selected optional fees.
The second phase of The Core will include a 1,419-square-foot retail space and a second parking structure for residents. The first phase of The Core has 388 apartments, 70,000 square feet of retail space and 16,500 square feet of office space.
When completed, the $1.2 billion Station Yards development will have 1,450 apartments, 195,000 square feet of retail space, and 360,000 square feet of office space.
BNB price has staged a strong rebound after confirming a swing failure pattern at recent lows. The rally now approaches a critical resistance cluster near $635 that could determine the next directional move.
Summary
BNB confirms bullish SFP, triggering strong rebound from lows
$635 resistance aligns with 0.618 Fibonacci and value area high
Breakout targets $659; rejection keeps price range-bound between $659 and $532
BNB (BNB) pricehas regained bullish momentum following a successful swing failure pattern (SFP) that invalidated downside liquidity and triggered a sharp recovery from local lows. The move reflects renewed buyer participation after a period of weakness, shifting short-term sentiment toward the upside.
However, price is now approaching a technically significant resistance zone where market structure decisions typically occur. Whether bulls can reclaim this region will likely dictate if BNB transitions into trend continuation or returns to range-bound conditions.
BNB priceKey Technical Points
Key Resistance: $635 aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement and the value area high.
Bullish Catalyst: Confirmed SFP triggered liquidity reversal and short squeeze dynamics.
Upside Target: Break and hold above $635 opens the path toward high timeframe resistance near $659.
Recent price action on BNB highlights the importance of liquidity-driven moves within crypto markets. The formation of a swing failure pattern at the lows effectively trapped late sellers, allowing buyers to step in aggressively. This type of structure typically signals exhaustion in bearish momentum, and the resulting move has validated that thesis. The rally that followed was impulsive, suggesting short covering and fresh long positioning entering the market simultaneously.
As price accelerated higher, BNB quickly rotated back toward a major technical confluence zone around $635. This region represents the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of the prior decline while also aligning with the value area high from the volume profile. Historically, such zones act as decision points where markets either reclaim bullish structure or face rejection due to overhead supply. A sustained close above this level would signal strength and confirm that buyers have regained control of the higher timeframe trend.
Despite the bullish recovery, traders should remain cautious as impulsive rallies often transition into consolidation before continuation. After strong expansions, markets frequently pause to establish equilibrium, allowing liquidity to rebuild. Lower timeframe consolidation near resistance would be considered healthy price behavior and could form a higher low structure that supports a continuation toward $659 and potentially beyond.
This comes as U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal launched a formal Senate inquiry into Binance following reports alleging the exchange processed nearly $1.7 billion in transactions linked to sanctioned Iranian entities and Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, adding a layer of regulatory uncertainty to broader market sentiment.
However, failure to reclaim the $635 resistance on a closing basis may shift the outlook quickly. A rejection at this zone would indicate that sellers remain active and defending supply, reinforcing the broader higher timeframe range between approximately $659 resistance and $532 support. In such a scenario, BNB could rotate back toward mid-range liquidity or revisit lower support levels before another attempt at breakout conditions develops.
Volume behavior also supports the current technical narrative. The rally originated from a liquidity sweep rather than sustained trend accumulation, meaning confirmation is still required. A decisive increase in buying volume during a breakout would strengthen bullish continuation odds. Without that confirmation, the market risks transitioning into redistribution at resistance, where both bulls and bears compete for control.
Overall, the recent SFP-driven recovery marks an important structural development for BNB. The market has shifted from downside expansion into a potential re-accumulation phase, but confirmation remains dependent on reclaiming resistance rather than merely testing it.
This comes as Binance defended its compliance framework, stating that recent media coverage inaccurately portrayed its regulatory oversight and control measures, highlighting ongoing regulatory narratives that continue to influence broader crypto market sentiment.
What to expect in the coming price action
BNB’s next move hinges on the $635 resistance level. A confirmed reclaim could trigger continuation toward $659 high timeframe resistance, while rejection may keep price rotating within the broader range.
Consolidation near resistance remains the most probable short-term outcome as the market prepares for its next directional expansion.
Update 2/25/26: Readers received an email today indicating that “discount stores, superstores and convenience stores” will no longer qualify for the 5% Grocery category. Apparently people were using this at certain Walmart stores which coded as Grocery and those might now get excluded. Change goes into effect 5/15/26. (hat to readers Cole and anonymous)
Original Post 11/27/22:
Comenity took over the AAA credit card from BofA and transitioned to a new reward structure on the card, as described here. There are actually two AAA credit cards released this year, both available for new signups. Below is a recap of the main details.
Direct Card links(you’ll have to find it in your local zip, put in 85204 if you want to check it out)
AAA Daily Advantage
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Visa signature benefits
Signup bonus: $100 Statement Credit when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening
Card rewards:
5% cashback on grocery purchases
Maximum of $500 USD cash back earned in a calendar year at grocery stores, wholesale clubs and gas stations combined.
3% cashback on gas, electric-vehicle charging, wholesale clubs, streaming services, pharmacy, and AAA purchases
Maximum of $500 USD cash back earned in a calendar year at grocery stores, wholesale clubs and gas stations combined.
1% cashback on all other purchases
AAA Travel Advantage
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Visa signature benefits
Signup bonus: $100 Statement Credit when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening
Card rewards:
5% cashback on gas and electric-vehicle charging, up to $350 cashback per calendar year (1% afterward)
3% cashback on grocery, restaurant, travel, and AAA purchases
Three new immersive exhibitions at the Long Island Museum (LIM) in Stony Brook explore the history of video games, Apple computers and Long Island’s role in both. The exhibitions, which run through May 24, highlight the region’s early contributions to today’s digital world.
The exhibitions include “Video Games: The Great Connector,” “LI Gamers,” and “50 Years of Apple Computers: The Kevin Lenane Collection” – Lenane is a Long Island-based tech entrepreneur.
“Each one of these three new exhibitions that we are launching here at LIM offers visitors a unique look at the role that technology has played, and continues to play, in our lives today, from exploring career opportunities in digital gaming, to learning about the very first video game created here on Long Island, to the opportunity to see the most complete collection of Apple computers in the United States,” Nina Sangimino, LIM curator, said in a news release about the exhibit.
Created by the Harlem Gallery of Science, the interactive exhibition “Video Games: The Great Connector” explores how young people can develop personal and professional skills by engaging with games. It debuted in February 2024 at the Harlem School of the Arts and highlights educational and career opportunities for students from underserved communities. In Harlem, the exhibit drew more than 6,000 visitors from across New York City. At LIM’s Main Gallery, the exhibit features 10 interactive gaming stations, showcasing skill-building through teamwork, problem-solving and social networking, and celebrates the contributions of designers and engineers of color.
The exhibit “has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many young people who had the opportunity to experience this important exhibition during its creation and launch in New York City, and has helped show the public that video games are far more than just entertainment for today’s youth,” Joshua Ruff, co-executive director of collections and programming at LIM.
Also in the Main Gallery, “LI Gamers” is an interactive exhibition highlighting Long Islanders’ contributions to video game history. Since 1958, the region, according to LIM, has played a role in gaming milestones, from William Higinbotham’s “Tennis for Two,” which he presented at Brookhaven National Laboratory on visitor’s day, to Acclaim Entertainment‘s rise in Oyster Bay in 1987. Now, a new generation on Long Island has opportunity to shape the industry, with programs at Molloy University, Adelphi University, LIU and Five Towns College. The exhibition features a partial replica of “Tennis for Two,” historical photos and playable stations with games by Acclaim Entertainment.
In the adjoining Costigan Gallery, “50 Years of Apple Computers,” features Lenane’s comprehensive private collection of Apple computers. Combining technical skill with restoration expertise, Lenane’s collection spans the company’s 50-year history and includes a rare 1976 Apple I and artifacts from Apple’s Lisa and Macintosh projects. Visitors can explore the evolution of Apple hardware and the innovation that helped shape today’s personal computers.
Lenane founded several tech companies that were acquired, including Veenome, a video analytics firm, and Genamint, an AI platform for trading card authentication. He will lead a guided tour of his collection at LIM on April 26 at 1 p.m., sharing stories behind key Apple products and demonstrating a working 1976 Apple-1.
The museum is open on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thanks to a surge in bitcoin’s price, Strategy (MSTR) is having a great day on Wall Street despite some alarming balance sheet data.
Among global equities valued above $25 billion, Strategy Inc. (MSTR) now carries the largest short position relative to its size. Roughly 14% of its $41.6 billion market capitalization has been sold short, placing it at the top of rankings compiled by firms including Goldman Sachs and FactSet.
This is not a typical short story. Strategy trades as a corporate balance sheet wrapped around Bitcoin. Its equity functions as a leveraged instrument on BTC, shaped by debt issuance and continued accumulation under Executive Chairman Michael Saylor.
The company holds more than 700,000 BTC acquired through a mix of convertible notes, equity offerings, and cash flow from its legacy software business. When Bitcoin rises, Strategy’s equity often expands at a faster rate due to embedded leverage. When Bitcoin falls, the compression works in reverse.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is surging 6.5% on the day near $68,000. Strategy shares are up nearly 8%.
Strategy’s mark-to-market losses mount
Strategy currently sits on roughly $7 billion in unrealized losses tied to its Bitcoin holdings. The losses reflect mark-to-market accounting, not liquidation.
The coins remain on the balance sheet. Markets, however, price forward risk. Declines in BTC reduce asset coverage relative to outstanding debt. That dynamic sharpens volatility in MSTR.
A 14% short interest ratio at this scale signals conviction. Hedge funds hold about 3% of the equity float, and more than 50 funds report positions. Yet not all short positioning represents outright bearish bets.
Market participants point to basis trades. In this structure, firms purchase spot Bitcoin exposure — often through vehicles such as iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from BlackRock — while shorting MSTR.
The objective is to capture the premium or discount between Strategy’s equity value and the underlying Bitcoin it holds, rather than predict a collapse in BTC.
Trading firms including Jane Street have disclosed large positions in both IBIT and MSTR, suggesting paired strategies that aim to remain market neutral.
Still, structural tension remains. If Bitcoin stages a sharp rally, short sellers face pressure to cover. Strategy’s thin float relative to demand can amplify upward moves. Conversely, further BTC drawdowns would intensify scrutiny on leverage and refinancing risk.
Earlier this week, Strategy said they completed their 100th bitcoin purchase since 2020, acquiring 592 BTC for roughly $39.8 million at an average price of $67,286 per coin, funded through the sale of 297,940 Class A shares via its at-the-market offering program.
With this latest buy, the company now holds 717,722 BTC acquired for $54.56 billion at an average of $76,020 per bitcoin, maintaining the largest corporate bitcoin treasury globally.
