Latest news with #speculators
Coin Geek
3 days ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
The dangerous game of pump.fun
Homepage > News > Business > The dangerous game of In the fast-moving world of digital currency, platforms emerge at breakneck speed, promising innovation, empowerment, and financial inclusion. But some of these platforms, cloaked in memes and marketed as fun, hide a much darker reality. One of the most talked-about examples today is a token launch platform built on Solana. On the surface, it appears to democratize memecoin creation. In practice, it has become a hyper-efficient machine for pump-and-dump schemes, rewarding a small group of insiders while extracting wealth from impulsive speculators, many of whom are young, unprotected, and unaware of the dangers they face. lets anyone mint a token with minimal effort and trade it immediately through an automated price curve that rises with every new buyer. This encourages early speculation and viral promotion. Once the hype peaks, early buyers dump their holdings for profit, while those who buy late are left holding worthless tokens. It is a cycle that repeats around the clock, with new tokens constantly replacing the old in a never-ending churn of manufactured excitement and predictable collapse. The platform thrives on speed. Tokens can go viral and crash within minutes. There is no time for due diligence, no requirement for developers to offer utility or transparency, and no obligation to protect users. The only goal is momentum. Traders race to spot the next memecoin, often driven by group chats, anonymous tips, or influencer tweets. But this is not trading in the traditional sense. It is gambling, fast, addictive, and unforgiving. What makes especially dangerous is its appeal to young people. Crypto-savvy teens and college students, already immersed in meme culture and digital assets, are easily drawn to the platform's promise of quick gains and viral stardom. There are no age gates, no educational prompts, and no warnings about the risks involved. In many cases, users also lack awareness that they are engaging in a high-stakes financial game with mechanics similar to online casinos. The psychological toll is significant. The structure of plays directly into patterns of compulsive behavior. The excitement of small wins followed by steep losses reinforces a loop that can lead to real harm. Users report staying up through the night glued to charts, chasing losses with fresh deposits, and sinking deeper into financial and emotional distress. These behaviors mirror clinical signs of gambling addiction, and yet they are developing inside a platform that presents itself as a harmless playground. And while everyday users suffer, others thrive. A small group of insiders, fast-moving traders, token creators, and online influencers profit handsomely. Some users create dozens of tokens a day, front-running interest with bots or viral marketing tactics. Influencers with large followings can drive liquidity into a coin they launched minutes before, cashing out while their followers still buy in. Meanwhile, the platform earns a fee from every transaction, regardless of the outcome. The incentives are aligned not with community, innovation, or education, but with volume and churn. reflects a broader tension in crypto, the gap between permissionless innovation and ethical responsibility. The platform does not break laws, at least not in the traditional sense. But it is building an ecosystem that mimics the worst aspects of unregulated gambling and then marketing it as empowerment. Crypto can be a tool for good. It can offer new ownership models, financial inclusion, and decentralized governance. But platforms like this question what kind of future we are building and for whom. It is time for the crypto community to speak honestly about what is happening here. Regulation may eventually catch up, but the damage is real. If the Web3 space wants to grow into something lasting and respected, it must prioritize integrity over hype and responsibility over rapid growth. is not just a passing trend. It is a symptom of something deeper: a culture willing to accept exploitation as entertainment. That culture must change. Not because regulators say so, but because the people building the future of finance can and should do better. Watch: Reggie Middleton on DeFi, booms/busts & crypto regulation title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""> Memecoin Pump and Dump Solana Tokenization
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Traders Flock to Niche Options Market to Bet on Crude Oil Glut
Investors have ramped up wagers in a relatively obscure corner of the oil market that OPEC+ output hikes will lead to an eventual glut toward the end of this year and into 2026. Open interest in calendar spread options — the difference between West Texas Intermediate crude's value over different delivery months — this week reached a record high, according to CME Group. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission's latest report shows that speculators hold the biggest net position wagering on a weaker US crude futures curve since 2020.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why We Think VSTECS Berhad (KLSE:VSTECS) Might Deserve Your Attention Today
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away. Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like VSTECS Berhad (KLSE:VSTECS). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. We can see that in the last three years VSTECS Berhad grew its EPS by 11% per year. That growth rate is fairly good, assuming the company can keep it up. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. While we note VSTECS Berhad achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 11% to RM3.0b. That's progress. In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. See our latest analysis for VSTECS Berhad Since VSTECS Berhad is no giant, with a market capitalisation of RM1.2b, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects. It should give investors a sense of security owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, creating a close alignment their interests. So it is good to see that VSTECS Berhad insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. To be specific, they have RM96m worth of shares. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. Those holdings account for over 8.4% of the company; visible skin in the game. While it's always good to see some strong conviction in the company from insiders through heavy investment, it's also important for shareholders to ask if management compensation policies are reasonable. Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. For companies with market capitalisations between RM426m and RM1.7b, like VSTECS Berhad, the median CEO pay is around RM624k. The CEO of VSTECS Berhad was paid just RM54k in total compensation for the year ending December 2024. This could be considered a token amount, and indicates that the company does not need to use payment to motivate the CEO - that is often a good sign. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making. As previously touched on, VSTECS Berhad is a growing business, which is encouraging. The fact that EPS is growing is a genuine positive for VSTECS Berhad, but the pleasant picture gets better than that. Boasting both modest CEO pay and considerable insider ownership, you'd argue this one is worthy of the watchlist, at least. Of course, just because VSTECS Berhad is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you're wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry. Although VSTECS Berhad certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with more skin in the game, then check out this handpicked selection of Malaysian companies that not only boast of strong growth but have strong insider backing. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Now The Time To Put Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA) On Your Watchlist?
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE:AXTA), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. We've found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Shareholders will be happy to know that Axalta Coating Systems' EPS has grown 17% each year, compound, over three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. This approach makes Axalta Coating Systems look pretty good, on balance; although revenue is flattish, EBIT margins improved from 13% to 15% in the last year. That's something to smile about. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. See our latest analysis for Axalta Coating Systems In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Axalta Coating Systems' forecast profits? Owing to the size of Axalta Coating Systems, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a significant proportion of the company. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. As a matter of fact, their holding is valued at US$25m. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Despite being just 0.4% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. For growth investors, Axalta Coating Systems' raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. With EPS growth rates like that, it's hardly surprising to see company higher-ups place confidence in the company through continuing to hold a significant investment. The growth and insider confidence is looked upon well and so it's worthwhile to investigate further with a view to discern the stock's true value. Even so, be aware that Axalta Coating Systems is showing 1 warning sign in our investment analysis , you should know about... Although Axalta Coating Systems certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with more skin in the game, then check out this handpicked selection of companies that not only boast of strong growth but have strong insider backing. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why TIME dotCom Berhad (KLSE:TIMECOM) Has Caught The Eye Of Investors
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like TIME dotCom Berhad (KLSE:TIMECOM), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide TIME dotCom Berhad with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. Even modest earnings per share growth (EPS) can create meaningful value, when it is sustained reliably from year to year. So it's no surprise that some investors are more inclined to invest in profitable businesses. TIME dotCom Berhad's EPS shot up from RM0.16 to RM0.21; a result that's bound to keep shareholders happy. That's a impressive gain of 31%. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. TIME dotCom Berhad shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 26% to 29%, and revenue is growing. That's great to see, on both counts. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image. View our latest analysis for TIME dotCom Berhad While we live in the present moment, there's little doubt that the future matters most in the investment decision process. So why not check this interactive chart depicting future EPS estimates, for TIME dotCom Berhad? It should give investors a sense of security owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, creating a close alignment their interests. So it is good to see that TIME dotCom Berhad insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. To be specific, they have RM118m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Despite being just 1.2% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. For companies with market capitalisations between RM4.2b and RM14b, like TIME dotCom Berhad, the median CEO pay is around RM3.0m. TIME dotCom Berhad's CEO took home a total compensation package worth RM1.9m in the year leading up to December 2024. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. You can't deny that TIME dotCom Berhad has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. If you still have your doubts, remember too that company insiders have a considerable investment aligning themselves with the shareholders and CEO pay is quite modest compared to similarly sized companiess. The overarching message here is that TIME dotCom Berhad has underlying strengths that make it worth a look at. It is worth noting though that we have found 1 warning sign for TIME dotCom Berhad that you need to take into consideration. While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in MY with promising growth potential and insider confidence. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
