Why altcoin season remains elusive – The divergence traders can’t ignore

Why Warren Buffett Hasn’t Sold Coca-Cola Stock for Over 30 Years

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June 1, 2026

Why Warren Buffett Hasn’t Sold Coca-Cola Stock for Over 30 Years

Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” has built his fortune by identifying high-quality businesses and holding them for decades. When Buffett buys a stock, investors pay attention. And when he refuses to sell it for more than three decades, investors want to know why. One such long-standing investment in the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) (BRK.A) portfolio is The Coca-Cola Company (KO), a stock he first bought in the late 1980s and has continued to hold for more than 30 years.

So, why has Buffet held KO stock for so long?

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The Power of Compounding at Work

In the late 1980s, Buffett started building Coca-Cola position in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio and continued purchasing shares thereafter. Meanwhile, the market was still engulfed in the shock of the 1987 stock market crash and investors were hesitant to buy consumer stocks. Today, Berkshire owns approximately 400 million Coca-Cola shares. Importantly, Buffett frequently says that his favorite holding period is “forever.” And this investment philosophy works perfectly when you let compounding do its work.

In fact, the power of compounding works best when it is an exceptional business with a competitive edge, such as Coca-Cola. The company holds one of the world’s most well-known brands, a global distribution network that is nearly impossible to replicate, and a product that consumers repeatedly purchase regardless of economic conditions.

Over the years, Coca-Cola’s core business model has remained unchanged. Since 1980, KO stock has appreciated enormously, returning over 28,000% if dividends were reinvested. While capital appreciation remains a sole reason for Buffet still holding the stock, Coca-Cola’s dividend streak remains another powerful reason. So, while the stock appreciated, so did the dividend income, as Coca-Cola has consistently raised its payout for 64 years in a row. The company has earned the title of both a Dividend Aristocrat and a Dividend King. Today, Berkshire Hathaway’s position in KO stock roughly generates $848 million yearly in cash dividends.

A Business that Continues to Grow Through Every Economic Cycle

Today, Coca-Cola has evolved into a much bigger and diverse global business. While it still holds its flagship cola business, it is now a global beverage powerhouse with 32 brands worth at least $1 billion each spanning water, sports drinks, tea, coffee, juice, and dairy products. Additionally, Coca-Cola’s payouts are still intact and growing, highlighting the company’s resilience in different economic cycles.

In its most recent first quarter, despite the persistent inflation, macroeconomic uncertainty, and volatility related to conflict in the Middle East, Coca-Cola still delivered 3% global volume growth. The company’s flagship Coca-Cola brand continued to benefit from innovation during the quarter, including the Coca-Cola Cherry Float, Diet Coke Cherry, and Mr. Pibb extensions, which were meant to capitalize on increased customer interest in cherry-flavored beverages. The company’s pricing power is a key competitive advantage. Strong brand loyalty has enabled Coca-Cola to increase prices while maintaining steady consumer demand. Thus, adjusted organic revenue increased 10% in Q1, with a 12% increase in net revenue to $12.5 billion. Adjusted earnings also increased by 18% to $0.86 per share.

Coca-Cola’s stability stems from its continued global expansion. Over the past year, it has added more than 600,000 outlets globally, increasing consumer access to its products. Buffett has always prioritized companies that generate significant cash flow, and Coca-Cola continues to showcase this strength. It generated $1.8 billion in free cash flow and plans to generate $12.2 billion for the full year. This will allow Coca-Cola to continue investing in the business, return capital to shareholders, and maintain its long history of dividend increases.

The beverage giant offers a forward dividend yield of 2.6%, higher than the S&P 500. The forward payout ratio of 65% also remains sustainable, given the company continues to generate stable earnings and robust cash flows. Looking ahead, for the full year, management expects organic revenue growth of 4% to 5%, while comparable EPS could grow by 8% to 9%. For a company of this scale, these growth numbers remain impressive.

This Is Why KO Is Buffett’s Forever Stock

Ultimately, it has been nearly 40 years that Buffet first invested in KO stock. But the company still retains the same qualities that appealed to Buffett in the first place. Powerful brands, global reach, pricing power, strong cash generation, and durable competitive advantages are all the qualities that exceptional businesses carry. This explains why Buffett has never felt compelled to sell KO stock and also why analysts rate the stock a consensus “Strong Buy.”

Out of the 23 analysts covering KO, 18 rate it as a “Strong Buy,” two as a “Moderate Buy,” and three as a “Hold.” KO stock has climbed 13.7% year-to-date, outpacing the broader market. The mean target price for KO is $87.26, which is 10.4% above current levels. Its high target price of $92 implies potential upside of 16.4% over the next 12 months.

On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

Digital asset firm Keyrock plans to acquire BlockFills out of bankruptcy

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June 1, 2026

Digital asset firm Keyrock plans to acquire BlockFills out of bankruptcy

Keyrock, a Brussels-based digital asset services firm, is in the process of acquiring bankrupt crypto trading and lending firm Blockfills, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

A Keyrock spokesperson told CoinDesk that the acquisition is subject to court approval. According to a bankruptcy filing, Keyrock agreed to a purchase price of $3.25 million, and will assume “substantially all” of BlockFills’ assets, certain liabilities, some of its equity interests, customer lists and its proprietary technology and intellectual property.

“We can confirm that, as set out in the official Bankruptcy Court document filed on 26 May 2026, Keyrock SA has been declared the ‘Successful Bidder’ for certain assets of Reliz Technology Group Holdings Inc. and its affiliated debtors,” a Keyrock spokesperson said in a statement.

“A hearing to consider approval of the sale is currently scheduled for June [16,] 2026. In the meantime, parties continue to collaborate on the administrative process to complete the transaction. Furthermore, final completion of the transaction remains subject to final court approval and the appropriate regulatory approvals referenced in Keyrock’s bid,” they added.

BlockFills provides institutional clients with liquidity, financing and risk-management services, including crypto lending and borrowing, derivatives trading, and over-the-counter (OTC) execution. Its customer base includes hedge funds, asset managers, market makers and mining companies. Keyrock is a Brussels-based digital asset services firm that provides market making, liquidity, OTC trading and infrastructure solutions to crypto exchanges, institutions and token issuers.

Representatives for BlockFills did not return a request for comment by press time.

On March 15, Reliz Ltd., the operator of BlockFills, and three affiliated entities filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The court filing showed Reliz reporting assets between $50 million and $100 million against liabilities of $100 million to $500 million.

The firm decided to file for bankruptcy after consulting all stakeholders, it said in an official statement at the time.

“After extensive discussions with investors, clients, creditors, and other stakeholders, BlockFills has determined that a voluntary chapter 11 filing is the most responsible path forward in order to preserve the value of the business and maximize recoveries for stakeholders. This filing will allow the firm to implement an orderly restructuring while maintaining transparency and oversight through the court-supervised process,” it said.

CoinDesk reported in February that the Chicago-based firm had suffered losses of roughly $75 million and was seeking either a buyer or emergency financing.

Earlier that the month the company announced that it was suspending customer withdrawals and deposits, citing challenging market and financial conditions. At the time, BlockFills said it was working with investors and clients to restore liquidity and reach a resolution.

According to Blockfills, trading volume exceeded $60 billion in 2025, a 28% increase from the previous year. The firm said it served approximately 2,000 institutional clients and ranked among the more active desks in the institutional crypto lending and borrowing market.

The acquisition comes months after Keyrock raised a Series C round led by SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s venture capital arm, at a $1.1 billion valuation.

It acquired Turing Capital, a fund manager based in Luxembourg, last fall, in a push to expand into asset and wealth management, it announced in September.

This Tiny Space Stock Just Exploded 100%. Here’s Why Investors Are Piling In.

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June 1, 2026

This Tiny Space Stock Just Exploded 100%. Here’s Why Investors Are Piling In.

Space stocks are suddenly back in favor, and Momentus (MNTS) is one of the names catching the lift. The trigger is the same one pushing other small space names higher: growing excitement around SpaceX’s planned initial public offering (IPO) and a new wave of attention on the broader space economy. SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation around $1.75 trillion, and the buzz has helped send space-related stocks sharply higher this past week.

Momentus joined the move with a huge rally on May 26. Investors are treating the SpaceX IPO like a rising tide for the entire industry, especially smaller public companies tied to launches, satellites, and orbital services.

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Momentus Is Riding a Massive Trend

Momentus is a tiny commercial space company, but it does not try to do everything. The firm focuses on satellite buses, hosted payloads, in-space transportation, and “last-mile” delivery services through its Vigoride orbital service vehicle. Put simply, it helps move customer payloads around in space after launch, and it also works on government and commercial missions. That gives the company a niche role in a market that is suddenly getting much more attention.

MNTS stock has been wild. On May 26, shares closed at $15.48 — up almost 110% in a single session — and then traded as high as $18.90 after hours. The next day, it touched a high of $22.20, but shares have since settled back down near the $17 level. Currently, Barchart shows a market capitalization of $204 million and a 52-week range of $3.11 to $43.55, which tells you just how fast this name can move.

More importantly, MNTS stock is up 246% year-to-date (YTD) in 2026, despite a very rough stretch over the last year. The rally has been driven by SpaceX hype, broad sector momentum, and the kind of speculative trading that often shows up in small, thinly traded stocks.

From a valuation standpoint, Momentus looks expensive. With $204 million in market value and roughly $4 million in trailing revenue, the stock trades at roughly 51 times sales. That is a big number for any company, but especially for one in aerospace and defense, where the sector median price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is closer to 3 times.

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SpaceX IPO Fever Is Lifting the Entire Space Sector

The SpaceX story is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. SpaceX’s IPO filing has become one of the biggest market stories of the month, and investors are treating it like a rising tide for the entire space sector. That is especially true for smaller public names that give investors an easier way to play the trend.

Momentus fits that mold. It is not SpaceX, and it is not even close in scale, but it does operate in the same broader ecosystem. As investors look for public ways to benefit from more launches, more payloads, and more orbital activity, stocks like MNTS can catch a fast speculative bid.

The Latest Quarter Showed Progress, But Losses Remain Heavy

Momentus delivered a better revenue quarter in the first quarter of 2026. Revenue climbed to $3.21 million from just $322,000 a year ago. The increase came mainly from hosted payload services and engineering projects tied to customer missions.

Hosted payload services generated $1.62 million, while engineering project work contributed another $1.59 million. Gross profit improved to $1.82 million, showing that the company is starting to generate more meaningful business activity.

But profitability remains a challenge. Net loss widened to $9.48 million from $6.17 million a year earlier as Momentus continued spending on operations and development. Adjusted earnings also remained negative, although diluted EPS improved sharply year-over-year (YOY) due partly to share-count changes.

Cash burn is still something investors need to watch. The company used $5.8 million in operating cash during the quarter. At the same time, Momentus ended March with $23.48 million in cash and cash equivalents, which later improved to $26.2 million after financing activity in April.

Management also highlighted operational milestones during the quarter. Momentus launched Vigoride 7 aboard a recent SpaceX Transporter mission carrying 10 customer payloads. The company also completed the Preliminary Design Review for Vigoride 8, which is already fully booked for a planned 2027 mission.

CEO John Rood said the company remains focused on execution, customer delivery, and long-term growth opportunities in the expanding commercial space market.

Analysts Still See a Highly Speculative Story

Analyst coverage on Momentus remains very limited, which makes MNTS stock even more volatile. Some data providers currently show only one active analyst covering the company. This analyst has a price target of $1, while the stock currently trades for nearly $17 per share, so the difference is evident.

The bigger issue is that analysts still view Momentus as a speculative company rather than a stable business. Bulls see a potential long-term winner tied to the commercial space economy. Bears see a company with small revenue, ongoing losses, and a valuation that already prices in a lot of optimism.

Right now, the SpaceX IPO excitement is helping push MNTS stock higher. The question is whether Momentus can eventually turn that excitement into a sustainable business.

On the date of publication, Nauman Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

Vitalik proposes liquidation-free synthetic assets amid stablecoin censorship concerns

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June 1, 2026

Vitalik proposes liquidation-free synthetic assets amid stablecoin censorship concerns

Vitalik Buterin has proposed a new model for decentralized synthetic assets that could reduce crypto’s dependence on centralized stablecoins and liquidation-heavy DeFi systems.

The proposal arrived as Ethereum developers and privacy advocates debated censorship resistance following a recent incident involving a confidential USDC contract freeze.

In a new research paper, Buterin explored how synthetic assets could be structured using paired options-based systems instead of traditional overcollateralized debt models that rely heavily on liquidations and price oracles.

The broader goal is to create more resilient decentralized financial infrastructure while reducing reliance on centralized issuers and fragile liquidation mechanics.

Stablecoin freeze debate reignites censorship concerns

Discussion intensified after developer Rand said a confidential USDC contract appeared to have been frozen after being “caught in a crossfire of another case.”

The incident quickly sparked debate across Ethereum circles about whether privacy-preserving protocols can remain censorship resistant while still relying on centrally issued stablecoins.

Ethereum researcher Andy Guzman responded by arguing that:

compliance != censorship resistance.

He also suggested the ecosystem may need a new generation of censorship-resistant stablecoins rather than simply combining compliant tokens with privacy layers.

That broader debate formed the backdrop to Buterin’s latest proposal.

Vitalik wants synthetic assets without forced liquidations

Most decentralized stablecoin systems today depend on users locking collateral and borrowing against it.

When collateral values fall too quickly, protocols often trigger forced liquidations to maintain solvency.

Buterin argued these systems depend too heavily on:

real-time price feeds,
oracle reliability,
and liquidation infrastructure during periods of extreme volatility.

His proposal instead explores paired synthetic structures built around options contracts.

Under the model, two counterparties take opposite sides of future price exposure. Because gains and losses offset directly between the paired positions, the system avoids some of the cascading liquidation risks common in existing DeFi designs.

As Buterin summarized in the paper:

P + N = 1. Hence, there is no possibility of liquidation.

The proposal also seeks to reduce dependence on rigid fiat pegs by focusing more broadly on stability and hedging.

Proposal builds on wider criticism of crypto “corposlop”

The paper also connects to Buterin’s broader criticism of crypto’s growing focus on speculative trading products.

In a February post discussing prediction markets, Buterin warned that parts of crypto were drifting toward what he called “corposlop,” where platforms increasingly optimize around gambling-style activity and short-term speculation.

At the time, he argued that crypto infrastructure should instead focus on:

hedging,
coordination,
and long-term financial utility.

He also suggested prediction markets and synthetic financial systems could eventually help reduce dependence on fiat-backed stablecoins altogether.

The latest proposal appears to extend that vision into stablecoin and synthetic asset design.

Debate shifts toward resilience and decentralization

The discussion reflects growing tension inside crypto between regulatory compliance and decentralization.

As stablecoin regulation tightens globally, centralized issuers are increasingly expected to maintain the ability to freeze or restrict assets under certain circumstances.

That reality has pushed some Ethereum researchers and developers to explore financial systems that rely less on centralized intermediaries while still preserving price stability and usability.

Final Summary

Vitalik Buterin proposed a liquidation-free synthetic asset model as debate grows around stablecoin censorship resistance.
The proposal follows a confidential USDC freeze incident that reignited concerns about relying on centralized issuers inside decentralized finance.

Dishes You Should Always Order at Korean BBQ and What to Skip

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June 1, 2026

Dishes You Should Always Order at Korean BBQ and What to Skip

With a plethora of meats, appetizers, and sides to sample, trying to narrow down your order is never an easy task at a Korean barbecue restaurant.

That’s why we asked chef Samuel Kim of Baekjeong to help.

Kim expanded Baekjeong, which currently has eight locations across California and Washington, to bring Korean barbecue to more Americans. And after revealing the red flags to look out for at a KBBQ restaurant, he was happy to share the dishes he always orders — and which ones to skip.

When it comes to meat, don’t only order beef

Baekjeong is a popular Korean barbecue chain.

Courtesy of Baekjeong

Kim always orders beef at Korean barbecue — he’s partial to brisket and short rib — but the chef also makes sure to get pork.

“Some people will just go for beef, but pork is such an important animal to grill for us at Korean barbecue,” he told Business Insider. “Especially pork belly. Always the pork belly.”

Kim said he also orders pork jowl whenever he spots it on the menu.

“It lends really well to the hot quick grill, and it’s just a delicious cut of meat,” he added.

Make sure to include Korean pancakes and stew

The kimchi stew at Baekjeong.

Courtesy of Baekjeong

From calamari to kimchi, every Korean barbecue place puts its own spin on the classic Korean pancake dish.

“Everyone has their own recipe,” Kim said. “Korean food is a lot like Italian food, where everyone’s mom thinks they make it the best — and that’s how the pancakes are as well.”

Kim said it’s also important to have some kind of soup or stew (known as jjigae) when you’re having Korean barbecue to help “push the flavor of the protein.”

He recommends trying one with soybean or kimchi.

If you drink alcohol, soju and beer are an essential part of KBBQ

Soju is the national drink of Korea.

4kodiak/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The grain-based spirit soju is the national drink of Korea. Kim said he always drinks some when enjoying Korean barbecue.

“It’s a key part of the whole experience,” Kim said. “I get some people don’t drink alcohol, but if you do, give it a shot.”

Just remember to follow the Korean custom and never pour your own drink — it’s considered bad luck!

Stay away from grilled fish

While Kim loves a seafood stew or pancake with his Korean barbecue, the chef told Business Insider he’d never order grilled or braised fish.

“When we decide to go out to eat in Korea, we don’t decide on the restaurant we want to eat at — we decide the dish we want to eat,” Kim explained. “So you figure out that dish, then you go to the restaurant that specializes in that dish.”

“If you’re going to a Korean barbecue restaurant to eat meat, I don’t know why you’d eat seafood,” he added. “Personally, I never order any fish.”

And skip the udon noodles

“Sometimes, you’ll see Korean barbecue restaurants that try to be a jack-of-all-trades, and their menu is 30 pages long,” Kim said. “So, if you ever see udon noodles or anything like that at a Korean barbecue restaurant, I’d stay away.”

Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR) sold bitcoin (BTC). These crypto treasuries are still buying

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June 1, 2026

Saylor's Strategy (MSTR) sold bitcoin (BTC). These crypto treasuries are still buying

Strategy (MSTR), the company whose bitcoin accumulation strategy inspired a new generation of so-called digital asset treasury firms, sold BTC for the first time since December 2022, offloading roughly $2.5 million worth of tokens.

The move came as the scheme has faced major headwinds since gaining popularity last year.

Dozens of companies raised capital through stock and debt offerings to buy bitcoin, ether (ETH) and other cryptocurrencies, aiming to replicate Michael Saylor’s playbook. The model worked for a while last year as crypto prices surged and treasury stocks traded at premiums to their underlying values.

However, that all changed as crypto markets peaked in October. As token prices fell and treasury stocks slipped below net asset value, many firms lost the ability to raise capital on attractive terms, and some stocks fell more than 90% from their peak. Some stopped buying, while others turned into sellers.

Through all that, Strategy held strong and kept buying as its Executive Chairman, Michael Saylor, continued to advocate for buying and holding.

But that didn’t hold for long. Strategy first alluded to a potential sale earlier in May and then finally reported the first sale on Monday, June 1. With Strategy breaking its accumulation streak and many peers stepping aside, some might think it’s the final nail in the coffin for the treasury firms, as the list of active buyers has now narrowed considerably.

Still buying

However, a few remaining companies continue to buy. Among them is Bitmine (BMNR), Tom Lee’s Ethereum treasury company.

The company purchased roughly $53 million worth of ETH last week and accumulated over 338,000 tokens through May, worth roughly $665 million at current prices. It holds more than 5.4 million ETH, making it the largest corporate holder of the token.

However, Tom Lee said the firm plans to slow its accumulation pace as it approaches its goal of owning 5% of the ETH supply.

Another Ethereum-centric Bit Digital (BTBT) returned to the market in May, buying $20 million worth of ETH. That was the company’s first purchase since October.

Some bitcoin-focused firms are still buying.

Strive (ASST) disclosed acquiring roughly 1,944 BTC in May, spread across multiple purchases, at a cost of about $150 million. Japan’s Metaplanet also reported a purchase in early April, when it acquired 5,075 BTC.

Hyperliquid Strategies (PURR), the treasury firm focused on buying HYPE, the native token of red-hot Hyperliquid blockchain-based exchange and its ecosystem, said it spent $216 million to buy 7.3 million tokens between early December and the end of April. Given HYPE’s surge to record highs, the return on that investment has more than doubled since then.

Despite last week’s sale, Strategy remained one of the largest sources of bitcoin demand through May, purchasing more than 25,000 BTC for over $2 billion.

The sellers

On the other hand, several firms have been reducing crypto holdings recently.

Nakamoto Holdings (NAKA), the bitcoin treasury company led by David Bailey, sold 284 BTC in March, about 5% of its holdings. Empery Digital sold 370 BTC in April to repay a term loan. Genius Group (GNS) said in April it liquidated its remaining 84 BTC to pay down $8.5 million of debt.

Meanwhile, others have abandoned the treasury model entirely.

Forum Markets, formerly known as ETHZilla, shifted its focus to tokenization earlier this year after selling roughly $114 million worth of ether.

VivoPower, which had planned to build an XRP-focused treasury, pivoted to data center and AI infrastructure in February, divesting its Ripple-related investments and XRP holdings.