IREN Stock Soars on Microsoft AI Deal, Crypto Surge
Shares of IREN have seen a major surge, jumping nearly 13% in one day. This sudden rise is catching the attention of investors, who are now debating whether this is a sign of long-term strength or just a short-term boost driven by hype.
One big reason for the excitement is IREN’s recent $9.7 billion deal with Microsoft. This five-year agreement centers around cloud services and high-performance computing, especially in artificial intelligence (AI). As part of the deal, IREN will use powerful Nvidia GPUs to support Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure. This move confirms IREN’s growing capabilities in building and managing cutting-edge tech systems.
IREN has plans to increase its number of GPUs from 23,000 to a massive 140,000 units by the end of 2026. If successful, this expansion could bring in about $3.4 billion in yearly revenue. At the same time, Nvidia recently revealed its new “Vera Rubin” chip architecture at CES 2026, which strengthens the demand for the type of advanced cooling and energy systems that IREN is developing.
Crypto Market Boosting Momentum
The recent rally in IREN’s stock also has a lot to do with rising cryptocurrency prices. Bitcoin is nearing $95,000 and Ethereum is trading above $3,200. Although IREN is shifting focus toward AI and cloud computing, it still moves closely with the crypto market. Other crypto-related companies like Cipher Mining and Marathon Digital are also seeing gains, showing that investor interest in the sector is picking up again.
Should You Buy or Sell IREN?
Experts are divided on what to do next. Many analysts are optimistic, pointing to strong future revenue from the Microsoft partnership and another major deal with Dell. The average analyst price target is around $69.20, which would mean more than 40% upside from current levels.
However, not everyone agrees. Goldman Sachs is more cautious, giving the stock a “Neutral” rating and a lower price target of $39. They worry that IREN might struggle to deliver on its big promises, especially when it comes to building out its infrastructure at such a rapid pace.
After closing at $48.24, IREN saw a slight dip of -2.20% in pre-market trading. All eyes are now on February 11, 2026, when IREN will report its next quarterly results. Investors want to see if the company’s pivot to AI data centers is actually leading to strong financial performance.
Key Takeaways:
– IREN stock surged nearly 13% thanks to crypto gains and a huge AI deal with Microsoft.
– The company plans to scale GPU capacity to 140,000 by 2026, aiming for $3.4 billion in annual revenue.
– Nvidia’s new chips add momentum to IREN’s data center plans.
– Analysts are split: some see big upside, others worry about execution risks.
– Upcoming earnings on February 11 could be a key test of IREN’s new direction.
Keywords: IREN stock, Microsoft cloud deal, Nvidia GPUs, AI data centers, Bitcoin rally, Ethereum price, cryptocurrency market, high-performance computing, CES 2026, Vera Rubin architecture, GPU expansion, stock price forecast, investor sentiment.
How Social Media Is Changing the Way We Invest
In 2021, something unexpected happened in the world of investing. A bunch of regular people on Reddit came together and sent GameStop’s stock price soaring. It wasn’t because the company was doing great—it was simply because people on social media started talking about it. This moment changed how we think about investing. It showed that markets aren’t just moved by experts or company news anymore, but by influencers and online buzz.
Today, more and more people are turning to social media platforms like TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, and Twitter for financial advice. These creators—sometimes called “finfluencers”—talk about stocks, cryptocurrencies, AI investments, and trading strategies. They’re not always professionals, but their content can go viral fast and influence real market moves.
For example, after the GameStop craze, other stocks like AMC, Nokia, and BlackBerry also saw big price jumps. These weren’t caused by better business performance but by people hyping them up online. The same thing happened with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. When enough people pay attention to something online at the same time, they can push prices up or down just through sheer hype.
This new way of investing has made it easier for younger people to get involved in the markets. Social media has opened doors that used to be closed to those without financial backgrounds. A simple video or post can now introduce someone to investing for the first time.
But there’s a downside. Some of the advice shared online is overly optimistic or even misleading. It’s easy for prices to rise based on hype, not real value. And when excitement fades, those prices can crash just as fast—leaving investors with big losses.
A major concern is that many finfluencers aren’t licensed financial advisers. They often share personal stories or opinions rather than expert guidance. Some even promote risky products like leveraged trades without clearly explaining the dangers involved. This is especially risky for young investors who may trust these influencers more than they should.
Regulators around the world have started to take this seriously. In Australia, financial authorities have warned influencers that they can’t give financial advice without a license. In 2025, several Australian finfluencers were officially warned for promoting risky investments without proper qualifications.
This isn’t just happening in Australia. Financial regulators in the UK, Canada, Europe, and other countries are now working together to crack down on unlicensed advice online. Some influencers have faced arrests, warnings, and content takedowns. The message is clear: promoting financial products without proper approval can have serious consequences.
So what does this mean for you?
If you’re following someone online for money tips, be careful. Always ask yourself: Is this person qualified? Are they trying to sell me something? What are the risks if I follow their advice?
Social media can be a great place to learn about investing ideas. But when it comes to making big financial decisions, it’s smarter to talk to licensed professionals who understand the risks and rewards.
Investing today moves fast—faster than ever before. But with speed comes risk. Stay informed, stay cautious, and always double-check your sources before making a move with your money.
BitMEX Launches 24/7 Stock Trading With Crypto Collateral
BitMEX is stepping outside the crypto-only world by launching a new product called Equity Perps. These are special types of trading contracts that let users get 24/7 exposure to big U.S. stocks and indexes like Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, the S&P 500, and Nasdaq—using crypto as collateral. Unlike traditional stock markets that operate only during business hours, these contracts allow round-the-clock trading with high leverage, similar to how crypto perpetual swaps work.
**Growing Interest in Onchain Stocks**
There’s a growing demand for accessing traditional assets like stocks directly through blockchain. For example, Bitget recently revealed that trading of tokenized stocks on its platform has crossed $1 billion in volume. Interestingly, 95% of that activity happened in December, thanks to rising interest in gold and silver-linked products as those metals hit all-time highs in traditional markets.
Bitget’s CEO, Gracy Chen, explained that this surge was linked to excitement around U.S. tech stocks and AI developments, which created a strong appetite for active trading.
Other platforms are also making moves in this direction. Kraken’s xStocks has already passed $10 billion in total trading volume across centralized and decentralized exchanges. Meanwhile, Coinbase is adding support for stocks, prediction markets, and tokenized assets. This shift suggests that stocks, ETFs, and commodities could soon trade more like cryptocurrencies—fast, liquid, and always available.
**Designed for Crypto Traders and the Next Generation**
BitMEX is aiming its new Equity Perps at younger traders who prefer tech-savvy investment options. Recent data shows Gen Z investors in the U.S. are less likely to buy traditional individual stocks and more interested in speculative assets like crypto.
BitMEX CEO Stephan Lutz said that younger traders want flexibility and control over their investments. Equity Perps let them trade major U.S. stocks with leverage while keeping their crypto holdings intact—since they can use crypto as collateral instead of cashing out.
This product is built for both experienced crypto derivatives traders and retail investors who may not have easy access to U.S. stock markets or who live in different time zones from Wall Street.
**Navigating Regulatory Challenges**
Equity Perps are offered through a Panamanian entity and come with features like 2.5 basis point maker rebates, zero funding rates when prices are stable, and support for multiple types of crypto collateral including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP, and stablecoins.
However, trading tokenized stocks and equity-based contracts still lives in a regulatory gray area. Authorities in the U.S. and Europe have raised concerns about investor protections, ownership rights, and how these new products fit into current securities laws.
BitMEX says it’s committed to following legal rules and emphasizes that Equity Perps are cash-settled—meaning traders don’t actually own the stock—making them simpler than buying tokenized shares.
Bitget’s Chen added that different countries have different rules, but sees this as part of the growing pains of a fast-evolving market that’s blending crypto with traditional finance.
**Key Takeaways:**
– BitMEX launches Equity Perps for 24/7 leveraged stock trading using crypto as collateral.
– Tokenized stock trading is booming, with Bitget and Kraken seeing billions in volume.
– Younger investors prefer flexible trading with high-tech tools.
– Equity Perps cater to global traders who want access to U.S. equities without selling crypto.
– Regulatory issues remain unclear, but platforms are working within legal frameworks.
Crypto Hacks Surge: $27M Stolen, Tornado Cash Used
A skilled hacker recently drained $27.3 million from a multi-signature crypto wallet and has already laundered $19.4 million of that through Tornado Cash, a popular crypto mixing service used to hide transaction trails. Despite the theft, the hacker still holds a leveraged trading position worth nearly $10 million.
The attack was discovered by blockchain security experts and is just one of several major crypto hacks reported in early 2026. The hacker withdrew 1,000 ETH (worth around $3.24 million) from the lending platform Aave and sent it through Tornado Cash. In total, they’ve moved 6,300 ETH ($19.4 million) through the privacy tool so far.
At the same time, the attacker continues to manage a $9.75 million leveraged long position—essentially a high-risk bet that the price of Ethereum will go up. They’re using $20.5 million in ETH as collateral against a $10.7 million loan in DAI, a stablecoin.
This wallet breach is part of a larger wave of crypto exploits happening almost back-to-back. In another case, an address (0xB8b4…) has been actively laundering 2,479 ETH (roughly $7.9 million) through Tornado Cash. These funds came from multiple TRON wallets and were later moved to Ethereum, suggesting ties to a common scam called “pig butchering.” This type of fraud typically involves fake online relationships that trick victims into investing before stealing their funds.
In a separate incident linked to a previous hack of UXLink in September, an attacker converted 248 wrapped Bitcoin into 23 million DAI within an hour, further moving stolen crypto from an earlier exploit involving billions of unauthorized tokens.
Another $1.4 million exploit was also detected on the Arbitrum network, related to an unverified contract tied to TMXTribe. In this case, attackers repeatedly minted and staked liquidity tokens using USDT, swapped them for USDG, then unstaked and sold more tokens in a loop to drain funds—including wrapped SOL and WETH.
These events follow closely behind a data breach involving hardware wallet maker Ledger. On January 5, personal customer data such as names, email addresses, and phone numbers were accessed due to a breach at their payment processor Global-e. Although Ledger confirmed that no sensitive wallet information or payment details were stolen, security experts warn this kind of personal info can be used for phishing and targeted attacks.
This is especially concerning given Ledger’s past issues with data leaks—most notably in 2020 when 1.1 million email addresses and detailed info for nearly 292,000 customers were exposed and later published online.
There’s growing fear among the crypto community about real-world threats. Physical attacks against crypto users—sometimes referred to as “wrench attacks”—are reportedly on the rise. These are violent incidents where attackers target individuals to steal their crypto by force.
Some researchers believe these attacks will become more frequent if global economic conditions worsen. The use of leaked customer data for phishing scams and social engineering makes it even easier for criminals to find high-value targets.
Experts also point out that many crypto services still rely on centralized infrastructure like payment processors and email systems—making them vulnerable points of failure. While Ledger itself wasn’t hacked this time, the leak of customer information still poses serious risks.
In December 2025, crypto-related hacks actually fell by 60% compared to the previous month—dropping from $194.2 million in November to $76 million. However, major incidents are still occurring regularly. These include a $50 million “address poisoning” scam, a $27.3 million private key leak (likely related to the current attack), and a Christmas Day exploit on Trust Wallet that stole $7 million using a compromised browser extension.
Security professionals are now urging anyone whose data was exposed to be extra cautious. Tips include watching out for phishing emails, avoiding sharing personal info online, using temporary delivery addresses, and even considering relocation if safety is a concern.
Crypto users are reminded that even though digital assets offer privacy and control, they also come with real-world risks—especially when basic security practices are overlooked or when central systems get compromised.
Dogecoin and Meme Coins Surge Amid Market Rebound
Dogecoin (DOGE), the leading meme cryptocurrency, has jumped over 17% this past week as the overall crypto market sees a rebound. Bitcoin’s recent surge to nearly $95,000 has helped lift other coins, including DOGE, which climbed above $0.15 for the first time since early December. On Tuesday, it briefly hit $0.155 before dipping slightly to around $0.146, following the broader market trend.
This price surge also aligns with growing interest in Dogecoin ETFs. New DOGE exchange-traded funds saw positive inflows on January 2 and January 5, pulling in a total of $3.9 million, according to data from SoSoValue. This indicates that more investors are starting to back DOGE through traditional financial tools.
It’s not just Dogecoin seeing gains—meme coins as a category are having a strong week. According to CoinGecko, meme coins are up more than 24% overall. Pepe (PEPE) is leading the charge with a massive 56% jump, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) has risen by 27%. These gains are outpacing major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which rose 4.8% and 9.2%, respectively.
Solana-based meme coins are also making waves. Bonk (BONK) is up by 52%, and Pudgy Penguins-themed token PENGU has gained 41%. These tokens are seeing renewed interest thanks to Solana’s fast and low-cost blockchain network, which has become a hotspot for meme coin activity.
Last year ended with a slowdown in meme coin excitement. In September, new token launches often exceeded 25,000 per day. But in the last three months of 2025, that number dropped significantly, only passing the 25,000 mark three times. This decline in activity was visible on popular meme coin platforms like Pump.fun and LetsBonk.
However, things are turning around in early 2026. Since January began (excluding New Year’s Day), every day has seen over 25,000 new meme tokens created. This revival shows that interest in meme coins is bouncing back as prices rise and traders return.
Launchpad trading volumes are also picking up speed again. Daily volumes have climbed back over $100 million after dropping as low as $57 million in November. Established meme coins like Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) and Dogwifhat (WIF) have also seen big trading spikes—both hitting over $1 billion in volume within the last 24 hours, based on CoinGlass data.
The overall mood around meme coins is improving too. According to Kaito AI, meme coins are the top trending topic in crypto on social media platform X this week. Additional data from Cookie.fun shows that PEPE, BONK, and DOGE are among the top 10 most talked-about coins online.
As excitement returns to the meme coin market, both new and old tokens are gaining traction once again—with investor interest growing across trading platforms and social media alike.