Goldman Sachs and Nasdaq Leaders to Attend Finance Forum
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy GS?
The walls between Wall Street and the digital frontier continue to fall as banking titans and exchange leaders align with the administration for a historic policy summit. While institutional giants solidify their crypto roadmaps, retail investors are navigating a complex "milder" crypto winter and a transformative tax reporting landscape .Stay up on the crypto news that matters with "Crypto Currents," daily from The Fly. Join us at 2 PM ET for your essential briefing on the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency on FlyCast radio.WALL STREET LEADERSHIP AND POLICYMAKERS TO ALIGN AT FINANCE FORUM:The nexus of traditional finance and the digital asset industry is set to reach a new milestone as executive leadership from Goldman Sachsand Nasdaqprepare to join a high-stakes "future of finance" forum., CEOs of these major financial institutions will headline the event at Mar-a-Lago alongside political figures, signaling a profound tightening of ties between the administration's crypto initiatives and the banking sector. Reinforcing this trend, Intercontinental Exchangeannounced thatto increase institutional access to digital asset markets. This institutional shift is mirrored in Washington, D.C., wherethe launch of its new Policy Center led by veteran crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky. The center's primary objective is to draft a legal framework for perpetual derivatives and create a clear adoption pathway for decentralized finance within the United States.STARBOARD VALUE PRESSES RIOT PLATFORMS ON AI PIVOT AS ANALYSTS IDENTIFY MINING LEADERS:Infrastructure is becoming the primary battleground for crypto growth, with activist investor Starboard Value formally urging bitcoinminer Riot Platformsto accelerate its transition into artificial intelligence data centers.that Starboard believes Riot is significantly undervalued compared to competitors who have more aggressively courted hyperscaler tenants. This focus on infrastructure efficiency is echoed by JPMorgan, which has officially named Bitdeeras a leader in the mining sector. Amidst these shifts, Strategyexecutive chairman Michael Saylor noted onthatwhile the market is in a "crypto winter," it appears to be far milder and shorter than previous cycles.ETORO SURGES ON EARNINGS BEAT AS FIGURE TECHNOLOGY UPSIZES SECONDARY OFFERING:Publicly traded crypto-adjacent firms are seeing significant market action, with eToroshares jumping over 20% following a fourth-quarter earnings report that exceeded analyst expectations.that cryptoasset activity was the primary driver for eToro's $3.87B in Q4 revenue. Simultaneously, Figure Technology Solutionsannounced the pricing and upsizing of a secondary public offering for its Series A Blockchain Common Stock at $32.00 per share, as detailed in a. The deal, led by Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Cantor, includes a $10M share repurchase of Class A common stock by Figure.IRS REPORTING SHAKEUP LEAVES RETAIL INVESTORS WARY AHEAD OF TAX SEASON:While institutions find their footing, retail sentiment is being tested by new transparency mandates from the Internal Revenue Service.that a survey of 1,000 investors found over half are fearful of penalties related to the new Form 1099-DA, which requires brokers like Coinbaseto automatically report transactions. Despite these concerns, Wells Fargo analysts are predicting a massive liquidity injection, suggesting a "YOLO" trade could send $150B into risk assets like bitcoin and etherby the end of March as taxpayers receive larger refunds, per.PRICE ACTION:As of time of writing, bitcoin was trading at$67,191.01, while ether was trading at $1,972.89,.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy GS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on GS
Wall Street analysts forecast GS stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 823.760
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
Current: 823.760
Low
604.00
Averages
951.45
High
1100
About GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a global financial institution that delivers a range of financial services to a large and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Its segments include Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management and Platform Solutions. The Global Banking & Markets segment offers a range of services, including financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for its institutional and corporate clients. It facilitates client transactions and makes markets in fixed income, equity, currency and commodity products. The Asset & Wealth Management segment manages assets and offers investment products across all asset classes to a diverse set of clients. It also provides investing and wealth advisory solutions. The Platform Solutions segment includes consumer platforms, such as partnerships offering credit cards and point-of-sale financing, and transaction banking and other platform businesses.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
XRP and Solana ETF Holders Show Strong Resilience
- Holder Resilience: Despite XRP and Solana ETFs experiencing over a 60% asset decline, these products still attracted $1.4 billion in inflows, demonstrating the steadfast confidence of their holders, which significantly outperforms Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF holders.
- Flow Movement Discrepancy: Bitcoin ETFs saw approximately $9 billion in outflows from October 2025 to February 2026, representing about 12-15% of flows, while Ethereum ETFs faced a higher outflow rate of 25%, indicating a more sensitive market reaction to short-term volatility for these assets.
- Investor Base Analysis: Seyffart noted that the investor bases for XRP and Solana ETFs differ from those of Bitcoin and Ethereum, with the former attracting more long-term investors, while the latter experienced short-term capital exits due to collapsing basis trade liquidity, reflecting distinct market participation strategies.
- Institutional Participation: As of December 2025, 50% of Solana ETF holders are 13F filers, indicating strong institutional backing, whereas less than 15% of XRP ETF holders are known institutions, suggesting a retail investor dominance, with potential future institutional participation likely to drive market demand.
See More
Market Oversold, Investment Opportunities Arise
- Oversold Market Signal: The market selloff accelerated as U.S. crude prices surged approximately 8%, pushing the S&P Short Range Oscillator down to -5.48%, significantly below the -4% oversold threshold, indicating a potential rebound opportunity in the near term.
- Impact of Trading Restrictions: Due to trading restrictions, we are unable to trade any stocks mentioned by Jim Cramer on Thursday; despite the oversold market, we must carefully select stocks and recommend gradual purchases to maintain flexibility.
- Potential Buy Stocks: The five stocks we are interested in include Boeing, Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, Nike, and Cardinal Health; while Boeing faces challenges from rising fuel prices, its new jets' fuel efficiency remains attractive over time.
- Market Volatility and Strategy: Given the current market environment, if oil prices continue to rise, it could lead to further market declines, hence we advise keeping some cash on hand to seize future buying opportunities.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: WTI crude oil prices surged over 9% today following Iraq's suspension of oil terminal activities due to Iranian attacks on tankers, leading the S&P 500 to drop 1.22%, the Dow Jones by 1.32%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.46%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs.
- Bank Stocks Under Pressure: Morgan Stanley and Cliffwater LLC capped withdrawals from their private credit funds amid investor redemption demands exceeding fund limits, causing both Morgan Stanley and KKR to decline over 4%, reflecting growing concerns about credit quality in the market.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 1,000 to 213,000, indicating labor market strength, while January housing starts unexpectedly rose 7.2% to 1.487 million, despite building permits dropping 5.4% to 1.376 million, suggesting potential slowdowns in future construction activity.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Despite market volatility, over 95% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 74% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing some support to the market, although overall sentiment remains pressured by rising oil prices.
See More
Kevin Warsh's Nomination Confirmation Prospects Dim
- Nomination Stalled: Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh met with several senators in Washington, and despite his comment that “things are progressing well,” the gloomy weather reflects the dim prospects for his confirmation.
- Obstruction Factors: Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has effectively blocked Warsh's nomination, vowing not to support any Fed nominee until the ongoing criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell concludes.
- Investigation Impact: Powell indicated that the DOJ's criminal probe stems from the Fed board's refusal to cut interest rates as drastically as demanded by the Trump administration, highlighting the tension between the Fed and the government, which could hinder Warsh's nomination process.
- Time Pressure: If Tillis continues his obstruction, Warsh may not receive a Senate vote before his term ends in January, which could negatively impact the stability of the Fed's leadership.
See More
Bitcoin Price Dips Amid ETF Inflows and Market Dynamics
- Bitcoin Price Fluctuation: Bitcoin dipped below $70,000, pressured by the IEA's historic release of strategic oil reserves and persistent miner selling, indicating market instability and investor caution.
- ETF Inflow Situation: March saw $1.56 billion in net inflows for Bitcoin ETFs, despite $576.6 million in outflows, reflecting sustained institutional interest in crypto assets, particularly with over $540 million invested in Solana ETFs.
- Stablecoin SPAC Listing: TLGY's acquisition of StablecoinX received 97% shareholder approval, set to list on Nasdaq, becoming the first publicly traded vehicle for direct exposure to DeFi yield infrastructure, highlighting the convergence of traditional finance and crypto markets.
- Crypto Infrastructure Consolidation: Sphere 3D's agreement to acquire Cathedra Bitcoin combines 53 MW of managed power capacity and 1.2 EH/s of proprietary hash rate, marking a significant step in the consolidation and expansion of crypto infrastructure.
See More
Surge in Gas Prices Impacts Gig Economy Workers
- Gas Price Surge: The average price of unleaded gasoline has jumped 22% over the past month to about $3.59 per gallon, marking the highest level since May 2024, which directly impacts gig economy workers reliant on their vehicles for income.
- Gig Economy Adaptation: Many gig workers, including Uber and DoorDash drivers, are adjusting their strategies to cope with high fuel prices, with some seeking additional income sources or reducing personal vehicle use to mitigate costs and ensure profitability.
- Call for Policy Changes: Gig workers are urging platform companies to implement additional gas surcharges to alleviate the burden of soaring fuel prices, similar to measures taken after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for policy support.
- Increased Economic Instability: As fuel prices continue to rise, the economic instability faced by gig workers intensifies, particularly in the current tight labor market where finding alternative employment opportunities is challenging, further exacerbating the vulnerability of this workforce.
See More
XRP and Solana ETF Holders Show Strong Resilience
- Holder Resilience: Despite XRP and Solana ETFs experiencing over a 60% asset decline, these products still attracted $1.4 billion in inflows, demonstrating the steadfast confidence of their holders, which significantly outperforms Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF holders.
- Flow Movement Discrepancy: Bitcoin ETFs saw approximately $9 billion in outflows from October 2025 to February 2026, representing about 12-15% of flows, while Ethereum ETFs faced a higher outflow rate of 25%, indicating a more sensitive market reaction to short-term volatility for these assets.
- Investor Base Analysis: Seyffart noted that the investor bases for XRP and Solana ETFs differ from those of Bitcoin and Ethereum, with the former attracting more long-term investors, while the latter experienced short-term capital exits due to collapsing basis trade liquidity, reflecting distinct market participation strategies.
- Institutional Participation: As of December 2025, 50% of Solana ETF holders are 13F filers, indicating strong institutional backing, whereas less than 15% of XRP ETF holders are known institutions, suggesting a retail investor dominance, with potential future institutional participation likely to drive market demand.
See More
Market Oversold, Investment Opportunities Arise
- Oversold Market Signal: The market selloff accelerated as U.S. crude prices surged approximately 8%, pushing the S&P Short Range Oscillator down to -5.48%, significantly below the -4% oversold threshold, indicating a potential rebound opportunity in the near term.
- Impact of Trading Restrictions: Due to trading restrictions, we are unable to trade any stocks mentioned by Jim Cramer on Thursday; despite the oversold market, we must carefully select stocks and recommend gradual purchases to maintain flexibility.
- Potential Buy Stocks: The five stocks we are interested in include Boeing, Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, Nike, and Cardinal Health; while Boeing faces challenges from rising fuel prices, its new jets' fuel efficiency remains attractive over time.
- Market Volatility and Strategy: Given the current market environment, if oil prices continue to rise, it could lead to further market declines, hence we advise keeping some cash on hand to seize future buying opportunities.
See More
US Stocks Decline Amid Rising Oil Prices
- Oil Price Surge Impacts Market: WTI crude oil prices surged over 9% today following Iraq's suspension of oil terminal activities due to Iranian attacks on tankers, leading the S&P 500 to drop 1.22%, the Dow Jones by 1.32%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 1.46%, indicating market sensitivity to rising energy costs.
- Bank Stocks Under Pressure: Morgan Stanley and Cliffwater LLC capped withdrawals from their private credit funds amid investor redemption demands exceeding fund limits, causing both Morgan Stanley and KKR to decline over 4%, reflecting growing concerns about credit quality in the market.
- Mixed Economic Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 1,000 to 213,000, indicating labor market strength, while January housing starts unexpectedly rose 7.2% to 1.487 million, despite building permits dropping 5.4% to 1.376 million, suggesting potential slowdowns in future construction activity.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: Despite market volatility, over 95% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 74% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing some support to the market, although overall sentiment remains pressured by rising oil prices.
See More
Kevin Warsh's Nomination Confirmation Prospects Dim
- Nomination Stalled: Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh met with several senators in Washington, and despite his comment that “things are progressing well,” the gloomy weather reflects the dim prospects for his confirmation.
- Obstruction Factors: Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina has effectively blocked Warsh's nomination, vowing not to support any Fed nominee until the ongoing criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell concludes.
- Investigation Impact: Powell indicated that the DOJ's criminal probe stems from the Fed board's refusal to cut interest rates as drastically as demanded by the Trump administration, highlighting the tension between the Fed and the government, which could hinder Warsh's nomination process.
- Time Pressure: If Tillis continues his obstruction, Warsh may not receive a Senate vote before his term ends in January, which could negatively impact the stability of the Fed's leadership.
See More
Bitcoin Price Dips Amid ETF Inflows and Market Dynamics
- Bitcoin Price Fluctuation: Bitcoin dipped below $70,000, pressured by the IEA's historic release of strategic oil reserves and persistent miner selling, indicating market instability and investor caution.
- ETF Inflow Situation: March saw $1.56 billion in net inflows for Bitcoin ETFs, despite $576.6 million in outflows, reflecting sustained institutional interest in crypto assets, particularly with over $540 million invested in Solana ETFs.
- Stablecoin SPAC Listing: TLGY's acquisition of StablecoinX received 97% shareholder approval, set to list on Nasdaq, becoming the first publicly traded vehicle for direct exposure to DeFi yield infrastructure, highlighting the convergence of traditional finance and crypto markets.
- Crypto Infrastructure Consolidation: Sphere 3D's agreement to acquire Cathedra Bitcoin combines 53 MW of managed power capacity and 1.2 EH/s of proprietary hash rate, marking a significant step in the consolidation and expansion of crypto infrastructure.
See More
Surge in Gas Prices Impacts Gig Economy Workers
- Gas Price Surge: The average price of unleaded gasoline has jumped 22% over the past month to about $3.59 per gallon, marking the highest level since May 2024, which directly impacts gig economy workers reliant on their vehicles for income.
- Gig Economy Adaptation: Many gig workers, including Uber and DoorDash drivers, are adjusting their strategies to cope with high fuel prices, with some seeking additional income sources or reducing personal vehicle use to mitigate costs and ensure profitability.
- Call for Policy Changes: Gig workers are urging platform companies to implement additional gas surcharges to alleviate the burden of soaring fuel prices, similar to measures taken after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, highlighting the urgent need for policy support.
- Increased Economic Instability: As fuel prices continue to rise, the economic instability faced by gig workers intensifies, particularly in the current tight labor market where finding alternative employment opportunities is challenging, further exacerbating the vulnerability of this workforce.
See More
