Realtor.com®: Down Payments Hit Lowest Q2 Level Since 2021

Homebuyers put more down this spring compared to winter, but higher rates pushed monthly payments up 74% over five years

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Homebuyers put more down this spring than in the winter, but the typical down payment still fell to $27,100, the lowest second quarter level since 2021, according to the Realtor.com® second-quarter Down Payment Report. Down payments fell 9.2% year over year in dollar terms and 0.6 percentage points as a share of purchase price. Increased inventory gave buyers more room to negotiate, while higher mortgage rates kept rate-sensitive households on the sidelines.

"Down payments rose sharply from the winter into spring, as they typically do seasonally, yet the rebound still left them below year-ago levels. Buyers have gained some negotiating room, while higher mortgage rates remain the biggest factor shaping monthly affordability," said Hannah Jones, Senior Economist at Realtor.com®. "In expensive markets, buyers with more equity are using larger down payments to reduce monthly costs; in softer markets, smaller down payments are adding to the cost of higher rates. For many households, the monthly payment, rather than just the cash needed upfront, will determine how much home they can afford."

Down Payments Rise Seasonally, Remain Below Previous Years

The typical down payment rose to $27,100, or 13.7%, in the second quarter, from $25,000, or 12.9%, in the first quarter of 2026. Although the second quarter is typically the seasonal peak, this year's increase was particularly strong. Still, the median down payment remained below the $29,900 and 14.3% recorded a year earlier.

Primary Residence Down Payments

The rebound continued into the third quarter, with the typical down payment reaching an annual high of $28,800, or 14.0%, in July. That was still 7.5% below year-ago levels in dollar terms and 0.5 percentage points lower as a share of the purchase price.

The easing in down payments is consistent with broader housing market conditions. According to Realtor.com® August housing data, active listings rose 3.6% year over year, while median list prices fell 1.3%, easing for the 10th consecutive month. Those conditions are giving buyers more time and negotiating room, reducing the pressure to lead with an outsized down payment.

Higher Rates Are Driving the Monthly Payment Burden

Down payments tell only part of the affordability story: the mortgage rate applied to the remaining loan has a larger effect on monthly costs. Even though the typical down payment share was 1.4 percentage points higher than in August 2021, the estimated monthly principal-and-interest payment rose 74% over five years, to $2,376.

The comparison below shows how higher mortgage rates drove that increase.

*Estimated monthly payments use each August's median listing price, typical down payment share and prevailing 30-year fixed mortgage rate.

The larger down payment provided only about $39 in monthly relief compared with 2021 down-payment habits. The estimated payment was $80, or 3.5%, higher than in 2025, and would rise another $58, to $2,434, if rates reached 7%.

Shifting Down Payments Either Cushion or Amplify Rising Mortgage Rates

The national increase in down payment share since 2021 masks a sharp local divide. In high-cost, competitive metros, larger down payments are helping cushion the monthly payment burden.

In softer markets, the pattern reverses. Down payments have fallen as prices cooled and competition eased, adding to the monthly cost of higher rates.

The contrast is sharp. Higher down payments reduce monthly costs by $205 to $269 in competitive metros, while lower down payments add $37 to $82 per month in softer markets. Austin offers the clearest example. Its typical listing price is down 18% over five years, yet the estimated monthly payment is still up 33% because higher rates have more than offset the price relief and smaller down payments have added to monthly costs.

Northeast Leads on Down Payments as All Regions See Year-Over-Year Declines

The Northeast remained the highest-down-payment region in the second quarter of 2026, with buyers putting down an average 18.1% of the purchase price, followed by the West at 15.2%, the Midwest at 14.2% and the South at 11.9%. All four regions saw year-over-year declines in down payment share.

The Northeast also posted the highest median down payment, reflecting higher home prices and persistent competition. Compared with the second quarter of 2019, the region's median down payment was up 238.7%, significantly more than the next-largest increase, 141.0% in the Midwest.

The South and West have seen more substantial inventory recovery and softer prices, giving buyers more negotiating room. The regional split is consistent with the Realtor.com Market Clock, which found that 70% of the nation's largest markets either favored buyers or were moving in a buyer-friendly direction in the second quarter of 2026.

"Mortgage rates will remain the biggest swing factor for buyers. If rates continue to rise, down payments and estimated monthly payments are likely to remain elevated as more marginal buyers stay on the sidelines. A sustained decline would do more to improve affordability and bring buyers back into the market, helping keep homeownership within reach for more households," Jones said.

Methodology

Down payment trends were analyzed at the national level using Optimal Blue data through August 2026. Down payment as a share of purchase price is calculated as an average across the data. Down payment as a dollar amount is calculated by taking the median across the data. Estimated monthly payments assume a 30-year fixed-rate loan on the average purchase price less the median down payment, amortized at Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey average 30-year fixed rate for the period shown. Comparisons are for Q2, unless otherwise stated; payment comparisons use August data. Estimated payments represent principal and interest only and exclude taxes, insurance, mortgage insurance, HOA fees and other costs of homeownership.

About Realtor.com®

For over 30 years, Realtor.com® has connected buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 real estate site REALTOR® agents recommend, Realtor.com® delivers consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media Contact: Janice McDill, [email protected]

SOURCE Realtor.com

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Remember Me Thursday® Unites Animal-Lovers, Celebrities and Rescue Organizations Across the Globe to #ShineALight for Pets Waiting for Forever Homes…

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a worldwide wave of compassion is shining a light on orphan pets. Animal lovers everywhere have joined the 14th annual Remember Me Thursday® (RMT) global movement to create an unstoppable voice for pets still waiting for forever homes. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in September, RMT brings together pet-lovers, celebrities and animal welfare organizations across the globe through social media postings, candle-lighting ceremonies, proclamations, flag raisings and more. By posting using @RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight, participants are sending one powerful message around the world: orphan pets deserve to be seen, remembered and given the chance to find a home. Helen Woodward Animal Center hopes the public will join the movement TODAY – Remember Me Thursday®, September 24th – and #ShineALight on the life-changing importance of pet adoption.

RMT was established in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the staggering statistics that over a million homeless pets lose their lives each year in the U.S., Arms put out a call to rescue organizations in an attempt to create a social media global awareness campaign.

Now in its 14th year, Remember Me Thursday® has grown into a worldwide movement powered by hundreds of thousands of passionate animal lovers and more than 1,000 animal welfare organizations in over 180 countries. The campaign gives everyone a way to shine a light on the pets still waiting for homes—from sharing the story of a rescue pet on social media to joining special ceremonies that honor the lives, resilience and second chances of orphan animals. Together, these voices create a powerful global reminder that every pet deserves to be remembered—and every rescue pet deserves a forever home. The enormous swell of celebrity support has resulted in the topic trending each year on both Facebook and Twitter.

Alicia Silverstone is the latest high-profile celebrity to step into the role of Featured RMT Luminary, following a roster of notable advocates including Kristin Chenoweth, Kaley Cuoco and Wynonna Judd. Silverstone is best known for her iconic role as Cher Horowitz in Clueless and will reprise the role in an upcoming six-episode series for Paramount+. Other well-known work includes appearances in Batman & Robin, Blast from the Past, Excess Baggage, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Bugonia and television's Miss Match, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Beyond acting and producing, Silverstone has become one of Hollywood's most visible voices for animal rights, environmental awareness, and plant-based living. A passionate vegan for decades, she founded the wellness platform The Kind Life, which promotes compassionate living, sustainability, and holistic wellness and authored several books, including the bestselling The Kind Diet and The Kind Mama, encouraging readers to explore plant-based nutrition and mindful living. Now, she headlines a movement that has grown from one organization's call to action into a worldwide phenomenon.

"Remember Me Thursday is such an important reminder that these animals are here, they are worthy, and they are waiting for someone to choose them," said Silverstone.

Silverstone joins an impressive list of celebrity supporters also aligning themselves with RMT. Since its launch, Remember Me Thursday® has united an inspiring roster of actors, athletes, musicians, animal behaviorists and social media personalities who have used their voices to help shine a light on the thousands of orphan pets still waiting for homes. Among those lending their star power are Andie MacDowell (2023 Official Spokesperson), Katherine Heigl, (Rainey Qualley (2023 Official Spokesperson), Bo Derek, and new 2026 supporters Bob Odenkirk, Morgan Fairchild, Alan Tudyk, Scoot McNairy, and Los Angeles Chargers players Daiyan Henley, Omarion Hampton and Teair Tart, among many others. To see the full roster of 2026 RMT luminaries, visit www.RememberMeThursday.org.

Today, Thursday, September 24th, the public is invited to join the movement by tweeting, tagging, posting and sharing a story of the beauty, and life-saving significance, an adopted pet has made, alongside @RememberMeThursday and #ShineALight.

For more information on Remember Me Thursday® and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.remembermethursday.org.

About Remember Me Thursday®

Animal lovers and organizations across the globe unite on the fourth Thursday in September to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of homeless pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and to shine a light via social media on the millions of orphan pets still waiting for their forever homes. The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and successful Home 4 the Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed over 22 million pets in homes since 1999. For more information, please visit www.remembermethursday.org. 

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center

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The new advisory board brings together leading dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist to expand access to credible, expert-led skin health education

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prequel, the dermatologist-founded skincare brand dedicated to advancing skin health through effective, accessible products and education, today announced the launch of the Prequel Skin Health Advisory Board, a collective of leading dermatologists and skin health experts who will help shape the brand's educational initiatives and bring trusted skin health information to a broader audience.

Founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis, Prequel has built its approach around a core belief: expert skin health information shouldn't be gatekept. The new advisory board brings together a group of experts who will help inform Prequel's approach to skincare and contribute to the broader conversation around skin health.

The board includes board-certified dermatologists Dr. Brittany Oliver, Dr. Kiyanna Williams, Dr. Andrew Park, Dr. Cory Kosche, Dr. Lina Kennedy, Dr. Cheri Frey, Dr. Divya Shokeen, and cosmetic chemist Iris Lee, with collective expertise spanning medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, skin of color, pigmentary disorders, skin cancer, clinical research, and cosmetic chemistry.

"When I founded Prequel, I wanted to take so much of the knowledge we share with patients every day and make it accessible to more people," said Dr. Samantha Ellis, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Prequel. "I've personally admired and learned from each of the experts joining this board, and I'm incredibly excited to bring their different perspectives into Prequel. There is so much noise around skincare today, and our goal is to help people better understand what works, what matters and why, so they can make more informed decisions about their skin health."

As skincare information becomes more abundant—and often more conflicting—Prequel sees an increasing need to connect consumers with credible expertise that helps them better understand their skin and the products they use. At the heart of the Skin Health Advisory Board is Prequel's goal to bring more of the education and perspective found inside the dermatologist's office into everyday skincare conversations.

Board members will serve as an ongoing resource across Prequel's education, product and community initiatives, participating in expert roundtables, contributing to educational content and media conversations, providing perspectives on skin health topics and trends, and exchanging insights around the evolving needs of consumers and patients.

"Education has been central to Prequel from the beginning, and the Skin Health Advisory Board allows us to deepen that commitment as we grow. By bringing together experts with different specialties, experiences and perspectives, we can continue building Prequel as a trusted resource that not only creates effective products, but helps people feel more informed and confident in the choices they make for their skin," said Prequel CEO Nathalie Kristo.

The launch marks the next evolution of Prequel's education-first approach to skincare, expanding the brand's network of expert voices and creating new ways for consumers to learn directly from the people who diagnose, treat, research, and formulate for skin every day.

ABOUT PREQUEL

Founded by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis, Prequel is a dermatologist-developed skincare brand focused on supporting skin health through effective, accessible, and thoughtfully formulated products. Rooted in clinical expertise and an education-first approach, Prequel creates solutions for the skin concerns people experience every day while helping consumers better understand and care for their skin.

SOURCE Prequel

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Next-Generation AI platform combines photorealistic visualization, product intelligence, homeowner engagement and data

CALGARY, AB, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Renoworks Software Inc. (TSXV: RW) (OTC: ROWKF) ("Renoworks" or the "Company"), an industry leader in AI-powered visualization, design and lead-generation technology for the building products industry, today announced the launch of Renoworks.ai, the Company's next-generation AI native platform designed to transform how building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors engage and monetize homeowners throughout the remodeling journey.

Renoworks.ai represents a significant evolution of the Company's technology platform, combining next-generation generative AI with Renoworks' extensive building product data, visualization expertise, homeowner engagement tools, analytics and lead-generation capabilities. These new capabilities provide greater design realism, stronger product accuracy and more effective homeowner engagement, all of which improves engagement with customers and increases close rates. Renoworks has been working with all stakeholders and these new features are what customers and partners have been asking for.

The new platform produces highly photorealistic remodeling designs while maintaining an important distinction from general-purpose generative AI tools: designs are connected to actual building products, colors and product configurations offered by Renoworks customers. Rather than simply generating an inspirational image, Renoworks.ai is designed to connect homeowner inspiration with real products and ultimately with the companies that manufacture, distribute and install them. For a brief demo of the new platform click here.

Renoworks currently serves more than 200 enterprise customers in the North American building products industry across numerous building product categories, and facilitates millions of annual product interactions between homeowners and building product brands. Existing Renoworks customers can migrate their product libraries to Renoworks.ai while maintaining their current integrations and continuing to operate Renoworks Classic during the transition. The Company expects customer migrations to occur progressively rather than through a single platform-wide conversion.

Renoworks has spent more than two decades digitizing building products and working with leading manufacturers across the remodeling industry. Renoworks.ai builds upon that foundation by evolving traditional product libraries into a Product Intelligence Platform designed to create a structured, continuously manageable source of product information for AI-powered applications. Product Intelligence also creates the potential to expand Renoworks' relationship with customers beyond individual visualization applications. By establishing a centralized product intelligence layer that can support multiple digital experiences, Renoworks believes it can become more deeply integrated into how building product manufacturers manage and activate their product information across the remodeling ecosystem.

"Renoworks.ai represents the largest step-change in our platform since the Company entered the visualization market," said Doug Vickerson, Chief Executive Officer of Renoworks. "Generative AI has fundamentally changed what is possible in-home design. We believe the larger opportunity, however, is not simply creating a better image. It is connecting that experience to real products, homeowner intent, data and ultimately the transaction, resulting in greater value across the entire home design experience. In addition, we expect this new product to drive higher homeowner engagement, resulting in continuous improvement in our domain knowledge of homeowner purchase behavior and intent, which will further improve our value to building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors by driving higher close rates."

Renoworks.ai is being introduced progressively to existing and new enterprise customers. The Company will continue expanding the platform's capabilities as part of its broader strategy to provide an integrated AI-powered technology platform for the remodeling and building products industry. The Company believes Renoworks.ai creates additional opportunities to expand recurring revenue by increasing platform adoption, enabling customers to deploy Renoworks technology more broadly across brands and product categories, and introducing additional AI-powered capabilities over time.

About Renoworks

Renoworks Software Inc. develops and sells AI-powered visualization, design, data and lead-generation solutions for the remodeling and new home construction industry. The Company serves building product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and contractors, helping connect homeowner inspiration and product selection with real-world building products and remodeling projects.

Renoworks generates revenue primarily through its Enterprise and PRO solutions. Renoworks Enterprise provides manufacturers, distributors and retailers with digital visualization, product intelligence, homeowner engagement, analytics and lead-generation capabilities, while Renoworks PRO provides contractors and remodelers with digital design and sales tools to help engage homeowners and convert remodeling opportunities.

About Renoworks.ai

From visualization to an ai-powered remodeling platform. Renoworks.ai has been rebuilt around a modern AI architecture and user experience designed to make remodeling visualization faster, more realistic and easier for homeowners to use.

Key capabilities of the new platform include:

- AI Photorealistic Design – Next-generation AI generates realistic representations of remodeled homes incorporating natural lighting, shadows, depth and architectural details.

- Real Manufacturer Products – Designs are connected to actual products, colors and configurations from participating manufacturers rather than AI-generated approximations.

- Modern AI User Experience – A redesigned interface allows homeowners to explore products and design alternatives through an intuitive, interactive experience.

- Product Intelligence Platform – Renoworks.ai moves beyond traditional product library management toward a structured product intelligence layer that connects manufacturer product data, imagery, colors, attributes and configurations to AI-powered applications. This provides manufacturers with a centralized foundation for maintaining accurate digital product information while enabling that information to power visualization, homeowner engagement and other applications across the remodeling journey.

- Lead Generation and Analytics – Increased Homeowner engagement and activity can be captured and transformed into actionable data, providing customers with greater insight into product interest and purchase intent.

- Enterprise Integration – Existing integrations, product libraries and enterprise workflows can transition to Renoworks.ai while customers continue operating their existing Renoworks environments.

- Enterprise Management Tools – Customers can manage users, permissions and access while gaining greater visibility into homeowner and contractor activity across their organizations.

For more information, visit Renoworks.com.

SOURCE RenoWorks Software Inc.

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The 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo will take place from 18–21 October in Washington, D.C., USA, and virtually.

NORTH BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) has announced its planned keynote speakers for its largest event of the year, the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo. The conference will take place from 18–21 October in Washington, D.C., USA, and virtually.

Confirmed featured sessions and keynote speakers include:

- "The Lonza Engine: Manufacturing the Medicines of Tomorrow," presented by Wolfgang Wienand, PhD, CEO, Lonza

- "Lilly: Embracing Technology to Reach Patients," presented by Kevin Trivett, Senior Vice President, Device and Packaging Operations Manufacturing, Eli Lilly and Company

- "Whose Loop Is It Anyway? Command AI. Unleash the Human," presented by Marla Phillips, PhD, CEO and President, Pathway for Patient Health LLC

- "An Extraordinary Life," presented by Jamie Valvano, Cancer Survivor and Research Advocate

The Global Regulatory Town Hall, "From Snapshots to Surveillance: How Data, Maturity and AI are Re-shaping Quality and Compliance," will take place on Wednesday, 21 October. Industry and regulatory leaders will explore how technology and engagement can potentially accelerate safe, sustainable delivery of therapies to patients.

The 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo agenda will feature five tracks focused on advancing innovative therapies; digital transformation and data integrity; regulatory and quality leadership; resilient, sustainable operations; and workforce and capability development. Through case studies, expert perspectives, and real-world applications, experts will address key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"The tracks work together as one connected story about how we get innovation all the way to the patient," said Connie Langer, 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo International Program Committee Chair and Regulatory Intelligence Lead – Pharma Quality, Safety, and Environmental Operations of Pfizer.

Langer and Jose Caraballo-Oramas, 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo International Program Committee Executive Chair and JCO Global Advisory LLC Executive Chair, Founder, and Principal, recently discussed the conference on the ISPE Podcast: Shaping the Future of Pharma.

Interactive Workshops taking place on Sunday, 18 October, include:

- Annex 1 in Action: Designing Facilities That Reduce Risk

- Accelerating Innovation in Sustainable Sourcing and Ops

- Digital Validation in Practice

- From Single Sites to Standardized Manufacturing Network

- The Future of Pharma: Agility, Growth, and Continuous Improvement Strategies

A variety of ancillary events and activities are taking place before, during, and after the conference as well, including the 2026 ISPE International Emerging Leader Hackathon taking place Saturday through Sunday, 17–18 October, and a recently announced facility tour to the AstraZeneca Commercial Cell Therapy Facility on Thursday, 22 October. This year, a pickleball zone will also be available to attendees on Monday, 19 October, and Tuesday, 20 October, in the Expo Hall.

To learn more and register for the 2026 ISPE Annual Meeting & Expo, visit ISPE.org/AM26.

About ISPE

The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is a global nonprofit association serving its members through leading scientific, technical, and regulatory advancement across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. The 25,000+ members of ISPE provide solutions to complex pharmaceutical industry challenges through innovation, member and workforce development, and technical, regulatory, and compliance collaborations in more than 120 countries worldwide. Founded in 1980, ISPE has its worldwide headquarters and training center in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and its operations center in Tampa, Florida, USA. For more information, visit ISPE.org.

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2026 Global Carbon Neutrality Report examines the drivers and constraints shaping global carbon neutrality at Tsinghua University forum

BEIJING, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global experts and policymakers gathered at Tsinghua University on September 22 for a high-level seminar on global carbon neutrality to launch the 2026 Global Carbon Neutrality Annual Progress Report, which examines the factors accelerating or constraining the transition across 198 countries and regions.

The event was part of a series marking the fifth anniversary of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality (ICON) at Tsinghua University and the sixth anniversary of China's "dual carbon" goals. It also coincided with the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period.

The seminar brought together perspectives from government, academia and international organizations on the global transition. Speakers included Li Gao, Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment; Zhang Laibin, Chair of the Academic Committee of China University of Petroleum (Beijing); Zeng Rong, Executive Vice President of Tsinghua University; and Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP, who delivered remarks via video. The seminar was chaired by He Kebin, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Dean of the Tsinghua University Institute for Carbon Neutrality.

Wang Can, professor at Tsinghua University presented the 2026 report, which draws on more than 200 indicators to assess progress toward carbon neutrality across 198 countries and regions, tracking progress and identifying the underlying drivers and constraints of the global transition.

The report identifies several trends:

- A new phase of the low-carbon transition is emerging, increasingly driven by technological progress but shaped by broader system conditions.

- Mature technologies are accelerating, with wind and solar power, energy storage, and electric vehicles continuing to expand rapidly.

- System-level bottlenecks remain significant, including limited grid integration capacity, high financing costs, gaps in market mechanisms, and barriers to international technology diffusion.

- Emerging technologies face additional commercialization challenges. Clean hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) continue to encounter constraints related to demand, infrastructure, and viable business models.

- Developing economies face particularly strong barriers, including high financing costs, trade barriers, and insufficient system capacity to absorb and deploy green technologies.

The findings suggest that while technological costs are declining and deployment is accelerating, the pace and scale of the global transition increasingly depend on whether financing, infrastructure, markets, and international cooperation can develop alongside technological progress.

The full report is available through Tsinghua University's Global Carbon Neutrality Progress Tracker at www.cntracker.tsinghua.edu.cn.

SOURCE Tsinghua University

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MUTSAMUDU, Comoros, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, recorded the deepest combined BTC and ETH futures order book depth within the 0.03% band, and the lowest median slippage for a $300,000 silver futures sell order among all surveyed exchanges, according to TokenInsight's Crypto Exchange Liquidity Report for September 2026. The report provides a systematic assessment of liquidity performance across nine major global crypto exchanges based on order book depth, trading slippage, and bid-ask spread, covering BTC and ETH across spot and futures markets, as well as XAU (gold) and XAG (silver) futures.

Top-Tier BTC and ETH Spot Liquidity

At the 0.01% price band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH spot order book depth reached approximately $1.35 million, tied with another exchange for the deepest spot liquidity in the report. At the wider 0.03% band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH spot order book depth stood at $3.58 million, ranking second in the report. For a $500,000 BTC spot sell order, MEXC recorded the lowest median slippage in the report at 0.005%.

Near-Touch Futures Depth Leads at $21.03M

Within the 0.03% price band, MEXC's combined BTC and ETH futures depth reached $21.03 million, the deepest among the nine exchanges surveyed. This highlights MEXC's strength in concentrating executable liquidity close to the mid-market price.

Consistent ETH Futures Execution Across Order Sizes

MEXC delivered strong ETH futures execution across both tested order sizes, recording median/P90 slippage of 0.003%/0.007% for a $500,000 sell order and 0.008%/0.013% for a $1 million sell order, among the best-performing results in the report.

Lowest Silver Futures Slippage at 0.002%

In XAG futures, MEXC recorded a median slippage of 0.002% for a $300,000 sell order, the lowest among all surveyed exchanges. MEXC also recorded a combined XAU and XAG futures depth of $2.39 million within the 0.01% band, and led the market in XAG-specific order book depth.

The report highlights MEXC's strong liquidity and execution performance across both crypto and precious-metals markets, particularly in near-touch order book depth and trade execution. These capabilities provide a foundation for a more efficient trading experience as users access opportunities across global markets. MEXC will continue to strengthen its liquidity infrastructure and trading capabilities to provide users with broader and more efficient market access.

Full report: TokenInsight Crypto Exchange Liquidity Report, September 2026

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is a leading global multi-asset trading platform built as your 0-fee gateway to infinite opportunities. Serving users across 170+ markets, MEXC provides simple and efficient access to crypto, stocks, tokenized assets, derivatives, and a growing range of TradFi-linked opportunities through one account and one gateway.

With 0 trading fees, deep liquidity, broad asset coverage, and a high-performance trading experience, MEXC is designed for retail users who want to discover earlier, act faster, and trade with fewer barriers. As crypto and traditional finance continue to converge, MEXC is committed to making global opportunities more accessible, helping users trade freely and MEXCmize every opportunity.

MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

Risk Disclaimer:

This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the volatility of financial markets, including digital assets, tokenized assets, and traditional financial products, investors should carefully assess market conditions, underlying asset fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any investment or trading decisions.

SOURCE MEXC

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New organic growth platform intended to help financial advisors strengthen their brands, identify ideal prospects, and generate qualified client conversations

BEACHWOOD, Ohio , Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OneSeven has announced the launch of AdvisorGrowth IQ, an AI-powered financial advisor growth and marketing engine designed to help advisors build a more scalable prospecting process and increase opportunities to engage qualified prospective clients.

Powered by OneSeven, AdvisorGrowth IQ combines financial advisor marketing strategy, brand positioning, thought leadership, audience targeting, prospect intelligence, personalized outreach, automated follow-up, and appointment generation within one connected organic growth platform.

The platform was developed in response to a challenge shared by many financial advisors and independent RIAs: while advisors excel at serving clients and building relationships, many lack the time, technology, data and marketing infrastructure needed to consistently attract new clients and grow their practices organically.

"Our core focus is growth, partnership and innovation," said Todd Resnick, Chief Executive Officer of OneSeven. "We listened to our advisors, and they told us they want to grow organically without having to spend their days building prospect lists, writing content or managing disconnected marketing campaigns. AdvisorGrowth IQ is our response: a growth engine built around the way financial advisors actually want to grow. By opening new opportunities for AI-powered innovation while keeping advisors and their relationships at the center, OneSeven is helping support innovation in advisor growth across our industry."

Combining Financial Advisor Marketing, AI and Prospect Intelligence

Before developing AdvisorGrowth IQ, OneSeven conducted an extensive evaluation of the marketing, technology and business development landscape to identify the capabilities that could have the greatest impact on financial advisor organic growth.

"Over the past 12 months, we interviewed more than 25 AI marketing firms, copywriters, technology companies and financial services business development consultants to find what we believe are the strongest capabilities in the market," said Adam Blumenthal, Chief Growth Officer of OneSeven. "Through that process, AIM Digital Advantage and FINNY stood out as the most compelling anchors for the growth engine we envisioned. Together with OneSeven's strategy, resources and understanding of advisors, they allow us to deliver more than a collection of marketing tools. We are building a connected growth infrastructure designed to turn advisor expertise into qualified conversations."

AIM Digital Advantage brings human-led strategy and AI-powered marketing capabilities to the AdvisorGrowth IQ ecosystem. Its expertise supports important early stages of financial advisor growth, including brand discovery, niche development, advisor positioning, messaging, content strategy and digital visibility.

This foundation helps advisors clarify what they want to be known for, demonstrate their expertise and consistently communicate with the audiences they are best positioned to serve.

FINNY provides an AI-powered prospecting and growth platform built specifically for financial advisors. Its capabilities help advisors identify and prioritize prospective clients, enrich prospect profiles, recognize relevant financial and money-in-motion signals, and execute personalized, multichannel outreach.

Automated follow-up and engagement monitoring can then help move interested prospects toward a meeting while keeping the advisor informed and in control.

Together, AIM Digital Advantage and FINNY help AdvisorGrowth IQ support the complete financial advisor marketing and lead-generation journey - from defining an advisor's niche and building thought leadership to identifying opportunities and generating qualified meetings.

AI-Powered Advisor Marketing With a Human Focus

AdvisorGrowth IQ is designed to operate like an all-done-for-you marketing team that continuously learns about an advisor's business, niche, audience, and growth goals.

The system uses AI-assisted tools to help surface prospect signals and support campaign development, with advisors able to review, modify, and approve outreach and follow-up parameters. Advisors can review campaigns before launch or establish parameters for automated execution.

By reducing the time advisors spend managing marketing workflows, AdvisorGrowth IQ allows them to focus on what technology cannot replace: building relationships, understanding client needs and delivering meaningful financial guidance.

"Great advisors should not have to become full-time marketers to build great businesses," Blumenthal added. "Our vision is for advisors to begin their day with qualified prospective client meetings scheduled on their calendars, with the targeting, intelligence, outreach and follow-up handled for them."

Helping Independent Financial Advisors Grow

AdvisorGrowth IQ expands OneSeven's broader commitment to helping independent financial advisors and RIA teams grow personally, professionally and financially.

Through its advisor platform, OneSeven provides access to technology, marketing resources, investment capabilities, operational support and a collaborative community. AdvisorGrowth IQ adds a connected organic growth engine designed to help advisors build visibility, reach the right prospects and create more opportunities for meaningful conversations.

About OneSeven

OneSeven is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm and financial advisor growth platform based in Beachwood, Ohio, serving advisors and clients across the United States. OneSeven provides independent financial advisors with technology, investment capabilities, marketing resources, operational support, and a collaborative community intended to support the growth of their practices while maintaining their independence and focusing on their clients.

To learn more about AdvisorGrowth IQ and how OneSeven helps financial advisors grow, visit onesevenadvisor.com.

OneSeven is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investment products are not FDIC insured, offer no bank guarantee and may lose value.

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KuCoin Adds CCSS Level 3 Certification to Its Multi-Layered Security Framework, Strengthening Trust Infrastructure for Digital Assets

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global crypto platform built on trust, today announced that its Wallet Management Services have upgraded from CCSS v8.1 Level 2 to CCSS v8.1 Level 3 – Full System Certification. Assessed under the same v8.1 framework as its previous certification, the upgrade demonstrates greater control maturity across key management, organizational safeguards, incident readiness and auditability.

Level 3 strengthens controls throughout the cryptographic key lifecycle, from generation and storage to access, backup and recovery. Compared with Level 2, it introduces greater separation of responsibilities, more rigorous access and personnel controls, regular testing of key-compromise response procedures, broader independent assurance and continual backup of operational logs. Together, these measures further reduce single points of failure and strengthen traceability and resilience.

Designed specifically for cryptocurrency systems, CCSS complements broader information security standards by adding specialized requirements for the management and protection of cryptographic keys and wallets. It adds a crypto-native layer to KuCoin's multi-layered assurance framework, which includes SOC 2 Type II, providing independent assurance over the operating effectiveness of relevant controls; ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security management; ISO/IEC 27701:2019 for privacy information management; ISO 22301:2019 for business continuity; and ISO/IEC 42001:2023 for responsible AI management and governance. Together, these certifications establish an integrated framework spanning information security, privacy, operational resilience, AI governance and crypto-native asset protection, reinforcing oversight and accountability across KuCoin's operations.

"Trust is not established through a single certification; it is a system that must be continually tested, validated and improved," said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. "Advancing from Level 2 to Level 3 applies more rigorous controls to the people, processes and technologies that safeguard digital assets—from how key-compromise response procedures are tested and critical actions are recorded and made traceable. This is how we put trust into practice for users and institutions that rely on KuCoin."

For retail users, the enhanced controls provide stronger protection against unauthorized access, key exposure and operational failures. For institutional clients, the certification provides independent evidence that can support security due diligence, counterparty assessment and internal governance requirements.

The achievement reinforces KuCoin's investment in security, transparency and operational resilience. By combining crypto-specific controls with internationally recognized standards, KuCoin continues to strengthen the trust infrastructure required for responsible digital asset adoption and put trust into practice.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 45 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701:2019, ISO 22301:2019 and ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certifications. In recent years, we have built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.

Learn more at www.kucoin.com.

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Former EY Audit Partner brings over two decades of public company and SEC reporting experience as BOXABL continues building out its finance and governance infrastructure

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BOXABL Inc. (Nasdaq: BXBL), a leader in innovative, factory-built modular solutions, today announced the expansion of its board of directors and the appointment of Timothy Goldsmith, CPA, to fill the new position, effective Sept. 24, 2026. Goldsmith will serve as chair of the Audit Committee. In addition to chairing the Audit Committee, he will also serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Goldsmith's appointment follows BOXABL's recent additions of Larry King as chief financial officer and Heather Clayton as chief accounting officer, continuing the company's build-out of the financial leadership and governance infrastructure expected of a newly public company.

Dr. Morris A. Davis, who has chaired the Audit Committee, will remain a member of the Committee. Davis, an economist and the Paul V. Profeta Chair of Real Estate at Rutgers Business School who joined BOXABL's board in December 2025 after serving as Chief Housing Economist for the White House Council of Economic Advisers, will continue to contribute his expertise in housing policy and economics to the board. The change in Committee leadership reflects Goldsmith's two decades of direct public company audit and SEC-reporting experience as BOXABL's governance needs continue to expand alongside its transition to a public company.

"Tim's two decades at EY, including years spent advising audit committees and boards at public companies across manufacturing, gaming and hospitality, make him exactly the kind of governance partner we need as we scale," said Paolo Tiramani, founder and co-CEO of BOXABL. "Combined with the strength Larry and Heather will bring to our finance team, this appointment reflects how seriously we're taking the discipline and rigor that come with being a public company."

Timothy Goldsmith, Board Member, Audit Committee Chair and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member

Goldsmith spent nearly 21 years at EY, most recently as an audit partner from 2018 to 2026, where he oversaw more than 20 complex public and private company audits and led a team of over 30 audit executives. He led audit strategy and execution for companies ranging from $200 million to over $3 billion in revenue, and regularly presented financial findings and risk assessments directly to audit committees and boards of directors. His technical background spans U.S. GAAP, IFRS, SEC and PCAOB standards, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, along with hands-on experience guiding companies through M&A accounting, business combinations and consolidated financial reporting.

Earlier in his EY career, Goldsmith served as senior manager and manager in the firm's Assurance and Advisory practice, and spent time as a U.S. SEC capital markets and professional practice senior based in Hong Kong, where he advised clients on cross-border transactions and IPOs involving U.S. operations.

Goldsmith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Business Economics from Ohio University and is a certified public accountant licensed in Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey and Nevada. He has also served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada.

"BOXABL is tackling one of the country's most pressing challenges, the shortage of affordable housing, with a genuinely innovative manufacturing model. Having spent nearly 21 years in public accounting, I understand how important strong financial controls and governance are for a company at this stage of growth, especially one that has recently gone public. I'm looking forward to working with the board and management team to help build that foundation as BOXABL scales," said Goldsmith.

To learn more about BOXABL's Board of Directors, please visit BOXABL's Investor Page at https://www.boxabl.com/ir.

About BOXABL

Since its inception in 2017, BOXABL has raised over $230 million from more than 50,000 investors. The North Las Vegas-based company is dedicated to transforming the housing industry through innovative technology and design, with a mission of making housing affordable at mass-production scale. BOXABL's flagship product, the Casita, is a 361-square-foot studio unit with a full kitchen, bathroom and utilities that unfold on-site in under an hour. The company is also developing stackable and connectable modules designed to form townhomes, multifamily units and larger single-family homes. BOXABL began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "BXBL" on July 20, 2026, following the completion of its business combination with FG Merger II Corp.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "plan," "project," "will," "estimate," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict," or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding BOXABL's board and governance structure, its financial reporting infrastructure, and its ability to execute on its growth strategy as a public company. These statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are provided for illustrative purposes only; they are not guarantees, assurances, or definitive statements of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions, many of which are beyond BOXABL's control. Statements reflecting BOXABL's beliefs and opinions are based on information available as of the date of this communication, and BOXABL has not necessarily conducted an exhaustive inquiry into all potentially relevant information. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. BOXABL undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as required by law.

For further information about the Company, please visit www.boxabl.com

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