Silver prices soared to a record $79 per ounce, marking a 10% increase, while palladium also saw a significant rise, climbing 15% to $1,937.64. This surge in precious metals comes as investors continue to focus on alternative assets. In the corporate world, global mergers and acquisitions reached an impressive $4.5 trillion in 2025, driven by 68 mega-deals each exceeding $10 billion. Meanwhile, Zcash's privacy transactions have stabilized at 23%, a notable increase from 8% at the start of the year, indicating steady growth in privacy-focused blockchain activity.