RYVYL Highlights Recent Developments for Merger Partner Roundtable that Advance Web3 Platform Traction
Rhea-AI Summary
RYVYL (NASDAQ: RVYL) highlighted developments by its planned merger partner Roundtable on Jan 7, 2026. Key items include a 10-year, $15 million title sponsorship and strategic partnership with The Hockey News and the appointment of Graeme Roustan to Roundtable's board, with his seat to survive the anticipated merger. Roundtable also expanded its Web3 journalist network by onboarding 50 additional former Sports Illustrated journalists, bringing the total to 150+, including Mike Fisher, who reportedly generated $4 million in annualized revenue.
Management said these moves advance platform traction, commerce, and content monetization ahead of the merger.
Positive
- $15 million title sponsorship under a 10-year agreement
- Graeme Roustan board appointment to survive anticipated merger
- Journalist network expanded by 50 to a total of 150+
- Top contributor Mike Fisher reported $4 million annualized revenue
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – RVYL
On the day this news was published, RVYL gained 5.94%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +7.4% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -10.1% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 11 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $336K to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $6M at that time. Trading volume was above average at 1.6x the daily average, suggesting increased trading activity.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers show mixed moves: BNAI up 12.12%, NEHC up 11.46%, while OLB and FAAS are down 5.25% and 8.3%, indicating stock-specific drivers for RVYL.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30 | Reverse stock split | Neutral | +12.9% | 1-for-35 reverse split to support Nasdaq minimum bid compliance. |
| Dec 17 | Shareholder approvals | Negative | -3.5% | Approval of reverse split and share increase amid Nasdaq delisting risk. |
| Nov 21 | Litigation settlement | Positive | -4.6% | Provisional court approval of shareholder derivative settlement. |
| Nov 13 | Merger roadshow | Positive | -0.3% | Investor event announcement outlining merger benefits and Web3 platform. |
| Nov 06 | Merger & CFO update | Positive | +0.8% | Definitive merger agreement and appointment of new post-merger CFO. |
News tied to the Roundtable merger and litigation events has produced mixed reactions, with some positive corporate developments sold off while structural actions like the reverse split have sometimes been met with gains.
Over the last few months, RYVYL has focused on its merger with Roundtable and Nasdaq compliance. A 1-for-35 reverse stock split and shareholder approvals for a wider split range and higher authorized shares aimed to address listing issues. Court actions provisionally approving a derivative litigation settlement sought to clear legal overhangs. Multiple communications detailed the planned merger with Roundtable, leadership changes, and a future rebrand to RTB Digital. Today’s update highlights further operational traction at Roundtable, reinforcing the strategic rationale previously outlined.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved +5.9% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the article’s emphasis on Roundtable’s commercial traction, including a 10-year partnership and a $15 million title sponsorship commitment. Historically, acquisition-related headlines for RYVYL produced modest moves of around 1–3%, so a larger gain would mark an uptick in market conviction that Roundtable’s expanding network of 150+ journalists and branded partnerships could materially influence the combined company’s prospects.
Key Terms
web3 technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
New Strategic Partnerships with The Hockey News and Expansion of Elite Journalist Network to 150+ Former Sports Illustrated Media Professionals
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RYVYL Inc. (NASDAQ: RVYL) (“RYVYL” or the “Company”) today highlighted recent developments achieved by its planned merger partner, Roundtable, including a long-term strategic partnership with The Hockey News and the onboarding of 50 additional Sports Illustrated journalists, expanding its platform to more than 150 former Sports Illustrated media professionals.
The Hockey News Partnership & Board Appointment
Roundtable recently executed a 10-year strategic partnership agreement with The Hockey News, a major sports media brand, encompassing all commerce, media, and platform operations with a
Graeme Roustan, founder and CEO of The Hockey News and former Chairman of Bauer Hockey, has agreed to join Roundtable's board of directors, with his position surviving the anticipated merger with RYVYL.
Leading Journalist Network Expansion
Subsequent to its initial September 2025 announcement of over 100 journalists joining Roundtable's Web3 platform, Roundtable has onboarded an additional 50 former Sports Illustrated journalists, bringing the total to more than 150 elite journalists now operating on their platform. The expansion includes Mike Fisher, a Dallas Cowboys NFL insider reporter who was the top revenue producer for Sports Illustrated, generating over
Management Commentary
“Our recent momentum has expanded the reach of our platform and validates our thesis that professional media organizations and leading journalists recognize the value of owning their audience relationships and controlling their distribution,” said James Heckman, Founder and CEO of Roundtable. “The Hockey News partnership and the additional journalists joining our platform demonstrate that independent, high-quality sports content creators are choosing our Web3-native solution to maximize audience engagement and revenue ownership. We are excited to onboard these additional content providers as we continue to execute on the growth of our differentiated, scalable media infrastructure platform.”
About the Planned Transaction
RYVYL anticipates completing its merger with Roundtable in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.
About RYVYL
RYVYL Inc. (NASDAQ: RVYL) operates a digital payment processing business enabling transactions around the globe and provides payment solutions for underserved markets. RYVYL has developed applications enabling an end-to-end suite of turnkey financial products, with enhanced security and data privacy, world-class identity theft protection, and rapid speed to settlement. www.ryvyl.com
About Roundtable (RTB Digital, Inc.)
Roundtable is a Web3, digital media SaaS platform company, providing white-label, full stack distribution, community, publishing and monetization for professional media brands and journalists - fortified and powered by a digital liquidity pool integrated into the platform. Visit RTB.io.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs, assumptions and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements that are characterized by future or conditional words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," “believe," "estimate" and "continue" or similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations and plans, which contain projections of future results of operations or financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timing and effects of the Reverse Stock Split. By their nature, forward-looking statements address matters that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risk that the Reverse Stock Split will not guarantee that the Company regains compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements or will remain in compliance with all other requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq. Other risk factors affecting the Company are discussed in detail in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws.
RYVYL IR Contact:
Richard Land, Alliance Advisors Investor Relations
973-873-7686, ryvylinvestor@allianceadvisors.com
Roundtable PR Contact:
Mehab Qureshi, RTB Digital Inc.
+91 90289 77198, mehab@roundtable.io
FAQ
What did RYVYL announce about Roundtable on January 7, 2026?
How large is the Roundtable partnership with The Hockey News for RVYL?
Who joined Roundtable's board and will that position survive the RVYL merger?
How many journalists are now on Roundtable's platform and which notable reporter was named?
What revenue figure was disclosed for Mike Fisher in the Roundtable announcement?
