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Investing in NYC Real Estate Just Got Easier: NYREF Launches Tokenization Marketplace

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:08:46 +0000

NYREF has made investing in New York real estate more accessible and secure with tokenization.

New York City real estate has been one of the most valued long-term investments in the world for decades. It’s often seen as one of the most secure ways to earn income from a growing rental market and hedge against inflation with an asset that has historically experienced consistent price increases.

In reality, most investors have never been able to gain access to the NYC real estate market. Sky-high prices, red tape, and a lack of liquidity have prevented the average investor from purchasing property in this market. This has left millions of people locked out of a potentially golden investment opportunity.

For many years, no one expected the illiquid nature of real estate markets to change. There appeared to be no feasible way to transform this industry into a more accessible model. However, thanks to NYREF and its tokenized real estate venture, this is no longer the case.

NYREF has tokenized a property in the heart of NYC, making it available for investment through its marketplace. The property has been divided into tokens valued at $1,000 each, allowing investors to purchase fractions of the property and participate in the NYC real estate market.

This allows investors to join the real estate market and earn rental income even if they are making a relatively small investment.

Why The Real Estate Market Needs Tokenization

It’s no secret that the most valuable real estate markets in the world are simply not accessible to the average investor. In cities like New York, Paris, and Tokyo, even a modest property requires huge amounts of capital. As a result, many people are entirely isolated from this potential source of long-term profits and rental income.

This issue has left a huge chunk of the younger generation with no access to owning property. As property prices continue to rise, it becomes increasingly difficult for young people to save enough for a down payment or secure a mortgage. This can have long-term consequences for wealth accumulation and economic stability.

Property ownership is one of the most reliable sources for building generational and long-term wealth, so the current model is unsustainable. The lack of accessibility in the real estate market exacerbates wealth inequality and limits opportunities for many.

Tokenization, using public blockchains, could solve this. By dividing property ownership into digital tokens, it becomes possible for investors to purchase fractions of a property rather than the whole asset. This lowers the barrier to entry and allows more people to participate in the real estate market.

NYREF’s tokenization venture is a real example of how the real estate market can be made more accessible and liquid. By tokenizing a property in New York City, they are demonstrating the potential of this technology to improve access to real estate investment.

The tokenized asset market is expected to grow well above $10 trillion in the coming years.

The NYREF Marketplace: Accessible Real Estate Investing

NYREF has tokenized an $18 million property in the heart of New York City. This has drastically lowered the entry barrier for investing in a market where the median property is sold for well over $500,000.

The property, located at 3187 Grand Concourse, LLC in the Bronx, is a modern multi-family building featuring 32 residential units. It offers residents spacious living areas, ample natural light, and convenient access to transportation and amenities.

This property has been tokenized using blockchain technology. Ownership has been divided into 18,000 tokens, with 14,400 available for purchase at $1,000 each with a $100 minimum investment. Each token represents a fraction of the property’s ownership and entitles the holder to a share of the rental income.

The property generates rental income through a lease agreement with the US Government, providing a secure and reliable income stream for token holders. To purchase tokens, visit the NYREF marketplace, create an account, complete the KYC process, and select your preferred cryptocurrency for payment. Accepted cryptocurrencies include USTD, USDC, AVAX, and ETH.

Join the Real Estate Revolution

NYREF Website: https://nyref.io/
NYREF Marketplace: https://marketplace.nyref.io/auth/sign-in
Telegram: https://t.me/NyrefPortal
X: https://x.com/nyrefcompany

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post Investing in NYC Real Estate Just Got Easier: NYREF Launches Tokenization Marketplace appeared first on The Merkle News.

Top Crypto Projects to Join Now: Why Polkadot, Rollblock, and Binance Coin Will Dominate the 2025 Bull Cycle

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:45:40 +0000

Smart investors in the crypto market are strategizing for the next big waves of growth. And with the 2025 bull cycle on the horizon, all eyes are on some top crypto projects poised for significant gains.

The leading contenders in the upcoming bull market are Polkadot (DOT), Rollblock (RBLK), and Binance Coin (BNB). Why should investors join the action?

Well, the last few years have shown that early participation in promising blockchain ecosystems like these results in exponential gains when market sentiment turns bullish. However, for investors seeking early entry into projects that could potentially deliver 10x, 20x, or even 50x returns, Rollblock might just be the answer. Here’s why.

Rollblock’s utility and growth potential make it the 2025 bull market favorite

At the forefront of this list is Rollblock, a project that’s poised to disrupt the crypto space with its GambleFi protocol and immense growth potential. Rollblock offers what punters have been craving by combining gaming excitement with blockchain tech’s transparency and security.

Rollblock’s allure is unmatched as the casino platform features a well-curated library of over 7,000 games from more than 20 gaming providers. Added to these features is the Rollblock revenue sharing system which consists of regular token buybacks and incentives that will ensure the long-term value of $RBLK.

It is no surprise that Rollblock is quickly emerging as a 50x top crypto after it spiked over 250% weeks after the launch of its presale. With close to $8.5 million raised in the preslae currently in its 9th stage, analysts have tipped Rollbock’s utility tokens to rally further by over 800% by the end of its ICO launch.

Polkadot’s interoperability could make it soar to new heights in 2025

Similar to Rollblock, Polkadot’s utility could also set it up for success in 2025. Polkadot’s defining feature is its ability to enable interoperability between different blockchains. In the modern crypto era, interoperability is king since it forms the basics of other blockchain solutions.

DOT is the main token of its ecosystem, serving as the foundation for staking, governance, and bonding. What this means is that developers must bond DOT tokens to secure a parachain slot, ensuring their projects can operate on the network. This demand, combined with DOT’s staking rewards, creates a robust token economy that could drive DOT’s value higher as adoption grows.

Binance coin powers ahead as a leader in the 2025 bull market

The BNB is on our list of the top crypto to invest in for good reasons. One clear indicator is that BNB is the native cryptocurrency of the Binance exchange, which means it still holds an intrinsic value.

This is because the token allows users to pay for trading fees and engage in various DeFi applications. Most recently, Binance expanded its footprint in new markets with the introduction of the Binance Smart Chain (BSC): Entering into 2025, the BNB price could go parabolic as large demand enters the market.

Conclusion

With the 2025 bull market approaching, early movers could reap substantial rewards by getting in on any of these top crypto projects. Rollblock, in particular, is a project whose innovative utility sets it up for immense growth in 2025. Rollblock is currently going for $0.045 in its 9th presale stage. Now is the time to act!

Discover the exciting opportunities of the Rollblock (RBLK) presale today!

Website: https://presale.rollblock.io/
Socials: https://linktr.ee/rollblockcasino

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post Top Crypto Projects to Join Now: Why Polkadot, Rollblock, and Binance Coin Will Dominate the 2025 Bull Cycle appeared first on The Merkle News.

2 Cryptos Destined To Reach $5 in 2025, but 1 Of Them Is Priced at Only $0.0054

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:40:29 +0000

In 2024, the global cryptocurrency market experienced a fair share of massive price returns, resulting in record-breaking highs. Ripple’s XRP witnessed parabolic rallies after partnerships from various financial institutions attracted interest and market-wide bullish momentum.

The move pushed the XRP price to a yearly high of $2.62. Crypto analysts remain optimistic about the token, forecasting it could hit the $5 level and beyond.

Similarly, Lunex Network (LNEX), a new DeFi token, continues to gain traction thanks to its innovative DEX exchange, which aims to redefine crypto trading. The token has raised over $6 million at presale and delivered over 350% ROI to early adopters. Let’s uncover how these promises could perform in 2025 and beyond.

Lunex Network Races Towards The $6M Raised Mark As Its Cross-Chain Functionality Continues To Attract Investors

Lunex Network (LNEX) is a Web3 protocol that facilitates cross-chain transactions while offering seamless liquidity to users. Lunex users can trade over 50,000 crypto assets using a secure and immutable smart contract. They will also manage their portfolio through a non-custodial wallet that requires no personal information or Know-Your-Customer. These features have appealed to traders as it will revolutionize how people use DeFi on the blockchain.

After its launch, Lunex Network could become the biggest Web3 trading infrastructure. As the world’s first community-backed crypto exchange, Lunex Network enables businesses to accept cryptos as a form of payment and convert them into fiat through the B2B payment gateway API. Moreover, traders can utilize the unique portfolio tracker to track multiple assets like cryptos, stocks, bonds, etc.

The Lunex Pro offers advanced trading tools like cashback on each transaction and AML wallet checks, which are suitable for high-volume traders. Beyond trading, its standout revenue share model is designed to reward LNEX holders, enabling them to earn passive income. Like XRP, Lunex Network holds massive potential. At the ongoing presale, Lunex Network is sold for just $0.0054, with early investors already making over 350% in profits. With over $6 million raised in crypto ICO funding, the LNEX price is expected to jump to $1 and beyond.

XRP Price Could Overcome the $2.9 Resistance Level

Ripple’s XRP has continued to extend its rally, which started during the New Year’s Day celebration. Following its 12% jump, XRP holders have booked over $1 billion in realized profits, its highest level since December 16. Moreover, the token has sustained over $11.03 million in liquidations. The altcoin has broken a symmetrical triangle pattern and could rally towards the $2.9 resistance level.

The move could strengthen the XRP token if it sees a slight downturn and bounces off the triangle’s upper boundary line. Its RSI is above the neutral level at 50, suggesting dominant bullish momentum. Meanwhile, its Stochastic Oscillator (Stoch) has been hovering in an oversold region, indicating a potential correction in the coming days.

A candlestick close below the triangle’s lower boundary line and the 50-day SMA would invalidate the thesis and push the price of XRP toward the $1.35 level. Experts have been optimistic about XRP price movements. Per Dark Defender insights, the XRP coin will reach $5.85 by the end of 2025.

Could Lunex Network Surpass XRP Price Performance in 2025?

Although Lunex Network is a new project in the DeFi market, its impressive presale momentum highlights its unique capabilities to register massive returns. While Ripple holds a better foundation in the crypto market, Lunex Network’s unique interest could set it on the right path as XRP.

You can find more information about Lunex Network (LNEX) here:

Website: https://lunexnetwork.com
Socials: https://linktr.ee/lunexnetwork

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post 2 Cryptos Destined To Reach $5 in 2025, but 1 Of Them Is Priced at Only $0.0054 appeared first on The Merkle News.

How Lululemon pulled off a 6.9% jump after holiday?

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:57:36 +0000

Lululemon Athletica Inc. anticipates fourth-quarter sales to exceed market expectations, indicating that the upscale activewear brand is successfully competing against rising challengers amidst slowing consumer spending. The company projects revenue growth of 11% to 12%, bringing total sales to between $3.56 billion and $3.58 billion, an increase from previous guidance of up to $3.51 billion. This forecast also surpasses the average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg.

Lululemon expects strong fourth-quarter sales growth

Chief Financial Officer Meghan Frank stated that shoppers “responded well to our product offering” throughout the holiday season. Following this announcement, Lululemon’s shares climbed as much as 6.9% during premarket trading on Monday. The company plans to meet with analysts and investors at the ICR Conference later this week.

Lululemon has also adjusted its earnings per share guidance upwards, now forecasting a range of $5.81 to $5.85, increased from a previous maximum of $5.64. Chief Executive Officer Calvin McDonald intends to revitalize demand by broadening product styles and adapting to fashion trends that move away from the company’s traditional form-fitting clothing.

The company’s growth strategy aims for $12.5 billion in annual revenue by 2026, primarily through international expansion, online sales growth, and increasing products targeted at men. Despite Lululemon’s success, it faces competition from rivals offering similar products at lower prices.

Several apparel retailers, including Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle, have also raised their holiday-quarter sales projections, driven by consumer demand for heavily discounted items. The 2024 holiday shopping season featured significant discounts, with the apparel sector offering the highest rates at approximately 33%, according to Salesforce data. Retailers like Target and Amazon have provided steep discounts to attract cost-conscious consumers.

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Despite strong sales projections from Lululemon, the trend of deep discounts could negatively impact margins for the current quarter, which typically concludes in January. Abercrombie’s shares fell about 11% prior to trading as it maintained its fourth-quarter margin forecast while increasing its sales growth target to between 7% and 8%.

Lululemon’s broader product range, including new colors and styles, contributed to its ability to raise margin and profit forecasts along with overall sales targets. Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, remarked, “It’s a mixed shopping bag. Lululemon did better than expected as they were able to fend off lower-priced copycats.” Similarly, American Eagle raised its operational profit target and reported modest growth in comparable sales.

On a separate note, Nordstrom raised its annual forecast last week, aided by strong holiday sales due to deep discounts attracting deal-seeking shoppers. In contrast, Macy’s struggled, expecting fourth-quarter net sales to fall within or slightly below its previously estimated range of $7.8 billion to $8.0 billion.

Retailers, including Urban Outfitters and American Eagle, also reported positive results. Urban Outfitters noted a 10% increase in net sales for the two months ending December 31, while American Eagle updated its fourth-quarter outlook, expecting an operating profit of around $135 million. Overall, the holiday shopping season data suggests sales growth may exceed initial expectations despite inflation concerns, with Mastercard SpendingPulse reporting a 3.8% year-over-year rise in retail sales (excluding automotive sales) from November 1 to December 24.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. We do not endorse any specific investment strategies or make recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities.

Featured image credit: Lululemon

What led to Moderna’s 20% stock drop? Here’s the full story

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:43:56 +0000

Moderna’s stock fell 20% on January 8, 2025, after the company revised its 2025 sales forecast downward by approximately $1 billion amid several potential market challenges. This adjustment comes as Moderna aims to cut costs while expanding its product portfolio.

Moderna’s stock drops 20% after 2025 sales forecast cut

The biotech firm now anticipates 2025 revenue to range between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, primarily driven by sales from its Covid vaccine, Spikevax, and its newly launched respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, mRESVIA. This forecast marks a decrease from a previously projected range of $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion outlined in September 2023. At that time, Moderna indicated that it expected to break even on an operating cash basis by 2028, delayed from the previously expected 2026, with revenue estimations of $6 billion.

Moderna Chief Financial Officer Jamey Mock highlighted several factors contributing to the updated sales forecast. He noted increased competition in the Covid vaccine market, with Moderna’s share of the U.S. retail market dropping from 48% in 2023 to 40% by the end of 2024. The agreement for Sanofi to co-commercialize Novavax’s Covid vaccine is expected to heighten competition further.

Another significant point is the decline in vaccination rates, which fell by approximately 7% in the U.S. retail market during fall 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Mock also cited uncertainties regarding timing around manufacturing contracts with various countries and potential recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for RSV revaccination.

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Despite these challenges, Mock indicated that Moderna aims to reduce cash costs by $1 billion in 2025, with an additional $500 million in reductions planned for 2026. He emphasized, “We are taking the right amount of cost to preserve our cash. We’re excited to invest and diversify our portfolio.”

The announcement precedes Moderna’s presentation at the annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference, a significant event in the healthcare industry. For 2024, Moderna’s sales from its two vaccines are projected to meet forecasts, estimated at around $3 billion to $3.1 billion. However, these figures represent a significant decline from the $6.7 billion generated by the Covid vaccine in 2023 and the $18 billion recorded in 2022.

Moderna plans to enhance its portfolio with 10 new product approvals over the next three years, including a combination vaccine targeting both Covid and the flu, as well as a “next-generation” Covid vaccine. The company anticipates three approvals in 2025 alone and is focusing on its messenger RNA platform technology, which underpins both its Covid and RSV vaccines.

As of year-end 2024, Moderna reported product sales of $3.0-3.1 billion, including $1.7 billion in the U.S., and maintained a cash balance of approximately $9.5 billion. The company estimates that its cash balance will decrease to $6 billion by the end of 2025, underlining the expected financial pressures amid ongoing transformations in its product line and market environment.

Featured image credit: Moderna

Inside the Stream: Interview with Ben Serridge, Director of Product Management, Google

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:40:25 +0000

This week we’re pleased to interview Ben Serridge, Director of Product Management, Google, who is focused on Google TV’s content and monetization. Ben explains what Google TV is and how it’s being positioned in a highly competitive TV OS market. He also details how Google TV is working with various TV OEMs. In particular, Ben emphasizes how Google TV anchors on personalized content recommendations. Key to this is Google TV’s new live guide which just received a big upgrade. Ben also shares what’s ahead for the live guide.

Listen to the podcast to learn more (30 minutes, 3 seconds)

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Inside the Stream Podcast: Why Sky’s Sky Glass is the Right Strategy, But the Wrong Execution

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:40:25 +0000

In October, 2021 Comcast and Sky announced “Sky Glass,” a package including a Sky-branded smart TV, Sky Stream (a streaming satellite TV service) and aggregated CTV apps. Colin was in London this past week attending a conference at which Sky executives spoke - but revealed little information about how Sky Glass is doing.

On this week’s podcast we dive deeply into the Sky Glass model, in which Sky customers either purchase upfront or in 48 monthly installments a smart TV (3 sizes available, 43-inches, 55-inches or 65-inches), then subscribe to a Sky Stream package, and also gain access to built-in apps from third-parties.

Sky Glass immediately intrigued me because it seemed to align with a concept I had been noodling around for the prior 6-9 months: the idea of TV OEMs either giving away smart TVs and/or pricing them so ridiculously low that consumers would be compelled to take the offer.

With each CTV advertising conference I hosted, it was becoming more and more apparent that CTV advertising would continue to boom simply because of linear’s demise and advertisers’ imperative to continue achieving their reach/frequency goals (I have referred to this as the “follow the eyeballs” rocket fuel that has powered CTV’s rise in the past 5 years). That’s all before discussing the targeting, optimization, interactivity and dynamic creative benefits of CTV.

More exciting to me was that it was beginning to become apparent that in the long-term CTV’s success would evolve beyond “follow the eyeballs” to a lower and/or full funnel medium, allowing it to emulate the massively successful playbook that has been run by search and social. Given the choice between selling smart TVs at negative gross margins, or simply giving them away to consumers, with some guaranteed monetization hooks in both high-margin CTV advertising and SVOD/MVPD services, the choice to me seemed relatively straightforward, particularly for certain TV OEMs.

I envisioned a third-party startup in the middle of the action (I subsequently discarded the idea for various reasons).

[ReadMore]Listen to the podcast now![/ReadMore]

Loosely speaking, this is a version of Gillette’s famous “razor and blades” strategy which has been widely copied in other industries (think printers and cartridges). In this case, “give away” the smart TVs and make it up and more on the services side. The “give away” doesn’t even need to be a total freebie, because fortunately for CTVs, their bulkiness requires delivery (and charges for doing so), set up (those pesky home theaters are never, ever plug-and-play), and often an older, existing TV (that requires disposal). In short, there are a host of upfront fees the provider could charge, likely more than offsetting the freebie TV.

When I read the Comcast/Sky press release in ’21 my first thought was “good for them, they’ve also figured out this opportunity - hooray.”

Unfortunately, Sky’s pricing for Sky Glass shows they have not. Because, rather than giving away the TVs, they have inexplicably chosen to charge (either upfront or via the 48-monthly installments) somewhere between 2 1/2 to 3 times what a similar smart TV would cost a consumer to buy online. In the world we now live in, with pricing transparency a few clicks away, consumers will immediately understand this is a lousy deal and move on.

(In my view it’s actually more than a lousy deal; it’s the kind of move that tarnishes brands’ reputations because savvy consumers lose trust in a brand when they see these types of “fool-me” offers).

To aggravate matters, the Sky Stream satellite streaming service is offered for the same price as the satellite service. Even though it’s clearly beneficial, for many reasons, for Sky to migrate existing and new subscribers away from satellite and to IP delivery, Sky doesn’t aggressively price Sky Stream relative to satellite - they both cost around $60 per month.

Colin and I explore all of this in the podcast. Colin highlights there are some similarities to the mobile phone market, where Apple and Google in particular have trained users to pay a premium for new models. But, as we discuss, those companies have rare - and extremely valuable - ecosystem and lock-in dynamics at work, which, on the surface Sky neither seems to enjoy nor even necessarily have “permission” from its subscribers to pursue. That doesn’t mean a bona fide razor and blades strategy for Sky Glass isn’t a worthwhile pursuit, which it is, but, at a minimum, for it to succeed it has to adhere to the rules of the game.

The fact that it doesn’t is yet another mystery to me in the whole Comcast-Sky drama. Comcast paid $39+ billion for Sky, yet never really articulated why it was doing so. The business has steadily declined since, highlighting how misguided the deal was in the first place (a video provider without a robust broadband product...really, what am I missing here?).

But that’s not all. As I wrote at length back in 2018 and 2020, here and here, what Comcast really should have done is acquire Hulu, if Disney would have acquiesced. For between $13-15 billion, a fraction of Sky’s cost, Comcast could have bought the Hulu shares it didn’t already own and become an overnight leader in streaming.

Hulu also would have been a fantastic foundation for Peacock, though with the Hulu brand now fully owned, the need for NBCUniversal to even launch Peacock would have probably been rendered moot. Fast forward to today and we know that Peacock is on its way to losing a staggering $5.5 billion between 2022-2023 as it struggles to catch up to Netflix and others (yes, Alice, unfortunately there are real costs to showing up dead last to a party and then completely switching your strategy from "Free" to "Paid" in a blink of an eye).

Sky is an albatross for a half-committed Comcast that seems to be belatedly flirting with the idea of buying Hulu from Disney. Cord-cutting rages. The biggest RSN group just declared bankruptcy. ESPN layoffs loom in the coming weeks. WBD’s future is anyone’s best guess.

As this all unfolds, you can find me in the cheap seats, pondering how CEO compensation in the media industry routinely runs into the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars per year. I’ll be easy to spot; I’m the one running basic Excel spreadsheets and compulsively scratching my head.

Listen to the podcast to learn more! (37 minutes, 19 seconds)

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Crypto investments products see modest $48 million inflow with Bitcoin and XRP leading

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:34:40 +0000

The digital asset market witnessed its first full week of inflows in 2025, with $48 million added to investment products, according to CoinShares’ latest weekly report.

CoinShares reported that the week began with promising inflows nearing $1 billion. However, these gains were nearly erased as $940 million flowed out later, reflecting how sensitive the market remains to macroeconomic developments and the current correlation with US equities.

James Butterfill, CoinShares’ Head of Research, attributed this activity to new economic data and the Federal Reserve’s recent meeting minutes. He said these reports pointed to a stronger-than-expected US economy and a hawkish stance on monetary policy, reigniting concerns over asset valuations.

He added:

“This suggests that the post-US election honeymoon is over, and macroeconomic data is once again a key driver of asset prices.”

Bitcoin leads as Ethereum faces sell-off

Bitcoin stood out as a strong performer, pulling in $214 million in inflows.

Despite recording significant outflows later in the week, the asset remained a favorite among investors. Year-to-date, Bitcoin’s cumulative inflows have reached an impressive $799 million, cementing its dominance in the crypto market.

Interestingly, short-Bitcoin products also saw inflows of $1.8 million during the same period, reflecting hedging activity amid market uncertainty.

On the other hand, Ethereum experienced a tough week, with outflows totaling $256 million. CoinShares suggested that this trend aligns with a broader sell-off in the tech sector rather than specific concerns about Ethereum.

This setback has now pushed Ethereum’s year-to-date outflows to $274 million.

XRP shines

Among altcoins, XRP was a notable winner, attracting $41 million in inflows.

CoinShares suggested that the inflow reflects growing optimism about potential approval for spot-XRP ETFs in the US and the upcoming US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appeal deadline for Ripple on Jan. 15.

Additionally, many investors view XRP as well-positioned to benefit from clearer regulatory frameworks under the incoming Donald Trump administration.

Meanwhile, Solana also made gains, with $15 million in inflows, while other altcoins like Aave, Stellar, and Polkadot recorded modest yet positive contributions of $2.9 million, $2.7 million, and $1.6 million, respectively.

The post Crypto investments products see modest $48 million inflow with Bitcoin and XRP leading appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Zilch Adds Travel Payments Offering With lastminute Partnership

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:34:36 +0000

Zilch says it has launched a partnership to help customers book and pay for travel.

The ad-subsidized payments network is rolling out Zilch Travel in conjunction with European online travel service lastminute.com, according to a Monday (Jan. 13) press release.

“Travel is one of the largest household expenses, yet it’s also a non-negotiable annual priority, and in 2024, it hit an all-time high,” Zilch said in the release “This surge has made travel one of the fastest growing categories for Zilch, with a remarkable 140% year-on-year growth as customers seek smarter, more flexible ways to fund their trips.”

Close to half of families now book travel plans five to 12 weeks before departure, the company said, and Zilch hopes to meet this demand by offering travelers a way to spread out the payments to cover the cost of large bookings.

“In 2025, travel is no longer a luxury — it’s a professional and family priority,” Zilch Co-founder and CEO Philip Belamant, said in the release, adding that with 84% of U.K. consumers explore destinations at home or abroad, and they collectively spent more than 72 billion pounds on overseas travel in 2023.

Zilch Travel, he said, is designed to offer customers — amid an ongoing cost-of-living crunch in the U.K. — the ability to structure and pay for trips “within the regulated app they trust to manage their money.”

Writing about the travel sector last week, PYMNTS noted that travelers have come to expect the seamless payment experiences they encounter in their daily lives.

“As a result, real-time payments have come to the fore. Travelers are prioritizing ease of use and security when making payments, with 73% reporting instances of payment declines or issues,” that report said, citing research from the PYMNTS Intelligence study “Check-In Time: Hospitality Welcomes Real-Time Payments.”

Real-time payment systems — things like digital wallets — can address these concerns by delivering secure and instant transactions, lowering the risk of fraud and ensuring an overall smoother experience.

In addition, the research found that most travelers were willing to invest more in the quality of their experiences rather than worry about the price.

“According to the research, 77% of travelers prioritize experience over cost,” PYMNTS wrote. “This presents an opportunity for hospitality businesses to invest in real-time payments, which elevate service quality and customer loyalty, leading to potential financial returns.”

The research also found that despite rising demand for advanced payment methods, the hospitality sector continues to depend on outdated, complex payment systems, with 66% of travel finance executives reporting that their payment infrastructure hinders growth.

The post Zilch Adds Travel Payments Offering With lastminute Partnership appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Unlock the Power of Passive Income: The Top 4 Crypto Staking Platforms of 2025

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:26:48 +0000

Crypto staking is revolutionizing the way investors earn passive income in the digital asset space. By staking cryptocurrencies, users can enjoy attractive APYs while contributing to the security of blockchain networks.

One can participate in the network’s operation and, in turn, receive crypto staking rewards from crypto staking. There are many platforms to choose from. How do you pick the best one for what you need? Here, we present the top 4 crypto staking platforms of 2025, with Keynode claiming the crown as the ultimate choice.

1. Keynode – The Premier Staking Platform

Why Keynode Takes the Top Spot:

Industry-Leading APY: Earn up to 17% annual percentage yield (APY), making it one of the most lucrative options in the market.
Welcome Bonus: New users are greeted with a $100 bonus, credited directly to their account upon registration. This bonus is tied to the ETH Lite Plan, ensuring a seamless introduction to crypto investments.
Wide Asset Support: Keynode supports staking for Ethereum, Polkadot, Solana, and other top cryptocurrencies, giving users a diverse portfolio of earning opportunities.

How to Get Started with Keynode: A Simple Guide to Earning Rewards

Step 1: Sign Up

Visit the Keynode website and fill out your details.
As a new user, you’re eligible for a $100 Welcome Bonus tied to the ETH Lite Plan.

Step 2: Select an Asset to Stake

Once logged in, browse the available staking plans and choose a plan according to your desire

Step 3: Earn Rewards Daily

After staking, you’ll earn rewards every day.

Unlocking Earnings with Keynode’s Affiliate Program

Keynode’s Affiliate Program offers an exciting opportunity for users to earn money by referring others to the platform.

Key Features of the Keynode.net Affiliate Program

4% Referral Commission:

Affiliates get a 4% commission on every sale recommended by them through a unique referral link short, you get compensated handsomely.

No Deposit Required:

You do not have to make an initial deposit to enjoy the benefits of the affiliate program; therefore, this facility is for everyone.

High Commissions:

Up to 4% referral reward for each user’s purchase order, which means your revenue will add up in no time.

Instant Payment:

Rewards from referrals enter into your account through cryptocurrency with no delay.

Unlimited Referrals:

There is no limit to the number of people you can refer, making the amount you can earn literally endless.

Here’s how you get started and earn using the affiliate program:

How It Works

1. Sign Up and Get a Referral Link: Create your account and receive your unique referral link to start promoting.

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Keynode’s Million Bounty Program: Unlocking Opportunities for Rewards

How It Works

Earn Credits: Create groups, post messages, invite your friends, and shout out about Keynode.net to your followers.
Attract new investors: Your promotion of Keynode.net will increase our community, adding value with your experiences and insights and making it vibrant for growth.
Your Feedback Matters: The views of our community members are invaluable; their feedback helps a great deal in strengthening services and products not only for them but for all users.

How to Claim a Bonus on KEYNODE: A Simple Guide

Enter your username followed by “Million Bounty” on the first line.
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Share the link to your social media post on the third line.
Submit the information to the Support team for review.
Approved bonuses will be issued weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.

2. Binance Staking – A Global Giant

Binance offers a strong staking service with choices for both flexible and locked staking by playing as a major player in the cryptocurrency world. Binance’s reputation as a global exchange powerhouse extends to its staking services, making it a strong contender for crypto enthusiasts worldwide.

Highlights:

Flexible and locked staking depending on the coins.
Competitive APYs for popular cryptocurrencies like BNB and Ethereum.
Access to a vast ecosystem of DeFi and CeFi features.

3. Coinbase Staking – The User-Friendly Option

Coinbase is ideal for those who value ease of use and trustworthiness in a highly regulated environment. With staking rewards of up to 6% APY, it offers a simple and secure way to start earning passive income.

Highlights:

Simple staking for Ethereum, Solana, and Tezos.
Provide staking rewards automatically to your wallet.
Excellent security and regulatory compliance.

4. Kraken Staking – A Reliable Choice

Kraken is a well-known platform due to its transparency and reliability. Kraken stands out for its robust reputation and a wide range of staking options.

Highlights:

Ability to earn rewards on over 15 assets.
Instant rewards payout and flexible unbonding periods.
Availability of advanced trading features for experienced users.

Why Crypto Staking is a Game-Changer in 2025

As blockchain technology continues to advance, Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks are driving the next wave of crypto innovation. Crypto staking platforms with crypto staking rewards, such as Keynode, give investors the tools to earn money without much effort while helping to protect their favorite networks. Unbeatable rewards and user-centric features make Keynode the industry leader, but Kraken, Binance and Coinbase all have their own strengths.

Start your crypto staking journey today and unlock the potential of your crypto portfolio with these top platforms!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post Unlock the Power of Passive Income: The Top 4 Crypto Staking Platforms of 2025 appeared first on The Merkle News.

Esports in January and February – all the big events taking place at the start of this year

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:02:10 +0000

A new year brings with it a raft of important events in the esports calendar which is generally so packed it is easy to miss out on following your favorite games and teams.

So let’s have a look at some of the must-see events you can tune into, or even visit live in person during the first two months of this year.

Esports Insider has a very handy esports event calendar that you can always check out if you want to see even further into the future, but for now, we are concentrating on January and February’s showpieces.

Esports in January

Currently, due to start on the 15th and running until February 2nd we have the LCK Cup 2025 for League of Legends taking place in South Korea. If League is your game and you are in Europe then the LEC Winter 2025 event takes place in Berlin, Germany from 18th January all the way into the beginning of March.

Away from LoL, the Call of Duty League, Stage 1 Major begins in Spain on January 30th and will continue to the 2nd February.

If you want a little online action then both the North America and EMEA events for Overwatch 2’s Champion Series 2025 start on the last day of this month and will continue on until March 9th.

Esports in February

February gets off to a flyer for Rainbow Six Siege in the US on the 3rd. Fenway Park in Boston is the venue for the Six Invitational 2025, and there is $3 million dollars up for grabs in the prize pool. Participants include FaZe Clan, Team BDS and Team Liquid, and just about anybody else you’d expect to be invited to this event.

February also brings us the first major Fortnite tourney of the year with the FNCS 2025 Major 1 – Grand Finals (EU, NAC, NAW, Brazil, Asia, ME, and OCE) running over two days on February 15th and 16th.

There are plenty more events on offer so be sure to check out the link above for the full calendar.

The post Esports in January and February – all the big events taking place at the start of this year appeared first on ReadWrite.

CES sneakily became a great gaming show amid the AI hype

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I felt a profound case of gadget lust at CES, the tech trade show that takes over Las Vegas every January, but that’s what happened when I picked up Lenovo’s Legion Go S gaming handheld.

I’m already a satisfied Steam Deck owner, but the Legion Go S has a larger and sharper screen with 120Hz refresh rates, AMD’s new Z2 chipset, and—to my hands, at least—perfect ergonomics. It also runs SteamOS, and Valve’s plan to license its software for free to other handheld device makers (starting with Lenovo) was one of CES’s biggest developments. Just like Windows on PCs, it could allow a new gaming hardware ecosystem to bloom.

That’s just one example of how CES stealthily became a window into the future of gaming hardware. Much like last year, the show had plenty of vapid AI hype to go along with the obligatory improvements in TV and home audio tech. But if you care about cool consumer electronics, the real action was happening on the gaming side, with slicker PCs, breakthrough monitors, neat mobile accessories, and yes, even more handhelds.

The war for your hands

Jared Newman / Foundry

The Legion Go S wasn’t the only new handheld gaming PC at CES. Lenovo brought a couple of other Windows ones, including a prototype upgrade to the original Legion Go (with Switch-style detachable controllers) and a Windows alternative to the Legion Go S’s SteamOS model.

Meanwhile, rival PC maker Acer is expanding its own handheld line after announcing the 7-inch Nitro Blaze last year. At CES, the company was demoing both 8- and 11-inch variants with detachable controllers, with the latter being equal parts glorious and comically large. I spied an unused accessory port along its bottom edge, and while Acer won’t spell out its purpose, one could imagine a Surface-style keyboard cover to transform the Nitro Blaze 11 into a laptop for work.

The Legion Go S also served as an early landing spot for AMD’s Z2 chipset, which will come in a few different configurations for handheld makers. We’re still waiting on benchmarks, but it’s notable that AMD is launching new handheld chips for the second time in as many years—a strong show of confidence in the category.

Don’t count out Intel, either. It has a willing partner in MSI, whose forthcoming Claw 8 AI+ will use a Core Ultra 7 258V processor. While Lunar Lake chips aren’t explicitly for handhelds, their Arc 140V graphics and overall power efficiency could make them a solid fit.

Left to right: Large handheld reference design, MSI’s Claw 8 AI+, and an 11-inch handheld from OneXPlayer.

Jared Newman / Foundry

This is the kind of gamesmanship you love to see at a show like CES. It’s still unclear if the market can sustain all these gaming handhelds, but who cares? We all win when these companies fight it out by with different shapes, sizes, and spec configurations.

Mobile gaming innovation

The GameBaby has 8-bit game controls on its reversible iPhone case.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Elsewhere on the portable front, device makers are finding new ways to turn your phone into a gaming machine.

After an announcement last year, for instance, BitmoLab brought a working prototype of its Gamebaby iPhone case at CES. The case has directional and face buttons on its bottom half, supporting NES or Game Boy games in emulator apps such as Delta, but you can also flip the bottom half around so the buttons are in back, letting you use your phone as normal. The capacitive controls pass through to the app’s on-screen buttons, so you can play without bulky USB-C attachments or extra batteries to charge.

GameSir had a slightly different take on the idea, with a small Bluetooth controller that clips onto the bottom half of any phone. I didn’t see this one myself, but wish I had after reading Wavelength’s writeup. It should be headed for Kickstarter in the months ahead.

The MCON pocket-sized controller unfurls like a switchblade.

Jared Newman / Foundry

And if you’re not averse to some added bulk, MCON is developing a controller with a pop-out magnetic base on which to mount your phone. It provides a full array of buttons and sticks but is slick enough to fit in your pocket. A prototype at CES looked promising, and MCON is working with magnetic accessory brand Ohsnap to bring it to fruition.

Meat-and-potatoes

Jared Newman / Foundry

Even if you’re not into handheld gaming, CES brought plenty of intriguing updates on the desktop and laptop gaming PC front.

The big news of course was Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs, which are coming in cheaper than expected on the desktop side and sparking a wave of neat PCs on the laptop side. Dell’s Alienware Area-51 laptop brand is back, for instance, with a new cooling system and slick “Liquid Teal” finish, while Razer has shaved its RTX 50-equipped Blade 16 laptop down to just 0.59 inches thick. Meanwhile, Asus keeps doing neat things with eGPUs, announcing a compact dock with Thunderbolt 5 that can turn standard laptops into gaming rigs.

Monitors are getting better as well, with numerous vendors now squeezing 4K QD-OLED into 27-inch panels with 240 Hz refresh rates. If that’s not responsive enough for you, we’re also seeing 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED monitors with 500 Hz refresh rates. Acer is even pushing into 5K with its 31-inch XB323QX monitor, which still manages to achieve 144Hz refresh rates. (Alternatively, it allows for 1440p gaming at 288 Hz as needed.)

It’s easy to be cynical about CES, where big device makers are prone to mindless trend-chasing instead of solving actual problems. But if you look in the right places, you’ll find plenty of reminders of what got you into technology in the first place. Gaming is increasingly where those innovations are winding up.

Adobe’s new AI tool can edit 10,000 images in one click

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Image: Adobe

Adobe is launching new generative AI tools that can automate labor-intensive production tasks like editing large batches of images and translating video presentations. The most notable is “Firefly Bulk Create,” an app that allows users to quickly resize up to 10,000 images or replace all of their backgrounds in a single click instead of tediously editing each picture individually.

The tool was created by combining several of Adobe’s Firefly-powered APIs for developers, with the aim of making them more accessible to creatives who lack technical coding experience. Bulk Create is launching in beta today, and split into two separate tools on Adobe’s Firefly web app: “Remove Background” and “Resize.” The first is pretty self-explanatory — users can upload image files into the tool from their computer, Dropbox, or Adobe Experience Manager, and quickly remove the backgrounds.

It should work on any image, but looks especially useful for product marketers. Alongside just removing the background, users can also set the tool to replace backgrounds with a specific image or color (defined by HEX codes) to get variations of each image that are ready for further editing. The file batches can be saved as either PNG or JPEG for now, with Adobe saying that support for Photoshop PSD files will be added in the future.

Image: Adobe The background expansion for “Resize” might work fine for abstract images like this, but the tool seems to struggle with photographs.

The “Resize” tool presents a selection of preset options for popular ad banner sizes and platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. It uses generative AI to stretch the backgrounds of images to fit these required dimensions, but the demo I saw wasn’t particularly inspiring — there was a lot of obvious warping, with one example strangely copying and blurring wine glasses together that were in the foreground. For simple backgrounds, though, it could spare graphic designers from having to manually resize their marketing assets for each platform. While services like Canva and Adobe Express also have tools that make this easier, Bulk Create can do so in a single click.

Adobe is making some new developer APIs for Firefly Services generally available in the coming weeks that developers can use to speed up video and print production workflows. “Dubbing and Lip Sync” can translate and edit lip movement for video audio into 14 different languages, and a new InDesign tool can automatically format text and images for print and digital media using predefined templates. “Digital avatars” created using text descriptions and voice recordings will also be available in beta this month, which can be used to present videos and product explainers.

The power required to edit batches of 10,000 images is presumably expensive. Adobe says there will be a fee to use these new tools based on “consumption” — which likely means users will need to pay for a premium Adobe Firefly plan that provides generative credits that can then be “spent” on the features.

Adobe Firefly Bulk Create edits several images all at once

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Adobe's new Firefly Bulk Create streamlines the tedious task of editing dozens of images for websites and social platforms.Read More

Biden Administration Adopts Rules to Guide A.I.’s Global Spread

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 13:56:47 +0000

New rules aim to keep advanced technology out of China and to ensure that cutting-edge artificial intelligence is developed by the United States and its allies.