FinTech
Bitcoin came close to falling below $20,000 as investors continue to flee cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin and and other cryptocurrencies are in free fall. Dan Kitwood | Getty Images The sell-off in cryptocurrencies deepened even further on Wednesday, with bitcoin sinking very close to the key level of $20,000. Bitcoin plunged as much as 10% to an intraday low of $20,166, according to Coinbase data. It was last trading at […]
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Bill Gates says crypto and NFTs are ‘100% based on greater fool theory’
Bill Gates Gerard Miller | CNBC Bill Gates is not a fan of cryptocurrencies or non-fungible tokens. Speaking at a TechCrunch talk on climate change Tuesday, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder described the phenomenon as something that’s “100% based on greater fool theory,” referring to the idea that overvalued assets will go up in price when […]
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Investors worry another possible crypto collapse will bring down other key players
Cryptocurrencies have taken a tumble in 2022. Chesnot | Getty Images A liquidity crisis at cryptocurrency lending firm Celsius has investors worried about a broader contagion that could bring down other major players in the market. Celsius recently moved to pause all account withdrawals, sparking fears that it may be about to go bust. The […]
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The crypto industry just had one of its worst days ever — Here’s what happened
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies fell sharply as investors dump risk assets. A crypto lending company called Celsius is pausing withdrawals for its customers, sparking fears of contagion into the broader market. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Crypto has had a brutal first half of 2022, but few days have been this bad for the […]
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BlockFi, the Peter Thiel-backed crypto lending start-up, cuts 20% of its staff as bitcoin plunges
The logo of cryptocurrency platform BlockFi. Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images Crypto lender BlockFi is cutting around 20% of its staff as the company reckons with a dramatic downturn in digital currencies and heightened concerns about a weakening economy. CEO Zac Prince said in a tweet Monday that BlockFi has […]
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Crypto lender Celsius pauses withdrawals due to ‘extreme market conditions’
Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky. Piaras Ó Mídheach | Sportsfile for Web Summit | Getty Images Celsius, a controversial cryptocurrency lending platform, said Monday it was pausing all withdrawals, causing more pain in the fragile crypto market. Celsius is one of the largest players in the nascent crypto lending space, with more than $8 billion lent […]
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Klarna CEO defends business despite massive losses and layoffs
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski has defended his company’s business model and the controversial “buy now, pay later” industry. Klarna lets consumers buy things that they might not necessarily be able to afford at that moment in time. Its 150 million customers pay a relatively small amount up front and pay back the rest later. In […]
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‘Buy now, pay later’ firms were already in trouble. Apple just gave them one more thing to worry about
Apple Pay Later will let users pay for things over four equal installments. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images AMSTERDAM — Apple’s move into the crowded “buy now, pay later” space has raised the stakes for the fintech companies that pioneered the trend. The iPhone maker announced plans to launch its own “pay later” […]
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‘The mood is very grim’: Once-hot fintech sector faces IPO delays and consolidation
Investment in fintech is slowing as worries around rising inflation and the prospect of higher interest rates have dented economic sentiment. Elena Noviello | Moment | Getty Images AMSTERDAM — Financial technology companies are putting IPO plans on hold and cutting expenses as fears of an impending recession cause a shift in how investors view […]
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Ethereum just completed a successful dress rehearsal for its most important upgrade ever
INA FASSBENDER | AFP | Getty Images Ethereum just completed its first big dress rehearsal for a long-awaited makeover that will be its most significant overhaul since the digital currency was launched nearly a decade ago. Cryptocurrencies such as ethereum and bitcoin are often criticized for the process of mining to generate new coins. Both […]
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