#1st Appearance of THE DISRUPTOR | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bitcofun · 2 years

Text

Source: AdobeStock/ Chad McDermott Snežana Gebauer is Partner and Chris Walsh is Manager at international advisory company StoneTurn __________ Without a doubt, 2021 was the year when the crypto market made its biggest strides, reaching an approximated USD 3 trillion. It was likewise the year when non-fungible tokens ( NFTs) acquired huge appeal. After Mike "Beeple" Winkelmann offered an NFT at Christie's Auction for USD 69 million, artists, financiers, brand names, celebs and lots of others assisted spike interest in NFTs. NFT sales reached USD 17.7 billion in 2021, and they are thought about disruptors of lots of markets. The newest crypto crisis likewise affected NFT sales, and the rates of popular NFTs have actually plunged over current weeks. Some argue that NFTs will sustain this crypto crash since they are a special digital property class. What makes NFTs various than other digital properties? They are tokens that depend on the blockchain, and whose underlying properties can be digital or physical. The blockchain warranties their provenance, transfer, and record-keeping of ownership. In addition to digital art work, which is what made NFTs mainstream, NFTs can be utilized to own music, video, presents, tweets and more. NFTs can likewise work like subscription cards or tickets, supplying access to occasions, special product and unique discount rates, in addition to working as digital secrets to online areas where holders can engage with each other. NFT holders can utilize worth over and above easy ownership, and developers have a vector to develop an extremely engaged neighborhood around their brand names. As possession class in their own right, NFTs are most likely to have a considerable influence on the world of art, photography, music and other innovative fields. Given the massive revenue possible originating from trading these possessions, NFTs have actually gotten the attention of regulators, opening an argument about whether NFTs are securities and whether monetary guidelines developed for tradable monetary possessions must use to NFTs. And so regulative enforcement starts. On June 1st, 2022, district attorneys in New York's Southern District charged and detained Nathaniel Chastain, a previous item supervisor at the online market OpenSea OpenSea declares to be the world's very first and biggest Web3 market for NFTs and crypto antiques. According to the indictment, Chastain was entrusted with picking NFTs to be included on OpenSea's homepage. OpenSea kept those homepage choices personal up until they went live, given that a primary page listing frequently equated to a dive in cost for both the included NFT, in addition to NFTs made by the very same developer. Chastain would covertly purchase an NFT prior to OpenSea included the piece on the front page of its site. When those NFTs struck the primary page, he would apparently offer them "at earnings of 2- to five-times his preliminary purchase rate." Chastain now deals with one count of wire scams and one count of cash laundering, in connection with a plan to dedicate expert trading in NFTs. Does this case suggest that NFTs should be dealt with as securities? Or is expert trading a prohibited practice that should be prosecuted no matter the property? These current charges appear to recommend that it no longer matters whether expert trading takes place on the stock exchange or the blockchain. If NFTs are dealt with as securities, how will securities laws effect NFTs? Whether a specific NFT is considered to be a security or not will depend greatly on the function it was produced for and how it is marketed to purchasers. If an NFT is marketed and offered as a fixed property, such as a photo with a certificate of credibility, it's less most likely to be considered a security. If the NFT is offered with the presumption or intent of returning earnings, then it might really well be classified as a security. While this argument about the treatment of NFTs as securities

develops, it is very important for developers of NFTs to run under the presumption that securities laws use to them. Exchange platforms that host NFTs for sale and circulation ought to continue with care: if they are assisting in the trade of NFTs that are considered to be a security, then the NFT exchange platform might be considered to be running an unregistered securities exchange, a conduct that would be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC). To alleviate threats, business that provide NFTs or help with the trading of NFTs ought to execute NFT trading policies, or proactively examine their existing policies and practices in a comparable way that public business reduce expert trading threats. The NFT trading policies need to advise staff members that non-public details about the launch or promo of an NFT is secret information and needs to be dealt with as such. Companies might think about restricting some or all staff members from acquiring NFTs, a minimum of for a duration after the preliminary launch. They likewise might think about extending the restriction to relative and pertinent 3rd parties. In addition to executing a policy, business need to frequently train and interact with workers to make sure active awareness and compliance. To remain ahead of looming policy and regulative activity, NFT developers, financiers or trading platforms must take a conservative position and want to public business for finest practices. While it can feel complicated to get going, executing cohesive policies are an important action to take in order to reduce threats associating with expert trading. ____ Read More

0 notes

aurelliocheek · 3 years

Text

Mobile App Marketing Trends in Germany

Rapid digitization has benefited many kinds of mobile-first businesses, and the story is no different in Germany. In shopping alone, M-commerce sales are expected to increase a remarkable 9.1% to $42.51 billion by the end of 2021, according to eMarketer.

But marketing an app in Germany has challenges not faced elsewhere. The country’s privacy regulations are among some of the strictest in the world, and Germans are particularly protective of their data. Germany also has a reputation for being slow to digitize, but with the introduction of 5G this year, we can expect this to change.

How to navigate and dominate the German app market is a challenge faced by many app marketers. In this article, we’ve outlined some essential tips to promoting your app in the country

Privacy is sacred to the German consumer

Germany was one of the first countries to introduce the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) act in 2018, which brought out a host of new legal requirements when handling consumer data. Since then, German consumers have proven willing to report brands that are in breach of these rules. In 2019, leading German property firm Deutsche Wohnen was fined €14.5m for storing data unnecessarily.

Carolin Rohte, Head of Performance Marketing at YAZIO observes: “For Germans, their privacy is sacred – and it’s the same in the digital world. Data privacy may be a topic that affects everyone worldwide, but the German market presents us with very special challenges. Sensitivity, proactive communication and a certain amount of persistence are required”.

Since the introduction of the GDPR, we’ve seen even more change around privacy and data security. The biggest talking point in the digital advertising industry this year was about Apple’s iOS 14.5 update and the depreciation of the IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers).

According to Marian Bucher, Senior App Growth Manager at OTTO, “The importance of data protection has increased enormously in recent years. This applies not only to Germany, but also everywhere in the EU and increasingly to other parts of the world. Most recently, this was highlighted by Apple’s iOS 14 update. As a result, a rethink is taking place in the entire (app) marketing industry. For me personally, this is a very positive development – at least if these new rules of the game really apply to everyone and are followed accordingly. For advertisers, it means that the relationship between advertisements and user behavior is more difficult to measure. But also retargeting users is becoming more and more difficult. As a result, OTTO is heavily focusing on leveraging 1st party data”.

So how can German app marketers successfully maneuver this privacy-centric world?

Sergio Palau, former Online Marketing Manager at FlixBus explains: “Aspects such as how and when to ask for their consent need to be tested. Ideally grab some ideas from other companies that are successful in the market, but don’t take anything for granted. There is definitely a risk of being overly cautious and making it “too easy” for users to decline consent, but at the same time I believe it’s not worth risking the backlash of purposely making it hard for users to manage their data. Most Germans actively opt for less tracking and push back against companies or apps that make it difficult for them to understand what and how much data is being tracked. You need to strike the right balance between maximizing the amount of data you can collect and not infuriating your users.”

Ali Khitab, Senior Programmatic Operations Manager at upday adds: “Due to adhering to data compliance laws more closely, players in the DACH market tend to implement data related work flows more meticulously, resulting in limits to scaling marketing or monetization solutions compared to the broader market. Marketers who are looking beyond cookies and third party targeting by building up first party audiences and channels with publishers will be the winners.”

5G and the rise of mobile video advertising

Germany’s aims to become a global leader in digitalization were accelerated last year when the country introduced 5G technology. Today, 40 million people throughout Germany have access to 5G, and it’s expected that by 2025 it will be available nationwide. 5G is also causing a rise in mobile video advertising spend as more marketers feel confident their messages will be seen. Although the previous 4G network allows advertising messages to be played back to a fairly good extent, advertisers can never be entirely sure whether the users will see the message from start to finish.

Peter Okunev, Digital Marketing Lead at Vinted comments: “Germany’s mobile 4G network was one of the slowest and least reliable in Europe. Last year, 5G was rolled out across the country and now over half the population are benefitting from faster speeds and better connectivity. As a result, we are seeing an increased demand for online video. It is expected that by 2025, videos will account for 76% of all mobile data, a significant increase from the current 60%. We can expect to see a growth in online video advertising spend as brands take advantage of this opportunity.”

Retailers must focus on shopping apps

Smartphones have been popular online shopping devices for many years. But the pandemic has pushed Germans to start using their mobile phones as the primary tool for e-commerce transactions. Research from Statista found that, during the Christmas season 2020, nearly two-thirds (64%) of purchases in Germany were made via either a mobile or tablet device – slightly above the European average of 61%.

Mobile apps are also becoming the preferred way of interacting with retailers among the majority of consumers. Retail marketers have an opportunity to grab market share by focusing on their mobile app offering.

Marian Bucher adds: “From my point of view, the German “shopping app economy” harbors a few surprises. A comparison between the top 10 online shops with the highest turnover in Germany and the top 10 shopping apps (according to the app store ranking) has shown a comparatively small overcut for years. It is evident that many retailers have not yet recognized the signs of the times. This gap is being closed more and more by dynamic players who concentrate almost exclusively on apps. At OTTO we have identified this market trend quite early and thus are investing heavily in our app development as well as in our app promotion activities. For those that lag behind when it comes to shopping apps, it won’t be any easier in the future.”

Bastian Winterkemper, Regional Lead, DACH at Liftoff adds: “Time spent in e-commerce apps grew 49% year-over-year. Traditional Ecom players though have to play catch-up with digital first disruptors. In Germany specifically users spend almost 2x in digital-fist apps, about 43 minutes per month.” [note: data is calculated based on avg. no. of sessions * session duration as per slide 22 of shopping report]

Green marketing and the eco-conscious consumer

Consumers are more mindful of the environmental impact of shopping. Increasingly, they are looking into ways in which they can reduce their everyday effects on the environment. In a 2020 survey conducted by Statista, 8.16 million Germans fully agreed that they would be willing to spend more money on an environmentally friendly product. Environmental issues are gaining more media exposure than ever, making green marketing a bedrock of many brands’ modern marketing strategies.

Alexey Gusev, Lead Performance Marketing at Goodgame Studios comments: “Germany is a rather eco-conscious market, so that does affect the marketing and ecommerce activities as well. More traditional forms of advertising such as print, direct mail or OOH are increasingly being replaced by more eco-conscious digital options. For example, fashion brands are ditching fashion shoots in glossy magazines for user generated content on social media”.

It’s an exciting time for mobile app marketers in Germany. Users are spending more time connected to their devices, meaning more opportunities for brands to engage with them. Those that follow these trends when marketing their apps will stay ahead of the rest.

You can read the original article in mobilbranche.

The post Mobile App Marketing Trends in Germany appeared first on Liftoff.

Mobile App Marketing Trends in Germany published first on https://leolarsonblog.tumblr.com/

0 notes

toyinvb4 · 3 years

Text

NOTE

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.

THE DYNAMICS AND APPLICABILITIES.

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.

The blockchain is a decentralised and distributive ledger.

The prove of a digital asset is recorded.

The data on a blockchain cannot be modified.

It can be seen as a legitimate disruptor for industries such as payments, cybersecurity and healthcare.

BLICKCHAIN DISADVANTAGES

The blockchain is not a distributive computing system.

Too much energy is consumed by some blockchain solutions.

The data is immutable, it is not possible for the blockchain to go back.

Blockchains can be inefficient at times.

It is not a completely secure system.

The users can be seen as their own bank private keys.

IBM is the largest company embracing blockchain.

BUYING BLOCKCHAIN.

Purchase cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.

An exchange traded fund ETF can be bought, it can invest in shares in such companies exposed to the blockchain.

BLOCKCHAIN PILLARS.

Decentralisation.

Transparency.

Immutability .

BLOCKCHAIN ENERGY.

Consumers are provided with greater efficiency.

Consumers are provided with control over sources of energy.

Secure and real-time updates in energy usage data can be provided by immutable ledger.

Energy data can include

Market prices

Marginal costs

Energy law compliance

Fuel prices.

BLOCKCHAIN EXAMPLE

Blockchain contains information in chain of blocks.

Each block contains information depending on the type of blockchain.

A Bitcoin block contains information such as

Sender

Receiver

Bitcoins numbers to be transferred

The genesis block is the first block in the chain.

BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATIONS.

Secure sharing of medical data.

NFT marketplace.

Music royalties tracking

Cross border payment.

Real time ioT operating systems

Personal identity security.

Antioney laundering tracking system

Supply chain and logistics monitoring.

BLOCKCHAIN POTENTIALS

The blockchain has the potentials to transform the method that online identity management uses.

A tremendous or overwhelming level of security is offered due to the verification processes used by member computers on the blockchain network.

CRYPTOCURRENCY.

MONEY MAKING.

Money can be made online using a mobile phone.

500k-1000k average monthly income can be made.

It has a personal promotion channel.

A free promotion channel.

Red envelopes should be given to successful invited members online.

An invitation link can be sent to others to register.

INVITATION LINK

Click on 'My' on the bottom bar of the logged in website

Another screen opens up

Click on 'My Promotion's

Another screen or interface opens up.

Move down to the bottom right and click on 'Go on'.

Another interface opens, move down the screen and click 'Copy'

The copied link is sent as an invitation for others to register.

Gain N300 reward per person registered.

Invite 10 people and get 3000 (30×10).

A red envelope link can be sent to the member who invited others.

Click on the link.

It opens up into a website.

The red envelope contains money

Grab it.

Take a screenshot of the red envelope

Share your happiness with other members.

Personal speed determines if you can get money.

FOUR METHODS OF PLAYING THE GAME

Green

Red

Violet

Number

Green-Red-Violet-Number

JOIN RED

One can Join Red to play.

Red has even numbers such as 2 4 6 8.

If 100 is spent to trade, 2 will be deducted as service fee.

The contract amount is 98

If the result shows 2, 4, 6, 8

Then the member gets 98×2 = 196.

If the result shows 0.

The member gets 98×1.5 = 147.

SELECT NUMBER

If 100 is spent to trade

2 is deducted as service fee

The contract amount is 98

If the result is the same as the number selected.

The member received. 98×9= 882.

4 PRODUCTS

Ronson

Bret

Dnlo

Pfaf

The trading rules are the same.

The lottery system is independent.

One or more purchases can be chosen at the same time.

WITHDRAWAL

Click on 'My Wallet's

Another interface opens up

Click Withdrawal

Another interface opens up.

Click 'to add bank card'

Another interface opens up

Fill the bank card information.

Minimum single transaction is 200.

Bank charges 2% if the amount withdrawn exceeds 10000.

Single lower limits and upper limit is 2500-100000 unlimited times.

TRADING RULES

Choosing colors require methods and skills.

To learn more methods and techniques.

Visit the VIP group.

PREDICT COLORS .

The easiest colors to win prizes are red and green.

The probability of winning is 50%.

A - Red. B. - Green

Rule 1: ABAB or BABA

Rule 2:. AABB. or. BBAA

Rule 3:. AAABBB or BBBAAA

Rule 4: AAAABBBB or BBBBAAAA

Rule 5: ABB or AAB

Rule 6:. AAB AAB. or BBA BBA

Rule 7: ABBA. or BAAB

Rule 8:. AAAB AAAB or BAAA BAAA

Rule 9:. AAABB AAABB or BBBAAA. BBBAA.

Rule 10:. AAAAAAAAAA or BBBBBBBBBB

COMBINATION

All the funds should not be bought in one order.

It is risky to buy all funds in one order. Make an attempt to buy.

Funds can be arranged.

The recommendations should be followed strictly.

After a continuos green, red can appear several times.

At times, the color combination is changeable

We do not have a correct forecast

Ronson should be observed

A CONTINUOS STREAMING FORMULAR.

1st 1 tm 90. 50. 90. 48

2nd 3 tms 150. 200. 294. 74

3rd. 8 tms 400. 600. 784. 184

4th 24tms

5th 72tms

PERSONAL IDENTITY SECURITY.

IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION SERVICES .

Identity guard

Identity force

Identity shield

LifeLock

Identity IQ

Identity watchdog .

Zandec

Experian identity works

PROTECTING BANK ACCOUNTS FROM IDENTITY THEFT

Enroll in online services

Have an awareness in what you share ..

String passwords should be shared.

Accounts should be checked regularly.

Get the bank alerts

PROTECTION AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT.

Private records and statements should be destroyed.

Secure mails.

Safeguard social security number

A paper trail should not be left.

Do not let the credit card out of sight.

You should know who you are dealing with. .

Take your name off marketers list.

WHO TO NOTIFY FOR AN IDENTITY THEFT. .

Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. FTC online or by phone.

HOW TO KNOW THERE IS AN IDENTITY THEFT.

You have stopped getting your bills or other mails

Your checks are refused by merchants.

The debt collectors are calling you on debts that are not your own.

There are unfamiliar actions or charges on your credit report.

TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT.

Medical identity theft

Criminal identity theft

Financial identity theft

Child identity theft.

NFT MARKETPLACE

NFT. Non fungible asset is a digital asset that ranges from real world object such as art, music and others.

These assets can be bought and sold with digital currency on the platform.

They are encoded with blockchain technology such as digital coins.

SELLING NFT

Sell on a marketplace.

The collection should be located.

Click on the collection and find the sell button.

Then enter a pricing page.

There you define the sale condition

which includes running an auction or Sel at fixed price.

NFT COLLECTIBLES.

Digital paintings.

Artworks.

Sports merchandise.

NFT are digital collectibles.

Use a blockchain technology and get them authenticated.

They can be purchased with cryptocurrencies.

HOW TO TRANSFER BITCOIN TO A BANK ACCOUNT.

Convert Bitcoin to cash.

Move it to a bank account.

Sell Bitcoin on a cryptocurrency exchange as Coinbase.

Withdraw resulting cash from the bank account.

0 notes

billehrman · 6 years

Text

Peak Earnings!

Fear swept through the financial market last week that the bull market was close to ending. The story was that earnings were peaking; global growth was slowing while our interest rates were rising. Well, no, no and yes.

Reported first-quarter earnings have been nothing short of sensational. Well over 60% of all reporting companies have exceeded prior projections and have raised numbers for the year. However, concern swept through the markets after Caterpillar’s CFO said (on their first quarter conference call) that these results would represent the high water mark for the year. The market interpreted this to mean that the level of operating earnings had peaked. Not so. Projected annual operating earnings were raised at the same time by $2.00 per share to a range of $10.25 to $11.25 including $400 million of restructuring costs. We believe that the CFO meant that operating margins had peaked for the year, as higher costs would filter through the P& L over the next three quarters while price increases would lag. By the way, the company bought over $500 million in stock in the first quarter at higher prices utilizing a small portion of its free cash flow.

CAT is an example where management has maintained tight controls reducing costs while generating huge free cash flow throughout its operating cycle. We do not own CAT, as we do not like to own companies with declining incremental rates of return even though reported earnings may continue to grow.

Surprisingly, the market took down many companies last week that reported excellent results fearing it was their peak as well. We wholeheartedly disagree. Many of these companies have accelerating volume growth, improving margins and rising earnings, cash flow and free cash flow while selling at significant discounts to the market. We not only added to existing positions but invested in some new ones that had previously gotten away from us. We had an excellent week also significantly outperforming the market averages for the month and year to date. Our strength is sticking to our disciplines at all times taking emotion out of the decision-making process.

The real issue facing investors last week was whether world growth was slowing and had peaked for the cycle. And if so, did the monetary bodies have any ammunition left to stimulate growth once again? After all, the BOJ and ECB have never stopped their aggressive monetary ease policies still buying huge amounts of bonds monthly. Draghi admitted as much last week after the ECB maintained its easy policy also commenting that reaching its 2% inflation target may take longer than anticipated to achieve.

Kuroda, the head of the BOJ, said the same thing a week earlier commenting that aggressive ease may last at least another 4 years. On the other hand our Fed has clearly shifted gears and started a policy returning to normalization. The Fed meets this week and there is concern that the Fed may hike rates responding to high wage and inflationary pressures recently reported. We doubt that the Fed will raise rates this coming week, staying one step behind, as they fear the potential impact of potential tariffs on trade, growth and inflation. A strengthening dollar, as we anticipated, has been a by-product of divergent monetary policies and widening interest rate differentials. Huge foreign capital inflows have kept downward pressure on our interest rates despite significantly more supply of treasuries.

We continue to believe that global growth will average 3.9% this year and next with minimal inflationary pressures. Here again, we disagree with the pundits as expect that global growth will accelerate as we move forward after a normal winter slowdown. It is very difficult to envision that global economic growth has peaked after really large increases in employment, wages and capital spending virtually everywhere in the world over the last year.

Substantial capital spending increases should result in much higher productivity gains holding down unit labor costs. Granted that material costs, including energy, are rising but competitive pressures along with technological advances and the disruptors are holding down price increases. We only own companies that can raise prices increasing/maintaining operating margins, and we are avoiding/shorting companies where pricing pressures are apparent therefore operating margins are under pressure.

Change is everywhere, and there is a whole new host of winners and losers in the global environment. This will continue for foreseeable future. New multi-year investable trends are emerging but patience will be needed as they unfold.

Global trade concerns remain a primary concern of the markets and us too. Clearly there has been much progress made since Trump prioritized trade imbalances and IT theft to the top of his agenda. We see positive movement on renegotiating NAFTA and expect Canada and Mexico to remain exempt from steel and aluminum tariffs (for now) that go into effect May 1st. The ECB and Japan may be another story as tariffs may be instituted to show to them and the world that Trump means business. And then there is Russia and China. We still expect that we will negotiate something with China down the road as it clearly serves everyone’s best interests. North and South Korea signing major accords ending hostilities and pledging denuclearization on the peninsula last week really do mean something. Trump and Xi Jinping appear to have a close relationship that should ease trade concerns and lead to a negotiated settlement that will be mutually beneficial to both parties and for the world too. We expect Trump to maintain a very tough stance toward Russia for no other reason than it is good PR.

We want to briefly comment on defense stocks that got absolutely killed last week despite reporting excellent results. We just initiated some positions in best in class as defense spending is on the rise and these stocks are now selling at discounts to the market with improving fundamentals and returns. These companies are cash machines. You can’t buy these stocks when there are obvious conflicts occurring in the world as traders flock to them in times of trouble. Think as an investor, not as a trader!

Peak Earnings?

No way! In fact, we have raised our 2018 and 2019 S & P earnings to $155 and $170 per share, respectively. Global economic growth will accelerate as we move through the spring led by the US. We expect the Fed to raise rates at least two more times this year; the yield curve to steepen with the 10-year Treasury bond breaching 3.25% before year-end. The dollar will continue to strengthen as interest rate yield differentials widen, since European and Japanese growth will lag our growth so the ECB and BOJ will maintain their overly aggressive easing policies as our Fed tightens.

Our biggest concern remains global trade issues. There are no winners even in a trade skirmish but the US clearly has the most to gain running such huge trade deficits everywhere. We agree with Trump’s policy of reciprocal trade tariffs and expect some resolution down the road substantially better than what we have now with our major trading partners. Our IP must be protected, as that is our future. We cannot afford to lose our leadership in technology, research and development no matter how enticing entering the Chinese market is to our companies.

We see 10% upside for our market but not all markets, industries and companies are alike. While other markets may be statistically cheaper, our pro-growth administration has already passed tax reform; has relaxed regulations and has a trade policy that supports “Made in America” which all will contribute to above average economic and earnings growth here for several more years compared to other regions.

Our portfolio is structured to significantly outperform over time benefiting from the production side of the economy where there is pricing power versus the consumption side, which is overly price competitive. We are emphasizing financials; global industrial and capital goods companies; technology at a fair price to growth (did you see INTC and MSFT earnings reports!); industrial commodities including domestic steel and aluminum; and special situations, including defense, where internal change will lead to multiple revaluation over time. And we remain short bonds everywhere of all durations.

Remember to review all the facts; pause, reflect and consider mindset shifts; analyze your asset allocation and risk controls; do extensive, first hand research and…

Invest Accordingly!

Bill Ehrman Paix et Prospérité LLC

#investing #finance #trump #wallstreet #stockmarket

1 note · View note

joshuajacksonlyblog · 5 years

Text

New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin?

Investors and proponents of Bitcoin and the aggregated crypto markets have long believed that the ultimate pinnacle of adoption would be found when governments and central banks began growing friendly towards the nascent technologies.

Now, the nominee who is replacing the outgoing European Central Bank (ECB) head is pro-crypto herself and has shown tremendous interest in how the nascent tech can help shape the future’s global economy.

ECB Boss is Pro-Crypto, Will This Help Spark Adoption?

Christine Lagarde, who is replacing Mario Draghi as the next head of the ECB on November 1st of this year, has long shown interest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, and has even advocated for state-backed digital currencies that could increase the efficiency of those state’s economies.

This past April, Lagarde spoke to CNBC and bullishly noted that crypto and blockchain is currently “shaking the system.”

“I think the role of the disruptors and anything that is using distributed ledger technology, whether you call it crypto, assets, currencies, or whatever … that is clearly shaking the system,” she noted, tempering this sentiment by adding that “We don’t want to shake the system so much that we would lose the stability that is needed.”

Although there is no way to deny that Bitcoin and crypto are shaking up the current system – or at the very least have the potential to do so – many critics will write off their utility, so Lagarde’s openness to the technology is a powerful endorsement.

Will Lagarde Embrace Bitcoin, Or Focus on More Centralized Options?

Although the incoming ECB boss is certainly more open to crypto than previous ones, it is important to note that her interest seems to be more in centralized crypto options than in decentralized ones, like Bitcoin.

Mati Greenspan, the senior market analyst at eToro, explained in an email that her interest currently seems to be in JPM Coin and XRP.

“Not bitcoin, of course, but she has advocated already for state-backed cryptocurrencies as well as settlement tokens like XRP and JPM coin. In this video, we can see her taking notes while listening to Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse,” Greenspan explained.

Furthermore, Greenspan also explained that crypto certainly won’t be her main focus as the head of the ECB, as her biggest challenge will be to “bring unity and prosperity to the various EU States and QE will probably take precedence over the digital landscape.”

Regardless of whether or not crypto, Bitcoin, or blockchain are one of her main focuses, her interest and openness to the technology is certainly positive for the industry as a whole and may help incubate further adoption.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

The post New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin? appeared first on NewsBTC.

from Cryptocracken Tumblr https://ift.tt/32dxAYQ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cryptocracken Tumblr

0 notes

michaelbennettcrypto · 5 years

Text

New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin?

ECB Boss is Pro-Crypto, Will This Help Spark Adoption?

This past April, Lagarde spoke to CNBC and bullishly noted that crypto and blockchain is currently “shaking the system.”

Will Lagarde Embrace Bitcoin, Or Focus on More Centralized Options?

Mati Greenspan, the senior market analyst at eToro, explained in an email that her interest currently seems to be in JPM Coin and XRP.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

The post New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin? appeared first on NewsBTC.

from Cryptocracken WP https://ift.tt/32dxAYQ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cryptocracken WP

0 notes

brettzjacksonblog · 5 years

Text

New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin?

ECB Boss is Pro-Crypto, Will This Help Spark Adoption?

This past April, Lagarde spoke to CNBC and bullishly noted that crypto and blockchain is currently “shaking the system.”

Will Lagarde Embrace Bitcoin, Or Focus on More Centralized Options?

Mati Greenspan, the senior market analyst at eToro, explained in an email that her interest currently seems to be in JPM Coin and XRP.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

The post New ECB Boss is “Extremely” Pro-Crypto; What Could This Mean for Bitcoin? appeared first on NewsBTC.

from CryptoCracken SMFeed https://ift.tt/32dxAYQ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #CryptoCracken SMFeed

0 notes

jacobhinkley · 6 years

Text

Ripple [XRP] CEO: “Hype vs. reality in blockchain and crypto is way out of whack”

Money 20/20, the premier global event on the industry calendar where C-level Executives, renowned speakers, innovators, and disruptors from across the world unite to drive change in the future of money, originally had David Schwartz [Ripple’s Chief Cryptographer] to speak at the conference. Later it was announced that Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple will be speaking at this Amsterdam conference, to address frictionless global payments and digital assets.

Ripple’s announcment of their presence at the money20/20 conference

Speaking at the conference, Brad Garlinghouse said:

“Hype vs. reality in blockchain and crypto is way out of whack. Experiments are not a business model. Ripple is going deep with customers—solving real problems and seeing real progress.”

This comes after their announcement on the collaboration with some of the top universities around the world to support and speed up academic research, technical development, and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital payments. The commitment is for over $50 million in funding, subject matter expertise, and technical resources to UBRI’s first wave of university partners —17 prestigious institutions around the world.

Earlier this year, on May 31st, Ripple announced the release of Rippled version 1.0.0. which includes incremental improvements from their previous versions and symbolizes growing maturity of the software. Their insights feature industry updates, insider perspectives, and in-depth market analysis.

At the Codecon annual conference for software hackers and technology enthusiasts, held on May 30th, 2018, Brad Garlinghouse said:

“Bitcoin may end up being the Napster of digital assets. It’s shown what’s possible. But Spotify, iTunes, Pandora engaged the system and regulators, and they ruled the day.”

This was after David Schwartz delivered a speech comparing Bitcoin[BTC] and Ripple’s XRP, on June 1st, 2018.

Marc Jason Grens, a macroeconomist and a Twitter user commented:

“Ripple is going deep with customers”??? Can you please provide a few examples of this? Myself and millions of others are eagerly awaiting Ripple to prove they are not the Kings of Hype”.

GhostNode, a wannabe crypto trader and a Twitter user commented:

“Ripple XRP investors get to see actual results, not hype and buzzwords. What does your bag do?”

Money 20/20 is yet to give out further details of this interview with Brad Garlinghouse.

The post Ripple [XRP] CEO: “Hype vs. reality in blockchain and crypto is way out of whack” appeared first on AMBCrypto.

Ripple [XRP] CEO: “Hype vs. reality in blockchain and crypto is way out of whack” published first on https://medium.com/@smartoptions

0 notes

endenogatai · 4 years

Text

The Europas Awards goes virtual: Votes, workshops, pitches, networking, live awards & DJs

The Europas Awards for European Tech Startups is doing what everyone in tech has done before: pivoting! Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be ‘going virtual’ on an amazing new platform, to be unveiled. (OK, but not VR – just yet!). A percentage of proceeds from the event will be donated to charities across Europe helping to fight the pandemic.

Judging will be entirely virtual and the Awards themselves will be announced live on 25th June at an online event which will feature special guests, and live entertainment — so we can party!. All long-listed companies in the People’s Vote will be showcased on TechCrunch.

Of key interest to startups short-listed in the awards will be the opportunity to attend over 20 workshops built around the awards categories, to which investors will be invited. That’s 20+hours of programming. Shortlisted companies will be able to pitch live on the platform, with slides. IN addition the “Pathfounder Sessions” will offer exclusive workshops with specially invited guests, aimed at European startups raising money at this time.

If you’d like to talk about sponsoring, please contact Claire Dobson on [email protected]. Sponsors will be able to attend and participate in workshops.

The application form to enter is here.

NEW CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 24 April 2020

Our new platform will even allow everyone to network virtually and easily exchange contact details, just as you would at a real-world event.

Our virtual attendees will be limited to only 500 people, and will include only Investors, Founders and Senior Executives of mid to late-stage companies as well as some of the newest companies on the scene.

The Europas is always attended by journalists from major tech titles, newspapers and business broadcasters, and will still be.

The initial long-list will draw from late-stage seed and Series A companies tackling these ambitious goals with proven product-market fit and growing traction who have been carefully scouted and invited to apply.

We are delighted to unveil our judges for the awards, listed below.

The Awards — which have been running for over 10 years — will be live held on the evening of 25 June 2020 from the London time zone.

TechCrunch is once more the exclusive media sponsor of the awards and conference, alongside The Pathfounder.

We’re scouting for the top late-stage seed and Series A startups in 23 categories. After a decade of identifying the most innovative tech startups in Europe including Spotify, Transferwise, Soundcloud, and Babylon Health, The Europas has shown itself capable of finding Europe’s hottest startups. The Europas Awards have been going for the last 10 years, and we’re the only independent and editorially driven event to recognise the European tech startup scene. The winners have been featured in Reuters, Bloomberg, VentureBeat, Forbes, Tech.eu, The Memo, Smart Company, CNET, many others — and of course, TechCrunch.

You can nominate a startup, accelerator or venture investor that you think deserves to be recognized for their achievements in the last 12 months. This year we are particularly looking at startups that are able to address the SDGs/Globals Goals.

Timeline of The Europas Awards deadlines:

24 April___________Final deadline to submit applications 27 April___________All startups notified of longlist 04 May_____________Public voting begins 17 May_____________Public voting ends 25 May_____________Shortlist announced 26 May – 16 June___Awards Category Deep Dives + Pitches 17- 23 June________Pathfounder Workshops 25 June____________Winners announced / Virtual Awards

The Pathfounder Workshops Prior to the awards we will be holding special, premium content events The Pathfounder, designed be a “fast download” into the European tech scene for founders looking to raise money or enhance their business. This will be followed by the awards!

The Europas “Diversity Pass” We’d like to encourage more diversity in tech! That’s why we’ve set aside a block of free tickets to ensure that pre-seed female and BAME founders are represented at The Europas. This limited tranche of free tickets ensures that we include more women and people of colour who are specifically “pre-seed” or “seed-stage” tech startup founders. If you are a women/BAME founder, apply here for a chance to be considered for one of the limited free diversity passes to the event.

Lastly, remember: stay home, stay safe!

Meet our speakers and judges:

Anne Boden CEO Starling Bank Anne Boden is founder and CEO of Starling Bank, a fast-growing U.K. digital bank targeting millions of users who live their lives on their phones. After a distinguished career in senior leadership at some of the world’s best-known financial heavyweights, she set out to build her own mobile bank from scratch in 2014. Today, Starling has opened more than one million current accounts for individuals and small businesses and raised hundreds of millions of pounds in backing. Anne was awarded an MBE for services to financial technology in 2018.

Bernhard Niesner CEO and c-founder busuu Bernhard co-founded busuu in 2008 following an MBA project and has since led the company to become the world’s largest community for language learning, with more than 90 million users across the globe. Before starting busuu, Bernhard worked as a consultant at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. He graduated summa cum laude in International Business from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and holds an MBA with honours from IE Business School. Bernhard is an active mentor and business angel in the startup community and an advisor to the Austrian Government on education affairs. Bernhard recently received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2018 UK Awards in the Disruptor category.

Chris Morton CEO and founder Lyst Chris is the founder and CEO of Lyst, the world’s biggest fashion search platform used by 104 million shoppers each year. Including over 6 million products from brands including Burberry, Fendi, Gucci, Prada and Saint Laurent, Lyst offers shoppers convenience and unparalleled choice in one place. Launched in London in 2010, Lyst’s investors include LVMH, 14W, Balderton and Accel Partners. Prior to founding Lyst, Chris was an investor at Benchmark Capital and Balderton Capital in London, focusing on the early-stage consumer internet space. He holds an MA in physics and philosophy from Cambridge University.

Claire Novorol Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer Ada Health Dr. Claire Novorol is Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Ada Health. Prior to founding Ada, Claire worked as a Paediatrician within the NHS before specialising in Clinical Genetics. She has degrees in Pathology and Medicine as well as a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge. Claire is also the founder of Doctorpreneurs, a global community for healthcare professionals interested in innovation and entrepreneurship. She is a member of the Advisory Team Steering Group for the AHSN Network Community for Artificial Intelligence, an Entrepreneurship Expert with the Entrepreneurship Centre at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and a member of the UK Digital Health Council. In 2018, Claire was featured on Business Insider’s Tech 100: The 100 coolest people in UK tech and Forbes’ Europe’s Top 50 Women in Tech, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes, writing on healthtech.

Clare Jones Chief Commercial Officer what3words Clare is the chief commercial officer of what3words; prior to this, her background was in the development and growth of social enterprises and in impact investment. Clare was featured in the 2019 Forbes 30 under 30 list for technology and is involved with London companies tackling social/environmental challenges. Clare also volunteers with the Streetlink project, doing health outreach work with vulnerable women in South London.

Emily Orton Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer Darktrace Emily is responsible for global marketing and communications, a role she has held since Darktrace’s foundation in 2013. She is also a commentator on cyber security issues and has appeared in leading media outlets including BBC News, Sky News and Channel 4. Emily has ten years’ experience in technology marketing. She has an MA in Modern Languages from the University of Cambridge.

Husayn Kassai CEO and co-founder Onfido Husayn Kassai is the Onfido CEO and co-founder. Onfido helps businesses digitally onboard users by verifying any government ID and comparing it with the person’s facial biometrics. Founded in 2012, Onfido has grown to a team of 300 across SF, NYC and London; received over $100 million in funding from Salesforce, Microsoft and others; and works with over 1,500 fintech, banking and marketplace clients globally. Husayn is a WEF Tech Pioneer; a Forbes Contributor; and Forbes’ “30 Under 30”. He has a BA in economics and management from Keble College, Oxford.

Julia Hawkins Partner LocalGlobe Julia Hawkins is a Partner at LocalGlobe. Previously, Julia worked at Goldman Sachs, Last.fm, BBC Worldwide and most recently Universal Music where she set up their Corporate Venture arm and led investments in ROLI and Sofar Sounds among others. Julia enjoys working with mission driven founders and has a keen interest in consumer, entertainment, media and health tech from wellness to genomics. She holds a 1st from LSE, is a Kauffman Fellow and Board Trustee of Shwachman Diamond Syndrome UK, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for SDS, a rare genetic disease.

Kieran O’Neill CEO and co-founder Thread Thread makes it easy for guys to dress well. They combine expert stylists with powerful AI to recommend the perfect clothes for each person. Thread is used by more than 1 million men in the U.K., and has raised $35 million from top investors, including Balderton Capital, the founders of DeepMind and the billionaire former owner of Warner Music. Prior to Thread, Kieran founded one of the first video sharing websites at age 15 and sold it for $1.25 million at age 19. He was then CEO and co-founder of Playfire, the largest social network for gamers, which he grew to 1.5 million customers before being acquired in 2012. He’s a member of the Forbes, Drapers and Financial Times 30 Under 30 lists.

Lina Wenner Principal Firstminute Capital Lina joined firstminute from the Boston Consulting Group, where she worked alongside global corporates across Consumer, Energy and Heavy Industrials, advising on digital strategy, restructuring and M&A as a member of the corporate finance team. She gained an MPhil in Management from the University of Cambridge and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Economics and Statistics from the University College Utrecht, the Netherlands, where she graduated with Summa Cum Laude. At firstminute, Lina leads on sourcing for the Nordic and German-speaking regions and has a strong interest in digital health, robotics, direct-to-consumer brands and femtech. She sits as a board observer of Evolution AI.

Luca Bocchio Principal Accel Luca Bocchio joined Accel in 2018 and focuses on consumer internet, fintech and software businesses. Luca led Accel’s investment in Luko, Bryter and Brumbrum. Luca also helped lead Accel’s investment and ongoing work in Sennder. Prior to Accel, Luca was with H14, where he invested in global early and growth-stage opportunities, such as Deliveroo, GetYourGuide, Flixbus, SumUp and SecretEscapes. Luca previously advised technology, industrial and consumer companies on strategy with Bain & Co. in Europe and Asia. Luca is from Italy and graduated from LIUC University.

Nate Lanxon (Speaker) Editor and Tech Correspondent Bloomberg Nate is an editor and tech correspondent for Bloomberg, based in London. For over a decade, he has particularly focused on the consumer technology sector, and the trends shaping the global industry. Previous to this, he was senior editor at Bloomberg Media and was head of digital editorial for Bloomberg.com in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nate has held numerous roles across the most respected titles in tech, including stints as editor of WIRED.co.uk, editor-in-chief of Ars Technica UK and senior editor at CBS-owned CNET. Nate launched his professional career as a journalist by founding a small tech and gaming website called Tech’s Message, which is now the name of his weekly technology podcast hosted at natelanxon.com.

Tania Boler CEO and founder Elvie Tania is an internationally recognized women’s health expert and has held leadership positions for various global NGOs and the United Nations. Passionate about challenging taboo women’s issues, Tania founded Elvie in 2013, partnering with Alexander Asseily to create a global hub of connected health and lifestyle products for women.

Holly Jacobus Investment Partner Joyance Partners, New York Holly Jacobus is an Investment Partner with Joyance Partners, investing in companies with the capacity to deliver Delightful Moments in US and EU. Her focus is new foods, consumer packaged goods, sexual wellness, femtech, farmtech and earth-positive manufacturing methods. Holly spent her career growing startups through early stage sales and PR, most recently as the Chief Revenue Officer at Citia, a NYC based global content creation, storage and distribution platform servicing Fortune 500 brands including GE (global), Mastercard (US), Viacom (global), and P&G (global). Holly was raised on a farm in California where she became the first graduate of Stanford University’s online high school (EPGY OHS) and an Academic All American Volleyball Player. She later studied bioengineering at UC Berkeley and French at Georgetown University where she played D1 Volleyball. When Holly isn’t investing or helping companies scale, you can find her backpacking the Sierra Nevadas or skiing the Tetons with her dog Smoky. Recent investments include: Unbound, WholyMe, TeaCrush, Finless Foods, Loli, MushLab, Weller, & Sigrid Therapeutics.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8204425 https://ift.tt/2VAltCC via IFTTT

#IFTTT #RSSMix.com Mix ID 8204425

0 notes

showlexsite · 5 years

Text

How to locate the Perfect bridal dress for You and Your Baby Bump

“connecting the phrase ‘maternity’ to any such thing is amongst the biggest hurdles in hunting for a ‘maternity bridal dress. ‘ It’s simply a marriage gown, ” claims Giovanna Randall, Head Designer and Founder of Honor NYC, which relaunched as a bridal brand name year that is last. “You need to look radiant and not compromise individual design, that is essentially a universal demand of most brides. “

But semantics apart, in accordance with information provider SEMrush, around 20,000 individuals within the U.S. Each month are Bing looking for the word “maternity wedding gown. ” (Fun reality: For the past four years, the amount additionally spikes each January, along side seek out “wedding dresses, ” after post-holiday period engagement period. ) Within a talk during the Pronovias nyc flagship opening earlier in the day come july 1st, CEO Amandine Ohayon told Fashionista that people to the Spanish history brand name’s web site may also be shopping for maternity choices. But nevertheless, resources and helpful conversations on where, whenever and exactly how to look for bridal appearance to allow for a constantly (and unpredictably) growing child bump are not so simple to locate.

“I happened to be trying to find maternity bloggers and things like that. I possibly couldn’t find something that of good use, ” claims Brooklyn-based e-commerce administrator Liza Wenger, who is due in October and walked along the aisle the 2009 July (double mazel! ).

Therefore, we searched for specialists into the industry — a designer, a store, a direct-to-consumer disruptor and, the essential valuable specialists of all of the, two stunning brides whom experienced the process — for advice for anticipating brides to their bridal dress shopping journey.

Recognize that there is no crystal ball

“The number-one thing to consider is you cannot predict the way youare going to feel and also you cannot anticipate exacltly what the dimensions are likely to be, ” says beautiful Bride Director of Stores Erica Chasco-Smith, whom, coincidentally, is anticipating. (when you look at the name of research, she actually fit and confirmed her guidelines just before our call. ) “Everybody grows at various prices, ” plus in various areas: the bump, bust-line, etc.

Plus, for brides shopping in early stages within the maternity, anticipating the way they’ll be wanting to display the infant bump once it finally pops is difficult. Simple fix though: add-ons, such as for instance a cape or overskirt, can truly add a layer, while an even more body-contouring and ready-to-wear 2nd look can be bought nearer to the marriage date.

Picture: Jessica Reaves Photography/Courtesy of Mercedes Sarantos

Shop on the web for rush purchases or gowns that are even custom

When it comes to popularity, SEMrush traffic analytics information discovered the most truly effective visited web sites for “maternity designer wedding dresses” are bridal brands by having a maternity category like Dressafford (1), David’s Bridal (3) and Bridesire (4), maternity web web internet sites with bridal offerings like Tiffany Rose (2), Seraphine (5) and June Bridals (6), plus Etsy, TB Dress, Amazon and ASOS.

Ann Arbor-based Mercedes Sarantos had been keeping down desire to wear the Spanish lace dress she initially bought. But, at five months along — and three days before her wedding day — she needed an alternate. After purchasing (and going back) a $30 “big bohemian searching gown” on Amazon that did not fit her individual design, Sarantos spotted an advertising inside her Facebook feed from bridesmaid and prom gown purveyor Whiterunway.com — as a result of her search path through about “20 internet web web sites. ” (DTC bridal brands buying social media advertising just just take notice. )

An off-the-shoulder, body-con bridesmaid dress caught her eye and Sarantos liked the dense and stretchy product cited into the reviews and bust-line ruffle that is covering. So she bought the gown in white two sizes up from her pre-pregnancy one. “we simply winged it, ” Sarantos states. “we tried it on when and had been like, ‘oh, this can zip, therefore, i do believe it’s going to work. It really is gonna need to work. ‘ My wedding came around and i simply purchased Spanx that went from my upper body to my ankles. Day” In a rush, she did not check out the return policy, but we very recommend you are doing.

You could try the customizable route with direct-to-consumer players, like Anomalie, to create your own bespoke look, or made-to-measure separates and dress brand Lace & Liberty, which Founder and CEO Danielle Wen says works with “many” brides who have bought looks at various stages of their pregnancies if you have more planning time.

“for the made-to-measure function, we could enable brides to update their dimensions nearer to the marriage date, ” describes Wen, over e-mail. The organization can hurry deliver a dress, dependent on manufacturing routine ranging from four and eight months through the purchase date.

Decide to try the hair salon experience — but find the correct one for cambodian brides free dating site you personally

The notion of a normal bridal hair salon experience — with all the risk of snooty sales staff and long distribution times — can be daunting. But boutiques that are bridal have the specialty options and expertise to support your preferences. It is simply about locating the hair hair salon which makes you’re feeling comfortable, once you understand what things to require and working using the right stylist for you.

Do initial research on line, make some phone phone calls and search for a local store that carries developers that offer split-sizing — as with, the gown’s bodice and bottom could be purchased in, for instance, an 8 and a 12, correspondingly. This permits freedom for the body that is changing more space for alterations nearer to the date. Day lovely Bride’s Chasco-Smith would direct her clients to Louvienne, Alexandra Grecco and Chosen by One.

In the event that you prepare early, the beauty salon stylist will help you pre-order a dress to reserve the manufacturing screen and make use of the designer to submit more accurate dimensions later on when you are further along. (or you’re purchasing straight from the designer in-house, request the gown and product early and confirm dimensions closer to your date. )

But the majority notably, make sure that you’re combined with a stylist that is imaginative and resourceful with fit. “Stylists actually discover how to fit a lady’s body and all of her curves, ” claims Chasco-Smith. “It is about getting innovative with seams and possibly creating an adjustment that is small where a mode line is striking, that could start completely new silhouettes and fabrications you can test. “

A note to less-than-accommodating store staff who assume they can’t get a sale out of an expecting bride: Think outside the box with how your dress offerings can be fit and altered on the flip side. The figures do not lie; individuals are searching and wish to purchase. “The shops want to challenge by themselves to be only a little more thoughtful, ” claims Chasco-Smith.

Make use of luxury shops’ customer solutions

After some research that is online Wenger understood she wished to test gowns in individual. But after an experience that is unpleasant a well-known bridal merchant trying on maternity bridesmiad gowns, she chose to proceed with the lead of her mother, whom purchased both wedding gowns at Saks Fifth Avenue. But, rather than the department that is bridal decided to go to evening-wear to explore their white choices.

“If you are expecting, planning to a huge emporium can be quite helpful, ” claims Wenger, whom landed from the 2nd appearance she tried on, a halter-neckline Monique Lhuillier gown that is non-bridal. She specially appreciated the seamless (no pun meant) means of working straight because of the experienced in-house tailor, whom coincidentally invested 2 decades honing her abilities at Kleinfeld Bridal.

“We chatted because of the seamstress and completely deconstructed the thing that is whole” she states. That included lifting the natural waistline to produce a mod-ish empire silhouette. “I’m therefore thankful because for my fitting that is second had grown so much that they needed to purchase the dress yourself in another size. The tailor had currently started working it didn’t matter on it, but. Since it’s Saks. ” (Note: the seamstress had just pinned and never slice the gown at that time. )

Another pro-tip: if you should be shopping in-store anywhere, bring support. “I would surely opt for some body you are aware and trust and who doesn’t offer unsolicited advice because you are going to be additional sensitive and painful, ” claims Wenger, whom regrets making her very very very first check out solamente. “I went with my mother and that ended up being a actually good experience. If your mom’s not stupidly sweet like mine, don’t do so. “

Source: https://showlex.site/2020/03/27/how-to-locate-the-perfect-bridal-dress-for-you-and-3/

from WordPress https://showlexsite.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/how-to-locate-the-perfect-bridal-dress-for-you-and-your-baby-bump/ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress

0 notes

clarencevancleave · 5 years

Text

Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All

[Note from the editor: We publish a Weekly Transmission for Geek Estate Mastermind members that consists of long-form articles covering the spectrum from shipping container co-living spaces to the battle for listing acquisition in the first iBuyer world war.

Below is a sample Transmission, written by Greg Fischer. While he wrote it over a year ago, it’s as relevant today as it was the day it was published. I thought a wider audience should hear the message, one I very much personally agree with. If you’d like to read more from Greg, you can find his writing here. —Drew Meyers]

Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All

BY GREG FISCHER Originally Published: November 1st, 2018

We’ve seen real estate’s newest entrants over the years start with a focus on reducing the commission of hardworking agents. From Redfin to Reesio, and Haus – all of these companies started with the goal of diminishing the role of the agent in service to the consumer.

Redfin is now a traditional brokerage almost indistinguishable from those it hoped to dethrone. Reesio opened up their FSBO platform to agents when DIY transactions failed to scale. California based startup Haus is still hoping other players were just too early to make it all work.

The $80 billion in annual commissions was an easy target for tech. The idea that self-made real estate agents, who often didn’t even attend college, were capturing so much revenue was impossible to ignore. What entitled them to siphon thousands of dollars from every deal?

AGENT EARNINGS FUND TECH INNOVATION

We’ve seen real estate’s most heralded darlings focus on earning their fair share of those same commission dollars in an all-out war. From Zillow to Move, and all of the vendors in between – these companies exist because of dollars paid out to real estate agents, and they all want some more.

Zillow tunes and refines its advertising pricing algorithm to keep Premier Agents coming back. Move is selling software for almost every piece of the broker stack from front to back. Vendors run the gambit of quality from undervalued swiss army knife-like tools to wallet draining duds.

Commissions fund the products and brands that power the industry. Without revenue from transactions, we wouldn’t have online search, electronic signatures, and analytics tools – much less 3D home tours.

OTHER ITEMS WORTH TACKLING

Before continuing this unspoken quest to make real estate agents vanish, let’s take a look at some back of the napkin math to find out if we’re missing other opportunities instead.

I’m assuming an estimated average home price of $275,000 with a 5% mortgage rate and 20% down and that homeowners at the current average of 10 years, the highest rate in recent history.

House – $206,250 at an estimated 75% of the total purchase price

Interest – $100,000 in fees amortized over 10 years

Land – $68,750 at an estimated 25% of the total purchase price

Taxes – $31,625 at an average rate of 1.15% but varies by state

Maintenance – $27,500 at an estimated 1% home value per year

Commissions – $13,750 at an average of 5% of the purchase price

Insurance – $13,000 for premiums and an average of one claim

Fees – $2,750 for estimated origination and title fees

HOMES SIMPLY COST TOO MUCH

That’s why it’s encouraging to see models focused on reducing the cost of the house and the land such as co-living, tiny homes, and pre-fab.

Real estate lobbyists fight for mortgage interest deductions to help reduce the burden to homeowners of this six-figure expense.

Home improvement companies make a killing on the furnishing, maintenance, and repair of large American homes – paving the way for an ecosystem of contractors and service providers. Why aren’t startups looking to reduce these costs instead?

The property tax system hasn’t seen a refresh since colonial times, leading people to stay in their homes to transfer the wealth intergenerationally instead of back into the neighborhood.

It’s not that real estate commissions are insignificant, but five other line items cost much more.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE

I know it’s easy to look at that $13,750 and think “what the heck did the agent even do?” However, consider after it’s split between two brokers that fee is only $6,875. After a 30% cut for the brokerage one agent earns $4,812. But after 25% for expenses, that’s a gross of $3,609. Even with the generous 20% tax rate most will see next year – that’s only $2,887 in take-home pay per side.

No wonder agents are tired of disruptors trying to take their hard-earned below median wages. What is it about this demographic of self-starting practitioners that we can’t seem to stand, yet still tolerate the idea that homes should cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to occupy?

So excuse me if I yawn at the notion that real estate agents need to go away. While I appreciate the entrepreneurial nature of the technology startup scene, I can’t help but love the quirkiness of the do-it-yourself real estate agent community even more.

Who do you think invented dropping out of college to launch a longshot business idea out of the garage?

GEEK ESTATE MASTERMIND BRIEFING

A PRIVATE GROUP OF INDEPENDENT THINKERS, FREE FROM SPONSORED MESSAGES, SALES PITCHES AND NOISE

There are four parts to membership:

Long form articles covering the spectrum from shipping container co-living spaces to the battle for listing acquisition in the first iBuyer world war (Weekly Transmission).

Curated real estate, startups, & built world links & analysis blended with out of the box ideas (Weekly Radar).

Special reports (our first is a category review of Small Landlord Prop Mgmt Software).

Networking opportunities with 200+ innovators from across the globe through the private forum & in-person gatherings.

Membership is $109 / quarter

OUR MEMBER PROMISE

We deliver an exclusive, objective lens into the trends, companies, people, and ideas shaping real estate technology with thought-provoking analysis and conversations that keep you inspired every week.

We help you make better, more well-informed decisions to help grow and support people and companies making a difference in real estate.

We enable discovery and meeting others with shared interests online and in-person (whether they live near you or are traveling to the same conference).

With a mission to attract the 1,500 most forward-thinking, and diverse, innovators, we’re looking for the best and brightest in all the land...

READY TO JOIN RIGHT NOW?

Apply for Membership

NOT QUITE READY?

The post Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230574 https://ift.tt/34dg0EM via IFTTT

#IFTTT #RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230574

0 notes

brettseaton · 5 years

Text

The Undisrupted: A Portrait of Blue Collar America

[Note from editor: We publish a Weekly Transmission for 165+ Geek Estate Mastermind members that consists of long form articles covering the spectrum from shipping container co-living spaces to the battle for listing acquisition in the first iBuyer world war.

Below is a sample of one of the weekly long-form articles that members have full access to for only $97/quarter.]

The Undisrupted: A Portrait of Blue Collar America

BY BRIAN ADAMS Originally Published: May 1st, 2019

There are billions pouring into the industry. New business models are being pioneered and funded to historical degrees. The established brands are getting whiplash trying to keep up and innovate. Agent commissions continue to feel downward pressure. Brokerages are arming themselves with new technologies, apps, and tools.

But you wouldn’t know it in some parts of America.

WELCOME TO FORT HOOD, THE GREAT PLACE Killeen, TX is not a small town.

The MSA has an estimated 450,000 residents. Killeen itself is the largest city in Texas geographically located between Austin and Dallas, larger even than Waco of “Fixer Upper” fame.

Two local agents are on Real Trends’ top 250 teams in America by number of transactions.

Pulling from the local MLS, the CTXMLS, there were 6419 residential MLS sides in 2018, representing $1.1B in real estate transactions and an estimated $68.9M in gross commissions. That doesn’t count the hundreds of land, multi-family, and commercial transactions, nor the hundreds of new construction transactions. Nor do those numbers touch the massive rental transaction volume in a market flush with transient military renters. Nor do these numbers account for the millions in lender, title, insurance, inspector, and vendor earnings.

It is not a slow market, either, with approximately three months’ inventory and consecutive years of double digit gains in the median home price.

LET THERE BE DINOSAURS Both tech adoption and tech disruption among agents and models in our market is, shall we say, pretty modest. While I spend time reading about the big new companies and trends on site like Inman, I don’t get to actually see any of it firsthand.

iBuyers like Opendoor and Amne are close by in Austin, but do not buy in our area. The median price in Killeen is only $135,000, less than the $150,000 minimum most iBuyers institute.

There is no Redfin. No major flat fee listing brokerages. No Compass agents. Even Keller Williams, headquartered just an hour’s drive away, has but 3 agents total in our market as of this writing.

The Redefy value proposition falls pretty flat in a market where the listing agent’s commission is often less than $3000.

Search “Killeen real estate agent”. The companies in Google’s local map pack are populated by websites that look to be holdouts from the MySpace era of web design. To my knowledge, there is only a single BoomTown user. A single Real Estate Webmasters user. Two CINC users. Zero Real Geeks users.

A browse through Zillow quickly reveals that many agents in the area don’t take advantage of professional photography tools and services like BoxBrownie, Virtuance, of HomeJab.

The tech barrier is not entirely agents’ fault, either. Services like RealScout and Cloud Agent Suite do not have partnerships with our smaller, local MLS.

In sum, our market does not operate any differently than how real estate was done in 2010. The billions of dollars pumped into real estate the past few years have not affected us in the slightest.

BREAKING THE BANK There is one business model that has recently invaded Killeen. The model’s appeal makes sense for low prices and agents especially eager to keep as much of the commission as possible.

100% commission real estate brokerages.

In particular, All City has swept the area, luring numerous agents with their $150/mo flat fee. The staying power of these models is unknown.

DIVIDING THE VOTE Tech companies are smart and select markets where there are better profits and larger margins for error. I assume their intent is to refine and perfect their operations, eventually allowing them to work on smaller and smaller margins and only then confidently expand their footprint to America at large.

Or perhaps these markets will be perpetually underserved. Tech companies earn their keep in the high dollar markets and the rest of America might or might not make use of their services. I’m not saying that is right or wrong.

Think of it this way: the urban, high dollar markets where the iBuyers have launched in Texas – Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio – are all counties that recent Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke won handily. But his opponent Ted Cruz won the election by winning everywhere else.

Perhaps there is still an opportunity for a tech company to “win everywhere else”. There is a lot of Ted Cruz country that has yet to be disrupted by models that simply do not work in those markets yet. And markets like Killeen, TX probably still represent the majority of home sellers and buyers.

EARLY OR PERMANENT NEGLECT? Maybe we “small town” agents are like the Native Americans circa 1492 AD. The Europeans have landed, but we are still in denial that their technologically-advanced-but-disease-ridden business models will eventually spread to our markets, wiping most of us off the map while plundering our rich resources.

(And no – I don’t think these avant-garde business models are disease-ridden or exploitative – quite the contrary. It’s just a metaphor).

Or maybe we’re more like the indigenous peoples in Micronesia. Left alone. Neglected. Ignored while the tech companies race into the future in more profitable and rewarding urban America.

The one thing I am certain about: there is a whole lotta real estate transaction volume in these untouched, virgin lands for the first disruptor who is efficient enough to profitably tap into it.

GEEK ESTATE MASTERMIND BRIEFING

A PRIVATE GROUP OF INDEPENDENT THINKERS, FREE FROM SPONSORED MESSAGES, SALES PITCHES AND NOISE

There are four parts to membership:

Long form articles covering the spectrum from shipping container co-living spaces to the battle for listing acquisition in the first iBuyer world war (Weekly Transmission).

Curated real estate, startups, & built world links & analysis blended with out of the box ideas (Weekly Radar).

Special reports (our first is a category review of Small Landlord Prop Mgmt Software)).

Networking opportunities with 170+ innovators from across the globe through the private forum & in-person gatherings.

Membership is $97 / quarter

(pricing for new members will be raised 10-15% in the next few months)

OUR MEMBER PROMISE

We help you make better, more well-informed decisions to help grow and support people and companies making a difference in real estate.

We enable discovery and meeting others with shared interests online and in person (whether they live near you or are traveling to the same conference).

We’re looking for the best and brightest founders, operators, innovators, & investors in the industry…

READY TO JOIN RIGHT NOW?

Apply for Membership

To receive the Monthly Transmission & Radar going forward, please ensure “Receive Monthly Radar/Transmission” is set to YES in your email settings. The full versions are normally NOT be posted on the blog (Certainty as a Service was the last one we posted in its entirety).

Update Settings

The post The Undisrupted: A Portrait of Blue Collar America appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

The Undisrupted: A Portrait of Blue Collar America syndicated from https://oicrealestate.wordpress.com/

0 notes

cathrynstreich · 5 years

Text

Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All

BY GREG FISCHER Originally Published: November 1st, 2018

AGENT EARNINGS FUND TECH INNOVATION

OTHER ITEMS WORTH TACKLING

Before continuing this unspoken quest to make real estate agents vanish, let’s take a look at some back of the napkin math to find out if we’re missing other opportunities instead.

I’m assuming an estimated average home price of $275,000 with a 5% mortgage rate and 20% down and that homeowners at the current average of 10 years, the highest rate in recent history.

House – $206,250 at an estimated 75% of the total purchase price

Interest – $100,000 in fees amortized over 10 years

Land – $68,750 at an estimated 25% of the total purchase price

Taxes – $31,625 at an average rate of 1.15% but varies by state

Maintenance – $27,500 at an estimated 1% home value per year

Commissions – $13,750 at an average of 5% of the purchase price

Insurance – $13,000 for premiums and an average of one claim

Fees – $2,750 for estimated origination and title fees

HOMES SIMPLY COST TOO MUCH

That’s why it’s encouraging to see models focused on reducing the cost of the house and the land such as co-living, tiny homes, and pre-fab.

Real estate lobbyists fight for mortgage interest deductions to help reduce the burden to homeowners of this six-figure expense.

The property tax system hasn’t seen a refresh since colonial times, leading people to stay in their homes to transfer the wealth intergenerationally instead of back into the neighborhood.

It’s not that real estate commissions are insignificant, but five other line items cost much more.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE

Who do you think invented dropping out of college to launch a longshot business idea out of the garage?

GEEK ESTATE MASTERMIND BRIEFING

A PRIVATE GROUP OF INDEPENDENT THINKERS, FREE FROM SPONSORED MESSAGES, SALES PITCHES AND NOISE

There are four parts to membership:

Long form articles covering the spectrum from shipping container co-living spaces to the battle for listing acquisition in the first iBuyer world war (Weekly Transmission).

Curated real estate, startups, & built world links & analysis blended with out of the box ideas (Weekly Radar).

Special reports (our first is a category review of Small Landlord Prop Mgmt Software).

Networking opportunities with 200+ innovators from across the globe through the private forum & in-person gatherings.

Membership is $109 / quarter

OUR MEMBER PROMISE

We help you make better, more well-informed decisions to help grow and support people and companies making a difference in real estate.

We enable discovery and meeting others with shared interests online and in-person (whether they live near you or are traveling to the same conference).

With a mission to attract the 1,500 most forward-thinking, and diverse, innovators, we’re looking for the best and brightest in all the land...

READY TO JOIN RIGHT NOW?

Apply for Membership

NOT QUITE READY?

The post Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All appeared first on GeekEstate Blog.

Burning the Agent Effigy Once and For All published first on https://thegardenresidences.tumblr.com/

0 notes

epchapman89 · 5 years

Text

The Hottest Tech Drops At SCA Expo 2019

For the biggest coffee weekend of the year—the 2019 Speciality Coffee Association Expo in Boston—we sent intrepid journalist and Chocolate Barista founder Michelle Johnson onto the showfloor to put her finger on the pulse of what’s new and exciting in the coffee industry today. Last week she told us what was lit; today she’s reporting on the show’s hottest new tech.

Wootz 7 Grinder

From South Korean company, Global CMS, the Wootz 7 Grinder (named after wootz steel) is the new kid on the block officially making its US debut. Ambassador Nick Cho of Wrecking Ball Coffee demoed the grinder, highlighting the simplicity of the plug-and-play machinery inside (a technician’s dream), the digital auto-calibration feature of the burrs to its previous setting, and the rotating wire that evenly distributed the coffee as it entered the portafilter. I’ve been a part of a distribution tool debate and had the opportunity to mess around with this manually. It’s cool to see it automated so seamlessly—especially with a portafilter lock that lets the barista go hands-free. The Wootz 7 Grinder is currently available in Korea and will hopefully begin distributing in the US by the end of the year pending UL and NSF certifications. It will be listed at $2,000 USD.

Mahlkönig E65S

The sleek, slim profile of the Mahlkönig E65S debuted this weekend in Boston, and we’re sure it’ll be an attractive addition to the bar tops of our favorite coffee shops soon. The E65S boasts several new features that promote cleaner and more efficient espresso grinding. One of those features is the digital display with a turn and push selection knob allowing for swift dial-in—six recipes can be programmed as well as any on-the-fly adjustments for those midday rushes. Say goodbye to espresso waste as the adjustable spout is designed to chute four to seven grams of espresso per second (on average) directly into the portafilter. The bean hopper is more durable than Mahlkönig grinders of the past and the whole thing grinds quieter too. The Mahlkönig E65S is listed at $2,200 USD and will begin shipping in May.

Coffunity

Transparency is increasingly a watchword for the coffee industry, up and down the value chain. With increased access to information comes an informed consumer base, better, sustainable pricing for farmers, and increased traceability. Coffunity aims to push this mission further through their app made for consumers, roasters, and producers. Consumers can take a photo of a coffee label and the app will identify and display ratings, reviews, and tasting notes from the coffee community. They can learn more about the coffee’s origin from who produced it to how it was processed (and what that means). Roasters are able to see what others are saying about the coffee. Soon, coffee producers will also be able to see what others are saying about their coffee and how much it sells for, opening up access to information that’s been closed to many for too long. This 2018 SCA Best New Product winning app is available to download on the App Store and Google Play now.

Acaia Pearl Model S

Acaia is back at it again with cutting edge technology to help coffee professionals and home brewers alike up their coffee game. As the Acaia Pearl Model S turns on, it welcomes you with a personalized message you can customize on the accompanying app. This app itself is extremely interactive, allowing for brewers to share their recorded brew recipes to anyone and download them from their friends or the database of recipes uploaded by coffee companies themselves. What’s even more fascinating is that when a recipe is downloaded, it won’t only display on your phone or table but the scale will display each step of the brew process in real-time for brewers to follow along.

The cherry on top is possibly the flow-rate meter that can display by itself or alongside the timer and water weight to indicate the consistency of the pour. On top of all of that, the Pearl Model S still looks so damn good. I don’t know about you but I think I just received the key to being the next World Brewers Cup Champion. The Acaia Pearl Model S is available now online for $185 USD.

MAVAM Mach 2

A disruptor in the undercounter espresso machine game since 2015, Seattle-based MAVAM has officially launched its oncounter espresso machine, the Mach 2. It has the same inner components and temperature stability of its undercounter sibling, and still has a low profile on bar (12.5 in./32 cm. tall) in true MAVAM fashion. The nicest feature of the Mach 2 is the tap button—both on the side for the cool touch steam wand power and on the grouphead. Seeing the machine in action, the tap feature really does promote efficiency for any barista running it, and shows how the espressso machine industry is taking ergonomics and workflow concerns seriously for the next generation of baristas. MAVAM’s Mach 2 is available to order now at $16,000 USD (two-group) and $19,000 USD (three-group).

Michelle Johnson is a news contributor at Sprudge Media Network, and the founder and publisher of The Chocolate Barista. Read more Michelle Johnson on Sprudge.

The post The Hottest Tech Drops At SCA Expo 2019 appeared first on Sprudge.

seen 1st on http://sprudge.com

0 notes

whittlebaggett8 · 5 years

Text

China and Russia Pose Different Problems for the US. They Need Different Solutions.

U.S. Director of Countrywide Intelligence Dan Coats noticed in the intelligence community’s most modern risk assessment that “China and Russia are additional aligned than at any place since the mid-1950s.” Despite the fact that U.S. observers have feared these kinds of an alignment for a long time, there is enough evidence that relations amongst the two are indeed nearer than they have been since the Sino-Soviet split in the early 1960s.

In July 2017, the two countries’ navies conducted a joint work out in the Baltic Sea for the 1st time. In September 2018, China participated in Russia’s once-a-year Vostok army physical exercise — an additional initial. Russia has also offered China innovative navy tools, together with an S-400 air defense process and 24 SU-35 fighter aircraft.

In accordance to Chinese federal government information, bilateral trade grew from $69.6 billion in 2016 to $84.2 billion in 2017 to $107.1 billion very last 12 months, marking the initial time that that figure surpassed $100 billion. Moreover, regardless of facing setbacks in diversifying away from the U.S. dollar, Beijing and Moscow are conducting far more of that trade, albeit nonetheless in small amounts, in their own currencies.

Experiencing this post? Click on here to subscribe for full obtain. Just $5 a thirty day period.

Russia grew to become China’s largest supplier of crude oil in 2016, displacing Saudi Arabia, and it is contracted to offer China 1.3 trillion toes of cubic gasoline on a yearly basis for three decades, commencing this year, by means of its Energy of Siberia pipeline.

Finally, Chinese President Xi Jinping has frequented Moscow more than any other capital metropolis due to the fact he assumed power. As of August 2018, he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had fulfilled 26 moments. In June 2018, moreover, Xi gave Putin China’s initial-at any time friendship medal, calling him “my ideal, most intimate buddy.”

It is not surprising, then, that U.S. analysts are progressively worried by the multifaceted momentum in Sino-Russian relations. In a speech that he delivered at the Nobel Peace Prize Discussion board in Oslo in December 2016, previous U.S. Countrywide Protection Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski (who passed absent in 2017) warned that Washington “must be wary of the good hazard that China and Russia could sort a strategic alliance, generated in part by their own inside, political, and ideological momentum, and in aspect by the improperly considered out guidelines of the United States.”

“Nothing,” he concluded, would be “more dangerous” to U.S. countrywide interests than such an result.

In the confront of strengthening ties between Beijing and Moscow, the White House’s National Stability Tactic and the Pentagon’s National Defense Technique would seem to address them as very similar strategic challenges. Sadly, nevertheless, acting on that depiction could hasten the really end result Brzezinski warned about.

The NSS, for example, asserts that both equally countries “challenge American electrical power, impact, and interests, trying to erode American security and prosperity. They are determined to make economies significantly less free of charge and considerably less good, to expand their militaries, and to management data and to repress their societies and grow their affect.” The NDS, in the meantime, contends that “[t]he central problem to U.S. prosperity and safety is the reemergence of very long-phrase, strategic level of competition by…revisionist powers. It is ever more clear that China and Russia want to condition a world constant with their authoritarian model—gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and protection conclusions.”

Although each countries unquestionably contest U.S. national interests, they do so in distinct means. It is noteworthy that Coats distinguished concerning the troubles that the two nations around the world pose when he testified prior to the Senate Pick Committee on Intelligence at the end of January: “Whereas with China, we must be concerned about the methodical and prolonged-term attempts to … match, or overtake our excellent international capabilities, Russia’s method depends on misdirection and obfuscation as it seeks to destabilize and diminish our standing in the planet.”

There are a number of causes to consider about China and Russia individually. First, while their relationship is certainly growing throughout military, economic, and political proportions, it is continue to far more anchored in shared grievances than in typical visions. Beijing and Moscow have prolonged criticized America’s support for common values, the centrality of the U.S. dollar in worldwide economical markets, and the U.S. presumption that countries with small to no involvement in planning the article-war order would in the end integrate themselves into it of their possess enlightened volition. It is a lot more difficult, nevertheless, to recognize what the contours of a shared Sino-Russian conception of globe purchase would be though they equally avow the want for a much more multipolar system, soon after all, couple of other nations would categorical a various wish, even longstanding U.S. allies in Europe and Asia. In addition, as Andrea Kendall-Taylor and David Shullman observed in Oct 2018, China and Russia are acting upon their grievances in techniques that, although “synergistic,” remain “different and seemingly uncoordinated.”

Second, the financial hole in between China and Russia is considerable and growing rapidly. In accordance to the World Financial institution, China’s nominal gross domestic item in 1992 was somewhat more compact than Russia’s ($427 billion compared to $460 billion). Just a quarter-century afterwards, in 2017, it was just about eight situations as big ($12.2 trillion vs . $1.6 trillion). Even nevertheless its economic climate is cooling, in addition, China’s development level stays over four moments that of Moscow’s — a divergence that makes sure that the imbalance amongst their electrical power capabilities and the consequent hole in between their talents to fulfill world-wide ambitions will expand apace.

While China holds the current postwar purchase to be obsolescent, it has been the chief beneficiary of that process, possibly excepting the United States. It presently seeks a gradual modification of that procedure, not a wholesale dissolution. In addition, as witnessed with the development of the Belt and Street Initiative, China has the ability to develop its industrial footprint globally, and it can credibly imagine a Sinocentric trading and financial commitment zone in Eurasia. With “Made in China 2025,” Beijing aspires to no more time be just an imitator of world-class know-how, but a creator, and the developing achieve of corporations such as Huawei indicates that aim is plausible.

Russia, by distinction, does not have the financial wherewithal to pose a gradualist problem, only the tactical savvy to be an opportunistic disruptor. A weak demographic outlook declining and now largely flat oil selling prices (the price tag of a barrel of crude oil is about 50 % of what it was five many years in the past) and many years of sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea have all taken their toll. Exactly where Moscow at the time hoped to provide as a flourishing economic middleman in between Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific, it is now centered on the substantially additional modest intention of growing the Eurasian Economic Union, which presently comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Its principal lines of hard work — hiving off territory in its so-termed in close proximity to overseas, focusing on democratic nations around the world with disinformation functions, and leveraging and compounding Syria’s bloodshed to consolidate its foothold in the Middle East — mirror the truth that Russia has minor hope — or intention, it would seem — of reintegrating into the write-up-war buy. As an alternative, Moscow appears to be to have concluded that it can display its impact additional by destabilizing that procedure than by offering a coherent option.

Though both international locations request to change the status quo, then, only Russia has attacked neighboring nations around the world, annexed conquered territory, and supported insurgent forces trying to find to detach nonetheless extra. It also interferes in foreign elections and works to undermine European and Atlantic establishments. Though China is no harmless abroad — it proceeds to militarize the South China Sea and has engaged in the forced repatriation of Chinese citizens from Hong Kong and many Asian nations around the world — its growing impact derives generally from a lot more constructive measures this sort of as trade, expenditure, and improvement assistance.

The aforementioned discrepancies propose that the United States really should respond otherwise to a resurgent electricity centered on reaching economic and technological preeminence than to a declining electrical power centered on fomenting armed forces and ideological chaos. A single could argue that China seeks to speed up time Russia, to reverse it. That is, exactly where Beijing hopes to take its location as “the Middle Kingdom” in world affairs, Moscow waxes nostalgic for its previous imperium. While this formulation may perhaps appear to be overly reductionist, it captures the disparity in between China and Russia’s respective capacities and ambitions: the relationship concerning the two international locations is growing in worth as well as asymmetry.

If the United States carries on to lump China and Russia alongside one another in undifferentiated hostility, it may well effectively persuade them to operate much more assiduously and concertedly to undermine U.S. nationwide passions. Nor is it probably to succeed in driving a wedge among them. Beijing has tiny incentive to sign up for any hard work by Washington to counterbalance Moscow, which is a reputable supplier of energy and military devices. Nor does Russia pose a apparent challenge to any of China’s very important national pursuits. Russia, by distinction, has two immediate good reasons to be apprehensive: China has displaced it as the principal financial drive in Central Asia, and China appears to be increasingly intent on populating Russia’s Much East with Chinese laborers. Above the extended run, also, as Moscow grows additional dependent on China’s economic climate, Beijing could increasingly impede Russian makes an attempt to court docket China’s neighbors as portion of its “look east” effort and hard work. Still, unless Russia concludes that its route to extensive-phrase resuscitation is extra most likely to lie in rejoining the West than in bolstering its partnership with China, it may have to accept the indignity of at any time-greater supplication.

The United States can maintain Russia at bay by adapting current variations of protection, deterrence, and alliance relationships that it and its Western allies utilized from the Soviet Union through the Cold War, suggesting the relevance of strengthening the U.S. alliance system. Washington simply cannot, nonetheless, consist of China. It is in the realm of geoeconomics, alternatively than geopolitics, that the contest for environment leadership is possible to be established. America’s good results in this competitors will be determined in huge measure by how adeptly it operates in foreign markets and is effective with other folks to modernize an open, guidelines-dependent world financial buy.

James Dobbins is a senior fellow, Howard J. Shatz is a senior economist, and Ali Wyne is a policy analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Company. They are the authors of the new report “Russia Is a Rogue, Not a Peer China Is a Peer, Not a Rogue.”

The post China and Russia Pose Different Problems for the US. They Need Different Solutions. appeared first on Defence Online.

from WordPress https://defenceonline.com/2019/04/18/china-and-russia-pose-different-problems-for-the-us-they-need-different-solutions/

#China international order #China-Russia axis #Russia international order #Trans-Pacific View #U.S. C

0 notes