#capital one mastercard

[todaynewsonline]

SBI Credit Card Rate of Interest: Everything You Need to Know "SBI Credit Card"

SBI Credit Card Rate of Interest: Everything You Need to Know “SBI Credit Card”:- Are you considering getting an SBI credit card? One crucial factor to consider when choosing a credit card is the rate of interest charged on outstanding balances. In this article, we will delve into the topic of SBI credit card rates of interest, exploring what they are, how they are calculated, and what factors…

[omresult]

Uber And Capital One Mastercard 2023 Sweepstakes - Enter To Win A Trip To California

Interested and eligible participants can enter to Uber and Capital One Mastercard 2023 Sweepstakes which provide you complete satisfaction and you will also enjoy it a lot. Sweepstakes open for all United States residents. All participants need to submit entry before December 31st, 2023 and can get a chance to Win a trip to California. (the total ARV of all available Prizes in the Promotion is…

[what-shitfuckery-is-this-ew]

BOYCOTTING FOR PALESTINE

The Official BDS Boycott Targets

Campaigns

Block the boat: End maritime arms transfer to Israel

Ban Apartheid Israel from Sports (FIFA, Olympics)

CAF get off Israel's train: Boycott CAF

Greenwashing Apartheid

Israeli Spyware

Military Embargo

Farming Injustice

Consumer Boycotts - a complete boycott of these brands

Cisco

Axa

Puma

Carrefour

HP

Siemens

Chevron

Intel

Caltex

Israeli produce

Re/max

Ahava

Texaco

Sodastream

Intel

Organic Boycott Targets - boycotts not initiated by BDS but still complete boycott of these brands

Disney

Macdonald's

Dominos

Papa Johns

Burger King

Pizza Hut

Wix

Divestments and exclusion - pressure governments, institutions, investment funds, city councils, etc. to exclude from procurement contracts and investments and to divest from these

Elbit Systems

CAF

Volvo

CAT

Barclays

JCB

HD Hyundai

TKH Security

HikVision

Pressure - boycotts when reasonable alternatives exist, as well as lobbying, peaceful disruptions, and social media pressure.

Google

Amazon

AirBnb

Booking.Com

Expedia

Teva

Here are some companies that strongly support Israel (but are not Boycott targets). There is no ethical consumption under capitalism and boycotting is a political strategy - not a moral one. If you did try to boycott every supporter of Israel you would struggle to survive because every major company supports Israel (as a result of attempting to keep the US economy afloat), that being said, the ones that are being boycotted by masses and not already on the organic boycott list are coloured red.

5 Star Chocolate

7Days

7Up

Apple

Arsenal FC

ALDO

Arket

Axe

Accenture

Ariel

Adidas

ActionIQ

Aquafina

Amika

AccuWeather

Activia

Adobe

Aesop

Azrieli Group

American Eagle

Amway Corp

Axel Springer

American Airlines

American Express

Atlassian

AdeS

Aquarius

Ayataka

Audi

Barqs

Bain & Company

Bayer

Bank Leumi

Bank Hapoalim

BCG (Boston Consulting Group)

Biotherm

Bershka

Bloomberg

BMW

Boeing

Booz Allen Hamilton

Burberry

Bath & Body Works

Bosch

Bristol Myers Squibb

Capri Holdings

Costa

Carita Paris

CareTrust REIT

Caterpillar

Coach

Cappy

Caudalie

CeraVe

Check Point Software Technologies

Cerelac

Chanel

Chapman and Cutler

Channel

Cheerios

Cheetos

Chevron

Chips Ahoy!

Christina Aguilera

Citi Bank

Codral

Cosco

Canada Dry

Citi

Clal Insurance Enterprises

Clean & Clear

Clearblue

Clinique

Champion

Club Social

Coca Cola

Coffee Mate

Colgate

Comcast

Compass

Caesars

Conde Nast

Cooley LLP

Costco

Côte d’Or

Crest

CV Starr

CyberArk Software

Cytokinetics

Crayola

Cra Z Art

Daimler

Dr Pepper

Del Valle

Daim

Doctor Pepper

Dasani

Doritos

Daz

Dior

Dell

Deloitte

Delta Air Lines

Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Telekom

DHL Group

David Off

Disney

DLA Piper

Domestos

Domino’s

Douglas Elliman

Downy

Duane Morris LLP

Dreft Baby Detergent & Laundry Products

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream

eBay

Edelman

Eli Lilly

Evian

Empyrean

Ericsson

Endeavor

EPAM Systems

Estee Lauder

Elbit Systems

EY

Forbes

Facebook

Fairlife

Fanta

First International Bank of Israel

Fiverr

Funyuns

Fuze

Fox News

Fritos

Fox Corp

Gatorade

Gamida Cell

GE

Glamglow

General Catalyst

General Motors

Georgia

Gold Peak

Genesys

Goldman Sachs

Grandma’s Cookies

Garnier

Guess

Greenberg Traurig

Guerlain

Givenchy

H&M

Hadiklaim

Huggies

Hanes

HSBC

Head & Shoulders

Hersheys

Herbert Smith Freehills

Hewlett Packard

Hasbro

Hyundai

Henkel

Harel Insurance Investment & Financial Services

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

HubSpot

Huntsman Corp

IBM

Innocent

Insight Partners

Inditex Group

IT Cosmetics

Instacart

Intermedia

Interpublic Group

Instagram

ICL Group

Intuit

Jazwares

Jefferies

John Lewis

JP Morgan Chase

Jaguar

Johnson & Johnson

JPMorgan

Kenon Holdings

Kate Spade

Kirks’

Kinley Water

KKR

KFC

KKW Cosmetics

Kurkure

Keebler

Kolynos

Kaufland

Kevita

Knorr

KPMG

Lemonade

Lidl

Loblaws

Levi Strauss

Louis Vuitton

Life Water

Levi’s

Levi’s Strauss

LinkedIn

Land Rover

L’Oréal

Lego

Levissima

Live Nation Entertainment

Lufthansa

La Roche-Posay

Lipton

Major League Baseball

Manpower Group

Marriott

Marsh McLennan

Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Mastercard

Mattel

Minute Maid

Monster

Monki

Mainz FC

Mellow Yellow

Mountain Dew

Migdal Insurance

Marks & Spencer

Mirinda

McDermott Will & Emery

Motorola

McKinsey

Merck

Michael Kors

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank

Merck KGaA

Micheal Kors

Milkybar

Maybelline

Mount Franklin

Meta

MeUndies

Mattle

Microsoft

Munchies

Miranda

Morgan Lewis

Moroccanoil

Morgan Stanley

MRC

Nasdaq

Naughty Dog

Nivea

Next

NOS

Nabisco

Nutter Butter

No Frills

National Basketball Association

National Geographic

Nintendo

New Balance

Nutella

Newtons

NVIDIA

Netflix

Nescafe

Nestle

Nesquick

Nike

Nussbeisser

Oreo

Oral B

Old spice

Oysho

Omeprazole

Oceanspray

Opodo

P&G (Procter and Gamble)

Pampers

Pull & Bear

Pepsi

Pfizer

Popeyes

Parker Pens

Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Pizza Hut

Powerade

Purina

Phoenix Holdings

Propel

Ponds

Pure Leaf Green Tea

Power Action Wipes

PwC

Prada

Perry Ellis

Prada Eyewear

Pringles

Payoneer

Procter & Gamble

Purelife

Pureology

Quaker Oats

Reddit

Royal Bank of Canada

Ruffles

Revlon

Ralph Lauren

Ritz

Rolls Royce

Royal

S.Pellegrino

Sabra Hummus

Sabre

Sony

SAP

Simply

Smart Water

Sprite

Schwabe

Shell

Soda Stream

Siemens

StreamElements

Schweppes

Sunsilk

Signal

Skittles

Smart Food

Sobe

Smarties

Sephora

Sam’s Club

Superbus

Samsung

Sodastream

Sunkist

Scotiabank

Sour Patch Kids

Starbucks

Sadaf

Stride

Subway

Tang

Tate’s Bake Shop

The Body Shop

Tesco

Twitch

The Ordinary

Tim Hortons

Tostitos

Timberland

Topo Chico

Tapestry

Tropicana

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries

Turbos

Tom Ford

Taco Bell

Triscuit

TUC

Twix

Tottenham Hotspurs

Twisties

Tripadvisor

Uber

Uber Eats

Urban Decay

Upfield

Unilever

Vicks

Victoria’s Secret

V8

Vaseline

Vitaminwater

Volkswagen

Volvo

Walmart

Wegmans

WhatsApp

Waitrose

Woolworths

Wheat Thins

Walkers

Warner Brothers

Warner Chilcot

Warner Music

Wells Fargo

Winston & Strawn

WingStreet

Wissotzky Tea

WWE

Wheel Washing Powder

Wrigley Company

YouTube

Yvel

Yum Brands

Ziyad

Zara

Zim Shipping

Ziff Davis

[someone-will-remember-us]

Pornhub is a crime scene. You read that right. The site was purchased by a hastily concocted private equity firm, ironically called Ethical Capital Partners, last year. But its owners are continuing the monetization and global distribution of scores of homemade, user-generated sex videos that were never reliably verified to ensure the individuals in them are not children, rape victims, trafficking victims, or revenge porn victims. Even under new management, the site is still infested with illegal content.

Over the past few years, Pornhub has had a dramatic downfall after being exposed and held accountable for profiting from mass sexual crime. The fallout included the site taking down 80 percent of its videos, totaling 10 million unverified videos and over 30 million images; being completely cut off by Visa, Mastercard, Discover and PayPal; and losing all mainstream advertisers. The CEO and COO of its parent company resigned in disgrace, and the distressed company was sold.

However, it appears the new owners aren't much better than the old ones.

The new owners of Pornhub renamed the site's parent company from "MindGeek" to "Aylo" in an attempt to distance it from its toxic reputation as a peddler of sexual crime. But behind the scenes at its Montreal headquarters, men who have been with the company well before it was exposed—men who enabled the global distribution and monetization of victims' trauma—still occupy executive offices.

Perhaps even more concerning is that the public face of Pornhub's new ownership, a Canadian criminal defense attorney named Solomon Friedman, advertises his firm's experience defending men accused of possessing and distributing filmed child sexual abuse and has spoken on his work defending possessors of child sexual abuse material. He even twice congratulated another attorney who got a man off on a technicality who had been in possession of 7,730 images of child sexual abuse, including images of infants being raped by grown men. Does he intend to try and get Pornhub off the hook in the same way? I can assure you the victims of Pornhub won't allow it.

The consequences for victims of this abuse are severe. Victims of Pornhub often describe the widespread dissemination of their rape and abuse as the "immortalization" of their trauma. Once the abuse is uploaded, these survivors are perpetually tormented by the fact that they could be fighting to remove their abuse from the internet for the rest of their lives.

Even when they can get crime scene videos down, they face a continual game of whack-a-mole as the abuse is uploaded again and again online. It's not surprising that many survivors become suicidal. Academic studies have cited that victims of the nonconsensual distribution of sexual images have a very high suicide risk, with almost half of the victims contemplating suicide. Some tragically end up dying by suicide.

Since 2020, nearly 300 victims have sued Pornhub in 25 lawsuits for its knowing distribution and monetization of rape and trafficking. These lawsuits include multiple class actions representing tens of thousands of child victims, and the U.S. federal government has criminally charged Pornhub for knowingly profiting from sex trafficking. Just last month, 13 child victims sued Pornhub as well as its owners and financial enablers.

The legal discovery process continues to uncover explosive evidence. It found emails from Pornhub's CEO debating whether to remove or leave up a specific child sexual abuse video, admitting that the site didn't verify age or consent and tried to hide it from the credit card companies. It found executives admitting they only employed one person to review flagged videos five days per week and had a backlog of 706,000 flagged videos and much more. Depositions confirmed that Pornhub purposefully hid child sexual abuse videos from authorities for over 13 years and didn't report a single instance of abuse even where the law required mandatory reporting.

No amount of whitewashing, renaming, and rebranding can hide the truth. As one attorney defending over 100 victims who were trafficked on the site said about the attempted rebrand, "If you swim in a sea of s**t, it's hard to lose the smell."

The Canadian government conducted a multi-year investigation of Pornhub, culminating in a damning report that found it had violated Canadian privacy law. Pornhub's new owners sued the government in an attempt to hide the report from the public, but lost the fight, and the report was released earlier this year.

After all of this, the site recently began to claim it would start verifying the age and consent of those featured in new videos uploaded to the site. However, it refused to remove all of the unverified content uploaded before the new policy change.

A quick search on Pornhub today turns up highly monetized, unverified, shaky, low-quality, homemade videos that show vulnerable, drug-addicted, homeless women being coerced with a place to sleep, some food, a few dollars, or drugs to engage in sex acts in jurisdictions where it is illegal even to purchase sex. The definition of sex trafficking in the U.S. and internationally makes it clear that coercing a commercial sex act from a vulnerable individual constitutes trafficking. In minutes, I was able to find unverified homemade videos that have been on the site for years of women yelling at their abusers to stop, crying out "it hurts!" and "turn the camera off." There is no doubt that Pornhub is still a trafficking hub. It's time to force it, at a minimum, to delete every unverified video on the site.

But that isn't nearly enough. Victims deserve the full weight of justice to be brought to bear on this predatory company. They need to see criminal convictions, and they deserve significant restitution for how their lives have been shattered. Preventative policies also urgently need to be adopted. Specifically, we need laws mandating reliable, third-party age and consent verification for every individual in every video that exists on every website distributing user-generated porn.

It's time to finally hold Pornhub and its owners accountable to the full extent of the law and to enact policies to prevent this kind of abuse in the future. We can do it. We must do it, because serious harm demands serious consequences in order to bring true justice to victims and deter future abusers.

Laila Mickelwait is the Founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, Founder of the Traffickinghub movement, and the author of Takedown: Inside the Fight to Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape and Sex Trafficking (Penguin Random House/Thesis, July 23, 2024).

[hashtagloveloses]

while corporations like tumblr's parent or any other platform SHOULD use their corporate might to stand up to government or evangelical interference, they often won't or really can't, and i hope SOME of the ire people have for tumblr staff, whether warranted or not, goes towards the real culprits of MOST of our problems online right now - the US Evangelical White Nationalist Industrial Complex. THEY are the reason that everything mature (or just shit they don't like) is being shut down - they have created culture war campaigns against porn or to "save the children" or "save trafficking victims" that are not actually about nor do anything helpful to fix the problems with any of those things, in an attempt to CONTROL US ALL, usually for some very specific people's monetary gain as well.

because when they created a big public campaign that seemingly everyone could agree on (bad things happening to children is bad!), the CREDIT CARD COMPANIES were forced to act. and they don't give a fuck about anybody except themselves. and everyone is at the MERCY of the credit card companies bc they have chosen the capitalism house of cards - so when Visa and MasterCard say jump, Apple says HOW HIGH? and when Apple says jump, all the platforms like Tumblr, and Facebook/Instagram/Meta, and Twitter/X or whatever, and YouTube/Google say HOW HIGH, because they need their apps in the Apple store.

and that doesn't even take into account the lobbying and public push of US elected officials, across bipartisan lines, to enforce this as well. while you were complaining about Tumblr staff, have you educated yourself about the DANGER of KOSA, the Kids' Online Safety Act? these US senators and congress people can get reelected because they can say look! i cosponsored a bill that helps kids! and wipe their hands of the DOMINO effect this shit will have.

because whether it is the credit card companies or a law like KOSA, the way the platforms from Tumblr, to Apple, to Facebook will OVERCOMPENSATE to legally cover their ass will be DETRIMENTAL to us all, even outside the US. requiring ID information to CONFIRM someone is over 18 to access certain info or else the US government could sue them, shit like that. banning ANY sensitive content with inaccurate autoflagging technology and underpaid/staffed human moderation, as tumblr and tiktok have been struggling with, and even inadvertently suppressing speech (if you want to be charitable), all in the hopes that Apple won't remove their app from their store or the US government won't hold them liable for the things their users post. (PLEASE LEARN ABOUT SECTION 230).

yes, we should always call for the platforms we are on to do better but remember there are BIGGER reasons for what is going on and these are the symptoms of a larger DISEASE. pay ATTENTION.

[louisisalarrie]

Hello! The LATAM dates anon is me. Ahh sorry I gave you a bit of a chaotic ask! I’m not sure if LATAM really isn’t selling well - Lou’s Mexico dates look sold out - but I read stuff on Twitter via various fan accounts that made it seem as though sales in some countries were slow and they were really trying to drum up sales by giving tickets away etc. I also saw a couple of other tumblr blogs mentioning poor sales but I realise now these accounts are kind of ‘Louis hate accounts’ (urghh) and they’ll say anything to put him down.

I guess I just wondered if you’d read anything different about LATAM? I want it to be amazing for him. He’s such a gem and I really want him to do have great shows out there.

Can’t remember what other stuff I asked…but thank you for taking the time to respond! Xx

No don’t stress at all lovely!!! I appreciate the q’s, but they were different topics so just wanted to break them down xx

Alrighty, let’s look at LATAM ticket sales. Anon, welcome to the show.

Let’s look at some tickets available, capacities, and then I’ll chat more about venue modes and draping etc for some more context.

So, the best selling show in LATAM looks to be Arena VFG, in Guadalajara, Mexico. I’ve had a bit of a look online, and it looks like the show is entirely sold out. That has a capacity of 15,000 , and looks full concert mode, but that doesn’t mean he will have use of all 15,000. The capacity would prooooobably look more like 11,000 - 12,000ish, as an estimate. I haven’t been to the venue so I can’t be 100% on that, but they’re not selling 15,000 tickets to it. We’ll circle back to this later.

Then, his show at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, is a race track used for Formula 1 events, music festivals, and stuff like that. It’s said to have a capacity of 110,000, but of course would be a reduced mode due to the fact that well… that’s pretty impossible for any artist to sell out. Hell, TS’s biggest concert ever was 96,000 people at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia in 2024. Ed Sheeran did 109,500 people in one night at the MCG in 2023. Harry’s biggest show in Australia for LOT was 69,512 people at Accor Stadium in Sydney, which for both show nights, had a capacity of 70,170 people (the first night sold 66,791).

Louis’ show at Arena 1 in Lima, Peru, has a promotion on until the 15 Match 2024 for 25% off certain tickets (the promotion started on 2 November 2023). It can hold up to 16,000 people, and by the looks of it is mainly used for concerts, not sporting events. So they could be selling an amount of tickets that’s closer to their actual capacity, as opposed to the other venues. Again, I haven’t been to it so I can’t be sure. The discount on these tickets, however, is only for people using payments of “Credit, Debit, Business, and Working Capital Cards”. We see similar promos with other artists, such as MasterCard pre sales, American Express presales, etc., but I haven’t seen discounted tickets like this for other artists off the top of my head. However…

I looked at Louis’ 1st June 2022 show at Arena Peru Explanada in Lima, Peru, and according to Team Louis News on Twitter, it sold out. They said it has a capacity of 15,000 people, but again, doesn’t mean every seat was utilised, but it doesn’t look like it’s used for sport, so they could’ve gotten close. And, funnily enough, at this arena and show, there was a 15% discount if you paid with an Interbank Credit or Debit card.

A lot of stadiums are owned/sponsored by banks, or insurance companies, or these companies may have a large share of profit for the money they invest in it etc., and it’s a great way of advertising. Signing up for a bank for discounts of tickets at their venue(s)??? Yes please. So, you can see the appeal. And I can 100% guarantee you that this is a partnership and a condition of said bank investing in the stadium. A quick look at their other shows, every artist (Lauren Jauregui from Fifth Harmony, Paramore etc.) has a special discount based on if they used that bank’s cards to pay for tickets. So it’s not “oh louis could NEVER sell enough tickets, he’s a flop” and whatever these losers say, it’s that certain arenas (clearly more prominent in LATAM) will have discounts on tickets due to the partnership with the bank that invests in them.

NOW

let’s circle back to capacities. this frustrates me to no end because people throw these numbers around all the time and it just… that’s just not how it works.

You can find a capacity of a venue pretty easily when you google said venue, and often people go “oh wow, this artist is playing a venue that holds 100,000 people!!!!” which is yeah, you’re right, that venue does hold 100,000 people, but that depends entirely on the mode, stage setup, and how big the artist is. Also, if it’s used as a sports stadium as well, it’s gonna hold a hell of a lot more people than a concert mode, because they can utilise every seat. You can’t just sit behind the stage at a concert, but you can sit anywhere during a football match. So that’s a major difference in ticket sales already.

If you’re someone like Harry, who has a big old T catwalk and a larger built out base/main stage, that’s gonna lower the capacity of the venue. So then they make more of it GA on the ground as opposed to seating, to make the capacity higher again. But he plays stadiums, which are used for sport, and so he’s not utilising the whole capacity as it is.

BUT Ed Sheeran did the thing.

At the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground, used for cricket and AFL etc.), Ed Sheeran sold sooooo many more tickets than TS, because he had a 360 rotating stage in the middle of the stadium. SUCH a good idea, but that doesn’t work for an artist like TS or Harry. They perform and run up and down cat walks and dance and flail about, Ed Sheeran doesn’t. So, yep, the stage setup can seriously affect the capacity.

Then, estimated ticket sales. Louis sold out his last time in Peru, at a different arena, but it’s pretty safe to say he’ll sell out this one too (hopefully). But, that arena last year might not have been utilised at 15,000. So it’s a bit of guess work too, and finding out what he sold last year (which is easy if the same promoter is hosting but idk I haven’t looked that deep in hahaha but I’d say it’s the same one still).

And when tickets go on sale, they’ll release a certain amount (obviously smaller amounts in pre sales to see how it’s selling), but the ticket website doesn’t tell you how many tickets are left. Why would they? That defeats the purpose of trying to tell people that they might miss out. If the website says there is 10,000 tickets left, you’ll wait til closer to the time to buy one because you’re not worried. But, that skews ticket sales and a show can be cancelled over that, which is happening a fair bit at the moment with ticket reselling websites that aren’t authorised by the venue. I can go into ticketing and ticket reselling further if you’d like but yeah… best we stay on topic.

So, if a show sells enough to at least make a small profit, but isnt sold out regardless of capacity size, the promoter will often put a thing called “drapes” over a certain amount of seating to the side of the stage. These are just big black curtains that cover those seats to make it look more full. It’s what you’d call a “reduced mode”. And, that’s also a way they can use bigger venues if an artist won’t quite sell it out, but they’re too big for a smaller scale show and either don’t wanna do a couple of nights in a row or the smaller venue is super booked out etc. And, artists can sell out a reduced mode, which is great PR for them.

Anyway, there are a million variables that happen with shows. But, capacity does not equal ticket sales, discounts at venues does not equal the size of the artist, and I’m sure Louis is gonna do great in LATAM. I’ve seen so many people excited!!!

Hope this helps/makes sense. Thanks anon!

[mariacallous]

The epic collapse of wunderkind Sam Bankman-Fried’s $32bn (£27bn) crypto empire, FTX, looks set to go down as one of the great financial debacles of all time. With a storyline full of celebrities, politicians, sex and drugs, the future looks bright for producers of feature films and documentaries. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, rumours of the death of crypto itself have been much exaggerated.

True, the loss of confidence in “exchanges” such as FTX – essentially crypto financial intermediaries – almost surely means a sustained steep drop in prices for the underlying assets. The vast majority of bitcoin transactions are done “off-chain” in exchanges, not in the bitcoin blockchain itself. These financial intermediaries are vastly more convenient, require much less sophistication to use and do not waste nearly as much energy.

The emergence of exchanges was a major factor fuelling cryptocurrencies’ price growth and if regulators come down hard on them, the price of the underlying tokens will fall. Accordingly, bitcoin and ethereum prices have plummeted.

But a price adjustment alone is not the end of the world. The pertinent question is whether crypto lobbyists will be able to contain the damage. Until now, their money has been speaking volumes; Bankman-Fried reportedly gave $40m to support the Democrats in the US, and his FTX colleague Ryan Salame reportedly gave $23m to Republicans. Such largesse surely helped persuade regulators around the world to follow a wait-and-see approach to crypto regulation, rather than be perceived to be stifling innovation. Well, they waited, and with the FTX crash, we must hope that they saw.

But what will they conclude? The most likely path is to improve regulation of the centralised exchanges – the firms that help individuals store and trade cryptocurrencies “off chain”. The fact that a multibillion-dollar financial intermediary was not subject to normal record-keeping requirements is stupefying, no matter what one thinks about the future of crypto.

Firms would face compliance costs, but effective regulation could restore confidence, benefiting firms aiming to operate honestly, which are surely the majority, at least if one weights these exchanges by size. Greater confidence in the remaining exchanges could even lead to higher crypto prices, though much would depend on the extent to which regulatory demands, particularly on individual identities, ultimately undermined demand. After all, the major transactions currently conducted with crypto may be remittances from rich countries to developing economies and emerging markets, and capital flight in the other direction. In both cases, the parties’ desire to avoid exchange controls and taxes implies a premium on anonymity.

On the other hand, Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of the ethereum blockchain and one of the crypto industry’s most influential thinkers, has argued that the real lesson of FTX’s collapse is that crypto needs to return to its decentralised roots. Centralised exchanges such as FTX make holding and trading cryptocurrencies much more convenient, but at the expense of opening the door to managerial corruption, just as in any conventional financial firm. Decentralisation can mean greater vulnerability to attack, but so far the largest cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin and ethereum, have proven resilient.

The problem with having only decentralised exchanges is their inefficiency compared with, say, Visa and Mastercard, or normal bank transactions in advanced economies. Centralised exchanges such as FTX democratised the crypto domain, allowing ordinary people without technical skill to invest and conduct transactions. It is certainly possible that ways to duplicate the speed and cost advantages of centralised exchanges eventually will be found. But this seems unlikely in the foreseeable future, making it hard to see why anyone not engaged in tax and regulatory evasion (not to mention crime) would use crypto, a point I have long emphasised.

Perhaps regulators should push toward decentralised equilibrium by requiring that exchanges know the identity of anyone with whom they transact, including on the blockchain. Although this may sound innocent, it would make it rather difficult to trade on the anonymous blockchain on behalf of an exchange’s customers.

True, there are alternatives involving “chain analysis”, whereby transactions in and out of a bitcoin wallet (account) can be algorithmically examined, allowing the underlying identity to be revealed in some cases. But if this approach was always enough, and all semblance of anonymity could always be obliterated, it is hard to see how crypto could compete with more efficient financial intermediation options.

Finally, rather than simply banning crypto intermediaries, many countries may ultimately try to ban all crypto transactions, as China and a handful of developing economies have already done. Making it illegal to transact in bitcoin, ethereum and most other crypto would not stop everyone, but it would certainly constrain the system. Just because China was among the first does not make the strategy wrong, especially if one suspects that the main transactions relate to tax evasion and crime, akin to large denomination paper currency notes such as the $100 bill.

Eventually, many other countries are likely to follow China’s lead. But it is unlikely that the most important player, the US, with its weak and fragmented crypto regulation, will undertake a bold strategy any time soon. FTX may be the biggest scandal in crypto so far; sadly, it is unlikely to be the last.

[vizovcc]

Unlock the Power of a Virtual Visa and Mastercard in Argentina: Your Ultimate Argentina Credit Card Solution

In today's fast-paced digital world, having instant access to reliable payment methods is essential, especially for online transactions. Argentina has recently become a hub for digital innovations, and one of the most sought-after solutions is the Argentina credit card. Virtual Visa and Mastercard options provide a seamless, secure, and highly accessible alternative for online shopping, subscriptions, and even travel-related purchases. Here’s how these virtual cards can benefit you and why they’re essential for both locals and international users looking to leverage Argentina's unique advantages.

What is an Argentina Credit Card?

An Argentina credit card, especially in the form of virtual Visa and Mastercard options, is a digital payment solution tailored for use within and outside Argentina. Unlike traditional credit cards, virtual cards don’t have a physical form. Instead, they exist solely in digital format, offering a quick, secure, and convenient way to make purchases. This makes them ideal for online shoppers, freelancers, and digital nomads who rely on flexible financial tools.

Benefits of Virtual Visa and Mastercard in Argentina

Instant Access Virtual credit cards in Argentina offer immediate activation, meaning you can start using them right away without waiting for physical delivery. This is especially valuable for international users who need a swift and dependable payment method in Argentina.

Security & Privacy Since virtual cards have unique, limited-use card numbers, they provide an added layer of security. Each Argentina credit card number can be generated specifically for a single transaction or a short period, minimizing the risk of fraud.

Localized Pricing With a virtual Argentina credit card, users can benefit from localized pricing for popular platforms like Steam and Xbox. This is a major advantage, as localized pricing often offers better rates compared to international prices, allowing users to make the most of their money.

Ease of Use for International Transactions Whether you’re based in Argentina or just want to access Argentina-specific deals, virtual Visa and Mastercard options make cross-border payments seamless. From streaming services to e-commerce websites, these virtual cards work wherever Visa or Mastercard is accepted.

Multi-Currency Support Many Argentina credit cards in virtual form support multiple currencies, making it easy to switch between pesos, dollars, or other currencies without the need for multiple bank accounts. This flexibility is ideal for travelers, remote workers, and anyone dealing with international payments.

Support for Cryptocurrency Payments Some virtual card providers in Argentina now support cryptocurrency payments, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the new digital economy. This feature can be especially attractive for tech-savvy users who want the option to pay with crypto while still enjoying the benefits of a traditional Visa or Mastercard.

How to Get an Argentina Credit Card in Virtual Form

Obtaining an Argentina credit card, whether Visa or Mastercard, is simple and convenient. Many providers offer online registration processes, allowing users to apply, verify their information, and gain access to their virtual card in minutes. With Gpaynow, for example, users can unlock the flexibility of virtual cards that support international and local transactions alike, without the need for a local bank account.

Why Choose a Virtual Argentina Credit Card?

An Argentina credit card in the form of a virtual Visa or Mastercard is an excellent choice for anyone looking to capitalize on Argentina's unique pricing advantages, secure online transactions, and international usability. Whether you’re an online shopper, freelancer, or digital nomad, virtual cards provide a streamlined, effective solution that combines the best of both traditional and digital finance.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a versatile, secure, and instantly accessible Argentina credit card, a virtual Visa or Mastercard is your answer. Take advantage of Argentina's localized pricing and elevate your purchasing power with this powerful digital tool.

[shop-korea]

SuperM 슈퍼엠 ‘Jopping’ MV

24 HOUR - FITNESS - BOGUS - WARNING

THOUGHT - MY - $37.44 - DUE - EA - 30TH

DUE - 16TH

MALE - WHO - WAS - FRIENDLY - HE’s

HISPANIC - ALSO - BOTH - FEMALE AND

HIM - BOTH - HISPANIC - ATTACKED ME

SHE - SAID - MY - MASTERCARD - FAKE

HE - SAID - JUST - PUT - MONEY - ASIDE

SO - AUTO - PAY - WILL - GO - THROUGH

I - SAID - ‘I’M - AGE 59′ - ‘I - GOT - THIS’

HE - BASICALLY - SAID

‘MA’M - YOU’RE - AGE 50 AND OLDER

NOT - TUESDAY - ROSS - 10% - OFF

AS - AGE 55 AND OLDER

ROSS - 2ND - STORE - IN - THAT OPEN

MALL - IMPLIED -

‘YOU’RE - AGE 50 AND OLDER - SENILE

WHAT - WE’RE - HERE - 4 - WHEN - YOU

FORGET - BILL - DUE’

SO - ASKED

‘HOW - MUCH - 2 - END - THE - 1 YEAR

PLAN?’

HE - SAID - BRING - $50 - TO - HIM

BOX VAULT - TRIED - 2 - BOX - ME

AMERICAN - MALE - SAMOAN - AND

HISPANIC - TRIED - 2 - GRAB - MY BAG

HE - WANTED - JUST - 4 - HIM

$100

SAME - CARD - HE’LL - FORGOT - HE

OPENED - STORAGE - DOOR - 9:30P

WHEN - IT’s - ME - WITH - 24 HR YES

ACCESS

SO - $37.44 - I PAY - THE - APP

THEN - BRING - HIM MY CARD

AND - GIVE - HIM - $50

I - TOLD - HIM - I - WAS - VIOLENTLY

ROBBED - HE - SHOWED - ME THAT

ACCESS - WITH - 2ND - FINGER

PUT - MOBILE - TEL NO

LOUSY - TECH

FINGER - LONG - TIME - 2 - REGISTER

THEY - BOTH - HUMILIATED - ME WITH

PUBLIC - HUMILIATION

EVERYONE - 50 AND - OLDER - BAG

WOMAN - SENILE - DOESN’T - KNOW

BILL - DUE

ILLEGAL - PUBLIC - HUMILIATION

WILL - FILE - WITH - HARVARD LAW

NO - RACKETBALL

BASKETBALL - ALWAYS - MEN

THEN - LATELY

EVERY - WEEKDAY

BRITISH - SWIM - CLASS - FOR

BABIES

SURVIVAL - OF - THE - FITTEST

THEIR - MOMS - LEAVE

BLK - DARK - HAIR - ON - THE

SHOWER - AND - SIDES - FLOOR

VERY - DIRTY - HUMANS

THOUGHT - GYM - WAS - FOR 16

AND - OLDER

NO - LISTING - OF - TIMES - FOR

BRITISH - SWIM - CLASS - BABIES

APPARENTLY - THEY’RE - ALLOWED

MEMBERS

3 LANES - EMPTY - THAT - SIGN

NOT - REMOVED?

BEGINNING - OR - END OF CLASS

FILING - WITH - HARVARD - LAW

THE - REASON - REVERSED - WAS

NICE - BECAUSE - WE’RE - ALREADY

ROBBED - OF - ANNUAL - FEE

OVER - $50 - NON-REFUNDABLE

I’M - GETTING

$250 BILLION - PER - EMPLOYEE

ALL - 50 STATES

REVERSING - THEIR - CREDIT 

LIMIT - TO - $2.50 - INSTEAD 

THEN - ALL - CALLS - FROM 

‘YOUR - CARD - IS - INVALID’

‘DO - YOU - HAVE - ANOTHER - CARD?’

SO - DUE - DATE - WAS - 16TH - NOT

30TH - I - SAID - DISABILITY 

TREATMENT

‘ALL - ARE - CREATED - EQUAL’

THE - ALTERNATIVE

UFC - FIT - DORAL

$59 - MONTHLY

PROBLEM - NOT - LISTING

AT - WEBSITE - RIGHT - AWAY

60 DAYS - THE - ANNUAL - FEE - $49

LIKE - ALL - STORAGE

ADMINISTRATIVE - FEE - $39

INSURANCE - $19

SO - MY - FIRST - MONTH

FROM - 50% - OFF

WAS - OVER - $77

NEXT - $62

NOW - MONTHLY - $71.53

SO - BUYING - SHOWER - HEAD - WITH

PUMP - PUT - IN - SOFT - BUCKET - OF

WATER - $37.99 - AMAZON’s - CHOICE

FOR - MY - HAIR - COLORING

DARK - IN - MIAMI - MAIN - LIBRARY

SIDE - THE - REST

BACK - 2 - MIAMI - BEACH

REALLY - COLD - AS - I - POUR - MY

ORANGE - BODY - SHOWER - GEL

IT’S - LIKE - WATER

THEN - I - SWIM - IN - THE - WATER

LAST - WAS - ONLY - 39 MIN

BUS 100 - HANGOVER

SO - I’M - GOING - 2 - FIRST - BLEACH

MY - HAIR - AND - WEAR - MAKE - UP

THEY - THOUGHT - I’M - AN - OLD

WRINKLED - PRUNE BAG - HOMELESS

ONLY - NEEDS - SHOWER

SO - FIRST - COLORING - MY - HAIR

MAKE UP - REQUIRED - AT - 24 HOUR

FITNESS - CLOSED - CHRISTMAS DAY

THEN - NO - LONGER - CARRYING

HEAVY - LUGGAGE - BECAUSE - I WAS

ROBBED - OF - MY - SMALL - CONTAINERS

4 - SHAMPOO - CONDITIONER - SO HEAVY

WITH - MY - WATER - BAG

GIVING - MY - CARD - 2 - GET - $50

PENALTY - OF - PRUNE - BAGS - AGE 50

THEY - LAUGHED - THEY - ABUSE - AND

HARM - YOU - AS - UNDER - AGE 50

BECAUSE - THEY - GOT - NON-REFUNDABLE

OVER - $50 - ANNUAL - FEE

TREATMENT - CHANGES

CAPITAL - ONE - BANK - REPLY

YOU’RE - 18 AND OLDER - AGE - OF CONSENT

ABUSE - HARM - AND - RIDICULING - OF AGE 50

AND - OLDER - IS - ALLOWED

FOREIGNERS - HERE - 4 - BODY - PARTS

TAKING - KIDNEY - AND - BLADDER - $9,000 EACH

WHY - WE’RE - IN - USA

AGE - OF - CONSENT - FLORIDA - SAYS

18 AND OLDER - NO - REFUND - POLICY

BIBLE - ‘OPPRESSION - AND - ROBBERY

WILL - HOW - 24 HOUR - FITNESS - WILL

MAKE - THEIR - RICHES’

MONEY - HAS - WINGS - IT - WILL - FLY 2

RIGHTFUL - OWNER

CAMBRIDGE - TRANSLATION

KING JAMES - BIBLE

WILL - BUY - THE - TOP FLOOR - OR - BUY

NEARBY - SO - SO - BUSINESSES - AND

CREATE - NEW DEMOCRAT - FITNESS

24/7 - ALL - AGES - ALL - HOLIDAYS ARE

OPEN

ALTERNATIVE - UFC FIT - AT - DORAL

ALSO - LAS VEGAS - 1 PROBLEM

THEIR - MARTIAL - ARTS

BRAZIL - JUJITSU

REAL - BODY - CONTACT

VIOLENT - AND - WELL - THEY’RE DOING

BODY - ORGASM - TOUCHING - OF EACH

BODY - UNDER - VULGAR - MARTIAL ARTS

CHINA - CREATED

LIGHTNING - FAST - 2 - DEFEAT - OPPONENT

THEY’RE - FAINTED - IN - LESS - THAN - ONE

SECOND - LIGHTNING - FAST - FAINTED

AS - IN - DEAD - ALREADY

ONE - KICK

WHEN - NOT - DEAD - CONTROL - GIVEN

MARTIAL - ARTS - CHINA

LESS - TOUCH - BETTER

ONE - KICK - OPPONENT - DEAD - WITH

NO - BRUISE - IS - THE - GOAL

LIKE - DIED - OF - HEART - ATTACK

MARTIAL - ARTS - CREATOR - CHINA

SUPER - FAST - ONE - KICK - OPPONENT

DEAD - ONE - HAND - HE’s - DEAD - ALSO

JUJITSU - IS - CONFUSED

BRAZILIAN - WHERE - THEY - RIO JANEIRO

TOPLESS - PARADES - CATHOLICS - WHO

ARE - FREE - WITH - NUDITY

SO - THEY’RE - LOOSE - INCLUDES - THEIR

MARTIAL - ARTS - VERY - INTIMATE - TRUE

SO - WON’T - GO NEAR - THAT - GYM

ANYWHERE - JESUS - IS - LORD - KR

[shop-korea]

NEVER - SIGN - IN - WITH - BOOST - INFINITI

WHICH - JOINED - WITH - BOOST - MOBILE

5 TIMES - THEIR - FEMALE - VOICE - SAID

CAN'T - HEAR - ME - MAIN - LIBRARY

PHILIPPINES - THEIR - CUSTOMER SERVICE

THEY - HANG - UP

SO - WILL - JUST - USE - BRAND - NEW

PHONE - NO - THEY - WON'T - CHARGE ME

$45.55

01 OCT - HOW - LONG - MY - CARD

CAN - B - ACTIVATED

BUT - YOU - CAN'T - DISCONTINUE - THEM

CALLED - 5 TIMES

PHILIPPINES - HANGED - UP - ON - ME

EACH - TIME - PUBLIC - PHONE BOOTH

LIBRARY

DEAF - GIRL - USED - MY - COMPUTER

2 - GET - INTO - HER - ACCOUNT

ROBBERS - OF - EVEN - COMPUTER

HISPANIC - SHE - SAID - SHE's DEAF

WAS - USING - MY - CARD

BUT - I - CANCELLED - THAT

I'M - GETTING - BETTER - WITH

COMPUTERS

ORDERING - $50 - GIFT - CARD

AMAZON - PRIME

HUB - LOCKER

CHANGING - 2 - BEST SELLER

GETTING - VISA - INSTEAD $50

FEE - $4.95

AMAZON - PRIME - DOESN'T - DISAPPOINT

SAID - 2 DAYS - $25 - $100 - GIFT - CARDS

GETTING - TOMORROW

BESTSELLER - VISA - GIFT - CARD - $50

FEE - $4.95 - NON-RETURNABLE - ALSO

ACTIVE - READY - 2 - USE

BOTH - MASTERCARD - AND - VISA

SAY - SAME - THING

NO - RESTRICTIONS - WITH - FLORIDA

GETTING - TOMORROW

HUB LOCKER - HOMEWOOD - SUITES

ALL - KITCHENS - HAVE - OVEN

BY - HILTON

THANKS - PARIS - WE'RE - MEETING

MS BILLIONAIRE

JESUS - IS - LORD

PARIS - I - WILL - SHOW - U - MORE

WAYS - 2 - MAKE - MONEY

HILTON - NO 1 - RICHEST - HOTELS

IN - THE - USA

RITZ-CARLTON - NO 2

JESUS - IS - LORD

GETTING - TOMORROW - NOT - 2 DAYS

PRIME - AMAZON - PRIME - MEMBERS

CAPITAL ONE, N.A.

NEW - MOBILE - TEL

ACCOUNT - CAN'T - B - ENTERED

2 WEEKS

BUT - CARDLESS - OPTION - WITH

SMARTPHONE - QR CODE - ENTRY

UNIQUE - ONLY - ONE

$1 - WITHDRAWAL - NO ONE DOES

THAT - IN - USA

SO - IF - NEED - BE - NEW - TEL NO

FR - ULTRA MOBILE

BOOST - INFINITE - COULDN'T

TRANSFER - MY - TEL - NO - WITH

SIM CARD - FR - ULTRA MOBILE

ILLEGAL - CARRIER

BOOST - MOBILE - NOW

BOOST - INFINITE - $45.59

ILLEGAL - GSM - CARRIER

GET - OUT OF - THAT - CARRIER

JESUS - IS - LORD - KOREA - KR

PROVIDED - BY - AMAZON PRIME

NO - ID

AMAZON - PRIME - MEMBERS

ONE - COIN

HEAD - AND - TAIL

TAIL - DEMONIC - I'M - BEING

CANCELLED - AS - AFFILIATE

THEY'RE - ROBBING - ME - OF - $1.34

INSULTED - ME

I - DON'T - QUALIFY - 4 - THEIR

FULFILLMENT - CENTER

MY - AUTO - DOG - TOILET - I - WILL

SELL - WORLDWIDE

NO - MORE - AMAZON - FULFILLMENT

CENTER

REFUNDS - NO - LONGER - 15 MIN

WITH - WHOLE FOODS MARKETS

2 - DESTROY - THEIR - REPUTATION

2017 - BOUGHT - BY - AMAZON FOR

$13.7 BILLION

MY - NEW - HOME

$3.99 - PEPPERONI - PIZZA - LIKE

NY - PIZZA - THE - BEST - LARGEST

ON - EARTH - AS - REGULAR - SIZE

$2.95 - ITALIAN - GLASS

HUGE - ORGANIC - BLOODY ORANGE

OR - SWEET - DANGERINE - DRINKS

CHICKEN - WHOLE - $4.95 - $3.95

SALE - $2.99 - EACH

JESUS - IS - LORD

AESPA 「 HOT MESS 」 MV · 2024

[toptradingforexbrokers]

FP Markets Minimum Deposit: Comprehensive Guide

What is the Minimum Deposit for FP Markets?

The minimum deposit for FP Markets depends on the type of account you choose. FP Markets offers two main account types, each with varying deposit requirements:

Standard Account: The minimum deposit for the Standard Account is $100. This account is suited for beginner traders looking for a low-cost entry into the world of forex trading. The Standard Account provides access to commission-free trading, competitive spreads starting from 1.0 pips, and a user-friendly platform that supports both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

Raw Account: For traders who prefer tighter spreads, the Raw Account requires a minimum deposit of $100 as well. This account type offers access to spreads starting from 0.0 pips, but it does charge a commission of $3 per lot, per side. It’s ideal for experienced traders who need the best possible trading conditions.

Both accounts come with leverage of up to 500:1, depending on the regulatory jurisdiction, making FP Markets a flexible option for traders across different skill levels.

Funding Methods for FP Markets

FP Markets offers a variety of payment methods for depositing and withdrawing funds. This flexibility ensures that clients can easily manage their accounts regardless of their location. Below are the most popular funding methods available:

Credit/Debit Cards: FP Markets supports major cards like Visa, MasterCard, and Maestro, providing a fast and straightforward way to fund your account.

Bank Transfers: Traditional bank wire transfers are also accepted, though they may take a few days to process.

E-Wallets: Popular e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are available for instant funding. These methods are particularly popular for traders seeking fast and secure transactions.

Cryptocurrency: FP Markets has embraced the cryptocurrency trend by allowing deposits in Bitcoin and other popular digital currencies. This is a relatively new option that appeals to modern traders.

Processing Times and Fees

FP Markets does not charge any fees for deposits, though fees might be incurred by the payment providers themselves, particularly in the case of bank transfers. E-wallets and cryptocurrency transactions are usually processed instantly, while credit card and bank transfer deposits may take 1–3 business days. It’s important to check with your payment provider for any additional costs that may apply.

Why the Minimum Deposit Matters

For new traders, understanding the importance of the minimum deposit is crucial. A low minimum deposit, such as the one offered by FP Markets, provides several advantages:

Accessibility: A lower deposit requirement makes it easier for beginners to get started without committing significant capital upfront. This accessibility allows for hands-on learning without the pressure of large financial stakes.

Risk Management: Starting with a smaller deposit helps mitigate risk. Traders can explore the platform, test different strategies, and get a feel for the markets without risking substantial funds.

Platform Familiarity: FP Markets’ low minimum deposit enables new traders to become familiar with the platform’s features, tools, and available assets, allowing them to make more informed trading decisions as they gain experience.

FP Markets Account Types Overview

FP Markets caters to a diverse range of traders by offering multiple account types. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular account options available:

Standard Account

The Standard Account is tailored to beginners or traders who prefer commission-free trading. Key features include:

Minimum deposit: $100

Spreads from 1.0 pips

No commission

Available on both MT4 and MT5 platforms

Leverage up to 500:1

Raw Account

The Raw Account is geared towards experienced traders looking for ultra-tight spreads. Key features include:

Minimum deposit: $100

Spreads from 0.0 pips

$3 commission per lot, per side

Available on both MT4 and MT5 platforms

Leverage up to 500:1

Islamic Accounts

FP Markets also offers Islamic accounts, compliant with Sharia law. These accounts provide the same features as the Standard or Raw accounts, but without swap or rollover fees. Islamic accounts are available upon request, and they also require a minimum deposit of $100.

Demo Accounts

For traders not ready to risk real capital, FP Markets offers demo accounts that allow users to practice trading in a risk-free environment. A demo account is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the broker’s platforms and tools before making a financial commitment.

Leverage and Margin Requirements

One of the main attractions of FP Markets is the high leverage it offers. Traders can access leverage of up to 500:1, depending on the region they are based in. While leverage can amplify profits, it’s important to note that it also increases the risk of losses. As a result, traders should carefully consider their risk tolerance before opting for high leverage.

FP Markets also has margin requirements that vary depending on the assets being traded. For example, forex pairs may have different margin levels compared to CFDs on commodities or indices.

Is FP Markets Minimum Deposit Worth It?

Considering the variety of trading instruments, platforms, and low initial deposit requirement, FP Markets stands out as an excellent choice for both new and experienced traders. The broker’s $100 minimum deposit is not only affordable but also provides access to advanced trading tools, tight spreads, and a wide range of tradable assets, including:

Forex: Over 60 currency pairs

Commodities: Gold, silver, oil, and more

Indices: Major global indices like the S&P 500 and FTSE 100

Shares: Access to global equities from top markets

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and more

Final Thoughts on FP Markets Minimum Deposit

The minimum deposit at FP Markets is one of the lowest in the industry, making it a highly accessible option for traders at all levels. Whether you are just starting or are an experienced trader seeking low-cost access to the financial markets, FP Markets delivers excellent value for money. With top-notch platforms, a variety of account types, and an extensive range of funding methods, FP Markets offers an all-in-one solution for traders worldwide.

[enterprisewired]

DOJ Sues Visa for Alleged Monopoly in Debit Payment Sector

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Visa, accusing the world’s largest payments network of maintaining an illegal monopoly over debit transactions. The lawsuit, filed in a New York court on Tuesday, claims that Visa imposed exclusionary agreements on partners, limiting competition and stifling innovation.

According to the DOJ, Visa’s actions have resulted in billions of dollars in extra fees for American consumers and merchants. “Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees far beyond what a competitive market would allow,” stated Attorney General Merrick Garland in a release.

Visa’s Monopoly Allegations

As the DOJ sues Visa, it contends that the company’s dominance over the debit payments industry has forced both merchants and banks to raise costs for consumers. Garland remarked, “Visa’s unlawful conduct affects the price of nearly everything.” With Visa controlling more than 60% of the U.S. debit transaction market, the DOJ alleges that the company is using its power to stifle competition.

Visa responded to the allegations, calling the lawsuit “meritless.” Julie Rottenberg, Visa’s general counsel, stated, “Today’s lawsuit ignores the reality that Visa is just one of many competitors in the growing debit space.”

Past and Present Regulatory Scrutiny

This lawsuit is not the first time Visa has faced antitrust scrutiny. In 2020, the DOJ filed a similar case to the one that blocked Visa’s acquisition of the fintech company Plaid. That deal, initially valued at $5.3 billion, was eventually abandoned due to regulatory pressure. Visa and Mastercard have also agreed in the past to limit fees and allow merchants to charge customers for using credit cards, a move retailers said could save up to $30 billion.

The DOJ’s latest complaint argues that Visa imposes punitive rates on merchants and banks if they shift a significant portion of their debit transactions to competitors. These exclusionary agreements, according to the DOJ sues Visa, insulate three-quarters of Visa’s debit volume from fair competition.

Innovation and Competitor Agreements

As the DOJ sues Visa, it also claims that Visa has stifled innovation by paying hundreds of millions of dollars annually to competitors like Apple, PayPal, and Square, ensuring that these companies remain partners instead of rivals. Visa allegedly struck an agreement with a predecessor to Block’s Cash App to prevent it from becoming a significant competitor in the debit payments market.

The DOJ is seeking court intervention to stop Visa from continuing these anti-competitive practices, including fee structures that discourage new entrants into the payments sector. The move is part of broader regulatory efforts during the Biden administration to crack down on monopolistic behavior and protect consumers.

This lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the payments industry, as other players, like Discover Financial and Capital One, are aiming to compete with Visa and Mastercard.

[isfeed]

Insight Partners is closing in on a whopping $10B+ new fund

Insight Partners is reportedly on the cusp of on more than $10 billion in capital commitments for its 13th fund, per the FT.  The FT report notes that two of Insight’s portfolio companies were acquired in the last week. One of these, the threat intelligence company Recorded Future, which sold to Mastercard for $2.65 billion, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use…

[leam1983]

To which I'll sadly remind my LGBTQA peeps that Tumblr now sells merch to make ends meet. If they sell merch, they need a system to process payments. As they're not a bank and can't issue or receive credit, they deal with the usual suspects - VISA, MasterCard, et al.

As they do exactly that, well... Therein lies the issue. Transactional platforms don't want to be associated with anything countercultural. Anything at all, for fear of angering the Morality Police.

Considering, what's Tumblr's only course of action if it wants to keep selling merch? You guessed it; it needs to coddle the rainbow community with one hand and slap it hard with the other, which is also why the Hellsite is so lax with Radfem, Neo-Nazi or Far-Right content.

All these assholes? Potential customers. Can't drive those away, now, right? Not when they could issue - gasp - complaints...

Welcome to Capitalism, folks. The one decent social media platform needs to sell merch to make ends meet, and that involves gutting its own principles on the altar of Commerce. Looking for a fix? There ain't none, platforms are only cool and countercultural and allied as long as it's financially viable.

Hey while we’re on the topic there are glitches on this website old enough to graduate middle school and the search function hasn’t worked in over a decade and tags are still broken on mobile and completely innocuous tags are still blacklisted and wiped clean for being “potentially NSFW” and the search function is disabled from dashboard view-only blogs and jumping to individual blogs via reblogs has been made actively difficult on purpose and you won’t ban r.adfems and you won’t ban nazis or antivaxxers and you won’t do jack about harassment but you’ll ban black and queer and especially transfem bloggers for breathing funny and you’ll whip out unforeseen moderation tools to unperson someone’s blog for pointing out potential transphobic sympathies among this site’s admins and you’ll have the gall to call yourself The Queerest Site On The Net to advertise in spite of all this and you’ll advertise incessantly and obnoxiously to the point of being overly personable and borderline guilt-trippy without putting any funds or effort or anything into fixing any of the above

[vindhu14]

Will the Patent Surge in Blockchain and AI Redefine Global Payments?

 The intersection of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise for improving the digital payments sector. By offering decentralized, transparent, and secure ledger systems, these innovations could redefine how financial transactions are conducted. While blockchain and AI have yet to displace traditional payment models entirely, their growing influence on the industry suggests an impending transformation — especially in areas such as fraud reduction, security enhancement, and operational efficiency.

Over the past decade, we've witnessed a significant uptick in patent filings from global payment giants, signaling growing investment in these disruptive technologies. Despite the slow pace of adoption, the sheer volume of innovation—more than 14,000 patents in blockchain and AI for digital payment solutions—shows the potential for change. In 2022 alone, 700 patents were granted, and an additional 1,600 were filed, showcasing the increasing interest in harnessing these technologies for the future of payments.

Cross-Border Payments and the Future

Amid global shifts toward de-globalization, cross-border transactions are projected to grow by 5% annually through 2027. This surge is driven by unbanked populations gaining access to financial tools and companies needing to send payments across new trade routes due to disrupted supply chains. Blockchain and AI innovations are well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity, offering solutions that streamline cross-border payments through real-time transaction capabilities.

Blockchain-based systems, for instance, have introduced real-time cross-border payments, eliminating the need for costly intermediaries. This approach enables direct, instantaneous transactions, reducing both time and cost—offering significant advantages over traditional systems, which often suffer from delays and high fees. Companies holding blockchain and AI patents are poised to capitalize on these efficiencies, potentially setting new standards for the industry.

The Surge in Payment-Related Patents

The patent landscape reflects the growing focus on blockchain and AI in payment applications. Among the 14,000+ patents filed in the last decade, many focus on payment protocols and transaction authorization, with over 4,000 patents dedicated to these areas alone. These innovations aim to improve the security, efficiency, and reliability of digital payments, particularly as digital transactions continue to rise. Verification mechanisms for payer and payee credentials are also a hotbed for innovation, with around 2,500 patents covering secure authentication technologies.

Blockchain and AI, when combined, offer transformative possibilities for the digital payment landscape. The convergence of these technologies offers several benefits, such as data security, decentralized decision-making, and scalability. AI can optimize blockchain’s transaction verification processes and predict market trends, enhancing both the speed and accuracy of financial transactions.

One of the key areas where this synergy excels is fraud prevention. Integration of AI-driven predictive analytics into blockchain systems, companies can identify potential fraud before it occurs, creating a more secure payment environment. 

Obstacles to Adoption

Despite the rapid pace of innovation, blockchain and AI technologies have yet to make a significant impact in the traditional payments market. Payment giants like Visa and Mastercard still dominate due to their established infrastructure and consumer trust. Several factors contribute to the slow adoption of blockchain-based systems, including regulatory hurdles, scalability concerns, and consumer reluctance.

Regulatory complexity remains one of the largest barriers, as blockchain faces different and often conflicting regulations across countries, slowing global scalability. Moreover, while blockchain is secure and transparent, it struggles to handle the large transaction volumes required for global payment systems, resulting in slower transaction speeds during peak times.

Consumer and business hesitancy also play a role in delaying widespread adoption. Despite blockchain’s advantages, many users are hesitant to move away from trusted payment methods in favor of unfamiliar technologies. Until these trust issues are resolved and the technology matures, traditional payment systems will continue to dominate the landscape.

Looking Forward

Despite these challenges, the strategic interest in blockchain and AI by traditional payment companies suggests a potential tipping point. Both Visa and Mastercard have already begun incorporating blockchain into their offerings, with Mastercard holding at least 89 blockchain patents. This forward-looking strategy positions them to meet current market demands while preparing for a future where blockchain and AI could become mainstream.

The ongoing investment in patents around these technologies—particularly in areas that focus on innovative payment models — places companies in an advantageous position for the next gen digital payment innovation. As regulatory environments adapt and technological hurdles are overcome, those holding these patents could set the industry standard for blockchain and AI-driven payments.

If you are interested in evaluating high growth AI and blockchain patents with applications in payment solutions, contact Intellectual Frontiers to buy patents online or for inquiries.

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What Are the Best Small Business Credit Cards for Your Company?

When it comes to managing finances for your small business, choosing the right credit card can make a significant difference. Whether you’re looking for rewards, cashback, or low-interest rates, finding the best small business credit card can help streamline your expenses and enhance your financial management. In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes a credit card stand out and list some top choices for 2024 that can benefit your business.

Why Choosing the Best Small Business Credit Card Matters

Selecting the best small business credit card is crucial for several reasons:

Expense Management: Track business expenses easily and categorize spending to manage budgets effectively.

Rewards and Benefits: Earn rewards, cashback, or travel points that can offset other business costs.

Credit Building: Use the card responsibly to build or improve your business credit score.

Cash Flow: Leverage interest-free periods or low APR to manage cash flow and make large purchases without immediate financial strain.

Key Features to Look for in the Best Small Business Credit Cards

When evaluating small business credit cards, consider the following features:

Rewards Programs: Look for cards that offer rewards on categories relevant to your business, such as office supplies, travel, or dining.

Cashback Offers: Cards that provide cashback on everyday purchases can be beneficial for managing routine expenses.

Low APR and Fees: Find a card with a low annual percentage rate (APR) and minimal fees to reduce the cost of borrowing.

Sign-Up Bonuses: Many cards offer lucrative sign-up bonuses if you meet certain spending thresholds within the first few months.

Expense Management Tools: Choose cards with integrated tools for tracking and categorizing expenses, making accounting easier.

Customer Service: Reliable customer support can be a lifesaver if you encounter issues or need assistance.

Top Small Business Credit Cards for 2024

Here’s a rundown of some of the best small business credit cards available this year:

American Express® Business Gold Card

Rewards: Earn 4X points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each month and 1X points on other purchases.

Bonus Offer: New cardholders can earn a substantial welcome offer after meeting the spending requirement.

Annual Fee: $295 (see rates and fees)

Additional Perks: No foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel insurance.

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Rewards: Get 5% cashback on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cashback on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year, 1% on all other purchases.

Bonus Offer: Receive a generous bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirement.

Annual Fee: $0

Additional Perks: Includes purchase protection and extended warranty coverage.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cashback on every purchase, with no limits.

Bonus Offer: New cardholders can receive a significant cash bonus after making the required purchases within the first 3 months.

Annual Fee: $0

Additional Perks: Free employee cards with no additional fee and travel accident insurance.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Cash Rewards Mastercard®

Rewards: Earn 3% cashback on the category of your choice (such as gas stations or office supply stores) and 2% on dining, with 1% cashback on all other purchases.

Bonus Offer: A solid introductory offer for new cardholders who meet the spending requirements.

Annual Fee: $0

Additional Perks: Access to expense management tools and fraud protection.

CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®

Rewards: Earn 2 AAdvantage miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, at gas stations, and on select telecommunications services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.

Bonus Offer: Earn a large number of bonus miles after making a minimum spend in the first few months.

Annual Fee: $99, waived for the first 12 months.

Additional Perks: First checked bag free on American Airlines flights and priority boarding.

How to Choose the Right Card for Your Business

To find the best small business credit card for your needs, follow these steps:

Assess Your Spending Habits: Identify where you spend the most money and choose a card that offers the best rewards or cashback for those categories.

Compare APRs and Fees: Look for a card with competitive APR rates and low or no annual fees.

Evaluate Additional Benefits: Consider perks like travel insurance, purchase protection, and expense tracking tools that could add value to your business.

Conclusion

Selecting the best small business credit card can provide significant benefits, from managing expenses efficiently to earning valuable rewards. By understanding your business’s needs and comparing different options, you can find a card that helps you maximize financial management and enhance profitability.

Visit Credit Cardzy for more detailed reviews and comparisons to ensure you choose the best business credit card for your company’s unique needs.

Finding the best business credit cards for small business involves considering your spending patterns, the benefits offered, and any associated fees. With the right card, you can optimize your financial strategy and enjoy rewards that contribute to your business’s success.