Heath Muchena

Let’s call it like it is: the global economy is doing a high-wire act and the safety net below is looking sketchy. Between America’s ambitious industrial revival, relentless money printing and the Federal Reserve’s balancing act of keeping inflation in check without tanking markets, we’re in uncharted territory.

As the US gets set for the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, investors around the globe are keeping a close eye on how the results could ripple through financial markets.
For those of us in the crypto space the stakes are even higher. Bitcoin, often viewed as a hedge against traditional financial turbulence, stands at the crossroads of fiscal policy, regulation and global market sentiment.

Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, has long been hailed as the digital gold of the crypto world, largely for its role as a store of value. But something revolutionary is happening that could change the way we think about bitcoin. It’s stepping into a new role: decentralised finance (defi).

Artificial Intelligence transcends mere technological advancement, it signifies a profound shift capable of redefining productivity, economic output, and earning potential. The opportunity costs of eschewing AI are immense, especially as the digital chasm between adopters and non-adopters widens.

Founder for Proudly Associated and author of Artificial Intelligence Applied & The Digital Economy Survival Toolkit, Heath Muchena, explores the critical need for AI adoption, using real-life examples.

For decades the dollar has held a position of unparalleled dominance in international trade and finance. The petrodollar system, established in the 1970s, cemented this status, creating a world in which oil and other commodities were traded exclusively in dollars.

The resurgence in M2 money supply and Bitcoin’s recent rally past $89,000 underscore the deep ties between economic policy, liquidity, and asset prices.

Kate Krukiel, GM of UN Digital Solutions Centre and managing director of Sera Afrika, says emerging tech can address business and societal challenges. In this Q&A, Kate shares her insights on applications of key emerging technologies including AI, robotic process automation (RPA), and blockchain – technologies expected to drive what has been called the "fourth industrial revolution" (4IR), a tech-fueled, fundamental transformation in industrial processes and a jump in productivity.

A new wave is sweeping through Africa’s betting landscape, led by the rapid growth of crypto-based betting and prediction markets. This trend was the focus of a recent event hosted by Decentralised News and proudly sponsored by Sportsbet.io

When the US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates the financial world holds its breath, and markets prepare to react.

Amid economic turbulence, high inflation and rising national debt, governments worldwide are searching for innovative tools to manage their fiscal challenges. Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential game-changer, offering transparency, efficiency and a modern approach to public finance.

The political economy of digital currencies has become a dynamic field shaped profoundly by the emergence of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and proposals for stablecoins.

In the evolving landscape of fintech, the emergence of commodity-backed tokens, particularly those pegged to precious metals like gold, presents a revolutionary opportunity for developing nations rich in mineral and agricultural resources.

Artificial intelligence is changing how we allocate capital, identify opportunities and think about risk.

Decentralised exchanges (DEXs) enable peer-to-peer trading without intermediaries. These smart contract-powered platforms are a disruptive force in the world of legacy finance, which has up to now largely been controlled by central entities, leaving the economic participants with little to no power.

The financial markets have reached a pivotal milestone with the approval of spot Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Unlike their futures-based predecessors, these ETFs directly hold the underlying assets, offering investors a transparent and potentially less volatile way to gain exposure to leading cryptocurrencies.