Ripple's XRP cryptocurrency soaring to new heights this week. Coindesk's Director of Research Nolan Bauerle and Fortune Staff Writer Robert Hackett explain factors driving altcoins up, and Bitcoin down.
"Bitcoin has an enviable problem of being so popular, and such strong brand name that it became hard to access," says Bauerle. "I think when people saw that surge hit in December they said well I'll try something else." Altcoins like Ripple's XRP, Ethereum, and Tron posted significant gains in the first week of 2018.
"Retail investors are gobbling it up," says Hackett on some companies adding the word "Blockchain" to their name. " On Thursday Ripple's co-founder Chris Larsen became one of the wealthiest Americans on paper with his shares of the cryptocurrency growing to more than $59 billion. But Hackett says its important to note these shares are hard to transfer to direct wealth. Even if he were able to cash out all of his fortune, the markets would not handle it well says Hackett.
Jack Ablin, Cresset Capital founding partner and CIO, breaks down the current market, from all eyes on Nvidia’s earnings to what sectors he’s seen deliver excellent returns.
Alberto Perlman, CEO of Zumba, shares what users can find on its new app, the demand for in-person fitness classes, and the secret to remaining a go-to exercise brand for decades.
Jamie Meyers, Senior Securities Analyst from Laffer Tengler Investments, discusses why he believes the rally will widen to small cap stocks and how the latest economic data is impacting his strategy.
From Nvidia to Microsoft, Gil Luria, D.A. Davidson senior research analyst, breaks down the Magnificent Seven, plus whether the Vision Pro can move the needle for Apple.