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.
Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia, joined Cheddar News to discuss the rising credit card debt that Americans hold as high-interest rates and continued inflation affect households.
For the first time on the unofficial cannabis holiday 420, cannabis enthusiasts in New York State can purchase their products legally. One of the first licensed adult-use dispensaries across the state was buzzing with business early in the day.
Eric Lynch, managing director of Scharf Investments, joined Cheddar News to discuss Thursday's market session as stocks closed lower, dragged down by Tesla's earnings miss, amid economic fears.
This time it’s for real. Many of Twitter’s high-profile users are have lost the blue check marks that helped verify their identity and distinguish them from impostors on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform.
Lauren Forsch, founder of Popped.nyc, stopped by the Cheddar News studio on 4/20 — a date known to many as Cannabis Day — to discuss the health and wellness benefits of CBD-based products.
