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.
Will Sealy, co-founder and CEO of digital student loan consulting firm Summer, joined Cheddar News to discuss the process to obtain the best financial aid package ahead of a new school year.
Brian Jacobsen, senior investment strategist with Allspring Global Investments, joined Cheddar News to discuss Tuesday's trading session as investors await key inflation data that could prompt further action from the Federal Reserve.
Accessible travel startup Wheel the World recently raised $6 million in a pre-Series A funding round. Alvaro Silberstein, CEO and co-founder of Wheel the World, joined Cheddar News to explain his company's mission to help people with disabilities and their families have access to travel.
Last year, the minivan only made up 1.8% of auto sales but more and more people are interested in purchasing the comfortable, multi-seater. Cheddar News looks back at the evolution and history of the minivan.
