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.
Melissa Armo, founder and owner of The Stock Swoosh, joined Cheddar News to discuss Wednesday's session as stocks closed down amid concerns over a banking crisis and ahead of next week's Fed meeting.
Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia, joined Cheddar News to explain the risks in the banking sector after the recent turmoil with Silicon Valley Bank and the news that Credit Suisse's biggest backer said it wouldn't provide further financial help.
T-Mobile has entered into an agreement to acquire the parent company of Mint Mobile, a direct-to-consumer prepaid wireless company partially owned by actor Ryan Reynolds.
Mortgage applications jumped 6.5 percent from a week ago, according to a weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), even as they remain well below their pace a year ago.
Ed Egilinsky, Managing Director, Head of Sales and Distribution & Alternatives at Direxion, joins Cheddar News to discuss trading bank volatility, how traders can navigate the race in the A.I. space, and how traders are reacting to the most recent economic data.
