This week in cryptocurrency saw another volatile period for Bitcoin, and numerous altcoins surged to new heights. Cheddar Anchors Hope King and Brad Smith break down the latest trends in this space.
Shares of Ripple's XRP hit a record high of $3.84. After plummeting earlier this week, Bitcoin ended the week trading just under $17,000. And Ethereum crossed a milestone, hitting a record high of $1,000.
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.
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.
Decred Project Lead Jake Yocom-Piatt explains why alternative currencies are surging. "For all we know Bitcoin may fall, but for right now it's the dominant cryptocurrency," said Yocom-Piatt. "Currently there's 1,500 cryptocurrencies out there and the collective market cap of these keeps going up."
Fintech pioneer Tom Sosnoff discusses the evolution of retail investing, the rise of AI, and his new platform Lossdog aimed at the next generation of trading.
The FAA prepares to select cities for its eVTOL pilot program, marking a major step toward electric air taxis and the future of urban air mobility in the U.S.
Rising oil prices tied to the Iran conflict are driving up gas and airfare costs, creating new challenges for travelers heading into the spring break season.
The Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era tariffs, limiting presidential trade powers and raising questions about refunds, global trade, and business impact.
New research from GoDaddy and UCLA shows small businesses signal shifts in GDP, jobs, and digital growth earlier than traditional data or Wall Street trends.
GoFundMe launches Back in Business Fund with Paris Hilton to provide targeted grants helping women entrepreneurs recover and rebuild after natural disasters.
Samsung launches its “AI in Action Lab” in NYC, giving public high school students hands-on AI experience and tools to prepare for real world innovations.
Gen Z workers are increasingly worried AI could replace their jobs. However, experts say companies are using AI more to assist workers than replace them.
