Finance

Ukraine's Economic Future at Risk Due to Fragmented Financial Oversight

Ukraine’s fragmented financial regulatory system is undermining its economic future, with inconsistent institutional capacities between the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC). Despite a 2019 reform to split regulatory duties, ongoing inefficiencies persist, including delays in capital market regulation, insufficient investor protection, and unresolved conflicts of interest, such as the overlap between NBU and NSSMC control over the National Depository of Ukraine. The lack of a unified regulatory framework hinders investor confidence, reconstruction efforts, and economic stability, suggesting that consolidating regulatory functions under a single, stronger body, like the NBU, could provide a more effective solution.

TECH

Indian American Tech Executives Defend H1-B Visas Amid MAGA Backlash

Three Indian American tech leaders spoke to Newsweek about the importance of bringing skilled workers to the U.S. on H-1B visas, responding to MAGA's criticism of the program.

Prem Bhandari, an entrepreneur and philanthropist based in New York, explained that the backlash reflects a misunderstanding of the value skilled immigrant workers bring to the U.S. economy. "Countries like India have a strong track record of producing top-tier talent in fields such as engineering, technology, and medicine," he said. "These contributions are not a threat, but are essential for driving innovation and economic growth in America."

Their comments come amid growing divisions within President-elect Donald Trump’s supporter base over the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers for specialized roles.

CRYPTO

Solana Co-Founder Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Theft of Millions in Crypto Staking Rewards

A co-founder of Ethereum (ETH) competitor Solana (SOL) is reportedly facing a lawsuit for allegedly misappropriating income from his former wife’s crypto holdings.

According to Bloomberg, Elisa Rossi has filed a complaint with the San Francisco Superior Court accusing her ex-husband, Stephen Akridge, of stealing millions of dollars worth of staking rewards earned from her Solana tokens. Staking rewards function similarly to bank interest; crypto holders lock their assets for a period of time to validate blockchain transactions, earning additional tokens as a result.

The dispute reportedly began after Akridge and Rossi filed for divorce in February 2023. Rossi claims that from early March to mid-May, Akridge controlled and operated the accounts in question, collecting all of the SOL token rewards.

Rossi alleges that Akridge, who previously served as Solana's principal engineer and now runs the cybersecurity firm Cyber Grant in California, took advantage of his superior knowledge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

While the specific value of the disputed tokens is redacted in the suit, Rossi asserts that a substantial amount is at stake. She is seeking damages and has accused Akridge of breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud.

Finance

The Power of Saving: Unlocking Your Financial Potential

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck, constantly worried about your financial future? Do you dream of a secure and comfortable life, free from the stress of debt and financial constraints? If so, it’s time to unlock the power of saving and unleash your true financial potential.

TECH

PS5 Just Did Something A PlayStation Console Hasn’t Done Since 2004

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is selling pretty dang well in Japan, according to new data that shows it was the second best-selling console in the country last year, behind only Nintendo’s Switch. Even more impressive, the PS5 sold better than any PlayStation console has ever sold since the PS2 in 2004. That’s also an indication of just how much easier it is to find the machine in 2023 compared to past years.

CRYPTO

Bitcoin’s $4.6 billion ETF debut was a success

It took a decade of waiting, but Bitcoin finally got its ETF moment. On Thursday, shares from BlackRock and nine other ETF issuers began trading and so far it looks like the new product is a hit. The Wall Street Journal described the moment as a "monster start" for Bitcoin ETFs while Bloomberg wrote that the new shares "took Wall Street by storm."