Month: March 2026

SoftBank CFO opens the door to breaching its own leverage ceiling

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SoftBank has long marketed its 25% loan-to-value ratio as a kind of financial guardrail — a self-imposed ceiling designed to reassure investors that the firm’s massive, often volatile bets wouldn’t spiral into existential risk. Now the company’s own CFO is suggesting that guardrail might be more of a suggestion. According to the Financial Times, SoftBank CFO Yoshimitsu Goto said the firm “does not rule out” the possibility of its LTV ratio temporarily climbing above that 25% threshold. In English: the company is telling the market to expect more borrowing, and…

Biotech firm jumps 19% after stablecoin rebrand and SKY token bet

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Shares in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals jumped nearly 19% after the company announced it would change its name to Stablecoin Development Corporation as part of its strategic crypto pivot. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals CEO Michael Kazley said in a statement on Monday that the company’s plan going forward is to access cash flows within the growing stablecoin economy. “The name change to Stablecoin Development Corporation reflects our conviction that stablecoins represent the most compelling structural opportunity in digital finance,” he said. It adds to a wave of companies over the last year that have…

Polymarket updates fee structure and offers up to 30% referral rewards

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Blockchain-based prediction market platform Polymarket has rolled out a referral program that lets users monetize their network by earning a cut of trading fees. Direct referrals generate 30% in rewards, while indirect referrals bring in 10%, with unlimited upside. All earnings are calculated in real time and deposited directly into the user’s account balance. We’re excited to announce we’re expanding the release of Polymarket’s Referral Program from private beta to all traders with >$10k in volume You will now be eligible for rewards proportionate to the trading volume of all…

Strategy Unveils New $44B Plan to Fund Bitcoin Purchases

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Strategy is increasingly turning to perpetual preferred stocks to fund its Bitcoin strategy, with the company adding 90,000 BTC to its balance sheet so far this year. Michael Saylor’s Strategy has announced several capital-raising programs totaling $44.1 billion to fund Bitcoin purchases, including the sale of common shares and two of its dividend-paying equity vehicles. Strategy plans to raise up to $21 billion by selling Strategy (MSTR) stock and another $21 billion from its high-yield perpetual preferred stock, Stretch (STRC), via new at-the-market programs, the company said in an 8-K…

Jessica Fain: Executives face extreme time constraints, influence is the key skill for product leaders, and empathy enhances executive engagement

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Key takeaways Executives face significant time constraints, impacting their ability to focus on new initiatives. Influence is a critical skill for product leaders, essential for building momentum behind ideas. Misunderstandings often arise due to executives’ decision-making based on personal incentives. Product leaders should adapt communication styles to align with executive preferences. Meetings with executives should be viewed as learning opportunities, not just approval sessions. Empathy and curiosity are vital for product managers when interacting with executives. Influence should be seen as a tool for idea recognition, not manipulative politics. Stakeholder…

Matt Mahan: California’s spending has risen 75% with no improved outcomes, bureaucratic inefficiencies are paralyzing governance, and San Jose’s tax-free strategies are reducing crime and homelessness

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Key takeaways California’s government spending has increased significantly, but outcomes have not improved. Bureaucratic inefficiencies in California lead to project delays and increased costs. Extensive environmental reviews contribute to high project costs in California. Fraud during the pandemic resulted in over $30 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims in California. Waste and inefficiency are prevalent due to a focus on growing programs rather than achieving outcomes. San Jose reduced crime and homelessness by changing processes and reallocating funding without raising taxes. California’s legislature focuses on passing more bills, increasing costs without…

Bitcoin Bulls Fight To Hold $70K, Derivatives Data Signals Weakness

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Key takeaways: Bearish Bitcoin futures premiums and low call option odds suggest traders remain skeptical despite BTC’s brief 4% relief rally. High oil prices and cautious Fed policy continue to pressure risk assets, while Bitcoin derivatives metrics signal a lack of conviction. Bitcoin (BTC) surged 4% within minutes of US President Donald Trump announcing his intention to temporarily de-escalate the conflict in Iran and pursue negotiations. While oil prices immediately tumbled 14% to $85 per WTI barrel and the S&P 500 climbed 3%, Bitcoin derivatives metrics continued to signal skepticism…

Peter Diamandis: The unprecedented speed of technological change, why society and governments are unprepared for AI, and the democratization of intelligence reshaping our future

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Key takeaways The pace of technological change, driven by AI, is faster than any other period in human history. Technology is democratizing and reducing the cost of access to intelligence and knowledge. The convergence of exponential technologies is set to transform global economics and personal lives. Current societal and governmental structures are ill-prepared for the rapid advancements in AI and robotics. Fear is a counterproductive mindset when facing future technological advancements. AI can be a powerful educational tool, offering personalized and patient instruction. Automation through AI is shifting work dynamics,…

Senator Warren Questions whether MrBeast will Market Crypto to Kids

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Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about whether YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast,” intends to market cryptocurrency to teenagers and young adults following his purchase of a mobile banking app. In a Monday letter to Donaldson, Warren questioned whether the online influencer planned to use his company’s acquisition of the mobile banking app Step to push crypto transactions and purchases on young people. Donaldson, a YouTuber who grew an online following due in part to his stunts and financial giveaways, founded his holding company, Beast Industries, in…

Stripe Protocol Could Revive Micropayments With AI Agents: Forrester

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Stripe’s newly launched Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) could mark a turning point for micropayments — a long-promised but underutilized use case in crypto and beyond — as AI agents reshape how transactions are made. That’s the key takeaway from newly published analysis by Forrester senior analyst Meng Liu, who argues that MPP may succeed where decades of earlier efforts failed. Introduced earlier this month, MPP enables AI agents to execute transactions automatically, removing the need for human approval at each step. It is described as an open protocol for coordinating…