Author: TheWireHub.net

“It’s not the plan,” PayPal’s CEO said in April when Semafor asked him whether the fintech giant planned to turn itself into a regulated bank. “We’ve kept it very balance-sheet-light, and we’ll let banks do what banks do really well.” Fast forward eight months and PayPal is becoming a bank. The company applied to Utah’s state regulators for a slimmed-down license that would allow it to take federally insured deposits and make loans to its business customers, “reducing reliance on third parties.” Fintech players that launched proudly as antibanks — content to peel away their customers and avoid the regulatory…

Asset manager Bitwise released a new report that argues that bitcoin is poised to break from its historical four-year market cycle, setting new all-time highs in 2026 while becoming less volatile and less correlated with equities. Bitwise’s Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougen outlined three forecasts he says matter most for crypto investors: the end of the four-year cycle, continued volatility compression, and declining correlation between BTC and traditional stock markets. The four-year cycle is ‘significantly weaker’ Bitcoin has historically followed a four-year pattern tied to the halving cycle, typically marked by three years of gains followed by a sharp pullback.…

Wearable technology may not be the solution to helping employees amid a rising wave of customer aggression, according to a study published by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). This comes after a 2023 survey of Australian retail and fast-food workers, which found 87 per cent of them had experienced customer abuse, up from 56 per cent in two years.  “Since the pandemic, we have seen rates of customer aggression increase across the retail and fast-food sectors. During the busy Christmas period, customer aggression really peaks, driven by frustration, car park chaos, crowding and busy shopping centres,” Professor Gary Mortimer…

CRYPTO investments are set to be regulated within two years as part of a major shake-up. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today published proposals for new standards and rules for firms in the sector. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Bitcoin is one of the most famous cryptocurrencies but it is extremely volatileCredit: Reuters These came just a day after the government also presented draft legislation for cryptoasset companies. The new rules, which come into force in 2027, are said to make the industry more transparent and make it easier to detect suspicious activity and hold crypto firms…

Despite the common advice to start a budget, many people find it difficult to stick to a budget or feel like budgeting just doesn’t work for them. Rich & REGULAR, a popular money podcast by Kiersten and Julian Saunders, recently shared a fresh perspective on why most budgeting advice falls short.For You: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000Learn More: 8 Frugal Habits Americans Are Ridiculed for — and Why You Shouldn’t CareLet’s explore why most budgeting advice doesn’t work and how a more flexible, realistic approach can help you take control of your finances and actually…

A new House proposal is hoping to reform the way the Department of Veterans Affairs oversees its software by requiring the agency to be more transparent about how it uses its current products. The legislation, introduced on Thursday by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., would direct the VA secretary “to establish and implement a comprehensive policy for managing software assets throughout the Department.” These steps include requiring VA to create a departmentwide software inventory and purge duplicative or inefficient services. “Major software acquisitions” would also be coordinated by the chief information officer, and the department would be directed to “adopt cost-effective licensing strategies,…

‘AI is rewriting the economics of service delivery at the exact time IT service providers are rethinking how they operate. Shield is this incredible combination of long-term vision, technological expertise and operational know-how. We have lightning in a bottle,’ says Jim Siders, Shield Technology Partners’ new CEO. Shield Technology Partners has tapped longtime Palantir executive Jim Siders as its new CEO, the company said Monday, betting on deep enterprise IT and AI experience to accelerate the growth of its national IT services platform. Siders joins Shield after spending more than a dozen years at Palantir, most recently as CIO. He…

Adding to these complexities, recent discussions around cuts to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, a key driver of technology adoption and competitiveness in U.S. manufacturing, have sparked concern across the industry, as reported in Machine Design’s sister brand IndustryWeek. The article highlights the important roles such programs play in accelerating innovation adoption at the plant floor, particularly for the small and medium enterprises that form the backbone of advanced manufacturing ecosystems. At the same time, fluid power technologies—long a foundational element of industrial machinery—are showing renewed signs of growth and modernization in 2026. These are being driven by trends…

Comprehensive study of 40 leading insurers reveals critical insights into AI adoption, hybrid service models, and the evolution of CX measurement in insuranceNorth Carolina, United States, December 15, 2025 — CX Pilots, the leading customer experience consultancy serving the insurance industry, today announced the release of “The State of Digital CX in Insurance: 2026 Benchmark Report.” This definitive industry analysis examines digital transformation trends across 40 leading insurers and over 5,000 customer interactions, providing insurance executives with actionable insights to drive competitive advantage in an increasingly experience-driven marketplace.The report addresses a pivotal moment for the insurance industry, where digital channels…

The crypto market falling this day due to Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP losing their value. Bitcoin fell to nearly $85,700, which is over 3% drop. Ether dropped to less than $3,000 and XRP declined to approximately $1.89. What Caused The Crypto Market Liquidations Today? The selling pressure happened across the large-cap tokens. According to CoinMarketCap, Ethereum dropped by nearly 5% in 24 hours. The prices of XRP and BNB dropped in a similar manner. These pullbacks caused a decrease in the total value of the crypto market. The leveraged positions began to unravel fast as the price dropped. This coincided…

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.One of the great things about this job is that I get to write about all sorts of gadgets. Many times, the stuff that catches my eye isn’t the hot-ticket item like a new iPhone, but the smaller, stranger, more obscure stuff. These are things you might never have known existed, but they enter your life and change it for the better.And looking at the list of top-selling gadgets (by number of units sold through our story links) that ZDNET readers have been buying in 2025, it seems that readers share my taste…

ROCHESTER — Matthew Onofrio, the former Mayo Clinic nurse anesthetist turned commercial real estate investment “guru,” was sentenced this week to three years in prison and ordered to pay $5.39 million in restitution to a Bloomington bank. In handing down her sentence, Judge Susan Richard Nelson described Onofrio as the “ringleader and architect of a vast bank fraud.” She said she wanted to send a message to other would-be fraudsters that there is no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minneapolis. Onofrio’s sentence will start on Feb. 10. Onofrio’s attorney,…

The traits that make a money management firm stand out in a crowded industry are various and sundry. They can range from excellent company leadership and employee benefits to unusual perks like allowing dogs in the office or providing subscriptions to meditation apps. Even office decor can be a differentiator. And when talent is in short supply, small differences matter. Ranking the best U.S. money management workplaces is no easy task. To do it, Financial Planning collaborated with HR research firm Best Companies Group. First up, establishing definitions. For the purposes of this list:A money manager handles the portfolios of institutional investors…

The right apps can transform your Mac into a highly efficient and functional tool. Whether you’re a professional managing multiple projects or a casual user seeking to enhance your experience, these 12 carefully selected apps are designed to streamline workflows, improve usability, and optimize your system. From automating repetitive tasks to enhancing media playback, each app serves a distinct purpose, helping you maximize your Mac’s capabilities. The video below from Andrew Ethan Zeng gives us a look at some awesome Mac apps. Keyboard Enhancements: Supercharge Your Typing Your keyboard is a central part of your workflow, and these apps elevate…

Breakthrough AI applications unveiled across manufacturing, smart devices, and green innovation, cementing TCL’s global leadership in technology.SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TCL, a global technology company, today set a new benchmark for the AI era at the 2025 TCL Global Technology Innovation Conference (TIC 2025) in Guangzhou, China. Under the theme ‘AI for Real’, the annual conference spotlighted how TCL is embedding AI across its entire ecosystem, from intelligent factories to consumer devices, to create smarter, greener, and more human-centric technology for everyone, everywhere.Now in its 12th year, TIC has grown into a premier event where international researchers,…

Tesla Inc.’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) rally isn’t just about EVs anymore — it’s about who owns the future of robotics. As shares hover near 2025 highs, investors are increasingly treating autonomy, Optimus, and Robotaxi ambitions as core drivers of value rather than distant side projects. President Donald Trump‘s executive order tailwind has only amplified that bet, turning Tesla into the market’s de facto robotics bellwether.When Tesla moves, speculation spills over.Read Also: Tesla’s AI Talk Just Added $90 Billion — But EV Fundamentals Are Moving The Wrong WaySmaller Robotics Names Ride Meme FrenzyThe renewed enthusiasm has reignited risk appetite across smaller robotics names,…