Tagged: us

January 8, 2026 @ 1:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2025 drew to a close and 2026 begins, a slight decline in borrowing costs failed to spark significant interest among prospective homebuyers. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association‘s latest weekly survey, released on January 7, 2026, overall mortgage application volume dropped 9.7% on a… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 9:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Amsterdam-based bunq BV has submitted a fresh application to establish itself as a bank in the United States. The company filed for a national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on January 6, 2026, marking its second attempt in… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 3:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Brazilian digital banking Fintech PicPay has officially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The Amsterdam-incorporated company, poised to rename itself PicS N.V., submitted its registration to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 5, 2026, paving the way… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 3:52 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is incorporating Bitcoin as a payment option. While the retail giant’s decision to accept the digital asset was initially revealed last year, the renewed coverage underscores Bitcoin’s steady march toward broader integration in global retail. This move by one of the world’s largest… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 2:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2o26 begins, global markets exhibited a blend of equity gains, stabilizing debt conditions, as well as uneven real estate performance, according to PitchBook‘s December 2025 Global Markets Snapshot report. Released on January 5, 2026, with data through December 31, 2025, the report underscores a… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 12:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As the new year begins, the economic landscape is immediately dominated by a surge of employment-related indicators, offering fresh insights into the labor market’s trajectory. This week promises a packed schedule of reports that could shape perceptions of the US economy, particularly amid concerns over… Read More

January 5, 2026 @ 10:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alchemy Pay, a globally accessible cryptocurrency payment gateway, has made significant updates when it comes to effectively bridging traditional finance with blockchain technology through recent product updates and regulatory achievements. In a key development, Alchemy Pay has introduced a platform that allows direct purchases of real-world… Read More

January 5, 2026 @ 2:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant shift at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Caroline Crenshaw, the agency’s final Democratic appointee and a vocal opponent of the cryptocurrency sector, has concluded her service. The announcement came on Friday, capping a period defined by her resolute doubts about… Read More

January 5, 2026 @ 8:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

  As of January 4, 2026, Bitcoin has climbed to around $91,400, marking its strongest performance since mid-December. After a brief dip below $90,000 triggered by breaking news of US military operations in Venezuela, the flagship cryptocurrency quickly recovered, demonstrating notable stability in the face… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ilya Lichtenstein, the individual who admitted to orchestrating the massive 2016 breach at cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex, has announced his impending early release from incarceration. In a recent post on X, Lichtenstein attributed his reduced sentence to the First Step Act, a 2018 criminal justice reform… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In late December 2025, the City of Baltimore initiated a lawsuit against Dave Inc. (Nasdaq: DAVE), a Los Angeles-based financial technology company, accusing it of engaging in deceptive marketing and imposing exorbitant fees that effectively function as illegal high-interest loans. The action, announced by Mayor Brandon… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The year 2025 proved to be another strong period for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 delivering a total return of approximately 16.4%. This marked the benchmark index’s third straight year of double-digit advances, a rare achievement seen only a handful of times since the… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 8:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2025 ended, the US real estate / property sector is showing signs of renewal, fueling hope among analysts for a stronger performance in 2026. Recent figures indicate that 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, ending the year at 6.15%—the lowest… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 8:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a year-end reflection posted on social media, Republican Congressman Warren Davidson of Ohio has issued a stark warning about the direction of U.S. cryptocurrency policy. Davidson, a longtime advocate for digital assets who recently sponsored legislation enabling US residents to settle federal taxes with… Read More

January 1, 2026 @ 10:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As we step into 2026, the US dollar concerningly finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with significant headwinds that have defined its trajectory over the past year. Analysts are pointing to the Federal Reserve as the dominant force shaping the currency’s path in the coming… Read More

December 31, 2025 @ 1:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the evolving ecosystem of digital finance, a Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) executive has raised alarms about potential U.S. policy missteps that might undermine America’s position in global monetary innovation. Faryar Shirzad, the cryptocurrency exchange’s chief policy officer, highlighted how limiting incentives on American stablecoins could inadvertently… Read More

December 30, 2025 @ 11:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the planned retirement of Cicely LaMothe, who has been serving as the longtime Deputy Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, marking the end of a 23-year tenure at the agency. LaMothe, who played a significant… Read More

December 29, 2025 @ 10:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Seasonal cooling is said to be finally seeping into the US real estate / property market after an “unseasonably” active fall, according to the latest market report from Zillow (Nasdaq: Z and ZG). Price cuts from sellers dropped back to normal levels from near-record highs;… Read More

December 28, 2025 @ 7:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently filed charges against purported crypto asset trading platforms Morocoin Tech, Berge Blockchain Technology, and Cirkor, and investment clubs AI Wealth Inc., Lane Wealth, AI Investment Education Foundation, and Zenith Asset Tech Foundation alleging that they defrauded retail investors “out of… Read More

December 27, 2025 @ 5:16 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the evolving sector of commercial real estate (CRE), JLL‘s “2025 Guide: The State of Commercial Real Estate – Private Investor” offers a roadmap for private investors seeking to build steady positions. Released amid stabilizing markets, the report underscores the personal nature of CRE investments,… Read More