Sam Blumenthal

Bitcoin is currently not a medium of exchange other than in a few niche cases. The declining number of Bitcoin transactions per day and the spikes in execution costs bear no resemblance to any functioning fiat currency. As a result, a Bitcoin valuation thesis based on it being used as a medium of exchange makes little sense, at least as Bitcoin... See more

There’s no true equivalent to Taobao Live in America, and so the U.S. is still playing catch-up.

A few weeks later, a designer brand that was moving its headquarters reached out to the couple to help sell excess inventory. The brand had about 700 pairs of shoes it wanted to unload. Within three hours, during a livestream on Taobao, Yuan and Zhang sold all the merchandise.

Studies show that friends and family are still the most trusted sources when it comes to making purchasing decisions, with consumers more likely to buy a product they have experienced. Up against this kind of scrutiny, it is important for brands to select a host with a proven following and high engagement rates, and up to the influencer to promote... See more