The Business And Technology Network

Web3Bay’s 3BAY Token: Your Ticket to 6430% ROI & Direct Community Control – Stellar & Cardano Prices Climb

Stellar (XLM) has notably progressed, recently topping 9 million addresses—a significant milestone fueled by strategic investments and enhancements across its ecosystem. This growth parallels Cardano’s remarkable surge, which saw its value hit a three-month peak, priming it for an anticipated breakout.

In the Web3 e-commerce realm, Web3Bay is revolutionizing shopping with total user control over data and governance through its 3BAY token. With an enticing presale price of $0.003 and a forecasted 6430% return, Web3Bay offers early adopters an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of Web3 commerce.

Stellar (XLM) Reaches a New Milestone with 9M Addresses

The Stellar (XLM) Development Foundation’s Q3 2024 report underscores Stellar’s dynamic growth, with the network now boasting over 9 million addresses, strengthened by over $5 million in strategic investments in new and existing ecosystem partners.

The latest Stellar Community Fund attracted a record number of project proposals, demonstrating a robust commitment to propelling Stellar’s ecosystem forward. Enhanced integrations with platforms such as Dune and DefiLlama have boosted Stellar’s interoperability and visibility, with protocol upgrades and wallet improvements enhancing the overall security and accessibility of the network.

Cardano’s Price Surge Signals an Imminent Breakout to $0.50

Cardano’s recent price escalation, soaring over 33% to $0.426—the highest in the last three months—has set the stage for it to breach the $0.50 mark, driven by a bullish reversal overcoming major resistance levels, including the 200-day EMA.

Key technical indicators like the golden crossover and bullish momentum in the MACD point to potential further advances. Although resistance near $0.442 may temper its climb, support levels at $0.41 and $0.39 offer investors a calculated outlook.

Web3Bay Launches an Innovative User-Governed E-Commerce Platform

Web3Bay is introducing a transformative era in e-commerce by enabling complete user autonomy over data and transactions on a decentralized platform. This model contrasts sharply with traditional marketplaces governed by centralized authorities, as Web3Bay ensures users retain full data ownership, thus providing a transparent and secure shopping environment. Operating on blockchain technology, Web3Bay removes middlemen, fostering a direct-buyer-to-seller interaction.

The 3BAY token is pivotal to this innovative model, granting users voting rights on platform updates and ensuring the community directs Web3Bay’s trajectory, while also smoothing out transactions, discounts, and rewards. This empowerment of users creates a marketplace where each token holder actively influences its growth and governance.

For those keen to take part, Web3Bay’s ongoing 3BAY token presale at only $0.003 per token, promises a staggering 6430% ROI at launch. Market experts link this potential to the token’s inherent utility and Web3Bay’s unique take on decentralized commerce. Early adopters are set to gain from both the platform’s evolution and the significant potential of being part of Web3’s next major wave.

Final Thoughts

Stellar’s continual expansion, bolstered by strategic investments, enriches its ecosystem, while Cardano’s price rally has reignited interest, especially as it edges closer to a crucial breakout above $0.50. Nonetheless, Web3Bay stands out as a premier opportunity in Web3 e-commerce, enabling true data ownership and governance via the 3BAY token.

Offered at $0.003 in presale, the 3BAY token’s projected 6430% ROI presents an irresistible proposition for those seeking substantial returns and a pioneering role in decentralized commerce. Engaging with Web3Bay now offers a singular chance to partake in reshaping digital commerce dynamics.

Join Web3Bay Presale Now:

• Presale: https://web3bay.io/buy
• Website: https://web3bay.io/
• Twitter: https://x.com/web3bayofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/web3bayofficial/

Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here.

The post Web3Bay Ignites Decentralized E-commerce – Cardano & Stellar Ascend appeared first on The Merkle News.

Basis has raised $34 million in a Series A round to expand its deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) agents designed to help accountants.

“We’ve raised $34m to accelerate our goal of equipping every accountant with a team of AI agents,” the company said in a Tuesday (Dec. 17) post on X.

The round was led by Khosla Ventures Managing Director Keith Rabois, alongside former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Safe Superintelligence Co-Founder Daniel Gross, Basis said in a Tuesday blog post.

Basis was founded to equip accountants with AI agents that can perform tasks, report back with results and free accountants up to focus on higher-level work, according to the company’s website.

In a deployment with select accounting firms in the U.S., the company’s AI agents have saved accountants as much as 30% of their total time, per the site.

“Accountants don’t need more software; every accountant already has dozens of software tools,” Basis said on its site. “Accountants need tools that can understand accounting, learn specific client needs, work independently and take real actions. Every accountant deserves a team that is an extension of them, that they can manage, and that can do work on their behalf.”

The company’s latest funding round came about 14 months after its $3.6 million seed round, which was announced in October 2023.

In September, Basis partnered with New Jersey-based CPA firm Wiss, which said it would deploy Basis’ AI platform across the firm.

Wiss began this full deployment of Basis after seeing successful results in 10 months of testing the platform in beta in its Client Accounting Services (CAS) practice. During that time, Wiss’ internal adoption of Basis increased rapidly each month.

“Our initial tests showed enormous potential for Basis to reduce the amount of manual work within the practice while providing an even higher quality experience for clients,” Wiss Partner Mike Castle said in a September press release. “The leadership team was eager to roll this out to all clients as quickly as possible, recognizing this as a key enabler of scaling our CAS service line for future growth.”

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz said in June that accounting firms are especially eager to harness the potential AI to enhance efficiency and manage increasing workloads.

The post Basis Raises $34 Million to Deploy AI Agents for Accountants appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Galaxy Digital founder and CEO Mike Novogratz believes Bitcoin (BTC) could match and eventually surpass gold’s market capitalization within five to eight years, following the crypto’s record-breaking momentum.

Novogratz made the prediction in response to a post by Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy, which highlighted that Bitcoin’s market cap has reached 14% of gold’s $17.8 trillion value — a new all-time high.

Thorn’s analysis, accompanied by a chart showing Bitcoin’s increasing share of gold’s market cap, emphasized Bitcoin’s accelerating growth.

The milestone coincides with Bitcoin’s surge to a new lifetime peak of $108,000 on Dec. 17, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut. Bitcoin’s current market cap of $2.13 trillion now exceeds two-thirds of the $3.13 trillion in gold held by global central banks.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently acknowledged that Bitcoin is a “digital version” of gold during recent remarks. However, he added that it remains a speculative asset and dismissed its competition with the US dollar.

Powell clarified that while Bitcoin has a niche appeal, it does not fulfill the broader functions of a sovereign currency, such as facilitating payments or serving as a medium of exchange. His comments reflect the growing recognition of Bitcoin among policymakers as a legitimate asset class, even if its role remains distinct from traditional currencies.

The flagship crypto’s rise also signals a significant shift in investor sentiment. US-based Bitcoin ETFs recently surpassed gold ETFs in total assets under management, with Bitcoin ETFs reaching $129.25 billion compared to gold’s $128.88 billion.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) notably outperformed the iShares Gold ETF (IAU), which has been a mainstay since 2005.

Novogratz’s remarks reflect growing confidence among industry leaders in Bitcoin’s potential to challenge gold’s status as the dominant store of value. With institutional adoption rising, favorable market conditions, and Bitcoin’s increasing acceptance as “digital gold,” the flagship crypto’s market cap appears poised to reshape global asset valuation in the years ahead.

The post Galaxy CEO predicts Bitcoin market cap will overtake gold in 5 to 8 years appeared first on CryptoSlate.

In the wine retail industry, where tradition blends with innovation, Full Glass Wine Co. is changing how consumers discover and purchase wine.

Founded in 2023, the brand acquisition and management firm has introduced a fresh approach to the direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine market, focusing on digital engagement, technology and personalized experiences. The company’s rapid growth, marked by seven acquisitions in just 17 months, reflects its strategic vision to redefine the wine-buying journey.

The Spark of Innovation

For Neha Kumar, COO and co-founder of Full Glass Wine, the company was born out of a deep personal passion for wine and a recognition that the wine industry was ripe for reformation. A life-changing trip to the south of France shaped Kumar’s entrepreneurial future.

“I enjoyed it casually growing up, but everything changed during a trip to the south of France in 2013,” she said. “There, I met a winemaker named Rudolph, who taught me how dynamic and evolving wine is, comparing it to a living, breathing entity. That experience was transformative, helping me appreciate wine not just as a beverage but as an art form that evolves over time — much like people do. I wanted to create a one-stop shop for consumers to purchase high-quality wines, which led me to create a seamless DTC model to do this — now being Full Glass Wine.”

Fueled by this vision, the company was created to offer a DTC model, enabling consumers to easily access high-quality wines, Kumar said. At the heart of this approach is addressing gaps in the market, particularly in the fragmented and often traditional wine industry.

“I’ve always believed that the wine industry could be reimagined by combining innovative technology, data-driven strategies and personalized discovery to connect consumers with the wines they truly love,” Kumar said. “The idea was to make wine retail more intuitive, accessible and tailored to evolving consumer expectations.

“Early on, the most significant challenge was building our name in a traditional and often fragmented industry while establishing Full Glass Wine Co.’s direct-to-consumer model,” Kumar added. “We focused on streamlining operations, fostering partnerships and leveraging technology to personalize the wine discovery process — all while navigating the competitive DTC landscape. Establishing strong relationships with investors and partners was critical during these formative stages to lay the groundwork for long-term growth.”

With an eye on market trends, Kumar and her Co-founder/CEO Louis Amoroso acquired established brands like Wine Access and Cameron Hughes Wine, which had strong consumer loyalty, exceptional wine curation and commitment to growth.

Scaling the Business: The Power of Strategic Acquisitions

One of Full Glass Wine Co.’s defining strategies has been its acquisition model, Kumar said.

In just 17 months, the company acquired seven DTC wine brands, each chosen to complement its overall business model. These acquisitions were not merely about expanding the brand portfolio; they were about aligning with companies that shared Full Glass Wine Co.’s mission of transforming the wine-buying experience.

The seven acquisitions within 17 months reflect “our commitment to acquiring brands that not only strengthens our portfolio, but integrates seamlessly into our technology-enabled, consumer-first model,” Kumar said. “This approach allows us to scale quickly while maintaining quality, convenience and innovation.”

By bringing these brands under one umbrella, Full Glass Wine can leverage shared technology and consumer insights to offer a more personalized experience to wine lovers, Kumar said. With the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, Full Glass Wine continues to refine how consumers find new wines.

The Role of Technology in Personalizing Wine Discovery

At the core of Full Glass Wine Co.’s operations is its use of data and technology to personalize the wine-buying experience, Kumar said. In an industry where many consumers are overwhelmed by choice, the company’s digital tools help streamline the process. By analyzing consumer behavior, Full Glass Wine delivers tailored recommendations that make discovering new wines more intuitive.

“Through advanced data analytics and AI, we tailor recommendations and curate selections that align with individual consumer preferences and lifestyles,” Kumar said. “Our approach relies on insights derived from consumer behavior, purchasing patterns and preferences to make wine discovery intuitive, seamless and personal.”

Evolving Expectations: The Importance of Digital Engagement

In today’s digital-first world, consumers expect seamless, personalized shopping experiences across all industries — and wine retail is no exception, Kumar said. She noted that consumers want more than just a product — they want an experience.

“Digital engagement is at the heart of the wine retail transformation,” Kumar said. “Today’s wine enthusiasts expect seamless, personalized and intuitive shopping experiences powered by technology and storytelling. Digital tools — whether through social platforms, personalized recommendation engines or advanced eCommerce strategies — allow brands to connect with consumers in meaningful, authentic ways. Wine enthusiasts can now discover wines not just through traditional retail channels but through digital platforms that offer stories, pairing suggestions and insights into wine regions.”

Digital Payment Solutions: Streamlining the Purchase Process

As eCommerce has grown in popularity, so have digital payment solutions, Kumar said. For retailers like Full Glass Wine Co., offering flexible and secure payment options is essential for meeting consumer expectations.

“Digital payment solutions have become a cornerstone of the modern wine retail experience, mirroring broader consumer shifts toward flexibility, convenience and security in their purchasing habits,” she said. “With wine consumers often shopping online, flexible and seamless payment options are essential to reducing friction in the buying process and ensuring consumer confidence. … Our goal is to provide a frictionless, secure and intuitive checkout experience that aligns with how our customers want to shop for wine.”

The post Full Glass Wine Co. Pours Digital Innovation Into DTC Wine Market appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Get today’s NYT Connections clues and answers for today’s puzzle #556 on December 18.

Grubhub will pay $25 million and make several changes to its operations to settle charges that it violated consumer protection and competition laws.

The proposed settlement covers charges from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Illinois attorney general, the FTC said in a Tuesday (Dec. 17) press release.

Those charges alleged that Grubhub deceived diners about delivery costs, blocked their access to their accounts and funds, deceived workers about how much money they would make delivering food, and listed restaurants on its platform without their permission, according to the release.

“Today’s action holds Grubhub to account, putting an end to these illegal practices and securing nearly $25 million for the people cheated by Grubhub’s tactics,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said in the release. “There is no ‘gig platform’ exemption to the laws on the books.”

“This settlement is the culmination of a multiyear investigation into deceptive and illegal business practices perpetrated by Grubhub,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in the release.

Grubhub said in a Tuesday press release that it has cooperated with the FTC for years as the agency reviewed its business, that it appreciates the ongoing dialogue with the FTC, and that it will make changes to its platform “to make it even easier for diners to understand the fees we charge, how we advertise earnings potential for delivery partners, and how we communicate about Grubhub+, among other updates.”

“At Grubhub, we’re committed to transparency so that every single day diners, restaurants and drivers can make well-informed choices to do business with us,” the release said. “While we categorically deny the allegations made by the FTC, many of which are wrong, misleading or no longer applicable to our business, we believe settling this matter is in the best interest of Grubhub and allows us to move forward.”

Grubhub was sold to food delivery startup Wonder in November after a two-year search for a buyer by its previous owner, Just Eat Takeaway, PYMNTS reported at the time.

Wonder will pay $650 million to purchase Grubhub after Just Eat Takeaway paid $7.3 billion to buy it in 2021.

The post Grubhub to Settle Charges of Consumer Protection and Competition Violations appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

I opened the App Store today to find an emulator I’d read about, and a new prompt appeared under the search bar inviting me to “search the way you talk.” I hadn’t seen the prompt before on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, and quite frankly, I had missed the iOS 18.1 update note about it.

As it describes, Apple’s update in October added, “App Store search lets you use natural language to find what you’re looking for more easily.” It’s also not the only place Apple is adding natural language search with iOS 18, in addition to Photos, Music, and Apple TV.

While some others had seen a splash screen in October, I’d only spotted the same simple search prompts as before. When I asked around at The Verge, several others hadn’t seen it before, although closing the app and relaunching it caused the message to appear in at least one case, and a few social media posts have popped up from other people noticing it for the first time.

The prompt in the hint bubble suggested trying something like “Apps that help me work out,” so of course, I gave it a try.

Screenshot: iOS App Store

How well does it work? When I searched “emulators that feature multiple consoles,” the top result was the multi-console Delta app. Cool. “Apps that only emulate single consoles” gave me the PS Remote Play, PlayStation, and Xbox apps — less good, but it did follow those with Gamma, a PS1 emulator app. And when I asked for “Video games that can help me work out,” well…

Screenshot: iOS App Store
This isn’t exactly what I was looking for, but I certainly would never have found this otherwise.

Overall, it seems like an improvement to me. Twerk Race 3D is not an app that would help me work out, but it does seem like the search engine worked in spirit. I never felt like the App Store’s search was helpful for anything besides finding an app I already knew the name of. Plus, searching with the usual one-or-two-word terms might not give me the same variety as switching up how I phrase a natural language prompt.

Flutter is transitioning into its “production era,” marked by widespread developer adoption and success stories, including deeper iOS fidelity, seamless platform integration, and enhanced developer tools, making it a top choice for building apps at scale.