NFTs in the art world: A revolution or ripoff?

Many NFT creators come from a practice of 3D modelling, graphic design, animation or video game design. (Shutterstock)Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital objects that represent something else, such as a work of art, a video or even a tweet. They certify the existence and the ownership of this item through a data recording on a blockchain (a distributed...

Dec 2022

3 ways cryptocurrency is changing the way colleges do business with students and donors

Universities are seeking to boost bottom lines and personal connections with cryptocurrencies. Irina Marchenko/iStock via Getty ImagesUntil about 2020, universities used cryptocurrencies only to pay ransoms to criminals attacking their networks. A fast payment to criminals helped victim universities restore their networks quickly. With increasing...

Dec 2022

From GameStop to crypto: how to protect yourself from meme stock mania

Meme stocks are investment assets that receive a lot of attention on social media. Jirsak / ShutterstockRecent rallies in stocks popularised on social media have attracted increasing numbers of investors looking to these so-called “meme stocks” for quick returns. But while it might look like a fun game, there are real risks to investing in stocks and...

Oct 2022

Investing in crypto-assets: How to limit the risk of being exposed to fraud

Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, delivers a keynote speech at the Bitcoin Conference in April in Miami Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)In 2017, thousands of investors in over 175 countries found themselves with empty pockets after having invested nearly US$4 billion in a cryptocurrency called “OneCoin”. The mastermind behind the...

Jul 2022

How we describe the metaverse makes a difference – today's words could shape tomorrow's reality and who benefits from it

The metaverse might be a work in progress, but a key prototype – the virtual world – has been around for several decades. Screen capture from Second Life by Tom Boellstorff, CC BY-NDQuick, define the word “metaverse.” Coined in 1992 by science fiction author Neal Stephenson, the relatively obscure term exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Jun 2022

New rules for crypto assets will protect consumers and innovators

ShutterstockIf you spend any time among the cryptocurrency community you’ll come across the mantra “HODL”. Originally a typo for “hold” on a Bitcoin forum, it has become all-purpose advice to anyone looking at the day’s price fluctuations and thinking of selling their assets. To HODL is to trust the process and keep your eyes on the long term. In...

Jun 2022

NFTs: how top brands like Nike and Prada are using them – and what could go wrong

Forget real sneakers – soon we'll be more worried about the digital variety. naratrip2Luxury fashion house Prada has a scheme for customers who want something even more exclusive than its usual range of clothing and accessories. Each month, on a first-come first-served basis, the Time Capsule Collection offers ultra-limited editions of Prada products....

Jun 2022

What is the metaverse, and what can we do there?

What will it take for the metaverse to live up to its potential? (Shutterstock)You’ve likely heard recently how the metaverse will usher in a new era of digital connectivity, virtual reality (VR) experiences and e-commerce. Tech companies are betting big on it: Microsoft’s massive US$68.7 billion acquisition of game developing giant Activision Blizzard...

May 2022

Cryptocurrency price collapse offers hope for slowing climate change – here's how

The price of bitcoin has tumbled. WindAwake/ShutterstockCryptocurrencies like bitcoin were meant to be used as digital cash. Instead, they’ve become popular as speculative investments. As well as being resource-intensive and inherently wasteful, cryptocurrencies are also incredibly volatile. Prices for the largest cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and ethereum,...

May 2022

Curious Kids: what are NFTs – and why are they so expensive?

shutterstock What is the purpose of making NFTs and what makes some of them so costly? – Tanvi, aged 16, Delhi, India An NFT is a technology that proves who the owner of a digital object is. This digital object could be a song, a picture, a video, a tweet – or even a piece of digital land in an online game or virtual world. Recently, pieces of digital...

May 2022