Time will tell what the real story was behind the central bank’s decision to suspend WhatsApp Payments. But given all the complexities, economic incentives, and power structures involved, I wouldn’t be surprised if the suspension would remain in force for a long time.
Read MoreWhat happened to Libra and what's up with WhatsApp payments?
Who remembers Libra, the blockchain based digital currency that Facebook announced exactly a year ago in June 2019? The one which was supposed to be governed by an association with lots of prominent members, like MasterCard, PayPal, Visa, eBay, Spotify, Uber, Lyft, Vodafone Group, Andreessen Horowitz, and of course, Facebook. The one which was supposed to be officially launched in 2020.
If you’ve already forgotten about Libra, then you’ve probably also forgotten about Calibra, which was what the platform and wallet was called. We were told that Calibra wallets would be accessible via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and it would also be released as a standalone app.
Read MoreWhat’s Next? Helicopter Money?
Our Central Bank (ECB) has officially entered the Twilight Zone. The actions announced on Thursday (March 10th, 2016) were unprecedented. Not even Japan has gone this far before. The confusion and disbelief among journalists in the press conference was palpable.
Read MoreNIRP. A Disgusting Four-Letter Word
ZIRP and NIRP. Not so long ago they were just economic theories treated with curiosity and disbelief. Now they are reality. The words are acronyms for Zero and Negative Interest Rate Policies. NIRP is the ultimate manifestation of stupidity in the global financial system.
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