The WEF Want In Recommending A Global Approach For The Crypto Industry

Crypto Regulations: The WEF “Want In” Recommending A Global Approach For The Crypto Industry 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is notorious for having a far-reaching and perplexing influence over companies and institutions in many countries worldwide. This influence extends to the crypto industry and crypto regulations. The WEF published a crypto regulation white paper in May 2023, which is significant, so we’ll take a look at what they have to say and how it could influence the crypto legislation being proposed worldwide. We’ll also examine how it could affect the crypto market if implemented.


Image source: Weforum.com

The WEF white paper summarized in this article is titled “Pathways to the Regulation of Crypto-Assets: A Global Approach.” The white paper begins with a brief preface by a member of WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For context, WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab conjured up the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This concept involves replacing all of us so-called serfs with AI and Automation. Another component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is controlling the population with technology. 

In the preface, the question is asked of how governments can control a borderless, open-source, and decentralized technology. Naturally, the only solution is a globally coordinated approach to regulation. The author of the preface reveals that the WEF has been engaging in “multi-stakeholder consultations” to understand how to roll out global crypto regulations. 

For reference, a stakeholder is a term the WEF uses to describe powerful individuals and institutions, not ordinary people like us. In this case, the author of the preface specifies that the white paper was put together with “significant contributions from members of the Digital Currency Governance Consortium.” (DCGC)

For those unfamiliar, the DCGC was formed in January 2020, including multiple crypto companies. The complete list of DCGC members is private. Still, research on the WEF reveals that Ripple, also the Ethereum company, Consensus, and USDC issuer Circle are all part of the DCGC, as are dozens of prolific personalities in the crypto industry. 

The DCGC has published five reports so far, and the WEF website notes that it is currently in phase two of its master plan, which involves assessing the economic effects of crypto, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies. (CBDCs) 

The Key Takeaways

The next section of the white paper provides a summary of the key takeaways. Here, the authors argue that global crypto regulations are not only desirable but “necessary.” They seem to suggest this is because of the increasing connections between crypto and traditional finance. The authors explain that many things are standing in the way of global crypto regulations, including: 

  • A lack of universally accepted definitions for different types of cryptos, 
  • A lack of coordination between Regulatory Agencies 
  • Regulatory Arbitrage, meaning some countries are too pro-crypto. 

The authors highlight that many unaccountable and unelected international organizations have been working on global crypto regulations. This includes the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Financial Action Task Force. (FATF) The authors admit that the WEF has been in contact with these organizations but insist that academia, civil society, and crypto users will also have a say in global crypto regulations. Of course, the authors don't put a timeline on when we will have a say in this matter; but we have yet to have a say in anything. 

Why Are Global Crypto Regulations Required?

The first part of the report is about why global crypto regulations are required. The authors start by explaining what crypto assets are and include stablecoins under the definition of a crypto asset. Note that these reports seldom refer to cryptos as currencies; they believe cryptos are not currencies. That said, the authors do acknowledge that cryptos have some financial use cases. They say that this is why regulatory scrutiny around crypto has increased. 

As you might have guessed, they refer to the crash of Terra last May and the crash of FTX last November as examples of why regulatory scrutiny is justified. The authors then explain that different jurisdictions have since introduced different crypto regulations. They claim that this increases the risk to the global financial system and benefits bad actors in the crypto industry. 

They also highlight the inconsistency in crypto definitions. The authors then suggest that smart contracts could be one way of ensuring regulatory compliance. This is not surprising considering that the WEF is a massive fan of programmability in payments. Again, the WEF and its affiliates ultimately want to control what people do, and programmable payments are one way to do just that.
 
When it comes to regulating cryptocurrencies, the authors say the first step is identifying where the crypto activity is taking place, if possible. The second step is to determine who is engaging in the crypto activity, and the authors say that privacy coins, personal wallets, and DeFi protocols make this problematic. This is a worry because it implies that personal wallets will be a target of global crypto regulations. 

Although, in fairness, the authors of this white paper don't seem to be that opposed to personal wallets. That's because they know that if you buy your crypto through an exchange with KYC, it's easy to identify which wallet belongs to who with the help of blockchain analytics companies like Chainalysis.  According to the authors, the third step to regulating crypto is determining who is responsible for any crypto activity. They admit this is sometimes difficult, mainly when dealing with decentralized protocols. They note that this will become easier if DAOs become regulated entities.

Crypto And Traditional Finance Connections

In the next section, the authors dig deeper into the connections between crypto and traditional finance. They start by saying that the crypto market’s correlation to BTC's price is a sign of maturity. Now this is arguably incorrect; a decoupling between different crypto categories would be a sign of maturity. What the authors do get right, however, is that institutional interest in crypto has been on the rise. 


Image source: Finoa

They cited a series of statistics from pro-crypto sources, which should be taken with a grain of salt. Genuine institutional interest and investment will come once crypto regulations are introduced everywhere. The authors also note that retail interest in crypto is on the rise and imply that this could cause problems for financial stability. This could explain why some countries, such as Canada, closely aligned with the WEF, have started introducing restrictions on retail investors in crypto. 

Besides contagion risks, the authors correctly underscore concentration risks as another concern. The crypto market relies on a handful of stablecoins, a handful of exchanges, and even a handful of cryptos. Oddly enough, the authors claim that Layer 2s on Ethereum lower this concentration risk. This is odd because many Layer 2s still rely on Ethereum for their security, which logically increases concentration risk, never mind that many of these Layer 2s are highly centralized and backed by the same investors. 

Challenges To Global Regulation 

The second part of the white paper is about the challenges to global crypto regulation. The authors start by reiterating that the absence of universally accepted crypto definitions is the biggest problem. They propose a potential taxonomy but admit that there are exceptions to every crypto definition. They then explain that this is a problem because it makes consensus about specific crypto regulations impossible. It increases the cost of crypto compliance worldwide, making it difficult to protect consumers. 


Image source: Weforum.com

According to the authors, regulatory arbitrage is the second challenge to global crypto regulation. They take issue with the fact that crypto developers can relocate wherever they want. It’s becoming all too clear that the WEF would like nothing more than to control the movement of people. 

On a related note, did you know that the WEF is also trying to turn almost every major city into a Smart City? More about that in an upcoming article. Meanwhile, Smart technology is already causing issues for consumers. 

The authors admit it might still be too soon to push for global crypto regulations. Most governments are still trying to wrap their heads around the technology. Some jurisdictions are further along than others, such as the EU, which recently passed its MiCA crypto regulations. 

The authors then reveal that these early crypto regulations, including MiCA, will come into force starting early next year. This is significant because this could make institutional investors comfortable allocating to crypto again. It means the crypto market could rally starting early next year. And this, coincidentally, corresponds with the next Bitcoin halving. 

The authors also take issue with so-called crypto hubs. They seem to imply that the crypto hub is code for ‘less crypto regulation’ and appear to blame them for causing regulatory arbitrage. If the WEF starts pulling the strings, this could be awkward for places like the UAE, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore

Geopolitics

This ties into another vital angle the authors raised regarding crypto regulations – Geopolitics. International relations are deteriorating, making it difficult for certain countries to comply with global crypto regulation recommendations. It's safe to say that this trend will continue. 

The above relates to the third challenge to global crypto regulation: "Fragmented monitoring supervision and enforcement.” The authors reiterate that a lack of international cooperation is one of the core causes of this fragmentation, coupled with the rapid evolution of crypto-related technologies. 

The authors then provide the FATF's infamous travel rule as a case study. The travel rule requires all transactions above a certain threshold to be tracked and KYC’d. The authors complain about the fact that compliance with the FATF's travel rule has been slow when it comes to crypto. 

While we’re on that topic, you should know that the FATF has reportedly been pressuring countries to restrict or even permanently ban crypto to get off its grey list. Any country on this so-called naughty list is refused bailouts from the IMF, so a clean report from the FATF may be a political priority. If there is any truth to this, crypto hubs could face financial sanctions if they don't comply with the FATF’s crypto recommendations; perish the thought. 

Approaches To Regulating Crypto Globally

The third part of the white paper is about the possible approaches to regulating crypto on a global scale. The authors provide a de facto list of regulations the WEF wants to see. 

  • Crypto-specific 
  • Stablecoin-specific
  • Know Your Customer (KYC) /Anti Money Laundering (AML) 
  • Consumer protection, including restricting retail access to crypto 
  • Strict regulations around crypto marketing 
  • Regulation of DeFi and DAOs 

The authors then detail the five primary approaches to crypto regulation. 

1: The first is Principles-based regulation. This involves regulating around a series of broad principles rather than specific rules. The benefits of this approach are innovation and flexibility. The drawback is regulatory uncertainty. 

2: The second approach is Risk-based crypto regulation and involves applying the same risk/same regulation principle, meaning that crypto should abide by existing financial regulations. The benefit of this approach is regulatory certainty, and the drawback is difficulty in assessing risks. 

Notably, the WEF is a massive fan of this same risk/same regulation approach. It's why you see it in many existing regulatory recommendations for crypto. If that wasn't concerning enough, in this section, the WEF advocates for eliminating cash and going digital to ensure that KYC/AML is followed. 

3: The authors call Agile regulation the third approach to crypto regulation. This effectively allows regulations to evolve in response to new innovations. The benefit of this approach is that it is flexible. The drawback is that it requires much coordination and collaboration with the crypto industry. 

4: The fourth approach to crypto regulation is Self- and co-regulation. It involves allowing the crypto industry to set standards. The benefit of this approach is that it builds trust. The downside is that it can lead to capture; For instance, one company determines all the standards. 

5: The fifth approach to crypto regulation is one we’re all familiar with: Regulation by enforcement. It involves taking crypto companies and projects to court and using the precedent as de facto regulations. The benefit is accountability, and the drawback is zero innovation.

Interestingly, the authors asked their so-called stakeholders which regulatory approaches are best. The results can be seen in the image below. As one would expect, Risk-based regulation is the most popular, especially considering that the WEF is a fan of this particular approach. 


Image source: Weforum.com

The authors confirm that the other unaccountable and unelected organizations, such as the FSB and FATF, have been adhering to the WEF’s Risk-based approach to crypto regulation. It's preposterous to consider just how much influence the WEF has, and this is just the public stuff. 

WEF’s Recommendations for Global crypto regulations.

The fourth part of the report contains the WEF’s recommendations for Global crypto regulations. The authors explain that these recommendations are meant for international organizations, governments, and “industry stakeholders” who are presumably part of the WEF. 

In other words, these recommendations are what most crypto regulations will look like, regardless of what we, the people, say or do. The authors again claim that the average person will get the chance to give their input someday, but we’ll just have to wait and see if that happens. 

The first set of recommendations is specifically for international organizations. These are to;

  • Create definitions for different types of cryptos and crypto activities 
  • Set standards for how these cryptos and activities should be regulated
  • Share data about registered entities with all organizations. 

It brings into question whether ‘registered entities’ include the average crypto user. As it’s the WEF, the answer is probably, yes. After all, the endgame of these international elites is to create a global government with a global digital ID and a global centrally controlled digital currency. 

The second set of recommendations is specifically for governments. These are to; 

  • Coordinate regulations between jurisdictions.
  • Create regulatory certainty for the crypto industry.
  • *Use technology for regulation by design. 

*The latter means regulation at the blockchain level via Smart contracts. Remember, the WEF loves programmability. 

The third set of recommendations is specifically for the crypto industry. They are; 

  • To set standards 
  • To share best practices
  • Ensure “Responsible Innovation.” 

This seems to be code for adhering to ESG criteria, given that the term refers to environmental, social, and economic risks. 

If you've been following articles about ESG, you'll know it's an investment ideology to ensure the UN's sustainable development goals or SDGs are met. Every country is supposed to meet the UN's SDGs by 2030. My research suggests that all the dystopian stuff being pushed has its roots in the United Nation's SDGs, be it CBDCs, digital IDs, smart cities, or online censorship. 


Image credit: Markethive.com

What Affect Will It Have On The Crypto Market? 

So the big question is, how could the WEF’s global crypto regulation recommendations affect the crypto market if implemented? The short answer is that it would result in the crypto industry being absorbed into the existing financial system, which is precisely what the WEF wants. 

The practical effect of Risk-based regulation is that crypto is forced to comply with existing financial regulations. As the authors tacitly admit, these risks posed by crypto aren't always clear. Many argue that the risks are significantly different and justify different regulations. The WEF’s recommendations would make crypto worse than the existing financial system. That's because they would require information about all registered entities to be; 

  1. Shared with international organizations 
  2. Require regulations to be enforced via Smart contracts
  3. Require all cryptos to be ESG compliant 

These three unsuitable recommendations have one thing in common: Governance, more succinctly, control. This article about ESG and Bitcoin explains that the environmental aspect isn't the problem; it's the governance. Bitcoin can't be controlled because it has no traditional governance structure. In case you missed it, this is the core issue the WEF and its allies are trying to address. How do we control something that is designed not to be controlled? 

It's possible, if not likely, that the endgame of the environmental-focused attacks on Bitcoin is to track all Bitcoin miners and nodes. It’s something that the WEF’s global crypto regulations would prescribe because Bitcoin miners and nodes would presumably need to be registered. 

Their information would therefore have to be shared with all international organizations. At that point, it would become possible to control Bitcoin in theory. In practice, the WEF’s global crypto regulations will never come to pass, which the authors have also tacitly admitted. 

In addition to the geopolitical tensions, it's practically impossible to introduce the same crypto regulations in every single country simultaneously. This means that there's going to be some regulatory arbitrage, whether it's intentional or not. This regulatory arbitrage will exist for years, and in some countries, it will persist for decades. 

So long as there's a country out there that the WEF can't influence, it won't be able to entirely corrupt crypto. Also, because crypto innovation is essentially exponential, there's a high likelihood that it will evolve to the point that the WEF and its allies can’t control it. This is the most important takeaway – Crypto is too fast for the WEF. 

Klaus & Co will never be able to keep up, and crypto will eventually win the race. Right now, though, there are many hurdles facing the crypto industry, and the WEF’s white paper suggests that it played a role in putting those hurdles in place. The WEF's fingerprints are there, whether it's the FSB or the FATF. It’s also common knowledge that there are WEF allies in the crypto industry. 

Even so, many in the crypto industry who are on the right side of history, and we at Markethive, genuinely believe that the incentives of crypto are more robust than the WEF’s cronyism. Imagine helping to create a powerful crypto or protocol that allows the average person to preserve their purchasing power, grow their wealth, and maintain their financial freedom. In that case, you are rewarded in every possible way.  

As purchasing power, wealth, and financial freedom continue to erode, the incentive to create robust protocols with crypto will only increase. Eventually, the incentives will become so strong that the WEF’s hurdles will become irrelevant. The people will want freedom, and they will achieve it through crypto. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

References: World Economic Forum, Coinbureau

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech. I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

 

Also published @ BeforeIt’sNews.com; Steemit.com; Substack.com

Tim Moseley

Gold silver posting modest gains amid bullish technicals

Gold, silver posting modest gains amid bullish technicals

Gold and silver prices are firmer near midday Wednesday. February gold futures hit a six-month high overnight, while March silver notched a three-month high. The two precious metals are being boosted by increasingly bullish near-term chart postures. A recently slumping U.S. dollar index that overnight hit a 3.5-month low is also a bullish outside market element for the metals markets. February gold was last up $3.90 at $2,064.10. March silver was last up $0.138 at $25.44.

(In my weekly Front Burner email report today, I detailed the price prospects for gold and silver in the coming weeks, and they are bullish. If you did not get it and are not signed up, send me an email at jim@jimwyckoff.com and I'll forward it to you.)

U.S. economic data released today had little impact on the gold and silver markets. The second estimate of third-quarter GDP came in just a little higher than the first estimate. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation readings were just slightly less than the first GDP estimates.

Asian and European markets were mixed to firmer in overnight trading. U.S. stock indexes are firmer in late-morning dealings.

  Bill Gates and other billionaire 'Controligarchs' are pushing for global digital IDs, centralized control and a 'paywall around your life' – Seamus Bruner

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly higher. Nymex crude oil prices are slightly higher and trading around $76.75 a barrel. An OPEC-plus meeting takes place this week. Reports say there have been cartel member disagreements on whether to further cut collective crude oil production. There is now no clear marketplace consensus on what OPEC will announce regarding its overall oil production. The yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note is presently fetching 4.28% and has fallen this week.

Technically, February gold futures prices hit another six-month high today. The bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a seven-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $2,100.00. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $2,000.00. First resistance is seen at today's high of $2,072.70 and then at $2,085.00. First support is seen at $2,050.00 and then at $2,039.70. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0

March silver futures prices hit a three-month high today. The silver bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the July high of $26.10. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $23.50. First resistance is seen at today's high of $25.68 and then at the August high of $25.775. Next support is seen at $25.00 and then at this week's low of $24.68. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 7.0.

March N.Y. copper closed down 40 points at 383.55 cents today. Prices closed near the session low today and hit a 2.5-month high early on. The copper bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a six-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of 392.65 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the November low of 362.60 cents. First resistance is seen at today's high of 386.45 cents and then at 390.00 cents. First support is seen at this week's low of 378.60 cents and then at 375.80 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

Try out my "Markets Front Burner" email report. My next one is due out today and is going to be entitled, "When China sneezes…" Front Burner is my best writing and analysis, I think, because I get to look ahead at the marketplace and do some market price forecasting. And it's free! Sign up to my new, free weekly Markets Front Burner newsletter, at https://www.kitco.com/services/markets-front-burner.html .

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold surges dollar declines on Fed official’s remark amp geopolitical unrest

Gold surges, dollar declines on Fed official's remark & geopolitical unrest

After opening at $2035.10 in trading today gold futures surged to a high not seen for approximately the last year. As of 3:15 PM EST, the most active February 2024 contract has surged by $26.30 and is currently fixed at $2061.50.

A major component of today's strong upside move in gold was the continued decline of the dollar. The dollar has traded to a lower high, a lower low, and a lower close for the last three consecutive trading days. Currently, the dollar is down 0.44% and the index is fixed at 102.65. Considering that the dollar index was trading above 106 on November 1, the decline in value amounts to approximately 4%. The dollar index is weighted against a basket of six foreign currencies with the euro accounting for over half of the index's weight.

The U.S. dollar index was created in 1973 as a method to track the value of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies including the Euro (58%), the Japanese yen (14%), the British pound (12%), the Canadian dollar (95), the Swedish krona (4%), and the Swiss franc (4%).

A single statement by one of the more hawkish voting members of the Fed might have been the impetus to continue the dollar's decline. Christopher Waller, a voting member of the Federal Reserve who has been a board Governor since 2020.

Today he told the American Enterprise Institute think tank that he believes that “inflation rates are moving along pretty much like I thought”. He added, “I am increasingly confident that policy is currently well-positioned to slow the economy and get inflation back to 2%”. Most importantly he suggested that the Fed could start lowering rates if inflation continues to decline “for several months”, adding that, “There is no reason to say we will keep it really high."

While he is only one of many voting members the fact that he is considered one of the more hawkish members carries a lot of weight when it comes to signaling that the Federal Reserve has concluded its rate hikes and is now considering rate cuts if certain variables come into fruition.

Considering that the world is facing violent conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, combined with Waller's words these facts have taken gold well past the elusive and key psychological level of $2000 per ounce. In fact, on a technical basis, there is minor support at today's high of $2065 based upon a former support level or price bottom that occurred at the end of April. If this resistance is taken out the next levels we would look at are $2080 and $2100.

By

Gary Wagner

Contributing to kitco.com

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Power Of Repetition

The power of repetition

marketing

The power of repetition is a concept that has been studied and applied in various fields, such as psychology, education, management, and communication. It refers to the idea that repeating something can have positive effects on learning, memory, persuasion, and behavior. Here are some of the main points about the power of repetition:

Repetition is not always boring or tedious. It can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, as well as for influencing others. However, repetition also has some limitations and drawbacks. For example, repetition can lead to overconfidence, complacency, or resistance to change if we do not seek feedback or challenge ourselves2. Repetition can also be used to manipulate or deceive people by spreading false or misleading information3. Therefore, we should use repetition wisely and ethically, and balance it with other methods of learning and communication.

 

ecosystem for entrepreneurs

Tim Moseley

Gold silver hit multi-week highs on weak USDX bullish charts

Gold, silver hit multi-week highs on weak USDX, bullish charts

Gold and silver prices are moderately higher near midday Monday, but down from their daily highs. February gold hit a four-week high and March silver a three-month high today. The precious metals are seeing buying support from a slumping U.S. dollar index that is trading near last week's three-month low. The technical postures for both metals also lean bullish, which continues to invite the chart-based traders to the long sides of gold and silver. February gold was last up $5.80 at $2,029.50. March silver was last up $0.358 at $25.06.

Gold and silver futures bulls are also benefiting from notions the U.S. Federal Reserve is done raising U.S. interest rates, following some recent tamer inflation numbers. A Dow Jones Newswires headline today reads: "Gold edges higher on hopes Fed's tightening cycle may be over."

Asian and European markets were mostly weaker in overnight trading. U.S. stock indexes are mixed near midday. From a markets perspective, there were no major geopolitical developments over the long U.S. Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

  Gold needs to break above $2,010 for prices to have a chance at ATHs

The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index slightly lower. Nymex crude oil prices are slightly lower and trading around $75.25 a barrel. An OPEC-plus meeting takes place this week. Reports say there have been cartel member disagreements on whether to further cut collective crude oil production. A Barron's headline today reads: "Oil prices are falling; OPEC is reaching the limits of its power." The yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury 10-year note is presently fetching 4.574%.

Technically, February gold futures prices hit a four-week high today. The bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at the October high of $2,039.70. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $2,000.00. First resistance is seen at $2,039.70 and then at $2,050.00. First support is seen at today's low of $2,022.00 and then at last Friday's low of $2,011.30. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0

March silver futures prices hit a three-month high today. The silver bulls have the firm overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a two-month-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the July high of $26.10. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $23.50. First resistance is seen at today's high of $25.29 and then at $25.50. Next support is seen at today's low of $24.68 and then at $24.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5.

March N.Y. copper closed down 370 points at 379.55 cents today. Prices closed near the session low today. The copper bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in a five-week-old uptrend on the daily bar chart. Copper bulls' next upside price objective is pushing and closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of 392.65 cents. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid technical support at the November low of 362.60 cents. First resistance is seen at today's high of 384.15 cents and then the November high of at 386.00 cents. First support is seen at 375.80 cents and then at 371.25 cents. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.0.

Try out my "Markets Front Burner" email report. My next one is due out today and is going to be entitled, "When China sneezes…" Front Burner is my best writing and analysis, I think, because I get to look ahead at the marketplace and do some market price forecasting. And it's free! Sign up to my new, free weekly Markets Front Burner newsletter, at https://www.kitco.com/services/markets-front-burner.html .

By

Jim Wyckoff

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold prices holding above 2000 as US flash PMI provides muddled economic outlook

Gold prices holding above $2,000 as U.S. flash PMI provides muddled economic outlook

Gold prices are holding near session highs above $2,000 an ounce as preliminary indicators point to a further contraction within the manufacturing sector and neutral activity in the service sector.

Friday, the S&P Global Flash U.S. manufacturing PMI data fell to 49.4, down from October's revised reading of 50.0. According to consensus estimates, economists were looking for a relatively unchanged reading of 49.9.

Activity within the manufacturing sector has dropped to a three-month low, the report said.

Meanwhile, the service sector PMI remains in expansion territory, rising to 50.8 from October's reading of 50.6. The data beat expectations, as consensus forecasts called for a roughly unchanged reading of 50.4.

The report said that activity within the service sector has risen to a four-month high.

Readings above 50 in such diffusion indexes are seen as a sign of economic growth. The farther an indicator is above or below 50, the greater or smaller the rate of change.

The gold market was seeing some renewed buying momentum ahead of the report, and the mixed data continues to provide some support. December gold futures last traded at $2,001.10 an ounce, up 0.42% on the day.

While U.S. economic activity remains in neutral territory, Siân Jones, principal economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said that conditions are moving closer to Federal Reserve expectations as the labor market and inflation show signs of cooling.

"Businesses cut employment for the first time in almost three-and-a-half years in response to concerns about the outlook. Job shedding has spread beyond the manufacturing sector, as services firms signaled a renewed drop in staff in November as cost savings were sought," Jones said in the report.

At the same time, the economist noted that inflation pressures are also starting to ease.

"Input price inflation softened again, with cost burdens rising at the slowest rate in over three years. The impact of hikes in oil prices appears to be dissipating in the manufacturing sector, where the rate of cost inflation slowed notably. Although ticking up slightly, selling price inflation remained subdued relative to the average over the last three years and was consistent with a rate of increase close to the Fed's 2% target," Jones said.

By

Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Gold needs to break above 2010 for prices to have a chance at ATHs

Gold needs to break above $2,010 for prices to have a chance at ATHs

The gold market has managed to reclaim the $2,000 level as it looks to end its second consecutive week in positive territory. However, analysts have said that gold's momentum remains limited, and prices are unlikely to break current resistance levels as the Federal Reserve maintains its tight monetary policy bias.

Analysts noted that with Israel and Hamas agreeing to a limited cease-fire, weakening the precious metal's safe-haven allure, U.S. monetary policy is expected to be the most significant factor driving gold's near-term price action.

"Our economists only expect the first rate cut to be implemented in the middle of next year, so only then is the price of a troy ounce of gold likely to climb lastingly above $2,000," said Commerzbank commodity analyst Barbara Lambrecht in a note Friday.

However, while gold will likely be stuck below $2,000 an ounce, many analysts are not expecting to see much downside risk as seasonal factors start to kick in.

In a recent note, Nicky Shiels, head of metals strategy at MKS PAMP, said that in the last five years, gold has seen average gains of 2.7% between Thanksgiving and Dec.31.

Gold is above $2,000, but resistance continues to holdOle Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, said that the biggest risk for gold will be rising bond yields that strengthen the U.S. dollar.

"Gold looks well supported and only a sharply higher dollar will change that," he said in a comment to Kitco News. "Whether or not it's ready to make a decisive push higher already is a bit doubtful unless a break/close above 2010 triggers [fear of missing out]."

With renewed focus on U.S. monetary policy, the gold market will be sensitive to U.S. GDP and inflation data. Although the U.S. economy is expected to see extraordinary growth in the third quarter, there are growing fears of slower activity in the fourth quarter. At the same time, slower growth is expected to continue to slow inflation.

Markets will also be paying attention to a slew of central bank speakers on Tuesday, while Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will cap the week as he participates in a fireside chat titled "Navigating Pathways to Economic Mobility" at Spelman College in Atlanta.

In recent comments, Powell has been fairly straightforward that interest rates will remain in restrictive territory as inflation still isn't under control.

However, energy prices and next week's OPEC+ meeting could be a potential wildcard for inflation.

It is expected that the oil cartel will announce new production cuts, but if these underwhelm expectations, then oil prices would continue their current downtrend.

Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, said that counter-intuitively, lower oil prices could provide some near-term support for gold. He explained that lower energy prices will give the Federal Reserve some room to ease its current tightening bias.

However, Ghali said he doesn't see gold prices breaking new ground anytime soon. He noted that Asian and emerging market demand continues to provide support for the precious metal, but added that gold remains stuck as Western investors continue to avoid it.

"We expect Western investors to continue to ignore the gold market until the U.S. falls into a recession in the first half next year, which forces the Federal Reserve to aggressively cut interest rates," he said.

  Gold and silver prices stuck, waiting for a catalyst – Quant Insight's Huw Roberts

Gold is above $2,000, but resistance continues to hold

Looking at gold's technical picture, analysts have said that investors and traders need to keep an eye on initial resistance at $2010.

"Should buyers achieve a close above $2009, the price could extend the bullish run towards $2050, the April high, before bringing $2082, the all-time high, into focus," said Fiona Cincotta, senior market analyst at City Index.

On the downside, analysts have highlighted initial support between $1,945 and $1,930 an ounce.

"If we see gold prices go back below $1,940, then this new uptrend is done and we will have to wait for another buying opportunity," said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures.

However, Streible said he remains bullish on gold as the market appears to be setting itself up for a Christmas rally.

Economic data for next week:

Monday: U.S. new home sales

Tuesday: U.S. Consumer Confidence

Wednesday: Preliminary U.S Q3 GDP

Thursday: OPEC meeting, U.S. CPE Index, personal income and spending, weekly jobless claims, pending home sales

Friday: ISM manufacturing PMI, Powell fireside chat

By

Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

Capture Brand Awareness and Consideration: Strategies for Moments of Discovery

Capture Brand Awareness and Consideration: Strategies for Moments of Discovery

Capturing brand awareness and consideration during moments of discovery is a crucial aspect of any marketing strategy. It is the first step towards building a strong brand identity and recognition. It helps the brand to stand out among its competitors and gain a significant share of the market.

Brand awareness refers to the extent to which customers are familiar with a brand. It is the foundation of any marketing campaign and is essential for building brand recognition and value. A brand with high awareness is more likely to be considered by customers when making a purchase decision. Therefore, it is crucial to capture brand awareness during moments of discovery, where customers are more receptive to new brands and products.

To capture brand awareness and consideration during moments of discovery, brands need to have a clear strategy in place. This includes identifying their target audience, understanding their needs and preferences, and creating a unique value proposition. By doing so, brands can differentiate themselves from their competitors and create a strong brand identity and equity.

Understanding Brand Awareness and Consideration

Brand awareness and consideration are two key factors that influence the success of a company. These two factors are crucial in attracting customers and driving sales. In this section, we will explore the role of discovery in brand awareness and the consideration phase in the shopping journey.

Key Takeaways

  • Understanding brand awareness and consideration is critical to developing an effective marketing strategy.
  • Digital tools and platforms, engaging content, and building trust with customers are essential for capturing brand awareness and consideration during moments of discovery.
  • Maximizing the shopping experience and monitoring and scaling the strategy are critical components of a successful brand awareness and consideration strategy.

Role of Discovery in Brand Awareness

Discovery is the process of finding new information or uncovering something that was previously unknown. In the context of brand awareness, discovery plays a crucial role in exposing potential customers to new brands and products. The discovery phase is the first step in the shopping journey, where potential customers become aware of new products and brands.

During the discovery phase, customers are looking for inspiration and ideas. They are not necessarily looking to buy anything, but rather to discover new brands, products, and categories. Companies that can engage with shoppers during this phase can gain visibility and create an emotional connection with potential customers.

To engage with shoppers during the discovery phase, companies need to have a strong message and values that resonate with potential customers. They need to communicate their message effectively through public relations and other forms of communication. By creating an emotional connection with potential customers, companies can increase their chances of being recommended and considered in the shopping journey.

Consideration Phase in the Shopping Journey

The consideration phase is the second step in the shopping journey, where potential customers evaluate different brands and products before making a purchase. During this phase, potential customers are looking for information that can help them make an informed decision.

Companies that can provide relevant and useful content during the consideration phase can increase their chances of being considered and ultimately purchased. They need to provide information that is specific to the customer's needs and preferences. Companies that can engage with potential customers during this phase can create a positive customer experience and increase their chances of driving sales.

In conclusion, understanding the role of discovery in brand awareness and the consideration phase in the shopping journey is crucial for companies that want to drive sales and engage with potential customers. By providing relevant and useful content, companies can create an emotional connection with potential customers and increase their chances of being considered and purchased.

Leveraging Digital Tools for Brand Discovery and Consideration

In today's digital age, capturing brand awareness and consideration during moments of discovery is crucial for businesses to establish their brand and acquire new customers. Leveraging digital tools can help brands expand their reach and increase conversions. In this section, we will discuss two effective ways to leverage digital tools for brand discovery and consideration: Effective Use of Google and YouTube Ads and Maximizing Online Shopping Experience with Visuals and Reviews.

Effective Use of Google and YouTube Ads

Google and YouTube Ads are powerful tools that can help businesses reach their target audience at scale. By using broad match keywords and relevant combinations, businesses can increase their visibility and drive traffic to their website. Smart bidding and performance max campaigns can help businesses manage their campaigns and optimize for key metrics such as return on ad spend and conversions.

For example, a car parts retailer, CarParts.com, was able to increase their revenue by 35% and boost their conversion rate by 22% by using responsive search ads with multiple headlines and description options. They also used performance opportunities such as local inventory ads and site visits to drive traffic to their nearby stores.

YouTube Ads can also be a powerful tool for businesses to capture brand awareness and consideration. Shoppable videos and virtual storefronts can help retailers showcase their products and provide a seamless shopping experience for customers. Video in-feed ads can also help businesses reach their audience with engaging content.

Maximizing Online Shopping Experience with Visuals and Reviews

Visuals and reviews are important touchpoints in the customer journey and can help businesses differentiate themselves from their competitors. By using product feeds and image assets, retailers can showcase their products in a visually appealing way and provide customers with the information they need to make a purchase.

For example, packing hacks and packing cubes retailer, Away, used high-quality images and detailed product descriptions to create a strong online presence and increase their revenue. They also leveraged social media to showcase their products and engage with their audience.

Reviews are also an important factor in the customer decision-making process. By listening to customer feedback and responding to their concerns, businesses can build trust and establish a loyal customer base. For example, an auto-parts retailer used customer reviews to improve their product offerings and increase their sales.

In conclusion, leveraging digital tools such as Google and YouTube Ads, visuals, and reviews can help businesses capture brand awareness and consideration during moments of discovery. By optimizing their campaigns and providing a seamless shopping experience, businesses can establish their brand and acquire new customers.


Tim Moseley

Chinese traders buy 175 tonnes of gold but Western buying remains exhausted – TD Securities

Chinese traders buy 17.5 tonnes of gold, but Western buying remains exhausted – TD Securities

Western investors continue to avoid gold; however, Asian and emerging market demand continues to dominate and support prices at a critical juncture.

In a report published Wednesday, commodity analysts at TD Securities noted that in the past week, Chinese traders bought around 17.5 tonnes of notional gold.

In an interview with Kitco News, Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities, said that while they don't know the exact reason behind the purchases, they did coincide with buying momentum in the yuan as the People's Bank of China sold U.S. dollar and bought the yuan.

"Chinese traders continue to add to their gold holdings, extending a period of massive accumulation of gold, even as the yuan halts its appreciation," Ghali said in Wednesday's note.

Regardless of why Chinese investors bought gold, Ghali said it's another example of how Asian and emerging market central bank demand has transformed the marketplace this year.

"We do think this unexpected demand is one reason why gold prices have outperformed, given where the U.S. dollar and bond yields are," he said.

Although China has been a solid source of demand for the precious metal, Ghali said that the latest consumption remains highly speculative and unlikely to be the start of a long-term trend.

Ghali said that the missing piece for higher gold prices remains Western investment demand. He added that prices could fall back below $2,000 an ounce in the near term as safe-haven buying has been exhausted.

However, long-term TDS remains extremely bullish on gold. Ghali said that the bank sees record gold prices by the first half of next year.

"We expect Western investors to continue to ignore the gold market until the U.S. falls into a recession in the first half next year, which forces the Federal Reserve to aggressively cut interest rates," he said.

  Gold needs to break above $2,010 for prices to have a chance at ATHs

By

Neils Christensen

For Kitco News

Time to Buy Gold and Silver

Tim Moseley

THE INCENTIVIZED LOAN PROGRAM ILP is a powerful way to spread wealth

THE INCENTIVIZED LOAN PROGRAM (ILP) is a powerful way to spread wealth. (Updated)

Given the ever-increasing Markethive membership, I’ve updated and republished this article from three years ago for all our newer members. Markethive’s Incentivized Loan Program (ILP), also known as an Initial Loan Procurement, is a valuable tool for distributing wealth. The ILP is essentially a loan that adheres to regulatory standards and complies with the UCC Code. This ensures it can be used in various countries without worrying about fraud or money laundering issues. It's similar to a convertible note, a type of short-term debt financing used for early-stage capital raises. In simple terms, it's like a promissory note or an IOU.

Markethive has developed a revolutionary approach to financing projects through the blockchain, offering an alternative to traditional crowdfunding methods. By leveraging the power of decentralized networks, Markethive's Incentivized Loan Program enables the raising of funds securely and transparently, making it a game-changer for entrepreneurs and innovators. As a pioneer in this space, Markethive is leading the way in decentralized debt crowdfunding, providing a new avenue for businesses to access the capital they need to thrive.

ILP holders have a share in the company's success and receive a portion of the profits in the form of interest, which is 20% of the net revenue paid out monthly, and a final balloon payment at the end of the 20-year note period.

Here is a bullet point breakdown

• The Incentivized Loan Program generates a formally binding and lawful loan arrangement that adheres to the USA UCC code for debt instruments. Since it's a debt instrument, it's exempt from taxation.

• The opportunity is accessible to people globally since lending practices are prevalent in most regions.

• The company can focus on developing tokens with genuine utility and value rather than issuing speculative tokens without practical application.

• Markethive utilizes the debt structure to bring in operational capital, and as a result, ILP holders receive a secure, transferable blockchain token. The total number of ILPs available is capped at 1000, although we are targeted to distribute fewer than that. Each share is equivalent to a single full ILP. 

• Markethive's diverse revenue streams will provide the necessary funds for interest payments, distributed through the ILP utilizing blockchain technology and paid out in Hivecoin (HVC) via the recently integrated comprehensive financial hub called the Markethive Wallet. This cryptocurrency can then be exchanged for other cryptos or fiat currencies through various coin exchanges and, ultimately, through Markethive's crypto exchange platform.

• For as long as the principal remains outstanding, 20% of the net revenue is distributed to all ILP token holders in proportion to their share as interest payments. Following this, a lump sum payment is made after 20 years and can be further extended upon agreement between parties.

• The interest payments will be paid using the ILP Blockchain, which ensures their security, efficiency, and accuracy. The blockchain technology behind it makes tampering impossible.

• Holders of ILP tokens will be able to sell their tokens through Markethive's decentralized, peer-to-peer auction-style exchange, allowing them to dictate the terms of their own exit strategy.

• ILPs can be divided into smaller parts, known as fractions, with a minimum denomination of 1/1000th of an ILP. A specialized internal exchange, the ILP Markethive Exchange, is being developed where members can purchase and sell their ILPs or fractions of their ILPs peer-to-peer. This allows members to monetize their ILPs, turning them into cash cows.

• The ILP token is not based on speculation. It’s based on performance. 

Imminent Growth – Lucrative Outcome

Due to consistent growth indicators from both internal and external sources, ongoing enhancements, and the implementation of integrations that enhance user experience and strengthen our systems' security, we are optimistic about the rapid expansion of our community. Currently, members who upgrade to Entrepreneur One (E1) for $100 monthly are supporting Markethive's efforts to design, build, and implement innovative systems and integrations, and they will be rewarded a thousandfold.

The revenue generated by diverse sources, including the Premium Upgrade (PUP), retail products and services, and the pioneering E1 upgrade, will fund the monthly ILP interest payments. To simplify the calculation and for the sake of this article, let's assume a modest estimate of 5 million members. This allows us to project the following growth…

If 10% of Markethive's 5 million members upgrade to a Loyalty Program at $100 per month, the monthly income would be $5 million. With a 20% net revenue, that's approximately $10 million monthly. When divided by the maximum number of 1000 ILP shares, it translates to a monthly income of $10,000 for each share.  For the holders of 1/10th of an ILP, that represents a cool $1000 per month for a subscription payment of $100 per month. 

As the company grows, the revenue will reflect that growth for a projected duration of 20 years before the loan becomes due, which is regarded as a balloon payment. Currently, one full ILP is worth $10,000, but as the ILP purchases increase or are allocated through the Entrepreneur One Upgrade, the value of the ILP will continue to grow along with the monthly interest payments. 

LinkedIn Statistics 


Source: Kinsta.com

LinkedIn is considered one of the closest, most targeted, and most socially networked competitors to Markethive, even though it falls short in services compared with Markethive. LinkedIn’s most recent figures suggest it has more than 900 million members with over 58 million registered companies. According to Kinsta.com, in September 2023, LinkedIn’s annual revenue was $13.8 billion, reporting that 39% of LinkedIn users had upgraded to their Premium service. LinkedIn’s yearly revenue surpassed $15 billion in Q4 2023, reflecting 1 billion members, according to LinkedIn statistics


Source: Kinsta.com

Based on LinkedIn’s figures and annual revenue of $15 billion, 20% is $3 billion, and the monthly figure would equate to $250 million. At Markethive, that 20% would go to the ILP holders. Based on the maximum total of 1000 ILPs, that correlates to a monthly income of $250,000 per ILP. 

LinkedIn’s 4-tier Premium plans offer nothing more than greater and deeper access to the data of other members, visitors, searches, and 3+ levels of deep messaging. Their services and, subsequently, annual revenue pale in comparison to what Markethive offers now, not to mention the retail products, services, and integrations in development and imminent release; you can just imagine a potential revenue of 10X that amount, and that is arguably a very conservation projection.  

Markethive is determined to distribute its profits to the Markethive community instead of exclusive stakeholders and Microsoft, who acquired LinkedIn for $26 billion in 2016. In response to the changing global economic conditions, Markethive is actively working towards implementing a business model that prioritizes the community. This model allows individuals without significant financial resources to pursue entrepreneurship and access wealth-building opportunities typically available only to prominent venture capitalists.

There’s Always Ways To Earn in Markethive

At Markethive, we are dedicated to ensuring that our rank-and-file members have seamless access to ILPs, as we firmly believe in making Markethive a company for all. To further enhance the benefits of being a part of our community, we have the Markethive Token (MHV) paid to members for daily activities via micropayments recorded in the Coin Clip. These features provide our members with long-term wealth and revenue opportunities and create a thriving ecosystem where our coin can be utilized to its full potential.

Creating a “Universal Income” for entrepreneurs. Using our state-of-the-art integrated inbound marketing platform, social network, hybrid AI, business services, e-wallet, coin exchange, mining data center, incubator, and blockchain income platforms for success in the crypto-preneurial and entrepreneurial markets.

View the white paper to clearly understand the Markethive vision and mission and the statistics and milestones achieved. White Paper https://markethive.net/Markethive.Whitepaper.V4.pdf

So, how do you get your hands on your share of an ILP? You can choose from the following two ways…

  1. You can purchase fractions of an ILP with the Markethive Token (MHV), starting with 20,000 MHV for 0.01 ILP, through to one full ILP for one million MHV.   
  2. You can wait for the ILP exchange to be completed and then buy ILPs or shares from other exchange members.
  3. You can purchase an ILP or partial shares from us (Markethive) directly. We sell whole shares and fractions as small as 1/10th for $1000.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Markethive's ascension, community participation, and status as a dynamic social network with increasing daily engagement and interaction on the platform indicate a promising future. As a comprehensive social media platform, Markethive offers indispensable inbound marketing tools for business growth and a thriving cryptocurrency ecosystem, ensuring a steady income for its members. With a successful system and the Hivecoin launch on the horizon, Markethive is set for long-term expansion and revolutionizing how we interact and conduct business online.

Markethive is in the final stages of BETA, offering a unique opportunity for individuals to establish themselves as early adopters. This cutting-edge platform is the future of social market broadcasting, providing a comprehensive system for long-term success, financial independence, and a sense of community. By leveraging the power of Web 3.0 technology, Markethive is revolutionizing how we approach social media, inbound marketing, and eCommerce. Take advantage of the chance to secure your place in this innovative ecosystem designed specifically for entrepreneurs.

 

 

Editor and Chief Markethive: Deb Williams. (Australia) I thrive on progress and champion freedom of speech. I embrace "Change" with a passion, and my purpose in life is to enlighten people to accept and move forward with enthusiasm. Find me at my Markethive Profile Page | My Twitter Account | and my LinkedIn Profile.

 

 

 

Tim Moseley

The Artist that came out of the Winter