While US elections shape trade and economic policies that can have indirect consequences for Africa, African nations themselves increasingly drive world markets in everything from technology to energy. Economies on the continent are becoming important trading partners for countries around the world, including the United States, and shifts in these economies will reverberate through global supply chains, from mineral resources to tech hubs.

With the rise of cryptocurrency and digital markets, African countries are more connected than ever. The decision of a US administration to take one side or another in crypto regulation may move global markets, but African nations are moving forward-with countries like Nigeria and Kenya leading in crypto adoption. That momentum makes Africa a driver of digital economic trends to which other countries, at times regardless of US policy shifts, are paying attention.

Your have a good point about personal strengthening and decreased dependence, but perhaps it is worth considering that public services today do not stop at support, they create resilience and efficiency. For example, contemporary electronic public services in countries like Australia also organize services around life events, such as the birth of a child or changes in employment, in order to make life easier for people and decrease the bureaucratic burden. In this respect, people can devote their time to personal growth and not spend it seeking ways to overcome the system.

Other efforts, such as the United Nations' open-sourced frameworks, are also redesigning public services to be more open, accessible, and inclusive on a global scale. They connect local communities to resource opportunities, thereby empowering them and fostering collaboration across sectors. This stands in testament to the fact that public support, when sufficiently provided, can actually build people's independence rather than over dependency.

Great to see Trump back and promising crypto love, but a balanced view would want to take a peek into what would most likely happen. He could remove the SEC Chair Gary Gensler, but his replacement probably will not go easy on crypto. The enforcement action taken by the SEC under Trump will not disappear completely either. Past chairs have pursued fraud prevention in crypto spaces rather aggressively.

A national bitcoin reserve, however, is still a big "if." Some experts say such a reserve could still go through some significant legislative and economic obstacles, considering concerns over the volatility of the digital currency. Although Trump's team may see grounds for that, policies on the dollar and the national debt make it a complex move, added to the fact that Congress would be playing the major role in any such decision as well. While the rhetoric of those who are pro-crypto is high, it's a long way from promises to practice, especially if traditional financial stakeholders push back.

Well, in my opinion the advanced economies, especially the US and China, will have slow growth, though probably not to that great an extent. The US economy, in particular, also still seems resilient due to steady consumer spending and a strong labor market, though some cooling is likely due to persistent inflation and rising interest rates.

Also, the growth in the emerging markets will be more significant, especially in parts of Asia and Africa, given the heavy investments in manufacturing and technology sectors. However, this may be quite volatile, considering geopolitical tensions and inflation that might not let it take a smooth upward path. Inflation should turn out to be lower on a year-over-year basis worldwide but higher than pre-2020 levels, particularly in some developing regions where there are strong currency volatility and political risks.

Definitely, mentorship will give a boost to career growth. And based on my experience with my peers and coworkers, people with mentors are more likely to have job satisfaction and faster career advancement, definitely more chance compared to their colleagues who have not undergone mentorship. Mentorship provides room for advice and feedback in personal and professional development that might not be possible otherwise.

That said, mentorship most definitely is not the sole path to success, and at times it may not feel right for anyone either. Some people find their way via self-learning, networking, or peer-to-peer mentorship as new dynamics of remote work shake off the tradition of mentorship. While mentorship therefore carries distinct advantages, this mix of exploration and support systems perhaps works more effectively at different eras in your personality and career.

I don't have much clue about US politics but from what I have read in X Trump's re-election is a sea change in US politics, but no one is certain whether his policies will diffuse the conflict in Ukraine or Israel-Palestine. By history, Trump's foreign policy strategy was based on military strength and security of American interest, which does not seem to provide evidence that Trump will be acting as an unbiased mediator in these long-standing conflicts. His position has also tended to be one of maintaining strong nationals without pressure, which might not be effective in promoting peace.

Trump insisted on pursuing internally the "hardline" policy on immigration and security, including mass deportations and constrictive policies. With such moves likely to appeal to his power base, they are unlikely to have direct positive consequences for global economic stability or the solving of humanitarian crises. This might polarize international relations further, as his possible return to office and divisive policies will take precedence over global cooperation in general.

The future of Bitcoin in the field of finance seems promising, as even huge financial monsters like BlackRock have already introduced Bitcoin ETFs, which allow traditional investors to reach the crypto market with much more ease. This movement here suggests that Bitcoin may eventually be able to coexist with traditional assets by adding new options for financial portfolios without directly removing the banks. This would mean that in such a direction, the potential of blockchain technology to support even faster and more inclusive financial products could also allow Bitcoin to allow greater access to finance than traditional banking has yet achieved.

Yet, the most significant challenge is no doubt regulatory. Some jurisdictions, like the EU and Singapore, make concrete crypto regulations with the hope of driving innovation. Other jurisdictions, like the US, view the sector as a "Wild West" and most likely will be resistant to quicker mainstream Bitcoin adoption. Whether Bitcoin will go completely into the center of finance depends on how regulatory frameworks adapt to the unique needs of Bitcoin, and how much mainstream acceptance will be there from traditional financial institutions.

Honestly, going back in my mind to when I bought my first Bitcoin, I really never think how far it would go. It goes way over price to see huge corporations and even entire countries like El Salvador adopt Bitcoin. Moreover, the resilience of Bitcoin after events such as regulatory crackdowns and market crashes has strengthened my belief in Bitcoin. It's more than a digital asset-Bitcoin is a movement.

I'd say Bitcoin has done really well, much better than I have expected, considering all these new use cases, with this great ecosystem forming, what with all these exchanges, wallets, and payment processors now around. I don't know; it's like something's gonna come out of it, and it's cool to be part of it, I guess.

The impacts of war vary by region and economy. For instance, while the war in Ukraine has disrupted food supplies, leading to price increases especially in poorer nations, food inflation in many advanced economies is stabilizing. On the other hand, developing countries that have less financial leeway to absorb these increases-just like parts of Africa face higher food inflation and are likely to suffer more in the food crisis, worsened by disruptions in supplies after the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Also, whereas surging fuel prices were one of the major consequences after the Ukraine conflict, oil markets have remained rather stable this time around from the Middle East conflict, partly due to maintained supply, although speculation by investors has had some effect. This means not only is inflation a concern this time out, but universally, energy-related driving is not a factor.

Insofar as the fear of global economic collapse by 2025 is valid, there are mitigants. Cooperative supply chain hardening and improvement of food security, especially in poorer countries, would lessen the stresses on these economies. This is indeed a grim scenario; to predict a worldwide disaster based on these hypotheses without considering such potential mitigations may be a leap of a kind.

The end of this year is likely to be one of the record seasons for online sales, with projections upwards of over $240 billion in U.S. holiday spending alone, especially driven by discounts and mobile shopping. That also means small businesses will be competing with major sales events, such as Cyber Week, where buyers frequently wait for deals from large retailers, placing even more pressure on price and uniqueness for smaller ventures.
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/deck-the-halls-for-2024-holiday-retail-success

Beyond food and decor, consider options that are really taking off this year, curated holiday gift bundles or even personalized experiences. This could be particularly true in small, handmade gift businesses. Salesforce says shoppers are increasingly loyal to those offering them unique or customizable products. Put a twist on your product with unique packaging, limited holiday editions, or bundling to help attract customers during this competitive season.

Early days for BlackRock's ETF definitely saw big inflows, a good start that promise institutions could get into it. And yet, it rapidly lost its early lead to Grayscale despite BlackRock being known for strong management and influence. While it's true that interest from BlackRock could inspire more institutions to consider Bitcoin, but it is still early days, with competition already fierce.

With any luck, the Bitcoin ETFs would make crypto more accessible but also come with limits. The thing is, ETFs tend to centralize Bitcoin custody, taking away from the decentralized nature many investors love in crypto. That could mean increased adoption with BlackRock's involvement but might turn off a number of hardcore crypto enthusiasts who want their crypto solutions to be decentralized.

This may be some kind of precedence that Pakistan is setting, going with the global trend of regulation over outright bans. I feel that we are more likely to see changes rather than backtracking in countries with strict regulations,and then, only when these countries find ways of handling secure digital currencies within their existing frameworks. Then, looking at other countries like China, underground crypto remained popular there, although it never actually moved away from the hardline.

Workers have fixed costs regardless of the company's performance, rent, groceries, healthcare, a regular check is required. In my opinion decent wages sufficient to earn a living do not only keep workers financially stable but also increase job satisfaction and productivity to the benefit of businesses themselves.

There's also a risk that purely profit based pay models could create income instability and discourage skilled workers from industries in which profits can vary wildly. Besides, profit sharing usually supplements but doesn't replace base wages. This offers workers financial stability, while still providing performance incentives. A more balanced approach might offer workers both a steady wage and opportunities for earning more when business is good, lining up everyone's interests without creating financial insecurity.

The economic gap is indeed getting wider and Inflation has squeezed the wealth of younger generations, for one, who hold less wealth compared to older groups. However, the increase in wages in certain industries and low unemployment rates in most areas have managed to stabilize or even improve the finances of some families since the pandemic. It also raises the problem wherein OP argues a greater wealth disparity creates more policing, yet greater equality does not really equate to less policing. In actuality, preventing crimes often entails broader social programs and more economic opportunities rather than relying on policing. Besides, one should remember that not all wealth is due to greed, many high-income earners reinvest much of their incomes into businesses, which may spur job creation and community programs. What that may mean is a focus on policy changes that create equal opportunities, good pay for an income level that can sustain everyone rather than having to transition toward and depend on an increasingly police-state-like society.

While many blame political instability for the economic crisis, I think we must also give due consideration to the role played by inflation and high interest rates. In 2024 alone, from Europe to Asia and the US, economies all over the world have seen inflationary pressures, many continue to have an impact on everyday costs, so people feel the pinch everywhere.

The other side of this frustration is that even against some dire economic projections, evidence that consumer sentiment was rebounding suggested that, with some analysts projecting its stabilization in the months ahead, these were not just problems of failed governance but part of larger global changes-altered trade policies and fears of economic downturns.

The UAE dirham is stable but does not grow well against major currencies to which it is pegged, particularly the U.S. dollar. Consequently, this limits drastic appreciation. The dirham has remained largely flat, so it is not exactly like Bitcoin's early-boom days, as mentioned. Money in a stable currency can be smart, but the prospects for growth are very limited  .

Also, Europe isn't in such dire shape. For example, Spain's banks have held up, but other EU banks are resilient too, and the Euro has stabilized somewhat. Of course, the EU certainly has its challenges, such as high interest rates, but all is not doom and gloom across the continent. It also makes much sense to diversify into a mix of assets, including BTC and stablecoins. Having exposure to several stable markets can minimize risks, even if it means answering some of the "silly questions" that regulations often require.

The notion of a reset or growth phase, as brought about by the Kondratieff Wave theory in 2024-2025, is still pretty complex from the current economic point of view. In some regions, inflation has been easing, but it is still above what central banks would like to see. Projections indicate that sticky service costs and potential shocks to trade may continue to elevate inflation above target levels. Central banks are performing a balancing act, where economic growth has to be balanced with contained inflation in major economies like the US. Some rate cuts are likely, but market uncertainty will remain high due to ongoing struggles faced by sectors such as housing and industrial production in Europe and China.

On the technological side, AI and renewable energy are on the high road, but the effects need not necessarily percolate into the wider economy in a very short period of time. New technology has generated exuberance, but industries and infrastructure take time to adapt. Political factors include impending US elections and possible policy changes with respect to climate and trade, and these may prove to be game-changers for the global markets. So, it just again seems a little bit difficult to pinpoint exactly an out-and-out recovery or growth phase.

Ordinals have indeed had an impact on Bitcoin, including record highs in block sizes of over 2.5MB since their early 2023 arrival. This so-called "blockchain bloat" has become a controversy. While they briefly inflated transaction fees and generally made the blockchain heavier, the fervor cooled, and they now level off between 4-10 SATs/vB. That would indicate Ordinals aren't creating a constant fee problem, but they do take up precious real estate in each block, making Bitcoin more than simply a currency network, excessively supporting NFTs among other content, too.

The most common debate around Ordinals is that they either add value or simply consume resources pointlessly. Miners, though, are enjoying some extra revenue in processing these transactions, hinting at a financial reason to keep Ordinals on. Currently, Ordinals don't pose a huge problem of "blockchain real estate," but if they keep growing, they could continue pushing block sizes up and probably elevate fees over time as more users compete for space.

Investment in human capital is a no-brainer, but we need to also consider that this progress has been highly uneven across and within different countries and regions. Whereas the developed nations continue to rise steadily in terms of their human development score, half of the poorest countries in the world still have not returned to their pre-pandemic levels. Such a gap would imply a setback to economic growth by a generation, along with lagging workforce preparedness, particularly in poorer regions, without targeted investments in education, vocational skills, and public health.

Moreover, while firm-level investments in training can spur gains in productivity, stable governance, efficient use of digital technology, and inequality-reducing policies are also necessary for national economic gains from capacity development. This challenge stands out around the world in global initiatives through the Human Capital Project to leverage technology and build resilient skills in vulnerable populations. It is very unlikely that growth in human capacity will provide the wide economic stability many might count on without these balancing investments.

Recent data has actually revealed that while Bitcoin frequently referred to as "digital gold," it has been more in step with the stock market than traditional safe haven assets such as physical gold. For example, during the market declines of 2024, Bitcoin declined more sharply than resilient gold, which saw continued buying from central banks for its perceived value as an inflation hedge.

Another consideration is crypto's volatility. While it has gained popularity as an alternative investment, recent price swings really drive home that it still highly speculative, its price so often driven by broader market moves and investor sentiment. For those seeking stability, gold can at times offer protection that's more predictable in times of turmoil. While crypto does have some merit for preserving wealth, it certainly brings its own set of risks, so going all in today might not be the most advisable option in search of a "safe" store of value.