The innovation of smart contracts is one of the most significant advances in the blockchain space, particularly with the development of Ethereum, which marked a pivotal moment in broadening the applications of blockchain technology beyond Bitcoin's initial scope. Ethereum's creation was driven by the limitations of Bitcoin's scripting capabilities, which restricted the execution of complex agreements. Vitalik Buterin's vision, outlined in the Ethereum white paper in 2013, proposed a platform that could facilitate more sophisticated applications through smart contracts and secondary tokens. This concept was revolutionary, as it extended blockchain utility beyond simple transactions to a broader range of decentralized applications (dApps), funded and developed through an innovative approach that leveraged the potential of blockchain technology for more than just cryptocurrencies.
If history is any indication, volatility is set to soar. Meanwhile, UK voters largely favored the Labor party, and the bets are on for who will replace Joe Biden as democratic nominee. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.
The US labour market is cooling down, and today’s Employment report brought another confirmation of this trend. Job creations in the private sector have settled below 200k per month throughout Q2 and declined to 136k in June. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1%, its highest level of this expansion cycle. Only government jobs continued a solid upward trend, which may not be surprising in an electoral year. The normalisation of the US labour market is one of the five key trends to watch for the next 6 months (cf. Syz H2 2024 Market Outlook: Normalisation ahead). Today’s US Employment Report fits into this dynamic, which is at the heart of our expectations for economic growth normalisation, softer inflationary pressures and central bank rate cuts.
Slow food for thought
Insights and research on global events shaping the markets
New technologies linked to blockchain are likely to play an important role in the luxury goods industry in the coming years. Overview below with a few case studies.
Brace for elections in Europe and keep a close eye on inflation.
Straight from the Desk
Syz the moment
Live feeds, charts, breaking stories, all day long.
Fast food for thought
Insights and research on global events shaping the markets
If history is any indication, volatility is set to soar. Meanwhile, UK voters largely favored the Labor party, and the bets are on for who will replace Joe Biden as democratic nominee. Each week, the Syz investment team takes you through the last seven days in seven charts.
With job market challenges potentially hastening Federal Reserve rate cuts before the elections, and looming expansive fiscal promises exerting pressure on long-term yields, the stage is set for significant movements in the US bond landscape.
Crypto corner
A monthly deep dive into crypto assets
AI Insights
Hand-curated selection of the latest developments in the AI world
Investing with intelligence
Our latest research, commentary and market outlooks