WILL BITCOIN CRASH AGAIN IN 2019?

mintdice.com

Bitcoin network was all the rave last year, with its high-profit margins and an influx of new investors. However, it is safe to say that over the span of one year, it has matured considerably. Like Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin told CNBC, the future of Bitcoin may never have as much hype as it did in 2017 because so many people are now aware of cryptocurrency and how it works.

A lot of things have changed in the cryptocurrency sector since over-the-top forecasts were made in 2017, including a $160,000 price estimation for Bitcoin. One of such changes is the introduction of Bitcoin Futures which control the price of BTC by allowing large investors to exert pressure on it.

This means that predictions of large price values like the one above are unlikely to be met in the near future. Another change is the start of Bitcoin institutional investing. For example, both the Bakkt and the Nasdaq platforms claim to be open to offering cryptocurrency investing to institutions.

While stakeholders struggle to keep the BTC price at bay, one daunting question still looms: Will Bitcoin crash again in 2019 or will it peak and stabilize at a better price point than it currently has?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

The last major cryptocurrency crash which followed the December 2017 peak brought about a need for an evolution in Bitcoin investment. Where Ethereum had ICOs as a new way to pour funds into the digital currency industry, Bitcoin lacked one.

Soon, virtual currency industry experts like the Winklevoss twins started looking towards exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to create long-term sustenance of Bitcoin as an investment vehicle. Unfortunately, these ETFs cannot function without approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission, so the industry is at a crossroads: evolve and survive, or continue at the same pace and end in a bubble burst.

AN EMPHASIS ON NON-PHYSICAL BITCOIN ETFS

An exchange-traded fund is a security that tracks underlying real-world assets like gold, equities, oil, bonds, commodities or cryptocurrency. It allows investors to buy into it and earn dividends from their investment. Such shares are easy to trade like stocks and can get rid of any barriers faced by investors when trying to purchase those underlying assets themselves.

The submitted ETFs proposals describe funds that are primarily derivatives. They can be shorted or coordinated with a Bitcoin future. Only physical Bitcoin ETFs are currently a good fit for the Bitcoin market since derivatives bring about the unfavorable market to another state.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have been in the headlines lately, mostly for their rejections. Just recently, theWinklevoss twins faced a rejection of their own. This has not deterred other parties who are bent on seeing this new form of investment come to life.

Unfortunately, the SEC is building up quite a track record of rejections with a toll of up to 15 rejected Bitcoin ETFproposals since 2013.  

BITCOIN PRICE FORECAST VS. BITCOIN USAGE     

One major factor to consider when looking at the possibility of another crash is the adoption rate of Bitcoin. Currently, ownership is still quite low, only a few points higher than last year. This implies stagnation and also that investors have found other coins which they deem more competitive. The younger generation is generally more bullish on Bitcoin usage since they consider it a product of their age, but the older generation remains skeptical.

However, this brief stagnation does not prove that Bitcoin blockchain will crash. If anything, the introduction of Futures and the demand for ETFs make up for it and shows that Bitcoin is here to stay.

It also shows that users are serious about integrating it into their daily transactions, which may eventually save the pioneer digital currency.  

The introduction of stable coins like tether and application-tolerant platforms like Ethereum and EOS have given Bitcoin a serious run for its money. The high price point, which has been Bitcoin’s most attractive feature in the past has also turned out to be its Achilles’ heel.

Percentage increases in profit are simply not as good as those in cryptocurrencies with lower prices. For example, a user who buys $2000 worth of XRP at $0.3 can afford to purchase 6666 tokens while the same amount will only purchase about 0.3 BTC at $6000 per unit. While XRP can easily rise by 100% to $0.6, it will take a lot more for BTC to hit $12,000. This makes it more profitable to buy into smaller cryptocurrencies.

But what about the earlier forecasts of Bitcoin? How do they tie in with this new usage information? Simple, they do not. Several forecasts were made with assumptions of an ideal situation in which adoption would progress quickly and at a steady rate. Some of these forecasts have been revisited, with extended timelines that seem more realistic in light of Bitcoin’s recent performance.

WHAT ARE THE BITCOIN PRICE PREDICTIONS FOR 2019 AND 2020?

The recent issues faced by Bitcoin have not stopped industry figures from making future predictions about its price. Industry predictions generally fall between $25,000-$29,000 as a realistic price point for Bitcoin.

This is especially because it has been trending in its transition band, in which it will trade most of the time, since May 2018. This signifies an imminent major bull run in the cryptocurrency industry.

Some other significant Bitcoin price predictions for 2019 include:

• $28,000 by the end of 2019, according to Ronnie Moas, crypto bull and founder of Standpoint Research, in a report published by Cointelegraph.
• $36,000 by the end of 2019, according to Sam Doctor, Quantamental Strategist at Fundstrat Global Advisors, who based his prediction on the historical average 1.8x P/BE multiple.
• $25,000 according to Thomas Lee, Co-Founder and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors
• $1 million, according to John McAfee, Founder of McAfee Associates, who earlier predicted a $500,000 price point before modifying it. McAfee claims that he used the same model which was used to predict $5000 at the end of 2017.
• $10,000-$100,000 in the next 5 years, according to Joe DiPasquale, CEO of BitBull Capital.
• $10,000 by the end of 2020 according to Fred Schebesta, Co-Founder and CEO of Finder.
• $61,900 by the end of 2020 according to Bobby Ullery, CTO of Waysay who also predicted a shared market capitalization of $4.5 trillion between Ethereum and Bitcoin.
• $30,000 by the end of 2020, according to Matias Dorta, Founder of ICO Informer, who also sees several countries adopting Bitcoin as a reserve currency by 2030.
• $30,000 by the end of 2020, according to Craig Russo, Co-founder of sludgefeed.com
• $75,000 by the end of 2020 and a market capitalization of $1.3 trillion, according to Brandon Quittem, a cryptocurrency analyst & writer.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Due to all the factors discussed above, including pending ETF proposals, stagnation, the introduction of Bitcoin futures and the competition among cryptocurrencies, it is difficult to say whether Bitcoin will indeed crash again in 2019. Considering its current performance, the leading virtual currency is at a point where it could either crash again or blossom into a widely accepted medium of exchange and investment.

As with almost everything else in this relatively new industry, the future of Bitcoin is shrouded in unpredictability and falls heavily in the hands of investors and regulators. However, there is no denying that Bitcoin is evolving every day as more people become exposed to it, including those who are not direct users.

Original Post: https://www.mintdice.com/blog/will-bitcoin-crash-again-in-2019

What Is Marketing Automation?

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Eliminate repetitive tasks so you can focus on other parts of your business.

With Mailchimp’s marketing automation tools, you can send the right message to the right people at the right time. It’s like having a second brain for your business.

Marketing Automation Defined

Marketing automation helps you stay connected with your audience (and find more people just like them), so you can eliminate repetitive tasks and focus on other parts of your business. Target people based on behavior, preferences, and previous sales—and use this intel to do things like welcome new subscribers, reach out to people who abandon their online shopping carts, and win back lapsed customers—automatically.

How Does Marketing Automation Help?

Build your brand

Promote your business and grow your audience with Facebook and Instagram adcampaigns that help you reach people who are similar to your best customers.

Connect with your new contacts

Make a powerful first impression. Show customers, students, or volunteers everything you have to offer by setting up an onboarding series. Let people know you’re thinking about them by creating an annual ‘Happy Birthday’ email. Or, simply extend a warm welcome to new contacts.

Sell more stuff

Put your purchase data to work for you. Connect your e-commerce store with Mailchimp to improve the shopping experience for your customers and generate more revenue.

• Turn website visitors into customers - Bring potential customers back to your site with ads that automatically display at the moment they’re ready to buy.
• Recover abandoned carts - Recapture sales by reminding customers what they’ve left behind and encourage them to complete their purchase.
• Customize order notifications - Design beautiful, personalized order notificationsthat match your branding and recommend related products.
• Follow up on purchases - Ask for feedback, send a quick survey, or provide customers with helpful information—like usage or care instructions—after they make a purchase.
• Personalize product recommendations - Suggest items your customers will love with product recommendations tailored to their purchase history.

Boost loyalty

Nurture lasting relationships by showing customers you appreciate their support. Marketing automation helps you reach out to first-time shoppers to thank them for their patronage. Or, reward your top spenders with discounts triggered by their shopping behavior.

Win people back

Re-engage lapsed customers or inactive subscribers by creating a win-back email series or targeted ad campaign.

Customize, test, and repeat

With Mailchimp, you can create the perfect automation for any situation. Provide educational resources to get new contacts acclimated with your organization or products. Share blog updates from your RSS feed, so your audience never misses out. Remind people to renew their membership and reward your top supporters. Or, build your own custom automations with triggers and send times that meet the unique needs of your business.

“Mailchimp has essentially been our 6th man, and we’re only a team of 3. It’s allowed us to reach our customers (without having to do it manually) and to customize everything so it feels intimate and personal.”

Reggie Thomas, owner of Pinship

Original Post: https://mailchimp.com/marketing-automation/

There's a Better Way to Find the Best Candidate for the Job

vervoe.com
by Omer Molad

Whenever the time comes to recruit new team members, companies tend to fall back on the same processes they’ve long relied on. After all, change is inevitably accompanied by risk, and few hiring managers are willing to try a new methodology with an unproven effect on their business.

However, as technology evolves, so too does the most effective way to conduct business. In the case of recruitment, this means embracing the latest hiring software innovations.

Today, hiring software eliminates the need for companies to waste hours of precious manpower evaluating every single applicant manually. Instead, intuitive software uses automation (and finely tuned interview scripts) to propel candidates from one stage to the next, effortlessly whittling down the applicant pool until only the most qualified individuals remain.

Learn why your company should ditch the phone screens and resumes and find a modern way to find the best candidate for a job on your team.

 Are Job Interviews Outdated?

Yes and no. While the evaluation process involved in interviews is often integral in determining whether a candidate has the character and qualifications for the role, the traditional way in which they are carried out is due for an overhaul. Too often, interviews have devolved into informal chats that have little to do with candidates demonstrating their qualifications for the role. They also present a number of problematic factors, such as blatant dishonesty or even personal bias. Simply put, in-person interviews have become more trouble than they’re worth.

Consider the fact that more and more workers are transitioning into remote work, and the concept of meeting face-to-face with a potential employee makes even less sense. True, it’s essential to get a clear picture of the applicant’s personality, but traditional interviews neglect the need for skills assessment. Why take an applicant’s word (or resume) at face value when you can allow him or her to prove their worth before you ever make a decision? Thankfully, automated hiring software maintains a focus on testing for the skill set required for each position and providing a clear idea of what employers can expect once the candidate begins work.

The Value of Hiring Software

So how does hiring software work, and how can it help you give your recruitment a much-needed update? For starters, there’s no need for hiring managers to engage applicants from the outset. In fact, it isn’t until the final crop of applicants remain that employers interact with them at all, liberating hiring managers from being bogged down in every step of the process. The software and the inbound hiring technology is able to assess the finest candidates for every position automatically.

Once applications are received, all candidates are invited to complete an online skills assessment, typically either a simulation or a quiz tailored specifically to the position. This allows employers to identify workers’ current skills and knowledge base, instead of trusting their past experience (no matter how relevant) to indicate how well they’ll perform in this role going forward. From there, the automated hiring system auto-sorts the results, ranking candidates based on their performance in each stage of the assessment process. No additional screening is necessary, and the most qualified members of the applicant pool naturally rise to the top. Only then do employers intervene and make the final decision based on these results.

Imagine how much easier it will be to cut more than a hundred candidates down to just a handful, knowing full well the extent to which each applicant is prepared to handle the tasks required by the position. Empowered with such an in-depth look into each remaining candidate, the traditional hiring method finally plays its role, opening up the door for the resume reviewing and interviewing most commonly associated with recruitment efforts. Only now the process takes a matter of days, not weeks or months. 

Outside the Box

Setting aside the way businesses are used to filling open positions, it’s easy to see the inherent value in automated hiring software. When you bring in a new team member, it shouldn’t be such a laborious process, and with the latest technology at your fingertips, there’s no reason it has to be.

Rather than spending your valuable resources meticulously poring over each application and conducting a parade of interviews, the time has come to modernize and develop a more thorough — and less tiresome — way to explore which candidates will make the greatest impact on your business. Of course, every company has its own set of specific hiring needs, but the beauty of automated hiring is that it can be tailored to fit the position in question.

This is no one-size-fits-all approach to recruiting new employees but an innovative way for companies to save time and resources without sacrificing the results they need to thrive. With the right technology, you can identify the best possible candidates for your team.

Original Post: https://vervoe.com/blog/theres-a-better-way-to-find-the-best-candidate-for-a-job/

How to Deal with Samsung Gear Virtual Reality Overheat?

techfuturae.com

Don’t you hate getting the Samsung Gear VR overheat message when you are in the middle of your VR experience? Well, I absolutely cannot stand it.

So, I set out to search for all the ways I could delay the overheating process (since prevention is not an option).

Though, not pleasing, your screen may have the irritating overheating message more frequently than you want.

In this nifty little guide, I have compiled all tricks and tips for you (with pro tips as a bonus!!) to make sure that you never have to go through the overheating situation in the middle of a game again.

With so many methods listed here, why not try out which method works for you!

What Will You Need?

You will need the following things along with your Samsung phone, Gear VR headset, and charger:

·         Standard size aluminum foil for heat sink

·         Electrical tape and scissors

·         Cooling gel pack

Before You Start the VR

Here is all you need to do to get started.

1. What is your Battery Level?

Using VR for more extended periods will end up draining your phone battery. Many people charge their phone while using VR but that overheats the phone beyond recommended temperatures, especially in case of quick chargers.

The reason is that you are already accessing graphical intensive applications on your phone and also heating it through charging.

·         Charge your phone before jumping into Virtual Reality.

2. Try Out New Apps Before VR

You may want to try out new apps or games to play during your VR. Download the apps before you insert the phone in the headset. Doing this will give you more playtime and also keep your phone cooler during the VR.

Continue in the original post: https://www.techfuturae.com/vr/guides/samsung-gear-overheat/

CRYPTOCURRENCY TAXES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

mintdice.com

Taxes are one of the most important things to consider when dealing with assets of any kind, especially since failure to do so could lead to problems with the IRS. Some people are not aware that cryptocurrency is an asset, just like any other asset class when it comes to taxes. But the process may seem so complicated that people fail to file in their tax returns.

Since the emergence of Bitcoin and other altcoins, people have been trading and investing in digital currencies as well as running alternative operations such as mining, and lending. When Bitcoin hit its all-time high of more than $19,000 in December 2017, more investors entered the space, looking to partake in the gains.

Unfortunately, Bitcoin and other altcoins are still widely viewed as a means of exchange in illicit transactions. As a result, people do not realize that trading, ICOs, and all other activities that can turn into money, are taxable events.

Taxpayers are advised to research on cryptocurrency tax expectations and stay ahead of the game by filing taxes before the IRS comes knocking. Currently, only several hundred people have been filing crypto taxes each year, which shows that others are deliberately avoiding them. As digital currencies gain increased popularity, the IRS is more focused on cryptocurrency than ever and it is essential to pay all due taxes.

ESSENTIAL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND

1. ALL CRYPTOCURRENCY TRADES AND SALES ARE TAXABLE

When considering cryptocurrency taxes, it can get confusing fast. These currencies are relatively new, and the industry is still figuring out the specifics of regulation, including fees. However, at the moment, cryptocurrencies can be taxed as either an investment or as a currency. Although the IRS has provided little information on the status of Bitcoin taxation, the organization regards virtual currencies as property for this purpose.

This means that certain related events such as trade and sales of crypto are taxable, and individuals must report them whether or not they lead to gains or losses. However, losses can offset gains and reduce taxes paid in the process. These capital gain implications apply as long as one cryptocurrency was exchanged for another currency including the US dollar, or spent on a taxable event. As an example, purchasing an altcoin like TRON using Bitcoin is treated as a sale and is, therefore, a taxable event.

Receiving digital currency as a form of compensation is also subject to federal tax laws. For example, a salary in the form of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Ripple is considered ordinary income at the fair market value of that currency at the time an individual receives it.

2. NOT ALL CRYPTO-RELATED EVENTS ARE TAXED

The IRS does not currently tax certain aspects of dealing with virtual currencies. One example is long-term investors who buy and hold these currencies. Unless they trade or sell them, they do not have to pay any taxes.

Most events, however, are taxable. Apart from trade and sale, spending digital currency is regarded as a tax event which can generate long-term and short-term gains and losses. Like other forms of compensation, air drops are also considered ordinary income on the day they are conducted. Its value on the first day forms its basis, and there will be a capital gain if the token is ever sold or exchanged. The same goes for initial coin offerings.

3. THE IRS IS MORE FOCUSED ON CRYPTO TAXES THAN EVER

The IRS examined records from 2013-2015 and observed that out of almost 150 million individual returns filed annually:

• Only 807 individuals submitted Bitcoin-related transactions on Form 8949 in 2013
• In 2014, only 893 individuals reported cryptocurrency-related transactions
• In 2015, the figure fell to 802

This observation led the IRS to conclude that many people were not reporting their transactions, thus prompting the decision to crack down on such individuals through exchanges.

Lately, the tax body has been putting a lot of effort into finding those who do not file their taxes. They’ve been partly successful in investigating unreported transactions in different forms and have also made headway in legally getting Coinbase to turn over transaction records for customers. The exchange was forced to submit information about users who have traded more than $20,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

Like any other asset, failing to pay taxes due on digital currencies is fraud and can attract up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $250,000. The attention on crypto taxes may increase as time goes on, so it is vital to start reporting such transactions as soon as possible.

4. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CRYPTOCURRENCY TAXES

The capital gains accrued on cryptocurrencies are taxable, and typically, there are two types of capital gains taxes: Long-term tax and short-term tax.

• LONG-TERM TAX

Long-term tax refers to capital gains accrued while holding cryptocurrency for more than a year before selling or trading it. They usually attract lower capital gains rates which range from 0% to 20%.

• SHORT-TERM TAX

Short-term capital gains apply to cryptocurrency an individual has held for less than a year and are taxed as ordinary income. This means that the marginal rate on that cryptocurrency will also apply to the short-term gains.

5. CRYPTO TAXES USUALLY REQUIRE TWO TAX FORMS

When filing cryptocurrency tax forms, it is essential to know which ones to use for different events. For now, there are two separate forms used.

Most investors are expected to use the sales, and other dispositions of capital assets Form 8949. In this form, they describe the digital assets they’ve traded, the purchase and sale dates, the amount made during the trade, the net gain or loss and the cost of the trade.

The other is Form 1040 Schedule D, which individuals use to document short-term and long-term gains and losses, using information from Form 8949.

6. CRYPTOCURRENCY MINERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY TAXES

Cryptocurrency earned by miners during the mining process is subject to income taxes. This means that miners are expected to pay taxes on all their earnings. The IRS considers mining, self-employment and under tax laws, the body charges miners a self-employment tax, usually about 15.3%. However, they can deduct expenses like electricity. Mining rewards are regarded as ordinary income at the fair market value of the mined currency, the day the miner received it.

7. CRYPTOCURRENCY TOKENS MAY BE TAX-EXEMPT

According to the IRS, a taxable cryptocurrency is one that either has an equivalent value to a real currency or can be substituted for one. A token, on the other hand, is a cryptocurrency that represents a service or asset. This means that crypto tokens which represent services without acting as a currency may not be subject to federal tax laws since the definition does not apply to them.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Taxes are the part of cryptocurrency that people seldom hear about because many aspects are still unclear. However, it is something that every individual must take seriously. For now, the IRS’ investigation is not yet heated, and investors can take advantage of the lack of strict actions, to file their taxes. The IRS updated its cryptocurrency tax guidance in 2014, but hopefully, shortly, it will come up with more specific guidelines.

Original Post: https://www.mintdice.com/blog/cryptocurrency-taxes-what-you-need-to-know

HIRING ONLINE HIRING: CAN YOU HIRE SOMEONE WITHOUT MEETING THEM?

vervoe.com

Today we can do so many things remotely. We can do our grocery shopping from the couch, we can pay bills or buy tickets without lining up, and we can see what our dogs are doing in the backyard from our phones. We even know when our ride will arrive without needing to speak to anyone. We owe that to technology, which has made our lives so much more convenient.

“Space isn’t remote at all. It’s only an hour’s drive away if your car could go straight upwards.”

– Fred Hoyle

Technology is not a substitute for everything though. Sometimes, our practical objectives can be achieved with greater speed but the intangible, human touch is missing. Just like the sensation of a scented candle can’t be experienced remotely, body language may be harder to read and rapport can be more difficult to generate. A handshake or an embrace are not possible.

The hiring process is a negotiation, with a view to form a partnership. Technically, that partnership is between a business and an employee. But in reality, it is a partnership between human beings who need to work together and achieve common goals.

Does that mean that you have to meet each candidate in person before hiring them? Not necessarily. But you do need a plan for overcoming the challenges that the physical distance can create.

It’s common to distinguish between skills and behaviors, sometimes referred to as hard skills and soft skills, or, to quote Seth Godin, “functional skills” and “real skills”.  Thinking of hiring in this way can help break down the assessment into targeted components.

Let’s apply this approach to remote hiring. Here is a simple, four-step process that won’t let you down.

Step 1: Separating the Substantive and Human Touch Components

It’s good practice to always start with the job description and align the hiring process to the daily activities that will be performed in the role.

First, make a short list of all the things you’d like to assess. Next, split out the things that you think fall into the “human touch” category. These are things you would normally gauge when you’re in the same room as someone, such as chemistry, warmth or even communication style.

Try to resist the temptation to label every so-called soft skill as “human touch”.  For example, things like grit, motivation or teamwork are very substantive and can be assessed online and offline. The way to think about the “human touch” category is to focus on the things you might pick up in the first 30 seconds of meeting  someone. It’s the first impression.

Let’s call everything else “substantive”.

Step 2:  Substantive Assessment

Use performance-based hiring methods to assess all the “substantive” skills and behaviors you identified. This includes“functional skills” and “real skills”.

Everything will be online due to the distance. You can conduct two-way, live interviews, that require you to participate in each interview. This can be done over Skype or Hangouts.

If you want to save a lot of time, you can conduct automated interviews, which are one-way, on-demand interviews, so you will only have to spend time viewing the responses. Automated interviews will help you simulate tasks that are typically done on the job. Each candidate will answer an identical set of questions so there won’t be any interviewer bias. Writing an expert interview script is key to success here.

You may also choose to conduct an accredited personality test, or construct a cultural fit questionnaire that compares the candidate’s values and behaviors to those of your business.

This part of the hiring process should be highly structured. At the end you will know two things about your candidates: what they can do and how they approach their work.

You’re nearly there.

Step 3: Human Touch 

Start with a pre-recorded video to get a sense of how the candidate speaks, smiles and makes eye contact. There are no right answers here, just intuition.

Timed interview questions that simulate real-world customer scenarios are great in the “substantive” part of the assessment, but not here.

What we’re looking for here is a relaxed environment, not a pressure cooker. Ask candidates to speak about the last project they worked on, about their favorite hobby or about something they really enjoy doing. The answers don’t matter. It’s about connecting on a human level.

End with a live video discussion. Keep it informal. You’re only talking to people who you know can do the job well at this stage. The focus should be on assessing fit and validating everything you learned so far.

Arranging for several people from your team to speak with the top couple of candidates by phone or video is always an option.

Step 4: Reference Checks 

Given the remoteness, reference checks are an extremely important component of the hiring process and they should be used wisely.

Notwithstanding any video recordings you watch and live video discussions you conduct, you still haven’t met your preferred candidate in person. That’s nothing to fear, but speaking to someone who has worked directly with the person you’re about to hire will add a lot of value. It will help you fill in any remaining gaps.

The focus of the reference checks should be on how the candidate interacts with others. Here some of the questions you could ask the referee:

• When did you see the candidate out of her comfort zone?
• What kind of personality type does the candidate not get along with?
• What kind of management style would the candidate not respond well to?
• Describe the candidate when he is having a bad day.
• What does it take to get the candidate off balance?
• When the candidate is at his best, what stands out the most?
• If the candidate works on a project with two other peers, will she take the lead?

Original Post: https://vervoe.com/blog/online-hiring-can-you-hire-someone-without-meeting-them/