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VCTF formalises deal with 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to unlock dedicated SME fund
thebftonline33d ago

VCTF formalises deal with 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to unlock dedicated SME fund

By Ebenezer NJOKU The Venture Capital Trust Fund has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to establish a dedicated financing vehicle for small and medium-sized enterprises intending to operate around the clock, the fund’s chief executive confirmed during an executive site visit to portfolio companies in Accra. The agreement, first [...]The post VCTF formalises deal with 24-Hour Economy Secretariat to unlock dedicated SME fund appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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MARA Revises Bitcoin Treasury Strategy, Opens Door To Selling $3.5 Billion In BTC
newsbtc33d ago

MARA Revises Bitcoin Treasury Strategy, Opens Door To Selling $3.5 Billion In BTC

MARA Holdings, one of the largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies in the world, has signaled a major shift in strategy that could have significant implications for the broader BTC market. In a recent filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company disclosed an update to its treasury policy that would allow it to sell Bitcoin from its balance sheet — a notable departure from its long-standing commitment to holding the asset as a long-term investment. Bitcoin Miner MARA May Sell Reserves Under the new policy, MARA is no longer strictly committed to retaining all of the Bitcoin it mines. Instead, it has opened the door to potentially liquidating part or even all of its holdings if circumstances require it. MARA currently holds 53,822 BTC, making it the second-largest publicly traded corporate holder of Bitcoin, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net. At current market prices, the company’s reserves are valued at approximately $3.59 billion. Only Michael Saylor’s Strategy — formerly known as MicroStrategy — holds more, with over 720,000 BTC. Related Reading: Bitcoin Prints Fifth Straight Red Month; Previous Streak Was Followed By 300% Surge In its filing, MARA acknowledged that prolonged weakness in Bitcoin’s price could materially affect its financial position. If the price remains depressed or declines further, the value of its holdings could fall significantly, weighing on its balance sheet and liquidity. Because Bitcoin mining represents the company’s primary source of revenue, extended price declines could make it increasingly difficult to cover operational costs, meet debt obligations, or fund strategic initiatives. The company also pointed to upcoming financial obligations, including the potential need to repurchase outstanding convertible senior notes in 2027. Meeting such obligations would require substantial cash resources. Under those circumstances — including liquidity pressures or adverse market conditions — MARA said it may decide to sell a portion or the entirety of its Bitcoin reserves. Potential ‘Supply Bomb’ Looms Market analyst Shanaka Anslem offered a detailed breakdown of the company’s current challenges. According to Anslem, MARA’s production cost now stands at approximately $87,000 per Bitcoin, while the asset is trading around $66,690. That gap means the company is effectively losing money on each block it mines. At the same time, hashprice — a key measure of mining profitability — has dropped to a record low of $35 per petahash. Anslem also highlighted MARA’s 2025 open-market purchases. During that year, the company acquired 4,267 BTC at an average price of $111,034 per coin. With current prices significantly lower, those purchases are now roughly 38% underwater. Related Reading: CME Capitalizes On ADA, XLM, LINK In Crypto Strategy: Key Figures Exposed Looking ahead, Anslem suggested that blockchain data will provide critical clues about whether MARA’s policy shift translates into actual selling. If the company’s wallets show no meaningful outflows over the next 90 days, he argued, the announcement may amount to little more than optional flexibility, and the perceived supply overhang could prove illusory. However, if substantial transfers begin — particularly in a market environment characterized by a Fear and Greed Index reading of 15 and Bitcoin already down 22% year-to-date — the psychological and price impact could be significant. In that scenario, other miners with large treasuries might also come under scrutiny, creating what he described as a potential “supply bomb” effect. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

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WATCH LIVE: SpaceX Set for Wednesday Morning Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral
spacecoastdaily33d ago

WATCH LIVE: SpaceX Set for Wednesday Morning Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit for Wednesday, March 4, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. [...]The post WATCH LIVE: SpaceX Set for Wednesday Morning Rocket Launch from Cape Canaveral appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

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Cybersecurity is now the price of admission for industrial AI
helpnetsecurity33d ago

Cybersecurity is now the price of admission for industrial AI

Industrial organizations are accelerating AI deployment across manufacturing, utilities, and transportation and running straight into a security problem. Cisco’s 2026 State of Industrial AI Report, based on responses from more than 1,000 decision-makers across 19 countries, finds that cybersecurity has become the single largest obstacle to AI adoption, outranking skills gaps, integration challenges, and budget constraints. The shift is notable. In 2024, cybersecurity ranked third among external growth obstacles. By 2026, 40% of respondents cite ... More →The post Cybersecurity is now the price of admission for industrial AI appeared first on Help Net Security.

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Three months into Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, has it been a success?
theguardiantheguardian33d ago

Three months into Australia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s, has it been a success?

Getting platforms to comply with the restrictions was no small feat. But it’s too early to measure the real-world mental health outcomes As the UK becomes the latest country to consider following Australia’s lead on a social media ban for teenagers, a question Australians are repeatedly being asked is: how is it going?“Our data is still minimal,” says Caroline Thain, national clinical adviser with the mental health organisation Headspace. “We’re really waiting for a few more months before we do a deeper dive.” Continue reading...

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India's PMI Services Remain Strong In February At 58.1
menafn33d ago

India's PMI Services Remain Strong In February At 58.1

(MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) India's services sector continued to expand at a healthy pace in February, even as growth in new orders slowed amid rising competition, according to the ...

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