Author: Sam Allcock

Introduction In the digital age, identity has become an invaluable asset. From online transactions to accessing services, individuals constantly share personal data across platforms, often surrendering control to centralized entities. This dependency has led to growing concerns about privacy breaches, data misuse, and identity theft. Blockchain technology offers a transformative solution to these challenges by enabling decentralized digital identity systems. Digital identity on blockchain empowers individuals with control over their personal information, offering enhanced security, transparency, and privacy. Through blockchain’s immutable and decentralized nature, users can authenticate themselves without relying on intermediaries. This paradigm shift not only enhances user experience…

The corporate and banking teams at law firm Shakespeare Martineau have supported a record-breaking £6.6 billion-worth of deals during 2024 across a range of sectors, with an average deal value of £18 million. Experts in mergers and acquisitions, fast-growth businesses, investment funds and finance, Shakespeare Martineau’s corporate team has expanded to meet client demand over the past year, including partner hires across its Sheffield, Southampton and London hubs, as well as the appointment of a six-strong healthcare specialist team. Sector deal highlights include technology and healthcare, as well approximately £1 billion-worth of deals in the energy sector alone. Notable transactions include an exclusive…

London-based Nickel Digital Asset Management (Nickel), Europe’s leading regulated and award-winning digital assets hedge fund manager has announced its systematic Diversified Alpha Fund has delivered a record-breaking annual performance. This is a non-directional multi-strategy fund, which wraps a portfolio of attractive but hard-to-access and capacity-constrained digital asset strategies into a single, investible fund. Data (1) from BarclayHedge shows it achieved a net return of 34.9% in 2024, the strongest performance in the Fund’s four year history. Notably, the Fund gained 3.8% in December, despite BTC declining by 3% and ETH by 10%, highlighting the Fund’s uncorrelated nature. Overall, the fund gained in 11 out of 12 months last…

RIF Trust CEO Mimoun Assraoui advises clients how to invest in a coveted European Union passport. “Surprisingly Residency by Investment offers more of a route to the leading European passports than Citizenship by Investment,” he reveals. “There are 29 countries that make up the EU Schengen Area and the 27 European Union countries. While there are overlaps, being in the Schengen Area doesn’t guarantee your EU status and vice versa. As a EU resident, you can travel freely through the Schengen Zone.” Our CEO points out the value of the RIF Trust Passport Index. “This tool allows you to compare…

Once you have set up and created an established business, your mind may begin to turn towards future potential and growth. Growing without a plan can lead to your business taking on too much and being unable to fulfil orders. Organic growth is always the best. That being said, there are some prudent decisions you can make to cut costs as you scale up. Invest in pre-owned company vehicles There are several reasons why a company may need to use company cars. You may have travelling salesmen or use them to visit different factories and workshops. Whatever the reason, a…

When it comes to picking out gifts for loved ones, finding something that addresses their specific needs is always best. They might need help fixing annoyances like squeaky doors or might want to solve boredom with an activity they enjoy. All shipments to Canada must include customs forms with accurate details on their contents. Your shipping provider can guide you through pre-filling these forms during the booking process. Here you will know more about sending parcels to Canada. Send parcels anywhere in Canada Whether you’re a professional or an individual, there are many ways to send parcels in Canada. In…

Digital payments are revolutionising the financial world, transforming how we handle money and invest. This technological shift makes financial transactions and investments more accessible, efficient, and secure for everyone. From buying coffee to paying bills, digital payments offer convenience and speed, with mobile wallets, contactless cards, and online transfers rapidly replacing cash and checks. The global digital payments market has experienced exponential growth, with transaction values projected to reach $20.37 trillion in 2025, according to Statista. This staggering figure underscores the pivotal role that digital payment technologies now play in our financial ecosystem and their potential to revolutionise traditional and…

Qarddin Token, a rising star in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, is set to make its debut on Coinbase, one of the world’s most popular and trusted cryptocurrency exchanges. This listing marks a crucial step in Qarddin Token’s journey, expanding its reach to millions of retail and institutional investors across the globe. A New Era for Qarddin Token The listing on Coinbase represents a significant milestone for Qarddin Token, affirming its strong fundamentals and potential for long-term growth. Coinbase, known for its rigorous listing standards, is a gateway to mainstream crypto adoption. By joining the ranks of tokens available on…

The world of business, over the last hundred years or so, has been utterly transformed by technological progress. In recent years, the pace of this progress has accelerated dramatically – to the extent that a single worker might have to adapt considerably over the course of a given career. But why, exactly, is this change for the better? If you’re running a business and you’re interested in getting the best from it, then it’s worth considering exactly what benefits you’ll get from new technologies, and whether they’re really worth adapting to. Enhancing Operational Efficiency Some tasks can be performed much…