Tag: US dollar
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Money Talks — But What Does It Say?
What does your money say? Of course, most of the time, we’re more concerned with what money can buy – and what various institutions like the Federal Reserve and the megabanks are doing with it. But a country’s history, culture and values are written on the coins and bills it keeps in circulation. Case in…
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The MintChip: Mainstream Banking Tries to Get Digital
It sounds like a new kind of snack: the MintChip. But this product of the Royal Canadian Mint represents a new stage in the evolution of digital currency: digital money created and controlled by a state bank. And its demise in April 2014 serves as a cautionary tale about the efforts of governments and traditional…
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Is Your Technology Controlling You?
Do you feel anxious if you forget your cell phone? Can’t take a trip without your GPS? Don’t remember the last time you used a pen and paper? If that’s the case, you may be addicted to technology. And that, say experts, is a recognized addictive disorder that can result in anxiety, depression and lost…
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The Dollar’s Stil a Mainstay of World Currency
The venerable American dollar has taken a beating of sorts in recent months, facing fluctuating values in world markets and incursions from digital alternatives like the Bitcoin. But even with its ups and downs, the dollar’s still king in a world hungry for currency that’s stable, solid and backed by a secure government. As a…
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Does the Ukraine Crisis Affect US Money Matters?
As Russian troops seized control half a world away in Ukraine, and international tensions began to rise, we’ve been uncomfortably reminded that in an interlinked global economy, what happens across the globe can also affect conditions in our own backyard. Because the US is massively indebted to foreign countries, money market watchers worry that the…
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The Federal Reserve Faces Critics At Home and Abroad
The Federal Reserve’s brand new leader has a lot on her plate. As the nation’s central bank takes the first steps toward tapering down its massive stimulus plan, it faces not just criticism from emerging markets around the globe but also from financial experts at home, who worry bout the Fed’s long-term stability. A few…
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Can The World Have Too Many Currencies?
While the Bitcoin continues to grab headlines for reasons good and bad, other digital currencies are quietly staking their own claim in the international money markets. As it’s becoming clear that virtually anybody can put a digital money system in place, economists and financial experts worry about the impact these upstarts could have on the…
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Is Digital Currency Real Money?
Banned by governments, implicated in drug market money laundering and welcomed worldwide to buy big and small ticket items, the Bitcoin is paving the way for new ways to by and sell that are far removed from the traditional models of money. But the jury’s still out on whether it can behave like “real” money…
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Do It Yourself Digital Money: The Open Transaction Project
Bored with the Bitcoin? Frustrated with the limitations of the Ven, the LItecoin, the Feathercoin? Just make your own digital currency – it’s easy and free. While that may be a slight exaggeration, the very proliferation of those Bitcoin clones and other alternatives confirm the fact that available technology makes it possible for anyone to…