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Wall Street Journal
2 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Letitia James Gets Trumped on Appeal
When a New York state judge last year ordered Donald Trump and his business associates to pay $450 million for civil fraud, Attorney General Letitia James gloated that her case showed Mr. Trump's success 'was based on the art of the steal.' Now it's his turn to brag, after winning on appeal. On Thursday a panel of a New York appeals court threw out that unbelievable penalty. 'The court's disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,' the lead opinion says. It gets more complicated from there, because the five judges issued three fractured analyses that run 323 pages. But little looks good for Ms. James. One judge wanted to toss the AG's case. The law she wielded against Mr. Trump, Justice David Friedman says, 'has never been used in the way it is being used in this case—namely, to attack successful, private, commercial transactions, negotiated at arm's length between highly sophisticated parties,' and all profited. 'Plainly,' he adds, Ms. James's ultimate goal was 'the derailment of President Trump's political career and the destruction of his real estate business.' Two judges found the lower court's work so flawed they wanted to give Mr. Trump a new trial. As Justice John Higgitt sees it, the trial judge relied on an 'erroneous interpretation' of legal precedents on the statute of limitations. That judge granted summary judgment, yet 'failed to view the evidence in the light most favorable to defendants.' He 'impermissibly made credibility determinations not just of the evidence but also the experts.'
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Have $1,000? Here Are The 3 Best Cryptos To Buy Now
With thousands of digital assets on the market, deciding where to invest can be overwhelming. For those looking to invest $1,000 in crypto, focusing on projects with strong foundations is advantageous. This article highlights three cryptocurrencies to consider now, evaluated through three essential characteristics. Security, scalability and decentralization work together to shape which networks are best positioned for long-term success. Why Invest In Cryptocurrency? Investors are typically drawn to crypto because it offers an alternative to traditional financial systems. Unlike banks or centralized institutions, cryptocurrencies can operate on decentralized networks, giving participants more direct control over their assets. This structure reduces reliance on intermediaries and increases transparency, as all transactions can be recorded on a public ledger, depending on the type of crypto. Crypto can also be more accessible than conventional investing. Anyone with an internet connection can participate, which opens the door to financial tools that may not be available through traditional banks. Combined with the potential for long-term growth and innovation, these qualities make digital assets an appealing option for individuals seeking diversification beyond stocks, bonds or real estate. Factors to Consider Before Buying Crypto Before purchasing any crypto, it is imperative to evaluate key fundamentals. Market capitalization can provide a broad sense of a project's size and potential resilience, but it should not be the only measure of value. Liquidity, often reflected in trading volume, helps determine how easily an asset can be bought or sold without significant price swings. Reviewing price history across different time frames can also reveal whether growth is steady or primarily driven by speculation. Investors should also look at use cases and adoption. A strong ecosystem, a clear white paper and a team with proven experience may suggest a more reliable project. Observing social sentiment and community engagement can provide additional insight, though these signals should be weighed carefully. Finally, cybersecurity should never be overlooked. Best practices include enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links or direct messages, keeping private keys secure and limiting how much information you share about your holdings. Careful evaluation and safe practices together help reduce risk in the highly volatile crypto market. The 3 Best Cryptos to Buy With $1,000 in 2025 Putting $1,000 into crypto in 2025 can go further when focused on projects with proven strength and clear momentum. Bitcoin remains the market leader and a cornerstone of the digital asset space. Solana has emerged as a high-performance network with fast transactions and expanding adoption. Bittensor represents an innovative approach, combining blockchain with artificial intelligence in a growing ecosystem. Together, these three cryptos highlight different aspects of security, scalability and decentralization that make them noteworthy in 2025. Bitcoin is considered the foundation of the crypto market and remains the most secure and decentralized network in existence. Its structure relies on thousands of independent nodes, along with bitcoin miners, distributed globally, making it extremely difficult for any single entity to manipulate or control the system. This high level of security and decentralization is a primary reason investors view Bitcoin as a reliable store of value and a hedge against traditional financial risks. However, scalability has long been a challenge. Bitcoin can only process a limited number of transactions per second, which can result in congestion and higher fees during periods of heavy use. While this limitation has led some to see Bitcoin primarily as a settlement layer or store of value, innovations such as the Lightning Network and other Layer 2 solutions are being developed to address these issues. Despite these challenges, Bitcoin's first-mover advantage, unmatched security and broad adoption across both institutional and retail markets continue to support its position as the leading crypto. It remains a cornerstone asset that demonstrates resilience and long-term potential, even as debates about scalability and transaction efficiency continue. Solana has quickly established itself as one of the fastest-growing blockchains, with its native token SOL playing a central role in the network's ecosystem. Built with scalability in mind, Solana is capable of processing tens of thousands of transactions per second while keeping costs extremely low, often just a fraction of a cent. This speed and efficiency have made it a preferred platform for developers building decentralized applications, NFTs and payment systems. The network's high throughput and efficiency, powered by its Proof of History mechanism working alongside Proof of Stake, have positioned Solana as more than just a retail-focused platform. Its expanding ecosystem and ability to process transactions at scale are increasingly drawing attention from institutional investors, who view Solana as a potential backbone for financial applications and broader integration with TradFi. That said, Solana faces challenges that investors should weigh carefully. The network has experienced outages in the past, raising concerns about reliability. In addition, Solana's relatively small number of validators has led to questions about how decentralized the network truly is compared to others, such as Ethereum. Even so, its combination of speed, low fees and growing adoption makes Solana a strong contender for investors seeking exposure to innovative crypto ecosystems. Bittensor is a relatively new addition to the crypto market, with its native token TAO launched in 2023. The project takes a distinctive approach by combining blockchain technology with artificial intelligence, creating a network where participants can contribute to AI-related tasks such as training, inference and data processing. In return, they earn rewards in TAO. Unlike traditional mining, which relies on raw computational power to secure the chain, Bittensor rewards participants for producing practical digital work that strengthens the system's overall performance. A defining feature of Bittensor is its subnet architecture. These modular, specialized communities operate independently, creating incentive structures for specific AI functions. Contributors compete to provide the best outputs, which are then evaluated by validators to ensure quality and accuracy. This model aims to build a decentralized AI marketplace where innovation is rewarded, and participation remains merit-based. As an alternative to corporate-led AI development, the project sets itself apart by offering an open-source, global platform for collaboration. While large technology companies dominate access to advanced machine learning, Bittensor aims to make participation more transparent and decentralized. Its listing on Coinbase in 2025 has expanded visibility, but as the newest of the three cryptos highlighted here, it still carries a higher degree of uncertainty. TAO has already experienced significant price swings since its launch, and long-term adoption remains unproven, making it a higher-risk investment compared to more established networks. In terms of the blockchain trilemma, the project places strong emphasis on decentralization and scalability through its subnet design. However, questions about security and network maturity remain as it continues to grow. Bottom Line Investing $1,000 in crypto requires careful consideration of projects that balance security, scalability and decentralization. Bitcoin sets itself apart as the strongest option, with unmatched security, decentralization, and adoption that continue to make it the market leader, even as scalability challenges remain. Solana brings speed, low transaction costs and growing institutional attention, though questions about reliability and decentralization persist. Bittensor introduces a novel combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence, offering high potential but also greater uncertainty as a newer project. Together, these three cryptos reflect different strengths and risks in today's market. Bitcoin provides stability and adoption, Solana delivers performance and efficiency, and Bittensor offers innovation in emerging AI-blockchain integration. For investors, understanding each project's role within the broader ecosystem is key to making informed decisions about long-term potential. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. All investments in crypto carry risk, and readers should conduct their own research or consult a financial professional before making decisions. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is $1,000 Enough To Start Investing In Crypto? Yes, $1,000 is enough to begin investing in crypto. A key advantage of the market is its accessibility, as investors can purchase fractional amounts of digital assets, making participation possible at nearly any price point. Should I Buy All At Once Or Spread Out My Purchases? Both approaches are valid, but the choice depends on an investor's risk tolerance and strategy. How Do I Store My Crypto Safely? There are many ways to store crypto, but the most crucial step is prioritizing security. This can be achieved through a reputable hardware wallet for self-custody, a trusted custodial service with strong protections in place or other methods.
News24
4 hours ago
- News24
Nigeria deports 60 Chinese, 39 Filipino scammers
Nigeria has deported 102 foreigners, including 60 Chinese nationals and 39 Filipinos, convicted of 'cyber-terrorism and internet fraud', its anti-corruption agency said on Thursday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had said in an earlier statement that 50 Chinese were among the latest deportees, which included a Tunisian. The agency's spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, later told AFP that another 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese and two Kazakhstanis had also been repatriated since 15 August. More deportations were scheduled in the coming days, he added. EFCC released pictures of Asian men wearing surgical face masks and lining up at airport check-in counters. The deportees were among 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in a single operation in Lagos' affluent Victoria Island area last December. READ | Nigeria detains troops, police for alleged sale of weapons to armed groups At least 192 of those arrested were foreign nationals, of whom 148 were Chinese, the EFCC said. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has a reputation for internet fraudsters known in local slang as 'Yahoo Boys'. The EFCC has arrested several hideouts where young criminals learn scamming skills. According to the agency, foreign gangs recruited Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams. The attackers typically try to deceive victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive information such as passwords. The scams target mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans. Experts also warn that foreign 'cybercrime syndicates' have set up shop in the country to exploit its weak cybersecurity systems.
