Latest news with #JeffPark
Arabian Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Bitcoin Gains Traction as Investors Seek Stability Amid Economic Uncertainty
Bitcoin has surged to a record high of nearly $112,000, diverging from a flat and uncertain stock market. Traditionally, both assets moved in tandem, but 2025 has seen episodes of decoupling, particularly as Bitcoin has shown more resilience amid economic uncertainty spurred by President Trump's tariff policies. Analysts attribute the crypto rally not to a broad risk-on sentiment but to growing optimism around favorable regulatory shifts under the Trump administration. Policies such as Trump's executive order to create a federal bitcoin reserve and new state-level initiatives like Texas's proposed strategic bitcoin reserve and New Hampshire's law allowing public funds in digital assets have bolstered confidence. The cryptocurrency's ascent is further supported by institutional investors like BlackRock increasing Bitcoin allocations while reducing stock holdings, suggesting a shift in strategy. Proposed federal legislation to regulate stablecoins could further integrate cryptocurrencies with traditional finance and spur broader adoption. Despite the mounting risks, Bitcoin has maintained a price range between $90,000 and $100,000. Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, has boldly declared that Bitcoin currently offers a 'generational opportunity' for investors. Park highlighted BTC's implied volatility percentile – a measure that reflects how its current volatility compares to historical levels – noting that BTC's IV percentile is at its lowest level of the year, reinforcing his view that Bitcoin presents a 'generational opportunity.' ADVERTISEMENT However, some experts urge caution. Mark Hackett from Nationwide Financial emphasized it's premature to classify bitcoin as a store of value due to its historically risk-prone nature. Analysts note that for bitcoin to be considered a legitimate alternative to safe havens like gold, it must sustain a long-term, low-correlation performance with traditional risk assets. In emerging markets like BRIC and GCC, Bitcoin exhibits a more distinct behavior, diverging from traditional assets. This divergence may stem from less integrated financial markets, where Bitcoin can act as an alternative investment vehicle in the absence of robust traditional safe havens like government bonds. Furthermore, in these regions, cryptocurrencies may attract retail investors seeking protection against local currency devaluation or inflation, which are more common in emerging economies. Bitcoin's unique characteristics, continued adoption, and overall industry growth make the cryptocurrency a viable instrument for hedging against global liquidity crises, according to Grayscale Investments. The digital currency asset manager explores how bitcoin can give investors protection in uncertain political and economic situations, arguing that the digital currency 'deserves a steady strategic position within many long-term investment portfolios' as it represents 'a transparent, immutable, and global form of liquidity that can provide both wealth preservation and growth opportunities.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Waltz Health and WellDyne Partner to Launch Transparent Specialty Pharmacy Solution for Health Plans and Employers
WellDyne to integrate Waltz Connect, bringing AI-powered cost savings and a consumer-first experience to WellDyne's plan sponsors and their members CHICAGO & LAKELAND, Fla., May 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Waltz Health, a digital health company developing smarter, technology-enabled ways to price, distribute and prescribe medications, today announced a new partnership with WellDyne to launch a transparent specialty pharmacy solution powered by Waltz Connect. The collaboration brings Waltz Health's Intelligent Specialty Engine and consumer-first platform to WellDyne's clients, starting with a select list of high-cost specialty medications and expanding throughout the year. The partnership reflects WellDyne's commitment to WellDyne Clear — its transparent PBM model — and to its integrated digital member routing strategy, a bold approach that uses real-time technology to guide members to the most cost-effective medication options available. WellDyne will leverage Waltz Connect's dynamic pharmacy marketplace and AI-driven routing engine to intelligently match prescriptions to the most cost-effective and clinically appropriate pharmacy, including WellDyne's own high-performing specialty pharmacy, HealthDyne. "In today's competitive PBM landscape, transparency isn't a buzzword — it's a business imperative," said Jeff Park, President of Waltz Health. "WellDyne's forward-thinking approach stands out among PBMs, and we're proud to bring our modern specialty solution to their clients. Together, we're proving that innovation and patient-centered design can go hand-in-hand with savings." Waltz Connect includes proprietary technology, patient engagement support and a first-of-its-kind dynamic marketplace with a network of high-quality specialty pharmacies that compete on price, service levels and clinical outcomes. It's built on Waltz Health's Intelligent Specialty Engine, an AI-enabled prescription routing software that intuitively finds the best and most appropriate specialty pharmacy option. It also comes with additional support that ensures a seamless member experience, proactively guiding patients through their specialty medication journey with real-time updates, eligibility checks and other support through preferred communication channels. This ensures WellDyne members will receive high-quality, cost-effective care while improving speed to therapy and reducing administrative friction. "Traditional PBMs thrive on complexity. At WellDyne, we do the opposite," said Steve Saft, CEO of WellDyne. "Developing our integrated routing tools that enable customers to select the best option is a cornerstone of our industry-leading PBM solution. Embedding Waltz Connect into the core of our model makes it effortless for members to choose lower-cost medications — and empowers plan sponsors to realize measurable savings. It's transparency, affordability and better outcomes by design, not chance." In addition to leveraging Waltz Connect for specialty drugs, WellDyne also integrated Waltz Health's Marketplace Search application for payers, which saves people more money on non-specialty drugs while also filling gaps in prescription data for health plans and plan sponsors. The solution enables members to get the lowest-available price – whether it's their copay or an eligible discount program – on a list of drugs set by WellDyne, while also ensuring applicable spend is applied to each member's deductible. About Waltz Health Waltz Health is a digital health company developing technologies and services that support better-informed decisions on prescription care. Designed for payers, pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and self insured employers, the company offers AI-driven marketplaces to lower overall drug costs, providing better pricing options and more information for consumers while also helping payers take control of their pharmacy benefits. Founded in 2021 by Mark Thierer and Jonathon Thierer, Waltz Health is headquartered in Chicago and is backed by GV, Define Ventures, Echo Health Ventures, Blue Venture Fund, Byers Capital, and Twine Ventures. For more information, visit About WellDyne WellDyne is rewriting industry standards. As a pharmacy benefit manager driven by transparency, powerful technology and evidence-based clinical strategies, WellDyne eliminates waste and delivers results. With a simple, low-net cost model, the company drives better outcomes, reduces trend and delivers guaranteed savings. Learn more at View source version on Contacts Sam Moorepress@
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SoftBank Is Buying Bitcoin Again, After $130M Loss in 2018. Is This Time Different?
Japanese investment giant SoftBank is dipping its toes back into crypto by backing a new bitcoin (BTC) investment vehicle, Twenty One Capital, in conjunction with Tether, Bitfinex, and Cantor Fitzgerald. For some, the SoftBank Group—which has $308.7 billion assets under management—taking an interest in bitcoin is a welcome development and another sign of mounting institutional crypto adoption. After all, SoftBank functions more or less like a Japanese sovereign wealth fund, according to Jeff Park, head of alpha strategies at Bitwise. But for seasoned observers, it could be more of a déjà-vu than a breakthrough. Flashback to 2019, SoftBank made headlines when its founder, Masayoshi Son, took a gigantic loss on a personal bitcoin investment. Son had taken exposure to cryptocurrency in late 2017, when the ICO mania was at its peak and bitcoin was trading at an all-time high of around $20,000. With bitcoin now trading at $93,000, Son's investment would have been very profitable had he held on. But he sold in early 2018 as bitcoin began to crash, resulting in a $130 million loss, according to the Wall Street Journal. So the question investors could be asking themselves now is, would this time be different? To find a clue, let's take Oracle (ORCL) stock as an example. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that SoftBank would be part of a $100 billion push to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. in conjunction with OpenAI and Oracle (ORCL). One would say this is a bullish outcome for ORCL stock. However, since the announcement was made on Jan. 22, coinciding with ORCL topping at $188 per share, the stock fell 28%, while the Nasdaq has gone down 12% in the same period of time. Other outside factors, including macro headwinds and geopolitical tension, could explain the underperformance. It could also be just a plain coincidence. However, one analyst tied this Oracle selloff to Softbank's involvement in the AI infrastructure project. 'When SoftBank enters an asset you own, you sell. I don't make the rules,' Quinn Thompson, founder of crypto hedge fund Lekker Capital, wrote in a post on X, citing the Oracle pullback. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Climbs 7% to $86,000 as Stocks Fall, Inflation Cools, and Corporate Holdings Rise 16%
Bitcoin has shown unusual strength against a backdrop of economic instability, with its price climbing nearly 7% over the past week to reach around $84,000 and even briefly touching $86,000. This comes as major U.S. stock indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit year-long lows and bond yields surged to levels not seen since 2007. Crypto trading firm Wintermute noted that Bitcoin 'held up relatively well… revisiting price levels from around the U.S. election period.' In past downturns, Bitcoin typically saw steeper declines than traditional financial assets. 'This marks a notable shift from its historical behavior in crisis situations,' the firm wrote. Wintermute linked this performance to a growing institutional presence and the changing nature of investor sentiment around Bitcoin. New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the Consumer Price Index increased 2.4% year-over-year in March but decreased by 0.1% month-over-month—marking the first monthly decline since May 2020. The Producer Price Index also slowed, rising 2.7% in March after a 3.2% increase in February. Wintermute pointed out that, 'Despite this progress toward the Fed's 2% inflation target, the recent escalation in global trade tensions introduced new potential inflationary risks, which are not yet reflected in March's data.' According to Bitwise, corporate interest in Bitcoin continues to rise. In Q1 of 2025, 12 new public firms added Bitcoin to their balance sheets. This pushed total corporate holdings to 688,000 BTC, a 16% increase now worth an estimated $57 billion. Analysts say this is influencing the way Bitcoin reacts to macroeconomic trends. Jeff Park, an analyst at Bitwise, said recent U.S. trade policies will likely cause short-term financial instability. 'The tariff costs, most likely through higher inflation, will be shared by both the U.S. and trading partners, but the relative impact will be much heavier on foreigners,' he said. Park believes such conditions may drive increased Bitcoin adoption. Kalshi prediction markets currently place the probability of a U.S. recession this year at 61%, while JPMorgan analysts estimate it at 60%. Rising tariffs and geopolitical frictions could influence inflation, growth, and investor risk appetite in the months ahead. Alex Obchakevich, founder of Obchakevich Research, believes the current trend may not last. 'As the trade war intensifies, Bitcoin may return to the list of risky assets. Because investors will most likely look for salvation in gold,' he said. He credited the recent price stability to ETF participation and the growing image of Bitcoin as 'digital gold.' Sign in to access your portfolio
