Latest news with #Sigel
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Does Solana Need Its Own Michael Saylor and Strategy?
Does Solana Need Its Own Michael Saylor and Strategy? originally appeared on TheStreet. For the last five years, Michael Saylor has been synonymous with one of the boldest Bitcoin bets in financial history — transforming MicroStrategy into a proxy Bitcoin ETF before one even existed. Now, a new playbook is being written and this time, it's not Bitcoin that's the focus — it's Solana. 'There are so many institutional investors who prefer equities,' said Matt Sigel, Head of Digital Asset Research at VanEck. 'A big part of it is the governance and disclosure is standardized… those securities can fit right alongside a typical equity portfolio.' VanEck has been leading the charge on the institutional front, filing for the first Solana ETF in June last year and continuing to await updates as the U.S. gears up for what could be a post-Gensler regulatory reset. But before that milestone, there's a race underway in the public markets — one that mirrors the early days of Bitcoin's treasury strategy boom. At the center of it is DeFi Dev Corp, a company modeled loosely after MicroStrategy, but with its own twist. 'We kind of think of it as the MicroStrategy 2.0,' said Parker White, COO of DeFi Dev Corp. 'Because Solana is a native yield asset and it's this kind of fuel inside of this whole DeFi ecosystem, there's a bunch of things that you can do with Solana… to generate extra yield as opposed to Bitcoin, which… kind of sits in a vault.' White says the goal is simple: 'We believe we can stack SOL faster than any other entity on the planet.' But expectations are high. According to Sigel, 'MicroStrategy famously trades at about 100% premium to the value of its Bitcoin. There's three Solana treasury companies more or less. They're trading at 4- to 6-times the value of their Solana.' That has since come down a bit as Solana's price has retreated the past few weeks. But nonetheless, that kind of market premium reflects a growing appetite for exposure — not just to Solana as a token, but to the broader thesis that it might become the winning Layer-1 blockchain in a crowded field. 'We think the most likely scenario is that most of the economic activity on open source blockchains will consolidate into one or a small handful of Layer-1s,' Sigel said. 'We think [Solana] has the best shot of becoming that leading blockchain.' Part of that optimism comes from real technical performance. But another part is just plain memetics. Sigel predicted late last year that Solana could surpass $500 per coin in 2025. 'How strong is the culture [and] meme-ability?' Sigel asked rhetorically. 'It's really validating to the thesis to have now three public companies that have committed to that treasury strategy.' That said, it is still early — both in Solana's life cycle and in DeFi Dev Corp's. The company's job now, as White sees it, is to get traditional investors off zero. 'People ask, 'Hey, what are you guys doing?' [We say] 'Hey, we're the best way to accumulate Solana.' And they're like, 'Cool, what's Solana?'' While Bitcoin had to battle skepticism in its early days, Solana now benefits from having a clearer financial playbook to follow — but it also comes with unique challenges. For one, ETFs tied to staked assets raise fresh tax and regulatory questions. 'There's still some operational details around how to manage a staked Solana ETF that we don't have answers to,' Sigel noted. 'Unfortunately, that information needs to come from the IRS… staking and undertaking the Solana that would theoretically be inside of one of these ETFs… that's a form of active management that we think can blow up the tax status.' But even with that uncertainty, Sigel sees the writing on the wall. 'Once that happens, all of the U.S.-based broker-dealers will be touching these assets directly… and I think the biggest impact will be in the derivatives market.' In Sigel view, Solana doesn't necessarily need a Saylor — but it needs someone who understands risk, timing, and volatility. 'Most crypto bull markets kind of end in a blow-off leverage top. There's no balance sheets right now that are really providing that,' he said, noting that traditional finance could step in to fill the vacuum left by collapsed crypto lenders like BlockFi and Celsius. Still, White isn't putting a stake in the ground like Saylor did with his pledge to 'never sell' his Bitcoin. 'I wouldn't put a guidepost on the other side and guarantee that we'll sell" White said. 'But if [our stock] gets deep enough [into a discount], I think we'd have to take a pretty serious look at returning value to shareholders. It could be in the form of buybacks, it could also be… a SOL-denominated dividend.' The one thing he's certain of? Survival matters more than hype. 'The winners in this model will not be determined in the bull market,' White said. 'They will be determined in the bear market… you want to look at a team that's going to be around for the long haul.' Does Solana Need Its Own Michael Saylor and Strategy? first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Montreal Gazette
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Anti-Trump group plans rally June 24 to celebrate Maine-Quebec Friendship Day
By Susan Schwartz A rally celebrating June 24 as Maine-Quebec Friendship Day is to take place at the state capitol, in Augusta, and its principal organizer wants Quebecers to know 'we in Maine value our relationship with the people of Quebec.' 'We believe it's very important that the people know how much we value and love them and love Quebec and Quebecers,' said Louis Sigel, who lives in Gardiner, just outside Augusta. The rally, to begin at noon and last about 90 minutes, is intended as an opportunity to celebrate the relationship of Maine residents with their Quebec neighbours, and also 'to protest against tariffs and the attitude of our federal government to cause friction with Canadians, who we care about a great deal,' Sigel said. 'We really want the people in Quebec to know that we don't like the government in Washington and what they are trying to do. We strongly believe in free trade. We think the agreement of free trade with Canada should be abided by and we especially have a strong feeling for Quebec. 'We want to emphasize that we are not like the people in Washington and certainly we are not like (United States President Donald) Trump. Tariffs are absolutely the worst possible economic policy for Maine,' Sigel said. 'We are protesting the attempts to destroy our democracy and establish a monarchy under Trump.' The rally is being organized by Indivisible, a progressive movement and organization formed in 2016 in response to Trump's election to a first term. Sigel, 81, is the lead organizer for Indivisible for Kennebec and Somerset counties. He said he has asked for a resolution from the legislature establishing June 24, Fête nationale, as Maine-Quebec Friendship Day and a proclamation from Maine Gov. Janet Mills. Indivisible held rallies in Augusta on International Women's Day and May Day. In addition to a permit for the rally on June 24, it has permits for rallies on July 14, Bastille Day, and on Aug. 18 celebrating the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. 'And we intend to have a rally almost every month to fight this government until we have Democratic control in Congress,' Sigel said. Maine's state legislature has a strong Franco-American caucus, he said. 'The largest ethnic minority in Maine is franco, especially in St. John Valley, along the border with New Brunswick, and there are families on both sides of the border who are related,' Sigel said. 'Every summer, there is a big Acadian festival in Madawaska, which is right on the border with New Brunswick ... Edmundston has a jazz festival and people go back and forth across the border.' There is a strong Franco-American presence in Maine, descended from the St. John River Valley Acadians, who settled in the north of the state after being expelled from the Maritimes by the British, and French-Canadians who came from Quebec in the 19th century seeking better employment opportunities, mainly in the mills, and stayed. Sigel, who majored in Chinese studies at Yale University and earned a PhD in history from Harvard University, spent much of his university teaching career in Australia. On returning to North America in the early 1980s, he taught in Missouri and Kentucky before being hired at Colby College in Maine to replace a professor on a sabbatical; he loved Maine and decided to stay. For more than a decade, he has owned a house on Île d'Orléans, an island in the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City and one of the first parts of the province to be colonized by the French. A large percentage of French-Canadians can trace their ancestry to the island's early residents. Sigel enjoys the winter carnival in Quebec City and the Festival d'été de Québec, and also appreciates the changing colours of leaves in autumn. He especially loves the food on Île d'Orléans. 'I think Quebec is the nicest place in North America,' he said.
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How ‘Karate Kid: Legends' turned Montreal into Manhattan
Two branches, one tree. Spoilers below for 'Karate Kid: Legends.' The newest 'Karate Kid' film follows kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) as he moves from Beijing to New York City with his mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen). Advertisement But while 'Karate Kid: Legends' is mainly set in NYC, it was almost filmed one hundred percent in Quebec, Canada. 8 While 'Karate Kid: Legends' is mainly set in NYC, it was almost filmed 100% in Quebec, Canada. Sony Pictures In an exclusive interview with The Post, the movie's production designer, Maya Sigel, revealed how she and her crew recreated Manhattan on a soundstage in Montreal – and how they were able to make it as close as possible to the real thing. 'First, I always start with lots of research and reference photos, even when it's something I'm familiar with, like NYC,' she explained. 'I go through lots of old books, the internet, and, in this case, Google Street View.' Advertisement 'Then, along the way, different crew members will do additional research on certain elements and then bring them to me, and we'll add some of them to the mix,' Sigel continued. 'There were certain buildings that I specifically called out, and the set designers modified them for our space constraints.' 8 The Post spoke with the film's production designer, Maya Sigel, about how she and her team went about recreating Manhattan on a soundstage in Montreal. NurPhoto via Getty Images Even more impressive was the fact that Sigel used some of her own experiences living and working in NYC as personal references for the latest 'Karate Kid' film's production design. Advertisement 'I have lived in NYC and have made movies and TV shows there, so it's very much ingrained in my consciousness and design vocabulary,' she told The Post. 'When designing Li's Apartment set, for example, I'm thinking about apartments I've lived in or friends' places and location scouting that I've done in NYC in the past.' 'It also helped when I was looking for locations in Montreal with the location manager, knowing what looks right and where it might fit geographically in NYC,' Sigel continued. 'There are certain locations that I imagined designing and building from the first time I read the script because of either the page count there, the importance of the geography to the story, the fight sequences, or other practical constraints.' 8 'I wanted it to have this old-school New York feeling, a place that is both familiar and charming but also unique,' Sigel said. AP Plus, Sigel and the film's director, Jonathan Entwistle, talked about certain NYC locations 'right away' and ultimately settled on a few specific landmarks that one could easily believe were filmed there on location. Advertisement 'The alley was one of these sets, and it was inspired by Cortlandt Alley in NYC and modified for our story and needs, including the stunts,' she explained. 'Another was the rooftop set for the final Five Boroughs Tournament fight.' The Five Broughs Tournament serves as the climax of the film, when Wang's character must fight his rival, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), with the help of shifu Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and sensei Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio). 8 Ben Wang's character Li Fong fighting on a rooftop designed to look like the NYC skyline is in the background. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 8 Another shot of Ben Wang's character with the NYC skyline in the background. ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection 'It was written as the rooftop of a skyscraper in Manhattan, and we – the art department, director, cinematographer, production, VFX and stunts – all worked together for months figuring out what the best way to achieve this would be, and in the end we landed on the Volume,' Sigel said. 'We built the rooftop set on stage, had hundreds of extras, and the Volume work turned out looking good,' she added. Sigel later described the production design for 'Legends' as a 'love letter to New York' and the 'old-school kind of New York nostalgia.' 8 Jackie Chan, Ben Wang and Ralph Macchio in 'Karate Kid: Legends.' AP Advertisement One set that captures those ideas the best is Victory Pizza, the pizzeria owned by the family of Li Fong's love interest, Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley). 'I wanted it to have this old-school New York feeling, a place that is both familiar and charming but also unique,' Sigel explained. 'The slice shop on your block that is cozy and family-owned, with the grit and sweat and history that comes along with that.' 'There are family photos on the wall along with NYC memorabilia, Mets gear, and Victor's old boxing photos and awards,' she continued. 'It's a cozy place that's welcoming and makes you feel grounded and at home.' 8 'The Karate Kid is, at its essence, a story of a kid being thrown into a new environment, struggling, and eventually building strong relationships, finding his center, and returning home to himself,' Sigel explained to The Post. Sony Pictures Advertisement By the end of the film, and with the help of Sigel and her crew's production design, the audience witnesses Li Fong's true journey from his old home in Beijing to his new one in NYC. 'The Karate Kid is, at its essence, a story of a kid being thrown into a new environment, struggling, and eventually building strong relationships, finding his center, and returning home to himself,' Sigel said. 'I wanted to show New York as it can be at its best,' she concluded, 'a beautiful mish-mash of people and cultures, a place of possibility and vibrance, and a wild and warm place to call home.' 8 Ben Wang's character on what was designed to look like the NYC subway in 'Karate Kid: Legends.' Sony Pictures Advertisement As for why the movie was filmed in Montreal despite being set predominantly in Manhattan, Sigel said that the decision was already made when she joined the project. Still, she advocates for a boost in tax incentives and credits to bring productions back to the US – especially as more studios are ditching NYC and Hollywood for other countries to save on production costs.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jay Sigel, amateur golf legend with 11 Masters appearances, dies at 81
Jay Sigel, one of the best amateur golfers of all-time, died Saturday. He was 81 years old. The U.S. Golf Association confirmed his passing Sunday. Sigel put together one of the greatest amateur resumes in golf history before turning professional and compiling eight victories on the PGA Tour Champions. He won consecutive U.S. Amateur titles in 1982 and 1983. Sigel also won three U.S. Mid-Amateurs in 1983, '85 and '87. He remains the only player to win the U.S. Am and U.S. Mid-Am in the same year. Advertisement As if that wasn't enough, he also competed in nine Walker Cup, the most of any player in the event's history. Two of those appearances came as a playing captain. His amateur resume doesn't stop there. He captured the 1979 British Amateur title, has 10 wins in the Pennsylvania Amateur, four Pennsylvania Open victories, and three wins at each prestigious amateur event: Porter Cup, Sunnehanna Amateur and Northeast Amateur. He also competed in 11 consecutive Masters tournaments from 1978-88, making the cut four times and winning low amateur honors in 1980, 1981 and 1988. Sigel played collegiately at Wake Forest, where he was was an All-American. When he turned 50 in 1993, Sigel turned pro, winning PGA Tour Champions Rookie of the Year in 1994. He amassed eight wins on the circuit. Advertisement He was born and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 13, 1943, and grew up playing golf at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. He attended high school at Lower Merion High School in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Wake Forest in 1967 with a degree in sociology. He decided not to turn pro after finishing play at Wake Forest, where he was the first person to earn the Arnold Palmer Scholarship, thanks to an accident where Sigel's left hand went through a pane of glass on a swinging door. He needed 70 stitches on his wrist and spent nine days in the hospital. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jay Sigel, amateur golf legend with 11 Masters appearances, dies at 81
New York Times
25-04-2025
- General
- New York Times
Jay Sigel, Amateur Golfer Who Played Like a Pro, Dies at 81
Jay Sigel went to Wake Forest University in 1962 on a golf scholarship named for Arnold Palmer. He won an Atlantic Coast Conference individual title and became a second-team all-American. He would later tell friends and reporters that he went to college to play golf, not to study, and that he thought more about turning professional than about graduating. But his plans were deferred after a serious accident. Sigel — who died at 81 on April 19 in Boca Raton, Fla. — did not turn pro for nearly three decades, until he became eligible for the Senior PGA Tour at age 50. In the intervening years, he became widely viewed as perhaps the greatest amateur golfer of the post-World War II era in the United States. At Wake Forest, Sigel inadvertently put his left hand through a pane of glass in the summer of 1963 while trying to keep a door from closing. The accident severed a tendon, and the wound, near his wrist, required more than 70 stitches. He remained hospitalized for nine days. It took months to regain something resembling the completeness of his skills. His left little finger remained hooked, and he did not regain full feeling in the hand, which often grew cold, his wife, Betty Sigel, said. (She confirmed the death, in a hospital. She said the cause was complications of pancreatic cancer.) But the injury altered the arc of Sigel's career and his life in a way that he came to see as fortunate and providential. Sigel remained at Wake Forest, received a degree in sociology in 1967, married Betty Wingo in 1968, started a family, worked as an insurance agent and then opened his own insurance company in the Philadelphia area, where he grew up. And he recovered sufficiently from his injury to win United States Amateur titles in 1982 and 1983; the British Amateur title in 1979; and U.S. Mid-Amateur titles, for golfers 25 and older in 1983, 1985 and 1987. He participated in a record nine Walker Cup tournaments for amateurs from the United States, Britain and Ireland. And he shot the lowest score among amateurs at the Masters tournament in 1980, 1981 and 1988; the British Open in 1980; and the U.S. Open in 1984. 'I always thought things happen for a reason,' Sigel told the website of the United States Golf Association, in 2024. 'The hand injury was the best thing to happen to me.' Many considered Sigel to be the greatest American amateur since Bobby Jones, who won the U.S. Open four times, the British Open three times and the U.S. Amateur championship five times, all in a luminous period between 1923 and 1930. Steely composure during match play, in which golfers compete head-to-head against an opponent, became a hallmark of Sigel's game. And he was a superb ball striker, with power that emanated from his 6-foot-1½ frame down to his size 13 feet. 'He was a really tough match-play player; he didn't feel like he was going to lose,' Jeff Kiddie, the head professional at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., to which Sigel belonged for more than 50 years, said in an interview. 'And I'd say he could hit the ball as far as he wanted to hit it.' Had Sigel turned professional out of college, Lee Trevino told The New York Times in 1994, 'he might have been a great one' on the PGA Tour. But, his wife said in an interview, Sigel had some concern about whether his hand could withstand the weekly grind of the tour. He remained an amateur until he joined the somewhat more relaxed senior tour, now called the PGA Tour Champions, in 1993, when he turned 50. He won eight tournaments and more than $9 million in earnings. And he seemed to have no regrets. 'I wouldn't trade anything, particularly the amateur career,' Sigel told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2009. Betty Sigel said that he 'loved the fact that he was able to get married, have a job and have a family, and still be able to play golf.' Robert Jay Sigel was born on Nov. 13, 1943, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., on Philadelphia's Main Line, and grew up in the borough of Narberth. His father, Robert Jacob Sigel, started an engineering firm. His mother, Elizabeth (Kriebel) Sigel, ran the household. Both his parents played golf. Jay began caddying for his father when he was 10. By 11, he realized that he'd rather use the clubs than carry them. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Jennifer Sigel, Amy Sigel Melconian and Megan Sigel Yates; a sister, Carolyn Sigel Nusbickel; and six grandchildren. He and his wife lived in Berwyn, Pa., and also had a home in Boynton Beach, Fla. After being named the nation's top junior golfer while at Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia, Sigel briefly attended the University of Houston before transferring to Wake Forest. When he awakened after the surgery on his hand, he told The Daily News of Philadelphia in 1983, doctors told him that he would never play golf again. At the height of Sigel's amateur career, another group of doctors told him that they could further repair his hand with the latest surgical techniques, Betty Sigel said. He declined. 'We're not messing with it,' he replied. 'It's working.'
