Latest news with #TimDraper
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meet The Drapers Season 7: The Future of Entrepreneurship Unfolds in Silicon Valley
Three generations of Drapers unite to find startups ready to reshape industries and win up to $1 million in funding. Silicon Valley's legendary investor Tim Draper, famed for early bets on Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitch, hosted the gripping Season 7 finale of Meet the Drapers at Draper University. Joined by his father Bill Draper, a pioneer in venture capital, and son Adam Draper, founder of Boost VC, the Draper family sought entrepreneurs who combined vision, grit, and technical prowess. THE FINALISTS WITH GAME-CHANGING VISIONS Reaction Dynamics aims to disrupt satellite launches with a patented hybrid propulsion system using sustainable fuels. Their technology enables rapid, stockpiled satellite deployments, a breakthrough compared to traditional cryogenic methods. Judges praised their technical depth and ambitious vision. Myco brings innovation to media with a decentralized platform rewarding viewers and directly funding creators. Growing rapidly with 22 million users, Myco challenges traditional advertising models, although judges remained cautious about competitive threats. CrossCurve, founded by Faraj Abutalibov, addresses the fragmented liquidity in decentralized finance with a powerful cross-chain protocol. Positioned to institutionalize DeFi, the startup earned praise for both technical depth and commercial ambition — and was seen as a potential decacorn by the jury. SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST Beyond pitches, entrepreneurs proved their leadership and composure through survival challenges—ranging from paintball missions to ice plunges—reflecting the toughness required in startup life. SPOTLIGHT ON SOCIAL IMPACT: WEWALK Inspired by the everyday challenges of visual impairment, WeWalk developed a smart cane equipped with obstacle detection, haptic and audio alerts, and navigation tools. With 7,000 users in 25 countries and a $250 billion market opportunity, WeWalk strives to set a new global standard in mobility aids. INNOVATION IN HEALTH AND FINANCE BasePair simplifies genomic data analysis, accelerating advances in cancer research and IVF success rates through no-code software used by top life sciences firms. Meanwhile, Bashir's AI-powered wealth management platform aims to democratize finance with a scalable, inclusive approach. Investbanq, led by Olzhas Bashir, is using AI to democratize wealth management, offering intelligent, scalable investing tools tailored for emerging market users. Judges noted its potential to broaden financial access across underserved regions. CRYPTO SECURITY AND DECENTRALIZED FINANCE Captain Failsafe offers AI-driven crypto security designed to prevent hacks like the recent $1.5 billion Bybit breach. Their quick setup and proactive defense model impressed the judges, despite tough competition in blockchain security. THE FINAL DECISION After high-stakes deliberation, the Drapers awarded three $1 million investments to: • Reaction Dynamics • Myco • WeWalk Additionally, Investbanq secured a $500,000 commitment, while CrossCurve was awarded $250,000 — affirming the judges' belief in its foundational role in DeFi's future. After intense deliberation, the Drapers faced a difficult choice. Bill Draper praised all finalists, while Adam Draper focused on WeWalk and Reaction Dynamics for their market potential and innovation. This finale highlighted the blend of cutting-edge technology and resilience fueling the future of entrepreneurship. Meet the Drapers invites viewers worldwide to follow the journey of these bold founders as they compete for funding and the chance to transform their industries.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This 1 Catalyst Could Send Bitcoin Skyrocketing Higher, According to Silicon Valley Billionaire Tim Draper
Publicly traded corporations could be the next big buyers of Bitcoin. MicroStrategy pioneered the idea of buying Bitcoin, and now other companies are starting to follow its example. According to Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, corporations have a responsibility to buy Bitcoin to maximize shareholder value. 10 stocks we like better than Bitcoin › These days, it seems like everybody is trying to buy Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) -- individuals, Wall Street banks, institutional investors, and even the U.S. government. But until recently, corporations were not getting into the act. Only a relatively small number of publicly traded companies currently hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets. But that could be changing. According to billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, corporations need to start buying Bitcoin. If America's publicly traded corporations decide to go on a Bitcoin buying spree, that could send the world's most popular cryptocurrency soaring to new all-time highs. Corporations are starting to follow the playbook created by MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), the company now doing business as Strategy. That playbook primarily consists of one play: buying Bitcoin. Strategy now owns a staggering amount of Bitcoin -- 568,840 coins and counting. It seems that nearly every week, Strategy reports a major buy of more Bitcoin. Its current Bitcoin stockpile is valued at nearly $60 billion. In 2024, a number of publicly traded companies started to dip their toes into the Bitcoin waters. In some cases, they were not even tangentially related to blockchain or crypto, so it raised a few eyebrows. But those were relatively small companies, and it was possible to ignore all the chatter about American companies buying Bitcoin. But then came December 2024 and a first-of-its-kind shareholder proposal voted on at tech titan Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Simply put, the proposal called on Microsoft to start adding Bitcoin to the balance sheet, all in the name of building shareholder value. Michael Saylor, the founder and executive chairman of Strategy, even gave a brief three-minute presentation to Microsoft shareholders, showing them how much money they were leaving on the table by not buying Bitcoin. The Microsoft Bitcoin proposal eventually failed, but it should have been a big wake-up call for corporate America. The proposal combined a wildly bullish outlook for Bitcoin with the rather staid concept of shareholder value. The proposal essentially made the case that buying Bitcoin was the responsible thing to do. If corporations aren't buying Bitcoin, the thinking goes, they aren't maximizing the value of a business. Flash forward to today, and Tim Draper is now arguing that it is "irresponsible" for corporations not to buy Bitcoin. Speaking at the Financial Times Digital Assets Summit, he outlined the case for buying Bitcoin and specifically noted that businesses without Bitcoin are not serving shareholders' interests. As he sees it, Bitcoin can help to build shareholder value. Just as corporations hold cash and cash equivalents, they should also hold Bitcoin. This notion of irresponsibility is very important. It has led to corporations divesting from certain regions of the world or refusing to invest in certain types of businesses. It has led to corporations embracing ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives and fully detailing them in their presentation materials to shareholders. What if corporations now decide to address Bitcoin in the same way? Things get very interesting when you start to consider the potential impact on the future price of Bitcoin. Investment firm Bernstein recently ran the numbers and calculated that publicly traded corporations could add as much as $330 billion in Bitcoin to their combined balance sheets within the next five years. Given Bitcoin's total market cap of $2 trillion, that's a lot of buying and would almost certainly send the price of Bitcoin skyrocketing. According to Draper, Bitcoin is going to $250,000 by the end of 2025, and one catalyst will be corporations buying Bitcoin in size. The problem is that a strategy of adding Bitcoin to the balance sheet only works if the price of Bitcoin continues to go up. If the price of Bitcoin goes down, corporations will actually be reducing, not maximizing, shareholder value by buying Bitcoin. Every quarter, they will need to write down the value of their Bitcoin holdings, which will lead to losses that will come out of shareholder equity. Unfortunately, we've seen this story before. In early 2021, Elon Musk and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) made headlines worldwide with the decision to buy $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. It looked like a genius move, and the price of Bitcoin soared to a record high. However, just months later, Tesla started to walk back the idea of customers paying for their cars in Bitcoin. Then, after the price of Bitcoin cratered in 2022, Tesla was no longer talking about buying Bitcoin. In fact, in July 2022, it sold 75% of its Bitcoin holdings. The lesson was clear: Bitcoin is simply too volatile to hold a lot of it on a balance sheet. I'm not saying this scenario will happen again. But I'm also not saying it won't. Certainly, if you're a Bitcoin investor, it's exciting that corporate America might start loading up on Bitcoin. That would almost certainly send the price of Bitcoin higher. The big question, though, is what will happen if the price of Bitcoin falters. Before you buy stock in Bitcoin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Bitcoin wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $642,582!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $829,879!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 975% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025 Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Microsoft, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This 1 Catalyst Could Send Bitcoin Skyrocketing Higher, According to Silicon Valley Billionaire Tim Draper was originally published by The Motley Fool 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
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
‘There Won't Be A Dollar In 10 Years'—Billionaire Issues Shock ‘Infinity' Bitcoin Price Prediction
Bitcoin and crypto prices have rocketed higher in recent weeks, erasing an April bitcoin price plummet as an unconfirmed leak suggests Mark Zuckerberg is quietly gearing up to blow up the crypto market. Front-run Donald Trump, the White House and Wall Street by subscribing now to Forbes' CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor where you can "uncover blockchain blockbusters poised for 1,000% plus gains!" The bitcoin price has topped $104,000 per bitcoin, coming back to within touching distance of its all-time high as Wall Street companies are reportedly betting on a Donald Trump-fueled bitcoin price rally. Now, as a Federal Reserve 'nightmare' is suddenly coming true, bitcoin billionaire Tim Draper has predicted the bitcoin price will go to "infinity" against a collapsing U.S. dollar. Sign up now for the free CryptoCodex—A daily five-minute newsletter for traders, investors and the crypto-curious that will get you up to date and keep you ahead of the bitcoin and crypto market bull run Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates and bitcoin billionaire, has predicted the bitcoin price ... More will go to "infinity" against a collapsing U.S. dollar. 'There won't be a dollar,' Draper, whose wealth Forbes put at $2.6 billion this year, told Coindesk, predicting the dollar will be replaced by bitcoin in '10 years, something like that. It may be a little less." Draper, whose fortune was made when he bought almost 30,000 bitcoin from a government auction of Silk Road black market assets for just $632 per bitcoin in 2014, repeated his earlier bitcoin price prediction of $250,000 by the end of 2025 and adding that after a decade it will be 'infinity against the dollar." 'Once I can buy my food, my clothing, my shelter, pay my taxes, all in bitcoin …. there won't be any reason to hold onto any [dollars] and bitcoin will be the primary source of owning wealth," Draper said, adding bitcoin "is a better way to collect taxes." This year, U.S. president Donald Trump's embrace of bitcoin and crypto has accelerated predictions of bitcoin's rise through the financial world. Trump has declared himself the first 'crypto president," established a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve and directing his administration to fast track pro-crypto regulation that will see dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies called stablecoins included in the financial system. Draper's prediction of the bitcoin price going to 'infinity' against a collapsing U.S. dollar is hinged on his fear of spiraling inflation caused by government money printing that will in turn result in bank runs. 'Stablecoins are subject to inflation. They will inflate if the government prints too much money," Draper said, pointing to bitcoin's fixed supply of around 21 million. 'They will be worth less and less and less over time, whereas bitcoin is not subject to that.' Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free, daily newsletter for the crypto-curious The bitcoin price has soared back to its all-time highs this year with bullish traders betting it ... More could be headed even higher. Meanwhile, bitcoin and crypto traders are cheering the latest rebound in the bitcoin price, which has pushed the combined crypto market to around $3.5 trillion as Trump's global trade war shows signs of easing and the fleet of Wall Street spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to suck up bitcoin. 'Bitcoin is poised to break above $106,000. But this isn't just about technicals—several powerful catalysts are aligning,' Markus Thielen, the chief executive of 10x Research, said in an emailed note. 'Bitcoin has been hovering around the $104,000 level for the sixth day, experiencing increased rotation,' Alex Kuptsikevich, FxPro chief market analyst, said in emailed comments. 'This is quite expected behaviour as we approach the all-time highs of December and January, which served as turning points.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Will Replace U.S. Dollar In 10 Years, Says Billionaire VC Tim Draper
Within a decade, bitcoin will replace U.S. dollar dominance and become the standard currency underpinning the international economy, according to billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper. '10 years, something like that. It may be a little less,' Draper said in a wide-ranging Spotlight interview with CoinDesk. Draper reiterated his prediction that bitcoin will rise to $250,000 by the end of 2025, and that after a decade it will be 'infinity against the dollar because there won't be a dollar.' 'Once I can buy my food, my clothing, my shelter, pay my taxes, all in Bitcoin and it's a better way to collect taxes. For sure, there won't be any reason to hold onto any [dollars] and bitcoin will be the primary source of owning wealth,' said Draper. 'The good news here is that banks can now hold your bitcoin and your fiat currency… but you don't want to be in line at the banks trying to get your dollars out to put them into bitcoin when there is a transformation.' Draper warned there will be a run on fiat banks and a global shift to the Bitcoin standard as trust in governments wane and decentralized technology replaces the traditional banking system. This was especially evident when Silicon Valley Bank ('SVB') collapsed in March 2023. 'I got calls from 15 companies, portfolio companies, and they were all saying, I can't make payroll,' said Draper. 'So every treasury of every company that I fund, I recommend that they have bitcoin along with fiat in banks, so that when there are bank failures, or if people stop taking fiat, then they'll be able to make payroll anyway.' SVB's shuttering was followed by the collapse of Signature Bank and preceded by the liquidation of Silvergate Bank. All three financial institutions had ties to the digital assets industry and were impacted by 'contagion effects' in the aftermath of failed crypto exchange FTX, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. But crypto companies have found evidence their demise was accelerated by a covert government debanking campaign, known as Operation Chokepoint 2.0, after a previous government effort to sever controversial but legal businesses from banking. Draper views bitcoin as a better technology and software that will replace banks and government-issued currency. At an early age, he learned there is precedent in the U.S. for currency crisis when his father gave him a million dollar confederate bill that was essentially worthless. 'Confederates lost the war to the Union and so there was huge inflation in Confederate money and people were paying a million dollars for just $1 of Union money,' said Draper. 'In effect, we're going through a similar time now.' Draper is a bitcoin maximalist who believes stablecoins are a bridge to bitcoin that will onboard people to utilize digital currencies, but ultimately they are as flawed as the governments that sanction them. 'Stablecoins are subject to inflation. They will inflate if the government prints too much money. They will be worth less and less and less over time, whereas bitcoin is not subject to that,' said Draper. Even though U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariff policies go against Draper's belief in free trade, they hasten his prediction that the U.S. dollar will weaken. The dollar index has dropped almost 8% year to date to 99.96, its lowest level since April 2022. The Trump administration is widely speculated to be analysing ways to devalue the dollar further to make U.S. exports more globally competitive. Nevertheless, Draper is hopeful the U.S. government will negotiate levies down so that trade partners buy more U.S. goods and resume an open market. Within the U.S., Draper is more confident about domestic tech innovation now that the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal regulators are 'more open to creativity' and have stepped away from the practice of regulation by enforcement. Other technologies he is invested in include genetics. His early investment in Colossal Biosciences made headlines when the genetics lab created a new species of dire wolf and gene-edited 'woolly mice' into existence using a mix of mutations modelled on woolly mammoths. These efforts to 'de-extinct' species aim to restore earth's biological diversity, but Draper believes they will eventually help humans communicate with animals. 'Dogs can smell 10,000 times as well as we can,' said Draper. 'My theory is that it's usually when they're really happy and they like you, they sneeze on you. What they're doing is telling you a story, they sneeze on you and then, '[Here] are all the things that I've done. These are all the things I've smelled.'' Draper believes advances in genetics and artificial intelligence will eventually decode the language of birds that 'must have 500 different words for wind' and a better understanding of the weather. Humans could also learn from talking to ants about their population management. 'Let's start communicating with animals. I think it'll be great and we are getting there,' said Draper. 'It's slow. That's 50 years out.' As for artificial intelligence, the most cynical programmers warn that AI's will eventually dismiss humans as mere carbon bodies with limited use as energy sources, but Draper remains the perpetual optimist. 'I think that humans are going to adapt,' he said. When artificial intelligence replaces human labor, Draper trusts people will resiliently find new jobs with their newfound productivity, make greater impact, and 'gain in quality of life.' Draper believes humans will eventually merge with AI by programming embryos and linking human brains to wifi and other technologies. 'I think it's going to be incredibly amazing for somebody today who's still alive 50 years from now, because they're gonna look back and say, 'God, those poor people, they were all stuck on earth, just earth,' said Draper. 'They had to actually ask their phone for knowledge instead of having their mind anticipate the need for knowledge.'
Arabian Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Billionaire Investor Predicts Bitcoin's Dominance Over Dollar in Decade
Tim Draper, a billionaire venture capitalist and early supporter of Bitcoin, has made a bold prediction that the world's leading cryptocurrency will eclipse the US dollar within the next decade. Draper, renowned for his investments in companies like Skype and Tesla, has long been a vocal proponent of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. His latest remarks, shared in an interview with CoinDesk, suggest a dramatic shift in the global financial landscape, one that could fundamentally change the way economies operate. Draper's prediction stems from his belief in Bitcoin's ability to outpace traditional fiat currencies, including the US dollar. He envisions a future where Bitcoin not only becomes the dominant currency but also where the US dollar, as it exists today, is no longer in circulation. According to Draper, Bitcoin will continue to climb 'to infinity' against the dollar, reflecting his confidence in the cryptocurrency's long-term potential. The venture capitalist's faith in Bitcoin is rooted in the unique advantages he believes it holds over traditional money. Draper argues that Bitcoin, unlike the dollar, is not subject to inflationary pressures or government intervention. With a fixed supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin is designed to be deflationary, which he sees as an essential feature for ensuring the stability of its value over time. This attribute, Draper suggests, makes Bitcoin a far more secure store of value than the dollar, which is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of monetary policy and national debt. Bitcoin's volatility has been one of the major concerns for those sceptical about its potential to replace traditional currencies. However, Draper remains undeterred by such criticisms. He notes that while Bitcoin has experienced significant fluctuations in price since its inception, these swings are a natural part of its maturation process. As more institutional investors and retail traders adopt Bitcoin, Draper expects its volatility to decrease, paving the way for it to become a mainstream currency. Draper's confidence in Bitcoin's future is not just about its potential as a store of value but also about its capacity to facilitate global transactions. With growing concerns over the cost and inefficiency of traditional banking systems, Bitcoin offers a fast, low-cost alternative for transferring money across borders. The cryptocurrency operates on a decentralised network, allowing individuals to bypass centralised banks and governments. Draper believes that as the world becomes more interconnected, Bitcoin's advantages will become increasingly apparent, particularly in regions where access to traditional banking services is limited. In his conversation with CoinDesk, Draper also touched upon other technological developments that he believes will shape the future of human communication. Among these, he highlighted advancements in artificial intelligence and genetics, which he predicts will revolutionise the way humans interact with animals. Draper imagines a world where AI enables people to communicate with animals in a way that was once thought impossible. Such advancements, while still in the realm of science fiction for now, reflect Draper's broader vision of a future where technology breaks down barriers between humans, animals, and even machines. While Draper's vision of a Bitcoin-dominated financial system may seem far-fetched to some, it aligns with a growing trend in the cryptocurrency world. The increasing institutional interest in Bitcoin, with large corporations and financial firms adding the cryptocurrency to their portfolios, is seen as a key indicator of its growing legitimacy. Additionally, the global shift towards digital currencies, spurred by the rise of central bank digital currencies , suggests that traditional financial systems may be on the brink of significant transformation. See also LockBit Breach Unveils 60,000 Bitcoin Wallets and Affiliate Data Countries like El Salvador have already made Bitcoin a legal tender, and other nations are considering similar moves. Meanwhile, in the US, there is ongoing debate over the regulation of cryptocurrencies, with lawmakers grappling with how to create a legal framework that supports innovation while protecting investors. Draper's prediction, however, suggests that Bitcoin will eventually render such debates moot, as it becomes the global standard for digital transactions. Despite the optimism surrounding Bitcoin's potential, there are still significant hurdles that must be overcome before Draper's vision can be realised. Regulatory uncertainty remains a major obstacle, with governments around the world seeking to impose stricter controls on cryptocurrencies to combat illegal activities like money laundering and tax evasion. Furthermore, the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining has raised concerns among environmentalists, who argue that the energy consumption of Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus mechanism is unsustainable. Arabian Post – Crypto News Network
