The Institutional Risk Analyst

Michael brings a ground level view of the brave world of new media and narrates the slow-motion consolidation of streaming as a business model for large public media companies. Our readers will recall that Michael predicted this very outcome eight years ago -- before COVID in 2017 (“The Economics of Content: Michael Whalen”).

The proliferation of low- or no-cost coin systems is ultimately negative for established players in nonbank finance and payments, including the major card issuers, as we discuss below.  Still worried about interchange fees?

COIN has been helped by a groundswell of positive comment about crypto in 2023...

When you are in a big crowd, nothing else matters.

Last week’s action by the Fed was an effort to restore normalcy, but in the context of extraordinary action by the central bank. When you tell markets that the risk free rate is zero, it has profound implications for the cost of debt and equity, and resulting in different asset allocation decisions. Ending this regime also has profound implications for investors and markets.