The cryptocurrency revolution is in full swing, and the popularity of crypto and NFT trading is only increasing as valuations spike. As with stock trading, this can become all-consuming for many people as they monitor the 24/7 trading environment.

We’ve seen significant peaks and valleys with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and now we have NFTs dominating the news as well.

Putting aside the positives of crypto and NFTs, some people become too obsessed with trading, leading to an addiction crisis.

So as you dive into this world, keep in mind the pitfalls. Be careful and understand the risks, but also don’t let it consume your life.

Cryptopunk mania continues. Darren Rovell reported on Twitter that Cryptopunk #4626 sold for $1,028,439. The Seller had bought it for $271,564 just 56 days prior to this sale.

This Cryptopunk is noted for the attributes of Female Messy Hair and Shades. You can see the price history for this Cryptopunk here. Keep in mind that prices are listed in Eth which is the price unit in the Ethereum blockchain.

If you want to know why Cryptopunks are so popular and why these NFTs are selling for so much, check out this overview.

In a recent episode of The Prof G Show, Scott Galloway interviews Sridhar Ramaswamy, the CEO and cofounder of Neeva, an all-new, subscription-based search engine that aims to be a competitor to Google for search.

Taking on Google seems like a gargantuan task, but Ramaswamy makes a compelling case for Neeva in this interview. It helps of course that Galloway is a fan of the concept and the company as he’s said many times on his show and also on Pivot. But Galloway is a good interviewer and he does a nice job in this episode of asking the tough questions.

Ramaswamy explains how Neeva will be an ad-free, private search engine, differentiating itself in the search market from Google which has become a slave to ad revenue, thus diluting the quality if the search results and user experience. Neeva will be subscription based, and thus obsessively focused on the needs of the consumer according to Ramaswamy. He should know as he spent fifteen and a half years at Google, and many members of his team at Neeva are Google alumni. By not being a slave to ads, Neeva can avoid tracking every consumer action, and instead just focus on data that improves the search results.

It has been reported that Neeva will charge between $5 and $10 per month for the service.

Take a listen to the podcast episode. Ramaswamy comes across as a formidable leader who can make this work.

Businesses large and small need to take advantage of cloud computing, primarily because competitors will be gaining an advantage if your company ignores this reality.

For small businesses, cloud apps can dramatically improve your capabilities regarding all sorts of internal functions. SaaS software can provide enterprise-level tools for businesses of any size. The same applies to larger businesses, but issue such as using data become even more important with large businesses.

This article offers some excellent strategies to help businesses leverage the power of cloud computing. It explains how “the first step in developing a cloud strategy is to change how you think about cloud technology:”

The biggest barrier we see that keeps small and mid-sized businesses from taking advantage of the cloud comes from the top: business owners, presidents, or CEOs. Business leaders will often delegate any IT-related decisions to their IT team. The problem with this approach is that the decision to adopt a cloud strategy is primarily a business strategy, not an IT strategy.

Business owners need to understand that the cloud offers a competitive advantage. Also, your IT Manager does not think like you. He or she thinks about functionality and tasks. It’s your job to think about the business, and that will likely rewquire taking things out of their hands and using third-party software and apps on the cloud.

Check out the article and start thinking about what strategy works for you and your business.

The podcast industry reminds us of the Web 1.0 world of 20 years ago. Its like the wild west as a completely new industry gets off the ground. New companies sprout up every day. Some solve problems facing the industry, while others try to ride the hype wave and cash in.

As you might expect, there are plenty of crazy stories out there, but this latest one from The Verge is fascinating and hilarious. It’s titled “The Podcasting Hype House from Hell” and features the podcasting company Himalaya and details “how China’s biggest audio platform funded one man’s frat boy dreams.”

Basically, they had a production studio in a mansion in LA, and then things spun out of control. It’s a great read . . . check it out.