A tropical island in no man's land. A young cryptocurrency expert ready to leave her mark. Can she outsmart backstabbing partners who will kill to get what they want? Jessica Ayala craves adventure. So when a mysterious employer offers the razor-sharp young woman from Los Angeles her dream job building their Bitcoin enterprise in El Salvador, she jumps at the opportunity. But the naïve tech expert is blindsided to discover her new bosses are the same family her MS-13 gang-leader brother swore to obliterate in revenge. Struggling to keep the new Bitcoin mining venture afloat in a violent, corrupt country, Jessica worries she’ll end up behind bars like her older brother. But as shady dealings become harder to ignore, the talented beauty knows that sooner or later she’ll be forced to confront money laundering, dirty politics, and black-market assassinations. Can Jessica survive the crime and corruption that surrounds her?

For fans of Bad Blood and Too Big to Fail, an explosive, page-turning account of one of the largest financial frauds in US history, chronicling the utopian promises, human collateral, and incineration of billions of dollars in the 2022 crypto crash, by Time magazine’s technology correspondent. As cryptocurrency rose in popularity during the pandemic, new converts bought into the idea that crypto would not only make them rich, but would usher in imminent revolutions across art, finance, politics, and gaming. Cryptocurrency caught the zeitgeist through figures like FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, who only two years later would be convicted of one of the most calamitous acts of financial fraud in US history. During his meteoric rise, Sam Bankman-Fried outflanked idealists in the movement like Vitalik Buterin, who sought to build fairer, more democratic systems through Ethereum. Bankman-Fried pursued a growth-obsessed, by-any-means approach to crypto, which proved seductive to those who just wanted to get rich. But this Silicon Valley-like approach also drove the creation of a spate of high-risk financial instruments that mirrored those of the 2008 financial crisis. Accused of misleading investors and mishandling funds, Bankman-Fried became a target of prosecutors. Now, Cryptomania unfolds the tumultuous twenty months inside this male-dominated, overhyped industry that led to its downfall. Drawing on exclusive reporting and an extensive network in the global NFT community, Andrew Chow chronicles the battle for crypto’s soul, and the human toll of its economic meltdown—from the conmen and eccentrics driving the bubble to the victims caught in its burst.

Decoding Bitcoin: A Comprehensive Guide - Navigate the Intricate World of Bitcoin and Unearth its Untapped Potential! Step into the dynamic and ever-evolving universe of Bitcoin with Decoding Bitcoin: A Comprehensive Guide. This resourceful tome delves deep into the enigmatic world of Bitcoin, shedding light on its complexities and illustrating its transformative power on the global financial canvas. Whether you're a crypto neophyte or an aficionado, this guide promises to enrich your understanding, unveiling the magic and the logic behind the digital currency that has taken the world by storm. Introduction to Bitcoin - Traverse Bitcoin's inception and uncover the underlying reasons for its unparalleled ascent in the global market. Blockchain Deciphered - Grasp the revolutionary technology that powers Bitcoin. From its mechanics to its myriad advantages, get a 360° view of blockchain. Inner Workings of Bitcoin - Dive into the core processes of Bitcoin, from its meticulous mining methods to the intricacies of transactions. Bitcoin Varieties - Explore the diverse universe of Bitcoin, including major offshoots like Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Gold. Investment Insights - Equip yourself with knowledge and tips to navigate the tempestuous seas of Bitcoin investment. Secure Your Digital Treasure - Learn about Bitcoin wallets, their types, and best practices to ensure your digital assets remain untouched and easily accessible. Legality and Bitcoin - Stay informed with the ever-shifting regulatory landscape surrounding Bitcoin, including tax nuances and legal considerations. Cybersecurity in the Bitcoin Era - Understand the potential threats and fortify your Bitcoin holdings against cyber breaches. Economic Imprints of Bitcoin - Reflect on Bitcoin's colossal influence on the global economy and its potential trajectory. Bitcoin in the Real World - See Bitcoin in action, from streamlining e-commerce transactions to fostering global philanthropy. Societal Reverberations of Bitcoin - Ponder on Bitcoin's societal implications, including its role in fostering democracy and upholding privacy. Anticipating the Future - Speculate and dream about what the future holds for Bitcoin, its possible innovations, and its role in a rapidly evolving world. Challenges and Risks - Be prepared by understanding the potential pitfalls and challenges of Bitcoin. Bitcoin: The Revolution Continues - Conclude with a light-hearted yet profound look at the global impact of Bitcoin, culminating in final thoughts and recommendations. Decoding Bitcoin: A Comprehensive Guide serves as a beacon, illuminating the path for those keen to delve into the mesmerizing world of Bitcoin. Arm yourself with knowledge and confidently embrace the Bitcoin revolution!Table of Contents Introduction What is Bitcoin? Brief history of Bitcoin Why Bitcoin matters Understanding Blockchain Technology What is blockchain? How does blockchain work? The benefits of blockchain technology How Bitcoin Works Mining Transactions Wallets Nodes Types of Bitcoin Bitcoin Cash Bitcoin Gold Other forks and variations Investing in Bitcoin Risks and rewards of Bitcoin investment How to buy and sell Bitcoin Choosing a Bitcoin exchange Managing Bitcoin investments Bitcoin Wallets What are Bitcoin wallets? Types of Bitcoin wallets How to choose a Bitcoin wallet Setting up and using a Bitcoin wallet Bitcoin Mining What is Bitcoin mining? How does Bitcoin mining work? The benefits and downsides of Bitcoin mining Regulations and Legal Issues in Bitcoin Government regulations on Bitcoin Tax implications of Bitcoin Legal issues surrounding Bitcoin Bitcoin and Cybersecurity Cybersecurity risks associated with Bitcoin Best practices for securing your Bitcoin The future of Bitcoin and cybersecurity Bitcoin and the Economy Bitcoin's impact on the global economy The potential future of Bitcoin and the economy Bitcoin and the financial industry Real-World Applications of Bitcoin Bitcoin in e-commerce Bitcoin and cross-border payments Bitcoin and charitable giving Bitcoin and the music industry Bitcoin and Society The impact of Bitcoin on society Bitcoin and social justice Bitcoin and democracy Bitcoin and privacy The Future of Bitcoin Predictions for the future of Bitcoin Bitcoin innovations on the horizon The role of Bitcoin in a changing world Risks and Challenges of Bitcoin The downside of Bitcoin The risks of investing in Bitcoin Bitcoin environmental concerns Bitcoin: The Revolution Continues with a Dash of Humor The impact of Bitcoin on the world Final thoughts and recommendations.

China’s rise and stepped-up involvement in Southeast Asia have prompted a blend of anticipation and unease among its smaller neighbors. The stunning growth of China has yanked up the region’s economies, but its militarization of the South China Sea and dam building on the Mekong River has nations wary about Beijing’s outsized ambitions. Southeast Asians long felt relatively secure, relying on the United States as a security hedge, but that confidence began to slip after the Trump administration launched a trade war with China and questioned the usefulness of traditional alliances. This compelling book provides a snapshot of ten countries in Southeast Asia by exploring their diverse experiences with China and how this impacts their perceptions of Beijing’s actions and its long-term political, economic, military, and “soft power” goals in the region.

With Big Tech's breakthrough into finance with blockchain, it is imperative that finance players understand the ramifications and how they can defend their competitive advantage. Big Tech in Finance provides a cutting edge look at Big Tech's play for domination of the crypto economy, its ramifications and how finance is fighting back. The book analyses the motives behind Big Tech's break into banking and unpicks the strategies behind the use of blockchain, technology interfaces, infrastructure and investments into blockchain unicorns. The book then goes onto review how organizations in finance are countering these threats, with governments and banks driving their own strategies and use of centralized blockchains. Delving into the fight between Big Tech, Big Banking, start-ups, and regulators, Big Tech in Finance analyzes which actors have the best shot at succeeding. It explores the key tools in play, such as smart contracts, digital central bank currencies, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and the metaverse. The book also divulges the geopolitical dimensions underpinning the power struggle and its implications for the industry. Written by an internationally recognized expert on blockchain, the book draws on in-depth interviews with founders, investors, regulators, bankers and blockchain experts to provide valuable insider insights. This will be an essential read for finance and fintech professionals, bankers and investors and anyone else interested in the developments of fintech.

This book explores the connection between ownership, on one hand, and immunity from legal responsibility, on the other. It presents a definition of the concept of beneficial ownership, the reasons for its concealment, and failures in international legal structures and arrangements. Globally, States confront complex criminality, such as corruption, tax evasion, doctrinal fanaticism, trafficked slaves, terrorism and, war. At the personal level, men and women may seek to escape their creditors, to disinherit unwanted heirs, to cheat divorced partners, and to appear straightforward when this is not the case. The response of politicians and regulators has been a global State initiative to identify beneficial owners via public registers to promote transparency and accountability. Yet, at the same time, there is an equally powerful global and personal counter-initiative to promote beneficial ownership avoidance. Where there is no owner, there is no accountability. This book examines what “ownership” means in legal terms across multiple legal systems and explains why singling out “ownership” as being pivotal to State and personal accountability is a strategy both flawed and disingenuous. It is argued that an apparent lack of political will coupled with shape-shifting definitions of “ownership” have resulted in tokenism. Particular attention is paid to those “orphan” structures which have evolved from standard models, or which have been designed for the purpose in each case of facilitating ownership concealment and avoidance. The author explains how the virtual world of the blockchain, crypto-assets and cryptocurrency, and virtual entities such as the Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO), all of which elude legal classification, have opened a new world of possibilities. Applicable across all jurisdictions and legal systems, the book will be a valuable resource for academics, researchers, and policy-makers working in the areas of Financial Crime, Regulation, Compliance, Business, and Accountancy.

This book provides an interdisciplinary critical perspective regarding risk, uncertainty and governance challenges of cryptocurrencies. It considers the perspectives of several disciplines including accounting, cybersecurity, cyberlaw, economics, ethics, finance, financial regulation, Shariah (Islamic) law and technology. Different from other books on a similar topic, this book's in-depth analysis and critical discourse on cryptocurrency risk categories are supplemented by research evidence gathered from surveys and interviews with stakeholders. The inclusion of an Islamic insight matters given mixed views at present regarding the permissibility of cryptocurrencies and some countries have indeed imposed somewhat restricted functions of cryptocurrencies for non-religious reasons. It is envisaged that this book will help enlighten stakeholders on this aspect of uncertainty and inspire fit and proper governance strategies for the public interest.

This book examines the intersection between cybersecurity and the law and economy of India and offers a course of action in designing efficacious policies against emerging cybercrimes in the country. It reviews the boom in infrastructure growth in India and the security challenges this presents to the domestic economy and legal system. The contributors conducted a risk assessment of the potential economic impacts and security vulnerabilities, as well as identified the current regulatory and legal gaps regarding cryptocurrency, ecommerce, and digital banking. The book also considers the subject of data localization and sovereignty, and the challenges of establishing an indigenous data architecture. By discussing the economic impact of cybersecurity and incorporating recommendations from scholars, activists, academics, young legal intellectuals, and professionals in the field, the chapters propose new measures and protections for lawmakers and policymakers to adopt. This book will interest researchers and students of cybersecurity, law and economics, international relations, and Indian policymakers.

How To Create a six-figure Business By Writing, Publishing And Monetizing Best Selling-Book On Global Booktores! Welcome, intrepid entrepreneur, to the rugged terrain of bookpreneurship an arena where the written word becomes a potent tool for wealth creation and influence. Prepare to fortify your mindset, for in this realm, the conventional rules of business intertwine with the artistry of storytelling. This is not merely a guide; it is an expedition into the mindset that separates the mere author from the entrepreneurial wordsmith. Consider for a moment that your mind is an uncharted marketplace, and your thoughts are the commodities that will be traded in the vast economy of ideas. The winning bookpreneur mindset is not a nebulous concept; it is the strategic architecture that underpins a sustainable and prosperous literary venture.

Blockchains and cryptocurrencies, open banking, virtual assets, and artificial intelligence have become the buzzword of this decade. This book focuses on these ‘disruptive’ financial technologies that provide alternatives to the traditional financial services typically offered by regulated financial institutions. Financial technologies are characterized by the innovative ways in which they initiate, support or extend traditional financial services or offer alternative financial pathways and products. However, these financial technologies also pose money laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing as well as cyber security risks that require mitigation. This edited volume addresses a range of regulatory and enforcement challenges related to financial technology and financial crime. The book responds to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, in particular in relation to economic development, employment, national security, law enforcement and social well-being. Fostering responsible financial innovation promotes long-term economic growth, inclusion, and improved living standards. This book explores how to promote financial innovation while mitigating risks in a way that ensures financial prosperity and social inclusion.