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No one knows what they need better than they do, and gift cards give them the ability to choose it. Gift cards are requested for people in needGift cards can get a bad reputation. But, when it comes to charitable giving, I've realized that gift cards hold a lot of merit. Featured Partner Offer Cash App - Send Gift Cards to Friends and Family Instantly A tooltip *Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. However, if a customer does not have a Cash App Card, they can instead convert their gift card to cash in the app.

I love giving and getting gift cards for the holidays, even though some people say they're impersonal. They offer the gift of timeNot only are you gifting store credit to their favorite places to shop, but gift cards also offer the gift of time. Plus, I can purchase gift cards online, or go to a store that offers a wall of different gift cards from other retailers to choose from. I've also scooped up discounts on gift cards during special promos, like 10% off gift cards up to a certain amount. Picking out gift cards to folks on my gift list have long been my go-to for the holidays, and as a gift card devotee, that's not going to change.

☆ Even Elon and Zuck don't have the juice to make an all-in-one 'super app' happen
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Mark Zuckerberg and Evan Spiegel harbor super app ambitions; Microsoft reportedly wants to build its take on a super app that would rival Google. At Facebook's parent company Meta, "super app" is a taboo word precisely because it's too abstract, Insider's Kali Hays reported last month. A newcomer super app has a tougher sell accessing this sophisticated, less trusting type of user. Silicon Valley's gatekeepers stand in the way of the super app dreamUS tech firms harboring super app ambitions will need to fend off their own regulators, overseas regulators, and Apple's App Store. As the CPP Investments white paper notes, super apps "can be thought of as operating platforms for mobile devices."

☆ Crypto winter end in sight as Ethereum looks to shake the chills- analysts
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

J.P.MORGAN:"We believe that the Ethereum Merge and really the Ethereum Surge could be a big factor in terms of increasing the use-cases for blockchain into new areas, including financial services," analysts said in an early December note. The Ethereum Merge was a major software upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain that went live in September and reduced its energy usage by 99.95%, according to developers. "We continue to see the Ethereum Surge as a catalyst for development in the cryptocurrency markets, which appears at least 6-12 months away." "From the China crackdown to the several price crashes in earlier 2022, crypto mining has shown an approximately 1-to-1 price-power relationship. Norwood expects the crypto market to pick up in about six months.

Some of Signore’s newer content takes aim at the people he said contributed to the allegations against him and their aftermath. Signore recorded the interview and released segments of it in July in a YouTube video criticizing NBC News’ coverage of the trial.) In between clips from the trial, Signore comments that he believes the testimony is true and reflects strongly on Depp’s case. Business Insider reported that the top three Super Chat earners on YouTube during the trial were creators who exclusively streamed it. “There’s no due process,” Signore said in the May video comparing himself to Depp and one of his accusers to Heard.

☆ 10 companies that will let you work from anywhere and are hiring right now—some jobs pay $100K
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you're hoping to travel the world while working — or just never commute to an office again — consider a work-from-anywhere job. Although remote work has become a standard option for many professionals since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, most remote work policies still fall short of offering total flexibility. About 95% of remote jobs have geographic requirements, whether it's a specific region, country, state or city, according to FlexJobs. FlexJobs has identified the top 10 companies hiring for work-from-anywhere jobs right now by analyzing its database and seeing which employers had the highest volume of work-from-anywhere job ads between August and November 2022. Some of the most in-demand work-from-anywhere jobs included copywriter, executive assistant and software engineer.

☆ If you're making at least $600 from Fantasy Football, the IRS wants to know about it – and you should tell them
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Starting in 2022, $600 and over in Fantasy Football gambling winnings must be reported to the IRS. The IRS defines a 1099-K form as an "IRS information return used to report certain payment transactions to improve voluntary tax compliance." The payment transactions include those from third-party payment networks. "Loan providers want to see copies of your tax returns, and if you're understating income, you're hurting yourself because you're not really showing all of your income," Bronnenkant said. It takes at least 40 credits to qualify for Social Security benefits.

If you use third-party payment platforms, like PayPal, Venmo or Cash App, to collect payments for your side gig or business, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants to remind you to report payments of at least $600. Before 2022, third-party transactions for business owners and side hustlers followed different thresholds: individuals needed to report gross payments exceeding $20,000 and report earnings if they had more than 200 such transactions, according to the IRS. According to the IRS, you should receive this form from each third-party payment platform you received transactions through. If you need to hire a professional, consider using a business credit card, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or the American Express Blue Business Cash Card, so you can get rewarded for the business expense. The Ink Business card lets you earn 1.5% cash back on all business-related expenses and the Blue Business Cash card gives you 2% cash back on eligible business purchases.

☆ Side-hustlers who get paid via Cash App and Venmo risk being audited if they don't report their earnings, IRS warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The IRS warned people who make over $600 from side hustles should declare earnings to avoid audits. Workers who get paid via apps including Venmo, Paypal, and Cash App should file the tax form 1099-K.Tax expert Lisa Niser told Insider the "worst case" could be penalties for insufficient filings. People who are earning income in addition to their full-time job, as well as gig workers, should file the tax form 1099-K to declare earnings, the IRS said. Tax expert Lisa Niser told Insider that the "worst case" for people who don't declare earnings to the IRS is that "they are audited" and could be subjected to penalties and accrue interest. It added: "You must report on your income tax return all income you receive.

☆ I'm an ex-preschool teacher who quit my job to be an OnlyFans model. 18 months on I have no regrets, loads more time for therapy, and I've learnt the guitar.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Danielle Zavala quit her job as a preschool teacher to become a BBW model on OnlyFans and Curvage. But in summer 2021 I quit my job become an OnlyFans model, and I really don't have any regrets. From month to month, I at least have a minimum idea of how much I'll earn. I don't drink; I don't do any drugs; I don't smoke; I have a good, healthy relationship. Just because you're an OnlyFans model doesn't mean you're completely wild.

The cases were weeks apart and eerily similar: Two young men at popular New York City gay bars. Both of their bank accounts were drained. The New York City Police Department said that the city’s medical examiner is still determining the official causes of Ramirez’s and Umberger’s deaths. John Umberger was found dead in New York City in May and his bank accounts were drained. “It’s horrifying and infuriating that people are being preyed upon and victimized in New York City in this way,” Bottcher said.

☆ I make $60,000 a month from multiple revenue streams, including YouTube and Airbnb. Here's how I set them up so I only have to work 15 hours a week and can travel the world.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Kimanzi Constable | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Gabby Wallace is a former teacher who now runs a YouTube channel and several rental properties. She says she only works 10 to 15 hours a week, and she makes on average $60,000 a month in revenue. My YouTube channel grew slowly at firstIt took a year after starting my channel to reach 1,000 subscribers. In 2013, I moved back to the US to teach at Boston University and ran my YouTube channel as a side hustle. By 2017, I had language-learning and online-tutoring companies buying sponsorships on my YouTube channel, and some language-learning apps paying for ads.

100 Thieves and Cash App have ended their sponsorship arrangement, Insider has learned. Block Inc.'s Cash App was the title sponsor for 100 Thieves esports and gaming compound. 100 Thieves once planned to replace Cash App with a crypto sponsor, two former staffers said. It called for a 15,000-square-foot Cash App-branded compound in Los Angeles, as well as branding on 100 Thieves jerseys. Representatives from 100 Thieves and Cash App did not respond to Insider's multiple requests for comment.

☆ Block shares can rally more than 60% from here, Macquarie says in upgrade
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The pullback in Block 's stock price since late July creates an attractive buying opportunity for investors, according to Macquarie. "With shares now de-rated and operating leverage flowing through, we upgrade shares on this improved upside/ downside positioning in our view across shares and fundamentals," analyst Wei Sim wrote as he upgraded the stock to an outperform rating in a note to clients Tuesday. Macquarie views Block's Cash App business as one of the company's greatest strengths, expecting year-over-year growth to continue accelerating in the fourth quarter. Despite optimism in Block's business outlook, Macquarie anticipates continued uncertainty within the company's buy now, pay later segment. Along with the upgrade, Macquarie upped its price target on the stock to $101 a share.

☆ I sell feet pics on the side. Here's how I find buyers, set prices, and make sure no one can identify me.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Fortesa Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Riley, 21, has been selling feet pics online for more than three years. I've been selling pictures of my feet online for more than three years now. I think people who look for feet pictures online just look for keywords like "feet pics" on Twitter and then message people from there. Once I began tweeting about selling feet pictures, my direct messages filled up with people wanting to buy pictures from me. To see how much they're willing to pay, I'll ask things like "How much is this video worth to you?"

☆ Cash App Gets the Money
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Telis Demos | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cash App is doing a pretty good job of getting it. Block , provider of the Cash App and Square merchant payments, presents investors with a bevy of metrics each quarter. What is emerging as one of the most important is inflows into Cash App, representing money that people are moving into their digital accounts. There are a number of ways to do this, such as linking to a bank account, mobile depositing a check, bringing paper money to a place such as Walmart that partners with Cash App, or directly depositing it from a paycheck. Cash App’s inflow was a record $52 billion in the third quarter, up 19% from a year earlier.

You can set up and start using a Cash App account in about three minutes. How much money you can send on Cash App depends on account verificationYou can't send large amounts of money with an unverified Cash App account. An unverified Cash App account is also limited to receiving $1,000 in a 30-day stretch of time. If you want to send and receive more money, you need to go through a process of account verification. With a verified account, you can send up to $7,500 per week and receive an unlimited amount of money.

☆ Shares of Block jump on earnings beat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Block stock rose over 11% in extended trading after the payments company reported third-quarter earnings that beat Wall Street expectations for profit. Here's how Block did versus Refinitiv consensus expectations:EPS : $0.42, adjusted, versus expectations of $0.23: $0.42, adjusted, versus expectations of $0.23 Revenue: $4.52 billion versus expectations of $4.49 billionBlock posted $1.57 billion in gross profit, up 38% from $1.13 billion a year ago. Its Cash App business reported $774 million in gross profit, a 51% year-over-year rise, according to Block. Block said it made $37 million from Bitcoin sales during the quarter on $1.76 billion in gross sales. Block still holds $156 million worth of bitcoin, based on its price at the end of September.

☆ Dorsey's Block posts a jump in revenue, boosting shares
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Hannah Lang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The logo of Cash App is seen at a stand during the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2022. Shares of Block, formerly called Square, rose more than 14% in extended trading on Thursday. The San Francisco, California-based company reported a 17% rise in total net revenue from the year prior at $4.52 billion in the third quarter. Its unit that sells terminals and software for businesses to process payments, Square, generated gross profit of $783 million, up 29%. In August, the company announced it had slowed hiring and slashed its 2022 investment target by $250 million, citing ongoing economic uncertainty.

☆ Ark's Cathie Wood is betting Elon Musk will turn Twitter into a 'super app'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, Portugal — Ark Invest founder Cathie Wood thinks Elon Musk might be onto something with his vision for Twitter. "He's thinking about a super app like WeChat Pay," Wood said at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Wednesday. Wood was referring to the digital payments service of Chinese messaging app WeChat. Tesla CEO Musk has already hinted at plans to make Twitter a super app. "He and [Twitter co-founder] Jack Dorsey working together, I think, could turn this into a super app."

☆ Sen. Warren says big banks fail to prevent 'rampant' fraud on payment platform Zelle, urges CFPB to tighten regulations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Truist reported 9,455 fraud and scam claims on Zelle in 2020 and 22,045 in 2021, according to the senator. Its customers are on track to make 160,977 scam and fraud claims on Zelle in 2022. The value of the scam and fraud claims received by PNC, Truist, U.S. Bank and Bank of America exceeded $90 million in 2020. The data that Wells Fargo released revealed that customers reported fraud and scams on Zelle at a nearly 2.5 times higher rate in 2022 than in 2019. "And that is more than twice as high for Wells customers compared to customers of other banks," Warren wrote.

☆ I moonlighted as a Twitter 'findomme' for a night. It was fun toying with a 'pay pig' and making him send me cash, but I ended up feeling sorry for him.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I moonlighted as a financial dominatrix on Twitter to see if I could make money from a "pay pig." A pay pig is told by a findomme to send them cash in return for nothing other than the humiliation of doing so. Sensing the opportunity, I replied: "Is this a pathetic attempt to be my pay pig?" He said what he liked most about being a pay pig was how easily a findomme could take his money. But I'll admit, I did feel a little sorry for my pay pig.

☆ Goldman's pivot away from money-losing Marcus shows that disrupting retail banking is hard
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article AAPLWFCBACJPMGS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTDavid Solomon, Goldman Sachs, at Marcus eventGoldman Sachs CEO David Solomon is reining in his ambition to make the 153-year-old investment bank a major player in U.S. consumer banking. The moment is a humbling one for Solomon, who seized on the possibilities within the nascent consumer business after becoming CEO four years ago. Goldman started Marcus in 2016, named after one of the bank's cofounders, to help it diversify revenue away from the bank's core trading and advisory operations. "One could argue that there's been some execution challenges for Goldman in consumer; you've had multiple leadership changes," Bolu stated. "To be honest, when I speak with a lot of investors on Goldman Sachs, very few are excited about the consumer business," Hawken said.

Data from Bloomberg Economics shows that El Salvador tops its ranking of emerging market countries that are vulnerable to a debt default. Another survey by the institute found that 76 out of 100 small and medium-size enterprises in El Salvador do not accept bitcoin payments. But in 2022, recent data shows that only 1.6% of remittances were sent to El Salvador via digital wallets. Meanwhile, its other national currency, bitcoin, is revered for the fact that it, too, is impossible to mint out of thin air. "Bitcoin doesn't solve any of El Salvador's important economic problems," he added.

☆ B2B payments startup Hopscotch aims to be a supercharged 'Venmo for businesses' with a new tool helping SMBs manage invoices
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Ann Gehan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Hopscotch, a B2B payments fintech, aims to be a Venmo-like payment tool for businesses. The result is Hopscotch, a B2B payments platform that adopts the look and feel of a consumer app and offers instant, free payment services. Hopscotch Flow is a way to monetize the startupAccording to Switzer, Hopscotch is built on the belief that businesses shouldn't have to wait to access money they've already earned. "The whole point is to give our users really more control over their cash flow, because for most of them, their cash flow is fairly unpredictable," he said. A rendering of a business user's Hopscotch dashboard.

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