The post Student Coin Announces Fair Redemption Process for STC Token Holders appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News StudentCoin, a platform that teaches (especially) students about blockchain technology, launched a program to buy back all circulating $STC tokens, giving holders a clear way to cash out. This announcement about the Student Coin redemption process comes after their team announced the closure of the project on April 9, 2024. StudentCoin Launched Its STC Token Redemption Program Student Coin, a leading blockchain education platform, is committed to providing a clear and transparent exit strategy for its token holders. They’ve launched a $STC Token Redemption & Sale process that offers fair buyback prices and multiple options to cash out tokens over the next five years. The redemption price per token will vary between $0.006 and $0.0137, with a higher price offered to those who have held $STC tokens for a longer duration or have been actively involved in the Student Coin community. The redemption process has already begun on April 9, 2024, and will unfold in stages throughout the next five years. Here’s a breakdown of the key deadlines to keep in mind: For STC Wallet Users June 9, 2024: This is the deadline to redeem tokens directly within your STC Wallet. October 9, 2024: Deadline for redeeming tokens via Redemption Request. For Users Holding STC Outside the STC Wallet (like MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or KuCoin) October 9, 2024: This is the deadline to sell your tokens on a centralized exchange like KuCoin. April 9, 2029: Deadline for selling tokens at Uniswap V3 (5 years from the announcement). Tokens held within the STC Wallet that are not redeemed by the deadlines will be automatically burned (removed from circulation). The Redemption Program Comes After StudentCoin’s Team Announces Project Closure This STC Token Redemption program comes after the StudentCoin’s team announced the closure of the project. StudentCoin is closing its doors after carefully evaluating its current resources, project landscape, and future viability. They will use all of their remaining resources to repurchase all $STC Tokens from all holders. It is important to note that, as of (Date of publication), the absolute majority of $STC token holders have expressed their understanding and support for the decision to redeem all circulating tokens. Many people have thanked the team for their transparency and fairness during the process. Despite closing its doors, Student Coin leaves a significant legacy. The project engaged over 300,000 users, listed the token on major exchanges, generated millions of campaign impressions, collaborated with over 20 educational and legal partners, directly employed over 80 individuals, and produced a vast library of educational content, reaching over 210,000 individuals. They developed the STC Wallet suite, launched the STC Terminal for token creation, established the popular Coinpaper news portal with over 60,000 monthly users, and co-created a Decentralized Exchange for derivatives. Furthermore, Student Coin demonstrated responsible financial management, minimizing costs and safeguarding finances during market downturns. However, the project acknowledges unrealized goals, including university hesitancy to launch official tokens, challenges in finding high-quality projects for startup launchpads, limitations in exchange development due to legal constraints, and the inability to reach 2021’s token pricing levels due to a focus on building fundamental value. While Student Coin concludes its operations, the team remains dedicated to blockchain education through existing resources offered through Coinpaper.com. About StudentCoin StudentCoin’s story started in 2019 with some curious students at Kozminski University in Poland. Back then, they called it the “ALK Token,” and it was just a way to play around with the blockchain. This playing around involved sending, buying, and swapping digital tokens, and it went well! This way, it sparked an idea for these students: what if we could teach other students about blockchain in a cool, hands-on way? That idea turned into reality with free token drops (airdrops) for students at Kozminski and other Polish universities. Students loved it, and by the end of 2020, StudentCoin had become a global movement. The utility token, now called $STC, was listed on crypto exchanges, allowing students worldwide to claim free $STC with their student ID. This created a global community of students interested in this new technology. However, StudentCoin wanted to do more than just give away tokens. They wanted to make $STC even more valuable. So, they initially launched the STC Academy, a free online school to educate students about blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and security practices. After about 1.5 years, they grew their educational offerings by introducing STC University, which offered paid courses. Yet, both platforms are now slated for shutdown, with plans to migrate their educational content to CoinPaper.com’s “learn” section. They also started working on tools like a StudentCoin Wallet, Exchange, and Terminal. Of course, things weren’t always easy. In 2022, StudentCoin faced some challenges that forced them to change their plans a bit. Some of their original ideas, like creating tokens for universities and helping startups raise money, didn’t work out as expected. Despite these setbacks, StudentCoin never forgot its focus on education. In 2023, they launched STC University, an even better version of the STC Academy with more advanced courses about blockchain. They also saw a huge jump in the number of people using Coinpaper.com, with nearly 20% more active users every month! However, today, in April 2024, StudentCoin is proud of what they’ve achieved, but they’re also honest and transparent about the things they haven’t been able to do. Learn More For further details on the reasons behind Student Coin’s closure and information regarding its redemption program, please visit their official website.
The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Price Expected to Reach $80K-$90K in Coming Expansionary Phase appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News As Bitcoin breaks through key resistance levels and bullish momentum builds across the crypto market, investors are optimistic about further upside potential. With technical indicators pointing to a potential reversal and strong support from ETF inflows, the stage is set for a sustained upward trajectory. Bitcoin’s Current Stance Analyst Miles explained the importance of Bitcoin’s price action, particularly its ability to hold a major support level of $59,000. He noted the strength of the $60,000 zone, highlighting it as a crucial pivot point for Bitcoin’s recent rally and subsequent support during market corrections. Additionally, Miles discussed the potential for an expansionary phase, projecting price targets of $80,000, $90,000, and potentially even higher shortly. Throughout his analysis, Miles also referenced price levels such as $66,000, which served as a warning point for potential market risks, and $70,000, which was identified as a psychological level with implications for market sentiment. He discussed the importance of monitoring these price levels closely to gauge market momentum and anticipate potential price movements. Bitcoin Price Breakout Miles discussed various price levels and details regarding different cryptocurrencies in his analysis. He explained pivotal levels for Bitcoin, including $66,000, $60,000, and $71,000 to $72,000. The breakout above $65,000 suggests further upside towards resistance zones at $68,000–$69,000 and $73,000–$74,000. While short-term patterns like the Rising Wedge may pose temporary challenges, overall sentiment remains bullish. In addition to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana are demonstrating resilience in the market. Ethereum’s breakout above $3,250 signals a potential rally towards $3,470–$3,530, supported by bullish divergence patterns. Meanwhile, Solana’s surge past $155 confirms a bullish reversal, with targets at $185-$186.
Milioni di posti di lavoro sono a rischio se l'aumento dei prestiti da parte delle cosiddette “banche ombra” dovesse trasformarsi in un disastro. La crescita galoppante, a livello europeo, dei prestiti da parte delle società di private equity è “complessa, opaca e potenzialmente rischiosa”. È questo l'allarme lanciato da Nathanaël Benjamin, un alto funzionario della Bank of England, banca centrale del Regno Unito. L'ascesa - e discesa - del private equity Il mercato del credito privato è aumentato di dimensioni dopo la crisi finanziaria, quando il private equity ha iniziato a colmare le lacune del sistema bancario e a garantire rendimenti più elevati dopo i tagli portati avanti dalle banche tradizionali. Tuttavia, il credito privato è molto meno regolamentato di quello bancario e le autorità non riescono a dipingere un quadro chiaro delle possibili insidie. Con il termine “private equity”, lo ricordiamo, si fa riferimento ai prestiti concessi da fondi e singole imprese, piuttosto che da banche o da creditori sui mercati obbligazionari. Nel Regno Unito molte aziende, grandi e piccole, dipendono dai mercati privati per i finanziamenti. Uno shock in questo settore – innescato dalle perdite degli investitori e/o da una diminuzione dell'interesse per gli asset privati – potrebbe limitare la capacità delle imprese di accedere ai finanziamenti di cui hanno bisogno, il che potrebbe portare a dei tagli negli investimenti e dei posti di lavoro nel settore. leggi anche I fondi di private equity si stanno indebitando per pagare i dividendi A livello mondiale il credito privato vale 2.000 miliardi di dollari (1.875 miliardi di euro); il private equity investe 250 miliardi di sterline nel Regno Unito, mentre nel 2022 gli investimenti del private equity in Italia sono stati pari a 13,5 miliardi, di cui 11,7 miliardi per operazioni di buy out e sviluppo e 1,8 miliardi per venture capital. Considerando anche le terze parti coinvolte, le aziende britanniche sostenute da private equity e venture capital impiegano 3,5 milioni di persone. Tale statistica non è disponibile anche per l'Italia, ma sappiamo che nel 2022 sono state sostenute dal PE ben 587 società italiane. Appare chiaro che, qualora il settore dovesse subire una forte battuta d'arresto, l'effetto a catena percepito dalle aziende anche solo marginalmente coinvolte nel private equity sarebbe enorme. Le insidie delle banche ombra da monitorare Il rialzo dei tassi di interesse negli ultimi due anni da parte delle banche centrali ha colto di sorpresa il settore, lasciando le aziende indebitate alle prese con dei costi di finanziamento più elevati bloccando de facto la vendita dei propri asset da parte delle società di private equity. I tassi di default sono in aumento perché le imprese non riescono più a rifinanziare i prestiti o ripagare i propri debiti. Su questo fronte il private equity appare particolarmente vulnerabile, dato l'ampio uso della leva finanziaria e la natura illiquida dei suoi investimenti. Alcune società sostenute dal private equity stanno optando per delle soluzioni di rifinanziamento che possano cristallizzare i rischi, come degli accordi di “modifica ed estensione” o di “pagamento in natura”. Tali accordi possano aiutare le imprese a superare lo stress, ma il rischio è che l'impatto dei tassi più alti venga semplicemente ritardato e che un'estensione dei termini possa restituire solo un falso conforto, aumentando le perdite su crediti in futuro. La crescita del private equity riflette in parte l'abbandono delle soluzioni tradizionali come i prestiti bancari in seguito alla crisi finanziaria. Tuttavia, ad oggi si contano diverse banche coinvolte nel settore in qualità di finanziatori, un'evidenza che non fa che costituire nuovi rischi man mano che il sistema finanziario diventa più complesso e intricato. Una situazione (contraddizione, pardon) a dir poco ironica: le banche sono preoccupate per la minaccia rappresentata dagli operatori non bancari, ma allo stesso tempo sono desiderose di aiutarli a rafforzarsi.
The DOJ wants Zhao to serve 36 months after his guilty plea last year.
The post Top 10 Altcoins ‘Stack’ Now for 10x Gains in 2024 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Analyst Jesse Eckel has outlined that his top altcoins are poised to surge by 10x or more in 2024. These picks span various sectors, from crypto AI to gaming to DeFi, offering diverse opportunities. While it’s uncertain whether the coins will experience a 10x increase by 2024, the analyst is confident they will experience significant growth by the end of the market cycle, especially when retail investors become involved. Best Bet Altcoins For 1000% Spike Across (Cross-chain settlement layer): Addressing the challenge of efficiently moving between different blockchain networks, Across aims to enable fast and cost-effective cross-chain transactions, potentially streamlining the interoperability of various blockchains. Immutable (Crypto gaming): As a key player in the crypto gaming sector, Immutable offers a platform for blockchain-based gaming experiences. With gaming’s rising popularity in the crypto space, Immutable could see significant growth as it establishes itself as a leading player. Frax Share (FXS) (Stablecoin issuer): Frax Share operates within the stablecoin ecosystem, offering stability and liquidity to users. With a unique model that distributes protocol revenue to token holders, Frax Share could attract more users seeking stable returns in the volatile crypto market. AOSHI (Crypto AI): AOSHI is positioned within the crypto AI sector, offering solutions that leverage artificial intelligence for various applications. With growing interest in AI technologies, AOSHI could experience substantial growth as it provides innovative AI-driven solutions to crypto enthusiasts. Research Hub (Decentralized Science): Founded by Brian Armstrong, co-founder of Coinbase, Research Hub aims to revolutionize scientific research by addressing issues such as publishing reputation and funding. With a strong leadership team and an ambitious vision, Research Hub has the potential to disrupt the scientific research landscape. Additionally, the analyst discussed Polygon’s MATIC token, highlighting its upcoming transformation and the innovative solutions it offers.
The amount of money laundered through crypto in 2021 is considered "extremely large" according to the president.
This April, The Fintech Times is focusing on all things embedded finance, the integration of financial services into non-financial products and services. As the space rapidly develops, we look to highlight the latest developments, initiatives and challenges embedded finance has to offer and overcome across the globe. Embedded finance platforms hold the key to ensuring both buyers and sellers feel empowered within online marketplaces. To understand how this can truly be achieved, we reached out to the industry. Finance automation must be adopted Rick Verma, head of digital at Tipalti Rick Verma, head of digital at Tipalti, the end-to-end payables automation firm, notes the various reasons why people are turning to careers online, but highlights the importance of finance automation. “The digital economy has no doubt picked up pace in the last 10 years, with it now contributing £149billion to the UK economy each year. “There are many reasons why people are turning to a career within online marketplaces – flexible working hours, the appeal of being self-employed to name but a few. For buyers, online marketplaces provide more choice and personalisation. “Yet, the experience for both can be damaged if online marketplaces fail to adopt finance automation. Embedded finance automation offers buyers convenience, personalised experiences and cost savings, while providing sellers with increased and more reliable revenue streams, enhanced customer engagement and valuable data insights. “Ultimately, this leads to a more seamless and competitive marketplace for both parties – that empowers gig workers with the tools needed to thrive in this flexible economy and make it viable as a full-time career.” Enhancing economic opportunities Natasa Kyprianidou, senior director at Alvarez & Marsal Natasa Kyprianidou, senior director with Alvarez & Marsal, the management consulting term, highlights the costs and times that can be saved through embedded finance providers. She says: “The integration of rent-a-platform models, such as Stripe, Plaid, and Tink, into online marketplaces has empowered both buyers and sellers by streamlining financial transactions. “These platforms, operating at the API layer, enable rapid and seamless integration of a wide array of financial services into e-commerce platforms. This approach contrasts with traditional, time-consuming, and costly bespoke integrations, offering a swift, cost-effective method to onboard hundreds of merchants. “For marketplace operators, the adoption of rent-a-platform models significantly cuts down integration costs and time, enhancing the platform’s agility and ability to quickly adapt to market demands. Buyers enjoy a more convenient and secure shopping experience, with instant financing and seamless payment processes integrated directly into their purchasing journey. “Sellers, especially SMEs, benefit from simplified access to essential financial tools, including efficient payment processing and advanced business analytics, allowing them to focus on scaling their businesses. The democratisation of access to financial services through these platforms, levels the playing field within the marketplace, fostering a competitive and vibrant ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders. “In essence, rent-a-platform models are catalysing a transformative shift in online marketplaces, enhancing economic opportunities for buyers and sellers paving the way for a new era of e-commerce innovation.” Filling the gap James Butland UK managing director Mangopay James Butland, VP payment network and UK managing director, Mangopay, the paytech explains how the surge in demand for embedded finance arises from the limitations of traditional banking models in delivering integrated financial solutions, particularly in the realm of B2B e-commerce. “Buyers and sellers within online marketplaces gain access to a suite of financial services, transforming the way transactions are conducted and elevating the overall operational efficiency of businesses. “To meet the needs of this evolving landscape, a notable shift is taking place towards leveraging flexible payment infrastructure via the use of APIs. This strategic shift prioritises superior customer experiences, scalability, and rapid development. APIs have been democratising financial integration, allowing non-financial entities to seamlessly embed financial solutions that extend beyond transactions to include insurance, investment and financing into their offerings. “For buyers, this means access to diverse payment options, resulting in a streamlined shopping experience that enhances convenience and trust. Sellers can benefit from comprehensive payment infrastructure and modular solutions, facilitating seamless integration with existing technology stacks. This empowers them to create all-in-one operational ecosystems that not only facilitate transactions but also offer real-time invoicing and enhanced operational efficiency.” Creating the perfect link Sunil Sachdev, head of fintech and growth at Fiserv Embedded finance is the solution to removing friction in the e-commerce payments process says Sunil Sachdev, head of embedded finance at Fiserv, the global fintech and payments firm. He explains: “When you think about embedded finance, its ultimate function is to remove friction. It used to be that e-commerce was mostly about sellers presenting what they had and buyers purchasing with the existing funds in their wallet. “Now, with AI, data can be used to enable more intentional targeted interactions. Sellers can surface relevant products and services at the point of need and are now able to offer financing options at the time of purchase – whether a line of credit, BNPL or a proprietary solution – creating a more seamless commerce journey. “Alignment between buyers and sellers is simply so much stronger now. From a buyer’s perspective, the greater breadth of payment options is increasing purchasing power. From a seller’s perspective, embedded finance platforms pave the way for higher buyer conversion rates. The buyer’s increased purchasing power translates into lower abandonment rates – one of the biggest issues sellers grapple with at the checkout – and into bigger basket sizes. “Looking ahead, sellers’ financing options will also become much more tailored than they are today, with options tailored for their credit box, their specific inventory purchase size, and their transaction history. As sellers benefit from these tailored financing offers, they are better positioned to pass on savings or provide similar tailored financing offers to their own buyers.” Getting to the end solution in a faster, more efficient manner Elliot Colquhoun, VP of Information Security and IT at Airwallex For Elliot Colquhoun, VP, information security and IT at Airwallex, the global payments firm, speed and accessibility are where embedded solutions platforms can shine in an e-commerce marketplace. “In an increasingly digital world, marketplaces have become the go-to source for sellers, buyers, and service providers to tap into a global environment. Despite the immense opportunity, there are challenges for both sellers and marketplaces. “For sellers it can be a complex experience to get up and running; for marketplaces onboarding a new merchant can be challenging – it’s time-consuming and can be complicated with efficient onboarding, as KYC and KYB can pose a serious challenge. This is where having a robust global payments and financial infrastructure in place is essential to a company’s global success. “With embedded finance, marketplaces can partner with a fintech to create a smooth and efficient payment experience throughout the entire selling and buying journey. Embedded finance can simplify the end-to-end payment process for both buyers and sellers, particularly if that solution enables shoppers to use their preferred or local payment method, in a compliant and secure way. “Embedded finance can also reduce the time businesses are blocked on money flow as it ensures faster returns on sales meaning businesses can reinvest and accelerate their growth even faster.” Promoting good security Paola Santana, CEO at Glass Paola Santana, CEO at Glass, the govtech explains why an enhanced buying experience with a security focus is of paramount importance within the government e-commerce sector. “Being in the government e-commerce space, we basically could not exist without embedded finance tools. There are strict guidelines regarding handling of financial information for government customers (as you can imagine). Embedded finance platforms in this particular situation serve as conduits for financial services seamlessly integrated into the government e-commerce ecosystem. It creates efficiency, accessibility, and most importantly – security – for both government buyers and vendors. “For government buyers, embedded finance platforms offer streamlined payment processes, enabling quick and secure transactions within the government marketplace environment, especially since governments use government credit cards and government accounts for their purchases. “With easy API integrations, government buyers can enjoy frictionless payment experiences without worrying about how purchases will be processed. It helps them understand their real-time purchasing power, and they can instantly see where taxpayer dollars are going. Plus, all their finance data points are just a few clicks away. Embedded finance really enhances the overall buying experience, especially for a demographic like government where security is extremely sensitive. “On the vendor side, these platforms unlock opportunities for growth and optimization, especially if vendors are setting up their businesses to sell to government entities. By facilitating seamless payment acceptance and processing, these platforms help vendors manage their cash flow and liquidity, and remain compliant with any government purchasing regulations. Plus, plenty of embedded finance solutions often offer value-added services like automated invoicing, or a real-time broad overview of what sales are being made. “Simply put: vendors can accept a long list of payment forms and have instant access to data to drive their business decisions.” Ensuring customer loyalty Jay Jaffin, CMO at Blackhawk Network Rewards are a very good way of ensuring customer loyalty. They keep customers coming back to a retailer to shop to earn rewards. The customer feels valued as they receive special deals or items for free, and the merchant can ensure a long-term customer. Jay Jaffin, CMO at Blackhawk Network, a prepaid and payment networks services provider builds upon this idea explaining: “Businesses can leverage embedded rewards (part of the embedded finance ecosystem) to nurture customer loyalty and engagement. “Rewards are incredibly effective emotional drivers for customers and businesses alike. The psychological impact of rewards is simple; when people receive a reward, especially a branded one like a prepaid or gift card with the company’s logo, it can create a halo effect of positive brand affinity for the business issuing the reward. “Technology exists (e.g., APIs) that can provide rewards experiences that are embedded directly into customer exchanges, no matter where they are, and throughout the purchase process or sales cycle. These capabilities help businesses create quality connections that enhance relationships with target buyers or customers because they quickly meet people where they are and offer frictionless customer experiences before, during and after point-of-sale. Access anywhere “Embedded rewards (e.g, digital gift cards) can be accessed from almost anywhere, and by leveraging intelligent apps or APIs that enable your brand to dole out embedded rewards—especially those that are digital wallet-enabled since 88 per cent of shoppers surveyed use a digital wallet of some kind—you can provide real-time reinforcement for behaviours, gather deep customer insights that help tailor future interactions and promotions, and unlock frequent touchpoint opportunities. “Examples of when embedded rewards can be offered include when people make certain purchases, participate in referral programs, sign up for loyalty programs, engage with brands on social media, participate in promotions, leave reviews, participate in surveys or market research studies, or even when they have negative brand experiences.” Infrastructure is allowing everyone to benefit Ricardo Pero, co-founder and CEO at SellersFi Ricardo Pero, co-founder and CEO at SellersFi, e-commerce funding solutions provider notes how embedded finance infrastructure is allowing retailers to keep pace with consumer demands. “While much coverage of embedded finance to date has focused on its ability to reach consumers through personalized user experiences, many observers haven’t noticed its increasing importance in helping businesses achieve scale and run their daily operations. “Nowhere is this more vital than in the world of online marketplaces. “Most small-to-medium-sized e-commerce sellers are unprepared for the torrent of demand they encounter when they first join a marketplace like Amazon’s. As they scale, many smaller businesses quickly find themselves in need of more robust and sophisticated solutions in logistics, advertisement and finance. “Amazon and similar platforms enable smaller e-commerce sellers to scale much more quickly than they might have anticipated. The problem – until recently – has been the lack of integrated financial infrastructure to help these businesses keep pace with this demand in real-time. Expanding boundaries “Fortunately, emerging embedded finance players are stepping up to fill the gap. “New embedded finance options on Amazon and other platforms are expanding the boundaries of what was previously possible through marketplace-integrated financial services, providing sizeable term loans, working capital loans and expedited underwriting processes to help sellers scale quickly and keep pace with demand. “As embedded finance has matured, sellers are adopting and relying on the channel more than ever. By providing sufficient capital for smaller e-commerce companies to not only fund their operations but to actively and aggressively grow, forward-looking embedded finance providers are opening new possibilities for sellers on online marketplaces while creating new buying options for consumers.” The post Embedded Finance Platforms Can Create a Win-Win Solution for All in Online Marketplaces… But How? appeared first on The Fintech Times.
The post Ripple Price Prediction: XRP’s Path to a $33 Billion Market Surge by 2025 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News As April draws close, cryptocurrency enthusiasts eagerly await what lies ahead. Ripple (XRP) has been on a rollercoaster ride this month, navigating through turbulent waters. In a recent analysis, Cheeky Crypto delves into the potential for a significant rally in XRP, forecasting a $33 billion surge by 2025. Amidst market turbulence and regulatory uncertainties, Cheeky Crypto examines the factors fueling speculation around XRP’s price action and its readiness for a breakout. XRP was trading just above 50 cents at the time of writing. Over the last 24 hours, it had experienced a modest increase of 0.4%; over the past week, it saw a more significant rise of 3%. Despite the less-than-ideal recent price action, there’s been a noteworthy influx of inflows into XRP, contrasting with the outflows seen in Bitcoin and Ethereum, as reported by the analyst. This suggests that XRP is standing out among cryptocurrencies for several reasons, potentially including its cross-border solutions. However, what’s particularly intriguing is the substantial consolidation in price, hinting at the possibility of an imminent surge. Based on the analysis, Cheeky Crypto forecasts a potential $33 billion rally in XRP’s market cap by 2025, driven by market expansion, regulatory clarity, and adoption of Ripple’s technology. The analyst foresees a potential surge, projecting XRP’s price to range between $5.59 to $11.26 by the end of the year, buoyed by potential inflows totaling $33 billion into its market cap by 2025. This surge, fueled by growing adoption and potential market expansion, suggests a notable XRP value appreciation. Also Check Out : Top 3 Low Cap Metaverse Token with 10X potential in 2024 After consolidating between $0.46 to $0.50, XRP experienced a bullish resurgence. The asset gained momentum and surged by 25% from the lows it hit during the crash on April 11th. With market dynamics shifting, regulatory uncertainties being addressed, and Ripple’s innovative initiatives gaining traction, XRP stands poised for growth and resurgence.