Will the Fed engineer a soft landing? Perhaps the most important economic question facing our time, economists are in wide disagreement as to whether or not the Fed can avoid a recession or worse stagflation, especially given that Q1 US GDP numbers were negative. Markets initially reacted positively to Powell’s press conference, bouncing due to oversold conditions, but the next day all gains were reversed! Friday was a further bloodbath for tech stonks, marking the 5th consecutive week of losses for the Nasdaq, the longest losing streak since 2012.

The world doesn’t just revolve around the stock market, however. We are becoming increasingly decentralized, even if globalization is on a temporary hiatus thanks to Covid. In this week’s DDIntel, we highlight two articles focused on the blockchain universe - Infrastructure is the key that unlocks decentralization, and how are smart contracts executed in the hyperledger?

Read more to find out about how The Graph is the backbone of web3, and if you want to show off at your next cocktail party, be sure to quote from Toby Kiernan’s excellent introductory article on smart contracts.

Have you heard of the concept of fat tails regarding options pricing? While a complex topic, data scientist Mark Jamison breaks down just what it means in simple terms; well, that is assuming you’re not afraid of a little Python.

This wouldn’t be a DDIntel if someone weren’t predicting BTC to the moon! Check out Ilona’s article When Bitcoin will get to $100k. Could Cathie Wood be right that bitcoin will hit $1M by 2030?!?

Finally, let’s talk about vacations. We could all use one, right? Well, if you are so inclined, check out 8 Dangerous Holiday Destinations. But if you want to make money instead, find out how you might be able to make a 160% return on… that’s right: vacation rentals. Some will vacation, while others will profit. Who will you be?

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Currently, the primary way of connecting to the blockchain is through Ethereum’s API. NFT expert, Clément Bourcart, argues that in the near future The Graph will do for blockchains what Google did to the traditional web; enable anyone to access blockchain data directly, without the need for centralized intermediaries.

Smart contracts are a buzzword that we all hear, but few understand. This extraordinarily simple introductory article explores how smart contracts are executed on the hyperledger. Learn what types of smart contracts there are, how the chaincode works, and how chain configuration can be used for audit purposes.

This article is top notch. Python, fat tails, all simplified so that we can understand it. Counterintuitively, data scientist Mark Jamison shows that fat tails actually increase the value of some options while decreasing the value of others. You’ve no doubt heard about fat tails in the media and popularized by trader Naseem Taleb; nevertheless, did you know how they impact options prices? All you future coders out there be sure to check out this great read.

We know what you’re thinking. Another article claiming bitcoin will hit $100k by the end of 2022? But actually, author Illona points out “it is not likely that Bitcoin will reach $100,000 by the end of the year.” However, her short run skepticism/caution is tempered by her long run bullishness. Read the article to find out more!

Here, corporate director Dean Gee offers 8 suggested vacation destinations, you know, if you want some danger in your life. Perhaps surprisingly, California makes the list (probably because it’s so expensive), as does Mexico and parts of Africa. If you want to relax and enjoy some humor, be sure to check out this fun read.

Now that you got vacation on your mind, maybe it’s time for a 160% returning asset - vacation rentals! Don’t get your hopes up too quickly though. You will need quite a bit of capital to capitalize on this feature of capitalism. Read here to find out more about how this company may offer a 9.6% APY dividend.

Happy trading to all you data-driven investors out there!