Author: Charlotte

Enterprise networks face a fundamental challenge as companies deploy AI strategies: the infrastructure designed for traditional desk-to-cloud traffic patterns cannot handle the demands of agentic AI. At Cisco Live Amsterdam, we had a chance to talk to Enrico Mercadante, VP Networking Sales EMEA at Cisco. We talked about why Cisco thinks that a network refresh is no longer optional, but rather a strategic imperative for any organization serious about AI transformation. Why AI changes everything for networks Agentic AI creates three demands on network infrastructure. First, AI models will increasingly use enterprise data rather than internet data, requiring networks to…

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How Token Utility Shapes Airdrop Outcomes1. Immediate vs Long-Term ImpactMany airdrops generate short-term excitement, but only utility ensures longevity. Tokens with real use cases continue to gain value over time.2. Community BehaviorUtility-driven tokens encourage participation, while non-utility tokens attract opportunistic users.3. Market PerceptionInvestors and users view utility as a sign of a serious and sustainable project.The Role of Timing and IntegrationToken utility must be available at or soon after the airdrop. If users receive tokens but cannot use them immediately, interest fades quickly.Successful projects ensure:In many cases, a well-planned crypto airdrop can create strong initial engagement, but without immediate and…

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The American Economic Association has awarded Ludwig Straub of Harvard University, a research associate in the Economic Fluctuations and Growth and Monetary Economics programs, the 2026 John Bates Clark Medal. The honor recognizes an American economist under the age of 40 who has made a significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.Straub’s research has ranged over many issues in macroeconomics, including the impact of income inequality and household heterogeneity on the aggregate effects of economic shocks and the macroeconomic consequences of changes in monetary policy. He has also developed new tools for the estimation and solution of heterogeneous agent models.The prize citation…

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MSCI has acquired PM Insights, a specialist private markets data and analytics firm that provides daily secondary market reference data, including on pricing, valuation, transaction and liquidity, for private company securities. The acquisition of PM Insights will further advance MSCI’s strategy to bring institutional-grade data, pricing transparency and analytics to private asset investing, according to the firm. PM Insights’ data and analytics support portfolio management, performance measurement, and index creation, helping market participants understand, monitor, and value private equity investments. PM Insights aggregates proprietary data from a broad network of institutional broker-dealers and bank secondary desks, capturing secondary market activity…

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The creator of Bored Ape Yacht Club nonfungible tokens settled a trademark dispute with a pact that bans a pair of artists from selling identical-looking tokens.The agreement between Yuga Labs Inc. and the artists—Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen—ends a contentious 2022 lawsuit in the US District Court for the Central District of California. Yuga Labs had won $1.4 million in damages and $7 million in attorneys fees before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed summary judgment. The twin injunctions broadly prohibit Ripps and Cahen—who are no longer represented by counsel—from using Board Ape Yacht … Source…

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Accordion has acquired Salesforce consulting firm A5, adding A5’s teams in North America, EMEA and India. The deal broadens Accordion’s Salesforce capabilities for private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and other enterprise clients, while extending its delivery reach in regions where A5 already has established teams. A5 specialises in Salesforce consulting across the wider platform, including Configure, Price, Quote, Revenue Cloud, Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud and Service Cloud. Accordion said the acquisition will strengthen its ability to support clients using Salesforce across sales, service, pricing, revenue and customer operations. Accordion, a financial consulting firm focused on private equity, said the transaction…

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