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The 88Minds Blog

Plain-spoken guides to crypto, forex, payments and property — written by people who build the products, reviewed by the people accountable for them.

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News

SA's population may be closer to 100m than 63m

A fascinating story in Moneyweb suggests SA’s population could be 95 million, more than 50% more than the 63 million counted by Stats SA.

80eight Team2 min read
News

Is South Africa uninvestable?

Is South Africa uninvestable? You might have noticed the JSE hitting all time highs, powered by gold and platinum stocks.

80eight Team2 min read
News

Is digital ID a threat to our freedom?

South Africans have had national IDs since anyone can remember. In the last few years we’ve transitioned from the old green ID books to new cars with some fancy holograms and…

80eight Team4 min read
Crypto

Just how big is the crypto market in SA?

About R500 billion worth in transactions. That’s according to an analysis by Silver Sixpence, which has developed a blockchain diagnostic tools called LedgerCore.

80eight Team2 min read
Payments

Why using 80eight for cross-border remittances is the smart move to make

In 2024, remittances to Africa surged to a record $96.4 billion, outpacing official development assistance by more than double. These are a huge part of the African economy.

80eight Team1 min read
Trading

It turns out AI trading bots behave just like humans - they lose (mostly)

It turns out AI trading bots behave just like humans –they lose (mostly) Here’s an interesting exercise worthy of note.

80eight Team3 min read
Crypto

When we stop measuring bitcoin in fiat

When we stop measuring bitcoin in fiat If we go with the thesis that fiat currencies will one day all fail, how will we measure wealth accumulated in Bitcoin?

80eight Team2 min read
Payments

Why are you still paying SWIFT fees?

80eight has cancelled SWIFT fees for the next three months. That news has set the cross-border payments sector alight.

80eight Team2 min read
Trading

What happens when you measure stock market gains in gold rather than USD?

What happens when you measure stock market gains in gold rather than USD? The answer is contained in the graph below. Focus on the blue lines.

80eight Team3 min read
News

The growing clamour to outlaw gambling advertising

The growing clamour to outlaw gambling advertising We at 80eight noted the extent of South Africa’s gambling problem some months ago.

80eight Team2 min read
Trading

Why stock trading is a losers game

Why stock trading is a loser’s game There’s been a plethora of online trading platforms launched in SA over the years (though IG recently pulled out, and Banxso was placed in…

80eight Team4 min read
News

Why the reserve bank's 3% inflation target will help the poor

SA Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago is on a campaign to lower inflation from the current 3–6% “range” to 3%. No range, just a 3% ceiling.

80eight Team4 min read