Investors migrate to safe havens among trade war concerns

Loading player...
In this edition of Business Day Spotlight, our focus is on cryptocurrency.


Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined in studio by Richard de Sousa, senior partner at AltCoinTrader - a cryptocurrency exchange that offers buying or selling digital coins for SA Rand.

AltCoinTrader, has recently added gold and silver to their platform, giving investors a choice to trade between cryptocurrencies and traditional commodities if they feel markets are too volatile.

This discussion considers the current state of crypotcurrencies relative to other stores of wealth and means of exchange, explaining AltCoinTrader's rationale for adding commodities to their platform.

With the ongoing US-China trade tensions, investor uncertainty has been increasing around the world moving some towards alternative safe haven assets. Gold and silver have been on the rise, and the untraditional Bitcoin, has been gaining momentum on this as well, with Bitcoin seeing a surge in price to over $11 000.

De Sousa unpacks how the global economy is affecting Bitcoin prices and how trading volumes in SA have tended to respond. He also takes time to explain bitcoin mining and the challenges faced by that industry.

The last time De Sousa was in studio, he spoke extensively around Facebook’s proposed digital currency Libra. In this discussion, we end of with an update as Facebook has been consulting and seeking approval from regulators around the world.

De Sousa says unless something changes, Facebook does not seem to be a position to launch Libra. The social media giant has so far not done enough to to convince authorities, particularly in the US, of the viability of the Libra platform.

Listen in to hear thoughts around these and other questions.

Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Production.
13 Aug 2019 English South Africa Business News · News

Other recent episodes

The case for modern payment systems in an “always on” economy

The value of the digital payments for South Africa’s economy is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined Eshmael Mpabanga, regional head for Southern Africa and senior vice president Intellect Design Arena South Africa. The conversation centres on the modernisation of payment…
16 Oct 33 min

Plentify’s growth strategy in South Africa’s competitive energy market

Plentify’s growth strategy in South Africa’s competitive energy market is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Plentify: Jon Kornik, co-founder and CEO, and Kailas Nair, co-founder and chief growth officer. Through the discussion, the founders highlight the…
13 Oct 52 min

Conducive Capital founders outline plans for R1bn fund

A new R1bn venture capital (VC) fund looking to shake up SA tech investment is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Conducive Capital founders Clive Butkow and Mitchan Adams. Topics include: developments in a number of areas such as…
12 Apr 2024 59 min

Economic impact of AI in the music business

The economic implications of artificial intelligence use in music is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Chola Makgamathe, general manager for legal service at the SA Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). She also serves as chairperson of the Copyright Coalition of…
26 Apr 2024 45 min

New rules cutting SA’s competitiveness for international films

Cuts in tax incentives for foreign film and television projects is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Nick Cloete, Animation SA’s head of policy and outgoing National chairperson; Paul Raleigh, director at Hollard Film Guarantors; and Ayanda Sibisi, interim…
22 Apr 2024 48 min