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Understanding digital assets: A simple guide to help first-time crypto users build their confidence

By
TI Partners
-
0

Crypto can feel mysterious if you’re a beginner. What’s a hardware wallet? And what on earth are all these different ‘keys’? But with millions of Americans now using digital assets, it’s clear that you don’t need to be a tech expert to participate in crypto. What trips people up in the early days is the fear of ‘pressing the wrong button’ and losing everything. Here’s a practical guide that will cut through that early uncertainty and give you a clear picture of what’s really happening when you buy, store, or send digital assets. Once you understand the basics, you’ll find the whole process far less intimidating and maybe even a lot of fun.

Public and private keys: What it means to ‘own’ crypto

If you ‘own’ crypto, it’s not the same thing as cash, or money in an online account. There’s no physical ‘coin’, or bank systems. Instead, you control a pair of keys that act as your identity on the blockchain. There’s a public key (the address to receive crypto) that you share with others. Then there’s the private key that you should never let anyone else see. Think of it as the only key to a locked safe – if you lose it or give it to someone by mistake, there’s no way to restore access. When you transfer crypto, the private key ‘signs’ the transaction, and the blockchain updates to show the new ownership.

Mobile, desktop, and hardware wallets: Picking the right storage option

Wallets are where you hold your crypto. When choosing a wallet, consider how you prefer to interact with your money. A mobile wallet offers familiarity – it works like a regular app that you can check, and use for quick transfers. You could opt for a desktop wallet to give you more control at home, or a hardware wallet to keep your private keys offline entirely (and protect you from remote hacks). A secure Bitcoin wallet gives you a clear sense of ownership from day one by letting you move funds without relying on an exchange to hold them. Think of it as a solid foundation from which to start your cryptocurrency journey.

Seed phrases and phishing: Mistakes and hazards new users need to watch for

Most problems with crypto arise from users making hasty decisions. For example, it might be convenient to store your seed phrase (for recovery) in an email folder or by taking a screenshot that stays in your photos app, but it leaves your entire wallet vulnerable. Instead, write it down and store it somewhere private. And beware of phishing attempts where scammers mimic legitimate platforms and urge you to ‘verify your account right now’. Just slow down and double-check the URLs. And remember, no trustworthy service will ever ask for your private key.

Small amounts and dollar-cost averaging: Easy ways to build up crypto confidence

You don’t need to make a huge investment to start learning about crypto. Start by buying a small amount of crypto to send it between your own wallets so you can see how custody works. You can also use the common investment strategy of dollar-cost averaging, where you add modest amounts on a regular schedule so there’s no pressure to ‘choose the perfect moment’.

Become a crypto expert, one step at a time

Digital assets feel complicated. But if you follow these basic steps, it won’t be long before something just ‘clicks’ and managing crypto becomes as second-nature as doing bank transactions. With a secure wallet, a good security habits, and a willingness to learn gradually, you can approach crypto with clarity rather than confusion.

AI Takes Center Stage in Nigerian Fintech as Fraud Detection Leads Adoption

By
Ojukwu Emmanuel
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0

Nigeria has emerged as one of Africa’s leading fintech ecosystems, driven by progressive regulatory reforms, robust digital payments infrastructure, and a rapidly growing innovation community.

The country has long been a pioneer in digital financial innovation. As far back as 2011, Nigeria implemented a nationwide, real-time interoperable payments system, making instant interbank transfers a standard feature of daily financial life well ahead of many advanced and emerging economies.

As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates globally becoming a foundation technology in Fintech, Nigerian fintech companies are increasingly leveraging AI to strengthen risk management and improve operational efficiency.

A recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report titled “Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria: Innovation, Inclusion and Integrity” highlights that fraud detection is the most prevalent AI use case, adopted by 87.5% of surveyed firms.

Nearly 9 out of 10 Nigerian fintech companies use artificial intelligence primarily to detect fraudulent transactions. This reflects the severity of fraud challenges in the sector, which industry stakeholders described as a major issue.

In early 2026, the EFCC reported massive fintech-related fraud in Nigeria, with over 200,000 victims losing ?18 billion through the “FF Investment” scheme, which utilized multiple fintech and banking platforms.
Recall that in 2024, Flutterwave lost ?11 billion to a security breach. Similarly, Interswitch incurred losses of ?30 billion after a glitch allowed merchants to file and receive chargebacks. Beyond the financial losses suffered by fintechs and customers, the increase in fintech fraud has also affected business relationships.
Fidelity Bank once restricted transfers to neobanks such as Moniepoint, OPay, and PalmPay due to concerns about their KYC processes. Wema Bank also removed seven fintechs from its payment gateway because of fraudulent activity.
Due to the rise of fintech fraud, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has become increasingly committed to combating fraud. In December 2023, the apex bank released Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, mandating that Tier-1 accounts must have BVN and NIN attached to them. The CBN also mandated the registration of PoS agents in a bid to block one of the loop holes typically used by fraudsters.
Asides the use of AI for fraud detection amongst Nigerian fintech companies, other notable applications include chatbots and customer service (62.5%), credit scoring and risk modelling (37.5%), and customer onboarding and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) processes (37.5%).

Despite growing adoption, the ability to scale AI solutions remains constrained. Limited access to technical talent and a lack of regulatory clarity were each identified by 37.5% of firms as the most significant obstacles. As a result, the most sought-after support is access to high-quality data and infrastructure, cited by 50% of respondents.

Stakeholders broadly agree that Nigeria’s regulatory approach to AI should balance global relevance with the country’s unique domestic realities. Such an approach is seen as critical to ensuring that innovation promotes financial inclusion while maintaining trust and integrity across the system.

As AI systems evolve from experimental tools to embedded components of core financial services, discussions emphasized that regulatory engagement must extend beyond sandbox environments alone.

While regulatory sandboxes remain vital for early-stage testing, the increasing systemic importance of AI-driven decision-making in credit, fraud prevention, and compliance necessitates complementary frameworks focused on governance, supervisory learning, and institutional capacity-building.

To support this transition, stakeholders proposed the creation of a “Responsible AI in Finance” workstream. This initiative would convene regulators, industry participants, academic institutions, and international peers to advance ethical AI principles, develop supervisory methodologies, and strengthen talent pipelines.

About 62.5% of fintech firms reported being very interested in participating in an AI-focused regulatory sandbox. Their top priorities include ensuring ethical and transparent AI use in credit and risk decisions, as well as fair and inclusive access to AI tools and data each identified by 75% of respondents.

Outlook

Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem is well-positioned to deepen the responsible use of AI as a catalyst for inclusion, efficiency, and trust in financial services. Progress will depend on sustained collaboration between regulators and industry players, clearer regulatory guidance, and continued investment in talent and data infrastructure.

If these elements align, Nigeria could not only strengthen its domestic financial system but also emerge as a continental reference point for responsible AI adoption in finance.

Why Trade Policy Shocks Are Hitting Cryptocurrencies First

By
TI Partners
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0

The sharp drop in cryptocurrencies has become part of a broader wave of investor withdrawal from risky assets following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about his intention to impose new trade duties on eight European countries. In the Asian session, Bitcoin dropped below $92,000, while the Ethereum price fell by more than 5% and Solana by 9%. The total capitalization of the crypto market decreased by about $100 billion over the course of the morning, and the liquidation of long positions approached $790 million.

This is a characteristic sign of a sudden transition in markets to risk-off mode. This impulse turned out to be closely related not so much to the internal problems of the cryptocurrency market, but to the general deterioration of the global investment environment. Trump’s statements about 10% duties, followed by an increase to 25% in the absence of an agreement, caused a decline in futures on American stock indices and a simultaneous increase in safe-haven assets — gold and silver, with the gold price reaching a new all-time high. In such circumstances, digital assets, despite the increasingly active participation of institutional investors, remain a high-risk segment and are the first to respond to spikes in geopolitical and trade uncertainty.

It is noteworthy that, back in mid-January, Bitcoin was approaching $98,000 amid an influx of funds into American ETFs, which the market perceived as an attempt at a sustained recovery after the weak end of 2025. However, a new wave of tariff threats quickly shifted market participants’ focus. As a result, safe-haven assets are setting new record highs, while cryptocurrencies are once again under pressure. According to analysts, what is happening looks more like a general reduction in portfolio risk than an event specific to digital assets.

At the same time, the strengthening of US trade protectionism goes far beyond the European trend and increasingly affects strategic industries, including semiconductors. The American authorities have already made it clear that they are ready to apply import duties of up to 100% to products from chip and memory manufacturers if they do not localize production in the United States. In fact, we are talking about a tough industrial policy designed to force the largest players, from Taiwan’s TSMC to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, to invest in American facilities.

This line increases long-term uncertainty for global supply chains and increases costs in the technology sector, which is already a key source of volatility for stock indices. For cryptocurrencies, this means maintaining high sensitivity to macroeconomic and political signals. After all, while trade wars and tariff threats are pushing investors toward safe assets, digital currencies remain vulnerable, despite the growth of institutional demand and the development of regulated investment instruments.

As a result, the current decline in the crypto market does not look like an isolated episode, but a reflection of a larger shift in investor sentiment, where US trade policy is becoming one of the key factors shaping the balance between risk and capital protection.

How to Choose the Best Remote Alternatives for Global Hiring

By
TI Partners
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0

As remote work becomes the norm, businesses worldwide are rethinking how they hire, manage, and pay international talent. While platforms like Remote have gained popularity for global employment solutions, many companies actively explore Remote alternatives to find better pricing, broader country coverage, faster onboarding, or more flexible compliance support. Choosing the right Remote alternative can significantly impact your ability to scale globally while staying compliant and cost-efficient.

Remote alternatives offer similar Employer of Record (EOR), global payroll, and contractor management services, allowing companies to hire employees across borders without setting up local entities. However, not all platforms are built the same. Differences in technology, compliance expertise, scalability, customer support, and pricing models make it crucial to evaluate options carefully.

Key Takeaways

  • Remote alternatives help businesses hire global talent without establishing local entities.
  • Companies seek alternatives due to pricing flexibility, country coverage, onboarding speed, and service customization.
  • Leading Remote alternatives include Multiplier, Deel, Papaya Global, Velocity Global, and Oyster.
  • These platforms manage contracts, payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Multiplier stands out as the best Remote alternative due to its speed, compliance depth, transparent pricing, and scalability.

Why Businesses Look for Remote Alternatives

While Remote is a reliable global employment platform, many companies explore Remote alternatives for several reasons:

  • Cost efficiency: Some platforms offer more transparent or competitive pricing structures.
  • Wider global reach: Certain alternatives support more countries or emerging markets.
  • Faster onboarding: Speed matters when hiring competitively in global markets.
  • Enhanced compliance support: Local expertise varies between providers.
  • Flexible workforce models: Businesses often manage a mix of contractors and full-time employees.

Remote alternatives allow organizations to choose a platform that best aligns with their growth strategy, workforce size, and operational complexity.

Leading Remote Alternatives for Global Hiring

Below are some of the most trusted Remote alternatives helping companies manage international hiring efficiently. Each platform delivers core EOR services but differs in focus, scalability, and technology.

1. Multiplier

Multiplier is one of the strongest Remote alternatives, designed to simplify international hiring while maintaining full compliance with local labor laws. Its technology-driven platform supports rapid onboarding, payroll automation, and benefits management across multiple countries.

  • End-to-end Employer of Record services
  • Fast onboarding with locally compliant contracts
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • Centralized payroll, tax, and benefits management
  • Scalable for startups, SMEs, and enterprises

Multiplier’s balance of speed, compliance, and ease of use makes it an ideal Remote alternative for growing global teams.

2. Deel

Deel is a well-known global hiring platform supporting both contractors and full-time employees. It is frequently considered one of the top Remote alternatives for companies managing distributed teams.

  • EOR and contractor management in multiple countries
  • Automated contracts and payroll workflows
  • Strong compliance support across jurisdictions
  • Flexible workforce management
  • Popular with fast-scaling startups

Deel is especially useful for businesses with hybrid hiring models.

3. Papaya Global

Papaya Global focuses heavily on global payroll automation and workforce payments, making it a strong Remote alternative for large enterprises with complex payroll needs.

  • Advanced payroll and payment automation
  • Enterprise-grade analytics and reporting
  • Strong compliance framework
  • Ideal for large, multi-country operations
  • Integrates with existing HR systems

Papaya Global excels in handling payroll at scale.

4. Velocity Global

Velocity Global offers tailored EOR solutions and is known for its flexibility and regional expertise, positioning it as a reliable Remote alternative for complex global expansions.

  • Customized EOR solutions
  • Strong risk mitigation and compliance support
  • Broad international coverage
  • Flexible employment structures
  • Suitable for regulated industries

It works well for companies with unique hiring requirements.’

5. Oyster

Oyster is another Remote alternative focused on distributed teams and employee experience, offering transparent employment solutions across regions.

  • Employee-centric global hiring platform
  • Local compliance expertise
  • Clear employment terms and benefits
  • Designed for remote-first companies
  • Simple and intuitive interface

Oyster is a solid option for culture-driven remote organizations.

How Remote Alternatives Work

Partnering with a Remote alternative follows a structured process designed to simplify international employment while ensuring compliance.

Step 1: Compliant Employee Onboarding

Once a candidate is selected, the platform prepares locally compliant employment contracts. These outline compensation, job responsibilities, working hours, statutory benefits, and termination terms according to local labor laws.

Step 2: Structuring Local Benefits

Remote alternatives design benefits packages aligned with country-specific requirements, including social security, healthcare, and statutory leave. Competitive benefits help attract and retain top global talent.

Step 3: Document Collection and Payroll Setup

The platform collects essential documents such as tax IDs, bank details, and identification. This enables smooth payroll setup and avoids delays.

Step 4: Payroll Processing and Tax Compliance

Payroll is processed in accordance with local tax laws, statutory deductions, and social contributions. Remote alternatives ensure timely salary payments and accurate tax filings.

Step 5: Ongoing Compliance and Offboarding

The provider continuously monitors regulatory updates and manages compliance throughout the employment lifecycle. In case of termination, they handle notice periods, severance pay, and final settlements.

Who Is the Best Among Remote Alternatives?

While several platforms offer reliable services, Multiplier consistently emerges as the best Remote alternative. Its combination of fast onboarding, strong local compliance expertise, transparent pricing, and intuitive technology makes it an excellent choice for businesses scaling globally.

Multiplier removes administrative complexity, reduces compliance risks, and enables companies to focus on growth rather than operational overhead.

 

FAQs

Q1. What are Remote alternatives?

Remote alternatives are global employment and workforce management platforms that offer services similar to Remote. These solutions typically include Employer of Record (EOR) services, global payroll processing, benefits administration, tax filing, compliance management, and contractor hiring. Businesses use Remote alternatives to legally employ talent across different countries without setting up local subsidiaries. Many companies choose these platforms to gain greater flexibility, better pricing options, broader country coverage, or enhanced local compliance expertise while building distributed teams.

Q2. Do Remote alternatives require a local entity?

No, Remote alternatives do not require you to establish a local legal entity in the country where you want to hire. These platforms already have registered entities and legal infrastructure in supported regions. They act as the official employer on record for your employees, while you retain full control over day-to-day work, performance, and responsibilities. This approach saves significant time, legal effort, and costs associated with company incorporation and ongoing compliance.

Q3. Are Remote alternatives legally compliant?

Yes, reputable Remote alternatives are designed to ensure full compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, and employment standards in each country they operate in. They continuously monitor regulatory changes and update employment contracts, payroll processes, benefits, and termination procedures accordingly. By partnering with a trusted Remote alternative, businesses significantly reduce the risk of misclassification, penalties, and legal disputes related to international employment.

Q4. How fast can I hire using Remote alternatives?

Hiring through Remote alternatives is typically much faster than setting up a local entity or navigating employment regulations independently. Once a candidate is selected and required documentation is provided, onboarding can often be completed within a few days. The exact timeline may vary depending on the country, role complexity, and background checks, but overall, Remote alternatives enable rapid global hiring and quicker market entry.

Q5. Which is the best Remote alternative?

Several Remote alternatives offer strong global hiring and compliance solutions, each with unique strengths. However, Multiplier stands out as the best Remote alternative due to its fast onboarding process, deep local compliance expertise, transparent pricing, and highly intuitive platform. Its ability to scale seamlessly across multiple countries makes it an ideal choice for startups, growing businesses, and enterprises looking to expand globally with confidence.

 

Aligning Spare Parts Planning With Preventive Maintenance in Manufacturing

By
TI Partners
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0

Preventive maintenance issues in manufacturing rarely arise due to missing schedules or poorly defined tasks. Most plants know what needs to be done and when. Problems arise when planned work reaches execution and cannot be completed because the required spare parts are unavailable, incorrect, or not accessible at the time of work. When this happens repeatedly, planned maintenance is missed, and reactive work increases.

In practice, spare parts planning determines whether preventive maintenance can be executed consistently. That said, maintenance teams must focus on stabilizing parts availability before considering broader changes, including reviewing the best preventive maintenance software for manufacturing. Without alignment between the maintenance plan and parts availability, preventive work becomes unreliable regardless of how well it is documented or planned.

Scheduling And Execution Are Not The Same

Preventive maintenance tasks are scheduled based on asset requirements and operating hours. Execution depends on whether the job can be completed as planned. The two are related but not interchangeable.

When parts readiness is not verified before work reaches the floor, common outcomes include:

  • The job is deferred after the technician arrives
  • The job is closed without completing all steps
  • A substitute part is used without updating records

These are not deliberate decisions. These are execution issues that distort maintenance history and inventory data.

When these execution shortcuts repeat, planning data becomes unreliable. Deferred work is not visible, part consumption is understated, and task durations appear shorter than reality. Over time, planners schedule more work than teams can complete. This leads to overloaded weeks, rushed closeouts, and growing gaps between the schedule and what actually happens on the floor.

Basic Readiness Checks Improve Execution

Plants with stable PM execution apply simple readiness checks before work starts. These checks confirm that the job can be completed without interruption.

A few key checks for a successful PM execution include:

  • Confirmation of the correct part number
  • Verification that the part is available or has a confirmed delivery date
  • Confirmation of quantity
  • Clarity on approved substitutes
  • Clarity on who can approve changes if needed

Applying these checks consistently reduces last-minute deferrals and incomplete work.

Without these checks, technicians arrive ready to work but spend time searching, waiting, or improvising. They may close the task, but key steps are skipped. Over time, this normalizes partial completion, masks recurring shortages, and makes it difficult to distinguish planning errors from execution failures during reviews.

Bills Of Materials Must Match Actual Use

Bills of materials (BOMs) link preventive tasks to spare parts planning. When BOMs are inaccurate, technicians make adjustments to complete the job. These adjustments include parts being borrowed, substituted, or taken from emergency stock. While the equipment may be serviced, inventory records no longer reflect reality.

These changes over time lead to:

  • Recurring shortages of the same items
  • Inconsistent usage records
  • Reduced confidence in inventory data

Teams that maintain reliable PM execution treat BOMs as operational records. When substitutes are used repeatedly, the BOM is reviewed and corrected. High-impact assets are checked regularly to keep parts lists aligned with actual usage.

Spare Parts Should Be Prioritized By Impact

Applying the same inventory rules across all spare parts creates unnecessary risk. Some parts cause immediate production loss if unavailable. Others can be sourced quickly with minimal impact.

A practical approach is to prioritize parts based on the following key aspects:

  • Production impact
  • Supplier lead time
  • Replacement difficulty
  • Usage frequency

Critical spares with long lead times should be managed differently from routine preventive consumables. Low-use insurance spares should also be reviewed periodically to avoid obsolescence. This will keep inventory focused on supporting production continuity rather than simply increasing stock levels.

Kitting Supports Planned Maintenance

For repeat preventive tasks, kitting improves execution consistency. Parts are pulled in advance and staged for the job, reducing delays and interruptions.

Kitting is most effective when applied selectively:

  • High-volume preventive tasks
  • Jobs with a history of delays
  • Assets that directly affect production output

Clear rules are needed for what happens to unused parts and pre-picked kits when work is postponed, so inventory records stay accurate. When kitting is informal or unmanaged, parts are staged but not consumed, returned late, or reassigned without record updates. This creates false availability, complicates reordering decisions, and increases last-minute shortages for future preventive jobs.

Reorder Levels Should Reflect Preventive Demand

Preventive maintenance creates predictable parts demand. Reorder points should reflect actual PM usage rather than historical purchasing patterns or emergency orders.

This requires:

  • Issuing PM parts against the work order
  • Reviewing usage during planning cycles
  • Reviewing and updating supplier lead times regularly

When PM consumption is tracked accurately, inventory stabilizes and emergency purchasing declines.

Maintenance And Procurement Must Stay Aligned

Spare parts planning falls between maintenance and procurement. When these teams operate independently, preventive maintenance execution suffers.

Effective coordination involves:

  • Agreed lead-time categories
  • Clear escalation thresholds
  • Approved alternate suppliers
  • Regular review of slow-moving and obsolete stock

Final Thoughts

When spare parts planning supports preventive maintenance, planned work can be completed as scheduled. Technicians spend less time waiting for parts, inventory decisions become more predictable, and downtime risk is reduced. In turn, preventive maintenance remains effective as manufacturing operations grow.

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