OpenAI’s Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said Wednesday that while the company has smashed through revenue milestones, it remains under mounting strain from the spiraling costs of artificial intelligence compute.

“It is voracious right now for GPUs and for compute,” Friar told CNBC’s Squawk Box. “The biggest thing we face is being constantly under compute. That’s why we launched Stargate. That’s why we’re doing the bigger builds.”

Friar explained that to mitigate those demands, OpenAI has been diversifying partnerships across providers, including Oracle and CoreWeave, while maintaining its close reliance on Microsoft.

“Microsoft will be an important partner for years to come, and I think we are very intertwined because of our IP. Remember, Microsoft AI products are built on OpenAI technology,” she said.

The company’s growth has been staggering since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. This year alone, OpenAI is expected to triple revenue to $12.7 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The company said it recently crossed $10 billion in annual recurring revenue, marking a dramatic surge for a firm that was largely unknown to the public just three years ago. In July, OpenAI hit its first-ever $1 billion revenue month.

That growth trajectory shows little sign of slowing. CEO Sam Altman said last week that OpenAI is preparing to spend trillions of dollars on new data centers to keep up with demand.

“Our bet is, our demand is going to keep growing, our training needs are going to keep going, and we will spend maybe more aggressively than any company who’s ever spent on anything ahead of progress,” Altman said.

Earlier this month, CNBC confirmed that OpenAI was in talks to sell about $6 billion in stock at a roughly $500 billion valuation. That follows a $40 billion funding round in March at a $300 billion valuation—the largest raise by a private technology company on record.

OpenAI is also riding the momentum of its latest release, ChatGPT-5, its most advanced AI model, which debuted to mixed reviews. While enterprise and developer clients praised the model’s improved reasoning capabilities—workloads spiked eightfold—some users complained about losing access to earlier models. The company quickly reinstated them for paid subscribers.

Friar acknowledged the tensions that come with scale. “When you have 700 million weekly active users, you start to find people are very opinionated,” she said, adding that OpenAI has nonetheless seen an acceleration in its Plus and Pro subscription tiers since the rollout.

But behind the headline numbers, questions linger over whether the company can maintain its breakneck expansion while contending with compute costs that are ballooning faster than its revenue base. Analysts note that while $10 billion in annual recurring revenue is a milestone for any private tech company, OpenAI’s reliance on GPU-intensive workloads means its operating expenses are unusually high.

Some analysts believe the economics of AI are unlike anything seen before. It is believed that the marginal cost of delivering new capabilities remains tied to scarce compute, and if Altman is serious about spending trillions on infrastructure, then OpenAI’s fundraising will have to scale at unprecedented levels.

Even with the expected $6 billion secondary stock sale, the gap between incoming capital and anticipated spending is stark. Investors have so far tolerated these imbalances given OpenAI’s growth trajectory and dominant market position, but the path to profitability remains unclear.

OpenAI’s deep integration with Microsoft—whose Azure platform powers much of its infrastructure—provides some insulation, but analysts caution that the company could become locked in a perpetual cycle of raising capital simply to keep pace with demand. The planned Stargate supercomputer project, described as one of the largest in the world, underscores both the ambition and the financial burden.

The company’s valuation now places it among the most valuable private tech firms globally, yet unlike software giants that operate at high margins, OpenAI is battling unit economics defined by hardware scarcity. For many, this raises the question of whether its long-term sustainability depends on either a breakthrough in compute efficiency or even deeper ties with strategic partners like Microsoft.

Altman and Friar, however, appear to be betting that revenue growth and aggressive expansion will outpace the spiraling costs. With more than 700 million weekly active users and subscription uptake accelerating, OpenAI is still riding a wave of momentum that few tech companies in history have experienced.

The increasing involvement of 1xBet in African football has been transformed into a strategic initiative of popularizing cryptocurrency-based betting in Africa. By sponsoring the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other related competitions, the operator is gaining exposure, crypto betting is becoming normal, and it is breaking the traditional banking constraints in most African markets.

CAF partners with continental expansion

1xBet has been a formal CAF partner for many years now.

The operator currently sponsors major tournaments such as AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations), CAF Champions League, and other club tournaments.

By being present in broadcasts, stadium advertising, and digital media consistently, 1xBet will have a direct exposure to millions of fans as viewing reaches its peak during the football season.

The exposure will enable the bookmaker to access a wide demographic and integrate itself into the African football culture.

Why CAF sponsorship is important to crypto adoption

The benefits of sponsoring continental football competitions in terms of the promotion of a crypto-based wagering product are as follows:

• Great visibility and recall – Being exposed during major matches guarantees brand recognition, and when viewers see the brand linked with the best tournaments on the continent, this increases trust.
• Reach by audience demographics – Football fans in various countries and income levels watch CAF events, which provides 1xBet with the opportunity to target both urban and rural audiences.
• Co-marketing opportunities – Official partnerships with federations and broadcasters create avenues of co-branding, promotions, and messaging.
• Normalization of new payment technologies – The more the new payment technologies are there during the matches, the less intimidating the jump between ‘known bookmaker brand names’ to a reliable payment/crypto option becomes.
• Market timing – Several African markets are quickly adopting cashless and digital payments; the consumer appetite to use alternative payment rails is increasing. Emphasizing the ability to conduct instant deposits/withdrawals, reduced transaction fees, and cross-border accessibility has a resonance in contexts where traditional banking infrastructure is not abundant.

Execution strategy: Localization, affiliates, mobile-first flows

The African expansion of the 1xBet is based on a multi-pronged strategy that aims at building on-the-ground momentum and new customer acquisition. The major strategies are:

Regional affiliate programs

The local influencers and content partners facilitate the brand promotion, campaign in local cultures and languages, and user sign-up and engagement.

Localization of user experience

Multiple language interfaces.

From different expert betting analyses, one of the greatest attributes in the 1xBet review is the UX funnels that are customized to reflect local tastes, e.g., mobile-first applications, USSD flows, and compatibility with mainstream mobile money platforms.

Affiliate-based training and onboarding

Affiliates and partners regularly conduct tutorials, sign-up offers, and bonuses to get users through the funnel more comfortably.

Crypto wallets and deposits are introduced as an accessible modern payment method and not as a technical or niche feature.

Mobile-first and accessibility focus

Since mobile penetration is high in most African countries, it is best to focus on mobile apps and lightweight mobile web access, which will allow reaching a broader audience and facilitating the conversion process.

Integration of USSD and mobile money minimizes friction and does not require the use of traditional banking.

Such a multilevel implementation, a combination of high-visibility sponsorship with grassroots marketing and localized product flows, allows 1xBet to onboard the users en masse.

User and Operator Advantages

The sponsorship and growth of crypto betting by 1xBet have benefits on both ends of the ecosystem:

For Users:

• Quicker withdrawals and access to winnings – Crypto allows transactions to be made much faster than with a bank transfer in some countries where the banking system can be slow and unreliable.
• Reduced charges – Crypto transaction fees, based on the network and structure, can be cheaper than correspondent banking or cross-border wires.
• Cross-border accessibility – Users are not bound by national banking barriers or currency conversion barriers to make transactions.
• Ease of use and contemporary UX – In the case of a mobile interface and affiliate assistance, crypto deposits and withdrawals can be a relatively simple process.

For Operators:

• Lower payment overhead and friction – Crypto settlements can circumvent some of the inefficiencies of traditional banking, and can move funds and settle faster.
• Operational efficiency – Programmable promotions and wallet functions can be used to automate the bonuses assignment, user segmentation, and tracking of campaigns.
• Increased market accessibility – In areas with underbanked citizens or ones with limited access to banking, crypto provides a payment system to open up that new customer base.
• Alignment of brand to innovation – Sponsoring high-profile football events supports an image of being modern and technology-enabled service.

Hurdles, threats, and government compliance issues

Although the opportunity is high, there are a number of challenges and risks that come with this growth:

• Country-to-country regulatory variance

The African countries vary substantially in their gambling and cryptocurrency regulation. Other jurisdictions allow betting and crypto with no restrictions, some are highly regulated, and some are prohibited completely. 1xBet has to make sure that it conforms to each region and its specifications and acquire the necessary licenses and permissions.

• Reputational and ethical issues

Betting operators have been questioned before over high-profile sponsorships of sporting events. Particularly in regard to social impact, responsible gambling, and community concerns, critics and commentators occasionally suggest federations and regulators should reassess these relationships.

• Responsible gambling and consumer protection

As more people have access to betting and crypto-based transactions, there is an increased necessity for transparent know-your-customer (KYC), anti-money-laundering (AML) procedures, and addiction protection. Federations, regulators, and operators should liaise and make sure that vulnerable users are safeguarded.

• Barriers to infrastructure and education

Although crypto can be used to avoid banking restrictions, customers can still have a problem with the configuration of their wallets, the knowledge of private keys, or having a stable internet or mobile connection. Support teams and affiliate networks should have a strong educational resource and support.

• Reputational risk to the federations and football institutions

The federations and organisers of competitions need to weigh the financial gains of sponsorship income versus the backlash or moral criticism that may come their way. Open contracts, openness in marketing messages, and consistency with the values of the community are also essential factors.

Effects on the Stakeholders

The fans and end users can anticipate:

• More promotions and deposit bonuses during the CAF match windows or other big football events.
• Campaigns focusing on the simplicity of making a deposit and withdrawal in crypto, quicker access to funds, and a mobile-friendly interface.

Football federations and organizers are able to:

• Obtain more sponsorship fees to help in the administration of competition, or infrastructure development, or youth development initiatives.
• Be under pressure to make sure that the partner selection is compliant with the wider ethical principles and responsible gambling guidelines.

The wider crypto ecosystem in Africa may:

• Observe fast-track real-world penetration via football-related promotional campaigns.
• Take advantage of growing wallet adoption, on-chain loyalty or promotions, possible NFT tie-ins, and blockchain-based loyalty programs.
• Create use cases beyond speculative trading, installing crypto as a utility to make payments and real-world services.

Conclusion

The CAF sponsorship will benefit 1xBet more than just a brand visibility exercise, but a strategic distribution channel to introduce crypto betting to African markets. With high-profile tournaments, affiliate networks, localized UX, and mobile-first payments, the operator is making crypto betting a mainstream alternative, particularly in places where traditional banking services are restricted. The final effect will be dependent on the regulatory adherence, responsible gambling protection, and the capacity to balance the revenue goals and ethical and reputational aspects.

Live props turn each segment of a race into a trade. Edges appear when you read pace early and act on time. They vanish when fills lag or lines move on you. Precision beats enthusiasm here. Let’s walk you through definitions, how odds shift during the run, where money pools, and how to adjust handicapping and bankroll for fast environments.

Defining Micro-Bets for the Backstretch

Traditional win/place/show and most exotics live in pari-mutuel pools that close at the bell. Micro markets open a different lane. You can take positions on sectionals, in-race head-to-heads, or next-furlong outcomes that settle almost immediately.

Pricing updates constantly, and limits usually scale with volatility. These bets reward quick, read-and-react skills. Spot the break, pace pressure, and track bias before the window closes.

If you want to see those price moves as they happen, reliable sites like FanDuel Racing display real-time odds and live boards. Clicking that link takes you to current markets, helping you stay updated with live races.

Mechanically, micro markets run as either fixed-odds or rapid-cycle pari-mutuel pools. Fixed-odds locks your price but forces the book to manage liability with tighter limits. Rapid totes absorb flow but slide the implied price with every new dollar.

Either way, settlement is fast, and the discovery window is short. That demands cleaner execution than a standard win pool. The shift changes how seasoned players attack a card. That is fewer pre-race calls and more in-race entries tied to clear, observable moments.

Pricing, Latency, and the Edge Window

Every in-running market lives or dies on latency. Video feeds lag live action, and operators add acceptance delays to blunt on-track advantages. That creates a narrow edge window after a visible event but before prices fully adjust.

Skilled players hunt those gaps, yet the window closes quickly as pricing engines react to sectional clocks, positional data, and trading flow. Overround, or the combined margin across selections, tends to run higher in small, fast markets, so any edge has to clear a bigger hurdle than it would pre-race.

Think like a trader. If a speed horse breaks clean and the inside rival misses the kick by half a beat, the actual probability of “leader at the first call” jumps immediately. You get paid for estimating that jump faster and more precisely than the market, all while beating the hold and the delay.

Slippage matters, too. A two-second acceptance lag during a rapid move can turn a plus-EV click into a neutral one. Don’t play the hero. Practice price discipline. Set entries, stop when numbers slip, don’t chase.

Liquidity and Market Depth

Liquidity isn’t uniform across cards or props. Big Saturday stakes attract more depth than weekday claimers, and pre-break markets hold more money than mid-stretch props.

That distribution shapes strategy. Thin markets magnify line impact and widen spreads. Wide spreads raise the effective cost of doing business. When an operator limits stake size or tightens max exposure after sharp activity, the next click usually prices worse, which means your expected value must start higher to survive friction and line movement.

Microstructure inside a race matters as well. Money tends to concentrate around clear, observable points, such as gate break, first turn, and top of the lane, and then dries up between calls.

You can sit out the dead zones or quote prices as a de facto market maker at a conservative size. Both approaches can work, but they require different tolerance for variance and different inventory rules. The real skill is recognizing when your order will move the line versus when you’re actually taking from depth without shifting it, then sizing accordingly.

Handicapping Adjustments That Actually Matter

Pre-race figures still matter, but different variables drive micro value. Early energy distribution is the lever.

Horses with efficient gate mechanics, quick first strides, and positive turn-of-foot metrics create reliable edges on “first call leader” or “position after two furlongs.”

Gate slot and course design matter. Inside paths at 5 furlongs play differently than the 7 furlongs chute, and short run-ups favor burners. A strong rail or tiring outside lane changes the probability for each segment.

Real-time trip intel turns into executable edges. A bobble at the break, a rank head, or a squeezed rail run aren’t just notes for later, as they reshape the distribution of the next segment.

If a supposed presser gets shuffled to fifth and the front pair carve sensible fractions, under bets on “gain two positions by the half-mile” become mispriced. Conversely, suicidal early pace increases the odds of late-gain props even if the eventual winner is still unclear. The read is the edge. The market supplies the payout when your timing matches the moment.

Price the Calendar

Not all weeks trade the same. Holiday cards, stakes-heavy Saturdays, and wet-track clusters move liquidity and spread in predictable ways. Publish a calendar plan that expands size in rich spots and trims during thin patches. Managing the schedule is edge management in disguise.

For a long time, credit repair meant slow, tedious processes filled with letters, endless phone calls, and mountains of paperwork. But technology is flipping that script. Today’s digital credit-building tools deliver faster results, greater transparency, and more control, making financial recovery easier and cutting through the old red tape.

This shift couldn’t come at a better time, as credit scores now impact nearly every big financial decision, from loans and rentals to job prospects. Modern platforms don’t just track your score; they actively guide you with strategies to boost your credit health.

In this article, you’ll discover five ways technology is transforming credit rebuilding and empowering people to take charge of their financial futures.

Use Digital Platforms for Better Credit-Building Options

Many borrowers turn to searches like “bad-credit loans” when they need quick financial relief but face challenges qualifying through traditional lenders. Unlike conventional lenders who place heavy emphasis on credit scores, these specialized loans often consider alternative factors such as your income level, employment stability, and overall financial situation.

This broader evaluation opens the door for individuals with poor or limited credit history to access funds when urgent expenses arise or to take the first step toward rebuilding their financial health. By focusing on more than just credit scores, these lenders offer a valuable lifeline to those who might otherwise be shut out of the borrowing market.

Lenders like CreditNinja.com offer such options through their online installment loans. These loans provide qualified borrowers with fixed monthly payments and clear payoff dates, making repayment easier to plan and manage. This structure also helps build a consistent payment history, which is one of the most important factors in strengthening or restoring a credit score.

Track Credit Changes with Real-Time Monitoring Tools

Real-time tracking tools show borrowers exactly how their credit scores respond to financial choices. A user can see within days if a payment improves their score or if a new debt lowers it. This immediate feedback makes the connection between behavior and results much clearer than waiting for monthly or quarterly updates.

Many services break down the score into categories such as payment history, credit utilization, account age, and types of credit used. This breakdown explains why a score changes and points directly to areas needing attention. For example, a high credit utilization rate might be the key reason your score drops, signaling you to focus on paying down balances before moving on to other steps.

Automate Payments to Avoid Costly Mistakes

Missing a single payment can cause a credit score to fall quickly. Automation tools built into apps and banking platforms remove the risk of forgetting due dates. Once a bill is linked to an account, the system processes the payment automatically on the scheduled day. This keeps the payment record consistent without relying solely on memory or manual reminders.

Some systems go further by sending alerts a few days before funds are withdrawn or before payments are processed. This allows users to transfer money if needed and avoid overdraft fees. The combination of automation and reminders ensures both timeliness and account readiness, which supports steady improvement in payment history over time.

Learn Credit Skills through Interactive Education

Educational content in credit-building tools can guide people through concepts that often seem complicated. Lessons explain how credit scores are calculated, what actions can harm them, and what strategies can improve them. This information is presented through gamification, interactive quizzes, short videos, and personalized tips that match the user’s specific financial situation.

Engaging education helps users remember the information and apply it in daily decisions. For instance, someone may learn that applying for multiple credit cards in a short period can lower their score. They can then avoid that action and instead focus on paying existing accounts on time. Over time, these small informed choices create long-term positive results.

Add Alternative Data to Strengthen Credit Profiles

Alternative data sources give people with little or no credit history a chance to be evaluated fairly. These sources include spending patterns, bill payments, rental payments, alternative loan types, bank account assets, income data, and even charitable donations. Recording these payments in credit files shows a borrower’s ability to meet financial obligations beyond traditional loans and credit cards.

Some platforms connect directly to your bank accounts to verify your payment history in real time. When lenders have access to this verified data, they gain a fuller, more accurate picture of your reliability beyond just traditional credit scores. This broader view enables more borrowers to qualify for credit products with fairer terms and reasonable rates. Ultimately, it supports greater financial stability and opens doors to healthier credit growth over time.

A Smarter Way to Rebuild Credit

Technology has transformed credit repair into a clearer, more manageable process. With smart platforms, tracking tools, automation, and alternative data, improving credit is now within reach for many. While it still takes steady effort, these solutions provide practical, confidence-boosting steps to rebuild credit and build a stronger financial future.