Techflier

Gary Gensler became chair of the SEC in April. Alex Wong/Getty Images Gary Gensler warned that crypto investors are "likely to get hurt" if the digital asset space does not have rules in place. The SEC chair also said crypto platforms that ask users to invest money for returns will be regulated. His comments came after Coinbase abandoned its plans for Lend, its crypto lending program. Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell . US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler warned that cryptocurrency investors are "likely to get hurt" if the digital asset space does not have the same kind of protection against fraud and manipulation that certain traditional banking instruments have. "This crypto space is now certainly of a size that without those investor protections of banking, insurance [and] securities laws [and] market oversight, I do think somebody is going to get hurt," Gensler said during the Finan...

On Interstate 45 in Texas, a billboard with “Aurora” emblazoned at the top in giant white letters offers a cryptic message: “A new way to drive is on the horizon.” It’s hard to know just how many of the thousands of drivers on this stretch of road know what that means or what Aurora is; the autonomous vehicle technology company is hardly a household name even as it (along with several competitors) aims to forever change how people and packages get from Point A to Point B. But Aurora, which plans to join the public markets via a merger with a blank-check company, placed the spotlight on its products this week, inviting reporters, analysts, and partners like PACCAR, Toyota and Volvo, as well as existing and potential new investors to ride in its autonomous trucks and get a closer view of its tech. It also shared an update on its operations, including that it is beginning to map and test a new route in Texas. The so-called “Aurora Illuminated” event was held at an auspicious time for t...

The NFT space has had quite the year, and while it can be difficult to separate the billions of dollars in crypto speculation from the potential infrastructure shifts, plenty of mainstream tech companies are dipping their toes into the space and signaling future interest. This time it’s TikTok’s turn. The fast-growing social media platform which just crossed 1 billion monthly users worldwide has lined up its own NFT drop, leveraging content from some of its top creators, including Lil Nas X, Grimes, Bella Poarch, Rudy Willingham and Gary Vaynerchuk. The release of one-of-one and limited edition NFTs seems to be focused on generating buzz among the existing NFT community rather than exposing users inside the app to non-fungible tokens. The company is side-stepping blockchain energy concerns by placing their NFTs on a dedicated site powered by Immutable X, a Layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum which says that NFTs traded using it are “100% carbon neutral.” The drop starts October 6 w...

A rug salesman shows off a rug at The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. Tim Graham/Getty Images Why do people from different cultures haggle and what are the best tricks? Collin Abroadcast , who posts his shopping exploits on YouTube, calls it "really rapid negotiation. Where you think on your feet." "I wanna talk with them...I wanna have a certain vibe," travel blogger Sassy Funke says of bargain shopping in her native Nigeria. See more stories on Insider's business page . Funke Ogunkoya-Futi - aka Sassy Funke , travel blogger, vlogger, and the author of the Lagos Travel Guide - was ambling through the alleys of Nigeria's Lekki Arts and Crafts Market early one morning last July, just before the rush of shoppers. Her goal: attain ready-made African clothing for her Canadian in-laws. She browsed the closet-sized shops spilling out with jewelry and gems, furniture and tribal masks, woven baskets and wax print bags. Paintings stacked on paintings s...

Lincoln SUVs at a dealership. David Zalubowski/AP Images Absurdly high prices and scant inventories are complicating car buying. Shoppers should consider new factors when deciding between buying new, buying used, or leasing. Experts say being flexible is key in nearly every aspect of a car purchase. See more stories on Insider's business page . Looking for a new set of wheels? It's time to unlearn everything you knew about car buying. "Whether or not this is your second car or your 10th car, all that stuff has to go out the window because the dynamics have become so bizarre," Ivan Drury, senior manager of insights at Edmunds, told Insider. "If you go in with that same mindset, you're going to be severely disappointed." What are those "dynamics" exactly? In a nutshell, the supply of used and new cars has plummeted to extreme lows, while prices have soared to ridiculous highs . The main culprit is a computer chip shortage that's ...

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images GOP Sen. Marco Rubio said a Democratic spending bill that aims to bolster the social safety net is "marxism." One expert told Insider this is "nonsensical" and "hyperbole." It's the latest example of a Republican demonizing something they oppose by tying it to communism. See more stories on Insider's business page . GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida denounced the $3.5 trillion spending bill being pushed by Democrats, which includes provisions to address climate change and expand the social safety net, as "Marxism." Rubio tweeted: "The $3.5 trillion Biden plan isn't socialism, it's marxism." This does not make sense, based on the definition of Marxism, and the Florida Republican was mocked by economists, historians, and Democrats about it on Twitter. "Rubio is engaging in political hyperbole, a sin which both Republicans and Democrat...

Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Drew Angerer/Getty Images Even if Congress avoids a shutdown and a default on the nation's debt, things could still get ugly. The brinksmanship fueled by negative polarization entails several knock-on effects. Markets could teeter, and it comes at a crucial time for President Biden's agenda. See more stories on Insider's business page . As with most things in Congress, seemingly arcane and petty disputes may end up having wide-reaching effects across the American public and global economy. When it comes to this particularly chaotic week in late September - with lawmakers in a standoff over lifting the debt ceiling, avoiding a government shutdown, and making any progress on President Joe Biden's infrastructure package - the stakes couldn't be higher and the pettiness is off the charts. It might seem irrational given the gravity of the situation, but these inter-conn...

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Amazon Finding the right gifts for the men in your life is tough, so we rounded up a helpful list of gifts. Each gift is available on Amazon for less than $100 and with two-day shipping for Prime members. Need more gift ideas? Check out all Insider Reviews gift guides here . Trying to find the right gift when none seem ideal tends to make procrastinators out of the best of us. That's when most of us turn to the convenient, fast, reliable perks of shopping on Amazon and its mountain of options. To make your last-minute shopping easier, we found 38 gifts for him that won't cost you more than $100, but that he's still sure to like. Most of these items are available with free one-day or two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime, so you don't have to stress over whether it'll arrive on time. Shop the 38 best Amazon gifts for him: A leather weekender duffel bag Amazon ...