• Tether, remaining true to its purpose as a successful stablecoin, went through the last flash crash largely unscathed
• Recent controversies suggest that USDT may be immune from external threats, but could also be vulnerable to internal chaos
• USDT’s stability amidst controversy highlights the key factors that can make or break its long term success

Tether (USDT), days after a market-wide flash crash wiped hundreds of billions from the global cryptocurrency market (and that saw leading currencies BTC and ETH experience losses of more than 15%), sits at $1.42 AUD at the time of writing, the equivalent of $1.00 USD. 

Amidst the widespread volatility, USDT did not fluctuate more than 0.021%, a minuscule price change in comparison to the drastic price slumps encountered by other currencies ranked in the top 10 by largest market cap. Tether’s ability to weather this storm, and remain fixed to $1.00 USD and its vicinity throughout a crypto market downturn, exists entirely by design, with USDT’s essential function as a ‘stablecoin’ being to remain pegged to the US dollar.

Stablecoins generally serve the purpose of providing a means of storing wealth that is unaffected by the conditions of the cryptocurrency market, which are often subject to change without warning. Tether therefore aims to maintain its unrestricted and unimpeded nature as a cryptocurrency whilst incorporating the relative stability of fiat currency.

Provided that Tether is able to maintain its stability, the reliability of which probably underpins the reason its market cap has grown to over $100 billion AUD, USDT’s prominence will likely be based on its widespread usage as a safe haven, as well as its ability to remain immune to the price volatility experienced by most other cryptocurrencies.

What Is Tether (USDT)

Originally known as Realcoin, Tether was created in 2014 by founders Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins and Craig Sellars who aimed to provide an antidote to the crypto market’s unpredictability. In the years since its inception, USDT has enabled Tether users to transact with fiat currencies with a simplicity and stability uncharacteristic of typical cryptocurrencies, making otherwise complicated tasks like accounting for digital transactions easier to pin to a consistent currency unit. 

At the hands of financial institutions, international transactions involving the exchange of one fiat currency for another can require several days for processing. In contrast, Tether can provide an instantaneous blockchain-based alternative that doesn’t involve any of the typically exorbitant banking fees. This sense of convenience and USDT’s high degree of utility is what has led some large institutions like the Bank of England to consider launching their own stablecoins.

Tether is underpinned by a Hong Kong company named Tether Ltd, which manages Tether’s fiat-collateralization, meaning that they are responsible for ensuring the digital currency is fully backed by real U.S dollar reserves held at banks on a 1:1 basis, as their website asserts. This would mean that, at least in theory, the sum of all Tether tokens is securely and accurately matched by the equivalent total fiat collateral made available, therefore implying an elimination of exchange risk and supposedly guaranteeing seamless redemption of tokens for the underlying fiat value.

Why Is Tether (USDT) Controversial?

Tether’s real US dollar reserve claims have been subject to considerable public scrutiny, with cynics noting that Tether Ltd, despite the company’s claims, have recurrently failed to show proof of the frequent professional audits that it at the time claimed its cash reserves were regularly subjected to. Instances of ambiguity, like the dissolution of its relationship with auditing firm Friedman LLP in 2018, opened the door to questions around whether expansions of Tether’s supply are backed by any substance at all.

What Penalty Did Tether Pay?

These suspicions were at least partly substantiated in October this year when Tether was ordered to pay a penalty of $41 million USD by the Commodity Futures Trading Commision for misrepresenting the sufficiency of its dollar reserves. The CFTC asserts that over a period spanning from June 2016 to February 2019, Tether reserves were, contrary to what it claimed, not “fully backed” the majority of the time, nor were its claims of undergoing routine audit truthful.

Despite the recent controversy, Tether’s continued dominance as the leading stablecoin nonetheless may be perceived to be an indicator that investors’ perception of USDT’s significant utility warrants their continued usage of it.

Why Is Tether Still Successful?

One of the primary reasons for Tether’s continued success is that it arrived as both an early cryptocurrency and as one of the first stablecoins, with USDT’s technologically revolutionary status being complemented by its reputable team of founders.

Since then, Tether’s long-established prominence has survived numerous controversies in addition to the one aforementioned, with notable instances among them being the exposure of a hidden $850 million loss in 2019, a $20,000 Bitcoin pump attributed to Tether, and a recent Bloomberg report that uncovered Tether’s executives use of its reserves to provide loans to large Chinese companies and other crypto companies.

Is Tether A Good Stablecoin?

Arguably, Tether’s ability to ride out such controversies may even be seen as a positive by some users – if it has remained stable through episodes of internal chaos, imagine how good it will be when there aren’t internal issues, the logic goes…

However, the controversies have led some to suggest Tether is more threatened by internal collapse than external market influences, which it was designed to be immune to. Thus it seems the primary risk for users of Tether is its parent company’s potential for internal collapse and track record for recurring error, since the currency itself seems to have largely been successful in making itself immune from the influence of external forces.

Tether (USDT) Price Prediction

According to an algorithm-based prediction from Wallet Investor, natural minor fluctuations will see Tether’s value be at $1.43 AUD (equivalent to $1.004 USD)  in 2025, ranging between a low of $1.32 AUD and a high of $1.54 AUD.

Digital Coin Price provides a more stable prediction, estimating that Tether’s value will be $1.43 AUD ($1.01 USD) every year as far as it can foresee.

Whilst not necessarily a threat to its price, the confirmation of plans from governments like the United States and China to create their own digital currencies poses a future threat to Tether’s market share, due to the risk of capital being sucked out from its current market cap sitting at around $100 million AUD.

But if Tether remains in line with its singular aim, even then its price would remain at, or in the vicinity of, $1.00 USD. Periods of unusually high demand, such as when investors flock to it amidst volatile conditions, or low demand like that induced by severely negative headlines, have in the past temporarily caused USDT’s price to rise as high as $1.50 AUD and fall as low as $1.28 AUD, so similar future occurrences are certainly possible.

What Will Happen To Tether Over The Next Five Years?

For most cryptocurrencies, threats to their future success are dependent on competition and broader market forces. However, the important question for Tether’s potential success in the long term seems like it will be whether or not those responsible for maintaining USDT’s internal integrity will stay out of its way. Banks introducing their own stablecoins could provide Tether with competition, too, if that happens on a broad scale.

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The post Tether Cryptocurrency: What Is USDT & Why Is It Controversial? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

‘Sportswashing’ – where countries use international sporting events to improve their global image and reputation – is nothing new, but it’s particularly in the spotlight right now thanks to events like the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and Formula One’s new 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which kicks off this weekend.

Many fans and drivers have come out and said they don’t feel comfortable with Formula One going racing in Saudi Arabia. The ultra-conservative Islamist absolute monarchy is widely regarded as having one of the worst human rights records in the world and enforces a strict interpretation of Shariah law.

While the Saudi authorities have tried to present the country as a welcoming place for visitors, many remain hesitant about the conditions on the ground – and dozens of human rights organisations have condemned the race, with Human Rights Watch in particular decrying the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as “part of a cynical strategy to distract from Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses.”

RELATED: Formula One’s New Saudi Arabia Race Has Fans Fuming

Now, the sport’s biggest star – reigning and seven-time World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton – has come out and criticised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, with the popular Brit explaining the difficult position he and others in F1 find themselves in when it comes to racing in illiberal countries.

“With the utmost respect to everyone that’s here – so far I’ve had a warm welcome from everyone on the ground… Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do. But it’s not my choice to be here, the sport has taken the choice to be here. Whether it’s right or wrong, whilst we’re here again, I feel it’s important that we do try to raise awareness.”

It’s an issue that fellow driver, four-time World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel, has also been vocal on, the German telling The New York Times that he thinks “it’s wrong [that] we go to certain places… we need to start facing more the consequences of our actions and take on that responsibility.”

RELATED: Jeremy Clarkson Takes Aim At Lewis Hamilton With ‘Anti-Woke’ Rant

Hamilton has revealed that he will wear a helmet featuring the LGBT pride flag in Saudi Arabia as a form of protest, as he did during the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix last month. Qatar, like Saudi Arabia, has been accused of sportswashing and criticised for its poor human rights record. Hamilton explains:

“I will wear [the helmet] here again and the next race [in Abu Dhabi], because that’s an issue… if anyone wants to take the time to read what the law is for the LGBTQ+ community, it’s pretty terrifying. There’s changes that need to be made.”

Hamilton has also called attention to the status of women in Saudi Arabia, and particularly their historical driving ban for women (isn’t it ironic that a country that used to ban half the population from driving is now hosting an F1 race?) “Why are some of the women still in prison from driving many, many years ago? There’s a lot of change that needs to happen and I think our sport needs to do more.”

F1 has a long history of engaging in sportswashing. From racing in South Africa during apartheid to racing in Russia during their annexation of Crimea, the sport is guilter than most of hosting events in countries with less-than-stellar human rights records.

RELATED: Illegal Dubai Act Lands Group Of ‘Naive’ Women In Jail

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian motorsport federation that is in charge of the race and a member of the Saudi royal family, argues that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix isn’t an attempt at sportswashing, but is instead an attempt to try and open up the country to the outside world. And there’s probably some truth to that.

There’s an argument to be made that if we want other countries to join the global, rules-based, liberal international community, sport could be a good place to start building bridges (and slowly making an impact).

Similarly, Hamilton might be able to make more of a difference by participating in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix like he is than he would be able to if he was sitting out of the race. His star power – and the eyeballs that follow him – is a real asset.

Although, the more cynical take is that Hamilton might be more willing to sit out the race if the championship wasn’t on the line… With rival Max Verstappen ahead of him in the points with only two races to go, Hamilton can’t afford to sit out a race. Has he put his desire to win ahead of his ethics?

RELATED: F1 Star Max Verstappen’s Bizarre Neck Exercise Is Actually Incredibly Important

It’s a tricky one, and there are no right answers. All we can hope for is for Saudi Arabia’s rulers to be true to their word, allow spectators to enjoy the race without being harassed, and actually improve their human rights situation.

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The post Lewis Hamilton’s Opinion On Racing In Saudi Arabia Sparks Debate appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sydney, arguably one of the best cities on earth, with its sprawling surfing beaches, plentiful sunshine and superb nightlife thanks to a number of awesome cocktail bars, is also home to some seriously stylishly-dressed men.But do you keep up with the Joneses in the style stakes? The only way you can, by going shopping. But where do you start if you’re not sure which menswear stores stock the clothing that suits you best and will improve your style game tenfold?Fear not, for we here at DMARGE know Sydney like the back of our hand, and so are able to bring you this list of the best menswear stores the city of Sydney has to offer. What’s more, don’t think for a moment that if something doesn’t quite fit you, then you can’t buy it, as there are also a number of clothing alternation stores around the city that can adjust the fit in no time at all.

Acne

161 King Street Sydney – $$$Located right in the heart of Sydney’s city is the Swedish brand, ACNE. Possibly known more for its women’s fashion boutiques, the odd menswear shop like Acne can be found. Acne is really the brand of the moment for me. Their t-shirts are killer, as too are their jeans and track pants. Well worth a visit to see what’s on offer.

Standard Store

503 Crown St, Surry Hills – $$$Established in 2011 by Sydney based husband and wife team Nicola and Orlando Reindorf, The Standard Store is full of gems plucked from the rails of Paris’s hippest ateliers and New York’s undiscovered warehouses, London’s most tucked away workshops. Labels like Kitsune and Sunspel are picked with love and stand apart from the masses.

P. Johnson

7 Walker Ln, Paddington – $$$$While we’re on the topic of suits, you must simply book an appointment with P. Johnson tailors. The epitome of classic Italian tailoring, Patrick will have you looking like a spiff and ready for Pitti Uomo in no time. Lead time for a new suit is about 8 weeks but time flies when you’re being awesome.

Venroy

58 William St, Paddington – $$Another local legend is Sydney’s very own Venroy. Known originally for swimwear, Venroy now stocks a very affordable and well designed range of beachwear. The range includes linen trousers and shirts as well as lighter jackets and knits for those cooler Summer nights.

M.J Bale

2/14 Martin Pl, Sydney – $$Australian made and a mecca for both suits and casual menswear. Founded by Matt Jensen, M.J Bale as become a stable for easy to wear and style menswear. Chinos, shirts, knitwear and sharp Japanese made suits.Shop M.J Bale Online

Incu

Whilst you’re at The Galeries Victoria shoot across the way and check out hiptster’s paradise, INCU. It’s the place to get fresh brands like Paul Smith, Saturdays Surf NYC and loads of others. No visit to Sydney is complete without a visit to INCU. They also have a store down Paddington way if you’re not in the city.

Belancé

Shop 1/3 Sussex Street, Barangaroo – $$BELANCÉ was established in late 2012 as a destination for men’s accessories with a passion for unique design. The store, located in Paddington, offers niche brands sourced from all over the world with a strong emphasis on local designers. As well as timeless accessories, BELANCÉ offers a Made To Measure service by The Black Label.

A.P.C.

2/406-410 Crown St, Surry Hills – $$$A.P.C. remains one of the best casual menswear labels on the planet. Originating from France, the menswear label has opened up in Surry Hills. They stock a great range of t-shirts, sweatshirts and denim all with that quintessential French style and flair. We recommend checking out their print sweatshirts for easy Sunday mornings.

Onepointsevenfour

5 Glenmore Rd, Paddington – $$$$Looking for new sunglasses? Or perhaps you’re a little short sighted like me. Then look for further (pun!) than Onepointsevenfour in Paddington. It’s a must visit every time I’m in the area. They stock a wide range of brands which you won’t find in most retailers. A personal favourite brand of mine is Cutler & Gross which Onepointsevenfour have a great range of.

Orlebar Brown

79 Gould St, Bondi Beach – $$$Arguably one of the best men’s swimwear brands in the world has opened its doors in Bondi (and Noosa). Orlebar Brown hails from London and has fast become the biggest player in high-end beachwear for men. Their shorts come with a five year warranty and to be honest are the best around. And their t-shirts… the best to wear on the beach. They’re located on Gould St in Bondi.RELATED: 10 Best Menswear Shops In Melbourne

Song For The Mute

1 Glebe St, Glebe – $$$$The brain child ofItalian-trained fashion designer Lyna Ty and graphic artist Melvin Tanaya, Song For The Mute is a direction menswear label that’s unique and super luxury. Worn by the likes of Lupe Fiasco and stocked in some of the world’s most exclusive boutiques it’s a store not to be missed in Sydney.

Nudie Jeans

35 William St, Paddington – $$Make no mistake when it comes to denim, it’s really had to go past the Swedish brand Nudie. They’ve dominated the denim scene for close to 10 years and show no signs of slowing down. They have a cool little store tucked away on William St in Paddington. Stocking a range of jeans and jackets, it’s a must go destination for your denim essentials. They even have a repair shop there where you old Nudies can get some love.

Harrolds

188 Pitt St, Sydney – $$$$While you’re at Westfield Sydney stop past the iconic and super cool Harrolds. Harrolds has quickly become the destination in Australia to buy mens luxury brands. Moncler, YSL, Tom Ford and more can all be found in this stunning shop. Staff are positively lovely and coffee or San Pellegrino on arrival never disappoints.

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The post Best Sydney Menswear Shops 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australians are lighting the fuses on their relationships and throwing them out the window.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported during lockdown that the number of Australian couples seeking separation advice had soared. It seems things haven’t got much better, with Samantha Jayne, Relationship Expert and Advisor to Channel 10’s The Bachelor, recently speaking to DMARGE about the current spate of break ups sweeping the country, as many couples have come out of lockdown and thought, “Yeah, nah.”

Samantha told DMARGE this coming out of the tunnel moment has been a bit of a reality check for many couples: “Covid is the awakening of the reality check of relationships and it has fast-tracked things and caused a huge spike in divorces and breakups.”

“Most breakups happen after a couple spend extended periods of time together such as holidays and Christmas so it’s no surprise things have come to a head. Couples with incompatible differences move on. The enormous stress Covid had put on relationships removed the ability to keep the spark alive for a lot of couples who are driven by variety and adventure – no holidays, no restaurants, which would be considered boring.”

“Not to mention the pressure of financial hardship, different views on vaccinations, the roles within a family and the dynamic. Covid really just left us with the simple things that may cause some people to think the grass is greener and cause a breakup.”

“At the end of the day, covid really showed us the truth, strong couples stayed together, the weaker ones with the cracks ended due to many factors.”

Sexologist and relationship therapist Heidi Gee told DMARGE: “With many couples working from home they were forced to face things in the relationship they have been avoiding or lockdown really challenged the relationship. Lockdown is a unique situation that has affected the whole world in many ways and put a lot of pressure [on couples].”

“So dealing with a situation that we have had no control over and that affected different aspects of our lives such as relationships. For some staying under the same roof 24/7 caused a lot of strain.”

Samantha told us that “the breakup apocalypse” could be linked to borders opening again and all that comes with it: “It’s all about freedom, finding what truly matters, discovering what truly makes you happy, finding yourself and then eventually someone who aligns.”

She also said it could relate to personal growth: “A lot of people have spent this time in lockdown working on themselves, learning to love themselves and that may mean letting go of someone who doesn’t feel good. Breakups hurt and are never easy.”

If you have gone through a break-up recently, Samantha offers the following advice: “It’s important to process things, feel sad, angry let out all the emotions; then rebuild.”

“Block your ex on social media and [it’s] best to cut contact for a little while, just to help you move on. Use a break-up as an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and then become the best version of you. Reflect on why things didn’t work out. In most cases, it’s misaligned values and unmet needs.”

“Think about how things could be better next time, get clear on what you want and then take some space for a little while but not too long. Get to the gym; the endorphins will be your best friend. Get out and socialise, reconnect with friends, watch positive movies and listen to podcasts that help you with your mindset.”

Samantha also told DMARGE that sometimes seeing a coach or a therapist is an excellent strategy to process things and move forward: “You want to let go of the past and not have the baggage come with you. It’s important to recognise any patterns that you have and put in place strategies to create new ones that work for you!”

“You’ll know when you are ready, when you feel better, your days are clearer and you start to smile again, feel happy, your story about the break up doesn’t sound emotional anymore but more about an opportunity to grow. You’ve got through feeling lonely and you don’t care if you meet someone or not, it’s more a bonus because you know when you meet them they will be amazing. They won’t fill a void. Instead, they will complete you and you’ll be a team.”

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The post How To Get Over A Break Up In 2021, According To Experts appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Cool cars are an essential part of what makes the James Bond films so good. No Time to Die – the hotly-anticipated 25th Bond film and actor Daniel Craig’s last stint as the famous fictional spy – is no exception, with the film jam-packed with all sorts of exciting vehicles and stunts.

But the car that’s generated the most buzz from No Time to Die isn’t an Aston Martin, funnily enough. No, it’s a car that’s a bit more shopping run than secret agent: the rather humble tan-coloured J90 Series Toyota Land Cruiser Prado that stole the show during one of the film’s most tense action scenes. WARNING: spoilers ahead.

Halfway through the film, Bond finds himself embroiled in a desperate car chase in the late 90s SUV, with villain Lyutsifer Safin’s thugs in hot pursuit in a fleet of brand-new, modified Land Rover Defender V8s and Range Rover Sport SVRs. Despite being outnumbered and seemingly outmatched, the plucky Prado managed to more than hold its own – with Bond spectacularly running a number of the bad guys off the road in the Japanese underdog.

It might not be as glamorous as a classic Ford Mustang, Lotus Esprit or Toyota 2000GT, the likes of which we’ve seen in previous Bond films, but we reckon No Time to Die’s Prado might just be the coolest Bond car of all time. It didn’t need gadgets, gizmos or sex appeal to keep Bond alive: just Toyota toughness. It was an inspired choice.

What makes Bond’s Prado even cooler is that the average Bond fan actually stands half a chance of owning one.

Prados (and Land Cruisers more broadly) are everywhere in Australia; they’re one of the most popular cars on the market and have been for decades. They were also sold all across Europe (such as in Norway, where this Bond scene takes place) – they’re no rare vintage sports car. The J90, too, is particularly good buying: it’s not new enough to be outrageously expensive nor old enough to be super collectible.

RELATED: Toyota Land Cruiser Blood Pact Shows How Crazy Australia’s Car Market Has Become

You can pick one up on Carsales in Australia for as little as $4,000. Four grand for a bona fide Bond car! Sign me up. It’s also worth pointing that a Prado will be cheaper to run and insure than an Aston or a Land Rover, and a hell of a lot more practical or reliable… It’s exactly the kind of car a real-life spy would drive, actually.

The Prado wasn’t the only cool or unusual car to make an appearance in No Time to Die, though. Here are a few of the other most interesting vehicles from the blockbuster film that caught our eye.

Maserati Quattroporte IV

The bad guys often drive Italian cars in Bond films, and No Time to Die is no exception. During the nail-biting opening action sequence at the start of the film, Bond is hunted down by Spectre agents in a fleet of Maserati Quattroporte IVs, and almost gets run over by one.

Designed by the legendary Marcello Gandini and produced from 1994 to 2001, the fourth generation of Maserati’s unimaginatively named Quattroporte saw the long-standing luxurious executive car lose a bit of weight, become more aerodynamic and get a little sportier.

Personally, I love Italian cars from this era, like the Alfa Romeo GTV, Fiat Coupé and Lancia Thema: they’ve got a sort of utilitarian, honest charm to them. We’re not sure Bond’s probably quite as enamoured with them, however.

RELATED: I Bought The Cheapest American Car In The Country… & It Was A Complete Disaster

Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is the quintessential Bond car… So it was only fitting that Daniel Craig would get one last chance to go all-out in one before the end of his stint as Bond. 007 gets behind the wheel of the classic British car during the opening scenes and action sequence in Matera, Italy – and it’s a doozy.

The gadgets make a welcome return, too, with the DB5 outfitted with bulletproof glass, machine guns mounted in the headlights and a smokescreen generator. According to Car Magazine, Aston Martin’s Q Advanced Operations unit provided eight replica DB5s for the film, including two pristine hero cars were also used, one of which is owned by Bond producers EON Productions.

RELATED: Sebastian Vettel Takes James Bond’s Classic Aston Martin DB5 Drifting At Silverstone

The DB5 first appeared in 1964’s Goldfinger, and has since gone on to appear in another seven Bond films: 1965’s Thunderball, 1995’s GoldenEye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, 2006’s Casino Royale, 2012’s Skyfall, 2015’s Spectre and of course, 2021’s No Time to Die.

Aston Martin Valhalla

From a classic to a concept car: another Aston that makes a brief appearance in No Time to Die is the Aston Martin Valhalla. The futuristic-looking supercar, which is planned to enter production in 2023, is positioned below the similar-looking Valkyrie track car and is designed to be more of an everyday road car… As much as a 699kW mid-engined coupé that looks like that is an everyday road car.

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• Tom Holland Could Be Most ‘Baby Faced’ Bond Ever… If He Is Picked To Be 007
• ‘Controversial’ No Time To Die Scene Leaves Bond Fans Feeling Confused & Scared

The post James Bond’s Toyota Prado Was The Real MVP In No Time To Die appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

One of the biggest pieces of watch news this year was IWC Schaffhausen’s refresh of their flagship Big Pilot’s Watch line, which saw the iconic timepiece slim down from a case size of 46mm to 43mm – still pretty big, but not quite as big as before. A Not So Big Pilot.

This was a masterstroke from IWC. 46mm can be a prohibitively big case size for many watch lovers. 43mm is still hefty, but much more accessible for people with smaller wrists or simply for those looking for a more subtle watch diameter. On top of the weight loss regimen, the Big Pilot saw its date window and power reserve disappear, too, making it a time-only timepiece. What we’re left with is a timepiece that has truly distilled the essence of the Big Pilot: nothing superfluous; all action; the purest Big Pilot yet.

However, despite this main-line Big Pilot update, most of the limited and special edition Big Pilots that have been released this year have manifested in that 46mm case size. Fair enough: you can’t expect IWC to throw out all their movements at once. But watch fans need not wait any longer: IWC has finally crafted two new special Spitfire editions with the new 43mm Big Pilot, and they’re two very interesting, very mil-spec watches.

First, we have the ref. IW329701, which is crafted from titanium and features a rather unique dial design inspired by historical military observation watches, with 5-minute increment minute counters given pride of place over smaller hour markers. There aren’t too many Big Pilots made out of the lightweight, tough metal – let alone any with such a cool dial design – so we anticipate this one will quickly become a fan favourite.

We also have the ref. IW329702, which features a bronze case and crown as well as a titanium case back. Alongside copper, the bronze used by IWC also contains aluminium and iron, which makes the alloy around 50% harder than standard bronze. Bronze watches are all the rage right now: unlike other metals, bronze will rather quickly develop a unique patina over time, meaning every ref. IW329702 will be one-of-a-kind.

REALTED: IWC Schaffhausen Drop First Of A Kind Watch That AFL Fans Will Love

Both watches utilise IWC’s 82100 in-house calibre and feature a Supermarine Spitfire motif engraved on their casebacks, paying homage to the legendary British WWII fighter that gives the collection its name. It’s a reminder that these two timepieces are indeed rugged field watches, with the performance characteristics you’d expect.

Read Next

• IWC Schaffhausen Releases World’s First Big Pilot’s Watch With A Chronograph
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The post IWC Schaffhausen’s New ‘Not So Big’ Pilot’s Watch Gets The Mil-Spec Treatment appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The following article was produced in partnership with Audi.

2022 is set to be an exciting year for car lovers, with the Australian release of the Audi RS e-tron GT on the horizon. The lithe Gran Turismo is the German brand’s first all-electric sports car and easily the electric vehicle we’re most looking forward to driving in 2022.

It’s a real triple threat: incredibly good-looking, highly luxurious, and with performance figures that’d get even exotic supercars hot under the collar… When the Audi RS e-tron GT hits Australian shores next year, it will be an absolute gamechanger. Personally, we can’t wait to get behind the wheel of one.

Until then, Audi has come up with the next best thing: a limited-edition scale model of the RS e-tron GT that’s the perfect way to wet your whistle until the real McCoy makes its way Down Under.

As far as scale models go, this one really is a cut above all the rest – trust Audi to apply the same meticulous, luxurious approach they take to real cars to a model car!

Measuring 18cm long and weighing in at 1.27kg, it’s an exact 1:18 scale replica of the futuristic grand tourer, right down to the instrument cluster. Seeing the model up close is like looking at the future of motoring, just in miniature.

Whether it’s parked on a work desk, pride of place in the man cave or chilling in the garage awaiting the real thing, it’s the perfect Christmas gift for the Australian man who’s a car lover, design aficionado, or just a dude who appreciates a bit of luxurious whimsy.

It’s also a bit cheaper to own than a real Audi at only $299, if you really need to justify it further.

If you’re keen to find out more about the full-sized Audi RS e-tron GT, register your interest at Audi’s online showroom here.

The post This $299 Christmas Gift Is Perfect For Australian Car Enthusiasts appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Most tourists wander through Paris blissfully unaware they are missing out on one of the city’s coolest attractions. If you’d like the wool to be pulled from your eyes though, and have your optic nerves connected to something slick, we recommend you watch the following video.

All a bit fanciful? Watch the video below and you be the judge.

The video above, which is credited to Instagram account @eliaxsimon (whose profile states they are a Labour & employment law solicitor), was reposted on Parisian Snobiety at the start of this month. The video begins with the phrase, “I bet you didn’t know how the lights switch off at 1am.”

“Look at this.”

The video then shows how the lights turn off, with the bottom section going first, then the top section, and then the whole tower being illuminated by dancing, almost Christmas-esque lights.

“Oh man! I remember seeing this and it was magical!!!” one wrote.

Not everyone was blown away by this free light show, however. One follower of Parisian Snobiety, @dentist_claw, wrote; “If this disco light shines through my window at 1 am at night. I’m moving out of that place.”

Another, Instagram user @_am___mariemb, said: “It starts at 8pm, every hour for 5 min it glitters. Not just at 1am, it actually stops at 1am. Petite note.”

Another user, @laura_ashley1398, then shared a smart Eiffel Tower light show hack. She wrote: “If you’re at jules Verne then you can see it from inside which is so cool!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Le Jules Verne (@lejulesverneparis)

Jules Verne is a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, known for its creative French cuisine and city views. As for its price, one Google Review reads: “My wife and I ate there a few weeks ago and our total bill was $700 for the two of us.”

This hack is also recommended by Culture Trip, who wrote in their Eiffell Tower travel hacks article: “Making a reservation at one of the Eiffel Tower’s two restaurants will also allow you to skip the line as both have a separate entrance.”

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A post shared by Margaux Fltz (@margofltz)

“You can either go informal on the 1^st floor with 58 Tour Eiffel, where a chic picnic will cost you €42.50; or opt for a fine dining experience on the 2^nd level with Le Jules Verne, where you can enjoy a three-course lunch menu for €105 and a five- or six-course dinner menu for €190 or €230.”

RELATED: Tourist’s ‘Criminal’ Croissant Eating Hack Sparks Furious Debate In France

It’s also interesting to note that technically taking videos and photos of the Eiffel tower is illegal due to an old copyright law.

As YouTube video creator Half As Interesting explains, copyright law gives the “original creator of a thing exclusive rights to its sale and distribution for as long as they live, plus a certain amount of time.”

The Eiffel Tower’s copyright expired in 1993, so its likeness, design and structure is in the public domain. This means you’re allowed to take, share, sell, or publish as many photos and videos of the tower as you want – during the day.

But because the tower’s nighttime light show was added in 1985 it’s still protected under France’s copyright law as an artistic work.

Thus, Insider reports, “It’s illegal to share, sell, or publish photos and videos of the night-lit Eiffel Tower without prior permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.”

“That said, the Eiffel Tower’s copyright has never been enforced in court” (Insider).

Read Next

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• The Embarrassing Mistake Every Tourist Makes In Paris

The post Eiffel Tower Travel Hack Only Paris Locals Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Using ‘exponential growth’ to describe Solana’s (SOL) climb in 2021 would be an understatement. The predicted rival to Ethereum reached all-time highs of $363 AUD earlier this month, after entering the year at under $2. Far from being a mere pump and dump, Solana has cemented a position among the top 10 cryptocurrencies, touting the 5th biggest cryptocurrency market cap behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin and Tether. It’s even being touted as the ‘Ethereum destroyer’.

Despite declining a little since its all-time high of $363 AUD at the start of November, this week Solana has been increasing in price again. Seven days ago from the time of writing Solana was $292 AUD. Now it’s $322 AUD.

So, what has fuelled Solana’s rise? And why did Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian recently invest $100 million in its ecosystem?

Solana has been described by many to be a future key player of Web 3.0 – the idea that the internet will soon enter a new era that will see it become underpinned by decentralised applications reliant on smart contracts. These smart contracts, facilitated by a blockchain attached to a cryptocurrency, possess the unique ability to automatically and dependably verify the validity of transactions between parties, thus enabling the creation of a seamless and secure global digital market.

Although Ethereum has been perceived to be the leading facilitator of these smart contracts (and it’s still by far the biggest name in crypto after Bitcoin), growing concerns around its long transaction wait times, hefty fees that increase with demand, and its questionable ability to scale have caused Solana’s unique capabilities to stand out.

Solana’s proof of stake blockchain is extremely fast and low cost to use, touting a transaction time of 0.4 seconds and an average fee of 0.00025 per transaction. As a comparison, Ethereum’s transaction time stands at 13 seconds and its average fee ranges from $3-10. Therefore, Solana’s competitive edge, in combination with its ability to seamlessly scale, has resulted in it being seen as a potential all-in-one solution to the future obstacles that crypto ecosystems are likely to face with rapidly growing adoption.

It should also be noted that Ethereum is currently investing heavily in its speed, security and environmental bona fides, and has plenty of resources to do so (it’s currently in the process of switching from a proof of work blockchain to a proof of stake blockchain).

Back to Solana though, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and influential venture capitalist, recently announced a joint $100 million initiative between his capital fund Seven Seven Six and the Solana Foundation aimed at tapping into the potential of decentralised social media that can be created on Solana’s blockchain. “With a high-performance blockchain like Solana, there is an unprecedented opportunity to fuse social and crypto in a way that feels like a social product but with the added incentive of empowering users with real ownership,” Ohanian said as the announcement was made.

Growing utilisation and investments like Ohanian’s in Solana as a major facilitator of Web 3.0 indicate that Solana’s prominence as a technology and a currency may well continue to grow. Its current status as the fastest blockchain in the world (as it claims, anyway) means that its value could also increase rapidly to match its perceived utility as a potentially equal competitor to Ethereum, which is currently valued at over $6,000 AUD.

Ben McMillan, founder & CIO of IDX Digital Assets, an investor who Forbes claims knows Solana well, told Forbes in an article published this month: “As asset managers, we like Solana both as an investment as well as a development platform.”

“We are building our own decentralized apps for investment management functions, and we’re going to move from developing solely on Ethereum to start developing on Solana as well.”

Others still have more faith in Ethereum. Andrey Belyakov, founder of the Opium Protocol, decentralized derivatives network, told Forbes: “Ethereum is the perfect showcase, and I believe that Ether will also become the number one cryptocurrency soon.” 

Mashable points out that Solana is less battle-tested than Ethereum, which has been live since 2015.

Mashable reports: “Solana is technically still in beta. This isn’t uncommon for blockchain projects, nearly all of which are experimental in at least some regards. But it’s worth noting that a project is in beta if you’re going to invest, or build an app on the platform.”

Mashable adds: “Solana pays a price for its speed: the validator requirements (validators are computers that help run the Solana network) are very high. While anyone can theoretically run a validator node on Solana, the high cost of building, running, and maintaining such a machine will drive away many users. This theoretically makes the network less decentralized, as more power is concentrated in the hands of fewer users.”

Finally: “This could cause other issues,” Mashable reports. “For example, validator nodes that aren’t powerful enough to handle the network activity could cause slowdowns or instability, and that does occasionally happen on Solana. There could still be undiscovered bugs or issues that could affect the performance or the security of the network.”

RELATED: I Bought $1,000 Of Crypto Currencies. It Was A Huge Mistake

With the value of SOL hovering at around $322 AUD at the time of writing (almost 20 times less than that of ETH, which is currently sitting at $6,453 AUD), it becomes clear why some crypto investors and tech moguls are willing to bet on the future growth of both Solana’s implementation and its value. It appears that Solana has cemented its position as a leading cryptocurrency in 2021. Solana’s next challenge will be to meet the lofty expectations that have been placed on its future development.

Read Next

• Shiba Inu Has Crashed From Its Outrageous High. Is Now A Good Time To Buy?
• The Sandbox Crypto Keeps Blowing Up. Is It Worth Buying?

The post Solana Is On The Rise Again. Is It Too Late To Buy? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.