Al-Swaha Meets with CEO of Google, Alphabet to Support Growth of Digital Economy

Al-Swaha met with the CEO of Google and Alphabet in Silicon Valley. SPA
Al-Swaha met with the CEO of Google and Alphabet in Silicon Valley. SPA
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Al-Swaha Meets with CEO of Google, Alphabet to Support Growth of Digital Economy

Al-Swaha met with the CEO of Google and Alphabet in Silicon Valley. SPA
Al-Swaha met with the CEO of Google and Alphabet in Silicon Valley. SPA

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology (CIT) Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha met in Silicon Valley in California on Friday with the CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, and a number of senior executives to expand the strategic partnership in the field of cloud computing, innovation and capacity development.

According to an official report, released by the ministry of CIT in Riyadh, the two sides discussed areas of common interest and deepening the strategic partnership in the field of cloud computing to enhance the growth of the digital economy and entrepreneurship and provide a pioneering generation in the field of technology and innovation to contribute to accelerating the digital transformation journey in the Kingdom.

Al-Swaha also met with the CEO of Intel to discuss the partnership and develop research in network technologies and artificial intelligence solutions to contribute to enriching innovative solutions and building a digital economy based on innovation and technology.



Bitcoin Rises Above $94,000 for First Time

FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Illustration/File Photo
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Bitcoin Rises Above $94,000 for First Time

FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A bitcoin is seen in an illustration picture taken at La Maison du Bitcoin in Paris, France, June 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Illustration/File Photo

Bitcoin rose to a record high above $94,000 as a report that Donald Trump's social media company was in talks to buy crypto trading firm Bakkt boosted expectations of a crypto-friendly regime under his incoming administration.
Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, has more than doubled this year. It was last at $93,521 on Wednesday, having hit a high of $94,078 in early Asian trading hours.
The Financial Times said Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, is close to an all-stock acquisition of Bakkt, which is backed by NYSE-owner Intercontinental Exchange.
"Trump's seeming interest to push further into crypto on a personal level has contributed to optimism that crypto will be a top priority when Trump takes office," said Stéphane Ouellette, chief executive officer of crypto trading firm FRNT Financial.
Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported Trump was meeting privately with the crypto exchange CEO Brian Armstrong, further aiding sentiment.
Cryptocurrencies have soared since the Nov. 5 US election as traders bet President-elect Trump's promised support for digital assets would lead to a less restrictive regulatory regime.
Options trading over BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF on the Nasdaq made a strong debut on Tuesday with a bullish call-to-put ratio of 4.4:1, according to QCP Capital.
"We expect these options to be popular and, in turn, may positively influence trading volumes of these ETPs (exchange traded products) as the underlying," said Kenneth Worthington, analyst at J.P.Morgan.
The growing excitement has taken the global cryptocurrency market's value above $3 trillion to a record high, based on analytics and data aggregator CoinGecko.
US spot bitcoin exchange traded products have attracted about $4.2 billion in inflows since Trump's election victory, about 15% of the total inflows since the products were launched on US stock exchanges in January, Reuters reported.
Chris Weston, head of research at Australian online broker Pepperstone, said there is real underlying buying pressure for bitcoin, and "another kick higher should bring in a fresh chase from those who like to buy what's strong".