By Matthew Hayward Current Bitcoin price $26,967 The crypto world is abuzz with whispers and rumors . The name on everyone's lips? BlackRock. The financial giant, known for its prowess in traditional markets, is making calculated moves into the realm of cryptocurrencies. But what does this mean for the average crypto enthusiast or investor? Imagine a chessboard, each piece representing a different player in the crypto ecosystem. Now, picture a new piece entering the board, not just any piece but a queen—the most versatile and powerful. That's BlackRock. Its entry is not a casual stroll but a calculated march that could reshape the entire board. Arthur Hayes, a name synonymous with crypto innovation , recently sounded the alarm. He warns that BlackRock aims to offer crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other managed products. On the surface, this seems like a win for crypto adoption. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find a more complex narrative unfolding. BlackRock is...

By Matthew Hayward   Imagine a bright sunny day, the decent of blooming flowers in the air, the temperature soaring into the 90°s. Hikers ascend mountain trails, their faces glistening with sweat, and in the midst of this natural splendor, you spot an individual with a mask firmly in place. Similarly, in a bustling park, a lone cyclist pedals by among joggers and picnickers, mask on, despite the sweltering heat. Such sights prompt an immediate question: Why? In a post-pandemic world, an intriguing trend surfaces as mask mandates lift and faces emerge from behind their coverings. A significant portion of those still choosing to wear masks hail from the LGBTQ+ community. But what drives this continued embrace of masks? Historically, masks have played a role in the LGBTQ+ community's fight for rights and acceptance. The story of Dr. Henry Anonymous stands out as a poignant example. In an era when homosexuality was deemed a mental disorder, this psychiatrist, a gay man himself, donne...

 Originally posted on  The Sly Economics of Government Union Activism | RealClearPennsylvania By Matthew Hayward September 11, 2023 As Labor Day loomed, the airwaves filled with pro-union sentiment, celebrating the virtues of solidarity. The union advocates didn’t have much to say, though, about the underhanded way government unions force members who want workplace representation to also pay for the unions’ social activism. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME fundamentally altered the landscape of union membership for public employees. The decision upended the Abood v. Detroit Board of Education framework, which had allowed public employees to opt out of the portion of their union dues earmarked for explicit political activities while still mandating payment for other union advocacy efforts. The Abood framework, in other words, permitted public employees to only pay dues for workplace representational activities. Janus, however, changed the rules. It declar...