Crypto companies are being debanked due to banking regulators' concerns about compliance failures, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) issues, which are common in the crypto industry. Regulators want banks to be cautious and not overexpose themselves to crypto, leading to a 15% exposure limit rule.
Netflix reduced its parental leave policy from 12 months to a maximum of six months due to internal pressure from managers and the company's shift towards cost-cutting and profitability. The initial policy, which allowed 12 months of leave, was taken by many employees, surprising the company.
Netflix's culture has shifted from a freewheeling, high-growth tech company to a more structured, cost-conscious organization. This change includes limiting employee benefits like swag and parental leave, as the company focuses on profitability and scaling its operations with 14,000 employees.
Spotify is more valuable than major record labels because it has become a universal platform for music discovery and consumption, with over a quarter of a billion paid subscribers. The record labels rely on Spotify's growth to remain profitable, making Spotify's value exceed that of the labels combined.
Spotify Wrapped this year faced criticism for its lack of innovation and over-reliance on AI features, which users disliked. Despite this, Spotify Wrapped remains a popular annual event that helps maintain Spotify's mindshare and user engagement, even if it doesn't directly impact subscription numbers.
Hot Wheels revenue has increased due to a broader target audience, including adults who collect them for nostalgia or car culture. Additionally, in an inflationary environment, the low cost of Hot Wheels makes them an appealing toy for all age groups.
Elon Musk's foundation failed to give away 5% of its assets because it often donates to other Musk-controlled entities, such as other foundations or donor-advised funds, rather than directly funding charitable causes. This practice allows the foundation to maintain control over the assets while technically meeting non-profit requirements.
This week: Crypto companies are being debanked but they’re not the only ones. Felix Salmon), Emily Peck), and Elizabeth Spiers) break down the conspiracy theory that debanking is a government attack on crypto. Then, Netflix has pared down their extreme leave policy. What does that signal about the direction of the company? And Spotify is finally making a profit and is acting like it.
In the Slate Plus episode: Crumbl) and rise of meme foods).
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Podcast production by Jessamine Molli and Cheyna Roth.
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