Bio
Saqib is COO and co-founder at A47 AI, where he runs operations and leads the prediction-markets initiative. He covers crypto, Web3, and the decentralization of the sport and entertainment economy.
Editorial Responsibility
As A47's prediction-markets and crypto editor, I am responsible for our coverage of these markets and Web3 — ensuring it is grounded in real product, data, and revenue rather than speculation.
Previous experience · 14+ years
- · WPP Media (GroupM PK, Wavemaker PH)
- · MYCO
- · ARY Digital Network
Education
MBA Marketing, SZABIST
Areas of expertise
Categories overseen
Stories from Saqib Pathan’s desk
8460 stories- Economy· MENA
Saudi Arabia's inflation rate remains stable at 1.8% in June 2026
Saudi Arabia's inflation rate held steady at 1.8% in June 2026. This stability is attributed to a balance in economic conditions despite rising costs in housing, food, and transport. Long-term, the government may need to focus on managing these rising costs to maintain economic stability and consumer confidence.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Economy· MENA
Lebanon and Syria to Revise Trade Agreements Following Political Changes
Lebanon and Syria are set to revise their trade agreements to enhance economic ties after the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. This shift is occurring now as Lebanon's Economy Minister emphasizes the need for cooperation to revive the economy. The long-term implication may lead to stronger economic integration in the region, contingent on political stability in Syria.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Economy· UAE
Gold prices in the UAE hit 90-day low amid rising US Treasury yields
Gold prices in the UAE dropped below AED 487 per gram on July 16, 2026. This decline is driven by increasing US Treasury yields and a stronger dollar, which have reduced gold's investment appeal. As market volatility continues, investors are likely to focus on upcoming US economic data that could further influence precious metal prices.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Business· UAE
UAE real estate market experiences record transactions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Dubai's real estate transactions surpassed AED 11.1 billion in a single week, while Abu Dhabi reported AED 117 billion in transactions for the first half of 2026. This surge is driven by strong demand for property and investment opportunities across the emirates. The ongoing growth indicates a robust trajectory for the UAE's real estate sector, prompting stakeholders to monitor future developments closely.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Business· World
Lucid Motors Denies Bankruptcy Rumors Amid Stock Plunge
Lucid Motors has refuted bankruptcy rumors that led to a 40% drop in its stock price. The immediate trigger for this volatility was the spread of unfounded claims from an EV-focused publication. In the long term, Lucid must stabilize operations and investor confidence to ensure its viability in the competitive electric vehicle market.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Business· World
Indian AI startup Emergent achieves unicorn status with $1.5 billion valuation
Emergent has raised $130 million in its Series C funding round, reaching a valuation of $1.5 billion. This funding success is driven by the increasing demand for user-friendly software development tools for small businesses. The long-term implication is a potential surge in investment towards similar AI startups that empower non-technical users to create applications.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Business· World
Apple Music raises subscription prices for the first time since 2022
Apple Music has announced a price increase for its subscription plans, effective immediately across multiple markets. The company cites rising music licensing costs as the reason for this adjustment at this time. This move may lead to challenges in subscriber retention and prompt competitors to reevaluate their pricing strategies in the long term.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Pump.fun unlocks 57.28 billion $PUMP tokens raising market volatility concerns
Pump.fun has unlocked 57.28 billion $PUMP tokens as part of its three-year vesting cycle. This release, valued at approximately $86.49 million, is raising concerns among market analysts about potential sell-offs and liquidity issues. Stakeholders will need to monitor trading volumes closely in the coming days to assess the impact on price stability and market dynamics.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Japan reclassifies cryptocurrencies as financial assets
Japan's parliament has passed a law reclassifying cryptocurrencies as financial assets. This legislative change is driven by the need to align digital currencies with traditional financial markets and enhance regulatory oversight. The long-term implication is an expected increase in institutional investment in Japan's cryptocurrency market, potentially influencing global trends.
6 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· UAE
Revolut gains approval for cryptocurrency services in UAE
Revolut has secured in-principle approval from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to offer cryptocurrency services in the UAE. This approval is part of Revolut's strategy to expand its regulated digital finance platform in the region, coinciding with the growing acceptance of digital assets. The long-term implication is an anticipated increase in competition within the UAE's cryptocurrency sector as other fintech companies may seek similar approvals.
5 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
South Korea to Classify Cryptocurrencies as National Assets Under New Law
South Korea's government has announced plans to modify its asset management law to include cryptocurrencies and digital assets. This legislative change is driven by the need to modernize regulations that have remained unchanged for 76 years and to attract institutional investment. The long-term implication is that this move could enhance market stability and set a precedent for other countries to follow in integrating digital assets into their financial systems.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Ostium DEX halts trading after $18 million exploit raises security concerns in DeFi
Ostium, a decentralized exchange on the Arbitrum network, has paused trading following an exploit that drained approximately $18 million from its liquidity vault. The immediate cause of this incident was the manipulation of oracle data through a compromised signer key. In the long term, this exploit may lead to stricter security measures across the decentralized finance sector to protect user assets and maintain trust.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Bitcoin price surpasses $65,000 amid soft U.S. inflation data
Bitcoin's price surged past $65,500 following the release of softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data. The immediate trigger for this price increase was the favorable U.S. Producer Price Index, which positively impacted market sentiment. Long-term, the ongoing selling pressure from two key investor groups suggests potential volatility and uncertainty in Bitcoin's price stability moving forward.
5 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Leadership Change at Base App as Jesse Pollak Steps Down
Jesse Pollak has resigned from his leadership role at Base App, transferring responsibilities to Jordan Fish. This shift comes as the platform's social features have not met expectations, prompting a strategic realignment to enhance competitiveness in the blockchain ecosystem. The long-term implication is that under Fish's leadership, Base App may adopt new strategies to improve user engagement and market performance.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Study Reveals Manipulation in Polymarket's Bitcoin Prediction Contracts
A recent study by Stanford University and Singapore Management University has uncovered that Polymarket's five-minute Bitcoin prediction contracts are being manipulated, resulting in significant losses for retail traders. This manipulation, which allowed a small group of traders to extract $8.2 million by influencing spot prices, highlights systemic flaws in short-term prediction markets. As awareness of these practices grows, regulatory scrutiny and potential reforms to enhance market integrity are likely to follow.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Bitcoin experiences volatility amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions
Bitcoin's price fluctuated between $63,000 and $69,000 as military tensions between the U.S. and Iran intensified. The immediate trigger for this volatility was Iran's rejection of peace talks with the U.S., which has contributed to market uncertainty. In the long term, ongoing geopolitical tensions are likely to continue influencing Bitcoin's price movements and investor sentiment in the cryptocurrency market.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Strategy Inc. Plans to Resume Bitcoin Purchases as STRC Recovery Efforts Intensify
Strategy Inc. has announced its intention to resume Bitcoin purchases contingent upon its preferred stock STRC returning to its par value of $100. This decision comes as the company seeks to stabilize STRC's market value and bolster its U.S. dollar reserves, which are deemed essential for recovery. The long-term implication of this strategy could significantly influence investor confidence and the broader cryptocurrency market dynamics.
4 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Larry Fink of BlackRock Projects Bullish Future for Bitcoin Amid Market Stabilization
Larry Fink has announced a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, highlighting its recent stability following a significant market deleveraging. This optimism is driven by BlackRock's substantial market presence and a reported 31% revenue increase, suggesting a pivotal moment for institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. As Bitcoin approaches $60,000, increased investment and innovation in the cryptocurrency market are anticipated over the next year.
5 sourcesJul 18
- Economy· World
HSBC's Orion platform approved for UK's first digital sovereign bond issuance
The Bank of England has approved HSBC's Orion platform for the issuance of the UK's first digital sovereign bond. This initiative is occurring now as the UK aims to lead the G7 in adopting tokenized government debt by early 2027. The successful launch could set a precedent for other G7 nations to explore similar digital finance solutions in the future.
3 sourcesJul 18
- Crypto· World
Whale Wallet Linked to Andreessen Horowitz Sells $28 Million in HYPE Tokens Causing Price Drop
A significant sell-off of 437,000 HYPE tokens by a whale wallet associated with Andreessen Horowitz has led to a nearly 12% decline in the token's price within 48 hours. This event is occurring as the token approaches all-time highs, raising concerns among traders about market stability. In the long term, the cryptocurrency market may see increased volatility as traders react to whale movements and investor confidence fluctuates.
3 sourcesJul 18