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
7501 stories- Economy· World
Oil Prices Rise Amid Stalled US-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations and Strait of Hormuz Threats
On August 18, 2026, global oil prices increased over 1% as the prospects for a US-Iran ceasefire diminished, raising concerns about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This surge is driven by stalled negotiations and Iranian demands for US compliance, coupled with President Trump's confirmation of the blockade's continuation. If these supply disruptions persist, analysts predict sustained price support for oil through late 2026 and into 2027.
3 sources17h agoModerate
- Business· MENA
DP World Completes Delivery of Mobile Harbour Cranes for Port of Tartous Upgrade
DP World has delivered three Mobile Harbour Cranes to Syria's Port of Tartous, marking a significant milestone in its $800 million investment program. This delivery is part of a broader initiative to modernize the port's infrastructure and enhance its cargo-handling capacity by 40%, coinciding with Syria's efforts to recover economically post-conflict. The long-term implication is that this upgrade positions Tartous as a key regional trade hub, potentially increasing trade flows and economic activity in the area.
5 sources17h agoLow
- Economy· MENA
HRDF Supports Employment of 329,000 Saudi Citizens in H1 2026 as Part of Vision 2030
In the first half of 2026, the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) facilitated the employment of 329,000 Saudi citizens, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to expanded training and career guidance programs, alongside SR4.9 billion in direct financial support aimed at enhancing the national labor market. Long-term, this initiative is expected to further reduce unemployment and strengthen human capital development in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Business· MENA
SABIC Agri-Nutrients and Ma'aden Sign MoU for Joint Fertilizer Investments
SABIC Agri-Nutrients and Ma'aden Integrated Fertilizer Company signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore joint investments in the fertilizers value chain. This agreement is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic diversification efforts, aiming to enhance collaboration between the petrochemical and mining sectors. The long-term implication may lead to significant advancements in the agricultural nutrients market and strengthen Saudi Arabia's position in global fertilizer production.
6 sources17h agoLow
- Economy· World
Gold Prices Increase as US Treasury Yields Decline Ahead of Fed Minutes
On August 19, 2026, gold prices rose 0.2% to $4,342.33 per ounce during early Asian trading. This increase is attributed to retreating US Treasury yields and market anticipation of the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting minutes. The long-term implication suggests ongoing volatility in precious metals as investors closely monitor US monetary policy shifts and inflation expectations.
4 sources17h agoLow
- Business· UAE
DIFC Courts See Surge in International Opt-In Jurisdiction for Dispute Resolution
In the first half of 2026, the DIFC Courts in Dubai recorded 243 opt-in cases from global businesses, marking a significant increase in cross-border commercial disputes. This rise is attributed to growing international confidence in the courts' efficiency and neutrality, as parties voluntarily choose this jurisdiction despite no automatic requirement. The trend indicates Dubai's strengthening position as a global hub for commercial litigation, likely leading to further legislative enhancements and partnerships to attract more international cases.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Business· World
Amazon Reinstates Binding Arbitration and Class-Action Waiver for U.S. Customers
Amazon has updated its Conditions of Use to mandate binding arbitration and prohibit class-action lawsuits for U.S. customers, effective August 14, 2026. This policy change follows a $2.5 billion settlement in a class-action case and aims to streamline dispute resolution while limiting collective litigation exposure. The long-term implication may lead to a decrease in collective claims against Amazon, although it does not exempt the company from regulatory scrutiny.
3 sources17h agoModerate
- Business· World
Alphabet Launches First Australian Dollar Bond Sale to Fund AI Investments
On August 17, 2026, Alphabet Inc. mandated investment banks for its inaugural Australian dollar bond offering, aiming to raise A$5 billion. This strategic move is driven by strong investor demand for tech sector debt and Alphabet's need to finance its expansive AI infrastructure projects. The long-term implication is a potential increase in tech sector entries into the Australian dollar bond market as companies seek to diversify funding sources amid robust global demand for corporate bonds.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
SafePal Reports Data Breach Affecting Nearly 40000 Customers Due to Third-Party Plug-in Vulnerability
SafePal disclosed a data breach on August 16, 2026, revealing that personal and order information of approximately 39,798 customers was exposed. The breach was triggered by an authorization flaw in a third-party order-tracking plug-in used by the crypto hardware wallet provider. This incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in third-party systems within the cryptocurrency sector, prompting increased scrutiny and potential regulatory responses in the future.
5 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Austria FMA Fines Bitpanda €70,000 for MiCA Violations
On August 14, 2026, Austria's Financial Market Authority imposed a €70,000 fine on Bitpanda GmbH for failing to comply with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation by not submitting a required white paper on time. This enforcement action marks the FMA's first public penalty under MiCA, reflecting a shift towards active compliance monitoring in the EU crypto sector. The long-term implication is a likely increase in regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions against crypto-asset service providers across Europe.
4 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Greenlane Holdings Reports Significant Q2 2026 Loss Due to BERA Token Decline
Greenlane Holdings announced a net loss of $24.8 million for Q2 2026, primarily driven by a $19.1 million non-cash fair value adjustment on its BERA token holdings. This financial setback is attributed to a 76% decline in the price of BERA amid the company's strategic pivot to a concentrated altcoin treasury model. In the long term, this situation raises concerns about the sustainability of such treasury strategies and the company's operational viability with only $6.1 million in cash reserves remaining.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Ethereum Developers Evaluate 66 Proposals for Hegotá Upgrade Focused on Privacy Enhancements
Ethereum core developers have initiated the scoping process for the Hegotá upgrade, assessing 66 Ethereum Improvement Proposals aimed at enhancing privacy features within the protocol. This move is driven by increasing demands for on-chain privacy and censorship resistance, particularly following regulatory scrutiny and the recent Glamsterdam upgrade. The long-term implication is a potential shift in Ethereum's architecture towards more robust privacy solutions, which could redefine user interactions and compliance within the blockchain ecosystem.
4 sources17h agoModerate
- Crypto· MENA
Bits of Gold Data Breach Affects 200,000 Israeli Customers Through Third-Party Provider
Bits of Gold, Israel's largest regulated cryptocurrency broker, reported a data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 200,000 customers. The breach was triggered by unauthorized access to a third-party data analytics provider used for customer data processing. This incident raises concerns about third-party vendor risks in the cryptocurrency sector and may lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and enhanced security measures across the industry.
4 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Harmony Protocol Executes Full Network Rollback After Token Minting Exploit
Harmony Protocol announced a full network rollback on August 17, 2026, to reverse the effects of a security exploit that occurred on August 12, allowing an attacker to mint 2.385 trillion ONE tokens. The immediate trigger for this action was the significant price drop of the ONE token and the need to discard over 109,000 user transactions to restore network integrity. This incident raises long-term concerns about the security of decentralized networks and the implications for blockchain immutability and finality.
4 sources17h agoModerate
- Crypto· World
Jane Street Increases Bitcoin ETF Holdings to $1.06 Billion in Q2 2026
Jane Street has rebuilt its Bitcoin ETF holdings to approximately $1.06 billion as of June 30, 2026, following a significant accumulation of $630 million during the second quarter. This shift comes after a sharp reduction in Q1 2026, reflecting the firm's operational inventory management as an authorized participant in major Bitcoin ETFs. The long-term implication suggests a strengthening of institutional infrastructure supporting Bitcoin ETF liquidity as market adoption continues to grow.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
BitMart Founder Denies Rumors Amid Binance bStocks Market Growth
BitMart founder Sheldon Xia has publicly denied rumors regarding user fund issues and repayment plans, labeling them as fabricated. This denial comes as Binance bStocks has recently surpassed xStocks to become the second-largest tokenized stock issuer, reflecting a significant shift in the tokenized asset market. The long-term implication suggests that as the tokenized stock market continues to grow, regulatory scrutiny may increase, impacting exchanges like BitMart and Binance.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Compound DAO Approves $52 Million Institutional DeFi Program and New Leadership Team
On August 17, 2026, the Compound DAO approved a record $52 million funding program aimed at transitioning the DeFi protocol towards institutional partnerships. This strategic shift is driven by a significant decline in total value locked (TVL) and the need for enhanced risk management and regulatory compliance. The long-term implication is a potential resurgence of Compound's relevance in the institutional DeFi space as it seeks to attract professional capital and improve its governance model.
3 sources17h agoModerate
- Crypto· World
Bitmine Immersion Technologies increases Ethereum holdings to 5.8 million ETH
Bitmine Immersion Technologies has acquired an additional 9,926 Ethereum, bringing its total holdings to 5,815,164 ETH, which represents approximately 4.8 percent of the circulating supply. This acquisition is part of a systematic strategy initiated in June 2025 to reach a 5 percent ownership target through weekly purchases. The long-term implication of this strategy positions Bitmine as a significant institutional player in the Ethereum market, potentially impacting liquidity and validator decentralization.
4 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
Dutch Prosecutors Liquidate $2.55 Million in Crypto Assets from Bankrupt Knaken Platform
Dutch prosecutors have liquidated $2.55 million in cryptocurrency assets from the bankrupt Knaken platform, following its bankruptcy declaration on July 16, 2026. This liquidation was triggered by ongoing investigations into the platform's financial practices and the need to recover funds for approximately 6,300 affected customers. The long-term implication is a potential shift in regulatory scrutiny and oversight of cryptocurrency platforms in the Netherlands, as gaps in previous regulations are highlighted.
3 sources17h agoLow
- Crypto· World
XRP Ledger Sees 280% Increase in Whale Transactions Over $1 Million
On August 18, 2026, the XRP Ledger recorded a 280% surge in transactions exceeding $1 million, with over 38 such transfers in a single day. This spike in whale activity follows a prior accumulation of over 380 million XRP by large holders earlier in August, indicating increased engagement among major stakeholders. The long-term implications suggest potential shifts in market dynamics as the intent behind these transactions remains unclear, possibly affecting future trading strategies and regulatory scrutiny.
3 sources17h agoModerate