Blockchain’s Biggest Players | Gates Goes Green | Saga Of America’s Biggest Tax Dodger

Plus: Is The Stock Market About To Crash? A Look At The Key Indicators

These days, calm is elusive. Opening a news website feels like drinking from a firehose, too much to read, to process, to handle. But as I type, this week feels—calmer. Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial is over, coronavirus cases are still high but dropping, GameStop’s trading tornado has slowed. Attention now focuses on the Biden administration’s massive Covid-19 stimulus plan, partnerships between states and corporations to get miraculous vaccines into anxious arms and strategies to prepare for a reopening this spring (fingers crossed). Yes, this week feels calmer—let’s put it to good use. And when things return to being crazy as usual, you can always give Beau Wrigley a call (see story below).

Elsewhere at Forbes, a reminder that we are looking for trailblazing CIOs for our inaugural CIO Next list. This will highlight tech leaders who are reshaping the role in fresh and exciting ways.  If you know someone who fits this bill, please contact Senior Editor Martin Giles at mgiles@forbes.com for information about nominating them for the list.

Must Reads

Bitcoin is going to the moon as the cryptocurrency nears $50,000. The price surge gets all the headlines, but behind the mania, the world’s biggest financial players and hottest fintech startups are building an increasingly robust blockchain infrastructure that could change the way the economy works. Michael del Castillo, Janet Novack and Matt Schifrin have compiled the Forbes Blockchain 50 showcasing the financial pioneers you need to know. 

Bill Gates has a plan to save the planet from catastrophic climate change—and it's cheaper than you might think. The legendary CEO and philanthropist sat down with Forbes Assistant Managing Editor Kerry Dolan to discuss his new book, How To Avoid A Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have And The Breakthroughs We Need, and how people and companies must fight global warming. 

The Wrigley family is going from Double Mint to marijauna. Forbes Staff Writer Will Yakowicz interviewed billionaire Beau Wrigley about his new cannabis company, Parallel, and his goal to build America’s first mainstream marijuania brand. Wrigley is not just out to get consumers high—he believes weed can be a life saver.

CEO Profile

Data Point

230

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign received money from 230 billionaires—far more than Donald Trump. Michela Tindera dug through election data to reveal the business titans who gave big and why. 

Check List

Will an aging American mall be your next corporate headquarters? Forbes’ Noah Kirsch has the story of how Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is converting a North Carolina mall into his video game empire’s headquarters.

Bumble’s booming IPO has made CEO Whiteny Wolfe, 31, America’s youngest self-made woman billionaire. Angel Au-Yeung Lee has all the details. 

The state of Black and Brown professionals: Forbes Reporter Brianne Garrett unpacks the results of an impactful survey on diversity and American business culture.