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OnlyFans Founder Joins Forces With Crypto Foundation for TikTok Takeover Bid

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 3, 2025

In a bold move to disrupt the social media landscape, Tim Stokely, the founder of OnlyFans, has partnered with the Hbar Foundation—a key player behind the Hedera cryptocurrency network—to submit a late-stage bid to acquire TikTok. The proposal, submitted this week to the White House, marks a significant attempt to shift the ownership of the popular video-sharing app from Chinese owner ByteDance.

Zoop, Stokely’s new startup, aims to redefine the digital content space by offering a platform where creators are the primary beneficiaries. Unlike OnlyFans, which has been associated with adult content, Zoop is designed to be mainstream and family-friendly, returning the majority of its revenues to creators based on user engagement. According to Zoop co-founder RJ Phillips, the bid for TikTok is not just about taking control but about creating a “new paradigm” where both creators and their communities directly benefit from the value they generate.

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The partners behind the bid have been quietly working with a group of investors, though details on the financial backing remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, Amazon has also entered the race with a last-minute offer to acquire the app, intensifying the competition.

TikTok’s fate remains uncertain as U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make a critical decision on April 5 regarding the app’s future in the United States. ByteDance faces a deadline to either divest TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a potential national security ban under a law passed in January. This legislation, with bipartisan support, raises concerns about TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government and its potential to be used for influence operations in the U.S.

While TikTok advocates argue that such a ban would violate First Amendment rights, the Trump administration’s intervention could lead to a sale that alters the app’s ownership structure significantly. Current talks suggest that the largest non-Chinese investors in ByteDance may take the reins of TikTok’s U.S. operations.

As the clock ticks toward the April 5 deadline, the White House is managing the sale process, with Vice President JD Vance overseeing what is quickly becoming a high-stakes auction. With multiple players vying for control, the next few days could determine the future of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.

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Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 26, 2026

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

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Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.