A league table of the 120 cryptocurrencies with the highest market cap reveals how diverse each crypto is and potentially how much risk is involved when investing in one. Bitcoin (BTC), for instance, had a so-called "high cap" - a market cap worth more than 10 billion U.S. dollars - indicating this crypto project has a certain track record or, at the very least, is considered a major player in the cryptocurrency space. This is different in Decentralize Finance (DeFi), where Bitcoin is only a relatively new player. A concentrated market The number of existing cryptocurrencies is several thousands, even if most have a limited significance. Indeed, Bitcoin and Ethereum account for nearly 75 percent of the entire crypto market capitalization. As crypto is relatively easy to create, the range of projects varies significantly - from improving payments to solving real-world issues, but also meme coins and more speculative investments. Crypto is not considered a payment method While often talked about as an investment vehicle, cryptocurrencies have not yet established a clear use case in day-to-day life. Central bankers found that usefulness of crypto in domestic payments or remittances to be negligible. A forecast for the world's main online payment methods took a similar stance: It predicts that cryptocurrency would only take up 0.2 percent of total transaction value by 2027.

Global spending on digital transformation (DX) is expected to reach **** trillion U.S. dollars in 2025, with this figure rising to **** billion by 2028. What is digital transformation? Digital transformation refers to the adoption and integration of digital technologies to fundamentally reshape business processes, operations, and services. Key priorities in digital transformation include the adoption of cloud technologies to drive efficiency and flexibility, as well as the embrace of artificial intelligence, with AI tools unlocking new possibilities in automation, analytics, and decision-making. Pressure mounts on business leaders to invest strategically Organizations worldwide have designated digital transformation a business imperative, investing heavily to remain competitive in the digital economy. However, the vast array of options across cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies has made it increasingly difficult for organizations to identify the right solutions. At the same time, as business operations become more digitized, they are also becoming more exposed to cyber threats. A series of high-profile data breaches has underscored the growing risks, fueling demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions and giving rise to a thriving global cybersecurity industry.

Social media companies are starting to offer users the option to subscribe to their platforms in exchange for monthly fees. Until recently, social media has been predominantly free to use, with tech companies relying on advertising as their main revenue generator. However, advertising revenues have been dropping following the COVID-induced boom. As of July 2023, Meta Verified is the most costly of the subscription services, setting users back almost 15 U.S. dollars per month on iOS or Android. Twitter Blue costs between eight and 11 U.S. dollars per month and ensures users will receive the blue check mark, and have the ability to edit tweets and have NFT profile pictures. Snapchat+, drawing in four million users as of the second quarter of 2023, boasts a Story re-watch function, custom app icons, and a Snapchat+ badge.

As of 2023, nearly ** percent of digital leaders globally stated that their companies adopted cloud technology either on small or large scale. Big data/ analytics were the second most popular adopted technology with around ** percent of respondents reporting the same. Artificial intelligence/ machine learning At the same time, ** percent of respondents were considering using Artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) technology, while ** percent said that their companies were piloting the implementation AI/ML technology. What is cloud computing?   Cloud computing refers to the use of networks of remote servers accessed over the internet to store, manage, and process data. It offers customers access to a wide range of technologies while lowering costs and reducing the need for technical expertise. The cloud service market is divided into three primary service models encompassing infrastructure, platforms, and software. Customers are able to choose between private, public, or hybrid cloud deployment depending on their business needs and security concerns. SaaS: the most widely adopted cloud solutions     In line with increases in companies’ adoption of cloud computing technologies, the worldwide revenue generated from these technologies has increased rapidly in recent years. Software as a Service (SaaS) is the largest segment of the global cloud computing market with revenues forecast to be around *** billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Popular applications of SaaS include customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning software.

In 2024, spending on digital transformation (DX) is projected to reach 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars. By 2027, global digital transformation spending is forecast to reach 3.9 trillion U.S. dollars. What is digital transformation? Digital transformation refers to the adoption of digital technology to transform business processes and services from non-digital to digital. This encompasses, among others, moving data to the cloud, using technological devices and tools for communication and collaboration, as well as automating processes. What is driving digital transformation? Digital transformation growth is due to several contributing factors. Among these was COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the digital transformation tempo in organizations around the globe in 2020 considerably. Although the pandemic is over, working from home among organizations globally has not only remained, but also increased, increasing the drive for digital transformation. Other contributing causes include customer demand and the need to be on par with competitors. Overall, utilizing technologies for digital transformation render organizations more agile in responding to changing markets and enhance innovation, thereby making them more resilient.

Consumer preference for online shopping varies greatly per product category. When it came to holidays and entertainment purchases, ** percent of respondents to a global 2023 survey preferred to shop online vs. offline. The most popular FMCG category for online shopping was tech, as ** percent of consumers preferred to shop consumer electronics online.

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a change of pace in e-commerce personalization. According to a global study, in 2017, ** percent of consumers stated they would become repeat buyers after a personalized digital shopping experience. After the global e-commerce surge in 2021, the figure declined but remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. As of 2023, ** percent of surveyed consumers were driven to purchase again from a retailer providing online personalization. Regional variations in personalization preferences The demand for personalized online shopping experiences varies across countries. In the United States, nearly half of consumers desire personalized service when buying online, leading a ranking of 17 countries. Spain and Australia follow closely, with ** percent of respondents expressing similar preferences. Another survey showed that Portuguese consumers show the highest appetite for personalized product recommendations, with over ** percent desiring such features. Data privacy concerns While personalization is increasingly valued, concerns about data privacy persist, particularly among older consumers. A 2024 survey revealed that ** percent of U.S. consumers aged 55 to 59 are the least likely to share personal data with AI technologies for shopping purposes. In contrast, only ** percent of shoppers aged 18 to 24 express such reservations. This generational divide extends to AI-driven personalization, with ** percent of Baby Boomers globally rejecting AI personalization in their customer journey, compared to just ** percent of Gen Z shoppers.

In 2023, close to *** out of ten global industry decision-makers had already integrated generative artificial intelligence to generate product recommendations utilized by associates in physical stores. Meanwhile, ** percent were in the process of evaluating its adoption. Moreover, ** percent employed generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop conversational digital shopping assistants, ** percent utilized it for constructing virtual models for product pages, and ** percent applied it to curate personalized product bundles. AI-driven personalization Utilizing artificial intelligence to craft personalized shopping experiences has become a cornerstone strategy for e-commerce retailers. In 2023, **** of ten businesses surveyed worldwide employed AI-driven personalization to fuel growth. To measure the success of AI in personalization, companies primarily look at the accuracy and speed of real-time data alongside metrics like customer retention and repeat purchases. As AI technologies advance, the potential for increasingly refined and impactful personalization within e-commerce will expand even further. The consumer experience AI helps e-commerce businesses understand and respond to consumers' preferences, needs, and behaviors. One crucial area of online shopping where people anticipate AI improvements is price comparison, as indicated by **** of the participants in a 2023 survey. Consequently, consumers are eager to uncover relevant promotions, offers, and products. However, the swift pace of these advancements also breeds skepticism among online shoppers, especially among older demographics, many of whom express discomfort with this technology's use for personalization.

As of April 2024, it was found that men between the ages of 25 and 34 years made up Facebook largest audience, accounting for 18.4 percent of global users. Additionally, Facebook's second largest audience base could be found with men aged 18 to 24 years.

              Facebook connects the world

              Founded in 2004 and going public in 2012, Facebook is one of the biggest internet companies in the world with influence that goes beyond social media. It is widely considered as one of the Big Four tech companies, along with Google, Apple, and Amazon (all together known under the acronym GAFA). Facebook is the most popular social network worldwide and the company also owns three other billion-user properties: mobile messaging apps WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger,
              as well as photo-sharing app Instagram. Facebook usersThe vast majority of Facebook users connect to the social network via mobile devices. This is unsurprising, as Facebook has many users in mobile-first online markets. Currently, India ranks first in terms of Facebook audience size with 378 million users. The United States, Brazil, and Indonesia also all have more than 100 million Facebook users each.

In the first quarter of 2023, Lenovo shipped 22.4 percent of all personal computers worldwide, whilst HP Inc. occupied 21.1 percent of the PC market. Dell ranked third among vendors in terms of PC shipments, accounting for 16.7 percent of the market.

In 2023, around three-quarters of surveyed global customers expressed their expectation for improved personalization when sharing more personal data with businesses. Moreover, ** percent indicated their anticipation of a more personalized experience as technology advances, and ** percent expected the same when increasing their spending.

In 2024, a global survey unveiled that *************** business leaders saw personalization as an invaluable factor in their business success. Additionally, more than **************** leaders see a close connection between personalization and Generation Z, as they adapt their strategies to the needs and preferences of this generation. Data: access vs. execution Although business owners have recognized the difficulty of retrieving accurate data for personalized shopper engagement, this may only constitute half of the hurdle. According to a 2023 survey of retailers worldwide, roughly ** percent of respondents reported having full capability to leverage customer data for personalization, underscoring the challenges in implementation despite data accessibility. Growing expectations As e-commerce companies strive to deliver an increasingly personalized shopping experience, consumer attitudes toward personalization are continually evolving. Between 2020 and 2022, the percentage of buyers anticipating companies to understand and address their individual shopping needs surged. By 2023, approximately ************** of customers expected better personalization as they provided retailers with more data and as technology advanced.

As of October 29, 2025, Nvidia was the leading tech company by market capitalization globally at 5 trillion U.S. dollars. Nvidia became the first company to ever achieve the 5 trillion milestone, hitting this figure for the first time in October 2025. Apple ranked second at 4 trillion U.S. dollars, followed by Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), and Amazon. Nvidia's immense growth With a focus that began with origins in gaming, Nvidia's business strategy has been transformed by demand from data centers that sit at the heart of the AI boom. The company's chips have been favored to support the training and running of a range of large language models, most notably in the development of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple is also among the leaders Since its foundation in a Californian garage in 1976, Apple has expanded massively, becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world. The company started its origins in the PC industry with the Macintosh, but soon entered other segments of the consumer electronics market. Today, the iPhone is the most popular Apple product, although Mac, iPad, wearables, and services also contribute to its high revenues. Aiming at innovation, Apple invests every year in research and development, spanning a wide array of technologies from AI through to extended reality.

The volume in the 'Smart Speakers' segment of the consumer electronics market worldwide was modeled to be ************* pieces in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the volume has risen by ************** pieces since 2018. Between 2024 and 2030, the volume will rise by ************** pieces, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.Further information about the methodology, more market segments, and metrics can be found on the dedicated Market Insights page on Smart Speakers.

As of March 2025, there were a reported 5,426 data centers in the United States, the most of any country worldwide. A further 529 were located in Germany, while 523 were located in the United Kingdom. What is a data center? A data center is a network of computing and storage resources that enables the delivery of shared software applications and data. These facilities can house large amounts of critical and important data, and therefore are vital to the daily functions of companies and consumers alike. As a result, whether it is a cloud, colocation, or managed service, data center real estate will have increasing importance worldwide. Hyperscale data centers In the past, data centers were highly controlled physical infrastructures, but the cloud has since changed that model. A cloud data service is a remote version of a data center – located somewhere away from a company's physical premises. Cloud IT infrastructure spending has grown and is forecast to rise further in the coming years. The evolution of technology, along with the rapid growth in demand for data across the globe, is largely driven by the leading hyperscale data center providers.

The global customer relationship management (CRM) software market is forecast to grow to ** billion U.S. dollars in size in 2025. This is a projected increase of almost **** billion U.S. dollars from 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of *** percent. Customer relationship management Customer relationship management, or CRM, is the technology used to analyze and manage a company’s interaction with customers or potential customers. The goal of CRM is to improve companies’ relationships with customers, therefore increasing customer retention rates and ultimately driving sales growth. According to a 2018 survey, only 16 percent of U.S. organizations considered their company’s delivery of real-time customer interactions across touch points and devices as effective, showing that it is important for organizations to make use of the CRM technology. Scaling customer-centered decisions and actions across function in the business is the main driver behind organizations’ increased investment in real-time customer analytics in the United States. CRM vendors Salesforce is the leader in the CRM applications market, with a share of **** percent in 2018. Other contenders in the market include Oracle and SAP, with *** and *** percent market shares respectively in 2018.

In the third quarter of 2025, Apple held an **** percent share of the global smartphone market, marking an increase of *** percentage points compared to the previous quarter. Long-time competitor Samsung maintained the leading position, with a market share of ** percent. Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the smartphone market Apple has been among the top-five smartphone vendors in the world since 2009. With the decline of former market leaders Nokia and RIM, Apple and Samsung were able to grow their presence in the market. As a result of political pressure, tariffs and restrictions imposed by the U.S, Chinese manufacturer Huawei has recently dropped off of the top five list in the smartphone market, while Xiaomi, Oppo, and Transsion have gained ground. Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impact on iPhone sales While the long-term impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on sale is difficult to determine, the immediate impact was quickly visible. While large quarterly fluctuations are normal for Apple’s revenue cycle, one must look back to 2017 to find two consecutive quarters in which Apple generated less than ** billion U.S. dollars in revenue from the iPhone. A less strong performance in the first quarter of 2024, lead by the iPhone 16, gave Apple the ****** spot in terms of quarterly global unit shipments after Samsung, although strong sales in the fourth quarter of every year is a common occurrence with Apple products.

The digital health market is experiencing significant growth across various segments, with fitness trackers leading the way. In 2024, fitness trackers are projected to generate nearly ** billion U.S. dollars in revenue worldwide, highlighting the increasing consumer interest in wearable technology for health monitoring. This trend is further supported by the widespread adoption of smartwatches, with physical activity tracking being the most common health indicator measured by European users in 2023. Growth in digital health segments While fitness trackers dominate the market, other segments are also showing promise. Digital care management, which includes online pharmacies and medication checker apps, is expected to generate around **** billion U.S. dollars in 2024. The overall digital health market is forecasted to see substantial user growth across all segments from 2019 to 2029, with the Digital Fitness & Well-Being segment projected to reach *** billion users by 2029. This growth is indicative of the increasing integration of digital solutions in healthcare and wellness practices. Investment trends and popular applications The digital health industry is attracting significant investment, particularly in major U.S. metropolitan areas. In 2022, the San Francisco metro area alone accumulated over *** billion U.S. dollars in digital health investments. However, the industry has seen fluctuations in mega deals, with the number dropping from ** in 2021 to ** in 2022. Despite this, consumer interest remains strong, as evidenced by the popularity of health and fitness apps. In 2022, Sweatcoin led the pack with ** million downloads worldwide, followed closely by the Blood Pressure App with ** million downloads.

Technology companies worldwide saw a significant reduction in their workforce in 2025. One of the most recent tech layoffs was by Amazon on October 27, 2025, with ****** employees being laid off. Layoffs impacting all global tech giants Layoffs in the global market escalated dramatically in the first quarter of 2023, when the sector saw a staggering record high of ******* employees losing their jobs. Major tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, and IBM all contributed to this figure during this quarter. Amazon, in particular, conducted the most rounds of layoffs with the highest number of employees laid off among global tech giants. Industries most affected include the consumer, hardware, food, and healthcare sectors. Notable companies that have laid off a significant number of staff include Flink, Booking.com, Uber, PayPal, LinkedIn, and Peloton, among others. Overhiring led the trend, but will AI keep it going? Layoffs in the technology sector started following an overhiring spree during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, companies expanded their workforce to meet increased demand for digital services during lockdowns. However, as lockdowns ended, economic uncertainties persisted and companies reevaluated their strategies, layoffs became inevitable, resulting in a record number of ******* laid-off employees in the global tech sector by the end of 2022. Moreover, it is still unclear how advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will impact layoff trends in the tech sector. AI-driven automation can replace manual tasks, leading to workforce redundancies. Whether through chatbots handling customer inquiries or predictive algorithms optimizing supply chains, the pursuit of efficiency and cost savings may result in more tech industry layoffs in the future.

The number of Apple iPhone unit sales dramatically increased between 2007 and 2024. Indeed, in 2007, when the iPhone was first introduced, Apple shipped around **** million smartphones. By 2024, this number reached over ***** million units. The newest models and iPhone’s lasting popularity Apple has ventured into its 17th smartphone generation with its Phone ** lineup, which, released in September 2025, includes the **, ** Plus, ** Pro and Pro Max. Powered by the A19 bionic chip and running on iOS **, these models present improved displays, cameras, and functionalities. On the one hand, such features come, however, with hefty price tags, namely, an average of ***** U.S. dollars. On the other hand, they contribute to making Apple among the leading smartphone vendors worldwide, along with Samsung and Xiaomi. In the first quarter of 2024, Samsung shipped over ** million smartphones, while Apple recorded shipments of roughly ** million units. Success of Apple’s other products Apart from the iPhone, which is Apple’s most profitable product, Apple is also the inventor of other heavy-weight players in the consumer electronics market. The Mac computer and the iPad, like the iPhone, are both pioneers in their respective markets and have helped popularize the use of PCs and tablets. The iPad is especially successful, having remained as the largest vendor in the tablet market ever since its debut. The hottest new Apple gadget is undoubtedly the Apple Watch, which is a line of smartwatches that has fitness tracking capabilities and can be integrated via iOS with other Apple products and services. The Apple Watch has also been staying ahead of other smart watch vendors since its initial release and secures around ** percent of the market share as of the latest quarter.