Our Scans · (ZY.4.02) Business Studies · Weekly Summary

• [New] At least six crypto firms and finance experts have predicted a $150,000 price tag for Bitcoin in 2026 - at both the low and high ends of predictions - including CoinShares, Standard Chartered, Maple Finance, and more. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Through 2026 agentic AI will move closer to becoming the backbone of enterprise operations by autonomously coordinating workflows, monitoring systems in real time and triggering actions across planning, supply chains, customer service, cybersecurity, finance and compliance. ET Edge Insights - The New Paradigm of Business Intelli
• [New] As we continue to move forward into 2026, business success will require more than solely outperforming competitors; it will require agility, foresight, and the ability to create sustainable value in new ways - with finance professionals playing a pivotal role. FM Magazine
• [New] Nearly three-quarters of marketer pros said in Q4 that their companies will increase their investments in brand marketing in 2026, compared with last year - making brand marketing the biggest area in which marketers will increase their investments in 2026. Digiday
• [New] Performance marketing followed, with 58% of marketers saying their companies will increase their investments in that area of their business in 2026. Digiday
• [New] To provide a bit more context, 13% of marketers said their companies' investments in influencer marketing will decrease in 2026, compared with 9% who said the same of performance marketing and 6% who said the same of both brand marketing and product development and innovation. Digiday
• [New] By the end of 2026, AI will be a standard pre mortem tool for high stakes marketing decisions. Augustine Agency
• [New] The implementation of the residential real estate rule will mark a substantial leap forward for the U.S. anti-money laundering framework, helping to protect communities against the harms associated with illicit finance. The FACT Coalition
• [New] Other recommendations promote the use of Treasury's authority to mitigate illicit finance risks posed by foreign digital asset actors that threaten national security. Galaxy
• [New] If the slump in tech and finance continues to deepen, it could eventually spill over into broader consumer spending, turning the current soft landing into a more traditional economic contraction by late 2026. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Global sustainable finance issuance is expected to reach $1.621 trillion in 2026, including $700 billion in green bonds and $255 billion in green loans. MEXC
• [New] As Bitcoin continues to redefine the contours of global finance, the foresight to leverage its potential through strategic holding and innovative platforms like Omnilender.org will be the hallmark of successful investors in 2026 and beyond. TechBullion
• [New] By 2026, IoT data combined with blockchain smart contracts will revolutionize agri-finance and insurance. Farmonaut
• [New] Emerging trends in digital ecosystems, sustainability, workplace structures, and AI will shape 2026 - with finance playing a pivotal role in business success. FM Magazine
• [New] The UK's Sustainability Disclosure Requirements, Saudi Arabia's sustainable debt labelling, and the UAE's sustainable finance agenda are all increasing demand for taxonomy alignment, disclosure support, risk governance and impact measurement. IFC Review
• [New] Importance for marketers: Enterprise-accessible open models could reduce AI operating costs, expand multilingual deployment, and enable more flexible, privacy-conscious AI stacks in global marketing operations. MarketingProfs
• [New] With a global footprint and deep sector expertise, DigitalBridge will enhance SoftBank Group's ability to originate, finance, operate, and scale digital infrastructure opportunities worldwide. SoftBank Group Corp.
• [New] In 2026, disclosure rules, PFAS liabilities, and insurance repricing are shifting from ESG considerations to earnings variables-forcing finance teams to rethink reserves, guidance, and risk controls. Buzzsprout
• [New] Sales and IT are expected to see the largest budget increases in 2026, with over half of CFOs planning higher spending, and 28% anticipating double-digit growth in both areas, with marketing close behind. Journal of Accountancy
• [New] More than 300 CFOs and finance leaders surveyed by Gartner projected their companies will offer average pay increases of 4.5% in 2026, down from 5.4% in 2025 and 6.1% in 2024. Journal of Accountancy
• [New] Nearly 60% of CFOs plan to increase AI investments within the finance function by 10% or more in 2026 and another 24% expect increases of 4% to 9%. Becker's Hospital Review | Healthcare News & A
• [New] 45% of marketers plan to increase spending on AI-powered marketing tools in 2026, making it the leading area of investment (Content Marketing Institute). DesignRush
• [New] The global content marketing industry is projected to reach $107 billion in revenue by 2026, reinforcing just how central content has become to modern marketing strategy. DesignRush

Last updated: 06 March 2026