Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s slowest quarter on record comes amid a prolonged crackdown on China’s major technology companies. It’s easy to conflate the two. But the increased regulatory burden is overshadowed by even harsher problems. Chief among them: peak customer. It’s a reminder that the country’s burgeoning middle class is no longer easy pickings for high-flying companies with ubiquitous platforms. ...

  Coinbase Global Inc Chief Executive Officer Brian Armstrong has been publicly basking in the positive response to the cryptocurrency-trading platform’s Super Bowl TV commercial. The ad offering new users $15 in free Bitcoin was a marketing bonanza. But while generating buzz is a good thing, getting attention for giving away money won’t fix the major problems with Coinbase’s business. ...

  Vladimir Putin has done it. Ignoring near-universal condemnation, the Russian president has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, confirming the West’s worst fears. It’s an abominable act of unprovoked aggression that threatens global security and stability. The world’s response must be swift and exacting. Putin’s actions reflect a willful disregard for international law and the lives of innocent people. ...