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The Financial Crisis and Hardship Could Not Hold Her Back: How Entrepreneur Monika Tapia Overcame All Odds

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If you have not yet to heard of Ivan and Monika Tapia, you are in for one inspirational story. The two entrepreneurs are a classic encapsulation of the American dream, and a continually driven power couple to boot. It is rare to hear of a started from the bottom” story these days, but that is what makes them so powerful. The inspirational essence of their tale is not lost on Ivan and Monika, and they reflect on the roots of their success every day as they strive to achieve their main goal: helping the less fortunate achieve the position they have worked so hard to obtain.

The words that Monika Tapia lives her life by are these: Success is not a destiny or a place you arrive, it is a way of life.” Upon realizing the trials and hardships that she and her husband faced, this wisdom rings all the more true. Monika stood by her husband as he struggled to navigate the torturous waves set forth by the 2008 financial crisis. Ivan lost his career at an engineering firm the week before the couple was to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. With fierce competition in his field and a countrywide economic downturn to contend with, he soon could not afford their debts, and the two had no choice but to move back to his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. Soon after, Monika discovered that she was pregnant. It was a bittersweet moment that highlighted their lifes theme of beauty among struggle. Through all the turbulent times, they remained vigilant and stood by one another, a true testament to success as a way of life. For Monika, its not how hard you fall, its how many times you get back up.

There will be many obstacles in your growth such as lack of clarity, not knowing where to start, lack of discipline. It costs a lot of money, loneliness and lack of support, but to move forward you need to want to win.” She declares. Upon finally obtaining employment, Ivan worked tirelessly to hold down a steady job while developing his own multi-level marketing business. In spite of family members questioning Monikas involvement with a man who could barely afford their small house in Tijuana, even encouraging her to leave him at times, she saw his true potential. Over the course of a few years of incredibly hard work and long hours, Ivan turned his business into a multi-million dollar generating endeavor, with Monika as his partner in both love and lucrative business endeavors.

Monika and Ivan decided to take their hard-won status and turn it into a platform to give back to others who seek to invert their low status in life. Never forgetting the months she spent pregnant and depressed on a mattress in a house with no furniture, Monika vowed to enrich the lives of others with the knowledge necessary to navigate a tumultuous and unpredictable economy. The couple has already educated thousands of students in the ways of entrepreneurship, assisting over 300 people earn incomes of over $10,000 monthly, and even producing a few millionaires.

Monika also has a major presence in media. She is a columnist for multiple digital magazines and newspapers, and has even written a best-selling book that is currently being translated to English. She is responsible for the creation of her daughters brand Rich & Mind Kids, and manages her daughters social media status as an influencer. With further endeavors in the fields of fashion and her own social media presence, she is prepared for any economic hiccups through her multifaceted streams of income. We currently have more than 30 different sources of income. We know the importance of not depending on one.” She explains.

After living the lowest of lows and building up an enviable life for themselves, this power-couple is ready to take on anything. As young as Monika is, through her trying times she has developed the wisdom of an elder, and yet still has so much more time to cultivate knowledge. She eloquently illuminates the barrier between oneself and success as such: Life happens very fast, many things you postpone and others you simply cancel. What you desire stops being important because you consider that you are not of the right age, that the condition you are in does not allow for those desires, or that you do not have the resources. These are all excuses that in the end will leave you with remorse.” It is unfathomable to imagine what Ivan and Monika have yet to achieve, when they are so inherently successful, and have discovered the secret to their true potential already.

Instagram : https://instagram.com/monikatapiaoficial

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Business

Remote Professionals Getting More Value for Their Work Thanks to Borderless Banking

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Not too long ago, the idea of working remotely from an island in Thailand or a co-working space in Berlin sounded like the kind of fantasy only tech moguls or backpacking freelancers could afford. 

Fast forward to today, and it’s as good as a global reality. Millions of professionals have cut the cord from traditional office life in exchange for flexibility, freedom, and a work-life balance that fits their personal rhythm and not their employer’s timezone.

However, as remote work has reshaped how people earn a living, it’s also pointed out the existing limits to most of the world’s financial systems. Traditional banking simply wasn’t built for a workforce that’s always on the move, operating in multiple currencies, and getting paid across borders. 

Thankfully, that’s where borderless banking like Black Banx have proven vital, and has quietly transformed the way money is managed for people vacationing and working overseas alike.

The Rise of the Remote Work Economy

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend that faded with Zoom fatigue—it’s become a defining feature of the modern workforce. A recent survey revealed that over 39% of Gen Z and Millennials planned to live and work abroad for extended periods this year, many staying six months or more in a single location. That’s beyond a short trip, and can be considered as good as a sabbatical with a substantial lifestyle shift.

According to recent estimates, the digital nomad economy now also contributes as much as US$787 billion annually to the global economy. And this isn’t just entry-level gig work. A third of digital nomads earn between US$100,000 and US$250,000, while another third take in US$50,000 to US$100,000 annually. 

It is indeed evident that the manner in which many make a living has changed. Unfortunately, most financial systems haven’t kept up.

Where Traditional Banks Are Still Falling Short

For those who have ever tried to open a bank account abroad or receive payment from a foreign client, they already know the drill: the paperwork is endless, delays are frustrating, and the fees? So much to do, even for the smallest amounts of money.

Just to name few of the hurdles remote workers still face with conventional banking:

  • Account setup restrictions: Need proof of residence, tax IDs, or a local job offer—things many digital nomads simply don’t have.
  • Slow international transfers: Payments can take days to process, which is a nightmare when rent’s due.
  • High foreign exchange fees: Currency conversions often come with steep, hidden costs.
  • Limited multi-currency support: Most banks still force users to operate in a single currency, making financial planning chaotic at best.

And perhaps most tellingly, many banks have digitized their operations but haven’t personalized their services. According to Accenture’s 2025 Banking Trends Report, while digital transformation has improved efficiency, it often sacrifices the customer experience. That’s not great news for people who live outside the lines.

Borderless Banking for Professionals Across the Globe

The concept of borderless banking goes far beyond wiring money internationally. Fundamentally, it’s also about being able to eliminate the friction between people and their money, no matter where they are in the world, and maintaining an ecosystem where geography, bureaucracy, and currency don’t stand in the way of financial freedom.

A working example of this is Black Banx, a Toronto-based fintech founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer. Since launching globally in 2015, it has grown to serve over 78 million clients in 180+ countries as of Q1 2025, proof that people take to digital banking solutions when it is accessible, affordable, and is useful in just about any locale.

In the first three months of this year, Black Banx had also earned US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, more than double from the same quarter the previous year and showing it has consistently delivered tangible value to global customers—remote professionals included

How Borderless Banking Maximizes Value for Remote Workers

1. Instant Account Access—No Strings Attached

The times of hunting down local branches or collecting endless documents just to open an account are finished. With borderless banks, users can open an account in minutes using just a photo ID—no proof of address or income required. That’s a lifesaver for anyone living outside their passport country or hopping from one location to another.

2. Multi-Currency Mastery

Managing money in multiple currencies used to mean juggling several accounts—or worse, losing money on conversions. Borderless platforms like Black Banx support 28 FIAT currencies and allow real-time currency conversions at competitive rates. That means remote workers can:

  • Invoice clients in one currency
  • Spend or save in another
  • Hedge against local currency fluctuations
  • Avoid excessive conversion fees altogether

3. Seamless, Real-Time Global Payments

Getting paid late, or paying others late, isn’t just inconvenient; it can damage relationships and disrupt your cash flow. With real-time payment support, remote workers can receive funds instantly, no matter where their clients are. This is particularly valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs juggling multiple contracts across time zones.

Plus, bulk payment features and API integration streamline processes for those running teams or businesses.

4. Built-In Crypto Options

It isn’t surprising that many digital nomads are already deep into crypto. Whether it’s for investment, faster transactions, or avoiding traditional finance red tape, crypto is becoming essential.

Since 2016, Black Banx has allowed users to send, receive, and convert crypto (like BTC and ETH) within their accounts. That integration saves users from having to manage separate crypto wallets, and adds another layer of flexibility to their financial toolkit.

5. Secure Transactions

Remote workers often log in to work from cafés, coworking spaces, and airports, to name a few. Of course, this flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere should never come at the cost of security. Borderless banks like Black Banx use end-to-end encryption, AI fraud detection, and two-factor authentication to keep accounts safe from risky elements.

Financial Freedom, Not Just Convenience

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of borderless banking is the freedom it provides. Not just to access money, but to fully participate in the global economy. For millions of professionals in underbanked regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, borderless banking has become a gateway to financial inclusion and a way to take on opportunities that typically wouldn’t be available to them if not remote.

By removing barriers to entry, platforms like Black Banx empower underserved individuals to both take control of their finances and increase their earning power by working with companies from higher paying markets. This democratization of finance isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for the global economy as a whole.

As Black Banx CEO Michael Gastauer put it: “Our multi-currency solutions enable businesses to tap into global talent without worrying about payment complexities. We make cross-border transactions as seamless as local ones.”

The Road Ahead

By 2030, the number of digital nomads worldwide is expected to soar past 60 million, according to the Forbes Technology Council. That means tens of millions of workers will be navigating foreign currencies, time zones, and financial systems—all while expecting the same seamless experience they’d get at home.

Indeed, remote professionals aren’t just looking for places to work—they’re looking for systems that work for them. In a lifestyle built on flexibility, traditional banking is proving too rigid, too slow, and too expensive.

Borderless banking services like those offered by the likes of Black Banx, on the other hand, offer exactly what today’s global workforce needs: instant access, multi-currency support, real-time payments, crypto integration, and enterprise-level security—all in a streamlined experience.

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