January 30, 2019 @ 8:26 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) announced on Tuesday it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tencent to accelerate the R&D development and deployment of Fintech in Hong Kong by using Tencent’s revolutionary and advanced technology capabilities with HKSTP’s infrastructure and vibrant innovation… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 3:49 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Kudelski Security, the cybersecurity division of the Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S), announced on Tuesday the launch of its new Blockchain Security Center (BSC), which is reportedly making available its cryptography expertise into the rapidly evolving blockchain developer community. According to Kudelski Security, the BSC will… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 2:37 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Petal, a credit card startup pioneering “Cashflow Underwriting” as an alternative to traditional credit scoring, secured $30 million through its Series B funding round, which was reportedly led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures. This news comes just one year after Valar Venture led Petal’s $13 million… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 1:36 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Cryptoasset-to-USD lender BlockFi announced on Tuesday it has added Coinbase Ventures and Able Partners to its list of investors. This news comes just a little over a month after BlockFi secured $4 million in convertible debt investments led by Akuna Capital with participation from Susquehanna Government Products, LLLP,… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 12:59 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Cross River, a bank that delivers advanced financial and compliance products/services to the fintech industry, announced on Tuesday it has formed a new partnership with Railsbank Technology Limited, a UK-based open banking and RegTech technology services platform, to provide Railsbank a variety of API-powered, banking and… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 12:01 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Digital-only challenger bank Varo Money announced on Tuesday it raised the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on its FDIC-insured Varo Savings Account to 2.80% for customers whose Savings Account balance is $50,000 or less, and who have qualifying direct deposits and debit card purchases from their… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 11:15 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Self Lender, a U.S.-based fintech startup that offers Americans a way to build their credit while also saving money, announced on Tuesday it has formed a new partnership with Steady, an income optimization platform created for America’s rapidly growing independent workforce, to provide access to new… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 9:57 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Online blockchain education provider B9lab announced on Tuesday it is launching its Blockstars Community Program to offer free mentoring, training, and certification in Ethereum for 1,000 aspiring blockchain developers. According to B9Lab, the Blockstars Community Programme aims to make quality education available for a diverse… Read More

January 29, 2019 @ 8:31 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Peer to peer lender Lending Works announced on Tuesday it has surpassed £150 million in successful loans to households and firms. The online lending platform reported it has so far helped more than 25,000 people to get a better value personal loan since its launch in January… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 3:31 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Robinhood announced last week Robinhood Crypto received a virtual currency license, also known as the BitLicense, and a money transmitter license in the state of New York. According to Robinhood, the new licenses will allow New Yorkers to invest in cryptocurrencies on the Robinhood platform. Robinhood revealed… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 3:07 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Micro-investing app Acorns successfully secured $105 million through its Series E funding round, bringing the company’s valuation reportedly up to$860 million. BlackRock, Bain Capital Ventures, TPG’s Rise Fund, DST and Michael Dell’s MSD Capital notably participated in the round.  Founded in 2012, Acorns’ proprietary financial engine allows… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 2:06 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Binance announced last week it is set to support the BitTorrent (BTT) Airdrop Program for TRON (TRX) holders. Binance reported that for the first airdrop, corresponding to 1.1% of the total BTT token supply, we will take a snapshot of all TRX balances on the… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 12:00 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Yoyo Wallet announced on Monday it has partnered with European coffee chain SOHO Coffee Co. to provide mobile payments and loyalty app. The new collaboration with SOHO comes just a couple of months after Yoyo Wallet formed a partnership with easyCoffee. Founded in 2013, Yoyo… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 11:48 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Harvard’s public health graduate school has teamed up with Levi Strauss & Co. for a new blockchain-based system designed to augment outside auditors of factory health and safety with self-reporting by workers, Reuters reports. It was revealed that Consensus will provide the project’s blockchain solution and… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 9:34 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Discover (NYSE: DFS) announced on Monday its cardmembers are now able to make payments using contactless payment solution Garmin Pay. Discover reported that cardmembers may now use Garmin at any merchant retail locations that accept both Discover and contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) transactions. The… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 8:38 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Germany-based global provider of digital payments and commerce solutions Wirecard announced on Monday the launch of its new API Management and Developer Portal. Wirecard reported that the portal is designed to make it even quicker and easier for customers to integrate the company’s digital platform into their environments… Read More

January 27, 2019 @ 1:54 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Uniti, a Sweden founded electric car manufacturer, is set to close its latest equity crowdfunding campaign on Crowdcube with more than £1.2 million in funding from over 1900 investors. The company launched the round in December, originally seeking £1 million for a 1.02% equity stake in the… Read More

January 27, 2019 @ 1:37 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Root Insurance, an Ohio-based car insurtech company, announced last week plans for continued expansion into additional states in 2019, with a goal to expand its services nationwide by 2020. As previously reported, Root was founded in 2015 and describes itself as a full-stack automobile insurance company founded on the… Read More

January 27, 2019 @ 1:31 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Insurance and protection-as-a-service company, Setoo, announced last week it has formed a new partnership with Invia Flights Germany GmbH, an Invia Group company, to independently design and distribute new types of insurance products that are personalized, transparent, and offer immediate compensation with no claim process required, Setoo reported that… Read More

January 25, 2019 @ 10:41 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced on Thursday it has teamed up with Aetna, Anthem (NYSE: ANTM), Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), and PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC) to create a new blockchain network specifically for the healthcare industry. According to IBM, the network’s goal is to create an inclusive… Read More