March 4, 2024 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Access Committee met and one of the topics reviewed was the definition of an Accredited Investor. Once again, the Committee determined that the current definition is too restrictive, voting on expanding the definition to make it more… Read More

March 4, 2024 @ 11:10 am By JD Alois  |  

A payments provider and once one of the most successful Fintechs in Germany, Wirecard collapsed into a pile of allegations of fraud and misconduct. Wirecard, at one time part of the DAX and valued in the billions of dollars, became a huge embarrassment for regulators… Read More

March 4, 2024 @ 9:32 am By JD Alois  |  

  Numerous types of private securities are being sold to investors via online investment platforms. Investment crowdfunding has opened up a new market for all investors – including non-accredited investors. While debt is less risky than equity, in general, the returns may be limited if… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 4:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

As of today (March 1, 2024), if you have an Apple Card, you may hold up to $1 million in your Apple Savings account. While there is no minimum amount needed to open an account, if you go over the $1M hurdle, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) will… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 1:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

Research conducted by the British Business Bank reports that bank lending dropped in 2023, delivering an amount similar to 2016. At the same time, equity capital in smaller firms cratered to levels near those in 2020. When looking more closely at private equity financing, 2023… Read More

March 1, 2024 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

  Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) has published a new report that investigates trends in online capital formation under Reg CF (Regulation Crowdfunding). CCA was co-founded by the creators of the JOBS Act – the legislation that legalized investment crowdfunding. While the bill was signed into… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 3:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Senator Tim Scott, the ranking member on the Senate Banking Committee, wants to make the capital markets more inclusive. In a recent op-ed, Senator Scott said his new Empowering Main Street in America Act framework would “enhance financial education programs to increase market understanding and participation,… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 12:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

Honeycomb Credit, a FINRA-regulated Funding Portal, raised equity capital at the end of 2023. According to the Form D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Honeycomb sold $8.844 million in shares of the firm. Of note, Honeycomb raised new money in the amount of… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 11:27 am By JD Alois  |  

The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is continuing at a rapid pace. Today, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), the largest software firm in the world, has announced AI-powered Copilot for Finance. This is part of Microsoft 365 and claims to “transform modern finance.” To quote Microsoft: “Finance departments are… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 11:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Cross-border payments firm Clear Junction has joined the UK Cryptoasset Business Council (UKCBC). The UKCBC advocates on behalf of the digital assets/crypto sector in the UK. According to a note from the UKCBC, crypto is at a key inflection point due to MiCA, and ETFs,… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 10:50 am By JD Alois  |  

The House Financial Services Committee has announced that it is investigating the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in regard to allegations of “misconduct.” The Committee does not outline exactly what types of misconduct may be occurring but references reports of widespread malfeasance.   🚨 CALLING… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 9:17 am By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) is back on its feet today after suffering a situation that displayed zero balances in some account holders. Comments on X indicated that server capacity was stretched, probably due to the Bitcoin bull run, which has driven interest for investors. In a statement… Read More

February 29, 2024 @ 4:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Volt is the next Fintech to be approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to be approved as an E-money service provider. Currently, Volt provides real-time payments. Frequently, once a platform is an E-money institution (EMI) they may offer additional financial services. Volt states… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 4:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Patrick McHenry, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has reintroduced the Financial Services Innovation Act. The legislation was previously introduced by McHenry but did not garner sufficient traction to move to the House floor for a vote. This bill aims to establish… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 4:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) released a buy now pay later (BNPL) product a year ago. Expectations are for a more extended credit option to appear soon as Apple continues its ongoing expansion into financial services. Today, Experian has shared that Apple BNPL users will now have their… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 3:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

Reports on social media indicate that some Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) accounts are spontaneously cratering to zero. In a statement on X, Coinbase said they are aware of the issue and tell account holders their assets are fine. Coinbase describes itself as the “most trusted crypto exchange.”… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 11:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday (February 27, 2024), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee (SBCFAC), met to discuss several issues of importance that impact early-stage firms. Perhaps the most pressing issue is the definition of an Accredited Investor – a rule the Commission… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 10:00 am By JD Alois  |  

B2B Insurtech Coverdash has closed on a $13.5 million Series A funding round, according to a note from the company.  The company notes that this follows a $2.5 million Seed round from last year. Nyca Partners led the funding, joined by existing investors, including Bling… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 10:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Treasury Prime, an embedded banking provider, is said to be laying off staff, according to a blog post. Today, the company has issued a statement outlining that it will shift its efforts to regulated banks. Jason Mikula, posting on LinkedIn,  claims that Treasury Prime has… Read More

February 28, 2024 @ 8:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ) has announced a new partnership with AffiniPay. The credit card platform says it will power AffiniPay’s LawPay Visa SMB credit card embedded within its MyCase platform, The card is said to be the first in the industry that helps law firms pay,… Read More