JD Alois

SEC Reveals Enforcement Action on Alleged Ponzi Scam that Targeted Indian Community

This past Friday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed an enforcement action that was initially filed last October. According to the SEC, it received a temporary restraining order, an asset freeze, and other relief to halt an ongoing fraud targeting the Indian community that… Read More

Competing on Fees: Aspiring Bitcoin ETFs Update Fees as Decision on Exchange Traded Funds Near

Some of the sponsors of potential Bitcoin ETFs are updating fees to make their products more appealing to potential investors. Highlighted in a series of X’s by Bloomberg, amended S-1s were hitting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Edgar filing system this morning. Franklin Bitcoin ETF… Read More

CFTC Tech Advisory Committee Meeting to Address Blockchain, AI, More

On Monday, January 8, 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) will hold a meeting to discuss several topics of note. According to the Agenda, the CFTC TAC will cover the use of Artificial Intelligence [AI], blockchain in regard to DeFi, and… Read More

Apple Savings Rate Increases 2nd Time in a Month

Apple Savings APY has been increased to 4.35%. This is the second time that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has increased the savings rate in the past 30 days, increasing it to 4.25% from 4.15% in December. Apple launched its savings feature, offering in partnership with Goldman Sachs… Read More

UK Fintech Funding Cratered for 2nd Year in a Row: Report

The UK is a top Fintech hub recognized globally for its innovation in financial services. The country has always punched above its weight class when it comes to Fintech and in the past led the charge for Fintech funding in all of Europe. A new… Read More

CfPA Announces New Additions to Board of Directors

The Crowdfunding Professionals Association (CfPA) has announced new board members to start 2024. The new members include: Andrew Connor is the founder of the Center for Community Ownership, which works on community investment and community-owned enterprise projects across the United States. Andrew Stephenson has been… Read More

Auto Payments Firm Bumper Raises $48 Million Series B

Bumper, an automobile payments Fintech, has raised $48 million in Series B funding, according to a note from the company. The funding round was led by Autotech Ventures with participation from Shell Ventures, JLR’s InMotion Ventures, Porsche Ventures, and Revo Capital. To date, Bumper has… Read More

Capital on Tap Announces New CEO

UK-based Fintech Capital on Tap has selected Damian Brychcy to be its new Chief Executive Officer. Brychcy replaces David Luck, who will become the Executive Chairman of the firm. Brychcy was previously the company’s Chief Product Officer. Luck said he would work closely with Brychcy to… Read More

LendInvest Lowers Rates, Announces New Residential Products

LendInvest Mortgages says it has “drastically” reduced residential rates in an effort to enable first-time buyers and boost its business. For credit-impaired borrowers, LendInvest says rates now start at 5.49% – a reduction of 55 basis points. Paula Mercer, Head of Sales at LendInvest Mortgages,… Read More

Payments Firm Volt Hires Former Thunes Executive

Payments Fintech Volt has announced the appointment of Irina Chuchkina as Chief Marketing Officer. Chuchkina was previously at Thunes. Prior to Thunes, Chuchkina held executive marketing roles at Rapyd,  super-app Grab, and Visa. She has also served on the board of the Singapore Fintech Association…. Read More

House Financial Services Committee Schedules Two Subcommittee Hearings

Two House Financial Services Committee subcommittees have scheduled hearings for next week. The Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion Subcommittee has scheduled a Hearing Entitled: “Regulatory Whiplash: Examining the Impact of FSOC’s Ever-Changing Designation Framework on Innovation.” FSOC, or the Financial Stability Oversight Council, involves… Read More

Digital Asset Investment Products Experienced $2.25 Billion in Inflows in 2023

Coinshares has provided an update on digital assets and the platform is reporting that digital asset investment products experienced  $2.25 billion of inflows for the full year in 2023, Coinshares states that this is the 3rd largest year based on data from back to 2017…. Read More

SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda Returns for 2nd Term

Commissioner Mark Uyeda has been sworn in for a second term at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). His previous term expired in 2023, and now Uyeda may remain at the SEC until 2028. Uyeda is one of two Republican Commissioners – the other being… Read More

Republic + Seedrs: $2.6 Billion Raised to Date

Republic has posted its 2023 “Annual Report,” and according to the company, it has raised $2.6 billion since inception. This is inclusive of Seedrs, a UK-based investment crowdfunding provider that Republic acquired in 2021. While this is confusing when compared to the £2.7 billion promoted… Read More

Bitcoin Could Rocket Following ETF Approval: Report

Bitcoin continues to hold recent highs, topping $45,000 at the beginning of 2024 before pulling back a bit. Much of the speculation that is driving BTC higher is the expectation that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will soon approve a spot Bitcoin ETF after… Read More

Women in Fintech Powerlist Now Accepting Applications

The Women in Fintech Powerlist 2023 is now accepting applications. The annual list is a project by Innovate Finance in the UK and highlights female founders/executives, influencers, and policymakers leading the charge in digital financial services. Applicants will submit names under eight different categories, including:… Read More

Webull Trading Platform Expands Into Canada Market

Webull has announced its expansion into Canada. Webull is a broker based in Florida that serves customers from around the world. The digital marketplace offers equities, including fractionals, along with ETFs and options. Webull also offers a sweep account in the US that pays a… Read More

EquityZen Chief Strategy Officer Shares Expectations for IPOs in 2024

Initial public offerings (IPOs) were pretty moribund in 2023. According to EY, global IPO volumes drooped by 8% in 2023, with proceeds down by 33% compared with 2022. The global IPO market ended in 2023 with 1,298 offerings, which raised $123.2 billion. Compare this to… Read More

Bitcoin Starts 2024 at Over $45,000

The Bitcoin bull is back, it seems. Bitcoin (BTC), the most popular crypto in the world, is currently trading at just under $46,000. Bitcoin’s market cap is almost $900 billion. This is below its all-time high, which was in late 2021, when Bitcoin traded around… Read More

Securities Exemptions for Raising Private Capital

Online capital formation became legal following the approval of the JOBS Act of 2012. Signed into law by President Obama, the bipartisan legislation sought to make it easier for firms to raise money from both accredited and non-accredited investors. While the bill was signed into… Read More

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