January 27, 2022 @ 9:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Ascend has raised a $30 million Series A round while simultaneously gaining a lending commitment of $250 million to finance insurance premium loans via its platform. The lending is being provided by Hudson Structured Capital Management Ltd. – doing its re/insurance business as HSCM Bermuda… Read More

January 27, 2022 @ 8:54 am By JD Alois  |  

Facebook/Meta’s (NASDAQ:FB) digital currency venture Diem will be sold to Silvergate Capital for $200 million, according to WSJ.com. It was previously rumored that the failed cryptocurrency project was on the auction block as Meta threw in the towel on a project that once sought to… Read More

January 27, 2022 @ 7:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Marqeta (NASDAQ: MQ) is now approved to operate in Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, according to a statement from the company. The “modern card issuing platform” is now certified to operate in 39 different countries. Marqeta says it will open an office in Singapore in… Read More

January 27, 2022 @ 1:02 am By JD Alois  |  

  Created by IDF cyber-warfare veterans, Scribe Security has closed on a $7 million seed round led by Elron Ventures with the participation of Tal Ventures, YYM Ventures, and more. Based in Israel, Scribe Security is on a mission to provide a SaaS platform for… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 5:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

Institutional blockchain firm Blockdaemon has raised $207 million in a Series C funding round that values the firm at $3.25 billion. The funding round was led by Sapphire and Tiger Global, with participation from existing investors SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Boldstart Ventures, StepStone Group, Matrix Capital… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 4:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has settled actions against two Arizona-based Fintechs ZipRemit and Lendaily. The SEC that final judgments have been entered against the two firms along with CEO Gary Prior. Without admitting or denying the allegations of the amended complaint, Pryor, ZipRemit,… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 4:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

LendingClub (NYSE:LC), one of the few fully chartered digital banks, has reported Q4 earnings as well as full-year 2021 results. According to a statement by the Fintech, LendingClub earned net income of $29.1 million during Q4 versus a loss of $26.7 million year prior. For… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 11:52 am By JD Alois  |  

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is telling El Salvador not to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. In a statement by the IMF, the international agency noted that since September 2021, the Salvadoran government has adopted Bitcoin as legal tender. But the IMF believes the adoption… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 11:42 am By JD Alois  |  

CoinShares (OTCQX: CNSRF) has announced the launch of physically-backed crypto exchange-traded products (ETP). CoinShares Physical Staked Tezos and CoinShares Physical Staked Polkadot will be listed on Germany’s main market Xetra. The new ETPs utilize CoinShares’ platform to provide exposure to proof-of-stake protocols and the rewards for… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 11:29 am By JD Alois  |  

Luna PR, a digital asset-focused marketing firm, has announced the creation of Luna VC – a venture company launched to invest in early-stage crypto companies. Apparently, Luna VC has already invested in ten crypto firms claiming a 4000% return during the first quarter of its… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 10:06 am By JD Alois  |  

Canadian crypto exchange CoinSmart (NEO: SMRT; FSE:IIR) has announced a “long-term national sponsorship agreement with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).” CoinSmart will become the CHL’s Official Crypto Trading Partner across its three-member leagues, the OHL, WHL, and the QMJHL. The CHL is the world’s largest… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 9:57 am By JD Alois  |  

Affirm (NASDAQ:AFRM) has announced new options for customers to access its buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. According to a release, Affirm has launched a new “super app” as well as a browser extension. Affirm said the new app bundles both its payments and savings… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 9:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Ownera has joined the Global Digital Finance (GDF) Patron Board. Global Digital Finance is a UK-based organization that aims to support the digital asset sector of Fintech. In a public statement, Global Digital Finance said it will work with Ownera to promote standards and best… Read More

January 26, 2022 @ 8:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Global X ETFs, a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group with more than $620 billion in assets under management, has announced the Global X Blockchain ETF (BKCH) on the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse Xetra. BKCH is designed to provide investors with a portfolio… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 10:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

Inter, a Brazilian financial “super app,” has announced it has been approved to acquire USEND, a service offering transfers and payments, as well as non-financial services to more than 150,000 customers across 40 US states. USEND’s digital money transfer platform lets users make international transactions… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 9:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

Diem, the digital currency project previously known as Libra created by Meta (NASDAQ:FB) (formerly doing business as Facebook) may be for sale. According to a report by Bloomberg, Diem is on the auction block due to “regulatory pressure.” Initially launched with great fanfare as a… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 8:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The House Committee on Financial Services has posted the February hearing schedule and digital assets are on the list. According to an email from the Committee on February 8, 10 AM ET, a hearing will be held entitled “Digital Assets and the Future of Finance:… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 10:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The Biden administration is planning to roll out a proposal for crypto regulation as soon as next month, according to reports. The White House’s policy push is expected to be accompanied by legislative proposals emerging from Congress as the Executive and Legislative branches work to… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 10:16 am By JD Alois  |  

Last week, BitMEX announced its intent to acquire Bankhaus von der Heydt. The deal is actually structured so that BXM Operations AG, founded by BitMEX CEO  Alexander Höptner and CFO Stephan Lutz, will acquire the bank located in Munich, Germany. While the purchase is subject… Read More

January 25, 2022 @ 8:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Digital Asset has appointed J. Christopher Giancarlo to its board of directors. Giancarlo is the former Chairman of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and well known for his interest in crypto assets. Digital Asset stated that Giancarlo will provide counsel to Digital Asset’s leadership on… Read More