January 20, 2022 @ 8:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Earlier today the US Federal Reserve announced a discussion paper seeking feedback on the possibility of a digital dollar. Central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, are being reviewed by central banks around the world as policymakers aim to uncover if digital currency issued by governments… Read More

January 20, 2022 @ 3:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Federal Reserve has published a discussion paper on central bank digital currencies or CBDCs. The consultation paper has long been anticipated from the central bank. The discussion paper summarizes the current state of the domestic payments system and discusses the different types of… Read More

January 20, 2022 @ 11:29 am By JD Alois  |  

Invesdor, an online capital formation platform empowering retail investors to participate in private securities offerings, is reporting its largest crowdfunding round ever. According to an email, Singa, a karaoke startup, has raised over €2.75 Million. The securities offering is still live and open to investors… Read More

January 20, 2022 @ 11:08 am By JD Alois  |  

Folk2Folk, a unique peer-to-peer lender operating in the UK, reports that it has now topped £500 million in lending boosted by a record amount of £108 million in lending during 2021. Lending almost doubled in 2021 in comparison to 2020. Folk2Folk is an FCA authorized… Read More

January 20, 2022 @ 9:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Unit, a Fintech that offers banking as a service, says it has released a new pilot environment that allows customers to issue virtual cards and create secure bank accounts in “minutes.” Labeling it a “first of a kind solution,” Unit claims that companies can build… Read More

January 20, 2022 @ 9:04 am By JD Alois  |  

Plaid has acquired Cognito, a firm that provides ID verification including anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) services. Plaid has emerged as a key open banking platform connecting top Fintech and traditional financial services firms around the world. Plaid said that Cognito was… Read More

January 19, 2022 @ 10:42 am By JD Alois  |  

Hedera Hashgraph says it will open-source its blockchain technology during 2022. Simultaneously, the Hedera Governing Council reports that it has voted to purchase the intellectual property rights to the Hashgraph consensus algorithm from Swirlds, Inc., the original creator of the Hashgraph consensus algorithm and founding… Read More

January 19, 2022 @ 9:41 am By JD Alois  |  

QED Investors has hired two new executives to boost its presence in Africa. QED is one of the most prolific Fintech investors in the world. Founded by Nigel Morris and Frank Rotman in 2007, QED’s timing was just about perfect enabling it to benefit from… Read More

January 19, 2022 @ 9:31 am By JD Alois  |  

Linked Finance, a peer-to-peer lending platform serving Irish SMEs, says it has incorporated open banking technology to speed up the lending process. Open banking can enhance financial services by seamlessly accessing data and information across different platforms. By integrating with other financial services providers, products… Read More

January 19, 2022 @ 9:10 am By JD Alois  |  

Yesterday, SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI) received positive news as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved its bank charter license. The conditional approval enables SoFi to operate SoFi Bank as part of its previously announced acquisition of Golden Pacific Bancorp, a regional bank… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 11:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

eToro, an online investment platform, says it has added exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stocks to its US-facing offerings. eToro already offers crypto trading in the US. Crypto trading is offered via eToro USA LLC and securities trading is offered via eToro USA Securities, Inc., a… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 11:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Doconomy has raised $19 million in an equity round led by CommerzVentures. Doconomy is a climate tech firm that helps banks, brands, and consumers to measure and reduce their environmental impact. Other backers include two new investors, Ingka Investments, part of the largest IKEA retailer… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 5:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved  SoFi’s (NASDAQ:SOFI) application to operate a bank. According to the OCC, SoFi Bank National Association (SoFi Bank, N.A.), may operate as a full-service national bank headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. As part of… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 5:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges against Paul A. Garcia of Severance, Colorado, for allegedly stealing approximately one-quarter of investor funds raised for Gold Hawgs Development Corp. Gold Hawgs reportedly sought to develop a gold hawg token that would be backed… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 11:01 am By JD Alois  |  

Challenger Bank North, a modern spin on SME banking, has kicked off lending with its first “regional pod” in Manchester. Bank North notes that lending is commencing following a debt facility provided by Insight Investment announced in December 2021. Bank North received its banking license last… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 10:37 am By JD Alois  |  

SteelEye, a Regtech firm that aims to simplify compliance for global financial institutions, is reporting that revenues increased by 88% year-on-year in 2021. SteelEye adds that the company now has over 120 institutional clients worldwide, including new clients Oppenheimer Europe Ltd and JonesTrading. Headquartered in… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 9:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Coinhouse, a digital asset service provider (DASP or VASP) regulated in both France and Luxembourg, has raised USD $17 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by True Global Ventures 4 Plus (TGV4 Plus) Fund that invested USD $5.7 million. They… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 8:58 am By JD Alois  |  

Marqeta (NASDAQ:MQ), a leading card-issuing platform for the digital generation, has announced Sunaina “Suni” Lobo as its new Chief Human Resources Officer Lobo previously worked at Cisco, SVB, ANZ Bank, and Navis. In her role, she is expected to lead the “People and Culture function”… Read More

January 17, 2022 @ 9:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was reported earlier, Amazon UK has hit the pause button on an earlier announcement that it would stop accepting Visa for transactions in the UK. Of course, the decision to cease allowing Visa was due to the very high fees associated with using the… Read More

January 17, 2022 @ 4:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coldwell Banker, a global real estate firm, has partnered with Coinweb to tokenize real estate, first in Thailand. Coldwell Banker represents a network of property firms across 3,000 offices in 49 countries and territories. The collaboration is said to expect Coinweb to develop and support… Read More