February 6, 2020 @ 12:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

SEC Commissioner Peirce has proposed new rules regarding digital assets that may not be securities upon issuance. The proposal was revealed at a speech in Chicago today. As we understand it, Peirce’s proposal, Rule 195, will “set a course for compliant blockchain projects to innovate… Read More

February 6, 2020 @ 10:13 am By JD Alois  |  

This week, the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee met at the Commission to discuss access to capital around the country. Multiple presentations were delivered on the state of access to capital including one by the Office of the Advocate for Small Business as… Read More

February 6, 2020 @ 1:37 am By JD Alois  |  

Schroders, Johan H. Andresen through his investment house Ferd, the Fintech Collective, and more have invested in global tech accelerator Antler. Founded in 1804, Schroders is a global investment management company that currently manages £444.4 billion and employs over 5,000 people worldwide in 32 locations… Read More

February 5, 2020 @ 10:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Wall Street Blockchain Alliance (WSBA) has posted a letter addressed to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asking the agency to clarify its stance on crypto and taxation. In the past, the IRS has issued several statements and warnings to holders of cryptocurrency with… Read More

February 5, 2020 @ 3:33 pm By JD Alois  |  

Former advisor to President Trump Jason Greenblatt will be speaking at the OurCrowd Global Summit taking place on  February 13th. Greenblatt is the Former U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East and architect of President Trump’s Peace to Prosperity plan . This will be Greenblatt’s… Read More

February 5, 2020 @ 11:56 am By JD Alois  |  

Digital asset exchange BlockQuake has applied for a New York State BitLicense with the New York State Department of Financial Services, according to a company release. Upon approval, BlockQuake will be able to engage in virtual currency business activity in New York State. BlockQuake also… Read More

February 5, 2020 @ 10:43 am By JD Alois  |  

According to the UK government, Cathryn Ross has been appointed as the first Chair of the new Regulatory Horizon Council, a government-supported committee to make certain UK regulation keeps pace with innovation and enables it to thrive while safeguarding the public. Ross is currently the… Read More

February 5, 2020 @ 9:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Twino and Via SMS, two Latvia based online lending platforms, are joining forces to enter the Asia-Pacific market, according to a release. The two companies are launching a consumer lending platform names Vamo in Vietnam as their first step in the new venture. The two… Read More

February 4, 2020 @ 4:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

Marcus by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), a digital bank serving customers in the US and UK, is expected to play a significant role in the future of the world’s most successful investment bank. During the recent Investor Day, Goldman outlined its vision for both corporate and… Read More

February 4, 2020 @ 11:02 am By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, has published a new report on artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of financial services. CCAF is the leading research entity covering the global ecosystem of Fintech from online capital… Read More

February 4, 2020 @ 8:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Security Tokens and Real Estate. Recently the University of Oxford published a paper on digital assets and real estate. Entitled, “Tokenization: the Future of Real Estate Investment?“, the document believes there is potential in tokenizing the popular asset class but also sees certain challenges. For… Read More

February 4, 2020 @ 7:39 am By JD Alois  |  

Asset management firm Mindful Wealth has re-domiciled in Singapore to benefit from the new “Variable Capital Companies” (VCC) framework. Mindful Wealth currently claims over $600 million in assets under management (AUM). The company originally started in Switzerland providing wealth management and other corporate services. Mindful… Read More

February 4, 2020 @ 7:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Targeting global growth, Bankable, a “Banking as a Service” provider, has formed a partnership with Visa, according to a company release. Bankable said it seeks to provide Visa’s U.S. clients, including corporate customers, access to its real-time and modular banking solutions. Bankable says this will… Read More

February 3, 2020 @ 10:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Federal Bank, a private bank with a branch network of 1,251 branches and about 2000 ATMs, has issued a release that it has opened its first “digital branch” called “Fed-e-Studio .” This digital branch was announced at an event last week at Rajarhat Bhatenda. Dr…. Read More

February 3, 2020 @ 4:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) has published its annual report on Fintech and how it helps the population that is underbanked or not banked at all. The ETA is a trade association representing the payments and transfer sector of Fintech – a sector that is… Read More

February 3, 2020 @ 4:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) publishes a monthly list of “alternative trading systems” or ATSs. An ATS is a marketplace that may trade securities similar to a regulated exchange. To receive approval to operate an ATS, a platform must also become a FINRA regulated… Read More

February 3, 2020 @ 11:32 am By JD Alois  |  

iSTOX, a blockchain-based platform, is now the first digital securities issuance, custody, and trading platform, licensed in Singapore. iSTOX recently “graduated” from the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Fintech Sandbox program and has received regulatory approval to operate and provide digital asset issuance and trading. This… Read More

February 3, 2020 @ 9:52 am By JD Alois  |  

Open Banking means different things for different people – depending on the regulatory jurisdiction where you are standing. First championed by the UK, in brief, Open Banking can mean mandated APIs for financial services firms to facilitate interoperability and choice in a very secure manner…. Read More

February 2, 2020 @ 6:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

On Wednesday, February 5th at 10AM, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Rent-A-Bank Schemes and New Debt Traps: Assessing Efforts to Evade State Consumer Protections and Interest Rate Caps.” The Hearing will most certainly address the emergence of Fintechs, specifically online… Read More

February 2, 2020 @ 4:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

FrontFundr, a Vancouver based Fintech and leading investment crowdfunding platform in Canada, is raising capital while advocating on behalf of a more common-sense approach to online capital formation. Canada is a smaller market that has an active early-stage community and a dedicated professional sector promoting… Read More