April 18, 2019 @ 8:27 am By JD Alois  |  

Alongside their 2019 Business Plan, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published their research agenda for 2019. The FCA states that research plays a fundamental role in their mission of evidence-based policy and staying ahead of trends in financial services. The regulator says their research… Read More

April 18, 2019 @ 8:13 am By JD Alois  |  

Imandra, an artificial intelligence (AI) firm that analyses algorithms, has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Live Oak Venture Partners, IQ Capital, and AlbionVC. In 2015, Imandra won the UBS Future of Finance Challenge by using its AI technology to find a fundamental… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 10:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

It is not just disruptive startups that are looking to create value in the digital asset sector. More traditional firms are taking the plunge, dedicating capital and investing in the future of finance. In the secondary market and primary issuance sector, there are numerous young… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 5:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bitbond announced the first BaFin approved security token in February. The digital asset, BB1, is a debt based offering with a targeted return of 8% per annum which includes a 4% coupon and a participation percentage (60%) baked into the crypto. BBI was issued with… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 3:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Announced last fall with much fanfare, Harbor’s security token offering for a real estate project in South Carolina has collapsed. According to a report in Crain’s, Harbor spokesperson Kevin Young has publicly stated “the Hub at Columbia REIT has been canceled.” The Hub referenced a… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

AlphaPoint, a blockchain company focused on enabling asset tokenization and trading in a compliant manner, has partnered with Elevated Returns to launch a “secondary market for $1 billion USD tokenized real estate shares.” The exchange will focus on the Southeast Asian property markets. Elevated Returns… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 11:07 am By JD Alois  |  

ReitBZ, part of BTG Pactual, has announced that it has hit its USD $3 million “soft cap” goal. ReitBZ has set a hard cap of USD $15 million. ReitBZ is a security token offering based on real estate assets. More specifically, distressed real estate assets… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 10:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Max Levchin, CEO and founder of Fintech Affirm and PayPal co-founder, has joined with PayPal’s founding COO David Sacks, via his Craft Ventures VC fund, to invest in Returnly. The high profile investors jumped aboard a $19 million Series B round. As part of the… Read More

April 17, 2019 @ 7:33 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its annual business plan. While the immediate focus must be Brexit and the ramifications of the European separation, Fintech, once again, is part of the regulator’s priorities. The FCA states that: ” [we seek to] build on our… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 11:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), via MUFG Innovation Partners (MUIP), has invested in Chainalysis – a provider of cryptocurrency compliance solutions. MUIP invested $6 million into Chainanalysis as part of a $36 million Series B funding round. The Series B was announced in February. Mitsubishi… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 10:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Since Australia fixed a glaring shortcoming in the country’s “crowd-sourced funding” regulations, equity crowdfunding has gained a new spring in its step. Under current Aussie rules, an issuer may raise up to $5 million in an online securities offering. Retail investors are capped at $10,000… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 4:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

While there have only been a few publicly announced recission requirements for initial coin offerings (ICOs) that have since been deemed unregistered securities, there are apparently quite a few more that have been giving money back under the radar. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle W. Bowman delivered a speech at the “Fed Family” luncheon at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The topic of her presentation was “Community Banking in the Age of Innovation.” Bowman joined as a member of the Board… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 1:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have scheduled their 2019 National Compliance Outreach Program for Broker-Dealers. The event, taking place in Chicago, is designed to provide an open forum for regulators and industry professionals to discuss topics such as… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 10:57 am By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) has published its 4th annual European Alternative Finance report. The publication, entitled “Shifting Paradigms” – completed in partnership with the University of Agder in Norway, tracks the growth of alternative finance across Europe including the UK. According to… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 8:44 am By JD Alois  |  

Welendus (PTP Funding Limited), a peer to peer lending platform, has received an investment from the Unicorn Ascension Fund (UAF) for an undisclosed amount. The investment was said to be used for future expansion into India. Other early-stage investors in the company include Pontaq, a… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 8:10 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Centre for Alternative Finance (ECAF) based at Utrecht University School of Economics, has announced the 3rd European Alternative Finance Research Conference scheduled to take place in October in the Netherlands. ECAF said this year’s keynote speaker is Armin Schwienbacher (SKEMA Business School), an… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 8:01 am By JD Alois  |  

Commerzbank has partnered with Fintech Raisin to provide the first deposit portal for corporate clients in Germany. Raisin, in a release, said that their service has gained in popularity with consumers and now corporate clients are jumping in. Commerzbank is Germany’s largest bank in the… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 7:51 am By JD Alois  |  

Peer-to-peer property lender CrowdProperty has closed their £1.1 million equity crowdfunding round on Seedrs easily topping their £600,000 goal. CrowdProperty raised capital at a pre-money valuation of £15.7 million. Approximately 575 investors supported the round. The news of their successful equity offering was joined by… Read More

April 16, 2019 @ 7:36 am By JD Alois  |  

Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX), a crypto focused regulated exchange, has selected Kurt Looyens as its Chief Executive Officer, according to a release. Looyens was previously Country Executive for ABN AMRO Bank Spain. Looyens has been with GBX since July 2018 when he joined GBX as… Read More