February 20, 2025 @ 1:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has created a new Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU). This new entity aims to protect investors from bad actors utilizing technology to commit fraud and replaces the previous Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. CETU will be led by… Read More

February 20, 2025 @ 12:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

In an address to the European Parliament, Olli Rehn, First Vice-Chair of the European Systemic Risk Board and Governor of the Bank of Finland, voiced his concerns regarding policy changes in the US as the Trump Administration takes over the federal bureaucracy, including financial regulators…. Read More

February 20, 2025 @ 9:44 am By JD Alois  |  

DOGE or the Department of Government Efficiency, has been running through the various federal bureaucracies looking for fat to cut and employees to eliminate. While there has been much hand-wringing from opposition Democrats and individuals impacted, the majority of the US is supporting the move… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 8:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) is concerned about the Trump Administration’s policy of keeping its predecessor merger guidelines. In a public statement, the SBE Council said that “arbitrary and muddy guidelines”  pursued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) harm opportunities for early-stage firms… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 6:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

NewsMax, an upstart news group that leans conservative, is seeking to raise money using the Reg A securities exemption. The company reports an audience reaching over 40 million Americans each month through its television broadcasts and multi-platform content, including YouTube. The funding follows a Reg… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 1:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

VC math, or valuations of private firms, has long been more of an art than a science. The friction between investors and firms raising capital is well known. Too low, and money is left on the table. Too high and a future down round, or… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 12:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct  Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have published a statement on the rise and usage of digital wallets. The two regulators note that the use of digital wallets has grown in recent years, with card transactions using a digital wallet… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 11:14 am By JD Alois  |  

B2B payments firm Two and Avarda, a white-label B2C company, will partner on a “fully integrated white-label payment solution tailored for both businesses and consumers in the Nordic e-commerce market.” It was not immediately clear if the two firms were forming a strategic alliance or if they were… Read More

February 19, 2025 @ 10:58 am By JD Alois  |  

Trustfull has announced the launch of Domain Intelligence, a package of services that aims to prevent fraud and enable identity verification all powered by artificial intelligence. Based in Milan, Trustfull was created to support businesses by leveraging OSINT-based fraud prevention solutions. Created in 2020, Trustfull… Read More

February 18, 2025 @ 3:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

Coinshares (CNSRF) reported a net profit for Q4 2024 of £31.9 million. Total assets under management were £5.495 at the end of the quarter. Net profit for the full year ending in December was £104,374,023. Coinshares said that Q4 2024 marks one of its strongest… Read More

February 18, 2025 @ 12:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Crypto Exchange HTX says it has topped 50 million users on its platform. Formerly doing business as Huobi, HTX has approval to operate in several different jurisdictions, according to their website, including: Lithuania: Digital wallet and virtual currency exchange operator Dubai: Initial approval of a… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 5:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

Varo Money, a federally chartered digital bank, is raising growth capital. According to a Form D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Varo is seeking $55 million. As of the date of the filing, Varo has raised almost $29 million with around $26 million… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 4:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The French crowdfunding market experienced a significant decline in 2024, dropping by 17.1% compared to results generated in 2023. In total, €1.7 billion was raised, according to a report published by France Fintech in collaboration with Forvis Mazars. The peak amount of funds raised for… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 11:03 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission has posted a request for candidates interested in serving on the SEC’s Investor Advisory Committee (IAC). The IAC was the creation of the Dodd-Frank Act and aims to support individual investors by providing guidance to the Commission. In the posting,… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 10:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Climate rules, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission, have been put on pause by the new leadership at the SEC. Former Chairman Gary Gensler has been replaced by more business and investor-friendly Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, who has moved quickly to address the shortcomings… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 9:38 am By JD Alois  |  

France Fintech has posted a report on the Fench real estate crowdfunding sector, sharing a significant decline in this sector of online capital formation. According to the research completed in partnership with Forvis Mazars, for the second year in a row real estate crowdfunding has… Read More

February 14, 2025 @ 2:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fraktion is a tokenization and securities crowdfunding enabler that is powered by Tezos.  The France-based company recently announced Seed funding of €1.1 million, backed by Tezos as well as Cabrit Capital, Vox Capital, and other angel investors. Fraktion is focusing on real-world assets, specifically real… Read More

February 14, 2025 @ 1:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

The EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum met this past week in London. The entity aims to pursue regulatory cooperation while preserving financial stability and protecting participants. The event was co-chaired by HM Treasury, and the Director General for Financial Services and the European Commission Director General… Read More

February 14, 2025 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

SyndicateRoom, an online investment platform that was recently acquired, has distributed an email touting a portfolio company that has experienced an 11X increase in valuation. SyndicateRoom offers access to private firms via a portfolio model. The company tracks the most successful professional investors to help… Read More

February 13, 2025 @ 4:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

Price Controls Rarely Work. The Free Market is a Better Option. There have been multiple proclamations from various policymakers regarding the need to cap credit card rates. Unfortunately, forcing credit card issuers to cap interest rates charged to users will accomplish little good while harming… Read More