December 11, 2016 @ 11:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Christian Catalini of MIT is out with a new paper – this time on the future of Bitcoin and Blockchain technology.  Catalini may be best known for his work on crowdfunding but with this publication, Catalini has partnered with Joshua Gans of the University of… Read More

December 10, 2016 @ 3:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

HelloGold recently launched in Malaysia, is the first online gold platform to be endorsed as Shariah compliant by the Shariah Supervisory Board of Amanie Advisors. The approval is predicted to give the company access to millions of Muslim customers around the region. The gold savings… Read More

December 10, 2016 @ 2:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

Moody’s is out with a note commenting on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s recent announcement it will offer Special Purpose Bank Charters for Fintech firms.  The move by the OCC was in recognition of the growing importance of Fintech and the movement… Read More

December 9, 2016 @ 12:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

Gillian Roche-Saunders, a partner at the law firm of  Bates, Wells & Braithwaite in London, works with many of the largest UK alternative finance platforms in operation. She has been highly engaged with the FCA and crowdfunding / P2P platforms regarding compliance and regulatory approval. Crowdfund… Read More

December 9, 2016 @ 10:37 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published an interim report on crowdfunding regulation today. The report was widely anticipated by both the investment based and debt based crowdfunding sector. This is the second interim statement since initial rules were published in 2014. The regulatory approach by… Read More

December 9, 2016 @ 10:13 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released their much anticipated interim report on debt and equity crowdfunding. The document addresses both peer to peer lending and investment crowdfunding platforms and the current state of operations as the new approach to capital formation evolves. Andrew Bailey,… Read More

December 8, 2016 @ 10:48 am By JD Alois  |  

European Parliament is looking to adjust the prospectus requirement for small companies raising capital. This policy shift can directly impact the amount an issuer can raise using investment crowdfunding – across Europe. Members of European Parliament have increased the lower exemption threshold, under which no… Read More

December 8, 2016 @ 9:30 am By JD Alois  |  

LendingHome, has exceeded $1 billion in mortgage loans.  The online lending platform launched two and a half years ago and has claimed the title as fast growing mortgage marketplace lender. It was only last month that Crowdfund Insider reported that LendingHome had originated $750 million… Read More

December 7, 2016 @ 9:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Manhattan Street Capital has entered the Reg A+ crowdfunding space with its first offer for Blue Marble Biomaterials. The platforms is accepting investor indications of interest now. Manhattan Street Capital has positioned its platform as a Reg A+ specialist. This updated securities exemption was created… Read More

December 7, 2016 @ 9:17 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has signed a new collaboration agreement. This time the FCA has formed a co-operation agreement with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).  The arrangement is for the two securities regulators to collaborate on promoting financial innovation and is similar… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 7:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

Peer to peer lender Folk2Folk has received full approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  While many prominent peer to peer lenders are operating under interim approval, Folk2Folk points out it is the lagest P2P lender to receive full authorization to date. Folk2Folk has lent… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 5:24 pm By JD Alois  |  

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced the departure of Keith Higgins, the Director of SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. Higgins, having joined the SEC in June of 2013, will depart in early January. Higgins has been deeply engaged with Dodd-Frank rulemaking, the FAST… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 11:38 am By JD Alois  |  

Orchard Platform has inked a partnership to provide Sandler O’Neill with access, data, analytics and insight to the global online lending industry. Sandler O’Neill is an investment banking firm and broker-dealer that targets the financial services sector.  Orchard is the nexus of institutional money flowing… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 10:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Last weekend, Crowdfund Insider reported that Zopa was curtailing retail investor participation in peer to peer loans. We have now received a copy of the email that was sent out to Zopa investors explaining that current volumes of money transfers, combined with seasonally lower demand… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 9:14 am By JD Alois  |  

Research indicates that Britons are in the dark about the funding options available. According to new research by Crowdfinders, UK entrepreneurs turn to their personal savings, friends/families and banks first.  This is despite the fact that many (64%) believe that its a dead end. Crowdfinders… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 7:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Global equity crowdfunding platform OurCrowd is planning to hold the worlds largest equity crowdfunding event this coming February in Jerusalem.  The gathering is also being described as the biggest investor event ever in the Startup Nation. OurCrowd will showcase the evolving the face of investing… Read More

December 6, 2016 @ 6:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Veeqo, a UK based software company, has announced a £1 million Series A crowdfunding round. Veeqo is a company that helps online retailers increase their profit by selling on multiple channels and by managing their inventory, orders and shipping across a single, cloud-based platform. Veeqo has… Read More

December 5, 2016 @ 7:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

Chief Deputy Whip, Patrick McHenry, who is also Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, welcomed the passage of HR 6427 today or the Creating Financial Prosperity for Businesses & Investors Act.  The last minute legislative push by the House saw a bundling of six… Read More

December 5, 2016 @ 7:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Entrepreneurs and small business may have something for them under the Christmas tree this year courtesy of Congress.  The House of Representatives passed HR 6427 today as legislators scrambled to get a few things done before they disperse for the coming Holiday.  While there is… Read More

December 5, 2016 @ 2:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

Utilization of the updated securities exemption colloquially called Reg A+ continues to gain traction. A form of crowdfunding that has been described as a Mini-IPO type offering due to the scaled disclosure, reduced cost and the option to immediately trade shares, Reg A+ is an… Read More