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2021: The Year of the Smart Contract – Can the Law Keep Up?

  While recent headlines may be focused on the meteoric rise of Bitcoin, another disruptive technology derived from the famed cryptocurrency may have even more profound implications for the future: blockchain-based “smart contracts.” A wide variety of companies are already experimenting with the ability of… Read More

Goldman Sachs Tops Earnings Expectations, Marcus Banking Net Revenues Significantly Higher – Deposits End Year at $97 Billion [u]

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has released Q4 earnings topping expectations with top-line revenue ahead of anticipated results. Shares in Goldman rose slightly in pre-market trading. Goldman has traded significantly higher since the beginning of 2021. Earnings per share for Q4 came in at $12.08 with full-year… Read More

Former CFTC Chair Gary Gensler Selected to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Lauded for Being Fintech Friendly

Gary Gensler, the former Commodities Futures Trading Commissioner Chair, has been selected by President-elect Joe Biden to helm the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Gensler previously led the CFTC during the Obama administration. Prior to the CFTC, Gensler spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs. He is… Read More

UK FCA Report Looks to Mitigate Investment Harm, Includes P2P, Crypto and Crowdfunding on List of High Risk Investments

Following a call for input on the consumer investment market that closed to comments last month, the UK Financial Conduct Authority has issued a report on how the regulator “works to protect consumers from investment harm” citing activity during the first 10 months of 2020…. Read More

China: WeiyangX Fintech Review

The Peoples Bank of China Issues the “Administrative Measures for Credit Investigation (Draft for Comment)” On January 11th, the People’s Bank of China (PBC) issued the “Administrative Measures for Credit Investigation (Draft for Comment)” (hereinafter referred to as “Measures”). The seven-chapters of the document covered… Read More

Uma Rajah: CEO at CapitalRise, a UK based Prime Property Lending Platform, Reveals how Company Is Scaling its Business Model

We recently caught up with Uma Rajah, CEO and Co-founder at CapitalRise, a UK-based prime property lending platform. CapitalRise is an investment platform that seeks quality over quantity with just 2% of deals being approved by the platform. Sophisticated or high net worth investors may… Read More

OCC Approves Anchorage Trust Company to Become Anchorage Digital Bank

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved Anchorage Trust Company, a South Dakota chartered trust company, to become Anchorage Digital Bank, National Association. Founded in 2017, Anchorage has emerged as a top digital asset platform serving institutions investing in the crypto… Read More

OurCrowd Has Stellar 2020, Expects Solid 2021: A Discussion with OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved

OurCrowd is a leading venture marketplace where smaller (accredited) investors can participate in private securities offerings alongside really big investors. A recent example is where JumpCloud, an enterprise cloud service provider, raised $100 million in a Series E Round. OurCrowd’s name was alongside high profile… Read More

Crowdcube Co-Founder Luke Lang Predicts Big 2021

For Crowdcube, the UK’s largest crowdfunding platform by total raised, 2020 has been a stellar year in terms of funding rounds. The 3rd quarter of the year was described as “remarkable” and the platform generated £2.67 million in revenue – reportedly Crowdcube’s best ever. The… Read More

Digital Bank Revolut Pursues UK Banking License Anticipates Half of its Clients to Deposit Salaries and Use it As Primary Account

Prominent digital bank Revolut is expecting half of its clients to deposit their salaries and switch over to Revolut as their main bank account provider, after the Fintech challenger has acquired a banking license. Revolut issued a statement earlier today stating it has submitted its… Read More

How the Regulatory Framework for Crowdfunding Platforms in Southeast Asia will Benefit SMEs and Investors

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending has come a long way since its early days as a casual crowdfunding platform. Today, individual borrowers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can access loans without the hassle of going through banks and lengthy financial assessments. Still, P2P lending is a… Read More

Digital Banking Platform Revolut Confirms it has Temporary Permit from FCA to Offer Cryptocurrency Services, Issues Update About Ripple’s XRP

UK-based digital bank Revolut notes that in 2020, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had introduced a requirement for all cryptocurrency-related companies or businesses (in the UK) to register with the regulator to confirm that they’re adhering to the country’s money laundering regulations. Revolut’s management pointed… Read More

Real Estate Crowdfunding vs. Stocks: Risks and Returns

With plenty of options out there, choosing which investment opportunity is right for you is a potential minefield. You can look into the traditional market investments such as stocks and mutual funds, but there is also the burgeoning real estate crowdfunding market to consider. This… Read More

UK Fintech Review Expected to be Released Next Month, Seeks to Boost Fintech Sector Post Brexit

In March of 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the UK budget. Included in the presentation was the announcement of a Fintech sector review – a study to be led by Ron Kalifa OBE, who was previously CEO Worldpay and current Chair… Read More

SoFi to Go Public in $8.65 Billion SPAC Deal with Chamath Palihapitiya’s Social Capital

Chamath Palihapitiya, CEO of Social Capital (NASDAQ:IPOE), has announced that SoFi will go public via a SPAC deal that is worth $8.65 billion via CNBC According to a Tweet by Palihapitiya, his thesis is based on the challenges of incumbent banks and the benefits of Fintech… Read More

$239 Million was Raised using Reg CF During 2020, this Amount Could Double in 2021

The year of COVID-19 was a difficult time for all. 2020 saw government-mandated lockdowns, a shift to virtual offices, and a health crisis that has not been experienced in many decades. While all industries had to adapt, some thrived – typically tech-centric firms that have… Read More

Top Crypto and Blockchain Predictions for 2021 and Beyond – Part 1

Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrency platforms such as Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Binance Coin (BNB), Chainlink (LINK), and Polkadot (DOT) are being increasingly adopted by a diverse group of users across the globe. Many more institutions and fairly large publicly listed companies… Read More

2021 Should See Some Big Fintech IPOs

2020 was a pretty good year for initial public offerings (IPOs). According to a tally put together by Renaissance Capital, 216 IPOs booked $78.1 billion during the year of COVID-19. Additionally, IPOs gained, on average, a whopping 75% – said to be the biggest post… Read More

The Top Ten Fintech Predictions for 2021

Fintech enthusiasts welcome back to my 5th annual “Top Ten” Fintech prediction series. This year I’ve met a lot of powerful movers and shakers in the Fintech space. My take away from these meetings and interactions is how little do I know about this ever-expanding… Read More

Happy New Year! LendingClub’s Acquisition of Radius Bank Approved by the OCC

LendingClub (NYSE:LC) will start 2021 on a high note it seems. The online lender and aspiring digital bank has had its acquisition of Radius Bank approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), according to many reports. Additionally, the decision letter was… Read More

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