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SEC on ICO’s: The Central Thing is Decentralization

In June 14 comments before the “Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: Crypto,” William Hinman, Director of the SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance, stated: ETHER is not a security Decentralization and means of promotion are key to determining whether a token is a security. A digital… Read More

Report: First 5 Months of 2018 Saw 537 ICOs Raise $13.7 Billion

A new collaborative report by PwC Strategy& and the Crypto Valley Association provides an update on the global initial coin offering (ICO) market. According to their numbers, ICOs have grown dramatically during the first 5 months of 2018 with 537 ICOs, successfully raising $13.7 billion. This… Read More

OpenFinance Network Targets $7.7 Trillion Market with Blockchain based Security Token Platform

  OpenFinance Network is scheduled to officially launch tomorrow (June 28th, 2018). The platform is geared to operate as a security token trading platform working in concert with brokerages, custodians, transfer agents, and more. The site claims it will enable investors to buy, sell, manage,… Read More

Neufund CEO Zoe Adamovicz Provides Additional Insight into Blockchain based Equity Token Offering Platform

Last week, Neufund, a blockchain based platform for the issuance of security tokens, announced the very first  companies were preparing to tokenize their equity using their service. These “equity token offerings” or “ETOs”, as referenced by Neufund, were said to be compliant within German securities… Read More

Younited Credit Tops €100 Million in Lending in Italy, Partners with Online Insurer ConTe

Two years after an expansion into Italy, Younited Credit is reporting having topped €100 Million in loans. The online lender says that today 40% of its credit activity is outside its base in France. “Many start-ups are embarking on European and global development ambitions, but international… Read More

a16z Crypto: Andreessen Horowitz Dives into Cryptocurrency with New $300 Million Fund

Katie Haun

Andreessen Horowitz, perhaps the most prominent VC in the world, has gone crypto. In a blog post today, Chris Dixon,  a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, announced the a16z crypto venture fund backed with $300 million of fiat currency. Dixon said the new venture fund will… Read More

Secret Service Official Urges Congress to “Address Emerging Risks” Posed by Cryptocurrencies

Officials from several American law enforcement agencies told the US congress June 20th that they have noted an increased use of cryptocurrencies for crime. The Deputy Assistant Director of the Secret Service’s Office of Investigations, Robert Novy, stressed that enforcement agencies must continue to adapt… Read More

Testimony Provided by SEC Chair Jay Clayton Appears to Indicate Ethereum Not Being a Security is Commission Policy, Not Opinion

Earlier this month, the crypto markets quivered with repressed joy and moved higher when Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Corporate Finance, William Hinman, declared that Ethereum is not a security. ETH advocates breathed a sigh of relief. Hinman stated; “And putting aside the… Read More

Société Générale Acquires Renewable Energy Crowdfunding Platform Lumo

Société Générale, France’s 3rd largest bank and global Nr. 17 announces the acquisition of Lumo, the pioneering crowdfunding platform dedicated to renewable energies Lumo is a French Fintech with strong skills in both crowdfunding and renewable energies which has dedicated itself to accelerating the energy… Read More

Banking on the Brand: What Financial Services Can Learn from Direct-to-Consumer Companies

Warby Parker, Casper, Bonobos, Allbirds, and Glossierare some examples of an ever-growing list of consumer brands that have significantly disrupted the retail industry, largely without appearing in brick-and-mortar stores. These brands have found success using a direct-to-consumer model, meaning that they sell and market directly to consumers via technology… Read More

Exclusive: Rebtel CEO Magnus Larsson Discusses Securing $8M Funding for Digital Banking Expansion

The Swedish communications company Rebtel has secured $8 million in financing from its owner company to further expand its ecosystem of resources for “modern migrants,” adding digital banking services to its existing communication / telephony services and on-demand work offerings. Rebtel clarified via email that “the proceeds… Read More

Crypto-Security: BlockSafe Uses Tech We All Know to Protect Against Crypto Hacks & Scammers

Cryptocurrency and cybersecurity are at a crossroads. We have all read about huge exchange hacks pilfering gazillions of dollars worth or crypto. Of course, there are the wallet hacks too.  As the blockchain / cryptocurrency industry continues to professionalize, defensive measures designed to mitigate security… Read More

Oliver Gajda of the European Crowdfunding Network Updates on EC Fintech Plan, European Regulatory Approach for Crowdfunding

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN) is the leading independent advocate for Fintech innovation, including crowdfunding, in Europe. The ECN has earned a reputation of engaging with a broad group of industry participants, thought leaders and public officials to help guide the evolution of new forms… Read More

StartEngine Hits $5 Million Crowdfunding Goal, Announces $10 Million Initial Coin Offering

StartEngine, a leading investment crowdfunding platform in the US, has just closed its self-crowdfunding round hitting its goal of $5 million backed by 3400+ investors. The Reg A+ offer was first filed in September of 2017 as the platform sought to raise growth capital. In… Read More

Optimism for Digital Assets Shines at Security Token Summit

Security tokens are the future of investments, so it appears. The speculation fueled initial coin offering (ICO) industry is quickly morphing into a legitimate sector of finance as securities on blockchain seem poised to become the norm. At the first Security Token Summit held in… Read More

China: WeiyangX Fintech Review

Tiger Brokers and Nasdaq Reach Strategic Cooperation on US Stock Data Solutions On June 14th, Tiger Brokers and Nasdaq announced a strategic cooperation to jointly provide Chinese Fintech platforms access to the US stock market data. According to the agreement, Tiger Brokers will become the… Read More

SEC Director of CorpFin William Hinman Tells Conference Whether an ICO May Start Life as a Security and Transform Later into Something Else (but Ethereum is not a Security)

thought-catalog unsplash Bitcoin Ethereum Cryptocurrency

Ethereum Not a Security Speaking at the Yahoo Finance conference in San Francisco today, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Corporate Finance William Hinman tackled the topic of morphing initial coin offerings (ICOs) and whether an ICO could start life as a security and… Read More

Flyover Country No More: Silicon Prairie Portal & Exchange Combines Intrastate with JOBS Act Crowdfunding Exemptions, Preps Blockchain based Secondary Market

The JOBS Act of 2012 was create with the recognition of the importance of providing funding to early stage ventures and entrepreneurs. Access to capital can be really hard. This is even more true if you happen to live outside of prominent hotbeds of innovation… Read More

French Enlightenment: Comments Provide Insight into France’s ICO Aspirations

  Just as North America is drawing a line in the sand, drawing a hard line that defines just about all initial coin offerings as securities, France appears to be heading in a different direction. Organized by the Autorités Des Marchés Financiers (AMF), France launched a consultation… Read More

Canadian Securities Administrators Issue Notice on ICOs, Leaves Little Room for Utility Tokens

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) has published a notice addressing the issue of initial coin offerings (ICOs) and whether, or not, these tokens are securities. The document by the CSA leaves little room for utility tokens to actually exist – at least not in the… Read More

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