Featured Headlines

March 29, 2018 @ 6:05 pm By Georgia Quinn  |  

This past week, I had the chance to attend a Fintech focused event put on by the Consulate of France in Manhattan and, honestly, I came away very impressed. For too many years, France did not have much of a reputation in the startup world…. Read More

March 29, 2018 @ 2:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Advocacy, is out with a report reviewing the status of small business crowdfunding. According to the SBA, equity crowdfunding was particularly popular among very young firms. Nearly a third of firms were six months or younger when… Read More

March 28, 2018 @ 4:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Aperture is a new platform that is focusing on the real estate marketplace putting a new spin on property crowdfunding. While not the first blockchain based real estate startup, Property Coin (PCX) is in the midst of a security token offering that is claiming first… Read More

March 27, 2018 @ 4:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

Some large countries are blocking initial coin offering, some are observing and others are creating rules by enforcement action, France wants to become “the first major financial center to propose an ad hoc legislative frame work that will allow companies initiating an ICO to demonstrate their seriousness to potential… Read More

March 26, 2018 @ 2:33 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Investment in the cryptocurrency industry is currently dominated by the use of Simple Agreements for Future Tokens (SAFTs). While SAFTs were a somewhat novel approach when they were introduced, now that cryptocurrency assets have become almost universally deemed “securities” by the SEC, the use of… Read More

March 25, 2018 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

There is an ongoing debate in Canada regarding the regulatory approach to financial services. As it stands today, thirteen different financial regulators hold sway when it comes to securities compliance instead of a single national regulator. To the casual observer this makes absolutely no sense… Read More

March 24, 2018 @ 2:40 pm By Xu Gao  |  

China is Setting Up a National Online Contract Filing Platform On March 21st, the National Committee of experts on Internet Financial Security Technology (hereinafter referred to as the “Special Committee”) announced that it has jointly set up the national online contract filing platform with SIC… Read More

March 23, 2018 @ 4:55 pm By Raphael Andrade  |  

Late last year, the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários or CVM) spoke about initial coin offerings (ICOs). At that time, the CVM published a frequently asked questions-like notice (see here). The FAQ lays down some introductory aspects on the subject, conceptually… Read More

March 22, 2018 @ 12:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has published a deck on initial coin offerings. FINMA has scheduled a series of roundtable meetings in collaboration with the Swiss Crypto Valley Association. The first Roundtable took place last week in Zug, Switzerland. In February, FINMA issued a… Read More

March 22, 2018 @ 10:41 am By JD Alois  |  

HM Treasury Publishes Fintech Strategy In a widely anticipated speech today during the midst of UK Fintech Week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond told the audience Britain is the global capital of Fintech and he will do everything he can to maintain this title…. Read More

March 21, 2018 @ 11:03 am By AdaPia d'Errico  |  

From supplier credit to inventory management, Eximchain is developing a Blockchain that combines privacy, accessibility, and security to support enterprise-ready applications. Eximchain looks to leverage the power of Blockchain, so stakeholders within a supply chain can connect, transact, and share information more efficiently and securely…. Read More

March 20, 2018 @ 8:19 am By JD Alois  |  

The Israel Securities Authority (ISA) has published their interim report on cryptocurrencies. The document was present to Chairman of the ISA, Anat Gueta, yesterday. The document is a product of an inter-departmental Committee that was established last August to research cryptocurrencies. The report includes a… Read More

March 19, 2018 @ 7:00 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Commission recently revealed its plan to support Fintech Innovation across Europe – a vital aspect of the EU economy. Included within the plan, was a statement and outline of improving the environment for pan-European crowdfunding. In many ways, investment crowdfunding is core to the… Read More

March 17, 2018 @ 5:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

While several countries have sought to stomp out crypto-innovation, and others have tried to accomplish rule making by enforcement action, France appears to be ready to embrace the cryptocurrency revolution. According to a report in Les Echos, the most prominent business publication in France, legislators… Read More

March 17, 2018 @ 12:48 pm By Xu Gao  |  

China to Combine CBRC and CIRC According to a State Council reform plan that was presented for deliberation during the National People’s Congress on March 13, China will abolish China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) & the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC). Instead, it will establish… Read More

March 16, 2018 @ 8:55 am By David Felsenthal and Jesse Overall  |  

The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly sent a wave of subpoenas and information requests to companies engaged in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). The SEC scrutiny is perhaps not surprising, given that, as Crowdfund Insider writes, “if you invest in an ICO, the play… Read More

March 15, 2018 @ 4:00 pm By John Auckland  |  

HMRC’s new stricter guidelines around their Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme / Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS / EIS) may worry some crowdfunding campaigners, but there is a silver lining. SEIS and EIS, both startup investment tax relief schemes, protect up to 80% of your investment into… Read More

March 15, 2018 @ 8:59 am By JD Alois  |  

Following in the footsteps of the European Commission’s Fintech Roadmap, the European Banking Authority (EBA) has released its opinion as to how to best foster and promote Fintech adoption. The EBA’s Fintech Roadmap is the result of a recent consultation as to how the Authority… Read More

March 14, 2018 @ 5:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Today, during a hearing by the House Financial Services Committee, subcommittee on Capital Markets, Securities, and Investment, representatives queried industry participants on the topic of “Examing the Cryptocurrencies and ICO Markets.” Crypto is a hot item of discussion on Capitol Hill. Both regulators and elected officials… Read More

March 13, 2018 @ 2:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) is the leading research authority on global innovations in finance. Over the past several years, CCAF has produced benchmark reports tracking the growth and evolution of all forms of Fintech around the world. These reports have become valued… Read More