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Invesdor, Kapilendo Merge Websites to Become Single Platform

Invesdor, a top European securities crowdfunding platform based in Finland, merged with Germany-based Kapilendo in 2021. Today, Invesdor has announced the two platforms are combining to create a single website to “make cross-border investing easy and affordable.” In 2019, Invesdor merged operations with debt-based platform… Read More

ECB President Christine Lagarde Says Final Decision on Digital Euro in 2024

In a speech delivered to the European Parliament, Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), stated that a decision on a digital Euro will be made by 2024. The ECB decided to launch the investigation phase of the digital euro project in… Read More

Companies House Filing Indicates Zopa Limited Has New Significant Shareholder

Zopa Limited has filed several new documents on Companies House with one indicating a new person with significant control. According to the document, Plata Holdings UK Limited now holds 75% or more of the shares in the company including voting rights. The document was filed… Read More

BlockFi Settles with the SEC, Pays $100 Million in Penalties

BlockFi, a top crypto platform that provides crypto lending services, has settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission following an investigation into the company’s activities. The settlement was leaked last week and BlockFi will be paying a total $100 million penalties. There were no allegations… Read More

Netcapital Provides Update on 2021 Performance

Netcapital is a private securities market that allows firms to raise capital under the various exemptions available including Reg CF. A FINRA regulated funding portal, Netcapital also works with Livingston, a broker-dealer, to raise money under Reg D 506. Netcapital caters to both non-accredited and… Read More

Crowdcube Touts Returns on Investments Made on its Platform

Crowdcube, a leading European investment platform, is promoting the overall returns generated by investors. The crowdfunding platform recently tweeted out a link to a page that outlines some of the issuers that have created positive returns for its investors. According to Crowdcube, “over 50,000 investors… Read More

House Hearing Addresses Stablecoins and Regulation, Consensus May Emerge on Legislation

Earlier this week, the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on stablecoins or digital assets tied to fiat currency. The Hearing was driven by the recent report by the President’s Working Group (PWG) on Financial Markets. While stablecoins are not (yet) systemically worrisome,… Read More

French Alternative Investment Firm Anaxago Group Acquires VC Firm CapHorn Invest

CapHorn Invest, a venture capital firm, has joined the Anaxago Group to create a leading player in alternative investment in France. The monetary terms of the deal were not disclosed. Anaxago is a multifaceted online investment platform that offers securities crowdfunding for early-stage firms, real… Read More

Apple Takes Payments Another Step Turning iPhones Into Payment Terminals with “Tap to Pay”

  Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), the largest public company in the world and creator of the ubiquitous iPhone, says that later this year it will begin allowing merchant payments directly on the iPhone. This will position Apple as a competitor with other merchant payment providers while potentially… Read More

SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee Releases Agenda for Next Meeting, Definition of an Accredited Investor is Main Topic

The SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will hold a meeting later this week (February 10) where it will address an important topic when it comes to access to capital for early-stage firms. Following an update from the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation,… Read More

WiSEED Filling French Investment Void With Equity Crowdfunding

For only €100, participants on French crowdfunding site WiSEED can pursue attractive returns while also improving the world they live in. The platform prides itself on improving financial literacy, providing a transparent look into how it selects opportunities, and its commitment  to providing alternative financing… Read More

US Department of Treasury Reports on Money Laundering in the Art Market, NFTs May Present New Risk

Yesterday, the US Department of Treasury issued a statement on illicit activity in the “high-value art market.” More specifically, activities that include money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The study found that while there is some evidence of money laundering risk in the high-value art… Read More

New ESMA Guidelines on European Crowdfunding Could Have Cooling Effect on Sector

Earlier this week, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published an updated Q&A on the pan-European crowdfunding rules. Updated rules, called European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR), became actionable last November but questions remain and European member states are still sorting things out. To help… Read More

Masterworks Has Upended the Art World Empowering Anyone to Invest in Fine Art

painting

Masterworks has been in operation for a couple of years now (2019) but when the art-oriented investment crowdfunding platform raised a whopping $110 million at over a billion-dollar valuation, the world of online capital formation took notice. The Series A was led by Left Lane… Read More

Upgrade Launches Shopping Feature, CEO Renaud Laplanche Shares Thoughts on Neobanks

  Upgrade, Inc., a Fintech platform that combines mobile banking, credit, payments, and more in a “Super App,” has added a new feature: Shopping. In a company statement, Upgrade announced the launch of Upgrade Shopping, a service that offers cashback rewards at more than 20,000… Read More

Non-Fungible Tokens: Buyer Beware!

Non-fungible tokens (NFT) are currently the belle of the blockchain ball. The revenue related to sales of NFT’s are staggering: $69 Million for Beeple while NBA’s Top Shot swished over $700M in sales in less than a year. Open Sea, the largest NFT exchange, has a… Read More

Digital Asset Supporter Senator Cynthia Lummis Warns About Pending Legislation that May Harm Crypto Ecosystem

Calling Democrat authored legislation a “direct attack on the digital asset industry, Senator Cynthia Lummis is warning industry participants and proponents alike that the America Competes Act (HR 4521) may decimate the crypto sector. In a series of tweets, Senator Lummis, well-known for her advocacy… Read More

Luxembourg Stock Exchange Lists Security Tokens Issued by Societe Generale

  Societe Generale, the 3rd largest global bank based in France, has listed security tokens on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE). These are the first securities admitted to the exchange that utilizes blockchain or a public Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). Since April 2019, Societe Generale… Read More

Digital Bank N26 Shares Lessons Learned, Future Plans Including Crypto

As the company enters its tenth year in operation, digital bank N26 has grown and adjusted with, the times. The company was founded in 2013 by Valentin Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal and launched their first products in 2015. In 2016 they secured a full European… Read More

SEC Approves BSTX to Operate First Securities Exchange Utilizing Blockchain Technology

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved BSTX as a national securities exchange thus ushering in an era of a regulated exchange utilizing blockchain technology. The complete SEC filing is available below. BSTX is a joint venture between BOX Digital Markets, LLC and tZERO. … Read More

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