General News

January 2, 2025 @ 12:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) has distributed an end-of-year update on activity in securities crowdfunding. More specifically, securities sold under Reg CF. According to CCA, a total of $375 million was raised during 2024 – the third year of consecutive decline for this sector of capital… Read More

January 2, 2025 @ 11:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

US credit card defaults have reportedly surged to $46 billion in the first 9 months of 2024, which is said to be the highest since 2010. Credit card defaults are now up more than 50% year-over-year. And defaults of seriously delinquent credit card loan balances… Read More

December 31, 2024 @ 1:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has provided an update regarding information on exempt securities offerings, including Reg D, Reg CF, and Reg A+. The data is as of the end of 2023. Reg CF or… Read More

December 30, 2024 @ 4:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of Justice says victims of the Bernie Madoff fraud have received 93.71% of their fraud losses. Of course, this does not reflect the opportunity cost of missed years when the money could have been put to work. And then there is inflation…. Read More

December 30, 2024 @ 12:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (NYSE: V), a global enabler of digital payments, announced its first Retail Spend Monitor from Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA). This year, Visa’s preliminary insights indicate that the “overall holiday retail spend in the U.S. increased 4.8% year over year.” This is across all forms… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 9:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index continues to recover, with Q4 2024 results back to pre-pandemic levels, driven by more consumers feeling it is a good time to save, and an improvement in attitudes to investing. The Index also showed some significant changes… Read More

December 27, 2024 @ 9:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Lazarus’ key operation – “Operation DreamJob” – continues to evolve with sophisticated tactics (involving malware and malicious activities) that have persisted for over five years, according to Kaspersky‘s Global Research and Analysis Team. The targets reportedly include workers from a nuclear-related organization, who were infected… Read More

December 26, 2024 @ 8:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Preqin, the global firm focused on alternative assets data, tools, and insights, released its Preqin 2025 Global Report: Venture Capital. The research report shows that venture capital assets under management (AUM) reached “$3.1tn by Q1 2024, the latest data available.” Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounted for “$1.6tn,… Read More

December 24, 2024 @ 3:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Six of Latvia’s investment platforms—Lande, Indemo, ViaInvest, Nectaro, Debitum Investments, and TWINO—have joined forces to form an alliance dedicated to advancing transparency, trust, and innovation in the fintech industry. Together, they are focused on setting a new standard for investor confidence and collaboration in Europe’s… Read More

December 24, 2024 @ 3:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Multiverse Computing, a firm focused on value-based quantum and quantum-inspired AI software solutions, announced an investment from the Italian investor in venture capital CDP Venture Capital Sgr, as part of the firm’s Series A round. The investment was carried out via compartments of the Corporate… Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 3:22 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Paused rate cuts and full-blown currency wars await markets and investors in 2025, predicts deVere Group CEO Nigel Green. Investors should prepare for heightened volatility in global markets as much-discussed potential trade wars risk morphing into full-blown currency wars under Donald Trump’s leadership, Green warns…. Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 3:19 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

One trend from 2024 that has vital implications for fintechs is the growing occurrence of ransomware hackers shifting their attention from production systems to backups. According to IDC research, ransomware targets backups to eliminate the possibility of data recovery. That maximizes the attack’s severity. More… Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 3:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bank of Ireland clients reportedly spent more in 2024 on Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend, up a substantial 4.7% on the past year, while spending by Bank of Ireland customers for the month of November 2024 was up as well by a significant 5.6%… Read More

December 21, 2024 @ 6:56 am By Michael Wong  |  

Cybercriminal activity on the dark web surged in 2024, with significant growth in discussions around crypto-drainer malware and advertisements for corporate database breaches, according to Kaspersky’s latest Security Bulletin. The report highlights an evolving cyber threat landscape, with increased interest in malware targeting cryptocurrency wallets… Read More

December 19, 2024 @ 2:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Allvue Systems, LLC, a firm focused on alternative investment solutions, has acquired PFA Solutions LLC, a provider of compensation and carried interest software solutions for firms across private equity, private debt and venture capital. PFA’s product, FirmView, combined with Allvue’s platform, will now aim to… Read More

December 15, 2024 @ 6:18 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

1. Cloud-native Kubernetes will bridge the gap for GenAI workloads: “In many GenAI applications, enterprises will use RAG with proprietary data, which will often be confidential and sensitive. To address concerns around data security, privacy, and integrity, some will deploy GenAI in their local data… Read More

December 15, 2024 @ 6:12 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Current, a consumer fintech banking platform transforming financial access for everyday Americans, announced steady growth in 2024 including an “over 90 percent increase in revenue.” Following this solid year, the company has secured $200 million in new capital to accelerate “growth and fast-track profitability in… Read More

December 15, 2024 @ 9:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Salad Money says that its Salad Technologies, part of the Salad group, has been approved by the UK’s FCA as an official Account Information Services Provider (AISP). The accreditation means Salad can access applicants’ Open Banking data directly rather then through a licensed third party…. Read More

December 15, 2024 @ 9:28 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Should the US Federal Reserve cut rates in December, it’ll be based on market pressure—not sound economic reasoning—and there will be no rate cuts in the first half of 2025, deVere Group CEO Nigel Green believes. His warning comes as the US Consumer Price Index… Read More

December 14, 2024 @ 3:48 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, Independent Community Bankers of America president and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey spoke out against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule on overdraft services. Despite the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s overdraft rule’s exemption for community banks under $10 billion in assets, Rainey said… Read More