General News

Does Blockchain Undermine or Enhance GDPR? European Parliament Report Explains

For some people, Blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT) holds almost mystical potential to revolutionize everything. While there is more than a bit of hyperbole associated with blockchain, it is a fact that many corporates are incorporating DLT within their operations to streamline and remove… Read More

Fund Manager: Looming Crises in Asia Pushing Capital into Bitcoin and Gold, “But Real Rates of Return Will Come Down”

Kyle Bass, a fund manager who predicted the 2008 economic crisis says the troubles in Hong Kong, US-China trade tensions and Chinese debt are probably incentivizing capital flight into Bitcoin, gold, and other currencies as investors and citizens seek refuge from a depreciating yuan. “If… Read More

Report States that Reg CF Has Topped $250 Million in Commitments but Falls Short of Potential

Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) has topped $250 million in investment commitments. This number includes both successful and unsuccessful offerings so the amount actually invested would be somewhat lower. This report is courtesy of Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA), a consultancy and data provider that has long… Read More

SEC Chair Jay Clayton Schedules Meet Up for Main Street Investors in Chicago on the 15th

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton has booked an event for “Main Street investors” to be held in Chicago on Thursday, August 15. The event will come a day after the SEC’s annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation taking place in Omaha…. Read More

Oh Canada: First 6 Months Saw Canadian Fintech Firms Raise Nearly Double Year Prior, Cannabis and AI Investment Cools

In Canada, venture funding for early-stage firms cooled during the first six months of the year. Total amount raised by Canadian firms dipped by 13% in comparison to the same period year prior. The total number of deals declined from 280 in 2018 to 240… Read More

In First 18 Months, Equity Crowdfunding Tops $30 Million in Australia

In 2018, investment crowdfunding rules were improved after years of debate and discussion between industry leaders and politicians. Frequently referred to as  “crowd-sourced funding” in Australia, in brief, the rules now allow for an issuer to raise up to $5 million in an online offering… Read More

GoFundMe Campaign Started to Defend Peter Todd Sexual Assault Accuser

A trans cryptographer named Isis Agora Lovecruft has started a GoFundMe campaign to defend themself in a defamation lawsuit brought by prominent Bitcoin core developer Peter Todd. Todd levelled the suit against Lovecruft in April after Lovecruft called him a “rapist” in a tweet. Lovecruft’s… Read More

Justin Sun Attended TRON Influencer Party Same Day as Postponed Lunch with Warren Buffet

Have coin, must influence. Justin Sun, founder of the TRON cryptocurrency network, canceled his much advertised Thursday charity lunch with Warren Buffet last week, but then made an appearance that same evening at a party held for TRON YouTube influencers in San Francisco, according to CoinDesk…. Read More

Singapore Robo-Advisor StashAway Raises $12 Million Through Series B Funding Round

StashAway, a company that claims to be the first robo-adviser to receive a retail license in Singapore, announced on Monday it raised $12 million through its Series B funding round. Investors of the round include  Eight Roads and Asia Capital & Advisors! Eight Roads, the… Read More

Irish Silk Road Administrator Sentenced to Six Years

An Irish citizen accused in the United States of conspiring to distribute narcotics while working for the Dark Net illicit marketplace Silk Road has been sentenced to six years’ (78 months) imprisonment in the State of New York as well as 3 years’ of supervised… Read More

The Blockchain Association Leads Innovation Advocacy Charge in Washington, DC

There is a lot of debate regarding the efficacy of distributed ledger technology (DLT)/Blockchain and how it will impact financial services as well as other industries. Regardless of your point of view, it is clear that blockchain has compelled established financial firms to up their… Read More

Report: In the UK, Only VCs/PE Back more Early Stage Firms than Investment Crowdfunding

The United Kingdom is host to the most robust securities crowdfunding market in the world. Issuers may raise as much money as they want online. Mostly, all types of investors may participate. There is a prospectus requirement kicks in at €8 million creating a significant… Read More

Innovation Nations: Global Innovation Index Ranking Places Switzerland in Top Spot

Switzerland is the world’s most-innovative country, according to an annual report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Switzerland was ranked in the top spot year prior as well in the 2019 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII). Following in 2nd and 3rd… Read More

Another Fake “FCA-Endorsed” Crypto Scam Email Circulating Now, Contains Possible Trojan Link

Solomon’s Independent Financial Advisers founder, Dominic Thomas, has told FT Adviser that he received a fake “FCA-endorsed” crypto scam email five times over the weekend before finally going on Twitter to warn the regulator. The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) oversees UK capital markets, and has been… Read More

Blockchain Startup Pitch Contest Announced for Crypto Invest Summit

Goren Holm Ventures (GHV), a member of the Draper Venture Network, will be hosting a pitch contest for its biggest event this year, Crypto Invest Summit (CIS) taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. GHV states that with the help of at least 40+… Read More

Fintech Betterment Becomes More Like a Bank, Adds FDIC Insured Checking & Savings

Fintech Betterment is pushing further into the traditional banking realm. The digital-only platform is will soon offer “Betterment Everyday” which includes an FDIC-insured checking and savings product that will have no account fees, overdraft fees, minimum balances or monthly maintenance fees. The checking service will… Read More

H1 2019 Report: Cryptocurrencies and IEOs Up, ICOs and Venture Funding for Blockchain Down

InWara, a firm specializing in the analysis of cryptocurrency/token offerings and “blockchain” startups has issued its “Half-Yearly report — H1 2019: Deciphering Token Offerings-IEOs, STOs and ICOs.” The firm is seeing interest in new types of tokens (IEOs and STOs) but significant drops for ICOs (many projects… Read More

Report: Blockchain Related Jobs Continue to Surge, 2019 on Track to Easily Top Year Prior

Blockchain-related jobs continue to surge, according to a report from teQatlas. Over the past five years the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at 139%. During 2018, blockchain jobs more than doubled versus 2017 with 2019 easily on track to top year prior. Software engineers… Read More

UK Women in Finance Charter Now Has Over 350 Signatories

The Women in Finance Charter now has over 350 names on its list of supporters, according to a note from HM Treasury, as 21 new names were announced. A good number of signatories are Fintech firms. The Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter seeks support from… Read More

US Senate Banking Committee Schedules Hearing on Cannabis and Banking

The US Senate Banking Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the emerging legal cannabis industry and the challenges with banking. In the US, legalization of Cannabis, whether it is for medical or recreational use, has been a slapdash state by state affair. Federal legalization… Read More

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