Global

September 12, 2019 @ 1:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Spanish multinational commercial bank Santander has reportedly become the first financial institution to handle all aspects of a bond issuance process on a blockchain-based platform. The world’s ninth-largest financial services company used an ERC-20 compliant token to represent $20 million in issued debt, and settled… Read More

September 12, 2019 @ 12:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

Arival Bank, a digital-only challenger bank, has closed its crowdfunded bridge round (preferred equity) on SeedInvest-Crowdcube. Arival is the creation of a VC firm based in Singapore that claims 20 investments & multiple exits. The securities offering was a cross-Atlantic crowdfunding offering via the two… Read More

September 12, 2019 @ 11:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

France’s government is reportedly planning to block the ongoing development of Facebook’s controversial stablecoin project, Libra.  French authorities said the launch of the crypto-related Libra initiative must not be permitted in Europe because it challenges the “monetary sovereignty” of states, according to CNBC. The report… Read More

September 12, 2019 @ 7:30 am By JD Alois  |  

Innovate Finance, an advocacy association for the development and support of the UK Fintech industry, has published a report on Brexit and the impact it may have on UK based Fintechs. According to the report, 55% of Fintechs feel well prepared for Brexit but that… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 11:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Digital challenger bank Zenus Bank wants to be one of the first banks in the United States to service a global clientele. The San Juan based operation is said to be nearing launch, currently scheduled for Q4 of 2019, and in advance of this event,… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 10:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

As was reported earlier this week, Revolut has decided to pass on its application for an e-Money license in Luxembourg. The decision was ostensibly made because Revolut has already received a passportable license in Lithuania and it is in the process of pursuing regulatory approval… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 12:16 pm By JD Alois  |  

Following the announcement by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has issued guidelines on the treatment of stablecoins under Swiss law, the Libra Association, a non profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, will pursue a license as a payment system with lead supervisory authority under the… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 8:50 am By JD Alois  |  

Leading global crowdfunding platform OurCrowd has had a stellar year. Multiple portfolio companies have IPOed’ or been acquired providing positive outcomes for platform investors. As Crowdfund Insider reported earlier this year, OurCrowd has topped USD $ 1 billion in committed capital making perhaps making it… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 8:02 am By Cali Haan  |  

A representative from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) told an audience at a breakfast briefing in London Monday that cryptocurrency networks cannot outperform conventional payment systems and currencies: “They go down in value like a yoyo, they’re useless and unstable. And even if… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 7:50 am By JD Alois  |  

AngelHub and WHub have closed on a USD $3 million led by Kharis Capital and Hong Kong Fintech Unicorn TNG Fintech Group. AngelHub and WHub were co-founded by Karena Belin and Karen Contet Farzam. Daniel Grossmann, co-founder of Kharis Capital will be joining the board… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 6:55 am By JD Alois  |  

The planned international scope of Libra requires an internationally coordinated approach. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has published guidelines on treatment of stablecoins under Swiss law. Stablecoins are virtual currencies or cryptocurrencies which attempt to hold a stable value by pegging itself to… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 3:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently caught up with Steifan Deiss, co-founder and CEO of Blockchain Propulsion, a Switzerland-headquartered global accelerator program for blockchain startups.  Deiss, an MBA graduate from HWZ University of Applied Sciences, shared his views and insights regarding the emerging distributed ledger technology (DLT) industry and… Read More

September 11, 2019 @ 1:52 am By Cali Haan  |  

Police in Portugal have arrested five members of a criminal gang accused selling counterfeit euros for cryptocurrencies via websites on the Dark Net, Reuters reports. The group’s alleged “ringleader” has now been extradited from Colombia to Portugal to face charges. According to police, during the… Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 8:31 am By JD Alois  |  

Revolut has decided to withdraw its application for an e-Money license in Luxembourg, according to a report in the Telegraph. The application was originally filed in September of 2018. Revolut was said to make the decision following the approval of two financial services licenses from… Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 7:54 am By JD Alois  |  

Starling Bank, a digital-only challenger bank, has added two new partners to its marketplace feature. According to a note from the bank, Starling is now offering access to SME Insurtech Digital Risks and cybersecurity platform CyberSmart. Both services are available to customers of Starling Bank… Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 7:40 am By JD Alois  |  

MERJ, the national stock exchange of Seychelles, has kicked off its initial public offering (IPO) of tokenized equity. The digital asset is the first security token offering (STO) of a regulated stock exchange anywhere. The IPO values the 8-year old exchange at USD $25 million…. Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 2:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Beijing-headquartered mobile technology and software firm Xiaomi has been developing premium smartphones and selling them at competitive prices. Referred to as the “Apple of China,” the consumer electronics company recently penetrated India’s consumer markets. Xiaomi’s smartphone has become India’s most popular mobile device, according to… Read More

September 10, 2019 @ 1:04 am By JD Alois  |  

HDR Global Trading Limited (dba BitMEX) has appointed Derek Gobel as the group’s General Counsel, according to a release. BitMEX is a large crypto derivatives trading platform that is licensed in the Seychelles. Arthur Hayes, BitMEX co-founder and CEO issued the following statement: “Derek brings… Read More

September 9, 2019 @ 10:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Nahmii, a new scaling solution focused on making Ethereum ready for enterprise-level application development, will be revealed at an upcoming blockchain event co-hosted by hubii and Microsoft. Jacobo Toll-Messia, the CEO of hubii, the developer of nahmii, says: ‘‘Working closely with Microsoft will give nahmii… Read More

September 9, 2019 @ 8:54 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Angelina Kwan, a prominent Hong Kong advocate for women in STEM, has left her position as COO at the crypto derivatives platform, BitMEX, The Block reports. “We can confirm that Angelina Kwan is leaving the company and is on gardening leave now. That’s all we… Read More