Opinion

January 28, 2019 @ 4:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

FINRA recently posted their annual Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter. As part of the letter, FINRA stated they would be evaluating how firms conduct suitability analyses as well as communications and AML requirements for both Reg D 506c and Reg A+ offerings. These two exemptions… Read More

January 28, 2019 @ 1:00 am By Zoë Adamovicz  |  

We often hear that “code is law”. It means that all transactions happening on decentralized networks are final and immutable. It does not mean, however, that code derives from the law. The legal frameworks we operate within are not God-given. They are social agreements that… Read More

January 27, 2019 @ 9:30 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is back on the job as President Trump signed a bill that will re-open the government for three weeks – until February 15th. The closure of federal offices was due to a political spat between the Democrats and the… Read More

January 26, 2019 @ 11:04 am By JD Alois  |  

tZERO, a subsidiary of Overstock (NASDAQ:OSTK), began trading its very own security token on Friday. Long anticipated, the event was foreshadowed earlier in the week when Overstock founder and Blockchain advocate Patrick Byrne said he was “ready to hit the button” and turn tZero on…. Read More

January 25, 2019 @ 4:31 pm By JD Alois  |  

iFunding was an early entrant into the real estate crowdfunding sector. Once Title II of the JOBS Act became law (Reg D 506c), it opened up a new world of online promotion for securities offerings and real estate almost immediately became one of the hottest… Read More

January 24, 2019 @ 3:51 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Yesterday the Israeli tech company Lending Express, celebrated surpassing $100 million in financing facilitated between small and medium business owners and online lenders and obtaining state permission to open for business in California. The lending platform, led by CEO & Co-Founder Eden Amirav, is poised for further growth… Read More

January 23, 2019 @ 4:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Congressman Patrick McHenry, the Republican leader of the House Financial Services Committee, has asked Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters to move forward on hearings in “critical areas that the committee should prioritize in the first months of the new Congress.” The list of hearings requested by… Read More

January 23, 2019 @ 8:16 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a consultation today on the emerging “cryptoasset” sector of finance.  The UK is well known for its thoughtful regulatory approach when it comes to innovative new financial services and the final outcome will be watched with interest around… Read More

January 22, 2019 @ 2:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Just about every international organization that touches finance has postulated on initial coin offerings (ICOs) and what should be done with this new form of access to capital. Last week, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) had their say. Last fall, the OECD… Read More

January 22, 2019 @ 12:00 pm By Zhuling Chen  |  

Make way for the next generation of blockchain crowdfunding Alongside the rise of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) saw explosive growth in 2017, with more than 1,500 ICOs raising a combined total of over $28 billion in the last two years alone…. Read More

January 21, 2019 @ 10:03 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

2018 was another great year for Invesdor, according to management. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Helsinki with a branch office in Stockholm, the award-winning Nordic market leader in digital fundraising and investing connects European growth companies with global investors. Named Best Nordic Fintech Startup 2018 and regulated… Read More

January 20, 2019 @ 6:01 pm By JD Alois  |  

SIM Swap fraud is a pressing problem not only in the crypto world but identity fraud in general. A fairly new scam, the con is hatched when a criminal takes over an individual’s mobile phone by cloning the hardware. Once the perpetrator controls the mobile… Read More

January 19, 2019 @ 6:46 pm By JD Alois  |  

The StartEngine Index tracking Reg CF crowdfunding issuers was published a few days ago. According to StartEngine, total successful offerings since the securities exemption was launched in May of 2016 now stands at $161.5 million. So how does 2018 compare to the year prior? Excellent question…. Read More

January 18, 2019 @ 3:00 pm By Mark Elenowitz  |  

In 2012 the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. It required the SEC to write rules and issue studies on capital formation, disclosure, and registration requirements. There were three main areas that the investment community took notice… Read More

January 17, 2019 @ 3:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last month, CI covered the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) Americas Report. Overall, alternative finance grew 26% with the US dominating the sector as the largest market in the region. But digging into Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), this market grew by a huge 94%… Read More

January 17, 2019 @ 9:32 am By JD Alois  |  

Digital only bank Marcus continues to gain traction in both the US and the UK. During the Q4 earnings call by Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) yesterday, the management team shared some additional insight into the Fintech’s growth. Goldman, by the way, reported blowout numbers which… Read More

January 16, 2019 @ 11:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) is out with their policy goals for the incoming Congress. SBE Council is an entity that advocates on behalf of the sector of the economy (small business) that drives most job creation and economic growth. Thus, it… Read More

January 16, 2019 @ 8:40 am By JD Alois  |  

CI has recently covered two European reports on the emerging crypto-asset or digital asset marketplace. Both the European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) have had their say on what the European Commission should do. A few days later, the European… Read More

January 15, 2019 @ 3:08 pm By JD Alois  |  

A few days ago the St. Louis Federal Reserve entered the debate regarding crypto and specifically, the price of Bitcoin. In brief, the Fed is not very impressed. “Whither Bitcoin” asserts that the future price path is more likely to remain bounded between these two… Read More

January 14, 2019 @ 9:48 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

While most people were busy with last minute Christmas shopping, on December 20th of last year, Representatives Warren Davidson and Darren Soto were busy finalizing and introducing the proposed new “Token Taxonomy Act” (HR 7356). The proposed Token Taxonomy Act seeks to modify both existing… Read More