Opinion

January 14, 2019 @ 1:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Just published today is a presentation created by Ownera, NovaBlock Capital, and the Security Token Summit that outlines the evolution of capital formation with Security Token Offerings (STOs) or “Smart Security Offerings” being the most evolved iteration to date. While the initial coin offering (ICO)… Read More

January 13, 2019 @ 9:29 pm By Filipe Castro  |  

Are stablecoins the future of cryptoassets? In the quest to develop a digital token with the decentralization aspects of bitcoin and none of the associated volatility has sparked interest from many. From talented tech teams, economists and VCs it seems stablecoin projects have the potential… Read More

January 10, 2019 @ 10:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last month, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) published their annual report on alternative finance covering the Americas. “Reaching New Heights” covered online alternative finance data in North, South, and Central America as well as the Caribbean. CI wrote about the report when it first came… Read More

January 9, 2019 @ 6:54 pm By Richard van Hooijdonk  |  

Technology has infiltrated our lives, and the wave of digital disruption has impacted various industries. The finance sector is no exception. Since the industry is becoming more complex, relying on traditional methods is no longer enough. In fact, it can do your business more harm… Read More

January 8, 2019 @ 10:45 pm By Cali Haan  |  

Arnold Kling, an economist and adjunct scholar at the Libertarian think tank The Cato Institute, has blogged his reflections on a recent interview with blockchain proponents and tech VCs Andreessen-Horowitz (A-H). Like A-H, Kling was around during the Internet’s nascent phase and made money from… Read More

January 8, 2019 @ 2:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fintech Predictions for 2019. Financial innovation continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Startups launch and shutdown with regularity. Traditional financial firms experiment and partner with more agile firms. It’s all about the digitization of finance where services are ubiquitous and instantaneous – all available… Read More

January 7, 2019 @ 8:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week, global consultancy firm McKinsey published a widely read report on the emerging blockchain industry, titled, Blockchain’s Occam problem. In brief, McKinsey said that blockchain is failing to live up to its perceived potential. While billions of dollars are being spent on experimentation… Read More

January 7, 2019 @ 6:00 pm By Lorna Smith  |  

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) are booming in offshore financial centres. In 2017, only a small minority of cryptocurrency transactions were taking place offshore but just a year later, according to a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and CryptoValley, the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Singapore… Read More

January 7, 2019 @ 5:01 pm By Cali Haan  |  

The President of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, Paul Smith, has taken to the media to call out shrinking IPO markets in the US and call for the restoration of fair and secure investment opportunities for retirement savers. Smith points at “alarming changes” in US… Read More

January 7, 2019 @ 11:08 am By Cali Haan  |  

Management consultancy McKinsey & Company have published an elegant analysis of enterprise blockchain called “Blockchain’s Occam,” stating: “A key to finding the value is to apply the technology only when it is the simplest solution available.” Blockchain has been touted as a revolutionary technology capable… Read More

January 7, 2019 @ 9:20 am By JD Alois  |  

Happy New Year. Filed on January 3rd, the busy law firm of Levi & Korsinsky filed a class action lawsuit against Nano cryptocurrency and failed crypto exchange Bitgrail along with its founder Francisco “the Bomber” Firano. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiff James… Read More

January 6, 2019 @ 5:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Late last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated Linda Lacewell to become Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services. Lacewell will replace Maria T. Vullo who announced on December 19th her intent to depart the agency after three years. Vullo will… Read More

January 5, 2019 @ 9:10 am By JD Alois  |  

PeerStreet, a real estate crowdfunding platform that has crafted an interesting niche that pairs retail investors with institutional money, has posted an update on 2018 performance. PeerStreet, having funded $1 billion in debt based financing during 2018 has now topped $1.7 billion in real estate… Read More

January 3, 2019 @ 10:09 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fintech, or financial innovation, is pervasive within the financial services industry. Innovation has always existed in this sector of business but the advent of the internet combined with the creativity of risk taking entrepreneurs has engendered an accelerated period of disruptive change in finance. Think about… Read More

January 2, 2019 @ 11:06 am By Timothy Li  |  

As we head into a market correction, 2019 and beyond will be very interesting for the evolving Fintech industry. This sector of finance saw significant M&A activity and massive fundraising during the 2nd half of 2018 and I predict that we will see more of… Read More

December 31, 2018 @ 7:00 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

As the year comes to a close, let’s get the scoop on Cryptocurrency predictions for 2019! Crowdfund Insider reached out to the Fintech and crypto community for its thoughts on how the sector will change during the next year. What disruptions, innovations, regulation, and partnerships can… Read More

December 30, 2018 @ 3:30 pm By Onki Kwan  |  

Recently, the SEC has charged the gamut of ICO players with violating the securities laws, including companies raising money with ICOs, an exchange, and people promoting ICOs. None of the recent cases contained allegations of fraud and in some cases, the companies attempted to comply… Read More

December 28, 2018 @ 10:54 am By Therese Torris  |  

Ever since the Brexit, France has aimed to establish itself as the Continental European alternative to the London Fintech hub. The goal is ambitious. France is home to many a worldwide leading financial institution such as global Nr. 1 insurer AXA and Nr 1 non-Chinese… Read More

December 27, 2018 @ 6:26 am By Erin Hobey  |  

‘Tis the season for decking halls, lighting candles, spending time with family and friends, reflecting on 2018 and thinking ahead to 2019 and new trends in the global Fintech market. Crowdfund Insider reached out to the Fintech community members to look into their crystal balls… Read More

December 26, 2018 @ 9:19 am By Erin Hobey  |  

As 2018 winds down and we review the market’s ups and downs, it only makes sense to predict trends for 2019. This year Blockchain was in the news, daily making leaps and bounds in its advancement, and industry leaders predict that Blockchain’s momentum — and… Read More