Opinion

January 23, 2025 @ 10:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The financial world has seen significant volatility and transformation over the past several years, with some sectors experiencing steady growth. Equities and crypto / digital assets markets, in particular, have seen a considerable surge, attracting a new generation of investors eager to capitalize on these… Read More

January 23, 2025 @ 9:42 am By JD Alois  |  

The wealthy are easy targets for simple minds. The mantra of “paying their fair share” plays to the masses who want someone else to foot the bill for government services. The same wealthy tend to invest and spend, supporting businesses both old and new. Yet,… Read More

January 23, 2025 @ 8:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK’s digital bank Monzo, one of the nation’s most widely-used banking app providers, is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) by 2026. The announcement has sparked significant interest in both the financial sector and the broader tech ecosystem. Monzo has become a sort… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 6:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

This past week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a new Crypto Task Force established with the mission of creating a regulatory framework for digital assets. After years of regulation by enforcement, the SEC is finally doing its job. The change arrived with the departure of Gary Gensler as… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 3:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The concept of a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve under the Trump administration has garnered attention, with Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong suggesting it as a realistic possibility. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Armstrong remarked on Trump’s apparent enthusiasm for cryptocurrency, stating: “He… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 12:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

The new Trump administration has moved quickly to reverse the Biden administration’s anti-digital asset innovation policies. This week, Commissioner Mark Uyeda was selected as the acting Chair of the SEC. His first act was to create a Crypto Task Force led by Commissioner Hester Peirce,… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 11:18 am By JD Alois  |  

CI has received comments from Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets at YouHodler, a regulated Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), regarding the new Trump administration and its impact on digital assets. President Trump is well known for his support of crypto, and markets have responded positively… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 7:42 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous (and now defunct) dark web marketplace, Silk Road. Ulbricht had been serving two life sentences without the possibility of parole since his 2015 conviction… Read More

January 22, 2025 @ 7:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Nu Holdings Ltd (NYSE: NU), the parent company of Nubank and Latin America’s most valuable fintech, is weighing the possibility of relocating its legal base to the United Kingdom as it eyes broader global expansion, including a potential entry into the highly competitive US markets…. Read More

January 21, 2025 @ 8:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK’s online pension provider PensionBee recently shared comments following the appointment of Torsten Bell MP as Pensions Minister. Lisa Picardo, Chief Business Officer UK of PensionBee, commented: “We welcome the new Pensions Minister to his new role. With his extensive experience in public policy, we’re… Read More

January 20, 2025 @ 10:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Bitcoin bulls are on today as BTC nears $110,000 on the day of the Presidential inauguration. Today, at 12 noon ET, Donald Trump will become the 47th President after serving as the 45th President in an unprecedented return to office following four difficult years under… Read More

January 19, 2025 @ 10:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Italy’s largest bank has embraced Bitcoin, which may be considered a key milestone in financial evolution. In a significant development for crypto adoption, Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest banking group, has recently acquired 11 BTC worth €1 million, marking the first instance of an Italian bank… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

MiCA, or markets in crypto markets regulation, aims to create bright-line rules in Europe to enable digital asset innovation. While not regulating digital securities, MiCA covers just about everything else, including stablecoin regulation. The EU wants to encourage the development of new products and services… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 10:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG UK noted that the UK economy emerges from downturn while “risks of further headwinds rise.” Yael Selfin from KPMG also mentioned the UK GDP returned to growth after two consecutive months of decline, with “growth potentially accelerating in 2025.” They… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 8:40 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Technology Association (FTA) has sent a letter to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) telling them to modify rules designed to address custodial deposits. The letter was sent in response to proposed rulemaking on the accounts. The FTA says it supports the FDIC’s… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Blackrock (NASDAQ:BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, reported over $11.6 trillion in assets as of the fourth quarter – a record amount. The growth in assets fueled a rise in earnings of $1.67 billion, or an EPS of $10.63, from $1.38 billion, or an EPS… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 11:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Recently, CI reported that Silicon Prairie had exited its status as a Funding Portal. A Funding Portal is a relatively new FINRA-regulated intermediary created under the JOBS Act of 2012. Initially viewed as a path for firms to issue securities under Reg CF, most Funding… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 7:29 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Revolut, the global financial super-app, is making significant strides in its mission to redefine and reimagine modern financial services. With its latest product offering tailored for wealth management and private clients, the Fintech company is positioning itself as a solution for individuals seeking sophisticated financial… Read More

January 13, 2025 @ 10:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The IMF has shared an update / analysis on how artificial intelligence will affect Asia’s economies. According to the blog post from the IMF, AI may widen inequality, but policymakers can “counteract this with more effective social safety nets, reskilling programs, and regulations to promote… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 5:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Kingscrowd, a data specialist in the securities crowdfunding sector, has provided some data on 2024 activity. While not including Reg D 506c, which is almost impossible to track, Kingscrowd shares information on Reg A and Reg CF, which are available to both Accredited and non-accredited… Read More