Politics, Legal & Regulation

October 31, 2016 @ 9:00 am By Samuel Guzik  |  

On October 26, 2016, the SEC’s three Commissioners convened at their headquarters to adopt new rules intended to modernize what had historically been a little used path of raising capital for startups, early stage businesses and community-based enterprises: the so called intrastate exemption. It had… Read More

October 27, 2016 @ 12:47 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has scheduled its annual “Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation for November 17th.  The event will he held at SEC HQ and will be open to the public. As in years past, the forum will be divided into… Read More

October 27, 2016 @ 11:28 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced changes to Rule 147 and Rule 504 yesterday designed to improve the process in which businesses may sell securities within a state where they are based. These “intrastate” updates will impact the ability for issuing companies to crowdfund from… Read More

October 26, 2016 @ 5:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to update Rules 147 and 504 today.  The regulatory changes will improve the environment for intrastate crowdfunding. Some in the industry believe that intrastate crowdfunding may do better than Title III/Reg CF as some states have crafted more… Read More

October 25, 2016 @ 6:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission is out with their agenda for the open meeting taking place at SEC HQ tomorrow (October 26,2016).  At 10AM 11AM, the Commission will meet to discuss the Universal Proxy and Rules 147 and 504 that impact intrastate crowdfunding.  If you… Read More

October 24, 2016 @ 3:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has published a report on financial innovation. Entitled “Project Catalyst Report: Promoting Consumer Friendly Innovation”, the document is an effort to position the young regulatory agency as embracing changes in the financial industry that are deemed beneficial. The CFPB… Read More

October 24, 2016 @ 9:08 am By JD Alois  |  

The Korean Financial Services Commission (KFSC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have signed a “cooperation agreement” to provide a framework to work together on Fintech initiatives.  Acdording to MAS, under the agreement the two agencies will explore potential joint innovation projects on technologies… Read More

October 23, 2016 @ 12:59 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Almost a year ago, the SEC proposed certain amendments to the current Rule 147 which were intended to help foster, and increase the viability of, Intrastate crowdfunding. While little has been heard about these amendments since their release (except from Intrastate proponents like me of… Read More

October 22, 2016 @ 2:48 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has signed another cooperation agreement to help propel mutual interests in Fintech development.  MAS has signed an agreement to cooperate with the government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP), a state in India. Andhra Pradesh is one of 29 states and… Read More

October 21, 2016 @ 12:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

As everyone knows by now (or at least they should), small and medium-sized businesses are vital for economic growth and prosperity. SMEs are the job creators in the UK – and around the world. The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) has worked diligently to promote… Read More

October 20, 2016 @ 8:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

The SEC has scheduled a meeting to consider proposed amendments related to Rules 147 and 504 – securities regulations that impact intrastate crowdfunding.  The meeting of the Commission is scheduled to commence at 10AM on Wednesday, October 26 at SEC HQ in Washington, DC. The… Read More

October 20, 2016 @ 11:14 am By JD Alois  |  

FINRA is a non-governmental entity that acts as a financial regulator over a wide swath of the financial industry.  Their mission is to detect and prevent wrongdoing in the US financial markets. FINRA also has enforcement powers. Last year alone they rendered over 1500 disciplinary… Read More

October 20, 2016 @ 6:05 am By Erin Hobey  |  

The European Fintech Alliance, established in Berlin early this summer, seeks to represent the interests of startups in the political arena and to build bridges between policymakers and regulators at European level.  The platform touts a non-national, but EU-wide approach, for FinTechs only. Initiated by political… Read More

October 19, 2016 @ 7:28 pm By Samuel Guzik  |  

Still Time to Fix the Fix Crowdfunding Act One of the cardinal rules of investing is  diversification – a critical ingredient for long-term portfolio growth.  This rule applies with equal, if not greater, force when investing in “Title III Regulation CF Crowdfunding” securities – open… Read More

October 19, 2016 @ 11:36 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

With the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election nearing its final weeks, crowdfunding platform Kickstarter announced the launch of its Election Issues, which is described as a collection of political creations that are to spark conversation and action. The Kickstarter team stated: “Elections aren’t just about the… Read More

October 19, 2016 @ 11:16 am By JD Alois  |  

This past weekend, Crowdfund Insider reported that China government officials published a list of restrictions for peer to peer lenders. These were largely a rehash of previously revealed regulations directed towards internet finance and more specifically peer to peer lending. But the Chinese government is… Read More

October 18, 2016 @ 9:29 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its final report on the investment and corporate banking sector.  The document was created to help foster competition in the this sector of finance.  The report reflects the interim publication that was released this past April. Christopher Woolard,… Read More

October 17, 2016 @ 3:04 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

The Federal Trade Commission announced the agenda for its upcoming FinTech forum examining peer-to-peer payments and crowdfunding. The forum, which is the second in an ongoing event series, will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on 26 October at the Constitution Center auditorium, located at… Read More

October 17, 2016 @ 11:21 am By Georgia Quinn  |  

Let me begin by saying god bless Congressman Patrick McHenry. He is out there on the front lines actually trying to make a difference and help entrepreneurs and small businesses get off the ground and succeed. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished, and a… Read More

October 16, 2016 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The evolving Chinese peer to peer lending sector took another twist in the regulatory path, as the government issued a special work plan this past week. According to ECNS, the plan incorporated a list of restrictions for P2P lenders to help curb investor and borrower… Read More