September 11, 2018 @ 10:50 am By JD Alois  |  

At the meeting of EU financial ministers in Vienna last week, Austria’s Minister of Finance Hartwig Löger said that Europe is working on rules and regulations for crypto assets to support the development of the sector. The meeting included all of the economic and financial affairs… Read More

April 11, 2018 @ 9:20 pm By Cali Haan  |  

On Tuesday, April 10th, 22 European countries signed an declaration vowing to cooperate as partners in the development and deployment of blockchain tech across European jurisdictions. According to the declaration, “Cooperation on a European Blockchain Partnership,” earnest efforts to “reaffirm” Europe’s “leading role” globally in blockchain… Read More

March 15, 2018 @ 10:01 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

InstaReM, a Southeast Asia’s digital cross-border money transfer service provider, announced on Thursday it has extended its outbound money transfer operations to another important market, the European Union (EU). ), Prajit Nanu, the co-founder of the fintech start-up, revealed the exciting news at the Money20/20 Asia 2018… Read More

March 10, 2018 @ 1:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

As we reported last week, the European Commission has announced its intent to pursue a Fintech Action Plan designed to boost Fintech innovation across continental Europe. The recognition that enabling innovations in finance are of strategic importance. This is a vital step in keeping Europe… Read More

February 26, 2018 @ 1:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a speech today delivered by European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, the public official commented on the the EU Roundtable on Cryptocurrencies. The “debriefing” was light on details and simply shared a high level perspective of the discussion. Dombrovskis said the mission of the… Read More

February 1, 2018 @ 4:26 am By JD Alois  |  

In the works for some time now, the European Commission has published the final report on “Identifying market and regulatory obstacles to cross- border development of crowdfunding in the EU.” The report comes under the Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG… Read More

January 12, 2018 @ 5:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Open Banking is kind of a nebulous term. Unless you are very engaged with the UK financial sector it probably means little to you. Yet the concept of Open Banking will have profound ramifications for consumers and businesses in both the UK and Europe. In… Read More

December 29, 2017 @ 2:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Commission recently launched a competition seeking new Blockchain tech creating solutions for positive social change. The new Horizon Prize is called “Blockchains for Social Good” and the competition will see €5 Million handed out in increments of € 1 million for five different recipients…. Read More

December 28, 2017 @ 5:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, whose portfolio includes Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, spoke to the FT this week advocating on behalf of a pan-European Fintech license. Dombrovskis is quoted in the broadsheet lamenting excessive bureaucratic barriers that challenge Europe today; “Europe is certainly… Read More

November 7, 2017 @ 1:59 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Commission has published an Inception Impact Assessment that pitches a legislative proposal for an EU framework for crowdfunding including peer to peer lending. The initiative is accepting feedback from interested parties until November 27, 2017. The expectation is the Commission will create a… Read More

August 16, 2017 @ 10:32 am By JD Alois  |  

Last month, the European Commission, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets division, launched a consultation on non-performing loans being held by banks. The Commission is seeking feedback on the development of secondary markets for distressed debt. Policymakers view this as essential in tackling the… Read More

July 23, 2017 @ 2:15 pm By JD Alois  |  

CrowdfundRES is a group of policy recommendations to improve the regulatory and market framework to boost investment in renewable energy across the European Union. A group of 14 different partners worked on the project that saw the participation of the European Crowdfunding Network and four… Read More

July 17, 2017 @ 8:30 am By Erin Hobey  |  

“As the industry matures and looks to grow beyond a base of early adopters, I believe a focus on clarity will best help us to attract new investors.” Growth Street, an FCA-authorized UK business finance platform focusing on SME loans, has aimed to become a… Read More

July 6, 2017 @ 4:53 am By Erin Hobey  |  

Record levels of venture capital investment at the start of 2017 has helped London retain its crown as Europe’s number one tech hub for global investors, according to new data from London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional agency. “London remains Europe’s leading hub… Read More

June 28, 2017 @ 4:07 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

With Brexit talks taking place this week between the UK and European Union (EU), CEO of TransferWise, Taavet Hinrikus sat down with CNBC to discuss the UK’s soon departure from the EU and what could happen to London.  During the interview, Hinrikus stated: “One regulator… Read More

March 30, 2017 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Embedded below is the letter UK Prime Minister Theresa May sent to European Council President Donald Tusk initiating Article 50 and thus commencing the UK’s departure from the European Union. The final results of negotiations will have a profound impact on both the UK and continental Europe’s… Read More

March 20, 2017 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

In Europe, the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) are not very familiar with crowdfunding. In order to better understand and evaluate the potential of crowdfunding for creatives and cultural organizations, the European Commission has launched Crowdfunding4Culture. The initiative seeks to pinpoint what actions public authorities should take… Read More

March 15, 2017 @ 2:55 am By JD Alois  |  

Early stage companies need funding to launch and grow. That is a fact. But early stage companies are the riskiest of firms and thus unable to attract debt or bank financing. The solution is to ask friends, families and, perhaps, angel investors to provide equity… Read More

February 1, 2017 @ 10:55 am By JD Alois  |  

Spanish Off-grid Eco-Complex Mar de Fulles Voted Best Contributor to Sustainable Energy Future Community energy portal Citizenergy announced its 2016 Project of the Year Award to Spanish crowdfunding platform ECrowd! and the Mar de Fulles eco-complex during an event in Brussels. Citizenergy lauded the two company’s outstanding… Read More

January 29, 2017 @ 2:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Crowdfunding Network (ECN), a pan-European alternative finance advocacy group, is asking members to participate regarding input on the Capital Markets Union.  Specifically, the ECN will be working with the Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) regarding input on… Read More