Tagged: perspective

March 13, 2018 @ 2:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) is the leading research authority on global innovations in finance. Over the past several years, CCAF has produced benchmark reports tracking the growth and evolution of all forms of Fintech around the world. These reports have become valued… Read More

March 12, 2018 @ 6:26 pm By JD Alois  |  

Let Fintech Innovation Reign The Head of the European Banking Authority, Andrea Enria, delivered a fascinating speech last week in Copenhagen. Enria addressed the challenge of appropriate regulation when it comes to innovation in finance. Fintech needs freedom to grow and evolve and slapping on… Read More

March 12, 2018 @ 12:40 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

Following the SEC’s recent initial subpoena offerings (pun intended) targeting initial coin offering (ICO) issuers, many believe the SEC might now turn its sights toward some of the gatekeepers involved in the subject ICOs, including the attorneys. Some attorneys practicing in the ICO space have… Read More

March 10, 2018 @ 3:02 pm By Philip Liu  |  

On March 7, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a public statement warning that cryptocurrency coin exchanges were possibly operating as unlawful online trading platforms¹.  The SEC staff noted that “many online trading platforms appear to investors as SEC-registered and regulated marketplaces when… 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

March 9, 2018 @ 10:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Crowdfund Insider has been writing about big tech getting into banking and other financial services for a long time now. The disruption taking place within the financial services industry is profound and traditional finance is struggling to keep up with the revolutionary change. While many… Read More

March 9, 2018 @ 6:43 am By JD Alois  |  

The UK Crowdfunding Association (UKCFA) has shared a brief comment regarding proposed rules released by the European Commission yesterday that are expected to be enacted. These updated rules are designed to streamline cross border crowdfunding offerings to the benefit of issuers, investors and platforms. By… Read More

March 7, 2018 @ 1:43 pm By Dixie L. Johnson, Brian R. Michael, Ehren Halse, Kyle Sheahen, and Matthew B. Hanson  |  

  For initial coin offering (ICOs or token offerings, SAFT, etc.) issuers, investors, token holders, and anyone else operating in the cryptocurrency market, the message of recent days is clear: the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has shifted into high gear. News reports indicate that… Read More

March 4, 2018 @ 6:35 pm By JD Alois  |  

    The very first initial coin offering (ICO) took place in June of 2013 when Mastercoin raised around $5 million in Bitcoin. That was the same year that Title II of the JOBS Act launched allowing general solicitation (SEC lingo for advertising) under Regulation… Read More

March 2, 2018 @ 5:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Milken Institute is out with a comprehensive report this week that drills down into existing legislative action by Congress that addresses the emerging Fintech industry. This is the first report of its kind and provides a solid perspective on what Congress has accomplished to… Read More

March 2, 2018 @ 12:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

As reported earlier today, Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, delivered a speech today address the rise of cryptocurrencies and the future of money. In Carney’s opinion, cryptocurrencies are “failing as money.” He outlined his opinion why crypto, including Bitcoin, simply does… Read More

March 2, 2018 @ 8:48 am By JD Alois  |  

What is money? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith defines money by the roles it plays in society, in particular, how well it serves as: –  A store of value with which to transfer purchasing power from today to some future time; –  A… Read More

February 27, 2018 @ 3:03 pm By JD Alois  |  

Switzerland has become known as a center of excellence for the cryptocurrency industry. In fact, many initial coin offerings (ICO) call Zug, Switzerland home – even if they are not really based there. The Swiss regulators (FINMA) have recognized the emergence of digital currencies as… Read More

February 27, 2018 @ 10:48 am By JD Alois  |  

As we reported yesterday, Circle has acquired cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex for $400 million. Not a small sum. But Poloniex has a small issue it must address soon. It is currently operating as an un-licensed securities exchange. Additional information regarding the acquisition surfaced yesterday that indicated… Read More

February 27, 2018 @ 9:52 am By JD Alois  |  

Amazon is one of the most innovative and disruptive big tech companies today. Led by visionary Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s story starts from humble beginnings as a mere book seller. Today, Amazon is pointing its tech guns at many different industry. Sure, Amazon is the place… Read More

February 26, 2018 @ 11:53 am By JD Alois  |  

We have been hearing for some time now that past issuers of initial coin offerings (ICOs) have been receiving subpoenas from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This should come as no surprise to anyone as the SEC has been messaging their concern regarding ICOs… Read More

February 26, 2018 @ 9:32 am By Philip Liu  |  

Two months into 2018, it feels a little like the calm before a regulatory storm in terms of cryptocurrency regulation.  A series of pronouncements and announcements from the SEC toward the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018 gave industry insiders more clarity on what… Read More

February 25, 2018 @ 5:05 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bank of America, one of the largest banks on the planet, published its 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this past week. The Annual Report for most publicly listed institutions is a routine event with few people digging into the document except for… Read More

February 23, 2018 @ 10:55 am By Joshua Ashley Klayman, Julian Hammar, Shiukay Hung, and Anna Pinedo  |  

The recent and rapid proliferation of cryptocurrency¹ transactions involving retail or “Main Street” customers has left some — including many cryptocurrency platforms serving retail customers — grappling conceptually with the answer to a fundamental question: what constitutes “actual delivery” of cryptocurrency in the eyes of the… Read More

February 18, 2018 @ 12:25 pm By David Jinks  |  

Cryptocurrencies are fast swapping their shady past for respectability. But investors pushing hard for regulated trading and adoption by Amazon may be destroying the reason for Bitcoin’s existence. Last December, Bitcoin climbed above $18,000, and finally launched on the CME futures exchange. There was little… Read More