Why Hong Kong is Still Not Ready to Become Asia's Leader in Crypto and Blockchain
During a live webinar, as part of the UK FinTech Week, Clara Chiu, the Head of Fintech Unit & Director of Licensing at the SFC explicitly stated that Hong Kong does not have the mandate to create a large regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies or to attract more investors or players in the crypto field. Rather than promoting the crypto sector, Hong Kong is rather focused on protecting investors and promoting new regulations for the same reason. Is focusing on licensing enough for the city?
World Bank Pushes to Raise the Bar for FinTech and DLT for Cross-Border Interoperability and Financial Inclusion
The World Bank Group has recently published a study, issued by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on “Payment aspects of financial inclusion in the FinTech era,” highlighting the concepts derived using blockchain, including stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
FinTech Giants PayPal, Intuit and Square Capital Approved to Digitally Distribute US Govt COVID-19 Small Business Stimulus
PayPal, Square and Intuit have received the government’s approval to take part in the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program which was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global financial crisis.
China’s Blockchain and FinTech Sector to Brace for 'Capital Winter' Even After the Coronavirus Pandemic Subsides
Investment activity in China’s tech sector has seen a massive drop in the past four months since the coronavirus outbreak has emerged from the city of Wuhan. The venture capital market has been suffering a tremendous impact on its existing drop in activity.
LocalBitcoins Seller Charged by US Homeland Security for Money Laundering
Kenneth Rhule, a localBitcoins seller is charged by the US Homeland Security for conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business. Rhule can face up to forty years in prison on account of fraudulent activity alongside illegal marijuana production and distribution.
Coinbase Takes a Step Further into the Japanese Crypto Market
Coinbase has been licensed in Japan since 2019, and has registered as second-class members of the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), a self-regulatory organization for the crypto industry in Japan.
CFTC FinTech Research Wing Welcomes Innovators to Discuss with Regulators With its New Office Hours
LabCFTC, the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s FinTech research wing, is planning to host office hours during the New York FinTech Week.
Insurance Firms in China and Hong Kong Count on Blockchain to Fast Track Coronavirus Claims Amid Outbreak
Xiang Hu Bao, an online mutual aid platform, a subsidiary of Ant Financial, is a “collective claims-sharing mechanism built on blockchain that offers basic health plans to its 104 million participants.” Most of its users are Chinese citizens from lower-tier cities, and in rural areas. By utilizing blockchain technology, settlements have been made more efficient, and fraudulent claims have been reduced.
What Does the Japanese FinTech Landscape Look Like?
Tokyo, the capital of Japan has been ranked as one of the top 12 FinTech hubs in the world by Deloitte’s A tale of 44 cities: Connecting Global FinTech: Interim Hub Review 2017. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) created policy outlines to form the city with the vision of an unrivaled global financial center.
Women in Payments CEO: Less than 5% of VCs Invest in Women-Led FinTech Companies
With a background in engineering, Kristy Duncan, the CEO of Women in Payments started her career in banking and then into the payments industry. Duncan has then been fascinated with the payments market, and is a “payments geek at heart.” She started Women in Payments in 2012, Looking to add value in a different way, to connect, inspire, and champion women who are working in the payments industry globally.