Are central bankers about to burst the bitcoin bubble?
Foreign exchange traders have long been used to “jawboning” from central bankers – that is, using carefully selected words to suggest that they are unhappy with the level their currency is trading at, usually because they consider it over-valued. But the world’s top central bankers have a new target: bitcoin and its fellow digital currencies. And some strongly-worded statements show the depth of their feeling on the subject. A month ago, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe described the fascination with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a “speculative mania”. Later that day, Janet Yellen, the head of the powerful US Federal Reserve described bitcoin as a “highly speculative asset”, noting that […]
Central banks investigate digital currencies following bitcoin boom
No statements, no accounts, no fees, and definitely no waiting for your money to arrive. That could be your financial future in a world where banks have been replaced by a single, unique “key” which would let you directly transfer and receive money instantly from anywhere in the world. It’s something central banks from the UK to Israel and Australia are actively assessing as they consider whether to develop their own cryptocurrencies to mirror the benefits of bitcoin, while minimising the ability to launder money or evade taxes. Head of the Cyber Academy at Edinburgh Napier University, Bill Buchanan said many are now putting their “toe in the water” to […]
Coinspot rubbishes liquidity claims, says it is ‘getting closer’ to turning on Australian dollar deposits
Aussie cryptocurrency exchange Coinspot has described warnings of liquidity issues due to too many customers cashing out as “absolute rubbish and untrue”.
Fintech firms welcome regulatory pathway for new bank entrants
A group of over 180 fintech firms strongly believes the country’s financial regulator should pursue steps to ease licensing for new entrants to the banking industry. In a submission paper to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), FinTech Australia agreed that APRA should utilise a “phased approach” to help potential applicants navigate the licensing process, while at the same preserving entry standards. A discussion paper by APRA released last year initially suggested the phased approach idea to stoke further competition. “The phased approach is intended to support increased competition in the banking sector by reducing barriers for new entrants being authorised to conduct banking business, including those with innovative or […]
Australian FinTech Tyro launches SMB services
Australian bank Tyro is introducing new services for its small- and medium-sized business (SMB) customers. The new services include lending products, reports in The Adviser said, that provide SMB borrowers flat-fee business loans that can be provided in minutes. The FinTech is also providing banking services via SMB deposit accounts that integrate with cloud accounting solution Xero. The solution supports batch payment scheduling and payroll and earns daily interest. Tyro added that the account is also compatible with iPhones, which can be used by SMBs to pay bills. The firm is also launching an EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale) technology that integrates with point-of-sale solutions for SMBs. […]
Cryptocurrency wallet temporarily restricts Australian dollar deposits
Popular cryptocurrency wallet CoinSpot has stopped accepting deposits in Australian dollars, blaming local banks for being “unwilling to work” together. In a blog post updated this morning, CoinSpot said the restriction on all forms of AUD deposits will remain in effect until at least the first week of the new year. “We assure you we are just as unhappy with the situation as you,” the platform writes on its blog. “But unfortunately Australian banks have been so far unwilling to work with the digital currency industry which leads to frequent account closures and strict limits on accounts whilst they remain operational, in effect debanking our industry.” The digital wallet service […]
FinTech body seeks changes to APRA’s proposal to reduce market barriers to challenger banks
The Australian Government’s proposal to make it easier for digital-first challenger banks to compete against industry incumbents is could be improved, according to the peak body for fintech startups. FinTech Australia has lodged a submission with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) in response to its discussion paper, entitled “A phased approach to authorising new entrants to the banking industry”. The discussion paper proposes that new banking entrants, known as Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs) can apply for a “restricted ADI licence”. Under the restricted ADI licence, new banking entrants may take up to $2 million in deposits with an individual limit of $250,000 per depositor over a maximum period of two years, […]
Bank rules get tougher so technology’s importance grows
Borrowers who embrace apps and budgeting technology that tracks their spending are giving themselves a better chance of grabbing a good loan amid a crackdown by regulators. Stricter rules around loan serviceability means people able to prove what they spend are getting the upper hand. Financial regulator APRA last month called for more realistic living expense details on loan applications and increased vigilance by lenders. People’s Choice Credit Union spokesman Stuart Symons said reliable records were becoming increasingly important, and borrowers could help themselves “by being on the front foot”. “If you can’t show what you spend, a lender may look instead to an estimate that shows a higher level […]
