World Bank appoints CBA for first bond deal on blockchain
The World Bank has turned to Commonwealth Bank of Australia to issue a bond using blockchain technology, in a deal that suggests a more transparent and lower-cost process for debt capital issuance is just around the corner. Reflecting its antipodean roots, the innovative security is being referred to as a ‘bond-i’ (blockchain offered new debt instrument). The World Bank says it is a world first for using blockchain to create, allocate, transfer ownership and manage a live bond deal. Commonwealth Bank has been appointed sole lead arranger for the ‘Kangaroo bond’ offer, which will launch on Friday and could raise around $50 million, part of the World Bank’s global funding […]
Xplora invests US$1m into BLOCKLOAN
Xplora Capital has announced the purchase of USD $1 million (AUD $1.35 million) worth of tokens from BLOCKLOAN – a new blockchain peer-to-peer lending marketplace. Blockchain and crypto are triggering a societal and economic shift before our eyes. Financial institutions are failing to address the market needs. It’s time for a new solution to old problems. Mark Finch, Managing Director of Xplora Capital stated, “As an early investor into BLOCKLOAN and working in the Financial Services space for 20 years we believe in Co Founder’s Michael and Bill’s vision and roadmap for providing the ability for people to access credit on a global scale and better rates than the banks. […]
Finder co-founder Fred Schebesta plans to create Australia’s first crypto-bank
He became one of the country’s youngest self-made millionaires at the age of 26 — and now he’s revealed his next “multibillion-dollar” idea. The co-founder of one of Australia’s biggest tech success stories has revealed his next “multibillion-dollar” idea — to create the “first crypto bank of Australia”. Fred Schebesta, who became one of country’s youngest self-made millionaires at the age of 26 with the sale of his first business before founding comparison website finder.com.au, describes himself as a “time traveller” who looks into the future in order to make it a reality. His bet on the online comparison space paid off. From a simple credit card blog called Creditcardfinder.com.au, […]
Grounds, Paradice dive into blockchain software float Identitii
The big end of town is piling into a small payments security firm’s initial public offering in the expectation they may have unearthed the next big thing. Street Talk understands UBS Australia chief executive Matthew Grounds, veteran fund manager David Paradice and Sydney-based institutional investors KIS Capital, Terra Capital and KTM Ventures are among the names lining up for a piece of ASX-hopeful Identitii. Identitii is a blockchain software company founded by Australians Nick Armstrong and Eric Knight. Its software is aimed at helping banks and other international payments providers comply with anti money laundering policies by attaching messages to each transfer saying exactly who is making the payment and why. Identitii is an add-on to the SWIFT payments […]
New TV show set to open Blockchain to the world
A new weekly business TV show is set to showcase Blockchain companies, cryptoassets and ICOs to a global audience. Coincast TV, created by ICO advisor DigitalX and respected crypto business news platform Multiplier Crypto, will be broadcast on Sky News Business, and syndicated across Apple TV, the Wall St Journal and related social platforms, reaching an audience of almost 200 million viewers worldwide. The program will profile Blockchain companies, provide in-depth market analysis and the latest Blockchain news with a focus on business journalism to educate people and grow the market. “Coincast TV will be a half-hour, weekly Blockchain news program, featuring sponsored news content from Blockchain and cryptocurrency businesses […]
What financial service providers should know about blockchain: Opportunities and threats
It seems that every few years, an advanced and innovative new technology emerges and becomes the next big thing for organizations across different industries. Take the cloud and big data, for example – during their buzzword stage, these concepts were being attached to just about everything in the tech space. Currently, it appears that blockchain has filled this space, popping up in discussions and initiatives within all types of businesses. For financial services in particular, though, it’s very imperative to not only understand the basics of blockchain, but also examine the kinds of threats and opportunities this concept will bring. Where to start: The basics First and foremost, financial service […]
Blockchain, chatbots, and AI could reinvent corporate finance
Over the next several years, CFOs and their finance organizations will be able to tap three key technologies to make their business processes better, faster and less expensive. Traditionally siloed and manual corporate finance operations are beginning to test – and in some cases adopt – three still evolving technologies that can offer a single view of corporate data in near real time while also automating arduous business processes. Blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbot technology may not be fully baked yet, but they are already available for proof-of-concept testing and limited production rollouts in enterprise finance departments, according to a new report from Deloitte LLP. The sooner enterprises begin […]
Breaking down blockchain’s potential for cross-border payments
By Simon Banks, Hyperwallet’s Managing Director and SVP of Asia-Pacific Blockchain has been labelled a disruptive force that could transform entire industries and even have potential to shake the foundations of economic and social systems. With the advent of cryptocurrencies, the banking and financial services sectors were among the first to feel its effects. In the payments space, it is important to separate the underlying distributed ledger technology from the cryptocurrency hype, and to understand the problems blockchain can solve, as well as the ways in which it can transform payments without disregarding barriers to implementation. Cross-border payments, a space that currently begets frustration but is increasingly dominated by innovative […]
