PowerLedger’s Bitcoin IPO powers towards $30m
Perth energy trading platform PowerLedger has raised $17 million in the first two stages of its Australia-first virtual currency IPO and looks set to raise more than $30 million by the time its public offer closes. Demand has exceeded Powerledger’s initial expectations and the success of the “initial coin offering” or “ICO” shows there can be a strong appetite for fundraising offers from Australian firms using this novel form of fundraising and virtual currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Chair Jemma Green said the $17 million came from a discounted private presale of 90 million Powerledger tokens or POWRs to members of the company’s community, and a public presale of 100 […]
Cryptocurrencies are new barbarians at the gate of central banks
When the cryptocurrency Exio Coin starts a round of fundraising on September 7, its founders say the unit will come with a unique distinction: the first to be endorsed by a sovereign nation. The identity of the government backer won’t be revealed until October, and Bloomberg News has no way of verifying the claim of support. According to co-founder Sunny Johnson though, the supporter is one of “the world’s richest countries” on a per capita basis. The claim of official approval highlights how the boom in cryptocurrencies and their underlying technology is becoming too big for central banks, long the guardian of official money, to ignore. From speculative betting to […]
DigitalX diversifies offering, to provide Blockchain consulting services to Bankera
DigitalX will provide traditional corporate advisory services, as well as industry specific advisory services to Bankera. Blockchain solutions provider DigitalX Ltd (ASX:DCC) has just made a move towards further diversification of its offering. In an announcement filed with ASX earlier today, DigitalX said it had entered into an agreement with Bankera to provide it with consultancy services. DigitalX will act as an advisor to Bankera’s initial coin offering (ICO), which is a part of the implementation of Bankera’s plan to build a digital bank for the Blockchain era. DigitalX will be providing a range of industry specific and traditional corporate advisory services plus additional marketing services to Bankera in exchange […]
Forbes Fintech 50 call for nominations
For two years, Forbes has published our Fintech 50 list, showcasing the top companies shaping “the future of your money.” (See the 2015 and 2016 lists.) These innovative startups are making it easier for suppliers in emerging economies to get paid, for low-mileage drivers to save hundreds of dollars a year, for your financial advisor to create a tailored-for-you portfolio, and enabling even more technological advances that benefit many of us daily, unbeknownst to us. If the Great Recession shook trust in global finance, these are the firms that are building it back up. We’re about to begin updating the list for the third year — a multi-month process which […]
The future will be fuelled by data
The digital disruption rippling through business and government today is merely a curtain raiser for what comes next. The combination of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technologies and quantum computing will usher in new operating models, new industries, new possibilities. The future will be fuelled by data and technologies that harvest, protect, analyse and take action based on that information. Professor Mary-Anne Williams, director of the innovation and enterprise research lab at the University of Technology, Sydney, believes that cognitive computing is already a game-changer. “Cognitive computing is able to convert vast volumes of complex data into decision-making models that can be used take action autonomously without human oversight or intervention. […]
Australia aims to regulate Bitcoin exchanges
While the bitcoin rate is climbing new heights nearly every week, it becomes more and more obvious that a regulatory environment around the bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has to evolve as well. Until now there has been two Asian countries, China and Japan, that have announced its desire to regulate their local bitcoin exchanges. This week these countries were joined by Australia, another major market. Let’s quickly analyse the pros and cons of such practices. Bitcoin Use Cases Today the bitcoin is used for nearly all possible kinds of transactions. It is possible to buy a cup of coffee, pay a tuition fee in some universities or simply settle down […]
Blockchain in race to remake one of the world’s oldest markets
The blockchain revolution is gunning for the gold market. Public online ledgers that emerged from the explosive markets for bitcoin, a virtual currency, already have drawn the attention of businesses from banks to retailers who see blockchain systems as a revolutionary way to verify and record transactions. Now, companies including exchange owner CME Group, IEX Group spinoff TradeWind Markets and financial technology firm Paxos are rolling out similar platforms to bring gold into the digital age. About $US27 billion ($34.1 billion) of gold changes hands every day in over-the-counter markets where settlements can sometimes takes days, leaving price risk for buyers and sellers. Using blockchain promises more transparency, security and […]
Australian FinTech Launches Australia’s Only Dedicated FinTech Jobs Platform – Australian FinTech Jobs
The team behind the highly successful Australian FinTech website have soft-launched their FinTech employment marketplace platform, Australian FinTech Jobs. Founder and CEO, Cameron Dart, says AustralianFinTechJobs.com.au has been born on the back of the highly successful Australian FinTech website and growing demand from the local FinTech community to have a dedicated employment platform for the sector. AustralianFinTechJobs.com.au is Australia’s only dedicated platform for FinTech companies and Recruiters to promote FinTech, financial technology, financial services, banking, legal and IT employment opportunities in Australia. “Australian FinTech have built a new jobs startup for fintechs and startups about startups, fintechs and jobs” “When people think of ‘FinTech’ in relation to employment, they might […]
