Fintech currency wars heat up as Pelikin prepares to launch
A travel cash mishap in Croatia was Sam Brown’s inspiration to launch startup Pelikin into the competitive space of travel money and foreign exchange. “I was in Croatia, I went to get money out, put my travel card into the ATM and then cancelled my transaction because I changed my mind. My travel provider thought that was suspicious and blocked my funds. What that led to was having to borrow money, from the people I was travelling with,” Brown says. Brown has just closed out a crowdfunding raise for Pelikin of close to a quarter of a million dollars that has been “essentially a marketing campaign” for a the company’s […]
Why your kids want cryptos for Christmas
In 1975, the most popular children’s toy was ‘The Pet Rock’. There was no false advertising to speak of when it came to this toy. It was literally a smooth rock housed in a box with the label: ‘genuine pedigreed pet rock’. Its selling point was that it was the perfect pet — it required no maintenance, and best of all, there was no chance of accidentally killing it. It sounds ridiculous to us now. But nonetheless, in 1975, that rock was all the rage. And the genius behind the idea, Gary Dahl, died a multi-millionaire. Come 1980, the most popular toy was the Rubix Cube. In 1987, it was […]
Blockchain is giving away $125 million worth of digital currency
Blockchain, one of the most popular virtual crypto wallet companies in the world, is giving away $125 million worth of Stellar. The giveaway is set to be the largest of its kind. Referred to as an airdrop in crypto parlance, the program will specifically benefit 30 million Blockchain users spanning over 140 countries. They will each receive $25 worth of Stellar Lumens coins. According to the company’s statement, the program will contribute to the adaptation and decentralization of new crypto networks by encouraging users to embrace a wider variety of digital native tokens without having to buy or mine cryptocurrencies. To qualify, candidates must have a Blockchain wallet. The crypto […]
MT4 tech specialist Gold-i opens an office in Australia
MetaTrader technologies and integration specialist Gold-i has announced that it has opened an office in Australia, headed up by FinTech sales and technology specialist, Daniel Picone. The new Sydney-based office is a significant development for Gold-i as it focuses on increased business opportunities amongst brokers in Australia and New Zealand as well as expanding its footprint across the Asia Pacific region. Daniel Picone, who has spent the last seven years at Australian FinTech company, IRESS brings a wealth of experience to the role in terms of business development, account management and client support. He has spent four months on an intensive training programme at Gold-i’s UK headquarters in preparation for […]
OFX Group considers large cash deal of its own
Two years after former GE Capital Australia and NZ boss Steven Sargent took the top seat around OFX Group’s boardroom table, the money transfers company’s executives have an interesting proposition for him and the board. Street Talk understands OFX Group has set its sights on an offshore acquisition, which would help the company meet one of its strategic goals which is to expand into Europe and the United Kingdom. The question is what could be on its radar. OFX Group, which reported $19.6 million profit last financial year and has about a $550 million market capitalisation, would no doubt like something big enough to be meaningful, but not big enough […]
Pelikin: Is this Aussie fintech about to shake up millennial travel?
It’s no secret that young Australians love to travel. Ask any millennial and they’ll likely be hard pressed to name a friend that hasn’t recently travelled overseas or isn’t planning to do so in the near future. In fact, according to research from Roy Morgan released in May, millennials are the most likely cohort in Australia to have travel plans in the near future – 73.6% of those surveyed indicating that they intended to travel in the next 12 months. And with so many young Aussies heading overseas, one local fintech is not only banking on the travel bug sticking around, they’re hoping to completely change the way Australian travellers […]
Bitcoin: Ten Years On
A mysterious, anonymous entity known as “Satoshi Nakamoto” posted a white paper on October 31 2008 entitled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”. It was the first time that the concept of Bitcoin entered the world. But outside of the cypherpunk mailing lists – those promoting the use of privacy-enhancing technology – this event was hardly noticed. Ten years on, who hasn’t at least heard of the cryptocurrency? On just nine pages, the white paper explained how the Bitcoin system would work. Many attempts at electronic cash had already been made going right back to computer scientist David Chaum’s “Digicash” developed in the 1980s. Using an intricate dance of cryptography, […]
Why Bitcoin is here to stay
The real game changer of Bitcoin is the underlying network of highly secure computers that support it. These computers run a new form of database called “blockchain.” Blockchain technology enables money and data to move without having to rely on a trusted middleman. It’s truly revolutionary. Already more than $3 billion a day is transacted across the Bitcoin network without the need for a central clearing authority. That has never happened before and it makes Bitcoin a unique asset. Software developers across the world are building applications designed to piggyback off this network. Over the next few years we’ll begin to see a host of new applications emerge for Bitcoin and the network […]
