Why Brisbane is the cryptocurrency capital of the country
Queensland is banking on cryptocurrency to boost tourism in the state, with a sizeable grant given to a Brisbane-based start-up that will enable visitors to pay for every aspect of their travel using digital currencies like Bitcoin. The local start-up, TravelbyBit, has received two rounds of funding from the state government and, in turn, has transformed its hometown of Brisbane into one of the most crypto-friendly cities in the world. TravelbyBit’s digital currency point-of-sale system has been deployed to over 200 merchants across Australia, with at least 60 per cent of those located in Queensland. In May, Brisbane Airport became the first in the world to accept cryptocurrency, enabling travellers […]
Australia just lost one of its most promising fintech startups, Airwallex, to Hong Kong
Tencent-backed payment operator Airwallex has become the latest fintech company to show interest in joining Hong Kong’s virtual banking push. Airwallex co-founder and chief executive Jacky Zhang said the company will team up with a traditional bank and other local partners as part of the application process, although he declined to reveal their identities. “We believe Hong Kong to be an ideal location to be our headquarters. Hong Kong is an international financial centre where we can serve our global clients worldwide,” Zhang said in an interview with the South China Morning Post in his newly installed office in Quarry Bay. Another reason for the relocation to Hong Kong is […]
Could Bitcoin replace Credit Cards?
Growing competition in the retail sector – and the possibility that the digital currency could help merchants lower transaction fees that cut into profit margins — could induce them to replace credit cards with Bitcoin. “From a merchant perspective, Bitcoin has the advantage of not having large fees from credit card companies that cut into profits,” writes Ian DeMartino, in The Bitcoin Guidebook: How To Obtain, Invest, And Spend The World’s First Decentralized Cryptocurrency. “Credit card companies typically charge between three to four percent for each transaction, a fee the merchants normally take on themselves. For merchants with small profit margins, that fee could be up half or more of […]
Aussie Fintech Airwallex founders win Entrepreneur of the Year
The founders of an Australian Fintech company, Airwallex were named Entrepreneur of the Year in the EY South Regional Awards. Founders CEO Jack Zhang and COO Lucy Lui both won the Fintech category and will progress to the nationals where the winners will move on to the international round. The event was hosted by EY and the winners were chosen by an independent panel of prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. This year, the board acknowledged the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, financial performance, national and global impact, strategic direction, and integrity of Airwallex founders. To read more, please click on the link below… Source: Aussie Fintech Airwallex Founders Win Entrepreneur of […]
Digital natives love the blockchain because they trust it
The younger ‘digital native’ generation may turn out to be blockchain’s driving force in years to come, as they grow to distrust centralised institutions and systems. That’s according to Dentacoin Foundation’s communications manager Donika Kraeva, who believes that there is a direct correlation between Generation Z’s lack of trust and high adoption of crypto assets and blockchain. Kraeva says that blockchain is a safe, reliable, and efficient way of storing value without any involvement from third parties. Apparently digital natives’ don’t like interference, especially from governments and banks. Digital trust is also more important than ever. Blockchain, Kraeva adds, provides digital scarcity and digital trust worldwide. Blockchain also provides online […]
Why this un-banked Kiwi crypto startup has relocated to Sydney
Kiwi cryptocurrency broker startup Cryptosaver has relocated from its Auckland birthplace to Sydney, with the founders claiming they have been unable to open a bank account for the business in New Zealand. Founded a year ago by James Viggiano, Denym Bird and Jack Daffron, Cryptosaver is an investment platform for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, designed to make it easy for users to purchase cryptocurrency and track gains on their investments. Co-founder James Viggiano, who is now based in Sydney while his co-founders work out of Auckland, tells StartupSmart the startup was initially able to open an account with one of the New Zealand banks, but that bank soon closed their account. […]
Home grown BTC Markets exchange adds home grown Power Ledger
BTC Markets is one of Australia’s relatively few home grown cryptocurrency exchanges, and it’s now listed Power Ledger (POWR), one of Australia’s relatively few home grown cryptocurrencies, as its eighth token. “At BTC Markets, our mission is to support the growth of innovative Australian projects, connecting them to Australian investors who understand the transformative potential of blockchain technology,” said BTC Markets co-founder Jarrod Crane. Power Ledger saw early international success with its ICO being the largest in Australia at the time, bolstered largely by overseas investments. It’s also one of relatively few cryptocurrencies to appreciate beyond its ICO price and continue growing. It’s quickly pushing towards real world adoption, with […]
eToro adds IOTA cryptocurrency
IOTA is now the most technically distinctive cryptocurrency on eToro. IOTA is now available on eToro as the social trading platform’s 12th crypto-asset, so users are able to buy and sell it. IOTA has also been added to eToro’s Crypto CopyFund – a contract for difference (CFD) set-up which lets users diversify across a basket of cryptocurrencies, weighted by market cap, with one click. As a social trading platform, eToro also lets users set up systems to automatically copy each other’s trades across cryptocurrency, as well as forex, stocks and other instruments. The full range of cryptocurrencies now available includes bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, XRP, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, Dash, Stellar, […]
