OFX’s UK e-money licence shows up relatively sluggish Aussie fintech laws
ASX-listed online foreign exchange provider OFX will issue a trading update alongside its annual general meeting on Tuesday, and it is part of its aspirations to be a fintech player of global scale. A central element to this vision is the ability to expand its range of payment services. And so its announcement last week that it has acquired an “e-money licence” from the Financial Conduct Authority, the UK regulator, was significant for OFX (formerly known as OzForex). It also reveals how progressive UK regulators are about encouraging fintech innovation in the payments system. Ride sharing company Uber applied for an e-payments licence in the Netherlands in March. The regime […]
Coinbase users in Australia can now get gift cards with crypto
With feeless purchases and crypto bonuses, this might actually be genuinely good value for money. Are you a Coinbase user in Australia or Europe? Are you looking for something to do with your crypto? Do you feel like cash is too impersonal but can’t be bothered to get someone a real gift? Then you’re going to love this! Coinbase users in the UK, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia can now cash out crypto for a range of gift cards through a new Coinbase partnership with WeGift. The service is allegedly instant and feeless, with bonuses of about 2-8%, for a range of brands. Depending on the card and […]
Aussie fintech Coinnup is making a $US32 million pitch
Perth-based fintech Coinnup has launched the second round of its cryptocurrency token sale on a quest to raise $US32 million from “PMZ” tokens. Coinnup started with the aim of developing a range of crypto tools, including a listing platform for Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) and a cryptocurrency exchange. An ICO is like an initial public offering — but instead of offering shares, an issuer offers digital tokens that can be traded on cryptocurrency platforms or swapped for services. Cryptocurrency refers to digital money such as BitCoin. Coinnup is registered in Australia but earlier this year launched its own ICO in Hong Kong for the issue of PMZ tokens. The project it’s developing […]
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 […]
Bizmoto in partnership with leading Filipino Remittance Co
Peppermint Innovation Limited today announced its online international remittance business, Bizmoto, has signed a partnership agreement with Direct Agent 5, Inc (DA5) – one of the Philippines’ leading non-bank remittance payout providers. Under the agreement, Bizmoto will be able to use DA5’s 1000+ locations in the Philippines as trusted remittance payout providers for its customers and DA5 will be able to use Bizmoto’s online remittance platform to payout money transfers to Australia. DA5 is an authorised direct agent of Western Union Money Transfer and offers international and local remittance services, airline ticketing, bill payment facilities, mobile phone loading services, foreign exchange transactions and mobile payment services. Bizmoto will earn revenue […]
Does this bitcoin rebound have longevity?
Bitcoin has been rallying sharply over the past two weeks, gaining around 40% from the USD$6000 mark. However, with the creation of lower highs throughout 2018, there is a risk that we will see another turn lower in the near future. Bitcoin has been on the rise over the past fortnight, with the price pushing through trendline resistance to reach the 61.8% retracement. That rally through the trendline certainly signals a slowdown in the decline of the cryptocurrency, yet the question over whether this marks the bottom remains to be answered. The downtrend that has been in place throughout 2018 remains, despite this trendline break, yet it is clear that […]
What crash? Institutional investors have been buying up bitcoin all year
Every price drop is accompanied by a new wave of interest from the big money. Anyone who’s been following cryptocurrency is probably well aware of the pronounced slump that hit the markets as the December-January bubble burst, and the exuberance faded. This was perhaps an entirely expected outcome. By some estimates, maybe half of everyone who’s touched cryptocurrency to date jumped in during the December-January highs and was badly burned by the inevitable readjustment. So, most people didn’t have a very pleasant start to their crypto journey, and then those who didn’t get out were forced to buckle up for a six month bleed. Institutional investors have remained entirely unphased […]
Explainer: What is Ripple?
Not just a poor man’s Bitcoin, the currency exchange network Ripple is the dark horse of fintech. Ripple is far more than simply a “poor man’s Bitcoin”. Despite the host of cryptocurrency copycats on the market right now, Ripple isn’t simply copying the status quo. This currency exchange and remittance network actually has a lot more complexity to it than first meets the eye. To help you wrap your head around Ripple, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to fintech’s most exciting cryptocurrency. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the enigmatic currency exchange service. What is Ripple? Ripple, the successor to Ripplepay, was released in 2012 as […]
