World’s largest blockchain loyalty program launches in Australia
Blockchain company EZToken has announced the launch of its global cryptocurrency loyalty program (EZToken Rewards) in Australia. EZToken Rewards is the world’s biggest blockchain loyalty program (by size of retailer network). Members are rewarded with EZToken cryptocurrency rather than loyalty points for transacting with over 80 participating retailers. Unlike loyalty points, the value of EZToken constantly changes as EZToken is actively traded on digital exchanges around the world. With real potential to become one of the most popular loyalty currencies in the world, members who have earned EZToken can hold and see if the value rises, trade at participating retailers or transfer to other EZToken Rewards members. Best of all, […]
Comprehensive credit reporting laws will drive innovation and protect banks
In the blue corner, lining up to support the bill to ensure customer repayment history is provided in credit reports, are: the government, all of the banks, the entire fintech industry, the credit bureaus, the regulators (especially the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority), and many equivalent western economies such as the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. In the red corner, lining up against it, are consumer groups and the Labor party. At the last election, Labor also supported “comprehensive credit reporting” like nearly everyone else, but this month decided to back a 12-month delay to the reporting of “repayment history information”, which sits at the core of the regime. Positions […]
First Aussie crowdfunding start-up exit Jayride gives investors back 107pc
Investors in airport transport start-up Jayride have made a 107 per cent return on their initial investment, in the first equity crowdfunding exit in the country. It is the first time Jayride’s realised rate of return has been revealed, with the majority of investors who bought into its first round through VentureCrowd in December 2015 remaining investors in the business following its January IPO. The first crowd-sourced equity funding raise was priced at 24¢ per share and was one of three rounds the company raised in this manner, equating to about $700,000. All up, the business had raised $15 million in capital, including $8 million from global venture capital network […]
Alex Waislitz’s Thorney Investments, Regal back Credit Clear ahead of IPO
Rich lister Alex Waislitz’s Thorney Investments has taken a significant stake in debt payment fintech start-up Credit Clear, ahead of a potential float in mid 2019. The investment from Thorney was part of an $8.5 million capital raise, which was also supported by Regal Funds Management and some high net worth individuals. The raise was lower than its original target of $10 million, but co-founder Lewis Romano said the round was actually over-subscribed, with the company having made the decision to scale back the raise to $6 million and go after just one international market, the US, rather than expanding to the US, UK and Asia at once. “The lead […]
How real is the competition to Bitcoin?
Cryptocurrencies continue to take the world by storm, with values increasing and new products entering the market all the time. While Bitcoin is still the world’s biggest digital currency, it faces serious competition from Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Ripple just to name a few. The rise of cryptocurrencies has been called the biggest evolution of the financial system in history, as decentralised exchanges and blockchain technology continue to change how the world views money. While no-one knows exactly what’s in store for the crypto market for the remainder of 2018, the trending markets seen in 2017 seem to be consolidating into trading ranges across time scales. The entire cryptocurrency market […]
NAB’s UBank to ‘use technology as a weapon’
National Australia Bank says its digital bank UBank will take advantage of the government’s ‘open banking’ reforms by developing new ‘platforms’ that will connect users to a broad range of financial services – not necessarily NAB’s – which could open up new revenue streams. NAB chief executive Andrew Thorburn described the open data reforms as “potentially a transformational-type change” and said in an interview NAB is planning to “use technology as a weapon, not just a tool of commerce”. NAB created UBank a decade ago; its customer base has grown to 400,000, half are Millennials, and only a small minority are existing NAB customers. NAB is lifting investment in UBank […]
YTML transforms high volume SOA changes
Fintech YTML has rolled out its newest automated solution which is helping to quickly generate high volumes of personalised Statements of Advice (SoAs) for simple advice. Terri Ho, YTML General Manager, Advice said having to write SoAs or RoAs for a change impacting a large group of clients is one of the most time-consuming, frustrating and expensive exercises for licensees and advisers. “Changes can come about for a range of reasons – a change of platform or the removal of a product from an Approved Product List, for example. If you have a big book of clients you will have a large number of SoAs or RoAs needing to reference […]
No wallet, no worries: Australian shops adopt Chinese payment apps
Businesses are signing up to China’s mobile payment services to tap into the lucrative Chinese tourism and international student markets. Vicky Yang pays for her groceries, not with cash or card, but by using an app on her mobile phone. The 25-year-old international student simply scans the Sydney supermarket’s QR code with her smartphone, and in seconds the transaction is completed. “It’s very convenient … you don’t need to take your bank card or cash. You just take out your mobile phone and you can pay,” Ms Yang told SBS News in Mandarin. The most popular apps are Alipay, owned by e-commerce giant Alibaba, and WeChat Pay, from messaging app […]
