ASIC looking to regulate overseas ICOs under Australian laws
Australian regulations may apply to ICOs, even when created and offered overseas, warns commissioner. ASIC will be eyeing initial coin offerings (ICOs) as it moves to update its guidelines for companies raising funds by issuing digital currencies or tokens. Specifically, it warns that Australian laws may apply to ICOs even when they’re created and offered from overseas. “We will highlight that Australian corporate and consumer law might apply – even if the ICO is created and offered from overseas,” said ASIC Commissioner John Price at a Sydney fintech event. “This is an important point given the international nature of this sector. I think you can expect a strong focus from […]
How SelfWealth’s MD got his startup IPO-ready
Startups contemplating an IPO must have all their ducks in a row and be willing to get their hands dirty, says Andrew Ward, founder and managing director of recently-listed fintech company SelfWealth. Launched in 2012, the online, cloud-based share trading platform offers investors flat fee brokerage, regardless of the trade size, as well as access to SelfWealth PREMIUM, a social network where share portfolios can be compared and constructed. “In an Australia-first, we’re allowing users to leverage the power and wisdom of the crowd when making investment decisions,” Ward told Dynamic Business. “Being the first to market in this space has created a powerful barrier to entry for other competitors, […]
ASIC turns attention to initial coin offerings
As a method of raising funds. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) will be a “key focus” for Australia’s corporate watchdog as it looks to update guidance on companies considering raising funds by issuing digital coins or tokens. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will expand the scope of its guidance in coming weeks to include more questions and details on ICOs, commissioner John Price flagged in a speech in Sydney. “We will highlight that Australian corporate and consumer law might apply – even if the ICO is created and offered from overseas,” Price said at a fintech event. “This is an important point given the international nature of this sector. […]
Six Park partners with Heffron to launch transparent, low-cost SMSF solution
Automated investment provider Six Park has today announced it has partnered with leading independent self-managed super fund (SMSF) administration provider Heffron to offer a transparent, low-cost, digitally driven, end-to-end SMSF service. The partnership allows SMSF trustees to establish an SMSF and take advantage of robo-advice for their fund, with Heffron managing the compliance and Six Park managing the investments. Six Park CEO, Patrick Garrett, said that while there will always be a place for traditional advice, the solution offers a unique value-for-money proposition for trustees and a lower prospective entry point to set up an SMSF. “Digital technology and automation are disrupting the wealth industry not because they’re new but […]
P2P lender’s growth due to consumer ‘rebellion’
Peer-to-peer lender RateSetter has attributed its recent rapid growth to consumers actively rebelling against the big banks. The company has just passed the milestones of 10,000 investors and $250million in loans and says it is thanks to the Royal Commission’s scrutiny of the four major lenders. Research amongst RateSetter’s investor base has found that long-term customers of the big four, particularly amongst generation X, are diverting millions of dollars away from their savings accounts and term deposits into longer term P2P investing. The amount invested by these investors has increased by 14% over the last 12 months, with average investment now sitting at close to $40,000. CEO of RateSetter Australia, […]
New record as fintech funding hit $5.4bn globally in Q1
Mega-rounds are back in fintech as 12 firms raised investments of more than US$100m each. Fintech funding continues to rise and rise as an investment class with US$5.4bn across 323 deals was raised globally in Q1 of 2018. According to CB Insights’ Global Fintech Report Q1 2018, global fintech activity hit a new record during the quarter. The US saw the largest boost in deals while Europe saw fintech deal activity dip to a five-quarter low. South America is already a region to watch as funding raised in the first quarter of 2018 of US$271m surpassed the entire funding total for 2017. Funding saw a boost from a US$150m mega-round […]
Robo advisers march in tracks of royal commission scandals
The shenanigans revealed by the banking royal commission over the past week will inevitably draw attention to the emerging batch of start-ups offering digital financial advice. Often referred to as “robo advisers”, these technology companies are cutting investment fees through automation thereby removing the human foibles dramatically exposed by Commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s inquiry. The commission has shown human adviser education levels can be appallingly low, and paper-based processes have led to poor record keeping. Meanwhile, customers are often apathetic and disengaged, and complexity reigns. Processes being digitised include the creation of broking accounts, executing trades, rebalancing portfolios and generating statements of advice. This can all be presented to customers for […]
FinTech startup Pelikin looks to recruit Gen Y investors
After a highly successful expression of interest campaign on equity crowdfunding platform Birchal, Melbourne FinTech startup Pelikin is continuing to rally millennials to invest in Pelikin. Encouraging Gen Y Professionals to invest in the banking alternative with as little as $100, Pelikin is hoping to get as many users as possible over the next month to be involved in building the travel banking app. Pelikin Founder Sam Brown said the younger market was the reason behind the development and creation of the app, so it was a natural progression for them to be a part of the Pelikin growth journey. “Rather than buying a house, Gen-Y are more interested in […]
