Bitcoin speeds past $US8000 as its white-knuckle rollercoaster ride accelerates
Bitcoin’s relentless and volatile rally shows no sign of abating, with the world’s largest cryptocurrency defying growing bubble fears to hit yet another milestone. Bitcoin rose as much as 6.7 per cent to a record $US8224 ($10,898) as of 9.27am in New York. It’s been a tumultuous year for the virtual currency, with three separate slumps of more than 25 per cent all giving way to subsequent rallies. “The inflation in this thing is massive,” Luke Hickmore, a senior investment manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments in London, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “When will it collapse? Who knows. It will cause a lot of pain.” Even as many […]
Fintech start-up Douugh scores partnership with US mutual bank Choice
Sydney-based fintech start-up Douugh has scored a partnership with US mutual bank Choice Financial, as it readies to launch its smart banking personal assistant, Sophie. As part of the open banking partnership, Douugh will launch an integrated bank account and debit card with the bank, giving it the ability to accept deposits. Choice Financial has also invested in Douugh, as part of a $2.5 million seed round. Founder and chief executive Andy Taylor, who was also a co-founder of successful peer-to-peer lending platform SocietyOne, told The Australian Financial Review he wanted to reduce society’s reliance on credit cards and help people save money. “I’ve always been quite passionate about the […]
Equity crowd-funding’s Australian launch opens doors to small investors
YOU no longer need to be wealthy to buy into innovative business start-ups, thanks to a new type of investing set to launch early in 2018. Investors seeking to own a slice of start-up small businesses will soon be able to dive in. Equity crowdfunding – which will turn everyday Aussies into venture capitalists and angel investors – has been given the green light by the Federal Government and is likely to start matching investors and businesses early next year. Equity crowdfunding started globally in 2011 and start-up businesses have raised more than $3 billion using its platforms in countries including the US, Britain and New Zealand. Australian group OnMarket […]
On this trajectory it won’t be long before one Bitcoin is worth $1 million a pop
By Fred Schebesta, Co-Founder & CEO of finder.com.au Eight years ago, if I told you you’d be a millionaire today if you invested in Bitcoin, would you buy it? Back then, Bitcoin was one of the first cryptocurrencies to hit the market and had a price tag of $0.08 ($US0.06) per coin, as recorded in 2010. This month, it hit a record of $10,417 per coin. You would have only needed to buy 95 coins at a total cost of $7.68 to be worth $1 million today. Based on this trajectory, it won’t be long (perhaps a few years) before one Bitcoin will be worth $1 million a pop. It’s […]
The fintech transforming the cash investment sector for advisers
While investing cash as part of a client’s defensive investment portfolio is a necessity, many advisory businesses find the current lack of choice to be challenging. Traditionally the time taken to action cash investing, incremental costs together with laborious paperwork outweighed the effort by the adviser and the ability to enhance returns for the client. Cashwerkz, a leading edge Fintech company has developed a platform for advisers who wish to maximise earnings on defensive cash allocations, whilst simplifying the administration time to establish, transact and manage term deposits. Cashwerkz Relationship Manager, Lisa Gregory, explains “The combination of low interest rates and an increased administrative burden have made it far more […]
Wary banks to enter fintech waters
While larger financial institutions have traditionally stayed out of the fintech space, this could soon change, according to some of Australia’s leading experts. “To date I’ve actually taken the view that I don’t think the banks have really played much in this space because it’s disruptive and it’s easier for them to not necessarily add fuel to the fire or to accelerate that disruption,” said Anthony Millet, CEO of BRICKX, in a panel discussion at the Millennial 20/20 conference in Sydney (14 November). This is now changing with new legislation being introduced in Australia that makes it easier for start-ups to enter the market, he said. “I think we’re going […]
10 Australian Fintech companies in the 2017 Fintech100
The Fintech100 represents the most innovative companies, creating products and services at the juncture of technology and financial services who are seeking to disrupt the existing processes and products that dominate the marketplace, with fintech companies from 29 countries featuring in this year’s 100. Congratulations to the Australian Fintech companies who made the H2 Ventures KPMG 2017 Fintech100 Top 50: 24. Prospa 37. zipMoney 44. AfterPay Touch And congratulations to the following Australian Fintech companies who made the Fintech100 Emerging 50: Airwallex Cover Genius Hyper Anna Macrovue MoneyMe Tic:Toc Valiant
Spaceship super’s secret talks with APRA, a $50 million capital raise and Julia Gillard buys in
Millennial super fund Spaceship has been in secret talks with banking regulator for its own licence. Investors have backed the licensing application with a $50 million capital raising round. One new investor, a US venture capital firm, has former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard on the board. Millennial online superannuation fund Spaceship has completed a $50 million capital raising round, while waiting for a rare Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) licence. Spaceship and other startup pension funds, like Grow Super, Zuper and Mobi Super, typically pay to use the licence of a traditional company to operate. Spaceship itself changed its parent licence holder over the winter, switching from Grosvenor Pirrie […]
