Bitcoin now bigger than Buffett, Boeing and New Zealand economy
Bitcoin’s extraordinary price surge means its market capitalisation now exceeds the annual output of whole economies, and the estimated worth of some of the world’s top billionaires. With the debate over its bubble status still raging, the flagship cryptocurrency continued its march higher on Monday, solidifying above $US11,000 and bringing its climb this year to more than 1,000 per cent. With market tracker Coinmarketcap.com putting the total value of all bitcoins in circulation at $US190 billion ($250 billion), it’s come a long way from August, when one coin could buy you a hefty supply of avocados. Here are five things that have been eclipsed by bitcoin in terms of market […]
Banking gap widens as tech-savvy consumers look to new products
They’re called peer-to-peer lenders or fintech companies and they’re shaking up the world of consumer loans and bank deposits. Here’s why. The gap between what people pay for consumer loans and what they get from bank deposits is widening, prompting them to look to new financial technologies for better interest rates. Peer-to-peer lender RateSetter has examined big bank profit margins and found that while they are paying record low rates on deposits their lending rates for personal loans and credit cards continue to climb. “You can drive a bus through the spread between bank deposits and consumer lending rates,” said RateSetter CEO Dan Foggo. “Publicity stunts such as dropping fees […]
Funding.com.au launches mortgage-backed peer-to-peer investor platform
Mortgage lender funding.com.au has just announced the release of its highly anticipated peer-to-peer investor platform – with an impressive advantage over its competitors. Unlike other prominent peer-to-peer lenders including SocietyOne and RateSetter, loans issued by funding.com.au are backed by mortgages over Australian real estate. It is the first startup of its kind in Australia to gain regulatory authorisation to allow both wholesale and retail investors access to residential and commercial mortgages. The platform gives investors direct access to the short to medium term mortgage market – a lucrative asset class that has traditionally been guarded by the banks and sophisticated investors. Individuals, private entities and self managed super funds (SMSF) […]
Do you know how your Bitcoin will be taxed?
Bitcoin has enjoyed a meteoric rise and could be in for a similarly spectacular fall.Either way, trading in Bitcoin has tax consequences. And staying out of trouble with the Australian Tax Office means knowing whether you are a hobbyist or serious investor, advisers say. As far as the ATO is concerned, there are broadly two reasons for purchasing Bitcoin: personal consumption and speculative gain. How you are taxed will depend on which category you fall into and, most importantly, how the ATO will view your activity. Above all, every single transaction needs to be fully documented, including not only “what”‘ is purchased, but “why” it was purchased, Hall & Wilcox […]
Bitcoin is safe, sustainable and here to stay
“Tulips”, “Ponzi scheme”, “fraud”, “only used by criminals and drug dealers’” have been some of the descriptions of Bitcoin in the past few weeks. Whether or not “fake news” is driving the price, the mystique of Bitcoin is enhanced by the fact that its “true” value cannot be determined using traditional financial analytical techniques. That mystique, however, does not justify the gulf between the bad press and what the facts show. For instance, former ASX boss Elmer Funke Kupper’s imputation that Bitcoin is “trade in drugs and other illegal products” drew instant scorn from Marco Santori, a regulatory expert and adviser to the International Monetary Fund at Cooley, a New York law firm. […]
CanYa raised $3.7 million with 28 Days to go for their ICO
CanYaCoins have been on a much anticipated countdown, with both the cryptocurrency enthusiasts and the cryptocurrency confused watching closely. The Australian startup raised AUD$1.8 million (3660 ETH) in their pre-sale and has just launched their ICO. The initial coin offering went live on the 26th of November at 8.30 pm (AEDT/GMT+11), and all reports say it launched with a bang. The CanYa team have revealed they have raised over $3.7 million in total and with the recent launch of their ICO. With 28 days for contributions to continue, they hope to use them to grow their community and platform. ICOs have been extremely hot in the market, offering […]
Sydney fintech Waddle just secured a $50 million debt funding round
Online cash flow lender Waddle has secured a $50 million debt funding facility, as it revealed it almost doubled its lending volume in the last financial year. The software is integrated into popular small business accounting packages like Xero, Intuit and MYOB to be able to look at which invoices are overdue for its customer. Based on this information, money is instantly lent out at the click of a button. The Sydney startup saw a 84% spike in lending volume for the 2017 financial year, which exceeded the initially expected mark of $30 million. Waddle co-founder Simon Creighton said the genre was previously “plagued” with complexities like factor pricing, contracts […]
Fortress backs $120m capital raising by MoneyMe
Global credit investor Fortress Investment Group will invest $100 million in debt capital to support MoneyMe’s consumer lending growth as the fintech considers an initial public offering in early 2019. Fortress’s investment is part of a $120 million asset-backed securitisation deal, which also includes a $20 million bond, issued by Evans & Partners, which was oversubscribed. MoneyMe, which has made $150 million in personal loans to 70,000 customers in the past four years, is both cash flow positive and profitable, very rare for an Australian fintech. Established in 2013, its net loan book is growing at $1 million each week, as it targets the credit card portfolios of the major […]
