CSIRO and the University of Sydney’s Red Belly Blockchain breaks new ground for speed
The University of Sydney and CSIRO’s Data61 say they have successfully created a blockchain that can process a mass amount of transactions significantly more quickly than public blockchains, such as the one behind bitcoin. New trials of the Red Belly Blockchain run on Amazon Web Services infrastructure have shown an average transaction delay of only three seconds and a throughput of 30,000 transactions per second. In comparison, bitcoin processes only three to seven transactions per second and as of August had an average confirmation time for a transaction of 10-30 minutes (during peak trading periods in January this has reached as high as almost 3000 minutes per transaction), according to […]
When ‘it’ happens, SocietyOne urges us not to reach for the credit card
Australia’s pioneering and leading marketplace lender, SocietyOne, has launched an integrated marketing campaign to capitalize on the fast-approaching holiday season, where demand for consumer credit typically jumps with increased expenditure on festivities and gifts. The campaign, entitled “When ‘it’ happens”, highlights how even positive situations can put financial strain on even the most savvy Australians. It tells the story of ‘regular guy’, Dave, who is financially in control until a series of unexpected events blows his budget out of the water. SocietyOne saves the day by rewarding Dave’s good credit rating with a low-rate personal loan, saving him from resorting to a credit card – which can often become a […]
Fintechs outpacing banks in digital payments
The digital payments market is experiencing rapid disruption, with non-bank contactless/cardless mobile payment systems now being used by more Australians (6.5%) than bank-owned solutions (6.4%) according to the newly released Roy Morgan Digital Payment Solutions Currency Report. Fintech market entrants such as Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Wallet, are taking market share from incumbents, in a market where 93.6% of Australians aged over 14 are aware of at least one digital payment solution, and 72.4% have used at least one digital payment solution in the past 12 months. Roy Morgan’s report, based on more than 50,000 face-to-face consumer interviews, provides a 12 month perspective of how consumers are changing […]
The startup founder finding meaning in tap and go transactions
ImpactPay will give all Australians the opportunity to find meaning in their tap-and-go card transactions. Through a new smart digital wallet, users can accomplish humanitarian change, drive breakthroughs in healthcare, deliver global education and support local initiatives every time they make a purchase. ImpactPay founders, Adam and Regina Levine, saw an opportunity to tap into the collective power of micro-giving; developing a platform that enables Australians to support the causes of their choosing with each payment or transaction, using this world-first debit card. “More than 577 billion non-cash transactions take place every year; what if we could harness that to do good? It’s second nature for us all to use […]
Fintech 101: Core concepts for the future of banking
Everyday it feels like someone, somewhere has coined a new banking term. But as Australia continues to take big steps towards innovation, the average Aussie might feel left in the dark when it comes to understanding what’s in store for the future of banking. So to keep you in the loop with all the latest in fintech, we thought it might be worth getting the basics down first. What is fintech? Put simply, fintech stands for ‘financial technology’ and can refer to any technology that is used in the finance industry to provide products and services. Just remember that fintech usually refers to newer, innovative products and services. For example, […]
BPAY Group launches Sypht and Lodge
BPAY Group, announced today the launch of Sypht and Lodge. The addition of the new companies is a strategic move for BPAY Group and signals its transformation beyond payments. BPAY Group recently worked with BCG Digital Ventures to identify frictions in the Australian marketplace that it could help address from its unique position within Australia’s financial services industry. The result has been the introduction of two new companies, Sypht and Lodge, within the BPAY Group family of businesses. The companies operate independently and are headed by their own CEOs. Sypht uniquely uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to unlock the power of data. Sypht’s recently appointed CEO is Warren Billington. […]
PlayChip digital currency exchange “PlayXchange” registered
The PlayChip Foundation has been registered as the first digital currency exchange in Australia with its own native token. Last week the PlayChip Foundation Ltd was registered to provide Digital Currency Exchange services by Australian regulatory body AUSTRAC. AUSTRAC, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, is Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator and financial intelligence unit. The registration is pursuant to subsection 76E(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2017 (AML/CTF Act Amendment Act 2017). The registration signals a huge step forward to the Foundation, which will operate a cryptocurrency exchange called the PlayXchange as part of a global payment solution to its more than […]
ANZ bank launches phone wallet to withdraw cash from ATMs
The days of carrying a plastic bank card could be numbered, with ANZ customers now being offered the option of ditching their wallet for an all-digital profile. The bank’s latest innovation is technology allowing consumers to use a smartphone or watch to withdraw their cash from an ATM. The move means all ATM functions can now be completed without a card, and follows the widespread use of devices to process payments and purchases. “It is more secure than plastic cards because customers have to either use their face ID, or thumbprint or pin on their phone before they can even use cash, and take the cash out at the ATM,” […]
