Where is the cryptocurrency industry headed in 2019?
To get a sense of just how troubling 2018 has been for the cryptocurrency industry, one need look no further than bitcoin (BTC). Heading into 2018, bitcoin traded for close to $13,500 after reaching an all-time high of $19,783.06 in December of 2017. At the time of writing, bitcoin is selling at $3,400, a loss of about three-quarters of its value — and other digital currencies aren’t faring much better. Ethereum, for example, fell from an early-year high of $1,300 to $91 as of Dec. 17, 2018. But cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum are hurting on more fronts than value alone. Investor interest in digital currencies has waned dramatically in […]
Lender looks to triple growth through broker channel
A marketplace lender has surpassed its target for loan origination through the broker channel, and is aiming to triple growth through the third-party channel in the next year. Speaking to The Adviser, the CEO of personal loan provider SocietyOne, Mark Jones, reflected on the success of the brand over the 2018 calendar year, particularly referencing its renewed relationship with brokers. In June of this year, the company established its first broker partnership and set itself a target of seeing up to $4 million of loans from the channel by the end of 2018. However, Mr Jones outlined the strength of the third-party, noting that this channel’s originations had already surpassed […]
CBA to turn on Apple Pay in January
Commonwealth Bank of Australia will share a slice of its transaction revenue with the world’s largest company, Apple, after relenting to customer demand and agreeing to turn on Apple Pay in January, a move which indicates the technology giant has the upper hand in the battle to control smartphone digital wallets. More than two-and-a-half years after rival ANZ Banking Group made Apple Pay available, CBA’s move will put pressure on National Australia Bank and Westpac Banking Corp, who continue to prevent their iPhone-carrying customers from using them or their Apple watches to make tap-and-go payments. After sustaining a year of intense pressure at the banking royal commission, CBA’s group executive […]
Moneysoft launches new website to support super fund focus
Financial technology company Moneysoft has launched a new website that showcases its growing range of services to large organisations including superannuation funds. One fund is currently running a pilot of Moneysoft’s Round-Ups solution, which forms a key component of Moneysoft’s new offering to institutions. Round-Ups lets people make small, frequent contributions to their investment accounts by automatically rounding up the spare change from everyday transactions into their super. It also allows members to automate or make one-off instalments into their super fund, bank account, or to pay off non-deductible debt, which fosters engagement and builds a foundation for more holistic personal financial advice. “Moneysoft’s push to large enterprises is a […]
Up launches conversational payments
Up, the digital banking platform that went live in October 2018, has today launched conversational payments in app for customers. An Australia first, the experience will bring functionality on par with the United States, Europe and China, where Venmo, SquareCash and WeChat Pay have significantly altered and improved customers’ payment experience. Up’s Chief Imaginer, Anson Parker, says many Australians will not have experienced this approach to payments before. “Driven by Osko, payments are made in real time to friends and merchants – there’s nothing ‘pending’ here. And we’ve built this platform from the ground up to enable the conversational format that gives customers clarity on where money is going to […]
Retreat & Destroy: what R&D reforms are doing to start-ups
For a government that is threatening to wipe out a significant number of tech start-ups with its proposed changes to the research and development tax incentive, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the Morrison government appears to have failed to do any research into the potential impact. After all, if the government had conducted its own study it would know that R&D tax incentives are the unsung hero of the start-up world, and reducing accessibility could be the death knell for innovation in Australia. But this is the same government that is without a minister focused only on innovation and one that has reduced spending on science, research and innovation […]
Fintech joins express loans partnership
A digital mortgage service fintech has announced it will join a partnership to create fast, paperless home loans. Tic:Toc and Bendigo Bank announced recently they would be teaming up to offer “express” loans. Now, legal fintech LeadPoint, which specialises in providing automated home loan documentation, has announced it would join them. The group has generated more than 50,000 home loan contracts through its platform since it launched in 2013. LeadPoint’s involvement in Bendigo Bank Express is the next phase of LeadPoint’s partnership with Tic:Toc loans, which already offers ‘webmortgages’ loan documentation as part of its instant home loan assessment and approval platform. LeadPoint uses its proprietary platform to produce digital […]
Yet another end of Cryptocurrency? What influences the market now
Most cryptocurrencies have seen their growth slow down in recent months. The prices of Bitcoin and major altcoins have leveled out at a point well below their peak prices. While some investors take this as a sign that the market is starting to mature, others see this trend as disconcerting. The situation surrounding cryptocurrency is not what it was a year ago. This also means that the factors that influence the market have changed, although some factors are enduring and will always affect cryptocurrency performance. Here are some of the major factors influencing the market right now. Bitcoin Price The price of Bitcoin influences the prices of all other digital […]
