Monthly Archives: August 2021

CBDC International Scramble For Dominance Under Scrutiny

Martin Baker, award-winning journalist and head of communications at Money&Co., continues his take on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).   According to trade commentator NonFungible, trading in NFTs jumped by 300% in 2020 topping $250 million. In 2019, the same report said that the NFT market was a mere $62.8 million having dropped by 68% […]

FCA FinTech Sandbox A Success, So Far

One of the recurring stories in alternative finance – especially in cryptocurrencies – has been the struggle of regulators to keep up with the pace of innovation. The authorities have done much better in keep a vigilant bur benign eye on what one might call “mainstream digital” finance – challenger, digital banks are a prime […]

Cryptos Are Here, There, Everywhere… Including Messi’s Pay Packet

Cryptocurrencies are here, there and soon to be everywhere, as todays’ two news items demonstrate. The Fintech Times offers a crypto-scam update: A poll by European law firm Fieldfisher revealed over 93% of businesses are uncertain or have no idea what to do if they fall victim to cyber fraud. Lack of preparedness for responding to cyber […]

‘Challenger’ Banks Throw Down Service Gauntlet To Mainstream

Challenger banks, as they were commonly known, are certainly developing their challenge to the mainstream. Witness the results of a new SME business service survey, as reported by our friends at Finextra. The UK’s Starling Bank has shot straight to the top of charts in the latest rankings of business banking services by the Competition […]

Capital Flow To Altfi Sector Continues Unabated

Today, we offer a snapshot of our super-busy alternative-finance sector as the mainstream, in the form of investment funds and venture capital players, buys in yet again. Our friends at Altfi report a couple of significant deals: First off is Kroo, a UK fintech aiming to win a bank license, has raised £17.7m in its […]

Another FinTech Heads Down Banking Path

The paths of the mainstream and alternative finance sectors are converging. Major institutions continue to demonstrate a healthy appetite for FinTech companies. Meanwhile, many of those FinTech companies are knocking on the door of mainstream acceptance all on their own. Our friends at Altfi bring the latest news of the payments and crypto app Circle , which […]