EY FinTech Australia Census 2016
FinTech Australia and EY Sweeney release the most comprehensive analysis of Australia’s fintech ecosystem to date, the EY FinTech Australia Census 2016 FinTech Australia and EY Sweeney are today releasing the inaugural EY FinTech Australia Census 2016, the most comprehensive and detailed report on the Australian fintech industry to date. The research was formally launched in Melbourne today by EY’s Anita Kimber at FinTech Australia’s national summit, Collab/Collide 2016 in partnership with LaunchVic. This significant piece of research was commissioned by FinTech Australia as part of their efforts to foster a thriving fintech ecosystem in Australia. The report identifies important characteristics of the Australian fintech industry, and establishes a set […]
Five steps to get started with blockchain
Since its first implementation in 2009, we have seen Bitcoin adoption spread across different countries and become a serious competitor to traditional financial transactions methods, creating new business opportunities for both corporations and governments. As a tech savvy country and one of the earlier adopters of bitcoin and other e-currencies, Australia has seen considerable interest in blockchain technology that underpins bitcoin and other crypto-currencies. Just in the past few months, we have seen an Australian start-up claiming to have created the first local blockchain, and Australia Post has begun looking into the use of blockchain technology in the areas of identity, registries and e-voting. And a few days ago, Commonwealth […]
WorldRemit achieves key volume milestone underpinned by strong user growth
WorldRemit achieves key volume milestone underpinned by strong user growth, with Australian market a key driver WorldRemit now processing over 500,000 transactions per month 100,000 transfers sent from users in Australia alone 160,000 transfers received directly on mobile phones Signalling rapid and accelerating global growth, online money transfer service WorldRemit announced it had processed more than half a million transfers in a month for the first time ever in September, with more than 100,000 transfers sent from users in Australia alone. The milestone continues WorldRemit’s record for consistent transaction volume growth, showcasing strong fundamentals – consistent, growing revenues streams and a clear path to profitability. Global turnover is […]
NSW trade minister welcomes $1.1 billion tech company TransferWise to Sydney
A global tech company founded by Skype’s first employee and valued at $1.1 billion will set up shop in Sydney as it looks to strengthen its footing in the Asia-Pacific region. TransferWise CEO and co-founder Taavet Hinrikus says the rapid take-up of their international money transfers platform in Australia prompted them to expand down under. “Sydney is a great city and we’re looking forward to becoming part of the tech community,” he says. “Since launching TransferWise here, it’s become one of our fastest-growing routes.” New South Wales minister for trade Stuart Ayres says the government has been actively driving efforts to attract fast growing companies to the state in 10 […]
Westpac says RBA-issued digital currency would boost blockchain
Westpac Banking Corp, National Australia Bank, Macquarie Group and nine other international members of the R3 consortium have completed a trial of blockchain technology which saw funds transferred between banks across borders using Ripple’s cryptocurrency XRP. The tests confirm cross-border payments is shaping up as one of the initial use cases for blockchain in financial services and point to a future where money is transferred directly and instantly without the need for overnight clearing and settlement by central banks. The project was designed to help banks unlock liquidity and reduce the costs of international banking. Using Ripple’s distributed ledger, the dozen banks converted domestic currency into XRP and sent this […]
A financial market on your phone – innovation winner’s next goal
A university professor, whose fraud-detection computer program has revolutionised the world’s financial markets and won the Prime Minister’s Innovation Prize, has a bigger goal in sight – creating a financial market on your phone. Professor Michael Aitken and his team created the SMARTS system, which catches insider trading and market manipulation around the world with such success it was sold in 2010 for $90 million to the world’s largest exchange company, the US-based Nasdaq. That sale helped fund a new generation of research entrepreneurs under Professor Aitken’s Capital Markets Cooperative Research Centre, which is using the same technology to pick up fraud, abuse, waste and over-servicing in the health and […]
An overview of digital currencies
By now you may have heard about cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin being used to trade and purchase goods and services, but here’s a fact you may not be aware of. As of 2016 the United Nations recognises 180 different currencies, everything from the Abkhazian Apsar to the US dollar, however does not recognise a single crypto-currency as legal tender. Despite not receiving official recognition as a currency, the various crypto-currencies are being used around the world in order to carry out trade for goods and services. The most popular of crypto-currencies, Bitcoin, has a market cap of over US$10 billion. Currently there are 654 crypto-currencies in circulation, a trend that […]
Blockchain report: Where are we now, and where are we going?
A report by international law firm Allens investigates the use cases for blockchain and where the technology is now. International law firm Allens, which has offices in Australia and Asia, has released a detailed report investigating the attributes, problems and possible use cases for blockchain. The report’s lead authors say blockchain first got on Allens’ radar in 2012 due to a junior lawyer’s penchant for blockchain, and the fascination stemmed from there. “We’ve seen distributed ledger technology move out of the lab and onto the C-suite agenda of our clients, from startups to multinational giants with centuries of transactions behind them,” they said. While perspectives are many and varied, the […]
