FinTech

May
05

Globalisation of FinTech: Are we learning from our neighbours?

Most areas in the fintech space are hotly contested. Anyone watching the fintech space can feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of perspectives that emerge when a new product is launched, an article is written or a tweet is sent. And that is largely because fintech is global.   Fintech companies may operate in their own local markets and compete with, or “disrupt”, local banks, but financial technology as a whole is a global dealing. Any discussion of fintech needs to have this perspective.   This is not just a matter of having the correct frame of reference for discussion and debate, it ensures we find the right way to […]

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May
05

Craig Wright says he will prove he is bitcoin creator

One day after Australian businessman Craig S. Wright declared he created the virtual currency bitcoin, he says he plans to prove it. After many bitcoin experts expressed scepticism about Mr. Wright’s claims, the 45-year-old computer scientist and engineer wrote Tuesday on his blog that he’ll present more evidence in coming days to prove he is Satoshi Nakomoto, bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator. “I will be posting a series of pieces that will lay the foundations for this extraordinary claim, which will include posting independently-verifiable documents and evidence,” Mr. Wright wrote. Specifically, Mr. Wright says he plans to move some bitcoin from an account that has been around since the early days of […]

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May
05

Budget 2016: fintechs; MoneyPlace, OzForex hail recognition

The Turnbull government’s maiden budget may have lacked the necessary fireworks for the local innovation sector but fintech start-ups are not complaining. Melbourne-based peer-to-peer lender MoneyPlace’s founder and CEO Stuart Stoyan is pleased to see the Australian fintech ecosystem singled out in a budget that didn’t dole out many handouts to start-ups. “It’s an election budget so they had to balance a few things but the fact that fintech got attention is a big win,” he said. The government overnight unveiled measures designed to boost the fintech industry that Mr Stoyan said is a reflection of the sector’s growing prominence. “What we have is a number of factors coming together […]

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Afterpay fintech float closes up 25pc

The Ron Brierley-backed buy now, pay later fintech Afterpay got a positive response to its $125 million listing on Wednesday, closing up 25 per cent. The company – which received $8 million in private investments before the float from several former members of Mr Brierley’s Guiness Peat Group – listed at midday at $1 and ended the day at $1.25. The All Ordinaries closed down 1.47 per cent. The executive chairman and co-founder is Anthony Eisen, former chief investment officer of Guiness Peat Group. “What we’re pioneering in Australia is buy now, pay later online, in real time,” said Mr Eisen. “We have a transaction integrity engine that allows us […]

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May
04

Meet eight fintechs changing financial services

When you have just seven minutes to sell your idea as the next big thing to change banking and investment, every moment counts. Thirty of the country’s best fintechs are pitching to a room full of 160-plus bankers, brokers and venture capitalists at the Grand Hyatt ballroom in Melbourne, where their story, business plan and even looks are all being judged. From payments to wealth management, peer-to-peer lending and crowd funding, fintech start-ups are taking aim at the heart of the financial services industry and a pot of revenues that Goldman Sachs estimates at $4.7 trillion. The banks are all vying for a stake in these disrupters before they join […]

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May
04

Budget 2016: Innovation surprises in budget papers

Entrepreneurs developing fintech companies will get a leg up from a new program in association with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which will allow ideas to be tested with a limited number of retail clients for up to six months. These road tests in a “regulatory sandbox” will have prescribed investment limits. Australia will be promoted as a fintech destination in a government funded marketing campaign costing $200,000 next financial year. The government has also called for feedback on the best way to ensure fintech start-up activities are eligible for the venture capital tax concessions. Blockchain, the distributed ledger technology, will be the subject of a review by Data61 […]

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May
04

DirectMoney Releases Updated Personal Loan Fund

DirectMoney Limited (ACN 004 661 205 ASX: DM1) (DirectMoney) and One Managed Investment Funds Limited (ACN 117 400 987, AFSL 297042) (One Investment Group or OMIFL) are pleased to announce the release of an updated Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the DirectMoney Personal Loan Fund (ARSN 602 325 608) (Fund) as at 29 April 2016. Key features of the Fund now include: Lowering the minimum investment amount to $10,000 Weekly acceptance of investor applications Allowing re-investment of monthly distributions Expanded reporting Since the initial launch in May 2015 until mid-April 2016 the Fund has achieved a return of 7.18% after fees and provisions. The Fund aims to deliver a consistent […]

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May
04

Artificial Intelligence, Algo-Banking, Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Robo-Advice Form Growth of Australian FinTech Market

Fintech is a disrupting force and a decentralising movement in the financial services sector. Fintech’s apply information technologies and modern internet protocols for data exchange, and deliver financial services using data storage, data analysis algorithms, or personal telecommunication devices. Digital ecosystems are fundamental to the success of both Fintech and traditional banks. Frost & Sullivan’s study, Fintech in Australia – Trends, Forecasts and Analysis 2015 – 2020 defines and focuses on the growth and challenges of the Australian Fintech sectors’ three market segments; Digital Payments, Personal and Business Finance, and Financial Infrastructure and Data Analysis. Each segment relies on its own set of digital technologies. Digital Payments Digital Payments are […]

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