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Overthrowing the King: Could Central Bank Digital Currencies Replace Cash in Post-COVID-19 Africa?
Despite advances in digital technology, cash has remained the undisputed king of payments in sub-Saharan Africa. However, as Michaella Allen and Christine Hougaard at Cenfri explain, COVID-19 has placed a stigma on cash and led governments across the region to actively encourage digital payments. They explore the implications of this shift, and whether it could make central bank digital currencies a viable alternative.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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Coronavirus Triggers Dollar Drain in Big Emerging Markets
Plunging foreign reserves in Turkey, Indonesia threaten global crisis
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Tags
- financial health, tourism
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Coronavirus Has Upended Payments and Fintech Investing
The payments industry has been in a state of disruption for years, with new technology, greater flexibility and customer experience improvements defining the past decade of innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic all but guarantees an accelerated adoption of new payments technology, both online and in physical stores, but the trajectory of new solutions is going to pivot according to the new pandemic reality. Over the next few years, we’re going to see fintech investments evolve accordingly.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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Pandemic Spurs Social Entrepreneurship in Startup Communities
As an entrepreneur-turned-investor, and having survived prior downturns, I have my share of bumps and bruises that serve as reminders and motivators. But I also like to remember that some of the most successful tech companies were funded during the last big downturn, such as Dropbox, Airbnb and Credit Karma. With that in mind, our venture capital firm is staying the course during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to aggressively look for great entrepreneurs to fund.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Tags
- impact investing, startups
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Viewpoint: Digital Equity, More Urgent Than Ever
Experts discuss overcoming racial and geographic disparities in a post-pandemic world.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
- Region
- North America
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Press Release: Careem, Visa, Sign Partnership to Accelerate Cashless Payments and Digital Financial Inclusion Across MENA
Visa push payment services will be available on the Careem Pay Super App for Captains to make low-cost money transfers.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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Indian Fintech Helps Millenials With Managing Credit Scores, Acquires $6 Million in Capital
Slice, a Fintech company that provides various card-based products to young people in India to help manage their credit scores, has secured $6 million in capital via a round led by Japanese venture capital firm, Gunosy.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- credit scoring, fintech
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Zimbabwe Has Banned All Mobile Money Services as Its Currency Troubles Worsen
Mobile money platforms have been banned in Zimbabwe as the country’s local currency continues to lose value, with authorities desperately hoping to arrest the decline. But the move has left subscribers and users stranded in an economy which sees a huge portion of transactions flow through mobile money platforms due to long-term cash shortages at the banks.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- financial health
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