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To ethically mine crypto we need to use renewable energy
Blockchain technology and its most popular cryptocurrency, bitcoin, have been called of equal importance to the internet, capable of transforming businesses, government, and social interaction: the entire fabric of modern society.
- Categories
- Energy, Finance, Technology
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More Bitcoin Regulation Likely In Emerging Markets
According to a report from Bloomberg, published at the end of last year, around 58% of the world’s cryptocurrency mining pools are located in China, followed by the US at 16%. Even though significant financial institutions within China are forbidden from providing payment services for products denominated in bitcoin due to bitcoin regulation, other platforms have emerged to offer investors this service.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- cryptocurrency
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Wall St. Journal Financial Inclusion Challenge Seeks Innovative Enterprises – Application Deadline Feb. 23
Financial instability plagues millions of Americans. Many cannot pay their monthly bills and have no retirement savings or no idea how to manage what they do have. The Wall Street Journal has launched a Financial Inclusion Challenge aimed at both nonprofits and for-profit organizations who have socially impactful solutions to the problems of low- and moderate-income people in the U.S. The deadline for entry is Feb. 23.
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Asia-Pacific fintech market to reach US$72 billion by 2020, finds Frost & Sullivan
Active support and initiatives by financial regulators such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Bank Negara Malaysia and Bank Indonesia has enabled the Asia-Pacific Fintech ecosystem to grow significantly in 2017.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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China’s Ant plans equity fundraising at potential $100 billion valuation – sources
Ant’s last fundraising in 2016 valued the owner of Alipay, China’s top online payment platform, at about $60 billion. The new round should start with a valuation of between $80 billion to $100 billion, the people said.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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What Blocks The Success Runway For Fintech Startups In India?
Despite adequate funding and an unprecedented growth of 135% in just two years, most fintech startups are grappling with inefficiencies in multiple operations. However, with India slowly but surely making the transition towards a cashless economy, access to internet services, and increasing transparency in transactions, the outlook for the future is most certainly robust.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech, regulations, startups
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Is Mobile Money Killing Off the Group Microfinance Model (And Would That Be Such a Bad Thing)?
SAJIDA Foundation, an NGO and microfinance provider in Bangladesh, recently took the bold step of going cashless. But shifting to mobile money meant the end of group meetings – the locus of traditional microcredit for decades. The NGO was betting on clients embracing this new approach, but after the initial rollout, it noted some troubling downsides along with the expected benefits. Ashirul Amin of BFA explores the pros and cons SAJIDA has encountered in its cashless journey, and how it is responding with a hybrid method that blends old and new.
- Categories
- Finance, Impact Assessment
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Apple brings Alibaba-linked payment system into China stores amid market push
Apple Inc will accept Chinese mobile payment app Alipay in its local stores, boosting its ties with giant e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd amid a push by the iPhone maker to revive growth in the world’s No.2 economy.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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