-
Bitcoin and the Bottom of the Pyramid: How cryptocurrency can make good on its promise of financial inclusion
The buzz behind cryptocurrency is remarkable. With persistent momentum, and despite both spectacular collapses and temporary setbacks, Bitcoin and other digital currencies are seeding their own startup ecosystem. What significance, if any, does cryptocurrency have for financial inclusion and the socioeconomic base of the pyramid? Paul Breloff and Nathan Krishnamurthy of Accion Venture Lab explore the risks and possibilities.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Foreign Aid Isn’t Charity. It’s an Investment
One of the few bright spots of bipartisanship on Capitol Hill of late has been in global development. The House recently passed a bill to support President Clinton’s Power Africa initiative, which is designed to boost access to electricity across six countries in the region. Both houses also managed to reauthorize PEPFAR—the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief— which provides antiretrovirals toalmost 7 million people worldwide.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Start Small, Stay Small: Can better finance help Latin America’s microenterprises take the next step?
According to the World Bank, 60 percent of Latin America employees work for businesses with five or fewer employees. And its new companies grow at a much slower rate than similar businesses in other middle-income regions. In part 3 of our Impact Investing Insights series, we speak with Venture South’s managing director George Petty about how better finance can help.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
‘Firms should create CSR strategies in sync with their corporate character’
When Harvard Business School's V Kasturi Rangan conducted a seminar on managing corporate social responsibility in Mumbai two years ago, all of the city's top industrialists were in attendance.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
World Bank gives $1.4 mn in grants to 12 social enterprises in the Northeast
The World Bank's Development Marketplace, a competitive grants programme, has given grants worth $1.4 million (about Rs 8.4 crore) to 12 social enterprises in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram for development activities.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Woori to buy Cambodian microfinance institution
Woori Bank has decided to acquire Cambodia’s microfinance institution Malis Finance for 5 billion won ($4.9 million) to accelerate its global expansion.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
‘Mobile money, Bitcoin driving down African remittance costs’
Mobile money and digital currencies are being used to boost remittances into Africa and drive down the cost of sending money to the continent, experts said on Wednesday.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Myanmar: Adjusting for growth in the financial sector
Authorities in Myanmar are determined to foster economic progress and have placed financial inclusion on their list of priorities.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.