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Analysis: Could Digital Currencies Make Being Poor Less Costly?
Blockchain-based payment systems can bring the more than 1.7 billion people who are unbanked or underbanked (including 25% of U.S. households), into the formal economy. And in doing so, they can render obsolete the expensive, usurious payment and informal financial services those people use to make ends meet.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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World Bank Releases Research on the Impact of Smart Contracts for Financial Inclusion
Governments and financial authorities across several states are closely monitoring the impact of smart contracts in a digital financial system despite the slow adoption of the technology.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Innovating on the Pay for Success Model: How ‘Social Derivatives’ Can Unlock Everyday Giving to Incentivize Greater Impact
Pay-for-success models have generated considerable excitement in the social finance sector. But according to Akhil Pawar and Geet Kalra at Yunus Social Business, the approach presents several challenges, mainly around the question of who will pay, and how to ensure an economical structure. They share a potential solution that leverages retail giving, substituting large donors with small ones by using "social derivatives."
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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Viewpoint: True Decentralization Is Needed for Financial Inclusion and Coronavirus Stimulus
Blockchain technology can reduce the inefficiency and even corruption that accompany centralization. While those who already have access to significant capital can make blockchain investments, it’s important to remember how everyone from small-business owners and workers to underserved communities can benefit.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Tags
- blockchain, cryptocurrency
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Viewpoint: Story From People the Crypto Community Needs to Stand up and Fight Racism
Robert Greenfield is the CEO of Emerging Impact, a benefit corporation that supports NGOs and government agencies to leverage blockchain technology in social protection. Previously he was head of Social Impact & Diversity Programming at ConsenSys.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Education, Finance, Health Care, Impact Assessment, Investing, Technology
- Region
- North America
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Renewable Energy Startup Using Blockchain Raises $3 Million in Funding
Blockchain-based renewable energy startup SunExchange has raised $3 million in a recent funding round to expand its services. The funding highlights the increasing demand in South Africa and the region for solar power and alternative investment options.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Facebook’s Libra Serves as Signal That Fintech Firms Like Visa, Paypal, Booking.Com Were Eager to Explore Stablecoins, Blockchain Advisor Argues
“An increase in the supply of Tether has been seen as a positive leading indicator especially for Bitcoin demand. The thinking is that increased issuance of Tether [leads to more] buying. Tether`s price fluctuates around $1. The issuing company, Tether, aims to manage the supply so that it does not trade at a significant premium or a discount for an extended period.”
- Categories
- Finance
- Tags
- blockchain
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China and India Reportedly Have Highest Fintech Adoption Rate, but New VC Funds Mainly Focused on Revenue-Generating Fintechs
Efi Pylarinou, a Fintech and Blockchain Advisor based in Switzerland, notes that funding is “on everybodys’ mind,” which might particularly be true for early-stage startups that have not yet acquired a significant user base.
- Categories
- Finance