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Most Influential Post Nominee: Can Digital Credit Outperform Microcredit in the Developing World?
Microfinance has been hailed as a transformative force for poor households and entrepreneurs in emerging markets. But recent evidence suggests it is not the silver bullet it was once thought to be. Meanwhile, mobile phones have become ubiquitous in most developing countries, and Alexandra Wall, Natasha Beale and Carson Christiano explore whether digital credit can do a better job than microcredit in meeting the needs of the underserved.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Most Influential Post Nominee: Why the Crusade Against Cash Isn’t Clearly ‘Pro-Poor’ – UPDATED
Many assume that getting rid of cash in the name of financial inclusion would unequivocally be a good thing for the poor. Phil Mader says it's too early to say – and that cash might have insufficiently recognized advantages, including being free to use, anonymous and under public stewardship. And besides, he argues, if the mission is poverty alleviation, it’s not money’s physical form, but how it's distributed, that matters.
- Categories
- Technology
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Latin America’s Fintech Rebels Declare War on Inflation
A frustrated 49 percent of the region’s population and many small- and medium-size businesses are outright excluded from traditional financial services, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Others, who have access, don’t even bother using the system because of decades of broken promises.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech
- Region
- Latin America
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Beyond the Bubble: What’s Cool, Potentially Cool, And Clearly Not Cool About Bitcoin in Financial Inclusion?
Bitcoin owners are laughing all the way to the (virtual) bank: The cryptocurrency’s value has gone up over 2,000 percent in the past year. But along with concerns about a likely "market correction," this has raised some pressing questions about its value as a tool for financial inclusion. Ignacio Mas explores Bitcoin's potential on that front, offering four points to consider.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech, Investing, Technology
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John Mcafee and Kohli Brothers all set to launch India’s biggest blockchain company
BitIndia Wallet is a blockchain wallet, which is a reorganised platform for the people of India, where they can store and make payments via digital currencies. BitIndia has its eyes set on bringing more Indians into the blockchain, by making them aware about cryptocurrencies, and offering a reliable and assured platform for the trade of blockchain and digital currencies in India.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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How small loans can be made cheaper
“Our mothers and sisters who live in villages, whether they are educated or not, have taken a pledge. Twelve lakh people have taken a pledge that they will transact their self-help group-related business cashlessly; they will go with digital transaction, with RuPay cards,” Modi said.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech
- Region
- South Asia
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Here’s What the World’s Central Banks Really Think About Bitcoin
Eight years since the birth of bitcoin, central banks around the world are increasingly recognizing the potential upsides and downsides of digital currencies.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech, Technology
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Telcoin wants to bring cryptocoins to the ‘unbanked’
There were more than 900 cryptocurrencies floating around the planet midway through the year, with a jumble of serious and weird names (InsaneCoin. Cabbage. VGINA). And now here’s another one: Telcoin.
- Categories
- Inclusive Fintech, Technology
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