-
Weekly Roundup – 3/1/14: A digital heist, mobile money power-plays and controversy in Africa cap a turbulent week in finance
This week, a major Bitcoin exchange filed for bankruptcy, after almost half a billion dollars of the virtual currency went missing. Safaricom continued taking M-Pesa global, while new competition emerged on its home front. And the World Bank postponed a $90 million loan to Uganda in response to a controversial new law. We explore these issues in the Roundup.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Banks lose out as M-Pesa goes global with MoneyGram deal
Safaricom’s push to take its mobile money transfer business global has received another boost with the signing of a deal that will see users of MoneyGram send cash directly to M-Pesa customers from any part of the world.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Ugandan startup making it simpler for African migrants to send money home
A Ugandan startup is looking to change the way people transfer money from abroad by enabling remittances directly to mobile phone wallets. Redcore Interactive operates Remit, a platform that enables real-time debit and credit card and mobile money transfers from across the world to registered mobile money users in Uganda.
- Categories
- Technology
-
Can Digital Currencies Change the World?
Riding on the Bitcoin hype, a legion of techno-optimists believes that digital crypto-currencies have the potential to transform ineffective global payment systems, and ultimately spur global financial inclusion.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
M-Pesa, MoneyGram in money transfer service agreement
M-Pesa – through its parent company Vodafone – and global money transfer and payment services firm MoneyGram have signed an agreement enabling consumers to transfer funds directly from around 200 countries to the millions of M-Pesa users.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
Crowdfunding, Smartphones and Bitcoin, Oh My…: Seven financial innovation questions that could shape 2014
2013 was a momentous – perhaps even an historic – year for financial innovation and inclusion, and it has left us primed for a fascinating 2014. Here are seven questions raised by some of 2013’s biggest developments that could resonate in the coming year and beyond.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
The Power of Interoperability: An interview with Zahir Khoja, CEO of MasterCard’s Mobile Payment Solutions
Lack of interoperability is widely seen as a key barrier to mobile money’s global uptake. But MasterCard’s Mobile Payment Solutions thinks it has found an answer. In this interview with Mercy Corps’ Kyla Yeoman (part 3 of our Mobile Money Movers series), CEO Zahir Khoja discusses the challenges of working with telcos, banks and merchants, and the ways that an interoperable payment tool can impact people’s daily lives at the BoP.
- Categories
- Finance
-
MasterCard takes controlling stake in mobile remittance service
MasterCard has teamed up with mobile payment solutions provider eServGlobal and Belgacom’s carrier services unit BICS to extend the capabilities of their international mobile remittance platform HomeSend. The three firms have set up a joint venture which uses the HomeSend platform, in which MasterCard will have a controlling share.
- 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.