Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 5 December 2017
Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features R3’s Corda and AWS; gambling with McDonalds; XinFin in Singapore; and Cardano Foundation and Z/Yen Group teaming up.
FinTech
Calastone plans mutual funds market on blockchain in 2019
Calastone has revealed its funds transaction network will be migrated onto a full blockchain-enabled infrastructure in 2019.
Cybersecurity needs to be a global and coordinated effort
Recent cyberattacks, such as the October 2017 Swift attack, show how vulnerable financial firms across the globe are to the machinations of hackers.
WePay to power payments for Volusion
Having finalised its acquisition of WePay, JP Morgan Chase announced that it has already put the payments platform to work: powering commerce platform Volusion, reports Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company).
Fintech funding round-up: 1 December 2017
Who doesn’t love a trilogy? Following on from the round-ups on Thursday (30 November) and Tuesday (28 November) here’s another slice of fintech funding action. Features Deposit Solutions, Hanson Robotics’ Sophia, and BNP Paribas Asset Management. Germany’s Deposit Solutions, an open banking platform for deposits, has closed an investment round of $20 million led by […]
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 1 December 2017
Quickly following on from yesterday’s (30 November) blockchain and Bitcoin round-up, here’s more action. Features money laundering in Japan; Coinsource ATMs in Georgia; Cardano Foundation, IOHK and Emurgo teaming up; and PwC in Hong Kong. Over in Japan, Kyodo and Jiji news sites have reported 170 cases of suspected money laundering linked to cryptocurrencies were […]
Allianz accelerates to new digital investments
Allianz with its in-house incubator, Allianz X, has switched gears and pivoted towards a new range of digital investments.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 30 November 2017
Coming straight after yesterday’s (29 November) fun and games, here’s another quick summary of the blockchain and Bitcoin action. Features the European Central Bank, Tieto, Coinsilium Group and StartupToken. Well, Bitcoin went past $11,000. And then dropped. As you read this it will have changed again. So, opinions are aplenty. And… banks should speed up […]
Fintech funding round-up: 30 November 2017
Quickly following on from Tuesday’s (28 November) funding round-up, here are more stories from a cash-drenched world. Features 1QB Information Technologies, FinTecSystems, Betalo, Nordea and Constellation Digital Partners. 1QB Information Technologies (1QBit), a quantum computing firm based in Vancouver, has closed a CA$45 million ($34.9 million) Series B round comprising equity and revenue contracts. This […]
FIS seeks API effect with Code Connect
FIS has unveiled Code Connect – an online gateway that allows its clients and third-party developers to access FIS APIs for use in developing and testing new solutions. With APIs more popular than free alcohol at a fintech conference, FIS joins the masses seeking to capitalise on the API fever. Code Connect includes more than […]
The AI arms race might be a bit more dangerous than you think
In the tech world, an arms race usually a metaphor for two companies battling for supremacy, but McAfee thinks it might be a bit more literal for artificial intelligence (AI) as hackers upskill to make use of the breakthrough, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology‘s sister publication). As one of its predictions for 2018, security software vendor […]
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 29 November 2017
Bitcoin high, Russian firsts, trade finance digitisation, US moves, and an interoperability alliance. Another day of action in the busy blockchain and Bitcoin world. Features Sberbank, IBM, Infosys Finacle, BitFlyer and the Blockchain Interoperability Alliance. Doubt you missed it, but Bitcoin has reached an all time high of $10,000. We were inundated with similar comments […]
Amazon closes cloud performance gap with “bare metal instances”
Amazon Web Services (AWS) kicked off its annual re:Invent conference with a new service designed to make its cloud more competitive to enterprise IT in performance and security, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication). EC2 Bare Metal Instances gives enterprises the “best of both worlds,” Peter DeSantis, AWS VP of global infrastructure, said, […]
Payments round-up: 29 November 2017
No quiet days, and no respite from the action. Our latest paytech round-up stars Instarem, Form3, Starling Bank, Optile and Worldpay. Singapore-headquartered start-up Instarem has expanded into Malaysia, “solidifying its presence” in Asia Pacific (APAC). The firm already has individual and corporate customers in Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong. Instarem says it has licences in […]
AlphaPoint plans new public blockchain network
AlphaPoint has announced plans to build a new public blockchain network that will enable users to digitise real-world assets and monetise them across new markets, reports David Penn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). The network, dubbed the AlphaPoint Public Network (APN), will be the first public blockchain built based on Intel SGX technology. AlphaPoint will fund […]
Microsoft and SAP expand HANA and Azure partnership
Microsoft and SAP are expanding their current cloud partnership to include additional support for SAP software running on the Azure public cloud. The two companies also plan to use each other’s applications internally, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication). The expanded partnership coincides with Microsoft’s biggest rival for public cloud – Amazon Web […]
Passport to success: optimising treasury technology in the connected age
To reap the real benefits of technology, treasurers should be thinking about an extended journey, not a day trip.
Bankers and retailers – will we see roles switch? Or simply morph into a single discipline?
Technology is having a tremendous impact on the way communities shop so changes are more or less expected as we see these shopping mall operators push back on so many dire predictions being made about them. But can they change and yes, could these changes lead to a greater overlap with banking as it exists today? Do we even need differentiation between the two and yes, will they both be able to keep us satisfied when it comes to access to our cash?
Intuit selects AWS for machine learning and AI workloads
Business and financial software company Intuit has chosen Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its standard for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
VMware and Amazon grow hybrid cloud tie-up
VMware and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are expanding their hybrid cloud partnership to run VMware workloads at “very large scale” on AWS, a VMware executive says. VMware is launching new tools for migrating and scaling production applications to AWS, as well as business continuity and disaster recovery services, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister […]
Fintech funding round-up: 28 November 2017
No slowing down when it comes to the fintech funding action and this week we’ve got three of the latest stories for another ever-informative round-up. Featuring MoneyMe, TreasuryXpress and Chip.
BehavioSec’s behavioural biometrics right match for Crossmatch
BehavioSec has partnered with identity management firm Crossmatch in a deal that will add keystroke capture to Crossmatch’s composite authentication platform, DigitalPersona, reports David Penn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). “We selected BehavioSec’s platform because they are singularly focused on behavioural biometrics and have well-established and proven technology that already serves more than 35 million end […]
Earthport expands to Bangladesh to deliver cross-border payments
Earthport, a cross-border payments service provider, has partnered with BRAC Saajan Exchange, the payments arm of BRAC Bank, to deliver cross-border payment services into Bangladesh.
Infographic: a look at blockchain technology
This nifty infographic by PWC looks at the blockchain tech, how it works, its benefits and unknowns, cryptocurrency and potential applications.
Debunking six myths on regulatory sandboxes
We are living through a period of unprecedented innovation in finance, and regulators know they need to adapt to keep up with the fast pace of change. To understand and manage the risks posed by new products, services, and business models, many financial authorities are setting up regulatory sandboxes or reglabs.
Wealthtech: a market poised for extended growth
Rapid changes are occurring in the wealth management space and the level of disruption in how advice and capital are managed is only beginning. Wealth management is a monumental industry. The players in the space run the gamut from gigantic hedge funds to individuals who manage their own investments. This changing wealth management landscape is driving a significant uptick in transactions.
SmartSolution gains first core banking tech client in Central America, Blue Creek Credit Union
Blue Creek Credit Union (BCCU) in Belize is implementing a new core processing system, Universa, supplied by Canadian banking tech vendor SmartSolution.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 24 November 2017
That Friday feeling isn’t complete without another round of the latest blockchain and Bitcoin news! Following on from yesterday (23 November) our latest covers Globitex, Billion and Bitcoin Gold.
Fintech alliance round-up: 23 November 2017
It’s that time again where alliances are formed and friendships are made in our latest co-operative filled round-up. Featuring the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Dubai Financial Services Authority, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and Iran and Malaysia planning to establish banking ties.
Payments round-up: 23 November 2017
Coming straight after yesterday’s (22 November) summary, we present another brief payments round-up. Features Starling Bank and Yoyo Wallet getting loyal; chatty PayPal and Facebook Messenger; token time with Sequent and Interac; and Wirecard working with Capital Float in India. UK challenger bank Starling has teamed with Yoyo Wallet, a mobile payment and loyalty marketing […]
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 23 November 2017
Following on from the action on Tuesday (21 November), our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up focuses on partnerships and future potential. Featuring BDA, Bitstamp, ModulTrade and Bank of Japan.
ING has a thing for data analytics
ING Wholesale Banking has set out its plans to increase investments in data analytics and put more resources into Asia and the Americas. It’s very early days as its ambitions and goals offer no real specifics. Stats and timelines are like good service in shops in the UK – i.e. almost nowhere to be seen. […]
Forrester: don’t give up on private clouds, yet
For the past several years, private clouds have taken a backseat to the big public cloud providers, with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform sucking up all the oxygen around the conversation of how to manage enterprise infrastructure, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Now, however, private clouds are […]
Payments round-up: 22 November 2017
Hot on the heels from Monday’s (20 November) round-up, here are more lively adventures in the paytech space. Featuring Manigo powering up; Volante Technologies and eVision in North Africa; and ACI Worldwide and Payworks getting friendly. Digital money platform Manigo has launched. The firm, which is based in London’s tech hub Level39, says it will […]
SumUp teams with BancoEstado for cool mobile card deal in Chile
SMEs in Chile have just won a new ally when it comes to making it easier to accept mobile card payments. The country’s largest national bank, BancoEstado de Chile, has partnered with SumUp to launch a joint venture (JV) that will give Chilean businesses the ability to offer “anytime, anywhere” mobile card acceptance without fees […]
HPE enterprise sales sluggish in Q4
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) saw revenue up 5% year-over-year to $7.8 billion, but it’s having trouble gaining traction with enterprise sales – and its CEO is leaving, reports Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication). For the fourth quarter ending 31 October, combined net revenue for HPE was $7.8 billion, including $174 million associated with […]
Interview: Nadish Lad, Volante – destiny and dreams
In an exclusive interview with payment specialist Volante Technologies, Nadish Lad, director – head of payments product, explains the firm’s foundation, vision and its key unique selling propositions (USPs).
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 21 November 2017
From major crimes to KYC times. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features Tether, Metal, Deutsche Bank and IBM. Digital currency firm Tether is feeling under the weather as it has reported that “funds were improperly removed from the Tether treasury wallet through malicious action by an external attacker”. The amount is a rather large […]
Configo launches cloud environment
Digital sales and engagement firm Configo is taking its technology to the cloud. The company is making its Live Experience Platform – which gives FIs the ability to create customer-centric, personalised digital experiences – available as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, reports David Penn at Finovate (Banking Technology’s sister company). Until now, Configo’s platform was installed on-premise. The new cloud […]
BNP Paribas in “global transformation” with Fenergo’s client lifecycle management tech
Fenergo says its flagship Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution has been selected by BNP Paribas “as part of its global transformation project”.
