FINTECH ARTICLES OF THE WEEK 06/19/16 In what turned out to be a prescient post--one of several on whether FinTech is in a boom or a bubble, Joi Ito suggested that the rush into blockchain shared public ledger technology is “a bit over its skis.” Mr. Ito, a long-time internet analyst who heads the MIT Media Lab, suggests that the focus be on building the infrastructure in a … [Read more...] about Boom-Bubble Blues
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/19/16
I wrote a headline nearly a year ago "Blockchain Blues," about industry thought leaders considering "the problems as more major banks endorsed the technology’s potential." Now the blues are really being heard, with the backing on the Ethereum-based DAO, a somewhat utopian venture fund. The fund is winding down and is expected to roll back the transactions, something that would … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/19/16
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/12/16
The Federal Reserve flirts with blockchain. Global central bankers learned about blockchain technology at the Federal Reserve's annual meeting last week. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reportedly called for central banks to study blockchain and noted that the Fed does not have the authority to regulate cryptocurrency. Coverage of the meeting, closed to the media, is classic … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/12/16
Banks v. FinTechs?
FINTECH ARTICLES OF THE WEEK 06/12/16 Banking and financial technology continues to meet over the evolving regulatory regime. Regulators are seeking guidance as they work to catch up with the pace of technology. Of particular significance, representatives of central banks learned more about digital currency technologies at the Federal Reserve's annual meeting. See this week's … [Read more...] about Banks v. FinTechs?
FinTech Trends in 2016, So Far
The surge in financial technology, encompassing every sector of financial services, shows no signs of stopping, despite some highly publicized problems. A recent Accenture survey, for instance, puts global investment growth at $5.3 billion, a 67% increase over last year, with total investment at just over $22 billion. FinTech is a shorthand for technologies, ranging from … [Read more...] about FinTech Trends in 2016, So Far
BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/05/16
Microsoft steps up its blockchain business, as it seeks to build an open blockchain-based identity system with Blockstack and ConsenSys. One of the trends I'm watching accelerates as the term "smart contracts" gets a workover by lawyer and blockchain consultant Josh Stark. And a set of tools "to issue, display, and verify digital credentials using the bitcoin blockchain and the … [Read more...] about BLOCKCHAIN WATCH 06/05/16