Could stablecoin be an idea whose time has arrived? The industry remains niche in terms of overall value, but as more competitors test the ground to enter the field - including large central banks in some countries like Sweden - the conversation has rapidly developed into what could be suggested to be an inevitability. Stablecoins - in this case, cryptocurrency tied directly … [Read more...] about Stablecoin: A Faster Future?
payments
Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking
Recreational marijuana is now legal in 16 states - with medical usage legal in 36. It's now a thriving billion-dollar industry in those states -- but it remains in an uncertain position, heavily reliant on cash and with uncertain prospects for banking partners due to the continued federal prohibition. The challenges are more difficult than some industries, to be sure; due to … [Read more...] about Continuing the Growth of Cannabis Banking
Navigating Startups from Seed to Series B
The allure of startups has rarely seemed stronger. Much of the tech industry is built on the backs of multi-billion dollar giants that came out of the startup space, and while tech appears to be in the middle of another bubble, the lure of relatively free-flowing investor money is hard to ignore. But what does it take to build a successful startup in this environment? Two … [Read more...] about Navigating Startups from Seed to Series B
Blockchain Adoption Accelerates Across Finance
Adoption of blockchain technology continues to accelerate into 2021, driven in part by cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, but increasingly by investments across a wide range of financial services for a variety of use cases. According to the recently released Blockchain Technology Market Size report from Grandview Research, the blockchain market was valued at $3.67 billion for … [Read more...] about Blockchain Adoption Accelerates Across Finance
Innovation and Regulation: Building Better International Payments
International trade and commerce are a major piece of the payments industry, with volume only increasing year over year as digital options further connect the globe – and yet, many of the systems that businesses and retail consumers alike rely on to make these payments remain too slow, too complex, and expensive. There’s a growing need to fundamentally rethink the payments … [Read more...] about Innovation and Regulation: Building Better International Payments
Digital Transformation Challenges Remain for Banks
The world of payments is going digital. That’s been a story for years, now – and one that took on a new urgency in the wake of a pandemic that demanded real changes to the ways banks do business. But for financial institutions to really achieve the kind of digital transformation that the times demand, they’re going to need more than a website or online balance … [Read more...] about Digital Transformation Challenges Remain for Banks