Cryptocurrency platform Coinbase launches Visa debit card April 11, 2019 Cryptocurrency platform Coinbase has launched a Visa debit card that allows customers to spend their digital currency in stores and online. When customers use the card, which is only available in the UK, Coinbase will convert the cryptocurrency into pounds, and transaction summaries and receipts will be recorded within a new app, which has also [...]
Fintech unicorn N26 under scrutiny from German banking regulator April 11, 2019 Digital banking starlet N26 is under scrutiny from German banking regulator Bafin, after reports emerged of fraudulent transactions and problems with the bank’s communications structure. Concerns about N26 were first reported in October by German newspaper Handelsblatt, before further inquiries by Bafin were said to have revealed numerous deficiencies at the fintech startup. N26, which counts Monzo, [...]
Softbank’s spinoff AI fund injects £1m into London identity startup Pixelpin April 11, 2019 Japanese investor SBI has led a pre-series A funding round into London startup Pixelpin through its artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain fund. SBI has plugged £1m into the Shoreditch-based startup while angel investors rounded out the investment with an additional £500,000. The financial services firm span off from mega investor Softbank in 2006. Read more: Softbank unveils $500m [...]
Lyft shares hit new lows on reports of record $100bn Uber float April 10, 2019 Shares in ride-hailing app Lyft fell to record lows today following reports the float of arch-rival Uber could be one of the largest in history. Lyft’s shares plunged as much as seven per cent to $62.91, well below its opening price of $72. Read more: Uber IPO 'seeks to sell $10bn of shares' The fall [...]
Kantar hires Microsoft executive as North America boss April 10, 2019 Market research firm Kantar has appointed Microsoft executive Reed Cundiff as its new chief executive for North America. Read more: Kantar boss suffered punctured lung in Kew stabbing attack Cundiff is taking over from Wayne Levings, who will return to the UK to continue in his role as head of global clients. “Reed understands what [...]
Two-thirds of hotel websites leave guests’ personal data exposed to hackers April 10, 2019 Two-thirds of hotel websites inadvertently leak guests’ personal data to third-party companies and leave customers vulnerable to hackers, a new report has revealed. Research by cyber security firm Symantec has found the majority of hotels use booking systems that could allow scammers to access information such as mobile phone numbers and passport details. Read more: [...]
Scientists capture the very first image of a black hole April 10, 2019 The very first image of a black hole was published today after scientists across the world worked together to capture a picture of the celestial object from which no light can escape. Read more: Back to the future: UK scientists build an AI-powered driverless Mars robot The milestone means the world finally has visual evidence [...]
Uber IPO: Ride-hailing firm seeks to sell $10bn of shares in largest tech float since Alibaba April 10, 2019 Uber could look to sell as much as $10bn worth of stock in its initial public offering (IPO), in a move which would make it one of the biggest tech floats ever. Read more: Morgan Stanley tapped to steer Uber through IPO If successful, the taxi app firm could hail the highest-value IPO since that [...]
Crowdsourcing platform Limitless secures £5m in series A funding April 10, 2019 Brand ambassador platform Limitless Technology has secured £5m in funding as it looks to develop its machine learning technology. The company, which uses crowdsourcing to help businesses turn their customers into brand ambassadors, said it has bagged the funds in a series A round led by Albion VC. Read more: Grab looks to raise further $2bn [...]
Facebook and the tech giants are welcoming government regulation – that’s a panic signal for all of us April 9, 2019 Last year, I met someone who had previously worked for a big tech firm in its “free speech” unit. What had happened to make him come and slum it among us mortals in the (badly paid) policy world? Answer: the unit had been shut down. It’s in this context that you should see the milquetoast [...]