Facebook’s libra cryptocurrency ‘poses global currency threat’ August 2, 2019 Facebook’s new cryptocurrency libra poses a threat to global financial policy, according to former Bank of Japan executive Hiromi Yamaoka. Worldwide, Facebook has over 2.4bn active monthly users and, should a significant proportion of these start using Facebook’s new currency, Yamaoka warned that this could significantly devalue trade and monetary policies globally. Read more: MP’s [...]
Bailey’s FCA is in need of a remit reboot August 2, 2019 Several months ago it felt as if the top job in Britain’s banking system was Andrew Bailey’s to lose. A veteran of Threadneedle Street who is at ease among top City bosses, the head of the City watchdog has been the bookies’ favourite to replace Mark Carney as governor of the Bank of England as [...]
What chance do Initial Exchange Offerings stand against the SEC? July 30, 2019 As American Psycho would probably say, Initial Exchange Offerings are akin to Dorsia – currently the trendiest restaurant in town that everyone is trying to get a table at. While Initial Coin Offerings (ICO’s) had the title in 2017, authorities soon caught up in the latter half of 2018 and subjected them to a ‘crypto [...]
The rise of the ASMR-tists: The online phenomenon touted as an antidote to anxiety and insomnia July 25, 2019 The slurp of a woman eating soup; the abrupt snip of scissors through hair; the crinkle of tinfoil being scrunched into a ball. For some people, these everyday sounds ignite a mysterious, near-ecstatic sensation known as Auto Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). This reaction is characterised by a kind of low-level euphoria, similar to the prickly [...]
Trump’s tweets do bitcoin and Facebook a favour July 23, 2019 Donald Trump’s recent tweet about bitcoin and that Facebook’s new quasi-crypto the “libra” would get the full force of the US regulators if they “want to become a bank” has put the crypto kitty amongst the pigeons. Why now? Surely Trump doesn’t care about bitcoin? Well, it was timed just before Facebook had to testify [...]
FCA boss Andrew Bailey heckled by victims of financial scandals July 17, 2019 The head of Britain’s financial watchdog was heckled by aggrieved small-scale investors at a public meeting this afternoon, following a spate of corporate controversies that have cast a cloud over the body’s reputation in recent months. Andrew Bailey, the chief executive of the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, faced a grilling from victims of several high-profile [...]
EU targets Amazon in e-commerce antitrust probe July 17, 2019 Amazon is the subject of the EU’s latest antitrust probe, with the European Commission accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominance in e-commerce. The investigation, which began today, could see CEO Jeff Bezos’ retail behemoth lumped with a multi-billion dollar fine similar to other penalties issued to tech giant Google. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: “European consumers [...]
Facebook’s libra could solve the gig economy’s payment problem July 17, 2019 Ordering your evening meal or weekly groceries online has never been easier. In most cities, you can now book a car from your phone to get you from A to B in minutes. All of this is made possible by two things: the marketplace technology that facilitates instant transactions, and the gig economy that delivers [...]
Bitcoin continues to tumble after central banks attack Facebook’s Libra coin plans July 15, 2019 Bitcoin fell over 10 per cent over the weekend following criticism of Facebook’s proposed digital currency from powerful figures including US President Donald Trump and chair of the Federal Reserve Jay Powell. Read more: Trump dismisses bitcoin, saying cryptocurrencies aren’t money The world’s largest cryptocurrency had rebounded slightly to $10,344 shortly after 11am UK time [...]