Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
CSA | Jul 14, 2022
Montréal – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is pleased to announce the establishment of the CSA Investor Advisory Panel (CSA IAP), and the appointment of its first members. As announced in 2021, the CSA IAP will provide meaningful insight into retail investors’ interests and support the CSA’s policy development, strengthening Canada’s capital markets while enhancing investor protection. It will also promote coordination and enhancement of pan-Canadian investor-related issues. Panel members are appointed for staggered terms of either two or three years beginning on September 1, 2022, and their term is open for one renewal.
Members of the CSA IAP are:
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Financial Post OpEd | | Jul 13, 2022
A responsive regulatory environment is needed to allow technology-driven financial services firms to thriveThe crypto crash and fintech’s reality check through reduced valuations are obscuring a powerful reminder that while everyday people are hungry for competition in broader banking services, the corresponding legislative infrastructure just isn’t there to actually facilitate it. Sustained consumer demand for alternatives to traditional banking products and services alone is insufficient for these firms to thrive. We need modern regulatory environments that better facilitate true competition through authentic innovation.
Without a responsive regulatory environment that allows technology-driven financial services firms to legitimately thrive, they will remain reliant on significant subsidization by venture capital firms that makes them vulnerable to market shifts like the one we are currently living through. Our leaders have held up our uncompetitive system as a strength since 2008. It seems as if our legislatures are significantly undervaluing these companies, too; delaying promising initiatives such as open banking, locking smaller firms out of payment infrastructure, and being slow to respond to the realities of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins federally.
Is it because decision-makers undervalue challengers, or do they overvalue the presumed stability of an oligopoly?
Some have relished the implosion of cryptocurrency markets and concurrent plummeting of fintech valuations with schadenfreude. But those that smirk at the implosion of non-bank-owned financial services and products also seem to ignore that Canada’s banking system is similarly subsidized — not by venture capital, but by legislation that insulates, and sometimes shields, the institutions from vigorous competition.
Cryptocurrency initiatives and various financial technology firms created excitement and energy for freedom from Canada’s oligopolistic banks whose stability is unfairly subsidized by a protectionist policy regime.
This vibrant consumer thirst for alternatives to the Big Six banks in order to manage their money is now likely to be obscured by hyperinflation and the looming threat of a recession —to the benefit of banks, not people.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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BIS | Juan Carlos Crisanto, Johannes Ehrentraud, Marcos Fabian and Amélie Monteil | Jul 5, 2022

The purpose of this paper is to assess the interdependencies inherent in big tech’s business models and offer some policy considerations for financial authorities. The assessment of interdependencies is based on the business models of six big techs: Alibaba, Amazon, Grab, Jumia, Mercado Libre and Rakuten (Table 1).
These companies, big techs, now serve a myriad of customers who regularly order products online, send messages via apps on mobile phones or check their email or social media accounts. By expanding their services, big techs have grown large, and several of them now have market capitalisations that exceed those of the largest financial institutions.
In some segments and regions, they have emerged as key players over the past decade. Big techs offer a particularly broad range of financial services in emerging market and developing economies. In some of these markets, they have come to reach dominant positions in payments, credit and other services.
Big techs dominate, for example, the mobile payments markets in China and India (Feyen et al (2021)). During the pandemic, big techs saw strong growth, including in financial services such as payments and credit, which appears to have helped them to fortify their market positions even further (FSB (2022)). Going forward, big techs may also decide one day to leverage their immense user base for offering stablecoins.
Big techs not only engage in partnerships with financial institutions to offer financial services but also provide them with technology services such as cloud computing and data analytics. These services have become critical to the operation of incumbent financial institutions, creating a situation of dependency with big techs. Some big techs are also customers and not providers of cloud computing services, creating a network of third-party interdependencies. Taken together, this supply and demand for technology services by big techs creates external interdependencies among big techs and with financial institutions.
A failure in one part of the big tech group could render others unable to function; or disrupt the flow of data between big tech entities. Similarly, operational incidents at third-party service providers, including other big techs, could result in outages or data breaches, with potential knock-on effects on the platform ecosystem and its users.
Big techs that are publicly traded companies are typically required to disclose information about their financial performance (eg the Securities and Exchange Commission’s annual public 10-K reports). They may not be required, however, to disclose comprehensive information on their diverse business activities, leaving investors, competitors and regulators less aware of how exactly they create and extract value from their ecosystems. Without this information, it is especially challenging to understand the corporate structures underpinning the collaboration between big techs and financial institutions, particularly outside their primary domicile (FSB (2022)).
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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Jul 7, 2022

Image source: Pexels
When it comes to taking out a mortgage, preparation is key. By taking the time to understand the process and get your finances in order, you can ensure that you get the best possible deal on your mortgage. It's also important to shop around and compare rates from different lenders before making a decision. Here are some tips to help you prepare for a mortgage.
Before you even start looking for a mortgage, it's important to get your finances in order. This means getting a clear picture of your income, debts, and expenses. You'll need to provide this information to any potential lenders, so it's important to have it all organized in advance. By having everything in order before mortgage lending you'll make the process much easier on yourself. Additionally, it's always a good idea to check your credit report in advance so you're aware of any potential red flags that could make securing a loan more difficult. If you find any inaccuracies in your report, be sure to dispute them with the credit bureau.
Don't just go with the first mortgage rate you're offered. Instead, take the time to shop around and compare rates from different lenders. This way, you can be sure you're getting the best possible deal on your loan. Keep in mind that interest rates can change frequently, so it's important to keep track of the market and lock in a rate when it's favorable. Additionally, don't be afraid to negotiate with lenders on rates and fees. It's always worth asking if there's room for improvement. This is especially true if you have good credit.
When considering a mortgage, it's important to know how much you can realistically afford to borrow. This includes not only the monthly payments but also any additional costs such as property taxes and insurance. It's also a good idea to have some padding in your budget in case of unexpected expenses or changes in income. By being realistic about what you can afford, you can avoid getting in over your head financially. Additionally, it's important to remember that your mortgage payment should be no more than 28% of your gross monthly income. It's also a good idea to have a down payment saved up of at least 20% of the total cost of the home.
If you're looking to save money on your mortgage, one option is to consider a shorter loan term. While this will mean higher monthly payments, you'll pay less in interest over the life of the loan. Additionally, a shorter loan term can help you build equity in your home more quickly. If you're considering a shorter loan term, be sure to calculate the monthly payments carefully to ensure that you can still afford them. This is especially important if your income is variable or if you're likely to have financial changes in the near future.
When taking out a mortgage, it's important to factor in closing costs. These are fees charged by the lender at the close of the loan and can add up to several thousand dollars. Be sure to ask potential lenders about closing costs so that you can budget for them in advance. Additionally, some lenders may be willing to cover or reduce certain closing costs if you're a good customer. It's always worth asking. This is just one more way to save money on your mortgage.
If you're serious about buying a home, it's a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This means that a lender has looked at your financial information and decided how much they're willing to lend you. Getting pre-approved can give you an edge when negotiating with sellers as it shows that you're a serious buyer. Additionally, it can help you avoid getting into a bidding war for a home you can't afford. To get pre-approved, be sure to provide potential lenders with accurate information about your income, debts, and assets.

Image source: Unsplash
By following these tips, you can be sure you're getting the best possible deal on your mortgage. Additionally, it's important to remember that the process can take some time, so be patient and don't be afraid to shop around. With a little preparation, you can be sure to find the loan that's right for you. This is important information to know if you're thinking about buying a home in the near future.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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