Paul Schulte, Advisor, Banking and Financial Services
August 22nd, 2019
Paul Schulte is the Founder and Managing Editor of Shulte Research based in Singapore. Paul's roles[...]
Tencent launches new blockchain game merging concepts behind Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties
South China Morning Post | Zheping Huang | Apr 13, 2019
The world’s biggest gaming market is finally getting a taste of Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties.
Not the original versions but a new title that merges concepts underlying the two games into one, produced by Chinese gaming giant Tencent.
The Shenzhen-based company on Thursday launched its long anticipated augmented reality (AR) game called Let’s Hunt Monsters, where users can cruise around streets and catch hundreds of virtual monsters, while rearing and trading millions of digital kittens stored on a blockchain. That essentially combines what Pokémon Go and CryptoKitties are known for.
Launched about three years ago, Pokémon Go is the most successful mobile title in the Pokémon franchise, with an estimated US$2.5 billion in total revenue, according to data from Sensor Tower. CryptoKitties, meanwhile, is the first viral blockchain game, which upon its release in late 2017 jammed up the ethereum network where it is based with players spending millions of US dollars trading cartoon kittens.
See:
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Ep27-Mar 1: Blockchain Gaming and Esports with Shidan Gouran
Both titles have had little or no exposure in China. Pokémon Go’s location-based gameplay is dependent on Google Maps, which is banned in the country. As for CryptoKitties, players essentially need to get ether – the world’s second biggest cryptocurrency after bitcoin – to trade those digital cats, and there is no easy way to do that in China after the government banned cryptocurrency exchanges in 2017.
As of Friday, Let’s Hunt Monsters ranked as the most downloaded free game on China’s iOS App Store, beating in-demand titles like PUBG Mobile and Honour of Kings.
Much like in Pokémon Go, players of Tencent’s new game can flick a ball on their screens to capture virtual creatures while exploring real-world locations – only the monsters in this case are not Pikachus but mythological beasts like dragons and phoenixes. In a separate feature, players will get to summon digital kittens that they can trade with other players on Tencent’s own blockchain platform – in return for in-game credits rather than real money.
Tencent could use Let’s Hunt Monsters as a much needed helping hand to boost its gaming revenue while the company is still waiting for government approvals to monetise two smash-hit shooter games, PUBG and Fortnite.
Continue to the full article --> here
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BIS | Agustín Carstens | Nov 14, 2019 Keynote speech by Mr Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS, at the 55th SEACEN Governors' Conference and High-level Seminar on "Data and technology: embracing innovation", Singapore, 14 November 2019. Introduction It is a great honour to address this distinguished audience today. We meet against the backdrop of the Singapore Fintech Festival and the opening, here in Singapore, of one of the first three BIS Innovation Hub Centres. Singapore has positioned itself as a centre of innovation, research and development at the heart of the world's most dynamic economic region.1 The impressive achievements in fintech relate in no small part to the work of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singaporean authorities in creating a solid public infrastructure to foster innovation. This morning, I will discuss the role of personal data in digital financial innovation. The use of new technology with such data holds great promise, but it also presents new and complex policy trade-offs, and a clear need for domestic and international policy coordination. I would also like to share some thoughts on how the work of the BIS can contribute to this debate. The value of personal data Personal ...
Read More
Canadian Securities Administrators | Nov 12, 2019 Montreal and Singapore - Members of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have signed a fintech co-operation agreement with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The members are the securities regulatory authorities in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec and Saskatchewan. The agreement extends the work of the CSA Regulatory Sandbox Initiative and the MAS Fintech and Innovation Group. Notably, it includes a referral mechanism for innovative businesses, and will enhance and clearly define information-sharing between these jurisdictions. “This agreement with MAS will allow innovative businesses in Canada and Singapore access to new regulated markets,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “Flexible regulatory environments with appropriate investor protection measures are best-placed to support the rapidly growing fintech industry.” “Singapore and Canada are no strangers in fintech collaboration. MAS and Bank of Canada had collaborated on a project to explore cross-border payments transactions on blockchain. This co-operation agreement will strengthen our co-operation between the 2 countries, specifically in developing innovative solutions for the securities sector,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, MAS. The co-operation agreement exchange ceremony was held at the Canadian Pavilion ...
Read More
Finextra | Nov 6, 2019 Non-banks now account for a quarter of the institutions offering payment services or payment instruments, up from 14% in only six years, according to a fresh batch of statistics from the Bank for International Settlements. The data comes from the Basle-based BIS's annual Red Book report on payments and financial infrastructures. It reveals increasing incursions by non-bank competitors into both retail and wholesale payments. "The traditional bank-based ecosystem is being disrupted from below by fintechs and from above by well established big techs," states the report. "When asked which financial products and services are most affected by technological developments and competition, banks often rank payments the highest - both today and over the next five years." Non-bank providers now account for 10% of direct participants in RTGS systems in jursidictions covered by the BIS-convened Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures. In contrast, non-banks accounted for only four percent in 2012. The payments landscape continues to morph, says the BIS: "Driven by innovation and shifts in consumer preferences, new systems, new methods and new players are shaping the future of payments." The report also checks in on the drive towards a cashless society. It finds the ...
Read More
CNBC | Jeff Cox | Nov 13, 2019 Key Points Google plans to offer checking accounts next year. The project, code-named Cache, will be run in conjunction with Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union. Google will offer checking accounts next year, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans, representing Big Tech’s boldest move yet into the consumer banking business. Most previous efforts have focused on credit cards and payment platforms. The accounts for the project will be run by Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union, the source said, confirming a report in The Wall Street Journal. As part of a project code-named Cache, the company will become the latest Silicon Valley leader to try its hand at the banking space. Previous attempts by Apple and Facebook faced obstacles, with consumers growing increasingly skeptical over providing large technology companies with their personal information. Google does not intend to sell customers’ data, Caesar Sengupta, an executive at the firm, told the Journal. “If we can help more people do more stuff in a digital way online, it’s good for the internet and good for us,” Sengupta said. For years, banks had been concerned about competition from small, nimble ...
Read More
11fs Pulse | Joanne Kumire | Aug 27, 2019 Introduction to Open Banking in the UK The first step towards banking automation came in 1967 following the installation of an ATM in the UK. Over 50 years later, Open Banking arrived, ushering in a new era of digital banking, which ironically is lessening the need for ATMs. It is no secret that the financial industry was in dire need of a makeover, I mean except for a few bankers (if that), no-one really understood how most of banking worked even though it plays an integral role in our everyday lives. The 2008 global financial crisis was evidence of that and this disaster led to a review of regulations, from which Open Banking – the first enactment of PSD2 – was birthed. Since January 2018, we have heard a lot about Open Banking, the regulation that has released the financial data of consumers from the banks’ ownership and into the hands of consumers. That means regulated banks in the UK are now required to let customers share their transaction data such as spending habits and regular payments with authorised third-party providers (TPPs) offering other services – as long as the customer ...
Read More
Artemis | Steve Evans | Nov 7, 2019 A blockchain based parametric weather insurance product has made its first payouts, after severe weather impacted smallholder farmers covered by the product in Sri Lanka. The parametric insurance was launched in a pilot phase a year ago, as Oxfam in Sri Lanka teamed up with insurance and reinsurance broker Aon and insurtech blockchain solutions provider Etherisc, alongside local insurer Sanasa, to deliver a responsive risk transfer solution that could be rolled out affordably in developing regions, with the goal of making automated payouts to smallholder farmers when extreme weather conditions occurred. The pilot launched with around 200 farmers enrolled that were exposed to the risk of losing their crops due to extreme weather. After the first year, the system has made some pay-outs to farmers in this initial operations phase, the parties behind the product announced. Now, the parties involved will move onto the next phase of the project as cropping season starts in November, seeking to solve any issues raised during the pilot with the goal of refining the system’s efficiency and increasing the scale the number of farmers that will benefit from the parametric microinsurance. “We are proud to have ...
Read More
Mylo | Ted Liu | Nov 5, 2019 Mylo Raises $10M Series A From Major Canadian Financial Institutions Montreal, November 5, 2019 – Mylo, the Montreal-based fintech, has secured $10M in financing for its app that helps Canadians automate their saving and investing. The Series A round was led by National Bank’s corporate venture capital arm, NAventures, with follow-on investment from Desjardins Capital, Ferst Capital Partners and Tactico. This brings the company’s total funding up to $14M. “Mylo’s mission has always been to help Canadians achieve their financial goals. With over 450,000 Canadians creating accounts to save and invest on our platform in only two years, we know we’re on the right track,” said Mylo Founder and CEO, Phil Barrar. “This investment from important strategic partners lets us start the next phase of our mission. Our team is focused on building innovative new products to help Canadians overcome any financial roadblocks that stand in the way of their goals.” The investment by National Bank reinforces the institution’s commitment to innovation. “We see great alignment between Mylo’s mission and our own focus on providing individuals with the digital tools they need to manage their finances,” said Igal Ohayon, Director of Venture ...
Read More
Osgoode Professional Development York University | Nov 2019 Strictly Legal, an Osgoode Professional Development podcast, is about all things legal. Each episode, we unpack current issues affecting the legal landscape with the help of some of the industry's leading thinkers. Heated fights over intellectual property are nothing new in promising technology markets. Are we poised for a revolution in the protection of all types of IP? The blockchain can be used to control and track the distribution of protected IP. Imagine a world where you could easily register and claim ownership over your original creative works – from music to photos to blogs. With the use of blockchain technology, that world is not so far away. As the world reacts to the current blockchain mania, many businesses in the community are having discussions on what the future of innovation in the blockchain space looks like. This week's guest: Paul Horbal, Bereskin Parr (@horbal) BIO: Paul Horbal is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Electrical & Computer Technology group and is Chair of the Financial Technology group. His practice focuses on patent, industrial design and technology law, with an emphasis on securing and leveraging ...
Read More
Reuters | Sharon Lam | Nov 8, 2019 Recession gatecrashes Hong Kong’s fintech party HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong’s economic travails are an unwelcome guest in the city’s fintech party. Enthusiasm for online-only banks was palpable at the Fintech Week conference. Yet months of political unrest have hit small businesses, and the added risks may delay local launches by the likes of Standard Chartered and Tencent. Attendees this week descended on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island for the financial hub’s fourth annual gathering. With appearances from top officials like Financial Secretary Paul Chan to executives at Singapore’s $14 billion Grab and other rising stars, there was plenty of buzz. Hot topics included central bank digital currencies and cross-border payments. See: News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms Virtual banks, as these branchless outfits are known in Hong Kong, took centre stage. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities granted eight licenses for such firms to offer payments, deposits and other services, in a long overdue shakeup. HSBC, Bank of China Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered account for some three-quarters of the city’s mortgages and two-thirds of retail loans. Online challengers, including a joint venture between Chinese handset ...
Read More
TLT Solicitors | Daniel Lloyd | Sept 2019 Who is liable when AI goes wrong? Let us take the example of Tesla, whose vehicles have been involved in two similar fatal crashes since 2016. In both cases the vehicle failed to see a lorry cross its path and travelled into the lorry shearing off the top of the car, thereby causing both drivers to suffer fatal injuries. Should Tesla be liable for the crash? At what point should a driver no longer have any liability for what the car is doing? At the moment the Department of Transport in the USA adheres to the automation standards set out by the SAE which run from “level 0” (no automation) to “level 6” (full automation). It is accepted that Tesla’s Autopilot driverless software system is no more than a level 2 or 3 on this scale, both of which require the driver to remain in control of the vehicle when driving. So from a public law perspective at least, Tesla is not being held liable for the two crashes that occurred if, as appears to be the case, the drivers were not in control of the vehicles at the time they crashed ...
Read More
BIS | Agustín Carstens | Nov 14, 2019 Keynote speech by Mr Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS, at the 55th SEACEN Governors' Conference and High-level Seminar on "Data and technology: embracing innovation", Singapore, 14 November 2019. Introduction It is a great honour to address this distinguished audience today. We meet against the backdrop of the Singapore Fintech Festival and the opening, here in Singapore, of one of the first three BIS Innovation Hub Centres. Singapore has positioned itself as a centre of innovation, research and development at the heart of the world's most dynamic economic region.1 The impressive achievements in fintech relate in no small part to the work of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singaporean authorities in creating a solid public infrastructure to foster innovation. This morning, I will discuss the role of personal data in digital financial innovation. The use of new technology with such data holds great promise, but it also presents new and complex policy trade-offs, and a clear need for domestic and international policy coordination. I would also like to share some thoughts on how the work of the BIS can contribute to this debate. The value of personal data Personal ...
Read More
Read More
Canadian Securities Administrators | Nov 12, 2019 Montreal and Singapore - Members of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) have signed a fintech co-operation agreement with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The members are the securities regulatory authorities in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec and Saskatchewan. The agreement extends the work of the CSA Regulatory Sandbox Initiative and the MAS Fintech and Innovation Group. Notably, it includes a referral mechanism for innovative businesses, and will enhance and clearly define information-sharing between these jurisdictions. “This agreement with MAS will allow innovative businesses in Canada and Singapore access to new regulated markets,” said Louis Morisset, CSA Chair and President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers. “Flexible regulatory environments with appropriate investor protection measures are best-placed to support the rapidly growing fintech industry.” “Singapore and Canada are no strangers in fintech collaboration. MAS and Bank of Canada had collaborated on a project to explore cross-border payments transactions on blockchain. This co-operation agreement will strengthen our co-operation between the 2 countries, specifically in developing innovative solutions for the securities sector,” said Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, MAS. The co-operation agreement exchange ceremony was held at the Canadian Pavilion ...
Read More
Read More
Finextra | Nov 6, 2019 Non-banks now account for a quarter of the institutions offering payment services or payment instruments, up from 14% in only six years, according to a fresh batch of statistics from the Bank for International Settlements. The data comes from the Basle-based BIS's annual Red Book report on payments and financial infrastructures. It reveals increasing incursions by non-bank competitors into both retail and wholesale payments. "The traditional bank-based ecosystem is being disrupted from below by fintechs and from above by well established big techs," states the report. "When asked which financial products and services are most affected by technological developments and competition, banks often rank payments the highest - both today and over the next five years." Non-bank providers now account for 10% of direct participants in RTGS systems in jursidictions covered by the BIS-convened Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures. In contrast, non-banks accounted for only four percent in 2012. The payments landscape continues to morph, says the BIS: "Driven by innovation and shifts in consumer preferences, new systems, new methods and new players are shaping the future of payments." The report also checks in on the drive towards a cashless society. It finds the ...
Read More
Read More
CNBC | Jeff Cox | Nov 13, 2019 Key Points Google plans to offer checking accounts next year. The project, code-named Cache, will be run in conjunction with Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union. Google will offer checking accounts next year, according to a source familiar with the company’s plans, representing Big Tech’s boldest move yet into the consumer banking business. Most previous efforts have focused on credit cards and payment platforms. The accounts for the project will be run by Citigroup and the Stanford Federal Credit Union, the source said, confirming a report in The Wall Street Journal. As part of a project code-named Cache, the company will become the latest Silicon Valley leader to try its hand at the banking space. Previous attempts by Apple and Facebook faced obstacles, with consumers growing increasingly skeptical over providing large technology companies with their personal information. Google does not intend to sell customers’ data, Caesar Sengupta, an executive at the firm, told the Journal. “If we can help more people do more stuff in a digital way online, it’s good for the internet and good for us,” Sengupta said. For years, banks had been concerned about competition from small, nimble ...
Read More
Read More
11fs Pulse | Joanne Kumire | Aug 27, 2019 Introduction to Open Banking in the UK The first step towards banking automation came in 1967 following the installation of an ATM in the UK. Over 50 years later, Open Banking arrived, ushering in a new era of digital banking, which ironically is lessening the need for ATMs. It is no secret that the financial industry was in dire need of a makeover, I mean except for a few bankers (if that), no-one really understood how most of banking worked even though it plays an integral role in our everyday lives. The 2008 global financial crisis was evidence of that and this disaster led to a review of regulations, from which Open Banking – the first enactment of PSD2 – was birthed. Since January 2018, we have heard a lot about Open Banking, the regulation that has released the financial data of consumers from the banks’ ownership and into the hands of consumers. That means regulated banks in the UK are now required to let customers share their transaction data such as spending habits and regular payments with authorised third-party providers (TPPs) offering other services – as long as the customer ...
Read More
Read More
Artemis | Steve Evans | Nov 7, 2019 A blockchain based parametric weather insurance product has made its first payouts, after severe weather impacted smallholder farmers covered by the product in Sri Lanka. The parametric insurance was launched in a pilot phase a year ago, as Oxfam in Sri Lanka teamed up with insurance and reinsurance broker Aon and insurtech blockchain solutions provider Etherisc, alongside local insurer Sanasa, to deliver a responsive risk transfer solution that could be rolled out affordably in developing regions, with the goal of making automated payouts to smallholder farmers when extreme weather conditions occurred. The pilot launched with around 200 farmers enrolled that were exposed to the risk of losing their crops due to extreme weather. After the first year, the system has made some pay-outs to farmers in this initial operations phase, the parties behind the product announced. Now, the parties involved will move onto the next phase of the project as cropping season starts in November, seeking to solve any issues raised during the pilot with the goal of refining the system’s efficiency and increasing the scale the number of farmers that will benefit from the parametric microinsurance. “We are proud to have ...
Read More
Read More
Mylo | Ted Liu | Nov 5, 2019 Mylo Raises $10M Series A From Major Canadian Financial Institutions Montreal, November 5, 2019 – Mylo, the Montreal-based fintech, has secured $10M in financing for its app that helps Canadians automate their saving and investing. The Series A round was led by National Bank’s corporate venture capital arm, NAventures, with follow-on investment from Desjardins Capital, Ferst Capital Partners and Tactico. This brings the company’s total funding up to $14M. “Mylo’s mission has always been to help Canadians achieve their financial goals. With over 450,000 Canadians creating accounts to save and invest on our platform in only two years, we know we’re on the right track,” said Mylo Founder and CEO, Phil Barrar. “This investment from important strategic partners lets us start the next phase of our mission. Our team is focused on building innovative new products to help Canadians overcome any financial roadblocks that stand in the way of their goals.” The investment by National Bank reinforces the institution’s commitment to innovation. “We see great alignment between Mylo’s mission and our own focus on providing individuals with the digital tools they need to manage their finances,” said Igal Ohayon, Director of Venture ...
Read More
Read More
Osgoode Professional Development York University | Nov 2019 Strictly Legal, an Osgoode Professional Development podcast, is about all things legal. Each episode, we unpack current issues affecting the legal landscape with the help of some of the industry's leading thinkers. Heated fights over intellectual property are nothing new in promising technology markets. Are we poised for a revolution in the protection of all types of IP? The blockchain can be used to control and track the distribution of protected IP. Imagine a world where you could easily register and claim ownership over your original creative works – from music to photos to blogs. With the use of blockchain technology, that world is not so far away. As the world reacts to the current blockchain mania, many businesses in the community are having discussions on what the future of innovation in the blockchain space looks like. This week's guest: Paul Horbal, Bereskin Parr (@horbal) BIO: Paul Horbal is a partner with Bereskin & Parr LLP. He is a member of the firm’s Electrical & Computer Technology group and is Chair of the Financial Technology group. His practice focuses on patent, industrial design and technology law, with an emphasis on securing and leveraging ...
Read More
Read More
Reuters | Sharon Lam | Nov 8, 2019 Recession gatecrashes Hong Kong’s fintech party HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Hong Kong’s economic travails are an unwelcome guest in the city’s fintech party. Enthusiasm for online-only banks was palpable at the Fintech Week conference. Yet months of political unrest have hit small businesses, and the added risks may delay local launches by the likes of Standard Chartered and Tencent. Attendees this week descended on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island for the financial hub’s fourth annual gathering. With appearances from top officials like Financial Secretary Paul Chan to executives at Singapore’s $14 billion Grab and other rising stars, there was plenty of buzz. Hot topics included central bank digital currencies and cross-border payments. See: News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms Virtual banks, as these branchless outfits are known in Hong Kong, took centre stage. Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities granted eight licenses for such firms to offer payments, deposits and other services, in a long overdue shakeup. HSBC, Bank of China Hong Kong, Hang Seng Bank and Standard Chartered account for some three-quarters of the city’s mortgages and two-thirds of retail loans. Online challengers, including a joint venture between Chinese handset ...
Read More
Read More
TLT Solicitors | Daniel Lloyd | Sept 2019 Who is liable when AI goes wrong? Let us take the example of Tesla, whose vehicles have been involved in two similar fatal crashes since 2016. In both cases the vehicle failed to see a lorry cross its path and travelled into the lorry shearing off the top of the car, thereby causing both drivers to suffer fatal injuries. Should Tesla be liable for the crash? At what point should a driver no longer have any liability for what the car is doing? At the moment the Department of Transport in the USA adheres to the automation standards set out by the SAE which run from “level 0” (no automation) to “level 6” (full automation). It is accepted that Tesla’s Autopilot driverless software system is no more than a level 2 or 3 on this scale, both of which require the driver to remain in control of the vehicle when driving. So from a public law perspective at least, Tesla is not being held liable for the two crashes that occurred if, as appears to be the case, the drivers were not in control of the vehicles at the time they crashed ...
Read More
Read More
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