Mahi Sall, Advisor, Fintech-Bank Partnerships, Payments and Financial Inclusivity
January 25th, 2023
Mahi Sall is the CEO & Founder of FinXpair, a Berlin-based strategic advisory boutique firm focu[...]
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:
SLT Launch New Blockchain eSports Platform
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
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
 |  |  |
 Share for a Chance to Win FREE #FFCON23 Virtual Event Tickets!!As a part of the lead-up to this exciting event, NCFA will be holding a social media contest for the chance to win FREE tickets to attend. In order to be entered to win, all you’ll need to do is share any of our event posts or create one of your own through your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn personal or company page, tag @NCFACanada, and use #FFCON23. Winners will be contacted prior to the event. We look forward to seeing you there!  Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada  |
Reuters | March 22, 2023 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has threatened to sue Coinbase Global Inc over some of the crypto exchange's products, turning up the heat on the largely unregulated sector. The potential enforcement actions would be tied to aspects of Coinbase's spot market as well as its Earn, Prime and Wallet products, the company said. Shares of Coinbase dropped nearly 13% to $67.33 in extended trading after the company said on Wednesday that the regulator had issued it a Wells notice - a formal declaration that SEC staff intend to recommend an enforcement action. Coinbase said its services continued to operate as usual after the notice was issued. See: Coinbase Begins ‘Wallet as a Service’ Enabling Companies to Integrate Into Their Own Apps A Wells notice does not always result in charges or signal that the recipient has violated any law. A Wells notice is typically one of the final steps before the SEC formally issues charges. It generally lays out the framework of the regulatory argument and offers the potentially accused an opportunity to rebut the SEC’s claims. Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal said in a blog post: Although we don’t take this ...
Read More
CoinDesk | Nikhilesh De, Oliver Knight | March 22, 2023 Sushi DAO and Head Chef Jared Grey were served with a subpoena by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the decentralized autonomous organization revealed Tuesday. Grey proposed creating a "Sushi DAO Legal Defense Fund" in a forum post, saying it would "cover legal costs for core contributors." The proposal recommends making $3 million in tether (USDT) available for core contributors, with another $1 million worth of USDT available in case the initial $3 million are used up. The sushi token dropped 5.5% on the news. One of the initial comments on the forum post asked how the DAO known as Sushi was subpoenaed, with the user saying they did not receive it despite being a member of the DAO. "We’re cooperating with the SEC. We do not intend to comment publicly on ongoing investigations or other legal matters," the forum post said. Continue to the full article --> here 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 ...
Read More
March 22, 2023 Regarding legal matters: it's always better to be safe than sorry. While there are many situations where a person may try to navigate legal issues on their own - there are instances wherein hiring a lawyer is an absolute must. Here are the top six situations when hiring a lawyer is essential. Criminal Charges If you are facing criminal charges, hiring a lawyer right away is essential. An attorney can help protect your rights, build a strong defense, and negotiate with prosecutors. When choosing a lawyer, it's critical to find someone with experience in your case's specific area of law. You'll also want to ensure that the lawyer has a good track record and a reputation for being a strong advocate for their clients. The seasoned legal practitioners behind https://colbylegal.com/ recommend that you opt for a lawyer who is responsive and attentive to your needs, as well as someone who will keep you informed throughout the legal process. This way, you can make better decisions about your case and feel confident that you're getting the best representation. Personal Injury Claims Hiring a personal injury lawyer is necessary if you sustained injuries due to an accident caused by ...
Read More
Exploding Topics | Josh Howarth | Jan 20, 2023 The fintech space is making fast strides across many financial sectors, including consumer and B2B. Fintech investment and consumer adoption are clearly on the rise. But to what extent? And where is this industry headed? This list has you covered with a wide range of key, up-to-date financial technology (fintech) statistics. Fintech Industry Size: The fintech industry is worth approximately $180 billion (Deloitte) Global fintech industry revenue has nearly doubled since 2017 (Deloitte) There are currently over 26,000 fintech startups worldwide. This figure has grown dramatically over the past few years (up from only around 12,000 fintech startups in 2019). See: KPMG: Canadian Fintech Investment Drops in 2022, Mentality Shift to ‘Sensible’ Growth Investment: Fintech industry investment has increased 3.5x since 2015 (KPMG) In 2012, investment in fintech totaled $4 billion. By the end of 2021, fintech investment reached $210 billion. Venture capital distributions by sector funding: #1 Capital markets $8.07 billion #2 Payments $6.03 billion #3 Wealth management $5.43 billion #4 Digital lending $3.97 billion #5 SMB $3.36 billion #6 Banking $3.27 billion #7 Real estate $2.42 billion #8 Insurance $2.30 billion Adoption: 90% of Chinese citizens use fintech banking, ...
Read More
March 21, 2023 If you don't plan, you're planning to fail, as the old business adage goes. It's a cliché, but those who are really committed to their achievement, especially traders, should treat those words as if they were carved in stone. If you ask every successful trader, the answer will likely be the same: you must strictly adhere to a predetermined strategy, or you will be doomed to failure. You're in the minority if you already have a detailed trading or investment strategy that will help your portfolio, and congratulations on that. Creating a viable strategy or technique for trading the financial markets is a lengthy process that requires much study and investigation. While there are no guarantees, you have removed a substantial obstacle. For those of you who haven’t done it yet, here is a comprehensive guide on how to do so in order to get solid results and improve your portfolio. Have a Clear Understand of the Market A solid understanding of the market you are going to trade on is vital for establishing a smart trading strategy. Being well-versed in the field of trading will equip you to comfortably deal with the abundance of data present ...
Read More
CFPB | Mar 15, 2023 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a request for information on “data brokers,” “an umbrella term to describe firms that collect, aggregate, sell, resell, license, or otherwise share consumers’ personal information with other parties. See: Davos: Cooperation in a Fragmented World: In Data We Trust The CFPB is looking to better understand the “scope and breadth of data brokers’ business practices and the impact of those practices on the marketplace and peoples’ daily lives,” especially in relation to credit reporting and the requirements and intentions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Continue to view the announcement --> here Download the 13 page PDF RIF --> here 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 ...
Read More
Reuters | Stefania Spezzati, Oliver Hirt and John O'Donnell | Mar 19, 2023 Move follows Swiss rescue of Credit Suisse and signals depth of concern over the global financial system Some of the world’s largest central banks came together on Sunday to stop a banking crisis from spreading as Swiss authorities persuaded UBS Group AG to buy rival Credit Suisse Group AG in a historic deal. UBS will pay 3 billion Swiss francs (US$3.23 billion) for 167-year-old Credit Suisse and assume up to US$5.4 billion in losses in a deal backed by a massive Swiss guarantee and expected to close by the end of 2023. Soon after the announcement late on March 19, the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada, European Central Bank and other major central banks came out with statements to reassure markets that have been walloped by a banking crisis that started with the collapse of two regional U.S. banks earlier this month. The Fed said it had joined with central banks in Canada, England, Japan, the EU and Switzerland in a coordinated action to enhance market liquidity. The banks said they would start offering daily loans in dollars to their banks to avert stress in ...
Read More
Stripe | March 15, 2023 Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform for businesses, today announced OpenAI has chosen Stripe to power payments as it moves to commercialize its groundbreaking ChatGPT and DALL·E generative AI technologies. Powering OpenAI with Stripe: OpenAI is working with Stripe to commercialize its generative AI technology. Using Stripe’s suite of products, OpenAI was able to launch a global payments system for multiple product lines in a matter of weeks. See: Human vs Machine’s Tug-of-War: Stockmarket Automation Lessons GPT-3: Stripe has long used artificial intelligence to enhance its products and experiences for users, including to help users manage fraud and increase conversion rates. Last year, Stripe worked with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI team to implement GPT-3 for Stripe Support, which is helping agents identify quicker resolution paths for the many users they interact with each week. Seventy-five percent of the leading generative AI companies have signed up with Stripe to go to market quickly, scale with compliance in mind, and bring their products to many more users worldwide. They include OpenAI, Runway, Diagram, and Moonbeam. GPT-4: After joining the GPT-4 beta in January, Stripe identified a range of ways to use the technology to streamline operations and help users ...
Read More
March 20, 2023 Cloud-based solutions utilize live data analysis to equip your HR managers with vital resources that can enhance staff involvement. These solutions also enable your HR team to create personalized development plans for each employee, empowering them to take ownership of their career paths and achieve their professional goals. Incorporating the following cloud-based solutions in your HR department can significantly improve employee satisfaction and boost company performance. This article will examine 5 cloud-based solutions to help HR leverage employee engagement: 1. Video conferencing tools Video conferencing tools are cloud-based solutions that have become increasingly popular as organizations look for ways to improve and maintain employee engagement and collaboration in remote work environments. These tools effectively allow your HR department to connect with employees regardless of location, enabling better communication, engagement and teamwork. They also allow the HR team to hold meetings, conduct interviews, and even organize virtual events, such as team-building activities, without being in the same physical location. These tools can enable you to easily communicate updates on company policies and procedures, discuss career development opportunities, and offer feedback on employee performance. 2. Digital signage software Cloud-based digital signage involves utilizing a digital signage system hosted on ...
Read More
March 19, 2023 If you were to visit any legitimate online or land-based casino, you would notice that they strongly recommend responsible gambling. What this means is that you need to be very careful with your bankroll management. This is the best way to remain in control, avoid unnecessary frustration, and prevent yourself from making reckless decisions. Getting too emotional can turn this whole entertaining experience into a problem. So, if you are new to this hobby make sure to stick around, and read about some bankroll management tips. These will help you minimize your losses, and have a more enjoyable gaming experience by extension. Use Casino Bonuses and Promotions First off, playing online actually gives you a lot of flexibility for managing expenses. If you live in places like Canada there are lots of online casinos available and they have incredibly generous bonuses. You should go over the list of the best online casinos for Canadians and pick a few operators that you like. Right off the bet, you will see you can get lots of free spins for just a small and negligible deposit. Bear in mind though that some of these bonuses do have wagering requirements, so ...
Read More
Reuters | March 22, 2023 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has threatened to sue Coinbase Global Inc over some of the crypto exchange's products, turning up the heat on the largely unregulated sector. The potential enforcement actions would be tied to aspects of Coinbase's spot market as well as its Earn, Prime and Wallet products, the company said. Shares of Coinbase dropped nearly 13% to $67.33 in extended trading after the company said on Wednesday that the regulator had issued it a Wells notice - a formal declaration that SEC staff intend to recommend an enforcement action. Coinbase said its services continued to operate as usual after the notice was issued. See: Coinbase Begins ‘Wallet as a Service’ Enabling Companies to Integrate Into Their Own Apps A Wells notice does not always result in charges or signal that the recipient has violated any law. A Wells notice is typically one of the final steps before the SEC formally issues charges. It generally lays out the framework of the regulatory argument and offers the potentially accused an opportunity to rebut the SEC’s claims. Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal said in a blog post: Although we don’t take this ...
Read More
Read More
CoinDesk | Nikhilesh De, Oliver Knight | March 22, 2023 Sushi DAO and Head Chef Jared Grey were served with a subpoena by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the decentralized autonomous organization revealed Tuesday. Grey proposed creating a "Sushi DAO Legal Defense Fund" in a forum post, saying it would "cover legal costs for core contributors." The proposal recommends making $3 million in tether (USDT) available for core contributors, with another $1 million worth of USDT available in case the initial $3 million are used up. The sushi token dropped 5.5% on the news. One of the initial comments on the forum post asked how the DAO known as Sushi was subpoenaed, with the user saying they did not receive it despite being a member of the DAO. "We’re cooperating with the SEC. We do not intend to comment publicly on ongoing investigations or other legal matters," the forum post said. Continue to the full article --> here 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 ...
Read More
Read More
March 22, 2023 Regarding legal matters: it's always better to be safe than sorry. While there are many situations where a person may try to navigate legal issues on their own - there are instances wherein hiring a lawyer is an absolute must. Here are the top six situations when hiring a lawyer is essential. Criminal Charges If you are facing criminal charges, hiring a lawyer right away is essential. An attorney can help protect your rights, build a strong defense, and negotiate with prosecutors. When choosing a lawyer, it's critical to find someone with experience in your case's specific area of law. You'll also want to ensure that the lawyer has a good track record and a reputation for being a strong advocate for their clients. The seasoned legal practitioners behind https://colbylegal.com/ recommend that you opt for a lawyer who is responsive and attentive to your needs, as well as someone who will keep you informed throughout the legal process. This way, you can make better decisions about your case and feel confident that you're getting the best representation. Personal Injury Claims Hiring a personal injury lawyer is necessary if you sustained injuries due to an accident caused by ...
Read More
Read More
Exploding Topics | Josh Howarth | Jan 20, 2023 The fintech space is making fast strides across many financial sectors, including consumer and B2B. Fintech investment and consumer adoption are clearly on the rise. But to what extent? And where is this industry headed? This list has you covered with a wide range of key, up-to-date financial technology (fintech) statistics. Fintech Industry Size: The fintech industry is worth approximately $180 billion (Deloitte) Global fintech industry revenue has nearly doubled since 2017 (Deloitte) There are currently over 26,000 fintech startups worldwide. This figure has grown dramatically over the past few years (up from only around 12,000 fintech startups in 2019). See: KPMG: Canadian Fintech Investment Drops in 2022, Mentality Shift to ‘Sensible’ Growth Investment: Fintech industry investment has increased 3.5x since 2015 (KPMG) In 2012, investment in fintech totaled $4 billion. By the end of 2021, fintech investment reached $210 billion. Venture capital distributions by sector funding: #1 Capital markets $8.07 billion #2 Payments $6.03 billion #3 Wealth management $5.43 billion #4 Digital lending $3.97 billion #5 SMB $3.36 billion #6 Banking $3.27 billion #7 Real estate $2.42 billion #8 Insurance $2.30 billion Adoption: 90% of Chinese citizens use fintech banking, ...
Read More
Read More
March 21, 2023 If you don't plan, you're planning to fail, as the old business adage goes. It's a cliché, but those who are really committed to their achievement, especially traders, should treat those words as if they were carved in stone. If you ask every successful trader, the answer will likely be the same: you must strictly adhere to a predetermined strategy, or you will be doomed to failure. You're in the minority if you already have a detailed trading or investment strategy that will help your portfolio, and congratulations on that. Creating a viable strategy or technique for trading the financial markets is a lengthy process that requires much study and investigation. While there are no guarantees, you have removed a substantial obstacle. For those of you who haven’t done it yet, here is a comprehensive guide on how to do so in order to get solid results and improve your portfolio. Have a Clear Understand of the Market A solid understanding of the market you are going to trade on is vital for establishing a smart trading strategy. Being well-versed in the field of trading will equip you to comfortably deal with the abundance of data present ...
Read More
Read More
CFPB | Mar 15, 2023 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a request for information on “data brokers,” “an umbrella term to describe firms that collect, aggregate, sell, resell, license, or otherwise share consumers’ personal information with other parties. See: Davos: Cooperation in a Fragmented World: In Data We Trust The CFPB is looking to better understand the “scope and breadth of data brokers’ business practices and the impact of those practices on the marketplace and peoples’ daily lives,” especially in relation to credit reporting and the requirements and intentions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Continue to view the announcement --> here Download the 13 page PDF RIF --> here 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 ...
Read More
Read More
Reuters | Stefania Spezzati, Oliver Hirt and John O'Donnell | Mar 19, 2023 Move follows Swiss rescue of Credit Suisse and signals depth of concern over the global financial system Some of the world’s largest central banks came together on Sunday to stop a banking crisis from spreading as Swiss authorities persuaded UBS Group AG to buy rival Credit Suisse Group AG in a historic deal. UBS will pay 3 billion Swiss francs (US$3.23 billion) for 167-year-old Credit Suisse and assume up to US$5.4 billion in losses in a deal backed by a massive Swiss guarantee and expected to close by the end of 2023. Soon after the announcement late on March 19, the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada, European Central Bank and other major central banks came out with statements to reassure markets that have been walloped by a banking crisis that started with the collapse of two regional U.S. banks earlier this month. The Fed said it had joined with central banks in Canada, England, Japan, the EU and Switzerland in a coordinated action to enhance market liquidity. The banks said they would start offering daily loans in dollars to their banks to avert stress in ...
Read More
Read More
Stripe | March 15, 2023 Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform for businesses, today announced OpenAI has chosen Stripe to power payments as it moves to commercialize its groundbreaking ChatGPT and DALL·E generative AI technologies. Powering OpenAI with Stripe: OpenAI is working with Stripe to commercialize its generative AI technology. Using Stripe’s suite of products, OpenAI was able to launch a global payments system for multiple product lines in a matter of weeks. See: Human vs Machine’s Tug-of-War: Stockmarket Automation Lessons GPT-3: Stripe has long used artificial intelligence to enhance its products and experiences for users, including to help users manage fraud and increase conversion rates. Last year, Stripe worked with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI team to implement GPT-3 for Stripe Support, which is helping agents identify quicker resolution paths for the many users they interact with each week. Seventy-five percent of the leading generative AI companies have signed up with Stripe to go to market quickly, scale with compliance in mind, and bring their products to many more users worldwide. They include OpenAI, Runway, Diagram, and Moonbeam. GPT-4: After joining the GPT-4 beta in January, Stripe identified a range of ways to use the technology to streamline operations and help users ...
Read More
Read More
March 20, 2023 Cloud-based solutions utilize live data analysis to equip your HR managers with vital resources that can enhance staff involvement. These solutions also enable your HR team to create personalized development plans for each employee, empowering them to take ownership of their career paths and achieve their professional goals. Incorporating the following cloud-based solutions in your HR department can significantly improve employee satisfaction and boost company performance. This article will examine 5 cloud-based solutions to help HR leverage employee engagement: 1. Video conferencing tools Video conferencing tools are cloud-based solutions that have become increasingly popular as organizations look for ways to improve and maintain employee engagement and collaboration in remote work environments. These tools effectively allow your HR department to connect with employees regardless of location, enabling better communication, engagement and teamwork. They also allow the HR team to hold meetings, conduct interviews, and even organize virtual events, such as team-building activities, without being in the same physical location. These tools can enable you to easily communicate updates on company policies and procedures, discuss career development opportunities, and offer feedback on employee performance. 2. Digital signage software Cloud-based digital signage involves utilizing a digital signage system hosted on ...
Read More
Read More
March 19, 2023 If you were to visit any legitimate online or land-based casino, you would notice that they strongly recommend responsible gambling. What this means is that you need to be very careful with your bankroll management. This is the best way to remain in control, avoid unnecessary frustration, and prevent yourself from making reckless decisions. Getting too emotional can turn this whole entertaining experience into a problem. So, if you are new to this hobby make sure to stick around, and read about some bankroll management tips. These will help you minimize your losses, and have a more enjoyable gaming experience by extension. Use Casino Bonuses and Promotions First off, playing online actually gives you a lot of flexibility for managing expenses. If you live in places like Canada there are lots of online casinos available and they have incredibly generous bonuses. You should go over the list of the best online casinos for Canadians and pick a few operators that you like. Right off the bet, you will see you can get lots of free spins for just a small and negligible deposit. Bear in mind though that some of these bonuses do have wagering requirements, so ...
Read More
Read More
Related Posts
Tencent’s Finally Marching into Web3
What Attracts Investors to Blockchain Gaming?
China’s digital fiat currency is ‘nearly ready’ for launch: PBOC official
All You Need to Know About China’s Latest Crypto Crackdown
News on China cryptocurrency and more reforms
Accessing capital in China and solutions for crowdfunded companies
Leave a Reply