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[...]
‘This Is Not a Passing Fad’: CFA Exam Adds Crypto, Blockchain Topics
Bloomberg | By Michael Patterson and Andrea Tan | Jul 16, 2018
It might be the definitive sign that cryptocurrencies have arrived on Wall Street.
CFA Institute, whose grueling three-level program has helped train more than 150,000 financial professionals, is adding topics on cryptocurrencies and blockchain to its Level I and II curriculums for the first time next year. Material for the 2019 exams will be released in August, giving candidates their first opportunity to start logging a recommended 300 hours of study time.
CFA added the topics, part of a new reading called Fintech in Investment Management, after industry participants showed surging interest in surveys and focus groups. The worlds of finance and crypto have become increasingly intertwined after last year’s Bitcoin boom, with regulated futures now trading in Chicago, blue-chip firms like Goldman Sachs Group Inc. dabbling in digital assets, and scores of Wall Streeters joining crypto-related startups.
More: Traders With Pockets Full of Crypto Quit Wall Street
While digital coins have tumbled in 2018 and the real-world impact of blockchain ventures has thus far been limited, some observers say the technology could ultimately transform swathes of the global financial system.
“We saw the field advancing more quickly than other fields and we also saw it as more durable,” said Stephen Horan, managing director for general education and curriculum at CFA Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. “This is not a passing fad.”
The CFA material on crypto and blockchain will appear alongside other fintech subjects including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and automated trading. More crypto topics, such as the intersection of virtual currencies and economics, may eventually be added to the curriculum, Horan said.
“It will be beneficial for us, since there’s been a huge expansion and adoption of crypto in our investment universe,” said Kayden Lee, 27, a financial economics student at Columbia University who took the CFA Level I exam in June and is interning as a fund analyst in Singapore during his summer break.
“But more importantly the focus is on fintech and blockchain,” Lee said. “How it works to improve, unravel or even disrupt certain sectors.”
See: Could Cryptocurrency Be the Investment Opportunity of a Lifetime?
The new topics will also make an appearance in the CFA readings on professional ethics, an area that some say is lacking in the crypto world. Many virtual currency projects operate in a legal gray zone, while digital-asset trading venues and initial coin offerings are rife with examples of fraud, market manipulation, money laundering and theft.
Continue to the full article --> here
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada non-profit actively engaged with cryptocurrency, blockchain, crowdfunding, alternative finance, fintech, P2P, ICO, STO, and online investing stakeholders globally. NCFA Canada provides education, research, industry stewardship, services, and networking opportunities to thousands of members and subscribers and works closely with industry, government, academia, community and eco-system partners and affiliates to create a strong and vibrant crowdfunding and fintech industry. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: ncfacanada.org
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SEC | Release | March 23, 2024 The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy continues to urge investors to be cautious if considering an investment involving crypto asset securities. Risk notice to investors: Investments in crypto asset securities can be exceptionally volatile and speculative, and the platforms where investors buy, sell, borrow, or lend these securities may lack important protections for investors. The risk of loss for individual investors who participate in transactions involving crypto assets, including crypto asset securities, remains significant. The only money you should put at risk with any speculative investment is money you can afford to lose entirely. Those offering crypto asset investments or services may not be complying with applicable law, including federal securities laws. Under the federal securities laws, a company may not offer or sell securities unless the offering is registered with the SEC or an exemption to registration is available. Similarly, the law requires parties such as securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, alternative trading systems (ATS), and exchanges to register with the SEC, a state regulator, and/or a self-regulatory organization (SRO), such as FINRA. Moreover, entities and platforms involved in lending or staking crypto assets may be subject to the federal securities ...
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 ...
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Guest Post | March 23, 2023 After entering college, people's lives change dramatically. On the positive side, they meet new people, make friends, and experience new emotions. However, they are now adults who must live on campus, pay for college, and become financially independent from their families. In addition to this, they have to attend lectures, prepare homework, participate in college activities, etc. It's a lot of stress, pressure, and sleepless nights. To lighten their workload and speed up the process of doing homework, some students use artificial intelligence-based online tools such as GPT Chat. Others hire assignment writing services, pay the required amount, and receive their papers on time. Both options can help with homework, but which option is better? Let's discuss this further. Are Assignment Writing Services Legal? There are currently no specific laws in the United States that prevent students from hiring assignment writing services or using AI tools for academic purposes. Thus, students can count on the help of assignment writers, especially when they provide a detailed plagiarism report to prove the originality of the work. The problem is finding a reliable service that has a team of experts who write an authentic copy from scratch ...
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
March 20, 2023 Bitcoin has become incredibly popular in Canada over the past decade. Celebrities keep tweeting about it. Casinos are now accepting it for payments while tech-savvy Canadians are buying it as an investment. In the online casino space, almost every website has bonuses for crypto users. Some of them also feature games created on the blockchain. What’s this commotion all about? How is Bitcoin benefiting online casinos in Canada? Fast and Secure Payments Slow, unsecured payments kill hundreds of businesses every year according to the Harvard Business Review. That’s why many new casinos are embracing crypto at such a fast pace. Bitcoin processes transactions in an average of 10 minutes. If you use an alternative coin like XRP, you can send money around the world in seconds. It doesn’t matter if you’re sending $10 or $1 billion worth of crypto—the blockchain system is lightning fast. It’s also secure. Bitcoin addresses are encrypted using cryptography. This means no one can decipher the data. Secondly, they’re stored on the blockchain, which is decentralized and impossible to hack. Although most crypto casinos accept bitcoin for deposits, some of them also accept Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Visit Bitcoincasinocanada.com to find the ...
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
SEC | Release | March 23, 2024 The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy continues to urge investors to be cautious if considering an investment involving crypto asset securities. Risk notice to investors: Investments in crypto asset securities can be exceptionally volatile and speculative, and the platforms where investors buy, sell, borrow, or lend these securities may lack important protections for investors. The risk of loss for individual investors who participate in transactions involving crypto assets, including crypto asset securities, remains significant. The only money you should put at risk with any speculative investment is money you can afford to lose entirely. Those offering crypto asset investments or services may not be complying with applicable law, including federal securities laws. Under the federal securities laws, a company may not offer or sell securities unless the offering is registered with the SEC or an exemption to registration is available. Similarly, the law requires parties such as securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, alternative trading systems (ATS), and exchanges to register with the SEC, a state regulator, and/or a self-regulatory organization (SRO), such as FINRA. Moreover, entities and platforms involved in lending or staking crypto assets may be subject to the federal securities ...
Read More
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
Guest Post | March 23, 2023 After entering college, people's lives change dramatically. On the positive side, they meet new people, make friends, and experience new emotions. However, they are now adults who must live on campus, pay for college, and become financially independent from their families. In addition to this, they have to attend lectures, prepare homework, participate in college activities, etc. It's a lot of stress, pressure, and sleepless nights. To lighten their workload and speed up the process of doing homework, some students use artificial intelligence-based online tools such as GPT Chat. Others hire assignment writing services, pay the required amount, and receive their papers on time. Both options can help with homework, but which option is better? Let's discuss this further. Are Assignment Writing Services Legal? There are currently no specific laws in the United States that prevent students from hiring assignment writing services or using AI tools for academic purposes. Thus, students can count on the help of assignment writers, especially when they provide a detailed plagiarism report to prove the originality of the work. The problem is finding a reliable service that has a team of experts who write an authentic copy from scratch ...
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
March 20, 2023 Bitcoin has become incredibly popular in Canada over the past decade. Celebrities keep tweeting about it. Casinos are now accepting it for payments while tech-savvy Canadians are buying it as an investment. In the online casino space, almost every website has bonuses for crypto users. Some of them also feature games created on the blockchain. What’s this commotion all about? How is Bitcoin benefiting online casinos in Canada? Fast and Secure Payments Slow, unsecured payments kill hundreds of businesses every year according to the Harvard Business Review. That’s why many new casinos are embracing crypto at such a fast pace. Bitcoin processes transactions in an average of 10 minutes. If you use an alternative coin like XRP, you can send money around the world in seconds. It doesn’t matter if you’re sending $10 or $1 billion worth of crypto—the blockchain system is lightning fast. It’s also secure. Bitcoin addresses are encrypted using cryptography. This means no one can decipher the data. Secondly, they’re stored on the blockchain, which is decentralized and impossible to hack. Although most crypto casinos accept bitcoin for deposits, some of them also accept Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. Visit Bitcoincasinocanada.com to find the ...
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
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