Crisis

I find it funny that we talk so much about onboarding, KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering), and yet the whole of that system is broken. Every day in every way, everyone is getting around the system. You may think that account opening is hard. You have to send identification documentation; you have…

During the summer, we are struck by massive wildfires taking place across the Americas and Europe. The devastation to Hawaii is specifically notable, but what about Greece, Tenerife and Canada and the rest. This is not normal. Then you go from wildfires in California to floods and mudslides in the same place. This is not…

People fear banking collapses and, with five in a week, is this contagion? In the last few days Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, First Republic, Railsr and Credit Suisse have failed. Technically they are still alive but, realistically, they flat-lined. Is this a financial crisis? No. Each bank had different issues and so I thought…

I often return to a theme: where’s my guarantee? Where’s my backup? After the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank during the past week, it begs the question: where’s my guarantee? Where’s my backup? After losing money on MtGox ten years ago: where’s my guarantee? Where’s my backup? With the failure of FTX and Terra-Luna: where’s…

I’ve blogged a few times about the Ukrainian conflict, and its impact on the FinTech community. It was interesting therefore to recently connect with Huw Davies. Huw is Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Ozone API, and has previously worked with MasterCard, HSBC and Barclays. He’s now involved in supporting the Ukrainian FinTech community. Here’s how…

I’ve been lucky. I got my first job just after a massive economic crisis and haven’t really been exposed to one since. I live in a bubble that has never had a war. I have never been in a country with double-digit inflation, during my working life. What that means is that I’ve never really…

I watched Stuart Kirk’s speech at the FT Moral Money conference last week … … and, frankly, was astounded. He is now being side-lined, suspended, maybe sacked and certainly a pariah with anyone who cares about the future of our world. Why? Well, let’s just take three comments thrown out during his presentation: “Who cares…

Some friends were applauding Visa and MasterCard’s decision to throw Russia off their payments networks over the weekend. Both companies handle 90% of all debit and credit card payments outside of China – and their announcements will deal another significant blow to the Russian economy. It sounds grand, but the presentation by the media misses a…

I have a number of big yawns when I watch the news these days. Banks are doomed!!! Yawn. Central banks are replacing money with digital money!!! Yawn. Buy bitcoin now and make millions!!! Yawn. COVID, vaccines, anti-vaxers!!! Yawn. The Earth is heating!!! Yawn. The climate is in an emergency!!! Yawn. The world will end!!! Yawn….

1948, 1984, 2030 We talk a lot about FinTech. Some of us then break it down and talk about InsurTech, WealthTech, TradeTech and more. But do we ever zoom out? What about just tech? What about just a digital world? It’s funny as I see HealthTech, FarmTech, GovTech and more, and sat back the other…