Fintech Focus For September 20, 2021

Quote To Start The Day: “Ignorance is not bliss. It’s loss.”

Source: Rupal Bhansali

One Big Thing In Fintech: Following the surge of interest in decentralized finance (DeFi) since last summer, it remains to be seen whether DeFi will completely transform traditional financial products or simply complement and optimize them.

Source: S&P Global

Other Key Fintech Developments:

• Nasdaq talks stoking ETF liquidity.
• Mynd has secured a $57.3M round.
• SEC is looking to crypto regulation.
• Open Mineral adds $33M Series C.
• Coinfirm adds $8M Series A round.
• Self Financial raises $50M Series E.
• Veriff joined Visa Connect program.
• Varo deal is validating bank charter.
• Zūm Rails taps Visa over payments.
• Morgan Stanley added crypto team.
• CBDCs: New cash for a digital age.
• Citizens has added payments tool.
• Coinbase applies for NFA license.
• MX, Mahalo partner on data, tech.
• Voyager taps NICE for crypto tech.
• Goldman led Form3 $160M round.
• Clickatell, Cybersource partnered.
• Lendio acquires Laso loan software.
• LightYear raises $8.5M for platform.
• JPMorgan eyes digital bank launch.
• Bybit Launchpad debuted with BIT.
• PayPal’s Mangot talking neobanks.
• Truist, MSFT back FDIC bank fund.
• CME intros E-Mini Russell options.
• Fifth Third touts the growth of fintech.
• ForwardAI intros transaction maps.
• Robinhood has a dogecoin problem.
• Westpac continuing tech upgrades.
• Zuora unveils new fintech offerings.
• Avaloq has spun out a fintech fund.
• How BankMobile pivoted business.
• Solo Music launching music market.

Watch Out For This: Why should I go?

That’s the question some were likely asking themselves as SkyBridge Capital, a global investment firm, looked to bring thousands of the world’s foremost investors and thought leaders together for three days of high-level collaboration and networking.

Let’s answer the question with some key lessons from New York City’s first SALT event.

Source: Benzinga

Interesting Reads:

• Ford looking to boost EV production.
• $8B firm is backed by Michael Jordan.
• Companies shaping up the metaverse.
• Resist temptations to call market top.
• Monetization in professional sports.
• Facebook revamped business lineup.
• Cathie Wood predicts $500K bitcoin.
• Super Follows has inauspicious start.
• IMF Chief called out on China report.

Market Moving Headline: If the debt ceiling problem hasn't been solved by November, Guggenheim economists Brian Smedley and Matt Bush argued this week that an announcement on tapering is likely to be delayed to December, and that Treasury yields could fall further as a result.

Source: Bloomberg