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Global FinTech News - 29th of January

Global FinTech News - 29th of January
By Holland FinTech  • Issue #83 • View online
Hello fintech reader,
This week was highlighted by the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2021 in Davos, gathering key global governmental and business leaders to reflect on this year’s theme, “The Great Reset.” The summit emphasized the urgent need for the economic and social systems to come together for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future.
We invite you to explore your four favorite categories of fintech to keep being informed on the latest developments - news, funding rounds, research reports, to analysis and opinions on fintech, payments, capital markets, cybersecurity, M&A and much more….
As for our Flash Friday edition of today, our Founder & CEO, Don Ginsel, explored the latest on fintech with Douwe Lycklama, Founding Partner at INNOPAY and fresh Interim President of the Board at Holland FinTech. Check out the video recording here.
From the Holland FinTech Team, we wish you a Happy Friday!

Highlights from last weeks news related to fintech
New strategies, plannings and developments for fintech this week. Ranging from stocks to cybersecurity, M&A and funds. See below this week’s selection:
  • Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, and WeBull Financial have blocked users from buying hot stocks like GameStop, AMC, BlackBerry, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Nokia, receiving backlash from users
  • Trustly, a Stockholm-based fintech that develops and sells online payment solutions, is planning to launch a $11bn IPO in Q2 to capitalise on enhanced interest in digital payments
  • Citi announced its next round of investments through the Citi Impact Fund, a $200m fund launched last year to invest in companies that are addressing some of the biggest societal challenges
  • N26, a Berlin-based neobank, is considering making an acquisition for the first time, after losses at its core European business fell to €110m in 2020 from €165m the previous year
  • JPMorgan Chase announced that its long-anticipated app-based UK bank will launch in the upcoming months, with over 400 new hires on board
  • TransferWise announced that after its newly installed partnership with Visa, it is expanding its debit card programme into dozens of new markets
  • The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced earlier this week that it has experienced a security breach, in which one of its servers has been accessed by an unknown threat actor
  • With a lot of heat and user losses in recent weeks, after announcing and delaying changes on how the platform uses consumers’ data, WhatsApp is adding a new biometrics feature
Read more about this news HERE.
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The largest funding rounds we found from across the world
More funding rounds and investments in the fintech landscape. See the newest names added on the map and top investment deals below, selected from 20th to 27th January:
  • Melio (Tel Aviv, Israel), a fintech company that gives small businesses a way to digitally manage their business-to-business payments and receivables, has raised $110 million (€90.8m)
  • Fast (San Francisco, CA, US), a startup that provides online checkout and identity products, announced a $102 million (€84.1m) Series B funding round
  • Albert ( Walnut, CA, US), a financial service that automates clients’ finances, announced it raised $100 million (€82.5m)
  • Paystone (London, UK; Ontario, Canada), a payments and integrated software company, closed a $69m (€56.9m) strategic financing
  • Alma (Neuilly-sur-Seine, France), a fintech offering installment and deferred payment solutions for merchants and consumers, is raising a $59.4 million (€49.03m)
  • Check (New York, US), a payroll infrastructure startup whose mission is to make paying people simple, announced its public launch with $35 million (€28.8m)
  • Elinvar (Berlin, Germany), a WealthTech company, has raised €25 million funding to scale its offering in a round led by Toscafund Asset Management
  • Other fundings which caught our attention this week: Remagine (€20m), Mission Secure (€18.5m), CapBay (€16.5m), Minna Technologies (€15.5m), Token (€12.3m), SafetyWing (€6.6m), Wealthpilot (€8m), Pula (€4.9m), Joshu (€3.06m), SpiderSilk (€1.86), Nayms (€1.7m), Kevin. (€1.5m)
Read more about this funding news HERE.
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A selection of recent research reports and papers worth reading
Payments, finance, and technology research. Dive into the latest trends and developments:
  • “Gender gap in financial literacy and within household specialization” (Think Forward) - Maddalena Davoli and Jia Hou explore in their research the gender gap issue in financial literacy in the context of German household heads
  • “The State of Fintech in Europe” (Tech.eu & Finstar) - this report gathers data on funding and exit deals ranging from Q1 2017 until the end of H1 2020
  • “Gender Approaches to Cybersecurity” (UNIDIR) - in this report, authors Katharine Millar, James Shires and Tatiana Tropina explore how gender norms shape specific activities in the fields of cybersecurity design, defence and response
  • “The Global Risks Report 2021” (World Economic Forum) - the results of the latest Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) conducted by WEF are presented, followed by analysis of the growing social, highlight the economic and industrial divisions and their interconnections
  • “DCC Forum’s Guide to the Cross-Border Payments EU Regulation” (The Paypers) - with the implementation of the Cross-Border Payments EU Regulation (2019/518), greater transparency and understanding of cross-border payments among EU countries was imposed
  • “CBDC Tracker” (CBDC) - Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Tracker platform is a digital visualization of the fiat currency launched by the central banks of a country
  • “ComplyAdvantage Releases State Of Financial Crime Report For 2021” (Global Banking & Finance) - the findings of this report uncover financial crime insights related to fraud, cyber, and money laundering, the rise of crypto, and the ever-changing sanctions landscape
Read more about the research papers and download the pdf’s HERE.
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Background information and insights from opinion leaders and experts
Opinion leaders, industry experts and researchers. Find out what topics the top voices from fintech are exploring:
  • “How digital identity can improve lives in a post-COVID-19 world” via World Economic Forum - as part of The Davos Agenda 2021, this analysis highlights the need for industries ranging from travel to health to education to collaborate with the financial sector for a quick recovery
  • “Lockdown 3.0: The continued implications of remote trading” via Bobsguide.com - David Woolcock, writer at Bobsguide.com, highlights that for Lockdown 3.0, the UK FCA has initiated the Market Watch for 2021 in January, covering recording telephone conversations and electronic communications when alternative working arrangements are in place, including increased homeworking
  • “How Are Bitcoin, Tethers And Dollars Connected? An Interview With RealVision President Travis Kimmel” via Forbes - Travis Kimmel, RealVision’s President, states in an interview conducted by Forbes the current tumultuous relationship between Bitcoin, Tethers and Dollars that has sparkled debates on social media
  • “The Artificial Intelligence opportunity in the global Financial Services sector” via Finextra - Steven Rackham, Senior Solutions Engineering Manager at EMEA Global NetApp, explains why the financial services sector as a whole is remaining behind in terms of providing customer-centric experiences
  • “ECB President Christine Lagarde Wants Global Regulation of Bitcoin Due to Money Laundering Concerns” via Crowdfund Insider - Christine Lagarde, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), emphasizes the need to regulate Bitcoin on a global level
  • “Omniaccess is the strategic imperative for the 2020s” via The Finanser - Chris Skinner, an independent commentator on the financial markets, explains why the bank of the 21st century should be focused on digitalization, the internet, networking and cloud
  • “What is Alternative Data? Quandl’s Hamza Khan Explains” via The Fintech Times - in an interview conducted by The Fintech Times, Hamza Khan, the head of European Data at Nazdaq’s Quandl, analyzes in-depth the concept of alternative data, its benefits to investors and how regulation has affected its uptake in Europe
  • “Companies must prepare to share much more non-financial data” via Financial Times - Kevin Martin, researcher at Financial Times, explains why corporate stakeholders, ranging from employees and customers to board members, investors, partners and regulators, are requesting for greater data transparency and disclosure of information when it comes to people, profit, planet and purpose (the 4Ps)
Read more about these analyses & opinion pieces HERE.
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Connect with the fintech ecosystem at some of the upcoming events
Our Holland FinTech Online Meetups allow the international Fintech ecosystem to gather together and allows for the companies of our Network to stay at the Forefront of Innovation. If you are looking for exposure, new customers, investors, team members or cool startups, you will surely meet them here! Join us and Gresham Hunt, NCC Group and EMS for an afternoon of updates on the latest fintech developments and more!
Register HERE.
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Frankfurt Digital Finance - 3rd February
Frankfurt Digital Finance connects the people and companies shaping the future of the European finance industry.
Register HERE.
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Flash Friday: Staying Ahead of the FinTech News - 5th February
Holland FinTech’s Founder & CEO, Don Ginsel, presents Flash Friday – a weekly live show that brings you the latest fintech news and developments! Guest speakers this week: Owen Strijland, Financial Services and Fintech Director at Protiviti and Perry Huijgen, Manager at Protiviti.
Register HERE.
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Finnovex East Africa - 9th-10th February
Finnovex East Africa will discuss the roles of banking and non-banking institutions, financial organizations, investment firms, fintech companies, and other stakeholders in developing incentives to the paradigm shift in this sector.
Register HERE.
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Sthlm FinTech Week 2021 - 9th-10th February
Sthlm Fintech Week is an annual event bringing together thought-leaders to foster new connections and enhance collaboration.
Register HERE.
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Future of Finance & CFO Summit - 16th-17th February
he 2021 Future of Finance and CFO Summit will be going virtual – 100% online! The event will not only ensure you meet like-minded finance professionals, but give you the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from CFOs and finance leaders.
Register HERE.
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Ready to get involved? Click here to find out more.
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