Latest Blockchain News: Finextra Research

Not a prototype or POC; CobaltDL to deploy SETL ledger at live launch

Peer-to-peer FX trading startup Cobalt DL is to deploy OpenCSD, the permissioned ledger based platform from SETL to create a shared view of trade data for market participants.

26 October 2016

News/Blockchain

China emerges as fintech powerhouse as UK dominance weakens

The UK's position at the centre of the fintech world is under threat as its top companies become overshadowed by Chinese giants, a new report from KPMG and H2 Ventures suggests.

25 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Coins raises $5m for blockchain-based financial inclusion push in SE Asia

Coins, a startup using blockchain technology to boost financial inclusion in Southeast Asia, has raised US$5 million in a Series A round led by a fund backed by non-profit Accion.

24 October 2016

News/Blockchain

UBS names Stephens to spearhead blockchain projects

UBS has named its former Apac CIO Peter Stephens as head of blockchain, replacing Alex Batlin who jumped ship last week to join BNY Mellon.

24 October 2016

News/Blockchain

CBA and Wells Fargo combine blockchain and IoT to revolutionise trade finance

Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Well Fargo are claiming a world-first interbank open account transaction using a blockchain and the Internet of Things for the shipment of goods across international borders.

24 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Synchrony Financial joins R3

Blockchain consortium R3's mission to extend its membership base across the full spectrum of financial services has been boosted by the arrival of US consumer finance outfit Synchrony Financial to its roster.

24 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Mizuho opens Tokyo innovation lab

Japan's Mizuho is the latest banking giant to set up an innovation lab as it bids to nurture a fintech ecosystem and build up relationships with startups.

24 October 2016

News/Blockchain

SBI Securities and IBM test blockchain for bond trading system

Japan's SBI Securities is working with IBM to test the use of blockchain technology for a new type of bond trading platform.

21 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Visa treads on Swift's toes with blockchain pilot for high value payments

Visa is working with blockchain outfit Chain on the development of a near real-time funds transfer system for high value bank-to-bank and corporate payments.

21 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Banks test Ripple digital asset for cross-border payments

A dozen member banks of the R3 distributed ledger consortium have been trialling Ripple's network and native currency to tackle the costs and inefficiencies of interbank cross-border payments.

20 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Barclays and Citi test blockchain tech for equity swaps processing

A group of five major banks, working with Thomson Reuters, IHS Markit and Axoni, have carried out a successful test of blockchain technology and smart contracts to manage affirmations and post-trade lifecycle processing for OTC equity swaps.

18 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange uses blockchain tech for e-voting service

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) is using blockchain technology for a new e-voting system for shareholders accessing and participating in company annual general meetings (AGMs).

17 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Blockchain to reinvigorate loyalty programmes - Deloitte

Distributed ledger technology has the potential to revitalise loyalty rewards programmes by replacing fragmented and clunky systems that depend on centralised administration with a trustless, digitised interlinked network, argues a new report from Deloitte.

12 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Fed paying close attention to 'significant' blockchain

Distributed ledger technology may be the "most significant development in many years" for payments, clearing and settlement, according to a Federal Reserve governor who says that the central bank will publish its own blockchain paper later this year.

12 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Emirates NBD and Icici demo blockchain application for trade finance

Emirates NBD and India's Icici Bank have successfully completed a pilot project to deploy a permissionable blockchain for international remittances and open account trade finance transactions.

12 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Funderbeam raises $2.6 million to propel startup financing

A blockchain-based startup for trading in growth companies founded by former Nasdaq Tallin stock exchange head Kaidi Ruusalepp has raised $2.6 million in a funding round led by Draper Associates, Thomson Reuters, and IQ Capital.

12 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Industry-wide blockchain breakthroughs at least six years away

While three quarters of banks are actively experimenting with blockchain technology, regulatory uncertainty and a lack of inhouse expertise are proving major roadblocks to near-term adoption, according to research from SIX Securities Services.

12 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Blockchain-based smart contracts to save FS customers billions - Capgemini

Blockchain-based smart contracts will transform the financial services industry, saving punters billions of dollars in fees for things such as mortgage applications and auto insurance, claims a Capgemini report.

11 October 2016

News/Blockchain

ANZ and Wells Fargo test distributed ledger tech for correspondent banking

Wells Fargo and Australia's ANZ have built a shared distributed ledger platform prototype for correspondent banking payment reconciliation and settlement.

10 October 2016

News/Blockchain

Luxembourg fund industry coalesces around blockchain

The Luxembourg fund industry is exploring how the uptake of distributed ledger technology can be applied to radically transform the asset management business, adopting a consortium-based approach involving nine leading banks, professional services firm PwC and local startup Scorechain.

07 October 2016