Latest long reads: Finextra Research

Why UK fintech is leading the charge for VC investment

Q3’s results are in, and it’s good news for the fintech industry. With $3.3 billion raised, a significant $1 billion more than any other sector, fintech has maintained its top ranking for 2024. The news comes via Dealroom’s UK Q3 Innovation Update, which shows that though investment in UK startups slowed over summer, UK startups still commanded $2...

17 hours /people

What should non-bank lenders consider when seeking capital to grow?

Warren Mutch Head of Speciality Finance at Shawbrook

What should non-bank lenders consider when seeking capital to grow?

Non-bank lending has evolved into an increasingly important source of finance for UK businesses and consumers, but without access to depositor capital, how can non-bank lenders expand their funding lines and support their clients? During the last decade non-bank lending has evolved from relatively niche market into a crucial source of finance for ...

23 hours /devops

Dubai and Abu Dhabi crypto firms: Regulatory pitfalls to avoid with EU or UK clients

Michal Chajdukowski Associate at McDermott Will & Emery

Dubai and Abu Dhabi crypto firms: Regulatory pitfalls to avoid with EU or UK clients

This piece was coauthored by Vlad Maly and Renate Prinz, partners at McDermott, Will & Emery. Continuing developments in the crypto regulatory sphere have significantly increased the attractiveness of Dubai and Abu Dhabi for crypto firms with global ambitions. Firms should remember, however, that they may also need to comply with the EU or UK ...

17 October 2024 /regulation

Biodiversity loss could threaten the global GDP: Why nature-based financing is essential

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Biodiversity loss could threaten the global GDP: Why nature-based financing is essential

The CDP, a nonprofit organisation that runs a global disclosure system, recently released a report outlining the need to de-risk nature-based finance in Asia, outlining how biodiversity loss is impacting the GDP of numerous countries. The report indicated that the threat to nature and biodiversity to low-income and nature-reliant countries in Asia...

16 October 2024 /sustainable

Unlocking the opportunities of embedded e-commerce in the African market

Dominique Dierks Content Manager at Finextra

Unlocking the opportunities of embedded e-commerce in the African market

This is an excerpt from the Future of Embedded Finance in Africa 2025 report. E-commerce in Africa is booming, driven by increasing access to internet and smart phones across the continent, combined with affordable data plans, a young and tech-savvy population, as well as the growing availability of digital payment methods. Statista expects the re...

16 October 2024 /markets

Níamh Curran Senior Reporter at Finextra

6 social media scams to look out for

Social media firms have been under increased pressure to improve fraud monitoring due to scams originating on the platforms. This comes after Authorised Push Payment (APP) victim reimbursement scheme came into effect on 7 October. Payment Service Providers are required to reimburse victims of APP fraud up to £85,000, but some are arguing social me...

15 October 2024 /crime

US Election 2024: What will Vice President Kamala Harris bring to fintech?

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

US Election 2024: What will Vice President Kamala Harris bring to fintech?

This week, Vice President Harris pledged to provide Black male entrepreneurs with one million forgivable loans of up to $20,000 to help them get their businesses off the ground in collaboration with the Small Business Adminstration, bolstering their potential and removing barriers for this group. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Techno...

15 October 2024 /regulation

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

How to build a mobile banking app

Mobile banking’s fledging iteration in the 1990’s was conducted via handsets’ Short Message Service (SMS). The offering was limited and inflexible – customers could check their balance or request to be warned if they were about to become overdrawn. By 1999, the world’s first Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) enabled mobile banking services in No...

14 October 2024 /payments

Making embedded cross-border payments in Africa work

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

Making embedded cross-border payments in Africa work

This is an excerpt from the Future of Embedded Finance in Africa 2025 report. Africa continues to pursue new technologies and innovations to facilitate cross-border payments. Embedded finance and remittances in this arena could be the next steps to streamline the process for end-users – as well as boost financial inclusion and trade. Country he...

14 October 2024 /payments

The UK’s legislative approach: Substance over style

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The UK’s legislative approach: Substance over style

The UK’s recent regulatory moves on digital assets and stablecoins have been fairly solid on substance but could benefit from a bit more style. By substance I’m thinking of the Electronic Trade Documents Act, the recently introduced Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill and just launched Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS). This ‘substance over style’...

11 October 2024 /regulation

Hurricane Milton: How to avoid natural disaster scams and fraud

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

Hurricane Milton: How to avoid natural disaster scams and fraud

As Hurricane Milton gradually tracks away from Florida, leaving deadly storm surges, flooding rain and high winds in its path, it is an unfortunate reality that fraudsters will try and capitalise on the misfortune and vulnerability of those affected. This week, the US Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financi...

10 October 2024 /crime

What will it take to grow and scale embedded finance in Africa?

Dickson Nsofor Chief Executive Officer at Kora

What will it take to grow and scale embedded finance in Africa?

This is an excerpt from the Future of Embedded Finance in Africa 2025 report. Embedded finance is changing the payment landscape in Africa. With it, non-financial businesses are offering specialised services to consumers across the continent. Now, there are BNPL platforms with virtual accounts customers can fund to pay for products and services. R...

10 October 2024 /markets

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