Coin News

Regulators in Japan have reportedly proposed treating digital currencies such as bitcoin as conventional currencies.

Are you ready for the brave new world of financial services? We’re about to enter the most profound era of change for financial services companies since the 1970s brought us index mutual funds, discount brokers and ATMs.

No firm is immune from the coming disruption and every company must have a strategy to harness the powerful advantages of the new financial technology (“fintech”) revolution.

The battle already underway will create surprising winners and stunned losers among some of the most powerful names in the financial world: The most contentious conflicts will be between startups that are completely reengineering decades-old practices and traditional power players who are furiously trying to adapt with their own innovations:

• Bank of America vs. Ally Bank: Traditional retail banks provide a valuable service, but online-only banks can offer many of the same services with higher rates and lower fees
• JP Morgan vs. Lending Club: P2P lending marketplaces are growing much faster than traditional lenders—only time will tell if the banks strategy of creating their own small loan networks will be successful
• Visa vs. Square: Square processed $24 billion in payments from over 2 million customers last year—will traditional processors like Visa who own the payments pathways be able to defend their territory from new invaders?
• Fidelity vs. Betterment: Robo-advisors like Betterment offer lower fees, lower minimums and solid returns to investors, but the much larger traditional asset managers are creating their own robo-products while providing the kind of handholding that high net worth clients are willing to pay handsomely for.

As you can see, this very fluid environment is creating winners and losers before your eyes…and it’s also creating the potential for new cost savings or growth opportunities for both you and your company.

After months of researching and reporting this important trend, Business Insider Intelligence has put together an essential briefing that explains the new landscape, identifies the ripest areas for disruption, and highlights the most exciting new companies. These new players have the potential to become the next Visa, Paypal or Charles Schwab because they have the potential to transform important areas of the financial services industry like:

• Retail banking
• Lending and Financing
• Payments and Transfers
• Wealth and Asset Management
• Markets and Exchanges
• Blockchain Transactions

If you work in any of these sectors, it’s important for you to understand how the fintech revolution will change your business and possibly even your career. And if you’re employed in any part of the digital economy, you’ll want to know how you can exploit these new technologies to make your employer more efficient, flexible and profitable.

Among the big picture insights you’ll get from this new report, titled The Fintech Ecosystem Report: Measuring the effects of technology on the entire financial services industry:

• Why financial technology is so disruptive to financial services—it will soon change the nature of almost every financial activity, from banking to payments to wealth management.
• The basic conflict will be between old firms and new—startups are re-imagining financial services processes from top to bottom, while incumbent financial services firms are trying to keep up with new products of their own.
• Both sides face serious obstacles—traditional banks and financial services firms are investing heavily in innovation, but leveraging their investments is difficult with so much invested in legacy systems and profit centers. Meanwhile, startups are struggling to navigate a rapidly-changing regulatory landscape and must scale up quickly with limited resources.
• The blockchain is a wild card that could completely overhaul financial services. Both major banks and startups around the world are exploring the technology behind the blockchain, which stores and records Bitcoin transactions. This technology could lower the cost of many financial activities to near-zero and could wipe away many traditional banking activities completely.

This exclusive report also:

• Explains the main growth drivers of the exploding fintech ecosystem.
• Frames the challenges and opportunities faced by incumbents and startups.
• Breaks down global and regional fintech investments, including which regions are the most significant and which are poised for the highest growth.
• Reveals which two financial services are garnering the most investment, and are therefore likely to be transformed first and fastest by fintech
• Explains why blockchain technology is critically important to banks and startups, and assesses which players stand to gain the most from it. 
• Explores the financial sectors facing disruption and breaks them down in terms of investments, vulnerabilities and growth opportunities.
• And much more.

The Fintech Ecosystem Report: Measuring the effects of technology on the entire financial services industry is how you get the full story on the fintech revolution.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the fintech revolution, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of financial technology.

Join the conversation about this story »

One of the key sectors to adopt blockchain technology will likely be government regulatory agencies, says Austin Hill, Blockstream CEO, in a recent Bloomberg TV interview. Bloomberg TV host Angie Lau interviewed Hill on “First Up.” Blockstream has developed a blockchain “sidechain” technology to bringing cross-chain functionality between the bitcoin blockchain and other public and private […]

The post Blockstream’s Austin Hill: Blockchain Brings Huge Savings To Financial Regulators appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

A new Ripple Labs report claims banks using XRP as a bridge currency could save up to 42% on costs today.

As mobile wallets continue to pick up steam, Samsung Pay has announced a progress update that indicates the product is gaining traction and has one key advantage that Apple Pay does not.

Samsung Pay launched six months ago in South Korea and five months ago in the U.S., and it seems that early adoption is strong. The mobile wallet now has five million total users, according to the first update since the service launched in the U.S.

Samsung Pay executive InJong Rhee announced the service has gained "significant consumer adoption" with "great momentum."

Furthermore, the mobile wallet processed more than $500 million in its first six months, including $30 million in its first month in South Korea.

Samsung did not provide any data on its user engagement, but it announced in September 2015 that 36% of Samsung Pay's user base was "active" and 10% used it daily.

The health of Samsung Pay stems at least partially from its wider acceptance compared to Apple Pay. The main reason consumers don't use Apple Pay is they are unsure if the store accepts it or not, according to data from Infoscout.

While Apple Pay only works with newer, NFC-equipped terminals, Samsung Pay includes MST technology, which means it works at almost any terminal that accepts regular magnetic stripe cards.

The early success of Samsung Pay is just one example of how the way consumers pay for products is changing dramatically. We're starting to use our smartphones more and more to make purchases, but that's only the beginning...

EXCLUSIVE REPORT Reveals Why 2016 Will Be a Watershed Year for the Payments Industry

Business Insider Intelligence's Payments Ecosystem report drills into the industry to explain how a broad range of transactions are processed, including prepaid and store cards, as well as revealing which types of companies are in the best and worst position to capitalize on the latest industry trends.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• 2016 will be a watershed year for the payments industry. Payments companies are improving security, expanding their mobile offerings, and building commerce capabilities that will give consumers a more compelling reason to make purchases using digital devices.
• Payments is an extremely complex industry. To understand the next big digital opportunity lies, it's critical to understand how the traditional credit- and debit-processing chain works and what roles acquirers, processors, issuing banks, card networks, independent sales organizations, gateways, and software and hardware providers play.
• Alternative technologies could disrupt the processing ecosystem. Devices ranging from refrigerators to smartwatches now feature payment capabilities, which will spur changes in consumer payment behaviors. Likewise, blockchain technology, the protocol that underlies Bitcoin, could one day change how consumer card payments are verified.

In full, the report:

• Uncovers the key themes and trends affecting the payments industry in 2016 and beyond.
• Gives a detailed description of the stakeholders involved in a payment transaction, along with hardware and software providers.
• Offers diagrams and infographics explaining how card transactions are processed and which players are involved in each step.
• Provides charts on our latest forecasts, key company growth, survey results, and more.
• Analyzes the alternative technologies, including blockchain, which could further disrupt the ecosystem.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

Join the conversation about this story »

D10e, the newly re-branded edition of the conference formerly known as Coin Congress, kicked off in the spacious and freshly painted rooms...

The post D10e Kicks Off Blockchain Conference Series in Amsterdam appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

This is a guest post by Scott Dylan. Chainalysis signed an agreement with Europol on Friday that paves the way for the European law...

The post Chainalysis Inks Bitcoin Analysis Deal With Europol, Irks Some Privacy Advocates appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

This is a guest post by Scott Dylan. Chainalysis signed an agreement with Europol on Friday that paves the way for the European law...

The post Chainalysis Inks Bitcoin Analysis Deal With Europol, Irks Some Privacy Advocates appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitcoin price sold off after falling below its advance channel trendline. The decline is at various stages of development in different exchange charts. Potential targets await lower in the chart. This analysis is provided by xbt.social with a 3-hour delay. Read the full analysis here. Not a member? Join now and receive a $29 discount […]

The post Bitcoin Price Buckles Under Selling Pressure appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

Today marks the official release of Bitcoin Core 0.12.0, the twelfth generation of Bitcoin's reference client as first launched by Satoshi...

The post Bitcoin Core 0.12.0 Released: What's New? appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

  An Australian startup that acts as an intermediary to enable Australians to pay their bills with Bitcoin is now rewarding customers with a first-of-its-kind loyalty program. Living Room of Satoshi, aptly named after Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto is an Australian blockchain-based payments company that enables its users to settle their bills with bitcoin. […]

The post Australian Startup Rewards Customers Paying Bills with Bitcoin appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

JPMorgan Chase & Co has been testing a blockchain program over the past few months wherein US dollars are being moved between London and Tokyo using distributed ledger or blockchain technology, the same innovation used to power Bitcoin. A Wall Street Journal report has revealed that JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the United […]

The post JPMorgan Already Testing Dollar Remittance via Blockchain Technology Between 2,200 Clients appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

Here is what you need to know.

BHP Billiton cut its dividend for the first time in 16 years. BHP Billiton announced revenue crashed 37% to $15.71 billion as the commodities rout crippled its business. The fallout is the company declaring a dividend of $0.16 per share, a 74% reduction from the $0.62 cents from a year ago. Additionally, BHP announced it would change its dividend policy to a minimum 50% payout of underlying attributable profit, which more closely links payouts to the cyclical performance of the business. 

Valeant has to restate its earnings. The embattled pharmaceutical giant said in a press release, "...approximately $58 million of net revenues previously recognized in the second half of 2014 should not have been recognized upon delivery of product to Philidor." Valeant expects its 2014 GAAP EPS to be reduced by about $0.10 per share and its 2015 GAAP EPS to be increased by about $0.09. The company expects to delay the filing of its 2015 10-K pending completion of the review. Shares of Valeant are higher by 3.4% in early action after crashing more than 10% on Monday.

Boeing has a new Chairman of the Board. Jim McNerney announced he will retire from his role as Chairman of the Board at Boeing, effective the end of the month. Dennis Muilenburg, who replaced McNerney as CEO in July, will add the title of Chairman.

Fitbit is getting smoked. The company announced adjusted earnings of $0.35 per share, handily beating the $0.25 that was expected by the Bloomberg. Revenue surged 92.2% to $711.6 million in the holiday quarter, which was well ahead of the $648 million that Wall Street was hoping for. However, the strong results were unable to lift the stock as the company said Q1 revenue would be between $420 million and $440 million, well below the $484.6 million that the Bloomberg consensus was anticipating. Shares of Fitbit are down 16% in pre-market trade.

JPMorgan is holding its investor day. The investment bank is holding its annual investor day on Tuesday. Investors are hoping to hear about how the bank expects to keep down costs without hurting growth. CEO Jamie Dimon and at least five other executives are expected to give presentations, according to Reuters.

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The latest issue of EY's Capital Insights magazine includes an interview with Cisco CFO Kelly Kramer, and insights on how cyber economics is impacting business and innovative enterprises. Read more here.

Bill Gates is siding with the US versus Apple. The richest person in the world thinks Apple should cooperate with the FBI and unlock the phone of one of the San Bernardino shooters. "This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information," Gates told the FT. "They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case."

German business confidence fell. The Ifo Business Climate Index for Germany fell to 105.7 in February from 107.3 in January. According to the report, German businesses were downbeat about the future for the first time in six months as the manufacturing sector saw its biggest drop in confidence since November 2008. "With production levels falling at the end of last year, manufacturers fear that the downturn will continue," the report said. The euro is weaker by 0.3% at 1.0995.

Stock markets around the world are lower. China's Shanghai Composite (-0.8%) led the drop in Asia and Germany's DAX (-0.8%) paces the decline in Europe. S&P 500 futures are down 2.25 points at 1934.00.

Earnings reporting remains heavy. Home Depot, Macy's and Toll Brothers are among the companies releasing their quarterly results ahead of the opening bell. Avis Budget, Caesar's Entertainment and Papa John's highlight the names reporting after markets close.

US economic data picks up. The Case-Shiller 20-city Index is due out at 9 a.m. ET before both consumer confidence and existing home sales are released at 10 a.m. ET. The US 10-year yield is higher by 3 basis points at 1.78%.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We did a blind taste test of Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Papa John's pizza — here's the verdict

In Bitcoin, there is much discussion about alt-coins, as if many of these are actually legitimate. Many alt-coins are pre-mined, causing them to lose much of their legitimacy. If a coin has been pre-mined, it should automatically be crossed off your digital currency investment list. Further, many quite simply don’t have the adoption rate to […]

The post These Are The Most Popular Digital Currencies Three Years Running appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

The old adage “Be careful what you wish for” is apt. With Bitcoin, we have finally arrived. Blockchain technology is now front and center. Big finance, and by way of, big money is now involved. Pandora’s Box is wide open and the new path forward wears a suit and carries a nice leather briefcase. Although this may […]

The post Bitcoin Splitsville: Hard Forks and Heart Breaks in Technology appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

Bitcoin Press Release: BTSR is a new digital token anyone can hold to receive a share of the profits of BitTeaser: the world’s first advertising network planning to integrate MIT Licensed blockchain technology. BTSR is created and hosted by OpenLedger, a decentralized financial platform, and holders of OBITS will also benefit from the revenue generated […]

The post Top Blockchain Advertising Network BitTeaser Shares Revenue With BTSR Holders – Latest OBITS, OpenLedger and CCEDK Initiative appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

BitLox Press Release: BitLox Limited is now manufacturing the most advanced and secure hardware Bitcoin wallets ever developed. Encased in titanium and aerospace grade alloys, and with never-before-seen privacy and security features including hidden Bitcoin wallet support, duress PIN, AEM, quad password protection, and more. Users can also use iOS and Android apps to manage […]

The post BitLox Launches Indestructible Hardware Bitcoin Wallet With Unprecedented Security and Privacy Features appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.