Gibraltar

As all our readers know (?), FintekNews tries really hard to focus on the US fintech sector BUT every so often we need to point out what's happening around the globe. Like Gibraltar. You know, the big granite rock country on the tip of Spain with the cute monkeys? So, what's happening there? Well, its how innovation and regulatory agencies work together to get things done. OR, put another way, the opposite of the US which is light years behind the "innovators". We all know ICOs are, at the least, controversial BUT they are the wave of the future. So, why fight them? Lets figure out ways to embrace the new capital raising tool AND regulate them. WOW, THAT'S Gibraltar. But hey, US lawyers and regulators have to make a buck while protecting the poor dumb public right? (shhh, they hate to be reminded of Bernie Madoff). Great read on how things should work.

(Bill Taylor/CEO)


"The subsidiary plans to be the world's first regulated ICO exchange

Despite the explosion in popularity of initial coin offerings (ICOs) over the past year, they are now considered one of the most contentious forms of raising cash in the fintech industry. They're often associated with high-risk investments, shaky business models, and, at an alarmingly high rate, fraud.

ICO's represent one of the most speculative forms of investment you can make. A company asks you to buy into a concept or business proposal by exchanging Bitcoins or Ethereum for its own, newly created cryptocurrency, with the hope that the new token will appreciate in value as the business grows.

However, the increasing problem of fraudulent ICOs has split the fintech industry, with those who believe the process is revolutionary on one side of the argument, and those that feel it's an easy way to scam investors on the other. China has already moved to ban on ICO activity, while the US, UK, and most recently, the EU, have also warned against investing in them.

It's an unsustainable wild west, yet there's one company that's looking to tame it..."

Full Story at Itpro.co.uk