The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Monash Business School & Tsinghua University, Join on 2016 – 2017 Asia Pacific Alternative Finance Industry Study

February 15, 2017 @ 3:38 pm By JD Alois

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance at University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Australian Centre for Financial Studies at Monash University and Tsinghua University Graduate School at Shenzhen have teamed up to launch the 2016-2017 Asia-Pacific Region Alternative Finance Industry Survey. The consortium has gained the support of more than 20 major industry organizations across the region. The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) says this is the largest regional study to date focused on crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending & other forms of alternative finance.

Bryan Zhang, a Director at CCAF, commented on the forthcoming research;

“This year’s survey aims to capture the development, diversity and dynamism of the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending markets across the region, in turn, inform evidence-based policymaking and regulation. It is our pleasure to partner with the Australian Centre for Financial Studies, Tsinghua University and over 20 leading industry organisations to conduct this study and further our understanding of alternative finance.”

From equity-based crowdfunding to peer-to-peer consumer and business lending, invoice trading to reward-based crowdfunding, these financing activities are supplying credit to small business, providing venture capital to start-ups. Alternative finance is also offering more diverse and transparent ways for consumers to invest or borrow money, boosting creativity, fostering innovation while creating jobs & aiding social causes across the Asia Pacific region.

This benchmarking survey, opening today (February 15, 2017) aims to capture the key trends including the development, size, transaction volume and growth of alternative finance. The study will also gauge the impact of changing regulations on innovative finance in markets across Asia in 2016 – building on last year’s inaugural study.

Last year’s report, entitled Harnessing Potential, gathered survey data from 503 leading alternative finance platforms operating in 17 Asia-Pacific countries and regions. The study has since been cited by over 100 mainstream media organizations and has informed policymakers and regulators of industry developments in Asia Pacific countries including Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia, Hong Kong and Indonesia for example.

The inaugural report estimated the total Asia-Pacific online alternative finance market to have grown 323% year-on-year to reach $102.81 billion USD in 2015. China is the world’s largest market by transaction volume, registering $101.7 billion in 2015. Outside mainland China, the rest of the APAC region accrued $1.12 billion USD in 2015 with a 313% year-on-year growth rate from the $271.94 million raised in 2014. We hope this year’s study will dive even deeper into the growth and dynamics of the APAC alternative finance market.

Unsurprisingly, China is the world’s largest market by transaction volume, registering $101.7 billion in 2015. Outside mainland China, the rest of the APAC region accrued $1.12 billion USD in 2015 with a 313% year-on-year growth rate from the $271.94 million raised in 2014.

This year’s study is said to dive even deeper into the growth and dynamics of the APAC alternative finance market.

Professor Rodney Maddock, the Interim Director at the Australian Centre for Financial Studies, said that finance is in the midst of a profound transformation;

“This survey will provide key insights into how the sector is changing, how quickly and in which directions. Monash is pleased to be a partner in this leading research.”

Professor Kong Ying, a Dean at the Tsinghua University, explained the importance of the study in measuring alternative finance evolution;

“Like the inception of any new business model, the alternative finance industry also takes a gradual progress to maturity and perfection. As society progresses, this survey report provides authoritative information and useful references for regulators, academics, practitioners in the industry, and also serves the public interest.”

The research will be made publicly available in Q2 of this year. This benchmarking study will help inform policymakers and regulators. The study will facilitate dialogue and learning between industry associations and key stakeholders, while raising awareness of the availability of alternative finance both for consumers and business.

This industry survey is supported by a wide array of organizations and industry research partners including:

The CME Group Foundation
Wangdaizhijia
Japan Crowdfunding Council
Taiwan Fintech Association
Zhongguancun Crowdfunding Union
Crowdfunding Institute of Australia
LendIt
New Zealand Crowdfunding Society
Crowdfund Asia Association
Change Fusion Thailand
Crowdsourcing Week
FinTech Hong Kong
Crowdfund Insider
Ahmedabad University
25fifteen
Crowdfunding Association of Malaysia
Fintech Australia
Fishburners
h2
Melbourne Fintech
New Zealand Crowdfunding Society
Otoritas Jasa Keuangan
Singapore Fintech Association
Stone and Chalk
Tyro Fintech Hub

All crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending and other alternative financing platforms that are currently operating in this region can access the industry survey. All participating platforms will be prominently acknowledged in the industry report with their logos display in the final report.