General News

BitStaete Asset Management Obtains MiCA License to Serve as Digital Assets Manager

BitStaete Asset Management has reportedly obtained its MiCA License as a crypto-assets manager. As of December 30, 2024, all crypto service providers must comply with the European Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA). MiCA are EU rules that regulate all digital assets except crypto deemed to… Read More

CCA: Reg CF – $375 Million in Crowdfunding for 2024

Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) has distributed an end-of-year update on activity in securities crowdfunding. More specifically, securities sold under Reg CF. According to CCA, a total of $375 million was raised during 2024 – the third year of consecutive decline for this sector of capital… Read More

US Credit Card Defaults Surge to $46B in First 9 Months of 2024

US credit card defaults have reportedly surged to $46 billion in the first 9 months of 2024, which is said to be the highest since 2010. Credit card defaults are now up more than 50% year-over-year. And defaults of seriously delinquent credit card loan balances… Read More

SEC Updates Data on Exempt Securities Including Reg D, Reg CF, Reg A

The Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has provided an update regarding information on exempt securities offerings, including Reg D, Reg CF, and Reg A+. The data is as of the end of 2023. Reg CF or… Read More

DOJ: Bernie Madoff Fraud Victims Receive 94% of Lost Funds

The US Department of Justice says victims of the Bernie Madoff fraud have received 93.71% of their fraud losses. Of course, this does not reflect the opportunity cost of missed years when the money could have been put to work. And then there is inflation…. Read More

US Retail Spending Increases Nearly 5% YoY During Holiday Season – Visa Report

Visa (NYSE: V), a global enabler of digital payments, announced its first Retail Spend Monitor from Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA). This year, Visa’s preliminary insights indicate that the “overall holiday retail spend in the U.S. increased 4.8% year over year.” This is across all forms… Read More

Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index Continues to Recover, with Q4 2024 Results Back to Pre-COVID Levels

The Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index continues to recover, with Q4 2024 results back to pre-pandemic levels, driven by more consumers feeling it is a good time to save, and an improvement in attitudes to investing. The Index also showed some significant changes… Read More

Malware Disguised as Open-Source Plugin: Devices Infected via Compromised Archive Files Appearing to be Skill Assessment Tests

Lazarus’ key operation – “Operation DreamJob” – continues to evolve with sophisticated tactics (involving malware and malicious activities) that have persisted for over five years, according to Kaspersky‘s Global Research and Analysis Team. The targets reportedly include workers from a nuclear-related organization, who were infected… Read More

Venture Capital AuM Growth Slows in 2024, Exit Expectations Rise for 2025 — Report

Preqin, the global firm focused on alternative assets data, tools, and insights, released its Preqin 2025 Global Report: Venture Capital. The research report shows that venture capital assets under management (AUM) reached “$3.1tn by Q1 2024, the latest data available.” Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounted for “$1.6tn,… Read More

Quantum Computing: Italian VC Operator CDP Venture Capital Invests in Multiverse Computing

Multiverse Computing, a firm focused on value-based quantum and quantum-inspired AI software solutions, announced an investment from the Italian investor in venture capital CDP Venture Capital Sgr, as part of the firm’s Series A round. The investment was carried out via compartments of the Corporate… Read More

Paused Rate Cuts, Currency Wars to Come in 2025: Report

Paused rate cuts and full-blown currency wars await markets and investors in 2025, predicts deVere Group CEO Nigel Green. Investors should prepare for heightened volatility in global markets as much-discussed potential trade wars risk morphing into full-blown currency wars under Donald Trump’s leadership, Green warns…. Read More

4 Ways Hackers Target Backups and 6 Ways to Stop Them

One trend from 2024 that has vital implications for fintechs is the growing occurrence of ransomware hackers shifting their attention from production systems to backups. According to IDC research, ransomware targets backups to eliminate the possibility of data recovery. That maximizes the attack’s severity. More… Read More

Consumer Spending in Ireland on the Rise Due to Relatively Low Inflation – Report

Bank of Ireland clients reportedly spent more in 2024 on Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend, up a substantial 4.7% on the past year, while spending by Bank of Ireland customers for the month of November 2024 was up as well by a significant 5.6%… Read More

Kaspersky Warns of Rising Crypto-Drainer Malware, Data Breach Ads on Dark Web

Cybercriminal activity on the dark web surged in 2024, with significant growth in discussions around crypto-drainer malware and advertisements for corporate database breaches, according to Kaspersky’s latest Security Bulletin. The report highlights an evolving cyber threat landscape, with increased interest in malware targeting cryptocurrency wallets… Read More

Alternative Investments Solution Provider Allvue Acquires PFA Solutions

Allvue Systems, LLC, a firm focused on alternative investment solutions, has acquired PFA Solutions LLC, a provider of compensation and carried interest software solutions for firms across private equity, private debt and venture capital. PFA’s product, FirmView, combined with Allvue’s platform, will now aim to… Read More

7 Critical Technology Trends for 2025

1. Cloud-native Kubernetes will bridge the gap for GenAI workloads: “In many GenAI applications, enterprises will use RAG with proprietary data, which will often be confidential and sensitive. To address concerns around data security, privacy, and integrity, some will deploy GenAI in their local data… Read More

Consumer Fintech Current Reports Increase in Revenue, Secures Additional Funding

Current, a consumer fintech banking platform transforming financial access for everyday Americans, announced steady growth in 2024 including an “over 90 percent increase in revenue.” Following this solid year, the company has secured $200 million in new capital to accelerate “growth and fast-track profitability in… Read More

UK’s Salad Money Awarded AISP Status by Financial Conduct Authority

Salad Money says that its Salad Technologies, part of the Salad group, has been approved by the UK’s FCA as an official Account Information Services Provider (AISP). The accreditation means Salad can access applicants’ Open Banking data directly rather then through a licensed third party…. Read More

Don’t Bet on Early 2025 Fed Rate Cut

Should the US Federal Reserve cut rates in December, it’ll be based on market pressure—not sound economic reasoning—and there will be no rate cuts in the first half of 2025, deVere Group CEO Nigel Green believes. His warning comes as the US Consumer Price Index… Read More

Independent Community Bankers of America Boss Pans CFPB Overdraft Rule

This week, Independent Community Bankers of America president and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey spoke out against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule on overdraft services. Despite the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s overdraft rule’s exemption for community banks under $10 billion in assets, Rainey said… Read More

Send this to a friend