SmartContract unveils PoC
SmartContract, which enables computable smart contracts, has unveiled a new a proof of concept (PoC) for making/using smart contracts with Swift.
Bitcoin
Sberbank and Swift sign memorandum of co-operation for product push
Sberbank and Swift have signed a memorandum of co-operation regarding the development and piloting of products created and promoted by Swift. With fintech hugs sweeping Sibos and the planet, the parties agreed to co-ordinate steps to assess the potential application of blockchain in interbank settlement platforms. In particular, Sberbank joined the international group of financial […]
JP Morgan’s Quorum blockchain powers new correspondent banking network
JP Morgan, and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), have launched the Interbank Information Network (IIN) – using blockchain for the payments process. According to JP Morgan, processing global payments is very complex. Multiple layers of communication occur amongst payment participants to verify and process transactions. By using […]
Sibos 2017: web’s future “in the balance”
The cross-border, centralised nature of the world wide web is “absolutely in the balance” right now, warned Sir Tim Berners-Lee, its inventor, yesterday (17 October) at the Sibos conference in Toronto.
LA Ledger group calls for more participants
The Liquidity Alliance group of central securities depositories (CSDs) has called for further participants in their distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based LA Ledger prototype for cross-border mobilisation of security collateral.
Alastria blockchain consortium springs up in Spain
A variety of Spanish banking, energy and telecommunications companies have established Alastria, the “world’s first regulated national network based on blockchain”. The non-profit consortium will develop distributed ledger technology (DLT), which it believes is “set to become the new data exchange ecosystem”. As reported in May, the group created Red Lyra, the “first multisector technology […]
IBM and eight banks unleash we.trade platform for blockchain-powered commerce
IBM and eight banks have unveiled we.trade – the new name for their Digital Trade Chain shared platform using distributed ledger technology (DLT) for domestic and cross-border commerce. Since January 2017, a group of seven banks (Deutsche Bank, HSBC, KBC, Natixis, Rabobank, Societe Generale and UniCredit), together with IBM, have been developing the Digital Trade […]
Natixis, Société Générale and Broadridge complete blockchain pilot
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Natixis and Société Générale say they have “successfully completed” a pilot project that leverages blockchain technology for bilateral repurchase, or repo, agreements.
BNP Paribas and EY explore private blockchain for treasury operations
BNP Paribas ALM Treasury and EY have completed a pilot demonstrating the use of blockchain to improve global internal treasury operations for the bank. The ALM Treasury department, which manages the bank’s internal ops, at the service of all three operating divisions of the group, carried out the pilot, tested internally this summer. According to […]
Securities markets: standing at the crossroads
Financial technology has the potential to radically transform the securities industry. The fast pace of change could lead to disintermediation, according to an Iosco study.
NSD makes it possible to maintain financial privacy in blockchain use
It took just half a year for the team of National Settlement Depository (NSD), Russia’s central securities depository, to find a solution for the challenge of maintaining confidentiality when verifying distributed ledger transactions.
Sibos 2017 opening plenary: data is the new battleground
Welcome to Sibos 2017 in Toronto – bringing together 8,000+ delegates from 150 countries. And this year we have a new (or the vintage new?) theme: data. Not the “big data” though (that everyone was talking about a few Sibos conferences ago), but just data.
Liquidity management: real-time nostro time?
As part of its global payments innovation initiative, Swift and a group of banks have been trialling distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the reconciliation of nostro databases in real-time.
Artificial intelligence: the shape of things to come
Many financial services industry firms are examining the potential of distributed ledger and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Is it too early for any meaningful deployment?
Interview: Robert Barnes, TradeIX – the IX in Trade
In an exclusive interview with trade finance specialist TradeIX, co-founder and CEO Robert Barnes explains how banks’ senior management is focusing on one goal and why product silos simply do not work.
Daily News at Sibos 2017 – Day 1
Read our first Daily News at Sibos edition of the Sibos 2017 conference in Toronto – all the latest news and analysis from Swift’s premier event of the year. Free to read online or pick up a complimentary print copy if you are at Sibos!
IBM, KlickEx Group and Stellar unveil cross-border payments solution
IBM, KlickEx Group, a regional financial services company, and Stellar, a non-profit organisation that supports an open source blockchain network, have unveiled a new regional cross-border payments solution using IBM’s blockchain technology to provide clearing and settlement of trades on a single network in real time.
Ripple entices banks with new accelerator programme
One of the first rules of basic economics is that incentives matter. Blockchain solutions company Ripple must be privy to this rule as it has unveiled a new accelerator programme and marketing incentives to promote bank interest.
Mauritius looks to blockchain for financial inclusion boost
The State Bank of Mauritius, SBM Group and SALT, creator of a blockchain-backed loan platform, have entered into an exploratory relationship to use blockchain assets as collateral for lending services. SALT, which stands for Secured Automated Lending Technology, says it offers risk mitigation software which allows financial entities, like SBM, to participate in this new […]
National Bank of Canada joins SecureKey’s digital identity network
At the beginning of the year, SecureKey announced that it had won an $800,000 grant from the US Department of Homeland Security in support of the company’s development of a blockchain-based digital identity network. Today, the Ontario-based authentication specialist unveiled the latest institution to join that network: the National Bank of Canada, reports David Penn […]
Top fintech stories this week – 13 October 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 12 October 2017
Whether it’s prepaid card time or financial crime, the world of blockchain and Bitcoin is a lively one. This latest round-up features BitFlyer, Visa, Accuity, R3 and SIA. Tokyo-based Bitcoin exchange BitFlyer has unveiled a Visa prepaid card that can be charged with Bitcoin in yen and used throughout Japan. It can be charged via […]
Linux Foundation and Hyperledger launch blockchain training course
Linux Foundation, along with its Hyperledger Project, are looking to increase the use of blockchain within the enterprise with the introduction of a training course and certification programme designed for those who want to use the technology.
Circle centres itself for digitally connected wallets
Payments services provider has introduced Centre, an open source project built on blockchain and designed to connect multiple digital wallets to process money transactions.
Peer Mountain aims high with data trust solution launch
Luxembourg-headquartered start-up Peer Mountain has unveiled a peer-to-peer self-sovereign identity, compliance and commerce delivery solution as it seeks to exploit the Equifax data breach episode. The firm says it gives users control of their data across blockchain. Consumers can choose who can access the data without the need for third party involvement. Peer Mountain says […]
Around Fintech in 8 Hours – new online course launched by CFTE
Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) has launched a fintech foundation course – Around Fintech in 8 Hours – “designed to give professionals working in the finance industry a solid understanding of how technology is redefining the provision of financial services”.
Fujitsu to trial blockchain payments with three Japanese banks
Fujitsu will work with Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) to conduct a joint field trial of a person-to-person (P2P) money transfer service using blockchain. The trial will begin in January 2018 and last for about three months. Fujitsu says it has already initiated development of the […]
Payments: I spy gpi
Much of the focus for correspondent bankers at this year’s Sibos will again be Swift’s global payments innovation (gpi) initiative. More than 110 transactions banks from Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Americas have signed up to the initiative, which opened for live payments in January 2017.
Innovate Finance contest calls for fintech start-ups
Innovate Finance, a UK-based fintech membership association, is seeking start-ups for its latest Pitch360 competition. The contest is open to any start-up in the following sectors: Distributed ledger technology (DLT) Financial inclusion Cybersecurity Cross-border payments Peer-to-peer and alternative funding Regtech Personal finance management and robo-advice Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning Sandboxes The winner will […]
Abu Dhabi wants eyes open wide via digital currency guide
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has set out its approach to initial coin offerings (ICOs) and virtual currencies under the Financial Services and Markets Regulations (FSMR). It cites the usual stuff that distributed ledger technology (DLT) has “extraordinarily wide application to financial services and markets as a whole” […]
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 6 October 2017
Blockchain funding, Pubcoin blockchain rewards programme, network and technology sharing and platform test launching. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features Anryze, Leanpub, MicroMoney, Karma and Zilliqa.
Bank of England fintech accelerator feels the fourth for innovation
The Bank of England’s (BoE) fintech accelerator has unleashed four new initiatives in the fields of distributed ledger technology (DLT), data storage and analysis, machine learning and cybersecurity. As reported in July, BoE revealed the third stage – such as its work with machine learning Mindbridge AI, DLT darling Ripple, and regtech bouncer Enforcd. Now […]
Top fintech stories this week – 6 October 2017
Catch up on Banking Technology’s top five fintech stories of the week – all in one place!
Singapore sets Phase 2 to stun for blockchain inter-bank payments
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) say that the consortium which they are leading has developed software prototypes for improved payments on blockchain. The prototypes included three different models for decentralised inter-bank payments and settlements with liquidity savings mechanisms. The project, conducted together with 11 financial institutions […]
Hey big lender! Finastra, R3 and seven banks have blockchain plan
Finastra, R3 and seven banks – including BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, HSBC, ING and State Street – are working together to create a blockchain-fuelled online marketplace for the syndicated loan market. Underpinned by Corda, R3’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) based platform, Fusion LenderComm exposes real-time credit agreement, accrual balances, position information and transaction data to […]
Standard Chartered takes TradeIX and Infor route for digital trade finance drive
Standard Chartered is using TradeIX’s TIX blockchain platform and Infor’s GT Nexus Commerce Network for two separate digitalisation efforts in trade finance. The TradeIX platform enabled Standard Chartered’s unnamed client to “help its customers increase their payment terms whilst maintaining the company’s receivables at current terms”. The financing was offered by Standard Chartered with credit […]
IBM teams with big banks for blockchain-powered trade finance platform
Tech giant IBM has partnered with five banks – UBS, Bank of Montreal, CaixaBank, Commerzbank and Erste Group – to launch a blockchain-based trade finance platform. The new platform, called Batavia, is built to be accessed by organisations of all sizes anywhere in the world.
OCBC Bank, HSBC and MUFG in KYC blockchain breakthrough
OCBC Bank, HSBC and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), together with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), has become the “first consortium” in South East Asia to complete a proof of concept for a know your customer (KYC) blockchain. The parties say the development “raises the possibility” of using blockchain to make KYC “more efficient […]
A blockchain smartphone – the future of devices or a buzzword parasite?
Sirin Labs is a recognisable name if you know where to look. Last year, it brought you a £11,400 smartphone with “military grade” security, and now it wants to bring you a blockchain smartphone called Finney.
Blockchain and Bitcoin round-up: 2 October 2017
Blockchain-based commercial bonds on the Russian market, Bitcoin recognition in Japan and new digital currency in Dubai. Our latest blockchain and Bitcoin round-up features National Settlement Depository, bitFlyer and Dubai Economy. Starting off in Russia, the National Settlement Depository (NSD) has unveiled the first blockchain-based commercial bonds on the Russian market based on Hyperledger Fabric […]
