Asia Dominates Payment Innovation With 10 Years Of Growth

Today’s artwork: Shower Below the Summit, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Katsushika Hokusai, 1830-32

Katsushika Hokusai is considered one of the greatest artists in Japanese history, and one of the important masters of the Japanese wood-block print. Hokusai’s most famous work is the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” created between 1830 and 1832, when the artist was over seventy years of age.

Here, the mountain is shown with clear skies at its summit and a thunderstorm near its base. The combination of the elegant sloping sides of the volcano and the sharp, jagged lines of lightning at the bottom results in an image of great simplicity and visual force.

Asia is the Undisputed World Leader in Payment Innovation

Yet another report shows how Asia is teaching the world what the future of payments will look like!

This massive payment report by Edgar, Dunn & Company is a great read and shows how, once again, Asia is the undisputed innovation leader in payments.

This report has a lot to offer, there is literally something for everyone! I can’t recommend it enough, even though its take on CBDC is depressing.

The real stunner is that North America (the US) was second to last in the innovation ratings. It says a lot when the Caribbean region beat you for last place!

Whether it's CBDC or instant payments, the US is falling behind.

Read more and download this 100+ page powerhouse report: HERE

ASEAN Fintech Powers On With 10X Growth Over the Decade!

No slowdown in ASEAN for “Fintech at the speed of Asia"

Fintech in ASEAN is punching far above its weight, with 10x growth over the last decade and steady funding levels.

This great read was produced for the Singapore Fintech Festival and highlights how fintech is growing and changing the ASEAN-6 nations.

It’s 100% good news for fintech and the region's residents!

Read on to see which two regions stacked up the biggest gains: HERE

Asia's WealthTechs Vie For a $700bn Bonanza

Fierce market competition will cut asset management fees to the bone.

Asia is becoming wealthier by the day, and in the next five years, an astounding $700 billion in personal finance assets will be looking to WealthTechs to manage their money.

One driver for the WealthTech boom is that younger, newly affluent clients are comfortable with mobile-based wealth managers. This is creating a battle for assets that high-fee incumbents can’t win.

But there's a catch....they won't pay high fees! Read more: HERE

Banks' Abusive Relationship With Big Tech

Big Tech is calling the shots, and banks are powerless to change the power dynamic

Banks and tech firms aren’t in a "two-sided affair," as the BIS claims, but an abusive relationship where big tech calls the shots.

Let’s be clear: outside of regions like APAC, where regulations are more accommodating, big tech has no interest in becoming a bank.

The reason is simple: the average return on equity of US banking in 2024 was 11%, while the ROE for Apple was 156%, Microsoft 38%, and Nvidia at 115%.

There is no pot of gold awaiting tech companies who become banks in the West.

Read why the partner model suits banks just fine: HERE

Smart Contracts Explained: What You Need to Know

They are neither smart nor contracts!

Smart contracts will someday change the world, but for now, they are the world's worst misnomer as they are neither smart nor contracts.

This is one of the best reads I've found on smart contracts. It is foundational to all of our discussions about CBDC and tokenization, in which smart contracts are integral.

YOU NEED TO READ THIS! Smart contracts are great and will be a part of our future but read what problems need to be solved: HERE