Posts From Matthew Allen, SWI swissinfo.ch
Stakes Rising in Switzerland: The Business of Creating Cryptocurrencies
The adage “money begets money” is being given a twist in the world of decentralised finance. Here, people can make cryptocurrencies by creating cryptocurrencies. It’s a process called “staking” that promises eye watering interest rates – if you can stomach
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Wooden Credit Cards – a Corny Gimmick?
Sustainable finance is all the rage these days. What better way to market your green credentials directly to the public than through environmentally-sound credit cards? Many sustainable offerings, however, should be viewed under a microscope to test their claims. Most
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Bitcoin Banking Services Edging Closer to Reality in Switzerland
“We are operationally ready to offer institutional clients bank accounts and payment services in cryptocurrencies, just like Swiss franc accounts.” Gazprombank Switzerland is one of a number of banks hoping that the Swiss regulator will give the green light next
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Swiss Decentralised Exchange Project Hangs in Balance
The cryptocurrency firm Lykke is one of the longest-established Swiss blockchain companies. But it has recently run into financial difficulties. What’s going on and what does that mean for the sector? Founder and CEO Richard Olsen gave me his take
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How Much Blockchain Does the Financial World Need?
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is the buzz-phrase of the moment. But the Swiss National Bank (SNB) says producing digital Swiss francs for the general public would create many problems with unclear benefits. The Swiss government has backed up the
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How the Crypto Nation Switzerland Dealt with Covid
The Swiss blockchain industry appears to be in rude health despite the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The number of new companies and jobs produced by the sector increased in the first six months of the year. Is this
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The Swiss National Cyber Security Centre, the Trust Valley and Autonomous Bubbles
Cybercrime is a growing menace, affecting one in seven people in Switzerland. Reported attacks have risen threefold since the onset of coronavirus. The Swiss National Cyber Security Centre, officially born this month, has its work cut out even with the imminent arrival
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Swiss Fintechs Get Creative at Raising Fresh Capital
Fintechs are finding it harder to attract funding this year compared to last. Venture capital fell by more than a third in the first six months of 2020 compared to 2019, with investors preferring medtech, biotech and cleantech projects over
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A Week of Fintech Firsts in Switzerland
It’s been an interesting few days for digital payments, blockchain finance and cryptocurrencies in Switzerland, with several companies and projects announcing developments. At the tail end of last month, budding crypto bank Mt Pelerin said was applying for a Swiss
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Central Bank Digital Currencies and Libra in the Spotlight
It appears that central banks are devising a response to decentralised money, such as bitcoin – by contemplating new centralised digital versions of their own currencies. This goes by the name of Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC. Libra’s stablecoin project launched
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