Cadence, an American blockchain-based alternative investment provider, has launched an investment platform for debt, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph on July 10. By launching its private credit investment platform, Cadence aims to bring more transparency and efficiency to the asset class in order to help companies grow their businesses. Cadence turns commercial debt into digital tokens that can be traded on its platform. Private credit, or private debt, is a type of alternative investment which has only been accepted as a separate asset class very recently. Private debt investments are not backed by banks and are not …

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex announced that it repaid $100 million of outstanding loan facility to stablecoin operator Tether in a post on its official blog on July 2. Per the announcement, Bitfinex made the repayment via wire transfer to Tether’s bank account and the amount was not yet due to be paid to the operator under the facility. Still, the exchange reportedly made the decision to complete the prepayment based on its financial position at the end of the second quarter of 2019. The post concludes: “Also on July 1st, Bitfinex fully prepaid all interest accrued under the loan facility to …

The CEO of blockchain incubator and investment firm Blockchains LLC has purchased a bank for $28 million, The Nevada Independent reported on July 1. According to the report, CEO Jeffrey Berns said he bought out Kirkwood Bank of Nevada in order to secure financial inclusion for Blockchains as well as other blockchain-based businesses: “Purchasing the bank was basically security for me to make sure that Blockchains and myself had access to the financial system... But secondarily, it’s to create an environment where the blockchain ecosystem, the legitimate businesses out there who are trying to build projects that are going to …

Major global banking group HSBC has implemented tokenization technology into its receivables infrastructure for corporate clients in India, according to an announcement on June 18. The British multinational financial services company has reportedly launched its Digital Accounts Receivable Tool (HSBC DART), based on tokenization technology developed by Australian blockchain-powered Fintech company Identitii Ltd., the firm said in the announcement. According to the statement, HSBC DART was developed for HSBC’s Global Liquidity and Cash Management (GLCM) business and deploys Identitii’s approach to tokenization within HSBC’s existing infrastructure of receivables to enhance involved processes. The instrument is designed to automate the accounts …

This article has been updated to correct that GreatPoint Ventures, not General Motors, led the funding round. United States-based blockchain startup Spring Labs has raised $23 million in a Seed A funding round, according to a press release on June 12. Among the investors for this seed A funding round — led by GreatPoint Ventures — were Galaxy Digital, the cryptocurrency investment bank founded by crypto enthusiast Michael Novogratz, and automotive giant General Motors (GM). Spring Labs will purportedly use the funds to improve its blockchain-based platform Spring Protocol and develop three new fraud protection products that are designed to …

Cryptocurrency asset management company BlockFi announced that its interest-bearing accounts now support the gemini dollar (GUSD) in a post published on May 29. Per the announcement, GUSD deposits will see a yearly yield of 6.2%, paid in the stablecoin in question. BlockFi notes that it also offers GUSD as a U.S. dollar funding option and as collateral from institutional cryptocurrency borrowers. BlockFi CEO Zac Prince commented: “The implication of adding this functionality is that you could see crypto companies like BlockFi compete with traditional fintech challenger banks by taking advantage of assets like Bitcoin for on-ramps in to a dollar-based …

Korea’s oldest bank, Shinhan Bank, has launched a blockchain-enabled lending platform to speed up the loan process, South Korean news agency Yonhap reports on May 27. Shinhan Bank’s blockchain-powered loan system intends to boost cost and time efficiencies in the lending process, reportedly enabling the public to apply for loans online and get their credits without face-to-face interaction. According to the report, the new system is the first initiative of its kind introduced in South Korea. Specifically, Shinhan Bank’s new lending system applies blockchain technology in the verification and confirmation processes within the network of affiliated institutions and banks. The …

In the feverish quest to decentralize anything even remotely open to decentralization, one of the most promising areas is finance and the financial industry. This shouldn't be too surprising, given bitcoin and the origins of blockchain technology, but at a time when even babies are being put “on the blockchain,” the emergence of decentralized finance (DeFi) provides welcome proof of crypto's real utility and applicability. And while DeFi is covering a wider range of areas — from remittances to derivatives and investments — its most promising sector involves credit and lending. That's because, thanks to the openness, security and transparency …

A group of four banks have successfully issued a promissory note — a type of legally binding loan agreement — through a new blockchain platform, a news release on May 21 announced. The financial institutions used finledger to complete the transaction. According to Helaba, one of the banks involved, the platform reduces the steps involved with issuing such a note by more than 50%. As well as eliminating the need for lenders to hold documents or for borrowers to send valuables, the banks claimed the technology helps cut the risks and costs associated with the process. DekaBank, dwpbank, DZ Bank …

Cryptocurrency asset management company BlockFi announced a change to its interest rates in a monthly update on May 21. Accounts with bitcoin (BTC) balances over 25 BTC will receive a .15% increase in interest rate, and those with ether (ETH) balances between 25 and 75 ETH will decrease from 6.2% to 3.25%. According to BlockFi, the lending environment for bitcoin has flourished while for ether it has floundered. Ether in particular is being offered at a 0.01% borrowing rate on major crypto exchange Poloniex and crypto lending firm Compound, and comprises only 3% of crypto lending giant Genesis Capital’s portfolio …

A “next-generation” mobile payment platform has unveiled two products that are designed to help users smartly manage money matters and enjoy “greater financial empowerment.” Crypto.com’s first new offering, Crypto Earn, gives the public “the freedom to grow their assets.” Available through the platform’s flagship app, the service allows users to deposit virtual currencies and accrue incentives, the company said. Consumers can choose to hold their assets for either one month or three months, and the company said a flexible plan will follow in the future. The Hong Kong-headquartered company, which was founded in 2016, has also launched a second product …

Justice Joel Cohen of the New York Supreme Court has granted the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange’s motion to modify an injunction from the New York Attorney General (NYAG), Bitfinex announced on May 16. Per the announcement, the court order will allow Bitfinex and affiliated stablecoin operator Tether to continue their normal business. It also states that the original injunction by the NYAG will expire in 90 days and that any motion to renew will be the responsibility of the NYAG. Cohen wrote in his decision: “...the Court finds that the preliminary injunction should be tailored to address OAG’s legitimate law enforcement …