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I had the pleasure of attending a “Horizon Brief” organised by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI) for Dentons. The well-informed speakers, ably chaired by Andrew Hilton (Director of the CSFI), were lawyer Dominic Grieve (the day after he ceased to be an MP), lawyer Anton Moiseienko from Royal United Services Institute CentreContinue reading “Cybersecurity strategy, dog’s breakfasts and ex-Ministers”

I had the pleasure of attending a “Horizon Brief” organised by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation for Dentons. The well-informed speakers, ably chaired by Andrew Hilton (Director of the CSFI), were lawyer Dominic Grieve (who used be the Attorney General and, until yesterday, Chair of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee), lawyer AntonContinue reading “CHYP Tension”

xxx “Accenture noted that revenue from credit card transactions by business dropped by 33 per cent globally between 2015 and 2018, while consumer debit card transactions fell by nearly 15 per cent during that period.” From “Banks in Hong Kong, mainland China must buck up or lose US$61 billion in revenue to e-payment providers, AccentureContinue reading “Banks in Hong Kong, mainland China must buck up or lose US$61 billion in revenue to e-payment providers, Accenture says | South China Morning Post”

xxx Potential visitors to the US were recently confronted with a new requirement on the long and complicated visa application form — to provide information about their social media identities. Does cyber security cross the line when crossing borders? | Financial Times: xxx

The last time that I bought a car, I paid for it this way. I went to look at the car, test drove it and then did a bit of online research. The price seemed fair for the condition, so I called the dealer back and agreed the sale. He told me his bank sortContinue reading “Blue Passports, Half Crowns and the New Slower Payment Service”

The issue of social media accountability and anonymity continues front and centre. I was listening to the BBC’s popular radio show “Any Questions” recently when the panel was asked about the very serious topic of threats and abuse on social media that appears to be forcing some people out of politics and preventing worthy candidatesContinue reading “POST xxxx”

xxx On Friday (Oct. 18), the bank Credit Suisse said it was going to tack on a negative 0.75 percent interest rate for customers who have more than $2 million in the bank. For example, if a customer has a balance of $3 million for a year, that customer would get charged $7,600. If aContinue reading “Low Interest Rates Force Swiss Banks To Charge | PYMNTS.com”

xxx “The future in five years, if we don’t have a good answer, is basically China re-wiring [the rest of the world] with a digital renminbi running on their controlled blockchain,” Marcus said. This could mean the potential for “a whole part of the world completely blocked from U.S. sanctions and protected from U.S. sanctionsContinue reading “Marcus: China Wins If Facebook’s Libra Fails | PYMNTS.com”

xxx There is an opportunity for digital currencies to support a transition away from the destabilising effects of US dollar dominance, Bank of England governor Mark Carney says. In remarks on October 18, Carney called on policy-makers to consider whether they should be waiting for China’s renminbi to become a new reserve currency – “whichContinue reading “‘Hegemonic digital currency’ could help fix global system – Carney – Central Banking”

xxx The Islamic State also demands a cut of the revenues earned by small businesses. “We either pay in olive oil or cash, it depends on the production,” Predatory Islamic State Wrings Money From Those It Rules – The New York Times: xxx