FinTech Weekly Issue #377 - FinTech (& Covid) Reshaped Priorities

Ethereum Metaverse NFT

The new frontier in the metaverse seems to be renting. Thanks to the development of a new Ethereum standard, people and businesses will be able to lend and rent metaverse land and tokens.

Cryptocurrency Investments

Even if institutional investments in cryptos have always been a complex and long discussed topic, it seems that in the near future institutions may increase their investments in digital assets: this is mainly due to the recent downturn, and might make the crypto market more similar to the traditional financial market.

Business Investments

The Lagos-based fintech company TeamApt enables basically anyone to become a local bank branch: its business model was able to support micro and small businesses in Nigeria, and created hundreds of thousands jobs. The US-based fintech QED Ventures invested in this innovative business, and it was the first African investment for the US company.

Banking Investments

The African vibrant fintech sector attracts even more overseas investments. Among the latest more significant investments, the US-based UMBA Inc. invested in a Kenyan microfinance bank, obtaining a majority share after the approval received by the Kenyan Central Bank.

Business Future of Work

If you’re wondering what moonlighting is, it’s the word used to define all those workers who have a side job. Sometimes, this can conflict with the main job of a worker – especially when there are risks related to competition and intellectual property rights. That’s why Swiggy proposes to normalize moonlighting and adopts moonlighting policies.

InsurTech

Not only workers, but also customers changed their priorities, and insurance companies have to cope with that. Insurtech constantly offers new opportunities to customers, to simplify their experiences and make products and services meet their needs.

Business

ReceiptHero, the fintech company that became one of the most advanced receipt platforms available in the market, joined the Visa Fintech Partner Connect Program to offer issuers and retailers more payment options.

Business

The digital payment sector is young in Indonesia, but it developed quite fast. Fintech firms can develop competitive products, but they should put on merchants the same focus they put so far on customers.

Business

Fintech companies have the advantage to be available for customers all over the world, often without geographical boundaries. But this requires different marketing efforts and a stronger focus on human capital: here you can find how fintechs and marketing agencies cooperate, and this can be inspirational to businesses across different sectors.