Insider Finance - Business - Wall Street: Fintech’s fraud problem

The latest in finance.
View in browser
INSIDER
Subscribe

10 THINGS ON WALL STREET

Hiya! Dan DeFrancesco in NYC.

We're still taking nominations for our 2023 rising stars of equity research, but time is running out. Click here to learn more about how to nominate someone. And check out last year's list here.

Today, we've got stories on a bootcamp for aspiring buy-side analysts, JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon is reportedly getting deposed, and one food reviewer ate every burger on the Wendy's menu

But first, who are you?


If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app here.


tom hanks catch me if you can

1. Fintech's fraud misfortune.

Move fast and break things.

It's a phrase you've probably heard if you've spent time with anyone in the startup industry.

While its origins date back to the early days of Facebook, it wasn't long before the phrase became a rallying cry to every two-bit tech entrepreneur with an idea.

And while that type of philosophy might be suitable for some startups, it's not the best strategy if you're dealing with people's money. 

Which brings us to a story by Insider's Bianca Chan and Paige Hagy about concerns over the prevalence of fraud within consumer-facing fintechs in recent years. 

It's an issue that was raised in a recent report from a short-seller targeting Block's Cash App. Regardless of whether you agree with the report — Block vehemently denies it, for the record — there is a larger point to be made.

Fintechs have undeniably led to improvements in how people save, invest, and transfer money. However, one of the industry's great strengths — the speed at which it can offer users these services — is its greatest weakness. 

Streamlining onboarding processes that previously bogged customers down is also opening fintechs up to letting criminals into their ecosystems. 

For some, that's the cost of doing business, to speak. As the old saying goes, "you have to break a couple of eggs to make an omelet." The risk of playing in a world where one might be more susceptible to fraudsters is worth it if it means their finances can be a bit more streamlined.

Others, though, argue that's not acceptable. And when one considers how some of these startups cater to the un- and under-banked, the problem becomes all the more serious. 

Whatever the case, understand the onus will be on you, the user. At a time when many fintechs are looking to reach profitability, or, at the very least, slow their cash burn, few will consider changing how quickly they onboard new users. 

After all, you know what they say.

Move fast and break things.

Click here to read more about fintech's fraud problem.


In other news:

Wendy's restaurant

2. Here come the sharks. The collapse, or near collapse, of some US banks means prime investing opportunities for some of Wall Street, Insider's Linette Lopez writes. Here's who stands to come out on top from all this chaos.

3. Poor Ralph Hamers. UBS announced it is replacing Hamers as CEO and bringing back Sergio Ermotti to lead the takeover of Credit Suisse, less than two weeks after Hamers oversaw the rescue deal. Read more

4. And poor Michael Klein. The Wall Street veteran was tapped to lead Credit Suisse's spinoff of its investment bank, and potentially make a boatload of money doing it. But with UBS' takeover of Credit Suisse, those plans are basically donezo, per Bloomberg

5. Fintech pitch decks galore! First up, we have the pitch deck for New York-based Spiral, a startup that helps banks offer charitable giving services. Here's the deck it used to raise $28 million. We've also got the deck StellarFi, a fintech that helps users improve their credit score, used to raise $15 million. For more than 50 different decks used by fintechs to raise fresh funds, check out our library.

6. Everything you need to know about the CFTC lawsuit against Binance. The crypto exchange, along with its CEO and former chief compliance officer, was sued by the US regulator for violating domestic financial laws. Here are seven of the biggest allegations levied against Binance in the 74-page complaint.

7. Drop and give me 15 financial models! Fundamental Edge is a training program for young and aspiring buy-side analysts to get prepared for life in the hedge-fund industry, Institutional Investor reports. Read more about what you can expect at the four-week analyst bootcamp. 

8. Jamie Dimon is reportedly getting deposed. The CEO of JPMorgan Chase will be questioned about the bank's involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Financial Times reports. More here.

9.  New Rolexes just dropped. The 2023 collection of the luxury watchmaker includes a platinum 60th anniversary Daytona, along with eight other designs I'll surely never be able to afford. Take a peek at them all here.

10. Everyone's favorite food reviewer is back. After conquering Taco Bell, Lucien Formichella is back to test every burger on the Wendy's menu. Here's how the burgers stack up. (As a dad, I'm allowed to make that joke.)


Curated by Dan DeFrancesco in New York. Feedback or tips? Email ddefrancesco@insider.com, tweet @dandefrancesco, or connect on LinkedIn. Edited by Jeffrey Cane (tweet @jeffrey_cane) in New York and Hallam Bullock (tweet @hallam_bullock) in London. 

 

Older messages

Where to live to save money

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Plus: A second 'hole' on the sun, and why workers are sick of their jobs. View in browser Subscribe March 28, 2023 Hello, Insiders. I want to ask you about artificial intelligence. We've

Wall Street: No new jet for Goldman

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

The latest in finance. View in browser INSIDER INSIDER Subscribe 10 THINGS ON WALL STREET Hi there! Dan DeFrancesco in NYC, and I'm trying to think of what I'd want most in an office after

Big Tech’s big downgrade

Monday, March 27, 2023

Plus: Rivian buyer's remorse, and the ultra-rich search for immortality. View in browser Subscribe March 27, 2023 Hello, Insiders. It's great to be back! I spent the last week with our amazing

Wall Street: Panic among the interns

Monday, March 27, 2023

The latest in finance. View in browser INSIDER INSIDER Subscribe 10 THINGS ON WALL STREET Welcome back! Dan DeFrancesco in NYC. Today, we've got stories on a brokerage that wants trading on Wall

Red alert recession signals

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Plus: The breakneck growth of $12 billion Deel, and the end of Miami's crypto party. View in browser Subscribe March 26, 2023 Hi, I'm Matt Turner, the editor in chief of business at Insider.

You Might Also Like

After inauguration, it's time to talk taxes

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

plus toad fashion + Post Malone ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌

Harry's Take 1-15-25 Stocks Look to Break Lower: Another Sign of a Top on December 16

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Harry's Take January 15, 2025 Stocks Look to Break Lower: Another Sign of a Top on December 16 As we go into the new year, already with signs of a failed Santa Claus Rally and a failed first 5

🇺🇸 America's tariff future

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

A possible go-slow approach to tariffs, a spending worry for China, and the next obesity drugs | Finimize TOGETHER WITH Hi Reader, here's what you need to know for January 15th in 3:14 minutes. The

It’s a new year, get a new savings account

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Earn more with high-yield options! ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌

Private Equity Is Coming for Your 401(k)

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

The industry wants in on Americans' $13 trillion in savings ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌

This Skateboarding Economist Suggests We Need More Skateparks And Less Capitalism

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

A skateboarder presented an unusual paper at this year's big meeting of American economists. View this email online Planet Money Skateonomics by Greg Rosalsky “The Skateboarding Ethic and the

Elon Musk Dreams, Mode Mobile Delivers

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Join the EarnPhone revolution ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Shaping inflation expectations: the effects of monetary policy

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Natalie Burr In economic theory, expectations of future inflation are an important determinant of inflation, making them a key variable of interest for monetary policy makers. But is there empirical

🌎 Another hottest year

Monday, January 13, 2025

Global temperatures crossed a threshold, oil prices bubbled up, and crypto's AI agents | Finimize Hi Reader, here's what you need to know for January 14th in 3:06 minutes. Oil prices climbed

Have you seen the Best Cars & Trucks of 2025?

Monday, January 13, 2025

Get a quote and protect your new wheels with Amica Insurance ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌