CFPB quietly rolls out new enforcement routes

CFPB quietly rolls out new enforcement routes

In late February, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) released updated “Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings.” The amended process lets the CFPB avoid backlogged federal courts in favor of administrative courts.

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Grain-backed crypto challenges “stablecoin” definition

Grain-backed crypto challenges “stablecoin” definition

Agrotoken, an Argentinian startup tokenizing grain by the ton through cryptocurrency, announced that its soy-, corn- and wheat-backed coins will be accepted as collateral by Santander. Agrotoken has also launched a 1,000-farmer test with Santander.

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Fintechs are building out internal M&A teams

Fintechs are building out internal M&A teams

After a series of IPOs and significant fundraising deals, fintechs are poaching junior bankers to evaluate and negotiate M&As internally. Banking giants increasingly see fintechs and other startups as talent competitors.

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“Climate fintech” needs to decide what it is

“Climate fintech” needs to decide what it is

Climate fintech funding rose to $1.2B in 2021, according to CommerzVentures. Carbon accounting attracted the most funding, raking in $410M last year.

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With two new tools, Intuit courts SMBs

With two new tools, Intuit courts SMBs

The first, QuickBooks Get Paid Upfront, lets small businesses apply for an advance up to $30,000 for qualifying invoices; the second, QuickBooks Early Pay, lets employees paid through QuickBooks Online Payroll access earnings between paydays.

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Can virtual cards alleviate supply-chain woes?

Can virtual cards alleviate supply-chain woes?

By letting small and midsize businesses (SMBs) issue instant cards to vendors, Mastercard looks to reduce payment cycle times to one day.

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In new report, Fed flirts with central bank digital currencies

In new report, Fed flirts with central bank digital currencies

Late last week, the Federal Reserve released a 40-page report on the potential creation of a digital U.S. dollar, inviting explicit policy guidance from the White House and Congress.

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Through Stripe, Ford zooms ahead on fintech

Through Stripe, Ford zooms ahead on fintech

Payment-processing platform Stripe announced a five-year contract with Ford Motor Company: an effort to revamp the automotive giant’s e-commerce strategy.

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Crypto exchanges look into equities trading

Crypto exchanges look into equities trading

Brett Harrison, President of FTX US, said new trading features could be rolled out within two months; Bitstamp did not provide a tentative timeline.

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The metaverse’s battle royale for tech talent

The metaverse’s battle royale for tech talent

Over the past year, more than 40 Microsoft employees working on augmented-reality technologies have been poached by Meta, which has poured billions into metaverse initiatives.

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Speed: It’s How Fintechs Say They Can Help With U.S. Stimulus Payments

Speed: It’s How Fintechs Say They Can Help With U.S. Stimulus Payments

Speed is an oft-cited cultural difference between traditional financial service companies and their fintech counterparts, especially start-ups. And that’s a big benefit fintechs say they can offer the U.S. government as it prepares to dole out the stimulus payments enacted under the $2 trillion CARES Act.

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Godspeed, Paul Volcker

Godspeed, Paul Volcker

As our ongoing “200 Financial Revolutionists” series honors leading financial innovators during the coming months, we also lost a leading light of finance and economics this week. Former Fed chairman Paul Volcker passed away at age 92.

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WeWork Rise and Fall Offers Lesson for Investors

WeWork Rise and Fall Offers Lesson for Investors

The stunning rise and fall of WeWork that has played out over the course of this year seemed to end with a whimper this week.

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Snip, Snip: Haircuts Are Trendy Among Central Banks

Snip, Snip: Haircuts Are Trendy Among Central Banks

Minutes released this week from the latest Fed meeting show there are sharp divisions among members when it comes to future policy. On a broad level, the most recent rate reduction comes amidst a global trend of cutting interest rates.

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U.S. Lags in Green Finance

U.S. Lags in Green Finance

New York may rank number one in the world as a competitive financial center, but it’s 41st in “green finance.”

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