Legal Tech news - Fintech News. Online news ✅by @dTechValley https://www.fintechnews.org/fintech/legal-tech/ And Techs news of your sector Sat, 25 Jan 2025 20:20:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 Five Key Countries Announcing New Crypto Regulations in 2025 https://www.fintechnews.org/five-key-countries-announcing-new-crypto-regulations-in-2025/ https://www.fintechnews.org/five-key-countries-announcing-new-crypto-regulations-in-2025/#respond Sat, 25 Jan 2025 10:45:40 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=37109 As it sores in popularity, cryptocurrencies’ goal of becoming a regular legal tender is closer than ever before. However, as crypto becomes more mainstream, countries must craft legislation quickly so that its users are kept safe and legal when incorporating crypto into their financial transactions. Crypto is a major fintech invention that is rapidly changing […]

The post Five Key Countries Announcing New Crypto Regulations in 2025 appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
As it sores in popularity, cryptocurrencies’ goal of becoming a regular legal tender is closer than ever before. However, as crypto becomes more mainstream, countries must craft legislation quickly so that its users are kept safe and legal when incorporating crypto into their financial transactions. Crypto is a major fintech invention that is rapidly changing how we make transactions; however, it comes with some risks that governments must consider when creating the regulations that encourage crypto, and its users, to thrive.

The Importance of Crypto Legislation

The world of cryptocurrency is constantly in flux. Digital assets can be speculative and have a tendency to increase and decrease in value over time (known as volatility.) Not only that but, due to the nature of crypto, it is possible for anyone to craft and exchange new currencies, meaning the crypto market is always growing. This is evidenced in the constant emergence of various crypto presale project initiatives, as well as the community that surrounds and encourages these new projects. On such occasions, investors, traders, and recreational crypto buyers alike have a chance to purchase a new coin (or its share) at a potentially more affordable price. Once the cryptocurrency in question becomes available to mainstream buyers, it may bring certain earnings to the owner (but it can also flop, just to be clear). That’s why every buyer needs to collect enough data about the coin in question and the logistics behind it beforehand. 

Additionally, crypto is becoming much more mainstream. for example, as of 2025 in the US 27% of adults own cryptocurrency. These digital assets have certain benefits, and it seems they are not going anywhere any time soon.

In order to keep up with the demand and popularity of this versatile and changing world, governments need to craft clear legislation for their users, and quickly.

With that in mind, here are Five countries that are crafting new crypto regulations this year.

The United Kingdom

After its election win last year, the Labour Party has remained constant in its commitment to adopt and support the use of cryptocurrency in 2025. Speaking on their behalf Tulip Siddiq, a Labour Party minister, stated that the government is dedicated to forming new regulations, with all policies to be finalised by 2026. She also reassured crypto supporters by highlighting the initiative the government had shown in their crafting of the Digital Securities Sandbox last year which will aid the financial sector to use distributed ledger technology (DLT)  to enhance the security of crypto trading. Additionally, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves announced that the government will be using this sandbox in order to issue a Digital Gilt Instrument (DIGIT) which will use blockchain technology. 

All of this comes as a reassurance to UK-based crypto investors as it shows they the government remains steadfast in its commitment to crafting regulations, and that the timeline they have given is likely to be kept to.

The United States of America

President Donald Trump has been incredibly vocal about his support of cryptocurrency since his presidential campaign, where he promised to make the US the ‘crypto capital of the planet.’ Since his successful election, he has continued this rhetoric. Many are expecting an aggressive pro-crypto approach to crafting legislation this year. Dusty Johnson, who aided in the creation of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), has stated that creating a regulatory framework for the industry is America’s priority. This commitment adds reassurance to those based in America that this work is very much at the forefront of their government’s minds.

However, many people remain concerned that the government is not as committed to reducing the security risks of crypto as they are to bringing it into mainstream society. In response, Johnson highlighted crypto-cyber security provisions in the act, predicting that these will be built upon in the near future. Hopefully, this will be a priority as legislation becomes more clear.

The State of Japan

Japan has remained supportive of incorporating cryptocurrency since its creation in 2009. This year, exciting developments are expected to come into action, which will see the various currencies redefined as ‘financial assets’ as opposed to their previous classification as ‘payment instruments.’ This would give cryptocurrencies more credibility and, Japan hopes, could see it better integrated into wider society. Additionally, the financial services agency (FSA) has considered changing Japan’s crypto tax rule, which aligns with the beliefs of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Such a change could see traders subjected to significantly less income tax, which is good news for crypto enthusiasts based in Japan.

The People’s Republic of China

New regulations within China have had a detrimental effect on crypto traders. China, which has not legalised cryptocurrency transactions, has some of the harshest regulations and bans on the use of cryptocurrency in general. Such regulations have been even more tightly enforced in 2025, with banks now required, by law, to report seemingly suspicious crypto transactions. The result of this could see the user banned from other financial services.

However, all hope is not lost for China-based crypto enthusiasts as the country has actively praised Hong Kong for its position as a leader in the crypto realm. This proves the nation is not entirely against cryptocurrency, but it seems regular use and supportive legislation are still a long way off.

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) 

An exciting development, which saw the 27 countries of the European Union joining together to work on crypto regulation was finalised late last year. The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) is the first major jurisdiction to have formed full regulation for the use of crypto assets. They have established legislation relating to how cryptocurrencies are issued as well as how related services operate. Not only that, but this move has seen the introduction of licensing requirements for cryptocurrency companies.

All of this contributes to the smooth integration of cryptocurrency on a global scale and also gives the countries that are a part of the EU clear rules and regulations when it comes to the distribution of digital assets and the transactions of these currencies.

Conclusion

The first cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) was created in 2009, but at that time it was mostly unknown. Although almost two decades have passed since its creation, governments still have a long way to go before all legislation is clear and unified in its aims. With that being said, as the population and use of crypto is more popular than ever, it does seem that movements to draft these necessary regulations are happening much more quickly than they ever have before.

Crypto users have been waiting a long time for clear legislation, but it seems their desires are soon to be met.

The post Five Key Countries Announcing New Crypto Regulations in 2025 appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/five-key-countries-announcing-new-crypto-regulations-in-2025/feed/ 0
Harnessing AI in Contract Management: How LegalTech is Revolutionizing CLM Software https://www.fintechnews.org/harnessing-ai-in-contract-management-how-legaltech-is-revolutionizing-clm-software/ https://www.fintechnews.org/harnessing-ai-in-contract-management-how-legaltech-is-revolutionizing-clm-software/#respond Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:29:26 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=35155 The legal enterprise is present process a big transformation, pushed by using advancements in generation. One of the most brilliant developments is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software program. This revolution in LegalTech is streamlining settlement control procedures, enhancing performance, and reducing risks. This article explores how AI is […]

The post Harnessing AI in Contract Management: How LegalTech is Revolutionizing CLM Software appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
The legal enterprise is present process a big transformation, pushed by using advancements in generation. One of the most brilliant developments is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software program. This revolution in LegalTech is streamlining settlement control procedures, enhancing performance, and reducing risks. This article explores how AI is revolutionizing CLM software programs and the profound impact it has on the legal panorama.

The Evolution of Contract Management

Contract management has historically been a manual, time-consuming technique fraught with challenges together with human error, inefficiencies, and compliance dangers. Over the years, CLM software programs have developed to address those issues by way of automating diverse tiers of the settlement lifecycle, from advent to execution and renewal. However, the mixing of AI into CLM software programs marks a vast leap ahead, introducing capabilities that have been previously not possible.

Key Benefits of AI in CLM Software

Photo by fabio on Unsplash

AI brings a multitude of benefits to CLM software programs, remodeling how contracts are managed and processed. Here are a number of the key blessings:

  1. Enhanced Efficiency: AI automates repetitive responsibilities, notably reducing the effort and time required for settlement management. This lets in legal teams to focus on greater strategic sports.
  2. Improved Accuracy: AI-powered gear can examine and extract records with high precision, minimizing human errors and ensuring that contracts are correct and compliant.
  3. Risk Mitigation: AI can pick out capability dangers and compliance problems in contracts, allowing proactive threat control and reducing the likelihood of legal disputes.
  4. Data-Driven Insights: AI can analyze considerable amounts of contract facts to offer precious insights, supporting businesses to make knowledgeable decisions and optimize their settlement strategies.
  5. Scalability: AI allows businesses to control a huge quantity of contracts efficiently, making it simpler to scale operations without compromising on fine or compliance.

Key Features of AI-Driven CLM Software

AI-pushed CLM software comes geared up with a variety of advanced features designed to beautify contract management strategies. Some of these functions encompass:

  1. Automated Contract Drafting: AI can generate agreement drafts based on predefined templates and information inputs, making sure consistency and compliance with organizational standards.
  2. Intelligent Clause Identification: AI can identify and extract particular clauses from contracts, making it simpler to analyze and evaluate terms throughout exclusive files.
  3. Predictive Analytics: AI can predict contract effects based totally on historical records, helping organizations assume potential issues and take preventive measures.
  4. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP talents allow AI to apprehend and interpret complicated felony language, facilitating more correct statistics extraction and analysis.
  5. Smart Contract Review: AI can evaluate contracts for compliance with regulatory necessities and organizational guidelines, flagging any discrepancies or capacity risks.

Transforming Legal Workflows with AI

The integration of AI in the CLM software program is reworking prison workflows, making them more streamlined and green. Here’s how AI is revolutionizing various stages of the agreement lifecycle:

  1. Contract Creation: AI automates the drafting process, lowering the time required to create contracts and making sure that they adhere to conventional templates and guidelines.
  2. Contract Negotiation: AI can examine contract phrases and propose highest quality negotiation techniques, supporting prison teams achieve better consequences even as keeping compliance.
  3. Contract Execution: AI can automate the execution manner, which includes digital signatures and approval workflows, making sure that contracts are done right away and as it should be.
  4. Contract Management: AI-powered equipment can screen agreement performance, song key milestones, and ship alerts for upcoming renewals or expirations, ensuring that no essential deadlines are neglected.
  5. Contract Analysis: AI can examine contract records to become aware of traits, risks, and opportunities, providing precious insights that could tell strategic selection-making.

Real-World Applications of AI in CLM Software

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Several organizations have already started harnessing the energy of AI for their CLM software program, reaping big benefits. Here are a few examples of the way AI is being carried out in agreement control:

  1. Risk Management: A multinational agency used AI to analyze its contracts and discover potential compliance dangers. The AI-powered CLM software program flagged several contracts with non-compliant clauses, allowing the legal group to take corrective action before any troubles arose.
  2. Efficiency Gains: A huge law corporation carried out AI-pushed CLM software to automate settlement drafting and overview methods.

This resulted in a 40% reduction in settlement turnaround time and a substantial decrease in human mistakes.

  • Data Insights: A monetary offerings agency leveraged AI to investigate its settlement portfolio and gain insights into settlement overall performance. The AI-pushed evaluation found opportunities for fee financial savings and manner enhancements, mainly to higher agreement control practices.

The integration of AI in CLM software programs is revolutionizing the sector of settlement management, providing unprecedented efficiency, accuracy, and insights. By automating repetitive duties, mitigating dangers, and supplying information-pushed insights, AI-pushed CLM software is empowering felony groups to operate more efficiently and strategically. As LegalTech keeps evolving, the role of AI in CLM software becomes more and more pivotal, shaping the destiny of settlement control and putting new standards for excellence within the prison enterprise. Embracing these advancements will enable businesses to stay in advance of the curve, ensuring that their settlement management techniques are robust, green, and compliant.

The post Harnessing AI in Contract Management: How LegalTech is Revolutionizing CLM Software appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/harnessing-ai-in-contract-management-how-legaltech-is-revolutionizing-clm-software/feed/ 0
Three technologies banks will invest more in this year https://www.fintechnews.org/three-technologies-banks-will-invest-more-in-this-year-2/ https://www.fintechnews.org/three-technologies-banks-will-invest-more-in-this-year-2/#respond Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:17:45 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=33893 By Jason Fuentes· The financial services industry operates in an increasingly dynamic landscape, where digital advancements play a pivotal role in shaping the sector’s future. While technology continues to transform the financial services industry, FIs must strive to meet stringent industry regulations without undermining the critical importance of sensitive financial data security and fraud/scam protection. […]

The post Three technologies banks will invest more in this year appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
The financial services industry operates in an increasingly dynamic landscape, where digital advancements play a pivotal role in shaping the sector’s future. While technology continues to transform the financial services industry, FIs must strive to meet stringent industry regulations without undermining the critical importance of sensitive financial data security and fraud/scam protection.
As we tread further into 2024, banks are poised to increase their investments in critical areas that directly impact their operations, customer experience, and regulatory compliance. In this article, we’ll explore key technology domains – compliance tech, cybersecurity, and personalization – three areas of strategic importance that will see more investment from banks this year.

1. Compliance Technology

The banking industry is one of the most highly regulated verticals on the planet. Stringent industry regulations demand consistent adherence from financial institutions. Non-compliance means institutions can be fined, resulting in loss of trust from their customers. Compliance technology ensures that banks meet these strict regulatory requirements efficiently and effectively. From Anti-Money Laundering (AML) to Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, robust compliance tech solutions can effectively streamline banking operations, reduce manual effort, and mitigate risks.
As regulations evolve and grow more complex, the need for compliance and keeping up with the changing environment increases. But while the costs can be high – 32% of UK banks surveyed in 2022 expected their compliance costs to exceed 5% of revenue – banks can make the investment in compliance technology to ultimately drive bigger business impacts.
Some of the expected impacts and benefits for FIs include:
– Efficiency Gains: Automation of compliance processes reduces manual errors and accelerates decision-making.
– Risk Mitigation: Enhanced monitoring and real-time alerts help banks stay ahead of potential risks.
– Cost Reduction: By automating repetitive tasks, banks can allocate resources more strategically.
Consumers also stand to benefit from the extra technology spend on compliance-related technologies. Most importantly, stringent compliance measures protect customers, mitigating the potential for fraud. There are also convenience benefits: more streamlined compliance processes mean quicker account openings and fund transfers.

 2. Cybersecurity

The rise in cyber threats, especially as AI becomes a tool used more frequently by sophisticated hackers and crime organizations, poses a significant challenge to the banking sector. And as banks work with third-party vendors more frequently to offer more or better services, customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) becomes even more vulnerable to exposure. In fact, in November 2023 Bank of America reported that a cybersecurity breach, in which one of its vendors was hacked, resulted in the exposure of customer PII.
Increased cybersecurity investments are crucial to safeguard sensitive financial data, prevent breaches, and maintain customer trust. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, banks must fortify their defenses and consider their relationships with third-party vendors, especially if those vendors have access to the same sensitive data that the banks themselves process.
Expected impacts include:
– Data Protection: Robust cybersecurity measures shield customer information from unauthorized access.
– Resilience: Banks can respond swiftly to incidents, minimizing disruptions.
– Reputation Management: A strong security posture enhances customer confidence.
As a result of continued investment in cybersecurity protections, consumers will have peace of mind knowing their data is secure, with the added benefit of encouraging (and hopefully increasing) engagement with digital banking services.

 3. Personalization

In an era of hyper-personalization, banks must tailor their offerings to individual preferences. Seventy-two percent of customers surveyed in Forrester’s 2021 “Consumer Study on Personalization Effectiveness in FI” report reported that banking product offers are more valuable when tailored to their individual needs. And in the 2023 report, “The State of Personalization Maturity in Financial Services,” by Dynamic Yield, 86% of surveyed financial institutions reported that personalization is a clear, visible priority for the company and its overall digital strategy; and further, that 92% of FIs plan to invest further in the tactic.
Personalization technology leverages data analytics, machine learning, and AI to create customized experiences for customers. From personalized product recommendations to targeted marketing based on information they already have about a customer; banks can deepen customer engagement and increase product and service cross-selling.
Expected impacts include:
– Customer Satisfaction: Personalized interactions foster stronger relationships.
– Cross-Selling Opportunities: Tailored recommendations drive additional product adoption.
– Competitive Edge: Banks that understand their customers better can outperform rivals.
Beyond the obvious benefits to financial institutions, their customers will receive offers and solutions more aligned with their needs and behaviors. Delivering more targeted offers will reduce the time consumers have to spend searching for relevant information.

Final Thoughts

As banks navigate today’s technical advancements and increased complexities of the financial landscape, investing in compliance technology, cybersecurity, and personalization will be pivotal to their continued success. These strategic technology choices not only enhance operational efficiency to further minimize the cost of doing business under current market conditions, but also elevate the overall banking experience for consumers, an immediate win-win for the sector and a sign of what’s to come.

 

Link: https://www.fintechnexus.com/three-technologies-banks-will-invest-more-in-this-year/?utm_source=pocket_saves

Source: https://www.fintechnexus.com

The post Three technologies banks will invest more in this year appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/three-technologies-banks-will-invest-more-in-this-year-2/feed/ 0
Compliance isn’t just for banks https://www.fintechnews.org/compliance-isnt-just-for-banks/ https://www.fintechnews.org/compliance-isnt-just-for-banks/#respond Thu, 28 Dec 2023 14:18:39 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=32646 By Michael Berman· Financial institutions are zeroing in on compliance when evaluating fintech partners. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of banks and credit unions cite compliance as their top criteria in the due diligence process, according to a recent survey conducted by Ncontracts. And that was before a rash of enforcement actions led some banks to reduce their […]

The post Compliance isn’t just for banks appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
Financial institutions are zeroing in on compliance when evaluating fintech partners. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of banks and credit unions cite compliance as their top criteria in the due diligence process, according to a recent survey conducted by Ncontracts. And that was before a rash of enforcement actions led some banks to reduce their exposure to fintechs.
Federal agencies are increasingly emphasizing the importance of third-party risk management. In June, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released the Interagency Guidance on Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management, promoting standardization for assessing third-party risk and providing risk management principles when developing and implementing third-party risk management practices.
What does all this mean? It means that compliance isn’t just for banks and credit unions. If a fintech or other banking-as-a-service partner (BaaS) wants to enjoy the benefits of partnering with a chartered financial institution, it needs to know to play by the rules – or prepare to not get picked for the team.

Fintechs Must Prioritize Strong Compliance Management

According to the Ncontracts survey, more than 80 percent of financial institutions report that the fintechs they have evaluated possess a solid understanding of regulatory requirements, third-party vendor management, cybersecurity, and other key factors.
The data looks like good news for fintechs, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that most fintechs have demonstrated a sound understanding of compliance. What it does mean is that financial institutions are only considering fintechs that have mastered their own compliance and risk processes. If a fintech is perceived as lacking in this area, it doesn’t stand a chance of partnering with a financial institution.
Fintechs must prioritize risk and compliance if they expect to remain relevant and in business – and there is no time to wait. More than half of the banks and credit unions surveyed plan to evaluate fintech partnerships in the next one to two years. That makes compliance a top priority.

Compliance Red Flags Fintechs Must Avoid

To enhance their chances of partnering with financial institutions, there are seven areas they should avoid that signal elevated compliance risk:
  1. Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations

In the realm of compliance, no rule is too insignificant to be ignored. Financial institutions insist on strict adherence to every compliance rule and policy. Any hint that a fintech is not in full compliance raises a red flag that may signal a broader problem.

  1. Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Practices

Compliance violations in the form of unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAAP) are among the most common and costly sources of enforcement actions. Regulatory agencies and financial institutions are on high alert for these violations. Fintechs must be equally vigilant in avoiding them.
  1. BSA and OFAC Non-Compliance

Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are another common source of enforcement actions. Any indication that a fintech may not be following BSA/AML rules to the letter raises compliance risks. Robust monitoring of transactions for compliance risk is essential.
  1. Inadequate Vendor Compliance Oversight

Ignorance is far from bliss when it comes to vendor compliance. Financial institutions hold fintech partners accountable not only for their own actions but also for those of their subcontractors. The risk associated with fourth-party vendors is a real concern, and a fintech’s ability to manage and monitor these vendors can be a make-or-break factor in compliance risk assessment.
  1. Foreign Business Operations

Conducting business in foreign countries elevates compliance risk. Different economic, social and political conditions in foreign locations can result in non-performance or data loss, increasing country risk. To mitigate this risk, fintechs should demonstrate substantial due diligence, including monitoring government policies and conditions in foreign locations.
  1. Unmanaged Conflicts of Interest

Financial institutions expect fintech partners to provide objective advice and perform to the best of their abilities without compromising the institutions’ interests. Signs that a fintech prioritizes its own interests or has conflicts of interest can raise compliance concerns. Financial institutions scrutinize contracts, proprietary information confidentiality, relationships with competitors and ethical programs.
  1. Inadequate Data Security Controls

Fintech partners with weak data security controls are not desirable to financial institutions. A fintech should be able to demonstrate that its IT security controls are effective, routinely monitored and updated. Protecting sensitive data is a non-negotiable aspect of compliance.
Compliance risk is an ongoing challenge that demands careful navigation. By steering clear of these seven red flags and ensuring robust compliance measures, fintechs can enhance their appeal to financial institutions, paving the way for successful collaborations in an ever-evolving landscape of regulations and risks.

 

Link: https://www.fintechnexus.com/compliance-isnt-just-for-banks/?utm_source=pocket_saves

Source: https://www.fintechnexus.com

The post Compliance isn’t just for banks appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/compliance-isnt-just-for-banks/feed/ 0
Cryptocurrencies get first Europe-wide regulation https://www.fintechnews.org/cryptocurrencies-get-first-europe-wide-regulation/ https://www.fintechnews.org/cryptocurrencies-get-first-europe-wide-regulation/#respond Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:30:35 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=29550 By KEVIN GEORGE The European Parliament approved sweeping powers to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, aiming to prevent money laundering and improve supervision and consumer protection. KEY TAKEAWAYS European Union lawmakers have passed the MiCA legislation in Parliament. The bill will allow the tracing of transactions over 1,000 euros. Initial Coin Offerings and measures to prevent […]

The post Cryptocurrencies get first Europe-wide regulation appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • European Union lawmakers have passed the MiCA legislation in Parliament.

  • The bill will allow the tracing of transactions over 1,000 euros.

  • Initial Coin Offerings and measures to prevent money laundering are also covered.

Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules, which go into effect in phases starting in 2024 and passed by a vote of 529-29, represent the most significant attempt by global governments to regulate the growing market for digital assets. The EU said in a statement that it hopes that the new law will be a “global standard-setter” for other jurisdictions.1

First proposed in 2020, MiCa represents a step forward on a regulatory front where the U.S. lags. President Joe Biden signed an executive order last year for government agencies to study the impact on the industry.

That was before the crypto meltdown that featured high-profile collapses, including the Terra project and the FTX exchange, prompted a crypto crackdown by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), whose chairman, Gary Gensler, has referred to the crypto as “The Wild West.” A recent Treasury report also focused on illicit financing activity in the decentralized finance industry.2

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, a key supporter of MiCA, called them an “absolute necessity” after the FTX implosion and even suggested a “MiCA II” that would build on the new law.3

What Do the New Rules Do and Don’t Do?

One of the biggest changes is the ability to track transactions above 1,000 euros ($1,097.55) from self-hosted wallets to centralized wallets, such as those hosted on crypto exchanges. The rules won’t apply to peer-to-peer transfers or transfers that don’t involve a centralized wallet.
Regulators will supervise the issuance of stablecoins that it classifies as “asset-reference and e-money tokens,” while providing oversight of initial coin offerings to the public.4 Lawmakers want to make customers better informed of the “risks, costs, and charges” of their crypto activities. There will also be measures to prevent crypto market manipulation, money laundering, and terrorist financing.
While MiCA rules cover a broad array of cryptocurrency assets that aren’t regulated, they’re not all- encompassing. The rules don’t apply to assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), for example.

 

Link: https://www.investopedia.com/european-union-passes-first-crypto-regulation-7482999?utm_source=pocket_saves

Source: https://www.investopedia.com

The post Cryptocurrencies get first Europe-wide regulation appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/cryptocurrencies-get-first-europe-wide-regulation/feed/ 0
IMF calls for ‘more’ Crypto regulation — says banning should be an option https://www.fintechnews.org/imf-calls-for-more-crypto-regulation-says-banning-should-be-an-option/ https://www.fintechnews.org/imf-calls-for-more-crypto-regulation-says-banning-should-be-an-option/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:05:31 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=28727 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says crypto needs “more regulation.” She added, “We should not take off the table banning those assets,” if regulation fails or is too slow to implement. By Kevin Helms IMF’s Chief Calls for More Crypto Regulation IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva talked about crypto regulation Saturday on […]

The post IMF calls for ‘more’ Crypto regulation — says banning should be an option appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says crypto needs “more regulation.” She added, “We should not take off the table banning those assets,” if regulation fails or is too slow to implement.

By Kevin Helms

IMF’s Chief Calls for More Crypto Regulation

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva talked about crypto regulation Saturday on the sidelines of G20 meetings for finance ministers and central bank governors under India’s presidency in Bengaluru. Commenting on crypto oversight, she told reporters:

There has to be more regulation.

Her statement followed a roundtable discussion she co-chaired with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The IMF chief and India’s finance minister agreed that besides debt restructuring, regulating cryptocurrencies is a priority area for India.
Georgieva explained that the IMF, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) are committed to establishing a foundation for the regulation of cryptocurrencies that are not issued by governments or central banks. “We have to differentiate between central bank digital currencies [CBDCs] that are backed by the state and stablecoins, and crypto assets that are privately issued,” she stressed.
“There has to be very strong push for regulation,” the IMF chief emphasized, noting:

If regulation fails, if you’re slow to do it, then we should not take off the table banning those assets, because they may create financial stability risk.

The IMF executive board provided guidance this week to help countries develop effective crypto policies. While most executive board directors agreed that “strict bans are not the first-best option, but that targeted restrictions could apply,” a few thought that “outright bans should not be ruled out.”
In addition, the board advised: “Crypto assets should not be granted official currency or legal tender status in order to safeguard monetary sovereignty and stability.” Georgieva similarly said Saturday:

Crypto assets are nothing, they cannot be accepted as a legal tender.

The Fund has been against El Salvador accepting bitcoin as legal tender since the country made the crypto a national currency back in September 2021. However, the IMF said earlier this month that, so far, the risks from El Salvador adopting BTC as legal tender have not materialized.

 

Link: https://news.bitcoin.com/imf-calls-for-more-crypto-regulation-says-banning-should-be-an-option/

Source: https://news.bitcoin.com

The post IMF calls for ‘more’ Crypto regulation — says banning should be an option appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/imf-calls-for-more-crypto-regulation-says-banning-should-be-an-option/feed/ 0
How banks can benefit from implementing data governance https://www.fintechnews.org/how-banks-can-benefit-from-implementing-data-governance/ https://www.fintechnews.org/how-banks-can-benefit-from-implementing-data-governance/#respond Sat, 21 Jan 2023 03:52:02 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=25637 By Collins Ayuya As most companies today face remarkable data overload, the importance of effective data governance frameworks continues to grow. Banks in particular need to derive value from data for both the innovation and modernization of their operations as well as for continued compliance and ethical management of the data they work with. In […]

The post How banks can benefit from implementing data governance appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
As most companies today face remarkable data overload, the importance of effective data governance frameworks continues to grow. Banks in particular need to derive value from data for both the innovation and modernization of their operations as well as for continued compliance and ethical management of the data they work with. In this guide, we cover the details of how and why banks can benefit from a strong data governance framework.

How does data governance work in banking?

Today’s economic landscape requires most if not all industries to enhance their data-driven capabilities in the market to maintain a competitive edge. The banking sector is no exception. The introduction of data governance models in banking gives banks the resources they need to upgrade their current procedures and policies to improve their data protection mechanisms.

Data governance models are an essential aspect of any modern banking organization. They help banks to manage their data assets and provide a structure for data governance policies that govern data access, data quality, and data security. Implementing data governance models can be a complex process, and many banks may not have the expertise or resources to implement them effectively. That’s why it’s important for banks to seek professional advice from experts in data governance. If you are interested in implementing data governance models in your bank, you can visit here for data governance consultancy services to help you get started.

Data governance specifications also improve banks’ data analysis capabilities for better decision-making. Data governance in banking means delivering tools for the banking sector to not only optimize its effectiveness and innovation but also support risk management and regulatory reporting.

What does a data governance program include?

A data governance program frequently involves:

  • Installing data format standards.
  • Pinpointing data that requires protection.
  • Tagging data types and assigning roles and responsibilities.
  • Setting up metrics to quantify the effectiveness of the governance program.
  • Infusing automation.
  • Using metrics-based programs to assess, identify, monitor and improve the governance program.

Ways data governance provides value in banking

Regulatory compliance

It is a requirement for banks to keep all the data they have secure, based on a variety of federal and state compliance regulations. Regulatory requirements continue to pressure the banking industry to get data governance under control as the consequences of data violations become more costly.

With the right data governance plan in place, banks always know exactly what data they have access to. They also always know where data is located, which ensures they can enforce the right controls — even during complicated projects like cloud migrations.

Awareness of the location of data, the regulations it is liable to and the correct approach to protection is key for successful cloud migration and other digital transformation projects. Data governance provides pertinent tagging to ensure banks satisfy regulatory requirements with the correct access and security controls.

Cost cutting

Manual data management is tedious, inefficient and expensive. The responsibility of manual data management is often placed at the doorstep of IT teams, which means financial institutions frequently foot the costs of maintaining active IT teams.

Data governance relieves the manual burdens of discovering, granting access to and implementing security to data through centralizing technologies, effectively ending the need for multiple costly third-party systems and sprawling IT teams. The self-service capabilities of many data governance tools ensure that organizations maintain secure data access without incurring unnecessary costs.

Market insights

The financial sector is now characterized by relentless competition between institutions and saturation for newcomers. As a result, market insights have become a necessity for a competitive advantage. Through data analysis initiatives, banks can confidently approach their data and derive actionable insights.

Data governance supports company-wide analysis and its processes, ensuring that there is easy access to data and that it is well organized. This makes it easier to innovate and use data across the organization as opposed to leaving the responsibility solely to leadership teams.

Data-driven culture

Data-driven models are increasingly transforming how organizations handle business goals and objectives. A data-driven culture is proving to be of great benefit to organizations, as it intuitively improves approaches to cost-cutting, innovation and customer insights. Data governance supports and encourages a data-driven culture so banks can more effectively run their operations and make customer-experience-focused decisions.

Use cases for data governance in banking

Collaboration and risk management

Banking institutions work with hundreds of data sources and require a way to log the data they have. They also need to utilize data for managing and acquiring new customers, discerning fraud and reducing risk. With support from data governance processes and procedures, banks create data catalogs to ease both data discovery and quality assessment. The result is better collaboration and decision-making and improved productivity.

Mission Lane’s work with Alation is a great example of how data governance can support improved collaboration and risk management.

Improved compliance and customer service

As the customer experience and secure data controls become more important to consumers, institutions such as Fifth Third Bank are evolving their data governance approaches to become more effective and less invasive, enhancing both compliance and the customer experience.

Financial entities are also looking to deliver more personalized customer experiences to their customers but struggle as they encounter patchy and segmented data. NCBA is a financial services institution that handles this challenge by adopting various customer experience platforms to enable the organization to follow the customer journey from beginning to end. Through this approach, they are able to derive insights into customer patterns and improve experiences for their clients.

Best practices of data governance in the banking sector

Understand and apply regulatory compliance best practices

Data privacy scrutiny is increasing, particularly for personally identifiable information, due to the gravity and frequency of data breaches across industries. Current and future legislation is geared toward the protection of consumers and offering them control over their data privacy.

A key component of successful data governance in banking becomes guaranteeing that your organization is compliant with all regulations it is subject to. Regular self-audits of data platforms and operations help both customers and regulatory authorities feel at ease with your data management practices.

Focus on implementation

The quality of data governance implementation determines how successful data governance procedures will be over the longer term. To get started, financial institutions should thoroughly understand the regulations and compliance issues they face to assist them in pinpointing the limitations of their current data governance processes.

Throughout the implementation process, data should be treated as an asset; an asset mindset ensures that data is cared for and protected. Additionally, every leadership team member within a banking institution should possess working knowledge of data governance plans and how they relate to their teams’ daily operations.

Routinely monitor key metrics

Once implementation is done right, the success of data governance procedures should be periodically evaluated by monitoring various performance metrics. Some important metrics to monitor include data quality scores and the frequency of risk and security incidents. These metrics should also inform you of any problems and can offer insight into cost-cutting and profitability.

Evolving data governance over time

Data governance is a continuous process, especially in organizations like financial institutions, where datasets are complex and highly regulated. To keep your governance initiatives effective and relevant, make sure that they evolve with your organization. Evaluating your data governance program on a regular basis ensures that the program addresses your pain points, even as internal objectives and external risk factors change.

Link: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/data-governance-in-banking/

Source: https://www.techrepublic.com

The post How banks can benefit from implementing data governance appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/how-banks-can-benefit-from-implementing-data-governance/feed/ 0
Embedded Fintech expected to be a top trend for 2023 https://www.fintechnews.org/embedded-fintech-expected-to-be-a-top-trend-for-2023/ https://www.fintechnews.org/embedded-fintech-expected-to-be-a-top-trend-for-2023/#respond Wed, 04 Jan 2023 07:33:39 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=26753 ASA predicts a new wave of regulation, focus on customer choice to shake up the financial services industry next year ASA, an embedded fintech solution that connects financial institutions with customer-facing fintechs in a secure, compliant and easy to implement marketplace, today shared trends expected to most significantly impact the financial services landscape next year. […]

The post Embedded Fintech expected to be a top trend for 2023 appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
ASA predicts a new wave of regulation, focus on customer choice to shake up the financial services industry next year
ASA, an embedded fintech solution that connects financial institutions with customer-facing fintechs in a secure, compliant and easy to implement marketplace, today shared trends expected to most significantly impact the financial services landscape next year.
The rise in embedded fintechAs we continue to face thinning margins, skyrocketing customer expectations, quickly evolving technology and an increasingly competitive marketplace, banks and credit unions must quickly determine how to retain relevance and prominence in customers’ and members’ financial lives.
In response, more financial institutions will embrace embedded fintech, extending their brand and presence into everything the customer does in ecommerce. To do so successfully, banks and credit unions will look to a collaborative banking model.
Collaborative banking allows institutions to connect with customer-facing fintechs via digital rails that anonymize and tokenize all customer data. This removes the regulatory risk traditionally associated with bank-fintech partnerships and enables unprecedented innovation.
An influx of fintech regulation. Keep an eye on the regulatory and compliance landscape. With recent challenges exposed in the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) space and Banking as a Service models, more will prioritize account holder permissioned, anonymized, secure data transactions to enable access while reducing risk. The narrowed compliance focus for those who have pursued Banking as a Service especially will be a complex task as the players face increased regulatory scrutiny. Many will find themselves looking at alternatives to gain market share and meet customer needs.
The increasing importance of customer choice. Open banking has demonstrated the critical imperative of putting the account holder in control of their data and finances. However, most of the control that has been granted today is largely one sided; the customer can choose what technology they want, but that choice almost always results with the account holder having to share data or open accounts outside of their financial institution. More emphasis will be placed on giving customers and members control over not only the technology they adopt, but which institution (and therefore the type and level of trust and service) backs it.
“Despite recent challenges, the financial services industry continues to be filled with opportunity and innovation. It’s time for financial institutions and fintechs to reconsider how they work together,” said Landon Glenn, CEO and founder of ASA. “Next year, we expect to see the rise of embedded fintech, backed by a collaborative banking model. This will help solve increasing compliance and risk challenges while empowering the customer with greater control and choice.”

The post Embedded Fintech expected to be a top trend for 2023 appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/embedded-fintech-expected-to-be-a-top-trend-for-2023/feed/ 0
Regulation and Regulatory Compliance are critical if Africa is to reap the rewards of interoperability https://www.fintechnews.org/regulation-and-regulatory-compliance-are-critical-if-africa-is-to-reap-the-rewards-of-interoperability/ https://www.fintechnews.org/regulation-and-regulatory-compliance-are-critical-if-africa-is-to-reap-the-rewards-of-interoperability/#respond Fri, 18 Nov 2022 14:13:59 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=27041 By Patrick Gutmann, Managing Director, MFS Africa Why should your geographic location limit your ability to send and receive money? Why should it affect your ability to buy goods and services from around the globe? And why should someone from Lagos or Kampala not have the same kind of access to global markets as someone […]

The post Regulation and Regulatory Compliance are critical if Africa is to reap the rewards of interoperability appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
By Patrick Gutmann, Managing Director, MFS Africa
Why should your geographic location limit your ability to send and receive money? Why should it affect your ability to buy goods and services from around the globe? And why should someone from Lagos or Kampala not have the same kind of access to global markets as someone based in London? These are the kinds of questions that many organisations looking to embrace Africa’s young, digitally-savvy population and fast-growing economies are asking; and these are questions that regulators and governments on the continent should be asking themselves too.   
As it turns out, one of the key factors helping create this kind of intracontinental and intercontinental economic freedom is interoperability. Simply put, interoperability is about ensuring that merchants are able to accept payments from any consumer, whether they’re using mobile money or a card and whether they’re online or offline. It also allows merchants to sell as easily to someone on the other side of the planet as they can to someone standing right in front of them.
Implemented properly, it’s something that can be wholly transformative for consumers and merchants alike. The former, frequently saddled with the inaccurate label of being “unbanked” can seamlessly access goods and services from around the world. The latter, meanwhile, can access new markets and previously unavailable opportunities. But in order for interoperability’s potential to be realised, regulatory frameworks that facilitate this seamless access are crucial. 
Understanding Africa’s monetary shifts 
In order to understand why this is so critical, it’s worth taking a look at some of the ways that the movement of money in Africa has changed over the years. Not too long ago, the picture that most people had in their minds was of small businesses using cash, and more recently, a domestic mobile money option like M-PESA or MTN MoMo to accept money.
But things have changed dramatically. Today’s African consumer is savvy, globally connected, and a digital native. They care about access more than the platform, meaning that the various available platforms being complementary is more important than any other sense of adversarial competition. 
Let’s take a small trader in Lagos as an example. Although she can send money via bank transfer to a family member in Port Harcourt, her options are limited. Transferring money to someone outside Nigeria through the same channel becomes tedious. If that businessman travels to Nairobi, he should be able to withdraw cash from his own account from a local M-PESA agent. It should be similarly easy for him to make a mobile payment to a driver in Cape Town if he takes a holiday there.
Her reality is something that we’ve worked hard to bring to people across Africa for the past decade because we know how big of an opportunity it presents. Right now, for example, just 15% of African trade is intra-continental. And even so, that number is distorted by countries like Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa which have long established global trade relations. The African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) should help bring that number up, but it can’t achieve its full aims unless consumers and merchants across the continent are given the freedom that true interoperability presents. 
Facilitating and embracing regulatory compliance 
As an organisation that specialises in interoperability, we know first-hand how important regulations and regulatory compliance are to achieving that vision. Among other things, regulations enable the efficiency and integrity of financial markets, promote the fair treatment of customers by financial institutions, provide financial education and promote financial literacy, and aid in maintaining financial stability. 
Those are all things that make life easier for those playing in the interoperability space. Stable and sensible regulations make it much easier for them to draw up lasting agreements with payment partners and other financial institutions, allowing for the legitimate free flow of money. It’s also important to remember that regulations are there to protect all players in the payments chain, including the end consumer. And when people feel that they and their money are safe, they’re much more likely to feel comfortable using new products and services. 
With interoperability being a significant contributor to financial inclusion and economic growth, Regulators can play an important role in providing a regulatory environment which fosters digital payments and interoperability within their domestic markets and across the continent. 
As a business, we take a proactive approach to compliance by scanning the environment for emerging trends in the payment space and how this may affect our partners, and MFS Africa as an organisation. With this approach, we can effectively address any emerging risks within the confines of local and international law and best practice.

The post Regulation and Regulatory Compliance are critical if Africa is to reap the rewards of interoperability appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/regulation-and-regulatory-compliance-are-critical-if-africa-is-to-reap-the-rewards-of-interoperability/feed/ 0
Currencycloud teams up with Clausematch to enable future growth https://www.fintechnews.org/currencycloud-teams-up-with-clausematch-to-enable-future-growth/ https://www.fintechnews.org/currencycloud-teams-up-with-clausematch-to-enable-future-growth/#respond Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:19:53 +0000 https://www.fintechnews.org/?p=25229 Currencycloud adopts Clausematch to streamline policy management as they scale in new regions.   Currencycloud, the experts simplifying business in a multi-currency world, have contracted Clausematch, the global regulatory technology (RegTech) company and compliance experts, to implement its policy management solution. Clausematch’s solution will allow Currencycloud to effectively manage its evolving suite of policies, procedures […]

The post Currencycloud teams up with Clausematch to enable future growth appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
Currencycloud adopts Clausematch to streamline policy management as they scale in new regions.

 

Currencycloud, the experts simplifying business in a multi-currency world, have contracted Clausematch, the global regulatory technology (RegTech) company and compliance experts, to implement its policy management solution.
Clausematch’s solution will allow Currencycloud to effectively manage its evolving suite of policies, procedures and other business-critical documentation. Clausamatch’s solution will facilitate ongoing compliance with a rapidly-changing global regulatory landscape, enable smarter collaboration across Currencycloud’s expanding global footprint, and automate previously manual, time-consuming document management tasks.
Prior to the relationship with Clausematch Currencycloud’s policies and procedures were developed and maintained using conventional office software. Sharedrives had to be organized, approval processes designed, reviews scheduled and versions managed, all as manual processes. Clausematch’s solution automates all of this and includes additional features such as document connections and attestations that will significantly reduce the time spent on these tasks and enhance the level of sophistication of document management.
Tanya Ziv, Chief Compliance Officer at Currencycloud, commented, “We are delighted to be working with Clausematch to enhance our policy management solution. They will be able to support us in managing the critical evolution of our policies and procedures as we continue to grow and expand.”
Evgeny Likhoded, Clausematch’s founder and CEO said: “We’re thrilled to have Currencycloud onboard. It is a great opportunity for Clausematch to work with a high-growth Fintech company to show its capabilities when it comes to supporting our clients with tricky compliance regulations across different geographies.”

The post Currencycloud teams up with Clausematch to enable future growth appeared first on Fintech News.

]]>
https://www.fintechnews.org/currencycloud-teams-up-with-clausematch-to-enable-future-growth/feed/ 0