FinTech
$60 billion collapse of major cryptocurrency is not the industry’s Bear Stearns moment — senators and regulators explain why
WASHINGTON — It’s been a brutal few weeks for the crypto market. Half a trillion dollars was wiped off the sector’s market cap as terraUSD, one of the most popular U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins, imploded virtually overnight. Meanwhile, digital coins such as ether continue to take a beating on the price charts, as the sell-off keeps […]
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As Klarna cuts jobs, rival fintechs say they’re recruiting for hundreds of roles
Nikolay Storonsky, founder and CEO of Revolut. Harry Murphy | Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images Not all fintech unicorns are cutting jobs. After Klarna announced plans to lay off 10% of its workforce Monday, some rival fintechs are making it clear that they have no intention of cutting jobs or freezing hiring. Revolut, […]
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SEC’s Hester Peirce says the U.S. has dropped the ball on crypto regulation
WASHINGTON — The U.S. has dropped the ball on crypto regulation, according to Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce, and she says the knock-on effects of that failure keep her up at night. “There’s a lot of fraud in this space, because it’s the hot area of the moment,” Peirce told CNBC on the sidelines […]
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Terra backers vote to revive luna — but not UST — after $60 billion crypto collapse
The UST stablecoin plunged below its intended $1 peg in May, causing panic in the crypto market. Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Getty Images Backers of Terra have approved a plan to revive the failed cryptocurrency venture — without the controversial stablecoin that helped trigger its stunning demise two weeks ago. “With overwhelming support, the […]
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Klarna to lay off 10% of its workforce as souring economy hits buy now, pay later space
Buy now, pay later products like Klarna’s became wildly popular in the Covid pandemic. Noam Galai | Getty Images Klarna plans to lay off about 10% of its global workforce, making the buy now, pay later firm the latest major tech company to announce job cuts. Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Klarna’s CEO and co-founder, made the announcement […]
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Christine Lagarde says crypto is worth nothing
The European Central Bank is exploring whether to issue its own digital alternative to cash. Olivier Matthys | AFP | Getty Images European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde thinks cryptocurrencies aren’t worth a dime. “My very humble assessment is that it is worth nothing,” Lagarde said of crypto in an interview with Dutch talk show […]
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Tether withdrawals top $10 billion as regulators raise alarm about stablecoins
Tether claims its dollar-pegged token is “fully backed.” Justin Tallis | Afp | Getty Images Investors have yanked more than $10 billion out of tether in the past two weeks amid heightened regulatory scrutiny over stablecoins. Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin, has seen its circulating supply plunge from a record $84.2 billion on May 11 […]
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Tether claims its stablecoin is now partially backed by non-U.S. government bonds
Tether previously claimed its stablecoin was backed 1-to-1 by U.S. dollars. Justin Tallis | Afp | Getty Images The issuer of the stablecoin tether said in a report that the controversial digital currency is now backed in part by “non-U.S.” government bonds. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency pegged to the value of sovereign currencies […]
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Coinbase to slow hiring amid plunge in cryptocurrencies and tech stocks
Coinbase reported a 27% decline in revenues in the first quarter as usage of the platform dipped. Chesnot | Getty Images Coinbase has become the latest tech company to warn of a slowdown in hiring. The crypto exchange told staff Tuesday it would slow hiring and reevaluate its headcount, reversing earlier plans to triple its […]
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Mastercard launches tech that lets you pay with your face or hand
Mastercard’s biometric checkout technology lets users pay by scanning their face or palm. Mastercard Mastercard is piloting new technology that lets shoppers make payments with just their face or hand. The company on Tuesday launched a program for retailers to offer biometric payment methods, like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning. At checkout, users will be […]
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