Welcome to The Finanser by Chris Skinner. The Finanser discusses all things fintech, finance, banking, technology and, most importantly, the future. Chris Skinner has been voted the most influential technologist in Britain and received a lifetime achievement award for his visionary approach to the future of money from the Payments Association. He has advised the…
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I clicked the other morning on Nicoo, the robot puppy, after seeing an ad on YouTube. I was going to order it for my wife’s birthday but thought, just before clicking, is this real? So, I go and Google Is Nicoo legit? and immediately realised it’s not. Later that morning, an email arrived saying that…
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Everyone has become excited about A2A in the past year or so. A2A are Account-to-Account payments. These are direct transfers of funds from one payment account (bank or e-money service) to another, bypassing intermediaries like card networks and reducing transaction costs and complexity. A2A payments leverage Open Banking technologies and APIs to deliver fast, seamless, and…
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I am always fascinated about the way in which people see what is of value and why. The exchange of beads, crystals, diamonds and gold; the use of barter to exchange sheep for goats for weddings; the emergence of digital exchange for tokens; and, of course, the issuance of cash backed by governments that are…
Read More
I’ve just spent a frustrating hour trying to access my bank account. It started with trying to login online. Here’s how it went. Enter your card number and password. OK, we now need a OTP code from your app. OK, now enter a code from the SMS or email we just sent you. But then…
Read More
I clicked the other morning on Nicoo, the robot puppy, after seeing an ad on YouTube. I was going to order it for my wife’s birthday but thought, just before clicking, is this real? So, I go and Google Is Nicoo legit? and immediately realised it’s not. Later that morning, an email arrived saying that…
Read MoreEveryone has become excited about A2A in the past year or so. A2A are Account-to-Account payments. These are direct transfers of funds from one payment account (bank or e-money service) to another, bypassing intermediaries like card networks and reducing transaction costs and complexity. A2A payments leverage Open Banking technologies and APIs to deliver fast, seamless, and…
Read MoreI am always fascinated about the way in which people see what is of value and why. The exchange of beads, crystals, diamonds and gold; the use of barter to exchange sheep for goats for weddings; the emergence of digital exchange for tokens; and, of course, the issuance of cash backed by governments that are…
Read MoreI’ve been talking a lot about stablecoins of late and, in a timely fashion, Jas Shah at Fintech: Under the Hood has just landed a great primer all about such things. A Stablecoin Primer: Money for the Digital Age TL;DR Quick Take Stablecoins have evolved from early crypto-pegged concepts to fiat-backed instruments like USDC and…
Read MoreAs blogged yesterday, the GENIUS Act can open the doors for closed-loop networks using stablecoins that circumvent the traditional four-pillar model of issuer, acquirer, merchant and processor. Yes, it could save billions in interchange fees, but there’s another movement in stablecoins trying to change the world. This one is trying to get rid of SWIFT,…
Read More
Is it just me or has the whole digital currency space become hot, hot, hot? Every five minutes, I see stuff about CBDCs – who needs them?; cryptocurrencies – who’s using them?; and stablecoins – what’s that all about? The last one is intriguing me the most at the moment, as I’ve said for years:…
Read More
I just wrote something that was pretty ambiguous when a friend asked what my latest speech is all about. The answer? “Becoming an AI-native bank – digital is so last century – and digital trust in a deep fake world (digital ID)”. The answer is accurate, but I just wrote off digital and then talked…
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I was going to change this, but am reposting a LinkedIn update from Leonid Bashlykov, who heads up Crypto at Revolut because it further clarifies the blog I posted last week. The post was titled: Launch a bank from your bedroom which, unsurprisingly, gained a lot of criticism from good luck with that to wait till…
Read More
As everyone who reads me regularly will know, I’m a big sci-fi fan and have blogged regularly about Star Trek versus Star Wars and their view of money. A dystopian or utopian future? Money is the core – Chris Skinner’s blog Today, I’m going off on another trip as I’ve just got hooked on Alien:…
Read MoreI clicked the other morning on Nicoo, the robot puppy, after seeing an ad on YouTube. I was going to order it for my wife’s birthday but thought, just before clicking, is this real? So, I go and Google Is Nicoo legit? and immediately realised it’s not. Later that morning, an email arrived saying that…
Read MoreEveryone has become excited about A2A in the past year or so. A2A are Account-to-Account payments. These are direct transfers of funds from one payment account (bank or e-money service) to another, bypassing intermediaries like card networks and reducing transaction costs and complexity. A2A payments leverage Open Banking technologies and APIs to deliver fast, seamless, and…
Read MoreI am always fascinated about the way in which people see what is of value and why. The exchange of beads, crystals, diamonds and gold; the use of barter to exchange sheep for goats for weddings; the emergence of digital exchange for tokens; and, of course, the issuance of cash backed by governments that are…
Read MoreI’ve just spent a frustrating hour trying to access my bank account. It started with trying to login online. Here’s how it went. Enter your card number and password. OK, we now need a OTP code from your app. OK, now enter a code from the SMS or email we just sent you. But then…
Read MoreI’ve been talking a lot about stablecoins of late and, in a timely fashion, Jas Shah at Fintech: Under the Hood has just landed a great primer all about such things. A Stablecoin Primer: Money for the Digital Age TL;DR Quick Take Stablecoins have evolved from early crypto-pegged concepts to fiat-backed instruments like USDC and…
Read MoreAs blogged yesterday, the GENIUS Act can open the doors for closed-loop networks using stablecoins that circumvent the traditional four-pillar model of issuer, acquirer, merchant and processor. Yes, it could save billions in interchange fees, but there’s another movement in stablecoins trying to change the world. This one is trying to get rid of SWIFT,…
Read MoreIs it just me or has the whole digital currency space become hot, hot, hot? Every five minutes, I see stuff about CBDCs – who needs them?; cryptocurrencies – who’s using them?; and stablecoins – what’s that all about? The last one is intriguing me the most at the moment, as I’ve said for years:…
Read More
A friend turned to me the other day and said: Chris, you always talk about the future and what’s going to change … why don’t you talk about what is not going to change? The question stopped me in my tracks, but it cuts to the core of strategic choices. Start with the things that…
Read More
I’ve just had two requests for notarised ID documents: one from my accountant and another from a bank. So, I went to the notary to get notarised and they said no. It reminds me of an Amy Winehouse song: I tried to get me a notary and they said no, no, no. The problem arose…
Read MoreAs blogged yesterday, the GENIUS Act can open the doors for closed-loop networks using stablecoins that circumvent the traditional four-pillar model of issuer, acquirer, merchant and processor. Yes, it could save billions in interchange fees, but there’s another movement in stablecoins trying to change the world. This one is trying to get rid of SWIFT,…
Read MoreShort answer: possibly. Long answer: the GENIUS Act (the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act) gives a massive stamp on cryptocurrency tokens, stablecoins and protecting the US dollar as the reserve currency of the world. Oh, and it also creates a major opportunity for non-banks to become players in payment processing. For…
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In recent days, I’ve discovered a lot of theorems and ideas in digital areas where, when you integrate finance and technology, you realise that you are living in a world of rocket science thinking. For example, I am spending a lot of time talking with experts about digital identity and trust, as that’s the theme…
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An awful lot of what I read these days is about stablecoins. By way of example, my things worth reading daily update is filled with news about them. Just this morning: Some big US banks plan to launch stablecoins, expecting crypto-friendly regulations Central banks face dilemma over rise of dollar-backed stablecoins Could Britain be about…
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I went to a conference the other day where the organiser left a load of beer mats with questions about fintech. I picked them up and decided to write my thoughts. Trust you enjoy this … What was your ‘aha’ moment that led you into fintech? I never really had a moment, as I’ve been…
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Building on yesterday’s blog about onboarding me as a client based in Buckingham Palace – or was that 10 Downing Street? – there is some interesting reporting about Revolut. Why haven’t they got their UK credit license sorted? After several years of discussion with the regulators, they finally got the green light to launch a…
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I spend every day being more and more amazed at what AI can do, particularly with video. From my bedroom, I can create a whole marketing campaign with high-end advertising in just a few days. To illustrate this, I was amazed at this advert for Kalshi, a prediction markets FinTech: Aired during the NBA Finals…
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I would love to walk into a bank’s boardroom with my opening slide explaining: “Step confidently into the future of Web3 with Zond, a quantum-resistant Layer-1 blockchain* engineered to transcend today’s security limitations and safeguard your dApps, from DeFi protocols to NFT marketplaces, while powering the next generation of smart contracts in tomorrow’s digital economy.”…
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I’m discussing a lot about digital currencies these days, and the future of CBDCs, Stablecoins and Crypto. The conversation generally goes along the lines of central banks issuing digital currencies is really unnecessary. No one wants them and no one trusts them. The whole thing is just a scam for governments to track and trace…
Read MoreI clicked the other morning on Nicoo, the robot puppy, after seeing an ad on YouTube. I was going to order it for my wife’s birthday but thought, just before clicking, is this real? So, I go and Google Is Nicoo legit? and immediately realised it’s not. Later that morning, an email arrived saying that…
Read MoreI’ve been talking a lot about stablecoins of late and, in a timely fashion, Jas Shah at Fintech: Under the Hood has just landed a great primer all about such things. A Stablecoin Primer: Money for the Digital Age TL;DR Quick Take Stablecoins have evolved from early crypto-pegged concepts to fiat-backed instruments like USDC and…
Read MoreAs blogged yesterday, the GENIUS Act can open the doors for closed-loop networks using stablecoins that circumvent the traditional four-pillar model of issuer, acquirer, merchant and processor. Yes, it could save billions in interchange fees, but there’s another movement in stablecoins trying to change the world. This one is trying to get rid of SWIFT,…
Read MoreIs it just me or has the whole digital currency space become hot, hot, hot? Every five minutes, I see stuff about CBDCs – who needs them?; cryptocurrencies – who’s using them?; and stablecoins – what’s that all about? The last one is intriguing me the most at the moment, as I’ve said for years:…
Read MoreA friend turned to me the other day and said: Chris, you always talk about the future and what’s going to change … why don’t you talk about what is not going to change? The question stopped me in my tracks, but it cuts to the core of strategic choices. Start with the things that…
Read More
Building on my recent blogs about AI, the AI you, your digital twin and the way the digital world is becoming its own world, I was reminded of the film Transcendence. You probably know this film but, just in case you don’t, the idea is that an AI scientist uploads their mind to the network…
Read MoreI just wrote something that was pretty ambiguous when a friend asked what my latest speech is all about. The answer? “Becoming an AI-native bank – digital is so last century – and digital trust in a deep fake world (digital ID)”. The answer is accurate, but I just wrote off digital and then talked…
Read MoreI was going to change this, but am reposting a LinkedIn update from Leonid Bashlykov, who heads up Crypto at Revolut because it further clarifies the blog I posted last week. The post was titled: Launch a bank from your bedroom which, unsurprisingly, gained a lot of criticism from good luck with that to wait till…
Read MoreAs everyone who reads me regularly will know, I’m a big sci-fi fan and have blogged regularly about Star Trek versus Star Wars and their view of money. A dystopian or utopian future? Money is the core – Chris Skinner’s blog Today, I’m going off on another trip as I’ve just got hooked on Alien:…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include: UK fintech holds European crown but UAE threat looms Britain in a worse position to deal with a financial crisis than 2008, warns former Bank governor Mervyn King Klarna Opens Up 30% In First Of Three Fintech IPOs Expected This Week Starling Bank targets £4bn valuation in secondary share sale…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include … HSBC lands £333m from takeover of Silicon Valley Bank UK Nationwide app and internet banking back up after outage UK banks face lawsuits over mortgages that left people with huge debts Barclays boss Venkatakrishnan urges against UK bank tax “Ill-conceived offshoring is helping to destroy this bank” If it…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include: UK banks face lawsuits over mortgages that left people with huge debts How Chase bank executives aided Epstein and funneled his money – despite staff concerns about the pedophile OFSI declines to fine UK bank over sanctions breach Global Fintech Klarna’s Upcoming IPO Could Prove Firm Is More Than A…
Read MoreThis week’s main discussions include … Will the upstarts replace the incumbents? Is it just me or has the whole digital currency space become hot, hot, hot? Every five minutes, I see stuff about CBDCs – who needs them?; cryptocurrencies – who’s using them?; and stablecoins – what’s that all about? The last one is…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include … Revolut to make over 200 employees paper millionaires with latest share sale Revolut and Google Cloud Deepen Strategic Partnership to Power Global Growth to 100M+ Customers Fintech Veteran Moves to Stripe-Backed Tempo to Focus on Blockchain Payments Trump Media wants to corner a cryptocurrency called Cronos! Five countries represented…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include … Cashless society concerns as survey suggests 48% of people carry physical wallet Plot to introduce digital IDs for the UK labelled a ‘dystopian nightmare’ Thousands of Lloyds staff face axe in performance overhaul Bank of England ‘very concerned’ at Trump threats to US Fed The Changing Tide of Investment:…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include … Klarna IPO is back with an IPO on NYSE Fintech pivot to digital assets and AI Barclays becomes second UK bank to quit industry’s net zero group Revolut founder to become one of Britain’s top ten richest businessmen as share sale gives huge valuation ‘Greedy’ brothers smile and hug…
Read MoreThings we’re reading today include … Trump family made upward of $6 billion in a day thanks to its crypto-coin launch UK fintechs explore buying US banks to speed up push for licences Fintech’s pivot from growth to profitability Revolut valuation jumps to $75bn with staff set for payout opportunity Zopa Bank expands payments grip…
Read MoreThis week’s main discussions include … Will the upstarts replace the incumbents? Is it just me or has the whole digital currency space become hot, hot, hot? Every five minutes, I see stuff about CBDCs – who needs them?; cryptocurrencies – who’s using them?; and stablecoins – what’s that all about? The last one is…
Read MoreThis week’s main discussions include … Last century processes in the digital age I’ve just had two requests for notarised ID documents: one from my accountant and another from a bank. So, I went to the notary to get notarised and they said no. It reminds me of an Amy Winehouse song: I tried to…
Read MoreThis week’s / month’s main discussions include … AI is bigger than the smartphone Twenty years ago, four critical things happened: cloud computing became mainstream; the smartphone was launched; Satoshi Nakamoto released the bitcoin whitepaper; and the global financial crisis killed all trust in traditional financial institutions. All of these things pretty much happened at…
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This week’s main blog discussions include … What is an acceptable level of fraud? Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT and more – along with the PayPal Mafia – was speaking about bank capital rules this week and made an interesting comment that: “There are some FIs that will accept a…
Read MoreThis week’s main blog discussions include … How to find the launderers … or not Someone asked me this week: why isn’t digital identity working? After all, there have been numerous attempts at tackling the issue. Specifically, in finance, we have onboarding, compliance, AML, KYC, PEP and more … and yet none of it is…
Read MoreThis week’s main blog discussions include … Fintech and the Rule of 40 A colleague posted a view about Fintech and the Rule of 40 the other day. What is the Rule of 40? The Rule of 40 is a financial metric, primarily used in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry, which suggests a healthy company’s combined…
Read MoreThis week’s main blog discussions include … Designing our next banknotes: Notey McNoteFace? The Bank of England launched a platform yesterday for anyone to suggest who should be on Britain’s next generation of banknotes. Here’s the verbatim: As we begin to design the next series of banknotes, we invite you to share your views on potential…
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This week’s main blog discussions include … Is fintech young or old? I just received the latest World Economic Forum’s Future of Fintech report so, here’s a summary: The fintech industry is transitioning from rapid expansion into a phase of sustainable growth, increased collaboration and broader market reach. The fintech sector is experiencing a customer growth…
Read MoreThis week’s main blog discussions include … Are you fit to lead your bank if you don’t understand tech? I would love to walk into a bank’s boardroom with my opening slide explaining: “Step confidently into the future of Web3 with Zond, a quantum-resistant Layer-1 blockchain* engineered to transcend today’s security limitations and safeguard your…
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This week’s main blog discussions include … Is fintech complicating the process of payments? Everything I read talks about simplified customer experience in payments and yet, when I look at it, the process of payments is becoming far more complicated. You made a payment in the old world with a bank note or cheque, and…
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