The Finanser’s Week: 15th July – 21st July 2019

The main blog headlines are …

The UN’s SDG’s, FinTech and Banking

Due to various connections, I was asked to deliver the opening keynote speech at the United Nations High Level Political Forum last week (some coverage here). It was one of those rare occasions where I got nervous, looking out at the faces of dignitaries from …

Digital finance includes everyone (speech transcript)

I thought I would share my speech at last week’s UN meeting and the short version is summarised nicely by the UN’s press page: Chris Skinner, an author and commentator from the United Kingdom, discussed the promise of “fintech” — which integrates finance and technology …

Financing is critical to our future world

A key part of UN’s agenda for sustainability is the taskforce for digital finance. Officially launched in November 2018, around the same time as the UN’s Principles for Responsible Banking, the taskforce is specifically tasked by the Economic and Security Council (ECOSEC) to look at …

Why is financial inclusion a good thing?

Whilst at the United Nations they had me doing various activities, one of which was a panel for UNTV. The panel comprised Elliot Harris, UN Chief Economist; Matthew Blake, Head of Future of Financial and Monetary Systems, World Economic Forum; and was moderated by Gillian …

FinTech is on fire and London is burning …

A regular question that comes up is: When will the Fintech bubble burst? My claim is that it won’t under my watch, as this is as big a restructuring of banking and finance as the internet has been for commerce and trade. The latter change …

And the top news headlines this week are …

Revolut’s growing pains rumble on  - Financial Times
And this time, it’s our old friend Wirecard’s fault, apparently.

The future of insurance is happening without insurance firms - Economist
The industry’s plodding giants face mounting threats from restless reinsurers and Big Tech

German online bank N26 valued at $3.5bn after investment - Financial Times
Europe’s most valuable fintech says it does not see profitability as a ‘core metric’

‘The city has changed beyond all recognition': Derelict London – in pictures - Guardian
Paul Talling photographs the land of long-forgotten tube stations, burnt-out mansions and gently decaying factories Derelict London, all new edition, is published by Penguin Random House Continue reading...

'Breathtaking arrogance': senators grill Facebook in combative hearing over Libra currency - Guardian
Banking committee questions Facebook on its Libra project, while the House will later take aim at Google, Apple and Amazon Facebook was greeted with hostility in the US Congress as the tech giant sought to defend its proposed digital currency to lawmakers on the Hill. Members of the Senate’s banking

Christine Lagarde will have to confront Berlin if she’s to save the euro | Yanis Varoufakis - Guardian
The incoming European Central Bank chief must call for an end to the eurozone’s suicidal fiscal rules, which have now run out of road Christine Lagarde was a key member of the infamous troika – Greece’s official creditors – who crushed our people’s resistance to perpetual debt bondage. The other

When most people never see a £50 note, why have it? - BBC
The Bank of England has unveiled the new Alan Turing £50 note, but does it make sense to even have it?

Fintech Revolut may need greyer grandee than Gilbert - Financial Times
Digital banking group is raising money but attracting scrutiny from regulators

French financial regulator wants more flexible market rules - Financial Times
France positions itself as a stronger voice in post-Brexit decision-making

U.S. proposes barring big tech companies from offering financial services, digital currencies - Reuters
A proposal to prevent big technology companies from functioning as financial institutions or issuing digital currencies has been circulated for discussion by the Democratic majority that leads the House Financial Services Committee, according to a copy of the draft legislation seen by Reuters.