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Blockchain: What happened during my stay in South Africa? (PART IV)
|13-1-2017 | Carlo de Meijer |
REGULATORS
EU Commission Launches Initiative to Boost FinTech and Blockchain Startups
The European Commission (EC) unveiled a new initiative aiming to support Europe’s FinTech and blockchain innovative entrepreneurs. The Start-up and Scale-up Initiative aims to combine all the possibilities that already exist in the EU, but plans on including a new focus on venture capital investment, insolvency law, and taxation.
With the unveiling of the Initiative, the Commission is hoping to bring together several factors to enable blockchain and FinTech startups to develop and grow their business across Europe. Aside from the proposed factors mentioned above other features that the Initiative is proposing include improved access to finance and simpler tax filings. Through the Initiative startups will also gain access to improved innovation support through reforms to Horizon 2020, which funds high-potential innovation through a dedicated SME instrument. The initiative will also connect startups with potential investors, business partners, universities, and research centers.
ADVISORY COMPANIES
Deloitte invests in blockchain Startup SETL
Professional services firm Deloitte has made an investment in London-based financial services blockchain startup SETL. By harnessing the capabilities of SETL’s blockchain, Deloitte can provide their clients with even more practical and transformational solutions. News of the investment follows the announcement last month that Deloitte, SETL and Metro Bank had successfully trialed a contactless payment card using the firm’s distributed ledger technology. SETL is one of a number of startups worldwide looking to apply the technology to payment and settlement, and it recently became part of a regulatory sandbox initiative launched by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
Deloitte has bet big on distributed ledger technology. To date, the firm has partnered with a range of startups in the space to develop blockchain prototypes. They have already been investing heavily in real-world applications, such as identity management, cross-border payments, loyalty, trade finance and a number of others. Deloitte is currently setting up an EMEA financial services blockchain centre in Dublin that will house a team of 50 developers and designers and is working with five prominent blockchain companies – BlockCypher, Bloq, ConsenSys, Loyyal and the Stellar Development Foundation – on a wide-range of proof-of-concept applications across the financial sphere.
PwC launched its Vulcan Blockchain Platform
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) recently launched its Vulcan Digital Asset Services based on blockchain technology. The Vulcan offering marks PwC’s continuing commitment to bringing blockchain technology to financial services and other industries. The Vulcan platform that connects identity, money and assets, allows users to spend, share, trade or track any physical or digital asset cheaply and quickly. It enables fintech start-ups and existing technology companies to gain access to PwC’s global client base and co-develop new product offerings. Vulcan’s digital currency services include digital asset wallets, blockchain-based payments (global payment processing), a digital asset exchange (investment and trading services), and rewards and loyalty programs. In addition, the platform provides governance and assurance services, including anti-money laundering, know your customer and reporting tools to ensure regulatory compliance.
PwC is already conducting several pilots in different industries that capture digitized assets and issue customer reward points as digital money. A global banking group and a central bank are piloting the system while an airline and three multi-national banks are also exploring it.
All parts of this article can also be found as a combined article on my LinkedIN page.
Carlo de Meijer
Economist and researcher
More articles about blockchain from Carlo de Meijer:
Treasury education & training. What’s next?
| 11-1-2017 | Theo Paardekooper |
De treasury functie heeft zich de afgelopen jaren verder ontwikkeld. Zowel in technische zin als ook functioneel wordt de positie van de treasurer verruimd. Dit vraagt om uitbreiding van kennis en vaardigheden. Op de website van treasuryXL is informatie te vinden over education & training. De markt vraagt echter om meer. Academische titels vormen een entreebewijs voor de volgende stap. Wellicht een goed voornemen voor 2017. In deze bijdrage derhalve een korte introductie van de mogelijkheden.
Internationale Setting
Het in de UK gevestigde ACT, the Association of Corporate Treasurers zet de wereldstandaard in treasury opleiding. Via de ACT is een Certificaat in Internationaal Cashmanagement te halen, dat wereldwijd een goede reputatie heeft. Dit gaat echter alleen over cashmanagement. De ACT staat bekend om haar treasury opleidingspogramma’s t.w. Certificate of Treasury fundamentals (3-6 maanden), Certifcate of Treasury ( 6-12 maanden), Diploma in Treasury Management (12-18 maanden) en Advanced diploma MCT (15 maanden). Het behalen van het diploma in Treasury Management geeft de titel AMCT (associate member) en het eindstation is het advanced diploma in MCT (Master in Corporate Treasury).
Het is mogelijk om de studie voor het diploma Treasury management (managerial level) te starten zonder de voorgaande 2 diploma’s te hebben behaald. Op basis van praktijkervaring kan een toelatingstest worden gedaan.
AMCT en MCT zijn met name zelfstudie opleidingen. Zowel het studiemateriaal als de examens zijn vrij gedetailleerd. Kosten voor het MCT programma bedragen GBP 10.000,= + aanvullende kosten zoals voor het ACT lidmaatschap. De kosten voor AMCT bedragen GBP 2460,=. Hierbij is alleen sprake van online thuisstudie.
The Dutch way
20 jaar geleden heeft thans emeritus hoogleraar Van der Nat de post-doctorale studie Treasury Management aan de VU te Amsterdam opgestart. Kosten van het 2 jarige programma bedragen EUR 23.500,=. Het programma voorziet in 6 uur college per week (middag en avond) gegeven door diverse hoogleraren en experts uit het bedrijfsleven. Het curriculum is onderverdeeld in 4 onderdelen t.w. Treasury en markten, Financiering en financieel management, risk management en organisatie, governance en control. Het Certificate in International Cashmanagement van ACT is een keuzevak in het curriculum. De studie geeft structuur en overzicht van alle (praktijk)kennis van diverse treasury disciplines en kent een sterke wiskundige basis.
Naast reguliere tentamens wordt de opleiding afgerond met een scriptie. Succesvolle afronding geeft recht op de titel RT.
Theo Paardekoper
Independent treasury specialist
Meer artikelen over opleidingen en trainingen:
Brexit and the effects for treasurers
| 10-1-2017 | PowertoPay | sponsored content |
Netherlands and Belgium
Zooming in on the Netherlands and Belgium, Brexit will leave its marks as well. Because of extended research, Rob Rühl, director of Next Markets, is able to tell treasurers an update on what Brexit means for them. He is going to share his findings on a free Treasury Seminar, which is going to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium in the beginning of March. This seminar is hosted by payment specialized companies PowertoPay, TreasuryServices and the internationally known SWIFT. Since the results of article 50 going into motion or not are approaching, Rob Rühl will be able to update treasurers according to the latest developments. It’s important for treasurers to keep up with the latest developments to optimize their payment flows and thus to keep their businesses optimized. Or as Hans Leybaert, CEO of PowertoPay, looks at it; by focusing on smart Fintech solutions, platforms and ecosystems, you can create broad business opportunities that matter. Not just Brexit is interesting for treasures, but also think of topics as bank independency, cash management and Basel III which are important to learn about. More info and signing up for the seminar: http://info.powertopay.com/sign-up-page-seminar
Claire van Ingen – Online Marketeer
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