VIAINVEST blog

There are different ways how investors can access the debt markets for steady returns. The bond market is a traditional way to access this asset class, including buying bonds that are issued by government agencies or companies. The higher the credit risk, the higher the interest that is paid on loan. As of Q4 2017, a 10-year US government bond was paying approximately 2.3% in yearly interest. Continue reading A Glimpse of the Equity, Debt and Crypto Market Landscape

Ever since the Financial Crisis, it’s been open season on banks. Fintechs such as peer-to-peer lenders has proven to be leaner and meaner than their traditional finance counterparts, democratizing the online lending process for investors and borrowers alike even before the blockchain was a thing. Continue reading Fintechs Flock to IPO Market in 2018

In early days of fintech, the growth Southern European market was slower compared to the rest of the continent. That initial gap has been at least partially compensated by robust growth in certain countries recently. With a stage of maturity that is still far from what we see, for example, in the UK, where the market is now entering in a consolidation phase, Mediterranean countries enjoy a lot of room to grow and opportunities for acceleration. Continue reading The State of Fintech in Southern Europe

Fintech is a trendy industry for startups to choose, many of which came on the scene in the wake of the Financial Crisis, which rely on technology innovation to bridge the gap between traditional finance and their customers, including both individuals and merchants. Continue reading Fintechs and Traditional Finance Finding Common Ground

Technology is growing at an exponential rate, and no industry can escape the impact of it. As we have explored in other posts, finance is not an exception. After the boom observed over the past few years, fintech is now becoming increasingly mature, and the impact that is having on small and medium-sized enterprises is more and more evident. Continue reading Fintech and SMEs – what has changed?

The alternative finance industry in Europe does not show any signs of slowing down. According to a new report “Expanding Horizons” published by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) of the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, that is capturing an estimated 90% of the market, online alternative finance grew a 101% in Europe, from € 1019 million to € 2063 million in 2016 (excluding the UK), with a substantial acceleration from the 72% increase in 2015. Continue reading P2P Lending in Europe Doubles in Size

The days of retiring from a decades-long career at the same large company, while honorable, are mostly history. Millennials and Gen Xers hop jobs more than any other generation before them, and the gig economy aka freelance economy or the flexible economy is disrupting economic cycles in ways that could not have been forecasted. Continue reading As Gig Economy Matures, Growing Pains Surface

In what could prove to be a match made in heaven, China is lifting its profile for fintech and is increasingly looking to the UK more than any other European country for influence. In a landmark announcement, China revealed it’s selected the UK as a partner on its project to develop a sustainable fintech city near its capital Beijing – dubbed the Xiong’an New Area. The rising trend of China and the UK collaboration satisfies different needs for both regions that could ultimately usher in the next generation of fintech. Continue reading China Looks to the UK to Increase Its Fintech Influence

Are you familiar with Open Banking? Do you know what PSD2 is? If not then you are not alone. The UK Consumers’ advice firm Which? had done a survey a few months before the implementation of the new directives and discovered that an astounding 92% of the consumers are not aware of these changing regulatory environment that is set to change the financial system in the way that we know it. Continue reading Open Banking Is Still a Well Kept Secret for Consumers

Simplicity was at the heart of early peer-to-peer lending, a trait that has since become more elusive as the market has matured. Early on, borrowers and lenders were matched directly, and everyone was happy. A borrower got access to the cash they needed to repay a debt, and a lender was able to generate a return that was more attractive than the broader financial markets had to offer. That’s how Lending Club began more than a decade ago; it made its debut on Facebook as the social media giant’s first app. Continue reading Blockchain Could Return P2P Lending Back to Its Roots