Bitcoin surges past $4,000 for the first time
The Bitcoin saga continues. The cryptocurrency soared past $4,000 for the first time ever last week, up 15% from the week before. Bitcoin has increased 300% in value in 2017 alone, showing a significant jump as it continues to be the most powerful cryptocurrency on the market.
The increase in price has reportedly bolstered related businesses. Coinbase announced last Thursday that it received a $100m investment.
WorldRemit and National Bank of Kenya announce partnership
WorldRemit and the National Bank of Kenya have announced a strategic partnership that allows Kenyans living abroad to make instant transfers back home.
WorldRemit customers send an estimated 700,000 transfers every month to over 140 destinations. WorldRemit customers can make instant bank deposits to the Royal Bank of Kenya accounts held in both Kenyan shillings as well as US dollars, and send funds for cash-picks from NBK branches.
Read our exclusive interview with WorldRemit VP or Product here.
WhatsApp to introduce peer-to-peer payments
Last week messaging platform WhatsApp announced that it is preparing to introduce payments to the messaging app, allowing users to transfer money to another with a message.
According to online portal WEBetaInfo, where the news was first announced, the next step in the app’s development will be the introduction of payments.
Barclays plans to close several branches by the end of 2017
The Independent reported that Barclays is planning on closing around 54 branches by the end of the year in an effort to cut costs.
The closing of branches will reportedly not result in any job losses, with jobs to be transferred elsewhere. The latest round of bank branch closures see a move towards digital and mobile banking and have raised concerns amongst small businesses in the UK.
The bank still has around 1,300 branches across the UK.
Read last week’s payments round-up here.
Whitepapers
Related reading
Diversions on the ISO 20022 journey
While ISO 20022 is still ongoing, this year has seen several delays to the migration strategies of SWIFT and various major market ... read more
SunTec CEO: Bank branches need to become Apple stores
The bank branch of the future must become an experience centre like Apple stores, according to SunTec CEO Nanda Kumar. In August, ... read more
Finance more evolution than revolutionary change
New technologies have burst onto the scene but may take years to mature Over the past few years, new entrances to financial ... read more
Open Banking: Going from regulatory mandate to global scale
Building the infrastructure to make open banking possible Open banking means different things to different people, but one thing is sure: it ... read more
