Category: Fintech

The Rise of New Cryptocurrencies and Their Economic Impact

August 1, 2023 Fintech

Jeff Bartel

Chairman and Managing Director

New cryptocurrency has risen steadily in use and popularity as digital assets have disrupted traditional financial systems and increased innovation. The two most well-known and popular forms are Bitcoin, developed in 2009, and Ethereum, in 2014. These will likely remain the most used, but others have formed since then, and together they are increasingly influencing the financial system and economy.

The Growing and New Cryptocurrency Available for 2023
As of 2023, cryptocurrencies have seen quick growth and innovation, with many new crypto tokens being launched.

Besides Bitcoin and Ethereum, other popular cryptocurrencies are Binance Coin, Cardano, Dogecoin, and XRP. The most prominent new cryptocurrencies of 2023 include:

  • StellarX: This is a decentralized platform that changes how cross-border payments and financial services are completed, with speed and low costs being their main benefits. 
  • QuantumMesh: This is a crypto designed to enhance privacy and uses cutting-edge cryptography to ensure the security of its users.
  • GreenCoin: This is a unique option focused on eco-friendly practices and gives incentives and rewards for engaging in sustainable activities.

With so many choices available, those looking to invest have several options to choose from, with more coming to meet specific financial needs or demographics.

Cryptocurrency’s Simplification of Financial Systems and Overall Value

The traditional financial systems work with intermediaries like banks, payment processors, and clearinghouses to handle their transactions, and these middlemen often add costs, delays, and provide potential for fraud. 

Most cryptocurrency options are designed to make it easy to perform transactions without these middlemen and likewise make them more available to investors of all kinds. By using blockchain technology in place of middlemen, financial transactions are recorded and verified digitally. This can improve security, increase processing speed, and lower costs for some transactions.

To calculate value, a new cryptocurrency’s market cap is calculated by multiplying the total number of coins in circulation by the current price. Investors use this to determine the value, with higher market caps indicating a potentially profitable currency.

Government Development of Central Bank Digital Currencies

Cryptocurrency has somewhat disrupted traditional financial institutions by providing an alternative to the centralized financial system. With its decentralized nature, digital and virtual new crypto coins are secured by cryptography, which makes it nearly impossible to counterfeit or double-spend. A defining feature of cryptocurrencies is that they are generally not issued by any central authority, rendering them in effect free from interference or manipulation. 

As an alternative to cryptocurrency, central banks around the world are exploring the concept of Central Bank Digital Currencies. CBDCs are digital representations of traditional currencies issued and regulated by central banks. As governments look to leverage the benefits of blockchain technology, cryptocurrency acts as a catalyst for ongoing development.

New Cryptocurrency Investment and Economic Growth

The rise of the new cryptocurrency has created new economic investment opportunities for individuals and institutions. These opportunities include: 

  • Financial inclusion
  • Cross-border transactions
  • Job creation and entrepreneurship
  • Investment and wealth creation
  • Technological advancement
  • Greater efficiency
  • Higher cost savings

Crypto asset technologies can provide individuals with new investment opportunities, allowing them to diversify their portfolios beyond traditional assets. In some cases, investors experience significant price appreciation, and this fact can attract investors eager for high returns. 

Startups and entrepreneurs exploring decentralized applications and smart contracts may also view new cryptocurrency as a more innovative and entrepreneurship-focused form of investment in the digital space. The rapid growth of the crypto ecosystem points to this, and this fact further leads to more innovation and further development in the system to build stronger and more diverse set of financial options.

Regulatory Challenges and Market Volatility

While new cryptocurrency presents numerous opportunities, it also brings certain challenges. Regulatory frameworks around cryptocurrencies are still evolving, and governments worldwide are grappling with the task of striking a balance between innovation and protecting investors. 

Market volatility remains a concern, as cryptocurrencies sometimes have wild price fluctuations. Each new cryptocurrency will have these same challenges and face scrutiny and regulation as they become more popular.

It is good to remember that there are risks associated with investing in cryptocurrency, and these are sometimes overlooked in the rush to invest. Like some stock trading, they are high-risk and very speculative. Users must acknowledge and understand the risks prior to trading. Most notably, these are:

  • Cryptocurrencies are volatile: unexpected changes in market trust can lead to sharp and sudden moves in price. 
  • Regulatory risks: The regulatory status of cryptocurrencies is unclear in many jurisdictions and constantly changing. 
  • User risk: Unlike traditional finance, there is no way to reverse or cancel a cryptocurrency transaction after it has been made.
  • Tax risk: Cryptocurrencies on their own are not taxable, but a cryptocurrency tax applies as a capital gain or loss if you sell through a cryptocurrency exchange or use it in some other type of transaction.

Understanding the Newest Cryptocurrencies

The emergence of new cryptocurrencies has had an impact on global economies, being viewed with both excitement and skepticism. The steady growth of digital assets has given investors successful alternative means of financial transactions, investment opportunities, and decentralized systems. However, it is important to keep in mind the possible risks associated with their volatility and regulatory uncertainties. As the crypto space continues to evolve, it will require collaborative effort between cryptocurrency creators and regulators to properly harness the potential value of a mature crypto ecosystem.

Real Estate Finance and Funding Innovations

November 14, 2022 Fintech

Jeff Bartel

Chairman and Managing Director

Real Estate Finance and the Rise of Fintech for Funding

As inflation concerns continue to trouble some investors and interest rates keep rising, it is not surprising that real estate investors are looking for alternative funding and real estate finance options. While fintech has played a role in the real estate industry for decades, today’s economic conditions have catapulted it to the forefront.

The reality is that fintech is changing how we handle real estate finance, track property ownership, and even purchase real property. These changes are generating new real estate opportunities, with fintech assisting investors with growing investment portfolios.

Crowdfunding Real Estate Investments

One major shift in real estate investments is the popularity of crowdfunding. This type of real estate finance strategy is often a win-win for developers and investors. It allows developers to bypass the traditional lending options that are usually time-consuming and limited in real estate funding opportunities and will enable investors to diversify their investment portfolios to include real estate without the hefty upfront down payment.

In many cases, crowdfunding real estate investments can provide a higher dividend than traditional real estate transactions. Most importantly, crowdfunding in the real estate market can help minimize your risk level because you do not have to use any personal assets for collateral.

While crowdfunding can provide an alternative way to invest in real estate, there are some downsides to using this strategy. First and most importantly, since there are multiple owners, you will not have direct control over the decisions regarding the property, and you typically cannot use the property as collateral for other loans. Additionally, some crowdfunding platforms that offer real estate investments only work with accredited investors. Finally, since this is a relatively new investment opportunity, it is sometimes difficult to determine which platform is best.

It is crucial to weigh the pros and cons of this investment option before deciding whether crowdfunding real estate investments are suitable for you.

Fintech innovation, including blockchain, changes the speed of transactions while decentralizing the investing process

Blockchain Transactions in Real Estate Finance

At first glance, it may seem like something other than blockchain and real estate should be partnered. However, the reality is that blockchain may help to revolutionize the real estate industry. There are several ways this is happening.

First, blockchain provides a safe and secure way of storing and managing real estate records and transactions. Second, it helps to eliminate the middleman by decentralizing the process, which is prone to fraud and errors. Finally, blockchain can speed up the transfer of ownership process and cut costs for buyers.

Those interested in investing in blockchain real estate transactions can do so in several ways, including:

Purchase Property With Cryptocurrency

The most direct way to invest in real estate through blockchain is by purchasing real estate using cryptocurrency. Since this is a new investment opportunity, investment options using this payment method are possibly limited. However, there are several platforms that investors can use to purchase property both nationally and internationally using cryptocurrency.

Buy Real Estate Tokens

You can also purchase specialized real estate tokens representing ownership of a specific property. In many cases, tokenized real estate opportunities are broken into fractions, which means that one token represents a portion of the property. You can also sell or trade these tokens through numerous platforms.

Invest in Real Estate Finance Related Cryptocurrencies

If you are not ready to purchase real estate with blockchain technologies, you can invest in buying cryptocurrencies that involve real estate finance. For example, you can invest in a cryptocurrency that is working towards creating a decentralized storage system for property transfers and ownership.

Cloud-Based Commercial Lending

Cloud-based technology is already helping simplify the real estate industry. For example, cloud-based loan origination software helps streamline the loan process for both the lender and the investor. It allows most of the lending process, if not the entire process, to complete online while creating safe, more secure document management capabilities.

This technology is such a big part of the lending process, especially for commercial real estate transactions, that it has gained the government’s attention. The Biden administration recently announced its plans to expand its SMB 7(a) program, making it more assessable to a diverse set of small business owners.

While no agreement regarding accomplishing this goal is set in stone, many in the cloud-based lending sector are hoping for good news for the industry. Because fintech lending opportunities tend to attract many minorities, as well as low-income, business owners could play a role in helping the government reach its goals. In addition, with or without the government’s approval for cloud-based commercial lending to participate in the SMB 7(a) program, this type of lending will likely continue to increase as technology advances.

When investing in fintech real estate, it is essential to do your research and understand what opportunities are available. Since this is a relatively new investment market, many fraudulent platforms often offer great rewards for your investment. This factor makes it critical to only work with fintech companies and platforms featuring a solid reputation for success.

AI Investments Shaping the Future

August 6, 2022 Fintech

Jeff Bartel

Chairman and Managing Director

Artificial intelligence and venture capital have become incredibly intertwined. Whether it is the benefits of artificial intelligence in vetting investments or funds driven by AI technology, it is hard to separate the two. This article discusses how AI investments are changing the marketplace.

Venture Capital Growth in AI Investments

The venture capital sector is investing more in AI technology, a growing driver in almost every industry.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Machine learning and artificial intelligence are not interchangeable terms. AI refers to computer systems that appear intelligent or demonstrate human traits and understanding of the world. You can have AI that cannot, on its own, learn. Instead, it is programmed to respond to queries or stimuli in intelligently.

Machine learning is a type of AI. It refers to computers that are so advanced they learn, taking in copious amounts of data and coming to conclusions that would be difficult for humans to determine. In short, machine learning makes AI capable of going beyond human abilities and is driving the sector’s growth.

Artificial Intelligence Growth by Industry

Venture capitalists are pouring increasing amounts of money into AI across various sectors due in part to the promises that machine learning and the subsequent evolutions in AI can make. From 2012 through 2019, there were more than 20,000 venture capital investments involving AI. More than half of those occurred in three sectors:

  • IT infrastructure and hosting
  • Media, social media, and marketing
  • Business processes and support services

Other industry sectors with strong growth (more than 1,000 deals from 2012 through 2019) in AI investments include healthcare and biotechnology, robots and sensors, finance and insurance, and digital security.

Returns for AI Investments

The relationship between venture capital and AI is not a one-way street. While investors are banking on AI wins across all industries, firms also turn to AI to increase investment returns.

Machine learning capabilities support AI-based algorithms that outperform human “gut reaction” and knowledge when choosing worthwhile investments. A University of St. Gallen team created an algorithm to select investment opportunities. It compared the machine’s performance against 255 angel investors, and the machine outperformed the average human by 184%.

How AI and Venture Capital Work Together

By 2025 AI will be involved in 75% of investment decisions. However, that does not mean people are set to become obsolete in venture capital processes; instead, it points to a growing collaboration between human knowledge and computational power.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Finance

Artificial intelligence in finance and investment management is no longer a fringe idea. Most investors and finance organizations utilize some level of machine learning to understand the viability of funds and investments or drive workflows to get things done.

Artificial Intelligence in Business

Some ways AI and venture capital already work together — and some trends that will only increase in the future — include:

  • Evaluating investments. AI can take in and consider so much more data than a human mind can. That leads to a deeper understanding of potential investments, ensuring investors can make more informed decisions.
  • Creating more efficient workflows. Firms are already using AI to drive automated workflows, reducing the time it takes to act on a potential investment.
  • Forecasting performance of portfolios. Machine learning capabilities will continue to help firms create ever-more accurate forecasts, driving more innovative investments and increasing wealth-building capabilities.
Machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence venture capital

Artificial Intelligence Stocks and Startups

While many companies and funds are putting money into AI investments, pure AI stocks are still rare in the market. Instead, investors must look for opportunities for companies using AI to drive growth and innovation. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and IBM are obvious choices, but others exist, including Toyota, Baidu, and Nvidia.

As with any disruptive growth concept, AI investments are perhaps even more exciting at the startup level. In 2018, more than $9 billion was invested in these types of companies. Some leaders include:

  • Softbank Group, which has a dedicated tech development fund called Softbank Vision Fund
  • Intel Capital, which is part of Intel Corporation and invests in thousands of tech companies
  • Lightspeed Ventures, which provides funding for tech startups in the early stages
  • Andreessen Horowitz, which has raised more than $7 billion for tech-driven funds

Venture Capital, AI Investments, and Autonomous Vehicles

In 2021, billions of venture capital dollars were funneled into the mobility tech sector, primarily in the niche related to autonomous vehicles. Rapid growth in machine learning and AI is making driverless vehicle opportunities a reality, as evidenced by tests Walmart has done that include autonomous box trucks making deliveries to customers.

Autonomous vehicles could bring huge monetary and supply chain wins in the transportation sector alone. Driverless delivery or transport vehicles would help keep many of the supply chain problems that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic from happening in the future, for example, so it is not surprising that venture capitalists are flocking to these AI investments.

AI Investments in Media and Social Media

Media and social media play enormous roles in society. They shape world views, sway voters, and inform the policy of governments and agencies. Disruptive models put publishing power in the hands of every person, the need for accountability across media types, and the increasing use of AI to manage publishing, marketing, and content creation. As a result, venture capitalists are looking for up-and-comers with the technology to make a splash in the niche.

Emerging Technologies: Quantum Computing Financial Systems

February 25, 2022 Fintech

Jeff Bartel

Chairman and Managing Director

Quantum computing is one of the emerging technologies for businesses poised to impact financial systems and other processes. As a result, quantum computing will have an impact on economic sectors.

The Quantum Financial System Is Ready to Impact Investing

Quantum computing leverages quantum mechanics to support calculations and programmatic operations that were impossible before, even with advanced supercomputers.

The idea of quantum computing dates back to the 1980s, but it is only now, four decades later, that the technology is poised to have an impact on investing and other financial niches.

How is Quantum Computing Used?

Quantum computing is used to analyze and solve real-world problems with exponentially high combinations of potential answers.

Modern supercomputers do not have the working memory and functionality to approach these problems correctly. They have to consider each answer combination in order; real-world scenarios with a dozen or more inputs can have millions of potential combinations. Even if a supercomputer could evaluate and analyze every combination, it could take months or years to arrive at an answer.

Quantum computers push through all this data faster by using multidimensional modeling and algorithms that supercomputers cannot.

Orb on keyboard representing emerging technogies and quantum computing.

When Will Quantum Computing Arrive?

In some ways, quantum computing is already here. Companies like IBM and Google have already built systems capable of this calculation level. The IBM Cloud provides access to systems that support quantum coding and analysis.

Who Has Quantum Computers and Other Emerging Technologies?

Some companies that have finished quantum computing systems in 2022 include IBM, Quantum Computing Inc., Xanadu, Microsoft (via Azure Quantum), and D-Wave Systems.

Potential Benefits of Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is one of the emerging technologies that have the power to bring significant change, especially in areas such as finance and investing. Some potential benefits include:

  • Ability to dig deeper into financial analytics faster and with more accuracy
  • Support for faster decision-making, whether that involves trades or business pivots
  • Better financial modeling, leading to cost savings

Consider the case of trading optimization. Trading and valuation today rely on ever-increasing data models, often considering factors such as funding, credit, debit, margin, and capital. Additionally, risk-averse investors balance conservative action with a desire to back businesses or buy into funds that align with personal or societal beliefs, bringing ESG factors into the mix.

Quantum computing has the power to hold all these disparate data points, allowing for rapid, complex analysis and data-backed decision-making. As a result, these solutions support investment managers in creating more value for clients and improving portfolios.

Retail generates enormous data, and many retailers are often limited to structured data that analytical systems can handle. Quantum computing opens the door to using all data, even raw data, to create more informed, higher-performing sales funnels and marketing campaigns. This level of access to information can also inform research and development for faster time-to-market on new products.

A benefit of quantum computing in logistics is creating robust simulations that analyze all possible delivery factors and routes. Such solutions could consider more data than any system or person before, evaluating all options and making real-time decisions about shipping or delivery. Those changes could lead to a level of automation, accuracy, and efficiency in shipping that has not been seen before.

Potential Risks of Quantum Computing

Quantum computing technology is not without risks. These computers present a current difficulty for some of the problems the enhanced calculation capability could help solve.

For example, the computers themselves can be highly unstable and require extreme storage environments. Those come with a heavy carbon footprint.

Quantum computing may also lead to increasingly augmented machine learning and AI. But unfortunately, while that opens doors to new technologies and innovations, it does the same for cybercriminals and hackers.

Emerging Technologies Related to Quantum Computing

The growth of quantum computing is leading to other emerging technologies. These stem from, support, or interact with quantum computing in ways that can lead to innovation and disruption in financial sectors and other industries.

  • Quantum time crystals. They can achieve a pattern of motion, theoretically in perpetuity, without drawing on an energy source. Google claimed it had achieved time crystals via quantum computing. The technology is fledgling, but the impacts of movement without a fuel source are enormous.
  • Quantum Artificial Intelligence (AI). Combining quantum computing with machine learning algorithms drives faster programmatic learning and adaptations, supporting AI environments, systems, and functions that are not possible with other computers.
  • A move beyond silicon. According to an analysis from Gartner, quantum computing will lead to developments beyond silicon and microchips. The very structure of computer hardware is evolving.

Who Will Benefit From Quantum Computing?

The benefits of quantum computing will be seen across almost all industries. For example, banking, financial markets, and insurance products are all likely to evolve within the financial sector.

Use Cases for Emerging Technologies: Quantum Computing

But what does quantum finance look like in the current and near future? Here are several sample use cases:

  • Financial targeting and prediction. More data supports better forecasting, but only if businesses can put that data to use. Even supercomputers are limited as to how much raw or structured data they can deal with at a time, so quantum computing creates a path for making better use of Big Data in financial models.
  • Trading optimization. The already fast world of trades can move at an even quicker pace with quantum computing. Investors can get information early, make data-backed decisions or even potentially automate them, and shave off seconds or even minutes in trade times that can reflect better profits.
  • Risk profiling. Quantum financial analytics may make it easier for investors to identify and qualify risks, leading to a significant impact for processes involved in choosing investments as well as M&A activity.

Computational Resources and Quantum Computing

At this point in the evolution of quantum computing, resources are one of the major bottlenecks. A scarcity of computational resources capable of this level of functionality means limited implementation options, at least in the near future. Unfortunately, it also means companies that have cracked the code on quantum computing can charge a premium for those technologies.

Meanwhile, real-world problems tend to be high-dimensional. As knowledge about the capability of quantum computers in solving such issues becomes more widespread, so will the demand for these technologies. Therefore, it may be a while before supply and demand align.

How Can Businesses Prepare for Quantum Computing and Other Emerging Technologies?

Meanwhile, businesses in the financial sector should start preparing for a world where quantum computing is more of a norm. Here are some tips for doing so:

  • Build partnerships or create an internal team ready to implement new technologies. Even if your horizon does not include quantum computing, technologies evolve quickly. To remain competitive, financial firms need to be early adopters, so be ready with a team or partners that can make it so.
  • Scout for investment and joint ventures. Look for ways to grow portfolios for your business and your customers by understanding the growth of quantum computing and what it may mean for investment opportunities.
  • Invest in cloud computing. You do not have to make the leap to quantum computing to realize physical servers and on-premises solutions will not hold up to today’s technology needs. By moving to the cloud now, businesses can position themselves to be more ready for the next wave in finance tech.