Credit Card Debt in the U.S.

Credit cards have become indispensable tools for millions of consumers. In this episode of Truth in Data, we look at the level of credit card debt in the U.S.

The worst year for banks since 2008 - FT Film

The banking sector survived two big shocks in 2023: the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the disaster-driven sale of Credit Suisse. Swift action prevented a global economic crisis but threats remain 

Implementing NFC payment systems in developing countries. Part 5

Check out my latest post "Implementing NFC payment systems in developing countries. Part 5 - Why NFC payment systems are beneficial for developing countries"

Free access HERE

 

Unraveling the Mystery: Bitcoin's Meteoric Rise and the Cryptocurrency Problem

Read my new article on Substack on the complex landscape of bitcoin's surge and the unresolved mysteries of cryptocurrency - is it an asset, gambling or a scam?

Free access HERE

Stanley’s Musings - Fintech, Banking & Payments News #2

Thoughts on fintech, banking, payments, risk management, AI, going green, economics, business and much more…

The latest edition is now available - HERE 

SET Training is a member of the Citadel Advantage Group

SET Training (Stanley Epstein Training) is member of the Citadel Advantage Group. 

Check this space for my regular weekly news posts on "Stanley's Musings" - click HERE for instant access. 

Current news on Banking, Fintech, Blockchain, Crypto, Financial Services and Technology issues as well as Training Courses may now be found on Stanley Epstein Training - Banking and Fintech News

Death of the NFT

There is some bad news for NFT fans. The digital collectibles are pretty much worthless now.

Using data from NFT Scan, the crypto platform dappGambl found that 95% of the 73,257 non-fungible token collections (e.g., Bored Ape Yacht Club) it analyzed are worth 0 ether. In other words, if NFTs were physical objects, it’d be time to put them on the same garage shelf where your Beanie Babies went to die. The report estimates that 23 million people are now the owners of worthless digital files. The crash is mainly for one reason: There just isn’t enough demand to keep up with supply.

(Culled from the MORNING BREW)

What will it take to control AI?

The Economist brought together Yuval Noah Harari and Mustafa Suleyman to grapple with the biggest technological revolution of our times. They debate the impact of AI on our immediate futures, how the technology can be controlled and whether it could ever have agency.

Crypto: The World’s Greatest Scam

Bitcoin to Blockchains, to NFTs, to Web 3.0... it's time to find out if it's really all the hype or just part of one of the greatest scams in human history.

EU Just Changed Smartphones Forever

A new EU law will require all mobile devices to have user-replaceable batteries by 2027. In this episode we take a look at the law, it's consequences and right to repair.

‘Treated Risk Management Like A Total Afterthought’: Tina Smith Raises Concern About SVB Failure

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing prior to the Congressional recess, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) questioned witnesses about the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank & Signature Bank.

Tokenization - whats new this time?

Tokenization adoption was poised for success six years ago, but progress was limited. Renewed interest might feel like déjà vu, but stronger business fundamentals and structural changes suggest the path could be different this time.

Check this out HERE.

Worldcoin - An Old Crypto Trick in New Clothing?

Worldcoin has generated a lot of attention lately, raised a lot of capital, and a lot of eyebrows across various countries and communities.

According to CoinFund’s investment thesis, Worldcoin could onboard more than 1 billion new users to crypto, including a new segment of users from developing countries with poor access to finance. All of this sounds good on paper.

On the other hand, there have been some serious concerns regarding Worldcoin’s exorbitant collection of biometric data, questions regarding their business plan, and what the project is actually good for. 

Check out a take on the many concerns HERE.

Core principles for effective banking supervision - Consultation

The Core Principles are the de facto minimum standards for the sound prudential regulation and supervision of banks and banking systems. They are universally applicable and accommodate a range of banking systems and a broad spectrum of banks. The Core Principles are used by supervisors to assess the effectiveness of their regulatory and supervisory frameworks. They are also used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) to evaluate the effectiveness of countries' banking supervisory systems and practices.

Originally issued by the Committee in 1997, the Core Principles were last substantively updated in 2012. The Committee commenced a review of the Core Principles in April 2022, with the objective of reflecting supervisory and regulatory developments, structural changes affecting the banking system, and lessons learnt from FSAPs since the last update.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has issued a public consultation on revisions to the Core principles for effective banking supervision ("Core Principles").

Changes are proposed to both the structure and contents of the Core Principles standard. The proposed amendments have been informed by several thematic topics reflecting regulatory and supervisory developments in: (i) financial risks; (ii) operational resilience; (iii) systemic risk and macroprudential aspects of supervision; (iv) new risks, including climate-related financial risks and the digitalisation of finance; (v) non-bank financial intermediation; and (vi) risk management practices.

The proposals were developed by a Task Force comprised of both Committee and non-Committee member jurisdictions, as well as the IMF and World Bank.

Check HERE for a comparison between the 2012 and 2023 versions of the Core principles for effective banking supervision

Comments on the revised Core Principles, can be submitted here up to 6 October 2023.

Social media - risk driver or risk mitigation tool?

It was a scene out of futuristic fiction—a decades-old bank collapsing mere hours after a social media post went viral. 

In what was supposed to be a non-event, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) announced they were selling securities to raise capital. Soon, subsequent Tweets questioning the health of SVB went viral. The posts prompted depositors to withdraw $42 billion within 10 hours, a devastating blow that led state regulators to close the bank. SVB wasn’t the only bank to experience a social media-induced run this year, with First Republic Bank following suit and collapsing two months later.

Read the full story HERE.

The future of money: three ways to go cashless

Non-cash payments are on the rise all over the world. How digital technology has changed the way consumers shop in three important markets: America, China and India.

Stocks fall as Moody's bank downgrade adds to August woes

Worries about US banks were revived after Moody's downgraded 10 small and midsize institutions, which came with a warning it could lower credit ratings for some of the nation's biggest lenders. It flagged risks in their commercial real estate portfolios, a reminder that stresses in the sector persist after the banking crisis earlier this year. 

In Europe, bank stocks tumbled after the Italian government said it will put a 40% windfall tax on lenders' profits, raising fears that other countries could do the same. 

Optimism about stocks also took a hit Tuesday when data showed a slump in Chinese imports and exports in July that was far worse than expected. Demand is weak, dimming the prospects for a rebound in the world's second-biggest economy. 

Those discouraging economic signs come as investors wait for the release of the July inflation report on Thursday, looking for a steer on whether the Federal Reserve will put its interest rate hikes on pause again. 

Meanwhile, another batch of earnings reports is rolling in and could shed more light on how corporate America is faring. Results from UPS (UPS), Eli Lilly (LLY), Restaurant Brands (QSR), and Fox Corp (FOXA) are among the highlights.

Types of Cyber Attacks - 10 Real World Cyber Attacks

A look into the haunting world of cyber warfare, presenting 10 chilling real-world cyber attacks that shook the foundations of our interconnected society. 

Witness the devastation caused by notorious cyber threats like Stuxnet, WannaCry, and NotPetya, as we dissect the sophisticated techniques employed by hackers and state-sponsored actors to breach critical infrastructure, cripple businesses, and compromise sensitive data. 

Through in-depth analysis and expert insights, we aim to shed light on the evolving cyber landscape, highlighting the importance of cybersecurity vigilance in safeguarding against these relentless digital assaults. Prepare to be awestruck and educated as we navigate through the dark realms of cyber warfare.

Who is Elon Musk and what drives him?

The richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, used Tesla and SpaceX to revolutionise cars and rockets. Now, this restless entrepreneur has his eyes on other global problems. But who is Elon Musk and what drives him?

Twitter is on the Brink of Bankruptcy

When Elon Musk walked into Twitter's HQ with a kitchen sink, the tech world knew change was coming. But what exactly does this change entail? 

Explore the story behind Musk's Twitter takeover, the introduction of 'X', and what it could mean for the social media giant's future. Are we looking at a super-app revolution or is this just another marketing gimmick?