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Kyle Davies Considers Acquiring FTX and Restarting the Platform

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

In a surprising move, Kyle Davies, the co-founder of Three Arrows Capital, has expressed interest in acquiring FTX, the leading cryptocurrency derivatives exchange. Davies revealed his intentions in a tweet on Tuesday, saying that he believes FTX has a lot of potential and that he would like to restart the platform with a new vision and strategy.

FTX was founded in 2019 by Sam Bankman-Fried, a former Wall Street trader and crypto billionaire. The exchange quickly rose to prominence by offering innovative products such as leveraged tokens, prediction markets, and tokenized stocks. FTX also gained a reputation for its social responsibility, donating millions of dollars to various causes and becoming carbon neutral.

Three Arrows Capital is a leading hedge fund that specializes in crypto assets and decentralized finance. Founded in 2012 by Su Zhu and Kyle Davies, the fund has been at the forefront of innovation and adoption in the blockchain space. Three Arrows Capital has invested in some of the most prominent projects and platforms in the industry, such as Compound, Aave, Uniswap, MakerDAO, Chainlink, and many more. The fund also holds a significant stake in Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, the largest publicly traded bitcoin investment vehicle.

The vision of Three Arrows Capital is to create a more open, fair, and efficient financial system that empowers individuals and communities around the world. The fund believes that crypto assets and decentralized finance are the key drivers of this transformation, as they enable new forms of value creation, exchange, and governance. By investing in and supporting the best teams and technologies in the space, Three Arrows Capital aims to accelerate the adoption and development of this new paradigm.

However, FTX has faced some challenges and controversies in recent months. The exchange was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly violating securities laws by offering unregistered securities in the form of tokenized stocks. FTX also faced backlash from some users and regulators for its high leverage and risk exposure. Additionally, some analysts have questioned the sustainability and profitability of FTX’s business model, especially in light of the increasing competition and regulation in the crypto space.

Davies did not disclose the details of his proposed acquisition, such as the price, timeline, or terms. He also did not specify what changes he would make to FTX if he were to take over. However, he hinted that he would focus on improving the user experience, expanding the product offerings, and enhancing the security and compliance of the platform.

Davies is not a stranger to the crypto industry. He co-founded Three Arrows Capital in 2012 with Su Zhu, another former Wall Street trader. Three Arrows Capital is one of the largest and most influential crypto hedge funds in the world, with over $10 billion in assets under management.

Davies’ announcement has sparked mixed reactions from the crypto community. Some users welcomed his interest in FTX, saying that he could bring more innovation and growth to the exchange. Others expressed skepticism and concern, saying that Davies could ruin FTX’s reputation and culture. Some users also wondered how Bankman-Fried would respond to Davies’ offer and whether he would be willing to sell his stake in FTX.

FTX has been one of the most successful and fastest-growing crypto platforms, having raised $900 million in a funding round that valued it at $18 billion. The exchange offers a variety of products and services, including futures, options, leveraged tokens, and NFTs. Bankman-Fried explained that FTX has multiple entities around the world, each serving different regions and markets, and that having a Cayman parent company was no longer necessary or beneficial.

He said that the liquidation will not affect the operations or services of FTX, and that all customer funds and assets are safe and secure. He said that FTX will continue to operate under its other entities, such as FTX.US, FTX.AU, and FTX Trading Ltd. He also said that FTX is working closely with regulators in various jurisdictions to comply with local laws and regulations, and that FTX is committed to being a responsible and transparent player in the crypto space.

At the time of writing, neither FTX nor Bankman-Fried have commented on Davies’ tweet. It remains to be seen whether Davies’ proposal will materialize into a formal deal and whether it will benefit or harm FTX and its users.

Binance gets EL Salvador’s green light, Becomes first fully Licensed Crypto Exchange

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has received approval from El Salvador’s government to operate as a licensed crypto exchange in the country, receiving both a Bitcoin Service Provider (BSP) license from the Central Reserve Bank and the first non-provisional Digital Assets Services Provider (DASP) license from the National Commission of Digital Assets, this makes Binance the first crypto exchange to obtain such a license in El Salvador, which became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

The license, granted by the Superintendency of Financial System (SSF), allows Binance to offer crypto trading, custody, and payment services to Salvadoran customers, as well as to participate in the development of the country’s digital economy. Binance will also comply with the local regulations and anti-money laundering (AML) standards, as well as support the government’s efforts to educate the public about crypto and blockchain technology.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) expressed his gratitude to the Salvadoran authorities for their trust and support and said that Binance is committed to providing safe and reliable crypto services to the people of El Salvador. He also praised President Nayib Bukele for his visionary leadership and courage to embrace innovation and financial inclusion.

“We are honored and excited to be the first licensed crypto exchange in El Salvador, a country that has made history by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. We share President Bukele’s vision of empowering Salvadorans with more economic opportunities and freedom through crypto, and we look forward to working closely with his administration and the SSF to make this a reality,” CZ said.

President Bukele also welcomed Binance’s arrival in El Salvador and said that he hopes that more crypto companies will follow suit and contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity. El Salvador became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 and subsequently approved a law regulating the issuance of other digital assets by both the state and private entities.

“Binance is a global leader in the crypto industry, and we are delighted that they have chosen El Salvador as their new home. We believe that crypto is the future of money, and that it can help us achieve our goals of financial inclusion, social development, and economic innovation. We invite all crypto enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to join us in building this new reality,” Bukele said.

Min Lin, Binance Head of Latin America, expressed the company’s commitment to working with regulators to support global crypto and blockchain industry standards. Daniel Acosta, Binance General Manager for Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean, highlighted the licenses’ potential to expand products and services tailored to El Salvador’s customers, foster financial inclusion and ensure customer protection.

Binance’s entry into El Salvador is expected to boost the adoption and usage of crypto in the country, especially among the unbanked and underbanked population, who can now access a range of financial services through Binance’s platform. Binance will also leverage its global network and resources to support local entrepreneurs, startups, and social projects that are using crypto and blockchain to create positive impact in El Salvador.

Binance’s license in El Salvador is part of its global expansion strategy, which aims to establish a strong presence in key markets and regions around the world. Binance has recently obtained licenses or approvals from regulators in Singapore, Germany, UK, Japan, and South Africa, among others, demonstrating its commitment to compliance and regulatory cooperation.

Nigerian Startups Opay And Kuda, Make CNBC Top 200 Global Fintech Companies

By
Ojukwu Emmanuel
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0

Two Nigerian fintech startups, Opay and Kuda, made a debut on CNBC’s list of top 200 global fintech companies. Together, CNBC and independent market research firm, Statista, partnered to compile a comprehensive list of companies building innovative, tech-enabled, and finance-related products and services.

Both companies collaborated to list out the top fintech companies, using a clearly defined methodology identifying how various companies performed against a set of key performance indicators, including the total number of users, volumes, and revenues.

To help with the research, CNBC issued a public call for nominations in March, giving eligible fintech the chance to share more information on their business model, revenue, transaction volumes, and other key data.

Statista developed a scoring model for the companies by calculating the aggregated scores on how firms performed versus their respective KPIs revenues and revenue per employee.  For example, along with a separate score on how the companies performed against specific KPIs within their respective market segments.

Between five and 40 companies were selected for each market FI segment. To decide which ones should make the cut, Statista broke down the scoring model into a 40% weighting for general KPIs, and 60% for segment-specific KPIs.

The companies with the highest score within their market segment made the list, and the number of companies awarded per market segment varied depending on the size of the respective market segment.

The selected companies were classified into nine categories which include: Neobanking, Digital Payments, Digital Assets, Digital financial planning, Digital Wealth Management, Alternate Financing, Alternate Lending, Digital banking solutions, and digital business solutions.

Nigerian Fintech company that offers mobile banking services, Kuda debuted in the Neobanking category, alongside several other Fintech companies.

Founded in 2019, Kuda allows users to manage their finances, make payments, save money, and perform various banking activities through a mobile app. The company’s goal is to provide easy and accessible banking services to individuals who might not have access to traditional banking or prefer digital solutions.

This startup cemented its status as the seventh most valuable bank within Nigeria’s financial landscape. Distinguishing itself as a licensed microfinance bank, Kuda empowers its user base by facilitating seamless, fee-free savings.

The all-in-one business app seamlessly amalgamates savings, payment, and credit services, catering to both retail and business clientele.

Kuda services include features such as;

  1. Mobile Banking: Users can open an account, receive a debit card, and perform transactions directly from the Kuda mobile app.
  2. Budgeting and Spending Insight: The app provides tools to track spending, set budgets, and manage personal finances.
  3. Instant Notifications: Users receive real-time notifications for their transactions, helping them stay aware of their financial activities.
  4. No Fees: Kuda’s model includes no monthly fees or charges for basic banking services.
  5. Saving: The app supports savings goals, allowing users to set aside funds for specific purposes.
  6. Security: Kuda uses security features such as biometric authentication and encryption to protect user data and transactions.

In July 2023, the Fintech company celebrated a significant milestone after surpassing six million customers within Nigeria, just 4 years after its launch.

With its innovative approach and unwavering commitment to customer-centric solutions, this Nigerian fintech company continues to redefine the contours of the fintech landscape.

Also, Nigerian one-stop mobile-based platform for payments, transfers, loans, savings, and other essential services, Opay, debuted on CNBC’s digital payments category.

Founded in 2018, Opay aims to provide users with a convenient and integrated platform for various financial activities and services. The startup currently boasts over 35+ million registered app users and 500,000 agents in Nigeria.

Aiming to bridge the financial gap in Nigeria, Opay has strategically positioned itself as a pivotal conduit for fostering financial inclusion in the country and across the continent.

Some of the services and features offered by OPay include:

  1. Mobile Money Transfer: Users can send and receive money to and from others within Nigeria using the app.
  2. Bill Payment: OPay allows users to pay bills such as utilities, airtime, cable TV subscriptions, and more directly through the app.
  3. Ride-Hailing and Delivery: The app offers ride-hailing and delivery services through its partnership with companies like Ride and Express, allowing users to request rides and order deliveries.
  4. E-commerce: OPay also provides a platform for users to stop for products online, making it a sort of digital marketplace.
  5. Investment Opportunities: Some versions of the app include features that allow users to invest in certain financial products.
  6. Loan Services: OPay offers access to microloans and personal loans through its app, which can be beneficial for users looking for short-term financial assistance.

With a passionate team, a sophisticated mobile platform, and a fast-growing community of users, Opay is making financial services more efficient for millions of users, and it starts with the ability to pay and have access to the right opportunities at the right time.

On a global scale, the digital payments industry is currently estimated to be worth over $54 trillion, according to data from JP Morgan, and that is only set to grow as more of the world starts to see digital adoption.

Miscellaneous Provisions of CAMA 2020 Nigeria on Meetings and Proceedings

By
Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ogbuka
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0

 Relevant Provisions of The Companies & Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 regarding miscellaneous matters relating to meetings and proceedings.

This article focuses on miscellaneous requirements regarding company meetings and proceedings as stipulated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.

What does the act say on adjournments?

The act provides that:-

-The chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.

-When a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting and the business to be transacted shall be given as in the case of an original meeting, but if otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

-If within one hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting if convened upon the requisition of members shall be dissolved, but in any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place or to such other day and at such other time and place as the chairman, and in his absence the directors, may direct.

What are the powers and duties of the chairman of the general meeting?

The duties and powers of the chairman includes a duty to-

(a) preserve order and power to take such measures as are reasonably necessary to do so ;

(b) see that proceedings are conducted in a regular manner ;

(c) ensure that the true intention of the meeting is carried out in resolving any issue that arises before it ;

(d) ensure that all questions that arise are promptly decided ; and

(e) act in the interest of the company.

What are the provisions of the act on minutes of proceedings and their effect?

The act provides that :-

-With the exception of a company having a single member, every company shall cause minutes of all proceedings-

(a) of general meetings,

(b) at meetings of its directors, and

(c) at meetings of its managers, to be entered in books kept for that purpose

-Any such minute if purported to be signed by the chairman of the meeting at which the proceedings were held, or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting, is prima facie evidence of the proceedings.

-Where minutes have been made, in accordance with the provisions of this section, of the proceedings at any general meeting of the company, meeting of directors or managers, then, until the contrary is proved, the meeting is deemed to have been duly held and convened, and all proceedings had at the meeting to have been duly had, and all appointments of directors, managers or liquidators are deemed to be valid.

-In the case of a company that has only one member- 

(a) where that single member takes any decision that- 

(i) may be taken by the company in general meetings, and 

(ii) has effect as if agreed by the company in general meeting, he shall provide the board with details of that decision ; and 

(b) if a person fails to comply with this section he commits an offence and is liable to a penalty for each day the default continues in such amount as the Commission shall specify in its regulations, and failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of any decision taken by that single member.

What are the provisions of CAMA 2020 regarding the inspection of minute books and copies?

The act provides that :- 

-The books containing the minutes of proceedings of any general meeting of a company held on or after the commencement of this Act, shall be kept at the registered office of the company, and shall during business hours (subject to such reasonable restrictions as the company may by its articles or in general meeting impose, but so that at least six hours in each day be allowed for inspection) be open to inspection by members without charge.

-Any member is entitled to be furnished within seven days after receipt of his request on behalf of the company, with a copy of any such minutes certified by the secretary at a charge not exceeding N100 for every page.

-If any inspection required under this section is refused or if any copy required under this section is not sent within required time, the company and every officer of the company are liable in respect of each default to a penalty in such amount as the Commission shall specify in its regulations.

-In the case of any such refusal or default, the Court may by order compel an immediate inspection of the books in respect of all proceedings of general meetings, or direct that the copies required be sent to the person requiring them.

US SEC Chairman Warns AI Technology could Contribute to Future Financial Crises

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 03: Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler listens during a meeting with the Treasury Department's Financial Stability Oversight Council at the U.S. Treasury Department on October 03, 2022 in Washington, DC. The council held the meeting to discuss a range of topics including climate-related financial risk and the recent Treasury report on the adoption of cloud services in the financial sector. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

In a recent speech at the Brookings Institution, the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, warned that artificial intelligence (AI) technology could pose significant risks to the stability and fairness of the financial system. He argued that AI could amplify existing market inefficiencies, create new sources of systemic risk and undermine investor protection and market integrity.

Gensler highlighted three main areas of concern regarding AI in finance: data quality and governance, algorithmic bias and discrimination, and accountability and transparency. He said that data is the fuel of AI, but also its Achilles’ heel. He stressed the need for robust data quality standards and governance mechanisms to ensure that AI models are fed with accurate, reliable, and representative data. He also cautioned that AI could inherit or exacerbate human biases and prejudices, leading to unfair or discriminatory outcomes for investors and consumers. He called for rigorous testing and monitoring of AI systems to detect and mitigate potential harms.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can enhance human capabilities and improve efficiency in various domains. However, AI also poses significant risks and challenges, especially in the financial sector. One of the main ways that AI could cause financial instability is by creating feedback loops and amplifying market volatility.

For example, AI algorithms that are used for trading, risk management, or credit scoring could react to market signals or data inputs in a similar or correlated way, leading to herd behavior, contagion, or systemic risk. Moreover, AI systems could also generate false or misleading signals, such as fake news, deepfakes, or cyberattacks, that could manipulate market participants or disrupt financial infrastructure.

Another potential source of financial instability from AI is the lack of transparency and accountability of AI systems. AI models are often complex, opaque, and dynamic, making it difficult to understand how they work, why they make certain decisions, and who is responsible for their outcomes. This could create information asymmetry, moral hazard, or adverse selection problems in the financial market, as well as undermine trust and confidence in financial institutions and regulators. Furthermore, AI systems could also be subject to biases, errors, or failures that could result in unfair or inaccurate outcomes for consumers, investors, or borrowers.

To address these risks and challenges, it is essential for the SEC to develop and implement appropriate governance frameworks and ethical principles for AI in the financial sector. These could include:

Establishing clear and consistent standards and regulations for AI development, deployment, and oversight across jurisdictions and sectors.

Enhancing the transparency and explainability of AI systems and their decisions, as well as the accountability and liability of their developers, users, and supervisors.

Ensuring the robustness and reliability of AI systems and their data sources, as well as the resilience and security of financial infrastructure against AI-related threats.

Promoting the fairness and inclusiveness of AI systems and their outcomes, as well as the protection of privacy and human rights of individuals and groups affected by AI.

AI technology has the potential to bring great benefits to the financial sector and society at large. However, it also entails significant risks and challenges that need to be carefully managed and monitored. By adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to AI governance and ethics, we can harness the power of AI while minimizing its pitfalls.

Moreover, Gensler emphasized the challenge of ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of AI. He noted that AI systems are often complex, opaque, and dynamic, making it difficult to understand how they work and why they make certain decisions. He warned that this could create a “black box” problem, where investors and regulators are unable to assess the risks and performance of AI-driven products and services. He urged for more disclosure and explainability of AI models, as well as clear allocation of responsibilities and liabilities among the various actors involved in the design, development, deployment, and oversight of AI.

Gensler concluded his speech by stating that the SEC is committed to fostering innovation in the financial sector, but also to protecting investors and markets from potential harms caused by AI. He said that the SEC is actively engaging with industry stakeholders, academic experts, and other regulators to develop a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework for AI in finance. He also encouraged public input and feedback on this important issue.

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