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Bunz giving users digital currency for viewing advertisements, sharing data
(BETAKIT)
Money-free trading community Bunz recently announced a new in-app advertising initiative, looking to reward users for viewing advertisements and sharing data.
Kabbage raises a record $700 million in debt for its SMB loans platform (TECHCRUNCH)
The loan platform has closed an asset-backed securitization of $700 million, which it says it the largest transaction of its kind for an online lending platform focused on small businesses.
QuadrigaCX approved by court to transition to bankruptcy proceedings (BETAKIT)
Embattled crypto exchange firm QuadrigaCX received approval from a Nova Scotia judge to transition its restructuring proceedings into a bankruptcy case.
Naspers-owned PayU acquires US payments firm Wibmo for $70M (DEALSTREETASIA)
The acquisition will bring together PayU’s strong merchant network and Wibmo’s digital transaction security solutions expertise for merchants and financial institutions in India and other high growth markets.
A $170 million funding round is the latest big-ticket FinTech deal in Africa (QZ)
In one of the largest Series C funding rounds ever raised by an Africa-focused startup, mobile lending app Branch International has raised $170 million.
Koho launches new feature helping uncover hidden bank fees (BETAKIT)
FinTech startup Koho recently launched a new feature and website to help Canadians find hidden bank fees.
A record $2.5B went to US insurance startup deals last year, and big insurers are in all the way (TECHCRUNCH)
Venture funding for insurance and insuretech companies hit all-time highs in 2018, according to Crunchbase data, with both global and U.S. totals reaching record levels.
US startup raises $14.1M for blockchain-based payments network for retailers (COINTELEGRAPH)
Flexa intends to create a payment network for retailers that would reduce costs, overhead, and fraudulence by means of blockchain-based settlements.
India’s Cashfree raises $5.5M from Korea’s Smilegate, Y Combinator and others (TECHCRUNCH)
Cashfree, an India-based startup that specializes in making corporate banking services more accessible and easier to use, has closed a $5.5 million Series A round.
FinTech takes aim at the steep cost of international money transfers (ECONOMIST)
Total cross-border transfers to and from individuals and small businesses come to $10trn a year. But a hefty chunk is taken in fees along the way.