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Malaysia’s Mobile Money, Bangladesh’s Bkash Team With Ripple on eWallet Remittances
Blockchain-based global payments provider Ripple announced it has entered into an arrangement under which Malaysian mobile wallet provider Mobile Money, and bKash, a provider of mobile financial services to more than 45 million people in Bangladesh, will conduct transactions through the RippleNet network.
- Categories
- Finance
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Analysis: How the Regulatory Framework for Crowdfunding Platforms in Southeast Asia Will Benefit SMEs and Investors
Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending has come a long way since its early days as a casual crowdfunding platform. Today, individual borrowers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can access loans without the hassle of going through banks and lengthy financial assessments.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Ensuring That Women’s Financial Access Is Not Another Casualty of COVID-19: The Value of Agent Banking
As COVID-19 continues to ravage global economies, the existing gender-poverty gap is set to widen: UN Women projects that for every 100 men aged 25-34 in extreme poverty due to the pandemic, 118 women of the same age will be living in extreme poverty this year. Peris Mburu at FSD Africa explores why agent banking is a promising solution to this growing challenge – and how its benefits can extend beyond access to finance.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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How Mexico’s Central Bank Plans to Move Payments to Digital
In Mexico, the pandemic is moving the needle toward digital payments — specifically mobile payments — to become more widely embraced by businesses and consumers alike.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Latin America
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Financial Inclusion During – and After – COVID-19: Three Takeaways From a (Very Different) European Microfinance Week 2020
The 2020 European Microfinance Week encapsulated much about the financial inclusion sector – the good, the bad and the simply confusing – as it navigated the historic challenges of the past year. Sam Mendelson at e-MFP shares three broad takeaways from the event, representing three key priorities for the inclusive finance industry as it seeks to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis – without overlooking other essential priorities.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Announcing NextBillion’s Most Influential Articles of 2020
At the end of each year, NextBillion selects 12 of our most-read articles from the previous 12 months, then invites readers to vote for the piece that impacted them the most. We've tallied up the votes, and as 2021 begins we're happy to announce our three most influential articles of 2020. We'd like to thank all the guest writers who contributed articles to NextBillion last year, to congratulate the winners and other contestants in this contest, and to thank everyone who took the time to vote. Best wishes for a safe, happy and prosperous 2021.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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Umba, a Digital Bank for Emerging Markets, Raises $2 Million Seed Funding to Expand Across Africa
Umba, a digital bank for emerging markets and aiming first at Africa, has secured a $2 million seed funding round from new investors including Lachy Groom, ex-Head of Issuing at Stripe; Ludlow Ventures; Frontline Ventures and Act Venture Capital.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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