Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Foreign Policy and WSJ on Twitter competition and owner securities fraud accusations

Colin Henderson

FP has a longer piece on new competitors chasing to fill the space when they assume Twitter fails. It is behind a paywall but here follows some snippets, followed by a co-incidental piece at WSJ concerning #elonmusk preparations for his jury trial for Securities and Exchange Commission charges relating to Twitter stock manipulation, on Twitter.; thats a double whammy of stock manipulation. https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/05/twitter-collapse-social-media-musk-koo-mastodon/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-seeks-to-move-trial-over-tesla-tweets-saying-san-francisco-jurors-are-biased-11673130952?mod=followtesla Indian Startup Koo sounds like a duplicated effort to replace Twitter with much of the built in in efficiencies which will hinder scale much as experienced by Twitter and Facebook: FP reports Twitter is filled with … Continue reading Foreign Policy and WSJ on Twitter competition and owner securities fraud accusations

Uncategorized

Creating a blueprint for Open Banking – Ozone API

Colin Henderson

I came across a particularly good podcast on Open Banking Expo. Open Banking Expo’s Ellie Duncan is joined by Chris Michael, CEO and co-founder of Ozone API, and Huw Davies, chief commercial officer and co-founder of Ozone API, to explain how their industry experience led them to establish the company, along with CTO Freddi Gyara Ozone API have recently rebranded and the discussion provided context. The discussion was especially relevant for me and provided high level coverage of the #openbanking ecosystem. At the moment. To summarise the international state: Relevance to Bankwatch I like what I heard today ad will … Continue reading Creating a blueprint for Open Banking – Ozone API

Uncategorized

Thoughts on future of Social Media

Colin Henderson

FT Front page: Twitter rival Mastodon rejects funding to protect non-profit status Twitter rival Mastodon has rejected more than five investment offers from Silicon Valley venture capital firms in recent months, as its founder pledged to protect the fast-growing social media platform’s non-profit status. With that headline the FT managed to simultaneously raise what could be seen as a small decision point in VC Land but also raises discussion on social networking to the fore. There is also the small matter of Musk but I am going to ignore that and stay on the business prospects and implications here. Why is … Continue reading Thoughts on future of Social Media

Uncategorized

Open Banking – is customer benefit considered?

Colin Henderson

Openbanking Part 2: Second of what I hope is a series of deeper dives on Open Banking. This quote from Macroglobal does a good job at summing up the general view of consumer benefit. It is largely opinion (imho). Banks who do not embrace open banking, in our opinion, will not only limit their ability to connect with clients in meaningful ways but will also limit their opportunity to remain at the forefront of innovation. Instead of being caught off guard by UK legislation or losing a competitive position in an emerging market, banks should begin planning their strategy and … Continue reading Open Banking – is customer benefit considered?

Uncategorized

Mastodon account

Colin Henderson

My Bankwatch blog cross posts to Twitter. I did that because Twitter was always an open handy platform, commonly used, albeit becoming more annoying. Following Musk’s erratic behaviour including banning some journalists this really throws Twitter credibility and future viability into question. I wanted an alternative and have opened an account with Mastodon. Mastodon @chender@sself.co Continue reading Mastodon account

Uncategorized

Open Banking – Fintechs should be concerned with its assumed inevitability

Colin Henderson

#openbanking Starting with my opinion on Open Banking, it has centred over last 5 years on Open Data and API’s. Mention those to the average banking consumer and eyes will glaze over. Free my Data – what does this mean, and how does it square with data protection. I submit people are much more concerned with misuse of their data and the resulting phone scams. I can in my armchair survey of one predict that if I respond to any email from DHL or UPS I will get spam calls, texts and emails. Much more work is needed to build … Continue reading Open Banking – Fintechs should be concerned with its assumed inevitability

Uncategorized

FTX – more on the bankruptcy

Colin Henderson

This introduction to Version 0 report on FTX Bankruptcy is described by Bloomberg as a “doozie”. Here is the new FTX CEO John Ray report introduction. 5. Never in my career have I seen such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information as occurred here. From compromised systems integrity and faulty regulatory oversight abroad, to the concentration of control in the hands of a very small group of inexperienced, unsophisticated and potentially compromised individuals, this situation is unprecedented. Report: This graphic from Bloomberg highlights both the complexity and the centralised control under … Continue reading FTX – more on the bankruptcy

Uncategorized

Crypto risks come home

Colin Henderson

I first wrote about Bitcoin in 2013: Bitcoin is an asset class, not a currency Since then I did not have much to contribute while the crypto keeners pushed crypto. I am not sure when Bitcoin and Blockchain converged and became crypto but this was dangerous. I watched those dumb ads wherein crypto owners proposed it as the future of money. Typically they would talk about the problems with fiat currency (money) being solved by Crypto. I summarised in this post earlier in 2022. It is time to start holding Blockchain proponents to account The false promise generally lies with … Continue reading Crypto risks come home

Uncategorized

The Queen died peacefully this afternoon; Long live the King

Colin Henderson

After almost 8 decades of selfless work and service The Queen died September 8th, 2022. Through war and economic turmoil, good times and bad, the consistency and constant positive message and presence, beyond transitory governments which come and go, sets us apart. Queen Elizabeth II personified stoicism and hundreds of years of constancy, yet recognition of change the Royal Family brings. Onward to King Charles III to carry on that tradition. Continue reading The Queen died peacefully this afternoon; Long live the King