Opportunity Now: Europe’s Mission to Innovate
The 346-page e-book was co-authored David Ringrose, Acting Director at the EC Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG CONNECT). The pair were commissioned by Juncker, in June last year, to conduct the EU policy review.
De Nederlandsche Bank N.V. 2015 Annual Report
The Dutch economy has emerged from the crisis and is currently going through a cyclical catch-up phase. In 2015 gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.9%, the largest increase seen since 2007. While growth is solid, the available pool of talents and labour is not yet used to its fullest extent. By improving this, among other measures, the economy must be put on a structurally and sustainable higher growth path, in the Netherlands and throughout the whole of Europe. Although the Dutch economy is largely catching up under its own steam, its open nature means that robust and sustainable developments in Europe are indispensable for higher structural growth. This presents Dutch and European policymakers with major institutional challenges. The five sections of this chapter set out DNBâs vision in this respect
20% of Europeans would bank with Google, Facebook or Amazon
According to the 7,000 consumers who took part in the survey, digital plays an increasingly prominent part in their banking interactions, with more than a third (37%) threatening to leave their provider if they don’t offer up-to-date technology. While traditional payments still remain popular – 44% of consumers still use cash to pay daily – new digital payment methods are coming to the fore. Consumers are showing they are open to innovative services to make their lives easier, with 32% already embracing mobile device payments, while 22% have adopted wearable technologies and 20% crypto-currencies, the latter driven by Eastern Europe usage where 44% say they use the technology.
Distributed ledger technology ‘could be a game changer,’ states European Central Bank Board Member
The European Central Bank (ECB) considers Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) as “one of several possibilities” when it comes to assessing possible technical solutions, according to Yves Mersch, ECB Executive Board Member. At the Deutsche Bank Transaction Bankers' Forum 2016 on Monday, Mersch stated that not only is there “big demand for research into the DLT related questions and their policy implications,” the ECB is “certainly open to new technologies and, like many market players, have launched some experimental work.”
Distributed ledger technologies in securities post-trading
This paper analyses the main features of DLTs that could influence their adoption by financial institutions and discusses how use of these technologies could affect the European post-trade market for securities.
A brave new world? What impact will distributed ledger technology have on the financial industry?
One of the more recent technological developments that holds potential for the financial industry is distributed ledger technology, or DLT. This article looks briefly at what exactly this new technology is and what the potential implications are for Europeâs financial market infrastructure.
European Commission releases Action Plan, which includes virtual currencies
The European Commission recently released an Action Plan, calling on all member states to adopt the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. Initially proposed last May, the directive is supposed to be in effect by the end of 2016.
The Netherlands’ ‘best department store’ now accepts bitcoin
FonQ.nl, a subsidiary of the Netherlands’ second largest online retailer, recently won the best department store category in a competition sponsored by AN AMBRO, and now accepts bitcoin for all payments.
Ruling clarifies bitcoin taxation across Europe, while individual countries still struggle
Taxing the transfer of bitcoin makes the digital currency expensive to use. A new ruling from one of Europe's highest courts clarifies that bitcoin transfers should not be liable to Value Added Tax.
Europol Embraces Bitcoin and Urges Cryptocurrency Training
Bitcoin is featured heavily in Europol’s annual cybercrime report released this week, but instead of calling for increased regulation, the agency urges acceptance and education.
Bitcoins Gaining Traction In The Black Sea
Countries that border the Black Sea in Eastern Europe have unusually good access to bitcoin, better than most Americans do.
Bitcoin in Greece
While the Greeks themselves may not be the source of Bitcoin's recent push above $300, adoption in the EuroZone country does appear to be happening on a significant scale.
Euro Banking Association Explores Digital Currencies in New Report
The Euro Banking Association (EBA) published a new report about digital currencies and how they could impact Europe’s financial industry at its EBAday payments conference today in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
CoinFloor Plans First European ETF, Adds USD, Euro, and Polish Zloty and Proves Solvency
European Bitcoin competition heats up, as Coinfloor moves into mainland Europe and plans to make Europe’s first regulated and listed Bitcoin investment product.
