The Lead

s I write this on October 4th, and we're all watching the complete blackout of all Facebook-related sites, many people may not realize that the firm is a huge player in the payments space, and that is currently offline as well.

Better late than never. Looks like that's the thinking over at JPMorgan. For the very first time in its 222 year history, the banking giant has decided to open its first international expansion. So with a big jump "across the pond," JPM is set to launch its new digital bank...... Chase..... in the UK next week. The official announcement is expected next Tuesday (28th).

Did you know (I sure didn't) that there are 195 countries in the world? Did you know (I did) that only one so far has made Bitcoin legal tender? That country is El Salvador down in Central America. And sure, as dominoes fall there will be many more following El Salvador's lead.

Global central banks will continue to acquire and hold gold in their treasuries, but why? If you are not going to back fiat currencies with gold, all you have is a pile of shiny rocks sitting in a vault. I'm pretty positive that, even as a store of value, it would at least be expected to provide an increasing rate of return.

Thinking adjustment. A recent poll consisting primarily of banking executives discovered that most feel that bitcoin and digital assets could replace fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar within the next 5 to 10 years. Hard to believe since most financial professionals were bitcoin skeptics only a few years ago. But hey, guess you can teach old banker types new tricks.

Bitcoin ETF just rushed over to door number two. Yells of "let me in" are getting very loud. So what's behind door number two? Bitcoin futures. Recently the SEC dropped hints they MAY be receptive to ETFs that will trade in bitcoin futures rather than the cryptocurrency itself. Thus the stampede and excitement got all the management firm's juices flowing.

Bye bye Summer. The end is near. The last two weeks of August are famous for being extremely dull in financial markets and so it is again. So, with a dearth of news (and general malaise of interest) in the financial and fintech markets, here are some follow ups and updates from some "hot" pieces that made headlines the past couple of months.

Dear GOLD. It's over. After thousands of years of a beautiful relationship, it's time we (the world's populace) move on. Nothing personal, it's just that your shiny golden luster has lost its glow. Sad but true.

xactly one year ago (last August) the CEO of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, announced that rather than holding excess cash reserves in low (or money losing) treasuries, MicroStrategy would hold Bitcoin. Saylor came to the conclusion that Bitcoin is a true store of value and a much better use of idle cash.

Amazon, the fourth largest company in the world, is hiring a digital currency and blockchain expert. And why? Amazon is looking to accept Bitcoin payments most likely by the end of the year. Now this is HUGE news (unless you are short Bitcoin) and the ramifications are enormous.