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By Gregory Bilecki TWIDW 4/12/22: Fed News & Market Impacts, and whoa - Walmart, McDonald’s,...

So just what is a "Tonga Year?" Well it's the start of a year that just seems to have caught everyone by surprise and disrupted (or, let's be real, blew up) some huge hopes and dreams.

The pipeline for fintech IPOs and SPAC deals continues to fill in Q4. Legacy tech companies are increasingly looking to blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Cannabis bankers are helping the industry to become legitimate in the eyes of financial institutions.

Fintech companies are increasingly targeting trading, one startup is shortening its workweek, and a bitcoin ETF could finally be on the horizon. In addition, the IPO pipeline is full but is facing regulatory delays though investor demand appears to be robust. 

The buy now pay later niche is becoming a phenomenon after attracting e-commerce giant Amazon, with ripple effects being felt all the way to Japan. The M&A pipeline is growing stronger as the final quarter of the year approaches, and the blockchain is getting greater validation. Let’s dive in. 

Financial technology continues to attract legacy finance players. Fintech IPO roadshows have gone digital, while big banks are also riding the digital wave. The IMF wants to know if CBDCs are the solution for the unbanked population, and Elon Musk is back on the good side of bitcoin investors.

Fintechs continue to grab the spotlight on a global stage as venture capital chases startups and the pipeline continues to grow for more mature companies to list in the public markets, mostly through SPACs. The pace of deals does not appear to be slowing down as fintech billionaires are minted overseas while Asia and Latin America seek to raise their profile for tech innovation. The Robinhood of Pakistan’s investment app is one of two fintech related rounds just announced. And millennials are fueling a transformation in banks to a more digitized business model. Let’s dive in.

Former PayPal CEO and serial fintech entrepreneur Bill Harris has moved to Miami to launch Nirvana Technology (Nirvana), a global digital bank. Based in Wynwood, the fresh company is now hiring high-tech talent across engineering, product, marketing, and operations.

Over the last few decades, the wealth management industry has gravitated towards separately managed accounts or SMAs. High-net-worth clients, in particular, embraced these instruments because they provided a path to invest more like institutions.

Don't make any new "bets" until this quarter is over. With a week to go, it is uncertain whether market participants will seek to "mark" portfolios up, or perhaps do some selling to lock in quarterly gains.