Fintech

Law relating to Fintech in startups (Technology in Finance). Topics include regulations (licenses required), data privacy, Anti-money-laundering and other aspects where law and Fintech intersect.

Fintech today – A look at Fintech regulatory environment, and what you need to know

Reading Time: 8 minutesAmidst a worldwide pandemic that most of the global population had never experienced before, we are living through a period of significant change. We have had to adapt to a life of remote interaction, transacting with parties from the comfort of our own homes, and trusting our payments and information to the vast and limitless […]

Blockchain dispute resolution: a better alternative for the decentralised world?

Reading Time: 5 minutesWith the recent judgment by the Singapore International Commercial Court on the wrongful reversal of Bitcoin and Ethereum trades by a centralised exchange operator[1], we are beginning to see blockchain technology slowly creeping into traditional dispute resolution. That dispute, however, was only capable of being adjudicated through traditional legal means because the relevant transactions occurred […]

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Smart contracts: a boon or bane for the legal profession?

Reading Time: 8 minutesThe views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which the author has been, is now, or will be affiliated. Smart contracts: a boon or bane for the legal profession? The unprecedented growth of blockchain technology has made smart […]

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A Guide to Initial Coin Offerings (Part 3 of 3)

Reading Time: 9 minutesIn Part 2 of this series, we looked at the various regulations governing Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). To give a quick recap, on one end of the spectrum there is China, which has completely banned ICOs. On the other end, we have Gibraltar which has drafted specific legislation for ICOs. The majority of the other […]

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A Guide to Initial Coin Offerings (Part 2 of 3)

Reading Time: 6 minutesIn the first of my 3-part series on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), I touched on the characteristics, types, risks, benefits and examples of ICOs. In this second part, I will be covering the current regulation of ICOs in various jurisdictions. By and large, most financial regulatory authorities around the world have stated that initial coin […]

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Smart contracts – can code ever be law?

Reading Time: 16 minutesWe live in an age of disruption – and the legal industry is not immune. “Smart contracts” has been receiving particular attention, with its potential to bring about both efficiencies in legal work… and also new kinds of legal challenges. What are smart contracts and what can they achieve? We take a closer look at […]

cash-coins-money-Guide to ICOs
A Guide to Initial Coin Offerings (Part 1 of 3)

Reading Time: 9 minutesThis is a three part series on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). In this series, lawyer Wanhsi Yeong will cover: An introduction to Initial Coin Offerings Overview of the current regulation of Initial Coin Offerings in various jurisdictions Framework of Initial Coin Offerings In the first part of this series, WanHsi explains the characteristics, types, risks, […]

robotic hand playing Othello (The legal advice that AI and fintech startups need_Asia_Law_Network_Tech_in_Asia)
The legal advice that AI and fintech startups need

Reading Time: 6 minutesThis article is part of Asia Law Network’s partnership with Tech in Asia where we publish articles written by lawyers on their advice for startup founders. Previously, we shared with you some legal advice that startups in e-commerce, sharing economy, and virtual reality need to know. In this article, two professionals share some legal insights (based on Singapore’s legal system) […]

close up of a bitcoin (initial coin offering and digital token sales)
So you want to conduct an initial coin offering (ICO) or digital token sale?

Reading Time: 16 minutesIntroduction So you are a tech startup who want to raise funds. You figure that instead of incurring debt, issuing equity, entering into convertible loan agreements (CLA), you will conduct an initial coin offering (ICO) or digital token sale. Not least because the amounts of money which have been raised by recent ICOs are huge. […]

bitcoin against a laptop of stocks charts (Cryptocurrency)
Cryptocurrency regulation – now and the future

Reading Time: 9 minutesA burgeoning popularity of cryptocurrency Widespread usage of the Internet has resulted in the emergence of various new technologies which have altered the way society functions, affecting both human relationships and commerce. In our previous article, we had discussed financial technology – also known as fintech. Recently, there has been a lot of news regarding […]

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A Breakdown of InsurTech Regulations in Singapore

Reading Time: 14 minutes#1   InsurTech – What is it? The word ‘InsurTech’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘Insurance’ and ‘Technology’. Essentially, it is the use of technology to innovate and facilitate efficiency and cost-savings in all areas of the insurance industry. InsurTech is seeking to disrupt the insurance industry Just as we are witnessing a radical […]

Startups — How to work with lawyers at each stage of funding

Reading Time: 6 minutesStartups need to adjust how they work with lawyers as they grow, scale and expand. How can lawyers help startups meet their changing legal needs? Lawyers Ronald JJ Wong (Associate Director, Covenant Chambers LLC) and Patrick Dahm (Consultant, Samuel Seow Law Corporation) educated startups and shared crucial tips on how startups can work with lawyers […]