Roberto Grassi

Great to be joining the Belonq Blockchain Community Italy Lifestyle Meetup today!  Let’s meet and talk about your market-making strategy, token listing, or crypto investments.  Leverage our expertise and discover how WhiteBIT can make a difference in your crypto endeavors. #whitebit #whitebitinstitutional #cryptotrading #marketmaking #cryptoprojects #cryptolisting

69

3 commenti

Swan, the FinTech specialized in embedded finance, announces a new office in the Italian 🇮🇹 FinTech capital: Milan. Swan’s local presence gives Italian companies access to the burgeoning market for embedded finance, projected to be worth $7.2 trillion worldwide by 2030🤯 With Swan’s arrival in Milan, Italian companies will be able to offer local accounts to their customers under their own brand, featuring localized compliance, legal, and banking products — such as IBANs starting with IT. Alessandro Giovanelli, Head of Italy describes how embedded finance is the key for many companies to reach their full potential — especially as tech entrepreneurship is booming in the country. "The Italian tech scene is experiencing a significant phase of growth and transformation. In 2023, the combined enterprise value of Italian startups soared to $54 billion. Although still in its early stages compared to other major European economies, our ecosystem is on a growth trajectory comparable to that of France and Spain. Embedded finance is forecasted to be a major driver in this growth. It’s key to unlocking the potential of Italian companies across many sectors: Financial Management, HR, Real Estate, Travel, and more.” Swan processes 1 billion euros monthly for a diverse array of clients spanning 16 sectors. Swan’s Milan launch supports its broader European expansion following a €37 million Series B investment round in 2023, and successful launches in Barcelona and Amsterdam that same year. More info in this (Italian) article: https://lnkd.in/e8-zGNqr Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] 

164

6 commenti

Thanks, Mirela C. and The Paypers team for the opportunity to provide insights on modern crypto payments. In this interview, we discuss the innovative use of #stablecoins over fast and scalable networks (#layer2), addressing the challenges businesses face when integrating crypto #payments, and the importance of optimizing the user experience to prevent errors and educate users. You will find some data on network costs, blockchain processing scalability, data on customer preferences, and some interesting anecdotal experiences processing thousands of transactions per month on Cryptorefills. We talk about #AML measures and the unique advantages of blockchain's transparency, and I provide some practical advice for businesses looking to integrate crypto payments or aiming to reach crypto customers.

24

1 commento

Italian VC #RialtoVentures emerges with a $55 million fund and already 8 investments in deeptech Rialto Ventures, an Italy-based #VC firm, has secured over €55 million to support European founders in hard tech sectors. With eight investments already completed, Rialto is more than halfway deployed, targeting transformative B2B tech verticals. Rialto Ventures is led by General Partners Simone Brunozzi and Stefano Quintarelli, both seasoned tech entrepreneurs and investors. Brunozzi, a former Senior Tech Evangelist for AWS and VP at VMware, co-founded micro-fund Mission & Market and digital skills platform Cloud Academy. Quintarelli, the founder of I.NET, Italy's first internet service provider, has extensive experience advising the Italian government, the European Commission, and the United Nations. Alessandro Profumo, former CEO of UniCredit and Leonardo S.p.A., joins as Chairman and Partner, bringing his extensive network and experience to support Rialto's portfolio. Rialto Ventures focuses on recession-proof strategic verticals, including developer tools, robotics, non-gen AI, cybersecurity, AR/VR, Enterprise SaaS, tech-enabled healthcare, and cloud services. The fund targets European founders at the Series A stage who have the potential to deliver industrial-scale digital transformation. A significant portion of Rialto's €100M target for 'Rialto I' has already been deployed. The fund's portfolio includes companies such as AIDEM, a privacy-first demand-side platform for B2B online advertising; K-Sport World, an AI-driven performance monitoring platform for professional sports teams; Keyless, an AI biometric and cybersecurity platform; and Medicilio, a medtech enabling access to quality healthcare diagnostics outside of hospitals. Other notable investments include Platformatic, an open-source backend development platform; V-Nova Ltd., an advanced high-resolution video compression software provider; and Roboze, a high precision material science platform. Rialto Ventures aims to bridge the gap between Europe's world-class tech talent and the capital they often seek in the US. By providing early-stage funding and strategic guidance, Rialto ensures that European innovators can scale successfully while allowing their LPs to participate in exceptional growth stories. The article on Tech.eu in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

31

4 commenti

How to keep focus about #tokenization #blockchain here is the leading case of #Lugano !

7

1 commento

Even Central Banks Are Losing Faith in CBDCs: Central bank support for digital currencies appears to have fallen sharply, with only 13% of central bankers surveyed by OMFIF Digital Monetary Institute backing CBDCs as a cross-border payment solution, down from 31% in 2023. The survey found just 10% of respondents are actively developing CBDCs, compared with 21% last year. The decline comes despite major initiatives including the Bank for International Settlements' Project Agora and China's Project mBridge. The BIS recently withdrew from mBridge, creating a potential split between Western and emerging market payment systems. Nearly half of surveyed bankers favor improving existing instant payment infrastructure over CBDCs. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

2

Conio and Mesh launch Europe’s first Open Banking for Bitcoin #Conio, the leading Italian #Bitcoin wallet provider, has partnered with American #fintech #Mesh to create the first Open Banking platform for Bitcoin in Europe. This groundbreaking initiative aims to simplify the aggregation and transfer of digital assets, connecting over 430,000 Conio users with major global crypto platforms. On July 1, 2024, Conio and Mesh announced their partnership, bringing together Conio’s expertise in Bitcoin custody and Mesh’s integration with over 300 leading exchanges. This collaboration has led to the development of a unique access point for Bitcoin and digital assets, allowing users to connect their Conio wallets directly with top platforms like Binance, Bitfinex, Coinbase, and more. This marks a significant step forward in the European crypto landscape. Conio was founded in 2015 by Italian entrepreneur Christian Miccoli in San Francisco. The company is supported by Poste Italiane and Banca Generali. Christian Miccoli, along with Conio’s General Manager Orlando Merone, has been pivotal in making Bitcoin and digital currencies accessible and secure for everyone. Mesh, founded by Bam Azizi, brings robust exchange integrations to the table, enhancing the overall user experience. Conio's growth and innovation have been backed by institutional investors, including significant Italian banks. Mesh recently completed a Series A round of $22 million and received a strategic investment of $6.5 million from PayPal Ventures, further solidifying its financial foundation and industry credibility. Market and Implications This Open Banking initiative targets the growing market of expats and digital nomads in Europe, simplifying the often complex process of managing digital assets across various platforms. According to a study by Adan in collaboration with KPMG, 19% of Italians have purchased cryptocurrencies, and 11% are active or inactive crypto asset holders. The need for secure, integrated solutions is evident, with similar trends observed across Germany, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. The article on Forbes Italia in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/d4h8zqKA  - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

78

2 commenti

🧠 New week, new season! This week, we will focus on stablecoins and their importance in the crypto space. Their market cap exceeds $170 billion 💰. Let's start with an interview full of insights with Paolo A. from Tether.io led byt Louis Tellier 🎙️

6

1 commento

𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟴% 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 📢 Big News for Crypto in Italy! 🇮🇹 The Italian government is considering lowering the capital gains tax on cryptocurrencies from 42% to 28%! 📉 Backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, this proposed change is part of Italy's 2025 budget and aligns with the EU’s push for competitive crypto policies as Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulations roll out. 🌐 This could mean a more flexible and supportive environment for crypto innovation in Italy and across the EU. 💹 #CryptoTax #ItalyCrypto #Blockchain #EURegulations #CryptoNews #AI #AINews #AnalyticsInsight #AnalyticsInsightMagazine Read More👇 https://zurl.co/lUcX

1

This founder bootstrapped his business to a €2.5 BILLION valuation. Jouk Pleiter is the CEO & Founder of Backbase, a global fintech that’s modernizing software and infrastructure for banks worldwide. Founded in 2003, Backbase was bootstrapped to €200M ARR until they raised a single Private Equity round from Motive Partners in 2022, valuing the company at €2.5B. They have now grown to €300M ARR, work with 150 banks, and continue to expand across the world. In this Fintech Leaders episode, we discuss: - Bootstrapping the company - Why they eventually decided to raise external capital - Successful strategies for selling software to banks - Why company leaders should think in five-year chapters - International expansion - Amsterdam as a tech and fintech hub… lots more!

87

3 commenti

Thrilled to finally publish the tokenomics of #WPAY, the new governance token at the heart of #WirexPay as we approach mainnet launch. A lot of my time and energy (+ let's not forget the brilliant team at Wirex) has gone into this, because I personally want to make sure it fairly represents our commitment to a truly decentralized, community-driven payment network. You'll find all the details: https://lnkd.in/eGYP-HsU 📌 Wirex Pay DAO 📌 $WPAY Tokenomics 📌 $WPAY Allocation 📌 Node Operation Rewards 📌 Mainnet Launch and Timeline 📌 Wirex vs Wirex Pay 📌 $WXT vs $WPAY ⚡️ TDLR Read the key highlights from BeInCrypto: https://lnkd.in/e92rC8X9 #decentralized #web3 #payments #DAO #innovation #cryptocurrency

39

2 commenti

🇮🇹 Italy's second oldest bank, Banca Sella, to offer #Bitcoin trading to over 1.3 million customers. 📍Banca Sella's #Bitcoin offering represents a significant step for #cryptocurrency adoption in Italy. The ability to exchange Bitcoin directly through a #traditional #bank account highlights the growing interest and trust in cryptocurrencies by the banking sector. This development follows the #global trend of more and more #traditional financial institutions integrating cryptocurrency-related services into their offerings. 📍This development allows Italian customers to #buy and #sell Bitcoin directly on the platform, without the need to use external exchanges. Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum Blockchain for Europe CFE Tax Advisers Europe Dimitrios Psarrakis Emma Joyce Sandra Ro 🇺🇦 Diana Barrero Zalles Tommaso Astazi Robert Kopitsch Stefan Kromolicki Dino Cataldo Dell'Accio Dr. Max Bernt Maha Al-Saadi ItaliaFintech Camilla Cionini Visani Michael Mainelli CFTE - Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/dEbvqeAx

25

1 commento

Apple is reportedly facing potential fines of up to $1bn daily from the European Commision if found to be non-compliant with the Digital Markets Act. The mobile app economy is a $170bn market with mobile games representing more than half of that figure. If you operate an app, one of the most important trends to follow is what we call the “changing mobile landscape” where regulators are forcing incumbent mobile OS developers (Apple and Google) to open to 3rd party distribution and payments. The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is one of the most aggressive legislations to date and has already triggered new commission structures from Apple for app developers in Europe. What happens in there will likely inspire similar moves in other markets. For example, this week Japan has passed a similar law and the US Congress is considering a similar policy in the American Innovation and Online Choice Act. These changes to the foundation of such a larger market are sure to create new opportunities and threats that reverberate throughout the digital ecosystem. The dust has yet to settle, but it is clear that there will be an intense battle for control over the next few years. #mobileapp #mobilegames #DMA

8

📽️Video Recording of the keynote from TOKENFUTURE Our Founder and CEO, Emanuele Francioni has delivered an insightful presentation on the future of financial markets through tokenization. He explained how Dusk’s decentralized blockchain protocol is set to revolutionize financial market infrastructures by enabling institution-grade tokenization. Emanuele detailed the differences between digitization, tokenization, and native issuance, emphasizing the benefits of a protocol-based infrastructure. Learn more about Dusk’s innovative solutions and how we are set out to create a fully integrated financial market infrastructure. ▶️ Watch the full presentation here: https://lnkd.in/ef7nEFY8 #Blockchain #Tokenization #Finance #FutureOfFinance #DuskNetwork #DigitalAssets $DUSK

14

Primo Ventures invests $1 million in crypto startup CryptoBooks #Xbooks, a startup specializing in simplifying the fiscal management of #cryptocurrency assets, has secured a €1 million investment from #PrimoVentures through their funds Primo Digital, Primo Digital Parallel Italia, and Primo Digital Parallel Sud Italia. Founded by Federico Pacilli, Xbooks offers an innovative software solution called CryptoBooks, which automates transaction tracking, tax calculations, and the generation of fiscal reports. This ensures maximum precision and compliance with the tax regulations of various countries. The new funding will accelerate product development, expand the team, and strengthen CryptoBooks' presence in the European market, starting with Spain, Germany, and France. Primo Ventures, represented by General Partner and Board Member Franco Gonella, recognized Xbooks for its high-quality and experienced team, a tested and growing product, and a clear European development plan. As more businesses adopt digital assets and regulatory frameworks evolve, solutions like CryptoBooks are becoming essential for transparent and compliant financial management. The article on Startupbusiness.it in the first comment.

13

2 commenti

+0.26% 2024 Pre-IPO Stock Vintage Index | Pre-IPO Stock Market Update – May 13, 2024 | www.agdillon.com/index for fact sheet pdf - 2024 Vintage Index top contributors since inception: Epic Games +172%, Rippling +100%, Revolut +42%, Klarna +35%, Anduril +33% - Looking at all 20 vintages … here are the winners and losers for the week; …winners = Rippling +5.9%, Chime +4.2%, Discord +4.1% …losers = Tanium -10.9%, OpenAI -2.4%, Epic Games -2.0% - Key metric averages for all Vintage Indexes 5 years old or older… …3.31 distributed paid in capital (DPI) …2.05 residual value to paid in capital (RVPI) …5.36 total value to paid in capital (TVPI) …4.1 years to “return the fund”

1

🌐 PayPal Enhances International Payments with PYUSD Stablecoin 💳🌍 Exciting development from PayPal! The Silicon Valley-based payments giant is set to enhance its cross-border payment services by allowing U.S. customers to use its PYUSD stablecoin for international money transfers. This new service, integrated with PayPal's Xoom platform, enables users to send money to about 160 countries without transaction fees. Key Features of the New Service: 1️⃣ Stablecoin Utilization: U.S. clients can now convert PYUSD to USD seamlessly within the Xoom service to facilitate cross-border money transfers. 2️⃣ Fee-Free Transactions: In a major move to cut costs for users, PayPal is eliminating transaction fees for money transfers done through this new method. 3️⃣ Global Reach: Users can send money internationally to recipients in approximately 160 countries, leveraging the stability and efficiency of blockchain technology. Why It Matters: This initiative is part of PayPal’s broader strategy to drive mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and reflects its commitment to using innovative technologies to enhance customer experiences. PayPal is capitalizing on the growing demand for cheaper and faster international payment solutions, addressing the high costs associated with traditional money transfers cited by the World Bank. Broader Market Implications: PayPal’s move comes as competition in the stablecoin market heats up. With Ripple launching a stablecoin for enterprise use and the overall market projected to grow significantly, PayPal is positioning itself as a key player in the digital payments and cryptocurrency integration space. Future Prospects: By integrating stablecoins into its payment systems, PayPal is not only diversifying its service offerings but also preparing for future financial ecosystems where digital currencies play a central role. 💬 How do you think the integration of stablecoins like PYUSD will impact the efficiency and cost of international transactions? What could this mean for the future of digital payments? 🔄 Share your views and let’s discuss the evolving landscape of financial technology and digital currencies! 🔗 For more information on PayPal’s new service and its implications, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYAxGv_9

4