Australian Fintech and Startups
CBA is going to add crypto trading to their app. CBA has absolutely excelled at emulating the propositions of financial technology - early wage access, BNPL, credit. But - does a leopard ever change its spots? Link
Judo bank had a successful listing on the ASX, amassing a market cap of ~$2.5bn. Link
QR code based ordering system, Mr Yum, is aiming to raise a $60m USD Series A. Delicious. Link
Big Tech
Trump did a SPAC deal to list his new media company. This is one of the best pieces of analysis you’ll ever read on why it was successful. Link
The creators of the $SQUID crypto token scammed millions of dollars off unsuspecting buyers. The irony isn’t lost on me. Link
Potpourri
Biography of Vladimir Nabakov. Link
John Maynard Keynes developed a concept called the ‘beauty contest’ to explain price fluctuations in equity markets. The meme economy is undoubtedly attributed to this phenomenon. Link
Jimmy’s Notes
I took a little break post lockdown on the weekly updates but it’s good to be back! Wishing y’all a stellar weekend.
Note: these views are mine only and not representative of my employer, or Elon Musk
Trivia
(a) What is the name of the large island off the west coast of Canada? (clue: it’s also the name of a city)
(b) What is the surname of the inventor of the spa bath?
( c) The following events all took place in years ending in 63 - name the years:
Joseph of Arimathea makes the first Christian mission to Britain
Henry Ford is born
France cedes Canada to Britain after the Seven Years War
John F. Kennedy makes his “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech
Robert Hooke begins using the term “cell” to describe the building blocks of life.
***
Trivia Answers
(a) Vancouver Island
(b) Jacuzzi
( c) AD 63, 1863, 1763, 1963, 1663