John and Glen riff on the role Bitcoin is suddenly playing in the presidential election, and the thorny issue of how the US government should “manage” its crypto holdings. Also- assessing the prospects beyond the bluster for productive crypto legislation, and the bizarre backstory of HODL.

Links related to this episode:

In his own words, Mark Cuban’s take on Donald Trump’s crypto conversion: https://x.com/mcuban/status/1813591281970348264
The House’s approved crypto bill (the ball’s in your court, Senate): https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/05/22/us-house-approves-crypto-fit21-bill-with-wave-of-democratic-support/
Analysis of Bitcoin’s mid-August price decline coinciding with movement of government holdings: https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/bitcoin-price-prediction-btc-down-as-u-s-govt-transfers-btc-worth-600m-1454167
Coindesk’s take on the same: https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/08/14/nearly-600m-of-silk-road-bitcoin-hits-coinbase-prime-but-not-necessarily-to-sell/
The history of HODL: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hodl.asp

Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday September 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

The Illinois Credit Union League’s Tom Kane and Ashley Sharp go deep on the turmoil surrounding Illinois’ problematic new interchange law and the steps being taken to course correct. Also- Sam Altman’s Worldcoin moves fast and scans (personal) things, and…Backpedaling as a Service (BaaS)?

Links related to this episode:

Our continuing coverage of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=a-state-of-confusion-interchange-battles-move-closer-to-home
The ICUL’s press release explaining the recently filed lawsuit: https://www.icul.com/news/icul-news/bank-and-credit-union-groups-join-forces-to-challenge-new-illinois-law-restricting-interchange-fees/
The “Guard Your Card” website: https://guardyourcard.com/illinois/
The Chicago Tribune’s editorial opposing the Illinois law: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/06/03/editorial-retailers-credit-cards-interchange-pritzker-springfield/
The Wall Street Journal’s front page article on Sam Altman’s Worldcoin/retinal scanning efforts: https://www.wsj.com/tech/sam-altman-openai-humanness-iris-scanning-4d0e1dab

Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday August 28 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (you might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen chats with Finovate’s Greg Palmer about the state of fintech investment and startup momentum in anticipation of September’s Finovate NYC event. Also- soft landings, long bike rides, $2.5 billion bets and honest borrowers.

Links related to this episode:

Finovate Fall in NYC September 9-11: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/
***Use code BIG20 for a 20% discount off registration***
TruStage’s Discovery 2024 conference replay: https://trustage.registration.goldcast.io/events/414b601e-9185-426f-9877-6405088473e5
Lamont Black’s bike ride from Maps to Redwood CU: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lamontblack_ai-outdoors-bikepacking-activity-7228525803385274369-XW5p
BNPL’s analog precursor: https://www.marketplace.org/2024/08/12/schulze-family-business-kept-old-things-running-for-82-years/
PYMNTS.com’s interview with NCR Voyix digital banking leadership after its $2.5B sale to private equity: https://www.pymnts.com/news/digital-banking/2024/ncr-voyix-2-5-billion-sale-to-veritas-verifies-digital-bankings-long-term-potential/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Cybersecurity expert Roger Grimes demystifies the changing ransomware landscape- how much money do criminals usually demand? How often are they paid, and how much? What is “dwell time,” how do ransomware and wiperware differ, and what constitutes offline backup? Also- the first HODL President?

Links related to this episode:

Our full CU Town Hall session with Roger Grimes: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-120
Roger’s Ransomware Protection Playbook: https://www.amazon.com/Ransomware-Protection-Playbook-Roger-Grimes/dp/1119849128
KnowBe4: https://www.knowbe4.com/
CU Today’s continuing coverage of the Patelco ransomware incident: https://www.cutoday.info/Fresh-Today/Following-Ransomware-Attack-Patelco-Has-Restored-Many-Services-But-Others-Remain-Unavailable
Forbes’ onsite coverage of Bitcoin 2024: https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2024/07/31/bitcoin-2024-when-rage-became-the-machine/
Reuters’ comments on Trump’s crypto conversion: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/trump-cites-china-competition-vowing-create-bitcoin-stockpile-2024-07-27/
Our October interview with Doug Brown, President of Digital Banking for NCR Voyix: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=a-digital-first-twin-takes-flight

Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday August 7 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. This session will focus on whether the notion of a Primary Financial Institution is myth or reality. It’s free to attend (you might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with the Atlanta Fed’s Claire Greene about takeaways from the latest Survey of Consumer Payment Choice- including card’s dominance, mobile’s ubiquity, BNPL’s ascent and cash’s resilience. Also, the NY Times offers an unexpected backstop for the paper check.

Links related to this episode:

The Atlanta Fed’s Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.atlantafed.org/banking-and-payments/consumer-payments/survey-and-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice/2023-survey-and-diary
Federal Reserve Financial Services’ cash-centric analysis of the data: https://www.frbservices.org/binaries/content/assets/crsocms/news/research/2024-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice.pdf
NY Times’ story on Why Paper Checks Refuse to Die: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/business/paper-check-payment-fraud-scam.html
TruStage’s Discovery 2024 conference, held virtually Wednesday August 8: https://shorturl.at/1KKK0
Java4Kids: https://javaforkids.org/

Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday August 7 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. This session will focus on whether the notion of a Primary Financial Institution is myth or reality. It’s free to attend (you might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen’s wide-ranging conversation with Deluxe CEO Barry McCarthy and Technology Association of Georgia CEO Larry Williams spanning five decades of innovation, leadership in turbulent times, reinvention and civic responsibility. Also- another cautionary angle to the CrowdStrike mess, and Fintech Nation comes to Atlanta in August.

Links related to this episode:

Fintech South, August 27-28 in Atlanta; USE CODE FTS24FTSociety FOR A DISCOUNT ON REGISTRATION: https://www.fintechsouth.com/
Deluxe: https://www.deluxe.com/
The Technology Association of Georgia: https://www.tagonline.org/societies/fintech/

Join us for for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday July 24 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (you might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors
You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with Co-Founder/CEO Austin Wentzlaff about Nook’s mission to reclaim a personalized credit union member experience, and why his team planned to be a CUSO from the start. TruStage’s Danielle Sesko explains how Payment Guard revamps a legacy loan insurance model for today’s digital personal lending. And Glen senses a shift in the media narrative on Banking as a Service and FDIC insurance.

Links related to this episode:

Nook: https://www.nook-inc.com/
TruStage Payment Guard’s Finovate Spring Demo: https://finovate.com/videos/finovatespring-2024-trustage/
Cornerstone/TruStage research paper on embedded payment insurance: https://www.trustage.com/business/insights/financial-trends/embedded-payment-insurance-digital-lending-research
Last week’s CU Town Hall featuring Roger Grimes on the ransomware climate: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-119-ransomware-protection-with-roger-grimes
NY Times feature story, spurred by Synapse’s bankruptcy, on consumer confusion around FDIC insurance: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/09/business/synapse-bankruptcy-fintech-fdic-insurance.html
The Register’s coverage of the Evolve bank breach, which also ensnared Synapse: https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/09/evolve_lockbit_attack/
Fintech Business Weekly’s ongoing coverage of the Synapse/Evolve situation: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/

Join us for for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday July 24 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (you might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with Bonifii CEO John Ainsworth about his firm’s new collaboration with Metal and the next wave of identity solutions. Also- branches as community centers, the ongoing interchange/reward points battle, more “fun” in class action lawsuit land, and screen scraping stages a comeback.

Links related to this episode:

Bonifii’s website, and its Metal Blockchain announcement: https://bonifii.com/2024/06/bonifii-joins-metal-blockchains/
The Points Guy’s full-throated stance against the Credit Card Competition Act: https://thepointsguy.com/protect-your-points/
Airlines for America weighs in on rewards points: https://www.airlines.org/protect-our-points/
Glen’s blog on the flurry of state interchange legislation: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=a-state-of-confusion-interchange-battles-move-closer-to-home
CPO Magazine’s take on web scraping: https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/web-scraping-is-legal-for-now-but-it-may-be-hurting-your-business/
The proposed class action lawsuit against Navy Federal CU and Verint: https://www.classaction.org/news/class-action-lawsuit-says-navy-federal-credit-union-ai-tech-company-verint-tap-customer-service-calls

Register for our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday July 10 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors (same handles for both)
You can also follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/