Sat.Sep 29, 2018 - Fri.Oct 05, 2018

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Bitcoin: 10 Years Of Smoke And Mirrors

PYMNTS

The end of this month, Oct. 31, 2018, will mark the 10th anniversary of the day that a link to a paper , authored by Satoshi Nakamoto , describing the digital currency called bitcoin was first publicly circulated. Jan. 3, 2019 will mark the 10th anniversary of the first bitcoin block that was mined by Satoshi, giving birth to the notion that a digitized, anonymized currency sent over a permission-less, distributed ledger could democratize how money would move between people and parties around th

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IRS Updates Transportation Industry Per Diem Rates

Katz,Sapper&Miller

The Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2018-77, updating the special per diem rates under tax code Section 274(d), which is used to substantiate the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred while traveling away from home.

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Augmented Reality Growth Fueled by Chinese Investments

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One of the new realities of augmented reality is this: the technology is attracting more investment from China than from sources in North America. This trend happens as activity around AR heats up, with major players in the digital economy apparently positioning themselves to profit as the retail-friendly tech move every closer to mainstream popularity.

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Bitcoin Daily: VCs Plow $3.9B In Crypto Ventures; Coinbase Taps Charles Schwab Advisor For Board

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Crypto research site Diar claims that startups in the digital currency and blockchain space have notched roughly $3.9 billion in funding via venture capital (VC) investments, CoinDesk reported. The figure, which represents investments over the first, second and third quarters, marks a 280 percent jump from all of last year. In addition, the report noted that the average size of investments in the blockchain and crypto space rose by $1 million this year.

Sales 78
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Mid-Year Review: How to Ignite Employee Potential Through Meaningful Feedback

Mid-year performance reviews aren’t just boxes for HR to check. Paycor’s toolkit empowers leaders to: Identify high-potential team members. Boost engagement with meaningful feedback. Support struggling employees. Nurture top talent to drive results. Learn how to ignite employee potential through meaningful feedback. When you nurture top talent, everybody wins.

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As The Dawn Of 5G Nears, Will It Be All That?

PYMNTS

5G is coming. Now if we can just figure out what it’s good for. That’s a little bit unfair, but it does reflect some of the talk around the mobile connectivity standard. What types of business will it support? What will emerge as the “killer use case” for payments and commerce? As one observer put it: “The fifth generation of connectivity, pithily called 5G, will be ready for prime time later this year.

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Bitcoin Daily: Ripple Surges, Chinese Billionaire Dumps Blockchain

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Ripple (XRP) has overtaken Ethereum within the last 24 hours, with a 7 percent surge in price for a market valuation of $24.28 billion. According to CCN , this is the third time this year that Ripple has moved past Ethereum, with each time occurring in the second half of September. But with the market cap of Ethereum only slightly below that of Ripple — combined with the weak volume of XRP — it is likely that Ethereum will regain its position as the second-most valuable cryptocurrency soon.

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Ripple Heads Up New Crypto Lobbying Group; Pays In XRP

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Ripple , the blockchain startup, is heading up a new cryptocurrency lobbying group called Securing America’s Internet of Value Coalition. Coindesk , citing a Business Standard report late last week, reported the companies behind the lobbying group also include the RippleWorks Foundation ; Coil , a company developing a solution for digital payments; Hard Yaka , an investment firm focusing on digital assets; and PolySign , a company seeking to be a crypto custodian.

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Ripple Pairs With Three X-Border Payment Cos

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Ripple, the cross-border payments company and backer of the XRP digital token, said Monday (Oct. 1) that xRapid, its cross-border payments platform, is commercially available with three firms signing on as clients. According to a report in Reuters , citing the companies, the three clients that are using xRapid at the launch are Cuallix, Mercury FX and Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union. xRapid uses XRP to make faster cross-border payments.

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Inventor Of The Web, Tim Berners-Lee, Wants To Take It Back

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What would one say about a computer geek who said he could protect their online identity , and while doing do would make a bold move against the likes of Facebook and Google ? What would one say if that person happened to be the inventor of the World Wide Web? As consumers become more cautious — cynical? — about online privacy and data storage, Tim Berners-Lee has a plan to “decentralize the web and take back power from the forces that have profited from centralizing it,” according to a report.

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Driverless Cars Coming To UK In Next Three To Four Years

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Driverless vehicles are coming to the U.K. in the next three to four years, the country’s Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said on Monday (Oct. 1). According to a report in Reuters , citing comments made at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Grayling said that even though there will be truly driverless cars on U.K. streets within that time frame, there will still be a need for diesel cars for many years to come.

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Your Accounting Expertise Will Only Get You So Far: The New Way To Lead

Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA

In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. But if you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner, and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top. 🗻 What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level. The higher you go, the more your effectiveness depends on how you connect, adapt, and communicate.

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Big Banks Notice Rise In Cyberattack Attempts

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Sources have reported that some large U.S. banks have seen a boost in attempted cyberattacks in recent weeks. According to the Wall Street Journal , the news comes at a time when the government is increasing its warnings to financial institutions about bank cybersecurity and possible cyberthreats, asking banks such as Bank of America , Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo to closely monitor traffic from hackers who might be looking for weaknesses in their bank security networks.

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Gold: Sourced Digitally, Ethically And Via Blockchain

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In the age of blockchain, all manner of physical assets are making the leap to bits and bytes. Blockchain can track transactions of all sorts and create a connected record — and that blockchain is rapidly cleaving from the cryptocurrency clamor to which it was once inextricably linked. When it comes to supply chains, proponents say blockchain — specifically, distributed ledger technology (DLT) — holds promise.

B2B 73
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Bank Of America Eyes Costly Small Business Data Breaches

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A new survey from Bank of America shines a spotlight on the increasing concerns — and increasing costs — of data breaches. The financial institution released the results of its Small Business Payments Spotlight survey last week, which surveyed more than 500 small business owners and 500 consumers in the U.S. According to the bank, 22 percent of consumers who have already had their personal or bank information stolen by a data breach said they would not shop at a small business that had fallen v

Finance 72
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Facebook Could See Massive Fine In Europe For Recent Data Breach

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Facebook could get hit with a massive EU fine by a European Union privacy watchdog after the company announced on Friday (Sept 28) it had suffered a Facebook data breach that compromised the accounts of more than 50 million users. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which is Facebook’s lead privacy regulator in Europe, has requested more information from the company about the breach, including which EU residents might be affected.

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The Hidden Science Behind Why Finance Teams Resist Change—And How to Fix It

Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP

The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.

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Cryptocurrency Price Manipulation Courtesy Of Bots

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The manipulation of cryptocurrencies is getting attention from regulators who have been warning that these digital tokens, and the exchanges they are traded on, could be vulnerable to price manipulation. The Wall Street Journal , citing the New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood, reported in September that the AG issued a report warning about the potential for the prices to be manipulated.

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Personetics Explores How To Make AI Banking Work For The Bank

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As financial institutions (FIs) invest in technology in an effort to position themselves more competitively against FinTech firms, the development of so-called chat bots and “robo advisors” has accelerated. Projects from Wells Fargo , JPMorgan Chase and RBS have all surfaced in recent years, as FIs deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that both meet their customers’ needs for digitized services and save those financial service providers money at the same time.

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Coinbase Valued At $8B With Potential Tiger Global Investment

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Coinbase , the cryptocurrency exchange operator, is nearing a deal that would give it a valuation of around $8 billion, reported Recode. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Coinbase is in discussions with Tiger Global and existing shareholders for an investment as high as $500 million. Some of the investment will be used to buy out some of its existing shareholders.

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Fidelity Aims To Be Leader In AI, Blockchain, Machine Learning

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Fidelity Investments , the Boston-based fund company, is becoming a leader in blockchain technology, investing billions of dollars on that and other cutting-edge technologies. According to a report in CNBC citing Fidelity, billions of dollars are going toward Fidelity blockchain, Fidelity AI and Fidelity VR. Executives told CNBC Fidelity wants to be considered an Nvidia alternative, not compared to the likes of Charles Schwab, and thus the technology push.

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Doing More With Less: The Modern Finance Miracle

Speaker: Mark Gilham, FCCA, CPP

Finance used to be the function that counted, now it's the one that’s counted on. 📊 For accounting firms, controllers, and finance leaders, expectations are rising faster than headcount. Businesses want agile forecasts, granular analysis, seamless reporting, and smart automation—often without added resources while demanding uncompromised accuracy and compliance.

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The Quickly And Quietly Growing World Of Voice-Assisted Health And Wellness

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For most people, absently swiping through an Instagram feed, or flipping a light switch, or going to a doctor’s office don’t register as important events. But for people with mobility issues, visual impairments or a host of medical concerns, those activities aren’t always simple, and can actually form huge quality of life roadblocks. For those customers, the advent of voice-controlled navigation aided by AI-powered voice assistants is about a lot more than adding convenience or fighting ir

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Tide Wants FinTech Firms To Have A Bigger Share Of RBS Funds

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Challenger bank Tide wants the U.K. to allow eMoney non-bank institutions to be able to compete for Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) bail out funds , according to reports. The Daily Telegraph reported Sunday (Sept. 30) that digital and financial service startups claim they are unfairly kept out of competition for the $1 billion made available by the government via a deal with RBS.

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Petal’s No Fee Credit Card Now Available

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Petal, the startup credit card company, announced on Tuesday (Oct. 2) that its credit card is now available via the company’s website. In a blog post , Petal said the company was established to help people build credit by providing a credit card with no fees, no “financial traps” and no prior experience with credit needed. “Tens of millions of Americans have no credit score at all, and millions more have short credit histories that may not tell the whole story.

Maine 62
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Uber CEO Eyes ‘Portable Benefits’ For Drivers

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Uber ’s CEO revealed that the company is looking into offering its drivers health insurance and other benefits through a “portable” system that would cover contractors from job to job. “For the first time, I think we are now listening to our drivers, and we are building out our services in concert with them,” Dara Khosrowshahi said this week at Fortune ’s Most Powerful Women Summit in Laguna Niguel, California.

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8 Pillars of Leadership Development

Great leadership development is the key to sustainable business growth. Are you ready to design an effective program? HR can use Paycor’s framework to: Set achievable goals. Align employee and company needs. Support different learning styles. Empower the next generation of leaders. Invest in your company’s future with a strong leadership development program.

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Google Assistant Can Now Book Users An Uber, Lyft Ride

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Google Assistant can now help users book a car from Uber , Lyft , Ola , Grab , GO-JEK and other ridesharing services. The feature, which works with Google Assistant-enabled speakers and on phones, allows users to request a car from a specific company or place a general request to receive pricing for all supported local ridesharing services. Once you decide which company to go with, Google Assistant will then transfer you to that rideshare’s mobile app to complete the booking.

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Apple Lets College Students Store IDs On Apple Devices

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Apple has inked a deal with three universities in the U.S., enabling students to store their student IDs on their Apple devices. According to a report in CNBC , students at Duke University, University of Alabama and University of Oklahoma can store their student IDs on their iPhone or Apple Wallet. Apple initially announced the service in June at its annual developer conference.

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Today In Data: Driving Commerce By Giving Customers What They Really Want 

PYMNTS

Consumers have historically needed a bit of prodding to get them into a mobile state of mind when it comes to payments. Digital transactions on the whole are up – eCommerce, financial services, bill payments – but fully embracing mobile has been a bit trickier. But, by the numbers, that tide may be turning – particularly when it comes to younger consumers who are increasingly making their preference for app-based payments and commerce known.

Retail 62
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Unpacking Smart Packaging’s Insights And Engagement Promises

PYMNTS

Consumers interact with product packaging on a daily basis. Packaged goods often reach consumers’ hands after traveling across oceans and being shipped between manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Faced with that kind of transit, brands want supply chain visibility: they don’t want to be left in the dark on where their products are in their journeys or on how quickly items are selling once they get to their retail destinations.

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Protect What Matters: Rethinking Finance Ops In A Digital World

Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry

Distributed finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs, and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats are more than just growing pains—they’re liabilities. The challenge isn’t just going remote. It’s building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.

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Ex-Batavia Members, we.trade Merge Blockchain Trade Finance Efforts

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Blockchain trade finance consortium we.trade has grown with the addition of three new bank members, reports in CryptoNinjas said Tuesday (Oct. 2). UBS is joining the consortium, as are CaixaBank and Erste Group. The three were part of the former Batavia consortium, another group formed to explore blockchain in trade finance and management. The financial institutions (FIs) join we.trade’s existing bank partners HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Rabobank, Santander and others, now totaling 12.

Finance 61
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Amazon Selling First Branded Mattress

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Amazon.com is reportedly getting into the online mattress business, entering a market in which a handful of startups are trying to dominate. According to a report in Bloomberg , AmazonBasics firm mattress, which sells starting at $130, was found by TJI Research late last week. The firm monitors the list of more than 120 private label Amazon brand products that now includes kitchen goods, clothing, batteries, and electronics.

Retail 61
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ShopRunner May Acquire Online Department Store Spring

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Two-day shipping platform ShopRunner is reportedly planning to acquire Spring , an eCommerce startup that runs an online department store. Terms of such a deal are not yet clear, and both companies declined to comment on the news, Recode reported. Spring’s online store carries fashion items as well as accessories from brands like Gucci and Levi’s. The company’s sales are split about 50-50 between its mobile app and website.

Sports 60
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Google Buys Customer Service Automation Startup

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Google has acquired customer service automation startup Onward for an undisclosed sum. According to reports , Onward Co-founders Rémi Cossart and Pramod Thammaiah, as well as CTO Aaron Podolny, will be joining Google as part of the deal. “With Google, we’ll be able to expand the reach of the technologies that power Onward,” the company wrote in a blog post. “These core technologies are what got us excited in the first place, and we are excited to bring them to Google.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook for Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.