- The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, today announced a new collaborative effort to advance the popular blockchain technology. The project will develop an enterprise grade, open source distributed ledger framework and free developers to focus on building robust, industry-specific applications, platforms and hardware systems to support business transactions.

 Intellect Design Arena Ltd, a specialist in applying true digital technologies across banking and insurance, announced that IDFC Bank, a subsidiary of India’s leading integrated infrastructure finance company, IDFC Ltd., has successfully implemented Intellect’s Global Transaction Banking (iGTB) solution suite. 

This combined digital solution by Intellect Design Arena will play a key role in IDFC Bank’s growth plans, as it seeks to introduce a differentiated form of banking. 

Hong Kong-based trading platform Fortune Coin will open on January 1, 2016, marking the first step in the company's globalization process.

Growing businesses in the UK lost nearly £18 billion to fraud, at an average of £3,450 per business last year. With every pound lost to fraud representing a tangible loss to businesses, it’s easy to see why companies are so eager to prevent e-commerce fraud at all costs. The best way to secure your business from fraud may not necessarily be the most obvious method.

TIBCO Software Inc., a global leader in integration, analytics, and event processing is to drive a new era at Skipton Building Society by enabling it to seize more opportunities in the digital space through the adoption of its middleware solutions.

Described as a major step for the 162-year-old mutual, the move will see TIBCO simplify and accelerate the integration of Skipton’s IT infrastructure. In doing so, it will help drive greater alignment and efficiency, and better meet the demands of a fast-evolving environment and a more digitally empowered customer base.

Profile Software, a leading financial solution provider, announced today the strategic selection of IMSplus, the award-winning investment management platform by Rasmala, a London-headquartered independent investment manager. The use of IMSplus will provide Rasmala with the operational efficiency, flexibility and competitive approach across their investment management transactions throughout their operations.

MoneyFarm, the digital wealth management company, has appointed David Jeffery as Chief Technology Officer ahead of its UK launch.

Prior to MoneyFarm, David worked at music site, Last.fm, where he spent three years as CTO, developing the company’s use of big data and software innovation that has been behind the business’ rapid growth. Prior to this, David was Chief Software Architect at Betfair for nine years, joining what was still a start-up and helping to build the world’s largest online betting exchange.

 MANGOPAY, the online payment API for marketplaces and crowdfunding platforms announces its partnership with London FinTech start-up GoCardless, specialists in online Direct Debit payments. Launching in early 2016, the partnership will provide MANGOPAY’s merchants with an easy way to set up and accept recurring payments.

To nobody’s surprise the exciting predictions for the world of crowdfunding in 2015 were not entirely wrong. In fact, most of them were entirely right. So have an early Christmas present, wonderful followers of all things crowdfinance. 2016 is going to be BIG. You heard it here first…

1)Crowdfinance is going mainstream and beyond

If 2015 was the year crowdfinance knocked at the door, 2016 will be the year it makes it over the threshold, changes into indoor shoes and cosies up in the living room with a glass of brandy.

Standard Chartered Bank has appointed Mr Amar Rathor as Head of SC Studios San Francisco.