Contextual Solutions Blog
This page is dedicated to our original and curated content about FinTech, digital banking, LegalTech, and innovation.
PSD3 Overview: The Draft Has Pitfalls Lurking Amongst the Good Intentions
PSD3: A much anticipated payment regulation
How will the third incarnation of the EU Payment Services Directive affect PSPs and other fintech firms? Significantly so, if it passes in its current form.
Stablecoins: A Cornerstone of the Modern Payment Infrastructure
From Theory to Practice: PayPal’s Stablecoin
Are stablecoins fulfilling a need in today's society, or is it just another tool for "window innovation?" We'll soon find out; Paypal, the beloved payment service provider, has again proven its pioneer strategy through its announcement on July 7th. Accordingly, PayPal will roll out a stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), which will be backed by US dollar deposits.
Our Tech Open Air 2023 Impressions
Tech Open Air marked the last of the tech conferences in Berlin before the tech ecosystem took off to their well-deserved summer break. The event took place between 5-7 July. Our UX/UI expert Merve Tekinay Uçkun attended the event & reported on-site on behalf of Contextual Solutions.
Unveiling the Convergence of Financial Services and the Digital Age
State of the Payments Industry
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the financial services industry has experienced a significant transformation. As consumers increasingly embrace the convenience and efficiency of the digital age, traditional financial institutions are being challenged to adapt and keep pace with emerging innovations. Marqeta's latest market report delves into this dynamic landscape, analyzing key findings that shed light on the convergence of financial services & the digital age.
Crypto Trends in Business & Beyond – Key Findings (2023)
Ripple’s Crypto Report
The crypto industry is constantly changing due to various factors such as shifting global economies, the rise and fall of stablecoins, and significant events like the collapse of exchanges and major banks. Despite the challenges faced in 2022 and the rocky start to 2023 for the broader financial sector, global confidence in crypto and blockchain technology has increased. This change is driven by growing consumer demand, interest in blockchain, maturing use cases for financial institutions and businesses, and a shift towards real-world utility.
Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Potential Benefits and Challenges
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) published a study in June 2023 aiming to identify needs for research on AI for cybersecurity and on securing AI, as part of ENISA’s work in fulfilling its mandate under Article 11 of the Cybersecurity Act . Scroll down to learn our take aways from the study.
Coordinating Regulatory Frameworks for Crypto-Assets
“Pathways to the Regulation of Crypto-Assets: A Global Approach” by the World Economic Forum was released in May 2023. Read our take from the Report below.
The First Turkish Strategic Fintech Congress
The first Turkish FinTech Congress covering the laws and regulations applicable to FinTech players and the market trends took place in Ankara and Istanbul in June.
Money 20/20 2023 Highlights
We recently left behind Money 20/20, Europe's most popular FinTech event.
Digital Markets Act Has Big Implications for Online “Gatekeepers” in the EU
The EU's Digital Markets Act regulation is coming into force. Will it have the intended effect of levelling the online playing field and allowing smaller firms to compete with large platforms? Or will it just make life more complicated for everyone?
The Perfect German Market Entry Strategy: What Is the Best Way To Enter Germany?
Germany is the largest economy in the EU & has a population of 84 million, so it’s an obvious territory for market expansion. However, numbers don't tell the whole story. Although there are plenty of positive factors for German market entry, there are also some major potential pitfalls.
MiCA: The EU Gets Serious About Crypto Regulation
New regulation is designed to protect consumers, enforce compliance, and track all significant transactions between crypto exchanges and private wallets. It's been broadly well-received by exchanges, in contrast to perceived dithering by the SEC in the US.
Fintech Boom Continues but Needs Better Regulation – World Bank Report
It’s an exciting time to be in Fintech & banking. The latest World Bank report authored by Erik Feyen, Harish Natarajan, and Matthew Saal acknowledges that excitement but tempers it with caution: better policy-making and regulation will be needed in order for everyone to benefit.
Are the Machines Coming for Us? Stanford 2023 AI Report Reveals All
The sixth annual AI Index Report from Stanford University contains some fascinating insights. It’s a long read, so here are some of the highlights from Contextual Solutions.
The German Blockchain Map
Powered by Clara, Contextual Solutions, and Fintech Consult, InnoMaps bridges networks, communities, and ecosystems.
Using joint FinTech databases and insights, InnoMaps created the first version of its Blockchain Map to start a conversation between the ecosystem players in Germany.
The German FinTech Market 2023: Opportunities and Challenges (a Report)
Germany is a sizeable FinTech market in terms of its potential, though it is particular in terms of market needs, as the local consumers and companies have different expectations and needs compared to other markets. Due to its history, size, and culture, specific challenges and opportunities await the companies entering the new market, even those coming from neighboring countries.
Agile Retrospective Framework for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
A new year is around the corner!
It’s been a year full of learnings and new milestones for Contextual Solutions.
Many clients, partners, and readers were a part of our growth journey this year. That's why we would like to use the holidays as an opportunity to thank all entrepreneurs for their support and offer a complementary Agile Retrospective Framework.
Unlocking the German FinTech Market
During the Summer of 2022, we explored the German FinTech market with the beloved Payment & Banking Blog in Germany. We have released three articles identifying the German cultural & financial patterns, common German FinTech market expansion mistakes, & proven methods for entering the German market.
We will combine all these articles below for ease of access.
Fintech Product-Market-Fit And How To Get There
Fintech has changed the way we bank for more than two decades. As the market started maturing, we experienced some business models sticking and some disappearing. Economic and political difficulties seem to be testing even the most trusted concepts.
How To Navigate a New Market Entry?
Market Expansion: Then and Now
Growth comes hand in hand with market expansion. Before the global economic turmoil started, Venture Capitalists made market expansion a pre-condition for investment. International market expansion was a start-up priority before the global economic turbulance. Now, we are facing a new reality. Starting with N26, many aggressive growth examples like Gorillas, Sunday retreat from the new markets hurriedly and return to their motherships in an attempt to save the last bucks.
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info@contextuals.de
www.contextualsolutions.de
Contextual Solutions
Berlin, Germany