Based in Riga, Mintos is waving the Latvian startup flag on the global stage, turning heads towards the potential of this Baltic country. We have had our eye on their fast growth for a while now, also including them in our list of 10 promising Latvia-based startups to watch in 2020. As a true fintech, its mission is to make investing accessible, easy and transparent.
Now, the fintech, which currently has offices in Riga, Berlin, Warsaw and Vilnius, is launching its first mobile app for Android and iOS, based on the possibilities of the smartphone as an access tool.
Founded in 2015, Mintos allows users to connect with loans from international and Mintos-authenticated alternative lending companies. Today, via its platform, more than 250,000 investors have funded in total almost €5 billion worth of loans and earned more than €80 million in interest.
Now, having gone through extensive community consultations with over 3500 mobile app beta version testers (made up of a group of investors on Mintos), the start has developed an app focused on enhancing existing features of Mintos service, with added capabilities that would increase investor accessibility, engagement and security.
Mintos has decided to build the app gradually, launching versions in multiple releases, with this first version offering easy and quick access to investors’ accounts and investment monitoring in just a few swipes. Upcoming mobile app releases will offer additional functionalities adjusted for smartphones, including the complete investing experience which is already accessible on the Mintos marketplace. Mintos is also working to provide investors’ with essential insights to better inform their decisions via the app.
Marcis Gogis, Mintos Head of Product who led the development of the mobile app, says: “We were pleasantly surprised at how active Mintos investors were in their willingness to participate in testing the app and providing extensive feedback. The strong growth of Mintos is based on the active involvement of the Mintos community of loyal and trusted investors in the development of our products and services.”
Martins Sulte, CEO and Co-Founder of Mintos shared his excitement about the new era of Mintos marketplace accessibility: “At present day, Mintos serves more than 250,000 investors from 91 countries worldwide, and these numbers are increasing rapidly. The primary purpose of the Mintos mobile application is to provide investors with faster and easier access to their accounts. In the future, we believe our mobile application might be the primary access for using our services.”
Martins Sulte adds that while expanding internationally, it is important to accommodate users in those countries where mobile app usage is more common than access via computer or laptop. “Mobile app also gives users the possibility for more comfortable and secure access to their accounts, with a PIN and biometry login,” adds Sulte.
The launch of the mobile app lays the groundwork for other anticipated Mintos services that are currently in the works, including an IBAN account number and debit cards.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology, base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets also fell.
The S&P/TSX composite index was down 239.24 points at 22,749.04.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 312.36 points at 40,443.39. The S&P 500 index was down 80.94 points at 5,422.47, while the Nasdaq composite was down 380.17 points at 16,747.49.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.80 cents US compared with 74.00 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down US$1.07 at US$68.08 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.26 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$2.10 at US$2,541.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.10 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in technology, financial and energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 171.41 points at 23,298.39.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 278.37 points at 41,369.79. The S&P 500 index was up 38.17 points at 5,630.35, while the Nasdaq composite was up 177.15 points at 17,733.18.
The Canadian dollar traded for 74.19 cents US compared with 74.23 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up US$1.75 at US$76.27 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.10 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$2,556.50 an ounce and the December copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.22 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.
The crypto market has recently experienced a significant downturn, mirroring broader risk asset sell-offs. Over the past week, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 24%, reaching $53,000, while Ethereum plummeted nearly a third to $2,340. Major altcoins also suffered, with Cardano down 27.7%, Solana 36.2%, Dogecoin 34.6%, XRP 23.1%, Shiba Inu 30.1%, and BNB 25.7%.
The severe downturn in the crypto market appears to be part of a broader flight to safety, triggered by disappointing economic data. A worse-than-expected unemployment report on Friday marked the beginning of a technical recession, as defined by the Sahm Rule. This rule identifies a recession when the three-month average unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point in the past year.
Friday’s figures met this threshold, signaling an abrupt economic downshift. Consequently, investors sought safer assets, leading to declines in major stock indices: the S&P 500 dropped 2%, the Nasdaq 2.5%, and the Dow 1.5%. This trend continued into Monday with further sell-offs overseas.
The crypto market’s rapid decline raises questions about its role as either a speculative asset or a hedge against inflation and recession. Despite hopes that crypto could act as a risk hedge, the recent crash suggests it remains a speculative investment.
Since the downturn, the crypto market has seen its largest three-day sell-off in nearly a year, losing over $500 billion in market value. According to CoinGlass data, this bloodbath wiped out more than $1 billion in leveraged positions within the last 24 hours, including $365 million in Bitcoin and $348 million in Ether.
Khushboo Khullar of Lightning Ventures, speaking to Bloomberg, argued that the crypto sell-off is part of a broader liquidity panic as traders rush to cover margin calls. Khullar views this as a temporary sell-off, presenting a potential buying opportunity.
Josh Gilbert, an eToro market analyst, supports Khullar’s perspective, suggesting that the expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could benefit crypto assets. “Crypto assets have sold off, but many investors will see an opportunity. We see Federal Reserve rate cuts, which are now likely to come sharper than expected, as hugely positive for crypto assets,” Gilbert told Coindesk.
Despite the recent volatility, crypto continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. Notably, Morgan Stanley will allow its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs starting Wednesday. This follows more than half a year after the introduction of the first Bitcoin ETF. The investment bank will enable over 15,000 of its financial advisors to sell BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. This move is seen as a significant step toward the “mainstreamization” of crypto, given the lengthy regulatory and company processes in major investment banks.
The recent crypto market downturn highlights its volatility and the broader economic concerns affecting all risk assets. While some analysts see the current situation as a temporary sell-off and a buying opportunity, others caution against the speculative nature of crypto. As the market evolves, its role as a mainstream alternative asset continues to grow, marked by increasing institutional acceptance and new investment opportunities.
