Category Archives: Finance

WHY THE CMA® IS ESSENTIAL FOR FINANCE PROFESSIONALS IN THE CARIBBEAN

The accounting and financial workforce are vital components in the constantly shifting business landscapes. IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) is the worldwide association of accountants and financial professionals in business. Founded in 1919, it is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. I met with Alain Mulder, Senior Director of Europe Operations at […]

COINBASE WENT PUBLIC – WILL THIS CREATE FURTHER CRYPTO DIFFERENTIATION?

The twin forces of the Coinbase direct listing, coupled with the continuing bullish run in the crypto market at large, are clear indicators that crypto is situated to continue its breakout year. It may be easy to overlook this in the current market, but the original idea and concept of cryptocurrency was to develop a real […]

BITCOIN PAYMENTS ARE GREAT, BUT STABLECOINS ARE THE FUTURE OF CRYPTO: VISA IS JUST THE BEGINNING 

Headlines by Visa are making waves in the cryptomarket and highlight one important trend; the crypto marketplace is rapidly becoming differentiated, with stablecoins occupying a leading position. Bitcoin continues to lead the way in terms of crypto conversation, investment trends, and market capitalization, but the reality is a little more complicated than some commentary might have one believe. Especially with the announcement […]

BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCIES ARE DEVELOPING FAST, BUT HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CRYPTO?

Writer: Sean Stein Smith, DBA, CPA, as originally published with Forbes.com Asset backed cryptoassets continue to make headlines but understanding the differences between the options that exist is essential for wider adoption. Much has been written and discussed about the potential of cryptocurrencies to revolutionize financial markets and transactions, but price volatility still poses a […]

BLOCKCHAIN HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2ND HALF OF 2020: CRYPTO BANKS, SAND DOLLARS AND DEFI

Writer: Kirk Phillips, CPA, CMA, CFE, CBP The lightning fast pace of innovation is the one constant in the blockchain and crypto asset space. Developer talent is in short supply and blockchain career demand is jumping to the front of the pack. There is no global stakeholder left who is not aware of and considering […]

CURAÇAO GAMING INDUSTRY, A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

When asked to write about the Curaçao Gaming Industry, honestly, we had to think twice. On one hand, it is an outstanding opportunity to address an important topic, while on the other hand, it could be risky, given the negative association many people have with the industry. Should that risk be a reason to pass? […]

Checks Remain Valid at Local Banks

Curaçao’s commercial banks have abandoned their recent efforts to eliminate payment checks from the local banking industry. In a recent push towards embracing fullyautomated ban­king and guiding Curaçao forward into a world of e-com­merce, many of the local banks attempted to phase-out the use of all checks. However, this move was met with great resistance. […]

CINEX SMART INVESTMENT SUMMIT 2019

The Orange economy is sometimes also referred to as the Creative economy. It includes industries such as digital media, software development, visual arts and advertising. Curaçao Investment and Export Promotion Agency (CINEX) hosted its two-day Smart Investment Summit on August 28th and 29th featuring an inspiring range of presentations on this subject. Topics included Smart […]

OUROX TAKES FIRST STEPS TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE SECURITIES EXCHANGE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

The American FinTech start-up OuroX, founded by South American entrepreneurs, signed a letter of intent with the Suriname Stock Exchange with the goal of establishing a modern digital National Securities Exchange, headquartered in Suriname. This first step paves the way for OuroX to develop and operate the new digital National Securities Exchange. OuroX uses blockchain […]

EXPLORING THE E-COMMERCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The development of online services and e-commerce companies is on the rise throughout the world and gene­rating billions annually. Most business owners in Curaçao have already created websites and made full use of social media outlets such as Instagram and Facebook, but only a handful of these merchants use e-commerce websites to sell and complete […]