Overview Of IOSCO Research Report On Financial Technologies (Fintech)

Recently, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) released its Research Report on Financial Technologies (Fintech). IOSCO is an international body comprised of the world's securities regulators including some Canadian securities commissions. Fintech is disintermediating and re-intermediating securities businesses. The Report studies the evolution of Fintech and its intersection with securities market regulation in the categories described below.

Alternative Financing Platforms

The Report examines peer-to-peer lending (P2P lending) and equity crowdfunding (ECF), noting that the significant growth of each is attributable to a series of supply and demand factors, including the current low-interest rate environment, which has driven investors to look for alternative investments (e.g. in the case of ECF, the ability to make early stage equity investments).