Dinero MPS a new mobile payment system for the world’s under-banked

Julia Dixon on May 14, 2013

After the success of services such as M-Pesa, Kenya’s mobile-phone based money transfer service, it is clear that there is a large under banked population in the non-western world. A population that is quick to adopt low cost mobile based solutions.

Dinero-LogoA new mobile payment system, Dinero MPS, aims to offer a wide variety of mobile payment services starting with the unserved markets in Africa, South America and Asia. Founded by financial cryptographer Ian Grigg and entrepreneur Ken Griffith, Dinero’s Ricardian-Contract based system is set to launch later this year with the release of an Android phone app.

Dinero’s co-founder Ken Griffith shared with DGC insight on the businesses’ plans and motivations.

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CBC Documentary: The Secret World of Gold

Julia Dixon on April 21, 2013

On Thursday CBC, Canada’s national public television channel, broadcast a new documentary, the Secret World of Gold.

The program explored the “the power and politics of gold” and covered a wide variety of gold’s shady history from Nazi gold to The Odyssey Marine, the paper gold market, gold leasing, Fort Knox and gold manipulation. In a surprising move for main stream media, the documentary includes interviews with Andrew Maguire, Erik Sprott and John Embry that discuss the amount of gold held by western central banks and gold market manipulation.

While some don’t believe that the documentary went far enough, it ends with this very relevant question, “in the 21st Century gold still manages to keep its secrets. Perhaps the biggest one of all, where is the gold and who owns it?”

Part I, Part II, Part III

Gold’s price drop leads to surge in demand for physical gold

Julia Dixon on April 20, 2013

Golden times for Perth Mint

“Gold sales from Perth Mint, which refines nearly all of the nation’s bullion, have surged after prices plunged, adding to signs that the metal’s slump to a two-year low is spurring increased demand.”

“’The volume of business that we’re putting through is way in excess of double what we did last week,’ Treasurer Nigel Moffatt said, without giving precise figures. ‘There’s been people running through the gate.’”

Gold Drop Spurs Demand From Indian Bazaar to Chinese Mall

“Shoppers in China lined up for gold this week, while in Hong Kong they rushed to buy bracelets and in India sought jewelry for weddings not set until December.”

Chinese Gold Exchange Sold Out – Begins Importing From Switzerland

“the Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society has essentially sold out of gold bullion, and must wait until Wednesday for shipments to arrive from Switzerland and London.”

Shortage of gold bars and coins in Dubai, says World Gold Council

“World Gold Council, which has been tracking the global gold market pattern, has found that there is a shortage for bars and coins in Dubai which is creating a supply shortage.”

“Aram Shishmanian, CEO, World Gold Council:  ‘We are already seeing shortages for bars and coins in Dubai, while premiums in Mumbai are at $26/oz and $6 in Shanghai, indicating that buyers are willing to pay more than current spot prices for the metal …Our view is that demand is strong while supply remains constrained, and that this dynamic ultimately drives the long-term price of the metal,’”

 

Arizona passes gold and silver legal tender bill

Julia Dixon on April 14, 2013

But you can’t buy your groceries with silver coins just yet, the bill, SB 1439, still requires the governor’s signature.

The legislation was inspired by Utah’s legal tender law passed in 2011. Arizona’s version would allow Arizona residents to use gold and silver with the same recognition as Federal Reserve notes starting in 2014… assuming of course that your local grocery store is willing to accept your silver coins; the bill does not require anyone to accept gold or silver in payment.

Predictions on gold, bonds, “cut-off of supply chains” and the bypassing of the US Dollar from Jim Willie

Julia Dixon on April 12, 2013

In a recent interview with USAWatchdog.com the always exuberant Jim Willie gives some very interesting predictions.

Jim sees the BRIIICS (that includes Iran and Indonesia) moving away from the US Dollar, the Yen and the Euro and adopting a USD alternative for trade. He believes the East will sell off its US bonds, continue to purchase gold (driving it up to $7,500) and perhaps adopt “gold trade notes”. As he sees it the consequences of this will not be inflation, but a “large widespread cut-off of supply chains” in the states as foreigners will not be willing to accept US Dollars.

The 28min interview is full of colorful commentary and interesting thoughts including the possibility of “bail-in’s” in the states.

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GoldMoney discusses Bitcoin with Jon Matonis

Julia Dixon on March 31, 2013

I very much sympathize with the old school goldbug scepticism about Bitcoin. It’s very reassuring to feel the weight of your money in your hand, and I don’t believe that Bitcoin meets with Mises regression theorem. But even if you don’t see Bitcoin as a sound form of money, you have got to admit that it’s damned useful! Bitcoin is perhaps the best alternative available at the moment for those suffering under the fiat banking system. As such it’s great to see an increasing number of traditional goldbug institutions, such as GoldMoney, embrace Bitcoin.

In a new podcast GoldMoney’s Andy Duncan discusses Bitcoin with the Bitcoin Foundation’s Jon Matonis. They discuss Bitcoin’s volatility, it’s dependence on the internet, 1 yr and 10 yr predictions for the currency and the ongoing Bitcoin vs Gold debate.

Listen to the podcast here.

Bits and Pieces 29thMar13

Julia Dixon on March 29, 2013

  • The BRICS nations, 43 percent of the world’s population, are working on a new “development bank” set to bypass the World Bank and the IMF.

“There’s a shift in power from the traditional to the emerging world.”

The move is seen as a way for BRICS to protect themselves from the US and Europe’s financial trouble and as a way to increase their global financial influence.

Details here  and here.

  • Russia to ban cash transactions over $10,000
  • Bitcoin’s market capitalization briefly hits $1Billion!
  • Texas want’s its gold back from the Fed.

 

GoldMoney Reduces Fees

Julia Dixon on March 15, 2013

Storage fees for gold stored at all VIA MAT vaults will be reduced by a third to 0.12% per annum.

Storage fees for silver stored with VIA MAT Switzerland will be reduces by half to 0.49% per annum or 0.39% per annum for more than 50,000 ounces of silver.

Minimum storage fee will be reduced to only 0.001 grams per month for gold, platinum and palladium, and 0.001 ounces per month for silver.

The changes, beginning in April, also include a reduction in metal-to-metal exchange fees and new bar registration & storage options.

Check out all the details here.