Fintech
Futu Holdings Limited Q4 Financial Results: 2021 Revenues Up 114.9% YoY With 17 Million Users Worldwide
Futu Holdings Limited (“Futu” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FUTU), a leading tech-driven online brokerage and wealth management platform that provides investment services through its proprietary digital platforms Futubull and moomoo, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.
The financial results show that Futu secured a solid performance in the fourth quarter, with a revenue of US$205.5 million and a Non-GAAP adjusted net income of US$68.4 million.
Revenues continued to grow, with brokerage commission and handling charge income up 19.3% to US$109.9 million, interest income up 83.3% to US$79.2 million, and other income (including wealth management and corporate services) slightly down 2.2% to US$16.4 million on a year-over-year basis.
As of year end, Futu revenues totaled US$912.3 million, up 114.9% year-over-year, and Non-GAAP adjusted net income was US$373.0 million, up 113.3% year-over-year.
As of quarter end, users of Futu’s two proprietary digital platforms, moomoo and Futubull, exceeded 17.40 million, up 45.8% year-over-year. They cover more than 200 countries and regions worldwide; the number of registered clients grew to 2.75 million, up 93.8% year-over-year; the number of paying clients reached 1.24 million, up 140.8% year-over-year. The company also maintained a high quarterly client retention rate of 97%.
What is noteworthy is that Futu exceeded its full-year paying client guidance by adding approximately 728,000 paying clients in 2021. In the fourth quarter, around 90% of new paying clients came from Hong Kong SAR, the US and Singapore. Quarter-end client assets reached US$52.3 billion, up 43.0% year-over-year.
In addition, Futu’s total trading volume was US$157.2 billion in the fourth quarter and US$787 billion for the full year, approximately 1.77 times the 2020 volume. Daily Average Revenue Trades (“DARTs”) reached 543,806, up 17.6% year-over-year.
HK Paying Clients Increased by Over 100% YoY for 7 Consecutive Quarters
Having established itself in Hong Kong, Futu is a tech-driven digital fintech company that delivers unparalleled investing services through its proprietary digital platforms, Futubull and moomoo to investors worldwide.
In Hong Kong, Futu continued to reinforce its position as the leading retail brokerage with a robust increase in market share recent years. In the fourth quarter, the number of paying clients in Hong Kong grew by 108.7% year-over-year, achieving triple-digit growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. Futu is not only popular among young investors, but also gradually gains traction among mature investors, making it the top-of-mind platform trusted by investors of all ages in Hong Kong. Among paying clients in Hong Kong, those aged 40 or above accounted for more than 30%.
Futubull Community stays the second-largest social investing community in Hong Kong in terms of active users and UGC content, leading the social investment trend. Based on trading day data in 2021, an average Hong Kong user spent as long as 38.4 minutes on the Futubull app. On an average trading day, there were 368,000 active Hong Kong users in the online Community, and 120,000 pieces of UGC content were produced.
moomoo Gained Market Share Steadily in the US and Singapore
In the fourth quarter, moomoo further increased its visibility in markets such as the US and Singapore, and won wide recognition among investors with its unique user experience and excellent customer service.
In the US, moomoo has become a popular tech-driven brokerage platform for local investors, with the number of users soaring and its local market share gradually expanding. In the fourth quarter, moomoo won the “2021 Best Active Trading App” award by Investing Simple, and was also named the “2021 Best for Active Traders” by Benzinga, a well-known US financial website.
In Singapore, moomoo’s market share grew to record high. According to Population Pyramid’s Population of Singapore 2021 data, the number of moomoo users in Singapore as of the fourth quarter has accounted for 1/10 of Singapore’s adult population over the age of 20. moomoo further penetrated among high-income and well-educated people in Singapore, and the asset management scale under Futu in Singapore increased by 25.7% quarter-over-quarter.
moomoo has been committed to helping investors enrich their investment knowledge since its inception. As of the fourth quarter, more than 300 investing videos and infographic courses have been launched on the moomoo App and website, covering stocks, options, funds, and other financial instruments in catering diversified learning objectives.
At present, moomoo has become the pioneer in promoting financial literacy in Singapore, and has established cooperation with more than 30 local financial institutions, unicorn companies, and universities to jointly enhance public awareness of gaining financial and investing knowledge. In the fourth quarter, moomoo joined hands with the Singapore Exchange, SAFRA, Nasdaq, etc., to hold online seminars in encouraging new generation to pick up financial management knowledge and skills.
In the United States, moomoo also cooperated with the financial website Finder.com to roll out stock trading tutorial videos and articles to preparing beginners to advanced level, which has won wide praise from American users.
With Australian Financial Services Licence Acquired, Futu Now Holds 44 Licences Worldwide
In the fourth quarter, Futu announced that it had successfully acquired an Australian-based company, Futu Securities (Australia) Ltd. Futu Securities (Australia) Ltd holds an Australian Financial Services License (“AFSL”). The AFSL is a license granted and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and with AFSL, Futu Securities (Australia) Ltd is now qualified to provide one-stop online brokerage services to local investors. Australia is the third international market that moomoo enters after the US and Singapore.
As of quarter end, Futu and its subsidiaries hold 44 licenses in the US, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Australia, and Europe markets.
Fund investors Increased by 231% Year-over-Year
In the fourth quarter, Futu’s another promising business, wealth management, maintained a rapid growth trend and the asset under management reached HK$18.8 billion (approximately US$2.41 billion), a year-over-year increase of 83.5%. The penetration rate of investors who currently hold fund units and investors who have subscribed to funds both achieved new records. As of quarter-end, the number of investors who hold fund units was 140,000, a year-over-year increase of 231.0%.
In the fourth quarter, AUM of private investment funds in Q4 continued to expand by 621.0% year-over-year and by 120.3% on a quarter-over-quarter basis.
Since its launch, Futu’s wealth management brand Money Plus has always adhered to highly quantitative fund selection methodology, continued to establish and strengthen cooperation with world-renowned financial institutions, and provided diverse and high-quality fund products for global clients. As of quarter end, 60 prestigious financial institutions have partnered with Futu Money Plus, of which 4 were newly onboared in the fourth quarter, including Fidelity International, AXA Investment Managers, and Natixis Investment Managers.
In the Singapore market, Futu has won the favor of numerous investors with a series of selected fund products and customized services. As of quarter end, Futu Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“Futu Singapor”) has entered partnerships with 20 world-class financial institutions, and fund AUM and the number of fund investors have increased by more than 400% quarter-over-quarter.
IPO Distributions and IR Service Corporate Clients Up 125% Year-over-Year
As a well-versed industry player in providing enterprise services such as IPO distribution, IR and PR services, and one-stop ESOP equity incentive programs through its corporate business brand Futu I&E, Futu has become the go-to choice for numerous companies worth over HK$100 billion.
As of quarter end, Futu had provided IPO distribution and IR services for 236 companies, a year-over-year increase of 124.8%. In the fourth quarter, Futu participated in a number of sought-after Hong Kong IPOs such as SenseTime, SF Intra-City, ANE Inc., and MicroPort MedBot. Among the newly listed companies in Hong Kong in 2021, all of which with a market cap of over HK$100 billion chose to cooperate with Futu I&E. Futu I&E IPO and IR service execution excellence was recognized by more and more industry leaders, with its brand and reputation further sustained.
Also, Futu’s IPO distribution business in Singapore made new progress. Futu Singapore was entrusted by Nikko Asset Management and served as one of its participating dealers for the listing of NikkoAM- StraitsTrading MSCI China Electric Vehicles And Future Mobility ETF on the Singapore Exchange. The ETF subscription amount via Futu Singapore ranked the first among retail brokers.
As of quarter end, Futu Enterprise Services had served 400 ESOP clients, a year-over-year increase of 151.6%. Clients include industry leaders in consumption, healthcare, cutting-edge technologies, TMT, and other sectors, such as HEYTEA, Zihaiguo, AInnovation, Advanced Manufacturing EDA and HuiGene Therapeutics.
Drawing upon more than 17 million individual investors and an active community ecology, Futu has successfully attracted over 800 companies to open an enterprise page. Among them, well-known public companies such as Hang Lung Properties, MicroPort Medbot, Xinyi Solar Holdings, China Feihe joined in the fourth quarter. Through the moomoo and Futubull communities, Futu has built a bridge of communications between listed companies and individual investors, promoting mutual understanding and positive interactions between the two sides.
Fintech
Revolutionizing Rewards: How ZBD and Finfare Connect Are Bringing Bitcoin to Everyday Spending
ZBD, a pioneer in merging gaming and payments through Bitcoin rewards, is taking a bold step beyond gaming with its new partnership with Finfare Connect. By offering instant Bitcoin cashback for everyday purchases at major retailers like Nike, Adidas, and Best Buy, ZBD is transforming how users engage with rewards. In this interview, Ben Cousens, CSO of ZBD, shares insights on the partnership, its impact on user loyalty, and how it’s shaping the future of Bitcoin adoption through seamless, real-world applications.
Q: ZBD has been a key player in merging gaming and payments through Bitcoin rewards. How does this new partnership with Finfare Connect enhance ZBD’s existing offerings, and what excites you most about giving users more ways to earn Bitcoin through everyday purchases?
Ben: The ZBD app has been used by millions of players to earn rewards instantly within games; a process made possible through our payments system. We’re constantly looking to provide new ways for users to earn rewards within the ZBD app, building upon the credibility and growth we’ve seen in the games industry. Our partnership with Finfare provides instant cashback through the ZBD app to customers in the USA, as they shop at brands and retailers like Nike, Adidas, and BestBuy. What’s exciting to me is we get to flex the power of our payment system even more – instant payments with no minimums are an amazing cashback mechanic.
Q: With the ability for ZBD users to link payment cards and accounts to earn Bitcoin rewards from brands like Nike, Adidas, and Best Buy, how do you see this partnership impacting user engagement and loyalty within your platform?
Ben: I see audiences behaving in two ways. The first are users who may come to the shopping section of the app often to check available deals, and purchase accordingly to take advantage of the discounts offered.
At the same time, other users will just link their accounts, shop as they normally would, and automatically receive rewards in the ZBD app without even thinking about it. I actually find this second segment more exciting, as it just seems such a seamless and, from a payments point of view, pretty futuristic solution.
We are doing this to provide a valuable service and delight our users. If we can succeed in that, which so far seems to be the case, then engagement and loyalty will increase. It’s about fulfilling the promise of being the best place for rewards with real value, paid out instantly and available for people to use instantly.
Q: ZBD is known for integrating Bitcoin rewards with gaming and social experiences. How do you envision this partnership with Finfare Connect helping ZBD extend its appeal beyond gaming and into more mainstream shopping and daily transactions?
Ben: Providing more use cases outside of gaming fits with our ethos of being a tech-first company focused on revolutionizing online payments. Once payment accounts are linked to Finfare, ZBD seamlessly provides cashback with no input required from the user. This perfectly aligns with why users come to ZBD – we are using payments to make digital experiences more rewarding.
We believe the partnership allows us to bring our users a feature they will love, but it might also bring a different type of user to ZBD: one that comes primarily for the shopping aspects and sees the gaming and entertainment features as less important. This is something the market will show us and we’ll adapt based on the users and usage we see, but it’s certainly exciting.
Q: The collaboration with Finfare Connect seems to make Bitcoin rewards more accessible for everyday users. How important is this accessibility to ZBD’s strategy, and how do you see it contributing to broader Bitcoin adoption in the long term?
Ben: ZBD is a payments company that plays heavily in the rewards space and the way we revolutionize payments is by using the Bitcoin lightning network as our underlying rail. This isn’t about pushing Bitcoin or making users aware of it, though I won’t lie, it can make user acquisition easier. It’s about laying groundwork and building out meaningful steps forward in online payment experiences, starting with rewards, and then going beyond.
It’s always our goal to make everything we do accessible to everyday users with no Bitcoin knowledge. We want the experience to be simpler, more seamless and faster than any other type of financial technology. The majority of our users are new to Bitcoin and find us through games. Our goal is to educate them a bit, but mostly to just give them products they can use intuitively and get value from even if they aren’t at all interested in Bitcoin. Now, we’re bringing this approach to shopping rewards.
Bitcoin adoption will happen if Bitcoin is used by a wide range of people as part of their everyday lives. Bitcoin will be used if it is useful, simple and solves a problem. So we aren’t ever thinking about Bitcoin adoption. We’re just doing what we do the best we can and adoption will take care of itself.
Fintech
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Axos Bank, Global Trading Network, Fonepay, Compass Plus Technologies, Instacoins)
Axos Bank Partners with Way.com to Address Rising Car Costs
Axos Bank has teamed up with Way.com to help customers mitigate increasing car expenses. This partnership focuses on vehicle refinancing and aims to offer savings through integrated digital solutions. By combining Way.com’s auto services with Axos’ financial products, users can streamline their vehicle-related expenses, from insurance to payments. This move reflects Axos’ strategy to enhance its consumer offerings by leveraging partnerships in niche sectors.
Source: Axos Bank.
Brazil’s Largest Drug Gang Under Investigation for Fintech Infiltration
Brazilian authorities are probing the country’s largest drug gang for using fintech platforms to launder money. This investigation highlights concerns over the growing use of digital financial tools by organized crime. The gang allegedly exploited fintech’s lack of stringent oversight compared to traditional banking, raising red flags about regulatory gaps in the digital financial landscape.
Source: Bloomberg.
GTN Appoints New CEO to Drive European Expansion
Global Trading Network (GTN) has appointed Christopher Gregory as CEO for Europe, marking a pivotal step in its strategic expansion across the continent. Gregory, known for his expertise in fintech and capital markets, is expected to lead GTN’s efforts in diversifying its product offerings and enhancing its market presence. This leadership shift underscores GTN’s commitment to capitalizing on Europe’s burgeoning fintech market.
Source: PR Newswire.
Fonepay and Compass Plus Launch Nepal’s First Virtual Credit Card
Nepal’s digital payments ecosystem takes a leap forward with Fonepay partnering with Compass Plus Technologies to introduce the nation’s first virtual credit card. This innovation aims to promote cashless transactions and enhance financial inclusion by offering secure, contactless payment options. This development aligns with Nepal’s digital transformation goals and is set to redefine consumer payment experiences in the region.
Source: Fintech Futures.
Instacoins Partners with Luxury Brands for Digital Payments
Instacoins is expanding its footprint in the luxury market by partnering with high-end brands to enable cryptocurrency payments. This initiative is designed to offer affluent customers a seamless digital payment option, blending traditional luxury shopping with modern fintech solutions. The partnership also reflects the increasing adoption of cryptocurrency in mainstream commerce.
Source: PR Newswire.
The post Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Axos Bank, Global Trading Network, Fonepay, Compass Plus Technologies, Instacoins) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Bety is a decentralized casino and sportsbook platform that supports Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals. It is owned and operated by 12 Stars International Gaming Solutions Limited, a company established in Seychelles.
Bety, one of the leading Web3 betting platforms with a decentralized approach to casinos and sportsbooks, has unveiled its enhanced offer, boasting over 20,000 crypto casino games, sports, and eSports events. The platform aims to become one of the top Bitcoin casinos with a fair, transparent, and unmatched gaming experience for everyone
Blockchain technology is a catalyst for innovation in all sectors, and online casino gaming is no exception. The growing adoption of cryptocurrency into the mainstream supports the emergence of groundbreaking platforms in digital entertainment. Bety is one of the major players spearheading this revolution by offering secure and accessible gaming experiences to change how people interact with online gambling services.
The Advantages of Web3 Betting
Traditional online casinos have been around since the early days of the Internet. However, they have always faced the same challenges, such as slow payouts and high deposit/withdrawal fees. Moreover, users have often complained about the improvable fairness of game bets and their outcomes.
Web3 betting solves these issues and takes online casino gaming to the next level through blockchain gaming. Its use of decentralized ledger technology ensures a transparent gaming experience for all users. It also accelerates deposit and withdrawal times at considerably lower costs than what traditional casinos practice.
The processing times for deposits at traditional and crypto casinos are similar, often occurring instantly. However, there is a significant difference in withdrawal times between conventional online casinos and blockchain-based casinos.For example, traditional casinos can take several days to process withdrawals. Users often have to wait up to 3 days to transfer winnings to their credit/debit cards and 7 days via bank transfers. On the other hand, crypto casinos process payouts in only a few minutes, sometimes instantly, depending on the blockchain network’s congestion. This remarkable speed allows players to access their earnings faster and enhances the user experience.
The Rise of Blockchain Gaming
Blockchain gaming is a game-changer for the online casino experience. This technology offers unprecedented levels of trust and transparency. Thanks to its decentralized nature, players from various regions can play in complete anonymity and privacy. Furthermore, the lack of a centralized authority enhances game insights. It sets the stage for provably fair game mechanics, thus empowering players to make informed choices.Bety is an innovative blockchain gaming platform that employs the Provable Fairness concept, which is fundamental for Web3 betting. The platform ensures that game outcomes are determined randomly and cannot be manipulated by the operator or any other party. Therefore, Bety guarantees equal winning odds for all players.
Innovation and Accessibility
Bety stands out as a popular crypto casino with a rich selection of classic casino games and sports events catering to high-end players. The platform excels through its user-centered approach, which includes various bonuses, an exclusive VIP program, and 24/7 customer support.Moreover, Bety embraces the latest technological advances by incorporating the many benefits of blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin payments. The platform supports quick Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals, offering higher privacy and accessibility than traditional payment methods, such as debit or credit cards.
Hash Games at Bety Casino
Blockchain technology increases the gaming offer for online casinos, providing games not supported by traditional casinos. For example, conventional casinos rely on the classic offer of vintage games with limited scalability and versatility potential. On the other hand, blockchain provides a fertile ground for boundless creativity, spurring innovative concepts, such as play-to-earn and hold-to-earn.Gaming diversity is one of the most exciting aspects of building a Web3 betting platform on blockchain technology. In addition to offering traditional casino games such as slots, poker, blackjack, and roulette, Web3 casinos also provide hash games.Hash games are fast-paced, simple games that mimic classic casino games while adding a pinch of excitement. The game mechanics use hash value calculation and blockchain algorithms to deliver a thrilling, straightforward gaming experience. Players must wager on a predicted hash interval and win if their prediction is correct. Hash games involve various betting options that broaden the winning odds.Bety has several hash games in its versatile blockchain gaming offer, including Hash Banker Player, Hash Bull, 3-Min Bull, 1-Min Banker Player, and more. These games function by simple, easy-to-understand rules and ensure provable fair outcomes with appealing RTP rates.
A Unique Classic Casino Gaming Offer
In the most recent offer upgrade, Bety reveals an enhanced gaming offer, including slots, live casino, table games, lottery games, and sports events. Users can pick from over 10,000 casino games from leading brands, such as PGSoft, Evolution Gaming, Evoplay, Yggdrasil, Red Tiger, EG Games, Spribe, JILI, AE Sexy, Ezugi, and PNG. This stellar collection of games from reputable brands ensures players have non-stop access to the latest games and live events while enjoying a cutting-edge gaming experience.Bety offers a versatile library of over 10,000 slot games from more than 100 leading brands. Many of these games involve highly appealing bonuses, making the playing experience even more exciting. The platform replicates an authentic casino experience through its live casino that players can enjoy without leaving their homes. Also, the table games section includes many traditional and fan-favorite games, such as poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, and more.
Promotions & Bonuses
Bety also provides several promotions for new and veteran players to make the gaming experience even more thrilling and fulfilling. The platform offers bonuses on the first 4 deposits and 7-day and monthly bonuses. Furthermore, referring friends to Bety entitles players to additional bonuses and earning opportunities.
The VIP Program
Bety invites players to explore its large blockchain gaming selection. They can quickly make transparent and instant Bitcoin deposits to play these games and boost their profiles on the platform. In time, the most loyal players can enter Bety’s VIP program and enjoy several advantages, including cash back incentives, free chests, free spins, and personal VIP assistants. Moreover, the platform also supports instant Bitcoin withdrawals.
The post Bety Unveils Enhanced Offer of 20,000+ Crypto Games and Sportsbook Events appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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