Search Results (23)

Extent ecosystems of crypto financial assets (crypto-assets) lack parity and coherence across the globe. This asymmetry is further heightened with a knowledge gap in operational risk management, wherein the global landscape of crypto-assets is characterized by unprecedented external risks and internal vulnerabilities. In this study, we present a critical examination and comprehensive analysis of current crypto-asset operational guidelines across geographies. We benchmark these guidelines to the Basel Committee for Banking Supervision (BCBS) risk classification framework for crypto-assets, identifying gaps in the operations across organizations. We, hence, conceptualize a novel institutional framework which may help in understanding and mitigating the gaps in operational risks’ regulation of crypto-assets. Our proposed Crypto-asset Operational Risk Management (CORM) framework determines how operational risk associated with crypto-assets of financial institutions can be mitigated to respond to the increasing demand for crypto-assets, cross border payments, electronic money, and cryptocurrencies, across countries. Applicable to firms irrespective of their size and scale of operations, CORM aligns with global regulatory initiatives, facilitating compliance and fostering trust among stakeholders. Strengthening our argument of CORM’s applicability, we present its efficacy in the form of alternate hypothetical outcomes in two distinct real-life cases wherein crypto-asset exchanges succumbed to either external risks, such as hacking, or internal vulnerabilities. It paves the way for future regulatory response with a structured approach to addressing the unique operational risks associated with crypto-assets. The framework advocates for collaborative efforts among industry stakeholders, ensuring its adaptability to the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. It further contributes to the establishment of a more resilient and regulated financial ecosystem, inclusive of crypto-assets. By implementing CORM, institutions can navigate the complexities of crypto-assets while safeguarding their interests and promoting sustainable growth in the digital asset market. Full article

Commercial banks constitute a crucial segment of China’s financial system, and their efficient operation is directly linked to the development of other sectors within the national economy. The sustainable profitability of these banks is vital for maintaining the stability of China’s financial system. In the context of the current digital economy, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of financial technology (fintech) development on the sustainable profitability of commercial banks and its underlying mechanisms. Such research can promote the digital transformation of commercial banks, enhance risk supervision policies, and mitigate systemic financial risks. This study utilizes EViews software Version 13 to analyze annual data from 13 listed commercial banks in China over the period from 2011 to 2021. It examines the influence of fintech on the profitability of these banks, considering their unique characteristics and drawing insights from the existing literature on the mechanisms through which fintech affects bank profitability. Employing both a static panel fixed effects variable-intercept model and a dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) model, the empirical findings indicate that fintech development significantly impacts the profitability of listed commercial banks. Full article

The digital transformation of banks has led to a paradigm shift, promoting the open sharing of data and services with third-party providers through APIs, SDKs, and other technological means. While data sharing brings personalized, convenient, and enriched services to users, it also introduces security risks, including sensitive data leakage and misuse, highlighting the importance of data classification and grading as the foundational pillar of security. This paper presents a cloud-edge collaborative banking data open application scenario, focusing on the critical need for an accurate and automated sensitive data classification and categorization method. The regulatory outpost module addresses this requirement, aiming to enhance the precision and efficiency of data classification. Firstly, regulatory policies impose strict requirements concerning data protection. Secondly, the sheer volume of business and the complexity of the work situation make it impractical to rely on manual experts, as they incur high labor costs and are unable to guarantee significant accuracy. Therefore, we propose a scheme UP-SDCG for automatically classifying and grading financially sensitive structured data. We developed a financial data hierarchical classification library. Additionally, we employed library augmentation technology and implemented a synonym discrimination model. We conducted an experimental analysis using simulation datasets, where UP-SDCG achieved precision surpassing 95%, outperforming the other three comparison models. Moreover, we performed real-world testing in financial institutions, achieving good detection results in customer data, supervision, and additional in personally sensitive information, aligning with application goals. Our ongoing work will extend the model’s capabilities to encompass unstructured data classification and grading, broadening the scope of application. Full article

With the frequent occurrence of financial risks, financial innovation supervision has become an important research issue, and excellent regulatory strategies are of great significance to maintain the stability and sustainable development of financial markets. Thus, this paper intends to analyze the financial regulation strategies through evolutionary game theory. In this paper, the delayed replication dynamic equation and the non-delayed replication dynamic equation are established, respectively, under different reward and punishment mechanisms, and their stability conditions and evolutionary stability strategies are investigated. The analysis finds that under the static mechanism, the internal equilibrium is unstable, and the delay does not affect the stability of the system, while in the dynamic mechanism, when the delay is less than a critical value, the two sides of the game have an evolutionary stable strategy, otherwise it is unstable, and Hopf bifurcation occurs at threshold. Finally, some numerical simulation examples are provided, and the numerical results show the correctness of the proposed algorithm. Full article

Securing online financial transactions has become a critical concern in an era where financial services are becoming more and more digital. The transition to digital platforms for conducting daily transactions exposed customers to possible risks from cybercriminals. This study proposed a framework that combines multi-factor authentication and machine learning to increase the safety of online financial transactions. Our methodology is based on using two layers of security. The first layer incorporates two factors to authenticate users. The second layer utilizes a machine learning component, which is triggered when the system detects a potential fraud. This machine learning layer employs facial recognition as a decisive authentication factor for further protection. To build the machine learning model, four supervised classifiers were tested: logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, and naive Bayes. The results showed that the accuracy of each classifier was 97.938%, 97.881%, 96.717%, and 92.354%, respectively. This study’s superiority is due to its methodology, which integrates machine learning as an embedded layer in a multi-factor authentication framework to address usability, efficacy, and the dynamic nature of various e-commerce platform features. With the evolving financial landscape, a continuous exploration of authentication factors and datasets to enhance and adapt security measures will be considered in future work. Full article

Background and Objectives: Analysis of urine stone composition is one of the most important factors in urolithiasis treatment. This study investigated whether a convolutional neural network (CNN) can show decent results in predicting urinary stone composition even in single-use flexible ureterorenoscopic (fURS) images with relatively low resolution. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively used surgical images from fURS lithotripsy performed by a single surgeon between January 2018 and December 2021. The ureterorenoscope was a single-use flexible ureteroscope (LithoVue, Boston Scientific). Among the images taken during surgery, a single image satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria was selected for each stone. Cases were divided into two groups according to whether they contained any calcium oxalate (the Calcium group) or none (the Non-calcium group). From 506 total cases, 207 stone surface images were finally included in the study. In the CNN model, the transfer learning method using Resnet-18 as a pre-trained model was used, and only endoscopic digital images and stone classification data were input to achieve minimally supervised learning. Results: There were 175 cases in the Calcium group and 32 in the Non-calcium group. After training and validation, the model was tested using the test set, and the total accuracy was 81.8%. Recall and precision of the test results were 88.2% and 88.2% in the Calcium group and 60.0% and 60.0% in the Non-calcium group, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model, which represents its classification performance, was 0.82. Conclusions: Single-use flexible ureteroscopes have financial benefits but low vision quality compared with reusable digital flexible ureteroscopes. As far as we know, this is the first artificial intelligence study using single-use fURS images. It is meaningful that the CNN performed well even under these difficult conditions because these results can further expand the possibilities of its use. Full article

As an emerging product of the coupling of digital technique and traditional finance, digital inclusive finance (DIF) may play a vital role in alleviating the contradiction between economic growth and environmental contamination. This paper utilises the panel data from various provinces in China as a sample to empirically test the effect of DIF on industrial pollution. The study found that (1) DIF and its sub-dimension coverage (DIF_B) and depth of use (DIF_D) have significant governance effects on industrial pollution, and the conclusion remains valid even when endogeneity is considered; (2) the mediation effect test found that the upgrading of the industrial structure and the degree of technological innovation are important transmission paths for DIF to reduce industrial pollution; (3) the heterogeneity test found that the effect of DIF on industrial pollution control successively showed a pattern of weakening in the centre, eastern, and western regions, while the treatment effect of DIF on industrial wastewater is better than that of industrial waste gas, and the effect on industrial solid pollutant emissions has a U-shaped non-linear relation that is first suppressed and then promoted; (4) the threshold effect test found that DIF, DIF_B, and DIF_D all have a double threshold effect on industrial pollution. Based on the empirical outcomes, this paper proposes measures to improve the development mechanism of DIF, formulate differentiated monetary support and oversight policies under local conditions, and build and enhance the supervision mechanism of the digital financial industry and prevent systemic risks. Full article

After the 2008 financial crisis, companies in China begun paying more attention to sustainable development. This article attempts to examine whether and how digital transformation affects total factor productivity (TFP) at the firm-level. Using 2913 listed companies in China from 2012 to 2018, this study finds that digital transformation is positively associated with corporate TFP in China. Our explanatory variable of firm-level digitalization index is constructed via text analysis methods. After a series of robustness checks and different attempts that mitigate endogeneity concerns, our findings remain valid. However, traditional information and communication technologies (ICT) cannot improve corporate TFP. Further analyses of three plausible channels indicate that digital technologies improve TFP primarily through cost reduction and human substitution rather than supervision advantage. The results indicate that firms achieve actual benefits from the digital transformation, and how digital transformation improve the sustainable development. This study could serve as a policy inspiration for other developing countries. Full article

The purpose of this original study is to critically analyse the emergence and development of the national models of financial regulation, international standards and codes, and regional and national financial regulation and supervision (for the cases of the UK, USA, Sweden, the EU, and Finland). The research raises both academic and regulatory concerns. The relevance and purpose of this research arise from a need for an academic analysis of the economic nature and classification of financial market regulation systems. They represent a theoretical justification for changes in the policies and supervisory practices of national and international regulatory authorities in response to innovations in financial technologies and instruments, digital products, and risks. Secondly, it will stimulate more systematic work on regulatory databases, registration, and reporting procedures in various economies in different financial markets. The author identifies five main systems of national financial regulatory markets: the multi-tiered, multi-agency US system, the twin peaks model (UK), and the mega-regulatory model (Sweden). There is a thorough review of the international standards and institutions that work for the stability of financial systems. The analysis of the regional and national systems of financial regulation and supervision is based on the examples of the EU and Finnish institutions. National macro- and micro-economic regulation and supervision have been examined, with a focus on the US Federal Reserve and the US Treasury. An important result of the study is the systematisation of the directions of the development of national and international regulatory institutions (since the 1980s). First, the minimum capital and credit risk requirements for banks (the 1980s) were complemented in the 21st century by buffer reserves, liquidity, and leverage standards. Second, regulation focuses on ensuring the sustainability of the national economy. The regulatory focus is on ensuring the sustainability of national and global financial systems. Third, there is an increase in the number of supervised institutions. Fourth, there is a division of the functions between central banks (macro-economic regulation) and one or two mega-regulators (micro-economic regulation and supervision). Fifth, there is a division of labour between the international financial institutions (BIS, IMF, and WB) and national regulators. Sixth, the focus is on protecting consumers and investors and countering money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Seventh, there is an understanding based on a common approach by central banks to new financial technologies and cybersecurity. Full article

Deepening the development of digital inclusive finance, dredging the impact of digital inclusive finance on the innovation path of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and strengthening financial supervision and government support are of great significance to promoting the technological innovation of SMEs. This paper selects listed companies on the New Third Board as research samples and analyzes and empirically tests the relationship between digital inclusive financial and technological innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises. The results show that digital inclusive finance can significantly promote the technological innovation level of SMEs, especially the higher the degree of digitalization, the more obvious the promotion effect. Upon further testing, it was more pronounced in the sample of high-tech industries and eastern SMEs. Digital inclusive finance can effectively alleviate the financing constraints of SMEs, thereby promoting the technological innovation of SMEs. Reasonable financial supervision and adaptive government subsidies have a positive regulating effect on the innovation incentive effect of digital inclusive finance. Full article

The issuance of digital currency electronic payments (DC/EP), under the supervision of the People’s Bank of China, will have a certain impact on commercial banks, and will further affect the areas of internet finance and traditional financing. This paper studies the regulatory performance of DC/EP in the post-lending market under the models of internet finance and bank financing, exploring their theoretical and practical significance. Through the construction of an enterprise profit function and the regulatory utility function under the models of internet finance and bank financing, this study explores the impact of using DC/EP on the post-lending market. The study proves the following:In the absence of government regulation, internet finance platforms will increase the leverage ratio of loans, in order to obtain excess profits. The emergence of regulatory authorities and the use of DC/EP will control the leverage ratio of internet finance platforms, purify market performance, and stabilize the market order. The application of DC/EP provides a risk control method for the financial market, and coupled with government regulatory measures, it will effectively regulate the existing market order of internet finance platforms and increase the credibility of DC/EP. Therefore, the management insights obtained from this study of the application of DC/EP and the government regulation of existing financing and lending methods in the financial sector have practical significance for the current market. Full article

Digital technology has energized the development of inclusive finance in China and is beneficial in lowering the threshold and transaction costs of financial services and expanding financial coverage. However, it is a key issue whether digital inclusive finance can help SMEs overcome financing difficulties, obtain liquidity, reduce corporate leverage, and thus achieve sustainable development. By using the data from China’s small- and medium-sized listed companies and an aggregate development index of digital inclusive finance at the county level in China from 2015–2019, this empirical analysis finds that the development of digital inclusive finance can significantly reduce the leverage ratio of SMEs; specifically, the development of digital inclusive finance can cut down the leverage ratio of enterprises through easing financing constraints and reducing finance costs. Heterogeneity analysis shows that digital inclusive finance is more effective in reducing leverage for those low- and medium-leverage and non-private enterprises. Accordingly, it is suggested that the government continue to promote the development of digital inclusive finance, deepen the financial supply-side structural reform, and improve the efficiency of financial recycling. SMEs should speed up digital transformation to enable digital finance to provide precise financing services and achieve high-quality sustainable development. Digital financial institutions should improve the digital inclusive financial system as soon as possible, realize scientific supervision and risk prevention, and promote the sustainable development of digital finance. Full article

Accounts receivable financing is one of the most prominent financing approaches in supply chain finance; nevertheless, in the actual financing process, financial institutions and SMEs have credit risk and information asymmetry risk, which leads to frequent nonpayment and collaboration fraudulent loans. This paper introduces central bank digital currency into traditional accounts receivable financing and solves the credit risk and information asymmetry risk using two technologies of central bank digital currency: digital technology and blockchain technology; digital technology enables the supervision of capital flow, and blockchain technology enables for access to logistics and information flow. In the context of using central bank digital currency technology, this paper builds an evolutionary game model of whether financial institutions use central bank digital currency and whether SMEs repay the loan, compares the evolutionary stabilization strategies of financial institutions and SMEs, calculates and analyzes the model’s impact, investigates changes in the decision-making and evolutionary paths of both parties, and then conducts numerical simulation analysis using Matlab and Python to verify the model’s reliability further. According to the results, adding central bank digital currency to the traditional accounts receivable financing model can reduce the loan risk of financial institutions, increase the credibility of accounts receivable financing, expedite the implementation of accounts receivable financing, and alleviate the financing concerns of SMEs. Full article

According to the Plan for Rural Development of Digital Agriculture (2019–2025), accelerated integration of digital technologies and agriculture is crucial to promoting high-quality agriculture in China. The application of DIT in agricultural activities will not only help improve the efficiency of agricultural production, but also promote the green development of agriculture and the achievement of the Dual Carbon Target (DCT). In order to further clarify the comprehensive effects of the application of DIT in agricultural systems and provide routes for government decision-makers to assist in reducing agricultural emissions by DIT, this paper adopts the logical deductive method and starts with the application status to draw out the specific paths of low-carbon transformation in DIT-driven agriculture, while further discussing the potential issues in the process and corresponding solutions. DIT is a double-edged sword. It can promote the green and low-carbon transformation of agriculture by implementing precision operation, environmental monitoring, optimizing carbon emission accounting, and supervising the carbon market. However, at the same time, it may face problems such as unbalanced rural development and excessive financialization of the carbon market. Therefore, we should be optimistic but cautious about the application of DIT in reducing agricultural emissions. We can address potential problems by strengthening government-led investment, broadening channels for capital investment, strengthening skills training for farmers, and enhancing the regulation of trading in carbon sink markets. Full article

Digital financial innovation is a new impetus for economic and social development. However, lack of regulation will also have a huge impact on economic and social development. In this paper, an evolutionary game model of digital finance innovation is constructed, the evolutionary strategies of both sides of the game are discussed, and a simulation analysis is carried out, based on the dynamic reward and punishment mechanism of the government. The results show that the system can achieve evolutionary stability under the dynamic reward and punishment mechanism, and that the evolutionarily stable strategy is unique. We also find that when the punishment of regulators increases, the probability of compliance innovation of digital financial enterprises will increase, and the probability of active supervision of regulatory agencies will decrease. When regulators increase incentives, the probability of the compliance innovation of digital financial enterprises will decrease. Similarly, the probability of active supervision by regulators will also decrease and the decrease will be more obvious. To achieve the win-win development of digital financial innovation and regulation, it is necessary to continuously improve the regulatory capacity and level, reduce regulatory costs, and build a dynamic reward and punishment mechanism. Our research contributes to enhancing compliance innovation in digital financial enterprises. Full article