Author: Journalist Benedict

Personal loans can be a useful financial tool when facing large or unexpected expenses — such as weddings, funerals, home repairs, or emergency medical bills. And when you can apply and receive the funds entirely online, it makes the process faster and more convenient. However, it’s important to choose the right lender — not just the first one you find online. To help you avoid wasting time or money, CNBC Select evaluated dozens of lenders based on factors like interest rates, fees, loan amounts, funding speed, and customer experience. Below are five online lenders that stand out for offering fast,…

Clean energy and climate tech companies often rely on government grants and publicly funded projects to grow their businesses. While these funds are essential, they don’t always arrive when needed. Payments can be delayed, or businesses may require upfront cash to begin work before grant money comes in. That’s where one startup is stepping in to fill the funding gap. Enduring Planet, a company born in the Pacific Northwest, is doing just that—helping climate startups with their cash flow by offering more flexible and faster funding solutions. Launched in 2021, Enduring Planet started out by offering loans backed by government…

Executive Summary Real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation is a process that turns physical or traditional financial assets like property, gold, and government bonds into digital tokens on a blockchain. These tokens come with built-in features like identity verification (KYC), asset custody, and regulatory compliance. Large financial firms such as BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Visa are leading this shift, working alongside crypto-native platforms like Ondo and Centrifuge. Public blockchains such as Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche offer the technical backbone for issuing and managing these tokenised assets, ensuring speed, scalability, and high security. Today, RWA tokenisation platforms manage over $10 billion in value (excluding…

Lake County, Florida — Recent housing data released by Realtor.com reveals that both homebuyers and sellers in Lake County experienced a noticeable dip in property sale prices in April 2025 compared to March. This trend suggests a cooling of the local housing market after a period of higher activity. According to Realtor.com’s latest analysis, the median price for homes sold in Lake County in April stood at $369,900, which is 5.9% lower than March’s median of $393,250. This monthly decline marks a significant pullback and could indicate shifting buyer demand or seasonal market adjustments. However, when comparing April 2025 to…

AbstractManaging digital identity data is a growing challenge for individuals and organizations in today’s increasingly digital economy, government services, and online society. Recently, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have emerged as a potential solution for representing and managing digital identities. NFTs, which are stored on blockchain systems, can effectively represent identity data that’s kept in decentralized databases. Although the use of NFTs for digital identity is promising, it also brings up important concerns around data privacy and legal compliance. This paper explores how NFTs can be used for digital identity representation and management, with a focus on potential privacy risks and strategies…

Key Takeaways Getting preventive care or emergency treatment is crucial for your well-being. But when the bills are too high to pay out-of-pocket, medical loans can provide fast financial help. This type of loan gives you access to funds quickly—sometimes by the next business day. Still, before applying, it’s important to fully understand the potential risks involved. What Is a Medical Loan? A medical loan is a type of personal loan designed specifically to pay for healthcare expenses. These loans can be used for a wide range of medical needs—such as emergency surgery, elective procedures, fertility treatments (like IVF), and…

Modern financial technology, often called fintech, is a rapidly evolving field with new innovations emerging constantly. One of the most game-changing technologies in this space is blockchain. It hasn’t just improved how fintech companies operate—it has also given rise to a whole new category called decentralized finance, or DeFi. But what exactly is blockchain, and how is it helping fintech companies grow? In this detailed guide, we’ll explain how blockchain works, why it’s so important in fintech, explore its top use cases, and show you why launching a blockchain-based fintech app in 2024 is a smart move. How Is Blockchain…

Posted on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 | By IndusInd Bank Freelancing gives you the freedom to work on your own terms, be your own boss, and enjoy a flexible schedule. But along with this independence comes a unique set of financial challenges—especially when unexpected expenses arise or when you need money to grow your business or handle personal emergencies. In such cases, a personal loan can offer the financial support you need. However, freelancers often face more difficulty securing loans because they don’t have a regular monthly salary. Unlike salaried workers, freelancers must prove their income through other means. This…

Introduction: What Are Loan Apps Without CRB Checks? Imagine needing fast money for an unexpected expense, urgent school fee, emergency business cost, or even a personal event. In Kenya, mobile loan apps have become one of the most popular solutions. Even better, some of these apps do not check your CRB (Credit Reference Bureau) status, making it easier for more people to qualify. In traditional lending, banks rely on CRB reports to decide whether to approve your loan. These reports are like your financial scorecard, showing past loans and payment behavior. If you have a poor or limited history—or no…

Are you a musician in the UK struggling to find the right funding to support your career? Whether you need money to create, perform, record, or develop your skills, there are many organisations and funding bodies that can help support your journey in the music industry. While applying for music funding can be highly competitive, you can improve your chances of success by focusing only on the opportunities that best suit your unique project or personal circumstances. It’s also essential to take your time to complete application forms clearly, thoroughly, and with accurate information. Key Funding Organisations That Support Musicians…