As we’ve pointed out consistently here in Money&Co.’s News and in the Blog section, 2021 is set to be the year of the digital asset, with the Bitcoin price surge leading a massive resurgence of interest in the area.
But for many, the idea of engaging with digital currency remains just that – an idea. That’s all changing as fast as the mainstream finance sector can make it happen.
Here’s a key section of a news report from our friends at UKTech News: The UK company’s open payment network aims to transform the digital economy by making digital micropayments and cross-border transactions viable by reducing excessive fees.
Bottlepay, a Bitcoin-based global payments app, has secured £11 million in a seed funding. The round was led by a range of investors including British fund manager and billionaire Alan Howard, present and former Goldman Sachs partners, FinTech Collective, NYDIG, and tech entrepreneur Phil Doye.
The funding will be used to expand the team and develop the platform’s functionality and geographical reach.
Founded by Pete Cheyne and Peter O’Donoghue, Bottlepay facilitates instant payments, including micropayments, in conventional currencies and Bitcoin.
The UK company’s open payment network aims to transform the digital economy by making digital micropayments and cross-border transactions viable by reducing excessive fees.
Historical Performance And IFISA Process Guide
That figure is the result of over £20 million of loans facilitated on the site, as we bring individuals looking for a good return on capital together with carefully vetted small companies seeking funds for growth. Bear in mind that lenders’ capital is at risk. Read warnings on site before committing capital.
All loans on site are eligible to be held in a Money&Co. Innovative Finance Individual Savings Account (IFISA), up to the annual ISA limit of £20,000. Such loans offer lenders tax-free income. Our offering is an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) that can hold the peer-to-peer (P2P) business loans that Money&Co. facilitates. For the purposes of this article, the terms ISA and IFISA are interchangeable.
So here’s our guide to the process:
The ISA allowance for 2019/20 is unchanged from last tax year at £20,000, allowing a married couple to put £40,000 into a tax-free environment. Over three years, an investment of this scale in two Money&Co. Innovative Finance ISAs would generate £8,400 of income completely free of tax. We’re assuming a 7 per cent return, net of charges and free of tax here.
Once you have made your initial commitment, you might then consider diversifying – buying a spread of loans. To do this, you can go into the “loans for sale” market. All loans bought in this market also qualify for IFISA tax benefits.
Risk: Security, Access, Yield
Do consider not just the return, but the security and the ease of access to your investment. We write regularly about these three key factors. Here’s one of several earlier articles on security, access and yield.