Trendwatch Finance: April 27, 2020

Forbes: As COVID-19 Lenders, Fintechs Get To Prove They Can Do It Better Than Banks

The fintech firms through automation and technology believe they will be able to process applications much more quickly.

MIT Technology Review: How the Pandemic Makes the Case for a “public Venmo” 

The need to distribute emergency government benefits could lead to new, publicly run payment systems.        

MIT Technology Review: No, Coronavirus Is Not a Good Argument for Quitting Cash 

Though it’s theoretically possible, there is no evidence that physical money—or any inanimate surface, for that matter—helps the virus spread.     

FT: How Facebook’s Libra Went from World Changer to Just Another PayPal 

Scaled-down digital currency raises questions over the project’s future.

The Verge: Google is Reportedly Working on Its Own Apple Card-style Smart Debit Card

Complete with a physical card for in-store payments.