The fundamentals of internet finance and its policy implications in China

Internet finance is a spectral concept. It covers all forms of financial transactions and organizations, which range from traditional financial intermediaries and markets, such as commercial banks, securities firms, insurance companies, and stock exchanges, to the scenario under Walrasian equilibrium (where neither financial intermediaries nor markets exist) caused by the impacts of internet technologies. This article discusses the theoretical pillars, core features, and policy implications of internet finance.