PREDICT: Asia’s Fintech Stack: Engineering Impact Amid Rising Financial Crime Risks
Asia’s fintech sector is evolving into a high‑velocity innovation hub, yet it faces a surge in sophisticated financial crime such as pig‑butchering and coercive fraud schemes. Providers are deploying AI‑driven risk engines, blockchain‑based identity frameworks, and secure API layers to detect and block illicit activity without sacrificing speed. Hybrid ecosystems that blend traditional banking with decentralized protocols are emerging, demanding new governance models. Regulators and firms alike are crafting metrics to gauge system resilience, security, and consumer protection.
Boost Security without Breaking UX: Smarter Authentication Against AI Threats
Financial institutions are confronting a surge of AI‑generated fraud—deepfakes, synthetic identities, and generative‑AI social engineering—that now infiltrates authentication and account‑change journeys. To protect high‑risk moments without sacrificing conversion, banks are modernising authentication with biometric and NFC‑enabled “smart friction” and real‑time...
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Smarter Payment Exception Handling
Global payment volumes are projected to climb from $195 trillion in 2024 to $320 trillion by 2032, putting pressure on banks to streamline exception handling. Leading financial institutions are adopting design‑time intelligence that can pre‑emptively resolve up to 90% of payment exceptions,...
PREDICT 2026: Finextra’s US Regulation Pulse Check 2026
How are institutions navigating the evolving US regulatory landscape?
Banking on Stablecoins: Accelerating Cross-Border Payments in the US, UK and Europe
Regulatory frameworks for stablecoins are diverging in the US, UK and Europe, with the US GENIUS Act, the UK FCA’s evolving guidance, and the EU’s MiCA regulation shaping the rules banks must follow. Banks are testing stablecoins to accelerate cross‑border...
Payments Modernisation: How PSPs and Acquirers Are Accelerating Global Merchant Growth
Payment service providers, acquirers and fintechs are positioning themselves as growth engines for global merchants by delivering more than basic transaction processing. They are building connected ecosystems that combine local, global and alternative payment methods—including stablecoins—with plug‑ins to major e‑commerce...
From Obligation to Opportunity: Making Payments Modernisation Work
Banks face a perfect storm as legacy payments infrastructure collides with relentless regulatory and technological change. RedCompass Labs research shows 83% of modernization programs exceed budget and 87% run past schedule, sometimes causing outages. The article outlines four core challenges—continuous...
PREDICT 2026: New Financial Fabric - Digital Assets, Smart Infrastructure, Global Resilience
The PREDICT 2026 webinar highlighted how banks are integrating blockchain, AI and quantum computing to modernise transaction banking and bridge traditional finance with decentralized platforms. Central banks are piloting CBDCs and tokenised assets, seeking policy frameworks that preserve monetary stability while...
CaixaBank Creates Artificial Intelligence Office
CaixaBank has launched an Artificial Intelligence Office to oversee AI initiatives. The office will ensure AI projects comply with regulations, ethical standards, and deliver business value. As part of its 2025‑2027 strategic plan, the bank assembled a multidisciplinary team of...
What Type of Data Is Needed to Find Opportunities
Investment managers are turning to alternative and unstructured data, combined with scalable AI and agentic workflows, to generate uncorrelated alpha in a volatile market. Bloomberg’s Enterprise Tech & Data Summit highlighted how firms aim to increase data vendors, accelerate idea‑to‑production...
Global Securities Lending Tops $15.3 Billion, Rising 26% in 2025
Global securities lending surged to $15.3 billion in 2025, a 26% year‑over‑year increase, with loan balances topping $4 trillion and generating $11.7 billion in revenue. The broker‑to‑broker market expanded to $3.61 billion, up 41%, while North America, EMEA and APAC all posted double‑digit revenue...
How S&P Global Built a Multimodel AI Platform
S&P Global adopted a multimodel AI strategy, likened to a multicloud approach, to enhance operational efficiency. Partnering with Google Cloud in December 2025, they leveraged Vertex AI to integrate Google Gemini alongside third‑party and open‑source models, enabling flexible model selection...
Stripe Integrates Crypto.com to Facilitate Crypto Payments
Stripe and Crypto.com announced a partnership that embeds Crypto.com Pay into Stripe’s payment platform, allowing merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments. The integration automatically converts crypto into the merchant’s selected fiat currency, which is deposited like any traditional transaction. Crypto.com will...
Podcast: Reimagining Payment Experiences with Agentic AI
In this episode, Zachary Aron, a principal at Deloitte Consulting, explores how agentic AI is poised to overhaul entire payment journeys rather than isolated transactions, highlighting use cases such as travel and business expense workflows. He explains that while AI...
Venezuela-Focused Crypto Startup Loses $341K in Cybertheft
Kontigo, a Venezuela‑focused crypto fintech, reported a cyber‑theft that drained about $341,000 USDC from 1,005 user accounts. The company said it has fully refunded the affected users despite losing access to U.S. banking partners like JPMorgan Chase and Checkbook due...
Prediction Markets: Socially Valuable but Impractical; Sports Betting: Fun, Useless
The irony of prediction markets is that the most socially beneficial use cases (elections, foreign affairs, etc.) are infrequent, not that fun to casually gamble on, difficult to split into binary outcomes, and easy for insiders to manipulate. Sporting events, by...
Financial System Intentionally Makes Decisions Needlessly Complex
From savings to loans to retirement, financial decisions are harder than they should be. The system is not broken. It is designed this way. We discuss why with co-author of Fixed, Tarun Ramadorai of the @imperialcollege. Watch the full episode:...
Cobalt Credit Union Teams Up with Eltropy to Deploy AI Voice
Eltropy announced that Nebraska‑based Cobalt Credit Union has rolled out its AI Voice solution, dubbed “Coby,” across its contact center. The deployment delivered an 83% session containment rate, surpassing typical voice AI benchmarks of 60‑80% and maintaining strong member satisfaction....
Seeking USDC-to-Bolivar Withdrawal Success via Pago Móvil
Are any @kontigo_app users able to successfully withdraw from USDC to Bolivars via Pago Móvil or bank transfer?
Blockchain Security Firm CertiK Examines Crypto and Privacy Tech Advancements Heading Into 2026
CertiK released a dual‑track report outlining 2025’s regulatory overhaul and the technical rise of zero‑knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) as it looks toward 2026. In the United States, the GENIUS Act now forces 1:1 stablecoin reserves and monthly audits, while the...
Yield Issue in Play as Senate Looks to Crypto Bill Markup
The Senate Banking Committee is poised to mark up a crypto market‑structure bill as early as next week, despite lingering partisan gaps. Lawmakers are debating provisions that would curb stable‑coin issuers from offering yield‑like rewards, a practice the American Bankers...
Senate Returns to Crypto Bill Amid Tight Deadline
U.S. Senate back to crypto talks as industry's make-or-break bill faces time crunch https://t.co/IUik0cLfNz @jesseahamilton @coindesk
Bankers Fear Economic Struggle in 2026
American Banker’s 2026 Predictions survey of 174 banking executives highlights growing anxiety over tariff volatility, recession and stagflation, and a volatile regulatory environment. Eighty‑eight percent expect tariff shocks, while more than half forecast a U.S. recession and global slowdown, and...
Visa and Akamai Join Forces to Secure the Next Era of ‘Agentic Commerce’
Visa has teamed with cybersecurity leader Akamai to launch a trust layer for the fast‑growing “agentic commerce” market, where autonomous AI agents shop on behalf of users. The collaboration embeds Visa’s Trusted Agent Protocol into Akamai’s behavioral‑intelligence platform to verify...
Morgan Stanley Is Building Its Own Crypto ETFs
Morgan Stanley has filed with the SEC to launch its own spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, marking the first major U.S. bank to offer a Bitcoin-linked fund and signaling a move to bring crypto product revenue in-house. The passive, physically‑backed...
FDIC Watchdog Pushes Back on Ernst Whistleblower Claims
The FDIC’s Inspector General Jennifer Fain responded to Sen. Joni Ernst’s whistleblower allegations, concluding that most claims of fraud, favoritism, and misused travel funds were unsupported or already resolved. Internal reviews found no irregular year‑end Deposit Insurance Fund spending, justified...
Banking’s Biggest Gap: Inaction, Not Technology.
The biggest gap in banking today is not technology. It’s inaction. While many institutions debate risk, others are moving forward and learning in real time. Standing still is the most dangerous choice of all. https://t.co/SywxxsYmHW
Unused Gift Card Balances Surge After Holiday Season
The episode examines the $23 billion of unused gift‑card balances that accumulate after the holidays, noting that digitizing cards and offering reloads can improve redemption rates. It highlights a growing trend of using leftover balances for charitable donations, which retain tax...
Tempo's TIP-20 Enhances Stablecoins with Memos and Filters
One of the tiny details I love about Tempo is TIP-20 the token standard It extends the most popular stablecoin standard with some quality of life features like - Memo's for reconciliation - Block/allow lists And *so* much more. Dive in...
Crypto Compliance Under MiCA Drives Focus on Audited Projects Like Pepeto
The EU's MiCA regulation is tightening crypto compliance, prompting projects like Pepeto to secure dual audits. Pepeto completed independent security reviews by SolidProof and Coinsult, covering its token, bridge, exchange, and swap contracts. The presale has raised $7.14 M at $0.000000175...
Agentic AI Set to Reshape Asian Banking Operations
AI in Asia: Reimagining banking operations through agentic AI Report by McKinsey https://t.co/ScJT4HPwjx My POV 👇 https://t.co/sDEg32nFZZ
Why Trust Structures Are Becoming Popular Among Canadian Professionals
Canadian professionals are increasingly turning to trust structures to manage growing financial complexity, protect assets, and streamline estate transitions. Rising incomes, multigenerational responsibilities, and heightened legal exposure have made traditional wills insufficient. Trust options such as Alter Ego, Joint Partner,...
Fed Draws a Hard Line Between Payments and Banks
The Federal Reserve has issued a request for information on a prototype “Payment Account” aimed at non‑bank institutions that focus on payments innovation. The proposal limits access to core Fed services such as Fedwire and FedNow while excluding deposit‑taking, lending,...
GIRAFFE AI LABS Recognized as a Global Leader in Web3 Financial Infrastructure
GIRAFFE AI LABS, a Singapore‑based fintech with a Korean R&D hub, was chosen for the CES 2026 Seoul Integrated Pavilion. The company currently runs stablecoin‑backed financial services in 25 countries and will showcase its reward platform that links digital assets to...
Bitcoin Cash & Zcash Defend Support While Zero Knowledge Proof Moves Into a Rare Zone as Analysts Predict 500x ROI
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) slipped 2.24% but remains above its 20‑, 50‑ and 200‑day moving averages, keeping its bullish structure intact. Zcash (ZEC) is testing a well‑defined resistance zone as volume improves, leaving its short‑term direction uncertain. Meanwhile, Zero Knowledge Proof...
DBTC DeFi Insights: BTC and ETH Enter Consolidation Phase, Market Focuses on Potential Upside Potential
Bitcoin and Ethereum are trading in narrow, range‑bound zones, marking a clear consolidation phase after recent volatility. Both assets remain the primary barometers of crypto market sentiment, with price action reflecting a pause as macro‑economic and network developments are digested....
Citi and CredAble Partner on Trade Finance Solution
Citi has teamed with fintech CredAble to launch a globally‑available digital trade finance platform that adds a white‑label verification layer to its trade loan workflow. The solution cross‑checks invoices against government‑backed digital public infrastructure, validating more than ten critical data...
Why the CFPB's EWA Opinion Won't Dramatically Impact Fintechs
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory opinion stating that employer‑partnered earned‑wage‑access (EWA) products are not credit under the Truth in Lending Act, dropping the earlier free‑product requirement and loosening payroll‑deduction rules. While fintechs view the guidance as validation...
Understanding the Role of Trading Fees in Cryptocurrency Markets
Cryptocurrency exchanges charge transaction fees that can significantly affect traders’ net performance, especially for frequent or high‑volume participants. A dedicated fee‑comparison platform aggregates discount tiers, incentive programs, and fee structures across major exchanges in a neutral, educational format. The resource...
Banks Are 2026’s Secret Weapon for Supplier Enablement
Banks are emerging as the 2026 catalyst for supplier enablement, leveraging modern API‑driven onboarding, real‑time payments, and embedded finance. After a turbulent 2025 marked by tariff shocks and supply‑chain strain, banks are repositioning from passive utilities to active partners that...
How Payments Will Evolve: 6 Industry Trends to Watch in 2026
Payments will undergo major shifts in 2026 as regulators solidify a stablecoin framework under the Genius Act and states step up oversight of BNPL and earned‑wage‑access products. AI‑driven agentic commerce and personalized checkout experiences are set to boost transaction volumes...
Prediction Markets Secure Funding, Seen as Price Discovery
Polymarket and Kalshi hit it big on 2025 fintech funding surge Prediction market funding boom reflects validation of information markets as financial product. Investors betting these platforms become price discovery mechanism, not just gambling venues https://t.co/lZ7eIqT79C https://t.co/vxKY4qKpN6
Capitolis Appoints Roy Saadon to Drive Portfolio Optimisation Growth
Capitolis, a fintech focused on capital markets, appointed Roy Saadon as head of market development for its portfolio optimisation unit. Saadon, a veteran with 25 years in technology, product development and financial services, previously co‑founded Access Fintech and Traiana. In...
Consumer Groups Attack Card Settlement
Consumer and small‑business advocacy groups have joined merchants in objecting to a new Visa and Mastercard settlement aimed at ending long‑running antitrust lawsuits over interchange fees. The proposal, unveiled in November, would trim credit‑card interchange rates by just 0.1% for...
Cred Hires Matt Trueman as CEO to Accelerate Expansion
Cred, the AI‑enabled credit platform, has appointed Matt Trueman as its new chief executive officer. The hire is aimed at accelerating the company’s 2026 expansion, scaling new accounts and boosting lending activity for its Credit on Demand product. Cred’s roadmap...
“What Blockchain Really Does Is Eliminate the Need for Visa.”
Fintech veteran Mike Cagney argues that blockchain’s public‑ledger stablecoin transactions can replace Visa’s core services, from fraud protection to merchant acceptance. He frames blockchain as a "great disintermediary" that could wholesale replace traditional payment rails and even extend to entities...
DailyPay $195m Senior Secured Revolving Credit Deal
DailyPay, an on‑demand pay platform, closed a $195 million senior secured revolving credit facility on Dec 30, 2025. The facility, led by JPMorgan Chase as administrative agent and sole bookrunner, strengthens the company’s balance sheet and provides greater financial flexibility. DailyPay plans to...
Regtech SlowMist Releases MistTrack Analysis on Stolen Crypto Funds
SlowMist’s Q4 2025 MistTrack analysis examined 300 user‑submitted theft reports, highlighting a surge in process‑oriented social‑engineering attacks. Phishing remained the most frequent method, with novel tactics like look‑alike address poisoning causing a $50 million USDT loss. The firm assisted nine victims...
DOJ Presses Visa Antitrust Case
The Justice Department is advancing its antitrust lawsuit against Visa, alleging the company maintains an illegal monopoly in the U.S. debit‑card market. The case, filed in September 2024, now faces a scheduling battle as DOJ proposes a four‑month discovery delay...
Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF Signals Bright Future
Morgan Stanley entering the bitcoin ETF game is all you need to know about bitcoin's future prospects.