Bob Diamond: The Settlement Window Is Closing as 24/7 Trading Opens Up
Bob Diamond argues that the legacy T+1 settlement model is being outpaced by blockchain‑based exchanges like Hyperliquid, which settle trades in under a second and run 24/7. The decentralized platform processed $1.2 billion of oil perpetual volume during the Iran‑Israel strike and generated $962 million in fees on $3 trillion of 2025 notional trading. Its fee‑recycling token model reduces supply while funding network security, and recent S&P 500 perpetual launch signals mainstream acceptance. However, the permissionless architecture raises unresolved regulatory questions about SEC vs CFTC jurisdiction and cross‑border enforcement.
Stripe’s $1.1B Crypto Deal Wasn’t Too Early
Last week I sat down with Zach Abrams, co-founder of Bridge, which was acquire by Stripe for $1.1 billion in October 2024. At the time, it was the largest crypto acquisition ever, and plenty of people thought they overpaid. But...
TikTok and Visa Launch Creator Card to Fix Influencer Cash Flow Challenges
TikTok has teamed with Visa to introduce a Creator Card for UK‑based influencers, aiming to eliminate the chronic cash‑flow delays that plague the creator economy. The debit card gives creators faster access to earnings from TikTok LIVE gifts and lets them...
Inter Miami Sign up with Shift4
Inter Miami has appointed Shift4 as the official payment processing partner for its new 26,700‑seat Nu Stadium. Shift4’s technology will power ticketing, entry, and in‑stadium purchases, creating a single payments ecosystem for matchdays. The partnership also includes visible branding at...
Bloomberg Terminal Launches AI Chatbot ASKB for 125,000 Users
Bloomberg is testing ASKB, a generative‑AI chatbot built on multiple language models, with roughly a third of its 375,000 Terminal users. The tool aims to let analysts ask high‑level investment questions and receive synthesized answers, cutting hours of manual data...
Banks Lag Tokenization; Neobanks Poised to Dominate
The tokenized economy is already here, and tokenization is poised to join AI on bankers’ long list of transformative opportunities they’d like to do—but don’t. Legacy systems, regulatory excuses, and endless pilot purgatory continue to hold incumbents back, letting neobanks and...
Maybe the Genius Act Isn't so Smart After All
The article critiques the Genius Act’s approach to stablecoin regulation, focusing on the extraordinary control that issuers like Circle and Tether have to freeze tokens anywhere on the blockchain. It uses the recent $285 million Drift DeFi hack to illustrate the...
Chiara Scotti: From Analysis to Action - AI in Financial Markets
A joint OECD‑European Commission‑Banca d'Italia report maps AI usage across Italy's financial sector, highlighting a shift from back‑office tools to core market functions. The analysis shows AI is now integral to decision‑support and internal processes, while early adoption begins to...
Spare Launches First Open Banking Cross‑Border Payment Service in GCC
Spare unveiled an Open Banking‑powered cross‑border payment solution in the UAE, completing its first pilot transaction with local banks. The service, built on the AlTareq scheme and backed by an in‑principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE, promises...
Smart Money App Plum Reaches Profitability
UK‑based fintech Plum announced its first operational profitability, reporting over 60% year‑on‑year growth and $42.5 million in annual recurring revenue. The app now serves more than five million users and manages roughly $3.75 billion in assets. Revenue comes from a mix of...
RFG Advisory Invests AI Notetaking Platform Zocks
RFG Advisory, a Birmingham‑based hybrid RIA with $7.3 billion AUM, invested in Zocks Communications as part of the AI notetaking platform’s $45 million Series B round, bringing total funding to $65 million. Zocks CEO Mark Gilbert joined RFG’s board, deepening the partnership. The investment...
John and Patrick Collison on Stripe's Growth, Agent Commerce, and the Future of Software
In this episode, Stripe co‑founders John and Patrick Collison discuss Stripe's rapid growth—processing over $1 trillion in payments and expanding 34% year‑over‑year—and the emerging wave of "agentic commerce" powered by AI and stablecoins. They argue that future commerce will require blockchains...
Joachim Nagel: The Digital Euro - Anchoring Europe's Strategic Autonomy in a Digital Future
German Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel outlined the Eurosystem’s push for a digital euro, positioning it as a public‑sector complement to cash and private payment apps. He highlighted that cash now represents just 24% of daily payments in the euro area...
The Real Cost of Building Financial Crime Tools In-House
Many firms attempt to build financial‑crime risk platforms in‑house, believing they’ll save money and retain control. Arctic Intelligence’s analysis shows that RegTech solutions are industrial‑grade ecosystems built on years of regulatory insight, which internal teams cannot match. Specialized talent, built‑in...
Nexi Brings Wero to German E-Commerce: 53 Million Users Can Now Pay at BAUR, Quelle and Bünting
Italian PayTech group Nexi has launched its proprietary payment method Wero in Germany, partnering with online retailers BAUR, Quelle and the Bünting Group (operators of Combi.de and MyTime.de). The integration gives Wero’s 53 million European users a new checkout option on...
When A Supplier Becomes a Hidden Cost Centre
A company lost roughly 3% of its turnover after a supplier fraud scheme exploited a manual IBAN change during an ERP migration. An insider tipped off a hacker, who impersonated a legitimate vendor and redirected payments to fraudulent accounts. The...
Primitive & MX Are Building an AI Agent Operating System
In this episode, Derek White, CEO of Primitive, and Ryan Caldwell, CEO of MX, discuss Primitive’s AI Agent Operating System designed for regulated financial institutions. They explain how the platform provides orchestration, governance, and ROI clarity—coined “return on agent capital”—to...
Mangopay Research: 85% of UK Payment Firms Still Rely on Manual Reconciliation Despite AI Hype
Mangopay’s latest research reveals that 85% of UK‑based payment firms continue to rely on manual reconciliation processes, despite a surge of AI‑driven automation promises. The study surveyed over 200 firms, finding that only 15% have deployed AI or machine‑learning tools...
EToro Opens Platinum+ Subscription Tier, Following Robinhood's Recurring-Revenue Playbook
eToro unveiled a Platinum+ subscription priced at $14.99 per month or $149.99 annually, eliminating the previous $50,000 balance requirement for premium perks. The tier adds a 4% stock‑back Visa card, 40% discount on currency conversion, 3.55% interest on cash balances,...
Can Digital Business Credit Save Your Fintech Startup?
Fintech startups face uneven revenue and heavy upfront costs, making capital management critical. Digital business credit is evolving from a short‑term fix into a core financial infrastructure that can be layered, adjusted, and aligned with product milestones. By consolidating multiple...
FNB Upgrades NAVi Virtual Assistant to Strengthen Advisor-Led Services
FNB has upgraded its NAVi virtual assistant, embedding AI deeper into advisor workflows to deliver real‑time insights during customer interactions. The enhancement moves beyond self‑service, offering contextual guidance that speeds up conversations while preserving human judgment. NAVi’s built‑in ethical guardrails...
A Legal Dive Into South Africa’s Payment Revolution
South Africa’s buy‑now‑pay‑later (BNPL) market is expanding rapidly, but regulators have not yet clarified whether the products fall under the National Credit Act or the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. Providers argue that short‑term, interest‑free installments are not credit,...
The Bloomberg Terminal Is Getting an AI Makeover, Like It or Not
Bloomberg is piloting a generative‑AI chatbot called ASKB to modernize its iconic Terminal. The tool lets traders pose natural‑language queries—such as the impact of geopolitical events on portfolios—and receive synthesized insights drawn from the platform’s massive data set. As of...
FTSE Russell, LPX Expand Their Existing Infrastructure Partnership
FTSE Russell, the global index arm of LSEG, announced an expansion of its infrastructure partnership with LPX AG, a specialist in listed alternative investments. Under the deal, FTSE Russell will take over calculation, administration and worldwide distribution of LPX’s suite...
Binance Scales Its Card Offering to Enhance Everyday Payment Utility
Binance announced the expansion of its Binance Card into multiple African markets, aiming to bring crypto‑backed payments to everyday users. The card automatically converts supported digital assets into local fiat at the point of sale, offering a seamless experience on...
Tapaya Raises €1M Pre-Seed to Power Payments on Any Device
Prague‑based Tapaya raised €1 million (about $1.09 million) in a pre‑seed round led by Passion Capital, with participation from Depo Ventures and BADideas.fund. The startup is building a software layer that lets banks, fintechs and SaaS platforms turn any Android or iOS...
Payment Leaders Summit
In this episode, the host previews his live participation at the Payment Leaders Summit in London, where he'll moderate three sessions: one on commercial variable recurring payments (VRP) and bank‑on‑file solutions, another roundtable on open banking and open finance from...
Peak XV Fully Exits Mobikwik in ₹130 Crore Block Deal
Venture capital firm Peak XV Partners has fully exited One MobiKwik Systems by selling 61 lakh shares—about 7.7% of the company—for roughly ₹130 crore (≈ $16 million). The block deal priced shares at ₹214 each (≈ $2.60), delivering a three‑times return on Peak XV’s original investment. Buyers include...
8am Now Guarantees Next-Day Payments To Its LawPay Customers
8am Now, the parent of LawPay and CPACharge, announced it will guarantee next‑day payments for users of its legal and accounting payment platforms. The company also rolled out new billing features that streamline invoicing and provide real‑time financial performance dashboards....
PhonePe Crosses 50 Mn Registered Merchants Amid UPI Dominance
PhonePe, the Walmart‑backed fintech, announced it now has over 50 million registered merchants, reaching 98% of India’s postal codes. In March 2026 the app processed a record 10 billion UPI transactions, representing 46% of total UPI volume and 49% of value. The...
LendingClub's Growth Overshadowed by Rising Delinquencies
LendingClub’s originations hit $1.9B, but rising delinquencies and a private credit crunch are tough headwinds. The rebrand to LC signals a shift, but credit quality is key. Holding for now. 📉💳 Fintech
David Birch's "Identity Is the New Money" Tops Finance Literature
Wow. Ten years ago. John Lanchester https://t.co/tvIiviwJYt "David Birch is the author of a fresh, original and fascinatingly wide-ranging short book about developments in the field, "Identity Is the New Money". His is the best book on general issues around new forms...
The Fintech Landscape of Kazakhstan in 2026
Kazakhstan’s 2026 fintech landscape marks a decisive shift from a resource‑driven economy to a digital‑first financial hub. The Digital Kazakhstan strategy has pushed internet penetration above 90%, while the Astana International Financial Centre offers an English‑common‑law regulatory framework that attracts...
Expanding Digital IDs in India and Around the World
Google Wallet now lets Indian users store Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials, turning the national ID into a secure digital token. The rollout includes early partners such as PVR INOX, BharatMatrimony, Atlys, Mygate and Snabbit, enabling age checks, verified profiles and streamlined visa...
Cross-Border Payments Explained: Why 50 US Jurisdictions Still Can't Agree
In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Ted Huff talks with Simona Aleman, co‑founder and co‑CEO of Prometeo, about the fractured cross‑border payments landscape between the United States and Latin America. Simona explains how Prometeo’s single‑API open‑finance platform connects over...
OCC Issues Interim Final Rule Preempting Illinois Interchange Fee Ban
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released an interim final rule and order confirming that federal law preempts Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The actions protect national banks and federal thrifts from a state‑level ban on tax‑ and...
Mercury Secures OCC Conditional Approval to Launch Full-Service Mercury Bank, N.A.
Mercury announced it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Mercury Bank, N.A., a national bank that will let the fintech deliver full-service banking under federal oversight. The move follows four years...
NYC Core Networks Team Gathers to Brainstorm Next Big Feature
Core Networks Team (P2P, Multiplayer Money, Kids + Teens, Cash for Business + Earners) team is onsite in NYC this week. What should we build while we're IRL together? Already on deck to release an incredibly fun feature to a...
Covercy Unveils Covercy One, First AI‑Powered OS for Commercial Real Estate Investment Management
Covercy announced the launch of Covercy One, an AI‑powered operating system that consolidates fundraising, banking, fund administration and reporting for commercial real‑estate investment firms. The platform, built around the Neo AI assistant, already supports more than $2 billion of annual transaction...
Trinidad & Tobago Launches Digital Bus Tickets and E‑Pension Grants
Trinidad and Tobago's government unveiled a digital platform that will let commuters buy bus tickets online and deliver pension grants electronically. The initiative, led by the National Payment and Innovation Company (NPICTT) and the Public Transport Service Corporation, is billed...
Hitachi Digital Services Teams with Stripe to Revamp Enterprise Payment Infrastructure
Hitachi Digital Services has struck a strategic partnership with Stripe to overhaul payment infrastructure for enterprise merchants, beginning with the insurance sector. The joint solution promises a unified, AI‑enhanced platform that reduces vendor sprawl, boosts conversion rates and readies the...
JPMorgan, BNY Mellon Deploy Deposit Tokens, Lobby Against Non‑Bank Stablecoins
JPMorgan and BNY Mellon rolled out tokenized USD deposit tokens on public and permissioned blockchains, while simultaneously lobbying Congress to prohibit passive yield on non‑bank stablecoins. The moves come as banks invest hundreds of millions in the technology and a...
Arkham Users Set Deposit Alerts to Front‑run Aave Withdrawals
This is a bank run in slow motion. @MiguelMorel explains how Arkham users are setting deposit alerts to be first in line to withdraw from Aave's illiquid markets. @unchained_pod https://t.co/mkK6F3pMWp
Stop Treating Disputes Management Like IT Tickets
Financial institutions face a $41.69 billion chargeback crisis projected by 2028, driven by soaring digital transaction volumes and rising friendly‑fraud complaints. Dispute specialists waste hours switching between legacy applications, a problem dubbed the “swivel chair” syndrome, which inflates operational costs and...
Vector Markets Aims to Deliver Continuous Digital Trading of Real Estate
Vector Markets, a Miami fintech founded by Michael Gerrity, is building a 24/7 digital market that tokenizes real estate and other assets. Its VMX exchange uses AI to provide continuous price discovery, while a dedicated token layer fractionalizes property ownership....
AU10TIX Partners with Camunda for KYC/KYB Workflow Orchestration
Identity‑verification specialist AU10TIX has selected Camunda’s enterprise orchestration platform to power its high‑volume KYC and KYB workflows. The integration externalizes decision logic, allowing AU10TIX to scale verification scenarios, improve transparency, and route exceptions to human agents via Camunda’s Optimize and...
Virtual Addresses Enable Middleware‑Free On‑Chain Fintech
Virtual addresses mean you can now build fintech programs onchain with stablecoins No middleware needed.
Mobile Wallets Boost Security and Credit Card Rewards
Using payment services like Apple Pay and Google Pay can offer extra security and encourage you to maximize your credit cards. https://t.co/VPFoaKTwsB
A $10 Million Same-Day ACH Limit Could Be a B2B and Treasury Boon
Nacha announced a $10 million same‑day ACH transaction limit effective Sept. 17, a ten‑fold increase from the $1 million cap set in 2022. The change follows rapid growth in same‑day ACH volume, which is projected to exceed 2 billion B2B transactions in Q1 2026. By...
Fintechs Rush On‑chain to Protect AUM From Morpho
"Every single fintech is going onchain, because they realize they're going to lose AUM to Morpho, so they realize they have to come onchain to maintain their AUM." 👀 -- @PaulFrambot https://t.co/5TsfovnBdK