Velera FinTech Partners Deliver Exclusive Benefits to Credit Unions
Velera, a credit union service organization, has broadened its FinTech Engagement Program to feature six new fintech partners that will provide credit unions with discounted pricing, waived fees, and other exclusive benefits. The inaugural partners—Coverbase, InvestiFi, Larky, Spiral, Swaystack, and Union Credit—will be showcased at VeleraLIVE 2026 in Orlando from April 13-15. Velera launched the program in April 2024 to streamline collaboration between vetted fintech firms and credit unions seeking faster innovation. The expansion follows a PYMNTS study showing that over half of credit unions view external partners as essential for scaling innovation.
TuneCore Partners with RoyFi to Offer Royalty Advances to Indie Artists
TuneCore, the Believe‑owned digital distributor, has launched TuneCore Direct Advance in partnership with fintech firm RoyFi, allowing independent artists to obtain cash advances against future streaming royalties. The program offers a flat‑fee financing model with repayment drawn automatically from royalty...
Groww Exits Payment Aggregator Business, Surrenders RBI-Approved PA Licence After Two Years
India’s fintech platform Groww has surrendered its RBI‑approved payment‑aggregator licence, exiting the payments business just two years after launch. The decision, disclosed without fanfare, signals a refocus on its core brokerage and wealth‑management services. Groww’s November 2025 IPO raised roughly $800 million,...
From Compliance to Revenue: Ozone API Launches Guide to Help Banks Commercialise Open Banking
Ozone API, founded by the original architects of the UK open‑banking standard, has released a free "Commercialising Open Banking" guide. The resource outlines a three‑tier framework—foundational, premium, and distribution APIs—to help banks shift from compliance‑only thinking to revenue‑generating models. It...
Securitize Appoints Former SEC Director Brett Redfearn to Its BoD
Securitize announced that Brett Redfearn, former SEC Director of the Division of Trading and Markets, has been appointed President and joined the Board of Directors. In his new role he will drive the scaling of Securitize’s regulated token‑issuance, trading and...
WATCH: Kalshi Founders Talk Insider Trading, Gambling, Don Jr. On "The Axios Show"
Kalshi, a New York‑based prediction‑market platform, disclosed on the Axios Show that it processed nearly $13 billion in bets last month and is raising new private capital at a $22 billion valuation. The founders argue the service functions like a regulated exchange,...
The Open Banking Divide in South Africa
South Africa’s Reserve Bank has warned that the country’s market‑led open‑banking model could entrench financial exclusion, while Standard Bank argues that commercial innovation can drive inclusion. The bank highlights its PayShap API, which lets clients initiate payments through their own...
PayPal Links on Canva and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 4/9/26
PayPal announced that its Payment Links are now available on Canva, allowing creators to accept payments through text, email or social media. At the same time, Adyen introduced Intelligent Money Movement to give global businesses real‑time cash positioning, while Paysafe...
As Fraud Escalates, Taking a Beat Becomes a Critical Defense
Fraud in the United States surged to an all‑time high, with the FBI reporting nearly $21 billion in losses last year and over one million complaints filed. Cryptocurrency investment scams alone accounted for $11 billion in damages, while AI‑driven schemes generated $893 million in...
PayPal Embeds Payment Links Into Canva Designs
PayPal has integrated its Payment Links service directly into Canva’s design platform, allowing creators to embed checkout buttons or QR codes within digital and printed assets. The feature lets users generate PayPal‑hosted payment pages, customize product details, and accept funds...
Stablecoin Platform Confirmo Approved by Central Bank of Ireland
Confirmo, a stablecoin payment platform, received a full license from the Central Bank of Ireland, making it a regulated hub for its European operations. The Irish license, combined with its existing MiCA CASP authorization, grants Confirmo passporting rights across all...
Global Digital Asset Firm Zodia Partners with Re7 Capital
Zodia Custody announced a partnership with crypto‑native investment firm Re7 Capital, granting the latter access to Zodia’s Interchange network for custody and off‑exchange settlement. The deal supports transparent on‑chain representation of Re7’s BTC Yield and Market Neutral strategies. Re7 Capital,...
How Huntington Modernized without Touching the Core Ft. Qolo
Huntington National Bank partnered with payments platform Qolo to launch a virtual‑account‑based product called Connected Deposits, layering modern functionality over its legacy core. The solution creates sub‑accounts that behave like real bank accounts—complete with routing numbers, inbound wires and automated...
For U.S. Bank, Embedded Finance Was Step One. The Self-Reinforcing Model Is Step Two.
U.S. Bank launched a generative AI assistant on its developer portal in early 2026 to accelerate API integration, then closed its purchase of Amazon’s small‑business credit‑card portfolio and extended home‑improvement loan terms. These actions illustrate a shift toward an embedded‑finance...
ClearBank MiCA Approved, Plans Stablecoins, Deepens Relationship with Coinbase
Netherlands‑based ClearBank has secured approval from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets to operate as a Crypto Asset Service Provider under the EU’s MiCA regime. The bank announced plans to issue regulated stablecoins—EURC and USDC—to facilitate faster cross‑border payments....
FCA Imposes Restrictions on Bazar Money Transfer Limited
On 21 November 2025 the FCA imposed restrictions on Bazar Money Transfer Limited, preventing it from providing regulated payment services. The firm failed to meet registration conditions as a small payment institution, prompting the regulator’s protective action. After BMTL’s representations,...
How AI and Data Analytics Are Driving Payout Optimization Across Platforms
Payout optimization has shifted from a back‑office task to a real‑time business imperative, with AI and analytics now guiding speed, cost, and fraud decisions. Global real‑time payments surged 42% in 2023 and are projected to exceed 511 billion transactions by 2028,...
Millions Lose Track of Their Retirement Savings. This Plan Wants to Change That
Retirement Clearinghouse proposes an automated clearinghouse to make 401(k) accounts portable across job changes. The system would automatically locate, verify, and transfer retirement balances, eliminating the need for employee‑initiated rollovers. By preventing cash‑outs, the model could preserve up to $2 trillion...
Modernising FATCA and CRS Compliance for Fund Administrators
Fund administrators, tasked with FATCA and CRS reporting, are confronting operational bottlenecks as investor data volumes surge. Legacy workflows built on spreadsheets and manual reviews generate costly reconciliation and strain during reporting peaks. The article highlights a shift toward integrated,...
Fingerprint Launches AI-Enhanced Suspect Score Tool
Fingerprint has added AI‑powered recommendations to its Suspect Score fraud detection tool, creating a production‑ready machine‑learning system that trains on each customer’s labeled data. The new engine automatically optimizes signal weights, reduces false positives and lets users preview changes before...
South Korea Court Cancels Upbit Suspension, Citing Regulatory Gaps: Report
South Korea’s Seoul Administrative Court annulled the Financial Intelligence Unit’s three‑month partial suspension of Dunamu, the operator of crypto exchange Upbit. The court ruled that while AML rules exist for transactions above 1 million won (about $675), the regulator failed to...
Change This One Venmo Privacy Setting Before Using PayPal Transfers
PayPal and Venmo now support direct transfers, ending the need to juggle separate apps. The integration, long‑awaited since PayPal’s 2014 acquisition of Venmo, rolls out a new privacy toggle that controls who can locate you via PayPal. Users must adjust...
Fifth Third Official: AI Will Help Banks 'Out-Code' Vendors
Fifth Third Bank’s consumer‑lending head Jay Plum says AI will let banks "out‑code" legacy core providers and automate risk reviews, turning the annual exam scramble into continuous "mini reviews." He highlighted that AI‑driven customization can differentiate customer experience and reduce loan...
Bessent Ramps up Pressure on Congress to Pass CLARITY Act
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Congress to swiftly pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, warning that Senate floor time is limited. The bill, already cleared by the House, aims to establish clear rules for cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets...
Sigma360 and Consilient Partner on AI-Driven pKYC
Sigma360 and Consilient announced a strategic partnership to deliver an AI‑driven perpetual KYC (pKYC) platform that unifies real‑time risk intelligence with federated machine learning. The joint solution addresses the industry’s “silo effect” by allowing institutions to share and improve detection...
Solflare & Snowdrop Solutions Team Up to Make Crypto Card Transactions Less Mystic
Solflare, a leading wallet on the Solana blockchain, has announced a strategic partnership with Snowdrop Solutions to upgrade its crypto‑linked debit card experience. The collaboration will embed Snowdrop’s transaction‑enrichment engine, translating raw blockchain data into clear, neobank‑style summaries. By surfacing...
Zerodha Rolls Out Fixed Deposits on Coin App
Zerodha has launched fixed‑deposit (FD) products on its Coin platform, partnering with Suryoday, Utkarsh and Unity Small Finance Banks. The service is fee‑free for investors, with Zerodha earning backend commissions from the banks. While FD distribution carries thin margins, the...
AI’s Next Bottleneck: Capital Crunch and Bridge Loans
AI infrastructure builders are turning to short‑term bridge loans as traditional financing stalls, with Forum Markets pledging up to $50 million for Nvidia GPU purchases. The loans, lasting 60‑120 days, aim for mid‑teen annualized returns and include a pre‑arranged takeout from...
Dubai Clarifies Token Issuance Rules for RWAs and Stablecoins
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) released detailed guidance clarifying how stablecoins and real‑world asset (RWA) tokens should be issued, disclosed, and distributed. The rulebook defines three issuance pathways—Category 1 fiat‑referenced and asset‑referenced tokens, Category 2 tokens that must use VARA‑licensed intermediaries,...
Ctrl Alt Secures FCA Authorisation to Expand UK Tokenisation Capabilities
Ctrl Alt, a tokenisation infrastructure provider, has secured direct authorisation from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, moving from an appointed representative to an independently regulated investment firm. The FCA licence allows the company to expand its end‑to‑end tokenised‑asset services across...
From Spending to Investing: How Digital Payments Are Reshaping Modern Money Habits
Digital payments have shifted everyday transactions from a deliberate cash‑handout to near‑instant taps, eliminating the pause that once prompted spending reflection. The automatic categorisation of each transaction gives users real‑time visibility into where their money goes, turning raw data into...
Denis Beau: Stablecoins - What Strategic Choices for Europe?
Denis Beau, senior official at Banque de France, outlined the EU’s strategic response to the rise of USD‑denominated stablecoins. He warned that unchecked “stablecoinisation” and “dollarisation” could threaten Europe’s monetary sovereignty and advocated preserving the two‑tier system of central‑bank money...
Michael S Barr: Brief Remarks on Stablecoins
In his remarks, Michael S. Barr highlighted the bipartisan GENIUS Act, which mandates that stablecoin issuers hold only high‑quality, highly liquid reserve assets. He noted that clearer rules could speed stablecoin adoption for crypto trading, cross‑border remittances, and corporate treasury...
PODCAST: Stablecoins Are Moving Real Money, Just Not That Much of It Yet
Despite headlines touting massive market caps, stablecoins account for only single‑digit percent of real‑world payment volume. CFOs view them as risk‑reducing, point‑solution tools for slow, costly corridors rather than a wholesale banking replacement. Citi’s Token Services and startups like Stable...
Nevermined Makes Giant AI Agent Payments Stride With Visa, X402 and VGS Support
Nevermined unveiled Nevermined Pay, a payment infrastructure that lets AI agents make purchases using delegated virtual cards. The platform integrates Visa Intelligent Commerce, PayPal Braintree, Stripe, and Coinbase’s x402, with VGS Secure Vault tokenizing card data for security. Built‑in guardrails...
Piero Cipollone: Building the Rails for Europe's Tokenised Financial Markets
Europe’s tokenised capital markets have moved from pilot projects to real‑world issuance, with issuers placing roughly €4 bn (about $4.3 bn) in DLT‑based bonds since 2021 and €1.6 bn ($1.7 bn) in cross‑border trials this year. The Eurosystem is addressing two core bottlenecks—platform fragmentation...
Piero Cipollone: The Digital Euro - Preparing for a Potential Launch
Eurozone leaders reaffirmed the strategic importance of a digital euro, linking it to monetary sovereignty, reduced retail‑payment fragmentation, and Single Market resilience. The Eurosystem is advancing technical preparations but will only issue the token‑based currency after a dedicated legal framework...
68% of Banks Increase Fraud Defense Spending as Account Takeovers Spike
Banks are rapidly reclassifying fraud defense from a reactive cost center to core infrastructure, driven by a surge in account‑takeover attacks. The PYMNTS 2025 State of Fraud report shows unauthorized‑party fraud now represents 71% of incidents and losses, pushing average...
Revolut Rolls Out AI Assistant as Part of Product Expansion Push
Revolut has introduced AI by Revolut (AIR), an in‑app conversational assistant for UK users. The tool lets customers manage spending, investments, subscriptions, freeze cards, and plan travel budgets, including buying eSIMs, directly through chat. AIR accesses only data customers can...
Quantum Computers and Post-Quantum Security
Swiss financial infrastructure operator SIX is accelerating its shift to post‑quantum cryptography as quantum computers threaten current asymmetric encryption. The firm has launched a comprehensive crypto‑inventory, built crypto‑agility into its systems, and begun hybrid testing of NIST‑standardized PQC algorithms. By...
M-KOPA’s 2025 Impact: Women at the Heart of Digital Inclusion
M‑KOPA South Africa’s 2025 Impact Report shows the company has financed over $19 million in credit for more than 100,000 customers, delivering affordable smartphones and a suite of digital financial services. Women now comprise 49% of its user base and 84%...
BaaS, Regtech, Payment Infrastructure Take Center Stage in Fintech M&A Rebound
Fintech M&A, stalled in 2022‑23, is rebounding with projected deal volume rising from $25 bn in 2024 to $40‑60 bn over the next two years. Consolidation will focus on banking‑as‑a‑service platforms, regtech compliance solutions, and cross‑border B2B payment infrastructure. Distressed BaaS players...
Astranova Mobility Raises Rs 60 Cr in Series A Led by IvyCap Ventures
Astranova Mobility, an Indian EV financing and asset‑management platform, closed a Rs 60 crore ($6.4 million) Series A round led by IvyCap Ventures, with participation from Asian Development Bank, Advantedge Founders and Trucks Venture Capital. The funding will boost the startup’s data, AI and...
The Fintech Ecosystem of China in 2026
By 2026 China’s fintech ecosystem remains the world’s largest, driven by a digital economy that accounts for over 40% of its $18 trillion GDP. The sector has shifted from rapid expansion to a regulated, policy‑aligned model, with the People’s Bank of...
Trade Information Warehouse Rename Event Processing for Dillard's, Inc.
DTCC Deriv/SERV LLC announced a Trade Information Warehouse (TIW) rename event for Dillard's, Inc., scheduled from April 15 to April 17, 2026. The event will automatically rename all transactions linked to Dillard's reference entity using the new RED 2H947MAB4 and ISIN US254063AU43. Participants...
European Digital Banking Platform CaixaBank Introduces Digital Assets Investment Services
Spain’s CaixaBank has obtained EU‑wide authorization under the MiCA framework to operate as a crypto‑asset service provider. The bank will roll out regulated custody, order execution and transfer services for digital assets, building on its 2025 launch of bitcoin‑linked exchange‑traded...
Crypto Embraces Regulator-in-the-Loop Strategy as Federal Rules Roll Out
U.S. regulators are moving from a fragmented, adversarial approach to a coordinated, iterative framework for crypto, anchored by the GENIUS Act’s stablecoin-specific rules and the SEC’s upcoming CLARITY Act. The White House’s stablecoin report and FDIC‑OCC prudential framework further cement...
How to Pay Rent via Bilt Rewards and Earn Points on Your Biggest Monthly Expense
Bilt has revamped its rewards platform with Bilt 2.0, allowing renters to earn loyalty points on housing payments without convenience fees when using a Bilt credit card. For properties in the Bilt Rewards Alliance, rent is paid via ACH in the...
Paysafe’s MoonPay Deal Brings Stablecoin Rails to a Payments Platform That Handled $167B Last Year
Paysafe announced a partnership with MoonPay to embed crypto payment capabilities into its global payments platform. The new “Pay with Crypto” product lets merchants accept USDC, other stablecoins and major cryptocurrencies, converting deposits into U.S. dollars. The service targets e‑commerce,...
Automating Debt Recovery Before the Law Required It: A Conversation with Botagoz Karimova
Botagoz Karimova, named Employee of the Year at a leading Kazakh bank, designed and launched an automated pre‑judicial debt‑recovery platform that linked internal processes to the national notary, enforcement and data‑showcase systems years before the 2025 banking reforms made such...